Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come to My House? (6)
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Black Whirlwind Demon General Man Wu.
True to his beastly instincts, he was the first to sense the change in my aura and took several steps back.
It was at that moment that Dang Ok-gi gaped in shock.
"...Huh, Eon Yong-un. You...?"
Jeong Hyeon and Namgung Yun, who had been forming a triangular formation with me, also opened their mouths wide.
"Young Master Eon?!"
"...!"
I turned to them and spoke.
"Focus on the little bird right in front of us for now."
They looked like they had plenty to say about my breakthrough, but this wasn't the time.
The three nodded quietly at my words.
Following my instructions, they assumed the rider stance and began closing in clockwise.
I matched their steps in the rider formation, closely observing Man Wu's every move.
"...".
A faint tension was etched on Man Wu's face as I watched him.
'Has he instinctively realized that from now on, one wrong move could get him killed or injured?'
Man Wu had been acting like a predator with prey cornered, as if it would all end once Dang Ok-gi's hidden weapons ran out.
A chuckle escaped my lips at the tension on his face.
'In a way, that's pretty beastly of him.'
Lions and tigers tuck tail when they sense their own lives are in danger.
From the way he killed people like swatting flies, I'd known he was less human and more a beast in human skin. That was the source of my amusement.
At my leaked chuckle, Master, who had been silent in my right hand, spoke up.
- You've only just stepped into the transcendent realm, while this Man Wu reached it before you. Don't let your guard down just because the little ox seems tense.
'No worries there.'
Pure martial prowess-wise, Man Wu was still above me.
What he was tense about was precisely our four-person combined assault.
He remained an opponent who allowed no carelessness.
- Then what was that laugh just now?
'Oh, I pictured him running away.'
It was entirely possible.
We had reinforcements from the Zhuge family and the Wudang Sect.
Song Gil-jun, who must have anticipated that, wouldn't have told Man Wu to rampage without a plan.
'He muttered something about bringing him back alive if possible, so Song Gil-jun definitely instructed him to pull back if the situation turned sour.'
Thus, Man Wu fleeing at this point was very plausible.
'That big lug hightailing it would be hilarious.'
But I couldn't let that happen.
I couldn't even guess how many people a guy who killed for fun would harm in his escape.
Our Blue Bamboo Pavilion cadets were right nearby, too.
'That's why you're dying here.'
To erase any thought of escape from Man Wu's mind, I opened my mouth.
"Run away? Well, fleeing when things go south is your style, isn't it?"
Song Gil-jun had done it, and Man Wu couldn't stand being looked down on by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult either.
Considering that, I deliberately flashed a sinister smile to provoke him.
"Wasn't it the same during the Righteous-Demonic Great War sixty-some years ago? Maybe you should change your slogan. Not 'Divine Cult Invincible,' but 'Divine Cult Escape.' Even your symbol to something like a cockroach..."
Did my provocation snap his reason?
"I'll kill you for sure!"
Veins bulging across his face, Man Wu kicked off the ground and charged.
The attack from the oncoming Man Wu was completely different in ferocity and style from his previous moves.
Up until now, Man Wu's assaults had retained some rationality on his part.
Waiting for Dang Ok-gi's hidden weapons to run out, that sort of thing.
"I'll definitely kill you!"
But now, his axes swung wildly, as if killing me was all that mattered, consequences be damned.
Swaeek!!
Swaaaak!!
At the same time, the "Black Whirlwind" prefix of his title manifested as dark vortexes swirling around the axes, scraping out chaotically.
They produced a vicious whooshing sound, intent on shredding anything in Man Wu's path.
I positioned Regret at the crossing point of the swinging axes.
Kugugugung!!!!!
With a deafening crash, the two dark vortexes clashed, and his monstrous strength sent numbness through my bones.
I gritted my teeth and withstood it.
'Heavy... but manageable!'
Before crossing that wall, I would have scrambled to dodge such an onslaught.
'Just as Master said, I was ready for this.'
Being able to endure Man Wu's attack meant I could now unleash my swordplay toward the path my heart desired.
I hurriedly shook off Man Wu's axes.
Kang!!!!!!
Chasing the instinctively retreating Man Wu, I began drawing the forms of Heaven-Splitting Whirlwind.
Swaaaak!!!
Swaeek!!!
Slash, slash.
Slash again.
Of course, Man Wu's axes didn't let up either.
Kang! Kakang!!!
Kakakakang!! Kang!!!!!!
Scratches began accumulating on my body as well.
"Kuh...!"
Still, against the berserk Man Wu, I held the advantage.
I relentlessly pursued him, undeterred by the spreading blood.
Kakang!
Kang! Kang kakakang!!!
Finally, I drove Man Wu into the torrent of Heaven-Splitting strikes.
Just then, Namgung Yun's sword struck the axe in Man Wu's right hand.
Patsutsutsu!
Kang!
Dang Ok-gi didn't miss the opening, slicing across Man Wu's right leg.
Sgak!
Of course, Man Wu wasn't just taking it lying down.
Gritting his teeth, he swung the axe in his left hand down at my forehead with skull-splitting force.
Kang!!!!!!
At that instant, Jeong Hyeon's sword thrust in, scattering blue sword energy and blocking Man Wu's attack in my stead.
The perfect opening created.
I reversed my grip on Regret like lightning.
Spinning in place, I drew a small crescent.
"You're the one who's done for!"
Swaeek!!!!!!!
Chwak!
The crescent carved a dark red line across Man Wu's neck.
That was the end.
Thud!
Man Wu's massive body collapsed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Feeling a slight sense of exhaustion, I leaned on Regret like a staff.
Jeong Hyeon, who was nearby, supported me and spoke.
"Young Master Eon! Your robes are practically rags! Are you alright!?"
Dang Ok-gi and Namgung Yun, who had rushed over, chimed in.
"The wounds don't look too bad? But Eon Yong-un, just now you..."
"...You've crossed the transcendent wall."
But there was no time to celebrate personal breakthroughs or defeating Man Wu.
"Let's head to Professor Chang Ryang first."
"Yes!"
"Got it."
"Right."
My junior brothers and I caught our breath with just one gulp before rushing to where Chang Ryang and the Old Demon Duo were clashing swords, assuming rider formation.
"Professor!"
"Eon Yong-un?"
At our appearance, Chang Ryang spoke in his usual even tone.
"Looks like you lot took down the young demon general on your own."
The Old Demon Duo, fully focused on facing Chang Ryang's sword, hurriedly retreated upon seeing us, trying to assess the situation.
"!?"
Confirming Man Wu's sprawled corpse, he gnashed his few remaining teeth.
"You damnable bastards! I'll tear you apart!"
Well, no courtesy was owed to the Old Demon Duo who had blabbered about slicing my tongue.
I stuck out the tongue he wanted to slice and spoke.
"Pff. Who's the one who got sliced? Your young master?"
At my words,
the Old Demon Duo's face flushed beet red, blood vessels bursting in his eyes as he glared with crimson fury.
Judging by his expression, he looked ready to pounce and rip me apart to make good on his words.
But apparently, age had brought some judgment, unlike Man Wu. The Old Demon Duo made a different choice.
Piiiik!!!
He immediately blew a signal horn that seemed to mean "things have gone wrong."
Then, sweeping his sword horizontally, he compressed sword force into a mass of qi and hurled it our way.
Swaaaaak!!!!
Kwang!!!
As dust billowed, he began fleeing.
"Black Vortex Palace and palace followers, withdraw!"
Though they turned tail, their unified retreat carried considerable momentum.
As I pondered how to handle this,
"Over here!"
Reinforcements to bolster our side arrived just in time.
Led by Yin Ha-yeon, blood-soaked Blue Bamboo Pavilion cadets swarmed in.
"Young Master Eon! Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine. More importantly, we need to pursue those bastards. Professor Chang Ryang, lend a hand."
At my words,
Chang Ryang furrowed his brow and stepped forward.
"We can't do that. Prioritizing the cadets is the core of this defense plan, isn't it? No need to recklessly chase retreating foes. Wasn't your reason for coming here precisely because our Hyangran cadets weren't following the rules?"
Yin Ha-yeon added her piece.
"Yes. Song Gil-jun likely has an escape plan ready. He'd be closest to the execution point from the start. We won't catch them if we chase. And Young Master Eon, you look utterly exhausted right now?"
Jeong Hyeon followed suit.
"Ancient military texts warn against pursuing enemies in such situations. There could be ambushes. Pushing too hard might leave us in peril instead."
I shook my head firmly at them and spoke.
"Professor Chang Ryang, the situation now is worlds apart from when the Hyangran Squad was isolated. Their plan didn't account for losing a demon general-level fighter here."
Gazing at Chang Ryang, I continued while alternating looks at Yin Ha-yeon and Jeong Hyeon.
"I'm not saying we have to capture them. Even if we kill Song Gil-jun and his lot, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains remain intact, and as Lady Yin said, he's probably prepared his getaway."
"Exactly! No point in chasing!"
"There is a point. There's the gaze of the officials and people fixated on this incident, and their perception."
"Perception?"
"That the Demonic Cult was routed by Righteous Martial Academy cadets and fled in disgrace, with the cadets pursuing to the end. Will this be the end of the Demonic Cult's plans? Their final struggle?"
"No way."
"Exactly. This is just the beginning. What they ultimately seek through such plans is a foothold in the Central Plains. To deny them that, we must engrave their defeat across the world."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ From Chang Ryang to my juniors, they initially questioned the need for pursuit but changed their minds after hearing me out.
We left the aftermath to headquarters and began chasing the fleeing demons.
Of course, since total annihilation wasn't the goal, we prioritized vigilance against ambushes.
"Killing intent! Ambush!"
"Jeong Hyeon and I will handle this side!"
"Yes! Left flank! Respond!"
Next came propaganda and agitation.
"Demonic Cult scum who kill people indiscriminately are fleeing that way!"
"Demon generals using their own followers as meat shields to escape went that way!"
How long had we been shouting at the top of our lungs while pursuing them?
Suddenly, thick black smoke rose from the northern lakeside of Dan River Valley, so we hurried over.
Hwaruk-
Hwaruruk-
All the boats by the lake were ablaze.
Song Gil-jun's group was visible, hastily heading to the last remaining boat at the dock.
They had set fire to everywhere except the spot with that single boat waiting, positioning themselves so even if everyone else died, Song Gil-jun could escape.
'Breaking through there right now would be reckless.'
A cornered rat bites even a cat.
Desperate enemies couldn't be taken lightly.
'But I can't let Song Gil-jun go just like that.'
He needed to have the cost of daring to attack this place etched clearly in his mind.
"Dang Ok-gi."
"Yeah?"
"You have some Mara Thunder Fire Bullets left, right? You didn't use them all earlier?"
"Two or so? But why now..."
I snatched the Mara Thunder Fire Bullets Dang Ok-gi fumbled out without another word and lit them.
Squeezing out what little internal energy remained,
I hurled them toward the boat.
Whish! Whish!
Recognizing the sudden projectiles as hidden weapons or attacks on the boat, they hastily drew swords and slashed at the incoming Mara Thunder Fire Bullets.
Seogak!
Sgak!!
But slicing them like that only dispersed the powder faster.
Peng! Peng!!!
The bullets exploded, spewing acrid smoke, and those just boarding the boat began coughing and staggering.
"Kuhk, kuhk!"
Despite the chaos, prioritizing distance from shore, they didn't even attempt detoxification, pole-vaulting away with tears and snot streaming.
They looked just like drugged rats scrambling for an air hole.
Of course, my attack didn't end there.
"Ah, trainee. Song Gil-jun trainee. Can you hear me?"
With the boat pulling away, direct attacks were impossible, but stoking a fleeing enemy's rage required only a sharp tongue.
Tightening my danjeon, I unleashed a Lion's Roar toward the receding boat.
"I've heard there are a few things Trainee Song Gil-jun hates, but I have a few pet peeves too. Open your ears, trainee."
"...?"
"One, this instructor hates spineless vermin who lack the guts to step forward but scheme from behind."
"Two, the kind who then abandon everyone else to save their own skin? Even more so."
"Three, Demonic Cult scum who can't read the room and dare invade this place? Top of the list."
Laughter began bubbling up around me one by one.
But I wasn't done.
"Unfortunately, our Song Gil-jun trainee hits all three..."
For the finale, I poured in extra power.
"Next time we meet, I'll beat you to a pulp—that's a promise from your instructor!!"
I'm certain.
Everyone around heard that shout loud and clear.
In other words,
'Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, utterly defeated by Righteous Martial Academy.'
Everyone on this land would think the Demonic Cult had been thoroughly crushed and retreated by us.