Chapter 31: Chapter 31
Shwaaak!
Blood spurted high into the sky.
Cheon Woo-jin’s figure was severed in two by Blood Immortal’s strike just like that, collapsing onto the ground.
Namgung Jin, who witnessed this, plopped down onto the ground. Rather than the fear of death, the gruesome death of a martial artist of his own age that he witnessed for the first time came as a greater shock.
“As expected of martial senior.”
The Lust Demon, whose face broke into a smile only then with relaxed tension, approached Cheon Woo-jin’s corpse.
“Eldest Martial Senior is truly amazing too. He hid his trace from the world for several decades, so I was surprised to hear that he died. Just when did he raise such a monster?”
A trace of yearning briefly crossed the Lust Demon’s face.
The disciples of the Dark Emperor were generally like that. They feared Black Elder as much as the Dark Emperor, but at times they missed his back, which had shielded them from the Dark Emperor.
When the Lust Demon was lost in thought.
“Not yet.”
Blood Immortal’s voice echoed heavily.
At those words, the Lust Demon and Namgung Jin raised their heads simultaneously, and soon the eyes of both widened in shock.
Dark clouds gathered out of nowhere. It became pitch-dark as if a flock of crows had covered the sky, and suddenly heavy, gloomy air filled the area.
Astonishment and fear appeared on the Lust Demon’s face at the same time.
“D-Don’t tell me!”
Nodding his head, Blood Immortal lightly tapped Cheon Woo-jin’s corpse, which was split in half, with his foot, and it turned into powder and scattered into the air.
It was truly a bizarre sight.
Soon, the Lust Demon and Blood Immortal turned their heads at the same time.
Standing there was Eldest Martial Senior’s disciple, who was supposed to have died split in two, looking completely unharmed.
With the Crescent Moon Staff dangling downward, he looked at the two with a dry gaze beneath the shadow cast by dark clouds.
The two unconsciously thought of one man.
“Eldest Martial Senior…”
It was as if Black Elder had returned alive. The Lust Demon’s face became gloomy like a young child facing a tiger.
Such was the fear engraved over several decades since early childhood. Just by facing the trace of Black Elder, the Lust Demon, a great demonic head who made the world tremble, looked as if she were about to shed tears at any moment.
Cheon Woo-jin approached the two with nonchalant steps. Blood Immortal scanned the sky stained with an inky shade and the gloomy air, reciting under his breath.
“Dark Sky Blood World.”
It was a one-of-a-kind illusion technique created by the Dark Emperor.
Because its subtleties were complex to the point that an ordinary human mind could not understand them, and the required inner energy manipulation ability was also at a bizarre level, only a single person among his disciples could learn that martial art.
Blood Immortal wore a tense expression for the first time.
Inheriting such a martial art meant that the bastard was a monster comparable to their master and Eldest Martial Senior.
“Since when was it?”
Blood Immortal asked out of pure curiosity. There was not even a precursor to deploying the illusion technique. Even Eldest Martial Senior Black Elder would not have been able to unfold it this elaborately and covertly.
Cheon Woo-jin answered nonchalantly.
“From the beginning.”
“…I see.”
Blood Immortal realized. A monster raised by Eldest Martial Senior to completely eradicate Master’s traces from the world stood before their eyes.
“Junior Disciple.”
At Blood Immortal’s low call, the Lust Demon turned her head.
Blood Immortal, who always held a benevolent smile, was glaring straight ahead with a stiffened expression.
Even for the Lust Demon, who had been with him since childhood, this appearance of Blood Immortal was something she had not seen in decades.
Blood Immortal spoke in a low voice.
“Prepare yourself.”
Saying so, Blood Immortal snapped open his red fan, the Blood Feather Fan. The Lust Demon also drew the slender bewitching sword at her waist.
Soon an awkward silence flowed, and…
Clang!
Blood Immortal swung the Blood Feather Fan and deflected the Crescent Moon Staff. Arriving in an instant, Cheon Woo-jin attacked the Lust Demon next to him with movements as natural as flowing water.
As the Lust Demon threw her head back, the Crescent Moon Staff narrowly grazed the tip of her chin.
Even while evading this, the Lust Demon raised the tip of her foot and kicked upward, aiming for Cheon Woo-jin’s groin.
Of course, there was no way it would reach.
Cheon Woo-jin immediately launched his body into the air. Against an ordinary enemy, it would have invited the ridicule of Blood Immortal and the Lust Demon. This was because reacting to an attack became several times more difficult while airborne. Moreover, leaping into the air when facing two or more enemies was a taboo among taboos.
However, the opponent was a monster raised by Black Elder. Neither of them could predict his methods in the slightest.
As the Blood Feather Fan slashed through the air, dark red sword wind surged and surged toward Cheon Woo-jin.
Since it was sword wind that occupied every direction and pressed in, there seemed to be no way to evade it.
Nevertheless, the Lust Demon poured out sword gang toward the front to block any potential escape route for Cheon Woo-jin.
Having poured out their respective attacks, the two watched Cheon Woo-jin’s response.
There was not the slightest fluster on Cheon Woo-jin’s face.
Cheon Woo-jin calmly retrieved the Crescent Moon Staff and thrust it out long into the air. He rotated his body with that rebound force, and simultaneously the Crescent Moon Staff drew a pitch-black circle.
Dark Sky Full Moon.
The pitch-black full moon that rose directly crushed the red sword wind and light pink sword gang. Not stopping there, its range gradually broadened, soon stretching a darkish aura all the way to where the Lust Demon and Blood Immortal were.
As much as Blood Immortal was tense, Cheon Woo-jin was also engaging in the fight with a serious mind. The martial arts of the Dark Sky were generally violent and used inner energy inefficiently.
Thus, he usually operated only as simple stances as possible, but the opponent was not that easy.
The Lust Demon aside, Blood Immortal was an expert whom even Cheon Woo-jin could not let his guard down against.
Greatly startled by the aura that poured out in an instant, the Lust Demon and Blood Immortal hurriedly stepped back.
In particular, the Lust Demon seemed to have heavier steps than usual, burdened further by the fact that her aphrodisiac poison did not work on the opponent.
The Lust Demon glanced at Blood Immortal. His expression was also dark, like someone keeping in mind the fact that he might die.
‘Damn it, looking for an opportunity, even I should run away…’
It was then.
The pitch-black full moon that filled the air scattered. However, the monster bastard who should have been at its center was nowhere to be seen.
The Lust Demon felt a chill down her spine in an instant.
“Junior Disciple!”
Blood Immortal shouted urgently. Simultaneously, the Lust Demon swung her bewitching sword and turned her body by instinct.
It was a wrong judgment. The Crescent Moon Staff was already falling helplessly over her head.
On the contrary, the Lust Demon of decades ago, before Black Elder had disappeared, might have been able to dodge it. However, the passage of several decades had dulled even the Lust Demon.
The mistake one should never make against Eldest Martial Senior wielding the Crescent Moon Staff was precisely taking the attack head-on.
But all regrets were bound to be too late.
When the bewitching sword she extended collided with the Crescent Moon Staff, it crumbled away just like a sword made of paper.
The Crescent Moon Staff did not stop there and surged forward.
Dark Thunder.
Falling like a black lightning bolt, the Crescent Moon Staff struck the Lust Demon’s crown square on.
Crunch!
The Lust Demon’s entire head burst apart, scattering blood in all directions. However, there was neither time to savor victory nor time to mourn death.
Cheon Woo-jin immediately twisted the trajectory of the Crescent Moon Staff and blocked the blood wind surging from the side.
At that sight, Blood Immortal inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration.
It felt almost grotesque that he could shift the trajectory so agilely even after using such a violent martial art like Dark Thunder.
“…”
Blood Immortal lowered the Blood Feather Fan from a short distance away. He expanded his sensory perception widely, but the Sword Demon he was waiting for had still not arrived.
While the battle entered a lull, Cheon Woo-jin glanced at Namgung Jin.
Blood Immortal’s martial prowess was higher than expected. Although he still had surplus internal energy, if he raised it further here, Namgung Jin might be swept up and killed.
Master Black Elder’s martial arts were generally destructive and had a blind aspect at the same time. Unlike those of Master White Elder, they showed the color of his masters in that they aimed solely for the complete annihilation of the opponent without caring about what was around.
“Young Hero Namgung Jin.”
“…What is it?”
Cheon Woo-jin observed Namgung Jin’s condition for a moment. The flow of qi was unstable. It meant something was causing his mind to waver greatly.
“Since the squad leaders must be worried as well, inform them of the situation and wait for the Alliance’s support.”
“But…!”
Namgung Jin could not easily take a step. This was because it meant running away while leaving a fellow alliance member behind.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke nonchalantly.
“Then will you help?”
“…”
Namgung Jin shut his mouth. A deep sense of helplessness leaking from deep inside bound his entire body. There was nothing he could do.
The fight between Cheon Woo-jin and those bastards was already at a level far beyond what Namgung Jin could handle.
He could not believe that this monster-like bastard was a young generation talent like himself. No, in fact, he was at the point of doubting whether they were even the same kind of human.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke with a sigh mixed into his voice.
“If you do not wish to leave, you may do so. However, I can no longer guarantee Young Hero Namgung Jin’s safety.”
Saying so, Cheon Woo-jin turned around without delay. In any case, since the opponent was a disciple of the Dark Emperor, he could not show his back for long.
Soon, darkish auras were drawn out in succession from Cheon Woo-jin’s entire body.
Rumble!
As the ominous aura collided with the atmosphere, an explosive roar rang out as if thunder were detonating consecutively.
Namgung Jin unknowingly stroked his tingling forearm. Even though he had merely faced the aura from afar, the emotion called fear was creeping up from within.
Namgung Jin took steps backward. One step, two steps…
His resolution that he would not run away alone crumbled rapidly. The momentum Cheon Woo-jin gave off stimulated primal human fear.
Around the time Namgung Jin was unknowingly preparing to flee like that.
“Insolent!”
A roar of anger erupted from far behind Namgung Jin.
At the same time, a refreshing yet paradoxically domineering aura squeezed into the air dominated by Cheon Woo-jin.
“F-Father?”
How could he not recognize that aura? It was the aura of the man who had exerted the greatest influence on his life throughout his entire life.
Namgung Jin was filled simultaneously with relief that he had survived and shame that he had shown an unsightly appearance.
Cheon Woo-jin’s gaze also turned toward the direction from which the aura was shot. The enormous aura that had been bothering him since earlier seemed to belong to Namgung Jin’s father. Otherwise known in the martial world as the man called by the moniker Sword King.
Soon, a figure that approached at tremendous speed landed lightly beside Namgung Jin. Straight sword eyebrows, neatly combed dark gray hair, a handsome middle-aged man with sharp and clean features.
Because he resembled Namgung Jin greatly, even if one looked without knowing, one would have been able to guess that he was an expert of the Namgung Clan.
Sword King Namgung Byeok clicked his tongue looking at his son.
“Were you perhaps trying to run away, leaving your comrade behind?”
At that low voice, Namgung Jin shuddered. He wanted to make some excuse, but he could not speak a lie before his father. When Namgung Jin merely hung his head low, Namgung Byeok shook his head as if finding it pathetic.
Soon Namgung Byeok’s gaze turned toward Blood Immortal and Cheon Woo-jin.
“Haha, so it was you, Blood Immortal. I thought my skin was tingling for a reason.”
Of course, the aura he felt was the aura of the Dark Sky emitted by Cheon Woo-jin. However, he could not have anticipated in the slightest that a young generation talent of the same age as his son had emitted such an aura.
“Heheh, even the Sword King…”
Blood Immortal let out a hollow laugh. It was the moment a simply difficult fight turned into a fight where it was hard to avoid death.
Along with Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon, the Sword King was a man counted among the top three with the sword in the world.
What was more, White Sword Hall Master Dan Woo-myeong of the Martial Alliance had even appeared behind the Sword King. Called the Sword of Bukli Cheon, he was a swordsman to be counted on one’s fingers even in the Alliance.
Lowering the Blood Feather Fan, Blood Immortal spoke.
“Sword King, long time no see.”
“Have we ever met?”
The Sword King tilted his head. He had only seen him through an arrest warrant portrait, but had no memory of meeting Blood Immortal. If he had, he would have severed Blood Immortal’s neck.
Blood Immortal wore a peculiar smile.
“Did we not meet at your banquet last year?”
“…”
The Sword King’s eyes narrowed. Last year, a banquet was held at the Namgung Clan to celebrate the Sword King’s fiftieth birthday. As the Sword King slowly retraced his memory, he let out a hollow laugh.
“So you were that artist back then.”
He remembered an unknown artist playing the pipa. Because it was truly an excellent performance, those who attended the banquet had also given him liquor and money.
To think that bastard was Blood Immortal. Even though there were several experts present at that time, including himself, not a single person had noticed.
“Truly a sinister fellow.”
At the Sword King’s lament, Blood Immortal wore his unique benevolent smile.
“Since I gifted you a good performance back then to celebrate your birthday, how about giving me a break this once?”
Blood Immortal proposed truly politely. However, the Sword King merely let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.
“The performance was excellent, but I cannot do that. Having met a public enemy of the martial world like this, how could I, as one who shoulders a pillar of the Righteous Path, simply let you go?”
“I see.”
Blood Immortal nodded his head. Soon, the Black Tortoise Squad and Heavenly Tiger Squad arrived in succession and lined up on the path behind the White Sword Hall Master.
“Young Hero Cheon!”
“Youngest Cheon!”
Cheol Ji-ak and Song Yi-yeon burst into cries of astonishment upon seeing Cheon Woo-jin facing Blood Immortal.
Staring blankly at them, Blood Immortal spoke.
“Since even the Sword King has stepped forward, it would be safe to assume that the probability of me returning alive is zero. In that case…”
Blood Immortal extended his index finger and pointed at someone in the Black Tortoise Squad.
“You bastard. And you bastard next to him with the scar on the chin. Also, that woman with dyed hair over there and…”
Soon, Blood Immortal singled out a total of thirty martial artists regardless of the Heavenly Tiger Squad or Black Tortoise Squad, and then gave a grin.
“I should make you my conversational companions on the boring road to the underworld.”
As Blood Immortal spoke, red water droplets like blood emerged one drop, two drops from his entire body, and soon his surroundings were dyed completely red.
Shwaaaa!
The red droplets densely adorning his surroundings rotated like a whirlwind, enveloping Blood Immortal.
Blood Rain Mountain Pile. It was a blood art that had crushed one thousand martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Cult on the spot during the clash between the Dark Emperor and the martial world.
At the same time, the figures of Cheon Woo-jin and the Sword King moved.