200 – Price of Sin (2)

Published by moonchildkhz Just a place to dump things. View more posts11-14 minutes 24.09.2022

Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon
Chapter 200 – Price of Sin (2)
Translated by : moonchildkhz

***

When the wall collapsed, the passageway led further underground.

The Sword and Buddhist Stars, who had entered into the basement, saw the scene and made gasps of shock. 

“Hmm.”

“What is this…”

It was a terrible sight.

Dead bodies where everywhere.

The Buddhist Star could only say, “Amitabha.”

There was not a single intact corpse. Not only were arms and legs missing, the limbs themselves were torn to pieces. 

The floor was slick with blood, skulls and spines scattered here and there. 

What was more horrifying were the scars left on the walls. 

The swordsman frowned and headed to the wall to look closer at the traces. He then shouted in surprise, “This is Millenium Steel!”

These words shocked the buddhist, who touched the wall with his hands.

As the swordsman said, the wall was made of a metal known as Millenium Steel. 

Suddenly, the situation became much more ominous.

“Was there anyone who can make such a scar in Millenium Steel?”

The Sword Star examined the massive marks left all over the walls. 

It looked like a sword slash, but it was easy to discover that it was actually a fingernail scratch. 

The scars were remarkably deep too. You could not leave such a mark in the walls unless you were at least Semi-Divine!

Even more so, the scars were the height of an adult!

It was a terrifying scene.

The Sword Star looked at the mark and asked, “Can you make a mark like this?”

“Hmm,” the Buddhist Star thought for a moment, then responded, “With enough time, I can do it. I could probably make it half as deep.”

The Sword Star nodded. “I am the same.”

Half of the depth was already being generous. But what of the marks left all around where they were standing?

Moreover, there was blood on these traces. Around them were pieces of flesh. 

“These bodies, all of them were things like puppets.”

The Buddhist Star’s expression hardened. Even if dozens of corpse puppets and innocent people fought here at the same time, it was impossible to make the traces seen here, no matter how the Twin Stars thought about it. 

“What in the world happened here? Amitabha.”

The Sword Star responded with a stiff expression: “Well, one thing we know for sure is that something in this room did this and that said monster has already entered the world.”

The Sword Star moved his gaze as he spoke. 

Following his eyes, there were bloodstained footprints continuing along one side. 

They led towards the same staircase from which the Twin Stars had descended…

Boom, boom, boom-

An explosion sounded as a sword and arrow collided. With each flick of the sword, an arrow would explode. 

The repulsive force shook King Jinseong, causing him to stumble. He was unsteady on his feet, like he would fall over. Bruises and burns covered his body. 

But it was Do Jin-myung who was most injured. 

“Sage.”

At his words, Do Jin-myung barely raised his head. “Your Grace.”

Do Jin-myung’s clothes were soaked in red blood. In addition, there were dozens of arrows protruding from his back, and one hand was charred ugly. His prized weapon, the red pinewood staff, had long since broken, unable to overcome the explosive power of the arrows. 

This was all because he continued to block the arrows flying at King Jinseong. 

Boom—

Once more, the body of Do Jin-myung, who had blocked the flames, trembled.  

That was the last arrow.

It would take some time before the soldiers could reload. 

King Jinseong took deep breaths and said, “I think you have suffered too much at this point.”

At that, Do Jin-myung smiled, enduring the pain. His expression was twisted because of the pain. 

“I have had the opportunity to grow up as a martial artist and serve the true members of the imperial family. Do not be ridiculous, this is no hardship.”

“Sage.”

Do Jin-myung stood up. He put more weight on his good knee and used his good hand to straighten up. 

The soldiers who were firing the arrows looked mildly surprised. 

Martial artists were born human, but grew into monsters and spirits. But did they truly look like monsters?

“If you think about it, this martial artist named Do Jin-myung has lived a long life.”

When he learned how to fight and joined the military, when he fought on the battlefield, when he earned a title from Murim. 

The ‘Sage of Earth and Sky’ had been very concerned on where to use this name. Would he simply live as a martial artist, or did he wish to leave his name in every corner of history?

At that time, it was King Jinseong who came to find him. And with the help of King Jinseong, he became an official of the Palace, not a lord of Kangho. 

That is how he lived his life. 

If so, can I leave my name in this corner of history?

That thought came to mind. 

In the meantime, the archers surrounding them aimed their bows. 

Beyond that was the leader surnamed ‘Oh’. 

Do Jin-myung laughed, his lips curving.

It is not enough yet. This is not enough to leave my name in history. 

So what should he do? 

He turned his head and saw his lord. The man who had given him the chance to leave a name in history. 

He had to repay the man for this opportunity. 

If I send him there, I can leave my small name in every corner of history.

Do Jin-myung gathered the last of his power. 

Terminal lucidity (廻光返照) [1].

Not thinking of death, Do Jin-myung’s entire body was filled with strength. At the same time, his eyes were filled with life which was quickly burning out. 

“Your Majesty, this one shall pave the way.”

“Sage…”

“Please step on the corpse of the imposter and right the wrongs.”

“Sage!”

King Jinseong shook his head, but the Sage of Earth and Sky nodded. 

Thus, King Jinseong could do nothing but nod. “I will never forget your sacrifice.”

“That will suffice.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Sage moved. 

Why was his title the ‘Sage of Earth and Sky’?

“Today, I will bend the sky and earth with this single mortal life!”

The Sage raised his staff. A blackened fishing line seemed to protrude from his staff. 

Suabbing-

The archers near him collapsed in pieces. 

“Stop him! Release the arrows!”

The archers shot when Oh Geum-jang told them to. 

The arrows this time were all ordinary. 

Furverbuck-

The arrows embedded into Do Jin-myung’s body. 

Blood soaked the ground. 

Nevertheless, he did not stop walking. 

To make way for King Jinseong!

To right the wrongs!

And to leave a name in a corner of history, as he wished.

No, even if I don’t leave a mark in history, my name will remain in someone’s memory forever!

He was empowered by that thought. 

The arrows sticking from his back made him look like a hedgehog, but it was not enough to stop Do Jin-myung from moving. 

He continued to struggle forward. 

“Aah!”

“Growl!”

Seo-Seok-

Suddenly, the path opened up, a free stretch paved with flesh and blood. 

“Ahhhh!”

Do Jin-myung could hear King Jinseong running down the path, his feet pounding on the bloody path.

There was only one thing left!

As long as he could slit the throat of the man named Oh Geum-jang, the road would open. At that moment, Oh Geum-jang leapt forward. 

“Chaaaaaaaa!”

The spear in his hand was like an illusion. 

“I, too, am prepared to lay down my life for my conviction!”

Is that spear aura?

The spear quickly came at Do Jin-myung. Do Jin-myung used his half-broken staff to try and stop him. 

But…

“Grrrgh!”

The energy within his body could not connect properly because of his wounds. The qi flowing through his body traveled a broken path. 

I have to, I have to!

Time slowed down. Bloody tears flowed out in frustration and resentment. 

Qajik-

The spear broke the staff. The wave of spear aura broke Do Jin-myung’s weapon, but also crushed any momentum Do Jin-myung had gathered. 

“SAGE!!!”

King Jinseong cried out in a loud voice as he approached the man. 

And…

Kwawoowoowoowoo –

White spear energy, shaped like a dragon, flooded in from the sides. It swallowed up Oh Geum-jang and his spear, who was still fighting against the Sage of Earth and Sky. 

Kuakuakua—!

After that, only the traces of a giant dragon remained clearly on the ground. 

‘Flow of the Divine Dragon’. 

“You’re wasting your time in a place like this.”

It was the appearance of Woon-seong. 

The power of Flow of the Divine Dragon was amazing. 

“Ugh.”

It had to be said that Oh Geum-jang, who was nearly beaten to death by Flow of the Divine Dragon, was also unusual. 

“Urgh.”

But that was it.

The man was on the verge of death, his lower body completely lost. It had been torn apart by the overwhelming power of Flow of the Divine Dragon, completely disappearing. 

However, there was technically still a lower half, since there was bloody flesh and pieces of bone still attached to his upper body. 

“Make it stop.”

A sudden onset of pain. 

There was no one who could survive with their lower half gone. Oh Geum-jang was no different. 

The world in his eyes was blurry. 

In a world gone hazy, Oh Geum-jang saw King Jinseong. 

It was the form of King Jinseong shaking Do Jin-myung, who still had arrows stuck all over his body. 

Oh Geum-jang knew that the emperor had changed a long time ago. It was right that the true lord be King Jinseong. And he had to pay for serving the wrong lord. 

“Queek!”

Oh Geum-jang, who had lost so much blood, slowly closed his eyes and thought, With this, the price…

That was Oh Geum-jang’s last thought. 

“Hnng.”

Thanks to Woon-seong’s arrival, Do Jin-myung was still able to make noise. However, that did not mean his life was no longer hanging in the balance. 

“Thanks to the Cult Leader, my life has been extended for a short while.”

The wounds that had been inflicted were so severe that Do Jin-myung was on the verge of death. 

“Thank you, Cult Leader.”

Do Jin-myung barely opened his mouth, unable to move his body. 

Woon-seong nodded. 

It was fortunate that Woon-seong had been closeby, otherwise Do Jin-myung would have lost his life on the spot. 

“Your Majesty, it is fortunate that this one’s life has been prolonged so that I may speak with you like this.”

“Do not speak. Don’t say anything, Sage!”

King Jinseong spoke, his hands pressed to Do Jin-myung’s wounds. One wound was too severe. Blood continued to flow through his fingers. 

Do Jin-myung’s eyes gradually lost their fire. His life drained away. 

“Please, please accomplish the cause, Your Majesty.”

“Sage!”

“Do not be deceived by the crowd, but right what is wrong, and that ye may come unto the family…”

“Ahhhhhh!”

Do Jin-myung’s eyes had shut. 

King Jinseong screamed with all of his strength. 

For a moment, King Jinseong crouched there in tears. He then picked up Do Jin-myung’s staff, cradling it. 

“Do Jin-myung, I will not forget your sacrifice, nor my conviction. I will fight, just as you have. So watch over me, Sage of Earth and Sky.”

After he finished speaking, King Jinseong slowly rose to his feet. He then leaned Do Jin-myung’s body against a wall. It was in a spot where the throne room could be seen. 

It was like the dead Do Jin-myung was watching the palace. 

Only then did King Jinseong turn his head. 

Woon-seong also gripped the White Night Spear as he looked at the throne room. 

Here we are. 

Revenge was imminent.

[1] 회광반조 (回光返照); lit ‘final radiance of the setting sun’

TN: 200 chapters! Let’s go!