Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 502

502. Infiltration

Thud, thud, thud.

As the government troops’ cannon fire shook the earth, Unhyun and his group arrived at the northern walls of Nanju.

The area outside the walls, originally a residential district for commoners, was now completely devastated due to the continuous battles.

The houses where people lived, the markets where they traded goods—all had disappeared, leaving only burnt ruins.

Thud, thud.

The cannon fire continued relentlessly.

As if trying to end the entire world, the cannon fire did not stop for a long time.

How long had the cannon fire continued like that?

Rumble.

With a heavy vibration, the western wall collapsed.

At the same time, the cannon fire that had been deafening suddenly ceased as if it were a lie.

“It begins.”

Strategist Je Gal-myung, hiding among the ruins, said with a calm expression.

“If we’re lucky, someone will encounter the Illusionary Demon. Then, let’s meet again later.”

The elders, family heads, and supreme masters nodded.

Then, they all leaped towards the walls.

Tap, tap.

The supreme masters’ lightness skills [Qinggong, a martial art technique that allows the user to become lighter and more agile] were extraordinary.

They flew like the wind towards the walls and soared upwards.

Celestial Nun Shinni lightly kicked off the wall and shot upwards, while Geum Hwa-yeong ran along the wall as if running on the ground.

The elders, such as Taoist Tae-eul and Taoist Cheongsong, also flew over the walls with agility that belied their age.

It made one wonder if there was any point in having such a massive wall.

“Let’s go.”

Guest Elder suddenly said.

Unhyun, who had been watching the group’s lightness skills, nodded.

“Yes.”

Unhyun prepared to leap.

However, Guest Elder’s movements were faster.

Swoosh.

Guest Elder picked up Unhyun in his arms and lightly stepped forward.

Thud.

“Oh!”

Unhyun was surprised.

Guest Elder’s lightness skill was completely different from the other supreme masters.

Like a kite rising, Guest Elder gently floated into the air.

Flap, flap, flap.

The hem of his clothes fluttered in the wind, making a sound.

Guest Elder slowly approached the high walls with Unhyun.

The Demonic Soldiers on the wall, belatedly discovering the group, shouted and hurriedly aimed their bows.

Swoosh.

Guest Elder raised his other hand.

Thwack.

The Demonic Soldiers fell backward with holes in their foreheads.

The other members of the group also neutralized the Demonic Soldiers guarding the walls and disappeared into the city of Nanju.

Thud.

The two landed lightly on the wall.

Guest Elder put Unhyun down and looked down at the city of Nanju with his hands behind his back.

“Ah…”

Unhyun involuntarily sighed.

The great city of Nanju had been transformed into a scene of devastation.

At a glance, there were countless destroyed buildings, and smoke was rising from everywhere.

The beautiful sight of Nanju he had seen before was nowhere to be found.

“Looting, is it.”

Guest Elder said in a low voice.

“Not for wealth, but for the residents of Nanju.”

Unhyun nodded silently.

The Demonic Soldiers would not be after wealth.

What they had looted from Nanju was the blood and lives of living people.

Unhyun silently gazed at the scene of Nanju.

“What do you think?”

Guest Elder suddenly asked.

“It’s strange.”

Unhyun said, not taking his eyes off the tragic scene of Nanju.

“The Demonic Soldiers’ energy is quite different from before. Perhaps…”

Unhyun said with a firm expression.

“The Demonic Lord may have awakened.”

“Demonic Lord?”

Guest Elder frowned.

But soon, he nodded.

“I see. So that’s why Nanju…”

Even though the former Governor-General was practically neglecting his duties, the government troops had somehow managed to hold on.

There must have been a reason why they suddenly lost Nanju.

“If that’s the case, the government troops might suffer a setback in this battle.”

The Demonic Lords are those who oversee and command the Demonic Soldiers.

The Taoists of the Common Faction said that when the Demonic Lord leads the Demonic Soldiers, there would be no one to stand against them in the world.

There was a risk that the outcome of this battle could be reversed.

Guest Elder turned to Unhyun and said.

“Do you know where the Illusionary Demon is?”

Finding one person by sensing their energy alone in the great city of Nanju was practically impossible.

But Unhyun did not say it was impossible.

Swoosh.

Unhyun slowly closed his eyes.

And quietly calmed his breathing.

Whooong.

Numerous flows revealed themselves before Unhyun.

Light and darkness flickered, and each flow collided or diverged, changing.

In those dizzyingly diverse and numerous flows, Unhyun simply watched quietly.

And in one moment.

Unhyun could clearly see a stream of jet-black energy that was more alien than anything else and flowed in the deepest part.

Flash.

Unhyun opened his eyes.

“I’ve found it.”

His shining eyes were accurately looking at one place in the great city of Nanju.

“Let’s go.”

Thud.

Guest Elder immediately grabbed Unhyun and leaped.

Even though it was above the dizzyingly high walls, neither Guest Elder nor Unhyun cared.

Flap, flap.

The sound of the wind fiercely rang in Unhyun’s ears.

The sight of Nanju passing below was truly spectacular, but Unhyun’s expression remained stiff.

***

Iron Sword Namgung-byeok, Celestial Nun Shinni, and Bingseol ran through the streets of Nanju like the wind.

Sometimes crossing roofs and sometimes traversing courtyards, the three quickly approached their target.

And soon, a large mansion appeared before their eyes.

“It’s there.”

Celestial Nun Shinni said.

The mansion’s doors were tightly closed, but it didn’t matter.

Thud.

The three soared into the air at the same time.

And flew into the mansion.

Flap, flap.

The three landed lightly on the ground.

At that moment, Celestial Nun Shinni realized something was wrong.

“No one’s here.”

The mansion was silent.

Iron Sword Namgung-byeok placed his hand on his sword and surveyed the surroundings.

Traces of this place being used as a military camp by the Demonic Sect were abundant around them.

But not a single sign of life could be felt.

Namgung-byeok let out a soft groan.

“Hmm.”

The Illusionary Demon is not in this mansion.

Judging from the remaining traces, it seemed that they had once used this place, but it was now completely abandoned.

Celestial Nun Shinni turned to Namgung-byeok and asked.

“What shall we do?”

That meant, would they go to where the others had gone, even now?

Namgung-byeok was lost in thought.

It was then.

“Wait.”

Bingseol said softly.

Then, she immediately kicked off the ground and soared into the air.

Thud.

Bingseol landed on the large roof of the mansion.

She looked around sharply.

Celestial Nun Shinni and Namgung-byeok silently watched her.

They already knew that her eyesight, being from the Northern Sea, was extraordinarily good.

Whir.

Bingseol landed back on the ground.

“This way.”

Although her tone was awkward, Celestial Nun Shinni and Namgung-byeok’s eyes changed instantly.

The two flew after Bingseol.

And after a while, another mansion appeared before the three’s eyes.

Namgung-byeok smiled with satisfaction at the intense demonic energy felt from that place.

“He was here.”

“He is truly cunning. Hiding his residence in two places.”

Celestial Nun Shinni frowned.

Having learned Buddhist mental techniques, she had an instinctive aversion to demonic energy.

“We must end it here.”

Whir.

The three flew over the gate.

Phew, phew, phew.

Countless arrows came flying.

But none of the three were flustered.

“Haa!”

Celestial Nun Shinni unleashed a fist strike.

Kwaang.

A tremendous force exploded towards the incoming arrows.

Celestial Nun Shinni’s fist strike shattered the arrows, and Namgung-byeok and Bingseol also deflected the arrows by swinging their swords.

Swoosh.

The three landed lightly on the ground.

Around them, over a hundred Demonic Soldiers were already drawing their swords.

“Hehehe.”

A leisurely laughter flowed out.

A middle-aged man dressed like a high-ranking official said with a relaxed expression.

“You fly in like moths, not even knowing you’re going to die.”

His eyes gleaming, he was none other than the Illusionary Demon.

Although Celestial Nun Shinni and Namgung-byeok could not tell, the Illusionary Demon looked younger than before.

“Halt!”

Celestial Nun Shinni shouted.

Her shout, filled with anti-demonic energy, shook the Demonic Soldiers’ minds.

“How dare you act so wickedly, without fearing the heavens!”

Celestial Nun Shinni’s voice, filled with inner strength, echoed around them.

The Demonic Soldiers flinched at the sound, but that was all.

None of them dropped their weapons or had seizures.

“Hehehe. It’s useless.”

The Illusionary Demon said with a sneer.

“Now that the Demonic Lord has awakened, there will be no more of that weak appearance.”

“Hmph!”

Celestial Nun Shinni snorted and took a stance.

With one hand extended towards the Illusionary Demon and the other hand brought to the side of her face, Celestial Nun Shinni slowly calmed her breathing.

Whooooosh.

Energy began to surge intensely around Celestial Nun Shinni.

And the next moment, Celestial Nun Shinni unleashed a straight punch towards the Illusionary Demon.

“Taha!”

Kwaarreung.

A thunderous sound erupted from Celestial Nun Shinni’s fist strike.

And a tremendous force rushed towards the Illusionary Demon.

But the Illusionary Demon did not dodge.

Swoosh.

The Illusionary Demon waved his hand with a cold gaze.

Then, the Demonic Soldiers threw themselves towards Celestial Nun Shinni’s fist strike.

Thwack.

The Demonic Soldiers were instantly crushed and shattered before the terrifying fist strike.

But not all of them.

Thud.

The last Demonic Soldier’s head was shattered.

And the force of the fist strike could no longer extend.

The Illusionary Demon had used the Demonic Soldiers as shields to block Celestial Nun Shinni’s fist strike.

But Namgung-byeok and Bingseol were not standing still either.

Whoosh.

Iron Sword Namgung-byeok rushed towards the Illusionary Demon from the left.

A chilling sword energy was already flickering on his sword.

Bingseol, who was floating in the air, also fell like lightning towards the Illusionary Demon, wielding two small swords.

However, the Illusionary Demon’s sneer did not disappear.

Step.

He rather withdrew his hands, put them behind his back, and took a step back.

As if he would take the two’s sword strikes head-on.

In that moment, Celestial Nun Shinni felt something eerie.

“Be careful!”

She shouted urgently.

But it was already too late.

“Kugh!”

In that moment, Namgung-byeok, who was rushing towards the Illusionary Demon, groaned.

As if his body had suddenly stiffened, he instantly lost his balance.

Bingseol was the same.

She froze in the air as if she was tied to something.

A Demonic Soldier drew his sword towards Bingseol, who was defenseless.

“Eek!”

Celestial Nun Shinni hurriedly tried to unleash a finger strike.

But at that moment, Celestial Nun Shinni suddenly felt her whole body stiffen.

“Halt!”

Celestial Nun Shinni reflexively shouted and drew up her inner strength.

Anti-demonic energy enveloped her, and the paralysis was released.

But the Demonic Soldier’s sword was already rushing towards Bingseol.

“No!”

Celestial Nun Shinni shouted.

But the Demonic Soldier did not stop.

It was at that very moment when the sneer on the Illusionary Demon’s lips deepened.

Thud, clang.

Two sounds rang out simultaneously.

The head of the Demonic Soldier wielding the sword was shattered, and the sword flying towards Bingseol was shattered into pieces.

Whir.

Bingseol immediately turned her body and landed on the ground.

The strange power that had been binding her was no longer there.

Because the Illusionary Demon’s gaze had left her.

Flap, flap.

With the sound of clothes fluttering, two people landed lightly on the ground.

It was none other than Unhyun and Guest Elder.

“Hmm.”

The Illusionary Demon groaned softly.

The one who had just shattered the Demonic Soldier and his sword was Guest Elder, but the Illusionary Demon’s gaze was fixed not on Guest Elder but on Unhyun.

“You…”

The Illusionary Demon said as if he couldn’t believe it.

His eyes, looking at Unhyun, were shaking violently.