Chapter 348

Chapter 348
## Chapter 348. Revenge (4)

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The sun, which had been absent from my sight for quite some time, hung brilliantly in the heavens, yet anxiety gripped my chest. As anticipated, the pursuing legions of the Demonic Cult proved unable to match our pace. We had navigated that treacherous route while enduring immense hardship. For a larger force to overtake us by taking a more circuitous path was virtually impossible. Nevertheless, the mere presence of three individuals blocking our path ahead completely stripped away any sense of security.

‘The arrival of only three individuals……. indicates that number is deemed sufficient.’

Furthermore, the aura radiating from the man in the center closely mirrors that of Je-geum-hak. If I assume the companions flanking him possess an equivalent level of mastery…. This should instead be interpreted as a demonstration of supreme confidence on their part.

“Commander!”

The warriors of Sa-hwal-dan following in my wake grew rigid upon sighting the trio. I immediately barked an order.

“Pull back all of the wounded and anyone unfit for combat.”

“……But sir, there are merely three opponents?”

Naturally, judging strictly by numbers, they would assume we held an overwhelming advantage. Yet if that central figure possesses strength on par with the Seven Demon Lords (**Chil-ma-ji-gun**)…… then given our current depletion, numerical superiority means nothing. Setting their martial heights aside, more than half of our forces are wounded, and the rest are simply incapable of manifesting their true capabilities.

“*Grrrk*, Jin— So— un— I shall sla— y— you!”

The moment the hideously scarred man on the right spat out his malice toward me, the surrounding unit members gasped in shock.

“C—Commander, is that an acquaintance of yours?”

“No.”

An ordinary person could never erase such a visage from their memory. How could I possibly forget? I am absolutely certain I have never laid eyes on this face before.

“Then why…… does he address the Commander as if he were confronting the murderer of his own parents?”

“Well….”

It eludes me as well. Still, reflecting on the matter, a singular explanation comes to mind.

“Perhaps because I am a champion of justice?”

“……”

“Evil beings naturally harbor hatred for the righteous.”

Truly, there is no other reason. Receiving no reply, I shifted my gaze toward Go-a-ryeom, who had been pressing the inquiries, only to find him staring at me with the solemn expression of a temple Buddha. ‘Why does a follower of the Tao wear such a look?’

Just then, that grating, metallic voice rang out once more.

“You dog— of a scoundrel— how dare you fe— ign ignorance! I will dr— ag you down— and shred by shred— *grrrk*, strip the sk— in from your bo— dy— until you be— g— for death—.”

The Cloth Man unleashed a torrent of venomous, resentful words. After patiently enduring the entirety of his hate-filled curses, I spoke up.

“So…… who exactly are you?”

I was genuinely perplexed. I have performed numerous righteous deeds, but even if he were a villain blind to his own misdeeds, could his hatred for me truly run this deep?

“*Grrrk*! You piece of sh—….”

“No, I am asking out of genuine ignorance.”

As the Cloth Man prepared to lunge forward, the woman positioned on the left traced a pattern in the air. Suddenly, the Cloth Man’s hands jerked violently as though snared by invisible cords, rendering him incapable of moving his body against his own volition.

“Kikikikiki. They labeled him a lunatic, and indeed, his madness surpasses even our own children.”

A striking woman with abnormally prominent molars giggled and sneered. Unlike the effect of the Cloth Man’s voice, each time her laughter rang out, the academy students felt their frames stiffen.

“*Urgh*…… wh—what is this sensation?”

“My chest…… my heart…….”

Irrespective of their gender, individuals began experiencing severe physical distress one after another.

‘This technique is…….’

It was undeniably the manifestation of the Soul-Bewitching Art (**Mi-hon-gong**). However, due to the chaos of the moment, they simply failed to recognize what was happening to them. ‘To think her influence remains this potent against the academy students even when they are drained.’

Simultaneously, my apprehension intensified. The Soul-Bewitching Art was highly unlikely to be her primary martial discipline. Though I lack total knowledge of the Demonic Cult’s arts, I had never heard of a master establishing a prominent lineage solely through the Soul-Bewitching Art. The realization that a mere auxiliary technique could exert such a massive ripple effect chilled my blood. Furthermore, it was deeply frustrating that I possessed absolutely no intelligence regarding this woman.

‘Why was I such an insignificant weakling in my previous life?’

Judging by her demeanor, she clearly occupied an exalted station and possessed immense power within the Demonic Cult. Having never encountered her before, I could not even begin to calculate her true identity or the depth of her skill.

“At any rate, you have all performed admirably to travel this far. Our presence must have made it quite a challenge. Even so, for martial artists of the Central Plains, you possess some worth.”

Following her hollow words of praise, the woman shifted the conversation to her primary objective.

“In truth, we are seeking an item. We were wondering if it happens to be in your possession.”

Those scoundrels are perpetually searching for something. In the pursuit of their goals, they slaughter indiscriminately and maintain an incredibly active existence. Truly industrious individuals, one might say.

“If you merely surrender it, we shall depart without further incident.”

Complete nonsense, a falsehood entirely devoid of credibility.

“What item are you referring to?”

Nonetheless, I chose to listen to their demand. I might find a way to exploit the knowledge. On a prior occasion, even that terrifying monster bypassed the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil just to secure a ring, did he not? The bizarre woman offered a smile while lightly tracing her finger along her lips.

“The Fire Essence (**Hwa-jeong**) belonging to the Great Sun Monkey. In truth, the Fire Essence held far greater significance than the Ice Essence.”

“……”

“Should you return it, we will truly take our leave. I am willing to bind myself to that promise.”

……True to the nature of a demon whose every breath is a fabrication, she is uttering a vow she intends to break immediately. I saw right through their underlying motive.

“If that had been your sole objective from the beginning, you would have had no reason to corner us so aggressively.”

“……”

Observe that momentarily rattled expression.

“More importantly, what exactly is your purpose within the Muk-rim?”

“Oh?”

“I am demanding to know why you brazenly chose to instigate actions against the ‘Murim Alliance’.”

I intentionally placed heavy emphasis on the name of the ‘Murim Alliance’. It was the most effective method to drill into the minds of the academy students just how perilous these adversaries were. Specifically, to demonstrate that these monsters harbored no fear of the Murim Alliance whatsoever.

“Does the Murim Alliance carry some grand significance?”

Precisely as I foresaw, the woman dismissed the name as a triviality, causing the academy students to tighten their grips under the sudden surge of tension. The woman continued, her lips twisting into an eerie grin.

“The Muk-rim represents a vital territory for our operations. Since your faction chose to disrupt such a location, we cannot simply look the other way.”

“So your objective was our complete ‘annihilation’?”

“We can hardly permit you to abscond with priceless artifacts that you lack the capacity to properly control, can we?”

Upon hearing the woman’s proclamation, furious outbursts erupted from the ranks.

“Lunatics…… you sought to wipe us out entirely over a single object?”

“Just what kind of monsters are these bastards that they……”

As expected, the sheer threat posed by these individuals was successfully communicated without requiring direct explanation. The crowd grew turbulent, yet the woman merely shrugged her shoulders with total indifference.

“Regardless, if you hand over the Fire Essence, I shall cease our pursuit.”

“And if we do not possess it?”

“……Deception of that nature is quite ill-advised. We have already located the remains of the Great Sun Monkey. Had you attempted to consume it, your entire form would have dissolved into flames, leaving behind nothing but a pool of gore and the Fire Essence itself. Consequently, someone among your number holds the Fire Essence.”

Curse it all, was it truly such an inherently lethal object? I really must break the habit of swallowing anything rumored to enhance the body. Be that as it may, what is done is done. I could hardly offer a confession right now that I had already integrated it into my system. Furthermore, I never for a moment believed they would honor any agreement.

“Do you honestly expect me to buy into a fabrication so utterly transparent?”

“*Hmm*, it appears changing the circumstances does little to alter your obstinacy.”

While the woman murmured to herself, the Cloth Man began violently jerking his jaw and head, spraying words once more.

“Jin— So— un—!!”

As the woman and the Cloth Man created a scene, the man occupying the center knitted his brows and brought an end to the display.

“It is of no consequence. We can simply retrieve the Fire Essence after putting every last one of them to death.”

“……Oh dear, I was so close to persuading them.”

With a swift motion of the woman’s arm, crimson fabric began to coil around her figure. As her billowing palace attire wrapped tighter, her garments shifted into the form of traditional martial robes. The instant that spectacle unfolded, her true identity clicked in my mind.

‘Blood Lord (**Hyeol-gun**) Bing-hwa-sa.’

The enchantress notorious for executing the most depraved acts even among the ranks of the Seven Demon Lords. In my previous life, the battlegrounds she traversed were left devoid of life, populated only by mangled remains and desiccated mummies.

“Their numbers are grander than I anticipated.”

No visible emotion registered in Bing-hwa-sa’s eyes as she scanned the academy students ascending the ridge. Even with that observation, her tone indicated absolute certainty that she could eliminate them regardless of their count.

“Well— how shall we proceed? In the single-combat style your kind favors? Or perhaps the one-versus-many style you excel at? Either option suits me perfectly.”

*Crack, crack.*

Simultaneous with Bing-hwa-sa’s declaration, the flesh and skeletal structure of the central man began to warp violently. In the blink of an eye, his unremarkable stature expanded exponentially, his jaw elongated into a bestial snout, and lethal talons reminiscent of the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear erupted from his extremities.

“I dynamic ally hope there is a worthy opponent among you. Otherwise, this undertaking will yield little satisfaction.”

In stark contrast to the calm demeanors of the trio, the academy students fell into utter disarray. Every single adversary presented a twisted, monstrous visage. These transformations, entirely foreign to the conventional teachings of the Central Plains, stripped the students of their grasp on reality. I infused my lungs with internal energy and roared.

“Form up for battle!!!”

Those gripped by panic immediately snapped back to attention and unsheathed their blades.

*Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.*

Indeed. This was no moment to ponder the impossibility of this bizarre reality. It was purely the moment to engage in immediate combat.

“Advance!”

The hour had arrived to commence the ultimate clash.

Though they numbered a mere three individuals, the oppressive dread emitted by each foe defied calculation. It felt as though we faced three independent armies. Confronted by academy students who had spent their lives being lauded as prodigies within their respective sects, the trio showed no hesitation in facing overwhelming numbers. Faced with such an unnatural sight, the academy students found themselves instinctively cowed.

“……Do they honestly intend to wage war with just three people?”

“What manner of entities are we dealing with?”

Failing to gauge an enemy’s capabilities is a fatal disadvantage for any martial artist.

“Squad leaders to the front! Unit members, align your formations with your fellow sect brothers!”

Upon my command, several individuals who had instinctively moved to engage paused in confusion. They undoubtedly viewed the strict measures I was enacting against a mere trio as an overreaction. Yet there was no leisure for explanations. Consequently, my only option was to demonstrate the reality of the situation so they could comprehend the threat. I surged toward the mutated beast in the center, who radiated the most formidable aura.

‘Transforming Bestial Demonic Art (**Byeon-byeon-goe-ma-gong**)’

One of the notorious Seven Great Grotesque Arts maintained by the Demonic Cult. This particular technique, exceptional even within an organization completely devoid of normal practitioners, was feared for its highly irregular properties.

*Boom!*

Talons crashed against my blade-light, yet rather than severing the claws, the collision produced a thundering detonation.

“I recall conveying this to you during our previous encounter.”

The sound of articulate human speech emerging from that bestial maw felt profoundly unnatural. Yet far more unsettling was the creature’s raw, overwhelming physical power.

*Grind—*

The sheer force of the entity, completely overwhelming and pushing back my blade-light, defied all logic.

“How irritating!”

I narrowly tilted my head to avoid a flash of razor-sharp energy aimed at my throat. Harnessing the internal reserves of my Jade Clear Heaven-Ascending Power, I unleashed the full force of the Twin Heavens Sword Technique.

*Shhhhhhhht.*

A tempest of radiant golden blade-light attempted to engulf the beast, but the creature compressed its frame and rebounded off the earth in an instant to evade the strike.

*Thud!*

Did it possess the agility to simply dodge the entire assault? I accelerated the execution of the Twin Heavens Sword Technique further still.

*Shhhhhhhht.*

The flashing arcs of my sword managed to lacerate the creature’s hide.

“*Urgh*, a minor sting.”

Weathering the storm of blade-light in that fashion, the beast immediately drove its fist downward with crushing force. I deployed the Softening Technique (**Yeon-hwa**) in an attempt to redirect and pull the creature’s momentum, but the physical force failed to register correctly. The entity twisted its torso mid-air with perfect grace and regained its footing.

“The art of shifting flowers and joining trees? You possess an abundance of insignificant parlor tricks……”

Before the creature could conclude its thought, it forcefully propelled itself off the ground and soared into the air. Simultaneously, an immense wave of fist-force obliterated the terrain where it had just stood.

“Commander Jin!”

Il-gak had managed to reinforce the vanguard before I had even noticed his approach.

“Your presence is required over there.”

He pointed with great urgency toward the position of the Cloth Man.

“He is currently reinforcing his focus on Commander Jin’s inner circle.”

Curse that wretched bastard. Yet just as I wavered, questioning whether Il-gak could withstand the beast alone, Nam-hwa-seong dashed forward and unleashed a heavy strike against the creature.

*Dong—*

“*Argh*, this wretched exterior……! Why is it so incredibly dense?!”

Ah, this individual had extensive experience battling the Iron Jiangshi previously. Turning my head immediately afterward.

*Tap, tap, tap, tap—*

The academy students were advancing rapidly, organized into distinct groups. I could reasonably entrust this sector to their capabilities. I bellowed a warning toward Il-gak and Nam-hwa-seong.

“The creature’s defensive traits and offensive power defy comprehension. Maintain absolute caution!”

“Commander Jin, look to your own safety as well.”

“Move quickly! Lest we all perish here!”

Perish, indeed. He is the sort of individual who will outlast everyone through sheer stubbornness. Ignoring Nam-hwa-seong’s remark, I accelerated toward my own companions. Behind my retreating path, deafening explosions reverberated without pause.

*Boom, boom, boom, boom!*

Each time the arm of Blood Lord Bing-hwa-sa swept through the air, a devastating concussive shockwave materialized. For a brief instant, my stride faltered. Was it truly wise for me to abandon this front?

“You absolute cancer of a human……!”

“Pull back momentarily before regrouping for an assault!”

“*Tsk*! Just wait until I get my hands on you!”

Fortunately, the academy students, driven by sheer defiance, were managing the crisis intelligently. Though they had clustered back into their respective sectarian groups, they executed their maneuvers precisely according to their squad leaders’ directives. Yes, this was the moment to place my faith in them. I resumed my sprint toward the support units. The 5th and 6th Squads were designated for auxiliary duties and tasked with extracting the casualties. Should the Cloth Man breach that perimeter, the resulting casualties would be catastrophic.

As I ran at breakneck speed, the grotesque form of the Cloth Man entered my field of vision. I could feel a terrifying wave of murderous intent radiating from his person.

“You miserable, malformed excuse for a jiangshi!”

*Rumble.*

I condensed the full velocity of the Great Heaven Divine Palm into a singular point within my grasp and unleashed it.

*Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!*

The Great Heaven Divine Palm, detonating with enough force to reduce the surrounding stone structures to dust, surged forward with the intent to obliterate the Cloth Man entirely.

“How dare you— attempt to face me— with a parlor trick like th— is—”

The Cloth Man snapped his head toward me and hoisted his arm.

*Kachow.*

A massive barrier of solid ice materialized, completely deflecting the trajectory of the Great Heaven Divine Palm. And then.

*Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.*

Simultaneous with the deflected energy of the Great Heaven Divine Palm bursting into the atmosphere, the ice barrier disintegrated into shards that began to drift ominously around the Cloth Man’s form. In that precise instant.

“……!”

The silhouette of the Cloth Man aligned perfectly with a specific persona buried deep within my memories. Inconceivable, he actually survived that ordeal? I fixed my gaze upon his horribly mangled and stitched countenance.

“Je-geum-hak.”

“Indeed— you finally manage— to recall me—”

The Cloth Man pulled back a corner of his mouth in a twisted grin. An appearance so grotesque and abnormal it defied description. Still, when reflecting upon his former self, who resembled a refined and elegant young master, his current state was profoundly pathetic. I offered a brief observation.

“You have undergone quite a transformation….”

Ah, was that perhaps a bit too blunt and potentially insensitive?

“Well, *um*…… you actually look improved compared to before?”

“Sla— y— I shall sla— y— you—!”

From my perspective, I had merely intended to offer words of solace. Yet for some reason, Je-geum-hak’s thirst for blood reached a fever pitch.