Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Four Demon Dragon Nam Myeong
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The world felt too small for someone who wandered everywhere, but sticking to one place made him itch with boredom. It left him feeling stuffy and irritable, unable to stay still. That was the situation for Heaven-Rending Legion, who had unwittingly ended up residing at the Iron Lion Sect.
At first, it was fine. He got to keep a close eye on the guy who had mastered the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate techniques. Sure, it wasn't ideal that he had to make sure the bastard didn't recklessly unleash those arts, but was that ultimate technique just any ordinary one? The Generation's Heavenly Demon—the Heavenly Demon's progenitor and ancestor to all previous Heavenly Demons of the Demonic Cult. There was tension, worry, so it wasn't boring. But as one day passed, then two, it grew stale. He started sighing over what he was even doing here. What irritated him even more was that starting the next day, the guy didn't even show his face.
"If I could just snap his neck, it'd feel so damn good..."
With frustration piling up, he unnecessarily went to bother Volcanic Divine Sword to vent.
"If you're feeling that cooped up, why not head to town and grab a drink?"
"Forget it. What's there to see in town besides trash and nobodies? Nothing but blood."
Volcanic Divine Sword chuckled at Heaven-Rending Legion's grumbling.
It was because the leader of the unorthodox factions was avoiding even going out to town just to prevent needless killing.
"I hear the Demonic Cult's Heavenly Demon has entered secluded cultivation. Did you know?"
To change the mood, Volcanic Divine Sword brought up some recent news he'd heard.
"I heard. He always goes into seclusion right before winter hits, so this time's nothing special."
"That's true."
The two nodded, reconfirming they shared the same thoughts on the Heavenly Demon and Demonic Cult. But that lasted only a moment before they both turned their heads at the same time.
A sound echoed from afar.
"Isn't that an explosion?"
"Looks like someone's come crashing in, but we're not his babysitters. Let's take it slow."
"Yeah, might as well."
Volcanic Divine Sword, who had started to rise at Heaven-Rending Legion's words, nodded and sat back down.
Iron Lion Sect's main gate.
It was smashed. The main gate that White Rakshasa's subordinate had broken and his men had just repaired was shattered again. Do Cheon's brow furrowed deeply at the sight. He was pissed.
"You guys again?"
The two men Do Cheon glared at were White Rakshasa and Ha Gun-pyo.
White Rakshasa glared back with her signature venomous face, while Ha Gun-pyo gawked at Celestial Insight Maiden standing beside Do Cheon, then quickly turned murderous eyes on Do Cheon himself.
"Today, I'm carving open your chest and ripping out your heart! Big brother! It's that guy—he's the one who mastered the Generation's Heavenly Demon's martial arts!"
White Rakshasa pointed at Do Cheon and yelled. Only then did Do Cheon's gaze shift to the man she called "big brother."
Tall stature, pale face, refined features.
What stood out unnaturally were his pitch-black pupils, devoid of any white—like pure darkness.
Four Demon Dragon Nam Myeong.
The man known as Heaven-Rending Legion's great disciple who had fallen out of favor and been expelled. Of course, Do Cheon had never heard any of that.
"Four Demon Dragon? Nam Myeong?"
Celestial Insight Maiden blurted out in surprise.
It wasn't expulsion—he'd clearly mastered forbidden martial arts. She instantly realized it from Nam Myeong's abnormal eyes. His flickering black eyes turned to her briefly before dismissing her and fixing on Do Cheon.
"I need to kill you."
Nam Myeong said, leaking killing intent.
"Why?"
Do Cheon asked.
"Because you're strong."
"You're Heaven-Rending Legion's disciple, right?"
"I'll kill Heaven-Rending Legion too."
"Why?"
"Because he's strong."
"You gonna kill every strong person?"
"Killing the strong is my destiny in this world, as Four Demon Dragon."
"How does that old man Heaven-Rending Legion only have freaks like you?"
"Big brother! Did you hear what that rip-him-apart bastard said? Hurry! Rip him apart already! No, don't kill him..."
White Rakshasa, snarling viciously at Do Cheon, screamed and flew backward.
"Where does a weak bitch like you butt in?!"
Nam Myeong retracted his extended arm and spat. Ha Gun-pyo flinched and stepped back.
"He's completely lost it!"
"Looks like mastering forbidden arts fried his mind."
Celestial Insight Maiden voiced her assessment at Do Cheon's words.
"Now we've got a lunatic to deal with too. Ha, seriously!"
The moment Do Cheon sighed, Nam Myeong shot forward like a ghost. He closed several zhang in an instant, his suddenly thrusting hands looking black as if dipped in ink.
"Hell Demon Devil Hand? Be careful! He's mastered the Hell Demon Canon...!"
Celestial Insight Maiden shouted.
Even with her warning that he'd mastered the Hell Demon Canon, it was too late. Nam Myeong's Hell Demon Devil Hand had already struck Do Cheon's chest. Celestial Insight Maiden panicked, eyes wavering, unsure what to do.
But nothing happened.
Forcing down her sinking heart, she saw Do Cheon's left hand blocking in front of his chest.
"Kuhahaha! You're strong! So strong! Truly strong!"
"You're insane! Totally insane! Utterly mad!"
Do Cheon mocked Nam Myeong's words as Nam Myeong's left hand arced toward Do Cheon's throat.
Kwarung!
Lightning suddenly crashed.
Do Cheon's throat rapidly receded from Nam Myeong's view.
As Nam Myeong tilted his head, his body—which had flown back like split firewood—lost balance and tumbled across the ground. Despite striking first, he couldn't even land a single exchange.
"Is it over?"
Celestial Insight Maiden muttered.
Was the Hell Demon Canon, once feared across the land, really that weak?
The moment that doubt crossed her mind, Nam Myeong sprang up.
"Kuhahaha! Good! So good! Even better to kill than Heaven-Rending Legion!"
Nam Myeong's black eyes gleamed with murderous light.
Reflected in his dark pupils was a fist crackling with blue lightning.
Kwarung!
A diagonal Thunder Wall Fist from above smashed him flat on the ground.
Kwarung!
Another Thunder Wall Fist exploded onto his sprawled face.
Kwarung!
And again.
Kwarung! Kwarung! Kwarung! Kwarung!
Any normal person would have been pulverized long ago, bidding farewell to the living. But the Hell Demon Canon must have been formidable, as Nam Myeong survived and counterattacked.
Sswuk!
Nam Myeong's hand sliced through the air.
So it really was the Hell Demon Devil Hand—razor-sharp.
Do Cheon frowned and retreated.
'Thunder Wall Fist isn't perfected yet, so it has clear limits!'
Do Cheon's Thunder Wall Fist hovered between the eighth and ninth stages. It had originally been around the fourth, but after mastering the Generation's Heavenly Demon's arts, it naturally advanced near completion. He hadn't trained it since—no need for someone who could run to practice walking.
Do Cheon opened his fist.
He had no intention of dragging this out. Unaware, Nam Myeong jumped up arrogantly and charged. At that moment, terrifying energy swirled in Do Cheon's fully open palm.
Heaven-Destroying Palm!
An arrogant palm art that claimed even to destroy the heavens.
Do Cheon lightly thrust his palm, and the explosive energy surged wildly, blasting the charging Nam Myeong away in one strike.
Kwa-ang!
Just like Black Death Dark God once had, a distant mountainside cliff boomed.
The fight—if it could be called that—ended just like that.
Do Cheon turned. Ha Gun-pyo stood there, fists clenched, looking flustered.
"If I let you live, you'll keep doing this, right?"
Ha Gun-pyo startled at Do Cheon's question and looked up.
Right then.
Something soared from the Iron Lion Sect and plummeted like lightning, ambushing Ha Gun-pyo. He frantically unleashed Eight Emperors Fist to block. A deafening impact rang out, but it wasn't over.
Bwak!
A massive crescent blade cleaved the air.
The Wise King.
As Do Cheon unleashed Heaven-Destroying Palm Technique, the Wise King had reacted and launched.
Flash! Flash!
Each time the dark crescent blade split the sunlight and flew, Ha Gun-pyo staggered back repeatedly. After retreating over ten paces, suddenly...
"...!"
The Wise King's relentless assault halted abruptly.
"If you come back next time, you're dead. Got it? Then take that bitch and scram."
Do Cheon's cold voice came from behind the Wise King. As he reined in the Generation's Heavenly Demon's energy, the Wise King stopped.
Ha Gun-pyo ground his teeth, shifted his gaze from the towering Wise King in front of him to Celestial Insight Maiden in the distance, clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms, then turned to White Rakshasa, who still hadn't recovered her senses.
Moments later, as Ha Gun-pyo picked up White Rakshasa and vanished, Do Cheon grabbed the Wise King by the scruff and began dragging him. But he soon stopped and turned back.
"Did you... bust out of my room?"
Irritation surged across Do Cheon's face.
At that moment, two men appeared, robes fluttering.
"Couldn't hold back and showed off your strength again, huh?!"
Heaven-Rending Legion scolded before even landing.
Do Cheon's head snapped around defiantly.
"Whose fault is this?! How long ago did we fix the gate, and they smash it again? Not letting this slide—pay up."
"What nonsense?!"
"Don't act like you don't know who broke it before? Your daughter did. And right after we fixed it, they barge in and smash it again."
"What...? Yo-hee was here?"
The world called her White Rakshasa, but Heaven-Rending Legion called her Yo-hee. He whipped his head around, scanning everywhere. But White Rakshasa was nowhere in sight.
"Whether Yo-hee or whatever, your daughter brought that lunatic 'big brother' and came."
"...!"
Heaven-Rending Legion's face visibly hardened.
His heavy, frozen gaze turned to Celestial Insight Maiden. She raised her hand, pointing to a distant mountainside.
"If you hurry now, you can catch them."
Heaven-Rending Legion didn't dash off but stared at Celestial Insight Maiden. She smiled faintly and said,
"She's the former Secret Shadow Pavilion Lord and current New Moon Secretary Lord."
Belonging to both Great Righteous Alliance and Tyrant Emperor Sect meant she wouldn't carelessly spread things harmful to Tyrant Emperor Sect. Heaven-Rending Legion nodded at her attitude and immediately soared away.
"Mind if I ask what's going on?"
Volcanic Divine Sword approached and asked.
"It's a matter of loyalty beyond right or wrong."
Celestial Insight Maiden shut her mouth after that. Volcanic Divine Sword, watching briefly, turned without pressing further.
"Do young master, there are eyes watching. Better move the Wise King."
"Yes."
Do Cheon grabbed the Wise King's scruff and dragged him off. The sight drew even more attention.
"Not an easy task, as expected."
Volcanic Divine Sword shook his head.
Arriving at his quarters, Do Cheon saw a massive hole blasted in one wall, as expected.
"Damn it!"
He needed to figure out what to do with the Wise King quickly. Just not using the Generation's Heavenly Demon's arts would work, but that wasn't easy. It had become habitual, ingrained in his body, and against strong foes, he had no choice.
"Oh dear, what happened? Who dared ambush Do young master's quarters?"
It was a wrinkly old voice full of mischief.
"Wise King's doing. Did you retrieve it?"
Without turning, Do Cheon asked. Ong Jung-seo approached and held out something.
It was a manual. The sword manual for Ice White Divine Sword that Do Cheon had written and given to No Sa-un.
"Good work."
"Not much to it, but why the Wise King?"
"He charged out to protect me. What about them?"
"Some fool attacked at night over a sword manual, took one hit, and fled. Gwangun Sword demanded it back, so he handed it over."
"Just handed it over?"
"With a bit of threat, of course."
"Didn't look like the type to budge from ordinary threats."
"To threaten effectively, hit what they fear most."
"...?"
"I'm fast, right? Told him if he didn't hand it over, I'd dash off and slit his family's throats one by one."
"So he gave it?"
"What choice did he have? Even I can be ruthless when needed."
"Quite the boast."
"You seem unaware, Do young master, but in the unorthodox world, that's something to brag about."
"While you're with me, don't go killing recklessly. It'll all come back on me."
"Yes, yes."
Ong Jung-seo grinned obsequiously, joking around.
Do Cheon looked at him and asked,
"Ice White Divine Sword manual—didn't tempt you?"
"At my age, when would I learn sword arts?"
"That old Gwangun Sword seemed to think differently."
"He still practices swordsmanship and has sons and grandsons."
"Ah."
"What's that face? You pitying me?"
"Yeah."
"No need. I live freely."
"Fair enough. Anyway, need anything?"
"Need something?"
"Not planning to use you for free, so say if there's anything I can do."
"Right now... nothing."
"Then head to Sky-Spanning Gang and rest."
"Can't I stay here?"
"Don't like Sky-Spanning Gang?"
"Tiring having courtesans shoved at me as 'hospitality,' and sick of those pathetic kids."
"Getting old, huh. Natural, though. Body and heart wither with age."
"Wither? It's just pathetic and annoying at this age!"
"Got it. We'll call it annoyance. Stay here then. Ask Steward Seo for quarters."
"Ah, damn... such a hassle."
"I said I know."
"Sky-Spanning Gang's fine left alone?"
"Whatever. What's left to happen? I'm annoyed too. If something does, you can check then, old man Ong."
"Always dumping it on me? No funner tasks than Sky-Spanning Gang?"
"Nope... Oh, any young, capable talents around?"
"To hire at Iron Lion Sect?"
"Yeah."
"None."
"Really?"
"All young talents die off. Best killers of promising youths in the martial world. Any survivors are in prestigious sects. But would they come to Iron Lion Sect? Even if they wanted, they can't—betraying their sect brands them traitor by the execution squads, finger-pointed across the jianghu."
Do Cheon's shoulders slumped at Ong Jung-seo's words.
"Plenty of mediocrities, so scout one and train him—that's faster."
"Don't need mediocrity. Need an Iron Lion to stand with me."
"Then give up."
"...!"
"Young experts on Iron God Dragon's level already have firm positions. Why crawl under someone?"
"...Yeah."
Do Cheon agreed even he would, turning away disappointed. His quarters loomed with a gaping wall. His brow furrowed again.
White Rakshasa's face swollen, Ha Gun-pyo fuming, and Nam Myeong, just regaining senses.
The three gathered before a massive cliff face.
"This one's mine. Wonder whose is that?"
Nam Myeong muttered.
Two deep palm prints carved into the rock like left by a giant god, each with a human shape imprinted inside.
"At a time like this, that's what matters?"
"Curious."
Nam Myeong's voice was soft. Indeed, his once-blackened eyes had returned to normal.
"What now?"
"What now? I'm heading back."
Nam Myeong turned.
"Big brother!"
As White Rakshasa called, he spun around. Soon after, she and Ha Gun-pyo followed. Moments later, one man dropped before them.
Heaven-Rending Legion.
"D-Dad...!"
White Rakshasa opened her mouth, but he didn't even glance at her.
"Sorry."
Nam Myeong bowed his head.
"How'd you regain your senses?"
"His single strike suppressed the demonic qi of the canon."
"...!"
"Demonic qi with demonic qi?"
"Pardon?"
Nam Myeong looked baffled.
Heaven-Rending Legion wasn't one for gentle explanations. Ignoring Nam Myeong's confusion, he turned to White Rakshasa and Ha Gun-pyo with a sigh.
"Even Black Death Dark God couldn't handle him. Don't touch him anymore—go home."
"I can't! He slapped my face—how can I endure that?! I'll get revenge, definitely!"
White Rakshasa shrieked. Heaven-Rending Legion coldly snapped at her.
"Then go die."
"...!"
"I won't protect you either, so go die."
His words struck shock and panic into all three.