Chapter 18
Heartless Demon Gu Nuong exuded a menacing presence as he spoke.
"You brat. Do you realize what you've just done?"
"......."
"You cut off my subordinate's arms and legs, so you deserve the same. No, I'll make it even more gruesome for you."
"......."
"First, I'll tell you why they call me Heartless Demon. It's because I've turned my enemies into minced meat with this mace. So today, you too will be shredded!"
Heartless Demon Gu Nuong shouted ferociously.
But Jaseong remained calm.
"You Kaiyang Society bastards are all so talkative."
"What...?!"
"Quit yapping and come at me already. Or quit now if you're scared."
With a blank face, Jaseong gestured with his hand.
He flicked his fingers lightly, as if calling a dog.
Of course, upon hearing this provocation, Heartless Demon Gu Nuong's already fierce face twisted even more viciously.
"You arrogant whelp, you're hastening your death!!"
Letting out a thunderous roar, Heartless Demon Gu Nuong charged at Jaseong with a *shuaak!!!*
He was so huge that he looked like a massive tiger pouncing on its prey.
'... I thought he'd be slow, being so big, but he's incredibly fast.'
Jaseong muttered inwardly, raising his sword.
At that moment, Heartless Demon let out a battle cry and rained down blows with his mace.
"Heaven-Crashing Mace Technique—First Form, Falling Star Strike!!"
The massive mace soared high into the air, then came crashing down at Jaseong with full force.
Jaseong angled his sword to deflect the strike.
KA-AAAANG!!!!
As he deflected the mace, a harsh metallic shriek echoed through the pleasure house.
At the same time, Jaseong's wrist ached a little.
And that was despite having only deflected the blow.
This alone showed just how powerful Heartless Demon's mace really was.
'Just one hit from that, and I really would be pulp.'
Heartless Demon pressed his attack even harder.
"Heaven-Crashing Mace Technique—Second Form, Sky-Shattering Smash!"
This time, Heartless Demon's mace spun in wide arcs, swinging relentlessly.
*shuaak! shuaak!*
Jaseong narrowly evaded the storm of mace blows that rained down like lightning.
Then, in that instant—
*kwa-kwang! kwa-kwang! kwa-kwang!*
Heartless Demon's mace smashed the places where Jaseong had just been, tearing up the whole pleasure house.
The spectators' spines were drenched in cold sweat.
Several times over, had Jaseong been just a moment slower, he'd have ended up as minced meat.
'What insane power...!'
'At this rate, he'll fall to Heartless Demon...?!'
'Should I intervene? I have to get involved before that guy runs out of stamina...!'
But then—how could this be?
Even after more than thirty seconds of Heartless Demon's onslaught, astonishingly, Jaseong continued to dodge every swing of his mace.
It was as if he had mastered some miraculous evasion technique.
'... Fast. But still definitely slower than Heaven Evading Phantom Step. So... I can dodge it easily.'
While it looked as if he was barely evading, in reality, Jaseong—within time slowed by his Samadhi Eyes—chose the most efficient escape route at every instant.
He was using the immortal footwork, Heaven Evading Phantom Step.
No matter that Heartless Demon was a renowned master of the Dark Path, before immortal footwork and heavenly talent, his attacks were no more than a child's game.
Then, at one moment—
'Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique, third Form: Heaven Evading—Eight Winds.'
*chuaaaak!!*
Suddenly, a fountain of blood erupted.
Jaseong had slipped to Heartless Demon's side like the wind and suddenly thrust his sword.
"Graaah?!"
The Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique was so fast, Heartless Demon couldn't even follow it with his eyes.
All he could do was watch as a geyser of blood shot from his huge right leg.
As Heartless Demon screamed in pain, Jaseong stepped back.
He could have delivered more strikes, but for now, he wanted to test out the extent of his improved skills.
"You rat bastard!!"
Enraged, Heartless Demon started swinging his mace wildly.
Pouring all his strength into the weapon, he unleashed his culminating technique.
"Die! Heaven and Earth Collapse!!!"
Heartless Demon's mace whipped through the air, unleashing a storm-like force.
With a crash, Bang! The whole pleasure house began collapsing.
But Jaseong dodged more easily than before—Heartless Demon's right leg was now paralyzed, drastically reducing his mobility.
So, before long—
*chuaaaaak!!!*
This time, Jaseong's sword pierced Heartless Demon's left leg.
Now Heartless Demon, both legs spurting blood, had lost all ability to move.
It was time for Jaseong to end his own fun.
'A sweeping strike that cuts down myriad foes. Heaven Evading Sweeping All Armies.'
*chuaaaak!!!*
Jaseong's blade drove horizontally into Heartless Demon's thick chest.
It was the moment marking the end of the battle.
If Jaseong slashed through, Heartless Demon's heart would burst.
But then—
"?!"
Heartless Demon did something unexpected.
He grabbed the blade lodged in his chest with his left hand, displaying brute strength.
Then—
"Falling Star Strike...!!"
With his right hand, Heartless Demon swung his mace to smash Jaseong's head.
'Danger, it's dangerous...!'
'He can't dodge that...!'
Everyone held their breath at the mortal crisis.
Yet Jaseong's gaze remained calm.
'Like Mount Tai crashing down from above—heavy and overwhelming. Heaven Evading—Heaven Pressing Mount Tai.'
At that moment of peril, Jaseong changed the angle of the sword.
Shifting the blade already lodged in Heartless Demon's chest, he slashed vertically downwards.
As a result—
*chuaaaAAAAAK!!!!!!*
Before Heartless Demon could counter, his body sprayed a spectacular fountain of blood, splitting cleanly in half.
It was the moment when the essence of one(單) of the Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique achieved strength (強).
The most stripped-down, simplest sword became the most powerful strike.
'Remember. Sometimes the simplest thing is the strongest.'
Recalling the words of Baek Cheon-gwang, former executor of Heaven's Mandate, Jaseong lowered his sword.
And at that moment—
*thud!*
With a massive crash, Heartless Demon Gu Nuong's giant frame slumped to the floor.
Instantly, eerie silence fell over the inside of the pleasure house.
'He-Heartless Demon is... That terrifying man was beaten like that...?'
'Just who is he, to be that powerful at such a young age...?!'
The Kaiyang Society members of the Dark Path, Fierce Sky Faction warriors, courtesans, errand boys, and most of all, the two disciples from Mocheon Sect—
Everyone stared at Jaseong in disbelief.
And at that time, within Jaseong's eyes burned a blade-like, cold and harsh aura beyond words.
* * *
"Hoo...."
Panting out a long breath, Jaseong ended the fight.
When he lifted his gaze to the Kaiyang Society's dark path members, they all flinched and averted their eyes in terror.
"If anyone else wants to die or become a cripple, step forward."
Jaseong said, blood still dripping from his sword.
The Kaiyang Society thugs in front of him trembled like willows in winter.
It was only natural.
Heartless Demon, ranked third in Kaiyang Society's hierarchy, was a master even they couldn't hope to overcome together.
Yet Jaseong felled such a master without spilling a single drop of his own blood.
How could anyone muster the courage to attack him?
"R-Run away!"
At last, the Kaiyang Society thugs scattered in a panicked stampede.
A disgraceful display.
Jaseong watched them for a moment, then slowly turned his head.
His gaze settled on the two disciples of Mocheon Sect.
Namely, Murong Jin—the Mocheon Sect leader's fourth son—and his fellow disciple.
*stomp, stomp—*
Jaseong approached them, sword still slick with blood.
"How dare you point your sword at me without knowing who I am? To lay a hand on me is to make enemies with Mocheon Sect, the most prestigious righteous faction in Guiyang!"
Murong Jin, the sect leader's fourth son, tried to sound imposing.
But the instant he met Jaseong's eyes, his face turned pale without realizing it.
"......!"
Jaseong's eyes radiated a chilling murderous intent.
Murong Jin and his fellow couldn't possibly withstand it.
The truth was their martial arts level barely scraped by as second-rate.
So how could they possibly stand up to Jaseong, who had just vanquished Heartless Demon without shedding a drop of blood?
'He looks just like that bastard.'
Watching the ashen-faced Murong Jin, Jaseong couldn't help but think.
The night the Red Light District was drenched in blood. The master of the Murong family, who had toyed with and humiliated Jaseong.
Murong Jin resembled him so much.
His sharp eyes and arrogant lips, and the way he gazed down at the errand boy with contempt as if looking at vermin...
Everything was the same.
"N-Next time, just you wait!"
As Jaseong drew nearer, Murong Jin and his fellow both turned to flee.
However—
*shuaak!*
Jaseong's form moved like the wind.
Heaven Evading Phantom Step activated, instantly blocking their path.
"There is no 'next time'."
"......!"
"Let's settle this today."
Jaseong's sword slashed across Murong Jin's fleeing back.
*chuaak!*
The sharp blade sliced Murong Jin's back, spraying blood.
"Argh!"
Murong Jin screamed and staggered forward.
Drawing his sword in desperation, he tried to resist, but Jaseong sidestepped easily and then slapped his cheek with his fist.
"This is for the errand boy you tormented earlier."
*Puh-uck!!*
"Gah!"
"This is for the owner of the pleasure house."
*Bpa-ak!*
"Ugh?!"
"This is for my big brother."
*Bba-aaak!!*
"Urgh! Who—who is your big brother...?!"
"This is for my sister-in-law."
*Puh-uck!!*
"Ogh! What does that even—?!"
Murong Jin, his face caked in blood and confusion, had no idea what was happening.
Those nearby watched breathlessly.
Inside, they were indescribably relieved.
Everyone had witnessed the evils committed just now by the Kaiyang Society and Murong Jin in the pleasure house.
Recalling how they trampled the errand boy, threatened the courtesans, and turned Cheongha Pavilion upside down with their rampage, people felt like a refreshing downpour had fallen in their chests.
Yet, at the same time, anxious voices rose.
"What if Mocheon Sect comes to take vengeance for this?"
"They're the most powerful righteous faction in Guizhou Province—is this okay...?"
"And behind them is the Murong family, one of the Five Great Clans, right...?!"
These whispers reached Jaseong's ears, but he didn't even twitch an eyebrow.
At this moment, all his focus was on beating down Murong Jin and his fellow disciple.
*Bpa-ak! Puh-uck! Bba-aaak! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Bba-aaak!!!!*
The dull thuds rang out in succession.
Murong Jin's face became utterly unrecognizable, a bloody mess.
At the same time, his speech grew extremely polite—unlike at the beginning.
"Ugh! W-why are you doing this! If it's because of the Kaiyang Society, I...."
"No. That's not the reason."
"T-then why...!"
"Because you have the blood of the Murong family."
"What...?"
"For that, you deserve to die."
With those words, Jaseong stopped punching and raised his sword.
In this moment, his eyes brimmed with venomous anger, resentment, and vengeance.
― Jaseong, come eat quickly. Big brother is full. Hehe."
The foolish big brother who swallowed his hunger, yielding his portion of meat for his pregnant wife and younger sibling.
― Young master should eat most. You're still growing."
The kind sister-in-law who treated Jaseong like a real brother, warmly serving him food.
Thinking of these lost family members he would never see again, Jaseong swung his sword down.
*Kwa-ang!!*