Chapter v7c19

“Argh!”

Jisal, once again confronting Yeom do and his sword, was startled by the terrifying heat emanating from his opponent. The heat wrapping around the Netherworld Sword wasn’t diminishing if anything, it was becoming more intense than before. The power of Yeom do’s unique sword technique, the Sword Flame Qi, was truly formidable.

“Was it… this intense?”

Even when Yeom do had dealt a blow to his pride years ago, it hadn’t been with such intense heat. It felt like being trapped in the middle of a tropical desert. An endless desert of hot sand! A burning thirst dominated his entire body, an irresistible desire.

“I want to drink water! Damn it!”

Sweat poured from his body like rain. No matter how much he tried, the fat that had stubbornly clung to him, refusing to leave no matter what, was now leaving his body. At this rate, he felt like he would lose tens of kilograms.

But the oasis was still far and treacherous. Moreover, on the way to the oasis, a fierce and terrifying monster spewing fire blocked the path. Its temperament was exceedingly irritable and savage.

There was no turning back. With the resolve of a hero slaying a monster, Jisal wielded his sword without regard for the scorching heat burning his flesh.

“Clang! Bang!”

His all-out strike seemed insufficient to break the red monster’s teeth. Yeom do’s Crimson Flame and Jisal’s Netherworld Sword clashed, emitting a deafening noise that seemed to tear the air apart. Excluding the duel between Mo Yong-hwi and Gal Hyobong happening nearby, it was the most noisy, splendid, and intense battle.

“Damn it!”

The smile that had earned Jisal the nickname ‘Smiling Killer’ had long since shattered. His face, drenched in sweat and contorted muscles, resembled a demonic visage.

True Crimson Seventeen Flames

Sword Flame Energy

Eighth Flame

Inferno

Yeom do’s sword once again unleashed a merciless sword energy, pressing in. Flames fell like hail, ravaging Jisal. The flames spewing from Yeom do’s Crimson Flame licked like a snake’s tongue, mercilessly assaulting Jisal’s right hand. The sizzling sound seemed to reach his ears.

The flesh on Jisal’s face screamed and trembled violently.

“My throat is dry!”

Water! Only the pain of thirst deepened further.

Cheon Sal’s Gwi Hon and Na Yerin

“You rat-like bastard!” Cheon Sal did not want to believe that his sword was only capable of something even a novice could avoid.

Therefore, Cheon Sal had to kill Bi Ryu-yeon. A blue murderous intent flickered in his eyes. He decided to get a bit more serious.

Forty-Four Soul-Calling Swordsmanship

First Move

Phantom Suppression

His sword moved slowly forward, stretching towards Bi Ryu-yeon at a pace incomparable to just moments before. The slow speed was deceptive, as the force contained within was terrifying.

Cheon Sal’s sword showed its true value when extended slowly rather than quickly. Despite his skinny frame and slender sword, he was mastering the heavy Collapse Sword technique. The Collapse Sword was a sword technique that used the power of the sword energy to overpower and shatter the opponent. It was one of the most powerful sword techniques.

The ground trembled and surged wildly. An intangible pressure flew mercilessly towards Bi Ryu-yeon.

“Boom!”

Another deafening noise struck his ears. This time, Bi Ryu-yeon did not move a step. There was no need to.

Instead of the rat-like Bi Ryu-yeon, Na Yerin stood there, having drawn her sword. From the first time he saw her, her gaze had bothered him. It was best to eliminate potential problems early on.

Without a moment to shout a warning of Danger!

a sharp sword energy burrowed into her.

“Clash!”

The swords collided, emitting a scream. Na Yerin’s sword had narrowly blocked the first move of Cheon Sal’s Summoning Ghost Spirit Sword Technique, the Phantom Spirit Suppression.

“Phew!”

The onlooking Heavenly Officials exhaled a sigh of relief and patted their chests. However, the situation was far from over. It was too early to breathe a sigh of relief.

Cheon Sal’s sword, with its sheer force, pressed down on Na Yerin. Indeed, it was a sword technique worthy of being called demonic.

“Ooong! Ooong!”

The beloved sword Ok ryeong in Na Yerin’s delicate hands cried out, asserting its presence. A white mist-like sword aura enveloped her sword. She slightly furrowed her beautiful brows, surprised that she still had strength left despite thinking she had deflected most of the power. Her arm was tingling with pain, and her sword turned white as if frosted. A silver mist rose as if to protect her.

“Girl! What is your name?”

Cheon Sal asked with a curious face. A girl who seemed barely twenty had blocked his sincere attack. Moreover, she was a beauty that could make even an old man like him do a double-take. If his training had been just a bit lower, he might have been enchanted by her beauty.

“Swoosh!”

Then, Bi Ryu-yeon blocked any further private conversation as if it were forbidden.

“How insolent!”

Veins throbbed on Cheon Sal’s forehead. Bi Ryu-yeon looked at him with a face full of mockery, his mouth constantly spewing ridicule.

“Isn’t it too pathetic for an old man?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you think it’s too late to seduce women at your age? You should act your age.”

“What? You insolent brat!”

Cheon Sal was seized by a sense of victimhood, feeling humiliated by such a young man. This sense of victimhood turned into killing intent, rising from within him.

“An old man’s passionate pursuit of rejuvenation and valiant efforts may be exemplary, but if excessive, isn’t it also unsightly? Your intentions are lofty and admirable, but perhaps cultivating patience would be a better lesson!”

Blue flames sparked from Cheon Sal’s aged eyes.

“I’ve never seen someone as insolent as you in my life. Of course, you say this knowing you’re prepared to die, right?”

“If you can kill me, then trying to do so would be a good challenge. Are you going to kill me?”

“Of course. Why ask when you already know?”

Cheon Sal’s sword aura was already threatening Bi Ryu-yeon’s life, extending forward. For a master like Cheon Sal, taking a life with a directed sword aura was simple.

“Sometimes, challenging the impossible in pursuit of rejuvenation is a good way to foster an enterprising spirit. It’s much more admirable than trying to seduce women.”

Cheon Sal was irritated by the bitter smile still lingering on Bi Ryu-yeon’s lips. The smile, filled with mockery and contempt, pushed Cheon Sal’s temper to the brink of explosion.

“You talk too much. Die!”

“Swoosh! Whizz!”

As his words ended, a silver line was drawn in the air at a terrifying speed. The swordplay was so fast that it was hard to believe it came from someone who had been using the heavy sword technique. It seemed to show what true swiftness was.

“Chang!”

However, Cheon Sal’s swift strike ended in failure, blocked by a woman’s sword. Her sword even contained a cool chill.

“Are you interfering?”

Cheon Sal glared at Na Yerin with a devilish light in his eyes. Na Yerin nodded slightly, affirming his question. Her expression still showed no particular emotion, only becoming increasingly profound. Bi Ryu-yeon hid behind the woman’s skirt again. ‘Hmm… By standing in front of me, does it mean she acknowledges that I am weaker than her?’

It seemed to be the case, but he couldn’t be sure if she felt any sympathy. Her face showed no trace of emotion. Bi Ryu-yeon briefly wondered if his strategy had failed.

‘I shouldn’t have trusted Yeom do!’

Perhaps the cause of failure lay in trusting someone he shouldn’t have. Bi Ryu-yeon wanted to calmly reflect on the reasons for his failure, but Cheon Sal didn’t seem to want to give him that leisure.

“How disgraceful to hide behind a woman!”

Cheon Sal bellowed.

“Such a statement goes against gender equality!”

Bi Ryu-yeon retorted vehemently from behind the woman.

“Why did you block it?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked.

“Protecting the weak is the duty of the strong,”

Na Yerin replied. Cheon Sal scoffed.

“Crushing the weak mercilessly is the duty and right of the strong! It’s a very greedy, seductive, and attractive fruit! Irresistible, haha!”

“Your values have nothing to do with me,”

she said, her voice as calm and cool as ever.

“It will soon be your concern. Because you’ll be the weak one soon!”

Cheon Sal’s eyes began to shine with a strange light.

“Zzzing! Zzzing!”

A sinister jingling echoed in her ears. Na Yerin felt a chill and shudder as if a venomous snake was flicking its red tongue across her cheek. A warning of danger loudly sounded in her head. But as a disciple of the Sword Empress, she couldn’t sheathe her sword once drawn in vain.

She took an even more cautious stance, with not a trace of complacency in her heart. Complacency could lead to a fatal flaw. The sword aura emanating from her body grew colder.

“Why?”

Despite his advantage, Cheon Sal’s complexion was not bright. His face was like he had chewed on bitter herbs, becoming more and more rigid like a statue.

“Why… Why isn’t it working?”

His eyes, slit like a viper’s, and his hardened face were full of questions. He was caught in a doubt he had never faced before. The sharpness of his sword aura, which had been like blades emanating from his body, became increasingly irritable. Even while holding the upper hand, he was anxious.

“Why doesn’t my bewitching eye work on you?”

“…”

Na Yerin felt no need to answer a question that didn’t require a response. The more anxious he became, the more advantageous it was for her. She maintained her unflappable posture. Cheon Sal’s face grew increasingly grave. He had tried to use his bewitching eye while pretending to talk, but it had been useless.

“Haha! Sorry, but I can’t let you live! I absolutely can’t. It’s too risky to let someone live who is immune to my secret technique!”

A dense killing intent rose from his body, sharp as needles piercing the skin. All his killing intent turned into sharp swords aimed at her.

Bi Ryu-yeon, hiding behind the woman’s skirts, had to ponder what action to take next.