Chapter 1226 – 1226. Ascending To The Light
Sun Haedo and Chu Jeo looked at each other with serious expressions.
“Is it true that contact with the Byungsal Clan leader has been lost?”
“Last night, I sent a trustworthy warrior to the Byungsal Clan’s headquarters. He returned this morning. He said the Byungsal Clan was completely cleaned out.”
“…Was the Byungsal Clan attacked?”
“It wasn’t like that. The Byungsal Clan disappeared with their assets. There were no signs of a battle.”
“…Did the Byungsal Clan go into hiding? Abandoning the request?”
“I don’t think so. I know the Byungsal Clan leader quite well… He’s full of ambition. He’s not the type to stop here.”
“Then… Could it be that he… ?!”
“It’s hard to say that. He’s very cautious. He doesn’t move alone when he acts directly. Do you think he could handle the assassins of the Byungsal Clan by himself? Someone else must have intervened.”
“……The Demonic Cult. It can only be the Demonic Cult.”
“Yes. It can only be the Demonic Cult. And the fact that the Demonic Cult moved directly means…”
“It means we don’t have much time left.”
“That’s right. I wanted him to suffer, but… it seems we have to deal with him today. I’ll call him out to the plaza around noon. After that… it’s up to you. Can you do it?”
“I will make sure to end his life.”
“That’s reassuring. Now, let’s move. He might resort to underhanded tactics, so I’ll secretly set up a formation in the plaza. It’s small, but it will help you.”
“Thank you, Clan Head.”
It was then.
A huge explosion shook the ground and buildings. The explosion was too jarring to be an earthquake. They got up and opened the windows to look outside.
Sun Haedo’s eyes widened. One of the annexes of the Sun Clan’s estate was half-collapsed and on fire.
“Kuaaaaaaak!”
“My arm!!”
“Warriors, save the people first! The rest, bring water to put out the fire!!”
“This is an attack! Start scouting!”
People’s screams and black smoke rising high into the sky. The Sun Clan’s estate instantly turned into chaos.
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaaaaaang!
Explosions continued to occur.
As someone had said, this was an attack.
“This is insane! These are Thunderclap Bombs! Did the Demonic Cult attack using Thunderclap Bombs?!”
Sun Haedo slammed his fist on the window frame.
Kwaaaang!
An explosion occurred in the main building where Sun Haedo was.
“Kueeeuk…!”
Sun Haedo’s reaction, consumed by anger, was a bit late. He jumped out of the window with burns on his back.
“Aaaaargh!”
Chu Jeo broke through the wall and came outside. His left arm was gone, caught in the explosion.
Sun Haedo quickly approached Chu Jeo. He clumsily pressed on Chu Jeo’s left shoulder pressure point.
•••
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaang!
I trembled at the sound of the Thunderclap Bombs exploding.
Seeing the damned Sun Clan’s estate being destroyed made me feel good.
Thump, thump, thump.
I was unconsciously doing a shoulder dance. That’s how good I felt. Of course, it wasn’t as good as sex.
I was at the Sun Clan’s estate. I was hiding my appearance with an Illusiter and watching the Sun Clan’s estate being destroyed by the Thunderclap Bombs from a prime seat.
Click.
I pressed the button in my right hand. The eighth Thunderclap Bomb, which I had roughly buried in the ground, exploded. The bodies of the warriors who were running around it soared into the sky. Their bodies couldn’t withstand the power of the Thunderclap Bomb, and they fell to the ground, their arms and legs torn like broken pottery. Blood and guts scattered from their torsos that had been blown into the air. It was a desperate sight.
‘Ninth explosion!’
Kwaaaaaaaang!
The Thunderclap Bomb I had placed in the pond exploded. A pillar of water rose, and the carp fell to the ground and died.
Originally, Thunderclap Bombs couldn’t be detonated remotely like this. Thunderclap Bombs were similar to hand grenades.
‘But in this world, there is magic.’
With the help of Mi-ryeong, a mage of the Three Jeong, I was able to detonate the Thunderclap Bombs remotely.
‘Fifteen consecutive explosions!’
Explosions occurred one after another. Flames engulfed the Sun Clan’s estate, and black smoke obscured the sky. The proud warriors of the Sun Clan became pieces of corpses and fell with a thud.
I continued to detonate the Thunderclap Bombs I had set up and walked forward. Soon, I found Sun Haedo. He was with Chu Jeo. I deactivated the Illusiter and revealed myself.
“Sun Haedo. It’s good to see you like this. How are you doing?”
“You…! Yeom Gu-seok!!”
“Is this your doing!!”
Chu Jeo and Sun Haedo shouted and drew their swords, pointing them at me. Their bodies, having been attacked by the Thunderclap Bombs, were not in good condition. Especially Chu Jeo, who had lost his left arm. Things were going even better than I had expected.
“You bastard!! Using Thunderclap Bombs, are you out of your mind!! Aren’t you afraid of the rules of the Jianghu!! Because of this, even the Demonic Cult won’t be able to avoid the criticism of the Jianghu!!”
“Thunderclap Bombs? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t use Thunderclap Bombs.”
“Are you trying to deny it now!! You’re the only one who would use Thunderclap Bombs!!”
“Don’t accuse someone of being a criminal based on suspicion alone. If you want to accuse me, show me the evidence. The evidence. I just came here after seeing the Sun Clan’s estate on fire. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to kill Chu Jeo, who was hiding in the Sun Clan’s estate. And as you can see, the situation is as I expected. Hehehe.”
“Yeom Gu-seok…!! You will regret showing yourself in front of me. I will kill you here, and even if I have to borrow the power of the Thousand Alliance, I will hold the Demonic Cult accountable for this!!”
I grinned and pressed the button in my hand.
Kwaaaaaang!
The Thunderclap Bomb installed at the back gate of the Sun Clan’s estate exploded.
“Sun Haedo. I told you before. I would come back later and destroy the Sun Clan’s estate, leaving not a single cornerstone. I tend to keep my promises. I also said I would rape and kill your wife, tear your children apart, and burn your family to death. But you know what? Your wife was too old. Too old for me to rape. And you don’t have a daughter, but three sons. So, I just decided to kill them.”
I pointed with my index finger at one of the annexes. It was an annex right next to the main building. That was where Sun Haedo’s family lived.
Click, click, click, click.
I quickly pressed the button four times.
The four Thunderclap Bombs I had installed in the annex exploded simultaneously. Just one Thunderclap Bomb could destroy an inn. But there were four Thunderclap Bombs.
“Hehehe! Your wife and kids are dead!”
Sun Haedo’s face went blank for a moment. Then, he distorted his face and shouted.
“You bastard!!!!”
Sun Haedo swung his sword. A sword aura flew with the wind. I dodged to the side and swung my sword behind me.
“Keok!”
The sword pierced Chu Jeo’s chest, who was secretly approaching from behind me. He staggered. I mercilessly beheaded him.
“Chu Jeo, I have eyes in the back of my head.”
The Heavenly Eye had already detected Chu Jeo moving silently.
Sun Haedo, who had been venting his anger at me, had a cold atmosphere. His anger was just an act to draw my attention. Sun Haedo calmly held his sword. I also drew my sword and pointed it at Sun Haedo.
Normally, I wouldn’t fight. Sun Haedo was at the 2nd level of Origin Qi, and I was currently at the 2nd level of Initial Qi. The difference was clear. If he went all out, I would probably die without even lasting ten moves.
‘That’s if he’s in perfect condition. But he was hit by the Thunderclap Bombs. He has burns on his back, and his shoulder isn’t right, judging by the way the tip of his sword is trembling. Even without releasing the seal, there’s a chance I can win.’
I drew up the demonic energy of the Demonic Divine Art.
“Hehehe. So, it’s true. You didn’t care about your wife or children at all. Did you keep your old wife and children around for the sake of your reputation?”
“Are you going to call me a hypocrite or something?”
“No. I just laughed because it was as I expected. This is how the Xianxia world is.”
“……I will avenge my wife and children. I will kill you here, hold a funeral for my dead wife and children, and then rebuild the Sun Clan…!”
He kicked off the ground and rushed at me.
The Crane’s Elegant Sword, Sun Haedo.
His sword is said to be as noble as a crane and as elegant as a deer.
But in Sun Haedo’s swordsmanship in front of me, there was no nobility or elegance to be found. All that could be felt from his sword was sharp killing intent and volcanic rage.
Clang!
His sword and my blade crossed. I was the one being pushed back by the force. I took a step back and received Sun Haedo’s attacks.
“You’re doing well to receive my attacks with only the strength of Initial Qi!”
If I were an ordinary Initial Qi level 2 warrior, my defeat would have been decided.
“Don’t flatter me for your own sake. The reason I’m receiving your sword so easily is… because your sword is weak.”
“Let’s see how long you can keep talking like that. Don’t disappoint me…!”
Sun Haedo made a solemn expression.
‘…Is some kind of ultimate move coming?’
It did come.
A pile of dirt.
‘This bastard. He kicked dirt with his foot.’
Dirt got into my eyes. I reflexively closed my eyes.
“Got you.”
Sun Haedo smiled triumphantly. A sword aura flashed from his sword, aiming for me. How did I know? I had been using the Heavenly Eye all this time.
‘A moment.’
[Using Moment. Remaining stacks: 6]
I stepped back and dodged Sun Haedo’s sword.
I dodged perfectly. But blood spurted from my body. From my right shoulder to my left side. I was slashed diagonally.
‘This bastard is crazy. The end of the sword aura is transparent, so you can’t see it. He’s a master of Origin Qi, yet he’s using such petty tricks.’
I could barely notice it after concentrating.
“You dodged it. You’re lucky. But it’s only a matter of time. You’ll die while you still can’t open your eyes.”
“You’re the one who’s going to die.”
Click.
I pressed the button in my left hand.
The Thunderclap Bomb hidden on the ground exploded.
Kwaaaaaang!
‘…He minimized the impact of the explosion by wrapping his qi around himself at the moment of the explosion and jumping into the air.’
He proved that he didn’t reach the realm of Origin Qi for nothing.
‘He didn’t dodge it completely. His right ankle is gone, and his left ankle is barely hanging on. He has no mobility.’
I had won this.
Sun Haedo, who had landed on the ground, didn’t give up. He hardened his face as if nothing had happened and swung his sword at me.
A sword aura flew, cutting through the wind. All a guy with a broken ankle could do was send out sword auras and hope I would die.
I laughed at Sun Haedo and moved my body here and there, dodging all the sword auras. I didn’t even need to use Moment.
“Damn it…!”
Sun Haedo’s last struggle was soon over. Sending out sword auras was an act of recklessly using internal energy. It wasn’t an attack that could be sustained for long.
“Beg for your life.”
“……If I beg, will you spare me?”
“No.”
I threw a Thunderclap Bomb at him. Sun Haedo looked at the Thunderclap Bomb rolling at his feet and let out a deep sigh. Then, he looked at me as if he would kill me and shouted.
“I will curse you in hell!!”
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!!
The Sun Clan’s estate disappeared without leaving a single cornerstone.
‘Mission complete.’
