Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Debt from 200 Years Ago (3)
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There's a saying that even if a rich family falls into ruin, three generations will remain prosperous.
That adage held true for Blazing Flower Hall in Henan Murim as well, a faction that had ballooned in size thanks to the full backing of the Heavenly Demon and the Demonic Cult.
Though its momentum had stalled with the sealing of the First Heavenly Demon and Shaolin Temple's revocation of its closed-door policy and resurgence, it had solidified its position as the second greatest power in the vast Henan Murim.
Thanks to that, resources were plentiful, and there was never any worry of sudden raids. Blazing Flower Hall's coffers were always ample.
"Hall Lord. How shall we handle this year's ancestral rite?"
Deputy Hall Lord Tae In-geol of Blazing Flower Hall asked.
For any major faction with deep roots, it was customary to hold an ancestral rite to honor the spirits of the founding lord up to the most recently deceased lord, praying for their blessings upon the current descendants.
This rite varied by tradition—Buddhist sects followed Buddhist rites, Daoist ones Daoist rites—but lately, it had become the norm to conduct them in a simplified manner.
"I'd prefer to keep it simple this time..."
Hall Lord Chu Jeong-yong looked reluctant, but it just so happened that Blazing Flower Hall's retired veteran experts—the elderly elders of the Elders' Hall—made it tricky.
"Sure, simplified rites may be the trend, but we're not some broke outfit. We can't just skip it,"
"Exactly. We should make it as grand as before, gathering everyone from the Elders' Hall down to the youngest disciples to perform the rite properly."
As expected, the elders who held fast to customs and rites wouldn't let it slide.
"Ahem. If the elders insist, then we'll follow suit."
Chu Jeong-yong wasn't thrilled deep down, but the rite only happened about once a year, and it wasn't overly expensive, so he decided to bear the hassle.
"Understood. Oh!"
As Tae In-geol turned to leave upon receiving the order...
"The one behind that letter demanding the debt from 200 years ago still hasn't shown up?"
Since that bizarre letter arrived, Tae In-geol had been swamped with duties as deputy hall lord, too busy to follow up.
"What? Debt from 200 years ago?"
"What's that about?"
More than Chu Jeong-yong himself, the elderly elders behind him perked up, tilting their heads curiously.
The oldest among them, those nearing a century from the Elders' Hall, even flinched and shuddered in shock.
"Deputy."
Seeing the elders' reactions, Chu Jeong-yong shot Tae In-geol a subtle look of displeasure.
'Oops, my mistake.'
Tae In-geol realized it wasn't the right moment to bring it up and acknowledged his slip.
"No, forget I said anything. I'll get straight to preparing the rite."
"I'll come with you."
To escape the troublesome old fogeys in the back, Tae In-geol and Chu Jeong-yong hurriedly left the room.
"Hmmm."
Eul Seung-je, the supreme elder of the Elders' Hall and Blazing Flower Hall's eldest at over a century old, stared at their retreating backs, lost in thought.
'No way... surely not?'
Harboring a faint suspicion, he stood a moment before heading to the small hall housing portraits from the first hall lord to the most recent deceased ones, to prepare for the imminent rite.
Eul Seung-je gazed upon them in order, from past hall lords back to the founder.
No matter how old Eul Seung-je was, he had never seen or learned from the first hall lord over 200 years ago.
But as his surname suggested, he was a descendant of Eul Baek-hyeon.
"Founding Hall Lord."
Eul Seung-je called out to the portrait.
But the dead made no reply.
"Deputy Hall Lord. The preparations for the rite are complete."
By afternoon, Blazing Flower Hall buzzed with activity as preparations for an especially lavish rite brought in flowers and sacrificial texts of all kinds.
"Good. Just to be safe..."
As Tae In-geol oversaw the rite, something nagged at him.
The recent letter.
Just in case, he repeatedly instructed his subordinates.
"Double the guard detail from usual."
"Y-Yes? Double, sir?"
The subordinate looked up at Tae In-geol in alarm.
And understandably so—on the day of a faction's ancestral rite, even bitter enemies refrained from touching them, such was the respected tradition.
For Blazing Flower Hall, fearing no one in Henan Province save Shaolin Temple, who could they possibly be guarding against?
"Yes. Got it?"
"Understood."
The subordinate didn't get it but followed orders anyway, as superiors' commands often defied logic.
'Trouble always strikes on days like this. But as long as I'm here... no mishaps during the rite.'
This being his first rite as deputy hall lord, Tae In-geol poured his heart into it.
Of course, with guards doubled beyond usual...
"Hall Lord. During the rite, I'll stand watch at the main hall entrance."
Tae In-geol volunteered to guard the main hall where the rite would unfold.
"What? Skipping the rite?"
"Got a bad feeling."
"Don't tell me... because of that weird letter?"
"Well..."
"Hahaha!"
Chu Jeong-yong burst into laughter, amused by Tae In-geol's heightened sensitivity.
"It's been 200 years already. The name Demonic Cult is now met with scorn and ridicule, and the once-great title of Heavenly Demon is claimed by worthless bandit upstarts. Even if Demonic Cult remnants showed up, what could they do?"
Chu Jeong-yong had a point.
The Demonic Cult had gone beyond scorn to outright mockery.
Which was the path to total oblivion, indifference overtaking fear and loathing.
"You know my personality. This is my first rite since promotion, an important event. I want to eliminate even the slightest variable."
Chu Jeong-yong nodded, unable to argue.
"Fine. But join us at the main hall just before it ends to help close it out. Got it?"
"Yes, I'll do that."
Chu Jeong-yong gave Tae In-geol one last look, chuckled, and departed.
Soon after, Blazing Flower Hall's ancestral rite began.
As the Elders' Hall veterans wished, from the supreme elder to the youngest disciples, every member was mobilized.
Of course, the warriors on guard duty and Deputy Hall Lord Tae In-geol were temporarily excused, awaiting the rite's peaceful conclusion.
"Now, I will read the sacrificial text."
The rite proceeded smoothly: red paper burned, followed by Supreme Elder Eul Seung-je's reading.
'Was I worrying over nothing?'
Tae In-geol sighed in relief; no intruder, not even an ant, stirred.
Just to check, he passed the main hall entrance toward the gate bearing Blazing Flower Hall's plaque.
"Deputy Hall Lord!"
The guards snapped to attention, bowing crisply at the high-ranking arrival.
"All clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
With the gate quiet too, Tae In-geol fully relaxed, chiding his own paranoia.
'I was foolish.'
Embarrassed at overreacting to some prank letter, he decided—as Hall Lord Chu Jeong-yong suggested—to attend before the end and grace the event.
The moment he turned back toward the main hall entrance...
"Hey? Who are you?"
Astonishingly, during his brief absence, a young stranger approached the main hall entrance he'd just been guarding.
At first, he thought maybe a young Blazing Flower Hall expert late to the rite, but shook his head.
'Even venerable elders aren't tolerated for lateness or absence.'
Much less such a youth.
And above all, a face he'd never seen. So Chu Jeong-yong tensed,
Smooth!
resting one arm casually on his saber hilt.
Ready to draw at any moment.
"You don't recognize me?"
The youth, young enough to be Tae In-geol's nephew, strode forward with brazen confidence, making Tae In-geol wonder if he'd overlooked him.
"I sent the letter. Here to collect the debt from 200 years ago."
"Gasp! No way!"
Tae In-geol finally realized the weirdo behind the letter had appeared, exhaling in shocked dismay.
His worst fears realized.
"H-How did you get in here? The gates were heavily guarded!"
Tae In-geol was baffled.
He'd confirmed the gate guards intact mere moments ago.
Less than time for a cup of tea had passed since chatting with them and returning.
"There were plenty."
"What?"
"Words didn't work, so I knocked them out."
"You madman!"
That many guards, taken out in under a tea's time?
Unbelievable—yet it explained the youth's intrusion.
Finally sensing the crisis from this unknown young warrior, Tae In-geol drew his blade, unleashing Blazing Flower Hall's signature blazing martial art.
Flame Flower Heaven and Earth
Flame Spirit Saber Art
Tae In-geol unleashed two specialties with the Flame Spirit Saber Art.
The first was the blazing inferno any Blazing Flower Hall expert displayed—pure utmost yang martial art.
The second was...
Whoosh!
His self-ignited flames were laid sideways by his absurdly swift motion, the razor-sharp saber wind surging toward the handsome youth.
In other words, an impeccable perfect strike: quick-draw saber art beyond reproach, ferocious, augmented by roaring flames.
'Got him!'
Even as he struck, Tae In-geol grinned in satisfaction—until
Grab!
To his horror, the youth's arm twisted bizarrely, bare-handedly seizing Tae In-geol's blazing, blindingly fast blade?
Bare-handed!
"Wh-what in the..."
His focused attack caught bare-handed.
The implication was clear.
The foe outclassed him by at least one realm—no, three or four.
The real shock came next.
Crunch!
The young warrior gripped Tae In-geol's saber with one hand, nonchalantly seized his hair with the other,
Whoosh!
and hurled him skyward like heavy luggage.
Tae In-geol hurtled straight into the heart of Blazing Flower Hall's main hall, amid the ongoing rite.
The one toying bare-handed with peerless elite Tae In-geol was, naturally, the First Heavenly Demon, Gunryong.
"Go tell them. I've come to collect the debt from 200 years ago."