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Chapter 564: Why Is This Old Man Here?

It sweeps through.

Kuaaaaaah—!!

The gust of wind extending from the fist turned into a typhoon, sweeping the ground beneath it.

It was far too rough and ferocious to be merely the wind created from a bet.

Moreover, the fact that a human’s single punch could achieve this level of devastation was utterly shocking.

Dududududud—!!

The ground twisted and writhed beneath the impact.

In terms of its range, the force unleashed was nothing short of astounding.

The storm raged on for a considerable time before gradually receding as it began to reach the nearby mountain.

Hwaaaah…

Dust settled along with the wind.

Silence persisted until that moment.

That brief silence was shattered when the dust cleared, revealing—

Thud-!

The body of the old man collapsed onto the ground.

“Elder, Elder!!!”

“Noooo!”

The cries of the Wudang disciples erupted as they witnessed the scene.

The elder of Wudang, Sword Master Woo Baek, lay lifeless on the ground.

His body, seemingly battered and bruised, brought no hope as the blood that scattered around him confirmed his state.

Woo Baek was dead.

He had fallen without even a shred of resistance against the man in the mask.

All it took was a single strike.

Without so much as a decent fight, the renowned martial master of the Central Plains closed his eyes.

And the masked figure stood, silently gazing down at Woo Baek’s fallen form.

A few seconds passed.

The one observing Woo Baek, with a light tone, remarked casually.

“How absurd.”

A dry, withered voice accompanied the words.

“Is this truly the sword of Wudang? If so, then it’s incredibly disappointing.”

The voice brimmed with undisguised disappointment.

“To think that a family of such long-standing repute in the Central Plains…. could be so shabby.”

As the Wudang disciples mourned for the tragically fallen Woo Baek, their tempers flared.

Yet, none could move.

Their bodies felt as if they were still being crushed.

Except for.

Just one person.

A figure who could navigate through such pressure stood there.

As this person looked towards her, he spoke.

“Ah, you were here.”

The moment he spoke, the woman, the Plum Blossom Sword Queen So-i, found herself frozen in place.

The brilliant blue of her eyes shone fiercely toward the sword queen, causing her to break into a cold sweat.

‘I can’t see anything.’

What lies beyond that mask.

What the opponent’s realm might be. She could see nothing.

Though her own realm was certainly not low.

Even against the late Woo Baek, she was confident she could win without an issue.

However.

‘I can’t do this.’

She couldn’t believe that such a feat could be accomplished with just one motion against Woo Baek.

‘What on earth….’

What was the identity of this sudden adversary?

‘Did he call himself the Heavenly Demon?’

It was a title she had never heard before.

Truly a bizarre situation.

There were no records of a martial artist so powerful like that yet unknown.

“Sword Queen.”

“…!”

As she heightened her alertness, the Heavenly Demon’s call pricked at her vigilance.

Perhaps sensing it, amusement colored his voice.

“You’re not like the insects of Wudang. It seems you know your place.”

He casually kicked at Woo Baek’s corpse, causing the Wudang disciples to gasp in shock.

“Y-you…!! How dare you treat our elder like that!”

“I will kill you!”

Their furious cries echoed around them.

Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Demon turned his head toward them, raising a finger close to his lips.

“Shhh.”

A light warning.

Yet, the aura radiating from him was anything but light.

Kuaaaaaah—!!

A heavy force surrounded them, pressing down on everything.

“Gaaaah…!”

“Ggghk…!!”

The knees that had just started to stand were forced back down.

The Wudang disciples struggled to contain their ragged breaths.

“I don’t enjoy noise. Especially the cries of insects.”

A chill ran through So-i’s body as she clenched her fists.

The energy she felt was like nothing she’d ever known.

To call it Qi was too vile, and to deem it killing intent was too heavy.

While the dreadful presence lingered, the moment returned to silence.

The Heavenly Demon turned his gaze toward the sword queen.

Then asked.

“Will you come?”

That subtle probe was undoubtedly a provocation.

“…”

So-i furrowed her brows and replied.

“If you plan to speak like that, at least you should let the captives go free.”

“Haha—!”

The Heavenly Demon laughed at her words.

That was entirely true.

The aura emanating from his feet spread all around.

That aura, cold with a hint of menace, was directed at the necks of the disciples.

The reason So-i hadn’t intervened when Woo Baek was attacked was because of this warning.

Should she move, others would die too.

It was such a warning.

So-i felt cold sweat run down her back.

This meant that.

‘With this kind of energy, he could toy with Elder Woo and yet do so effortlessly.’

The ability to radiate such a chilling aura and reduce Woo Baek to that state was clear.

Contemplating this, So-i was certain.

‘This person has reached transcendence.’

Among the few of the Central Plains’ greatest martial masters, only an elite few had attained the state of transcendence.

So-i made that judgment.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to produce such shapeable energy.

A tense shiver coursed through her entire body.

‘Who on earth. No….’

Who are they, appearing like this?

So-i’s gaze shifted behind the Heavenly Demon.

She continued to observe the giant kneeling behind him.

Though all attention was focused on the Heavenly Demon, So-i found that giant to be no less formidable.

At the very least, a Transformation Realm martial artist.

Their physical form suggested a high-ranking martial master.

Though so was the Heavenly Demon, the figure behind was one she had never encountered before.

The situation was utterly hopeless.

She couldn’t fathom what happened, but the surrounding martial artists were incapacitated.

No reinforcements had arrived despite the shockwaves still resonating.

‘Could this black Qi be the issue?’

The swirling black energy around them didn’t seem like a barrier, but it might be a problem.

If not.

So-i’s gaze shifted slightly upward.

In the dark world, something shone brightly.

That might be the crux of the issue.

So-i bit her lip.

Though it appeared radiant, a wretched energy emanated from it.

It felt like a power she had never encountered before.

Somehow familiar yet saturated with an eerie aura.

Crisis.

Despite her efforts to grip the hilt of her sword, no solid method came to mind.

Was she afraid of death? No.

Even if they were stronger than her, she wouldn’t fret over it.

The true issue lay in.

‘The children.’

There were things she needed to protect right now.

Not far from her position.

And so.

She couldn’t wield her sword recklessly.

Neither could she retreat.

At that moment.

“Your gaze is wavering.”

“…!”

The Heavenly Demon spoke to So-i.

“Your eyes do not appear to be filled with fear, but something seems to be holding you back. What could that be?”

Kuh kuh kuh.

Laughter echoed.

“Is it perhaps the children trapped in the jade?”

So-i’s eyes widened. The Heavenly Demon had figured it out.

Heat flared in her head at that realization.

“Hmm….”

The Heavenly Demon adjusted his mask as he observed her.

What should I do? Should I fight now?

What about the martial artists surrounding me? The children underground?

Crack.

As the situation deteriorated, the moment she bit down hard.

“This is rather boring.”

The Heavenly Demon exhaled wearily.

“I had hoped to taste the famous Hwasan sword, but your eyes extinguish my interest.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean to say that a sword filled with needless thoughts is of no interest to me. Right now, you don’t even seem worth killing.”

His chilling words were more than enough to dissect So-i’s pride.

Yet.

She refrained from retorting.

Because the lives of the children mattered more than her pride.

“I had high expectations coming here, but it seems to have been a pointless trip.”

And with that, the Heavenly Demon turned his back.

Could it be? Did he intend to leave just like that?

The moment So-i thought this.

Whooosh—!!!

She heard something in the air.

Kuhn—!!!

An enormous presence slammed down onto the ground with a resounding thud!

It was the demon beast that had been hovering above.

The closer she looked, the more monumental it appeared.

Its size could easily swallow an entire residence.

No less massive than the red-grade demon beasts So-i had faced multiple times before.

The Heavenly Demon marched toward that beast.

So-i understood.

If she let this go, the Heavenly Demon would vanish.

Was she really going to allow this person, the assailant of the righteous faction, who killed an elder of a sect, to leave so easily?

As complicated hesitations bubbled up to her throat.

“Ah.”

The Heavenly Demon paused mid-step, speaking once more.

“If you wish to stop my progress, I would respect your choice. However.”

He turned his head slightly backward.

Those subtly glowing blue eyes fixated on So-i.

“There won’t be a second chance.”

Should she attempt to stop him this time.

Everyone would die.

The meaning behind the Heavenly Demon’s words was clear.

After several seconds passed.

“…”

So-i heard his words but failed to show any reaction.

As he confirmed her silence, the Heavenly Demon returned his gaze to the giant and walked toward the demon beast.

As he reached out to it—

Hwaah—!!!

The black sky began to twist.

It appeared as though the heavens were descending.

Crack—!

The sphere floating in the air began to show signs of instability.

Slowly but surely, it began to crack.

Crack…!

The sphere was breaking apart.

So-i’s eyes widened upon witnessing this.

As cracks developed, energy began to seep out.

It was a prelude.

A signal indicating an explosive release of energy was imminent.

Immediately, So-i pulled the Taoist Qi into her body.

Hwaah—! The Plum Blossom Fragrance spread around her.

And in that moment.

“Though our meeting was somewhat disappointing, I found some enjoyment in it.”

The Heavenly Demon’s voice echoed.

“When we meet next time, I hope you can live up to my expectations.”

With those words, the heavens suddenly crashed down, shattering the space around them.

Simultaneously.

Boom—!!!

The sphere burst, and light erupted from it, causing a violent pressure wave.

It was an incomprehensibly massive explosion.

She could sense just how formidable the gathered energy had been.

If it were to be left unchecked, it could sweep everything away.

Knowing this, So-i unleashed her Taoist Qi to contain the explosion.

Swoosh—!!

Scarlet energy formed a circular barrier, preventing the explosion from escaping and causing it to swirl within.

However.

“Ugh—!!”

Attempting to fully absorb the explosion, a powerful recoil struck So-i’s body.

She held on.

Fortunately, the shock was less severe than expected.

“Ha…ha….”

Just after managing to quell the explosion, So-i exhaled with exhaustion.

As she turned her gaze from the aftermath—

There was nothing left where the demon beast had once stood.

Rumble—!

As the transformation magic faded, her body gradually shrank back down.

The martial robe she wore instantly became loose, but she had no time to care.

“Cough—!”

Thud—!!

Leaning against the wall, she coughed out blood.

Black blood dripped down her chin.

“Ghk….”

She clutched her chest.

The pain was so strong she felt she might collapse at any moment.

If she let her guard down, she would lose consciousness completely, so she had to hold on.

“Damn….”

Curse words slipped out.

There was no other response; she had just nearly died.

Wiping her mouth, she realized the pain still lingered.

‘That was too close.’

The energy in her heart had already run dry.

Had it gone even a bit further, it might have touched her original Qi.

Straining to endure the pain, she reflected on the last remnants of her energy.

In that moment, it became clear.

‘Damn it….’

The interior of her body was a mess.

Whether the aftermath of enduring too much or her blood Qi, the insides felt horrific.

“I should have held on just a bit longer.”

It was likely the internal injuries occurred while using the Tua Pacheonmu technique.

‘I overdid it in advance.’

Though she had expended considerable energy with the Flame Wheel Sun and Black Qi, she had gone further still, utilizing Dragon Word and Heart Eye.

And maintaining the Demon Energy to keep So-i in check while using the Tua Pacheonmu technique only compounded this.

It was only natural that her body couldn’t sustain all of that.

Moreover.

‘If she truly intended to capture me, it would’ve been the end.’

She’d been putting on a brave front, but if So-i had rushed in recklessly, she could have met her demise.

The reason she had still moved on, despite that risk, lay in her certainty.

‘Because the children are there.’

Knowing they were in the jade, So-i figured she wouldn’t jump in recklessly, and she was right.

“Ggghh….”

One knee crumpled beneath her.

Clang.

Someone caught her as she nearly collapsed.

Looking up, she recognized the woman who had freed her from her restraints. It was Nahi.

“Master, are you okay?”

“…No, I think I’m going to die soon.”

She chuckled lightly, realizing just how close she had been to death.

Had a few things gone wrong, she might not have made it.

Though things had turned out favorable, the results were far from neat.

‘After this, I need to lay low for at least a month.’

Thank goodness this body was far more exceptional than it should be.

Had it been her original body, she would’ve needed a year to recover from these internal injuries.

“Ptooey….”

She spat out the last remnants of blood.

“At least things turned out as planned.”

Though her internal injuries were a problem, the result wasn’t bad.

Had So-i realized what state she was in, the outcome might have been different.

Still, thinking back on the ‘mask’ she carried in her grasp, she let out a sigh of relief.

‘Thank goodness I have this.’

The white mask received from the King of Demons.

It was a treasure that concealed her identity and obscured her condition.

She recalled hearing it was one of the few treasures left in her family.

This meant.

‘…It is a relic of Yeon Ilcheon.’

The King of Demons was a descendant of Yeon Ilcheon, meaning this mask was also a treasure of his clan.

While that thought left a strange taste in her mouth, there was little room for her to be picky.

With great effort, she rose to her feet.

As she endeavored to move, the pain intensified, and blood surged up again, but she had to endure.

Because the ordeal wasn’t over yet.

She needed to stabilize her condition and return to the jade before So-i appeared.

After that, she had to sort out the situation and assess the fragments of information she had gained.

Moreover, there was something most crucial.

‘He won’t be long in coming.’

The current leader of the Wudang, the head of the Martial Alliance, was flying here.

One of the top ten martial masters of the Central Plains, the Sword Master of Wudang.

She had to be prepared to face him. As the victim in this whole ordeal.

 

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