Chapter 136
The Pacheon Divine Art Second Stance, Peaceful Death Flowing Sword, which I had used against the Blood Demon Corpse King’s Jiangshi Legion.
As the name suggests, it is a Stance created to kill the opponent in a single Strike.
Then what about the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword?
For reference, the 'sa' in 'hyungsa' is not Death (Death (死)). It is Evil (Evil (邪)).
Pabababat-!!
A Stance as ruthless as its name unfolded from Cheon Ye-Seo’s hands.
And…
Chwachwachwa-!!
The Black Sword Qi spewing from her Sword stirred up the Murim Alliance’s Formation as if it were dancing.
“B-Block it!!”
“Uwaaaaaah-!!”
No matter how incompetent I evaluated them to be, the Murim Alliance Martial Artists were also people who had trained in Martial Power their entire lives.
They didn’t even have time to be flustered by the Black Sword Qi and immediately swung their respective weapons To Block it, but…
Chwaaak-!
“Aaaaaaagh-!!”
…it was not an easy task.
The Sword Qi of the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword avoided the martial artists' Defense and slashed their bodies like an intelligent living creature.
This was similar to the Peaceful Death Flowing Sword, yet different.
If the Sword Qi of the Peaceful Death Flowing Sword moved by thoroughly aiming only for the enemy’s neck…
Slash-!
The Sword Qi of the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword moved efficiently, figuring out how to kill the opponent quickly.
Slash-!
If they got in the way, it slashed their arms or legs…
Slash-!
If the opponent was defenseless, it immediately slashed its neck.
“It really is terrifying even when I look at it again.”
That was my impression upon seeing that cruel Sword.
Terrifying.
It was truly scary to think about what would have happened if those Sword strikes had reached me, Dongryong, and Somyung.
But…
“Aaaaaaagh-!”
“S-Save me-!!”
“…Why did she suddenly use that on the Murim Alliance guys?”
If Cheon Ye-Seo’s goal was to inflict severe damage on the Murim Alliance today, it was a success.
Even now, the Sword Qi of the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword is hunting the Murim Alliance Martial Artists like wolves invading a sheep farm.
‘But that probably wasn’t her original goal…, was it?’
At that moment, I suddenly remembered the last words she had said to me.
‘Are you perhaps trying to imitate a Righteous Faction Hero, which doesn’t suit you? Are you trying to save everyone here?’
Don’t tell me she…
Did she see me protecting Somyung-i and Dongryong-i and mistakenly think I was trying to save everyone?
“Ha…!”
If that was really the case, it was truly cute yet detestable.
It meant Cheon Ye-Seo had unfolded the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword, even while putting a burden on her body, just because she wanted to see my distorted expression again.
“Then should I play along a little…”
It just so happened that I was confident in my acting.
With my face full of bewilderment and anger, I shouted at Cheon Ye-Seo, who was in midair.
“Cheon Ye-Seo!! What do you dare think you are doing right now! How dare you do this to my comrades!!”
…Uh, was that a bit too much?
I felt myself cringe at the lines I just delivered. The Murim Alliance Martial Artists weren’t my comrades, and I wasn’t such an altruistic person in the first place…
“So you know how to make that kind of expression too? If you really want To Block it, you should use the Peaceful Death Flowing Sword as well. Heh.”
…But it seemed to have worked.
Seeing me act as if I were in pain, Cheon Ye-Seo smiled as if she were truly enjoying it.
“Naive bitch.”
She fell for such a light trick because everyone just pampered her in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
It seemed that bitch was hoping I would at least unfold the Peaceful Death Flowing Sword.
Certainly…, to completely block the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword, I would have to gnaw away at my Innate True Qi to unfold the Peaceful Death Flowing Sword.
And naturally, I had no intention of doing so.
However…
“Peaceful Death Flowing Sword…, alright.”
After giving Cheon Ye-Seo the nuance that I was preparing the Peaceful Death Flowing Sword, I gathered my Internal Energy.
To unfold the Peaceful Death Flowing Sword, I had to condense Internal Energy into my Sword, but not this time. The final destination of my Internal Energy was my legs.
And having condensed Internal Energy into my legs, I kicked off the ground as if bouncing and soared into Mid-Air.
The target was naturally…
“…Huh?”
Kwaaang-!!!
…Cheon Ye-Seo.
“…Keuhuk.”
Unfolding the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword required a massive amount of Internal Strength. Because she had forcibly stopped such a Stance to receive my Sword, the recoil must have been severe, as she spat out blood once more.
“You…, why didn’t you save them and…”
“Why would I save them?”
“Y-You tricked me…”
“You were the one making a big fuss all by yourself, spouting all sorts of nonsense. What? I tricked you?”
Without another word, I flew my Sword at Cheon Ye-Seo.
Because her speed was far Superior to mine, she immediately reacted and blocked my Attack.
However…
Chwaang-!
“…!”
As soon as our swords clashed, I could tell.
Her current physical condition was… much worse than I thought.
Chwaaaak-!!
“Keu-euk.”
Confirming this, I launched an even fiercer Attack, and she actually chose to evade rather than receive it.
Tak.
The place she decided to flee to was the Surface, right in the middle of where the Murim Alliance Martial Artists were, to be exact.
Since the Black Sword Qi was still slashing the Murim Alliance Martial Artists and causing confusion there, she must have thought it was the optimal place to evade my Attack.
Chwaak-!
“Tsk.”
In reality, I diligently approached Cheon Ye-Seo and tried to swing my Sword, but because she kept hiding her body among the other people, it wasn’t easy.
Chwaak-!
“Heok…, heo-eok…”
But that would also be over soon.
Because her speed was gradually decreasing, I thought I could end this game of Tag soon.
But at that moment…
“…!”
…someone caught my eye.
I didn’t know why this kind of thing happened of all times whenever I cornered Cheon Ye-Seo, or perhaps it just wasn’t her destiny to die yet.
“Damn it.”
Regardless, as soon as I saw him in trouble, I threw my body forward.
And unfolding the Stance of the Unknown Sword-Breaking, I slashed away the Black Sword Qi of the Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword that was about to cut his back.
Chwaak-!
“…!”
Having had his back turned, he soon realized that he had been saved and turned his gaze toward me.
Soon after, I…
“…Mu-Yeong.”
…made eye contact with the Zhongnan Sect Leader, Jong Yeon-Myeong.
In his eyes, besides the surprise of being saved by me, there was also another emotion…
“…As expected, you are not a Disciple of Zhongnan.”
…That emotion was a feeling that even I dared not describe.
Right, at this point, unless he was a complete pushover idiot, he would know I wasn’t a Disciple of Zhongnan.
It was a time that required some sort of explanation, but I didn’t really have anything to say, nor did I have the time to say anything.
Therefore, I just passed right by him and headed toward Cheon Ye-Seo again.
Chwaaak-!
“…Ugh-!”
An even heavier breathing sound could be heard from her, and blood flowed from her mouth.
Now, all the stamina in her body was exhausted.
Knowing that, she was also running toward the Grand Elder who could protect her.
Because I had saved the Zhongnan Sect Leader, quite a distance had already opened up between her and me. At this rate, it was obvious she would soon reach the Grand Elder.
‘I can’t just let her go like this.’
I immediately picked up a Sword lying around nearby.
And…
Shoook-!
…infused it with Internal Energy and threw it at her with all my might.
Papak-!
“…Uuuugh-.”
“Tsk.”
Even though I had aimed for her solar plexus, the Sword I threw lodged into the back of her thigh.
It was because of her reaction speed, turning her body in an instant despite her energy being depleted.
‘It didn’t hit a vital spot, and if it’s just her thigh, it probably didn’t inflict a very meaningful wound.’
Besides…
“…Oh Little Heaven.”
“…Grandpa.”
…In the end, Cheon Ye-Seo reached the Grand Elder.
The giant Grand Elder looked at the injured Cheon Ye-Seo affectionately, as if looking at his real granddaughter, and sent her behind him as he spoke.
“…We must leave even now. If more Reinforcements arrive from the outside, escaping Anhui itself might become impossible. I will call Salwang right now.”
“Alright…”
Cheon Ye-Seo must have felt that this wasn’t a situation to be Stubborn, as she immediately nodded her head.
However…
“…Still, if possible, you must kill the Pacheonmun Sect Leader right now.”
“…”
…Soon, her cold gaze turned toward me.
Looking at her eyes, I realized that her current order wasn’t simply due to hostility.
“Because even though that bitch is naive, she is absolutely not a stupid bitch.”
No?
Rather, she was someone who had a creepily smart side to her.
Cheon Ye-Seo gave the Grand Elder such an order, thinking that I would become a stumbling block to their great cause in the future.
“…Divine Cult Undefeated, Demonic Heaven Under Heaven.”
The Grand Elder must have felt it too, as he chanted the mantra in a Solemn voice and stood before me.
“Huu…”
Examining his giant build, I let out a sigh first.
No matter how much I was carried by my gear thanks to the Heavenly Demon Sword, the second round was going to be tough.
Seueuk-.
I turned around to see if there was anyone who could fight the Grand Elder in my stead, but…
“Uwaaaaaagh-!!”
“Heo-eok…, heo-eok…”
Most of the Murim Alliance personnel were still out of their minds due to Cheon Ye-Seo’s Ferocious Evil Flowing Sword.
“Useless Bastards…”
At this, I sighed and raised my Sword toward the Grand Elder again.
The goal of the second round wasn’t simply to defeat the Grand Elder.
It was to get past the Grand Elder and kill Cheon Ye-Seo, who was hiding behind him.
Keeping this in mind, I leaped toward the Grand Elder.
Paat-!
“You Bastard-!!”
Seeing the Grand Elder swinging his massive Saber at me, I unfolded a Stance.
Demon-Slaying Saber Art of Pora First Stance, Asura Neck Slash.
The Demon-Slaying Saber Art of Pora that I passed down to Dongryong-i.
This was a Saber Art created to counter Demonic Arts, and more specifically, the Asura Art.
Of course, what I held in my hand was a Sword, so it wouldn’t produce its full power when I was unfolding a Saber Art, but…
Kwaaang-!!!
“…Keu-euk-!”
…for now, there was no Martial Art better than this to counter his Attack.
I deflected the Grand Elder’s Saber just like that, and I slashed his side, following the Stance.
Chwaak-!
“…Keu-euk-!”
And taking advantage of the brief moment the Grand Elder’s flow collapsed, I tried to Pass him and Slash Cheon Ye-Seo, but…
“You will absolutely not Pass!!”
…the Grand Elder immediately recovered his posture and blocked my path.
At this, I had no choice but to pull my body back.
As expected, breaking through the Grand Elder, who was one of the top strong experts, was an almost impossible situation.
“Killing Cheon Ye-Seo…, do I have to give up…?”
It was right when I inevitably made that judgment.
“…Huh?”
For a moment, I thought I was seeing an illusion. But what I was seeing at that moment with my own eyes was clearly…
“Plum blossoms.”
…plum blossoms.
Paseuk-.
At the same time the plum blossoms appeared, a presence was heard from behind Cheon Ye-Seo and the Grand Elder in front of me, and the debris of a collapsed building wriggled.
Paseuseuk-.
Soon, the building debris was completely lifted, and what revealed itself was…
“Die.”
…Ha Jinseong, holding a Sword while his entire body was covered in blood.
It was questionable whether he was even alive right now, or if a person could even live after shedding that much blood, but…
“His eyes…”
…His eyes contained hostility and anger toward Cheon Ye-Seo, and the will to cut off her neck no matter what happened.
Soon, the Stance of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art unfolded.
Chwachwachwachwa-!!!
As desperate and sharp Sword strikes that seemed to reek of blood flew in, a flustered Cheon Ye-Seo immediately raised her Sword and blocked them.
If it were her usual self, she would have blocked that level of Sword strikes without any problem, but…
Pasak-!
“…Ugh.”
…she, who was already exhausted to the limit, was different.
A Sword Strike that she failed To Block due to a single mistake slashed thinly past her forearm.
That much was an insignificant wound, but thanks to it, her balance collapsed.
And riding that opening…
Pu-uuk-!
“Keuheo-eok-!!”
…Ha Jinseong thrust his Sword straight into Cheon Ye-Seo’s abdomen.
It was the exact same spot I had stabbed before.
“Die, die, die-!!!!”
Before I knew it, Ha Jinseong was repeating only those words like a madman, desperately, like a person who had lived his entire life solely to Slash her body.
I was a reincarnator, but that guy was a regressor.
That guy was living his Second Life, and in his First Life, everything precious to him had disappeared because of Cheon Ye-Seo.
Even my anger probably couldn’t compare to what that guy possessed.
Ha Jinseong drove the Sword in even deeper, and then…
Chwaaak-!!
…pulled the Sword out through her side.
“Aaaaaaaagh-!!!”
At the same time her pitch-black blood spurted out like a fountain, a shrill scream rang out for the first time in a while.
“Oh Little Heaven…, keu-euk-!”
Puk-!
As if he had lost his mind upon seeing Cheon Ye-Seo get attacked, the Grand Elder turned his back on me.
As soon as I saw that, I thrust my Sword into his back.
“You’re showing your back wide open, practically begging me to kill you.”
“…Pacheonmun Sect Leader!”
This, perhaps not only Cheon Ye-Seo but even the Grand Elder…
It was a harvest beyond expectations.
If I caught these two, who could be considered the core of the Heavenly Demon Cult…
It would truly be the end.
Of course, the Heavenly Demon and other Elders still remained, but…
“They would be reluctant to start a war with only that much military power.”
If I left Cheon Ye-Seo like that, the Protagonist would take care of killing her.
If I somehow managed to kill only the Grand Elder, many things would end.
Having finished my thoughts, I raised my Sword high. I had already stabbed the Grand Elder’s back and was riding on his shoulders.
I planned to completely sever him with the Stance of the Unknown Sword-Breaking just like this.
But at that moment…
“Salwang-!!!!”
…the Grand Elder grimaced and shouted thunderously, mixing in his Internal Energy.
And at the same time he shouted…
Kwakwakwakwakwang-!!!!!!
…the sound of an explosion caused by something artificial, not Martial Arts, rang out.