Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Hong River Seven Fiends
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The Verdant Viper Fan, the signature poisoned weapon of the Green Viper Poison Fan wielder, consisted of over twenty small blades the size of a palm pieced together. With a single swing, centrifugal force caused the blades to separate from one another, extending the weapon's overall length while unleashing a terrifying barrage like a whirlwind. Composed of palm-sized blades, it was a brutal instrument that would shred a person's body into pieces once it connected.
Shriiik—pa-pa-pat-pat!
The sound of the Verdant Viper Fan ripping through the air.
As its name implied, the fan was coated in a green poison. Even a graze could lead to irreversible consequences.
Pa-ra-ra-ra!
The sound of Byeon Ryeo-gun's linked sword slicing through the atmosphere. Imbued with pure white sword energy, it seemed ready to cleave through anything in its path.
If the Green Viper Poison Fan's fan was wild and ferocious, Byeon Ryeo-gun's linked sword was sharp and precise.
The fan whipped up a vortex with savage momentum.
The linked sword, sheathed in pristine white sword energy, began tearing through the whirlwind with razor-sharp movements.
The fan's assault was ferocious. But the sword's motions were incredibly swift and keen, piercing the vortex the fan generated.
The startled Green Viper Poison Fan pressed the attack even harder, but he couldn't push back the sword now that it had gained momentum.
'What kind of bitch is this! I need to tear that face off...! Her veil! Her face is the ultimate vital point!'
Wearing a veil meant she cared deeply about her appearance. The Green Viper Poison Fan focused his fan's assault on Byeon Ryeo-gun's face.
The best offense is the best defense.
In the instant he forgot that simple truth...
As he shifted the vortex-generating assault of the fan upward, his own lower body was exposed. Byeon Ryeo-gun seized the moment and lunged forward. She slipped out of the relentless whirlwind and struck at the Green Viper Poison Fan's lower half.
Caught off guard, he recoiled in panic and desperately tried to lower the vortex, but it was too late.
A chilling sensation hit as his leg was severed.
'Damn bitch! Let's die together!'
The fan thrashed even more savagely.
In that instant, the linked sword surged upward, infused with pure white energy—like a fish swimming against a waterfall, plunging fiercely into the fan's brutal whirlwind.
Kwa-da-da-da-dang!
A ceaseless clamor of clashes rang out.
The moment the endless collisions ceased, the fierce duel between the two came to an end.
Byeon Ryeo-gun's veil flew away. The white hairpin neatly binding her hair was sliced into strands, her locks scattering wildly.
Thud!
The sound of the Green Viper Poison Fan collapsing.
"You bitch! I'll rip you apart and kill you!"
The Green Viper Poison Fan bellowed in rage.
One leg severed and gushing blood, the arm that had wielded the fan now exposed white bone from a deep gash.
Drip. Drip!
Blood dripped from Byeon Ryeo-gun's upright linked sword.
She raised the sword above her head.
An evil that must be slain must be slain.
She would take his head.
But at that very moment, a foot shot out and pinned the hand of the Green Viper Poison Fan, who was desperately trying to swing his fan once more.
"Interesting weapon."
It was Do Cheon.
Do Cheon crouched, pried the Verdant Viper Fan from the man's grasp, stood up, and kicked him away. The Green Viper Poison Fan flew far beyond the crowd's sight without even a scream.
"No need to kill when it doesn't sit right with you. And when you must kill, no need to hesitate."
Do Cheon said, facing Byeon Ryeo-gun.
She nodded, shook the blood from her sword, and sheathed it at her waist. Then she tore a strip from her upper garment to neatly tie back her disheveled hair.
"That face... looks even better up close."
Do Cheon grinned.
"You womanizer."
"You made me this way, junior sister. I used to have zero interest in women."
"Do I look like a woman to you?"
"But this... it's like a sword, right?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun chuckled at Do Cheon's evasion and turned her gaze to the Verdant Viper Fan he was examining.
"Yeah. It does look like a sword."
It had a hilt and a straight blade. Not a fan, but usable like one.
"Coated in poison, huh?"
"Yes."
Hearing her reply, Do Cheon walked off to one side.
Toward the group led by the Hong River Seven Fiends. They shrank back in fear as he approached.
Reaching the front of the group, Do Cheon stared straight into one man's face and said,
"Strip."
"Pardon?"
"Take off your clothes."
The burly man hurriedly stripped off his upper garment at Do Cheon's command.
Do Cheon took it and wrapped the Verdant Viper Fan tightly in it before returning to Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"Here, spoils of your victory, junior sister."
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Just clean off the poison, and it's a usable weapon."
"You want me to use this?"
"It's the person that's dirty, not the weapon."
"But still..."
"You're the only one here who can wield something like this. If it creeps you out too much, give it to Elder Ong."
"Got it."
As Byeon Ryeo-gun took it, Do Cheon turned toward the inn. The dozen or so young martial artists captured by the Hong River Seven Fiends were emerging. They were astonished by her prowess and doubly so by her beauty. The girl who had mocked her veil as a sign of insecurity now stared at the ground.
"Thank you."
The young man in green clasped his hands in gratitude on behalf of the group.
"Let's finish cleaning up."
Do Cheon said, eyeing the inn. The green-clad youth and his companions stepped aside from the entrance.
"If you think you can escape, give it a try."
At Do Cheon's confident words, the Hong River Seven Fiends emerged from the inn after a pause. They were the ones who had ambushed him inside and been sent flying all at once. Even outside, they huddled together, wary of Do Cheon and Byeon Ryeo-gun's gazes.
"Huddling like that makes it hard to see you."
At his words, they shuffled into a line. Do Cheon scanned them.
"Hong River Seven Fiends, right?"
"Yes."
The second, Blood Ghost, replied.
"I live not far from here, but I've never heard of any Hong River Seven Fiends."
"We're from near Guiju City."
"Then why come here and stir up this mess instead of staying put?"
"We just came to check it out."
He glanced around nervously even as he answered. It wasn't the full story.
Do Cheon extended his hand toward the inn. A crack! echoed from inside, and something flew into his grasp.
A chair leg from the inn. The Hong River Seven Fiends recoiled further at the astonishing air-grabbing technique, growing more vigilant.
"I'll ask again. If I don't like the answer, blame this club. Why are you here?"
"The unorthodox sects are gathering."
"Unorthodox sects gathering?"
"The factions following Solar Heaven are mobilizing in force. Our leader said we should come watch the fun and have some playtime around Jangsa while we're at it."
"Planning to go all the way to Jangsa?"
"Not quite—we were just going to fool around nearby. Sightseeing in Jangsa itself."
"Solar Heaven's heading to Jangsa?"
"That's what we heard."
"To hit the Iron Lion Sect?"
"They said to capture and kill that Iron Divine Dragon bastard."
"Iron Divine Dragon?"
"Yes. Seven of the Twelve Evil Heavens under Solar Heaven are moving to grab him, and riffraff like us are just tagging along to watch."
"But why?"
"Pardon?"
"No reason for Solar Heaven and the Iron Divine Dragon to clash."
"Not sure of the details, but the leader said it seems like they're doing it to crush the righteous sects' pride."
"Crush the righteous sects' pride?"
"If the unorthodox kill the guy who crushed Yunyang and Hyun-gak lackeys, it'll flatten the righteous fools' noses completely."
"Aha!"
Do Cheon understood.
And it only soured his mood further. He was pissed.
Snap!
The club in his hand smacked Blood Ghost's head.
Blood Ghost clutched his skull, freshly reminded of Do Cheon's power, too stunned to speak.
"Why keep calling him 'that guy'?"
"Sorry."
"Whatever. Now, what to do with you all."
"Spare us! We'll flee back to our lair without looking back."
"Can't just let you go. You killed people. Pay the price."
"It was all our leader's doing."
"Think I'm an idiot?"
Realizing his words fell on deaf ears, Blood Ghost pondered fleeing as his life hung in the balance. Meanwhile, Do Cheon's gaze swept over the rest of the Hong River Seven Fiends.
All rugged faces, typical villainous scum.
"Born human, yet living like beasts. Tsk tsk. You there."
"Y-yes?"
Blood Hound stammered in panic at Do Cheon's call.
"That at your waist—women's hairpins? Collected after killing them?"
"N-no!"
As Blood Hound reacted vehemently...
"Among the Hong River Seven Fiends, Blood Hound is infamous for raping and murdering women. From what I overheard, they rape them as they die."
The green-clad youth stepped forward.
Blood Hound snarled viciously.
"Shut up! Spreading lies!"
"Blood Ghost enjoys hacking people apart with his axe...!"
As the youth denounced their atrocities, Blood Ghost signaled Blood Hound with a glance and lunged. He reached for the youth to subdue him. Blood Hound leaped toward the girl behind the youth. The rest of the Seven Fiends moved in sync—years together made them coordinated.
Their intent was clear: grab the youth and girl as shields.
"Huh?"
As the youth cried out in alarm and Byeon Ryeo-gun's sword flashed like lightning, a storm of pressure erupted around Do Cheon, compressing the surroundings in an instant.
Movements slowed drastically.
Only the club in Do Cheon's hand moved at full speed.
Crack!
Blood Ghost's wrist, reaching for the youth, snapped.
Snap!
Blood Hound's leg shattered just before the girl's face.
Thwack! Thwack!
The remaining Seven Fiends were mercilessly clubbed down.
Flash!
Movements resumed normal speed, and Byeon Ryeo-gun's sword gleamed white—but struck nothing.
"Urk!"
"Ugh!"
The Hong River Seven Fiends writhed in a heap.
Do Cheon stood before them.
"Filthy beasts! You've lived like animals, so die as fodder for other beasts!"
With chilling words, he swung the club.
Thud thud thud thud!
He shattered their lower dantians, stripping their inner energy.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
He pulverized their arms and legs, ensuring they couldn't walk or crawl. Blood Hound's groin got extra attention, smashed to pulp. Then he grabbed each by the collar and hurled them toward the rear mountain of Jingeun Village.
"Nooo!"
"Aaaargh!"
The terrified screams echoed as they flew.
A truly gruesome sight.
—You've lived like beasts, so die as fodder for other beasts!
The words lingered in everyone's minds, laced with dread.
Do Cheon turned with a whirl.
Still furious. The lackeys who had followed the Seven Fiends gasped.
"You've lived as beasts' sidekicks—what makes you different?!"
Do Cheon raised both hands.
The panicked mob scattered in all directions.
Do Cheon gathered the air massively and thrust his palms out.
The air split into dozens of spikes, shooting every which way.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
The fleeing mob tumbled in heaps.
Not one escaped—every single one had a leg bone shattered.
"Harm anyone again, and the other leg goes too! Scram!"
At Do Cheon's icy shout, the mob dragged their broken legs and fled in pain and terror.
For a moment, as the vile crowd vanished, Do Cheon stood guard until the rain thickened. He ordered the coachman to move the carriage, then headed to the inn with Byeon Ryeo-gun.
The green-clad youth and his group had no choice but to follow as the downpour intensified and night fell.
The innkeeper, grateful for chasing off the thugs, served heaps of food. Do Cheon invited the youth's group, but only the youth joined.
"Sun Woo-jin."
"Do Cheon."
"Byeon Ryeo-gun."
Upon hearing their names, Sun Woo-jin shot up in shock.
"Iron Divine Dragon! Do Cheon, the young hero?!"
His outburst drew wide-eyed stares from his companions.
"That's me."
Do Cheon confirmed.
Shock and admiration lit up every face. The girl who had mocked Byeon Ryeo-gun's veil bowed her head sharply.
"To think it was you, Young Hero Do...! Ah! Our rudeness...!"
"Sit. Rudeness is done. No need to dwell."
"Ah, yes."
"Twenty-two. Close in age, so drop the formalities."
"Got it."
"Eat first."
Seeing Sun Woo-jin awkward, Do Cheon picked up his chopsticks first.
"Wow, this is good. Try some, junior sister. You too, Brother Sun."
"Ah, yes."
Sun Woo-jin barely tasted it, just echoing "delicious."
That's how people are.
Three years ago, Do Cheon might have acted the same before him.
'Should martial prowess matter more than people?'
Who knows. Suddenly it crossed his mind, but clearly, in this world, arts outweighed humanity.
'I'm just one man—gotta adapt.'
Do Cheon dismissed the thought, signaled the innkeeper, and paid silver coins upfront for his group's meals and rooms.
The innkeeper refused at first, but Do Cheon insisted, knowing his actions reflected on the Iron Lion Sect. At least he settled his food tab.
"Like liquor?"
"Enjoy it moderately."
"Here."
Do Cheon poured for Sun Woo-jin, then himself.
"Not much for drink myself, but when I meet someone I like, seems this is all I can offer."
He said, lifting his cup.
Sun Woo-jin stared blankly, thinking he'd misheard.
"Without you, I'd have let those beasts go."
"Ah!"
"You protected those who could've been their victims."
"No, you did."
"We did it together. Anyway, out wandering the jianghu?"
Sun Woo-jin's face flushed at the question.
"Not hero material. But as a martial artist with dreams, I wanted to glimpse my idol from afar."
"That great, huh?"
"Already shaking the world at our age."
"Wow, really?"
"Yes."
"...!"
Sun Woo-jin looked sheepish. Sensing it, Do Cheon's eyes widened.
"Don't tell me it's me?"
"You're the only one thrilling the young generation lately."
Caught off guard, Do Cheon was speechless. Byeon Ryeo-gun laughed.
"Seems only big senior doesn't know how amazing he is."
"Your words ring true now."
Sun Woo-jin nodded along.
"Cut it out. Until recently, I was dodging black path scum."
"Rumors say you found an ancestral secret art, trained three years, and returned. Spot on?"
"Close enough."
"Truly impressive."
"Nah. Just a regular guy. Skip the admiration—let's be friends. I like that."
As Do Cheon waved embarrassedly...
The inn door opened. An elderly herb gatherer entered, scanned the room, and approached Do Cheon's table.
"Word is, the Wingless Sect is at Mount Akrok, a day's travel from here."
"Thanks."
Do Cheon bowed. The elder clasped hands politely and left. No need for names—only the Hao Clan shared info unprompted.
"Junior sister, know the Wingless Sect?"
"One of the Twelve Evil Heavens."
Do Cheon's brow furrowed.
"Twelve means fighting them before the main event—for proper rumors."
"Too many, and surprises happen."
"Could harm the sect?"
"Yes. Like the Seven Fiends said—seven of twelve moving. That's half the unorthodox forces."
Half the unorthodox sects.
Chance to showcase Iron Lion might again. But Elder Ong had warned: good young talents were rare, mostly in big sects or dead from reckless wandering. No need to risk the sect.
"Chase them off before they reach Jangsa?"
"Safest bet."
"Then that's the plan."
Do Cheon and Byeon Ryeo-gun spoke. Suddenly, Sun Woo-jin blurted,
"Mind if I join the fight too?"