Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Fire-Breathing Fire Dragon Sword!
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Ahn Do-pil was perfectly confident. To him, I was an incredible being.
When the branch members looked at him with puzzled faces, Ahn Do-pil nodded, gesturing that he would explain later.
“Ahahahaha!”
Suddenly, Pan Ha-rin threw her head back and laughed coquettishly before abruptly stopping to stare at me.
“You two are ridiculous!”
Her face was filled with ridicule.
I smiled back at her.
‘Little girl, I’ll make sure that laughter soon turns to tears.’
My smiling in this situation seemed to have irked Pan Ha-rin.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Did you come here just to mock me?”
I brought her attention back to the matter at hand.
Pan Ha-rin twitched her nose and pursed her lips. It was a habit of hers I had already seen several times.
“Did you lay waste to this branch of the Demonic Emperor’s Grand Union?”
“I did.”
Ahn Do-pil and the branch members were slightly reassured by my complete lack of intimidation.
“Why?”
“Just get to the point.”
“No, explain that first.”
“Branch Master, explain.”
At my command, Ahn Do-pil spoke loudly.
“A few days ago, some members of the Demonic Emperor’s Grand Union’s Dong-ro branch came to the tavern run by our Team Leader Lee to extort a few coins. They were taught a lesson and ran off!”
Wi Heun-chang, realizing this was not his place, had moved off to one side.
Ahn Do-pil explained the situation in detail, neither adding nor subtracting from the truth.
I smiled faintly.
“Did you hear that?”
Pan Ha-rin again twitched her nose and pursed her lips. It seemed to be a habit she had when her pride was wounded.
“What do you think?”
Pan Ha-rin looked at Wi Heun-chang and spoke sternly.
“What is the Demonic Path?”
“…”
“Just as the Orthodox Path has its Righteous Way, the Demonic Path has its own distinct way. The true Demonic Path!”
A man like Wi Heun-chang would never understand such a thing.
“Trash like you is what sullies the Demonic Path!”
*Thump!*
“I was wrong! Please forgive me…!”
Wi Heun-chang fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. He sensed he was in trouble.
“Go back and wait.”
Wi Heun-chang couldn't say a word. He turned, opened the main gate, and disappeared.
I clasped my hands behind my back.
“What’s your point?”
“Do you know where the Martial Alliance’s Chief Hall Master is?”
“Hey! How would a branch in a backwater place like this know the whereabouts of someone as high up as the Chief Hall Master of the main alliance?”
“Are you saying you don’t know?”
“If you know, tell me. I should at least pay my respects.”
“Why were you on the river cliff earlier?”
“What did you do yesterday?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Why do you ask me that?”
The Red Flying Swallow Sword’s nose twitched more forcefully this time as she pursed her lips.
“Yesterday, I was tracking the Martial Alliance’s Chief Hall Master all day.”
She was getting caught in my wordplay. It was an unspoken agreement that to hear my answer, she had to first reveal what she had been doing.
“I was nearby, gathering medicinal herbs.”
“Medicinal herbs?”
“Shall I show you?”
“Show me.”
“Brother Yang! Bring the herbs I gathered earlier.”
“Yes, sir!”
Yang Rim’s hobby was to roam the mountains and fields, gathering, collecting, and drying medicinal herbs.
While serving as a member and steward at the Dong-ro branch, he occasionally played the part of a physician, thanks to the books on medicinal herbs he read in his spare time.
A short while later, Yang Rim brought a basket full of herbs and placed it before me.
“I was in the middle of washing and drying the herbs the Grand Branch Master gathered earlier.”
The herbs were actually gathered by Yang Rim, but it wasn't as if they were marked. Unless one was a ghost, who would know?
“See?”
“Hmph!”
Pan Ha-rin’s nose and lips twitched severely.
“If your business is done, let’s tend to mine.”
“What business is that?”
“Since you hit me earlier, I have to hit you back.”
“That was…”
“What did you say earlier?”
“What did I…”
“That there’s such a thing as a Demonic Path?”
“…”
Pan Ha-rin’s nose and lips weren't just twitching now; they were trembling.
“You attacked me with a cowardly ambush, but I will strike you fair and square.”
*Step. Step.*
As I walked straight toward her, Pan Ha-rin’s eyes widened.
At that moment, I learned another lesson. Fights aren't won with strength alone. It takes smooth talking. And presence.
*Shhhk!*
The twelve Demonic Sword Masters standing on either side of Pan Ha-rin all reached for the hilts of their swords, ready to attack at any moment.
I stopped walking and glared.
“Is this your Demonic Path?”
Pan Ha-rin said nothing, merely glaring daggers at me and biting her lip.
She spoke coldly.
“All of you, step back and do not interfere.”
Considering what she had just said, and upon reflection, she realized this was not the way.
The twelve Demonic Sword Masters simultaneously released their hilts and took two steps back.
Pan Ha-rin stared directly at me.
“Instead of you hitting me, how about we fight one-on-one?”
“If I win, I get to hit you?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m going to kill you.”
I gave a slight smile.
“Then if you can’t kill me, I’ll hit you.”
“Do as you please.”
Pan Ha-rin raised her shapely eyebrows slightly.
“From whom did you learn the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style?”
It seemed she had heard from Wi Heun-chang that I had used it.
“I’ll tell you if you beat me.”
“Are you a follower of the Demonic Path?”
“Is the Martial Alliance demonic?”
“If you’re not a follower, how did you learn the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style?”
“Are you always this talkative before a fight?”
Pan Ha-rin’s eyes turned icy blue. She seemed furious that she couldn't best me with words.
“Are you in a hurry to die?”
“I’m in a hurry to hit you.”
“You worthless loudmouth! You’d better use all your strength to perform the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style!”
*Chaaang!*
Pan Ha-rin shouted sharply as she charged, drawing the sword from her shoulder and executing a technique in the same motion.
It was the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style.
*Shhhkaaat!*
‘Fast!’
Just as twelve blue star-like swords seemed to glitter in the air, they all came pouring down on me at once.
*Swaaaaa!*
‘Hmm! This girl learned the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style properly!’
The star swords of the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style instantly transformed into beams of sword light, which shot toward twelve vital points on my body like living things with long tails.
I grew a little anxious.
‘Will my body truly be able to react and defeat this girl?’
This was my first time fighting an expert of this caliber, so it was impossible not to be tense.
‘Here it comes!’
In that instant, my mind cleared, and the incantations of the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style flooded my thoughts.
My body reacted.
And even faster than my mind, my body moved to meet Pan Ha-rin, drawing the Fire Dragon Sword.
*Swish!*
In that moment, Pan Ha-rin’s eyes sharpened.
‘Crazy bastard!’
She thought I had recklessly thrown myself into the barrage of sword light.
My feet had already begun to execute the Floating Light, Divine Shadow steps, weaving through and dodging all twelve beams of light. I closed in on Pan Ha-rin and slashed with the Fire Dragon Sword.
‘Ah!’
Pan Ha-rin was stunned. She had expected her opponent not to be an easy match, but he was faster than she anticipated. No, he was far more powerful.
Before she could even execute her second technique, the Fire Dragon Sword was already upon her.
*Whooosh!*
A thought flashed through my mind.
‘Hehe! This is the power and skill of five-tenths of my full strength!’
My body had judged that it could handle someone of Pan Ha-rin’s level with just five-tenths of my power and skill.
As the Fire Dragon Sword slashed toward her waist, Pan Ha-rin floated up as light as a feather to evade it. She performed a somersault in mid-air, twisting her body to descend behind me as she executed her second technique.
*Swaaaaa!*
*Flash! Flash!*
She unleashed twelve beams of sword light just like before, then somersaulted in reverse to return to her original position. Before the first set of lights had even vanished, she unleashed another twelve.
*Swaaaaa!*
*Flash! Flash!*
A total of twenty-four beams of sword light from both front and back descended upon me, covering me like a net.
‘Ahaha! Now! How will you counter… What!’
Pan Ha-rin was laughing internally when she suddenly flinched in shock.
“…!”
A jet-black sword was slashing straight down toward the crown of her head.
Not only had I dodged all twenty-four beams of light, but I had also closed the distance and was now attacking her head. She couldn't help but be astonished.
‘How can he be this powerful!’
Having just executed her technique, Pan Ha-rin was in a position where she could neither defend nor evade.
There was only one way.
Pan Ha-rin quickly grabbed the whip at her waist.
No, the moment she grasped it, the whip shot out like a nimble serpent—a flying serpent—striking toward my neck and the Fire Dragon Sword.
In truth, long before she had mastered the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style, Pan Ha-rin had played with a whip like a toy since she was a child.
Because of this, she could wield it more freely than her own limbs. That was why she carried it.
I hadn't expected the whip to strike. But my body reacted, twisting at the waist to dodge it.
*Craaack!*
The whip coiled around the Fire Dragon Sword several times.
‘Hohoho! It’s over!’
I tightened my grip on the whip-entangled Fire Dragon Sword, trying to pull it free.
In that instant, I infused it with seven-tenths of my internal energy.
Just as Pan Ha-rin was smiling triumphantly.
*Fwoooosh!*
“Kyaaah!”
The Fire Dragon Sword turned crimson red, and the whip caught fire.
In a flash, the flames spread to the handle, and Pan Ha-rin hastily let go of the whip.
‘Aaaah!’
I was even more surprised than Pan Ha-rin. I stared at my sword.
‘What is this?’
The Fire Dragon Sword, glowing red-hot as if just pulled from a furnace, faintly spewed flames before returning to its original black color a moment later.
The Fire Dragon Sword had originally been strengthened over eons by calling down and enduring countless lightning strikes.
I had thought it would be much stronger than steel. But now I saw that the Fire Dragon Sword had been hiding a divine power to breathe fire. Perhaps it could even shoot lightning.
The whip, now charred black, broke apart and scattered on the ground.
‘Hahaha! Little girl! How do you like the taste of the Fire Dragon Sword?’
I was so pleased I couldn't stop smiling.
Pan Ha-rin was so shocked her eyes were as wide as saucers.
I brandished the Fire Dragon Sword at the stunned Pan Ha-rin and charged, unleashing the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style.
‘Little girl! This is the true Soul-Severing Star Sword Style!’
*Zzzzzzzing!*
*Spaaaaat!*
Pan Ha-rin knew that when the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style reached perfection, it produced such a roar.
*Papapapapang!*
Countless star swords bloomed in the air like illusions before becoming beams of light that rained down on Pan Ha-rin all at once.
‘Ah! Th-this is impossible!’
What Pan Ha-rin was seeing now was on a similar level to the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style performed by her master, the head of the Demonic Sword Union. No, perhaps it was even at a higher level.
“Aah!”
Pan Ha-rin stumbled backward, frantically swinging her sword to deflect and block the incoming beams of light.
*Clang! Clang-clang-clang!*
“Ugh! Aah! Aah!”
With every beam she blocked, her grip felt like it would shatter, and her wrist and arm ached as if they were breaking into pieces. Each beam of light was imbued with profound internal energy.
I didn't stop my assault, pressing her relentlessly. I was going to make Pan Ha-rin cry her eyes out.
‘I’ll show you the true taste of the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style you’re so proud of!’
*Zzzzzzzzzing!*
*Spaaaaaaat!*
‘Hehe! This one will be difficult.’
A total of forty-eight star swords spread out above Pan Ha-rin’s head like a large conical hat, twinkling like the stars in the night sky.
I was now using six-tenths of my internal energy to execute the Soul-Severing Star Sword Style.
‘Ah… what is that?’
A moment ago, the attack had come only from the front. But this one was about to pour down on Pan Ha-rin from all directions, including from above.