Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Heretical Young Master, Sama Geuk (3)
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“Do you need that elixir so badly?”
Watching the frustrated Sama Geuk, Jinmyeong wore a puzzled expression.
He couldn't understand why Sama Geuk, who didn't create elixirs like Jinmyeong, was so greedy for them.
The size of one's dantian had its limits, and Sama Geuk's, having consumed elixirs since childhood, had already reached its peak.
“Even if you take it, it’ll only expand a little, and the rest will just be wasted.”
Shin Yehyang had refused the elixir Jinmyeong brought for that very reason.
She knew that even if she took it, her dantian would only grow slightly, and it wouldn't make her significantly stronger.
However, Sama Geuk’s elixir would not only have increased his internal energy but also deepened his demonic energy and accelerated his martial arts progress.
And Jinmyeong had just swallowed it whole.
“Those who haven't practiced demonic arts could never know its true value. That was an elixir made by the Mad Healer.”
The Mad Healer.
He was a physician who hadn't earned the moniker ‘mad’ for nothing.
He often experimented on people; he was the type to wonder what would happen if he turned a living person into a jiangshi and would actually test it.
But his skills were undeniable.
After all, he was one of the three disciples of the Divine Healer, said to be the most skilled in the medical arts.
“Then just ask him to make another one.”
“Do you think it’s that easy?”
“The Demonic Healer does it just fine.”
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult also had one of the Divine Healer’s disciples.
Jinmyeong had uttered words that would have driven the Mad Healer into a fiery rage.
“If the Mad Healer heard that, he’d want to experiment on you while you’re still alive.”
And it wouldn't just be the Mad Healer.
Each of the Divine Healer's three disciples prided themselves on being superior to the others.
A simple comparison was enough to wound their pride; telling them they were inferior to another disciple would make them lose their temper and charge in.
“Still, it just means you can’t get stronger without elixirs, right?”
“Are you any different?”
“I’m still stronger than you. The grandson of the Leader of the Heretical Alliance is nothing special. In a few years, I could probably swallow the Heretical Alliance whole.”
“Argh!”
At Jinmyeong’s relentless insults, Sama Geuk screamed and pointed his folding fan at him.
The distance between them was considerable, far too great for the fan to reach.
But Sama Geuk’s eyes were filled with killing intent.
*Boom!*
Something shot out from the tip of Sama Geuk’s fan, cutting through the air toward Jinmyeong.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
The three swords waiting by Jinmyeong’s side moved swiftly, blocking the incoming attack.
‘Iron pellets?’
Small iron pellets, deflected by Jinmyeong’s swords, clattered to the floor.
‘If I’d been hit squarely, I’d be dead.’
Jinmyeong was reminded of shrapnel mines that used iron pellets.
Of course, given the different era, it wouldn't have the same level of power, but there was no doubt it was lethal enough to kill a person.
“I thought it was just a simple fan, but it seems it had hidden weapons too.”
“……”
Sama Geuk stared blankly at Jinmyeong.
‘He blocked it?’
Sama Geuk’s attack hadn't been a martial art, but a hidden weapon built into his fan.
‘How on earth did he block it?’
His fan was a hidden weapon meticulously crafted by the Heretical Alliance.
It was a weapon prepared for the off chance Sama Geuk encountered one of the most powerful masters, allowing him to escape.
The fact that his trump card had been so easily neutralized left Sama Geuk’s mind completely blank.
“That’s some serious power. If you don’t react properly, even a master could be killed.”
It was so fast that even masters who have reached the state of perfection would fail to counter it if caught off guard.
“Well then, let’s continue. Surely this isn’t the end, is it?”
Jinmyeong once again began to attack Sama Geuk with two of his controlled swords.
Sama Geuk started to dodge Jinmyeong's attacks again, but wounds began to appear all over his body.
‘Why does my body feel so heavy?’
Jinmyeong’s attacks had gotten faster, but Sama Geuk’s body had also grown heavier.
He was still reeling from the fact that his hidden weapon had been blocked, and that the gap between him and Jinmyeong was even wider than he’d thought.
Perhaps because of that, his feet felt incredibly heavy.
“Dammit!”
He couldn't just keep defending like this forever.
“Fine, let’s see who dies!”
Continuing to just dodge was a blow to his pride.
Finally, Sama Geuk kicked off the ground and threw himself toward Jinmyeong.
His body stretched out, launching toward Jinmyeong like an arrow.
“Keuk!”
Sama Geuk’s charge toward Jinmyeong came to a halt.
He clutched his abdomen and fell to his knees.
“How do you like my hidden weapon?”
“A-a hidden weapon?”
What had struck Sama Geuk in the stomach was one of the very same iron pellets he had shot at Jinmyeong.
As Sama Geuk approached, Jinmyeong had kicked one of the pellets off the floor.
“Well, I guess this is the end.”
“It’s not over yet!”
Sama Geuk, who had collapsed to the ground, unable to breathe properly, fought through the pain and tried to get back up.
But five swords had already surrounded him.
If he made even the slightest wrong move, the five swords would move to pierce his body.
“Now, let’s really end this.”
“…The Heretical Alliance will not stand by idly.”
“That’s not your concern.”
Jinmyeong grabbed one of the swords aimed at Sama Geuk.
“Should I just cut off an arm? Or maybe a leg?”
His voice was utterly calm.
It was neither cold nor strangely excited.
And that was what sent a deeper chill down Sama Geuk’s spine.
It felt as if Jinmyeong would truly cut off his arm or leg.
“It’d be better to just kill you.”
Finishing his words, Jinmyeong swung the sword.
Without a shred of hesitation, the blade cut through the air, aiming to sever Sama Geuk's neck.
“Wait!”
Jinmyeong’s sword, which was about to slice Sama Geuk’s neck, stopped at the sudden voice.
“Hah! Hah!”
Sama Geuk gasped for breath and lowered his gaze.
He could see the pristine white blade right before his neck. No, it was already lightly touching it.
A cut had formed on his neck from the sword, and blood was trickling down.
‘Was he really going to kill me?’
There was no hesitation in Jinmyeong’s hand.
Had he ever experienced this before?
It wasn't that Sama Geuk had never been defeated. The Central Plains were full of warriors stronger than him.
But none of them had ever tried to kill him. Because his grandfather was the Leader of the Heretical Alliance.
“Thank you for your mercy.”
While Sama Geuk was still in shock, the Blood Demon Lord, who had approached at some point, shouted urgently.
His condition was far from good.
His body was covered in wounds, his clothes stained red with blood.
“Looks like you had a tough time.”
“…I felt she was truly the one and only daughter of the famous Mad Demon.”
Though he had initially overwhelmed Shin Yehyang, he had suddenly started to be pushed back and was now in a considerable mess.
“More importantly, can you do something about that woman?”
The Blood Demon Lord grimaced as he watched Shin Yehyang, still expressionless, charging at him.
The situation was already winding down, but she seemed not to have heard.
‘She doesn’t look like she’s lost consciousness.’
On the contrary, her dogged advance, despite showing no signs of excitement, brought to mind the berserkers mentioned in stories.
“Lady Shin!”
Did Jinmyeong’s shout reach her?
Shin Yehyang’s movements toward the Blood Demon Lord came to an abrupt halt.
“Young Master Jin?”
Regaining her senses, she began to look around to assess the situation.
Then, as if realizing that things had more or less been settled, she sheathed her saber and approached Jinmyeong’s side.
‘What on earth just happened?’
Shin Yehyang still wore a puzzled expression.
She couldn’t remember what had happened at all. It left her utterly bewildered.
Jinmyeong glanced at her confused face, then turned his head back.
“Why did the two of you attack?”
“…This was not our original intention.”
In place of Sama Geuk, who bit his lip at Jinmyeong's question, the Blood Demon Lord answered with a sigh.
“At first, we simply intended to demand compensation.”
Sama Geuk, having had his elixir stolen, wanted revenge on Jinmyeong, but his and the Blood Demon Lord’s strength alone was not enough.
His grandfather, the Leader of the Heretical Alliance, would surely have called him a fool for failing to properly guard a precious elixir, so he couldn't ask for help.
That’s why he had come to the brothel with the intention of pleading his case and at least getting some compensation, but upon learning that Jinmyeong had already absorbed the elixir, Sama Geuk couldn't contain his rage.
Of course, the Blood Demon Lord had also agreed with Sama Geuk.
The thought that it would be good to eliminate a dangerous figure like Jinmyeong in advance had clouded his judgment.
“People who want to demand compensation climb over walls?”
“…It came to that.”
“Then I’ll tell you this. Just think of it as a natural disaster.”
“…Right. But we can’t just back down like this. I want compensation.”
“Compensation?”
At Sama Geuk’s mention of compensation, Jinmyeong’s face soured.
“What compensation?”
“Compensation for stealing and consuming my elixir.”
“Compensation, you say. If anything, I should be the one getting it. All I did was pick up something that was dropped, and you tried to take my life.”
Of course, even if he had known it was Sama Geuk’s elixir, the outcome wouldn't have changed.
“I may have taken the elixir, but the Black Tiger Gang was the one who caused it all. In fact, I was the one who suffered mental distress, so it seems right that I should be the one receiving compensation.”
“That is…”
“If the dog misbehaves, the owner must take responsibility. Plus, you tried to take my life, so that should be included too.”
It was a stretch.
But despite Jinmyeong’s absurd logic, Sama Geuk and the Blood Demon Lord couldn't open their mouths.
In the end, they were the losers.
“Hoo. I understand.”
The Blood Demon Lord ultimately decided he had to accept Jinmyeong’s unreasonable demands.
The elixir Jinmyeong had consumed was a treasure that couldn't be valued in money, but he knew they couldn't end things there.
If only they hadn’t come here, they wouldn't have had to listen to Jinmyeong’s nonsense.
From Jinmyeong’s perspective, the elixir was compensation for the Black Tiger Gang’s attack on Myeonghwaru, and the compensation he was now receiving was for the attempt on his life.
“How about elixirs? I will give you elixirs made by the Mad Demon.”
“That should suffice. I’ll refuse anything with demonic energy that’s too dense. It’s not as easy as I thought.”
Jinmyeong withdrew the swords that had been aimed at Sama Geuk.
“If you didn't want to fight, you shouldn't have continued. Things go wrong when you change the plan midway.”
“…You are right.”
The Blood Demon Lord regretted not stopping Sama Geuk more forcefully.
The truth was, he too hadn't wanted to miss the opportunity to kill Jinmyeong.
“It seems I have learned a very good lesson.”
“Is that so? Then the tuition fee is what we just discussed. Make it a hefty one.”
Having achieved what he wanted, Jinmyeong left without a second thought.
Shin Yehyang, who had been listening quietly to their conversation, also moved to follow him.
“…Let us go back.”
“……”
After Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang left, the Blood Demon Lord helped the kneeling Sama Geuk to his feet.
Sama Geuk, who had always been overflowing with confidence, was biting his lip hard.
He was trembling with such humiliation that tears were even streaming from his eyes.
‘Become stronger.’
Although he had lost much, the Blood Demon Lord felt that in a way, much had also been gained.
He was certain that Sama Geuk would become stronger than before and one day repay the humiliation of today.