Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: The Black Demon King's Past
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"Don't worry about it."
Tae Heemyung was glaring at the departing carriage, his breathing ragged. The Taiji Sword Lord spoke to his disciple, who was struggling to compose himself.
Only then did Tae Heemyung take a deep breath and steady his respiration. The emotions he had suppressed poured out through his trembling fists.
"...That man is insolent and arrogant."
"If it's the Black Demon King Baek Rimuwon, he has the qualifications for it."
The Taiji Sword Lord shook his head.
"There's no need to take his blabbering to heart. Your master is not the Black Demon King, after all."
"...I simply cannot understand it. To say that dying at the hands of one's disciple is the greatest death a master can have...!"
"He truly believes that."
The Taiji Sword Lord spoke with a bitter smile.
"His own master, the Blood-Eyed Mad Lord, might have thought the same, but seventy years ago, the Black Demon King killed his master with his own hands."
This was before the Black Demon King became the Black Death Alliance Leader. The Blood-Eyed Mad Lord was considered one of the lesser-known experts of the unorthodox factions at the time, and the Black Demon King was his unremarkable disciple.
When the young disciple, not yet thirty, brutally murdered his master with his own hands, the vast majority raged that it was an outrage against heaven and man, a grave betrayal.
This was true not only of the righteous factions but also of the unorthodox ones. Killing one's master was a sin unforgivable even among the unorthodox.
Yet no one could topple the young Baek Rimuwon who had slain his master.
By killing the Blood-Eyed Mad Lord, Baek Rimuwon drew the attention of the world in an instant and went on to defeat unorthodox experts one after another, building his fame.
As a result, the landscape of the unorthodox factions shifted. Within a dozen years, the experts who represented the unorthodox were dead, and Baek Rimuwon's moniker became the Black Demon King.
During the time Baek Rimuwon rose to prominence, there were two other young experts who gained fame alongside him: Heaven's Killer and the White Flame Witch.
Among them, Heaven's Killer's origins were unknown, but the White Flame Witch claimed to be a descendant of the Blood Sect, which had been wiped out a few generations prior.
The three who rose together toppled the famed unorthodox experts, becoming the center of the unorthodox world. Soon after, the Black Death Alliance Leader of the time yielded the position to the Black Demon King.
That was fifty years ago.
"...I have heard that the Black Demon King killed his master in his youth. It's because such a heaven-defying figure wasn't punished and became the alliance leader that the unorthodox are still scorned as vile scum to this day."
"That's right. But Heemyung, the Black Demon King wasn't spared punishment—he simply couldn't be punished. He's been called the strongest of the unorthodox for decades. The previous alliance leader, Evil Demon Supreme One, stepped down and yielded the seat for a simple reason. If he hadn't, the Black Demon King would have killed him and seized it."
The carriage was already far away.
The Taiji Sword Lord removed his hand from his disciple's shoulder and let out a long sigh.
"That's the kind of man the Black Demon King is. For such a man to now take a disciple... I wonder if his heart has changed, or if he found a talent worth raising..."
As he listened to the rambling words, Wi Seongcheon pondered what the Black Demon King had left behind.
This lord was not the Black Death Alliance Leader a hundred years ago. I was very young then. That's truly regrettable. If I had been the alliance leader back then...
'What was he trying to say?'
He should have asked more. Wi Seongcheon shook off the uneasy feeling.
* * *
"The Black Demon King?"
"We've housed him in the guest quarters."
"Did he say he'd behave?"
"He didn't say anything like that, but he expects lavish treatment."
Tsk. He clicked his tongue.
"The alliance leader?"
He asked.
"He'll arrive the morning of the Righteous Heaven Festival."
"What a pointless fuss... Not a child, yet picking a fight over pride like this."
The disheveled beggar grumbled. Reeking of filth and alcohol, he was one of the Ten Heroes, the Eccentric Beggar.
He shook his ever-present liquor flask as he spoke.
"It's not incomprehensible. Unlike the Black Demon King, who's been alliance leader for fifty years, White Lord has only been at it for eight. Plus, this is the current leader's first face-to-face with the Black Demon King, so he's bound to feel the pressure."
"Urgh..."
A groan escaped from Yi Cheon Academy Chief Nam Myeong, the Iron-Blood Emperor. It wasn't something to discuss openly.
Especially not in front of Nam Myeong, who had held the academy chief position for ten years under the Martial Alliance's favor.
But the Eccentric Beggar was not one to mind such things.
Moreover, Nam Myeong inwardly agreed. The current Martial Alliance Leader White Lord Gam Taejun and Black Death Alliance Leader Black Demon King Baek Rimuwon—their fame and martial prowess were incomparable.
Even the previous leader, Circle Light Buddha Grandmaster, paled in comparison to the Black Demon King.
"Don't complain about the alliance leader's actions. He's desperate too."
"That's the problem. Why did that monk Bulyeong pick such a guy as leader?"
"Forgotten already? Bulyeong marked you as the next alliance leader ten years ago. You were the one who kicked aside his plea to take the position."
"If a beggar became alliance leader, everyone would laugh. Bulyeong's the problem. Why step down? He should have stayed leader forever. What enlightenment in his old age made him rush off to seclusion..."
The Eccentric Beggar clicked his tongue.
The Taiji Sword Lord said nothing and stared into the brazier. The flames illuminating the pitch-black darkness flickered.
"Nothing will change."
The Taiji Sword Lord said quietly.
"It was the same under Bulyeong, and it will be now. A leader's qualities lie not in strength, but in virtue."
The previous leader, Circle Light Buddha Grandmaster, was not a peerless martial artist. But everyone acknowledged his character and prestige.
White Lord was the same. His martial arts were inferior to the Ten Heroes, but he was a chivalrous wanderer who had pursued justice his entire life. That was why his moniker was White Lord.
Knowing him, the Eccentric Beggar said nothing more. He grumbled as usual.
If he truly believed White Lord unfit for leadership, he would have ousted him eight years ago upon his ascension and taken the seat himself.
He hadn't because he accepted White Lord as suitable for leading the righteous Martial Alliance.
Clear intent to wield the sword for justice, never swayed by evil—that was the quality needed in a leader.
"I know. That's why we're here. To be the blade for our lacking leader."
The Eccentric Beggar gulped down his liquor.
"What about the others?"
"No way they'd come. Poison Mist Marquess has no intention of leaving his clan, and who knows where Transcendent Spear even is."
"You don't think he's dead?"
The Eccentric Beggar offered his flask. The Taiji Sword Lord refused and shook his head.
"Unlikely. I haven't heard rumors of him in the Demon Realm. He's probably holed up somewhere swinging his spear."
No one could kill Transcendent Spear outside the Demon Realm—except perhaps that Black Demon King.
"Even without Transcendent Spear and Poison Mist Marquess, three of the righteous Ten Heroes have gathered here. Only two will show themselves, though."
The Eccentric Beggar muttered and turned his head.
Beyond the tent flap sat Moon Shadow Fairy. It had been twenty years since they last met like this. The Eccentric Beggar clicked his tongue and addressed her.
"Well? You should have just kept pretending to be in seclusion."
"With two of the Ten Heroes here, there's no need for me to step out."
"Better three than two."
He grumbled but didn't press further.
Leaving the Eccentric Beggar to guzzle his liquor, the Taiji Sword Lord turned to Nam Myeong.
"You've prepared splendidly in this past month. Must have been hard work."
"I'm worried it might not be enough."
"No such thing will happen. If anything, it's the fault of the Black Death Alliance Leader who came unannounced and our alliance leader."
"You've had it harder, Senior."
Nam Myeong bowed his head.
The Taiji Sword Lord waved it off with a wry smile.
"It was my choice to follow the young ones."
"I heard about what happened in Gansu."
"Luck was on our side."
Facing Poison Blood Demon Horse and Sword Demon without losing anyone was sheer fortune. It would have been better if they'd killed one, but...
"With the Righteous Heaven Festival preparations, I'll take my leave first."
"Go on. I have more to discuss with these old friends."
Nam Myeong tactfully rose. His presence would hinder their talk.
He was curious what they might discuss, but he couldn't stubbornly stay. The festival preparations were indeed pressing.
Tonight, the Righteous Heaven Festival's sparring brackets would be finalized.
All academy students were required to participate in the sparring event. The academy held three regular ones a year: evaluations within grades, plus ones at the start and end of the year.
At the Righteous Heaven Festival, however, all students sparred regardless of grade.
The brackets, in particular, required careful handling, as the world watched.
To avoid shabby or one-sided matches. Prominent students were separated into different groups, pitting similar skills against each other.
Such brackets rarely produced upsets. In the end, top students like Dragon Phoenix and other upper-class standouts survived to showcase their arts.
'The top contenders this time are three...'
Heavenly Person Mu Yeonjun. Sword Peak Woo Hayeon. Little Buddha Jinu.
'In skill, Four Harmonies doesn't fall short... but that child faces many restrictions in such matches. She'll withdraw at the right moment.'
These were candidates narrowed by last year's standards.
Flame Flower Jeong Miju was also highly skilled, but she had no desire for victory and didn't approach spars with passion.
Fist Bone, Flying Swallow, and White Orchid were relatively lacking compared to them.
'No, there are two wild cards.'
In Nam Myeong's mind, emerging from Dark Names Division, two students surfaced: the Sword Dragon whom Taiji Sword Lord had taken as direct disciple, and...
Hidden Dragon Wi Seongcheon.
'Perhaps...'
No, was that overthinking it?
Nam Myeong shook off the sudden thought. But a lingering expectation remained in his heart.
The student who had stood tall and proud from their first meeting. Wi Seongcheon, who declared himself Hidden Dragon under everyone's gaze.
Somehow, it felt like that child would pull off something astonishing.
The Eccentric Beggar set down his flask. Nam Myeong's presence had faded far away, and he confirmed no one else was around.
Even so, for caution, he erected a qi barrier to prevent sound from leaking out.
"Can you move your body?"
The Eccentric Beggar said, looking toward the tent. Moon Shadow Fairy chuckled softly from beyond.
"I'm not dead yet."
"I know that, since I'm seeing you. What I mean is, can you move?"
"Within Righteous Heaven Mountain."
"I heard that from Long Nose and Nam Myeong too. You couldn't detect the rat that sneaked into Righteous Heaven Mountain?"
"I've grown dull."
"Even inside Righteous Heaven Mountain, your mobility is limited, it seems."
The Eccentric Beggar clicked his tongue.
Moon Shadow Fairy let out a low laugh from beyond the tent. A straight-extended hand pulled back the flap, revealing her form.
"Shall we test it?"
Moon Shadow Fairy smiled faintly. Her face was paler than before, blood faded, but her eyes held clear resolve.
Diminished or not, she was a warrior who would not tolerate insult.
The Eccentric Beggar shrugged at her gaze and shook his head.
"No need for that. Don't get too angry. We're friends of decades, after all. I was just worried about your health."
"I know. That's why I respond this way."
"Still so prickly... Don't take it to heart. No thought of getting checked by Poison Mist Marquess or Dawnlight?"
"My decline is inevitable. Even Poison Mist Marquess or Dawnlight couldn't fix me."
"How long do you think you can hold out?"
The Taiji Sword Lord spoke. Moon Shadow Fairy was dying. All the righteous Ten Heroes knew it.
Twenty years ago, in a rundown temple that was Shadow Mist's base, Moon Shadow Fairy had announced her impending death.
"I won't last another ten years."
Moon Shadow Fairy said calmly. The Taiji Sword Lord let out a long sigh.
"It's not far off... Is White Orchid not to your liking? Why not pass your arts to her?"
"The time hasn't come yet."
Moon Shadow Fairy shook her head. The Eccentric Beggar frowned.
"Is that the Eternal Divine Maiden's will too?"
"Yes."
"Ten years is short. Even if you teach her now, no guarantee White Orchid masters your Moonlight Divine Shadow Dance. Even leaving manuals..."
"I've passed my Moonlight Divine Shadow Dance to Heavenly Person."
"No plans to leave successors at Azure Grove?"
"Not like that. Just no reason to rush."
"No reason to rush... I don't get it... Even that Black Demon King took a disciple now. Long Nose took Sword Dragon too."
The Eccentric Beggar scratched his chin.
"Why now? Because they lack confidence to end it all in this generation. So they shamelessly plan for the next."
"Don't just say it—why not take a disciple yourself?"
"Ugh, I was planning to even without your nagging. Found a decent one too. Mindset's a bit iffy, though..."
"Mukgeol, you mean that child?"
Moon Shadow Fairy asked.
The Eccentric Beggar smacked his lips and nodded.
"Beggar Clan has numbers but no substance. No one else catches my eye. What can you do? I accepted any beggar. By year's end, I'll seriously teach him martial arts."
"We're both late to it. Poison Mist Marquess was wise there. Ten... no, even five years earlier."
"Old age makes us stubborn. Wasn't it the same when taking Heavenly Person?"
The Eccentric Beggar chuckled.
How could she deny it? Over ten years ago, when they first considered taking Mu Yeonjun as disciple, they had resisted.
Being Heavenly Person didn't mean invincible strength. The era's Heavenly Demon proved it by killing one.
Wasn't it more likely for the Ten Heroes to train and catch the Heavenly Demon than raise a young Heavenly Person?
But they accepted him in the end. Out of unease over the unknown. It was the same now.
Taking disciples now stemmed from anxiety that they couldn't exterminate the Heavenly Demon and Demon Cult in this generation.
"...If I'd gone to Gansu with you, it might have eased that anxiety a bit..."
Another major regret had arisen.
The Eccentric Beggar muttered with a long sigh. If he'd gone with Taiji Sword Lord, they might have caught Poison Blood Demon Horse and Sword Demon. But it was too late.
"I saw a possibility to ease the anxiety."
The Taiji Sword Lord said quietly.
The Eccentric Beggar's eyes gleamed as he held his flask.
"Hidden Dragon?"
The Taiji Sword Lord nodded.
The Eccentric Beggar rubbed his chin and muttered.
"Mysterious sect. I checked Beggar Clan's records, but info on Heavenly Flower Sect is strangely scarce."
"Bulyeong, who wrote the recommendation, must know something."
The Taiji Sword Lord looked up at Moon Shadow Fairy.
"What do you know?"
"I cannot answer."
"A promise with Circle Light Buddha?"
Moon Shadow Fairy smiled without replying.
The Taiji Sword Lord didn't press and reached out. The flask the Eccentric Beggar was about to drink from was snatched away.
The Eccentric Beggar's eyes widened as he watched the Taiji Sword Lord down the entire bottle.
"...Then no helping it."
The Taiji Sword Lord muttered and rose. He strolled outside and looked at the sky. The bright moon and dense stars were beautiful.
'Two days from now...'
They had sent an invitation to the Heavenly Flower Sect Leader.
Whether he would truly come was questionable.