Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: The Red-Faced Ghost Killer
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Not long after Bang Jun and his group left, subtle presences settled around the clinic.
Wi Seongcheon sat on the bed, stretching his body without showing any sign of it. Having lain flat for two straight days, his muscles felt stiff and sore.
That didn't last long. Footsteps approached. They weren't Du Jun's. Wi Seongcheon stopped stretching and straightened his back.
"You can come in."
Before a knock could even sound, hearty laughter came from outside the door.
General Chung Yeon threw the door open and grinned at Wi Seongcheon on the bed.
"How's your body holding up?"
"Not great. Stomach's upset, head aches a bit. And my right hand's smashed."
"Honest, I like that."
"Still, talking's no problem."
General Chung Yeon chuckled and sat across from him.
"I've heard about your exploits."
"Luck was on my side."
"Hmm... Whether luck alone could pull that off. Even I, no martial artist, know how terrifying the Poison Blood Ghost Demon is among the Demonic Cult's Ten Demons."
General Chung Yeon's fist clenched tight.
It was decades ago now, but the imperial army had once advanced near the front lines to exterminate the demonic beasts. That's when... at the border of Qinghai and Shinkang, the Poison Blood Ghost Demon appeared.
He single-handedly slaughtered hundreds of imperial troops, and after that, the army ceased advancing toward the Demonic Realm.
"If only we'd killed him."
"That would've been heavenly fortune."
"Regrettable?"
"How could it not be? It was a gift from the heavens. If we'd been better prepared... or had even one more of the Ten Heroes. We could've taken down both the Poison Blood Ghost Demon and the Sword Demon at once."
With that, General Chung Yeon gave a bitter smile.
"...Well, that's precisely why those two dared to show up. Ha! What a joke—we had no idea, right under our noses."
"You never know what the world will bring. How could we mortals grasp it all?"
"True. We're only human, not the heavens... Though even the Heavenly Person born of those heavens was powerless this time."
"Guess it was fate. We couldn't kill the Poison Blood Ghost Demon or the Sword Demon, but they couldn't kill any of us either. That's fate too, right?"
General Chung Yeon slapped his knee and burst into laughter at Wi Seongcheon's words.
"Indeed, you can see it that way."
He muttered, then stared intently at Wi Seongcheon's face.
"No ambitions for an official post?"
Here it comes. No surprise.
Nothing from the demonic beast nest had been hidden. Naturally, General Chung Yeon coveted Wi Seongcheon among the students there.
"If you're after fame and glory, join the imperial army. Even in these times, the palace holds authority. I guarantee you'll gain honors beyond what the martial world offers."
"...Tempting offer."
He meant it. Three years ago, with his brother around, he'd have agonized over it. But now? No hesitation.
"I refuse."
General Chung Yeon laughed as if expecting it. Greed swelled. He wanted Wi Seongcheon in the army, somehow.
"If you join, I'd skip procedure and make you my successor. In five years, you'd be general after me."
Wi Seongcheon smiled wryly instead of answering. General Chung Yeon sighed deeply.
"...Think it's just a title? Fair enough. But succeeding me doesn't guarantee command here. Can't promise that far, but depending on you, you could leave the front for a high officer post in the palace's Golden Guard."
"Sorry."
Wi Seongcheon slowly shook his head.
"I do seek fame and glory, but the stage I want is the martial world."
"The martial world lies within the empire too..."
General Chung Yeon sighed again. So close, yet out of reach—stoking more desire. Force it with authority? No, pointless without his heart. He stroked his chin beard with a bitter smile.
"I understand your will. Let's talk of other things."
"Like what?"
"Don't play coy. We agreed four days ago."
"Even after I refused your offer?"
General Chung Yeon roared with laughter at Wi Seongcheon's tease.
"You think me a petty old man? Losing you stings, but no reason to be a spiteful geezer. As you said, who knows what the world holds."
He raised a hand. The door opened, and a masked man entered—one of the general's guards lurking around the clinic earlier.
"Du Jun told me. You're seeking a hunter active in Qinghai until two years ago? This is Yuk Sun. He operated there until last year. Qinghai has multiple hunter bases, but before guarding me, he roamed them, recruiting top hunters for the army. Might know the one you seek."
"Really?"
Wi Seongcheon's eyes sparkled as he stared at Yuk Sun. Meeting his gaze, Yuk Sun bowed.
"Am I in the way?"
General Chung Yeon asked with a mischievous grin.
"Our talk won't stay secret from you anyway. No need for Yuk Sun to report later—just stay."
"Haha! No secrets then?"
"Right. More ears, the better. It's about finding someone."
Wi Seongcheon stared at Yuk Sun.
"Three years ago, a hunter called 'Red-Faced Ghost Killer' at a Qinghai base. Know him?"
"I do."
Yuk Sun replied.
"Broad Qinghai has many bases, but I'd heard the name. Young enough for 'Red Face,' yet supremely skilled—so I sought to recruit him."
"Did you meet?"
"Yes."
Wi Seongcheon's eyes lit up. He'd heard of Red-Faced Ghost Killer from Bang Jun, but the beast-infested front lines escaped even the Beggar Clan network. Now, finally, contact with someone who'd met his brother directly.
"...What was he like?"
"Quiet sort."
Yuk Sun recalled.
"I touted the army's glories and urged him to enlist as a divine warrior, but he smiled and firmly refused... Looking back, I was lucky not to die there."
"Pardon?"
"Red-Faced Ghost Killer showed no killing intent, but his two companions? From the moment I reached his home, they radiated it toward me."
Years old, yet recalling it raised goosebumps. Dodging death in beast-ridden Qinghai, but that moment felt like demise at his throat.
"Good I revealed my army ties first—otherwise... I'd be dead. No, even after, they kept it up. Probably lived because Red-Faced Ghost Killer didn't want me dead."
"...What was their relationship?"
"Strange one."
Yuk Sun furrowed his brows.
"Both master warriors, calling him 'Young Master.' Sounds like lord-servant, but... to me, they seemed to watch him, not serve."
"Watch... him?"
"Yes. I lingered after refusal, from a distance they tolerated. He hunted beasts daily from base; those two always trailed, watching from afar. Never once helped. How's that lord-servant?"
"Any guess who they were?"
"No certainty, but not orthodox faction warriors."
Yuk Sun shook his head.
"They never showed martial arts, never used names or aliases. But their aura... definitely not orthodox."
"Gut feeling?"
"Gut. I've eaten my share of steel. They're unorthodox fighters."
"...Unorthodox..."
He thought he'd closed in, but his mind tangled more.
Wi Seongcheon clenched and released his left hand, asking again.
"You said you followed Red-Faced Ghost Killer."
"Desperate to recruit him. But quit after four days."
"Why?"
"A blade at my throat."
Yuk Sun pointed to his Adam's apple.
"Woke from a chill in deep sleep. A palm-sized shortsword at my neck."
"...Who?"
"Red-Faced Ghost Killer. He said leave now, no harm. Stay... and before dawn, I'd suffer worse than death, so better kill me now."
Yuk Sun's brows knit.
"Who wouldn't value their life? I bolted. Curiosity mixed with regret after—I inquired... but soon he left Qinghai."
* * *
General Chung Yeon and Yuk Sun left. Alone, Wi Seongcheon pondered deeply.
'Young Master?'
The title nagged. It implied a scion of a powerful house or sect. But Wi Seongcheon's brother, Wi Seongyeol, was an orphan his father picked up by the roadside.
'No orphan.'
Wi Seongcheon's eyes darkened. It fit too neatly.
Brother... wasn't an orphan. Fled Heavenly Flower Sect to return to his real enemies' turf?
But questions lingered. Why roam perilous Qinghai hunting beasts?
Matched his great-grandfather and grandfather's Demonic Realm wanderings.
'Those watchers...'
Yuk Sun guessed unorthodox. Unconfirmed, but Wi Seongcheon's hunch leaned that way.
If so, before Heavenly Flower Sect, brother was a scion of an unorthodox sect or clan.
"What the hell?"
Wi Seongcheon scratched his head, muttering. He hadn't expected easy answers after three years, but unorthodox ties? He sighed midway through scratching.
Only way: ask Father. Letter sent, but would Father come to Yi Cheon Festival?
This winter, heading to Golden Name Escort Agency with Jeong Mi-ju. If Father skipped, meeting delayed ages.
'Even if I ask, doubtful he'll answer...'
About Heavenly Flower Sect.
About brother.
More thought, more headache.
* * *
"How's the body?"
"Fine."
"Obviously, after that elixir."
Seo Il and Seok I-jin. Both professors still pale. Wi Seongcheon, unconscious two days, looked healthier.
Wi Seongcheon smirked at bedridden Seok I-jin.
"Surviving was sheer luck."
"Never tasted a spirit pill in my life. Should've taken more from Poison Blood Ghost Demon."
Seok I-jin grumbled, pressing his chest. Seo Il chuckled.
"More, and you'd be dead for real."
"Better dead than this. Seo Il, we crumpled to one exchange from him. Professors, yet... Kids held longer, I hear?"
"Different attack weights."
Wi Seongcheon shook his head.
"If he'd used that Demonic Blood Poison from the start, we wouldn't have lasted either."
"Saving face now?"
"Not my intent—just facts."
"Tch."
Seok I-jin clicked his tongue, eyeing Wi Seongcheon.
They'd heard he wounded Poison Blood Ghost Demon internally.
Seo Il beamed proudly. Not that he'd guided perfectly as advisor, but his student startling the demon? Pride.
'Back home... reprimand awaits.'
Couldn't show it. Before professor, he was Dark Fame Division squad leader.
Past now, but when Poison Blood Ghost Demon appeared, his duty wasn't dying for students—it was surviving to report fully to the chief.
Still, Seo Il believed he'd acted right. Even a dog's death, as professor, for students.
"Next year, no staying in lower class like this."
Seok I-jin stared at Wi Seongcheon.
"Your fault—not hunkering down, showing too much. Thanks to you, I've caught flak everywhere. No regrets?"
"You knew it'd happen."
Seok I-jin handled entrance eval. Wi Seongcheon's skill then warranted upper class.
Lower class by his choice.
But post-year one, no more. As said, too much shown.
"No retort there. Knew it'd come."
Seok I-jin chuckled, easing back.
"Broken hand? Okay?"
"Heal in a month."
"Not skipping Yi Cheon Festival sparring then."
"Yep."
Wi Seongcheon eyed his bandaged hand. Hearing it, Seok I-jin recalled pre-academy Wi Seongcheon.
Back then.
Seemed ambitionless, but wasn't—just hidden. Now, those hidings boldly surfaced.
"Coiling dragon for not hunkering? Fitting?"
Seok I-jin smirked.
"Called Crouching Dragon, yet no longer crouching."
"Aliases self-claimed, no?"
Wi Seongcheon teased with a grin.
"When I claim a grand new one, cheer loud then."
Moment set in his heart.
As told Jeong Mi-ju, Wi Seongcheon craved Heavenly Dragon over Crouching.