Chapter 341
Kuung-!
When a massive vibration resonated from the direction of the mountain, the place where Shinryonggwan was located had turned into chaos.
The pottery that had been scattered all around was so dense it was floating in the air like fog.
Something was swirling around the area. If you’re a martial artist, you’d know that the essence of that vortex is all about bets.
How high must one’s level be?
And how precise must that bet be for such a form to manifest?
These were forms only visible to those who have reached the limits achievable by a normal human.
Clunk…
Amidst the crumbling and collapsed buildings, an old man, bleeding, was kneeling and surveying his surroundings.
The once sturdy building of Shinryonggwan was now full of dents here and there. It was split wide open, threatening to collapse at any moment.
‘What the…’ The old man, Cheonghae Ilgeom, exhaled a weary sigh, gazing at the ruined surroundings.
A building that had boasted a grand stature was reduced to such a shabby state.
In front of the old man, something fell with a light thud.
The old man confirmed it and managed a sorrowful smile. What dropped was his left arm.
The old man’s left shoulder was a vacant space, blood dripping down. Although he tried to staunch the bleeding with his energy, for some reason, it wasn’t properly stopping.
Just then, someone approached Cheonghae Ilgeom.
“It’s quite disappointing, isn’t it?”
With a massive sword resting on his shoulder, an old man with unkempt hair pulled back tightly faced him. He revealed a jagged grin displaying yellowed teeth, speaking to the weary-looking Cheonghae Ilgeom.
“Your mind seems to wander elsewhere. I find it quite boring.”
“…”
Cheonghae Ilgeom narrowed his eyes, sizing up his opponent.
It was a figure from a lost past, now scattered into nothingness. The first to unite Sapa, a master who had ventured onto the land of Sichuan to invade the Central Plains.
The current sword master, a being who was killed by the Gale Sword back in the day.
“…Black Dragon Sword.”
The old man’s nickname was indeed Black Dragon Sword.
At Cheonghae Ilgeom’s call, the Black Dragon Sword chuckled, saying, “Your sword can’t be this lukewarm. I find it rather disappointing, really.”
Thud.
The sword in the Black Dragon Sword’s grip cut through the wind, the tip aimed directly at Cheonghae Ilgeom.
“What is it that you find so troubling?”
“…”
Cheonghae Ilgeom remained silent, not responding. The Black Dragon Sword made a disheartened expression at the sight.
It was regretful, to say the least.
Seeing the Black Dragon Sword’s face, Cheonghae Ilgeom spoke, a hint of irritation in his voice, “How is it that you’re still alive?”
The Black Dragon Sword was known to have been decapitated by the Sword Lord himself.
Moreover, his severed head had been displayed for all the other Sapa to see. They even hung his head at the Murim Alliance, contributing to the reputation of the Gale Sword and elevating it to the status of the Sword Lord.
But how can the Black Dragon Sword stand alive and well like this?
“Curious about that, are you? I don’t think now is the time for such inquiries, though.”
Chuckle.
The Black Dragon Sword found Cheonghae Ilgeom’s reaction amusing, laughing perpetually.
Cheonghae Ilgeom frowned at the sight, aware of the pain emanating from his severed arm and shoulder. More importantly, something else gnawed at him.
‘The students are in danger.’
With the emergence of the Black Dragon Sword, the formation enveloping Shinryonggwan was rendered powerless, a dark aura engulfing it.
Given the scope of it all, it was clear that it stretched all the way to Mount Tai, where the later indices were gathered.
It wasn’t just the Black Dragon Sword—other threats were unmistakably lurking. This indicated a coordinated assault rather than a lone attack.
In that case, Cheonghae Ilgeom’s own safety became less of a concern. He should’ve rushed to the kids as quickly as possible.
The Black Dragon Sword’s power surpassed expectations, and with so much to protect, Cheonghae Ilgeom found himself trapped.
“…What is your purpose?”
“Purpose?”
“What is the purpose of raiding this place?”
If he was alive, he would have spent all this time hiding like a mouse, waiting for the moment to strike Shinryonggwan out of nowhere.
“The purpose is…”
Thud.
As the Black Dragon Sword planted his sword into the ground, he glanced around him.
“I don’t know if you’re looking for a grand reason, but it just happened to be the right timing.”
“…Timing?”
What kind of timing could he possibly mean?
Before long, he would have the answer.
The sword rooted in the ground was suddenly pulled up.
“This Black Dragon Sword is alive and well.”
Whoosh-!
Swinging the sword roughly, the Black Dragon Sword unleashed a powerful gust that spread around.
Kuuwung-!
“Furthermore, this serves as a warning to show that I haven’t forgotten my dreams. It just happened that this place was suitable.”
Cheonghae Ilgeom found it ridiculous how he sought a reason amid such chaos.
Was there really a need for a grand explanation?
Political factions were always searching for justifications.
Despite the years, the Black Dragon Sword found amusement in their persistent need for excuses.
“Since you’re asking about my purpose, I’ll humor you with my thoughts.”
The past political factions were but maggots wearing masks.
Years passed, yet they continued to uphold that façade.
How quaint.
He found deep respect in this display of their original intentions.
“The roots of the political factions and the future—served by the later indices.”
They dubbed it the Meteor Generation, didn’t they?
What a flashy title!
It’s said that geniuses are emerging left and right, reclaiming that name.
‘How trivial.’
Isn’t this just the political factions’ exclusive domain as well?
“When bloodshed emerges in a place swarming with such individuals, what do you think will happen?”
A bloodline of the four great clans, a descendant of Gupa Ilbang.
They were people of noble status and lineage, the descendants of notable families.
Children of merchants madly supporting the political factions.
This location was indeed home to many of the finest bloodlines among them.
It’s not merely a saying that this is the future of politics; time flows onward, and these are the individuals who will form the current political faction’s backbone.
It was bound to show among those gathered.
What if these descendants got wiped out here?
What if a storm of blood was brought upon them, instigated by none other than the Black Dragon Sword, who appeared after all this time?
“Then, how do you think the political faction would turn out? Don’t you find that fascinating, Cheonghae Ilgeom? I certainly do.”
To showcase his existence, as well as the dreams that still thrived within him, he believed this to be the most fitting place to expose them.
Isn’t it poetic?
A single moment could erase an entire future.
Why would he hesitate?
After years of living in silence, the time had finally come.
The moment he had awaited arrived.
The swords that once defended the Central Plains had grown old and rusty.
Blinded by peace, they had forgotten the thrill of their own sharpness.
“You included.”
Chuckle.
The Black Dragon Sword mused and laughed.
Cheonghae Ilgeom was hearing this and—
Crack!
Gritting his teeth, Cheonghae Ilgeom mustered the strength to shout back at the Black Dragon Sword.
“Black Dragon Sword…!”
“You still have the strength to raise your voice, I see.”
“Are you really planning to kill all the innocent children?”
“Why should they be innocent?”
Born into the political factions, the charge bestowed upon them was that of a future burden.
That constituted the sin of the latter index.
“If you cling to these rotten roots, do you truly believe anything will change? I certainly don’t.”
Enthralled by a facade of righteousness.
Behind them lurked endlessly vile creatures.
“Protecting the powerless and parleying? What a laughable justification.”
Such an empty pretense is long overdue for erasure, and they surely understood that.
They have long since lost touch with compassion and righteousness.
In stark contrast, he followed his desires wholeheartedly.
Erasing transient history.
Shattering the masks.
The yearning to ascend above the rest was his purpose.
Inom…!
Cheonghae Ilgeom dragged his exhausted body to swing his sword one more time.
The unique essence infused within him remained pure.
It remained solid.
Cheonghae Ilgeom’s sword path was unwavering.
Even missing an arm didn’t denote an impending collapse.
The tempest intertwined with his sword path.
The scattered essence gathered, creating brilliant flashes of light.
Quagagagak-!
With a roar, the ground shattered under the force of his strike aimed at the Black Dragon Sword.
In response, the Black Dragon Sword moved his own sword.
Crash!
The clash of swords was far too heavy to be just sounds of metal meeting metal.
In that moment of confrontation, Cheonghae Ilgeom realized instantly.
‘Strong.’
The Black Dragon Sword was undeniably strong.
It differed vastly from the peak recorded in history.
Not only had he advanced to the realm of transformation, but he was also gazing at something far higher.
At this rate, the records from those times might as well be fabrications.
The foreign essence permeating the surroundings indicated a dangerous power stemming from the Black Dragon Sword.
‘The essence won’t move properly.’
As he engaged in battle against the Black Dragon Sword, the energy within him seemed to flow increasingly heavier.
‘Even the sky above…’
It veiled the azure sky, transforming it into the black cloak of night.
Was that the power of the Black Dragon Sword?
It may not be close by, but the Murim Alliance was not far away.
If such an event was unfolding, they’d catch wind of it soon.
Rescue would be on its way.
Yet, the Black Dragon Sword appeared calm and unbothered.
A confidence that no matter who came, victory was assured.
To Cheonghae Ilgeom, it didn’t seem that way.
That darkened sky was contingent upon something specific.
Boom-! Crack crack!
As iron clashed against iron, sparks flew,
while potent energies made their impressive existence known, scattering its force throughout.
“It seems like you’ve abandoned all thoughts of escape.”
Sensing the sword growing heavier by the second, the Black Dragon Sword chuckled.
“Have you given up? Or could it be…”
He countered, dodging Cheonghae Ilgeom’s strike.
“Are you simply waiting for the woman of the volcano?”
“…!”
Kuung-!
The Black Dragon Sword struck Cheonghae Ilgeom’s chest with a forceful punch.
Lacking an arm, he was unable to mount a proper defense.
Gah!
With his defensive energy shattered, Cheonghae Ilgeom was sent flying.
He tumbled across the ground, struggling to execute any form of a roll.
As dust clung to him, the Black Dragon Sword frowned.
“Even in all this chaos, you still haven’t reabsorbed your essence. Truly foolish.”
The essence of Cheonghae Ilgeom, nearly consumed entirely.
It was energy that had been laid out under the pretense of protecting the students.
By now, the Black Dragons should’ve swooped in and pulled their swords.
Yet, even in this turmoil, Cheonghae Ilgeom had neglected to reclaim the remainder of his energy.
Having lost one arm, even now, he persevered despite spewing blood.
What an utterly foolish old man.
Even if he did give his all, the outcome remained uncertain.
Drip.
Black blood trickled from Cheonghae Ilgeom’s mouth.
“Is the reason you endure all of this truly to wait for the Sword Master?”
He had been aware of the existence of a Sword Master at Shinryonggwan.
Whatever the reason for her arrival may have been, if she were indeed the Volcano’s Sword Master, it would explain Cheonghae Ilgeom’s current stance.
Was he simply biding time for her to come rescue him?
If not that—could he be hoping the future indices would create a method for salvation, wrapping himself in restraints?
“Everything is in vain.”
If that were the case, then nothing meaningful would unfold.
“The Sword Master is probably already dead.”
“…What…?”
The Black Dragon Sword’s taunts widened Cheonghae Ilgeom’s eyes.
Reading that response, the Black Dragon Sword grinned broadly, revealing his yellowed teeth.
Cheonghae Ilgeom’s reaction seemed amusing to him.
“To deal with that woman, do you know who I’ve sent?”
The incident surrounding Mount Volcano.
She had vanished for years only to emerge once more.
Upon her return, people rejoiced, and she once again began to spread her formidable strength and character.
A formidable woman.
Even the Black Dragon Sword acknowledged her worth.
Yet, even she…
“The Dark King. The one who moved against that woman is the Dark King.”
“…!”
The master of night is not someone one can easily reckon with.
Especially not in this moment.
The expression on Cheonghae Ilgeom’s visage shifted gradually as the Black Dragon Sword’s words sunk in.
It appeared crumpled, perplexed.
“…The Dark King?”
Cheonghae Ilgeom breathed softly.
“Forget about the Sword Master’s arrival. For now, just worry about surviving.”
Of course, it mattered little now.
His life was now hanging by a thread, about to be severed by his own hands.
The extreme.
The Black Dragon Sword repositioned his grip on the sword.
In the midst of all this, Cheonghae Ilgeom lingered, stagnated.
Had he given up?
It was too premature to label him thus, especially with the essence still dancing in the air.
“…Hah.”
Perceiving that, the Black Dragon Sword let out a dry laugh.
In light of what had unfolded, was he suggesting he still couldn’t let go?
What utter folly.
“I had high hopes, but it turned out to be a farce.”
One of the most well-regarded swordsmen in the world, he was the leading figure of a sect within Gupa Ilbang.
If he successfully wiped them out alongside the future indices, it would undoubtedly cause waves throughout his venture into the Central Plains.
But had he anticipated such a feeble collapse?
The Black Dragon Sword continued to view the frozen Cheonghae Ilgeom with indifferent eyes, casually approaching as he exhaled.
“If you’ve given up on yourself, then that alone signifies your death.”
With a swift movement, he intended to sever Cheonghae Ilgeom’s neck, hanging his head in Shinryonggwan, so that those who came late would see and react.
“Let’s finish this.”
I’ll end it all in a single, decisive strike.
Once he was done with Cheonghae Ilgeom, he had to reunite with the princess without delay.
Reflecting on that, the Black Dragon Sword sauntered closer to Cheonghae Ilgeom.
‘Surprisingly quick progress…’
Not taking as long as he had supposed, to immobilize Cheonghae Ilgeom.
As a foolish old man, he fell much earlier than anticipated.
By now, the princess would be well on her way to their destination with Dokbong in tow.
The dark forces were not a concern; if they moved to engage, there was nothing they could not eliminate.
Rustle.
Stepping forward, he approached Cheonghae Ilgeom while preparing his sword.
If he cut his neck like this…
Kuuwung-!
“…?”
The Black Dragon Sword turned his gaze to the direction of Mount Tai at the felt tremor.
It was an immense vibration that sent the hairs on his arms standing on end.
It was a palpable energy felt even from afar.
“What on earth…?”
If it was indeed Mount Tai, it was in the direction where the princess and the Black Dragon Sword were heading.
How could he feel such a potent force?
That wasn’t the only abnormality.
Zzzzt-!
“…What?”
Somewhere in the black formation spread across the sky, cracks began to form.
Before long,
Thud-.
From the fractured space, something plummeted down.
It was an essence fragment.
“What’s that…!?”
Was this the aftermath of the tremors just felt?
That didn’t seem right.
What the Black Dragon Sword truly sensed was something beyond simple energy.
Drum thud.
Something was stirring beyond the formation.
Through the gap left by fallen fragments, an unfamiliar red light began to seep in.
What was that glow?
It’s still too early for sunset.
Moreover, what about that energy that felt like speculation?
It was warming. No, perhaps it was more scorching?
It conveyed an essence trapped somewhere in between.
Regardless of what it was, one thing was clear: something strange was taking place.
“What the hell is going on?”
This was entirely unexpected.
In response, the Black Dragon Sword raised his sword high.
First, he must deal with Cheonghae Ilgeom.
Then he must hasten to the source of this energy…
“Oh, crap…”
“…!”
A voice broke through the atmosphere.
Black Dragon Sword turned his head sharply towards the source of the sound.
In that direction, someone was panting heavily and mumbled curses.
“I almost bought it.”
When did that person even show up?
The Black Dragon Sword hadn’t detected the presence of this sudden newcomer.
It felt almost as if they had dropped out of the sky.
The newcomer was a young man with black hair and red eyes—a figure who likely hadn’t even reached adulthood yet.
“I’ll be damned, I can’t believe I’m back here again. What on earth… why does it look like this?”
Glancing at him, the Black Dragon Sword inhaled deeply.
‘…What is going on?’
The reason the hair on his arms was standing was becoming clear.
It wasn’t because of speculation or energy from afar—it was something about that very individual.
It was definitely because of ‘that’.
The tension arising from him was what set off the Black Dragon Sword’s heightened senses.
When the Black Dragon Sword prepared to adjust his stance, the newcomer had been surveying his surroundings, then swiftly focused on the Black Dragon Sword.
“Hmm?”
Switching his gaze between the Black Dragon Sword and the fallen Cheonghae Ilgeom, the newcomer suddenly frowned.
That malevolent expression on his face nearly caused the Black Dragon Sword to flinch.
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