Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Little Heavenly Demon, Peach Blossom Paradise (3)
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Heavenly Demon.
He was a calamity that emerged riding the currents of the era.
Once he began to move, that was the end.
His overwhelming presence was like that of a dragon, with few beings able to stand against him.
Even those who could not afford to underestimate him, forming alliances, met the same fate.
Churches, guilds, associations, governments of various nations, massive corporations.
All opposed him, yet none could corner him.
Inversely, the Heavenly Demon had single-handedly held them at bay for over a century.
When faced with economic retaliation, he toppled corporations.
When pressured, he shattered guilds on his own.
As if such a way of life was only natural.
Sneering at societal pacts, he uprooted laws and the entrenched powers root and stem.
Thanks to him, Peach Blossom Paradise enjoyed long periods of peace.
The elders of various sects vying for influence would never have happened without that foundation of peace.
-Kwaaaang!
But now.
For the first time, the peace of Peach Blossom Paradise began to shatter.
“Kyaaak!”
A sudden raid.
Along with the collapsing roof of a sunken qi pavilion, the lower mountainside slowly crumbled.
The scream of a woman who rushed outside turned into a death cry in an instant, shattering.
Her throat pierced by the intruder's sword. Puk-
She crumpled to the ground like a paper doll.
“Aren't these supposed to be martial artists? They can't even put up a fight.”
“Fuck, that's what they say. They're no different from uncivilized savages who can't even use magic.”
A guild emblem etched on their chests.
A-rank hunters dispatched by the association.
Strutting in arrogantly, they smirked greasy smiles at the pool of blood beneath the woman.
“The silver lining is... the women here are prime fuckmeat. Every one of them has a pretty face. And these bodies are so voluptuous. Look at this~”
A man lifted the woman's face and groped her large breast tightly.
His companion let out a scoff of disbelief.
“Krup... eup.”
Bubbles of air burst from the stabbed throat.
The woman, not yet dead, stared at the two men with a face drenched in terror.
“We're not here to fuck anyway.”
“What do you mean? You think we're here to catch the Heavenly Demon? We're just scavenging scraps. But hey? The scraps are right here?”
The underbelly of war.
Those secretly fulfilling their desires.
Whether base lust or murderous impulse, it mattered not.
“Ever fucked a corpse?”
“Cut the shit.”
“......If we don't do crap like this, being a hunter ain't worth it. When did we ever chase justice or that bullshit?”
Those who make killing their livelihood all carry some form of madness.
The man tore off the woman's top.
“...You know why slaves from Peach Blossom Paradise are so popular? The girls are all innocent. Barely any experience. Kidnap 'em, dose 'em up, and they fuck on their own. You'll learn once you play in these waters.”
“Heard that's dried up lately.”
“Yeah. Because of that Little Heavenly Demon bastard. But after today, it'll flow like usual.”
A sneering conversation laced with jokes.
The light in the woman's eyes began to fade.
“Anyway, we'll skirmish a bit, then slip out, grab a girl, and head to the nearby bushes... you know?”
As the man tossed the woman aside and raised his foot to stomp her head.
In that brief moment, crimson lines appeared on the hunters' necks.
“Ah... krurup?!”
Their voices turned to leaking gasps.
They desperately clutched their throats... but the heads were already severed.
The two men collapsed comically, clutching at their own necks.
Their skulls hollowed out.
Not even registering their deaths, the corpses fell beside the woman.
“Heal her.”
An elderly man in black robes, scattering cigarette smoke, stood before them.
A man following behind placed his hand on the woman's throat.
Just two martial artists appearing in the lower reaches of Peach Blossom Paradise.
The tide of battle shifted in an instant.
*****
“...Ah, aah. Aaaah.”
Having one's throat pierced is an experience no ordinary person can endure.
Even if mended and painless, the vivid sensation lingers in the mind, tormenting endlessly.
The woman, her upper clothes stripped bare.
I draped my outer robe over her shoulders.
“Snap out of it.”
“Ah... uh.”
I know the horrors of war.
History is rife with such atrocities, rampant since ancient times.
Ironically, such crimes proved highly effective in boosting military morale.
They don't discriminate in methods. Worthy of praise, in a way.
Those World Tree bastards.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Not all trees are like that.] ‘I know.’
Once they resolve to strike Peach Blossom Paradise, civilian casualties are inevitable.
I knew, but... since today wasn't the day Peach Blossom Paradise falls, I may have taken it lightly.
I watched the old man's back.
Black dragons on his arms.
Head and tail advancing and retreating, inner energy surging instantly.
Wuuung-
The air trembled from the rising waves around him.
“Will you go?”
“......Yes.”
It'd be nice to stay together, but I couldn't remain here.
Regrettable not to witness the old man's full power.
I placed my hand on the woman's shoulder and invoked mana.
-Flash.
Space magic. Teleporting her to the uppermost part of Peach Blossom Paradise.
The terrified woman vanished in an instant.
Minimize victims as much as possible, but I had my own destination.
Main base.
I'd long scouted where they were encamped.
Those plotting under false pretenses weren't the only ones prepared.
‘...Cutting the connection for a bit.’
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [If you suffer harm while disconnected, it can't be undone.] I must return feigning exact death.
Timing it perfectly.
But first, I needed a performance befitting the Little Heavenly Demon.
If I die without showing such prowess, they'd doubt if I was truly the Little Heavenly Demon.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Wishing you good fortune.] Of course.
They'll never have reason to suspect.
‘Huh.’
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【Connection with World Tree temporarily severed.】 One deep breath.
Relaxing my shoulders as I watch the old man charge ahead first.
Bending my knees into a crouch, I slowly released mana over my shoulders.
-Zzzzt.
A sound like electricity crackling.
Like petals blooming, irregularly scattering.
Kicking off the ground, surging forward.
-Kugugu!
A straight black line etched across the sole plain of wide Peach Blossom Paradise.
In mere seconds, corpses from outside littered the roadside.
Then midway, an overwhelming presence made my body shudder.
-Kiiiiik!
Eardrums tearing from clashing demonic energies.
‘They met?’
Heavenly Demon and Mu-gung.
Ancient nemeses.
With that man's ankles held, no need to hesitate now.
The one who could truly take my life had vanished from the frontlines.
Peach Blossom Paradise won't fall without me.
Those gradually preparing were descending to the lower reaches.
Sect elders I'd spoken with before.
Jin Rang who blocked my path, countless warriors now allies sharpening blades.
The vice leader who excellently assisted Hong Yeon beneath her must be glaring fiercely too.
I charge ahead of them.
Beyond Peach Blossom Paradise, toward the outside.
Vision blurs as the air parts around me.
Screams from within Peach Blossom Paradise felt like thick oil stench, unpleasant.
Muscles tense and release.
Facial muscles stiffen.
My heating body shifts to optimal state, recalling Heavenly Demon's training.
-Halt.
Feet stop.
“......”
-Shwaaaa!
Torrential downpour.
Wet hair obscures vision.
But it was fine.
Even without looking, my entire surroundings were within mana detection range.
A few trees gathered in the dense forest.
Myriad branches finally snap toward Peach Blossom Paradise's outskirts in the lashing storm.
“......Hoo.”
Unknown Wood People gathered around me as the center.
Rain was regrettable.
Peach Blossom Paradise's vibrant duplicate blossoms would be washed away in the downpour.
-Ching!
Enemies boldly drawing swords.
Mana converging on one point was clear in my sight.
I ceased stray thoughts.
*****
“After ages, we meet... Need greetings?”
Mu-gung's jesting greeting furrowed the Heavenly Demon's wrinkled eyes.
Black and white. Their colors lose beauty upon mixing.
Two Wood People, pure in a way.
Having met once before, sworn enemies since.
Head of Peach Blossom Paradise and Hunter Association.
Mu-gung and Heavenly Demon.
They don't remember each other's names.
No time or worth in peak combat.
Just charging like bloodied dogs at each other's prowess.
A muddy brawl of who seizes the scruff first.
Despite mountains to lose, they heed not.
“Rain pouring like rabid dogs.”
Heavenly Demon grumbled.
Hundreds of corpses adorned the old man's shadow.
All outsiders.
Hollow skulls. Severed necks, mangled arms. Common thread: faces of despair.
Their weapons mere twigs to Heavenly Demon.
-Shwaaaa!
Rain-swept blood pooled at Heavenly Demon's feet.
The old man raised his head wearily.
An elder gripping his scabbard stared back.
Inscrutable auras spread slowly from their toes.
Expanding mana overwhelmed presence, clashing.
─Hundredfold Heart Realm · Benevolent Virtue ─Heavenly Demon Divine Art · One (White Peach) Flash!
Sudden dawn in twilight morn.
Pure white lightning. Thunderclap. Enveloping all Peach Blossom Paradise in white whirl.
-Kwaduduk!
Nearby trees uprooted, shredded, turning to dust on the wind.
Parting dust storm, old man appeared before Heavenly Demon.
Seeming to swing a single blade sharpened blue.
─Azure Heart Realm · Void In blink, upward slash from below.
Azure lake violently tore Heavenly Demon's body.
Billowing mana waves crashed over him like surging tides.
Three strikes from above.
─Conveyance Realm · Great Virtue Four Whites · White Egg Moon in superior form.
Curved sword strike shattered the earth's crust.
Mortals unable even to approach, pinnacle combatants' clash.
-Kwaang!
White energy shattered by Heavenly Demon's fist.
“...Annoyingly. Still as flashy as ever.”
“Same to you?”
Mu-gung nonchalantly parried Heavenly Demon's sarcasm.
Unlike the solemn Heavenly Demon, Mu-gung's face brimmed with joy.
“Not rusted a bit. Impressively so.”
Lowering his aimed sword, Mu-gung shrugged.
Comparing few days left Heavenly Demon to relatively young Mu-gung.
Who held the advantage was obvious.
“...If not senile. You know?”
“Aiming for succession?”
They knew what they knew.
And accepted it: Heavenly Demon and Mu-gung.
“That kid meets his end today. Fitting name, Peach Blossom Paradise.”
True to name.
When Peach Blossom Paradise dies, so does Peach Blossom Paradise.
Heavenly Demon sneered at the pun.
"You really think that guy's dying?"
"......What?"
"Foolish moron, but don't underestimate. Sword Saint's eyes rotten knots now."
Heavenly Demon's eyes sharpened.
-Thud!
Aura felt beyond his shoulder.
Beyond realm, full power state untreatable lightly.
Mu-gung's face stiffened briefly, then relaxed.
Potential yes, but not yet great power.
Little Heavenly Demon. Peach Blossom Paradise.
Only Heavenly Demon knew.
"Sometimes, there's a guy whose head's a bit off."
"......Talking of your disciple?"
"Sparring, first five minutes utterly frivolous. Grinning idiot, lame jokes, weakest above all."
Whatever shaped that man unknown.
Heavenly Demon recalled training Peach Blossom Paradise.
-......
Cold hardened face.
Lightless pupils.
No answer to words, silently craving victory.
Even restricting mana, opponent Heavenly Demon couldn't hold back against.
"No idea what you mean."
Heavenly Demon's furrowed brow twitched.
"You'll see when you meet."
Reason he said nothing despite borrowing Little Heavenly Demon's name rudely.
"The beasts aren't us."
*****
-......
Blood freezes like ice.
Dead or dying humans and Wood People.
Their gazes fixed on one spot.
Could anyone embody terror better in this world?
Killing intent piercing deep, legs give way naturally.
Inexperienced froze inert.
All eyes in shock. On the precipice of life and death.
"......"
The man stared at corpses wordlessly, eyes unreadable.
Standing stock-still.