Chapter 127
Chapter 127
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: An Unpleasant Reunion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bu Eun-seol was not particularly surprised.
It was a situation he had foreseen, after all. He was even grateful that there had been a year's grace period.
A moment of silence passed before Dang Cheong let out a deep sigh.
“Though it's a demand from the Ten Demonic Sects and the Hall of Elders, the timeframe is absurd when you consider our enemies are the Great Righteous Masters. They might as well be telling us to lose or conveniently self-destruct.”
The Ten Demonic Successors had not only inherited the ultimate martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects but also possessed uniformly outstanding talent.
Because of this, the original heirs of the Ten Demonic Sects were extremely wary of the Ten Demonic Successors and sought to exclude them.
In the end, after much deliberation, they had pressured the Demonic Palace, even shortening the time the Successors had to build their martial skills, hoping they would die fighting the Great Righteous Masters.
“We've received intel that the Ten Demonic Successors have been heading to the Demonic Palace for the past few days. The summons was for the Qingming Festival, so you'll have to depart soon as well.”
At that moment, Baek-yeon, who was beside Dang Cheong, spoke with a stern expression.
“The Great Righteous Masters are experts who made a name for themselves in the martial world long before the Ten Demonic Successors existed. No matter how brilliant a prodigy you are, you won't be a match for them.”
Baek-yeon said with a serious face.
“It’s not too late. If you declare that you will be the heir to Nang-ya-gak, not one of the Ten Demonic Successors, and the Deputy Lord and I use our influence… you won’t have to go to the Demonic Palace.”
In the past, Baek-yeon had proposed a plan for Bu Eun-seol to escape the shackles of the Ten Demonic Successors by becoming the heir to Nang-ya-gak.
But Bu Eun-seol had flatly refused the offer at the time.
His target, after all, was a fiend who used the pinnacle of demonic sword arts, a being incomparable to the Great Righteous Masters.
“I will go to the Demonic Palace.”
“Bu Eun-seol.”
“How can a disciple of Nang-ya-gak avoid a fight? I will be sure to return victorious.”
As Bu Eun-seol answered calmly, Dang Cheong nodded as if proud.
“Yes, since you've made up your mind, it would be even better if you defeat the Great Righteous Masters and make your name known to the world.”
“Deputy Lord.”
“He already refused once before. Don’t try to stop him any longer.”
Dang Cheong gripped Bu Eun-seol’s shoulder and spoke firmly.
“This boy will surely overcome this trial. I believe so.”
Trust. It is the greatest favor one can show another, a rope that can bind people firmly together.
Feeling the weight of that trust, Bu Eun-seol bowed his head deeply and clasped his hands.
“I will never disappoint you.”
***
In a secret chamber within the Demonic Palace.
Darkness descended upon the chamber, faintly illuminated only by the moonlight seeping in through the window.
In one corner of the room stood a grand armchair, where an old man with his white hair combed back was seated.
His features and bearing were like those of a celestial being, yet at times, a divine light flared in his eyes.
“What is the status of the Ten Demonic Successors?”
At the old man’s question, a black shadow prostrated before him bowed its head.
“Most are brilliant martial prodigies who have absorbed the arts of the Ten Demonic Sects at a frightening pace.”
“And if they were to fight the Great Righteous Masters?”
“The odds of victory… are estimated at about thirty percent.”
“Thirty percent.”
The old man’s eyes, which had been blazing like torches, narrowed.
“Thirty percent either way isn’t too bad. Especially in such a short period.”
“It seems the proposal from Dharma Protector Hyuk-ryeon, who was the Head Instructor, was effective. If they had only chosen those with excellent physical frames, they would not have achieved this much.”
“So they selected prodigies who were outstanding in various aspects…”
“That is correct.”
“Where is he now?”
The shadow hesitated for a moment before answering.
“As punishment for arbitrarily halting the selection process, he has been handling various matters outside the pass for the last three years.”
“Is that so. Have him reinstated.”
At those words, the prostrated shadow bowed its head and spoke.
“However, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor has not yet emerged from seclusion… If we arbitrarily lift the disciplinary action, the Hall of Elders might be one thing, but there will be strong protests from the Ten Demonic Sects.”
“He's a Dharma Protector; isn't rotting outside the pass for three years enough? That should suffice, so bring him back.”
“Understood. I will arrange for his immediate return.”
“Hmm.”
The old man rose from the armchair, looked out the window, and said.
“Well then, shall we see if there are any worthy children among the Ten Demonic Successors?”
***
The gate guards of the Demonic Palace were divided into three shifts, working in pairs.
Furthermore, the guards protecting the entrance were the first impression of the Demonic Palace, so they had to possess commensurate martial skill and presence.
Considering these points, Mo Gwang and Jang Sam were not very suitable for the role of Demonic Palace guards.
Their martial skills were not particularly outstanding, and the aura they exuded, even their personalities, were utterly ordinary.
The sole reason they had been able to keep their positions as gate guards for over twenty years was simple.
They were not only diligent enough to have never once been late for their shift, but they had also never caused any trouble while on duty.
But today, Mo Gwang and Jang Sam faced the greatest crisis of their careers as gate guards.
Not long after their night shift began, they spotted a young martial artist walking toward them, backlit by the moonlight.
“What should we do?”
Cold sweat trickled down Jang Sam’s forehead as he looked at Mo Gwang.
The stories he had heard before his shift flashed through his mind.
—Starting today, the Ten Demonic Successors will be visiting the palace. Be particularly careful.
The morning shift guards, who had been briefed by the guard captain, were said to have performed their duties nonchalantly.
The problem, however, was that the Ten Demonic Successors did not carry swords, wear clothing, or possess any tokens or marks symbolizing the Ten Demonic Sects.
—For what purpose have you come?
When a young man strode into the Demonic Palace, the morning guards had asked for his identity.
But the young man passed by without a word.
—Please sign the guest register.
—I am one of the Ten Demonic Successors.
—There are no exceptions. Outsiders must…
In that instant, the guard collapsed into a bloody pulp.
All for simply asking him to sign the guest register.
After that, several other Ten Demonic Successors arrived, and without fail, fists flew at the request to sign the register.
In the end, the morning shift guards were so severely injured they would need a full year of recovery and had to quit their posts.
—Let’s just let them pass! All the young people coming to the Demonic Palace today must be the Ten Demonic Successors anyway.
The afternoon shift guards, having heard this news, reportedly let any young men who looked like Ten Demonic Successors pass without even asking for their identity.
—Who let outsiders into the palace!
This time, the guard captain’s wrath rained down on them.
Among those who had passed through the gates were several individuals completely unrelated to the Demonic Palace. Some were not even affiliated with any demonic sect.
—Get out of my sight!
The furious guard captain was said to have chased the afternoon guards away on the spot.
And now, during Mo Gwang and Jang Sam’s evening shift, another young man had appeared.
*Thud, thud.*
As the shadow of the approaching young man drew closer, Jang Sam spoke again.
“What should we do? Should we just let him pass?”
“What if he’s the wrong person? We’ll be fired on the spot too.”
“But didn’t they say all those Ten Demonic Successors threw punches when asked to sign the register?”
As if having made a decision, Mo Gwang spoke to Jang Sam with a grim expression.
“Don’t worry. I’ll give it a try.”
“What? You’re going to…”
Mo Gwang immediately stepped in front of the approaching young man.
“For what purpose have you come?”
The young man merely glared coldly at Mo Gwang without saying a word.
Swallowing dryly, Mo Gwang spoke again.
“Please sign the guest register.”
Mo Gwang spoke politely yet firmly, as befitting a guard of the Demonic Palace.
“This is a rule of the palace, and there are no exceptions for outsiders. Therefore…”
But his words were cut short.
The young man before him had seized him by the throat.
“Outsiders?”
“Gack. That’s not what I…”
“Are you saying that the Ten Demonic Successors… are outsiders even in the Demonic Palace?!”
*Crack.*
As the man squeezed, the sound of bones grinding echoed from Mo Gwang’s neck.
The young man’s grip was beyond imagination. A little more force, and Mo Gwang’s neck bones would crumble to dust.
“Sa, save…”
The whites of Mo Gwang’s eyes rolled back.
Just as Jang Sam, who had been watching the scene, was about to ring the bell to summon the guard unit,
*Thud, thud.*
Another set of footsteps echoed from behind them.
When Jang Sam turned his head, he saw a young man with a jet-black sword on his back walking toward them.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
“You…”
The man gripping Mo Gwang’s throat spotted Bu Eun-seol and his eyes flashed.
“So you’ve come too.”
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol extended his fingers toward the wrist of the man gripping Mo Gwang's throat.
*Swish.*
He had only touched him lightly, but a sharp energy spread out.
Simultaneously, the man’s fingers gripping Mo Gwang’s throat splayed open.
“Gasp. Gasp.”
His airway cleared, Mo Gwang collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol, with an indifferent expression, walked past them to the table where the guest register lay.
—Nang-ya-gak, Bu Eun-seol.
Just as he finished writing with a single stroke of the brush and was about to pass through the gates of the Demonic Palace,
“Bu Eun-seol!”
The man stepped in front of Bu Eun-seol and shouted fiercely.
“Are you ignoring me right now?”
Bu Eun-seol turned and stared intently at the man.
“Who are you?”
“What did you say?”
The man, looking momentarily bewildered, let out a smirk as if he had realized something.
“Hehehe. It seems you don’t recognize me because I’ve changed so much.”
The man grinned and pointed to his own face with his thumb.
“It's me, Yu Un-ryong. Don't you remember? The one who fought until the end on Hell Island…”
“Someone who boasts their strength to a gate guard is a Ten Demonic Successor?”
Bu Eun-seol, a cold sneer on his face like eternal ice, pointed to the guest register.
“Just sign this.”
“What did you say?”
“They said there are no exceptions.”
Despite having arrived long after Yu Un-ryong, Bu Eun-seol had seen and heard everything that had transpired.
“Good work.”
Placing the brush down, Bu Eun-seol strode into the gate as if nothing had happened.
Yu Un-ryong stood there for a moment, stunned, as if in a daze.
*Grind.*
Veins like writhing worms popped out on Yu Un-ryong’s face as he glared.
“Right, I had forgotten.”
A chilling killing intent shimmered like a heat haze in his eyes as he stared at Bu Eun-seol's retreating back.
“Because you killed Kang Mu-ryun, the heir of my sect, I ended up being hated back at the White Horse Temple as well.”
After spitting out the cold words, he walked past Mo Gwang and Jang Sam.
*Thump.*
He then picked up the brush on the table and scrawled in the guest register.
—White Horse Temple, Yu Un-ryong.
Staring down at the register, Yu Un-ryong ground his teeth again.
“No, I can’t just let that bastard be.”
He then quickly walked into the Demonic Palace.
Jang Sam, who had been watching intently, hurriedly helped Mo Gwang to his feet.
“So that demon-like man was the Ten Demonic Successor from the White Horse Temple.”
Clutching his chest and wiping the sweat from his brow, Jang Sam let out a deep sigh.
“We were lucky.”
“It wasn’t luck.”
But Mo Gwang was staring with a dazed expression at the spot where Bu Eun-seol had disappeared.
“He saved me.”
“Hm? What did you just say?”
“No… it’s nothing.”
Shaking his head, Mo Gwang clasped his hands with a solemn expression toward the place where Bu Eun-seol had gone.
Upon entering the Demonic Palace, Bu Eun-seol looked around at the magnificent pavilions that spread out like a forest.
The serene yet solemn scenery within the Demonic Palace inspired a sense of grandeur and intimidation in any who beheld it.
“Young Master Bu.”
At that moment, a young man in a white robe, as if he had been waiting, clasped his hands toward Bu Eun-seol.
“It has been a long time.”
The young man’s features were neat and clean, and his eyes were very long and deep.
It was Shim Wol, the disciple from Manbakdang who had guided Bu Eun-seol during his five-move test at the Demonic Palace.
“Do you remember me?”
“Of course. It’s been a while.”
As Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands, Shim Wol smiled brightly.
“Your presence has become even more commanding. You must have made great progress.”
“Bu Eun-seol!”
Just then, with a huffing sound, a man with a fierce expression hurried over from a distance.
It was Yu Un-ryong, the Ten Demonic Successor from the White Horse Temple.
“A word with you.”
Standing before Bu Eun-seol, Yu Un-ryong bared his teeth and said.
“We have some old business to settle, after all.”
On Hell Island, he had nearly been killed by a single strike from Bu Eun-seol’s sword.
He had forgotten about it after becoming one of the Ten Demonic Successors, but the recent incident had reignited the humiliation and anger from that day.
“Today won't end as luckily for you as it did on Hell Island.”
“Luckily?”
“That’s right.”
Smirking, Yu Un-ryong revealed his white teeth and said.
“Because there’s no one like the Head Instructor here to look after you so fondly.”
*Fwoosh.*
In that instant, though no wind blew, Bu Eun-seol's long hair slowly rose toward the sky.
Simultaneously, millions of red motes of light began to float around his body.
“What?”
Bu Eun-seol's eyes, tinged with the light of the Counter-Polarity Flower, blazed like charcoal.
“What did you just spout?”