Chapter 227
Translator: uly
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Whispers from the Stars
“I merely borrowed the power of the Strange Gate Escapism.”
The Black Demon King smiled faintly. As he slowly waved his hand, something came flying from far away. The moment Dang Seona confirmed what it was, her expression changed.
“It’s just a knockout.”
His verdant green fingernails halted right in front of her throat, but the Black Demon King’s face remained utterly relaxed.
Gritting her teeth, Dang Seona pushed her hand further forward, but her nails could not advance any more to pierce the Black Demon King’s throat. In stark contrast to Dang Seona, her blood kin Poison Fog Hou showed no agitation at all. He merely glanced once at the limp Dang Heeran.
“Strange Gate Escapism? Since when did you have such proficiency in it?”
“Didn’t I say it? I merely borrowed the power. It wasn’t I who deployed the Strange Gate Escapism.”
The Black Demon King’s gaze fell upon the White Demon Witch. This island had been the Blood Sect’s domain even before it became the Black Forest.
Though the White Demon Witch, a survivor of the Blood Gate that had broken away from the Blood Sect, had no memories of living here as a follower of the Blood Sect, she had arrived on the island before the Black Demon King and even encountered the lingering spirit of the Blood Sect Lord.
“……This island was once the domain of some religion long ago. Ah, don’t misunderstand. I have no connection whatsoever to that religion.”
“……Then how did you, of all people, discover the Strange Gate Escapism hidden on this island?”
The White Demon Witch pressed sharply. Because of this, the others shot her suspicious glances. Wi Sung-cheon subtly positioned himself beside the White Demon Witch and sent a transmission.
[Hey, calm down for now.]
[That slippery Baengni Mu-won hid the Blood Sect’s secret arts even from me. And calm down? Like hell.]
[Since when were you so devoted to the sect…….]
[Aren’t you angry? The Blood Sect belongs to the Lineage, and you, as its apostle, are technically the Blood Sect Lord! Baengni Mu-won knew the Blood Sect’s secret arts that you should inherit, all to himself!]
[I never said I wanted to be the sect lord…… And the Black Demon King probably doesn’t know about me…….]
No, did he really not know? Wi Sung-cheon smacked his lips.
The moment Wi Sung-cheon advanced to the center, the White Demon Witch had him stay in the Blood Palace and passed on part of the life-death absolute art, Wandering Soul White Escape. And after that, she had continued guiding his martial arts.
Unless one was completely ignorant of the Lineage or the Blood Sect, it was natural to associate Wi Sung-cheon with them if one knew about him.
“Don’t be too angry. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to let you know; I just didn’t announce it.”
“Then what was it?”
“It’s been fifty years since I became the Black Snake Alliance Leader.”
The Black Demon King paused for a moment and looked at the other Ten Heroes. They were all old monsters who had lived over a hundred years, from the same era as him.
“That’s how long I’ve been at the pinnacle of the unorthodox world. Monster Hero, you might understand a bit, no? The decades you were Beggar Clan Leader, and the decades after retiring from the frontline. You must have heard all sorts of rumors from the martial world.”
“……Hm.”
“The same for me. The Pleasure House brings verified rumors to offer to the Black Snake Alliance, and some come directly seeking an audience with me. So…… I learned of the ‘sacred site’ hidden on this island when I decided to make it the new base of the Black Forest and threw myself into various construction projects.”
The Black Demon King shrugged his shoulders.
“It was right after this Black Star Tower was completed. Unlike how I seem, I find joy in small things and like to celebrate them, so that night, I held a private banquet here alone.”
“…….”
Wi Sung-cheon couldn’t even begin to imagine it. This Black Demon King, holding a solo banquet out of joy over completing one tower?
Wi Sung-cheon wasn’t the only one thinking that. Only Baengni Hyang nodded in agreement with the Black Demon King.
“The starlight whispered to me.”
The Black Demon King said abruptly. He waved his hand dismissively at the numerous dubious gazes directed at him.
“No, really. I wasn’t drunk; I was perfectly sober. Yet…… one of the countless stars in the sky descended and whispered to me.”
“……What did…… it whisper?”
The Taiji Sword Lord asked with a dubious expression. It was hard to believe, but the Black Demon King wasn’t the type to lie about such things.
“It told me to follow. It seemed curious and amusing, so I tried to catch it, but it wouldn’t be caught, so I gave up and just followed.”
“So, that star guided you to the sacred site hidden on the island?”
The White Demon Witch sneered, but the Black Demon King nodded without a hint of disturbance.
“It was tightly concealed by mechanisms. Wondering what it was, the star kindly informed me about the sacred site and itself. The star…… called itself a divine maiden.”
The moment those words ended.
Mu Yeon-jun strode toward the Black Demon King. Everyone was startled by his sudden action, but the Black Demon King turned his head toward Mu Yeon-jun without any agitation and continued speaking.
“I know why you’re agitated.”
“…….”
“I asked directly. Whether it was the orthodox successor of the Zhang Clan, who has lived for hundreds of years and is the only one who can divine the birth of a Heavenly Person and the descent of the Demon King, the Eternal Divine Maiden. But the star denied it. It said it wasn’t the Eternal Divine Maiden but another being called a divine maiden.”
The Black Demon King said this and burst into laughter.
“Listen, Heavenly Person. A thousand years have passed since the Divine-Demon Great War. For that long span, the world has fought against the demons. No one can deny that the Heavenly Person was at the center of that long fight.”
Mu Yeon-jun halted his steps and glared at the Black Demon King. But his gaze couldn’t wipe the smile from the Black Demon King’s face.
“Others who were not Heavenly Persons have fought too. Some fought out of chivalrous spirit to protect and save the world, some simply because they loved battle. There must have been those who fought out of hatred and vengeance against the demons. The divine maiden…… said that those who gathered form the Lineage.”
Mu Yeon-jun’s pupils trembled. Wi Sung-cheon saw blood dripping from the fist he clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh.
“……Why.”
A voice leaked through his gritted teeth.
“Why didn’t they reveal themselves to the successive Heavenly Persons? Why did that so-called Lineage never contact the Heavenly Person, but…….”
“How would I know?”
The Black Demon King snorted and dismissed Mu Yeon-jun’s words.
“Their circumstances are none of my concern. If they didn’t want to, fine, but I quite liked the ‘power’ of the sacred site that the divine maiden told me about. The reason for the sacred site’s existence was intriguing too. They said this land is where the Lineage was born and their final bastion.”
Mu Yeon-jun said no more. He was lost in deep contemplation.
As the Black Demon King said, since the Divine-Demon Great War, the world had continuously fought against the Demon King, demon beasts, and demon sects. Yet even after a thousand years, the fight had no conclusion.
But there had surely been plenty of moments when it could have ended. At least, before the terrifyingly powerful Revolution Moon Yun was born. The demon sects wouldn’t have been such a hopeless enemy back then.
The more those thoughts continued.
Mu Yeon-jun’s pupils shook violently. Why hadn’t the Lineage contacted the Heavenly Person? Why did the divine maiden choose the Black Demon King? Was it because this Black Forest was their holy site? That could be one reason, but it didn’t explain why the Lineage, which had existed for hundreds of years, never contacted the Heavenly Person.
In the end, Mu Yeon-jun could reach only one conclusion.
‘They didn’t trust the Heavenly Person.’
His teeth, clenched too tightly, ground together. The sound was too small to halt the Black Demon King’s words.
“They prepared for the battle against the demons in their own way. If, one day, the Demon King descends and hordes of demons pour from the Demon Realm. This island would become the final bastion, they said. Even the Strange Gate Escapism that attacked the Seven Black Yao earlier was originally meant to repel the Demon King.”
“……It was impressive, but I doubt it could repel the Demon King.”
“That’s because I used it alone.”
At Poison Fog Hou’s jab, the Black Demon King clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“What if not me alone, but ten masters on my level gathered and borrowed the power of the Strange Gate Escapism? What do you think?”
“Don’t make idiotic assumptions. Baengni Mu-won. If you were truly wise, you wouldn’t have kept that sacred site’s Strange Gate Escapism to yourself but shared it with us. The Seven Black Yao even gave us three days’ grace!”
Poison Fog Hou bellowed. But again, the Black Demon King clicked his tongue, looking at Poison Fog Hou with eyes full of pity instead of shaking his head.
“Poison Fog Hou, no, Dang Sa-yeong. Do you trust me?”
“……What?”
“You don’t. And neither do I. Just as you don’t trust me, I don’t trust you other Ten Heroes. So why should I reveal all my secrets to you? How can I be sure you won’t harbor treacherous thoughts and pursue selfish desires?”
“What the hell are you saying?!”
“Ah, if perhaps not the Seven Black Yao but the Demon King or Heavenly Demon had come directly to this island…… I would have opened my heart wide and joined forces with you all. But what came was the Seven Black Yao. She harbored no killing intent and is an existence we can’t kill anyway. So I didn’t tell you.”
“Why poke the hornet’s nest?”
The Monster Hero spat out.
“As you said, the Seven Black Yao had no killing intent.”
“But it’s a fact that the Seven Black Yao talked about verification and tried to attack. If I hadn’t stepped in, you would have unleashed your life-death absolute arts without hesitation. Monster Hero, please spare me the idiotic talk. Didn’t you yourself decide to hide your hand and grab Dang Sa-yeong because you judged it necessary?”
‘Why is this rotten bastard especially harsh on me?’
The Monster Hero’s fist trembled.
“Well, sure. You could see it as poking the hornet’s nest. But I had no choice. Nothing in the world is eternal, and the Strange Gate Escapism’s lifespan was running out. Those Lineage folks surely didn’t think the world would remain relatively peaceful for hundreds of years. They wouldn’t have thought the Heavenly Demon would personally slay the Demon King either.”
“……So. You used it since the opportunity arose?”
“That’s right.”
The Black Demon King smiled and nodded. He still hadn’t revealed everything. What he obtained from the sacred site, and what it was for. The reason he didn’t reveal it was simple.
Just as the Ten Heroes didn’t trust the Black Demon King, he didn’t trust the Ten Heroes.
“Well, that should answer your questions. So how about we discuss the crisis we’re facing right now? The one in five years, that is.”
“……Hm.”
“No, it’s not over yet.”
Mu Yeon-jun interjected abruptly. He roughly wiped the blood trickling from his lips and glared at the Black Demon King with bloodshot eyes.
“I still can’t accept this business about the Lineage. What exactly are they?”
“Didn’t I say? They’re a secret society gathered with their own stories and missions.”
“Why haven’t such people become known in the martial world?”
“Such groups usually love secretive operations.”
“Don’t dodge with jokes!”
“If you don’t like my way of speaking, try answering with force.”
One corner of the Black Demon King’s mouth twisted upward.
“Of course, you lack such ability. But truly, I know little about them. The divine maiden conveyed only the sacred site and the Strange Gate Escapism’s power before vanishing.”
“You expect me to believe that? Someone as sly as an old raccoon like you wouldn’t just sit still after such one-sided contact!”
“Haha! Since when do you know me so well to say that? But you’re right. I did look into the Lineage in my own way.”
The Black Demon King laughed heartily before turning to the Monster Hero.
“Monster Hero. Have you ever heard of this Lineage group?”
“……No.”
“See? Even the former head of the Beggar Clan, the martial world’s top information network, has never heard of them. No matter how much I inquired…….”
“But you knew there was a religion called the Blood Sect on this island.”
The Monster Hero said abruptly.
At those words, the Black Demon King stopped speaking and stared at the Monster Hero. After a brief silence, the Black Demon King smiled faintly.
“So the Beggar Clan isn’t a blind idiot.”
“Hmph, as you said, the Beggar Clan is the martial world’s top information network.”
“Continue. I’ll judge if you’re an idiot or not.”
Though the Black Demon King sneered, the Monster Hero grinned smugly.
“Hundreds of years ago, there was a mysterious religion called the Blood Sect on this island. They didn’t proselytize to the world, so their doctrines aren’t known. Moreover, for some reason, they engaged in internal slaughter. Black Demon King, from what you said, it seems the Blood Sect was part of that Lineage group. Or perhaps the Lineage was part of the Blood Sect.”
“So?”
“I don’t know why they slaughtered each other. But those who left the island and lurked in the shadows called themselves the Asura Blood Sect.”
It was astonishing. As expected of the former Beggar Clan Leader. He knew not only about the Blood Sect but also the Asura Blood Sect.
“The Beggar Clan first noticed the Asura Blood Sect’s existence because of the extermination of the small sect Blood Gate.”
“……That raccoon bitch was here too.”
The White Demon Witch spat, glaring. But the Monster Hero shrugged and continued.
“The Beggar Clan took note of the Blood Gate massacre because of you, White Demon Witch. A sect that produced a supreme master like you was wiped out. Naturally, they paid attention and investigated. In the process, they learned that Blood Gate had branched off from the Blood Sect.”
The Monster Hero paused. He averted his gaze from the White Demon Witch and looked at Wi Sung-cheon.
“……Whether the Blood Sect belonged to the Lineage or the Lineage to the Blood Sect, they’re clearly connected either way. Then the White Demon Witch, survivor of Blood Gate, must be connected to the Lineage too. That makes sense. But what about the Hidden Dragon?”
“…….”
“The Hidden Dragon sticks out like a sore thumb. I investigated everything about him. He’s undoubtedly the son of the Heavenly Flower Sect Lord and never left the Heavenly Flower Sect before turning twenty. But after leaving Heavenly Flower Sect, the Hidden Dragon quickly rose to the center of the martial world.”
“……Is that so strange? In the martial world, outstanding talent can easily bring fame.”
“I acknowledge the Hidden Dragon’s excellence. In fact, the Taiji Sword Lord over there was so captivated by the young Hidden Dragon’s prowess that he gave him various teachings. But White Demon Witch, you showed unusual favor to the Hidden Dragon. Not even taking him as a disciple, yet passing on the life-death absolute art Wandering Soul White Escape.”
“…….”
“It’s no leap to speculate that the Hidden Dragon is connected to that Lineage. Right?”
All eyes turned to Wi Sung-cheon.
Especially Mu Yeon-jun, who stared at Wi Sung-cheon with eyes filled with a jumble of emotions.
The strongest among them was a sense of betrayal.