Chapter 66: The Young Sect Leader’s Work-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66: The Young Sect Leader’s Work-2
Explosions, gusts of wind, and all manner of external stimuli.
As the effects of the Activation Group—which the Spirit Demon had administered as first aid—circulated through his body, In-ho was finally able to regain some semblance of his fading consciousness.
"Ugh..."
Fighting against his heavy, drooping eyelids, he managed to bleary-eye open.
Beside him, the Spirit Demon was nursing him, her lips bitten white as she focused intensely on something ahead.
He tried to push himself up, his arms trembling against the ground. Only then did the Spirit Demon realize the Young Sect Leader was awake and moved to support him.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah... I'm fine."
In truth, he wasn't. The Activation Group only provided the bare minimum of energy needed to function.
Between the long trek without proper food and the massive mental shock he’d endured, he looked no better than a martial artist who had barely survived a bout of Qi Deviation.
"What happened?"
He asked, vaguely recalling the Three Demons trying to support him. The Spirit Demon quickly summarized the situation.
The battle between So-yu and So-yeon had already escalated to a level that neither the Spirit Demon nor In-ho could hope to follow.
The clash of blades.
The thunderous roar of the earth shaking and shattering.
The sight of red and black masses entangling and tearing apart.
They could only grasp the flow of the battle through these fragmented impressions.
"Is Master winning?"
When he asked the Spirit Demon—the only expert present—she didn't answer immediately.
In-ho realized that the unfamiliar emotion flickering across the Spirit Demon’s face was none other than bewilderment.
The red figure relentlessly unleashed attacks, driving the black figure back.
The black figure traced arcs in the air, parrying every strike, yet she was unable to mount a proper counterattack.
Though she occasionally broke the momentum of the assault with her Black Flame, her opponent lunged inward with obsessive tenacity, heedless of whether her own body was being consumed by fire.
"The exchange isn't holding up."
"Exchange?"
"Yes. When martial artists of... similar caliber fight, they trade blows—giving something up to take something in return."
The Spirit Demon grimaced as she said the word 'similar,' as if loath to admit it.
"One gives up what they can afford to lose to gain something vital from the opponent."
"The Sect Leader’s style of combat usually refuses to allow this exchange. Because she clothes herself in Black Flame, an opponent normally can't even get close."
A heat so intense it could melt flesh just by being near.
This was the power of the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts, the force that had once made the Central Plains tremble in fear.
"But... the current Thunder Sword has gained a level of recovery that can no longer be called human. Even if her body melts, she heals instantly."
The internal energy and vitality she had accumulated through countless instances of Qi Absorption after becoming a Blood Demon were staggering.
Furthermore, she was currently drawing life force from the people scattered across the battlefield.
In this place, her regenerative abilities were near infinite.
"Even if she just stays close and lands minor hits one by one, the Thunder Sword loses nothing. She’ll just heal anyway."
The Spirit Demon muttered, her voice thick with frustration.
"Is there a way to win...?"
"With my meager knowledge, I can only think of one way. Her Dantian must be destroyed to stop the circulation of her internal energy. But whether it's even possible to wound her from the outside now..."
"Master must have a plan, right?"
"I believe so."
But there was no conviction in the Spirit Demon’s voice.
In-ho silently watched the two fight.
They collided in mid-air and plummeted vertically toward the ground.
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, a cloud of dust billowed toward them again.
"Spirit Demon. What weapons do we have available?"
Despite his shivering body, In-ho’s voice was clear as he questioned her.
The Spirit Demon rattled off a list of usable weapons.
In-ho sank into thought as he listened to the inventory.
*
"What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Where did all that composure from before go?"
Mocking her with every word, Namgung So-yeon sneered at the Heavenly Demon and drove a straight punch into her stomach.
The Black Flame surrounding the Heavenly Demon’s body melted So-yeon’s arm, preventing the punch from landing with its full power, but the Heavenly Demon clicked her tongue at the accumulating impact.
"You're certainly enjoying yourself. Does piercing my Black Flame make you that happy?"
"Yes, of course! Seeing that high-and-mighty face of yours twist like this makes me feel wonderful."
The Thunder Sword grinned, licking her lips with her tongue.
Sssssss!
Blood sprayed from Namgung So-yeon’s body—the Heavenly Demon had slashed her several times in the moment she threw the punch.
But it only lasted a second.
Before long, her wounds sealed shut, and she looked at the Heavenly Demon as if nothing had happened.
"Oh dear, what should we do? It seems your sword doesn't work on me."
"Your prattling is truly nauseating."
It was a stalemate.
No matter what attack she landed, it didn't stick. No matter how much she dodged, the other woman followed with relentless tenacity and stamina.
There was still a clear gap in the level of their martial arts, but the alien power bridging that gap was creating a disadvantageous situation.
"Kh!"
As she blocked the Thunder Sword's roundhouse kick, a heavy shock vibrated through her body.
The Heavenly Demon was sent flying, crashing into the ground, and the Thunder Sword’s blade came falling down upon her.
She dodged quickly, and the sword pierced the spot where her head had been a moment ago.
"You're quite fast at running away, aren't you? Just like a little rat."
Pfft. The sight of her laughing continued to grate on the Heavenly Demon’s nerves.
‘I have to kill her in one blow.’
If this became a war of attrition, she would be the one at a disadvantage.
For the first time since taking the name of the Heavenly Demon, the word 'defeat' began to creep into her mind. To counter it, she made a desperate move.
‘It’s not that the Black Flame isn't doing damage. The problem is her recovery.’
How was she healing those wounds?
The answer was simple. The internal energy from her Dantian must be circulating through her body to heal it.
"Ah!!"
The Heavenly Demon, who had been constantly dodging, suddenly lunged forward.
She slipped past the blade by a hair's breadth, and blood trickled down her left cheek.
The Heavenly Demon thrust her arm directly into the Thunder Sword's Dantian.
The sensation of tearing through flesh and crushing bone—the squelch of internal organs—was transmitted through her skin.
The Heavenly Demon immediately ignited her Black Flame.
"AAAAAAAGH!!"
Namgung So-yeon screamed at the fire erupting from within her.
"Now die, you bitch."
The Heavenly Demon spoke as if addressing a loathsome insect.
The smell of burning flesh stung her nose.
Thud.
Feeling the Dantian completely destroyed, the Heavenly Demon tried to withdraw her hand, but the Thunder Sword’s hand clamped down on her arm.
A look of bewilderment crossed the Heavenly Demon’s eyes as she looked up at Namgung So-yeon.
"Got you!"
Crack!
With monstrous strength, Namgung So-yeon crushed the Heavenly Demon’s arm.
"Guh...!"
The Heavenly Demon kicked Namgung So-yeon away, but her arm was already broken, dangling uselessly.
Namgung So-yeon, who had been thrown back, stood up perfectly fine.
"You look so dazed. That 'Why is she fine when I destroyed her Dantian?' look."
She chuckled and continued.
"My recovery doesn't come from my Dantian. It's simply the blood circulating in my body that heals me. It has nothing to do with internal energy."
In an instant, the Thunder Sword closed the distance and tackled the Heavenly Demon to the ground.
Straddling her, the Thunder Sword began to rain punches down on the Heavenly Demon’s face.
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
"Just! Die! Already!"
The continuous barrage of fists made the Heavenly Demon’s consciousness grow hazy.
She tried to counter, but her swings were empty, failing to reach the Thunder Sword.
‘Is this really how it ends?’
Sensing her own hollow end, she lamented inwardly.
Regardless, Namgung So-yeon’s fists continued to fall upon her without mercy.
Amidst her fading consciousness, the Heavenly Demon saw someone flying toward them from behind the Thunder Sword.
*
The moment the Heavenly Demon was pinned by the Thunder Sword, the Spirit Demon charged forward, brandishing her weapon.
The Spirit Demon had attached every available weapon to her iron wires and hurled them at the Thunder Sword.
Some missed, but several struck the Thunder Sword's body.
She had long since abandoned the hope that these weapons would deal significant damage.
This was merely an action to halt her movement for a split second.
The weapons acted like nails driven firmly into the Thunder Sword's body, and the Spirit Demon took a position behind her, pulling the wires like a horse's reins to seal her movements.
"Did you think this would stop me?"
When Namgung So-yeon asked as if it were absurd, the Spirit Demon didn't even bother to reply, pulling the wires even tighter.
Blood dripped from the hands gripping the wires.
"Something like this—!"
As Namgung So-yeon applied strength to break the restraint, someone came running toward her.
The person’s legs were so weak it seemed like a miracle they were even standing.
The moment she saw who it was, Namgung So-yeon beamed.
"Young Master!"
The Young Master is coming to me! Namgung So-yeon was as happy as a child.
However, her face soon contorted, because he was holding a small dagger in his hand.
"Young Master... what is that?"
Seeing the knife in In-ho’s hand coming toward her without hesitation, Namgung So-yeon’s face twisted like a demon's.
The dagger aimed for her throat, but unfortunately, Namgung So-yeon was not an opponent who would fall for such an attack.
"Agh!"
As she flexed her arms, the wires snapped, and the Spirit Demon was sent flying into the distance.
A bundle of red tendrils erupted from her back and ensnared In-ho’s body.
In-ho was lifted into the air, his limbs bound.
The Heavenly Demon slowly stood up. The red tendrils brought In-ho right in front of her.
Namgung So-yeon slowly stroked In-ho’s cheek and asked.
"Why?"
"......"
"Why? Why did you try to attack me? Could it be... the brainwashing hasn't worn off yet? If that's the case, I can understand."
Hurry, say that's it.
Say you attacked me because of the Heavenly Demon’s evil sorcery.
But contrary to her wishes, the words that came out of In-ho’s mouth were filled with pure malice.
"Fuck... you, you fucking bitch."
"...Eh?"
"You piece of shit. You're just a fucking psychopath. You goddamn dog."
Ptui!
Hanging in the air, In-ho spat at her.
"I'm perfectly sane, you retard."
"Why... why are you saying such horrible things? We love each other... we even kissed."
"Did I do that because I wanted to? Kissing you was fucking disgusting."
"D-don't say that. No. You're not Young Master Kang!!"
"Whether I am or not, that kiss with you was shit. It felt way better with Master!!!!"
"SHUT UUUUUUP!!"
At In-ho’s final words, screamed with spite, Namgung So-yeon manifested a massive spike from her body and impaled In-ho through the stomach.