Chapter-36 (Abandoned Disciple of Heavenly Demon)

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Episode 36: In the West (3)

Jin Myeong opened the door of his room, when he heard someone calling him outside. There he a man, standing near door.

“Who?”

“…I’m Moon Chu-hyeok.”

“Ah, the elder’s son?”

“Yes.”

Moon Chu-hyeok frowned and revealed his name when he noticed that Jin Myeong did not remember him.

Only after hearing the name, Jin Myeong recall that he was the son of Elder Oh also know as ‘The Ice Demon’.

“Your Excellency, please follow me.”

“Where?”

“I found a nice bar nearby.”

Jin Myeong nodded and followed Moon Chu-hyeok. After the two of them left the Cloud Escort Agency’s estate, they entered a rather splendid bar.

“Come in.”

“Have you always been drinking in places like this?”

Jang Hoo who arrived first was waiting for Jin Myeong.

“It looks expensive.”

“Are you worried about money?”

The main building itself was magnificent, but the place where Jang Hoo was waiting was on the third floor.

‘There were some people in this bar who looked quite rich. But there was no one on the third floor. There were many tables, but there was no one else there besides them.’

Looking around, Jin Myeong concluded that, one would need money, connection and status to enter this floor.

“Don’t worry. This place also belongs to our sect.”

“Ah, so that’s what it was.”

Only after hearing that did Jin Myeong understand how Jang Hoo had managed to enter third floor.

“I ordered food in advance. Is there anything you can’t eat?”

“No.”

Jin Myeong shook his head, and soon the waiters came up with the food Jang Hoo had ordered.

Jang Hoo sat quietly without saying anything until other disciples disappeared.

“Have you always come to places like this in town?”

“That’s true.”

Unlike Jin Myeong, who rarely left his lodgings in the sect, Jang Hoo walked around the sect.

Jin Myeong couldn’t tell if all of those places were run by the Heavenly Demon Sect, but judging from where he was now, he’s sure they only drank in fancy places.

“You’re not pressed for time today, so why don’t you just drink leisurely?”

Jin Myeong nodded at Jang Hoo’s words.

Up until now, Jin Myeong and others spent most of time as hermit. Even if they occasionally visited village, they would leave next day.

He always felt like they were pressed for time, but Commander Neung said they were going to use this place as a base.

That means he didn’t have to prepare for the next day right away like before.

“How about you tell me now? Why did you call me, even if it meant killing me?”

Jin Myeong only called him by his real name, leaving out ‘Senior Martial Brother’ who he always used to talk with him.

Jang Hoo stopped holding the glass to his lips. But soon he downed his drink in one go and roughly placed his glass down on the table.

“Youngest, no, Jin Myeong. Come under me. Help me become the leader of the Sect.”

Jin Myeong smiled and brought his glass to his lips at Jang Hoo’s words, which were not at all different from his expectations.

“I didn’t know you would say it so openly.”

“Don’t you already know?”

‘Of course I knew. Rather, it would be strange if I didn’t know.’

“Didn’t you accept the offer because you had an idea in mind?”

Jin Myeong didn’t answer Jang Hoo’s questions and just sipped his drink.

“Youngest, come beneath me. I will give you the place of below one man and above ten thousand men.”

“If I become the Sect Leader, I will give the position of Vice-Sect Leader to you, Jin Myeong.”

“There are others who are close to Senior Brother, right?” Jin Myeong said as he poured alcohol into an empty glass.

Whenever Jang Hoo visited the village and went to bar, he moved with Gye Bu-il and Yeong Soso.

“I guarantee you your power will be higher than theirs.”

“Senior Brother Gye will be sad if he hears this.”

Jang Hoo couldn’t help but smile at Jin Myeong’s word, then brought the glass to his lips.

“We are all just competitors.”

“I see. Those two didn’t surrender to Senior Brother, yet.”

It was true.

Jang Hoo, Yeong Soso, and Gye Bu-il had a simple cooperative relationship. An alliance until Mok Ja-gyeong is defeated.

In other words, if anyone defeat or eliminate Mok Ja-gyeong, the alliance will eventually end.

“I think it would be good if you could answer now.”

Jang Hoo looked straight at Jin Myeong and asked.

“I’ve told you everything I needed to tell you.”

Now it’s Jin Myeong’s turn to answer.

“I will say it again. Come under me. Come and help me become the Sect Leader.”

He had formed an alliance with other martial siblings, but is not the real one. Jang Hoo was telling Jin Myeong to become his subordinate.

“You don’t have any power anyway. Despite, the Vice-Sect Leader is helping you, but that’s all. You don’t have any other power at all, do you?”

The Mad Demon was more powerful than the other elders.

However, most of the small clans within the Heavenly Demon Sect had already fallen under the control of other disciples.

If you add them all together, Jin Myeong would definitely be at a disadvantage.

“But I don’t think it will be disadvantageous.”

“Do you think Vice-Sect Leader will step forward in the competition for the next Sect Leader?”

If even the Vice-Sect Leader Mad Demon comes forward, then Jin Myeong is the most likely candidate.

But Jang Hoo thought that would never happen.

“The elders also said they would lend their strength, but they wouldn’t step forward themselves, so I think Vice-Sect Leader will do the same.”

Although elders had joined hands with the other disciples of Heavenly Demon, it was only to the extent of lending successors and warriors.

There were no cases in which elders would directly intervene in the competition for the next Sect Leader.

In the end, this means that within the fight for Next Heavenly Demon, the most overwhelmingly powerful demon, excluding Heavenly Demon, would not come forward.

“So, you want me to be your subordinate?”

“Although you are excellent martial artist, you have limitations when you are alone.”

As Jin Myeong listened silently, Jang Hoo continued speaking.

“Besides, I don’t think you have the ability to lead the people of our sect.”

The Jin Myeong that Jang Hoo remembers was someone who acts timid against the strong but infinitely strong against the weak.

Of course, because he had no ability, it wasn’t revealed very well.

‘In any case, such a narrow-minded person could not become the person to lead the Heavenly Demon Sect. No matter how much his personality changes, such person cannot change completely.’

“I guess Mok Ja-gyeong is really scared. It’s like he’s trying to drag me in somehow.”

Although Jang Hoo gave various reasons, in the end it was all because of Mok Ja-gyeong.

If Mok Ja-gyeong was weaker than Jang Hoo, Jang Hoo would not have made an offer to Jin Myeong for such an excuse.

“…What’s the answer?”

Jang Hoo forced Jin Myeong to answer.

“I don’t like it when you don’t answer my questions, but if you want, you have to answer. Isn’t that what you came here to answer?”

“The answer is on Hold.”

“On hold?”

“Okay. On hold.”

Jang Hoo frowned and glared at Jin Myeong, who was bringing the glass to his lips.

“Don’t look at me like that. I can’t just turn a person into a Sect Leader, right?”

“It sounds like you could make me a Sect leader if you wanted.”

“No, that’s not true. But wouldn’t that help?”

Jin Myeong chuckled.

“I was surprised that you came to see me alone, without bringing along your usual companions, Sister Yeong and Brother Gye.”

“Hmmmm.”

“Do you really want to make me your subordinate?”

Jang Hoo didn’t answer and continued drinking.

‘First, let’s find out what kind of person this person is.’

Unlike Mok Ja-gyeong, whom Jin Myeong decided not be kept alive, he did not know much about Jang Hoo.

“If I help you and you become Sect Leader, what will are you going to do?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What do you want to do when you become Sect Leader?”

“Of course, I want to learn the Heavenly Demonic Art and become the strongest in the world.”

Jin Myeong shook his head at Jang Hoo’s words. That’s not what he asked.

“Learning the Heavenly Demonic Art and becoming the next Sect leader is a predetermined process.”

“I don’t know.”

“My goal for now is to become Sect Leader. That’s why I have continued to practice martial arts and live my life until now.”

“I never once thought about what I wanted to do after becoming Sect Leader.”

“Isn’t what you want most to do to rule the world?”

A dream that not only the people of Heavenly Demon Sect but all martial artists wish for.

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Even the person who came closest to that reigning world was eventually stopped by the protagonist.

“And?”

“Hmm?”

“Shouldn’t you solidify your position first?”

Jang Hoo made a face that showed he didn’t understand Jin Myeong’s words.

“Is there a need to solidify it? After all, once I become the leader, there will be no one who can pose a threat.”

“Will other Martial brother and Sister follow suit?”

“Perhaps, I will only spare youngest.”

This means that not only Mok Ja-gyeong, but also all the other martial brother would be killed.

‘I knew it.’

‘In any case, it couldn’t be Jang Hoo’s fault alone. Not only Jang Hoo, but the other disciples would have been the same. There was no need to leave any regrets behind.’

“How do you plan to rule the world?”

“What are you talking about?”

Jin Myeong, who had been silently sipping his drink and lost in thought, asked Jang Hoo.

“You say ruling the world is your dream? That’s not something you can do by sitting still, is it?”

“Of course I will attack the Central Plains. I must eliminate that arrogant Kunlun, first.”

‘The martial arts world was maintained in balance by three powers. Now Jang Hoo is trying to upset that balance.’

‘This won’t work.’

Jin Myeong wanted to keep this balance from collapsing.

The moment Mok Ja-gyeong became the leader, this balance was destroyed, and it seemed that the same thing would happen if Jang Hoo became the leader.

“If we invade the Central Plains, the Orthodox Alliance and Unorthodox Alliance may unite.”

“Huh. There’s no way they would do that.”

‘How can he be so optimistic? And how can he use the word absolute so carelessly?’

The reason is that, the three factions are maintaining a balance. If one made any moves, the other two combine forces.

If the two of them join forces to deal with one, in the end they only have to deal with each other. Last two will get closer to dominating the world.

And neither the Orthodox Alliance nor the Unorthodox Alliance are foolish enough to miss that opportunity.

‘This person should not become Sect Leader.’

‘What he would be doing is likely to push the Heavenly Demon Sect into a pit. I have no ill intentions, so I have nothing more to say.’

“I guess it won’t work.”

“What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”

As Jang Hoo watched Jin Myeong shaking his head, his face naturally frowned.

“I think Senior Brother is different from my thoughts. I think this balance should not be broken.”

Jin Myeong poured the alcohol into his mouth and stood up from his seat.

“I had a good drink. See you later.”

Jang Hoo’s body trembled as he watched Jin Myeong’s back as he left carefreely.

Boom! Clang!

Jang Hoo slammed the table hard. Then the table broke and the food and drinks on it fell to the floor.

“How cheeky.”

Jang Hoo recalled Jin Myeong’s smiling face.

‘I want to kill him right now, but I have to deal with Mok Ja-gyeong and the two-faced man.’

It wasn’t easy to kill, but Jin Myeong and Mok Ja-gyeong had to become each other’s killers.

‘I need to think of a way.’

Before the competition could begin, it was necessary to create a situation where Jin Myeong and Mok Ja-gyeong became enemies and tried to kill each other.

‘What on earth should I do?’

Although Mok Ja-gyeong was also very sinister, Jin Myeong was not an easy opponent to deal with either.

‘It would have been better if he had been as simple-minded and ignorant as his other martial siblings, but he was actually very cautious guy.’

‘He may pretend to be cautious, but he cannot hide his arrogant nature. If only I could use it….’

Even though it was just a little bit, Jang Hoo felt like he was starting to get some kind of scheme.

Jang Hoo’s mind continued to spin furiously as he looked at the food strewn across the floor.

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