WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Asakusa
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◈ A Wandering Warrior's Survival Guide ◈
Chapter 53: Even a Madman Has His Class
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The rumors reached Han So-gyeom as well.
It was possible because he had been closely watching information from that area, but every report left Han So-gyeom unable to hide his dismay.
“...What? Baekseok First Devil?”
Han So-gyeom slapped a hand to his forehead with a sharp smack.
“I told him to find out whether they were connected to the Demon Cult, not earn himself a devilish epithet, you bastard...”
At the time, Han So-gyeom did not know that Cheon Hwi’s straightforward approach would become an excellent method for skipping several difficult stages of infiltration and verification at once.
* * *
Yu So-myeong, the White Lantern Envoy, came to the inn where Cheon Hwi was staying that evening.
As though the inn belonged to Cheon Hwi alone, no one remained inside, not even the proprietor or the waiter.
Cheon Hwi spoke first.
“The White Lantern Envoy of the Bright Light Cult, huh. I don't know what you are exactly, but you seem quite different from the Demon Cult I've heard about. You even run relief kitchens and hand out porridge.”
Yu So-myeong shrugged as if he had no time to concern himself with such matters, then got straight to the point.
From the moment Yu So-myeong had openly mentioned demonic arts to Cheon Hwi, he had not truly doubted Cheon Hwi’s identity. More precisely, he did not care even if Cheon Hwi was a spy.
Perhaps that was why he was so direct.
“Have you perhaps already learned a demonic art?”
Cheon Hwi shook his head.
“I haven't.”
“That is strange. I can clearly sense demonic qi in your aura.”
“I've heard that a few times.”
An old table stood in the corner of the inn.
The dim lamplight illuminated Yu So-myeong’s pale face.
“Then how do you possess such dense demonic qi? It is plainly qi from our side.”
“The truth is, I came here because I wanted to know that myself.”
Yu So-myeong leaned closer with interest.
He raised his teacup to his lips and stared at Cheon Hwi. Cheon Hwi’s eyes did not waver. They had been the same when Yu So-myeong first saw him at the shrine, but now Yu So-myeong was certain.
‘A lackey or spy planted by the orthodox sects would normally spin long excuses to prove his innocence.’
Yet all Yu So-myeong sensed from the wanderer before him was a martial artist’s thirst to command the demonic qi flowing through his body and grow stronger.
“The hypocrites of the orthodox sects slander our martial arts and inner cultivation methods as demonic arts, but we call them heartfire. It is a noble martial path, one that burns the flame in the deepest part of the heart to gain power at the extreme. Do not the martial arts of the orthodox and unorthodox factions compare the dantian to water and droplets?”
Cheon Hwi nodded.
“Rather than handling water, is handling fire itself not closer to the essence of martial arts? They strive to deny it, but whether one calls the dantian a well or something else, what kindles the fire and spreads inner qi is ultimately a flame. Is it not?”
“So you're saying they're all selling similar things under fancier names.”
Yu So-myeong’s brow twitched.
It was not so simple as calling one thing by different names, but Yu So-myeong did not bother to explain.
“Well, you will learn that in time. What matters is that our cult can place strength in your hands. Do you desire strength?”
Cheon Hwi nodded.
Yu So-myeong held up two fingers. He intended to present Cheon Hwi with two paths that would bind him. At the same time, it was a test to measure Cheon Hwi’s caliber.
“I will give you two choices. The first is to enter the Dawn Sun Gate as a trainee of its guest branch. Learn the Dawn Sun Inner Cultivation Method, the Radiant Sword Art, and the Flowing Light Steps. Slowly prove your loyalty to the cult, have your talent acknowledged, become one with us, and lay the foundation for learning demonic arts. If it is you, you will likely receive the cult’s summons naturally enough.”
In other words, it was a path that required a long time of loyalty and proof of faith.
Not the slightest interest appeared on Cheon Hwi’s face.
“And the second?”
“The quicker path is to leap directly into the cult’s demon practitioner selection test.”
“Hmm.”
“Talented unorthodox martial artists who have scraped by across the Martial World, bloodthirsty members of the Black Path, assassins, even monks who have broken their vows. We will gather people of every kind who possess talent in one place and have them fight a slaughter battle. Only the handful who survive will be summoned directly into our cult.”
A clear smile spread across Yu So-myeong’s lips as he described the second method.
Cheon Hwi could practically smell blood in that smile.
‘So this is it.’
From that smile, Cheon Hwi gained some sense of what sort of world he was about to step into.
Having finished his explanation, Yu So-myeong examined Cheon Hwi’s expression through the lamplight.
His intentions were clear. If Cheon Hwi had chosen the first, safer path, Yu So-myeong would have tested his talent suitably before throwing him in as a sacrifice for the growth of other demon practitioners.
A true demon was one who swallowed fear and stood above it, not one who compromised with fear or stepped back from it.
Yu So-myeong tested Cheon Hwi’s mettle.
“What do you say? Will you step into a deathtrap where your head may roll as soon as tomorrow?”
At that moment of choice, Cheon Hwi answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Neither appeals to me.”
“You want neither? Yet you say you want demonic arts.”
“They both leave much to be desired. They are both too slow.”
“...Both are too slow?”
A strange light flashed in Yu So-myeong’s eyes. None of the martial artists he had tested before had given such an answer.
“If I must choose one, I would choose the second. But that path is still a roundabout way.”
“Roundabout?”
“That is how it appears to me. I was wondering whether there was a faster, more certain way to learn demonic arts.”
“A method more certain than the second?”
“There was a peculiar place name in the ledgers. It said that everyone who entered failed to come back out.”
“...Don't tell me.”
“Black Flame Cave. Take me there. We can discuss whether this is an entrance test or some gu poison ordeal afterward.”
The moment Black Flame Cave was mentioned, Yu So-myeong’s expression changed completely.
“...I admit that your caliber is exceptional. But do you even know what you are saying?”
“How could I?”
Yu So-myeong continued.
“They say it happened when our cult set out to conquer the Central Plains. At the time, there was an absolute master called the shadow of the Heavenly Demon, who reigned as the cult’s second-in-command. The Demon Venerable.”
‘The Demon Venerable.’
An unexpectedly weighty name had suddenly appeared.
“The Demon Venerable personally led the cult’s elite forces and took the vanguard in the Orthodox-Demon War. As a result, they were critically wounded in a brutal bloodbath. After ripping every last Central Plains pursuer to pieces, they secluded themselves in a deep gorge of the Taihang Mountains. Believing it too late to return, the Demon Venerable supposedly left behind their supreme martial arts and every insight honed over a lifetime within a cave.”
“Does something like that still remain intact?”
“If you ask whether it remains intact, I must say no. By the time the cult discovered the place and restored it, it had long been so horribly damaged that the cave itself had collapsed beyond recognition. Still, there were places where several hidden passages remained.”
“That is Black Flame Cave?”
“That is correct.”
“If it is so remarkable, why did none of your cult members go there and learn from it?”
“Because every talent who entered that cave seeking to learn it was consumed by inner demons, lost their sanity, and died mad. Since I pity you, I will add one more thing. It is something of an experiment. To determine whether those truly are mnemonic formulas left behind by the Demon Venerable, or merely meaningless fragments.”
“So you pushed promising people off a cliff to find out whether there was treasure at the bottom or merely empty nonsense?”
Yu So-myeong nodded without any attempt to hide it.
“You still intend to go, knowing that?”
Cheon Hwi grinned and nodded.
“Of course.”
There was no reason not to try.
At that attitude, Yu So-myeong inwardly marveled at Cheon Hwi’s exceptional talent. Yet another thought followed. Was it truly acceptable to leave someone with such talent to die?
“Guiding you there will not be difficult. But... you have already internalized an unorthodox inner cultivation method. Which means...”
He leaned forward and spoke with emphasis.
“You will certainly die.”
“Probably.”
“...Probably? The moment the inner cultivation method you learned mixes with demonic arts, your blood vessels will twist and burst, and you will die the most painful death imaginable. Do you intend to go despite knowing that even those who learned demonic arts could not endure it? It seems you do not fear death.”
Cheon Hwi answered immediately, without a moment’s thought.
He had already experienced his blood vessels bursting to death several times while trying to digest the Black-Shell Softshell Turtle Elixir. Of course, being consumed by demonic arts would likely feel different.
“I do fear it. But I fear dying without uncovering this constitution of mine, as nothing at all, even more.”
“...!”
Yu So-myeong’s eyes widened at the madness visible in Cheon Hwi’s gaze.
How many people had Yu So-myeong met who knew nothing and were merely full of bravado? Countless self-proclaimed unorthodox scum screamed in anguish, blaming Yu So-myeong when death truly approached. But Cheon Hwi before him...
‘This one is real.’
He possessed the composed madness found only in a few exceptional demon practitioners.
‘I cannot tell whether he is insane or simply stupid.’
But one thing was certain.
Even madmen had their ranks. To Yu So-myeong, Cheon Hwi was a high-grade madman, someone born with the qualities to become a true demon practitioner.
* * *
That night, Yu So-myeong began climbing the Taihang Mountains with Cheon Hwi. They entered along an abandoned mine shaft, came back out, and crossed several mountain ridges.
Then Yu So-myeong stopped before another abandoned mine and spoke to Cheon Hwi.
“I go no farther.”
“You are not coming with me?”
Yu So-myeong hesitated briefly before shaking his head. Fear showed in his eyes. He was afraid.
“I go no farther. Once you enter, if you have the talent, you will soon reach Black Flame Cave. For your information, inside...”
Without even hearing Yu So-myeong’s advice to the end, Cheon Hwi adjusted his bamboo hat and walked straight into the abandoned mine.
Watching Cheon Hwi’s back as he walked away, Yu So-myeong felt something strange.
The man who had asked moments ago whether Yu So-myeong would not enter, and the back of Cheon Hwi walking silently into the mine, seemed like different people.
No, in that instant, Cheon Hwi’s aura had changed entirely. The clear demonic qi rising from his body made Yu So-myeong instinctively draw his head back.
‘...Why has his demonic qi grown another level denser than before we climbed the mountain?’
Yu So-myeong simply did not know that Cheon Hwi, turning his back and walking inside, had already repeated death dozens of times.
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