Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Path to Succession
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—The one who slays the most Dae-ui-go-su shall become a candidate to succeed the Ma-cheon-je!
Most of the Sip-ma-jeon-in standing below the altar were reeling in shock and disbelief.
Though they had mastered the divine arts of the Ten Demonic Sects, the Sip-ma-jeon-in were outcasts, rejected by the deep-rooted factions and heirs of their respective schools.
And now, a successor to the Ma-cheon-je was to be chosen from their ranks?
“As you know, the Ma-cheon-je has yet to name his heir.”
Deung-ryun continued in a low voice.
“That is why the Ma-cheon-je initiated the Sip-ma-jeon-in project.”
Another shocking revelation spilled from Deung-ryun's lips.
“Because he desires a successor who possesses the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects, yet can remain free of their influence.”
The Ma-jeon was a demonic alliance formed with the Ten Demonic Sects as its core.
And the master of the Ma-jeon had, for generations, been chosen from among the disciples of the Ten Demonic Sects.
However, the current Ma-cheon-je had no connection to the Ten Demonic Sects whatsoever.
Therefore, even with his position as the strongest in the demonic path, he could not completely ignore the influence of the Ten Demonic Sects.
“Each of you has mastered the divine arts of the Ten Demonic Sects, but you cannot be called their disciples. In other words, you will neither be co-opted nor swayed by the factions rooted in the Ten Demonic Sects.”
Deung-ryun glanced at Bu Eun-seol, who stood silently at the very back.
“Although there are some who have escaped that restriction.”
‘Them…’
A brief flash flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Judging by Deung-ryun's words, it meant that besides himself, there was another who had obtained the position of successor within one of the Ten Demonic Sects.
‘That’s possible.’
If so, that would explain to some extent why the number of attending Sip-ma-jeon-in had been so drastically reduced.
“You just said that the one who kills the most Dae-ui-go-su can become a candidate to succeed the Ma-cheon-je, but…”
Just then, Yeong Mun-ho stepped forward and asked.
“Does that mean there are other candidates besides us?”
“Of course.”
Deung-ryun calmly explained.
“The orthodox disciples of the Ten Demonic Sects are naturally candidates to succeed the Ma-cheon-je and lead the Ma-jeon. One can also become a candidate through the recommendation of the Council of Elders. And…”
Deung-ryun took a deep breath before speaking again.
“If the Ma-cheon-je judges someone to have the makings of a leader for the Ma-jeon, they too can become a candidate for succession.”
In the end, it meant that even dealing with many Dae-ui-go-su would only grant them the qualification of a candidate, not the position of successor itself.
Nevertheless, a fervent heat sparked in the eyes of several of the young men.
A candidate to succeed the Ma-cheon-je.
It was a status on a completely different level from the treatment they were currently receiving.
“Are there any more questions?”
Just as Deung-ryun was about to open his mouth again after sweeping his gaze over the crowd,
“If we are not bound by the method, are we also not bound by time?”
Bu Eun-seol raised his voice and asked. It was the most crucial question that had been raised so far.
If there were no time constraints, there would be no need to forcibly confront the Dae-ui-go-su.
“Of course not.”
Deung-ryun smiled coldly as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
“The maximum time you can go without killing a Dae-ui-go-su is four months.”
He took a breath and continued.
“If you do not fight a Dae-ui-go-su within that time, you will be charged with insubordination, and the masters of this hall will cripple your martial arts.”
“If we fight a Dae-ui-go-su within four months, do we earn another four months?”
“Correct.”
Deung-ryun smiled faintly.
“But if you were to fight a Dae-ui-go-su and achieve a single victory, you would no longer have that luxury.”
Bu Eun-seol and all the other Sip-ma-jeon-in nodded at his words.
If one of them were to slay a Dae-ui-go-su under the name of the Sip-ma-jeon-in, they would never be able to leisurely wait out another four months.
Sip-ma-jeon-in versus Dae-ui-go-su.
Their full-scale clash would inevitably lead to an unstoppable, bloody battle.
“Any other questions?”
He waited for a while, but no one else stepped forward.
Then, Deung-ryun spoke in a solemn and heavy voice.
“The Ma-cheon-je’s command is effective immediately. From this moment, you have four months. Within that time, you must deal with at least one Dae-ui-go-su.”
After sweeping his gaze over the Sip-ma-jeon-in one last time, he left them with a short phrase.
“Well then, I wish you luck.”
He then turned and disappeared through the door shrouded in darkness.
“…”
Although Deung-ryun had left, a deathly silence still hung in the grand hall.
The world of martial arts was a place where one could not see an inch ahead, but this was a truly unexpected turn of events.
“Fortunately, we are not enemies this time.”
The long silence was broken by Yu Un-ryong’s arrogant voice.
“It seems we won’t have to beat each other to a pulp like we did on Hell's Island.”
Hearing this, Seok U-haeng’s lips curled into a smirk.
“You’re more naive than I thought.”
“What did you say?”
“Killing a Dae-ui-go-su is difficult, but eliminating competitors is easy.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
As Yu Un-ryong shouted, his eyes blazing, Seok U-haeng closed his eyes, then opened them and said.
“After today, what if I start assassinating you one by one? I would become a candidate for succession without lifting a finger.”
If anyone else had said such a thing, everyone in the hall would have laughed it off as a joke.
But Seok U-haeng was the Sip-ma-jeon-in of the Geuk-sal-mil-gak.
He had mastered a strange and sinister killing technique, one optimized for taking human lives.
Assassinating a master of a higher caliber than himself was not an impossible feat.
“Seok U-haeng. Do you really think you can become the successor of the Ma-jeon after doing something like that?”
“Something like that?”
“I’m asking if you think the Ma-cheon-je would tolerate such an act.”
Staring into Yu Un-ryong’s bloodshot eyes, Seok U-haeng let out a hollow smile.
“Yu Un-ryong. Now I see. You’re not just ill-tempered, you’re also quite naive.”
“What?”
“The position of Ma-cheon-je, who looks down upon the entire demonic world, is a seat one can only ascend by piling up mountains of corpses—not just of enemies, but of allies as well. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
—The Ma-cheon-je, too, had reached his position by defeating his rivals.
That is what Seok U-haeng wanted to say.
As a speechless Yu Un-ryong bit his lip and fell silent, Yeong Mun-ho sighed and spoke.
“This is nothing new.”
A weary smile on his face, he scanned his surroundings.
“We were fated for this conflict ever since Hell's Island, anyway.”
At his words, a sense of desolation flickered in the eyes of some of the Sip-ma-jeon-in.
First, to become a Sip-ma-jeon-in…
And now, they had to target each other to become the successor of the Ma-jeon.
“It seems we were never destined to live under the same sky.”
With a deep sigh, Yeong Mun-ho turned and walked out of the hall.
One by one, the remaining Sip-ma-jeon-in also departed.
Soon, only Yu Un-ryong and Bu Eun-seol remained in the vast hall.
“Bu Eun-seol.”
“Are you planning to do it here?”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Yu Un-ryong with an indifferent expression.
Ever since they met at the Ma-jeon, he had been constantly exuding killing intent toward him.
“No… I won’t.”
Yu Un-ryong bit his lip.
“I was originally going to teach you a lesson… but I now realize my skills are lacking.”
“…”
“I will spend the next four months honing my skills. And then I will defeat the Dae-ui-go-su… and you.”
Just as Seok U-haeng had said, Yu Un-ryong was not only hot-headed but also very simple in his thoughts and actions.
Bu Eun-seol found himself smiling at that simple-minded obsession.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“Hmph.”
With a cold snort, Yu Un-ryong also left the hall.
Though all the Sip-ma-jeon-in had gone, Bu Eun-seol still stood tall in the empty hall.
He was staring blankly into the darkness where Deung-ryun had disappeared, as if searching for something.
After gazing intently into the darkness for a while, Bu Eun-seol,
“I will take my leave now.”
Suddenly clasped his hands together respectfully toward that direction.
And as he turned to leave,
“Heh heh heh.”
With a hearty, old laugh, a black shadow slowly moved from the darkness toward where Bu Eun-seol stood.
*Ssssss.*
The darkness that had been pooled on the floor rose into the air and soon took the form of a refined-looking old man.
“To think you noticed my presence. Truly astonishing.”
The old man, who had appeared as if by magic, took another step closer to Bu Eun-seol.
He looked to be no more than five feet tall, yet his eyes seemed to crackle with unending lightning, and a tempest seemed to rage at his back.
‘It’s suffocating.’
It was the presence of an absolute master… similar to what he had felt when he saw the Elder Council Head, Jeok-bung, in a state of anger.
“Your name.”
At the old man’s question, Bu Eun-seol opened his mouth.
“Bu Eun-seol, Sip-ma-jeon-in of Nang-ya-gak.”
“Bu Eun-seol.”
The old man wore a faint smile.
But his gaze was so sharp that it seemed to give off an even fiercer aura.
“How did you discover I was here?”
“I did not discover you.”
Bu Eun-seol said cautiously.
“I merely surmised that the Myeol-hon-dae-ju did not plan such a thing on his own.”
“Such a thing?”
“I’m referring to the Myeol-hon-dae-ju summoning the Sip-ma-jeon-in to the Ma-jeon.”
The old man nodded, seemingly intrigued by Bu Eun-seol's words.
“Continue.”
“The Myeol-hon-dae-ju said he summoned us to designate a Dae-ui-go-su and to discuss the matter of the Ma-jeon’s successor candidates… but I believed there was another reason.”
“Another reason…”
“Yes.”
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath as he met the old man's gaze.
“If there was someone who decided to have the Sip-ma-jeon-in face the Dae-ui-go-su, they would surely have wanted to see the Sip-ma-jeon-in with their own eyes.”
“So… you presumed that I would be here?”
“Yes.”
The old man stared intently at Bu Eun-seol.
His gaze was so deep and sharp that for a moment, Bu Eun-seol almost raised his internal energy.
“Gwahahaha!”
The old man suddenly burst into a hearty laugh, nodding as he spoke.
“Nang-ya-gak has truly gained an outstanding Sip-ma-jeon-in.”
“Thank you.”
“But you lied to me.”
The smile vanished, and the old man’s demeanor changed from that of a divine sage to a demon.
“You couldn’t have known of my existence with that reasoning alone.”
A chill seemed to emanate from the old man’s voice.
“I will ask you again. How did you detect my presence?”
Bu Eun-seol finally told the truth.
“Because you intentionally made a slight sound, my lord.”
“Why? Why would I have made a sound?”
“Perhaps… you did so intentionally to test whether any of the Sip-ma-jeon-in could detect such a presence.”
“You think I was testing them?”
A glint flashed in the old man’s eyes.
But Bu Eun-seol calmly received his gaze and lowered his head.
“Otherwise, how could I possibly have sensed a trace of Lord Am-wang?”