Chapter 77: Battle with the Violet Lightning Blood Demon

A man with rat-shaped teeth burst into a hearty laugh.

A black cat cried out from within his arms.

Jong Seok, who was carrying Jong Munhye on his back, found it difficult to move.

Fortunately, Yong Hwarin’s group soon arrived with their carriage, and they were able to lay Jong Munhye down inside.

“Who are they?” Yong Hwarin asked.

With a grim expression, Jong Seok replied, “Brother, I’m sorry, but please leave this place with Munhye. I will take care of things here.”

Yong Hwarin looked at him and said, “Men like those—we can easily deal with them if we fight together. Why do you suggest we flee instead?”

He scanned the ones blocking their path.

They certainly exuded the aura of First-rate Martial Artists.

But he and his companions were no longer what they used to be. They had already stepped beyond that realm.

Mo Biyoung and the Twin Dragon Swords were formidable opponents now.

Moreover, he was confident he could handle fighters of that caliber.

“They’re not the problem. Their master is. Please listen to me, Brother.”

“So what you’re saying is, we should run away and not care whether you live or die?” Yong Hwarin said.

“Brother! This is no time for such talk. The fact that they’re here means that he will be arriving soon. You must escape, now!”

Jong Seok was a man of conviction. Yong Hwarin had never seen him so consumed by fear.

The way he offered to buy time with his life made it clear that the one about to arrive was someone fearsome.

At that moment—

“My side’s fully healed, so I can fight now. Don’t think you can use me as an excuse to run, Sect Leader. Honestly, I faked my injuries just to enjoy the ride in Namwook’s carriage. I can fight too.”

Jungwook leapt down from the carriage and spoke.

“What?! You bastard! Do you know how much I suffered? And you call yourself my friend?!”

Namwook exploded in anger at Jungwook’s admission.

Even in such a tense moment, the two of them bickered and argued.

Yong Hwarin smiled faintly and turned to Jong Seok. “Junior Brother Jong, we fought prepared to die in the Bamboo Forest. And in that fight, you protected my people. Now it’s my turn to protect you. And if I die doing so, then so be it. That’s the way of the martial world. Let’s not be so hung up on living. After all, I’m called the Sword Hero of the Heavenly Central Sect. A hero doesn’t abandon his comrades and flee.”

Jong Seok responded with frustration.

“Brother, this isn’t the time for such leisurely talk! The one coming is the Violet Lightning Blood Demon—Jaegungheon! He’s been looking for us! His only goal is us! If you leave, he won’t chase you!”

The confident expressions on the Twin Dragon Swords and Mo Biyoung darkened at the name.

That name carried weight.

Jaegungheon, the Violet Lightning Blood Demon.

He was the Vice-Lord of the Loyal Guardian Pavilion, one of the Four Pavilions under the Blood Demon Castle, tasked with escorting and protecting the Castle Lord.

Though qualified to join the Guardian Council, his youth kept him stationed in the Pavilion.

Even though he had long surpassed the level of Vice-Lord, he stayed in that position for personal reasons—one of which was his pursuit of Jong Seok and Jong Munhye.

Yong Hwarin didn’t show it, but he knew of Jaegungheon’s infamy in the martial world. He had heard of him in his past life.

The Violet Lightning Blood Demon’s reputation stemmed from the atrocities he committed across the martial world.

He was the quintessential demonic cultivator—killing anyone he didn’t like, even ordinary people. For that reason, even other demonic cultivators despised Jaegungheon.

Though they claimed it was because he tarnished the honor of the demonic path, in truth, Jaegungheon preached that a demonic cultivator should act as one.

‘Now I understand why the Violet Lightning Blood Demon committed those atrocities across the martial world. He was looking for these two siblings.’

Ten people stood blocking their way.

‘Just as Junior Brother Jong said—if the Violet Lightning Blood Demon shows up, we’re unlikely to survive. Now I see why he so desperately told us to run. But… what he really meant is that we can deal with these ten before the demon gets here and leave.’

Having made his decision, Yong Hwarin spoke so everyone could hear.

“Then we’ll leave this place before the Violet Lightning Blood Demon arrives. We must deal with them swiftly. No time to waste.”

It was the best choice he could make now.

Right after he spoke, Yong Hwarin unsheathed his sword and unleashed the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword toward the experts of the Loyal Guardian Pavilion who blocked the path.

“Scatter!”

At the rat-toothed warrior’s command, they broke into teams of three. Their aim wasn’t to fight—just to stall for time.

Slice!

As Yong Hwarin’s sword changed mid-strike, one enemy’s head flew off.

The weight and precision behind his sword were now incomparable to before.

Where his swordplay used to be like the rough work of a novice sculptor, it now resembled the refined craftsmanship of a master artisan.

His skills had improved so drastically that he now stood among true experts.

Moreover, Mo Biyoung and the Twin Dragon Swords had also grown powerful enough to overwhelm the experts of the Loyal Guardian Pavilion.

As Yong Hwarin finished off one of the triads and moved to the next, the rat-toothed man muttered anxiously—

“Damn it! Is the Lord going to wait until we’re all dead before he arrives?”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than an intense wave of force surged from the western sky.

It flew straight toward Yong Hwarin, laced with a blue glow. If it hit head-on, it would leave him in shambles.

Yong Hwarin dodged it by retreating with Bamboo Forest Flying Dragon Steps.

Boom!

When the force struck the ground, it kicked up a cloud of dust.

“Ah! Too late. It’s too late…”

Jong Seok let out a despairing cry.

A figure, visible as only a dot in the far west, arrived in front of the Loyal Guardian Pavilion warriors in the blink of an eye.

It was truly lightning-fast.

“Did you find them?”

Without hesitation, the man with the rat teeth prostrated himself.

“Yes, my Lord. It is them.”

The Violet Lightning Blood Demon looked around the dust-clearing field and asked, “Which one?”

The rat-toothed man, stroking the black cat, answered.

“That one over there.”

When he pointed to Jong Seok, the middle-aged man asked again, “But that’s a man, isn’t it?”

“I believe the girl called the Little Cult Mistress is inside the carriage. The black cat kept trying to go in that direction. And seeing that he’s here, it must be her. We confirmed multiple times during the chase that this man was always with the Little Cult Mistress.”

“Well done, Seochi. I shall reward you when we return.”

“Hehehe, thank you, my Lord.”

Jong Seok turned to Yong Hwarin.

“Brother, that man is the Violet Lightning Blood Demon, Jaegungheon. Be wary of his Violet Lightning Flash Palm. If you see a blue light, avoid it at all costs.”

“He mentioned a Little Cult Mistress—is he referring to Hyemae?”

“I’m sorry, Brother. This is not the time to explain.”

Whether they’d survive or not was unknown, and this wasn’t the moment to reveal Jong Munhye’s identity.

“It’s not too late. If I hold him off, we can buy at least two hours.”

Yong Hwarin looked at Jong Seok’s despair-filled face and said,

“Junior Brother Jong. Even if we run for two hours, we won’t be able to shake off that demon. In that case, we must fight him, whether we live or die. That’s our only option now. And I don’t abandon my sworn brother or sister. If I would’ve done that, I wouldn’t have been reborn in the first place.”

Jong Seok didn’t even register the latter part of Yong Hwarin’s words. His full attention was on the Violet Lightning Blood Demon.

“Is Hyemae suffering because of that demon’s palm strike?”

“Yes, Brother. His Violet Lightning Qi can’t be healed with qi circulation or treatment. It stays in the body and continues to increase the pain. Medicine can suppress the energy, but it only delays the suffering.”

“Hm.”

In truth, even Yong Hwarin had no clear plan for how to overcome this fight.

Then Jong Seok spoke of something even grimmer.

“Brother, if Munhye doesn’t take her medicine, she won’t last a full shichen. No matter what, she must take the medicine within that time to survive.”

At that, Mo Biyoung let out a deep sigh.

Facing a foe like the Violet Lightning Blood Demon, survival wasn’t guaranteed. How could they possibly escape and administer the medicine within a shichen?

Even Mo Biyoung felt suffocated by the situation.

Yet, strangely, Yong Hwarin didn’t feel any fear or anxiety.

‘Is this the Demonic Master’s influence?’

Yong Hwarin resolved to awaken the soul of the Demonic Master.

To break through this crisis, he needed the Demonic Master’s help.

As he struck the point on his forehead to jolt his Upper Dantian, the Violet Lightning Blood Demon slowly began to approach.

The closer he came, the more immense the pressure they all felt.

Rattling a steel bead in his palm, the Violet Lightning Blood Demon asked,

“Decide how you wish to die.”

Yong Hwarin opened his eyes after striking his Upper Dantian, and the Demonic Master’s soul immediately reacted.

‘Wait, what the hell? How did that bastard get here? Hey, kid, do you even know who that dog is?’

‘Isn’t that the Violet Lightning Blood Demon?’

‘Damn… You really think you can fight that mongrel with your skills? I hate to admit it, but that bastard is damn strong.’

‘That’s why I awakened you, Master.’

‘…’

The Demonic Master was so dumbfounded that he fell silent.

‘You’re always so polite when it suits you, huh?’

‘This body is yours as well, Master. So, shouldn’t you show your strength now?’

‘I can’t beat him unless I fully control this body.’

As Yong Hwarin tried to ask why, the Demonic Master cut in.

‘I need full access to your Upper Dantian. Only then can I pull off something like a feint strategy. I know his weakness. It’s the only hope we’ve got.’

The implication was clear—the Demonic Master was an expert who had to rely on a sliver of luck too.

‘I understand. Just don’t do anything reckless.’

Handing over the Upper Dantian meant giving the Demonic Master full control over his head.

Yong Hwarin worried about what kind of outrageous things the Demonic Master might say.

But he could still speak for himself, so he felt slightly reassured.

“Junior Brother Jong. I always thought you were hiding your true strength. There’s no need for that anymore—unleash your True God-Slaying Technique without holding back.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep