Chapter 71
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: I Closed the Door, Not Knowing a Demon Had Emerged (1)
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“Looks like we’re mostly done cleaning up. The rest of you, get some rest.”
At Munhu’s words, the fifty or so men collapsed where they stood.
Though it was a warm region, the chill rising from the ground was quite sharp. Even on a good day, winter was still winter. It wasn't a comfortable temperature for resting.
Finding his spot uncomfortable, one of the men dusted off his rear and walked over to Munhu.
“Commander.”
“What is it?”
“Aren’t you resting, sir?”
“It’s fine. My stomach feels a bit off, probably from all the things I ate at the Clear Water Gate.”
The subordinate grumbled.
“Must have been nice. I heard that old man, the Master of the Clear Water Gate, lives in incredible luxury.”
“Porcelain, carpets… he lived like a king, I tell you.”
“Hmph, if it were me, I’d just live there in splendor. Why would he try to pull strings to get into the Alliance by… the Great Elder…”
Munhu’s eyes sharpened.
“You! Watch your mouth.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“The walls have ears. Don’t even let words that might leak out pass your lips.”
The subordinate scratched his head, looking sheepish.
“By the way, when is the Great Elder expected to arrive?”
“Trying to change the subject, are we?”
“I’m genuinely curious. I need to know when he’s coming to rest easy, don’t I?”
“I don’t know. It’ll probably take about half a day.”
“That long?”
“It’s quite a distance, isn’t it?”
The subordinate let out a sigh.
“I always wonder if it’s alright for him to go to such places alone. He only took you with him to the Clear Water Gate, didn’t he?”
“Such places? What place do you think it is?”
“I don’t know for sure. But, well, isn’t it similar to what happened at the Clear Water Gate?”
Munhu shook his head.
“He said it’s where his mother’s grave is.”
“What? So the Great Elder came all this way just to pay respects at a grave?”
“What did you think it was?”
“…Just, you know.”
“He’s been like this for a few years now. Always saying he’s an unfilial son who hasn’t even visited his mother’s grave, using the excuse of being busy, and that he must make time to see her.”
The subordinate stroked his chin, looking surprised.
“I never knew the Great Elder had that side to him.”
“You little…?”
“Ah, sorry. I spoke out of turn again…”
“The Great Elder is a remarkable man. We may be sticking to him for our own ambitions, but it’s hard to find someone as human as him.”
“That’s true.”
“So be careful not to let anything about the Great Elder slip, not even by mistake. Any harm to him will cause problems for our careers. Got it?”
“Don’t you worry.”
“You’re the one I’m most worried about, you brat.”
Munhu scratched his head and walked over to where the men were gathered.
“Alright, you got anything to eat?”
“Didn’t you say you ate a lot at the Clear Water Gate? Why the sudden change of heart from the man with an upset stomach?”
“It was fancy, sure. Just too salty and greasy, so I couldn’t eat much.”
“Heh, can’t even appreciate expensive food. Seems you’re not destined for greatness either, Commander.”
“Are you bastards asking for it?”
As they were joking and bantering, one of the men frowned.
“Uh… what’s that.”
“What is it, you punk.”
“Something looks strange over there.”
“What!”
“Are those trees? Why are they all breaking apart like that?”
“What in the world are you talking about?”
Munhu turned his head to where the subordinate was looking.
At that moment, a powerful explosion roared.
*Booooom!*
It was the sound of the air not just being torn, but bursting apart. At the same time, the trees that had been collapsing left and right were shattered into fine pieces and scattered.
Munhu’s eyes widened.
*Swhoooosh!!*
With a tremendous roar, a person was approaching at a terrifying speed.
‘…?!”
The face of the figure—it was hard to tell if it was even human—was as ferocious as a demon’s, its hair swept back by the incredible speed.
To make matters worse, this demon was carrying a giant saber on its back, as tall as itself.
Right behind it, a golden dot flickered repeatedly near its feet, keeping pace.
Munhu shouted without thinking.
“Everyone, be careful!”
*Thwack!*
As it charged like a storm, it kicked off the air once more.
‘Sky-walking?!’
Sky-walking, treading the void.
It referred to the highest realm of movement techniques, allowing one to walk on air at will.
It certainly looked like sky-walking, given how it kicked off the air, but the movement was so explosive he couldn’t be sure.
The mysterious demon rose, obscuring the high sun.
*Piiing!*
With a sound like a zither string snapping, the rapidly descending demon gripped the giant saber on its back with both hands.
*Fwoooosh!*
As crimson, blood-colored lightning of demonic energy erupted from the demon’s entire body, fear crept onto Munhu’s face.
“Get back!”
*Craaaackle!*
***
“Hm?”
Jeong Illyong glanced behind him.
Oh Gyeong-hwa tilted his head.
“What is it?”
“…It’s nothing. I must be getting old. I seem to be hearing things.”
Oh Gyeong-hwa chuckled.
“That’s not something the world-renowned Beautiful Bearded Sword Immortal should be saying.”
“Haha, you’re the only one who still treats this old man like a person.”
“Like a person? You’re one of the most powerful figures in the Righteous Heaven Alliance, yet you complain so much.”
“You don’t know the half of it. Do you think all the young folk these days are like you? The world is full of brats who treat respect for their elders as less than a stone on the road.”
“Haha! I’m over fifty, yet you call me young? Well, I don’t mind hearing it.”
Jeong Illyong gazed at the shadowed forest in the distance.
A large man sat on a rock, and behind him, ‘beasts’ with glowing red eyes lay crouched in the undergrowth.
“So those are the infamous beasts.”
“I don’t know about infamous, but they are the beasts.”
Just then, the man turned his head toward them.
His eyes, looking at Jeong Illyong, gleamed with a strange light.
*Swoosh.*
An formless wave of energy emanated from the man’s body. At the same time, a foul, gamey odor wafted over. It was the kind of smell you’d only get from a carnivore.
Oh Gyeong-hwa waved his hand with an annoyed expression.
“Smelly things.”
Jeong Illyong, however, showed no such reaction.
Gazing intently at the man, he asked in a calm voice.
“What is your name?”
“Yulrang.”
“Yulrang… I see.”
A voice full of admiration escaped Jeong Illyong’s lips.
“So you are the Yulrang, the prized disciple of the Beast Palace Lord. One of the two closest to becoming the next Lord, I hear?”
A blue light flared in the man, Yulrang’s, eyes.
A small black dot was imprinted in the center of his blue eyes, which had encroached even upon the whites. It was like looking into the eyes of a wolf.
“They say the martial arts from beyond the borders follow a different path from those of the Central Plains. Though they may seem similar, they are so bizarre that even a superior master can be caught off guard in a moment of carelessness.”
“…”
“Seeing you, I understand. It seems mixed with the martial arts of the Central Plains, yet it is also completely different. And that latent energy wave within you…
Most of the peak masters in the Central Plains would have a hard time lasting ten exchanges.”
Yulrang paid no mind to the assessment of him. He simply stared at Jeong Illyong with piercing eyes before abruptly turning his head away.
Oh Gyeong-hwa sneered.
“See that? That’s what they’re like. Brutes who know nothing of the world’s courtesies.”
“Haha, they live in a different world. We can’t just berate them for not knowing our customs.”
“Why are you so lenient with that brute, Great Elder?”
“Lenient? It was just a greeting anyone would offer.”
“Hmph! By the way, how did you know who he was?”
Jeong Illyong nodded.
“I know. I have to. The Four Palaces Beyond the Borders are each organizations that rival the Three Powers of the martial world.
They may be lying low now, but it’s only natural to keep track of those who could become friend or foe at any time.”
“I don’t see why that’s natural. If they’re allies, we join hands. If they appear as enemies, we crush them. Simple as that.”
“You need to temper that attitude of yours. That is, if you dream of higher places.”
Oh Gyeong-hwa snorted.
“Not interested. I’ll live and die on the front lines. Though I do expect to be compensated accordingly, of course.”
“Haha.”
Responding with a hearty laugh, Jeong Illyong slowly bent his upper body.
“In any case, I’d like to conclude our light, introductory conversation here. After all, it seems we don’t have much time.”
“You say that, but you’re the one who could talk for half a day about this and that. But fine. I agree that we don’t have much time.”
“Yes, yes. So…”
Jeong Illyong’s eyes flashed. It was a look mixed with greed and madness, unfitting for his immortal-like appearance.
“Where is the Calamity God’s Treasured Jade?”
Oh Gyeong-hwa tapped his chest with his finger.
“It’s in here.”
“Let’s conclude the deal first. Hand it over.”
“If you wish to buy something, you must first show that you have the money for it, no?”
“Haha. This isn’t our first time doing business. Don’t be so harsh.”
“I can’t help it. This isn’t a personal deal this time, I’ve come as an agent sent by my superiors, haven’t I?”
Jeong Illyong nodded.
“I understand.”
He took out a small golden pouch from his robes.
“Here it is.”
“Is this ‘that’?”
“It is. I’ll tell you now, this is twice the quality of the last batch. They will be satisfied when you deliver it.”
“How did you manage to get this?”
“I am, after all, a Great Elder of the Righteous Heaven Alliance. It took some legwork.”
After receiving the golden pouch, Oh Gyeong-hwa took out a similarly sized pouch from his own robes. Unlike Jeong Illyong’s red one, his was blue.
“Thank you.”
Jeong Illyong smiled as he took the pouch.
His face was smiling, but his eyes were trembling with agitation. The cunning old man, said to be one of the best in the Alliance in terms of political power, was unable to control his emotions.
Oh Gyeong-hwa was inwardly puzzled.
‘The Calamity God’s Treasured Jade… is that orb really that important?’
He knew it was a valuable item, but he didn’t know its use. It didn’t seem to exude any incredible energy, nor was it a dazzlingly beautiful gem.
He hated not knowing things. Oh Gyeong-hwa asked frankly.
“So what is that orb that you’d trade even this for it?”
“Haha, what is nothing but a rotten piece of wood to one person can be firewood to warm a room for another. Just think of it as something I need.”
“I see.”
Oh Gyeong-hwa smacked his lips. He was politely refusing to tell him. He probably wouldn’t say anything until the end.
‘Stingy old man.’
After putting the pouch in his robes, Jeong Illyong clapped his hands.
“Well, with this, our deal is concluded.”
“So it is. Are you planning to leave right away?”
“If I had my way, I’d like to chat with you about the state of the world like we used to, but I’m very busy. Aren’t you busy as well?”
“Well, I am, but I have time for a few drinks.”
“Haha, you must have missed me.”
Oh Gyeong-hwa waved his hand with a look of utter annoyance.
“The main fortress is nice and all, but it’s full of such boring people. There’s no one as entertaining as you, Great Elder.”
“Your superiors would be disappointed to hear that.”
“Ha! Disappointed? They’d be too busy worrying about what’s going into their own mouths. How about it? Why not take this chance to join the Iron Blood Fortress?”
“Hah! Are you trying to recruit me?”
“What’s wrong with that? It’s only natural to covet a capable person, isn’t it?”
“I appreciate the thought.”
“Don’t just brush it off, give it some serious thought…”
“But you know.”
“Hm?”
Jeong Illyong gave a warm smile.
“Are you in a position to make me such an offer? You’re just a mere unit commander, after all.”
“Hmm, if you’re going to be so cynical about it…”
*Stab!*
Oh Gyeong-hwa’s eyes became bloodshot. Jeong Illyong’s hand was suddenly embedded in his heart.
Jeong Illyong shook his head.
“When you get to the netherworld, fix that reckless personality of yours first.”
“Keoheok…”
*Splurt!*
As the hand was pulled out, Oh Gyeong-hwa collapsed. He was killed instantly.
“Gasp!”
“Co-Commander?!”
Jeong Illyong looked behind him.
“Hmm, I wonder how many small fry he brought.”
He looked at Yulrang.
“How about it? It seems you’ve already eaten your fill, but would you care for another meal with those fellows?”
Surprisingly, the corners of Yulrang’s mouth curved up.
“Of course.”
***
“His mother’s grave? Bullshit.”
“Keok!”
“If you don’t tell me the truth, I’ll really kill you.”
“Cough! I-I only heard that… Please…”
Seo Ryang’s grip loosened as he stared down at Munhu.
*Thud.*
With Munhu being the last, all fifty men lay collapsed on the ground.
*Twitch!*
Looking around at his blood-soaked body, Seo Ryang gripped his right arm. In his trembling hand was the five-foot-long giant saber Ma Dongpil had acquired for him.
His arm tried to move on its own. The hot scent of blood filling his nostrils made him want to kill all the fallen men without a second thought.
*Crackle!*
The Dark Shadow Demonic Energy blazed on its own, even without him circulating it.
‘Hmph, I knew this would happen.’
The Dark Shadow True Demonic Art wouldn’t calm down. The sealed Subterranean Prison Coffin Ghost Gate Technique was struggling to open itself.
Seo Ryang growled like a beast.
“Shit, since it’s come to this, let’s just go hunt that bastard down.”
He would get the price of at least one leg. Even though he had been reborn into a different body, the thought of that man made his severed right leg ache.
“Just you wait, you son of a bitch!”
*Woooong.*
The moment demonic energy gathered in his feet.
*Kwaang!*
Seo Ryang’s body vanished with a deafening boom.