Chapter 023. Requiem (10)
SWOOOOSH!
Un Wol-hyang's sword flashes, drawing a semicircular trajectory.
SLASH――!
A monster the size of a house is split in half by her single sword stroke and collapses.
A wretched death without even leaving a death throe.
However, it is a powerful entity that, if it appeared in the Central Plains, would have easily annihilated several counties.
Even though she hasn't even approached the depths of the Demonic Realm yet, such entities appear quite frequently.
This is why defending the Demonic Realm tightly is important.
If, by any chance, the powerful monsters lurking here flowed into the Central Plains, an unbearable tragedy would unfold.
“The number of monsters has increased significantly lately……. The signs are not good at all.”
Muttering so, Un Wol-hyang carved out parts containing immense demonic energy, such as horns, hearts, and eyeballs, from the monster's huge body with her sword and packed them separately.
Because with this much, she could use them to refine quite decent spiritual elixirs.
The heart to do something for her cherished nephew-disciple was moving Un Wol-hyang right now.
How many times did she repeat killing and killing again like that?
In the Demonic Realm, one cannot easily sense the flow of time.
Because the sky is dark all day long as if polar night has arrived.
Only the red storms made of demonic energy that blow occasionally were the only light illuminating the Demonic Realm.
“Did I roughly clear them out?”
Un Wol-hyang muttered while looking around the surroundings filled only with corpses of monsters.
Fortunately or unfortunately, there were no entities as powerful as the monster she killed first.
However, the number of monsters has increased significantly overall, and their level has also risen. Even the frequency of demonic energy storms has become much more frequent than before. It is not a very positive signal.
When she was wandering the Demonic Realm while lost in thought―
Suddenly, a certain presence was felt.
An extremely secretive presence that even she could only notice by sharpening her senses.
“The Sword Venerable seems to be in a somewhat good mood today?”
However, the words the owner of the presence spat out were incredibly friendly.
Un Wol-hyang frowned slightly and looked at the owner of the voice.
A skinny and aged appearance. Although his face was full of wrinkles and his waist was also half-bent, the spirit burning in his eyes was so intense that even she had to yield a step.
The Senior Elder of the Unorthodox Alliance and a villain of the century who dyed the Murim with blood more than fifty years ago.
Was his alias in his prime the Blood Death Lord?
Perhaps he attained enlightenment in his later years, as he was heard to have volunteered to the Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance to come to the Northern Demonic Realm. As a master far superior to the Branch Manager of the Unorthodox Alliance, he was an old man who practically stood in a position representing the Unorthodox Alliance's stance in the north.
Although he is violent, wilful, and even cranky, he is not the type of person to stab someone in the back on the battlefield. Because his heart to protect the land of the Central Plains from the Demonic Realm was sincere. At least as far as Un Wol-hyang knew.
“Looking good, is that something to say to someone covered in blood right now?”
While Un Wol-hyang retorted in a nonchalant tone, she raised her tension sharply.
Because not stabbing in the back does not mean not making a move.
Even while talking, one never knows when or how he might launch a killing move.
Because the madness that old monster possesses is truly in the realm of unpredictability.
‘He's alone. He didn't bring a tail.’
She thought while raising her senses.
It is natural if one considers it natural. This is the middle of the Demonic Realm. Looking through the entire north, there are only four people who can enter this place without any preparation.
‘Two are me and that old geezer…….’
The other two are the Grand General of the Imperial Army and the Fake Heaven Sword Corps Commander of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
All four are absolute beings who have reached the Entering Transformation Realm.
Even a peak master is prone to losing reason due to contamination by demonic energy if they step directly into the Demonic Realm.
Becoming monsterified to an irreversible level like that, she could not even count with two hands the number of subordinates she cut down with her own hands.
Unless there is a constitution that can drink demonic energy like a spiritual elixir without purifying it…….
‘There can't be such a person in the world.’
So, fighting in the Demonic Realm was always bound to be lonely.
“Well, weren't you grinning broadly while carrying a bunch of monster byproducts on your back?”
What broke her thoughts was the Blood Death Lord's laughter-tinged voice.
“…….”
Me? Did I?
It was hard to deny it. She was actually quite excited.
In fact, it has been quite some time since she heard the news that Dam Jeok-san lost his dantian and secluded himself like a cripple.
But for her, the Branch Manager, there was absolutely no leisure to empty the northern land despite the sad news.
So she was unable to do this or that―
‘Because an opportunity to do something has arisen for me.’
So perhaps her heart became a little lighter.
He was an unnecessarily sharp old man.
“……Did you come all the way here just to say that?”
When she spoke in a slightly thorny tone, the Blood Death Lord shook his head as if absurd.
“Could that be? This old man is not such a leisurely person.”
At those words, Un Wol-hyang nodded as if acknowledging to some extent.
Even at an age over one hundred, the Blood Death Lord was the busiest figure in this north.
Not only the heavy-bottomed Fake Heaven Sword Corps Commander and the Grand General, but even she, who enjoys taking the lead, could not kill more monsters than the Blood Death Lord.
“Sword Venerable, you must be feeling it too, but the signs of the Northern Demonic Realm are very unusual lately.”
The Blood Death Lord said while looking at the corpses of monsters scattered around Un Wol-hyang.
“So about that…….”
As a serious voice flowed from his mouth, deep wrinkles formed on Un Wol-hyang's forehead.
* * *
One corner of the Five Great Families of the Martial Sovereign Castle, the Iron Blood Woo Clan.
An iron-blooded family that operates according to strict discipline and a powerful hierarchy, just like its name. Even if they were attacked by enemies and driven to the brink of annihilation, that military discipline would not be easily disturbed, but now the atmosphere was almost like a house of mourning.
Because the fate of a family with hundreds of years of history was held in the grasp of just one Third Young Master.
An existence who was considered a loser incapable of making a comeback just a few hours ago. But before even half a day passed, that evaluation was reversed.
He entered the main house with the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token, acting as the proxy for the authority of the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle, Man Su-geuk.
With a boisterous entrance splitting the gate in half. Soon after, Young Master Woo Seo-gwang, a direct descendant of the family, was brutally murdered by his hands, and now the fate of the entire family hangs on his hands.
However, not a shred of burden regarding that was visible on Dam Jeok-san's expression. Because he didn't have much interest in such trivial matters. It was better to catch and eat one more monster in the time spent caring about such things. Lee Hyang's heart was much heavier and more important than the fate of such an immoral family.
Thus, no anguish was felt in Dam Jeok-san's voice as he made the decision.
“Please grant the Family Head's request.”
He said, looking at the Martial Sovereign.
“However.”
Dam Jeok-san paused for a moment while scanning the manor of the Iron Blood Woo Clan. As he fell silent, the eyes of the Iron Blood Woo Clan members wavered anxiously.
What on earth kind of conditions is he trying to attach?
Dam Jeok-san curled up the corners of his mouth coldly watching those gazes. It was quite amusing to see them trembling like that when their lives were on the line, despite having been so arrogant when they held the power over the life and death of the weak.
Even a mere monkey, a monster, was so resolute in the face of death, yet these so-called martial artists…….
Dam Jeok-san began to list the conditions while hiding his contempt.
For the next ten years, all external activities are prohibited except for dispatching martial artists to the branch.
Likewise, for the next ten years, report all receipts and disbursements of money and manpower to the General Manager's Office.
Disband all organizations that were operated in the shadows.
“Isn't this practically closing the gates……? Are you telling us to die?”
A middle-aged man who seemed to hold a fairly important position in the Iron Blood Woo Clan shouted at Dam Jeok-san. The guts to shout like that in a place where the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle was present deserved praise.
However―
Dam Jeok-san twisted his lips up as if dumbfounded.
“Is it because you really all want to die?”
He asked back to the middle-aged man, revealing violent killing intent.
“…….”
Primal fear tightening the windpipe. Fear as if facing a predator completely blocked the middle-aged man's throat. Although he is showing disgraceful behavior in front of Dam Jeok-san, the middle-aged man is also a master who reached the mature peak realm. A level sufficient to take on an executive role in the Unorthodox Alliance or the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
However, there was something in the killing intent Dam Jeok-san emitted that transcended the level of cultivation. Something that a human being could not help but feel fear from.
“Do you want annihilation, not closing the gates?”
Dam Jeok-san asked while approaching him.
To the middle-aged man's ears, his trudging footsteps sounded as huge as thunder.
I will die, I will definitely die…….
Such certainty fills his mind.
It felt as if even the reason why he argued with Dam Jeok-san was not very important.
“……No.”
He could only open his mouth after clenching his fist until his palm bled.
“I agree…….”
The middle-aged man, still bowing his head deeply toward the ground, answered with difficulty.
But Dam Jeok-san headed toward the Family Head, Heaven-Breaking One Sword Woo Gi-tae, without even looking back at him.
“What do you think, Family Head?”
“Haha…….”
Woo Gi-tae, whose paralysis point was suppressed, just let out a laugh with a half-transcendent look.
He is the master of one of the Five Great Families of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
A big shot who can stand side by side with the sect leaders of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families.
But now―
From that Dam Jeok-san's gait, and from the aura he emits, he was feeling pressure.
Even if he is in a state where he cannot move because his paralysis point is suppressed, and even if the fate of the family hangs on that guy's tongue. That does not become a reason for the Heaven-Breaking One Sword under the heavens to feel pressure.
Woo Gi-tae faced Dam Jeok-san with calm eyes. From the time he broke into the family holding one Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token, up to now. Certainty has never disappeared from that guy's face. That was the same even when he faced a desperate crisis due to his surprise attack.
It is not certainty about his own skills.
Certainty that what he is doing is right, and the tenacity to turn that certainty into reality.
There were such certainty and tenacity in Dam Jeok-san's steps.
‘Just like the Castle Lord of old…….’
Woo Gi-tae groaned, recalling old memories.
That tenacity and certainty pressed heavily on Woo Gi-tae's shoulders.
“Third Young Master, do as you wish.”
The man with iron blood, and the man who suffered from inferiority complex entangled in that blood all his life, said closing his eyes.
The emotion contained in that voice was, in the end, resignation.
Woo Gi-tae's face, having admitted that he could not even follow the opponent's footsteps and laid everything down, looked quite miserable.
“End this now.”
He spoke like a sinner waiting for beheading.
“Castle Lord, could you release the Family Head's paralysis point?”
Dam Jeok-san looked at such Woo Gi-tae and suddenly spoke to the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
The title of Castle Lord, not Master. This was an extremely official request.
“Alright.”
Since the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle decided to hand over full authority to Dam Jeok-san, he nodded without asking back.
WHOOSH!
As he lightly waved his hand, Woo Gi-tae regained his freedom.
“His sins are deep enough to be unforgivable, but his dedication to the Castle is not small. Please show consideration so that he may die as a martial artist.”
A story asking the Martial Sovereign for execution.
That was the cruel mercy Dam Jeok-san could bestow.
“Alright.”
At the same time as the answer, the Martial Sovereign extended one hand in front of his chest.
WHIRRRRRRR!!
In an instant, a golden vortex rippled like a wave in the grasp of the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle, and soon transformed into a huge whirlpool. It only contained a fragment of the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style completed in Man Su-geuk's way, but
It stretched out toward Woo Gi-tae like the wheel of the apocalypse devouring everything.
“Ha……!”
Facing that distant despair, Woo Gi-tae let out a sound that was indistinguishable between a scream and joy.
The object he was jealous of, soaked in inferiority complex all his life. Because it was the moment he faced his true majesty.
He thrust his sword wrapped in pitch-black shockwaves toward the golden vortex.
A single strike containing the life of the Heaven-Breaking One Sword.
CRUNCH―
However, the blow extending from the Martial Sovereign's grasp crushed Woo Gi-tae along with his sword.
Death by a single move.
Even though the opponent was a peak master, everything ended with just one hand gesture.
Woo Gi-tae died with an astonished expression as if he could not believe his end until the last moment.
Just as not everyone can be saved, not every soul can be comforted.
A sinner is bound to have an end befitting them prepared.
The Martial Sovereign rested his gaze on Woo Gi-tae's corpse for a very brief moment.
A very faint light of pity.
That was the only consideration the Martial Sovereign could give to a fallen comrade.
He turned around indifferently and approached Dam Jeok-san.
And said.
“Now everyone in this Castle will know.”
“…….”
“The fact that the Sword Dragon has returned.”
Sword Dragon.
An alias Dam Jeok-san once obtained, but eventually lost in the end.