Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Episode 3. Every Action Bears Its Consequences (1)
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True Person Hyunso was pacing alone in the courtyard of the annex.
His mind was incredibly tangled.
The disciple he had reunited with after thirteen years had grown into a towering tree. Freed from the constraints of the Mount Hua Sect, he exuded an overwhelming presence that no one dared approach.
He felt proud of his disciple's transformation, yet at the same time, it filled him with worry.
Damho was walking a solitary path.
He couldn't help but fret whether he himself might become an obstacle on that path.
"Hoo!"
True Person Hyunso let out a quiet sigh.
At that moment, someone called out to him.
"Martial Uncle!"
"Unkyung."
The one quietly entering the annex was none other than Unkyung. He approached True Person Hyunso.
"What brings you here?"
"I couldn't sleep..."
"You too?"
"Then Martial Uncle as well?"
"Sleep evades me easily."
"I just happened to..."
Unkyung trailed off.
True Person Hyunso looked at him with pity.
Leaving Damho in the Thousand Gold Demonic Prison hadn't been his decision. Yet Unkyung had suffered anguish for over a decade because of it, which was heartbreaking.
"Unkyung."
"Yes, Martial Uncle!"
"You've done nothing wrong."
"Pardon?"
"I know you were cold to Ho for the sake of Mount Hua. There wasn't a shred of personal motive in how you treated him. Now that Ho has returned alive, set down that heavy burden from your heart."
"Martial... Uncle?"
"You can't live like that forever. I'm fine, and so is Ho. Forgive yourself now."
At True Person Hyunso's warm words, moisture gathered in Unkyung's eyes. His shoulders shook involuntarily.
True Person Hyunso quietly embraced him. He patted the back of Unkyung, who was far larger than himself.
"I know how much you love Mount Hua. That you'd gladly give your life for it. I feel the same. I'd offer this old life without hesitation for Mount Hua. But that doesn't mean our lives are worthless. Our lives are just as precious and valuable as Mount Hua itself. You are a pillar of the Mount Hua Sect—release your guilt and hold yourself dear."
"Thank you... Martial Uncle!"
Unkyung's voice trembled.
True Person Hyunso's kind words melted the lump that had long hardened in his chest. The warmth spreading from his heart enveloped his entire body.
"I'm the one who's grateful, Unkyung. You've kept your balance, at least. With you here, Mount Hua's future is bright."
"Martial... Uncle!"
Tears finally streamed down.
True Person Hyunso was saying exactly what Unkyung had longed to hear.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
True Person Hyunso smiled as he gazed at Unkyung.
When he thought of Damho, leaving Mount Hua seemed right. But seeing Unkyung, he couldn't bring himself to depart.
Peeing!
In that instant, a sharp whistle pierced the darkness.
"Martial Uncle! Be careful!"
Unkyung reacted swiftly, as if he hadn't been shedding tears moments ago.
A sword was already in his hand, and he positioned himself in front of True Person Hyunso.
Chaeng!
As Unkyung's sword sliced through the air, something clanged against it. The object, deflected powerlessly to the ground, was a silver hidden weapon.
"Who's there?"
Unkyung shouted, shielding True Person Hyunso. As if his voice were a signal, hidden weapons flew in from all directions.
Shoo-shoo-shick!
Unkyung unleashed the Mount Hua Sect's Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword, rigorously protecting himself and True Person Hyunso.
Countless hidden weapons clattered against his sword barrier and fell. But Unkyung couldn't breathe a sigh of relief. Assailants now appeared atop the annex walls.
Each one wore a mask concealing their face, hiding their identities.
"What in the world?"
True Person Hyunso's eyes wavered.
This was the Sakju branch's annex. Not only were Murim Alliance members stationed everywhere, but countless martial artists were posted throughout. Breaching the human wall of thousands was impossible.
Yet enemies had appeared, meaning one of two things: the branch's defenses had been breached, or someone inside had aided them.
The apparent leader of the assailants bellowed.
"Charge!"
Some assailants rushed toward Unkyung and True Person Hyunso, while the rest leaped toward the annex where Damho and the children slept.
"Ah, no!"
True Person Hyunso cried out urgently at the sight.
Kwaaang!
In that moment, a thunderous roar shattered the annex. A storm-like surge of energy swept the area, sending over a dozen assailants charging toward it flying like bloody rags in all directions.
"Fist Demon."
"Everyone, beware!"
The assailants shouted warnings.
Damho stood in the center of the ruined annex.
His eyes sank into an endless abyss, like the depths of hell.
"Oppa!"
"Big Brother!"
Terrified children clustered around him.
Startled by the sudden attack, they didn't know what to do.
The assailants targeted the children over Damho.
Their intent was clear: distract Damho and create an opening.
Keeeing!
Damho's leg traced an arc through the air. It was the Blood Heaven Kick.
Puk-puk-puk!
Three assailants caught by his leg had their heads smashed and rolled across the ground.
Damho used the momentum to launch himself into the air.
In midair, he chained Breaking Sound Chase and Single Gong Wall. In an instant, over a dozen assailants vomited blood and collapsed.
Undeterred by their comrades' deaths, the assailants pressed on, targeting the children to split Damho's attention.
Alone, Damho was unmatched, but protecting all the children was impossible. The enemies relentlessly went for the kids.
"Aaak!"
One child screamed as a sword struck his shoulder. Fortunately, it was only a flesh wound, but it was too much for a young child to bear.
Damho lunged at the assailant who had injured the child. The panicked foe tried to flee, but it was futile.
Kwaang!
The moment Damho's fist connected, the assailant's body exploded. It literally burst into shattered pieces.
Blood sprayed everywhere, chunks of flesh and entrails splattering onto people.
Even trained martial artists were still human. Their eyes flickered at the gruesome sight of their comrade.
Damho seized the moment.
Kwa-kwa-kwa!
The Explosive Demon Aura swirled around his entire body.
"Kraaak!"
"Aaak!"
Those caught in it tore apart like ragged cloth.
Yet Damho didn't stop. As he scanned for the next target with flashing eyes, someone shouted.
"It's us. Stop!"
Turning his head, he saw Hae Sowol and Jong Ri Yeon.
Hae Sowol stood before the children and yelled.
"I'll protect the kids."
Damho nodded.
If it were just guarding the children, he could leave it to Hae Sowol.
The problem was Unkyung. Though Unkyung was giving his all to protect True Person Hyunso, he was reaching his limit.
Damho urgently unleashed Charge Step toward True Person Hyunso.
A simple linear footwork.
Designed for slaughtering foes, it propelled Damho forward like a charging chariot, terrifyingly fast.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
"Kraaak!"
"Euk!"
Everything in Damho's path shattered.
Assailants' chests caved in, heads exploded, bodies flung aside.
Killing intent blazed in Damho's eyes, radiating outward. He resembled a wrathful demon.
"Huk!"
The assailant facing him directly paled in terror. Damho's ferociously murderous face became the last sight of his life.
Puseok!
His head burst like a watermelon.
The headless body staggered forward before crashing down like a rotten log with a thud.
"Ho-ya!"
Unkyung, who had been fighting alone, lit up with relief. His stamina was already at its limit.
It was then.
One assailant stealthily approached True Person Hyunso from behind. Unkyung, distracted by Damho and other foes, noticed too late.
"Ah, no!"
Unkyung swung his sword at the assailant behind True Person Hyunso. But the foe's hand moved faster.
Shyaaak!
The dart left his hand, flying straight for True Person Hyunso's chest. Damho saw it clearly.
Damho accelerated, reaching out.
Just a bit further, and he could grab it. But by a hair's breadth, the dart slipped past.
"No!"
Unkyung's cry echoed across the battlefield.
"Hup!"
Sensing the danger, True Person Hyunso desperately twisted away.
Puk!
"Kheuk!"
By the narrowest margin, the dart embedded in his shoulder instead of his chest. Only the hilt protruded.
True Person Hyunso collapsed, bleeding.
"Master!"
Damho shouted for the first time.
The terrifying killing intent in his voice spread across Sakju's night sky. Sleeping martial artists jolted awake in alarm, beasts trembling in fear.
"You?"
Damho unleashed Charge Step toward the one who threw the dart.
"Flee!"
The leader shouted, leaping back. The assailants, who had charged ferociously until now, retreated like an ebbing tide.
Damho ignored the others. He pursued only one: the leader who had targeted his master.
"Cheonkyung-ah!"
Unkyung's voice came from behind, but Damho's focus was solely on the leader.
Kung!
Kicking off the ground, his body surged forward at dreadful speed.
Though one leg was imperfect, preventing sustained speed, its short-burst explosive power surpassed any other lightness skill.
Shwaaa!
"Huk!"
Feeling the intense energy wave from behind, the leader's face twisted. He glanced back involuntarily. Damho's face loomed larger.
Eyes savage with rage, the beastly stench assaulted him.
'Damn it!'
Kwaang!
In that instant, the leader felt as if a house-sized boulder crushed him.
The immense impact pulverized his ribs and mangled his organs. One eyeball burst under the pressure, the other filled with burst vessels, turning his world red.
"Kuheuk!"
The leader sprawled on the ground, vomiting blood.
Kwaduk!
Damho stomped his right arm, snapping it like a dry twig.
"Who are you?"
Damho's chillingly sunken voice echoed through the annex, making everyone shudder.