Chapter 100

Chapter 100

At the sight of Youngho cackling to himself, Kang Yongchong wore a sullen expression.

“Did you find it amusing?”

Despite Kang Yongchong’s sharp tone, Youngho continued to chuckle as he answered.

“Of course. That naïve look from before is nowhere to be seen—now he’s become a seasoned veteran of countless battles.”

It was said that Kang Yongchong had not only held Heo Un, who had been assigned as his escort, responsible, but had even gone directly to the Murim Alliance Leader and caused a commotion.

No matter that Han Yonghu was the Murim Alliance Leader, when facing a blacksmith who handled Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron as though it were an extension of his own hand, he had no choice but to yield a step.

After all, the one who created weapons was, at times, more valuable than the one who wielded them.

Youngho handed Kang Yongchong a cup of brewed tea and said,

“I’ll give you as much Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron as you need to forge the sword.”

“Will that truly be acceptable?”

“What wouldn’t be?”

“My skill as a blacksmith has improved greatly since the last time we met.”

“I’m sure it has. A blacksmith, like a Martial Artist, is someone who grows.”

Kang Yongchong nodded with a solemn expression.

“That is precisely why I ask. With my current skill, I may be able to forge a sword even superior to yours. Would you not regret not wielding such a blade yourself?”

At Kang Yongchong’s earnest question, Youngho let out a faint snort.

“I wondered what you were going to say.”

As Youngho spoke as though it were nothing of importance, Kang Yongchong could not help but feel deep confusion.

He found himself anticipating what Youngho would say next. Yet the words that came from Youngho’s mouth were far from cheerful.

“For a relic of the past, even the sword I use now is excessive.”

He could not understand. A relic of the past? Youngho was the very man praised as someone who would carve out a new future.

Recently, he had even gained the epithet Mad Black Sword Ghost, making it all but certain that he would become the future Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance.

So why would he call himself a relic of the past?

It made no sense. And yet Kang Yongchong saw it—the sorrow blooming deep within those unfathomable eyes, the quiet grief hidden there.

Without saying another word, Kang Yongchong lifted the teacup before him and took a sip.

Strangely, compared to the tea Youngho had brewed years ago, this one was unbearably bitter.

Step. Step.

A handsome man and a beautiful woman walked side by side, chatting softly.

“Really?”

Kang Chowon flinched in surprise, and Youngho answered casually.

“I told you I’d make you another one once you grew. Your arms and legs have gotten longer. That sword doesn’t suit you anymore.”

Kang Chowon glanced at her sword, then looked back at Youngho.

“Then when will it be finished?”

“About three months? Wait that long.”

Kang Chowon smiled brightly.

“I love you, Young Master!”

“You’re all grown up. Don’t say things like that.”

“Come on~ You know I’ve already married my sword.”

“If Hosan heard that, he’d faint.”

“I think Oppa has already given up.”

“I don’t think so…. Well, it’ll sort itself out.”

As they continued their trivial chatter, Youngho and Kang Chowon soon saw the Asura Squad and others gathered together in one place.

And Jongpal, who had noticed Youngho’s arrival early on, shouted loudly,

“The Young Master has arrived!”

As if responding to Jongpal’s words, the Asura Squad members stepped aside before Youngho.

Entering naturally into the center, Youngho looked at Hyeon-gang, who was smiling awkwardly, and asked,

“Are the preparations done?”

“Yes, we are about to depart.”

“Good.”

At Youngho’s calm demeanor, Hyeon-gang could not hide his doubt.

“Are you not worried?”

“Is the Divine Physician going to eat you alive?”

“No, that’s not what I mean….”

After glancing at Youngho several times, Hyeon-gang took a deep breath and finally spoke.

“I might end up going to the Medical Pavilion of Hwa Ryeong.”

“And?”

“Pardon?”

At Youngho’s indifferent expression, Hyeon-gang looked utterly baffled.

“I may not look it, but I am quite a capable Physician. Are you truly fine with losing such talent?”

“That’s true.”

Youngho nodded in agreement.

“That’s precisely why I’m sending you.”

No one present could grasp Youngho’s intentions. Why did he speak of it so lightly?

There was no way Youngho was unaware of Hyeon-gang’s value. If so, there had to be a reason for these words.

As everyone expected, Youngho explained why he had said such a thing.

“As long as you belong to the Unorthodox Alliance, you are, in the end, part of the Unorthodox Faction. But the Medical Pavilion of Hwa Ryeong is different. At first, you may suffer persecution simply because you came from the Unorthodox Alliance. But if you think of the future, the status of being a Physician of the Medical Pavilion of Hwa Ryeong will be far better.”

Advice meant solely for Hyeon-gang.

“That only deepens my question. Why do you look after me to such an extent?”

The others also nodded in agreement with Hyeon-gang’s words.

He could have hesitated in answering. Yet, as always, Youngho spoke the plain truth without the slightest pause.

“So that more people can live.”

“…….”

“It’s fine if you save many people here. But most of them would be us. Not the other wounded.”

Perhaps he found his own words ironic, for Youngho let out a faint chuckle.

“A person like you would shine brighter at the Medical Pavilion of Hwa Ryeong than here. Not just you—the entire world would. And above all….”

With a slightly bitter smile, Youngho continued,

“Most of the people you save here are villains. At least at the Medical Pavilion of Hwa Ryeong, you’ll be saving those who save others.”

Everything felt twisted. Youngho was different from ordinary people—of that much they had always been aware.

But the Youngho of now felt alien. His values were impossible to understand from the perspective of an ordinary human being.

He relinquished what would benefit him. That did not mean he yielded out of weakness. If anything, he might be more greedy than anyone.

‘That’s precisely why he’s twisted.’

Horyeung quietly gazed at Youngho.

The sight of Youngho wearing that bitter smile made his heart ache.

The image of Youngho, who seemed ready to burn away everything of himself to protect the world, was something even those of the Unorthodox Faction found difficult to comprehend.

Greater Righteousness

To follow Greater Righteousness is something even those of the Orthodox Sect find difficult to practice.

Think about it. Your mortal enemy stands before your eyes, yet if you kill that enemy, the world will collapse.

Even in such a situation, most people would kill their enemy. Even if it meant the world would fall.

Even those of the Orthodox Sect would hesitate, wondering whether to kill or not. Though they knew that sparing him was what it meant to follow Greater Righteousness.

But Youngho was different. He thoroughly excluded his personal emotions. If it was for the sake of the world, he would not kill his enemy.

How could someone so young harbor such thoughts?

No—why did he possess such thoughts in the first place?

Everyone who had been with Youngho had noticed. He was hiding something. And whatever that secret was, he would never reveal it to anyone else.

Even so, judging by everything he had done so far, there was only one thing he desired.

Peace for the world.

It was also the dream Kang Chowon had spoken of, but before that, it had been Youngho’s own dream.

There were many things they wished to ask. Why did he care for the world to such an extent? Why was he willing to sacrifice himself?

Hyeon-gang stared silently into Youngho’s eyes for a moment before bowing his head deeply.

“I am not a beast that forgets gratitude. In one year, I will return, hoping to have grown strong enough that you will no longer be injured, Young Master.”

“Good.”

Youngho, already back to his playful expression, chuckled.

“Don’t forget your martial training there. If you want to become a Divine Physician, you should at least reach the State of Transformation.”

“Is that even possible?!”

Hyeon-gang shouted angrily and immediately bolted away.

Youngho and the Asura Squad watched his retreating back, laughing.

“Then I suppose I should eat.”

“Pardon? There’s still one Shijin until dinner.”

“No, I’m hungry. You don’t have to eat.”

“…You always do this, yet I keep forgetting.”

“Eat some herbs that are good for the brain. If you keep eating only meat, your brain will be soaked in grease.”

With that, Youngho hummed a tune as he headed toward the dining hall.

But unlike his humming steps, his face was colder than ever, an icy chill flowing from it.

Because he now knew who was targeting him.

‘You’d better look forward to it, Demon Brain.’

Youngho smiled inwardly.

He would repay exactly what he had suffered at the hands of the Heavenly Demon.

“…What happened?”

The man, meeting Pungwol’s desolate gaze, unconsciously swallowed.

“Out of a hundred subjects, twenty-seven succeeded.”

“The success rate is high this time.”

“About that….”

Crack!

Just as the man was about to continue, something shattered.

The sound was like kicking over a sandcastle.

Thud—roll.

“….”

Pungwol looked at the severed human head that rolled to a stop before him and spoke.

“Did you intentionally increase the side effects?”

“Yes.”

“Explain in detail.”

“There were various issues—explosive surges in murderous impulses, uncontrollable sexual urges, or conversely, severe depression.”

“That is not so bad. It is within the level Our Cult can manage.”

“Yes. Though I hesitate to call it a fine work, I can say it is usable.”

“You have done well. Speak what you desire, and it shall be granted.”

At the benevolent words, the man looked at Pungwol with a moved expression, then cleared his throat.

“Invincible Divine Cult, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission. I desire nothing more. Demon Brain has already granted me much. I am simply relieved that I have created those who will serve as his hands and feet.”

“Indeed. They are at least at a level he can toy with.”

“There is no need to question their faith. They volunteered of their own accord.”

“Even so, they must be controllable to some degree….”

“That will not be an issue. Merely recalling him will restore their sanity.”

“Good.”

A deep smile spread across Pungwol’s lips.

Kwaaaaaa—!

Twenty-seven cultists emitted terrifying Martial Presence. One by one, Pungwol looked each of them straight in the eye and spoke.

“Invincible Divine Cult, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission. From this moment, you are his arms and legs. Yes—one could say you are his will.”

The Demonic Cultists who had been exuding Killing Intent vanished. In their place stood only obedient figures, like gentle lambs, awaiting Pungwol’s command.

“You will primarily follow my orders, but always remember this: his will is more important than mine. And never forget—he is your master.”

Thud—!

The Demonic Cultists knelt on one knee and declared,

“Invincible Divine Cult, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission.”

Every one of them had stepped into the Domain of the Absolute. Though they had been forcibly strengthened through Heretical Arts and various Spirit Pills, if thirty years were to pass, they would possess Martial Might surpassing even the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance.

With a satisfied expression, Pungwol spoke to the man standing beside him.

“Grant them what they desire, at least for today.”

“Understood.”

Having no further business, Pungwol returned to the office.

‘Flame Dragon—no, Mad Black Sword Ghost….’

With blazing Gaze, Pungwol stared ahead.

‘Realize that your lifespan is nearly at its end.’