Chapter 89
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The Rakshasa Witch's Fall
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The Rakshasa Witch's ear-splitting scream echoed through the air.
"Ohohoho!"
Perhaps because the surroundings were still shrouded in darkness, the Flash Shadowless Wheels were even more devastating.
Chaeng!
'To think such a weapon exists...'
Not only was it invisible to the eye, but it produced no sound of slicing through the air, not even the faintest whistle.
He could only barely defend himself by reacting to the occasional bursts of sword intent he sensed.
As a result, his defenses weren't perfect either. He avoided deep wounds, but the wheels grazed past, slicing his clothes and drawing blood.
Of course, the biggest reason he was struggling this much was that his senses hadn't fully recovered from the effects of the Dream Soul Incense.
Chaang!
That didn't mean he had no chance to counterattack, however. There was a reason the North Wind Brigade Leader was only defending.
'Is it really just two Flash Shadowless Wheels?'
If she had more hidden ones and unleashed them the moment he closed in, reacting would be impossible.
He'd occasionally fired off bursts of energy, but the Rakshasa Witch blocked them all with her hand gangs.
'As expected of one of the top experts in the Huncheon Cult. She's no pushover.'
Even without the Flash Shadowless Wheels, she wasn't someone he could take down easily.
'I'll have to go all out.'
He didn't know how many more Huncheon Cultists would come swarming. He'd already cut down quite a few, but their numbers didn't seem to diminish at all.
If anything, it felt like more were pouring in from the surroundings. He'd been holding some strength in reserve just in case, but at this rate, he couldn't guarantee when he'd take down the Rakshasa Witch.
'A quick finish.'
Sususu.
The aura emanating from the North Wind Brigade Leader chilled the surrounding air, freezing it solid.
Sensing the change, the Rakshasa Witch's expression hardened.
"Huh?"
"Haaap!"
The North Wind Brigade Leader raised his sword, then swung it down in a massive arc.
Shuaak!
A colossal blade of energy shot forth, dwarfing anything from before.
"......!"
The Rakshasa Witch furrowed her brow.
'Such a brute-force size...!'
Even her hand gangs would struggle to block it.
'I'll just dodge.'
The Rakshasa Witch swiftly leaped to the right. But then.
Kwaaaa!
The incoming blade energy twisted toward her new position.
'It changed direction?!'
She had no time to be surprised. She poured her inner energy into her hands and blocked the blade.
Kwaang!!
"Kaak!"
Unable to withstand the blade's power, the Rakshasa Witch screamed and was sent flying back.
Paat!
The North Wind Brigade Leader didn't miss the opening, charging at her with terrifying speed.
"Hmph."
She looked clearly flustered, but she met his gaze with a sinister smile.
'Farewell.'
The Flash Shadowless Wheels, linked to her qi, flew in from both his left and right.
Just as they were about to bisect him.
Paak!
The North Wind Brigade Leader's movement suddenly accelerated.
'No way?!'
Thanks to that, the wheels barely grazed his left shoulder and right thigh before passing by.
'At this range? How?!'
In that instant, the North Wind Brigade Leader closed in right before her.
"Die, witch."
His sword slashed horizontally in a flash.
Paat!
Even in that moment, the Rakshasa Witch smiled.
"You fell for it."
Flash!
With a burst of light, another wheel dropped from above his head.
By the time he sensed the chilling intent, it was too late to dodge or block.
"......"
Yet even in that situation, seeing the North Wind Brigade Leader's calm expression made the Rakshasa Witch's eyes widen.
'What?'
Chaeng!
A sharp metallic clang rang out, and the killing blow from the Flash Shadowless Wheel flew off.
The Rakshasa Witch stared in stunned disbelief.
"Ah?"
Seok!
In that gap, the North Wind Brigade Leader's sword sliced through her.
"This is... "
A young man holding a spear in one hand looked down at her coldly. He was the one who had deflected the Flash Shadowless Wheel.
"Thanks, Ho-won."
"No problem."
Dong Ho-won knocking away the third wheel had been planned from the moment the North Wind Brigade Leader unleashed his blade energy.
The North Wind Brigade Leader judged that while the wheels were hard to see head-on, they could be spotted from the side.
Since they were wheels, they were likely thin but easy to detect from the edge.
As he fired the blade energy, he sent a transmission to Dong Ho-won, who was fighting nearby.
As expected, Dong Ho-won spotted the wheel's movement from the side and transmitted its position.
Thanks to that, the North Wind Brigade Leader evaded it with minimal damage.
The third Flash Shadowless Wheel had been incredibly threatening, but the North Wind Brigade Leader trusted Dong Ho-won. Even without time to speak, he knew he'd block it.
As expected, Dong Ho-won deflected it, and the Rakshasa Witch—who hadn't anticipated it at all—met her end pathetically.
Had she noticed Dong Ho-won's help, they wouldn't have won so easily.
Though they'd defeated the Rakshasa Witch, they couldn't stop. The North Wind Brigade Leader and Dong Ho-won had to face the Huncheon Cultists swarming from all directions once more.
Shushushushuuk!
Ignoring defense entirely, Ino's hand sword qi rained down endlessly.
"Hap!"
Seol Hwa-un let out a rare shout as he unleashed the Ice White Divine Palm.
Kwaaang!
The hand sword qis vanished in an instant, but Ino fired more right away.
Shushushushuuk!
Seol Hwa-un's face hardened involuntarily.
'How can he keep unleashing hand sword qi without end like that?'
Looking at Ino's face, he quickly guessed the reason.
"......!"
Ino's complexion wasn't just pale—it was turning ashen black, like death itself.
'He's even drawing on his True Origin Qi!'
True Origin Qi was the foundation of the dantian. Unlike normal inner energy, once expended, it vanished permanently.
Not only that, but it came with severe aftereffects.
Ordinary martial artists never used it unless their life was at stake.
'Fanatical as expected of a cultist...'
But thanks to that, the hand sword qi's power was extraordinary, forcing Seol Hwa-un to take it seriously.
Shuaak!
A massive hammer-like fist plummeted toward Seol Hwa-un's head—Ilno's attack.
Papap!
Seol Hwa-un dodged the fist with nimble movement.
Kwaang!
Ilno's fist strike cratered the ground with a boom. Seol Hwa-un seized the moment and thrust his fist forward.
'Three Layers Pressure Fist!'
Shushuk!
Kwaaang!
"Kuh!"
Ilno couldn't withstand the Three Layers Pressure Fist's power and was flung back.
'I know he won't go down from this.'
Seol Hwa-un pressed the attack, unleashing the third form of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.
'Full Snow Bombardment!'
Kuaaaa!
The Full Snow Bombardment's energy slammed into Ilno.
Kwaaaakwang!!
"Keok!"
Ilno's mouth gaped open, blood finally spurting out.
'Time to finish it!'
As Seol Hwa-un moved to unleash the fourth form.
Shushushushu!
Hand sword qi flew in from somewhere again.
"......!"
Ilno's recovery from his Jade Bone Art was monstrous. If he retreated now, he'd recover and return in no time.
Seol Hwa-un's eyes darkened deeply.
'Then.'
His form blurred. The hand sword qi grazed past him and embedded in the ground.
Kwakwakwakwa kwang!
"......!"
Now Ino was the flustered one.
Seol Hwa-un drove the fourth form, Heaven-Splitting True Fist, into the staggering Ilno.
Kwaaaang!
"Kraaak!"
A scream finally tore from Ilno's mouth. The impact had been devastating.
Udatangtang!
"Keu-eok...!"
Rolling on the ground, Ilno vomited scarlet blood mixed with chunks of his organs.
He looked fine externally, but it proved his internals were utterly ruined.
"Kiaaaak!"
As Ilno collapsed, an enraged Ino let out a beastly roar and charged.
A chill glinted in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
"I'd love to play more, but I'm in a hurry."
Shushushushushu!
Facing Ino charging with dozens of hand sword qis, Seol Hwa-un unleashed the final form of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.
'Nine Splits Heaven and Earth!'
Papapapapapang!
The hand sword qis shattered like thin glass under the immense fist pressure, and Ino saw the massive fist extending toward him.
"......!"
Paaaaaat!
Ino froze solid.
'What is this...?'
"M... "
As Ino tried to speak, his body began to swell bit by bit. Then it burst.
Puuuung!
Blood, flesh, and bone fragments scattered in all directions.
"Huu."
Letting out a faint sigh, Seol Hwa-un grimaced at the pain he felt.
He'd evaded with the Heaven-Earth Shadowless Dance, but he hadn't fully dodged the hand sword qis, and the wounds weren't light.
But there was no time to rest. He had to face the madly charging Huncheon Cultists immediately.
* * *
On a hill overlooking the inn where the Huncheon Cult and Seol Hwa-un's group clashed.
Two figures stood watching. One was a bearded man, the other Yi Jeong-myeong.
"The Shadow King Gate disciples aren't much, huh."
Yi Jeong-myeong gave a cold smile at the man's words.
"Is that so?"
"Ah, if that sounded too harsh, I apologize."
"It's fine. Go on."
"I figured the famed Dark Fame Brigade would make it end quick and boring, but I didn't expect it to turn out like this."
"......"
"More than that, the Huncheon Cult is impressive. Even with the Rakshasa Witch down, they keep charging without a care."
"That's the true strength of the Huncheon Cult—their fanaticism."
The man nodded.
"Right. That's why the Huncheon Cult, with the fewest peak experts, became one of the Eight Demonic Gates."
"......"
"One thing I'm curious about."
"What is it?"
"How did so many Huncheon Cultists get here without being noticed? That many would stand out for sure."
Yi Jeong-myeong replied nonchalantly.
"They're the ones the Demonic Heavenly King sent off a month ago. They all moved separately, apparently."
"Wow! As expected of the Demonic Heavenly King. No wonder he pulled off this madness... Ah, forget I said that."
Yi Jeong-myeong didn't bother responding.
"...But was the Rakshasa Witch's death also part of this strategy?"
Yi Jeong-myeong's expression twisted briefly before smoothing out.
"...Honestly, it was unexpected. To show that kind of prowess even after the Dream Soul Incense. The North Heaven Dragon and North Wind Brigade Leader are definitely more formidable than I thought."
The man smiled.
"I agree. Heh heh, but they won't make it back to the North Sea alive, right?"
Yi Jeong-myeong nodded.
"Of course. Not a single one of them will return to the North Sea Ice Palace."
"True. With preparations like this, even the Ice Emperor couldn't escape alive, let alone the North Heaven Dragon."
Yi Jeong-myeong fixed his gaze on the man.
"That's why it's time for you to move."
"Heh heh, as you command."
The man's form vanished like a shadow.
Left alone, Yi Jeong-myeong muttered with a scowl.
"Arrogant brat, relying on his father to act so cocky."
He wanted to tear him apart right then, but he couldn't yet.
"First things first, the North Heaven Dragon."
In his view was Seol Hwa-un unleashing devastating fist strikes against the Huncheon Cultists.
A cold glint entered Yi Jeong-myeong's eyes.
"Seol Hwa-un, was it? This time, you absolutely won't leave alive."