Chapter 226
Translator: uly
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Five Years' Grace
The black spots that had filled the sky vanished in an instant. In response, Jet-Black Night, who had deployed her talismans, didn't panic but first pursued the Black Demon King's presence.
But there were many who targeted that brief gap. The most aggressive was the Taiji Sword Lord.
Before he could even draw his sword, the formless sword strikes enveloped Jet-Black Night. Instead of retreating, she flicked her fingers, and the talismans moved to block the strikes.
"Don't be hasty."
Jet-Black Night said slowly. She looked down below with eyes full of leisure. Among the Ten Heroes gathered there, excluding the Black Demon King, there were still six.
Even discounting Dawn Hero in terms of power, that made five. If Jet-Black Night didn't bear the fate of immortality, facing them like this would be a burdensome force.
"You've only landed one strike, Taiji Sword Lord. Your sword is certainly worthy of claiming the title of the world's greatest. But it's still insufficient to bear that weight."
"That's precisely why I've etched 'World's Greatest Sword' upon my back."
The Taiji Sword Lord replied without retreating. His response amused her, and Jet-Black Night burst into laughter.
"Indeed, is that how you've been driving yourself? How pitiful."
No further attacks came after he drew his sword. To the eyes of the later-generation experts who 'couldn't see it,' it appeared that way. Wi Sungcheon saw the massive serpent of the Venomous Mist Lady encircling Jet-Black Night.
"It's just a bloated snake. Even if it were a true Imugi, I've never felt threatened by it. Do you think an invisible snake like this could threaten me?"
"You didn't come here to kill all of us."
The Maverick Hero suddenly spoke up. He glared at Jet-Black Night with wide eyes and blocked the Venomous Mist Lady's path.
"You came as the Heavenly Demon's emissary, and you said you'd confirm first before delivering the message. Hasn't that confirmation already ended?"
"You're saying strange things. The only thing worth confirming from me is the Black Demon King's power."
"Then there's nothing more to confirm. None among us can claim to be stronger than the Black Demon King."
The Maverick Hero spat out. At his words, the Venomous Mist Lady bristled and grabbed his shoulder, but he didn't budge.
'Indeed.'
Wi Sungcheon realized why the Maverick Hero was saying such things. The famous adage in the martial world: "Hide three-tenths of your power." In a situation like this, clashing unconditionally with Jet-Black Night and revealing one's hand was never wise when considering 'the future.'
"It might be the last day today, yet you're already thinking about the future."
"I am absolutely certain that today will not be the last."
The Maverick Hero replied without stepping back an inch. At his resolute attitude, even the Venomous Mist Lady didn't press further. Instead, she glared at the back of his head with irritation.
"If today truly were the last, it would be the Heavenly Demon Hyuk Wolun—not you—who decides it."
"Ahaha! Why do you think that?"
"He hasn't chosen the end; he's kept putting it off."
It wasn't the Maverick Hero who answered.
Mu Yeonjun. His eyes held no awe or fear toward Jet-Black Night. They were as indifferent as if gazing at roadside pebbles or trees.
"He could have ended everything long ago. Without summoning the Demon King, he himself could have become the end of this world. From the moment the previous Heavenly Being died pathetically, no one in this world could rival the Heavenly Demon. Yet he didn't end it."
Jet-Black Night said nothing, only smiling faintly. Mu Yeonjun continued.
"The Heavenly Demon has waited dozens of years like that. There's no way he'd hand over the fruit of that patience to you."
"Ahaha!"
At those words, Jet-Black Night finally couldn't hold back her laughter. She laughed for a while, then nodded, acknowledging Mu Yeonjun's words.
"Right. You're correct. Today is not the end."
With a beaming smile, Jet-Black Night scanned over all of the Black Star members one by one.
"If today were truly the end, Hyuk Wolun himself would have come. I... lack the qualification to declare the end."
"What message does the Heavenly Demon wish to convey by sending you?"
At that question, Jet-Black Night slowly raised her hand. Her fully open right hand extended forward, imprinting itself in everyone's view.
"Five years."
The smile vanished from Jet-Black Night's face.
"In five years, Hyuk Wolun will come personally to the Extreme Moon Plains of Qinghai."
It was a one-sided declaration.
"Hyuk Wolun has named all of the Ten Heroes. You may bring anyone else you deem a worthwhile force. But no matter who the opponent is or how many, Hyuk Wolun will fight alone."
"......What does that......"
"Does that mean he won't bring the Ten Demon Lords?"
The bewildered elites voiced their confusion one after another, but Jet-Black Night paid them no attention. Her gaze was fixed solely on the Ten Heroes.
"If you're afraid of death, you needn't come. Know that those who don't come hold no value worth killing."
"......I have one question."
The Green Forest Demon Emperor spoke.
"Jet-Black Night. You said you'd confirm first before delivering the Heavenly Demon's message."
"I've already confirmed. By gauging the strongest among you, the Black Demon King."
It was a mocking remark, but the Green Forest Demon Emperor showed no anger. He remained cautious and composed, unlike his massive build and appearance.
"What was the purpose of that confirmation? It was the Heavenly Demon who named him......"
"You're greatly mistaken. I am not in a lord-vassal relationship with Hyuk Wolun."
Jet-Black Night's eyes grew icy. The Green Forest Demon Emperor shrugged and corrected his words.
"......The Heavenly Demon requested it of you?"
"No, it was my own decision."
Jet-Black Night shook her head.
"Hyuk Wolun merely asked me to convey his words. He could have come himself, but I wanted to go. What was the confirmation for? Isn't it obvious? Among the humans of this era, excluding Hyuk Wolun and the demons below him, you Ten Heroes are the strongest. I wanted to see if your power could even reach Hyuk Wolun."
"......That's an answer that provokes much thought."
The Venomous Mist Lady muttered.
"You said you've confirmed. Does that mean you've confirmed our power can't reach the Heavenly Demon?"
"I see what you're thinking. You believe I stepped forward first to judge your power for Hyuk Wolun's sake. You're ignorant. That's why you're full of misconceptions. Why would I care about Hyuk Wolun's well-being?"
Jet-Black Night's thin lips curved into a smile.
"If I must say, I desire Hyuk Wolun's death. But that's...... an impossible wish. So, I must temper my greed. I haven't gauged all of you, but I saw the Black Demon King's power. Even if you're a few levels below him, as long as it's not greatly lacking......"
Crunch.
The Venomous Mist Lady bit her lower lip. So hard that it split, blood trickling down.
For that prideful heroine, being rated several levels below the Black Demon King was a grave dissatisfaction. Especially since she had been mortal enemies with him for fifty years.
"I judged that, if things go well, you could inflict serious injury on Hyuk Wolun. You should be pleased."
"......And if we fell short of your standards?"
"Even then, I would have conveyed Hyuk Wolun's will. While scorning you as weaklings."
In the end, the confrontation with the Heavenly Demon in five years was unavoidable either way. Jet-Black Night's words planted doubts in many.
"Why five years from now?"
The one who directly raised the question was the Black Demon King. He had appeared suddenly, but Jet-Black Night wasn't startled. Instead, she gazed down at him with a softer smile than before.
"The Heavenly Demon has already waited dozens of years for us. If he's going to wait more anyway, wouldn't ten years be better than five?"
"If he wants to wait, Hyuk Wolun would wait not just ten, but dozens of years. Even if the church's discontent builds and erupts, his power alone could crush the entire church."
"Then why not wait longer?"
"It's pointless, he said."
Jet-Black Night shook her head.
"Hyuk Wolun waited thirty years. In those thirty years...... what changed? A new Heavenly Being was born. That's all. Even with one more added to the Ten Heroes, the martial world's power still hasn't surpassed Hyuk Wolun."
"The Heavenly Being is still young."
"As the Heavenly Being, Ten Heroes, and other later-generation experts grow stronger day by day, Hyuk Wolun grows stronger with each passing day as well. So he judged that waiting longer won't produce the equal rival he desires."
Jet-Black Night tilted her head. Looking at Mu Yeonjun and the other later-generation experts, she continued slowly.
"He judged that 'loss' is necessary."
"......Loss......?"
"Thirty years ago, Hyuk Wolun killed the Heavenly Being. What happened after? You recognized the current Heavenly Demon as an overwhelmingly powerful existence beyond your control and began seeking countermeasures. Shall I recount what came before? When Hyuk Wolun challenged the previous Heavenly Being to a duel...... were there any Ten Heroes present?"
The Taiji Sword Lord let out a low groan. No. There were none. The previous Heavenly Being, Ji Munhyuk, received the Heavenly Demon's challenge and sought aid from the other Ten Heroes. His intent was for all Ten Heroes to lie in ambush and overwhelm the Heavenly Demon at once. But not one Ten Hero answered Ji Munhyuk's call.
Out of pride. Everyone...... harbored overweening confidence in their own power. They were displeased that the Heavenly Demon's arrogant challenge went only to the Heavenly Being, not themselves.
A joint assault on top of that? At the time, the Ten Heroes were so arrogant they scoffed at Ji Munhyuk's request. Even the Taiji Sword Lord had torn up Ji Munhyuk's letter in rage.
"There weren't. No one was there. That was a heavenly opportunity. Even if all Ten Heroes, the Murim Alliance, and the Black Society's elites were lying in wait, Hyuk Wolun would have appeared alone. But you didn't. Only the Murim Alliance's meager forces sided with the Heavenly Being's will. And the result? The Heavenly Being didn't last ten exchanges before dying, and the Alliance forces couldn't hold Hyuk Wolun for even a moment."
Jet-Black Night spoke laced with derision. The sect leaders of the Nine Great Righteous Sects couldn't lift their heads.
......They too admitted their foolishness and arrogance. But what could be done? It was thirty years ago. Rumors of Heavenly Demon Hyuk Wolun were nonexistent then, while Sixth Heavenly Being Ji Munhyuk was hailed as the world's greatest.
No one...... imagined Ji Munhyuk would die so futilely.
"The events of thirty years ago became a painful awakening for the era. Hyuk Wolun's power became known to the entire world, and you Ten Heroes shed your arrogance. Isn't the current Heavenly Being the result?"
Raising the Heavenly Being as a joint disciple of the righteous Ten Heroes. Arrogant warriors who saw themselves as the world's greatest hung their legacies on a single youth. Such a thing would never have happened if the previous Heavenly Being hadn't died, if Heavenly Demon Hyuk Wolun weren't so strong.
"But it wasn't enough. The pain was insufficient. You're still dividing yourselves into righteous and unrighteous factions. So, lose again, and learn the pain. If all the Ten Heroes who led this era die to the Heavenly Demon, the 'next' generation can take it as a lesson."
"......Hahaha!"
The Black Demon King burst into loud laughter.
"Indeed. If all Ten Heroes die to the Heavenly Demon, it would surely be a lesson. And if we can wound him in the process, all the better."
The Black Demon King seemed unoffended by the blow to his pride. He nodded sincerely, laughing.
"I'm pleased he granted a fixed five-year reprieve. Five years...... plenty of time. Please convey to the Heavenly Demon: This Black Demon King, Baek Ri Muwon, will gladly await five years from now. And in five years, if possible, I will shatter my bones and scatter my flesh to kill you, Heavenly Demon."
Jet-Black Night didn't reply immediately, gazing at the Black Demon King for a moment. Her eyes peered into the unknown power hidden within his body.
"......It would have been better to stay hidden all along."
"There was no need. Even if I hadn't emerged, you would have sensed what I obtained."
"It was a miscalculation on my part. I never imagined any legacy remained on this island even now."
"If you'd come a few months later, it would have vanished. I'm truly grateful you came beforehand."
"You speak so infuriatingly."
Jet-Black Night chuckled and turned her body. For the last time, she glanced toward Baek Ri Hyang.
[She's my blood kin, so don't covet her.]
The Black Demon King's transmission echoed in Jet-Black Night's mind. Bursting into laughter, she wrapped her body with her nine tails.
Before everyone's eyes, Jet-Black Night vanished. The moon regained its color, and the night's darkness cleared. But no one spoke or moved. Each imagined the five years ahead in their own way.
"......So."
The White Night Witch turned her head.
"Black Demon King. What the hell did you do?"
She was the first to voice what everyone wondered.