Chapter 564: Get Swept Away.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!!
The gust of wind extending from the fist swept across the ground like a typhoon.
It was far too wild and vicious to be just a result of a bet.
The fact that a single human fist could accomplish this was utterly staggering.
Dddddddddddd-!!
The ground twisted and buckled beneath the sheer force.
In terms of its range, the ripple effect was simply overwhelming.
The storm raged on for a while before gradually dying down, finally reaching the mountains behind.
Whoa whoa…
As the wind settled, dust fell to the ground.
Until that moment, silence reigned supreme.
This brief silence shattered as the dust began to clear and visibility returned.
Thud-!
It was at that moment the old man’s body collapsed to the floor.
“Elder Jang!!”
“No way!!”
The sound of the Wudang disciples’ wails echoed upon witnessing the scene.
The elder of the Wudang, Woo Baek, the wielder of the Biseong Sword, lay motionless on the ground.
His body was a grotesque mess, as if it had been utterly obliterated.
Examining the old man’s body amidst the scattered blood offered no glimmer of hope.
Woo Baek was dead.
He had been savagely defeated by the masked man, unable to muster even the slightest resistance.
And all of this had occurred with a single strike.
Without so much as a proper chance to fight back, the greatest sword master of the Central Plains closed his eyes for the last time.
Meanwhile, the masked figure who dealt Woo Baek his fatal blow merely looked down at the fallen elder, contemplative.
A few seconds passed.
The nameless figure briefly surveyed Woo Baek, then casually remarked, “This is ridiculous.”
His voice, dry and arid, dripped with disdain.
“Is this really the sword of the Wudang? If so, I must say I’m incredibly disappointed.”
His tone dripped with unmistakable disappointment.
“I never imagined that a sword from a prestigious lineage, deeply rooted in the Central Plains for so long, could be so crude.”
As they witnessed the pitiful state of Woo Baek, the Wudang disciples’ blood boiled.
Yet one, despite their anger, was frozen in place.
They were still overwhelmed, their bodies pinned as if trapped beneath an insurmountable weight.
However…
One individual was able to break through that pressure.
As she gazed upon him, the masked figure spoke.
“Yes, you were there.”
She hesitated.
The woman who had been ready to act at his words, So-i, the Plum Blossom Swordsman, found herself halted in mid-motion.
Her radiant blue eyes locked onto Geom Hu. The swordsman couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat at that gaze.
I can’t see him.
Nothing behind that mask revealed what lay within.
Nothing about the opponent’s level was discernable.
Geom Hu’s level was undoubtedly not low.
Even if she engaged in a life-or-death clash with Woo Baek—who had just perished—she was confident she would emerge victorious.
But…
I can’t do that.
There was no way she could reduce Woo Baek to such a state with merely one exchange.
What the heck…
What is the identity of this sudden intruder?
Did they call themselves Cheonma (Heavenly Demon)?
The masked figure had introduced themselves as such, yet it was the first time Geom Hu had ever heard of this title.
It was truly bizarre.
There existed no records detailing such a powerful martial artist.
“Geom Hu.”
“…!”
As the tension escalated, the Heavenly Demon’s call struck her alertness.
Perhaps sensing her reaction, a smile wormed its way into Cheonma’s voice.
“You are unlike the filth of the Wudang. Seems you know your place.”
Tap tap.
With his toes, he prodded the corpse of Woo Baek, prompting the Wudang disciples to recoil in horror.
“How dare you desecrate the Elder!!”
“I’ll kill you!”
Screams laced with fury erupted around them.
Upon hearing this, Cheonma pivoted his gaze toward them.
He lazily lifted his index finger to his lips.
“Shhh.”
A light warning.
Yet the energy radiating from him was anything but light.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaa-!!
A heavy aura enveloped the area, pressing down on everyone.
“Gahhh…!”
“Urrhh…!!”
Knees that barely managed to hold themselves upright buckled again.
The Wudang disciples gasped desperately for breath.
“I do not enjoy noise. Especially the buzzing of insects.”
Crack! Geom Hu clenched his fists tight at the piercing sensation.
This feeling was unprecedented.
It wasn’t just vicious enough to be deemed aggression, but weighed down heavily enough to feel deadly.
Without so much as a rustle, an eerie silence reigned again.
Cheonma redirected his gaze to Geom Hu.
Then he asked, “Are you coming?”
His words, tinged with provocation, sounded off like a challenge.
“…”
Hearing this, Geom Hu furrowed his brow and replied, “If you’re going to say things like that, at the very least, you should let those captured go free.”
Ha ha-!
Cheonma erupted into laughter at Geom Hu’s retort.
It was indeed as the swordsman had said.
The energy that seeped from Cheonma’s feet spread in every direction.
The atmosphere chilled as the energy surveyed the throats of the unmanned warriors nearby.
This was precisely why Geom Hu had failed to intervene when Woo Baek fell in battle moments ago.
Cheonma had been sending a clear warning.
If you move, others will perish as well.
In a way, it signified warning of dire consequences.
Geom Hu felt cold sweat streaming down his back.
In other words…
So, even under this sinister energy… you could toy with Elder Woo like that?
This meant he had been toying with Woo Baek while exuding such a menacing aura.
Contemplating this made Geom Hu solidify his belief.
The author has transcended.
Among the elite sword masters of the Central Plains, only a minuscule fraction have attained that level of transcendence.
Geom Hu reached that conclusion.
It was impossible to create such materialized energy otherwise.
Only by attaining the realm of imagination could one achieve that.
A profound tension coursed through his entire being.
What on earth. Who is this author… no.
Where did they even come from?
Geom Hu’s gaze traveled to the giant kneeling behind Cheonma.
Though all attention was captivated by Cheonma, the swordsman perceived that giant as a formidable foe in their own right.
At the very least, a formidable size.
From the physique alone, they were a master of raw power.
It was the same for Cheonma too, yet this was also the first time Geom Hu had encountered this imposing figure.
The situation was desolately hopeless.
No one knew what had befallen them—but the unmanned warriors around him remained immobilized.
Despite the colossal impact, for reasons unknown, reinforcements had not yet arrived.
Is this ominous black energy the culprit?
The black energy spread across the area. It didn’t seem like much at first glance, yet it likely posed a major concern.
If it weren’t that…
Geom Hu’s gaze flickered slightly upward.
There was something amidst the dark world that shone brightly.
Might that be the source of the problem?
The swordsman bit down on his lips.
It appeared radiant and dazzling, yet he could feel a chilling energy emanating from it in all directions.
This was a power he had never encountered before.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, it nudged a sense of familiarity while maintaining a faintly ominous air.
Crisis.
He struggled to adjust his grip on the sword, yet no plan emerged.
Am I afraid of death? No.
Even if they were indeed stronger, Geom Hu had no fear of such things.
Yet the issue lay in…
There are children.
Right now, Geom Hu had something precious to protect.
Not too far away.
That was why—
He hesitated to wield his sword too recklessly.
Yet it was also the reason why he couldn’t step back.
At that moment…
“Your gaze is faltering.”
“…!”
Cheonma’s words pierced through the room, striking Geom Hu.
“Your eyes, although not trembling from fear, appear troubled by something. What could it be?”
Kukuk.
Laughter echoed through the air.
“Or is it because of the children trapped within?”
The swordsman’s eyes widened. Cheonma had noticed.
Realizing this made a hot flush rise in Geom Hu’s head.
“Hmm…”
Cheonma adjusted the mask he was wearing while scrutinizing her with keen interest.
What should I do? Should I fight now?
What about the unmanned warriors surrounding? What about the children in the underground chamber?
Suddenly,
Just as Geom Hu bit down on his teeth fiercely amid distressing circumstances—
“It’s rather boring.”
Cheonma’s voice rang out, devoid of vitality.
“I had hoped to savor the renowned Volcano Sword, but your demeanor is tamping down my excitement.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means I have no interest in a sword filled with half-baked thoughts. As you are now, I perceive no worth in killing you.”
The icy words stabbed deep at Geom Hu’s pride.
However, she refrained from offering a rebuttal.
To her, the lives of those children outweighed any amount of pride.
“I came with high hopes, yet it seems it was all in vain.”
Saying this, Cheonma turned, prepared to depart.
Surely, he doesn’t mean to walk away like this?
Just as Geom Hu replayed this thought,
Huuuuuuuu-!!
A sound emerged from the air.
Boom-!!
Something colossal came crashing down to the ground.
It was the monster that had hovered ominously just before.
As Geom Hu drew closer, its colossal size revealed itself.
It was large enough to engulf an entire dwelling.
Its stature rivaled that of the high-level monsters Geom Hu had faced multiple times.
With intent, Cheonma approached that monstrous being.
Geum Hu realized.
If left unchecked, Cheonma would vanish.
Should he just let him go? The perpetrator responsible for assaulting the orthodox school and killing one of the sect’s elders?
Was he truly meant to let such a figure just slip away?
As tangled hesitation mounted in his throat,
“Ah.”
Cheonma halted and spoke.
“If your desire is to halt my departure, I shall respect your choice. However,”
He cast a glance over his shoulder.
The softly glowing blue light focused intently upon Geom Hu.
“There will be no second chances.”
If you wish to hinder me.
This time, I will ensure every last one dies.
Cheonma’s words carried that unmistakable weight.
As a few seconds ticked away,
“…”
Geom Hu heard those words but ultimately showed no reaction.
After confirming this, Cheonma turned his gaze back to its original direction and approached the monstrous entity alongside the giant.
As his hand outstretched toward the creature.
Whooooooo-!!!
The black sky began to shatter.
The scene unfolded as if the very heavens were collapsing.
Crack-!
An anomaly arose with the sphere hovering in the air.
Slowly, cracks began to web across its surface.
Thud…!
The orb, now fracturing piece by piece.
The swordsman’s eyes widened in alarm.
With the apparition of cracks, energy began seeping forth rapidly.
A premonition.
A sign manifesting itself before the energy was set to explode.
Upon witnessing this, Geom Hu immediately drew upon his remaining power.
Hwaaaaa-! The scent of plum blossoms wafted through the air.
In that fleeting moment…
“It may have been a somewhat disappointing encounter, yet it was enjoyable in its own way.”
Cheonma’s voice resonated through the tumult.
“When we meet next, I hope you can live up to my expectations.”
With that said,
Whoooosh-!!
The sky descended, shattering the space around.
At the same time,
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
The orb shattered, spraying light in every direction. With it, the air pressure surged violently.
It was an explosive display of power.
A realization dawned; the power amassed was inconceivably immense.
If it was left uncontrolled, the entire vicinity was at the mercy of being swept away.
This knowledge fueled Geom Hu’s resolve to unleash his stored energy to rein in the explosion.
Wooosh-!
A purplish aura formed into a circular barrier which contained the imminent explosion within, swirling mercilessly.
However…
“Ugh-!!”
As he endeavored to absorb the full brunt of the explosion, the backlash struck him hard.
He persevered.
Fortunately, the force was much less intense than anticipated.
“Haa… h….”
Just after dampening the blast, Geom Hu exhaled shakily.
As he collected himself and shifted his gaze.
There was nothing left where the monstrous being had once stood.
Thud thud thud-!
As the transformation waned, his body gradually returned to its original size.
The martial attire he wore hung loose and baggy now, but there was no time to worry about that.
“Cough-!”
Thud thud-!!
Leaning against the wall, he coughed up blood.
Black liquid trickled over his lips.
“Keh…”
He clutched at his chest.
Pain seized him, threatening to bring him to his knees at any moment.
If he relaxed even slightly, he felt he might lose consciousness.
“Damn….”
Cursing came naturally.
How could it not? He had just narrowly escaped death.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Even amidst it all, the pain persisted.
That was too close.
The energy within his heart had already flickered to nothing.
Had he pressed even a fraction further, he would have triggered the innate life force to stir.
He clung to the pain, diligently assessing the damage within.
In that instant, he grasped the extent of the calamity surrounding him.
Damn it…
The internal injury had left him in tatters.
Whether as a result of pushing himself or otherwise, the blood clot was one thing—but he also suffered severe internal wounds.
“Should I have held on a bit longer?”
Perhaps this was an ailment birthed from employing the transplantation of Toua Pacheon.
I poured far too much into it ahead of time.
Prominent energy expenditure was required just for Hwarinseong and Heukmancheon.
Then came the need to sustain while compounding verbs and the mind.
Not to mention employing magic to restrain the swordsman while simultaneously channeling Toua Pacheon.
Had to be expected—there was simply no way the body could withstand it all.
Moreover…
If Geom Hu truly aimed to end me, it would have concluded badly.
Feeling unyieldingly strong, yet.
Had Geom Hu truly pressed forward with that intent, it could have been a dire outcome.
Despite knowing the risks, he had acted.
For he was convinced that Geom Hu would refrain from such decisions.
Because there were children present.
Aware of this, he believed Geom Hu wouldn’t act recklessly. His intuition had proved correct.
“Ugh… Hah…”
He sank to one knee.
Thud.
Someone reached out and caught him as he stumbled.
Turning to confirm, he found it was the woman who had just liberated him from his restraints; it was Nahi.
“Master, are you alright?”
“…No, I think I might die soon.”
He chuckled weakly.
Had anything gone even slightly askew, he might have met his end.
Things had gone relatively well, yet the results were anything but tidy.
At this rate, I’ll need to lie low for a month or two.
That was the mere benefit of his body being abnormally resilient now.
Under regular circumstances, such an internal injury would have necessitated a lengthy recuperation period of at least a year.
“Hah…”
He spat the last remnants of blood.
“Still, somehow, things went according to plan.”
Injuries aside, the outcome was not catastrophic.
Had Geom Hu known it would fall this way, he was certain the results might have shifted.
He allowed himself a relieved breath as he recalled the ‘mask’ kept snug within his grasp.
“Thank heaven for this.”
The white mask gifted from the Dark King.
A mystifying artifact that blurred one’s existence and clouded perception of one’s condition.
Rumor had it that it was among the scant few remaining artifacts of the line.
What that resonated was…
“…I suppose it’s a relic of Yeon-ga.”
Given that the Dark King was a descendant of Yeonga, the inference was clear: this mask could very well have belonged to Yeon Il-cheon.
Thinking of it this way left him with an unsettling feeling, but there was little room for hesitation over such matters.
He steeled himself and rose.
As he shifted, agony washed over him anew, spiking and causing fresh blood to flow, but he had to hold firm.
For the matter was still far from over.
He must regain his state, then return to the prison before Geom Hu appeared.
Consequently, matters needed resolution, and the various bits of information he’d amassed throughout this ordeal demanded assessment.
In addition, the most crucial reminder loomed overhead.
“He won’t take long to arrive.”
The current master of the Wudang, racing to retaliate, was none other than the head of the martial alliance.
One of the ten great masters of the Central Plains, Chilcheosamkwon.
He had to ready himself to confront the Wudang Swordmaster.
As a victim of this calamity.
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