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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Arrival of the Flame Emperor
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"I, Ha Song, pledge to serve you as my lord!"
Ha Song said, looking up at me.
For a moment, I saw the faces of my brothers from my past life superimposed over his.
They too had followed me with such fervent will...
I helped Ha Song to his feet and said,
"'Lord'… It's not bad, but it's not something an instructor should say to a cadet. Until I leave the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon, treat me like any other cadet."
"But how can I…"
"Then, do you wish to make me uncomfortable?"
"I would never…"
"Then do as I say."
"As you command!"
Telling him to treat me casually, and he responds with 'As you command!'
*Glare.*
Ha Song, realizing his mistake, corrected himself.
"Understood. Cadet number 1390, Maeng Ak."
After getting used to being called 'lord,' being called 'cadet' didn't feel so great.
I was about to say it would be fine when we were alone, but another thought occurred to me, and I changed the subject.
"When we're alone, you can call me lord… Wait, that's not important right now. How are you going to handle the consequences of ending the first test early on your own authority?"
Ha Song hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Actually, I was prepared to pay the price with my life…"
But his words were cut short by the shout of a man who had suddenly appeared behind him.
"What did you just say!"
The man was a master of at least the transcendent level. For some reason, he looked extremely furious.
'That head…!'
The moment I saw the man's completely bald head, I recognized him.
He was one of the martial artists I had seen in the diagram of the Demonic Cult's power structure I'd gotten from Dang Hyeon-woo. He was a close aide to the Cult Leader, a man known as the Left Guardian, the Flame Emperor.
Startled by the sudden appearance of someone behind him, Ha Song spun around.
And as soon as he recognized the man, he clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Gasp! Maste—no, Left Guardian, what are you doing here?"
"That's not important, you fool! Repeat what you just said to that cadet. I must have misheard you."
From their conversation, I could deduce the relationship between the two.
'Just now, Ha Song almost called the Left Guardian 'Master.' Was this the master he mentioned? How unexpected.'
Facing the Left Guardian, whose eyes blazed with an axe-like ferocity, Ha Song broke into a cold sweat, deliberating.
Then, after a quick glance at me, he seemed to make a decision and opened his mouth.
"You did not mishear me. Seeing you here, you must already know. I ended the first test on my own authority. It was a clear abuse of power and an unforgivable act. Therefore…"
"So you intended to pay with your life? Ha! Don't make me laugh. You think your life is your own to give? You're wrong. I laid claim to your life that day, so it is mine."
"I won't say you're wrong. But I had a good reason."
* * *
Ha Song tried to placate the Left Guardian's anger, but the man had already closed his ears in fury.
"Hmph! Is this how you repay my kindness? I will personally deliver the punishment for your mistake. I will tell the Cult Leader that ending the test early was my order. However, you need to be taught a lesson by me! Follow me!"
The Left Guardian began to draw upon his inner energy, as if to drag him away by force if he refused.
The heat radiating from his reddened bald head was proof.
The immense pressure made the air heavy. An undeniable presence emanated from his entire body.
But Ha Song did not back down easily.
"Master! I apologize, but I have things to do here. And how could I let my sin bring trouble to you, Master? The crime I committed! Let me deal with it myself!"
"This insolent brat!!!"
In the end, the Left Guardian channeled a portion of his gathered energy into his right fist and threw it straight at Ha Song.
Ha Song, being so close, didn't dare to even think of dodging and squeezed his eyes shut.
It was a truly volatile situation, a touch-and-go moment.
Time seemed to slow down for Ha Song.
But there was nothing he could do.
Finally, the fist made contact.
*CRACK!*
*Pant! Pant!*
As his sense of time returned to normal, Ha Song let out ragged breaths. But for some reason, his body was unharmed.
He opened his tightly shut eyes, but his vision was obscured by the dust kicked up from the impact. Yet, there was truly no pain.
'What just happened?'
*Whoooosh.*
He could feel his master's aura growing even stronger.
Thanks to that, the dust settled, and his blurry vision cleared.
'My lord?! How on earth!'
In his cleared line of sight, to his astonishment, was his lord, Maeng Ak, matching strength with his master.
Their fists were locked together.
A thrill ran through Ha Song once again. To think his lord, whom he had considered to be on his level, had blocked an attack from one of the cult's greatest masters.
Even being on par with him was incredible, considering his young age.
Weren't even the six Rising Stars, selected by the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates and the Cult Leader, still a little lacking compared to him?
And yet, his lord, an orphan, was not only stronger than the Rising Stars the cult had poured its heart into raising, but he had also blocked an attack from a supreme master.
'My lord is someone far beyond what the likes of me could ever presume to judge...'
Ha Song felt grateful to his past self for pledging loyalty. The sight of Maeng Ak's back, as he threw himself forward to block the attack for him, was deeply moving.
What kind of martial artist, especially one from the Demonic Cult, would throw their body on the line for a subordinate!
Especially when their master-servant relationship was a secret between them and had only just begun.
He was a man of great character, one who would risk himself for his people.
Ha Song wasn't the only one surprised by Maeng Ak.
The Left Guardian was also greatly astonished.
So astonished, in fact, that his boiling rage cooled in an instant.
'It wasn't a killing blow, but it was still not something a mere cadet should have been able to block... His potential is even greater than So Ryong's.'
So Ryong was the Rising Star chosen by the Cult Leader.
He was a young boy with a small frame, but he was given that name because of his immense talent with the sword.
And yet, this boy is even more outstanding.
It was hard to believe.
'Shall I test him?'
*Chaaang!*
The Left Guardian, the Flame Emperor, drew the saber from his waist. That action alone caused his aura to swell dramatically.
His inner energy seemed to have doubled.
Even Maeng Ak was slightly impressed by the intimidating presence.
'Hoh. So this is a close aide to the Cult Leader. He's better than most of those Orthodox Faction pansies.'
The 'pansies' he referred to were the leaders and elders of the Nine Sects, One Union and the Five Great Clans of the Orthodox Faction.
No one would dare call them that, but Maeng Ak, who had crossed hands with all of them in his past life, was an exception.
*Shing.*
Maeng Ak drew his sword as well. It had been at his waist ever since he woke up in this new body.
'It's been a long time since I've held a sword.'
If he had an Indestructible Body like in his past life, having mastered the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger, he wouldn't have needed a sword.
But his new body had only just begun to adapt to the divine arts. There was a limit to facing a saber with only his bare fists.
Still, he had handled all kinds of weapons during his time as a bandit in the Green Forest, so it didn't feel awkward.
Moreover, as he gripped the sword, the sword forms and internal arts used by this body's original owner came to mind.
'Hoh. This is unexpected.'
In that brief moment, Maeng Ak scanned through the memories. It wasn't a divine art, but it was a decent martial art nonetheless.
'The original owner must have been quite skilled. It makes sense, considering he had a fair amount of internal energy in his dantian for an orphan.'
Now, it was time for them to test each other.
Maeng Ak, the martial arts that had come to him; the Flame Emperor, the cadet who had piqued his interest.
"Haaah!"
With a kiai directed at each other, they swung their weapons downward.
It wasn't a fight to the death, so neither of them poured all their energy into the attack or used their ultimate techniques.
They chose the simplest and most obvious forms from their repertoires, as if sizing up an opponent in a spar.
But the power behind the blows was anything but simple.
The moment their weapons met, the air exploded.
*CLANG! CRACKLE!*
The first strike was an even match.
That alone was enough to make the Flame Emperor's lips curve into a smile.
'Hoh. Even though I wasn't using my full strength, to think he would meet my attack head-on instead of dodging.'
Greed stirred within him.
A talent even greater than his current disciple, So Ryong, whom he had thought to be an overwhelming genius.
'Just a little more...!'
The Flame Emperor unknowingly poured more of his inner energy into his attack.
It was already an attack far too heavy for a mere cadet to handle, and now it had become even stronger.
Befitting his title of Flame Emperor, his saber began to spew fire.
*Fwoosh!*
Seeing this, Ha Song, who had been watching, cried out.
"Master! That's too much!"
He didn't want his lord to be seriously injured.
Especially not at the hands of the master to whom he was indebted.
Thanks to him, the Flame Emperor finally noticed his own competitive spirit and tried to withdraw his energy.
But Maeng Ak refused.
"Ha Song! Shut your mouth!"
Then, he swung his sword with even more fervor than the Left Guardian.
Maeng Ak was a warrior forged through a life as a ruffian and a bandit. His competitive spirit was second to none in the martial world.
Just by the glint in his eyes, one could tell he was enjoying this more than the Left Guardian.
And his swordsmanship was as formidable as his overflowing fighting spirit.
Of course, the energy imbued in the sword was that of a mere cadet.
However, the skill with which he wielded it was beyond imagination.
Looking at technique alone, it was at a level no one would ever attribute to a cadet.
*Swish!*
The sword, containing only half a cycle of energy, moved faster than the saber of the Flame Emperor, a man estimated to be at least a transcendent master.
And.
*CLANG!*
He struck the saber upward with a heavy blow.
It was too fast to be a heavy sword, too heavy to be a swift sword.
It was a sword style that exquisitely blended the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger, the forms the original body had learned, and demonic energy.
Maeng Ak moved as if he were a peerless master creating a new martial art from a fresh enlightenment.
He handled the sword while feeling every minute muscle with delicate precision.
As if engraving it into his mind.
'Green Forest Demonic Sword.'
Maeng Ak gave a name to the new sword style he had created.
The Flame Emperor, who had the honor of being the first to experience the Green Forest Demonic Sword, was bewildered.
It was just a spar with a cadet, so why was he being reminded of his rival, the Right Guardian?
The question arose.
However, Maeng Ak's sword was too fast for him to find an answer to that question right now.
*Swish.*
He exquisitely aimed for the opening created by the upward-flung saber and moved in.
The Flame Emperor evaded the sword by pulling back his right foot, which had borne his weight, and turning half a circle.
To any observer, it was a perfect response.
But the Flame Emperor didn't think so.
'For me, the Left Guardian, to retreat from a cadet's sword. Even if I wasn't using my full strength...'
The Left Guardian decided that he would have to increase his training time when he returned to the Cult Leader's hall.
'He looks out of breath, but it seems that boy is also hiding something. This is my loss.'
For a martial artist of the Demonic Cult, the Left Guardian was too good a person.
He was in too high a position to acknowledge a mere cadet, but that was no obstacle for him.
"Let's stop here. You've won."
"…?!"
Ha Song almost fainted. Even if he was his lord, wasn't he still just a cadet?
And yet, with the Flame Emperor's words, it was as good as him having won against the Left Guardian.
Of course, it wasn't a life-or-death duel, but it was still an incredible feat.
Especially the sword style Maeng Ak used near the end; if he had been the opponent, he would have surely been defeated.
For someone so young, it was an absurd level of skill.
However, Maeng Ak himself was nonchalant.
"How anticlimactic. Well, I'll consider it a good lesson."
"…?!"
At his lord's ridiculously curt reply, Ha Song once again faced the crisis of fainting.
Considering the difference in their statuses, Maeng Ak's attitude was so disrespectful that he wouldn't have been able to complain even if his head were chopped off on the spot.
But his master took even that in stride.
"Hahahaha. You must have been quite disappointed. To land a blow with your tongue, at least. Yes, you have earned the right to do so."
Finishing his words with a hearty laugh, the Flame Emperor looked down at Ha Song and spoke again.
"Ha Song. I'll hear the details from you later. Thanks to you, I had a good experience, so I won't punish you. You should thank that cadet."
"Master, does that mean?"
"I will speak to the Cult Leader and smooth things over for you. But there won't be a second time."
Having let go of his anger, the Flame Emperor decided to protect Ha Song, his former disciple.
He didn't want to throw away the good feelings he'd gained from the spar with Maeng Ak just to quibble over the rights and wrongs of a minor incident.
"Thank you!"
"Hmph! I told you to thank that cadet."
The Flame Emperor turned from Ha Song, who was cupping his fist in respect, and addressed Maeng Ak.
"Cadet, your name?"
"It is Maeng Ak."
"A fine name. Do you belong to any faction?"
"Being born into the Divine Cult is more than I deserve. If you ask for my affiliation, it is the Divine Cult. That alone is enough."
The Flame Emperor's question was an offer, and Maeng Ak's answer was a polite refusal.
An answer that could, in a way, be taken as disrespectful.
But the Flame Emperor seemed to have taken quite a liking to Maeng Ak and didn't see it that way.
"Hoho. How admirable... A cadet with deep loyalty to the cult."
"I am only grateful for your favorable view. However, this humble one has something to ask."
Ha Song's heart clenched at his lord's way with words, always walking a fine line. Whether he knew it or not, Maeng Ak continued.
"You said that I was the victor, Left Guardian."
"And?"
"So, surely you can grant me one small request, can't you?"
*Thump!*
At those words, Ha Song's anxious heart finally dropped.
To refuse an offer and then unabashedly ask for a favor.
'Does my lord have guts of steel, or no sense at all...?'
This time, even the Flame Emperor seemed a bit irked, his eyebrow twitching.
However, he grew curious about what the cadet who had even refused his own offer could possibly want.
"Speak."
Maeng Ak pointed at Ha Song and asked.
"Do you remember what you said to that man before you gave me a lesson?"
"What?"
"About his life.
You clearly stated that you had taken his life."
"And?"
"Give it to me."
"…!"
At Maeng Ak's audacious request, both the Flame Emperor and Ha Song's eyes widened.
A brief silence fell.
But it didn't last long.
Because the Flame Emperor, after a moment of thought, broke the silence with a loud laugh.
"Hahahahaha! So you've managed to win this fellow's heart. Yes, nothing else would make sense."
Seeing Ha Song remain silent even when he asked for his life, the Flame Emperor deduced their relationship.
And seeing neither Maeng Ak nor Ha Song refute it, he was certain.
The Flame Emperor grinned at Ha Song and said.
"Very well. He was of no use to me anyway, so you can have him."
The Flame Emperor now noticed that the turbidity in Ha Song's aura had vanished.
'He must have been a good influence on him.'
Ha Song had once been a precious disciple, but he didn't feel it was a waste.
Because he could feel the deep loyalty in Ha Song's eyes as he looked at Maeng Ak.
Before leaving, the Flame Emperor asked Maeng Ak one last question.
"Alright, I suppose I can go now. Ah, I almost forgot the most important thing. Why did you enter the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon?"
He could feel a hot energy begin to boil from the Flame Emperor's entire body once more.
As he asked the final question, a fierce light gleamed in his eyes.
Right now, he was not Ha Song's master who saw Maeng Ak favorably, but the Left Guardian, the Flame Emperor, a close aide to the Cult Leader.
He was ascertaining whether Maeng Ak would be an obstacle to So Ryong, whom the Cult Leader was grooming to be the next Young Cult Leader.
*Gulp.*
Unlike before, he felt a pressure on a completely different level from the man, who was now drawing on his full power.