Return of the Mount Hua

What did you just say? (9)

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“Stop him!”

As Danjagang charged, the Black Ghost Guards’ voices erupted like screams.

Mangeum Daebu was someone they had to protect at all costs. Their minds, influenced almost to the point of brainwashing, immediately used every ounce of their determination to stand in front of him and shield him.

But their feet were not as quick to follow their will.

Eyes flashed with madness.

Black demonic energy enveloped him, swirling around his whole body.

It seemed as though the vengeful spirits of those killed by Danjagang were swirling around him, chilling and gripping their ankles with a destructive spectacle.

Reason and the instinct to survive clashed incessantly.

In that moment, the elite members of the Black Ghost proved their worth. Those who overcame their instinctive fear resolutely blocked the path in front of the Mangeum Daebu.

However, the right choice doesn’t always lead to the right outcome.

Kwaaaah!

Danjagang’s swumg his hand and obliterated the head of the one who blocked his path.

Kwaaah!

With a tremendous crash, the shattered skull fragments scattered in all directions, as if following a choreographed dance.

Though they were only small bone fragments, the force within them shattered the raised protective qi shields [護身罡氣 – hoshinkanggi] as if they were a mere piece of paper.

Bone fragments whirled through the helpless fragile human bodies.

Kraaaaaaah!

The wound on his chest was no larger than a fingernail hole, but the exit on his back was large enough for a fist to penetrate.

Danjagang, who had effortlessly turned about a dozen charging foes into a bloody mess, emitted a menacing aura and tore through those who groaned in pain.

Blood sprayed, and flesh tore apart.

“Die, you monster!”

It might have been recklessness rather than courage, or perhaps just sheer desperation.

Danjagang exacted thorough retribution upon those who had crossed the line.

Crackle!

The black demonic sword’s blades that emanated from his hands shredded those who dared to approach him. The dismembered figures scattered, creating a dense mist of blood around them.

Demon Lord’s Crusade [군마행(君魔行) – gunmahaeng – literally means Lord Demons To go, to walk etc.]. A demon walks the world.

The aura emanating from him tore through the air, wrapping around Black Ghost Guards. In the face of his overwhelming majesty, even the Black Ghost Guards, who had held Gangnam in terror, were utterly powerless.

And in that moment, Mangeum Daebu’s feet pounded the ground, not forward but backward.

“Stop him!”

A loud cry erupted from the his mouth.

The worst imaginable scenario is just one: him dying here. Given the nature of Sapa, losing his head would signify utter destruction. If he dies, the Black Ghost Fortress will collapse in an instant, and that must be avoided at all costs.

After calculating swiftly, the Mangeum Daeboo withdrew with all his might.

Even if it’s humiliating, he must survive this tragedy. Only then can he reveal the existence of that insane monster to the world.

But Danjagang was not merciful enough to let his chosen prey escape freely.

Paaaah!

Those who had protected Mangeum Deabu were turned into pulp, shattered and trampled upon. Danjagang, having crushed and pierced through helpless bodies, immediately charged towards Mangeum Daebu like a black arrow.

“Gah!”

A glimmer emanated from Mangeum Daebu’s waist.

The Ghost King Manifests [귀왕현신(鬼王現身) – gwiwanghyeonsin]!

His celebrated masterful sword technique slashed through the air. There was no waste in his movements, a nearly perfect sword strike. How many vanished before this exquisite and lethal sword, swift as the wind?

However…

Kagagang!

The sword technique unleashed by Mangeum Daebu clashed with Danjagang’s hand and rebounded completely. He involuntarily widened his eyes.

‘Did he parry my sword with his hand?’

Kyaahhhhh!

In that moment, massive blades of demonic energy rose from Danjagang’s outstretched hand. It resembled the claw of an Asura, a manifestation in the mortal realm [ 강림한 아수라(阿修羅)]. Demonic blade fell down over the head of Mangeum Daebu.

Unable to even consider blocking it, he forcefully drove himself to the ground and rolled to the side.

Kwaaaahhhhh!

Demonic blades struck the ground, leaving colossal scars, as if a monstrous beast had scraped it with its claws. It was a sight that was almost unbelievable even when seen with one’s own eyes.

“This filthy unbeliever!”

Danjagang jerked his head back and roared like a beast. Mangeum Daebu’s entire body began to sweat paralyzed with fear.

Why was it so?

Certainly, the one overwhelming this place is the Bishop. The Black Ghost Guards couldn’t even stop him. So why was he thrashing around like a wounded beast?

“This!”

Danjagang’s hands began to darken ominously.

“I won’t kill you easily!”

Rage boiled like lava in his eyes. The Bishop seemed to be losing control of his anger as he shouted. The veins and sinews on his face started to pulsate, and he bellowed as if unable to contain his fury.

“How dare you recklessly defile the vessel of the divine one with your impurity, you unbeliever!”

Kwaaaah!

Danjagang forcefully stepped onto the ground and charged towards Mangeum Daebu with a speed that suggested he was ready to strike again. However, Mangeum Daebu swiftly dodged once more.

Kwaah!

Danjagang’s fist crashed into the ground, causing the earth to ripple like tofu, then exploding upwards like a grenade.

Paaah!

Evading Danjagang’s attack in an instant, Mangeum Daebu flipped his body and unleashed three sword strikes towards Danjagang.

These three streaks of blade energy, sharper than any words could describe, shot through the air at a lightning speed.

Under normal circumstances, one would dodge or block. But Danjagang didn’t do either. Instead, he rushed towards the sword energy, wrapping his entire body in demonic energy.

“What?”

Kwaang!

The released energy from the sword clashed with Danjagang’s own demonic energy, deflecting the three streaks of sword energy. Mangeum Daebu reflexively thrust himself off the ground and leaped backward.

You can’t perfectly avoid this forever.

Quadddeuk!

Danjagang’s hand, swung like a wild beast’s claw, grazed his chest, tearing away a chunk of flesh. Blood gushed out from the opened wound.

“Where are you running to, you little rat!”

Danjagang, in hot pursuit of Mangeum Daebu, resembled a predator pouncing on its prey. Mangeum Daebu was cornered, clenching his sword and gritting his teeth.

One of his most renowned techniques [성명절기(成名絕技)” can be translated as “renowned technique” or “famous skill] of Twelve Paths of the Ghost King [귀왕십이류(鬼王十二流)], The Ghost King’s Scourge of Heaven [귀왕겁천(鬼王劫天)] surged more powerful than ever before in his life.

Kwagak! Kwagagagak!

Danjagang’s demonic energy and his sword energy clashed fiercely in mid-air.

Uuuuaaaaaaah!

With an inhuman scream Mageum Daebu ripped apart Danjagang’s demonic energy with a stream of sky-blue sword qi.

Paaat! Paaat!

In an instant, crimson blood lines spread across Danjagang’s body.

Nooooooom!

The following strikes of The Ghost King’s Sun Destroying technique [귀왕관일(鬼王貫日)] pierced the gap in the shattered demonic energy storm at a speed of light.

Kwaddddeuk!

“….”

Mangeum Daebu’s eyes trembled. The tip of his sword, bathed in a surreal blue aura, had lodged itself in the center of Danjagang’s chest.

‘What…?’

It was an outcome even he found hard to believe. For a moment, he was overwhelmed by fear.

‘Could it be a trap…?’

Kwaduk!

In that instant, Danjagang clenched the sword in his chest with his bare hands.

“Little rat.”

Mangeum Daebu instinctively dropped his sword and leaped backward. However, before his body could fully retreat, Danjagang grabbed his arm.

“Aaargh!”

A moment later, a scream erupted from Mangeum Daebu’s mouth. Danjagang’s nails pierced his flesh and stuck into his bones. An immense, scorching pain surged through him, as if his arm was being engulfed in flames. Mangeum Daebu entire body began to tremble as if he was caught in a hailstorm.

But what drove him to even greater despair than the immense pain was the sight before his eyes. His sword, which had penetrated Danjagang’s chest, was slowly sliding out on its own.

“No… nooo…”

His eyes, reddened by agony, widened. In Danjagang’s chest, where the bloody hole had been, fresh flesh was rapidly growing.

Danjagang spoke in a dark voice,

“I will spare your life. A comfortable death is not allowed for you. However… your body will become useless.”

In an instant, a colossal pain wrapped around Mangeum Daebu’s arm, almost splitting his mouth open. His once sturdy arm, filled with taut muscles, began to wither and twist like a dead tree.

“Aaaargh!”

An agonizing scream that words couldn’t fully express erupted from his wide-open mouth.

But at that moment, the members of the Black Ghost Fortress who had finally caught up to the two of them rushed toward Danjagang, screaming.

“Protect our lord!”

“Die, you monster!!!”

With bloodshot eyes, they rushed toward Danjagang, risking their lives, heading for his back.

Danjagang didn’t even turn his head. He merely swung his arm toward the oncoming attackers. The blades of demonic energy slashed through all who charged at him.

Humans turned into dust as his blades cut them down, leaving a cloud of bloody remains.

But the Black Ghost Fortress members paid no heed to their own lives as they charged. The reason was simple. The moment the head died, they would die too. They had no choice.

Kaga-kang!

Even as his lower body was sent flying, his blade pierced Danjagang’s shoulder, and with one crushed arm, the survivor latched onto Danjagang’s leg as he crumpled.

“This!”

Finally, Danjagang turned with bloodshot eyes.

“These filthy unbelievers!”

Simultaneously, dozens of blades of demonic energy spewed forth from his arms.

“Die, all of you!”

Quaaaaa!

Jet black blades, larger than a person’s torso, spun fiercely, striking down those who rushed toward him. Flesh and blood mixed with the blades created a gruesome sight that should have never existed in this world.

Quaaaaa!

The storm of demonic energy swept through the frontlines and swept through once and once again.

And in an instant, as if everything had been washed away like an illusion, it vanished.

The world was filled with silence.

Only the bloodstained ground here proved that everything that had occurred was indeed real.

With an excited face Danjagang looked around and slowly lowered his gaze to what he held in his hand.

Someone’s withered arm, twisted like a dead tree, had been severed from the shoulder. A faint smile passed by Danjagang’s lips. He tossed the arm to the ground and mumbled.

“You’re quick to judge.”

Danjagang had lost his senses for that brief moment, and that’s when Mangeum Daebu had taken the chance to sever his own arm and flee.

Normally, someone like him wouldn’t have allowed his prey to slip away, but… when he pushed his demonic energy to the limit, even he briefly lost his senses. It was an unavoidable side effect he had to bear.

But to think that someone who had gained some recognition even in Gangho would simply cut off his own arm and abandon all his subordinates to escape…

“Lowlifes like these…”

Danjagang bit his lips until they bled.

However, as if shaking off the deepening suspicions, Danjagang nodded and mumbled as if it was a habit.

“Second Coming of the Heavenly Demon. Ten Thousand Demons Pay Homage.”

The arrival will come.

The Lord will definitely arrive.

And at that time, all the delusions within him will be denied, and ultimately, he will be given a name.

Only then will Danjagang find the meaning of his existence.

“Jeogil [적일(赤一) – Red One].”

“Yes, Lord Bishop.”

A demonic cultist, answering to his name, appeared in front of him and bowed.

“…Kill more people, inflict more pain upon them. So that the entire world may groan in despair and agony.”

“Yes, Bishop!”

Danjagang gazed at the blood-soaked earth in silence.

‘Can you hear us, Heavenly Demon? Our cries.’

Only after a long while did he slowly turn his body.

In the place where they had left, there lay only twisted arm, like a dead tree in a desert.

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