Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Mad Demon Blood Debt
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Some of the younger generation experts gathered at the Junior Summit looked as though they were hearing this for the first time, but the majority—especially those from the Eight Great Families—already knew the story.
Namgung Seo-ok's face stiffened, while Jegal Hyeon slowly shook his head.
*We've poked the wrong bear.*
"Why so quiet? Don't tell me you don't know about the Mad Demon Blood Debt?"
But anyone who saw Ak Su-jeon's expression would never believe he was clueless.
"Fine, then. For those who don't know, allow me to explain."
Even so, Seol Hwa-un pressed on.
"You...!"
Ak Su-jeon wanted nothing more than to clamp Seol Hwa-un's mouth shut.
But this was a tale anyone who needed to know already did. He couldn't stop it.
And there was no way he could reveal his family's shame himself.
Seol Hwa-un began his account calmly.
"Fifteen years ago, a fiend known as the Mad Demon appeared."
Two hundred years prior, the Heavenly Demon Cult had suffered devastating losses at the hands of the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor and the Martial Alliance's forces, ultimately sealing their gates.
In the process, numerous demonic arts manuals leaked out—quite a few of them.
After successfully subjugating the Outer Realm, the Martial Alliance recovered most of those manuals, but they failed to retrieve them all.
The Mad Demon was one who had obtained one of those unrecovered texts.
Having cultivated the demonic art until its madness seeped into his very marrow, the Mad Demon went berserk. The place it happened was Shandong Province.
And by coincidence, the nearest power—the Shandong Ak Family—mobilized to stop him. But the Mad Demon was far stronger than expected, and the Ak Family suffered tremendous casualties.
Half their elite warriors were crippled, and the family head at the time barely survived with grievous wounds.
Afterward, the Martial Alliance and numerous sects rushed in to capture the Mad Demon, who fled north, unable to hold out.
His final destination was the North Sea. Seol Wi-myeong, who had been closely monitoring the Central Plains' situation, stepped forward at once and clashed with the Mad Demon in a battle that shook heaven and earth.
By the time the Central Plains pursuit force arrived, Seol Wi-myeong and the Mad Demon were already locked in fierce combat.
In the end, Seol Wi-myeong severed the Mad Demon's head, shocking the watching pursuers with his astonishing prowess.
Through this incident, Seol Wi-myeong earned the title of Ice Emperor and recognition as one of the Three Venerables of the Outer Realm.
"Ah...!"
As Seol Hwa-un finished his explanation, those gathered nodded.
He had recounted only unbiased facts with perfect accuracy, leaving even those who already knew without grounds to object.
"The fiend that the Shandong Ak Family couldn't stop was personally dealt with by the lord of this palace. Isn't that right?"
Ak Su-jeon's face flushed crimson.
In truth, the Ak Family warriors arrived in the North Sea too late to witness Seol Wi-myeong's prowess firsthand.
While the pursuit force acknowledged it, the Ak Family warriors did not.
They resented not avenging themselves and harbored ill will toward the North Sea Ice Palace for slaying the Mad Demon instead.
That grudge had passed down to Ak Su-jeon. Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to voice such petty thoughts openly.
Ak Su-jeon bellowed in fury.
"That was fifteen years ago! My family is far stronger now!"
He spoke boldly, but the Shandong Ak Family—once on par with the Dang and Jegal Families—had fallen to the lower ranks among the Eight Great Families precisely because of the Mad Demon Blood Debt.
"I'll throw those words right back at you. How much stronger do you think this palace has become in two hundred years?"
"......!"
Seol Hwa-un's retort chilled some to the bone, but not Ak Su-jeon.
"Hmph! The Ice Emperor may be strong, but not every Ice Palace warrior is. Besides, isn't it common knowledge that your arts work fine in the North Sea but falter in the Central Plains?"
His intent to undermine the North Sea Ice Palace was palpable.
"If not, then prove it."
Ak Su-jeon's aim was clear. The corner of Seol Hwa-un's mouth curled up.
*Just what I wanted.*
The biggest reason for accepting the Summit invitation was to proclaim the North Sea Ice Palace's enduring strength far and wide.
He had incidentally achieved some of that in Shanxi Province, but it wasn't enough.
"Gladly."
At that moment, Namgung Seo-ok stepped in.
"Hahaha, tempers seem to be running a bit hot here."
"......"
"The purpose of this Junior Summit is fellowship, after all. But."
His eyes sharpened.
"We're martial artists at the end of the day, aren't we? And martial artists speak with their skills. How about a friendly spar to cool those tempers?"
Ak Su-jeon replied instantly.
"Just what I wanted!"
"And what does the Young Palace Lord think?"
"Sounds good to me."
Namgung Seo-ok smiled in satisfaction at Seol Hwa-un's response.
"Then let's move. Everyone, to the rear garden of the Imperial Pavilion!"
"......!"
Everyone here was a martial artist who loved combat more than meals. No one would pass up watching two masters clash.
As they moved, Namgung Seo-ok sent Ak Su-jeon a transmission.
[Brother Ak, stay calm. In that state, you'll struggle against the Ice Palace's Young Palace Lord.]
Only then realizing his condition, Ak Su-jeon took a deep breath.
"Hoo."
[Thanks. I got carried away without realizing.]
[Think you can beat the Young Palace Lord?]
[Heh, leave it to me. This is the Central Plains, after all.]
[True enough. Your spear arts that troubled me at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament should suffice.]
He had subtly egged him on, but Namgung Seo-ok trusted Ak Su-jeon's skills.
*I'll break their arrogance properly, North Sea Ice Palace.*
Truth be told, he had no personal grudge against the Ice Palace like Ak Su-jeon did.
He simply disliked Outer Realm folk making a name in the martial world, especially how the Ice Emperor's swordsmanship was often compared to his Namgung Family's.
*How dare some backwater Outer Realm sword art compare to ours.*
Of course, everyone now hailed the Namgung Family's Imperial Sword Form as the world's finest, but being mentioned in the same breath irked him.
*Hm? Come to think of it, the Young Palace Lord isn't carrying a sword?*
He couldn't tell if Seol Hwa-un hadn't learned it or just hadn't brought one.
*Doesn't matter either way. Heh, this might end even quicker than expected.*
He considered the Ice Palace's swordsmanship at least passable, but thought little else of them.
As befitting the grandest establishment in Hefei, the Imperial Pavilion's rear garden was vast. And surprisingly, it featured a sparring platform.
"Huh! When did they build this?"
"They couldn't have predicted this, right?"
Namgung Seo-ok deployed his movement technique and lightly leaped onto the platform. It was fluid, as expected of a Namgung Family prodigy.
"We prepared this platform for the Junior Summit, anticipating some friendly spars fueled by rivalry... I didn't expect it'd see use so soon."
Ak Su-jeon ascended the platform. A spear had appeared in his hand.
A confident smile played on his lips as he gripped it.
"Young Palace Lord, come up!"
He called out brashly, but Seol Hwa-un didn't budge.
"Hold on."
As the now-composed Ak Su-jeon used polite speech, Seol Hwa-un reciprocated. He turned to Dong Ho-won.
"Ho-won. How was that bandit's ancestral spear art?"
"Pardon? Oh, nothing special."
"How about it? Want to face the Ak Family spear art this time?"
"......!"
A smile crept onto Dong Ho-won's surprised face.
"If you give me the chance, I won't disappoint."
"Good. You handle that Ak Family punk."
"Understood."
As Dong Ho-won mounted the platform, Ak Su-jeon glared at Seol Hwa-un.
"Young Palace Lord! What trick is this? Scared, are you?"
"As if. This is my subordinate, Dong Ho-won. He's a suitable match for Young Master Ak."
Ak Su-jeon's face turned red with rage.
"You dare! Think some lackey can match me?!"
"Should be plenty. If Dong Ho-won loses, count it as my defeat. I'll apologize sincerely too."
"Not good enough. If I win, you kneel personally, Young Palace Lord."
Seol Hwa-un's gaze turned icy.
"Fine. But the same applies in reverse?"
"Of course! If I lose, I'll kneel to you!"
Dong Ho-won, overhearing, looked troubled.
*If I lose... I'm in deep trouble.*
Sure enough.
Eom Mu-hwi's transmission pierced his ear.
[Ho-won, give it everything you've got.]
Dong Ho-won glared down at Eom Mu-hwi.
*That jerk, piling on the pressure...*
Meanwhile, Seol Hwa-un said nothing. That somehow weighed even heavier.
Dong Ho-won shook his head to clear stray thoughts.
*Whatever. Just win.*
He eyed Ak Su-jeon sharply.
*Impressive aura, worthy of an Eight Great Families heir. No pushover.*
He drew the two short rods from his belt and joined them into one.
*Click.*
Pressing a spot on the now-long rod extended a spear blade.
*Snap.*
A spear!
In an instant, it was complete—the Snow Flower Spear, one of the Winter Family's divine weapons.
Gripping it filled him with confidence.
*I'll win this.*
But Ak Su-jeon barely registered him.
*Some Young Palace Lord's lackey... I'll crush him in one strike!*
Dong Ho-won clasped his hands politely.
"I'm Dong Ho-won."
"Ak Su-jeon."
His rudeness grated, but Dong Ho-won let it slide.
*Heh, the more he underestimates me, the better.*
It would make him careless, easier to beat.
Whether sensing it or not, Ak Su-jeon attacked without preliminaries.
*No need for full Ak Family Spear Art. Silent Cloud Flash Spear!*
Kwaaaa!
His spear thrust forward with ferocious momentum. Not pure Ak Family style, but impressive nonetheless.
*As expected.*
But Dong Ho-won saw through the sloppy form. Potent inner energy, but lacking sharpness.
*Chance!*
He swung the Snow Flower Spear, precisely striking the spearhead aside.
*Taaang!*
The powerful vibration traveled up the shaft to Ak Su-jeon.
*What?!*
He instantly realized his mistake. Delivering that much shock with pinpoint accuracy meant Dong Ho-won was no inferior spearman.
*His subordinate is *this* good?!*
Too late. Dong Ho-won pressed the off-balance Ak Su-jeon.
"......!"
Woooong!
The Snow Flower Spear quivered faintly, infused with intense energy.
*Soul-Falling Single Strike!*
Thud!
Startled, Ak Su-jeon retreated swiftly, recovering his spear to block.
*Creeeeang!*
"Kuh!"
He barely parried with his shaft, but couldn't withstand the force and was sent tumbling to the platform's edge.
Dong Ho-won smiled in victory.
*Good block, but it's over.*
He was certain Ak Su-jeon would fall off.
But.
Tak!
Two inches from the edge, Ak Su-jeon stopped. He had barely avoided ring-out defeat.
Disbelief crossed Dong Ho-won's face.
"Damn."
Eom Mu-hwi sighed.
"What an idiot!"
A follow-up would have sealed the win.
Seol Hwa-un spoke.
"It's not just that."
"Pardon?"
"In a way, Dong Ho-won's judgment was spot-on. In the North Sea, Ak Su-jeon would've been knocked clean off for sure."
Eom Mu-hwi grasped the meaning.
"The Central Plains climate..."
"Exactly. Against bandits, the gap was so wide you wouldn't notice, but against a master like Ak Su-jeon, it matters."
"Hmm..."
"Use this chance to gauge how much your arts change in the Central Plains."
Eom Mu-hwi looked at Seol Hwa-un, mildly surprised.
*Did the Young Palace Lord send Ho-won up deliberately for this?*
Seol Hwa-un seemed to read his mind.
"That was part of it, sure. Plus one more thing. Time to show what kind of experts this palace has."
"Ah!"
Seol Hwa-un had already demonstrated his prowess by crushing Green Forest Eighteen Bandits leaders in Shanxi.
But that was personal might. Even when the Ice Emperor's fame spread, it highlighted individual strength—the North Sea Ice Palace as an institution remained obscure.
*Can't settle for that.*
Beyond the Palace Lord and Young Palace Lord, they needed to reveal the palace's stock of Central Plains-caliber experts.
*There's another reason too.*
It was well-known that the Ice Palace's yin-cold arts weakened in the Central Plains.
The palace's masters had made strides in overcoming it, but not perfectly.
Even Seol Hwa-un couldn't precisely measure the difference. Against Ghost King寨 Leader or Red River寨 Leader, he hadn't needed fine control.
But a Central Plains duel was different. He couldn't risk killing and making enemies of the Ak Family.
Plus, something untested.
*My Ice White Divine Art is different from the others'. It might lack that flaw entirely.*
Before returning to the North Sea Ice Palace, Seol Hwa-un resolved to confirm it.
Meanwhile, the platform clash intensified.
Fully alert, Ak Su-jeon unleashed the full Ak Family Spear Art, while Dong Ho-won countered with the Winter Family Soul-Falling Spear.
Clang clang clang!
Paak! Paaaak!
Colliding spear qi scattered, gouging the platform floor.
A deadlock.
"Wow!"
"Such high-level spearwork!"
"Ak Su-jeon makes sense, but that Ice Palace expert is incredible too?"
"Not yielding an inch to the Ak Family Spear Art. Might even hit harder, power-wise..."
"If a mere subordinate is this strong, how monstrous is their Young Palace Lord?"
It looked even, but Seol Hwa-un and a few masters noticed the scales tipping slightly.
Ak Su-jeon's face twisted a bit more with each clash.
Eom Mu-hwi, watching tensely, relaxed a fraction.
*Injury from the initial clash, probably. Ten more exchanges, and Ho-won takes control.*
Ak Su-jeon sensed it too, anxiety flickering across his face. He went for broke.
"Yaaap!"
Kuaaaa!
His spear spun fiercely outward—the Ak Family Spear Art's ultimate technique, Wind Cloud Vortex Dragon.
It filled the platform with spear shadows, a stunning move, but Dong Ho-won didn't panic.
*Telegraphing it like that? No thanks.*
Frontally clashing would be folly. He twisted aside, evading the core.
Simultaneously, he unleashed Winter Family Soul-Falling Spear's Soul-Falling Tiger Assault.
Paaa!
"......!"
A corner of Wind Cloud Vortex Dragon shattered against the Snow Flower Spear.
The technique wasn't fully broken, so Dong Ho-won took some hit, but nothing compared to a direct strike on Ak Su-jeon.
*I win!*
In that instant, two figures suddenly appeared on the platform.