Reincarnation of the Fist King Chapter 55

< The King of Fists, No Choice but to Become a Demon >

Danwoo-seong walked quietly along the night road, trying to hide his presence as much as possible.

If I continued walking like this for an hour, I would reach the inner sanctuary of Guhwasan. Because the surroundings were pitch black, my sense of reality was less than usual. I simply walked silently, guided by the moonlight and the starlight that filled the air.

Suddenly, this thought occurred to me.

Why did I wake up at Guhwasan Mountain?

Why did he have to take over the body of Lee Jin-eon, who had just died?

As I walk through the darkness where I can't see anything, I feel like my soul must have been wandering around the underworld when I died.

I looked at the volcano shrouded in darkness and tried to remember what I couldn't remember.

Perhaps his own soul and Lee Jin-eon's soul had met and conversed somewhere on Mount Guhwa. Now that he had acquired his body, he couldn't remember the conversation.

.

.

.

“Your Majesty, all three clans were killed by one man. It wasn’t a swordsman or a swordsman.”

Men wearing yellow clothes came to the old shrine where Danwoo-seong had left and reported the condition of the corpses to one man.

"It looks like all the signal flares were fired from here. There are remnants left on the ground."

The commander receiving the report, the leader of the Secret Demon Corps, muttered while biting his fingernails with an anxious expression.

“Is it black?”

“I don’t know about that.”

The Bimadanju, who had spit out his bitten fingernails, looked at a corpse.

"There are many dead crew members with broken necks. They must have been trampled to death. There's no way Baekdo would fight so brutally."

The subordinates had nothing to say and waited in silence.

The Bimadanju said.

“Don’t burn the body, just bury it in one place.”

"yes."

"The operation will be halted. I will report to my superiors. After we've sorted things out, disperse and return separately."

A man said.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And give me a flare.”

The leader of the Bimadan group, who had picked up a flare, said as he climbed the mountain path.

“Let’s go back and see.”

"yes."

The leader of the Bimadan, who was running along the mountain path at a fairly fast pace, approached a large rock on the strangely winding road and pressed it down with tension. The makeshift formation was dismantled, and a small mountain lodge appeared before the leader of the Bimadan.

It has revealed itself.

The mountain lodge was already there, and a temporary camp had been set up around it.

Inside the mountain lodge, the magic masters who had surrounded the sword king and were trying to kill him were talking in low tones around the lit pavilion.

The Bimadanju said as he knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty and all the heads of the clans, I am the leader of the Bimadan, who was in command of the operation. A small group on standby was annihilated by an unidentified master. The signal flare also went off there. I have come to report to you because the operation was arbitrarily suspended."

The young man, known as the Little Princess, was wearing white and was petting a white cat in his arms.

One of the heads of the household who was chatting in the pavilion asked.

“What about the Sword King?”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Didn’t you find the one who fired the flare?”

"yes."

The heads of the large and small magic clans belonging to the Manmagung Palace looked at the young man called Sogungju.

“Your Majesty, what should I do?”

The nomads felt pity for the young princess rather than fear her. While this was an unlikely sentiment for a sorcerer, there were many instances of them feeling sorry for her.

Because Manmagung was the main force that restored the scattered and annihilated magic power over a long period of time. Furthermore, it organized the history of magic in writing, supported the family with the profits earned from various businesses, and provided food and shelter to those without any conditions.

He accepted it without any restrictions. Despite being a magician, he was also a magician who did not force a master-servant relationship.

It's no exaggeration to say that the apparent calm in the martial world was solely due to the presence of Manmagung. Therefore, the magical families gathered here are descendants of families who still hold Manmagung in gratitude.

But magic is magic.

Not all magicians could agree with those here. A force independent of Manmagung gradually gained power, eventually growing to the point where it threatened Manmagung.

The princess spoke in a calm tone.

"Seniors, it's time to go home today. I guess my net wasn't tight enough. I apologize for making you take such a reckless step."

“Your Majesty, don’t say anything.”

“Well then, let’s meet again.”

"My Princess, I won't think you've wasted your time. Invite me anytime. I'll be right back whenever you are."

The princess replied in a polite tone.

“Okay, thank you. Seniors, please take a look.”

As the heads of the Maga clans began to leave the manor in groups of one or two, the princess asked the Bimadanju, who was still kneeling.

“Bimadanju, can you catch the guy who interfered with the operation?”

The Bimadanju expressed its precise opinion.

"You seem to know how to use a flare. If you fire one at a specific location, there's a chance the expert who interfered with the operation will appear."

“What about a specific location?”

“It’s a gamble based on my instincts after examining the terrain.”

“Are you confident when you meet me?”

“I am confident, unless you are the Sword King.”

“Is it really necessary to go?”

The Bimadanju calmly answered the princess's question.

"The operation failed, and I will take responsibility. That is the way to repay the grace of Manmagung."

The young princess called out with a gesture.

“Bimadanju, come here.”

The Bimadanju approached with his head bowed and carefully sat down at the edge of the pavilion that the Sogungju was tapping with his hand.

The princess said.

“Let me see your face.”

"yes."

“Your face looks badly injured. You’ve suffered a lot because of the Heavenly Sword Alliance. During that time······.”

“No. The Princess is more worried than I am······.”

“Is there such a thing as hardship?”

"If I don't return, it would be best to leave the Bimadan affairs to the Iljojang. He has more experience than I do."

“I hope that never happens.”

“Your Majesty, please accomplish your great undertaking.”

"What a great undertaking. Surviving against the Heavenly Swordsmanship isn't easy. Go ahead."

“Yes, then.”

The man stood up and bowed. It was a strange master-servant relationship, devoid of any hint of magical power.

The princess of Manmagung was left alone in the pavilion and sighed.

At first glance, his face looked sickly. He had been ordered by his father, the princess, to imitate the plan of the Heavenly Swordsmanship, but his heart felt utterly empty. He had never been a fan of such tactics, and even that one had failed.

This siege and annihilation operation mimicked the Demon God Plan of the Cheon Geom Yeon, who had become independent from Manmagung. However, it failed to meet the Sword King, and even the demonic clans who still held favor with Manmagung were left with nothing.

The princess smiled as she stroked the white cat.

It was a strange expression that seemed to both cry and laugh.

The princess lifted the white cat she was petting with both hands and asked while looking at the cat.

“White Cat, do you also want me to become a devil?”

The white cat didn't answer.

The princess spoke to the cat again.

“The people we at Manmagung fed, housed, raised, and even gave money to, just like you, are continuing to betray us. They are now stronger than we at Manmagung. There are many people who are more capable and smarter than we at Manmagung. What should I do? They are about ten li away.

"If I crawl over there and bow down, will you spare my life? No. There's no way. Baekmyo, if the Heavenly Sword Lotus moves, you won't survive either. They don't have that kind of mercy."

The princess muttered as she stroked the slightly frightened white cat again.

“······I have no choice but to become a devil.”

.

.

.

“Master, what are you doing so late at night?”

Gasol, who was managing the household of Guhwasan, looked at Danwooseong with a surprised expression.

“I stopped by on the way. Where’s Ja-eon?”

“You go to bed early these days. Should I wake you up?”

“I will wake you up.”

"yes."

Sima Ji and Zhu Ziliang were risking their lives to teach him, so he couldn't help but fall asleep. However, since Li Ziyan was capable of hearing at least a clear conversation late at night, he opened his eyes wide.

'Big brother?'

As Lee Ja-eon rose from her bed and turned on the light, her eldest brother's voice was heard outside the door. Dan Woo-seong immediately spoke, having heard the youngest waking up from outside.

“Come in.”

"yes."

Danwoo Sung was startled the moment he entered the room and saw Lee Ja-eon. He hadn't trimmed his beard, so he looked like a stranger.

“What kind of beard is that?”

Lee Ja-eon asked.

"I raised him so I didn't have to worry about him. Brother, what are you doing out at this hour of the night? I feel like I'm dreaming."

“If anyone saw me, they would know I was crazy about training.”

“That guy is crazy about training.”

Lee Ja-eon smiled while stroking his beard.

"Oh, brother. I'm learning from the senior martial artists at Guhwasan. I'm learning swordsmanship from my master, and various other things from my private tutor."

Because he'd lived in the mountains with a caretaker, a master, and a private tutor, Lee Ja-eon couldn't help but be overjoyed to see his brother again after so long. It was a strange feeling, even though they weren't originally close. After all, they were blood relatives.

Danwoo-seong looked at the youngest as he sat down on the chair.

“Well, that’s good. I’m on my way back from participating in the Yongbong Festival.”

Izaeon's eyes widened.

“Really?”

Danwoo-seong nodded.

“I won.”

“Gasp! Winner… No, how?”

“Since we won, we won the championship.”

“Wow······.”

Lee Ja-eon's mouth fell open. The news, long overdue, brought on a strange sense of inferiority toward his now-strong brother. He was always like that. However, whenever impure thoughts arose, he remembered Sa-suk's words.

Lee Ja-eon said with an awkward expression.

“Congratulations.”

Danwoo Sung snorted a few times, dumbfounded. Still, the youngest seemed to have matured a bit. He figured Zhu Ziliang and Sima Ji were going through a lot.

“Where are those seniors?”

“There’s a small house not far away. Do you know where the waterfall is?”

“I know.”

"They sometimes stay here, but they say it's more comfortable there. They're reclusive."

“What kind of swordsmanship are you learning?”

“It’s a secret. Master told me to keep it a secret.”

Danwoo-seong nodded.

“Then I won’t ask, Ja-eon.”

“Yes, brother.”

"It's nice to see you've changed. I'll tell Hwa-eon to buy you some elixir too."

"oh!"

"Just focus on your training. Hwa-eon and I will continue to keep a close eye on the upper level."

“Okay, but you’re leaving already?”

Lee Ja-eon felt that her brother's appearance in the middle of the night was very unfamiliar and that the atmosphere was about to disappear.

"I should go. If the seniors in the martial arts world aren't asleep yet, I'll say hello and go. If they're asleep, I'll come back and say hello next time. As for you, keep growing. Sleeping well is also part of training."

"yes."

Lee Ja-eon mustered his wits to stay awake, but he was so sleepy he felt like he was going crazy. It had been a while since these brothers had had a normal conversation like this, without fighting or swearing at each other.

Lee Ja-eon was certain that her older brother, who had come to see her, did not hate her at all, unlike before.

"older brother."

"huh."

Lee Ja-eon spoke out the thoughts she had realized while being beaten countless times by Joo Ja-ryang.

"I apologize for everything that happened in the past. I did a lot of bad things."

Danwoo-seong shook his head.

"It's giving me goosebumps, so let's never have this conversation again. I've made many mistakes. Grow up."

"yes."

“Don’t come out.”

Danwoo-seong waved his hand as if telling me to lie down and headed towards the door.

Lee Ja-eon said as she ran out.

“No, but I’ll see if you go.”

Lee Ja-eon followed him out in her pajamas and walked with him to the front gate of An-ga.

Danwoo Seong said, waving his hand.

“Come in.”

“Yes, please take a look.”

As Danwoo-seong disappeared into the darkness, he asked the youngest.

“When do you think the training will end?”

Lee Ja-eon thought for a moment and then replied to his brother.

“It seems like there will be no end.”

"I get it."

Danwoo-sung went to his friends with a smile he'd never shown his younger brother. It was a response he liked.

The end of <The King of Fists, No Choice but to Become a Demon>

ⓒ Eugene Sung