Chapter 89 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Reconciliation or Conflict, Symbiotic Dungeon (2)
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Symbiotic Dungeon.
This place was a rule dungeon, just like the Castella Dungeon where Metal K resided—one that could only be cleared by following its set rules.
Thud.
Upon entering the dungeon, a vast labyrinthine interior appeared, no different from any other dungeon.
The walls and floor were made of stone, and faint light seeped from spots on the ceiling, illuminating the dim space.
"Report."
Go Eunjin blinked at the Heavenly Demon's words as he scanned the surroundings.
"Report what?"
"Never mind."
Whenever they entered a dungeon, Nameless would always give pointless explanations or guide them along the path.
Walking the dungeon in silence with Go Eunjin now, he finally realized Nameless was absent.
Thud.
At that moment, a low vibration hummed from somewhere.
It seemed to come from quite far away, but the instant he heard it, a weight settled in one side of his chest.
'A sound that pierces the spirit.'
The Heavenly Demon's expression hardened as he walked the passage.
He had discerned that the low vibration from moments ago was akin to the Soul-Seizing Demonic Sound—a sonic wave that rattled the mind.
How long had they walked?
"What's that?"
Go Eunjin, walking ahead, gaped in surprise.
Before them loomed a massive door, etched with a black shadow strikingly similar to the Heavenly Demon's form.
"Looks like they painted your likeness in black."
"Hmm."
A black shadow stamped firmly in his shape.
The more he stared at the inked silhouette, the more the Heavenly Demon felt as if his soul was being drawn in.
"This should be interesting."
Thud.
The Heavenly Demon shoved the door open with all his might. A torrent of pure white light then flooded his vision.
"What is this?"
At Go Eunjin's bright voice, the Heavenly Demon opened his eyes again.
Turning his head, he saw himself standing tall on a deeply sunken floor, while Go Eunjin stood above, looking down at him, holding something.
"Hm?"
Frowning as he tried to turn his head, the Heavenly Demon furrowed his brow.
No matter how he strained, he couldn't move a single step—like a wooden block rooted in place.
"Is this your desire?"
At Go Eunjin's shout, the Heavenly Demon surveyed the surroundings.
The square room's vast floor was marked with lines like a giant chessboard, and three massive stone statues stood before him.
"Hah..."
As the Heavenly Demon's eyes widened at the three statues, Go Eunjin muttered again.
"What the hell is this? Looks like janggi no matter how you slice it."
A square janggi board had appeared before Go Eunjin.
Seeing it, the Heavenly Demon finally grasped the full situation.
'So this was the hidden desire of this one.'
The Heavenly Demon, without rival in the martial world.
Of course, the exceptional talent Jeong The Heavenly Demon had appeared, but at best, he was merely someone who "didn't die by this one's hand and lived to fight another day."
Thus, an unquenchable thirst lingered in the Heavenly Demon's heart—a craving for bloody, flesh-splattering mortal combat.
In the end, he had drawn a massive janggi board on his training chamber wall and conjured imaginary archrivals.
The Heavenly Overlord, surpassing his own inner power by a fraction.
The master of Heart-Shaking Arts who could faintly unsettle his spirit: Princess Moon Wolf.
The Extreme Flash Shadow, outpacing his movements by a mere inch.
Having reached the pinnacle of the world's arts, even imagining foes who surpassed him was difficult.
Thus, the Heavenly Demon had created virtual enemies who edged just slightly ahead of his abilities.
And from time to time, he summoned these phantoms to his training chamber for fierce battles.
"This is janggi that this one created."
Go Eunjin scratched her head, staring at the square board before her in response to the Heavenly Demon.
"Is that so?"
The board, carved from wood, held pieces resembling the Heavenly Demon and three statues.
"So your desire was to play janggi?"
"It's not mere janggi."
"Is that right? Then why won't these move?"
Go Eunjin tried shifting the pieces on the board, but they stood fixed like stakes in the ground.
"This is this one's Illusory Image Chaos Battle. A fusion of janggi and sword debating."
"What's that?"
Grind.
At that moment, the burly frontmost statue—the Heavenly Overlord—advanced one space toward the Heavenly Demon.
It simultaneously thrust two fists, one high and one low.
"I see. So this one has become a piece on the janggi board as well."
Having grasped the situation, the Heavenly Demon bellowed to Go Eunjin.
"The Heavenly Overlord used the Gentle Wind Jade Breaker of the Extreme Heaven Gate. Move this one's piece one step to the Gen direction and shout Extreme Heaven Melting Hand."
"I didn't catch that!"
"Gen direction, one step. Extreme Heaven Melti—"
Thwack.
The Heavenly Demon's words cut short.
The Heavenly Overlord had closed in and slammed two fists into his chest and lower abdomen.
"Urk."
A low groan escaped the Heavenly Demon's lips.
The blow from the Heavenly Overlord was powerful enough to momentarily shatter his Diamond Body.
Grind.
Then, the distant Extreme Flash Shadow swiftly approached, extending an arm.
"Two steps to Zhen direction—Severing Enlightenment!"
"Zhen... Zhen direction two steps. Sever... Didn't hear that?"
"Severing Enlighten—"
The Heavenly Demon's words halted once more.
The lightning-fast Extreme Flash Shadow's palm plunged into his solar plexus.
"Urgh."
As pain wrung his organs like a vise, the Heavenly Demon roared.
"You fool! Can't even remember the technique name I call out!"
"How am I supposed to know if it's a technique or meat dish? And why do they all sound so damn weird?"
Grind.
This time, the distant Princess Moon Wolf began advancing with a graceful dance.
It was the bewitching demonic art that stole souls: Blissful Death Fragrance Soul Dance.
"You demon! Quickly shout Ten Precepts Supreme Path!"
"Ten Precepts No-Three Path?"
The pronunciation mangled.
Thus, as Princess Moon Wolf danced closer, she pressed her face right against the Heavenly Demon's.
Zing.
A sickly yellow light poured from Princess Moon Wolf's eyes into his.
Amid pain like his three souls and seven po melting away, unprecedented rage boiled within the Heavenly Demon.
"Is your head a rice bowl?!"
"You're talking too fast! And enunciate properly!"
Growl.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Overlord's fist and Extreme Flash Shadow's palm flew toward his face.
"Three steps to Xun direction, Demonic Leg Heavenly Wind, Mysterious Ice Three Flames... Gahk!"
But too late again.
Having taken all the incoming strikes to the face, a curse Long Chaewon favored slipped from the Heavenly Demon's mouth.
"Have you stuffed sausages in your ears?!"
"Sausages? Did you finish?"
At the Heavenly Demon's furious shout, Go Eunjin yelled back.
"It's the pronunciation that's the problem from the start! Speak clearly since it's hard!"
"Open your ears wide and listen, demon!"
As he rattled off directions and technique names again, Blood Flame Radiance poured from the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
299 seconds.
In short, after 299 hits, the janggi piece that was the Heavenly Demon finally vanquished all three statues.
"Kuh."
Rising from his crouch, the Heavenly Demon's face was a swollen mess.
Struck 299 times by blows potent enough to crack his Diamond Body with one hit—his body couldn't possibly be unscathed.
Rumble.
As the statues crumbled, the Heavenly Demon's frozen body loosened, and the chessboard-like interior reverted to a normal dungeon scene.
"You okay?"
Go Eunjin approached from afar with an apologetic look.
"Why make such a weird game anyway?"
"What did you say?"
"It's the truth. Did I make this bizarre janggi game? It was your desire."
Gritting his teeth, the Heavenly Demon walked on without a word.
"Where are you going?"
"Heh heh."
Following the silent path, the Heavenly Demon let out a low chuckle.
There stood another massive door, this one etched with a shadow identical to Go Eunjin's form.
"You said it yourself. This dungeon crafts traps from each other's desires."
"Wait, no way..."
"This should be interesting. Look forward to the next trap."
"Wait! I didn't do it on purpose!"
Go Eunjin's face paled as she shouted, but the Heavenly Demon flung the door open without reply.
Instantly, blinding white light flooded her vision.
-And now, the first-ever National Master Chef Selection Tournament finals begin!
"Woooah!"
At the roar of cheers, Go Eunjin slowly opened her eyes. Dozens of cameras and a packed audience filled a massive studio.
"A cooking contest?"
Go Eunjin widened her eyes.
The dungeon interior had transformed into a cooking competition set, and she stood as a contestant in chef whites.
-And today's judge is... the unrivaled Heavenly Demon of the martial world!
"Woooaaah!"
Following the emcee's raised hand with microphone amid the cheers, Go Eunjin gaped.
The Heavenly Demon sat solemnly on the stage dais.
"That senior's the... judge?"
A crotchety human as cooking judge? This had to be the organizers' scheme. Before Go Eunjin could recover, the emcee's voice rang out.
-Now! Prepare your signature dish. Start!
Dazed, Go Eunjin bolted to the piled ingredients.
'Damn. That senior's just gonna nitpick anyway.'
Truth be told, the only tasty dish she could make was Donovan skewers.
'Wait, these ingredients?'
Clenching her fists at the mountain of fresh, varied ingredients, she grinned.
"Fine! Since it's come to this, I'll win outright—no arguments!"
The prep table brimmed with rare, premium ingredients unseen even in big marts.
Smirking confidently, Go Eunjin filled a basket and rushed back to her station to cook.
She made vegetable soup with pumpkin and carrots, and steamed veal topped with fruit.
'As if a senior like you's tasted this.'
Finishing, Go Eunjin smirked triumphantly.
-Now, the judging begins!
At the emcee's call, she placed her plate before the Heavenly Demon on the dais.
"Soup with pumpkin, carrots, and various veggies, plus fruit-topped veal steak."
The Heavenly Demon chewed the dish and shook his head.
"Mediocre."
"What do you mean?"
"Not even worth calling cooking."
-Ah, too bad. Contestant Go Eunjin, eliminated!
"You eat it like it's delicious, then complain?"
The Heavenly Demon scoffed at her outburst.
"This one finds all food delicious. Even meat from a sewer."
"What?!"
"A chef shows chef-level cooking. Any kid in the neighborhood could make this."
"You... damn senior..."
Baring her scarlet gums, Go Eunjin clenched her fists.
"Stay right there!"
Several hours later.
-Now, the 23rd National Master Chef Selection Tournament finals begin!
Go Eunjin gritted her teeth and cooked.
Cooking hell.
This was cooking hell. No matter her all-out effort, the Heavenly Demon's critiques were merciless.
"Not great."
"Plain taste."
"If you're a chef, put more thought into it."
White steam rose behind her with every harsh review.
Better to get pummeled like the Heavenly Demon had.
Endless cooking that took time and heart was pure torture.
"...Just you wait!"
Several more hours later.
-Now, the 36th National Master Chef Selection Tournament finals begin!
"No good."
The Heavenly Demon spat out his crab tempura and waved dismissively.
"Disqualified."
"You bastard..."
As the Heavenly Demon kicked away the main dish plate, Go Eunjin trembled watching.
"What more do you want?! I used every premium ingredient!"
It was already the thirty-sixth round.
No matter the dish, harsh critique was guaranteed. Disqualification was predetermined.
"If you want revenge, do it! Hit me instead!"
Yanking off her chef hat, Go Eunjin bellowed.
"But don't insult my cooking! Got it?!"
"Insult?"
"Yeah! You're deliberately downplaying my food for revenge!"
Wiping his mouth with a napkin, the Heavenly Demon sneered.
"Pathetic."
"What?"
"This one insulting food to get revenge on a lowly demon like you?"
Gazing coldly at Go Eunjin's congealed dish, the Heavenly Demon spoke icily.
"This is a cooking contest, and this one is the judge. I judged fairly and coldly, nothing more."
"Don't make me laugh. You senior, you're..."
"Are you a chef or a technician?"
"What nonsense?"
"From the start, you cooked without hesitation. Fine, up to there."
The Heavenly Demon glared down at her with contempt-filled eyes.
"Do you make food to show off cooking skills, or to make something delicious?"
"What do you mean?"
"Even a bowl of jajangmyeon at a local inn holds the chef's soul. They cook thinking of guests who'll enjoy it. But look at what you made."
At the Heavenly Demon's scolding, Go Eunjin gaped.
Indeed. She had been lost in the illusion of a cooking contest.
Confidently chasing fancy, rare dishes over ones that were simply delicious.
-As if a senior like you's tasted this?
Disdain, arrogance, conceit... that was Go Eunjin's mindset while cooking.
How could such cooking satisfy the Heavenly Demon?
"Food is the pillar sustaining the body, the noble sustenance of life."
"What?"
"And one must consider who eats it and their state."
Irrefutable, righteous truth.
The Heavenly Demon had lived a harder life than anyone. Thus, he treated food more seriously than any chef. Realizing this, Go Eunjin felt shame.
"W-Wait. Give me one chance..."
"No need for more, demon."
Cutting her off, the Heavenly Demon's voice dripped with scorn.
"This one's stomach has no patience left for your rotten cooking."
The ultimate insult. Normally, Go Eunjin would've charged even at Mount Sam-su Gap-san. But.
"I was wrong."
The Heavenly Demon's words made her confront her error.
She had been arrogant and presumptuous about cooking. He had tasted it sincerely and given honest feedback.
"I'm truly sorry. Give me one more chance to cook."
"Refused."
"Please!"
Go Eunjin bowed low, nearly prostrating.
"Just once. One chance. I won't ask again."
The prideful Illusion Shock Clan member clasped her hands and bowed deeply.
"Hmm."
Her bowed brows trembled faintly. The pride and dignity of a chef—that alone she wished to uphold.
"Fine. But..."
The Heavenly Demon spoke with displeasure.
"One bite only."
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