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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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‘Sloppy.’
That was William’s first impression of the Asura Extermination Sword Formation.
Having experience breaking through countless formations on the battlefield, he could easily see its weaknesses.
‘Swords alone have their limits. They should have brought shields. And against opponents of this level…a sword formation is meaningless.’
A sword formation, created by martial artists who practiced the same internal energy techniques. Their combined power amplified their attacks, and their synchronized movements restricted the opponent’s actions like a spider web.
The greatest advantage of a sword formation was its ability to overwhelm a stronger opponent through sheer numbers. However, that only worked if the difference in skill wasn’t too significant.
“Is that all you got?”
William’s disappointed voice echoed through the hall.
The Demonic Cultivators, having deployed the Asura Extermination Sword Formation for the first time in actual combat, hesitated, unable to advance. The main reason, of course, was that William still held the branch leader and Yang Mun-pyeong hostage.
‘If I just kill them both…’
The assistant branch leader, Number 37, observed from behind the formation, his mind racing.
If he killed all three and reported it to his superiors, he could claim credit for resolving the situation and take the branch leader’s position.
‘They’re both as good as dead anyway. I’ll kill all three at once.’
Number 37 discreetly signaled his men.
Ignore the hostages and kill them. The Demonic Cultivators hesitated for a moment, then tightened their grip on their swords and closed in.
“Did you forget I have hostages?”
“You bastards! What are you doing?!”
“Number 37! What is the meaning of this?!”
“I’m taking over.”
‘Interesting.’
William watched the unfolding drama with amusement. He was surprised that the Demonic Cultivators so readily accepted the betrayal.
‘They were backstabbing each other in the original story as well. Is that a common occurrence? Well, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge…’
They couldn’t stop him.
Trying to stop a knight with brute force was foolish.
Unless they could penetrate his Aura Armor, their sword formation was useless.
To defeat a knight, one needed more than a flimsy sword formation. Heavy armor, nets, and poison were necessary.
The faint blue light surrounding William’s body intensified.
“Surrender now, and I’ll make it quick. Anyone?”
“…”
“Silence means no. Really? No one?”
“…Attack!”
The sword formation rapidly constricted, ignoring the hostages. William immediately threw Yang Mun-pyeong and Song-un aside and walked towards Number 37.
His steps were calm, unhurried. Despite the demonic energy swirling around him, the combined power of these first-rate Demonic Cultivators wasn’t a threat.
It was nothing compared to facing thousands of soldiers in formation.
As William advanced, swords rained down on him. Blades imbued with a faint aura. It resembled a Flying Sword technique, but William’s expression remained calm.
As if daring them to try harder.
‘What? He’s surrounded, yet his expression…’
Number 37 looked at William, a sense of unease growing within him. Their eyes met.
William pointed at him.
‘I’m coming for you.’
An unprecedented wave of fear washed over Number 37.
‘I have to…escape!’
But for a newly promoted peak expert to escape from a transcendent expert was nearly impossible without a miracle. William pushed through the sword formation as if it wasn’t even there, advancing towards Number 37.
The Asura Extermination Sword Formation crumbled like a sandcastle.
“The…the formation!”
“Stop him!”
“Activate the Reverse Heaven Technique! We must kill him for the Cult!”
“Yes, sir!”
Desperate, the Demonic Cultivators began activating the Reverse Heaven Technique.
Dozens of them simultaneously, their muscles bulging, their eyes turning red. It was a scene straight out of hell, but William simply observed them with a calm gaze.
“How troublesome.”
Their Aura Blades were slightly more refined than before, but they couldn’t even scratch his Aura Armor.
Their attacks useless, the Demonic Cultivators threw themselves at William, disregarding their own safety.
Swords struck his body. Hidden weapons and projectiles rained down on him.
But they couldn’t stop his advance. Like Goliath from the Bible, he charged towards Number 37, his massive frame unstoppable.
Number 37 was trapped.
His only escape route was blocked, the monstrous figure was closing in, and his subordinates were being thrown aside like ragdolls.
‘Damn it! If I can just lose him and reach the safe house…’
“Trying to escape?”
“What?!”
A heavy blow to the back of his neck sent Number 37 sprawling. He crashed into the wall and stumbled to his feet. William stood before him, his arm outstretched.
“A bit rusty, I suppose.”
“Damn it…”
‘My only option is a suicidal attack.’
Being captured would be a major blow to the Heavenly Demon Cult. He had to at least inflict some damage before that happened. He activated the Reverse Heaven Technique and drew his sword.
“You should have surrendered.”
William drew his gladius instead of his usual longsword.
A sword optimized for Roman gladiatorial combat, a weapon wielded by countless warriors throughout history.
William held his free hand forward like a shield and charged towards Number 37. Number 37, consumed by rage, swung his sword at William’s throat.
A sharp attack. But it bounced harmlessly off William’s outstretched hand.
His attack blocked as if by a shield, Number 37’s posture crumbled, and William’s gladius pierced his shoulder, pinning him to the wall.
“The only way to tame a mad dog is to beat it.”
William lifted his leg and kicked Number 37 in the stomach with all his might. The wall behind him cracked from the impact. Number 37 coughed up blood, struggling weakly.
But his struggles were futile. William twisted his sword and pushed Number 37 to the ground.
“Any last words? Though, judging by your condition, you probably can’t speak.”
“Heavenly…Demon…will…return…”
“You still have the strength for that?”
William pulled his sword from Number 37’s shoulder and plunged it into his heart.
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“Is this the safe house?”
Having subdued the Demonic Cultivators and located the tunnel, we headed towards the safe house.
It was deserted.
“…At least they have plenty of emergency rations.”
“Benefactor, there are also medicinal herbs for treating injuries.”
“Mister! There’s a fancy box here!”
“A box?”
I walked over to the box Hye-ryeong had found, opened it, and examined the contents.
“…Wow. They’ve made quite a profit.”
“I-is this enough to buy ten thousand tanghulu?”
“More like a hundred thousand.”
There were at least thirty gold bars.
“Hye-ryeong, carry the box. We’ll take it with us.”
“Okay!”
Hye-ryeong struggled to lift the heavy box, her chest pressing against it.
It was a rather…distracting sight, but I averted my gaze and continued searching the safe house.
Unfortunately, there was nothing else of value besides the medicine and rations, so we decided to return to Xiping with the gold.
“Is it okay to just take this?”
“It’s Demonic Cult money. This will weaken them.”
Logistics were essential in war.
Disrupting their supply lines was the most effective way to cripple an enemy.
Even the most skilled martial artist couldn’t fight on an empty stomach.
“Let’s report back and then raid the other locations.”
“Okay!”
“Understood.”
We returned to Xiping through the tunnel and met with the Beggar Sect branch leader.
He looked at the box we were carrying with curiosity, but when I told him it contained gold, he stepped back, licking his lips.
He understood it was ours.
I had done all the work, so he had no claim to it.
“I’m willing to offer you a small share as compensation.”
“No need. What good is gold to a beggar? A bowl of rice is enough.”
“As expected of the Beggar Sect…admirable.”
“If I craved gold, I would have become a caravan guard.”
“I see.”
“We’ll take care of things here…are you returning to Wuhan?”
“There are a few more suspicious locations I’d like to check on the way back.”
“Hmm. Very well. But…won’t it be cumbersome carrying all that gold?”
“Yes, I was planning to exchange it for silver.”
“Take it to the Hao Clan and deposit it at their bank.”
“…Is it okay for a Beggar Sect member to say that?”
That seemed hypocritical.
“No one needs to know. You have nowhere else to store it, and the Hao Clan has branches everywhere.”
“Understood. Then…”
“Well, I’ll see you around.”
We headed towards the Hao Clan’s branch.
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“Thirty gold bars…he must have more hidden somewhere, but we can search for that later. We’ll keep this safe. Take this letter to the Golden Dragon Bank, and they’ll exchange it for silver.”
So, this was how banking worked without credit cards.
I tucked the letter into my pocket and turned to leave.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
“Ah, before you go…Hero Wi. We received information that the abbot of the Shaolin Temple recently visited the Martial Alliance.”
“The abbot? Suddenly?”
Had that happened in the original story?
I racked my brain, but I couldn’t recall such an event. The abbot of the Shaolin Temple wasn’t someone who traveled lightly.
He would only leave the temple for something important, like the assassination of the Martial Alliance Leader.
“Thank you.”
“I was simply doing my duty.”
I would check the remaining suspicious locations and then head to Wuhan.
Things were going surprisingly well.
Was it luck, or…?
Did it even matter? As long as everything went according to plan.
I dismissed my unease and set off for Wuhan.
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