〈 Episode 548 〉 Sword Demon (劍魔).
Swish—!
A blade wreathed in sword gang glided through the air.
Shhhhk—!
There was no pause, and the number of blades was beyond counting.
Sword paths that looked almost chaotic.
Yet within them, a clear pattern existed.
Hardships of many years, combinations honed through them.
Movements to cut off footwork and punish the opponent.
Several dozen such swords moved in coordinated forms.
Solely to capture a single person.
Judging by the situation alone, it was a flow no one could survive.
Yet, astonishingly, the opponent withstood the onslaught as though entirely unbothered.
Watching this, the branch leader of the Murim Alliance Guangdong Branch.
The Hwagyeong martial artist Wiseok had to furrow his brow.
‘What?’
Thud—!
“Keuk!”
Amidst the chaotic scene, someone shot into the sky.
Starting with one.
Thud—! Thud-thud—!
The Alliance’s martial artists fell in succession.
‘What in the world is that…!’
Wiseok had to widen his eyes at that sight.
A typhoon.
A typhoon of swords was raging, yet how could that man remain so calm?
Like the very eye of a typhoon.
His swordsmanship was brilliant and precise.
Guangdong, a place where unorthodox practitioners swarmed in particular.
They were individuals trained in such a place to catch demonic beasts and criminals alike.
Were their cultivations low? Not at all.
Based on the report he had received from Seodong, since he was presumed to be at least a Hwagyeong martial artist, they had assembled strong individuals and come.
Excluding anyone below first-rate.
All were peak martial artists.
In addition, two at the Daeju level and himself, one at the Hwagyeong realm.
By full strength, it was a level that could even capture a so-called ‘Gaju-level’ martial artist.
Yet the opponent seemed completely unfazed.
Shhhhk—! Swords rushed in.
No.
They tried to.
Clang—!
The one swinging his sword lost his grip from a sudden impact.
Crack—!
“Keuk!”
He rolled his eyes back from the ensuing impact and collapsed.
While one fell, two from the rear charged in.
But it was the same for them.
They tried swinging their swords with all their might, but.
Bang—!
“Heok!”
“Keok!”
Their directions twisted, and the sword paths crumbled.
From the bursting impact that followed, they were flung far away.
Those sent flying all lost consciousness without exception.
It had been only a brief moment since the battle began.
“Auuugh….”
“Uuuh….”
Groans filled the wide plain.
Sharp swords were stuck in the ground or strewn carelessly across the field.
“...”
Wiseok’s expression as he watched was full of shock.
When everyone had collapsed on the ground, gasping in pain.
At the center of it all stood one young man.
He was holding the collar of the very member who had been attacking him until moments ago.
Without a drop of sweat, he glanced around the vicinity with dry eyes.
Then he scoffed and spoke.
“You must’ve all been sleepy? How sleepy do you have to be to lie down this early. Am I right?”
“...”
Wiseok could not offer any answer to the question.
Because he was busy assessing the situation.
‘This is bad.’
In that short span of time, so many martial artists had fallen.
Moreover.
‘They’re all breathing properly.’
They were merely gasping for breath. Not a single one was dead.
It meant he had subdued every last one of them without killing.
Tap.
When the young man let go, the one held by the collar also slumped over.
Now, standing in this plain were only Wiseok and that young man.
Watching that, Wiseok felt something cold run down his spine.
‘He’s different.’
An alien atmosphere despite his young appearance.
That alone was more than enough to put anyone on guard.
But from the combat style just now, Wiseok had sensed even more.
‘I couldn’t enter.’
While countless people had been fighting in a tangled mess.
Originally, Wiseok too should have intervened to subdue that man.
But he had not been able to.
And it was not because Wiseok had been merely watching.
‘He intended for this.’
To prevent Wiseok from entering the battle. Every movement line had been fitted to block him.
Because of that, Wiseok had been unable to lift a finger even as his subordinates fell.
‘How is that possible?’
How could he create such a situation within that complex chaos?
This was only possible with immense experience in fighting multiple opponents.
“...”
Wiping away flowing sweat, Wiseok opened his mouth.
“…There is something I wish to ask.”
At those words, Guyangcheon held a faint smile.
“In this situation? What a curious fellow.”
“The Guwon Sword Demon, Domungang.”
“Hm?”
At the somewhat familiar name, Guyangcheon tilted his head.
“Hm….”
Domungang… Domungang.
“Ah.”
He remembered.
“So it was that guy.”
The man he had killed a few days ago.
His name was probably Domungang.
‘The guy lurking around the Bigo.’
One of the reasons Guyangcheon had come here.
Was for the secret vault containing ten-thousand-year cold iron.
He had clashed with someone lingering around that vault.
‘When we fought, he was an unorthodox practitioner, so I think I killed him.’
Had he been one of the Samoje?
He seemed to have said so himself during the fight.
He hadn’t paid it much mind.
‘He was too weak to be called that.’
He couldn’t fathom how the man was called one of the Samoje, but by Guyangcheon’s judgment, Domungang had not reached that level.
Seeing Guyangcheon’s reaction, Wiseok swallowed hard.
“…As expected.”
“How did you know?”
Guyangcheon showed no particular intention of hiding it.
“Domungang died suddenly a few days ago, and a master of your level appeared in a region not far away. I thought there must be a connection.”
“Ahh.”
Only then did Guyangcheon understand Wiseok’s actions.
“So that’s why you brought this much force?”
“…The answer is the same as before. I merely wished to escort you respectfully.”
“But if I’d refused, you intended to capture me by force.”
Wiseok did not answer Guyangcheon’s words.
He simply.
Shhhing.
Raised his sword and pointed it at Guyangcheon.
“What is your purpose….”
“This old man is funny. You guys try to drag me in, and then ask what my purpose is….”
“This is a situation you intended.”
A pause.
At Wiseok’s words, Guyangcheon erased the smile on his face.
“Oh.”
And a brief exclamation of admiration.
Guyangcheon narrowed his eyes at Wiseok.
“On what basis?”
“I saw the report my subordinate submitted. About discovering a master who had tamed a demonic beast.”
Wiseok said this, looking at Seodong, who had collapsed.
“And even news that you were looking for information on the infamous murderous fiend of late.”
“But.”
“I did not think deeply on it. But looking back now, it is suspicious.”
“What is?”
Gulp.
Wiseok swallowed dryly and looked at Guyangcheon.
“I speak of why you left him alive to make a report.”
“...”
“It is a story that would be best kept secret, and you could have obtained enough information and killed him. Yet you deliberately let my subordinate live and sent him to report to me.”
The death of the Guwon Sword Demon.
And at the same time, the appearance of an unidentified master.
Moreover, one searching for a murderous fiend, carrying a monstrous beast capable of devouring a red demonic beast.
“Did you deliberately reveal such information to me?”
To deliberately make it reach him.
Could that not have been his intention?
Such a thought flashed through Wiseok’s mind, and.
Upon hearing it, Guyangcheon.
“Smarter than you look?”
Showed no particular denial, just as before.
That reaction instead made Wiseok uneasy.
“…What in the world is your purpose?”
“Purpose, you say.”
Crack.
Guyangcheon loosened his body slightly.
“Originally, I was planning to visit the branch directly before leaving.”
“You mean the Guangdong Branch?”
“That’s right. I had business there.”
“What kind of…?”
“But that became unnecessary. Because that business came right before my eyes, didn’t it?”
Spitting out the words, Guyangcheon pointed at something with his hand.
Wiseok flinched at that.
Because the fingertips pointed at none other than himself.
“…Are you saying I am your purpose?”
“No, not quite to the point of being a purpose. Just something to pass through on the way?”
“Why on earth?”
Wiseok asked, harboring doubt.
He could not help it.
Wiseok had no reason to hold a grudge against such a person, nor could he immediately think of any connection.
Yet he was the purpose? Wiseok could not understand.
To this, Guyangcheon looked at Wiseok and spoke.
“Is there more to talk about?”
“...”
“After all, there’s only one thing you need to do now, isn’t there?”
Hearing Guyangcheon’s words, Wiseok bit his lip at a story that suddenly came to mind.
“…There was a story that spread through the Alliance’s communications.”
News he had heard only seven days ago.
“News that several key members of the Alliance had been assassinated in the Central Plains recently.”
“Wow, there’s such a story?”
Guyangcheon put on an expression as if hearing something interesting, but.
At this, Wiseok had to furrow his brow.
“Are you the culprit?”
“What do you think?”
Step.
As Guyangcheon took a step, Wiseok also raised his energy.
He cooled his mind.
Having watched the battle until now, he could not let his guard down.
‘Whatever his intention is, I will not back down.’
Saaaah—!
Ganggi coalesced around Wiseok’s sword.
The ferocious aura erupting from him enveloped the surroundings.
He would go all out from the start.
It would have been good to subdue him together with his subordinates beforehand, but since that was impossible, he could not hesitate.
‘Aim for the lower body.’
Having judged so, Wiseok moved.
The moment his sword was about to be swung through the air.
Snap—!
“…!!”
Before he could even build his momentum, Wiseok’s arm twisted.
Guyangcheon had appeared out of nowhere and shattered his joint.
“Kuuugh!”
But Wiseok immediately switched his sword to his twisted arm and spun his body again.
Crack! Pop!
Before his movement could even begin, he was blocked.
His knees gave way as shock pounded into his chest.
“Keoheok…!”
Slump.
Wiseok knelt helplessly.
Drip.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. Though only a single exchange had passed, Wiseok’s body had become a wreck.
“Keu… uugh….”
Wiseok looked up at Guyangcheon with disbelieving eyes.
Standing before him and looking down, Guyangcheon’s gaze held no emotion at all.
“I asked earlier. Why you were the purpose.”
“…Keuheu… heuu….”
“I don’t particularly hold a grudge against the present you.”
Guyangcheon spoke, lowering his gaze slightly and locking eyes with Wiseok.
“It’s because I have some business with the past you.”
“…Wha… what… words… are these….”
“Do you know?”
A light flashed in Guyangcheon’s eyes.
“Starting from now, in a war about three years from now, you will command a fairly decent unit.”
By name, the Seolhwa Unit, I think. Probably so.
“It was a decent unit. The Daeju there handled things quite well.”
Though the voice was spoken playfully, Wiseok felt suffocated by an inexplicable aura.
“But halfway through, those bastards betrayed us.”
“…Huu… hu… ke… huu….”
“In the process, a woman standing at the very front got stabbed and nearly died.”
“What… in the world… are you… saying… now….”
“Blood was pouring out, and I carried her on my back and ran like mad. Even though it was raining.”
A back drenched in blood.
Rain pouring down as if to wash it away.
All the way to the cave they had fled to.
“Even now, remembering that time makes me feel filthy.”
A memory of that day he had never been able to forget.
That is why Guyangcheon had to say this to the present Wiseok.
“That’s the reason I wanted to see you.”
“Such… impossible….”
Crunch.
Wiseok could continue no further.
Because Guyangcheon swung his fist and smashed his head.
Thud—!
Wiseok’s headless body collapsed to the ground.
Guyangcheon roughly wiped the blood off on his clothes and stood up.
And immediately walked somewhere.
Tap-tap.
He nudged someone with his foot among the fallen.
“I know you’re awake.”
“…!”
The person Guyangcheon was nudging was none other than Seodong.
Seodong, who had fainted in the battle, had just regained consciousness.
To him, Guyangcheon spoke.
“You won’t be able to get up right away, so don’t force yourself. Just listen.”
“…Sa… save… me… plea….”
“I’m not going to kill you, so don’t be scared. I’m still talking, so don’t interrupt me. Or I might cut something else?”
“...”
Seodong’s mouth clamped shut at Guyangcheon’s words.
“I just killed your branch leader, right?”
“...”
“Then what should you do?”
“...”
“You can answer this one.”
“…! I will never speak…! Until death, I shall remain silent…!”
“No, that’s not it.”
At Seodong’s reaction, Guyangcheon seemed displeased.
“If you’re a sword squad of the Murim Alliance renowned for overflowing righteousness, you can’t do that, can you? You have to follow procedure.”
“What… do you mean….”
“You’re good at reporting, right? Do exactly that. Write down everything about the current situation and report it up the chain properly.”
Guyangcheon’s eyes were clearly smiling as he said this.
“And regarding the culprit’s information, write it down like this.”
Guyangcheon approached Seodong and spoke.
“The Heavenly Demon.”
Seodong flinched and trembled at that voice.
“That’s why I’m keeping you alive. Remember?”
“…Wai….”
Smack—!
“Keok.”
As if he had nothing more to say, Guyangcheon struck the back of Seodong’s neck and knocked him out again.
Thus, there was no one conscious in all directions.
Except for Guyangcheon and the young man watching this.
“It seems the business here is roughly done….”
Spitting out words as if tidying up, Guyangcheon shifted his gaze.
It was toward the Sword Demon leaning his back against a tree stump.
The Sword Demon had his eyes wide open, unable to believe the current situation.
To him, Guyangcheon spoke.
“Hey.”
“…!!”
The Sword Demon started in surprise at the call.
Guyangcheon, who had not even properly wiped the blood splattered on his face, was especially terrifying.
Yet for some reason, the Sword Demon could not tear his eyes away from that sight.
Guyangcheon spoke.
“What’s your name?”
“...”
Words asked offhandedly.
At this, the Sword Demon spoke hesitantly.
For some reason, he felt compelled to answer.
“…Yul… Seongyul… sir.”
“Seongyul?”
Upon hearing the name, Guyangcheon laughed as if hollow.
“It really doesn’t suit you at all. What’s with that goody-goody name?”
Saying so, he turned and walked away.
After a few steps, Guyangcheon turned his head to look at Seongyul.
“What are you doing? Follow me.”
“…!”
Follow him?
As Seongyol held confusion, Guyangcheon continued.
“Ah, if you don’t want to go, tell me in advance.”
At the moment he wondered if he could stay if he refused.
“Because I’ll have to break your legs and carry you.”
“...”
Seongyul carefully raised himself at those words.