Chapter 45
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Nightmare
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“Hah.”
Hu Eun-ryang sensed the energy emanating from my body and quickly raised his internal energy to its peak.
In that moment.
Thwip, thwip, thwip.
I fired Thunderclap Finger Bullets at Jung-geom.
The surprise volley of Thunderclap Finger Bullets, incomparably stronger than when we fought before, forced Jung-geom to dodge hastily, but one still pierced his right shoulder, sending him tumbling to the ground.
I used my footwork to close the distance to Jung-geom, then struck his demonic pressure point.
Sshhhkkk.
A chilling sound that seemed to tear through the air rang in my ears.
I instinctively dropped flat to the ground as a sword grazed past my back.
As expected, Hu Eun-ryang was a master.
I rolled away repeatedly to get out of his range, then regained my stance.
“A master using Thunderclap Darts? Have you no shame?”
“I wonder. That's not something the one who launched a surprise attack should say.”
The moment he finished speaking, my sword cut through the air, aiming for Hu Eun-ryang's neck.
Clang, clang.
Hu Eun-ryang easily parried my sword.
My sword soon multiplied into three.
“Hah. What is this…”
The three swords were afterimages.
It only appeared that way because I was executing a swift technique at such high speed.
As Hu Eun-ryang retreated, unable to handle it, I immediately unleashed the ultimate swift technique, Lightning Flash.
Sshhhkkk.
“Keuk.”
Hu Eun-ryang barely dodged the Lightning Flash, but the front of his robes was torn, a clear sign of his distress.
Sshhhkkk.
Sshhhkkk.
I executed Lightning Flash again and again, and in the end, Hu Eun-ryang's body was torn into three pieces, meeting his death.
His martial skill was high, and I didn't know when Jin Gyu-ong might appear, so I killed him outright instead of capturing him.
I quickly scanned my surroundings, and then, right where I stood, I circulated my true energy through the Grand Heavenly Orbit.
The seething energy within me calmed down.
Creeaak.
Jin Gyu-ong opened the door and came out.
He looked around, frowning slightly, but showed no other reaction.
“Hu Eun-ryang was a master.”
He clicked his tongue, then finally turned his gaze to me.
“What grudge do you have against us to cause such a commotion?”
“Then what happened to the martial artists who went inside?”
With this much of a disturbance, they should have reacted somehow. Their silence was strange.
“Could it be that Jin Ga-hwan is a fake?”
“A fake? Jin Ga-hwan is real. I just put them all to sleep. It's a hassle when they make noise.”
Jin Gyu-ong slowly drew his sword.
The sword was very unusual.
A faint red dragon was engraved along its length, from the hilt to the tip.
Especially when he infused it with his internal energy, the red dragon on the sword seemed to come alive and writhe.
“Damn. How foolish.”
“Are you regretting it now?”
“You've disguised your face.”
“Hahaha. You're the first to see through my disguise. There's no way it should have been obvious.”
Jin Gyu-ong smiled faintly and tilted his head.
To be able to chat and smile like this while facing me, the one who had just defeated Jung-geom and Hu Eun-ryang, meant he had absolute confidence in his martial prowess.
“Mad Sword.”
When the words "Mad Sword" left my lips, Jin Gyu-ong's expression hardened for the first time.
“I must capture you today and uncover your true identity. It has been over twenty years since this old man retired. How could a young pup like you recognize me?”
“Weren't you a figure who walked the line between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions? Why did you join hands with the Dark Blood Heaven Cult?”
“You seem to know everything.”
The Mad Sword, as if he no longer wished to exchange words, raised his internal energy to its maximum.
Whoooosh.
A furious whirlwind began to form around him.
My eyes grew colder than ever as I watched.
If the fight with the Mad Sword dragged on, I, with my lacking internal energy, would have no chance of winning.
I decided to settle this within ten seconds.
-Pure.
-Yes. I am on standby.
-If I end up mutually wounded with him, save me. If I fall to him, do not reveal yourself under any circumstances. In that case, give up on saving me and report this situation to the Alliance. He is a giant you cannot handle.
She said nothing.
-Answer me.
-Understood.
Pure probably didn't like the second command.
“Storm Slash Wheel!”
The fourth form of the Heavenly Will Sword Art was unleashed.
It was the same technique that had pushed Dark Blood One to the brink of death.
Two wheels of sword energy formed around my sword, then flew toward the Mad Sword, spinning powerfully.
“Impossible!”
The Mad Sword screamed.
Recognizing the Storm Slash Wheel, the Mad Sword's face turned pale.
But the seasoned master noticed that the Storm Slash Wheel I had executed was only at forty percent of its full power, and he launched a counterattack.
He judged that running would be useless, so he raised his internal energy to its maximum and struck at the wheels of energy.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The sound, like a giant hammer striking a steel plate, pierced my ears.
I used all my strength to control the energy wheels, pressing the Mad Sword.
The Mad Sword frantically tried to break the energy wheels.
Both the Mad Sword and I poured everything we had into the fight, sweat drenching our bodies.
If anyone were to interfere in this battle, both of us would surely suffer severe internal injuries.
That's how much we were staking on this fight.
It was a pity.
If my internal energy was at the three-cycle level, I could have created up to three energy wheels, and I would have been able to subdue the Mad Sword.
No, with three cycles, I could have used the Sword Control Art to take his head.
“Kuhk.”
The Mad Sword, who had been struggling frantically, finally couldn't withstand the energy wheels and began to break down.
I squeezed out every last strand of my internal energy and infused it into the wheels.
“Kuaaaaargh!”
The Mad Sword let out a final scream as his body shattered into pieces.
He was by no means weaker than Dark Blood One.
In fact, he was stronger.
When I fought Dark Blood One, the two energy wheels were unstable, but now, they were perfect.
If I had been at the same level as when I fought Dark Blood One, I would have been the one defeated.
There wasn't a shred of strength left in my body.
I fell toward the ground like a log.
A gentle and warm presence caught me, preventing me from hitting the ground.
It was Pure.
I had no strength to open my eyes or speak, but I remembered her pleasant scent.
“You can't die.”
She held me close and leaped away.
I wanted to tell her we had to take Jung-geom, but my mouth wouldn't open.
I lost consciousness in her arms, breathing in her fragrant scent.
**
“Hwa Un-ryong! I curse you! If it weren't for you, I could have ruled the world with demonic arts!”
Cheok Mu-hyeok spat out his bitter resentment, blood pouring from his body.
Cheok Mu-hyeok, the greatest genius the Dark Heavenly Cult had ever produced.
I was driving him to his death, but I too was gravely injured.
“As long as I, Hwa Un-ryong, am alive, the Dark Heavenly Cult will never set foot in the Central Plains.”
“I resent the heavens.”
Cheok Mu-hyeok was dying.
I gathered my remaining strength and slowly approached him.
I resolved to end the Dark Heavenly Cult by taking his head.
Just as I almost reached him, I flinched.
Someone was watching from a distance—a boy who looked to be about five years old.
“No.”
As I raised my sword and turned in that direction, a desperate scream erupted from Cheok Mu-hyeok's lips.
“Please. Have mercy. You've destroyed the Dark Heavenly Cult and killed everyone, including me, haven't you?”
“If I leave behind a future threat, countless martial artists will pay the price with their blood.”
“You heartless bastard.”
I ignored his curses and insults and walked toward the boy.
Up close, he was the spitting image of Cheok Mu-hyeok.
“It's a pity. Your only fault is being born as Cheok Mu-hyeok's son.”
Shwiik.
The boy fell limply.
“Hwa Un-ryong! I will curse you even in death! I will curse the Martial Arts Alliance!”
Cheok Mu-hyeok screamed at the top of his lungs like a madman.
I sent my sword flying and cut off Cheok Mu-hyeok's head.
Thud.
Exhausted, I slumped to the ground, caught my breath, and circulated my internal energy for one cycle.
Getting up, I looked around with a bitter expression.
There was blood everywhere.
I was sick of it.
No matter how much I fought for justice, I was tired.
And I couldn't forget the look in Cheok Mu-hyeok's son's eyes before he died.
‘Is this a dream? It happened more than thirty years ago, so how can I remember it so vividly?’
I wanted to open my eyes, but they wouldn't open.
Then, the scene suddenly changed.
It was deep darkness.
“Sob, sob.”
It was the sound of a child crying.
Hearing the suppressed sobs, I slowly walked toward the sound.
“Are you all right?”
I patted the child's shoulder.
An ordinary face you could see anywhere.
Seeing me, the child wiped away his tears and gave an awkward smile.
“We finally meet.”
Who could it be?
I've never seen this child before.
Gradually, a sinister energy began to rise in the child's eyes.
He suddenly transformed into a huge man.
Startled, I stumbled back and fell to the ground.
The child's face gradually changed into that of a man.
A manly and handsome, yet cruel face.
“Ch-Cheok Mu-hyeok?”
“You will never escape our grasp. Hwa Un-ryong. I will kill you.”
His hand reached out.
I could see it clearly, but I couldn't dodge it.
No, my body wouldn't move.
He grabbed my neck with both hands.
“Die! Die! This is revenge for the brothers you killed. Die!”
Am I going to die like this?
Overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, by the thought that this was the end, a single tear unknowingly fell from my eye.
It was then.
A faint light began to appear.
And I heard a sound, but I couldn't make it out.
Gradually, the voice became clearer.
As my consciousness faded, the voice rang until my ears throbbed, and my body shook violently like a leaf.
“Affectionate! Wake up! Affectionate!”
“Hah.”
It was a dream.
Such a vivid dream.
Why on earth did I have a dream like this?
“Affectionate.”
“Yes.”
“This…”
“Ah, s-sorry.”
I let go of her hand.
I must have been gripping it tightly, as red handprints remained on her hand.
“Are you okay?”
“I had a nightmare.”
“It seemed so. You were saying strange things.”
“Tell me. What did I say?”
“You said you destroyed the Dark Heavenly Cult and killed Cheok Mu-hyeok and his son. Then you yelled, ‘Who are you?’ before suddenly choking and gasping for air, so I quickly woke you up.”
“Phew.”
I shook my head.
She must have had many questions, but she didn't ask.
“Keep it a secret.”
“No one would believe me even if I told them. But, Affectionate, you're quite the braggart.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were shouting about killing Cheok Mu-hyeok, the leader of the Dark Heavenly Cult. It was a dream, of course. But your voice was so loud and confident that for a moment, I actually wondered if you really had killed him. Just for a moment.”
“I-I did? I must have been talking nonsense in my dream because I respect Alliance Leader Hwa so much.”
I quickly mumbled an excuse and changed the subject.
“Where are we?”
“An empty house on the outskirts of Gissi Prefecture.”
“How long was I unconscious?”
“Three days.”
“Phew. Did they pursue us? Any news about the Jin Estate?”
“There was no pursuit. The Jin Estate was burned down. I don't know the details. I couldn't leave your side while you were hovering between life and death.”
“We should have brought Jung-geom.”
“Saving you was the priority then.”
“Thank you. Really.”
“You're quick to say that.”
Pure smiled brightly.
“What should we do now?”
“This is different from the Shanxi branch. Back then, they just fled, but this time, they set a fire.”
“Indeed. Did you report to the Alliance?”
“I did, right away. The Soul-Chasing Sword Squad will be coming here.”
“All right. I'm going to circulate my energy, so please stand guard.”
“Understood.”
Pure answered immediately, then opened the door and went outside.
I sat down in the lotus position.
-Hwa Un-ryong. You will never escape our grasp.
The words from the dream came to mind.
‘Our? I have a bad feeling about this. The Dark Heavenly Cult might be nearby. I must be cautious. For now, I'll doubt everything and everyone.’
I resolved to act more cautiously from now on.
The only martial artist I could trust right now was Pure.
‘How frustrating. Maybe I'm being too sensitive. It was just a dream, after all. The Martial Arts Alliance is not so easily trifled with.’
I soon shook my head to clear the negative thoughts and began circulating my energy.