Chapter 389: Do It Again
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Ripples spread in Hu-ra’s hazy pupils, devoid of any human vitality.
‘Cheol Ryu-heun!’
She recognized instantly who he was.
It was natural.
It would be strange not to know.
The outward features captured in her eyes were clearly telling it was White Peak Sword Sect Master.
No, even just looking at the horse he rode with its excessive muscular black mane, one could tell.
That he was Cheol Ryu-heun, the protagonist whose fame soared beyond the heavens after annihilating the Sun Moon Demonic Cult.
Hu-ra flicked her tongue and wore an alluring smile as she spoke.
“Hmm… I didn’t know I’d meet you this quickly. Do I look unappetizing? No, that thinking will change.”
Then she spread open the front of her silk garment to both sides.
Her softly swaying breasts became half-exposed.
It was blatant seductive demonic allure.
It seemed any ordinary man couldn’t resist the temptation of that cleavage.
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun still had emotionless, unfeeling eyes.
As always.
He had only just today realized he had been a person.
His self before the Divine Martial Sword was the supreme military general of an ancient empire.
However, even that past failed to create mental agitation.
The foremost mental power of all time, perhaps.
It was a spirit tempered over a lengthy time.
A mental discipline and soul built as solidly as iron walls.
He had even glimpsed the domain surmised to be the Great Universe in connection with the second Shattering-the-Void Realm.
How could such a past make his heart waver?
It was mental power that had been repeatedly strengthened without rest, running toward only the wanderer as a goal.
No one could collapse his mental discipline.
Even the incarnations of agony couldn’t do what was impossible.
Having already completed the extreme of an unmoving mind, perfect indifference.
Whether the past history was tragic or whatever, in that heart of his, there was not even a handful of wavering.
It was mental discipline that would remain largely unchanged even if he faced the wanderer.
He had been a person of flesh and blood, but the life spent as a sword was longer.
That’s right.
He had come to know he was a person long ago, but now he was no longer a person in a sense.
He had sublimated into some transcendent existence of the beyond, not belonging to the mortal realm, like other divine beings.
A human made of flesh and blood, yet what was inside was different, like a divine being.
Perhaps it was a path of fate foretold from the moment he possessed a miraculous body unprecedented in a thousand years of martial history.
All of that was being revealed on his face.
With eyes more indifferent than before, Cheol Ryu-heun stepped down to the ground.
“Everyone, please go quickly.”
It was a voice directed at the allied party behind him.
Meaning he would handle it alone.
At that, Byeok Song-ha had not even a moment’s hesitation in her answer.
“Yes! Then we’ll hurry to that place.”
She had heard and knew well.
That the so-called special abilities and martial prowess possessed by the Three Spirits were of a different caliber.
Yet there was no sign of worry in her expression.
It was an attitude proving firm trust in Cheol Ryu-heun.
Byeok Song-ha soon gave a hand signal and pivoted her body.
“Come! Everyone, let’s go!”
Simultaneously, the Orthodox-Unorthodox martial artist party including Dokgo In-wang, Byeok Woo-ham, and Ji Jang-jong swiftly turned around.
Red Wall Gate Master Yeon San-bak, who was following behind, clicked his tongue in amazement.
‘Hah! Remarkable. They seem to absolutely trust Sect Master Cheol’s martial prowess. It would make sense to at least tell him to be careful…!’
As those personnel were receding to the distant rear.
-Kwakwakwakwakwang…!
A faint echo that seemed like something exploding greatly was heard from afar.
It seemed to be the direction where Gun Mu-ak was.
Hu-ra, who heard that, flashed her eyes.
“Huhut. I want to go that way too, but… your blood draws me more.”
However, Cheol Ryu-heun completely ignored her.
Pretending not to hear, he just glanced at Divine Wind.
“Go wait over there.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun gestured with his chin, Divine Wind vanished with a HWIK!
“I hear the Great Sword Tyrant Lord had a hard time?”
With his gaze fixed forward, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent reply.
“Speak properly. It’s not that he had a hard time – he tucked tail and ran away.”
“Ohohoht! Right, right. Your words are correct. Then how about now? Do you think I’m the same as him?”
Hu-ra mocked while drawing up her Internal energy to the fullest.
KUKUKU, KUKUKUKU…
In an instant, the air became heavy.
UWOONG, JJEOJJEOK…
Atmospheric vibration along with even ground cracking.
It felt as if suffocating extreme-level powerful cultivation was being released even though it wasn’t a dark night.
The pressure accompanying the Formless Energy was truly terrifying.
That alone made it clear.
Why the Three Spirits were the leadership.
The violent Internal energy Hu-ra was operating made her silk dress flutter.
“This body is different from Sun Moon Demon Saint or Great Sword Tyrant Lord and such.”
Desire for conquest and domination could be glimpsed in her seductive expression.
No.
Perhaps it was more accurate to call it lust for conquest and domination.
She had picked a fight provocatively from the moment they faced each other.
How could she avoid it?
She was nominally the highest-level leadership within the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
Accordingly, it was only proper to play along with that fellow.
Also, she would definitely sink her fangs into that body to taste fresh, hot blood.
TSEUTSEUTSEU, TSEUTSEUTSEUTSEU…
Hazy gray energy wrapped around her nine cheok body.
“My heart has been pounding. Thinking about how good Cheol Ryu-heun’s blood will taste…”
A dark green light welled up in Hu-ra’s two eyes.
It was a signal of special ability added to her personal Internal energy.
What she hadn’t displayed against Son Ja-ryong she faced earlier…
In other words, it was proof that she wasn’t underestimating Cheol Ryu-heun.
That’s why she was operating massive cultivation from the start.
“After overpowering you with strength and setting you on my knee… I’ll drink blood to my heart’s content and play with you. Child.”
No sooner had Hu-ra’s words ended than Cheol Ryu-heun drew his sword.
SEUREUREUNG.
Thick sharpness flowed along the blue, elegant blade of the Gan Jiang Sword.
Hu-ra was inwardly somewhat surprised.
‘An outstanding famous sword.’
It didn’t seem to be a divine weapon vessel, but it was no ordinary blade.
However.
Her body was incomparably stronger than famous swords and treasured swords.
She had achieved enhancement through Heretic Cult sorcery on top of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan’s unique physical abilities.
Hence, she was confident.
Unless it was the strongest using the Divine Martial Sword, there was no case where her body would be injured…
Yet that thinking crumbled.
PIIT… CHWAHAAT!
In the blink of an eye, Cheol Ryu-heun compressed the distance and slashed Hu-ra’s left shoulder with the Gan Jiang Sword.
Blood sprayed up in a thin line.
It was shallow.
Only the flesh was slightly cut.
But Hu-ra’s gaze shook intensely.
If she hadn’t instinctively pulled back, her shoulder would have been completely chopped off.
PAT, PAPAT, PAT…
She retreated in succession, kicking off the ground.
“This…!”
Rage and trembling intersected.
How could this be?
It had been a simple one-second sword stance.
Just a fast slash.
Yet sword power surpassing the function possessed by Hu-ra’s body surged at extreme speed, inscribing a wound.
Cheol Ryu-heun, standing in place, spoke languidly.
“Your blood scent is particularly foul.”
The enraged Hu-ra immediately operated extreme cultivation.
She realized in that one second.
That this was an opponent to give her all.
He wasn’t one to hold back power against.
‘You unleashed extreme cultivation from the start! Huhut, fine. I’ll use maximum power equally!’
PIIT, PIPIT… TUK, TUTUK…
Her already pale skin became even paler.
And throughout her body, greenish blood vessels protruded.
The mystical application of true physical enhancement.
As if to say the real martial prowess starts now.
“Do it again!”
Hu-ra, having flashed with eye-light, charged like lightning.
KKWANG… !
A body movement that outpaced the sound of kicking the ground.
Thus charging forward, she then somersaulted through the air and leaped.
CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU… !
Along with a creepy sound, a large, pitch-black strand fell downward.
It was precisely Hu-ra’s hair.
JJEOJEOJEOJEOJEONG!
The moment Cheol Ryu-heun swung his sword to deflect all the hair masses descending from above.
HWIREEK, HWIREEREEK, HWIREEK… !
The hair extended in strands and wrapped around Cheol Ryu-heun’s arms.
‘Huhut!’
Having laughed inwardly, Hu-ra’s hair contracted.
JJUUUUUUUUUOOOK… !
Naturally, her body descended as if compressing the gap.
HUUWOONG!
Hu-ra’s double palms, having descended across the void, struck his chest.
PEOHEOEONG… !
A pair of heavy palm powers struck Cheol Ryu-heun’s middle dantian and exploded.
DEOLKEOK!
At that heavy force, Cheol Ryu-heun’s body rocked back and forth.
However, he couldn’t retreat.
Because Hu-ra’s hair was wrapped around his arms, holding fast.
Both fists flew repeatedly into his chest.
PEOGEOK, PEOGEOEOK, PEOGEOK… KKWAANG, KKWAANG, KKWAANG… !
It was power enough to cave in bones.
No matter that his martial uniform was made from the shed skin of the Blood Tree Black Divine Python.
Thus, more than twenty heavy punches struck the middle dantian, bursting with explosive sounds.
PEOPEOK, PEOK, PEOPEOK, PEOK… KKWAKWANG, KWANG, KKWAKWANG, KWANG…!
Was he helpless because his body was bound?
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun’s expression was still the same as at first.
Abruptly.
SYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUT… PEOPEOPEEOEOPEOPEONG!
With clamorous explosions, Hu-ra flew rearward.
With chunks of hair torn out.
“Keo!”
Having let out a short groan, Hu-ra crashed into a dead tree.
KKUKKUNG… WAJIJIK… !
In an instant, she had retreated three Zhang.
By the Formless Energy Cheol Ryu-heun released from his whole body.
He was unscathed.
There wasn’t even a trace of impact on his chest.
Ripples arose in Hu-ra’s dark green pupils upon confirming that.
‘H-how can this be…!’
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice came across the distance.
“Do it again.”
Words returning the same.
Hu-ra, fuming, immediately advanced.
Simultaneously, the torn hair rapidly regenerated.
Befitting a bizarre woman of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, it was truly a strange ability.
The hair extended like countless blades, swift.
CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU, CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU… !
Cheol Ryu-heun facing that, wielding the Gan Jiang Sword wildly.
CHAECHAECHAECHAECHAENG, CHAECHAECHAECHAECHAECHAENG… !
Amidst metallic sounds and sparks flying.
HUUUUUUUUWOONG… !
Hu-ra’s left palm surged fiercely, targeting his side.
A skill of distracting the opponent’s attention with the hair offense then exquisitely exploiting openings.
But.
‘At!’
The moment the left palm neared the side, it abruptly slowed.
Then it promptly stopped.
Shudder, shudder…
Though she strained with veins bulging, the palm didn’t move.
She couldn’t push in further.
Blocked.
Before the transparent energy barrier that Cheol Ryu-heun had released at some point…
Suddenly.
TUTUTUTUTUK, TUTUTUTUTUTUTUK… !
The sound of hair being mercilessly severed rang out.
Simultaneously.
SYUKAAAAK… !
The Gan Jiang Sword traced an arc toward Hu-ra’s wrist.
KKAAANG… CHYUUUUT… !
The sword, having dug halfway into the wrist.
“Kkeuhaaak!”
The moment Hu-ra shrieked, Cheol Ryu-heun’s left fist struck her abdomen.
PEOHEOEOK… KWAKWANG!
Hu-ra’s body, wrapped in a large haze, flew rearward with her body bent like a bow and crashed into the ground.
KKUGUGUNG… !
The ground caved in like a large pit, the cracks representing the impact.
Prostrated, Hu-ra momentarily had difficulty breathing.
‘Kkeo… heo!’
Atop her, a shadow settled then rapidly darkened.
HUUUUUUUUUWOONG… !
Cheol Ryu-heun, having leaped up like a light beam, was descending to stamp down a stomp.
Her heart dropping, Hu-ra moved with all her might.
KKWAHAAANG… !
Explosive sound shaking all directions.
The entire ground stamped by the stomp heaved greatly.
UDEUDEUDEUDEUK, KWAJIJIJIJK, KKWARUREUREUREUNG…!
Amidst the thick dust, Hu-ra had barely pulled back to the rear.
Thus, having rested her back against a tree, she regulated her breathing.
‘Kkeukeuk… I didn’t expect Cheol Ryu-heun to be this much…!’
Suddenly, a Aura was felt.
It was in front, beyond the hazy dust.
Surely it must be Cheol Ryu-heun.
Hu-ra, having flinched, once again operated extreme cultivation and unleashed an all-out assault.
CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU, CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU… PAPAPAPAPA, PAPAPAPAPA… !
Waves of regenerated hair, and violently advancing palm powers.
All of them collided with Cheol Ryu-heun across the distance, bursting explosions.
CHICHICHICHICHING… PEOPEOPEOPEOPEONG… KWAKWAKWAKWAKWANG… !
At that moment, Hu-ra’s body was HWIK! yanked into the dust.
KKWAGWAGWANG… KKWADEUDUK… !
“Aaak!”
Having let out a sharp cry, Hu-ra was spat back out.
Cheol Ryu-heun had grasped her hair, pulled her in, and unleashed an attack.
By that, Hu-ra’s ribs were shattered.
That bizarre body boasting transcendent durability.
Soon, a wind of formless Aura/Aura/bearing swept away the dust.
JEOBEOKJEOBEOK…
Cheol Ryu-heun, walking forward, spoke expressionlessly.
“Is it because it’s not night that you lack power?”
Hu-ra endured the pain and sprang to her feet, then let out a quiet voice.
“Right, because it’s not night, my ability limit is rather lowered. But…”
HWAAAAAAK… !
Suddenly, smoke explosively radiated from outside Hu-ra’s body.
That soon dyed the vast void completely black.
Night of created pitch darkness.
Darkness blocking the sunlight had covered this forest.
It was a strange and wondrous sight.
The light was so extremely dim that even the outlines of objects were hard to discern.
Hu-ra’s lips, positioned within the darkness, twisted upward.
“Uhuhu, welcome to my world. How is it, do you like it? It must be terribly dark for you, but to me, everything appears bright.”
In an instant, her cultivation began to steeply increase.
Along with that, all her injuries also healed at rapid speed.
Hu-ra’s Aura/Aura/bearing, having recovered her original martial prowess, was fearsome.
However, Cheol Ryu-heun’s unperturbed attitude was the same.
“What’s dark about it?”
“…!”
“I can see everything.”
“What…?”
“From now on, clench your jaw tight. Unless you want to break your fangs.”