Chapter 261: Gu Ju-hon of the Blood Chain Sword
Gu Ju-hon was a martial artist renowned for wielding the Blood Chain Sword—a unique weapon that combined a chain and a blade.
The Blood Chain Sword originated from the chain sickle of Japan, modified into its current form.
As such, it primarily employed underhanded and irregular techniques.
Though Gu Ju-hon had roamed the martial world, defeating many formidable opponents, the martial artists of Murim refused to acknowledge his prowess.
—Wasn't the Blood Chain Sword just a cowardly trick, using bizarre techniques to deceive people?
Despite his many victories, the martial world openly scorned him.
Tormented for years, he had abruptly vanished over a decade ago.
And yet, here he was—reappearing in this grotesque underground cave in such a wretched state?
"Huuuugh..."
Gu Ju-hon, who had been staring at the sword hanging from Yu Hwaryeong's waist, suddenly began trembling violently.
At the same time, a mist-like killing intent began seeping from his pupils, pale as death.
"Grrrk..."
Clutching his head, he let out a monstrous groan—
Swish!
A flash of lightning suddenly streaked toward Yu Hwaryeong's face.
Gu Ju-hon, still gripping the Blood Chain Sword, had struck with the speed of a thunderbolt.
"Hahk!"
Yu Hwaryeong, startled, flung himself to the ground.
He had been wary, sensing something was off about Gu Ju-hon's condition—but he never imagined the man could move this fast.
Schkkt!
At the same time, a razor-sharp sword qi split the wall where Yu Hwaryeong had been standing.
Whiirk!
The Blood Chain Sword, having grazed the wall, abruptly twisted midair and lunged for Yu Hwaryeong's throat as he lay sprawled.
Pak-pak-pak!
Yu Hwaryeong frantically rolled across the floor, but the Blood Chain Sword pursued him like a living creature.
"Why are you attacking us all of a sudden?!"
Springing to his feet, Yu Hwaryeong drew his longsword and deflected the onslaught of the Blood Chain Sword's shadowy strikes in one swift motion.
Claaang!
A clear metallic ring echoed as Yu Hwaryeong let out a pained grunt, forced several steps back.
Tuk-tuk.
His palms were torn from the sheer, overwhelming force behind the Blood Chain Sword.
Not only that—through the fingers gripping his sword hilt, needle-sharp internal energy was piercing into his meridians.
'Just from clashing with his weapon... How can his internal power be this immense?'
It was common knowledge that Gu Ju-hon's Blood Chain Sword techniques were unpredictably versatile.
But his internal energy had never been considered particularly profound.
Yet after just one exchange, it felt deep enough to rival even the masters among the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
Moreover, his eyes were rolled back so far that the pupils were barely visible, radiating a sinister, murderous aura.
"He seems completely saturated with drugs."
Jongri Sa-yu, skilled in medical arts as expected of a physician, instantly assessed Gu Ju-hon's condition.
Then, drawing a slender golden needle from her sleeve, she flicked it toward him.
Pah-pah-pah!
The golden needles, pouring down like rain, formed a vast circle in the air before scattering in all directions, raining down in a fierce barrage.
This was the secret technique of her grandfather, the Needle King Jongri Sa-hyeon—the pinnacle of the Golden Current Source.
Flash!
As the golden needles descended, a streak of light erupted from Gu Ju-hon's hand.
Simultaneously, the rain of needles struck an invisible barrier and scattered uselessly to the ground.
"Impossible..."
Jongri Sa-yu's eyes widened in shock.
The Golden Current Source fired over a hundred fine needles from multiple angles—even the most skilled masters would typically be struck by one or two.
Yet Gu Ju-hon had deflected all of them in a single motion.
Not only that—the speed at which he repelled them was so fast she couldn't even see how he'd done it.
'His martial arts have reached such heights...?'
Despair flickered in Jongri Sa-yu's eyes.
Gu Ju-hon's prowess was beyond imagination.
Even if Bu Eun-seol, with his exceptional fist techniques, and Yu Hwaryeong joined forces, they stood no chance of victory.
Swish!
The Blood Chain Sword, having effortlessly scattered the golden needles, was already hurtling toward Jongri Sa-yu's forehead.
No one could have predicted the attack would target her—the farthest from him.
Caught completely off guard, she had no time to react.
Flash!
Just as the Blood Chain Sword was about to pierce her brow—
Claaang!
A deafening metallic clang resounded as a shockwave rippled outward.
Bu Eun-seol had appeared beside her in the blink of an eye and deflected the blade.
"How...?"
Jongri Sa-yu blinked, mouth slightly agape.
The Blood Chain Sword's speed had been akin to Lightning Flash—nearly invisible to the naked eye.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had moved even faster.
"Step back."
Bu Eun-seol strode forward, his gaze sharp as he stared down the Blood Chain Sword.
"An unusual weapon you wield."
"Keheheh."
In response, a sound so grotesque it was impossible to tell whether it was laughter or a wail spilled from Gu Ju-hon's lips.
At the same time, the Blood Chain Sword in his hand vanished.
Clang!
Though the attack was invisible to the eye, Bu Eun-seol deflected it with ease.
Swish!
Sparks erupted as the Blood Chain Sword was knocked into the air—only to twist mid-flight and stab toward Bu Eun-seol's back.
Gu Ju-hon's Blood Chain Sword had broken free from the constraints of a mere weapon, dominating the very space around them, probing relentlessly for openings.
Yet Bu Eun-seol remained unshaken, precisely striking the tip of the sword each time it darted toward him like a streak of light.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
As Bu Eun-seol closed the distance for close combat, the sword shadows unleashed by the Blood Chain Sword multiplied in an instant.
'He's deflecting unseen strikes... effortlessly.'
Jongri Sa-yu rubbed her eyes as she watched.
Bu Eun-seol and Gu Ju-hon moved so swiftly that to her eyes, they were nothing more than fleeting shadows darting across her vision.
Occasionally, the two would halt, locked in a standoff—a sight akin to a celestial deity and a demonic ghost locked in fierce combat.
'That man is a disciple of the Thousand Swords Society?'
Gu Ju-hon's Blood Chain Sword was not only blindingly fast but carried enough might to cleave a mountain in a single stroke.
And yet, Bu Eun-seol was parrying those strikes with ease, not yielding an inch.
His internal power, sword techniques, and composure were on a level that would make him seem like a master from a previous generation.
'Could he have undergone Rejuvenation?'
Having lived long in the medical world, she could roughly estimate a person's age not just by their skin but by their eyes alone.
'No... that can't be.'
Judging by Bu Eun-seol's skin and eyes, he couldn't be older than his mid-twenties.
Even if he had achieved Rejuvenation, his eyes would never lie.
"I'll help!"
Just then, Yu Hwaryeong summoned his courage, drawing his sword to join Bu Eun-seol.
Schlick!
But the moment he stepped into the Blood Chain Sword's range, blood erupted from his body.
"Fall back."
Bu Eun-seol didn't even glance behind him as he spoke.
"With your skill, you'll die the moment you step in here."
Yu Hwaryeong, now realizing the true extent of Gu Ju-hon's power, staggered backward with the expression of a man who had seen a ghost.
'Gu Ju-hon... I never imagined he'd be this strong.'
It finally dawned on him—his martial prowess wasn't just insufficient to assist Bu Eun-seol; he couldn't even evade Gu Ju-hon's attacks.
Clang!
Another clash erupted between the Ink Sword and the Blood Chain Sword, sparks flying.
The recoil forced Bu Eun-seol back a step.
"Your internal power is formidable... but what's truly striking is your complete lack of fear."
The Blood Chain Sword Technique required spinning the iron chain at high speeds—a single misstep could maim the wielder.
Thus, it was typically wielded with precision and finesse.
Yet Gu Ju-hon swung it with reckless abandon, without a shred of hesitation or fear.
"Is that why you were injected with drugs? To wield the Blood Chain Sword without fear?"
"Heh."
At those words, a savage light flickered in Gu Ju-hon's eyes.
"RAAAAAGH!"
With a roar, the Blood Chain Sword vanished from his grasp once more.
Swish! Swish!
The sound of breaking air filled the space around Bu Eun-seol as razor-thin streaks of light flickered intermittently.
The Blood Chain Sword, moving at hyper-speed, disappeared and reappeared around him in a relentless assault.
Tzzt! Tzzt! Tzzt!
Instead of drawing his sword, Bu Eun-seol unleashed Swift Shadowless.
His form blurred as he shifted directions dozens of times—
Splat! Splat!
Yet blood began spraying from his body in multiple places.
The Blood Chain Sword was gradually catching up to the speed of Swift Shadowless.
"Heh... heh... heh..."
As Bu Eun-seol's blood spilled, Gu Ju-hon began to laugh.
Grrrrrl—
A guttural, beast-like growl rumbled from his throat as a sickly yellow light seeped from his eyes.
He was preparing his final strike.
Hweeeeng—
A silver radiance spread from his body as the violently spinning iron chain coiled around him in a perfect circle.
SHIIING!
Simultaneously, four razor-sharp sword energies erupted around Bu Eun-seol.
Extreme Flash Blood Chain Rend.
Gu Ju-hon's secret killing art—the ultimate technique of the Blood Chain Sword.
Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat!
As the four sword energies rained down chaotically, Bu Eun-seol's body was struck again and again.
Unfazed, he seized every fleeting opening that appeared whenever Gu Ju-hon unleashed his sword.
Yet each time, the high-speed chain whirling around Gu Ju-hon's body blocked his counterattacks.
Extreme Flash Blood Chain Rend.
A lethal secret technique that rotated the chain as a defensive barrier while firing relentless sword energies to sever the enemy's lifeline—a mutually destructive art if the chain was breached.
In such a confined space, the Blood Chain Sword was truly invincible.
It displayed the unstoppable, overwhelming force of the Thunderous Force—something that could neither be resisted nor blocked.
Swish!
The invisible Blood Chain Sword tore through the air, relentlessly piercing Bu Eun-seol's body in rapid succession.
Each time, Bu Eun-seol spotted multiple openings in Gu Ju-hon's stance, yet his blade could not reach them.
To cut him down, he would have to endure damage and deliver a decisive strike at point-blank range.
'I see.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as he traced the erratic trajectories of the whipping Blood Chain Sword.
'It was a Mutual Destruction stance all along.'
Finally, he had deciphered the essence of the Ultimate Flashing Blood Chain Void-Rending Form.
Gu Ju-hon wasn't spinning the chain around his body for defense.
If Bu Eun-seol tried to cut through the chain's shadow and strike Gu Ju-hon's body—
The chain would instantly coil around them both, executing a stance that ensured mutual annihilation.
'Absolutely unwinnable... So that's what he meant.'
Only now did Bu Eun-seol understand why the Masked Man had said it was impossible to win.
Gu Ju-hon had turned Mutual Destruction into a perfected technique—a suicidal gambit.
To kill him, one would have to perish alongside him in this grim cavern.
'No. There is a way.'
Bu Eun-seol tightened his grip on the hilt of the Ink Sword.
A method to not only sever Gu Ju-hon's life in a single strike but also dismantle the Ultimate Flashing Blood Chain Void-Rending Form—
Just as he had done against the Beggar King, he would deploy the Rhomboid Sword Control Form to seal the enemy's stance...
Then unleash Lament by the River to shatter the Mutual Destruction technique.
Clang—!
A brilliant light erupted from the Ink Sword.
At the same time, sword strokes too fast for the eye to see began precisely deflecting the onslaught of the Blood Chain Sword.
The Rhomboid Sword Control Form had been activated.
Clang-clang-clang!
A metallic cacophony rang out as sparks burst into the air with each collision between the Ink Sword and the Blood Chain Sword.
Yet despite his attacks being repeatedly repelled, Gu Ju-hon closed in on Bu Eun-seol without hesitation—
As if he welcomed death itself.
'Something's off.'
Bu Eun-seol's Extrasensory Perception flared in warning as he prepared Lament by the River.
Something was subtly wrong.
Gu Ju-hon of the Blood Chain Sword—
He had gained fame in Murim solely for wielding this unique weapon, not for his martial prowess.
For him to have grown this powerful, an immense fortune, Elixirs, and manpower must have been invested.
Yet his final trump card was merely a Mutual Destruction technique?
Swish!
In that instant, Gu Ju-hon—now at point-blank range—abandoned the sword and instead lashed out with the spinning chain, coiling it around Bu Eun-seol's body.
Flash—!
A streak of light shot upward toward the ceiling.
At the same time, the chain that had been tightening around Bu Eun-seol's neck was flung aside—
And a radiant blade of light pierced straight through Gu Ju-hon's chest.
Formless Heavenly Flow, Eighth Form: Lament by the River.
The ultimate counterattack had been unleashed.
Thud!
The Ink Sword skewered Gu Ju-hon's heart with perfect precision.
Bu Eun-seol had acted swiftly to ensure instant death, preventing any chance of a Mutual Destruction attempt.
But then—something bizarre happened.
A sword through the heart should have meant instant death.
Yet Gu Ju-hon, unfazed, raised his Blood Chain Sword and thrust it toward Bu Eun-seol's heart with lightning speed.
"Look out!"
Yu Hwaryeong's alarmed shout came too late.
Swish—!
With a sound like tearing air, the razor-edged Blood Chain Sword had already pierced through Bu Eun-seol's chest.
Splat!
Blood sprayed from Bu Eun-seol's shoulder as he twisted his body at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike to the heart.
'The exact same situation.'
Bu Eun-seol had barely managed to predict Gu Ju-hon's move.
Because everything that had just unfolded was eerily similar to his battle against the Beggar King.
Despite Lament by the River, Gu Ju-hon had attacked without hesitation—
Just like the Beggar King, who had mastered the Soft Hedgehog Secret and feared no death.
'If he truly intended Mutual Destruction, he would have concealed it until the last moment.'
Bu Eun-seol had sensed something unnatural about Gu Ju-hon's blatant suicidal aggression.
And now he was certain—Gu Ju-hon had been confident he would survive.
"GGRRAAHH—!"
Enraged, Gu Ju-hon let out a bestial roar as Bu Eun-seol evaded the fatal strike.
It sounded like the howl of a wounded beast.
Swish!
Gripping the chain instead of the blade, he swung wildly at Bu Eun-seol, disregarding all defense in his frenzy to kill.
Splat!
Bu Eun-seol dodged and retaliated with Meteor Chasing Moon.
A sharp sword aura slashed across Gu Ju-hon's carotid artery—yet only a trickle of dark, viscous blood oozed out.
Unfazed, Gu Ju-hon continued his assault, roaring like a madman.
'He's already a corpse.'
A severed carotid artery should gush bright blood like a fountain.
But the thick, congealed blood dripping from Gu Ju-hon's neck was the kind only seen in the dead.