Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Ten Heroes
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Ten Heroes.
The White Hot Witch, Ju Eun. She first made her name in the martial world seventy years ago. That era is still spoken of today as a time of turbulent winds and clouds. Most of the Ten Heroes who now dominate the age emerged as rising stars back then.
Rumors swirled in the Wudang Sect of a ruthless and merciless Sword Ghost.
The Tang Clan had a genius who would rewrite their history.
In Green Forest, a fairy descended from the moon ascended as the young sect leader.
The Beggars' Sect saw a hot-blooded beggar who championed righteousness earn the title of Latter Leader.
Among the many wandering ronin, a man who drew attention with a single spear stood out.
There was the eccentric physician in white robes who could kill or save with a single needle.
And at the center of it all was the sixth Heavenly Person, who earned the moniker Divine Sword.
While the righteous martial world welcomed this new breeze...
The unorthodox sects faced a raging storm.
The Blood-Eyed Mad General, a famed master of the unorthodox world. His disciple rose to prominence by slaying his own master in a single stroke.
That filial impiety, combined with his subsequent audacity, made the name "Hundred-Mile Wasteland" echo not just through the unorthodox sects but even into the righteous world.
Seventy years ago. Hundred-Mile Wasteland's actions could only be called shocking. Appearing out of nowhere in the unorthodox world, he declared without prompting that he had killed his master, the Blood-Eyed Mad General. The old master had ties everywhere.
Naturally, they sought to capture Hundred-Mile Wasteland and punish him for his crime of master-slaying. And just as naturally, they failed.
He turned the tables and slaughtered all those connected to his master. Then Hundred-Mile Wasteland dubbed himself the Black Demon King.
That title sparked massive outrage at the time. Even with "Black" prefixed to it, it was still Demon King—a taboo not just in the martial world, but across the entire realm.
The unorthodox world was then dominated by the Black Nether Alliance, and they took no liking to this young upstart calling himself Black Demon King.
Of course, "young" was relative; the Black Demon King was around thirty then, young enough compared to the martial world's elders.
The shocks kept coming.
The Black Demon King didn't stop. He acted in ways that forced everyone to acknowledge his self-proclaimed title. He broke through the Black Nether Alliance's heaven-and-earth net alone and massacred their pursuing forces.
When he first claimed the title of Black Demon King, he had no followers. But as his outrageous exploits continued, crowds began to flock to him.
Years passed, and the Black Nether Alliance still couldn't crush this sprout. Every attempt to do so only nurtured him into a towering ancient tree that cast its shadow over the entire alliance.
At the center of that stormy era stood the Black Demon King, surrounded by various followers. Among them was a mysterious man whose origins no one knew. The Black Demon King called him Heaven's Killer, and soon everyone followed suit.
The Black Demon King and Heaven's Killer.
And the White Hot Witch.
She appeared abruptly, as if riding the wave of the storm he had unleashed.
About a century ago...
The unorthodox world had a sect called the Blood Gate. Little record remains of what kind of sect it was. From the start, Blood Gate wasn't prominent enough to leave much trace.
Flashy name, empty substance. Weaker than a village dojo, led by third-rate ronin prattling about being sect leader or prized disciple.
The martial world was full of such sects. And they vanish without a trace, like rats or birds. Blood Gate was one of them.
Hundreds of years ago—exact date unknown—it had existed at some point, and then it was gone.
In the age of storms, the White Hot Witch declared herself a survivor of that Blood Gate. Most who heard sneered,
"What’s that?"
It couldn't be helped. Blood Gate had been wiped out decades prior, leaving no mark in history.
People paid more attention to the White Hot Witch than some extinct sect. Many rose amid the chaos the storm brought, but few made their mark. Most died without rising, or were swallowed by greater currents even if they did.
The White Hot Witch, who stood alone, wasn't devoured. She led the storm alongside the Black Demon King and Heaven's Killer, ultimately becoming mistress of the era with them.
"But now..."
The Black Demon King ascended as leader of the Black Nether Alliance, shaking the unorthodox world to its core. Heaven's Killer remained at his side but committed no great deeds.
That was no surprise for Heaven's Killer. He'd always followed like a loyal retainer, never acting on his own initiative.
But the White Hot Witch's path left everyone baffled.
What would a survivor of an extinct sect do?
Seek the truth behind its destruction and avenge it? Rebuild the sect? Common tales in the martial world.
The White Hot Witch did nothing. She had become the sky over the unorthodox world, with the power and status to achieve most anything—yet she did nothing.
She didn't investigate Blood Gate's fall or try to revive it.
"Blood Palace."
For over a decade, the White Hot Witch had resided in the Blood Palace at Black Forest's heart. But whether she truly stayed inside was questionable. She rarely emerged.
"What to do about this."
After parting from his students just days ago, Wi Seongcheon didn't return straight to Baili Hyang. Instead, he paced before the Blood Palace.
Much had changed. None of the terrain Anannai remembered remained. Now a city stood here, but when Anannai first arrived on this island, it had been an uninhabited wasteland untouched by man.
The spot where Blood Palace now stood had been a vast lake in Anannai's memory.
"I wish it were just my imagination."
But it wasn't. Wi Seongcheon let out a rising sigh and began to ponder.
Reasons to enter. Things to confirm—or after centuries, would anything even remain? What was he hoping to verify, anyway?
"I want to feel it for real."
To right the crooked heavenly principles with human effort.
He didn't know what that truly meant. He'd met Mok Nae in the sea depths and received the Sea Dragon's dragon jade. Memories not his own had been implanted. He'd experienced it clearly, but it felt distant. Those memories lingered in his mind. Fading gradually, yet not fully gone. So if remnants still existed, he wanted to feel them truly. Then perhaps...
"Hey, kid."
A sudden voice startled Wi Seongcheon. He jerked his head up to see someone atop the red main gate.
"How long are you gonna keep staring?"
The moment their eyes met, he knew. Standing there looking down was the Blood Palace's mistress—the White Hot Witch, Ju Eun.
Her reddish-black hair whipped as she squinted at him.
"If you have business, come knock on the gate instead of lurking like an eyesore."
"Y-Yes...?"
"You weren't even hiding. Pacing and whining like a dog desperate to shit. So? You really need to go that bad? If it's urgent, I'll let you use the toilet."
"It's not that I need to shit..."
"Shouldn't you greet me first? Or do you just not bother with manners for some old unorthodox hag?"
Wi Seongcheon composed himself amid her jabs. He stepped back a few paces and cupped his fists in salute.
"...I am Wi Seongcheon of the later generation."
"I know who you are."
"I know who you are too."
"Of course you do. I'm far more famous than some kid like you."
"Kid...?"
"What? Does that bother you? I almost called you a bloody lump but figured you weren't quite that young."
"No, well... You're free to call me what you like, White Hot Witch. From your perspective, with your age, I suppose I'm a bloody kid."
She'd slyly jabbed at his youth, but the White Hot Witch showed no displeasure.
"If you don't need to shit, why were you staring at Blood Palace?"
"Just curious. I've heard tales of the great White Hot Witch, one of the Ten Heroes."
"What's so novel about the Ten Heroes? It's not like this is your first time hearing of them."
"It's my first time seeing you, though."
"Come in."
"Pardon?"
Wi Seongcheon looked up at her, dumbfounded. But the White Hot Witch said no more. She turned sharply and leaped inside the main gate. At the same moment, the closed gate swung wide open.
"Kid. Didn't you hear me? I said come in."
"Uh... I'm not a Black Forest holy child, but I'm allied with Black Hawk, who is a sixth-rank holy child..."
"So what?"
Her expression turned icy. Nominally, the White Hot Witch served as instructor for Black Forest, and only from seventh-star holy child upward could one seek her guidance.
"What does the star count have to do with me inviting you in?"
"..."
She had a point. He wasn't begging for entry; she was simply inviting him on a whim.
"Why?"
Bewildered, but he couldn't pass up the chance. He could ask her motives later.
"Thank you."
Wi Seongcheon hurried through the gate. Baili Hyang's face suddenly crossed his mind. He'd promised to return before sunset. Now the sky was dyed in twilight hues.
"Eaten?"
"Pardon?"
"Answer slow one more time, and I'll break your fingers."
"Why fingers? That's an answer, right?"
"...The Black Demon King said not to kill Heavenly Academy students. But keep sassing me, and I might just do it anyway."
"Haven't eaten. Starved since lunch. Have you, White Hot Witch?"
"Not eating with you."
"I'd feel awkward eating alone with you too."
The White Hot Witch glared, her eyes gleaming ruby-red like embedded jewels.
"Forgot who's standing before you?"
"The White Hot Witch, one of the Ten Heroes."
"You know that, yet your attitude's so insolent."
"If you'll forgive me, I'll mend my ways."
Wi Seongcheon bowed his head. Without responding, the White Hot Witch strode ahead.
He slowly raised his deeply bowed head. Her back was already far off.
"...Terrifying..."
Wi Seongcheon shuddered once and followed. Blood Palace was vast, but utterly silent—no signs of life. The garden was overgrown with weeds, dust blanketing floors and walls.
"...Do you live alone?"
He drew close and asked. Again, no answer. Ignored, but Wi Seongcheon quickly scanned the courtyard.
"Not here."
Deeper inside. To the main hall? He cleared his throat softly.
"May I go further in?"
"You're already in."
"Into the main palace."
"What, want into my chambers? I don't swing that way."
Her teasing jab left him speechless, his silver tongue suddenly paralyzed.
"Kidding."
The White Hot Witch chuckled as she stepped onto the corridor.