Chapter 649: Return of the Demon Sect
Yoo Song-ryeong stood momentarily stunned, staring at Yeon Seol-yeon who had appeared out of nowhere.
“What are you doing here…? No, more importantly, do you know where my son is?”
“Master Seok is safe. You don’t need to worry.”
“You mean you were with him?”
Yoo Song-ryeong’s eyes narrowed sharply. The idea of Seok Geom-yeong being with Yeon Seol-yeon was far from pleasing.
Yeon Seol-yeon hesitated for a moment before responding.
“Have you lost your mind? Chatting away in front of me!”
A chilling voice suddenly cut through the air.
Swoosh!
Splash!
A sword flew through the air, slicing through the water spray.
‘Is that a flying sword technique…?’
Startled, Yoo Song-ryeong swung her massive sword down with force.
Crash!
The sword, which had been flying towards her in a burst of light, shattered into pieces. Only then did she realize it wasn’t a sword targeting her, but some kind of magic.
It was similar to the technique they had used in the Blood Formation earlier.
“What on earth are these…!”
But before she could finish her sentence.
Roar!
A water dragon suddenly surged up from the middle of the valley.
The water column twisted and turned as if alive, rushing towards Yoo Song-ryeong.
“Such petty tricks…!”
Yoo Song-ryeong shouted angrily, swinging her massive sword with all her might.
Slash!
The water stream split in two upon contact with her sword.
Splash!
Surprised by the unexpected force, Yoo Song-ryeong stepped back.
‘This isn’t just water! It’s as if it’s been infused with energy…!’
How could this person wield such magic?
No, to be precise, this wasn’t magic. It was a fusion of magic and martial arts.
Is that even possible?
Hadn’t she tried it herself?
Anyone from the Celestial Extermination Squad or the Newborn Sect… no, anyone from the Demon Extermination Hall would have attempted it at least once.
But it wasn’t easy.
The moment you infuse magic with internal energy, everything falls apart.
Of course, there was one exception.
The Demon Palace Lord, Sa Bi-gang.
He was someone who didn’t need to attempt such complex things in the first place.
He had reached the unprecedented realm of the Ten Thousand Sea, a level recorded in the history of the martial world.
He could exhibit abilities beyond that without mixing magic and martial arts.
If he wanted, he could create and announce such a new concept of ‘magic martial arts’ at any time.
But he didn’t.
Because he believed that great power comes with great responsibility.
In a way, it was selfish.
Sa Bi-gang openly stated, “Why should I create that and teach it to you? There’s no demon clan to stop anymore. The demon king is ultimately created by humans. If humans possess great power, equally great evil will be born. Since martial arts emerged in this land, have there been more good things or bad? It’s all about killing and being killed. They preach chivalry, but with excessive power, they only plot to stab others in the back. Yes, fundamentally, I don’t trust humans. Or rather, I don’t trust the environment created by humans. So I have no intention of teaching you excessive abilities. Enjoy peace.”
In response to this, Yeom Ja-ryang once grumbled, “But Master, you possess great power.”
“Yes, but I only need to manage myself. Why should I bother teaching others and then have to monitor and manage them? It’s best not to create troublesome things in the first place.”
Roar!
Two water dragons twisted and roared, snapping Yoo Song-ryeong out of her brief reverie. She focused on one of the water columns.
One sword!
She couldn’t block the attacks coming from both sides at once.
She enveloped herself in protective energy and targeted just one.
“Hah!”
She raised her protective energy and struck down with her sword.
Crash!
The water stream split again, branching out in two directions.
But the force of the water stream that should have exploded behind her was nowhere to be felt.
Glancing back, she saw Yeon Seol-yeon had approached and was blocking the water stream with her sword.
Yoo Song-ryeong clicked her tongue.
“Tsk! Who asked for your help?”
“I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”
Yeon Seol-yeon replied, and Yoo Song-ryeong scoffed.
“Hmph! You must be looking down on me.”
“Not at all. I truly respect your martial arts, Senior.”
As the two exchanged words, the number of water dragons had grown to four.
Seok Tan-gang was too busy dealing with the masked men to come over and help.
“Tch! It’s like trying to cut water with a sword!”
Yoo Song-ryeong clicked her tongue and furrowed her brow.
The leader of the masked men murmured coldly.
“I was going to leave, but you two have gotten on my nerves.”
“Who was it that kidnapped my son first?”
Yoo Song-ryeong shouted fiercely, but the masked man couldn’t understand her words at all.
In this situation, it was ridiculous to go over the details.
The water had already been spilled, so the only option was to make a sea out of it.
Splash!
This time, four water dragons infused with energy descended upon the two of them simultaneously.
As water columns poured down like waterfalls from all directions, Yoo Song-ryeong bit her lip.
If it were just powerful water streams, she wouldn’t mind taking a few hits.
But these streams were infused with energy.
Each particle of water could slice through her body.
‘You should be here…!’
Yoo Song-ryeong glanced towards Seok Tan-gang.
Their martial arts truly shone when they were together.
In a way, they were more perfect when they fought as a pair.
But now, they had no choice but to fight separately.
At that moment,
“How about using the Whirlwind Counterattack Blade?”
Yeon Seol-yeon shouted at the top of her lungs.
Mok Dan-hwa flinched.
‘How does this child know about that…?’
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Yoo Song-ryeong was already moving reflexively.
The Whirlwind Counterattack Blade was a technique of the Black Heaven Sword School, designed to fend off daggers raining down from all directions or to face multiple enemies at once.
In other words, it was a cooperative technique for more than two people.
It might seem simple, but it was a bit tricky.
They had to match their energies to an appropriate level and make good use of each other’s centrifugal force.
It required a lot of training and practice.
If they were even slightly out of sync, the result could be worse than not using the cooperative technique at all.
Nevertheless, Yoo Song-ryeong and Yeon Seol-yeon naturally grasped each other’s hands.
The power would be doubled if one of them used a chain sickle, but it didn’t matter if they used swords as they were now.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes, Mother!”
‘Mother…?’
Yoo Song-ryeong wanted to question the meaning of those words, but the situation was too urgent.
‘This sly fox!’
She thought to herself, gripping Yeon Seol-yeon’s hand tightly.
In the next moment, the two of them synchronized their energies naturally.
Even in that brief moment, Yoo Song-ryeong couldn’t help but be amazed.
‘How is this child so natural at it…?’
Then.
Swoosh!
Using centrifugal force, the two of them spun into the air like a whirlwind.
Splash!
The waterfall-like streams pouring down from all directions shattered into countless fragments in the spinning blade storm.
Rain!
Thin streams of water fell around the valley like a sudden shower.
Splash!
Yoo Song-ryeong and Yeon Seol-yeon, who had soared into the air, landed on the valley floor.
The water that had filled the gorge spread out in large waves.
Roar!
This time, the masked men were swept away by the waves, stumbling back.
Thud!
Having finished the Whirlwind Counterattack Blade, the two of them simultaneously launched themselves towards the leader of the masked men.
Yeon Seol-yeon’s sharp voice rang out.
“Die, you worm-like bastard!”
Her voice was so piercing that even Yoo Song-ryeong, Seok Tan-gang, and the fighting masked men flinched and turned to look.
Clang!
With a heavy metallic sound, the leader of the masked men was sent flying backward.
Splash!
He barely managed to stop himself by sliding across the ground.
Tap! Tap!
Yoo Song-ryeong and Yeon Seol-yeon also landed on solid ground.
Yoo Song-ryeong glanced at Yeon Seol-yeon with a face that couldn’t quite adapt.
‘This child said such things…’
She had assumed Yeon Seol-yeon had grown up hearing only proper and refined words in a prestigious sect.
‘Did my child influence her?’
Amused by the unexpected thought, she chuckled to herself.
“Indeed, you are from the Black Heaven Sword School. I suppose I should respond more seriously now.”
The leader of the masked men spoke in a heavy, sunken voice.
He slowly raised his hand and said, “Prepare to use the Demonic Battle God Technique.”
“Yes, sir!”
The masked men responded in unison and began to draw upon their energy.
Soon, they exuded an entirely different aura than before.
Yoo Song-ryeong, Seok Tan-gang, and Yeon Seol-yeon narrowed their eyes, watching them intently.
‘This is a very unpleasant aura…’
The leader of the masked men, his eyes now a fiery red, spoke.
“Let’s finish this.”
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out.
“I’d like to join in on that conclusion.”
Simultaneously.
Whoosh!
Dark shadows descended all around the valley.
The one leading the group was none other than Deung Gahui.
The masked leader frowned, glaring at them. “Who are these people?”
At that, Dan Rihyuk stepped forward from the crowd with a serious expression. “If I were to introduce us… um… hmm… we are…”
”…?”
“Um… what were we again?” Dan Rihyuk scurried over to Deung Gahui to ask.
Deung Gahui let out a light sigh, stepped forward confidently, and declared, “We are the Baekhwadan of the Myeolmagung. And who might you be?”
‘Damn it! I wanted to say it that coolly!’ Dan Rihyuk grumbled to himself as the masked leader’s expression hardened slightly.
‘Of all groups, it had to be the Baekhwadan…!’
Meanwhile, Seok Tangang, who had been observing them, suddenly asked, “What brings the Baekhwadan here?”
“It’s been a while, Lord Seok. We were on our way here for a purpose when we heard that your son had been kidnapped by these people. We just rescued him… or so we were instructed to say by Leader Sabiran.”
Seok Tangang and Yoo Songryeong’s eyes widened in shock.
“So it was you who kidnapped our son!”
Yoo Songryeong demanded of Deung Gahui, “What about our son? How is Yeonga?”
“Don’t worry. He’s safe now.”
Just then, a commotion could be heard in the distance.
Suddenly, the masked figures, including the Black Hat Man, appeared in the valley.
Following them, Sabiran, Seok Geomyeong, Mok Danhwa, and Yeon Woo-gyeong emerged one by one.
“Father, Mother.”
“Yeonga!”
As Seok Geomyeong and Yoo Songryeong recognized each other and shouted, another voice rang out.
“No… Yeona!”
“Father?”
“Oh, Yeona!”
Yeon Woo-gyeong called out to Yeon Seol-yeon with a look of deep emotion.
Meanwhile, as the situation took an unexpected turn, the Black Hat Man and the masked leader exchanged bewildered glances.
Deung Gahui sent a telepathic message to Sabiran. [What do we do now?]
[What else? We proceed with the plan and eliminate the evidence. Or is it the witnesses?]
At Sabiran’s response, Deung Gahui nodded, pulled something from his pocket, and threw it.
A sharp whistle followed by a loud bang echoed as a flare lit up the sky in a brilliant red.