Fighting the Black Sword Pavilion (3)
Why hasn't there been any news at all?
At the very moment when Black Cloud Secret Sword Yeon Jiryang and the entire Black Sword Pavilion vanguard had perished, Pavilion Lord Jo Do-hwan could no longer hide his growing anxiety.
It had already been two hours since they had set out for the Demon Sword Sect.
By now, they should have either conquered the enemy base or returned after launching their ambush.
"Could they possibly... be getting pushed back by the Demon Sword Sect?"
Jo Do-hwan even let such thoughts creep in, but he quickly shook his head.
No, that can't be.
If they were being overwhelmed by the Demon Sword Sect, they would have signaled with beacon fires or oil-soaked arrows long ago.
Yet there was still no clear sign from the group that had gone to the Demon Sword Sect.
"Any separate word from Vice Commander Yeon?"
In his desperation, Jo Do-hwan called out to his subordinates.
Even at this late hour, they had been waiting solely for Yeon Jiryang's signal and responded immediately.
"Nothing yet, my lord."
It was right then.
"Pavilion Lord! Pavilion Lord!"
A frantic voice seeking the pavilion lord echoed through the late night.
"What is it?"
Hearing this, Jo Do-hwan couldn't hide his delight and let a faint smile slip.
He believed the signal from Yeon Jiryang had finally arrived.
But what was this?
"Come to the entrance. Some unknown brat claiming to be the Demon Sword Sect Lord... and three escort warriors are causing a ruckus."
The report from the low-ranking guard at Black Sword Pavilion's main gate was utterly shocking.
"What?"
"I am the Lord of the Demon Sword Sect. Take me to the Black Sword Pavilion Lord."
This was when Hyeon Yucheon and the Black Wolf Three Swords first arrived at the Black Sword Pavilion entrance.
"Puhahaha!"
"What did you say? Demon Sword Sect Lord?"
"Crazy at such a young age."
"If you're the Demon Sword Sect Lord, then I'm the Murim Alliance Leader."
The Black Sword Pavilion's low-ranking warriors scoffed one after another, refusing to entertain him.
Some even went so far as to hurl insults, infuriating the Black Wolf Three Swords.
"Will you open it? Or shall I force my way in?"
Hyeon Yucheon was no pushover.
He was like a mirror to others.
He treated people exactly as they treated him.
Thus, with their rudeness, there was no reason to show respect.
"Tsk tsk, you look like some rich young master... strutting around with a few escort guards."
"Your escorts don't look like much either. This is Black Sword Pavilion."
"Kneel and beg now, and we might let it slide."
Since they wouldn't believe him, there was no point in waiting any longer.
"Black Wolf Three Swords."
Demon Sword Sect Lord Hyeon Yucheon wasted no more words.
"Yes, Sect Lord!"
At his call, the three clasped their hands in salute and bowed their heads in unison.
"From now on, turn Black Sword Pavilion into a field of carnage."
That was all it took.
The Black Wolf Three Swords had been itching for action anyway.
They were already seething with rage from the vanguard's ambush and insolence.
At this command, they shouted in unison with uncontainable joy.
"Your will be done!"
Black Wolf Three Swords' eldest, Cheonu.
His first stance unleashed explosive sword force worthy of the strongest internal energy among the sworn brothers.
Kwa-ga-ga-gang!
With his opening move, the roof of Black Sword Pavilion—which had been a natural fortress—flew off entirely.
Next was Black Wolf Three Swords' second, Cheonjung.
Cunning and quick-witted Cheonjung struck the dazed Black Sword Pavilion warriors who had lost their roof, scattering lethal blows amid their carelessness and instantly creating a mist of blood.
And finally—
The youngest of the Black Wolf Three Swords, Cheonjwa—whose martial prowess and wisdom were most balanced—finished cleaning up after his brothers, bulldozing a path through.
And that was not all.
"We've cleared the path, Sect Lord."
The Black Wolf Three Swords joked as if it had been mere warm-up exercise, then bowed their heads again like attendants at an emperor's side.
Sneak.
Hyeon Yucheon grinned, thoroughly pleased with the sight.
Truly remarkable skill!
He marveled repeatedly at the Black Wolf Three Swords' prowess with his own eyes.
In the past, the Demon Sword Sect had brimmed with such warriors, but now they were a rarity.
Even more astonishing was...
Just like with Black Sword Pavilion's vanguard, after my group and the Black Wolf Three Swords went ahead as the advance team, I planned to call Second Senior Brother Eum and the Demon Sword Sect disciples as the follow-up...
He even wondered if the follow-up team might have nothing left to do.
Kwa-a-ang! Kwa-a-a-ang!
The Black Wolf Three Swords' bold claim of having carved a path was no joke or exaggeration.
They had forged it with their fists and swords.
A path flowing with the blood and flesh of the enemy!
It was truly bizarre.
This was supposed to be an ambush, yet they charged straight through the front gate without hiding their presence or flanking from behind—they simply smashed everything in their way.
"Damn it! Target that kid!"
"He's the leader... If we capture the leader alive, even those monstrous freaks won't rampage."
Having tasted the Black Wolf Three Swords' power, Black Sword Pavilion writhed in terror and resorted to their desperate ploy: capturing Hyeon Yucheon.
It made some sense—on the surface, Hyeon Yucheon looked like a pampered playboy utterly clueless about martial arts.
Moreover, he strolled freely behind them, separated from the Black Wolf Three Swords, making him seem easy prey.
"Do I look that easy to you?"
Hyeon Yucheon chuckled incredulously and shrugged.
Why hadn't the Black Wolf Three Swords guarded him closely?
There were two reasons.
First, there was no one in this Black Sword Pavilion who could threaten Hyeon Yucheon.
Not even Pavilion Lord Black Dragon Blood Sword!
Second, Hyeon Yucheon was stronger than they were—guarding him would be absurd.
Thus, the Black Wolf Three Swords' role was simply to handle anything that might bother him.
Waaaaah!
Emboldened by Hyeon Yucheon's apparent vulnerability, Black Sword Pavilion's forces drew their swords en masse and charged.
Their sole target: Hyeon Yucheon.
Had they been able to communicate with the vanguard, they never would have attempted this folly—but disaster had already struck.
The very stance that had sent the vanguard straight to hell together—the moment Hyeon Yucheon's formless sword energy unleashed a frenzy of invisible fragments.
Don't expect mercy from me.
Black Sword Pavilion had struck first, their blades laced with killing intent.
In this merciless world, you killed or were killed.
Hyeon Yucheon didn't think it right, but he planned to reach the pinnacle of this world first—then change it himself.
Beneath his iron resolve, the fragments of Formless Linked Bullets sword qi scattered everywhere, and there was no way to block the unseen shards.
Kwa-ji-jik! Kwa-jik!
Over a hundred Black Sword Pavilion troops—gathering in groups of three or five to target Hyeon Yucheon—collapsed completely on the spot.
The lucky ones lost an arm or leg; the unlucky died outright, off to reunite with friends who had paved the way to the afterlife.
"Aaaagh!"
"That guy's a monster too!"
"Who the hell are these guys?!"
Just four: the Demon Sword Young Master and Black Wolf Three Swords, basking in the bright moonlight as they displayed their might.
This was nothing short of a one-sided massacre.
Though not a massive faction, Black Sword Pavilion—a rising unorthodox sect led by Black Dragon Blood Sword—was no easy prey; few could ravage it like this.
"All Black Sword Pavilion members, form the Black Sword Great Horn Formation!"
Finally, a high-ranking figure bellowed the order to stem further losses.
This Black Sword Great Horn Formation was one of the grand formations of Black Sword Pavilion, requiring at least fifty practitioners of its arts.
Sneak.
Even as they formed it, Hyeon Yucheon didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow, staring them down.
As the saying goes: counter formation with formation.
"Black Wolf Three Swords, show them your formation as well."
At the sect lord's words, the three leaped eagerly into the massive wave of the Black Sword Great Horn Formation.
If they had the Black Sword Great Horn Formation, then the Black Wolf Three Swords had this:
Nearly a hundred foes versus three—but the tide had turned against them.
Seok, seogeok!
The moment Cheonu, Cheonjung, and Cheonjwa unleashed the Black Wolf Demon Three Formation in earnest, nothing could stand in their way.
They were like a massive typhoon, a black gale.
All who touched them suffered deep gashes or were torn limb from limb, dying on the spot.
"Aaaak! Aaaaak!"
"No... this isn't a fight we can win."
At the sight of the one-sided slaughter, Black Sword Pavilion's morale finally shattered.
Just as the pavilion's collapse loomed—
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Amid the spray of Black Sword Pavilion blood, one man revealed himself.
He was the master of this Black Sword Pavilion: Black Dragon Blood Sword Jo Do-hwan.
Jo Do-hwan was a Super Peak master himself—early stage, perhaps, but unmatched in the region.
"I've been saying it since the gate."
Hyeon Yucheon stepped forward right then.
He signaled the Black Wolf Three Swords to halt, then spoke again.
"I am Hyeon Yucheon, the Demon Sword Young Master and Lord of the Demon Sword Sect."
Facing Jo Do-hwan, Hyeon Yucheon spoke with his characteristic leisure.
"D-Demon Sword Sect Lord? Demon Sword Young Master?"
Jo Do-hwan, meanwhile, couldn't comprehend the situation.
As far as he knew, the Demon Sword Sect's temporary lord was Flash Light Flying Gentleman Eum Ji-myeong, second disciple of the Demon Sword Ghost Elder.
A fresh-faced youth claiming the title left him stunned.
Did some internal purge happen in the Demon Sword Sect? Then the recent funeral for old man Cheon...
Jo Do-hwan was sharper than he appeared, surprised by the apparent new vitality in the Demon Sword Sect—but he didn't show it, lest the whole pavilion waver.
Then a sudden realization struck.
"What happened to our Vice Pavilion Lord, Black Cloud Secret Sword Yeon Jiryang, and the vanguard?"
It was no foolish question.
Had their mission succeeded, Hyeon Yucheon and the Black Wolf Three Swords wouldn't be here unscathed, striking suddenly.
"Just as it should have."
"As it should?"
"I sent them as guests who won't return, for insulting my Demon Sword Sect."
Hyeon Yucheon answered the foolish query wisely.
"...!"
Jo Do-hwan snapped alert as if doused in cold water.
How had the declining Demon Sword Sect defeated Yeon Jiryang and the vanguard?
"Curious, aren't you? How we won."
Hyeon Yucheon properly introduced himself and his group.
"I am the final disciple of my master, Demon Sword Ghost Elder Cheon Baeksang... And these behind me are the Black Wolf Three Swords."
That was enough.
Jo Do-hwan nearly clutched his neck and fainted.