Chapter 49
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Gates of Hell Open (3)
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Hong Wi-mun smiled and raised a bottle of wine.
“Have a drink.”
“Thank you.”
The one who respectfully accepted the cup was a middle-aged man, well past forty.
“I should have visited more often, but I’ve been quite busy with various matters. I have no excuse.”
The man waved his hand dismissively.
“How could you say such a thing? It is an honor that you’ve come to see me at all.”
“Haha! Of course, I was also grateful for what happened earlier. You can curse me for being transparent, but there’s not much I can do about it.”
“Not at all. As a man of the Demonic Cult who must suppress internal strife, it was simply my duty.”
“How could I not know that? However, as someone who also wishes to avoid needless conflict, I wanted to express my thanks.”
“There is no one in the cult who does not know of your affection for it, young master.”
The flattery went back and forth. They both knew better than anyone that it was a mere formality, yet it was a conversation that could not be omitted.
This kind of talk was like a sheath. It served to restrain them, to prevent either from inflicting a fatal wound before the real sword was drawn.
If either of them decided they had no more use for the other, the sword would be drawn in an instant.
The cold, merciless blade that severs ties.
“The Garden of Joy will handle the construction of the guest quarters, I presume?”
“Of course, they will.”
“If you wish it, Young Master, please say the word at any time. I will dispatch my men to assist intermittently.”
For a moment, Hong Wi-mun’s eyes gleamed.
A high-ranking official from the Hall of Punishments was offering to dispatch his members. During the construction of the guest quarters, no less.
To an outsider, it would sound like a random comment, but to someone in the know, it was a startling offer.
Dispatching members of the Hall of Punishments to help with construction meant he was offering to build secret chambers, like a small prison, within the Fourth Young Master’s residence.
The members of the Hall of Punishments were, to a man, skilled craftsmen and proficient laborers. That was why information about the labyrinthine paths and prisons within their hall could be kept strictly secret.
The corner of Hong Wi-mun’s mouth tilted up slightly.
‘He wants something from me.’
In politics, there was no such thing as a free gift. If you gave one thing, you had to receive one in return. When someone offered you something, you first had to consider what of yours they needed.
Those who broke that unseen rule did not last long. That was the politics Hong Wi-mun had learned over many years.
So, he refused the offer.
“That’s quite all right.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. However, may I ask for something else in its place?”
“In its place… what might that be?”
Just then, the middle-aged man’s ears perked up. It seemed a telepathic message had arrived from one of his members.
Hong Wi-mun smiled.
“Yes.”
“…”
“Please bury the situation you are hearing about right now.”
“…Are you asking me to simply ignore this conflict?”
“That is correct.”
The man’s expression turned serious.
“I don’t know if you are aware, but many members of the cult have witnessed this incident.”
“I’m sure they have.”
“…”
“Which is why I believe it is a worthy substitute for the gift you originally intended to give me.”
“…”
“What do you say? I still have many things left in my bag of tricks.”
After a moment of contemplation, the man nodded.
“I will bury it.”
“Thank you.”
“But that is as far as it goes. The names of the Berserk Demon and True Demon units carry too much weight to simply be buried. If the higher-ups intervene…”
“Then I will step forward. No harm will come to you. And…”
“…”
“The moment the person I am targeting gets involved in this situation, the Hall of Punishments may make its move. That should prevent any further gossip, wouldn’t you agree?”
The man smiled and lifted the bottle.
“Allow me to pour for you this time.”
“I will gratefully accept.”
The two men tilted their cups, giving and receiving.
An invisible killing intent surged in Hong Wi-mun’s eyes.
‘I’ll show you that a fight is not won by swords alone.’
* * *
*CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!*
The downpour of blades was like watching a torrential rainstorm.
The killing intent radiating from them was more terrifying than the number of blades. The martial prowess of Ma Dongpil, who parried all those menacing attacks with a single longsword, was nothing short of dazzling.
But Ma Dongpil was not in good shape.
“*Haa! Haa!*”
His breathing was ragged, and his body was covered in blood.
Individually, none of the wounds were severe. But taken together, they caused blood loss comparable to a major injury. If he hadn’t sealed his pressure points to stop the bleeding, he would have collapsed long ago.
“Hey! Back off already!”
“Stop being a distraction and tend to your wounds.”
“What nonsense is this coming from a guy on death’s door?! Get out of the way, you bastard!”
For a brief moment, Ma Dongpil seriously considered it. Perhaps it would be better to knock Wi Hongryeon unconscious before dealing with the enemies before him.
“Be quiet.”
“Is this guy for real?”
“You’re making my sword heavier… *Hup!*”
*CRAAANG!*
Ma Dongpil took another step back. The True Demon Unit member who had swung at him was pushed back a dozen paces, disrupting their formation.
It was incredible power. His martial arts were centered on the heavy and powerful sword, so even in this state, his destructive force was extraordinary.
But seeing this, Wi Hongryeon’s face twisted in a scowl.
“You bastard! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“I told you to be quiet.”
“How am I supposed to be quiet right now? If you’re going to fight, do it properly! Why aren’t you using your lethal techniques?!”
That was right. Wi Hongryeon wasn’t just screaming behind Ma Dongpil for no reason.
Even while enduring the relentless assault of nearly fifty True Demon Unit members, Ma Dongpil absolutely refused to use lethal moves. If he had struck with intent to kill, the battle would have been much easier.
Ma Dongpil spoke in his characteristically blunt tone.
“We may have clashed due to the circumstances, but in the end, are we not all members of the cult?”
“Hey!”
“And I am the Third Team Leader of the Hall of Protectors. My sword is aimed at the enemies of our cult, not at its members.”
“…”
“At least, not if they haven't done something to deserve death.”
“We’re going to die because of you, you idiot!”
“I won’t let you die.”
“This isn’t just some squabble, it’s a life-or-death battle! What kind of moron fights while worrying about the enemy’s well-being?!”
“They are not enemies, but fellow followers.”
Wi Hongryeon bit her lip. This stubbornness, etched into his very soul, was admirable in its own way.
Just then, a sneer dripping with killing intent was heard.
“What a load of crap.”
Song Gyeong stepped out from among the True Demon Unit members.
A short rest had allowed him to recover his energy, and a powerful demonic aura once again rose from his body. It seemed he had taken some internal injury medicine from one of his men.
“What are you all doing? Get over there and grab that idiot by the hair!”
Song Gyeong beckoned with his index finger.
“Wi Hongryeon. Stop hiding behind that kid and come on out.”
“Who’s hiding, you bastard?!”
“Then get your ass out here now! Since when does the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit hide behind someone else and suck her thumb?!”
She was already about to die of frustration because of Ma Dongpil. Song Gyeong’s provocation was the last straw, and her eyes flipped.
*WHOOOOSH!!*
Ma Dongpil’s eyes wavered.
A deep blue demonic energy, denser than ever before, erupted from behind him.
The problem was the madness mixed with the demonic energy. It was a madness far greater than what she had exuded at the Jamiru Pavilion.
“Commander Wi!”
“You son of a bitch!!”
*BOOM!*
Ma Dongpil’s eyes widened.
He tried to stop her but couldn’t. In the blink of an eye, she leaped over him and charged toward Song Gyeong. It was impossible to believe she was a person suffering from severe internal and external injuries.
Song Gyeong growled.
“You’ve come at last!”
*BOOOOM!*
The palm strikes the two unleashed simultaneously collided, creating a powerful shockwave. A dozen members of the True Demon Unit were thrown back to the left and right.
Wi Hongryeon’s eyes were bloodshot.
Her arm felt like it would break, but the pain only served as fuel for her burning madness. The whites of her eyes turned red, and her pupils blazed an eerie blue, like a will-o’-the-wisp.
An ultimate madness coiled and rose from her entire body.
The madness stimulated her Demonic Arts, and the stimulated arts in turn shook the middle dantian, the seat of the five desires and seven emotions. The demonic energy gathered by the shaken dantian reached her life essence.
Song Gyeong’s hand flinched.
*THWACK!*
His head was violently snapped to the side.
Blue veins bulged on his neck. If it hadn’t been for the demonic energy he had summoned with all his might and his tough muscles, that single blow would have sent his head flying.
‘What is this?!’
He had avoided death, but he was just as disoriented. His vision flashed, and his legs gave out, causing him to stagger.
‘How can such power come from a body on the verge of death?!’
*SWISH!*
Song Gyeong instinctively swung his hand. A hand technique that traced a faint white afterimage, the Six-Stance Snow Mountain Ghost Sword.
Even though it was executed in haste, the technique retained its full power. It was a display of prowess worthy of the Commander of the True Demon Unit.
However.
*CRACK!*
“Kuaargh!”
Song Gyeong stumbled back again.
His wrist was dislocated at an unnatural angle. The back of his hand and his palm were roughly torn and mangled.
The unexpected pain shocked him back to his senses. His left arm, which was already broken, now had a shattered wrist as well.
The only silver lining was that strength was returning to his legs and the dizziness was fading.
Song Gyeong lifted his head and looked forward.
Wi Hongryeon was charging at him, her face twisted into a demonic mask. Her right arm was also broken, the forearm dislodged, but she showed no sign of pain.
*WHOOOOOM!*
Song Gyeong’s eyes widened.
As Wi Hongryeon charged at an incredible speed, a blindingly intense blue demonic energy erupted from her body.
It was a concentration of demonic energy she hadn’t shown even when she was in peak condition. An energy his own cultivation level couldn’t possibly hope to command was now sustaining her body.
‘Don’t tell me that’s…?’
A look of dread appeared on Song Gyeong’s face.
‘Touching her life essence? She’s insane!’
Life essence was the source of life itself. Wi Hongryeon was currently drawing upon the very energy a person was meant to consume over a lifetime as she charged.
This was a level of madness far beyond simply risking one’s life. Even if she survived this fight, there was a high chance the aftereffects would leave her a cripple.
‘Did you want to kill me that badly?!’
Song Gyeong bit his lip.
No matter what, he didn’t want to draw on his own life essence because of Wi Hongryeon. Besides, it wasn’t something one could use at will just by wanting to.
*Grind!*
Song Gyeong shouted.
“I am the Commander of the True Demon Unit!”
*KABOOOOM!*
With a tremendous explosion, the two were sent flying backward and collapsed.
The shockwave, incomparable to the previous ones, startled even the True Demon Unit members who had been relentlessly pressuring Ma Dongpil, making them turn to look.
“*Kweeegh!*”
Song Gyeong, all his limbs broken, vomited a mouthful of blood.
“*Cough!*”
Wi Hongryeon also coughed up blood.
But it was fine. Both her arms were broken, but at least her legs were intact.
*WHOOOOSH!!*
The blue demonic energy flared once more. Her body was utterly exhausted, yet the demonic energy she emitted grew even fiercer.
“Waaaaagh!”
With a sound that was half roar, half scream, Wi Hongryeon charged. Spewing blood as she rushed forward, she truly resembled a demon from hell.
A faint trace of fear crept onto Song Gyeong’s face. He hadn’t expected the tenacious woman to charge at him again, ready to die.
“Block her!”
The startled True Demon Unit members quickly moved to block Song Gyeong’s front. No matter how strong her aura was, they were still much faster than the physically depleted Wi Hongryeon.
Just as Wi Hongryeon was about to clash with the True Demon Unit members.
*THWACK!*
“……?”
With a clean impact sound, Wi Hongryeon was sent flying.
The sudden turn of events left the True Demon Unit members with bewildered expressions. Why was Wi Hongryeon, who had been charging with the intent to kill everything in sight, now tumbling through the air?
It was then.
“Wi Hongryeon.”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the source of the voice.
There stood a handsome young man, his face flushed crimson and twisted in rage, glaring at Wi Hongryeon.
Knocked to her senses by that single blow, Wi Hongryeon’s eyes widened.
The handsome young man, Seo Ryang, roared.
“You wretched woman!”
*WHOOSH!*
Charging at an incredible speed, Seo Ryang swung his fist toward Wi Hongryeon.
Wi Hongryeon squeezed her eyes shut.