Chapter 32: Descent of the Heavenly Demon (Part 1)-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32: Descent of the Heavenly Demon (Part 1)-1
'Of all people, I didn't expect the Thunder Sword to be here.'
Though she didn't let it show on her face, the Spirit Demon clicked her tongue inwardly.
Thunder Sword Namgung So-yeon.
At the age of twenty-two, she had already reached the realm of the Supreme Peak. She was a heroine counted among the greatest martial artists of the current generation.
'Did she show herself in Yunnan on purpose to make us lower our guard?'
Until recently, Namgung So-yeon’s presence had been confirmed on the Yunnan front, where their forces were at a standoff.
How, then, was she here in Sichuan?
'...It’s that man.'
The Spirit Demon’s gaze shifted toward the man lying beneath the shade of a tree.
Perhaps sensing that gaze, Namgung So-yeon drew her sword and stepped between them, blocking the Spirit Demon’s line of sight.
"Are you a friend of the Thunder Sword?"
"Spirit Demon, I didn't expect those words from you. He is the person your kind kidnapped and imprisoned."
'???'
The Spirit Demon had no idea what she was talking about, but she remained silent.
"To imprison Young Master Kang, put him through such ordeals, and then come all this way to capture him again! You people truly have no sense of justice."
Namgung So-yeon, adding her own imagination to the things In-ho hadn't actually experienced, swung her sword once as her temper flared.
The motion sent dust flying from the dirt ground.
"That man is someone who disturbed the most precious place of our Cult and fled."
"And what of it?"
"Leave him here and go your way."
"And if I refuse?"
"This is not a request, Thunder Sword."
As the Spirit Demon drew a dagger from her waist, the corners of Namgung So-yeon’s mouth curled into a crooked smirk.
"Spirit Demon, do you really think you can defeat me?"
As Namgung So-yeon surged her internal energy, a golden light began to dye the sword in her hand.
The blade brightened from a pale yellow to a deep, rich gold, emitting crackling sparks of Thunder Energy into the surroundings.
'What immense power.'
The Spirit Demon winced at the sheer fighting spirit Namgung So-yeon exuded.
If they clashed head-on, would she even last ten exchanges? She bit her lip, cursing her own weakness.
"I do not care about winning or losing."
Lowering her stance, she held her dagger horizontally.
"Everything is according to the Heavenly Demon’s will."
*
Watching the Spirit Demon charge in a straight line, Namgung So-yeon took her stance.
'I have to cut her down in one go.'
The longer this dragged on, the worse it would be. As darkness fell, the Spirit Demon’s tactics would only become more varied.
Moreover, In-ho’s condition was worsening by the minute.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and expanded her senses.
The Spirit Demon coming from the front was likely an illusion. She would launch a surprise attack from somewhere—but where?
— Clang!
The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out.
Namgung So-yeon raised her sword to block the Spirit Demon’s foot as it dropped from above. The Spirit Demon’s boots were densely studded with iron spikes.
"Ugh."
So-yeon channeled her inner power to blow back the heavy weight pressing down on her.
The Spirit Demon didn't resist the force; instead, she performed a mid-air somersault and landed gracefully on the ground.
That was the first exchange.
"You've become much heavier than before. Have you been training hard?"
Namgung So-yeon clicked her tongue at the Spirit Demon’s attack, which had become far more troublesome since their last encounter.
"......"
Despite her words, the Spirit Demon remained silent, watching her intently.
"Well then, it’s my turn now, isn't it?"
Instantly exploding the Thunder Energy circulating through her blood vessels, Namgung So-yeon dashed forward and delivered a horizontal slash.
Like a comet with a golden tail, a trail of golden light followed the path of her movement.
However, her attack cut through empty air, toppling only a few unfortunate trees in the forest.
'Tch, did she hide?'
The Spirit Demon was nowhere to be seen. Namgung So-yeon scanned her surroundings.
— Glint.
Something silver shimmered in the air.
Like a spider meticulously weaving its web, countless silver wires glittered all around her.
"This is... iron wire?!"
As the razor-thin wires glinted in unison, the surrounding trees began to collapse with a thunderous splintering sound.
"Kh!"
Rolling to dodge the falling trees intended to crush her, she quickly regained her stance.
'The terrain is far too disadvantageous.'
If this were an open field, the Spirit Demon would be no match for her. No matter what weapon she brought, the Spirit Demon would have been overwhelmed by the sheer difference in martial prowess.
"Fine. If you're going to use the environment... I'll just have to break the environment, won't I?"
Answering her own question, Namgung So-yeon stomped the ground hard and swung her sword.
— Boom! Crash!
Dozens of trees were blown away by the swing of her blade.
Through the flying splinters of wood, she caught sight of the Spirit Demon hurriedly retreating.
Namgung So-yeon lunged forward and snatched the Spirit Demon by the collar mid-air.
"Ugh!"
The Spirit Demon winced at the inescapable grip, and a moment later, she was slammed into the ground, forced to take the full impact with her back.
Rolling aside to dodge the sword plunging toward her, the Spirit Demon threw hidden weapons from her sleeve to create distance.
But Namgung So-yeon swatted the projectiles away with her bare hands and pursued her relentlessly.
"You unrefined monster!"
The Spirit Demon, who had maintained a quiet composure throughout, spoke as if she were utterly fed up.
The iron wire extending from the Spirit Demon’s hand wrapped around Namgung So-yeon’s right hand, but when So-yeon yanked her arm back, it was the Spirit Demon who was pulled in instead.
"Agh!!"
Caught in the momentum of being pulled and met with Namgung So-yeon’s left straight punch, she was sent flying, smashing through the few remaining trees.
"......"
Namgung So-yeon stared in the direction the Spirit Demon had flown. Since she had struck with internal energy, the woman's internals must be a mess.
She could finish her off right now if she wanted to, but if the Spirit Demon started resisting in earnest, it would take too much time.
While it was a shame to miss an opportunity to eliminate an executive of the Demonic Sect, saving a life came first.
"Spirit Demon, do not follow me any further."
Addressing the spot where the Spirit Demon was likely hiding, Namgung So-yeon hoisted In-ho onto her back and set off on her way again.
*
Back at the Heavenly Demon Palace, the Heavenly Demon realized things were going wrong when a messenger crow suddenly arrived.
Upon reading the message on the parchment, her fury radiated even outside the palace walls.
"Those damn Namgungs."
The Heavenly Demon ground her teeth.
Yet, at the same time, a sense of joy bubbled up. The worry that it might not be him vanished like snow on a spring day at the Spirit Demon’s confirmation.
"I suppose I'll have to go myself."
It was time to go find that Namgung girl—the one who had run off with her precious disciple, the one who wouldn't be enough even if she were torn to shreds.