Novel Martial Artist Lee Gwak - chapter 480

People in Crisis Seek Something to Rely On (2)

 

 

With a deafening roar, crimson flames shot into the sky.

 

The night sky turned blood red.

 

“Mm!”

 

Mok Seon-wol let out a low groan.

 

Her face, too, was bathed in the fiery glow. The searing heat scorched her skin, but she felt no pain.

 

“The last defensive line has fallen to the Celestial Demon Troupe’s fire attack.”

 

At her subordinate’s report, Mok Seon-wol’s face twisted slightly.

 

After crushing the Jade Heaven Alliance, Celestial Demon Troupe had briefly paused their offensive toward Dragon Heaven Valley. Dragon Heaven Valley, already at its limits, had tried to seize the opportunity to request outside aid, but the Celestial Demon Troupe did not merely stop attacking. They sealed off the valley completely, cutting off all contact with the outside.

 

Mok Seon-wol tried again and again to break through, but each time Celestial Demon Troupe’s fierce resistance blocked her.

 

After dragging on like this for several months, the Celestial Demon Troupe’s full-scale offensive finally resumed today.

 

Perhaps because they had rested sufficiently over the months, the Celestial Demon Troupe’s offensive was exceptionally fierce. And under their relentless onslaught, the Dragon Heaven Valley’s final defensive line had finally crumbled.

 

“Huu…”

 

Mok Seon-wol let out an unconscious sigh and pressed her hand to her forehead.

 

She hadn’t expected that Dragon Heaven Valley would fall so helplessly.

 

Just then.

 

THUMP!

 

Suddenly, a violent surge of qi rippled through the air.

 

An intense air current, incomparable to anything before, assaulted her.

 

In that instant, Mook Seon-wol felt as if she might stop breathing.

 

She wasn’t the only one.

 

The faces of Dragon Heaven Valley’s leadership, who stood with her, turned pale with fear.

 

“What… is that?”

 

“Could it be…?”

 

Their expressions hardened.

 

Each member of the leadership was a formidable martial master.

 

Their cultivation had reached heights where they were sensitive to even the slightest external changes. Their nerves were now taut, like a fully drawn bowstring.

 

It meant an incredibly powerful master, enough to make their nerves stand on end, had appeared on the battlefield.

 

A being whose mere presence dominated the battlefield.

 

To their knowledge, there was only one such master.

 

“Is Go Geom-wol here himself?”

 

“Impossible… The Lord of the Celestial Demon Troupe here in person?”

 

Even the Ten Blood Demons^[a], who wouldn’t bat an eye at most things, showed obvious alarm.

 

Their leader, Go Il-cheok, spoke to Muk Seon-wol.

 

“If it really is Go Geom-wol, we cannot hope to stand against him. We’ll hold him off as long as we can—take your people and flee!”

 

“I cannot do that.”

 

“Seon-wol!”

 

“This is my home. I was born here, lived here all my life. How can you ask me to abandon it? If I must die, I will die here.”

 

She shook her head violently.

 

“Do as he says, Seon-wol!”

 

A heavy voice rang out behind her.

 

At once, the Ten Blood Demons and the valley’s leadership dropped to one knee.

 

“We greet the Valley Lord.”

 

“We greet the Valley Lord.”

 

Their gazes were directed towards a strange-looking man whose face was covered by gray hair.

 

Strangely, chains as thick as a child’s forearm were attached to his limbs.

 

There was only one person in Dragon Heaven Valley with such a bizarre appearance.

 

The Seven-Colored Martial Emperor, Mok Jin-myeong, the Lord of Dragon Heaven Valley. He had emerged from seclusion.

 

Muk Seon-wol was greatly startled by Mok Jin-myeong’s appearance.

 

“Father! How? Has your Heart Demon been completely cured?”

 

“Yes.”

“Ah!”

 

Mok Seon-wol gasped.

 

She thought that if Mok Jin-myeong stepped forward, they might have some chance of victory.

 

However, Mok Jin-myeong’s gaze as he looked at her was dark.

 

“Leave the Valley. Seon-wol!”

 

“Father?”

 

“The qi emanating from the one who has entered Dragon Heaven Valley now exceeds my imagination. I cannot guarantee victory, so it would be best for you to take the disciples and escape this place.”

 

“I cannot do that. I will share the fate of Dragon Heaven Valley.”

 

“My daughter!”

 

Mok Jin-myeong’s eyes grew dim.

 

She was the daughter he had cherished and loved all his life.

 

She was his greatest treasure, someone he wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

 

 

 

Even though he had been lost to the Heart Demon and couldn’t properly care for her, Mok Seon-wol had grown up more splendidly and uprightly than anyone.

 

As a father with a child, he couldn’t be more grateful. That’s why he had to make a difficult decision.

 

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

“Father?”

 

Poke!

 

In that instant, Mok Jin-myeong pressed on Mok Seon-wol’s pressure point.

 

Caught off guard by his action, Mok Seon-wol couldn’t even put up a proper resistance and collapsed on the spot.

 

Mok Jin-myeong caught her collapsing body and held her.

 

Her warmth filled his embrace.

 

He held her for a while before turning around.

 

An old man stood silently within his sight.

 

His white hair, brows, and beard gave him the air of a sage. He was Yang Su-cheon, the Moon-shadow True Demon, one of the Eight Great Martial Artists, who had recently taken refuge in Dragon Heaven Valley with his granddaughter Yang Hye-so.

 

Muk Jin-myeong handed Seon-wol to him.

 

“Elder Yang, please take my daughter, your granddaughter, and the disciples, and escape.”

 

“Will such a chance even come?”

 

“I will make it.”

 

“…What do you intend?”

 

“Forgive me, Elder. You placed your trust in this valley, only for me to send you away so miserably.”

 

The apology startled Yang Soo-cheon.

 

The Mok Jin-myeong he knew never apologized.

 

His pride was sky-high, and he never admitted fault.

 

Yet now — he was apologizing. That alone spoke volumes.

 

Unfazed by the reaction, Mok Jin-myeong continued.

 

“For years I was lost in madness. Now that I’ve come to my senses, I regret everything. Had I been more clear-headed, I would never have let Yongcheon fall into such ruin. Everything — your discomfort, this crisis — is my fault.”

 

“There’s no need for apologies. I chose to come here, Valley Lord.”

 

“Even so, with Dragon Heaven Valley facing imminent peril, you need not share our fate.

 

“But—”

 

“You came for your granddaughter’s happiness, didn’t you? Then leave for her sake. I entrust her, and my daughter, to you.”

 

“And what of you?”

 

“I am the Valley Lord. I cannot abandon the Valley. I will fight.”

 

“They say Go Geom-wol’s martial arts reach the heavens.”

 

 

 

“Heh… Though I wasted many years in madness, I gained some insight. Who’s stronger? We’ll see. I don’t think I’ll lose, but just in case, I’m sending my daughter away.”

 

His eyes were clear and brimming with confidence.

 

Yang Su-cheon nodded.

 

“Very well. I’ll take them to the Mad Martial Sect. That place should be safe.”

 

“A wise choice. I’ll open the way. Go quickly.”

 

Yang Su-cheon paused for a moment, then sighed.

 

“If only you had woke up sooner. It’s a pity we never shared a drink.”

 

“Indeed. Seems our bond ends in this life. If there is a next, let us drink together for three days and nights.”

 

“Haha! Agreed.”

 

Yang Soo-cheon laughed heartily.

 

“Now go.”

 

“May you survive, Valley Lord.”

 

“I’ll try.”

 

“Then…”

 

Yang Soo-cheon passed by Mok Jin-myeong.

 

Carrying Mok Seon-wol on his back and holding Yang Hye-so’s hand, Yang Soo-cheon’s retreating figure looked somehow lonely.

 

After everyone had left, only Mok Jin-myeong and the Ten Blood Demons remained in Dragon Heaven Valley.

 

Mok Jin-myeong looked at the First Demon, Go Il-cheok, with a fierce gaze.

 

“Why haven’t you all left?”

 

“We thought the Valley Lord might be lonely alone. We simply couldn’t leave.”

 

“Are you now refusing even the Valley Lord’s order?”

 

“Hmph! What’s so good about obeying the orders of a Valley Lord who’s been floundering around lost to a Heart Demon all this time?”

 

Go Il-cheok snorted derisively.

 

At his reaction, Mok Jin-myeong momentarily wore an expression of disbelief.

 

“Now that the Valley Lord has finally regained his senses, we can’t just leave him alone.”

 

“If not us, who will assist the old Valley Lord?”

 

“He probably forgot the way after being secluded for so long. I’ll have to guide him.”

 

The Ten Blood Demons each made a comment and gathered around Go Il-cheok.

 

“Damn old freaks. Your mouths are as foul as your disobedience.”

 

Mok Jin-myeong glared at the Ten Blood Demons as if he wanted to devour them. Still, they ignored him and chattered among themselves.

 

Mok Jin-myeong felt a sudden lump in his throat and turned his head.

 

When he hadn’t been performing his duties as Valley Lord properly, if these men hadn’t stepped up to help, Mok Seon-wol wouldn’t have been able to lead Dragon Heaven Valley so splendidly.

 

Even if they had followed Mok Seon-wol and escaped this place, no one would have blamed them. Yet, they willingly remained by Mok Jin-myeong’s side.

 

They could have left, and none would blame them. Yet they stayed, to buy time for her escape—and perhaps out of pity for him.

 

“…Do as you will.”

 

“Hah!”

 

Laughter rang again.

 

Just then—

 

A wave of qi rolled in through the grand hall’s entrance.

 

“He’s here!”

 

Step… Step…

 

At that moment, someone opened the main hall door and walked in.

 

A man walking in lightly, as if out for a walk. But the moment they saw him, everyone’s expressions turned dark.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Mok Jin-myeong was the first to let out a low groan.

 

As the person with the highest martial arts in the hall, he was the first to recognize the opponent’s strength.

 

Shiver!

 

Goosebumps ran down his spine, and his shoulders involuntarily twitched.

 

It was extremely rare for a master of Mok Jin-myeong’s caliber to show such a reaction. Mok Jin-myeong himself was taken aback by this unfamiliar feeling.

 

The man walking straight towards them was beautiful, to the point where calling him handsome felt insufficient.

 

His decadent, cold presence felt inhuman.

 

He was Go Geom-wol, the Lord of Celestial Demon Troupe.

 

Behind him stood the Ten Blood Demons from the Celestial Demon Troupe.

 

His gaze swept across the room, stopping at Mok Jin-myeong.

 

He offered a respectful martial salute.

 

“Go Geom-wol, Lord of Celestial Demon Troupe, greets Mook Jin-myeong of Dragon Heaven Valley.”

 

Despite being the enemy, his formality made him all the more terrifying.

 

Mook Jin-myeong gathered his energy and replied:

 

“I won’t welcome someone who came to destroy us.”

 

“I heard you were lost to madness. Seems that was just a rumor.”

 

“Until recently, it wasn’t.”

 

“Did something trigger your recovery?”

 

“Meeting someone like you.”

 

“Someone like me?”

 

“Lee Gwak.”

 

“Huh…”

 

Go Geom-wol’s eyes narrowed.

 

He hadn’t expected that name here.

 

“Then you must’ve fought Yi Gwak?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Excellent.”

 

“What’s excellent?”

 

“Now I can compare the two of us — through you.”

 

A glint of competitive fire lit Go Geom-wol’s eyes.

 

His heart thundered with excitement — a rare feeling even for him.

 

Mook Jin-myeong roared:

 

“Don’t underestimate me. I’m not dead yet, Go Geom-wol!”

 

HWAHAHAK!

 

An explosive aura erupted from his entire body.

 

The confrontation with Lee Gwak had not only cured his Heart Demon but also led to a dramatic leap in his martial arts. The current him was far stronger than when he had fought Lee Gwak.

 

Mok Jin-myeong swung the iron chains on his wrists and charged at Go Geom-wol. The Ten Blood Demons from both sides followed close behind him.

 

The final battle, upon which the fate of the Celestial Demon Troupe and the Dragon Valley rested, had thus begun.