Chapter 69: Come At Me All At Once
Yeop Hyeon felt like he could fly through the sky at the thought of finally seeing his little sister after so long.
The two had never been apart for such an extended period before. He'd missed Yeop Ryeong terribly during that time. Right now, his mind was filled with nothing but the burning desire to see her face as soon as possible!
In almost no time at all, Yeop Hyeon reached the mountain peak.
But when he arrived at Canglan Academy, something felt off about the atmosphere. And Yeop Ryeong was nowhere to be seen.
Did she go foraging for herbs or something?
"Ryeong! Your big bro's here—!"
He bellowed loud enough to shake Canglan Mountain, but Yeop Ryeong still didn't appear.
Did something happen!?
As Yeop Hyeon paced anxiously, Ji An Zhi emerged from Canglan Hall. The moment she spotted him, she spoke urgently.
"Something came up."
Whiiing—!
A chilling sword cry echoed from within Yeop Hyeon's body at her words.
"Where?"
Yeop Hyeon's voice dripped with intense killing intent, furrowing Ji An Zhi's brow.
"Calm down first..."
In that instant, Yeop Hyeon's figure vanished. He reappeared right in front of her in a flash, his sword aimed straight at her forehead.
"I'm asking where she is!!"
His voice and expression teetered on the edge of madness, his sword tip trembling violently.
"At Chang Mountain—Fen Jue's waiting there. I already contacted Grandpa, so he should be on his way by now..."
Before she could finish, Yeop Hyeon was already charging down the mountain.
"Calm down, you idiot!"
Ji An Zhi shouted after him, but his figure had already disappeared.
This is bad—he's gonna cause a huge mess!
Her face grew even more urgent as she crushed the transmission stone and chased after him.
Yeop Hyeon shot down the mountain in seconds and raced toward Cangmu Academy like a madman. Red veins bulged around his eyes, his face twisted in pure fury!
If anything had happened to Yeop Ryeong, Yeop Hyeon would explode. No one could stop that madness.
And if something had befallen her, no one would survive it!
A few people recognized Yeop Hyeon as he tore through the heart of the Imperial City.
"I-Is that Yeop Hyeon!?"
"He's heading toward Cangmu Academy—don't tell me he's going there?"
"Nah, no way! Who'd walk right into their own death!?"
"Hey, let's go check it out. Follow him and see what's up!"
Curious onlookers began trailing behind him.
Soon, Yeop Hyeon reached the entrance to Chang Mountain. The first thing that caught his eye was Yeop Ryeong, bound to a log with black ropes. Her face was as pale as a sheet.
His mind went blank. He charged straight toward her.
At that moment, Yeop Ryeong spotted him and burst into tears.
"Oppa, hurry, hurry..."
Yeop Hyeon couldn't hold back his own tears at the sight of her.
Right then, several Cangmu Academy students tried to block his path. The moment the one in the center opened his mouth, a sword materialized in Yeop Hyeon's hand.
Slash—!
The Spirit Water Sword flashed once, cleaving the man in two.
Onlookers' eyes bulged at the sight. Especially those who'd hurriedly followed him—they wore faces of sheer shock.
What the hell is that guy planning!?
Is he seriously starting a war!?
Yeop Hyeon's sword didn't stop, pressing forward relentlessly.
As Cangmu students backpedaled, the Spirit Water Sword slipped from his hand and soared on its own.
Slash—!
The warrior right in front of him dropped limply to the ground, headless.
Yeop Hyeon extended his hand, and the Spirit Water Sword flew back into his grasp. His next strike followed!
Slash—!
A single sword beam flashed, bisecting the last remaining foe.
"Sword cultivator... He's definitely a great sword cultivator..."
Great sword cultivator!
The crowd erupted in commotion at the words.
Sword cultivators were exceedingly rare even in Jiang Kingdom—a figure of envy for all who practiced martial arts. Who wouldn't be captivated by someone who swept through heaven and earth with their blade?
These were the first to witness a great sword cultivator up close, and they couldn't contain their excitement.
Cangmu Academy and Canglan Academy no longer mattered to them. They were fixated solely on how this great sword cultivator wielded his sword!
At that moment, more Cangmu Academy students began appearing one by one. Before long, Yeop Hyeon was surrounded by countless warriors.
He didn't flinch, instantly beheading several more in a flash.
Each fell to a single stroke.
Then, a middle-aged man stepped forward to block him—none other than Yeo Su, one of Cangmu Academy's vice deans.
"You bastard... daring to commit murder in broad daylight..."
Yeop Hyeon pointed his sword at Yeo Su.
"Murder? Isn't that why you called me here?"
With that, he swung at a groaning Canglan Academy student at his feet.
Sizzle—!
The man's head rolled, spraying blood that drenched Yeop Hyeon head to toe in an instant.
Bathed in blood, he looked every bit the murderous demon!
"Too few... way too few... This won't satisfy me... Bring more, more, more!!"
Killing intent flickered in Yeo Su's eyes. As he moved to strike, a voice rang out.
"Is this why you told him to come alone?"
Yeo Su turned to see an old man pushing a wheelchair carrying a black-robed woman with closed eyes, approaching slowly.
She'd spoken those words.
The woman met Yeo Su's icy glare without a hint of fear.
"Cangmu Academy took that boy's little sister hostage? And you're all ganging up on him alone? Does Cangmu have no one better?"
The crowd buzzed again at her words. Yeo Su's face darkened sharply.
Ganging up on one?
For a warrior, such an accusation was utter humiliation.
Just then, a warrior descended from Chang Mountain along the path, followed by over a dozen students.
He soon arrived before Yeop Hyeon—Fen Jue!
"No need for the vice dean to step in. I'll handle this myself!"
Yeo Su nodded.
"Don't underestimate him."
Fen Jue flashed Yeop Hyeon a sinister grin.
"Didn't think you'd actually show. I admire your coura—"
In that instant, Yeop Hyeon's figure vanished from sight.
Fen Jue twisted away with a sharp intake of breath, Yeop Hyeon's sword grazing past his throat by a hair's breadth. At the same time, Fen Jue's right hand shot toward Yeop Hyeon's waist.
Whoosh—!
A wind blade had appeared in Fen Jue's grasp.
Yeop Hyeon swiftly withdrew his sword and slashed downward.
Boom—!
The wind blade shattered, fragments scattering everywhere amid a deafening crash.
Fen Jue's assault pressed on without pause. Before Yeop Hyeon could react, wind blades assailed him from all sides.
Yeop Hyeon kicked off the ground, leaping into the air to evade while unleashing a devastating strike.
One Sword Determines Life and Death!
Yeo Su, watching from afar, jolted in shock. The power of that single sword had utterly surpassed the Control Qi Realm!
Fen Jue's face twisted in even greater horror—he had to receive it.
Yeop Hyeon's swordplay up to now had been decent at best.
But One Sword Determines Life and Death was a catastrophe!
Regaining his wits, Fen Jue crossed his arms and slammed them into the ground. A gale whirlwind erupted around him, coalescing into wind blades that blocked Yeop Hyeon's strike.
But it was laughably insufficient against One Sword Determines Life and Death.
The Spirit Water Sword, infused with sword intent, obliterated the vortex in an instant!
Boom—!
The impact hurled Fen Jue back over ten zhang.
Yeop Hyeon didn't wait for him to recover, swinging his sword once more.
Again, One Sword Determines Life and Death erupted from his hand!
This one was even stronger than the last! The Spirit Water Sword plummeted like it meant to destroy everything around it!
Fen Jue's eyes widened as he stomped the ground hard.
Thud—!
He retreated swiftly, but Yeop Hyeon's sword kept falling!
Boom—!
The mighty strike cratered the earth, launching Fen Jue skyward. Yeop Hyeon appeared before him midair, gripping his sword with both hands for a final, decisive blow.
At that exact moment, a Cangmu student ambushed Yeop Hyeon from the side.
The crowd murmured in outrage.
Wasn't this supposed to be one-on-one!?
Spotting the attacker, Yeop Hyeon shifted his sword stance into a horizontal slash.
Boom—!
The man barely blocked but was sent flying. Then, unexpectedly, Yeop Hyeon's detached sword sliced through the airborne warrior's neck.
Thud—!
The head hit the ground, spraying blood everywhere.
Yeop Hyeon beckoned, and the Spirit Water Sword returned to his hand. In that interval, Fen Jue had retreated to a safe distance.
But his expression was utterly grim.
He wasn't the only one. Every Cangmu Academy student there looked heavy-hearted.
Yeop Hyeon's strength far exceeded their expectations.
But Yeop Hyeon had no intention of stopping. Like a lion pouncing on a pack of hyenas, he shot toward Fen Jue and the clustered warriors.
Alone against all of them!?
Fen Jue ground his teeth and shouted.
"I'll handle him myself!"
Fen Jue hurriedly formed hand seals, tapping between his brows. A surge of energy whirled up from within him.
Soon, an invisible force coalesced above his head.
"P-Penetrating Nether Realm!"
"He's using some secret art for sure!"
Fen Jue advanced slowly toward Yeop Hyeon, the energy above him growing ever stronger.
Unnoticed by all, the power of the earth gathered beneath Yeop Hyeon's feet.
The crowd held its breath as the two closed in.
Fen Jue struck first with a punch that erupted like a volcano.
Yeop Hyeon, having amassed the earth's energy, countered with the Spirit Water Sword.
Boom—!
Infused with earthen might, Yeop Hyeon's strike shattered the opponent's force. Fen Jue, struck by the unstoppable power, arched backward and soared into the sky. The instant he hit the ground, Yeop Hyeon's sword was at his throat.
"Yeop Hyeon!"
Yeo Su's urgent cry pierced his ears.
"If you kill him, Cangmu Academy won't let you or your sister die easily..."
Slash—!
With a grotesque sound, Fen Jue's torso split in two.
Yeop Hyeon's rage didn't end there. He whipped his sword in a frenzy, carving Fen Jue's corpse into countless pieces.
When his blade finally stilled, the chunks formed the character "倉".
Yeop Hyeon lifted his head, roaring at the Cangmu warriors like a beast.
"Come at me all at once!!"