Chronicles of the Silver Dragon, Episode 55
Taking advantage of sparsely populated areas, Jehwa's group quickly headed toward Liaoning.
Normally, such places would be swarming with bandits, but with countless government troops flocking to Liaoning these days, bandits were rarely seen.
The occasional government troops they encountered were skillfully avoided by the group.
After running for nearly a week using qinggong, Jehwa's group was soon able to reach the vicinity of Gaizhou.
"The security is tight."
"There are even martial artists."
As Hong Yuhwa whistled and spoke, I Seolhye also spoke while looking at the martial artists among the government troops.
"They must be warriors from the Murong family and the surrounding sects."
"Hmm……."
At Sawollin's words, Jehwa tilted his head and then asked Hong Yuhwa.
"Are we going inside?"
"Yes, I need to investigate."
Hong Yuhwa nodded at Jehwa's question.
"Can we break through that security?"
When I Seolhye spoke with a worried expression, Hong Yuhwa smiled brightly.
"You two probably can't. But Jehwa and I can easily break through."
"Are you saying you'll go just the two of you?"
Sawollin's face contorted at Hong Yuhwa's words.
"Obviously."
"Kah! Do you think I'll just let that happen?"
"If you're confident you won't get caught, then follow us."
"……."
Hong Yuhwa spoke with an expression of scorn while looking at the fuming Sawollin. And at those words, Sawollin's face twisted.
"Then go alone. Jehwa stays here."
"I want to go too."
Sawollin narrowed her brow at Jehwa's words.
"Why?"
"Over there… there's something. Something very familiar……."
As Jehwa muttered blankly while looking at Gaizhou, Sawollin, who had stiffened for a moment, let out a deep sigh.
"If you say that… I can't stop you either……."
"Good, then we're going tonight, right now!"
As soon as Sawollin finished speaking, Hong Yuhwa shouted energetically.
***
*Crackle! Crackle!*
It wasn't deep into the night yet. They prepared to camp, and a campfire was lit.
Jehwa crouched in front of the campfire, staring blankly at it, and perhaps finding that sight cute, Hong Yuhwa smiled gently as she looked at him.
Meanwhile, Sawollin wore an uncomfortable expression, and I Seolhye began to nod off drowsily.
"I'm going to scout the situation."
Hong Yuhwa rose from her seat and disappeared into the darkness.
An awkward silence began to settle in.
And it was Sawollin who broke that brief silence.
"Jehwa."
"Hmm?"
Sawollin, who had been watching the campfire, called out to Jehwa, and he responded to her call.
"How is it, coming out into the world?"
"Well… it's very different from the village. So many people are living here… so many things. It can't even be compared to the village."
"Really?"
Sawollin smiled at Jehwa's words.
"But it's a bit noisy. It's fun, but… still, sometimes it's so noisy that it gets a little annoying."
Watching Jehwa grumble, Sawollin smiled softly.
"That's what it means to be alive."
"I see."
Jehwa made an expression of understanding at Sawollin's words.
"When your revenge against the Blood Cult is over… what will you do?"
"Who knows? Won't I have to return to the village?"
"Even though there's no one there?"
Sawollin asked with a puzzled expression at Jehwa's words.
"There's no one there. That's why it'll be so quiet… but it's where I grew up."
Jehwa said with a bright smile.
It was a heartbreaking story, but Jehwa smiled joyfully, seemingly unaware of the sorrow.
Sawollin found that sight even more heartbreaking.
He had been the same when all the villagers had died in the past.
He hadn't hurt or sorrowed.
The only thing Jehwa could do then was smile and say he would take revenge.
It was still the same now.
Even after seeing that vast world, the boy before her eyes hadn't grown in the slightest.
His strength was incomparably greater than before, but to Sawollin, he was still merely a small child.
A poor, pitiful little child…….
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
"Don't go anywhere leaving me behind. Let's always stay together. If you're going back to the village… let me come with you."
"You too?"
"Yeah. You'll be bored alone. So I'll go with you."
"Um… okay. I won't be bored if I'm with you."
After pondering briefly, Jehwa spoke with a bashful smile.
Just as Sawollin smiled at that laughter…….
"So you like not being bored. In that case, I'll follow too."
Hong Yuhwa, who had appeared at some point, spoke with an annoyed expression.
"Why would you follow!"
At Hong Yuhwa's words, Sawollin also made an annoyed expression and spoke.
"It's my will."
Hong Yuhwa stuck her tongue out at Sawollin's words and looked at Jehwa.
"Now, let's get going."
"Yeah, I'll be back."
At Hong Yuhwa's words, Jehwa smiled brightly, spoke to Sawollin, and then disappeared into the darkness with her.
***
"Anyway, if I let my guard down for a moment, something goes wrong!"
"What?"
"No, nothing."
Jehwa tilted his head while looking at the irritated Hong Yuhwa. Then Hong Yuhwa waved her hand and spoke.
Having entered Gaizhou in an instant, Jehwa pinched his nose and complained.
"Ugh, the stench of rot."
"So many people died all at once; it can't be helped."
Such things were commonplace in the Demon Realm, so unlike the startled Jehwa, Hong Yuhwa was perfectly fine.
Well, it wasn't because of any terrible sight; Jehwa had panicked because of the smell.
Anyway, Hong Yuhwa moved away from Jehwa and began surveying Gaizhou here and there.
"No particular abnormalities. One of those guys might be hiding… or they might have done something here……."
Hong Yuhwa muttered while looking around.
She didn't think they had simply massacred the humans here out of boredom. There had to be a reason they killed everyone here, Hong Yuhwa thought.
While surveying the surroundings, Hong Yuhwa tilted her head when she saw someone sitting on a rock in the clearing.
"Hmm?"
Looking closely, a man with blue hair and blue eyes was perched on the rock, holding a massive spear.
"Back then… you carry a similar energy to that bastard."
"Huh?"
At the man's sudden words, Hong Yuhwa made a bewildered expression.
*I-I didn't even know he was there.*
"Are you with them?"
The man sneered coldly and raised his spear.
"Then die."
*Swoosh!*
"...!"
Seeing the spear flying at her in an instant, Hong Yuhwa widened her eyes and tried to block it when……
*Clanggggg!*
Heukhwa, who appeared in an instant, blocked the man's spear.
"You blocked my Green Dragon Crescent Blade?"
The man made a surprised expression while looking at Heukhwa, who had blocked his attack.
"What the hell is this all of a sudden!"
When Hong Yuhwa shouted, the man looked at her with indifferent eyes and spoke.
"You two carry a similar energy to the one who killed all the humans in this Gaizhou. I've never seen anyone with such energy in this world. That means you and he are of the same group."
"N-no! We are……."
"No need for talk."
*BOOOOOOM!*
"Kuh!"
"Heukhwa!"
In an instant, tremendous energy began to pour from the man's spear, and because of it, cuts began to appear on Heukhwa's body.
"Ack! Blaze!"
Watching that, Hong Yuhwa clenched her teeth and used magic.
*Fwoooooosh!*
"Fire?"
The man muttered indifferently while looking at the flames clinging to his body, pushed Heukhwa away, and lightly swung his Green Dragon Crescent Blade.
*Swish!*
Then Hong Yuhwa's magic was nullified far too easily.
"Hmm?"
The man's face stiffened rigidly as he watched that and was about to launch himself at Hong Yuhwa again.
"Explosive Flame……. Explosive Shatter……. Explosive Madness……. Explosion……."
"What is this?"
The man flinched at the unusual energy emanating from Hong Yuhwa.
Paying it no heed, Hong Yuhwa used the Flame Demon King's ultimate magic.
"Heaven and Earth Raging Flame!"
*KABOOOOOOOOOOM!*
With that, massive flames and an explosion engulfed the man.
"Haa……. Haa……."
The Heaven and Earth Raging Flame, into which Hong Yuhwa had poured all her mana, displayed tremendous power.
Hong Yuhwa's face, which had been breathing heavily with effort, stiffened rigidly.
*Clack!*
"Kuh-urk!"
"It's a shame I brought my father's barrier stone. Of course, all the energy in the barrier stone has been blown away. If I had taken that with my bare body, even I would have had difficulty remaining unharmed."
The man who had broken through the Heaven and Earth Raging Flame grabbed Hong Yuhwa by the neck and spoke in a low voice.
"Princess!"
Seeing that, Heukhwa shouted and drew her sword.
"Troublesome."
*Bam!*
"Kuh-urk!"
But the man far too easily sent Heukhwa flying.
"Uuugh……."
"It seems you are the leader."
Strength began to enter the young man's hand gripping Hong Yuhwa's neck. Soon her face grew deathly pale.
"...!"
Just as the man was about to cut off Hong Yuhwa's breath, he suddenly turned to the side.
*Smack!*
"Kuh!"
*Crash! Thud!*
In that instant, the man was struck by something and rolled across the ground.
"J-Jehwa."
From that impact, Hong Yuhwa escaped the man's grip, and she called out to Jehwa with a bright expression.
But the moment she saw Jehwa's eyes, her body flinched and trembled.
"Huh?"
Jehwa's eyes were terrifying. They were exactly the same as when he had tried to kill Sawollin before.
"Kuh……."
The man who had been struck by Jehwa's fist distorted his face and shouted.
"How dare you!"
"Shut up."
*Rooooaaaar!*
"...!"
*CRASH-BOOM!*
Jehwa shouted back at the man's cry, and with that, enormous ice spikes assaulted the man.
"Something like this!"
Watching that, the man swung his Green Dragon Crescent Blade.