Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 466

466. Midnight Assault

Deep night, Lanzhou, Gansu Province.

The Tamga Clan near Lanzhou was a prestigious family with a long history.

Though not comparable to the great clans of the Kangho Murim [martial arts world], the Tamga Clan was a renowned family that had taken root in Lanzhou with a long tradition and history.

With outstanding family martial arts and influence in various fields, the Tamga Clan was worthy of being called a prestigious family of Gansu.

Tadak, tadak.

The sound of a bonfire crackling echoed softly.

The main entrances, including the main gate of the Tamga Clan, were guarded by Tamga Clan disciples armed with spears and swords.

Due to the recent ominous atmosphere, patrols were also periodically strengthened.

Although the government denied it, the bizarre events occurring here and there in Gansu were already widely known among the people.

However, the disciples’ faces showed no tension.

In the big city of Lanzhou, and especially within the Tamga Clan, a prestigious family of Gansu, nothing could possibly happen.

It was at that moment, when all was quiet in the deepening darkness.

Pee-peepick.

With a sharp sound, an arrow flew out of the darkness.

“Cough!”

“Ugh!”

Some of the disciples guarding the main gate screamed and collapsed.

Seeing this, the other disciples immediately shouted.

“It’s, it’s an attack!”

“Enemy! Sound the alarm!”

Kkang, Kkang, Kkang.

A sharp metallic sound broke the silence of the night.

Lights were lit here and there, and the entire Tamga Clan began to stir.

“Tsk.”

A handsome young man dressed in red martial attire appeared.

He was none other than the Hellblood Dragon of the Blood Cult.

“As expected, bows are too much for subordinates.”

“Krrk.”

A chilling cry flowed out of the darkness.

And bright red eyes began to glow in the darkness.

Thud.

Dozens of Blood Fiends appeared behind the Hellblood Dragon.

Their red eyes were still gleaming with murderous intent, but they were slightly different from when they attacked 능세영’s residence some time ago.

Their expressions and movements were somewhat unnatural.

They were not holding the claw-shaped weapon, 철조 [cheoljo – iron claws], in their hands.

However, the grotesque appearance of the Blood Fiends was enough to instill fear in the Tamga Clan disciples.

“Mo, monster…….”

Someone groaned and said.

The Hellblood Dragon smirked.

“Not monsters, but grim reapers. For you, that is.”

Swish.

The Hellblood Dragon raised his hand.

His pale hand was particularly prominent even in the darkness.

The Hellblood Dragon moved his lips and said.

“Kill them, all of them.”

That.

The result of the short command was immediate.

The Blood Fiends threw themselves forward and rushed towards the Tamga Clan.

Kwaang.

The large gate broke down with a loud noise.

Some of the Blood Fiends pounced on the fallen disciples.

“Aaaaaaack!”

“Krrk!”

“Krrrrrrk.”

The front of the main gate was instantly covered in chaos.

Screams, groans, and the grotesque cries of the Blood Fiends erupted from everywhere.

Kwadangtang.

The support that had been used to light the fire collapsed, and burning wood scattered in all directions.

Bathed in the firelight, the Hellblood Dragon wore a sneer.

“Yes, this is how it should be. Hiding and building strength is meaningless. What is needed is destruction and chaos, and more blood.”

Thud, thud.

The Hellblood Dragon moved his feet leisurely.

Corpses with their necks torn open were scattered next to the broken main gate, but he didn’t care.

Because the blood that would flow tonight would not be the only blood spilled anyway.

“Aaaaaaack!”

“Wh, what is it……. Kkeuaaaa!”

Screams erupted from here and there.

The Hellblood Dragon smiled as if he were listening to music.

It was at that moment.

Peok.

With a heavy sound, one of the Blood Fiends flew backward.

The Hellblood Dragon frowned.

Thud, thud.

Thirty or so men with swords in their hands were walking over.

The intense gazes in their eyes showed that their martial prowess was extraordinary.

Moreover, the man in the very center, a middle-aged man with a beard, was none other than 담천걸 [Dam Cheon-geol], the head of the Tamga Clan.

Tuk.

담천걸, who stopped his feet, shouted loudly at the Hellblood Dragon.

“You inoooom [you bastard]!”

His voice echoed around him.

“What grudge do you have against the Tamga Clan that you commit such an act! Can’t you stop right now!”

담천걸 did not hide his anger.

He had been attacked in the middle of the night for no reason, so he couldn’t help but be angry.

However, the Hellblood Dragon was calm.

“I have no grudge.”

“What did you say?”

담천걸 frowned.

The Hellblood Dragon continued to speak with the same expression.

“In the first place, how could someone like you have any grudge against me? This small……. Ah, what was this place again? Goga Clan? Or 철 Clan [Cheol Clan]?”

The Hellblood Dragon asked with a smile.

That appearance made 담천걸 even more angry.

However, there was something he needed to confirm before that.

Swish.

담천걸 aimed his greatsword at the Hellblood Dragon.

And asked with a firm expression.

“Who are you?”

“Humph.”

The Hellblood Dragon snorted.

“Do you dare to think you are qualified to hear my name?”

It was a blatant disregard for 담천걸.

However, that remark made 담천걸 think of one possibility.

“……Could it be, the Blood Cult?”

A strange light flashed in the Hellblood Dragon’s eyes.

“Hooh, do you know the main cult?”

That remark was as good as an affirmation.

담천걸 gritted his teeth.

And said quietly to the disciples standing next to him.

“……You go and save the others.”

At that remark, the chief disciple flinched.

“Clan Lord! We too…….”

“No, you shouldn’t.”

담천걸 cut off the disciple’s words.

“Leave this place as soon as you save the others. Never confront them. Do you understand?”

“Yes?”

The chief disciple asked back as if he couldn’t believe it.

However, 담천걸 said with a firm expression.

“They are……, not human.”

The chief disciple, as well as the other disciples, could not hide their embarrassment.

However, 담천걸 was regretting it inwardly.

‘If only I had listened to the warning from the Common Faction…….’

The Common Faction had already sent a letter to the Tamga Clan.

They said that the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect were trying to move in Gansu, so they should pay special attention.

However, 담천걸 snorted.

Suddenly the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect were absurd, and even if that were the case, what could they do in Lanzhou, a large city?

Rather, 담천걸 was wary of the Common Faction.

He wondered if their intention in suddenly sending such a letter was to advance into Lanzhou.

‘But to think that the warning would come true.’

The reply he sent to the Common Faction with ridicule and displeasure was now only regrettable.

But it was already in the past.

“What are you doing! Hurry up and save the others!”

담천걸 shouted at the disciples.

Even now, people’s screams were erupting here and there.

The chief disciple bit his lip.

“……I understand.”

He bowed his head and paid his respects, and the chief disciple immediately flew away with the other disciples.

Whoosh, whee-rick.

As the disciples left, now only 담천걸 and the Hellblood Dragon remained.

담천걸 slowly raised his inner strength.

Woo-oong.

A low cry flowed out of his greatsword.

But the Hellblood Dragon laughed.

“Hmph, your efforts to save your disciples are touching. But it’s all in vain. You, your disciples, and even your 식솔 [shiksul – dependents/entourage], everyone here will die tonight.”

Thud, thud.

The Hellblood Dragon walked towards 담천걸 without hesitation.

“Don’t worry too much. If you’re lucky, you’ll be reborn as a Blood Fiend. I wonder if you can withstand the power of the main cult…….”

Sarak.

The Hellblood Dragon licked his lips with his tongue.

“I’m starting to look forward to it.”

담천걸 gritted his teeth.

And with a shout, he threw himself at the Hellblood Dragon.

“Haaaaaa!”

Boo-oooook.

His sword cut through the wind and shot away.

It was the 담 Clan Gale Sword, the 담 Clan’s family martial art.

His Gale Sword, filled with inner strength, rushed towards the Hellblood Dragon.

But the Hellblood Dragon was still standing in that spot.

He wasn’t even taking out a weapon, let alone taking a proper stance.

Shhh-eeek.

담천걸’s Gale Sword fell towards the Hellblood Dragon with a chilling sound.

However, the Hellblood Dragon only sneered and did not move at all.

And the blade of the Gale Sword struck the Hellblood Dragon’s shoulder.

Kaang.

“Kkeuek!”

A metallic sound and a scream erupted.

It was not the Hellblood Dragon’s, but 담천걸’s.

Surprisingly, 담천걸’s Gale Sword, which had struck the Hellblood Dragon’s shoulder, bounced off with a metallic sound.

담천걸, who had struck, had to step back several steps due to the impact.

Tuk, tuk.

“Th, this can’t be…….”

담천걸 said with an astonished expression.

Although he could not be compared to the great sects, he was the head of the 담 Clan.

But the sword he had struck down with all his might could not even inflict a wound!

Even though he saw it with his own eyes and knew that the opponent was not human, it was an unbelievable event.

“Hmm. Is this all there is?”

The Hellblood Dragon muttered to himself.

He moved his neck from side to side and walked slowly.

“It’s a pity. If you had reached the realm of Sword Energy Manifestation, I wonder what the result would have been.”

담천걸 could not open his mouth.

Wasn’t Sword Energy Manifestation the realm that only the 환우오천존 [Hwanwoo Ocheonjon – Five Venerables of Hwanwoo] was capable of during the Great Righteous-Demonic War in the past?

Rumors that the great families of 강북 [Gangbuk – north of the river] and 강남 [Gangnam – south of the river] had achieved Sword Energy Manifestation had reached even this Gansu, but in fact, 담천걸 did not believe it.

But the Hellblood Dragon was talking about the realm of Sword Energy Manifestation as if it were natural.

‘Keuk.’

담천걸 decided to flee.

But that decision could not be carried out.

“Where are you going?”

Hook.

The Hellblood Dragon’s eyes turned bright red.

At that moment, 담천걸’s whole body froze.

‘Heok!’

He couldn’t move as if his whole body was tied up.

He raised all his inner strength, but 담천걸’s hands and feet only twitched as if convulsing.

“It’s useless to try to escape. Because no one can escape from my 권능 [gwonneung – authority/divine power].”

Thud, thud.

The Hellblood Dragon approached 담천걸.

And stretched out his pale hand.

Swish.

The ice-cold hand rested on the top of 담천걸’s head.

The Hellblood Dragon wore a bitter smile.

“Now, it’s time to welcome your new master.”

Hoo-oong.

The Hellblood Dragon’s hand began to emit bright red smoke.

It was at that moment.

Woo-woo-oong.

The moment a low sword cry was heard, the Hellblood Dragon immediately withdrew his hand.

At the same time, a blue aura cut through the space between the Hellblood Dragon and 담천걸.

Shhh-eek.

“Keuk!”

The Hellblood Dragon immediately stepped back.

However, a bright red blood line had already been drawn on his arm.

The Hellblood Dragon frowned.

“You…….”

Hoo-oong.

A woman emitting green sword energy was standing between the Hellblood Dragon and 담천걸.

She was 천일검 금화영 [Cheonilgeom Geum Hwa-yeong – Thousand Day Sword Geum Hwa-yeong], her beautiful eyes shining.

“Hmm, I guess I’m not too late.”

금화영 said, looking at the Hellblood Dragon.

담천걸 was looking at 금화영, who had suddenly appeared, with a bewildered expression, but the Hellblood Dragon was grinding his teeth.

금화영 said to the Hellblood Dragon.

“But it’s a pity. I wanted to see you regenerate your arm one more time.”

The Hellblood Dragon gritted his teeth.

But he didn’t say anything.

Because he knew very well that 금화영 would not appear alone.

As expected.

Whee-rick.

Several people fell from the dark night sky.

Most of them were young men dressed as Taoists, but among them was someone the Hellblood Dragon knew well.

Sabak.

The old woman’s toes gently touched the ground.

“We meet again.”

The old woman 능세영 [Neung Se-yeong] said in a calm voice.

But the Hellblood Dragon could tell.

Unlike when he attacked some time ago, 능세영 had completely changed.

She still had white hair on her head, but there was no longer any shadow of illness.

“I wonder if I can suddenly ask you for this favor, but my only disciple wanted to see it.”

능세영 said with even a faint smile.

“Can you cut off that arm one more time? Ah, the neck would be even better.”

Eudeuk.

The Hellblood Dragon gritted his teeth.

His handsome face was horribly distorted.