Chapter 473: The Price of Misjudgment
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The bloodshot veins rising in the Commander’s eyes spoke of the fury in his heart.
-Forces centered on the God of Death who governs death are protecting the families.
The words Gal Jung-heon had just spoken.
He immediately understood who that referred to.
The swordsman of the previous generation who had written the myth of the Assassin’s Path.
Yes, it had to be him without a doubt.
Moreover, he wasn’t alone, they said.
Then that must mean elite personnel from the Jianghu faction had joined, same as here.
The Commander gripped his sword hilt even tighter and shouted with veins bulging in his neck.
“Fine then, try to devour this body if you can!”
* * *
A private residence in Baizhou.
Two Deaf-Mute’s wearing blood wind cloaks leaped over the wall.
Swish, swish.
It was extremely covert movement.
The presence was something an ordinary person couldn’t possibly detect.
Earlier, about a hundred and thirty Deaf Mutes’s, the lower-tier force of the Southern Heaven Division, had received a mission to assassinate the families of White Peak Sword Sect disciples during the night.
That was precisely why these two had secretly climbed over the wall.
This was the home where the elderly mother of Tae Sa-ja, a White Peak Sword Sect disciple of bandit origin and leader of the Night Demon Squad, resided.
It was past midnight.
Therefore, the lights were all off throughout the house, which boasted a considerably spacious grounds.
The two Deaf-Mute’s exchanged glances and moved covertly.
As they passed through the garden.
Halt.
The lead Deaf Mute suddenly stopped moving.
Accordingly, the Deaf Mute immediately behind him also halted his stealthy steps.
Had they sensed something?
Sure enough.
Swish…
Along with a sharp sound, the lead Deaf Mute sprayed fresh blood.
A cleanly severed head.
It was truly a death accomplished in the blink of an eye.
Since he couldn’t speak, not even a scream escaped.
The Deaf-Mute behind instinctively realized.
That something had gone wrong.
Ahead of where the beheaded Deaf-Mute fell, a single figure stood upright.
Appearing like a ghost, holding a sword…
The remaining Deaf-Mute felt a chill run through him in an instant.
‘That person is…!’
Only then did he realize who it was.
The legendary great assassin of the previous Jianghu era, Head-Severing Yama Seop Pyo
Yes, it was him.
At that moment.
Swoosh…
Suddenly, Seop Pyo’s form rapidly absorbed the colors around it and vanished.
It was movement that appeared and disappeared like a ghost.
As if questioning when he had ever been there.
From his appearance to his disappearance was literally instantaneous.
The startled Deaf-Mute cried out inwardly.
‘Hidden Void Concealment Technique!’
A sublime art that made one truly appreciate the majesty of the sobriquet Head-Severing Yama.
The instantly heightened sense of crisis stimulated his survival instinct.
He had to escape from here for now.
Then go to the main force’s location and report the situation.
Whoosh!
Movement that preceded judgment.
The Deaf-Mute spun his body and ran with anxious eyes.
Just as he neared the low wall.
Swoosh…
The surface of the wall silently warped rapidly, and Seop Pyo reappeared.
Along with a blade thrust swiftly.
The Deaf-Mute couldn’t dodge it in time and had his chest pierced.
Squelch!
The blood-spouting Deaf-Mute’s body collapsed to the ground, his blood wind cloak falling with him.
Seop Pyo tilted his sword downward and spoke in a cold voice.
“The families of the disciples were evacuated right after dinner.”
The Deaf-Mute who heard those words wore an expression of disbelief before his breath stopped.
Silence came along with his death.
At that moment, a figure appeared atop the wall to the side.
“My, you finished later than me?”
The figure’s identity was Seop Pyo’s disciple, Cui Lan.
“Oh… You’re already done?”
“Of course. I’ve already gone around two houses.”
“Hohoho. They say the student surpasses the master…”
“Hee, what are you saying… I still can’t match you, Master.”
“Come, let’s go to another house together.”
“Yes.”
Thus, Cui Lan and Seop Pyo disappeared with their ghostlike movement.
Meanwhile.
The situation was the same at the residence where Yeong Ho-woong’s father Yeong Ho-bang and younger sister Yeong Ho-ok, the Vice Master of the Mountain Martial Assembly, lived.
Crack… Splurt… Thud!
Under the fierce sword attacks of the Green Forest Alliance Leader, Green Forest Martial Buddha Gung Roe, who boasted a robust physique, five Deaf-Mutes instantly departed from the world.
“Kukuh. Foolish things, how dare you come here.”
He wasn’t the only one who had come here.
Experts from the Mountain Road faction such as Heaven-Shaking Sword Palace Master, Black Silken Sword Sovereign Wei Ta-gong; Broken Mountain Sword Clan Vice Master, Southern Embrace Sword Magpie Do Yun; and Wolf Fang Saber Sect Master, Hungry Wolf Saber Ghost Jin Jo-jeokje; as well as the seven direct disciples of the Beggar Sect Master; and experts from the Orthodox faction like Golden Spear Fortress Master, Jade Kirin Yeo Yong-jeo, had all participated in the operation.
And a small number of elite from each martial school as well…
Before long, the matter was concluded, and they all gathered at the village entrance.
Amidst that, Seop Pyo spoke as the representative.
“Now let us go to the main sect. The battle must be in full swing.”
“Yes.”
Having answered in unison, the Orthodox and Unorthodox group deployed their lightness techniques toward White Peak Sword Sect without anyone taking the lead.
* * *
Step, step, step, step…
Gal Jung-heon, positioned not far ahead, slowly took steps forward.
Following his movement, the massive energy in the shape of a hungry ghost let out a sound like Sound Transmission.
-Hunger… Let us eat. Let us devour to our hearts’ content. Without leaving even a scrap of flesh…
That scratched at the Commander’s uncomfortable feelings.
Crack…
Having clenched his molars tight, he put force into the hand gripping his sword hilt.
The excellent iron sword responded to him and rang with a metallic sound.
Hummm… !
Along the long extended blade, frost-like haze rose chaotically and wavered.
Each dancing strand carried heavy power.
As if teaching the terrifying level of internal power that had rapidly risen by activating the gu poison within his body.
Right after that, the Commander laughed.
Smirk.
A soundlessly twisted mouth.
It was immense internal power that had arisen using his innate vital energy as nourishment.
A desperate measure that literally wagered his life.
Therefore, he was confident in the outcome of mutual destruction.
Taking the opponent’s life along with his own death…
“Gal!”
The Commander burst out a fierce cry and started walking toward the front.
Eyes filled with nothing but killing intent.
Each time his feet moved, the training ground floor cracked and burst with a crackling sound!
His flashing eyes spoke in place of his mouth.
Even if he died here, he would not die alone.
As the gap between them was gradually closing.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh, whoosh whoosh whoosh… !
Suddenly, two Young General-rank Southern Heaven Division officers fiercely charged at Gal Jung-heon’s left and right sides.
Even though they knew he was an existence they couldn’t handle.
That’s right.
It was a kind of suicide act.
To contribute to the mutual destruction plan of the Commander who had already resolved to die.
As if to prove that, they dived in using a human bullet charge method.
Kaboom, kaboom!
Blue flames suddenly engulfed Gal Jung-heon’s form whole.
Instantly exploding waves of green flame.
Blast blast blast, blast blast blast… Roar roar roar, roar roar roar… !
Thus, blue flames and dust spread rapidly in all directions.
Amidst that, a voice flowed out.
“How touching.”
Gal Jung-heon’s cold voice.
No sooner had the words ended than a fierce wind rose and swept the flames and dust upward.
Gal Jung-heon, who had taken the full brunt of that explosive force, was perfectly unharmed.
It was thanks to the Demon-Devouring Sword’s unique hungry ghost energy displaying the wondrous use of protection.
A power that automatically protects an owner of high qualification.
In other words, the massive energy in the shape of a hungry ghost had swallowed its master Gal Jung-heon whole.
Like a solid gray shield protecting his entire body.
It was a mysterious and bizarre ability befitting one of the Four Great Demonic Weapons.
The Commander who saw that felt his killing intent grow even thicker.
“If I go to the underworld with you, it will be worthwhile!”
Having shouted again, he rapidly advanced like a ray of light, explosive true energy from his Bubbling Well points.
Boom!
The distance compressed at a truly wondrous speed.
The Commander’s sword charged directly at the front.
Was he trying to test the power?
His sword point collided with the gray mass.
CRASH!
Gal Jung-heon made no movement.
Instead.
The Demon-Devouring Sword’s massive hungry ghost energy came forward as if alive and defended against the heavy sword strike.
‘As expected!’
The Commander cried out inwardly and poured out consecutive sword energy attacks using peak internal power.
Boom… Crash… Boom!
All attacks struck the entire body of the massive hungry ghost.
And due to the explosive force contained in those sword strikes, gray residual energy scattered as if rotting and crumbling.
It was superhuman sword power befitting the highest-ranking officer of the Southern Heaven Division.
Nevertheless, the terrifying telepathic voice of the hungry ghost energy still touched his eardrums.
-I’m hungry! Hurry into my mouth! Kekeke!
‘Kuh!’
The Commander felt his skin tremble from the residual energy that brushed past his body and dissipated.
That too must be a unique power of the hungry ghost energy.
The ability to gnaw at the opponent’s flesh just with the faintly scattering residual strands.
If his internal power level had been low, he surely would have taken damage.
‘Close combat is more dangerous!’
The Commander moved rapidly to the rear the moment he made that judgment.
Roughly a distance of ten-odd paces.
Stopping there, he gathered his vast internal power at his sword point and fiercely released it.
Boom boom boom boom boom, boom boom boom boom boom!
It was an amazing ultimate technique in the form of a waterfall of sword energy shot out while lying on its side.
The hungry ghost energy facing that opened its maw toward the charging attack.
A mouth that rapidly expanded like a large cave.
The tremendous sword power poured into it and exploded fiercely.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom… Crash crash crash crash crash!
Thus, the hungry ghost energy was ruthlessly destroyed and scattered.
‘Yes, you can’t withstand this power indefinitely!’
With rising momentum, the Commander poured out his power raised to the maximum while maintaining an appropriate distance from that point on.
An intent to not give Gal Jung-heon even a moment’s breathing room.
Echoes of explosive sounds continuously shaking the night sky.
But.
Gal Jung-heon defended against the entire series of attacks.
Without even showing large movements, he continuously generated the eerie hungry ghost energy and received everything.
When it burst and scattered, he made more, and made more again.
Even the formidable Commander was overwhelmed by that solid technique.
Having run out of breath, he briefly stopped his attacks and spoke inwardly.
‘The bastard is beyond what I thought!’
At that moment, Gal Jung-heon extended the Demon-Devouring Sword toward the empty air.
Thud, thud thud… Thud thud… Crack crack… Crack… Crack, crack crack…
The atmosphere shaking fiercely and crying, the ground cracking chaotically.
The tremendous pressure of formless energy crushed the Commander’s form.
‘Ugh…!’
The startled Commander burst out peak internal power to withstand the heavy pressure of formless energy.
Amidst that, Gal Jung-heon’s cold voice reached his ears.
“So you were aiming for mutual destruction… That’s nothing but an empty delusion. You will soon learn why.”
With those words, the Demon-Devouring Sword that had been pointed at the air rapidly descended and plunged into the training ground floor with a crash!
At the same time, a chilling sound of splitting air burst out.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh… Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh… !
A vast gray current released from the sword point.
It transformed into an army procession of countless hungry ghosts and poured forth.
The horrified Commander released a massive sword energy straight ahead.
Swoooosh… !
But the terrifying army of hungry ghosts instantly destroyed the massive sword energy and descended upon the Commander’s body.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch… !
A dreadful sound of flesh being rapidly devoured without discrimination.
The Commander became white bones without even a moment to scream.
That was no different from meaning the end of the Southern Heaven Division.