Chapter 117
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Realizing Myself (1)
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Hong Sangho’s face turned red.
“He wants the last three years of ledgers from every department within the hour? This is insane!”
CRACK!
Unable to contain his fury, he slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a deep indent.
But there was nothing he could do. The Lord of the House had given the order himself.
He knew just how ruthless the Lord was. He wouldn't spare even his own kin for disobeying a command.
Just then, the General Manager, Jang U-hwi, approached.
“General Manager Jang?”
“Second Lord.”
“What in the world is going on? All the ledgers from every department for the past three years, within the hour?”
Jang U-hwi let out a sigh. Though he’d stopped the bleeding, the wound on his cheek was still a raw red.
“It’s difficult to explain in brief. For now, we must gather all the household ledgers.”
Hong Sangho ground his teeth.
“What on earth did the Lord do? To check the ledgers of every single department in the house?! This is an insult to us all!”
“That’s the problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Inspector steered the conversation, saying that our main house is also just another group under the Cult’s authority.”
“…That arrogant bastard!”
“How could we have denied being his subordinates in that situation? In any case, this is how things are, so we must move quickly.”
Hong Sangho suppressed his surging anger.
“Fine. But after this is over, I’m going to deal with that brat of an Inspector properly.”
Jang U-hwi’s eyes deepened.
Though he was a man who wielded his cold reason as a weapon more than his martial arts, the insult he’d suffered at Seo Ryang’s hands had soured his mood as well. Even without Hong Sangho’s words, he had no intention of letting it slide.
It was then.
‘…?’
Hong Sangho’s eyebrow twitched.
Jang U-hwi looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Is something wrong?”
“…”
“Second Lord?”
“Hm?”
“Did something catch your attention?”
“…No. I just felt a sudden chill.”
“I’ll speak to the physicians. You should have them prepare a tonic for you.”
“I suppose I should. Goodness, I’ve been so busy lately…”
KRAKOOM!
The two men flinched at the sudden explosion.
“Wh-what was that?!”
At the same time, a powerful killing intent spread out like a cloud.
“…!”
Jang U-hwi’s face went pale. Hong Sangho, whose senses were keener, felt his legs buckle for a moment.
‘What is this killing intent…!’
Overwhelming was not enough to describe it. It was a terrifying killing intent, one that could only be called transcendent, and it froze the two men in place.
‘Wait!’
The direction this killing intent was coming from…
“General Manager Jang! Assemble the house warriors in the Lord’s rear garden!”
“Y-yes?”
“Snap out of it!!”
SLAP!
The slap was so hard it made his vision flash. The wound he’d staunched burst open with a sickening squelch.
But thanks to that, Jang U-hwi came to his senses. If Hong Sangho hadn’t slapped him, he would have remained frozen in a daze.
“Assemble the warriors in the rear garden! Now!”
“Yes!”
A look of anxiety washed over Hong Sangho’s face.
‘What in the world is happening?!’
* * *
BOOOOM!
The powerful explosion unleashed a shockwave that matched its sound.
Wi Hongryeon, who was thrown back, had a truly spectacular expression on her face.
‘Dammit!’
She lifted her head.
In the distance stood a God of Thunder, scattering crimson lightning. Having instantly unleashed even the Earth Prison Ghost Gate Manifestation of his Nine Hells Demonic Art, Seo Ryang’s martial prowess was the very definition of terror.
“Ma! Why is the Young Master suddenly acting like…”
“Summon the Berserk Demon Unit! Quickly!”
SHIIING!
Ma Dongpil, who had instantly retrieved the Poa Sword from the weapon rack, tossed it to her.
Catching the sword by reflex, Wi Hongryeon looked at Ma Dongpil.
He was already gone from her sight. His movement technique, radiating a golden demonic energy as he broke through the dust cloud, was nothing short of dazzling.
“Damn it!”
There was no time to think. Whatever the reason, a fight had broken out, and it was her duty to call for reinforcements.
Wi Hongryeon quickly left the rear garden. A powerful killing intent was already flowing from the Poa Sword she had drawn.
CRUUUNCH!
The ground shook with a heavy impact.
It felt as if a weight of a thousand, no, ten thousand catties was shaking the world. Exploding killing techniques and parrying palm strikes, with the sharp, malevolent energy blooming within, intertwined in a mad dance.
“Young Master!”
FLASH!
Ma Dongpil, having unleashed his Vajrayaksa Demonic Arts, had transformed not into a Heavenly King of Buddhism, but a Demonic King of the Underworld. His potent demonic energy instantly cleared the dust cloud that had blurred their vision.
Finally, the battle came into full view.
The Red Snake House warriors, spread out in all directions, were rushing toward Seo Ryang. Seo Ryang was charging at Bang Ryeong, with Hong Gwan blocking his path.
Ma Dongpil’s movement technique erupted like fire.
KRAKOOM!
He appeared behind Seo Ryang in an instant and drew the Silent King Sword.
ZIIIIIIING!
The sword’s cry echoed thunderously in all directions. The golden sword energy, honed to its peak, radiated an immense pressure.
“How dare you!”
Ma Dongpil swung the Silent King Sword.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
Four old masters each retreated backward.
It was fortunate that more than half of the masters had already rushed off under Hong Gwan’s orders. But the situation was still not good.
Ma Dongpil’s grip on the Silent King Sword tightened.
‘They’re strong.’
Those four old masters were elders of the Red Snake House. Although none of them had reached the realm of a supreme master, each one possessed martial skill on par with his own.
He was lucky to have struck with a surprise attack; in a direct confrontation, he would have likely suffered considerable internal injuries by now.
‘This is…’
Ma Dongpil bit his lip.
One of the elders, Hong In, shouted.
“You bastard! Will you not step aside!”
Ma Dongpil didn’t answer, instead focusing on meticulously controlling the power of his unleashed Vajrayaksa Demonic Arts.
A single moment of weakness meant death.
‘I don’t mind dying, but…’
If he died here, the Young Master would be in even greater danger. He had to stop them, even if it cost him his limbs.
CHIIIIK!
A white haze rose from the Silent King Sword, a result of it being filled to the absolute limit with demonic energy.
Ma Dongpil kept his eyes fixed on the elders and shouted.
“Young Master! We must leave this place for now!”
Given his personality, these were words he would never say, even with a knife to his throat, but now was different. Seo Ryang’s killing intent was anything but ordinary.
Even if this incident concluded without anyone dying, Seo Ryang was the one who had attacked without reason. If the Red Snake House decided to press the issue, it would undoubtedly become a problem, no matter if he was the Third Young Master and an Inspector.
‘Wait.’
Without reason?
‘I definitely heard something.’
It all happened so suddenly that he’d brushed it aside, but if his memory was correct…
‘…The Flying Demon King?’
—You. What is your relationship with that bitch, the Flying Demon King?
Ma Dongpil’s eyes wavered.
Why would the name of the Flying Demon King, one of the Ten Great Masters, suddenly come up?!
BOOM!
‘Dammit!’
A moment of weakness leads to death.
Not his own, but the death of the one he was sworn to protect.
“Young Master!”
Ma Dongpil shouted urgently and swung his sword again.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
A shockwave washed over them, making Seo Ryang’s clothes whip about violently.
But Seo Ryang did not hear Ma Dongpil.
No, he heard, but he ignored it.
This matter should not be handled rashly or simplistically. Especially not if he considered his own future.
His reason screamed at him relentlessly, but it was useless against the explosive rage.
It was just like with Jeong Illyong. Whenever he encountered his sworn enemy who had driven him to his death, or anyone even remotely connected to him, he couldn't control the boiling rage.
A grudge whose magnitude he himself had not known.
A grudge so immense and deep that it had been invisible, unfelt, had now exploded in this very moment.
Seo Ryang’s fists flew with terrifying speed.
B-B-B-BOOM!
The air itself exploded before his fists even reached their target. Like a cascading, shattering waterfall, dozens of scattered fists flew toward Bang Ryeong in an instant.
He had activated the Heaven-Lifting Technique’s fastest art, the Rapid Waterfall Fists.
BOOOOM!
A powerful palm strike blocked the dozens of punches.
Hong Gwan, standing before Bang Ryeong, ground his teeth.
“You bastard! How dare you, in a place like this…!”
WHOOSH!
He didn’t even bother to answer. Seo Ryang swung his leg as if annoyed.
It was a kick meant to sweep aside an obstacle, but its power was extraordinary. It was the Dark Dragon Kick, a kicking art from the Heaven-Lifting Technique.
THWACK!
A thick vein bulged on Hong Gwan’s forehead. A throbbing pain shot up the forearm he’d used to block the kick.
Even with a body protected by the Red Snake House’s ultimate art, the Red Fire Flood Dragon Demonic Art, he felt pain, which only fueled his anger. This was a body of steel that an ordinary sword couldn't even scratch.
“You—!”
KRAKOOM!
Seo Ryang stumbled back three or four steps.
It was a truly powerful hand technique. Even after deflecting more than half of the attack, the residual shockwave was enough to make his joints creak.
As expected of the Lord of the Red Snake House, his martial arts were worthy of one of the Seven Demonic Houses.
Naturally, Seo Ryang felt nothing about it.
FWOOSH!
Hong Gwan’s eyes widened.
‘What?!’
The retreating Seo Ryang vanished from his sight in an instant.
‘Where did he go?’
Just then, a chill ran down his neck.
The concentration of the fiery killing intent that had been consuming the surroundings suddenly intensified behind him.
Seo Ryang, using the Nine Heavens Earth-Shrinking Steps, had moved behind Hong Gwan and Bang Ryeong.
SHWAAACK!
While Seo Ryang was faster in terms of raw speed, Hong Gwan was his equal when it came to the artful subtlety of movement.
He unleashed the Flood Dragon Footwork that Hong Wi-mun had used.
It was the same technique, but the difference in level was immense. Just as his form seemed to blur, he suddenly appeared in front of Seo Ryang, who was about to strike with his Mountain-Shattering Force.
RUMBLE!
Seo Ryang was forced back again.
But so was Hong Gwan. Though he had only staggered, the explosive power of the Mountain-Shattering Force had momentarily restricted his movements.
Hong Gwan’s eyes wavered.
‘How can this be!’
He was clearly the more skilled of the two. He had felt the distinct difference in their abilities after just a few exchanges.
That was why he was so stunned. He had been surprised when Seo Ryang levitated a teacup and boiled the cold tea within, but it hadn’t felt real, hadn't hit him this viscerally.
This was different. Now that they had crossed hands, he realized this was no ordinary brat. How could someone so young have attained such martial prowess?
His surprise soon gave way to bewilderment, and that bewilderment became fuel for his rage.
SHAAAA!
A thick killing intent rose from Hong Gwan’s body.
If Seo Ryang’s killing intent was fiery, wild, and brilliant, Hong Gwan’s was dark and damp. It was no exaggeration to say their martial arts and temperaments were polar opposites.
“I spared you because you’re the Inspector, but it seems you truly wish to cry tears of blood!”
RUMBLE!
Hong Gwan’s body shook. Bang Ryeong, standing behind him, also trembled.
It wasn't because they were attacked. The ground had shaken because Seo Ryang, in his extreme rage, had stomped his foot with immense force.
Seo Ryang’s eyes glowed as he exhaled a reddish killing intent.
He extended a hand to his side.
WOOOOONG!!
A powerful will.
His internal energy was imbued in that will, and an object beyond his reach came to its master on its own.
The favored weapon of the Seventh Heavenly Demon, the Seven Nights Saber, flew into his hand in an instant.
SHIIING!
Drawing the blade, Seo Ryang snarled.
“Move.”
“You bastard!”
“Move, you son of a bitch!!”
FLASH!
A crimson crescent moon, carrying a storm of killing intent, flew forward at incredible speed.