Chapter 861: Meet This Old Man's Disciple.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 861: Meet This Old Man's Disciple.
"Are you truly serious?"
The Heavenly Demon asked, his eyes fixed on the Yin-Yang Demon with deep suspicion. He suspected the man might be playing some sort of word game.
"This old man does not speak falsehoods."
The Yin-Yang Demon met the Heavenly Demon's gaze with an unwavering look. It was a firm expression, brimming with absolute confidence. Meeting that gaze, the Heavenly Demon realized the truth.
The man was being sincere.
"Is your disciple... stronger than you?"
"Hardly. He is still a mere fledgling."
The Yin-Yang Demon shook his head slightly as he continued.
"Then you are saying a disciple weaker than yourself can destroy me?"
"I am."
"You've gone mad."
The Heavenly Demon was certain of it now. The Yin-Yang Demon must have lost his mind after his Ascension. Otherwise, how could he spout such utter nonsense?
"Even you, who has ascended, cannot be certain of defeating me. How can a disciple weaker than you possibly hope to destroy me?"
Even the Yin-Yang Demon, who had become an immortal through Ascension, couldn't guarantee he could handle the Heavenly Demon. So how could a mere human possibly stand against him? It was preposterous.
"And why do you think he cannot?"
"How could a disciple who isn't even your equal defeat me!"
The Heavenly Demon scowled, a rare display of emotion. He felt a surge of fury at the thought of being looked down upon by the Yin-Yang Demon, whom he had considered a worthy rival.
"He is a fledgling now, but he is one who will eventually become a phoenix," the Yin-Yang Demon replied calmly.
"Do you think I will wait for that 'eventually'?"
If someone had the potential to grow, the logical thing was to crush them before they could. There was no reason to wait until they became a phoenix.
"Do not worry. It will not take him very long to grow."
The Yin-Yang Demon spoke with an air of nonchalance.
"…You seem to have a great deal of trust in your disciple."
"He is my only disciple. How could I not trust him?"
"A touching display of the bond between master and student."
"Don't act like you can empathize. What would a monster like you know about such things?" the Yin-Yang Demon sneered.
"True, I know nothing of such bonds. I never had a master," the Heavenly Demon replied, nodding as if in agreement. Then, a cruel smile spread across his face. "But I do know one thing. A master would be deeply grieved if his disciple were to die."
His eyes began to glint with murderous intent.
"And if it is your only disciple, the grief would be all the greater."
"Hahahaha! Are you threatening me?"
The Yin-Yang Demon burst into laughter, as if he found the notion hilarious.
"Go ahead and try. If you can, that is."
He wore a thick smirk, looking completely unbothered.
Cringe.
Seeing that relaxed expression, the Heavenly Demon’s face contorted. He was incensed by the man's constant disregard for him.
"I will gouge out both his eyes so he may never see light again. I will cut out his tongue so he cannot speak a word. I will sever his arms and legs, and use a dagger to slice his flesh into thin strips. Then, I will pour salt over him so he writhes in agony. I will leave him in a state where he is neither dead nor alive, suffering for the rest of his days."
The Heavenly Demon spat out these atrocious threats, attempting to intimidate the Yin-Yang Demon by describing the horrific fate he intended for his precious disciple.
"I look forward to seeing you watch your disciple's wretched fate from the Realm of Immortals."
A dark smile played on the Heavenly Demon's lips.
"Haven't I told you repeatedly? Do it if you can," the Yin-Yang Demon replied, his expression remaining perfectly composed. He seemed to have no worries at all.
Grind.
The Heavenly Demon gnashed his teeth. The resentment boiling deep within his chest refused to subside.
"…We shall see."
Finally, the Heavenly Demon turned away. He was suppressing his explosive rage by force. The one who truly deserved the full weight of this anger wasn't the Yin-Yang Demon, but his disciple.
Step, step.
The Heavenly Demon began to walk toward the fallen Ouyang Jin.
"A pathetic sight."
Reaching him, the Heavenly Demon looked down and spoke.
"Well, I have nothing to say for myself," Ouyang Jin replied tonelessly. It was an undeniable fact that he had been defeated by a mere girl.
"Let us go."
Whoosh.
As the Heavenly Demon spoke, a pitch-black mist flowed out, enveloping Ouyang Jin and the Fire Dragon Blade.
"Are you going to consume me?" Ouyang Jin asked, looking up at the Heavenly Demon from within the black mist. He wondered if he would suffer the same fate as Un-seol.
"No, I will not consume you." The Heavenly Demon shook his head. "The flames of the Great Desert are not a power I particularly need."
The black mist lifted Ouyang Jin and the Fire Dragon Blade into the air. Ouyang Jin’s body began to float in the void.
"That is a relief."
A thick smile touched Ouyang Jin’s lips. He had thought he was surely going to be devoured, but it seemed his life was spared for now.
Vroom.
The Heavenly Demon’s body also began to rise into the air. He was demonstrating the legendary state of light-body movement: Void Step.
"Watch closely, Yin-Yang Demon! Watch how this mortal realm is destroyed! Watch the miserable fate your precious disciple suffers!"
Suspended in the air, the Heavenly Demon raised his voice, glaring down at the Yin-Yang Demon. It was a final warning before his departure—a declaration of the consequences the man's reckless words would bring.
Then, without a hint of lingering attachment, he turned and began to fly away. He headed toward Mount Tianshan, the headquarters of the Demonic Cult.
The Yin-Yang Demon watched the Heavenly Demon’s retreating figure until he was nothing more than a speck in the distance.
Snap.
Once they were far enough away, the Yin-Yang Demon lightly flicked his fingers. A stone the size of a fist rose into the air.
Grab.
He caught the stone and pulled his arm back.
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, he swung his arm and hurled the stone. It flew exactly in the direction the Heavenly Demon had gone.
Screeeech!
The fist-sized stone tore through the air at a terrifying speed, hurtling toward the distant speck that was the Heavenly Demon.
After a few moments...
KABOOM!
A massive explosion erupted in the distance. it was a colossal blast, as if dozens of Thunderbolt Bombs had been detonated all at once.
"Wh-what on earth are you doing?"
The elder with an immortal's air asked in bewilderment. Why the sudden outburst?
"He was getting on my nerves," the Yin-Yang Demon replied, looking annoyed.
"Did we not agree... that we shouldn't exercise power in the mortal realm?"
"I didn't use Immortal Energy, so it won't cause his annihilation," the Yin-Yang Demon said dismissively.
"..........."
The elder stared at him, speechless. How could he use his power so recklessly?
"Besides, I had to smash something to buy the Kunlun disciples time to evacuate, didn't I?"
"Eva...cuate?"
"Did you plan to just leave them here? With that bastard who became a Demonic Immortal glaring at them right in front of their faces?"
"…I suppose I didn't think that through."
"Being slow isn't a sin," the Yin-Yang Demon offered as a form of consolation.
"…Did you have to put it like that?"
To the listener, it sounded more like a mockery.
"I can't exactly tell you to go die just because you're slow, can I?"
"…My mistake for asking."
The elder shook his head and apologized, realizing that continuing the conversation would only lead to more insults. He slowly turned his gaze.
A woman as beautiful as a celestial maiden came into view. It was the Kunlun Sword Saint, Un-seol. She was staring at them with her mouth agape, looking dazed. She seemed unable to believe the series of events that had just unfolded.
"May we speak for a moment?" the elder asked her, his expression softening into a gentle smile.
She nodded, unable to even close her mouth. It seemed she needed more time to process everything.
*
"This old man is called Taecheong."
"Tae... Taecheong? Could it be...?"
Un-seol asked in shock. It was a name she never expected to hear.
"Yes. I am indeed Taecheong, the 8th Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect."
The elder with the refined appearance, Daoist Taecheong, spoke with a dignified air.
"This humble disciple of Kunlun greets the Great Ancestor!"
Un-seol hastily bowed low, showing her utmost respect. This was the man who, two hundred years ago, had led Kunlun to its greatest golden age—the one and only World's Greatest Martial Artist Kunlun had ever produced. He was the Kunlun Sword Saint, Daoist Taecheong. To meet such a legendary figure in the flesh... how could she not show the highest reverence?
"Enough with the formalities, disciple of Kunlun. We have little time, so I shall get straight to the point."
Taecheong spoke urgently. He could feel his manifestation becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
"Please, give your command. I shall engrave it upon my heart."
"Hurry back to Kunlun and evacuate the disciples. The Heavenly Demon will surely return there. I will not be able to protect you next time. I will undoubtedly be facing punishment for manifesting of my own accord."
"I shall do as you command."
"And inform the entire Murim of the Heavenly Demon's return. As you have experienced, he possesses a power that the Murim cannot withstand unless everyone unites. We need everyone's help."
"I will keep that in mind, always."
Un-seol nodded and answered immediately.
"Furthermore, if anyone was injured in this incident, use our elixirs without hesitation to treat them. Kunlun has always put people first, and its disciples first. Do not be stingy with our resources."
"I understand, Great Ancestor."
"And..."
Taecheong continued to give Un-seol several more instructions and warnings. Un-seol listened intently, nodding her head to ensure she absorbed every word of his will.
After they had spoken for some time...
Flicker.
Taecheong's body suddenly began to turn transparent at a rapid pace. His manifestation was fading.
"It seems... I must... go now."
Taecheong looked at Un-seol with a regretful expression. He had a mountain of things left to tell her, and it pained him to leave like this.
"…Thank you for your wisdom… Great Ancestor… I will surely do as you have instructed…."
"Yes… I believe a clever girl like you will carry out everything I've said faithfully."
Flicker.
Taecheong's body became even more translucent.
"Thank you… Great Ancestor… for protecting your unworthy disciples… even after your Ascension… Thank you so much."
As he was about to vanish completely, Un-seol's eyes welled with tears. She knew all too well that he had appeared even at the risk of his own annihilation—all for the sake of Kunlun.
"Do not mind it. I simply did what was natural."
Taecheong smiled gently. "Kunlun is my root. And you all are my brothers and sisters who share that root. Stepping forward for one's family is only natural for me."
"…Great Ancestor Taecheong."
Un-seol was deeply moved. His love and devotion for Kunlun were palpable.
"…Let us meet again… disciple of Kunlun."
Shimmer.
With that, Taecheong vanished completely, as if he had never been there at all.
"…Great Ancestor.."
Un-seol stared at the empty space where he had stood, her face filled with lingering emotion.
After a long moment...
Clench.
'I'll do my best... Great Ancestor... so that I won't be a disgrace even if you're watching from the heavens!'
Un-seol tightened her fists, hardening her resolve. She felt she must not dishonor the determination of Taecheong, who had helped her even at the risk of his own existence.
It was while she was strengthening her resolve that...
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
A gruff voice pierced her ears.
'What?!'
Startled, she quickly turned her head. There, she saw an old man with a cranky expression and a fierce countenance.
It was the Great Arch-Demon known as the World's Greatest Demon—the Yin-Yang Demon, Lee Ho-seon.
"…You didn't leave?" she asked cautiously, her face filled with confusion. Unlike Taecheong, he was still there.
"I didn't."
"…Why?"
"Because I felt like it."
"..........."
"..........."
An awkward silence settled between them. Neither of them spoke for a moment.
"…Um."
"What?"
"Do you have something to say to me?" she asked, puzzled.
"Well, I suppose I do," the Yin-Yang Demon replied promptly.
"What is it?"
"Go and meet this old man's disciple."
"…Pardon?"
Un-seol asked back, her face a mask of bewilderment. To suddenly be told to meet his disciple—what was he talking about?
"And teach that brat your Nature Sword."