The Demonic Supreme Sword Novel - Chapter 88

Chapter 88
Chapter: 88

Chapter Title: The Beggars (3)

—

“Th-that Diamond Yaksha!”

The trio who had been pursuing Manchu caught sight of Cheol Woo and shrieked in terror.

“Well, look at this. A few faces that recognize me.”

Cheol Woo walked toward the group, who were glancing at one another in a panic, paralyzed by indecision.

“Retreat.”

The warriors, intimately familiar with Cheol Woo’s brutality, spun around and fled without a second thought.

It wasn’t merely cowardice. They had enlisted in this campaign to settle a score. However, engaging him in a three-on-one confrontation was suicide, so they chose to pull back for the moment. They sought retribution, not a meaningless end.

“Who gave you permission? You arrived on a whim, but you won’t be departing the same way.”

Having no desire to let them escape, Cheol Woo pounced forward like a predatory tiger.

“Split up!”

Once the Diamond Yaksha locked onto a target, none of the three expected to survive a direct hit. However, they calculated that even he couldn’t intercept three people sprinting in opposite directions simultaneously.

“What a joke.”

Cheol Woo let out a frigid laugh and thrust his knuckles toward the men fanning out to the left and right.

A violent gale erupted.

The force of his strike transformed into a localized hurricane, chasing down the fleeing targets.

“Krahk!”

One warrior caught in the vortex let out a harrowing scream.

Curse it all!

Gwak Woo’s expression twisted into one of hopelessness. He had dedicated himself to this mission for the sake of the Jek Yeom Clan’s restoration and vengeance.

Even as he contorted his frame to shield himself, the pressure was unbearable. He managed to keep his life, but his left shoulder, clipped by the gale, was utterly pulverized.

A final rattle of breath sounded from his left side as well.

Gwak Woo painfully shifted his head. He watched as Mun Hwang, who had bolted in the opposite direction, was driven into the dirt. His condition appeared even more catastrophic than Gwak Woo’s ruined shoulder.

What of Dong Gyo?

Gwak Woo’s eyes searched for his comrade.

In the distance, Dong Gyo had become a small speck, nearly vanishing. He had clearly been struck as well, as his movements lacked his characteristic fluidity, yet it seemed he might actually outrun the Diamond Yaksha’s reach.

In that very moment, a solitary beam of light cut through the atmosphere, proving that hope to be a mere fantasy.

The streak, shimmering under the moon’s glow, impaled Dong Gyo’s torso. Gwak Woo instinctively shut his eyes. Then, noticing the figure who had discharged the light, he stared with murderous hatred and roared.

“Divine Demon Division Leader! Diamond Yaksha! Very soon, not just you villains, but every person here will perish in agonizing pain!”

“Ha! Quite the big talker. Let’s see if you can still scream after I’ve torn that jaw off.”

As Cheol Woo stepped forward as if to consume him, Gwak Woo slowly lifted his hand.

“Kuhahaha! I won’t leave my fate in your hands. I’ll be waiting for you in the pits of hell!”

Gwak Woo spat out his final curse and drove his Thousand Spirit Claw into his own vitals, ending his existence.

“What a moron, talking trash until the very end.”

Cheol Woo irritably kicked Gwak Woo’s lifeless body.

“This one is gone too.”

Noe Jeon rolled Mun Hwang’s corpse over and made a face.

“Really? He didn’t look that far gone.”

“This one ended himself as well. Stubborn fools. No point in inspecting the one the Division Leader hit.”

Noe Jeon cast a brief look at Dong Gyo’s body collapsed in the distance, then shifted his attention to Manchu, who was slumped in Sima Geon’s grip.

“I suppose we’ll have to get the story from this fellow once he wakes.”

Right as he spoke, Manchu, who had been out cold, began to drift back to consciousness.

“Are you with us?”

Sima Geon questioned him with concern.

“B-brother…”

Manchu, seeing Sima Geon, blinked with great effort.

“What happened? How did you get in this state?”

“Hea… Heavenly Demon… Cult… an ambush… captives… the Supreme… Elder… taken by them…”

“What? The Supreme Elder—are you saying that lunatic Joo Yu Geol was captured by them?”

Ha Hu Gok hurried over, yelling, but Manchu lost strength and slipped back into unconsciousness.

“Chief, if my ears didn’t deceive me, he definitely mentioned the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“Yeah.”

“No wonder those guys knew who we were.”

Cheol Woo pulled his brows together.

“Are they here for that object?”

Noe Jeon asked, his mind going to the Heavenly Demon Pill.

“It’s likely. Or perhaps it involves the Red Dragon Gang.”

Cheol Woo gave a mocking snort at Sima Geon’s suggestion.

“Mobilize for just the Red Dragon Gang? No way. They are definitely plotting to take back the Heavenly Demon Pill.”

“We will find out soon enough. Regardless, this man’s gashes are severe.”

Noe Jeon scrutinized Manchu’s trauma as he spoke.

Peeling back the blood-drenched fabric revealed a horrific wound.

The diagonal tear running from his right shoulder across his spine to his left hip was a terrifying sight. Blood welled up without stopping from a gap wider than half an inch.

“It’s a miracle he ran this far carrying a wound like that.”

Cheol Woo gripped the blade buried deep in Manchu’s leg and yanked it out.

“No! You can’t just pull it out like—”

Ha Hu Yeon, watching the scene, cried out in panic, but in an instant, Cheol Woo had discarded the dagger, ripped a strip of cloth to wrap the leg, and somehow halted the blood flow immediately.

“I can’t just what?”

Cheol Woo turned to look at him, and Ha Hu Yeon offered a sheepish grin, shaking his head.

“Never mind. That was impressive.”

“Beat it. Chief, if we want him to survive, he needs the Clear Heart Clinic. Since they’re likely heading this way, we should send him ahead.”

“Agreed.”

“Who’s taking him? He’s out cold—carrying him won’t be easy.”

As he spoke, his gaze was already locked onto Yong Jung.

Just as Cheol Woo was about to address Yong Jung, Gwa Yu shouted with a rigid expression.

“Brothers! This is no time for this. We have to move—right now!”

“Eh, the injuries are nasty, but he isn’t dying this second. Even if they attack now, it’s no big deal.”

Cheol Woo waved a hand dismissively, trying to stay relaxed, but Gwa Yu’s face only grew more intense.

“That’s not what I mean!”

Gwa Yu barked, looking as though he might seize Cheol Woo by the collar.

“Recall what Manchu just said. Heavenly Demon Cult, ambush, captives.”

“Captives?”

“He said they were looking for hostages. Think—who in this place would be a hostage?”

Before Gwa Yu could even finish his sentence, Sima Geon gathered Manchu in his arms and stood up abruptly.

A freezing aura flooded the area. The spiritual pressure became so heavy that breathing felt impossible.

“I’m going.”

“Chief! Why the sudden rush…”

Cheol Woo tilted his head, failing to grasp the urgency as he watched Sima Geon sprint off like a gale. Then, his eyes suddenly turned sharp.

“Those lunatics! They’re targeting Jina!”

Finally, Cheol Woo understood Gwa Yu’s point and let out a roar. But Sima Geon had already vanished.

“Should we follow?”

Noe Jeon asked with a worried look.

“Us? What for?”

Cheol Woo countered.

“The enemy strength is unknown, and the kid might be in trouble, so we should obviously…”

“You moron! Have you been away from the front lines so long you’ve gone soft?”

“What?”

“Have you forgotten who the Division Leader is?”

“Well, no, but…”

“You saw it just now, didn’t you? I haven’t seen the Chief that bloodthirsty in years. Man, it gave me the shivers.”

“Heh heh, true.”

Noe Jeon found himself rubbing the goosebumps on his arms.

“Hostages? Tsk tsk, of all the targets, they pick that kid. Idiots! They’re practically begging for a grave. If I were them, I’d have ended myself early like those other guys.”

Cheol Woo mumbled a prayer for the souls of those daring to abduct Sima Jin, then walked over to the Sima siblings, Sima Hyeon and Sima Ho.

“You catch the drift? It seems some madmen are on their way. Things might get messy, so you should probably hide for a bit.”

“No. If we separate and get captured, then what? It’s safer to stay right here.”

Cheol Woo nodded, acknowledging the logic in Ha Hu Gok’s words.

“The elder is right. If they’re committed to this, they’ll be monitoring every foot of the perimeter. Getting caught for nothing would be a headache. You two stay put.”

Despite Cheol Woo’s attempt at a light tone, the two brothers were huddled together in terror and concern for Sima Jin, their complexions pale.

“We’re going to be okay, right?”

Sima Hyeon held the shaking Sima Ho tightly, his voice trembling with anxiety.

“Who? Us? Or Jina?”

“Everyone.”

“Relax. No matter who shows up, they won’t touch a hair on your head. And stop worrying about the little brother. Your big brother has this under control.”

Cheol Woo smirked, dropping a massive, heavy hand onto Sima Ho’s trembling shoulder.

“He is strong—like, terrifyingly strong.”

In that moment, Sima Ho’s shaking ceased as if by some spell. And right on schedule, the adversaries began to manifest.

“Get inside. Hey, you too.”

“I can fight.”

Unlike Yong Jung, who silently trailed Sima Hyeon and Sima Ho into the building, Gwa Yu stood his ground.

“I know you can. But not right now. Go. You’ll only be an obstacle.”

Gwa Yu bit his lip at Cheol Woo’s stern command but eventually turned away.

“I’m staying.”

Worried he would be told to leave as well, Ha Hu Yeon spoke up quickly.

“You idiot. Of course you are. With the elder standing here, how could the grandson hide away?”

Cheol Woo chuckled and moved toward the brooding Ha Hu Yeon.

“Keep a close eye on the elder. He’s quite worked up.”

Ha Hu Yeon jumped slightly and nodded.

“Noe Jeon.”

“Yes, Deputy Leader.”

Noe Jeon answered, his expression focused and alert.

“Kid, you’re starting to look like your old self. You watch that spot.”

Noe Jeon nodded toward the tightly closed door.

“Understood.”

“The elder…”

Cheol Woo started toward Ha Hu Gok but went silent. The elder’s freezing stare at the hidden enemies drawing near was a signal that talk was unnecessary.

A span of time that felt both fleeting and eternal passed, and then nearly forty warriors, spearheaded by the Vagrant Heavenly Light Demon Pung Cheon Noe, encircled them.

“Well, look at that. I thought we were being tracked by some beggars, but it’s just the old geezer whose legs the Chief snapped like dry twigs for acting tough with his mediocre skills.”

Cheol Woo taunted him, but Pung Cheon Noe remained unfazed. Instead, he calmly surveyed the surroundings before speaking.

“It has been some time, Diamond Yaksha.”

“What ‘some time’? It’s been maybe two years. How are the legs?”

“What do you think?”

Pung Cheon Noe held his arms out wide.

“Unfortunate, but they look functional.”

“The Heavens understood this old man’s craving for vengeance against your kind.”

“Crap! That’s why I said I should have just lopped them off… Ah! But you had that surrogate, didn’t you?”

Cheol Woo’s eyes drifted down toward Pung Cheon Noe’s groin.

“The legs might heal, but that burst one? That’s a hard recovery. Isn’t it?”

A small crack appeared in Pung Cheon Noe’s composed mask.

“Keep flapping that tongue if you want to die.”

“You moron! You came here to kill me anyway, didn’t you? Heh heh! Seeing you get angry just proves it’s still broken. Your voice even sounds a bit higher.”

“How dare you!”

As Pung Cheon Noe’s breath became ragged, an elderly man from the back row walked forward.

“The Diamond Yaksha, who once had no rival under the sky, has certainly developed a sharp tongue. In the old days, your fist would have spoken first.”

“Eh, that’s all in the past. Long time no see, elder.”

Cheol Woo greeted the newcomer with a cynical smirk.

That Smiling Face Killer bastard! And even that One Sword Life-Taker old fossil!

When another veteran warrior appeared behind Smiling Face Killer, even Cheol Woo felt a surge of tension. Smiling Face Killer was trouble, but One Sword Life-Taker Jong Chu was a combatant he truly respected.

More importantly, they share a blood feud with us.

As Cheol Woo’s grin faded, Smiling Face Killer, still eyeing the area, spoke.

“The Divine Demon Division Leader is nowhere to be seen—he must have headed toward the Clear Heart Clinic.”

Hearing the mention of Clear Heart Clinic from Smiling Face Killer’s mouth confirmed Gwa Yu’s suspicion, and Cheol Woo let out a sigh of relief.

“It doesn’t change anything. I can deal with you old relics by myself.”

Cheol Woo roared with bravado.

Chief, you might want to hurry back.