Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Reason for No Disciples
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'Sword Demon, I already knew of your viciousness back in the Demon Cavern, but I never imagined you'd grow this strong.'
An old memory surfaced.
It was toward the end of the Orthodox-Demonic War.
He was Yong-un's fellow trainee from the Demon Cavern, the sole survivor from that group, and the only person within the Heavenly Demon Cult whom Yong-un acknowledged as a true master strategist.
'Yong-un.'
And the only one who knew why Yong-un had become a demon.
That was the Heavenly Demon Cult's chief strategist, the Demon Brain.
'They say solitude always follows in the wake of strength, according to the Heavenly Demon. Is that the case for you as well?'
Why was this happening?
Right now, with his eyes closed.
A conversation he'd once brushed off now replayed in Yong-un's mind like a vivid scene.
'Solitude? Sorry, but I haven't had the time to feel anything like that.'
'Fair enough. You're not exactly short on tasks. From the Demonic Dragon Corps to Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation and the Phantom Shadow Killer Ghosts, the Heavenly Demon is always grateful to you.'
'I did it for myself. I don't want anyone's gratitude.'
It was a sharp retort from Yong-un, the Sword Demon, but the Demon Brain just smiled.
And then came a question that Yong-un had let slide back then but now made him reflect deeply.
'I see. I have a question—would you answer it?'
'Is there a general who refuses a strategist's question?'
'Thank you. The Demonic Dragon Corps, Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation, Phantom Shadow Killer Ghosts— you've never passed your Crimson Aura Demonic Art to any of them.'
It was during the Orthodox-Demonic War that Yong-un's Crimson Heavenly Demonic Art spread beyond the Heavenly Demon Cult to the entire martial world.
But since no one dared call it the Crimson Heavenly Demon Aura back then, it was known as the Crimson Aura Demonic Art.
Of course, just before facing the Blade Demon, its power surpassed even the Heavenly Demon Art, and by the Heavenly Demon's decree, the Crimson Aura Demonic Art was renamed the Crimson Heavenly Demonic Art.
'You're talking about my demonic art?'
The Demon Brain couldn't help but be curious about Yong-un's divine prowess that turned the tide of battle and the demonic art at its source.
The Demon Brain nodded gravely at Yong-un's question.
'Yes. None in the Demonic Dragon Corps, Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation, or Phantom Shadow Killer Ghosts wield an aura as pitch-black dark as yours. That's why I'm asking.'
The Demon Brain, overlooking the battlefield from a cliff, turned his full gaze to Yong-un.
And asked.
'Your Crimson Aura Demonic Art—did the thought of teaching it to someone never cross your mind?'
Yong-un shook his head without a moment's thought at the Demon Brain's words.
'No.'
Not even a hint of hesitation showed on his face, leaving the Demon Brain curious.
'They seem like subordinates you cherish—the Demonic Dragon Corps, Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation, Phantom Shadow Killer Ghosts. Yet you have no intention of passing it on?'
Yong-un's answer remained the same to the follow-up.
'No. To no one.'
This naturally led to the next question.
'Why?'
Those who wielded power great enough to dominate an era always raised disciples.
They sought to pass down their arts to the next generation, etching their names deep into the martial world everywhere.
With Yong-un's level of strength, the Demon Brain figured such ambition was inevitable, so he had to ask.
But.
'No ambition.'
Understanding the implication in the Demon Brain's question, Yong-un shook his head.
'What's the point of leaving my demonic art or martial arts behind? I'm someone who's going to vanish anyway.'
Besides, he wasn't from this world.
Back then, Yong-un had tried every method imaginable to find a way back to his original reality.
But the answer was always one.
None.
He found no clues—what it was, how it happened, or if other modern people like him had fallen here.
No matter how thoroughly he searched the entire martial world, nothing turned up.
Did that mean he'd forgotten revenge?
Absolutely not.
The reason he sought a way back was to continue living after vengeance.
That was it. Nothing more.
But with no path found, once revenge was done, only one thing remained for Yong-un.
'Once I finish my revenge, I'll disappear.'
The Demon Brain asked sadly, gazing at Yong-un's distant stare.
'Die?'
'That could be one way.'
Yong-un's eyes held both fervent longing and hollow emptiness.
The Demon Brain chuckled lightly and patted Yong-un's shoulder.
'Then I'll have to hinder your revenge as much as possible. I want to keep seeing you around.'
'How tedious.'
Thanks to the Demon Brain, Yong-un could shake off those heavy thoughts with a laugh.
"Looking back now, he really was a good guy."
Yong-un opened his eyes and smirked.
'Why no disciples, huh...'
He gazed at the sunset sky as the sun dipped low.
And under that glow, he looked at Myung-un, still seated in lotus position, drenched in cold sweat.
"I was blinded by revenge. I never figured out what came after—not until it ended."
He'd never found an answer to the Demon Brain's question, even up to the moment revenge concluded.
Just like the offhand choices back then, Yong-un had awaited death without one.
Revenge was all there was for the Sword Demon—no other hope or desire.
But in that instant.
A new hope approached Yong-un.
The one he'd sought endlessly but never found.
The one he'd erased from his mind, convinced impossible.
A gate had opened—a door of pitch-black darkness.
"Demon Brain, even I find it surprising that my life can roll on like this after purging that mass of negativity called revenge."
This new hope changed Yong-un.
The word "family" and its meaning completely transformed him from a vengeful killer ghost.
Not the killer ghost Sword Demon.
But Lee Yong-un, the second son of the Lee family.
Yong-un looked to the sky.
Thinking of the irreplaceable comrade, the Demon Brain, he spoke to him.
"I'm finally giving you the true answer from back then. You wouldn't have believed it. Dreaming of revenge made everything around me seem suspicious."
Yes. No ambition, not being from the martial world—they were all excuses.
The real issue was revenge.
Living day by day consumed by it, Yong-un had dwelled in a swamp of suspicion.
Even toward subordinates who'd throw their lives for him.
"That's what I thought back then. I figured if I taught a subordinate, they'd stab me in the back with the very arts I taught."
He just didn't want to die before completing revenge.
No ambition, too bothersome, destined to vanish.
All were smokescreens hiding the truth: he didn't want to die unfinished.
"Sorry I couldn't tell you the truth."
He reached a hand toward the sky.
"Back then, I even suspected you, my comrade."
He clenched his fist toward the unreachable Demon Brain.
With a scoffing laugh, he brushed off the memories of that bygone martial world and muttered to himself.
"The nightmare was worse than I thought. I was living in hell."
Shaking his head at recollections of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
To think he'd lived suspecting everyone without realizing it.
"Hoo... Hoo..."
As he recalled the Sword Demon amid that agony of countless negativities.
A small, ragged breath reached Yong-un's ears.
He turned his head, and Myung-un's form filled his vision.
The conversation with Myung-un from the previous evening resurfaced.
'Family... Yeah.'
Last night, he'd seen the family's love embracing him as emotions exploded and he felt near death.
Love without strings.
A priceless gift he'd never received from anyone.
"That's it."
The reason the Demon Brain's words resurfaced.
The reason he realized the Sword Demon had lived in hell more than imagined.
The reason the suspicion ingrained from that hellish life was purged.
He understood it all.
"Heh."
Yong-un, who had worn a grave expression, scoffed.
He'd chanted "family" without truly grasping its meaning until now.
But now he knew for sure.
The reason he took Myung-un as disciple and would pass everything on.
"Because you're family."
For the first time, Yong-un deeply felt what selfless love meant.
No one like that had ever existed in his life.
Even the slum family—thinking back, their love wasn't entirely selfless.
Because Yong-un wasn't their true family.
His true family was these people.
"Haa..."
As enlightenment settled with this new meaning, the Crimson Heavenly Demonic Aura swirling around Myung-un calmed.
The sun swallowed by darkness was gone.
In its place, a bright moon illuminated the night.
"Awake?"
Yong-un smiled, placing a hand on Myung-un's shoulder.
Then, for the first time in over ten hours, Myung-un opened his eyes.
Flash.
A satisfying crimson-black glow emanated from Myung-un's eyes, deepening Yong-un's smile.
"Hyung..."
Crimson Heavenly Demonic Aura.
The legendary demonic art said to surpass the Heavenly Demon's own.
It now flickered within Myung-un's body, not Yong-un's.
"Well done."
Yet Yong-un felt joy, not unease, at the sight.
The lingering suspicion buried deep in his heart vanished completely.
All because of the name "family."
Yong-un's pure smile guided his warm hand.
The hand on Myung-un's head gently stroked his hair, now fitting for the Crimson Heavenly Demonic Aura.
And he spoke softly to Myung-un.
"For the next six months, you'll learn everything from me."
A true disciple to whom Yong-un himself would impart all.
Something impossible in the Heavenly Demon Cult or the martial world.
The historic moment when the second master of the Crimson Heavenly Demonic Aura was chosen.
The Demonic Dragon Corps and Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation made a flashy debut through Demonus.
Afterward, they halted all gate clears, devoting themselves solely to training.
Naturally, the gates they handled were passed to the growing Phantom Shadow Killer Ghosts in Unwoo Guild.
Though the number of gates increased with their strengthened power, Guild Master Jin-cheol—the master strategist—smoothly managed them by dedicating the expanded Unwoo Guild.
What was truly impressive about Jin-cheol was that, amid this, he not only increased the Phantom Shadow Killer Ghosts alongside Jang-gwi but also kept training on track without issue.
"I knew I had a good eye for people."
Sena approached Yong-un as he watched Unwoo Guild's exploits on the news.
And without warning, she smacked his back.
"Hey! You planning to be a bum? It's been two weeks already!"
"Has it?"
Two weeks holed up at home.
No matter how impressive in Korea, no family could avoid worrying if their son and brother lounged like a jobless slacker for two weeks.
Thus, busy Sena had come on parents' special orders.
But Yong-un barely reacted to her words, eyes fixed on Myung-un's tablet PC.
"Hey! Then give me some money!"
"You should have plenty now."
Sena blinked at Yong-un's casual remark.
"So it was just an excuse."
She'd said it to prod him into action.
In truth, Sena and Team Leader Mi-kyung's tireless work for the new company had yielded shocking results.
Not even a month in, and they neared break-even.
Of course, it stemmed from Yong-un's overwhelming funds, but their effort and talent couldn't be dismissed.
"I'm the one bankrolling it. How could I not know my sister's company's status?"
With even the info powerhouse Night Killer Society under him.
If he wanted, he could strip her company bare inside out.
"F-Fine! You really won't go out?"
Yong-un showed her the tablet at her nagging.
"As you can see, it's running fine without me."
"Hey! Then why keep Myung-un from the guild?!"
"I didn't say Myung-un and I aren't going out."
Sena's eyebrow twitched at Yong-un's words.
"We go out every dawn together."
"What?"
Per Yong-un's orders, Myung-un had stepped back from all guild duties for training.
Normally, meditation at home to control the Crimson Heavenly Demonic Aura.
At dawn, when all slept, swordsmanship and physical training outside with Yong-un.
Non-martial artists and hunters like family wouldn't know, so Yong-un nodded as Sena realized her mistake.
"Sorry."
"Hey, just one question. Why are you and Myung-un suddenly stuck at home?"
He almost said "closed-door training" but stopped.
How could a non-martial sister understand?
After a moment's thought for her level, Yong-un spoke.
"Think of it as preparation for something in a few months? That'd help."
"Huh? What, something coming up?"
Sena looked curious at his words.
Yong-un smiled confidently at her.
"Oh, we're heading out on dispatch to Demonus in another country."
A bombshell statement.
"Wh-What the hell?!"