SWNOVELXO Chapter 43
Chapter 43
—–CROW—–
“Ugh!”
Jeok-geom, who had been blocking the White Ghost Squad’s attacks while exhausted, finally lost his grip on his sword.
He vomited blood.
Dark, clotted blood and bits of flesh stained his robe.
The White Ghost Squad attacked again.
Clang! Clang!
He managed to block their attacks, but Jeok-geom staggered.
Already internally injured, the subsequent attacks infused with the White Ghost Squad’s internal energy were devastating.
‘I can’t feel my hands.’
It wasn’t just his hands.
His whole body felt heavy.
He quickly scanned his surroundings.
The situation was dire.
His fellow disciples and his junior sister were all swaying, unable to stand properly.
Jeok-geom’s face darkened as he saw their precarious state, as if a mere touch would send them tumbling.
‘This is it, then.’
Jeok-geom and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, resigned to their fate as they felt death approaching, closed their eyes.
But then,
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Something dark bounced several times on the ground and landed before them with a splat.
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen, opening their eyes at the sudden event, were horrified when they realized what it was.
“…!”
“W-What is this?!”
It was a mangled corpse.
Where the head should have been, there was nothing, and the upper body was completely crushed, as if it had been flattened by a giant boulder.
Step— Step—
Footsteps echoed.
The steady rhythm of footsteps in the eerie silence was enough to send chills down the White Ghost Squad’s spines.
They turned their heads as if in a trance.
A young man was walking slowly towards them, the blazing flames at his back.
The young man, dressed in a rare dark reddish-black robe, was quite tall.
His broad shoulders and visible muscles indicated that he was highly trained.
But as he approached, the White Ghost Squad was captivated not by his physique, but by his eyes.
Cold, chilling black eyes that seemed to absorb even the blazing flames behind him.
The moment they met his gaze, fear and dread, hidden deep within their hearts, began to surface.
Finally, one of the White Ghost Squad members stepped forward to shake off his fear.
“There’s still one left… ”
Crack!
Brain matter and blood splattered everywhere like rain.
The other White Ghost Squad members, inadvertently covered in their comrade’s blood and brain matter, were stunned.
They didn’t understand what had happened.
His head had suddenly exploded.
A sudden and inexplicable death.
But the White Ghost Squad knew that the young man before them was responsible.
The young man, who had been empty-handed just moments ago, now held a scabbard in his right hand.
“More survived than I thought.”
As soon as he finished speaking,
Crack!
Another head flew.
This time, the White Ghost Squad saw it.
The black scabbard moved swiftly, crushing the White Ghost Squad member’s head.
The White Ghost Squad members, pale with fear, froze at the gruesome sight.
“Senior Disciple…”
“You… came.”
Voices came from below.
Cheon-hwi looked down with cold eyes at the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, who were lying on the ground, exhausted.
They were completely drained.
Only Jeok-geom and Seol-ran seemed to have enough energy to remain sitting up.
“Still not enough?”
Jeok-geom and Seol-ran, who had been relieved at Cheon-hwi’s indifferent tone, paled and hurriedly said,
“That is…”
“N-No…”
“Forget it.”
Cheon-hwi turned his head, slung the scabbard over his shoulder, and glared at the White Ghost Squad.
“I’ll take care of this. See you later.”
***
“Impressive skills.”
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword couldn’t help but express his admiration.
Even against the Blood Night Energy of the Blood Night Solitary Scripture, Hyeon-do was holding his ground.
No, he was dominating.
“Shut up.”
But Hyeon-do’s response was cold.
He was filled with a burning rage, hotter than the surrounding flames.
It was only natural, as his opponent was one of the Four Guardians of the Hundred Ghosts Castle, his sworn enemy.
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s gaze hardened.
‘I thought he would be my equal at best…’
His skill level was completely different from the rumors and the information the Hundred Ghosts Castle had gathered.
He was at least his equal, or perhaps…
“The information on the Mount Hua Sect was wrong.”
His muttered words were stiff.
He had underestimated the Mount Hua Sect, referring to Hyeon-do as the Mount Hua’s Greatest Sword while secretly looking down on the sect.
Gritting his teeth, the Hand-Severing Lone Sword tightened his grip on his sword and twisted his waist sharply.
His posture was bizarre.
His left sleeve flapped in the wind, and his right hand reached behind his back.
As if concealing his sword.
It was the starting stance of the Blood Night Sword, a technique from the Blood Night Solitary Scripture, created long ago by an unknown one-armed swordsman.
Crack—
His muscles contorted, and an ominous sound echoed. Yet, the Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s expression remained calm.
Then, his whole body spun.
Shrill shriek!
The air ripped apart.
The sword in his hand swung like a whip. Hyeon-do calmly infused his internal energy into his sword.
A white, translucent energy wrapped around his sword like a thin thread, then hardened, encasing the blade like a cocoon.
Sword Qi, a manifestation of internal energy achievable only by those who had reached at least the Supreme Martial Realm.
Clang!
Their swords clashed.
But the result was unexpectedly anticlimactic.
“Cough!”
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword staggered back from the impact.
‘…This can’t be!’
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s eyes widened.
He had launched a surprise attack, yet he was the one who suffered the impact.
Hyeon-do was also surprised, but for a different reason.
‘That’s all?’
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword was one of the top three experts in the Hundred Ghosts Castle. Yet, his attack was surprisingly weak.
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s eyes flashed as he caught Hyeon-do’s momentary expression.
He craved and pursued strength.
He had even severed his own left arm to master the Blood Night Solitary Scripture he had stumbled upon as a child.
After mastering the Blood Night Sword, he roamed the martial world freely, belonging to neither the righteous nor the evil factions.
But one day, he was defeated.
From that day forward, his goal changed.
To defeat the White Ghost Lord, the one who had defeated him.
That was the reason he, who had belonged to neither side, joined the evil Hundred Ghosts Castle.
And yet, someone he hadn’t even considered an opponent was looking down on him.
His eyes turned bloodshot.
It wasn’t just his eyes.
A dark, murky aura began to emanate from him.
Sensing the sudden shift in his opponent’s aura and demeanor, Hyeon-do also slowly released his internal energy.
Then,
Whoosh—
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword, who had been three steps away, vanished and reappeared right in front of him.
Clang!
Their swords clashed.
The deafening sound forced those nearby to cover their ears and crouch down.
Their swords locked, they stared at each other and simultaneously unleashed their internal energy.
Rumble—
The air trembled violently, as if terrified by their immense power.
But their expressions were different.
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword looked strained, as if cornered, while Hyeon-do remained calm.
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s eyes became bloodshot, and his face turned red and blue.
“Gasp!”
He gritted his teeth, swallowing the blood rising in his throat, and widened his eyes.
His face was a mess.
His eyes were bloodshot, as if about to burst into tears of blood, and a trickle of blood flowed from his mouth.
Whoosh—
Hyeon-do suddenly twisted his wrist.
Perhaps because he had shifted his sword during their internal energy struggle.
Shriek!
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s sword, imbued with all his strength, swung uncontrollably.
“…!”
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword tried to regain control of his sword, but he had already lost his balance and was staggering.
Hyeon-do wouldn’t miss the opportunity.
Seizing the disruption in his opponent’s internal energy flow, he immediately executed the Plum Blossom Fragrance Intoxicated Butterfly.
Wheezing—
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword, reacting to the faint scent of plum blossoms and the sharp premonition of danger, rolled his left foot and spun in mid-air.
Whir—
His empty sleeve flapped, enveloping him.
Hyeon-do, about to swing his sword at his airborne opponent, flinched and retreated.
Shriek!
A sword thrust towards the spot where he had been standing.
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword, maintaining his focus even while spinning, had launched another attack.
Hyeon-do’s eyes narrowed.
‘To execute such swordsmanship even while deeply injured, he’s tenacious!’
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s mental fortitude was astonishing, enduring pain that would have crippled an ordinary warrior.
Hyeon-do unleashed a burst of internal energy.
“Cough!”
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword coughed up blood as he was hit head-on by the blast of Hyeon-do’s internal energy.
The impact was immense.
Tears of blood finally streamed down his bloodshot eyes, and a mouthful of blood gurgled in his throat.
His face was now covered in blood.
Yet, he continued to swing his sword at Hyeon-do.
“Cough! I… I won’t lose!”
With a desperate cry, he swung the Blood Night Sword, its destructive power greater than before.
His arm and sword, bent like a whip, moved to tear Hyeon-do apart.
Hyeon-do swung his sword horizontally in response.
A sword strike that was neither fast nor slow.
But the momentum contained within it was overwhelmingly powerful and solid.
It was the Great Ultimate Lost Sword, the most powerful among the Mount Hua Sect’s sword techniques.
Shriek!
A sharp blade, hidden within the immense storm of internal energy, targeted the Hand-Severing Lone Sword.
Their swords pointed at each other.
Splash!
Blood splattered, and silence fell.
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword, covered in blood, spoke with difficulty.
“In the end…”
His voice, still affected by his internal injuries, was hoarse.
His hand went limp.
Clang, clang, clang…
His sword, his lifelong companion, clattered to the ground.
He turned his head towards Hyeon-do, his bloodshot eyes filled with envy.
He had tried everything to overcome the insurmountable wall that appeared every time he closed his eyes, but it had been impossible.
And yet, the man before him had reached the Heavenly Martial Realm. How could he not be envious?
“…Couldn’t… overcome it.”
His voice, faint like ripples on a lake, faded away.
Thud!
The Hand-Severing Lone Sword collapsed.
Hyeon-do looked at his fallen opponent.
The energy of the Great Ultimate Lost Sword, still lingering in the sword wound on the corpse, flickered like the surrounding flames.
“With this level of strength…”
Hyeon-do muttered, looking at his sword-holding hand, then clenched his fists.
He had reached the Heavenly Martial Realm, but he hadn’t been certain of his true strength.
But now, he was sure.
He was among the top experts in the martial world. Perhaps,
‘Even against the White Ghost Lord…’
A fire ignited in his eyes.
His goal was to destroy the Hundred Ghosts Castle and spread the fame of the Mount Hua Sect far and wide.
He was one step closer.
As Hyeon-do envisioned the future,
“Eastern Guardian?!”
A surprised voice came from nearby.
Hyeon-do turned his head and saw Ha Woo-jin struggling against the Little White Ghost.
“…This can’t be.”
The Little White Ghost stared in disbelief at the Hand-Severing Lone Sword’s lifeless body, then turned his head, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
“…!”
His eyes darted around frantically.
He hadn’t noticed while fighting Ha Woo-jin, but the White Ghost Squad’s presence was gone.
“Damn it!”
Just as the Little White Ghost’s face contorted in fury,
“You’re the only one left.”
A cold voice came from beside him.
Whoosh—
He hurriedly executed the Ghost Yin Palm.
But there was no scream, no sensation of impact.
Confused, he cautiously turned his head.
A dark wall stood before him.
A voice came from above.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Cheon-hwi whispered, looking down at the Little White Ghost, who was barely up to his nose.
Thud!
The Little White Ghost leaped away without hesitation.
‘I won’t die here! I’m the successor to the Hundred Ghosts Castle!’
He poured all his remaining energy into escaping, disregarding movement techniques or anything else.
His figure shot forward like an arrow, so fast that it created the illusion of a long trail.
“I can’t let him escape… Ugh!”
Ha Woo-jin staggered and groaned as he tried to give chase. He was suffering the aftereffects of his internal injuries from fighting the Little White Ghost.
Then,
“What a nuisance.”
Cheon-hwi lightly tapped his foot.
Whoosh—
His figure vanished.
“Gah!”
The fleeing Little White Ghost choked.
His robe snagged on something, constricting his neck.
“Cough, cough.”
As he coughed in pain, a shadow fell over him.
Cheon-hwi, having caught his robe, looked down at him and said,
“Did you really think you could escape after committing such atrocities?”
“C-Cough. P-Please… spare me…”
The Little White Ghost, coughing, discarded his pride and begged pathetically.
“What? Spare you?”
At those words, the Little White Ghost’s eyes widened, and he nodded frantically.
Cheon-hwi’s lips curled into a chilling smile.
“Why should I?”
As the Little White Ghost’s face turned pale,
Crack!
Cheon-hwi stomped on his head.
Brain matter and blood splattered everywhere.
Cheon-hwi brushed the blood and brain matter off his robe and looked down at the corpse with a cold expression, then turned around.
“I guess I’ll have to pull them out by the roots.”
—–CROW—–
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