Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Blood Chain Scythe's Admission
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In an inn, a middle-aged man was having his meal.
Slurping up his noodle soup, he appeared at first glance like a beggar. In truth, however, his identity was that of Blood Chain Scythe Yeok Mugun, who had shone brightly in the Demon-Martial God Tournament.
The Demon-Martial God Tournament that had shaken the entire Shin-gang region.
After the tournament's conclusion, the warriors who had participated became quite famous figures.
Yet among them were those who shunned the attention, living quietly with their faces concealed by hats or hoods. Yeok Mugun, however, had no need for such bothersome measures.
His beard and hair had always been long and unkempt, making it hard to distinguish him from any ordinary beggar.
Slurp! Slurrrp!
Thus, he could enjoy his meal in peace, away from prying eyes.
It was then.
Suddenly, several burly men appeared and sat down across from him.
"……."
The men simply stared at Yeok Mugun in silence.
Receiving their wordless gaze, Yeok Mugun eventually set down his chopsticks.
"Let's talk outside."
Any commotion in the inn would only complicate matters further.
His opponents seemed to think the same, nodding in agreement.
After settling his bill, Yeok Mugun stepped outside and headed into an alley.
As he entered a secluded alley devoid of people, the men followed behind.
Once they had ventured a fair distance in, Yeok Mugun turned to face them directly.
A group of broad-shouldered, sturdy warriors had gathered.
It was a common sight in the martial world of Jianghu, allowing Yeok Mugun to guess their intentions.
"Who might you be?"
When Yeok Mugun asked, the man at the forefront replied flatly.
"We've come from the Man Clan."
Here they are.
Yeok Mugun had anticipated that they would seek him out eventually.
How could he not?
In the Demon-Martial God Tournament, which the entire cult was watching, he had slain two warriors from one of the Seven Great Demon Clans.
Not just any rank-and-file, but their division leader and deputy—true masters. From the Man Clan's perspective, it was a severe blow to their prestige.
Even if the defeat hadn't involved underhanded tactics, it was a situation bound to stir vengeful fury.
"What business do you have with me?"
As he posed the question, Yeok Mugun subtly rested his hand on his sickle, ready to fight if they lunged.
"To carry out the clan patriarch's orders."
Clan patriarch!
At the mention of the patriarch, Yeok Mugun's tension spiked.
Among the demons dwelling in Shin-gang, few didn't know the name Man Ho.
"You."
As Yeok Mugun sharpened his senses and watched their movements, the man continued.
"Come to our Man Clan."
"……Hm?"
Yeok Mugun doubted his own ears.
To the Man Clan?
What did that mean?
Was it an invitation for a rematch there?
Or a threat to deal with him on their turf?
Not grasping the intent, Yeok Mugun asked again.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just as I said. We're offering to take you in as a Man Clan warrior."
Only then did Yeok Mugun fully comprehend, and a hollow laugh escaped his lips.
In truth, after the Demon-Martial God Tournament ended, several parties had approached him with generous offers to hire or recruit him.
But he never imagined that the Man Clan—against whom he had clashed blades and inflicted direct harm—would extend a hand, ignoring all grudges.
'This is why no one can predict the Man Clan patriarch's thoughts.'
Yeok Mugun now personally understood the rumors.
The man always shattered expectations, acting solely on his own whims.
Yeok Mugun smirked and spoke.
"I appreciate the offer. But I'm afraid I can't accept."
The man tilted his head curiously.
"Our main house would treat you without any shortcomings. Is there a reason?"
Yeok Mugun nodded firmly.
"I've already decided where I want to go."
Hyeok Mulin emerged from the entrance of the Demon Scripture Pavilion.
Gazing at the clear blue sky that matched his refreshed mood, he prepared to continue on his way.
At that moment, Jang Wi, who had been waiting at the entrance, spoke up.
"Cult Leader. We've just received some news."
"News?"
"Yes. It seems a certain warrior approached the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad requesting to join them."
The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad?
Currently, the squad wasn't recruiting additional members.
No amount of persistence or pressure would change that, making the act seem utterly pointless.
Hyeok Mulin tilted his head and asked Jang Wi.
"Who is this person?"
"Someone you know as well, Cult Leader."
Jang Wi's eyes flashed briefly with bloodlust as he explained.
"The one who beheaded the Man Clan's masters at the recent Demon-Martial God Tournament."
No way.
Jang Wi nodded at Hyeok Mulin's look.
"Blood Chain Scythe Yeok Mugun. He's come to the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad."
Hyeok Mulin's pupils dilated slightly at the words, and he muttered to himself as if piecing it together.
"I see. So he chose that path."
There could only be one reason for him to seek out the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad.
Having finished his thoughts, Hyeok Mulin asked Jang Wi.
"Is he still there?"
"Yes."
"I'll go see him."
Hyeok Mulin headed toward the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad's location.
As he drew nearer, he could sense the lively buzz in the air.
"What a nuisance."
"This is getting troublesome."
"Even after we refuse, he won't leave... "
"C-Cult Leader...!"
The warriors spotted Hyeok Mulin and bowed their heads in greeting.
"We pay respects to the esteemed Cult Leader!"
However, Hyeok Mulin's gaze was fixed on the man sitting rigidly in a formal pose at the entrance.
He approached Han Baek, who had come nearby, and asked.
"I've heard the story. Is that him?"
"Yes."
Han Baek gave a curt reply and explained the situation.
"About an hour ago, he suddenly showed up at the squad and demanded to enlist without reason. Even after being refused, he refuses to leave and keeps insisting on seeing the captain. It's quite the headache."
"Where's your captain?"
"He's stepped out momentarily but should return soon..."
"I see."
Hyeok Mulin nodded and approached Yeok Mugun.
Yeok Mugun looked up as a shadow fell over him.
The moment he saw Hyeok Mulin, he flinched.
It was a face no demon who had attended the God of War Arena could fail to recognize.
Yeok Mugun slowly rose to his feet and bowed.
"I pay respects to the Cult Leader."
"Pleased to meet you."
Returning the greeting, Hyeok Mulin got straight to the point.
"So, you wish to join the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad."
"That's correct."
"Is there a special reason you're set on the Blood Death Squad? With your skills, you could easily join any other unit."
Yeok Mugun nodded emphatically.
"That's true. Just a few hours ago, the Man Clan even offered me a position."
"The Man Clan...!"
The surroundings erupted in murmurs of surprise.
But Hyeok Mulin nodded as if he had expected it and pressed on.
"Then why here?"
"I've heard endless praise for the squad's piercing reputation lately. The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad is the Cult Leader's one true blade and shield. What greater honor could there be for a demon than to serve you?"
He bowed humbly toward Hyeok Mulin.
"I humbly request permission to enlist."
The squad members scratched their heads awkwardly at his deferential demeanor.
With him praising the Blood Death Squad so highly, they had nothing to say.
But Hyeok Mulin tugged at one corner of his mouth.
'Lying without even wetting his lips.'
The real reason he wanted in was simply that he judged it the best place to achieve his goals.
Hyeok Mulin knew Yeok Mugun's past and could see through his intentions.
But so what?
'No reason for us to refuse.'
He was a warrior whom various factions, including the Seven Great Demon Clans, had vied to recruit.
His prowess in the Demon-Martial God Tournament had been exceptional, enough to catch Hyeok Mulin's eye.
Hyeok Mulin had even considered reaching out, but for him to walk right in...
'And his goal isn't to harm our cult.'
All things considered, accepting him was a clear gain.
"I understand your intent. Truth be told, we wouldn't mind bolstering our ranks if we had the talent."
That said, there was one issue.
No matter how much he had proven himself in the tournament, they couldn't accept him too easily.
It would breed resentment among the existing members, who had endured grueling trials to be selected.
Moreover, with Ji Wolhon absent...
Thus.
"However, just as we evaluated recruits when the squad was formed, you'll need to undergo a simple test."
Yeok Mugun nodded as if that was only natural.
He steeled his resolve and replied.
"Command me as you will."
Hyeok Mulin had no intention of making it difficult.
Still, it needed to be convincing enough for the squad.
Hyeok Mulin scanned the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad.
His gaze stopped on Man Hyobom, who stood casually at the edge with his hands behind his head, watching idly.
"Deputy Captain Man. Can you handle it?"
The implication was clear.
The squad members' attention turned to Man Hyobom, who grinned, baring his teeth.
"Of course."
"Good. Prepare now."
At Hyeok Mulin's words, the squad members spread out around Yeok Mugun, forming a circular arena.
Thus, a ring enclosed by people was created.
Man Hyobom leaped inside, stretching as he readied for combat.
Man Hyobom was the deputy captain of the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad and a scion of the Man Clan.
His opponent was the very man who had tarnished the Man Clan's honor.
With these two facing off, the squad watched with keen interest.
"This is not a duel to the death. Keep that in mind."
"Understood."
"Begin."
The spar started immediately after Hyeok Mulin's signal.
As expected, Man Hyobom charged ferociously from the draw.
Shing—!
Their swords and sickle clashed in midair.
Locking eyes, they revealed their true martial arts.
Though not fighting for their lives as Hyeok Mulin had instructed, pride was on the line, so they exchanged blows in earnest.
After a dozen exchanges, Hyeok Mulin, observing, gauged Yeok Mugun's level more precisely.
'Even better than I thought.'
He adeptly exploited the unfamiliarity of his sickle weapon.
But he hadn't seized the advantage.
Man Hyobom, after initial probing, had quickly adapted to his movements.
Their bout was evenly matched.
'More than qualified for deputy captain.'
Far superior to the regular squad members, Hyeok Mulin welcomed the new asset gladly.
How long had the fight gone on?
Ji Wolhon appeared from afar.
Upon arriving, he learned the situation from his subordinate.
He approached Hyeok Mulin with an apologetic expression.
"My apologies. This happened while I was away..."
"It's fine. Thanks to you, we've had an entertaining show."
Hyeok Mulin continued while watching the fight.
"It'll end soon. Let's watch."
Right after his words, Yeok Mugun's sickle gleamed.
Whirr—
The distant sickle spun back.
He had unleashed the Flying Iron Chain Scythe that had beheaded Man Woo in the Demon-Martial God Tournament.
As eyes widened at the sharp trajectory.
Boom!
The sickle halted.
Man Hyobom had thrust his sword between the chains, pinning it to the ground.
A bold feat that could have cost his head with the slightest error.
The two froze in place.
Clank—
Soon, Yeok Mugun retrieved his sickle.
Man Hyobom pulled his sword from the earth and faced him.
Confirming the exchange of sparks, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"That should suffice."
He turned to Man Hyobom.
"Deputy Captain Man. What do you think? Suitable for the squad?"
"……."
Man Hyobom eyed Yeok Mugun briefly before looking away.
"Well. Not bad."
"I see."
Hyeok Mulin smirked and glanced at Ji Wolhon.
Ji Wolhon nodded and declared to Yeok Mugun.
"Your enlistment in the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad is approved."
"Ooh!"
"Congratulations on joining!"
"If you can hold your own against the deputy captain, it's a given!"
"Mind showing us that sickle? The way it moves is so bizarre..."
With Yeok Mugun accepted, the squad surrounded and welcomed him warmly.
He had proven himself and was now one of them—no reservations needed.
'The Blood Death Squad's strength grows effortlessly.'
Growth through training mattered, but attracting talent was key too.
From a short distance, Hyeok Mulin watched with a satisfied smile.
Then, Ji Wolhon cautiously addressed him.
"Cult Leader, I have something to report."
"Hm?"
Only then did Hyeok Mulin properly note Ji Wolhon's expression.
Usually stern, it was even more rigid now.
Sensing the ominous air, Hyeok Mulin asked.
"What is it?"
"I just received a report and confirmed it."
Report?
As Hyeok Mulin looked puzzled, Ji Wolhon continued.
"It's about the one you ordered us to monitor."
Ah, right.
The one who had won a resounding victory in the Demon-Martial God Tournament amid fervent cheers.
Undoubtedly from the Central Plains, destined to become a hegemon of the unorthodox sects.
Hyeok Mulin had ordered surveillance on that torchbearer.
But Ji Wolhon's expression...
"Something's wrong."
Ji Wolhon nodded slowly.
"I assigned two squad members to his tail."
Closing his eyes briefly, Ji Wolhon spoke in a subdued tone.
"As of yesterday, all contact with them has been cut off."