Chapter 15
**
“…This truly is an accident, isn’t it…”
“…The realm of death… is suspicious…”
The whispers of conversation brushed past my feet. I spun around clumsily, barely managing to regain my balance.
The wall was high, but not overwhelmingly so. If a man in black jumped around, he would definitely be caught.
I desperately channeled my internal energy, executing Ghostly Spirit Step and slipping between watchful eyes.
The interior buildings began to come into view.
Just a bit further…!
—Swish.
Something snagged at my toes. I struggled to right myself but—
The balance I had already lost couldn’t be regained. My tilt sent me plummeting downward.
The ground was right before me. The sound of it would surely be deafening.
But just as I was about to hit, my clothes were snagged by Twenty-Nine.
“…”
I expressed my gratitude with a glance to her, who nonchalantly pulled me up over the wall. She turned her head away with a touch of aloofness and pointed to the building’s roof.
We soon leaped, using the wall as a stepping stone to seize the roof. I finally managed to catch my breath on the rooftop.
We crossed over several buildings. Thanks to the closely packed structures, it was easy to jump between them.
We raced through the moonlight, arriving at our desired spot.
The central building.
The residence of the Black Heaven Sect’s leader, Maeng-cheon.
Twenty-Nine drew her sword. She plunged it into the roof, cutting through cleanly.
We crawled into the revealed empty interior.
Voices echoed.
Angry voices.
“Bring more food! You damn fools! Do you think the Lord’s words are a joke?!”
I exchanged glances with Twenty-Nine.
That’s him.
The first son of the leader of the Black Heaven Sect…
Maeng-so-un.
…
Maeng-so-un was gasping for breath, the effort of moving his body without raising his internal energy proving difficult. Wasn’t this a situation that mirrored before?
He stopped chewing his meat and called for his servant.
“Bring Teacher Bai.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Who’s a Young Master?”
*Crumble.*
He grasped the servant’s neck. Choking, the servant stared at Maeng-so-un.
“I’m the Lord.”
“I-I’m sorry… Lord…!”
“Get out.”
The servant hurriedly left the room. Maeng-so-un wolfed down the remaining food.
His body grew larger. Yet, that was ensuring his internal energy was steadily increasing.
Maeng-so-un raised his hand. He gathered his internal energy and clutched the air lightly.
Boom!
A popping sound echoed.
Maeng-so-un smirked.
Yes, this power. It’s on a different level than the axe of the Black Heaven Sect.
Teacher Bai was right. Who would believe that I mastered this martial art in just two months?
Stupid father. Couldn’t you have brought something like this yourself much earlier?
Chuckling, Maeng-so-un noticed a shadow standing at the door. Though the figure did not speak, he entered the room.
“Teacher Bai. I don’t believe I told you to come in yet.”
“My Lord, I’m disappointed. You can’t say that to me after I’ve just arrived.”
“…Heh, fine. I’ll let it go, since it’s you, Teacher Bai.”
A lanky man sat down before Maeng-so-un. He naturally filled an empty wine glass while addressing him.
“Why did you call for me at such a late hour?”
“I have something to ask you, Teacher Bai. As you said, I absorbed my father’s vital energy. But my body isn’t shrinking at all. Not even a hint of it. Why is that?”
“My Lord, everything requires time.”
“You came here to reduce that time, didn’t you, Teacher Bai?”
“…”
The man known as Teacher Bai downed the wine in his glass.
“My Lord, how is the progress on the White Demon Body?”
“Just as you said, I’ve been devouring every dog that crossed my path nightly. I still keep eating. I can vaguely feel it. I’m much stronger than anything out there.”
Maeng-so-un chuckled.
“I like it. But I’m getting fatter like a pig, so it’s rather unseemly, isn’t it? Teacher Bai, didn’t you say all these phenomena were just temporary side effects? Then when will these side effects disappear?”
“As I mentioned earlier, with time…”
“I can’t wait!”
The resounding declaration silenced Teacher Bai.
He then opened his mouth softly.
“My Lord, as I said earlier, everything has its order. On the day we first met, you were looking for martial arts outside the Black Heaven Sect, weren’t you?”
“…”
“Since then, I’ve always provided you with what you desired. Please calm down. Unlike the first time we met, you’ve indeed grown stronger. The current strength you possess is a realm you could never reach with the Black Heaven Sect’s martial arts. In just two months, you’re surpassing the elite stage, and you can surely feel the marvel of that martial art yourself, can’t you?”
“…That’s not untrue.”
“My Lord, you’ve now grasped even the essence of the Black Heaven Sect. But being able to absorb it all at once would be rather unusual. The former leader devoted his whole life to polishing that martial art. Its purity is almost no different from the righteous path. To absorb something like that in an instant is ludicrous, isn’t it?”
“…”
“My Lord, you just need to trust and follow me as you have been. Did you store the vital energy in one place as I instructed?”
“I stored it in my lower dantian. It clumped together and turned as hard as a pill.”
Maeng-so-un snickered.
“It feels like I’m harboring the essence in my body.”
“Can’t you see it’s slowly melting? My Lord, you don’t need to worry. Once that energy fully merges, you too will gain a new body. Patience. More patience.”
“…Mm.”
“Are you steadily practicing the White Demon Body’s martial arts?”
“Is there a need for that? Teacher Bai. This body is strong just by moving. There’s no need to learn techniques. Just a single swing distorts the air; what more could I want?”
“…”
Teacher Bai chuckled, covering his mouth.
“If that’s how you think, then so be it. Nevertheless, there’s something you owe me…”
“Are you referring to the agreement? Well, fine. I can’t possibly refuse after receiving such a body.”
Teacher Bai.
A man said to be a disciple of the Mystical Healer.
“Since I have received martial arts and the accompanying position, I will join the Man-sa-shin-ui.”
“The Second Demon will surely be pleased.”
“Heh. I’m rather thankful that the Second Demon recognizes my worth.”
“You were born with the talent for martial arts, which is why this is possible. If you hadn’t shown it, I wouldn’t have approached you first.”
That’s true. Maeng-so-un chuckled. The anger within him melted away.
Yeah, I’m the chosen one. My father, who tried to teach me the martial arts of the Black Heaven Sect, was the foolish one all along.
Now, free from even hearing that nagging, I could only feel joy.
“Freely eating and embracing women without anyone daring to say a word, this is indeed the life of a master. I haven’t felt this happy since that day.”
“That day, you say…?”
“There was a guy who always irritated my eyes. A brother who didn’t act like one, his demeanor was quite distasteful.”
Maeng-so-un still recalled that day.
The day he had a hard time holding back laughter while shedding tears, how could he forget?
“The voice calling ‘Brother, Brother’ was so thin. So I just pushed him. When he floundered in the lake, only then did he call for our father.”
“…Indeed.”
“That’s how daemons are. I was born strong. No one could look down on me. Born the first son of the Black Heaven Sect, eventually, I became the only one, so no one could dismiss me.”
Maeng-so-un stopped chuckling.
“Now I’ve even sat in that Lord’s seat, joining Man-majong; only victory lies ahead. I shall ascend to the seat beside the Second Demon, rising in one leap with this body.”
“That’s right. But before that, my Lord, may I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Have you increased your guards?”
“What are you talking about? Since my father died, the warriors protecting me have vanished. Those bastards are doubting me. No one wishes to follow me. On the day I officially inherit the Lord’s title, I will wipe them all out.”
“…Then who is hiding in the ceiling right now?”
“What?!”
Teacher Bai scattered his hands. The concealed items he released hit the ceiling with a thud.
Part of the roof began to crumble, and a couple fell from above, regaining their stance.
Teacher Bai’s expression hardened.
“…Two? I only sensed one… So you’ve held a sword, huh? Where did you come from?”
“What are you?! How dare you infiltrate the Black Heaven Sect’s building?! Argh!”
Maeng-so-un immediately threw a table. With a loud crash, the door smashed.
The foes dodging the table rose from outside the building. The one who drew a sword muttered.
“…Understood. Thirty. You damn vermin… worse than the scum of humanity.”
“…”
“I’ve honed my skills as an assassin, but I still bear proof of my humanity. Do as you please. I won’t stop you.”
A woman’s sword gleamed coldly.
“I’ll take care of the left side.”
With a chilling sword aura, Teacher Bai quietly stood.
“Call for backup, my Lord.”
“What?! You want me to summon our warriors against such dregs? Those who couldn’t even hide their presence and were sensed by Teacher Bai?!”
“Though the man may not be a threat, the woman is different.”
Teacher Bai fiddled with the concealed items tucked between his fingers.
“…A master, it seems. This won’t be easy.”
…
In an instant, Twenty-Nine vanished. The man known as Teacher Bai seemed to disappear almost simultaneously.
Sword auras rang. The clashing concealed items scattered in all directions, and Twenty-Nine’s sword echoed through the air.
Masters.
Both were at levels beyond measure.
Teacher Bai was seized by Twenty-Nine and hurled into another building. Breathless, I watched as they quickly distanced themselves.
Twenty-Nine had set the stage.
And I dared not refuse it.
“Who are you?! Identify yourself!”
A fattened pig, yet his voice was filled with internal energy.
It felt as if a massive aura was taking form. Though his appearance was repulsive, the essence within was undeniable.
Disgustingly foul energy.
A beast unaware that its chaotic referential targeting was chewing at its own flesh.
I sensed the subtle energy contained within. I felt it. As death approached, the Cheongeop within me howled vigorously.
That sharpened my senses even further. My breath tightened under pressure, and I caught more clearly the delicate energy within my perception.
“Little Hong! I heard a disciple of the Mystical Healer is nearby! They said they would arrive by tonight!”
The Lord of the Black Heaven Sect.
The aura of Maeng-cheon.
“…You.”
I gritted my teeth.
“To satisfy your desire, you killed your own kin… Do you not feel an ounce of guilt…?”
“…Did you hear everything? But it matters not. Corpse cannot speak.”
Maeng-so-un’s body quivered. His figure grew larger, overflowing with dark energy.
“The strong devour the weak. That is the way of the sect. The Black Heaven Sect is part of that sect. What’s wrong with a stronger son devouring his weakened father?”
“…No… Wrong at all.”
“What?”
I drew my sword. Exhaled slowly.
“You… You have no fault. You simply acted on what you’ve long wished for.”
“…”
“Thus, I’m not here to condemn you. I too, forsook my parents in my heart, so we are the same. Even if I hadn’t killed them, it would have been the same in my heart. I can’t criticize someone who committed the same act. This is merely a difference in our positions.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
“My name is Wang So-hong.”
I uttered a false name.
It was a lie. Just a name made up in an instant for someone who didn’t exist.
But…
“I would’ve thought if my second son had grown up, he would be just like you.”
You truly made that.
“Tonight, I shall be the second son of Maeng-cheon.”
“What…?”
“The dead spirit has come to kill the living.”
Blood-red ripples danced at the tip of my sword.
“Come, Maeng-so-un. The strong shall devour the weak. So it is between us. One of us won’t see the dawn.”
