Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 95

“May I ask just one last thing?”

Though Heavenly Fragrance Jade Peak didn’t know what he was about to say, she somehow wished she didn’t have to hear it. But her lips were already parting.

“Please, speak.”

The silence, meant only for the two of them, even pushed the Mad Demon Lord aside for a moment.

Cho-ryang briefly averted his gaze from her and looked up at the sky. Even the stars, shining beautifully in the darkness, felt like daggers piercing his heart. The person who had once made him endure everything just by being with him was now looking at him with unfamiliar eyes. In her gaze, there was nothing but concern for the safety of the person she loved. He wasn’t particularly saddened to know that he wasn’t in her thoughts at all, but he couldn’t deny the ache in his heart.

As Cho-ryang’s gaze followed the tail of a shooting star, Ja-un seemed to briefly follow the same line of sight. He opened his mouth with difficulty.

“If… if you had to trade your love for your life, would you do it?”

Without hesitation, the answer flowed from Ja-un’s lips.

“Yes.”

It was as Cho-ryang had expected.

“Then, if you had to trade your love for the life of the person you love… would you do that too?”

Ja-un couldn’t answer. Cho-ryang’s heart ached even more at her hesitation. That hesitation revealed the depth of her love, so he clenched his fists tightly, then slowly released them.

“The fact that the person you love will die today remains unchanged. I will do my best today. If this is my destiny, I will not run away and will accept it. I don’t want to see you sad, but I hate losing you even more. From now on… I will love in my own way. Even if you don’t want it…”

Ja-un couldn’t understand what his words meant. She didn’t say anything. What could she possibly say? As if shaking her from her thoughts, someone grabbed her hand tightly.

“Ah!”

[Ja-un, I will protect you. Until the moment my life ends, I will not give up on you.]

The Sword Emperor wore an absurd expression at the unfolding situation.

‘Look at this. Was Tae-gong [a respectful title for a great strategist or wise person] such a weak-hearted man? This is something. Can a person change so much because of love? That woman has completely stolen Tae-gong’s heart… In the end, that woman is Tae-gong’s weakness.’

His eyes darted around quickly. He signaled to the seven elders around him. Following the Sword Emperor’s signal, they quickly surrounded the Mad Demon Lord. As they began to move, the killing intent that had momentarily subsided began to surge again, taking over the hall.

“Tae-gong, long nights make for long dreams, so let’s finish this quickly.”

At the Sword Emperor’s words, Cho-ryang nodded.

“Kill that bastard.”

As soon as the Sword Emperor’s command fell, the seven elders began to unleash their attacks on the Mad Demon Lord.

“Wait, step back.”

The elders, and even the Mad Demon Lord who was responding to them, hesitated and stepped back.

‘What is it this time?’

The Sword Emperor threw an annoyed glance at Cho-ryang. Cho-ryang stepped forward, this time looking directly at the Mad Demon Lord, not Heavenly Fragrance Jade Peak.

“I have a proposal for you.”

“What is it?”

“Protecting Ja-un while fighting against us will be difficult in many ways. Send her to the other clan. I will take responsibility for her safety. Of course, if you can defeat us, you can take her with you, but if you can’t, you can either run away… or face death. If you truly love her, that would be the right thing to do, and it seems like a proposal that wouldn’t be disadvantageous for you either… What do you think?”

The Mad Demon Lord’s face twitched. Ja-un grabbed the hem of the Mad Demon Lord’s clothes.

“Don’t worry about me, and do as you see fit.”

The Mad Demon Lord looked back and forth between Heavenly Fragrance Jade Peak and Cho-ryang.

‘Thinking coldly, that man is right. Protecting Ja-un while fighting them is foolish. But I can’t leave Ja-un to that man. What am I hesitating for? It’s not like I didn’t expect this situation.’

The Mad Demon Lord’s inner thoughts gradually wavered in confusion. But that was only for a moment.

The Mad Demon Lord’s eyes, staring directly at Cho-ryang, blazed fiercely. It was then that the hand holding Ja-un tightened.

“I will pretend I didn’t hear your proposal. As long as I don’t die here, you cannot take Ja-un from me.”

A fierce energy, as if to suffocate his opponents, began to emanate from the Mad Demon Lord’s body.

“Is that so? It can’t be helped then. If you are truly a warrior… and if you love Ja-un, do your best to protect her.”

Cho-ryang nodded again. Almost simultaneously, the elders who had been watching him rushed forward again. The seven of them adjusted their positions, pressing in on the Mad Demon Lord. Having seen through them, the Mad Demon Lord wrapped his left arm around Ja-un’s waist and held the sword in his right hand straight forward.

The warriors of the Great Punishment Clan, who were widely positioned around them, held their breath and watched the upcoming battle between the masters.

All seven of them were old men whose ages were unknown. Just by their appearance, they looked to be well over seventy. But their footwork was lighter than expected, to the point that it didn’t seem like they were actually moving on the ground.

The footwork, which seemed to glide over the water, was not flashy but was heavy and without gaps. They each used a sword, saber, staff, whip, spear, wheel, and brush as weapons, and they showed coordinated movements as if they had practiced the combined techniques for a long time.

The old man holding the sword was at the front of the Mad Demon Lord, and every time he moved, the others moved with him, maintaining their distance.

‘Is it a formation? It doesn’t seem like it, but it doesn’t look easy either.’

The Mad Demon Lord only watched their movements carefully and did not move first. His gaze remained fixed, as if he were observing them all at once.

A slightly tedious time passed, and the old man holding the sword suddenly broke away from the formation and lunged forward. He bent his knees as much as possible, as if sinking into the ground, and then shot out in one step, thrusting his sword straight towards the Mad Demon Lord’s head.

That was the signal. The old men who had been surrounding him rushed in explosively from all sides, front, back, left, and right. But if you looked closely, their attacks were continuous, with slight time differences.

The Mad Demon Lord straightened his body, extending his right foot forward from his shoulder-width stance, and then powerfully swung the sword in his right hand.

Naturally, his right knee bent, adding to the momentum. A bluish sword aura emanated from the tip of the sword and collided with the sword of the old man who was thrusting at him.

Then, he swung his sword continuously in diagonal directions and to the left and right. In an instant, the attacks of the old men who were thrusting with staffs and spears were blocked midway. Meanwhile, the Mad Demon Lord, rotating on one foot and swinging his sword like a windmill, blocked all attacks or made it difficult for them to advance.

It didn’t end there. The attacks of the old men, which had been deflected once, were about to continue again, but the Mad Demon Lord easily used that hard-to-catch moment to break their rhythm. Then, he headed towards the old man holding the sword, who was the center of their formation. The Mad Demon Lord’s sword, which approached rapidly enough to be described as shortening the distance, shone again. Twisting his wrist and thrusting his sword in, the sword that had been blocking was deflected by the recoil, and he didn’t miss that moment, following it and leaping forward.

Seeing the sword aura rising from his sword, the old man raised his sword again to block it. The Mad Demon Lord aimed seven consecutive sword strikes at the old man’s entire body. The old man seemed momentarily flustered, not knowing what to do against the swift attacks like a snake’s tongue. But the Mad Demon Lord could no longer continue his attack. The other old men, who had been repelled, were once again aiming at his back. He had no choice but to retrieve his sword and release the sword aura behind him without reducing its power.

Clang! Clang! The collision between them was a clash of power against power. The seven top masters were by no means easy opponents. If all their powers were perfectly harmonized, they would be able to exert more than seven times the power of each individual. However, such numerical calculations are not always applied in actual combat. After a few clashes to gauge each other’s strength, they prepared for a full-scale attack. The Mad Demon Lord was unable to exert his full power due to the disadvantage of not being able to use one hand and having to worry about Ja-un’s safety. Nevertheless, he had enough power to endure such disadvantages.

‘These guys are not a problem right now. The important thing is those two behind them!’

Even while facing the seven elders, the Mad Demon Lord was mindful of the Sword Emperor and Cho-ryang standing behind him. He realized that they were not easy opponents to face, just from the aura they were emitting. In any case, he had to break the immediate danger of the blades rushing at him.

“Attack.”

As the attack command fell from the old man holding the sword, weapons rushed in again! The Mad Demon Lord held his sword to the ground, twisted his wrist to the right, and pulled it inward. Naturally, his arm was twisted inward. He concentrated all his power on the sword in that position.

Two of the seven old men leaped up and attacked from above the Mad Demon Lord, while the others swept in from the front, back, left, right, and below. It was an attack that completely surrounded him. Sharp energy emanated from their weapons, making a loud noise.

“You bastards, I’ll send you all to hell.”

The Mad Demon Lord’s arm drew a large circle outward with great force while twisted. Not only that, but as the sword’s edge was directed towards the sky and rotated with that force….

Whoosh! A storm of sword aura swirled and swept outward. The seven old men, despite the storm of energy rushing at them, seemed to think nothing of it and gathered their strength to clash together. The two opposing forces met and roared.

Clang! “Huk.”

“Ugh.”

“Kuh.”

The seven elders were simultaneously repelled in all directions like bouncing balls. The Mad Demon Lord persistently followed the one holding the sword among them. He kicked off the ground with his toes and crossed the space as if gliding across the surface. The sword’s edge was already tinged with blue and was rounded like a bud. It was a phenomenon that appeared before the sword aura was concentrated and released.

Swoosh! The Mad Demon Lord slid the sword in his hand and forcefully pushed the end of the sword handle with his palm. In an instant, the sword became a beam of light and pierced through the old man’s body.

Thud! “Kuh-uk.”

As the Mad Demon Lord pretended to pull his hand towards the sword that had pierced the old man’s neck, it was immediately retrieved. The six old men, barely supporting themselves and watching this scene, had expressions of disbelief as their formation was so easily defeated by him. Clearly, the sword aura a moment ago was far more powerful than they had imagined. But none of them had ever thought that they would die so absurdly. However, they didn’t have the luxury to dwell on it. The bastard was already attacking them like a madman with his sword.

The Mad Demon Lord seemed to be trying to take on the six old men one by one, taking advantage of the fact that they had not yet recovered. Realizing this, the old men felt a sense of foreboding that they would be annihilated if they followed the enemy’s intentions, so they hurriedly concentrated their power towards where he was moving.

Swoosh! Again, the sword that left the Mad Demon Lord’s hand headed towards the one holding the iron staff like a beam of light. That man, with a grumble in his heart that he had become the target, grabbed the staff with both hands, raised it above his shoulder, and then struck down with all his might. His staff and the sword that the Mad Demon Lord had released collided.

Clang! “Kuh.”

The hand holding the staff was torn apart, and the staff flew out of his hand. In that instant, the Mad Demon Lord’s sword pierced his neck without fail. At that moment, the attacks of the other five men poured down on the Mad Demon Lord. The Mad Demon Lord leaped up, kicked away the spear and saber with each foot, and then released the White Jade Demonic Strength towards the one holding the wheel in front of him.

Just as the attacks of the two men were about to focus on him, the Mad Demon Lord’s body, which had been floating in the air, fell to the ground faster than before, and then kicked off the ground again, running forward without even raising his body. In that instant, his sword had already been retrieved and was shining. It was a swift movement that was hard to believe had happened in an instant, and it was a speed that a human body could not achieve.

As a result, the attacks of the remaining two men struck the ground uselessly. Moreover, the remaining three men had also been repelled again. His ability to kill one person with each attack was so extraordinary that the expression ‘unparalleled’ was not enough to describe it.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve stretched my body, but at this rate, I’ll be the first to get tired.’

His biggest weakness right now was that he was holding Ja-un in his arms. In fact, the current attacks were not the kind of attacks that the Mad Demon Lord usually enjoyed. The shock that Ja-un, who had lost her inner energy, would receive from the Mad Demon Lord’s movements would be quite significant. He knew this, so he was restraining his movements as much as possible, but he couldn’t help it because of the large number of opponents.

With Ja-un in his arms, even the Heavenly Demon Concealment Technique was useless. Therefore, the current form of attack was inevitable. Knowing this well, Heavenly Fragrance Jade Peak buried her face in his arms, closed her eyes tightly, and pressed herself closer. Just by seeing the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead, it was clear that she was also struggling.

‘Let’s finish this quickly. Either way, I can’t get out of here without subduing those two behind them.’

The Mad Demon Lord clenched his teeth. He held his sword straight in front of him, spread his feet shoulder-width apart, and fixed his gaze on the five old men.

His movements awakened a strong sense of crisis in them. They began to tense up, sensing that a more powerful attack than before was about to begin. At that moment, a voice that shattered their tension rang out.

“Everyone, step back.”

The Mad Demon Lord glanced at the old man who was slowly stepping into the hall and lowered his sword to the ground again. The Sword Emperor watched the Mad Demon Lord’s posture and slowly nodded.

“You are a remarkable one. When it comes to swords, I don’t want to be second to anyone, but seeing your extraordinary techniques makes my blood boil. To achieve that level of accomplishment at that age… honestly, I can’t believe it.”

The Mad Demon Lord chuckled at the Sword Emperor’s slightly arrogant appearance as he stepped forward.

‘That young brat dares…’

Of course, how could the Sword Emperor guess the Mad Demon Lord’s age? From his appearance, he looked to be just over thirty, so from the Sword Emperor’s perspective, it was not unreasonable to think of him as a young punk. Whatever the circumstances, the two of them hurried to prepare for a clash. The Sword Emperor placed his hand on the hilt of the sword that was slung across his waist. Compared to the Mad Demon Lord’s plain sword, it was an excessively ornate sword. Various patterns were vividly alive and writhing on the hilt, and the gradually revealed blade was also a treasure sword that emitted a dazzling light.

He was a left-handed swordsman. The movement of drawing his sword with his left hand was so disciplined that anyone could tell he was a skilled swordsman. One might think that there is nothing special about drawing a sword, but in any endeavor, once you reach a certain level, you can tell a person’s level just by their posture. In that respect, the Sword Emperor was a person who could be called the best swordsman in the world just by drawing his sword.

As soon as he had completely drawn his sword, he fixed the sword’s edge towards the sky, then pulled it down towards his chest and brought it to the left and right sides of his face. He didn’t know what meaning his actions had, but to the Mad Demon Lord, he just seemed like a pathetic show-off.

“I will not think of you as young and will face you with all my might. It would be an honor to lose your life to a master like me, but that would be difficult. Now, let’s begin…”

“Stop talking nonsense and attack quickly.”

The Sword Emperor was not a person of such noble character that he could remain calm after hearing the Mad Demon Lord’s words. His face was quickly filled with the killing intent that had risen from within him. He immediately held his sword vertically and tilted it slightly to the right.

“As a senior in the martial world, I will give you a stern lesson for being arrogant and disrespectful. I will give you three moves first, so use all the means you have.”

The Mad Demon Lord’s face hardened.

‘He really was insane. Seriously, what kind of thought process do guys like that have?’

It was something incomprehensible while fighting for one’s life. However, the Mad Demon Lord wasn’t one to yield to the opponent’s excessive consideration. It was so good, he almost wanted to take it as a gift.

“Hahaha.”

The Mad Demon Lord chuckled, extending his sword forward to point at him.

‘If I can kill that guy, my chances of getting out of here will increase. I’ll kill him when he’s off guard. After that, I can easily deal with that annoyingly handsome guy… Maybe I can even escape from this place safely.’

He finished his calculations.

[Sword Emperor, you must not underestimate him. He is an absolute master. Do not let your guard down and do your best…]

Cho Ryang’s telepathic message was cut short. The Mad Demon Lord had already begun to move. He quickly moved his feet, approaching with his sword raised. The Sword Emperor tilted his head.

‘I’ve been watching his sword since earlier, but the form of his technique is unclear. He can’t possibly be a master who has transcended the limits of martial arts, yet I can’t predict his movements at all.’

When he was just standing there, it wasn’t obvious, but as the Mad Demon Lord moved closer, the Sword Emperor realized that his opponent was a greater master than he had thought. The killing intent that pierced his skin could be felt even from three yards away. The sharp energy constantly emanating from the sword aimed at him seemed to penetrate his skin. The Sword Emperor became alert and began to respond to his opponent’s movements. He immediately angled his sword diagonally, protecting his chest, and began to carefully watch his opponent’s footwork.

The five elders who had faced the Mad Demon Lord earlier wanted to warn the Sword Emperor, but decided against it, considering his pride. They, too, had realized after actually facing him that his martial arts far exceeded their expectations. They thought that even if the opponent was strong, the Sword Emperor wouldn’t be easily pushed back. Moreover, they decided to relax, thinking that the situation wouldn’t escalate to the point where they would have to risk their lives.

However, the opponent seemed to be hiding a significant portion of his true power. This unease lingered in their minds. They even wanted to suggest that Tae Gong [a respectful title for a senior martial artist] and the Sword Emperor should face him together if possible. They watched the two men’s movements intently, not wanting to miss a single moment.

The Mad Demon Lord had already finished calculating how to corner his opponent. The distance between him and the Sword Emperor had narrowed to about two yards. Even then, the Sword Emperor was still holding his sword diagonally in front of his chest.

‘Is he really going to give me three moves?’

The Mad Demon Lord didn’t want to miss this opportunity. Perhaps that was why a fleeting, triumphant smile appeared on his lips.

“Taat!”

A shout that instantly overturned the frozen air in the hall escaped from the Mad Demon Lord’s lips, and a blinding light flashed from his sword. The sword energy, originating from the sword’s edge, flowed out in a straight line before instantly splitting into several directions in front of the Sword Emperor.

“Huk.”

The Sword Emperor, who had hastily inhaled a breath of air, twisted his body and shook his upper body. His footwork was excellent, but it wasn’t enough to nullify the Mad Demon Lord’s attack. The Mad Demon Lord instantly thrust his sword forward, swinging it in a cross shape.

“Kwaang!”

The Sword Emperor, staggering backward, was filled with disbelief. The sword energy filling his vision once again demanded his life. In the end, he had no choice but to break his initial promise. He unleashed three consecutive sword strikes at the fastest speed he could muster.

“Chwiriririri! Kwaang!”

With each collision, the Sword Emperor’s shoulders danced. The Mad Demon Lord’s attacks, which were like a storm, were not only sharp but also incredibly powerful. The Sword Emperor was barely able to block them. He felt a sense of crisis that if he made a mistake, he could suffer an irreversible fatal injury, and his heart began to beat rapidly. Perhaps due to excessive tension, his breathing even seemed to become rough. The flow of sword energy was inconsistent. Sometimes it split at the end like a whip, and other times the speed was erratic and unpredictable. If he tried to block with a sword barrier, it would strike with even greater force, and if he tried to defend with a technique, it would strike at his weak points. Even if he tried to evade with his dazzling footwork, his opponent would quickly close in, making it the first time he had ever faced such a difficult situation. Cho Ryang, who had been carefully observing the two men’s duel, was honestly surprised at this moment. Among the enemies he had met since entering the Central Plains, the Great Commander of the Blood Demon Heaven was the strongest.

‘That man is definitely not inferior to the Great Commander. He might even be stronger.’

He hesitated involuntarily. Should he just watch that man run wild, or should he join forces with the Sword Emperor to minimize the damage? He stood there, unable to decide. The Sword Emperor, who was constantly retreating, was also inwardly considering his options even in the midst of his urgency.

‘At this rate, I might be defeated by him. I have to somehow regain the advantage I lost.’

Even in the midst of all this, his eyes quickly darted around, and he noticed the Heavenly Fragrant Jade Peak in the Mad Demon Lord’s arms. It was when the Mad Demon Lord’s sword was once again aimed at the Sword Emperor’s heart. The Sword Emperor temporarily retreated his sword and swayed his body greatly from side to side. Then, he swung his sword to block the splitting sword energy, and using the force of the rebound, he created distance and forcefully stabbed towards the Mad Demon Lord’s left chest as he followed in. The Mad Demon Lord’s attack was faster, so it was obvious that the Sword Emperor would suffer a great loss if things continued this way. However, at that moment, the Mad Demon Lord had no choice but to quickly pull his body back. The area the Sword Emperor was aiming for was near Ja Un’s heart. Even if he defeated the opponent, the attack would not stop and would harm Ja Un.

“I’ll return what I received!”

The Sword Emperor shouted loudly and leaped towards the Mad Demon Lord. The Sword Emperor, who had leaped three yards into the air, was holding his sword vertically, and perhaps because of the moonlight, a halo of light was overlapping and spreading in all directions. Then, a wave of sword energy that blurred the vision was surging from his sword like a tide. The Mad Demon Lord did not dare to be negligent and infused his sword with internal energy.

‘Heavenly Demon Three Swords, Second Form, Heavenly Demon Reversal Change.’

The Mad Demon Lord mentally recited the second form of the Heavenly Demon Three Swords and forcefully swung his sword. It was the first time they had engaged in a sword energy battle rather than close combat. The wave of sword energy that had originated from the Sword Emperor was completely repelled by the Mad Demon Lord’s second form of the Heavenly Demon Three Swords. The second form was a sword style focused on change! It was effective when facing many enemies, but it was also perfect for countering attacks focused on change, like the Sword Emperor’s.

Compared to the Mad Demon Lord, who only shrugged his shoulders, the Sword Emperor had to flip his body several yards backward in the air. This exchange alone showed that the Mad Demon Lord was superior in terms of internal energy. Perhaps sensing this, the Sword Emperor’s face momentarily changed to one of surprise. Cho Hyang and the elders, who were watching this, also had their facial muscles twitching in disbelief. However, reality was always harsh. They didn’t want to admit it, but it was the truth.

“You bastard, take this too!”

The Sword Emperor, still floating in the air, readjusted his grip on his sword. One of the elders, who was watching him, involuntarily exclaimed.

“Ah, could it be the Heavenly Wave Sword?”

The Sword Emperor, having reversed his grip on the sword, struck down from above. However, unlike before, only a single, powerful stream of sword energy charged towards the Mad Demon Lord.

‘Heavenly Demon Three Swords, First Form, Heavenly Demon Manifestation Flash.’

Once again, the Heavenly Demon Three Swords was activated. The first form, focused on speed, was so fast that it put lightning to shame.

“Shwaaeeek! Kuuuu!”

Accompanied by unusual noises, the two men’s sword energies collided at the center point.

“Kwa-kwang!”

It didn’t end with just one collision. The Sword Emperor continuously pressed down with his sword, and the speed gradually doubled. Meanwhile, the Mad Demon Lord’s sword was also quickly finding its way into his opponent’s weak points. The two men’s attacks were gradually increasing in power. The Sword Emperor’s sword was accompanied by a sword wind, rapidly seeking out the Mad Demon Lord, and the Mad Demon Lord’s sword was also pushing the Sword Emperor into danger even faster.

“Kwa-kwa-kwang!”

The surface of the ground between the two men was overturned, creating a thick cloud of dust in the air, and the wind that had begun to blow from somewhere swirled it up again.

The two men had already changed positions dozens of times. The Sword Emperor, who was relatively more free than the Mad Demon Lord, would kick off the ground and soar into the air whenever his energy was depleted, and sometimes he would even approach the Mad Demon Lord and attack. The Mad Demon Lord was also not just staying in place.

The duel seemed like it would never end. It was clear that the Sword Emperor was at a disadvantage, but it wasn’t fatal. The Sword Emperor’s attacks, fueled by his wounded pride, gradually became more fierce. He didn’t forget to unleash vicious killing moves towards the Heavenly Fragrant Jade Peak whenever he felt like he was in danger. Dozens of exchanges had passed, but it didn’t seem like they were enough to decisively subdue the opponent.

‘It seems I have no choice. I’ll have to reveal all my cards in the end.’

The Mad Demon Lord’s eyes flashed for a moment.

After taking a brief moment to catch their breath and face each other, both men prepared for a new attack, as if by unspoken agreement. The Sword Emperor also seemed to be preparing his final move, as he readjusted his grip on his sword. This time, he pointed the sword’s edge towards the ground. And with an unwavering gaze, he sought out the Mad Demon Lord’s eyes. It was the moment when the Mad Demon Lord’s sword slowly rose and pointed towards the sky.

“Go.”

“Paeaeaeeng!”

The sword began to spin and left the Mad Demon Lord’s hand.

“Is that… Flying Sword Control?”

Someone watching exclaimed.

The Sword Emperor bit his lip and also sent his sword flying into the air.

“Kwang! Kwa-kwang!”

In the air, the two swords sparked. Each time they collided, a deafening sound echoed repeatedly. If you looked closely at the two men, the Sword Emperor was extending both hands forward to control his sword, but the Mad Demon Lord was not. At that moment, the Mad Demon Lord charged towards him.

Seeing this, the Sword Emperor was shocked and didn’t know what to do.

‘Is that… is his sword control beyond the level of Eye-Guided Sword?’

He couldn’t believe the reality before his eyes.

‘How can such a young man….’

The Mad Demon Lord’s age was mentioned again. He had only just entered the realm of Hand-Guided Sword [a level of sword mastery where one can guide the sword with their hands]. But his opponent was beyond the level of Eye-Guided Sword [a level of sword mastery where one can guide the sword with their eyes], so the outcome of this fight was obvious. As he was becoming desperate, someone tried to stop the Mad Demon Lord by launching an attack towards him. Cho Ryang fully opened the folding fan he was holding and threw it forcefully towards the Mad Demon Lord, who was charging towards the Sword Emperor.

“Piriring!”

Drawing a strange arc, the folding fan flew towards the Mad Demon Lord’s front. The Mad Demon Lord extended one hand and released his internal energy to block the insignificant attack.

“Kwang!”

Cho Ryang was already standing right next to the Sword Emperor, and his folding fan was neatly held in his hand. The Mad Demon Lord retreated and looked at Cho Ryang.

Both the Sword Emperor’s and the Mad Demon Lord’s swords had been retrieved.

“Are you perhaps planning to attack me together?”

While the Sword Emperor’s face was turning red with shame, Cho Ryang’s face remained unchanged.

“If you are that strong, then not only the two of us, but everyone here will have to attack you.”

“Is that so?”

“Truly unexpected. I never thought you would be a master of this level. Who exactly are you?”

Cho Ryang was genuinely curious about his opponent’s identity. At first, the fact that he was the man of Ja Un, whom he loved, was all that mattered, but now it was different. If he was a master of this level, his influence on the political situation could not be ignored, and he was curious about the organization he belonged to. Cho Ryang gathered all the information he knew and thought about it. However, no matter how much he thought, there was no suitable master among the people he had even heard of.

“It is not necessary for you to know who I am.”

“I heard that Miss Ja Un had a wedding in the Southern Alliance before. The groom was Dam Dae Chu Gwang, a man who was said to be second only to the leader of the alliance. I heard he was a subordinate of Moon Yoon, the Jade Faced Divine Dragon, the great commander of the Martial Alliance. I thought you were that person, but now it seems you are someone else. At least, with your martial prowess, you cannot be a subordinate of the Jade Faced Divine Dragon. And currently, that man has not been detected anywhere in our intelligence network. It is as if he disappeared one day. Are you really that person?”

“Think what you want. It doesn’t matter who I am. I will simply kill those who stand in my way.”

Cho Ryang did not laugh at him. The Mad Demon Lord still seemed calm, but in reality, his heart was burning more and more.

‘If that guy joins in… Damn it, is it all over now? No, it’s not time to be discouraged yet. If I do my best, there will definitely be an opportunity, and I will never miss that opportunity.’

“Is that so? Then there is no need for further words. And wouldn’t it be better if you put Miss Ja Un down? The outcome of this battle will be decided anyway. Wouldn’t Miss Ja Un be too exhausted?”

Cho Ryang was concerned about Ja Un, who was being held tightly in the Mad Demon Lord’s arms. The Mad Demon Lord looked down at Ja Un in his arms. She still had her eyes tightly closed. He loosened his grip on her. Then, her eyes opened and she looked up at him. A lot of conversation passed between their gazes. She quietly nodded her head. Then, she went and stood behind the Mad Demon Lord. In that scene, there was an absolute trust between the two, which made Cho Ryang even more heartbroken.

“Now, the crossroads of life and death will weigh our fate. We will do our best. I hope you have good luck.”

The Mad Demon Lord couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or just saying it. Could he really say such things to an enemy he had to kill? He took a forceful step forward, as if trying to shake off his thoughts.

The Sword Emperor, perhaps due to the shame of having avoided the crisis in the previous clash with the help of Tae Gong Cho Ryang, remained silent without saying a word.

[Sword Emperor, since his abilities surpass each of us individually, a joint attack is inevitable. While I distract him, look for an opening.]

The Sword Emperor was indifferent to Cho Ryang’s telepathic message. He still didn’t want to admit that his abilities were inferior to the young man in front of him. A joint attack… In his wildest dreams, he had never imagined that there would be a master in the Central Plains who he would have to face together with someone else. His pride in his martial arts had reached the sky, but he never imagined that he would suffer such humiliation in front of thousands of his subordinates.

Cho Ryang moved his feet quickly towards the Mad Demon Lord. The way he moved his feet was unique. He moved low to the ground, stepping on the air and moving his feet quickly, causing dust to rise from the ground. Cho Ryang, who had quickly closed the distance between them, extended his folding fan in a straight line, then swirled the end, drawing an incomplete circle. Then, the Mad Demon Lord extended his left hand to counter him.

“Tak! Tak! Tak!”

Each time the hand and fan collided, sounds that seemed to cool the chest rang out, and the movements of the wrist joints, which were opening, closing, bending, and twisting, moved rhythmically with the beat.

“Shwiing! Shwiing!”

As the speed of Cho Ryang’s swinging arm increased and became more dazzling, the noise that cut through the air became more intense and escalated, and accordingly, a faint stream of light swirled from the Mad Demon Lord’s hand, blocking the fan’s attacks. Their feet changed positions so quickly that they were invisible, and their postures also changed in a bizarre way.

The moment the extended folding fan was blocked by the Mad Demon Lord’s hand, it fully opened and slashed at the Mad Demon Lord’s neck. The Mad Demon Lord still didn’t use the sword he was holding in one hand, and he slid his foot back, slightly bending his waist backward. Then, the fan barely missed his neck. With the fan fully open in his right hand, Cho Ryang began to use his left fist and both feet simultaneously. Occasionally, a powerful force was emitted from his left hand, and the energy that started from the end of the fan seeped out, pressuring the Mad Demon Lord.

Eventually, the Mad Demon Lord had no choice but to use his sword. He began to continuously move his sword from the middle to the upper stance, putting his strength into it. Gradually, a sword energy that seemed to shatter the entire space surged from his sword and unraveled like a thread. Cho Ryang conceded a little in close combat, allowing a little more distance.

The Mad Demon Lord’s attack did not stop there. The force that began to emanate from his left hand, which was not holding the sword, was so diverse and powerful that it was dizzying to watch. Cho Ryang, who was facing him, and the Sword Emperor, who was watching, both felt this.

However, for some reason, the Sword Emperor was only watching the two men’s duel and did not join the fight. As the number of exchanges gradually increased, Cho Ryang’s movements began to become chaotic. Cho Ryang, who had become desperate, sent a telepathic message to the Sword Emperor.

[What in the world are you doing?]

‘I’m going to make sure you don’t think I owe you a debt of life, and I’m going to step in when you’re in danger. Hehe, moreover, if you become desperate, I can see your final move, so this is a win-win situation. Why would I pass up such a good opportunity?’

Cho Ryang had narrowly avoided several dangerous situations. However, when the Sword Emperor did not join the attack, he became furious.

‘That, that old man. What in the world is he hesitating about?’

The Mad Demon Lord’s attacks became more diverse as time passed. Cho Ryang had to sweat profusely to avoid or block the sword energy and the occasional bursts of force.

The Mad Demon Lord, who had been attacking like a storm, suddenly paused and stopped in place. Cho Ryang, who saw this, was curious as to why, but he was relieved that he had a chance to catch his breath.

The Mad Demon Lord’s gaze was not on Cho Ryang, but on the Sword Emperor. He seemed worried about something. Cho Ryang had a hunch.

‘Is he worried about Ja Un? That’s right. Because I was pushed back while defending, the distance between me and Ja Un has widened.’

The Sword Emperor realized that his plan had gone awry in this situation and was inwardly furious.

‘Damn idiot! You should have finished it while you were pushing him. This way, you haven’t gained anything.’

“Ahem, Tae Gong. Now that you’ve warmed up, let’s crush that guy together.”

Tae Gong Cho Ryang’s face slightly contorted at the shameless words he uttered as he stepped forward.

“So you were waiting for me to warm up until now.”

The Sword Emperor couldn’t say anything in response to Cho Ryang’s sarcastic remark. While listening to their exchange, the Mad Demon Lord was lost in thought.

Ultimately, as long as that cunning bastard is around, Ja Un’s safety cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, I can’t trust the others either… In the end, the conclusion is that I can’t leave this area.’

Everything was disadvantageous for him. The burden of worrying about Ja Un’s safety would create various unfavorable situations for the Mad Demon Lord. If there was a single ray of hope to escape the current predicament, it would be to deal with one of the two first, which was almost the only way.

However, realistically, neither of them was someone he could easily handle, and it would be impossible without at least dozens of exchanges. Moreover, if they attacked him at the same time, he might not even be able to guarantee his own life.

As the Mad Demon Lord was engrossed in these thoughts, the two slowly narrowed the distance, closing in on him. He snapped out of his reverie and straightened his posture. Although he had been preparing mentally, the anxiety intensified and tensed his body as the two actually approached together.

‘I must seize the initiative from the start. In the end, I have no choice but to use sword energy control [a technique to manipulate one’s inner energy to enhance sword attacks]. And I still have a trump card.’

The reason he had refrained from using sword energy control until now was because it consumed a great deal of internal energy, making it impossible to use for long periods. Both of them were also at a level where they could use sword energy control, so there was no guarantee that he could easily subdue them even if he used it. However, now there was no other way. Even if it consumed a lot of internal energy, it was almost the only way to face the two of them at once.

The Mad Demon Lord slowly began to gather his internal energy. The two approaching exchanged meaningful glances. And almost simultaneously, they kicked off the ground and leaped, instantly closing the distance and attacking the Mad Demon Lord from his left and right. From their swords and fans, a dazzling light poured out simultaneously.

They each aimed for the Mad Demon Lord’s heart and head.

“Hah!”

A shout that cut through the air escaped from the Mad Demon Lord’s mouth, and as he swung his sword, one by one, rings of powerful energy formed around it, colliding head-on with the energy of the two approaching him. Cho Ryang fully opened his fan, shaking it as if to shake off moisture, and the Sword Emperor twisted his wrist, rotating his sword.

*Clang!* Another collision erupted, creating a blue spark. The force of the impact created a gust of wind, swirling the three men’s clothes into the air. They all clenched their teeth. This single clash was merely the beginning of a fierce battle that would determine their lives. The impact of the rebounding wind widened the gap between them slightly.

In an instant, the Mad Demon Lord floated his sword into the air. As if given new life, his sword cut through the space like an arrow, directly striking the Sword Emperor, who was preparing for a counterattack. Sensing that the power was not to be ignored, the Sword Emperor poured all his energy into creating a sword aura, and Cho Ryang, seeing this, began to attack the Mad Demon Lord without caring how he was preparing.

The moment he reached the Mad Demon Lord’s vicinity, Cho Ryang felt his figure disappear from his sight and began to tense up.

‘Is it an invisibility technique? This, this… I can’t feel anything. It’s not difficult to hide one’s breath, but to not even feel his presence…’

He began to panic for a moment. Naturally, he began to grip the fan in his hand more tightly. He remained still, focusing all his attention on even the slightest movements around him. But he still couldn’t feel anything. He could also use a certain level of invisibility technique. However, he had never heard of an invisibility technique of this level, so he was momentarily unsure of what to do.

The power of the Heavenly Demon Concealment Technique [a high-level martial art technique that allows the user to become invisible] made even a master like Cho Ryang unable to sense his presence.

‘He’s somewhere. No matter how excellent the invisibility technique is, he will inevitably be caught by me the moment he moves.’

He closed his eyes and waited.

*Whoosh!* The moment he felt something approaching, Cho Ryang’s eyes opened and he thrust his fan straight forward.

*Clang!* “Ugh.”

He supported his body with his feet as he was pushed back, letting out a heavy groan.

*Whoosh!* ‘Damn it, at this rate, I’m at a disadvantage. He’s truly amazing. To be able to use sword energy control and launch such an attack on me at the same time.’

He frantically waved his hands forward again.

*Clang!* “Ugh.”

The sleeve of his robe tore and fluttered. Sensing danger, Cho Ryang began to circle around quickly. As he did so, he glanced at the Sword Emperor. He was also struggling. The opponent’s sword energy control was stronger and more precise than the Sword Emperor’s. He seemed to be sweating profusely and was out of his mind. Cho Ryang bit his lip, as if he had made a decision.

“Alright, let’s have a proper go.”

He fixed his stance in place and suddenly began to rotate. He rotated at such a speed that he was almost invisible. At that very moment, an unbelievable scene unfolded before their eyes. Other figures separated from his body and began to rotate. One, two, three… Cho Ryang, who had split into eight clones, moved in all directions, rotating, and waited for the opponent’s movements to be detected. Ja Un, who was standing far away, watched the situation in the arena with impatience.

She had not expected him to fight so well against two people, but the situation was still uncertain. The fact that she could not be of any help, or rather, that she was a burden, weighed heavily on her heart.

The Mad Demon Lord’s situation was not good either. The martial arts he was using were causing extreme internal energy consumption. He couldn’t last long like this. Controlling his sword towards the Sword Emperor, aiming for his weaknesses, and using the Heavenly Demon Concealment Technique to its extreme while emitting his power was gradually exhausting him. However, he had no other clear solution. He couldn’t stop here, but it was difficult to subdue his opponents easily, so the anxiety that he would have to go for a long battle weighed heavily on his body.

‘The fact that he’s responding in that way means he wants to go for a long battle. But if it drags on, I have no hope. Then…’

The Mad Demon Lord’s decision changed the form of the battle in the arena. When he retrieved his sword and revealed himself in the arena, the Sword Emperor and Cho Ryang paused, surprised. At that moment, the Sword Emperor shouted.

“Everyone, attack him!”

Since he was speaking to the elders, the five surviving elders were forced to join the battle. Seeing them, Cho Ryang looked displeased. It meant that there was no need to bring them into the fight. He was already feeling a bit ashamed, but now they had to gang up on him.

“Cowardly bastards. Can you even call yourselves true warriors?”

The Mad Demon Lord’s words made Cho Ryang even more ashamed.

“Don’t talk nonsense. When it comes to a match, victory is the greatest virtue. How you won is useless nonsense for a competitor.”

The Sword Emperor’s words did not comfort Cho Ryang. However, the situation had already been set up, so it was awkward to take it back, and honestly, he might have been secretly welcoming the elders’ participation. The Mad Demon Lord gripped his sword tightly with both hands and took a step forward. And a heavy sound flowed from his mouth.

“Even if I die here today and turn to dust, I will make all of you my companions in the afterlife.”

He did not speak of any hope of survival. He was a man who only expected what was possible. Even the two of them were already overwhelming, and if the remaining five old men joined in, the chances of survival were almost slim. Knowing this, he knew that the only way to increase his chances, even slightly, was to quickly reduce the number of heads, even if it was just one. Perhaps that was why he was rushing too much.

*Whoosh!* He charged forward with lightning speed and swung his sword powerfully at the old men lined up on both sides. The sword energy that spread in all directions swirled like a whip, and a whirlwind raged within its range. The old men, who were fluttering their clothes and forming a defensive formation, had already prepared for this, and two or three of them formed a group to block his sword. In that gap, the Sword Emperor’s attack was launched.

He leaped over the heads of the old men and powerfully dropped his sword. A sword aura that was over three yards long stretched forward and struck the Mad Demon Lord. However, at that moment, the Mad Demon Lord’s position was already somewhere else. The Sword Emperor’s attack only cut the ground.

He flipped his body in the air and attacked again where the Mad Demon Lord had moved. At that time, the Mad Demon Lord and Cho Ryang were facing each other. Using the gap created by the two rebounding, the Sword Emperor aimed for the Mad Demon Lord’s rear.

It was at that moment. The Mad Demon Lord turned his body backward and swung his sword from below, and one of the old men within the sword’s range had his head cleanly severed.

*Clang!* The moment the Sword Emperor’s sword and the Mad Demon Lord’s sword collided, the elders’ attacks focused on the Mad Demon Lord. The Mad Demon Lord raised his sword vertically and deployed a sword barrier, taking the full impact.

*Bang!* *Thud!* Cho Ryang greeted the Mad Demon Lord, who was pushed back. Their attacks were connected without a moment to breathe. The Mad Demon Lord had to swing his sword in all directions continuously. He could not afford to relax his tension, as a moment of carelessness could result in a serious injury that would make it difficult to move. When the Sword Emperor and Cho Ryang’s attacks fell on the Mad Demon Lord at the same time, he barely blocked them by tilting his sword upwards.

*Clang!* “Ugh.”

A heavy groan escaped his lips, and he had to be pushed back. Not missing the opportunity, four old men attacked him from behind. This time, they widened their attack range, intending to completely block his retreat. Sensing this, the Mad Demon Lord immediately used the Heavenly Demon Concealment Technique.

“Hmph, it won’t work anymore. Unless you don’t have a sword, as long as I can feel the sword’s energy, your position is as good as revealed.”

Cho Ryang’s words were true. Somehow, Cho Ryang and the Sword Emperor’s attacks accurately found his position. Even while fighting a difficult battle, Ja Un could only fret.

*Thud!* “Gasp.”

The Mad Demon Lord’s sword was deeply embedded in the stomach of one of the old men. In that state, he blocked Cho Ryang’s attack coming from the side. When he swept his sword sideways without pulling it out, the old man’s side burst open.

*Clang!* Feeling that the Heavenly Demon Concealment Technique was useless, the Mad Demon Lord was now revealing his entire body to reduce internal energy consumption.

‘This is bad, as time goes on, he’s not getting tired, but rather, he’s only getting stronger. If this continues, our side will suffer immense damage.’

Already, four out of the seven elders had died. The Sword Emperor took advantage of the gap when Cho Ryang attacked him and quickly returned to the rear of the old men. No one was paying attention to his movements. The Sword Emperor, who kicked off the ground and soared like a ghost, was aiming for the outside of the battlefield.

“Stop!”

The Sword Emperor shouted triumphantly. His shout stopped the fight for a moment. Their heads turned to where the sound came from and they checked the Sword Emperor.

“Y-you cowardly bastard.”

“Hahahaha, if you don’t mind this woman dying, keep struggling.”

The Sword Emperor’s sword was pressed against Chun Hyang Ok Bong’s neck. She was also surprised, and her face had turned pale. Cho Ryang was about to say something when the Sword Emperor spoke first.

“Tae Gong, this is unavoidable. All of this is out of a desire to reduce unnecessary damage, so please don’t say anything. After all, in a match, you must use any means necessary. If we leave that guy alone, our damage will be significant, and there’s no reason to endure such damage.”

Cho Ryang shut his mouth. He was afraid to look Ja Un in the eye, so he consciously avoided her gaze.

“Now, it seems all that’s left is for you to throw away your sword and surrender. If you want to watch the woman you love bleed to death in front of you, then resist to the end, but if not, how about surrendering peacefully?”

“Don’t worry about me, you vile villain, you…”

The Sword Emperor forcefully pulled her hair. Then, her pitiful face was lifted under the moonlight. Her face was quickly filled with resignation.

‘That foolish man, even though I warned him to be careful…’ The Mad Demon Lord blamed himself. His sword slowly drooped towards the ground. His shoulders slumped, and his appearance was completely different from the valiant figure he had shown just moments before.

The Sword Emperor signaled to one of the elders with a nod. One of the surviving elders cautiously approached the Mad Demon Lord. He was still afraid of him. Even as he approached, the Mad Demon Lord did not move. Had he really given up on everything? Was he really going to throw away his life so futilely to his enemies? When he suddenly raised his head, the approaching old man flinched and hurriedly stepped back. The Mad Demon Lord’s gaze went to Ja Un. When their eyes met, she said with her eyes that she didn’t care what happened to her, so please survive here. He also seemed to be listening to her unspoken words, and the Mad Demon Lord’s eyes began to tremble.

The degree of trembling seemed to be proportional to the depth of his love for her.

“What are you doing? Seize him quickly.”

Encouraged again by the Sword Emperor’s urging, the old man began to approach cautiously. Even when he was right in front of him, the Mad Demon Lord did not move. The approaching old man also seemed relieved, and he let out a sigh as he reached out to suppress the pressure points on his body.

At that very moment, the Mad Demon Lord’s body, which had been turned away, seemed to blur, and he quickly moved behind the approaching old man. And his hand grabbed the opponent’s neck.

“Gasp.”

The old man, who had been caught off guard, was helplessly subdued by the Mad Demon Lord. He looked at the Sword Emperor with the old man’s neck in his grip.

“Let her go now. Or else…”

“Or else?”

The Sword Emperor grinned. In contrast, the Mad Demon Lord’s face hardened.

“Are you saying I should exchange such a foolish man for such a wonderful hostage? That useless man is as good as dead. Kill him quickly, hahaha.”

The Mad Demon Lord was momentarily flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“If you surrender peacefully, I’ll spare this woman’s life. Choose quickly.”

At the Sword Emperor’s urging, the Mad Demon Lord’s face grew darker and darker.

‘What should I do? If I surrender to them, Ja Un might be safe. At least as long as that guy is around…’

The Mad Demon Lord’s head turned slightly towards Cho Ryang.

‘I have to make a decision. As long as Ja Un is in that guy’s hands, I can’t do anything. Am I going to give up so futilely like this…’

He was slowly making a decision. He looked at the old man’s neck in his grip and then turned to Ja Un. Perhaps it was because of the coldness of the sword against her neck, or perhaps it was because of the premonition of the misfortune that might soon befall her beloved, but her face was gradually losing its color and becoming pale. The Mad Demon Lord’s hand tightened.

“Gasp.”

As he slowly applied pressure, the old man’s face turned red. It seemed to be turning bluish as he was unable to withstand the pressure. Seeing this, the Sword Emperor’s sword twitched.

“Are you saying you don’t care about this woman’s safety?”

The Sword Emperor slightly increased the pressure on his sword. Chun Hyang Ok Bong’s lips trembled and convulsed, and she bit her lip tightly to hide it. Before she knew it, the blade had left a clear bloodstain on the woman’s neck. A thin drop of blood slowly flowed down her slender neck.

“Stop, stop it!”

At the Mad Demon Lord’s frantic shout, the Sword Emperor smiled. It was the smile of a victor.

“Hahahaha, your valor is great, but it’s useless when you have such a big burden by your side. It’s a pity.”

Seeing the Sword Emperor, who even clicked his tongue with a seemingly regretful expression, the Mad Demon Lord tightened his grip on his sword. The veins bulged and throbbed. The inner rage coursed through his veins and quickly enveloped his entire body. Nevertheless, he could not take any action. His eyes did not leave Ja Un. In the current situation, there was nothing he could do.

‘Ja Un, I know your heart, but how can I abandon your life? I have already given up on my life the moment I came here. If only you could survive… It seems that guy loves you… If I disappear, you might be safer.’

He had made a decision in his heart, but he hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do, as he could not give up so easily. There were only two options he could choose now. One was to fight to the end without caring about Ja Un’s life. The last one was to be captured peacefully as they wished. Which one was easy to choose?