Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 12

The Three Kings’ Disciple (13)

012

* * *

“Hahaha! Eat your fill! Since you’re our young lady’s benefactor, feel free to ask for anything!”

Kang Han-cheol, with a genial smile, urged them to eat.

Currently, Rowoon, Kang Han-cheol, and Kang Eun-ha were seated in a banquet hall within the Kangha Group building, prepared for their reception.

Delicious-looking dishes were spread out on the large table.

*Chomp.*

Rowoon picked up a piece of food and ate it without hesitation.

“Oh ho! You’re quite something! Don’t you even consider the possibility of poison?”

Kang Han-cheol laughed heartily at the sight.

“Of course, there’s no poison, so feel free to eat as much as you like!”

“Poison doesn’t work on me anyway.”

*Chomp.*

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper meal; it’s delicious.”

Kang Han-cheol’s eyes darkened as he looked at Rowoon.

Before coming to the banquet hall.

‘What is his purpose in coming to the Blood Cult?’

The intense encounter in the lobby.

It was a volatile situation.

If Rowoon had made a rash move, the Blood Cult’s elite assassins, the Dark Blood Unit, stationed in the lobby, would have moved to kill him.

However, Kang Han-cheol couldn’t help but chuckle at Rowoon’s subsequent words.

‘Is this how the Blood Cult treats its benefactors? I’m hungry, let’s eat first.’

Whether he was unaware of his situation or had lost his nerve.

Kang Han-cheol, taken aback by his calm response, ended up laughing and preparing a place for him in the banquet hall.

‘The colleague killer, Rowoon.’

He knew the story about him.

That’s why he was even more curious.

There was no information anywhere that Rowoon was related to the Blood Cult.

He had quickly looked into it when he heard he was coming here, and it was known that he had been used as a slave in the Mount Hua Guild for five years and had died recently.

‘It’s definitely inner energy.’

The Rowoon who had reappeared had a completely different personality and appearance from what was known to the world, and he possessed the power of a martial artist, not a player [a person who uses a system interface to gain power].

Moreover.

‘What is his true identity?’

There was something that piqued Kang Han-cheol’s interest.

He knew that Rowoon possessed inner energy [internal energy cultivated through martial arts], but he couldn’t easily guess its level.

‘He’s definitely not above me, but…’

There was no common way to hide one’s energy to this extent.

If there was one, it would be.

‘Is he really a cultist?’

It was only a special method passed down within the Demonic Cult.

“If there’s anything you need, just say the word!”

“More meat.”

“Kuhaha! Bring more meat!”

Kang Han-cheol wasn’t the only one observing Rowoon.

‘Ho ho.’

Rowoon was also observing Kang Han-cheol.

Kang Han-cheol, the guild master of the Kangha Guild.

He was known as an S-rank ranker, a player.

However, the energy he felt from him now was clearly inner energy.

‘He’s a martial artist.’

Inner energy, the energy of silver.

And that wasn’t all.

‘His level is also off.’

An S-rank ranker, which in martial arts terms, would be the Hwagyung realm [a high level of martial arts mastery].

Of course, that wasn’t wrong, but to be precise, Kang Han-cheol’s level was the peak of Hwagyung.

A level just before the high ranker, known as the Hyeonkyung realm [a realm of martial arts mastery above Hwagyung].

A level slightly ahead of his own in the past.

“I heard that our young lady, who went on a mission without telling me, received your favor. If there’s anything you want, I’ll grant it. Just say the word.”

Kang Han-cheol said, looking at Rowoon as he ate.

“Of course…”

The atmosphere changed.

A slightly heavier, hotter feeling.

“Before that, there’s something you need to promise me.”

*Swish.*

Rowoon wiped his mouth, stained with grease and blood, and replied.

“Are you asking me to join the Blood Cult?”

“That’s right. From what I’ve heard, you seem to know quite a bit about us. Can you explain how that is? Surely…”

Kang Han-cheol’s eyes deepened further.

“I’ve never heard of the colleague killer, Rowoon, being a cultist.”

Their eyes met.

“Perhaps, did you become a cultist while working at the Mount Hua Guild’s corpse disposal site?”

“Hmm. You could say it’s similar.”

“In that case…”

Kang Han-cheol now uttered his final words.

“You were asked if you were from the Cheon family or the Hyeol family, which side are you on?”

The Cheon family and the Hyeol family.

It was also a way of dividing the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Blood Cult.

They shared the same root, the Demonic Cult, but now, they were completely separate organizations with different meanings and powers.

“I can say I’m on the Hyeol family side now.”

“Now? Well, we can hear the details later!”

Kang Han-cheol smiled again.

It was because a problem that seemed troublesome was quickly resolved.

“I’ll accept you as an official cultist. After that…”

“State what you want first.”

Rowoon interrupted Kang Han-cheol.

“Give it all up.”

“……”

Currently, only Kang Han-cheol, Kang Eun-ha, and Rowoon were seated in the banquet hall.

However, an even more secretive energy was targeting Rowoon from all directions of the banquet hall.

It was to kill him immediately if Rowoon did anything unnecessary.

“You’re incredibly presumptuous.”

Kang Han-cheol’s low voice echoed through the banquet hall.

“But I don’t dislike arrogant men that much. The fact that you came here knowing this is the mouth of a dragon is something I appreciate.”

In a low, serious voice.

“Everyone, step back.”

Kang Han-cheol ordered.

*Swish.*

Unlike with Kang Eun-ha, no one disobeyed.

The energies that had filled the banquet hall vanished in an instant.

“They’ve all stepped back. I can even show you if you don’t believe me.”

“No. It’s fine. I’ll state my purpose.”

*Clink.*

Rowoon put down his fork and said.

“The position of Blood Demon, you must give it up.”

It was the moment Rowoon’s words reached their conclusion.

*BOOM!*

The long table they were sitting at exploded in an instant.

“You’ve finally crossed the line.”

Amidst the fragments of the shattered table, Kang Han-cheol, engulfed in red flames, glared at Rowoon, emitting an energy that seemed to burn everything.

“Grandfather!”

Kang Eun-ha tried to stop him, but it was no use.

“Young lady, please step back!”

“……!”

“You know, don’t you? The sin of daring to speak of the Blood Demon’s name is something even you cannot protect him from.”

Looking at Kang Han-cheol, who seemed ready to burn down the entire building.

*Swish.*

Rowoon stood up.

* * *

Kang Han-cheol.

The energy he emitted was the peak of the Hwagyung realm.

In terms of Demonic Path standards, it was the peak of the Extreme Demon [a high level of demonic martial arts mastery].

A ranker just before the high ranker.

However, Hwagyung and Extreme Demon were not just different names.

‘The Extreme Demon is…’

When reaching the extreme, one could unleash power that momentarily surpassed their level.

That was the Demonic Path, the Demonic Art.

In other words.

*Gooooo!*

The Kang Han-cheol before him was a powerful figure who could draw out power at the level of a high ranker if necessary.

On the other hand, what about himself?

He had defeated Kim Shin-hong, his enemy, at the Mount Hua Guild’s monster corpse disposal site.

That guy was an S-rank ranker, and even at the mid-level.

But that was.

‘It’s because my compatibility with him wasn’t good.’

Kim Shin-hong, who had leveled up by riding the bus like the nouveau riche children of Ahn Min-hong’s group.

Moreover, for a tank like him to shine, he had to be with several dealers.

Also, Rowoon had been in a party with Kim Shin-hong for a long time and had a thorough understanding of his habits and way of thinking.

That’s why he was able to deal with him easily.

To judge himself coldly.

‘Mid-level of the Extreme Demon.’

That was his level.

He had absorbed the blood of the Shiyong and undergone two transformations, becoming a Dragon Bone Body, and had reached almost the end of the third stage of the Blood Demon Divine Art, the Black Blood.

However, not all of that power had settled into his body yet.

No matter how fast his progress was, he lacked absolute time.

‘Unless I can use martial arts.’

He was certain that he would lose if he fought Kang Han-cheol now.

“Are you going to use a weapon? I’ll give you one if you need it.”

“I can’t use it right now. It’ll be a big problem.”

“Huh.”

Even so, Rowoon calmly faced Kang Han-cheol.

“Are you not even taking a stance?”

The battle stance to unleash martial arts.

That was the starting stance, but Rowoon was just standing still.

“I can’t use martial arts either. That’ll also be a big problem.”

“You…”

*Gooooooo!*

Kang Han-cheol’s energy surged even higher.

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

The floor, walls, and ceiling of the banquet hall, which had been built with such a fight in mind, began to crumble under Kang Han-cheol’s energy.

“You’re mocking me.”

“It’s not a lie. It’s the truth.”

“If that’s the case, since you have nothing to prepare, come at me first. Considering the favor you did for my young lady, I’ll give you a three-second head start.”

Rowoon curled up the corners of his mouth with sleepy eyes.

“Is the Blood Cult such a fair and square place?”

“Know that it’s because I’m treating you as a guest, not an enemy I have to eliminate.”

*Smirk.*

Rowoon’s smile deepened even more.

It was still interesting.

‘That’s how the world is.’

The Demonic Cult, known for treating human lives like mere blades of grass, and incomparable to any red player or villain.

They were more plausible than the righteous guilds known for their fairness.

The world was such a place.

The opinions created by the powerful occupied the absolute majority, and it always solidified as the truth.

“Grandfather…! Let’s talk a little more…”

Kang Eun-ha stepped forward to stop Kang Han-cheol.

“Young lady.”

However, Kang Han-cheol seemed unable to consider Kang Eun-ha any further.

“Please step back.”

“Grand…”

“If you want to save that man, you should do so even more.”

Seeing Kang Han-cheol’s burning eyes, Kang Eun-ha eventually stepped back.

Even so, Kang Eun-ha sent a look towards Rowoon.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’

Even though he had mentioned the Blood Demon, Kang Eun-ha was still on his side.

Was this a reward for being a benefactor?

It was only a short relationship, and although he was called a benefactor, he hadn’t actually done anything to help her.

Even so…

“Esteemed guest! Please say you misspoke right now!”

She was still trying to save him, and her appearance was pitiful.

“What is it about that man that makes you go this far! Young lady!”

Kang Han-cheol wouldn’t understand either.

But that’s why Rowoon liked Kang Eun-ha even more.

Kang Eun-ha was not acting like this because of a short relationship or a favor that didn’t even exist.

‘Instinct.’

And it was her intuition that was moving her.

The Blood Cult was flickering like a candle in the wind.

Her whole intuition was screaming that he was the one who would save the Blood Cult.

Her instinct was telling her not to go against him.

It was only natural.

Her identity was.

“Was she a priestess?”

A shaman who served the gods, a priestess.

“Youuuu-!”

Kang Han-cheol, who had said he would give him a three-second head start, could no longer hold back and was rushing towards Rowoon.

It was because he could no longer tolerate Rowoon, who had mentioned the Blood Demon and even discovered the identity of the priestess.

The fist of burning flames was growing larger and larger.

It showed that Kang Han-cheol, who had been far away, was now close enough to touch.

*Thud!*

The cheap hoodie was burning away, unable to withstand Kang Han-cheol’s flames.

“Nooo-!”

Kang Eun-ha shouted, but it was too late.

Kang Han-cheol’s fist had already reached Rowoon’s nose.

‘Killing move.’

A move used to kill the opponent.

The flames, filled with killing intent and Kang Han-cheol’s inner energy, seemed as if they would literally incinerate Rowoon’s head.

If.

*Thwack!*

If Rowoon hadn’t moved.

Kang Han-cheol’s absolute fist, which seemed to crush everything, was blocked by a black barrier.

*Sizzle!*

The flames of hellfire that seemed to burn everything were extinguished.

In front of Rowoon’s eyes, a black barrier blocked Kang Han-cheol’s fist.

*Whoosh-!*

The black liquid that had spread from under Rowoon’s feet gathered under Rowoon and Kang Han-cheol’s feet.

“……!”

Kang Han-cheol’s eyes, who had thrown the punch, were shaking violently.

“Do you understand now?”

Rowoon reached out a hand, clenched it into a fist, and said.

“I am the Blood Demon.”

*Whoosh-!*

The black blood that had spread out gathered again and swirled around Rowoon’s fist.

*Thump!*

An impact that seemed to shake the banquet hall.

Kang Han-cheol knelt down and bowed his head, saying.

“I, I greet the Blood Demon…!”

Still filled with disbelief, unable to believe it.