Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: No Matter How Many Years Pass, Some Things Can't Be Forgotten (1)
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Bloodscale Veil proclaimed itself the overlord of Shinkang Province. It wielded immense power, and there were few in Shinkang who could challenge their stronghold.
Bloodscale Veil had a unique atmosphere—rough yet free-spirited. This was largely due to the influence of its master, Shim Su-myeong.
Shim Su-myeong ruled Bloodscale Veil as its absolute sovereign, but he never forced his subordinates. Instead, he granted them great freedom, leading them to follow him of their own will.
It was this freewheeling atmosphere that had forged the current Bloodscale Veil.
Bloodscale Veil's absolute ruler, Shim Su-myeong, sat in his quarters, staring at the wall. More precisely, he gazed at a single sword hanging there.
"Yeodo Jeokseong."
It was the Blood Demon's final legacy, the treasured blade that Silver River Star, master of Western Heaven Manor, had so desperately desired.
Jeokseong, which had lost its luster after Silver River Star's death. Shim Su-myeong stared at it intently, his eyes filled with an unconcealable desire.
'I want that sword. I want to wield it as I please.'
When he first acquired Jeokseong, he had no particular greed for it. He had merely kept it as a trophy of victory, decorating his room to deter others from coveting it.
But as the saying goes, seeing an object stirs the heart. Day after day of gazing at Jeokseong had quietly kindled greed within him.
"Damn it!"
As Shim Su-myeong spat a curse and rose from his seat—
"Ugh!"
"Attack!"
Shouts erupted from outside, accompanied by the clash of weapons. Shim Su-myeong's face instantly paled.
"Who the hell are they?"
He rushed to the window. There, he saw hundreds of warriors invading Bloodscale Veil.
They wore helmets shimmering with a blue hue and matching blue armor. Mounted on massive warhorses, they thrust spears that glowed with the same eerie blue light.
Stab! Stab!
Each thrust felled Bloodscale Veil warriors with screams.
Bloodscale Veil's men fought back desperately, but the gap in raw power was too vast.
The invaders didn't rush. They advanced slowly but steadily, methodically slaughtering Bloodscale Veil's forces.
Leading them was a man of colossal build, like a boulder transplanted into human form, astride an equally massive warhorse.
Whoosh!
Each swing of his enormous spear cleaved Bloodscale Veil warriors in two, sending them tumbling across the ground. He wielded the giant spear as if it were a sword.
Blue spear qi rippled with every swing, rising like heat haze—resembling the ghostly flames of hell.
Just looking at him sent chills racing through the body. It was obvious at a glance that he was their leader.
Suddenly, the leader's eyes turned toward Shim Su-myeong's location. In that moment, Shim Su-myeong realized the truth: his skills could never match this man.
It wasn't his mind, but his soul that first felt the fear and issued the warning.
Clop-clop!
The leader wheeled his horse toward Shim Su-myeong. Shim grabbed Bloodscale Blade and prepared to charge out.
At that instant, the door burst open, and Shim Ok and Black Fury rushed in.
"Daddy!"
"Master!"
The wounds on their bodies spoke of the fierce battle they had endured.
Shim Su-myeong quickly scanned Shim Ok's body and asked,
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. What about you, Daddy?"
"No time for talk. Get out of Bloodscale Veil now. In the study, push the third bookshelf—there's a secret passage. Escape through there."
"I can't do that."
"This isn't the time to be stubborn."
"No! I'll fight with you, Daddy."
"Sigh."
Shim Su-myeong sighed and turned to Black Fury.
"Black Fury!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Take care of my daughter."
"Daddy! What do you... Ah!"
Shim Ok suddenly lost consciousness. Shim Su-myeong had sealed her blood points.
"My lord?"
"Take her and go, quickly. I don't know who they are, but we can't stand against them. Hurry. Protect my daughter, please."
"Understood, my lord!"
"Go now."
"Alright!"
Black Fury scooped up the unconscious Shim Ok and fled the room.
Boom!
Right after, the wall exploded inward. The invaders' leader revealed himself.
"Hya!"
Shim Su-myeong didn't hesitate, launching a strike at him.
Swoosh!
Red sword qi erupted from Bloodscale Blade, shooting toward the leader. But the man casually swung his spear, deflecting the attack.
"Hraa!"
Shim Su-myeong followed with a flurry of Bloodscale Blade strikes. He unleashed every ultimate technique he knew.
"Die, you monster!"
He didn't know why they were attacking Bloodscale Veil. He knew he couldn't win, but he couldn't just sit there and wait for death.
No matter what technique Shim used, the leader blocked it effortlessly.
Chwik!
The leader's spear shot out like a snake, piercing Shim Su-myeong's shoulder. The tip burst through, punching into the wall behind.
"Gah!"
Shim Su-myeong screamed and vomited blood.
The man's lips parted beneath his helmet.
"Not bad! But your momentum falls short."
"Who are you, daring to slaughter in Bloodscale Veil?"
The leader didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at Jeokseong hanging on the wall.
"I have orders. To retrieve Jeokseong."
"You came for the sword?"
"Treasures beyond one's station invite disaster. Jeokseong isn't for a warrior of your caliber."
"To commit such slaughter over a single sword. Aren't you afraid of heaven's wrath?"
"Tch! A wanderer of the jianghu believing in heaven? Pathetic."
The leader sneered.
The killing intent in his voice filled Shim Su-myeong with dread.
The leader extended his hand. Yeodo Jeokseong and the Blood Demon Manual flew from the wall into his grasp.
Shim Su-myeong's face drained of color at the sight.
"Huh, Void Grasp?"
A supreme technique only those whose internal energy transcended human limits could perform—and the leader executed it effortlessly.
Only then did Shim Su-myeong realize the man was far beyond his expectations.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Who knows!"
A sinister smile curled the man's lips.
Pop-pop-pop!
Suddenly, small explosions erupted inside Shim Su-myeong's body. The leader had infused qi into the spear still piercing him.
Minor meridians burst first, followed by major ones. His body convulsed as if fireworks were exploding within.
"Argh!"
Shim Su-myeong let out a wretched scream.
Blood streamed from his eyes and ears. Not just that—blood gushed like fountains from every orifice in his body.
That was the end of Shim Su-myeong, master of Bloodscale Veil.
Only then did the leader withdraw his spear.
"Boring. I had some expectations since you were Shinkang's overlord."
The leader turned away.
The massacre at Bloodscale Veil was already over.
Only his blue-armored subordinates remained alive; not even an ant from Bloodscale Veil survived.
"Any losses?"
"Azure Cavalry, two hundred strong—all unharmed. But..."
"What?"
"Someone escaped. We found a secret passage in the study."
"Send pursuers. It's not time to reveal ourselves yet."
"Understood."
"The rest, return home."
"Yes, sir!"
The leader turned and departed Bloodscale Veil.
In the wake of their departure, only the stench of death lingered.
***
Eun So-cheong sighed as she surveyed the wreckage of the fifth floor of World's Best Tower. It looked like a storm had swept through. In truth, a storm named Dam Ho had destroyed everything.
In the crisis, her uncle Shim Woo-won had shown remarkable resourcefulness. He sealed the lips of the guests with money and layered precautions to ensure they could never speak of it.
The moment they did, their entire lives would crumble.
"Sigh."
Eun So-cheong let out a sigh far too world-weary for her age. Jong Ri-su watched her silently, his own heart equally troubled.
"Eun Geom."
"Yes!"
"What do you think it'd be like fighting Uncle?"
"......"
"Could you win?"
"Well..."
Jong Ri-su hesitated.
Seeing his reaction, Eun So-cheong nodded as if she had expected it.
"Uncle didn't even twitch. He's the master of Healing Immortal Sect, one of Honam's Five Great Sects. In other words, even Honam's Five Great Sects couldn't touch him."
"That's..."
"That uncle was truly terrifying."
Though he hadn't answered, Jong Ri-su inwardly agreed.
'No, it's not just terrifying. His destructive power is beyond imagination.'
He had killed a disciple right before the sect leader of Healing Immortal Sect without leaving any repercussions. Something ordinary warriors couldn't even dream of.
"Shinkang Blood Star, right? Have you heard of it, Eun Geom?"
"I'm sorry, I haven't."
"Well, you've been traveling with me, away from the jianghu. Look into Uncle for me now."
"Got it."
"Sigh! Why is everything so complicated? It was just a meal from Jin Bo that tasted good."
Eun So-cheong sighed.
She was the only daughter of the influential Eun family of Honam Province, but still just a young girl.
At that moment—
"Why the heavy sighing?"
"Huh?"
A clear, refreshing voice rang out.
Eun So-cheong turned to the stairs.
"You'll cave the floor in at that rate."
"Sister?"
Eun So-cheong's frown vanished, replaced by a beaming smile.
A woman in unusual attire ascended the stairs.
She wore a vest of tiger skin on top and tight leather pants below. Her tawny skin and vibrant smile evoked a wild horse galloping freely across the plains.
"Sister!"
Eun So-cheong spread her arms wide to embrace her.
The woman's bright smile deepened.
"Long time no see."
"Hye-ryeong Sister."
The woman's name was Hwang Hye-ryeong, one of the few people Eun So-cheong truly trusted. And the one she was meant to meet here today.