Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Heavenly Flash's Chosen
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The Sword King held out Heavenly Flash to Yeom Hye-mi. She blinked in confusion, glancing back and forth between the Sword King and the sword.
"Why are you giving this to me...?"
"Take it. From now on, it's yours."
Yeom Hye-mi's eyes widened at the Sword King's words.
"Really? Does that mean I can finally learn martial arts?"
Her question was perfectly natural. The Sword King's face twisted sharply, and he slowly shook his head.
"No, that's not it. But it's yours anyway."
Yeom Hye-mi's expression grew even more baffled. She had known from the start of her treatment that she couldn't learn martial arts. Even after fully curing her illness, her unique constitution would prevent it, and she had accepted that.
Besides, Yeom Hye-mi didn't mind not learning martial arts. To her, eliminating the pain that gnawed at her body was far more important.
"I can't accept it. You should keep it, Grandfather."
The Sword King shook his head at her words. He pondered how to explain it. His dilemma was resolved by Jegal Rin, who stood nearby.
"That sword, Heavenly Flash, belongs to you now, Lady Yeom. No one else can wield it. Its original owner gave it to you. He chose you."
Jegal Rin's words struck something deep in Yeom Hye-mi's heart. She could still sense Jegal Rin's lingering regret over Heavenly Flash. That emotion seeped into his voice, shaking her to the core.
"But I can't even swing it... Wouldn't it be better to give it to someone who needs it more? You said it's mine now, so I can pass it on to someone else, right?"
Jegal Rin's eyes sharpened at her words, a flicker of anger flashing in his gaze as it pierced toward her. Yeom Hye-mi snapped her mouth shut under that stare.
Jegal Rin glared at her for a moment longer before turning and storming out of the room.
Utterly flustered, Yeom Hye-mi watched his back, then turned pleading eyes to the Sword King. But he merely shook his head with a stern look.
In the end, overwhelmed by the pressure around her, Yeom Hye-mi had no choice but to accept Heavenly Flash.
After handing it over, the Sword King smiled faintly.
"Now that it's yours, take good care of it from now on. Understood?"
"Yes..."
Yeom Hye-mi replied in a deflated voice. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't understand why she had to take it. She had only accepted due to the atmosphere.
Watching Yeom Hye-mi hold Heavenly Flash while lost in thought, the Sword King inwardly admired Jegal Rin. He had created an atmosphere that made her accept it almost naturally—what a skill.
'What the hell are you thinking, you bastard.'
Dan Hyeong-u came to mind. The Sword King couldn't fathom his intentions no matter how he racked his brain. At any rate, their business at the Immortal Physician Sect was done. All that remained was to head back—to Heochang.
'Come to think of it, he's still an escort.'
The Sword King chuckled. It wasn't a bad outcome. He could spend every day with his granddaughter now. And as long as the Sword Demon stayed on as an escort, the rivalry could continue to the end.
His remaining years were few anyway. All he wanted was to watch his granddaughter grow well and to keep walking the path of the sword. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Dan Hyeong-u glared at the bed. Deep darkness had long swallowed the world. It was time to sleep.
"Hoo..."
Unlike himself, Dan Hyeong-u let out a long sigh. He had lost count of how many attempts this made today.
But it was still difficult. Sitting was hard enough—lying down was another matter entirely. And he had to sleep. Cautiously approaching the bed, Dan Hyeong-u slowly lay down.
Something surged violently from underground, but he suppressed it. He knew it wasn't real. It was all just an illusion he created.
He closed his eyes. The self-made illusion grew stronger. He had thought he transcended even death, yet this remained beyond him.
"Damn it."
He opened his eyes again. It improved slightly. But there was no progress like this. Dan Hyeong-u closed his eyes once more.
Forcing himself to endure and seek sleep, he couldn't drift off. The presences all around were to blame.
Even at this late hour, many people moved within the Immortal Physician Sect. Outside too, figures stirred here and there.
His nerves were on edge, senses hypersensitive. He picked up even needless presences he could normally filter out. Lying down made it impossible to block them.
He tried a bit longer with eyes shut, but the presences from outside the sect suddenly swarmed inward. They vaulted the walls from all sides, movements stealthily perfect.
No killing intent, so Dan Hyeong-u ignored them to focus on sleep. But his over-sensitized senses kept their movements nagging at him.
In the end, Dan Hyeong-u rose from the bed.
Standing straight, his mind eased greatly. He wondered if he even needed to force lying down to sleep.
Opening the door, Dan Hyeong-u melted into the darkness. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Black-clad figures in black masks hid in the shadows as they scaled the Immortal Physician Sect's walls. Once over, they scattered silently in all directions, as if searching for something.
They roamed freely, rummaging through the sect. Some still tended patients sleeplessly, and guards patrolled here and there.
But the black-clad masked intruders' movements were stealthy enough to evade all eyes.
Eventually, they converged at one spot—deep in the sect, before a shabby-looking building. Cautiously, they opened the door.
The firmly locked door yielded easily as one manipulated it with a few hand movements. Slipping inside, their eyes gleamed. What they sought was there.
People lay atop countless wooden beds in the building. No—not people. Corpses.
The black-clad masked figures nodded upon checking the corpses on the beds, then hoisted them up one by one.
Twenty intruders had infiltrated, yet enough corpses for each to carry five or more. States varied—some decapitated, others missing limbs. They packed even the remains into prepared sacks, leaving nothing.
Work complete, they slipped out. Laden with massive loads, their stealth remained flawless.
Just as they emerged, their bodies froze. One man waited for them.
Stunned briefly, their judgment was swift. They scattered in all directions, faster than on entry, still silent.
Dan Hyeong-u watched them disperse, then targeted one and stepped forward.
"Gah!"
In one step, he seized a black-clad masked man's throat. He ignored the rest. No kills, no killing intent. Just curiosity. They stole corpses of the black warriors who had raided the sect before.
The captured man bit down on the hidden poison pill in his mouth. Or tried to. He couldn't.
'Damn.'
His face twisted. Subdued without realizing when. No wonder the leader had insisted endlessly: if you meet him, run.
Captured but unyielding, he had no thought of fighting. They had already rescued Ma Yeom-gi, imprisoned by Dan Hyeong-u in the Martial Alliance's Hwasan branch. He knew what capture meant. Escape on opportunity was all—after diverting attention.
As the black-clad man schemed, Dan Hyeong-u pondered briefly what to do. But not for long.
An intruder either way. Alerting others was best.
"Should I catch the others too?"
Dan Hyeong-u muttered lowly. Not "should I have," but "should I?" The gripped man dangled, tensing sharply.
That phrasing meant he could catch all comrades even now. So the black-clad man interpreted.
Dan Hyeong-u stood still, then frowned slightly. An unpleasant memory surfaced.
"Guess I have to."
The muttered words heightened the man's tension. How could he catch already-escaped allies? No method came to mind.
Ignoring his thoughts, Dan Hyeong-u casually swung the gripped hand.
Thud!
The black-clad man hit the ground. Trying to move proved impossible anywhere. No speech, no mouth movement. Only eyes could roll.
Dan Hyeong-u tossed him aside, turned, took a step, and vanished.
The black-clad man's eyes widened at the disappearance. They widened further as Dan Hyeong-u reappeared, dangling another throat-gripped comrade.
Thud!
He rolled his eyes at his fellow captive, then back to Dan Hyeong-u.
Dan Hyeong-u glanced at the intruders and vanished again.
How many repeats? All twenty lay before him. None escaped.
The black-clad men were aghast.
They had thought their escape was perfect. In that moment of relief, their throats suddenly clenched. Stunned senseless, they were dragged back here.
With all captured, Dan Hyeong-u waited, deliberately noisy. The sect stirred; guards rushed over.
"Who goes there!"
Sect warriors shouted, leaping toward him—but halted upon recognition.
Dan Hyeong-u was famous here. His whole group too—Sword Demon and Sword King's entourage, naturally.
"I-Isn't that Young Hero Dan?"
A warrior stammered. Dan Hyeong-u silently pointed at the black-clad men.
Only then spotting them, the warriors gasped.
"Heavens! What are these...!"
Watching the fuss, Dan Hyeong-u quietly turned away.
Time to sleep again. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I won't forget this grace."
"Grace? Nonsense. We've received the greater favor. Safe travels."
With Sword King and Immortal Physician's farewells, the group exited the main gate. Business in Namchang was done.
Tang Moon-young and Umun Hye wished to stay longer. Separated comrades—Tang Ho-gwan and Young-sa—surely headed here from Honam.
"We must go to Henan now, so no detour to Honam."
Jegal Rin's words halted Umun Hye and Tang Moon-young. Fastest to Henan from Namchang was via Hobuk. No need for Honam. But Tang Ho-gwan and Young-sa came from Honam toward Namchang.
Umun Hye and Tang Moon-young looked to Dan Hyeong-u simultaneously. He spoke bluntly.
"We're turning back."
Just that. No clear destination. Could mean Honam or Henan. Tension flickered on their faces.
Dan Hyeong-u started walking. The group followed. No one veered to their own desires.