Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Blood King Ghost Blade
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“...Heavenly Demon?”
“I don’t know the details myself. However, quite a few people have climbed Extreme Thorn Peak up until now, but not a single one has ever come back down alive.”
It was quite an intriguing story.
As Hyeok Mulin swept his gaze over Extreme Thorn Peak with a peculiar look, Mok Yangil waved him off.
“Even if you’re thinking of climbing it, forget about it. I’ve gone as far as the base myself but couldn’t make the ascent. That place is like an unspoken forbidden zone for us.”
He tried his utmost to dissuade him, but Hyeok Mulin just smirked and resumed walking.
“Got it. I’ll just keep going on my way.”
He had no intention of changing his destination in the first place.
Only then did Mok Yangil, finally relieved, pick up his pace while facing forward.
After walking a bit further like that, a sheer cliff loomed alongside their path.
It was as grand as a castle wall, yet steeply and ruggedly carved like a true precipice.
Confirming it, Mok Yangil nodded and said,
“This is the Central Island Cliff. We’ve finally made it here.”
“Central Island Cliff?”
“That’s right. That cliff you see is right in the center of the island. Lost travelers often use it as a landmark to find their way, so commit it to memory. We can tell we’ve just left the western region behind when we spot that cliff.”
Central Island Cliff, huh.
He glanced at it briefly before his eyes returned forward.
Hyeok Mulin tossed a question toward the silently advancing Mok Yangil.
“How did you end up coming to a place like this?”
“Heh heh. You’ve got a sharp side to you, young friend.”
At the question, Mok Yangil replied with a bitter expression.
“Generally, it’s best not to pry into others’ crimes here. We’re all sinners in the same boat, and asking about someone’s offenses is taboo.”
“I didn’t realize. If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.”
“...I don’t mind.”
Gazing up at the sky for a moment, his voice dropped to its lowest.
“My crime? Probably trusting my brother too much. I was framed by my elder brother, who coveted the position of clan patriarch, and got exiled.”
“Framed...”
“Yes. He even accused me of defying heaven’s mandate by murdering our parents.”
A deep sigh clouded Mok Yangil’s face.
“Did you try to clear your name?”
“Of course. But my brother had spent years setting up the trap. All the clan records were already falsified under his control. There was nothing I could do.”
“I imagine revenge must burn fiercely against a brother like that.”
“At first, yes. But living here, that rage gradually diluted and faded away. Now, I just regret failing in my filial duty as a son and letting them go like that.”
His eyes welled with murky emotions as he shared his lamentable tale.
Hyeok Mulin said no more to the man brimming with feeling and simply kept walking.
After two more days of quiet travel, presences of people nearby were detected.
“We’ve arrived.”
In a small clearing, about a dozen people were gathered in small groups, living in modest huts they’d built.
At Hyeok Mulin’s appearance, they frowned at the unfamiliar face, but soon relaxed their wariness upon seeing Mok Yangil beside him.
Mok Yangil greeted them warmly with a bright smile, as if he already knew them well.
After exchanging greetings and returning, he said to Hyeok Mulin,
“These are a handful of folks like me. They don’t belong to either the Heavenly Snare Escape Society or the Tyrant Overlord Dominion.”
“A middling number.”
The weak had a natural tendency to band together for self-defense.
Yet only about ten had gathered here.
Previously, he’d said they were scattered across the entire island.
So the answer was clear.
“The Tyrant Overlord Dominion won’t allow them to expand their forces.”
“Sharp as ever. You’ve got it right.”
The Tyrant Overlord Dominion tolerated small groups that didn’t catch their eye.
But add even one or two more here, and they’d take silent action immediately.
“Follow me.”
Pressing straight ahead, he stopped in front of a hut at the edge.
Pushing open the entrance flap, he entered and said,
“Long time no see. Doing well?”
“Who’s this! Good to see you after so long!”
A middle-aged man sorting herbs greeted him with a joyful face.
After catching up briefly, he posed a question.
“Glad to see you, but what brings you here? Surely not an injury?”
To that, Mok Yangil answered by gesturing toward Hyeok Mulin instead.
“This is a physician I’m close with. His skills are top-notch—no need to bow to anyone.”
Hearing the introduction, Hyeok Mulin spoke to him in a flat tone.
“I came to get my dantian fixed. Possible?”
The man let out a sigh, shook his head with a troubled look, and waved his hand.
“You’re a newbie, huh. Sorry, but that’s impossible. How could anyone restore a crippled dantian? It’d defy the laws of heaven.”
Seeing the refusal, Hyeok Mulin was convinced this man wasn’t a quack.
If there had been one here, he’d have accepted the request on the spot without question.
“Then do you know any other physician who can repair a dantian?”
“Hmm...”
Swallowing a groan, he cautiously replied,
“I’ve heard there’s someone somewhere on the island researching dantian restoration, but I don’t know the exact location. And I’m not even sure if they’re a real physician.”
Hm.
From what he said, this person was the only lead that existed right now—which meant scouring the entire island.
“You’ve been a big help.”
“No trouble at all. If you get hurt next time, come by freely. For a friend of Mok Gong’s, I’ll do my utmost.”
Leaving the man’s farewell behind, Hyeok Mulin stepped out of the hut.
Soon after, Mok Yangil followed and asked,
“Did that satisfy your curiosity at all?”
“Well, somewhat. I got the answer that I can find them by searching the whole island.”
“Impressive resolve.”
Grinning as if he couldn’t dissuade him, Mok Yangil asked again,
“Where to next?”
“I’ve swept the west side already, so now I’ll check the east.”
“Then head to the eastern coast first. From here, east is...”
As Mok Yangil gauged the direction from the shadows,
“Why are you here?”
“What’s he doing here?”
Murmurs rose from afar.
Hyeok Mulin slowly turned his head at the sound.
A man strode toward them with arrogant steps.
Tall and gaunt like a praying mantis, his eyes harbored a faint killing intent, and he reeked of thick blood.
The onlookers watched in terrified silence.
Mok Yangil, recognizing him, widened his eyes before whispering lowly to Hyeok Mulin,
“That’s Blood King Ghost Blade Gyusal. One of the executives of the Tyrant Overlord Dominion I mentioned earlier. But why is he here...?”
As Mok Yangil eyed Gyusal curiously, the man drew closer.
Stopping before them, Gyusal scanned Hyeok Mulin’s features and spoke.
“You’re the one who attacked our guys, aren’t you?”
At his words, not just the crowd but Mok Yangil too stared at Hyeok Mulin in shock.
Yet Hyeok Mulin replied impassively.
“No idea what you’re talking about. Wrong guy.”
Gyusal, staring intently, smirked.
“No. Seems I’ve got the right one.”
He spoke to Hyeok Mulin in a stiff tone.
“Congratulations. You’ve passed the test and qualified for membership. Join the Tyrant Overlord Dominion.”
At his invitation, all eyes turned to Hyeok Mulin.
“An executive came personally to recruit him?”
“First time I’ve seen this living here.”
“What the hell is that guy...?”
Gazes of curiosity and envy poured onto him.
But amid the attention, Hyeok Mulin’s response was simple.
“I refuse. No interest in joining anywhere.”
As Hyeok Mulin voiced his rejection, the onlookers doubted their ears.
“He’s turning down that offer?”
“Tch tch. Newbie doesn’t know how much luck he’s just thrown away.”
“Why him of all people...?”
Unlike the regretful crowd, Gyusal—the one who made the offer—smiled instead.
Killing intent swirled in his eyes as his lips curled to his ears.
“Good. I was worried you might accept.”
The invitation was over, and the response was refusal.
He hadn’t become an ally.
Then there was no need to let him live.
In an instant, Gyusal drew his blade and unleashed Heavenly Thunder Ghost Blade toward Hyeok Mulin.
The sword raised high plunged like lightning.
Though it lacked internal energy, its power was tremendous.
Boom—!
A roar echoed, thick dust rising.
But confirming his strike, Gyusal spoke upon seeing Hyeok Mulin standing unscathed amid the settling dust.
“Hmph. You’ve got some skill.”
Hyeok Mulin had instantly stepped back, evading the attack range.
“Then try blocking this.”
The blade in Gyusal’s grip spun like a swift wheel, advancing on him.
Blood Wheel Ghost Blade.
A murderous saber art that shredded flesh to ribbons.
But things didn’t go as he planned this time either.
Vuuuung!
He charged straight in, slashing wildly, but his blade met nothing.
Hyeok Mulin’s movements were too fast to follow with the eye; desperate swings only cleaved faint afterimages in the air.
“Dodging like a rat!”
His bloodshot glare sharpened as he recalled his blade.
His next motion was swift and fierce.
The saber sliced through the air, hurtling straight for Hyeok Mulin’s chest in a piercing line.
It was Gyusal’s ultimate technique: Blade Ghost Piercing Heart.
However.
Tap.
The motion halted in an instant.
Just before Blade Ghost Piercing Heart could fully power up, Hyeok Mulin had disrupted its trajectory, stopping the blade’s tip with his finger.
“W-what the—?!”
As Gyusal’s eyes floundered in panic, Hyeok Mulin’s lips parted.
“That all you got?”
In a flash, Hyeok Mulin closed in, his fist flying toward Gyusal’s solar plexus.
Guwek!
Gyusal doubled over like a shrimp, clutching his gut and vomiting on the spot.
But Hyeok Mulin didn’t stop there.
Tat tat tat!
His hands and feet flowed gracefully, targeting Gyusal’s joints.
Wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, knees—all twisted, his body writhing like an octopus from the sea.
As his flesh contorted grotesquely and unbearable pain surged, Gyusal could only scream.
“Kuh, kuaaa...!”
But before the cry ended, Hyeok Mulin delivered a final palm strike to his chest.
Kwang!
Launched into a distant tree, Gyusal slammed against it and blacked out in agony.
The gruesome scene left only stunned silence in its wake.
In the midst of the shared silence and shock, the only one to move was Hyeok Mulin.
Step step.
As if it were nothing, he calmly turned and went on his way.
Only then did Mok Yangil, steadying his trembling legs, break the quiet and hurry after him.
“W-wait, let’s go together!”
The perpetrator was gone, but the crowd remained frozen in shock, too stunned to speak.