Chapter 97
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Outlaws of the Divine Cult (1)
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The Third Young Master of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.
The impact of that name was truly immense.
“Woooah!”
“The, the Third Young Master?!”
“This is the first time I’ve seen him in person!”
“Just as I’d heard…! He looks so dignified, just as the rumors said!”
Seo Ryang unconsciously stroked his face.
This face? Dignified? It might be handsome, but isn’t it just plain?
On the other hand, Ji Unhoe and the other members of the Demonic Sword House were aghast for a different reason.
‘The Third Young Master? That young man?’
Ji Unhoe examined Seo Ryang’s face once more.
‘Come to think of it…’
He had seen Seo Ryang once before, a long time ago.
It must have been shortly after he was chosen as the Third Young Master, back when the hair on his upper lip was just starting to darken.
But no matter how much he had aged, the Seo Ryang of then and the Seo Ryang of now were too different. He never imagined the Third Young Master would change this much.
Seo Ryang grinned.
“What? Is there something on my face?”
“…”
“How about a greeting?”
Ji Unhoe, who had been staring blankly at Seo Ryang, slowly cupped his fist.
“Ji Unhoe, Lord of the Demonic Sword House, greets the Third Young Master.”
It was a short, simple greeting. Not disrespectful, but not particularly polite either—a subtle gesture.
At the same time, the two young men lined up behind him and the swordsmen of the Sword Fragrance Unit also bowed their heads.
“We greet the Third Young Master.”
When they had been releasing their energy, it felt like they could topple a great mountain, yet their greeting was quiet.
Ji Unhoe spoke.
“I was not aware that you were the Third Young Master.”
“Is thaaat so?”
“Ignorance does not excuse my rudeness, and I admit my fault. However, you have also displayed words and actions unbecoming of a candidate for the succession of the Divine Cult. How about we consider this matter settled?”
It was a clean way to handle things. Though flustered, he had quickly composed himself and moved to defuse the situation.
It was a display worthy of the head of a house vying to be the greatest in the demonic path.
Seo Ryang said bluntly.
“Let’s do that. It’s not like I came here looking for a fight.”
It wasn’t a very convincing statement. Of course, no one present was in a position to call him out on it.
“My thanks. In that case, we will be on our way…”
“Before that.”
“…?”
“My lord, you haven't answered my question. I’m genuinely curious, so please give me an answer before you go.”
“…I would be grateful if you could repeat the question.”
“I can repeat it anytime. I asked this: as a father, if you were to witness your child’s shameless crime, how would you act?”
Ji Unhoe’s eyes deepened. He couldn’t fathom the man’s intention behind such words.
But they were being watched by everyone. It seemed nothing good would come from a long conversation with this high-ranking simpleton.
“Naturally, I would handle it according to the law.”
“Handle it according to the law?”
“That is correct.”
“That phrase, ‘according to the law,’ is quite ambiguous. Do you mean you’d handle it according to the laws of your house?”
Ji Unhoe’s eyebrow twitched. Why was he asking such an obvious question?
But he couldn’t bring himself to say it was obvious. The look on Seo Ryang’s face was far more serious than he had expected.
A moment of silence.
At the end of that heavy silence, Ji Unhoe answered.
“The laws of my house are stricter than those of any other. Should such a moment ever arise, I would sternly hold even my own child accountable for their sins.”
“Should I take that to mean you would be even sterner precisely because it is your own child?”
A subtle exaggeration.
But it was a difficult position from which to say no.
The place was filled not only with members from the Outer Hall but also with demonic practitioners from outside. Furthermore, several masters from the Inner Hall were surely watching the situation.
“That is correct. How could a man who cannot properly manage his own child lead a house as its lord?”
“I see.”
“However, I have faith. I believe that neither my children nor any member of my house would ever commit such a shameless act.”
It was a statement that revealed his pride as the Lord of the Demonic Sword House. In this, at least, Ji Unhoe’s sincerity was apparent.
Seo Ryang, who had been watching him intently, bowed his head.
“I apologize for holding you up on your way. Welcome to the Divine Cult.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Seo Ryang stepped to the side. Ma Dongpil then sheathed the Black King Sword and followed behind him.
The forces of the Demonic Sword House advanced once more.
Having moved aside, Seo Ryang watched the two young men following Ji Unhoe.
One was a young man who appeared to be around Seo Ryang’s age. His complexion was somewhat pale, but his sharp eyes and the blade-like aura surrounding him were impressive.
The other was a young man who looked to be in his late teens. He had delicate features and a gentle demeanor, but he too emanated an impressively sharp energy.
‘The eldest and third sons of the Demonic Sword House’s lord.’
The eldest son, Ji Ganghyeon, and the third son, Ji Yeonghyeon.
Ma Dongpil’s eyes gleamed.
“Young Master.”
“Yes.”
“Their aura is far more formidable than I expected. The eldest son, Ji Ganghyeon… he is not someone to be taken lightly.”
“True. That’s certainly true, but…”
Seo Ryang frowned.
‘What is this?’
He could feel a distinct killing intent from Ji Ganghyeon’s gaze, which boasted a blade-like aura.
But that level of intent was common among swordsmen of the martial world. A swordsman who had killed had experienced the weight of taking a life. It was only natural for their eyes to hold killing intent.
However, Seo Ryang could read something more.
‘This is a man who kills someone once a day, or at least once every two days. Otherwise, his killing intent couldn’t be this vivid, nor could it be so layered.’
He had explored the realm of death more deeply than anyone in the martial world. Just by looking at the flow of killing intent, he could tell what kind of battlefield the other person had experienced.
‘A battlefield? That can’t be it.’
Seo Ryang’s eyes deepened.
‘That’s not the kind of killing intent you get on a battlefield where blades and spears fly.’
At a glance, it was similar to the killing intent of any other swordsman, but it was more vicious, more malevolent.
‘This is the killing intent of someone who has murdered others one-sidedly.’
It was, quite literally, the gaze of a murderer, a homicidal maniac.
‘The eldest son, Ji Ganghyeon, is the culprit… If he’s really killing someone every two days, that’s astounding.’
In a year, that would be at least one hundred and eighty people. At this rate, he more than deserved to be called a Demonic Lord.
Seo Ryang had also carried out three or four assassinations in a single day, but his targets had all been martial artists.
Those were like battles, requiring intense mind games and extreme focus.
Ji Ganghyeon was different.
Presumably, the people he killed… were likely common folk who hadn’t learned an ounce of martial arts.
‘Well, since he’s the eldest son of a Demonic House, he might even be pleased to be called a Demonic Lord.’
In any case, it was clear he was a vicious bastard.
‘And the Lord of the Demonic Sword House seemed completely unaware.’
He was meticulous enough to escape the notice of his own father, a man hailed as the Sword King of the Demonic Path.
On top of that, he would have had to carry out his daily duties as the eldest son of the house.
A savage nature, meticulousness, and the self-control to avoid suspicion from everyone around him.
‘He’s no pushover.’
Just then, Ji Ganghyeon slightly turned his head.
His eyes narrowed as his gaze met Seo Ryang’s. But it was only for a moment before he turned his head back to face forward.
‘Hard to feel any goodwill in many ways, is that it?’
Though I suppose I would be the same.
Seo Ryang patted Ma Dongpil’s shoulder.
“Dongpil, let’s slowly head back…”
In that instant, Seo Ryang felt a sense of foreboding creep up his spine.
He quickly turned his head, his eyes catching sight of a single young man.
“Young Master?”
“…”
“Young Master!”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
“Let us be on our way.”
“Right, let’s go. Where’s Commander Wi?”
“Commander Wi is here…”
Just then, as if by magic, Wi Hongryeon squeezed between the two of them and popped up.
“Did you call for me?”
“You scared me. This girl, when did you learn stealth techniques?”
“I’m the one who’s surprised. I was calling for you from waaaay over there. Didn’t you hear me?”
Ma Dongpil nodded as well.
“That is correct.”
“Tch, I must not have heard because I was thinking about something. Anyway, are you done crying your eyes out?”
“Hey, come on!”
“Hehe! I get it. Hey, we’re pretty much done looking around the Outer Hall, so let’s go to the Inner Hall. I’m bored, let’s go drink.”
“Ooh? Is that okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? We can’t just hang around the Outer Hall forever when there’s nothing to do. And you two look bored out of your minds.”
“Hehe, you knew.”
“I like how honest you are…”
And so, the three of them headed toward the Inner Hall, chatting away.
Seo Ryang kept pace with the two, chiming in, but his consciousness was focused on the young man he had seen just a moment ago.
It wasn't Ji Ganghyeon, but the third son, Ji Yeonghyeon.
‘That one…’
Seo Ryang’s eyes deepened.
‘He’s hiding an absurd amount of power.’
It was a fragment of power so subtle that he wouldn’t have been able to detect it without the senses of the Nine Hells Demonic Art, perfected with Lee Cheonsang’s help.
Ji Yeonghyeon possessed internal energy that was at least on par with his own, or perhaps even greater.
“…Well, well, this is getting more and more interesting.”
* * *
After knocking Wi Hongryeon out with alcohol in just two hours, Seo Ryang left his quarters. Ma Dongpil and Geumho followed behind him.
“You’re not drunk?”
“I have purged the alcohol’s influence.”
“Why would you purge it? What a waste. You shouldn’t have drunk it in the first place then.”
“…”
“Alright, I admit I was the one who told you to drink.”
“I am your personal guard, Young Master. I must be ready to protect you at any time.”
Seo Ryang smirked.
Just then, Geumho let out a yip! and looked up at him. Even while keeping pace with his quick steps, it tilted its head up to look at Seo Ryang.
“You little rascal, you’re following too?”
As he scooped it up into his arms, Geumho burrowed deep into his robes and settled in. It seemed it wanted to follow but was too lazy to walk.
“By the way, Young Master. Where are we going?”
“To see the Lord of the Garden of Joy.”
“I see.”
Seo Ryang glanced at his waist.
“You were pretty cool earlier, by the way. Bam! You stabbed your sword into the ground, and thud! You knelt down, just like that.”
“Ah…”
“Seeing that, you do know how to read the room. Well done.”
Ma Dongpil scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
“I simply could not stand by and watch the arrogance of the Lord of the Demonic Sword House.”
“Arrogance? What arrogance? He even gave me a refreshing little nod.”
“…You saw that?”
“I saw it.”
“I apologize.”
Seo Ryang chuckled.
“I’ve never met anyone who says ‘I apologize’ as much as you do. You act like the world’s greatest sinner. What in the world are you sorry for?”
“It’s just…”
“You’re so stiff. Right, Geumho?”
“Yip!”
“See?”
Ma Dongpil’s expression turned uncomfortable.
He didn’t mind hearing anything from the Young Master, but that creature was another story. Being looked down upon by a fox no bigger than his forearm felt deeply unsettling.
Seo Ryang cackled.
“You, punk, you’d better be nice to Geumho from now on. Someday, when you make a mistake, this child will become a fine little whip to admonish you for your faults…”
Suddenly, his eyes flashed.
Ma Dongpil, uncharacteristically, pouted.
“I will do my best not to make any mistakes…”
“Duck!”
*Fwoosh!*
A single blade of grass shot through the air.