Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Tide Turns
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‘Maeng Ak… When did he get so strong?’
That was the first thought that came to mind when I saw him step onto the training grounds.
How much time had even passed…
His rate of growth was unbelievable.
To be honest, from our first meeting, I felt he had a talent that could rival the Five Phoenixes, One Dragon.
But I never dreamed it was to this extent.
No, could such absurd growth truly be in the realm of mere ‘talent’?
If he showed that level of growth with talent alone, you could call it the birth of the second Heavenly Demon.
‘He was at the Peak Realm, at most the very entry to the Profound Realm, and now he’s already glimpsing the state of Enlightenment?’
I wondered if anything more surprising could happen in the rest of my life.
But that was only the beginning.
From him single-handedly crushing nine other cadets, he went even further and took down the Sword Heavenly Pillar, the sharpest pillar of the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates.
The Sword Heavenly Pillar. He is one of the cult's greatest masters, someone I couldn't guarantee victory against even at full strength.
He wasn't an opponent one could defeat with mere talent and luck.
In other words, he was the real deal.
‘Then, even his confident stance on the training grounds isn't his full power.’
A chill ran down my spine.
What if I had crossed blades with him not that day, but now, a few months later?
The one who lost their head might not have been the Sword Heavenly Pillar, but me, the Left Guardian.
I turned my head to the side and studied the Cult Leader's face.
Even my own heart was pounding like this; I was curious what the Cult Leader, the one holding the real power, was feeling.
Anger? Jealousy? Envy? Wariness?
Whatever it was, I could guarantee it wasn't a positive emotion.
For Maeng Ak to reveal his presence like this in front of so many people meant the chances of So Ryong, the Cult Leader's chosen one, becoming the Young Cult Leader had plummeted.
But what was this?
“Hahaha, look at that one, will you?”
The Cult Leader was laughing.
But strangely, I had an ominous feeling.
Why was he laughing?
‘The Cult Leader is more meticulous than anyone I know...’
He was the type of person who inherently disliked things not going according to his plans.
But he was laughing?
That surely meant he could still profit even if his plan went awry, or that this was still within the scope of his plan.
In short, whatever it was, it meant nothing good for Maeng Ak.
As someone who serves the Cult Leader, I know best.
I know just how vicious and despicable a man he is.
I found myself in a difficult situation.
Because of Maeng Ak, my top disciple So Ryong was in danger of being abandoned, and because of the Cult Leader, Ha Song's master, Maeng Ak, seemed to be in danger.
Ha Song and So Ryong.
Both were very precious disciples to me.
‘Right. As long as he doesn't clash with the Cult Leader right now, there might be a way.’
First, I needed time to find a way to mediate between them.
If the Cult Leader and Maeng Ak were to fall out, my role standing in the middle would be crucial.
But the world doesn't always go as you wish.
Contrary to my hope of just getting through this situation, that fool Maeng Ak rejected the Cult Leader's offer.
‘Damn it, if it comes to this, the Cult Leader will surely...!’
Just as I feared, the Cult Leader's command fell.
“Left and Right Guardians, what are you doing! Subdue that foolish cultist who has betrayed the doctrines of our cult at once!”
Hngh.
I gritted my teeth.
Of course, the Cult Leader's command came first, but my heart was heavy.
I felt sorry for Ha Song, who must be watching from somewhere.
‘As his master, I couldn't even offer him much help, and now I'm about to sever his precious bond.’
The only silver lining was that even if the Right Guardian and I attacked together, it didn't seem like the boy would fall easily.
It seemed worthwhile to buy some time for his allies, who I assumed were somewhere nearby, to appear.
‘There's no way he achieved that much growth on his own. I feel bad for the Right Guardian, but I'll have to feign being in poor condition and stall for time.’
*Clang.*
My face was reflected on the surface of the blade I drew.
‘What's this?’
Despite my worries, I was smiling without realizing it.
What was I so pleased about? What on earth.
I was in a position where I had to cut down my disciple's benefactor with my own hands.
*Shing.*
I heard the sound of a sword being drawn from across me.
Seeing Maeng Ak's jet-black blade, I thought I knew the answer.
‘Heh... They say a true warrior can draw out the fighting spirit of any opponent.’
The source of my smile was my fighting spirit.
He was much stronger than when we first crossed weapons.
It seemed that, deep down, I was looking forward to a battle with him.
And I wasn't the only one.
“Left Guardian, it's been a while. Things will be very different from last time.”
Maeng Ak was also looking at me, the corners of his mouth turned up.
I was glad.
To think he also felt a fighting spirit towards me.
Only the Right Guardian beside me failed to understand the situation.
He looked back and forth between Maeng Ak and me, then asked.
“Hey you, have you crossed hands with that fellow before?”
“I have.”
“Hah, for you to have done so, you're lucky to be alive.”
It wasn't surprising that Maeng Ak was still alive.
The martial prowess he showed in the tournament was tremendous, and his cruelty and ruthlessness were also impressive.
“Indeed. It would be nice if we both make it back in one piece this time, too.”
“You too, you don't look like an easy opponent, but you know our combined attack is nothing to scoff at.”
The Right Guardian misunderstood, thinking I was including him, and replied as such.
I'm sorry, but the 'both' I was referring to wasn't the Right Guardian and me, but Maeng Ak and me.
And so, the Right Guardian, Maeng Ak, and I each began to raise our internal energy.
It was then.
“Stop!”
Someone shouted as they rushed onto the training grounds, inserting themselves between Maeng Ak and me.
It was, surprisingly, Ha Song.
“Ha Song? How dare you! Do you know where you are?”
“Master! Have you already forgotten what you taught me?”
“What?”
“Your teaching that even if we are called demonic beings and scorned by the world, we must never forget a debt of gratitude!”
He turned, glanced back at Maeng Ak, and then continued speaking.
“I am indebted to you as well, Master, but the man behind me is my lord. I beg you to turn back your sword!”
“Are you telling me to disobey the Cult Leader's command?”
“How could I utter such nonsense? I am merely asking you to receive the sword of a disciple you haven't seen in a long time.”
*Shing.*
Ha Song denied it, but just by rushing onto the training grounds, he had already fallen out of the Cult Leader's favor.
In an official setting, he had sided not with the Cult Leader, but with a mere cadet.
It was regrettable, but now that things had come to this, his death was inevitable.
He was no longer a promising cadet, but merely an instructor who couldn't forget the past.
“Insolent whelp...!”
There was no other choice.
I, too, glanced back at where the Cult Leader was.
The Cult Leader gave me a single nod, entrusting the choice to me.
No, it was probably a test of sorts.
A test to choose between my bond with Maeng Ak and Ha Song, or my loyalty to him.
It was difficult, but I had to choose.
“This is the path you've chosen, so do not resent it.”
Without much thought, I turned my blade toward Ha Song.
And so, the battle began—me against Ha Song, and the Right Guardian against Maeng Ak.
* * *
The Right Guardian was being pushed back by Maeng Ak.
It was only natural, as this was the same Maeng Ak who had cut off the Sword Heavenly Pillar's head without a single scratch.
The twist was with the Left Guardian and Ha Song, who were crossing swords a short distance away.
“You've grown, Ha Song!”
“Hyaaaah!!”
Surprisingly, the Left Guardian, who was expected to decide the match quickly, was struggling against Ha Song.
The similarity in their martial arts was one reason, but the biggest reason was the unrecognizably changed Ha Song.
In just half a month, he had gained the martial prowess to stand against the Left Guardian at his full strength.
The sword he held, inscribed with the name ‘Sword of Gratitude’, was particularly noticeable.
Its brilliant gleam marked it as a treasured sword.
It was no ordinary treasured sword either, as it was enough to support Ha Song, who was being slowly pushed back.
Its hardness and sharpness were far superior to the blade wielded by the Left Guardian.
‘I've definitely gotten stronger. To think the day would come when I could cross swords with my master as an equal! This is all thanks to my lord.’
The pride he felt was as immense as the bone-deep agony he had endured.
After all, he had already exchanged dozens of blows with the master he thought would forever be like the heavens above him.
Because of this, the Right Guardian was having a hell of a time.
This was an opponent they had originally planned to overwhelm with a joint attack.
But with the Left Guardian unexpectedly struggling, he had to face Maeng Ak alone.
“You brat!”
*Clang! Clang!*
The Right Guardian's unique swordsmanship cut through the air.
His sword energy curved distinctively, aiming for Maeng Ak's neck.
But just as he had done against the Sword Heavenly Pillar, Maeng Ak unleashed a jet-black energy, and it vanished without a trace.
The more the Right Guardian clashed swords, the more fearful he became.
Not only did the cadet, who was barely of age, not fall behind in internal energy, but his experience was far from shallow.
‘If he's given more time, he'll become so strong that I won't even be able to exchange blows with him.’
The only chance was now.
A monstrous talent like this had to be cut down today rather than tomorrow, yesterday rather than today.
‘This is no time to be protecting a warrior's pride...!’
The Right Guardian took advantage of a momentary gap to cast a look toward the Cult Leader.
It was a signal that he couldn't handle this alone.
“Tsk, the esteemed Cult Leader's forces can't seem to hold their heads high today.”
“I will go.”
The Great Guardian, having noticed the signal, bowed his head to the Cult Leader.
*Shhh.*
The Great Guardian began to raise his internal energy, preparing to move.
It was then.
That a purple martial arts uniform fluttered onto the training grounds.
“Everyone, stop!”
A woman's clear, ringing voice echoed across the training grounds, and the four warriors who had been exchanging blows paused to catch their breath.
The Cult Leader, who had been about to send the Great Guardian to finish things, glared at Hwan Cheon-hwa with a 'what now?' expression.
In response, she lowered her gaze to the ground and showed her respects.
“I am Hwan Cheon-hwa, a cadet of the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon and the next head of the Hwan Heavenly Pillar Gate.”
“And?”
The Cult Leader showed considerable displeasure at her appearance.
The audience also showed their disapproval at the sudden appearance of this person.
“What in the world is going on?”
“How should I know?”
“One thing's for sure, there's going to be a huge stir in the cult after today.”
“Hah... To think even the Hwan Heavenly Pillar Gate would join in.”
Amidst the various reactions, the Hwan Heavenly Pillar, seated in the VIP section, frowned.
“Why would that bright child do this?”
She, too, did not understand Hwan Cheon-hwa's intentions in stepping onto the training grounds.
Not until Hwan Cheon-hwa spoke for herself.
“All cult members present, show your respects at once.”
“What? Great Guardian!”
At Hwan Cheon-hwa's sudden declaration, the Cult Leader, more furious than ever, called for the Great Guardian.
*Shing!*
Instead of answering, the Great Guardian imbued his sword with sharp energy, as if to cut Hwan Cheon-hwa down at any moment.
But her next words came faster than his sword could reach her neck.
“Show your respects to the current Heavenly Demon standing before you, is what I mean!”
“...!”
At her completely unexpected words, everyone from the Great Guardian who was about to move his sword, to the Cult Leader, the audience, the high-ranking officials, and even Maeng Ak himself froze solid.
‘This... What do I do?’
Maeng Ak. A look of bewilderment spread across his face.