The Heavenly Demon Plays Tricks

Episode 94: The Heavenly Demon Plays Tricks

For Blade Emperor Namgung Woo, there were two choices.

Flee and plan for the future, or stand his ground and cut down the Demonic Path until his dying breath.

Even as he swung his sword, the dilemma weighed on him. He wanted to see his great-grandson's face one more time. Then again, he also thought it wouldn't be so bad to die fighting and reunite with his youngest son, who had already ascended to the heavens.

The moment these thoughts crossed his mind, his heart settled into tranquility.

If he lived, he would see his great-grandson.

If he died, he would see the son he had missed so dearly.

For an old man like him, neither life nor death was inherently preferable. The only thought that truly calmed him was the resolve to properly unleash the Emperor's Eight Forms he had honed for decades.

'Six practitioners of Blade Immunity and the descendant of the Sun-Moon Heavenly Demon. Not bad at all.'

This would make for a splendid birthday—and simultaneously, the day of his return to the heavens.

As Blade Emperor swung his sword with a serene smile...

The Sword Demon burst into laughter.

"Old man, you're awfully composed."

Blade Emperor's movements resembled a top spinning violently. The Blade Immunity warriors lunged at him like blades suddenly flicking out from the spinning toy, only to be knocked down and rise again.

He deflected three demonic swords at once.

Dodged two more.

Scattered the Heavenly Demon's palm strike with a counterforce.

Evaded the Sword Demon's aerial assault before deflecting two more blades. His offense and defense were flawless, as if possessed by a spirit. The five demonic swordsmen, repeatedly repelled, gradually slowed their attacks—frustration creeping into their movements.

'Damn it. How is he this strong?'

Seizing the moment, the Heavenly Demon, who had been watching for an opening, spoke in a chilling tone.

"Do you want to die?"

After unleashing a torrent of energy, he continued.

"If you give him time to catch his breath, capturing Blade Emperor will only get harder. This is the last verbal warning."

Until now, the Heavenly Demon had never reprimanded the Twelve Demon Blades.

Because they were the Sword Demon's direct subordinates.

But since this was his first warning, the five swordsmen felt a chill run down their spines. With the resolve to rather faint than disobey, they charged at Blade Emperor again.

The Sword Demon was equally troubled.

The old man was displaying a madness-infused swordsmanship, repeatedly foiling their joint attacks.

As he deflected Blade Emperor's blade, the Sword Demon asked,

"Heavenly Demon, don't you have some hidden trump card? You must have something."

The Heavenly Demon, still channeling energy, replied,

"No opportunity. The old man's too fast."

The moment the Sword Demon spat those words, Blade Emperor's blade struck him, sending him flying backward.

THUD!

Mid-flight, the Sword Demon cursed.

"Damn it."

The Heavenly Demon addressed the five swordsmen.

"Switch to Forbidden Hand Combat for now. Sheathe your blades."

With that simple command, the five swordsmen all returned their swords to their scabbards.

The Heavenly Demon's voice turned icy.

"Restrain him. By any means necessary."

The sight of the five Blade Immunity practitioners charging bare-handed was horrifying in itself.

When Blade Emperor moved to strike them down, the Sword Demon's black greatsword came flying from behind.

SHIIING! CRACK!

Blade Emperor smashed the dark blade aside and exchanged palm strikes with the Heavenly Demon.

BOOM!

Then, the five men slithered across the ground—some leaping high, others aiming for his waist, another lunging at his face.

A bizarre, terrifying joint assault.

Their sole goal was to pin Blade Emperor down.

Amidst this, the Sword Demon recited the demonic incantations of the Heart-Demon Whispering Sword.

Similar to the orthodox faction's Sword-Taming Art, this technique allowed a swordsman ensnared by inner demons to control blades through speech.

Leaving the one-on-one to the Heavenly Demon, the Sword Demon focused on harassing Blade Emperor with his demonic swords.

A murmuring chant, like the recitation of dark sutras, flowed endlessly from his lips.

Meanwhile, the five Blade Immunity warriors rushed in again, engaging in close combat.

When Blade Emperor leaped into the air to escape the encirclement, the Heavenly Demon followed suit. A demonic sword pierced through his violet robes, thrusting toward Blade Emperor's face—

Blade Emperor knocked it aside and widened the distance.

But the Heavenly Demon pursued relentlessly, expelling energy mid-air.

As Blade Emperor descended, he swung upward—a white sword aura erupting like a dragon's ascent, aimed at the Heavenly Demon still suspended above.

A technique named Blade's Heavenly Zenith.

The colossal pillar of light surged forth, threatening to swallow the Heavenly Demon whole.

Crossing his arms, the Heavenly Demon traced an inverted taiji symbol, colliding the opposing forces of Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin—the so-called Sun and Moon energies. Then, he unleashed his counter: Heaven-Reversing Mirror, a reversal technique infused with the essence of the Demonic Path.

A trump card he had intended to keep hidden from the Sword Demon—now forced into the open because of Blade Emperor.

The energies of Blade's Heavenly Zenith clashed with the Heaven-Reversing Mirror, vanishing in an instant—

Then, abruptly, Blade's Heavenly Zenith reversed course, hurtling back toward Blade Emperor.

Even the unflappable Blade Emperor was stunned, watching his own ultimate technique rush toward him.

'How—?!'

In a flash, he gathered his energy and struck it down again.

BOOOOM!

The shockwave sent Blade Emperor spinning through the air. Seizing the opportunity, the Sword Demon caught his returning blade mid-flight and shot forward like an arrow.

"Heavenly Demon, well done."

Yet, the fact that the Heavenly Demon had concealed such a technique until now left a bitter taste in his mouth.

'That damn bastard... Only pulls it out when cornered.'

Kicking off the ground, the Sword Demon shouted,

"He's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exhausted. Press the attack!"

The five demonic swordsmen responded in unison.

"Yes."

The Heavenly Demon, having unleashed the Heaven-Reversing Mirror, wore a bitter expression as he glided ghostlike across the battlefield. He remained vigilant, assuming Blade Emperor still had fight left in him.

CLANG!

Blade Emperor landed, driving his sword into the earth as he surveyed the battlefield. The Blade Immunity warriors were charging again, while the Heavenly Demon maintained a leisurely distance, closing in steadily.

'This bastard... He's been hiding his strength.'

The bizarre, unfathomable counter confirmed his suspicions—this was the Heavenly Demon's true power.

The Sword Demon rushed forward, demanding,

"Old man, got any strength left? I expected you wouldn't die quietly, but this is excessive."

Blade Emperor chuckled.

"You worthless trash. You'll be suffering until sunrise."

He thought of the Namgung family and the Emperor's Council forces.

If they hadn't arrived yet, it meant someone was intercepting them. In a way, facing these Blade Immunity warriors and the Heavenly Demon alone might have been a blessing for his clan. Though he felt guilty for his descendants and the Council's juniors, their losses would have been far worse.

'Won't see my great-grandson, but I'll see my youngest. That's fine too.'

Blade Emperor eyed the encircling Demonic Path practitioners and asked,

"What parting gift should I leave you?"

The Sword Demon smirked.

"Old man, lost your mind? Talking to yourself?"

Blade Emperor replied,

"Old men talk to themselves. You won't live as long as I have. None of you half-human freaks will. The Demon Arts must've been sweet temptation. Slowly, all sorts of ghosts will cling to you. Heh heh heh..."

The Heavenly Demon retorted,

"Old man, why would we want long lives?"

Blade Emperor said,

"Come. I'll give you your gift."

He no longer planned to evade—nor did he care about injuries. This was no longer Blade Emperor's fight, but a man's. He had already grasped his enemies' techniques.

He would let them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ravage his aged body and take theirs in return.

The Heavenly Demon observed before speaking.

"Be careful. The old man's changed tactics. Especially watch your eyes."

As predicted, Blade Emperor adjusted his stance, lowering his blade.

The final form of the Emperor's Eight Forms—Blood Blade Technique.

Extreme Yang energy surged from his body, condensing into the blade until the entire edge glowed crimson.

White steam, like his own hair, rose from the metal.

Even his attackers could feel the scorching heat radiating from the sword.

Blade Emperor recalled the words he had spoken when passing down the Emperor's Eight Forms to his son:

'With the Blood Blade Technique, there is nothing you cannot cut. The only limitation is the blade's endurance. Use it only as a last resort.'

Now, that "last resort" had returned to him.

With the blood-red blade, he cleaved through the shoulder of the first charging swordsman.

SPLAT!

It wasn't a clean cut—more like molten steel slicing through flesh.

"GAAAH!"

The fifth-ranked demonic swordsman screamed as his arm fell. The others paled.

Blade Emperor moved faster, swinging relentlessly. As one warrior slid in hands-first, Blade Emperor stomped on his wrists and drove the Blood Blade into the back of his skull.

THUNK!

Even the Sword Demon was stunned.

"What the—?"

How had he pierced a Blade Immunity practitioner's body?

But the Heavenly Demon, watching closely, remarked coolly,

"The blade won't last. Keep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠attacking. This technique has limits—it's melting them, not cutting. Trust me. Unless it's the Strongest Blade Under Heaven, it can't endure."

In moments, the remaining swordsmen retreated, their bodies seared. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. As they writhed in agony, the Heavenly Demon tilted his head.

"Twelve Demon Blades, didn't I say this was my last warning?"

He lifted the fifth-ranked swordsman—now missing an arm—and addressed the Sword Demon.

"Sword Demon, understand."

The Sword Demon, barely holding on against the sword energy, snarled,

"You fucking lunatic!"

The Heavenly Demon said to the maimed warrior,

"You'll die anyway. Wouldn't it be meaningless to go like this?"

Then, he drained the man's life force and energy on the spot.

"AAAAAAAGH!"

By the time the scream ended, so had the absorption. The fifth swordsman's body shriveled before collapsing. The Heavenly Demon shuddered briefly, as if struck by a chill.

"Haa..."

Regaining his composure, he surveyed the battlefield.

Another SPLAT!—the third-ranked swordsman was bisected.

The Heavenly Demon chuckled in disbelief.

"Ah, what an incredible old man. Truly impressive. I can't help but admire you."

Clapping, he approached Blade Emperor. Only the Sword Demon and his two lieutenants—the first and second-ranked swordsmen—remained.

The Sword Demon roared,

"Quit dawdling and help!"

Instead, the Heavenly Demon clasped his hands behind his back, scanning the surroundings as if searching for someone. His gaze lingered in the shadows before he gestured.

"Right-Hand Enforcer, I can't just let my friend die. Join us."

Silence answered from the darkness.

......

An eerie stillness settled.

Yet the Sword Demon, his lieutenants, and Blade Emperor had no choice but to keep fighting, their expressions tense.

Had an assassin arrived?

Amidst the chaos, none could sense any presence.

The Heavenly Demon subtly lowered his hand—a silent command to hold position.

Then he said,

"The blade's melting. First and Second, draw your swords again."

A smirk played on his lips.

SHING!

The two lieutenants unsheathed their blades.

The Heavenly Demon, now fully in control, declared,

"Sword Demon, as I said—I'll yield Blade Emperor to you. If I intervene, I'd have to absorb him. And if I'm mid-absorption, you might stab me. Too messy. So the exhausted Blade Emperor is yours."

As the four clashed, the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue and pointed.

"Look. The blade's dulling already. Like a toothless old man. Blade Emperor's fighting purely with energy now. He must be at his limit. Lasting this long against us is already a legend. Right-Hand Enforcer, sever Blade Emperor's arm first."

Then, in an eerie ventriloquism, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a distorted voice answered from a shifted location—as if the Right-Hand Enforcer had spoken.

"Yes."

The Heavenly Demon's gaze locked onto Blade Emperor's back. A chill ran down the old man's spine, making him swing blindly behind him.

Laughing, the Heavenly Demon revealed the trick.

"Hahahaha... Old man, did I fool you?"

While his allies fought for their lives, the Heavenly Demon clutched his stomach, laughing uproariously.