Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: Among the Ten Demons
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If the martial world had its Ten Heroes, the Demonic Cult had its Ten Demons.
Blood Devil Sovereign, Asura Demon Marshal, Annihilation Demon, Sword Demon, Ghost Valley Demon, Blood-Drinking Ogre, Poison Blood Ghoul Demon, Undying Demon Sovereign, Devouring Blood Demon, Black Rock Demon Lord.
Among them, the Devouring Blood Demon had been slain decades ago by the mysterious master Dokgo. The one who filled his vacancy was a demonic cultivator known as the Crimson Flame Ghost. Though relatively young, he was evaluated as possessing power comparable to the Ten Demons within the Demonic Cult.
And in truth, the Crimson Flame Ghost was strong. Relatively speaking, he was young, and thus brimming with vigor. He was the most brazen of the Ten Demons, openly wandering the Demon Realm and reveling in slaughter.
“Eight years ago, Howan, who massacred his entire clan, shook off the pursuit of the Murim Alliance and crossed into the Demon Realm. But he didn’t come to the Demonic Cult of his own accord.”
“…….”
“The Heavenly Demon Hyuk Wol-un took quite an interest in Howan after he arrived in the Demon Realm. He intended to fetch him personally, but the Crimson Flame Ghost insisted on accompanying him to serve at the Heavenly Demon’s side.”
The Crimson Flame Ghost openly proclaimed himself the Heavenly Demon’s loyal retainer. The Heavenly Demon did not refuse, and together they went to meet Howan.
“Not long after, the Heavenly Demon and Howan returned.”
“……And the Crimson Flame Ghost?”
“Howan’s mouth was covered in blood.”
Paeng Yeonhwa’s face twisted at the response.
“They say the Crimson Flame Ghost was the one who started the quarrel first. He must have thought he was establishing discipline…… but Howan was far stronger than the Crimson Flame Ghost imagined. In the end, the Crimson Flame Ghost was torn to shreds and ended up in Howan’s stomach, and the Heavenly Demon let it happen. After devouring him, Howan swore loyalty to the Heavenly Demon and became one of the new Ten Demons.”
Paeng Yeonhwa’s face stiffened rigidly. Such a story had never been known in the martial world. Who could have imagined it? That Howan, who crossed into the Demon Realm, would devour the Crimson Flame Ghost and take his place.
“The Poison Blood Ghoul Demon was quite close to the Crimson Flame Ghost. Enraged, he picked fights with Howan.”
The first to cough up blood since Howan’s arrival, the Poison Blood Ghoul Demon had wailed in Gansu.
“Howan couldn’t kill the Poison Blood Ghoul Demon. I still remember him spitting out that it was inedible meat. After that, the Ten Demons acknowledged Howan’s power.”
“……What did Howan do in the Demonic Cult?”
“Nothing remarkable.”
Yeo Myeong shook his head.
“It might sound cruel to you, but it wasn’t anything significant for Howan. The duty of the Ten Demons isn’t just to hold down the fort. Excluding the three great villains among them—the Blood Devil Sovereign, Asura Demon Marshal, and Undying Demon Sovereign—the remaining seven divide the Demon Realm among themselves. They control the demonic beasts, properly manage those who enter the Demon Realm, and cull them if they get out of hand. That’s their job.”
“……Manage?”
“It means they don’t kill everyone. If they did, people would get too scared and stop coming.”
Yeo Myeong chuckled and shook his head.
“That’s why they ‘manage’ appropriately. They kill those who venture too deep, the worthless ones. If there are too many, they thin the numbers.”
It was this very management that ensured experts kept heading into the Demon Realm without end.
“Have you ever heard stories about Howan after he crossed into the Demon Realm?”
“……No.”
“Why do you think that is? The answer is simple. Howan left no witnesses. He killed everyone he encountered. He left no corpses. He devoured them all. I…… have seen all the Ten Demons of the Demonic Cult, and though I wasn’t close to them, I’ve witnessed their madness. Howan was the youngest among the Ten Demons, but the most insane.”
That made it all the harder to understand.
Why would a madman who massacred his clan associate with the heretics involved in that experiment?
“I’ve spoken with Howan a few times.”
Paeng Yeonhwa’s eyes flashed. She leaned forward, waiting for Yeo Myeong’s words.
“Contrary to his infamous reputation, he was polite and smiled often.”
Crunch.
Paeng Yeonhwa ground her teeth without realizing it. The moment she heard those words, she could vividly recall the smile of Howan from her childhood encounters.
“I was very curious about him, but also afraid. Howan greeted me several times with that gentle smile, but I couldn’t easily respond.”
Yeo Myeong was quite mad himself, but nothing compared to Howan.
“Though I kept my distance, Howan greeted me several more times. Then…… about a year ago.”
Flinch. Paeng Yeonhwa’s body trembled.
“Out of nowhere, Howan asked me.”
Do you have family?
“When I said no, he asked again.”
As you know, I have a young sister.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen her, but she’s probably grown out of her childish ways by now.
“I had no idea why he was saying such things.”
Crunch.
Blood trickled from Paeng Yeonhwa’s gums as she clenched her teeth.
“As I hesitated, unable to grasp his intent, Howan fell silent for a moment before asking.”
I’ve heard you’re the greatest physician in the world. So answer honestly.
What’s the difference between a beast and a human?
We scorn those who act inhumanely as beastly fiends, calling them worse than animals, but what do you call a beast that acts human?
“I didn’t understand what that had to do with being a physician and hesitated again, so Howan asked once more.”
This is what I’m asking.
Can a beast become human?
Can your medical arts turn a beastkin or…… a boneless beastkin into a human?
“……He…… Howan. Are you saying he wanted to become human now?”
Her eyes stung. Her mouth filled with the taste of blood, the metallic scent tickling her nose. The wails of a vengeful ghost echoed in her ears.
“I asked him the same. If he wanted to become human.”
Howan shook his head.
If I had desired it, I would have shown you this body.
But my sister might hate being a beast like me and wish to become human.
I hope she doesn’t.
If you ever meet my sister someday, would you ask her for me?
“He left without hearing my answer. After that, he never spoke to me again.”
“……When was that……?”
“Around spring last year.”
Ah.
Paeng Yeonhwa clutched her necklace. There, Howan’s tooth hung. Only now did she understand why Howan had placed this tooth in the body of the Demonic Cult spy before sending it.
Big brother…… Howan……
He had worried that Paeng Yeonhwa’s hatred might have faded over these few years. Fearing she might think of him not as a beast but as human, he sent the tooth to unleash her suppressed true nature.
In the end, Howan’s wish came true. After her rampage, Paeng Yeonhwa…… realized she was absolutely not human.
At the same time, it reignited her deep hatred for Howan.
“……You’ve examined my body, Lord Yeo Myeong.”
“Yes.”
“……What do you think?”
“……Honestly, I’m not sure. If we tried, we might overhaul your body and excise the deeply ingrained beastkin traits. But if we did, you’d end up worse than an ordinary human. It might even fail…….”
“That’s enough.”
Paeng Yeonhwa nodded.
“That settles it.”
Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh, pooling blood. Paeng Yeonhwa gazed down at the blood.
Whether she was human or beast, or a monster that was neither. She had once agonized over it, but not anymore. The body didn’t matter. The mind…… whether it was human, beastly, or monstrous.
Paeng Yeonhwa considered herself human. That was enough.
‘Ah, big brother.’
Paeng Yeonhwa let the blood from her palm drip away and closed her eyes.
‘You’ve become a monster even in your heart.’
A monster, not a beast.
The sound of a vengeful ghost sobbing echoed in her ears.
* * *
“I didn’t expect even you to come.”
The Taiji Sword Lord muttered in surprise. The woman who had been gazing at the ship docked in the harbor turned her head.
With her long hair levitating just off the ground, she looked more like a girl than a woman.
It was only her appearance. Everyone gathered here knew that. She was a monster who had lived for nearly a century.
“My first outing in decades.”
Dang Sa-yeong murmured. As her words implied, she hadn’t left the Tang Clan’s hidden stronghold for decades. There had been no reason to. Now…… there was. Dang Sa-yeong narrowed her eyes, staring out at the distant sea.
“What about Moon Shadow Immortal?”
“He’s in no condition to move.”
The Eccentric Wanderer murmured. Three of the Ten Heroes had gathered in this small harbor. Many glanced their way, but none could overhear the Ten Heroes’ conversation.
“How much time does he have left?”
“No one knows exactly, but it’s not like he’s dying tomorrow. As long as he doesn’t leave Uicheon Mountain.”
“Looks like he wants to cling to that pathetic state.”
“That’s not something for you, who desires immortality more than anyone, to say.”
The Taiji Sword Lord gave a wry smile at Dang Sa-yeong’s jab. Dang Sa-yeong blinked her large eyes and burst into laughter.
“You’re saying strange things. Everyone naturally hates dying, right? That’s why we defy the natural order. Not just me—you too, Taiji Sword Lord. Look at yourself. Your youthful reversion, defying the years, isn’t that also born from a desire for immortality out of fear of death?”
“Old age makes it hard to wield a sword.”
“Huhu! True. Old age makes swinging a sword difficult. And not just swords? An aged body brings no benefits.”
Dang Sa-yeong giggled, stroking her wrinkle-free cheek.
“Moon Shadow Immortal is pitiful. The afflictions of his constitution can’t be cured even by rejuvenation…… Not even overcome by his supreme martial arts. Truly tragic for one of the Jang Clan, who maintain youth until death by old age.”
“But Moon Shadow Immortal isn’t despairing. He…… has already accepted it.”
The Eccentric Wanderer shook his head and murmured. Dang Sa-yeong burst into laughter again at that. In the meantime, preparations for departure were complete.
The Murim Alliance Leader and its elders. The head of the Wu Family Manor, three of the Ten Heroes. Not a large group, but the central figures of the orthodox martial world.
“Do you believe the Black Demon King?”
“The Black Demon King is trustworthy. Yeo Myeong is not.”
The Eccentric Wanderer muttered with a furrowed brow.
“But it’s certain he was in the Demonic Cult. Otherwise, that flashy guy wouldn’t have evaded the Beggars’ Sect’s eyes for decades.”
“I agree Yeo Myeong is unreliable, but I doubt he’d spew such absurd lies against the Black Demon King.”
“That’s why we’re here. It’s just…… too. Absurd.”
The Taiji Sword Lord gave a wry smile at the Eccentric Wanderer’s words. Boarding the ship, the Taiji Sword Lord stood by the railing, gazing at the distant sea.
“……The Heavenly Demon killed the Demon King…….”
The Taiji Sword Lord murmured softly, caressing the sword at his waist.
World’s Greatest Sword.
The characters on its sheath felt heavier and more pathetic than ever.