Wind Shadow – Eight Forms.
This was the secret technique of Jin Song-Bae, the Wind God of the Eight Great Warriors.
No matter how I tried to polish it, I couldn’t make more than four afterimages. Still, a moment of enlightenment had raised the essence of this technique to a higher level. The afterimages were then divided into eight forms of martial arts.
The techniques of Fist, Palm, Foot, Finger, Claws, Blade, Sword, and Spear all harmonized into united beings above the world. It also seemed that this would work the best.
Chachachang!
The harmonious technique created by the eight afterimages was frantically blocked by the fake Blood Demon’s sword.
He was certainly someone who had crossed the wall. Despite being constantly pressured by my technique, he somehow managed to block them, even with some struggle.
I couldn’t ignore his experience. All of my decisive moves were somehow being avoided.
‘I need to hurry.’
-Can you hold on?
Short Sword asked with some worry.
I had managed to break through my limits and cross the wall while competing with him. However, I have been fighting using the Blood Flame and the True Blood Invincible Body for a while.
While I had crossed the wall due to this, I had pushed myself physically and mentally to the limit.
We needed to see the end of this quickly before that.
-Even if you are ahead of him regarding thoughts, that man’s sword is faster than yours, Wonhwi.
I know. I need to stop his hands.
Otherwise, he could still inflict damage on me with that speed.
-Do you really have to use the sword technique of Wind Shadow – Eight Forms?
Short Sword asked this and made me think.
The sword technique I practiced until now was martial arts from my own technique. But, if we used my father’s technique which had its own harmony, and added another martial art here… I wasn’t sure if there would be harmony or if it would just break.
-Do not overdo it, Wonhwi. Suddenly making changes to a martial art can be risky for your body.
I know, and both of you have a point.
If I could integrate a stronger martial art into this technique instead of using an existing one, its power might also improve.
It was a risk, but it felt worth it.
Pat!
The sword technique immediately shifted.
This was the Tiger Tooth Sword technique.
Dudududk!
‘Euk.’
The moment I released the sword technique, it began to deviate from the existing framework.
Well, even if not for that, the speed I was moving using the Wind Shadow Steps meant that every swing of my sword and every use of technique doubled the burden on my body.
It was to the point where I felt my muscles tear and had to hold back a scream. The effect, however, was also immediate.
Chachachcang!
“W-what is this…”
The fake Blood Demon’s face distorted as he tried to stop my technique. He was already struggling to block it, but the addition of new forms different from what he had faced meant that his form soon collapsed.
Papapak!
“Kuk! Ack!”
The afterimages using the Tiger Tooth Sword and the Wind Shadow Eight Forms passed through his body as if piercing him.
The afterimages cut, stabbed, and continued to strike the body. Trapped in this cycle, his form began to bounce back and forth.
‘I should end it!’
I had to aim for his throat with the final blow.
No matter how strong his regeneration was, he wouldn’t come back from a decapitated head.
So I swung the sword at his neck.
“Wait!”
Pat!
The moment my sword moved for his throat, I found his sword flying towards a point between my eyes.
Such lighting-swift movement.
‘….!’
He had kept his last move hidden. As a result, I needed to twist my body to the side to avoid it.
At the same time as I narrowly avoided his sword, my slash ended up cutting his entire waist instead of just his neck.
Slash!
“KUAKKK!”
The grotesque crushing of his back could be heard as a scream escaped his mouth. The upper part of his body fell to the ground.
Blood began to gush from it.
-Cut his neck!
Right.
Even if his body was cut in half, I couldn’t be careless with him.
I tried to approach his fallen form in a hurry but, at that moment…
Dddudud.
It began to be racked with pain as if something had struck my body.
Thud!
The excruciating pain made me fall to my knees and drop my sword.
-Wonhwi!
-Are you alright!?
I was not alright.
I didn’t expect the effects of trying to harmonize two different martial arts would end up like this.
I couldn’t even think about moving around as the muscles in my body were torn.
Wooong!
My body, which I had held up with the help of the Blood Demon Flame, was released.
-The Blood Demon Flame has receded.
Right.
My upper dantian was almost out of energy.
My breathing became rough.
“Haaa…”
It seemed that, even before I had crossed the wall, I had pushed this body to the limit that couldn’t be dealt with by the regeneration ability. I then saw something move in front of me.
-Oh my, he is still moving.
Short Sword stuck out her tongue.
This was no different from my worst dreams being played out. The fake’s bisected body was still healing itself.
Only the upper half was even left, but he was still breathing.
“Cough… cough… you thought… I will leave… alone.”
This was bad.
It seemed that he stayed alive through his recovery ability. On the other hand, I couldn’t move my body because I had pushed it beyond the limit.
I could cut his throat if I could recover slightly, but that was too much to hope for.
“Kuuhhh… wait. I will come.”
There were only two steps left between me and the crawling man.
I reached for Iron Sword, which had fallen to the ground.
‘Move! Move!’
Just as the fake was about to grab the sword…
Puak!
“Kuak!”
A scream escaped his mouth.
I looked to see what was happening and saw a sword stuck in his back.
“Our Blood Demon always lives with such risk.”
The moment I heard that voice, my body completely relaxed.
Baek Hye-hyang was the one who had stabbed the fake through the back.
I did not expect she would be here due to the Murim Alliance’s encirclement, but she had come.
I couldn’t help but feel happiness.
But I had to do something else before that.
“Such a pity. You would have wanted to kill me.”
He glared at me with anger as I asked him.
“What is your group trying to do?”
“… you… think… I will… tell you?”
I thought he would not open his mouth so easily. Baek Hye-hyang then stepped on his head and spoke sneeringly.
“What is one who is about to die staying loyal for?”
Kwak!
As she braced her foot there, his head began to dig into the ground. The pressure was enough that I thought his head would explode at any moment.
“Kuak!”
“Say it.”
“Kuk… Kill me.”
“That isn’t the answer I want.”
Even though she was putting on more pressure, he simply repeated his refusal.
Baek Hye-hyang shrugged and looked at me.
“So?”
I didn’t expect him to say anything anyway.
“Kill him.”
“Wouldn’t he die in pain if we leave him like this? Are you sure you want to give him a quick death? You are too merciful, Blood Demon.”
“… if you don’t cut his throat, he will stay alive.”
“What?”
She looked puzzled at my words, unsure if I was telling the truth. He was in pain, yes, but he was still alive.
“Ughhh”
“Even if the body is cut in half or the heart stabbed, he will not die. A perfect body to torture.”
‘…?!’
Hearing this, the fake’s face trembled.
To think of such things, she was truly amazing. After staring at him as if she was looking at an experimental guinea pig, she pulled out her sword and struck off his head.
Chak!
His head rolled along the ground. As I looked at it, all I saw was a dead man, which left me feeling relieved.
It had been quite tricky dealing with a master who had overcome the wall with that recovery ability. Still, what was this man’s identity?
I was puzzled, but Baek Hye-hyang approached me.
“Looking at the surroundings, it seemed like a battle was fought here.”
Just as she said, everything around us was a mess. The trees were broken, and the ground was covered in sword scars.
It was a fight between two warriors who had reached the realm of superhumans. Just leaving this much damage was good.
Bae Hye-hyang looked at me and asked.
“… you crossed the wall?”
I couldn’t deny her. Seeing this, she was laughing as if she found this ridiculous.
“Ha!”
She must have been incredulous at the speed of my growth. Clearly, she had not expected me to cross the wall.
However, a crisis could force someone to drive people above their limits. I then asked her.
“The Guangxi region must have already been blockaded by the alliance. How did you get here?”
“Light footwork.”
“…”
Was she making a joke? But I’ve never seen her make one…
Baek Hye-hyang then smiled and said,
“I came as an aide. You are the sect leader, but we cannot let you die in the Murim Alliance’s trap.”
“But you will be the sect leader if I die?”
“Well. That isn’t bad either, but I haven’t tasted you yet.”
‘…?!’
I had to laugh at her words as she licked her lips. So that was her reason?
Dudududk!
I could feel the muscles in my body begin to loosen. After crossing the wall, it seemed that even the recovery was accelerated.
“And what about the rest?”
“I don’t know when those slow ones will come.”
Did she rush in alone to help me?
This was a strange feeling.
This prideful woman who seemed unlikely to follow anyone was showing another side of herself.
Baek Hye-hyang told me.
“Well, if you stay here, more troublesome things will happen, so let us head back to the sect.”
I shook my head at this, leaving her puzzled.
“Are you still trying to solve the matters here?”
“I already solved it.”
“What?”
She looked shocked. Did she think I would have been unable to solve things?
“Since we made a deal with Prince Kyung, the Murim Alliance will have no choice but to forget about using the government against our sect.”
“Prince Kyung… are you saying you talked to the prince?”
“Right.”
She was clearly surprised by this turn of events.
I thought just dealing with the trial would have been shocking enough, but this was also a natural reaction from her. She was expecting to only get us out safely, but I ended up striking a deal with one of the three princes who were considered potential heirs to the throne.
I briefly told her of what had happened and the ensuing deal, leaving out only the swords.
“Ha! You made a deal with the royal family? You are seriously…”
Baek Hye-hyang, who had difficulty keeping up with the story, stuck out her tongue and then said.
“Then you can head back to the sect, no? Why are you saying you’re not coming?”
“If I do that, all of Guangxi will be blockaded. This would hinder our plans to bring in the Forces of Evil.”
She frowned at this.
“Now that you’ve crossed the wall, wouldn’t we be able to make a way out if you and the First Elder work together to deal with the Taiji Sword Emperor and the Wudang Sect?”
I shook my head.
“If that happens, the Murim Alliance will use that as an excuse to fight with all their might.”
For now, there was a temporary truce between us since they needed to find an antidote for the prisoners we had ransomed. If, during that time, one of the Eight Great Warriors that were the backbone of the Murim Alliance dies, then that could spark a war.
Before we could integrate the Forces of Evil.
“Then what will you do?”
I smiled at her question.
“I am the disciple of the South Heavenly Swordsman and one of the new rising stars of Murim.”
This was a status that no one in the Murim Alliance had yet. Hearing this, she raised her eyes.
“You… are you planning to move alone? You cannot be that crazy. You’re no longer a simple sect member but the Blood Demon.”
“And there is a Blood Demon here who can replace me.”
My words made Baek Hye-hyang’s expression change.
Tatatata!
After releasing his sealed blood points, Elder Man Jong returned to his senses.
As soon as he woke, he asked me what happened.
“Y-young warrior…? What happened?”
“Elder. Another Blood Demon appeared.”
“Another one?’
“If it weren’t for them, both elder and I would have died.
Elder Man Jong looked like he didn’t understand.
“What are you talking about? Come to think of it, before you….”
It was at that moment.
Something rolled in front of us. A broken mask and a face.
“T-this person is…”
He recognized it right away because he had fought with that man.
Pak!
It didn’t end there.
The fake Blood Demon Sword dyed red was also struck through the side of the decapitated head.
“What is this?”
“Elder. There!”
I pointed my finger as if I just realized something and pointed to someone with red hair, a black robe, and a demon mask.
The elder jumped up, startled.
“Blood Demon!”
The red-haired Blood Demon then spoke from beneath the mask.
“It is foolish to be swayed by such fakes.”
“What?”
The Blood Demon then pulled out a sword from their waist. The unique pattern, exclusive to the Blood Demon Sword, then appeared.
Soon, a red light shone on the silver blade as it turned red.
‘…!!’
“Just because you paint some copper, will it turn to gold?”
Elder Man Jong stared at the fake Blood Demon Sword in shock at those words.
It was because he realized what this all meant. He saw that the difference between the real and fake sword was hard to discern.
I winked at the Blood Demon, who had resheathed their sword.
Pat!
The Blood Demon then moved away. I pretended to be shocked and said.
“This cannot be! If that man is the real Blood Demon, who is this one?”
