Chapter 76: I Dont Want To
Read more at Nineheavens.org
Chapter 76 – I Don’t Want To
Mun Bin, who had been standing to one side, instinctively flinched and hunched his neck.
Could Cheol Ryu-heun’s power really be this much?
The intangible energy that had spread out through his ascending internal energy operation was causing even a portion of the atmosphere around that spot to vibrate strongly…
‘This is incredible! He undoubtedly possesses martial prowess far more tremendous than I expected!’
Having exclaimed so, he soon turned his head left and right to alternately examine the faces of Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk.
‘Indeed…’
There was no wavering in their eyes.
Both of them.
Their attitudes showed great trust toward Cheol Ryu-heun.
Despite Jeo Gyeom having obtained a divine weapon on top of his already powerful martial prowess, those two people were rather maintaining even more composed expressions.
CLENCH!
Mun Bin put great strength into his hand gripping the sword hilt.
Right, with things like this, one couldn’t help but harbor expectations.
Just then.
Jeo Gyeom’s heavy voice crossed the distance toward Cheol Ryu-heun’s party.
“So you’re saying you won’t die easily.”
His words and actions still showed no consideration of his own defeat whatsoever.
Of course, he was a powerhouse qualified to be like that.
On the other hand, Pa Woo-saeng, Geo Ja-woong, and Gyu Geon seemed somewhat anxious.
Each had slightly stiffened faces.
The moment they encountered the threatening force Cheol Ryu-heun was emitting, a sense of pressure had invaded their chests, resulting in such expressions.
The Four Heartless Evil Swords also showed reactions similar to those three and muttered.
“Setting other things aside, the intangible aura alone…”
“Right, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to say it’s reminiscent of the Five Supreme tier.”
However, Wenren Yindao, befitting a master with exceptional pride, pulled out his beloved sword with a composed face.
SHING.
Following that, a quiet voice flowed from between his lips.
“The body itself is a divine weapon… Heh, interesting words. How many years has it been since I felt this excitement?”
The competitive spirit befitting a swordsman called Cold Blood Evil Sword Peak.
The bloodlust and fighting spirit it evoked began to flow around his whole body.
Following that.
SHING, SHIII-ING, SHING-
The remaining personnel also moved their hands in unison to draw their weapons and assumed combat readiness while steadying their minds, as if shaking off the tension in their chests.
They all believed.
In the martial prowess of Jeo Gyeom and Wenren Yindao.
Just as Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk on the opposite side trusted their sect’s leader Cheol Ryu-heun, they too trusted the majesty of the aliases Netherworld Sword Fork and Cold Blood Evil Sword Peak.
Having already seen the Brandished Sword Three get beaten, any possibility of carelessness had vanished, so all they had to do was press forward with combined attacks using numerical superiority.
Especially since Jeo Gyeom now possessed an unknown divine weapon.
They didn’t know how Cheol Ryu-heun had seen through that secret in advance, but if they suffered defeat in this situation, it would literally be a disgrace.
Right.
How many first-rate masters were in this venue?
Even excluding Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin who had joined Cheol Ryu-heun’s side, and the dead Fierce Blade Mok Geun-geum, Savage Blade Seong Pan, and Ferocious Blade Jang Yeol, nine were still standing.
This fight wouldn’t last long.
The only existence that could become a variable was Cheol Ryu-heun alone.
But then.
Cheol Ryu-heun spoke as if reading the enemy’s inner thoughts.
“What, do you think you only need to be careful of me alone?”
Then, gesturing with his chin toward the two standing to his left and right at no great distance, he continued in an emotionless voice.
“The strength of the Elder and Chief Supervisor is no less than that of my late Master.”
The unorthodox masters including Wenren Yindao were inwardly startled.
‘What?’
Sure enough.
When Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk operated ascending internal energy, white currents suddenly spread out from their bodies.
Everyone’s expressions quickly changed at the extraordinary intangible auras before them.
‘…!’
The air within the garden felt as if it was heavily settling.
On either side of Cheol Ryu-heun, the intangible auras Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk were emitting were incredibly heavy, as if small mountains had risen up.
No.
Beyond heavy, they delivered great pressure.
Soon, Gyu Geon spoke barely audibly.
“That old man somehow seems to have gotten stronger…”
An honest impression of Yeop Hwon.
Though it was a memory from his twenties, compared to back then, his internal cultivation level clearly appeared to have risen considerably.
That meant his sword path study had also most likely evolved in turn.
It was quite incomprehensible how such rapid growth in a short time to rival the late White Gate Sword Gentleman could be possible right after recovering from a body that was practically a vegetable.
Geo Ja-woong and Pa Woo-saeng flashed their eyes and thought the same thing.
‘Can’t dismiss that lightly.’
The words of an experienced person who had tasted defeat after about forty exchanges back then… However, Gyu Geon himself had also advanced further in his own martial prowess.
The very fact that he had gained the four-character alias Twin Moon Scar Swords through steady activity since that day was ample proof.
Geo Ja-woong slightly raised one corner of his mouth and muttered.
“Any room for carelessness has now completely disappeared.”
At that, Pa Woo-saeng lightly nodded and chimed in.
“Indeed, let’s exercise caution and finish this as quickly as possible.”
Yet unlike the others, Jeo Gyeom showed no great reaction.
As if the intangible aura surrounding Cheol Ryu-heun’s body, though quite strong, was insufficient to evoke feelings surpassing curiosity.
The reason was simple.
A comparison target existed in his mind.
Thunder Cloud Sword Duke.
Others might think it was similar to the intangible aura emitted by the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan, but having faced Wei Ji-am in the past, he judged it fell short.
Wenren Yindao, holding his sword upright, circulated his dantian and issued a short command to his subordinate Four Heartless Evil Swords.
“You take on White Flash Sword Tiger.”
“Yes.”
Immediately after the Four Heartless Evil Swords answered in unison, Gyu Geon let out a voice full of bloodlust.
“In that case, we’ll take on and handle that old man over there. I have an old debt to repay anyway…”
Pa Woo-saeng and Geo Ja-woong standing nearby smiled in agreement and injected vital energy into their blades.
Wenren Yindao nodded and soon made a suggestion while looking at Jeo Gyeom beside him.
“Let me launch the first attack and test him. Then it should make it somewhat easier for you to gauge his strength, Hall Master Jeo?”
“A bargain?”
“You catch on quickly.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Will you give all of the Brandished Sword Three’s share to our sect? Then I promise to give it my all from the start.”
Jeo Gyeom readily agreed.
“Gladly.”
“Heh. Good.”
Wenren Yindao, smiling, immediately operated a massive amount of vital energy with the intention to execute an ultimate technique.
WHOOOOSH…
The haze spreading outside his body attested to that power.
The interior of the manor had become a battlefield.
A hair-trigger standoff.
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun gazed forward and asked expressionlessly.
“Is my force insufficient to further stimulate the bloodlust in your chest?”
The target was Jeo Gyeom.
It was a question pointing out his attitude of still not operating ascending internal energy.
“Insufficient indeed.”
“I want to clash hard from the outset, you know.”
“Well… Try to make it so.”
“Sure. I should make you so angry steam comes out of your head.”
Cheol Ryu-heun suddenly rummaged through the belongings of Geum Ja-jeom, who lay collapsed and bound behind Divine Wind, and pulled out a single book.
“This Ghost Shadow Sword Technique is what you want, right?”
Simultaneously, the expressions of Wenren Yindao, Gyu Geon and the others changed.
‘Ghost Shadow Sword Technique…!’
There was no one who didn’t know of it.
Because it was the true teachings of Heaven’s Death Sword Ghost Eum Ryun, who over a decade ago had made a name for himself as an ultra first-rate unorthodox powerhouse within Hunan Province.
If he, who was called the ghost of killing swordsmanship, were still alive today, another seat would probably have been added to the rank of Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan.
It was by no means a random guess.
In truth, the martial prowess of Eum Ryun during his lifetime was at a level exceeding even Jeo Gyeom here.
The title of Five Supreme was born about eight years ago.
During his lifetime in the past, Eum Ryun had once exchanged blows with one of those five and achieved a draw, so there was a high possibility he would have taken or added one of those seats.
Wenren Yindao and the others finally understood why Jeo Gyeom had actively participated in this matter.
Based on the armor-like divine weapon wrapped around his body, he needed the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique with a similar texture in order to research new martial arts.
Everyone became certain.
If Jeo Gyeom utilized the essence and profound use of that secret manual in the future to strengthen his personal martial arts, he would rise to the same level as the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan…
They had made a wise choice to join hands.
In this martial world that operated on the law of the strong surviving and the weak perishing, whose side you stood on was more important than anything.
The Dark Hall’s power would clearly grow even greater in the future, so if they rode on that power and continued alliance activities, they could expand their territories.
Meanwhile.
Jeo Gyeom, eyes flashing, calmly opened his mouth.
“So…?”
Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged.
“You don’t get it?”
“What meaning would possessing that have right now? Once I subdue you and seize it, that’s the end of it.”
“I don’t want to.”
No sooner had Cheol Ryu-heun replied disinterestedly than he emitted vital energy through the hand holding the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique.
RIP-SHRED- RIP-SHREEED-!
The book was torn to shreds and scattered chaotically in all directions.
Everyone was startled.
“Th-That…!”
They never thought he would tear up the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique like that.
Indeed, Cheol Ryu-heun’s action was effective.
Jeo Gyeom, eyes bulging, radiated his gaze intensely and thundered.
“How dare!”
A shout accompanied by faint vibration.
It was the effect of inner power being unconsciously loaded into that thunderous shout due to uncontrollable fury.
That became the signal for battle.
“Attack!”
Simultaneously with someone’s cry, the unorthodox masters split into two groups and swiftly dashed out.
PA-PA-PAT, PA-PA-PA-PAT-!
Mun Bin momentarily hesitated.
‘Should I help…’
Earlier, Cheol Ryu-heun had said to stay back behind since he’d get in the way if he stepped forward for no reason, but now that things were unfolding like this, it was hard to just stand still.
The Four Heartless Evil Swords were charging toward Hyeop Mu-geuk, and Gyu Geon and the others were charging toward Yeop Hwon.
He felt like he should help at least one side.
Suddenly, a thread of telepathy reached his ears.
<Just watch.>
It was Cheol Ryu-heun.
Mun Bin flinched and marveled internally.
‘He’s serious!’
Before he knew it, Wenren Yindao had closed in and swung his sword down.
SHWIIING-!
A sword technique deployment befitting his status as Ashen Heart Sect Master and the prestige of the alias Cold Blood Evil Sword Peak.
It was Heartless Sweep, the ultimate technique of the Cold Blood Eleven Swords.
Heavy sword power was loaded.
Following the blade falling vertically, terrifying edge and sword energy intertwined like a jagged saw, displaying murderous majesty.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s Ganjiang Sword rose as if going out to meet it.
CLANG- KABOOM…!
The moment a sizeable energy wave spread in a circle from the collision of the sword energy contained in each blade.
‘Urk!’
Wenren Yindao retreated two steps backward due to the repelling force.
Immediately after.
FLICK.
Cheol Ryu-heun suddenly vanished, and immediately a CRASH! sound rang out loudly.
It was the thunderous sound of one of the Four Heartless Evil Swords who had been rushing toward Hyeop Mu-geuk colliding with the wall.
“Aaargh!”
Cheol Ryu-heun had pierced through his stomach center and pushed him to the wall.
‘Ah!’
When the three Heartless Evil Swordsmen faltered in surprise, Wenren Yindao kicked off the ground and shouted.
“Just go!”
The three quickly advanced toward Hyeop Mu-geuk again.
Meanwhile, Wenren Yindao had used footwork to approach behind Cheol Ryu-heun’s back and unleashed the Cold Blood Eleven Swords ultimate technique Heartless Sweep.
SHWIIIIIIING-!
A sword force displaying over eighty percent cultivation dropped straight down.
SCHRIIIICK-!
Along with the gruesome sound of cleanly bisecting a body, red blood fountained in all directions.
Splat.
Wenren Yindao’s hardened gaze.
The two-piece body fallen on the ground was not Cheol Ryu-heun, whom he had aimed for, but his own subordinate Heartless Evil Swordsman.
Damn it!
Having hastily spun around, a sky-blue blade resembling the sky rushed rapidly before his eyes.
SCHWIIING-!
It was Cheol Ryu-heun’s Ganjiang Sword.