Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: The Demon Lord's Demonic Sword
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Nangong Ryong, Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung sat around the table, silently staring at Geumcheomsang.
His soul had fled his body, his upper garment half-torn, and his unfocused eyes were the crowning touch.
From his nose came a constant "huh-eup, huh-eup" as if he were on the verge of passing out.
Geon Cheon-hwi asked cautiously.
"......Hey, you okay?"
"Honhanho......"
"What?"
"Honhwanahniha......"
"You're okay?"
"Ah, gwaenchanhda!"
Damn, his mouth's all twisted up?
A heavy silence filled the room.
Geumcheomsang shed tears with a trickle.
'......I was just loyal.'
He had only sent the letter out of worry, concern, and anxiety, yet he'd ended up branded a snitch. There was no greater injustice.
Jang Ung cleared his throat awkwardly.
"That's why I told you to stay put."
"Heepal......"
"Ahem!"
The four men averted their eyes from Geumcheomsang's murderous glare.
As they turned their heads, Nangong Hyeok entered their line of sight.
Nangong Hyeok was silently eyeing the cloth-wrapped box on the table.
Faint talismanic characters were drawn over the tightly wound cloth, and it was further bound with a cord of unusual material.
A suspicious structure layered with seal upon seal.
It was a box they hadn't checked when sweeping up items from the Black Dragon Sect's warehouse.
"Is there a jiangshi inside or something?"
Its length was just right for a coffin to hold one person.
"How much do you think a jiangshi like that would fetch these days?"
People shook their heads at the grinning Nangong Hyeok.
No one could fathom what went on in the head of a guy trying to sell off even a abomination like a jiangshi.
Nangong Hyeok grinned as he closely examined the box.
Normally, anything sealed like this with talismans was best left untouched.
Especially when it was wrapped so tightly as if screaming "do not open"—didn't that make it even more ominous?
Even someone who didn't believe in superstitions would hesitate to open something prepared with such care.
Geon Cheon-hwi said cautiously.
"Young master, something feels off about this. It's a box infused with talismans—better not touch it, or we might get cursed."
"Cursed my ass."
"Come on, just leave it...!"
Rip!
Hey, he's talking and you just tear it open?!
Geon Cheon-hwi pressed his temple.
Nangong Hyeok chuckled.
"What could be inside that they coveted it so? Heh heh!"
It was clearly the item those guys called "Hwe" that Ma Song and the strategist had lusted after.
They weren't the type to go after mere scraps of spirit pills.
They had dug secret tunnels in the giant tree and joined Nangong family's rebellion—they wouldn't move for just a few pills.
Nangong Hyeok hummed cheerfully.
"What are you gawking at? Rip it open already."
Tearing it like gift wrap?
Nangong Ryong and the three Thunder Dragon Squad members quietly gathered around.
Soon, even the slack-jawed Geumcheomsang joined in to undo the seals.
Rip! Rip! Tsss!
The seals on the box peeled away one by one, finally revealing the dark interior.
People flinched.
"It's a coffin?"
"Hup!"
"Damn! What if there's really a jiangshi in there!"
Nangong Hyeok grinned broadly.
"A jiangshi? A jiangshi would be a jackpot!"
His beaming smile made it seem like he'd received a mongrel puppy as a gift.
Nangong Ryong shook his head.
"......"
"We should've just left it closed......"
But before Geumcheomsang could finish interpreting, Nangong Hyeok flung open the lid.
Click!
A strange tension settled over the room.
Geumcheomsang's eyes widened.
"Huh? It's a sword?"
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyes also bulged. Inside the coffin, atop thick cloth, lay a single rusted sword, with a crude scabbard beside it.
"A real sword?"
"Ahem! Why go to such lengths for a single blade?"
"Look at the edge. Completely rotted through."
"What treasure? Hell, it'd be a waste to melt it down for scrap."
It was a sword so pathetic it drew hollow laughs.
Geon Cheon-hwi asked Geumcheomsang.
"How much for this?"
"......Hhehe hahhi, hwanheul hah ge hahi."
"What?"
"......Better to sell the coffin than this thing!"
"Oh."
Geon Cheon-hwi nodded in agreement.
The coffin that had sealed the sword definitely looked more valuable than the sword itself.
A blade like that wasn't an antique—it was junk.
"Who'd call that a treasure......"
"Wh-why is this here?"
What was that?
Geon Cheon-hwi turned, then flinched.
Nangong Hyeok was staring into the coffin at the sword, his eyes bloodshot as if blood might drip any moment.
"Why is this here......"
"You brought it......"
"Why is this coming out of here......"
"Uh......"
What the hell was it that had him so worked up?
Even Nangong Ryong, with his deep sword knowledge, looked baffled.
To his eyes, the sword held no value.
Sure, it was sealed, so there might be something special, but he saw no such quality in it.
Nangong Hyeok clutched his head as if tearing his hair out and buried his face toward the sword in the coffin.
"Insane, really! How the hell did they get this? Ha! Haha!"
He let out continuous groans that could have been admiration or screams.
Geon Cheon-hwi whispered to Tak Hyeok-dong.
"......He thought it was a treasure when he grabbed it, but it's not, so he's shocked?"
"You call that insane?"
"......Pretty much."
"People go mad over something like that?"
"Didn't you see it when he was guarding the goods on the ship?"
They had.
They'd seen it all too well.
The three swallowed hard.
Meanwhile, Geumcheomsang shook his head and sighed deeply.
'A real coffin after all.'
Unless some lunatic had given a useless sword a funeral, there was no explanation.
Nangong Hyeok, who had buried his head in the coffin, lifted the sword and ran his finger along the blade.
"Yeah, treasures always have their owners! Kuhaha, perfect—I was just wanting a good sword!"
"Hyeok?"
"Kyaa! You learn something new every day! And it's coming out from here!"
"......"
Nangong Ryong quietly gazed at the sword in his own hand.
It was the prized sword awarded to the winner of the Orthodox Alliance tournament.
"Here, take this sword...... Use it."
He couldn't just watch his brother lose his mind over wanting a treasured sword.
Nangong Ryong didn't want to see Nangong Hyeok like this.
Nangong Hyeok scoffed.
"This isn't something to compare to that scrap metal!"
"This is a divine sword. That one's scrap."
"This is the divine sword—that's scrap!"
"......Hyeok, snap out of it."
Snap out of it?
His mind was perfectly clear.
If it wasn't, he wouldn't have recognized the sword's true nature!
Seeing the bewildered group, Nangong Hyeok grinned.
"You guys have no idea what this is, do you? This is......"
"Scrap metal."
"Ha, this is that famous......"
"Won't take it even if you give it. Keep it, young master."
Damn it.
At least hear him out first.
"No, this is really......"
"No no. Suits you perfectly, young master."
"......"
"It's yours, young master? Take it, sure."
His tongue was especially twisted today.
'He's really lost it. Damn.'
'Even a brick would be better.'
'Better to fight barehanded than swing that.'
'Might as well melt the iron scraps and forge a new one.'
The three Thunder Dragon Squad members, Geumcheomsang, and even Nangong Ryong shook their heads.
Nangong Hyeok let out a hollow laugh.
"That's why you guys will never make it."
He wiped the smile from his face and gripped the scabbard firmly.
Celestial Heavenly King Divine Art slowly seeped into the scabbard.
Wuuung!
The moment vibrations arose from the scabbard due to the energy flowing through his hand.
Crackle!
Rust crumbled away like powder, revealing its true form within.
Dragon scales that seemed alive wrapped around the scabbard, emanating a crimson glow.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"Dr-dragon scales?"
People stared wide-eyed at the scabbard in Nangong Hyeok's hand.
At that moment.
Nangong Hyeok channeled inner energy into the sword and formed a sword mudra.
Gulp!
The onlookers swallowed unconsciously.
His sword-mudra hand slowly traveled up the blade.
Shiiiing!
The sword wailed. A fierce repulsion surged through his fingertips.
'As expected, even after all these years, it's still a stubborn bastard!'
As if resisting the Celestial Heavenly King Divine Art, an immense sword intent poured out.
Ordinary folk couldn't even comprehend its value, and even skilled warriors couldn't awaken its true face.
Suppressing the chill flowing through his fingertips, Nangong Hyeok unleashed his energy more fiercely.
Skang!
Flames erupted from the rusted blade.
Crack!
With a breaking sound, life was breathed into the blade where his sword mudra passed.
Whoooosh!
Nangong Ryong bit his lower lip at the sudden spine-chilling cold and suffocating sword intent.
"Ng!"
"Wh-what is that?!"
"Huh!"
"C-crazy! That scrap from before?!"
The three Thunder Dragon Squad members and Geumcheomsang jumped up, staring at the sword in Nangong Hyeok's hand.
A blade so smooth it seemed transparent revealed itself before them.
Dazzling sword light pierced their eyes, filling the room with intent sharp enough to cleave hearts.
Geumcheomsang retched from vertigo.
"Ugh!"
Just looking at the sword made his chest tighten, his head spin.
Even the three Thunder Dragon Squad members stared at Nangong Hyeok's sword with strained faces.
"Wh-what sword has killing intent like this?"
"......Wh-what kind of sword is that? Feels weird?"
"C-crazy. Is that even a sword?"
The pitch-black hilt wrapped in cloth contrasted with the pristine white blade, making their minds reel.
Even Nangong Ryong hardened his expression against the sword's emanating intent.
Ignoring the group's shock, Nangong Hyeok's gaze was fixed solely on the sword in his hand.
His eyes trembled faintly.
'Who would've thought it was the Demon Lord's demonic sword!'
Nangong Hyeok smiled as he looked at the dragon scales engraved on the demonic sword.
* * *
The Demon Lord's demonic sword.
A blood sword forged from the lives of hundreds, thousands during the Demonic Cataclysm.
They say even an iron sword becomes a妖物 after slaying ten thousand—such was the Demon Lord's sword.
How could it not be a妖物 when mere sight of the blade drove ordinary folk mad, and even seasoned warriors were crushed by its killing intent?
"I wanted this so bad, kiyaa!"
Nangong Hyeok ran his hand along the blade in admiration.
"Over a hundred years gone by, and no rust? It's even fresher than back then. Does the sword get a second youth too?"
Nangong Hyeok chuckled as he stroked the demonic sword.
Each touch sent savage vibrations through it, but so what?
It was still just a sword.
Whether it drank the blood of a thousand or ten thousand, a sword was a weapon.
What did it matter?
As long as it cut and thrust well.
'Guaranteed. Solid guarantee!'
Others might call it ominous or terrifying, but such talk fell on deaf ears for Nangong Hyeok.
In his eyes, this was the unparalleled treasured sword of the world—the Demon Lord's demonic sword.
Even swords of ten-thousand-year cold iron couldn't withstand its cutting power!
This was weapon superiority!
"But this bastard's raising demonic qi? Wanna die?"
Smack smack smack!
Nangong Hyeok slapped the flat of the demonic sword with his palm.
"You trying to edge yourself for evil? This body's headed for immortal realm! Tsk, ha!"
Wuuung!
The battered demonic sword shuddered.
Nangong Hyeok smiled in satisfaction.
The onlookers shook their heads.
Now he's beating the sword?
Nangong Hyeok nodded at the demonic sword.
"There, now you're behaving."
"Hey, put the sword down before you talk! I'm gonna die here."
"Wanna hold it?"
"N-no thanks! Just looking makes me sick!"
Geon Cheon-hwi and the others recoiled in horror.
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue.
"How do you not recognize a treasure when you see one?"
What treasure!
Just looking at the blade muddles the mind!
Even Nangong Ryong was glaring at it in full alert!
Nangong Hyeok chuckled wryly and sheathed the sword.
"Whew!"
"Haa!"
The tense group finally exhaled.
"Such drama queens."
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue, then let out a low breath.
'Still, it's a bit much to swing around carelessly, huh?'
Killing intent in a weapon was no big deal.
But the demonic qi coiling around this blade needed grinding down.
The ominous energy that stirred primal human fear.
The savage demonic qi that drove people mad—it would surely cause issues.
'And it's bad for ascension too.'
Carrying a demonic-qi-infused sword all the time could taint him during ascension!
Those immortal bastards already knocked him down for a speck of demonic qi left.
It might transfer!
Only now did Nangong Hyeok understand the seals and coffin.
He wrapped the demonic sword in the cloth that had sealed the coffin and casually slung it over his shoulder.
Glimpses of ornate dragon scales and crimson glow peeked through the loose wrapping.
People gulped.
Geumcheomsang asked in a still-trembling voice.
"Y-you're gonna sell it, right?"
"This?"
"Yes."
"Are you nuts? This is my beloved weapon from now on."
......Damn, does a sword match its owner's personality?
People gaped at Nangong Hyeok.
Ignoring them, Nangong Hyeok clutched his bundle of spirit pills and said.
"Alright, now let's wrap up the rest!"
"Yes?"
"We gotta clean up the turf, right? You lot!"
What turf now?
Here?
Hangzhou?
......Wow, for real.
All followed dazedly in Nangong Hyeok's footsteps.
Nangong Hyeok chuckled and patted his shoulder with the demonic sword.
'A windfall!'
The demonic sword's shudder was surely just imagination.