Chapter 254: Resolution of the White Wolf Swordmaster
Chapter 254: Resolution of the White Wolf Swordmaster
The moment he heard Seonwoo Jin's bombshell declaration that he had promised to marry Dang Yeoeun, Ma Yu-gyeom stormed out of the shrine.
After that, only silence hung within the shrine.
Seonwoo Jin, Jin So-eun, and the wounded Myo A-ran were all lost in their own thoughts, their lips firmly sealed.
Jin So-eun's complexion, in particular, had grown as pale as the wounded Myo A-ran's.
She seemed to have received an immense shock.
But Seonwoo Jin could not notice her state right then.
Because he was conversing with Mukrang within his mind.
No, to be precise, Seonwoo Jin was the one doing all the talking.
'He drained Vice Squad Leader Mae Yeo-kyeong dry and killed her, and he tried to place Yeo Eun under a suggestion spell to make her submit to him. What he did, and what he tried to do to Yeo Eun, can never be forgiven!'
- ...That's right. He did do that.
'If I had not been there, Yeo Eun would have become his plaything. Even if he has sincerely turned over a new leaf, I can never forgive him!'
At Seonwoo Jin's continued denunciation, Mukrang let out a sigh and asked him in return.
- Fine, that is fair. But... why are you so intent on convincing me of this?
'.......'
That was it.
Seonwoo Jin was, right now, making excuses to Mukrang for his own actions.
No, perhaps he was making excuses to himself.
Seonwoo Jin, who had been unable to answer Mukrang's question for a moment, eventually let out a deep sigh.
"Huuuu."
In truth, Seonwoo Jin felt like he knew.
Why he was acting this way right now....
In his past life, he had seen Ma Yu-gyeom's future and had hated him for that reason. In this life, having learned about his inner circumstances, Seonwoo Jin had instead come to understand him a little.
What he had done, and what he had tried to do, had been vile....
Even so, Seonwoo Jin could now pose a question he had never asked in his past life.
'If I had been in the same situation as him, would I have been any different?'
He suddenly recalled the events Ma Yu-gyeom had been forced to endure.
The man he had considered his lifelong mortal enemy had been his own maternal grandfather.
And the reason his maternal grandfather had no choice but to become a Blood Demon was because of the despicable wrongdoing of the very sect he had been so proud of.
That was not all.
The greatest victim of that incident had been his own mother. And the perpetrator had been none other than his own father.
He asked himself once more.
'If it were me, would I have been different? Could I have avoided breaking down like him?'
...He had no confidence.
None whatsoever.
He could only think that anyone would have broken down.
That was why.
Seonwoo Jin now felt he could understand Ma Yu-gyeom.
He still could not forgive him....
Yet he could understand.
Seonwoo Jin had watched with his own eyes how desperately Ma Yu-gyeom had wished for the Jeomchang Sect's reconstruction.
And so he could understand his despair upon learning the whole truth.
He felt he could also understand the hopelessness of a man who no longer knew whom to hate.
And above all else, he felt he could understand what kind of heart Ma Yu-gyeom had lived with all this time—the one who had unsealed the Seolrang Sword in a far shorter time than himself.
'He must have constantly thrown himself into death. And for the sake of saving others, not himself.'
Yet he had driven out that very Ma Yu-gyeom simply for uttering Dang Yeoeun's name.
And this after receiving immense help from him this time, no less.
The thought that it had been a thoroughly immature act kept tormenting Seonwoo Jin's heart.
He suddenly asked himself.
'Has he truly turned over a new leaf?'
He could not know.
People are not beings who change easily, after all.
But Seonwoo Jin himself knew best that, though not easy, people are beings fully capable of change.
The proof of that was none other than himself.
Having been a lethargic pig in his past life who rose to the upper ranks of first-class through bone-grinding effort, Seonwoo Jin knew very well when people change.
'When their disillusionment with their past self reaches its peak and they desperately desire change.'
And if that thought was correct, there seemed to be no one who fit that condition better than Ma Yu-gyeom.
Seonwoo Jin let out another deep sigh.
"Huuuuuu."
Then he spoke to Mukrang.
'I think I must go to him. I do not know if I can bring him back... but at the very least, I should apologize.'
At that, Mukrang answered with a smile.
- Yes, you do that.
Having made up his mind, Seonwoo Jin rose from his seat at once and spoke to Jin So-eun.
"Jin Sojeo, I will step out for a moment. Could you look after Myo Sojeo?"
Jin So-eun, who had been lost in a daze, snapped back to her senses and answered.
"Yes, yes?! Ah, yes. I understand. I will... look after Myo Sojeo."
After that, Seonwoo Jin immediately left the shrine.
And he began following Ma Yu-gyeom's trail to chase after him.
***
At the same time.
Jin Tae-do's subordinate, who had been tracking Myo A-ran's scent by following the fluffy cat Baek Ah, saw Baek Ah turn back to look at him with a triumphant gleam in its eyes.
And the subordinate, who had been with Baek Ah all this time, could immediately grasp what that meant.
He promptly reported to Jin Tae-do.
"Sect Leader! The distance to the targets seems to have shortened! It looks like we will reach them soon now!"
Hearing those words, Jin Tae-do wore a ferocious smile.
Then he gave orders to his subordinates.
"From now on, we slow our pace. Focus more on moving quietly than moving quickly. It is finally time to hunt the young tiger."
At that command, the twenty peak-level masters who had followed Jin Tae-do wore smiles similar to his and began moving even more stealthily.
The distance to the shrine where Jin So-eun and Myo A-ran were was now only a few dozen jang at most.
***
Ja Seong-jin-in, the squad leader of the Pacheon Third Squad of the Six Harmony Swordsmen, the Hyeongsan Sect's mightiest force, asked Ma Yu-gyeom once more.
"I will ask again. Have you seen a man called Inparang? He carries a white sword adorned with a white tiger and moves together with a short-haired woman."
But Ma Yu-gyeom, who had started chuckling a while ago, did not answer even his repeated question.
As if something was immensely amusing, he simply kept chuckling away.
"Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh heh!"
At his strange reaction, Ja Seong-jin-in frowned and said.
"His appearance did seem unusual, but was he truly a madman?"
He had spoken loudly enough for Ma Yu-gyeom to hear perfectly.
But Ma Yu-gyeom did not stop laughing even at Ja Seong-jin-in's words calling him a madman.
He felt no anger at all.
Because if someone called trash like himself a madman, he ought to be grateful instead.
He was trash.
The worst kind of trash, beyond all hope of recovery.
Just moments ago, when those terrifyingly powerful masters had been looking for Seonwoo Jin, Ma Yu-gyeom had unconsciously thought something like this.
If he led them to Seonwoo Jin, perhaps he could eliminate her—Dang Yeoeun's betrothed.
And the moment he had that thought, he realized it at once.
The fact that he truly was the worst kind of trash.
'You said you wanted to be a useful person at least when you died? Ke ke ke ke! How truly laughable. You really are the best, Ma Yu-gyeom! Ke ke ke ke keuk!'
He had entertained such thoughts, just a little.
That his current self, who had risked his life countless times for others and had not lived a single moment for himself, might be a completely different person from the old Ma Yu-gyeom.
That perhaps his staying alive might be more helpful to others than his dying.
But look.
The moment he heard the name Dang Yeoeun, had he not instantly reverted to his past self?
Into the trash who thought of killing Seonwoo Jin to eliminate Dang Yeoeun's betrothed.
"Heh heh heh heh! Wa ha ha ha ha ha!"
Ma Yu-gyeom could hold back no longer and burst into laughter.
Along with his madman-like cackling, tears streamed down from his eyes.
Ma Yu-gyeom despaired.
In the end, he had not taken a single step away from that place, from that moment.
From that trash who had harbored lewd intentions toward Dang Yeoeun and tried to get her into his hands using the Blood Cult's methods.
He suddenly offered an apology within his heart.
'I am sorry, Elder. For making you break the seal for the sake of trash like me....'
- .......
Ma Yu-gyeom now opened his eyes and drew his sword toward Ja Seong-jin-in, who was staring at him with a frown.
Shaeng!
And with tears still flowing from his eyes, he spoke to him with a bitter smile upon his lips.
"Is the Hyeongsan Sect's skill truly as great as the rumors say? I shall have to verify it for myself."
Ma Yu-gyeom had, at last, made his resolve.
To carry on with life no longer.
'I shall die here and now. For her... betrothed's sake. For that is likely the only atonement I can offer for her sake.'
"Haaaaap!"
Ma Yu-gyeom, wielding the Seolrang Sword, charged toward the Hyeongsan Sect's mightiest force, the Six Harmony Swordsman Pa Cheon-jo.
It was a desperate, tragic gesture, like a moth hurtling itself toward a flame.
***
Chwaaaaaak!
Ma Yu-gyeom swung his sword.
Thereupon, his sword qi became a pure white wave of cold that swept toward the Six Harmony Swordsmen.
It was the first stance of the Seolrang Sword Technique—the North Wind Sword Strike—the very technique he had used to freeze the sea at Shantou Port.
"Cold Ice Art?!"
Ja Seong-jin-in, his expression startled by that strike, did not recklessly meet it head-on and instead retreated backward.
At that, two Six Harmony Swordsmen from both sides stepped forward and swung their swords.
Shuhaaaak!
Their sword qi then spread into dozens of strands, forming a solid wall that blocked the cold wave.
It was a sword barrier deployed by two transcendent peak-level swordsmen.
Pabababak!
"!"
Witnessing that sight, Ma Yu-gyeom gritted his teeth.
He had not expected that this single technique would settle the fight, either.
But still, for it to be blocked so easily...
Their martial prowess was apparently even greater than he had thought.
Yet even though his first attack had been simply blocked, Ma Yu-gyeom did not stop.
With a resolute gaze, he continued charging forward.
"Haaaaap!"
The third stance of the Seolang Sword Technique.
Seolang Jucheon.
Chwaaaaak!
As he swung his sword again, two white wolves leaped forth and shot toward the two swordsmen who had deployed the sword barrier.
It was the ultimate technique of the Seolang Sword Technique, which fired sword aura in the form of ice-white wolves.
"Ho-oh! That is?!"
Ja Seong-jin-in let out an exclamation once more.
For it was a menacing ice sword art that he had never once seen, let alone heard of.
But that exclamation was merely admiration at having seen something wondrous.
The opponent's skill was still insufficient to threaten the Ghost Extermination Six Harmony Sword Formation deployed by the Six Harmony Swordsman Pa Cheon-jo.
The two Six Harmony Swordsmen who had deployed the sword barrier did not force themselves to receive the white wolves and instead retreated backward.
Then, as if switching places with them, two swordsmen who cut in from the sides brought their swords down upon the flanks of the white wolves.
They were two swords emitting dense blue sword aura.
Pa-ak! Paseuseuk!
Under their powerful sword strikes, the two ice-white wolves were utterly extinguished.
Of the five stances of the Seolang Sword Technique, the strongest technique that Ma Yu-gyeom could currently master had been neutralized all too futilely.
Moreover, the opponents' response was not yet over.
The moment the two swordsmen obliterated the white wolves, another swordsman who had leaped over the head of one of them was thrusting his sword toward Ma Yu-gyeom.
The movement was utterly seamless, like the meshing of cogwheels.
Shuhak!
"Kk!"
Ma Yu-gyeom gritted his teeth and tried to block his sword strike.
But in that instant, he could see two other swordsmen moving to encircle him.
Even if he blocked this sword strike, he would be in a situation where he would be ambushed by two from behind.
Eudeuk!
Gnashing his teeth, Ma Yu-gyeom deployed a sword technique with all his might.
The second stance of the Seolang Sword Technique.
Heavenly Ice Wall.
"Haaaaaap!"
Chwaaaaak!
In an instant, Ma Yu-gyeom's sword qi unfurled like a white wire spreading out and created a dense barrier of frigid energy before him.
It was the Heavenly Ice Wall, the defensive stance of the Seolang Sword Technique—an astonishing technique that blocked not only the swordsman attacking him but also the movements of the swordsmen attempting to encircle his flanks.
At that, the Six Harmony Swordsmen, who had faltered and been unable to advance against that menacing technique, first retreated backward and widened the distance.
Then they circled around Ja Seong-jin-in, maintaining the sword formation.
Ja Seong-jin-in spoke to Ma Yu-gyeom with admiration.
"Astonishing sword technique! This old daoist is broadening his horizons today! I have never once heard nor seen rumors of such a sword technique. It is almost to the point where one might think that if the martial arts of the legendary North Sea Ice Palace truly existed, they would look like this. Just where is your sect?"
Ja Seong-jin-in seemed genuinely in admiration of Ma Yu-gyeom's Seolang Sword Technique.
But listening to that admiration, Ma Yu-gyeom could only let out a hollow laugh.
To show such leisure as to ask about his sect—was this not like an adult praising a talented child?
That meant he had concluded that his attacks were not threatening in the slightest.
His attacks, delivered with all his might, had appeared to this man as nothing more than a level worth praising.
And moreover, the bigger problem was that Ma Yu-gyeom now had no remaining assets.
Of the Seolang Sword Technique, which originally consisted of five stances, Ma Yu-gyeom had not yet mastered the fourth and fifth stances, which were the most powerful.
Ma Yu-gyeom thought with a bitter smile.
'I had considered mutual destruction, but it seems it will be nothing more than a dog's death.'
A sense of shame washed over him, but it could not be helped.
For it seemed his worth was only ever this much in the end.
Ma Yu-gyeom silently aimed his sword at Ja Seong-jin-in once more.
This time, he was resolved not to retreat no matter what.
Even if this attack were to be his last.
At that, Ja Seong-jin-in furrowed his brow and spoke.
"Tch, you must have realized your inadequacy by now. A fine sword technique will regrettably vanish in vain."
Before those words had even ended, Ma Yu-gyeom let out a fierce cry and hurled himself at him.
"Keuaaaaaaat!"
His attack, delivered with the full force of his entire being, was once again shooting toward the Six Harmony Swordsmen.
But.
It was only in vain.
His cold wave that froze the sea was futilely blocked by the sword barrier.
The ice-white wolves, reminiscent of the Blood Cult's Nine Heavens Blood Dragon Demon Art, were also shattered into nothingness without achieving their purpose.
The ice wall that had surged up before Ma Yu-gyeom to block the Six Harmony Swordsmen's attacks was broken to pieces by five streams of sword aura.
Gazing with hollow eyes at the swords stabbing at him from all four directions after shattering his ice wall, Ma Yu-gyeom suddenly thought to himself.
'It is finally over.'
It felt futile.
Yet on the other hand, it also felt strangely refreshing.
Puuuk!
"Keuheok!"
A sword refreshingly pierced through Ma Yu-gyeom's stomach.
Even the pain he felt in his stomach had a refreshing sensation.
But Ma Yu-gyeom, who had been awaiting the death to come, soon sensed something strange.
It was because the stabbing sword auras had clearly been five, yet only one sword had actually pierced through his stomach.
Blood flowing from his mouth, Ma Yu-gyeom abruptly looked around.
Then he could see the sight of four swords halted just one inch from him.
Behind them, the face of Ja Seong-jin-in, gazing at him with a greedy expression, also entered his view.
Ma Yu-gyeom felt he could immediately grasp what the situation was.
That man had been coveting his sword technique since earlier, and it seemed he intended to capture him alive.
A faint laugh escaped him.
'I can't let that happen.'
Gathering his last strength, Ma Yu-gyeom thrust his sword at the swordsman who had stabbed him.
"Hap!"
At that, Ja Seong-jin-in was startled by his final desperate struggle.
He hastily moved the remaining Six Harmony Swordsmen.
The four swords that had been halted were once again stabbing toward Ma Yu-gyeom.
Sensing his death, Ma Yu-gyeom squeezed his eyes shut.
But at that moment.
Hwaaaaaak!
From somewhere, a gigantic black-violet wing appeared and covered the sky above Ja Seong-jin-in's head.
It was a overwhelming sight, as if an enormous divine beast had manifested.
"Wha, what is that?!"
Startled by the sight, Ja Seong-jin-in immediately recalled the Six Harmony Swordsmen to his side.
Because now that an unknown threat was targeting him, killing Ma Yu-gyeom was no longer the priority.
Ja Seong-jin-in shouted urgently.
"Complete the formation at once!"
At that, the Six Harmony Swordsmen who had been about to attack Ma Yu-gyeom hastily returned to Ja Seong-jin-in's side.
Fortunately, there was a bit of distance from the giant wing, so they were able to complete the sword formation around Ja Seong-jin-in before it was too late.
Immediately after, the black-violet wing descended upon them from the sky.
The true nature of the wing was a torrent of sword qi raining down densely, as if the sky itself had turned into a downpour.
Swhaaaaaaa!
Ja Seong-jin-in yelled frantically.
"Block it!"
At that, even before his shout had ended, the five Six Harmony Swordsmen joined forces and began deploying a sword barrier.
It was a sword barrier like a massive curtain.
The next moment, the downpour of sword qi pelted down upon the sword barrier like hail.
It was an attack of tremendous power.
Pabababababak!
But the might of the completed Ghost Extermination Six Harmony Sword Formation was not to be taken lightly either.
The five Six Harmony Swordsmen who had formed the solid sword formation had blocked the entire torrential downpour of sword qi.
Chachachachachacha-chang!
A moment later, the downpour of sword qi ended, and Ja Seong-jin-in, finally realizing he had survived safely, let out a sigh.
"Huh, what in the world...?!"
And in that instant, he was able to witness it.
The sight of the one who had attacked them with an unheard-of, astonishing sword technique snatching up the disheveled Ghost Sword and flying away like the wind in a single moment...
Ja Seong-jin-in's eyes could also discern without difficulty that he was a young man clad in white robes.
And that the white sword he held had a white tiger ornament engraved upon it.
Ja Seong-jin-in's eyes widened enormously.
"That man is?!"
He was none other than Seonwoo Jin.
Ja Seong-jin-in had no way of knowing, but Seonwoo Jin had deployed the second stance of the Mukrang Sword Technique, Flying Ascent, to divert their attention and then rescued Ma Yu-gyeom.
Ja Seong-jin-in, having guessed his identity, shouted urgently.
"It is Inparang! Do not let him escape!"
At that, the Six Harmony Swordsman Pa Cheon-jo, together with Ja Seong-jin-in, launched themselves as one body and began pursuing Seonwoo Jin.
***
At the same time, Jin Tae-do, who had been tracking Myo A-ran's scent using the cloud cat Baek-a, was able to discover an isolated shrine located halfway up the mountain.
It was the shrine where Myo A-ran and Jin So-eun remained.
Seeing the place, Jin Tae-do smiled a sinister grin and murmured.
"I've finally caught you, Inparang."