Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 476

Rustle.

As the wick caught, a small fire bloomed, bringing light back to the dark underground chamber.

Nung Se-young, having lit several lamps, put away the fire starter.

Then, she turned towards the altar.

Thud, thud.

Sahea Hyuljak lay collapsed before the altar.

Leaning against the altar, her red silk robes spread around her, Sahea Hyuljak resembled a sacrificial offering that had fallen from grace.

Her long hair was disheveled, and her arms hung limply.

“Heh heh.”

Sahea Hyuljak chuckled weakly.

Even that laughter seemed to pain her.

“It’s a pity. The position of Blood Demon was right before my eyes…”

It was within reach, a hair’s breadth away.

If she had only consumed Unhyun, that is.

However, Sahea Hyuljak was defeated because of Unhyun, who proved too tempting, a desire she couldn’t resist.

Swish.

Sahea Hyuljak raised her head and looked at Unhyun.

“Foolish one. Do you know what you have refused? There are beings all over the Three Thousand Worlds [a vast cosmological concept in Buddhism representing countless universes] who desire it.”

That wasn’t mere mockery.

She truly meant it.

However, Unhyun did not answer.

Sreung.

Unhyun, having sheathed Myeong, looked down at Sahea Hyuljak and asked.

“Is that all?”

Sahea Hyuljak’s eyebrows furrowed.

Unhyun’s words were not yet finished.

“Is that all the power Ildaesangin [likely a powerful demonic entity or figure] gave you?”

Sahea Hyuljak’s eyes widened.

Gaekong and Nung Se-young also looked at Unhyun with surprise.

“……Heh heh.”

Sahea Hyuljak gave a bitter laugh.

“Yes, Ildaesangin. Perhaps accepting his power was a mistake from the start.”

Gritting her teeth, Sahea Hyuljak clenched them.

“If I had waited just a hundred years, I could have avoided you.”

Ildaesangin gave her power.

However, that ultimately led to the destruction of the Blood Cult.

If the Blood Cult had secretly built up its strength and waited another hundred years, they might have avoided encountering Unhyun altogether.

“Avoiding me is not important.”

Unhyun said coldly.

“As long as you commit evil, the result will not change.”

“Evil, you say?”

Sahea Hyuljak sneered.

“The good and evil you speak of are merely creations of human arrogance. Moreover, this world is inherently filled with desires and sins, so what meaning does your so-called good and evil have?”

The gleaming eyes of Sahea Hyuljak stared intently at Unhyun.

However, Unhyun’s gaze did not waver.

Rustle.

The disheveled hair of Sahea Hyuljak slowly began to crumble.

Her hands, feet, and body were also turning black.

“Where are the other Blood Demons?”

Nung Se-young suddenly asked.

“Did you devour them too?”

“Who knows? Maybe?”

Sahea Hyuljak said mockingly.

Nung Se-young knew she wouldn’t get a straight answer.

But Unhyun knew.

“Yes, she did.”

Looking at Sahea Hyuljak, Unhyun said.

“This person has absorbed a total of three Blood Demons. Judging from the faintness of the other two energies besides the Hellblood Dragon, she probably absorbed them before they awakened their full power.”

“Hmm.”

Nung Se-young let out a soft groan.

If Unhyun was right, the Sahea Hyuljak before them could be considered a being that surpassed even the Blood Demons, something unheard of.

It was understandable that Sahea Hyuljak had said earlier that she would ‘obtain the position of Blood Demon herself.’

Nung Se-young nodded.

“I see. Although it’s a pity that we couldn’t destroy the Blood Jade…”

There was nothing resembling Blood Jade here.

Since they knew that top experts would come, they must have moved it elsewhere.

“Since all the Blood Demons have been defeated, this means the end of the Blood Cult.”

“The end?”

Sahea Hyuljak said.

She began to chuckle.

“Do you think this is the end of the Blood Cult? How foolish and ignorant you are.”

With bloodshot eyes gleaming, Sahea Hyuljak continued.

“Think about it. If the Blood Cult, even with the power it has accumulated so far and the assistance of Ildaesangin, only managed to awaken two Blood Demons, what does that fact mean?”

Nung Se-young’s expression hardened.

As Sahea Hyuljak said, the power that the Blood Cult had accumulated over the years could not be insignificant.

The Blood Cult had obtained the power of Ildaesangin, and many had sacrificed themselves after the Hellblood Dragon was awakened again.

But was awakening two Blood Demons all they accomplished with that?

“The Demon Sword has returned.”

Sahea Hyuljak said mockingly.

A sneer bloomed on her red lips.

“Without the Immortal Sword, there is no one to stop the Demon Sword from awakening. Now, your children and descendants will have to bear the incarnation of the Blood Demon.”

“Demon Sword, you say?”

Gaekong frowned.

There are cursed swords, or so-called Demon Swords, in the world.

However, the Demon Sword that Sahea Hyuljak was talking about was not merely a cursed weapon.

Sahea Hyuljak had clearly said ‘incarnation of the Blood Demon.’

“Hmph.”

Sahea Hyuljak scoffed.

“Has even that knowledge been lost? Humans are truly foolish.”

Rustle, rustle.

Sahea Hyuljak’s hands and feet were gradually crumbling.

“And truly……”

Her words were cut short.

Sahea Hyuljak, who had been turning black, no longer moved.

In an instant, she shattered.

Crash.

Black ash fell on the red silk robes.

It was a completely different sight from when Nung Se-young had slain the Hellblood Dragon in the past.

Sahea Hyuljak had vanished without a trace.

“Unbelievable.”

Gaekong frowned.

He asked Nung Se-young.

“Even if it is a Demon Sword, is it possible for the incarnation of the Blood Demon to be accomplished with just one sword?”

“I don’t know.”

Nung Se-young said, looking down at Sahea Hyuljak’s ashes.

“Perhaps the elders of the Common Faction might know. About the Immortal Sword as well.”

“Shall we return?”

Unhyun said quietly.

“There’s nothing more to do here now.”

Gaekong nodded.

The underground chamber, where the Blood Demons had disappeared, was no longer eerie or grotesque.

It was just a dark and dry ruin of an ancient temple, long abandoned.

Thud.

The three turned around.

The traces of Sahea Hyuljak, reduced to ash and scattered, were gone.

Only the flickering lamplight and the red silk robes abandoned under the altar remained as evidence that someone had been there.

***

The front yard of the ancient temple, where the fierce battle had raged.

The first to sense the change in the Blood Fiends was Geum Hwa-young.

Whoosh.

A green sword energy sliced through a Blood Fiend’s waist.

However, Geum Hwa-young did not lower her guard.

The opponent was a monster that would rush her even with only its upper body remaining.

Geum Hwa-young brought her sword down.

Thud.

‘Huh?’

Geum Hwa-young frowned as she crushed the Blood Fiend’s head.

The Blood Fiend’s arm, which should have been flailing, was drooping.

Geum Hwa-young raised her head.

She saw that the movements of the Blood Fiends were strange.

“Keuk.”

They seemed confused.

Around that time, Cheon Un-ja also noticed the change.

The Blood Fiends were standing blankly.

“Now’s the time!”

Cheon Un-ja shouted loudly.

“Push them harder!”

Thump, thump, thump.

The drums of Military Strategist Mo Yong-mi, sensing the shift, rang out in perfect timing.

“Waaaaaah!”

The Common Faction disciples rushed towards the Blood Fiends.

The sword energies of the top experts stirred, and the disciples, in the Three Extremes Formation and the Four Directions Formation, charged.

Thud. Swish.

The Blood Fiends fell helplessly before their blades.

But that victory was short-lived.

Because, one by one, the Blood Fiends began to collapse.

Thud.

“Huk!”

The Common Faction disciples were surprised by the sudden change.

The Blood Fiends were collapsing everywhere.

Some held on, but not for long.

Thump.

A Blood Fiend fell, raising dust.

That was the end.

The Common Faction disciples took deep breaths and looked around in disbelief.

No more Blood Fiends were standing.

The Blood Fiends, who had filled the front yard, had all fallen.

“Oh, oh, oh, oh!”

“Waaaaaah!”

The Common Faction disciples shouted.

The top experts guarded their surroundings, swords raised.

They understood the meaning of this change.

“Heo.”

Cheon Un-ja, the acting elder, let out a long sigh.

“It seems the Faction Leader has succeeded.”

Cheongsong Jin-in of Wudang and Tae-eul Jin-in of Mount Hua lowered their swords and chanted their Taoist titles [formal greetings or blessings].

Cheonsu Shinni of Emei and Hyecheon of Shaolin put their palms together and chanted their Buddhist titles [formal greetings or blessings], and Bingseol and the other top experts withdrew their sword energies.

Rustle.

The fallen Blood Fiends were already turning into pools of blood.

The stench was thick, but no one cared.

Clatter, clatter.

A horse galloped, raising dust.

The rider, her clothes fluttering, was Military Strategist Mo Yong-mi.

“Reorganize the ranks.”

Mo Yong-mi said, dismounting.

“This may not be the end. Move the injured to the back and don’t lower your guard.”

Common Faction Elder Cheon Un-ja nodded.

Mo Yong-mi looked back at the top experts and elders.

“Just in case, a few of you come inside with me.”

“I’ll go.”

Geum Hwa-young said immediately.

Bingseol also stepped forward silently.

“I’ll go too.”

Iron Sword Namgung-byeok said, but Mo Yong-mi shook her head.

“No. The others, please guard the surroundings. The Blood Cult might have other tricks up their sleeves.”

The Blood Cult is cruel and cunning.

Mo Yong-mi’s caution was wise.

Thud.

Mo Yong-mi headed towards the ancient temple with Bingseol and Geum Hwa-young.

As they reached the entrance, swish.

Bingseol reached out and stopped Mo Yong-mi.

Geum Hwa-young also stopped.

But their guard soon relaxed.

“Ah!”

Mo Yong-mi sighed in relief.

“Scholar Un!”

“Grandma!”

Geum Hwa-young shouted.

Three people were walking from inside.

They were Gaekong, Old Woman Nung Se-young, and Unhyun.

Tap.

Geum Hwa-young immediately flew forward.

Nung Se-young frowned but didn’t avoid her.

“Grandma! You’re safe!”

Geum Hwa-young hugged Nung Se-young tightly.

Old Woman Nung Se-young clicked her tongue.

“Oh my, I’m going to die from you, not the Blood Cult. You wretched disciple.”

But Geum Hwa-young didn’t release her grip.

Nung Se-young smiled and quietly raised her hand to hug Geum Hwa-young.

“……You’re safe. Really, that’s a relief.”

Mo Yong-mi said quietly.

Her voice trembled slightly.

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

Unhyun said with a smile.

Mo Yong-mi, speechless for a moment, bowed deeply.

“Thank you. Elder Gaekong, and Elder Nung.”

“You’ve worked hard too.”

Nung Se-young said gently.

But Gaekong remained indifferent.

“Faction Leader!”

“Faction Leader! Are you safe?”

The elders and family heads rushed over.

Bingseol had already moved aside, and the elders and family heads surrounded Unhyun, Gaekong, and Nung Se-young.

“How was it? The Blood Demons?”

“Are you hurt?”

“Is the Blood Cult over?”

Questions poured out.

Unhyun quietly spoke.

“There are still problems remaining……”

Looking at the elders, family heads, and top experts, Unhyun said.

“For now, it’s over.”

“Ooooooh!”

Cheers erupted.

People chanted Taoist and Buddhist titles or congratulated each other.

Unhyun, looking at them, suddenly met Mo Yong-mi’s eyes.

Unhyun smiled softly.

Mo Yong-mi smiled brightly.

Tears of joy sparkled in her eyes.