Chapter 17: Killing a First-Rate Demon (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17: Killing a First-Rate Demon (5)
“Attack first!”
I shouted this loudly so that every martial artist in the inn could hear me.
The warriors, knowing that Ice Jade Ice Sword had been wounded by the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon and couldn't handle all three of his disciples alone, raised their weapons to join the fray.
As the warriors moved at my instigation, I approached the disciple whose forearm I had previously severed.
The moment I moved, Ice Jade Ice Sword launched an attack toward the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon’s disciples. Seeing her move, the other warriors followed suit, swarming the remaining disciples.
Enraged by the sight of his disciples being attacked, the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon unleashed a ferocious killing intent and swung his blade. Several warriors died instantly, unable to even let out a scream.
I watched the scene of Ice Jade Ice Sword fighting the disciple intently, gradually shifting my position.
That’s it. I was right.
The other warriors didn't come near me, likely assuming I was preparing some sort of finishing move since I was only circling the perimeter instead of attacking the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon directly.
The disciple with the severed arm stumbled, suffering sword wounds from the combined assault of the other warriors.
“Die!”
One warrior plunged his sword into the man’s lower abdomen.
“Ugh! Master!”
In his desperation, the disciple called out to the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon in a dying voice.
The Red Robed White-Eyed Demon cut down two blocking warriors and rushed toward him.
Now!
I finally found my opening.
Hadn't one of the Absolute Blades, Muhama-do Ali, once said it?
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Taking advantage of the moment the disciple faltered, I closed the distance rapidly and drew my sword.
Squelch!
The disciple’s remaining forearm fell to the floor.
Watching it drop, I realized there was a latent cruelty within me. I had never dreamed I would be capable of intentionally hacking off someone’s limbs just to survive.
I might be a third-rate hack, but I suppose I am a man of the sword.
I had briefly forgotten that once you hold a tool of murder, you are destined for one of two things: to kill or be killed. I realized then that there is no romance beneath the blade—only blood and pain.
Pushing these thoughts aside, I moved behind the man before he could even scream and hooked my arms under his armpits.
“Master! My arm!”
The disciple wailed, staring at the blood dripping from his stump. However, because of the sword wound to his abdomen, he couldn't even project his voice properly.
That worked in my favor. It would only make the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon more anxious.
Boom!
The Red Robed White-Eyed Demon stomped the floor, channeling his internal energy as he roared.
“I’ll kill you all!”
As the inn shook, I tightened my grip on the disciple’s armpits and maneuvered him in front of the Demon. Since the disciple was severely wounded, he moved easily in whatever direction I forced him.
I squeezed out every drop of my internal energy.
The Red Robed White-Eyed Demon, momentarily lowering his guard as his disciple approached, suddenly sensed my energy and thrust his sword forward.
Thuck!
The blade buried itself deep into the disciple’s chest.
“Gah… Master… It’s… it’s me…”
As the disciple trembled and spoke, the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon withdrew his sword and rushed closer.
“Hong? Is that you?”
Thinking he had stabbed his own disciple in a moment of confusion, he lowered his sword and hurried toward him. Since my internal energy had long since dissipated, the Demon could no longer sense my presence.
“D-Don’t… come… Behind…”
The moment the disciple struggled to warn him, I threw up my right arm, which had been tucked under his armpit.
Thrust!
Even as the sword pierced his chest, the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon only grimaced; he didn't let out so much as a whimper.
Suddenly, the old monster raised his sword. If he swung it now, I was too close to dodge and would be cleaved in two.
I yanked my sword out of the Demon’s chest and violently shoved the disciple toward him. The disciple collapsed into the old monster’s arms.
That was the moment.
I raised my sword again and, just as the disciple fell into the monster's embrace, I drove my blade through the disciple’s back.
The sword tore through the disciple and pierced the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon as well.
The Red Robed White-Eyed Demon’s hands shook like aspen leaves before he finally dropped his sword. For a master, dropping one's sword meant the heart had already been punctured.
I stumbled backward, watching the Demon tremble. The tension that had made me feel like my heart would burst with every breath finally began to ebb.
But in that brief moment of negligence, the slumped Red Robed White-Eyed Demon suddenly raised his arm and struck out at me.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
I was sent tumbling back nearly twenty feet.
My heart hammered against my ribs. If he hadn't been on the verge of death, that strike would have crushed my chest.
After being hit by his palm strike, my chest felt icy cold, as if someone had stuffed it with ice, but the sensation vanished an instant later.
It was a strange feeling, but since it was my first time being hit by a palm technique, I assumed that was just how it felt.
Dismissing it, I looked at the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon. Even as a master, he didn't die instantly, gasping for breath in ragged intervals.
I… I did it. I took down the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon!
I was astonished myself. Even though I was the one who planned it, I hadn't expected it to actually succeed, not even by a hair’s breadth.
The Red Robed White-Eyed Demon staggered back, pulled the sword out of his chest, and spat out a spray of blood. He clutched his chest, trembling, his heart clearly failing.
“Hahaha! Impressive! I didn't think anyone could evade my five senses. To think you’ve reached a realm where you can hide your killing intent and internal energy… My mistake was losing track of your presence for that brief moment.”
Hearing his words, I nodded inwardly.
It went exactly as I thought. The old monster really is blind. He senses opponents by feeling their killing intent and internal energy, but since I don't have enough energy to even generate killing intent, his senses couldn't pick me up.
To be honest, I hadn't been entirely sure it would work. It was a classic case of stumbling into success by pure, dumb luck.
Ice Jade Ice Sword, having finished off the other two disciples, approached me and looked at me with a strange expression. However, it didn't take long for me to realize the meaning behind that look.
“How does my White Horse Ten Canes taste? You’ll be following me to the grave soon enough.”
Ack!
Did he just say White Horse Ten Canes?
That was one of the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon’s signature techniques—a terrifying demonic art where Yin energy penetrates to the very bone, causing the victim to wither away and die.
No wonder my chest had felt so cold earlier.
Am I going to die like this? Dammit, and here I was celebrating being alive.
“Urgh!”
With those final words, the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon collapsed, blood erupting from his chest like a fountain. By performing the White Horse Ten Canes while his heart was already damaged, he had caused it to burst, finally ending his life.
“Young Hero Eo! Are you alright?”
The Twin Heroes of Guiyang called out as they approached.
I tried to smile, but I didn't have the strength. The energy drained from my body, and my legs gave way.
The moment I felt something metallic and wet pouring from my nose and mouth, a familiar fear gripped me—the fear of losing consciousness.
How can I faint every single time? This is so embarrassing. This time, no matter what, I’ll endure it. I’ll… endure it. Yeah, I can do this. But why is the floor getting so close?
I felt my knees hit the ground, followed by my head, but it didn't feel real.
Thud!
I heard the sound of my skull hitting the floor.
So… damn… embarrassing.
*
A brilliant light woke me.
I closed my eyes for a moment, basking in the glow. The light was warm, like sunshine beaming down on me.
Then, a thought occurred to me: Wait, am I forgetting something?
As soon as I remembered why I was lying there, a string of curses flew out of my mouth.
“Wait! So… I got hit by that old fossil’s White Horse Ten Canes or Black Horse Ten Canes or whatever. Son of a…! The more I think about it, the madder I get!”
I remembered losing consciousness in the inn after being struck by the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon.
But I was alive?
I stopped cursing and offered a silent prayer of thanks to the heavens and the Buddha for my survival.
“I knew it. It’s not my time to go yet. I must have some sort of divine mandate I don't know about.”
I felt a profound sense of awe for the sanctity of life. But as I spoke, a sharp, needle-like pain stabbed at my chest, and my rage toward the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon flared up again.
“If you’re gonna die, just die quietly! Why drag me into this misery? You won't find any peace in the afterlife, you old monster!”
While I was busy throwing my one-man tantrum, someone nearby let out a soft giggle.
“Hohoho! I had no idea the first-rate master who killed the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon was such a funny person.”
Huh? What was that elegant, heavenly voice?
Startled, I whipped my head around.
For the first time in my life, I saw a person who made the surrounding scenery fade into gray, as if she were the only thing that existed. The strange charm she exuded was so overwhelming it felt like my vision was being paralyzed.
“Who… are you?”
The woman, who had been laughing while lightly covering her mouth, lowered her hand and spoke.
“I’m sorry. You woke up so suddenly and started cursing that I couldn't help but laugh.”
She then introduced herself.
“I am Chong Ae-hyeon, the head of the Medical Hall here at Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
Enchanted by her smile, I muttered without thinking.
“You are truly beautiful.”
Chong Ae-hyeon’s beauty wasn't just about being pretty; she had a profound, graceful aura. Her eyes and smile felt incredibly warm. I even felt a cozy, maternal comfort from her—a feeling I didn't even have a memory of from my own mother.
When she blushed and lowered her head at my words, I realized my blunder.
Oh boy! What the hell am I blabbering about?
“I’m sorry, I made a mistake because the first person I saw upon waking was so beautiful.”
At my blunt honesty, Chong Ae-hyeon laughed again and nodded.
“I understand, but I can't quite believe you calling me beautiful. I’ve never heard that before.”
When she said that, I asked with a look of disbelief.
“Are you telling me the people here at Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress are all blind?”
As I said that, someone suddenly chimed in from the doorway.
“Who’s blind?”
I started to lift my head but immediately buried it back into the pillow.
The moment I saw Mok Seon-hwa, I realized this really was Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress. A chill ran down my spine at the fact that I had ended up back in this cursed place.
I have to get out of here. Otherwise, I don't know what kind of curse will befall me.
I had never looked so pathetic in my life. Ever since I learned how to survive in the world, I had never been beaten badly enough to be bedridden.
Mok Seon-hwa stepped inside. Behind her, I caught a glimpse of Do Yeon following.
“Sister! How is he?”
The moment I heard Mok Seon-hwa’s voice, I lay back down and squeezed my eyes shut.
“I haven't woken up yet.”
Chong Ae-hyeon looked at me and smiled.
I still need rest.
“Who were you talking to?”
Mok Seon-hwa came fluttering over.
I heard Chong Ae-hyeon’s voice.
“He was just mumbling to himself.”
I felt Mok Seon-hwa plop down beside me.
“Huh? He still hasn't regained consciousness? I heard on the way here that the Yin energy of the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon’s White Horse Ten Canes is so strong that people just wither away and die.”
Chong Ae-hyeon teased her.
“But why is our Lady Mok so sad?”
Mok Seon-hwa replied in a mournful tone.
“If Young Hero Eo dies, I’ll become a widow immediately.”
What? Where does this little brat get off saying stuff like that?
“Hohoho, why would you become a widow, Lady Mok?”
“Hehe, because I’m going to marry him.”
At those words, I had to suppress a powerful urge to jump up and give her a good noogie. It was harder than holding back a bout of diarrhea.
“Seon-hwa, stop talking nonsense and be quiet. Young Hero Eo is still unconscious; you shouldn't be so noisy.”
At Do Yeon’s low but authoritative voice, Mok Seon-hwa couldn't even talk back.
“Yes, Master.”
“I’m worried because an Emei Sect disciple who was hit by the White Horse Ten Canes once suffered for a month before dying.”
Chong Ae-hyeon picked up the conversation.
“As you know, being hit by the White Horse Ten Canes turns all the meridians into a frozen state. If it stays like this for too long, the meridians will close permanently.”
After a brief pause, Chong Ae-hyeon spoke again.
“All of Young Hero Eo’s acupoints are already frozen shut. He can't even move his internal energy.”