Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Reunion
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I felt I had exhausted too much energy from running nonstop from the Chamber of Transcendence to the underground prison. Before leaving the prison, I circulated my energy, following the incantations of the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon.
As the strands of processed energy from my dantian collided, my ki amplified explosively, and my depleted energy recovered quickly.
It was fundamentally different from other martial arts. It truly deserved to be called a divine art.
After making thorough preparations, I left the underground prison.
Having shed all my burdens and feeling much lighter, I executed my stealth techniques with greater skill.
The security around the central pavilion was still lax.
The word "pathetic" almost escaped my lips.
I leaped between rooftops, employing a swift yet traceless movement technique. Like a leopard gliding through the air, I rushed to the main gate of the central pavilion, observed the remaining warriors, and sensed the time had come.
Standing atop the highest point of the main gate, I released my concealed energy, revealing my presence.
Beneath the bright moon, the blade of the Sun and Moon Sword reflected the moonlight with a purplish hue, and my black robes fluttered in the gentle breeze.
“I have come to reclaim Blade Leaf Valley.”
My voice was not loud, but a low murmur imbued with internal energy, causing it to resonate throughout the entire central pavilion.
I then raised my sword to the sky. Strands of demonic energy processed in my dantian collided, and the amplified demonic ki gathered at the tip of the blade.
The moment the warriors heard the low rumble and grew flustered.
‘Heavenly Demon Slash.’
I swung my sword in an arc.
The energy contained at its tip exploded, striking down toward the main gate. Unable to withstand the force, the gate shattered into pieces.
I kicked off the ground and charged at the warriors, who were flustered and scrambling in confusion. Though I was only at the introductory stage, before the Sun and Moon Sword imbued with Heavenly Demonic Ki, the swords of the low-level warriors were crude and shattered powerlessly.
“Gah!”
A low-level warrior's body was slashed, spraying blood, and the area around the main gate was stained red.
Hearing the sound of the gate shattering and the warriors' screams, about ten more warriors rushed over, but they too became mere prey for the Sun and Moon Sword.
‘Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon. Heavenly Demon Palm.’
A purplish palm energy surged toward the warriors, and as a couple of them dropped dead in an instant, the remaining martial artists realized.
They couldn't win on their own.
“Wh-what is that ominous energy!”
“We-we can't handle this!”
It wasn't at the level of a supreme master, nor was it massive in scale, but the energy it contained was immensely ferocious, relentlessly causing destruction.
The masked man, like a grim reaper, showed no mercy. Accompanied by horrific screams, the warriors guarding the main gate were annihilated in less than an instant.
A single thought flashed through their minds.
‘We can't handle this.’
One warrior, having made his decision, hurriedly ran to call Gu Cheong. I deliberately watched him go.
* * *
- A small cave by the valley, past the rear gate of Blade Leaf Valley.
Gu Cheong and his subordinates were guarding a certain 'item'.
In contrast to the peaceful atmosphere—the pouring moonlight in the middle of the night and the clear sound of the valley stream—Gu Cheong and his men guarded the cave in a state of tension.
“Um... but why are we guarding this place?”
“Because this item must never be taken.”
Just then, a low-level martial artist came running frantically from a distance.
“G-Gu Cheong! A masked man in black has attacked the main gate!”
“What? The main gate? What's at the main gate for him to attack there? Are you sure it's that masked man?”
“Yes, sir. It's definitely the same masked man from before.”
“Is that so? Damn it... What in the world is his objective?”
Gu Cheong thought for a moment.
‘Seeing as he isn't coming this way, he's not after the item. He's just attacking whatever he sees, all by himself. If so, now is the perfect opportunity to catch him.’
“A few of you, guard this place. I will go myself. One of you, call for the Golden Fang Poison Claw. I was hoping to avoid asking for his cooperation, but the situation is serious.”
‘The Golden Fang Poison Claw is a master approaching the supreme level; he should be able to handle a mere masked man easily. I'll have reinforcements too. Just holding the bastard down will be a success.’
Not stopping at requesting cooperation from the Golden Fang Poison Claw, Gu Cheong also ordered all the allied forces that had formed a perimeter outside Blade Leaf Valley to be summoned.
After making all possible preparations, he kicked off the ground and flew. As he headed for the main gate of the central pavilion, he gritted his teeth, thinking of the masked man in black.
“You rat-like bastard. Let's see how long you can keep interfering.”
The enraged Gu Cheong's figure quickly moved away from the cave, and just as he was no longer visible...
…there was a shadow cast by the moonlight.
Un-pyo, clad in black and wearing a mask, had found the cave in Blade Leaf Valley.
“What are you hiding, you trash.”
“Wh-what? The-the masked man...”
“Blade Leaf Maple.”
Gu Cheong had just left after receiving a report about a masked man in black, yet suddenly, another masked man in black appeared.
A betrayal? Or was there a second masked man?
Before the remaining martial artists in the cave could grasp the situation, they were bisected by a flying blade wind.
As fresh blood sprayed, the martial artists who witnessed it screamed.
“Wh-what!”
“I-it's the masked man! The masked man is here too. There wasn't just one!”
“Re-report to Lord Gu Cheong!”
Un-pyo chased down the warrior who was trying to flee and report the situation, immediately cutting him in two.
“Too late, you trash.”
Only two martial artists remained. Un-pyo shouted fiercely.
“I'm cleaning out all you trash today.”
It was the roar of a beast, releasing all its pent-up fury.
The fierce clouded leopard tore sharply into its prey in the cave, baring its predator's fangs for that moment.
After finishing off all the remaining martial artists, Un-pyo hummed as he went to check the item Gu Cheong had hidden.
Between the valleys that marked the beginning of Blade Leaf Valley, there was a cave where the surrounding earth energy gathered.
Over a long period, the accumulated energy of the heavens, earth, and wind gathered on the ceiling of this cave. The condensed energy on the ceiling eventually became droplets and collected in one spot.
There was a vessel that contained the essence of this natural energy.
It seemed to have been used to create something, along with various medicinal herbs scattered nearby.
The herbs were all rare spiritual plants. What was made using all these rare and expensive ingredients must be inside this reddish-brown wooden box placed in the corner of the cave...
A black cloth was neatly placed on a rock, and on top of it was a reddish-brown wooden box, about two handspans in size.
It was obvious at a glance that everything here was for the 'something' inside that box, and that 'something' was the 'item' in question.
The moment Un-pyo reached out to open the box, a voice came from behind him.
“You rascal, Un-pyo, there's an order to everything. Why are you trying to check it first again?”
It was a familiar and longed-for voice.
“That's why you're called impulsive, you brat.”
Un-pyo felt a surge of emotion, and his eyes reddened.
“Wi-Wi-Wind Leaf Master!”
“I never dreamed that you would be the one to save us all.”
The people there were the family of Blade Leaf Valley, the disciples of the Blade Leaf Demon, and Un-pyo's martial brothers.
The men who were like brothers to Un-pyo had crossed the threshold of despair and were showing their welcome faces once again.
That's right. The Fourth Young Master of the Heavenly Dance Family had succeeded in rescuing the Blade Leaf Demon and his martial brothers.
As if the box had never existed, Un-pyo ran to his brothers and embraced them. Although Un-pyo's brothers didn't show it, how could they not know of the hardships he had endured?
“Haha, I'm happy too, Un-pyo, but right now, don't we have to move 'that item' you mentioned and take care of things? That's the proper order.”
Un-gak, the eldest martial brother of Blade Leaf Valley and the Wind Demon Master, took charge of the situation.
“Yes! Let's finish it quickly!”
“Alright, grab it! Let's go!”
“““Yes!”””
* * *
By the time Gu Cheong arrived at the main gate of the central pavilion, all the soldiers there had already been defeated by the masked man in black.
Gu Cheong gritted his teeth without realizing it.
Seeing the masked man standing there nonchalantly, his blood boiled.
“You bastard!”
Gu Cheong shouted, veins bulging on his neck, then immediately kicked off the ground and launched himself forward. Gu Cheong, a peak-level martial artist, pushed his internal energy to its limit and attacked, his sword wreathed in power.
The sound of sword clashing against sword rang out, and the screech of grinding metal spread through the main gate of the central pavilion.
“Urgh!”
After exchanging three blows, Gu Cheong was pushed back and asked.
“What is this... this ominous demonic ki...”
Mu-heun looked at Gu Cheong, chuckled, and replied.
“You charged in with such spirit, but you were just an empty shell.”
“You... Wh-what is your identity, you bastard? Are you really a subordinate of the Blade Leaf Demon?”
Gu Cheong asked, recalling the masked man who had thrown the Blade Leaf Maple.
‘His level seems to be around the peak, but something is different.’
Gu Cheong was greatly flustered by the masked man's skill, which seemed twice as powerful as before.
It was only natural.
While the attire was the same, the person inside was not Un-pyo, but Mu-heun.
“Does that matter? One thing is certain: you will die here.”
“......You bastard.”
Gu Cheong had been grinding his teeth in a mad rage just moments ago, but when the masked man spoke of killing him so matter-of-factly, he was suddenly struck with fear.
“No more questions.”
Whatever the reason, he was no match for him alone. Gu Cheong glanced at the subordinates who had followed him and shouted.
“Fo-form the Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation!”
Gu Cheong's seven subordinates formed a sword formation with him at the center. The Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation was one of the primary formations used by the Divine Cult, a powerful sword art performed by eight people.
A formation that, if used well by second-rate warriors, could subdue a first-rate one, and if led by a first-rate warrior, could even face a peak-level martial artist.
‘No matter how strong that guy is, he hasn't surpassed the peak level. The Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation should be enough. This time, I'll finish him for sure.’
But Mu-heun merely curled the corner of his lip.
‘My heart is pounding. Finally, in this new life, I get to properly use the martial arts I learned from Master Heavenly Demon.’
Until now, he had relied on tactical surprise attacks and exploiting weaknesses. Now, it was time for a proper fight.
“First Formation!”
Gu Cheong and his subordinates deployed the first formation of the Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation. Eight swords interlocked, surging forward with no room to escape.
Mu-heun wreathed his legs in ominous demonic ki and weaved through the swords rushing toward him.
A movement both destructive and fluid.
He flowed between the swords like a powerful river current. Although eight people were executing the formation uniformly, their individual skills varied, so there was bound to be a difference in its power.
‘That's the one.’
Exuding ominous demonic ki, Mu-heun rotated his blade and struck at the weakest point first.
The powerful blade of the Sun and Moon Sword broke through the formation.
The sword art technique he used against the formation was the Heavenly Demon Sword Art.
The Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation, executed by a peak master and his subordinates, against the techniques of Mu-heun's Heavenly Demon Sword Art.
A powerful sonic boom echoed through the central pavilion.
A fierce shockwave filled the area around the main gate.
The result: Mu-heun's black robes were slightly torn, while Gu Cheong clutched his wounded chest and supported himself with his sword on the ground.
“Keuk!”
Two of Gu Cheong's seven subordinates were decapitated, leaving five.
Just then, Mu-heun smiled and swiftly extended his sword.
He flicked the blood from his blade and said.
“Is it the Six Trigrams Sword Demon Formation now?”
Gu Cheong and his subordinates couldn't hide their astonishment.
The profound sword art Mu-heun displayed was shocking, but it couldn't compare to the fact that he had dismantled the Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation with pure swordsmanship.
“Th-this is impossible. H-how can you dismantle the Divine Cult's Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation? A formation of that level should have killed most peak masters on impact!”
He was right. To any observer, the current situation was exceedingly strange.
However, the moment Mu-heun clashed with the first formation, he had felt a strange sensation—the paths and forms of the swords in the Eight Trigrams Sword Demon Formation were clearly visible to him.
It felt like facing a familiar sword, one he knew like the back of his hand.
It was almost like a predetermined principle.
The Divine Cult's Sword Demon Formations were all degraded versions derived from the Heavenly Demon Sword Art. While they appeared powerful and complete on the surface, to Mu-heun, who had learned the original, they were simple formations whose trajectories were easily traced and dismantled.
Mu-heun kicked off the ground and launched himself forward again.
He rushed toward the bewildered Gu Cheong and his subordinates.
He brazenly dismantled the formation and sent the heads of three of Gu Cheong's subordinates flying. Then he immediately turned and pierced the remaining two, ending their lives.
Seeing his subordinates' blood splash everywhere, Gu Cheong belatedly realized that not only was the Sword Demon Formation useless against him, but it shouldn't even be attempted.
His entire body was steeped in terror.
Mu-heun flicked his sword again to shake off the blood and said.
“I told you I'd kill you one way or another.”
“Wh-what are you talking about? C-calm down and talk to me. The Blade Leaf Demon's granddaughter is still in the pavilion. I can mediate.”
Gu Cheong felt terror from the masked man who exuded such thick killing intent. He fabricated a story, trying to buy time somehow.
An act with an obvious intention.
Mu-heun laughed once and charged straight at Gu Cheong, thrusting his sword.
Gu Cheong barely managed to muster his internal energy to block the incoming sword, but he couldn't block it completely and was sent flying backward, suffering internal injuries.
“Keuk!”
Mu-heun approached the blood-vomiting Gu Cheong. The surviving warriors belatedly rushed over, but they were all frozen with fear.
“Gah! What are you all staring at! Stop him! Now!”
Despite Gu Cheong's shriek, not a single warrior stepped forward. Mu-heun simply continued to approach him, one step at a time.
Just then.
Footsteps were heard on the walls of the central pavilion's main gate. Not one person, but dozens... no, over a hundred...
All the forces that had been outside Blade Leaf Valley were now converging on the central pavilion.
“Thankfully, it seems we're not too late.”
“So it's you? The masked rat in black.”
Five warriors, who appeared to be at the peak level, climbed onto the pavilion and looked down at Mu-heun and Gu Cheong.
Soon, about one hundred and thirty warriors stormed the central pavilion. The force was a mix of troops sent by the Red Demon Pavilion Lord and reinforcements from the Tang Clan.
And.
Mu-heun heard familiar footsteps.
A wrinkled old man with long, purple fingernails stepped over the remains of the shattered main gate and bared his golden teeth.
The Golden Fang Poison Claw.
He cast a cold gaze at the fallen, blood-vomiting Gu Cheong and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”