Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Ten Heroes
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"Are you still monitoring that child?"
When he uttered that question.
Yi-cheon Academy Chief. Iron-Blood Emperor Nam Myeong tensed slightly. He worried this might offend Baek Cheongha's mood.
"It's about time to pull back."
But his concern proved unfounded, as Baek Cheongha answered straightforwardly.
Though Nam Myeong had held the Yi-cheon Academy Chief position for ten years, it was ultimately appointed by the Murim Alliance.
In terms of rank alone, the chief's seat outranked even the Dark Shadow Division Chief or Yi-cheon Guard Captain, but that didn't mean Nam Myeong could issue orders to Baek Cheongha.
Murim's Ten Heroes. The foremost among them, Moon Shadow Immortal Baek Cheongha. She commanded the Yi-cheon Guard and Dark Shadow Division. Though not publicly known, she was the true pinnacle of Yi-cheon Academy.
Why Baek Cheongha—former Qinglin Sect Leader, said to have retired into seclusion—ruled Yi-cheon Academy from the shadows. Nam Myeong didn't know.
All he knew was that her dominance had lasted dozens of years, and the Murim Alliance turned a blind eye to it.
"Why monitor him specifically?"
"Because long ago, Cheonhwa Sect belonged to the Black Death Society. Even now as part of the righteous Murim Alliance, they might still be secretly colluding."
It was an obvious answer. Surely not the whole story. But Nam Myeong didn't press, simply nodding. After a decade as chief... he still didn't know exactly how many of Baek Cheongha's tentacles extended throughout Yi-cheon Academy.
'Puppet.'
Others might revere him as chief. Nam Myeong swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth.
"Heh. A child recommended by Won Gwangbul himself—surely a spy?"
"Better safe than sorry. His recommendation letter was genuine, but we can't trust it blindly. Especially in these chaotic times."
"As expected... the Demonic Cult?"
"In nine hundred years of Demonic Cult history, they've never been this powerful."
Heavenly Demon Hyeok Wolun. No one dared speak the name aloud, but everyone tacitly acknowledged it.
The Heavenly Demon of this era was the supreme under heaven, past and present.
"The only hope against such a Heavenly Demon is the Heavenly Being. We must eliminate every risk that could hinder that child's 'completion.' Chief, I understand your concerns, but please don't reprimand my overreach too harshly."
"Heh, no need. Overreach? We're all doing this for the world, aren't we? I share your suspicion that the Cheonhwa Sect child might be dangerous."
Nam Myeong waved his hands in a fluster.
"But as chief, I can't monitor a student based on suspicion alone... Haha. I'm actually grateful you've handled something I should have."
"Thank you for saying so."
"Wi Seongcheon. Good to know he's not a threat."
"My apologies for the worry."
If you're truly sorry, hand over the Dark Shadow Division. Of course, it was just a thought. Words he could never utter aloud.
"...Ah. Speaking of which, I still haven't told you the real reason I requested this meeting."
"Ah, yes."
Nam Myeong, who had been slurping his tea, set down his cup and straightened his posture. Though Baek Cheongha had requested the meeting, it was always Nam Myeong who came to her.
In the ten years he'd been Yi-cheon Academy Chief, Baek Cheongha had never once stepped beyond Yi-cheon Mountain.
"I've made contact with the Freakish Beggar and the Tai Chi Sword Lord."
"Yes?"
"They've crossed the Demonic Realm of the Western Frontier and just arrived in Yunnan. If nothing delays them, they'll visit by autumn."
It felt like the tea he'd swallowed was surging back up his throat. Nam Myeong stifled an involuntary cough and hardened his expression.
"A-autumn, you say?"
Summer was ending. Technically, next month marked the start of autumn.
"They said at the latest, by the Yi-cheon Festival."
Unlike the stunned Nam Myeong, Baek Cheongha's face remained serene.
"I-I'll take my leave first."
Nam Myeong bowed hastily and shot to his feet.
* * *
"Ten Heroes."
First-year homeroom teacher and Toad Monster Sang Myeongjung's subject was Murim Studies. The class, held twice a month, took place not in the training grounds or on Yi-cheon Mountain, but in the spacious classroom of Muhak Hall.
For Wi Seongcheon, it was his first joint class. There were still four days until the joint practical session he'd heard about from Bang Jun.
"Figures that never miss an appearance in the storytellers' tales. Some even claim the current Ten Heroes should really be called the Nine Heroes."
Sang Myeongjung was perched on the edge of the lectern. True to his nickname of Toad Monster, he sat hunched over, his large eyes gleaming. He looked just like a massive toad.
"Whether it's Ten Heroes or Nine Heroes depends on your perspective. What's important is this: Green Forest Demon Emperor Sama Jin is a world-shaking expert. That's why he's newly claimed a seat among the Ten Heroes."
The sixth Heavenly Being, Divine Sword Jip Munhyeok.
Thirty years ago, he had been defeated by the Heavenly Demon Hyeok Wolun of that era and met his end. After that, the Ten Heroes were little more than a name—not truly ten.
Countless warriors' names had floated for the vacant seat, but not one had earned the Ten Heroes' recognition.
Until five years ago.
After decades, the vacancy was filled. Green Forest Demon Emperor Sama Jin, who had unified the Green Forest, was the one.
"We can't blindly scorn the unorthodox. They have their experts too."
Sang Myeongjung gauged the students' reactions as he spoke.
Murim Studies was an unpopular class.
It couldn't be helped. Yi-cheon Academy's students were prodigies born and raised in great clans, trained in prestigious sects.
They already knew everything Murim Studies taught—no need to learn it here. And as for the 'real' secrets not spread through the murim, no one dared speak of them.
The world was strictly divided: things you could say and things you couldn't, things you could know and things you shouldn't.
'...Eyes sparkling.'
Among the students listening half-heartedly.
One alone had eyes alight with interest: Wi Seongcheon. Having spent most of his life in Cheonhwa Sect, nearly everything Sang Myeongjung shared about murim was new to him.
No teacher dislikes an enthusiastic student. He wanted to engage him but held back.
Because of the upper-class students shooting glances at Wi Seongcheon.
Especially Yeong Sojin. He'd heard she'd had a minor spat with Wi Seongcheon on the first day of term, and now she glared at him murderously.
Mu Yeonjun, who'd actually exchanged real blows with him, paid Wi Seongcheon no mind at all.
'Don't want to burden him unnecessarily.'
Of course, Wi Seongcheon's eager attitude would earn him extra points in evaluations later.
Though none of the upper-class students—with their guaranteed bright futures—would care about Murim Studies scores.
"May I ask a question?"
Despite Sang Myeongjung's consideration, Wi Seongcheon suddenly raised his hand.
"Oh my."
Someone muttered loud enough for all to hear.
Hwangbo Seongu.
He'd claimed the back row, his bulk dwarfing the other students. Arms crossed, half-listening to class, he smirked at Wi Seongcheon's raised hand.
"A question? What is it?"
He couldn't ignore a direct question. Sang Myeongjung turned a warm smile on Wi Seongcheon.
"Why did the Green Forest Demon Emperor become one of the Ten Heroes?"
"Because the Ten Heroes recognized him. The first was Black Death Society Leader, Black Demon King Baek Ri Mu-won. Starting with him, the unorthodox's White Flame Witch Ju Eun and Heaven Killer acknowledged him as worthy of a Ten Heroes seat... and soon the others followed."
"Still just a bandit bastard."
Hwangbo Seongu sneered. It wasn't just Murim Studies—Hwangbo Seongu was a notorious bully in other classes too.
"True enough. But his prowess as an expert is undeniable. ...Though if Dokgo the Great Hero hadn't vanished so suddenly, he'd have taken the seat instead."
"Dokgo?"
"A mysterious expert from twenty years ago. Dokgo the Great Hero appeared out of nowhere and roamed the Xinjiang region. One of the Demonic Cult's Ten Demons—the Blood Capturer Demon, infamous for devouring human flesh and drinking blood—was slain by Dokgo."
Wi Seongcheon's eyes widened round. The Ten Demons. The Demonic Cult's most horrific fiends, second only to the Heavenly Demon.
"Not just the Blood Capturer Demon. Dokgo the Great Hero wandered Xinjiang, the Western Frontier, and Qinghai, slaying cultists, fiends, and demonic beasts. After hanging the Blood Capturer Demon's head on Qinghai's city gates, he vanished. I don't know what became of him. Most say the Demonic Cult got him."
"There's this rumor too. Dokgo the Great Hero infiltrated the Demonic Cult's heartland and challenged the Heavenly Demon, only to fall in defeat. And the Heavenly Demon, unable to recover from the wounds he took, has been in hiding since."
One of the lower-class students spoke up. Hwangbo Seongu burst into laughter.
"What nonsense..."
"Rumor."
Hwangbo Seongu's words cut off midway.
Mu Yeonjun was the one who interrupted.
"I'll grant Dokgo the Great Hero was a mighty righteous warrior. But the idea of him wounding the Heavenly Demon is absurd."
Mu Yeonjun's outright denial left the student who had spoken fumbling awkwardly, mouth shut.
"Talk like that is just false hope cooked up by those terrified of the Demonic Cult and Heavenly Demon. I don't know Dokgo the Great Hero's fate, but the Heavenly Demon is beyond mortal power."
His gruff voice trailed off. Sang Myeongjung gave a low, awkward cough and nodded. But he pondered how to steer the class now.
"Who's the strongest among the Ten Heroes?"
As if to help him out, Wi Seongcheon asked another question. Hwangbo Seongu tsked loudly again.
"Like a damn kid with such childish questions."
"Men stay kids no matter how old they get—you know that saying?"
Wi Seongcheon turned and shot back. Hwangbo Seongu's thick brows twitched violently. Before he could retort, Sang Myeongjung quickly interjected.
"A tough question."
"Is it?"
"The Ten Heroes each master different martial arts. Deciding the top among them...? It's a favorite debate, but one without a clear answer."
Hmm. Sang Myeongjung pondered, stroking his chin. Wi Seongcheon was right. Men never outgrow their childish sides.
Especially martial artists—they got fired up over who was strongest.
"The righteous side has five of the Ten Heroes. Moon Shadow Immortal Baek Cheongha, Freakish Beggar Jang Beom, Tai Chi Sword Lord Illyangja, Transcendent Spear Ji Myeongguk, Poison Martial Queen Dang Sa-yeong. All... utterly lacking nothing to be called supreme under heaven. Among the righteous Ten Heroes, there's no answer to who's top."
"Is Dawnlight Physician Won Chung excluded?"
"He's not strictly righteous or unorthodox, and he made his name first through medicine, not martial arts."
But then Sang Myeongjung straightened his hunched back.
"The unorthodox top isn't the Green Forest Demon Emperor, Heaven Killer, or White Flame Witch. It's the Black Death Society Leader, Black Demon King Baek Ri Mu-won. When he first recognized the Green Forest Demon Emperor, Heaven Killer and White Flame Witch did too. In truth, the Black Demon King is the real master of unorthodox murim."
"Then between righteous and unorthodox, the top is..."
"Meaningless."
Mu Yeonjun spoke up again.
Wi Seongcheon turned to stare at Mu Yeonjun. Mu Yeonjun wasn't looking at him. His cold eyes glared at the empty front.
"Righteous and unorthodox combined? You've excluded the Demonic Cult. Makes it pointless."
"Then including the Demonic Cult?"
"No need to deliberate."
Mu Yeonjun turned to face Wi Seongcheon.
"The supreme under heaven is Heavenly Demon Hyeok Wolun."
For the first time, Wi Seongcheon saw a destructive, fierce emotion surging in Mu Yeonjun's eyes.
"No one but the Heavenly Demon can claim to be supreme under heaven."