Pay‑to‑Win King of Martial Arts (Novel) - Chapter 220 - Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (3)

Chapter 220: Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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‘An Elder?’

It was clear that the generation of the middle-aged man in front of me was different from the ones I had just encountered. Whether looking at his age or his energy wave.

“I am Gok Pyeong-un of Hainan.”

Gok Pyeong-un. I had heard of him before. A man who had polished the uniquely sly sword paths of Hainan to their absolute limits.

“So you are the renowned Sly Sword of Hainan.”

I politely gave a martial salute to the elder of the prestigious orthodox sect.

“Since I have revealed my name, you should reveal yours as well.”

“I apologize, but I have no name to reveal. Nor do I have a title.”

“A public enemy of the martial world? How strange. I didn’t think there were any young public enemies.”

“I am not a public enemy.”

“You could be wearing a human-skin mask.”

At those words, I pinched my skin until it turned red. No matter how excellent a human-skin mask was, it couldn’t replicate a natural flushed red.

“It’s not a human-skin mask, then. Are you the one who made my disciples like that?”

“If I say no, will you believe me?”

“Of course not. Still, it’s equally hard to believe. Unless you are a master who has undergone youth restoration, you look far too young to have subdued those children like that.”

“Fortunately, I am not old enough to require youth restoration.”

“True. Even those called the Five Great Sword Masters Under Heaven haven’t undergone youth restoration yet. If a restored master appeared here, it would trigger a cataclysm in the martial world. Though it seems the mainland is already going through a cataclysm anyway.”

My ears perked up. A cataclysm on the mainland. That was the information I wanted to know most right now.

“Can you tell me in detail about this cataclysm on the mainland?”

“We aren’t exactly in a position to have a leisurely chat right now, are we?”

“That’s true.”

Gok Pyeong-un slowly drew his sword. It was a curved sword with a bent tip. It was distinctly different from the swords held by the Hainan disciples. The only commonality was that he also held his sword in his left hand.

“Do you intend not to surrender even while knowing my name?”

“Tucking my tail here would be a bit strange too.”

“Hainan’s sword is different from the mainland’s. It is relentless.”

Gok Pyeong-un moved slowly. He was fast. If I had to compare, his movement was similar to when I faced Cheong-yu.

But what differed from back then was that my eyes and body could keep up. I didn’t even need to peer into his intent.

An unfamiliar, murderous sword path curved toward me like a snake. I deflected the sword aiming for my waist and then pushed off with a kick.

Gok Pyeong-un immediately tucked in his elbow to defend against the kick. Veins bulged instantly, indicating an immense amount of energy had gathered in his arm.

Pushing past his protective qi, my sole barely made contact with his arm. Since it barely connected, I thought the destructive force wouldn’t be very great.

But to my surprise, Gok Pyeong-un was blown far back the moment my foot made contact. Although he stomped his feet to halt midway, he left two deep, furrow-like gouges in the ground.

“…Hmph!”

Gok Pyeong-un seemed equally surprised as his eyes widened slightly, but the battle did not stop.

He immediately shot toward me like a cannonball. His sword paths were cunning enough to perfectly suit his title, the Sly Sword of Hainan. They were practical and specialized in catching opponents off guard. It was like dealing with a wildly churning sea.

However, even a sword like a volatile and cunning wave would ultimately be swallowed by an overwhelmingly massive tsunami.

Primordial Origin Qi seeped into the sword. The Heavenly Demon Sword Art. According to Zhu Mun-hwan, it was a martial art that only the Emperors of Great Ming could learn.

Which meant, by today’s standards, it was a lost martial art. As long as demonic qi didn’t leak out, no one would recognize it.

As I chanted the mnemonic of the Heavenly Demon Heart Art and circulated true qi through my body, a chilling sensation spread, and dust rose from the ground near where I stood.

I slowly took a single step. It was far slower than Gok Pyeong-un’s speed as he charged like a cannonball. Yet, a tsunami always seemed slow until it engulfed everything in the blink of an eye.

Soul-Fall. It was an arrogant name for a technique, meaning to drop one’s soul. From the beginning, the names of the techniques in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, an imperial martial art, were incredibly arrogant.

I slashed diagonally. It was a strike filled with enough destructive force to make Myeong-a vibrate.

Despite being a slow technique that looked as if I were merely letting the sword fall without strength, a deafening screech of tearing air erupted.

The moment our swords clashed, Gok Pyeong-un’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Gok Pyeong-un’s curved sword did not just snap in half under my single strike; it was shattered into pieces, disintegrating into shards. To me, it looked like a scene playing out in slow motion.

Slash!

Controlling my strength in that split second, I slightly pulled back my blade. However, the mere wind of the sword infused with sword qi tore open the chest of Gok Pyeong-un’s martial robes and split his skin. Blood spurted, splashing onto me.

“Elder!”

It seemed the Hainan Sect disciples tied to the tree had regained consciousness, as screams erupted from them. They wriggled to escape the ropes, but because I had tied them so tightly, they couldn’t break free.

Staggering, Gok Pyeong-un sealed the acupoints near his chest. The spurting blood slowed and soon stopped completely.

Catching his breath, Gok Pyeong-un raised his head to meet my gaze. His eyes, still shining and unbroken, were impressive.

“Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“You could have killed me. Why did you spare my life?”

“We don’t have enough of a grudge to kill each other, do we? Honestly, I didn’t even intend to injure you that badly.”

I spoke indifferently. That was indeed my honest feeling, but to be even more honest, there was also some calculation involved. If I killed a Hainan Sect Elder here, all the martial artists of the Hainan Sect would rise up and pursue me.

Moreover, the moment my identity was revealed, conflict would also arise with the Wudang Sect. I didn’t want that.

“…Could it be that you spared me because you feared being hunted across Hainan?”

I flinched slightly. This uncle indeed had experience rolling around in the jianghu, as he sharply pierced through my true intentions. However, I naturally shrugged my shoulders.

“You can believe what you want. I simply do not have the time to be detained by the Hainan Sect right now.”

“I see.”

Dragging his broken sword, Gok Pyeong-un slowly headed toward his disciples. The ropes binding the three disciples were cut.

“Are you alright, Elder?”

“I am fine. It is merely a flesh wound.”

“But still…”

“A nephew worrying about his uncle is a form of insolence.”

“We apologize.”

The disciples, who had bowed to Gok Pyeong-un, drew their swords again and guarded against me. Gok Pyeong-un let out a dry laugh.

“He is not someone you can handle.”

“…Even so, we cannot sheathe our swords in front of an enemy.”

“Hmph, do as you wish.”

Gok Pyeong-un turned his gaze away from his nephews and looked at me.

“How absurd. You look thirty at most, yet you possess this level of martial prowess.”

I found it even more absurd. If only half a year had passed, I was barely twenty-four now. But raising that point would only draw unnecessary attention, so I decided to keep it to myself.

Frankly, defeating a Hainan Sect Elder at the age of thirty was already unprecedented. Even I hadn’t expected myself to become this strong.

“Martial Uncle, what do we do then?”

“Well, shouldn’t we stay on high alert for now?”

“We are doing that right now.”

“Not that. The twilight is settling in. Having caused this much commotion at this hour, at least a few bastards are bound to show up.”

Gok Pyeong-un spoke in riddles. However, the disciples’ expressions stiffened as if they understood.

Hearing Gok Pyeong-un’s words, I looked up at the sky and saw the sun sinking coldly below the horizon.

At first, I didn’t know what his words meant, but I soon found out. To be more precise, I had no choice but to find out.

As Gok Pyeong-un said, our battle had been quite loud. Given Hainan Island’s narrow territory, which couldn’t compare to the vast mainland, many people had surely noticed our clash.

And the aftermath followed quickly. Extending my senses, I realized numerous people were already in the vicinity. It seemed they had hidden themselves and concealed their presence even while we were fighting.

The Hainan Sect members also seemed to notice, as their faces turned grim.

“Are there no other Martial Uncles in Sanya?”

“He went patrolling in the opposite direction from where I came, so I don’t know if he felt it. If he did, he is probably rushing here.”

I gathered a clue from their words. This place was Sanya, a region in the southern part of Hainan Island. Simply put, it was on the exact opposite side of Haikou, which was closest to the mainland. Talk about terrible luck.

“Why don’t you bastards stop hiding like rats and come out?”

At Gok Pyeong-un’s shout, the sounds of rustling bushes and shaking branches echoed from all directions.

“Haha. To think the world-renowned Sly Sword of Hainan would be defeated by a mere greenhorn. I’ve truly lived long enough to see everything.”

A man wearing dark iron-colored gloves approached, cracking his neck from side to side. He wore a sleeveless shirt, and there was a strange scar branded on his arm below his shoulder.

Those markings were obvious. They were the typical scars that unorthodox bastards carved with knives under the guise of unity.

“…Soul-Snatching Ghost Hand.”

Gok Pyeong-un groaned upon seeing him. I had also heard of the Soul-Snatching Ghost Hand. He was one of the famous public enemies of the martial world. I thought he had vanished, but it seemed he was hiding on Hainan Island.

“Hey there, young friend.”

The Soul-Snatching Ghost Hand called out to me.

“Yes?”

“I don’t know where you came from, but our Namwon Gang welcomes you.”

It was an out-of-the-blue greeting. He continued speaking.

“You must have come down to Hainan Island due to some unavoidable circumstances of your own. Like killing your master or senior brothers, or perhaps murdering commoners in a brief fit of rage. Isn’t that right?”

I listened to him in disbelief. In their eyes, I apparently looked like one of their own.

“We don’t ask about such painful pasts. We simply start a new life on Hainan Island. What do you say? Starting a second life with the Namwon Gang.”

“I am already living my second life.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand.”

At my blunt response, the Soul-Snatching Ghost Hand’s expression hardened.

“It seems you prefer wandering alone as a rogue. Fine. We don’t hold back those who leave, nor do we turn away those who come. It doesn’t matter if you don’t join.”

“That’s a relief. It would have been a bit troublesome if you tried to hold me back.”

“Then, have a safe trip.”

They tried to let me go. But even a three-year-old child could guess why they were trying to send me away.

“I have no intention of leaving. I’d like to rest here for a bit.”

“Hmm, is that so? Quite a prickly fellow.”

The Soul-Snatching Ghost Hand smiled slickly.

“Our target is the Sly Sword of Hainan. You have nothing to do with this.”

Finally, they revealed their objective. Though I didn’t know the details, it seemed Hainan Island was crawling with such scum. And they were generally in conflict with the Hainan Sect.

Seeing that the Sly Sword of Hainan was weakened by his injuries, they thought this was the perfect opportunity.

Did my excessive sword swing trigger this situation? But even I hadn’t expected to sink a Hainan Sect Elder in a single blow.

I slightly turned my head to meet the eyes of the seated Gok Pyeong-un.

“Hey, Hainan Elder?”

“What is it?”

“If I help you here, that means I’m not a public enemy, right?”

Gok Pyeong-un cackled.

“What a hilarious situation. Especially since you are the one who injured me and made me unable to move.”

“That was then. The situation is a bit different now, isn’t it?”

“Indeed it is.”

After thinking for a moment, Gok Pyeong-un nodded.

“Very well. If you help me here, I will guarantee your identity. On my name.”

“Sounds good.”

I smiled. In truth, Gok Pyeong-un probably had no choice. If he rejected my help here, his only options were being taken hostage by those black-path bastards or dying.

“Hah, how incredibly arrogant.”

The Soul-Snatching Ghost Hand’s expression hardened as he toyed with his gloves.

“You think you can face all of us by yourself?”

“You guys aren’t the only ones.”

I said. Doubt filled the Soul-Snatching Ghost Hand’s eyes.

“Because there are more besides you.”

The eyes watching us from the shadows gleamed.

On Hainan Island, the night was in full swing with a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, a gathering of crawling pests.