Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Cowardly Master
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Swoosh!
Neung Un-bi slightly twisted his head, dodging the sword that thrust straight at him.
At the same time, he reached out and grabbed his attacker's throat.
Clutch.
“…Gack!”
Whoosh!
Before the warrior, whose breath was caught in his throat, could even process his surprise, Neung Un-bi slammed him into the ground with all his might.
CRASH!
A violent tremor shook the earth, accompanied by a harsh rumble.
The warriors blocking his path flinched in surprise at the fiercely spreading demonic energy and retreated.
Crunch, crunch.
Even though the warrior had already lost consciousness from the impact, Neung Un-bi stomped on the fallen man and glared at his enemies.
“What? Scared?”
The warriors hesitated at the sound of Neung Un-bi's low, unsettling voice.
But why?
Strangely, what he felt seeing his frightened opponents wasn't pity, but exhilaration.
As Neung Un-bi slowly straightened up and smiled, the warriors took another step back.
“You pathetic fools! What are you doing! Have you no shame as the elites of the Heavenly Pillar Gate!”
“...?”
Seeing Bae Hyo-gang roaring from behind the warriors with eyes like a tiger, Neung Un-bi tilted his head.
That bastard, really…
His subordinates were dropping like flies, yet he stayed in the back, talking a big game.
Come to think of it, there didn't seem to be guys like that in the Demonic Cult.
Because they cherished their subordinates?
No. The Demonic Cult was a place where they couldn't care less about their comrades' lives, unless it was a lord they must protect.
So why did those in high positions take the lead?
I used to wonder, but now that I'm drunk on demonic energy, I get it.
How could anyone hold back when their blood is boiling like this!
This damned demonic energy… I think I'm starting to like it.
Suddenly, a thought even crossed my mind. Maybe the Demonic Cult suits me better.
Haven't I seen it for a long time?
Scoundrels who commit crimes get off through backdoors thanks to their powerful families, or get their sentences reduced with bribes…
How many times have I seen that filthy, disgusting, and cheap spectacle?
The Demonic Cult seemed far closer to my ideals than the Orthodox Faction, which had to consider morality even when killing.
The ruthless Murim.
They distinguish between Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic, dividing sides into right and wrong, but in the end, they're all just sword-wielding ruffians on different paths.
Using power to enact justice, and using power to commit evil.
Who judges what is right and wrong?
In the end, it's a world where the one with power is justice.
So, when it comes to punishing bad guys, what does it matter if I'm from the Demonic Cult or the Orthodox Faction?
The moment Neung Un-bi was grimly glaring at Bae Hyo-gang beyond the warriors.
BOOM! KABOOM!
“...?”
Suddenly, a series of violent explosions erupted from the forest behind them, and the shockwave made the trees sway.
“M-My lord!”
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, who were guarding Neung Un-bi's back and fighting the Heavenly Pillar Gate warriors joined by Jong Se-in, wore horrified expressions.
Everyone else was just as surprised.
The warriors of the Heavenly Pillar Gate, and Bae Hyo-gang too.
They were probably all thinking the same thing.
Have reinforcements arrived?
But Neung Un-bi's expression remained calm.
That must be him.
The Heavenly Pillar Gate might have had warriors hidden away.
But is he just some ordinary person?
If my guess is correct, he is a master so skilled that even I and the entire Eclipse Brigade couldn't defeat him.
Reinforcements from the Heavenly Pillar Gate?
Not a chance.
Even if their grandmaster came, he could never beat him.
In other words, there's no need to worry. I'll leave that side to him and just handle what's in front of me.
“Don't worry about it, just do your jobs. How long are you going to be fighting that bastard Jong Se-in?”
“...!”
“Now then, shall we start again? Bae Hyo-gang!”
Without waiting for Wang Cheon and Ju Seung's reply, Neung Un-bi stepped forward.
As power filled his tightly clenched fists, his eyes blazed with the demonic energy that surged and boiled within him.
“If you're just going to watch, I'll come to you myself!”
Krrrr.
Demonic energy concentrated in his stomping foot, and his aura erupted like a whirlwind.
Lunar Eclipse, Piercing Wave.
“Haaap!”
Shifting his center of gravity to his stomping foot, Neung Un-bi powerfully extended both hands.
KWWAAAAA!
The raging demonic energy surged toward the warriors.
CRACK! BOOM!
The warriors who stood in front tried to block with their swords, but they were uselessly crushed, and those who suffered internal injuries were sent flying, spewing fountains of blood.
Thump!
Neung Un-bi's sword, Biyeon, swept low across the ground, following the trajectory of the Three Battles Sword.
It was a sword so fast it could cut twelve torches in a single step.
The sword was as fast as a ray of light and as dizzying as a shower of petals, but strengthened by the energy of the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill, it held the power to shatter everything it touched.
“Kuaargh!”
One person per trajectory.
Neung Un-bi's sword, which unfailingly claimed a life with each swing, began to dismantle the Heavenly Pillar Gate's defensive wall.
“Th-This damn…”
As the number of fallen warriors increased, Bae Hyo-gang couldn't help but grow anxious.
To think he's this strong…
It hadn't been a short time.
But the glint in Neung Un-bi's eyes grew even more menacing due to the demonic energy, and his aura, far from diminishing, raged even more fiercely than before.
Meanwhile, the explosion from the forest a moment ago was bothering him.
It wasn't the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
Then was it the Dancheon Gate, no, reinforcements from a Demonic Cult branch?
No wonder that Third Young Master bastard was so confident…
That cunning bastard must have made arrangements before coming here.
What should I do now?
Since Jong Se-in has those guards tied down, if I step in now, I might be able to defeat that damn Third Young Master with the remaining warriors.
But what if warriors from the Demonic Cult branch join in?
The Demonic Cult branch bastards, unaware that Jong Se-in has colluded with me, will surely side with the Third Young Master.
…This is not good.
If I get caught by him here, I won't be able to plan for the future.
I have to escape.
I'll go back and frame this incident as an attack by the Demonic Cult.
Even if the Demonic Cult gets involved, the Orthodox Murim Alliance—no, my backer—won't just stand by and watch.
How many bribes have I paid for this very day?
The deliberation was short, and the conclusion was easily reached.
“Warriors of the Heavenly Pillar Gate, listen!”
“...?”
“Form the Heavenly Steel Formation! Annihilate the wicked disciple of the Demonic Cult who has invaded the territory of the Orthodox Faction with all your might! The righteousness for which you sacrifice your lives will last for a thousand years!”
At Bae Hyo-gang's thunderous cry as he drew his sword, the Heavenly Pillar Gate warriors' eyes glinted fiercely as they took positions around Neung Un-bi.
Soon, even those fighting Wang Cheon and Ju Seung joined in.
Wooooong!
The atmosphere was completely different from when they were attacking together. It was a sloppy sword formation since many were injured, but the pressure bearing down within it was extraordinary.
Then again, those Orthodox Faction bastards were the type to risk their lives for their names.
Don't they say a tiger leaves its skin when it dies, and a person leaves their name?
…How pointless.
What's the use of leaving a name? You're already dead.
The only ones who benefit from fame are your descendants. And there's no guarantee that will even happen.
In the end, the living are the ones who win.
But there was a time when I thought that way too, so it wasn't like I couldn't understand.
“Begin the formation!”
“Yes, sir!”
The order was given, and the formation activated.
His skin tingled from the sharp energy emanating from the sword formation that began to rotate around him.
“My lord!”
“Stay back!”
“…”
“I'm leaving Jong Se-in to you.”
“…My lord.”
“You think I'd be trapped by a mere formation like this? Hah! Not a chance!”
Neung Un-bi scoffed and drew upon all the demonic energy he possessed.
Bae Hyo-gang, so you're finally going to step up?
I'll break this formation and smash your hea—huh?
As Neung Un-bi steeled his resolve, his eyes went blank for a moment, and a baffled expression appeared on his face.
“That… bastard?”
He was running away.
Bae Hyo-gang, who looked like he was about to join the formation and swing his sword at any moment, was fleeing for his life the instant he mounted his horse.
Leaving everything to his subordinates…
“Hah! What kind of person is he?”
As the head of a family, he should have some pride to match, but he's running away?
“Damn it!”
Just as he was about to give chase with an irritated curse.
Shunk!
The activated sword formation blocked Neung Un-bi's path.
“Damn Demonic Cult bastard!”
“…”
These guys!
Are you blind?
Can't you see your leader running away?
“There is no escape! Once the Heavenly Steel Formation is activated, it will not stop until its target is annihilated! You will die here!”
“…”
So that was it?
Was that the reason he had them form the Heavenly Steel Formation in the first place?
To buy time for himself to escape?
“Die!”
“…”
Neung Un-bi let out a deep sigh at the sword strikes coming from all directions.
Pathetic fools…
Is the name you leave behind after death so precious?
Or do you believe that fleeing bastard will let your families live in peace?
…It's neither.
You were just being used by Bae Hyo-gang.
But don't resent him.
You may have only been following orders, but you too annexed and oppressed those poor people without guilt, and you lived lavishly on the money you made from selling them out.
All the demonic energy he had gathered was channeled into Neung Un-bi's hands.
“Haaap!”
Waiting for all the warriors to close in on him at once, Neung Un-bi thrust both his hands into the ground with all his might.
A formation of annihilation that doesn't stop until the target is dead? I just have to break it.
True Lunar Eclipse, Moon Engraving.
The demonic energy Neung Un-bi unleashed with all his power settled upon the ground like the moon engraved on the surface of water.
And then, the explosion caused by the condensed energy reaching its limit.
The earth violently surged upward, engulfing and exploding upon the Heavenly Pillar Gate's sword formation that had gathered around Neung Un-bi.
K-K-K-K-K-K, KABOOOM!
“…”
The blast radius wasn't wide, but it was enough to neutralize the sword formation.
Amidst the wounded scattered everywhere, Neung Un-bi alone exuded a demonic glare, leaving no room for any will to fight.
A sword formation that doesn't stop until it kills its target? What a joke.
“R-Run! He's a monster!”
“…”
It seems that's how I looked. In truth, I poured everything I had into that, so I don't have much strength left.
Damn it, I overdid it.
As the few survivors from the Heavenly Pillar Gate scattered in all directions, the fight with Wang Cheon and Ju Seung seemed to be more or less over.
Of course, there was no way Jong Se-in could withstand the combined attack of Wang Cheon and Ju Seung without the help of the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
“Cough.”
“M-My lord!”
As Neung Un-bi stretched his body, a wave of dizziness hit him and he staggered. Wang Cheon rushed to support him.
“Are you all right?”
“I'm fine. But the Gate Master of the Heavenly Pillar Gate escaped.”
“I saw. I will chase him down and bring him back.”
“No.”
“Sir?”
Neung Un-bi shook his head.
It's too late to chase him now. I have almost no strength left…
Besides, the situation has already escalated.
Bae Hyo-gang probably won't stay quiet.
As soon as he reaches the Heavenly Pillar Gate, he'll send out requests for help in all directions.
The nature of the fight is changing. From a battle between the Heavenly Pillar Gate and myself to a battle between the Demonic Cult and the Orthodox Faction.
But do you think I'll just sit back and take it?
Neung Un-bi glanced at Jong Se-in, who was being subdued by Ju Seung.
He said so.
That he has a ledger detailing all of that bastard's dealings with the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
I'll report everything to the Cult Leader.
If your backer is the Orthodox Murim Alliance, then my backer is the Demonic Cult.
Let's just see if that Orthodox Murim Alliance you trust so much will help a bastard who has smeared shit on their precious name.