Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 48

Han Dang’s steps were slow, his posture unwavering. His eyes were serene, devoid of any thoughts. Could the eyes of the dead be like this? Eyes that showed no desire for life were truly rare. Watching him, Mu-young Jon walked down.

When he stood still, it wasn’t noticeable, but as he took a step, an intangible demonic energy arose, weighing heavily on the hearts of the onlookers. The two men’s energies seemed similar yet different. Han Dang’s was the energy of a ruthless competitor, while Mu-young Jon’s was the relaxed composure of a great master.

The two stood facing each other, three lengths apart. Their gazes held no admiration for the other, only a deep,沉浸된 [immersed] silence.

Han Dang’s only right hand reached for the sword hilt at his left waist.

Srrr

The sword, slowly drawn, was dark and dull, with a large, wide blade. It seemed thicker than a typical sword. Mu-young Jon, observing the shape of his opponent’s sword, guessed that he would employ a domineering swordsmanship. Even after Han Dang’s sword was fully revealed, its tip still pointed downwards, angled about 15 degrees to the right of the front.

“Shall we begin?”

It was Mu-young Jon who spoke. Han Dang merely nodded slightly.

Mu-young Jon’s foot seemed to move forward, but his figure immediately scattered. Mu-young Jon’s movement technique was unparalleled. Only Pa Cheon had ever pierced through his perfected Heavenly Demon Concealment Technique, and when he was discovered by Cheonhyang Okbong, it was because he had been careless and hadn’t fully deployed it.

Even though Mu-young Jon’s figure had vanished before his eyes, Han Dang remained calm. He even closed his eyes. Steady breathing, a composed posture, unwavering energy—there was nothing to fault.

‘That guy has mastered extrasensory perception. If so, the Heavenly Demon Concealment Technique is useless.’

Pa Cheon realized Han Dang’s true nature and tried to warn Mu-young Jon, but it was already too late. Mu-young Jon’s attack had begun.

Whoosh

A gust of wind shot out from behind Han Dang. Han Dang pulled his front foot back, twisting his body, and Mu-young Jon’s Demonic Spirit Palm struck the ground.

Thud

Just as the sound of the ground breaking echoed, Han Dang’s body lunged forward, drawing his sword from below. A blue sword aura tore through the space, and a crimson aura wheel burst forth at the point Han Dang had targeted.

Bang

“Hmm.”

It was Han Dang who groaned. He had accurately pinpointed Mu-young Jon’s location and unleashed his sword aura without hesitation. Yet, he was the one who suffered? His opponent’s inner energy was superior to his own. And the impact of the collision caused by the red aura’s rotation made his hand and shoulder tingle.

[Mu-young Jon, that guy has extrasensory perception.]

Even without Pa Cheon’s telepathic message, Mu-young Jon had already realized it. The moment he released his Demonic Spirit Palm and Han Dang dodged and lunged at him was instantaneous. Seeing how accurately he pinpointed his location, he had a hunch. Mu-young Jon immediately fired a Crimson Aura Wheel, succeeding in pushing his opponent back, but he wasn’t pleased.

‘Tch, the Supreme One’s order isn’t just about defeating you. I have to suppress you cleanly without even touching you, or the Supreme One will be disappointed.’

Mu-young Jon followed Han Dang as he retreated. Han Dang, though his body was in plain sight, still had his eyes closed.

“Crimson Aura Twin Wheels!”

From Mu-young Jon’s hands, two auras rose, each forming a wheel. The crimson-burning auras looked formidable.

“Th-that is? To use aura so freely?”

One of the elders watching exclaimed.

Those who used their bodies instead of weapons often used something called palm wind, which covered a wide area but was inferior in power and precision to aura. The aura of the Azure Killing Demonic Art used by Ok Kirin, the Jade Demonic Aura shown by Gwangmajon, and the Crimson Yang Demonic Aura of Jeokyangmajon were all types of aura. Their forms and colors could vary depending on how they were used.

But what was spinning fiercely in Mu-young Jon’s hands was a type of aura, yet it was detached from his hands. Just as a sword aura was an extension of the sword, an aura was an extension of the hand. If it developed further, it could be shot out to a distance. The wheels spinning in Mu-young Jon’s hands were shot towards Han Dang.

Whoosh

Accompanied by a strange sound, they rotated fiercely, splitting towards Han Dang, each aimed at a different target. One aimed for Han Dang’s midsection, and the other for his head. Han Dang’s eyes snapped open.

“Demonic Dragon Slash!”

With Han Dang’s shout, blue sword auras split from his sword, blocking the wheels.

Clang

Bang

“Ugh!”

Staggering backward, Han Dang wore an expression of disbelief. But he had no time to dwell on it. Mu-young Jon’s aura wheels were already pressing him again.

Whoosh

This time, they crossed each other, one aiming directly at Han Dang’s front, and the other circling around to his rear.

“Sword Barrier!”

Clang

Bang

“Cough, ugh!”

Han Dang was spitting out blood. Mu-young Jon had already retrieved his Crimson Aura Wheels and was now facing him.

“Unbelievable. How can he use aura so freely…”

Thud

Han Dang’s knees, which had barely been holding him up, slowly buckled. He couldn’t believe his defeat. Even by his standards, there were only a few in the Demonic Alliance who could use aura so freely. Yet, a mere subordinate, not even the Thousand Devil Scholar?

This question was on the minds of everyone watching the duel. Even in the Demonic Alliance, the heart of the demonic arts, there were no more than three who had reached the extreme realm. Yet, this man’s martial arts were at the level of someone who had reached the extreme realm?

“Well done, Mu-young!”

Only after Pa Cheon’s words did the people in the arena emerge from their shock.

As Mu-young Jon stood beside Pa Cheon as if nothing had happened, they were finally returning to reality.

“So, do you still intend to make that guy the Grand Master? As you can see, he is clearly a great talent, but he is not enough to be the master of a faction. He still needs more training. There are at least ten more people in the Murim [martial arts world] who are on par with those called the Five Great Warriors… Can he really lead the Demonic Alliance in that environment? Face reality.

The Demonic Alliance is strong. But… the enemies are stronger. Even on battlefields where hundreds of thousands fight, leaders are often killed or captured, making the war pointless. It’s the same in wars between Murim factions. Who would they target first? Ah… of course, if you make him the Grand Master, you can increase his inner energy and strengthen his martial arts… But the enemies won’t wait. Do you think the Demonic Alliance will survive for 5 years, or even 10 years? That’s ridiculous.”

“Let’s say everything you said is true. The important thing is that we don’t want to accept you. We, the people of the Demonic Alliance, will handle our own affairs. Whether we are annihilated or humiliated, it’s our business. You have no right to interfere and tell us what to do, do you?”

“In that case, I have nothing to say… If you want to destroy yourselves, go ahead. But… I was asked by the Demonic Grand Master to help in the fight against the Murim Alliance… So, I can’t just stand by. At least while I am the Demonic Great General, I won’t tolerate those of lower rank acting like they are better than me.

The Murim is a place ruled by power. The Demonic Path is even more so. If you have power and justification, you are the law. Isn’t that right? Under the justification of attacking the Murim Alliance and resisting foreign invasions, we must unite and make the strongest person our leader. Am I wrong?”

“Hmph… Are you saying you are the strongest?”

“Why? Do you want to confirm it again?”

From Pa Cheon’s body, a demonic energy that had not been seen before swirled, instantly engulfing the arena. It was the same demonic energy that Gwangmajon had felt before.

“Hahahaha, you trash… You are the kind who can’t be reasoned with. If you want to see it, then look. This is the true form of the Thousand Devil Scholar.”

The demonic energy intensified, swirling as Pa Cheon’s body slowly rose into the air, and he walked slowly through the void. He walked directly towards the Hell Demon Emperor. Seeing this, the elders stood in layers in front of the Hell Demon Emperor. Swords and blades were drawn from their hands, gleaming.

As the atmosphere suddenly turned hostile, the rest of the people moved to the side. Their movements were clearly divided. The moderates, who didn’t care who took the lead, moved to one side, and the hardliners who refused to acknowledge Pa Cheon were the 48 elders.

“Charge!”

It was the chief elder who shouted. Except for the Seven Demon Gods among the 48, all of them attacked Pa Cheon like grasshoppers, and some attacked Gwangmajon and others.

“I will kill them all.”

The demonic energy exploded. In Pa Cheon’s hand was the Heavenly Demon Sword, and from his sword, a black stream of energy flowed endlessly. It was already a terrifying sight, but as the black stream flowed out and took over the arena, it made one wonder if this was hell. It was at that moment that the movements of those who were approaching him stopped. It was the same technique he had shown when facing the Twelve Demonic Disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

“Ugh… Ugh, why? Why is this happening?”

“My body won’t listen.”

“Agh, what is this?”

They could only scream, unable to move. It was then that Pa Cheon’s sword was slowly raised, and the sword began to slowly sweep through the air. The sword, which had reached the ceiling of the Venerable Demon Hall, turned its head and approached the elders who had stopped. It was so slow, but the swords passed through the bodies of the elders who had stopped without any resistance.

One elder struggled to shake off the sword in his hand, but it was useless. He stared at the slowly approaching sword with terrified eyes, and the sword moved slowly in his vision, piercing his heart. And he could no longer capture images in his eyes. Those who had retreated were submerged in fear at the sight.

“Stop!”

The Hell Demon Emperor jumped into the air and unleashed the Hell Demon Palm at Pa Cheon. As Pa Cheon’s hand was slightly raised, the aura vanished without a trace! And the Hell Demon Emperor was helplessly pulled into Pa Cheon’s hand.

He grabbed his neck and let out a sinister laugh. Pa Cheon was already like the Hell King of the Underworld, deciding life and death.

“You old man who only has a mouth! For the sake of the Demonic Path, it would be better for you to end your life here.”

“Ugh, you… you bastard.”

The Heavenly Demon Sword, which had pierced the bodies of the elders, had already been retrieved into Pa Cheon’s hand, and his body slowly descended to the ground. The Hell Demon Emperor’s neck was still gripped in his hand. Pa Cheon glanced back. Gwangmajon and the others had already slaughtered five elders. When he looked at the Hell Demon Emperor again, he was subtly expressing fear, but even so, an unyielding spirit overflowed.

“Kill me. Rather than kneeling before you… I would rather be loyal to the Grand Master.”

It was a statement that he would never submit.

“I was going to kill you even if you begged for your life. Heh heh, farewell.”

“Great General!”

It was the strategist, Je Gal Cho Hong. She knelt and looked at Pa Cheon, her eyes filled with sorrow.

“You must not kill the chief elder. Please, reconsider carefully…”

“No need.”

Crack!

Pa Cheon twisted the neck of the Chief Elder, the Hell Demon Emperor. No human could survive having their neck twisted like that. The ease with which he killed him caused an uproar among the six remaining elders.

“You devil! Die!”

The combined attack of the six elders was terrifying. Pa Cheon casually tossed the Hell Demon Emperor’s corpse at them. Engulfed by their released energy, the Hell Demon Emperor’s body was torn to shreds in mid-air, and the stench of blood filled the hall.

“Hahahaha, I clearly gave you a chance to choose. But you rejected it… You have no right to complain even if you die.”

“Gwangma, Muyeong, Unit Leader, kill them.”

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

Whoosh!

Their bodies moved like lightning, blocking their path. The sword that left Gwangmajon’s hand pierced two elders, and Unit Leader Dan Hwa’s sword left a small blood flower on the forehead of the Ghost Elder. From Muyeongmajon’s hand, the familiar Red Steel Wheels spun and flew, mercilessly taking another life. Only the Yin-Yang Twin Demons remained, but they too would not be an exception to death.

The desire to live had long since vanished from their eyes, but fear was not present. Only the will to kill at least one of them was evident. The two simultaneously approached Dan Hwa, who seemed the weakest. However, there was a movement faster than their choice. Gwangmajon, smiling behind them, grabbed their heads, and at that moment, Dan Hwa’s sword flashed. It was an absurd death. Gwangmajon glared at Dan Hwa but said nothing. Perhaps he wanted to ask why she stole his prey.

The faces of those in the hall turned pale, unsure of what to do. Even Je Gal Cho Hong, who believed she knew Pa Cheon well, was trembling with fear, and the only one who remained, Han Dang, showed a hint of joy at the scene, which was truly perplexing.

“Strategist.”

“Yes… Great Overlord.”

“Clean up the hall.”

“Understood.”

As soon as her answer fell, the officers who had been huddled to one side called their subordinates, and the hall was quickly cleared.

On the now clean floor of the Demon Venerable Hall, the executives of the Demonic Alliance sat on cushions, feeling the faint scent of blood.

“I’ll ask again. Is there anyone who does not acknowledge me as the Great Overlord?”

It was silent. In their hearts, they might harbor resentment towards Pa Cheon, but they were afraid to show it.

They knew they would die the moment they spoke.

“Good. Then I’ll take it that your silence means you will follow my orders, is that correct?”

Again, there was no answer. Their last remaining pride prevented them from readily agreeing.

“Well, even if there’s no opposition, that’s something, isn’t it? You’re probably not used to it yet, so I’ll concede this much. Strategist.”

“Yes, Great Overlord.”

“The 3,000 directly under the Elder Council will be under these guys from now on.”

“Under…stood.”

The ones Pa Cheon pointed to were Gwangmajon, Muyeongjon, and Dan Hwa.

“Han Dang!”

“Yes!”

“Why didn’t you attack?”

“Because I am no match for you.”

“Then you’ll strike me when you gain enough power.”

“Of course. I’m not foolish enough to shout for justice or challenge the strong when I’m weak. For me, the only law is strength. In that regard, I respect you, Great Overlord, for that reason alone. But if I ever become confident that I can surpass you, I will not hesitate to stab you with my sword.”

“Hahahaha, good. That’s exactly it. You’re a true Demonic Path practitioner. Good. I’ll wait. I’ll wait for the day your sword pierces my heart. Hahahaha.”

Looking at Pa Cheon, who was laughing in a good mood, who would have thought he was the demon who had been rampaging just moments ago?

“From now on, I will direct the path the Demonic Alliance will take. The existing laws of the Demonic Alliance are abolished.”

“G-Great Overlord!”

Murmurs arose.

Je Gal Cho Hong called out to Pa Cheon, but it was no use.

“The new law is the survival of the strongest! That’s all. Become endlessly stronger. Only then can the Demonic Path be realized, and the ideal you dream of can be achieved with the minimum power. It’s good to remember the humiliation you suffered at the hands of the righteous, but if you don’t have the power to repay it, it’s just a dream.

Don’t just talk about it, do it. That is the true Demonic Path. As long as you don’t have power, don’t think of it as humiliation, but survive to the end. Only then can you seize an opportunity, right? Soon, the Central Plains [the heartland of the martial arts world] will be ruled by blood. To survive there, become stronger. To be the final victor, there is no other way but to become the strongest. The existing organizational structure will remain the same, but orders will only come from me.

The moment the Great Ancestor emerges from his closed-door training, he too will be tested by me. If… if I judge that the Great Ancestor is not qualified, I will remove him from his position on the spot. There is no longer a place for the weak to survive in the Demonic Alliance. Connections, distribution, recognition, morality, these things will no longer exist in the Demonic Alliance.

Everything will be judged solely on individual ability. If there is someone stronger than me, I will hand over my position at any time. That’s all. Any questions?”

There was no way there would be any questions. It seemed like the situation was turning out similarly to the Heavenly Demon Sect.

“Strategist.”

“Yes, Great Overlord.”

“From now on, listen carefully to what I say. Send a secret order to the Demonic Alliance’s secret units. First, identify the Murim Alliance [a large martial arts organization] branches affiliated with the Northern Sword Society, then wait for further instructions.”

“May I ask what your intentions are?”

“We will strike the Murim Alliance branches affiliated with the Northern Sword Society first. By weakening their power, we will weaken the leader’s position within the Murim Alliance and incite internal division. There are already signs of subtle division among them. We will take advantage of this opportunity. Then, we will strike the ones coming from the main headquarters one by one. We will never engage in an all-out war.

We only need to shake them up a little. Each time new troops are deployed, we will strike or isolate them. In parallel, we will form a special task force to assassinate the key figures of the Murim Alliance one by one. We will not be picky about methods or means. I will do this myself. Immediately, the leaders of the Eight Demonic Gates will each select 100 of their best elites. They have a separate task. That’s all. Any questions?”

“I have a question.”

It was Black Death.

“Speak.”

“The eyes and ears of the Murim Alliance are planted throughout the Central Plains. Even if we annihilate the Murim Alliance branches while deceiving their eyes, it will not be easy to return. In this case, our side’s sacrifices cannot be ignored.”

“That’s right. They… don’t need to return. Those troops will be absorbed into the secret units in various places. And, any other questions?”

“I would like to say something. Great Overlord, you said that we should keep the forces outside the Murim Alliance in check, but what if they take advantage of us while we are fighting each other?”

It was Tak Tap Cheon Wang.

“That won’t happen. That’s why I said to avoid an all-out war. We will inflict losses on their forces and cause division, but we will end it there for now. If we make a move, they will also move.

If necessary, we can even ally with the Murim Alliance later.”

Murmurs arose.

“Ah, quiet! There are two aims to our actions. The first is to weaken the Murim Alliance by dividing their power, so that even if we go to an all-out war, we can reverse their absolute advantage and create an equal force. The second is… that our actions will be the spark that triggers the forces outside the Murim Alliance, who are only watching each other’s moves.

It’s a kind of signal flare.

Then, we just need to respond to their movements. At that time, a temporary alliance with the Murim Alliance is also possible if necessary. We must not forget our goal. To do that, we will use all available methods. Strategist, you are responsible for carrying out this task…”

“Understood.”

“Everyone, return to your positions and carry out the tasks assigned to you according to the Strategist’s instructions. Organizations that have not been assigned a specific task will focus on training their disciples. That’s all. Dismissed.”

As Pa Cheon’s unique command was uttered, they all stood up and left the Demon Venerable Hall with questioning and uneasy faces.

After the commotion, the Demonic Alliance was even quiet. It was so quiet that it was hard to believe that such a thing had happened, but one thing had changed: everyone had a sense of fear towards Pa Cheon and excitement about the upcoming bloodbath.

As Je Gal Cho Hong left the stone chamber where Pa Cheon was staying, Pa Cheon called his subordinates.

“Now, the fight between the Demonic Alliance and the Murim Alliance has begun. In fact, even if it doesn’t turn into an all-out war, both sides will have to endure considerable damage. Our job is to incite the fight in that gap. Then, when there have been some losses, the forces outside the Murim Alliance will move.

Before that, we will decisively move the forces of the Upper Realm to isolate the Murim Alliance. After that, a full-scale war will break out between the combined forces of the Demonic Alliance and the Murim Alliance and the forces outside the Murim Alliance, and when both sides are exhausted,

we will finish it cleanly. Listen carefully. I will leave for the Murim Alliance within a few days. In the meantime, you will stay here and carry out my instructions.”

“All of us?”

“Only Gwangmajon will follow me…”

“Understood!”

“Ah, and for the time being, I will be going back and forth between the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Alliance. It’s better to set fires in multiple places at once. Make sure everyone knows that… So Gun!”

“Yes, Master!”

“You will go to the Twin Elders for the time being.”

“Yes…”

“Only me, Gwangmajon, and So Gun will go to Gaebong.”

The information gathered from the Demonic Alliance’s secret units began to be compiled, and it was extensive. Although the focus was on investigating the Murim Alliance branches affiliated with the Northern Sword Society, other news was also added. Among the notable facts was that only 8 out of 42 Murim Alliance branches belonged to the Northern Sword Society. This alone showed that the power of the Northern Sword Society was concentrated in the main headquarters. Most of them were concentrated in areas close to the main headquarters in Hogwang Province, Zhejiang, and Henan.

In the end, attacking their branches meant that they would immediately be pursued by the Murim Alliance’s main headquarters, so they had to consider or keep in mind the swift execution and the movement of the secret units. The Strategist and Pa Cheon devised a plan from various angles, but the conclusion was to attack the southern region of Hogwang Province and the branches in Zhejiang Province first, which were relatively far from Gaebong, and then close the secret units in those areas and absorb them into the secret units in other areas.

And they sent the 800 elites of the Eight Demonic Gates, who had been selected in advance, to four locations first, and then appointed the Great Ancestor’s four disciples as leaders. They each selected 500 of their own guards and left for four locations simultaneously. In the end, a large-scale operation began in which 1,200 to 2,000 people attacked each branch simultaneously.

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Another episode late tomorrow evening…

Thank you for the encouraging emails.