Chapter 88
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Kunlun's Secret History
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Choe Eun-seon, who had personally slain Wi Jong-myeong, the leader of the Yellow Sect, retrieved a single scripture from that place.
The very first line of that scripture read Jade Emperor Scripture.
The Yellow Scripture was originally a text said to grant immortality, serving as the foundational scripture for all Daoist sects.
Yet Daoists who attained the dao through it were exceedingly rare.
Choe Eun-seon himself, yearning to become an immortal, had kept the Yellow Scripture tucked under his arm day in and day out, but that realm had always seemed impossibly distant.
Just as exhaustion led him to abandon his pursuit of enlightenment, the Jade Emperor Scripture fell into his hands.
The Jade Emperor Scripture resembled the Yellow Scripture in many ways, yet differed in others.
"It seems Senior Choe devoted himself to the Jade Emperor Scripture almost to the point of forgoing food and sleep. Moreover, even I still don't know how that scripture ended up in the hands of Chu Nok-san, his disciple. However, one thing is certain: it soured relations between Senior Choe and Chu Nok-san, the foremost disciple among Kunlun's Twenty-Four Guardians. One morning, Chu Nok-san was found as a cold corpse in his room, and Senior Choe vanished without a trace. Imagine the turmoil that gripped Kunlun after that. They buried the incident and spread rumors that Senior Choe had gone into seclusion."
The jianghu's secret history spilled from Yeong-gae's lips, reaching the ears of the younger disciples.
Mid-story, Yeong-gae abruptly held out his empty cup.
Clink, clink...
Myeong-gak refilled it as if he'd been waiting.
"So what happened next, Elder?"
Myeong-gak leaned forward, showing keen interest, and Yeong-gae feigned irritation.
"Suddenly, I just want to smack that face of yours."
Myeong-gak hastily pulled back.
"Do you believe Senior Choe killed his disciple Chu Nok-san?"
Yeong-gae, who had been glaring at Myeong-gak, nodded at my question.
"Us old-timers like me, the Divine Monk, and Illyangja see it that way. It's certain."
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Yeong-gae drained his cup and held out the empty vessel to me.
As I reached to refill it, he shook his head.
"Take it."
I accepted the empty cup from Yeong-gae.
He then filled it with liquor.
"Since Senior Choe died here, Kunlun will surely come looking. When they ask you about his final moments, tell them this: the disciple who fell into the Demonic Scripture chose death himself, and his master, unable to bear it, entered the Demonic Scripture and emerged."
"You're asking me to tell them he chose death himself?"
"It's a request from this beggar."
I pondered why Yeong-gae would make such a request.
Probably for Kunlun's honor.
But his next words proved my guess wrong.
"After Chu Nok-san's death and Senior Choe's disappearance, Kunlun's Twenty-Four Guardians wandered aimlessly for years and still haven't recovered from the shock. Naturally so. They must have suspected their master killed his disciple and fled Kunlun."
I could only nod.
"You want to save them even now, don't you?"
I drained my cup, handed the empty one to Yeong-gae, and refilled it.
Taking this as permission, his expression softened slightly.
"You lot must remember what you heard today."
The younger disciples bowed their heads, accepting the command-like plea.
"No need to worry, Elder."
"We'll take it to our graves."
Having finished his business, Yeong-gae called Myeong-gak over and requested a bottle of liquor.
Swaying along with bottle in hand, he suddenly turned to Myeong-gak and Cheongpung standing side by side.
"Your masters have returned to the main sect."
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung looked utterly crestfallen.
"How could that be... Namu Amida Butsu, Guan Yin Bodhisattva."
"How could Master abandon this disciple here and leave?"
Yeong-gae shook his head at their antics.
"Your eyes aren't fooling anyone, you scoundrels of the world."
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung flushed and hung their heads.
Tsking at them, Yeong-gae turned to Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye.
"Your fathers have gone too, so bear that in mind. I dissuaded them from seeing you and sent them back."
"Thank you, Elder."
Yeong-gae raised his bottle in lieu of a reply and headed for the gate.
"Don't see me off."
"Yes. Safe travels."
"I'll drop by again. Oh, and in a few days, a wild young punk will show up—treat him well."
A wild young punk?
The younger disciples seemed to have a guess who Yeong-gae meant.
"Who did the elder mean?"
Myeong-gak answered with a sour face.
"Hahou Yeong of the Hahou family. About three years ago, he ran away from home and wandered the jianghu. Seems he has ties to the elder."
"Hahou Yeong?"
"The guy's so feral he never stays put long, and his temper's foul—no real friends."
The younger disciples clearly weren't thrilled about Hahou Yeong.
"Sounds like you."
"Don't talk nonsense. Compared to him, I'm a gentleman."
I brushed off Myeong-gak's retort and headed inside.
Now it was time to meet the Great Heavenly Demon.
"Come out! I said come out...!"
No matter how much I yelled, the Great Heavenly Demon didn't show.
"You demon bastard! Get out here now!"
My words grew harsher, curses spilling out.
Yet the Great Heavenly Demon still didn't appear.
"Damn demon son of a...!"
Before, I would've unleashed a torrent of filth.
But strangely, I didn't want to now.
No, something held me back.
It wasn't fear of repercussions.
Hoo...
Exhausted, I let out a long sigh.
"Whatever... thanks for protecting my body..."
I never thought I'd thank that demon bastard.
Startled, the Great Heavenly Demon began faintly manifesting.
"What... did you just say?"
I sat on the bed, looking up at the Great Heavenly Demon now before me.
Kukukuku...
"Finally showing your face."
The Great Heavenly Demon's surprised expression twisted ferociously at the unexpected words.
"You worm! Dare mock me?"
He seemed genuinely furious.
I slowly shook my head.
"No. I was angry, but the thanks were sincere."
His hair, standing on end, and thick brows gradually settled.
The Great Heavenly Demon quietly gazed down at me.
But his complexion was poor.
His face was darker than usual, and the glow in his eyes had dulled.
"Are you unwell?"
Kkekkeuk...
"Me?"
He forced his usual laugh, but it lacked vigor.
I had a rough idea of the cause.
The answer I'd wanted from summoning him was right there in his state.
"Taking over my body is still too much of a strain, it seems."
The Great Heavenly Demon didn't reply.
Instead, he brought up something else.
"Will you heed the old beggar's words?"
"About Kunlun?"
Tsk tsk...
The Great Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue and continued.
"For now, following the beggar saves those Twenty-Four Guardians or whatever, but it'll make things harder for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Fool. That Emei wench, Blue Sound Fairy—she harbors grudge against you. She'll seek revenge."
"I know."
I'd already figured as much.
In my eyes, Emei's Blue Sound Fairy was blinded by prejudice and obstinacy.
She wouldn't let this slide.
The Great Heavenly Demon flared up.
"You know, and you make such sloppy arrangements?"
"No. I'm waiting."
If Blue Sound Fairy tried to kill me, I'd have no choice but to kill her to survive.
Kkekkeuk...
Only then did the Great Heavenly Demon laugh heartily.
"One born with the energy of heavenly slaughter is destined to stand amid carnage. I was, and so shall you be."
"I don't believe in fate."
"Then shall we wager on it?"
"No."
At my firm refusal, the Great Heavenly Demon roared with laughter.
Kuhahaha!
His laughter fading, he dispersed like smoke.
"Rest well."
"Worry about yourself."
I opened my eyes and slowly sat up.
My body felt far lighter than yesterday.
With worries eased, even my body lightened.
Stepping outside, I walked slowly from the house.
Sprouts had just emerged days ago, yet greenery already deepened.
Time truly flows like running water.
After a long walk, I sat on a rock facing east, assuming a meditative posture and closing my eyes.
Myeong-gak emerged first from his room, followed by Cheongpung, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye.
As if by prior agreement, they returned to the rear yard, sat facing the river, and assumed meditation postures.
Myeong-gak, about to close his eyes, suddenly spoke.
"Let's visit Go Un-san before Breath Adjustment and Meditation."
Un-san was always the first to rise.
Today too, Myeong-gak woke to the sound of a door opening.
"Think he'll notice us watching from hiding if we move?"
"He couldn't have gone far. Let's go."
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung stood first, Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye following.
They passed through the gate and entered the woods.
Searching about, they soon spotted a figure seated atop a rock.
Brilliant light and murky darkness intertwined like coiling dragons around Un-san.
His form hovered a chi above the rock.
The younger disciples sat on the ground, watching intently.
Not one dared speak.
Eventually, Un-san's form descended, the swirling light and darkness vanishing.
And the younger disciples who had watched hastily dispersed from the spot.
Kukukuku...
"Failed again, you say? Just what is that brat that even you old monster couldn't handle?"
This called for leading his men personally.
But the timing wasn't right.
Moving now risked internal injuries, which could scatter the energy from the snow lotus elixir.
Yet letting the young expert who killed Choe Eun-seon go gnawed at his pride.
Bam!
Unable to contain his rage, Crimson Moon Great Demon smashed the table before him.
A palm-shaped hole pierced the sturdy blackwood table.
"Shura Venerable has sent someone."
At the voice from outside, Crimson Moon Great Demon quickly calmed his fury.
"Enter."
The door opened, and a plump woman in her mid-forties entered.
"Cheongmae. Why did Shura Demon Emperor send you?"
The woman prostrated herself, bowing her head.
"The Venerable was furious upon hearing of Choe Eun-seon's death."
"And?"
Crimson Moon Great Demon cut in curtly.
"He will hold someone accountable for the death."
"What...?"