The Sword Sovereign's Wrath
At the moment Baekri Hyeong unleashed Hyeonmu Gangrim, he realized the truth. Ah, this was not a technique he could wield yet. To properly execute the final form of the Hyeonmu Pae Sword itself, one needed the Transcendent Peak Realm. Yet he had attempted to use it while still at the Peak Realm. The instant he swung his sword with full force, regret followed. The Hyeonmu Gangrim that descended upon Baekri Hyang carried none of the indestructible power that was the technique's fundamental essence. It was nothing more than a raw mass of internal energy.
Baekri Hyeong had naturally expected his defeat. There was no way his elder sister would fail to deflect something like that. What he had not anticipated, however, was that Baekri Hyang would employ the Baekri Yeomje Sword — Blue Flame.
"What…?"
How could someone who had only recently reached adulthood have already perfected a sword art that others completed only after turning thirty? Perhaps the true prodigy was not himself, but his sister. As that thought crossed his mind, he felt cold metal press against his neck. Baekri Hyang had shattered the Hyeonmu Gangrim and now held her blade to his throat. It was an utter defeat. Even if he could have won by fully mastering the Hyeonmu Pae Sword, he could not. Until he broke through the wall of the Transcendent Peak Realm, he would never surpass the current Baekri Hyang.
"You are truly remarkable, Sister. As expected of the youngest Sword Phoenix."
"…Go."
"Pardon?"
"With this level of skill, you won't be getting beaten up wherever you go. So leave."
Baekri Hyang had decided to permit Baekri Hyeong's journey to the Black Tiger Sword Sect. After personally assessing her younger brother's abilities, she judged that he would manage. Though she told him not to get beaten, the truth was that he possessed the strength to do the beating himself. She could let him go without hesitation.
"But if it feels dangerous, get out immediately. Understood?"
"Understood. Then… I will be off!"
Having received permission, Baekri Hyeong bowed with a bright expression to express his gratitude. How could he wear such a face when he was heading out to kill? She had hoped he would never walk the path of slaughter, but…
"The moment he entered the world of Murim… that hope was already lost."
Ever since Baekri Hyang had seen her brother return one dark night reeking of blood, she had begun to support his choices. She would not question the absurd level of swordsmanship he had displayed today either. After all, Baekri Hyeong would always be her proud younger brother.
**********
KWAAAAAANG!!
"Intruder! Stop him!"
"It's the Sword Sovereign!"
"What?! Why is the Sword Sovereign here?"
"Shut the hell up and fight! The Sword Sovereign is invading!"
The Black Tiger Sword Sect's main compound descended into utter chaos. A massive explosion had erupted without warning, and the Sword Sovereign, radiating thick killing intent, was now striding forward. Every martial artist in the sect rushed out to block him, yet none could draw their swords.
"Move. If you do not, you will all die."
"Ugh…"
"Krrgh…!"
More precisely, they could not even keep their bodies upright. Baekri Hyeok's overwhelming true energy was crushing them. It was a power worthy of one of the Five Sovereigns of Murim, dominating the entire space. In the eyes of the enraged Sword Sovereign, there was not a trace of mercy.
"Take me to your sect leader. If you do not, I will slaughter every last one of you."
"A-attack!"
Puhwaaaak!
One man, overcoming his terror, gave the order to his subordinates. He met his end as Baekri Hyeok's gesture caused his head to burst. With nothing more than a flick of his hand, the Sword Sovereign had killed a martial artist. The man who had just died had been a Peak Realm expert at the pinnacle of mastery—someone who should never have perished so meaninglessly. A man who could slay even Peak Realm masters with a mere gesture was now searching for the Black Tiger Sword Sect's leader in genuine fury.
Only then did the sect's martial artists understand. Today was the day the Black Tiger Sword Sect would be annihilated.
Step. Step.
It sounded like the footsteps of the grim reaper. No one spoke. No one moved from where they stood. This space existed solely for the Sword Sovereign, Baekri Hyeok.
"I told you to guide me to your sect leader. Do you all wish to die?"
"A-ahead! Just go straight ahead!!"
Finally, one martial artist, unable to endure the terror, began giving detailed directions. It was an act of betrayal committed right before everyone's eyes, yet none of the fear-stricken disciples blamed him. They felt only relief. If someone had not stepped forward to explain, another would surely have died.
Following the disciple's guidance, Baekri Hyeok arrived at the heart of the compound.
"Are you the Black Tiger Sword Sect's leader?"
"…For the esteemed Sword Sovereign, busy with countless affairs, to grace this humble place with his presence, this lowly one can only feel grateful."
"I will ask once. Was the massacre of commoners last night carried out by your sect?"
"If you are referring to the unusual incident last night, then yes. However, the massacre of commoners was not our doing."
The Black Tiger Sword Sect leader responded smoothly, as though he had anticipated this situation. It was Baekri Hyeok who found himself taken aback.
"What?"
"We are victims in this matter as well. We were told to resolve it quietly, without anyone knowing… yet in the end, things have come to this."
"In other words, you are involved in this incident."
"That is correct, Sword Sovereign."
"Are you toying with me?"
Kugugugugugu.
Baekri Hyeok's eyes flashed, and the surrounding space began to distort. His overwhelming true energy stirred the air and raised the atmospheric pressure. As expected of one of the Five Sovereigns of Murim. The Black Tiger Sword Sect leader, enduring that immense power, continued speaking with a forced smile.
"I do not know how much you are aware of, Sword Sovereign. However, we happen to know quite a great deal."
"If you intend to speak in riddles, I will simply kill you."
"You could kill me, could you not?"
"You bastard!!"
The instant Baekri Hyeok took a single step forward, the sect leader's figure vanished like a mirage, replaced by numerous assassins clad in blood-red robes. At the same time, a dizzying scent of blood assaulted his nose. These were undoubtedly the highest-grade assassins among those who had devoted everything to killing.
"Did you truly believe mere assassins could stop me?"
"They are no ordinary assassins. These are killers from the Salma Sect."
"Salma Sect…? The Demonic Cult!?"
"Correct. Therefore, you must die here, Sword Sovereign!"
Leaving behind the sect leader's voice, which came from an unknown location, the assassins of the Salma Sect—the birthplace of all the Demonic Cult's killers—charged at Baekri Hyeok in unison.
"How foolish."
…!
Tuquaaaaang!!
When Baekri Hyeok raised his leg and brought down the building, the shockwave sent the entire assassin unit flying outside. A structure that appeared to be at least six stories tall collapsed like paper, and the assassins either had their bodies destroyed by the rubble or landed safely outside by stepping on the debris. Yet they swallowed dryly and waited for Baekri Hyeok to appear. As expected of one of the Five Sovereigns of Murim. He was not an opponent to be taken lightly. To think a single kick could reduce such a massive building to that state.
"Approach slowly—"
Puhwaaaak!
Just as one of the assassin leaders signaled to tighten the encirclement, a sword qi burst from the pile of rubble and shattered his skull. The startled assassins steadied themselves and charged at Baekri Hyeok all at once, but he was already watching them with cold eyes, as though he had predicted everything.
'One hundred… no, around one hundred and fifty?'
Even a Hwagyeong expert would struggle to escape from this many professional assassins. But Baekri Hyeok was a Hyeongyeong master—one of only five Five Sovereigns in all of Murim. Dealing with a mere hundred and fifty assassins? It was child's play.
"It seems the Demonic Cult has greatly underestimated the strength of the Central Plains."
"He's about to move! Stop him!"
"Burn this sight into your eyes. The Central Plains is not weak."
Uuuuuuung.
When Baekri Hyeok hurled his sword into the sky, the assassins gritted their teeth and rushed toward him. He was attempting to use the Flying Sword Technique. If they struck now, before his true energy had fully connected, they could still win.
"The Heavenly Demon descends! The Demonic Path returns!!"
"The Heavenly Demon descends! The Demonic Path returns!!"
"The Heavenly Demon descends—"
The moment the assassins charged forward, each shouting the name of the god they worshipped in a suicidal assault, Baekri Hyeok's eyes flashed.
Swaeaeaeaeaeaeak!!
From the sword floating in midair through the Flying Sword Technique, black sword qi erupted and bisected every single assassin. With a single sword, the battle had ended.
"The Indestructible Sword… Not bad."
The sword art Baekri Hyeok had just used was a new technique he had created after observing his son's sparring match—the Baekri Bulgoe Sword. It was, of course, incomplete. He still could not grasp how to properly infuse the principle of indestructibility. Yet the meaning behind the name pleased him greatly.
Baekri does not fall.
Was that not a truly beautiful sentiment?