Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Black Demon King's Procession
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Up until a few hundred years ago, Jungkyung had been the royal capital. But it was too close to the Demon Realm.
The capital had been moved to Anhui, yet symbols of its past still lingered in this city that had once been the heart of the kingdom. One day, when the Demon Realm was conquered and all demons and the Demonic Cult eradicated, Jungkyung would become the capital once more.
It was nothing unusual for the still-thriving metropolis of Jungkyung to be teeming with people. But today, there were more people on the streets than usual.
"They say market day falls on the day you travel."
Wi Seongcheon leaned back against the seat of the carriage, gazing out the window.
The crowds swarming the streets paid little attention to the carriage Wi Seongcheon rode in. The procession they wanted to see wasn't his carriage.
"I figured something like this might happen. The timings overlap, after all."
Dang Heeran shared the same interest in what was happening outside. She glanced at Pang Yeonhwa, who was dozing against her shoulder.
Dang Heeran let out a deep sigh and gently pushed Pang Yeonhwa's face away. The lolling head came to rest against the carriage wall.
"She must be really tired."
"Can you blame her? She spent the whole night training under the Taiji Sword Lord."
"It's impressive that Tae Huimyeong senior is still alive after training under him every day."
From the demon beast encampment all the way to Jungkyung, the Taiji Sword Lord had instructed his students in martial arts, starting with Tae Huimyeong, whom he'd taken as his direct disciple—everyone except Dang Seona and the Twin-Headed Venom Serpents.
She had refused the Taiji Sword Lord's instruction. Her master was the Poison Fog Marquis, a senior elder of the Tang Clan, and her arts were worlds apart from his. Understanding this, the Taiji Sword Lord hadn't pressed her.
The other students hadn't refused.
Even though the Taiji Sword Lord wasn't formally transmitting his arts, they were eager for guidance from one of the greatest masters of the righteous martial world. Thanks to this, the students showed great enthusiasm.
Pleased by their zeal, the Taiji Sword Lord instructed them with utmost sincerity. The problem was that their enthusiasm exceeded what the students could handle.
Even Hwangbo Seongu, with his robust physique, had complained of muscle pain throughout his body right after the first day's training.
Though they'd grown accustomed to it over time, the Taiji Sword Lord's training remained grueling.
Pang Yeonhwa, a natural-born martial prodigy who recovered stamina faster than most, had every reason to collapse from exhaustion after a full night of it.
"...It's amazing."
Dang Heeran murmured as she eyed Pang Yeonhwa's twitching tail.
She furtively glanced across from her. Besides Wi Seongcheon, Dang Heeran, and Pang Yeonhwa, two others sat in the carriage: Hwangbo Seongu and Ha Ji-tae.
Though Dang Heeran hadn't asked outright, Wi Seongcheon knew exactly what she found amazing.
"Why don't you have ears or a tail?"
Wi Seongcheon glanced at Hwangbo Seongu and asked.
Pang Yeonhwa had tiger ears and a tail, but Hwangbo Seongu showed no such features beyond his massive build. The same held true even when he transformed into his beastkin form.
His body shape resembled a human's, but he turned into a bear. Pang Yeonhwa, on the other hand, only had her arms and legs change to beast-like forms.
Hwangbo Seongu sat with his eyes tightly shut and arms crossed, as if ignoring the commotion outside. It was the opposite of Ha Ji-tae, who sat beside him staring out the window.
Though asked directly, Hwangbo Seongu didn't respond. Instead, Ha Ji-tae spoke up.
"Picture this."
"Picture what?"
"Hwangbo Seongu, already fierce-looking with that hulking frame and scars, with cute little ears on his head and a tail sprouting from his butt, wagging it around. Horrifying, isn't it?"
"Horrifying."
It was an argument impossible to refute. He didn't want to imagine it, but Ha Ji-tae's vivid description forced the image into his mind.
"Shut up."
Unable to stand it any longer, Hwangbo Seongu opened his eyes and growled. Ha Ji-tae turned back to the window as if it had nothing to do with him.
"Not everyone looks the same, even among humans. Same goes for natural-born martial prodigies. That's the only reason we're different."
It was a topic Hwangbo Seongu clearly didn't want to dwell on. Wi Seongcheon could sense that.
But was that truly the only reason? He buried the question in his heart.
The slowly advancing carriage came to a halt.
"They're controlling the streets from here on out."
Seo Il said this as he opened the carriage door.
"They're not coming this way, though, right?"
"That's true, but it's a sensitive matter in various ways."
"Fair enough. So we walk from here?"
If they revealed who was riding in the carriage, there'd be no need to get out. But the Taiji Sword Lord apparently didn't want that kind of fuss.
The streets were already chaotic enough.
"...To be honest, the Taiji Sword Lord wants to see it for himself."
Seo Il said with a wry smile. Wi Seongcheon grinned at that.
He'd figured as much. And Wi Seongcheon wanted to see it too.
"Wake up."
Dang Heeran lightly tapped the still-sleeping Pang Yeonhwa's shoulder. Her ears perked up, and her tail twitched. Each time she saw it, a strong urge welled up in Dang Heeran's heart.
She wanted to touch them. Though they'd grown close over time, it was a desire she'd never acted on.
"...Mm."
Pang Yeonhwa opened her eyes. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around.
"Sleep well?"
"Huh... what? We here already?"
"No, not yet."
Wi Seongcheon answered as he stepped out of the carriage.
Hwangbo Seongu hunched down to exit the narrow door, then stretched languidly.
Dang Heeran led out Pang Yeonhwa, who was slapping her cheeks, and looked at the street.
"...A lot of people."
"It's not just locals from Jungkyung."
The Heavenly Mandate Festival was four days away. People had flocked from afar to witness it.
The wealthy patrons sponsoring the Heavenly Mandate Academy were likely already being hosted inside, but everyone else had to wait in the city until the festival began and the academy gates opened.
The Heavenly Mandate Festival was one of the biggest events of the year in this city.
"There are a lot of martial artists too."
A voice came from behind. It was the rest of the group, who had been in another carriage.
As Dang Seona approached, Dang Heeran's expression quickly hardened. Ever since the nest incident, she'd found Dang Seona even more intimidating.
"Most of them aren't even second-rate... Hm. But there are some skilled ones too?"
Ha Ji-tae muttered. Indeed, many eyes were fixed on the streets.
"Let's get closer."
The Taiji Sword Lord said this as he just stepped down from his carriage.
At his side stood Tae Huimyeong, looking ghostly with cheeks hollowed out in less than a month. Even so, Tae Huimyeong was still handsome. His eyes, however, were sharp as blades.
"Are you going to watch?"
Tae Huimyeong asked.
Tae Huimyeong had become the Taiji Sword Lord's direct disciple. He'd endured far harsher training than the other students, who only received guidance.
But that hadn't changed him. He still smiled like a fool, stammered and fidgeted when talking about Uha Yeon, got scolded by Cheong Ubin or Yeongjin, bore the title of Wudang's Sword Dragon without arrogance, and remained a kind senior to his juniors.
The reason Tae Huimyeong's gaze was now sharp as a knife, unlike his usual self, was that deep in his bones, he was a righteous martial artist.
"Sheathe your hostility."
The Taiji Sword Lord patted Tae Huimyeong's shoulder.
"He's not here as an enemy."
"But, Master."
Tae Huimyeong no longer called him Grandmaster. He was now a formal disciple.
The Taiji Sword Lord smiled faintly at the title and shook his head.
"Our enemy is the Demonic Cult."
"...Understood."
Tae Huimyeong withdrew his hostility and nodded.
"Senior brother. Where are you going?"
"Don't call me that."
Muyeonjun replied with a slight frown.
With Tae Huimyeong becoming the Taiji Sword Lord's disciple, Muyeonjun had naturally become his senior brother.
Muyeonjun didn't care for the title, but Tae Huimyeong was stubborn about such things.
"It's only natural to call your senior brother 'senior brother.' More importantly, where are you headed?"
"...I want to see it for myself too. I've never laid eyes on them in person either."
Muyeonjun said this as he sauntered into the crowd.
Tae Huimyeong gazed at the back of Sang Irin, who followed Muyeonjun as always.
The Taiji Sword Lord, who had been chuckling heartily, patted Tae Huimyeong's back.
"Come on, let's go."
Wi Seongcheon was just as curious. Probably everyone was.
Drawn by curiosity, Wi Seongcheon pushed through the crowd. Though jostled by many, he navigated without hesitation.
"Move."
Hwangbo Seongu led with his massive frame and fierce visage. Ha Ji-tae followed comfortably in his wake. Pang Yeonhwa and Dang Heeran subtly trailed behind him too.
"You received instruction from the Ten Heroes, didn't you?"
Muyeonjun was already at the front of the crowd. Wi Seongcheon asked without looking at him.
"Only the righteous Ten Heroes took me as a disciple."
Muyeonjun replied.
"I received teachings from the Poison Fog Marquis, Taiji Sword Lord, Eccentric Beggar, Moon Shadow Immortal, and Transcendent Spear. Dawn Heavenly Star didn't take me as a disciple but passed on the Dawn Heavenly Star Pill through the Taiji Sword Lord. That's all of them."
"They didn't refuse you."
The Taiji Sword Lord, standing beside Muyeonjun, said.
He turned his head. In the distance, a procession with black banners approached.
"The unorthodox Ten Heroes hoped to become the Heavenly Child's masters. But the Martial Alliance rejected it."
"Why?"
"They feared the young Heavenly Child would be swayed by the unorthodox paths. The Alliance didn't want to lose him."
The Taiji Sword Lord said with a bitter smile.
Even before the Demon King descended and the Demonic Cult rose, the martial world was divided into black and white. But the overwhelmingly powerful Demon King and the beasts he led united the martial world—no, the entire world.
It was common knowledge. Even after the Heavenly Child perished together with the Demon King, the world remained united.
Though the Demon King was gone, demons lingered, and his followers hid in the Demon Realm, potentially summoning him again at any moment. That fear kept everyone together.
Following the first Heavenly Child's will, the Heavenly Mandate Academy was founded, and for centuries, the world stayed as one. But not anymore.
Time brought many changes. The martial world had split once more into white and black, righteous and unorthodox.
"With the Demonic Cult still strong, the righteous and unorthodox avoided all-out war and bloodshed, but for centuries, clashes between them never ceased. When the Eternal Divine Maiden found the young Heavenly Child, the first thing the Martial Alliance did was proclaim that heaven's will had once again bestowed the Heavenly Child upon the righteous martial world. The Heavenly Child had to become a symbol of the righteous sects."
"The Eternal Divine Maiden... she really exists."
Wi Seongcheon muttered in awe, sticking out his tongue. The Taiji Sword Lord chuckled.
"I've only met her once myself. She was the third generation Eternal Divine Maiden of her time... Nowadays, the Eternal Divine Maiden's bloodline can be called the true legitimate heirs of the Jang-i tribe."
The Eternal Divine Maiden was the Jang-i tribe member who had guarded the first Heavenly Child to the end, the only one with the ability to locate the Heavenly Child's unpredictable birthplace.
A thousand years ago, when the Demon King descended, demons appeared in the world, beastkin appeared, and the Jang-i tribe appeared.
They said they had suddenly crossed over from another world, with lifespans of centuries.
But the Jang-i tribe that came to this world didn't live as long as they claimed. Their long ears and beautiful features remained unchanged, they didn't age visibly, but their lifespans were only slightly longer than humans'.
Among them, the Eternal Divine Maiden's bloodline was special.
They still lived for centuries, maintaining their lineage in some unknown place.
They passed down the ability to find the Heavenly Child within their clan, informing the Martial Alliance of his location each time he was born.
"Heaven bestowing the Heavenly Child on the righteous martial world was just laughable propaganda. Without the Eternal Divine Maiden's help, the unorthodox world could never find him."
Muyeonjun said nothing. The Taiji Sword Lord looked at him with bitter eyes before turning away.
The procession had drawn near.
"...It's been a while."
The Taiji Sword Lord murmured like a soliloquy, staring at the procession.
Black banners fluttered in the wind. At the center, the character for "black" was embroidered in golden thread.
It was the Black Thread Alliance's procession. Wi Seongcheon eyed the riders leading it. The Black Thread Alliance's procession wasn't as numerous or menacing as he'd imagined.
The onlookers openly expressed their disappointment. They wanted to see hundreds of experts marching, not dozens of flag-bearing riders and dark carriages.
But as the procession approached, even that disappointment faded. A chilling dread, like midwinter frost, gripped the hearts of the spectators.
Though only dozens strong, the Black Thread Alliance's procession overwhelmed thousands of onlookers. Wi Seongcheon felt it too. He clenched and unclenched his sweat-slicked palms, swallowing hard.
"Are those the Black Wind Strike Corps?"
"Underworld Rakshasas. They swear loyalty only to the Black Thread Lord. If they're here, there's no need for the Black Wind Strike Corps. ...Not that he needs guards anyway."
The Taiji Sword Lord murmured, staring at the pitch-black carriage. More precisely, its roof.
"Still likes the flashy stuff, I see."
The Taiji Sword Lord clicked his tongue.
Everyone's gazes turned to the carriage roof. Hidden by fluttering banners from afar, his figure was now clearly visible.
A man with long hair sat on a lavish chair atop the carriage. He ignored the stares of the onlookers.
The "chair" was more like a bed, enormous in size. The man lounged half-reclined on it, biting into a red apple.
"Behold."
The Taiji Sword Lord said to all the nearby students.
"That is the Black Thread Lord, the unorthodox supreme, the Black Demon King Baek Ri Muwon."
Crunch.
The Black Demon King's eyes, mid-bite into the apple, slowly slid over.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop.
"Didn't expect to meet so soon."
Baek Ri Muwon tucked the half-eaten apple into his sleeve and stood.
Wi Seongcheon found that a bit odd.
'...He planning to finish it later?'
The Black Demon King?
He couldn't dwell on the thought.
The Black Demon King leaped lightly from the carriage, landing before the Taiji Sword Lord.