Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Reverse Star Jin Baek-cheon
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The farther she walked, the more distant it became.
The place where Dad was.
Su-a walked in silence. She couldn't bring herself to say a single word.
A face she'd never seen before. Words she'd never heard before. And in between them, Dad's face twisted in an expression too complicated to describe.
Somehow resigned... yet trying to make the right decision for her sake.
I want to go back.
I want to go back and stay by Dad's side.
But what would change if she did? She knew better than anyone that nothing would be different even if she turned back.
She had seen it.
Unnaturally pitch-black...
The man whose form was shrouded beyond sight.
He was different from before. Different even from that uncle from Mount Hua called the Fourth Uncle.
Black and murky, like an endless abyss. The moment she laid eyes on him, her whole body froze as if her breath were being choked off.
So she understood.
That staying behind would just be throwing a tantrum.
That being by Dad's side wouldn't help him at all.
"......."
"S-Su-a... You okay?"
Joo Ryung-ryeong called out to her. But Su-a just nodded silently.
At least it was some comfort that Dad had promised.
He'd never once broken a promise to her. And that same Dad had said he'd come chasing after her late...
He'll come.
He'll definitely come.
---Kwaaaaaaaaang!!!!!!!
In an instant, a wind howled from behind. The storm-like pressure nearly knocked Su-a off her feet, staggering her.
She whipped around in a panic, and there it was. The landscape warping, the sky turning black...
That spot alone felt detached from the world.
"...Ah."
A voice slipped from her lips. Her hand reached out unconsciously.
But it couldn't reach. Dad was right there...
Yet there was nothing she could do.
Eun Seol-ran shouted.
"Move!"
"W-What is that...?! What the hell is it?!"
"What the heck just appeared...?"
"O-Oppa..."
The Pinnacle Realm experts trembled. Even the warriors said to be closest to transcendence shook in fear.
The storm's ring grew larger. The faint scent of death emanating from within devoured everyone in terror.
Eun Seol-ran's face twisted. Her voice, spat toward the black, murky barrier rising from the storm's center, fell flat against the ground.
"...Move... Hurry...!"
Su-a felt her hand grabbed by someone. She was dragged along, but her gaze lingered on the place they'd left behind.
It was gone now. Swallowed by darkness, nothing beyond it was visible anymore.
"...Dad..."
Still, he'll come back.
H-He'll definitely... come back.
Because Dad was a man who kept his promises.
Because he had promised her.
. . .
Horses neighed in agony. Warriors torn apart by the mere shockwave of qi rained down everywhere.
I stood at the center. At the heart of a stage where even resisting the sheer pressure demanded my full focus.
I braced my feet. Struggled to keep my back straight.
Don't break your stance. Or I won't even get to swing my sword properly once.
"They call reaching the Pinnacle Realm 'Opening the Heavens.'"
The qi of heaven and earth surged up, drawn toward him at the lead. Its color and scent shifted entirely, dyeing the world black.
I could see the enemy. Light still lingered. But the stage itself melted into a thick, sticky shadow, growing murky.
Everywhere visible was the same. No matter how far I looked, it was all tainted by his hue.
Splintered trees crashed to the ground. Leaves withered, losing their vitality.
Human screams were swallowed by the shadows. One even gathered at my feet.
I tried to shake it off, but it clung fast.
Only the protective aura I'd barely mustered shielded me from it.
"Opening the heavens. What a grandiose phrase. But you know, simply opening the heavens achieves nothing. The pinnacle of martial arts is tied to one's own cultivation. Even if you commune with the heavens, what use is it if you can't make it your own?"
---Kwaaaaaang!!!!
Sudden thunder and lightning devoured the shadows. A dragon's shadow, wrapped in lightning across its entire body, descended beside me.
Heavenly Dragon Society Leader Im Wol-ryong.
He hurriedly scanned the surroundings, then raised his voice sharply.
"You bastard! Who the hell are you?!"
Jin Baek-cheon laughed.
"The Evil Faction's Greatest Swordsman, the finest blade of this era. Heavenly Dragon Society Leader. Let me make you a proposal."
"What...?"
"See, I only need two people. That's my role. I'll let the rest of you go, every last one. There's a Demon Corps group about fifteen minutes out. Head there and fight it out among yourselves."
"What nonsense is this?!"
"What else? The Pinnacle Realm warrior who's the Heavenly Dragon Society's finest! And the one set to follow in his footsteps... Origin Unity Temple Sword Red Cloud! Haha! Aren't you the two strongest known in Heavenly Dragon Society territory right now? I'm saying you're all I need."
Jin Baek-cheon shrugged his shoulders.
Then, in an instant, his laughter cut off.
"Wiping out the bugs? I could do it with a flick of my finger. But that's too peaceful a death. Not what my master wants. He believes bugs should die fighting each other. This is my mercy too, Heavenly Dragon Society Leader."
"......."
"Send your Heavenly Dragon Society warriors ahead. Let them duke it out with the Demon Corps. You've got battle leaders and such... plenty of talent to fight without you, right? Your odds drop without you, sure... but think carefully. Which is better-me massacring you all here, or thinning out the Demon Corps a bit?"
"...You bastard...!"
"Stick to the plan. The Demon Corps versus the full might of the Heavenly Dragon Society. Let them write their own story... while you two stay here and cross blades with this Evil Faction's Greatest Swordsman. That's my role, what I want. What's the point of pinnacle warriors meddling in bug fights? Come on, Heavenly Dragon Society Leader. Decide. You know best."
A nodding head.
A lump of arrogance.
But all of it...
Backed by overwhelming skill.
"Leaving them here is just pointless death. Sending them there lets them serve some purpose. Seeing two tasty preys like you, I can't hold back anymore. I'll give you fifteen minutes, Heavenly Dragon Society Leader."
"......."
The Heavenly Dragon Society Leader turned to me.
Complex emotions flashed across his face. What settled in the end was resolve.
"Heavenly Dragon Societyyy!!!"
His booming voice drew a response from the remaining Heavenly Dragon Society warriors. The qi wave that had engulfed the area snapped for a moment.
Whether Jin Baek-cheon's whim was consideration or a ploy, I couldn't tell. In it, the Heavenly Dragon Society Leader raised his sword, pointing ahead.
"From this moment, I transfer all authority to the Earth Dragon Vanguard Leader! Advance to crush the vile Demon Corps horde!"
"L-Leader...!"
"Go! Earth Dragon Vanguard Leader! Leave this to me! Move the troops now! The Demon Corps waits fifteen minutes out! Throw everything you've got at them!"
The tip of the Heavenly Dragon Society Leader's sword glowed with lightning.
"I'll deal with this one and catch up! Don't break! Heavenly Dragon Society! Fight to the end! If we falter, the innocent get dragged in! Don't break! Never!!!"
".......!"
The Earth Dragon Vanguard Leader's expression crumbled. But he rose from his kneeling position.
"Understood, Leader!"
The broken formation stirred back to life. Heavenly Dragon Society troops streamed out of the area, drawing swords and charging toward the nearby Demon Corps group.
In the now-quiet battlefield, the Heavenly Dragon Society Leader turned to me.
"...Who the hell is that guy?"
"......."
"Not the Evil Faction's Greatest Swordsman. Definitely not. If he were, the Heavenly Dragon Society would've been devoured by the Demon Corps long ago. Red Cloud, brother. Answer me. Who is he?"
"What's the point of talking among yourselves with the man right here?"
Jin Baek-cheon placed a hand to his forehead. Confirming the last warrior had left the area, he shrugged.
"I've declared myself the Evil Faction's Greatest Swordsman and shown my face to all... that should be enough."
Jin Baek-cheon put a hand to his face. He tossed aside his bamboo hat, ripped off his human-skin mask, and flung it backward.
Sweeping back his hair revealed a handsome face. Mischievous eyes drowned in indescribable killing intent, all focused on one spot.
The martial artist enthralled by battle whispered.
"It's Reverse Star Jin Baek-cheon. Heavenly Dragon Society Leader. Come at me with everything you've got. Let's dance our swords until death in the heart of the battlefield. Heart Sword, whatever-show me. My identity doesn't matter, right? Huh? What matters is we're standing opposed, each aiming for the other's life."
The sword he playfully raised caught the light on me.
"And Red Cloud."
"......."
"Step it up. If you don't want to die next instant... keep up diligently. Or else..."
Jin Baek-cheon's sword tip ignited in black flame. An indescribably murky, dark energy.
"I'll go chasing after the ones I just let go."
Shadows surged in. I pushed my protective aura to its limit against them.
It's coming.
An irresistible death.
. . .
"Master."
"Hm?"
"When... will I ever beat you?"
The First Demon blinked. Prodded my brow with her sword tip.
"I praise you a bit and you start climbing."
"...Just curious..."
"A million years too early. A fool who can't even reach the Pinnacle Realm trying to grab the heavens by hand... Pathetic sight."
"Master..."
"No sulking. Geez. All you do is get cuter."
The First Demon chuckled. She whipped her scabbard back to her waist.
"I believe in your potential."
"......."
"But your potential is like a flower that blooms over a long time. It can't happen in a flash."
"Then... if I have to fight someone on your level, what do I do?"
"My level?"
The First Demon tilted her head. Tapped her cheek thoughtfully, then spoke heavily.
"I know you're the type who never backs down from a fight that comes your way."
"......."
"I know you're the type who'll face even the strongest foe without hesitation to protect what's dear."
"......."
"I know you're the type who accomplishes the impossible and ends up standing firm on both feet."
"......."
"But."
The First Demon placed her hand on my chest.
Her eyes were utterly serious.
"There are no warriors on my level except the Leader... but if you ever face someone who seems to be..."
"......"
"Run. No questions, no hesitation. Even if you can't, run anyway. Far. Far away. To a place they can't even glimpse you."
"...Why..."
"Hope and grit mean nothing there. Miracles can't even set foot."
The First Demon looked up at me.
She whispered softly.
"That's the place where I stand. Red Cloud."
. . .
My warped vision cleared.
I realized I'd been holding my breath belatedly.
A broken body. A ruined form.
I was embedded in the ground.
Having lost my limbs, only my torso left...
Without even knowing what hit me.