Chapter 169: Black Flame Demon Emperor (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 169: Black Flame Demon Emperor (1)
Mount Tai, the sacred home of the Wudang Sect, was engulfed in fire.
Dark, ravenous flames consumed everything in their path.
—Ughh…
A man knelt amidst the inferno, blood pouring from his wounds. The grievous injury on his chest alone spoke volumes of his dire state.
—You… bitch…!
His words were punctuated by wet, bloody spatters.
Before him stood a woman wreathed in a golden aura. The Young Sword Saint, Wi Seol-Ah, stared down at him with an icy gaze. The cold corpses littering the ground around her and the relentless flames, which seemed to defy the pouring rain, felt like a curse laid upon the mountain.
—You are just a mere girl… but you dare to…!
—Silence! How dare a loathsome demon like you speak!
Members of the Murim Alliance, standing behind Wi Seol-Ah, retorted with vehemence.
The man’s quick glance took in the dozens of people arrayed behind her. Dozens of Murim Alliance insects still remained. The sight filled him with utter disdain.
I could’ve annihilated them all.
But my plans were ruined by this one little girl.
—You pathetic insects, you wouldn’t even be able to make a sound if your numbers were low… how dare you address this Sword Demon in such a—!
As the man, blood dripping from his mouth, made to raise his sword again, a voice cut through the chaos.
—Shut your mouth, Sword Demon.
A colossal presence descended upon the ashen slopes of Mount Tai. The very Qi of the martial artists present quivered; their breaths caught in their throats. Even the devouring flames flickered and receded, as if cowed by the owner of that voice.
—Cughh…
The Sword Demon vomited blood anew, crushed by the overwhelming pressure that stomped down upon him. Struggling to regain his composure, he lifted his head.
A man looked down on him, his eyes aglow with a cold purple light, his gaze utterly devoid of emotion.
Trembling in fear, the Sword Demon forced his frozen tongue to move.
—M-My Lord…
—Your tongue flaps too much for a loser. Will you be satisfied if I incinerate you with my own hands?
—N…No…
There were only two demonic cultivators present, yet they faced dozens from the Murim Alliance. By numbers alone, the orthodox faction should have overwhelmed them. Yet, the Murim Alliance members hesitated, held back by the sheer, terrifying presence of the man now standing beside the Sword Demon.
—Sigh…
Wi Seol-Ah let out a weary sigh. Her exhaustion from the prolonged battle was palpable. This fatigue was likely the primary reason the Alliance hesitated to press the attack.
—You must be tired. You should have let go of the ones you couldn’t save from the beginning.
—Don’t you dare speak to the Master, you mere demon—!
As one man began to shout, Wi Seol-Ah raised a hand to stop him. Provoking further conflict was unaffordable in their weakened state. She wasn't sure she could protect everyone while fighting that man in her current condition.
Yet, there was one thing she had to say. Fixing the man with a sharp gaze, Wi Seol-Ah asked:
—…What will you do?
—Hmm?
—The fact that you spoke up implies you have a reason.
—You overestimate me. I’m not some great person who needs a reason to speak.
The man took a single step forward.
Blaze!
At his slight movement, the Murim Alliance instantly drew their swords, bracing for defense. Their priority was clear: ensure the Young Sword Saint’s escape if the situation turned.
Seeing their desperate determination, the man sneered.
—How amusing.
A sinister, mocking aura emanated from him.
Blaaze!
The flames that had threatened to consume everything began to change, taking on the same chilling, dark black hue as the energy radiating from the man.
—B-Black Flame Demon Emperor.
Had he heard the trembling voice? The black flames hovering in the air suddenly shot toward the one who had spoken.
In that same instant, Wi Seol-Ah’s sword screamed with golden light, slicing through the dark fire and saving her subordinate.
—A…Ahh!
The man collapsed to his knees with a pitiful cry.
The Black Flame Demon Emperor observed this apathetically. —I personally detest that title. Mention it again, and I’ll tear your throat out here and now. So be cautious.
With a motion of his hand, the flames gathered anew. A horrifying amount of Qi coalesced into a single, swirling sphere. Everyone knew what would happen if such a thing were aimed at them. Besides the Young Sword Saint, all would perish.
Despite this, Wi Seol-Ah continued to regard the man with the same unwavering eyes.
—You still have the same boring expression, he remarked as their eyes met.
—What do you want?
The man seemed confused by her question. —What do you mean by that?
—What must I do for you to let them leave in peace?
—M-Master!
Shocked expressions spread across the faces of the Alliance members behind her. The Young Sword Saint was essentially begging for their lives from a demonic cultivator.
—Master, how could you say such a thing to traitorous trash like him!
—Agreed! Master, you should escape while we hold him off—!
Slaaam!
An immense pressure abruptly intensified, forcing most to their knees. Only Wi Seol-Ah and the straining Sword Demon remained standing.
—If one more person interferes, everyone dies here.
Following the Black Flame’s words, Wi Seol-Ah sheathed her sword.
Watching her, the man spoke with a tone of absurdity. —Why do you think I’ll let you all leave?
—Because you wouldn’t be talking to me if that wasn’t your intention.
It was simple. He could have killed them all already. That was what demonic cultivators did, and the man before her was especially notorious. He had annihilated Mount Hua by fire and was a Master of the Demonic Cult who had single-handedly crushed the main forces of the Orthodox Faction.
The Black Flame Demon Emperor, Gu Yangcheon.
—I thought you would never lower your head to me. I guess even the almighty Young Sword Saint values her life.
Despite his mockery, Wi Seol-Ah remained silent, her gaze fixed on the man standing calmly in the rain. Her golden aura had faded, her hair returning to its natural black now that her Qi was scattered. Only a faint golden light remained in her eyes.
The man, watching her, erased his smirk and returned to an expressionless mask.
Swoosh.
At his command, the black flame spheres floating in the air dissipated into the wind.
Seeing this, the Sword Demon shouted hurriedly. —Master…! Are you really planning to let these insects liv—
Pow!
Before he could finish, his Master’s kick connected with his chin, rendering him unconscious.
As the oppressive pressure vanished, the Murim Alliance members slowly began to rise.
Amidst this, the man spoke to Wi Seol-Ah again.
—The Heaven of my cult… —‘Heaven’ being their term for the Heavenly Demon — …gave no orders regarding your lives.
Demonic cultivators obeyed the Heavenly Demon’s every command without question. To them, he was a deity. This held true even for a superhuman like the Black Flame Demon Emperor.
—My orders concerned only the Sword Demon.
He began to move, walking slowly toward Wi Seol-Ah. Murim Alliance members tensed to intercept, but froze when his gaze swept over them. Even without Wi Seol-Ah’s subtle signal to stop, fear alone would have paralyzed them.
—But that is not reason enough for me to let you live.
Killing intent smoldered in his flaming eyes. Many felt utterly powerless before this predator who had bared his fangs.
—Do you want to live?
Now standing directly before her, he asked as his eyes locked with her golden ones.
—Do you really want to discard the last of your pride, just to live?
She had to live. There was something she still needed to do.
Was this ‘pride’ he spoke of the fact she was begging for mercy from an arch-enemy of the Alliance? But Wi Seol-Ah felt no such pride remained. She wanted to live solely to fulfill her remaining duties.
—Speak.
—…I want to live, Wi Seol-Ah said, her voice thick with exhaustion.
The man smirked, his gaze mocking. —Whether it’s the pride of the Orthodox Faction or a new hope, it’s all pointless. In the end, you’re just a person who wants to live, like any other. The idiotic insects of the Alliance fail to understand even this.
He lifted her chin with his hand. As her head rose, the hair covering her face fell aside, revealing her eyes clearly. Though still glowing with golden Qi, they seemed hollow, as if the light within had been extinguished.
—Foolish woman.
Several people behind her stirred at his harsh words, but still could not bring themselves to advance.
The man ignored them completely. —The Cult Leader will soon face the Sword Venerable.
At the mention of the Sword Venerable, Wi Seol-Ah’s fist clenched subtly. The man noted her reaction.
—When that happens, that powerless old man will die.
—How dare a fiend from the Demonic Cult speak of the Sword Venerable like tha—
—…What is it that you want? Wi Seol-Ah interrupted, her voice quiet.
Those who had finally mustered their courage to charge halted in shock. These words, coming from the Sword Venerable’s own granddaughter and sole disciple, were unthinkable.
The man’s eyes brightened, as if he had been waiting for this.
—I want you to stay away from that battle. Wait here until the Sword Venerable is miserably killed by the Cult Leader’s hand, unable to offer him any support.
He wanted her to simply wait for the death of her grandfather and master.
—Do this, and I will let you live.
Finished, he watched as Wi Seol-Ah, who had been clenching her fist, slowly relaxed her hand.
—How could you be so cruel…
—Master! We cannot allow this! We will go in your place—
—I will do it, Wi Seol-Ah said, her tone eerily calm. —If that is your condition, I accept.
—Do you truly wish to keep your life on these terms? Your eyes seem to have already lost their spirit.
—I have given you my answer.
Her voice was a hopeless monotone, as if she had already given up on everything. Seemingly losing interest, the man grabbed her neck.
At his action, everyone surged forward with their swords, but were blocked by a wall of flames that erupted before them.
A vile energy invaded Wi Seol-Ah’s body. She recognized it instantly as a shackling spell, a sensation of her very heart being gripped. She could have resisted it easily, but she did not.
—Since you have discarded your pride, I will keep my promise.
Only after she felt the shackle firmly settle around her heart did he release her. A red handprint was left stark on her white neck.
Staring at the mark for a moment, the man turned away from her.
—Next time we meet, I hope you look just as powerless. It will make killing you easier.
With those final words, he vanished in a swirl of flames. The unconscious Sword Demon disappeared along with him.
Wi Seol-Ah suddenly lost her balance, and Alliance members rushed to support her.
—Master…! Are you alright?
—Everyone, stay on guard! There may still be an ambush!
—I’m sorry… If not for us, Master would have easily dealt with a demon like that…
She could hear their voices, but to her ears, they were distant, muffled by an internal silence.
With the man gone, the flames that had burned despite the rain finally began to scatter and die.
Embracing the endless rain, Wi Seol-Ah barely managed to stand.
—Let’s go back… The others will be waiting for us.
—…Master… We shouldn’t leave ye—
—It’s alright… The Black Flame Demon Emperor is not one to lie.
She knew how stupid and absurd it was to trust the word of a demonic cultivator, but she had to say it. She remembered the character for ‘Demon’ embroidered on the back of his robes.
The emotion she felt upon finally confronting the man she had so desperately wanted to kill felt less like hatred and more like a bitter resentment, even a twisted sense of yearning. She knew it was pathetic. But she couldn't help but agree with him when he called her a foolish woman.
—…Let us descend. The Meteor Sword must be worried sick.
—…
Wi Seol-Ah clenched her teeth and frowned at the mentioned name, but with her head bowed, no one saw her expression.
The war between the Murim Alliance and the Sword Demon’s army on Mount Tai ended in the defeat of the Orthodox Faction.
The survivors of Wudang were forced to endure the humiliation of retreating to Hanam.
Three days later…
The Sword Venerable died at the hands of the Heavenly Demon.
* * *
Late at night, under a high moon…
Wi Seol-Ah slowly opened her eyes. She moved soundlessly, like a ghost. With delicate fingers, she brushed acupuncture points on the two servants slumbering nearby, ensuring they would not wake easily.
“Phew…”
With a soft sigh, she slipped out of the guesthouse. Gu Yangcheon’s chambers were adjacent, demanding extreme discretion. Though his current martial skills might not detect her, she took no chances.
In the moonless dark, a faint glimmer began to form around her as her hair started to change color.
Sorry, this is the last time.
She whispered to herself, knowing the original owner of this body was likely asleep. There was no response.
Wi Seol-Ah began to run, her steps light and swift. Despite her grace, her young body moved with the speed of the wind, the surrounding buildings blurring past.
As she ran, her forehead furrowed.
There’s not much time left.
The energy sustaining her was nearly depleted. This had been the agreement, so she had expected this moment.
A little more.
That was all she wanted. Just a little more time to help clear the path for him. That was the only hope she allowed herself.
Tap-!
She halted abruptly, having reached her destination at a breakneck pace. Before her stood the residence of the Taeryung Clan in Hanam, the very heart of the Murim Alliance.
Numerous martial artists guarded the compound, but none detected her presence. Concealing herself with light footsteps, she slipped into another building. She didn’t need to search for her target; she could sense his energy all too well.
She was only steps away. The medical room reserved for the bloodline of the Alliance Leader was heavily guarded, but the sentinels lost consciousness and crumpled to the floor as she approached.
Soon, she arrived at her destination: the room where Jang Seonyeon was located. Wi Seol-Ah had waited a long time for this.
She slowly tightened her grip. There was no need for a sword. She had long since transcended the need for such a weapon.
She moved forward, suppressing her killing intent. This would mark the conclusion of their ill-fated connection, her final mission. Since he had obtained what he wanted here, she too would fulfill her purpose. She would erase every last trace of his presence from this world.
With this resolve, Wi Seol-Ah slid the door open to confront her target.
Sliide.
As expected, he was in the silent room.
However…
“Welcome,” Jang Seonyeon said, not asleep but smiling as he greeted her. “I was waiting for you.”
Upon hearing him, Wi Seol-Ah swung her hand without a moment’s hesitation.