Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Reverse Scale (2)
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"I really had no idea. Believe me."
Gu Jong spoke as if making excuses.
"I believe you. You just said it was a coincidence, didn't you?"
"Y-Yeah, that's right."
"And I told you myself—it's truly regrettable."
Sima Geon spoke with a forlorn expression, sensing that they had no intention of forgiving him.
"I'm sorry. Whether it was intentional or not, it was a clear mistake on our part. As atonement for seeking forgiveness, I'll offer my own head. But in return, please show some mercy and let the boy go unharmed, for my sake if nothing else. We once shared life and death together, after all."
Gu Jong pointed at Gu Cheon Myeong as he spoke.
Sima Geon fell silent without a word, and as impatience got the better of Gu Jong, who was about to add a few more pleas...
"What are you saying, Uncle? We can't abandon the young master's life. We have to take him with us."
Gu Cheon Myeong stepped forward and shouted.
He had heard the Divine Demon Leader's fame so many times it was drilled into his ears. But the fear he had never personally experienced was overshadowed by his desire to save his younger brother.
"Shut your mouth!"
Gu Jong's face turned pale as he bellowed like thunder.
"Tsk tsk, what an idiot. Even your uncle is throwing away his life trying to save you somehow."
Cheol Woo glanced pityingly at Gu Cheon Myeong, who hadn't grasped the situation at all.
Before Gu Cheon Myeong stepped in, Cheol Woo had thought Sima Geon might just honor Gu Jong's request. He had hoped so, given the man was staking his life on it. But Gu Cheon Myeong had ruined everything.
Gu Cheon Myeong paid no mind to Gu Jong's scolding or Cheol Woo's mockery.
"No matter what Uncle says, I'm taking him. No matter the sacrifice. I'll save my brother's life."
"How ridiculous. Why are you deciding my brother's fate on your own?"
At Sima Geon's indifferent voice, Gu Jong felt a dire crisis looming. Gu Cheon Myeong sensed it too and drew his sword, shouting.
"Because I bought him."
Sima Geon's lips twisted slightly at the declaration, and a red gleam began flickering deep in his eyes.
Cheol Woo would have instantly recognized it as the sign of Sima Geon's greatest fury, but Gu Cheon Myeong did not.
"I'm sorry, Senior Brother. I can't grant your request."
Gu Jong let out a feeble laugh at Sima Geon's words.
"I understand completely. It's regrettable, as you said. Anyway, it won't be easy, but I'll give it my all."
Gu Jong slowly raised his sword. In sync, Gu Cheon Myeong and the Water Guard Escorts bared their hostility.
"I've never stooped to ganging up on anyone in my life, but against an opponent like you, I have no choice today."
"It doesn't matter."
Gu Jong saw Sima Geon's confidence bordering on arrogance as natural, but Gu Cheon Myeong did not. He felt it was an insult not just to his uncle and himself, but to the entire Crimson Dragon Hall. He was even curious just how strong someone had to be to show such assurance.
Curiosity overrode his instinctual danger signals, making him thrust his sword first.
Sima Geon lightly twisted his body to deflect the blade effortlessly, then swung his arm smoothly toward Gu Cheon Myeong's left flank—not at Gu Cheon Myeong himself.
A sharp metallic clang rang out, sparks flying.
Gu Jong, moving the instant Gu Cheon Myeong attacked, had blocked Sima Geon's counter aimed at him.
The Water Guard Escorts, led by Chang Wi, followed with their assault.
Individually, they couldn't compare to Gu Cheon Myeong, but their long years of coordination made their teamwork seamless. The problem was that Sima Geon was no one to be troubled by such a joint attack.
The moment Sima Geon stepped left to evade Chang Wi and the others, his figure had already shifted to the opposite side.
Chang Wi gritted his teeth at the sight of Sima Geon nullifying their combined assault in an instant and closing in.
No matter how skilled they were at teamwork, facing a master like Sima Geon head-on was sheer madness. But they had to fight—to buy even a moment's chance for Gu Jong and Gu Cheon Myeong, who were rushing to save them.
As if sharing Chang Wi's resolve, the Water Guard Escorts unleashed their ultimate techniques with all their might.
A sharp whoosh cut the air as Sima Geon's sword sliced through empty space.
A chilling noise followed, and the man beside Chang Wi collapsed.
Chang Wi instinctively swung his sword.
No time to think of his severed blade or his diagonally bisected comrade. The sword that had cut down his ally now bore down on him.
"Gah!"
A short scream escaped Chang Wi's lips. His body reeled back wildly.
With every backward step, red blood sprayed everywhere.
The remaining Water Guard Escorts rushed to help, but it was futile struggling.
Each time Sima Geon's sword moved, the escorts fell without meaningful resistance. Despite the seemingly slow strikes, they couldn't even dream of dodging.
"Die!"
Gu Cheon Myeong, arriving late, unleashed the pinnacle technique of the Victorious Dragon Sword Art: Twin Dragons Emerge.
His demonic grimace, as he poured everything into the move, showed his rage at the deaths of the Water Guard Escorts who had guarded him for so long.
Kaboom!
Amid the fierce clash, Gu Cheon Myeong's body staggered.
Blood trickled from his mouth as he stumbled back.
He had attacked with great momentum, yet took heavy damage from a single exchange.
Sima Geon thrust his sword at the retreating Gu Cheon Myeong.
Seeing the qi gathering at the tip, Gu Jong didn't hesitate.
"Ha!"
With a low shout, he unleashed Mad Dragon Spits Flame—the essence of the Victorious Dragon Sword Art—meeting Sima Geon's attack head-on.
Gu Cheon Myeong quickly regained his composure and countered in support of Gu Jong.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Crimson Dragon Hall's prized pinnacle techniques clashed directly with Sima Geon's strikes, producing massive impacts.
Gu Jong was among the top three masters of the Crimson Dragon Hall, a core force of the Heavenly Demon Cult, and Gu Cheon Myeong—trained as heir from childhood—was a considerable expert despite his slight lack of experience. Their desperate joint assault shook heaven and earth.
Yet Sima Geon blocked the successive attacks effortlessly, stepping back to gaze at them steadily. There was no panic or fear—only an almost eerie composure.
At Sima Geon's cold smile, Gu Cheon Myeong felt the hairs on his body stand on end.
Cold sweat dripped down his spine.
He bit his lip until it bled to overcome the surging fear.
The sharp pain and metallic taste snapped him alert.
He couldn't collapse now. The honor of the Crimson Dragon Hall and his brother's life hung on his hands alone.
Gu Cheon Myeong gripped his sword tightly.
As if sensing its master's will, the blade hummed.
Clearing his mind of all distractions, Gu Cheon Myeong heightened his senses to track Sima Geon's every move.
The sword moved slowly—the final technique of the Victorious Dragon Sword Art: Cloud Dragon Stealthy Advance.
Qi bloomed from the tip, enveloping him.
Sima Geon advanced without hesitation. In that instant, Gu Cheon Myeong's eyes flashed coldly.
This space within ten feet was his domain. He was certain he could slice and destroy anything within it.
No matter how fast or tough the foe—once inside, being cut was absolute truth.
'I'll kill him.'
Without a shred of hesitation, Gu Cheon Myeong poured all his inner energy into a swing.
A strike faster than lightning, stealthier, and stronger hurtled at Sima Geon.
Gu Jong, attacking from behind, unleashed his final blow as well.
A terrifying qi assailed Sima Geon from front and back.
Anyone could see it was a desperate crisis.
A sinister smile crept onto Gu Cheon Myeong's lips, confident of victory.
Despite the heavy sacrifices, he had upheld the Crimson Dragon Hall's honor and saved his brother. His chest burned with emotion.
In that very moment, Sima Geon's sword flashed like lightning.
"Urk!"
A groan burst from Gu Cheon Myeong.
Agony shot through his sword hand. Simultaneously, he watched his own blade—clashing with Sima Geon's—crumble to dust.
His body flew back like a snapped kite, face twisted in pain and shock.
The strike he was sure would cleave space and bisect Sima Geon in one go had been blocked. He couldn't comprehend why.
And that wasn't the end.
A wind bloomed around Sima Geon, swelling into a massive storm that ravaged the surroundings.
Raging Fury—destroying anything in its path.
The pinnacle technique of the Thunderbolt Violent Blood Sword, wielded by Blood Sea Demon Lord—one of the Three Great Demon Lords, gifted enough to rule the world but forever second to the Heavenly Demon of his era—had transcended time and reemerged.
Blood streamed endlessly from Gu Jong's mouth as he alone faced the world-shaking fury.
He gazed at Sima Geon's onslaught with awe.
Despite the crushing pressure and terror engulfing him, not a trace of fear showed on his face.
'Yes... this is it.'
His heart pounded strangely.
All his senses awakened; the world looked anew.
The final subtlety of the Victorious Dragon Sword Art, which he had never grasped before, crystallized clearly.
Gu Jong's sword moved on its own, beyond his conscious thought.
From Twin Dragons Emerge to Mad Dragon Spits Flame—the essence of the Victorious Dragon Sword Art.
The technique he now displayed was incomparably perfect and powerful compared to before.
Kaboom! Boom!
Fierce collisions birthed a violent tempest enveloping them both, scattering qi like savage claws that tore through everything.
"Argh!"
Gu Cheon Myeong, leaping into the storm solely to aid his uncle, screamed as he tumbled away.
His clothes shredded, limbs limp like a mollusk—bones shattered throughout.
The waterfall of blood and organ fragments spilling out showed his wounds were fatal, beyond recovery.
Gu Cheon Myeong searched desperately for Gu Jong with despair-filled eyes.
The raging storm had vanished, the fierce battle halted as if a lie.
In his fading vision, he caught Gu Jong's back.
'U-Uncle...'
No voice came. But as if hearing the silent plea, Gu Jong slowly turned his head.
In that brief time, his black hair had turned white from burning everything away. He gave a wistful smile.
It was the last sight Gu Cheon Myeong saw in life—and Gu Jong's final smile.
"Tsk tsk. It had to end like this."
Cheol Woo clicked his tongue as he approached, cradling Sima Jin in his arms.
He casually stomped on Chang Wi's chest—still barely alive—ending him, then gazed at Gu Jong's upright corpse with a bitter smile.
"Your idiot nephew got your senior brother killed like a dog. He wasn't half bad, though."
Sima Geon silently surveyed the surroundings. Man Chu rushed over with reverent eyes, as if waiting.
"The Red Blood Squad bastards all fled before the fight even ended. Laughable, running without looking back."
"At least they had some brains. Staying would've meant dying to the last man."
Cheol Woo sneered and turned his head.
"Thought about chasing them down and finishing them off, but let 'em go."
"Good call."
Sima Geon approached slowly and gently stroked Sima Jin's head in Cheol Woo's arms.
"Gonna wake her?"
"Not yet. Later, somewhere more comfortable than this."
"Yeah, sounds good. But where are those guys?"
Before Cheol Woo finished, Noe Jeon and Ha Hu Yeon arrived in a hurry. From different directions, but nearly simultaneous.
"You hurt?"
Cheol Woo eyed Noe Jeon, drenched in blood.
"Just minor scratches. No serious injuries."
"You?"
"I'm fine too—no major wounds."
Despite her words, blood flowed plentifully from wounds across Ha Hu Yeon's body.
"Pathetic. What kind of mess is that from dealing with mere slave traders?"
"There were a lot of them. Cornered, they came at us like mad dogs—way tougher than at first. It was rough."
"Hmph! Rabble's rabble, numbers or not. Besides, after their leaders got smashed, there weren't that many left. Anyway, you catch 'em all?"
Ha Hu Yeon, catching her breath, shook her head.
"No. They scattered everywhere—let quite a few slip."
"Above all, we missed the most important ones."
Sima Geon glared coldly in the direction the Hong Ik Hall survivors had fled. Then he turned away without regret.
"Let's get off this island first. Gotta wake Jin and treat you all quickly."
"What about these?"
Man Chu pointed to chests full of gold bars and gold won bo. Cheol Woo yelled as if it were obvious.
"What're you asking? Take it all, obviously."
Ha Hu Yeon sidled up to Man Chu and whispered.
"At least seven-tenths of the slave traders in Sungmyeong Province got smashed. There'll be piles like this everywhere. Tell 'em to search well."
Man Chu grinned broadly and nodded. Then he shot a glare at the Beggar Clan informant perking up his ears from a distance.
As if to say, what are you waiting for? Get moving.