Chapter 89
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Red-Faced Spear Ghost (2)
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‘Why in the world is the Red-Faced Spear Ghost here?’
In the Heaven-Shattering Society, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost held a position similar to the Blood Hand Demonic Lord and the Violet Mist Sword.
Of course, he was below the Blood Hand Demonic Lord and above the Violet Mist Sword, but he was still one of the leaders responsible for the Heaven-Shattering Society.
He also harbored hostility toward the Blood Hand Demonic Lord; it seemed something had happened between them in the past.
‘A Ten King from the previous generation. The novel said he grew even stronger over time.’
For Jinmyeong, who hadn't yet reached the level of the Ten Kings, this was an opponent he had almost no chance of beating.
‘Still, I have to try something.’
He thought that if he, Shin Yehyang, and Maeng Yo fought together, they might stand a chance.
‘I hate fighting recklessly like this.’
It was a difficult fight to win even in peak condition, and Maeng Yo's state was even worse.
He didn't like having to fight when there was no chance of winning.
‘If I'd known it was this guy, I might not have come.’
He had come thinking he'd face an expert on par with the Violet Mist Sword; perhaps coming here was a mistake.
‘Enough with the regrets.’
It was useless to regret it now.
Besides, escaping would be difficult, and he had no intention of running.
“This is going to be tough.”
At Jinmyeong's words, Shin Yehyang gave a slight nod and then charged forward.
At the same time, Jinmyeong also sent two swords flying toward the Red-Faced Spear Ghost.
‘Focus on two swords.’
There was no need to force himself to control five.
Currently, he could perfectly handle two swords with his Sword Control Arts.
“Hoh!”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost let out a cry of admiration as he watched Shin Yehyang charge from the front and the two swords flying at him exquisitely from both sides.
“They did say his martial arts were far from ordinary.”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost found Jinmyeong's martial arts amusing.
How many people in the world could wield two swords with Sword Control Arts?
“And his swordsmanship is decent, too.”
One sword attacked with the swiftness of the Thunder Flash Sword, while the other struck with the fierce techniques of the Violet Mist Sword Arts.
“Quite impressive.”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost skillfully blocked the two swords coming from both sides with a single spear.
*Fwoosh!*
Shin Yehyang swung her saber at the Red-Faced Spear Ghost from the front.
“Hehe!”
Watching Shin Yehyang, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost grinned and swiftly swung his spear.
*Clang!*
Having knocked away both of Jinmyeong's swords at once, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost immediately thrust his spear at Shin Yehyang.
“Ugh!”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost's spear and her saber clashed.
Looking at the weapons alone, one would expect the spear to bend, but it was Shin Yehyang who was pushed back.
Since the Red-Faced Spear Ghost could overpower even Maeng Yo, it was difficult for Shin Yehyang to best him in strength either.
*Swish!*
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost quickly closed in on the retreating Shin Yehyang and thrust his spear again.
“Hmph!”
But one of the swords flew in and gently pushed his spear aside.
The movement was so natural it looked as if the Red-Faced Spear Ghost had changed the spear's direction himself.
“It's amusing to see someone who isn't from the Wudang Sect use the Taiji Sword.”
“Does that really matter?”
Whenever Jinmyeong used the Taiji Sword or the Violet Mist Sword Arts, his opponents always said something similar.
But Jinmyeong was the only one who thought nothing of it.
The sword techniques Jinmyeong used were all secret arts from various sects.
It was only natural for people to be astonished that he could replicate them just by reading manuals.
What was more surprising was that he didn't just imitate them crudely; he executed them with a certain degree of mastery.
“To be surprised by my still-lacking sword skills.”
Of course, Jinmyeong considered his Taiji Sword, Violet Mist Sword Arts, and other techniques to be immature, but that was only because his standards were too high.
After all, the number of people in the Wudang Sect who could perform the Taiji Sword more perfectly than Jinmyeong could be counted on one hand.
“Still, you're not using your full strength.”
“Hehe. Does it look that way to you?”
Jinmyeong could tell the Red-Faced Spear Ghost wasn't going all out.
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost got his title because his face would turn red.
Some said his face turned red from the blood of his opponents, but that wasn't the only reason. It was said his face would flush an intense red when he was excited or using his full power.
But right now, his face wasn't that red. It was a blow to their pride, but Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang alone weren't enough to make him use his full strength.
‘That's just the Red-Faced Spear Ghost's personality.’
The Blood Hand Demonic Lord hadn't appeared in the novel, but he seemed to be the type who preferred to kill his opponents instantly.
After all, he had subdued Shin Yehyang and Maeng Yo in a single breath.
Unlike him, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost was mentioned in the novel as having a nasty personality, famous for driving his opponents to despair.
He would casually block any attack and continuously inflict minor wounds.
Eventually, his opponents would grow exhausted, feel despair, and lower their swords, at which point the Red-Faced Spear Ghost would take great pleasure in piercing their throats with his spear.
‘I have to seize this chance.’
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost was being careless.
Jinmyeong knew he couldn't let this opportunity slip, but it wouldn't be easy.
Even while being careless, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost kept track of his two swords and even managed to counterattack while paying attention to Shin Yehyang.
‘I have to keep looking for an opening.’
Jinmyeong continued to attack the Red-Faced Spear Ghost with his two swords.
“Hmph!”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost's expression hardened.
It was because Jinmyeong's sword, wreathed in white flames, had suddenly changed its path.
In the middle of attacking with the Violet Mist Sword Arts, Jinmyeong switched to the Sword Demon's Flash Sword.
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost, who had been anticipating the speed of the Violet Mist Sword Arts, failed to react perfectly when Jinmyeong's sword suddenly switched to a swift style.
If he had been wielding the sword himself, it would have been impossible.
The abrupt change in movement would be too much for the body to handle. In fact, no human would be able to execute such a move in the first place.
“Tsk.”
Was it because Jinmyeong had managed to wound him?
Even though it was just a small graze on his arm, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost seemed displeased.
He clicked his tongue, and his face grew a shade redder.
“You seem unhappy.”
Jinmyeong taunted the Red-Faced Spear Ghost.
“...”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost said nothing, but his face turned even redder.
Without the slightest hesitation, he stomped his foot.
“Ugh!”
Shin Yehyang, who was charging at the Red-Faced Spear Ghost, frowned and turned her head when he suddenly vanished.
*Clang!*
At the same time, a sound came from behind her, where Jinmyeong was.
“I'll kill you.”
“That's what they all say.”
Having blocked the Red-Faced Spear Ghost's attack, Jinmyeong counterattacked with his swords and retreated.
“Tch!”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Jinmyeong's attacks were powerful, but the constant, fluid changes in his swordsmanship were exceptionally tricky to deal with.
One moment he was attacking with the Violet Mist Sword Arts, the next it was a swift sword style, then he would use the Namgung Clan's Emperor Sword Forms before switching to the Taiji Sword.
The transitions were so brief that even the Red-Faced Spear Ghost found it difficult to maintain his earlier composure.
“Keuk!”
It wasn't just the swordsmanship.
Jinmyeong's finger techniques, which suddenly fired off blasts of energy, were also starting to irritate the Red-Faced Spear Ghost.
“How annoying!”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost forcefully knocked away the swords attacking from both sides again.
Then he swung his spear toward the saber wielded by Shin Yehyang, who had appeared behind him.
*Clang!*
Without even glancing at the staggering Shin Yehyang, he rushed toward Jinmyeong.
*Swish!*
Jinmyeong's Heavenly Demon Finger Arts flew at him continuously, but the Red-Faced Spear Ghost dodged the attacks by changing direction as he closed in.
The two swords moved to block the Red-Faced Spear Ghost again, but he thrust his spear to knock one away, then spun his body, using the centrifugal force to bat away the other.
“Hmph! A cheap trick!”
About to charge at Jinmyeong again, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost scoffed, turned, and thrust his spear behind him.
A third sword, which had been flying toward his back, was deflected by the spear.
He had continuously tried to distract the Red-Faced Spear Ghost and aim for his back, but it had ultimately failed.
“I can hear everything.”
“So it seems.”
Jinmyeong's swords moved incredibly fast.
Even a sword swung by a person makes a sound as it cuts through the air, and the Red-Faced Spear Ghost didn't miss the sound of Jinmyeong's swords, which moved even faster.
“I didn't think you'd be able to pay attention to such things while fighting.”
“It's because you lot are nothing special that I can hear everything.”
“I see.”
Despite all his attacks being blocked, Jinmyeong was smiling.
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost also smiled back at Jinmyeong.
“Cheap tricks!”
He thrust his spear backward without looking.
“Keuk!”
And the Red-Faced Spear Ghost's spear accurately pierced the abdomen of Maeng Yo, who was approaching from behind, ready to swing his axe.
“If you had stayed still, you might have lived a little longer. You're just hastening your own death.”
“Hehehe.”
Despite being stabbed in the stomach, Maeng Yo was laughing.
At his laughter, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost's expression hardened.
*Swish!*
And then, Jinmyeong's sword began flying toward the Red-Faced Spear Ghost from the front.
There was no swordsmanship to it.
It was an incredibly simple attack—just a sword wreathed in white flames, launched straight ahead with all his might.
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost tried to swing his spear at the sword flying toward him at immense speed.
“Ugh!”
But his spear didn't move an inch.
Maeng Yo, stabbed in the stomach, was gripping the spear tightly with both hands and refused to let go.
“Annoying bastards!”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost swung his spear.
“Ugh!”
His strength was so immense that even Maeng Yo, who was holding onto the spear, was swung along with it.
At this sight, Jinmyeong had to divert the path of his attacking sword, and even the approaching Shin Yehyang faltered.
“You fools! To miss such an opportunity!”
The Red-Faced Spear Ghost finally burst into laughter at the sight.
He found it hilarious that Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang had missed their small chance to kill him just because of Maeng Yo.
“There won't be another chance like this.”
As the Red-Faced Spear Ghost shook the hand holding the spear, Maeng Yo lost his grip.
Just as the Red-Faced Spear Ghost, having easily shaken off Maeng Yo, was about to move again.
“That's enough.”
A sudden voice made the Red-Faced Spear Ghost stop in his tracks.
“...Why are you here?”
“Does that really matter?”
Seeing the old man who had suddenly appeared, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost frowned.
And Jinmyeong also wore a surprised expression.
‘The old man who was with Gang Muhwi.’
The old man, whose name and identity were unknown, had suddenly revealed himself.
He had no idea why the man had appeared here, in a stronghold of the Green Forest.
“Could you withdraw for today?”
“Withdraw? So suddenly?”
It seemed the two of them knew each other.
“That's impossible.”
Although the Red-Faced Spear Ghost refused, he couldn't raise his spear again.
It was because an aura flowed from the old man standing before him, pressing down on him.
“Then you'll just have to fight this old man.”
“...Why are you interfering?”
“Because there's a young fellow here I've taken a liking to.”
At the old man's words, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost's face twisted.
“You will regret this.”
“Perhaps I will.”
But instead of fighting the old man, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost chose to lower his spear.
A clash with the old man was not something he wanted.
This was possible because he was confident he could kill Jinmyeong at any time.
“We'll see.”
In the end, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost turned around.
Seeing him, Jinmyeong tried to move again, but the old man stopped him.
In the end, before Jinmyeong could do anything, the Red-Faced Spear Ghost leaped away.
“It's been a while.”
Once the Red-Faced Spear Ghost was gone, the old man turned to Jinmyeong with a benevolent smile and spoke.