Chapter 123
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Weight of Vengeance
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Hah, hah.”
Drenched in a cold sweat, Bang Ryeong’s face was deathly pale.
*It won’t come loose.*
The ropes were tied so tightly that all circulation had been cut off. Having been in this state for over half a day, her vision was starting to turn yellow.
If only she could use her internal energy, she would have broken free and escaped in an instant.
*Damn it!*
A vein bulged on Bang Ryeong’s neck, but her sealed dantian refused to obey her will.
She couldn’t understand it.
*How in the world…?!*
The Heavenly Evil Arts was a divine technique ranked among the top ten evil arts in the world.
Moreover, the Heavenly Evil Arts was not simply a high-level evil art. It was a martial art one had to master before learning the Flying Demon King’s ultimate technique, the mind arts of the Heretic God.
The very fact that it was a stepping stone to the Greatest Evil Art Under Heaven proved it was on a different level from other evil arts. Sealing the dantian of someone who had mastered the Heavenly Evil Arts was next to impossible.
And yet, hers had been sealed. It wasn't a simple case of striking the Sea of Qi point to temporarily block her internal energy; it was a vicious method that would leave her like this for life unless the caster reversed it.
Did such an acupoint-sealing technique even exist in the world?
*This isn’t a demonic art.*
The study of demonic arts was similar to that of heretical arts. While they included techniques to overwhelm the mind, they were weak in methods that controlled internal energy through delicate acupoint strikes.
*This is closer to the suppression and sealing techniques of the Righteous Sects.*
No, she was certain of it. Though heavily modified, this technique was clearly a method favored by those who practiced the martial arts of the Righteous Sects.
*And it’s remarkably similar to the Buddhist Acupoint Hand of the venerable Shaolin Temple…*
*Clang!*
Bang Ryeong flinched. The carriage door had suddenly swung open.
*Whoooosh!*
A powerful demonic energy surged forth.
As the reddish demonic power enveloped Bang Ryeong, her body floated into the air.
*Thud!*
Bang Ryeong fell to the ground.
It was like throwing a person who could barely move. She gritted her teeth against the chilling pain that pierced her to the bone.
But that pain was the least of her worries.
*Thwack!*
Bang Ryeong’s eyes widened.
A sleek, blue blade was embedded in the ground, less than an inch from her face. A faint, treasured glow emanated from it, and the sharp aura it released sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.
“Did you rest well?”
A chill ran through her.
The voice was far more terrifying than the sharp aura of the blade.
Tied up as she was, she couldn’t even lift her head. All she could see was the cold steel of the saber and a pair of unidentifiable shoes.
Of course, she knew the voice, so she knew who stood before her.
*The Third Young Master of the Divine Cult!*
*Vmmm.*
The Meteor Saber vibrated, imbued with a faint demonic energy.
“I’m not in a rush, but I don’t like wasting time. So answer my questions with the utmost sincerity.”
“…”
“What is your relationship with the Flying Demon King?”
Bang Ryeong clenched her jaw. She was dying to know how he knew of her master, but it was more important to figure out how to survive this crisis.
Her mind raced.
But Seo Ryang gave her no time to think.
*Slice.*
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
A sharp scream echoed through the surroundings.
*Drip, drip, drip.*
Blood poured from her severed ear.
“Moving on to the next question.”
Bang Ryeong’s face turned ashen.
He didn't repeat the same question. It felt as if he didn't care whether she spoke or not.
“How did you meet the Lord of the Red Snake House?”
“Th-that is…”
“That is?”
“…I cannot say.”
*Squish!*
A horrific scream rang out once more. This time, she lost all the fingers on her left hand.
*Tap.*
Bang Ryeong’s body went rigid. The other Meteor Saber was pressing gently just below her eye.
It was a warning that if she didn’t answer the next question, he would gouge out an eye. The merciless terror of this silent violence made her breathing grow rapid and ragged.
“Your evil art seemed to harmonize quite well with the demonic art of the Lord of the Red Snake House. What kind of deal was made between the two of you?”
Bang Ryeong’s body trembled. The sharp aura emanating from the blade on the sensitive skin beneath her eye was so terrifying that she could barely open her mouth.
“I, I…!”
“I?”
“I… I only met with the Lord of the Red Snake House under my master’s orders.”
It seemed she had finally found the will to answer.
But Seo Ryang was cold.
*Stab!*
Her screams grew louder with each passing moment.
First an ear, then fingers, and now an eye. Seo Ryang was destroying her body parts one by one.
It was a truly vicious form of torture. The horror stemming from the sense of loss was several times greater than the pain.
“That wasn't an answer to my question. From now on, make sure you answer properly. Understand?”
“You… you bastard!”
*Thrust!*
Bang Ryeong’s mouth gaped open, unable to even scream. The Meteor Saber had dug into her shoulder joint.
“I need you to answer, so I’ll leave your tongue. But you have to pay the price for running your mouth, don’t you?”
“Kugh…”
A cold smile formed on Seo Ryang’s lips.
“Now that you seem to have a grasp of your situation, let’s begin in earnest.”
A quarter of an hour later, Seo Ryang emerged from the forest, dragging the battered Bang Ryeong behind him, and tossed her aside carelessly.
*Thump!*
“Tie her up again and put her back in the carriage.”
Ma Dongpil’s eyes wavered.
Bang Ryeong was covered in blood. The sight of her twitching form was enough to instill a terrible fear in anyone who saw it.
Wi Hongryeon grabbed Bang Ryeong by the hair to inspect her condition and clicked her tongue.
“She’s a complete wreck.”
It wasn’t just because her ear had been cut off, her eye gouged out, and her fingers severed.
Bang Ryeong’s remaining eye was like that of a dead fish. Her mind had been devastated by extreme terror.
Physical wounds could be healed, but psychological trauma was difficult to treat. With her spirit this broken, her upper dantian must have suffered a massive blow. Even if the seal on her dantian was released, she would never be able to recover.
“What should we do about her wounds? The bleeding has stopped, but they’ll rot if left untreated.”
“She should be grateful she wasn’t killed.”
Ma Dongpil thought it might have been better to grant her a clean death, but he didn’t voice the thought.
“Hmm, well, that’s true. By the way, did you find out everything you needed to know?”
“Most of it.”
“What was it?”
Seo Ryang silently wiped his hands with a handkerchief. There was a practiced ease in the way he cleaned his blood-soaked hands.
Wi Hongryeon shrugged, tied Bang Ryeong up again, and tossed her into the carriage.
“Is there any point in taking her with us in this state? Why not just kill her?”
Spoken like the true Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit.
Seo Ryang shook his head.
“I’m thinking about it.”
“As you know, Young Master, once a person is that far gone, it’s hard for them to return to normal. Even if we take her back to the Cult for interrogation, will she even be able to answer properly?”
“I know.”
Wi Hongryeon nodded. In the end, Seo Ryang was the leader of their group. There was no need to argue when he had made a decision.
“When will we depart for the Giant Whale House?”
“For now, rest. I’ll give the order separately.”
“Understood.”
With that, Wi Hongryeon took her leave.
Ma Dongpil asked cautiously.
“Young Master.”
“Hm?”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. My internal injuries have stabilized, so the rest will heal quickly.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Then what?”
Ma Dongpil opened and closed his mouth several times before finally falling silent. He decided there was no need to needlessly agitate the Young Master.
Seo Ryang let out a small laugh.
“You don’t have to be so hesitant. If you’re curious about something, just ask.”
“…”
“If it’s too difficult to ask, then never mind.”
“You’ve changed.”
Seo Ryang turned his head toward Ma Dongpil.
With a grave expression, Ma Dongpil said, “You’ve changed a great deal from your usual self, Young Master. That is why I am worried.”
He didn’t beat around the bush. His tone was quite stiff, which made his words feel all the more sincere.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. To be precise, you have been different since we left the Cult.”
“I suppose I have.”
“The day before we entered the Red Snake House, you seemed to have regained your usual composure, and I thought it was a relief. I wasn’t worried even after we entered the house. But…”
Ma Dongpil glanced at the carriage.
“Ever since that woman appeared, you have become a completely different person, Young Master. To the point where you seem precarious.”
“…”
“I cannot dare to ask what you are thinking or what troubles you. But…”
As if unsure how to finish his sentence, Ma Dongpil’s lips trembled again before he bowed his head deeply.
“I only say this out of concern. If you believe I have overstepped my bounds, I will gladly accept any punishment.”
“Dongpil.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I’ve told you this before, haven’t I? That you shouldn’t live your life holding a grudge against anyone.”
Ma Dongpil remembered. He remembered every word and deed of Seo Ryang’s since the day they met.
“You did. You said it after the matter with the transport unit was resolved, before we returned to the Cult.”
“Right. And what else did I say then?”
“You told me that you didn’t care if I was angry or disliked someone, but that I should forget such feelings quickly and move on.”
“And?”
“…”
“And I said this: living your life holding a grudge like me makes things exhausting.”
Ma Dongpil’s expression turned awkward.
“I don’t want to live like that if I can help it. Who would want to live an exhausting life? Grudges or whatever, I just want to forget it all and live comfortably, finding the life I want.”
“Young Master.”
“I’ve realized just how ridiculous that sounds. Especially after meeting that woman.”
Seo Ryang’s eyes grew cold.
“This is just how I was born. Or maybe, the life I’ve lived has made me this way. The important thing is that I’m the type of person who can never forget a grudge, not even in death.”
“…”
“I’ve learned that this is no longer an exhausting thing for me. I intend to do everything I can until my heart is at ease. In the end, I suppose that was the life I truly wanted.”
After staring intently at Seo Ryang, Ma Dongpil bowed his head.
“Whatever life you choose, Young Master, I will simply follow you.”
“You shouldn’t. You have to make a choice, too.”
“A choice?”
“Following me because you were ordered to? No, that’s not enough. That would be a disservice to both me and you.”
Ma Dongpil spoke in a firm tone.
“Our relationship may have begun with an order, but I have already made my choice. And my choice will not change in the future.”
Perhaps he felt the unwavering sincerity.
Seo Ryang’s expression became utterly serious.
“It will probably be very different from how things have been until now.”
“That is fine.”
“There will be many dangerous situations.”
“It does not matter.”
“A moment will surely come when I must use you like a piece on a game board.”
“I would be glad to receive your command, even if you use me as a mere pawn.”
Ma Dongpil knelt on one knee.
“It is not because you are of noble status within the Cult, Young Master. It is not because you are a great warrior.”
“…”
“Even so, I will follow you.”
Seo Ryang nodded.
He already knew. He knew that no matter what he said, Ma Dongpil would follow him.
But he still wanted to give him a choice. There was a big difference between being aware that it was a path one had chosen for oneself and not.
“Tell Commander Wi that we depart in half a day.”
“To the Giant Whale House?”
“We’re not going to the Giant Whale House.”
“Then where…?”
Seo Ryang’s eyes gleamed.
“A treasure vault I haven’t visited in years. The one closest to our current location, among all the vaults scattered throughout the Central Plains.”
“Pardon?”
“We are going to Sohyang Valley in Mount Heng, Hunan.”
Seo Ryang turned away.
Geumho followed him, its large tail wagging gently.
“Tell Commander Wi this as well. Tell the Lord of the Giant Whale House to bring the inspection documents and come to Sohyang Valley.”
“...!”
“If he doesn’t, tell him I’ll mark everything as unsatisfactory.”