Chapter 243
Chapter 243
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Three Stars Converge
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“Tell me in detail.”
At Hyeok Mulin's words, Geum Hyeonmong cleared his throat and began his explanation in earnest.
“Yes. Actually, starting about half a month ago, rumors have been spreading simultaneously across Sichuan—no, the entire Central Plains—about changes to the Nine Demons...”
To sum up what he said:
Rumors circulating in the martial world lately claimed that the Nine Demons were showing signs of excluding the previous Heavenly Demon.
Since he hadn't appeared in the world for over thirty years, they were denying his existence and striking his name from the Nine Demons.
And though they called it "signs of movement," it was essentially a done deal.
Hyeok Mulin's eyebrows furrowed as he listened.
“That's strange.”
There were two points in the rumor that aroused Hyeok Mulin's suspicions.
First:
'They're already excluding the previous Heavenly Demon from the Nine Demons?'
In fact, even in his previous life, the previous Heavenly Demon had ultimately been removed from the Nine Demons.
After decades without showing himself, people denied he was alive and erased his name from the list.
However.
'The timing is off.'
Originally, the previous Heavenly Demon wasn't removed from the Nine Demons until decades from now.
So why had change come so early this time?
Hyeok Mulin couldn't help but harbor doubts.
And second:
'The exclusion from the Nine Demons feels utterly artificial.'
Normally, the makeup of groups bound by prowess—like a warrior's moniker or the world's top hundred masters—wasn't designated by anyone but formed naturally through people's mouths.
Yet something as monumental as the Nine Demons, the core of the martial forest, underwent such a shift in a mere half month?
Neither the timing nor the speed felt natural at all.
Based on these two reasons, Hyeok Mulin could guess the source of the rumor.
“The Beggars' Sect is behind this.”
The only groups capable of spreading rumors across the entire Central Plains in such a short time were the Beggars' Sect or the Hao Clan.
But the Hao Clan that Hyeok Mulin knew weren't the type to take the initiative.
Moreover, it was hard to imagine the Four Black Alliances—tied to the Hao Clan—being behind it. Their methods didn't align with what the Twin Brains pursued.
So the culprit had to be the Beggars' Sect, but one crucial question remained.
Why, unlike his previous life, were they suddenly altering the Nine Demons' lineup at this point?
Unable to avoid the obvious question, Hyeok Mulin rested a hand on his chin and sank into deep thought.
He reviewed every incident that had changed since his return, spanning the orthodox, unorthodox, demonic, and even the wild tribes.
And at the end, he reached a conclusion.
'They're trying to check me.'
Since Hyeok Mulin's return, his growth had been extraordinarily steep.
He was still shy of thirteen, yet he'd reached a realm counted among the elite even in the cult.
That was the problem.
For the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—and especially its leader, the Heavenly Demon—drawbacks from the orthodox sects were inevitable, almost a given.
And Hyeok Mulin hadn't just grown in martial prowess; he'd expanded his influence too.
His divine might became known starting with his victory over Cheon Clan Patriarch Cheon Jungak, and seizing the Man Clan proved his political acumen.
He'd been installed as Cult Leader as a puppet with no real power in hand.
No one had expected anything of him, and the Murim Alliance and Four Black Alliances had rejoiced.
But now the situation had flipped entirely.
Hyeok Mulin's prestige rose daily, and already five of the Seven Great Demon Clans had sworn loyalty to him.
The remaining two clans wouldn't open their doors easily to Hyeok Mulin, of course, but his achievements so far were more than enough to warrant scrutiny.
“Lately, Your Lord's fame has been echoing frequently in the streets.”
Recently, along with his meteoric rise, Hyeok Mulin's name had been mentioned alongside the Nine Demons in the marketplaces.
That was why the Beggars' Sect—the Murim Alliance—had made their decision.
To divert attention elsewhere before Hyeok Mulin's name rose even higher on people's lips.
If they failed to break this momentum, he might end up not just in the Nine Demons, but the Ten Supremes.
That would surely give them headaches.
'It'd mean four demon figures among the Ten Supremes.'
That would shatter the precarious balance among orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic forces—a situation they had to avoid at all costs.
For them, removing the missing previous Heavenly Demon was an easy choice.
Hyeok Mulin could understand their decision.
“So they're leaving one spot vacant?”
Hyeok Mulin asked about the void left by the vanished previous Heavenly Demon.
But Geum Hyeonmong shook his head at the question.
“Along with the rumors of the previous Heavenly Demon's exclusion from the Nine Demons, three candidates have emerged to take his place.”
Three candidates.
“Name them.”
At Hyeok Mulin's command, Geum Hyeonmong began listing their monikers one by one.
“The most likely warriors to ascend to the Nine Demons are...”
The leader of the Full Liquor Society—loyal to the Four Black Alliances—known as the Drunken Tyrant.
The sturdy ally of the Murim Alliance, Patriarch of the Shandong Yue Clan, the North Star Spear King.
And the unofficial head of the Flowing Heroes Gang—a gathering of free-spirited wanderers and righteous outlaws—the Romantic Sword Saint.
“They're collectively called the Three Stars Converging as One, the closest to claiming a spot in the Nine Demons.”
Hearing the name, Hyeok Mulin was certain his guess was correct.
Three Stars Converging as One sounded utterly orthodox just from the ring of it.
No one else in the world but the Murim Alliance would dub them that.
Confirming the backer of the current Central Plains rumors, Hyeok Mulin nodded slowly.
'They put some real thought into the lineup.'
The Drunken Tyrant, North Star Spear King, and Romantic Sword Saint could all be classified under different factions.
North Star Spear King for the orthodox.
Drunken Tyrant for the unorthodox.
And Romantic Sword Saint, neutral and unaffiliated.
The only exclusion in the Three Stars Converging: the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Not only was Hyeok Mulin—the recent rumor magnet alongside the Nine Demons—absent, but so was Cheon Jungak.
This made their intent crystal clear.
They would never allow a demon's name on the vacant Nine Demons spot, no matter what.
Confirming this, Hyeok Mulin quietly curled the corner of his mouth.
“Looks like my return to the cult will be delayed.”
Having heard this news, Hyeok Mulin couldn't head back to Heavenly Mountain just yet.
He understood their scheme now, so it was time to throw some dirt on their plans.
“Among the Three Stars Converging I mentioned earlier...”
Hyeok Mulin, hands behind his back, gazed steadily at Geum Hyeonmong.
Then continued calmly.
“Who among them is active closest to here?”
Hubei Province, Baigang, Fengshan Inn.
A rundown inn tucked in a remote alley of the village, consisting of a first and second floor.
The first floor buzzed with rowdy meals, while the second offered no soundproofing, forcing guests to endure the noise during their stay—like any cheap roadside inn.
Thus, the patrons were mostly ordinary folk ignorant of martial arts.
A fabric merchant who'd spent the day hawking cloth might stop for a quick lunch, or a farmer wrapping up exhausting fieldwork for dinner.
But while it catered to such average guests, the inn's rear hid a completely different face.
There was one fact even the Beggars' Sect and Hao Clan didn't know.
This was a place where the Flowing Heroes Gang's wandering heroes met freely and without restraint.
“Kuhahaha!”
They didn't care if you were a martial artist or not. Amid guests who grabbed strangers and prattled on about trivialities without an ounce of decorum—despite not even drinking—the noise persisted day and night.
Even now, past mealtime in broad daylight, half the seats were filled.
Then.
Creeeak.
A man pushed open the door and entered.
The lively interior fell silent for a moment.
People glanced sidelong at the unfamiliar face from the village.
Having sized him up from head to toe—even his aura—they quickly looked away.
And resumed their boisterous chatter as if nothing had happened.
Step. Step.
The man strode past them to the inn's center and took a seat.
“Welcome!”
The waiter greeted him energetically.
He approached, clasped his hands apologetically, and explained.
Most kitchen ingredients were running low, limiting the menu.
He rattled off the available options briefly and awaited the guest's choice.
“What would you like from these?”
The man, who had listened quietly, slowly parted his lips to reply.
“Before ordering, I have one question.”
“Yes! Ask away!”
But his question was utterly unlike what the waiter expected.
“How does one join the Flowing Heroes Gang?”
Shiiiing!
The moment Hyeok Mulin finished speaking, the seated patrons drew their swords and rose.
Their blades pointed uniformly at Hyeok Mulin.
“Who the hell are you?”
The jovial inn turned chillingly hostile in an instant.