King Shura - Chapter 98. The Cure for the Bloodlust

 

ED: Chrysanthemum

 

The Shura Environment.

 

This technique was something that branched off of the first Heavenly Demon’s Technique.

 

It was something that was created by taking only the most destructive parts of the original.

 

No one really knew who was the first one to made this technique.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang tilted his head in confusion.

 

He could remember focusing his consciousness on the Shura’s Gem in his body.

 

‘Where am I…….’

 

A well-trimmed yard along with a small hill.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang watched deers run by him and observed the small stream of water flow nearby, then frowned.

 

‘This is a dream inside dreams. Let’s not get distracted.’

 

A while ago, Cho Ryu Hyang was inside the dream that Maksu made.

 

He entered a dream from a dream, so he cannot afford to become confused of where he was.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang shook his head and walked forward.

 

This was probably the illusion that the Shura Environment was showing him.

 

In that case, his target probably wasn’t far.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang’s expectations didn’t fail him. After a short walk, he was able to feel someone’s presence.

 

No, to be more specific, it seemed as if the being there let himself be seen for Cho Ryu Hyang.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang walked towards that presence.

 

When he walked over a small hill, he was able to see a thatched roof house.

 

It wasn’t too far off, so he arrived only after a short moment.

 

He found a single old man who was sitting on the pavilion of the house.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang’s eyes shined when he looked at the old man.

 

He immediately realized that the man was the master of this place.

 

In other words, this man was the master of the Shura’s Gem inside his body.

 

This man was the creator of the Shura Environment.

 

The old man spoke first.

 

“You’re the disciple of that annoying idiot.”

 

Annoying idiot?

 

When Cho Ryu Hyang made a confused face, the old man faintly smiled as he put out the smoke from his pipe.

 

“I’m talking about that idiot from the Gongson family.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang realized that the man was talking about Gongson Chun Gi, his teacher.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded candidly and looked at the old man in front of him strangely.

 

How many people would be able to describe his teacher in such a way?

 

‘Well, he is a person from the past……’

 

And since this person was someone who created the Shura Technique, it was understandable that the man would look down on his teacher.

 

Even so, Cho Ryu Hyang looked at the old man with an interested gaze.

 

The old man dusted off his pants and stood up.

 

“There must be a reason why you came here, right?”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded.

 

He needed to make the Shura Environment his.

 

It would be bad if it went out of control.

 

After thinking a bit, Cho Ryu Hyang asked a question.

 

“Are you the one who created the Shura Environment?”

 

“Yes. The Shura Environment is mine.”

 

The Shura Environment is mine?

 

Cho Ryu Hyang felt something strange from the old man’s answer.

 

What was it?

 

The old man’s way of speaking was strange.

 

He decided to delve deeper.

 

“May I know of your name?”

 

The old man’s face wrinkled a bit when he heard this.

 

“What? You came here without even knowing my name? Wait, how did you even get here, then? What a strange child.”

 

When the old man made a surprised face, Cho Ryu Hyang scratched his cheeks with a shrug.

 

“…….There are no records of you.”

 

Right.

 

Strangely enough, while there were plenty of records on the Heavenly Demon Technique itself, there was nearly nothing recorded when it came to the Shura Technique.

 

Even if there was a lot, since the history of the technique was transferred to the heir orally, only a little of the information could be passed down.

 

“This is why you shouldn’t get a dumb heir. Nothing ever works according to your plan.”

 

The old man sat complaining for a short while.

 

Then, he sat back down and opened his mouth.

 

“Child, you say you are curious of my name?”

 

“Yes, elder.”

 

Who is he?

 

The man was most likely an expert hidden by the great river of time and one of the greatest popes of all time.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang looked at the old man with an expectant gaze.

 

The old man spoke with a sour face.

 

“Hong Sunwon.”

 

“…….What?”

 

“My name’s Hong Sunwon.”

 

Hong Sunwon?

 

It sounds a little familiar?

 

At that moment, a single word struck Cho Ryu Hyang’s head like lightning.

 

“Heavenly Demon (天魔)?”

 

“Yeah. I’m the creator of the church, Heavenly Demon Hong Sunwon.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang became extremely surprised.

 

The old man in front of him was more of a monster than he had thought.

 

* * *

 

There was nearly nothing known about the original Heavenly Demon.

 

Although his achievements have been passed down through the ages, there was nothing on his personal life.

 

There were only records written by passing observers.

 

It was quite interesting, actually.

 

Normally, there would’ve been all kinds of records about the man, ranging from how he affected the world, all the way to what his daily life was like, but the reality was different.

 

When Cho Ryu Hyang asked why things were like this, the old man thought a moment before answering.

 

“It’s all because my disciple was far too dumb.”

 

“…….”

 

“He just couldn’t make my plans progress. He developed quite an inferiority complex because of that. He probably erased all records of me because of his feelings. That idiot.”

 

The old man. No, the Heavenly Demon swore at his disciple for quite a bit, then lit his pipe and turned to Cho Ryu Hyang.

 

“Child, do you know who my heir was?”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded.

 

He had memorized the names of all the popes in the past.

 

“The Ten Thousand Evils Emperor.”

 

“Right. I had to change the Heavenly Demon Technique because of that idiot. That’s how the Shura Environment came into existence.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded.

 

He remembered hearing something about this in the past.

 

But the Ten Thousand Evils Emperor wasn’t as dumb as the Heavenly Demon made the man out to be.

 

That man was the person who expanded the influence of the church further into the nation after the death of the Heavenly Demon.

 

The man just didn’t meet the Heavenly Demon’s expectations. In truth, he was quite an amazing person.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang, while thinking of all this, suddenly thought of a question, and carefully opened his mouth.

 

“Is the Heavenly Demon Technique better than the Shura Environment?”

 

The Heavenly Demon smiled upon hearing this question.

 

“An incomplete question.”

 

After staring at Cho Ryu Hyang for a little bit, the man opened his mouth again.

 

“It all depends on the practitioner’s talent. Martial arts techniques are only there to assist.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded. This was similar to what his teacher had told him in the past.

 

When he thought about it, it really was a stupid question.

 

“You came here to be able to use the Shura Environment well, didn’t you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So you’re smarter than that Gongson Chun Gi.”

 

“Do you know my teacher well?”

 

“Of course I do. He learned the Shura Environment. There’s no way I wouldn’t know about him.”

 

When the Heavenly Demon answered his question gruffly, Cho Ryu Hyang made a confused face.

 

“Teacher said that there was a side effect to the Shura Environment. Do you know about this?”

 

“Of course I do? After all, I was the one who created it.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang’s eyes widened.

 

“You made it on purpose?”

 

“Not exactly, but I’m making the side effect particularly bad for Gongson Chun Gi. I don’t like him.”

 

What does that mean?

 

Cho Ryu Hyang made a confused face.

 

“Do you not understand?”

 

“Yes. It sounds a bit complicated.”

 

“It’s not complicated at all.”

 

The Heavenly Demon quietly looked at Cho Ryu Hyang and spoke with a low voice.

 

“I purposefully made it so that the side effect is particularly bad for Gongson Chun Gi.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang became even more confused.

 

“You can choose who gets a worse side effect?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

This was a new bit of information.

 

Cho Ryu Hyang fixed his glasses and asked another question.

 

“May I know why you made it so bad for my teacher?”

 

“It’s simple. I don’t like him. He has no respect for his elders.”

 

“…….”

 

It really was simple.

 

And due to the nature of Gongson Chun Gi’s personality, Cho Ryu Hyang was only able to take it in without any resistance.

 

The Heavenly Demon kept talking with a wrathful voice.

 

“There’s no need to even talk about the others. They were all useless. They didn’t have the qualifications to meet me. Gongson Chun Gi was different. He had all the qualifications, but……”

 

“…….But?”

 

“He didn’t come to meet me. He only tried to work me like a servant. Wouldn’t that make a senior like me mad?”

 

“…….”

 

“Well…… I can’t even do anything with him now since that guy passed on the Shura’s Gem to you, I can’t plague him with the side effect any more.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang’s eyes shone with hope.

 

“Does that mean that teacher would be able to get rid of his side effect?”

 

“Yeah. Unfortunately.”

 

This was good news.

 

He knew how hard his teacher had tried to get rid of the side effect.

 

When Cho Ryu Hyang made a happy face, the Heavenly Demon only became more annoyed.

 

“Are you that happy?”

 

“Yes. Teacher would finally be able to accomplish his wish.”

 

The Heavenly Demon was a little taken aback by Cho Ryu Hyang’s honesty.

 

“That arrogant idiot really did get a good disciple. How lucky, but why do you keep trying to anger me when you came to get rid of the side effect? I don’t like Gongson Chun Gi. It would be bad if you take his side?”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang answered this with a smile.

 

“I know you aren’t that close-minded. You took care of your successors very well if I recall.”

 

One of the few records of the Heavenly Demon stated that he treated talented people with great care.

 

He had treated anyone, whether they be friend or foe, with compassion as long as they were talented.

 

When Cho Ryu Hyang said this, the Heavenly Demon licked his lips and answered.

 

“It is true that I like talented juniors, but Gongson Chun Gi’s an exception. I just don’t like him anymore.”

 

“How about me, then?”

 

“You are…….”

 

After looking at Cho Ryu Hyang for a moment, the Heavenly Demon opened his mouth.

 

“You have talent as well as luck. Not bad. Too bad you’re under Gongson Chun Gi’s guidance.”

 

“I’ll take that as a complement.”

 

When Cho Ryu Hyang said this with a smile, the Heavenly Demon threw the tobacco in his pipe to the ground and spoke.

 

“What do you think is the side effect of the Shura Environment?”

 

“I had heard that it was bloodlust.”

 

“That’s what most people seem to think, but it’s wrong. Bloodlust isn’t everything.”

 

“What is it, then?”

 

Even Gongson Chun Gi thought that bloodlust was the side effect.

 

“Bloodlust doesn’t even count as a side effect. In fact, it’s what a person who walks on the path of the demons needs. One would only be able to become powerful as they become charmed more and more by blood and violence.”

 

Was that how it was?

 

Cho Ryu Hyang made a face of disgust, but the Heavenly Demon kept on talking.

 

“The real side effect appears when one becomes too enamored by the power of the Shura Environment. When that happens, then the user would give up his body. To me.”

 

“What?”

 

Give up his body?

 

To whom?

 

Did the Heavenly Demon read the confusion in Cho Ryu Hyang’s face?

 

The man struck his chest a few times and spoke.

 

“The practitioner would give up his body for me. As a sacrifice.”

 

“……”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang became even more confused.

 

He wasn’t quite sure what that meant.

 

“Don’t you know of human sacrifice? Who is the god of the church? It’s me, isn’t it?”

 

“…….!”

 

“This is the truth of the Shura Environment.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang looked at the Heavenly Demon with an astonished face.

 

He was unable to say anything due to his surprise.

 

The Heavenly Demon looked at this happily and spoke.

 

“Finally, we can talk more seriously.”

 

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded dumbly.

 

“Now, would you like to learn about the real Shura Environment?”

 

The real Shura Environment?

 

Cho Ryu Hyang’s eyes began to brighten.

 

“Well, you don’t really have no choice, now that you’re here. Try learning it, why don’t you. Smash everyone outside after that. Show them the power of the demons.”

 

“Conquest of the world…….”

 

“Right. That’s what I desire to see. It’s also why I exist here.”

 

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes burned with desire.

 

The same flame began to appear inside Cho Ryu Hyang’s eyes as well.

 

tl;dr: Don’t fucking support the thieves, support the translator instead.