Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Value of a Word - 10
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Hongryeon, who had reversed the situation merely by showing up, lightly gripped her massive greatsword—tall as herself.
- Crunch...
I couldn't let my guard down yet.
She'd landed a surprise blow, but the enemy hadn't fallen completely.
The Demonic cultist who'd been rolling on the ground slowly pushed herself up.
The seductive elegance she'd shown earlier was gone. Her hair disheveled, her body caked in dust.
But the most shocking sight was her face, twisted like some ferocious demon.
"Ha. Haha."
She staggered to her feet. She looked so frail, like one good hit would topple her—but I knew, Sayoon knew, Yuhee knew.
And so did Hongryeon.
The demonic energy pouring from her had thickened even more.
"Ptoo."
Something burst from her mumbling mouth. Dark red blood. Internal injuries from the ambush, maybe?
I hoped so...
"Even if I live to see the whole world..."
Her chilling voice dominated the air. Sayoon and Yuhee raised their swords toward her, while Hongryeon just stared back with bored indifference.
The moment her surging demonic energy took on a tangible form.
Her demonic visage reverted to that of a beauty.
"You're dying today."
But that voice was more murderous than any demon's.
"...She burst her Demon Blood."
Demon Blood—a demonic art where demonkind amassed their energy to unleash against mortal foes, doubling their power.
Now that it'd burst, even she wouldn't escape unscathed.
Did she hate Hongryeon that much?
- Boom!!
An explosion rang out. The materialized demonic energy birthed flames.
Black, ugly, dangerous flames.
"...Yuhee, Sayoon. Protect Innkeeper Yu and the village chief."
Hongryeon knew what those flames were, too.
Fire Tiger—one of the fire demons the Demonic cult often summoned.
The black tiger, shaped from rippling black flames, fixed its eerie eyes on us and bared its fangs.
- Grrr...!!
With a low growl, it spewed flames.
I watched it for a moment before turning to Yuhee.
"Can you fight?"
"Of course...!"
Gritting her teeth, Yuhee shook off her tension. Sayoon, beside her, did the same.
As we forced calm and kept watch on the Fire Tiger.
"Die!!"
The Demonic cultist charged with a savage yell.
- Claaang!!
Iron chains wrapped in demonic energy clashed against the greatsword. The metallic screech and the storm of fighting spirit swept toward us, and the Fire Tiger roared—as Yuhee and Sayoon leaped into action.
- Roooar!!
Whoosh. The flames born of demonic power in its roar spread everywhere. Yuhee dodged through them with flashy footwork, closing in on the Fire Tiger without hesitation before thrusting her sword.
Blood Wind
Red sword qi surges from below upward, cleaving the Fire Tiger's flame body.
But that alone couldn't fell the Fire Tiger.
"Hup!!"
Sayoon knew it too. Yuhee's strike was just to create an opening. As the black body emerged through the extinguished flames from Blood Wind, Sayoon thrust her hand forward without hesitation.
Star-Breaking Palm
A strike that shatters stars slams into the Fire Tiger, sending it staggering back.
Skin tore with a burst, forcing the Fire Tiger to reel. Yet the hatred, killing intent, and savage fury in its eyes hadn't dimmed a bit.
If anything, it seemed delighted, swinging its forepaw wreathed in black flames.
In Celestial Moon, players mockingly called it a kitty punch, but up close in reality, it looked brutally vicious.
Sayoon tried to dodge by leaping back.
No good.
That's not how you evade it.
"Block it!!"
That attack explodes on impact with the ground, sending shockwaves. Dodging just gets you caught in the aftermath. Best to block before it detonates.
- Thud!!
Hearing me? Sayoon swiftly raised her sword. She blocked before it fully connected, but her knees buckled slightly under the weight crashing onto her blade. I saw her grit her teeth.
Red blood trickled from her mouth. Still, her eyes never left the enemy.
"Flank!!"
Big attacks create openings.
The Fire Tiger's strike had a long recovery, exposing its side. Yuhee wasn't sloppy enough to miss it.
She was a Crimson Star Sect disciple, after all.
- Slash!!
The deep cut drawing blood was enough to make even the Fire Tiger growl as it yanked its paw free from Sayoon and leaped back.
"Thanks!"
Sayoon shook off the blow with light movements and shouted.
No problem.
Having failed and taken a hit, the Fire Tiger grew cautious. Unfortunately, its wariness wasn't good for us.
"Sayoon! Yuhee! Hold on just a bit longer!!"
"Yes!!"
Hongryeon's duel with the Demon Blood-burst cultist raged on.
She deftly parried blows too fast for the eye with mere flicks of her oversized greatsword, but hadn't found an opening to counter yet.
In a clash of masters, one lapse decides victory.
Especially with the cultist unleashing breathless barrages after bursting her Demon Blood.
Anyone less than Hongryeon would've cracked already.
But true to her title as senior disciple, she calmly blocked, forcing the enemy to expose herself.
As she parried the onslaught, Hongryeon bit her lip slightly.
Anxiety gnawed: Sayoon and Yuhee battered by the Fire Tiger, me and the chief at risk of death.
She wanted to shove the cultist aside and rush here, but the assault was too fierce.
Maybe that's why the cultist summoned the Fire Tiger—to pin her down.
"Ahahaha!! Come on!? Huh!? Huh!? I'll split that back wide open!!"
...Yeah, that tracks.
Blood Wind led into Gale Wind, Starfall Step trailing after.
The Crimson Star Divine Art's latter sword forms blended seamlessly with the earlier ones, unfolding brilliantly from Yuhee's hands.
The instant the Fire Tiger's flames vanished under it, Sayoon reached out.
Star-Breaking Palm
The star-shattering blow sends the Fire Tiger flying.
But.
- Grrr...
Not yet.
Heavily wounded, maybe, but the Fire Tiger could still fight.
Its fighting spirit, its malice triggered the Crimson Star Divine Art's inner energy surging from her dantian. Racing through her meridians came exhilaration.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
This is power.
- Roooar!!!
Sayoon gripped her sword tighter. The leather hilt stuck to her palm felt good.
"Eek!!"
The Fire Tiger lunged like an arrow, slamming into Yuhee and sending her tumbling with a cry of pain. Then, the ferocious intent possessing Sayoon whispered sweetly.
- You let someone precious get hurt.
So.
- Gonna just stand there?
Yes.
I have to.
Can't stay still.
Entranced, Sayoon glided toward the Fire Tiger with a blank expression.
Star Flow Step
Like stars piercing the heavens.
The Fire Tiger couldn't block her approach.
- Boom!!
Not a palm, but a fist extended.
Crude.
No form, no intent.
Just raw savagery and rage unleashed.
Her dantian energy drained rapidly, but Sayoon didn't care.
More.
Destroy more.
Her eyes grew fiercer. Each impact on the Fire Tiger boomed louder.
It was pushed back.
Relentlessly.
Startled by Sayoon's sudden shift, the Fire Tiger reared its forepaw high and slammed down.
- Boom!!
Flames erupted with the blast. But piercing through came a single fist.
Powerful enough to split the flames, it struck deep, forcing the Fire Tiger to its knees.
Yes. This. This is it. Destruction and violence.
This is what matters most.
...Really?
Beyond the sweet, sticky voice came a heavy word.
Within Sayoon, darkening with cold shadow, a warm starlight pierced the lost path for her.
- Do you even eat properly?
Just one line.
- Call me Uncle.
But so warm, so reassuring.
That gentle, soft line pierced the massive power of ferocious intent, awakening Sayoon's spirit lost in the dark.
- Grrr...
Flames burned in the rising Fire Tiger's eyes.
Yet Sayoon couldn't look away.
Her gaze caught Hongryeon battling the cultist.
Yuhee struck by the Fire Tiger.
And.
Yuwol watching with grave concern.
Seeing them cleared the shadows, revealing the path.
Why am I here?
- To fight.
No.
To protect.
The Crimson Star Divine Art was destructive and mighty.
Ferocious intent reacting to emotions, destroying all—but also divine intent burning itself to safeguard.
But what am I doing now?
Following Crimson Star's spirit to protect?
Or.
Just raging, destroying blindly?
- Go there and get stronger.
An unfamiliar but pleasant voice roused her mind.
- See the Moon, Forget the Finger. Know exactly where to look.
Beyond that voice, a roar. Even as the Fire Tiger taunted to ignite her ferocious intent, Sayoon didn't waver.
She simply clenched her fist lightly, unlike before.
Yes. My path isn't destruction.
One line from the starlight watered the parched earth. Crimson Star's teachings—to burn oneself to guard the world—became her firm pillar.
Amid bursting flames, Sayoon lightly clenched her fist.
She glanced back briefly.
She had to become the Ferocious Star.
But one protecting as Crimson Star.
And.
A Divine Star shielding the powerless watching from behind.
So Sayoon thrust her fist.
Not blind rage like before.
- Boom!!
The Fire Tiger staggered from the blow.
Pursuit came in starlight fists.
One strike. One strike.
Not killing intent, but protective starlight fists flowing like water across the night sky.
Her inner energy, awkward until now, moved naturally.
This is the stars' dance, Crimson Star's true essence.
Drunk on flight-like euphoria, Sayoon swung, and the Fire Tiger's flames began to fade.
Uh... isn't that a bit dangerous?
From the moment Yuhee got knocked back by the Fire Tiger, Sayoon's movements changed.
Destruction. Crimson Star's will vanished from those fists—crude blows solely for ruin kept coming.
Forcing through the flames, Sayoon's body glowed red in patches.
I knew that look.
Qi Deviation.
Losing reason to martial arts, turning demonic.
Damn it. Why now of all times?!
Yuhee noticed too, paling. Hongryeon, mid-fight with the cultist, ground her teeth.
I had to stop it. Or Sayoon would be crippled...
...Huh?
"...Huh?"
Not just me—Yuhee was stunned too.
The destructive fists suddenly shifted.
"Th-that!"
Meteor Fist
Unavoidable, unblockable starlight fists overwhelm the Fire Tiger.
The form stumping Sayoon unfolded from her now.
Yuhee stared blankly, then burst laughing.
"Hahaha! Our little sis! You're amazing!!"
Right? Amazing.
Epiphany in battle? Escaping Qi Deviation no less?
That's why I love Sayoon!!
"Alright!! I'm jumping in!!"
Shaking off the earlier hit, Yuhee charged the Fire Tiger. Unfolding Meteor Fist.
Two meteors swirled, devouring the Fire Tiger.
- Boom!!
As the meteors finished, the Fire Tiger's head drooped.
They watched its massive form dissolve into flames, then collapsed to the ground.
"Hah... hah..."
"Huuu..."
Meteor Fist was a late Crimson Star Divine Art form.
It demanded hefty inner energy.
Plus Sayoon had burned through tons on those reckless punches, and Yuhee still ached from before.
Catching it like that deserved praise.
- Roooar!!!
Then. Its death cry erupted.
Before fully dissolving into flames, the Fire Tiger opened its maw.
A black fireball inside its foul mouth.
Aimed at me—Sayoon and Yuhee squeezed every last drop of strength to rush forward.
As if to shield me with their bodies.
You think I'd let that happen?!
"D-dodge...!!"
Heartbreaking, but ignore it.
I yanked Sayoon and Yuhee back. Low energy and exhaustion? They tumbled powerlessly.
Meanwhile, the fireball closed on my nose.
Then.
One thing to recall.
Softness can redirect a river's force.
Even if that softness holds but a speck of power.
I thrust my right hand—the yang symbol—toward the fireball inches from my face.
- Sizzle.
Flames licked my sleeve, scorching it, but I didn't flinch.
The blaze sought to consume my hand too, but fire can't burn fire.
Though if it'd been a lava orb, different story.
Like that navy uncle said—lava and fire are total opposites!
"Hup!!"
Grabbing the straight flames, I moved my right hand.
Pivoting on my left foot, not resisting the flow, but nudging it with a thread of strength.
- Whoosh!!
Yang met yang, flames intensifying.
No fear needed. Flames burn brightest before dying—most unstable then.
Maintaining pivot, I spun once more. Feeling it grow fiercer, shakier, on the verge of splitting.
Then.
I slid my left hand—the yin symbol—into the blaze.
Yin and yang harmonize into peace.
Tracing the Taiji.
Harmony from both hands transformed the destructive flames into Taiji, fading serenely.
"Whew."
Last time training with Chaejin, blocking her light punch made me think it'd work.
Damn. It actually did.
Chae clan's Subtle Taiji Fist—master instructor.
Can't count past ten, but taught perfectly!!
Black flames and scorch marks etched a Taiji pattern on the ground.
Standing at its center, confirming the Fire Tiger's end, I grinned at the two girls gaping slack-jawed, eyes wide.
"Hot hot hot!"
I patted out the lingering flames on my hem.
Tsk.
Chaejin'd flip if she knew.
Couldn't even block a single fireball properly.
...No extra training sessions, right?