CDF Chapter 50

Bang!

A member burst through the door in a fluster.

“Fourth Hall Master^[1]!”

The middle-aged man, Geum Seong-ju^[2], furrowed his brow.

“What insolence is this? I told you this was a meeting with an honored guest. I ordered you to handle minor matters among yourselves.”

“Something terrible has happened!”

“What could be so urgent that you’re making such a fuss?”

“There’s chaos at the True Demon Squad’s camp! The Third Young Master suddenly burst in and turned their quarters into a complete mess!”

Hong Wi-moon’s eyes glinted.

Geum Seong-ju unconsciously rose from his seat.

“The True Demon’s camp? You’re saying the Third Young Master caused havoc at their unit quarters?”

“Yes!”

“What’s your source?”

“The True Demon Squad members reported it directly!”

Geum Seong-ju’s gaze turned to Hong Wi-moon.

Hong Wi-moon nodded.

“So he’s finally causing trouble.”

“It seems we need to take action?”

He was asking if this was the ‘target’ they had discussed earlier.

Hong Wi-moon smiled as he spoke.

“You are one of the ten Hall Masters of the Criminal Court. When the Criminal Court’s directive is clear, we cannot simply stand by while internal conflicts arise. I believe you should proceed as you see fit.”

Geum Seong-ju addressed his member.

“Deploy the Black Watchers! Find out the Third Young Master’s current location!”

“The Black Watchers, sir?”

“Yes. Arrest ‘all’ demon practitioners involved in this disturbance! There shall be no exceptions based on status!”

The order implied even the Third Young Master should be dragged to the Criminal Court. Tension spread across the member’s face.

“I receive your command!”

After the member left, Geum Seong-ju smiled.

“I was wondering if we should prepare for possible situations, but it seems things will become quite simple.”

“Indeed.”

However, contrary to his words, Hong Wi-moon’s face was extremely serious. From what he had seen so far, Seo Ryang was not someone to be taken lightly.

“Let’s hope it becomes simpler.”

***

Thwack!

“Aaaagh…huh?”

Wi Hong-ryeon cautiously opened her eyes.

Seo Ryang was flicking his finger with an indifferent expression. Given his charging momentum, it seemed like he would beat her to death, but in the end, he just delivered a single flick to her forehead.

“I was going to beat you senseless, but seeing you half-dead already, I can’t even do that.”

“Eh?”

“What’s with the ‘eh’? What, are you surprised? Look at this.”

Surge surge.

The energy seeping from Wi Hong-ryeon’s body was clearly dangerous to anyone watching. The concentrated demonic energy that should never emerge from a body with severe internal and external injuries seemed ready to explode at any moment.

Seo Ryang clicked his tongue.

“Well done, really well done. This is why people call you crazy, you know.”

“What?”

He placed his hand on Wi Hong-ryeon’s forehead.

Wi Hong-ryeon flinched.

“Relax.”

Woong woong woong!

In that instant, Seo Ryang’s true energy surged through Wi Hong-ryeon’s upper danjeon.

Wi Hong-ryeon’s jaw dropped.

Forcefully injecting energy through the upper danjeon – it was an orthodox technique that few could attempt, and even those capable were reluctant to try.

No! Wait! Hey, you crazy bastard!

She wanted to turn her head away forcefully, but strangely, she couldn’t move a single finger. It was as if her acupoints had been sealed.

But surprisingly…

“…Huh?”

Seo Ryang dusted off his hands while grumbling.

“You really are high maintenance.”

“What?”

“How long are you going to stand there dumbstruck, idiot! Get to a corner and take care of yourself! Geez, how am I supposed to get anything done trusting this troublemaker?”

Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes trembled.

What the hell?!

Tsss tsss tsss.

The rampaging Blue-Black Demon Art’s energy became docile, and the released original essence qi returned to its normal state. Not only had her surging madness subsided, but even her violent rage had completely died down.

What’s going on? How did this happen?

As she stood there slack-jawed in bewilderment, Seo Ryang turned to Ma Dong-pil.

“Are you alright?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if you’re alright, idiot.”

“I-I’m fine.”

Seo Ryang’s brow furrowed deeply.

Ma Dong-pil’s condition was far from what anyone could call “fine.” While there were no critical wounds, there weren’t any minor ones either. And there were dozens of such wounds.

If he hadn’t applied pressure to his acupoints in time, he would have been on death’s door from blood loss.

He turned his head to look at the True Demon Squad members.

Flinch!

All fifty-some True Demon Squad members froze in tension.

“Dong-pil.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“You held back on lethal strikes?”

“…Yes.”

“Why? Looking at your wounds, it seems they attacked without restraint.”

“They are demon practitioners of the True Demon Squad. As the Third Captain of the Law Enforcement Court, they are not targets for my blade.”

Seo Ryang observed Ma Dong-pil with emotionless eyes.

Ma Dong-pil bowed his head deeply.

This was different from when Wi Hong-ryeon had screamed at him.

With different relationships came different weight to words, and naturally, different attitudes in response. Even someone as rigid as him couldn’t help but be mindful of the situation.

Just then, Seo Ryang’s voice pierced his ears.

“That guy, he shows unexpected sides every time I see him.”

“…Pardon?”

“Smart people don’t need to be rigid, and rigid people find it hard to be smart. But you’re rigid yet not exactly lacking in intelligence.”

“…”

“Conviction and obstinacy are different. Conviction ends with personal sacrifice, but obstinacy harms others too. If I had arrived any later, none of you would have survived. Do you acknowledge this?”

“…Yes.”

“That crazy one almost died because of you too. Right?”

Truth be told, none of this would have happened if Wi Hong-ryeon hadn’t jumped in and caused chaos.

But Ma Dong-pil wasn’t the type to shift blame onto others. No, his mind didn’t even work in that direction.

Just knowing that this situation had become complicated because of him was reason enough for reflection.

“It was my oversight.”

“Right. As long as you understand…”

“Though I acknowledge my oversight, if a similar situation arises in the future, I will still act according to my principles.”

Seo Ryang’s eyes widened.

“Even while acknowledging it as obstinacy?”

“I would rather die as someone with obstinate principles than point my blade at fellow cult members. Of course…”

Ma Dong-pil smiled.

“This is assuming the opponent isn’t a criminal deserving death.”

“…Hooh.”

“My reflection is sincere. However, I too need time to reconsider what is right. Pretending to understand and agree when I haven’t truly accepted it in my heart would be lying to you, Young Master.”

Ma Dong-pil bowed his head.

“Please understand the sincerity of my conviction.”

When the Cult Leader’s disciple says something, that’s how it is. Yet Ma Dong-pil deliberately revealed his true feelings because he had developed such deep bonds with Seo Ryang.

Seo Ryang snickered.

“Well, putting that aside…”

After looking over the True Demon Squad members once more, Seo Ryang muttered quietly.

“What should I do with that one.”

Not ‘those ones.’ He wasn’t considering the True Demon Squad members, but Song Gyeong alone.

Seo Ryang walked toward the True Demon Squad members.

Confusion clouded their faces. Ma Dong-pil had called this youth “Young Master.” While this clearly meant he must be one of the Cult Leader’s disciples, they couldn’t be certain.

Either way, their leader was Song Gyeong. The True Demon Squad members spread out widely to prepare for Seo Ryang’s approach.

At that moment, intense demonic energy surged from Ma Dong-pil’s body.

Swish!

Burning demonic energy of rage. It was such intense energy that it even revealed killing intent, boiling and bubbling.

“How dare you draw your blades against the Third Young Master! Will you not show proper respect immediately!!”

His voice thundered across the area.

The True Demon Squad members’ faces turned pale. They had suspected it, but now it was confirmed – their opponent truly was one of the Cult Leader’s disciples.

Then, a suppressed voice emerged from Song Gyeong’s mouth.

“Prove… it.”

“What?”

“You call him Third Young Master, but who can be certain that he truly is?”

Ma Dong-pil’s eyes trembled. He could forgive a hundred times them swinging blades at him, but he could not tolerate such words spoken before the Young Master’s face.

“How dare you…!”

Song Gyeong burst out.

“Who are you to speak so carelessly! I am the True Demon Squad Leader! Not a name to be taken lightly by some mere Guard Captain!”

It was truly like the roar of a beast.

In truth, Song Gyeong was no less anxious.

He too understood the situation and couldn’t not know the other party was the Third Young Master. Even if there was doubt, what fool would dare impersonate the Third Young Master within the Divine Cult?

Damn it!

But he had no choice but to act tough. He knew what the Fourth Young Master Hong Wi-moon wanted.

Moreover, the Third Young Master seemed to have some kind of relationship with Wi Hong-ryeon. His ability to calm the rampaging Wi Hong-ryeon proved that.

His rage toward Wi Hong-ryeon transferred to Seo Ryang, the Third Young Master.

Regardless of the reason, the Fourth Young Master would have his back, and more importantly, his pride was too wounded to simply bow his head.

Yes. In truth, the other reasons didn’t matter.

In the end, that damned pride made him more excited than necessary and prevented him from maintaining proper bounds.

“What are you all doing?! Seize those arrogant bastards and make them kneel…”

“Would proof suffice?”

“…?”

Seo Ryang smiled.

It was a cold smile showing an extreme temperature difference from the one he had shown Ma Dong-pil.

“I’m asking if proving I’m the Third Young Master would suffice.”

“…!”

“Right. You make a fair point. How would you know to consider me the Third Young Master when you’ve never seen me? If this turns out to be a bluff, you’d be bowing to the wrong person, and learning that later would be utterly humiliating for a demon practitioner who lives by pride alone.”

“That…”

“But I have no other means to prove I’m the Third Young Master.”

That’s when it began.

From that moment, Seo Ryang’s aura began to transform.

Fwoosh.

Reddish demonic energy spreading from beneath his feet began to corrupt the earth.

Rumble. Rumble rumble.

Thunder and lightning seemed to rage across the already dark sky.

Boom!

A massive rusted iron gate, like a great mountain, seemed to slowly open.

Clank! Clank!

A massive gate bound tight with iron chains, barely opening a few inches.

The old hell gate, still bound in chains and covered in rust due to his yet incomplete mastery of demon arts, stopped there.

But that was enough.

That degree of gate opening was sufficient to show the demon practitioners here what a true demon was.

Flash!

Song Gyeong’s jaw dropped.

The True Demon Squad members’ eyes grew hazy, and Ma Dong-pil unconsciously bowed his head. Wi Hong-ryeon, sensing the unusual wave of demonic energy, froze in shock.

Whoosh!

Brilliantly blazing red demonic energy. Ominously surging bloody currents.

The true manifestation of the Dark Shadow Demonic Art, the Hell’s Official Ghost Gate Formation^[3], revealed its malevolence to the world for the first time.

Thud!

Though he only took a single step, it created the illusion of a giant moving.

Seo Ryang opened his mouth.

“Say it again.”

Whoosh.

A faint red mist seemed to spread with his exhaled breath.

“Who am I?”

Arf! Wooooo!

On a distant hill invisible from here.

A fox radiating five-colored brilliant light howled fiercely.

A sinister golden light that had somehow risen in Seo Ryang’s demon eyes flickered repeatedly, replacing their previous redness.

“Speak! Who am I!”

Flash!

“Kweeek!”

All fifty True Demon Squad members collapsed, spewing blood.

They fainted while vomiting blood without even being attacked. It was a moment when the true demon practitioner’s energy wave overwhelmed everyone.

Drip.

Bloody tears flowed from Song Gyeong’s eyes.

Song Gyeong could only stare blankly at Seo Ryang with his mouth agape.

Crack! Crack!

There was no way to know how he had aligned his bones. After adjusting his dislocated leg bones with demonic energy, he staggered forward before Seo Ryang.

Then he fell to his knees.

“…P-please forgive me.”

“That’s not the answer I want. Answer my question.”

Seo Ryang growled softly.

“Who am I?”

“Ugh.”

“I asked who I am!”

Song Gyeong squeezed his eyes shut.

“You are the Third Young Master!”

With a burst, blood exploded from his seven apertures. The storm of demonic energy pouring down like sunlight was creating terrifying pressure.

“You are surely the Third Young Master! Y-you are an exalted one of our cult!”

“…”

“This lowly one was arrogant and made a mistake! Please forgive me with your great magnanimity!”

A satisfied smile spread across Seo Ryang’s lips.

“So you acknowledge me as the Third Young Master.”

“Yes! Of course!”

“Then how should we handle your transgression of demanding proof while throwing a tantrum before me?”

“…Please kill me.”

“…”

“Please kill me!”

He seemed unaware of what he was saying. Song Gyeong’s face had turned as pale as a corpse as he shouted desperately with a heart spewing blood.

Whoosh.

Then, Seo Ryang knelt on one knee.

The two made eye contact.

In that instant, Song Gyeong was overwhelmed by a shock that threatened to send his consciousness flying.

The allure of those golden demon eyes – he desperately wanted to turn away, yet found it impossible to avert his gaze.

“I won’t kill you.”

“Ah!”

“Instead of killing you.”

Seo Ryang grinned. It was a smile that made his fangs appear particularly prominent.

“Let’s put on a show together.”

“W-what?!”

“…”

“Please give me your orders!”

Seo Ryang whispered softly into his ear. No one else could hear what he whispered to Song Gyeong.

Shortly after.

“Stop right there!”

From far away, a group dressed in black clothes rushed in.

“Oh? Your timing is impeccable.”

I was about to go looking for you if you hadn’t come.

Seo Ryang rose lightly and raised both hands with a broad grin.

“I surrender.”

“…?”

“Do whatever you want.”