Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 109

The Three Kings’ Disciple (110)

109

Power against power.

Do Mu-sung and Goo Hyung-jin, their swords locked, glared at each other.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew as their powers collided, each trying to push the other back.

“How dare you target him?”

Do Mu-sung stood in front of Lee Ro-woon, not yielding an inch to the demonized Goo Hyung-jin.

“A mere demon.”

A demon, he had seen them before in the Iron Sword Alliance.

Martial artists who had become monsters, consumed by demonic energy.

Those who had ingested elixirs made from monster blood, the demonic energy reaching their very marrow.

But the Goo Hyung-jin before them was no such pathetic demon.

‘It’s real.’

A story like a legend passed down in the past from Eun.

The demons of the Demonic Heavenly Sect.

Those who had surpassed the limits of the body and humanity under the influence of the Demonic Heavenly Energy.

Humans who had become one with the demonic.

That was why they were demons.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

But something was strange about Goo Hyung-jin.

“How dare you call me, a martial artist of Hainan, a demon?”

He seemed unaware that the energy he was emitting was demonic.

“A failure.”

Lee Ro-woon’s low voice came from behind Do Mu-sung.

A failure, there was no better way to describe him.

‘There are things called demons.’

A story he had heard from his master, Shin Yeo-wool.

They were beings born with great effort, those who had surpassed their limits.

But they were beings who had lost their emotions and found deep pleasure in slaughter and destruction.

“Has he lost his reason?”

What made them terrifying was that they possessed great power and committed slaughter, yet they retained their reason.

Like the psychopathic killers who had caused an uproar in the world before the world was invaded.

They were those who possessed strength that surpassed humans.

However, the Goo Hyung-jin before them had lost his reason.

“What… are you saying?”

Even the reason that remained was visibly fading.

“I am… not a demon….”

Goo Hyung-jin’s eyes began to cloud over.

Clang!

Eventually, Do Mu-sung and Goo Hyung-jin were thrown back.

Even more demonic energy began to pour out of Goo Hyung-jin’s body.

Now, he was enveloped in black demonic energy, and no trace of his human flesh could be seen.

-I am….

A voice flowed out from his strangely torn mouth.

-Kuh-uh-uh….

Finally, a black pillar of light shot up from the center of him, who had completely lost his reason.

“I will handle this.”

Do Mu-sung’s voice.

“Please leave it to me.”

A voice filled with earnestness.

“I will help too.”

Jung Chi-soo tried to approach Do Mu-sung, but.

Thwack.

Do Mu-sung raised his sword hilt to stop him.

“I will do it alone.”

“But…!”

The force emanating from Goo Hyung-jin now was truly destructive.

A realm beyond the Profound? A power that surpassed the extreme.

“Let him be.”

Lee Ro-woon’s voice.

“It’s not like he’s an opponent he can’t handle.”

“Thank you.”

Do Mu-sung, at Lee Ro-woon’s words, clasped his sword and bowed with sincerity.

The black pillar of light slowly subsided.

What was there was no longer Hainan’s Goo Hyung-jin, nor a martial artist.

‘A demon.’

Just a being who had become a monster.

Do Mu-sung gripped his lowered sword tightly and rushed towards Goo Hyung-jin.

***

“…….”

Oh Jin-kyung felt like he was truly going insane.

‘Where did it all….’

He didn’t know what had gone wrong, or how it had gone wrong.

The effort he had made to restore Hainan’s fallen honor.

But that honor had not only fallen to the ground, it was now drilling into the depths of the earth.

‘A demon… came from Hainan.’

It was said that the association harbored demonic energy, but demons were strictly forbidden.

If this fact were revealed, the association would surely investigate Hainan.

In the meantime….

Swoosh.

Hwasan would rise to even greater heights.

“Red Plum Blossom!”

Oh Jin-kyung shouted at Qing Renyu, his eyes wide and his killing intent undisguised.

“Can Hwasan say they have no responsibility for this!”

Even if Lee Ro-woon hadn’t said it, Oh Jin-kyung thought so.

The place that could gain the most from what was happening now.

‘Hwasan.’

Also, the place that could pull off something like this.

“Hwasan-!”

Eunha, who had not yet reached the depths of the association, could not have done something like this.

“Qing Renyu-!”

Come to think of it, that was right.

From the beginning, Qing Renyu had been with Eunha.

He had shown friendliness towards Lee Ro-woon, appearing to be close to him.

Things that had not made sense were beginning to make sense.

“It was your doing!”

Everything was Hwasan’s doing.

Eunha was either being manipulated by them or was Hwasan’s hidden power.

“Great Sea Sword, are you crazy?”

Qing Renyu said, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Shut up-!”

Oh Jin-kyung shouted at him.

“Then are you saying that Eunha did all of this!”

“What does Eunha have to do with a demon appearing in Hainan?”

“That’s right.”

Oh Jin-kyung’s eyes gleamed with killing intent.

Clang!

His sword was already raised high.

“It’s not something Eunha could do. It’s something only Hwasan could do.”

“Ha. You’ve completely lost it.”

Qing Renyu said, looking at Lee Ro-woon.

“You really set up a dog-like situation.”

Qing Renyu knew.

The Great Sea Sword was originally known for being a cold and calculating swordsman.

The reason he was making such absurd claims was.

‘Demonic Blood Meridian Formation.’

It was a sign that the formation’s influence had not yet ended.

Unlike Qing Renyu, who had trained in Hwasan’s Taoist techniques, Hainan was unable to resist this strange energy.

The formation’s influence had penetrated his mind, robbing Oh Jin-kyung of his coldness.

“Hainan, listen up-!”

But it wasn’t just Lee Ro-woon’s doing.

“Hwasan is manipulating us! They turned our elder into a demon!”

“That must be the only way to survive.”

The thought deep within Oh Jin-kyung’s mind.

The only way to escape this situation and protect Hainan’s honor was to blame everything on Hwasan and defeat them.

The Demonic Blood Meridian Formation was constantly stimulating Oh Jin-kyung’s thoughts.

“Today, we will destroy the evil Hwasan and reclaim the righteousness of Eun.”

Swoosh.

His sword lowered.

Thud!

The Great Sea Corps members who could still move stood behind Oh Jin-kyung, fully armed.

On the opposite side was Hwasan.

Eunha was subtly sticking out to the side.

And there, Lee Ro-woon was….

“Damn it.”

Smiling.

* * *

“Ha.”

Qing Renyu shook his head, looking at the whole situation.

He looked as if he had given up on everything.

“I never imagined we’d be cornered like this.”

His voice was not directed at Oh Jin-kyung.

“Did you know there was a demon in Hainan?”

It was directed at Lee Ro-woon.

“Of course not. It must be Hwasan’s doing.”

“It’s so infuriating, it’s driving me crazy.”

Swoosh.

Qing Renyu ran his hand through his hair and lifted his head.

The coldness that had been on his face was now replaced with a chilling aura.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been this angry.”

The attack he had participated in with a light heart.

Qing Renyu had thought that whatever happened, it didn’t matter.

But the current situation had far exceeded his expectations.

“To be cornered like a dog like this.”

“Qing Renyu, confess your sins. Then I will end it with just your head.”

“Shut up, you idiot.”

Finally, Qing Renyu looked directly at Oh Jin-kyung, who was spouting nonsense at him.

“Destroy the evil Hwasan?”

The smile that had disappeared from Qing Renyu’s face was back.

But it was a chilling smile, unlike the playful one from before.

“Can you handle it, Great Sea Sword?”

“Handle? Hwasan will have to handle it.”

“You’re insane.”

Oh Jin-kyung and the Hainan martial artists took a step forward.

“You’re just dancing around without knowing who’s playing you, just like Hainan. You idiot.”

“You’re insulting Hainan to the very end.”

Oh Jin-kyung took a stance.

Thwack!

The Hainan martial artists also formed a sword formation, surrounding Hwasan.

Numerical superiority, qualitative superiority.

Everything was on Hainan’s side.

Hwasan’s attack force was not even Qing Renyu’s Red Plum Blossom Corps, and there were only about thirty of them.

They were exhausted and injured from the battle with Hainan and the monsters.

It was clear to anyone that the odds were in their favor.

“I will cut off your head and shut your mouth.”

Goo-ooo!

Oh Jin-kyung’s surging energy seeped into his sword.

The Great Sea.

The sound of waves crashing echoed from all directions.

“There’s no reason to talk to an idiot who doesn’t understand.”

Now Hwasan was completely surrounded.

‘Great Wave Formation.’

The sword formation that the Great Sea Corps was currently using was superior to the Wave Sword Formation that Lee Ro-woon had faced.

A sword formation that could be created by more martial artists, stronger martial artists.

And at its center, there had to be a powerful swordsman who would become the raging wave.

The future a few minutes from now seemed clear.

The Hwasan martial artists being hacked to pieces by Hainan’s swords, and Qing Renyu struggling within it.

That was how it should be.

“But still.”

Swoosh.

Qing Renyu drew his sword.

Clang!

A clear and distinct sword cry.

“I’m not the type to just laugh it off when I’m being insulted.”

“Open Formation-!”

Qing Renyu’s voice and Oh Jin-kyung’s voice rang out at the same time.

The waves began to crash.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Hainan’s swords surged towards Hwasan.

At the center, a raging wave was rushing towards the enemy commander’s head.

Kukwakwakwa!

Oh Jin-kyung, hiding his body in the waves of energy, was unleashing destructive power that would sweep everything away.

He was rushing towards Qing Renyu.

And then.

Snikt-!

A chilling sound of human flesh being torn apart rang out.

Thud.

A sound followed.

“………!”

The waves stopped.

Splash-!

The blue waves turned red, painting the surroundings.

All that blood was not Hwasan’s.

“H-How….”

Hainan.

It was their blood.

Oh Jin-kyung, his chest deeply split open, looked up at Qing Renyu with trembling eyes.

‘I didn’t see it.’

He didn’t see Qing Renyu’s sword move.

Nor could he block it.

The moment he regained his senses, he was falling.

“……!”

Oh Jin-kyung’s pupils dilated once more.

The energy rippling from Qing Renyu’s sword.

He had seen its color.

“D-Demonic… energy….”

The black rippling sword energy was clearly the demonic energy that Goo Hyung-jin had emitted, or even more intense and powerful.

Black, yet red.

That’s right.

“Violet….”

The energy called the essence of Hwasan.

“Great Sea Sword.”

Qing Renyu said, looking down at Oh Jin-kyung with contempt.

“If you hadn’t spouted nonsense about being evil, I might have let you live.”

“Hwasan is….”

“Since you saw it, you must die.”

“De….”

Oh Jin-kyung, sensing his death, spoke in a trembling voice.

The sword blade was falling towards him.

Before his neck was pierced.

“De…mon….”

The words he wanted to say.

Clang!

The sword that was falling towards Oh Jin-kyung’s neck was deflected.

Its owner, Qing Renyu, quickly spun around and picked up the sword that had flown away.

“What is it?”

Qing Renyu’s voice had returned to its playful tone.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Just as Do Mu-sung had protected Lee Ro-woon, the one who had protected Oh Jin-kyung was.

“Wasn’t the plan to have Hainan die at the hands of Hwasan, and then pit Hwasan and Hainan against each other?”

It was Lee Ro-woon.

“I’m an extreme profit-seeker, you see.”

“Profit? What more is there to gain?”

Qing Renyu tilted his head.

“Are you worried I might come after you guys? No. Not yet.”

Qing Renyu guessed that Lee Ro-woon had stepped in because he thought that if Hainan died, Eunha would be next.

But he was wrong.

“It’s not that.”

The profit Lee Ro-woon wanted.

“Saving Oh Jin-kyung is the profit.”

With a languid voice and languid movements, Lee Ro-woon reached out his hand towards Qing Renyu.

Kwaaang!

The space was torn apart.