Chapter 756: Please, Suffer Even More.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 756: Please, Suffer Even More.
"P-please... k-kill... kill meeeee..."
Lee Jae-won begged, snot and tears streaming down his face.
He was pleading for death.
It hurt too much. The pain was so excruciating that everything he had experienced until now felt like a mere joke in comparison.
"Does it hurt?"
Yoon Je-gyeom asked, looking down at Lee Jae-won with a gaze that almost seemed pitying.
"It hurts... it hurts so much... I... I was wrong... please... release me... from this agony..."
Lee Jae-won implored him.
The venomous spite that had filled his eyes when he was vowing revenge was nowhere to be found. Only despair and wretchedness remained.
Watching him, Yoon Je-gyeom slowly reached out.
Then, he thrust his fingers directly into both of Lee Jae-won’s eyes.
Squelch!
His fingers completely crushed Lee Jae-won’s eyeballs.
"Kuaaaaahhhhhhh!"
Immediately, clear fluid and blood began to pour down his fingers.
"Wh-whyyyyyyy?!!!"
"I thought it was unfair," Yoon Je-gyeom continued in a calm tone. "Because of you, Jin-ah will never see the light again for the rest of her life. So how can you be allowed to live while seeing the light?"
"Fuuuuuuuuck!!!!!! You crazy old bastard!!!!!!"
Lee Jae-won erupted in rage.
He had lost his sight. The light he had known his entire life had vanished in an instant. How could he not be enraged?
"Just kill me! Kill me already!!!! You son of a bitch!" Lee Jae-won screamed violently.
He begged for death.
"Did I not tell you? I have no intention of killing you."
Yoon Je-gyeom spoke with a dry, hollow expression.
Grip.
He tightened his hold on the sword's hilt.
Crunch.
The sword embedded in Lee Jae-won's heart began to dig even deeper.
"Aaaaaaaaagh!"
The pain doubled.
"The Sword of Suffering is not a sword meant for killing. It is a sword that harbors human agony."
Yoon Je-gyeom spoke as he watched Lee Jae-won scream.
"What the hell is that?!!! You piece of shit!!!!!"
Lee Jae-won spat out curses in a desperate struggle. What kind of bullshit was this? A sword harboring agony? How could a mere piece of iron hold human suffering?
"The moment I saw Jin-ah’s wretched state fifteen years ago, I made a vow. I didn't know who it was, but I promised that if I ever caught the culprit, I would make them taste a pain more terrible than death."
Yoon Je-gyeom looked down at Lee Jae-won and continued.
"On the day your arm was severed, I began forging a single sword. A sword that concentrates all the pain in the world."
Tighten.
Yoon Je-gyeom gripped the sword even harder.
"Kuaaaaagh!!!!!!"
"That is the Sword of Suffering currently pierced through your heart. You could call it an Evil Sword born solely to inflict pain."
"A man known as a pillar of the Orthodox Faction!!!!!! Kuaaaagh!!! Using a sword like this!!!!!"
"What does it matter?"
Yoon Je-gyeom wore an indifferent expression.
"The empty title of a 'pillar' means nothing to me now. The only thing that matters to me is how I can make you suffer even more. That is all."
Yoon Je-gyeom glared at Lee Jae-won with cold eyes.
He had been called a pillar of the Orthodox Faction and a Great Hero. But on the day his granddaughter died so miserably, Yoon Je-gyeom realized something.
It was all just a futile, empty name.
What was the point of being called a pillar of the Orthodox Faction if he couldn't even catch the culprit? What was the point of being called a Great Hero if he couldn't even appease the vengeful spirit of his granddaughter, who had met such an unfair death?
Immediately after that realization, Yoon Je-gyeom made his decision.
He would not be bound by empty titles. He would do anything for the sake of revenge—even if it was something a member of the Orthodox Faction should never do.
And thanks to that resolve, he was able to complete the Sword of Suffering—a sword so heinous it was called 'Inhuman.' A wicked blade that delivered every agony known to the world.
"Please, suffer even more. Until my heart finds peace."
Yoon Je-gyeom gripped the sword with even greater force.
"Aaaaaaaaagh!"
Lee Jae-won’s screams grew even louder. Yoon Je-gyeom simply watched him with a calm face, filling his eyes with the sight of the man's agony.
*
Sun-woo slowly reached out his hand.
He began to operate the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. Immediately, the flow of the raging flames entered his vision.
Scatter.
Sun-woo took control of that flow and forced it to disperse, making it vanish completely.
Soon, the flames that had been consuming the speech venue were extinguished. Not a trace remained.
"Whew."
Sun-woo let out a light sigh. It seemed things were finally settling down.
"You worked hard, Sun-woo."
Paeng Ga-ryeon approached him and spoke politely.
"It was nothing. More importantly, what about the leadership?" Sun-woo asked with an indifferent expression.
"Their condition is serious. They’ve all been moved to the Medical Pavilion."
"All of them?"
"Yes. They took the direct impact of the Thunderbolt Bombs..." Paeng Ga-ryeon replied with a look of regret.
"I was planning to punish them along with Lee Jae-won... the situation has turned out strangely."
Sun-woo looked disappointed. According to the original plan, the leadership was supposed to be punished alongside Lee Jae-won for their crime of standing by and watching his atrocities. But the sudden explosion of the Thunderbolt Bombs had left them all in critical condition, making it awkward to carry out the punishment.
"Yes... it seems the punishment will have to be delayed for a while."
"It can't be helped."
Sun-woo spoke casually. It had already happened. Complaining wouldn't change anything.
"By the way, Ga-ryeon."
"Yes, please speak."
"Are you okay?"
"About what?" Paeng Ga-ryeon tilted her head in confusion.
"Your reputation has hit rock bottom because of this, hasn't it? Are you really okay?" Sun-woo asked her with a grave expression.
Her prestige had plummeted due to the recent revelations. The fact that she had conspired with Lee Jae-won to commit injustices had been laid bare. Although she had given her consent beforehand, seeing it actually happen made him feel concerned.
"You don't need to worry about that, Sun-woo," Paeng Ga-ryeon replied in a calm tone. "I consider it paying for my crimes... the hideous crimes I committed. I should be grateful my head is still on my shoulders... how could I possibly have any complaints?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke her honest thoughts. In truth, she deserved to die. She was the one who had first framed her master. But thanks to Sun-woo’s mercy, she had been able to keep her life. How could she be dissatisfied?
"In fact, I am grateful... for sparing my wretched life..."
Paeng Ga-ryeon bowed deeply to Sun-woo, expressing her sincere gratitude for his mercy.
".........."
Sun-woo looked a bit awkward. He had been worried, but receiving such gratitude in return felt strange.
As Sun-woo was feeling the awkwardness, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from somewhere.
Sun-woo turned his head slightly. A man was running toward him in a great hurry.
"Huff... huff... huff... Young Master... Jang."
The man reached Sun-woo and began to pant heavily.
"Who are you?" Sun-woo asked, looking puzzled.
"Huff... h-here..."
In response to Sun-woo’s question, the man handed him a small note. Then, without even looking back, he started running again as if his job was done.
'What is this?'
Sun-woo tilted his head. He immediately unfolded the note and began to read it.
"Paeng Ga-ryeon."
He then looked at Paeng Ga-ryeon.
"Yes, please speak."
"I need you to handle the cleanup here. It seems I have to go."
"Is it the Leader of Hao Clan?"
"Yeah. She could have just come herself, but she sent a note instead."
Sun-woo let out a small chuckle. The note was a secret message from the Leader of Hao Clan. It seemed she had used a messenger because she felt burdened by showing herself in person.
"Understood. I will stay and finish the cleanup."
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke with a respectful attitude.
"Right, I'm counting on you."
Having said his piece, Sun-woo infused internal energy into his Yongcheon Point. He arched his body back like a bow and then released the energy.
His figure blurred and then vanished completely. He had performed the Transposition Technique, a top-tier movement technique.
Paeng Ga-ryeon stared blankly at the spot where Sun-woo had been standing. The Transposition Technique was so natural that it felt as if she had been bewitched by a ghost.
'So this is the power of a Transcendent.'
She marveled at Sun-woo’s transcendental majesty.
*
Sun-woo entered a dark, damp alleyway. The complex structure of the alley, which looked confusing at a glance, came into view.
'How am I supposed to find her here?'
Sun-woo looked troubled. Finding Ha Su-ryeon in this maze of alleys seemed like it would be quite a headache.
Step, step.
Just then, he sensed a presence behind him. Sun-woo turned his head slightly. He saw a woman wearing a white veil walking toward him.
It was Ha Su-ryeon, the Leader of Hao Clan.
"What, did you come to meet me?"
Sun-woo spoke with a look of relief. He had been wondering how to find her, so her appearance was a welcome sight.
"If I hadn't come to meet you, it would have taken you all day to find it," Ha Su-ryeon replied in a calm tone.
"Right, good job. Should I pat your head?" Sun-woo said with a playful smile.
"Just follow me."
Ha Su-ryeon ignored his comment and began to lead the way.
"How cold."
Sun-woo followed her with an amused expression. Her cold reaction was actually quite refreshing.
"Is the safe house far?" Sun-woo asked, looking at her back as she walked ahead.
"It will take some time to enter. The entry conditions are quite strict."
"Entry conditions?" Sun-woo asked, sounding curious.
"Yes. There is a formation mechanism installed around the safe house. If you don't meet specific conditions, entry is impossible."
"Impressive," Sun-woo remarked. He hadn't expected such a sophisticated formation to exist.
"I guess no one will be able to take Lee Jae-won away, then."
"Yes. No one except an insider can take him. It's a place that completely bars outsiders."
Ha Su-ryeon spoke with a voice full of pride. She seemed to have immense confidence in the formation.
"That's reassuring."
Sun-woo looked relieved. If the Leader of the Hao Clan was that confident, the formation was surely reliable.
"By the way... that person who disappeared with you... who was he? You seemed to know him..."
The Leader of Hao Clan spoke up, her curiosity as the head of an intelligence organization getting the better of her. She was curious about the identity of the middle-aged man who had confronted Sun-woo. What was his name, where was he from, and what was his sect? Anyone capable of standing against Sun-woo, the World's Greatest Martial Artist, surely had an extraordinary background.
"He is a sword."
"Pardon?" Ha Su-ryeon asked back, confused.
"He is simply a single sword."
".........."
Ha Su-ryeon wore a puzzled expression. She couldn't grasp Sun-woo’s meaning at all.
"...What... do you mean by that...?"
She spoke with a bewildered look, her tone asking for a more detailed explanation.
"Just leave it at that."
Sun-woo spoke in a calm tone. The Sword Man was a sword. A single sword that lived as a sword and died as a sword. He didn't want to describe him with any other words.
".........."
Ha Su-ryeon fell silent. It didn't seem like he was going to explain further. A look of disappointment began to show on her face.
*
After walking with her for a while, the surroundings began to blur like mist.
Seeing this, Sun-woo knew he had entered the formation mechanism. it was quite a fascinating sight.
"Are we inside the formation?"
"Yes. Now, if we follow this single path, the safe house will appear."
Ha Su-ryeon nodded as she answered. Hearing her, Sun-woo began to walk faster without a word, thinking of killing Lee Jae-won as soon as possible.
After walking for a bit longer, a small pavilion came into view. Sun-woo knew that this was the safe house Ha Su-ryeon had mentioned.
Suddenly, Sun-woo’s eyes turned serious.
"Ha Su-ryeon."
He called out to her as she walked ahead.
"Yes, please speak."
"............How many people entered that safe house?"
"The Great Matriarch, Hero Yoon Je-gyeom, and Lee Jae-won. Three in total."
Thud!
Whoosh!
As soon as he heard her answer, Sun-woo kicked off the ground. His figure shot toward the safe house like a bolt of lightning.
Bang!
Reaching the door in an instant, Sun-woo threw it open. Immediately, he saw the figure of Joo So-yang collapsed in front of the door.
"So-yang!"
Sun-woo’s voice rose in urgent alarm.