Chapter 76: A Glimpse of the Myth (2)
Jade Green Heavenly Net Divine Sword pierced right into Myeong-oh’s forehead.
“Ah, aaagh!”
Crunch! Crrk!
“W-What is this?!”
Gu Chil was horrified.
Green liquid oozed from the blade lodged in Myeong-oh’s forehead!
The sa green substance had flowed from her severed neck earlier as well—these things weren’t what you’d expect to co out of a human body.
“A-agh…!”
Myeong-oh twisted her body in apparent agony.
“Stay still.”
Snap!
Myeong-oh, who had tried to resist, suddenly went still at a single word, as though she were dead.
Gu Chil opened his mouth slightly and asked, “D-Did you… master Soul Invasion Technique or sothing?”
“I’ll explain later. Right now, I need to concentrate.”
There was no blood.
The green liquid protruding from the forehead slowly seeped into the blade of the Jade Green Heavenly Sword.
The sword continued to absorb the fluid for a long ti.
Once the flow of liquid began to weaken, I slowly withdrew the blade.
“Ah! Aaah!”
Gu Chil let out a gasp as he watched the scene unfold.
The creature that Myeong-oh had beco had now returned to a human form!
Gu Chil rushed over and checked Myeong-oh’s pulse.
“S-She’s alive!”
Tears welled in the corners of his eyes, joy spreading across his face.
“Thank you, Young Master! Truly, thank you!”
It was rare to see Gu Chil this overjoyed.
I intentionally responded curtly to his excitent.
“No need to thank . If she didn’t hand over information willingly, I would’ve had to torture her.”
“Th-That’s…”
“Well, any fool with a working brain would know sticking with is the better choice. Now take care of her.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Gu Chil removed his robe and wrapped the naked Myeong-oh with it.
I quietly observed him.
Perhaps, to Gu Chil, Myeong-oh wasn’t rely a forr comrade—she might have ant sothing even deeper.
“Gu Chil, you go back to Eastern Sea Fortress for now. I’ll finish things here and catch up later.”
“N-No, sir. How could a servant leave his master alone—”
“Quiet. Do as I say.”
Gu Chil clearly understood how urgent the situation had beco.
If what Myeong-oh said was true and extre-level masters were transforming into monsters, then it wouldn’t be strange if they were completely wiped out.
“Besides, in your current ntal state, you’re in no condition to fight properly.”
“……!”
Gu Chil’s face twisted with guilt and sha. I hadn’t ant it as a rebuke, but for a servant to be unable to support his master was an imnse humiliation.
“Guarding a prisoner is a soldier’s duty too. I won’t repeat myself. Go.”
Gu Chil bowed low to the ground.
Everything happening now felt utterly surreal.
That his master had suddenly beco so overwhelmingly strong, and that the long-lost Myeong-oh had been restored to humanity—it all felt like sothing out of a dream.
But that familiar, composed face of mine remained just as it had always been.
“I’m sorry, Young Master. I will repay this debt without fail.”
“If you have ti, try persuading her before I get to the interrogation.”
I waved him off with a slight smirk. Gu Chil bowed his head, hoisted Myeong-oh onto his shoulder, and disappeared.
“Well then… guess it’s ti to head to the next hotspot.”
We had sent three people to deal with the Evil Overlords of Heaven side, so they should be able to subdue things without much difficulty.
There was indeed a trendous monster caught in my Qi sense, but with Cheon Yura’s current strength—and with so help—she should be able to handle it.
‘That leaves…’
My gaze turned east.
Even now, explosive booms echoed in my ears. A fierce battle was clearly raging nearby.
Without a doubt, a clash between transcendent beings.
But the tide of battle was clearly one-sided.
‘Is it Wang Cheongeol and the Yin-Yang Fist Demon?’
Thanks to the favor of Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, the master of these ruins, we were able to discern the number and identities of the intruders within this place.
‘I can’t let Wang Cheongeol die.’
Wang Cheongeol was, alongside the Grand Elder, one of the few trustworthy extre-level masters within the cult.
Losing such a loyal figure aninglessly would cause great disruption in the future.
Swoosh!
Using the movent technique I had learned from Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, I surged forward like a bullet shot from a trigger.
***
“Kuhahaha! Even the great Wang Cheongeol can’t do anything now!”
Boom!
With a deafening crash, like cannonballs colliding, Wang Cheongeol’s body was flung far backward.
“So the feared Crimson Fla Demon Hand of the cult is still no match for my Sun-Moon Splitting Technique! Uwahaha!”
“……”
Wang Cheongeol didn’t reply.
There was no point in responding to such utter nonsense.
‘This is bad.’
The two had initially been evenly matched, but as soon as the Yin-Yang Fist Demon declared he couldn’t waste more ti, the tide turned.
Wang Cheongeol glared at the monster spewing both fire and frost.
From the waist up, the left side of its body emitted flas, while the right side released frost—a grotesque and baffling sight.
How such a form could even be maintained was maddeningly curious, but as a veteran, Wang Cheongeol buried that curiosity for now.
“Hehehe, what do you think, Wang Cheongeol? This overwhelming power! No extre-level master could defeat in this form!”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon shouted triumphantly.
“Perhaps… you’re right.”
Wang Cheongeol nodded silently.
The Sun-Moon Splitting Demonic Art was, even within the cult, one of the most destructive martial arts.
Now, amplified several tis by so mysterious power, even Wang Cheongeol could only focus on defense.
‘Still, that doesn’t an it’s without weaknesses.’
Although its offense and defense had beco monstrous, the precision in forms and footwork had clearly dropped.
Frankly speaking, the current Yin-Yang Fist Demon was little more than a fixed-position turret spraying Qi indiscriminately.
“Huuup!”
In an instant, Wang Cheongeol’s form vanished, leaving behind an afterimage.
It was Different Shape Exchange Position pushed to its limits.
“Heh… you dare try to win with speed?”
Enormous Qi gathered in the Yin-Yang Fist Demon’s hand.
Then, unleashing that Qi indiscriminately, he shouted:
“I just have to wipe out the whole area!”
Kwagwagwang!
With a shallow quake, the battlefield where the two clashed began to be razed in an instant.
Yet sohow, none of the attacks seed to land properly on Wang Cheongeol.
As the surrounding noise died down—
A voice rang out from afar.
“You’ve certainly gotten imnsely stronger, but… you’ve also gained a few weaknesses.”
“You bastard, don’t tell —?!”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon scowled as he realized what had happened.
Wang Cheongeol hadn’t actually charged in recklessly. He had simply withdrawn!
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon heard Wang Cheongeol’s composed voice whisper into his ear.
“First, you’ve beco so brimming with power that your senses have dulled considerably. The old you would never have fallen for such a petty trick.”
“Shut up!”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon wildly blasted out Qi once again.
Dodging the barrage with desperate precision, Wang Cheongeol continued speaking.
“Second, your strength is starting to wane bit by bit. It's still tough to endure, but if I drag this out, sothing might co of it.”
“……!”
“And lastly—though this is just a guess—”
Wang Cheongeol widened the distance and sneered.
“To transform into that state—or even to maintain it—there must be a cost, right? If you could wield such power without consequence, your lot would've conquered the Murim world long ago.”
“You wretch!”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon charged at Wang Cheongeol at frightening speed.
“You used to be one of the quietest in the Cult, but today your tongue won’t stop!”
“It's not that I’m a man of few words. I simply stayed silent because my job was to protect.”
“Shut up!”
Wang Cheongeol felt the strength leave his arms from a blow.
‘Kuh…!’
Even if the Yin-Yang Fist Demon stood still while blasting Qi, his speed didn’t drop.
He just didn’t move much because even he had trouble controlling it.
“Say it again, Wang Cheongeol! About those weaknesses or whatever!”
As the Yin-Yang Fist Demon surged like a storm, Wang Cheongeol’s arms were torn to shreds in monts.
Yet even as his skin ripped and flesh tore away, Wang Cheongeol stood firm, holding the Demon’s foot in place.
“You persistent bastard!”
Boom!
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon’s foot slamd into Wang Cheongeol’s exposed abdon.
Like a molten seal had been stamped, a burn mark appeared on his stomach.
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon slowly approached the collapsed Wang Cheongeol.
“You’ve lasted nearly half a day. Tenacious little rat. You certainly live up to the na Crimson-Faced Demon.”
“……”
“But this is the end. You’ll die here—more wretchedly than anyone.”
“Hrrghh…!”
Though sweat poured from his entire body, Wang Cheongeol steadied his breath and raised both arms again.
Any more damage would render recovery impossible, but he didn’t care in the slightest.
“How admirable.”
Even the enemy couldn’t help but admire his tenacity.
“This is my first and last offer. Betray the Cult and join us. Not only will I spare your life, but I’ll let you share in this absolute power.”
No response ca.
“Kuhuhu, even the Young Cult Leader girl won’t last much longer here, yet your stubbornness is second to none.”
“…You bastard.”
Flas of rage burned in Wang Cheongeol’s eyes. But at this point, it was no more than empty resistance.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
Of course, the Yin-Yang Fist Demon never had any intention of letting him live.
Trying to persuade such a master was just part of the organization’s protocol—he never actually expected an answer.
“Then die.”
A massive fla flared up in the Yin-Yang Fist Demon’s left hand.
Just then—
“That’s far enough, Seventh Elder.”
A young man’s voice rang in the Yin-Yang Fist Demon’s ear.
***
Recognizing the owner of the voice, Wang Cheongeol murmured softly.
“You’re late.”
I shrugged at Wang Cheongeol’s grumbling.
“Apologies, Wang Cheongeol. I had to handle another guest first.”
“You’re…”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon turned to with an expression of disbelief.
“Jin Yeomyung of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan?!”
“That’s right, Seventh Elder.”
“What are you doing here?”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon had no choice but to ask.
Back when he received his briefing from Han Muyeon, the ones to watch out for were the head disciple Geum Jeoksan, the elites of Evil Overlords of Heaven, Wang Cheongeol who had suddenly appeared, and the Young Cult Leader.
“Why? Because I’m the mastermind behind this entire situation.”
“M-Mastermind?!”
“Oh dear, I guess ‘Second Order’ didn’t tell you. It was who foiled Cheong Museong’s foolish sche in Eastern Sea Fortress.”
“……!”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon glared at with murderous eyes.
Flas and frost mixed with killing intent weighed down on —but this level of pressure wasn’t enough to affect anymore.
“You’re still standing? Even after taking my aura head-on as just a re late-stage second-rate martial artist?”
The Yin-Yang Fist Demon looked slightly alard, seemingly realizing sothing was off.
“Maybe it’s because I’m not a late-stage second-rate anymore?”
His face contorted at my words.
“Such arrogance! Even if you’ve reached the Master Level, you’re still just a toddler taking your first steps toward the heavens!”
Normally, he would’ve been absolutely right.
Even dozens of Master Level warriors couldn’t hold a candle to a single extre-level expert.
Losing interest in the battered Wang Cheongeol, the Yin-Yang Fist Demon turned to , radiating bloodlust.
“So it really was you who orchestrated all of this?”
“That’s right. I united the orthodox factions of Eastern Sea Fortress, persuaded Demonic Emperor Lord, and cut off Evil Overlords of Heaven’s support from their main base. And…”
I snapped open the folding fan I had brought purely for show, as if delivering the final blow.
“I even found out that the Baekga Trading Company is involved in this whole ordeal!”
The mont I ntioned the Baekga Trading Company, the Yin-Yang Fist Demon roared in fury.
“You absolutely cannot be allowed to live!”
But strangely, despite his words, he didn’t imdiately strike.
Knowing exactly why, I smirked and provoked him.
“What’s wrong? Scared?”
“……”
Even after being taunted by a bright yellow-robed junior, the Yin-Yang Fist Demon didn’t move.
After a few seconds of silence, he finally asked the real question on his mind.
“What happened to Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden?”
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