Chapter 79
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Farewell on the Plains
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Was it for the sake of bringing peace to the myriad creatures of the world? Was it due to the faith of manifesting the truths of the Bright Lord exactly in this present life? Or was it truly for his own desire to reign supreme over the world?
Seonwoyong's questions stretched on endlessly, but the answer to those questions grew ever clearer.
The answer was that his current actions were 'enjoyable,' and there was no need at all to abandon that enjoyment.
Thus, the existence known as the past Nine Provinces Demon Immortal Woo Cheonso was gradually fading away within Seonwoyong's body.
In that instant, Seonwoyong's fist, swung in a state of no-mind, slammed into Kuluy's face.
Boom!
"Kuhuk."
Kuluy's face caved in halfway, revealing glimpses of his pale skull as he slowly floated into the air.
Then, he slowly fell to the ground.
Kuluy's body, once it hit the earth, refused to move.
From his skull, red blood flowed like a stream, and through the cracks in the shattered bone, his pale brains were visible.
Seonwoyong raised the fist that had just burrowed into Kuluy's face and calmly examined the blood and brains smeared upon it.
Then, with a deep sigh, he muttered to himself.
"To think this could be such a pleasurable thing."
A moment later, Seonwoyong lifted his head and gazed toward the hilltop.
The Stormwind Temple warriors stood in a single line atop their horses, watching this way.
Kuluy's final order had been ignored.
Seonwoyong mounted Gyuroa once more and began ascending toward the hill.
The Black Wolf Division cavalry waiting below the pass hurried to catch up behind him.
Soon, Seonwoyong crested the hill and appeared before the Stormwind Temple group.
Yet their atmosphere was peculiar.
The eyes glaring at Seonwoyong burned like flames—of course, with anger and thirst for vengeance.
But that was not all.
Perhaps sorrow, perhaps anticipation—complex emotions mingled in their gazes and stances.
"Why do you all remain here like this? Did I not clearly order you to flee?"
Seonwoyong cast a cold gaze upon them and posed the question.
Then, a hulking man astride a massive black horse stepped forward and gave an unexpected reply.
"You are far too young. Could you perhaps be a master who has undergone Shedding Bones and Rebirth?"
Seonwoyong chuckled softly, lightly patting Gyuroa's neck as he responded.
"Such a curious bunch. More importantly, what do you intend to do now?"
The giant then introduced himself first.
"My name is Temukan. I have now become the leader of this Stormwind Temple group—though it was not my intention. Now, you and we must choose one of two paths."
"What exactly are you talking about, choosing this or that?"
At Seonwoyong's question, Temukan let out a sigh and drew the greatsword at his waist.
"Is this sword mine, or yours?"
Seonwoyong immediately grasped the meaning of his question.
These were warriors to the bone, forged on the plains and in the deserts—they had invoked their code of laws.
Seonwoyong hesitated for a moment without answering, sweeping his gaze from left to right over the Stormwind Temple warriors arrayed before him.
Their eyes meeting his were equally complex.
Temukan began speaking again.
"I know not who you are, but you are strong. Only the supremacy of the strong is our law. You have just slain our leader Kuluy in single combat. It was a fair fight, without schemes or trickery. It is only natural that the victor takes all that belonged to the vanquished."
Seonwoyong nodded as Temukan finished, then countered with a question.
"And if I refuse that?"
Temukan bared his teeth in a grin at the query.
"Kehahaha. That is precisely what we desire. Then we shall all either die by your hand, or you by ours."
Seonwoyong now fully understood.
As Temukan said, the laws of the plains were simple.
The victor held the right to do as he pleased with all that the loser possessed.
Conversely, if the victor relinquished that right, they would naturally fight to the death.
"Hmm... A headache-inducing matter, whichever way. Killing all of you would tire me greatly, and taking all of you under my wing would tire me even more."
As Seonwoyong fell silent, unable to decide easily, Temukan—who had waited a moment—finally held his sword upright and issued an ultimatum.
"Decide now. One way or the other. The sun is already setting, is it not?"
Indeed, the sun was already reclining toward the western plains.
The Stormwind Temple group, awaiting Seonwoyong's answer, had all drawn their weapons, ready to charge.
The Black Wolf Division horsemen who had just arrived were likewise preparing for the imminent battle from behind Seonwoyong.
"I see. I must handle what needs doing before the sun sets."
At last, Seonwoyong spoke as if he had made his decision.
As those words left his mouth, the horsemen of both sides tensed, awaiting his next words.
"Go down at once and retrieve the body of Primordial Great Tent God Kuluy to prepare his funeral."
As Seonwoyong issued his first command, the Stormwind Temple group blinked in confusion for a moment before uniformly sheathing their weapons.
Temukan likewise returned his greatsword to its sheath at his waist, then hurriedly dismounted.
He removed the mask covering his face, knelt toward Seonwoyong, and saluted.
"Temukan pledges his loyalty unto death."
The rest of the Stormwind Temple group dismounted in unison, knelt, and saluted.
Yet none bowed their heads fully, nor did any show a craven air.
For them, it was simply the natural observance of their law.
Seonwoyong slowly dismounted.
He approached Temukan, took his hand, and raised him up.
"I, Seonwoyong, now take you all as my brothers, to share blood and liquor together."
Hearing Seonwoyong's response in the plains' custom, the Stormwind Temple group was greatly surprised—and moved.
Chae Pil and the Black Wolf Division warriors watching the scene likewise sheathed their weapons.
* * *
To the west of the vast plains, a majestic golden dusk was descending.
On the broad plain atop the hill, preparations for Kuluy's funeral were in full swing.
They hastily piled firewood, covered it with the clothes Kuluy had worn in life, his woolen blanket, and other daily items.
Atop that, Kuluy's body was laid.
They pieced together his shattered skull, wiped the blood from his face, and placed the steel helmet he had worn all his life upon it.
Finally, all his armaments were placed atop his body.
First came the leather shield, fully torn apart; then the great crescent blade with its middle severed, bow and arrows, spear, steel flail, iron mace, whip, dagger, and so on...
A moment later, with all preparations complete, the Stormwind Temple warriors lit torches one by one and stood encircling the site.
Temukan served as chief mourner, the only one with a white cloth bound about his head as he stepped forward.
"Even until this morning, I did not know we would part today. Though we may meet again this very night, please become a star in the high night sky and watch over us, Great Leader."
After a brief eulogy, Temukan gestured, and two men were dragged forth bound by ropes.
It was Noduk and Somyeongcho.
The Black Wolf Division had naturally handed over Somyeongcho, while Noduk had been captured while fleeing.
"Why are you doing this? What have we done wrong?"
While Somyeongcho thrashed and shouted, Noduk simply gazed at the night sky.
Temukan approached them.
"I bear you no great grudge. But your schemes surely played a part in Leader Kuluy's death, so I cannot but comfort his spirit."
Unexpectedly, Noduk replied in a calm voice.
"I understand that. But two sacrifices for one life is excessive, is it not?"
Temukan nodded straightforwardly and posed a counterquestion.
"Your words ring true, but then whom shall we spare and whom slay?"
At that, Somyeongcho's complexion brightened somewhat as he began struggling and yelling.
"Listen here! This whole affair was plotted by that Noduk over there. I merely followed in his wake."
While Somyeongcho spoke, Noduk remained quietly silent before uttering a single phrase.
"His words are correct. That one merely trailed after me. Please accept my life alone as the sacrifice and let him live a bit longer."
Temukan nodded, then turned his gaze toward Seonwoyong, who stood to the side observing.
Silently seeking Seonwoyong's decision.
But Seonwoyong merely turned his head away.
A sign to leave it entirely to them.
Temukan now looked around at his encircling Stormwind Temple warriors.
A moment later, he nodded and pointed at Noduk, issuing a command.
"Mount that one on a horse."
Two Stormwind Temple warriors, as if it were the most natural thing, fetched Noduk's horse, bound him atop it.
Then, holding the reins, they slowly circled Kuluy's body.
Somyeongcho's expression, watching the scene, changed ceaselessly.
At one point, the warrior leading Noduk's horse released the reins and struck the horse's hindquarters.
And from behind Somyeongcho, a greatsword flashed, sending his head flying into the air.
A moment later, the horse bearing Noduk vanished into the darkening plains beyond.
In its place, Somyeongcho's head—blood cleanly wiped, hair neatly combed up—was placed upon the altar.
Only after darkness fully engulfed the plains did Kuluy's cremation begin.
The Stormwind Temple warriors approached one by one, tossing their torches beneath Kuluy's body.
The dry plains wind fanned the flames in an instant.
The blaze soon devoured Kuluy's corpse.
A moment later, the gray horse Kuluy had ridden was brought forth.
It was the final sacrifice for Kuluy.
The horse's head was likewise severed with a single stroke and placed upon his altar.
They uttered no wails of grief, but soon their song began.
It was a song of their past, galloping from the eastern edge of the continent to its western end.
A song not of sorrow, but of majestic warriors.
And within their song, Primordial Great Tent God Kuluy transformed into flame and ascended to the night sky.
Seonwoyong, gazing at the majestic pyre and the stars in the night sky, thought of her.
The one he had loved all his life, whom he had burned with his own hands.
Now, in Seonwoyong's heart, she too was ascending to the heavens.
At last, it was farewell.