Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Plum Fragrance Stream
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The sleeve of the hand gripping Hwamwol fluttered.
A swift sword strike accomplished in an instant.
The overwhelming speed of the sword momentum induced an illusion as if the world, time itself, had momentarily stopped.
And within that, the only thing moving was Cheonhwi alone.
Sssuuuuk—
Hwamwol, imbued with the inner energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art, slashed horizontally, emitting a red light.
The intense crimson glow that devoured even the sunlight was blinding to the eyes.
'Plum Fragrance Stream.'
No sooner had the technique come to mind than Hwamwol, infused with his intent, manifested its meaning.
The crimson light began from one end and soon traced a single line, a trajectory, along the horizon.
The moment the trajectory reached its end...
Huuuung—
Air belatedly roared and churned along the horizontally swung path.
Then, time that had seemed to stop flowed again.
Baaang!
The turbulent air exploded.
The intense shockwave swept through the silent Blood Rain Sword Family estate and spread outward.
Those nearby involuntarily staggered back from the fierce gust.
"It's a qi storm!"
"Hup! Circulate your inner energy!"
The momentum carried in the fierce gale made everyone's bodies tingle all over.
After retreating a few steps, they trembled from the shock ravaging their bodies.
They had seen nothing.
Just a single streak of red sword light appeared, and then the world split apart.
It was the manifestation of a truly sublime sword technique.
The Absolute Severing Great Sword with eyes of awe.
The Blood Rain Sword Family warriors with eyes filled only with terror.
As all held their breath in stunned silence, watching the battle...
"Hm, was that too shallow?"
A light voice rang out.
It came from where the shockwave had originated.
Cheonhwi, who had displayed the fearsome sword technique, tilted his head slightly and let his sword hang downward.
"What a lackluster feel."
With those words, he fixed his gaze straight ahead.
The old woman and the young woman stood before Black Night Yaksha, their cold eyes gleaming.
Neither appeared unscathed.
Their neatly tied hair was disheveled and fluttering wildly, and a trickle of blood flowed from between their lips.
Traces of internal injuries.
Yet Cheonhwi was not satisfied.
'That old woman must be the strongest among them.'
As he scanned the two who had blocked his Plum Fragrance Stream in that split second...
"I nearly lost my head there."
Black Night Yaksha muttered in a hoarse voice, like dust-coated gravel, as he raised his hand to touch his hair.
The ash-gray locks that had reached his chest were no longer in his sight.
They had been cleanly severed near his neck.
Cut by that single sword strike moments ago.
'...To think such a monster exists.'
Though he tried to feign nonchalance, the eyes behind the yaksha-masked visage shook uncontrollably.
Any pretense of composure had long vanished.
The flickering blue glow in his eyes revealed pure chaos—bewilderment and shock intertwined.
It was that overwhelming an expert.
Black Night Yaksha bit his lip slightly.
The metallic tang of blood steadied his shaken mind bit by bit.
Once composed, he spoke.
"...Lady Guardian Yeo, Chwiryun."
"You called, Young Lord."
"Did you call for us?"
At his summons, the two who had stood rigid responded in low voices.
Without turning around.
Normally, this would warrant reprimand.
But he knew it was to keep watch on Cheonhwi.
Black Night Yaksha slowly raised his hand.
As his sleeve fell back, revealing a bizarre hand composed entirely of pitch-black sinew...
"Kill him."
The cold command fell.
As if anticipating it, they kicked off the ground in unison.
Each unleashed their sect's supreme footwork.
The opponent was an unparalleled master who had slain the Heartless Wanderer—not some ordinary expert.
Holding back even slightly would mean their own heads rolling, plain as day.
Thus, from the outset, they poured forth their full power, intent on deciding the fight.
'No room to conserve strength.'
Yeo Un-yak, having already raised her sword, charged while unleashing all her inner energy.
Brilliant light erupted from her entire body.
She who was cloaked in a radiance like starlight drew her sword.
Kikikik!
With a grating, ear-piercing screech, the blade of light tore through the air.
The onlookers widened their eyes at the ferocious sword strike.
"Th-that is..."
"Radiant Flying Sword?!"
Someone cried out in shock.
All eyes turned to the old woman, filled with shuddering realization.
"Then that old woman is..."
Danri Gwancheon trailed off.
He had expected those brought by Black Night Yaksha to be no ordinary foes, but this was beyond imagination—a true heavyweight.
"...Star Glow Yaksha Envoy!"
The spectators identified the Star Glow Yaksha Envoy and buzzed with excitement.
Sssuk—
Amid it all, Cheonhwi calmly sidestepped as if unconcerned.
The passing sword strike slammed into the wall, erupting in a sharp blast.
His hair fluttered in the aftershock.
'Radiant Flying Sword? Blending sword wind and sword qi?'
As Cheonhwi analyzed the Radiant Flying Sword...
Pat!
A sharp killing intent arose from behind.
The young woman, Chwiryun, had seized the opening to flank Cheonhwi's rear.
A perfect ambush.
Whether from a stealth art that suppressed presence flawlessly, she had erased her existence utterly, thrusting her narrow sword straight ahead.
Shweeeek!
A flash gleamed.
A sharp, swift sword thrust.
Killing intent flowed in Chwiryun's eyes.
She was an elite of the Evil-Black Alliance, raised from youth to serve as a bodyguard.
She had faced masters superior to herself countless times to protect her Young Lord.
And each time, she had emerged victorious.
Demonic Death Eternal Farewell.
This ruthless technique, imparted directly by the Evil-Black Alliance Leader, granted victory even against foes several levels above.
And this time would be no different.
'No matter the master, at this range, they can't dodge my sword.'
As the narrow sword, laden with chaotic energy, lunged toward Cheonhwi's heart...
Sssuk—
She caught sight of Cheonhwi's left hand moving.
'Quick reaction, but too late regardless.'
Chwiryun's eyes cooled coldly.
Moving now was far too slow to block the extended thrust.
By the time that hand reached her, her narrow sword would have pierced his heart.
But then.
Whik!
Cheonhwi's hand vanished in an instant.
It happened in a flash.
And simultaneously, Cheonhwi's left hand seized Chwiryun's wrist as she swung the narrow sword.
A flawless Plum Hand technique.
"...!"
Chwiryun's eyes widened.
'How is this possible...'
She couldn't hide her shock.
But it lasted only a moment.
Through years of training, she reflexively channeled inner energy to free her captured wrist.
But.
"Pointless."
No sooner had the low voice sounded than her body was yanked forward.
Cheonhwi had pulled her.
In an instant, she was dragged into close range, her vision filled by Cheonhwi.
'To think such a person exists in this world...'
Her throat bobbed.
Meeting the indifferent gaze beneath slightly upturned brows at the outer corners, she recalled a long-forgotten emotion.
Terror.
As her pupils shook...
Huuung!
A fierce aura assaulted her.
The sword in Yeo Un-yak's hand swung, whipping up a vicious slashing wind.
Radiant Flying Sword.
The strike charged relentlessly.
Even with Chwiryun gripped in Cheonhwi's hand, it seemed intent on cleaving both.
"Whoa, going for both at once? Ruthless. Scary stuff."
Contrary to his words, Cheonhwi grinned.
Then he flung Chwiryun toward the incoming strike like discarding refuse.
"But a mistake."
"...!"
"...!"
Yeo Un-yak, who had swung, and Chwiryun, forced to meet it unexpectedly, panicked.
She hastily raised her narrow sword.
Desperately channeling inner energy, she swung wide at the strike.
Demonic Death Eternal Farewell's power blazed.
The chaotic, scorching energy that seemed to burn even the soul enveloped the narrow sword.
Kwaaaang!
The sword waves clashed head-on.
The narrow blade trembled briefly from the impact.
Whik!
The sword wave shot skyward like a fire bullet, leaving a trail of light.
"Kuh!"
Chwiryun grimaced, barely deflecting it.
Her wrist throbbed.
"Chwiryun!"
Then Yeo Un-yak's urgent cry rang out.
The moment the startled Chwiryun turned her head, vivid crimson plum blossoms engulfed her vision entirely.
A bizarre sight.
As she stared blankly...
Sssuuuuk—
A subtle crimson glow emerged amid the plum blossoms.
It was Hwamwol's blade.
Puhak!
Blood sprayed as an arm flew.
Chwiryun's eyes bulged.
The hand gripping the narrow sword fluttered in the air, scattering red blood everywhere.
And belatedly.
"Ugh..."
A groan escaped her lips.
The immense agony made her lips twitch involuntarily.
But she swallowed the sound.
'I must protect the Young Lord!'
Glancing at Black Night Yaksha, she raised her remaining right hand.
Pressing it to the stump of her severed left shoulder...
Chijijik!
She ignited Triple Inferno Layering.
A temporary measure.
"Kuh!"
The excruciating pain dizzied her mind, but she endured.
The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
A foul stench.
"To do such a thing...!"
"Enduring that pain... gulp!"
The onlookers were aghast.
Who would have thought she'd cauterize her own shoulder right after losing her arm?
As all shuddered at Chwiryun's ferocity...
"Good judgment."
Cheonhwi voiced his praise.
In battle, excessive bleeding felled many.
Such a response was naturally excellent.
"You too."
Cheonhwi turned his gaze and spun his body. Unfurling Dark Fragrance Step, he moved light as a feather.
Shweeeek!
A sharp blade grazed his nose tip.
Yeo Un-yak's ambush.
"So this is what the Absolute Severing Sword grudge amounts to."
Cheonhwi drew a light smile as he regarded Yeo Un-yak swinging her sword.
A casual grin.
But Yeo Un-yak's face could only stiffen at the sight.
Footwork that shrank space.
Martial prowess that overwhelmed the Heartless Wanderer.
All of it amply heightened her wariness.
She urgently halted her footwork.
Hwiing—
Waves rippled from her feet, twisting her expression.
'...Balance!'
Her eyes wavered.
Forcibly stopping her supreme Water Mist Flight had made her thighs and calves scream.
But ignoring the pain, she spun and swung her sword.
Star Glow Revolving Blade.
The sword that had massacred dozens of martial artists in a single stroke descended upon the world again after decades.
The blade traced a dazzling trajectory and shot toward Cheonhwi's waist in an instant.
A sword emitting pure white light.
The Star Glow Revolving Blade's initial form, Radiant Sword Phosphor, cloaked the blade in ghostly white flames.
'An intriguing sword art.'
Cheonhwi eyed Radiant Sword Phosphor with interest, then swung Hwamwol vertically.
Hwamwol fell from above.
The Plum Blossom Divine Art's inner energy blooming within soon transformed into plum blossoms.
'Plum Blossom Falling.'
As the sword tip pointed downward...
The crimson plum blossoms fluttering in the air plopped onto Yeo Un-yak's Radiant Sword Phosphor.
The clash of ghostly flames and crimson plum blossoms.
The space between shattered instantly.
Creeeeng!
Deflecting the ensuing Plum Blossom Falling, Yeo Un-yak staggered back.
Her condition was poor.
Her face was ashen, deep川 wrinkles etched between her brows.
She was holding something back.
For a moment.
"Ugh!"
Finally, Yeo Un-yak vomited a bowlful of blood onto the ground.
Dark, clotted blood mixed with organ fragments.
A fatal internal injury.
As she clenched her teeth and reached for her sword again...
"You let your guard down."
Black Night Yaksha surged forward.
In a blink, he closed into Cheonhwi's embrace. Astonishingly swift footwork.
Cheonhwi furrowed his brow.
He could shake him off anytime, yet he allowed it.
The aura emanating from the footwork felt oddly familiar.
'No way?'
As Cheonhwi belatedly recognized the energy...
Tuk.
Black Night Yaksha's long sleeve billowed, and his pitch-black sinew-wrapped palm struck Cheonhwi's solar plexus precisely.
The first blow to touch Cheonhwi.
Soon, ash-gray hair shot upward as intense qi exploded.
Paaang!
Black Night Yaksha's robes billowed.
Simultaneously, a hazy circular wave spread from the black hand on Cheonhwi's solar plexus.
The essence of Black Hand Heavy Palm Technique—True Form.
A technique that instantly ruptured and detonated the opponent's internals.
"Heaven-Destroying Transformation."
With Black Night Yaksha's eerie intonation, a fierce explosion erupted from within Cheonhwi.
Peong!
Black Night Yaksha's eyes blazed.
He clearly felt the wave from his hand.
A perfect hit.
A strike leading straight to instant death.
Yet.
"...What are you?"
A puzzled voice sounded.
The startled Black Night Yaksha raised his head in bewilderment.
Cheonhwi looked down at him with narrowed eyes.
Untouched despite Heaven-Destroying Transformation, Black Night Yaksha panicked.
Unbelievable.
Heaven-Destroying Transformation, taught by his master, was a supreme technique...
'...Yet utterly unfazed after a direct hit.'
As his gaze on Cheonhwi filled with shock...
"Why do you..."
Cheonhwi's lips moved, then paused.
Then, even more shocking words struck Black Night Yaksha's ears—no, his mind like lightning.
『...practice the Ghost Soul Demonic Scripture of the Hang Clan, whose gates were exterminated?』