Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: The Blood Shadow Sword
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The five people's eyes went wide.
"H-How on earth did you manage that?"
Jegal Lin asked. She was so shocked that she even stuttered, which was completely unlike her.
"A strange fellow pulled this off."
"A strange fellow?"
Dan Hyeong-u pointed toward the bed with his finger. The Blood Shadow Sword lay there.
The Sword Demon's face hardened.
"Don't tell me someone broke in to steal the Blood Shadow Sword?"
Dan Hyeong-u gave a slight nod at the Sword Demon's words.
Everyone was utterly stunned. The Henan Escort Bureau was home to the Sword King and the Sword Demon. To reach Dan Hyeong-u's quarters, one had to pass right by theirs. That meant this intruder had slipped past both the Sword King and Sword Demon's senses undetected.
"I didn't sense a thing last night... Even if he came after I fell asleep, this is..."
The Sword Demon muttered to himself, but Dan Hyeong-u shook his head.
"It was when everyone was wide awake."
Those words only deepened their shock. How could anyone believe that someone had sneaked in during broad daylight—when both the Sword King and Sword Demon were alert—tried to steal the Blood Shadow Sword, been spotted by Dan Hyeong-u, and still managed to escape?
"Was he really that formidable?"
"He took an injury, but he got away."
The Sword King scowled deeply at Dan Hyeong-u's response. If the intruder had fled even while wounded and not at full strength, that meant they hadn't even noticed him. It was a far graver matter than they'd thought.
"The world's greatest divine thief has appeared."
Dan Hyeong-u shook his head faintly as he heard the Sword King's words. Last night, the intruder had come to steal, yet he hadn't felt like a thief at all. He was closer to an assassin.
In the depths of hell, there had been plenty of such demonic creatures. Ones that concealed their bodies and presence before striking. They could suppress their killing intent so perfectly that a moment's carelessness could prove fatal.
But there was no way such monsters existed here. Or even if they did, everything he'd encountered so far made it clear they didn't.
Dan Hyeong-u casually reached out his hand. The Blood Shadow Sword on the bed flew straight into his grasp. He then held it out to the Sword Demon.
"It's yours from now on."
The Sword Demon stared at Dan Hyeong-u and the sword in turn with wide eyes of disbelief before taking it with trembling hands. It was a dull iron sword without even a scabbard, but knowing its true nature, his body and heart shook violently.
"Y-You're truly giving this... to me?"
Dan Hyeong-u nodded. It was fate. The natural order. He couldn't say exactly why it had led here. But ever since awakening the Blood Shadow Sword yesterday, it had persistently willed itself into the Sword Demon's hands. Dan Hyeong-u had simply honored that will.
The Sword Demon gazed at the Blood Shadow Sword with blazing eyes. This was the blade he'd craved for so long. But he no longer needed it. He'd cast aside his greed—and only then had it come to him of its own accord.
"Why in the world would you..."
The Sword Demon couldn't comprehend it. What was Dan Hyeong-u's intent? What did he want him to do with the Blood Shadow Sword? He'd already witnessed its power firsthand yesterday.
Dan Hyeong-u turned to Jegal Lin. She jumped in surprise when their eyes met but quickly realized he wanted something from her. Her gaze shifted to the Blood Shadow Sword in the Sword Demon's hands.
Jegal Lin's eyes sparkled. The sword bore the same intricate patterns as the Heavenly Thread. They definitely hadn't been there yesterday. They must have emerged when Dan Hyeong-u awakened it. The Blood Shadow Sword was unmistakably forged by the Heavenly Qi Master.
"Now I understand why you did this."
The Sword Demon looked at her as she spoke. Jegal Lin met his eyes squarely.
"I want to study the Blood Shadow Sword. I'm not entirely sure, but it won't be anything bad for you, Sword Demon."
The Sword Demon glanced awkwardly at Dan Hyeong-u. Though Dan Hyeong-u had entrusted him with the sword, it didn't feel like it was fully his own. He couldn't make decisions about it on his own whim.
Dan Hyeong-u nodded.
"It's yours from now on."
The message was clear: since it belonged to the Sword Demon, he could do with it as he pleased. The Sword Demon frowned, more confused than ever.
In the end, he held the Blood Shadow Sword out to Jegal Lin. She took it carefully and examined the patterns etched across its surface.
About half a gahwa later, having scrutinized them thoroughly, she handed it back.
"I've looked it over. May I continue studying it going forward?"
The Sword Demon stared into Jegal Lin's eyes, gleaming with profound wisdom, then nodded.
"Very well. If you tell me what exactly you're after, I'll allow it."
Jegal Lin smiled brightly.
"The Blood Shadow Sword is another of the Heavenly Qi Master's creations, just like the Heavenly Thread. It conceals profound formation principles within. I want to study them. However, for those principles to fully manifest, you must wield it continuously, just as with the Heavenly Thread."
Only then did the Sword Demon understand what she sought. And he agreed. He, too, wanted to unveil the sword's true essence.
As she received his permission, Jegal Lin struggled to calm her pounding heart. She'd only just completed her research on the Heavenly Thread. She'd absorbed every formation principle hidden within it. Her understanding and knowledge of formations had leaped forward several levels—no, dozens, by the feel of it.
She now knew the Paeng family's grand formation wasn't merely born of intuition. Her mastery had advanced that far.
And now, the Blood Shadow Sword had appeared, harboring even deeper secrets. What she'd glimpsed was merely a fraction of the mysteries slumbering within. Fully comprehending and claiming them as her own would take a long time.
Intuition told her the Blood Shadow Sword held formations far surpassing those in the Heavenly Thread—and perhaps other hidden secrets besides.
Whatever they were, they would benefit everyone. The Sword Demon, the Henan Escort Bureau, Dan Hyeong-u... and all the martial world.
Blood Shadow wandered restlessly near the Paeng family estate, his expression troubled. No matter how he searched, he couldn't spot a single gap.
"Moon Shadow... Are you deliberately doing this because you don't want to see me?"
In the end, Blood Shadow failed to infiltrate the Paeng estate and retreated. Lingering too long would draw attention, no matter how cautious he was. And if that happened, all hell would break loose.
He had no fear of hordes of Paeng warriors, but right now, he needed to handle this quietly. Neither he nor the other shadows could afford to cast their presence over the world just yet.
But at this rate, meeting Moon Shadow was impossible.
"What are you thinking? Are you so terrified of losing your lower body that you're hiding away like this?"
Blood Shadow nodded to himself. He could only assume so. Otherwise, there was no explaining such extreme defenses. Even the formations he could identify were formidable. With his current abilities, slipping through undetected was impossible—unless Moon Shadow signaled from within. Even for him.
"Do I have no choice but to call on Death Shadow again?"
He couldn't, but Death Shadow could. No formation could bar him. But Death Shadow was currently with the Blood Demon. And to claim the Blood Shadow Sword, they needed to prepare with Moon Shadow first.
"Stealth won't work."
Unable to sneak in, he'd have to stir up a commotion, force open the gates, and slip inside amid the chaos. But the odds of failure were high, and the risks immense.
Still, he had no other option now.
"Hm? Things are getting rowdy outside."
Moon Shadow murmured as he sat reading, suddenly lifting his head. His quarters lay in the deepest part of the Paeng estate. Too far for outside noise to reach. Yet he knew everything happening around the estate. It was all thanks to the formations.
"Heh. Blood Shadow."
Moon Shadow read the surrounding situation through the shifts in qi flowing through the room. His chamber was the core of every formation in the Paeng estate.
By altering the qi flow within, he could manipulate the formations' power at will. And when qi shifted outside, it instantly reflected back in the room. Moon Shadow discerned the outer world by reading these changes.
Naturally, no one else could do this.
Moon Shadow tucked away the book he'd been reading. It was the Heavenly Qi Formation Compendium. He'd lost track of how long he'd pored over it. Yet it still felt fresh every time. The Heavenly Qi Master was a true genius. And this book was the encapsulation of all his brilliance.
It was merely a copy, but that hardly mattered. To Moon Shadow, it was more precious than anything.
He wheeled his chair to the center of the room. It wasn't strictly necessary, but the center offered the clearest sense of qi flow.
The energy from every formation was attuned to his senses. Here, Moon Shadow's perception transcended his physical limits.
"Hmm. Blood Shadow means business. Impressive as ever. But he still can't enter my inner sanctum."
Blood Shadow had already infiltrated the Paeng estate. The normally sealed main gate had swung open amid the uproar he'd caused, allowing him to stroll right in. But he had no inkling that Moon Shadow was watching his every move.
Moon Shadow waved his hand, activating the formations.
Blood Shadow's body caught in the formation's grip and was hurled back outside.
Blood Shadow stood before the Paeng estate's main gate, utterly dumbfounded. He'd been certain he'd leaped inside—yet somehow, he'd ended up outside again.
And now, some ten warriors encircled him. Paeng family guards.
"It's you! You're the one who caused the commotion!"
The warriors surrounded Blood Shadow to prevent his escape. He was so stunned that he didn't move until they'd fully closed the net.
'Did Moon Shadow... push me out? Me?'
He could only conclude as much. Or maybe not. But his thoughts kept drifting that way.
"Come inside with us for now. You'll confess your identity soon enough."
At the Paeng warrior's words, Blood Shadow snapped back to reality. He pondered briefly: pretend to be captured and re-enter, or cut them down and flee?
The decision didn't take long. He couldn't go inside. With Moon Shadow's betrayal looming, who knew what awaited? He'd felt the formations' power firsthand.
If Moon Shadow was serious and the estate's defenses fully engaged, escape would be impossible.
"What rotten luck."
Muttering that, Blood Shadow drew his sword.
Shuuuaaaak!
Sharp sword qi erupted from him in a perfect circle.
Shukagak!
The ten Paeng warriors were bisected at the waist before they could even defend themselves. Blood soaked the ground in all directions.
Blood Shadow stood amid the spreading pool of blood, glaring coldly at the Paeng estate's main gate.
"Moon Shadow, let's see if you can pull this off next time."
He muttered before leaping away.
A chill wind caressed the ten corpses as it passed, as if mourning their deaths.
Moon Shadow confirmed Blood Shadow's departure and let out a sigh.
"Phew. What incredible martial prowess. Even if I hadn't ended up like this and devoted myself to training, I could never have beaten him. His talent is astounding."
Moon Shadow was genuinely impressed. Blood Shadow's aptitude for martial arts rivaled his own genius for formations. Anything less, and he never would have caught the Blood Demon's eye.
"'Next time,' he says... Planning to bring Death Shadow along?"
He knew of Death Shadow's existence but wasn't privy to the full extent of his abilities. Moon Shadow had been deeply involved in the Blood Demon Society, but not as much as Blood Shadow.
To be precise, the information available to him went only as far as Shadowless. Moon Shadow had focused on formations, leaving little need to meddle in the society's practical affairs.
Still, he'd heard that Death Shadow possessed extraordinary talents beyond martial arts and served as the Blood Demon's personal guard.
"They say his stealth techniques are unparalleled, but can he truly breach my formations?"
Moon Shadow shook his head. No human could. The slightest shift in qi flow, and he'd know instantly. Activating the formations afterward would bar even a god.
"And this area is always under active formation coverage."
Moon Shadow's quarters themselves formed a formidable array. There was no way Death Shadow could enter. He was confident of that.
"I'm no longer Moon Shadow. From now on, I'm solely Moon Capture. That's my will, the Heavenly Qi Master's will, and even the will of the Blood Demon who cast me out. I am... Moon Capture."
Moon Shadow's soliloquy echoed softly through the room. His face was filled with resolute determination.