Chapter 56: Memories


    The vivid image of a man coughing up blood and copsing reyed itself over and over in my mind.<blockquote>


    Keuk


    The mans wounds were fatal. The gaping hole in his chest meant that not even the gods could save him now, but nheless, the man struggled to rise to his feet using a broken dao as support.


    It was Master Crazy Demon.


    I wont let it end like this Keuk! he coughed, throwing up blood yet again.


    Read this at , or else.</blockquote><blockquote>


    Seeing this, the Bandit King approached, shouting, Hold still, dumbass, Ill close that wound!


    The Crazy Demon nced down at the hole in his chest, and smiled bitterly. Dont, Im fine.


    How the fuck are you okay?


    Move out of the way, the Crazy Demon suddenly said, kneeling on the ground.


    Startled, the Bandit King stepped aside.


    Slowly, the Crazy Demon bowed his head, facing the direction of the Hyonwon n. Father. Mother. Hyung-nim. My siblings. My rtives In this life, I dont think I can repay the favor you have bestowed upon me, he mumbled in a hoarse, cracked voice.


    He then raised his head and gazed at the cloudy night sky, tears of blood streaming from his eyes. If I could be reborn I would repay the favor I couldnt repay in this life.


    You son of a bitch! Dont leave me a stupid will! Youre not dead yet!


    Why arent you reading this at ?</blockquote><blockquote>


    Hey, bandit.


    What, you crazy desman!


    The Crazy Demons eyes shifted from the Bandit King to me. Thank you for your help.


    Youre so Hey, wake up! Wake up! Wake up!


    The Crazy Demons eyes, which had gradually clouded over the past few minutes, becamepletely lifeless, and his body fell helplessly to the side.


    I shuddered.


    AHHHHH! You fucking Blood Cult bastards, Ill kill you all! The Bandit Kings wails echoed across the battlefield.</blockquote>


    Hyung-nim Hyung-nim?


    I opened my eyes to find three concerned faces looking down at me. The present felt unreal, like a blurry mix of past and present.


    Ak Yeon-Ho studied my expression carefully and asked, Are you okay?


    Im fine, I just got drunk faster than usual today.


    That day, Master Crazy Demon, Master Maeng, Master Sword Saint, and Master Eun had all died right in front of my eyes. I was the only person in the world who knew their fate, their sacrifices, and the role they yed in the Blood Cults downfall.


    Im sorry, but I think Ive had enough partying for today. You guys continue without me, I said, rising from my seat.


    Ak Yeon-Ho nodded. Yeah, you should go inside and get some rest.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Its your first day on the job, so you must be exhausted, Myeong Il-Oh added.


    As I walked out of the inn, Jaegal So-Yeong followed me, a look of concern on her face. Did I say something unnecessary? she asked.


    No, its not your fault. I just suddenly felt sick.


    A-Are you really unwell? Do you want me to escort you home?


    <em>Her obliviousness is endearing, but if I want to get my message across, it seems that Ill have to speak bluntly.</em> I smiled weakly at her and firmly said, Thank you, but no. I just need a minute to myself.


    I-Im sorry, I didnt catch the hint again


    No, Im the one who should be sorry for causing you distress. See youter. I waved Jaegal So-Yeong goodbye.


    As I wandered alone through the night streets, I organized my jumbled thoughts.


    <em>The decades-old enmity between the Hyonwon n and Hebei Peng n which began with the Crazy Demon, and the fake Crazy Demon who single-handedly destroyed the Hyonwon n.</em>


    <em>Even if by some miracle, Master Crazy Demon came back from the dead, there is no way he would do such a thing. So who could it be? An impostor who resembles Master so much that the Hyonwon n Head mistook him for his own brother</em>


    <em>It was probably easy to mimic Master Crazy Demons physical appearance using masks or bone maniption, especially since he hadnt been seen for decades. No one would notice a small discrepancy, not even his closest  wees you.</em>


    <em><em>The problem is his martial arts. The Crazy Demons martial arts are too powerful and unique to imitate. Not only would the imposter have to be a martial master, hed also have to be familiar with the martial arts of the Hyonwon n No, but even then, the Asura Blood Heaven de is</em></em>


    <em>All of a sudden, the realization hit me like a hammer blow.</em>


    <em>No way</em>


    <em><em>Theres only one organization in the world capable of such deception. The one that made Cheong Cheon learn the Blood Rain Demonic Art and gave Wiji Cheon the fake Unlimited Sword. The one that imprisoned Master Crazy Demon for over a decade and stole his martial arts!</em></em>


    <em>The Blood Cult!</em>


    <em>Had they been in hiding all these years, plotting theireback? If so, the annihtion of the Hyonwon n must have been payback for what we did to them that day.</em>


    <em><em>If Im right, Master Crazy Demon wont be able to close his eyes in death.</em></em>


    <em>Haa I sighed. Fate was a cruel mistress.</em>


    <em><em>Maybe Im wrong. Maybe it was just someone with a personal grudge against the Hyonwon n. Regardless, it doesnt change how I feel.</em></em><blockquote>


    <em>I dont regret what I did, but if I could reincarnate I would return the favors I could not repay in this life.</em></blockquote>


    <em>Why arent you reading this at ?</em>


    <em><em>By the standards of the orthodox sects, Master Crazy Demon, who had shed a lot of blood for no reason other than to perfect his martial arts, was clearly evil. Even so, that doesnt mean he should be punished for sins he didntmit.</em></em>


    <em><em>Should he go down in history as one of the greatest evildoers of all time? Isnt being locked up in a prison with no light and having nightmares for decades enough to make up for it?</em></em>


    <em>Suddenly, I recalled my first meeting with Hyonwon Kang. The moment I saw him, I thought that Master Crazy Demon had reincarnated. They were just so simr!</em><blockquote>


    <em>Hey! Did you just call me the Crazy Demon?</em></blockquote>


    <em>He was a raw gemstone with immense potential, yet unable to polish himself due to circumstance.</em><blockquote>


    <em>Get the fuck out and leave me alone!</em></blockquote>


    <em>As I walked back to my new lodgings in the Azure Dragon Academy, my thoughts revolved around these the man and the boy from the Hyonwon n.</em>


    <em></em>


    <em>Y arent you reading this at ?</em><em>


    Mmm Water


    Hyonwon Kang woke up with a hangover. His head was pounding, his vision was spinning, and his limbs felt like jelly. He knew that a quick breakfast would cure his hangover, but he didnt feel like getting up.


    GULP GULP GULP.


    After downing a pitcher of cold water, hey back down and stared nkly at the ceiling.


    Crazy.


    The ceiling seemed to warp, transforming into the face of a somewhat deranged pretty boy new instructor whod dered him a genius.<blockquote>


    I know about the rtionship between your Hyonwon n and the Hebei Peng n.</blockquote>


    So what if you know about it?


    This is a non-profit trantion. You should not be seeing ads.


    If Baek Su-Ryong truly understood how much the Hyonwon n relied on the Peng n, how a word from a mere Peng n elder could make the head of the Hyonwon n tremble in his boots, then he should know that something like that should not be talked about so casually.<blockquote>


    Whether youve given up mastering martial arts because you think its meaningless, or you feel that even if you master it, youll still end up as a Peng nckey, youre a fool.</blockquote>


    Shut up.<blockquote>


    Youre not even that talented.</blockquote>


    Shut up.


    For as long as he could remember, all of his martial arts teachers had called him a genius. He was used to it. Yet, no matter how strong he became, he would always be a pawn of the Peng n, a tool to be wielded by someone like Peng Sa-Hyuk.<blockquote>


    Our martial arts is iplete. No matter how hard we train, the peak level is our limit.</blockquote>


    Hyonwon Kang recalled his fathers facea face that had aged prematurely, worn by constant deference to the Peng n.<blockquote>


    If only the Heaven Splitting de or the Earth Shattering de could be fully restored</blockquote>


    His father often sighed as he drank ale at night. Once, when he got found out, his father had looked at him with guilt and fervently apologized, Im sorry, son, theres not much I can do for you


    You dont need to do anything.<blockquote>


    Are you enjoying yourself at the Azure Dragon Academy? Are you getting along with the Peng ns Young Master?


    Read this at , or else.</blockquote><blockquote>


    Yes. We get along <em>just fine</em>, Hyonwon Kang replied, smiling.


    His fathers worried expression faded.</blockquote>


    Dad, I have no intention of bing a loyal dog of the Peng n.


    <em>Better to be a wretch so pathetic, they wont even look at me.</em>


    Just then, Baek Su-Ryongs annoying face resurfaced in his mind.<blockquote>


    If you continue living in Peng Sa-Hyuks shadow, the Hyonwon n will always be dogs of the Peng n.</blockquote>


    Shut up! Shut up!


    Hyonwon Kang leapt to his feet. He felt that if he remained in his room, Baek Su-Ryong would keeping to haunt him.


    <em>Im going drinking.</em>


    He changed out of his pajamas and left the dormitory. Today, he would go to a cheap bar and drink until he was delirious.


    However, as he tried to exit the academy, something flew toward him from behind.


    This is a non-profit trantion. Ads? What ads?


    SPLAT!


    He dodged, only to see a ball made from a pigs dder fly past him andnd in the mud.


    Sorry!


    <em>Who the fuck is ying ser at this hour Shit, its them.</em> Hyonwon Kang scowled.


    Hey, delinquent from the Hyonwon n, Peng Sa-Hyuk shouted.


    Hyonwon Kang ignored him and tried to walk away.


    Pick up the ball next to you and bring it to me.


    Are you deaf, or is the Hyonwon n making a killing these days?


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Haa. Hyonwon Kang sighed and kicked the ball toward Peng Sa-Hyuk.


    The ballnded neatly at Peng Sa-Hyuks feet, but instead of thanking him, Peng Sa-Hyuk frowned disdainfully, Oi, what is this attitude? Are you fucking kidding me?


    He kicked the ball hard.


    BOOM!


    The ball flew out of the academy.


    When your master orders you to fetch him the ball, you should politely bring it back with both hands. Now, do it properly this time. Peng Sa-Hyuk smirked.


    Hyonwon Kang hesitated. Normally, he would have ignored Peng Sa-Hyuk or started swearing at him. After three years of doing the same thing, it should have been easy <em>Yeah, right. No way it was ever easy. The simple fact that Ive endured this shit quietly for three years, Three. Whole. Years. is so funny that I want tough. No, maybe I should do exactly that.</em>


    HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


    Whats wrong with him?


    I think hes still drunk.


    Hyonwon Kang wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and turned toward Peng Sa-Hyuk, saying, Hey, Peng Sa-Hyuk.


    What? Peng Sa-Hyuk was bewildered.


    Hyonwon Kang drew his dao. Lets fight for the first time in a long while.


    What!?


    We havent sparred since we were kids, right? Hyonwon Kang grinned maniacally.


    Have you finally gone nuts?


    What, are you afraid youll lose to me and cry like a baby?


    Bring it on, asshole.


    Momentster, two dao-wielding students shed in the training grounds.</em>