Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Twin Sword Dance
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Stepping inside, he found even fewer people around. Most of the warriors from the Healing Immortal Sect had rushed out to battle the Black Warriors.
The squad leader inwardly mused that this might turn out easier than expected.
In what seemed to be the heart of the Healing Immortal Sect stood a modest hall. The squad leader nodded to himself. The hall's doors were flung wide open, and through the gap, he spotted a single figure—the Healing Immortal himself.
Though unseen, the squad leader sensed another presence beside the Healing Immortal. But it didn't feel particularly threatening, so he dismissed it for now. Dealing with the Healing Immortal alone wouldn't be easy.
"While everyone else is dying out there, is it really okay for the sect leader to lounge around here so leisurely?"
The Healing Immortal smiled faintly and rose from his seat at the squad leader's words.
"I was just about to get up anyway."
No sooner had the Healing Immortal stood than he stepped outside the hall, as if considerate not to damage it or harm those inside.
The squad leader, of course, noticed this. He was no one who believed fights had to be fair and honorable. To win, he'd do anything.
His eyes gleamed. With that, he launched himself straight into the hall—not through the door, but smashing right through the wall.
The Healing Immortal was startled by the squad leader's bold move.
"What?!"
A silver gleam shot from the Healing Immortal's hand. The squad leader swatted away the light hurtling toward his temple in an instant.
Boom!
It was a silver needle packed with qi.
Having to neutralize the qi meant he couldn't smash the wall, forcing him to halt. Seizing that opening, the Healing Immortal charged.
Thud thud boom!
Palm strikes clashed, unleashing a deafening roar. With that explosion, the fierce battle between the Healing Immortal and the squad leader began.
The Black Warriors' power was terrifying. At first, it seemed the defenders could barely hold the line, but the moment a few experts fell, the balance shattered completely.
And that revealed why the Black Warriors were so fearsome.
After fighting for so long, not a single Black Warrior showed fatigue. They moved as vigorously as if the battle had just begun. Even those who had taken severe wounds rampaged like they felt no pain, despite a few deaths.
Naturally, the Healing Immortal Sect warriors couldn't maintain their formation to the end.
Once the balance broke, there was no stemming the tide.
The Black Warriors swung their swords wildly at the warriors in varied attire, pressing forward relentlessly.
By the time half the warriors lay dead or wounded, something hurtled into the Healing Immortal Sect grounds.
"You bastards!"
Kaboom!
The intruder brought a massive explosion. Amid the blast, five Black Warriors were shredded into bits—instantly killed.
All eyes turned there. Standing amid sweat and dust was a figure whose ragged appearance belied the overwhelming aura no one could approach.
It was the Sword King.
"How dare you invade this place!"
The Sword King's sword began to dance. Though he'd rushed here hastily and had little internal energy left, he was still the Sword King. His blade was fearsome whether infused with power or not.
The Black Warriors clamped their mouths shut and encircled him. Some fell to his sword, but no one spared them a glance. They focused solely on completing the encirclement.
Finally, they sealed it. By then, fifteen Black Warriors had perished by the Sword King's hand.
With so many Black Warriors now focused on him, the remaining Healing Immortal Sect warriors caught a breather. They couldn't overwhelm the foes, but they regained balance.
Had the Sword King not arrived, they'd all be dead by now. The Black Warriors were that formidable.
Kaboom!
The Sword King frowned at the pressure closing in from all sides. Seventy Black Warriors surrounded him, arrayed in a bizarre sword formation.
"You think you can stop me?!"
Roaring, the Sword King mustered his remaining internal energy. Though scant, if he unleashed it all, he could break through. Once out of the formation, he could finish them.
Whoosh whoosh boom!
Sword qi poured from his blade like a waterfall. The Black Warriors countered with their own simultaneously.
Kaboom!
A colossal explosion rang out. The Sword King's sword qi was qualitatively superior.
The Black Warriors' formation made their qi denser and more potent, but it was futile against the Sword King. His sword qi shattered theirs, as if slicing through it.
Undeterred, the Black Warriors summoned fresh sword qi to block his.
Kaboom!
Another explosion. The formation shook, but no gap opened for escape.
Irritation built in the Sword King. He had no time for this. Rushing in blindly, he'd seen no sign of his granddaughter. She must be deeper inside.
"Damn it all."
Suddenly, the Sword Demon crossed his mind. If he were here, he'd dismantle this formation from outside. Together, their sword dance would make short work of these foes.
Just like when they captured the Greenwoods Bandits on Mount Pyeongjeong.
"You scum!"
The Sword King rallied his strength. His energy was depleted, but he could endure. Creating an opening was priority. He had to break free. Yet even amid this, the Sword Demon lingered in his thoughts.
"Huh?"
Poised to strike, the Sword King doubted his eyes. The Black Warriors' sword formation began crumbling from the outside.
"Am I that desperate? Starting to see things."
Shattering their formation was none other than the Sword Demon. He rampaged through them, demonic qi flaring wildly. Unlike the Sword King, he had plenty of internal energy left.
Joy flickered in the Sword King's eyes. Gratitude welled up. But he couldn't voice it.
"What are you doing here?!"
His sword moved with renewed vigor.
Slash slash slash!
The disorganized Black Warriors were no match. Powered or not.
Numerous heads flew. Then the Sword King and Sword Demon stood back-to-back.
A faint smile touched their lips.
And with that, their Twin Sword Dance began.
The commanders panicked. The two intruders had nearly annihilated the Black Warriors. Joining the fray would only get them killed.
As they faltered, the Sword Demon left the Sword King and soared toward them. Plenty of Black Warriors remained, but no need to mind them now. The Healing Immortal Sect still had many fighters.
"You lot, huh."
His sword flashed sharply.
Slice!
One commander's head rolled from the sudden strike. The Sword Demon grinned chillingly and lunged at the rest, shouting to the Sword King.
"You staying put?!"
Snapping to, the Sword King vaulted inward, leaving the Black Warriors behind.
Entering the Healing Immortal Sect, he saw the Healing Immortal battling someone.
No need to assess—the Sword King charged, swinging his sword.
Clang!
The squad leader's martial prowess was astonishing, blocking the Sword King.
Scanning around, the Sword King sensed no qi waves due to his depleted energy, but his granddaughter seemed safe inside the hall.
And the Healing Immortal was a wreck.
"Huff... huff. You're... a bit late, aren't you?"
The Healing Immortal muttered with a smile before collapsing. The Sword King was mildly surprised, but he didn't seem at death's door.
Turning, the Sword King eyed the squad leader standing silently before him.
"Any reason to stick around?"
The squad leader shook his head.
"Never dreamed the Sword King would show. But you don't look so hot yourself..."
The Sword King smirked at his words.
"Hmph, so? Wanna try me?"
The squad leader shook his head. The Sword King was no easy mark, condition be damned. Besides, he'd fought the Healing Immortal too—his body wasn't whole.
"Hurry, or the Sword Demon'll wipe out your remnants."
The squad leader's eyes sharpened.
"What?!"
He bolted.
Watching his back, the Sword King sighed softly.
"Sigh, what a mess."
Had the squad leader charged heedless of life, the Sword King might not have walked away unscathed. His state was dire, energy spent.
He picked up the fallen Healing Immortal and stepped into the hall.
There sat a poised girl—stunningly beautiful.
"You look safe. Good."
A tear rolled from her eye at his words.
"Grandfather..."
She longed to run into his arms. But she couldn't.
"Can't walk?"
He asked casually. She nodded.
"Part of the healing process. You're almost fully recovered."
She nodded through fresh tears. The Sword King set the Healing Immortal down and approached her.
He gently scooped her up. She caressed his wounds tenderly in his embrace.
The Sword King smiled at her concern, warmth flooding him.
The attackers on the Healing Immortal Sect had been virtually wiped out and retreated. Heavy casualties, but they held. Without the Sword King and Sword Demon, it would've fallen.
The survivors were shocked to learn their savior was the Sword Demon—a demon from Heavenly Demon Fortress, risking his life for them.
Suspicion arose. No one believed the world-renowned Sword Demon did it for the Sword King.
Still, the battle ended. The Healing Immortal Sect swiftly regained its footing.
Deep in the forest, a man in yellow robes raced along. He headed to his comrades, training in seclusion.
After a long run, he arrived. Twenty men in matching robes awaited.
One approached—the squad captain.
"Mission status?"
"Failure."
The Demon Slayer Squad Captain scowled.
"Failure? What the hell? What about the Black Tortoise Unit members?"
Catching his breath, the man calmly recounted events. The captain's eyes widened in shock.
"That... really happened?"
"Yes."
The captain couldn't believe it. The Sword Demon was mighty, but still a demon—they should've captured him. Useless? Impossible.
"No issues with the Golden Demon Art, right?"
The man nodded.
"Of course. We finished training against demons in Qinghai already."
The Demon Slayer Squad had recently trained in Qinghai against demons, realizing the Golden Demon Art's prowess firsthand. That made this failure harder to swallow.
"They didn't research it at Heavenly Demon Fortress, did they?"
A valid worry, but the man shook his head firmly.
"Doesn't seem so. The Sword Demon himself looked puzzled why it didn't affect him."
"Really?"
The captain pondered, then spoke.
"Rest up. I'll make the report."
He vanished. Tension released, the yellow-robed man slumped. The brief yet endless mission was over. A failure, but over.
He headed to his quarters.
With all stress gone, the Sword Demon surfaced in his mind. The one who'd spared him—killing no one. Doubting if the Sword Demon was truly the vicious monster of legend, he drifted to sleep.