Ranker Who Lives Twice
chapter-763

"The Heavenly Demon… What do you mean?" Erlang Shen looked confused. However, he could not help but keep his mouth shut after seeing the face of the man walking on the other side of the road. On the surface, the man looked much older than the Heavenly Demon he knew, but the overall impression the man gave off was like that of the Heavenly Demon.

However, the similarities ended in their outward appearance. Digging a little deeper, the man seemed very different from the Heavenly Demon. There was no divine aura or the attempt of masking one's aura from the man. He seemed to be a human being who resembled the Heavenly Demon only in appearance. But the problem was…

'For whatever reason, the essence of his being feels similar.' Of course, Erlang Shen would never be able to accurately assess the essence of the Heavenly Demon, who outclassed him in every regard. Still, Erlang Shen was able to make out the general temperament of the Heavenly Demon to some extent. The nature of the man across the street was similar to the Heavenly Demon's temperament.

'But again, looking at his soul, it's clear he's a completely different individual… But funnily enough, I can't read him. It's hard to come to any conclusion.' Erlang Shen's thoughts became complicated.

"Let's follow after him."

"Alright."

When Yeon-woo took the lead and started to follow the suspicious man, Erlang Shen quickly followed suit.

"You also…?"

When Yeon-woo tilted his head to ask if Erlang Shen also could not read into the being, Erlang Shen kept his mouth shut. The man was a being that the Alternate Ego of the Black King could not assess, so Erlang Shen wondered if such a mortal could exist. Though Erlang Shen felt the urge to forcefully kidnap the man and conduct some tests…

'I don't think the Death King would appreciate that.'

Yeon-woo had reminded Erlang Shen several times that their identities should never be revealed. Thus, Erlang Shen decided to remain quiet. Of course, his eyes and senses were fixed on the man, so Erlang Shen was ready to open and release his powers if the opportunity presented itself. However…

Although Yeon-woo and Erlang continued to follow the man, they could not find anything suspicious.

The man seemed to be the first singer in the festival being performed at Haeundae that day. He was the guitarist and vocalist for the band 'Will'. The man warmed up his vocals and was faithfully practicing during rehearsal while happily mingling with his band members.

The man must be quite popular. Even though there was still a lot of time before the start of the festival, there were already a few fans who came to cheer him on.

"It's a little suspicious, but he doesn't seem to be the Heavenly Demon. Indeed, although it has been said several times that he is of human origin, there is no way that the being who resides in the Changgong Library would come down from his lofty perch to play like this. I also don't feel any outliers in those who surround him." Erlang Shen gave a bitter smile as he crossed his arms. In fact, the more Erlang Shen observed the man, the more he was sure that there was nothing special about the man.

For a 'Hwang' level being to descend to the lower world and go undetected like this… The Heavenly Demon was the one who turned the 'wheel'. Simply projecting his thoughts and making a physical body would have a significant impact. However, seeing that no one had recognized this being done up to now, it was clear to Erlang Shen that the similarities the man possessed were just a coincidence.

Reading the memories and thoughts of the other band members, it also seemed like the man had a longstanding relationship with his fellow bandmates for quite some time.

Moreover, no matter how crazy the Heavenly Demon was, Erlang Shen did not think that the Heavenly Demon would be enjoying a carefree time amongst humans, especially when his real son had just died not too long ago.

"…" However, Yeon-woo looked at the man who resembled the Heavenly Demon for a long time without saying a word.

'It's similar…but different. What is this?' Yeon-woo brought out Allforone/Vivasvat's memories. He was able to easily do this since Allforone/Vivasvat had long ago been fully devoured and integrated into his being.

In Yeon-woo's memory, the image of the Heavenly Demon appeared. That was a time when the Heavenly Demon was faithfully living a life as a mortal 'human'. The image of a father who was infinitely kind and warm to his son, 'Son Jae-won', or Vivasvat. Allforone/Vivasvat followed his father, the Heavenly Demon, and realized what a transcendent was, and he desired to walk the path between heaven and earth.

The appearance of the Heavenly Demon, who was called 'Son Ji-ho', was similar in many ways to the man standing on the performance stage. The similarities did not stop there. The man was part of a band, the way he spoke, the look and feel he gave off… Looking at the man, Yeon-woo could feel a yearning from Allforone/Vivasvat, a yearning to call out, 'Father!'

But that was all. Conversely, the remaining vestige thoughts of Allforone/Vivasvat were stating that the man was not his father.

Yeon-woo had asked Allforone/Vivasvat about it several times.

[The legend of 'Vivasvat' shakes his head.]

[The legend of 'Vivasvat' says that no traces of his father remain here.]

Judging by what Allforone/Vivasvat was saying, it seemed as though Yeon-woo mistook the man's identity. Still, the legend of Allforone/Vivasvat was reacting hostile towards the man, exemplifying that his anger against the Heavenly Demon had not yet disappeared.

'Am I just being too sensitive?' Yeon-woo thought this and eventually turned around. Nothing good would come about from wasting time in a place like this.

Once Yeon-woo turned around… The man glanced in the direction where Yeon-woo had just been and gave a faint smile. He then concentrated on playing the guitar again. "Now, the next song I'll sing will be 'Fade Heaven', my most popular song…"

***

Erlang Shen guided Yeon-woo to Haeundae's beach. Since the day was still warm and bright, there were quite a few people surfing and enjoying their time on the beach. "I think you can make out the Great Sage even if I don't point him out."

Yeon-woo quietly nodded.

Even an idiot could make out who Sun Wukong was. There was a man surfing on the rough swaying waves. Every time he shook the surfboard with a movement that was close to divine, his white hair, which came down to his waist, danced and bounced around. He also had a face that looked exactly like the Monkey King's exuviae. Even their temperament was the same.

『Ugh! Look at that bastard! Someone was toiling away in a cave while the other is enjoying a marvelous day playing on the beach.』 The Monkey King's exuviae, who was seeing the scene through Yeon-woo's gaze, grumbled with an annoyed voice.

Needless to say, Sun Wukong looked happy. No one could fault the Monkey King's exuviae from feeling a sense of hurt and injustice after having to spend millennia in the Tower doing all sorts of dirty work.

Sun Wukong had a handsome face and a strong physique, so men and women were sitting on the beach watching him surfing with rapt interest and wonder.

『I can't… Hey, let me ask you for a favor.』

'…?'

『You're good at stabbing people in the back, right?』

Where the hell did he get that idea? Yeon-woo frowned for a moment. '…I'm not very good at…'

『What? Are you sure? This guy, I think his name is Shanon… He sings this song non-stop about how you stab people in the back with gusto.』

'…'

『Anyway, can you just stab that guy in the back, just this once? I can't bear to see him like this any longer.』

Yeon-woo pressed his temples with his index fingers. 'I didn't come here to play.'

『Hmpf! So you're not going to do anything, huh?』

Yeon-woo sighed. Yeon-woo had awakened the Monkey King's exuviae so that he could help Yeon-woo speak with and convince Sun Wukong. However, it was becoming harder for Yeon-woo to ask the Monkey King's exuviae for help, as the Monkey King's exuviae did not seem to be in the mood.

'For now, let me strike up a conversation with him and see where it goes.' The moment Yeon-woo was about to move towards Sun Wukong…

『Wait a moment.』 The Monkey King's exuviae spoke in a serious tone.

"It seems like a gate is opening?"

Yeon-woo and Erlang Shen both looked up at the space above Sun Wukong's head.

[The 'Sage Lion King' is descending!]

[The 'Flood Demon King' is descending!]

Then, the air above Sun Wukong's head momentarily swayed, and the red-haired Sage Lion King and the skinny figure of the Flood Demon King appeared. They both landed on the surface of the water.

Boom! The impact was so intense that the seawater rose several meters high and caused high waves to crash on the shore.

"Ack!"

"H-Hey, what is this? Weren't all the gates closed?"

"I-I don't know! How am I supposed to know!"

"R-R-Run!"

Couples and families, who were enjoying their time surfing and sailing or peacefully strolling along the beach, were soon seen busily running away from the sudden abnormal occurrence.

Their eyes were suddenly filled with dread and terror as if a dungeon break had occurred.

"Why are the Seven Demon Kings here…?" Erlang Shen frowned.

The Sage Lion King and the Flood Demon King were the fourth and second demon kings respectively in the Seven Demon Kings. They were formidable powers that symbolize 'dragon (dragon power)' and 'pride' respectively.

For Yeon-woo, the unfolding scene was uncomfortable. Those in the enemy camp were contacting Sun Wukong. If Sun Wukong ever joined them, the power dynamic would greatly tilt in favor of his enemies. The weight that the Great Sage/Sun Wukong's existence carried was enormous.

"We have to stop this…!" Erlang Shen released his divine powers and was about to take a step forward…

"Stop." Yeon-woo shook his head as he placed his hand on Erlang Shen's shoulder.

Erlang Shen swung his head to look at Yeon-woo. His expression seemed to ask what Yeon-woo was thinking.

Bam! In an instant, they heard an explosive sound, like a watermelon being smashed. Yeon-woo and Erlang Shen opened their eyes wide and refocused on Sun Wukong. For whatever reason…Sun Wukong was stomping on the Sage Lion King and Flood Demon king, both of whom had made a grand entrance just moments ago.

"Argh!"

"W-Wait a second! Let's talk this through…! Ack!"

"You little…! Do you know what I had to do to set this day up? Did you forget about your brother's temper? Shall I remind you both about my past? Huh?"

"Come on, wait a minute, the youngest, in our own words…! Aww!"

Boom! Boom! Smack! The Sage Lion King and Flood Demon King, symbols of fear for the Chan Sect, were being beaten without the chance to muster a defense. If they tried to use their power, Sun Wukong would forcefully cancel it and counter-hit them, and if they tried to run away, he would follow and kick their behinds.

The sound of the beating and the two Demon Kings' screams were louder than the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Ugh! The sound of a squealing pig rang out.

The people who were running away because of the tidal waves looked back at the source of the weird sound with bewildered faces.

"Do you want to be in their shoes?"

"…"

Yeon-woo stated quietly to Erlang Shen, who kept his mouth shut. Erlang Shen recalled the painful memory of the Chan Sect being roundly beaten up by Sun Wukong.

『Ugh, that guy. So much time has passed, but he hasn't changed at all. I guess that stupid personality and temper have nowhere else to go. Hmpf!』 As if unsatisfied with the unfolding scene, the Monkey King's exuviae clicked his tongue.

Yeon-woo decided to watch the situation a little further.

The Sage Lion King had already become bloody and was starting to lose his consciousness, and the Flood Demon King's face was turning a deep blue. Sun Wukong still had a sarcastic expression on his face.

"Stop! Stooooooooooooop! I made a mistake, so please forgive me…!"

"What was your mistake?

"H-Huh?"

"What did you do wrong?"

"Because I ruined your surfboard…!"

"You still don't know."

"Ugh!"

"A few more smacks ought to sort you out."

"Ack!"

After seeing the Sage Lion King and the Flood Demon King being smacked around and treated like ragdolls, a thought popped up in Yeon-woo's mind. He shouldn't release his powers right now. If that was the case, how could he avoid those two's gazes and approach Sun Wukong?

『Want me to help you?』 The Monkey King's exuviae grinned. It seemed the Monkey King's exuviae had come up with a funny prank.

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