Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Crushing Sayu Valley
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Jeokgeom's expression darkened.
He had been dizzy from the storm of vicious killing intent. And now, the seven True Soul Envoys charging straight at them were closing in.
His internal energy began to rampage wildly on its own.
...Dangerous foes.
Unlike his internal energy flaring up like wildfire, his mind remained ice-cold.
"Prepare the Secret Sword Formation."
The eyebrows of the Secret Sword Squad members twitched.
Tension slowly enveloped them.
These were no easy opponents.
And rightly so—the internal energy they had expended and the fatigue they felt from facing just one True Soul Envoy moments ago were beyond words.
It was then.
"We'll take the left side."
A lively voice rang out.
He turned his head to see Cheonhyang beaming brightly at the seven charging figures.
Unlike the Secret Sword Squad or her own Flower Spirit Squad, she looked thrilled.
She even seemed happy.
"We've been dying to join the fight too."
Cheonhyang took a step forward.
Toward the charging True Soul Envoys.
To others, it looked like utter madness.
"It'd feel unfair leaving it all to the Secret Sword Squad, right?"
A faint smile played on Cheonhyang's lips as she whispered softly.
And then.
Kaang!
Sparks flew wildly in all directions.
Cheonhyang's eyes narrowed.
Her sword had struck the charging True Soul Envoy's forearm dead-on, yet the blade hadn't left even the tiniest scratch.
"Tougher than I thought."
Her expression hardened slightly.
Her sword, which could cleave boulders, hadn't even grazed the skin on his arm.
...External arts?
Her gaze shifted to the True Soul Envoys.
Sayu Valley was a minor unorthodox sect just starting to make a name for itself—unknown until recently.
But what about her?
She was a prime disciple of Mount Hua Sect and a Plum Blossom Sword Guard.
True, Cheonhwi surpassed her now, but just a few years ago, she had been among the top late-generation disciples.
Yet here she was, her sword failing to mark even an ordinary member's arm, let alone the Valley Lord.
...Frogs in a well.
The corners of her eyes curved sharply.
The world of martial arts was vast—the realm boundless.
A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
At the same time, she circulated her Plum Blossom Qi Art, channeling it bit by bit to the surrounding Flower Spirit Squad members.
"I'll leave the right to you, Secret Sword Squad Leader."
Her cold eyes swept over the True Soul Envoys ahead as she addressed Jeokgeom not as "martial uncle" but as "Secret Sword Squad Leader."
"Advance the Flower Spirit Sword Formation."
She murmured lowly.
Kung!
The Flower Spirit Squad stamped their feet in unison.
The combined formation that Cheonhwi had taught them.
The Flower Spirit Sword Formation had begun.
In that instant, beautiful and vivid plum blossoms began to bloom around them.
The tip of Cheonhyang's sword trembled faintly.
Sword flowers—plum blossoms.
They danced to her will.
No, not just her.
The wills of the Flower Spirit Squad members supporting her from behind were merging into one.
"...?!"
The True Soul Envoys' expressions changed drastically.
Sensing the shift, they spread their killing intent even wider, abandoning the Secret Sword Squad to target the Flower Spirit Squad relentlessly.
Swaeak!
The swords in the True Soul Envoys' hands whipped out like beams of light.
Plum blossoms met them, deflecting the blades.
Sword strikes like a storm clashed against plum blossoms riding the wind, each vying for dominance.
A fierce deadlock with no quarter given.
The True Soul Envoys' swords thrust out again.
Kaang!
Cheonhyang's brow furrowed.
It was a simple sword path.
But its speed and power made that simplicity devastating.
Strong.
Stars sparkled in Cheonhyang's eyes.
They had lost their reason, but their opponents were exceptional.
Both in internal energy and martial prowess.
To become the best in the world, I have to beat them.
Strength filled her eyes.
At the same time, her sword slashed out.
Sguk!
As her imbued sword swung, the True Soul Envoy's robes tore open at the chest.
And from the gash.
Juruk—
Bright blood flowed.
The first blood mark on a True Soul Envoy.
The moment the wound appeared, a deep smile formed on Cheonhyang's lips.
Her sword then danced brilliantly, blooming plum blossoms.
Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art.
The technique she had practiced without fail every single day since becoming a Plum Blossom Sword Guard displayed its beautiful sword forms, true to her relentless training.
And it wasn't just her—it boosted the morale of the entire Flower Spirit Squad.
"Charge!"
"Support the Squad Leader!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kwaaang!
Dust billowed thickly over Sayu Valley.
Cheonhwi, watching from afar, saw his eyes deepen like an abyss.
"Perfect live training dummies."
It was quite the spectacle.
Especially the Flower Spirit Sword Formation—whether due to real combat or Cheonhyang's heightened focus and momentum, it was on another level from before.
"This is why real fights are essential."
Cheonhwi's lips twisted slowly.
He placed absolute faith in actual combat.
And for good reason—training was just training.
Ultimately, one trained for the moment real battle erupted.
Look at Jeokgeom.
His gaze turned to Jeokgeom.
Swords blooming with sword flowers battered the charging True Soul Envoys' bodies.
Jeokgeom unleashing his martial arts in earnest was on a whole different plane from before.
Fast and sharp.
And his footwork and stances now blended seamlessly.
Before long, the Secret Sword Squad and Flower Spirit Squad were overwhelming the True Soul Envoys.
But it's a bit lacking.
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed like threads.
Their martial skill and combined formation were solid.
But they were too merciful.
Against enemies, strikes should sever life without mercy—yet their killing intent was faint, their edges dull rather than keen.
Can't be helped with their righteous path upbringing.
Then Cheonhwi's gaze shifted.
To where Sayu Valley's warriors were gathered.
Look at these guys.
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
They were inching back ever so slightly, gauging the situation.
Ready to flee at any moment.
Cheonhwi's figure vanished in an instant.
"...No reinforcements are coming."
"Did they all get wiped out?"
"Yeah."
The muttering warriors startled at the sudden voice and whipped their heads around.
"Y-You...!"
Their eyes widened.
"Trying to run?"
Cheonhwi grinned and asked.
Seeing that smile, their hearts sank, but someone bellowed.
"Everyone, run—!"
Kwajik!
"Kuhk!"
A warrior's body flew into the air.
Cheonhwi gripped the flailing warrior's nape and moved his lips.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Cheonhwi stared him down lowly.
Fearsome killing intent poured from his eyes.
...Wh-When?
Terror filled the warrior's eyes.
Then a nearby warrior shouted.
"F-First Sword! Kill him!"
At that moment.
Hwik—!
A man charged in.
Drooling like a starved beast, body hair bristling, he thrust his fist forward.
"Oh?"
Cheonhwi swung the warrior in his grip like a weapon.
Peok!
"Kuhk!"
The charging man's face smashed into the warrior's crown with a dull thud. But Cheonhwi didn't stop.
Peopeok!
Wielding the man like a club, he pulverized the charge attacker's body.
For a moment.
Peok!
Cheonhwi kicked the man's abdomen.
His body shot backward.
Hwik—
Cheonhwi's form vanished with it.
Catching up in an instant to the flying man, Cheonhwi raised his foot.
Ppak!
He stomped down with his heel.
"Kuhk!"
Cracks spiderwebbed the ground as the man cratered into it. Cheonhwi glanced at the trembling wreck, then at the warrior still in his hand.
"Fainting from just this?"
Cheonhwi tossed him aside.
The limp body bounced twice on the ground before sprawling.
"Hup!"
Hup!
Nearby warriors clamped hands over mouths, trembling in fear.
The monster who had appeared out of nowhere and felled the Four Souls Ten Swords' top First Sword in one blow was staring at them.
With utterly indifferent eyes.
Facing those bottomless abyss-dark eyes, they felt their minds go blank.
Realizing their situation, they acted in unison.
Tuk. Tuk.
One by one, they dropped their weapons.
With most of the Four Souls Ten Swords down and no reinforcements coming, their morale shattered.
The limit of an unorthodox sect.
For them, their own lives mattered more than sect honor or fame.
"Martial Uncle."
"Martial Brother."
Jeokgeom and Cheonhyang approached.
Both soaked in sweat, their robes drenched from the grueling fight with the True Soul Envoys.
"It's all over."
Soon, Cheon Ig-ae arrived.
He frowned at the bound, kneeling Sayu Valley warriors and True Soul Envoys, then let out a deep sigh.
"You already finished them off?"
He grumbled as he approached.
Setting down the Myriad Afflictions Fiend on his back, he plopped down right next to the seated Cheonhwi.
It was then.
"...Kuhuk!"
A cough with blood came.
The Myriad Afflictions Fiend's chest heaved as he grimaced, opening his eyes.
"You're awake?"
Cheon Ig-ae turned.
He glared coldly at the barely conscious man.
"Perfect timing. I have questions for you anyway."
At Cheon Ig-ae's words, the Myriad Afflictions Fiend swallowed involuntarily.
"...You'll get nothing from me."
"Who knows."
Cheonhwi interjected.
"Hup!"
Seeing him, the Myriad Afflictions Fiend convulsed.
The indifferent eyes and sword that had driven him to the brink of death flashed in his mind.
Cheonhwi smirked.
Terrified.
A state he quite liked.
Fear drove humans to do anything for escape.
The Myriad Afflictions Fiend asked with shaking eyes.
"A-Are you going to kill me?"
A question laced with attachment to life.
"Depends on how you play it."
Cheon Ig-ae answered instead.
"You know your condition, right?"
"..."
"Answer straight, and I'll help treat you."
The Myriad Afflictions Fiend's pupils quivered wildly.
Treat me? A public enemy of the martial world?
His brows furrowed.
His opponent was Cheon Ig-ae, infamous even among beggars for his eccentricity but righteous.
And the one who had pushed him to death's door was a Mount Hua Taoist.
The uptight Nine Great Sects keeping him alive? Absurd...
No...
The Myriad Afflictions Fiend scowled.
"You didn't say anything about letting me live..."
"You won't die."
Cheon Ig-ae's face turned frigid.
"But you'll rot in prison for life."
The Myriad Afflictions Fiend's expression twisted.
Still, he racked his brain.
As long as I don't die.
Survival came first.
Prison and the rest could wait until after.
"Fine. But treat me first and let me rest a bit."
Just as Cheon Ig-ae was about to snap.
"Wow, still so bold."
Cheonhwi said incredulously.
Then, glancing at Cheon Ig-ae.
"Just kill him, right?"
The chilling words made the Myriad Afflictions Fiend flinch.
Meeting Cheonhwi's eyes, he couldn't hide his shock.
Indifferent pupils.
They showed no hesitation whatsoever about killing.
"I'll answer! Just treat me!"
"Look at this guy. Still bold?"
Cheonhwi seized his throat.
Cheon Ig-ae reached out.
"Hold off a sec."
"Kek, kek!"
The Myriad Afflictions Fiend clutched his neck.
Th-Thought I was dead.
His eyes brimmed with terror.
"We'll treat you as promised."
Cheon Ig-ae said lowly.
"So answer the questions."
To survive, the Myriad Afflictions Fiend nodded furiously.
"Who hid you?"
"...Th-The Ten Night Sect!"