Chapter 449
Chapter 449
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 449
Chapter Title: Atonement in Death
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Wiji Hye-sang shook his head in disbelief.
“Challenging the Sect Leader? Isn't this a bit of a ridiculous joke?”
“It's the only way to draw out the mastermind who's been toying with me.”
Myo Cheon-u smiled faintly.
“To think that mastermind was the heir to the Blazing Rain Sword Sect.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Otherwise, you wouldn't have needed to come out yourself, would you?”
Staring intently at Wiji Hye-sang, Myo Cheon-u smiled coldly.
“Am I wrong?”
“Commander Myo. You've been spouting nothing but foolishness. And you have no manners.”
Wiji Hye-sang sighed and said.
“I hold the Lord of the Martial Soul Command in rather high regard. I only came out myself because his subordinate is acting like a madman.”
“You must have thought Bu Eun-seol was the only one with a sharp mind.”
Myo Cheon-u scoffed.
“You must have been curious. The man who'd been acting as your spy, doing the Killing Ghost's bidding, suddenly shows up.”
“Commander Myo. Are you insane?”
“It's useless to deny it. You saw the letter and summoned me here alone.”
Myo Cheon-u said with a serious expression.
“Wiji Hye-sang. I am certain you are the one who controlled the Killing Ghost.”
“There's no getting through to you. Just leave.”
Wiji Hye-sang stroked his chin and smiled.
“I could have my men kill you, but I'm letting you off.”
“Then call for your Sect Leader. I will challenge him.”
Myo Cheon-u said, the corners of his mouth lifting.
“Surely the great Wiji Mu-a, one of the Three Demonic Masters, isn't too afraid to face a mere Second-Class Commander of the Demonic Palace.”
“You're determined to play the madman. Do you really think the Sect Leader would bother with you?”
Myo Cheon-u stood tall without a word.
Seeing Myo Cheon-u's solemn and tragic expression, Wiji Hye-sang sighed as if he had seen through everything.
“Why are you trying to fight me?”
“Because you're the head.”
“The head?”
Myo Cheon-u said coldly.
“The head of the faction that has worked me like a dog until now.”
“And what faction is that?”
“Enough with the games.”
A shimmering killing intent rose in Myo Cheon-u's eyes.
“You made me report Bu Eun-seol's movements and constantly put him in danger, did you not?”
“I don't understand why you would think that.”
Wiji Hye-sang tilted his head.
“I'm quite fond of the Lord of the Martial Soul Command, you know.”
Taking a deep breath, Myo Cheon-u slowly gathered his internal energy.
“There is only one way to shut my mouth.”
His eyes were unwavering, as if he had already accepted death.
He had suspected it ever since Wiji Hye-sang withdrew his candidacy to be the heir of the Demonic Palace.
That he was the one behind the Killing Ghost.
But even so, he couldn't figure out why Wiji Hye-sang demanded reports on Bu Eun-seol's whereabouts.
But when the organization known as the Three Realms was revealed by Bu Eun-seol, and when he learned that the Three Realms were also the ones who used the Three Poisons Sect to awaken Dang Gon.
When he discovered that the Infinite Realm and the Azure River Realm were clashing, each with their own agenda… he no longer needed to know the reason.
“Now, let's end this long, ill-fated connection.”
Myo Cheon-u said, his eyes flashing.
“Draw your sword.”
“Surely, you don't think I'm going to fight you?”
Wiji Hye-sang simply smirked at the tragic sight and crossed his arms.
“That I used you as a spy? Do you have any proof?”
“...”
“And even if I did, is that a crime? In the Ten Demonic Sects, everyone has informants to monitor the Demonic Palace's movements.”
Myo Cheon-u was at a loss for words.
Wiji Hye-sang was the heir to the Blazing Rain Sword Sect, the strongest of the Ten Demonic Sects.
He thought that at this point, even if Wiji Hye-sang feigned ignorance about the Three Realms, he would at least admit to using the Killing Ghost.
He hadn't expected him to continue playing dumb.
“I don't know what kind of madness has possessed you to pick a fight with my sect.”
Wiji Hye-sang wore a mocking smile.
“The Lord of the Martial Soul Command is a man who handles his affairs properly, but it seems he doesn't manage his subordinates very well, does he?”
“Wiji Hye-sang! Do you intend to insult me to the very end!”
“Commander Myo.”
Wiji Hye-sang looked at Myo Cheon-u with pity.
“Do you think the world revolves around you? Do you think you can just settle everything because you want to?”
“...”
“You act as a spy, then quit when you want to. You expose secrets when you want to... Do you really think everything in the world ends so easily?”
He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Myo Cheon-u. I don't know if you pride yourself on being a man... but in my eyes, you're just a childish brat who thinks the whole world will bend to his will.”
“Silence!”
Further conversation was pointless.
Enraged, Myo Cheon-u immediately unleashed a powerful palm strike.
*Shhhk.*
In that instant, five warriors appeared before Wiji Hye-sang as if springing from the ground.
*Kwoong!*
As they all thrust their swords forward, an intangible wall formed with tremendous force.
Simultaneously, Myo Cheon-u's palm energy vanished like melting snow, and he himself slid back about five steps.
The Blazing Rain Sword Sect.
The most prestigious sect of the Demonic Path, having produced countless Sword Demons, a title signifying the greatest swordsman of the Demonic Path.
It is the number one sect of the Demonic Path, possessing the strongest influence and military power among all single sects.
The warriors here all possessed outstanding martial prowess, and Wiji Hye-sang's guards were no exception.
“Like a gnat. To be pushed back by a single gesture.”
Wiji Hye-sang said with a smirk.
“First, I'll have you detained, and then I'll question the Lord of the Martial Soul Command about the sin of raising his subordinate poorly.”
“Wiji Hye-sang!”
*Kwaaang!*
At that moment, a brilliant light flashed from Myo Cheon-u's entire body, pushing back the five warriors who were pouring pressure on him.
It was not a palm technique or any other martial art, but a powerful shockwave.
“Hoh.”
Wiji Hye-sang formed an 'o' with his mouth.
“I see you have a hidden card up your sleeve.”
“Wiji Hye-sang.”
Myo Cheon-u said coldly.
“I challenge you.”
“What was that?”
Wiji Hye-sang let out a dry laugh.
“We're right in front of my sect's gates. Masters who could kill you with a flick of a finger would pour out if I so much as moved... and yet you insist...”
“Refuse if you want.”
Myo Cheon-u said, gritting his teeth.
“I'll spread a rumor that you cowered like a rat, afraid of a challenge from the Commander of the Hall of the Four Shadows. And that you tried to have your men imprison me out of fear.”
“...”
“You'll probably imprison me, claiming it's another trial for Bu Eun-seol, right? But you won't be able to pull stunts like that anymore. I'll expose everything.”
Myo Cheon-u said, his eyes flashing.
“Do you want to kill me? Then face me in a fair duel. Are you afraid?”
“Hah.”
Wiji Hye-sang said with a look of exasperation.
“Myo Cheon-u. Not only do you whine incessantly like a child, but you're also incredibly annoying.”
Then he nodded to the five guards standing before him.
“I suppose it can't be helped. Step aside for a moment.”
The five warriors bowed to him and vanished in an instant.
Their movement technique was truly phantom-like.
“There, satisfied?”
Wiji Hye-sang said listlessly, letting out a yawn.
“Go on, show me that brilliant martial art of yours. I'm about to pass out from boredom.”
“Fine.”
Myo Cheon-u gathered his internal energy once more.
A shimmering internal energy rose from him, and lightning-like shockwaves began to flash.
Not a single day had passed since he entered the Demonic Palace that he had neglected his martial training.
And after deeply mastering the mysterious martial art he had acquired in the South Sea, his internal energy had grown explosively.
His inner power had long since surpassed the two-hundred-year mark.
“Hoh.”
Wiji Hye-sang let out a sound of admiration.
“Your internal energy is quite impressive. Did you happen to consume some elixir while at the Annihilation Palace?”
Myo Cheon-u didn't answer, moving his hands in a dizzying pattern.
Butterfly-like palm shadows seemed to soar into the air, and soon they enveloped Wiji Hye-sang's body.
It was the Annihilation Palace's unique palm technique, the Annihilation Heaven-Toppling Palm.
“Hmm.”
Wiji Hye-sang extended his index and middle fingers and swiped them horizontally.
The dozens of palm shadows vanished from the air like mist.
As if he had expected it, Myo Cheon-u closed the distance without panicking.
*Tang! Tang-tang-tang!*
A metallic clang rang out as Wiji Hye-sang's finger sword and Myo Cheon-u's palm energy collided.
The finger sword Wiji Hye-sang extended had changed the nature of the formless palm energy Myo Cheon-u had unleashed.
It was a principle similar to the profound principle of Reversing Heaven and Earth, Deflecting a Thousand Pounds that Bu Eun-seol had mastered from the Sword Master's Myriad Forms in One Style.
“Hmph.”
But Myo Cheon-u was not flustered and once again brandished his palm technique.
The palm techniques of the Annihilation Palace were unique in the martial world, their range and power incomparably vast and profound compared to ordinary palm arts.
*Shaaaaa!*
Every time he executed the technique, a mist-like energy spread out.
And the rocks touched by that mist-like energy were being riddled with hundreds of holes.
He was unleashing the opening moves of the Annihilation Blood Mist Palm, the most powerful technique of the Annihilation Palace, in rapid succession.
*Shaaaak.*
With a fierce current of air, the palm energy that had covered the sky like butterflies turned into a white mist and enveloped Wiji Hye-sang's body.
“Is this all you have?”
Wiji Hye-sang casually extended his fingers again, using his finger sword technique.
The Annihilation Blood Mist Palm, which had been spreading like a mist, evaporated in an instant.
It was not a sword technique of the Blazing Rain Sword Sect. He had simply exerted immense internal energy to instantly nullify the power of the palm strike.
“Hap!”
As if he had been waiting, Myo Cheon-u leaped into the air and thrust out his hands in a dizzying motion.
It was an exquisite move from the Annihilation Wall-Shattering Palm, the ultimate technique of the Annihilation Palace, called Boundless Grandeur.
Wiji Hye-sang's eyes gleamed.
An ordinary master of palm techniques would never leap into the air mid-fight.
Masters of palm techniques, who use their hands as weapons, destroy the sharpness of weapons with subtlety.
They must constantly overwhelm their enemies with a continuous, unbroken chain of moves.
But Myo Cheon-u, as if a blind man performing a palm technique while floating in the air, chaotically unleashed palm energy as sharp as an axe blade.
“Are you asking me to kill you in one blow? Very well.”
*Sreung.*
Watching Myo Cheon-u charge, cloaked in the hundreds of palm strikes of Boundless Grandeur, Wiji Hye-sang finally drew his sword.
Blocking with a finger sword would lead to an unnecessarily long exchange of moves.
He intended to end Myo Cheon-u's life at once with a flurry of sword forms.
*Swish!*
As he lightly swung his sword, all the moves of Boundless Grandeur that had shrouded Myo Cheon-u like a mist vanished, revealing his face.
*Flash!*
At the same time, a very thin and fine ray of light shot toward Myo Cheon-u's brow.
He had used a variation of the Third Form of the Blazing Rain Sword, Heaven and Earth's Passing Light, to pierce his brow.
*Slice.*
At that moment, Myo Cheon-u's brow split in two. No, it should have split.
But the sword energy missed, grazing the air and soaring into the sky.
It turned out to be an illusion created by the energy waves surrounding Myo Cheon-u's body.
“Die.”
Myo Cheon-u was suddenly in front of Wiji Hye-sang, his arms spread wide in a stance that seemed to divide heaven and earth.
The Fighting Emperor's Killing Art.
He finally unleashed the ultimate art of the Fighting Emperor upon Wiji Hye-sang's body.
*Paaaaaa!*
From the twin palms that had divided heaven and earth, a powerful fighting spirit, capable of destroying the world, poured out like a tidal wave.
It was so intense that Wiji Hye-sang's body seemed to completely disappear before his eyes.
‘It worked.’
Having poured all his strength into the Fighting Emperor's Killing Art, Myo Cheon-u wore a satisfied smile.
‘Even for the heir of the Blazing Rain Sword Sect, this is the end.’
The Fighting Emperor's Killing Art had the property of passing through anything, severing the life force of all living beings.
No matter how great Wiji Hye-sang's swordsmanship and internal energy were, once exposed to the Fighting Emperor's Killing Art, he could not hope for a lucky escape.
*Chiiii...*
When the red energy finally faded, the pavilion where Wiji Hye-sang had been standing was completely gone.
And he was nowhere to be seen.
“Wiji Hye-sang. You were too arrogant.”
Myo Cheon-u straightened his shoulders as he looked at where the pavilion had vanished as if vaporized.
Until now, all the commanders of the Hall of the Four Shadows, including him, had repeated life-and-death training without a single day's rest.
If you are not strong, you die.
That was both the principle and the command of Bu Eun-seol, the leader of the Hall of the Four Shadows.
But Wiji Hye-sang was the heir of the great Blazing Rain Sword Sect.
He would always be overconfident in his own abilities and would never have expected to be defeated by Myo Cheon-u.
“In the end, that arrogance led to his death in a single blow.”
Myo Cheon-u took a deep breath and looked at the distant sky.
“Well, with his status as the heir to the Blazing Rain Sword Sect, he probably never felt the need to train as if his life depended on it.”
Just as Myo Cheon-u finished his thought and turned to leave,
“You really talk a lot.”
Wiji Hye-sang's clear voice entered his ear.
In that instant, Myo Cheon-u felt the pores all over his body open and his hair stand on end.
*Hwak!*
Without a moment to respond, he swiftly spun around and unleashed another palm strike behind him.
But somehow, Wiji Hye-sang was already standing tall in front of Myo Cheon-u.
“Did you act so boldly because you trusted in the Fighting Emperor's Killing Art?”
Wiji Hye-sang smirked and shook his head.
“Then again, it is a tremendous art that destroys every living thing it touches.”
Hearing his words, Myo Cheon-u's eyes widened.
To think Wiji Hye-sang knew of the Fighting Emperor's martial arts.
“Hahaha! That expression on your face is hilarious.”
Wiji Hye-sang pointed a finger at Myo Cheon-u's bewildered face.
“Surely, you didn't think you'd learned the real Fighting Emperor's Killing Art, did you?”
“What... what do you mean?”
“All advanced martial arts are accompanied by a heart incantation. And the Fighting Emperor's Killing Art definitely requires one.”
Wiji Hye-sang smiled calmly and extended a hand.
“Like this.”
*Chwaaak!*
In that instant, an invisible, sharp energy pierced Myo Cheon-u's shoulder.
“Ugh.”
Just a brief touch of that force was enough to melt his flesh, severing the muscles and tendons around his shoulder as if they had dissolved.
It was the true martial art of the Fighting Emperor, the Fighting Emperor's Killing Art.
“How could you...”
As Myo Cheon-u's eyes widened, Wiji Hye-sang chuckled softly.
“Actually... this isn't the Fighting Emperor's art.”
“What?”
“You were a spy, weren't you? Then you must have reported not only to the Lord of the Martial Soul Command but also to your handler. In that case, couldn't someone... have set up an interesting little treasure hunt?”
A memory flashed through Myo Cheon-u's mind.
He had requested leave and led his men to the South Sea to train his palm techniques using the waves.
And he had reported his movements to the Killing Ghost. If so... did that mean Wiji Hye-sang had deliberately planted a fake version of the Fighting Emperor's art?
Wiji Hye-sang's eyes curved into crescents as he cackled.
“I'm just saying it's a possibility. Hahaha.”
Finding the Fighting Emperor's legacy.
In the end, Wiji Hye-sang had known his movements in advance and had secretly hidden the fake martial art where he would find it.
“So that's how it was.”
Myo Cheon-u looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Only now did he realize that he, too, had been Wiji Hye-sang's 'puppet'.
He possessed the intellect, martial skill, and influence to manipulate even a person like Bu Eun-seol.
Leaving behind the fake martial art was also part of it.
He had predicted that Myo Cheon-u would one day bare his fangs and had intentionally planted the fake art.
Because he knew Myo Cheon-u would surely save the Fighting Emperor's art as his ultimate trump card.
“Oh? Surely you don't think I'm the one who planted that fake art?”
Wiji Hye-sang smiled playfully and shrugged.
“Why would I do something like that? I have nothing to do with the faction you mentioned.”
“You must have been afraid! Afraid that I might actually be able to defeat you!”
At Myo Cheon-u's shout, Wiji Hye-sang grinned.
“Of course not. There's no way someone like me would be afraid of anyone, right?”
*Chwaak!*
As Wiji Hye-sang extended his sword, the distant lake seemed to freeze for a moment, as if it had been split in two.
Myo Cheon-u's eyes widened.
Splitting a lake in two with a single move?
Had Wiji Hye-sang reached the Limitless Realm and created a 'phenomenon'?
Or was he a descendant of the Eight Desolations and Three Stars, allowing him to use martial arts that transcended conventional limits?
Or, like Hyuk-ryeon Eung, had he mastered a mind-control art that could instantly subdue an enemy's spirit?
“Well, now it's time for your punishment.”
Wiji Hye-sang bared his white teeth.
And he flicked his finger.
*Chwaak!*
A sound like tearing fabric was heard, and a strange heat radiated from Myo Cheon-u's left leg.
*Twuk.*
At the same time, his left leg went limp as if it had no bones.
It was very similar to the fake Fighting Emperor's Killing Art that Myo Cheon-u had used.
“I've heard that in the past, the Fighting Emperor's Killing Art would pierce the bodies of all living things and tear them apart from the inside.”
*Chwaak!*
Once again, Wiji Hye-sang extended his finger, and Myo Cheon-u's right arm began to dangle uselessly.
“And they say the fighting spirit that burrows inside can't be removed with acupuncture or expelled with medicine. Isn't that fascinating?”
*Chwaak! Chwaak!*
Myo Cheon-u's body was soon covered in wounds.
Each time the sharp energy pierced his body, the meridians throughout his body were severed, and his internal energy dissipated.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Myo Cheon-u had been reduced to a blood-soaked figure kneeling on the ground.
The most excruciating pain in the world is the burning agony of being set on fire.
And the finger wind Wiji Hye-sang unleashed was inflicting the maximum amount of pain one could feel, as if he were being burned alive.
“My sect's sword arts are very similar. If you're struck by our techniques, your life force is severed in an instant.”
*Hoodoo-dook.*
Myo Cheon-u, now a bloody mess, hung his head.
Despite the horrific pain assailing his entire body, he did not frown or scream.
For that, he had been too foolish.
He had made too many mistakes.
He had betrayed his friend for the sake of repaying a debt.
He had abandoned the trust of everyone who believed in him.
He had also underestimated his enemy's abilities. If this person was capable of manipulating someone like Bu Eun-seol, who was undoubtedly his superior.
If he was a man with such influence.
He should have realized that such a person could predict his every move.
And he should have been more cautious.
“Impressive.”
Wiji Hye-sang gave a thumbs-up to Myo Cheon-u, who stood stoically without even screaming.
“That endurance alone qualifies you to be a friend of the Lord of the Martial Soul Command.”
“I have no such qualification.”
Slowly raising his head, Myo Cheon-u spoke with a desolate expression.
“I knew I couldn't beat you from the start.”
Gazing at the sky with blurry eyes, he murmured softly.
“I just came here to atone with my death.”
“Hahaha. I've always felt this about you, but you sure know how to say the right things, don't you? You attacked me like you were going to kill me... and now you're saying you came here to die all along?”
Wiji Hye-sang sighed as if in pity.
“A dog that bites once will bite again. You formally challenged me, so you can't have any complaints, can you?”
Wiji Hye-sang raised his sword.
Although his martial arts weren't outstanding, he was a man of great patience and courage, so he intended to grant him a death worthy of that, with a powerful sword technique.
*Clang.*
Raising his sword, Wiji Hye-sang looked down at the kneeling Myo Cheon-u.
“Then.”
But just then, a brilliant light shone from Myo Cheon-u's eyes.
‘You probably think there's no one to be wary of besides Bu Eun-seol.’
In truth, he had suspected that the Fighting Emperor's Killing Art might be a fake.
Because Bu Eun-seol had once taught both him and Yu Un-ryong a secret heart incantation that could enhance their martial arts.
Advanced martial arts always come with a heart incantation. But when he found the Fighting Emperor's legacy, there was no incantation.
He had kept in mind that it could be someone's scheme.
The reason he hadn't launched a proper attack on Wiji Hye-sang all this time...
Was for just one chance.
To seize the perfect opportunity to land a decisive blow.
That perfect opportunity...
Was the moment Wiji Hye-sang let his guard down completely, believing everything was settled, as he was about to deliver the final blow.
In other words, when he was completely defenseless.
Only then could he seize the chance to take Wiji Hye-sang down with him.
‘Yeong Mun-ho. I will atone for your death in hell.’
Gathering the last dregs of his internal energy, Myo Cheon-u unleashed his final secret technique toward Wiji Hye-sang.