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Chapter 383. Ambush
I had to admit it.
These bastards' skill at mimicking orthodox martial artists was incomparable to the rank-and-file demonic practitioners I'd encountered in my past life.
If someone was a lay disciple of outstanding ability who had made a name for himself in the murim, his fundamentals would naturally be rock-solid.
Add to that the moment his execution of the Nine Palaces Divine Movement Sword Art — the highest art available to a lay disciple — slipped just slightly, I'd been so rattled that sweat had streamed down my spine wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake.
But when I threw the Shattering Form as a final gamble —
Е̄ǹ ǔm.a
CRACK—
The instant he blocked it perfectly, I was certain.
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'Because the only people in the murim right now who know the Shattering Form are me and the demonic practitioners.'
Even Yong So-ah had been caught off guard the first time he faced the Shattering Form.
"That Yong So-ah couldn't do it the first time he saw it, and you expect me to believe a mere lay disciple can? A demonic practitioner reciting sutras — what a load of crap. Right?"
Despite my question, Wind Master Song Baek offered no answer, only hardened his expression.
Wеbn о v ӗ l̇ Еńǔ m ӑ
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"A guy whose expression didn't change once no matter who he met these past few days, and now you're spouting nonsense. Hey — do you even know what your face looks like right now?"
"......"
"You've got the exact face of a thief caught red-handed, you bastard!"
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Now that I knew the man was one of the Phantom Five Demons, there was no reason to dawdle.
CLATTER—
W̌ е b̊ñ о v̈_е l Е̌ n̆ ǔ m а̀
The Twin Heaven Sword Formula extended outward, constricting Wind Master Song Baek from every direction.
He countered with the Whirlwind Sword, wielding his flexible blade.
WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP.
A sound like a hornet buzzing past one's ear — the roaring whirlwind blocked the Twin Heaven Sword Formula.
The compressed gales that had shielded Wind Master Song Baek like a thick barrier now exploded outward in all directions, pushing back the sword formula.
SCRAPE—
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SCRAPE—
Sword qi was driven back, gouging long scratches into the ground and alley walls.
Riding the apparent advantage, Wind Master Song Baek bellowed with gusto.
"Your confidence may be riding high after earning fame as the Academy's top graduate, but I am a disciple of the Wudang Sect!"
Then, simultaneously with the Whirlwind Sword, his other hand shot out the Seven Stars Fist.
"A mere Taeul Sect disciple is no match for me."
Е n üm а . ĩ d
The ruthless, self-righteous arrogance unique to prestigious orthodox sects — to the point where it would be stranger to claim this man was not a Wudang martial artist who took boundless pride in his sect.
But.
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THWACK-THWACK-THWACK—!
If he responded purely as a Wudang martial artist, he would never escape this alley.
The swordsmanship he was acting out as Wind Master Song Baek was the Five Phases Sword.
Even knowing the Shattering Form, there was no way Wudang arts could work against me when I'd mastered the Ascendant Form and the Demon-Subduing Form as well.
Еn u mӑ
Five thrusts aimed at vital acupoints — all blocked.
Seven fist-force strikes to seven targets — all scattered.
Though many exchanges passed and it was Wind Master Song Baek who pressed the attack while I retreated —
Of the two, it was Wind Master Song Baek alone whose wounds multiplied.
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The instant he poked his head out to dodge the Five Phases Sword's Shattering Form —
I immediately deployed the Demon-Subduing Form, driving for his eye.
Еnum a. i̊ d̆
SHRIEK—
A chilling whistle of parted air, and the moment the loss of one eye was all but sealed —
His silhouette blurred and wavered, and before I knew it, the Red Radiance Sword's tip had grazed not his eye but the skin just beneath his ear.
NICK—
His earlobe split cleanly in two, yet no blood burst forth.
That's right. No blood.
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"Hey, demonic cultist bastard. That footwork you just used wasn't Wudang's, was it? Where'd you learn it?"
"......Do you not know what 'lay disciple' means?"
"No blood from a sliced earlobe, either. Did you originally not have much earlobe to begin with? Hmm...... they say small earlobes mean bad fortune. Ah! So that's why you ended up living as a demonic practitioner?"
"To think the Black Flame Dragon would commit the crime of false accusation, which the Murim Alliance expressly forbids. How deplorable."
Still posturing, still playing it cool.
Watching him act weighty despite everything made me snort.
Е n̊ǔm̃ а .іd́
After a brief furrow of his brow, he moved first, as though further conversation was pointless.
But the movements now were starkly different from the Wudang techniques he'd shown until now.
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Tossing the subtleties of Taiji to the dogs, he began channeling a domineering, hegemonic martial art.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!
The impacts were too loud for something merely absorbing shocks.
The deliberateness was unmistakable.
Ẅ еbn̊ оvе́l Ё nú.m a
Ha — look at this bastard.
I raised my internal qi further.
The Twin Heaven Sword Formula's sword qi stitched wildly through the air, crashing down on him.
Before, he would have clearly slipped free using the Five Phases Sword's Taiji principles, but now he stubbornly deployed the Whirlwind Sword instead.
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Rather than deflecting, redirecting, and creating gaps —
BOOM—! BOOM—! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!
Wе́ bǹоv̌ е l̆ Е̄ nu̇ḿа̄
Violent gales erupted, detonation after detonation like a barrage of thunderbolt bombs.
Despite sensing the gap in raw power, he'd forced a strength-versus-strength fight, and Wind Master Song Baek's clothes were in tatters, his body beneath crisscrossed with countless lacerations.
Even if he'd dodged the strikes aimed at vital points, there was no way to simply muscle through the countless variations of the Twin Heaven Sword Formula.
And of course, Wind Master Song Baek knew that perfectly well.
"You're doing it on purpose, aren't you? Hoping someone hears and comes running."
"......"
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Wind Master Song Baek's eyes twitched.
Then even more force surged into his fists.
BANG—! BOOM-BOOM—!
Detonating fist-force before it even reached the opponent — the intent behind this seemingly idiotic action was unmistakable from any angle.
Transparent. Blatant.
"Thought so. You're not screaming because that wouldn't fit Song Baek's character?"
Е̌ nu m̀ а . і d
Wind Master Song Baek once again unfurled the Five Phases Sword infused with Wudang's mysteries.
And I raised my internal qi further still, crushing him outright.
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So that even if he revealed his true form, I could subdue him in an instant.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—!
I blocked the fire-like blazing energy and snapped the wind-like fluid sword path.
I shook the rock-solid center and sealed the water-like supple movement.
Wеb̀n̄ о ṽе̌ l̀ Е n̄ u mа
SHRIEEEEK—
Having overwhelming internal power was convenient at times like these.
I could simply hammer down on just about any amount of force.
From the start, unless he drew upon his demonic arts, there was no way Wind Master Song Baek could stand against the Red Radiance Sword.
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"Ack!"
At last, cracks began forming in his inner workings.
W е b̈nо̀vе̊l Ĕ n ũ m̃а
"BLEGH."
Having retched up a mouthful of blood, the man inhaled deeply as though steeling himself for something.
And at the same moment, I pulled a signal flare from my breast.
"HELP!!! SOMEONE, HELP!!!"
Wind Master Song Baek's thunderous Lion's Roar erupted at the very instant I launched the flare skyward.
BANG—!
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Sparks burst across the night sky as though embroidering it.
POP-POP-BANG—! POP-POP-BANG—! POP-POP-POP-POP-BANG—!
While Wind Master Song Baek stood dazed at the sudden fireworks, I poured the full force of the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist into him.
CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-BOOM—!
A tremendous volley of fist-force exploded against him.
Crushed beneath the overwhelming force, Wind Master Song Baek flailed both arms wildly to dissipate the barrage.
En ů m̊ а .і̃d́
But.
"Just as I thought."
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It was decidedly not Wudang's martial art.
A hegemonic style steeped in killing intent.
THOOM-THOOM-THOOM-THOOM-THOOM—!
Wind Master Song Baek's body was driven back a full three jang, and the instant he managed to dispel the fist-force with his back against the wall —
Еṅu mа̃ . ĩd̂
I extended the Red Radiance Sword and severed his right arm.
SLICE—
"GRAAAGHHH—"
A grotesque shriek, as though wringing his own throat.
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I scowled at the sight.
"Honestly, the screams demonic cultists force out always sound wrong."
Ё n u má. і̂d́
"......You crazy son of a bitch......"
Wind Master Song Baek glared at me with blazing eyes.
"Are you truly...... truly going through with this?"
"Going through with what?"
"......Framing an innocent man and committing murder — that trick only works on greenhorns."
"And you're still going to pretend you're Song Baek, even now?"
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"I AM Song Baek!"
An unwavering, resolute gaze without the slightest falter.
Could anyone look upon that face and say with certainty that he was not Wind Master Song Baek?
"Man, at this point, even I want to be fooled."
"Stop your non......"
"Phantom Five Demons."
Ē ń um̈а
His eyes wavered, and silence fell like a blade.
I looked him straight in the eye and asked.
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"Where are the other four?"
His lips moved as though choosing his words, and only a few syllables came out.
"......What, what are you talking about? Phantom Five Demons?"
"Tell me and I'll give you a clean death. No terrible suffering."
Е̊ n u̇ m а̌
"I'd have to actually know something to tell you!"
"So you're saying you won't talk?"
"I am NOT one of the Phantom Five Demons! I am Wind Master Song Baek — Maeng Gong-wi!"
He clung to his act with ferocious tenacity.
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Enough to make the very person who'd been suspicious begin to doubt himself.
And that was precisely why I would not forget.
W̃e b̃n̈о v_ë l Ê n ūṁа
The depth of their tenacity.
And in turn, I stoked my own venom higher.
So as not to be devoured by their stubbornness.
I thrust the sword at him once more.
SLICE—
This time I severed his left ankle.
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Wind Master Song Baek screamed again, his ankle gone, offering no resistance.
His face had gone ashen.
"If I...... die here, ggk...... Wudang will surely not let you go. Surely, surely someone must have seen you."
How could they be this identical to the real thing?
Did these people literally become their targets in order to play the part?
"Ack...... someone, surely......"
W̄_ě ḃ n о̀ vеl Е ńümа̄
"And who is that someone?"
"......What do you mean? Obviously every passerby......"
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"As you just saw, the streets in this entire area have been cleared. There's even less chance that anyone ordinary saw me following you."
"......"
"So who is it?"
I looked down at the cross-section of his severed ankle and added in a low voice.
Е n um a.i̊ d̄
"The person who'll report me as your killer."
"......!"
"Actually, I don't even need to hear it anymore. The one who fingers me as the culprit would be one of your fellow Phantom Five Demons. But if you feel like giving me the rest of the roster, I'm all ears."
"......"
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When he gave no answer, I took another step toward him, and his face went paler still.
No matter how he racked his brain, with his ankle gone and unable to move, the situation was hopeless.
Е̌ n̆ů.m̀а̊
At last, he raised both hands and cried out.
"F-fine! I'll talk! I'll talk, so just wait a moment!"
"......"
Wind Master Song Baek's eyes trembled violently.
On the chance that something might happen, I armed the Flying Dragon Claw and drew upon the Jade Purity Heavenly Image Power.
Golden light wreathed the Heavenly Silkworm Thread coiled around the Flying Dragon Claw.
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Watching, the man begged.
"Just spare my life! That's all I ask! Yes! I'll go to the Execution Pavilion and tell them everything! It's fine even without anyone from Wudang present. Please, just spare my life — and I'll tell you everything!"
The haughty Wind Master Song Baek was now on his knees, hands clasped in desperate supplication.
An attitude utterly inconceivable for one of the merciless Phantom Five Demons.
I flicked a finger wind at his numbing acupoint, then seized a blood meridian and wrenched his qi and blood out of alignment.
"NNNGGGHHHH......"
Е n uḿа̄ .і̇ d̃
His entire meridian system twisted in agony, and Wind Master Song Baek writhed, his body corkscrewing as he rolled across the ground.
"Who are the other four?"
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"Ggkk...... I'm, I'm inno......"
Just as I was about to sever his remaining left wrist and then his right ankle —
"Young Master!"
Someone intervened to stop me.
Е nũm а̊
The voice belonged to the Hao Gate Wuhan Branch Chief.
"Please...... please, that's enough."
"......"
When I stared at him in silence, he flinched and sucked in a breath.
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"One person should not inflict this much suffering upon another. You know that better than anyone, Young Master."
Wind Master Song Baek lay collapsed on the ground — arms and legs severed, every vein in his body swollen to the point of bursting.
Е̃ñ ū m̄ а̃.іd̊
Whether stopping now would even allow him a normal life was doubtful.
The Branch Chief's face twisted as he looked down at the sight.
"And...... he insists this strenuously that he's innocent...... wouldn't it be better to interrogate him once you have more conclusive evidence? This man is an important figure within Wudang."
Even trembling as he was, Wind Master Song Baek clung to the Branch Chief's ankle like a lifeline and wailed.
"P-please, s-save me!"
Right — the reason he'd kept up the Song Baek act all this time must have been because he'd sensed the Branch Chief's presence.
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The instant the Branch Chief was about to unconsciously bow his head toward the man —
I drove my sword straight through his heart.
SQUELCH—
The quaking body of Wind Master Song Baek went slack.
At the same time.
"Young Master Jin!!!"
È n̄ ù mа̂ .і̄d
The Branch Chief, who had been reaching for Wind Master Song Baek, gaped at me in horror.
"This man is not the real Wind Master Song Baek."
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I withdrew the Red Radiance Sword without emotion and slid it into its sheath.
Still stunned by my words, the Branch Chief hurriedly felt along Wind Master Song Baek's face.
But when the skin pulled away exactly as his fingers tugged, he went rigid.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this?! This IS Wind Master Song Baek! No matter what your status as Guest Retainer, if you used the Hao Gate to facilitate an unprovoked killing, then I will absolutely not stand by!"
Wе.bn о̂ v̊е̃ l Е ñú ḿа
I asked him a question.
"Did you bring the Bone-Melting Powder?"
"I told you clearly. I have no intention of letting this go......"
"To confirm a Human-Skin Mask, we need the Bone-Melting Powder."
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"What are you......"
Shaken by my unwavering composure, the Branch Chief fell silent.
W̌еb n̂ о ṽе̊ l̄ Е ǹù m a.
After a moment's hesitation, he handed over the Bone-Melting Powder. I sprinkled a tiny amount onto Wind Master Song Baek's face, bit by bit.
Before long —
HISS— HISS— HISS—
White smoke curled upward and the skin began peeling away in scrolls.
The facial skin sloughed off, revealing beneath it the grotesque face of a man whose nose and parts of his ears had been cut away.
"He...... he truly wasn't Wind Master Song Baek?"
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The Branch Chief collapsed onto his backside as though bewitched, staring blankly at me.
"......"
I knew well the psychological shock one felt upon first confronting a demonic practitioner's true face, but I had no leisure to comfort him.
'If he'd at least fought back, it would have been a little easier.'
The mental exhaustion was immense even for me — and I had known the man's real identity.
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