Chapter 118
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Realizing Myself (2)
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“Get out of my way! Move, or you all die!”
*Claaaang!*
Urgency laced her movements, each step powered by her full strength. A potent killing intent radiated from Wi Hongryeon as she barreled forward in a straight line, ready to cut down anyone in her path.
The men of the Red Snake House were flustered. Though they instinctively reacted to the killing intent, they were not ignorant of who their opponent was.
However, they still didn't know what had transpired in the rear garden. The killing intent pouring from the Lord's rear garden was immense, but without knowing the circumstances, they couldn't bring themselves to stop her.
“Move, move! Get out of the way!!”
Shouting wildly, Wi Hongryeon reached the outer court's training hall in a single breath and roared.
“This is an emergency! All members of the Berserk Demon Unit, assemble!”
Her murderous cry echoed past the training hall, crossing the boundary into the inner court.
*Shiririring!*
The response was immediate. Every member of the Berserk Demon Unit, who had been resting in their quarters, rushed to Wi Hongryeon's side before they could even catch their breath.
Their discipline was as sharp as a blade, their eyes gleaming like those of wild beasts.
Just from their commander's voice, they instantly grasped the situation. These men, who usually looked like third-rate thugs loitering in back alleys, instantly reclaimed their identity as the Divine Cult's most fearsome unit—the Berserk Demon Unit.
“From this moment, the Red Snake House is designated a Yellow-level threat! Our destination is the Lord's rear garden. The mission is to protect the Inspector!”
“As you command!”
*Swish!*
The moment the words left her mouth, the unit members pulled up the masks folded around their necks. On the pure white masks that covered their faces up to their eyes, the two characters for 'Berserk Demon' were written in a stylish cursive script.
They were already radiating killing intent when they assembled, but with the masks on, the atmosphere shifted once more. A red-hot madness gleamed in their eyes; they were the very incarnation of demons one would fear to see even in nightmares.
After ordering one of her men to grab Seo Ryang's Dragon Scale Saber and Meteor Twin Blades, Wi Hongryeon rotated her ankles.
“Let's go!”
*Paaak!*
With Wi Hongryeon in the lead, the second squad of the Berserk Demon Unit moved swiftly.
*Thump, thump.*
Though over a hundred men were on the move, they moved as one. They shifted formations in an instant according to the terrain, a unity forged from countless battles and tens of thousands of hours of training.
“St-stop…!”
The guards at the gate to the inner court, flustered, gripped their swords.
Killing intent flared in Wi Hongryeon's eyes.
“Move, or I'll kill you.”
She didn't shout, yet her words strangely bored into their ears. The moment she entered a combat state, her voice, as well as her aura, became imbued with killing intent.
Their faces pale, the guards unwittingly stepped aside.
A sharp, blue sword energy erupted from Wi Hongryeon's Po-a Sword.
*CRASH!*
A single strike shattered not only the gate doors but also the pillars supporting them. The members of the Berserk Demon Unit poured through the gaping hole like an ebbing tide.
However.
“No further entry is permitted.”
Numerous warriors had formed a line to block their path. It was the Red Snake House's signature unit, the Violet Demon Unit.
They were a step behind, but they too had sensed the unusual atmosphere within the house. Even for a unit from the Cult's main headquarters, they could not simply open the way.
“Until an order comes from above, the inspection unit will remain where you are… Huk!”
*KRAKOOM!*
The commander of the Violet Demon Unit staggered backward. His face turned pale in an instant after blocking the sword energy that flew at him like a beam of light.
Wi Hongryeon extended her Po-a Sword, not slowing down in the slightest.
“Break through!”
*Hwaaaak!*
The crazed demons, each drawing their weapons, surged forward like a tidal wave.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Spluuurt!*
***
*BOOM! CRASH!*
Amidst the continuous explosions, Bang Ryeong's footwork was exceptionally strange and marvelous as she tried to extricate herself.
It was a martial art that would be respected anywhere in the martial world. But even her skills seemed to pale before the merciless exchange between the two supreme masters.
*Crack!*
A chilling palm strike made Seo Ryang's form falter.
*Rip!*
A storm of crimson blade energy shredded Hong Guan's long robes to tatters.
Bang Ryeong's eyes wavered.
‘This can't be.’
She had heard about it too. The inspector visiting the Red Snake House today was the Cult Leader's third disciple. And she also knew that this third disciple had driven the fourth disciple, the Lord's eldest son, into a state beyond recovery.
But still, wasn't he just a member of the younger generation? As a disciple of the Heavenly Demon, he would possess incredible martial arts, but she thought he couldn't possibly compare to the Lord of the Red Snake House.
That very natural assumption had been shattered. Watching the exchange, which was difficult to follow with the naked eye, the words 'evenly matched' came to mind.
‘Evenly matched with the Lord of the Red Snake House? That young brat?!’
Bang Ryeong knew Hong Guan well. He wasn't the type to go easy on an opponent just because they were young.
In other words, Hong Guan was also giving it his all right now.
‘Impossible!’
That was surprising enough, but there was something even more astonishing.
‘He knows my master?!’
There wasn't a single martial artist who didn't know the title 'Flying Demon King'. But that brat had mentioned her master's title upon seeing her.
It meant he not only knew of her master but had also seen through her own perfectly concealed heretical arts. Her heretical arts were more subtle than an assassin's techniques, so even a supreme master couldn't easily detect them.
A sinister energy flickered in Bang Ryeong's eyes. It was a gaze filled with alarm.
‘First, I need to get out of here.’
Just because they had shared a bed didn't mean Hong Guan would protect her. He was protecting Bang Ryeong because they both wanted something from each other.
For her own safety, and for Hong Guan's, leaving this place was the best course of action.
*Sarak!*
Landing softly on the ground, Bang Ryeong retreated far to the rear.
Seo Ryang's eyes blazed.
Now holding the Seven Nights Saber in a reverse grip, he threw it like a projectile.
*Pak!*
“Watch out!”
The fleeing Bang Ryeong, startled, twisted her body around.
The Seven Nights Saber, brimming with the energy of the Nine Hells Demonic Art, grazed her back and plunged into the artificial pond in a corner of the garden.
*BOOOOOOM!!*
A column of water shot high into the sky. The carp living in the pond rained down in all directions, torn to shreds.
*Bang!*
Hong Guan did not miss the brief moment when Seo Ryang had thrown his saber. A kick from his Great Python Fang technique sent Seo Ryang staggering sideways, coughing up blood.
But Seo Ryang didn't prepare a counterattack. He simply kicked off the ground forcefully once more, heading for his target.
*Piiiiiing!*
As he dashed forward, a sound like a taut golden cord snapping rang out.
Bang Ryeong, who had lost her balance and was staggering, suddenly felt the hair on her entire body stand on end. She had sensed a massive ball of killing intent approaching her at an incredible speed.
It was then.
“You bastard!”
*Ping!*
From a distance, Hong Guan fired a finger wind as sharp as an awl. It was an attack with less power than the techniques he had used before, but it was nearly twice as fast.
Seo Ryang's face contorted.
He could grab Bang Ryeong if he just reached out his hand. But the moment he did, his heart would be pierced.
‘This won't work.’
His rage, carried on the flames of the demonic, was growing larger by the moment.
But from within that rage, a cold rationality finally surged forth. It was a rationality born from his survival instincts.
‘I can't drag this out. He'll keep interfering until the end.’
If that's the case?
*BOOM!*
A short, sharp crack tore through the air.
Having already turned around, Seo Ryang blew away the finger wind with a single punch. Thanks to that, Bang Ryeong was able to retreat another five steps.
Just as Bang Ryeong was about to kick off the ground again.
“Move and you die.”
A chill ran down her spine.
The calmly spoken words were far more chilling than the killing intent he had been emitting until now.
Not only Bang Ryeong but Hong Guan as well came to a halt. Bang Ryeong stopped out of an unusual fear, while Hong Guan stopped because he didn't know what Seo Ryang would do next.
Seo Ryang extended a hand toward Bang Ryeong and spoke.
“I'd prefer to capture you, but if I can't, I'll kill you. Don't make any rash moves.”
*Crackle. Crackle.*
Crimson lightning sparked from the hand extended toward Bang Ryeong. The demonic lightning was a threat and an intimidation in itself.
Hong Guan growled.
“You must be truly insane! How dare you cause such a ruckus here, of all places…!”
“I can assure you.”
A chilling aura rose over his calm expression.
“From this moment on, the Red Snake House will be branded a family of traitors.”
“…What did you say?”
Hong Guan was dumbfounded.
“Are you really mad?”
“I'm just stating the reality. If you're curious, I'll tell you why.”
“Stop your nonsense!”
“The Flying Demon King has ties to the Iron Blood Fortress from the past.”
“…?”
“I don't know about now. But that's not the important part. You brought someone connected to the Flying Demon King—who has had ties to the Iron Blood Fortress at least 'once'—into your house.”
“…!”
Hong Guan's eyes wavered. He had never heard such a thing before.
*Chiriring! Jjeojeong!*
The sounds of Ma Dongpil fighting four old masters could be heard.
*Sasasak!*
The footsteps of masters rushing toward this location from a distance could also be heard.
But Seo Ryang was calm. Now that things had come to this, there was only one way.
To induce a melee.
“You've lost so much trust that an order was issued to search the ledgers of all your departments. If this fact becomes known on top of that, you'll be buried in the demonic martial world.”
Hong Guan looked at Bang Ryeong. Only he knew that she was one of the Flying Demon King's disciples.
Bang Ryeong quickly shook her head. It meant she knew nothing of any ties to the Iron Blood Fortress.
It was then that Seo Ryang's eyes lit up.
‘Commander Wi!’
A familiar presence was approaching from the distance. And at an astonishing speed.
Hong Guan gritted his teeth.
“Don't try to mock me with this nonsense! I will take this matter to the Divine Cult myself and demand answers! No matter if you're the Cult Leader's disciple, how could they send such a reckless brat as an inspector…!”
*WHACK!*
Before he could finish his sentence, Hong Guan was sent sliding backward. Seo Ryang had flown in, exploiting an opening, and struck him with the Dark Dragon Kick.
Though he had taken a hit, Hong Guan's reaction was swift. He instantly assumed a counterattacking stance and fired another palm strike.
‘…?’
Hong Guan's eyes wavered.
‘Where?!’
Truly, the brat's movement technique was beyond admirable; it was astounding. A speed so fast that even a superior master would lose sight of him—where in the world did such a martial art exist?
‘Bang Ryeong!’
*Paaak!*
His body moved before his mind could think. Hong Guan charged toward Bang Ryeong.
But Seo Ryang wasn't there. Only Bang Ryeong stood there with a flustered expression, looking around.
Just then, an explosion erupted from an unexpected direction.
*KRA-BOOM!*
“Kuaaack!”
With a desperate scream, someone was sent flying and slammed into the ground.
“Fifth Elder?”
*Thump-thump-thump! CRUNCH! SPLASH!*
The other elder, hit by the River Wall Hand, Violent Waterfall Fist, Dark Dragon Kick, and finally the Exploding Mountain Force, was beaten to a pulp and fell into the artificial pond.
“Hah, hah!”
Seo Ryang, having dispatched two elders in an instant.
“Young Master!”
Ma Dongpil quickly stood beside Seo Ryang. Though it had been a brief moment, his blood-soaked appearance was a testament to how vicious the fight had been.
Just then, Wi Hongryeon's shout came from the distance.
“Young Master!!”
Seo Ryang looked up.
*Whooong!*
Three weapons cut through the darkness, flying toward him.
A colossal saber worthy of being called a horse-slaying blade, and a pair of sleek twin blades, one blue and one red. They were the Dragon Scale Saber and the Meteor Twin Blades.
*Paaaang!*
In that instant, Hong Guan charged at him with terrifying speed. For some reason, he had judged that Seo Ryang must not be allowed to get his hands on those weapons.
But it was too late.
*Thud!*
Leaping into the air, Seo Ryang instantly grasped the Dragon Scale Saber.
At the same time, his legs swung like lightning.
*Pak!*
The Meteor Twin Blades, already drawn from their sheaths, were struck by Seo Ryang's kick and shot toward Hong Guan.
Hong Guan's eyes widened.
A blade was a weapon meant to be held and swung. But to think of kicking it as a projectile?! Regardless of skill, it was an astonishingly original attack.
*Thwack!*
The twin blades grazed past Hong Guan and embedded themselves in the ground.
Just as Hong Guan, who had dodged the blades with an exquisite movement, was about to unleash the Red Snake House's ultimate secret technique, the Black Bone Serpent Shadow Hand...
“Commander Wi, Dongpil, grab that woman!”
*WHOOOOSH!*
A raging storm of infernal blade wind.
Seo Ryang, gripping the Dragon Scale Saber with both hands, unleashed the Demonic Gaze Upon the Heavenly Gate Form of the Nine Hells Demonic Art.
*CRACKLE-CRACKLE!*
In an instant, the amount of demonic energy he emitted doubled.
Seo Ryang said coldly.
“There are always so many bastards getting in the way.”
The infernal blade wind poured down on Hong Guan.
*VWOOOOOSH!*