Baek Mang-gi’s expression was filled with various emotions as he looked at me.
Fear, surprise, excitement, anger.
The first one to surface was surprise.
“You’re this young?”
When he nearly died by my sword the first time, he must have thought I was the Evil Smiling Demon. He would have realized he was mistaken. If I weren’t the Evil Smiling Demon, I couldn’t have wielded my sword that swiftly.
“Hey, old man.”
I skipped any form of courtesy towards him. I didn’t know what his life had been like. But the moment he cut down a Wolf here today, any reason to respect him vanished.
“Did you say we were playing ghost tricks? Aren’t you the one playing ghost tricks right now?”
“What did you just say?”
“Why did you crawl out of your grave to meddle in the affairs of the younger generation? You lived your era and even earned the title of Sword Emperor. Wasn’t that enough?”When I hit the mark, the surrounding air turned cold.
But I felt a burning heat. It was the heat from Soma slowly adjusting his mask behind me. I didn’t need to look into his eyes to know what he was feeling.
Yes, there are things you can know without saying or seeing.
“Hey, young one. Where will such poor manners towards an elder get you?”
“Old man, you’re going to kill me anyway, so isn’t it too much to expect courtesy? If you had any shame, you wouldn’t have been swinging your sword at these young juniors.” 1
The air grew even colder as he stroked his cut beard. I intensified his killing intent.
“When your disciple went senile and jumped into the power struggle, you, as his master, should have stopped, no, slapped him. What were you thinking, crawling out as if you were waiting for this moment? Are you both senile?”
Baek Mang-gi’s face turned slightly red. Yes, get angry. Get even angrier.
I shouted to Bih Sa-in and the Thirteen Wolves standing far away.
“Let’s send these old men back into the annals of history.”
It meant we would handle Baek Mang-gi, so they should take on Seok Gwan-chu.
Hope blossomed in Bih Sa-in’s eyes that had been filled with despair. If we handled Baek Mang-gi, this fight would be winnable.
On the other hand, Seok Gwan-chu’s expression hardened. He never dreamed a variable like this would arise even after bringing in his master into the fray.
Baek Mang-gi asked coldly.
“Who are you, you impudent brat?”
“I’m the one who will take an old man missing from the registry of the underworld to the afterlife.”
At that moment, Baek Mang-gi drew his sword with lightning speed.
Flash!
I barely dodged the flying sword. Baek Mang-gi’s attack was fast and powerful.
At that moment!
Peeing!
The Evil Smiling Demon’s Blood Disaster Finger was unleashed. Baek Mang-gi twisted his body to avoid it, and my sword pierced him.
In an instant, as we clashed, the Thirteen Wolves and Bih Sa-in also rushed toward Seok Gwan-chu.
I decided to fight without worrying about Soma.
From the beginning, I had never fought in sync with him, and trying to cooperate awkwardly while dealing with Baek Mang-gi would have put me at a disadvantage. I trusted him.
He’ll take care of himself. He’ll join in when necessary, dodge when needed, and help as required. He’ll fight well on his own.
Therefore, I fought with the mindset that I was facing Baek Mang-gi one-on-one.
Clang!
There was another clash. His Swift Sword was too fast for the Thirteen Wolves to block. It wasn’t easy for the Evil Smiling Demon to continuously dodge the attack either.
If you try to see and block it, it’s already too late. You had to block it with experience and instinct.
When he attacked from the left, I had to attack from the right. If I thought like that, I would have my throat cut.
Baek Mang-gi’s sword techniques, which focused solely on speed, became dazzlingly complex. This sudden change was incredibly threatening. 2
But I barely managed to block his attack. I tried hard not to be overwhelmed by his aura.
While exchanging techniques, the Evil Smiling Demon’s Blood Disaster Finger was unleashed. Our movements were so fast that the Blood Disaster Finger was released with great caution. If a mistake was made, I could be hit instead.
Despite it being a two-on-one fight, Baek Mang-gi wasn’t pushed back at all. He demonstrated what it meant to be called the Sword Emperor eighty years ago through his skill.
Not only his swordsmanship but also Baek Mang-gi’s footwork was splendid. If I hadn’t mastered the Wind God’s Four Steps, I would have been completely overwhelmed by his footwork. He fought entangled with me to avoid the Blood Disaster Finger, and each step he took was unbelievably fluid.
After over a hundred exchanges, Baek Mang-gi suddenly unleashed his palm force. It was an incredibly unpredictable attack, but fortunately, I managed to unleash my palm force in time to block it.
Bang!
As the palm forces collided, a thunderous explosion erupted.
We were both pushed back. Our internal energies were almost equal. If it weren’t for the Millennial Black Lingzhi I had consumed recently, I would have been overwhelmed in terms of internal energy.
Once we were distanced from each other, we had a moment to converse.
“It’s hard not to be surprised. How can you possess such profound internal energy at your age?”
I spoke to him cheerfully.
“Friend, don’t you recognize me?”
“What?”
“I’ve undergone rejuvenation.”
For a moment, he thought I was someone he knew.
“Who?”
“Who else? The ill-mannered young junior. Why ask when you don’t have any friends?” 3
It was then that Baek Mang-gi realized I was mocking him. His expression twisted. Whenever there was a chance, I had to provoke him.
As always, the one who gets excited loses the fight.
His sword emitted sword energy for the first time, fueled by his anger.
Shweee!
It was the moment I had been waiting for.
Bang!
The sword energy I unleashed collided with his incoming sword energy, and a loud explosion erupted.
Not missing this opportunity, Soma unleashed Blood Disaster Fingers and Frantic Demonic Palms in quick succession. Since it was a two-on-one fight, this battle favored us.
I continuously poured out the Flame Sky Form, the sword energy emission technique.
The Evil Smiling Demon continued to relentlessly unleash Blood Disaster Fingers and Frantic Demonic Palms.
Baek Mang-gi swung his sword madly and unleashed palm force to dissipate our attacks. Explosions rang out continuously.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom!
The ground shook, and dust clouds rose.
In this intense exchange, Seok Gwan-chu, Bih Sa-in, and the Thirteen Wolves tacitly stopped fighting to watch the outcome.
When the attacks ceased and the dust settled, we were astonished.
He was standing unscathed.
And then, the ultimate technique of the Sword Emperor, fueled by rage, materialized.
Ssss!
In front of him, his sword split into sword-shaped energy.
I could tell. He intended to kill everyone here in an instant. He wanted to kill the Thirteen Wolves and Bih Sa-in to face us along with Seok Gwan-chu.
The Black Demon Sword floated in front of my chest and began to split.
Sssssss!
The seventh form of the Soaring Sword Art: Rain of a Thousand Swords.
Was it thanks to achieving the Twelve Star Greatness? It split much faster and into more pieces than before.
Baek Mang-gi’s sword energy flew toward everyone present.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Simultaneously, my sword energy was also unleashed.
In the next moment, a spectacular scene unfolded.
Two types of lines filled the space. Lines that aimed to kill and lines that aimed to protect.
The moment these lines crossed, the continuous sound of sword energy clashing erupted.
Bih Sa-in saw it. The sword energy of Baek Mang-gi flying toward his face. It was too fast to avoid.
But my sword energy flew faster, tearing through his sword energy and destroying it right in front of his eyes.
Bang!
The same happened to the other Thirteen Wolves. Seeing the sword energy flying toward them being torn apart by another sword energy was a sight they would never witness again in their lifetime.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom! Bang!
Soma destroyed the sword energy by himself. Believing he would be able to do so, I didn’t block his sword energy.
When all the flying sword energy disappeared, the dust had completely settled.
Baek Mang-gi’s figure became visible. His eyes, mixed with disbelief, surprise, and anger, were filled with nothing but murderous intent. Seok Gwan-chu was shocked and confused. He had never imagined that his master’s secret technique would be blocked.
In contrast, the eyes of Bih Sa-in and the Thirteen Wolves, who were looking at us, were full of amazement. It went beyond surprise, reaching reverence.
This time, I was the first to charge at Baek Mang-gi.
If you give it your all, I will give my everything. If you die, only you bastard die, but if I die, too many people will die.
I poured everything into my sword.
In an instant, dozens of exchanges were made.
Blood splattered from both our bodies. There was no time to check where or how we had been cut. Even though I was wearing the Supreme Heavenly Silk and the Ghost Protector Garment, the fact that blood was splattering meant that without them, I might have already been severed in several places.
As I held on, and continued to hold on, I sensed impatience from Baek Mang-gi.
When was the last time he had such a prolonged bloody battle?
Fifty years ago? Seventy years ago? Perhaps he had never had such a difficult fight. Since becoming the Sword Emperor, no one had dared to challenge him recklessly.
In this fight, the assistance from Soma was absolute. Though he didn’t interfere recklessly due to the speed of our fight, whenever he was certain, he would strike with his Blood Disaster Finger.
When I was in danger, the Blood Disaster Finger saved me. A timely strike from it changed the tide of the battle and gave me an opportunity.
Eventually, Baek Mang-gi changed his strategy and tried to kill the Evil Smiling Demon first.
The moment I realized his murderous intent towards Soma, I madly pressured Baek Mang-gi.
If I showed any openings, the Evil Smiling Demon would die.
That was my only thought.
I didn’t want to lose to the Evil Smiling Demon in this fight. I didn’t want him to die here.
If someone had to kill him, it would be me! You wretched old man! 4
This desperate desire created a remarkable phenomenon.
In my vision, everything disappeared except for Baek Mang-gi.
It was as if he alone, wearing white clothes, was moving in front of me against a black background. I couldn’t see anything else.
All sounds were blocked out. I could only hear my sounds and the sounds made by Baek Mang-gi. It was an amazing experience, the first since I learned martial arts.
At the moment our swords clashed and sparks flew,
Another change occurred.
Now, even Baek Mang-gi disappeared, and in my eyes, only his sword was moving. Only my sword was visible. Maybe, as more time passed, I wouldn’t even see this sword.
Baek Mang-gi’s sword began to appear more clearly.
My eyesight, enhanced by the New Eye Technique, finally started to show its effectiveness. He hadn’t slowed down, nor had I sped up. I had simply adapted to this speed first. My eyes had adapted.
While only the sword was visible, Baek Mang-gi’s figure appeared again.
I could see his face.
Now, I could finally see it.
His struggle.
His regret.
His fear.
And then, I saw it.
The one flaw in his otherwise perfect stance.
The moment I recognized it, my sword had already translated my thoughts into action. My sword and body were one.
Thud!
At the moment my sword pierced Baek Mang-gi’s heart.
My vision returned to normal. As the surrounding darkness lifted, I could see around me.
Baek Mang-gi’s body was already riddled with several holes, from which blood was flowing. They were the spots where the Blood Disaster Finger had struck.
I didn’t know when Baek Mang-gi had been hit by those. Despite fighting both of us, he had fought this well.
Looking down at his final gaze, filled with surprise, astonishment, futility, and fear, I slowly withdrew my sword. I was too exhausted and worn out to say anything to him.
Blood spurted from his heart as Baek Mang-gi collapsed and died.
Had I not achieved Twelve Star Greatness, I would have lost this fight. Had I not teamed up with the Evil Smiling Demon, we would have all died.
There are monsters like these ancient masters in the martial world. They exist in the Martial Alliance, in our Cult, and here in the Unorthodox Alliance as well.
Old masters, hardened like fossils, suddenly springing up to bloom their last flames. This is why the martial world is terrifying.
“Aigo, I’m going to die.”
I flopped down on the spot. I was so drained that I couldn’t move a finger. Unless someone came to stab me, I wouldn’t be able to move. The exclamation “aigo” naturally escaped my lips.
Soma also plopped down next to me. From under my mask, I could see his chin. Below his chin, I saw dried blood.
“Are you injured?”
“Just a light scratch.”
“You’re already ugly, getting your face injured is not an option!”
He chuckled, probably not expecting such words in this situation.
“After such a tough fight, do you still want to make jokes?”
“If I don’t make jokes, I’ll die. Also, when an opportunity comes, you must not miss it.”
“Young Master, you’re bleeding a lot.”
“It hurts like hell.”
Soma pressed on my blood points, stopping the bleeding from my arms, legs, abdomen, and shoulders.
When we began this journey, could I have ever imagined that he would be the one to stop my bleeding?
“How is the fight over there?”
At my question, the Evil Smiling Demon glanced over at the ongoing battle and then turned to me.
“It’s almost over.”
Judging by his lack of urgency to help, it seemed Bih Sa-in’s side was winning.
We silently stared at the sky for a moment.
Then, I spoke first.
“Thank you.”
After a brief pause, the Evil Smiling Demon responded.
“Thank you.”
We simply exchanged words of gratitude. There was no need for more.
“I’ll buy you a new mask.”
“Get me a better one. That mask makes me sweat if I wear it for too long.”
“Sure.”
It was at that moment.
“Aaaaargh!”
A scream echoed as someone’s pitiful life ended.
When I looked up, I saw Bih Sa-in and three of the Thirteen Wolves had their swords embedded in Seok Gwan-chu’s body.
Two more of the Thirteen Wolves had fallen during the battle. Villains never go to the afterlife alone.
I sat up.
Bih Sa-in walked towards me. He stood a little distance away, staring at Baek Mang-gi’s corpse. He seemed unable to believe we had killed him.
He bowed his head towards me. It was the first time he had done so.
“Thanks to you, I survived.”
I smiled and replied to him.
“Thanks to you, I almost died.” 5
He didn’t laugh. Still holding a blood-drenched sword, he spoke with determined eyes.
“I intend to kill Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson immediately.”
He was more respectful than he had ever been towards me before. And he was now open to my advice.
“The testimony of our Thirteen Wolves should be sufficient evidence.”
“Make sure to create an Unorthodox Alliance where that will be accepted.”
“Then, until we meet again.”
Bih Sa-in bowed his head in farewell. The Bih Sa-in I first met and the Bih Sa-in now were completely different people.
After they collected the bodies of their fallen comrades and left, the Evil Smiling Demon asked,
“For the sake of our Cult, wouldn’t it be better to appoint a greater fool than that Bih Sa-in as the successor?”
“Probably.”
“Then why did you help him?”
While it had started because Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson was a piece of trash, I answered the Evil Smiling Demon differently.
“Because if the opponent is too foolish, it’s no fun, right?”
Soma chuckled. He must have thought the same. He thrived on facing stronger opponents.
“Shall we go too?”
“Oh, my legs hurt too much to walk. Please carry me.”
“Stop pretending. You’re limping on the other leg now.”
The Evil Smiling Demon and I walked side by side, leaving that place behind.
As we departed, only the faint moonlight illuminated the scene, where old and older desires cooled into the cold night.
1 : Lol, reminds me of Murim Login, when Jin Tae Kyung pretty much does the same thing towards an Elder who started a war with another sect and betrayed the family ^^
2 : SAO Asuna flashback : That one hit me like a Flash (Get it ? ^^ Because that’s her nickname…. Forget it….)
3 : Critical Stab !!!! LOOL XDXDXD
4 : What a… nice affection (?)
5 : Always be honest kids !!! Follow Mugeuk exemple in life !!!
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