Chapter 355
Chapter 355
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 94
>Chapter Title: Extreme Blade (1)
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Meanwhile,
-crack!
“Guh... ughhh.”
The Young Manor Lord of Spirit Sword Manor, Gu Ung-hwang, nearly had his eyes roll back from the agony as five fingers dug into his skull.
Truly looking like he would crush his head and kill him on the spot, Ye Song-ah jumped in fright and turned her head away.
But then, someone approached Mok Kyung-un and knelt, bowing his head low.
-thud!
It was none other than Spirit Sword Manor's third son, Gu Yeon-woo.
Ye Song-ah couldn't hide her bewilderment at his sudden action.
Gu Yeon-woo urgently spoke up.
“Please spare my brother!”
‘!?’
The eyes of the suffering Young Manor Lord Gu Ung-hwang shook.
This guy was begging to save him?
In response to Gu Yeon-woo's desperate plea, Mok Kyung-un said in a flat voice, as if surprised.
“I know you two are half-brothers and not on good terms.”
“Even so, he’s still my brother.”
“A brother who stole his little brother’s possession and locked him up?”
“......That’s true, but the eldest brother did it hoping I’d succeed Father as the manor lord.”
“Good intentions?”
“Yes. So let me persuade him and retrieve the bead. Please show mercy.”
‘You.......’
Gu Ung-hwang’s groans faded at Gu Yeon-woo’s earnest voice.
Part of it was Mok Kyung-un loosening his grip, but it was also because it was the first time he realized the youngest’s true feelings.
He had thought the kid hated them because of the second brother’s bullying, leading to their rift.
But seeing his sincerity in this crisis tugged at his heart.
However,
“As touching as that is, I don’t have time to consider all that. If you don’t want to die, you’ll have no choice but to talk.”
“Please, just give me one chance to persuade him.”
Gu Yeon-woo crawled forward on the floor, trying to beg.
“That’s enough.”
Mok Kyung-un flicked his hand.
At that instant, powerful true energy sent Gu Yeon-woo’s body flying backward.
It was then.
“Haa... haa.... I’ll give it to you.”
Young Manor Lord Gu Ung-hwang forced his mouth open.
“Brother?”
Gu Yeon-woo’s eyes widened at his words.
Regardless, Gu Ung-hwang spoke as if that wasn’t the reason.
“The bead is with Second Brother. I’ll get it from him and hand it over, so please spare our Spirit Sword Manor.”
Mok Kyung-un scoffed.
“How much better would it have been if you’d done this sooner?”
“........Just keep your promise.”
-pak!
Mok Kyung-un released his clenched hand.
His face drenched in blood, Young Manor Lord Gu Ung-hwang collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
As he steadied his breathing, Gu Ung-hwang spoke without looking at Gu Yeon-woo.
“You leave with them too.”
“Brother?”
“It’s to protect our household. Don’t misunderstand.”
“........”
Gu Yeon-woo’s eyes reddened at his words.
Though forced by circumstance, his stubborn eldest brother had finally relented and was sending him off.
He felt sorry, yet grateful.
Staggering to his feet, Young Manor Lord Gu Ung-hwang said,
“I have to go too, or Second Brother won’t hand it over nicely.”
“Understood.”
But Gu Yeon-woo hurriedly added,
“Please wait a moment.”
“Why?”
“If you go out with your face like that, it’ll cause misunderstandings. Let me at least give you emergency treatment.”
Mok Kyung-un glanced at Gu Ung-hwang’s face at his words.
It was a bloody mess.
Mok Kyung-un nodded.
“Make it quick.”
With that, Mok Kyung-un left Gu Ung-hwang’s room.
As soon as Mok Kyung-un departed, the gazes Gu Ung-hwang and Gu Yeon-woo exchanged grew peculiar.
* * *
-Was that consideration on your part, mortal?
At the clear spirit’s voice ringing in his ear, Mok Kyung-un responded with puzzled eyes.
-What do you mean?
-Leaving them alone like that.
-That was...
-Giving the brothers a moment to resolve their emotional grudges, wasn’t it?
-I suppose.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged as if it wasn’t anything like that.
The clear spirit silently observed him.
He wasn’t aware of it himself, but Mok Kyung-un was gradually becoming more human.
Of course, he was still thoroughly rational and ruthless, but it was worlds apart from before.
It meant he was starting to understand others’ emotions.
This change in him strangely pleased the clear spirit.
She still wanted to deny why, but for now, she didn’t dislike it...
-flinch!
Mok Kyung-un suddenly turned his head somewhere.
The clear spirit asked,
-What is it?
-.......Blade qi..... Extremely powerful blade qi.
-Blade qi? Here?
-Yes.
-Impossible. According to that mortal girl Song-ah, they banned anyone practicing weapons other than swords from even entering the manor, didn’t they?
-Yes. But I sense it. And it’s incredibly strong.
-How strong, exactly?
-.......At least beyond the wall of walls.
-What?
The clear spirit couldn’t hide her surprise.
Beyond the wall of walls meant the Profound Realm, the domain of grandmasters.
And blade qi?
-Did that South Vanguard Warrior track us here?
Gu Seong-baek, one of the Six Heavens, the North Faction Blade King.
The closest to the supreme blade master in the current martial world.
-South Vanguard Warrior? Possible.
-If it’s him, he’s relentlessly persistent.
-Indeed. Might be better to kill him now.
-What?
-Couldn’t before, but now it might be possible.
-You mean fight him? Here?
The clear spirit asked in shock.
Mok Kyung-un nodded and started toward the source of the blade qi.
He figured leaving it alone would just make it a continued nuisance.
But as he turned, Mok Kyung-un’s eyes narrowed.
‘What?’
The blade qi felt different.
Still distant, so not certain, but different from Gu Seong-baek’s back then.
Then what was it?
Right then.
“It’s not time yet. Best to avoid it for now.”
At the voice from nearby,
-shuk!
Mok Kyung-un’s figure blurred, instantly appearing behind the voice’s owner.
-snap!
Mok Kyung-un aimed his sword finger at the unknown man’s head.
With energy ready to pierce his skull with sword qi at any moment, Mok Kyung-un demanded,
“Who are you?”
The reason was simple.
This man’s aura was unlike the Spirit Sword Manor warriors.
The energy enveloping him was unfamiliar, flowing in reverse of normal.
What was his true nature?
As he wondered,
The man with the sword finger at his right temple spoke in a trembling voice.
“It’s an honor to meet you like this.”
‘!?’
Light flickered in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
The man’s voice sounded oddly excited.
Why react like this to a first meeting?
Mok Kyung-un asked,
“Do you know me?”
“How could I not?”
-pierce!
“Huh?”
Before the words finished, sharp energy from Mok Kyung-un’s sword finger burrowed into the man’s forehead.
As the man flinched in shock, Mok Kyung-un said,
“An Imperial tracker?”
“No.”
“Then Heaven-Earth Society?”
“No. I have no connection to them.”
“Then why speak as if you know me? Unless......”
A secret society member?
But the man said something completely unexpected.
“I’ve come a long way to see you, Heavenly Demon.”
‘!!!!!’
Mok Kyung-un’s eyes narrowed.
He’d thought secret society, but hadn’t expected his new alias mentioned.
What? Had the name Heavenly Demon spread faster than anticipated?
As he puzzled, the man said,
“No need for caution. I’ve only come to tell you something important.”
“Important? I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting, but......”
“I am...... a sort of prophet.”
‘!?’
A prophet?
Mok Kyung-un furrowed his brow at the claim.
A prophet meant one who foresees future events.
And this man had introduced himself as such.
“Ha? A prophet?”
“Yes.”
“There sure are a lot of these types in the world.”
“Yes?”
The self-proclaimed prophet couldn’t hide his bewilderment at Mok Kyung-un’s reaction.
He’d expected some disbelief since it involved future events.
That’s why he’d called himself a prophet, yet the response was even more skeptical.
Flustered, the self-proclaimed prophet hurriedly said,
“I don’t have much time. Believe me or not, this concerns you—no, your descendants closely.”
“Descendants?”
“Yes. Due to one immortal being, the vast organization you’ll create, your descendants—no, the entire martial world—will be in peril.”
“......An immortal being?”
Immortal, as in undying?
Suddenly, a certain entity flashed in Mok Kyung-un’s mind.
One he suspected had existed for a very long time.
“Yes. Hard to believe, I know......”
“Does he have a third eye, by chance?”
“Third eye? What do you mean?”
“Sigh.”
At the man’s question, Mok Kyung-un sighed, then grabbed his shoulder and forced him to his knees.
-thud!
“Guk.”
Whispering in his ear, Mok Kyung-un said,
“I don’t know where you heard the title Heavenly Demon, but tell me who sent you right now, or......”
“Heavenly Demon. This concerns your descendants.”
“Your descendants nonsense....... You’re a funny one. Unless something special happens, I’ll have no descendants. And descendants should handle their own affairs. Why tell me?”
“Yes?”
The prophet’s back shivered at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
‘Descendants’ matters are for descendants?’
It was utterly different from what he’d expected.
His mood sank.
The self-proclaimed prophet realized things might not go as planned.
‘......Might be impossible. Should I at least warn him?’
Calming his excitement, the prophet spoke steadily.
“Heavenly Demon...... I’m not lying. That one is a peerless expert pursuing the ultimate in the blade, appearing now to kill you and sever your lineage.”
Mok Kyung-un scoffed.
“You’d make a better storyteller than prophet. Some guy I’ve never seen suddenly wants to kill me to end my line......”
“It’s true. His goal is clear. And to end the tragedy of your descendants, we must stop him from becoming immortal......”
-pak!
Before he finished, Mok Kyung-un spun him around.
He was exhausted by the absurd tale.
Whoever sent him, he needed to find out for sure where he’d heard Heavenly Demon.
But then,
‘!?’
Light gleamed in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
The man’s attire was bizarre.
Unlike anything seen even in the Imperial Palace.
Puzzled as he stared, something shimmered at the waist of the odd self-proclaimed prophet.
Then space rippled and shook.
‘What is this?’
Startled by the eerie phenomenon, Mok Kyung-un reached to grab him.
The prophet urgently cried out too.
“Heavenly Demon. You must not let him obtain the true essences of spiritual beings......”
-wuuung!
Before his words ended.
The self-proclaimed prophet’s body was sucked into space and vanished.
Thinking it some lightness skill, Mok Kyung-un spread his energy sense over the area.
‘Gone?’
No trace of aura.
Even more shocking, opening the mystic power of his right eye’s third eye revealed no remnants of qi.
As if he’d never existed, completely erased.
What in the world?
-Mortal..... What was that guy?
-......No idea.
A true prophet?
End of Chapter 94: Extreme Blade (1)