Says He’ll Take That Man’s Life. (1)

“Enemy!”

“W-Where?”

The Ten Thousand Great Mountains, plunged in darkness, fell into chaos in an instant.

“This way!”

Those who heard the sharp voice hurriedly ran toward where the sound had come from.

“W-What the—!”

Soon they saw a body sprawled on the ground. Blood still gurgled from the throat, indicating he had been the one who cried out moments ago.

“He couldn’t have gone far! Search the area at once!”

It was both correct and wrong at the same time.

It’s accurate that he hadn’t gone far, but there was no need to search the vicinity; the person they sought was already surging up behind them.

Pa-aa-ang!

The sword tip ripped through the air and plunged into the backs of the Ten Thousand People Clan. The decisive stroke cut through sinew and nerve without hesitation.

“Kraaah!”

The dreadful scream echoed chillingly across the dark night sky.

“There!”

“Don’t let him get away!”

Dozens of Ten Thousand People Clan who had come running at the scream surged forward the moment they spotted Chung Myung holding a sword in the darkness.

Chung Myung glanced at them indifferently, expelled sword qi, and stomped the ground.

Paa-aat!

For a moment Chung Myung’s body seemed to elongate, and then he vanished from where he stood. Mount Hua’s distinctive black sword-robe and the heavy darkness intertwined, blurring his form in an instant.

“Over there! He went that way! Chase him now!”

“Where?!”

“I said over there, you idiots!”

The Ten Thousand People Clan shouted and pursued Chung Myung’s trail.

“T-There’s no sign!”

“Nonsense! Are you saying he shot up into the sky?!”

“B-But…!”

A warrior does not hunt solely with his eyes. They track a foe by presence, the flow of qi, faint sounds—by all those things.

But no matter how they sharpened their sense, they could not find his presence. It was as if he had truly vanished into thin air.

“Spread out! He couldn’t have gone far!”

Barring a specter, he couldn’t just vanish; he had to be nearby. Not far…

The hair on the man’s arms who shouted suddenly bristled.

He felt a sense that could freeze the soul, an uncanny chill like finely honed metal creeping up from his throat over his whole body.

‘W-When…’

Slash!

Stab!

The cold blade seared red as it was soaked by the hot blood gushing from the man’s neck.

“W-What the—!”

Startled by a groan behind them, the ones running ahead turned around. One who had been running behind them had already collapsed, foaming at the mouth, and Chung Myung’s figure was revealed behind him.

The panicked men wildly slashed with their swords as if in a seizure.

“Aaaah! Dieee!”

But if Chung Myung could be caught by chaotic, panicked swings, would the Ten Thousand People Clan have suffered so many casualties?

Kaa-ang! Ka-ang!

Chung Myung’s Hidden-Scent Plum Blossom Sword deflected the incoming blades and, like a starving viper, struck to tear into the enemy’s throat.

Kwa-deuk!

“Gurgle…”

Those whose throats were cut all collapsed with terror frozen in their eyes. Chung Myung had driven the sword deeper than usual and the blood flowing down thoroughly soaked it.

“There!”

“Sound the alarm, now!”

Beee-eeek!

A whistle blown by someone shrieked sharply like a scream. Chung Myung’s gaze deepened into darkness.

Bang!

An explosion cracked from the ground where he stood. Closing distance with a powerful step, Chung Myung swung swiftly and cut through the waists of the rushing men.

Paa-at!

Blood spurted from the severed faces.

“Bastarddd!”

Seeing their comrades split in front of them, the remaining men swung their swords in fear and rage.

Ka-kang!

Chung Myung slipped the blade falling from above and sent his sword to sever an enemy’s neck.

Before the split neck could even spurt blood, he kicked off the ground and launched himself backward.

“Don’t let him escape!”

Those who had rushed from all around shouted and pursued him.

At that moment, Chung Myung’s running form suddenly disappeared behind a ridge that rose like a blade.

“Follow him!”

The Ten Thousand People Clan also leapt forward to where Chung Myung had gone. But there was nothing to be seen.

Only a vast, suffocating heaviness of darkness remained.

“What…”

Nothing. Even when they instinctively spread their qi-sense, they detected nothing.

“Where did he go…!”

The man who had been screaming suddenly shut his mouth. His whole body went gooseflesh in an instant.

He tried to look up hastily, but before he could move, a sharp pain pierced his nape.

Puuuk!

A diagonally plunging sword pierced the man’s nape.

The blade severed vertebrae and pierced through his spine; his eyes bulged as if they might pop out. Not quite dead, indescribable pain gnawed his whole body. The man’s entire body convulsed and trembled.

“K-Kill him!”

Those nearby quickly swung their swords in defense. But before their blades could reach, Chung Myung’s sword, stuck through the body, scattered sword qi everywhere.

“Aaaaaah!”

“Kraah!”

The dying screams of those torn by the sword qi and the thick stench of blood billowed out. In an instant Chung Myung turned five into wraiths and melted back into the darkness.

“H-Here! This way!”

Those who arrived belatedly widened their eyes. All they could see were bodies cooling, mutilated by Chung Myung’s sword.

“T-That bastard…”

“There!”

Someone who spotted Chung Myung’s movement shouted. A few immediately ran after him without thinking.

“W-We too!”

Then a booming shout rang out behind them.

“Which direction is it!”

“Boss!”

It was Mo Hwi, the third leader of the Ghost Sickle Platform squad. His arrival brought a flash of hope to his men; pursuing Chung Myung among themselves had been a heavy burden.

“It’s the Mount Hua’s Sword Saint, over there!”

“Follow me!”

Mo Hwi surged forward at once. Seeing him, the others, bolstered with courage, followed.

But the moment Mo Hwi ran over the rough terrain as if it were flat, his face froze. Surely a few had been trailing Mount Hua’s Sword Saint, yet there was no sign. The mountains were complex and steep, making visual confirmation impossible.

A wave of nausea-inducing terror surged through him, but Mo Hwi gritted his teeth and stepped on.

Thud! As he rounded the back of the ridge, the heavy smell of blood struck his nose.

“Ugh…”

Bodies of Ten Thousand People Clan lay scattered here and there. Perhaps the killings were recent—each time a chest rose and fell, hot blood gurgled from the gaping holes.

“That damned bastard…”

Mo Hwi’s face twisted in agony.

“Boss!”

“We can’t see his trail!”

“Don’t hesitate! He’s no ghost; where could he have gone? Split the squad in two. One group searches nearby, the others sweep the ridges!”

“Yes!”

Mo Hwi’s gaze fixed upward. If it was Chung Myung, he would use a ridge that jutted like a blade—especially in this deep darkness, perfect for concealment.

“Guh, guh-ruhk…”

A faint sound from below made Mo Hwi’s eyebrow twitch. Someone not fully beheaded was convulsing in pain.

“Tsk.”

Mo Hwi stepped forward and raised his blade—to grant a merciful death.

But the moment he lifted his blade to cut the subordinate’s throat, he noticed something odd. The man was desperately rolling his eyes to convey something—very, very urgently.

Paaa-aaaat!

At that moment a beam of light burst up through the subordinate’s belly and struck Mo Hwi.

“Aaaah!”

Mo Hwi twisted his body just enough to protect his vital points. He had sensed something strange in the subordinate’s desperate eyes.

But that did not mean he was safe.

Paa-aaat!

The corpse flipped and from beneath it the blood-splattered Chung Myung rose. Blades flashed in succession and sliced through both of Mo Hwi’s knees.

Slash! Slash!

Mo Hwi’s half-severed knees buckled and gave way.

“Aaaah!”

Even then Mo Hwi attempted to swing his blade—he was certainly fit to command a Ten Thousand People Clan division—but Chung Myung’s blade was ruthless and in an instant cut through his wrists and forearms.

Slash!

“Guh-ruk…”

Chung Myung’s sword then sliced through Mo Hwi’s sternum.

Mo Hwi, unable to hold himself, staggered as if to topple forward. Before he could, Chung Myung had moved behind him and grabbed a fistful of his hair.

Mo Hwi’s head was jerked forcibly back. The Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword touched his exposed neck.

“Ugh… Uuugh…”

When he barely managed to turn his eyes to look behind, Mo Hwi saw Chung Myung’s eyes—cool and emitting a bluish radiance even in the thick darkness.

“Mo-Mount Hua…”

Pook!

“Aaaaaah!”

A harrowing, pitiful scream tore from Mo Hwi’s throat. That awful cry echoed like a horn calling allies and spread in all directions.

“Huuu… Huuuu…”

Though the man in his grip trembled helplessly in pain, Chung Myung’s gaze did not waver. He simply looked down at him with the same chilling cold as before.

Even while shaking with pain, Mo Hwi thought it strange. He was not afraid of death. But at the moment he met those eyes, a terror beyond death consumed him.

“Scream louder.”

“…”

“That will draw more of them. Idiots who don’t even know this will make their graves.”

“Y-You son of a—”

Kwa-deuk!

Chung Myung’s sword drove into Mo Hwi’s neck. In an instant it sliced muscle and vessels and, without hesitation, severed the cervical bone.

“Guh, guh-ruk…”

Froth of blood bubbled; the light left Mo Hwi’s eyes swiftly.

Without a second thought Chung Myung kicked Mo Hwi’s body aside and, sensing the footsteps of those converging from all around, let out a small, cold smile.

Thud.

Then he walked toward the enemies who hesitated nervously.

Those who had been hesitating backed away in pale fear as Chung Myung approached. He asked:

“Why the hesitation?”

His indifferent gaze swept over them once.

“Weren’t you the ones who came to kill me?”

“Y-You madman…”

Chung Myung’s gaze flicked toward the sky. It was pitch dark—just like the many nights he’d faced on this mountain long ago.

“I see you understand.”

The raised sword slanted across Chung Myung’s face.

“That the positions have been reversed.”

Chung Myung’s eyes, half-revealed from behind the sword’s face, emitted a chilling light.

“Let’s continue. There’s still much night left.”

Then, horrifying screams wracked with pain rang out like a signal.