Chapter 308: Return (4)

At those outrageously rude words, the Sword Demon’s expression stiffened for a brief moment.

Especially the expressions of the Guardian Lions who had followed behind, and the warriors standing guard around us, turned pale as if they had lost their souls.

“…Interesting.”

The Sword Demon, who had withdrawn his sword, faintly raised one corner of his mouth.

“Just a few years ago, you were a pathetic brat barely hanging on, but you’ve grown a lot.”

“Isn’t it only natural for children to grow quickly?”

“Kuh kuh kuh….”

The Sword Demon, withdrawing his sword, walked past me.

“Come. I won’t tolerate you insulting me and trying to slip away.”

“Of course.”

I winked at Cheon Yura as if to say ‘See you in a bit’ before following after him.

Thus, the people inside the arena disappeared along with the Sword Demon.

Sa Biyeon, who remained in place, clenched her teeth with an anxious expression.

“What on earth is Young Master Jin thinking?!”

Even if he had lost an arm, the Sword Demon was still the Sword Demon.

It was a known story that a peak master from the Cheon Clan once took the Sword Demon lightly and challenged him, only to lose an arm as well.

“Will he be alright?”

At Sa Biyeon’s question, Cheon Yura silently nodded.

“He’ll be fine.”

She stood up from her seat.

“If it’s the current him.”

The Sword Demon and I walked quite a distance to a secluded place.

Perhaps following some command, the warriors of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan surrounded the area tightly, cutting off all outside attention.

From their actions, I could feel the Sword Demon’s consideration.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For taking the trouble to come all the way out here so unnecessary rumors wouldn’t spread.”

“Kuh kuh, as if?”

The Sword Demon quietly chuckled and raised his sword.

“I just don’t like having my prey snatched away. Especially since that Saber Demon bastard is nearby.”

Buuuuuung!

His sword began to hum, resonating with the mysteries of the Supreme Sword.

“More than anything, I need to see the result of my investment with my own eyes to feel satisfied.”

“The result, huh….”

“My trust has been shaking a lot lately. Can you help me restore it?”

Though it sounded like a joke uncharacteristic of the Sword Demon, I was sure those words were sincere.

I also drew my sword and replied.

“Let me congratulate you in advance on hitting the jackpot.”

“Good. You need to have at least that much confidence.”

Blood Dragon Heavenly Merchant

It seemed the Sword Demon had no intention of going easy on me from the start. He summoned a blood-red dragon with the momentum to scorch the entire area.

“Go.”

The dragon-shaped sword lunged with its jaws wide open, aiming to devour me.

If I had seen that a few years ago, I might have collapsed on the spot and begged for mercy.

But now, well… I had already experienced far too much.

Demonic Dragon Heavenly Merchant (魔龍天商)

“…What?”

From the blade I had drawn, a black dragon emerged, countering the Blood Dragon.

It was the Demonic Sword technique I had learned from my martial sister, Ma Seoyeon.

Naturally, that Demonic Sword contained the mysteries of the Blood Dragon Heaven-Slaying Sword Art, the signature swordsmanship of the Jin Clan.

I didn’t know if the Sword Demon would recognize it, but to a master who had reached the Transcendent Demon Realm, the specific form of a technique didn’t hold much meaning.

After all, such a master could reproduce most techniques just by seeing them once.

The moment the black dragon and the blood dragon entangled, trying to devour each other…

Kwa gwa gwa gwang!

As their Qi clashed, a massive explosion shook the surroundings.

Although the Sword Demon and I barely felt the impact, the warriors of the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan standing nearby were in a different situation.

“Kugh!”

“Hold your positions!”

“Do not forget the Clan Leader’s command!”

It wasn’t just the explosion of Qi.

As both of us began to fully release our Sword Intent, the overwhelmed warriors of the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan started losing their fighting spirit one by one, falling to their knees.

Sword Intent was a high-level manifestation of one’s spirit and aura.

The moment they faced that manifestation head-on, lower-level warriors had no choice but to have their will shattered.

“…Interesting!”

When the Blood Dragon Heavenly Merchant was neutralized, the Sword Demon himself began releasing a massive amount of Qi, transforming into the shape of a dragon.

“You’ve become much more intense than before.”

In the past, the Sword Demon had preferred precise and sharp sword qi without wasting any energy.

But now, unlike back then, he seemed intent on overpowering me with sheer force.

The reason was clear.

‘As expected, it’s because he lost an arm.’

No matter how skilled one was at manipulating Sword Intent, physical balance was still important.

Especially when it came to wielding the Sword of True Subtlety, which tolerated no error, maintaining such precision would be nearly impossible with an unbalanced body.

However, the Sword Demon’s response was unexpectedly dismissive.

“Who knows? Perhaps this is the true nature of the Jin Clan.”

I smirked bitterly but silently agreed.

Having experienced the founder of the Jin Clan, Ma Seoyeon, I understood all too well the meaning behind those words.

“Besides, it’s not that I’ve become more intense. I just happen to enjoy a battle of overwhelming force.”

Well, this was the same man who had unleashed hundreds of sword strikes during our very first encounter, just to test me.

“In that case, I shall respond with brute force as well.”

“…Interesting. Come at me.”

***

“Huff! Huff!”

It was truly heaven’s will that Ja Cheongun arrived at the battlefield of the two monsters.

After being crushed by Demonic Heavenly Dragon Jin Yeomyung at the Southern Martial Tournament, he had fallen into severe qi deviation, and as a result, was practically on the verge of being expelled from the Six Righteous Dragons.

The humiliation of having his proudly executed Falling Plum Rain fail to even scratch his opponent’s basic Qi Projection.

However, what truly bound Ja Cheongun was the overwhelming gap he had glimpsed in that fleeting moment.

The moment he instinctively realized that no matter how long he pursued, he would never surpass that gap.

The heart of a genius, who had climbed without facing any real obstacles, had snapped to a point beyond repair.

Qi projections and explosions rang out endlessly from all directions.

And the killing intent in the air was so intense that it made one want to soil themselves just by standing still.

“Kuhaha! More, more! Show me more!”

“You think that’s all I’ve got?!”

Two monstrous beings let out crazed laughter as they devastated the surroundings.

“Y-Yes. I was right!”

Thud!

Ja Cheongun collapsed to his knees, trembling all over.

“That monster… That monster… has returned!”

The reason Ja Cheongun had come here was none other than to confront that monster again and overcome his qi deviation.

He believed he could do it. He believed he could surpass it. He believed he could remain unbroken.

For that self-hypnosis, Ja Cheongun had staked his life to set foot on this battlefield.

However.

The monster that had now appeared far exceeded what Ja Cheongun had imagined.

“A-Aah…!”

Even Jo Gongmyeong, known as the Plum Blossom White Sword, the strongest of the current Mount Hua Sect, did not possess such a divine presence.

His spirit was utterly crushed.

At that moment, Gokwon, who had followed Ja Cheongun, arrived and watched the battle between the two beings with a hollow laugh.

“Ha, haha…! Am I… am I truly seeing an illusion?!”

Though Gokwon was a deeply cultivated Daoist, unlike the young Ja Cheongun, he did not break as a martial artist.

However, the thought that fighting against a cult filled with such monsters was nothing but suicide began to rise from deep within his heart.

‘They say the current Cult is the strongest in history… That doesn’t seem to be wrong. I don’t know why those monsters are fighting each other, but if just those two came to Xi’an, it’d be the end… Hm?’

It was then.

“What’s this? Damn Jin Clan bastards, losing your heads like that. Letting the Orthodox bastards sneak in?”

“W-Who…?”

Before he realized it, a middle-aged man with a heavy presence, carrying a massive saber on his back, had approached Gokwon.

Around him, disciples of the Jongnam Sect who had followed him lay unconscious, bleeding.

Clicking his tongue slightly, the middle-aged man glared at the duel ahead with eyes full of envy.

“You don’t need to know who I am. Hah, that sword bastard, sneaking out without reporting to me, the Right Army Commander? Did he think I wouldn’t notice?”

Right Army Commander.

There was only one meaning behind that title.

“D-Don’t tell me you are Saber Demon…!”

Thud!

Gokwon, who had barely started to speak, was instantly subdued by the man’s qi strike and collapsed unconscious.

As he crumpled to the ground, the man muttered to himself.

“Anyway… Aren’t there any other decent kids among the direct line? It’s such a waste to just let this pass….”

Saber Demon Pa Uryang’s incomprehensible words quietly echoed in Gokwon’s ears.

***

That evening.

With all the officers of the expedition gathered.

I unfurled the decree before Cheon Yura, who knelt on one knee.

At first, it contained words praising the expedition’s efforts in conquering the Central Plains.

But before long, the true contents of the decree were revealed.

“Since the life of the Cult Leader hangs by a thread, the Young Cult Leader is to urgently return and prepare to ascend to the throne.”

At the proclamation of those words, unease spread among everyone present.

“We humbly receive the command of the Heavenly Demon.”

Without changing her expression, Cheon Yura respectfully bowed her head.

Then, standing up slowly, she shouted to those around her.

“By the Heavenly Demon’s decree, the commanders of the Central, Left, and Right Armies are to prepare for immediate retreat!”

“We receive the command of the Supreme Commander.”

“We receive the command.”

Saber Demon and Cheon Yeongha also accepted the command with solemn expressions, their earlier smiles completely gone.

The Cult Leader… no, the passing of the Heavenly Demon.

It was an event that could not be pushed aside no matter what else happened.

Even the young warriors, full of hot-blooded vigor, could not voice their dissatisfaction at this moment.

Cheon Yura continued to issue orders one after another.

“Prepare thoroughly for possible pursuit. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to use the elder of the Jongnam Sect we captured as material this time.”

“We receive the command.”

The Sword Demon, looking somewhat relieved, nodded calmly.

“Alright, complete the retreat preparations as quickly as possible! Everyone, fulfill your duties. Dismissed!”

“We receive the command!”

The officers, having received their orders, immediately left the tent to begin retreat preparations.

Once everyone had left, only Cheon Yura and I remained inside.

“…….”

“…….”

We simply stared at each other in silence.

‘Hmm….’

I scanned Cheon Yura’s expression with a curious gaze.

Her memories should have been cut off from the moment we parted near Ak Yang.

And yet, for some reason, she was blushing and subtly averting her eyes from my gaze.

“Do you… remember what happened back then…?”

Whoosh!

Before I could finish my sentence, Cheon Yura’s fist flew toward me at lightning speed.

Had the warriors of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan seen it, they would have wept tears of admiration, calling it a textbook-perfect strike.

However.

“Hyaaaah!”

I skillfully received her fist, ensuring the impact did not spread to the surroundings.

“…Kuh!”

Cheon Yura’s expression twisted slightly.

That was proof that my current level had surpassed hers.

“Heh heh heh, what do you think?”

When I asked with a playful grin, Cheon Yura responded with a disgruntled look.

“…You’ve improved quite a bit.”

Still, Cheon Yura was someone who acknowledged what needed to be acknowledged.

“By the way, Jin Yeo….”

She tried to change the subject in a hurry, but I stopped her.

“You remember, right?”

At my mischievous smile, her face contorted in frustration.

Her face turning beet red, she closed her eyes and shouted.

“Kuh! Yes, I remember! What of it?!”

“What of it?”

I approached Cheon Yura and pressed my body against hers.

“W-What are you…?!”

“You said it back then, didn’t you? That it’s my turn this time.”

Well, this wasn’t exactly the right moment given the chaotic situation in the Cult.

But still, wasn’t it reasonable to share a reunion kiss after meeting again after so long?

Swoosh!

I could feel the tension draining from Cheon Yura’s shoulders.

I gently cupped one of her flushed cheeks and slowly closed the distance between our lips.

“The report on the retreat of the three armies… Huuup!”

Someone who had been approaching with documents seemed to have entered the tent…

But upon seeing the scene inside, that person instantly erased their presence and hurriedly slipped out of the tent.

She was a competent attendant who never made the same mistake twice.

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