Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Worthless
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Hyeokryeon Gyun flew through the air, his mind in a frenzy.
“What… what was that? What in the world is he! How could those old men be defeated so easily…!”
His original plan had been to slip away quietly while Wol Cheonrak and Wol Cheondeuk were causing a rucke in Wuhan.
But now, he had no time for such considerations.
He just ran.
It wasn't just because Wol Cheonrak and Wol Cheondeuk had been defeated so easily.
It was because of the power he had distinctly felt at that moment.
Hyeokryeon Gyun felt a terror that threatened to erase his very existence.
At first, he had simply been bewildered.
He had confirmed that the man who appeared before Wol Cheonrak and Wol Cheondeuk was Byeok Taesan.
The Byeok Taesan he knew from his intelligence reports and the one he saw in person were as different as night and day.
But the moment Byeok Taesan truly unleashed his power, Hyeokryeon Gyun tasted a despair he could not resist.
It was a terrifying experience that shook the very foundation of his own power.
Hyeokryeon Gyun knew exactly why he was feeling this way.
The possibilities were extremely limited.
He knew of only two, and one of them was the person who had bestowed his current power upon him.
That person was the source of his strength. If he wished it, Hyeokryeon Gyun would lose his power on the spot.
The only other possibility was the Heavenly Demonic Cult. No, to be precise, it was the ruler of the Heavenly Demonic Cult—the Heavenly Demon himself.
The root of the martial art Hyeokryeon Gyun had learned was the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts, the same art said to be practiced by the Heavenly Demon.
Of course, the martial art Hyeokryeon Gyun practiced had been modified so much that calling the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts its root was a bit of a stretch, but the fact that it was the origin remained unchanged.
That didn't mean, however, that a practitioner of the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts could simply revoke Hyeokryeon Gyun's martial arts at will.
Frankly, he believed he could win a fight against a Heavenly Demon who had only a superficial mastery of the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
Who was stronger could only be known by comparison.
What Hyeokryeon Gyun was feeling now wasn't a practical fear, but a vague one.
However, no matter how vague, if the fear was immense enough, it became difficult to respond properly.
That was precisely Hyeokryeon Gyun's state right now.
And such situations tend to revert to normal once the excitement subsides and composure is regained.
After fleeing for a good while, Hyeokryeon Gyun's mind slowly returned to him, and he slowed his pace.
Still, he had run so hard that he had already left Wuhan behind.
“Damn it. I left everything and escaped with only my life.”
He had brought so much with him on this trip, and he had left it all behind.
Among them was a vast amount of gold and a large stack of well-organized promissory notes.
There was also a considerable number of Blood Augmenting Pills he had brought for emergencies.
And there was a great deal of poison he had prepared, just in case.
He had fled, leaving all of it behind.
Suddenly, he felt a pang of regret for those things. But Hyeokryeon Gyun had no intention of going back.
His life was far more precious.
As long as he was alive, he could always rise again.
“Well, it’s not like my entire foundation has been uprooted.”
Once he returned to his base, he had assets that were incomparably greater than what he had brought to Wuhan.
He also had plenty of subordinates guarding the place thoroughly.
So he could make a comeback anytime. No, the word "comeback" didn't even fit. He had merely stumbled for a moment.
He suddenly recalled the reason he had come to Wuhan in the first place.
“That bastard, Hyeokryeon Bigwang. He definitely knew about this.”
It was strange how that crafty snake had suddenly decided to give up on Wuhan.
Just a short while ago, he had been cursing Hyeokryeon Hwi as a fool for sending only his subordinates here, but looking back now, he realized that man had been the wise one.
“For now… I must keep the information about Byeok Taesan to myself.”
No one else would know that Byeok Taesan was connected to the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
And no one would know the high probability that Byeok Taesan had mastered the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
This information was significant. Depending on how he used it, he could extract immense value from it.
As he walked slowly, lost in such thoughts, a chill suddenly ran down his spine.
It was a very familiar feeling.
He had experienced the exact same sensation less than an hour ago.
Without a backward glance, Hyeokryeon Gyun threw himself forward.
There was no need to check. Whoever was chasing him, dawdling here would lead to a terrible end.
Hyeokryeon Gyun fled at his maximum speed.
After about ten steps, something suddenly appeared right in front of him.
Hyeokryeon Gyun reflexively ducked, drawing the sword from his waist and swinging it in the same motion.
*Shwaaak!*
Despite it being a reflexive attack, the sword was sufficiently imbued with power.
It wasn't just strength, but spiritual energy drawn through his blood energy.
Hyeokryeon Gyun’s sword cut through the air. The spiritual energy in the blade dissipated into nothing.
Of course, it would have been great if this attack had killed the enemy, but Hyeokryeon Gyun never intended for that.
He had only meant to create an opening and buy time to escape.
Hyeokryeon Gyun used the momentum of his swing to slightly alter his direction.
*Thud!*
“Keuk!”
Hyeokryeon Gyun’s vision suddenly went black.
Someone had grabbed the back of his neck, lifting his body into the air.
The shock of it had momentarily blinded him.
A pain, as if his neck was being torn off, washed over him.
Then, the person holding his neck slammed his body onto the ground.
*Kwaang!*
“Keoheok!”
Strangely, he couldn't muster any strength.
Normally, in a situation like this, he would have enveloped his entire body with energy, taking no damage no matter how hard he was slammed into the ground.
But since he couldn't summon his strength, his body had to bear the full impact from the ground.
“Puhwaak!”
Blood spurted from his mouth.
Only then did Hyeokryeon Gyun’s vision clear. Lying on the ground, he saw Byeok Taesan standing right beside him.
“Haha. How absurd.”
Hyeokryeon Gyun muttered with a hollow laugh.
He thought he should have just fought instead. This pathetic defeat was likely because he had been so focused on running away.
Hyeokryeon Gyun forced himself to get up.
“Ugh.”
His whole body felt like it was shattered. He looked at the ground and saw an indentation where he had been lying.
It showed just how hard he had been thrown.
Hyeokryeon Gyun first focused on his physical condition.
*Woooong.*
As he circulated his spiritual energy, his internal injuries began to subside.
It would have been much better if he had blood, but he was glad he could at least manage this much.
Byeok Taesan watched Hyeokryeon Gyun with a peculiar expression.
His spiritual energy was quite impressive.
It was on a different level, both in quality and quantity, from the woman in black or Gyeong Baekjun.
And the two old men he had just captured, Wol Cheonrak and Wol Cheondeuk, couldn't use spiritual energy at all.
Those two were masters who had reached their level through pure martial arts alone.
Compared to someone like Gok Yangdu whom he had fought before, they were several levels above.
But from Byeok Taesan's perspective, they were all much of a muchness.
In any case, looking at Hyeokryeon Gyun made him even more curious.
He wanted to know who these people were, and where their roots lay.
Byeok Taesan strode toward Hyeokryeon Gyun.
Hyeokryeon Gyun summoned every ounce of power he possessed. He scraped together all his internal and spiritual energy, gathering it in both hands.
Soon, Byeok Taesan entered Hyeokryeon Gyun’s range.
Hyeokryeon Gyun still waited. To be more certain, he had to endure until he came closer.
Byeok Taesan took two more steps, arriving right in front of Hyeokryeon Gyun.
As if he had been waiting for this moment, Hyeokryeon Gyun thrust out both hands.
*Kwawoooo!*
An immense power that had been gathered in Hyeokryeon Gyun’s hands erupted like a storm.
Byeok Taesan’s response was simple and clear.
He waved his hands as if shooing away a fly.
The power that had been pouring out with ferocious momentum was swept aside by Byeok Taesan’s gestures, and a path opened up as if to welcome him.
Byeok Taesan strode into the void created in the energy.
Hyeokryeon Gyun’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
And then Byeok Taesan’s hand clamped around his neck.
As if by magic, Hyeokryeon Gyun went limp. All the strength drained from his body.
Hyeokryeon Gyun stared blankly at Byeok Taesan with empty eyes.
“How… How can this be?”
Byeok Taesan smirked.
“Like frogs floundering in a well.”
Hyeokryeon Gyun’s face contorted. It was humiliating, disgraceful. And yet, he was afraid. Because those words felt true.
“I’m looking forward to this. That Hyeokryeon Bigwang fellow cut off his tail and fled, but I don't think you'll be able to.”
At Byeok Taesan’s words, Hyeokryeon Gyun’s eyes went wide.
“You know Hyeokryeon Bigwang? How?”
“I told you. He cut off his tail and fled.”
Despair washed over Hyeokryeon Gyun’s face.
Only then did he realize he had been played by Hyeokryeon Bigwang all this time.
And played for an absolute fool.
That bastard didn't want to suffer alone, so he had dragged them into it.
He should never have taken an interest in Wuhan in the first place. He should have just left it to Hyeokryeon Bigwang.
Hyeokryeon Gyun looked at Byeok Taesan with unfocused eyes.
“Are you going to extract my soul and burn it?”
“You know quite a bit.”
Hyeokryeon Gyun asked, as if he couldn't possibly understand.
“Did you really master the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts?”
Byeok Taesan didn’t answer, but Hyeokryeon Gyun knew the answer without needing to hear it.
“How did you learn the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts? Don’t tell me you’re the next Heavenly Demon? That can’t be right.”
Byeok Taesan smirked.
“Next? I am the current Heavenly Demon.”
Hyeokryeon Gyun stared blankly at Byeok Taesan. He couldn't believe those words.
“I’ve met the Heavenly Demon. Don’t lie to me.”
At Hyeokryeon Gyun’s words, Byeok Taesan’s eyes sparkled.
“You’ve met me? When, and where?”
To be honest, he couldn't remember. If he had met someone of Hyeokryeon Gyun’s caliber, he should have remembered.
It was rare to find someone who could wield spiritual energy; he wouldn't have forgotten.
Hyeokryeon Gyun grew confused.
What Byeok Taesan had just said was so natural, it would have been difficult to say unless he truly considered himself the Heavenly Demon.
But there was no way Byeok Taesan was the Heavenly Demon.
“Stop joking! The Heavenly Demon is much older than you! I don’t know his real age, but he looks well over thirty!”
Byeok Taesan looked at Hyeokryeon Gyun with a strange expression.
The way he was speaking, it seemed he really had met him before.
“You really met me? Me?”
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen you!”
Byeok Taesan stroked his chin as he looked at Hyeokryeon Gyun.
“Why can’t I remember? It’s strange. If I had seen someone like you, I wouldn’t have forgotten.”
Hyeokryeon Gyun felt increasingly odd.
“Hyeokryeon, Hyeokryeon…”
Byeok Taesan kept repeating the surname, which felt both unfamiliar and familiar.
The memory just wouldn't come.
Soon, Byeok Taesan smirked and looked at Hyeokryeon Gyun again.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Whether we met in the past or not, whether I remember or not. You’re going to die here anyway.”
Byeok Taesan tightened his grip on Hyeokryeon Gyun’s neck.
*Kwaddeudeuk!*
There was a sound of something breaking. He hadn't broken his neck bone, but had destroyed the pressure points connected to it.
Byeok Taesan tossed Hyeokryeon Gyun aside.
*Thump.*
Hyeokryeon Gyun, collapsed on the ground, tried to force his body up. But the most he could do was sit up.
His body wouldn't obey him, and he couldn't move any further.
Byeok Taesan placed a hand on the crown of Hyeokryeon Gyun’s head.
“My expectations are high.”
Hyeokryeon Gyun probably knew more than anyone whose soul he had extracted so far.
With a pounding heart, Byeok Taesan pulled out his soul.
And then he gently roasted it.
A massive amount of thoughts poured into his mind.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
A tremendous scream erupted from Hyeokryeon Gyun’s mouth.
Among all the people whose souls Byeok Taesan had extracted and burned, the one who had screamed the most wretchedly was Gyeong Baekjun.
But now, that record was broken.
Hyeokryeon Gyun let out a scream several times more wretched than Gyeong Baekjun's.
It was as if he was pouring his very life force into the scream.
Byeok Taesan frowned.
“This one is even worse.”
The thoughts of Gyeong Baekjun and the woman in black had been as if submerged in blood, making the images unclear.
But Hyeokryeon Gyun's was much worse.
The crimson hue was so thick that at times, he couldn't even distinguish the faces of the people in the scenes.
With Gyeong Baekjun and the woman in black, he could at least clearly make out Hyeokryeon Gyun's face and his pristine white robes.
Hyeokryeon Gyun might have known the most, but the information conveyed through his thoughts was the most ambiguous.
Byeok Taesan shook his head and completely extracted his soul. Then he burned it in an instant.
*Drip, drip.*
An enormous amount of blood-like fluid flowed out.
The quality and quantity of the spiritual energy contained in the fluid were also immense.
Byeok Taesan used the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts to burn that cleanly as well.
Countless crimson particles rose into the air, bursting and scattering. There were so many that for a moment, it seemed as if a crimson fog had enveloped the area.
“Worthless.”
How could there be so much spiritual energy, yet not a single bit of it was usable?
Byeok Taesan shook his head from side to side.
He really needed to find the Half-Jiangshi.
And as he burned Hyeokryeon Gyun’s soul, he had managed to narrow down a few locations where he likely kept the Half-Jiangshi gathered.
Now that he had sorted things out in Wuhan, it was about time to venture outside.