Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Altar of Flames (5)
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Thud thud thud thud.
Galloping forward without pause, Wang Wu glanced back at Jeok Mu-kyeong hot on his heels.
'My lord was right to warn me.'
Jeok Mu-kyeong, pursuing in a straight line, looked utterly unstoppable.
Kung!
Each stomp shattered rough rocks and earth, spewing clumps of dirt into the air.
Thud thud!
Wherever he passed, massive trees and even the wind ignited in the intense heat and crumbled to ash.
Just running in a straight line created a terrifying spectacle, as if the God of Flames had descended once more.
'Not unlike a lightning-struck wild boar?'
A harsh assessment, but no reason to let his guard down.
Boom boom boom boom!
The mere massive conflagration he unleashed made qi roil and boil.
"What a ridiculous monster."
His divine might, akin to a natural disaster, could never be countered by crudely mastered Kunlun sect ultimate arts.
'Where no eyes can reach, end it with demonic arts.'
Kung! Kung! Kung! Kung!
- Kill them all! Erase every living thing!
Seeing the mighty forest bowing like dry reeds before the flames, Wang Wu spurred his form even faster.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
The enemies retreating amid the sudden blaze whirled around.
Stab stab!
"Kuhk!"
Even in the forest filled with screams, Jin Seol-hyang stayed until the very end, guarding the backs of the fleeing students.
Stab stab!
"Kuhk!"
From somewhere, horrific killing intent surged alongside screams, but she gripped her sword tight.
'I can't collapse and cry.'
From the moment she decided to grip the sword, she had made a promise to herself.
'I'll never submit to the world.'
It was a promise made to her mother, who had grown colder than the snow in the unrelenting blizzard.
'I'll never cry again.'
Pushing down her fear, she barely recalled it.
The forms of Divine Martial Swordsmanship she had never let go, even as blisters formed endlessly on her hands and she collapsed from exhaustion.
"Haap!"
Clang! Clang clang clang!
The instant she sensed killing intent aimed at her nape, she twisted her body and unleashed her swordsmanship.
Stab! Stab stab!
Her opponent's sword was vicious.
"Hup?"
Hearing the foe's startled voice, she channeled her thirty years of inner power into her blade.
Woooong.
It was nothing impressive compared to a Silver Hall student's, but...
Woooong.
The power built painstakingly from grains of qi was exceedingly pure, enough to manifest clear sword qi at her blade's tip.
Stab!
"Heuk!"
As her opponent gulped and tried to retreat, she relentlessly drove her strikes toward his throat, heart, and flank.
Clang! Clang!
Just as taught, she refused to yield distance, compressing her assault into a single breath.
A textbook method, yet enough to force her foe onto the defensive in an instant.
Woooong.
Sensing defeat, her opponent spread both hands, palms reddening.
'Yang Gang Palm.'
Kwa-duk.
As expected, he gripped her sword with powerful fiery palm arts.
But Jin Seol-hyang, anticipating this, released her grip as if waiting and kicked the blade's flat with her toe.
Iron Plate Bridge technique.
"Heok!"
The man, unprepared for her to let go, recoiled both hands in shock at the writhing sword.
Spin.
Swiftly whirling her body, she snatched the sword from midair and thrust straight for his heart.
A picture-perfect counterattack.
Swoosh!
As the razor-sharp tip cleaved air toward his chest.
'Killing is inevitable.'
Her brief hesitation brought irreversible disaster.
Thud!
"Hwik!"
Struck in the back, Jin Seol-hyang swallowed a scream and slid away.
Leap.
In her sight, another brute landed lightly behind her.
'Not one, but four.'
A hopeless situation.
"Damn bitch. Daring to aim for my heart."
"Greenhorns, but righteous geniuses they call them."
"Hmph! Let go. I'll kill this one."
The man picking up her fallen sword bared killing intent curling from his lips.
"I'll carve that face nice and slow."
His blade tip neared between her brows.
"Heh heh. Yeah, that face."
Glare at the sadistic foe aflame with lust, Jin Seol-hyang wrinkled her nose.
"Carve the face first, you bastard."
"...What?"
"By the time you scratch my face, I'll have thought of ten ways to kill you."
The man's expressionless shock twisted into fury.
"You're done. Tongue first..."
Grab.
A brutal hand seized her jaw, wrenching her neck.
"Kek kek."
Though breath failed, Jin Seol-hyang focused her eyes instead of tears.
And shouted.
"Iyaap!"
Thwack!
Groping the ground, she seized a stone and smashed its sharp end into his forehead.
"Guk!"
With a strangled cry, the man toppled, grinding his teeth in demonic rage.
"You bitch..."
Kwaak!
Pinning her limbs brutally, he whispered filthy breath in her ear.
"I'll make you writhe in the worst agony."
"Uk. Uhk."
"Heh heh. Look forward to it."
Shing. As the cold blade touched her cheek, tracing a thin line of blood.
"Hey. Aren't you being too rough on our young student?"
"Who?!"
"Who else?"
Thwack! Thud thud!
Amid lightning-fast sword flashes, Jin Seol-hyang felt hot blood pouring down her back.
Rising as his grip slackened, she spotted a familiar-uniformed man resting his sword on his shoulder.
An instructor smiling brightly, backlit by the dawning light.
"The warm protector. Living justice. Marriageable-age single instructor Chu Un-hwi."
'Who is he? This man?'
A complete stranger.
Yet why?
Beneath his shaggy hair, his quivering lips felt strangely familiar, even nostalgic.
"Here. Can you stand?"
"Y-yes..."
Grasped by his warm hand, rising let Jin Seol-hyang see him closer.
Slightly taller than her, with a somewhat boyish air.
"I'm not violent. Gentle and kind by nature."
"I'm fine. Thank you for saving me."
"Really. I'm peaceful, so if not urgent, I'd have talked them down."
What is he saying? This man.
Her gaze drifted to his attire.
"...An instructor?"
"Yep. Born educator, marriageable-age upright instructor."
His speech is odd.
'Maybe slightly unwell?'
Awkward to ask her savior outright.
Unaware, the instructor kept explaining.
"By the way, single. Seeking a fine lady to save this lonely man."
"I see."
"Don't laugh. Think it over. No one like me."
"Hee hee."
His joke made her laugh aloud.
'Shocked from before, trying to cheer me up.'
Warmer than expected.
"I'm okay. No need for jokes to lift spirits. I'm strong despite looks."
"Good then."
Is his subtle melancholy an illusion?
"The others? Got caught in the blast."
"Don't worry. I'll take you."
"Won't burden you?"
"Seol-hyang. Trust this big bro once?"
"Huh?"
Jin Seol-hyang blinked her clear black-and-white eyes.
"Did I mention my name?"
"...Felt like it."
Felt like? She blinked blankly until he admitted.
"Reminded me of a friend Seo Ok-rang mentioned."
"Ah. Ok-rang."
Makes sense.
One of her few friends in vast Silver Hall.
"Then, sorry, but please."
Reassured by her friend's name, she rose—then flopped down.
"...Sorry, ankle's hurt."
"Such fortune..."
"?"
Suddenly gloomy, the instructor waved it off.
"Misfortune."
Muttering 'such pity' or 'what now' like reading a book, he squatted and offered his back.
"Hop on."
"P-piggyback?"
"Staying like this is just dangerous."
True.
Watching him urge her, she hesitated briefly.
'Piggyback from a stranger.'
Deeply embarrassing.
But not for long.
"Thank youuu."
Cautiously placing hands on shoulders, leaning slowly.
Hands tentative like a child touching a rabbit first time.
'Ate a lot this morning.'
As full weight settled, she marveled at the warm, familiar sensation.
Human warmth long forgotten.
Especially this warmth felt distant.
'Strangely comfortable.'
She nestled her head against his back, drowsiness beckoning.
But peering through dawn-lit hair strands, she tilted her head.
"Instructor. Crying?"
"No. Senior instructors don't cry."
More importantly.
"Not uncomfortable?"
"No, very..."
Warm and comfortable.
"Glad. Rest. This strong senior single instructor will get you safe quick."
"Thank... you."
Even a strangely familiar scent.
Suddenly wistful, Jin Seol-hyang shed her usual fierce face, unconsciously nuzzling his nape.
"Eekya gyak!"
"Hee hee."
Amused reaction made her shoulders shake, stifling laughter as she closed eyes.
Just moments ago on death's door, yet heart so peaceful—why?
'Sometime. Somewhere...'
Like reviving long-lost memory or recollection.
So distant, yet poignant.
The mood to laugh through tears?
Even in cold blizzard, akin to faint snow scent flowing.
Soon lulled, she fell fast asleep with soft snores.
Kwaaaa!
Wang Wu, engulfed in massive flames, kicked a falling burning tree and twisted midair.
Boom boom boom boom!
Flipping to evade sword qi and palm force, they exploded far off with earth and rocks.
"This is where you flee to?"
Roarrr!
The Palcheon Demon closed distance, massive flames surging over his shoulder.
"Heuk. Heuk."
Breath to his throat, Wang Wu turned with a sigh.
Seeing limp arms, Jeok Mu-kyeong laughed.
"Ha. Ha. Giving up life is fine."
Laughing, striding close.
Roarrr!
Where he passed, scenery burned, creating a hell of flames.
"No escape. By the time aid arrives, you'll be charred."
Crack.
Crimson-black veins from hands spread to neck.
Glancing at eyes, as expected.
Pulsate. Pulsate.
The blood jade embedded in his grip throbbed visibly, writhing like alive.
"...Seeking godhood, devoured by stone into monster?"
"Heh heh. Worry not. Your awakening stone summons true divine power."
Jeok Mu-kyeong's eyes burst veins, bloodshot, shedding human form bit by bit.
'That's a demon god?'
Mouth tore wider, teeth sharpened.
Even burst-vein pupils turned blood-red, like glass forged from pooled blood.
"Ugly being, demon god."
"Kek kek. The lowly can't grasp this exaltation."
Ecstatic like already divine, Jeok Mu-kyeong licked lips.
"Become demon god! Master this world! I am sovereign of demon path! Kahahat hahaha!"
"Sovereign of demon path?"
To him laughing as if victory assured, Wang Wu—no, Sima Baek—shook his sleeves.
Kwoong!
"Kuk!"
For the first time, pushed back by thunderous palm, Jeok Mu-kyeong's face twisted.
Arms numb even Sword Saint couldn't faze—clear panic.
Seeing this, Sima Baek's smile vanished, coldly intoning.
"You, puppet of foul tool, dare speak demon heavens?"
Whoooosh.
In rising demonic qi like mist, Sima Baek's blackened palms gleamed obsidian.
"Old Demon Art? Blood Cult martial art?"
"My true demonic art, permitted by demon heavens."
Kwaang!
Obsidian qi clashed with flame blades, gale toppling all trees and grass nearby.