CDF Chapter 38

“Die! Die! Dieee!!”

Bang bang bang bang!

The sounds of beating someone were so rhythmical they almost seemed festive.

Ma Dong-pil grew urgent.

“Young Masteeer!”

Murmur murmur.

“Move!”

Bang!

Ma Dong-pil sent another Mad Demon Squad member flying.

The startled squad members raised their killing intent again. It was almost an instinctive response.

Ma Dong-pil foamed at the mouth.

“You crazy bastards! Stand down! This isn’t the time for us to be fighting among ourselves!”

“What the fuck is this bastard saying!”

He really felt like going crazy. How could people live being this simple-minded?

“Your leader is going to die!”

Words that should have snapped the Mad Demon Squad members to their senses.

Swoosh!

Breaking through the sea of people, Ma Dong-pil instantly leaped into the kitchen.

“Eek!”

Just then, the pulverized Wi Hong-ryeon gritted her teeth and swung her leg.

Bang!

Seo Ryang’s body stumbled.

But that was all. Though she had put maximum internal energy into the strike amid the chaos, she couldn’t make Seo Ryang retreat. It was a strike that wouldn’t have hit at all if he’d been in his right mind.

Seo Ryang swung his leg.

Crack!

Blood burst from Wi Hong-ryeon’s mouth.

It was truly a merciless kick. If she hadn’t instinctively turned her head, not just her teeth but her jaw bone would have gone flying.

Wi Hong-ryeon felt her mind snap to clarity.

I’m going to die!

Though she had tried to half-kill him too, she never really intended to kill him. Because it wouldn’t be resolved with just her life.

But he was different.

This guy who had only been receiving her martial arts until now was truly trying to kill her. And trying to beat her to death with bare hands at that.

“You!”

Rumble!

In an instant, her Azure Jade Demonic Arts burned even stronger.

She wasn’t scared that her opponent was trying to kill her. She’d been through too many life-and-death battlefields for that.

Rather, it gave her strength.

Realizing her opponent was serious, battle spirit overlaid her madness.

Bang!

Seo Ryang stepped back two paces. She had unleashed the Mad Demon God Fist^[1] that she personally created.

However, Wi Hong-ryeon, who had planted her fist in his chest, couldn’t help but be surprised.

That’s all?

She hadn’t expected to take him down with this one move, but thought she could at least cause internal injuries.

Seo Ryang growled.

“You’re dead!”

Bang! Crash!

“Kuk!”

Though the same punching motion, the power was different. Wi Hong-ryeon crashed through all the kitchen equipment into the wall.

Blood came up naturally. Her head rang and her eyes spun.

This brutally strong bastard?!

Bang!

Seo Ryang’s body stumbled again. Wi Hong-ryeon’s knife hand^[2] had struck his collarbone.

But that was all. A strike that would have shattered from collarbone to ribs on any other master only made Seo Ryang pause for a beat.

Seo Ryang grinned.

Wi Hong-ryeon unconsciously flinched at the bright smile showing all his upper and lower teeth.

“…Crazy.”

Normally she might sneer “Nice teeth that guy has,” but she couldn’t even do that now. She realized her opponent had gone just as mad as her.

“I’m the Mad Demon Squad Leader, you crazy bastard!”

Bang!

The two erupted into another fierce exchange.

Ma Dong-pil, who had been in for quite a while but didn’t dare try to stop them, looked around before gazing out of the kitchen.

The Mad Demon Squad members were staring blankly at him.

…Damn it.

They weren’t the type to listen to common sense. Even if he asked them to help stop this, they were crazy bastards who would just tilt their heads in confusion.

What should I do?

Getting injured didn’t matter. If he could just stop the Young Master, what would coughing up some blood matter?

The real problem was that he couldn’t stop him even then.

It was like this back then too.

In Solitary Bamboo Forest, when Ma Dong-pil almost died while Seo Ryang was trying to beat up the spiritual beasts.

Seo Ryang, who had returned after cleanly taking down three of them, showed from then what true madness was. The five spiritual beasts Ma Dong-pil had been fighting evaporated without even leaving bones.

Though Seo Ryang wasn’t unscathed either.

What should I do? What can I do?

Crack!

“Kraaaah!”

Wi Hong-ryeon screamed.

Her face was so messed up it was hard to recognize, and her entire body was dyed in blood. It was an appearance that would send chills down anyone’s spine.

“You son of a bitch, I’m really going to kill you!”

Bubble bubble.

Ma Dong-pil’s face turned pale.

The killing intent erupting from Wi Hong-ryeon’s entire body was on a different dimension from before. After taking hit after hit, her anger had peaked and she too had resolved to kill her opponent.

Clang!

Wi Hong-ryeon drew the wide peculiar sword^[3] from her back.

Ma Dong-pil shouted.

“Squad Leader!”

“Uwaaah!”

Woong!!

Wi Hong-ryeon swung her sword.

Flash!

Azure sword energy that almost looked gentle flew in a crescent moon shape.

Seo Ryang’s eyes flashed.

Azure sword energy shooting like a beam of light. It was a realm of Mind Intent Following Sword^[4] a dimension higher than the sword energy Ma Dong-pil had manifested in Solitary Bamboo Forest.

Excellent.

Seo Ryang wasn’t as mad as Ma Dong-pil worried.

No, he had been at first, but not now.

If the madness he showed initially had continued until now, he wouldn’t be having this back-and-forth slugfest. He would have just buried her on the spot.

Naturally, even the killing intent he was showing now wasn’t serious.

Ah, some of it did become serious though.

Just thinking about the possibility that Golden Fox might have been hurt by the palm force made his blood pressure spike again.

Anyway…

Though the sword energy wasn’t flying particularly fast, he had leisure for thought. It was thanks to maintaining the Second Form of the Thousand Rending Six Passages Formula, Ultra Observation (초고관, 超考觀).

Ultra Observation cannot even be attempted by those whose upper danjeon isn’t refined. The reason being, when Ultra Observation is opened, thinking speed increases dramatically.

If Ultra Observation is opened without the upper danjeon being refined, the brain turns to mush before one can take a single breath. Though it was the second form, Ultra Observation was ten times more dangerous than Ultra Divine Observation.

Seo Ryang looked directly into Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes.

In the illusion of the world slowing down, the Mad Demon Squad Leader’s intense eyes were clearly visible.

The Demonic Eye^[5] of the supreme demonic art Dark Shadow True Demonic Art settled over Ultra Observation.

Anger, anxiety, bewilderment, tenacity…

Her emotions and state rapidly being read.

Fighting spirit, sense of defeat, acknowledgment… acknowledgment?

Yeah, acknowledgment?

Oh ho? Would you look at that?

Her rage-twisted face felt new. Above the expression burning with anger, killing intent, and madness, a slightly damaged pride could be glimpsed.

Seo Ryang smiled.

Not a sneer at his opponent, but a martial artist’s sincere smile.

His left foot stamped the earth.

Bang!

The powerful force starting from the ground shot up through lower and middle danjeon to the upper danjeon.

The azure sword energy now right before his nose.

Seo Ryang reached his hand toward the sword energy. A gesture that looked almost wistful, as if trying to grab someone.

And…

“…?”

The sword energy disappeared without a trace.

Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes bulged.

“…What?”

What happened? He just reached out his hand, so why did the Azure Wing Sword Energy^[6] dissolve?

“Ow, that stings.”

Seo Ryang shook his hand vigorously. A straight red mark appeared on his palm that had grabbed and dissolved the sword energy.

“You pierced the Steel Wall Hand^[7]? Impressive.”

Steel Wall Hand was a hand technique of the Empire Reaching Formula opposite to the Exploding Mountain Style that maximized hidden force^[8].

A fierce style that turns the hand itself into steel to crush from outside to inside.

Though time was short, he deployed it with abundant Dark Shadow Demonic Energy, yet it still left a mark. It meant Wi Hong-ryeon’s enlightenment was beyond what Seo Ryang had thought.

Wi Hong-ryeon’s face twisted hideously. Though it already looked quite twisted with swelling everywhere.

“You…”

She wanted to curse but couldn’t even manage that.

This was martial arts on a different dimension from their previous exchange. She thought they were climbing the same hill, but it turned out he had been strolling on Mount Tai’s eight-tenths ridge.

Whoosh.

When she clenched her fist, the sticky blood-colored demonic qi transformed and blazed up like magnificent flame-like demonic qi.

“It was impressive, but this is as far as it goes.”

“Urk.”

“I’ll give you a choice while catching your breath.”

Swoosh.

The demonic qi on Seo Ryang’s hand disappeared, and the mark on his palm cleanly vanished.

“Want to turn yourself in for corruption charges?”

“…”

“Or would you like to end your barely thirty-year life being dragged away for blasphemy against the Third Young Master and attempted murder? Hm?”

“…”

“You know you’re no match, and you know which choice would be better, so I don’t understand why you’re hesitating.”

“…”

“Ah, is that it? I suppose it would irritate you to have some worthless fellow telling you to choose this or that?”

Shing.

Seo Ryang drew the blade at his waist.

Though not one of the rarest divine weapons in the world, it wasn’t a blade any ordinary craftsman could make either. Despite its plain appearance, treasure light overflowed from the blade’s body.

“I was quite rude to the Mad Demon Squad Leader who lives on pride alone. Toying with questions whose answers were already decided.”

Swoosh.

The blade pointed at Wi Hong-ryeon.

Seriousness filled Seo Ryang’s eyes too.

“No need for more words. Let’s end this.”

Woong!!

Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes widened.

The blade in Seo Ryang’s grip was vibrating on its own. Not responding to qi being channeled, but producing clear resonance as if alive itself.

Blade Cry^[9]!

The same realm as swordsmen’s Sword Cry^[10].

The resonance of life that can only be obtained by those who achieve perfect balance through complete unity of the external weapon (blade), body, and mind.

When all becomes one, only then does the blade gain a soul and sprout its own will.

This proves that with sufficient refinement, one can reach the supreme realm of the sword path^[11], Sword Control^[12].

Tsu tsu tsu.

The blade grew increasingly massive.

Though it hadn’t actually grown larger, Seo Ryang’s figure couldn’t be seen behind the blade’s form.

Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes wavered.

The madness that would barely be satisfied with someone’s death instantly vanished.

That is…

Unity of Body and Blade^[13] of supreme ascension incomparable even in jest to ordinary peak masters.

Seo Ryang’s eyes blazed.

“Farewell.”

Woong!!

The massive blade descended like an illusion.

Right then.

Clank.

The peculiar sword fell to the floor with a deep cry.

Drip. Trickle.

A line of fresh blood crossed Wi Hong-ryeon’s forehead.

Wi Hong-ryeon wasn’t surprised. No, she stood calmly with her eyes closed.

And at the end of her forehead was the tip of Seo Ryang’s blade.

Seo Ryang spoke coldly.

“Why didn’t you dodge?”

“…Because I couldn’t.”

“Accepted death?”

“If you can’t dodge, you die.”

“Yet you drop your sword?”

“Haven’t lived a life lucky enough to leave regrets. Like the countless people who died by my hands, I too will die by someone else’s someday.”

“That’s today?”

“Don’t know. No point in knowing either.”

It was a line that perfectly showed how she had lived.

Even in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, still part of the martial world, she would have often been underestimated for being a woman.

She must have lived working ten times harder than others to break through those gazes and prejudices.

Moreover, she was also of bloodline from a martial family that had opposed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Naturally, she had to struggle fiercely and harshly to survive.

After staring at her quietly, Seo Ryang withdrew his blade.

Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes slowly opened.

Bang!

She collapsed into the kitchen corner. Seo Ryang had thrown a punch out of nowhere.

“Let’s consider the blasphemy and other minor charges settled with that punch.”

Wi Hong-ryeon looked up at him while rubbing her cheek.

“Let me tell you in advance, don’t think I’ll do what you want just because you showed some mercy.”

“I won’t, you bitch.”

“…”

“Why would I expect to catch fish after crushing the bait on my hook with my own hands?”

“…What does that mean.”

“I don’t know! Why did I make such a fuss and even go through the trouble of drawing my blade.”

While grumbling continuously, Seo Ryang took out a money pouch and placed it in the unconscious Do Wigyeong’s hand.

“I’m sorry. Though you might not hear this, this should be enough for repairs.”

He glanced sharply at Wi Hong-ryeon.

Wi Hong-ryeon flinched.

“If I hear you stole this money, I’ll crack your skull.”

“You think I’m some back alley thug? I won’t steal it.”

“Looking at your actions, a thug would be a saint compared to you, you unlearned and ignorant bitch.”

Seo Ryang called out.

“Dong-pil! Let’s go!”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

“Sorry for needlessly raising your interest. Thought it would get quite heated.”

“I might have died of heart attack if it got any more heated.”

“Such exaggeration.”

The two left Purple-Eyebrowed Tower as if nothing had happened. Somehow Golden Fox was already on Seo Ryang’s shoulder, yipping away.

Wi Hong-ryeon watched the two leave from the destroyed kitchen.

After a while, Cha Gwang approached with an awkward expression.

“Are you alright, Squad Leader?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Ah… yees.”

Wi Hong-ryeon got up.

“Clean up and order drinks.”

“What?”

“We can’t end like this when we haven’t even started the dinner gathering, can we? The boys are