Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Leaving Ghost Sword Manor (1)
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Ghost Sword Manor had finally welcomed the Heavenly Demon back alongside the Ghost Palace Corps.
When the Ghost Palace Corps—one of the Demonic Cult's legendary five great powers, known only through tales—arrived at Ghost Sword Manor,
"What? The Ghost Palace Corps is here, and their leader is a direct descendant of the Ghost Palace Ghost King Cheok Dae-yeon?!"
Yang Dae-un, the manor lord of Ghost Sword Manor and a direct descendant of the Loyal Ghost Sword Yang U-ryang, rushed out barefoot in sheer delight.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Manor Lord Yang."
"Nonsense. Treat this place like your own home and make yourselves comfortable."
Yang Dae-un and Cheok Cheon.
Though it was their first meeting, it felt as if they were long-lost brothers reunited after years apart.
This was possible only because of the deep bond passed down through generations.
It was common knowledge that Yang U-ryang and Cheok Dae-yeon had been sworn friends.
"Oho, to think the Yang family of Ghost Sword Manor has flourished like this."
"Dome Green Mountain, was it? It rivals even Anti-Mountain Fortress."
"Impressive!"
The Ghost Palace Corps members, excluding Cheok Cheon, were equally pleased with their new home at Dome Green Mountain and Ghost Sword Manor, displaying the rugged satisfaction of mountain folk.
The Heavenly Demon, having reclaimed both Ghost Sword Manor and now the Ghost Palace Corps, couldn't help but smile.
'We're advancing, slowly but surely.'
His true dream—the reclamation of the Demonic Cult to conquer the Central Plains—was progressing steadily, if gradually, filling him with immense satisfaction.
Moreover, with the Ghost Palace Corps settling into Ghost Sword Manor, one of his lingering concerns was resolved.
That is, what if external invaders struck while he was away?
With the Black-Clothed Palace King Cheok Cheon still in command and the Ghost Palace Corps defending the natural fortress of Dome Green Mountain, who could easily breach it?
Unless one of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans sent a massive force, Ghost Sword Manor was now impregnable.
A few more days passed.
"Gunryong, Lord Chae of Abyss Hall has arrived."
Sogang announced the visit of a now-familiar guest.
It was Chae So-ryeong, the leader of Abyss Hall, known as the Abyss Faceless.
Screeech!
Chae So-ryeong entered Ghost Sword Manor wearing a triumphant smile more smug than ever, even with most of her face concealed by her Thousand Faces Temple veil.
"It was definitely the Ghost Palace Corps, right? I've upheld my end of the bargain."
No sooner had she arrived than she gazed confidently at Gunryong's handsome face.
The reason for her joy was simple.
She had promised to reveal Gunryong's true identity if he located the Ghost Palace Corps for her.
"Now it's your turn to keep your promise, Gunryong."
"Huhu. That happy about it?"
The Heavenly Demon's sharp eyes pierced through the Thousand Faces Temple veil, locking onto Chae So-ryeong's delighted gaze.
Flinch!
For a fleeting moment, the sensation of her innermost thoughts and bare face being laid utterly exposed overwhelmed her joy.
Chae So-ryeong froze stiff.
"Don't worry. I'll keep my word. Besides... Abyss Hall must have some inkling of my identity already."
Though he sometimes showed a playful, immature side, the Heavenly Demon exuded the leisure of one who had once stood above all as the Demonic Cult Leader, towering over Chae So-ryeong and all of Abyss Hall.
"I'll keep the promise. My identity is..."
The Heavenly Demon flashed his signature sly grin.
Chae So-ryeong felt a twinge of foreboding at that smile, and her premonition proved spot on.
"The Heavenly Demon. Gunryong is the Heavenly Demon."
"W-what?!"
Chae So-ryeong had finally learned Gunryong's true identity.
Yet strangely, instead of joy, she looked utterly dumbfounded.
The reason she wasn't pleased was simple.
'I'd already suspected Gunryong might be the Demonic Cult Leader from helping with information on Ghost Sword Manor and the Ghost Palace Corps.'
What Chae So-ryeong truly craved wasn't whether Gunryong was the Heavenly Demon or not.
"Then... are you the First Heavenly Demon? Or the Fifth?"
It was this detail.
For reference, only those at Ghost Sword Manor and the Ghost Palace Corps knew Gunryong's full identity; the Anti-Mountain Fortress folk saw him as the Fifth.
"Huhu."
Perhaps sensing her desperate gaze,
"I am the Heavenly Demon. That is my unchanging status and true identity, no matter what happens."
"Huh?"
His response was nowhere near what she wanted—just some utterly irrelevant nonsense—leaving Chae So-ryeong frustrated enough to stomp her feet.
"I've kept my promise to you and Abyss Hall."
"W-what?!"
"If you're still curious, look into it with your own power."
The Heavenly Demon never made a losing deal, then or now.
He had anticipated that requesting information on Yang Hui-gun and the Ghost Palace Corps would lead Abyss Hall to deduce he was the Heavenly Demon.
That's why he proposed the trade of revealing his identity.
Chae So-ryeong clearly wanted to know which generation, but he ended the deal by confirming he was indeed the Heavenly Demon.
"Ugh... ughhh."
Feeling utterly shortchanged, Chae So-ryeong groaned in agony.
She wanted to give him a scolding, but even that was impossible.
"Oh, right. This is obvious, but... if you spread rumors of my identity far and wide or sell the info to other sects!"
Her opponent was the Demonic Cult Leader, the Heavenly Demon.
Not the disgraced Fourth Heavenly Demon whose authority had plummeted in the modern martial world, but one radiating true might and dignity.
"That day will be the last for Abyss Hall and its leader. You have my word on it."
As he spoke, the Heavenly Demon subtly unleashed his Mystic Demonic Frenzy Eyes, a gaze that bound promises irrevocably.
These Mystic Demonic Frenzy Eyes were a secret art within the Demonic Cult, a true evil sorcery akin to illusionary hypnosis.
It could enchant others, imprint commands to ensure obedience, and more.
Shimmer!
Suddenly, a bewitching light emanated from the handsome Heavenly Demon's eyes.
Using the Mystic Demonic Frenzy Eyes required specific preconditions: it worked only on those harboring deep emotions like affection or fear toward the user.
It failed on most people, viable only for a select few.
In that regard, Abyss Hall Leader Chae So-ryeong was perfect prey.
"I... I understand. As if I would ever..."
Overwhelmed by the Mystic Demonic Frenzy Eyes and the Heavenly Demon's immense, suffocating aura, Chae So-ryeong could only whimper in submission.
Even without the eyes, she likely wouldn't have dared sell the information out of fear.
And one more thing.
"I never see Abyss Hall as an external force."
The Heavenly Demon was adept at wielding both whip and carrot, especially charismatic with women—then and now.
"Huh?"
"How could I treat Abyss Hall and its leader, who have shared joys and sorrows with me, as outsiders?"
"Ah! A-ahhh!"
Enchanted by the Mystic Demonic Frenzy Eyes' glow and the Heavenly Demon's unusually captivating, handsome features today, Chae So-ryeong lost herself completely.
Without the Thousand Faces Temple veil, her dazed expression would have been fully exposed.
"Once the Cult's forces are sufficiently restored, I'll make a formal offer to Abyss Hall: become the eyes and ears of this Cult."
The Heavenly Demon had no interest in women or romance, then or now.
But this promise was sincere.
Abyss Hall's unique intelligence network was essential for the new Demonic Cult he was rebuilding.
"Until then, keep it well hidden."
"Y-yes. Of course."
Was it the Mystic Demonic Frenzy Eyes' enchantment, or had she fallen for the Heavenly Demon's charm?
Chae So-ryeong bowed her head, her face flushed crimson, unable to even look at him properly.
'Good. That's settled.'
In an instant, the Heavenly Demon Gunryong had perfectly reeled in Abyss Hall and its leader Chae So-ryeong.
Before she left, he added a special request.
"Oh, one more thing. If you come across any groups suspected to be Cult remnants or affiliates, could you send over any records?"
"Yes! Of course, dear Gunryong."
She had unwittingly called him "dear Gunryong."
'Now it's time to leave Ghost Sword Manor.'
Ghost Sword Manor held a special place in the Heavenly Demon's heart, but he couldn't stay forever.
Moreover, its location in Yoneung Province was a remote frontier far from the Central Plains heartland, so reclaiming the Demonic Cult's scattered forces and remnants across the land was paramount.
To do that, he needed to traverse beyond Yoneung and roam the entire Central Plains.
'The letters and records from Chae So-ryeong will be invaluable.'
After seeing off Chae So-ryeong and her Abyss Hall entourage, the Heavenly Demon gathered Ghost Sword Manor's leadership.
"As I mentioned briefly before... now that Ghost Sword Manor has regained its stability, I plan to depart and wander the Central Plains."
Ooooh!
His shocking declaration stunned everyone, even those who had half-expected it.
"Just as with the Ghost Palace Corps, there may be others across the Central Plains desperately awaiting this Heavenly Demon."
For those forces, he had a duty to roam and search the land.
"It's regrettable, but your words ring true."
Yang Dae-un was heartbroken at the Heavenly Demon's departure but had no grounds to object.
Ghost Sword Manor couldn't monopolize him indefinitely.
"Then, allow me to send as many escorts as possible to ensure your journey lacks nothing..."
Just as Yang Dae-un, with his deep affection for the Heavenly Demon, offered numerous men,
"No. Two will suffice. Hui-gun and Sogang. I'll roam the Central Plains with just them."
The Heavenly Demon shook his head.
Sogang showed no surprise, of course, and neither did Yang Hui-gun, both having anticipated as much.
"Isn't that too few?"
"No. Truthfully, I could go alone. The reason I'm taking them... Sogang will guide with his vast knowledge and martial world common sense, while Yang Hui-gun needs to gain more experience and strength traveling at my side."
Gunryong was right.
Sogang had always been part of Gunryong's personal retinue, not Ghost Sword Manor's, and Yang Hui-gun, just beginning to grow, needed to shadow the Heavenly Demon in every move to hone his skills.
"Dae-un, consult with Cheok Cheon and the Merciless Killer Yu Cheon-baek on all matters. In emergencies, contact me through Hall Leader Chae So-ryeong."
"Yes, worry not."
With the Heavenly Demon truly leaving, Yang Dae-un bowed his head to hide his tears, while Yang Yeon-hwa was already a tearful mess.
"You lot."
The Heavenly Demon's heart wasn't light either.
This was the first home he'd found after leaping across two centuries, and leaving it filled him with reluctance.
'But I must go.'
For those others, like the Ghost Palace Corps, who awaited him desperately.
"So, where to next?"
Cheok Cheon asked wistfully, saddened by the immediate farewell.
The Heavenly Demon had a destination in mind.
"This time, I'll seek traces of Sa Ma-hui."
Having met the descendants of his right arm, the Loyal Ghost Sword Yang U-ryang, it was time for his left arm.
Next up: tracking the genius strategist who had aided him, the Demonic Eye Heavenly Brain Sa Ma-hui.