Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Before anyone knew it, the preliminaries of the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering had ended and the main tournament had begun. And those from the Asura Squad who had advanced to the main stage were……

“Hyung, why were you eliminated? Why? Why?”

“I knew it would turn out like this. I could tell from the way you were always acting all jumpy.”

They were teasing Jongpal. The only one from the Asura Squad who had failed to advance to the main stage was, astonishingly, Jongpal alone.

Jongpal’s cheeks began to tremble.

“If you guys had faced that bastard, you’d have holes through your shoulders or thighs! For me to only end up like this is incredible!”

“Next, the preliminaries dropout.”

“Yessir, yessir.”

“You little punks?”

While Jongpal was shouting angrily, Youngho carefully observed the junior disciples around him.

‘Is that Tang Gunhyeon?’

His warm-looking face carried a faint arrogance.

‘He possesses unusual Internal Energy.’

To be precise, should it be called Poisonous Energy?

He carried far denser Poisonous Energy than the other poison-mongers of the Tang Clan.

‘Impressive.’

His Martial Presence was good enough to draw admiration from Youngho.

‘If only he could be educated a little…….’

That would likely be difficult. The arrogance lingering in those eyes would not disappear without a considerable shock.

At that moment.

Thud-!

Youngho’s expression stiffened as he sharply turned his head.

There, just as before, the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance Cheonung and the Murim Alliance Leader Han Yonghu were taking their seats.

It was an overwhelming aura, yet one perfectly restrained. An explosive Martial Presence perceptible only to Martial Artists.

Common People would never understand why the Martial Artists were breaking out in cold sweat.

“Oh? The Alliance Lord has already arrived? But the Young Master isn’t even participating this time?”

Jongpal asked Youngho with a puzzled look.

“…….”

“Young Master?”

Receiving no answer, Jongpal glanced at Youngho’s eyes in confusion.

A chill ran down his spine.

The moment Jongpal met Youngho’s gaze, he felt an indescribable fear. The same was true for the others.

Youngho was staring at Cheonung and Han Yonghu with Bloodshot Eyes.

No, more precisely……

‘Why?’

Why are you here?

Youngho looked at the young man whom no one else paid attention to, his presence buried beneath the auras of Cheonung and Han Yonghu.

Detached, indifferent eyes. A languid expression devoid of even a trace of dignity.

Youngho’s brows trembled.

‘Heavenly Demon.’

His hand trembled. As though he wanted to snap the man’s neck that very instant, a chilling sound of bones grinding echoed from Youngho’s hand.

Crack, crack.

Had he sensed Youngho’s fierce gaze? The Heavenly Demon turned to look in Youngho’s direction.

For an instant, Youngho felt as though time had stopped. That was how intently he focused, and how unbelievable the moment was.

The Heavenly Demon, Cheon Sangmu, stared at Youngho and curled his lips into a grin.

-So it is you.

Though it was spoken only with the movement of lips, Cheon Sangmu’s voice seemed to reach his ears.

No, that was not the issue.

‘You?’

What did he mean? And why was the Heavenly Demon even here?

The present situation made no sense. That man should have been in Cheonsan, pursuing only greater strength. Why was he here!

After gazing at Youngho briefly, the Heavenly Demon turned his eyes away. Still, Youngho continued staring at him.

To say he was glaring would be more accurate. His gaze was so intense that he made no effort to hide it.

Grit!

Suppressing the Killing Intent he could barely contain, Youngho forced himself to speak.

“……It’s nothing.”

He spoke as though it were nothing, but everyone in the group realized that Youngho’s Mental State was unstable.

They did not know what had happened. But Youngho saw something they could not. If so, there must be a cause behind that expression.

Yet neither the Asura Squad members, nor Kang Chowon and Kang Hosan, nor even Horyeung could find anything.

They could not discover the reason behind Youngho’s expression.

Thus, the main tournament of the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering began.

The leaders of the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions took in every Sparring Match fought by the junior disciples.

Han Yonghu chuckled heartily.

“It seems the level of the junior disciples is high again this time.”

“Indeed.”

“Was that child’s name Kang Chowon?”

At Han Yonghu’s question, Cheonung nodded.

“Yes. A disciple cherished by my own disciple.”

“She possesses practical combat ability beyond her years. Even if taught, such things are not easily mastered…?”

“I am curious about that myself.”

Most of Cheonung and Han Yonghu’s conversation consisted of praise for the junior disciples.

Ordinarily, they would have discussed the relations between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, as well as the movements of the Demonic Cult, but today was different.

While conversing, Cheonung and Han Yonghu each drew forth as much concentration as they possibly could.

‘Has that monstrous bastard grown stronger again in the meantime?’

‘I cannot sense his presence…….’

Though he stood before them, they felt nothing. Not Killing Intent, not Martial Presence, not even Demonic Energy.

If a Common Person were to look at Cheon Sangmu, they would think him nothing more than an ordinary young man.

Just as Cheonung and Han Yonghu were exhausting their minds and bodies in intense concentration, Cheon Sangmu opened his mouth.

“Is the Flame Dragon not participating?”

“……!”

Han Yonghu, Cheonung, and the others failed to conceal their shock. The Heavenly Demon taking interest in someone else.

The Heavenly Demon rarely concerned himself with others. No, it would be more accurate to say he was completely indifferent.

For such a being to show interest in a mere junior disciple was unimaginable to anyone who knew him.

Especially Sohae, who held the position of Left Guardian within the Demonic Cult, widened her eyes in disbelief.

‘He never even showed interest in the Young Cult Leader…?’

Soon, she erased the thought from her mind.

‘He is the junior disciple who killed the Right Guardian. It is not strange for the Heavenly Demon to take interest.’

When no one answered his question, Cheon Sangmu spoke once more.

“Is the Flame Dragon not coming out?”

Cheonung, having quickly regained his composure, sneered as he spoke.

“Unfortunately, he chose not to participate. Why? Is your right arm still aching?”

Sohae’s expression immediately hardened.

The Heavenly Demon’s right arm referred to Ho Jagae, who had been the Right Guardian.

‘Though I do not know whether the Heavenly Demon himself thinks so.’

As if to prove it, Cheon Sangmu spoke without the slightest change in expression.

“I see. Well, at that level, this place must seem trivial.”

For an instant, Cheonung’s face stiffened.

“……Can you see it?”

Youngho’s Martial Might—how strong Youngho truly was.

Cheonung’s words carried layered meaning, yet Cheon Sangmu showed no reaction.

He merely gazed at the junior disciples’ Sparring Matches with deeply sunken eyes.

Crunch!

Cheonung’s teeth ground together on their own. Those eyes were always the problem. Eyes that seemed uninterested in everything in the world.

That attitude of not even sparing a glance at those who failed to meet his standards.

He had always found that gaze and attitude irritating, yet strangely, this time he felt pride.

‘He showed interest in Youngho.’

Truthfully, he had not done much to help. Yet Cheonung felt oddly pleased that Cheon Sangmu had taken interest in Youngho.

He certainly did not like Cheon Sangmu. But disliking a man did not mean disliking his ability.

Cheon Sangmu’s Martial Might had reached a place Cheonung could never approach. For such a being to show interest in his disciple—who would not be pleased?

If the interest had been in anything other than Martial Might, he would not have felt this way.

But Cheon Sangmu’s interest lay in Youngho’s martial learning. He had sensed a realm within Youngho that Cheonung himself could not see.

He was happy—endlessly so—yet at the same time, bitter.

Because it was a realm he could not reach. Because he himself had never drawn such interest from Cheon Sangmu.

Soon shaking off the distracting thoughts in his mind, Cheonung quietly looked toward where Youngho stood.

Toward Youngho, who appeared strangely pale.

***

“……Is it true?”

“I do not have enough time to lie to you.”

Just as the person beside him was about to speak,

the man raised a hand and restrained him.

“……If you do that, does that mean the Heavenly Demon—no, the Heavenly Demon himself—will look upon us favorably?”

“This is not his will. You are not remarkable enough to catch his eye.”

It was a humiliating remark. He clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, piercing muscle.

Blood dripped from his hand.

Despite hearing such insulting words, the man could say nothing. This was the only way left to save his clan.

The Clan Head of the Jinju Eon Clan, Eon Cheonghyeon, wore a resolute expression.

“I am the Clan Head of the Jinju Eon Clan.”

“So?”

“It means I am not someone you can treat so carelessly.”

“Do you truly think so?”

“…….”

“A Clan Head, yet you joined hands with the Demonic Cult you so despised, all because of Blood Demon Jiangshi.”

It was true. But the man’s words did not end there.

“Eon Cheonghyeon, your clan is finished. You should understand now who stands above whom.”

“……I know.”

“The Murim Alliance Leader already knows that you joined hands with us. And he must possess clear evidence as well.”

He knew that all too well. In fact, Han Yonghu had already used it as leverage to take much from the Jinju Eon Clan.

The wealth accumulated over generations had been reduced by half. That alone said everything.

On top of that, the Murim Alliance openly treated the Jinju Eon Clan with contempt. A truly vile man.

In the end, Eon Cheonghyeon decided to accept the man’s proposal.

For the entire Jinju Eon Clan to enter the Demonic Cult—to become filthy Demonic practitioners.

“You brought most of your household members as I instructed, correct?”

“Yes. All that remains is to depart.”

“Ah, before we leave…….”

A sinister smile curled at the man’s lips, and Eon Cheonghyeon looked at him with anxious eyes.

After hearing the man’s words, Eon Cheonghyeon’s eyes widened.

“Th-then…!”

“You will be treated worse than a Public Enemy of the Murim. But does that matter? You are coming to the Demonic Cult anyway.”

Eon Cheonghyeon bit down on his lip. Blood from his torn flesh seeped into his mouth.

As the metallic taste filled his mouth, he lowered his head deeply. It was the last shred of conscience left in one who had once belonged to the Orthodox Sect.

That was why he had no choice but to bow his head. He was about to discard that final shred of conscience. If he did not, he could not protect his household members.

Just as Eon Cheonghyeon was about to speak,

“That makes no sense, Clan Head!”

“Yongchung…….”

The Chief Steward who assisted the Clan Head of the Jinju Eon Clan shouted angrily.

“That at least must never be done! Fleeing is one thing, but we must not show such disgrace to our ancestors—!”

Slash.

A chilling sound, cold enough to numb the flesh, echoed through the hall. And Eon Cheonghyeon let out a hollow laugh, his face filled with disbelief.

Helpless. Right before his eyes, the clan’s Chief Steward had been struck down. Yet there was nothing he could do.

That was why he had to heed the man’s words all the more. So that he would lose no more household members.

“……I will do it. So stop.”

“From now on, handle any disturbances yourself.”

With those words, the man turned his back and strode forward.