episode_0030

How formidable can a woman become if she harbors deep resentment? Jeok Hwaryeon is a prime example of this. Her past was marked by desperation and misery, having lost her parents. To seek revenge for it, she first learned demonic martial arts, resolved to even sell her soul. Of course, at first, she was merely an errand runner doing odd jobs, but gradually her efforts were recognized, and she was admitted into the Demonic Cult’s main sect. In essence, her entire life had been mortgaged for revenge. It would have been a relief if her revenge had succeeded. Unfortunately, her revenge did not succeed. There is a time for revenge, and though she had poured everything into sharpening her blade for it, by the time she was ready, the Blackwood Gate had already been annihilated. The Blackwood Gate, a branch of the Demonic Cult, had been secretly attempting independence to break free from the Demonic Cult’s grasp. Consequently, they were all killed and annihilated. Not a single corpse remained. Jeok Hwaryeon merely heard the single phrase: ‘The Blackwood Gate has been annihilated.’ Finally, the time for revenge was ripe, but what she got in return was only a single phrase that the target of her revenge had vanished. She couldn’t see it herself, couldn’t confirm it, and couldn’t even achieve a single act of revenge to bring catharsis. She had lived her entire life for revenge, but the fervent flame of hatred she harbored in her chest froze solid at that one phrase. Emptiness inevitably fills that void. Demonic martial arts deal with negative human emotions. Naturally, as negative emotions grow, the demonic energy grows disproportionately large, and the fate of those consumed by it is always the same. Corpses with their bodies torn to shreds. Jeok Hwaryeon, with a blood-splattered face, smiled faintly atop such a mountain of corpses [a mountain of corpses]. It was an unfamiliar and eerie sight, as if a scene from hell had been brought to life. That was her in ‘the original story.’ It was one of the flashback scenes of Jeok Hwaryeon, the Four Blood Heavenly God, Third Great Commander of the Heavenly Demon Blood Sword Corps.

****

“From now on, I am the Blackwood Gate Master.” “……” Silence lingered at Cheongun’s words. From afar, martial artists in Daoist robes came rushing over in a group. They stopped to assess the situation, gazing at Cheongun. His internal energy was so profound that his form flickered faintly due to the aura radiating from him, making him appear not like a human but like a lost soul wandering the nine heavens. And that wasn’t all. Only his piercing blue eyes flashed, and blue electric currents crackled and sparked around him. Any martial artist would recognize it at a glance. The man before them was a master far beyond their imagination. In fact, the life and death of all of them depended on Cheongun’s single fingertip. They exchanged glances amongst themselves. Those from the Demonic Path inherently have a strong desire for life. As such, they are quick-witted, have shallow loyalty, and consider their own lives more precious than anything. As Cheongun strode forward, the terrified men instantly began to clear a path.

Meanwhile. “…What?” Jeok Hwaryeon found it hard to believe the situation unfolding before her eyes. She knew that Lord was strong, but wasn’t this strength beyond all norms?! He swung his sword once, and a pavilion was split in half, and tens of people turned to ash all at once! She had thought he was just a completely crazy lunatic, but it turned out he was an incredibly powerful lunatic. The difference between the two was enormous, and upon seeing the possibility of revenge nearing, thoughts like ‘Is this actually possible?’ spread through Jeok Hwaryeon’s mind. Naturally, as someone who had envisioned only revenge her entire life, she had always pictured it in countless different ways, using all her imagination. At first, she had thought she would die then and there because of that crazy Lord, even before she could get her revenge. But then, seeing the situation, she was delighted, realizing that Lord’s martial power would be more than enough to sweep through the Blackwood Gate’s main base. Her face was a chaotic mess, fluctuating wildly as if she were beating drums and janggu by herself [a Korean idiom meaning to create a ruckus or get worked up by oneself].

Seeing her face, which revealed such complex emotions, Cheongun let out a small chuckle. “Ryeon-ah.” “Yes.” “How do you feel?” “…I feel refreshed.” Just as I thought. Cheongun nodded, satisfied. As Cheongun moved, dragging his sword along the floor, the rabble who had rushed over moved in perfect unison, like a swarm of mice fleeing a cat. “Point him out precisely. I’ll deliver him to you.” “Understood.” Cheongun once again grabbed Jeok Hwaryeon by the scruff of her neck and lifted her. The sight was like a mother cat carrying her kitten by the scruff. Cheongun then began to use his lightness skill, heading deeper into the Blackwood Gate’s main base. Though nominally a sect, it was so vast in size that even after running for a long time, there was no end in sight. It was then. “Attack!” One of the rabble, unaware of the situation, sprang out and swung his sword. Swish—! His sword strike descended from above, aiming for Cheongun’s head. Cheongun lightly lifted the Red Night Sword, which his master had bestowed upon him, and swung it horizontally. The moment the opponent’s sword plunged down from above, Cheongun’s sword sliced from left to right. Instantly, the opponent’s blade was cut in half, as if slicing tofu. A sword made of steel, sliced in half? Completely unexpected, the man naturally couldn’t block the sword that sliced his own blade and then brushed past his neck. Thud. His head fell, and from the severed neck, blood gushed—like a fountain.

“Die!” At that moment, another one of the rabble emerged from a blind spot and swung his sword. Cheongun had already swung his sword and couldn’t immediately respond to the attack targeting his back. Of course, due to his Adamantine Body, he wouldn’t suffer any damage even if he was hit, but a desire for a ‘no-hit clear’ from his veteran days suddenly surged within him [a term used in gaming to describe completing a level without taking any damage]. Cheongun immediately thrust Jeok Hwaryeon, whom he was holding by the scruff of her neck, towards the descending blade. At the sudden incoming blade, Jeok Hwaryeon shrieked. “Show them, Ryeon-ah!” “What, wait! Hey, you crazy Lord!” Jeok Hwaryeon screamed, still suspended in mid-air, and extended her palm towards the descending blade. The martial art she had learned was the Blood Thunder Soul Shattering Palm. As the ‘Palm’ (掌) in its name suggests, it is a palm technique. A palm technique is a martial art that literally uses the palm. Unlike fist techniques that focus attacks on a single point, it can be called an area-of-effect skill that spreads widely and explodes. Her palm, infused with True Qi, collided with the incoming blade. At that moment, warm, life-nurturing energy flowed from Cheongun’s hand, which was gripping her neck. Natural energy, drawn in by his unique constitution, passed through Cheongun’s body, becoming internal energy, and that internal energy flowed directly into Jeok Hwaryeon. A vast internal force condensed in Jeok Hwaryeon’s palm, and then was unleashed like a palm wind. Boom—! The blade shattered into pieces, and the fragments splintered and embedded themselves throughout the body of the man who had swung the sword.

“Well done.” “Lord, are you actually insane?!” “I am always insane.” “No, it wouldn’t hurt to stop being crazy… Damn it! Behind you! Here it comes again!” “Go, Ryeon-ah!” “Kyaaah! Enough already!” Jeok Hwaryeon’s floating form was spun 180 degrees again by Cheongun’s wrist snap. Sure enough, another blade was flying towards them. Boom—! Again, the blade that met her palm shattered like a sheet of ice. “Excellent.” “You lunatic!” Cheongun continued to use his lightness skill, and as he leapt through space with swift movements, Jeok Hwaryeon’s body spun rapidly like a top, shattering the incoming blades. Cheongun was continuously injecting highly refined internal energy into her in real-time. Each time she extended her palm, its destructive power was outstanding, unlike usual. And seeing swords shatter with a crash each time she extended her palm, with the metal fragments piercing into their bodies like a shower of deadly shards, killing them instantly, Jeok Hwaryeon was slowly starting to find it fun. She had now gotten used to the sense of direction, and in her suspended, floating posture, she was spinning and unleashing force. Cheongun increased the speed of his lightness skill, stomped, and shot up into the air. Gentle moonlight poured down. Cheongun and Jeok Hwaryeon, floating in his hand, were clearly visible. Cheongun lightly landed on the roof of a pavilion. Then he resumed his lightness skill, heading towards where the Blackwood Gate Master was. He lightly glided from rooftop to rooftop, wall to wall. Finally, they arrived at the main hall. Beyond it, the Blackwood Gate Master was visible, sitting on a chair with his chin propped on his hand. Facing that man, Jeok Hwaryeon gritted her teeth and said. “That’s him.” “Was that man the Blackwood Gate Master?” “I don’t know that, but yes, it’s that pufferfish-like man.” Memories of trauma are often the most vivid. Even if she couldn’t remember his name or status specifically, the place, time, atmosphere, and the appearance of her enemy would be an indelible imprint in her memory. Cheongun looked at the man closely. His jowls were puffed up like a pufferfish filled with poison, and his small eyes, buried in fat, were like needle holes. His nose was short and wide, but his nostrils were abnormally large, and his lips were thin and long, slit-like, giving an impression that invited a punch. Hmm, with a face like that, he would be unforgettable. At that moment, a voice thick with fat fell. “Who are you?” To that question, Cheongun replied. “I am the Blackwood Gate Master.” “…What nonsense is that? I am the Blackwood Gate Master.” “No, from now on, I am the Blackwood Gate Master.” The former Blackwood Gate Master glared at Cheongun with a displeased expression. “You lunatic.” “I’m not a lunatic, I’m the Blackwood Gate Master.” “You damn bastard!!” The man roared. Infused with internal energy, the entire pavilion shook as if an earthquake had struck, just from a single shout. Regardless. Cheongun asked Jeok Hwaryeon, who was still floating. “Are you ready?” “W-what for?” “Ready for revenge.” “Huh? Wait. What crazy…!” Before she could finish her sentence, her surroundings blurred like a fleeting afterimage. The wind pressure made Jeok Hwaryeon’s mouth tremble, preventing her from speaking properly. And when she regained her senses, she was suddenly right in front of the Blackwood Gate Master’s face. The Blackwood Gate Master, startled by Cheongun’s mysterious movement technique that seemed to warp through space, stood up. And he extended his palm. The Blackwood Gate Master was a demonic practitioner. And he used the same palm technique as Jeok Hwaryeon. That was why Jeok Hwaryeon learned a palm technique among the many demonic martial arts. Because she wanted to kill him later with the same palm technique. Around Jeok Hwaryeon, time seemed to slow down. The man extended his palm, and Jeok Hwaryeon also extended her palm. The purpose of a palm technique is to shake up the opponent’s insides. It could truly be called a martial art that is the essence of internal energy cultivation. Naturally, when palm techniques clash, the one with stronger internal energy wins. And now. Palm met palm. “!!!” Rumble—! The moment their palms met, a shockwave erupted, and the flow of qi exploded instantaneously, sending objects within the pavilion flying up. The flow of qi materialized around each palm, and to anyone watching, the Blackwood Gate Master’s qi was visibly much larger. At that moment, Cheongun’s internal energy was once again injected into Jeok Hwaryeon. A vast internal force condensed in Jeok Hwaryeon’s palm. A brilliant blue bolt of lightning burst from the center of Jeok Hwaryeon’s palm. It crackled and branched out towards the Blackwood Gate Master’s palm. A jolting electric current coursed through his veins. The enormous internal force rushed through his acupuncture points and qi channels, causing tremors. “Guh…!” Slowly, the Blackwood Gate Master began to be pushed back in the internal energy clash. The Blackwood Gate Master’s expression distorted. Jeok Hwaryeon gritted her teeth and channeled more internal energy. Jeok Hwaryeon’s palm moved forward little by little. The Blackwood Gate Master’s palm was pushed back. As he kept being pushed, his elbow dug into his protruding belly fat. As this continued, his elbow sank deeply, piercing a hole in his bloated stomach. “…Cough!” The Blackwood Gate Master coughed up a mouthful of blood. And finally, his palm was pushed back, his elbow joint bent at a grotesque angle, and with a crunch, it crumpled into his stomach. “Gurgle…” The man made a bizarre metallic gurgle and collapsed to the floor with a thud! Jeok Hwaryeon gasped for breath and collapsed to the floor. It was the after-effect of using all her internal energy. At the same time, her eyes reddened. It was the revenge she had longed for so dearly. And although the method was somewhat bizarre, she had finished him off with her own hands. She felt thoroughly satisfied. It didn’t matter that she had received help. Her whole body felt cool and refreshed, as if a thorn had been pulled from her throat [an idiom for feeling greatly relieved], and her heart lightened, and she felt relieved. Then Cheongun smiled and said. “You did well.” “Lord…!” “I’m not Lord, I’m the Blackwood Gate Master.” “……”