“Heavenly Demon….”
The Sword Immortal immediately frowned upon hearing the man’s introduction.
“So it is you.”
His voice was filled with force, as though he were forcibly suppressing his battle intent.
“The man who reduced Wudang to a wasteland.”
[Ah.]
The Heavenly Demon reacted to the Sword Immortal’s words.
[That’s right. That happened too.]
His response was as though he had briefly forgotten about it.
The Sword Immortal’s expression grew even more rotten at that reaction.
It had happened at Wudang’s own headquarters, of all places.
As if an intruder’s invasion had not been enough, one of their elders had even been murdered.
The incident had nearly diminished Wudang’s standing.
And yet this man did not even remember such a thing?
[My apologies.]
Perhaps the Sword Immortal’s reaction had been obvious, because the Heavenly Demon spoke with a chuckle.
[It was such a trifling matter that I briefly forgot about it.]
“You—!”
The Sword Immortal nearly exploded at those words, but—
“Grit….”
He clenched his teeth and somehow endured it.
He could not lose his temper. There were simply too many eyes watching.
“I ask you…. Are you truly the mastermind behind…this incident?”
For now, he questioned him in order to ascertain the truth.
[Hmm.]
At the Sword Immortal’s question, the Heavenly Demon tilted his head.
Then—
[Old monster of Wudang. It seems you are mistaken about something.]
He spoke as though he were teaching the Sword Immortal a lesson.
[I have never granted you permission to ask me questions. Why, then, are you questioning me?]
“What…?”
[Do not misunderstand.]
Ssssssssss.
The black aura spread around them began to grow denser.
[I do not engage in conversation with insects.]
“…!!”
Insects.
The Sword Immortal’s face, reduced to that of an insect in an instant, flushed crimson.
[Even so, the reason I deign to speak with you is that I happen to be in a good mood today.]
Hehehe.
The Heavenly Demon moved his feet with a laugh.
He had drawn a little closer to the barrier.
[Had that not been the case…. You would not even be able to hold your heads up before me.]
The words were arrogant beyond measure.
There were countless people trapped inside the barrier, each possessing considerable strength.
And yet how could this man called the Heavenly Demon be so arrogant?
No one could understand it.
At that moment.
The Heavenly Demon slowly approached the barrier.
Beneath it were countless people struggling to dispel it.
“You—!!”
Though the old man had failed to notice them, the Heavenly Demon seemed able to see them. Most of those beneath the barrier began displaying hostility toward him.
They looked ready to charge at him at any moment.
Even as he watched this, the Heavenly Demon continued walking without the slightest concern.
And when he finally reached them—
[Stay still.]
Vrooooom—!!!
“…!”
“Guh!?”
At the Heavenly Demon’s words, everyone froze like stone.
[Until I grant permission, do not even dare to breathe.]
“…Ngh….”
A single word had truly halted their breathing.
How was this possible?
With a single sentence, he had subdued dozens of people.
It was an overwhelming sight.
The Heavenly Demon silently passed between them.
The martial artists could do nothing but tremble and watch him go by.
Vwoom.
As he neared the barrier, the barrier of qi began to vibrate. It was a force that bound the feet of those inside. No one could determine its principles or discover its weakness.
[It seems the shelter we prepared is cozier than we expected. The way you are trapped resembles livestock, so it suits you quite well.]
Those inside stiffened at the insulting words.
[Heh heh.]
Perhaps their reactions amused him. The Heavenly Demon suddenly let out a laugh.
Then—
“Remove it. Remove this barrier at once!”
Perhaps that laughter had been the problem, because the Sword Immortal shouted with a reddened face.
“If you are so confident, then try receiving my sword as well!”
Had his pride been thoroughly wounded?
The Sword Immortal looked ready to engage the Heavenly Demon in a battle to the death at any moment.
The Sword Immortal’s appearance was rather amusing.
[Were you not so ignorant of your place, I would like nothing more than to show you what the heavens are….]
Thrum.
As the Heavenly Demon spoke, the tips of his feet slowly rose into the air.
At the same time, the old man who was said to be a blood relative of the Zhuge Clan also floated into the air.
[But I have too much to do to indulge in a clown’s little performance.]
“Are you running away?”
Seeing that the Heavenly Demon had no intention of fighting, the Sword Immortal spoke mockingly.
But the Heavenly Demon’s response remained unchanged.
[Old monster.]
The Heavenly Demon questioned the Sword Immortal.
[If you truly wish for me to fight, then what exactly do you intend to use to face me?]
“If you are only going to spout pointless drivel, I have no intention of—”
[Is that as the head of Wudang? Or as the Alliance Master?]
“…”
The Sword Immortal’s mouth stopped in the middle of his words.
For a moment, he was rendered speechless. Seeing this, the Heavenly Demon nodded as though he had expected it.
[You mongrel who has not even awakened to your own essence. That is why you are unworthy of reaching me.]
“Ridiculous—!”
The Sword Immortal belatedly tried to continue, but the Heavenly Demon had already lost interest and was slowly moving away from the barrier.
[Bring me an answer I will find pleasing next time.]
“Stop! Release this barrier at once—!”
[Watch from within your cage for now. Watch as the rotten peace you created is shattered.]
Bang! Bang bang!
The Sword Immortal repeatedly unleashed sword force in a fury—
but, as before, the barrier absorbed it, causing it to vanish without effect.
[Be grateful for my mercy.]
The Heavenly Demon smiled as he watched the Sword Immortal struggle.
[I came today merely to offer my greetings, so I will let this pass. There will be no next time.]
Ssssssssss—!!!
The aura spreading in every direction began converging upon the Heavenly Demon.
The black mist was gradually being sucked into his surroundings.
[This is a festival I prepared as part of my greeting.]
Not only did the countless people on the ground stare at him, but those inside the barrier did as well.
Some wore furious expressions, while others showed hints of fear.
Some shouted, and others trembled, but even amid the chaos, the Heavenly Demon’s voice remained clear.
[So, please.]
[I hope you enjoy yourselves.]
With those words—
Whoooosh—!!!
Bwoooom—!!
The sphere that had formed exploded, spewing forth light.
And before long, when their vision returned, neither the Heavenly Demon nor the sphere that had floated in the sky was anywhere to be seen.
The man called the Heavenly Demon had vanished, taking the old man with him.
As proof, those on the ground began breathing again after having held their breath.
“Hah…! Cough!”
“Cough! Cough!”
Perhaps because they had been forced to hold their breath, everyone staggered and could not even regain a proper stance.
The expressions of the others were no different.
A faint disappointment appeared on the faces of the civilians who had failed to escape.
It was the gaze of people looking upon themselves—powerless, trapped before the mastermind who had created this disaster.
Upon witnessing this, the Sword Immortal—
“Aaaaaaaaah—!!!”
could hold back no longer and finally let out a roar.
****************
Boom! Boom!
-Kill them all—!
-Guh—! Reform the formation!
-Protect the civilians—!
Boom! Rumble—!
It was around the time when disorderly noises and harsh explosions raged through the area in the wake of the assault.
The air had grown chaotic from the internal energy of the martial artists.
Even the abnormal signs spreading across the sky were out of place amid the current situation.
Amid a scene that showed every sign of a disaster unfolding, a young man silently walked forward.
An ink-colored Daoist robe.
Faint golden embroidery set into it.
A young man wearing a black ring signifying his direct descent from the Paeng Clan.
Paeng Ujin, the Flying Star Saber.
Though Paeng Ujin possessed handsome features, he gave off an eerie air as he silently walked on while supporting his father, the Saber King.
He was some distance away from the county seat in Henan.
It was not a place where the Paeng Clan’s martial artists would gather, yet Paeng Ujin continued walking in silence.
After walking for quite some time—
-Kill him—!
-Endure just a little longer! The ritual will be complete soon!
Clang! Clang clang—!!
The sounds of battle reached him from a sparsely populated area.
Paeng Ujin’s ears perked up at the noise.
He stopped walking and—
Thud.
Carefully lowered the Saber King whom he had been supporting.
The unconscious Saber King collapsed limply.
Shing.
At the same time, Paeng Ujin drew the treasured saber from his waist.
It was a thinner and somewhat shorter saber than the one wielded by his father, Paeng Jeo-u.
Srrk—!
The moment Paeng Ujin took a step forward, the surroundings changed, and he arrived somewhere else.
Whoosh! Clang—!!
Astonishingly, he had arrived in the very center of the battle.
It was the middle of a vicious battlefield where blades clashed chaotically.
“Huh?!”
“What—?!”
Confusion spread for an instant at Paeng Ujin’s sudden appearance.
But that bewilderment lasted only a moment.
Slice—!
A cruel sound rang out.
Someone’s head was severed and rolled across the ground.
The neck of a man dressed in black martial robes had been cut by Paeng Ujin’s hand.
The others widened their eyes at the sword strike that had taken place in the blink of an eye.
Ssssssssh—!!!
Paeng Ujin’s hand moved so quickly that it could not even be seen.
Then—
“Gheeeuk!”
“Aaaaaaargh!!”
Screams erupted from every direction.
They began collapsing brutally beneath his slashing blows.
Thud, thud.
The hacked corpses were scattered in pieces across the ground, and blood soaked the earth.
And Paeng Ujin, the one who had created this scene, was utterly calm by contrast.
His face showed no emotion whatsoever.
At that moment.
Someone approached Paeng Ujin as he quietly observed the carnage.
They were the people who had been fighting his opponents.
“Th-thank you for your assistance.”
The fierce battle had ended in an instant, and they were filled with confusion.
At their voices, Paeng Ujin turned his gaze toward them.
Pale blue martial robes with white embroidery. They were members of the Martial Alliance.
The man at their head spoke to Paeng Ujin first.
“My name is Mo Unseong of the Azure Dragon Corps. Are you Flying Star Saber Paeng Ujin?”
Nod.
When Paeng Ujin confirmed it, Mo Unseong’s expression brightened.
“Ah—!! As expected…! Thank you very much. Since the battle began so suddenly, we were unable to respond properly.”
“What happened?”
Perhaps because Paeng Ujin had just helped them in battle, Mo Unseong was quite friendly toward him.
“It seems an assault has taken place in Henan. They said the abnormality in the sky was also caused by these people.”
After hearing the explanation, Paeng Ujin glanced behind him.
Now that he looked more closely, they were all wearing the same clothes.
“An assault….”
“Yes…. Not only the scouts, but they also somehow managed to penetrate areas with relatively weak forces, making it difficult to respond….”
“That works perfectly.”
“Pardon?”
Slice.
“Huh?”
Something seemed to brush past Mo Unseong’s neck.
Wondering what had happened, Mo Unseong touched his neck.
Gush—!
Blood streamed from his throat.
Slowly, his head fell away.
“Captain Mo?! What suddenly—!”
The others expressed their bewilderment at Mo Unseong’s death, but—
Srrrk—!!
The man who had been speaking was soon killed as well, his upper body severed.
It was the same slash as before.
Before they could even properly ask a question, every member of the Alliance had died within mere seconds.
There was far more blood than before.
Splish.
Each time Paeng Ujin moved, wet footsteps rang out.
In the space where everyone had died, Paeng Ujin turned around without hesitation.
Then he slowly walked somewhere else.
It was where Paeng Jeo-u lay.
When he finally reached his destination—
“Ugh… ngh….”
Astonishingly, Paeng Jeo-u began to regain consciousness.
“Uuugh… ngh…. Ah….”
As though he were in considerable pain, Paeng Jeo-u repeatedly groaned, frowning as he opened his eyes.
“…Where…?”
“Have you awoken?”
Paeng Ujin calmly questioned him as he looked down at Paeng Jeo-u.
Paeng Jeo-u’s eyes turned toward his son.
“…Young Patriarch.”
“Would it not have been better to sleep a little longer? You must be in considerable pain.”
“Where is this…? Huh!”
As he was about to ask, a memory suddenly came to Paeng Jeo-u, and he reacted violently.
“That…bastard…! That son of a—where is he…?”
That bastard.
At the words referring to someone, Paeng Ujin smiled faintly.
He had a good idea who it was.
“Are you referring to Young Master Gu?”
“Yes. That damned son of the Gu Clan…. I am asking where that bastard is!”
The son of Gu Cheorun, whom even tearing limb from limb would not satisfy.
Where was that wretched bastard who had reduced him to this state?
Paeng Jeo-u ground his teeth as he asked, but—
“I cannot say. I do not know.”
Paeng Ujin’s response was utterly devoid of emotion.
However, Paeng Jeo-u, who was not in his right mind, failed to notice.
“If you do not know, then find him. Search even if you have to pour out every last soldier of the clan!”
“…Hmm.”
Could he have been tainted by madness?
Paeng U-jin asked as he looked at his father, whose state was strange.
“What do you intend to do once you find him?”
“What do you think? I’ll tear him apart and kill him. Yes, I could rip him to shreds and send him as a present to that damned Gu Cheol-un. Heh heh heh!”
“...”
Paeng Jeo-u’s eyes were already filled with nothing but vengeance and resentment.
Broken and miserable.
As he watched, Paeng U-jin gave a slight nod, careful not to let it show.
“Understood.”
“Now, first, I’ll have to inform the other elders—”
Puk!
“...Kuh...!?”
A pain pierced through his chest.
At the sudden agony, Paeng Jeo-u lowered his head.
Something was lodged in his chest.
“Cough...”
Blood welled up violently, and the veins in Paeng Jeo-u’s neck bulged.
“You... bastard...?”
Paeng Jeo-u stared at Paeng U-jin as though he could not believe what he was seeing.
His dao had pierced Paeng Jeo-u’s heart.
“Wh... What are you... doing...?”
“What a strange question.”
Paeng U-jin smiled at Paeng Jeo-u’s question.
It was a bright smile, one Paeng Jeo-u had never seen before.
“Even if I am an incompetent father... surely you should understand something like this.”
“...Cough...!”
“I am now.”
He pressed down.
The dao sank a little deeper. As he did so, Paeng U-jin spoke to Paeng Jeo-u.
“In the process of inheriting the position of Family Head, Father.”
“You... you bastard...!”
“When I was young. Perhaps so young that you do not even remember it well. There was always something I wondered about.”
It might have been around the time he first began to speak.
Or perhaps it had happened sometime later. It was not particularly important.
What mattered was this.
“I wondered just how long you would remain incompetent, Father... I was so curious about it. But now I think I know.”
Only now did Paeng U-jin become certain.
“You will remain incompetent from the day you are born until the day you die, Father.”
“...Uuuugh...!!!”
Desperate to break free, Paeng Jeo-u gripped the dao tightly.
But Paeng U-jin’s dao did not move even an inch.
“Khuk... Ghk... Cough...”
The pain intensified, and blood continued to flow.
His consciousness was gradually fading.
“Ghk... Why... How...”
What in the world was the reason?
Paeng Jeo-u could not understand.
Why would Paeng U-jin betray him?
His mind was filled with questions.
And Paeng U-jin understood that much about those questions as well.
“That is right. You cannot understand, Father.”
By the time he had become the heir apparent, there was no one but him capable of succeeding to the position of Family Head.
The collateral branches and blood relatives were incompetent. They were nothing but a crowd of useless and despicable men.
Even without doing this, he would have inherited the position of Family Head.
“But it does not matter. Even if you do not understand.”
Paeng U-jin truly did not care.
“So please die as incompetently as you have lived, right up to the very end.”
There was no place for incompetence in the Paeng Clan he would lead from now on.
Fwish!
“Cough... Hah...”
The dao that had pierced through his heart was pulled free. Blood burst from Paeng Jeo-u’s chest.
“Ha... Hah... Huu... Ghk...”
Paeng Jeo-u breathed several times, as if yearning for life, but before long, the light in his eyes faded away.
One of the Four Great Families.
The Family Head of the Great Hebei Paeng Clan.
The final moments of the Blade King, Paeng Jeo-u, were thus.
“...”
Paeng U-jin silently watched his father meet his death, then turned away with a slightly hardened expression.
There were still several matters left to deal with, and he was about to set out to handle them when—
Vwoong.
“...!”
Something entered Paeng U-jin’s senses.
He immediately moved.
At that moment—
Swoooooosh—!!!
Something unknown flew rapidly toward the place where Paeng U-jin had been standing.
Kuaaaang—!!
It struck the ground and caused an enormous explosion.
Fragments flew in every direction, and clouds of dust billowed into the air.
“...”
The impact had been so tremendous that the ground was left in complete disarray.
“Heh heh heh heh.”
From within the dust came a laughter brimming with malice.
Paeng U-jin frowned when he heard it.
Whoooosh—!!
A fierce blast of wind swept through, dispersing the dust. The figure within it was revealed.
A huge man in dark robes, his green hair hanging loose and disheveled.
He gripped a crescent-bladed glaive as large as his own body and glared at Paeng U-jin.
Who was he?
A question arose in Paeng U-jin’s mind, but rather than ask it, he tightened his grip on his favored weapon.
It did not matter who he was.
That man had to die here.
And besides—
“It is you.”
Perhaps the same was true of his opponent, for killing intent radiated from every inch of his body.
“You are the strong one I could feel even from far away. It is you.”
Guaaaargh—!!
The man violently raised his energy, and Paeng U-jin’s eyes widened at the sight.
‘...Color?’
A world of gray.
In Paeng U-jin’s dim, darkened vision, color began to bloom.
The man was gradually being dyed in a violet hue.
Beautiful.
That thought passed unconsciously through Paeng U-jin’s mind, but—
Whiiing!
Paeng U-jin swung his dao first.
Black qi gathered along its blade.
As if he had no need for conversation, the man swung his glaive as well.
Kuguguguk—!!!
As the blades collided, a battle to the death began.