Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Unintended Encounter (2)
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In the current martial world, was there anyone who could subdue a transcendent master with a single move? If there was, they would be someone familiar. They had to be one of those whose fame shook the world, yet this was a complete unknown.
"Look into my eyes first."
"What are you... Gasp! What is this?"
Mujin's pupils darkened to pitch black.
He had activated the Demon King's Soul-Piercing Demonic Eye. While useful for imprinting, it could also forcibly read the target's mind. It was akin to a confession technique. The Demonic Cult of the Demon God had real expertise in this area. Even under control, the Demon King reigned supreme in cursed arts.
However, its coercive nature meant that without control, the target's soul and body would collapse.
His body trembled violently.
Unlike when training his son, Mujin showed no mercy. Whether this mysterious old monster lived or died didn't matter—what counted was extracting the needed information. The Soul-Piercing Demonic Eye burrowed into his mind, making the old man's body shake like leaves in the wind.
Kraaaah!
A scream tore through his throat, so Mujin sealed the space to contain it. Just in case, though unlikely.
Tremble, tremble.
Cough, wheeze!
The old man couldn't endure, spewing blood from all seven orifices as he died. A side effect of the Soul-Piercing Demonic Eye, compounded by seals on his soul and heart meridians.
Mujin wasn't surprised by the old man's death. He hadn't expected this encounter, but their sealing methods were vicious and thorough.
"Acting like he knew something, but he knew nothing."
-The Demonic Cult of the Demon God is strictly compartmentalized. They don't share vital info with punks like that.
"Still, it's like spitting in your face. You don't know either."
-Tch.
Poking at the Demon King after so long lifted his foul mood.
The thrill of victory.
He'd gained little beyond scant facts, but it was something.
"Operating in the shadows, huh. No wonder they crumbled so easily."
The martial world was full of idiots, yet it had endured and evolved over countless ages. Even a mangy dog rules its own yard. Yet they were crushed by the Demonic Cult without much resistance.
"This stinks of something fishy."
-Fortuitous encounters are the simplest and most basic method.
"True, even knowing it, it works."
-It'll be worse when the real deal shows up.
Before the Demonic Cult emerged, the martial world bled rivers over martial arts manuals and treasures. With most groups fixated on those, they became blind to everything else amid the casualties. How could they stop the Demonic Cult, against whom they had no chance even in open battle?
Splash, splash!
A puppet-like figure clambered aboard, gasping raggedly as he gulped air. The journey had nearly killed him several times.
"Finally made it?"
Mujin welcomed the drowned rat warmly.
The man who barely climbed aboard panting was Narung, the Thousand-Faced Tiger who had held a knife to Hwangbo Jinun's throat.
'Where did this monster come from!'
He had planned to disguise himself and slip out of the small boat unnoticed. But the boatmen caught on, escalating things until he had no choice but to take Hwangbo Jinun hostage.
He bought time using the Hwangbo family, but while pondering his next move, that monster subdued him.
'Water Stride, no less!'
The monster walked the river like solid ground. Masters could tread air at peak, but human internal energy had limits. Even absolute experts tired from prolonged Water Stride.
'Not a drop of sweat. And that brute fist strike?'
The distant punch took the old man's upper body, leaving only his legs. At least fifty paces. No wonder escape seemed impossible. If the monster had been serious, he'd be fish food already.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from Jinun's body in Mujin's grasp, reducing it to ash in moments. Incinerated with Samadhi Flames. Eradicating roots as basic protocol.
Whirl!
The river wind scattered the ashes, sinking Narung's heart. The foe wasn't just strong—he killed without hesitation.
Killing casually and watching without a flinch. He didn't seem human. Far beyond a strong novice; one glance revealed a veteran of countless battles, on land, sea, and air.
He prostrated flat.
"...Please spare me!"
"Want to live? Find the treasure and bring it."
"...Pardon?"
"I've planted a seal, as you know. Remove it if you can. But exceed a month, and you'll vomit blood from all orifices. You won't die, but the pain will be excruciating. Every day."
Mujin skipped interrogation or torture. He stated his piece and moved on. Lingering invited suspicion.
Time was short anyway, so he'd killed the old monsters without questioning. With more time, he'd have peeled their skin, salted it, and made them spill everything.
Then killed them.
"Believe it or not, your call. Note: if they find out you've mastered the Heavenly Gate Array or Hundred Gate Finger of the Mythical Demon Spirit Armor, you're dead."
Mujin wasted no time and departed.
Gasp!
He vanished like smoke before their eyes.
Narung nearly pissed himself at the impossible lightness skill. First such monster in his life. He prided himself on footwork, yet was subdued instantly.
Tricks before him? Legs went weak imagining it.
"...Insane!"
Obtaining the map to the Mythical Demon Spirit Armor felt like owning the world. Now, his lot was pitiful. But he wouldn't yield it meekly.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Fueled by defiance, yet it rang hollow.
Chaos reigned on deck.
A total mess.
Hwangbo Jangseong clashed fiercely with Makgi in defense, while the Red Dragon Squad kept spacing to bar boatmen from joining.
But the boatmen weren't fools; they maneuvered adeptly for river combat. Fighting them on water was inconvenient—unlike land, things didn't go as planned.
Thud, spurt!
Comrades fell to fists and swords; boatmen gnashed teeth. Greenhorns, they thought—yet five wounded already.
"You damned bastards! I'll skin you and toss you in the river!"
"They're no pushovers. Form the Heavenly Death Formation!"
Furious but cautious, not charging blindly. Taejin and Cheolho's teamwork was formidable.
Heavenly Death Formation sounded grand, like the infamous sword array by Heavenly Death Star. In truth, just a wheel tactic.
Still, boatmen executed it flawlessly. Humans fight desperately to live, thrashing to survive this world.
Seasoned killers without hesitation, their ferocity poisoned the air.
Taejin and Cheolho floundered as boatmen attacked tactically, unlike before. Amidst, boatmen targeted passengers to split their focus.
Slash!
Hwangbo Seryeong intervened timely. An unintended trio alliance. Roles unspoken but fulfilled. Could hold without losses if played right.
'Annoying.'
Unplanned pests stirring. Boatmen's dispersal bridged power gaps. He couldn't allow it. Amid frenzied boatmen, he balanced with a ploy.
Zing!
Taejin and Cheolho felt chilling killing intent. Then poison needles flew from boatmen ranks.
Target: Hwangbo Seryeong.
They veered to save her.
Damn!
A mistake.
Induced to split forces. Boatmen exploited mismatched teamwork. Weapons grazed arms and legs, blood spraying.
Urk!
Just a graze.
Boatmen's skill mediocre. Higher, and it'd be fatal.
But chaos favored boatmen.
Stagger!
Odd sensation from wound. Numbness spread. Blades coated in paralyzing poison—not lethal, but fast-acting, slowing movements briefly.
"Gotcha, you brats!"
"Done playing, kids? Pay up!"
"That bitch is mine! Already heating up down there!"
"Ours! We'll take turns!"
Thinking victory theirs, but not per boatmen's script. Taejin and Cheolho slowed yet grew fiercer.
Swoosh, kraa!
Thud, cough!
Stronger, sharper. Despite losses, boatmen suffered. Absurd for those who thought momentum theirs.
But natural for Taejin and Cheolho.
They hadn't risked life fully before. Nor killed. Unwittingly merciful.
Mercy fades when one's life hangs. Hands turned ruthless.
Yet precise. Calmly seeking best counters, not raging. Efficiency rose, choking boatmen's breath.
Grk!
As swords and fists targeted vitals mercilessly, boatmen hesitated, backing off.
'This won't do!'
The hidden shadow figure fumed. Ploy to end quick backfired, awakening them. Proven by youths' remorseless strikes.
'No choice.'
I'll kill you.
Killing intent brimmed, yet he stayed calm. Amid scrambling boatmen, he stalked openings. Awaiting the assassin’s moment to flip the fight.
It came.
Slither!
Closed distance.
Focus scattered, vital exposed. He thrust dagger without pause.
Clang, crack!
Lightning thrust halted, blade curving like a sickle. Wrist snapped like chopstick.
Clatter!
Grip lost, sword dropped. Before pain registered, shadow snapped again.
Crack!
No reprieve. Neck broken.
Mujin hurled the neck-snapped corpse.
Whoosh!
Boom!
One strike, three kills.
Gap opened; Mujin surged, severing boatmen's breaths. Philtrum, solar plexus, groin—lethal, humiliating vitals struck.
Splorch!
Gag!
No instant death. Writhed in agony, foaming, then collapsed dead. Ugly corpses piled thudding.
Thwack!
Mujin kicked, creating space anew. Creative, rude tactics unfolded. Boatmen recoiled at novel wickedness.
Crack!
Seeing panic, Mujin smashed skulls. Each punch claimed heads, piling headless boatmen.
"...Death god!"
Finally grasping Mujin's power. Unimposing exterior, yet one-hits fatal.
Every blow sent souls straight to afterlife, teaching human fragility.
Splat!
Mujin's savage fist aura dominated. No hero's show—far from righteous. Raw, destructive.
"...Fist Aura!"
"...Peak Master!"
Pfft!
Mujin chuckled dryly.
Boatmen, after all.
No eye for quality.
At least transcendent, he thought. Level irrelevant. Peak or transcendent—doom to them.
Clearing boatmen took little time. Fed them to fish.
Hm?
Fish picky eaters?
Eh, whatever.
Eat scraps.
Swoosh!
Stealthily infiltrated Makgi and Hwangbo Jangseong's fierce clash.
Sneaky.
Slipping in.
Mujin planted fist aura in Makgi's back. Perfect ambush on distracted foe.
Guh!
Vital struck, Makgi choked, true qi flow disrupted. Full-power Radiant Blood Wave destabilized, flaws exposed.
Hwangbo Jangseong pounced. Slipped through wavering path, unleashing Thunderclap Divine Fist's Thunder Fall.
Rumble!
Thunderous blow to Makgi's heart meridian core. Qi twisted; he vomited blood.
Cough!
Clotted gore fountained. Irrecoverable.
Makgi glared murderously at Hwangbo Jangseong.
"Righteous scum, so cowardly... Guh!"
"What'd you say, boat trash!"
Mujin tsked at Jangseong's leisure. Kill when gap shows.
Thud!
Mujin's wicked kick—groin destroyer. Instant eunuch realization.
Kraaaah!
Ignored the ear-shattering howl.
Crack!
Grabbed ugly mug, twisted full circle. No chicken neck—soul wouldn't return.
Flop!
Soulless husk crumpled like puppet sans strings. Mujin charged on, targeting rear of boatmen facing Red Dragon Squad.
Thud, crunch!
Surprise strikes fist aura-laden. Brains splattered bloody each hit. Rear unnecessary, but Mujin minimized effort. Easier fights best—no needless complication.
Groin Destroyer, Eight Linked Kicks.
Wicked kicks birthed despair. Survivors suicided from trauma. Ultimate pragmatism.
Gasp!
Hwangbo Jangseong and Red Dragon Squad stunned by Mujin's ruthless hands. Warriors killed, but so casually? Beyond strength—perfected warrior.
'Still, that's too much.'
'I'd kill myself surviving that.'
Truly slimy, wicked kicks.