Chapter 29
Tap, tap. Tap, tap.
In a clearing in the forest, with a campfire at the center, Jeok I-geon, Cheon Gang, and I sat in a circle.
Thanks to running non-stop through the night, we had managed to put quite some distance between us and Seongdo.
I wondered if those chasing us realized that the one they were pursuing was, in fact, eagerly waiting for them instead.
Woooom―
The Heaven-Cleaving Divine Sword resonated in response to Jeok I-geon’s energy.
Of course, I couldn’t actually feel the resonance myself.
I was only guessing based on what I’d read in the original story. Whenever Jeok I-geon’s hand touched the sword, the author would describe it in such terms.
I’d always been curious about how that might actually feel. Watching Jeok I-geon now, I felt like I had a better sense of it.
Jeok I-geon rested the sword on his knees, gazing down at it. The way he looked made it seem as though he had merely reclaimed what was rightfully his.
“Why are you staring?”
Had I been staring too intently?
Startled by Jeok I-geon suddenly raising his head, I fumbled for an excuse.
“Ah, uh, well… I just thought the Young Master and the Heaven-Cleaving Divine Sword look good together. My apologies.”
“Do you see it that way too?”
Why did he look so pleased?
For someone with such a cold demeanor, he seemed surprisingly sentimental.
He must really like the sword. Well, considering he had come all the way to Sichuan to acquire it, that made sense.
Later in the story, Jeok I-geon said obtaining the Heaven-Cleaving Divine Sword had been a kind of ritual for him.
It was like laying a psychological foundation for his ambition to unify the martial world.
The fact that someone so young had been formulating such terrifying plans all along made me feel a chill.
As soon as we returned to the main sect, I resolved to quit immediately.
Thinking about that long-awaited day filled me with excitement.
Would the Rainbow Loop be my farewell gift?
When I first received it, it had felt like a shackle, but now it was starting to seem more like a retirement bonus.
What incredible luck.
How had this even ended up in my hands?
The bracelet, made of red jade and known as the Rainbow Loop, was, in truth, the Seven-Colored Rainbow Loop.
When its hidden mechanism was activated, the bracelet would emit seven colors, like a rainbow, and unleash an incredible ability—it allowed internal energy to accumulate several times faster than usual.
Imagine how much stronger one’s Qi could grow even with the same practice of Qi Circulation.
In the original story, this bracelet had given rise to a young martial prodigy.
And now, that item had fallen into my possession.
I already had over one full cycle’s worth of internal energy.
If I added the internal energy I could gain through the Seven-Colored Rainbow Loop…
Wow. It was so overwhelming that I couldn’t even put it into words.
It felt like all the luck of my life was converging on me in this moment.
Learning the Demonic Phoenix Sky Art alone was enough to make me want to bow to the Demonic Cult in gratitude, but now this? It was too much luxury.
“You said you hated it before, but you seem to like it now, don’t you?”
Had I been smiling without realizing it? Jeok I-geon’s question made me hurriedly pull my hand away from the bracelet as I answered.
“I was just overwhelmed earlier, receiving something far beyond what I deserve. I apologize for not properly thanking you at the time. I will never forget the kindness you’ve shown me.”
“As long as you like it, I’m satisfied.”
Wait, did Jeok I-geon just smile?
It was fleeting, but I was sure I saw the corners of his mouth lift.
If that was all, it would have been fine.
But for him to smile with his eyes too? That felt like cheating.
It didn’t suit him.
Stop looking so pleased with me.
Why does he keep acting so unlike the Jeok I-geon I know?
Every time Jeok I-geon showed a side of himself that felt warm, my heart skipped a beat, and I worried for my poor heart.
Rustle.
That’s when I heard an unfamiliar noise.
“They’ve finally arrived.”
Muttering to himself about how they were later than expected, Jeok I-geon stood up.
In his hand, the Heaven-Cleaving Divine Sword gleamed confidently.
“You must have been bored too, right?”
As Jeok I-geon slowly drew the sword from its scabbard, his entire demeanor changed.
It was the sharp presence of a true martial artist.
Naturally, there was no trace of fear. If anything, his gaze was filled with anticipation.
How could he make this confrontation more thrilling and merciless?
His sharp mind must already be calculating a dozen steps ahead.
Jeok I-geon was always like this before a fight.
Thunk!
That’s when a masked figure dropped from the sky.
“I won’t waste words. If you want to live, hand over that sword…”
You’d think he might at least listen to the end of the threat, but Jeok I-geon wasn’t known for his patience.
Swish!
Before the masked figure could finish speaking, the Heaven-Cleaving Divine Sword moved like a flash of light.
“Hmph! You dare—!”
The masked man didn’t even have a chance to retaliate.
Before he could draw his weapon, Jeok I-geon’s sword had already slashed through his body.
Splurt!
Precisely as if measured with a ruler, the masked man’s upper and lower halves were cleanly severed.
In the next moment, blood erupted like a fountain, filling the air with a metallic stench.
Jeok I-geon’s clothes and face were splattered with a considerable amount of blood.
Yet, he didn’t seem to care.
He simply cast a cold, eerie gaze at the remaining masked men.
None of them rushed forward in anger over their comrade’s death.
Despite their confident appearance upon arrival, they hesitated and shuffled nervously, clearly intimidated by Jeok I-geon’s overwhelming skill.
It was just as it had been in the original story.
These men were seasoned in age but lacked the martial prowess to match even Jeok I-geon’s shadow.
True experts, able to gauge Jeok I-geon’s level, hadn’t even bothered to pursue us.
Only ignorant fools like these had stepped forward, unknowingly boarding an express train to hell.
“Don’t worry. I’ll end this quickly.”
Jeok I-geon’s voice was directed at me, perhaps misunderstanding my frozen state as concern over him.
His blood-soaked face, however, made the scene even more horrifying for me.
Despite mentally preparing myself, the reality of such violence was far more intense than the sanitized descriptions in the story.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Jeok I-geon turned back toward the masked men.
The moment their eyes met his, several of them instinctively stepped back.
I wanted to tell them to just run away.
They had come intending to kill us, so they were certainly not innocent. Yet, I couldn’t bear to witness the bloodbath that was about to unfold.
Of course, my wishes were irrelevant.
Flash.
Jeok I-geon lunged forward, his sword slashing vertically.
Wait, isn’t that…?
My eyes widened involuntarily.
The sword technique he had just used was the first stance of the Demonic Life Sword: Demonic Overlord’s Suppression.
Even his footwork matched the Demonic Life Steps he had taught me.
When Jeok I-geon faced the first masked man earlier, his sword had moved so quickly I couldn’t follow it.
But this time, I could clearly track both his steps and the trajectory of his blade.
That wasn’t to say he had slowed down drastically.
It was more that his movements were at a pace suited for someone at my level to observe.
Was he trying to teach me martial arts even in the middle of this battle?
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing echoed as Jeok I-geon’s sword met the masked man’s weapon.
Perhaps emboldened by Jeok I-geon’s seemingly slower pace, the masked man attempted a follow-up strike by twisting his body.
“Hah!”
But the moment their swords connected, the masked man couldn’t pull his weapon back.
Jeok I-geon’s immense energy completely overwhelmed and enveloped him.
Slash!
Once again, blood sprayed like a fountain.
The figure that had stood mere moments ago was now reduced to countless pieces scattered across the ground.
The sheer disparity in strength was unfathomable.
Naturally, the remaining masked men were utterly terrified and scattered in panic.
But Jeok I-geon was not the type to let them go.
Bang!
Jeok I-geon unleashed one of his signature techniques, Pa-ok Danja Technique, firing off bursts of energy randomly.
Each shot landed on the fleeing men’s thighs.
“Aaargh!”
Screams erupted from all directions.
Jeok I-geon calmly approached the nearest fallen man and unleashed a crescent-shaped sword slash.
Swish!
Both of the man’s legs were severed.
Yet, even without legs, the man desperately dragged himself along the ground with his arms.
Bang! Bang!
Jeok I-geon’s energy shattered both of the man’s shoulders, leaving him completely immobilized.
Now unable to move, the masked man begged for his life.
Jeok I-geon responded by gently placing his foot on the man’s face.
“P-please… spare me…”
Crunch!
The scream ended abruptly.
“Good. Who’s next?”
Jeok I-geon’s exhilaration from the slaughter was evident.
Licking his lips as if savoring the moment, he scanned for his next target.
I stood frozen in place, utterly paralyzed by the sight of him.
—
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