Chapter 229
Translator: uly
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: The Night the Seven Black Night Demons Came Fades
The night the Seven Black Night Demons came fades away.
I felt like I should do something right away, but assessing the situation came first.
Sanggwan Hu was incapacitated. He still hadn't regained consciousness and lay in a coma, but Yeo Myeong showed no intention of treating him. Thanks to that, Sanggwan Hu was admitted to the medical ward in the heart of the Black Forest.
In truth, even if Yeo Myeong stepped in, Sanggwan Hu's fate wouldn't improve. No matter that she was the world's greatest physician, repairing a shattered dantian and meridians torn to shreds was impossible.
For his body to be in that state yet still clinging to life was a miracle. Perhaps it was the curse left by the Seven Black Night Demons—that he had to live on in such a condition without dying.
The important thing was that Sanggwan Hu was alive. And though Wi Sungcheon had won his duel against him, he neither killed him nor stripped him of his status.
In other words, despite his wretched state, Sanggwan Hu still retained his qualification as a Seven Star Saint.
"No regrets here."
The Black Forest medical ward smelled of herbs just like the one at the Imperial Sky Academy. But this vast ward held only Sanggwan Hu as a patient.
Beside the bed where Sanggwan Hu lay limp sat Jin U.
"I lost to the Black Heaven Prodigy. That's enough for me. He... was strong. Stronger than when I first fought him. In the end, I lost just like back then."
A faint smile played on Jin U's lips.
"But I can proudly say I fought better than before. And unlike that empty defeat back then, this time I gained real insights from the loss. So how could I have any regrets?"
"...Is that so?"
"Of course. If it were a defeat I couldn't accept, I'd be stewing in regrets. During my remaining time in the Black Forest, I think I'll stick around nursing Chief Sanggwan."
"Were you that close?"
"No, not really. Chief Sanggwan thoroughly disliked me. Honestly, I wasn't too fond of his arrogant, rude self either. But what does that matter? The poor chief—no one's even come to visit him in this state. Hmm, yes. In the end, it's pity."
Jin U clucked his tongue and rolled his prayer beads. It was no wonder no one visited. Given Sanggwan Hu's usual behavior, he had no real friends.
"But the other chiefs are another story."
"..."
"Especially Chiefs Tae Hui-myeong and Yeong Jin. They want to test themselves against the Black Heaven Prodigy and his immense power. A true warrior's fighting spirit. Chief Cheong U-bin doesn't seem all that interested, though."
Just as I thought.
Wi Sungcheon gave a wry smile. The seniors who allied with Sanggwan Hu wouldn't switch to another Black Flag group. But Tae Hui-myeong and Jin U would challenge the Black Heaven Prodigy alone if need be.
"Need any help?"
Jin U asked abruptly.
"What do you mean?"
"Even without a drop of shared blood, you and the Black Heaven Prodigy are like brothers, aren't you?"
"It was the Black Heaven Prodigy who drew the line saying we're not."
"Speaking the words is easy. Changing your heart is hard. He still sees you as a brother, and you see him as one too. I've felt his strength firsthand. But... you only have six days left. Facing challenges nonstop for six days would wear down anyone mortal."
"...Could be."
"No matter how great the Black Heaven Prodigy is, he'd struggle against Chief U Ha-yeon of the Sword Seal."
"Between the Black Heaven Prodigy and Senior U Ha-yeon, who do you think would win?"
"Haha! What an odd question. I've never fought Chief U Ha-yeon. But haven't you fought both?"
"That's true, but honestly, I have no idea. Whether Senior U Ha-yeon would win or the Black Heaven Prodigy."
Wi Sungcheon could only smile bitterly. At last year's Imperial Sky Tournament... he hadn't drawn out U Ha-yeon's full power. Nor had he against the Black Heaven Prodigy.
"Honestly, I can't imagine the Black Heaven Prodigy losing. And... I can't imagine Chief U Ha-yeon losing either."
"The Black Heaven Prodigy isn't alone."
"Chief Mu Yeon-jun won't care about allying with him right now. You know that too."
"..."
"If Chief Mu Yeon-jun doesn't move, neither will Chief Sang I-rin. In the end, the Black Heaven Prodigy is isolated in a hollow alliance."
"It's because the Black Heaven Prodigy's prickly personality earns him no loyalty."
"Your personality's prickly too, but you have loyalty to spare."
"Thanks for saying so, but you don't need to help. This isn't about righteousness or duty. It's just meddling. I don't want to drag others into my meddling."
"Hahaha!"
Jin U burst into loud laughter at that. Stunned midway through standing, Wi Sungcheon stared blankly.
"...Did I say something funny?"
"Haha! Uhaha! Of course, of course it's funny. Indeed, you're no ordinary martial artist."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"You left the Heavenly Harmony Sect too late. You didn't experience the full martial world before coming straight to the Imperial Sky Academy. That must be why."
"What exactly are you saying?"
"Righteousness is meddling, in the end."
Jin U wiped away a tear from laughing too hard.
"Righteousness is something you do unasked. Helping the weak, upholding loyalty. I'm not calling you or the Black Heaven Prodigy weak, but what about loyalty?"
"..."
Wi Sungcheon clamped his lips shut, at a loss for words.
* * *
While Wi Sungcheon met Jin U in the medical ward.
"Why stand here like this? Can't we go inside?"
Bang Jun scratched his matted hair and grumbled. Leading the way, Dang Heeran shot back with a look that said not a chance.
"No."
"Hey, you think I'm gonna steal Master Thousand Kills' hidden weapons or what?"
"You won't steal, but you'll look and memorize them."
"So what? You planning to assassinate me later? If not, what's the harm in looking!"
"You never know with people. You might turn into a dog-shit scumbag someday, and I might have to kill you."
"Pfft, nonsense. So we're gonna huddle here in the middle of the stairs? People might think we're plotting something dirty."
"That's why we're here—no one can see."
Dang Heeran's voice sharpened. They stood midway down the stairs to the underground chamber leading to Thousand Kills' secret annex.
Bang Jun sighed heavily and plopped down on the stairs.
"Not even offering tea? Tch..."
"Hey, just leave. This sealed space is bad enough with your breath making it hard to breathe!"
"Beggars naturally have bad breath. Hey, and mine's pretty good. I bathed a few months ago. Wanna chat with my master or the sect leader?"
"You two gonna keep bickering?"
Fed up, Paeng Yeon-hwa snapped. Seeing her tail twitch irritably, Bang Jun smacked his lips.
"Fine, no more bickering."
"Can you let me get a situation update first? I was out cold all yesterday, so I don't know what happened."
"I already gave the gist."
"...You're not seriously saying we're discussing a fight with the Heavenly Demon five years from now, right?"
"Of course not."
Bang Jun chuckled dryly and shook his head.
"Wi Sungcheon's a real enigma."
"...When has he not been?"
"Not that Heavenly Harmony Sect stuff or whatever."
"Then what?"
"Our Heeran sometimes seems oblivious—or just plain dumb."
Bang Jun clucked his tongue. Dang Heeran's face darkened. But before she could retort, Paeng Yeon-hwa stepped between them.
"I want to help."
"That's your problem, Yeon-hwa. Spouting whatever without context."
"Your shit-breath mouth is the problem."
Paeng Yeon-hwa wrinkled her nose, and Dang Heeran nodded in agreement. Bang Jun climbed a few stairs and covered his mouth with his hand.
"...Ahem. So, from the looks of it, Wi Sungcheon will try protecting the Black Heaven Prodigy."
"Who's protecting who? He got wrecked by the Black Heaven Prodigy."
She said it, but Dang Heeran understood the situation. Silence fell, and the three exchanged glances.
"I want to help."
"Don't repeat yourself."
"Specifically how? Convince the united Black Flags to join hands?"
Dang Heeran smirked. Paeng Yeon-hwa was in Jegal I-hyeon's alliance, while Bang Jun and Dang Heeran were in Ha Ji-eun's.
"...Thunder Justice won't be persuaded."
"Same for Divine Fire."
"Ha Sojeo has more ambition than she lets on. She could charge the Black Heaven Prodigy any moment."
"Thunder Justice too."
"Persuading the Black Flags is impossible. We're Imperial Sky students and orthodox, so no issue, but they're Black Forest saints."
"Becoming the Black Demon King's disciple is a huge draw."
Silence returned. After a moment's thought, Dang Heeran spoke first.
"What if we stop them without persuading? Not the Black Flags—rally the students instead? Explain, and they'll listen."
"Senior U Ha-yeon... might. But honestly, not sure."
Dang Heeran's face scrunched up. U Ha-yeon was a cheerful, kind senior, but she sometimes did the unpredictable.
"Junior Yuk Jin-il... would help if asked. He admires Sungcheon."
"Same for Namgoong miss. But Senior Dang Seona..."
"No way for my sister."
Dang Heeran stated flatly.
"She likes Sungcheon a lot, true, but if I'm helping him, she'll never do it."
"What about Bright Faction? Junior U Hui-ra and Hwangbo Seong-u."
"Not sure there. Set aside U Hui-ra—would Hwangbo Seong-u help Wi Sungcheon?"
"...He might."
Paeng Yeon-hwa mumbled. Surprised, Dang Heeran and Bang Jun eyed her.
"Better ask directly. We're getting Green Forest Demon Emperor's training at noon, so I'll sound him out then."
"Then I'll ask Senior U Ha-yeon. You probe Namgoong Jiu and Junior Yuk Jin-il."
"...Hey, I'm not close to them. We don't even hang out. Since Yeon-hwa's allied with Jegal I-hyeon, you should ask..."
"You wanna persuade Hwangbo Seong-u instead?"
"Better the juniors than that bear."
Bang Jun nodded without hesitation.
* * *
"No."
Paeng Yeon-hwa blinked at the flat refusal. Wiping sweat from his brow, Hwangbo Seong-u continued.
"I get your position, but I can't betray Bright Faction."
"...Since when are you so tight with them?"
"It's not about being tight. It's a matter of loyalty."
The Green Forest Demon Emperor's training was grueling. He taught pure external arts, forbidding internal energy use.
Even with their superhuman bodies as Bone Marrow folk, training without qi was brutal, pushing breaths to the brink.
"...Is loyalty to Bright Faction that important?"
"Friendship with Wi Sungcheon or loyalty to Bright Faction—for me, loyalty comes first. I'm not as close to him as you all."
Hwangbo Seong-u snorted and rolled his shoulders.
"Bright Faction isn't my friend. But I've allied with them. I can't ditch that to help Wi Sungcheon."
"Not betraying Bright Faction—just lend a hand against other Black Flags?"
"If Bright Faction goes solo against the Black Heaven Prodigy and frees me up, sure. But he won't. He lost to the Black Heaven Prodigy once and knows he can't win alone."
Faced with his resolve, Paeng Yeon-hwa gave up persuading Hwangbo Seong-u. He was right.
Friendship versus loyalty—it was relative.
"...What if Ha Ji-tae were in this spot?"
"He knows his place and wouldn't end up here. But... if by some chance he did, I'd help him."
Hwangbo Seong-u chuckled and stood.
"But Wi Sungcheon—that slippery guy—is different from Ha Ji-tae."
"Did I say rest or gab?"
The Green Forest Demon Emperor grumbled from a nearby rock. Hwangbo Seong-u and Paeng Yeon-hwa shut their mouths at once.
* * *
"That won't work."
Dang Heeran got the same refusal. U Ha-yeon smiled awkwardly, scratching her cheek.
"I get your feelings, Junior Heeran, but if I join them, Ji-eun sister will be alone."
"...That's... true, but."
"Ji-eun sister is dead serious about becoming the Black Demon King's disciple. She carries the North Sea Ice Palace on her shoulders, after all."
"But Senior."
"Um... And honestly, it's not just for Ji-eun sister that I'm saying no."
U Ha-yeon's smile shifted. Stroking her sword at her side, she continued.
"When I first came to the Black Forest, I wanted to travel with Junior Wi Sungcheon. But I didn't. Why do you think?"
"...He told you to go ahead?"
"Not exactly. I wanted to fight Junior Wi Sungcheon again."
It was unexpected.
"Thanks to Junior Wi Sungcheon, I picked up a bad habit. When we met again, he'd grown so strong—I wanted to clash with him someday. That's why I allied with Ji-eun sister. Made an enemy of him."
U Ha-yeon hadn't enjoyed fighting before. She knew her sword brought despair. But after the Imperial Sky Tournament's sparring, she discovered the thrill.
"It's not just me."
"..."
"Junior Wi Sungcheon is growing strong fast. Hui-myeong and Junior Yeong Jin won't say it, but they want to fight him too."
"You can spar back at the academy."
"Works here too."
U Ha-yeon grinned, lifting her hand from the hilt.
"But if Junior Wi Sungcheon came begging, 'Help me, Senior~' all cute, good-hearted me couldn't refuse. Not that I think he would."
"...Ugh..."
"But it's good, right? He has lots of great friends. Still, Junior Heeran—one thing."
"...What?"
"Help him freely, but don't target me or Ji-eun sister. Or I'll punish you."
Her beaming smile sent chills up Dang Heeran's arms.