Who am I?

Invincible Iron Demon, Cho Ui-cheol.

I put strength into the hand gripping the great sword, loosening my stiff muscles.

A body of steel honed to the extreme through rigorous training. This power was enough to smash the skulls of those who fancied themselves swordmasters.

Even now, with my inner energy sealed, my body has weakened somewhat, yet…

There was no one here worth my concern.

Look around. All the little kiddos and the self-proclaimed sword users are all squashed beneath me.

The invisible constraints that should have existed were also absent. It felt like the mechanism itself had gone haywire, manifesting strange phenomena here and there.

Yeah. As if…

Someone had mishandled something.

But the fact that I couldn’t get out remained unchanged. So I was casually crushing those who came to bother me…

＂…Ha.＂

The arm holding the great sword trembles. The muscles that just deflected that sword strike are crying out.

…Look at this?

Cho Ui-cheol grinned.

＂Have you trained external energy?＂

＂……＂

His demeanor spoke volumes, suggesting he wouldn’t exchange a single word. Cho Ui-cheol lightly draped the sword over his shoulder.

His eyes were fierce. Not just that, the aura emanating from his entire being was also sharp.

This is something else…

＂You’re the real deal.＂

Isn’t this like watching a true assassin who has passed through countless battlefields?

The smell of blood fills the air. It stinks terribly. Cho Ui-cheol bared his teeth.

After having just clashed swords once, I realized—his sword was…

Serious.

Seriously serious, to a degree I’ve never encountered before.

A true warrior knows one another’s prowess from just a single clash. The tremor of the sword. Impeccably trained muscles that leave even one’s own body momentarily staggered.

If a mere trained body can reach this level, what about his inner energy?

Had I met him outside, it would have been perilous.

Cho Ui-cheol asked.

＂I want to know your name. Someone like you should have an impressive alias. How shall I address you? I was once known as Invincible Iron Demon, Cho Ui-cheol.＂

＂…Invincible Iron Demon?! The master who killed hundreds of cultists and was captured by the Blood Sea?!＂

＂Kuhuhuh. So there’s someone who knows my name. So, what about you? Have you heard of mine?＂

＂I could care less about the name of a lowlife…＂

The sword that was askew suddenly points at me.

＂Not worth hearing.＂

＂…Hah!＂

How many in this world would dare speak such words to me?

Cho Ui-cheol moved the great sword.

＂If you don’t know, I’ll carve it into your flesh. Just who the Invincible Iron Demon, Cho Ui-cheol, is!＂

. . .

—KAAAAAANG!!!!

The swords clashed. In an instant, my body was pushed back.

External energy honed to the extreme. Just as proof, Cho Ui-cheol’s muscles rippled before my eyes.

The only term to describe it is sheer force.

This is a movement seemingly specialized for an area where inner energy cannot be used. The weight felt otherworldly.

As my body accepted the strike, I felt like I was going to sink into the ground.

＂You’re not just all talk!＂

The surrounding warriors drew their swords. We did the same without hesitation.

With a shout, I charged forward, intercepting incoming strikes.

I bounced and swung. With lives hanging by the blade’s edge, I stepped boldly into battle.

＂Oh?!＂

Cho Ui-cheol’s sword glimmered. In a split second, he countered two attacks that rushed in head-on.

A kick shot up from a gap in my defense. I turned my body to deliver a counter.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique

First Form.

Ilma – Demon Horn.

—Kuh-DODODODODODOD!!

Our feet collide. In a moment, the air bursts with an odd sound.

My body slipped and slid. The firmly trained body swayed slightly but held strong.

Cho Ui-cheol stared at his legs in disbelief.

＂You blocked that? Even external energy training isn’t enough for that… What are you?! A disciple of the Weeping Gate?!＂

Without replying, I spun the sword. My inner energy was indeed sealed, but that only meant the manifestation of Qi was prohibited; I could still move freely.

Cheongeop was still active. Compared to the enemy, it offered me one more trump card.

…So then.

To save some time, I might need to take a gamble.

I charged in immediately. Cho Ui-cheol’s mouth split into a grin as he poured strength into his sword.

＂How long has it been since I’ve had a slaughter fest?! You have the right to clash swords with me!＂

I didn’t agree with that thought.

I encapsulated that feeling within my blade.

—KAAAAANG!!!!

I stepped closer to death. Not caring about trivial wounds, I played right up against the enemy.

The distance closed in. Holding back my breath, I exhaled, gripping tightly and tearing, extending my sword toward the enemy’s flesh.

＂Kkh?!＂

All incoming attacks were deflected. Even when the blade barely grazed my face, I didn’t care.

Like a beast, I continued trying to sink my teeth in.

Cho Ui-cheol was stunned.

＂What the…?!＂

He swung his sword in haste, the power coiling around it. It seemed to spiral to engulf my entire body from the lower right.

I matched his move and swung my sword.

Countless hours of practice poured into that strike. Though lacking inner energy made it somewhat weaker…

It was nonetheless a blade that could prove the time invested.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique

Second Form

Dan Hoon Choo

When our swords met, it rang out loudly. The vibrations coursed through my fingertips and throughout my body.

But I wouldn’t stop. I advanced even further despite being pushed back.

＂What, what’s…?!＂

Harder.

Stronger.

Forward.

＂What kind of nonsense…?!＂

To the very end.

—PAAAAAAANG!!!!

The opponent’s sword shattered right before my eyes. The wild, beautiful Dan Hoon Choo shattered through the fragments, slicing through the enemy’s torso.

Cho Ui-cheol stood tall, blinking in disbelief, then turned to me.

＂This crazy… bastard… what, what kind of… sword is this?!＂

From shoulder to half.

The cleanly drawn line of blood marked his body before it, too, crumbled.

I spit out the blood that rolled into my mouth.

Turning my head, I stepped through the frozen battlefield.

＂What, what… no, how is the Invincible Iron Demon here…?＂

＂W-wait! Just a moment! Let’s talk…!＂

＂You wanted to talk?＂

I leveled my sword at those who had been locked in battle with me.

＂Then you should have known your boundaries.＂

The grip on my sword remained firm, and I was imbued with the strength to impose my will.

So I ran.

To hunt down those who are even less than animals.

. . .

＂Wh-what, brother… what on earth are you…＂

Yeon Guang trembled as he spoke. I wiped my sword with the edge of my already dirtied clothes.

I picked up the orb lying on the ground. This must be it.

Thanks to saving as much time as possible, it felt like we had enough time to return. It was well worth the relentless running.

I glanced down at Cho Ui-cheol’s unmoving corpse. I confirmed the face of the fallen Blood Sea member, too.

…Im Go-pung.

That was the name.

I closed the single remaining eye. Raising my sword, I split Cho Ui-cheol’s head into four once more.

The one who dirties the corpse deserves the same punishment.

Turning my back, I prayed for the fallen Blood Sea members.

＂…Let’s go.＂

＂Y-yes!＂

＂By the way, Young Master Yeon… that Cho Ui-cheol is a notorious martial artist who has killed hundreds, right…? Furthermore, he’s an external energy practitioner… I heard that the four Blood Demon members who tried to capture him were torn apart. Two of them had reached their peak…＂

＂I’ve heard the same. Lady So.＂

＂But, to be able to crush him to that extent without even using inner energy… what kind of mastery does the Divine Warrior possess…?＂

＂…I don’t know my brother’s mastery either. But…＂

Yeon Guang’s heated gaze pierced the back of my head.

＂I know he’s someone worthy of respect.＂

＂…….＂

I didn’t respond, feeling a bit burdened. We retraced our steps to where we had come from.

We arrived safely to find guests who had come earlier. Unfortunately, it was not Eun Seol-ran. Rather…

A group of warriors leading another batch of survivors.

At the forefront stood Jin Wi-lyang.

＂…Hmm?＂

He clutched a glowing green orb and stiffened upon seeing me.

But soon, upon noticing the orb in my possession, he broke into a wide smile.

＂Divine Warrior! Haha! You’re safe. Young Master Yeon… is with you as well. Are you all right?＂

＂…….＂

＂Oh dear. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t look at me like that. We’re all in the same predicament, aren’t we? I apologize for the earlier mishap, I tend to be a bit scatterbrained…＂

Yeon Guang’s face twisted. He held his sword tightly, as if ready to pounce.

I felt the same way. The human before us was less than garbage.

I placed my hand on the sword. Jin Wi-lyang’s eyes turned icy.

His laughter abruptly ceased.

＂There are circumstances we’re both in, right? I don’t think it’s necessary for us to spill blood.＂

＂…….＂

＂Are you confident in dealing with the aftermath after touching me, Jin Wi-lyang, the late stage members of the Mamajong and the representative of Shinwon Jin Clan?＂

Taking a step forward, I had no intentions of looking the other way regarding the misdeeds he committed.

Didn’t Ilma say it before?

Once the sword is drawn, there’s no turning back.

I was convinced this was the moment. If I let this arrogant fool slide, I wouldn’t trust my sword anymore.

But someone else acted first. An unexpected sharp voice broke through from behind.

＂Aren’t you being a bit too arrogant?! What nonsense is that?! A mistake, you say?! Anyone can see that wasn’t accidental!＂

＂…Lady So?＂

＂If you’re going to apologize, do it properly! There’s a degree of humanity! Even I, an outsider, can see it was a clear intention! Is this how you, the late stage member of Mamajong, behave?!＂

Yeon Guang froze. He glanced back, slightly at Seo Cho-hee.

Having not expected someone to snap back at him, his anger abruptly cut off in midair.

Jin Wi-lyang’s eyebrows twitched. His face grew chillier, as if revealing his true nature.

＂You’ve said your piece? You dare mention my name?＂

＂Well, I was willing to listen to your reasoning! There was merit! But this… this is just venting your frustrations, isn’t it?! If I’m wrong, refute it! Instead of properly apologizing, you just try to weasel out… what’s the difference between you and the traitors?!＂

＂You little bitch!＂

Jin Wi-lyang drew his sword. We didn’t hesitate to draw ours as well.

An explosive standoff. But before any drawn swords could rush at each other, another group entered from outside.

＂…Junior?＂

＂Senior.＂

Goon Cheon-gyeong looked back at me. He gazed anxiously between Jin Wi-lyang and me, then hurriedly asked.

＂What’s going on here?!＂

＂As you can see, longstanding grievances have burst forth. It seems I’m not the only one with a poor view of Jin Wi-lyang.＂

＂…What kind of situation is this really… Ah…!＂

The members of the Blood Sea who followed him, along with late stage members and bodyguards, were all flustered. Only Goon Cheon-gyeong stood by my side, while the others glanced nervously.

Jin Wi-lyang growled.

＂…You want to spill blood?＂

＂You’re the one who made this a bloody scene, Jin Wi-lyang.＂

＂Junior?＂

＂Let’s settle this, Senior. There’s something I must say. That guy is…＂

I leaned my drawn sword toward him.

＂A piece of trash filled with arrogance.＂

＂You idiots! You think you can take me down?! You’re all just little punks under me! How dare you challenge me?! Come on! I’ll crush every last one of you…!＂

Just as Jin Wi-lyang seemed ready to charge, a great rumbling echoed, shaking the ground.

Eun Seol-ran, who had arrived last, looked around bewildered, scowling at the sight of swords crossed.

＂What’s going on here…?＂

—Rumble.

Suddenly, the ground trembled. We all looked at each other.

It was still too far for any structure to change position. Didn’t that needle still have a ways to go before reaching the top?

The naturally vibrating orb felt like the very core of a formation, as I sensed Qi swirling around in my hands.

Then perhaps…

＂Senior!＂

＂Huh?!＂

＂Do you have something similar to this?!＂

I held out the orb. Goon Cheon-gyeong nodded.

＂I-I have it! I wrapped it in layers of cloth because I sensed something strange…?!＂

What Eun Seol-ran had brought.

What Jin Wi-lyang had brought.

What Goon Cheon-gyeong had brought.

As well as what I had.

Four orbs had all gathered. Even without being inserted, just being in one spot was enough to resonate.

—KAAANG!!

Suddenly, the passage behind was sealed off. The others were blocked off as well.

The overhead boulders descended, cutting off any chance of escape.

＂What the hell is this…?！＂

Jin Wi-lyang twisted his sword. The trembling grew stronger.

I grabbed Yeon Guang by the collar.

＂Wh-what?!＂

＂Grab your sword! Don’t let go!＂

This felt like…

The entire Fengma Cave is collapsing, isn’t it?

I looked down. Cracks appeared everywhere within my line of sight.

Those with hardened faces clung to the walls. I too retreated.

No matter how bizarre the structures in Fengma Cave were…

They wouldn’t flip the ground over to drop people off!

This was an abnormal occurrence. If linked with the invaders, the answer was simple.

Someone had invaded.

They had broken the formation within Fengma Cave.

＂Kkh…?!＂

The earth continued to tremble uncontrollably.

 

---