The Swordmaster Wants To Live Peacefully [EN]: Chapter 210

Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully – Episode 214

Martial Arts World (2)

The so-called Beast Palace members were easily subdued.

Even with the Demonic Cult’s main forces weakened, they weren’t easily overcome.

The leader of the Beast Palace possessed a unique beast-taming skill.

He planned to conquer China by leveraging this skill to amass power, but the Demonic Cult stood in his way.

The Demonic Cult: guardians of the Central Plains.

Following the incident, Yoo Seong-woo and his group safely arrived in Xinjiang.

Choi A-yeon and Schuel’s group had visited before, but it was the first time for the others to see the Demonic Cult’s mystic realm.

The scenery captivated everyone, who were busy taking in the sights.

“This isn’t a bad place to live.”

People seemed to be helping each other and living harmoniously.

It appeared to be managed better than the Thousand League Fortress, allowing Yoo Seong-woo to relax.

Once he’d recovered somewhat, he went to check on Heuk Sa-hyang.

“The Cult Leader’s residence is off-limits… Are you Yoo Seong-woo? You’re permitted to enter.”

“I heard my companions were turned away.”

“After that, access was granted to you and your party. The Cult Leader doesn’t want a repeat occurrence.”

“You catch on quickly.”

Yoo Seong-woo nodded, offered a word of encouragement to the guard, and entered the Cult Leader’s residence.

This residence was typically restricted to the Cult Leader alone.

Even the maids who cleaned and served meals were not allowed beyond certain areas.

Yoo Seong-woo stepped inside.

Looking around, he realized the residence was lavishly decorated.

Was it to enhance the Cult Leader’s image?

Regardless.

Yoo Seong-woo proceeded to Heuk Sa-hyang’s bedroom, where she was resting.

The closer he got, the stronger the incense became.

It wasn’t quite funereal, but still heavy.

“Are you there?”

He abruptly opened the door to Heuk Sa-hyang’s bedroom and spoke.

Heuk Sa-hyang lay as if lifeless, wearing a loose, black, pajama-like gown. She slowly opened her eyes and sat up.

“Didn’t you learn that barging in without notice in the morning is impolite?”

“It’s lunchtime already. What do you mean ‘morning’? I guess you lost track of time after getting beaten by Chun Woo-gong.”

“Has it been that long? I must have slept deeply. So, what is it?”

“Come outside. You’ve rested enough; you need some rehabilitation exercises.”

Yoo Seong-woo nodded. She followed him to the training ground in a corner of the residence.

A training ground reserved solely for the Cult Leader.

But today, two people were present.

Yoo Seong-woo said,

“Take up your sword.”

“……”

Heuk Sa-hyang extended her hand, and a black straight sword materialized: the Cheonma Black Sword.

Seeing her sword, Yoo Seong-woo smiled, intrigued, and summoned Heuksa.

“I have something similar.”

“…It resembles the Cheonma Black Sword.”

The Cheonma Black Sword and Heuksa.

The two swords, appearing as twin blades, emitted a light-absorbing black color.

Yoo Seong-woo raised Heuksa and continued.

“But this one seems to be a bit more troublesome.”

He threw the sword. Heuksa bounced once on the floor, seemingly of its own volition, and then flew toward Heuk Sa-hyang.

She swung the Cheonma Black Sword, knocking Heuksa back toward Yoo Seong-woo.

Yoo Seong-woo caught Heuksa’s handle and launched himself into the air.

He instantly reached Heuk Sa-hyang and swung his sword.

Clang-!!

The two black swords collided, creating a shockwave.

Heuk Sa-hyang gritted her teeth at the immense pressure from the sword.

They faced each other, their swords crossed at a distance where they could feel each other’s breath.

Yoo Seong-woo spoke.

“The reason you lost to Chun Woo-gong is simple: you haven’t fully integrated what you accepted, so you lost to a half-baked bastard.”

Heuk Sa-hyang’s face twisted at his sharp words.

Despite accepting the spirit of the Cheonma [Heavenly Demon], she lost to Chun Woo-gong, who borrowed divine power.

She hadn’t even used her full power; she only manifested six tails.

“That’s quite a face. If you had completely internalized what you accepted, you wouldn’t have been so easily defeated.”

If Yoo Seong-woo had been any later, Heuk Sa-hyang might have died.

She knew it, so she remained silent.

She had clearly accepted the Cheonma’s spirit and ascended to become a true Cheonma.

But it was incomplete. Although she had become a Cheonma, she hadn’t reached the level of a Demon God.

She gained power far surpassing ordinary divers… but she couldn’t control it properly.

“Take the initiative. I still see you hesitating.”

At his words, Heuk Sa-hyang strengthened her grip on the sword and pushed Yoo Seong-woo away.

Pushed back, Yoo Seong-woo spun Heuksa in his hand and continued.

“If you are a Cheonma… show me you can handle that power. Show me the world you possess.”

He unleashed an enormous wave of killing intent.

The pressure was so intense it felt crushing.

Heuk Sa-hyang, usually composed, gritted her teeth before Yoo Seong-woo.

Otherwise, her knees would buckle.

Gusts of wind swirled around them, and small stones lifted into the air.

“Are you really… going to do this?”

“Both of us. Isn’t this the best rehabilitation? And…”

Yoo Seong-woo raised the ominous Heuksa and continued.

“You’re still human. Don’t try to fully enter the realm of God when you’re just a human. You can’t fly before you walk.”

Heuk Sa-hyang felt something surge within her chest.

It was a new emotion, resonating deeply.

“Then I’m coming.”

Yoo Seong-woo rushed forward.

He reached Heuk Sa-hyang in an instant, belying his exhaustion from the battle with Dalgi [a mythical nine-tailed fox].

Heuk Sa-hyang hurriedly raised the Cheonma Black Sword to respond, but while she blocked one strike, Yoo Seong-woo’s sword struck twice more.

“Keuk!”

Heuk Sa-hyang’s pajamas were cut, leaving a scratch.

Realizing Yoo Seong-woo deliberately avoided her vitals, she swung the Cheonma Black Sword to create space.

However, Yoo Seong-woo entered her space without hesitation.

A confident step, as if saying, ‘What can you do even if you create space?’

They stood close, swinging their swords.

Neither yielded, their black swords clashing.

Like a painting, the two black swords embroidered afterimages in the air.

Like drawing an ink wash painting on Korean paper, the two swordsmen created an unyielding artwork.

“Kuaaaaa-!!”

Heuk Sa-hyang, who had been silently moving her sword, roared and pushed forward.

The ferocious sword relentlessly cut through the air.

Yoo Seong-woo smirked, dodging and parrying.

“Yes, that’s it! You’re far from becoming a god! How dare you try to escape being human when you can’t even unfold your own unique world!”

This was a gift from Yoo Seong-woo.

Because the Demonic Cult had treated him generously, and he intended to “rob the warehouse” [take what he needed].

After considering the Demonic Cult’s greatest need, he reached a conclusion.

“Now, show me! Everything in your heart!”

Yoo Seong-woo punched Heuk Sa-hyang, who had nearly lost her mind, in the face.

His fist landed on her cheek, sending her rolling across the floor.

Heuk Sa-hyang immediately rose, gasping for breath, and glared at Yoo Seong-woo.

Killing intent emanated from her eerie eyes.

“Hoo, hoo……”

“Let’s see how great the Cheonma is. It can’t be just this.”

“…If you want.”

She released her tenuous grip on reason.

The ferocious spirits of the previous Cheonmas invaded Heuk Sa-hyang’s mind, dyeing it black.

A black aura erupted from her, painting the world in black and white.

A hemispherical black barrier spread around them, engulfing their vision in darkness.

The world of death created by the spirits of the previous Cheonmas.

Darkness where nothing was visible.

Black liquid rose to her ankles.

“Keuheu……”

Heuk Sa-hyang, now making animalistic sounds, kicked through the splashing black liquid and charged.

The Cheonma Black Sword emitted an even more ominous aura; she was like a beast consumed by hatred.

More powerful and faster than before.

She traversed 100 meters in an instant, swinging her sword at full speed.

Yoo Seong-woo blocked one strike, was pushed back, and strengthened his grip on Heuksa.

He had been toying with her, but not anymore.

Heuk Sa-hyang, having surrendered her reason to the spirits of the previous Cheonmas, clung to Yoo Seong-woo like a beast, lashing out with her sword.

The erratic swordsmanship, unlike before, targeted only vital points.

‘She’s consumed with killing me.’

Well.

Since the previous Cheonmas were all insane, Heuk Sa-hyang’s state was understandable.

Yoo Seong-woo deflected the Cheonma Black Sword with Heuksa, then struck her face with his free hand.

However, she, unfazed by punches, pushed his fist away with her face and opened her mouth wide.

Yoo Seong-woo had to retreat. Otherwise, Heuk Sa-hyang’s teeth would have sunk into his neck.

“You’re a real beast!”

He kicked her in the stomach to create distance and lashed out with Heuksa.

She quickly deflected the sword and closed the gap.

She had lost her reason, but her reactions were fast.

‘Did she sacrifice her reason to maximize her instincts? The swordsmanship ingrained in her body is emerging naturally.’

Yoo Seong-woo, having analyzed her after a few clashes, began to vary his swordsmanship.

The sword swung from the front now came from the opposite direction; the diagonal strike became a straight thrust.

When his swordsmanship changed drastically, her instincts, accustomed to his style, were confused, delaying her reaction.

‘But it’s still not enough.’

Yoo Seong-woo’s sword became faster.

At first glance, it seemed random, but it was a phase only someone who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship could achieve.

Thud, thud.

The footsteps of the two stirred the black liquid, half-covering them.

He felt his body growing heavier with each splash, but he didn’t stop.

Until Heuk Sa-hyang revealed everything. Until she purged everything and moved with a light heart.

“Keueueueueueueak-!!”

Heuk Sa-hyang roared again.

At the sound of gathering strength from the depths of her being, Yoo Seong-woo pressed down from above, and they entered a power struggle, their swords locked.

“Remember. Is this the world you want? It won’t be. What you want more than anything isn’t this miserable world, but a more peaceful one!”

He had seen the life of the Demonic Cult.

It seemed like a return to the past, but even without modern civilization, they seemed content.

They used carriages instead of cars, living self-sufficiently by farming and helping each other.

That must be the world Heuk Sa-hyang truly desired.

Yoo Seong-woo made eye contact with her shaking eyes and continued.

“So, don’t cling to those trying to live, and let them go. You damn ghost bastards.”