Chapter 47: The Four Great Villains (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: The Four Great Villains (2)
The Four Great Villains.
This title refers to four of the twelve superhumans who stand at the pinnacle of the Murim.
Their infamy has spread not only through the martial world but across the entire Central Plains, to the point where it is said their names alone can make a crying child fall silent.
The Four Great Villains hold the weight of life so lightly that killing is a mere trifle to them, and it is said that not one among them is anything less than ruthlessly cruel.
Seeing it happen before my very eyes left me momentarily speechless.
To rip a person’s arm off right then and there...
“Ugh...”
The Blood Hand Witch, Han Baek-ha—a woman who seemed as though she wouldn't bat an eye at anything—was now on the verge of tears, unable to bear the agony.
Her eyes were filled with pure terror.
[It’s the Moon Evil Sword.]
Haeakcheon’s voice reached my ears via Sound Transmission.
He, too, seemed to have realized the man's identity the moment Sama-yeong cried out "Father."
But the others had not.
“Who the hell are you to commit such an atrocity?!”
Enraged by the sight of Han Baek-ha, the Raging Demon Lord Seo Gal-ma barked at him.
However, the Moon Evil Sword, Sama Chak, didn't even spare him a glance.
“Are you ignoring me?!”
With a thunderous shout, Seo Gal-ma lunged toward him.
“Wait—”
Haeakcheon, standing nearby, didn't even have time to stop him.
Drawing his long saber, Seo Gal-ma kicked off the deck like a bolt of lightning and swung his blade down at Sama Chak.
Slaaaash!
He truly lived up to his reputation as one of the Four Venerables, the current peak of the Blood Cult.
His momentum was powerful enough to split a mountain in two. It was an attack so intense that even someone in the Blood Demon state would struggle to block it at full strength.
And yet...
“Hmph!”
Sama Chak merely snorted and lightly stomped on the deck.
The wooden planks of the floor shattered and surged upward.
Cr-crack! Pop-pop-pop!
Seo Gal-ma used a changing tide to slice through the rising planks, attempting to maintain his momentum.
But the initial force was gone.
Sama Chak lightly twisted his upper body to the side to dodge the saber, then thrust his fingers in a sword-hand strike toward Seo Gal-ma’s heart.
Like the experienced veteran he was, Seo Gal-ma hurriedly twisted his blade to block with the flat of the steel.
Claaaaang!
“Urgh!”
In that instant, accompanied by a sharp metallic ring, Seo Gal-ma’s body was sent flying over twenty feet.
His long saber vibrated violently, as if it were having a seizure.
As Seo Gal-ma lowered his blade, his face was pale with tension. He was even breaking out in a cold sweat.
Is this the gap between us and the Four Great Villains?
The display was so overwhelming that everyone watching could clearly feel the disparity in power. This was not an opponent Seo Gal-ma could handle alone.
The Moon Evil Sword, Sama Chak, clasped his hands behind his back and slowly scanned the people around him.
He was merely looking, but...
Thump! Thump!
The pressure was so immense that my heart pounded wildly.
Because of this single absolute master, the entire ship was drenched in extreme vigilance and tension.
To think he’s this powerful.
The aura radiating from this one man suppressed the entire crowd.
Seeing this made one thing certain: I realized just how much the Alliance Leader, Baek Hyang-muk, must have held back when he faced me.
When one of the twelve superhumans exerted their pressure with intent, the very air felt heavy.
—He is strong. Like a razor-sharp blade.
The Blood Demon Sword spoke, evaluating someone as "strong" for the first time.
It was the first time such a thing had happened since I began communicating with it.
Every master on this ship—all of whom could be counted among the top five in strength here—could not take their eyes off Sama Chak’s every move.
“Father! Stop it!”
At that moment, Sama-yeong ran toward the Moon Evil Sword.
I wondered what she was doing, only to see her throw herself into his arms.
Everyone was bewildered.
“Father!”
Then, Sama Chak—a man with a cold impression who looked like he wouldn't bleed if pricked by a needle—stroked the hair of the girl in his arms and gave a gentle smile.
“You little rascal.”
“Father... did you leave Gyewol Valley because of me?”
“Can’t you tell? I came out to catch this tomboy.”
With tears welling in her eyes, Sama-yeong rubbed her face against Sama Chak’s chest. Then, she looked up with cat-like eyes and spoke.
“I missed you.”
“And who told you to run away from home?”
“Hmph. It’s because you wouldn't let me leave, Father.”
“The girl who stole a sword and ran away while her father was in the tomb for a memorial service certainly has a lot to say.”
Ah...
So that silent, heavy precious sword belonged to the Moon Evil Sword, Sama Chak.
I had suspected as much, but it was true.
As the overwhelming pressure that had dominated the crowd dissipated somewhat thanks to Sama-yeong, everyone seemed curious about the true identity of this father and daughter.
In the meantime, Baek Ryeonha hurriedly ran to the Blood Hand Witch, Han Baek-ha.
She used a pressure point technique on the area near Han Baek-ha’s heavily bleeding left shoulder to stop the hemorrhage. She was putting out the immediate fire.
“M-My Lady...”
“Save your strength.”
As Baek Ryeonha tried to support her to move her, Sama Chak’s cold voice rang out.
“Who gave you permission to move that wench?”
Baek Ryeonha’s back trembled.
She bit her lip hard and mustered her courage to speak.
“...I heard you are Great Leader Sama’s father. If so, you are not a stranger to us. Please, show a senior’s magnanimity and...”
“Hmph!”
Before Baek Ryeonha could finish, Sama Chak flicked something with his finger.
Startled, Baek Ryeonha pushed Han Baek-ha aside and unleashed a finger technique.
She blocked the first projectile, but she couldn't stop the one that followed, which struck her squarely in the chest.
Thwack!
“Ah!”
Struck in the chest, her body was pushed back, and she collapsed.
Looking at what had fallen to the floor, it was nothing other than a steel ball.
The sheer depth of his internal power could be guessed just by his Flicking Finger Divine Power.
Sama Chak pointed his finger toward Baek Ryeonha’s head.
“Did you think you would survive after humiliating my daughter?”
“Father!”
“Stay out of this.”
Despite Sama-yeong’s protest, Sama Chak’s finger moved.
In that split second, I lunged forward.
I deflected the incoming steel ball with the Blood Demon Sword.
Clang!
The moment the ball hit the sword, my body staggered back from the sheer force of his internal power.
He possessed a monstrous level of internal energy, making me wonder if a human could truly hold such power.
Against my will, I was pushed back five steps.
—Are you crazy? Why did you step in?
Do you think I want to face one of the Four Great Villains?
I am the Blood Demon right now.
If I, the supposed leader, just stood by with my hands behind my back, what would Sama Chak think?
—What?
Besides, I had heard things from Sama-yeong.
She often talked about her father, and I had heard that the Moon Evil Sword, Sama Chak, utterly despised hypocrites, cowards, and those lacking in dignity.
If I, the leader, simply hid in the back, I would only earn his contempt.
I had to settle this before the situation escalated further.
Shing!
Without letting go of my sword, I brought my hands together in a respectful greeting.
“The junior, So Woon-hwi, offers his greetings to the great senior, Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak.”
“...!”
At my words, everyone around us began to stir.
They had likely guessed he was no ordinary person, but it seemed no one had imagined he was one of the Four Great Villains.
“Moon Evil Sword?”
“The—the Four Great Villains!”
Haeakcheon, having already realized his identity, wasn't surprised. Instead, he seemed more flustered that I had stepped forward.
I sent him a message via Sound Transmission.
[Master, please do not step in.]
[What?]
No matter how strong Haeakcheon was, one of his hands was still injured. If he clashed with this man, he would surely suffer a grave injury or lose his life.
“Hmm.”
Sama Chak raised an eyebrow, then looked down at Sama-yeong in his arms.
He seemed to be asking if she had told me.
But Sama-yeong was looking at me with surprised eyes of her own.
“...You knew?”
At her question, I gave a small nod. Then, I spoke to Sama Chak.
“I am the Blood Demon, the leader of this group. If there is anything that has displeased you, please, speak to me.”
My heart wouldn't stop racing, but I spoke as confidently as possible without showing it.
I was trembling, wondering how Sama Chak would react.
However, the look Sama Chak gave me was beyond cold—it was chilling.
Damn it.
I had a bad feeling.
Then, Sama-yeong pulled away from her father’s embrace and spoke.
“Father. The Blood Demon is a good person who helped me when I first entered the Murim and made sure I was well-taken care of.”
She was doing her best to speak well of me.
In a way, she was the only person here who could control or soothe the Moon Evil Sword.
“I really wanted to introduce him to you, Father...”
“I have no interest in outsiders.”
Sama Chak cut her off ruthlessly. Then, he spoke to me.
“You claim to be the current Blood Demon?”
“...That is correct.”
“You’re different from what I heard.”
“Pardon?”
As I stood there puzzled, Sama Chak glared at me fiercely.
“Not only did you seduce my innocent daughter, but you’re also discussing marriage with another woman?”
“!?”
I was momentarily speechless.
I wondered how long he had been watching; it seemed he had even heard what the Blood Hand Witch had said.
I hadn't even brought up the marriage talk, so his display of rage was bewildering.
—Woon-hwi. They say no one is scarier to a son-in-law than a father with a daughter. Be careful.
The voice of the Namcheon Iron Sword echoed in my head.
I’m already stressed to death; why are you saying that now?
I felt I had to explain.
“I believe there has been a misunderstanding. The marriage talk was...”
“Hmph!”
Before I could finish, a steel ball flew toward my brow.
I tried to block it, but someone stepped in front of me and caught the ball.
Thud!
Ssssssssss!
The massive shadow shielding me was none other than my master, Haeakcheon.
Haeakcheon’s muscular body took on a reddish hue, and steam-like vapor was rising from him.
It was the final stage of the True Blood Golden Body—the Red Blood Golden Body.
“Master.”
“Even if you are the Moon Evil Sword, I cannot forgive you for acting so rudely toward the Blood Demon!”
Seeing Haeakcheon, Sama Chak let out a smirk.
He reached into his robe and flicked his finger again.
A steel ball flew toward Haeakcheon at incredible speed.
Without moving from his spot, Haeakcheon swatted the incoming ball away with one hand.
The ball he deflected flew like a cannonball and pierced through the cabin.
But that was only the beginning.
As Sama Chak flicked his fingers in rapid succession, steel balls rained down indiscriminately.
“Haaap!”
With a shout, Haeakcheon unleashed a storm of punches.
The steel balls that met his fists were sent flying in all directions.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
What was impressive was that he didn't retreat a single step.
Unlike me, who had been pushed back even while in the Blood Demon state, Haeakcheon stood his ground firmly.
Once he had fired all the steel balls, the barrage stopped.
A glint of interest appeared in Sama Chak’s eyes.
“So the rumors that Bizarre Haeakcheon’s True Blood Golden Body rivals the Indestructible Diamond Body weren't just empty talk.”
Praise flowed from Sama Chak’s mouth.
As one of the Four Great Villains, he had recognized Haeakcheon’s martial prowess.
“But can that arm of yours withstand my sword as well?”
“Hmph! If you wish, let us test it.”
Haeakcheon shouted in a boisterous voice.
With a light movement of Sama Chak’s hand, the scabbard that had been at Sama-yeong’s waist was suddenly in his grasp.
“Ah!”
Sama-yeong herself seemed surprised, only then realizing it had been taken.
Void... Object Retrieval?
It was the first time I had seen it in my life.
The scabbard had clearly slid out of her waist on its own and flown into Sama Chak’s hand.
I had heard that those who reached the pinnacle of internal energy could manipulate objects with their Qi alone, but I didn't know it was actually possible.
Everyone who witnessed this was left speechless.
Then, Sama-yeong stepped in front of Sama Chak and spread her arms wide.
“Stop it! Father.”
“Move. I will pull these people out by their roots.”
At Sama Chak’s firm words, Sama-yeong’s expression darkened.
She, too, probably hadn't expected her father to go this far.
Sama-yeong bit her lip hard, then shouted as if she had made a decision.
“Then kill me too! Because I’ve decided to live and die with the Blood Demon!”
At her words, Sama Chak’s face contorted terrifyingly.
His sharp gaze turned toward me.
“You’ll live and die with that brat?”
...This is driving me crazy.
It was like pouring oil on a raging fire.
—He just dumped a whole barrel of oil on it.
I had wondered who Sama-yeong took after when she lost her temper, and it turned out she was the spitting image of her father.
Seeing his scholar-like face turn into that of a demon, I knew disaster was imminent.
Taking a deep breath, Sama Chak spoke.
“Then I must kill that boy for you to return home.”
“!?”
He’s going to kill me?
What kind of logic is it to kill someone just because your daughter likes them?
“Father! If you do that...”
At that moment, Sama Chak’s hand moved like lightning.
Tap-tap-tap!
He had struck Sama-yeong’s pressure points.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
With her speech and movement points sealed, she couldn't move an inch.
Having rendered Sama-yeong unable to interfere, Sama Chak looked at me and spoke in a voice dripping with killing intent.
“There is no one in this world I wish to kill that I cannot.”
An intense energy erupted from Sama Chak like an explosion.
He truly intended to kill me.
Haeakcheon’s voice reached my ears via Sound Transmission.
[...Run. Jump off the ship, do whatever you have to. It looks like that monster is intent on finishing this.]
Damn it!
Haeakcheon’s words left my mind in a whirl.
Thinking back to the events before my regression, I thought that if Sama-yeong was here, I could somewhat persuade even one of the Four Great Villains.
But I never imagined he would be this bellicose.
He didn't give even a moment for conversation.
...I guess there’s no other way.
Where could I even run to in the middle of the Yangtze River?
I tore a strip of cloth from my clothes and tied my hand tightly to the hilt of the Blood Demon Sword.
“What are you doing?”
At Haeakcheon’s question, I gave a smirk and replied.
“Where in the world is a disciple who abandons his master? Since this is happening anyway, we should face it together. Even if I die, I won't hold a grudge.”
“You rascal...”
“We’re not using Sound Transmission, so you should use formal speech.”
Haeakcheon shook his head at my words.
But unlike his gesture, the corners of his mouth were turned up.
I stepped forward and spoke.
“Fourth Blood Star, Second Venerable. Will you risk your lives with me?”
At my words, the Fourth Blood Star, Do Jang-ho, let out a sigh and drew his sword, which was adorned with white horsehide.
“It seems I have no choice.”
The Raging Demon Lord, Seo Gal-ma, also tied his hand to his saber hilt with cloth, just as I had.
“You certainly know how to act like a Blood Demon.”
Though his face was tense, his eyes showed a will to fight.
I pointed my sword toward Sama Chak and spoke.
“I can’t just let you kill me, so this junior will resist with his life on the line.”