The Swordmaster Wants To Live Peacefully [EN]: Chapter 189

Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully – 189

Yu Hyun-wol (5)

While things were unfolding at the Demonic Cult and the Heavenly Alliance Fortress, Baek Woo-hyun was undoubtedly the most active fighter.

He ventured into the territory controlled by the Evil Sect, gathered several Black Faction and rogue sects, and initiated a swift campaign.

Using his strength, he subdued several Black Faction sects, established the ‘Thunder Sword Sect,’ and then proceeded to wreak havoc on other Black Faction sects.

Baek Woo-hyun annihilated all the small and medium-sized Black Faction sects in the vicinity.

This was largely because even the leaders of these smaller sects were only around B-class Divers [individuals with superhuman abilities].

As he gradually consolidated his power.

“Kugh… Do you have any idea who we’re affiliated with, causing such a ruckus!”

“Who do you belong to?”

“We are a sect under the command of the Murky Heaven Society! If you lay a hand on us, the main society will obliterate you all!”

Baek Woo-hyun paused, considering the Murky Heaven Society as mentioned by the Evil Sect member. It was a name he recognized.

“Ah.”

Before departing for China, the name ‘Murky Heaven Society (墨天會)’ had appeared in the intelligence he received.

As the name implied, it was an organization where those who desired a corrupt, ink-colored world gathered—essentially, an alliance of Evil Sects.

It maintained a three-way power balance (三强) alongside the Martial Arts Alliance and the Demonic Cult.

It was also one of Baek Woo-hyun’s targets.

At the mention of the Murky Heaven Society, the Evil Sect members of the Thunder Sword Sect behind Baek Woo-hyun began to shout.

“Do you think our Sect Leader would yield to such threats!”

“You fool! The Thunder Sword Sect will surpass the Murky Heaven Society!”

However, contrary to the shouts of his Evil Sect members, Baek Woo-hyun halted his attack.

He realized he needed to negotiate with the Murky Heaven Society.

They likely also desired the downfall of the Heavenly Alliance Fortress, which could provide common ground for dialogue.

The Murky Heaven Society was unlikely to be a group of simpletons.

“Then bring them here. I’ll take on the entire Black Heaven Society.”

Baek Woo-hyun sheathed his sword and kicked the man lying on the floor, sending him flying.

Witnessing this, the Evil Sect members praised Baek Woo-hyun’s incredible coolness.

“That’s a real man!”

“As expected of our brother!”

“Sect Leader! Sect Leader!”

Baek Woo-hyun glanced at them, wondering if this was all going according to plan.

…Things seem to be progressing smoothly, but what will become of the Thunder Sword Sect after he leaves?

He looked at Batory, silently pleading for assistance, but she remained leisurely floating in the air, drinking, as if signaling that he was on his own.

It was clear she would only intervene if Baek Woo-hyun faced a genuinely dangerous situation.

In the end, he sighed and repeated.

“Hurry up and summon them. I don’t have much time.”

***

While Yoo Seong-woo stalled for time in the front, Yoo-wol swiftly planted bombs inside the factory and exited.

Once Yoo-wol confirmed that the bomb installation was complete, Yoo Seong-woo twirled the iron sword in his hand to shake off the blood.

“Detonate it when you’re far enough away.”

-Yes! The beginning of art!

“You need to cut back on your internet usage.”

And then.

KWAANG─!!

A spectacular explosion erupted like fireworks.

The massive explosion suddenly detonated, unleashing a heatwave and shockwave that swept in all directions, causing those unable to withstand it to tumble to the ground.

Yoo Seong-woo watched the rising flames and smiled faintly.

Being surrounded by blood and flames inexplicably made him feel happy…….

“…Oops, I lost myself for a moment.”

Yoo Seong-woo shook his head vigorously and took a deep breath.

He exhaled the heat that had filled his lungs and turned to face those approaching him.

Their faces were contorted with anger as they advanced.

These were the five individuals he had sensed earlier, who seemed quite skilled.

The baldest of them, a man with a particularly vicious expression, spoke.

“You son of a bitch…….”

“You finally came out. I thought you were leisurely drinking tea inside… Did you enjoy the gift I prepared? The factory you were supposed to protect has exploded, so if you leave quietly, I won’t kill you.”

“We’ve already been paid, so we have to bring you in.”

“So you’re the type who works for their money. Judging by your bald head, are you from the Shaolin Temple?”

There was a common stereotype that all bald people were from Shaolin.

Moreover, the burly, muscular bald man was a Kwonsa [martial artist specializing in fist techniques] who showed clear signs of training, reinforcing the assumption.

And seemingly confirming the guess, the man clenched his fist with a serious expression.

The others behind him also drew their weapons.

Two swordsmen, one spearman.

And one wielding a whip.

It was a well-balanced team in many respects.

The Kwonsa was the first to charge, stomping on the ground.

Cutting through the air with the flames still rising behind him, he thrust his fist towards Yoo Seong-woo.

The golden light flickering on his fist.

As if proving he was an S-class Awakened [individual with extraordinary abilities], his intense momentum seemed capable of shattering all of Yoo Seong-woo’s ribs.

Yoo Seong-woo didn’t bother to deflect the attack, instead meeting it with the flat of his sword.

The powerful punch sent him flying backward, and he crashed into the wall, raising a cloud of dust.

“You’re nothing special!”

“It’s not over yet.”

The swordsman with sharp features muttered in response to the Kwonsa’s words.

As he spoke, Yoo Seong-woo dusted off his clothes and emerged from the cloud of dust.

The iron sword in his hand was unscathed, despite having taken the Kwonsa’s punch head-on.

The Kwonsa stared at the iron sword and commented.

“You’re using a good sword! Too bad your skills are insignificant!”

“A good sword?”

Yoo Seong-woo examined the sword in his hand.

It was a simple iron sword he had bought off the street, not even properly balanced.

He had only oiled it a little, thinking he should at least maintain it.

But the Kwonsa thought it was a good sword because it had blocked his punch?

“Hmm…….”

Yoo Seong-woo pondered for a moment and then said.

“It seems the iron sword I bought on the street was a treasure sword after all. I’m very lucky.”

Yoo Seong-woo muttered and began to walk forward at a leisurely pace.

The enraged Kwonsa charged at him again.

He vibrated the earth by stomping hard with his full strength, this time extending not his fist (拳) but his palm (掌).

The overflowing golden energy from the palm technique spread from both hands, engulfing Yoo Seong-woo.

Yoo Seong-woo gripped the iron sword firmly and twisted his body.

He positioned the iron sword diagonally and leaped into the gap in the golden energy rushing toward him like a wave.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Seeing Yoo Seong-woo jump through the gap, the Kwonsa attempted to close it by intertwining his hands in a flurry.

However, Yoo Seong-woo’s sword was already extended.

“Too slow.”

The iron sword, faintly surrounded by a red aura, pierced through the gap in the golden energy and collided with the Kwonsa’s palm.

A strong repulsive force erupted between the sword and the bare skin, creating a shockwave.

“Your back is open.”

Simultaneously, the swordsman who had approached from behind thrust his sword at Yoo Seong-woo’s defenseless back.

Yoo Seong-woo quickly lowered his posture to avoid the stab and rolled on the ground to evade the attack.

“You seem so desperate that you’re even using Naryeotagon’s technique!”

“Hoo.”

The Kwonsa smirked and extended his fist towards Yoo Seong-woo again.

Whether he had learned martial arts at the Shaolin Temple or not, his movements were quite disciplined.

However, Yoo Seong-woo swiftly extended his leg, hooked it on the Kwonsa’s arm, gently released the force, and then struck his chin with his opposite knee.

“Kugh!”

He only staggered him momentarily because he had released his strength appropriately, but it was enough time to change the situation.

‘If I beat them too overwhelmingly, they’ll become suspicious, so I have to do it moderately.’

He could kill them all in this place right now, but doing so would raise suspicion about the existence of ‘Hyun-wol.’

Yoo Seong-woo’s public persona has an alibi of attacking the Abyss [a dangerous alternate dimension], but…….

“What are you thinking about!”

CHWAAAK.

The whip that flew from afar wrapped around Yoo Seong-woo’s arm.

It pulled him down to the ground with terrifying force.

Again, pieces of stone scattered in all directions, and a cloud of dust spread.

“Attack him all at once!”

Someone shouted.

Although it seemed like they were being pushed back, Yoo Seong-woo skillfully deflected all attacks.

Even though he had seemingly allowed several attacks so far, there were no visible injuries.

The swordsman and spearman flanked him, and the Kwonsa charged from the front.

Another swordsman, who had moved in the meantime, stood behind him.

They occupied all four directions, and if Yoo Seong-woo attempted to escape into the air, the whip would intercept him.

It wasn’t a bad improvised formation.

“Haaaap!”

The tip of the spearman’s spear, who charged first, swayed and drew a strange curve.

That was what Yoo Seong-woo had been waiting for in the cloud of dust.

He leaped out of the cloud of dust towards the direction the spear was coming from and extended his sword.

The iron sword and the tip of the spear collided, producing a metallic sound, and Yoo Seong-woo continued to advance, scraping along the spear shaft.

The spearman tried to quickly retract the spear and continue with another move, but Yoo Seong-woo’s sword rotated even faster.

The spearman’s carotid artery was severed, and a fountain of blood spurted out.

Yoo Seong-woo, having broken through their formation and escaped in an instant, turned around and shook the blood off his sword.

“…I’m getting tired.”

The fight has progressed to a suitable point.

It’s time to show that I’m a little weary.

“It’s useless to keep fighting. I don’t think I can kill you all, so let’s stop here.”

“Are you planning to run away!”

The martial artists didn’t panic, even though one of them had died.

Perhaps because they were all mercenaries accustomed to the possibility of death, they simply charged again.

The Kwonsa charged once more.

The Kwonsa, with the momentum of a bull, extended his fist and created a large cloud of dust, allowing Yoo Seong-woo to escape the factory through the opening.

The stupid Kwonsa was helpful for the first time.

With that, Yoo Seong-woo left the scene, leaving the burning factory behind.

They say the culprit always returns to the scene, but there will be no need to come here a second time.

He left the factory and met Yoo-wol at the pre-designated rendezvous point.

She, who had arrived and was waiting, was briefly startled to see Yoo Seong-woo approaching silently, and then commented.

“You seemed to be having quite a bit of fun.”

“…Did it look like that?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

“It wasn’t too bad.”

To evaluate the realm of the five, the Kwonsa and the whip user were S-class, and the other three were around A-class.

The Awakened who attacked before they stepped forward weren’t even worth mentioning, so the combined attack of the five was reasonably challenging.

It was just the right level of skill to handle while moderately struggling.

So perhaps he had gotten a little excited.

“The power of the bomb was more significant than I anticipated. Where did you get it?”

“From the Deep Web.”

Is the Deep Web like a general store that sells everything?

Buying the secret manuals of the Seomun family, buying information…….

Yoo Seong-woo decided not to dwell on it.

There’s nothing he can do even if he finds out.

“We only needed to damage the factory a little, but you blew it away very spectacularly.”

“I thought that would be better. Did I do well?”

“…Well, you did a good job, so I can’t complain.”

Yoo-wol’s judgment was correct.

It would be easier to attract attention if it was done spectacularly.

Perhaps other factories in the area witnessed the explosion, so the news would spread faster than expected.

Besides, he fought five strong martial artists, killed one, and escaped.

By tomorrow, everyone in the vicinity will know the name of Hyun-wol of Haeun Logistics.

Yoo Seong-woo reached out and ruffled Yoo-wol’s hair roughly and said.

“Then let’s go get the money. And grab the broker by the collar.”