Chapter 257: Raid of the Northern Wind Unit-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 257: Raid of the Northern Wind Unit-2
Prickle. Prickle.
Exposed to a murderous aura that was nothing short of sinister, Chief Ma felt a sharp, prickling pain across his entire body.
He’s dangerous.
Through that stinging pain, Chief Ma knew. He knew that the man before him was truly, exceptionally dangerous.
If the man could exert this much pressure through his natural, leaking killing intent alone, he must have the experience of slaughtering countless souls.
And that single strike that had decapitated the merchant—Chief Ma had missed it.
What did that signify? It meant the man was a master far above his own level.
Chief Ma watched the man with a gaze taut with tension. He tightened his grip on his sword, intending to launch a surprise attack the moment an opening appeared.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Pi Sang-deuk, the Unit Leader of the Northern Wind Unit."
The man radiating the sinister aura, Pi Sang-deuk, continued as he scanned the crowd.
"Pi... Pi Sang-deuk!?"
"The Bloody Demon Sword!"
"How can this be!?"
"That demon is..."
Upon hearing his name, the merchants gasped, their eyes widening in shock.
The Bloody Demon Sword, Pi Sang-deuk. How could they not know that name?
Was he not the thrill-killer who had worn the mask of a chivalrous hero for over a decade while murdering men, women, and children alike? Moreover, he was a man with one of the highest bounties in the history of the Central Plains.
This was because Son Mu-chang, one of the Five Great Merchants of the Central Plains who had lost his granddaughter to Pi Sang-deuk, had placed half of his fortune on the killer's head. There was no way they wouldn't recognize such a notorious figure.
Damn it.
Chief Ma cursed inwardly. He, too, knew of Pi Sang-deuk.
In the past, Pi Sang-deuk was the only Public Enemy of the Murim for whom the Cheonmu Alliance had officially requested cooperation from the government. Although they failed to capture him, his cruelty—having practically slaughtered dozens of government soldiers—was still a story whispered among the ranks.
He had heard that the man vanished somewhere after being declared a Public Enemy eight years ago, and it seemed that place was the North Sea.
Curses rose to his throat. How could they run into such a monster in a situation like this?
"Oh? You know me?"
Seeing the merchants' reactions, Pi Sang-deuk curled his lips into a slight smile. To an outsider, it might have looked like a clean, refined smile, but to the merchants, it felt like a tiger grinning at a plump, well-fed piece of prey.
"Then this makes things easy. Choose. How would you like to die?"
Pi Sang-deuk continued in a calm tone, still smiling. His words, spoken as if they had no choice in the matter, caused a shadow of despair to fall over the merchants.
They knew just how much Pi Sang-deuk loved to kill. A famous anecdote about him had spread far and wide.
Semen was always discovered at the murder scenes Pi Sang-deuk left behind. Initially, investigators mistakenly believed he was committing rape-murders—that he killed after satisfying his lust.
However, strangely enough, no semen was ever found on the victims' genitals. It was only found on the victims' clothing or the surrounding walls and ceilings.
The investigators were puzzled. How could semen be found if there was no rape?
The mystery was eventually solved by the final victim, the only one who had survived an encounter with him. The victim testified that Pi Sang-deuk ejaculated every time he stabbed someone. His eyes would lose focus, and his face would transform into a mask of pure, hedonistic pleasure.
The investigators were horrified. It meant that Pi Sang-deuk derived sexual satisfaction from the act of murder itself.
They couldn't help but be appalled. They finally understood his motive. He was simply sating his sexual urges, just as a man might embrace a woman.
The investigators turned pale upon realizing this. It is said that a man will have an erection as long as he has the strength to hold a spoon; in Pi Sang-deuk's case, he was a man who would kill as long as he had the strength to hold a spoon.
The investigators reported these facts to the Cheonmu Alliance, and soon, many in the Central Plains learned the truth about Pi Sang-deuk: he was a thrill-killer who loved murder as much as others loved the touch of a woman.
Tremble, tremble.
The merchants began to shake uncontrollably. They had never heard a single rumor about Pi Sang-deuk during their travels to and from the North Sea.
What did that mean? It meant that everyone who had ever encountered him was dead.
Despair filled their eyes, and a few began to tear up. The terror of impending death wrapped around their bodies like a shroud. Pi Sang-deuk was already contemplating how to kill them, treating their deaths as a foregone conclusion. It was impossible not to feel terror.
"Wa... Wait!"
It was then that Seok-gyu, the Chief Merchant who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
"May I ask a question?"
He looked at Pi Sang-deuk with the utmost politeness, speaking humbly.
"Go ahead."
Perhaps finding the attitude pleasing, Pi Sang-deuk readily gave his permission.
"Do you have no intention of letting us live?"
Seok-gyu continued, looking at Pi Sang-deuk with a serious expression.
"That's right," he replied with a nod.
"May I ask why?"
"Because it's fun."
Pi Sang-deuk answered curtly. He was being sincere.
Of course, there were other reasons. It was to ensure a perfect crime, and he also intended to secure the Blood-Sweating Horses and the food supplies. But the primary reason, above all else, was pleasure.
To Pi Sang-deuk, murder was synonymous with sexual desire. Killing provided him with something that embracing a woman never could—the sensation of his whole body trembling, his heart pounding, and his breath hitching.
How could he possibly refuse such ecstasy?
"Please spare us."
Seok-gyu spoke calmly, meeting Pi Sang-deuk's gaze.
"I don't want to."
"I will offer you all the trade goods we have brought."
"I'll own them anyway once I kill you all, so why bother?"
Pi Sang-deuk looked at him as if he couldn't understand the logic.
"If you let us return to the branch, I will offer even more food and water."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Then I will remain as your hostage. If you release the others, they will surely bring the food and water."
Seok-gyu begged for their lives. He was incredibly persistent. He wanted to save them—all of them. He felt it was his responsibility as the Chief Merchant leading the caravan.
The people who had followed him on this journey had families depending on them. That was why they needed the money, and why they had chosen this long trek to the North Sea. He didn't want to let them die here.
"Hmm."
Hearing his words, Pi Sang-deuk feigned deliberation. But soon, he shook his head from side to side.
"Ah... I really can't do that."
It was an enticing offer, but he didn't want to accept it.
"Haa... Seeing those upright eyes of yours makes me want to kill you even more."
He spoke to Seok-gyu with a flushed face. He wanted to kill him—especially because of those righteous eyes. When you behead someone with eyes like that, the upright gaze turns into terror and despair in an instant.
That process gifted Pi Sang-deuk an indescribable pleasure. He wanted to see it. He wanted to see those righteous eyes break, to see them stained with fear and hopelessness.
Throb. Throb.
Just imagining it caused his crotch to stiffen. Pi Sang-deuk could not contain himself.
Whoosh!
Pi Sang-deuk swung his sword directly at Seok-gyu. His target, as before, was the neck.
Watching the blade fly toward Seok-gyu, Pi Sang-deuk wore a cruel smile. Soon, the sword would connect, and those upright eyes would change by the second.
First, he would be shocked by the cold touch of metal. Then, he would feel the vivid sensation of flesh being carved and experience the emotion of terror. Finally, after the sword had completely severed the neck, he would feel despair as he awaited death.
His phallus began to twitch of its own accord.
Clang!
However, his expectations were not met. His swinging sword was blocked by an unexpected interloper.
Furious at being thwarted, Pi Sang-deuk quickly turned his eyes to glare at the man who had blocked his blade.
"You must have a death wish," he said, his voice thick with killing intent.
"Weren't you planning to kill us anyway?"
The man, Chief Ma, replied in a calm tone.
Ching!
He then shoved the sword back.
"You've got some skill, I see."
Seeing this, Pi Sang-deuk's smile turned even more vicious.
"I'm not entirely incompetent."
Chief Ma glared at him with a tense gaze and spoke.
"Can you handle it?"
"Handle what?"
"Can you handle the consequences of making me angry?"
"I'll try my best."
Chief Ma replied calmly. In truth, there was no way he could handle it. How could he possibly deal with someone who was clearly a master of a higher rank?
But he had no choice but to step forward. Among those at the very rear, there was no one else capable of fighting.
In the case of Neung So-hwa, a transcendentally powerful being, her internal energy was currently sealed. None of the merchants knew martial arts.
He wished he could break Neung So-hwa's seal, even if only for a moment, but unsealing it required a significant amount of time. It required a constant infusion of internal energy for half a Shijin according to a specific formula.
In the end, he was the only one who could stand against Pi Sang-deuk.
"Heh."
Pi Sang-deuk let out a chuckle, as if he found the display cute. How could he be so adorable? The man must know the gap between them. And yet, he held up his sword and glared, barely managing to steady his trembling body.
How could he not be cute? He was like a puppy barking out of fear. How could he be so precious and pitiful?
Swish!
Pi Sang-deuk thrust his retracted sword forward. He aimed for the heart. Chief Ma quickly raised his sword.
Clang!
He struck the flat of the blade, attempting to parry the trajectory.
Slash!
However, lacking sufficient strength, Pi Sang-deuk's sword grazed his side.
"Ugh!"
Chief Ma let out an involuntary cry at the sharp pain in his flank.
"Now, try to handle this."
Seeing this, Pi Sang-deuk gave a bright smile and pulled back his sword. This time, he swung at the torso.
Whoosh!
Pi Sang-deuk's sword, laden with killing intent, rushed toward Chief Ma. Chief Ma gritted his teeth to stay focused. He raised his sword to block the strike aimed at his body.
Clang!
The sound of clashing steel rang out. Fortunately, he seemed to have blocked the strike just in time.
However—
Whoosh!
Chief Ma's body was suddenly lifted into the air. He had been unable to withstand the sheer force behind Pi Sang-deuk's strike and was sent flying.
Pi Sang-deuk did not miss the opening. He retracted his sword and thrust it toward Chief Ma's heart once more.
Screeeech!
With the sound of tearing wind, Pi Sang-deuk's sword began to pierce inward. Chief Ma's face turned pale. Suspended in the air, he had no way to defend himself.
"Farewell."
Pi Sang-deuk spoke curtly, looking at Chief Ma. Despair began to cloud Chief Ma's eyes.
Clang!
It was then. A clear, ringing sound echoed, and the trajectory of Pi Sang-deuk's sword, which had been aimed at Chief Ma's heart, was knocked aside.
Thwack!
Instead of the heart, the sword buried itself in Chief Ma's left shoulder.
"Aaaaaagh!"
Chief Ma screamed at the excruciating pain in his shoulder.
Pi Sang-deuk's face contorted in a deep scowl. His plan had been interrupted. The man before him should have died with that single strike. But suddenly, a stone had flown in and knocked his sword off course.
Pi Sang-deuk's eyes bulged as he glared in the direction the stone had come from. Soon, a look of surprise crossed his face.
The person who had thrown the stone was unexpected. Given the power required to change the trajectory of his sword, he had expected a stout man with considerable strength, but standing there was only a frail-looking woman, poised and haughty.
Intrigued, Pi Sang-deuk began to scan the woman slowly. She wore a veil that covered her entire head. The silk of the veil was woven so densely that her face was completely hidden. She wore high-quality golden silk robes, which alone suggested her status was far from ordinary.
"Do you realize what you've done?"
Pi Sang-deuk spoke to her with a smile of utter cruelty.
"I saved a life," the woman replied calmly.
"No, you have interfered with me. You dared!"
Hearing her words, Pi Sang-deuk raised his voice and shouted. Not once, but twice—he had failed to kill. He was in no mood to be pleasant.
"You say such amusing things."
The woman glared at Pi Sang-deuk and continued.
"Who do you think you are, to say you cannot be interfered with?"
She glared at him with a cold gaze. Upon hearing her words, Pi Sang-deuk's face twisted into a hideous grimace.