Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 293

Jang So-young exited the Jeomchang guild house, several martial artists already trailing behind her. The moment she stepped outside, more martial artists appeared from seemingly nowhere, flanking her.

These were the Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang.

Originally, the Six Swords of Jeomchang were the publicly recognized representatives of the sect. However, those six, having reached their peak long ago, had long since laid down their swords.

They believed there was nowhere higher to go, succumbing to arrogance and complacency.

That was why Jang So-young had reorganized the group. A new generation of Jeomchang swordsmen was needed.

Thus, the Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang were formed, known as the rising masters.

They were the true representatives of Jeomchang’s current generation.

Unlike the indolent Six Swords, they had honed their skills in countless real battles outside the sect. Their murderous aura was palpable, making it hard to call them righteous, yet their energy was as sharp as a finely crafted blade.

They moved forward, each following Jang So-young, their swords hanging low. They were the best of Jeomchang.

Jang So-young paused, glancing back at the Jeomchang Sect, the place of her birth and upbringing, her entire world. It was also the name that defined her. She felt a gaze from the very top of the building.

“…”

She looked at it briefly, then turned her head. She wouldn’t look back now.

Jang So-young slowly began to unleash her energy and moved forward.

The aftermath of the previous attack was clearly visible. Buildings were torn and cracked, some collapsing, and martial artists who had failed to evade the attack lay groaning on the ground. The sounds of pain echoed in the distance.

It was the price they paid for witnessing such overwhelming power.

The confident Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang, who had previously puffed out their chests, thinking of their rigorous training, now swallowed hard. They knew they could easily be among the top martial artists of the Nine Great Sects [The most powerful martial arts sects in the world].

Overwhelming power could break a person’s will. A massive wall could make one give up even the thought of overcoming it. This huge scar was like that, something beyond the heavens that one should not dare to challenge.

A disaster. A power that evoked such a feeling.

Indeed, the martial artists of Jeomchang stood still, and the sects that had sided with them were retreating.

Then, Jang So-young appeared.

She began to draw out the internal energy from her dantian [A point in the body where energy is stored] and spread her energy. The martial artists, stimulated by it, looked at her.

Jang So-young didn’t say anything.

Nevertheless, the martial artists of Jeomchang, who had stopped, stood behind her. Jang So-young’s small group began to grow.

The number increased even more. Those who had stopped and retreated began to walk beside her.

Jang So-young’s energy spread even further. Those who had fallen were getting up and starting to move.

They stood tall.

Jang So-young stopped for a moment. The enormous power felt from the opposite side was pressing down on all sides.

Although they didn’t speak, many were swallowing hard, unable to hide their tension.

“There’s no need to be ashamed of being afraid,” Jang So-young’s voice, amplified by her energy, echoed far away. “There’s no need to think of showing your back as shameful either.”

The martial artists of Jeomchang must have thought this until just now. They were Jeomchang, one of the Nine Great Sects, a sect with a long history and great power. So they were strong. But now, having seen the opponent’s power, that pride must have been shattered.

“You will die,” Jang So-young said. “Only a few will survive.”

Now, it didn’t feel like just a warning. It was the truth.

“So, those who value their lives can leave the battlefield now. The barrier at the back has already disappeared, so you can go out through there.”

Jang So-young’s words were sincere.

“But those who remain and try to fight with me….”

A twisted mouth. It was similar to a smile, yet it evoked tears.

“Will have to pay the price.”

Would anyone understand exactly what she meant?

Jang So-young began to walk again. There were those who stopped and didn’t move, but not many ran away.

At that moment, when countless martial artists were moving behind Jang So-young, a sound of space trembling occurred.

Kwa kwa kwa kwa!

A slash that tore everything apart.

Jang So-young held her sword and thrust the tip forward.

Clang!

Two energies collided in mid-air. The same slash as before….

“Kuh!”

Jang So-young was blocking it.

She was being pushed back as if crushed by the enormous power. Her grip tore, and blood splattered, but in the end, she succeeded in deflecting the direction of the power.

This time, the energy that was clearly trying to crush the Jeomchang guild house was deflected and flew into the clear sky, splitting the clouds as if the sky had been torn apart.

“Hoo.”

As Jang So-young was catching her breath, a crimson group appeared from the opposite side. At the very front were those wearing demon masks.

With the energy they were emitting, they truly looked like distorted demons.

* * *

The earth, the buildings, the sky, everything was split. It was unbelievable that this was the result of just two slashes. And the one who had done all this was the one wearing the demon mask and wielding a large greatsword. He was slowly putting the greatsword back on his back.

“…”

Jang So-young frowned as she looked at him. She knew his identity.

He was the Blood Demon. Or rather, Lee Rowan. Before appearing as the Blood Demon, he was a special guild member of the Eunha Guild, and before that, he was Lee Rowan of Dank, the guild leader of a small guild called Dank. But now, he was wearing a demon mask and emitting power like an immortal.

Jang So-young’s eyes took in the surrounding situation.

“Kuh.”

“Kuh-uh!”

Martial artists were dying. The characters for Jeomchang were clearly engraved on their bodies. It was as if they had left the characters for Jeomchang even as they killed them. It felt like a brand, not consideration. A brand that these people were sinners. A brand that Jeomchang was a sin.

“Jang So-young, is it?” a voice burst out from Lee Rowan on the opposite side.

“…”

“Step aside.”

The Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang frowned at his words. They didn’t like that the enemy’s leader, the Blood Demon, was ordering Jang So-young.

Jang So-young, who waved her hand to stop the twitching ones, looked at Lee Rowan.

“You should already know,” Jang So-young’s pupils trembled at the voice she heard. “This is a place you have no reason to protect.”

“…”

Jang So-young had no answer. Instead, she raised her sword.

“In the end, you’re making a bad move,” Lee Rowan said.

“Shut up!” one of the Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang couldn’t hold back and shouted. “How dare a cruel demon speak!”

Jang So-young had taken in the Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang, but only a few of them knew the truth.

“You are the one who should be…!”

Before the words could finish, an energy surged through space and tore it apart. It appeared right in front of the face of the Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang who had spoken.

Clang!

A shockwave occurred as the sword and glaive collided. Wheezing, the man, Hashman, put more strength into the hand holding the glaive, and the veins on his forearm swelled as if they would burst, but Jang So-young, who had blocked him, succeeded in pushing Hashman away.

Hashman, who had been spinning in the air, landed with a nimble movement that didn’t match his huge size and took a stance.

“Show respect to the King.”

The Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang, who had been shouting, looked greatly surprised at Hashman’s voice. If Jang So-young hadn’t stepped in, his head would have fallen off.

He touched his neck, relieved to see that he had not been injured. By now, the surroundings were filled with people. They were the Blood Cult members who had finished their battles late, and there seemed to be many who had entered late as well. On this side were the sects belonging to Jeomchang and the Assembly. And even those who had fled were all gathered.

Jang So-young scanned them and walked forward. Lee Rowan, who was standing on the opposite side, began to move. The figures flickered. The energies collided.

Hashman first swung his glaive at some of the Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang to block their movements. Kang Cheol and others also rushed in and clashed with them.

“Go…,” the Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang shouted, even though they knew they were being pushed back. “Go!”

They were the ones who knew the truth. Jang So-young continued to move forward with a somewhat dazed look in her eyes.

The Blood Cult members and the martial artists of Jeomchang did not move. They already knew that there was no place for them in this fight. They could also realize that the outcome of this battle would determine the outcome of the war.

The Sixteen Swords of Jeomchang were being knocked away. They wiped the blood flowing from their mouths and jumped back in, but the result was similar. They knew that they would not be able to match those who had unleashed their full power, with purple and black blood energy.

However, Jang So-young, as if the result behind her was irrelevant, unleashed her energy into the sword she had raised. Flames! The blue energy that seemed to be burning soon began to change color, to red, and then to purple.

Jang So-young rushed towards Lee Rowan at a speed as if she herself had become a bullet.

* * *

Lee Rowan was carrying his anger on his back. Instead, he unleashed red blood energy and wrapped it around his hand. He was deflecting Jang So-young’s sword. Lee Rowan soared into the sky. As if not to let him go, Jang So-young also kicked off the ground and jumped up.

At that moment, Jang So-young widened her eyes and quickly rotated her body, creating a sword barrier with her energy. Numerous energies collided with the sword barrier and were deflected. Blood was flowing down the surface of the sword barrier. Jang So-young knew what that was: Blood Orbs, something like iron beads made by condensing only the iron in the blood.

She already knew that there was such a level and mystery while learning the Blood Demon Divine Art [A martial art focused on using blood energy]. ‘Only a very few can do that.’ Blood Orbs were similar to a secret technique that could only be used by reaching the true meaning of the Blood Demon Divine Art. A clear understanding of the Blood Demon Divine Art and Blood Demon Energy. It was a realm that only those who could observe the inside and perfectly control it could reach. Even among those who had received the master’s teachings, only a very few could handle Blood Orbs. And one of them was Jang So-young.

The sword barrier shattered, and it became hundreds, thousands of beads and rushed towards Lee Rowan. The Blood Orbs that Lee Rowan had unleashed and Jang So-young’s Blood Orbs collided and caused an explosion. In that explosion, Jang So-young shot out a sword energy created with Blood Demon Energy. Lee Rowan easily deflected it with one hand.

At that moment, an explosion occurred behind Lee Rowan. The deflected sword energy had transformed into the form of Blood Orbs and targeted the back of Lee Rowan. Jang So-young didn’t think that this was the end. She immediately poured in her energy and made the sword energy even sharper and more agile.

‘Four Illusory Sword Technique,’ a sword that only the head of Jeomchang and their direct disciples could learn. She completed it with Blood Demon Energy. ‘Four Seas, One Illusory.’ She thrust it straight out. The trembling transmitted from the sword.

“Will you do more?” Lee Rowan’s index finger and thumb were holding the tip of the sword that had unleashed Four Seas, One Illusory.