Emperor's Sword [EN]: Chapter 4

Bloodshed of Mount Tai

Mount Tai had long been revered by the people of the Central Plains as a sacred and famous mountain. Its majestic beauty earned it a place among the Five Great Mountains. It was said that emperors, upon ascending to the throne, would climb Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony [a ritual to report to the heavens].

Swish, swish.

As soon as Yunwen exited the cave, he descended the mountain, fully utilizing the Heavenly Demon Flight Technique. With each surge, he covered nearly a hundred yards, his figure as nimble as a swallow. He barely touched the ground, occasionally stepping on tree branches above the forest. His form was so blurry that anyone passing by would mistake him for a gust of wind. The more he moved, the more his internal energy surged, and his movements became more fluid. His internal energy was approaching four cycles of Jiazi [a sixty-year cycle in the Chinese calendar, here implying a high level of cultivation]. From the Heavenly Demon’s perspective, it was still at a child’s level, but from the perspective of the martial world, it was the realm of an absolute master. Only a handful of people could surpass him in internal energy alone. With the addition of the unimaginable martial arts of the Heavenly Demon and Hyeneung, how many in the current martial world could withstand even one of Yunwen’s moves?

“Haha, this is truly refreshing! What do you think, Heavenly Demon? Isn’t it nice to see the world after so long?”

-There’s nothing good about it. I’ve seen it countless times. What’s so special about it?

“Still, a lot of time has passed since your era, so the scenery must have changed a lot, right?”

-The scenery is the same, but the people have changed.

“Hmm? You have a point.”

-Wait, what’s that sound?

=Um, benefactor, please stop for a moment.

“Why?”

-You fool, can’t you hear that sound? We hear what your ears hear… Being so dull, it’s a wonder you haven’t tarnished the name of the Heavenly Demon.

“Sound? The sound of the wind! The sound of leaves falling, the cries of wild animals, and the sound of water flowing, and… Clang? What’s that metallic sound?”

-You idiot, that’s the sound of fighting.

“What? Fighting? You mean a fight has broken out?”

-Ugh, you’re so clueless. Well, it’s understandable since you have no experience in the martial world… Thinking about taking you around…

Are you taking me around? I’m taking you around! This guy is really putting me down. So, a fight has broken out, huh? Then I should go watch.

-Hey, what are you doing running off like that?

“Then?”

-Did you learn the Concealment Technique for show?

“Ah, I see. You should have said so earlier.”

Why do I feel like I’m getting dumber? It must be because of these two, making me so distracted. Ahem, who am I? I’m going to be the emperor of the martial world!!!

Sss sss sss.

“Hahahaha, you remnants of the righteous faction! No matter how hard you try, you can’t break our spirits!”

“Everyone, fall back!”

“Impressive, the Azure-Faced Demon King, Ha Gunpyo! As expected of a demon king who once dominated an era. But your luck ends today. Now that the Northern Sword Society has stepped in.”

“Heh heh, so you finally showed up, you bunch of thugs who rely on your numbers? You should have come out like this from the start. The Northern Sword Society may be the overlord of the north, but I was also the leader of a sect! I won’t kneel before you. Go tell your leader that the day will come when I, Ha Gunpyo, will cut off his windpipe…”

“Are you still not getting it? You won’t have another chance. Around Mount Tai, we have deployed a net of heaven and earth with 2,000 elite members of our society and 500 elite members of the Nine Righteous Alliance to capture you seven demon kings. Isn’t this a grand welcome for you?”

The middle-aged man in white who spoke had a goatee and upturned eyes. Could this be the typical look of a schemer? He was constantly glancing at the corpses scattered on one side with his sharp eyes. Then, he fixed his gaze back on his opponent. A man whose entire face was covered in a beard! He was nearly eight feet tall, and his face had a bluish tint, just like his title. He was tightly gripping a massive cleaver with his blood-stained hands. Judging by his appearance, he had already fought many battles, and he had several serious wounds. However, he still hadn’t lost his spirit, glaring at his enemies, truly admirable.

“If you’re going to start, do it quickly. You should think about those who are waiting.”

“Heh heh, your plan was truly remarkable. Even while escaping, you created a commotion to help your brothers escape. I applaud your courage. But you chose the wrong opponent.”

Peep peep peep.

“Hmm? Haha, what a pity? It seems your brothers have already gone to the underworld. Who knows, if you hurry now, you might see their dying moments.”

The whistle seemed to be a signal between them.

“Tch, since it’s come to this, I’ll take down as many as I can. These righteous bastards are trying to wipe out the demonic path. But things won’t go their way.”

“Heh heh, if you’re talking about the great master of the demonic path… Well… Now that the Northern Sea Sword King and the Azure Sea Death God have turned their backs, what can the Hyukwoo Sect do alone? Just look at how he hasn’t sent his men even when you’re dying. Doesn’t that show how much he’s trying to save himself?”

“Enough talk, come at me! He’s not that kind of person. The day will come when he and our demonic brothers will make you shed tears of blood, for sure.”

“I’ve talked too much. Everyone, attack!”

Ha!

The blue-clad swordsmen surrounding them all charged at the Azure-Faced Demon King at once. Their swordsmanship was so skillful that they attacked from all directions, stabbing, slashing, and swinging with perfect timing. The Azure-Faced Demon King, who was already exhausted from the long battle, seemed to be using his last bit of strength. He was desperate.

The Azure-Faced Demon King skillfully deflected the sword of one blue-clad swordsman and aimed for his neck. It was a perfectly timed moment. But what a pity, he felt sword energy from behind. If he cut off the neck, he wouldn’t be safe either. He had no choice but to roll under and sweep away the lower body of the blue-clad swordsman.

Ugh!

The man who was cut by the blade had both legs severed and was face-planting into his own blood. But there was no time to admire it. Sword energy was coming from all directions again.

“Haha, good! I’ll die here today! Thunderclap Blade Technique, Tragic Demon Stance!”

He grabbed the handle of his blade with both hands and spun it horizontally like a windmill at waist height. The blade energy swept out to a radius of three yards. Those who were close couldn’t avoid it and blocked with their swords, while those who were relatively far away hurriedly retreated. The blade energy relentlessly deflected or cut through swords, even slicing through the blue-clad swordsmen. It seemed they were caught off guard by the sudden attack.

Ugh! Crack!

Horrific screams erupted one after another, and their bodies, severed in half, rolled on the ground in a miserable state. Their twitching bodies, not yet dead, made one frown. The Azure-Faced Demon King didn’t miss this moment. He followed those who were retreating, breaking through a corner of the encirclement.

“Thunderclap Blade Technique, Final Move, Thunderclap Barrage!”

Kwaang!

“Dodge! It’s blade energy!”

They scattered in all directions, but the Azure-Faced Demon King’s blade energy was faster than their movements.

Clang!

They tried to block with their swords, but the swords broke too easily.

Ugh!

Cough!

Krrk!

Shhh!

The Azure-Faced Demon King was leaping through the broken encirclement. He had seized the perfect opportunity to escape the encirclement.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

The one staggering back was the Azure-Faced Demon King. He was constantly spitting out blood, and only his pupils were glaring at the newcomer as if to tear him apart.

“You, you are the Three Swords of Mount Tian!”

“Heh heh, impressive. You still had the strength to use blade energy?”

Even in the midst of this, the blue-clad swordsmen were greeting the newcomers! They seemed to be in a rather high position. The oldest of the Three Swords of Mount Tian, a middle-aged man in his fifties wearing silver, stepped forward.

“You’re the last of the Seven Demon Kings of the Demonic Sect… By eliminating you, today’s hunt will be over. Struggle as much as you can. That way, we won’t be bored…”

“Y-you bastards! If I let you live, how can I ever avenge this? Die!”

He attacked recklessly, not caring about his condition. It seemed impossible for him to use blade energy this time, and only a three-foot blade aura was emerging.

Clang!

He was easily blocking the Azure-Faced Demon King’s blade and occasionally stabbing at his weak points. Each time, he barely managed to dodge. It would have been different if he were in normal condition, but it seemed too much to handle even one of the Three Swords of Mount Tian.

-What are you doing? Just watching?

[So, you want me to help?]

-That guy seems to be a demonic path person. Aren’t you going to help him? Can you still call yourself a descendant of the Heavenly Demon?

[What are you talking about? Why am I your descendant? And just because he’s a demonic path person doesn’t mean I have to help him. I’m… neither demonic nor righteous. I’m just an emperor.]

-That’s why you should step up. Are you going to miss this golden opportunity to make your name known? If it were me, I would have wiped out those guys and helped that poor fellow.

[Shut up. Whether I help or not is my decision. You stay quiet.]

It was a truly skillful attack. It was like a cat playing with a mouse. If the resistance was strong, they would retreat, and if there was an opening, they would attack. The Azure-Faced Demon King was slowly getting exhausted. He couldn’t feel his hands gripping the blade. He had lost too much blood. His vision was blurring. It was only a matter of time before he died. But he was truly tenacious. Even the righteous onlookers were secretly praising his bravery.

“Brother, let’s finish it. We need to go rest.”

At the sound of the voice from behind, the eldest of the Three Swords of Mount Tian, Jeong Daehyo, raised his sword. As if to signal that it was the end, he grinned at the Azure-Faced Demon King.

“I’ll give you a chance to witness the final move of the Twenty-Seven Swords of Mount Tian. It’s called the Invisible Sword Net. Go!”

Swaeeeek!

Piri riring!

A total of twelve swords were pouring down, each pressing on vital points all over the body. As they approached within three feet, the skin was torn by their sharpness. It was truly an amazing swordsmanship. The Azure-Faced Demon King gritted his teeth.

“Thun-der-clap-Bar-rage!”

Chuaaaang!

His blade energy, squeezed out with his last bit of strength, was quite threatening and immediately collided with the sword net of the First Sword of Mount Tian. It was at that very moment that an unexpected event occurred!

Whiriririk!

The two men stood facing each other, having crossed paths. Who had won?

“Th-this… what an absurd thing!”

The two men were frozen in place, and the people in the arena who were watching their duel were the same. The Azure-Faced Demon King and the First Sword of Mount Tian had no blade or sword in their hands. They had bet everything on this one move, and the tension was at its peak. But now that they had crossed paths, they had no weapons in their hands. So, what had the two of them done? Had they danced? And where had their swords and blades gone?

“Heh heh, what a joke. They don’t even know their weapons have been stolen and are still swinging around… Is that what they call martial artists?”

Everyone’s gaze quickly turned to the direction of the voice, and there? Was that person really human? Their faces were all frozen. Why? Men sometimes become dumbfounded when they see a beauty of unparalleled beauty. But the person was a man who looked to be barely twenty years old! And he was so handsome! Further mention would be tiresome for both sides. He was constantly smiling, and in his hands, he was twirling like toys what had been in the hands of the Azure-Faced Demon King and the First Sword of Mount Tian just moments ago. Only then did the First Sword of Mount Tian seem to wake up from a dream and glare at him! He blushed with shame and roared at the opponent.

“You bastard, who are you to play such tricks?”

Having said that, the First Sword of Mount Tian felt even more absurd! Was his skill so poor that he was being toyed with by the opponent’s tricks? Not only that, but everyone in the arena couldn’t understand the situation. How could they understand Yunwen’s abilities, who possessed all the powers of the Heavenly Demon and Hyeneung?

“You fool! To have your weapon stolen is the greatest shame for a martial artist. Kill yourself!”

…

The Second Sword of Mount Tian, who was standing behind, stepped forward and bowed politely.

“May I ask who you are, young hero? May I know your esteemed name?”

“Me? I am…”

Damn it, what should I say? Come to think of it, I haven’t even decided on a name yet? Since I couldn’t come up with a name even after thinking so hard, the only thing that suddenly came to mind was one of the names I had heard.

“I am the Heavenly Demon Scholar, Pacheon.”

-Hahahaha, so you were secretly keeping that in mind. Why are you hiding it like a petty man?

Damn it, why that one?

[Can’t you be quiet?]

-What? Why are you being so shy? Just be yourself, right?

“Ilsimusil.”

-Ugh, okay, I’ll be quiet.

“Huh? Oh, so you were originally the Heavenly Demon Scholar, Pacheon Ilsimusil, young master.”

“What? You idiot.”

-Hahahaha.

=Amitabha, kuk, Amitabha, kuk kuk.

“Hey, can’t you guys be quiet?”

“Huh?”

“You damn…”

The First Sword of Mount Tian, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward.

“It seems you’re looking down on us. It seems you know some sorcery, but I can’t forgive you for using it to mock us. And since you mentioned the Heavenly Demon, you must be a demonic path person. Men, capture that bastard!”

-That guy is really bold. You’re not still trying to hold back, are you?

Damn it, I was going to let it slide if I could, but does this mean I have to commit my first murder here? If it’s unavoidable, then there’s no choice.

—————–

To be continued. I hope you enjoyed reading it. It’s a very flawed and imperfect piece of writing. Since I can’t revise it again, there may be typos or unnatural sentences, so please understand…

I will try to upload daily, but if I can’t, I will upload the full amount the next day (two chapters a day).

Thank you for your writing, Kim Jeongho. I look forward to your advice and criticism in the future. Thank you. Title: [Serial] Emperor’s Sword 6. Heavenly Demon Scholar, Pacheon! Related Materials: None [58629]

Sender: Im Samyeol (logos333) 2000-12-19 17:34 Views: 1978

Emperor’s Sword