A distance where hands could reach each other—no exaggeration for a martial artist to say it's the line between life and death.
Yet, even with the enemy right there, Dan Ja-Kang's gaze wasn't on him but fixed on his own shoulder. Through the torn clothing, the split and bleeding wound was clearly visible.
With every heartbeat, the throbbing pain spread around the injury. But more intense than the pain was the stark reality that his shoulder had been cleanly sliced.
Flesh is cut when touched by a sword—that's an obvious fact. But for Dan Ja-Kang, it had never been so.
"So easily…?"
This wound carried great meaning for him. His body, harder than steel and tougher than heavenly silkworm's silk, was no different from an ordinary body before that sword.
The split shoulder began to close on its own. The wound that had exposed red flesh quickly knit together, erasing itself. It was an unreal, abnormally fast recovery.
Seeing this, Chung Myung muttered softly.
"Is that the Skeleton Demonic Technique?"
Though the voice was small, Dan Ja-Kang clearly understood and flinched. He glared at Chung Myung.
"How do you know that…?"
"A body that doesn't die even when wounded—that's certainly convenient in fights…"
Chung Myung bared his teeth.
"Do you know how the one who learned that demonic technique before you died?"
Before Dan Ja-Kang could answer, Chung Myung's sword sliced through the air.
Pwaaah!
The red sword aura flying straight toward his neck seemed to answer for him.
Kagakang!
Dan Ja-Kang raised his hand to block the sword aura, and Chung Myung rushed right in front of him. The moment he faced that grotesque smile, a chill ran down Dan Ja-Kang's back.
Chwaaaak!
A sword strike tearing through the air descended. But having faced this move before, Dan Ja-Kang deployed his demonic qi without a hint of carelessness. Surely, it was a trick to disrupt his defense with scattering sword strikes again!
But at that moment, Chung Myung's sword accelerated again in the air and struck Dan Ja-Kang with overwhelming force.
Kwaaaaang!
Dan Ja-Kang's knee twitched as he concentrated on the sword's change.
Continuing!
Kwang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
Sword strikes like giant hammers fell repeatedly onto his demonic qi.
"Ugh!"
A groan escaped his lips. Every time the demonic qi flowing from his hands collided with the sword, an unknown qi penetrated inward through his hands. It was a pain like pouring ice-cold water directly inside his body.
'My demonic qi… is dispersing?'
What kind of martial skill did this man have to so easily disrupt demonic qi?
Bang!
A disturbed mind eventually affects the body. Dan Ja-Kang, whose posture collapsed, was pushed back by Chung Myung's sword. At the same time, Chung Myung stomped the ground and thunderously pursued the retreating Dan Ja-Kang.
"No chance!"
Demonic qi rose like clouds, beginning to surround Chung Myung. Unable to predict his opponent's moves, he intended to overwhelm him with sheer force.
But at that moment, Chung Myung pulled his sword almost behind his back and fiercely slashed from left to right in one swift motion.
Pwaaaaaaang!
A cracking sound like a whip echoed. At the same time, everything around where Chung Myung's sword passed began to distort, like crumpling a painted sheet of paper.
Then, a single red line bloomed.
A vivid line as if drawn by a painter's brush. The demonic qi of Dan Ja-Kang touched by that line split in half as if by illusion.
Chung Myung, having cut the demonic qi with a single strike, immediately charged straight at Dan Ja-Kang with madness blazing in his eyes.
This was a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance, and the enemy was overwhelmingly strong.
But at this moment, what Chung Myung felt was not burden but an indescribable pleasure in the fight.
Pwaaah!
The sword extended twice as fast as usual flew straight toward Dan Ja-Kang's face. The moment Dan Ja-Kang hastily raised his hand, Chung Myung's sword seemed to know in advance and changed direction to evade the blocking hand.
Chwaaaak!
The tip of the sword that pierced Dan Ja-Kang's wrist sliced lengthwise from wrist to elbow.
Blood sprinkled from the shallow cut. To Chung Myung's eyes, this scene unfolded slowly without missing a detail.
'Not yet.'
Not yet! Still not enough! Not yet!
'I…'
The Plum Blossom Sword Saint was twice as fast and twice as strong. This level could not satisfy his thirst at all.
The internal qi, gathered drop by drop, surged from his dantian. With each step and sword swing, forgotten sensations revived at his fingertips.
'More!'
The demonic qi pressing on his throat, breath rising to the top of his head. Though unhit, his whole body ached as if crushed, and blood vessels burst in his eyes.
His hands, constantly swinging the sword resisting the demonic qi, were already ragged, with finger bones about to show.
But…
Kwang!
The moment sword met the hand, Chung Myung clearly saw the distinct confusion in Dan Ja-Kang's eyes. That expression fueled Chung Myung's pleasure even more than before.
'You don't understand.'
How many countless battlefields had he crossed, how many Demonic Cult members he had killed, and how many High priests he had faced?
A High priest who hadn't experienced the time of a hundred years ago could never understand.
'More!'
Pwaaaaaah!
Still too slow. The power at the sword's tip was too weak to compare with his former self. But…
Kagagagak!
Chung Myung's sword pierced through the demonic qi again, carving a long wound on Dan Ja-Kang's cheek.
'That's not all!'
Chung Myung now was still not at the level of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, but he wielded a different weapon. A clearer qi than anything else gathered at the sword's tip.
'It pierces through.'
Gathering and refining the purest qi in the world, it could not be compared to ordinary righteous qi. It was sharp enough to tear apart demonic qi.
The wielder may have weakened, but the sword itself was an incomparable famous blade. Its sharpness served as Chung Myung's other weapon.
"Haah!"
At that moment, Dan Ja-Kang shouted a battle cry. The swirling demonic qi enveloped Chung Myung like a floating ghost.
The fierce demonic qi that would crush flesh and rot it just by touch was instead sharpening Chung Myung's senses to the extreme. His whole body tingled.
"More!"
Pwaaah!
The sword tip painted illusions.
Kwagak! Kwagak!
Chung Myung, having struck away all the demonic qi, threw his body toward Dan Ja-Kang's approaching hand. When his face was almost touching the hand, he kicked the air again with his extended toe. His body had gained even more speed.
Udeudeudeuk!
Dan Ja-Kang's hand brushed over his shoulder. Though just a brush, flesh from shoulder to back was torn off as if ripped away.
A dizzying pain arose. But before it fully registered in his mind, Chung Myung plunged into Dan Ja-Kang's embrace.
If weaker than before, there was only one way to overcome it: to rampage more violently and dangerously than before.
Pwaaah!
At extremely close range, the sword swung along an optimal trajectory deeply cut Dan Ja-Kang's thigh. Because of the close distance and Dan Ja-Kang's tough body, the sensation was more like a heavy skewer tearing up the flesh than a clean cut.
The moment the sword tip touched Dan Ja-Kang's bone, Chung Myung quickly slashed. Using the recoil, he slipped his body backward.
Kwaaaaaang!
The space where his head had just been was slashed at tremendous speed by Dan Ja-Kang's hand. Had Chung Myung greedily swung his sword fully, his head would have been split by this move.
But on Chung Myung's face, who narrowly escaped death by a hair's breadth, there was no trace of fear.
Standing on the edge of a blade where life and death hinge on a single moment's choice, what ruled Chung Myung's mind was not fear but ecstasy. The intense pleasure felt only when death approaches momentarily then swiftly recedes. Fully surrendering to it, Chung Myung twisted his body and charged at Dan Ja-Kang again.
Udeudeuk!
His sword-gripping hand tensed violently. Yet his body felt lighter than ever. Here, there was no one he had to protect or watch over. No reason to care about battles or sudden changes behind him.
He had only one task.
To cut the neck of the one before him.
Chung Myung's face, freed from the burden pressing on his shoulders, was soaked with killing intent and ecstasy.
Seeing that excited face, Jang Il-so matched steps with Chung Myung and charged at Dan Ja-Kang. If there had been any room to spare, he might have been laughing wildly by now.
'Crazy bastard.'
Jang Il-so always knew he wasn't sane. But that guy, Chung Myung, was crazy in a completely different way.
The gap between life and death—the Mount Hua's Sword Saint crosses the razor's edge line between death and life several times even in a moment. No sane person could do that.
Of course, those who aim for the top must be willing to bet their lives, but what that crazy Taoist does far surpasses that level.
The sword Jang Il-so grabbed to swing was out of control, rampaging wildly. Or should it even be called a sword? It was more like an arrow released from a bowstring—an extreme weapon that becomes a meaningless stick if it can't pierce the enemy.
'I never thought the day would come when I would support someone else.'
His noble pride twisted, but even that ache was almost enjoyable. With his eyes shining mischievously, Jang Il-so raised his Spear of Flaming Death to match Chung Myung's frenzied attacks.
'Not yet!'
Both hands were dyed deep blue.
At that moment, Chung Myung's sword transformed brilliantly, showering sword qi toward Dan Ja-Kang. All of Chung Myung's focus was on Dan Ja-Kang. Anyone who considered Chung Myung an enemy would want to reach out and attack him.
But Jang Il-so suppressed his desires with utmost patience.
'Not yet!'
Kwaaaaah!
The demonic qi, shooting out like a rain of arrows, instantly blew away the pouring sword qi. Then, like an enraged black dragon, the blazing sword's demonic qi rushed toward Chung Myung—or rather, tried to.
'Now!'
Bang!
Jang Il-so closed the distance in an instant and drove his spear qi into Dan Ja-Kang's exposed side. The scene resembled a beast leaping out to seize its prey.
Kwaaaaang!
Dan Ja-Kang staggered and retreated further back. Chung Myung shouted sharply.
"Too late!"
"…You are such a greedy child."
The two exchanged glances briefly and charged at Dan Ja-Kang like a wolf pack hunting a tiger.