Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon - Dawn's Light Scatters for All
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"Ugh... How cruel."
"Hm. This isn't how that technique's supposed to be used."
"Hmm. I like this one, though."
Geum-gang, the Right Envoy, and Hee Yeon stared piercingly at the bloodied assassin with one arm torn clean off.
The three of them standing there with arms crossed was pretty comical, but to the assassin, it was pure terror.
A gag had been stuffed in his mouth to prevent suicide, and his arm was already severed.
All he could do was shake his head.
As Geum-gang and Hee Yeon watched him intently, the Right Envoy took a swig of liquor and waved them off.
"Kids, go wait outside."
"Pardon?"
"Don't butt in when adults are talking."
The Right Envoy shooed out Geum-gang and Hee Yeon, who were determined to stay till the end, then removed the assassin's gag.
"There, kid. Speak up."
"Kuh... Kill me! We never betray our masters!"
The black-clad man's familiar line drew a chuckle from the Right Envoy, who suddenly spread his massive hand wide.
"Heh. Fine, don't talk. Keep your mouth shut. I won't listen anyway."
Sunset Glow Right Envoy Baek Mu-heun.
Unlike the Left Envoy, who slaughtered foes with raw physical might, he was known for mastery of ten thousand techniques.
Among them were tortures too gruesome to name.
But from experience, interrogating for info was a hassle.
Guys like this with some backbone really did clam up.
Besides, this one wasn't from a proper assassin group.
First off, "Kill me?"
He didn't even know how to commit suicide.
Second, his movements were consistent, inner energy methodical.
Definitely raised in a specific clan.
Finally, real assassins would've vanished the moment their first comrade fell.
No doubt, they'd sent an untrained warrior as a killer.
In cases like this, loyalty often sealed lips tight.
So the Right Envoy opted for a different approach.
"Won't leave a mark on the body, eh?"
A martial artist's body was his path walked and his proof of it.
Smash it apart, dismantle it, and the traces always showed.
What arts he'd trained, what inner energy he'd built.
The Right Envoy could tell it all.
"Y-You... madman...!"
"Plenty of ways. Let's see."
Grinning, his massive fingers approached the black-clad man, and horrific screams echoed out.
Geum-gang and Hee Yeon sat outside the hall, blinking blankly.
Something gruesome was surely happening inside, but...
Just as boredom threatened to lull them to sleep,
the Right Envoy emerged, brushing something sticky from his clothes.
"Eighth Elder again. Western Dam-mok Family. This one's from there too."
Geum-gang was baffled.
Was his grandson that pretty?
Dam-mok Hyeon—his name was already fading from memory.
They'd roughed him up a bit, sure, but...
"He sends assassins just for a beating?"
The Right Envoy gulped down liquor and waved dismissively.
"Nah. It's not that. He's no fool. Grandson's just an excuse—it's all for the Sacred Fire Festival. Wants your side to yield there."
In these tense times of strife between the Cult Leader's faction and the Heavenly Demon's, the Eighth Elder's moves were blatantly provocative.
Even what looked like petty grandson revenge was all calculated.
Especially from the Dam-mok Family, famed for pro-Cult Leader loyalty.
The Pavilion Master, brushing off the Right Envoy's robes, scowled in disgust.
"At this Sacred Fire Festival, the Heavenly Demon herself descends. He's clearly plotting to humiliate Geum-gang and Hee Yeon then."
"Did the Cult Leader order it?"
Hee Yeon ventured hesitantly, but the Right Envoy was firm.
The Cult Leader wasn't that sort.
"No way. She doesn't play sneaky like this. If she's doing it, she'll do it right."
"Why go this far..."
Hee Yeon sighed at the situation, and the Right Envoy comforted her knowingly.
He was exhausted too, but wouldn't show it before the girls.
"I've got it all figured. Just hold on a bit."
The initiation ceremony would end soon.
Once new disciples were assigned, the true Sacred Fire Festival began.
The rite honoring the heavenly god who granted fire from the sky.
Faithful displayed the arts they'd honed.
During the festival, one could challenge anyone to a duel.
Especially on the final day—everything short of murder was forgiven.
Duels among fresh initiates were one of Heavenly Mountain's prime entertainments.
Strong showings earned praise; weakness turned them into laughingstocks across the peak.
"Yeah, like the Pavilion Master says—aiming to shame you there."
Left Envoy and Right Envoy.
Girls not even past their mystical age, becoming the Heavenly Demon's wings.
Ridiculous enough on its own.
But the Eighth Elder wanted to amplify the farce.
From the Cult Leader's side, how delightful if those future Envoys were humiliated at the festival.
And if Geum-gang and Hee Yeon showed up injured—or not at all? Dishonor aplenty.
For a scheme from an Elder of his stature, it was utterly vile.
"Threatening girls young enough to be his granddaughters... How base."
The Pavilion Master bit her nails.
But from one like the Eighth Elder, even a vile plot was top-tier strategy.
Brute force couldn't counter it.
"Endure till the festival. I believe in you girls. I've got plans too..."
Mumbling cryptically, the Right Envoy patted their heads.
"Believe what?"
Geum-gang scowled and dodged away, drawing a grin from him.
"You've got your thing you're good at. Just do that well."
Hee Yeon answered without hesitation.
"Beating people up?"
"Exactly!"
"Mm, mm!"
Geum-gang nodded proudly.
Thrilled to be recognized.
Hee Yeon hadn't meant it as praise, but none were sturdier than Geum-gang at thrashing folks.
"Till then, get stronger. Show up tougher than expected, and bam—one shot to the Cult Leader's crew."
Geum-gang nodded vigorously.
She burned to spite the Cult Leader somehow too.
The threats persisted right up to the Sacred Fire Festival.
Once, food laced with meridian-scattering poison arrived.
"Bitter. Ugh. Ptooey."
Geum-gang had eaten it anyway—no real effect.
Her inner energy flowed freely, never pooling.
The assassins grew bolder, then one day... stopped.
The Dam-mok Family had realized someone powerful lingered at Heavenly Seed Pavilion, rendering killers useless.
The day the Right Envoy left to prepare something, the girls slipped out secretly too.
"Ow... So tired."
"Tell me about it. Wanna sleep."
Geum-gang and Hee Yeon stretched arms out in unison as their carriage descended back to Heavenly Peak's entrance, site of the initiation ceremony.
Geum-gang thought of the peach blossoms she'd seen with Ha Jin.
"Going back there. Up, down. What a life."
Hee Yeon found Geum-gang's world-weary tone hilarious, like some old crone who'd lived it all.
Clutching her sword tight, she wondered if she alone felt the tension.
Months since initiation—too much had happened.
She'd seen Dam-mok Family's young master get pummeled.
'He's insane. Totally lost it.'
Geum-gang, her rival, battling a Division Leader.
'Crazy... Absolute maniac.'
Somehow met the revered Cult Leader, even got titles bestowed.
'Eeee! Thrilling. So happy!'
Then learned that Leader had used them as pawns.
'What nonsense is this? Headache...'
And endured all manner of threats at Heavenly Seed Pavilion.
'Sleepy. Exhausted.'
For a girl who'd lived her life in the small pond of South Heaven, it was headache after headache.
The festival would bring more clashes, tougher trials.
'Isn't Geum-gang scared?'
Hee Yeon couldn't read the golden girl's carefree vibe.
She just stared blankly at the scenery.
No emotion, no anxiety leaking from her.
"Geum-gang, the festival... Scared? It's gonna be rough."
Hee Yeon mustered courage to voice her own fears.
Wondering if Geum-gang was hiding something, out of kindness too.
As if sensing it, Geum-gang reacted differently than usual.
"Yeah. Fighting's not scary. But..."
"But?"
Tears welled in Geum-gang's eyes.
"Geum-gang?"
Was her heart still so young?
These past months, she'd lived in unease and fear.
Assassins?
Nah, not scary.
Just beat 'em.
Poisoned food?
Belly ache at worst—this body could take it.
What she truly couldn't bear was one thing alone.
Where's my master?
Did Ha Jin really die?
Why'd she vanish so suddenly?
Who did it to her?
Tears fell in drops.
"Scary..."
What if she's dead?
If the Cult Leader did it, could I even avenge her?
Scary.
Don't wanna die.
The pent-up anxiety burst; even rubbing her reddened eyes didn't stop it.
Shocked, Hee Yeon hugged her tight, but the tears poured endlessly.
Geum-gang, who would've shoved Hee Yeon away normally, just stayed still... still.
For the first time across two lives.
Words she'd never thought herself capable of.
I miss you.
Geum-gang wept like that for a good while longer.