Chapter 365
Chapter 365
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 365
Chapter Title: As Long as Breath Remains (3)
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A fleet appeared on the horizon, and Master spoke up.
- It looks like Sa Gyeom's pirate fleet.
The Milky Way Archipelago had earned its name because the islands were scattered across the night sky like stars.
As many islands meant as many pirates.
However, only one fleet flew silk sails.
Sa Gyeom's pirate fleet.
"Yes. Hoisting silk sails is a challenge to Sa Gyeom in itself."
That meant...
The fleet on the horizon belonged to Sa Gyeom.
"I thought they were a bit late... but not too late."
As I was thinking that...
A green flag was raised atop the mast of what had to be Sa Gyeom's flagship.
Flutter—
At the waving green flag, Sa Gyeom's ships spread out in a diagonal formation.
Blocking off Sa Gyeom's escape route, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's ships began to move as well.
'While the rest tank the damage, they're trying to let the ship carrying Chae Hyang escape?'
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's swift ships that had shaken off the Crimson Dragon Palace's encirclement numbered six in total.
They pushed five forward, with one trailing behind in a "He" character formation, attempting a breakthrough.
Flutter—
It was then that the flag on Sa Gyeom's flagship changed to red.
As the flag switched...
Including the flagship, five of Sa Gyeom's ships nimbly twisted their hulls atop the waves.
Kiriririk!!!
Exposing their sides, flames erupted simultaneously from the flanks of the ships.
Bang! Bang!!
Bang bang bang bang bang!!!!
Dozens of cannonballs arced through the air, crashing into the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's ships.
Boom! Boom!!
Kwabang kwabang kwabang kaboom!!!
The bombardment didn't stop there.
Sa Gyeom's fleet unleashed volley after volley, as if confirming the kills.
I watched the scene and said to Master,
"What did I say last time? That they'd have cannons or something? Even if the imperial troops wanted to catch them, they wouldn't come all the way out here, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult bastards can't do shit about it."
- ...You thorough bastard. Fine, your shit's the thickest.
Master responded to my words but then spoke about the wreckage that had become of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's ships.
- Anyway, they wiped out the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult bastards in an instant.
"If I may say so boldly, you shouldn't use 'wiped out' so lightly... That's a resurrection spell."
- ...Resurrection spell?
"Yeah, there is such a thing."
- You're trying to tease me with more weird shit only you know. Didn't you say yourself that even a master can't retrieve their bones if they get caught in these currents?
He was right.
The fog had cleared, but the seas around Sakwol Island were still ferocious.
"It's calm around here and near the islands, but up ahead, yeah, no bones left."
Even if they survived the bombardment, the enraged warriors of the Crimson Dragon Palace gripping their oars wouldn't let them go.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult bastards had no chance of escaping these waters.
- In the end, bringing in Sa Gyeom turned out to be a brilliant move, Yong-un.
I nodded at Master's words.
It was playing a big role in blocking the fleeing Heavenly Demon Divine Cult ships right now, but...
"It'll also help put an end to the Blood Heaven Asura Palace's order from the Blood Cult's headquarters to retrieve the Myriad Blood Oath."
Sa Gyeom would be a huge asset in taking over the Blood Cult in the future.
'He's an expert on the seas and has a cohesive organization.'
It would be a problem if he got censured and executed.
Reporting that he'd been assassinated because the Myriad Blood Oath fully went to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult side— the Blood Heaven Asura Palace wouldn't be able to touch him.
'It's true, and the circumstances line up perfectly.'
As Blood Cult members who broke away from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult earlier than in the original story...
They wouldn't dispose of the highly useful Sa Gyeom over this.
As my thoughts reached that point...
I turned back toward Sakwol Island.
"Dokgo-se left those guys amid the Crimson Dragon Palace people, so no clash with Sa Gyeom. Time to head back to the others."
And I began swimming, cleaving through the currents.
A moment after I started paddling...
"Hm?"
Something murky and amorphous approached me from the dark waters.
Shaaaa—
At first, I thought it was a jellyfish or shark.
But it wasn't.
This thing approaching me wasn't affected by the waves.
"Resentful spirits?"
The area was thick with eerie energy, so I hadn't noticed subconsciously.
Now that I focused, they were resentful spirits coalesced into a spirit body.
Water ghosts—the most insidious among ghosts.
They dragged living people to the seabed to make them like themselves.
Wooong—
Having identified them, I immediately circulated my inner energy, wrapping it around my left arm to exorcise them.
- ...Doesn't seem like they're after you.
'...Yeah?'
Unlike normal water ghosts that pull in the living...
These danced as if they had something to say.
I easily understood the meaning of their dance.
"Follow me?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, in a cave at the heart of Sakwol Island.
The battle raged between White Frost Demon Lord Chae Gyu's group and the Eon Family younger siblings.
Clang! Clang!!!
Chachachang!!!!
Over there, Black Mist Lord Chae Hyang and most of their forces had pulled out.
Here, even with Eon Yong-un absent, the battle was evenly matched.
"No need to rush, everyone! Just hold out!"
Peng So-jin encouraged the Eon siblings and tried to bait the demons' impatience by reminding them of the situation.
"We've cleared the outer islands already, and the Crimson Dragon Palace is waiting in the seas. That dark woman Yong-un chased is a rat in a trap! By the time Yong-un returns, the Mosan Sect kids will have erased the tracking spells on this island. We just need to hold!"
Kang! Kaaang!!!
But despite Peng So-jin's words, Jeong Hyeon bit her lip.
'If only I were a bit stronger...'
When the other Eon siblings scolded Eon Yong-un for going off alone sometimes...
Jeong Hyeon had vented her resentment toward him too.
But inwardly, she blamed her own shortcomings.
'...If I were stronger, there'd be fewer moments when Eon young hero acts alone.'
It was the same now.
If Jeong Hyeon could handle Chae Gyu and the demons alone, he could have brought someone else.
'Eon young hero wouldn't have to chase Chae Hyang alone.'
As her thoughts reached that point...
Eon Yong-un's words from when they faced the skeletal remains on the outer island flashed in her mind.
'He mocked himself as selfish, saying his people were precious.'
She couldn't lighten the burden on Eon Yong-un's shoulders.
But she couldn't let the siblings he left behind get hurt.
Swaeok! Swaeok!
'Orol-i is too much, but... I have to cover for Eon young hero.'
So Jeong Hyeon swung her sword, biting her lip until it bled.
Swaeok! Swaeok!
Swaaaek!
But when immersed in pressure like that...
Your field of vision narrows.
Eon Yong-un's mental defenses were so thorough that they'd been cornered like this, but Chae Gyu wasn't stupid.
Cha-clang!!!!
Noticing Jeong Hyeon's lapse, Chae Gyu targeted Peng So-jin, who barely gripped her sword among the siblings.
"You wench who abandoned your clan, yapping nonstop!"
At Chae Gyu's roar through his torn mouth, Jeong Hyeon urgently executed the Mount Hua Sect's unique footwork, Jeunjong.
Truth be told, this was the moment Chae Gyu had been waiting for.
Chae Gyu slammed the brakes on his charge toward Peng So-jin.
Kkiiik!
A normal warrior couldn't twist like that without dislocating joints.
But thanks to his demonic arts, Chae Gyu grotesquely bent and thrust his sword at Jeong Hyeon's nape.
Swaaaaaaaaak!!
As that thought flashed in Jeong Hyeon's mind...
Eon Yong-myeong and Peng So-cheon broke through the formation and struck at Jeong Hyeon and Chae Gyu with palm and saber.
Pang!
Jeong Hyeon softly received Eon Yong-myeong's palm force, floating left a few paces before landing away from Chae Gyu's attack.
"You stupid demon bastard! Our big sis didn't abandon the clan!"
Chae Gyu, blocking Peng So-cheon's mountain-like saber strike, was flung right.
Kaaaang!!!
Having overcome the crisis, Eon Yong-myeong sighed and spoke.
"Our big bro is one thing, but Jeong Hyeon, you're the same. No need to shoulder it all alone. What did you think So-jin noona was saying?"
Chae Gyu snorted, regripping his sword.
"Heh heh. Shoulder what? You're all making fools of yourselves."
Cheon Jang-ho shot back without backing down.
"You're the fool, blood dripping from your mouth so you can't even speak straight? Wasn't that your little sister earlier? A guy abandoned by his sister talking big?!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Wooong—
The spirit bodies encountered at the shore began leading the way, as if guiding me.
I could exorcise them anytime I wanted.
'Water ghosts try to drag you to death together, normal resentful spirits just repeat they want to live...'
Trusting my gut that this was no ordinary matter, I followed the spirit bodies.
Wooong—
They led back into the cave where the ship had been hidden—the one I'd slid down the waterslide to confront.
They dove, so I followed.
A cave in the seabed appeared.
'...I chased the departing ship right after arriving and missed it.'
How long had I swum into the cave?
Plop—
I discovered another hidden secret chamber on Sakwol Island.
Around then, the spirits vanished like melting snow, as if saying this was as far as they went.
'...Night-luminescent pearls.'
The night-luminescent pearls embedded everywhere were clearly man-made.
And who that man was, was obvious.
'Chae Hyang.'
I lightly cupped my fists toward the vanished spirits.
Then suppressed my presence and cautiously entered.
'......'
Not long after stepping inside...
I spotted Chae Hyang lying on a bed.
I'd suppressed my presence, but at this distance, her senses picked me up.
"Oppa! So I told you... Eon Yong-un?!"
I chuckled and said,
"Looks like you were planning to hole up here until things quieted down?"
"...Ahaha. Busted. But how'd you know about this place?"
"Ever heard of karmic retribution? The price of evil deeds always comes calling."
"Eek. Your face is my type, but your words are total scholar."
I ignored her nonsense and spoke again.
"Even with 'oppa' and all your baggage, it wasn't enough? Surrender. I'll spare your life."
At my words, Chae Hyang grinned slyly.
"Oh my. The rising top hero sparing the witch who ground people into spirit pills? Do you like me or something?"
"...Hear people out. Confess Heavenly Demon Divine Cult intel enough to make up for your madness, and I'll spare you."
"Still feels generous? For a guy who'd light up and charge at any Demonic Cult ship in the North or South Sea?"
"No matter what the world thinks of me, what matters is minimizing future bloodshed."
"...Hmm. Cool, Eon Yong-un. A man with sins. No wonder Yeon Ok-ran stayed hooked even after losing an arm. Makes sense."
"Just in case, I offered... But you're beating around the bush, so refusal?"
"Being too persistent with a lady is rude."
"Just what I wanted."
I immediately drew Regret.
"Truth is, I don't want to spare you either."
And charged at Chae Hyang.
Chae Hyang hurriedly kicked back, muttering,
"Cult Leader. Master, if this Myriad Blood Oath goes to those guys, it's all fucked anyway, right? Let this girl use it a bit."