WHDBFDR 27

WHDBFDR Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Master and Disciple

Chapter 27: Master and Disciple

The reason the elder masters of Silver Grove had suddenly become so active was simple…

they had made a private pact with Dam Wolrin.

The Moonlight Divine Sect would make its home here in Silver Grove and offer them protection from all dangers,

in exchange for the elders joining the cult and serving as teachers to train its disciples.

After the previous day’s encounter… with the monstrous beasts and one of the Seven Demon Lords… the elders had been forced to face reality.

After much deliberation, they accepted Dam Wolrin’s offer.

If a being like a Demon Lord were to attack, the Alliance Lord would intervene.

But what about the other times, when powerful beasts appeared that they couldn’t handle alone?

Would the Alliance Lord always come to their rescue?

It was unrealistic.

The Martial Alliance was vast, and the Lord only had one body.

Even though the elders of Silver Grove were powerful, the chaotic world they lived in was far too much for them to manage on their own.

After all, during the Great Upheaval, even the mighty Demonic Cult had been wiped out overnight.

If the Pure Fool hadn’t stepped in that day, could they have stopped the monster?

No one could say for sure. Even if they had managed, there would have been casualties.

In the end, both sides were satisfied with the arrangement.

The Silver Grove elders gained peace for the rest of their lives,

and the Cult gained excellent teachers for its disciples.

Dam Wolrin had only one condition:

“Work them hard… but don’t let them die.”

“Hmm…”

Under the moonlight, Dam Wolrin looked down from the church balcony at the cult members below,

who were running and playing a game of tag under the silvery glow.

Behind her, Blood Demon leaned lazily against the wall.

“So it’s just you and me left from the cult?”

“Seems that way.”

“You survived somehow. Not bad… for a weakling.”

“Shut it. Who are you calling a weakling? You were the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings.”

“There’s a saying: those who survive are the strong ones. So tell me… who’s still alive?”

“You’ve gotten quite the sharp tongue since we last met.”

“What matters is the present, not the past. Heard anything from the others?”

Dam Wolrin shook her head.

“I was too busy just keeping myself alive.”

“Same here. I barely escaped those monsters. I thought I was strong, but in front of those things, I was nothing. Honestly, I thought I was the only survivor of the cult.”

“…”

“After that, I just devoured every beast I could find, trying to grow stronger. But over time, their bloodlust began to consume me… I started losing my sanity. There were days I wasn’t even myself.”

“…”

“If I were as strong then as I am now… maybe I could’ve saved at least a few of the others.”

A moment of silence fell between them.

They were remembering the nightmare… the horrific scenes of believers being devoured,

their screams echoing endlessly in their ears.

A vision of pure hell.

In the past, such memories might have dragged them into madness.

But now that they had found their god again, their hearts were unshakable.

The Heavenly Demon was their hope… their unbreakable pillar.

“It feels like a dream. That the Alliance Leader truly lives.”

No matter how terrible the past, the future now seemed bright.

“That’s enough. Shut your mouth. I’m tired of listening.”

Dam Wolrin’s tone was cold.

“You think you’re the only one who regrets? You think you’re the only one who suffered? Stop whining.

At least I never lost my mind to the point of confusing beasts with humans.

You call yourself one of the Seven Demon Lords, and yet… pathetic.”

“You’re as cold as ever, huh? Not very welcoming to an old comrade.”

Blood Demon shrugged, though a faint smile played on his lips.

“Comrade? You’re still under me, you arrogant subordinate. That’s never changed since the day you crawled into the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“Didn’t it change from the Sun and Moon Cult to the Moonlight Divine Sect?”

“Even so, my position hasn’t changed. As the Heavenly Strategist, I’m still number two… second only to the Alliance Leader! The Alliance Leader’s right hand! The one above all others! You think some mere Heavenly King can take my place?”

“Tch.”

Blood Demon clicked his tongue in annoyance. After a brief thought, he asked:

“Then… the positions of the Left and Right Moon Envoys are vacant, right?”

“For now.”

“Then I’ll take the post of Left Moon Envoy.”

Dam Wolrin shot him a brief glance.

Blood Demon grinned proudly.

“What? Whether he’s dead or alive, the Mad Demon’s seat is empty, isn’t it?”

“Do as you like. I don’t care.”

“Ha, perfect. ‘Left Moon Envoy’… has a nice ring to it.”

“Stop smirking and go help the others. It’s a direct order from the Alliance Leader.”

“Yeah, yeah, stop nagging.”

Blood Demon placed one foot on the railing.

“Let’s see if there’s anyone down there worth keeping an eye on.”

A crimson blood-bird shot into the night sky.

—

“Huff! Huff! Granny! Why are you doing this?!”

“Hehe, Deokjo, this is all for your own good.”

“What the hell does that even mean?!”

Panting, Paeng Deokjo finally stopped, clutching his sword hilt.

When he turned, Granny Okbun was approaching leisurely, hands clasped behind her back.

“Did everyone else run off?”

Shing…

Deokjo slowly drew his blade and took his stance.

“Come on, Granny. I’m not holding back just ‘cause you’re old.”

“Hehe, that’s my Deokjo.”

“Say hi to Grandpa up in heaven for me!”

“You insolent brat. Looks like I’ll have to fix that foul mouth of yours.”

The rogue and the old woman charged at each other.

—

-Heheheh.

-Hohoho.

-A newcomer, huh.

-An Awakened one?

-Seems like it.

-An amusing ability indeed.

From deep within the forest, eerie voices echoed.

It was impossible to tell where they came from…

they were coming from every direction.

“Son of a… !”

Kim Bunshin was on the verge of tears from sheer frustration.

Sure, he’d come here because of that threat, but what the hell was this now?

Why were those old geezers chasing him?

Even using his clone ability to dodge and run, they somehow stuck to him like ghosts.

-Young man, where are you rushing off to?

-Oh? That’s our spot, you know. You’re coming right to us.

-We appreciate it, truly.

“What the hell are these old freaks!?”

Weaving through the trees and changing direction again and again, Kim Bunshin finally stopped in a moonlit clearing.

“Huff! Huff!”

Three old men appeared from different directions… he was surrounded before he realized it.

“What’s that brat’s title?”

“They call him the Clone Master.”

“An Awakened with clone powers… how fascinating.”

“Doesn’t seem to know any martial arts, yet he’s a Gold rank.”

“Shows promise.”

“Just a little guidance and he’ll hit Platinum in no time.”

Click!

In an instant, Kim Bunshin split into eight copies and pulled a gun from his subspace artifact, aiming at the old men.

“You think I’ll go easy just ‘cause you’re old!?”

“Ohh, eight of him?”

“Impressive.”

“Seems he multiplies exponentially.”

“So that means sixteen next?”

“Hiding his trump card until the very end… how admirable for a true fighter.”

“Enough talk! Die, you ghostly geezers!”

Kim Bunshin unleashed a barrage of bullets.

“Yaaahhh!”

Tat-tat-tat-tat!

The muzzle flashed without pause as brass shells clattered to the ground.

After what felt like forever, when the echoes of gunfire finally faded…

“…Did I get them?”

-Heheheh.

-Hohoho.

-Keheheh.

Chills ran down his spine.

The laughter came again, from everywhere.

The elders, who had vanished like ghosts, appeared once more… like ghosts.

“My, my. You didn’t even know firearms are forbidden in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament?”

“To not know the basics… how troublesome.”

“We’ll have to teach him properly.”

“Indeed. That’s a teacher’s duty, after all.”

Out of ammo, Kim Bunshin swung the rifle wildly, screaming.

“Aaagh! I’m not joining any damn Dragon-Phoenix Tournament!”

“Young man, that’s not really up to you.”

“That’s just how the world works.”

“The fastest way to learn is through pain, no?”

“Indeed. That’s been the cure since ancient times.”

The eight Kim Bunshins threw aside their guns and charged at the three elders.

“You damned old farts!”

“Die!”

“Raaagh!”

Kim Bunshin and his clones rushed the three elders two or three at a time… but he was still just an untrained civilian.

The “teachers,” blocking their eager attacks with ease, decided to give their “disciple” a proper lesson.

Whack!

“Gaaah!”

“Haha, this brings back memories. My own master used to beat me like a dog every summer day.”

“Indeed. That’s how one learns.”

“With eight of him, his learning speed should be eight times faster, eh?”

“For such a promising student, we should speed up the process.”

The three elders merrily began pummeling the eight Kim Bunshins.

“Gyaaaaah!”

And since there were eight of him… he got beaten eight times as hard.

—

“Huff! Huff!”

Like the rest of the assassination squad, the youngest member, Jegal Samdol, had been running for his life.

Breathless, he stopped halfway through the forest trail.

Behind him, an old man stepped out from the shade of a tree.

“Damn! So this is as far as I go!”

Jegal Samdol growled, frustration in his voice.

The old man looked at him for a moment, then clicked his tongue.

“This one’s hopeless.”

With that, the old man turned away, disappearing into the woods in search of another target.

“…Huh?”

Jegal Samdol stood frozen, feeling an inexplicable pang of rejection and loneliness.

—

“Haa… Looks like I’ve shaken them off for now.”

Nam Dusik let out a long breath.

Truthfully, it was more accurate to say he’d been let go.

After all, he was already Platinum rank… there was no need to rush him.

And besides, even the elders of Silver Grove wouldn’t dare hold back against Namgung’s Sword.

He was already a top-tier late-stage martial artist.

Breaking through the wall of mastery was something only he could accomplish…

no outsider’s advice could change that.

“I can’t figure out why those elders suddenly started acting like this.”

Nam Dusik made his way to the training ground where he always practiced his swordsmanship.

Drawing his blade, he stared into its mirrored surface.

“…The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.”

Even without the Moonlight Divine Sect’s involvement, he’d planned to participate.

Because…

‘My brother will be there, won’t he?’

Clench…

Just thinking of him made his grip tighten and old humiliation surge up again.

But he knew the gap between them hadn’t shrunk… it had grown.

His half-brother was a genius who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts at just twenty.

The pride of the Namgung clan.

The future of their house.

“Haaap! Haah!”

Nam Dusik swung his sword madly, trying to cut away his doubts and frustration.

Even if he fought his brother as he was now, he would lose easily.

And with years having passed, that difference must have widened to an insurmountable gulf.

Worse yet, no matter how hard he tried, the wall of mastery refused to crack.

The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament was only a week away.

“Haa… haa…”

His shoulders trembled. The tip of his sword drooped.

“…What the hell am I supposed to do?”

That familiar sense of helplessness returned.

He could almost hear the sneering voices, the cold looks from above.

… Get lost. You’re not worthy to bear the Namgung name.

“You there. Are you the Bloodflower Sword?”

Nam Dusik flinched and turned toward the voice.

The Pilgrim was staring straight at him.

He hadn’t sensed a single presence…

Truly befitting of one counted among the world’s top twenty-five fighters.

…Even if he was one of the Seven Demon Lords.

Still, Beyond Heaven rank was Beyond Heaven.

A being on par with the Alliance Lord himself.

Nam Dusik straightened and answered politely.

“Yes, that’s me.”

The Blood Demon tilted his head.

“Why the name ‘Bloodflower Sword’? Your blade doesn’t scatter petals like those Mount Hua fools, and I sense no bloodlust from it.”

“Ah, that… it’s because of my shirt, I think.”

“Your shirt?”

“Yes.”

“What about it?”

“Well… you see, I’m wearing this red flower-patterned shirt. It used to be white, but people said it turned red from my enemies’ blood, and so…”

The Blood Demon gave him a long, pitying look.

Nam Dusik shrank a little under that gaze, feeling somewhat wronged. After all, nicknames weren’t something one chose for oneself.

“I heard your in-game handle is ‘IWillNotLose.’ Is there someone you want to defeat that badly?”

“…Yes, there is.”

“Speak.”

Nam Dusik, his heart heavy, confessed honestly.

“I have an older brother. The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament is coming up soon, and I’m sure he’ll be participating.”

“Mhm.”

“He reached the peak at just twenty years old… a prodigy. Ever since childhood, while I needed ten lessons to grasp one thing, he mastered ten things after learning just one. I can’t imagine how far he’s advanced by now.”

“Heh.”

The Blood Demon snorted, amused. Then, seeing Nam Dusik’s puzzled look, he gestured.

“Go on.”

“My brother is one of the strongest contenders for victory. Meanwhile, I’m still stuck before the wall of mastery. I’m certain he’ll win the Gathering.”

Nam Dusik bit his lip.

“…I can’t see any way to beat him.”

He bit so hard that blood trickled from his lip.

“But even so… I want to win.”

Nam Dusik raised his head and met the Blood Demon’s gaze.

“Do you think someone like me is pathetic, senior?”

The Blood Demon stared at him in silence for a moment, then finally spoke.

“How long until the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament?”

“One week remains.”

The Blood Demon extended his hand.

In his palm, a crimson blood flower began to bloom.

“What do you think?”