Chapter 753: Appearance of a Hero
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 753: Appearance of a Hero
Swoosh—!!
Thud—!!
Combat Qi spiraled around the tip of a massive fist.
The condensed, compressed force descended with terrifying speed.
Then, it struck the earth.
CRACKLE—! KRRRUUUMBLE—!!!
The ground shattered, sending stone shards flying in every direction. The energy exploded in unison, whipping up a violent gale.
A tremendous vortex formed.
Within its center, a terrifying destructive power was clearly visible.
And that wasn't all.
Thud—!
Thud-thud—!!
As if the initial impact was merely the beginning, the ground continued to roar.
Crack—! CRUNCH—!!
The sound of the impact only followed after the movements were already complete.
High speed, surpassing the sound barrier.
Such was the realm of speed the two men displayed.
Flutter—!
A yellow robe billowed as the giant of a man crouched low. A golden aura surged from the tips of his toes as he lowered his stance.
Savage Tiger's Dragon Strike.
Grrrrrrrowl—!!!
As he swung his fist using the recoil of his stance, his energy took the form of several tigers that lunged toward his opponent.
“Kugh—!”
Seeing this, the old man swung his blunt weapon fiercely, shattering the spectral tigers. But he couldn't block them all and was forced to take the brunt of the impact.
Thud—!
His body, struck by the residual energy, faltered and plummeted from the air.
The man who saw this, Hwangbo Yeolwi of the Savage Beast Fist, quickly leaped toward the falling elder.
Squeeze—!
Energy gathered once more in his clenched fist.
Savage Tiger's Barrage.
A flurry of fists, each embodying the ferocity of a tiger, rained down on the old man.
It was impossible to dodge.
The old man watched the descent, gritting his teeth.
Swish—!
With one hand, he brought his index and middle fingers together, performing a peculiar, rhythmic motion.
At that moment—
KWAAAAA—!!
Hwangbo Yeolwi’s fist struck true. A heavy, destructive force erupted in all directions, but…
“Hmph!”
Looking at the fist he had just thrown, Hwangbo Yeolwi frowned.
He seemed displeased.
And for good reason.
“What are you?”
At the sound of the voice, Hwangbo Yeolwi turned around.
The old man he had just attacked was speaking to him from behind.
Which meant… the attack hadn't landed.
“I asked, what in the world are you?”
The old man, his face scrunched in disbelief, questioned Hwangbo Yeolwi.
“I am the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan…”
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
He had learned that much from the earlier introduction. He wasn't asking just to hear the same answer repeated like a parrot.
“How can you see me?”
His expression was one of utter disbelief.
How on earth could this man see him?
The old man was consumed by this single question. Even as he spoke, he swept a hand over his chest.
Vmmm.
A subtle energy, imperceptible to others, hummed there. Confirming it was still active only deepened his confusion.
‘The spell is definitely still in place.’
It was a spell he had inscribed on his body over seven days and nights before the battle. It should have lasted for at least two hours, and no one outside the pavilion should have been able to notice him.
So what is this bastard?
‘What in the world is he… that he can see me so clearly?’
It was incomprehensible.
And they weren't the only ones who couldn't believe the situation.
“Was the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan always that strong…?”
“That last strike… what was that?”
The people watching the battle from within the barrier were equally stunned.
The fight had started abruptly. It seemed the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan, who hadn't been in the pavilion, had intervened to stop the threat. And everyone had to widen their eyes at the martial prowess he was displaying.
“Was the Savage Beast Fist always that powerful?”
“The rumors said he was in poor health… were they all lies?”
“Poor health? Far from it… It looks like he’s achieved some incredible enlightenment in the past few years.”
Everyone knew the martial arts of the Hwangbo Clan were destructive. They also knew that due to the strain it put on the body, the martial artists of the Hwangbo Clan tended to retire earlier than average.
Thus, seeing Hwangbo Yeolwi absent from the public eye for several years, many had assumed he would be no different.
“But his current state is…”
As if to prove those words were nothing but baseless rumors, Hwangbo Yeolwi was demonstrating a much greater power.
The onlookers were all masters in their own right, so they knew. Each and every one of Hwangbo Yeolwi’s strikes possessed immense power. He looked twice as strong as he had in the past.
“Hoo.”
Hwangbo Yeolwi took a deep breath.
He didn't bother to answer the question of how he could see the old man. He simply prepared his body to do what needed to be done.
Squeeze.
He slightly extended his clenched fist, his gaze hardening.
His whole body felt light. The boiling energy was more than enough to warm his body, and contrary to the heavy Qi, his feet were as light as could be.
His limbs extended exactly as he willed. His power exploded with more force than he even desired.
It felt as if he had broken through a wall. As if his faded prime had returned.
Things he couldn't do before were now happening effortlessly. How glorious was this?
Hwangbo Yeolwi felt like he would go mad with the desire to unleash his power, but he held back with all his might.
Because that was not the command he had been given.
—That, that person is… the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan?
—Why is the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan suddenly…
—Who is he fighting? I can’t see anyone…?
He could hear their voices. The spectators who hadn't managed to escape yet were watching Hwangbo Yeolwi with faces full of anxiety.
He had said it.
That the people watching now would later become excellent mouths to spread the word. And that through them, he would be able to obtain what he desired.
Those were His words.
Remembering this, Hwangbo Yeolwi simply took a step forward.
Thump—!
A short leap.
The sound lagged behind, catching up only after his body reached the old man.
Tiger's Rending Kick.
Swoosh—!!
His leg, coalesced with Combat Qi, shot toward the old man. The old man raised his blunt weapon to defend.
KRAAANG—!!
The weapon failed to absorb the full impact. The old man’s defense broke, and his body was sent flying, bouncing off the ground.
Thump—! CRACK—!
“Keuk!”
He barely managed to support himself by grabbing the ground. The force was so great that had he been a moment later, the shock would have penetrated his internal organs.
‘This…’
The old man’s wrinkled brow furrowed deeply.
An unexpected problem. The fact that the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan could see through his spell was a problem, but the fact that he was also a difficult opponent to handle was another.
‘…There’s still time before the ritual is complete.’
He looked up at the sky. The lines were much clearer than before and looked as if they would connect soon, but there was still a little time left.
Realizing this, the old man bit his lip. Could he last that long?
‘I’ve already caused a commotion. The captains will probably arrive sooner than calculated.’
He had tangled the ritual formulas to buy time before the other captains could arrive. Normally, it wouldn't have been a problem, but…
‘His appearance has complicated things.’
He already knew the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan was in Henan, as he had information on everyone present. But he had never expected him to show up here and fight him in this situation.
Moreover…
‘To think he’s that strong.’
He was completely different from the level he had assessed beforehand. At best, he had ranked him as a little better than the entry-level of the Fusion Realm. He had thought that since his body was past its prime and weakening, that would surely be his limit.
‘This is…’
Facing him directly, he was clearly not at that level. At this rate…
‘I should have trapped him in the pavilion with the others.’
How could the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan possess such power? It was a great mystery, but now was not the time to ponder it.
First…
‘It’s best I leave this place.’
His pride was wounded that a long-prepared plan had gone awry. It was absurd that a single man had caused such a problem, but…
‘I can’t ruin the entire plan just to protect my worthless pride.’
The old man remembered what was more important than pride. Rather than dealing with the anomaly, he would flee for now. His plan was to deliver the message and leave anyway, so this was the right move.
He once again brought his index and middle fingers together to make his move, but…
“Hmph!”
THUD—!!
“…Hut!”
As if he wouldn't be fooled twice, Hwangbo Yeolwi shattered the ground and charged.
Fast. At that speed, he would reach him before he could even attempt the spell.
“Kugh!”
The moment the old man, having made his decision, hastily raised his weapon to defend…
[That’s enough.]
“…!”
“…!!”
Halt—!
WHOOOOSH—!!!
Hwangbo Yeolwi’s fist stopped right in front of the old man’s nose. The condensed internal energy burst into a gust of wind that whipped around them.
—Aaargh—!
A few people screamed as they were hit by the wind mixed with debris.
Hwangbo Yeolwi, who had suddenly stopped, began to break out in a cold sweat.
What was going on? It was clearly a strange situation. But the people inside the barrier were too busy staring at the empty air above Hwangbo Yeolwi to notice.
“…Something… something is there.”
“Who is it? Could it be… reinforcements have arrived?”
At the center of the sky where all eyes were focused, something was there.
VMMMMMM—!!
The first thing they saw was a scorched black sphere. Beneath the bizarre lines and dark clouds, an unknown sphere floated far up in the air, and below it, just as the old man had, someone else was floating.
Black robes again.
His posture, with his hands behind his back and his robes fluttering silently, was not much different from the old man’s. But everyone who saw him had their expressions harden without exception.
“Wha-what… what in the world is that?”
Different. Something was on a completely different level.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Their hearts pounded. They felt an intense presence. Just looking at him made the hair on their bodies stand on end.
Then came the intuition. The reason why Hwangbo Yeolwi had frozen with his fist extended.
Could it be because of this unknown being?
The master of the Savage Beast Fist had just displayed such incredible prowess, yet for some reason, he remained frozen solid, unable to move an inch.
Just then.
[I watched, for it was an amusing little show.]
Swoooosh.
The figure floating in the air slowly descended toward the ground. As the distance closed, the figure's appearance became clearer.
“…Hah!”
“That person is…!!”
Reactions erupted from all over as they recognized the figure's features.
A body that seemed to exceed eight feet. Black robes and long, ink-black hair. And… a cracked mask of unknown origin.
It was a description they had all heard somewhere before. The Sword Immortal’s expression, in particular, turned intense.
“…That bastard is…”
It was the exact description of the fiend who had attacked the Wudang Sect in the past.
Shining violet eyes peered from beyond a white mask. The figure, who had captured everyone’s attention with his intense presence, continued to speak as he looked at the barrier.
[Just a little show, and nothing more.]
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE—!!!
As he spoke, a vibration rang out in unison. It was impossible to tell if it was the vibration that had already been present or one he had created.
WHOOOSH—!
In an instant, a black aura shot up from his shoulders toward the sky. A vast energy, obvious at a glance. The energy seeped into the floating black sphere, and then…
FUWAAAAAAAH—!!
Using the black sphere as a launchpad, it began to create a domain in all directions. It took only a few seconds. After that short time, an unknown darkness had settled over the entire area.
—H-Hiiieek…
—Wh-what is this… What is this…!
The declaration of an unknown power. The black mist and the domain were enough to instill fear in everyone around. The mouths of those who had been screaming to get out of the way or for help were sealed shut.
Overwhelming fear renders one unable to even make a sound.
Tap.
The figure’s feet finally landed on the ground. Exactly between Hwangbo Yeolwi and the old man.
[I apologize for interrupting the pitiful festival you have created.]
The internal energy imbued in his voice was so immense it made their ears ring.
Ssk.
The figure’s hands came out from behind his back, and one arm lowered.
[Normally, I had no intention of interfering… but unfortunately, a problem has arisen.]
Just then.
“…Keoheoheok!”
Hwangbo Yeolwi, who was standing beside him, suddenly screamed and was thrown backward. And that wasn't all.
Thud—! CRASH-CRACK—!!
He was thrown back with such violent force that his massive body crashed through the ground and rolled far away.
“…Kuheok!!”
He spat out blood repeatedly.
Flump—!
Finally, he collapsed to the ground, trembled a few times, and then went limp. It seemed he had lost consciousness.
“…That was…!!”
Someone inside the barrier shouted in shock.
“Wh-when did he even attack?”
He couldn't hide the cold sweat trickling down his face. To him, it looked as if the figure had simply lowered his arm from behind his back, but then Hwangbo Yeolwi had collapsed so violently!
“…I didn’t see the moment of attack.”
“To think it looked like he was just standing still. How fast must he have been…?”
“Wh-what is that man’s identity?”
It was only moments ago that they were astonished by the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan’s level. They had been shocked that the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan had become such a great master.
And that same Hwangbo Yeolwi had been defeated so miserably. They hadn't even seen the moment of attack.
Thanks to that, something beyond mere shock was filling the faces of the others.
And…
‘…Hmm…’
This was also true for the masked man himself.
Gu Yangcheon.
He glanced at the fallen Hwangbo Yeolwi out of the corner of his eye and thought.
‘…That man.’
Why on earth…
‘…is he so good at acting?’
It was a genuine question. He had just told him to pretend to be knocked out, but who would have thought he would suddenly scream and collapse like that?
Thanks to him, Gu Yangcheon was so surprised his jaw nearly dropped. It was a good thing he was wearing a mask; otherwise, his expression would have given everything away.
“…C-Cult Leader…”
Beside him, the Unyielding Demon was looking at him with sparkling eyes, as if deeply moved.
I really don't want to receive that kind of look from an old man.
Anyway.
Gu Yangcheon hid his surprise and looked at the barrier. Every single one of their expressions was a sight to behold. Perhaps because Hwangbo Yeolwi had done several times better than he had expected, their reactions were no joke.
Yes, this was exactly the expression Gu Yangcheon had hoped for. No, perhaps it was even more than he had hoped for.
It didn't matter. It was better to overdo it than to underdo it.
And so, Gu Yangcheon…
[A pleasure to meet you.]
…began the speech he had desperately wanted to give them. This was the starting point of a plan he had prepared for a very long time.
[This Venerable One is…]
In his past life, on a day similar to this one.
[…the sky of the Demonic Cult, whom you will come to fear and praise.]
The curse uttered by the woman who appeared, tearing open a Gate of Demons above the Murim Alliance.
[…the Heavenly Demon.]
They were the exact same words.