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Chapter 100. My Name is Yeon Jeokha
Yonghee Pavilion.
Jin Gahee, the Little Sword and elder of the Fairy Cult, originally hails from the Divine Sword Association of Hogwangseong of the Evil Faction. Jin Gahee, known as the witch of Hogwangseong, joined the Yoomyung Cult after meeting the Lunar Fairy.
Her special art is swordsmanship, fitting for someone of her origin in the Divine Sword Association.
The reason for her nickname "Little Sword" is due to her white and delicate hands.
Jin Gahee, an expert of the Divine Sword Association, reached an even higher level after becoming one of the Demon Warriors of the Yoomyung Cult. Because of this, even other Demon Warriors would defer to her presence.
This explains why Jin Gahee decided to follow the great leader Lee Hwasu of the Sahae Chamber of Commerce alone. She was one of the best among the Demon Warriors and had nothing to fear.
Moreover, the Yoomyung Cult, especially the Lunar Fairy, regarded Waryong Manor as an insignificant sect. The disorganized dispersion of Waryong Manor in the past had given that impression.
That is why Jin Gahee thought she could afford to be greedy.
She was one of the best of the Demon Warriors, and her opponents were mere survivors of Waryong Manor.
By dusk, Jin Gahee and Lee Hwasu arrived at the Yonghee Pavilion.
The pavilion was crowded with customers, as was typical of such a famous place.
The laughter of the gisaengs (courtesans) and the sound of stringed instruments filtered through the wide-open doors.
The righteous heroines of the orthodox sects would have frowned, but Jin Gahee smiled.
Not only because she belonged to an evil sect, but also because she was a woman who frequented these places.
"Finally, I come to this famous Yonghee Pavilion."
Lee Hwasu said to the murmuring Jin Gahee:
"Elder, if you wish, you can use this place for free. Just make sure to handle this matter well."
"Hoho, I will remember those words. Don’t go back on them later."
"Yes, yes. But when will the old man appear?"
"What is there to wait for? Let’s handle this quickly so we can drink. You said they were staying in the guards’ lodging, right? Lead the way."
"Yes."
Lee Hwasu led Jin Gahee into the Yonghee Pavilion.
As they delved deeper into the building, the noise disappeared, making it feel more like a temple than a pleasure pavilion.
Something caught Jin Gahee’s attention.
It wasn’t silent for no reason.
The gisaengs and servants walked on tiptoes, trying not to make any noise.
Something not seen in a regular pavilion.
"Hmph! We’re not in the royal court, why does everyone walk like eunuchs?"
She could sense the degree of influence the members of Waryong Manor had.
If the tiger is not around, the fox reigns.
That the fugitives of Waryong Manor behaved like emperors here was laughable.
"I will tear them apart."
Although she started this matter out of greed, she was now glad to have taken on this task personally.
Lee Hwasu, who had stopped, murmured in a low voice:
"That’s where the guards are staying. They are the ones occupying the place without permission. They are practically bandits without weapons."
In reality, that was half true, half lie.
They said they would use the place without permission, but at least they had the approval of the Bangju.
While Lee Hwasu continued bad-mouthing, a noise was heard.
The door opened and a boy stuck his head out.
It was Yeon Jeokha.
"Who are you calling a bandit, old man? Want to meet a real bandit?"
Although he pretended to be indignant, Yeon Jeokha smiled internally.
The old man wasn’t entirely wrong.
Nokrim were bandits. They weren’t unarmed bandits, but real bandits.
Lee Hwasu stepped back, scared.
Jin Gahee took a step forward.
"Brat, are there adults from Waryong Manor inside? Make them all come out."
"There is no one."
"No one?"
Jin Gahee frowned and looked at Lee Hwasu.
He shook his head vehemently.
"He is lying."
Meanwhile, Yeon Jeokha stepped out and began to put on his shoes, leisurely, as if he were just going to the bathroom.
Jin Gahee was puzzled by the boy’s calm demeanor.
The old man’s words and the boy’s actions were too different.
Finally, Lee Hwasu couldn’t hold back and asked the boy:
"Aren’t they from Waryong Manor?"
"No, we are not."
"Then why do they say Pung and Tak are from Waryong Manor? Did they lie?"
Yeon Jeokha stared at Lee Hwasu and said:
"It is true that we are from Waryong Manor. But we are not people of Waryong Manor nor did we flee from there. Do you understand?"
Lee Hwasu blinked, confused.
Jin Gahee smiled and said:
"Hoho. I understand. You talk a lot, but in short, you are from Waryong Manor, right?"
"So what? Do you have any business with us?"
"This sister is an Elder of the Fairy Cult. So everyone related to Waryong Manor…"
"Ah! You come from the Fairy Cult? The famous headquarters of the Yoomyung Cult in Waryong Manor?"
Yeon Jeokha’s eyes sparkled with interest.
"Yes, so all of you are under my…"
"Ajumma, are you one of the Demon Warriors?"
Jin Gahee’s face twisted.
It was annoying to be interrupted repeatedly, but to be called "ajumma" (aunt)?
Meanwhile, two men came out of the building.
Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung.
They put on their shoes and sat back on the porch as if they were spectators.
Jin Gahee’s eyes filled with anger at that scene.
"Hahaha. Yes, I am one of the Demon Warriors. Today, no one will escape…"
"Auntie, do you know what happens when a Demon Warrior dies?"
Surprised by the unexpected question, Jin Gahee responded:
"What happens?"
"I don’t know why, but they turn into ashes and disappear. Do you know why?"
Yeon Jeokha took a step closer to Jin Gahee.
A strong wind rose around him.
Jin Gahee was impressed by the boy’s energy.
‘Who is this brat?’
He must be around fifteen years old?
Despite his small body and youthful face, the boy showed no fear.
Without the impressive energy surrounding him, she would have thought he was crazy.
Jin Gahee reached for the hilt of her sword and asked:
“Who are you?”
For a moment, she thought the boy might be a rejuvenated master. If there are supernatural abilities like those of the Demon Warriors, why couldn’t rejuvenation exist?
“My name is Yeon Jeokha. I am the son of the Moon-Splitting Swordsman, who was unearthed from his grave and thrown into a garbage pit.”
Jin Gahee immediately unsheathed her sword.
Chaang!
If he was the son of the Moon-Splitting Swordsman, he would surely see the Yoomyung Cult as his mortal enemy.
There was no room for words anymore.
Jin Gahee charged at Yeon Jeokha.
Shiiik! Shik! Shik!
Each time her sword moved, bright sword trails extended around her.
The energy obtained through her supernatural abilities elevated her swordsmanship to unimaginable levels.
Yeon Jeokha swung his sword side to side to deflect the sword trails.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With resounding explosions, the sword trails dispersed.
Soon, Jin Gahee’s and Yeon Jeokha’s swords clashed head-on.
Chachachachachang!
Jin Gahee attacked relentlessly, giving him no respite.
The combination of the deadly movements of the Divine Sword Association and her supernatural abilities was incredibly destructive.
Yeon Jeokha barely managed to defend himself.
After about seven minutes, Jin Gahee’s expression grew increasingly stern.
She had used the nine techniques of the Divine Sword Association twice, but hadn’t even managed to graze his clothes.
At first, it seemed like she had the upper hand.
Yeon Jeokha was too busy defending to counterattack.
But as time passed, something seemed strange.
Her opponent, though young, was skilled enough to handle the deadly moves of the Divine Sword. It made no sense that he hadn’t found an opportunity to counterattack.
‘Is it possible?’
Jin Gahee looked at Yeon Jeokha’s face.
More than a look of mortal determination, he seemed absorbed in something.
“Damn it!”
Unconsciously, Jin Gahee cursed.
It seemed the young man was practicing his swordsmanship, daring to do so against Jin Gahee, the Little Sword.
Filled with fury, Jin Gahee stepped back.
She concentrated all her energy into her sword. She was determined to use her perfect fusion technique of sword and body, even if she hadn’t completely mastered it.
No matter how arrogant he was, he wouldn’t dare to practice against this technique.
Wooooooong!
The sword emitted a blue glow as it vibrated.
Soon, her body seemed to fuse with the sword, making everything around her disappear.
Jin Gahee’s consciousness focused completely on Yeon Jeokha.
At that moment...
“Die!”
The bright blue sword lunged at Yeon Jeokha along with Jin Gahee.
Instead of confronting the fusion technique, Yeon Jeokha leaped into the air.
Jin Gahee passed by, kicked off a column, and propelled herself into the sky.
In the air, Yeon Jeokha’s body spun smoothly.
In a head-down position, Yeon Jeokha unleashed the fifth technique of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship, the Inverted Heaven and Earth.
Kwaaaang!
The sky collapsed, and the earth turned upside down.
Jin Gahee’s blue sword disintegrated under the overwhelming force of the technique.
Simultaneously, Yeon Jeokha’s sword pierced Jin Gahee’s chest.
Yeon Jeokha and Jin Gahee fell together, entwined.
Just before hitting the ground, Yeon Jeokha let go of the sword, somersaulted in the air, and moved aside.
Plop!
Jin Gahee fell to the ground with the sword embedded in her chest.
Yeon Jeokha, who landed softly beside her, looked at her with a bewildered expression.
In a way, it was his first kill.
The monster killed and revived by Old Shim wasn’t really a person.
And the fact that his first victim was a woman.
Though he always said he didn’t like old people, children, and women, it was one thing to dislike them and another to kill them.
Yeon Jeokha sighed.
There was no sense of having pierced fabric, as others described.
After desperately breaking the fusion technique, he simply found a sword embedded in a woman’s chest.
Still, that didn’t change the fact that he had committed murder.
And if he were in the same situation, he would do it again.
Yeon Jeokha, who was standing there, approached Jin Gahee to retrieve his sword.
Seeing the lifeless face of the woman, he felt bewildered again.
But those thoughts didn’t last long.
Crack! Crack!
The woman’s body began to crack and her limbs twisted.
Yeon Jeokha frowned.
He recalled how that person, whom Old Shim killed in the battle between Cheongun Military Alliance and the Namyang Chamber of Commerce, transformed into a monster in a similar manner.
The cracks spread, revealing black, bubbling skin.
Upon closer inspection, it looked more like boiling lava than skin.
‘It’s just like that person!’
Yeon Jeokha quickly stepped back and extended his hand.
Whirrr!
The sword embedded in Jin Gahee’s chest flew to Yeon Jeokha’s palm.
Immediately after, Jin Gahee’s body, now doubled in size, rose awkwardly.
“Grrr.”
A guttural sound came from Jin Gahee’s mouth.
Jin Gahee’s black eyes, looking around, fixed on Yeon Jeokha.
“Grrrr. Grrrr.”
Her lips trembled, emitting clear syllables as if she were trying to speak.
In the next instant, Jin Gahee’s body disintegrated into dust with an unexpected “pop.”