The Heavenly Demon Left No Martial Arts Behind Chapter 7 : Don't Move

Chapter 7: Don't Move

Had Wu Wonta picked up on the displeasure buried in Yu Gyeongseong's words and actions?

The attitude practically scread: Prove you're worth keeping around.

After hesitating for a mont, Wu Wonta hurried to catch up and started talking fast.

"The Law Enforcent Hall is organized into five squads under the Hall Master, Vice Hall Master, and five Elders. Each squad has about ten mbers, for a total force of fifty personnel.”

"What does each rank actually do?"

“Squad mbers are given the authority to initiate investigations. They carry out duties in the field such as conducting investigations, arresting criminals, and executing punishnts.”

Seeing Yu Gyeongseong remain silent, as if prompting him to continue, the explanation went on.

“Squad Leaders are given the authority to direct investigations and the right of on-site judgnt. This is to enable them to make swift judgnts and take appropriate asures in the field. Of course, a cult mber can refuse to accept a Squad Leader’s judgnt and file an appeal.”

“Then in that case…”

"Exactly. The Hall Master, Vice Hall Master, and the five Elders handle major case judgnts. It goes without saying that they hold all authority, including control over investigations as a whole and the power to close cases.”

Yu Gyeongseong nodded like he understood and then asked his next question.

"So what about the squads themselves? Does each one handle different types of work?"

Sothing about the question must've struck a nerve as there was a certain edge in Wu Wonta's response.

“That is correct. The Fifth Squad you led specialized in cases involving martial artists. It took on problems that arose between martial artists or incidents between martial artists and regular cult mbers. For that reason, the martial artists of the Divine Cult don't know the other Squad Leaders as they rarely have any dealings with them. In that sense, you could say Squad Leader Yu is actually sowhat well-known."

It seed like he had also been paying attention to how people were reacting—noticing that plenty of them didn't look at Yu Gyeongseong like he was a total stranger.

"How does the Law Enforcent Hall deployed to a case?”

“Pardon?”

"Say a civilian has a problem with a martial artist... or if a dispute breaks out between martial artists. Don't they need to call in the Law Enforcent Hall for that, right?"

Wu Wonta nodded.

“Yes, that’s a key part of it. If we don’t get actively involved when trouble starts, the Law Enforcent Hall becos pretty much useless. And from the cult's perspective, letting conflicts between mbers spiral out of control isn't ideal either. So there's a protocol for it. All cult mbers are required to report problems as soon as they're aware of them. Then the Law Enforcent Hall deploys and handles the situation quickly."

Yu Gyeongseong picked up from there. The sharp edge in his voice from before seed to have dulled a bit.

“Sounds exhausting for the guys in Law Enforcent Hall."

Since you never know when a report might co in, they'd have to be on standby all the ti.

A slight smile crept onto Wu Wonta's face. Looked like he figured Yu Gyeongseong's irritation had settled down.

“Maybe that’s why you were such a workaholic, Squad Leader Yu.”

"Sounds like you're saying I wasn't a very sociable person."

All he got back was a faint smile this ti.

“Did I have any close friends?”

"...Hard to say."

That seed to be answer enough of an answer, so Yu Gyeongseong didn't push it.

***

They’d been walking around all day, and before he knew it, the sun was starting to go down.

It was getting close to dinner ti.

"That place looks decent. You hungry?"

Following Yu Gyeongseong's suggestion, the two settled into a restaurant with a fair bit of space.

It was still a bit early for dinner, so the place was still quiet. Large windows lined all sides, giving the place an incredibly open feel. Maybe that's why Yu Gyeongseong kept gazing outside after ordering their al.

Wu Wonta watched him quietly.

‘Must be hungry after walking around since dawn.’

Truth be told, he was actually relieved when Yu Gyeongseong suggested stopping at the restaurant. It wasn't exactly comfortable parading him around, especially when he had to keep the matter of the Great Law from everyone. Not that it felt like many people were paying them any attention anyway.

After coming up empty at the Heavenly Demon Palace, he’d just been wandering around aimlessly. At first, he'd asked all sorts of probing questions, but gradually he'd grown quieter.

[Accommodate his needs as much as possible. Try to build a good relationship. Don't be too pushy. And whatever you do, do not make a bad impression.]

He was following the Clan Lord's orders to the letter. He didn't need to be told twice how important this chance was. The only reason he could be assigned to Yu Gyeongseong like this was because the Clan Lord had gotten the agreent of the other Six Demons.

Their Life Demon Clan was taking the lead.

‘If he really defeats the Sword God...’

The Clan Lord must be looking ahead to the power restructuring that would follow. If he could build a close relationship with Yu Gyeongseong now, it wouldn't be hard for his Life Demon faction to beco the top among the Six Demon Clans. And naturally, his own status would rise accordingly. Maybe one day he could even beco Clan Lord himself.

Clan Lord of the Life Demon Clan, the premier clan of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

‘…’

But if you flip that coin over, it ans the whole thing is just as risky.

What if things didn't go according to the Clan Lord's expectations?

And that's when it happened.

An unwelco commotion erupted, nothing like what Wu Wonta had been hoping for as he looked forward to ending the day's schedule quietly.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our illustrious Fifth Squad Leader from the Law Enforcent Hall?"

Three burly n entered the restaurant.

One of them locked eyes with Yu Gyeongseong and let out a booming voice. Anyone could tell his intentions weren't friendly.

The restaurant workers started looking nervous.

Ignoring them completely, the man swaggered over and plopped down at the table right next to theirs. In a spacious restaurant with empty seats everywhere, he chose to sit right next to them.

"Never thought I'd run into you in a place like this."

Even though it was obvious the words were directed at him, Yu Gyeongseong just sat there silently. So the guy turned to Wu Wonta.

"Oh? Squad Leader Wu is here too?"

Wu Wonta gave a slight nod in greeting.

“It’s been a while, Squad Leader Dong.”

But all that ca back was a sneer.

"A Squad Leader from the Life Demon Clan sitting with a Law Enforcent Hall Squad Leader... what kind of picture is this? Did you do sothing wrong and now you're trying to bribe this bastard or sothing?"

"Nothing like that."

The focus imdiately shifted back to Yu Gyeongseong.

“Then maybe our straight-as-an-arrow Squad Leader here can explain what’s going on?”

Wu Wonta hurriedly sent a sound transmission.

[Squad Leader Dong, knock it off! I'm carrying out orders from the Clan Lords right now.]

But the man kept provoking Yu Gyeongseong like he hadn't heard a thing.

"Hey, Law Enforcent Hall Squad Leader. Do my words not sound like human speech to you?"

Wu Wonta felt thrown off balance.

The man deliberately picking a fight.

Dong Gong was the Second Squad Leader of the Rock Demon Clan and his personality wasn't normally like this.

‘Is he moving on a secret order from the Rock Demon?’

That seed most likely.

He’s probably relying on the Rock Demon Clan’s Art of the Undefeated's overwhelming defensive power to test out Squad Leader Yu. And maybe he just doesn't want our Life Demon Clan getting ahead. It's probably both.

With that assessnt in mind, Wu Wonta's voice went cold as he tried to stop him.

“Squad Leader Dong, if you’re here to eat, then eat. Is this really the ti for us to be fighting amongst ourselves?”

But the man kept talking as if he couldn't hear him.

"Stay out of this, Squad Leader Wu. Can’t you see this bastard refuses to listen to what I’m saying? Hey, are your ears stuffed with shit? Huh?”

Wu Wonta felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. He and Dong Gong were equals in rank, so it wasn't easy for him to just shut this whole thing down. Plus, he wasn't even the one involved in this argunt.

He kept on running his mouth.

"Think being a Law Enforcent Hall Squad Leader makes you special? No, what the hell even is the Law Enforcent Hall anyway? I'm the Second Squad Leader of the Rock Demon Clan, you piece of shit! You think all Squad Leaders are the sa?!"

"......"

When there was still no response, Dong Gong practically shoved his face forward and snarled.

“I had to rot in a cell for a long ti thanks to a son of a bitch like you! How dare a nobody like you send an official complaint directly to the Rock Demon Clan’s Commander? Have you lost your damn mind?!”

That's when Yu Gyeongseong let his voice drift out, casual and unbothered.

“Didn’t you just get punished because you broke the law?”

He was saying, This is all on you.

And underneath them lay an attitude that said he couldn't care less about his little tantrum.

“This son of a bitch! Are you blind to who you’re ssing with?!”

BANG!

He shot up so hard his chair toppled backward.

Sip

Even with a massive man standing right next to him, breathing hard like he was about to pounce any second, Yu Gyeongseong calmly sipped his tea.

Did that just piss him off more? Dong Gong's voice ca out chilling.

“Why don’t we see what the famous Squad Leader of the Law Enforcent Hall can do?”

By bringing their departnts into it, he was basically saying: Don't dodge this if you don't want to sar shit all over your faction's face.

Naturally, the air in the room heated up. The attention of the few cult mbers present naturally focused on them.

"Why should I?"

Hearing Yu Gyeongseong sound like he was trying to back out, Dong Gong smirked.

"Why? Don't have the guts to fight straight up? I heard you’d sohow made it to the level of a top-tier master. I guess they were talking about your big mouth, not your skills.”

Everyone watching got the gist of what was happening.

A Squad Leader from one of the Six Demon Clans' combat units was a big deal.

Dong Gong, the one picking this fight, was genuinely one of the cult's current powerhouses. Of course, he'd look down on a Law Enforcent Hall’s Squad Leader.

But Yu Gyeongseong had thrown him in jail. And Dong Gong was pissed about it. So now he was using a spar as an excuse to teach him a lesson.

If Yu Gyeongseong had any sense at all, the obvious move was to back down. He should just take the insults and swallow his pride.

But...

A voice that nobody expected cut through the room.

“Still better than you, since all you do is flap your gums.”

Everyone’s eyes went wide. Shouldn’t he be trying to play dumb and avoid this fight as much as possible? Instead, he was just making things worse.

Yu Gyeongseong added more fuel to the fire.

"You yap too much."

Dong Gong's face twisted viciously. His voice ca out through gritted teeth.

“Get up! I don’t want to hear you whine about getting ambushed while you were sitting."

"Let finish my tea first."

Sip

A surge of killing intent erupted from Dong Gong.

"Fine... enjoy the taste of that tea one last ti. It'll be your last. I’m going to rip that tongue of yours right out of your head! Then I’ll shatter your dantian! Oh, I’ll leave you one arm, though. You’ve still got to work to earn your als, don’t you?”

Clink

Yu Gyeongseong set down his teacup and stood.

He stared calmly at that rage-filled face.

Swish

His hand rose slowly into the space between them.

And then—

WHOOM

Sothing huge exploded into existence.

...!!!

Everyone’s eyes were practically bulging out of their heads.

And what they saw was clearly—

An ash-gray Aura shimred ominously.

***

Silence crashed down on the space in an instant.

It wasn't just Dong Geng who was frozen stiff.

That thing froze everyone.

‘...Crushing Demon!?’

The massive ash-gray Aura blooming from Yu Gyeongseong's hand was on a scale they’d never seen.

Not even a Commander of the Crushing Demon Clan’s combat units had that much Hand Aura. Its overwhelming presence reminded them of the Crushing Demon when he was going all out.

The man who manifested it so effortlessly swept his gaze around the room, completely unconcerned despite his enemy being right in front of him.

Watching this from point-blank range, Dong Gong couldn't do anything.

The Crushing Demon's Hand Aura couldn't break through the Rock Demon's protective barrier. But the Clan Lord's Art of the Undefeated and his Art of the Undefeated aren’t the sa.

Can I really take a hit from that nasty Aura?

Gulp

He forced himself to swallow. If he didn't, it felt like this suffocating pressure would devour him completely.

But maybe that was the wrong move.

Those cold eyes snapped back to him and an emotionless voice flowed out.

“You must have been prepared for the consequences when you started this.”

Did Yu Gyeongseong's attitude make it seem like he was considering whether to kill Dong Gong? Wu Wonta, who'd stood up at so point, hurriedly stepped forward.

"Squad Leader Yu! Please forgive him just this once! We're in warti!"

“Oh, really?”

He sounded like he agreed.

Just as Dong Gong and his companions let out faint sighs of relief—

Yu Gyeongseong spoke in a low voice.

"Don't move. If you do, you die."

(TL Note: This series’s last chapter for today. I’m going to revise the early chaps of [So? Did Soone Force You to Beco the Heavenly Demon?] See ya!)