Chapter 32: Karmic Reversal Cult (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32: Karmic Reversal Cult (5)
Her eyes, cold and dark, were exceptionally black.
Lee Se-ha lowered her sword, glaring at the Karmic Reversal Cult Leader.
"Am I too late?" she asked.
Namgung Jun spat out a mouthful of black blood as he spoke. It was a substantial amount, but he straightened his back as if it were nothing.
"No. Barely a quarter-hour has passed."
Though Lee Se-ha's gaze remained fixed on the enemy, her warm voice gently soothed Namgung Jun.
"My disciple, you have executed your mission flawlessly."
After encouraging her disciple, the master took a great stride forward. Her steps, accompanied by violently surging Thunder Qi, mercilessly tore through the air.
"Now, leave the rest to your master."
"Yes, Master."
Enveloped in Thunder Qi, she used her Infinite Steps to rush straight toward the Karmic Reversal Cult Leader. The furious wave of her footwork was as sharp as a bolt of lightning.
"Karmic Reversal Cult Leader. Or perhaps you’re more accustomed to your alias, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon?"
At Lee Se-ha's words, which had instantly exposed his identity, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon roared.
"You dug into my past! You attack dogs for the Azure Heaven Association!"
The Moon-Defying Blade Demon tried to strike first, but Lee Se-ha had already seized the initiative.
Rumble!
Accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder, the forms of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique unleashed fiercely.
Startled, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon hurriedly lowered his stance and raised his straight blade, but a sword strike lunging from the left violently shook his weapon.
‘The Black Cloud Wandering Maiden! Of all people, why her?!’
Pushed back two steps, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon unleashed a succession of heavy, powerful forms to regain his momentum.
But Lee Se-ha did not retreat. Instead, she executed an Earth-Trembling Stomp and thrust her sword repeatedly.
In a single breath, she delivered over twenty thrusts, laying all of the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's vital points bare.
Crash!
As if his blade alone wasn't enough, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon unleashed a barrage of fist-shadows with his free left hand, barely managing to deflect her sword.
Yet, there was no time for him to catch his breath.
Multiple nets woven from overflowing Thunder Qi tore the forms of his Moon-Chant Scattering Saber to shreds.
The Moon-Defying Blade Demon's expression stiffened as his robes were slashed to ribbons in an instant. He immediately tried to retreat, but Lee Se-ha gave him no opening.
Catching up to him in a single bound, she thrust her sword deep. The strike targeted his solar plexus, forcing the Moon-Defying Blade Demon to desperately twist his chest away.
Having cornered the Moon-Defying Blade Demon, Lee Se-ha relentlessly targeted his left shoulder. She had perceived that his left side was relatively weak.
‘An injury to his left shoulder, yet his Protective Astral Qi is intact. Is it an Internal Heavy Hand Technique? But how did he bypass the Protective Astral Qi?’
As she assessed the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's condition, Lee Se-ha felt a growing sense of wonder.
It appeared Namgung Jun had faced this man alone; simply holding his ground would have been an astonishing feat. Yet, he had clearly managed to land a successful counterattack.
It was a strike that was only possible with exceptionally profound skill—something a mere Peak Expert could not even attempt. It would only be possible by achieving the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, where one’s internal energy responds instantly to their intent.
‘Jun always manages to surprise me.’
The fact that Namgung Jun had accomplished this meant he possessed a heaven-sent intuition and talent.
Sensing her disciple's genius once more, Lee Se-ha thrust her sword forward.
Thud!
Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique.
Twin-Pronged Striking Thunder.
Splitting into two paths, the sword strikes descended diagonally, shining as brilliantly as falling lightning. As a deafening clap of thunder erupted, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's Protective Astral Qi shattered into dust.
‘Jun worked so hard to create this opening.’
As his master, there would be nothing more shameful than letting this fight drag on.
Lee Se-ha's blade plunged vertically into the left shoulder of the Karmic Reversal Cult Leader—the very spot Namgung Jun had injured with his Internal Heavy Hand Technique.
Splat!
With that, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's left arm flew into the air.
As his body staggered, spraying blood everywhere, Lee Se-ha unleashed a sword strike so fierce it violently whipped her sleeves back.
"Ugh!"
Defending against the sword with a panicked expression, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's movements grew increasingly tangled.
"Black Cloud Wandering Maiden. How dare you! To me!"
"And who do you think you are?"
Crack!
Lee Se-ha's cold voice pierced the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's entire body like a blade. The sound of his Protective Astral Qi crumbling to pieces was a satisfying bonus.
Slash!
Slicing horizontally across his left flank and chest before plunging her sword into his thigh, Lee Se-ha readjusted her grip on her weapon.
"If only I had succeeded in this task, the rank of Bright Mirror Master would have been—!"
Lee Se-ha didn't bother listening to the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's dying words. A single horizontal slash cleanly severed his neck. Crackling lightning intertwined violently in all directions.
With a look of bitter resentment, the Moon-Defying Blade Demon's head fell to the ground with a thud.
‘If not for Jun, I would have had to exchange at least thirty more blows.’
Having decapitated the Moon-Defying Blade Demon, Lee Se-ha turned, searching for her disciple.
*
Boom!
"It sounds like something is happening outside."
"It seems that boy from earlier has started something."
"But what can he possibly do alone?"
Every time a loud explosion or scream echoed from outside the dungeon, the commoners flinched. The martial artists tried to feign composure, but their complexions were just as grim.
Those imprisoned briefly harbored a sliver of hope, but they soon shook their heads in self-deprecation. No matter how they thought about it, the task was impossible. On the surface, the Karmic Reversal Cult disguised itself as an ordinary religion, but its ranks were filled with cultists trained in martial arts.
The boy's slaying of the Dharma Master was certainly extraordinary, but it wasn't enough to take on the entire Karmic Reversal Cult.
"From what… I can see," a cracked, halting voice echoed from the deepest part of the dungeon. At this, the other prisoners fell silent.
He was the oldest survivor in this dungeon, rumored to have once made quite a name for himself in the Jianghu.
"The sword skill that child displayed… was extraordinary. He did not look like a mere wandering warrior. Let us wait."
With the old man's words, the dungeon fell into silence.
Although he had tried to comfort them, a negative atmosphere inevitably lingered. Nevertheless, no one took their eyes off the iron gate. It represented what they all yearned for—a life lived as a human being, not as livestock barely surviving as prey for the cultists.
Thud!
A loud explosion erupted near the iron gate. The prisoners tensed.
Clang!
With a harsh metallic screech, the iron gate began to open.
Perhaps the sun had already risen, for a brilliant white light flooded through the gap like a wave of silk. The sunlight was so dazzling that the prisoners couldn't open their eyes properly. They couldn't immediately tell whether the person entering was the boy or the cultists.
It was then.
A sharp, blade-like nose bridge parted the curtain of sunlight.
"Everyone."
The boy's clear, resonant voice refreshed the stale air of the dungeon.
"I have come to keep my promise."
Namgung Jun's blood-stained sword gleamed with a flawlessly sharp edge. That edge was aimed at the dungeon's lock.
Slash!
"Take my hand."
Even as his own body trembled, Namgung Jun supported the commoners trapped inside, helping them escape.
"Thank you… truly."
"I only did what had to be done."
"What is your name?"
"I am Namgung Jun."
"Namgung… Jun. I will remember it."
After helping even the old man from the deepest part of the dungeon outside, Namgung Jun surveyed his surroundings.
Swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall were scattered in all directions, subduing the Karmic Reversal Cultists. Some were securing documents that appeared to link the Karmic Reversal Cult to the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.
With this, the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult branch that had been secretly taking root in Anhui Province could be completely eradicated.
*
Overnight, the Karmic Reversal Cult Headquarters was reduced to ruin.
The commoners were startled by the sight, but they were even more shocked by the rumors that followed.
"How could this be? The Karmic Reversal Cult was an evil cult?"
"I can't believe it."
"But with all this evidence…"
The truth was revealed: the Karmic Reversal Cult was an evil organization, and the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult was behind it. Along with various documents, testimonies poured in from the commoners and martial artists who had been imprisoned inside.
"To think that exchanging karma was actually them stealing our essence!"
"Will we be alright?"
To the bewildered commoners, Lee Se-ha said, "Our association has gathered all the physicians in the vicinity. You will be able to receive medical examinations free of charge."
Lee Se-ha used the wealth and food found at the Karmic Reversal Cult Headquarters to pay the physicians to care for the commoners' health. Though their essence had been stolen by the Star-Absorbing Great Art, if it was only a small amount, medicinal herbs and time would heal them.
Lee Se-ha and the Heavenly Sword Hall comforted the commoners, who were in turmoil after learning the truth about the Karmic Reversal Cult.
"Jun, are your wounds alright?"
"An injury of this level is common. I am fine."
Lee Se-ha gently caressed Namgung Jun's shoulder.
"The sword wound seemed quite deep, though."
"I dealt with it quickly, so it is fine."
"I am proud of you."
Lee Se-ha's eyelids lowered slightly. Injuries were a common occurrence for a martial artist. Even so, her heart ached whenever other members of the hall returned injured. For her disciple, the feeling was even stronger. She couldn't bring herself to look away.
‘I hope he isn't just hiding his pain.’
It was then that Namgung Jun, who had been staring at her for a moment, slowly sat down.
"I must perform Qi Circulation. Master, could I ask you to guard me?"
Had he noticed her concern?
Lee Se-ha smiled gently at the sight of Namgung Jun awkwardly letting her in.
"Of course. Your master will make sure no one touches my disciple."
Namgung Jun immediately began his Qi Circulation.
Having consumed the Solar Fire Internal Core, he had pierced the first acupoint of his Nine Yin Severed Meridian. Although some of that energy had inevitably dissipated during his life-and-death battle with the Moon-Defying Blade Demon, he still needed to gather the energy remaining in his meridians.
As his Qi Circulation continued, Namgung Jun soon entered the depths of his mindscape.
Reaching the Peak Realm meant that the mindscape, which served as the foundation of one's martial path, had been established.
Namgung Jun faced the mindscape of his current life.
"……."
He looked at the devastating sight before him. It was exactly the same as the dream he’d had before.
The final battle of his past life.
The surroundings were filled with the corpses of his disciples, and the blood-soaked ground was muddy and wet.
Meanwhile, a clear, blue sky stretched high above the blood-red field.
Heaven and earth were in complete contrast.
"Am I still unable to let go?"
His guilt and regret for his disciples.
His resentment and hatred for the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.
His anguish over the choice he made that day.
All of these had gathered to create his current mindscape.
"My disciples. I will move forward."
With unwavering integrity. He had to become someone he would not be ashamed to be in front of his disciples.
"Watch over me."
Namgung Jun made a vow.
A day would come when he would change this devastating mindscape. Only on that day would he truly be able to face his disciples.
Having finished his Qi Circulation, Namgung Jun opened his eyes.
"Jun, have you gathered all your energy?"
"As expected of Young Hero Namgung. You have truly accomplished a great feat."
"Namgung Jun. I owe you one."
Upon opening his eyes, he saw Lee Se-ha and the other swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall standing guard, waiting for him. The sight of the Heavenly Sword Hall protecting him like a sturdy wall filled his vision.
Though his disciples were gone, he now had a master and new comrades by his side.
Lee Se-ha, who was closest to him, reached out her hand.
"Let us return. To the clan manor."
"Yes, Master."
The disciple grasped his master's hand without hesitation.
It was a soft, warm touch.