Chapter 195: The Altar of Flames (5)

(TLN: We got DMCA nuked So all korean novels will be removed this week If you want to get updated on What might happen join the discord or Kofi If you can )

*Thud thud thud thud.*

As Wang Woo ran without hesitation, he glanced back at Jeokmu-gyeong following closely behind.

‘The master was right to warn me.’

Jeokmu-gyeong, chasing him in a straight line, seemed unstoppable.

*Boom!*

Every time he stomped the ground, rocks and earth exploded into the air.

*Thud thud!*

Wherever he passed, massive trees and even the wind itself were consumed by the heat and turned to ash.

Running in a straight line, he looked like a war god of flames reincarnated.

‘Isn’t he like a wild boar that got hit by a fireball?’

Though the evaluation was harsh, it wasn’t a situation to let his guard down.

*Boom boom boom boom!*

The massive heat waves he generated were filled with surging energy.

“What an absurd monster.”

He was like a natural disaster, and no hastily learned techniques from the Kunlun Sect could withstand him.

‘I need to finish this with demonic energy where they can’t see.’

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

– Kill them all! Destroy everything alive!

Seeing the majestic forest reduced to kindling by the flames, Wang Woo quickened his pace.

***

*Crackle crackle crackle.*

As the sudden flames forced the enemies to retreat, Jin Seol-hyang stood her ground, protecting the fleeing disciples.

*Thud thud!*

“Ugh!”

Even amidst the screaming forest, she held her ground, gripping her sword tightly.

‘There’s no time to sit and cry.’

She had promised herself the moment she decided to wield a sword.

‘Never to surrender to the world.’

It was a promise she made to her mother as she lay dying in the snow.

‘Never to cry again.’

Suppressing her fear, she recalled the basic forms of the Shinmu Sword Technique she had practiced tirelessly.

“Haaap!”

*Clang! Clang clang clang!*

Sensing the killing intent aimed at her neck, she turned and executed her sword technique.

*Thud! Slash!*

The enemy’s sword was ruthless.

“Gasp?”

Hearing the enemy’s surprised voice, she gathered her thirty years of internal energy into her sword.

*Hum.*

Though her internal energy was not as impressive as the disciples of Euncheon Hall.

*Hum.*

The meticulously gathered internal energy was pure enough to produce a clear sword aura at the tip of her blade.

*Thud!*

“Gah!”

The enemy tried to retreat, but she relentlessly attacked his neck, heart, and side.

*Bang! Bang bang!*

Following her training, she didn’t give him any space, attacking continuously.

Though a basic technique, it was enough to put the enemy on the defensive.

*Hum.*

Realizing he was in trouble, the enemy spread his hands, his palms turning red.

‘Yang Kang Technique.’

*Crack.*

As expected, he used the powerful Solar Yang Palm to grab her sword.

But Jin Seol-hyang had anticipated this and let go of her sword, kicking it with her foot.

The Iron Plate Bridge technique.

“Ugh!”

The enemy, not expecting her to release her sword, was startled as it wobbled in his grip.

*Spin.*

Quickly spinning, Jin Seol-hyang caught the sword in mid-air and thrust it towards the enemy’s heart.

It was a picture-perfect counterattack.

*Swish!*

As the sword pierced the air towards the enemy’s chest.

‘Killing is unavoidable.’

A brief hesitation brought her an irreversible disaster.

*Thud!*

“Ugh!”

Struck from behind, Jin Seol-hyang swallowed her scream and slid to the ground.

*Thud.*

In her vision, another enemy landed lightly behind her.

‘Not one, but four.’

It was a desperate situation.

“Damn girl. Trying to put a hole in my heart.”

“Even if they’re young, they’re talented in the orthodox sects.”

“Hmph! Leave her. I’ll kill this one myself.”

The man picked up her fallen sword, his face twisted with killing intent.

“I’ll start by slashing that face.”

(TLN: RIP to them)

As the sword tip approached her forehead.

“Hehe. That’s the face.”

Glaring at her tormentor, Jin Seol-hyang wrinkled her nose.

“Start with my face, you bastard.”

“…What?”

“While you’re slashing my face, I’ll think of ten ways to kill you.”

The man’s expression turned grim as he furrowed his brows.

“You’re hopeless. I’ll cut out your tongue first….”

*Swish.*

The rough hand that grabbed her chin twisted her neck.

“Gah.”

Struggling to breathe, Jin Seol-hyang focused her strength.

“Hiyaa!”

*Thud!*

Grabbing a stone, she struck the enemy’s forehead with its sharp edge.

“Gah!”

With a scream, the man fell back, grinding his teeth in anger.

“You bitch….”

*Crack!*

Pinning her limbs, he whispered in her ear with a dirty breath.

“I’ll make you suffer in the worst pain.”

“Ugh. Ugh.”

“Hehe. You should look forward to it.”

*Swish.*

As the cold blade touched her cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.

“Hey. Isn’t it too harsh on our young disciple?”

“Who’s there!”

“Who else?”

*Thud! Thud thud!*

With a flash of lightning-like sword light, Jin Seol-hyang felt warm blood splatter on her back.

As the grip on her loosened, she stood up and saw a familiar figure with a sword on his shoulder.

Standing against the brightening dawn, the instructor smiled warmly.

“The warm protector. The living embodiment of justice. The single instructor of Marital age, Cho Un-hwi.”

***

‘Who is this person?’

She had never seen him before.

But why did he seem familiar?

The smile under his disheveled hair felt strangely nostalgic.

“Can you stand?”

“Yes, yes….”

Holding the warm hand, Jin Seol-hyang stood up and looked at the man more closely.

He was slightly taller than her and had a youthful appearance.

“I’m not a violent person. I’m gentle and kind.”

“It’s okay. Thank you for saving me.”

“Really. I’m a peaceful person. If the situation wasn’t so urgent, I would have tried to talk things out.”

What is he talking about? She wondered.

Noticing his attire, Jin Seol-hyang asked.

“…Are you an instructor?”

“Yes. A dedicated educator and a solid instructor of Marital age.”

(TLN: yup it aint gonna work)

His tone was strange.

‘Is he a bit unwell?’

She hesitated to ask directly, but as her savior, it felt awkward.

Unaware of her thoughts, the instructor continued to explain himself.

“By the way, I’m single. I’m looking for a good wife to save me from my lonely life.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t just laugh, think about it. There’s no one like me.”

“Giggle.”

Jin Seol-hyang laughed out loud at his joke.

‘Maybe he’s trying to lighten the mood after the shock.’

He seemed warmer than she had thought.

“It’s okay, really. You don’t need to joke to cheer me up. I’m strong.”

“That’s a relief.”

Was it just her imagination that he seemed slightly sad?

“What about the others? We got separated in the explosion.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take you to them.”

“Isn’t it a burden?”

“Seol-hyang, trust this older brother.”

“Huh?”

Jin Seol-hyang blinked her bright eyes.

“Did I tell you my name?”

“…I just had a feeling.”

A feeling? Blinking in surprise, he finally admitted.

“I think I heard it from Seo Ok-rang.”

“Oh, if it’s Ok-rang.”

She might know.

One of her few friends in the vast Euncheon Hall.

“Then. I’m sorry to trouble you.”

Feeling reassured by her friend’s name, Jin Seol-hyang tried to stand but fell back down.

“…Sorry, I think I twisted my ankle.”

“What luck….”

“?”

The instructor suddenly looked gloomy and waved his hand.

“Unfortunate.”

He muttered several times, “Unfortunate,” or “What to do,” in a tone like reading a book, then squatted down and showed his back.

“Get on.”

“W-what?”

“Staying here is dangerous.”

That’s true.

Seeing him urging her to get on, Jin Seol-hyang hesitated.

‘It’s embarrassing to get on a stranger’s back.’

But the hesitation didn’t last long.

“Thank you.”

Carefully placing her hands on his shoulders, she slowly leaned on him.

Like a child touching a rabbit for the first time, her hands trembled.

‘I ate a lot this morning.’

As she fully rested her weight on him, she was surprised by the warmth and familiarity.

The warmth she had forgotten for so long.

More than anything, this warmth felt strangely nostalgic.

‘It’s oddly comforting.’

She felt like she could fall asleep with her head on his back.

But as she saw the sunlight through his hair, Jin Seol-hyang tilted her head.

“Instructor, are you crying?”

“No. Older instructors don’t cry.”

More importantly.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s very….”

Warm and comfortable.

“That’s a relief. Rest for a bit. This strong older single instructor will take you to a safe place quickly.”

“Thank you.”

The strangely familiar scent.

Feeling nostalgic, Jin Seol-hyang, usually so composed, unknowingly buried her nose in his neck.

“Eek!”

“Giggle.”

Enjoying his reaction, she chuckled and closed her eyes.

She had been on the brink of death just moments ago, but her heart felt at peace.

‘When. Somewhere….’

It felt like a long-lost memory or a distant dream.

It was both nostalgic and bittersweet.

Like laughing while crying.

The faint scent of snow, even in the cold.

Soon, she fell asleep, feeling drowsy.

***

*Boom!*

Caught in the massive flames, Wang Woo kicked off a burning tree and twisted his body in mid-air.

*Boom boom boom boom!*

Dodging the sword and palm energy, the distant ground and rocks exploded.

“Is this the best place you could run to?”

*Fwoosh!*

Jeokmu-gyeong, the Eight Heavenly Apostles, closed the distance, surrounded by massive flames.

“Ugh. Ugh.”

Out of breath, Wang Woo turned around.

Seeing his limp arms, Jeokmu-gyeong laughed.

“Haha. Giving up on life is a good choice.”

Laughing, Jeokmu-gyeong approached with long strides.

*Fwoosh!*

Everything he passed burned, creating a scene of hellfire.

“There’s no escape. By the time help arrives, you’ll be burnt to a crisp.”

*Crack.*

The blood-red veins starting from his hands had spread to his neck.

Glancing around, he saw it.

*Throb. Throb.*

The Blood Tear Stone embedded in his palm pulsed visibly, writhing like it was alive.

“…Trying to become a god, but turning into a monster?”

“Hehe. Don’t worry. With the Awakening Stone you gave me, I can summon the full power of a god.”

Already, Jeokmu-gyeong’s eyes were bloodshot, his transformation into something inhuman accelerating.

‘Is that a demon?’

His mouth stretched, teeth sharpened.

Even his bloodshot eyes turned dark red, like glass sharpened with blood.

“A demon is a hideous existence.”

“tsk. You can’t understand the grandeur of this euphoria.”

Jeokmu-gyeong, already feeling like a god, licked his lips.

“Becoming a demon! I will be the ruler of this world! I am the master of the dark path! Hahaha!”

“Master of the dark path?”

As Jeokmu-gyeong laughed maniacally, Wang Woo, or rather Sima Bai, shook his sleeve.

*Boom!*

“Ugh!”

For the first time, Jeokmu-gyeong was pushed back by a thunderous palm strike, his expression twisting in pain.

His arms, which even the Sword Saint couldn’t handle, tingled with pain, leaving him bewildered.

Seeing this, Sima Bai’s smile disappeared, and he spoke coldly.

“You, who are controlled by a hideous object, dare to speak of ruling the dark path?”

*Hum.*

In the rising mist of demonic energy, Sima Bai’s hands turned pitch black, shimmering ominously.

“Goryeo Demonic Art? The martial art of the Blood Cult?”

“It’s the true martial art granted by the master of the dark path.”

*Boom!*

As the dark energy clashed with the flames, the resulting windstorm knocked down the surrounding trees and vegetation.