Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: No Longer Alone
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The Heavenly Island that had been procured was merely a tiny fraction of what Cheon Yeong could have obtained. Even that much couldn't change its current owner.
'At least I've succeeded in burying the traces of the Heavenly Qi Master on the surface...'
No one knew how Jegal Rin had learned of it, but Cheon Yeong had to prevent Dan Hyeong-u's name from spreading far and wide.
When the Defeated Dragon had fallen in the past, it was Cheon Yeong who manipulated events to keep the rumors from spreading. This was a directive from the Assembly, one that had to be followed without question.
The Assembly and the Heavenly Qi Master were like water and oil. For some reason, the Assembly seemed wary of Dan Hyeong-u, one of the weapons created by the Heavenly Qi Master. The movements of the Bird-Rat Party made that much clear.
'Hmm, the Heavenly Qi Master...'
It made him newly appreciate just how extraordinary the man was.
'Still, he can't compare to that one. No one in the world can match my one and only lord.'
A chilling smile crept across Cheon Yeong's lips. Pae Yeop continued to gaze at him with eyes full of reverence.
The group moved along in silence. Jegal Rin and Dan Hyeong-u led the way at the front, with the others following behind. This time, even Umun Hye had to hang back a little, unable to walk at Dan Hyeong-u's side.
"Young Escort Dan, what is your true identity?"
Jegal Rin asked as if she couldn't hold it in any longer. Dan Hyeong-u paused in thought for a moment before speaking.
"Escort."
Jegal Rin nodded, her expression still stern. It was the answer she'd fully expected. But not the one she wanted.
"Do you really like being an escort that much?"
Dan Hyeong-u nodded at her question.
"I like it a lot."
In the end, Jegal Rin could only shake her head.
"You're truly hopeless."
She couldn't understand it, but Dan Hyeong-u genuinely loved the escort trade. It was the first job he'd taken upon entering the world, it was something he could do easily, it let him meet all sorts of people, and it allowed him to travel everywhere. Above all, it was so peaceful.
Jegal Rin quickened her pace a bit. In any case, they were now inevitably drawn into the fray with the Demonic Alliance. The Martial Alliance would surely move as well, so relations were irrelevant anyway.
The only regret was that she couldn't fight alongside Dan Hyeong-u. It had been planned from the start, of course. Dan Hyeong-u would move with the group, just without stepping forward to fight.
Neither the Righteous Heaven Alliance nor Jegal Rin wanted Dan Hyeong-u's name to grow too prominent. It wasn't logical thinking—uncharacteristic for her, more of a spur-of-the-moment impulse. Somehow, it just felt like Dan Hyeong-u was better off staying as he was.
Jegal Rin glanced at Dan Hyeong-u. She tilted her head. She had no idea why she felt that way, but to her, it mattered a great deal.
This was the first time she'd handled things based on a hunch. And she'd gone through so much trouble overstepping her authority, all for a mere feeling.
"By the way, you've become the undisputed owner of the Heavenly Island now."
Jegal Rin suddenly remarked to Yeom Hye-mi. Yeom Hye-mi clutched the Heavenly Island tighter and nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Let's hurry."
At Jegal Rin's words, the group's steps quickened. They had to focus on business until the clash with the Demonic Alliance. There was much to do before then. A subtle tension began to settle over their hearts.
Volume 7
Demonic Alliance
Dan Hyeong-u stood still, watching Yeom Hye-mi swing the Heavenly Island. It had been several days now of this unchanging routine.
Over the past few days, as he observed her, Dan Hyeong-u had done a great deal of thinking. About himself, and about the people he'd formed bonds with.
From the folk at the Evil Family Manor in Sichuan to those at the Henan Escort Bureau, and now the ones sharing this inn with him—he pondered his connections to them all.
Those bonds sometimes bound him, sometimes set him free. They brought him joy at times, and tugged at his heart at others.
In the recent clash with the Righteous Heaven Alliance, he hadn't actually needed to hold back. He could have won even if they'd fought. He had that much power. Protecting his companions while wiping out the Righteous Heaven Alliance would have been entirely feasible.
But he hadn't. He'd taken Jegal Rin's advice and followed her lead. Because everyone wanted it that way. Now, though, he truly believed it had been the right choice.
That was the path to preserving bonds. The way to maintain relationships. Dan Hyeong-u had no desire to sever the ties he'd formed with these people.
During those long years alone, he'd been lonely without realizing it. But now he could feel that loneliness. Only now did he understand how deep it had run. He never wanted to feel it again.
And he never would have to.
Jo Seol-yeon's face came to mind, her teary eyes shining as she smiled brightly. Then Ak Bi-hwan's face, watching him depart with a faint smile.
I'm not alone anymore.
Dan Hyeong-u looked up at the sky. A vast blue expanse filled his vision. After gazing at it for a moment, he lowered his head.
There was no longer any need to cling to the blue sky. The sky was no longer gray. Not now, and not ever again.
Dan Hyeong-u smiled brightly. It was the most radiant smile he'd ever worn.
After lingering in that smile for a bit, he turned to look at Yeom Hye-mi. She was still swinging the Heavenly Island. She had entered a near-trance state.
It was impossible to tell whether she was wielding the blade or the blade was wielding her—she was utterly lost in the swing.
Dan Hyeong-u nodded. The basic goal had been achieved. From here on, it was up to her. With another nod, he turned and entered his room.
Yeom Hye-mi didn't even notice him leave. She never had, whether he was there or not. Right now, her mind was consumed solely with swinging the Heavenly Island.
The rising earthly energy clashed repeatedly with the energy born from the Heavenly Island. To be precise, the energy from the Heavenly Island came from the heavens.
The Heavenly Island absorbed heavenly energy, which collided with the earthly energy rising through Yeom Hye-mi's body.
And those collisions birthed thunder qi.
At first, the thunder qi coursed from her soles up her back and out through the crown of her head. But now, it simply erupted within her body. The thrilling, ecstatic sensation was utterly addictive.
Yeom Hye-mi didn't want to stop swinging. She couldn't.
How long had it gone on? She felt as if she'd become a bolt of lightning herself. As if her entire body was one massive strike surging toward the heavens.
Crackle!
Rumble!
A brilliant flash erupted. Thunder reverberated through the surroundings.
In that instant, Yeom Hye-mi's mind went blank white.
Demonic Alliance Leader Gal Cheon-ak sat in a massive chair, eyeing the subordinates arrayed before him. They truly seemed reliable. Yet guilt gnawed at him as well. Their skin was gradually darkening. They too had become Black Warriors.
They knew that upon death, Black Warriors became materials for Iron Golems—and they'd chosen it anyway. Stronger individuals yielded far mightier golems.
Gal Cheon-ak glanced at his own hands. They too were turning pitch-black. He had become a Black Warrior.
"There's nowhere left to retreat, nor any need to. When you fall, I'll use your flesh for vengeance."
His subordinates bowed respectfully at his words. Since becoming Black Warriors, they spoke as little as possible. These men were both Black Warriors and commanders.
Naturally, they required even more profound arts, which made them stronger still.
While they'd fallen for the Golden Lotus's scheme and bled in battle with the Sword King, they'd been ambushed and nearly annihilated.
Not just decimated—virtually massacred. Not only their comrades, but their families too, all slaughtered. The Golden Lotus had been utterly ruthless.
Gal Cheon-ak and the surviving Demonic Alliance warriors had fled with their lives, grinding their teeth in thirst for revenge. They were willing to burn their souls for it.
'That's when he appeared.'
A man had emerged before Gal Cheon-ak, teetering on death's edge. He'd opened a path to vengeance. Gal Cheon-ak still didn't know the man's identity—only that he hailed from the "Assembly."
He didn't even know what kind of assembly. They simply called it the Assembly.
From the Assembly, Gal Cheon-ak had gained immense power. At the cost of his flesh.
Over a thousand Demonic Alliance survivors had made it out with him. Not all were martial artists—some were mere family members.
But all were driven by a single burning desire for revenge. No one hesitated. Thus, they all became Black Warriors.
Few knew the Black Warriors' ultimate fate. Those who did were gathered here now. Most would refuse if they knew their bodies would become golems. But the hatred and thirst for revenge burned too fiercely in Gal Cheon-ak and his men to let it go.
"First, we must fulfill the three orders from the Assembly. Only one remains."
Gal Cheon-ak surveyed his subordinates. Those present were still intact, but many Black Warriors had perished. They were being reborn as Iron Golems. Soon, the third batch would be complete.
The first Iron Golems had raided the Righteous Heaven Alliance on the Assembly's second command. The second batch remained pristine—far stronger than the first. Once the third emerged, they'd carry out the final order.
Some parts of that order were welcome even to Gal Cheon-ak.
"Shatter the Golden Lotus. Crush the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Martial Alliance."
His grim voice echoed through the hall. The eyes of every man present gleamed with feral anticipation for the carnage to come.
On the deck of a massive ship floating on Lake Dongting, two men sat facing each other, leisurely playing go.
It was a windy day, the ship rocking fiercely, but the go board didn't budge an inch. Nor did the players, utterly focused on the game.
One was a kindly-faced elder, the other a handsome young man. The elder looked ancient beyond reckoning, the youth barely in his twenties.
Behind the elder stood a man in rigid stance. A faint bloodlust shimmered in his eyes, guarding the elder with a readiness to lay down his life.
"You've improved greatly, heh heh heh."
The elder—Blood Demon—chuckled heartily toward the man. The latter bowed politely from his seated position.
"Hardly. It's all thanks to Your Lord's leniency."
Their exchange hinted at the game's outcome. Blood Shadow, standing behind the Blood Demon, stared at the man in surprise.
The one playing go against the Blood Demon was Moon Shadow, one of his elite shadows.
Moon Shadow was one of the three permitted to face the Blood Demon directly. The youngest among his shadows, and the one with the greatest expectations.
The Blood Demon always met Moon Shadow atop Lake Dongting. And they always played go. Hitherto, Moon Shadow had always lost—but today, he'd finally surpassed him.
"What use is my leniency? You've exceeded my expectations. Keep up the momentum."
"I shall remember that."
Moon Shadow bowed deeply.
Silence fell. The mood shifted. The Blood Demon let the heavy atmosphere settle over the deck before speaking.
"You've confirmed the new formation's power. As expected of one designed solely for Iron Golems—its might is formidable."
Moon Shadow merely bowed silently. When the mood grew this grave, it was best to listen without speaking. The Blood Demon was his benefactor, yet an unfathomable man.
"Adapt it for human deployment. Its power must not diminish."
"As you command."
The Blood Demon nodded with a benevolent smile at Moon Shadow's response.
"Good. I trust you'll succeed. The Assembly's future hinges on your achievements. Never grow arrogant or lax. Understood?"
"I shall remember that."
Satisfied, the Blood Demon nodded and flicked his hand.
"Go now."
With those words, Moon Shadow vanished. He had already left the ship, gliding across Lake Dongting like a shadow. It was peerless lightness skill at its peak.
"His martial arts are impressive too, aren't they?"
Blood Shadow bowed at the Blood Demon's question.
"Indeed. Moon Shadow has a knack for astonishing people every time."
"Exactly. That's why I place such hopes on him."