Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Heaven, Earth, and Man
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"Come to think of it, I don't know much about you at all, Brother."
Dan Hyeong-u glanced at Jo Seol-yeon when she said that. There was nothing he was hiding. No one had simply asked him about it before.
Jo Seol-yeon cautiously gauged his reaction. Then she carefully opened her mouth.
"Could you tell me about yourself, Brother? I want to know more."
"What are you curious about?"
At Dan Hyeong-u's question, Jo Seol-yeon hesitated for a moment. Now that he'd asked directly, it wasn't easy to answer right away. The first thing that came to mind was whether there was a woman he had his eye on, but she couldn't ask that.
"M-M-Martial arts."
Jo Seol-yeon blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. It was his martial arts. Once the words were out, she genuinely grew curious about Dan Hyeong-u's techniques. No, she wanted to know the limits of his power.
Dan Hyeong-u fell silent at her question. Jo Seol-yeon took it as a refusal. On second thought, prying into someone else's martial arts was a grave breach of etiquette.
"Ah, s-s-sorry. I didn't mean to ask something so awkward..."
Dan Hyeong-u shook his head and spoke.
"The sword styles I use come down to three: Heavenly Thunder, Earth Dragon, and Human Soul."
As Dan Hyeong-u began to speak, Jo Seol-yeon held her breath and listened intently. One of her curiosities was about to be satisfied. She knew his swordsmanship consisted of three forms, but this was the first time she'd heard about the third one.
Dan Hyeong-u met Jo Seol-yeon's eyes as he drew his sword. Then he struck downward.
Flash!
A single bolt of lightning crashed down. It was the Heavenly Thunder she'd seen countless times before.
"This is Heavenly Thunder. It shatters and repels."
With that, Dan Hyeong-u swung his sword this time.
Rumble!
The ground split deeply, and a mass of qi surged forth from underground, writhing forward like a dragon burrowing through the earth.
Boom!
The Earth Dragon Dan Hyeong-u had unleashed obliterated the training ground's wall. Debris from the shattered stone soared high into the sky. The sheer power in each fragment sent the surrounding air and qi into wild turmoil.
"This is Earth Dragon. It contains."
Jo Seol-yeon couldn't comprehend Dan Hyeong-u's explanations at all. She could sort of grasp that Heavenly Thunder shattered things, but what did it mean for Earth Dragon to "contain"?
"And Human Soul is..."
Dan Hyeong-u raised his sword, then glanced at the crowd filling the training ground and sheathed it again.
"Can't demonstrate it here."
He muttered that and looked at Jo Seol-yeon.
"That's my martial arts."
Jo Seol-yeon looked momentarily flustered. But she soon smiled and nodded.
"Got it."
She hadn't understood his explanations, but she could feel his sincerity. It felt like receiving a profound gift from the heart.
"Thank you, Brother."
Dan Hyeong-u gave a faint smile at her words.
Everyone in the training ground watched the two with dazed expressions. In their line of sight was the training ground wall that Dan Hyeong-u had pulverized into dust.
Hyeong Pyo headed toward the training ground with a grave expression. The Heavenly Demon and Illusion Demon were still in the reception hall. They showed no intention of leaving for days. Their goal was to meet Jo Seol-yeon.
"Why on earth does the young lady..."
What they wanted wasn't the Sword Demon—it was Jo Seol-yeon. Not the Henan Escort Bureau, but Jo Seol-yeon. It was incomprehensible.
What could the Heavenly Demon of the world possibly lack that he wanted Jo Seol-yeon?
"If it's a beautiful woman he wants, there are plenty of others, so why her..."
Even as he said it, Hyeong Pyo didn't believe the Heavenly Demon simply desired a pretty face. Yet there was no other apparent reason for him to want Jo Seol-yeon.
"It's not like he wants the Henan Escort Bureau either."
The Heavenly Demon was the world's greatest expert, the one who slew the Demon Emperor. That was the hottest rumor making the rounds these days. And he was the lord of Heavenly Demon Fortress. Even the Heavenly Illusion Merchant Group belonged to him, so a mere escort bureau wouldn't catch his eye.
The Henan Escort Bureau wasn't all that special without the Sword Demon and Sword King, after all.
No matter how logically he pondered it, Hyeong Pyo couldn't figure out the Heavenly Demon's intentions.
"In any case, no need to provoke them, so I have to bring the young lady to them..."
Hyeong Pyo couldn't defy the Heavenly Demon's words. A single display of his power would reduce the Henan Escort Bureau to rubble in moments. Not even with the Sword King and Sword Demon could they hold out. How could they withstand the hordes of demons from Heavenly Demon Fortress?
Of course, if the Martial Alliance intervened, things might differ, but the Heavenly Demon Fortress's might could wipe out a single escort bureau before the Alliance even noticed.
Dan Hyeong-u crossed Hyeong Pyo's mind, but he figured even Dan couldn't stand against Heavenly Demon Fortress. Any reasonable person would think the same.
If Hyeong Pyo had continued traveling with Dan Hyeong-u, he might have thought differently. Even without witnessing Dan subjugating the Heavenly Demon, just seeing what happened at the Moyong Family would have given him confidence. But no one had told Hyeong Pyo about those events—not even Jong Chil. So he couldn't make a proper judgment.
"Still, with Great Hero Dan here, protecting the young lady should be no issue."
Hyeong Pyo could only rely on Dan Hyeong-u. Jo Seol-yeon had to meet the Heavenly Demon; it was the path to saving both the bureau and her.
Dan Hyeong-u could surely protect her even if thrown before the Heavenly Demon. But if Dan upset him, things could turn dire. Hyeong Pyo resolved to earnestly plead with Dan.
Lost in his worries, he soon arrived at the training ground. He sighed and stepped inside—then froze at the sight before him.
"Wh-what is..."
The training ground was a total wreck. One wall had vanished entirely, and the sturdy stone floor looked like a thunderclap bomb had detonated on it.
There were plenty of people around, but not a single one was training. They were all staring at one spot, where Dan Hyeong-u and Jo Seol-yeon stood.
"Ah, the Bureau Chief is here."
Jo Seol-yeon spotted Hyeong Pyo's blank expression and spoke up. Only then did eyes turn toward him.
"The training ground got a bit damaged."
She smiled apologetically, and Hyeong Pyo could only manage a wry grin.
"No worries—we can rebuild it. We were planning to expand it anyway."
He glanced at Jo Seol-yeon and Dan Hyeong-u, then hesitantly spoke.
"That aside... you have a guest, young lady."
"A guest? Who?"
"It's hard to say here."
"Then let's go."
Reading Hyeong Pyo's expression, Jo Seol-yeon realized it wasn't an ordinary visitor and nodded, taking the lead.
As she moved, Hyeong Pyo urgently turned to Dan Hyeong-u.
"It might be best if you came along too..."
Dan Hyeong-u gave a slight nod. It didn't matter where he was.
Thus, Hyeong Pyo successfully escorted Dan Hyeong-u and Jo Seol-yeon to the reception hall where the Heavenly Demon waited.
The Heavenly Demon and Illusion Demon froze upon seeing Jo Seol-yeon and Dan Hyeong-u. They hadn't expected Dan to come along.
The Heavenly Demon glared at Hyeong Pyo.
Hyeong Pyo startled at the look and backed away.
"Then I'll take my leave. Please talk."
As Hyeong Pyo hurriedly exited, the Heavenly Demon ground his teeth inwardly. But he'd half-expected this. Jo Seol-yeon and Dan Hyeong-u were close, after all—they might come together.
'That guy's definitely trying to screw me over.'
Hyeong Pyo didn't know the exact relationship between the Heavenly Demon and Dan Hyeong-u. But neither the Heavenly Demon nor Illusion Demon believed that. Otherwise, why bring Dan all the way here?
"I never imagined the esteemed senior visiting me would be you."
Jo Seol-yeon's voice quietly filled the room. The Heavenly Demon snapped back to attention. Their purpose here had to be fulfilled, no matter what.
"It's been a while."
His tone was curt. He had no choice, steadying his nerves shaken by Dan Hyeong-u's presence.
Whether she sensed his turmoil or not, Jo Seol-yeon smiled and bowed.
"In any case, welcome to our Henan Escort Bureau. What brings you? Surely not to work as an escort like Sword Demon Senior."
Her lighthearted jest eased the tension for the Heavenly Demon and Illusion Demon. If even this young girl was so composed, how could they remain on edge?
The Illusion Demon felt the need to shift the mood.
"If you wish to hire us as escorts, we can do that."
Jo Seol-yeon's expression hardened slightly. His words didn't sound like a joke.
The Illusion Demon continued, watching her face.
"The Fortress Lord and I came because we have a request."
Jo Seol-yeon tensed, waiting. The Illusion Demon paused dramatically before speaking.
"We're planning to gather the demons of Shin-gang and Blue Sea to form a cult."
"A cult?"
"Exactly—a gathering that believes in and follows the Demon God."
"Demon God?"
Following a Demon God sounded ominous enough. And if this united the demons, disaster would follow. The Martial Alliance and sects kept demonic unrest in check partly due to the Demon Prohibition Art, but mostly because they never banded together.
United, their power would be immense—unstoppable by anyone.
Jo Seol-yeon suppressed her trembling heart. This couldn't be allowed. No matter what they asked, she couldn't comply.
"That's why we've come to ask."
"Wh-what could I possibly do? And you know I can't grant whatever it is."
Any ties to Heavenly Demon Fortress meant no place in the martial world. She'd become a public enemy, forced to vanish. With Dan Hyeong-u, they might endure, but the damage to everyone would be too great.
She even wondered if that was their aim.
"Do you know who our Demon God is?"
"Pardon? What do you mean? N-no way...!"
Jo Seol-yeon gasped at the Illusion Demon's sudden words and looked at Dan Hyeong-u.
"That's right. Great Hero Dan is the one who can fulfill all demons' dreams. No surprise if he's called the Demon God."
Stunned, Jo Seol-yeon couldn't respond at first. But she quickly calmed herself, regaining composure—a shift that inwardly impressed the Illusion Demon and Heavenly Demon.
"Why would Brother Dan have to do that? He's not one to grant requests."
"But if you asked, Miss Jo, he would."
The Illusion Demon glanced at Dan Hyeong-u. Without him here, persuasion would be easier, but caution was needed.
Dan Hyeong-u stood silently, expression and posture unchanged. His thoughts were unreadable.
The Illusion Demon pressed on, seeing no reaction.
"What we want is simple. Ten per year would suffice."
"Ten?"
"Just free ten from the Demon Prohibition Art each year."
Jo Seol-yeon grasped their scheme. They planned to rally demons using the Demon Prohibition Art as bait.
"Using the Demon Prohibition Art to unite the demons? How long will that last?"
She spoke skeptically, but the Illusion Demon smiled.
"Freeing it is just a supplementary means. It'll be absolute at first, but with other methods, they'll follow willingly in time."
Confidence filled his face. He clearly had a plan. But whether he did or not, it didn't matter. Jo Seol-yeon had no intention of helping.
"In any case, I won't cooperate. I don't want to see the martial world's peace shattered."
The Illusion Demon's expression grew heavy.
"If you truly wish for peace in the martial world, you must help. If we don't unite the demons now, disaster looms. Or rather, it's on the verge of exploding."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. The demons of Shin-gang and Blue Sea are at their patience's limit. They're cowering now due to the Demon Prohibition Art, but they'll move soon enough."