Chapter 223
Translator: uly
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: Three Days' Grace
Wi Sungcheon looked around in a daze. He could understand being summoned in the dead of night, but the atmosphere was far from ordinary.
“……Pardon?”
It didn’t take long to grasp why the mood was so grave. Wi Sungcheon blinked in disbelief.
The Qingcheng Sect leader, Daoist Yunyeon, had been disguised as the Jet-Black Fox, and on the day the duel ended, she had taken Sanggwan Hu away and done something to him.
“Didn’t you sense anything strange?”
The Tai Chi Sword Lord asked with a stern expression.
“I couldn’t be certain that Daoist Yunyeon during the conference was the Jet-Black Fox in disguise, but the one you met after the duel with the Black Dragon was undoubtedly her. Didn’t you sense any demonic energy from him?”
Like the Heavenly Prodigy, Wi Sungcheon was born with the ability to detect demonic energy. Recalling the events from just a few days ago, he shook his head.
“I didn’t sense anything from him.”
“Hmm…….”
The Tai Chi Sword Lord and the others let out heavy sighs. Yeomyeong, listening from a distance, chuckled dryly and shook his head.
“There’s no reason for the Jet-Black Fox to carry demonic energy around.”
“……And what about Sanggwan Hu?”
“What do you mean? He’s right there for you to see.”
At Yeomyeong’s feet lay Sanggwan Hu, covered in blood. He kicked the unconscious body and grumbled.
“The power the Jet-Black Fox gave this fool wasn’t demonic energy. If I had to name it…… it’d be yokai power. Something like the innate energy of a yokai, different from internal energy or demonic qi.”
“There’s a lot about the Black Dragon’s words that doesn’t add up.”
“That’s because you don’t know what the Jet-Black Fox really is. It makes perfect sense to me. Don’t try to judge the madness of a being who’s lived for centuries beyond human standards. There’s rarely any rational reason for her actions.”
Yeomyeong grimaced as he spoke.
“……Of course, that’s from our perspective. She might have her own reasons.”
From the conversation, it seemed Sanggwan Hu’s interrogation was already over. Wi Sungcheon sat quietly without interrupting, and Jegal Ihyeon sent him a transmission.
[It’s because of you.]
[What do you mean?]
[Sanggwan hyung was consumed by his desire for revenge against you. The Jet-Black Fox must have liked that resentment. Perhaps seeing how thoroughly you crushed him stirred some sadistic impulse in her. Who knows what’s really in the Jet-Black Fox’s mind, but it’s clear she gave him power because he wanted revenge.]
Jegal Ihyeon gave a wry smile.
[But Sanggwan hyung couldn’t even handle the power he was given and got arrogant. That’s how he ended up like that.]
Before seeking revenge on Wi Sungcheon, the Jet-Black Fox had tested Sanggwan Hu. It didn’t matter who, but Jegal Ihyeon happened to be visiting the sick, so he was chosen as the opponent—and Sanggwan Hu failed to give her any satisfaction.
“Three days from now.”
The Poisonless Marquess muttered, furrowing his brow. He glared at the sullen Yeomyeong.
“You’re not thinking of running away, are you?”
“I’m not that foolish.”
Yeomyeong sighed deeply and shook his head.
“The Jet-Black Fox knows I’m on this island. I…… have no confidence in escaping her notice. If I try to flee for no reason…….”
“I just can’t understand it. She’s just an old Nine-Tailed Fox, isn’t she?”
Yeomyeong let out another long sigh at the Poisonless Marquess’s jab, covering his face.
“A fox’s lifespan is just over a decade at most. Yet this one has lived for centuries. You and I have lived perhaps two or three times that, but she’s lived dozens of times longer. Can you really dismiss that?”
“……Hmph. Six of the Ten Heroes are on this island. It’s not the absolute worst situation.”
“The Black Demon King isn’t here, you fool—the Black Demon King!”
“Who cares if that bastard Baek Ri Muyuan is here or not!”
The Poisonless Marquess bellowed. Unable to stand it, the Eccentric Hero slammed his foot down, shaking the ground.
“Calm down, all of you. What good does yelling at each other do?”
“The Jet-Black Fox only said she’d visit in three days. We can’t assume she harbors hostility yet.”
“Ha! An ancient Nine-Tailed Fox is ominous enough, and she’s consorting with the Demonic Cult to boot? She even used a worm from the Shangguan Clan to sow chaos, and the Qingcheng Sect leader’s fate is unknown.”
The Poisonless Marquess sneered.
“You think she gave us three days’ grace to throw a welcome party?”
“Then what do you suggest? She gave us three days—should we just bolt?”
“You think we can escape the Jet-Black Fox’s grasp?”
Yeomyeong shook his head. Everyone just raised their voices, but no consensus was reached. Wi Sungcheon quietly shifted closer to the White Night Witch.
[What do we do?]
[……Do you want to run?]
[Honestly, I don’t know what the right choice is. I’ve never met the Jet-Black Fox, so I’m not sure if she’s really that terrifying…….]
[If she’s giving us three days out of hostility, then she’s awfully arrogant. Maybe she’s that confident in her power.]
The White Night Witch sent the transmission with a frown.
[It’s an ambiguous timeframe. Three days…… If it’s a delay to let us flee, it’s too obvious.]
[If the Jet-Black Fox were coming with ill intent, she’s already had plenty of chances.]
[Anyone with a brain would think the same.]
“Why not just run if you want to?”
The Green Forest Demon Emperor, who had been silent, spoke up. He picked up the large酒 bottle beside him and uncorked it.
“Of course, I have no intention of running. Fleeing in fear from a yokai I’ve never even met, dragging all my subordinates along? Pfft! I’d rather die than suffer that humiliation.”
The Green Forest Demon Emperor mocked as he gulped down the liquor. The Tai Chi Sword Lord stroked his chin and nodded slowly.
“I have no thought of fleeing either. But I won’t force it on you all—do as you wish.”
Excluding Yeomyeong, the Ten Heroes were all martial artists of the world. Men of immense pride and stubbornness.
The only one considering flight after such words was Yeomyeong. However, some of the Nine Great Righteous Sects leaders looked troubled, glancing around.
Among them, the most uneasy was Fengyun Sword of the Zhongnan Sect. He had transported Sanggwan Hu with Daoist Yunyeon and regained consciousness in the middle of a forest. He still didn’t know what had happened, but it was clear the Jet-Black Fox had bewitched him.
“What will you do?”
After the meeting broke up, the Tai Chi Sword Lord stopped Wi Sungcheon.
“Running isn’t easy, and pretending not to know isn’t an option since I’ve already been summoned and heard everything.”
“……Hmm. That wasn’t why I called you, but…….”
“I understand. Don’t worry about it. So, what happens now?”
“There’s no point hiding it.”
The Tai Chi Sword Lord gave a bitter smile.
“For now, I plan to inform everyone on the island. So they won’t get caught up if the worst happens. I’ll evacuate the young ones to the distant harbor, but whether it goes as planned…… who knows.”
“What about Muyon Jun?”
“……That child probably won’t listen. That’s my real concern. Whether to force him back or…….”
“Let him do as he wants.”
The White Night Witch beside Wi Sungcheon snapped with a scowl.
“He’s not a kid anymore—how long are you going to coddle a grown man?”
“He’s only twenty-one.”
“That’s not an age to call ‘only.’ The Heavenly Prodigy’s skills are on par with a sect leader.”
“He’s achieved so much already, so we must protect him for the future…….”
The Tai Chi Sword Lord’s words trailed off. He sighed shortly at the White Night Witch’s mocking smile.
“……Right. Protect…… What a joke.”
“You Ten Heroes of the righteous factions took the Heavenly Prodigy as a disciple and taught him for a mere three years. How long do you plan to baby your ‘disciple’ as his master?”
“……I take your point. I’ll leave it to the boy himself.”
“It’s too early to assume the worst. The Jet-Black Fox has had plenty of chances. Even now, if she wanted, she could meet the Heavenly Prodigy and the kids. If she were truly cunning, she’d come for them while we’re gathered at Black Star in three days.”
“You make me imagine what I’d rather not.”
“That’s so you don’t leave any regrets.”
The White Night Witch glanced at Wi Sungcheon.
“So. I won’t force you either. Go to the harbor if you want. Or sprawl out in that seaside shack you like. Or…….”
“I’ll go to Black Star.”
Wi Sungcheon shook his head.
“As the White Night Witch said, it seems safer with the Ten Heroes gathered there. Plus, I want to see the Jet-Black Fox for myself.”
“Hmm, fair enough. It’s a rare sight. If a fight breaks out, you’re lucky. A clash between the Ten Heroes and a yokai master—straight out of legends.”
“As long as I don’t get caught in the crossfire.”
Wi Sungcheon smiled wryly.
* * *
“You’ve raised a fine disciple, Cheonsal.”
Dang Heeran’s steps halted abruptly at the mutter. As expected. She hadn’t quite fooled the Ten Heroes’ eyes.
“No, not entirely. Your stealth techniques are exceptional. If you set your mind to the assassin’s path, you could at least ambush one of the Ten Heroes, even if killing them is out of reach.”
Dang Heeran flinched at the follow-up. It felt like he’d read her mind.
“Exactly.”
The Black Demon King nodded slowly.
Who would imagine such a space hidden in the seaside cliffs? Dang Heeran wouldn’t have found it without deciphering the hidden cipher in the books from Cheonsal’s secret chamber.
It was an utterly bizarre place. Manipulating a mechanism in the cliff revealed a narrow entrance barely wide enough for one person, leading through a winding single path to this vast cavern.
Dang Heeran glanced at the characters carved into the floor and walls, resembling intricate drawings. The unfamiliar script emitted a faint glow, and in the center, the Black Demon King levitated in a meditative pose.
“I’m reading your mind right now. Ah, of course, I don’t possess such supernatural abilities innately. This space…… is extraordinarily unique. Anywhere else, and even I couldn’t have pierced your stealth so easily.”
“……You’re really…… reading my mind?”
Dang Heeran stammered. The Black Demon King slowly opened his closed eyes.
“The fact that Cheonsal left this place in cipher rather than telling you directly…… Hmm. Perhaps he thought he’d never see you again.”
“……I read all the books he left, but there was nothing about his personal life.”
“That’s Cheonsal for you. I’ve known him a long time, but I don’t know much about him. I thought we’d built a strong bond…… but who knows if he felt the same.”
The Black Demon King chuckled and closed his eyes again. Dang Heeran tried to speak, but he continued first.
“Cheonsal is searching for the Eternal Divine Maiden. He was when we first met, and he still is. With a disciple now, he has no lingering attachments, and since we weren’t in a master-servant relation, no need to ask permission. Something like that. Respect your master’s wishes.”
“……Yes.”
“What did Cheonsal write about this place?”
“……He called it the Divine Land. The island’s most secretive and incomprehensible place.”
“Wasn’t there a note like this? ‘Know of it, but never enter.’”
“…….”
That was indeed written. The Black Demon King laughed at her silence.
“I’m not blaming you, so don’t worry. Quite the opposite—I’m impressed by your cleverness. Cheonsal never imagined you’d crack the cipher so quickly and find this place.”
“……What…… is this place?”
“Not as grandiose as ‘Divine Land.’ But…… it’s certainly a land bearing sorcery no human could achieve.”
The Black Demon King murmured, slowly raising his hand.
“I understand why you had to come here. Night falls soon—the time the Jet-Black Fox arrives. No telling what happens after, so you wanted to see this unknown with your own eyes…… A perfectly reasonable motive.”
“……Black Death Alliance Leader. What are you…….”
“It’s true I left the island with the Alliance Lord. I just slipped back midway. I figured something might happen while I was away. And it did. Honestly, I’m relieved.”
Relieved about what? No, she had mountains of other questions. What was this place? What was the Black Demon King scheming?
“Time is short.”
The Black Demon King smiled bitterly.
“The Divine Land’s magic is nearly depleted. Soon, the sorcery here will fade away. ……And now the Jet-Black Fox comes. Mere coincidence?”
He murmured, slowly raising his hand again.
“Perfect timing. I was getting lonely—keep me company.”
“Pardon?”
“If you don’t want to, you can leave.”
Whoosh!
The space he gestured to split open. Dang Heeran’s eyes widened at what appeared.
It was like looking out a window—the scenery of Black Star lay vividly close.