Chapter 199. Eight Years of Hardship and Suffering (20)
Woo-Moon had never felt this emotional since becoming a Paragon.
When he witnessed the brutal death of Sect Master Na Ban... yes, he felt anger, but he still maintained his rationality, like an ocean whose surface was ravaged by a storm yet whose depths were perfectly still. But now, both above and below the surface, a mighty storm raged.
‘I’m... I'm still lacking.’
Realizing this, Woo-Moon contemplated his inner self as he used the Forbidden Divine Art to heal his wounds.
He suppressed his angry emotions and qi, and got his wrecked body back together.
Woo-Moon didn't regret destroying himself while fighting Mu Hu. It was simply inevitable. While it was best to avoid taking such damage when he could, it was an acceptable sacrifice when the gains were worth it.
It was thanks to that conviction that he had been able to defeat and kill his formidable enemy.
With this, another Paragon of Martial Heaven was gone. It was unquestionably worth it.
His torn and missing flesh squirmed as he imbued it with qi, new flesh growing to fill in the gaps. The injured bones, including the crushed skull, were also restored to their original state. Before long, he finished recovering.
When he opened his eyes, Right Devil was already dead, killed by Eun-Ah.
There were only about twenty Blood Devils left. The moment Woo-Moon moved, blood gushed out from their throats.
He shook off the single drop of blood staining Inkblade, then sheathed it in one smooth motion.
“We're done here.”
As soon as he finished speaking, sparks rose from under Woo-Moon’s feet and spread in all directions, burning the remnants of the brutal fight.
Woo-Moon lifted Ma-Ra and Eun-Ah into the air and returned to the Baek Family together.
Although they had won a major victory against one of Martial Heaven’s powerful forces, he just couldn’t bring himself to feel happy.
***
In the midst of a dream, Ra Mi was learning a technique.
Lucid Dreaming.
A dream where one realizes they are dreaming and are able to “wake up” within their dreamscape, acting as they wish.
The cultivation method that Woo-Moon had taught Ra Mi allowed her to have and harness lucid dreams freely.
It was through this method that Ra Mi was able to cultivate even while sleeping.
She practiced her sword techniques in her dreams and circulated her qi using the Lucid Dreaming Art, and the qi in her body also circulated at the same time.
For Ra Mi, who absolutely had to overcome the Transcendent realm and reach the Absolute, being able to do everything in her dreams was an incredibly precious gift.
As the Central Plains suffered, there was also an uproar within the Hainan Sword Sect, where Ra Mi was dreaming.
Pirates from the east and raiders of the central seas had joined forces to form a powerful faction to plunder the high seas, keeping the Hainan Sword Sect busy.
These pirates had come all the way into the territory of the sect and plundered everything they could along its coasts. Still, while the enemy was large and strong, the Hainan Sword Sect was also a powerful sect that had been ruling over their territory for a long time.
Just like on the Central Plains, the war on the sea was also gradually intensifying.
***
“WHAT?”
The entire Heavenly Demon Shrine shook at her rage.
Dust and rocks fell from the sky, and as if the entire building would collapse at any moment, massive cracks spanned the walls.
Crack, crack, crack crack!
The statues and pottery that adorned the walls all shattered.
Si-Hyeon's qi completely destroyed her surroundings. That was how vast her rage was at the moment.
“My-my-my lord, please, p-ple...”
All of her subordinates, faces pale, were barely able to open their mouths to try to plead for Si-Hyeon's mercy.
Although all of them were Absolute Masters, or at the very least Transcendents, none of them could resist Si-Hyeon's dominating aura and demonic qi.
Then, at that very moment, the vice cult leader, Bloodrush Archdemon, entered.
“Well, speak of the devil. How convenient that you're here.”
Si-Hyeon’s eyes, filled with anger, glared at Bloodrush Archdemon.
Before he entering the Heavenly Demon Shrine, the vice cult leader, Bloodrush Archdemon, had thought he would put on a confident facade. He would tout his own viewpoint that they had to destroy the Righteous and Evil Factions before moving on to deal with Martial Heaven.
However, the moment he met Si-Hyeon's gaze, not a single thought came to mind.
His body suddenly rose up into the air, and he found himself thrown in front of Si-Hyeon, right in the middle of the hall.
“Kneel.”
Bloodrush Archdemon quickly knelt at Si-Hyeon’s cold words.
"What were my orders again?"
Cold sweat poured down his face.
"T-they-they... they were not to do anything that would provoke the Righteous and Evil Factions... and to avoid causing any trouble, but..."
"But?"
The pressure grew too strong, almost crushing Bloodrush Archdemon. He wanted to justify himself, but he was simply unable to open his mouth.
“But?”
He couldn’t answer this time either.
“But?!”
A whip formed from Si-Hyeon's demonic qi flew and struck Bloodrush Archdemon’s face. His flesh was split open, and his blood gushed out.
Yet... it was not only fear, but also a feeling of shame bubbling up inside him. To think that he, the vice cult leader, had been whipped in front of his subordinates!
Barely containing his embarrassment and rage, he spoke through his teeth.
“P-please allow me to send away the subordinates.”
Si-Hyeon burst into laughter.
“Kekekekeke! What, are you embarrassed? Are you embarrassed to be beaten in front of your subordinates? You are ashamed of that, yet you’re not ashamed of defying the Heavenly Demon's orders!”
Si-Hyeon’s demonic qi whip flew countless times and continued to strike Bloodrush Archdemon’s entire body. The sound of the whipping continued to echo throughout the Heavenly Demon Shrine.
With this, their relationship with the Righteous Path had crossed a point of no return, and the alliance between the Righteous and the Evil Paths had been established by now.
From this point on, instead of ignoring these two forces and focusing on fighting Martial Heaven, they were forced to prepare for a decisive battle against the righteous-evil alliance while praying that Martial Heaven wouldn't attack them.
Moreover, in the process... they might end up fighting the Baek Family, too!
Si-Hyeon felt physical pain when she thought about that possibility, so much so that it made her enraged.
Smack, smack, smack, smack!
Bloodrush Archdemon was only able to escape Si-Hyeon's clutches once his entire body was covered in blood.
He was quickly taken to the medicine hall.
Si-Hyeon had only spared him because he was the vice cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult and an Absolute Master in his own right, a valuable force.
While receiving treatment at the medicine hall, Bloodrush Archdemon continued to grind his teeth in anger.
In his heart, the absolute loyalty to the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Heavenly Demon, the only constant that had seemed unchanging throughout his life, was slowly breaking apart.
A few days later, Bloodrush Archdemon “just so happened” to run into Si-Hyeon's most beloved maid, and through a series of well-made lies, he led her to his quarters.
***
Woo-Moon returned safely, and Ye-Ye was finally able to heave a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Hye-Ryeong had an indecipherable expression as she looked at him.
—Your face looked too much like my mother's.
That was what Woo-Moon had said when she had asked him why he didn't kill her. From that day on, she couldn't stop hearing those words.
In the end, they were family.
No matter how much she hated him, no matter how jealous she was of him, they were family. And although she hated to admit it, she and Jin-Jin indeed looked alike.
Yeah, they were family.
That was why she also resembled the Palm Emperor Baek Sang-Woon. She wasn't his daughter like she had always wished, but they were still family. Maybe if she had recognized this sooner, and perhaps if she hadn't harbored negative intentions, maybe she would still enjoy Sang-Woon’s attention like when she was a child.
Hye-Ryeong slowly walked toward Woo-Moon.
Seeing her approach, Woo-Moon stopped walking toward the Song Family Residence.
“It's been a while, cousin,” she said calmly. “I thought you died. But, seeing that you're alive, then, is...”
Woo-Moon instantly figured out what she wanted to say.
“I’m sorry. Grandfather...”
He didn't have to finish his sentence. Hye-Ryeong felt that tiniest bit of anticipation inside her crumble.
“I see. How did he die?”
“It was an end befitting his fame. Before he died, he struck a Paragon, and it was a magnificent strike.”
In spite of her pain, Hye-Ryeong felt relieved.
Her idol, her grandfather, the Palm Martial Emperor, hadn't been killed by a pack of useless hyenas but by a true lion.
In life and death alike, he had kept his honor.
“Did he leave a will behind?”
“He said that... I should become a sword immortal, and never taste defeat.”
“An undefeatable sword immortal, huh...[1] I think I know what he meant. For us martial artists, defeat is death and he... he wanted you to never die...”
In the end, even the great Palm Martial Emperor had been defeated and killed. Yet he wanted his grandson to continue his legacy, and continue it in such a way that it did not end in defeat.
Hye-Ryeong had been fostering a small hope that Sang-Woon said something about her before he died, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
Still, she wasn't all that disappointed. Right now, all she could feel was sorrow.
"Now that we've made it past the disaster, we'll be heading back to the prison."
As she turned around and headed to prison, Woo-Moon looked at her walking away. She seemed so lonely... and he knew, without a doubt, that she had changed a lot.
Then, Ye-Ye approached Woo-Moon.
“Uncle!”
“Yes, what is it, Matriarch?”
Ye-Ye made a grumpy expression at his polite answer.
“Are the Ten Swords of the North Sea and Young Lady Ha your companions?”
“Oh, that's right. Please guide them to the Song Family residence.”
With these words, he left her and rushed ahead to his residence. He was worried that someone in his residence might have gotten hurt during the battle.
When he entered the estate, the ten guards were gathered in the yard waiting for him.
“Congratulations on your return!”
“Congratulations on your return!”
Woo-Moon smiled because he could feel their sincerity.
Thankfully, judging from the atmosphere, no one from the Song Family residence seemed to have died.
At that moment, Rat, who had been watching from the side, jumped forward.
"I'm so glad you came back alive! I can't even tell you how much I cried in sorrow when I thought you were gone."
Then, now, and always, Rat was always the fastest and most skilled at flattery.
When Woo-Moon snickered, Gwang Ryeok-Gwi, who was always one step behind Rat, also ran over with tears in his eyes.
"I actually cried more than Rat did. I really missed you!"
"Well, it might have been better to hear that from a woman, but... well, what can I say. I guess I appreciate it. Thank you."
Finally, Dok-Du also stepped forward hesitantly.
"I-it's a relief that you came back safely."
The first thing that Woo-Moon had seen when he had returned to the Baek Family had been Dok-Du's ridiculous confession to that maid. Seeing Woo-Moon laugh, Dok-Du immediately noticed what Woo-Moon was genuinely feeling and blushed.
"It really has been a long time since I've been back here."
Woo-Moon slowly walked around the manor.
While he hadn't been here a long time, it was still a place filled with memories. The scent of his father and mother, who were still missing, lingered everywhere.
His heart ached with longing.
When he entered his room, Woo-Moon first looked at the wall. Then, he suddenly flinched and froze in place.
—Senior brother, senior brother! Look, isn't this pretty? Didn't I do well? I looked for it because your room looked so empty. Since I worked so hard to find it, you should think of me more often and be thankful while looking at it. Okay?
Hadn't he promised himself he wouldn't cry anymore? He had promised himself that he would only shed tears in his heart until the day he defeated Martial Heaven.
However, emotions were not things that could be easily controlled. Even after becoming a Paragon, it was still tricky.
Especially now... when he got hit by an unexpected moment.
Tears eventually flowed from Woo-Moon’s eyes.
Lost in sorrow, Woo-Moon suddenly heard sounds that he shouldn't have—couldn't have heard.
Sounds made by Eun-Ah, who had entered the residence late. Whether it was the guards, Dok-Du, Rat, or even Gwang Ryeok-Gwi, everyone was startled by Eun-Ah's drastic change.
1. As I mentioned before, the title of the story is more literally The Undefeatable Sword Immortal. So this is a nod to the title itself. ☜