In the current Martial World, what is the hottest topic?
It’s the Mosan Great War.
The Heavenly Demon Sect, pretending to expand its influence within the Martial World, suddenly struck like lightning with the Brain Knife Outcast, who had been acting as if there was discord with the sect, and attacked the Blood Sect’s stronghold, Mosan, dismantling it.
Both the Se-in and the Martial Artists were shocked to learn that the Heavenly Demon Sect, which they had thought of as a mad group, was pulling off such a smoke screen operation. They were further amazed that the Brain Knife Outcast and the Heavenly Demon Sect had pinpointed the Blood Sect’s stronghold, a place where a historically significant sect was established, and they were utterly dumbfounded by the fact that this stronghold was situated in Mosan.
With a single clash, the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Brain Knife Outcast had defeated the main force of the Blood Sect, leaving everyone in awe of their might.
Mosan Great War had become an amalgamation of shocking news that had startled the entire world multiple times, so wherever three people gathered to talk, the war was sure to come up.
Interest in the Mosan Great War among the Se-in was growing hotter by the day.
Only rumors about the results had circulated, and since those who had witnessed the event were only the seers of the Martial World, the exact situations were hardly known.
Thus, the Se-in eagerly joined in speculating about the events of the Mosan Great War, gathering all the rumors—true or false.
In a gambling house in a certain district of Seoan, the tales surrounding the Mosan Great War, the Brain Knife Outcast, and the Heavenly Demon Sect were unavoidable. They were even more excited discussing the war since it had happened right before their eyes.
“Well now, Mosan isn’t far from here, is it? I never imagined there were so many Blood People lurking so close by.”
“Sigh. I’m worried that the remnants of the Blood Sect who fled during the night might come back home.”
One guy was whining when another shouted back.
“Hey, buddy! What does it matter if some Blood Persons come into your house when you spend every night at the gambling house?”
The shouter’s tone drew laughter from the others sitting around the gambling table.
After a while bantering about the Mosan Great War, the gamblers naturally shifted their conversation to their favorite topic: gambling.
“I hear the Brain Knife Outcast is quite good at gambling?”
“Rumor has it, he cleaned out Gilu’s entire game in one night.”
“I wonder if he’s really that good at gambling.”
“Apparently before he got famous, he was lurking around the gambling houses in Sacheon every day, so it can’t just be empty rumors.”
“Have you heard that the Heavenly Demon allowed only those who won in dice gambling at the Yunnan banquet to drink?”
“I have! Seems the Martial Experts lined up to roll the dice.”
With not many Martial Experts enjoying gambling, Wi Seoryeon and Ho Cheon-an were regular topics among gamblers.
“Hmph! Martial Experts are all so predictable when it comes to gambling!”
Of course, not all gamblers viewed Ho Cheon-an and Wi Seoryeon positively. Generally, Martial Experts tended to look down on gamblers who honed their skills exclusively in gambling techniques. Many gamblers disliked the duo simply because they were known as Martial Experts and gamblers.
“Gambling is a technique! The fear of being harmed is why you let them win, not because Martial Artists are good at gambling!”
“Well, that’s true.”
Gamblers often had experiences of purposely losing to Martial Artists out of fear due to the knives they tucked at their sides. They nodded along with the excited gambler’s words.
Suddenly, the excited gambler shouted.
“Heavenly Demon! The Brain Knife Outcast would be no match for us real gamblers if they faced off!”
At that moment.
Bang!
The door to the gambling house swung open violently.
Six gamblers from the underground gambling house, specially summoned by Wi Seoryeon, including Jeon-ip, stepped in.
Although they were all a bunch that knew nothing of martial arts, they exuded an aura that was anything but ordinary, instantly silencing the place.
The six Martial Artists surveyed the gambling house, and people swallowed dryly, their eyes glued to the entrance.
Step. Step.
Audience members began to feel a chill running down their spines as they noticed someone leisurely making their way through the dark night.
Piercing through the veil of darkness, the ominous energy was accompanied by glowing red eyes!
“Heavenly Demon…”
At one horrified confirmation, everyone turned pale.
“I hear something interesting.”
As Wi Seoryeon walked into the gambling house, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, nobody felt any alleviation in their tension.
“There is someone here who thinks they can defeat me…”
With leisurely steps, Wi Seoryeon took a seat at the gambling table where the excited gamblers had just been sitting.
“Well then, prove it.”
The gambler who met Wi Seoryeon’s gaze trembled, turning as pale as a sheet.
“P-please… forgive me!”
“No need to be so scared. I dislike loudmouths, not those who possess skill. If there is someone with talent in this gambling house, that would be delightful.”
Wi Seoryeon was keen on facing off against a capable gambler. She nodded with a smile. Sure, that would be an exhilarating way to enjoy herself and experience the vastness of the world.
Just imagining it was already making her mood light up.
Wi Seoryeon looked intently at the gambler.
Given Wi Seoryeon’s reputation alone didn’t suffice, mentioning the proven ability of the Brain Knife Outcast Ho Cheon-an sparked expectations that this gambler might indeed be skilled.
“Ah, ahh…”
However, the expression of the excited gambler, and indeed everyone present, could only be interpreted as contemplating ‘how to kill this arrogant one.’
“Alright then, let’s see those skills.”
Wi Seoryeon picked up the dice and cup from the table and offered them to the gambler. The gambler could hardly refuse and took the cup and dice, but…
Clack. Clack!
It wasn’t the sound of teeth clattering, but rather the dice and cup colliding as the gambler trembled like a leaf.
Wi Seoryeon frowned at the cowardly display but decided to be understanding.
After all, they had been minding their own business when suddenly they found themselves playing dice with the Heavenly Demon. How shocking and bewildering that must have been!
So, Wi Seoryeon thought she would bolster the frightened gambler’s courage.
Recalling the advice of the Black Cat, she opened her mouth to speak, “Don’t worry, if you lose but show me corresponding skill, it will just be a night of fun. Even if it’s not martial arts, winning against the Heavenly Demon at the peak of something like Ten Thousand Mountains is still a glory worthy of praise, right?”
The gambler, whose face would not have seemed out of place if they had just passed out, gradually relaxed. Really… was she not there to harm him?
Feeling the atmosphere lightening, Wi Seoryeon thought again of the Black Cat’s advice. The aura of the Heavenly Demon was dreadfully intimidating; a bad joke might lighten the mood a bit.
“Well, if you’re worthless, I might just have to consider cutting off your ears for not hearing the rumors right or severing your tongue for speaking foolishly.”
Wi Seoryeon chuckled at that.
However, the gambling house fell silent, even the sound of a dropped button could be heard. Wi Seoryeon tilted her head at this reaction. Was that not funny?
“It seems my joke didn’t land at all.”
An eager gambler, under Wi Seoryeon’s gaze, trembled as he forced a smile.
“Ha. Ha. Ha! Hahaha!!”
“HaHaHahaHahaha!!”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Soon, the gambling house filled with laughter, and Wi Seoryeon nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Then let’s get started.”
The hellish gambling round, where the survival of tongues and ears was at stake, began.
*
“And that’s what happened,”
“Oh… I see?”
After returning from visiting his grave, expressing gratitude to Hyeok Gi-rin, and accruing one confession and a slap from the Black Cat, I returned to the camp of the Heavenly Demon Sect, where Wi Ji-cheon informed me about Wi Seoryeon’s news.
Wi Ji-cheon scowled at my response, unimpressed.
From my perspective, it was quite unfair.
Was it my fault that the bandaged Wi Seoryeon went off to a city nearby to enjoy gambling?
“I’m not so free as to be cleaning up after Wi Seoryon right now.”
Well, that’s true.
After the Mosan Great War, there were countless things to handle, and more than anything, having realized the truth of the stars, I needed time to solidify that understanding, too.
Having soared through the sky and unfolded the Heavenly Demon’s three seasons meant at the very least I had perceived truths equal to or greater than the original Heavenly Demon. Although it seemed to have evaporated, organization was essential.
Moreover, after accepting the Black Dragon Qi, Wi Ji-cheon had awakened after breaking the curse of the Black Dragon after a long time.
He had achieved the second awakening from Black Dragon Heavenly Demon to Cosmic Heavenly Demon, a first in the history of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
On top of that, I had also emerged from the trial of the Black Dragon with only the secret text, which could be considered a first as well.
Passing through the Black Dragon’s trial and receiving the Black Dragon Qi had immediately expanded the transition branches from the singular path of the Black Dragon Heavenly Demon to two new branches: Saint and Cosmic Heavenly Demon! There was suddenly a massive upheaval in the transitions for the Heavenly Demon!
Establishing those paths would undoubtedly also be a task for the Heavenly Demon.
“So you’ll need to take that child with you.”
Lost in thought and nodding, I was interrupted by Wi Ji-cheon’s bombshell announcement.
“Excuse me?”
Who am I supposed to take with me?
I looked at Wi Ji-cheon with confusion, basically questioning if I had heard him right, but Wi Ji-cheon calmly replied.
“You’ll need to travel for a while anyway, right? I don’t know what your future plans are, but at the very least, you’ll be stopping by the Tang Clan and Jeomchang, and you should probably visit the Sacheon Martial Forest Alliance in Hunan as well.”
“Ugh.”
I had no choice but to let out a groan at Wi Ji-cheon’s predictions. Expressing gratitude to those who’ve helped me in the process of eradicating the Blood Sect was non-negotiable.
“Yunnan is becoming a friendly force, and I owe a debt to the Kunlun in Cheonghae as well. So if I engage in dialogue with the Martial Forest Alliance along with the Blood Sect, I would say the Heavenly Demon Sect’s diplomacy could be considered somewhat successful. I have a mountain of work waiting for me back in Xin Gang, so you’ll be in charge of Seoryeon.”
“No…”
“You mustn’t forget that whether you like it or not, you are a saint of the Heavenly Demon Sect and a member of the doctrine. That Seoryeon will be fine taking care of herself unless it’s regarding gambling. So just make sure she doesn’t cause trouble with gambling—understood?”
But this is still too much.
Imagining the headache that would arise from entangling with the reckless, wayward Wi Seoryeon was incredibly vivid in my mind, and accepting that burden was unimaginable.
“But still, this is…”
Before I could argue,
Flap!
The tent flap of Wi Ji-cheon’s quarters burst open, and in walked Wi Seoryeon. Wrapped in bandages, a strong smell of medicine wafted off her, yet her ominous eyes shone brighter than ever.
“What’s the hold up, Ho Cheon-an? Let’s leave right away!”
“…Huh?”
What do you mean, leave immediately?
The sight of her black cart visible through the tent flap, still fluttering open, sent chills down my spine.
“Ah! Thinking of traveling the world and challenging gamblers across the land makes my heart race with excitement already!”
Oh, for crying out loud.
I shot a glare at Wi Ji-cheon, who nodded as if my suspicions were correct.
“I’ve already informed Seoryeon.”
I was set up!
“How exciting! Hahaha! Let’s depart immediately!”
I had no choice but to set off for Sacheon with the wayward, brazen Wi Seoryeon riding the black cart.
