Chapter 583: Side Story 83

Chapter side_83

Boom!

Hyeong Un-gak trembled all over.

He realized that if he had not twisted his body by a hair’s breadth in the moment the Heavenly Demon Return to Heaven Art erupted, not even a trace of him would have remained.

Behold.

Where the Return to Heaven Art had swept through, his subordinates lay scattered in a bloody mess, the cave walls were heavily damaged, and the ground was still shaking as if an earthquake had occurred.

Damaged and shaking?

“Urgh?!”

In an instant, something crossed his mind.

An immense power had exploded inside the cave. The entire place was shaking, and there was destruction everywhere. No matter how well it had held up, it was only natural for it to collapse.

Rumble!

That Hyeong Un-gak’s concern was not in jest was proven as the vibration, which had felt small at first, gradually grew louder. With cracking sounds, cracks appeared here and there, and stone fragments began to fall.

Jang Sam-tae, who was standing blankly, tilted his head as he felt the stone debris falling on his head.

“What… is it?”

“What else could it be?! It’s about to collapse!”

“What?! Why all of a sudden!”

“It’s because you used your strength so mindlessly!”

At Namgung So-hye’s harsh words, Jang Sam-tae’s face turned pale. Suddenly, sensing something flash past, he turned his head and saw Hyeong Un-gak, who had been in front of him, running away at full speed.

“Ugh… Aaaargh!”

“R-Run! Run if you don’t want to die!”

“Save me!”

Rough screams were heard from all around.

The cave was deep and wide. Furthermore, since it was structured like a complex maze here and there, the moment it collapsed, even if they were not crushed to death, they would never be able to escape, which meant certain death.

“If you want to save those two, move quickly! We don’t have time!”

“Aaaargh! Why did it turn out like this!”

Jang Sam-tae shrieked and began to run.

Why was this cave so complicated? They had no time, yet paths diverged in all directions. With some places blocked and others not, he had no idea where the two were trapped.

‘Should I just abandon them and leave?’

Jang Sam-tae glanced at Namgung So-hye.

Although she wore a calm expression, her face was devoid of color. She too seemed to know that if she were trapped here, it would mean death.

“Should we just abandon them and leave?!”

“Are you joking right now! Instead of talking nonsense, start searching!”

“Joking? We’re about to die while looking for them right now!”

“Whose fault do you think that is!”

Namgung So-hye glared at Jang Sam-tae with a cold, sharp gaze. What kind of idiot just unleashes power blindly without considering the time and place?

And to use the Heavenly Demon Return to Heaven Art?

Since he had unleashed that technique, which was called the best in the Central Plains for its destructive power, in a cave like this, it was actually a miracle that it had not collapsed yet.

“O-Over here! We’re here!”

Just then, a sharp voice was heard from somewhere.

Instantly stopping, Namgung So-hye listened closely to the faint sound that drifted over once again.

“This way!”

“No, I said let’s just leave!”

“Shut up!”

Jang Sam-tae, who showed no remorse despite creating this situation himself, kept looking around anxiously. If even a single part began to collapse, he was definitely the type of person who would abandon everyone and run away.

‘Damn bastard.’

Her teeth gritted, but now was not the time to think of other things.

She hurriedly ran toward the direction of the voice.

Upon reaching a dead end, she saw Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong, who were in a terrible mess, smiling awkwardly.

“I-I didn’t know I would be this glad to see your faces.”

“We are glad to see you too, but… now is not the time to chat, so get up quickly. The cave is collapsing because of a certain crazy person!”

“Gasp?! T-Then this vibration is…?”

Instantly, Jin Tae-gong stood up with a pale face. He had felt that the vibrations were unusual for a while, but to think it was a sign of the cave collapsing?

There was much he wanted to ask, but there was no time.

Namgung So-hye shouted as if urging the two.

“Hurry!”

* * *

“Damn it!”

Hyeong Un-gak, who had escaped out of the cave, scowled deeply. He still had much to ask Geum Ji-ran, but of all things, strange intruders had interfered.

Furthermore, to think it was the Heavenly Demon Return to Heaven Art?

Had a new Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult been appointed?

However, even more ominous than the one who used the Return to Heaven Art was the girl holding the sword. Judging by the extremely pure energy she exuded, she was definitely from the Orthodox Faction, and the momentum she showed when performing swordplay was extraordinary.

While the one who used the Return to Heaven Art felt somewhat inexperienced, the woman’s sword was soft yet fast, skilled, and imbued with great power.

She was no ordinary person.

How could members of the Orthodox and Demonic factions be gathered together?

Had they perhaps joined hands to capture the Heaven and Earth Sect?

Either way, it was clearly an unfavorable situation.

Rumble!

Just then, the sound of the cave collapsing from the inside was heard. A massive amount of dust poured out from the entrance, and the terrain forming the cave could be seen sinking.

The inside of the cave would certainly have become a total ruin.

No one would survive.

“Cough, cough… Damn it, I thought I was dead!”

“Pant, pant, pant… I will… never help you with your work again, so keep that in mind.”

“A-Are you alright, Young Lady Namgung?”

“Worry… worry about me!”

“Huh?!”

Hyeong Un-gak truly could not comprehend the situation unfolding before him. It was a situation where barely escaping alive would be considered lucky, yet they had exited with Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong as well.

They did not even seem to have a single scratch.

What was this?

Did this make any sense?

Had the cave not collapsed?!

“W-What on earth…!”

As he watched them with a blank expression, Jang Sam-tae, who had been coughing for a while, suddenly jumped up and shouted at Hyeong Un-gak.

“Hey! You old geezer! I almost died because of you!”

“It was because of you!”

“If that guy hadn’t acted up, this wouldn’t have happened! Right?”

“Well… that is true, but…”

“Geez, if you’re old, you should just sit quietly in the back room and raise your grandkids…”

“You’re getting old too.”

“Why do you keep talking back? It’s annoying!”

Jang Sam-tae, who was already furious to the limit, could see nothing else. Since neither Namgung Cheon nor Sa Do-hak was present, nor were Dan Woo-hyun and Dan So-mi, he seemed to think it did not matter if his mouth was a bit rough.

As he huffed and gradually closed the distance with Hyeong Un-gak,

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Hyeong Un-gak’s remaining subordinates drew their swords and pointed them at Jang Sam-tae.

At that moment, Jang Sam-tae, who was approaching, slipped back and glanced at Namgung So-hye.

“Here! Deal with them!”

“Are you kidding me, you?!”

“?!”

Jang Sam-tae leaped back to avoid Namgung So-hye, who looked ready to swing her sword at him. To the eyes of others, that sight would undoubtedly seem like they were watching the Shift Transposition.

Even Hyeong Un-gak gaped, unable to close his mouth.

“W-What on earth…!”

The Shift Transposition was a technique that could only be performed by those capable of executing the highest level of lightness art. Since he had never actually seen anyone perform it during his long life in Murim, his surprise could only be greater.

“Sigh… Since we can’t let him go anyway, it can’t be helped. Then I will take care of that man. You and Jin Tae-gong handle the others… You can do at least that much, right?”

Just then, Namgung So-hye took a step forward.

As she drew her sword and pointed it at Hyeong Un-gak while speaking, Jang Sam-tae nodded readily, and Jin Tae-gong, although in poor condition, had no choice but to stand up as well.

In that moment, Hyeong Un-gak’s expression distorted further.

“Swords have no eyes, so be careful!”

“You damn wench! Do you dare look down on Hyeong Un-gak?!”

The moment his shout erupted, Namgung So-hye threw herself forward and closed in. Her face was filled with a somewhat surprised expression, which was none other than because of the name Hyeong Un-gak.

Composing her expression again, she wore a faint smile and swung her sword.

Clang!

“I remember hearing about you when I was at the Murim Alliance. Aren’t you the man who sold his wife and children through gambling, and not satisfied with that, killed everyone inside the gambling house and disappeared?”

“Urgh?! You wench!”

Hyeong Un-gak twisted his body and blocked her sword.

The reason strength entered his hand holding the sword in rage was because she had casually mentioned a past he did not want to drag out.

Clang, clang, clang!

The swords of the two clashed in an instant, creating echoes. When Hyeong Un-gak swung his sword, which was infused with strong internal energy, a fierce wind arose along with sword winds, splitting the ground.

However, Namgung So-hye’s sword did not raise any sword wind at all, as if not even a shred of internal energy was imbued in it, but the strange thing was that despite clashing with such a strong sword, her weapon did not break.

Clang!

Soon, the swords of the two clashed head-on, creating a loud ring of the blade. Although it could not be felt, it proved that Namgung So-hye’s sword was definitely imbued with internal energy.

“Y-You wench…!”

“Stop calling me a wench. I am also a precious daughter at home.”

“Urgh?!”

Hyeong Un-gak swallowed a groan and took half a step back, frowning. Every time they clashed swords, his wrist felt numb.

Clearly, there seemed to be no internal energy imbued in her sword, yet strangely, it did not break, and when they clashed, he was instead pushed back.

How could such a thing happen?

Furthermore, he could not read the trajectory of her sword.

Her movements step by step were like a butterfly, but her actions of piercing and digging in with her sword in an instant were like a stinging bee.

Unlike him, who tried to push back with strength and whose swinging sword paths were unpredictable, her sword deflected his blows softly, clearly utilizing Hyeong Un-gak’s own strength.

Slash, slash!

Flesh all over his body was cut, and blood splattered.

Namgung So-hye’s sword also did not create a fatal strike, but she was clearly inflicting wounds by making minor cuts on his body.

As a result, Hyeong Un-gak’s body looked as if it had been hacked to pieces. Though in small amounts, blood flowed continuously from everywhere.

This clearly showed that he was being pushed back, and although not absolute, it was proof that Namgung So-hye’s sword was working.

Clang, clang, clang!

Namgung So-hye gained even more confidence.

Since she had not had proper combat experience for over ten years, she had not been able to grasp how good her skills were.

Yet now, it was working against an old master.

Thus, her gaze was entirely focused on Hyeong Un-gak, and she moved her sword instinctively like someone lost in a state of selflessness.

And in that moment,

“Damn it?!”

Hyeong Un-gak, who was looking for a gap while blocking Namgung So-hye’s sword strikes, stumbled heavily. Busy only with blocking the sword, he had failed to see a tree root on the ground.

And Namgung So-hye definitely did not miss that opportunity.

Slash!

The sword thrust out in an instant, grazing Hyeong Un-gak’s neck at a speed that was truly like a flash of lightning.

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