Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Brutal Death Army (3)
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"You..."
The man staring at him with wide eyes was someone he recognized.
'The guy from the quarrel at the market.'
He was the opponent who had nearly sparked a fight after Chu Un-hwi insulted the roaring wolf emblem.
"What are you doing here?"
Chu Un-hwi sneered at him.
"You got a problem with me walking around on my own two feet?"
"Still got that mouth on you, kid."
"You think you're any better? I'm a guest elder of the Thunder Tiger Sect, you know."
He name-dropped the sect's second-in-command, but the Iron Blood Beast Corps member just laughed.
"Relying on those Black Gate Four Swords clowns? That's rich."
The man growled like a beast.
"You don't know the ways of the jianghu. Even if the Thunder Tiger Sect's chief steward or sect leader himself showed up, do you think the Iron Blood Beast Corps would bat an eye?"
The air grew icy with his killing intent.
'He's hooked.'
They were the Iron Chain Alliance leader's personal hounds, sure—but outsiders rolling in from afar all the same.
'No matter how much unorthodox scum fear the strong, they won't take kindly to their own sect being openly dissed.'
Sensing the hostile atmosphere thicken, he prodded another sore spot.
"Oh? Jin Yang, little miss."
"Cross Demon Sword. Good to see you again."
Jin Yang emerged from behind the Iron Blood Beast Corps member.
"Man, first time since that boat ride. What's a girl like you doing here?"
"None of your business."
"I'll be the judge of that. Oh. Buncha pretty little misses, huh?"
Jin Yang wasn't alone. She had a group of sullen-faced girls with her.
"Alliance business. Stay out of it, Cross Demon Sword."
"What? 'Stay out'? You done talking?"
"You lunatic. Some people can't be reasoned with. Time to finish that lesson from before."
As the Beast Corps member gnashed his teeth, a heavy voice rang out beside him.
"Squad Leader Yi. You know this guy?"
He wore the same wolf-emblazoned uniform, with a red armband on one sleeve. The aura in his voice was formidable.
"Well... a while back."
The armbanded man clicked his tongue in annoyance after hearing the story.
"Heard about some thunderbolt freak called the Cross Demon Sword, but I didn't think he'd be this much of a rogue."
"Rogue?"
Chu Un-hwi kicked off the ground and charged. The armbanded man's eyes twitched.
"You punk! Where do you get off with that killing intent!"
"Get your paws outta my face!"
Squad Leader Yi blocked the reckless charge, unleashing a vicious sword stroke.
Bang!
Chu Un-hwi slapped his scabbard, launching it like a cannon shell at Squad Leader Yi.
"What the—!"
Crack!
He flashed his blade wildly, shattering the scabbard mid-air—but Chu Un-hwi had closed the distance as planned.
Swoosh.
He raised his index and middle fingers on his left hand to jab at the eyes. Squad Leader Yi's sword wavered like a wave.
Predicting the follow-up, he thrust precisely at the opening.
Then, Cross Sword Qi.
Boom!
Squad Leader Yi staggered back from the sudden qi burst, blood spraying from the corner of his eye.
Thud! Thud!
Chu Un-hwi drove a kick into the stumbling man's chest, then planted his foot on the recoiling head for a leap.
"Fights start at the head!"
Whoooosh!
He rocketed toward the armbanded man with a roar. A disbelieving voice followed.
"Well, now. Never thought I'd see a mongrel baring teeth at me."
Snap!
Chu Un-hwi flipped mid-air and unleashed Cross Sword Qi, slicing through the man's billowing robe.
Riiip!
The robe split perfectly in a cross—but the armbanded man had vanished.
Shing!
A killing intent split the air toward his crown. He sprang away just in time.
Clang!
The descending slash trembled like a serpent's head, then snaked toward his nape.
'Definitely a cut above your average squad leader.'
Ching!
He blocked the reverse stroke with his blade hand. Clang! A clear ring echoed as his body was flung back.
"You parried One Soul Ten Pierce Flash? Unbelievable."
"Your imagination's lacking!"
He stamped his lead foot to halt his retreat, then fired Cross Sword Qi again.
"Hmph."
A grunt escaped as the armbanded man's sword splintered into dozens of afterimages.
The Iron Blood Beast Corps members cried out in alarm.
"Sword aura! Sword aura!"
"The Cross Demon Sword's forcing a hundred-man captain to break out his signature move?"
Gasps erupted from Jin Yang and the women too.
"Who the hell is that guy?"
"Even the Iron Blood Beast Corps' hundred-man captain has to use sword aura."
A hundred-man captain, huh.
'Figured he'd outrank the squad leader I killed before, but this is a bigger fish than I thought.'
As he mulled it over, the captain raised his red-glowing sword and licked his lips.
"You've forced me to get serious. Your crime is grave. A leg and an arm should cover it."
"Buddy, my third leg's off-limits!"
"I'll smash that trap first!"
As if done with words, the man surged with energy, unleashing a fierce heat wave across the yard.
"Eek!"
"Ngh!"
Those with weaker inner power staggered under the sword aura's pressure storm.
But Chu Un-hwi rode the momentum.
"Come on! You punk! Come on!"
"Die!"
The ten-foot sword qi arcing overhead now slashed across the front.
Flutter. Flutter.
His robes whipped like flags in the aura's shockwave.
Rumble.
Immense pressure bore down on his shoulders, but he crouched low, biding his time.
'About fifty years of inner power.'
A total rout would only raise suspicions.
'Take him down with sharp instincts and precise swordplay.'
His eyes read the gaps in the myriad sword intents.
Krunch!
That's when Chu Un-hwi moved.
"Hm?"
The captain's eyes flickered as he slipped through the raging sword aura like he'd been waiting.
"Over here, asshole!"
The man tried to refocus his assault, but Chu Un-hwi's movements were unpredictable.
If two legs weren't enough, he'd punch the ground or roll—whatever it took to evade.
"This is ridiculous."
What was sword aura?
A miracle born of peak inner power control and technique.
It cleaved rock like tofu, pinned foes with its mere presence—an absolute force.
"How's he moving so freely through the aura's shockwaves?"
Instinct should have frozen him solid.
Instead, the empty swings ravaged only the surroundings.
"This time, you're done."
The enraged captain's sword aura flared brighter, layered upon itself.
'Going all-out to obliterate this spot?'
The moment the thought hit, he detonated his fifty years of power and hurled himself three zhang away.
By a hair's breadth, the crimson blade etched hundreds of afterimages across the three-zhang yard.
---
Roooar!
Silence fell as the red sword aura shattered, then a deafening roar and shockwave hit.
Boom!
The explosion's devastation was immense—nearby pavilions shed their tiles in cascades.
"Huff. Huff."
The captain staggered, having expended a massive burst at once.
The perfect opening.
Crick.
Having barely dodged the aftermath, Chu Un-hwi bit down on his sword.
"It's over, you rat."
He lunged close. The captain, catching his breath, paled in shock.
'Still no backup?'
As he closed in to slit the throat with his mouthed blade—
"Heh heh heh. Quite the bold pup."
A resonant voice boomed, and crushing pressure slammed onto his shoulders.
"Ngh!"
Chu Un-hwi skidded on all fours, tumbling across the ground.
Flutter.
As all eyes gathered, an elder in a red robe descended slowly from the air.
"Never thought I'd see someone gnawing at the Iron Blood Beast Corps right in front of me. Quite the show."
The Beast Corps members dropped to their knees in unison.
"We see the Death General!"
The Brutal Death Army had arrived, as expected.
***
Beyond the bamboo grove stood a lavish annex.
There, besides the Brutal Death Army, was another eye-catching figure.
A half-white-haired elder in black uniform, radiating razor-sharp aura.
'Heavenly Stealth Assassination Sword.'
As he gauged the man's skill, the Brutal Death Army spoke.
"Pup. You know my name?"
"Just that you're a big shot in the Iron Chain Alliance."
"Heh heh. Bold one."
He seemed amused, but his eyes held no warmth.
"Know what it means to fight in front of me?"
"People fight sometimes. What's the big deal?"
"No street smarts in the jianghu means death. Guess you don't get it."
"Heard the jianghu's like dogs—dying anytime ain't weird. But."
"But?"
"Don't go quietly when you bite it."
The Brutal Death Army's face twisted oddly.
"Puppy warrior!"
"Cross Demon Sword!"
The Thunder Tiger Sect leader and Black Gate Four Swords tried to intervene, but laughter exploded instead.
"Ha ha ha! Masterpiece! What a masterpiece! Not just brute force after all."
His face lit with genuine delight as the laughter faded.
"I don't hate talent with guts."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. I even cherish those who prove useful."
The Brutal Death Army beckoned. The Thunder Tiger leader bowed.
"Yes, Death General."
"Does this pup really have the Dragon Shadow Steps?"
"Yes, Death General."
"Dragon Shadow Steps. Perfect timing. Just when I need it."
He muttered, propping his chin and crossing his legs.
"Pup."
"I'm not a pup. Name's Solid Pup."
"Amusing name. Cross Demon Sword doesn't suit you. From now on, you're Savage Pup."
The Black Gate Four Swords paled at the declaration. A Death General of the Iron Chain Alliance granting a nickname personally—what that implied was clear.
'Eh, "mad raging mutt" ain't the worst.'
A certified villain dubbing him a maniac? Plenty of mileage there.
The Brutal Death Army's tone softened slyly.
"Impressive showing against the Iron Blood Beast Corps' hundred-man captain."
"Just didn't wanna die."
"Fair enough. Lacking power, no way Lowly Cross Sword breaks the leader's One Soul Ten Pierce Flash. But your senses... remarkable."
His voice turned coaxing.
"Hand over the Dragon Shadow Steps. All of it."
"Need the chief steward's okay first."
The Black Gate Four Swords paled and waved frantically at the glance.
"D-Death General's will be done."
"Heh heh. Well? Still refuse?"
"......"
Silence drew a pleased grin.
"Do it right, and I'll teach you a martial art as reward. Way better than your limited swordplay."
'Nailed the strong impression.'
More gains than expected. Way more.