Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Becoming the Disciple of Yi Dangmunhyeok
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“What?”
Yi Cheolsan turned his head the other way while receiving necessary supplies alongside the Heavenly Sword Forest swordsmen.
His advanced realm allowed him to sense everything happening in the grand training ground as if it were unfolding right beside him.
The Dark Lord’s appearance.
And even Unhwi’s bold declaration.
Just the extermination of the Dark Palace Corps was a mission as daunting as wiping out the Black River Branch.
No, in some ways, it could be even harder.
Because it meant facing the South Palace directly.
Yet he didn’t stop there—he even spoke of killing the Dark Thunder Division Leader or the Phantom Sect Master?
The Dark Thunder Division Leader was one of the top five experts and powerhouses in the South Palace Clan.
The Phantom Sect Master was on an even grander scale.
He was the head of one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Nine Great Sects, known as the king of the shadows.
The problem was that Unhwi’s words didn’t sound like empty bravado at all.
“If it’s that Tang kid I’ve seen so far, he might actually pull it off.”
Yi Cheolsan found himself smiling without realizing it.
“To avoid getting caught, I’ll have to give it my all.”
* * *
Dang Ye-won was just as stunned.
“He’s insane!!”
She had thought Unhwi was arrogant.
And that he had every right to be.
But what he’d just said went beyond arrogance—it was pure狂傲.
The Dark Thunder Division Leader? Fine, maybe.
But the Phantom Sect Master? That crossed the line.
Even dealing with the North Sea Sect Master had required her grandfather to step in personally.
How could he claim he’d take down the Phantom Sect Master, who was considered his equal or greater?
Considering even Yi Cheolsan hadn’t reached the pinnacle yet, Unhwi still had a long way to go.
So what gave him the right to spout off like that in front of her grandfather?
Dang Ye-won wanted to rush to the grand training ground and tell him to shut up.
But.
Thump!
Her heart was racing for some reason.
Maybe.
Just maybe.
She might be witnessing the birth of a new legend of storm and fury.
* * *
Pa-hahaha-ha-ha!
Mad laughter.
A rough guffaw filled the grand training ground.
Rumble...!
The shockwave followed.
The outer disciples clutched their ears and staggered.
Dang Gon and the instructors alternated shocked glances between themselves and the direction of the clan lord’s platform.
Then the laughter cut off abruptly.
And.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
In the center of the grand training ground, the wind gathered, taking on human form.
The Dark Lord appeared, hands clasped behind his back.
Unlike the laughter from moments ago, his face was coldly impassive.
No emotion could be read in the gaze he fixed on me.
“You’ll slay the Phantom Sect Master?”
His voice was gruff.
So devoid of feeling it barely seemed human—enough to instill instinctive fear.
But I nodded with a grin.
“Not that I will, but I was asking what happens if I rack up merits on that level.”
Hmph!
The Dark Lord snorted lightly.
“Already trying to carve out an escape route like this?”
“Escape route? I asked it that way from the start.”
“It sounds like you’ll try it, and if it doesn’t look feasible, you’ll back out.”
“No. It’s completely different.”
I shook my head and continued.
“Who knows who else might get involved during the mission? If a higher-up from the Dark Palace Corps is there, I’ll eliminate them for sure. Dark Thunder Division Leader if he’s there, Phantom Sect Master if he is—that’s what I meant.”
“What if the South Palace Clan Lord is there?”
“Then I’ll take him down.”
Pfft.
The Dark Lord let out a scoffing laugh.
“I thought it was nonsense, but it turns out you’re even crazier than I first thought.”
The Dark Lord turned away.
“Enough nonsense. Follow me.”
Flash!
With a light step, his figure vanished.
“I’ll be back.”
I gave Dang Gon and the instructors a quick nod and followed. Gale Trust Technique.
The Dark Lord ran for a while before arriving at a shrine not far from the castle town.
Azure Sheep Palace.
The tallest central pillar: Prosperity Pavilion.
“Do you know why I brought you here?”
“No idea.”
“From here, you can see the entire castle town and even the Tang family grounds at a glance. As a child, I came here to steel myself against the hardships of the branch family. Even now, I come when I need to firm up my resolve.”
I nodded silently, then tilted my head.
It didn’t match the dramatic flair of his words—the city wasn’t visible at a glance.
“There’s too much fog.”
“......”
The Dark Lord glanced down at the base of Prosperity Pavilion, then turned.
He smiled.
Thwack!
Before I knew it, a dread fan in his hand smacked my head.
“Ow!”
It hurt like hell.
“You little brat! When! An adult! Speaks! You just! Accept it! As having! Deep meaning! And move on! Ugh! No manners at all!!”
When the hell did he take my dread fan? I thought my skull cracked!
Rubbing my throbbing head and groaning, the Dark Lord then whacked the back of my head with it.
Thwaaack!
“Argh! Why hit me again!?”
“When an adult speaks, you answer properly! Don’t sulk like a pouty child!”
Who’s pouting? I couldn’t speak because it hurt too much!
Of course, I didn’t voice that protest.
The Dark Lord had raised the dread fan high again.
What? Got a problem?
His gleaming eyes seemed to say that, acting like he’d devour me any second.
In the end, I had to apologize through gritted teeth.
“Got it! I’ll be careful next time!”
Thwaaaack!
“Aaaah! You told me to apologize, and I did—why hit me again!?”
“Loosen that glare! Is that how you apologize?”
Thwaaaaack!
“I’ve loosened it!!”
“Lower your voice!”
Thwaaaaaaack!
“Why again!?”
“Your crown looks so tempting.”
“!?!?”
It was infuriating.
How did I end up with this weirdo old man?
“Ahem! This is tragic—the Young Cult Leader bullied by a mere righteous sect member.”
“Feels like ten-year-old heartburn going down… Ah, no, piling up more!!”
“Young Cult Leader! Just give the order, and tonight I’ll haunt this bald geezer’s dreams with sweet… No, nightmares!”
Watching the spirits’ antics made my fists tremble.
Just let me get out of here. I’ll deal with all the postponed ass-kicking.
Only then did the Dark Lord seem somewhat appeased, tossing the dread fan lightly my way.
I caught it carefully and shoved it haphazardly into my belt.
“With lips pursed like that. What, a grown man sulking after a little scolding?”
Damn, I’m really pissed now.
What does being a man have to do with it?
The Dark Lord clasped his hands behind his back again and gazed down at the base of Prosperity Pavilion.
“Looks like you’ve worked hard these past days. Everything seemed well-prepared.”
I let out a light sigh and nodded.
“I did what I could. What happens next… depends on them.”
“True. No matter how much the leader dangles carrots and cracks the whip, if they don’t step up, it’s all for nothing.”
The Dark Lord narrowed his eyes and continued.
“But I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard either. Even if the subordinates excel, an overzealous leader can ruin it.”
“......”
“You’ve got plenty of years ahead. Why rush so much at just seventeen?”
“......”
“Don’t try to devour everything in haste. You’ll end up with indigestion.”
“......”
“Sometimes, you need to digest slowly.”
“......”
Don’t rush.
The weight of those words was immense.
A faint sadness seemed woven into them.
How many people had he left behind or lost in his ninety years, rushing ahead?
The Dark Lord turned to me. His warm eyes, filled with worry and concern, met mine.
For some reason, it reminded me of someone.
“......”
“......”
Deep silence flowed.
* * *
Just before returning to the Tang family grounds, I made one request of the Dark Lord.
“If I achieve great merits without rushing—”
“......”
“Ah, I’m not saying it’s overdoing it! Don’t make that face! It’s scary! And when did you snag the dread fan again!?”
“…Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll smash that thick skull of yours. Remember this: you’re my slave for life. No escaping. Slurp!”
“......”
I thought he was worried and telling me not to get hurt, but really, it’s so he can use me?
Of course, I knew how much he actually cared.
“Anyway, if you achieve something the clan lord would see and approve of, can you grant one gift?”
“Gift?”
“Yes. Nothing difficult.”
“Clan Lord’s Guard, say something like that and I’ll crack your skull right now.”
Knew it wouldn’t work. Tch.
As expected of the bald geezer—stingy to the core. They say bald guys live long; seeing him, I get why.
“Your eyes look suspicious. Thinking something naughty?”
“No way. Haha. How could a loyal servant like me think such disloyal thoughts? What I want is—”
The Dark Lord’s face turned strange after hearing my wish.
“Well, that’s not hard. It used to be called the sacred ground of the main house, but now it’s just seen as a place of exile or prison. Why go there?”
I just smiled without a word.
The Dark Lord clicked his tongue, displeased, suspecting I was up to no good.
“Ugh, what mischief are you planning now.”
“Nothing big.”
“Nothing big, my foot. You’ll shock a bunch of people again.”
Even grumbling like this, he’d always nod and indulge me—that’s our bald geezer. Such a softie.
“Fine. It’s not hard, so I’ll grant that much.”
“Thank you.”
Now I had a way to quickly recover my past life’s power.
“Good. Take that as your gift, and before you go, take this too.”
“?”
I was about to bow in thanks and leave when the Dark Lord suddenly shrugged off the white robe he’d been wearing.
Startled, I reflexively reached out. The white robe floated over on the wind and draped over my hands.
On the right shoulder, the characters “West Heaven” were embroidered fiercely like a dragon.
“This is…?”
West Heaven White Robe.
Made from the threads of the Face-Reading Spider and the hide of the Unicorn Demonic Net Beast, it was armor disguised as a robe—and once a symbol of Tang Clan Lord West Heaven Flower Rain, Dao Companion Dark Lord.
They said when it fluttered, the world drowned in pure white death.
Giving me this meant lending me his name.
Like a monk passing on robes and bowl.
As I gazed at it with trembling eyes, the Dark Lord grinned.
“This is your first campaign as the disciple of Yi Dangmunhyeok, bearing the Tang name. Naturally, you must depart in a manner befitting, or where does that leave this master?”
“!!”
“That robe is precious to me too. So bring it back safely.”