Chapter 767: Appearance of the Star King (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 767: Appearance of the Star King (2)
Three days.
Three days had passed since the attack on Henan.
So much had happened in that short span of time.
The Alliance had been hosting a grand festival to celebrate peace and the dawn of a new era. The Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament, held to select the new Captain of the Heavenly Dragon Army, had been nearing its climax.
Then, without warning, a being appeared, claiming to be the leader of a group called the Demonic Cult.
A being calling himself the Heavenly Demon had laid waste to Henan.
He used wicked sorcery to immobilize the supreme masters within the main pavilion while leading a massive force to assault the city.
The aftermath of that attack was catastrophic.
The forces of the Demonic Cult were overwhelming. With their core masters trapped, the defenders couldn't mount a proper resistance, and the city was torn asunder. Buildings were reduced to rubble, and countless people lost their homes.
But the loss of property was only the beginning.
The attack claimed lives.
Three of the Alliance's eight Captains were killed, but the greatest loss of all was…
The Lord of the Hebei Peng Clan, one of the Four Noble Clans.
Dao King Peng Jeowoo was dead.
The attack had struck while the tournament was in full swing. The Dao King, having just finished his match, was traveling with his child, the Great Saint Blade, when they were ambushed.
He had attempted to fight back alongside the Murim Alliance, but the situation spiraled out of control when a captured executive of the Demonic Cult, the Ghostly Evil Spear, escaped and intervened.
The Ghostly Evil Spear was a monster who had wiped out the entire First Dragon Army, including its Captain, during his escape. In the end, he killed the Dao King and critically wounded the Great Saint Blade—who had been trying to protect his father—before vanishing along with the other Alliance martial artists.
That was how the Dao King, one of the Six Seats, met his end.
The Demonic Cult, the organization that orchestrated the massacre in Henan. An executive from that cult had killed an Alliance Captain and a King.
The death of a Captain was a tragedy, but the death of a King-level martial artist was a tectonic shock to the world.
A King-level martial artist.
In the Central Plains, they were known as the Six Seats.
This group included some who had never even learned martial arts and others whose realms were far from the peak. In other words, it was not a position one attained through martial prowess alone.
The title of "King" was a symbol.
It signified beings who held immense influence over an era. It included not only those who wielded influence through their blades and ideals, like the Sword King, Dao King, or Sword Queen, but also those who shaped the world in other ways.
The Dao King was a symbol for all who walked the path of the blade and had risen to his position as the Lord of the Peng Clan. And such a man had been slaughtered.
With one of the Six Seats unexpectedly vacant, one would expect the world to be in turmoil. But in reality, few were focused on the loss.
For though a King's seat was empty, two new Kings had risen to take its place.
One was the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan, who had fought the enemy's executives while the other masters were trapped by sorcery.
Fierce Tiger Nine Fists, Hwangbo Yeolwi.
Rumors had claimed he was past his prime and had secluded himself due to a worsening illness. However, the display he put on during the attack shattered those rumors. The way he overwhelmed his enemies with sheer, raw power was far swifter and stronger than he had been in his youth.
Witnesses speculated that he hadn't been hiding due to illness, but rather to refine the profound enlightenment he had achieved. He was that strong. In recognition of his immense contribution to defending the Alliance, he was granted the title of Tiger King.
Considering the last person from the Hwangbo Clan to reach the King level was the Fist King, the clan lord from two generations ago, it was a glory they had reclaimed after a century.
Normally, the streets of Henan would have been filled with stories of the Tiger King, but... surprisingly, he was not the main topic of conversation.
The reason was simple: all eyes were fixed on the other King.
The seventh King, who rose alongside the Tiger King.
When the attack began, he had pushed his body to its absolute limits to save hundreds of people. In addition to leading the evacuation, he had hunted down the White-Grade Demons—the curse scattered by the Demonic Cult known as the Breathing Calamity.
Afterward, with his body in tatters, he went to the Alliance and, together with the Captain of the Wind Dragon Army, broke the sorcery cast upon the main pavilion.
Furthermore, he was the one who had been acknowledged by the Great Demonic Leader, the Heavenly Demon himself—the monster who had neutralized the Tiger King in a single blow and remained unscathed by the Heavenly Venerable's assault.
Perhaps because of these feats, his name was the only one on everyone's lips.
A hero found in a time of chaos, a saint sent from the heavens.
All sorts of flowery praises were attached to his name, showered upon him with a fervor bordering on worship. This was the man the Alliance had officially named the seventh King.
A martial artist who, at the tender age of twenty, became the youngest King-level master in history. A being who had surpassed the Heavenly Dragons to become the representative of the current Meteor Generation.
He was named in their image: the King of Stars.
His name was…
The Star King.
People began to call him the Star King, showing him every manner of respect. And this famous Star King, praised by so many, was currently…
"Lord Star King."
"..."
"Did you enjoy your meal?"
"..."
"Lord Star King, why are you so quiet? Lord Star King? Perhaps my voice is not to your liking? Oh, dear…! It seems I have disturbed the great Star King's peace…"
"...Dammit... Please, just stop..."
He was being thoroughly mocked, and it wasn't even noon yet.
* * *
The first time I heard the news was two days after the attack.
That was around the time I finally pulled myself together and regained consciousness. And the first thing I heard upon waking up was that.
The news that I, of all people, had been designated a King-level martial artist.
Honestly, I didn't think much of it at first. The "youngest this," the "greatest that"—it was all just empty noise. I was past the point of caring about such things. After causing such a scene, I had expected some kind of recognition.
Even if not a King, I'll definitely get some kind of title.
That's what I had anticipated when I acted.
'But I can't believe they actually gave it to me.'
I never thought they would truly grant me the title of King. A King is a symbol—a living embodiment of influence in an era. To think they would bestow such a thing on a brat like me.
At first, I thought the Alliance must have lost its mind in the chaos of the attack.
Tsk.
'They never give you anything without strings attached.'
The moment I saw the name they had given me, I understood.
Star King (星王).
It literally meant King of Stars. On the surface, it seemed fine.
'Damn bastards.'
But if you looked at the underlying meaning, it was a name I could never be happy about. Right now, geniuses were compared to stars, and the era was called the Meteor Generation. To be the Star King in that context meant to be their representative.
In other words…
'We'll call you a King, but you're strictly the king of the young prodigies.'
So don't get cocky.
That was the subtle warning woven into the title. It was absurd.
'If they were going to be like this, they shouldn't have given it to me at all.'
I could feel their reluctance just from the name. The fact that they still forced themselves to bestow it on me meant one thing.
'It also means they were desperate.'
Three days had passed since the attack, and only one since I'd woken up, so I hadn't gathered all the details yet. But even with the little information I had, I could understand why the Alliance went to such lengths.
'They're trying to divert attention.'
I didn't know for sure, but they must be tearing their hair out right now. There was the problem of the attack itself, but more importantly…
'The state of public sentiment.'
How did the public currently view the Murim Alliance? Judging by the fact that they'd hastily handed me the title of Star King, it couldn't be good.
It was always like this. To salvage shattered public opinion, you need a distraction. Why else would the Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament have been held? It was a device to make people believe the Central Plains were peaceful and to align the Sword Immortal with the Murim Alliance.
The same went for the Heavenly Dragon title. But with the tournament turning into a disaster and Henan being razed, the Alliance was in a corner.
'So.'
Tap, tap.
I tapped the table, the corner of my mouth twitching upward.
'This time, you're planning on using me?'
The Alliance's machinations were now directed at me. The youngest King-level martial artist. The representative of the Meteor Generation. It seemed the Alliance was trying to draw attention my way by giving me a shiny new shell.
Ah, of course.
'Not bad.'
This was actually a situation I had hoped for. It was a bit irritating, but I could tolerate this much.
'It was a shell I needed anyway.'
A title or a shell—since I needed one, there was no reason to refuse. A tool to draw attention? I didn't care. Because anyway…
'I don't plan on stopping here.'
If I had planned to stop at just a title, I wouldn't have done any of this. For now, my only thought was to use the position they had given me.
There was just one problem.
"The Star King has smiled."
"Seeing his smile, he must be pleased about something."
"I believe it was the tea. To think it could satisfy the palate of the Star King... It must be a remarkable brew."
"Oh my, I was the one who brewed it."
"Hoh…"
The chattering in front of me invaded my ears. I scowled the moment I heard it.
"Could you two please just get out?" I said, clutching my forehead.
"Oh my, it seems the Star King is angered."
"Dear me... How dare we, in our ignorance..."
"..."
Just stop...
I couldn't bring myself to curse out loud and just repeatedly wiped my face.
The Dishonored Venerable and Moyong Hi-ah were sitting across from me, chatting away. Ninety percent of their conversation was dedicated to making fun of me. It had been like this ever since they heard the news about my new title. I was already exhausted, and being teased all day long was testing my sanity.
Suppressing a sigh, I looked at Moyong Hi-ah.
"...You told me to eat."
"Yes, I did."
"You expect me to eat in this situation?"
"Why not?"
Why not? Because every time I tried to lift a spoonful, they mocked me, so I hadn't been able to swallow a single bite. Even now, I was just sipping at the damn tea.
"We were merely concerned that the Star King might be lonely, so we thought we'd offer some company..."
"...Young Master Bi, could you please stop?"
"I did... but it seems he's not in a good mood today."
"..."
I was completely ignored. Moyong Hi-ah was one thing, but the Dishonored Venerable was even worse. The moment that old man heard about my title, he came running over with a bright smile—it was the most cheerful I'd seen him in years. He was clearly delighted by the prospect of teasing me.
Goddammit.
I suppressed my rising anger and put down my spoon. My appetite was gone.
"...How are the kids?"
"Oh my... Am I worthy of delivering such a report to the great Star King..."
"I'm going to get angry."
"I'll stop."
At my warning, Moyong Hi-ah's expression immediately shifted. She realized I was genuinely reaching my limit. She promptly answered my question.
"The healer said there are no major issues. Young Lady Wi's wound opened up a little... but her regenerative abilities are so high that they said she'll heal quickly."
Wi Seol-Ah had been injured in her fight with the Heavenly Dragon. I was worried it might have been dangerous for her to participate in the battle in that state. Fortunately, it seemed there were no serious problems.
"They said Young Lady Tang is fine... and Young Lady Namgung used too much of her energy, so she's suffering from internal Qi exhaustion... but they said that will resolve with rest."
"Internal Qi exhaustion..."
It was a phenomenon that occurred when one rapidly expended an excessive amount of energy. Namgung Bi-ah hadn't fully recovered either; using Thunder Fang even for a short time had taken its toll.
'...I should go see them.'
I wasn't just talking about the girls. I needed to grasp the overall situation. Before I lost consciousness, I had wrapped things up as best I could, but I needed to know exactly what had happened afterward.
"Alright, then I should probably get going..."
"You haven't finished your meal."
"You think I can eat like this?"
I hadn't even planned on eating in the first place, but Moyong Hi-ah had pushed her way in. And then she just kept teasing me. If I stayed here any longer, I was more likely to throw up than to digest anything.
Just as I was about to move to check on my condition…
"Then, Young Master."
"Hm?"
"Please take this."
Moyong Hi-ah pulled out a letter. As I wondered why she was suddenly giving it to me, she spoke as if making an excuse.
"My original purpose was to give you this... I'm sorry. I was so busy teasing you that I forgot."
"..."
I was at a loss for words at her brazen admission. Well, I guess honesty is better than being fake.
I took the letter and saw a familiar crest. It was the seal of the Alliance. I immediately opened it.
"Hmm?"
The message was brief. It was written with formal pleasantries, but my expression soured as I read between the lines.
"...Hmph."
"What is it?"
"It's nothing. I was just about to leave, but something's come up."
"...You're leaving now?"
Moyong Hi-ah's eyes turned fierce.
"Where do you think you're going in that state?"
That was a sharp glare. I thought I had gotten used to it, but whenever Moyong Hi-ah's eyes glinted like that, I found myself flinching. Her gaze was genuinely intimidating.
"...Well, I won't be out for long. Something came up, that's all."
"What is it? What could be so important that someone in your condition needs to go out..."
"Who knows." I replied with a slight smile. "I don't know the reason, but when the great Murim Alliance summons me, I have to go in person."
"..."
A message from the Alliance. I didn't know how they knew I was awake, but they had sent a letter requesting my presence. What could be the reason? A few possibilities came to mind, but I didn't care what it was.
'I was going to go anyway, even if they hadn't called.'
I was almost grateful they had summoned me as soon as I woke up.
"So I'll be back in a bit."
As I stood up, Moyong Hi-ah quickly tried to stop me.
"No, you still have wounds...!"
She reached for me, citing my injuries.
Swoosh.
"Huh?"
As the bandages came undone, revealing my torso, she was left speechless. The wounds on my body had long since healed.
"I'm heading out. Young Master Bi, we need to talk later."
Taking advantage of Moyong Hi-ah's shock, I quickly made my escape. She tried to grab me a moment too late.
"...That man, really...!"
I was already gone.
"He ran away again...? In his condition?"
Moyong Hi-ah fumed as she stared at the spot where I had disappeared. The Dishonored Venerable, who had been watching, took a sip of the tea I'd left behind.
"Aren't you going to chase him?"
"No. It's fine."
Moyong Hi-ah sighed and then let out a small laugh. Normally, she would have warned him before he even tried to leave. She had planned to explain that it would be troublesome for him to go out now.
"That man... needs to be taught a lesson."
But she was too annoyed to bother. Moyong Hi-ah snorted and left the room. Watching her go, the Dishonored Venerable chuckled.
"She's right about that."
He needs to be taught a lesson. He wholeheartedly agreed.
* * *
"Hoo."
I walked out of my residence. There was no sign of anyone following, so it seemed my escape was a success. I'd probably pay for it when I got back, but... the future me could deal with that.
I turned my gaze forward. I didn't bring an escort; I usually traveled alone anyway.
Just as I started walking toward the Alliance headquarters along the ruined streets…
"Oh...!"
"That, that person is...!"
"Huh?"
I sensed eyes on me. I turned my head and saw people clearing debris from the road.
"It's... it's the Star King."
"The Star King is here!"
"What!? The Star King?"
The people who saw me began to shout, their eyes flashing with excitement.
"...Huh...?"
Just as I was wondering why they were acting like this…
"Lord Star King—!!"
"Lord Star King...!!!"
"The Star King has graced us with his presence!"
"...Are they crazy?"
A crowd of people swarmed toward me. Seeing them, I realized that in just a few nights, something had changed drastically.
And in a very strange way.