Disciple Of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 57

The Three Kings’ Disciple (58)

057

“Haa.”

As he exhaled, his body twitched.

The fine hairs on his skin stood on end, then settled, and his skin briefly took on a deep, dark hue.

“Hup.”

But when he inhaled again, all the changes in his body ceased.

Even his chest, which should have risen and fallen with his breath, remained still.

At first glance, it seemed as if he had died while sitting there.

Then, he opened his eyes.

Whoooosh-!

Burning demonic energy filled the chamber.

The dark chamber was instantly engulfed in red flames, which grew larger and larger without stopping.

Finally, the color of the flames changed from red to blue.

Zzzzzzz.

It had transformed into white flames that melted even rock.

The heat still soared without ceasing.

But at some point, the flames that had filled the chamber vanished in an instant.

No.

It could only be thought of as having vanished.

Not even a small spark could be seen inside the chamber.

Pitch-black darkness.

Flames that swallowed everything, so dark that their color could not be seen.

“So, it’s the Blackening.”

It was the Blackening.

The fourth stage of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art [a powerful martial arts technique].

He had reached the supreme level, just before the final stage, the Sacred Flame.

With a gesture of the man’s hand, the dark flames devoured everything around them, then returned to the man’s hand.

The man, Lee Ro-woon, clicked his tongue as if disappointed and rose to his feet.

“It was not enough.”

He had begun practicing the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and attacked the gates for faster progress.

After that, he fought with Haenam in the East Sea, and also fought with the Iron Sword and Do Cheon.

The incomplete Heavenly Demon Divine Art continued to destroy and regenerate his body every time he moved, and the abundant inner energy that had filled his blood core seeped into the middle core, newly located near his solar plexus.

But even that was not enough to reach the final stage, the Sacred Flame.

‘I’ll need a little more time.’

What Lee Ro-woon was doing was not pioneering a new realm, but regaining a lost one.

Whether slow or fast, time would solve it.

To shorten that time, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art required him to actually move his body, not just meditate through breathing exercises.

Training his body in seclusion was also a method, but that alone would not be enough to quickly shorten the speed of his progress.

Colliding with something and reading and applying the information of its body was also necessary for the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

“It’s time to go out.”

His long hair had grown out.

As Lee Ro-woon took a step, his hair began to shorten.

His hair was trimmed to a suitable length.

Only then did Lee Ro-woon, as if satisfied, place his hand on the huge rock blocking the entrance of the chamber.

Whoosh!

The rock began to melt in the black flames.

***

Six months had passed since the Iron Sword Alliance had fallen and Eunha and Cheonin had begun to dominate Gyeonggi Province.

Eunha’s rule had already entered a period of stability.

Cheonin had gradually transferred their rights to Eunha, and now Gyeonggi Province was virtually ruled by Eunha alone.

There had been many changes during that time.

The evaluation of Eunha was very positive.

The most famous person in South Korea right now was also the guild leader of the Eunha Guild, Kang Eun-ha.

Not only was she young and beautiful, but according to what was known, she was about to reach the realm of the Transcendent [a level of power beyond ordinary martial artists].

She was also praised for not only being strong in martial arts but also possessing wisdom and charisma.

This could be seen in Eunha’s rule over the past few months.

“We greet the Guild Leader of Eunha.”

Such Kang Eun-ha was receiving guests at the old Iron Sword Building, now the Eunha Building, which had become the new base of the Eunha Guild.

The people who were lined up in front of Kang Eun-ha, bowing with their fists clasped in respect.

The mark on their chests revealed their identities.

‘The Association.’

They were guests sent by the Player Association.

“They said they had to see me?”

At Kang Eun-ha’s cold voice, the Association’s players finally raised their heads.

The one standing at the very front.

He was Nam Ho-jeong, the head of the Gyeonggi branch of the South Korean Player Association.

A talented individual who had risen to the position of branch head at the young age of thirty.

However, his reputation was at rock bottom.

In the era of chaos, becoming an executive of the Player Association at a young age meant that his loyalty was valued more than his ability.

Everyone knew where that loyalty was directed.

“That is correct, Guild Leader.”

Nam Ho-jeong was cautious, watching Kang Eun-ha’s expression.

He was well-versed in how to deal with martial artists as a player of the Association.

Especially since the person he had to deal with now was none other than Kang Eun-ha.

The guild leader of Eunha, one of the three major forces in the new South Korea.

‘According to the information from the Open Faction, she is one of the descendants of Jeonjin [a martial arts lineage].’

The name Jeonjin was unfamiliar, but according to the information, it was deeply related to Hwasan [another martial arts lineage].

Moreover.

‘Namgung Mu-jin.’

There were also rumors that the Azure Dragon Lord was backing Eunha.

Kang Eun-ha was someone who had the power to destroy everything Nam Ho-jeong had built with just a single word.

“If it’s not important information, you’d better be prepared.”

A cold chill ran through Kang Eun-ha’s voice.

“My time is more valuable than you think.”

In fact, there were countless people waiting in line to see Kang Eun-ha.

Not to mention the forces based in the Gyeonggi region, even the politicians of the Gyeonggi region were said to be sending people to get a chance to meet Kang Eun-ha.

Nam Ho-jeong, the head of the Association branch, would never have been able to see Kang Eun-ha if it weren’t for the name of the Association.

“Of course.”

Nam Ho-jeong smiled, his eyes gleaming.

“You will never regret giving me your time.”

The ability that allowed him to become a branch head at the age of thirty.

Nam Ho-jeong believed in his ability to seize and use opportunities.

“Speak.”

“First…”

Swallow.

Nam Ho-jeong opened his mouth after swallowing.

“Do you know the Almero Guild? They are trying to expand their power in Paju…”

Kang Eun-ha’s eyes turned cold.

She knew about Almero.

‘Nam Ho-jeong.’

It was the guild run by this man’s older brother.

It was strictly illegal for an executive of the Association to directly run a guild, but it was not illegal for a family member to run it.

And the executives of the Association would plant their related guilds in the areas or regions they controlled and reap the benefits.

It was a cross-section of the corrupt Association.

But that was not Kang Eun-ha’s concern.

“Are you asking for a price first?”

Nam Ho-jeong flinched at the cold voice.

‘I thought it was a lie that she was about to reach the Transcendent realm.’

The killing intent she was emitting made it highly likely that it was true.

Even so, Nam Ho-jeong spoke with his characteristic sly smile.

“How could that be? Considering the importance of the information, wouldn’t it be okay to ask for this much convenience…”

“Okay. If the information is solid, I’ll tell Baran.”

Baran.

It was a lucky player guild that had taken Eunha as a sponsor.

It was also a place where a guild that was on the verge of collapse with just a name had grown rapidly due to its relationship with Eunha.

“Thank you.”

“So, don’t waste any more time and speak. I’m starting to get annoyed.”

“I will tell you right away.”

He had gotten what he wanted.

Now, it was only disadvantageous to keep testing the waters.

Nam Ho-jeong was a man who knew when to strike and retreat.

“I heard that Eunha is having trouble with the council meeting.”

“……”

It was true.

It had been quite some time since Eunha had taken control of Gyeonggi, but it was said that the council’s approval had not been granted.

Since the council was such a closed-off place, it was clear that they were suspicious of the sudden rise of a new force called Eunha.

“There is an opportunity to gain merit with the council.”

“Opportunity?”

This time, a light flickered in Kang Eun-ha’s eyes as well.

It seemed that there was a reason why Nam Ho-jeong had come so confidently.

“Currently, in the Gyeonggi region, which is Eunha’s sphere of influence…”

Smirk.

“There is intelligence that an Unranked player is hiding.”

“……!”

Indeed.

It was information that Nam Ho-jeong could be confident about.

“An Unranked… Is it certain?”

“It is more than certain. I am sorry to say, but by chance, we have identified a player of the Association who was secretly cooperating with the Unranked. According to the information, it is more than certain.”

The story of a spy hiding in the Association.

It was not something an executive of the Association should say, but what could he do?

Also, Nam Ho-jeong did not hesitate to speak about the information he had obtained by torturing one of their own.

It was then.

“……!”

Kang Eun-ha’s eyes widened in an instant.

Her lips could be seen trembling slightly.

‘Telepathy?’

It was undoubtedly telepathy, similar to the message magic used by martial artists.

But what surprised Nam Ho-jeong even more was Kang Eun-ha’s expression.

An expression that changed every moment.

It was a warm, welcoming, and perhaps even puppy-like face that was hard to believe was made by Kang Eun-ha, who was sometimes called a witch.

Thud!

Kang Eun-ha suddenly rose to her feet.

She left the room without saying a word to Nam Ho-jeong.

“…What’s going on?”

Nam Ho-jeong, dumbfounded, stood there blankly for a moment, but soon he began to move as well.

Something important enough to make her leave her seat while talking about an Unranked player.

Kang Eun-ha, who had left in a hurry.

‘There’s something there.’

Nam Ho-jeong led the Association’s players and followed Kang Eun-ha.

* * *

The rumors about Eunha were often unbelievable and absurd.

However, most of them had been proven to be true, and because of what Eunha had shown, even the things that had not been seen were considered to be true.

Even so, there was one thing.

A rumor whose truth was uncertain.

A story that was hard to believe with common sense.

It was even more unbelievable because they were residents of Eun, but because the residents of Eun had so many unique aspects, it was a possible rumor.

It was a story about a certain special guild member of Eunha.

‘Blue Sword Formation.’

A guild member who had single-handedly faced the Blue Wave Unit, Haenam’s martial force, and had broken their Blue Sword Formation alone.

But what was even harder to believe than that was.

‘He doesn’t hold any position.’

That he was just a regular guild member.

Even so, all the martial artists of Eunha were said to be wary of him, even to the point of being afraid of him.

The most unbelievable thing was that even Eunha’s guild leader, the Iron-Blooded Witch Kang Eun-ha, treated that guild member with respect.

Despite having such great abilities, the fact that he was just a regular guild member meant that he had no ambition.

However, since there were monsters in Eun who did not have any particular position, it was possible, but the problem was that no one had confirmed the existence of that guild member since Eunha had taken control of Gyeonggi.

“……”

And now, Nam Ho-jeong was able to grasp the truth of that rumor.

Numerous martial artists lined up in the lobby of the Eunha Building, bowing slightly with their fists clasped in respect.

In the center of them stood the Iron-Blooded Witch Kang Eun-ha and Do Mu-seong, the Bloodthirsty Swordsman who had defeated the elders of Haenam and bathed his body in blood.

They were also bowing with their fists clasped in respect.

“Bow… quickly!”

Nam Ho-jeong soon regained his senses and whispered to the Association members he had brought.

He also quickly clasped his fists in respect, bowed his head, and quietly looked at the entrance of the lobby.

Whirr.

A man was entering through the rapidly rotating revolving door.

“We greet the Guild Member-!”

“We greet you-!”

It was the moment when all the martial artists of Eunha shouted with all their might.

“Heez…”

A man with a somewhat distorted face.

“Mullitji…”