Chapter 478: Transforming into the Heavenly Dragon Sword, Kang Myeong—Part 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 478: Transforming into the Heavenly Dragon Sword, Kang Myeong—Part 1
"W-what did you say?!"
Kang Myeong replied in a voice thick with bewilderment at the masked man's words.
Assassinate the Law Enforcement Hall Master—his beloved, Paeng Ga-ryeon?
What kind of nonsense was this?
"Are your ears clogged? I told you to assassinate Paeng Ga-ryeon."
"That is impossible! How could I ever kill her!"
"Then do you want to die instead?"
"What?"
"If the fact that you two are having an affair comes to light, neither of you will escape death. Lee Jae-won is a very possessive man, after all. Is that what you want?"
"…That… that isn't it, but…"
"Think carefully. Shouldn't the living stay alive? If you kill Paeng Ga-ryeon for me, I’ll keep my mouth shut and live quietly. Then everyone can be happy, right?"
"…Don't make me laugh! How could I! How could I possibly kill her! I would rather die with her!"
Kang Myeong roared his refusal. The very idea was utterly absurd to him.
Paeng Ga-ryeon was the lover who had taught the meaning of love to a man who had previously known only the sword. Moreover, she was the first woman to ever take his virginity.
How could he abandon such a woman just to save his own skin? It was preposterous.
"What do you mean, 'how'? Just shove a sword into her pussy while you're fucking. She'll die easy enough, won't she?"
"You insolent bastard! How dare you spout such vulgarities!"
"Coming from an adulterer, that's pretty rich."
The masked man let out a smirk.
"I will not let you leave here alive!"
Whoosh!
Kang Myeong drew the greatsword strapped to his back. He intended to kill this lawless man and eliminate the witness.
"How petty. Now you're moving on to silencing witnesses? I guess the chivalry of the Cheonmu Alliance's heroes has all frozen to death."
The masked man continued to mock him.
"You bastard!"
Whoosh!
Kang Myeong’s greatsword swung toward the masked man's neck. The blade carried an immense, crushing force.
"Twist."
Crack, crunch!
Unfortunately, Kang Myeong could not achieve his goal. The arm swinging the greatsword was twisted violently in the opposite direction.
"Aaaaaagh!"
A scream erupted from Kang Myeong, echoing through the Guan Yu Shrine. The agony of having a perfectly healthy arm mangled was a pain that even the Heavenly Dragon Sword, Kang Myeong—hailed as the greatest rising star of the Cheonmu Alliance—could not endure.
Step, step, step.
The masked man slowly approached him.
"Damn it!"
Kang Myeong quickly snatched up the fallen greatsword with his other hand and pointed it at the man.
"Oh, quick recovery."
The masked man looked at him with playful eyes.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"You don't know me?"
"How could I know who you are when you're hidden behind that mask!"
"That’s disappointing… We even shared drinks a few times in the past."
"What!?"
Kang Myeong’s expression clouded with confusion. They had shared drinks? That implied they were at least somewhat acquainted. How could such a person commit such an atrocious act?
Rip.
The masked man tore off the cloth covering his face. He looked at Kang Myeong and gave a bright smile.
"Did you forget your friend's face, Kang Myeong?"
"Y-you!"
Upon seeing the man's bare face, Kang Myeong’s expression turned to one of pure horror. The identity revealed was someone he had never imagined.
"Jang Sam!!!"
Indeed. The man who had cast aside his mask was Jang Sam.
Unlike his master, who was called the World's Greatest Martial Artist, Jang Sam was a man who bore the disgraceful title of the "untalented disciple." He was the man declared a Public Enemy of the Murim on charges of raping and murdering numerous female martial artists.
The depraved Jang Sam had appeared before him.
"How are you here!?"
Kang Myeong screamed as if having a fit. An uncontrollable rage surged within him.
"Why else? For revenge."
Jang Sam spoke with a thick smirk playing on his lips.
"Revenge?! Did you not rape and murder countless women!?"
"Where's the evidence?"
"What!?"
"I'm asking if you have any proof that I'm a serial rapist and murderer."
"Were you not caught in the act!?" Kang Myeong roared.
"Setting aside Paeng Ji-yoon, who died in the same bed as me, you don't have evidence for any of the other crimes, do you?"
"The patterns were judged to be identical!"
"Bullshit. You frame a man as a serial killer based on mere suspicion?"
"If you were so innocent, you shouldn't have escaped the Law Enforcement Hall!"
"The Law Enforcement Hall had already decided I was the culprit. What choice did I have?"
"The Law Enforcement Hall is a righteous organization that upholds the law! They do not pass judgment on the innocent!"
"Is that why you righteously fucked another man's wife?"
Jang Sam sneered openly.
"……"
Kang Myeong fell silent. He couldn't think of a single word to refute him. He was having an affair with the head of the very organization that was supposed to be the most incorruptible. How could he possibly make an excuse?
"…What do you plan to do?"
"I don't know… Should I spread the word about your affair to the whole world?"
"It won't matter. You are already a Public Enemy of the Murim. No one will listen to a word you say!"
Kang Myeong looked at Jang Sam with eyes full of certainty. He was sure of it. No matter how much Jang Sam shouted about the affair, no one would believe him. He was a man branded as a Public Enemy for the rape and murder of female martial artists. If he showed his face to reveal the affair, he would be stoned to death by an angry mob. It would be a wretched end.
"You're right. It would be impossible for 'Jang Sam.'"
Jang Sam nodded in agreement. As he said, Jang Sam’s words carried no weight. Perception was a terrifying thing. Once it took root, it was difficult to change. Jang Sam had already been branded as the worst kind of lecher by the masses. No matter what he said, people wouldn't listen. They would only focus on his past deeds and curse him.
"But what if it's 'Kang Myeong'?"
Jang Sam spoke with a mischievous grin.
"What!?"
Kang Myeong’s voice rose in anger.
"Are you asking for my cooperation? Do you think I would ever help you? You demon! A chivalrous man of the Cheonmu Alliance would never compromise with a villain like you!"
Kang Myeong delivered his speech with a determined expression. No matter what Jang Sam said, he had no intention of following his lead. How could he even ask for cooperation?
"It's fine. You don't have to cooperate."
Despite Kang Myeong’s harsh refusal, Jang Sam continued to smile.
Hummmmm.
He began to circulate his internal energy.
Crack, snap, pop, crunch.
One by one, his bones began to twist and shift. First were his shoulders. His shoulders, which were already broad enough to fit three human heads, began to expand until they could fit four.
Crunch.
Next was his chest. His moderately firm chest swelled massively, transforming into a rugged, barrel-like torso.
Rip!
Naturally, the clothes he was wearing tore apart. Then came his thighs. His thighs, already as thick as a woman's waist, grew even larger, resembling logs made of solid stone. His arm muscles, which had been tightly corded like steel cables, packed on more mass until they were as huge as a bear's.
And finally, his face. Jang Sam’s handsome face began to warp and shift, changing its form until he looked like a completely different person. His eyes grew smaller, his nose became sharply defined and larger, his cheekbones rose, and his jawline thickened.
He had transformed into an entirely different person.
"N-no way…"
Kang Myeong began to stammer. The person Jang Sam had transformed into was someone he knew all too well.
"How is it? Do I look the part?"
Jang Sam asked with a playful smile.
"H-how… how can you… look exactly like me…"
Kang Myeong barely managed to speak through trembling lips as he stared at the man who had become his perfect double. It was an utterly bizarre sight.
"I picked up a few interesting tricks while I was being hunted."
Jang Sam continued, his expression jovial.
"What do you think? This should be enough to fool even Paeng Ga-ryeon, right?"
"You villain! How dare you mention the Hall Master!"
Kang Myeong immediately swung the greatsword held in his left hand. Rage boiled over at the thought of this wretch even speaking Paeng Ga-ryeon's name.
"Twist."
Crack, crunch!
But once again, he failed. His left hand was twisted just like the right.
"Aaaaaagh!"
"You're a slow learner. How can the top rising star of the Cheonmu Alliance be this dim-witted?"
"You… you… you devil! What kind of demonic art have you mastered!?"
"Old farts like you always call it a demonic art whenever someone is stronger than them."
Jang Sam let out a short laugh.
"If it isn't a demonic art, there's no explaining your ridiculous strength!"
Kang Myeong spat out the words, tears of blood practically welling in his eyes.
"I guess you could call it a demonic art. Since it's the martial art of the World's Greatest Demon."
Jang Sam spoke in a calm tone.
"W-what!?"
Kang Myeong asked back in shock. The title "World's Greatest Demon" rang in his ears.
"C-could it be… the Heavenly Demon!?"
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Jang Sam looked at him as if he were absurd.
"The World's Greatest Demon is the Yin-Yang Demon, isn't it?"
Jang Sam spoke with a proud expression.
"Watch your mouth. If you said something like that in front of my master, even dozens of lives wouldn't be enough for you."
"…The Yin-Yang Demon!? Wasn't he the devil defeated by Seon-ong decades ago!?"
Kang Myeong’s face was pale with horror. The Yin-Yang Demon was a demonic figure supposedly eradicated by Seon-ong decades ago. How could that name come out of Jang Sam’s mouth?
"We happened to cross paths."
"…That can't be."
Kang Myeong’s face fell into despair. He felt as if dark clouds were gathering over the Murim. The world was already chaotic enough with the movements of the Demonic Cult. To have the Yin-Yang Demon and his disciple, Jang Sam, appear at a time like this… If this became known, the Murim would surely fall into utter chaos.
"How could the heavens… bring such darkness… upon the Murim…"
He spoke with a look of total defeat.
"This isn't the time to worry about the Murim's dark clouds. You should worry about your own."
Jang Sam snorted as he looked at Kang Myeong. The man was in a desperate situation himself, yet he was worrying about the world?
"W-what!?"
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Jang Sam’s fingers moved like lightning, striking points on Kang Myeong’s body.
Thud.
Suddenly, Kang Myeong’s entire body froze. His acupoints had been struck.
'H-how!?'
He stared at Jang Sam with panicked eyes.
"Ah, I can mimic your appearance, but I don't know anything about your memories or habits."
Jang Sam, now looking exactly like Kang Myeong, scratched his head.
"So, I was planning to ask you."
Kang Myeong glared at Jang Sam, his eyes wide. His gaze held a firm resolve that he would never cooperate.
"Of course, I know you won't cooperate easily. I know you're the type who would choose death over helping me."
Jang Sam nodded slightly as he observed him.
"So, I'm going to put you in a 'cooperative state' before I start asking."
Kang Myeong glared back with a questioning look. A cooperative state? What on earth did that mean?
Hummmmmmm.
While Kang Myeong was filled with doubt, an immense energy suddenly began to swirl around Jang Sam’s body. Then, in an instant, it was absorbed back into him. The energy rapidly gathered in his right hand.
Soon, the gathered energy began to glow a deep red. It looked as if a brilliant, crimson flame had been condensed there.
"Kang Myeong."
Jang Sam, his palm now glowing a searing red, called out to him. He wore a perfectly innocent, bright expression.
"Do you know what Scorching Poison is?"
His voice was laced with malice. Feeling that pure ill-will, Kang Myeong knew for certain: that blood-red palm was incredibly dangerous.
"This stuff is really effective, you know? I've never seen anyone hold out after being hit by this. Even a Transcendent Realm master pissed himself and half-lost his mind."
Jang Sam waved his red hand back and forth in front of Kang Myeong’s eyes.
"I wonder how long you'll last? Aren't you curious? You, the great rising star of the Cheonmu Alliance."
Jang Sam looked at Kang Myeong with eyes full of killing intent.
"You won't die, though."
Stroke.
With those final words, Jang Sam’s crimson Poison Palm gently stroked Kang Myeong’s chest.
'AAAAAAAAGH!'
At that moment, Kang Myeong screamed internally. An unimaginable agony, as if his entire body were being incinerated, surged through him.