Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: The Overwhelming Difference
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“There's quite a difference, isn't there?”
Cheonhwi gazed out at the battlefield.
The attackers who had been overwhelming the escorts until moments ago were crumbling powerlessly upon clashing with the Plum Sword Squad and the Blossom Spirit Squad.
Jeokgeom and Cheonhyang's exploits were particularly impressive. Their training hadn't been in vain, as every time their swords moved, one attacker after another fell.
The two were rampaging like fish in water.
It was an overwhelming difference in skill.
'Just as I expected.'
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
Even in the previous joint operation, the Mount Hua Sect had dominated the ordinary disciples.
The biggest issue had been the presence of experts.
And the expert who had turned the tide back then was nowhere to be seen.
His location was...
Cheonhwi whipped his head around.
“You'd better get up quickly.”
With those quiet words, he looked down at the man sprawled on the ground.
The man lay there with his head half-turned, showing no reaction to the question.
“Planning to keep playing dead? If you do, you'll end up achieving nothing.”
Cheonhwi sneered.
It was a ridiculous act.
Holding his breath and suppressing his presence.
It resembled the Turtle Breath Great Law, but there didn't seem to be any clear purpose.
'No, there is one.'
The man's form entered his vision.
His profoundly deepened eyesight clearly revealed the vigorous flow of internal energy surging through the man.
“It's too late to run anyway.”
The man's head twitched slightly.
His hair swayed, revealing cold eyes flashing with murderous light through the strands.
Soon, the man placed both hands on the ground.
“...That was a painful strike.”
With that flat voice, the man slowly rose to his feet.
Very slowly.
“You're awfully relaxed.”
Cheonhwi waited patiently.
Time was plentiful, after all.
The Plum Sword Squad and Blossom Spirit Squad had seized the advantage, but victory wasn't assured yet.
And he was curious.
Cheonhwi's lips twisted into a smirk.
Just what this cornered man would do.
Would he fight?
Or bide his time for the next chance?
Moments later, the man straightened his back and stood tall.
He was about a handspan shorter than Cheonhwi.
But his slender build and small head made him appear much taller.
“Did you hit me with that scabbard?”
The man brushed his hair back.
The mark of the scabbard was vividly imprinted on his revealed face.
Cheonhwi shook the scabbard as he replied.
“Yeah. Swung the whole thing at you. How was it? Pretty heavy, right?”
Perhaps from training the disciples, he'd grown accustomed to swinging the scabbard.
Instead of drawing his sword, Cheonhwi had swung the entire sheathed blade first.
“More than just heavy.”
“Must've hurt quite a bit?”
“Considerably.”
The man's words were curt.
But his voice churned with thick rage and killing intent like an active volcano.
Then the man caressed his cheek.
And something astonishing happened.
As if his facial bones were twisting, the scabbard wound on his cheek vanished in an instant.
Not just the wound—his features.
The man, who had a soft impression, had transformed into a mature, dignified middle-aged figure.
“Hm? Face-changing technique?”
Cheonhwi pursed his lips.
“Wasted my time waiting.”
“What do you mean?”
“What else? I thought I'd caught the tail of the mastermind, but you're just a discard.”
The man's brow furrowed.
“A discard? You spout nonsense well.”
“Nonsense? It's obvious.”
Cheonhwi hung the scabbard on his belt.
“Those who learn face-changing are mostly used as spies or decoys. Who'd waste them on important roles?”
He recalled how face-changing was used in his past life.
Some learned it out of curiosity, others to venture into the Central Plains, but mostly for those two purposes.
Spies planted in the Central Plains.
Or tools to sow chaos.
“Maybe overconfident, but you shouldn't have shown face-changing in front of me. I like to deal with anything that might cause trouble later sooner rather than later.”
With a sigh, Cheonhwi drew his sword.
Then he circulated his internal energy.
The energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art responded to his will, weaving into threads around the blade.
Sword energy bloomed naturally.
Holding the sword that now emitted a faint yet unforgettable plum blossom scent, Cheonhwi launched himself forward without hesitation.
“...!”
The man's eyes widened.
Cheonhwi's face, which had been distant, now filled his vision.
At the same time, burning pain erupted in his shoulder.
“Kuk!”
Puk!
In the blink of an eye, Cheonhwi pierced the man's shoulder, splattering blood.
The man's eyes trembled violently.
But only for a moment.
Kwak!
The man gripped the blade with his left hand.
Seeing him grasp the sword infused with sword energy, Cheonhwi watched in surprise, then his eyes gleamed.
“Oh ho, invoking Iron Palm too? Not bad martial arts for a discard.”
“...Die by the hand of this discard.”
The man's eyes flashed coldly.
They emanated icy, venomous killing intent.
If it had been anyone but Cheonhwi, just meeting that gaze might have induced a seizure or loss of bladder control.
Unfortunately, the one facing it was Cheonhwi.
“Show me what you've got.”
“That's exactly what I planned.”
The man spread his right hand wide.
A chilling wind rustled.
Cold and dry.
Like the north wind and snow from the North Sea Ice Palace.
The man poured out all his internal energy.
It was instinctive, before his mind could think.
To settle it in one exchange.
Fierce energy surged.
The man rotated his palm.
In an instant, the wind transformed into a fierce storm.
The over-rotating palm generated a vortex too intense to keep one's eyes open.
Flash!
The man's eyes blazed.
And simultaneously.
“I'll take your life!”
His palm thrust out like lightning.
His signature ultimate technique, his trump card.
The Vortex Storm Palm shot forth with unprecedented momentum.
The powerful storm rapidly approached Cheonhwi's chest.
It was a rare ultimate technique.
Not only backed by formidable internal energy, but its thrusting force was first-rate.
But his opponent was none other than Cheonhwi.
Swoosh—
Cheonhwi raised his hand.
It was so natural, yet so fast it reached his chest before the Vortex Storm Palm launched.
Then it struck the side of the incoming Vortex Storm Palm.
Pang!
The deflected Vortex Storm Palm grazed past Cheonhwi's face.
“Wha...?”
The man let out a deflated sound.
His full-power Vortex Storm Palm had been casually deflected by a powerless gesture.
“Can't take it with such a slow technique.”
Cheonhwi pulled the sword from the man's shoulder.
Pushuk!
A fountain of blood sprayed into the air.
And immediately after, another sound echoed between them.
Sgak!
A gruesome slicing sound.
The dazed man looked up at the sky.
Amidst the beaded blood droplets, he saw his own arm soaring toward the heavens.
His gaze followed the flying arm for a moment.
Thud!
The arm fell after a few rotations.
Only then did focus return to the man's blank stare, and pain came crashing in.
“Aaaagh!”
The man clutched at his right arm.
But there was nothing to grasp.
Only excruciating pain remained.
“That confident look is gone.”
Mid-scream, the man looked up at the shadow looming over him.
“A-Are you going to kill me?”
“Obviously.”
Cheonhwi grinned.
For an instant, chills ran down the man's spine.
The smile dominated his mind so completely he forgot the pain.
The man spoke urgently.
“I'm from the Ten Night Sects! Kill me now, and Mount Hua will make an enemy of the Ten Night Sects. Is that okay with you?”
“A threat? Oh dear. I'm so scared I won't be able to sleep.”
Cheonhwi replied shamelessly.
“But it's a lie anyway.”
“Wha...”
“How long were you going to keep up the act?”
Cheonhwi's eyes darkened coldly.
A intense presence bloomed, slowly crushing down on the man.
“A-An act? What do you mean?”
“It's been a while since I've seen someone try to fool me like this. Feels fresh.”
Cheonhwi raised his sword.
The tip precisely aimed at the man's heart.
“See? It's steady.”
Cheonhwi twisted his lips at the constant heartbeat transmitted through the blade.
“Impressive, though. Pulling this stunt right before death. Whoever you are, they trained their dog well.”
“...”
The man's expression twisted.
It was a last desperate gambit, but his opponent saw right through it.
“So not the Ten Night Sects, then.”
Cheonhwi chuckled.
“One of the Five Mad Sects or Green Forest, maybe?”
“?!”
The man's pupils shook.
“Got it right.”
At Cheonhwi's words, the man bit his lip and quickly opened his mouth.
“Spare me, and I'll tell you everything. My sect and the other sects supporting the new Lord of the Death Star... Khek!”
Cheonhwi thrust his sword.
The blade pierced the heart in one go, dripping bright red blood onto the ground.
The man's eyes bulged.
“Wh-Why?”
“How can I believe you?”
Cheonhwi said indifferently.
“When your face, your voice—everything is a lie.”
“No... rain without...”
“Don't expect mercy from the enemy.”
Cheonhwi smirked and withdrew the sword.
Sruruk—
The man's body collapsed.
As if still indignant in death, his eyes remained open as he cooled.
Looking down at him, Cheonhwi roughly swung his sword to shake off the blood.
Then he slowly raised his head.
The surroundings were silent.
The battlefield had been thick with sharp killing intent moments ago.
But now, everyone stood frozen, not twitching a finger.
Cheonhwi's eyes scanned them.
Flinch!
The attackers who met his indifferent gaze flinched and shrank back.
“What are you looking at?”
Cheonhwi's voice was calm.
But combined with the scene they'd just witnessed, the attackers felt the blood in their heads grow ice-cold.
Gazing at the terrified, immobile foes, Cheonhwi clicked his tongue at his own disciples who had also halted.
“What are you doing? Don't just stand there. Oh, and you know what happens if you get hurt or lose this time, right?”
“Hep!”
“Th-There's no way that would happen!”
Only then did the disciples snap to attention.
“Don't worry, Senior Brother.”
Jeokgeom shouted loudly, his eyes gleaming.
Only underlings remained now.
The strongest one, presumed to be their leader, had died spilling blood at Cheonhwi's hand.
It brought a victorious smile to him.
And to the disciples of the Plum Sword Squad and Blossom Spirit Squad.
“Charge.”
Jeokgeom shot forward.
The Plum Sword Squad followed, radiating sharp momentum.
“We can't lose to the Plum Sword Squad!”
Cheonhyang shouted vigorously as well.
“Blossom Spirit Squad, advance!”