Chapter 422: Azure Dragon River (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 422: Azure Dragon River (3)
Our vessel was large enough to carry over a hundred people.
Yet the shadow gliding beneath us was larger still.
“Fuck.”
The curse escaped my lips before I could stop it. Why was that thing here now, of all times?
“What… is that?”
“Report this to the Lord, immediately!”
“What in hell is that…?!”
Judging by the panicked cries around me, I wasn’t the only one shaken. As chaos erupted, I locked eyes with Tang Duk and sent a telepathic message.
Was this your doing?
“…”
Tang Duk remained silent, but the tremor in his pupils was answer enough. It didn't seem like his work, but I had to be certain.
That’s an order. Answer me.
I… I don’t know what that is.
So, Tang Duk was ignorant of it too? I had assumed he’d orchestrated this to ambush the Poison King, given the timing. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case.
Then… why was it here?
“Why is that thing appearing now…?”
Though it lurked deep within the river, its colossal form caused the water to churn with even the slightest movement. As it shifted, the Blue Demons swarmed around it like an honour guard, cementing my suspicion.
That leviathan was undoubtedly a Red Demon.
I had seen them in my past life. While Green and Blue Demons fought amongst themselves, Red Demons commanded obedience from their lesser kin. A Red Demon’s personal strength was comparable to a Fusion Realm martial artist, but its ability to dominate other demons made it a far deadlier threat.
But that wasn't the only problem.
Crack—
My fist clenched. Since when? Why were these monsters appearing already?
It’s not time yet.
To my knowledge, Red Demons only emerged after the Heavenly Demon herself set foot in this land. Their return was a sign of her coming, a calamity that should still be years away.
“They shouldn’t be here yet. Damn it…”
I couldn’t comprehend why this monster was swimming in this river now. My eyes scanned the waists of the martial artists around me. Their Demonic Charms showed no activity. These charms reacted to the appearance of a Gate of Demons, and their silence could only mean one thing.
No new gate has opened.
This meant… That bastard didn’t just arrive.
A Red Gate of Demons must have opened here some time ago. But when? How long had red gates been appearing in the world? I had heard no such news in the Central Plains.
Frowning, I watched the monster’s movements until a voice broke my concentration.
“What’s the matter?”
The Poison King had arrived to assess the situation. His eyes widened as he sensed the presence beneath the waves.
“That is…?”
“A Red Demon,” I said.
My words elicited a stunned expression from the Poison King. The surrounding crowd erupted into horrified whispers.
“Red…?”
“Impossible! Red Demons? They vanished centuries ago!”
“What nonsense is the Lesser King of Hell spewing now?”
Their reaction was understandable; these creatures were thought to be extinct. My gaze remained fixed on the depths. As shocking as its appearance was, I needed to regain control of the situation.
And of all places, it had to be in the water.
This was the worst possible scenario. Our mobility was severely limited on the river, making it an exceedingly dangerous battleground.
Though perhaps not entirely hopeless…
I glanced behind me. The Dishonored Venerable and the Dark King stood there. The former was wide-eyed in shock, while the latter observed the scene with amused detachment.
We have the strength…
We possessed more than enough power to slay a Red Demon. Most present were Peak Realm martial artists, with several Fusion Realm experts among us. The hunt itself wouldn’t be the main issue.
However… The current generation has no experience with Red Demons.
They were creatures of legend, recorded only in ancient texts. Nobody alive knew the proper method to hunt them, and that was the real problem. There was a specific way to kill a Red Demon.
As panic mounted from the unexpected crisis—
Wrrooooong—Wrooooong—!!
Rumble—!
An unearthly bellow echoed from the river, and the calm waters began to violently tremble. Massive waves rocked the giant ship.
“Brace yourselves!”
“Aghhh!”
While most martial artists easily kept their footing, a few were caught off-guard. Several lost their balance and tumbled into the churning water. Under normal circumstances, they could have swarmed to safety, but the hungry Green and Blue Demons saw easy prey and swarmed them.
The martial artists in the water panicked, their strength sapped by the river.
“Agh—! S…Save me!”
Even First-rate martial artists became nearly powerless in the water, turning them into a feast for the demons. The atmosphere grew tense as everyone watched their comrades be torn apart in an instant. But these were martial artists; instead of succumbing to fear, they prepared for battle. Swords were drawn, and Qi flared from their bodies, merging into a single, powerful flow.
Shit…!
I flinched. This was dangerous. Just as I opened my mouth to shout at them to withdraw their Qi—
Woong—!
It was too late. The monster, provoked by the surge of energy, began to move. The waves intensified as its shadow darkened, and finally, it broke the surface.
Splaaaash—!
Water cascaded everywhere as it raised its massive head, violently shaking the ship into an abrupt silence. The collective Qi of the martial artists vanished as if it had never existed. The monster was as large as our vessel, with a long body covered in red scales. It flicked a long, forked tongue and swivelled a giant, yellow eye to gaze at the ship.
Someone spoke in a trembling voice. “…A snake?”
Yes.
The creature looked exactly like a snake. An unbelievably gigantic one.
According to historical records, the last Red Demon was sighted four or five hundred years ago. They were demons of incomparable size and strength, far surpassing Greens and Blues. The White Demons, ranked above them, were said to be powerful enough to alter terrain and change regional weather. The Red Demons, just one rank below, were capable of becoming kings of entire regions. Their power was so absolute that no other creature could dwell near them without permission. It was an almost mythical level of power.
The Poison King had never truly believed those records. A First-rate martial artist could toy with Green and even Blue Demons. It was difficult to accept that Reds, just one rank higher, could be so overwhelmingly powerful. Even if they were, they were extinct—a threat consigned to history. Everyone in the Central Plains thought the same. Red Demons were a relic of the past; the records were likely exaggerated.
Now, the Poison King was forced to revise his beliefs.
“This is…”
The records contained no falsehoods.
“What an unbelievable size…”
How could he doubt it with the evidence right before his eyes?
Sssssss…
It was a snake. An impossibly huge snake. True to its rank, its scales were a deep red, and its body was as large as our ship. The monster rolled its yellow eyeball, surveying the people on the deck. Under its gaze, the crowd trembled. Many martial artists below the First-rate rank quaked in fear; some even fainted, foaming at the mouth. The Poison King frowned at the pathetic display.
Why…!
Why was a Red Demon appearing now? What kind of calamity was this? To make matters worse, a horde of lesser demons surrounded their leader. The situation was dire. The demon’s gaze was filled with clear intent: hunger. It saw everyone aboard as food.
Without hesitation, the Poison King shouted, “Turn the ship around!”
They had to flee immediately. He wasn't foolish enough to remain a sitting duck. Simultaneously—
Swooosh—!
—he knew the monster wouldn't let them escape so easily. As the ship began to move, the demon’s eyes widened, and it charged. The Poison King leaped from the deck, daggers in hand. He infused them with his Qi and hurled them at the demon’s head. The daggers of a Fusion Realm expert could pierce through steel as if it were paper.
Ting—!
“…What!?”
Yet, they were deflected before even reaching their target, as if stopped by an invisible barrier. As the Poison King stood frozen in shock, the demon changed its target from the ship to him, its maw gaping wide to swallow him whole. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his collar and yanked him backward, allowing him to narrowly evade the strike.
“Wow, that was insane. How is she so fast?”
It was the White Ripple Sword who had saved him. The Poison King landed on the water’s surface—a feat possible for Fusion Realm experts. As the White Ripple Sword landed beside him, he offered a terse thanks.
“Thank you. I owe you my life.”
“Save the gratitude for later… What was that? It looked like your Qi was repelled.”
“…It was.”
The Poison King frowned in agreement. The monster had deflected an attack enhanced by a Fusion Realm martial artist’s Qi. How was that possible? Another figure appeared beside them: Pe Dooyeol, the Martial Fist of Steel, one of the Hundred Masters of the Central Plains.
“I’ll join you,” he stated.
The Poison King nodded. Now, three Fusion Realm experts stood in a line upon the river. The ship was turning away, and the demon’s attention shifted from it to the three blocking its path. It seemed to understand it needed to deal with them first.
As he observed the monster, a thought struck the Poison King. Is it… targeting the ship? It certainly seemed that way. He shook his head. Regardless, his immediate duty was to protect the vessel. Gripping his daggers, he steadied his breathing.
The White Ripple Sword broke the silence, staring at the demon. “Jeez… It’s big. Disgustingly big.”
Her flippant tone was draining, but the Poison King had to agree. Compared to any demon he’d ever encountered, this one was monstrously large. What would it be like on land? What if there were more hiding elsewhere? The horrifying thought made him tighten his grip on his daggers.
The snake hesitated, as if savouring the moment. Demons were creatures of instinct, so its caution was unnerving. It seemed to be assessing the situation, just as the Poison King was.
I need to understand what happened.
He replayed the moment his daggers were deflected. His Qi infusion had been flawless, his technique perfect. Yet, his attack was rendered useless. It made no sense.
As he pondered, the White Ripple Sword suddenly swung her blade, sending a powerful, light-blue Qi wave slicing toward the snake. It was a surprise attack.
Swish—!
The wave shot forth, intending to bisect the monster.
Psh—!
But like the daggers, it halted against the invisible barrier.
“As I expected… It’s useless,” she said, sounding disappointed.
The Poison King was aghast. “White Ripple Sword! What is the meaning of this?!”
“What? I had to test it. We can’t just stand here.”
She believed battle was inevitable. The Poison King massaged his forehead. Thankfully, the demon merely continued its observation, but her rash action could have provoked it. Despite the recklessness, her attack confirmed one thing: conventional attacks were ineffective.
A terrifying possibility dawned on the Poison King. Could it be… that Red Demons are immune to Qi? The idea wasn't recorded anywhere, but it was plausible. If true, it meant martial artists reliant on Qi were useless against this foe. The mere thought was chilling.
As he gulped nervously, the demon finally moved.
Splaaaash—!
Baring its fangs, it surged toward the three martial artists.
Swish—! Slam—!
“!”
A thunderbolt streaked down from the sky, striking the snake squarely on the head.
Ssssss—!
The monster roared, its head whipping sideways from the impact before crashing into the river. The resulting splash sent waves skyward, creating a temporary downpour. The Poison King stared in disbelief. If Qi was ineffective, what had just happened?
He spun around to see who was responsible. His eyes widened in shock.
“Huh…? Why are those children…?”
It was unbelievable.
Kyaaaaaa—!
Enraged, the snake surged back to the surface and charged again. The three experts braced themselves.
“Four handspans from the left eye to the right,” a voice commanded from behind.
A presence shot past them without hesitation. Three sword waves cut through the air, aimed precisely at a spot just behind the snake’s left eye.
Pow—!
Shaaaaaa—!
The snake’s head shuddered violently. This time, the Poison King saw it clearly: the invisible barrier cracked upon impact. What made this attack different?
The voice continued, unwavering. “Five handspans down from the tip of the chin. Strike upward.”
The command was executed instantly. A sword wreathed in golden light shot beneath the snake, and its Sword Qi erupted upward.
Ting—!
The same thing happened again. The snake’s head jerked back, and another crack appeared in the barrier, revealing a faint opening.
“Woo Hyuk.”
A single call was all it took. A handsome young man unleashed his Sword Qi directly into the opening. His attack connected, slicing into the snake’s hide.
Pwoosh—!
Bluish-green blood gushed from the wound on its neck, staining the river.
Kywaaaa—!
The snake screamed in pain and retreated, coiling itself defensively. The Poison King’s jaw dropped at the sequence of events, which had unfolded in mere moments.
As the snake recoiled, the attackers leaped back, landing on the water near a young man who had been standing there all along—the one who had issued the commands.
Seeing him, the Poison King whispered, “Lesser King of Hell?”
Gu Yangcheon’s eyebrow twitched at the title, his expression one of clear dissatisfaction. But who were the others who had struck the snake? While Fusion Realm experts like himself had been baffled, these Young Prodigies—only at the Peak Realm—had repelled the creature with ease.
The Sword Dancer of the Namgung Clan, a descendant of the Sword Emperor, and the Sleeping Dragon of the Wudang Sect. They sheathed their swords, standing beside the Lesser King of Hell as if awaiting further orders. Their blades shimmered with distinct, overwhelming auras. How were they standing on water without having reached the Fusion Realm? The Poison King was utterly confounded.
Then, the Lesser King of Hell in the center spoke, his gaze on the Poison King’s group.
“I will assume command from this moment.”
“…What? Expert Gu, what are you—?”
“I will not entertain objections. If you do not wish to follow my orders, you may stand aside. But do not interfere.”
The Poison King began to protest, but—
Sssssss—!
He fell silent as he felt the snake thrashing violently beneath the water. Gu Yangcheon sensed it too and addressed his companions.
“Prepare yourselves.”
Shing.
The three Young Prodigies snapped into ready stances, their movements sharp and disciplined. They resembled a well-trained unit of elite swordsmen. But what of Gu Yangcheon himself, the one giving the orders? The Poison King felt an overwhelming, puzzling pressure emanating from the young man.