Chapter 86: Rampage
Chapter 86
Rampage
A perilous night under the moonlight.
Two figures dashed through the deep mountains at breakneck speed.
'...Young Master Tang, where on earth are you?'
Following closely behind, the Emei Sect's Silver Phoenix, Ha Yeong, gazed ahead with eyes full of worry.
Her mind was in turmoil.
She couldn't believe how such a horrific situation had unfolded before her.
Upon hearing that the Martial Alliance had abruptly summoned Se-woon, Abbess Abbess Geumhwa had urgently sent Ha Yeong with a letter of support for him.
At the time, Ha Yeong had been aiding a nearby farming village near Kaifeng when she received the message and rushed to the city.
And then—
"Aaaagh!"
"It hurts—it hurts too much!"
Hell unfolded before her eyes the moment she arrived in Kaifeng.
People writhed in agony under a crimson rain that fell from the sky like blood.
Without a second thought for her own safety, she immediately began tending to the victims.
Amidst the chaos, a scouting party from the Beggars' Sect found her.
Just as she was about to join them, Hou Gai Zhang Shiping, the deputy leader overseeing the operation, stopped her.
"We've located the ritual artifacts with Young Master Tang's help."
"With the full force of the Alliance and the authorities mobilized, we should resolve this quickly."
"But the problem is—there's another attack happening elsewhere."
"Please join that front and assist my friend."
Shockingly, the "friend" Hou Gai mentioned was none other than Tang Se-woon.
The moment he heard of his sister's assault, he had stormed out of the Alliance like a madman.
Thus, Ha Yeong joined the rescue team led by the Hainan Sect's Grand Elder, the Sea Sword Ghost, Wei Taido.
Though the unprecedented attack on the Nine Dragons Society—where the heirs of the Nine Sects and Seven Great Families had gathered—was a catastrophe, only a single squad could be spared for reinforcements.
There was no other choice.
The Alliance's main forces were already fully committed to dispelling the curse over Kaifeng.
With a trembling heart, she headed toward the docks where the Namgung family's pleasure boat was moored—
"If you wish to save Young Master Tang, follow me."
One of the rescue team members sent her a covert sound transmission.
It was the Sword Dragon of Mount Hua, Do Ye-cheon, who had joined the team alongside her.
"I've found fresh traces left by Young Master Tang—they seem urgent. If we follow the others, we'll be too late."
Though this was the first proper conversation they'd ever had—
Ha Yeong followed him without hesitation the moment he mentioned Se-woon.
Fortunately, Wei Taido, the Hainan Sect's leader, permitted their solo mission.
Now, Do Ye-cheon was leading the way, tracking Se-woon.
'He once said he owed Young Master Tang a life debt, didn't he?'
She glanced at Do Ye-cheon.
Whoosh!
Do Ye-cheon sprinted at an astonishing speed, his movement technique in full display.
A refined blue aura surged around his entire body—a sight completely unlike the rumors of the "Fallen Dragon" that surrounded him.
It seemed the rumors were true: with Se-woon's help, he had surpassed the Pinnacle and reached the Realm of Harmony.
Even though Ha Yeong had recently broken through to the peak of the Pinnacle Realm herself, keeping up with him was no easy feat.
Before meeting Se-woon, she had barely touched the threshold of the Pinnacle.
But after fighting alongside him against Tang Ho-yeol, receiving his guidance, and then blaming herself for being useless in the battle against Dokma, she had trained relentlessly—finally breaking through her limits.
Tap.
Just then, Do Ye-cheon suddenly halted.
He examined a towering tree.
"What's wrong?"
"Traces of a projectile."
"...!"
Startled, Ha Yeong hurried over to inspect the tree.
A hole pierced clean through the thick trunk.
But as she examined the marks, something caught her eye.
"Hah... At least the worst-case scenario hasn't happened."
"Huh?"
"This must be Young Master Tang's doing."
"Was Young Master Tang skilled in archery?"
"No. I think he fired a thread like an arrow."
"Ah!"
At that moment, Do Ye-cheon recalled the black threads Se-woon used to repair his sword.
Ha Yeong had deduced this based on two clues:
First, there wasn't a single arrow or arrowhead left behind.
Second, the faint marks left by threads retracting at high speed—barely noticeable unless one looked closely.
But Ha Yeong's unique eyesight had caught them.
"I see. That means he's the one pursuing—"
"Yes. It seems the Blood Sect's leader is the one fleeing from Young Master Tang."
Just as relief began to settle over their faces—
Rumble...!
Groooan!
"—!!"
"!!"
The ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
At the same time, a massive surge of energy pulsed from not too far away.
Their eyes met in the air—
Whoosh!
Without another word, they sprinted at full speed.
As they neared the source of the energy, Do Ye-cheon's expression darkened further.
'It wasn't the Unorthodox Faction? Then who is behind the Blood Sect...?'
The energy he sensed was unmistakably demonic qi.
This shook his earlier assumption that the Unorthodox Faction was behind both the Kaifeng incident and this attack.
Though many in the Unorthodox Faction were wicked and lawless, even they despised demonic practitioners and their arts.
'It's almost as if someone is deliberately trying to deepen the rift between the Orthodox and Unorthodox...'
Just as an inexplicable unease gripped him—
"Young Master Tang!"
"—!"
Ha Yeong's voice rang out from behind.
Following her gaze, Do Ye-cheon saw Tang Se-woon standing there.
"......."
"Kkh... Ggh... Ggh..."
In one hand, he clutched the neck of a mangled enemy.
Fortunately, it seemed the battle had just ended.
A faint but unmistakable demonic qi seeped from the captive.
'That man—!'
Since Do Ye-cheon had only ever seen Se-woon wearing a human-skin mask, this was his first time seeing his true face.
Yet, strangely, he instantly recognized him as the one who had saved him.
How can I possibly express my gratitude?
His chest tightened. He couldn't hide his trembling emotions.
Swish.
Finally, Se-woon, who had remained silent, turned his head to look at them.
And then—
'...!!'
The moment Do Ye-cheon saw Se-woon's eyes, shock flooded his own.
"Thank heavens, Young Master Tang. You're safe."
Ha Yeong let out a relieved sigh and stepped forward—
Tap.
But Do Ye-cheon abruptly raised a hand, blocking her path.
"Young Master Do?"
"...Don't."
Ha Yeong was bewildered by his sudden action.
But Do Ye-cheon's frozen expression didn't waver, his outstretched arm unwavering.
Then—
"Kkhh... Gghhk!!"
"!!"
The enemy in Se-woon's grip let out a pained groan.
Suspended in midair, the man's face turned purple as he struggled, unable to breathe.
"Y-Young Master Tang?!"
Ha Yeong was more panicked than ever.
The Se-woon she knew—the one who would throw himself into danger to protect others—
Now stared at his suffering enemy with hollow, emotionless eyes.
Whoooosh!
A terrifying killing intent radiated from him without restraint.
And then—
Crunch!
"......!!"
"!!"
A sickening snap echoed as the enemy's neck broke.
The body in Se-woon's grasp went limp.
Ha Yeong stood frozen in horror at the brutal sight.
"Y-Young Master Tang, why...?!"
"That man... is not Young Master Tang."
Sorrow and pity filled Do Ye-cheon's eyes as he looked at Se-woon.
As the two stood uncertain—
Whoosh!
Fwoom!
The corpse suddenly burst into dark crimson demonic flames.
The eerie fire was connected to Se-woon's hands.
Oooom...!
The savage demonic qi they had sensed from him earlier now raged like a storm.
'...Demonic qi!'
'H-How is Young Master Tang...?!'
At that moment, Ha Yeong recalled Abbess Abbess Geumhwa's warnings about demonic arts.
"When facing a demonic practitioner, you must be cautious in every way—not just in swordplay."
"Some demonic arts can inflict inner demons or induce rampages in their opponents."
She concluded that Se-woon had been affected by the enemy's demonic technique.
Otherwise, there was no explanation for the pure-hearted Se-woon to be radiating such terrifying demonic energy.
"W-We need the Alliance's help—"
She frantically reached for a signal flare in her robes.
To pull him out of this state, reinforcements were essential.
Snatch!
But Do Ye-cheon immediately seized the flare from her hand.
"...Why?"
"No one will try to understand Young Master Tang's situation."
"—!!"
Her eyes trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
She instantly grasped the implication of his words.
Due to Se-woon's past actions, many within the Martial Alliance openly despised him.
Even this summons had seemed like a ploy to harm him and the Tang Clan—which was why Abbess Abbess Geumhwa had sent her with a letter of support.
If the Alliance learned Se-woon was consumed by demonic qi now...
'They're more likely to issue an execution order than a rescue!'
In the end, the only ones who could save Se-woon now—
Were Ha Yeong and Do Ye-cheon.
In an instant, the panic in Ha Yeong's eyes vanished.
Only unwavering resolve remained.
"...We must not let him be harmed."
"Of course."
Do Ye-cheon answered without hesitation.
There wasn't a shred of falsehood in his words.
In truth, he had anticipated this scenario—which was why he had left the rescue team.
'A force far beyond my own—the power of a calamitous star.'
Do Ye-cheon believed Se-woon shared his fate as a bearer of misfortune—and was now ensnared by that power.
The insights Se-woon had given him were things only those who had suffered the same pain could understand.
And the sight before him confirmed his fears.
'...Just as you saved me, I will save you—even if it costs my life.'
Shing!
To save Se-woon.
With that sole purpose in mind, both drew their swords in unison.
But the moment they revealed their intent—
Whoooosh!
Se-woon unleashed a torrent of demonic qi.
Shwaa!
Shwaaa!
Countless threads of the Heavenly Net bloomed in an instant.
Pulsing with life, the black threads writhed like living creatures.
Whoosh!
Then, the threads lifted their master into the air.
'Ah...'
The sight of Se-woon gazing down at them with frenzied eyes—
Was grotesque.
Ominous.
Terrifying.
Just as the legendary descent of the Heavenly Demon flashed through Ha Yeong's mind—
Swish!
Shwaaa!
[Dodge!!]
The same black threads that had once saved her life—
Now flew toward her throat like deadly blades.