Chapter 274
Chapter 274
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 274
Chapter Title: Clash at the Blood Rain Sword Clan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A tense atmosphere hung in the air.
The main gate was, after all, the face of any sect.
Thus, smashing it was tantamount to declaring enmity with that sect.
So Gwangpae glared at the young man.
The arrogant youth wasn't satisfied with merely destroying the gate; he was spouting insolent words from atop it.
As he watched the young man...
'That attire...!'
His eyes wavered.
The young man's attire was truly distinctive.
Typical Daoist robes were mainly white, but this one's were black and red, with red plum blossoms embroidered on the sleeves.
And that wasn't all.
Look at the two swords of different shapes hanging at his waist.
To a swordsman, a sword was a lifelong companion.
What swordsman in their right mind would carry two swords?
It was a ridiculous sight.
But So Gwangpae couldn't laugh.
Because it was the attire of the one whose name rang louder than anyone's in the current martial world.
So Gwangpae bit his lip.
"...Plum Blossom Divine Knight."
A voice mixed with a groan slipped through his bitten lips.
"Plum Blossom Divine Knight?!"
"The one who defeated the Bandit King!"
"Why has someone like that come all the way here...?"
In an instant, the surroundings fell into shock and chaos.
It was only natural.
Who was the Plum Blossom Divine Knight?
A late-generation prodigy who shook the martial world, his fame having surpassed that of his peers to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's top masters.
For such a figure to appear here...
How could they not be astonished?
At that moment.
"Oh, you recognized me right away."
Cheonhwi spoke with a surprised smile.
And rightly so, for until now, no one had recognized him first.
'They'd only blabbered on about who I was.'
Recalling the ear-grating words he'd heard endlessly, Cheonhwi leaped down from the gate and landed lightly on the snow-covered ground.
Sabak.
Despite dropping from atop the over eight-cheok-high gate, his body stood tall without the slightest wobble.
The Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors watching Cheonhwi's landing felt a chill run down their spines.
"T-Treading Snow Without a Trace!"
"To reach such a realm of lightness skill at that age! The rumors weren't false!"
It was a manifestation of a realm far beyond theirs.
As the Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors recoiled in fear and took a step back...
"Don't retreat!"
So Gwangpae roared like a lion.
The deep, resonant internal energy in his voice rippled like waves, fiercely sweeping away the snowflakes at his feet.
A split-second display of internal energy control.
Truly befitting the head of the Blood Rain Sword Clan.
'Not bad, huh?'
A smile curved Cheonhwi's lips.
It was a formidable presence and aura.
'This level should make for a good real combat exercise.'
As Cheonhwi's eyes calmed...
"What is your purpose here?"
So Gwangpae glared at Cheonhwi and demanded.
His voice carried clear anger.
"To bring down the main family?"
Unlike his ordinary build, his voice resonated deeply.
Internal energy had been subtly infused.
A typical warrior might have been intimidated, but he had chosen the wrong opponent.
Cheonhwi twisted his lips nonchalantly.
"You know it well."
"..."
So Gwangpae shut his mouth.
But his expression didn't change.
It was the answer he'd expected.
He quickly glanced at the Blood Hall Leader and elder—his uncle, So Unbo—standing beside him.
And immediately sent a transmission.
Prepare a retreat path.
Their eyes widened slightly.
At the same time, they grasped So Gwangpae's scheme and exchanged glances before slyly withdrawing.
Matching their movement, So Gwangpae glared at Cheonhwi again and widened his eyes.
"Arrogant fool. Do you think you can take down the main family alone?"
A resolute voice rang out.
He, who had been emanating intense pressure, unleashed a colorless flash of energy.
"No matter how much you've defeated the Bandit King, the martial world is no place where one can handle many alone."
The air around him as he spoke began to shimmer.
The Blood Rain Sword Clan's hereditary secret art.
The surrounding air couldn't withstand the power of the unleashed Blood Sword Art.
In response, the Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors regained their composure and directed vicious killing intent toward Cheonhwi.
Some had already gripped the swords at their waists, ready to draw at any moment.
A moment teetering on the brink of explosion.
Swish—
Suddenly, Cheonhwi raised his hand.
At that instant, dozens of shadows burst out from beyond the wall and lined up.
"What?!"
"...!"
The Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors flinched.
These newcomers were no ordinary foes.
Though young, the lightness skill they'd just displayed was anything but commonplace.
Cheonhwi looked at the frozen Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors and widened his eyes dramatically.
"When did I say I was alone?"
Then Cheonhwi issued a command.
"Proceed with the mission."
No sooner had the order been given than the Extermination Squad members surged forward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cheonhwi watched the scene unfolding before him.
The once orderly compound was gradually turning into ruins amid clashes from all directions, filled with blood and screams.
'They've finally got their heads on straight.'
Cheonhwi smiled in satisfaction.
The Extermination Squad's methods showed no mercy.
It must have been from real combat and sparring.
They had learned that showing mercy in battle could spare the enemy but endanger not just themselves, but their comrades as well.
At that moment.
Kwaaang!
An explosion slammed into his ears.
Cheonhwi's gaze turned toward the origin of the blast.
In the center of the compound turned into a field of carnage.
So Gwangpae, sword now drawn, was swinging at the Extermination Squad members.
A relentless barrage of sword strikes.
With every swing, a fierce energy wave erupted, sending squad members flying.
The squad members, unable to withstand even a single exchange, bit their lips as they were repelled.
The level was different.
His tangible energy enveloped the sword, exuding a vicious blood qi.
'Stronger than the reports said.'
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
The intel had said he'd reached the Extreme Realm, but the man before him was different.
He had attained perfect maturity.
A prowess that could claim a seat among the Nine Great Sects.
'The Extermination Squad alone won't cut it.'
As Cheonhwi stroked his chin...
"Do you think you can bring down the main family with just your group?!"
Cclang! Puk!
"Gurk!"
So Gwangpae overwhelmed them.
And that wasn't all.
Emboldened by So Gwangpae's exploits, the Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors pressed the Extermination Squad.
The evenly matched momentum shook in an instant.
The might of a master who had ascended to a higher realm.
That had turned the tide.
'In sect wars, the presence of masters makes all the difference.'
Cheonhwi recalled his past life.
A transcendent master was akin to an army of one.
That's why every sect burned with zeal to produce such experts.
"Tch, should I step in?"
Cheonhwi scratched his head.
He hadn't planned to originally.
But seeing So Gwangpae's skill, he could already picture the Extermination Squad's defeat.
"No choice. I'll handle So Gwangpae, and leave the rest to them."
As Cheonhwi judged the situation dire and moved to act...
Paaat!
Danri Gwancheon fiercely kicked off the ground.
His pinnacle movement technique closed the distance to So Gwangpae in an instant.
'Hm?'
Cold flames burned in the eyes of Danri Gwancheon charging toward So Gwangpae.
'...Well, well?'
Interest gleamed in Cheonhwi's eyes.
Danri Gwancheon's skill was outstanding among the Extermination Squad, but paled against So Gwangpae of the Extreme Realm.
Yet the innate killing intent he now revealed, combined with his swung blade, showed no disadvantage against the foe before him.
'Let's watch a bit more.'
He released his grip on Hwayol.
Just then, Danri Gwancheon reached So Gwangpae and poured power into his forward step.
Kung!
The ground trembled with a powerful stamp.
His foot sank a full cun deep.
Using that force, Danri Gwancheon lowered his upper body sharply and channeled all his power into his blade, the Tan Yeon Blade.
His posture dropped dramatically.
His face nearly reached his knees, and the Tan Yeon Blade in his hand hovered perilously close to the ground.
But Danri Gwancheon didn't stop.
'Lower, faster, deeper!'
Danri Gwancheon gritted his teeth.
At the same time, he twisted his forearm dramatically.
An unnatural hand motion.
But thanks to it, the downward Tan Yeon Blade gained momentum and surged upward.
A lightning-fast upward swing.
The Blade Art he had shown Cheonhwi during sparring.
It was the manifestation of the Wind Thunder Blade.
"...!"
Surprise flickered in So Gwangpae's eyes.
The rising blade carried a killing intent rare even among the unorthodox sects.
'Such a blade art in a righteous sect...!'
But the surprise was fleeting.
Swish—
He stepped forward and struck downward with his sword.
Cclaaang!
So Gwangpae's sword blocked the Wind Thunder Blade.
A fierce shockwave whipped up a gale.
Their hair fluttered in the air, and amid it, their eyes met.
A fleeting instant.
At the same time, So Gwangpae whipped back his treasured sword, the Blood Rain Sword.
And swung again.
The gale split in half in an instant.
A single strike infused with the Blood Sword Art's power.
Kwaaang!
"Kuh!"
Danri Gwancheon, hastily raising his blade to block, let out a groan.
It was vicious power.
Even barely blocking it made his muscles scream.
Danri Gwancheon raised his head.
Through the crossed sword and blade, he saw So Gwangpae looking down.
His expression was mask-like, utterly impassive.
That blankness was chilling.
And meeting those eyes, Danri Gwancheon felt a shiver down his spine.
At that moment, So Gwangpae withdrew the pressing force mid-power struggle and swung his sword again.
The sword writhed like a snake, then in one breath sealed all directions, pressing Danri Gwancheon.
A dazzling chain of trajectories.
Linked sword strikes unfolded.
Cclang! Cclang!
The blade and sword clashed massively in succession.
Each time, Danri Gwancheon had to swallow the rising internal injuries.
Every repelling strike was tremendous.
Ten exchanges passed, then twenty.
"Gurk!"
Unable to endure the continuous heavy blows, Danri Gwancheon's knees finally buckled.
"...You held out long. It's over now."
So Gwangpae murmured, looking down at him.
He then raised the Blood Rain Sword high.
Thread-like blood qi tangled around it, wrapping the sword in energy.
Aiming to behead him in one stroke.
"Vice Commander!"
"Danri Junior Hero!"
The Extermination Squad members battling the Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors tried desperately to rush to Danri Gwancheon's aid.
But.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
"You think we'll let you?!"
The Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors had no intention of letting them go easily.
"Damn it!"
"The Vice Commander...!"
As the Extermination Squad was held back by the tenacious Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors...
Swaeek!
The Blood Rain Sword slashed diagonally in a grand arc.
As if declaring Danri Gwancheon's death.
Just as the swung Blood Rain Sword was about to sever his neck...
Whoosh!
The Blood Rain Sword sliced emptily through the air.
"...What?!"
As So Gwangpae exclaimed in shock...
"Good effort, but the opponent was stronger than expected."
A low voice sounded.
He hurriedly looked up.
There stood the familiar figure, casually holding Danri Gwancheon by the scruff of the neck.
"Plum Blossom Divine Knight...!"
As he glared at Cheonhwi with a beastly growl, Cheonhwi released Danri Gwancheon's scruff.
"I told you to run if it looked like you'd die—how many times? Why fight on? Sigh."
"C-Commander..."
"Don't talk. Tend to your internal injuries. I'll let this one slide."
"..."
After scolding Danri Gwancheon, Cheonhwi tilted his head toward So Gwangpae.
"Now, shall we finish this?"
Meeting the murderous gaze of So Gwangpae, Cheonhwi slowly twisted his lips.
"Your next opponent is me."