Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 106: Hearing the Secret History of My Fake Father (1)

Leaving the Hell Hall behind, I turned my steps toward the place where the memorial service for the Black Spirit Ten Guards was being held.

Deputy Bu was still following me at that point.

As I entered the memorial site, the man who had been waiting for me earlier was there.

"I heard you were coming here, so I waited."

It was Green Dragon Blade Kang Jung, the disciple of the Demon of Chaos, Seo Gong.

Standing taller than me and carrying a blade at least a span wide, he looked like a guardian deity. His mere presence exerted a sense of pressure on those around him. He was truly worthy of being called the disciple of a Demon Lord.

"Wait just a moment. I shall return after offering my respects."

I spoke with my chin tilted up slightly, adopting a somewhat haughty tone just like him.

When I stopped by the memorial, the leader of the Black Spirit Ten Guards spoke.

"Thank you, Young Hero Eo."

I replied with a silent cupped-fist salute and performed the rites.

Prostrating myself, I spoke inwardly.

It is thanks to you all that I am alive. Thank you. Even when you reach the afterlife, do not resent me; rest in peace.

Galwi was sitting nearby with a disinterested expression.

"Young Lord Gal, I offer my condolences."

When I spoke, Galwi replied.

"Thank you. We will be returning to the Black Fortress tomorrow. Once there, I will investigate those who tried to kill me and ensure they are thoroughly punished."

"As you should. You must uncover the truth and punish whoever dared to attempt an assassination on the Young Lord of the Black Fortress."

Of course. If you go and wipe out those Ghost Pursuit Squad bastards to the last man, I’d be more than grateful.

"Also, please understand if I cannot see you off tomorrow. I have much to do."

I offered a cupped-fist salute toward the Black Spirit Ten Guards and said, "It is a pity we could not share a drink before parting. I look forward to a day when we can."

The Black Spirit Ten Guards responded to my words with a respectful salute.

"Thank you. We shall cherish your sentiment, Young Hero Eo."

Galwi turned his head away, seemingly annoyed by the respect the Black Spirit Ten Guards were showing me. It made sense; he probably hadn't seen them treat even him with such genuine courtesy.

I left the memorial site and met Kang Jung.

"By the way, why does the Third Chamber Leader wish to see me?"

Even though I asked somewhat stiffly, Kang Jung’s expression remained unchanged.

"I do not know. You will find out when you arrive."

In my position, I couldn't exactly refuse an audience with the Third Chamber Leader of the Nine Demons Chamber, so I had no choice but to follow Kang Jung.

I had assumed that if any of the Chamber Leaders were to call for me first, it would be the Second, Fifth, or Sixth. Since they were all connected to Yu Hong, Do Geon, and the Four Wheels Twenty-Four Guests, I expected a lecture or a threat. I couldn't even begin to guess why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Third Chamber Leader wanted to see me.

As we entered the Third Pavilion, I felt that the energy of the warriors I encountered was strangely familiar.

The blade art of the Demon of Chaos, Seo Gong, was the Thunderbolt Demon King Sword. It invoked lightning that was a mixture of red and blue energy. The red energy exerted an overwhelming pressure, like the manifestation of a demon king, but the blue energy lacked any wicked aura, much like an orthodox blade art.

Because of this, his martial arts were often described as ambiguous. Since the "Thunderbolt" was both domineering and, in some ways, soft, many masters debated the nature of his technique.

Meanwhile, the Ninth Chamber Leader, Purple Lightning Sword Demon Ham Jeok, used the Purple Lightning Sword Technique, which generated red lightning. Its domineering energy was a style that surpassed even the Thunderbolt Demon King Sword.

Because their martial energies were similar and they were sworn brothers, rumors often circulated within the Nine Demons Chamber that Seo Gong and Ham Jeok were actually martial brothers who had studied under the same master.

Perhaps for that reason, the energy of the warriors in the Third Pavilion wasn't much different from those in the Ninth Pavilion.

"This way, please."

I followed Kang Jung, watching the warriors practicing their blade arts in the training grounds of the Third Pavilion.

In the Nine Demons Chamber, there were no set training hours. They practiced whenever they had a spare moment, regardless of whether it was day or night. This was why the Nine Demons Chamber remained a pillar of the Demonic Path.

I followed Kang Jung into the residence of the Third Chamber Leader, Seo Gong.

"Welcome."

The one who greeted me was Seo Rin. As expected, she was cradling a white cat in her arms.

I greeted her with a cupped-fist salute.

"Greetings."

Seo Rin smiled and said, "Follow me."

As Seo Rin personally led the way, Kang Jung stopped, unable to go any further. The fact that Seo Rin was guiding me meant that Seo Gong intended to see me without any other interruptions.

Following Seo Rin deeper into the residence, I saw Seo Gong sitting in a grand armchair, watching me.

"Eo Ja-seo, a junior of the Murim, greets the Third Chamber Leader."

As I offered a respectful salute, Seo Gong spoke.

"Come closer and sit."

His heavy voice was enough to make me shrink back instinctively.

People often have the misconception that masters of the Third Chamber Leader's caliber can tell a low-level martial artist's internal energy level at a single glance, but that’s just nonsense from martial arts novels. How can a human eye see through a person's body? Unless one becomes an immortal, it’s impossible.

They simply make a rough judgment based on the momentum radiating from the body. For instance, if my internal energy feels the opponent's spirit and recoils, it means the opponent's energy is stronger than mine.

The internal energy of a master like the Demon of Chaos only reacts to energy of a similar level; it wouldn't even register someone like me. Therefore, masters like him often failed to accurately grasp the level of my internal energy. They simply have the eye to discern one's achievement by observing a single sword form.

To put it simply, no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠matter how much river water flows into the ocean, the volume doesn't seem to change. But if another stream joins a large river, the water level rises instantly. It’s the same principle.

That said, masters like the Demon of Chaos didn't go around radiating pressure or moving their internal energy just to test me. The greater the master, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the more relaxed their posture tended to be.

"Seo Rin, you should leave as well."

Seo Rin dazed for a moment, perhaps not expecting to be dismissed herself, before speaking.

"Can't I stay here?"

Huh? I thought she was a cold and haughty woman, but she’s just a daughter acting cute in front of her father... I see.

"Ho-ho, why are you suddenly acting cute when you stopped doing that ten years ago?"

Seo Rin’s face turned red as she protested.

"Father! When did I ever?"

"Are you not doing it right now?"

Seo Gong was a benevolent father in front of Seo Rin. I could tell how much he cherished her just by his voice and the look in his eyes.

"Fine. I'll leave."

As Seo Rin withdrew with a pouting face, Seo Gong let out a hearty laugh.

"Goodness, it seems all women want to act cute in front of a hero. Seeing my daughter act like that in front of you, I suppose it’s time I sent her off to be married."

I had no idea how to respond to that, so I just offered a hollow laugh.

"What do you think? Would you like to take my daughter?"

Seo Gong suddenly asked me this out of the blue.

Excuse me? Take Seo Rin?

Well, that would be great for me. Where else would I find a wife with such a background? However, I knew my place. I knew that if I lived with a wife like that, the sheer weight of her status would probably kill me before my time.

Still, I had to respond in a way that wouldn't cause offense.

"I would be honored, of course. It would be like a windfall falling into my lap—a golden windfall at that. However, I know my limits and do not bite off more than I can chew. If I'm not careful, I might end up an old man before my time trying to keep up."

"Hahaha! You are the first person in a long time to joke in front of me."

I flinched at the Demon of Chaos's words.

"I apologize if I have offended you."

When I quickly apologized, the Demon of Chaos gave a thin smile.

"No. I said it because it has been a while since I've laughed."

Surely he didn't call me here just to tell me to take Seo Rin. It was about time he got to the point.

Sure enough, the Demon of Chaos's face turned solemn as he gazed at me intently.

"From whom did you learn your martial arts?"

When he suddenly brought up my martial arts, I was startled inwardly. But I replied in a calm tone.

"I learned them from my late father."

"Your late father? When did he pass away?"

The previously quiet Seo Gong asked with a frown.

"It has already been over ten years."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What?"

I felt like a disloyal son for saying my father, who was still alive, was dead. But since he had left fifteen years ago to find medicine and never returned, he might as well be dead. I said ten years because that was when I had obtained the Nine-Section Soul-Severing Sword.

"What was your father's name?"

Seo Gong’s expression grew even more somber. For a master of his level to change his expression like that meant there was something significant. I was beginning to feel increasingly uneasy in this seat.

I spoke truthfully. "My father's name was Eo Jae-seo."

"Eo Jae-seo?"

Seeing him mutter the name with a frown, it was clear he had never heard it before.

"Well, he might have used a pseudonym."

After muttering to himself, Seo Gong asked again. "Then, how did your father pass away?"

"He died at the hands of some cowards who ambushed him."

I had no choice but to start lying, assuming the dead warrior who had possessed the Nine-Section Soul-Severing Sword was my father. Since that warrior must have died from an ambush, it was a plausible story.

"One day, he said he had business to attend to and left, but he never returned. When I went out to find him, I discovered him dead on the roadside, covered in numerous sword wounds."

The dead warrior's body had indeed been covered in many sword wounds. I even put on a somber expression to act out the part.

"I am sorry. I keep poking at your painful memories."

After saying that, Seo Gong let out a long sigh.

"It seems those bastards finally made their move."

Muttering to himself, Seo Gong continued.

"You are someone who cannot be said to be unrelated to me, or to the Sword Demon."

Huh? What does that mean? Does that mean we’re cousins or something? Surely not?

I stared intently at Seo Gong’s mouth.

"Then, what is the name of the sword technique you learned from your father?"

"It is the Nine-Section Soul-Severing Sword."

"As I thought! Is the first form not the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash, and the second form the Whirling Wind Overturning Heaven?"

No way! Finally, someone who recognizes this sword technique has appeared.

And of all people, it was the Demon of Chaos.

Ah, I’m trapped now. If he even knows the names of the forms, he knows everything.

"Your lightness skills and footwork seem to have been modified somewhat, but the foundation of the sword technique still follows the Nine-Section Soul-Severing Sword. It seems your father refined it quite a bit later on."

Good grief, is that dead warrior really going to be my father now? Well, since I claimed my martial arts were a family secret, it effectively meant the dead warrior was my father. I had dug my own grave.

"Seeing as your father even hid his name, it seems he did not want you to hold a grudge against those people. He likely wanted you to live a normal life, knowing nothing."

Hmm, if he was someone the Demon of Chaos knew well, then that dead warrior must have been a master on par with the Demon of Chaos. If I wasn't careful, this could lead to serious trouble.

I cleared my mind of the chaotic thoughts and calmed myself.

Well, he’s dead anyway. There’s no evidence. I’ll just say I’m his son. Whatever.

Once I thought that, I had nothing to fear.

"How much do you know about your father?"

The question was strange. He spoke as if my father were someone of great status, but my real father was just a country farmer. He was a tenant farmer who lost every grain of rice to drought and civil unrest, a father you could find anywhere in the countryside, driven to a life of refuge by desperation.

However, I figured it would be more advantageous for me to claim I knew absolutely nothing.

"He was just a man who tilled the fields in the countryside."

"Ho-ho... He... he tilled the fields? Ho-ho, it seems he truly attained enlightenment."

With a face full of deep emotion, he was lost in thought for a moment before snapping back.

"Your father lived while hiding everything, so if I were to dig it up now, it might go against his wishes. Perhaps it is better for you to remain in ignorance."

The Demon of Chaos looked at me with eyes that were both cold and warm. It was a gaze that felt as if he were looking at a blood relative. Or so it felt to me.

But soon, someone spoke up to refute the Demon of Chaos's words.

"No. That friend would have surely intended to tell him when the time was right. And even if he didn't, shouldn't we give his successor the chance to know the truth and make his own choice now?"