Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Thunder's Execution
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Umun Hye barely managed to open her mouth and call out to Dan Hyeong-u. His chilling gaze immediately fell upon her. Even in that moment, she couldn't understand why her face was flushing red.
Flash!
A bolt of lightning surged upward.
The lightning Dan Hyeong-u summoned cleaved the sword formation in two in an instant.
Shiiiiaaa...
The wind blew again. Air rushed in, aiding Umun Hye and Yeom Hye-mi's breathing.
Dan Hyeong-u slightly furrowed his brow. Blocking the air was a method he hadn't even considered. In truth, it had no effect on him whatsoever.
Of course, the two unit leaders couldn't have known that, but it had nearly put Umun Hye and Yeom Hye-mi in danger. If Umun Hye hadn't called out to him, the situation might have grown even more dire.
Dan Hyeong-u's eyes deepened further.
The Heaven-Shaking Unit Leader and Sky-Splitting Unit Leader were thrown into great confusion. The qi threads they had painstakingly drawn out were all severed. They would have to start drawing qi from scratch. Drawing qi wasn't difficult, but it took time.
And Dan Hyeong-u, naturally, gave them no such time.
Flash!
A single bolt of lightning struck down. Far larger and more intense than any before.
Rumble!
A faint thunderclap echoed. The two unit leaders stared at Dan Hyeong-u with eyes full of shock. The arms holding their swords had been cleanly severed. There had been no sensation at all.
They had only seen the lightning. With their abilities, they couldn't even see, let alone block, Dan Hyeong-u's sword.
"N-No way..."
An ominous thought crept into the Heaven-Shaking Unit Leader's mind. He recalled one person the headquarters had strictly ordered them never to touch.
With all the tasks involved in establishing the Righteous Heaven Alliance, he hadn't yet fully grasped the directives.
But today's lightning was far too intense. It jogged his memory of a particular passage that had caught his eye amid the instructions he'd skimmed.
'The sword that calls lightning.'
But it was already too late. Their arms were gone, and the sword formation utterly destroyed. Dan Hyeong-u's sword rose once more.
Flash!
And just like that, the two unit leaders collapsed pathetically.
Dan Hyeong-u's deeply sunken eyes scanned the surroundings. The intense lightning had frozen everyone in the courtyard simultaneously. No one moved. He alone stood there, surveying the halted crowd.
Dan Hyeong-u's sword lifted toward the sky again. All eyes followed its tip, laden with fear.
Flash!
Another intense bolt fell, claiming one life.
"Gasp! E-Everyone, fall back!"
The one who fell was the Tyrant Dragon. A single bolt had split him in two.
The Tyrant Sword Sect warriors recoiled in horror. Who in the current martial world could bisect the Tyrant Dragon in one strike?
Dan Hyeong-u's icy gaze swept the courtyard once more. Righteous Heaven Alliance and Tyrant Sword Sect warriors alike stepped back.
Dan Hyeong-u's group stood motionless as well. They too were stunned. Who could have predicted the world-renowned Tyrant Dragon would be cleaved in a single blow?
Tang Ho-gwan had been about to use Heavenly Thunder, saliva in hand, but dropped it in shock.
"Get lost."
Chilling words slipped from Dan Hyeong-u's lips.
The Heaven-Shaking and Sky-Splitting Units withdrew from the rear garden without a trace of emotion. With their leaders dead, it was the most rational choice. That's how they had been trained.
As they retreated, the Tyrant Sword Sect warriors could no longer stay. Though fury rose at their sect leader's absurd death, they knew they were powerless alone. Without the Tyrant Dragon, the Tyrant Sword Sect couldn't even handle the Sword King and Sword Demon.
The Tyrant Sword Sect warriors withdrew quietly, swallowing their bitter tears.
"Y-Young Master..."
Umun Hye wore a worried expression. With the Tyrant Dragon dead, retaliation was inevitable. Not just from the Tyrant Sword Sect, but the Righteous Heaven Alliance too.
No matter how strong Dan Hyeong-u was, facing a massive organization like the Righteous Heaven Alliance alone was impossibly difficult.
They might evade them by constantly fleeing—Dan Hyeong-u's movement technique was mysteriously unpredictable.
But no one could run forever. And the Righteous Heaven Alliance was vast beyond imagination, with eyes and ears everywhere. It meant a lifetime of unease.
Dan Hyeong-u wouldn't choose that. He would fight head-on. That much was obvious.
"You should hide for now."
Umun Hye's words brimmed with concern. Dan Hyeong-u's actions might even endanger her, but she could navigate it somehow.
The Umun Family's power was greater than it seemed. Extracting one Umun Hye was no issue.
Dan Hyeong-u gazed steadily into Umun Hye's worried eyes. His deep, chilling gaze seemed to swallow her whole.
"Don't worry."
Umun Hye flinched at his words but soon cried out passionately.
"How can I not worry! I...!"
Umun Hye couldn't continue. Tears suddenly flooded out. She'd hardly ever cried growing up.
Yet lately, she wept too often. The sudden increase upset her. She didn't want to cry now, but the tears welled up anyway.
Dan Hyeong-u quietly raised his hand to wipe her tears.
"Should've killed them all."
His words froze Umun Hye instantly. Her tears stopped, but a chill ran down her spine. She somehow believed he really would have. But his next words left her shaking her head frantically.
"Shall I wipe out the Righteous Heaven Alliance?"
That simple statement plunged not just Umun Hye, but everyone in the rear garden, into shock. It wasn't a joke. Dan Hyeong-u wasn't one to bandy words lightly.
"P-Please don't."
Umun Hye hurriedly stopped him. Dan Hyeong-u nodded readily, as if he'd never intended to.
"Everyone, let's head inside for now."
Jegal Rin stepped forward to lighten the mood. The group nodded and entered the room.
Once everyone was inside, Jegal Rin looked at the blood-scented courtyard. No bodies remained.
The Tyrant Sword Sect had taken the Tyrant Dragon's corpse, and the unit subordinates had claimed their leaders'. But the foul stench of blood lingered stubbornly.
"Haa..."
Jegal Rin sighed and turned to enter the room. They had to resolve this positively somehow. It was the path for everyone.
The Tyrant Dragon is dead!
The rumor shook the martial world. Details of the killer were unclear, but whispers said it was over the Thousand Shadows. He'd died trying to seize it.
Who was the Tyrant Dragon? Among the Ten Great Experts dominating the world, he ranked high in strength. His internal energy was unrivaled. Even another Ten Great Expert would pay dearly to kill him.
Yet he was dead. Attention focused on who and how.
The culprits revealed: the Sword King and Sword Demon. And the new owner of the Thousand Shadows.
Rumors flew that the Thousand Shadows' new master was the Sword King's granddaughter. Her grandfather and the Sword Demon had teamed up to slay the Tyrant Dragon.
No rumor mentioned Dan Hyeong-u. All were deliberately spread by Jegal Rin.
Jegal Rin moved swiftly. Before the Righteous Heaven Alliance or Tyrant Sword Sect could react, she unleashed rumors everywhere, using not just the Jegal Family's power, but the Martial Alliance's too.
It was blatant overreach, but Jegal Rin gave no thought to consequences. She acted as if everything rode on this moment.
Yet the Righteous Heaven Alliance and Tyrant Sword Sect stayed put amid the spreading rumors.
Without the Tyrant Dragon, the Tyrant Sword Sect's power was halved. They had no choice but to cling to the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Pride might demand revenge, but that would shutter the sect. Too much had been built up. At least for Pae Yeop, the new sect leader succeeding the Tyrant Dragon.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance extended a hand to the Sword King and Sword Demon. More precisely, Jegal Rin drew it in.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Heavenly Shadow."
Only in his forties, perhaps. The Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader was younger than expected. Quite different up close than from afar.
"Jegal Rin."
Behind Jegal Rin stood the Sword Demon, Sword King, and the entire group—even Tang Ho-gwan and Tang Mun-yeong. They inwardly admired the Alliance Leader.
His vitality overflowed. A fitting pillar of the righteous factions.
After Jegal Rin's introduction, Heavenly Shadow's gaze shifted behind her. He gave a slight bow in simple greeting, then turned to the side where Pae Yeop sat.
Pae Yeop rose at his glance, offering a cupped-fist salute toward Jegal Rin.
"Pae Yeop."
As Pae Yeop sat, Heavenly Shadow addressed Jegal Rin.
"I never imagined you'd come in person. I assume it's about the recent unpleasantness."
Jegal Rin nodded at his words.
"Yes, to settle that matter clearly."
Heavenly Shadow nodded.
"Clarity is best. Speak."
"It was unavoidable on our part. You'll acknowledge that, right?"
Heavenly Shadow nodded readily.
"I do."
"Alliance Leader!"
Pae Yeop cried out as Heavenly Shadow conceded. They couldn't admit it. The Tyrant Dragon—the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader, a Ten Great Expert, and Righteous Heaven Alliance elder—had died.
Heavenly Shadow raised a hand to silence Pae Yeop, gesturing for Jegal Rin to continue.
"Let's bury it here."
"Agreed."
Heavenly Shadow replied cheerfully. Pae Yeop gaped in disbelief.
"Now my turn. Straight to the point: I ask the two of you to aid us against the Demonic Alliance. The others helping too would be ideal. As long as one doesn't opt out."
The Sword King and Sword Demon nodded. It was pre-discussed with Jegal Rin, who had predicted his response perfectly.
"And..."
Heavenly Shadow trailed off, glancing at Yeom Hye-mi, who clutched the Thousand Shadows to her chest.
"Regarding the Thousand Shadows..."
"Its owner is already set. That's non-negotiable."
"Current owner decided, but the next? If the present one can no longer use it, hand it to the Tyrant Sword Sect. That's my condition."
Jegal Rin looked troubled briefly, glancing back. She saw Yeom Hye-mi, the Sword King, and Dan Hyeong-u behind them.
Dan Hyeong-u nodded. Jegal Rin's eyes widened. She turned to Heavenly Shadow.
"Fine. Deal."
The secret meeting ended. The Righteous Heaven Alliance lost two unit leaders and an elder but gained mighty allies for the Demonic Alliance war. The Tyrant Sword Sect reserved the Thousand Shadows as a future springboard.
Both chose pragmatism.
"I'm truly astonished by your wisdom, Alliance Leader."
Heavenly Shadow gave a wry smile at Pae Yeop's words.
"Nonsense. I was merely led along."
He said so, but Pae Yeop shook his head. The Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader was remarkable. Securing the Sword King and Sword Demon's power, even the Thousand Shadows. Impressive indeed.
But Heavenly Shadow's gut twisted. His words were true. He'd been maneuvered. Jegal Rin was a terrifying woman.
Even enlisting the Sword Demon and Sword King had been forced by her design.
With the Tyrant Dragon gone, they needed a replacement of equal caliber. For a young alliance like theirs, another Ten Great Expert was essential.
The Sword Demon, from the demonic path—no, Heavenly Demon Castle. His role in the Demonic Alliance war would shift perceptions. Jegal Rin had aimed for that too.