Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Farewell, and Enlightenment (1)
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“Black Horse Demonic Palm?!”
Jeok Mu-kyeong cried out in alarm at the pitch-black hand targeting his heart, kicking off fiercely to evade.
Shweeeek!
The glossy black hand tore through space, unleashing a chilling whoosh.
Paht! Pa-paht!
But the terror of the Black Horse Demonic Palm didn't end there.
“It scattered my Fear Flames?”
Jeok Mu-kyeong shouted in astonishment as his flames, which had burned through everything until now, dispersed under the demonic energy.
“Wang-u! What the hell are you?!”
“Didn't I tell you? I'm merely an old servant of the heavens.”
“How can a true inheritor of the Kunlun Sect wield the Blood Sect's vile demonic art?!”
This was no mere imitation.
Jeok Mu-kyeong, shaking off the inky palm strikes that pressed and battered his blade, realized it.
'This surpasses the realm of the Black Horse Demonic Palm by far.'
It was common knowledge that no warrior could master both demonic arts and orthodox martial techniques.
The human body simply couldn't contain the two polar forces of purity and tyranny.
“Didn't I tell you?”
The black hand shadows multiplied into hundreds, filling a dozen jang radius with demonic energy.
“It's permitted by my heaven!”
Saaaaah—.
“Kuhk!”
Jeok Mu-kyeong's eyes wavered as the inky demonic energy repelled his flames.
'Damn it. Even more vicious than the rumors.'
This rivals the Northern Sky itself.
Flaaash!
His form staggered amid the encroaching demonic energy, breath faltering.
His mind reeled from the poison laced within.
'Me, on the verge of Demon God Descent, being pushed back.'
Though incomplete, he had half-shed his human shell.
Yet he was still overwhelmed. The Eight Thousand Demon Emissary Jeok Mu-kyeong was utterly dumbfounded.
Ku-gagak!
A gleaming inky hand pierced the black demonic energy, splitting toward his crown.
Hwi-ik!
He leaned back to dodge, but it shifted to a probing thrust at his side.
Peng!
“Guhk!”
As his torso bent with a scream, Wang-u's form flashed from all directions, unleashing ghostly palm strikes in rapid succession.
'Overlapping Palms!'
Instinctively shielding his face with both arms and channeling protective energy against the onslaught, Jeok Mu-kyeong endured the crushing force.
Peng! Peng! Peng! Peng!
Struck by the potent demonic energy, he crashed through several trees and boulders, tumbling away.
Juhruk.
Dragging furrows with his legs, he clutched his throat.
“Kuh-leuk!”
Through his tattered chest, a black palm print marred his heart.
Gritting his teeth at the sight of his skin blackened, boiling from the vicious demonic poison, Jeok Mu-kyeong seethed.
'A monster. To pierce my steel body and deliver such impact.'
Astonishing, yet Wang-u's state was far from pristine.
One sleeve charred black, ash falling from his hair and beard.
Blisters swelled beneath from burns.
“Impressive. Worthy of the title emissary.”
Even so, what chilled Jeok Mu-kyeong was Wang-u's fighting style.
He took the Fear Flames head-on, then slammed Black Horse Palms into openings.
Giving bone for life.
This fiendish, relentless ferocity daunted even the flame-clad Eight Thousand Demon Emissary.
“Mad dog.”
“A fine compliment indeed.”
Hwiik!
Wang-u vanished like sinking into the earth, closing five jang to strike his back.
“Your footwork seemed weak—a feint?”
“Can't lay all cards on the table in the jianghu!”
“Monster! No one as cunning as you.”
“You who cling to rocks—qualified to call others monsters?”
“Shut up!”
Kuuaaaang!
His sword melted under fully unleashed power, scattering as molten red metal.
Pa-pa-pa-pah!
The sword energy, reduced to droplets, ravaged the area with flames, dyeing it in fiery blaze.
“Eum.”
Wang-u staggered in the searing heat few could withstand.
“This one is the heaven of Eight Thousand!”
Absolute invincibility!
Kwakakakak!
Suddenly, flames erupted, blasting shattered trees and debris outward.
Within the manifested hell of fire.
Hwoook!
Wang-u burst through the white-hot flames.
“Scorching.”
“Hah!”
Jeok Mu-kyeong gasped as Wang-u emerged unscathed from what he thought impenetrable.
“But if it kills you, such flames are trivial.”
Wuuuung!
A swarm's hum rose as his palm gleamed inky.
—Asura Palm Technique.
Final form: Asura Heaven-Shatterer.
Unleashing the overwhelming palm named for an asura crumbling the heavens, nearby plants and animals withered rapidly.
A colossal shockwave followed.
Jjeoeok!
Struck again at the heart, Jeok Mu-kyeong gaped silently.
Peng-peng-peng-peng!
Blood fountained like asura's visage, hurling him into the demonic storm.
***
“Huuu. Tiring.”
Wang-u staggered with a sigh.
“Definitely stamina-draining.”
To bestow such a monstrous art.
Surveying the flattened mound and devastation, he approached Jeok Mu-kyeong.
“Kekeke. Vermin. Reduced to rags.”
No need to check the outcome.
Limbs twisted grotesquely, blood gushing from his mouth.
Above all, the vivid palm print on his heart.
“Struck by peak Black Horse Demonic Palm, he'll die in agony.”
Declaring doom, Sima Baek puzzled.
“Undeniably strong, yet...”
Why order retreat upon spotting an emissary?
Frankly, luck played a part. If not exhausted from the Sword Saint...
Even if not complacent in Solar Divine Art...
“Had I not seen through the feint, this old man might have fallen.”
Still, Sima Baek wondered.
'Not our lord's style—he who never retreated from even slim odds.'
Shaking off thoughts, he approached.
“Omnipotent one has reasons. Better end it thoroughly.”
As he neared for the killing blow.
Something unforeseen: the Blood Jade Stone tumbled from his bosom.
“Heh heh. Lucky.”
Bubbling. Bubbling.
Suddenly, near-dead Jeok Mu-kyeong's vitality surged.
Udeuduk.
Twisted limbs straightened with jerks.
Kkumeul. Kkumeul.
Blackened veins writhed, reforming his crushed heart instantly.
'Impossible!'
Sima Baek, versed in Blood Sect's grotesque arts, knew regenerative demonic techniques.
Even heart-burst or limb-loss recovery.
But visible reconstruction? Unheard.
'This is why? The order to evade absolutely.'
A ridiculous artifact.
Killing intent flared in his eyes.
“Tch. Survive headless?”
Wuuuung.
As Black Horse Demonic Palm rose again.
Udeuduk. Udeuduk.
Kkumeul. Kkumeul. Kkumeul.
Horror gripped him at the wax-like mass reshaping.
'This form!'
Familiar beyond doubt.
In that frozen moment, fully regenerated Jeok Mu-kyeong snatched the Blood Jade Stone.
“You! Stop!”
Shiiik!
Inky hand severed his wrist like lightning.
Tuk.
As the wrist fell clutching the stone, Jeok Mu-kyeong sprang up, lunging again.
Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!
Pummeled on the back, he screamed “Kuhk!” and rolled.
“Damn it! So close!”
Melting lips spat curses.
“...Accept death. You have no hope.”
“Heh heh. Really?”
Rumble!
Mad eyes lifted, his face bulging grotesquely.
'This!'
Veins swelled, body writhing; Sima Baek's eyes twitched.
“Igniting energy for mutual destruction?”
“Heh heh heh. Hell awaits you alone.”
Odd leisure revealed his ploy.
'With the stone, he regenerates.'
Then.
'Can't let him have it.'
Snatching the rolling stone with void grasp, Jeok Mu-kyeong clicked his tongue.
“Fool. Think you can guard the awakening stone from this emissary?”
“Won't be easy.”
Sima Baek growled amid rising pressure.
“Even I wouldn't emerge unscathed from this demonic rampage.”
“I'll kill you and reclaim the stone.”
“But what if...?”
Puuk!
Embedding the stone in his own abdomen, Sima Baek spat blood, chuckling.
“You'll choose.”
Detonate me with the stone.
“Or flee like a tailless dog for another day!”
“Such a lunatic!”
Too late to quell the energy surge; his body distorted unevenly.
Demonic rampage imminent.
Barely suppressing, ballooned Jeok Mu-kyeong roared.
“Damn it! I won't forget this!”
A hemispheric glow burst from him, expanding.
Kwa— Kwa— Kwoong!
A heaven-shaking explosion engulfed a hundred jang radius.
***
Flinch!
Jin Seol-hyang peeked up from the warm embrace.
“What's wrong?”
“...Nothing.”
His voice lacked prior ease.
“You seem urgent.”
“Do I?”
“I hear I'm quite perceptive.”
From years of reading moods.
She swallowed the rest, feeling his back tremble faintly.
“Still the same.”
“Pardon?”
At the cryptic words, she tilted her head.
A floating sensation; soon her toes touched ground.
As the warm back and soothing scent receded, she realized she stood alone.
“Can walk alone now?”
“Of course.”
“Ahead, you'll see familiar friends soon.”
As the instructor stepped back, Jin Seol-hyang asked.
“Won't you come with us?”
“Places to be.”
“I'll go too. I've faced plenty of foes.”
Intuition said she couldn't let him go alone.
Dangers lingered.
“Impossible.”
Firm refusal.
“Spirit's good. But sometimes, assess your state honestly.”
Good intentions falter if overreached—injured and broken.
Subtle rebuke; she puffed her cheeks.
No anger, though. Gratitude for salvation.
Somehow, she sensed it was time to part.
“Instructor Chu Un-hwi, right?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks again. I'm Jin Seol-hyang of Silver Hall.”
Fist clenched with resolve.
“I'll repay this someday.”
“Haha. Quite reliable.”
Suk-suk.
His patting hand, childish yet...
'Oddly comforting.'
His mature air stirred unfamiliar feelings for her, unused to others.
“Jin Seol-hyang!”
A voice called; she turned.
“Ah, a fellow student. Definitely.”
But facing front, the space was empty.
“Didn't sense a thing.”
Dazed, she pinched her cheek, fearing illusion.
Pain or not, warmth and scent lingered on her fingers.
“No way.”
Smiling softly, she schooled her face to calm.
Adjusting attire neatly, she stepped forward.
Glance.
After one last look at the breeze-swept void.