Chapter 56. Sword Demon: Gesture of Movement (劍鬼示意動)

Vwoooong!

Dong Mu-oe’s eyes widened beneath his silver mask.

He couldn’t comprehend what was happening in front of him.

Would you believe it if I told you that the swords lying on the ground all rose up on their own and began exuding sharp killing intent?

‘N-No way… this can’t be!’

A name so infamous that it should’ve been impossible to exist flashed through Dong Mu-oe’s mind.

Noticing his reaction, Hoyeon smirked.

“Tell the folks in hell that the Sword Demon sent you. Though with how many I’ve sent—enough to fill a hundred carriages—I doubt King Yeomra is very pleased.”

“……!”

Shhhhrrraaak!

The swords shot through the air in ten directions at once.

Dong Mu-oe urgently activated Yin Transforming Supreme Yin Art (陰化太陰功) to the extreme.

Chilling energy surged from his danjeon and spread through every meridian in his body.

A cold frost burst from his entire being.

“Hmph!”

Clang! Clang! Clang-clang-clang!

With surging yin energy, Dong Mu-oe unleashed a palm technique—Cold Meridian Palm (寒脈通掌).

The air shimmered with trails of yin energy, and Dong Mu-oe was confident that the swords would all be destroyed.

However…

Whir!

“……!”

The swords moved like living beings, evading the palm shadows and slashing and stabbing from multiple directions.

Slash! Slash-slash!

Dong Mu-oe leapt back, but some of the blades grazed and struck him.

“This is absurd!”

He roared in pain, eyes wide.

His whole body was shielded with yin energy. Normally, any sword touching him should freeze and shatter instantly.

“Hmph. You think they’re just ordinary swords? I’ve coated them with layers of compressed telekinetic energy.”

“You… just what the hell are you?!”

Whir!

Hoyeon gracefully waved his Sword Control Fingers.

The swords all began executing sword techniques.

Vmmmmm!

One sword released a hum as it unfolded the powerful strikes of Ten Iron Sword Techniques (鐵劍十式).

Another moved heavily, mimicking the massive style of Limitless Sky Swordsmanship (蒼穹無碍劍法).

A third darted like lightning, replicating the swift strikes of Thirteen Lightning Sword Techniques (閃電十三劍).

One performed the continuous chain attacks of Heavenly Wind Sword Style (天風劍法).

Another twisted midair like a flying swallow, showcasing the agile transformations of Flying Swallow Swordsmanship (飛燕劍法).

And beyond that: Great Flame Sword Style, Azure Cloud Sword, Flowing Water Sword, Flying Dragon Sword, Gentle Fire Sword…

Through his Sword-Heart Resonance, Hoyeon had channeled all the sword techniques he had studied and mastered over the past year. Each blade revealed unique forms and mysteries like a tidal wave.

“Ughhhhhhh!”

Shhhrrrrraaaaaa—!

Dong Mu-oe was overwhelmed by the sea of swords.

Pushing his Yin Transforming Supreme Yin Art to the absolute limit, he gathered all his inner energy into his hands.

He sacrificed his body’s protection in exchange for a concentrated, silvery-white aura enveloping both hands.

“Cha-haaa!”

Dong Mu-oe unleashed his signature skill—Soul-Snatching Yin Spirit Hands (陰靈奪魂手)—to face the tide.

Cheng! Clang-clang-clang!

Soul Lure (誘魂引) moved erratically, tempting like a spirit.

Slash! Shhhraaah!

Soul-Clutching Claws (奪魄爪) tore through the air like talons.

Shzzzt!

Wraith Palm (亡靈掌) exuded a gloomy chill.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

Soul Mirror Illusions (魂靈鏡像) scattered into multiple fragments, forming a reflective mirror of yin energy.

“Raaaaaagh!”

Dong Mu-oe fought through the sword sea with every ounce of his strength.

He looked like a small human braving a colossal force of nature.

“I—Dong Mu-oe—will not fall here! Mere suffering like this is nothing compared to the ups and downs of my life—!”

He shouted defiantly as he tried to row through the sea of swords with both hands.

Thunk!

Suddenly, his body froze.

Flash! Slash!

The sword strike from Thirteen Lightning Sword Techniques – Thunder Pursuit (落雷追擊) came crashing down like lightning, severing his left arm.

“W-What…?!”

Dong Mu-oe looked toward Hoyeon.

Vmmm!

Hoyeon’s right hand still held the Sword Control Fingers, but his left was shaped like a delicate bud, fingers curved like a hawk’s talons gripping a branch.

Tight! Tighter! TIGHTER!

The more the hand clenched and opened, the greater the pressure on Dong Mu-oe’s body.

‘It’s not the swords! I have to hit the caster himself!’

Dong Mu-oe activated Yin Shadow Ghost Step (陰影幽步).

Slllip!

His body glided like a ghost straight toward Hoyeon.

“Dieeeee!”

Clang-clang!

He gathered the last of his internal energy into his right index finger.

The fingertip glowed with an icy white gleam—Frozen Blood Finger (凍血指), a pressure-point technique that froze the opponent’s blood. Once struck, the internal damage could last years.

Whoosh!

He aimed for Jemunhyeol (臍門穴)—the death point between the liver and the navel.

“Such poison in your strike. You’re basically a viper.”

But Hoyeon didn’t dodge.

He hadn’t moved a single step since activating Telekinetic Sword Movement (意氣劍動).

Clang! Slash!

From Hoyeon’s waist, two lights flashed.

Thud! Thud!

“Guh!”

The Yuae Sword and Cheonroe Sword burst forth and pierced Dong Mu-oe’s chest, forming a cross inside his body.

Flick!

With a flick of Hoyeon’s fingers, Dong Mu-oe—now like a fish on a skewer—was sent flying and landed at Hoyeon’s feet.

Crack! Shatter!

Hoyeon snapped his fingers again, shattering Dong Mu-oe’s silver mask into glittering pieces.

“Ugh, urgh…”

Under the mask was the clean-shaven face of a middle-aged man around fifty, pale as flour, his cruel eyes locked onto Hoyeon.

“Tele… kine… tic…”

“Surprising. After three hundred years, someone still remembers.”

“Heh… there’s no way I wouldn’t… The scar the Sword Demon left on the era… it was no small thing…”

Sensing his end, Dong Mu-oe twisted his lips and muttered.

“There’s… a monster… growing in Namgung…”

“Let me ask you something. You want to die soon, don’t you? What’s your group’s deal with Baekwoon Merchant Group and illegal flame drugs?”

“Heh… Baekwoon… so they brought a monster too…”

Dong Mu-oe nodded bitterly.

“We are…”

At that moment—

His tongue curled.

A flash of silver from his mouth—he had a suicide needle hidden inside.

But—

Thud! Thunk!

Before he could fire it, a crimson dagger pierced his temple deeply.

Slash!

The dagger retracted itself, elegantly shaking off the blood, its red blade gleaming like the shadow of a red moon.

It was Wolyeong Danhong (月影丹紅)—which had slipped from Hoyeon’s robe and silenced Dong Mu-oe’s final breath.

“A tenacious fish seller, weren’t you?”

Hoyeon looked down at Dong Mu-oe’s corpse and flicked his fingers again.

Shing! Shing!

Yuae and Cheonroe withdrew from the body. The other swords spun in the air, shaking off blood.

Sllllp! Clack!

Hoyeon sheathed his three swords, then pointed to the yellow cloth covering the carriage.

Whoosh! Swish!

The swords of the faceless men all flew toward it, wrapping themselves neatly inside.

Thump.

Hoyeon slung the bundle over his right shoulder and looked up at the sky.

The morning sun was now shining pleasantly.

He took a deep breath, a fresh smile curling on his lips.

“Sniff. Hoo. Good morning.”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

In the courtyard, Moyong Yul was swinging his sword.

He clenched his jaw tight and slashed over and over again.

“Yawn… Yul, that’s enough. You’ll hurt yourself.”

Hoyeon, watching from the veranda, yawned and called out.

But Yul only flinched slightly.

He didn’t respond and kept swinging.

“Hmm.”

Hoyeon clicked his tongue.

‘Is he sulking because I left him behind?’

Last night, after detecting suspicious movement from Baekwoon Merchant Group through Yul’s spiritual power, Hoyeon had acted alone.

Yul insisted on coming, but that wasn’t an option.

‘I didn’t know what danger I’d face—and more importantly, I couldn’t reveal Telekinetic Sword Movement.’

Hoyeon could escape alone if needed, but it wasn’t something he could risk with someone else.

And he had been prepared to wipe everything out with that technique if necessary.

‘Oh well. He’ll get over it with time.’

Slide.

Just as Hoyeon ran a hand through his messy hair—

Moyong Yul’s nose twitched.

Clench!

Yul ground his teeth and muttered inwardly:

‘The smell of blood… and Golden Wound Medicine…’

Hoyeon probably thought he’d hidden it well, but he couldn’t deceive the sharp nose of the red fox.

Smelling blood in the morning left Moyong Yul frustrated.

‘If I had been stronger… would he have taken me with him?’

Yul wasn’t angry at Hoyeon.

He was angry at himself.

He hated being the one who could only wait through the night, powerless.

He hated his lack of martial skill that kept him from demanding answers when Hoyeon returned injured.

“Next time you see Hoyeon, I hope you’re at his side.”

Recalling Jegal Ahyeon’s whisper, Yul clenched his teeth.

‘No! No! No!!’

Swish! Swish! Swish!

He swung harder, trying to shake off the thought.

Watching silently, Hoyeon stood and approached.

“You’re being noisy. Stop.”

“……”

“Hey, I said stop.”

“……”

“Oh? Ignoring your hyung?”

“……”

“You little punk.”

Flick!

Hoyeon flicked Yul on the forehead.

“Ow! What was that for?!”

“Punishment.”

“What?!”

Flick!

“S-Stop it!”

“Nope. You didn’t listen.”

Flick! Flick! Flick!

Yul twisted and squirmed, but couldn’t dodge the flicks—especially not when Hoyeon used infinite footwork.

“Aaah! Okay, okay, I’ll stop!”

“Resting is also training.”

“Aww…”

“Clean up. Let’s eat.”

“Okaaay…”

Holding his forehead and sniffling, Yul trailed after Hoyeon.

Just then, someone came running toward them in a hurry.

Tap tap tap!

“Huff! Huff! Merciful gods!”

It was a chubby middle-aged man in a sky-blue robe. His face lit up upon seeing Hoyeon.

“Finance Hall Chief?”

It was Namgung Sangbo, head of the finance hall.

Ever since witnessing the miracle of Seo Okto, he had been one of the most adoring fans of Hoyeon.

“Wahaha! What miracle has our divine dragon pulled off this time?!”

“…Excuse me?”

Sangbo laughed heartily and asked, but Hoyeon tilted his head.

Sure, he’d sliced up some fishmongers last night, but that hardly counted as a “miracle.”

“A merchant named Man Honggi has arrived! He claims to have brought the Yeouiju!”

“Huh?”

Hoyeon tilted his head further.

‘Who the heck is that?’