Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: It's Starting Again
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"It's starting again."
Through the Demon Shadow Ghost Squad, Yong-un—the former Sword Demon—had carved out a place for himself within the Heavenly Demon Cult.
He had achieved the impossible, forging a colossal framework that no one else could touch.
And standing at the very end of the Demon Commanders' hierarchy, he had entered secluded cultivation without participating in the ranking wars.
All for revenge against the Vice Cult Leader.
And now, that very same endeavor from back then was unfolding once more in reality.
Not for revenge this time, but to protect his precious family.
"This might actually be fun."
Yong-un, who had absorbed the Unwoo Guild members as his own, stepped out of the office.
Myung-un followed right after him.
"Bro... you sure about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"What you're about to do... it's the same thing you did in that Heavenly Demon Cult, right?"
Myung-un's voice trailed off.
As if he'd just uttered something taboo he shouldn't have.
"Are you worried about me?"
Unlike Myung-un's demeanor, Yong-un flashed a bright smile.
"How could I not be... Those are memories you hate, aren't they?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Worry.
The warmth of it—something he'd never felt in his entire life—made Yong-un burst into loud laughter.
He ruffled Myung-un's hair.
"Don't worry. This is the happiest memory among all the ones I hated. And it's for my family—how could I refuse, no matter how tough it gets?"
"Bro..."
"I'm thrilled. So thrilled I wonder if it's even allowed! So tell everyone to show up on time tomorrow. Anyone late gets cut."
"Got it..."
"Hahahahaha!"
At Myung-un's hesitant tone, Yong-un laughed heartily once more.
With a faint breeze, Yong-un's figure vanished from the spot.
The conversation in the office must have dragged on.
By the time Yong-un got home, Sword Tiger was waiting for him.
"I did as you asked, but you sure kept me waiting."
Judging by the darkening sky, it had been quite a while.
"We'll start right now. Find a gate nearby and head there."
"Why a gate all of a sudden?"
"If we do it here, the surrounding buildings will all get wrecked."
Yong-un smiled and lightly summoned then dispersed his demonic qi.
Black haze rose around him, cracking the ground where he stood.
Kr-r-rack.
"Ah... There's one reserved for clearing tonight nearby..."
"That's the one."
With those words, Yong-un disappeared.
But sensing the faint presence, Sword Tiger frowned and shook his head.
"Damn it, why rush off without even knowing where it is?"
As soon as Sword Tiger appeared, the guards at the gate bowed deeply and let them through.
Man, power really is nice.
No paperwork checks—the gate stood wide open. Yong-un clicked his tongue and stepped inside.
The scenery shifted instantly, monsters visible all around.
Sword Tiger glanced at them and drew his sword.
"Let's clear them out first."
"Hold on."
Sword Tiger, who had tensed up, looked at Yong-un.
"I'll show you the martial art you'll learn against these things. Watch closely."
Yong-un, eyes on Sword Tiger, shifted his gaze to the monsters and stepped forward.
He extended his hand toward Sword Tiger, and the sword—gripped tightly in Sword Tiger's hand—flew straight to Yong-un as if it had a mind of its own.
Catching the fast-flying blade without even looking, Yong-un ignored Sword Tiger's shock and drew up his demonic qi.
"My martial art has no name. The man who created it died mastering it without ever naming it."
Demonic qi swirled like a storm, enveloping the blade.
It resembled the sword qi Sword Tiger had seen, but something was different—black light gleamed along the entire edge.
"What you'll learn is one of the five forms I possess."
"Krrk!"
Sensing Yong-un's approach, the monsters' eyes lit up.
Bipedal crocodile-like monsters clutching weapons emerged from the surrounding brush, charging at him.
"The second form: Flowing Qi Strike."
"Krarrak!"
The crocodile monsters closed in right up to him.
Five of them raised their stone mauls skyward, roaring as if to smash down on Yong-un.
That was when it happened.
Thud-thud-thud.
The five holding their mauls split diagonally, blood spraying everywhere.
"...!?"
Sword Tiger's eyes went wide.
When had he even swung?
There had been no movement.
Yet as Yong-un walked casually, approaching monsters cleaved in two, blood gushing.
"Within Flowing Qi Strike are two sword techniques. This is called One Kill."
Gulp.
Sword Tiger swallowed dryly.
He couldn't look away.
His eyes sparkled like a boy's full of curiosity, peering into another world.
"Next, the final technique of Flowing Qi Strike: Myriad Kill."
Terrified, the crocodile monsters glanced at each other.
But instinct overrode fear. Dozens charged, radiating killing intent.
With roars like screams, they leaped, mauls raised, about to crush Yong-un completely.
Crackle.
That was when it happened.
Yong-un moved his sword.
Unlike before, it was slow enough for Sword Tiger to see clearly.
But the difference: black sparks flickered along its path.
"Krarrarrarak!"
"Krrarrarak!"
The sparks were faint at first.
But as the sword swung faster, they multiplied dramatically.
Flash!
And in the end—
Like black lightning striking from the heavens, a massive bolt of dark thunder pierced through the dozens of monsters.
Crackle-crackle.
Sparks danced continuously from the blade's tip, even after it stopped—an immense surge of thunder qi.
"Keh!"
The monsters spewed black smoke from their gaping mouths.
Thud. Thud. Boom-boom-boom.
They plummeted from the sky, lifeless.
Over thirty monsters, gone in just two swings.
"Ahh..."
A deep breath escaped Sword Tiger.
An involuntary cheer, sending chills across his entire body.
What had he just witnessed?
"Is that... the pinnacle of the sword...?"
If there was an end to the sword he pursued, he could call it that. Ecstasy bordering on madness pounded in his chest.
But words that shook his heart even more came next.
"The sword has no end. Even I haven't found it—it's as vast as the sea. Shall I show you the next?"
"Th-there's more?!"
Yong-un nodded lightly.
The brush he eyed rustled, revealing a three-meter crocodile monster.
Far larger than the others, faint demonic qi around it.
Anybody could tell it was the gate's boss—it bellowed deafeningly.
"Krarrarrarrak!!!!"
The air vibrated from its roar. Yong-un gripped his sword tighter.
"Watch closely. The third form: Soul-Seeking Sever."
As the words rang out, Yong-un's eyes changed.
His stance lowered, legs spread.
The sword at his waist looked sheathed.
Demonic qi haze vibrated wildly around him.
The space rippled, and the sword swept horizontally in a massive arc.
Whoooosh!
Though sharp enough to cleave wind, a fierce gust followed.
Along the sword's path, a crescent of red smoke-like energy sliced through the boss.
"What...?"
The sword qi had passed clean through.
But the boss kept walking unscathed.
For a moment.
Boom!
It staggered, head slamming into the ground.
He'd expected more, but nothing followed.
Crackle.
Instead, the sky cracked, signaling the gate's clearance.
Sword Tiger's expression hardened at the fracturing gate.
No blood, no severed limbs.
A death without change, like natural expiration.
A quiet, horrifying pinnacle of swordsmanship—vanishing without knowing its end.
"Am I dreaming...?"
Sword Tiger's face stayed frozen.
The transcendent technique shattered sword norms; his mind reeled in chaos.
"Here."
Yong-un handed the sword back.
Sword Tiger took it, inspecting the blade he'd wielded his whole life.
"Fine sword. Let's go."
The unchanged blade left him reeling from the shock.
"That wasn't some skill of yours or anything, was it?"
Outside the gate, Sword Tiger still couldn't believe it.
Hunters' unique skills explained the impossible swordplay otherwise.
But Yong-un's calm voice shattered that.
"What's a skill?"
"Ah..."
He didn't even know what a skill was.
"The unique abilities every hunter has... like magic or whatever..."
"No idea. All I know is the sword and how to wield it properly."
"Ah..."
Pure swordsmanship.
Everything he'd just seen, inexplicable even by magic.
It hit like a hammer to the head, stunning him.
The sword in his hand felt like someone else's.
But soon, the chills and shock gave way to excitement flooding his chest.
"I... I can learn that swordsmanship you used?"
"You can. Everything of mine must be the best. I'll make you that way."
"I... I can do it..."
"Soul-Seeking Sever might be tough. But one thing's certain: follow me right, and in this S-Rank hunter competition, I'll have you master one of Flowing Qi Strike's techniques."
One Kill or Myriad Kill.
Just one would make him far stronger.
Golden Tiger and Sword Dragon would be no threat.
"I'll do it! Anything! I'll stake everything on you! Teach me, I beg you!"
That was enough.
Sword Tiger bowed deeply to Yong-un.
Then prostrated himself, shouting loudly.
"Make me yours!! No—make me yours, I beseech you!"
Yong-un smiled faintly at the sight.