Chapter 300
Chapter 300
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 300
Chapter Title: Blood Chain Rakshasa
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Right now, in this very moment, Woo Jukheon's heart was pounding more fiercely than ever before.
It was his first meeting with the man he'd longed for his entire life: Gu Mujun.
Of course, it would have been even better if the Four Black Union Leader had come in person, but who was he to be picky?
Sure, the first impression had been a bit rough around the edges, but it had worked out somehow.
In the end, he was now sitting in the same room as Gu Mujun.
The important part started now.
Yes, from this moment on...
"……."
"……."
Woo Jukheon stole sidelong glances at the Blood Chain Rakshasa.
It was quiet. The silence was so thick it pressed down heavily in the absence of any sound.
Did he have the courage to break this stillness first?
At least, he didn't.
'If we'd at least shared a meal, maybe the mood would lighten up a bit.'
Wasn't the table before them laden with abundant dishes and fine liquors?
Yet the Blood Chain Rakshasa hadn't touched a single one with so much as a finger. He simply held his seat in utter silence.
And so, the gaze of Woo Jukheon—who had been anxiously biting his nails—finally turned toward Cheon Sumyeong.
'Elder, help me out here!'
Woo Jukheon shot Cheon Sumyeong a pleading look.
He didn't know how they knew each other, but it seemed the elder had some familiarity with the Blood Chain Rakshasa.
In truth, Woo Jukheon had nearly fainted right then.
How many people in the martial world could casually speak first to the Blood Chain Rakshasa?
Still, it was a stroke of luck for Woo Jukheon.
If the Blood Chain Rakshasa hadn't spoken first upon entering, the overwhelming pressure might have burst his heart.
Thus, unbeknownst to himself, Cheon Sumyeong had become Woo Jukheon's sole hope.
But oblivious to the man's desperate plea, Cheon Sumyeong simply poured himself another round of fine liquor.
'I'm going mad.'
One side silent, the other endlessly drinking.
Caught in between, Woo Jukheon could only swallow his tears inwardly.
Then, at that moment.
Kuung!
A massive boom echoed from not far away, and the floor trembled beneath them.
Woo Jukheon's eyes snapped toward the wall.
"That’s..."
His pupils shook as he pinpointed the source of the noise—the same direction Hyeok Mulin and Byok Jangho had headed earlier.
They'd gone to meet the Society Leader, hadn't they?
'But for vibrations and noise this intense, like punching through walls...'
Woo Jukheon gulped.
At that moment, Cheon Sumyeong set down his glass with deliberate care and shattered the silence.
"Don't even think about going. If you move, I'll have no choice but to act as well."
Woo Jukheon's jaw dropped nearly to the floor.
Was this old man in his right mind?
Even with their acquaintance, pressuring Gu Mujun like that?
Woo Jukheon figured the Blood Chain Rakshasa would make him pay dearly for it.
But his prediction was off.
Instead of hurling his chains, the Blood Chain Rakshasa spoke.
Slowly parting lips revealed a voice as sunken and eerie as if dragged up from the abyss.
"Why. Are you here."
Woo Jukheon's eyes widened in shock.
'He's not killing him—he's asking?'
His gaze flicked to Cheon Sumyeong.
Who the hell was this old man that the Blood Chain Rakshasa wasn't responding with fury to such insolence?
Doubts about Cheon Sumyeong's identity flooded him.
And soon enough, the elder spoke.
"I didn't come of my own accord. I was simply following someone."
"You. Followed someone?"
Unable to comprehend, the Blood Chain Rakshasa tilted his head.
Then, as if recalling something, he cast a glance aside.
"Him?"
"That's right."
Woo Jukheon, witnessing this exchange, felt like tearing his hair out in frustration.
What the hell were they talking about?
Unable to follow their conversation, he felt utterly isolated.
Yet he lacked the confidence to butt in, so he kept silent, ears straining to catch every word.
"Aiming. For the Leader?"
"Who knows. But they did say he was close to the Four Black Union—looks like it's true. Enough for you to come here yourself."
Kuung! Kugung!
As they conversed, the vibrations and booms grew fiercer.
Then, in one instant, all noise ceased.
Whatever it was, it had clearly reached its conclusion.
Cheon Sumyeong and the Blood Chain Rakshasa fell silent for a moment.
Finally, Cheon Sumyeong smirked and spoke first.
"Seems like that's wrapped up over there. What will you do? I won't stop you from seeking revenge, but you'll have to get through me first."
The Blood Chain Rakshasa's eyes, fixed toward the noise, settled on Cheon Sumyeong.
After staring intently for a long while, he slowly rose, his massive frame unfolding.
"Originally. The Manju Society was mere fodder. Pointless fight. I'm leaving."
Charrlr...
With that, the Blood Chain Rakshasa departed the room, the eerie scrape of his chains fading into the distance.
Tremble tremble tremble.
As Hyeok Mulin and Chwi Paegwang's battle reached a fever pitch, Byok Jangho huddled against the wall, body curled tight.
A rabbit caught between raging beasts.
He desperately hoped this would end quickly.
And soon, as he'd wished, the vibrations shaking his body stopped.
Opening his ears confirmed the clanging metal sounds had ceased.
Byok Jangho cracked his eyes open and slowly turned to look behind him.
What entered his view was Hyeok Mulin's back—and Chwi Paegwang, obscured beyond him.
"Hyeok... hero?"
Byok Jangho trusted Hyeok Mulin, yet worry gnawed at him still.
His opponent was no ordinary foe, a top contender for Gu Mujun's successor, renowned across the world for his prowess.
Tension coiling in his chest, Byok Jangho cautiously approached Hyeok Mulin.
As he drew near, Chwi Paegwang's form gradually came into view.
"Hiiik!"
He couldn't stifle the cry escaping his lips.
Thud.
Chwi Paegwang lay collapsed before Hyeok Mulin, both arms severed, his body already cold.
Hyeok Mulin, by contrast, bore not a single wound.
Staring at the stark contrast, Byok Jangho swallowed hard.
At that moment, Hyeok Mulin glanced down at Chwi Paegwang and spoke.
"He was strong."
The man was no misfit for nomination as Gu Mujun's heir.
Simply, Hyeok Mulin stood at a higher realm.
Even knowing the gap, he'd fought to the end without shame to his title or position as Manju Society Leader.
'I see why the Four Black Union kept him at arm's length in my past life.'
They'd associated with the Manju Society back then too, but never kept Chwi Paegwang close.
The reason was obvious.
'This mad ferocity he shows.'
Drunk, Chwi Paegwang was utterly uncontrollable.
If someone opposed his interests, he'd clash with anyone.
Even the Four Black Union itself.
So they had no choice but to keep their distance.
"And a lonely man."
He'd endured a childhood of abuse from his drunken father.
Whether his rise to "Drunken Tyrant" stemmed from innate talent or that harsh upbringing, it no longer mattered.
Hyeok Mulin had taken his life personally.
No regrets lingered.
The man had sought to take his own—fitting he meet such an end.
Still.
"May you be born in a peaceful world next time."
Even as an enemy bent on killing him, the man's relentless spirit—pushing forward despite impossibility—was worthy of respect.
With that brief farewell to the dead Chwi Paegwang, Hyeok Mulin turned to Byok Jangho.
"No injuries?"
"None, thanks to your protection."
Byok Jangho replied with a faint smile.
But it faded quickly.
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"You heard?"
"……Yes."
During the fight, Byok Jangho had clutched his head and crouched.
Meaning he'd caught every word between Chwi Paegwang and Hyeok Mulin.
Especially the crucial revelation.
Hyeok Mulin was the Heavenly Demon.
Whoosh—
Exhaling, Byok Jangho closed his eyes.
Hearing it untangled every knot of doubt that had plagued him.
The wealth, influence—it all made perfect sense for the Heavenly Demon.
And only one man in the world wielded such overwhelming power under the name Hyeok Mulin.
Why the Heavenly Demon was in the Central Plains, why he'd traveled with him—it didn't matter now.
Now that he knew.
'Can I even leave here alive?'
If he were the Heavenly Demon, he'd never let himself go.
Such a secret couldn't leak.
Besides, he was in too deep to feign ignorance.
Resigned, Byok Jangho let go of everything.
And in surrender, peace came.
Better to die by his benefactor's hand than the Society Leader's whim.
Thus, he awaited judgment calmly.
But the next words shattered his expectations entirely.
"If you wish to leave, then go."
"……Pardon?"
Byok Jangho doubted his ears.
The Heavenly Demon, knowing his secret, would simply let him walk free—no killing, no capturing?
He couldn't fathom Hyeok Mulin's intent.
But that didn't matter.
A path to survival appeared on the brink of the afterlife—he had to take it.
Before Hyeok Mulin could change his mind, Byok Jangho moved to flee the room.
Then.
Pause.
His hand on the door, his steps halted.
Why?
One more step, over this threshold, and he could return to his peaceful routine.
Yet his feet wouldn't budge.
Standing frozen, Byok Jangho slowly spoke.
"If I don't leave, what happens to me?"
Hyeok Mulin's deep voice replied promptly.
"Nothing changes. Our bond simply continues."
The bond between Hyeok Mulin and Byok Jangho—not Heavenly Demon and caster.
"...In that case."
Byok Jangho turned from the door.
Returning to Hyeok Mulin, he dropped to one knee.
"I wish to serve you as I have, and as I will—my Lord Cult Leader."
Somewhere along the way, "hero" had become "Lord Cult Leader."
But Hyeok Mulin knew.
Their trust-built relationship wouldn't waver.
"Granted."
A faint smile tugged at Hyeok Mulin's lips as he accepted Byok Jangho under the Heavenly Demon.
At that moment.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped lightly from outside.
"Lord Leader. May I assist with the cleanup?"
A familiar voice.
The Sea Slug.
'Finally, the clanging stopped.'
The Leader often drew weapons when drunk, and he'd grown accustomed to handling the aftermath once the commotion died.
But after posing the question.
"……Hm?"
No response from within.
This was a first—he tilted his head.
Cautiously, he opened the door and peered inside.
"Lord Leader...?"
But through the widening gap, he faced a scene utterly opposite his expectations.
Chwi Paegwang, lying cold and dead.
And meeting his gaze: Hyeok Mulin's piercing stare.