Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Supreme Sword of the Demonic Path (3)
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"Huh? What the hell are those guys up to?"
The Beggars' Sect Elder Ju Yu Geol widened his eyes. At his shout, Namgung Kyung turned his head.
"If these old eyes of mine aren't deceiving me, it looks like they're running away right now."
"I see."
"Their comrade's dying right in front of them, and they run? Hah! Typical Demon Cult bastards. Trash through and through."
Unlike Ju Yu Geol, who clicked his tongue and spat curses, Namgung Kyung assessed the situation coolly.
"It could be a pragmatic judgment."
"Abandoning their comrades just to flee?"
When Ju Yu Geol shot back with a displeased look, Namgung Kyung pointed at the black-robed elder charging toward Sima Geon.
"Facing an enemy they can't handle, preserving as much of their forces as possible isn't a bad call."
Ju Yu Geol frowned as he eyed the black-robed elder, then nodded with a slightly more favorable expression.
"In exchange, the leader risks his life to save his subordinates? Hmm, that could be it. Maybe you're right—it might be their best option."
The aura emanating from the black-robed elder wasn't the bloodthirsty intent to dominate the fight. It conveyed a transcendent resolve, unconcerned with victory, defeat, or even death—just doing what he had to do.
"What's astonishing is that those guys forced the black-robed elder into making that choice. Their skill must be something else."
Namgung Kyung gazed alternately at Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, who were mercilessly sweeping through the Blood Demon Division, his eyes alight with admiration. They were masters fit to shake the world.
"Yeah. How did we not know monsters like that were growing in the Demon Cult?"
The Beggars' Sect's eyes covered the world. Even if their momentum had waned lately, they hadn't gone blind to the Demon Cult. Yet he'd never heard of freaks like Sima Geon or Cheol Woo.
Ju Yu Geol felt his pride stung that Sima Geon and Cheol Woo had slipped through the Beggars' Sect's intelligence network.
"Who knows. It's probably not that we didn't know, but that we couldn't identify them. We'd never met them in person."
"Could be. Makes sense."
Ju Yu Geol's furrowed brow eased a bit.
He seemed more inclined to trust Namgung Kyung's words than admit the Beggars' Sect's intelligence shortcomings.
It was right then. Namgung Kyung, whose attention had been drawn to Cheol Woo's flashy movements, suddenly bulged his eyes.
"That technique!"
"What's wrong?"
Namgung Kyung ignored Ju Yu Geol's question, fixing his gaze on Cheol Woo. Moments later, he let out a deep sigh.
"Hah! So it was them after all."
"You know them?"
"Not exactly know, but I ran into them once before when we went to wipe out the Golden Fox Bandit Lair."
"Golden Fox Bandit Lair? Oh, I heard about that. They caused a mess and got smashed by the Namgung Clan."
Namgung Kyung let out a hollow chuckle and shook his head.
"The rumors got it wrong. It wasn't our main house that crushed the Golden Fox Bandit Lair—it was those guys. Though they didn't have those faces back then."
"What do you mean?"
"They were in disguise. Probably didn't want their identities known."
"But how'd you figure it out if they were disguised?"
"There was a misunderstanding back then, and we clashed briefly. With that guy right there."
Namgung Kyung pointed at Cheol Woo as he continued.
"I was shocked by how strong he was. And just now, in our fight, he used the exact same technique. At first, I thought it was just similar, but now I know. It's definite."
"I see."
"Truth be told, even without the technique, I should've recognized them ages ago. No matter the disguise, everyone has their own unique presence and aura. Hah! How did I miss it?"
As Namgung Kyung berated his own discernment, Ju Yu Geol gave him an incredulous look.
"Their faces were different, weren't they? It'd be weirder if you'd recognized them."
'You think you can just run? Not on my watch, Loyal Demon Division.'
In the blink of an eye, Sima Geon severed the Thunderclap Elder Left Protector's throat, then turned his gaze to the fleeing Loyal Demon Division.
Within the Heavenly Demon Cult, no group shared deeper ties with the Divine Demon Division than the Loyal Demon Division.
Through the wars that unified the cult, they'd fought side by side countless times, aiding each other endlessly. Comrades who could meet anywhere, anytime, and share drinks while boasting of their exploits. Facing them like this was cruel indeed.
But he didn't agonize long.
The Divine Demon Division weren't mere subordinates. They were friends and brothers who'd shared life and death since Black Dragon Valley. The moment those fleeing Thunderclap Division bastards tried to kill them, the old bonds were severed.
Sima Geon hurled his sword.
Drenched in the blood of Demon Duke Ho and the Thunderclap Elder Left Protector, the blade shot like a streak of light toward the rear of the Loyal Demon Division.
"Watch out!"
The black-robed elder, who hadn't expected Sima Geon to target the Loyal Demon Division with him right there, shouted urgently and threw his own sword.
A Heavenly Demon Cult elder revered by all cultists, with skill enough to hold the advantage over Sword Saint Namgung Kyung in half their exchanges. Even late to act, he intercepted the path of Sima Geon's thrown sword.
The moment the black-robed elder's sword aimed to strike the side, Sima Geon's straight-flying blade abruptly changed direction. It shot skyward, and the black-robed elder's sword followed suit.
But Sima Geon's Spirit Sword Control was far beyond what the black-robed elder anticipated.
Twisting directions repeatedly in midair, the sword easily pierced the interference and struck the rear of the Loyal Demon Division.
"Kuaaaak!"
"Guhk!"
Screams erupted in succession.
The Loyal Demon Division members where the sword passed writhed like speared fish before collapsing limply.
Despite the screams bursting from all sides, the Loyal Demon Division didn't hesitate once, charging onward. This was due to the resolute command of their leader, Loyal Demon Division Leader Oro, at the forefront. He knew too well what a moment's hesitation could bring. If they hadn't fled from the start, maybe—but having chosen retreat, preserving maximum forces was his duty.
Sima Geon recalled his sword after felling twelve rear stragglers with Spirit Sword Control. No matter how mighty the technique, he judged he couldn't keep striking all who scattered into the forest.
As Sima Geon moved to pursue, the black-robed elder swiftly blocked his path. In his hand was his sword, returned despite desperate efforts, having failed to fully stop Sima Geon's attack.
"That's enough."
"You plan to stop me?"
"That's why I stay while they go."
"A pity. Meeting like this."
"This old man feels the same. I had a nagging unease when leaving the cult."
The black-robed elder smiled bitterly.
"But why betray? The elder I knew valued loyalty highly."
"Betray? I've had only one lord from the start. The true heir of the Heavenly Demon Ancestor. This is just everything returning to its rightful place."
"The heir... you mean Gwan Ung?"
At Sima Geon's mention of Gwan Ung, the black-robed elder's expression visibly changed.
"You know the Lord?"
"Calling him that already? Looks like you've fully seized the Heavenly Demon Cult. Anyway, I don't remember him particularly. The guy mentioned he was someone important, so I asked just in case."
Sima Geon pointed at Cheol Woo, who had wiped out the Blood Demon Division entirely and was now unilaterally crushing the veteran experts who'd come to their aid.
"Diamond Yaksha. Yes, even the Lord coveted him. I desperately dissuaded him from approaching. The type to swing fists without hearing reasons."
The black-robed elder let out a faint sigh.
"As expected, no one grasps Cheol Woo's temperament better."
Sima Geon smirked, then wiped the smile away.
"What happened to your lord?"
"......"
The black-robed elder's silence revealed the Lord's fate.
"The process was the worst, but he was my lord nonetheless. He kept old promises. Above all, you shouldn't have touched the Divine Demon Division."
"This old man regrets it too. But the moment the Divine Demon Division Leader rejected the Lord's offer, it was inevitable."
"If they'd accepted, they wouldn't be the Divine Demon Division. Who was it, the Division Leader?"
"Yeon Jeokju."
"Mm."
A groan escaped Sima Geon involuntarily. It was a completely unexpected name.
Not due to lack of skill for the role.
Yeon Jeokju was the strongest and most experienced master in the Divine Demon Division aside from Sima Geon and Cheol Woo. He was more than qualified.
But while many members stayed because they had nowhere else to go, Yeon Jeokju clearly remembered his hometown and family. He had no reason to remain in the Divine Demon Division.
'Haha! I'll move a bit slower. I've waited this long; what's a little more time? Once you and that guy leave, the rest will be out of sorts for a while. As the eldest brother, how can I just go? I'll watch until they've steadied themselves.'
Recalling Yeon Jeokju's final words weighed heavy on his heart, like a dagger plunged into his chest.
A man overflowing with humanity, ill-suited to the Divine Demon Division name. He'd likely stayed out of loyalty, unable to abandon his comrades.
Seeing the deep shadow on Sima Geon's face, the black-robed elder swallowed the words on his tongue. No words could mend the rift or negotiate.
Then, a massive clash rang out with a final scream.
The black-robed elder, watching old experts fly like severed strings from Cheol Woo's attacks, tilted his raised sword diagonally toward Sima Geon.
"Looks like it's our turn to end this."
Sima Geon raised his sword without a word.
"I know you're stronger than this old man. But don't get careless. I'm not that weak."
With those words, the black-robed elder's sword moved.
In masters' duels, protocol demanded face—juniors or youths yielded first strike to elders. But the black-robed elder knew his inferiority well.
From the start, he unleashed full power in Death Spirit Twelve Resolutions. Not invincible, but a unique art he trusted against any other.
Inky sword qi erupted from his cherished blade, Blue Wolf, threatening Sima Geon entirely.
The black-robed elder's skill dwarfed Demon Duke Ho or the Thunderclap Elder Left Protector. They were strong enough for positions in the Heavenly Demon Cult, but incomparable.
"Tahat!"
Belied by his eighty-plus years, the assault gave no quarter.
The murderous intent pouring from him was chillingly vicious, and the sword qi enveloping a ten-foot radius stole breaths from onlookers.
Then, amid the onslaught that seemed about to crush him, Sima Geon's first counter came.
Azure light burst from Sima Geon's sword, smashing the inky qi blanketing the world.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
A deafening roar swept the surroundings with the clash's shockwave.
So fierce was the aftermath that soaring dust hid both figures completely.
Before the thick fog-like dust settled, the black-robed elder's assault resumed. But blood trickling from his mouth and his twisted expression betrayed his plight.
"Death Spirit Web Emergence!"
Grinding his teeth, he unleashed the final strike of Death Spirit Twelve Resolutions, infused with a chapter's full inner energy—his all.
"Mm."
From afar, Namgung Kyung groaned heavily.
It was an attack he hadn't shown in their fight. Just watching raised the hairs on his neck.
'Could I have blocked it?'
He wouldn't lose easily, but blocking? He shook his head.
The strike held tremendous power.
Yet something astonishing happened.
Sima Geon charged straight into the attack's heart.
Shocked cries like screams burst everywhere.
It looked utterly mad to anyone.
The black-robed elder thought so too.
'Arrogance?'
Hope of victory flickered.
It shattered instantly.
"Kuhk!"
A pained groan escaped the black-robed elder.
Disbelief filled his retreating eyes.
He'd struck first. With every ounce of power in Death Spirit Twelve Resolutions' ultimate technique. Sima Geon leaping into its center should have been a moth to flame—then what was this excruciating pain surging from his chest?
Seeking the cause, he looked down.
As confusion mounted with no change visible, a breeze blew.
His robe split diagonally, fluttering, blood seeping through.
The black-robed elder placed a trembling hand on his chest.
Bright red blood soaked it. Spots became a gushing torrent.
'When? How?'
No answers to his questions.
He looked to Sima Geon for them.
"Rest easy."
Sima Geon bowed slightly. But those weren't the words he craved.
His sword clattered to the ground. Simultaneously, the black-robed elder's form collapsed, answers forever lost.