Chapter 34
**
What is the Soul Stealing Sword?
It’s a dangerous sword. My master warned me not to use it unless absolutely necessary.
At its peak, just clashing the sword can destroy the opponent’s internals. It leaves only the shell behind, turning their soul to dust.
That’s the Soul Stealing Sword.
Even without reaching its peak, it’s still perilous. Guk Jin Myung was well aware of its dangers.
Just channeling a bit of internal energy is enough for the perpetrator to be unable to endure it. Remember when he couldn’t withstand three strikes from a martial artist of his level and dropped his sword?
He once cried out in dreadful pain, bedridden for a while.
The Soul Stealing Sword is such a sword.
Only a master of extraordinary caliber can even attempt to receive it.
But… what the heck is going on?
How is the woman in front of me still standing?
—KAAANG!!!
The swords clash. For the first time, the feet that were continuously pushing the opponent back are forced to slide back.
Sword energy. That hazy, bloody aura is rushing toward me.
I resist fiercely. I disperse the Soul Stealing Sword’s energy.
The collision of the swords unleashes a wailing scream.
Soul Stealing Sword.
Its tip shines yet again.
But for some reason…
The opponent doesn’t fall!
“Grrr?!!”
I’m pushed back. I clash again.
Pushed back again. I clash once more.
I’m continuously pushed back.
Within the endless cycle of sword clashes, I can see my opponent’s body breaking down in real-time.
Even as I am pushed back, I am winning. It is evident before my eyes…
Yet I can’t shake the feeling that I’m winning.
“—–!”
The growl of a beast. It feels like blood is being squeezed out.
That eeriness sends shivers down Guk Jin Myung’s spine. What is it that I’m facing right now?
What is the opponent fighting for in such a way?
Is strength all there is? I thought so. But looking at the martial artist before me, that thought disappears.
Now is not the time to ponder.
The opponent is risking their life to resist.
Should I exert all my power in response?
—No!
This isn’t something that can be measured at that level!
“You insane woman!”
Every moment feels like my life is in danger. This is not a situation where I can show mercy.
To survive, I must give it my all.
The Soul Stealing Sword glows chillingly.
Guk Jin Myung gritted his teeth. A gray sword energy flickered atop his sword.
Change your thoughts, Guk Jin Myung.
What stands before you is not just a woman.
—A beast.
A beast incarnate.
…
Colors mix. The hues continuously blend.
One by one they fly away. First red. Then blue.
As the swords clash, something in my field of view keeps flying away. I can feel my entire body breaking down in real-time.
But Twenty-Nine does not stop. Instead, she pours her strength into the sword she wields.
For just a moment longer.
For just a moment faster.
Press harder!
—KAAANG!!!
She pressures the opponent. She launches her sword.
Through the gray sword energy, she advances. She holds nothing back as she pulls everything out.
***Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique***
***Second Form***
***Dan Hoon Choo – Pei Miao***
She calculates the distance of the incoming sword. With a hair’s breadth, she spins her body, avoiding it.
She thrusts with sincerity. The opponent’s face distorts.
She charges ahead.
***Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique***
***Second Form***
***Dan Hoon Choo – Tactile***
The opponent corrects their posture. Amidst the bloody aura, Twenty-Nine breathes life into her sword’s energy.
This isn’t a technique aimed at breaking; it’s a move to hold on to her already battered body even for just a moment longer.
The gathered sword energy flared up in the blood-red light. The moment they collide, the surrounding air bursts apart.
But she endured.
Facing the Soul Stealing Sword head-on, she advanced one step further.
—KAAANG!!!
“What the… beast-like…!”
Guk Jin Myung’s sword was deflected. Seizing the moment, a sword glinted ominously.
Her clothing was slashed. Some flesh was also cut, blood gushing forth, yet it wasn’t enough to immobilize her.
The opponent kicked her away. Twenty-Nine was pushed back.
The gap between them wide. Not wasting a second, she sheathed her sword.
Like lightning, she stomped the ground again.
***Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique***
***Second Form***
***Dan Hoon Choo – Long Hold***
She pressed forward.
***To the limits of breath.***
“What…?!”
Guk Jin Myung’s expression distorted. He was shoved back by the frontward thrust of her sword.
Twenty-Nine screamed. She had already lost all color. What remained was only black and white.
Yet despite that, she charged ahead. She scattered her sword energy and shouted, pouring all her effort into the fight.
She pressed on.
She kept pressing on.
Forgetting about breathing and pushing forward until everything was stained black.
Pain surged. In the next moment, she felt like she would lose everything and fall, her entire body trembling.
She was crumbling.
Crumbling.
Yet still…
She kept running.
Why?
Why on earth?
“Baekmae.”
A gentle whisper. That hand which used to stroke her head.
The warm embrace which had always been on her side. Even though they never recognized her, it was something she’d always remember.
She wanted to stand tall.
Just once…
She wanted to face it straight on rather than running away.
Even to return what she’d received.
“I’ll catch up soon, so stay alert.”
I’m sick of just saying it.
I’m tired of making clumsy excuses now.
Just for a single moment.
“I will be waiting.”
Just for a single moment… every moment I gave my all…
“Twenty-Nine.”
—Just like you!
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!”
The growl in the halted breath intertwines with the sword energy. It cleaves through the air, cutting through tears, converging into a single point.
A moment of shock crossed Guk Jin Myung’s distorted face. Twenty-Nine did not miss that opportunity.
She stretched out her hand.
She caught it.
***Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique***
***Second Form***
***Dan Hoon Choo***
After endless circling, she finally reached…
—The origin.
“……!”
“……!”
Within the intersecting voices, a battered Twenty-Nine rolled on the ground. The dropped sword slid away.
The ground shook as the long sword form completely fell apart. She tried to stand, but couldn’t and collapsed once again.
She lacked even the strength to twitch her body. She could hardly move any longer.
With great effort, she turned her head. Guk Jin Myung was there.
He looked down at her and slowly turned his head away.
He opened his mouth.
He asked her.
“…Lady So… what is your name?”
“…….”
She opened her mouth but lacked the strength to respond and merely mumbled.
Guk Jin Myung smiled.
“How regrettable… If I could have heard that name… it would have been nice…”
—SHHHHHH!!!
Blood gushed from Guk Jin Myung’s badly wounded torso.
…
“Lord?! Why at this time…?!”
“Head of the Hidden Pavilion! This is an emergency! Transcribe my words and send them out in all directions!”
“Yes? What do you mean…?”
“It’s an order! Follow my words immediately!”
The Head of the Hidden Pavilion immediately bowed his head. He quickly commanded his subordinates.
The message flew out in all directions. Smaak directed his subordinates right away.
Now all that was left was to buy some time.
“Head of the Hidden Pavilion! Gather all the bodyguards from the main house…!”
“GRAAAACK!”
A scream erupted. Smaak turned his head.
A corpse fell before his eyes. The one who had thrown it, expressionless, was someone he recognized well.
The Head of the Hidden Pavilion and the bodyguards of the Hidden Pavilion drew their swords. Smaak gritted his teeth.
“Chu Yi-gyeong…!”
“Lord, why weren’t you captured?”
“This wretched traitor! I’ll drink your heart’s blood!”
A sinister visage. The scarred man let out a sigh.
He stepped over the door into the room. Just being in his presence made the air feel thick and suffocating.
Chu Yi-gyeong.
His own bodyguard…
A traitor.
“The Sma Clan is already on the decline. Ever since the previous head left the position, the fall of the Sma Clan has been almost predetermined.”
“That’s not something a scoundrel like you can decide!”
“Lord, I have served you, but I have never once offered my sword. Do you know why?”
Chu Yi-gyeong revealed his teeth. With his drawn blade, he severed the neck of a corpse.
He tossed the severed head before Smaak.
“The Sma Il Sword. How can one who hasn’t even mastered the family’s swordsmanship be acknowledged as the head of the Sma Clan?”
“You little punk…!”
“I made a pact with Cheonakmun. Once Cheonakmun takes control of the Sma Clan, I will have my name placed atop as their steward.”
“You filthy scumbag!”
“None of the Head of the Hidden Pavilion and the personnel from the Hidden Pavilion will escape outside. I was just going to do it slightly earlier once I became the new head of the Sma Clan. A little acceleration won’t change anything.”
The sword energy shimmered from Chu Yi-gyeong’s blade.
“From the moment you sought to be the Lord, the Sma Clan was already shattered. Smaak. A fox cannot act as the master of the forest just because the tiger is away. That’s not possible. You will die here, burdened with all of the Sma Clan’s sins. Recorded as the worst head.”
“What the hell…!”
The Head of the Hidden Pavilion took a step back, startled.
“Lord?! Can you explain this?!”
“Can’t you see? It’s a rebellion!”
“…Ugh! Lord! Chu Yi-gyeong is the strongest among the family’s bodyguards! It would not be an exaggeration to say he has reached the peak! We cannot capture him with our current numbers!”
“Don’t repeat what I know!”
The situation continued to tangle.
It felt as if there was no way out, whispering that they’d fall.
But I must not stop thinking. There was someone who bought me some time. Even in a situation where they might die for me, someone remains.
Thirty.
I had no particular bond with him. Yet, he took the name of the Sma Clan’s bodyguard upon himself.
He moved recklessly, taking on the responsibilities.
What a stupid fool. He acted without a care for what might be meaningless in the end.
I know that his very actions are unbearably foolish…!
—How can I abandon someone who’s risking their life for me?!
“…All draw your swords!”
Smaak shouted as if spitting blood. The unsheathed sword emitted a fierce light.
“I! Will not die here! Nor will the name of the Sma Clan fall under Cheonakmun!”
Take it upon yourself.
Like you’ve always done.
That is the responsibility of one who bears the name of the Sma Clan.
“There are those who are holding the line for us! There’s no way I can leave that foolish bodyguard of the Sma Clan behind! If there’s even a slight delay, it’s certain he’ll die to the Soul Stealing Sword!”
“What do you mean…?”
“The Sma Clan! Does not forget its debts! Chu Yi-gyeong! What you’ve done must be repaid with blood!”
Chu Yi-gyeong chuckled.
“Do you think you can dare?”
“…That is.”
Smaak tilted his sword toward him.
The incomplete Sma Il Sword shone at his fingertips.
“We’ll see about that.”
“It would be easier to give up.”
“You little bugger.”
Smaak bared his teeth.
“Don’t overstep your bounds. I’ll make you pay the price.”
All personnel from the Hidden Pavilion, including the Head of the Hidden Pavilion, drew their swords.
Chu Yi-gyeong clicked his tongue.
“Well then, die. Carry the unattainable ideals. The rightful owner of the Sma Clan is I. I am the most talented retainer who served the previous head…!”
