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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Hongryeon, who had turned the tide of battle with her mere appearance, lightly gripped her massive greatsword, which was as tall as she was.
Crack…
She couldn’t relax.
Although she had landed a surprise blow, the enemy wasn’t down for the count just yet.
The Demonic Sect member who had been knocked down slowly got to her feet.
Her previous seductive and elegant demeanor was nowhere to be found. Her hair was disheveled, and her body was covered in dirt.
But what was most shocking was her face, twisted in a wrathful grimace.
“Ha… haha.”
She staggered to her feet. She looked so weak that it seemed like she would collapse from a single blow, but I, Sayoon, Yoohee,
And Hongryeon, all knew.
The demonic Qi emanating from her had intensified.
“Ptooey.”
Something flew out of her mouth. Crimson blood. Had she suffered internal injuries from the surprise attack?
I hoped so…
“Even if I die…”
Her chilling voice dominated the atmosphere. Sayoon and Yoohee raised their swords, but Hongryeon just stared at her indifferently.
As the surging demonic Qi intensified to the point of taking shape,
The wrathful grimace returned to the beauty’s face.
“You will die today.”
But her voice remained as vicious as any demon’s.
“…She opened her Death Meridian.”
The Death Meridian. A technique of demonic martial arts where practitioners stored their demonic Qi and unleashed it to double their power when facing mortal enemies.
Now that she had opened it, she wouldn’t be unscathed either.
Was she that desperate to kill Hongryeon?
-Kaboom!!
An explosion erupted. The materialized demonic Qi detonated, creating flames.
Black, vile, dangerous flames.
“…Yoohee, Sayoon, protect the innkeeper and the village headman.”
It seemed like Hongryeon knew what those flames were.
A Fire Tiger. One of the fire demons frequently employed by the Demonic Sect.
The black tiger, formed from flickering black flames, glared at us, baring its fangs.
-Grrrr….!!
With a low growl, a wave of flames erupted.
I watched and then spoke to Yoohee,
“Can you fight it?”
“Of course…!”
Yoohee clenched her teeth, dispelling her tension. Sayoon, standing beside her, did the same.
As we watched the Fire Tiger cautiously, trying to maintain our composure,
“Die!!”
With a rough shout, the Demonic Sect member charged.
-Clang!!
Her iron claws, infused with demonic Qi, clashed against Hongryeon’s greatsword. As the metallic clang resonated, the shockwave from their clash reached us, and the Fire Tiger roared. Yoohee and Sayoon leaped forward.
-Roar!!
Whooooosh. The demonic Qi contained in the roar created a wave of fire that spread in all directions. Yoohee, gracefully dodging the flames with her footwork, reached the Fire Tiger and struck without hesitation.
Blood Wind.
Her sword, shimmering with a red blade aura, rose from bottom to top, splitting the Fire Tiger’s flaming body. But that alone wasn’t enough to defeat it.
“Hup!!”
It seemed like Sayoon knew that too. Yoohee’s attack was just a feint to create an opening. Sayoon, aiming at the black body exposed through the extinguished flames, extended her hand without hesitation.
-Thud!!
With a sound of tearing leather, the Fire Tiger staggered and retreated. But the hostility, the murderous intent, the unyielding violence in its eyes hadn’t subsided in the slightest.
Instead, it seemed to revel in its fury, swinging its front paws, enveloped in black flames.
In Heavenly Bright Moon, they jokingly called it the “Kitty Punch,” but seeing it in reality, it seemed too violent to be described with such a cute term.
Sayoon was about to jump back to avoid the attack.
No!
That’s not how you dodge it!
“Block it!!”
That attack created a shockwave upon impact with the ground. Dodging would only result in being caught in its aftermath. So, blocking it before the explosion was the best course of action.
Boom!!
Perhaps because she heard my shout, Sayoon quickly raised her sword. She blocked the attack before it could fully connect, but I could see her knees buckle slightly under the weight of the paw slamming against her sword. She gritted her teeth.
Crimson blood trickled down her chin. But even so, her gaze remained fixed on the enemy.
“The waist!!”
Big attacks create openings.
The Fire Tiger’s attack was a powerful one that created a period of vulnerability, leaving a gap in its side. Yoohee wasn’t clumsy enough to miss it.
She was a disciple of the Hongseong Sect, after all.
-Slash!!
The Fire Tiger, unable to ignore the blow that tore through its hide, growled, pulled its paw back from Sayoon, and leaped back.
“Thank you!”
Sayoon, who had mitigated the impact of the Fire Tiger’s attack with some light stretching, shouted.
“You’re welcome.”
Perhaps because its attack had failed and it had been injured, the Fire Tiger’s movements became cautious. Unfortunately, its vigilance wasn’t good news for us.
“Sayoon! Yoohee! Hold on a little longer!!”
“Yes!!”
The battle between Hongryeon and the Demonic Sect member who had opened her Death Meridian continued.
Hongryeon was skillfully deflecting the attacks, which were too fast for the naked eye, with simple movements of her massive greatsword, but it seemed like she hadn’t found an opening to attack yet.
In a battle between masters, a single opening could decide the outcome.
Moreover, the Demonic Sect member, having opened her Death Meridian, was unleashing a barrage of attacks, so fast that it was almost impossible to breathe.
If it weren’t for a master like Hongryeon, she would have already been overwhelmed.
But as befitting the senior disciple of the Hongseong Sect, she calmly blocked the attacks, forcing the enemy to create openings herself.
As she continued to defend, Hongryeon bit her lip slightly.
The anxiety that Sayoon and Yoohee might be defeated by the Fire Tiger and that the village headman and I might die.
She wanted to push the Demonic Sect member back and come to our aid, but her opponent’s attacks were relentless.
Perhaps the Demonic Sect member had summoned the Fire Tiger for that very purpose.
“Ahahahaha!! Why don’t you come over here?! Huh?! Huh?! I’ll split you in two!!”
…That must be it.
To shake off the Demonic Sect member who was clinging to her, Hongryeon would have to use a powerful attack, and her opponent was trying to bait her into doing just that.
Then, there was only one thing we had to do.
Defeat the Fire Tiger and allow Hongryeon to focus on her opponent.
-Roar!!
The roar jolted me back to reality. As the black flames emanating from the Fire Tiger’s body intensified, Sayoon and Yoohee charged towards it without hesitation.
Blood Wind followed by Gale, and then Star Cloud Flash, moving in tandem with Gale.
The latter techniques of the Hongseong Divine Art, intertwined with the earlier techniques, were unleashed from Yoohee’s hand in a dazzling display.
As the Fire Tiger’s flames were extinguished by the techniques, Sayoon extended her hand.
Star Shattering Palm.
The Fire Tiger, struck by the star-shattering blow, was sent flying.
But…
-Grrrr…
Not yet.
It seemed like the Fire Tiger could still fight, despite its injuries.
Reacting to its fighting spirit and hostility, the internal energy of the Hongseong Divine Art surged from her dantian. It flowed through her meridians, bringing with it a sense of exhilaration.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
This is power.
-Roar!!!
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Sayoon tightened her grip on her sword. The leather of the hilt, clinging to her palm, felt pleasant.
“Ugh!!”
The Fire Tiger, dashing forward, slammed its body into Yoohee. As Yoohee was sent flying with a scream of pain, the Ominous Star, residing within Sayoon’s body, whispered sweetly,
It hurt someone precious to you.
So…
Are you just going to stand there?
Yes.
I should do something.
I can’t just stand here.
As if possessed, Sayoon, with a blank expression, glided towards the Fire Tiger.
Star Flow Steps.
She approached the Fire Tiger with movements as swift as a star traversing the heavens, and it couldn’t defend itself.
-Thud!!
What she unleashed wasn’t a palm strike, but a fist.
Crude and unrefined.
No technique, no intent.
Just a fist driven by pure rage and fury.
Her internal energy was rapidly depleting, but Sayoon didn’t care.
More.
I need to destroy more.
Sayoon’s gaze intensified, and the impact of her blows against the Fire Tiger grew stronger.
It was being pushed back.
Pushed back further and further.
As if flustered by Sayoon’s sudden change, the Fire Tiger raised its paw and swung it down with all its might.
-Boom!!
An explosion erupted, and flames soared. But piercing through those flames was a single fist.
The powerful fist, strong enough to split even the flames, dealt a heavy blow to the Fire Tiger, forcing it to its knees.
Yes, this is it. This is it. Destruction and violence.
This is my priority.
…Is it really?
Beyond the sweet, seductive voice, a heavy voice resonated.
Within Sayoon, who was being consumed by a cold darkness, a warm starlight illuminated the path for the lost girl.
-Are you eating properly?
Yes, just a single sentence.
-Call me Mister.
But it was a sentence so warm, so comforting, that she couldn’t help but cling to it.
The kind, gentle words spoken to her awakened Sayoon’s spirit, which had been lost in the darkness, overwhelmed by the immense power of the Ominous Star.
-Grrrr…
The Fire Tiger, rising to its feet, had flames in its eyes.
But Sayoon couldn’t help but look away.
Her eyes fell on Hongryeon, who was fighting the Demonic Sect member,
Yoohee, who had been struck by the Fire Tiger’s attack,
And…
Yu Wol, staring at her with a worried frown.
As she saw them, the darkness receded, and she saw the path.
Why am I standing here?
-To fight, isn’t it?
No.
To protect.
The Hongseong Divine Art, the martial art of the Hongseong Sect, was destructive and powerful.
It was the Ominous Star, capable of destroying everything, fueled by emotions, but it was also the Red Star, sacrificing itself to protect.
But what am I doing now?
Am I following the spirit of the Hongseong and trying to protect?
Or…
Am I giving in to my anger and seeking only destruction?
-Go to this place and become stronger.
An unfamiliar yet pleasant voice awakened her mind.
-See the moon, forget the finger. You need to see clearly where you should be looking.
Beyond that voice, she heard a roar. But despite the Fire Tiger’s provocation, attempting to ignite her own Ominous Star, Sayoon remained unfazed.
She simply clenched her fist, unlike before.
Yes, the path I should walk isn’t the path of destruction.
A single word from the starlight watered the parched earth, and the teachings of the Hongseong, the teachings of sacrificing oneself to protect the world, became a firm pillar of support.
Amidst the erupting flames, Sayoon lightly clenched her fist.
And then, she glanced back.
I must become the Ominous Star.
But that Ominous Star must be the Red Star, the protector.
And,
It must be the Divine Star, protecting those weak individuals who are watching me from behind.
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So Sayoon extended her fist.
But it wasn’t fueled by indiscriminate rage like before.
-Thud!!
The Fire Tiger, struck by the blow, staggered.
What followed was a flurry of starlight fists.
One blow after another.
Not with murderous intent, but with the fist of a protective starlight, freely illuminating the night sky, flowing like water.
The flow of internal energy, which had been awkward and clumsy until now, was now incredibly natural.
This is the movement of the stars, this is the true essence of the Hongseong.
Sayoon, overwhelmed by a feeling of weightlessness, continued to swing her fists, and the Fire Tiger’s flames began to fade.
Um… Isn’t that a bit dangerous?
From the moment Yoohee was knocked down by the Fire Tiger’s attack, Sayoon’s movements had changed.
Destruction. The intent of the Hongseong had disappeared from her fists, replaced by crude blows aimed solely at destruction.
I could see her body being scorched by the flames as she forcibly pierced through the Fire Tiger’s fire.
I knew what that was.
Demonic Possession.
The process of losing one’s sanity, consumed by martial arts, and becoming a demon.
Damn it, why now of all times?!
Yoohee, noticing it as well, paled, and Hongryeon, who was fighting the Demonic Sect member, gritted her teeth.
We have to stop her, or Sayoon will become a cripple…
…Huh?
“…What?”
Yoohee and I were both surprised.
The fists that had been solely focused on destruction suddenly began to change.
“Look, look at that!”
Meteor Fist.
The very technique Sayoon had been struggling with was now being unleashed.
The unstoppable, unavoidable fist of starlight pressed down on the Fire Tiger.
Yoohee, who had been watching blankly, burst out laughing.
“Ahaha! Our youngest! She’s amazing!!”
Yes, she was amazing.
She achieved enlightenment during this fight? And while breaking free from demonic possession?
This is why I love Sayoon!!
“Okay! I’m coming!!”
Yoohee, seeming to have recovered from the shock, got up and charged at the Fire Tiger. And what she unleashed was the Meteor Fist.
Two meteors, swirling like a storm, overwhelmed the Fire Tiger.
-Thud!!
When the movement of the meteors ceased, the Fire Tiger finally lowered its head.
As its massive body dissolved into flames and vanished, the two girls collapsed to the ground.
“Haa… haa…”
“Phew…”
Meteor Fist was also a technique from the latter half of the Hongseong Divine Art.
The amount of internal energy required to use it was not insignificant.
Moreover, Sayoon had just unleashed those crude punches that drained her internal energy, and Yoohee was still recovering from the previous blow.
Just the fact that they managed to defeat the Fire Tiger like this was commendable.
-Roar!!!
Just then, the Fire Tiger let out a final roar.
Before its body completely turned into flames and vanished, it opened its mouth.
What was contained in that grotesque mouth was a black fireball.
As it aimed at me, Sayoon and Yoohee, using all their remaining strength, rushed in front of me.
As if they were trying to shield me with their bodies.
Like hell I’m letting them do that!
“Get… get out of the way…!!”
It pained me to do it, but I had to ignore their pleas.
I grabbed Sayoon and Yoohee and pulled them back. As expected, perhaps due to their exhaustion and lack of internal energy, they were easily pulled away.
Meanwhile, the fireball was approaching right in front of me.
Then,
There was only one thing I could do.
Soft Illusion.
Gentleness could change the power of a river.
Even if that gentleness only possessed a speck of power.
I extended my right hand, representing Yang, towards the fireball that was rushing towards me.
-Sizzle.
The hem of my clothes was scorched by the flames billowing from the fireball, but I didn’t falter.
The mighty fire, seeking to incinerate everything, tried to consume my right hand as well, but fire couldn’t burn fire.
Of course, if it were a ball of lava instead of a fireball, things would have been different.
As a certain navy man said, lava and fire had a clear hierarchy!
“Hup!!”
I moved my right hand, firmly grasping the wild, linear flames.
Instead of going against the flow, I used my left foot as a pivot and redirected its trajectory with a single ounce of force.
-Whoosh!!
As Yang met Yang, the flames intensified.
But there was no need to fear. The flames, just before being extinguished, were at their strongest, but also their most unstable.
Maintaining my stance, I rotated once more, and I felt the intensified, unstable flames begin to split apart.
Then,
I thrust my left hand, representing Yin, into the flames.
When Yin and Yang meet, they create harmony and bring peace.
What I drew was the Taiji.
The harmony created by my right and left hands transformed the destructive flames into the Taiji, peacefully vanishing.
“Phew.”
I had a feeling it might work after deflecting the weak blasts of Qi Chae-jin shot at me during training, but…
Holy crap, it actually worked.
As expected of the Chae Family Taijiquan master instructor.
You taught me well, even though you can’t even count properly!!
The black flames and soot drew a Taiji symbol on the ground.
Standing in the center, I confirmed the Fire Tiger’s demise and smiled at the two girls who were staring at me with wide eyes and open mouths.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”
I brushed off the remaining embers from my clothes.
Tsk.
Chae-jin would flip out if she knew.
That I couldn’t even properly block a single fireball.
…Wait, she’s not going to extend my training time again, is she?
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