SSS-Class Sui**de Hunter - Chapter 83

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 83. Sword Dance (1)
1
Heart Sword.
So Baek-hyang had begun to sense that realm only after so many winters had passed, one upon another, that she could no longer recall the temperature of those frozen seasons.
The sword of the heart.
She had begun to glimpse that realm in the season when she stopped being called “the White Fragrance of Eyes” and became known instead as “the Heavenly Demon.”
…It shows itself…….
So Baek-hyang—the woman who had become the Heavenly Demon—murmured softly.
…There lies before me a realm that no martial artist of this world has ever set foot upon…….
…It seems as distant as the far shore…….
…If I can see it, is there anywhere I cannot reach…….
The Heavenly Demon’s heart quickened.
Heart Sword was a realm known only in legend. Heart is Death—the notion that should one harbor intent to kill, should one merely carry murderous will in one’s mind, the target would simply perish. No blade needed. No words required. Such a realm, and she had finally brought it within sight.
…My Heavenly Demon…….
If only.
…Most Honored Sovereign of us all…….
If I were granted time.
Sixty years given to me, so that I could devote myself entirely to cultivation.
If it could truly be so.
…Grant me the strength to pierce this sorrow…….
Before her, people lay prostrate.
…The magistrate’s office demands mink pelts as taxes. My father went hunting for mink and never returned, so we cannot pay the tax. The burden falls upon the household according to the number of heads, and my grandmother, saying her life has but little time remaining, bade me disappear so that the tax be reduced by that measure…….
…My Heavenly Demon…….
Before her lay many bowed backs.
…Drought came last year and this year as well, and we have nothing to eat, yet an order comes down to build a reservoir and construct dikes—they say it is to prevent drought next year, but how can starving bodies lift stones…….
…My daughter was taken away and did not return…….
…My Heavenly Demon…….
There were so very many.
The Heavenly Demon looked up quietly toward Snow Mountain.
Years devoted solely to cultivation. With merely sixty years of breathing room, she would ascend to a realm no one in the history of the martial world had ever reached. That was certain fact, beyond dispute. And yet. Still.
…Lead them forward…….
The Heavenly Demon rose, drawing her blade. Her ink-colored robe fluttered.
…There are so many things this lord must cut through…….
Would she abandon the world? Would she abandon herself?
The Heavenly Demon simply cast aside her own desire.
Rendering martial ambition into no ambition.
For that had always been the shape of her life.
On that day too, she cut through those who had frozen the world.
But she could not cut through winter itself.
2
-Originally.
Backhoe Spirit knelt.
-For a martial artist to conduct a martial comparison through another’s mouth is beneath all discourse. There is no greater discourtesy, and by any measure of disrespect, it will remain a laughingstock in the annals of the martial world.
“…….”
The posture Backhoe Spirit had adopted was one I had never seen before. He sat respectfully in the snow field. I understood then that this was Backhoe Spirit’s own form of propriety—a gesture he took only toward those he acknowledged as a worthy rival.
-Yet knowing full well that it will be mocked, I must still request this duel.
The Sword Emperor looked directly at my master.
-My alias is Sword Emperor. In the world known as the Thousand Sword World, I was recognized as the Supreme Master Under Heaven. I make bold to request a sword discussion with you, despite the rudeness it entails.
And he bowed his head.
“…….”
“Disciple?”
Master blinked.
“Why do you not name the form? The martial comparison has already begun.”
Of course, to Master’s eyes, Backhoe Spirit was not visible. His words went unheard. His courtesy unseen.
“…Master.”
“What is it?”
“You must have known that I use strange spiritual arts.”
“You mean the spiritual art that returned my children and the corpses of White Blade’s followers to life?”
Master laughed softly.
Her laughter was so faint it seemed it might vanish at any moment.
“I’ve decided not to press you for answers. Silence is a virtue, after all. I’ll simply regard you as a messenger the Jade Emperor took pity on and sent to me.”
My master rested her head on my thigh, smiling. When she laughed, her head trembled slightly. In that tremor, I felt how light her body had become.
“There’s one more Spiritual Art I know how to use.”
My master didn’t have much time left. I kept my words brief.
“Among them, there’s a technique to summon spirits.”
“Mm?”
“The spirit beside me now happens to be deeply versed in martial arts. He’s the man called the Supreme Master Under Heaven in Saewoe.”
“Ah, the Supreme Master Under Heaven of Saewoe’s Murim! How impressive.”
My master let out a soft chuckle. She seemed to think it was a humorous joke.
“Very well. Since my disciple has summoned a ghost claiming to be the Supreme Master Under Heaven, I ought to take it seriously. I’m willing to grant him the honor of being my Sword Discussion opponent.”
“…….”
I looked toward Backhoe Spirit.
Backhoe Spirit sat in silent meditation.
“Tell me, what technique does this Supreme Master Under Heaven’s spirit claim to demonstrate?”
“…He says he’ll yield to you.”
“Hm?”
“He said he would concede the first three moves to you.”
The amusement faded slightly from my master’s expression.
“How arrogant. My disciple would never speak such words. This spirit clearly knows no respect and acts without restraint. I’ll pierce the Water Moon Acupoint with the Soaring Dragon Swift Sword, the fifth form of the Cloud Dragon Twelve Sword.”
First move.
-Taking the Eastern Direction Dragon technique, the sixth form of the Earth Dragon Bound Dance, as a feint, then retreating one step with the Flowing Cloud Divine Method.
Backhoe Spirit responded without the slightest hesitation.
I didn’t know what the Cloud Dragon Twelve Sword or the Earth Dragon Bound Dance were. All I knew was the Demonic Heaven Divine Art. I simply conveyed their exchange word for word.
“Taking the Eastern Direction Dragon technique, the sixth form of the Earth Dragon Bound Dance, as a feint, then retreating one step with the Flowing Cloud Divine Method.”
“Hm…….”
My master’s brow narrowed slightly.
“I’ll strike you down with the seventh form of the Heavenly Pole Divine Art: the Water Response Heaven Strike.”
-Using the Double Earth Palms, the second form of the Six Killing Fists, as a feint, evading with the Iron Board Bridge technique.
My master’s elegant brows furrowed deeper still.
“I’ll attack with the Heaven Serpent Six Law Strike, the sixth form of the Seventeen Temple Sword.”
-Deploying the Mandarin Duck Kick. Withdrawing with the Plum Blossom Difficult Footwork.
“…….”
In an instant, the three moves were complete.
I couldn’t discern what exchange had truly passed between them.
My master simply sat in silence.
-You.
Backhoe Spirit spoke calmly.
-I can imagine roughly how you lived. After ascending to the position of Ancient and Modern First Master, you never had time to cultivate — you were consumed by the sect’s affairs. You saw the threshold of the Life Death Realm, but you never crossed it. Why? Because you were busy. Twenty-four hours a day wasn’t enough just managing the sect. Looking after your family, your disciples — where was the time for cultivation?
And then, Backhoe Spirit continued,
-Do you know what’s most tragic?
Backhoe Spirit’s mouth twisted.
-Even so, you became the Ancient and Modern First Master.
There was no reason to reach for anything higher.
-Why? Because you were already at the summit. You had enough to live on, everyone acknowledged you. No need to strive. You were literally heaven itself.
“…….”
-Pitiful. Your misfortune was being an Absolute Strong One in this Murim.
Backhoe Spirit crossed his arms.
-Let me show you what Heaven Beyond Heaven truly is.
I didn’t relay that statement.
I felt there was no need to.
“Mm.”
My master slowly raised her head.
Her lightened body leaned slightly against mine.
And so she sat in meditation upon the snowy field.
“No novice, then.”
Heavenly Demon.
Origin: The True Records of the Heavenly Demon.
Ancient and Modern First Master.
The Demonic Cult.
-Of course. Who do you think I am?
Sword Emperor.
Origin: the Thousand Sword World.
Supreme Master Under Heaven.
Orthodox Faction.
“Very well. I shall not take this lightly either.”
—Come as you will.
Martial Comparison.
Begin.
3
“I shall open with the Fire Blood Flame Dragon’s first form, the Explosive Fire Shattering Ascension, and strike upward at your jaw.”
—Suddenly imitating Orthodox Faction techniques, are we? I’ll meet your upward strike with the Cloud Dragon Twelve Sword, first form, deployed in succession. One against the ground, one against your rising fist.
One exchange.
“I’ll alter the Explosive Fire Shattering Ascension to the Piercing Kill Blade’s third form, the Fervent Scholarly Slaying, and strike the Gushing Spring acupoint to extinguish your momentum.”
—Ho, indeed. How shall I respond—parry or perhaps… very well. I’ll blend the Life Death Like Law Decree with the Myriad Wave Intersecting Butterfly to match your strike.
Another exchange.
……
The longer the sword duel continued, the more ragged my master’s breathing became.
Winter, and white breath turning whiter still.
My master clenched his left hand, gripping his knee. His right hand held mine tightly. He was trembling. His tremor traveled through our joined hands into me.
“…How much longer will you rest your filthy foot upon this lord’s fingertip? I shall rend you with the Three Type Demonic Leech’s second form, the Burning Leech Jaw Plate.”
—You attack simply because I matched your strike—how quick to take offense. I withdraw my foot immediately, descending from empty air, and simultaneously strike three acupoints at once with the Divine Chariot Great Rotation’s fourth form, the Life Death Rumbling—the Greater Bone of the right shoulder, the Yang Valley, and the Spirit House.
“I shall retreat three steps with the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Guard Step!”
My master was delighted.
—Since you imitated the Orthodox Faction, shall I borrow from the Demonic Way as well? I’ll respond with the Eastern Doctrine Intersecting Sword and follow through.
Yes.
The Murim Alliance Lord Bu-wol-seon was never my master’s worthy rival.
Certainly, the Alliance Lord was the strongest in the Orthodox Faction Murim of this world. He alone could stand against my master. Yet had it not been proven in the Final Demonic-Orthodox Confrontation? Whenever both poured their full strength into battle, the victor was always my master.
A match whose ending was already written.
Perhaps that is why my master postponed the Final Confrontation’s conclusion to the nine hundred and ninetieth iteration.
Like a child carefully, miserly licking a lozenge that will inevitably dissolve and disappear.
「I am sorry.」
In the iteration that had ended badly, the Murim Alliance Lord had said this to my master.
「I am sorry that I am weaker than you.」
「It is simply that I was weaker.」
「Please, kill me.」
Squeeze.
Without knowing it, strength poured into my hands.
“Foolish! I strike the Neck Crossing acupoint with the Piercing Kill Blade’s second form!”
—Not likely. I deploy the Iron Plate Bridge to evade, and now it is my turn for the Explosive Fire Shattering Ascension.
“Aha.”
My master smiled at last. It was neither a melancholy smile nor one that faded into nothingness. It was a smile suffused with the very throb of the heart, blushing with vitality.
“My disciple, this spirit you have summoned is truly the greatest!”
“…Yes.”
Now I could fully understand the Murim Alliance Lord’s state of mind.
“Among all the people I know, he is likely the strongest.”
“Where have you hidden such a spirit all this time, only to introduce him now!”
He was somewhat indignant.
“In all my years, I have never met a martial artist of such formidable power!”
No.
He was greatly indignant.
“I shall twist my arm to extinguish your momentum with the essence of Heavenly Moving Technique, and retreat four steps with the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Guard Step!”
—Ah, already three steps back and now four more? I’d say you’ve begun to show your tail. I close the distance in one stride with the Flowing Cloud Divine Method, then the Summer Torrent—I carry sword force.
“Ah-ha! The Summer Torrent with sword force! So you’re saying reconnaissance grows tedious. Very well, I’ll draw you in with the Pulling Sand Flying Sword, shed your momentum, then reverse my grip and strike the Sand Below Drilling Dragon from form one to three, hitting the Heavenly Pillar, the Great Shuttle, and the Body Pillar in sequence!”
To me… their martial comparison made no sense.
I could not even picture the duel in my mind.
I understood the Pulling Sand Flying Sword. But I did not know what the Sand Below Drilling Dragon was. I understood what “descending from empty air” meant. Yet I could not grasp what form the Divine Chariot Great Rotation’s Life Death Rumbling took.
Not knowing, and knowing still less, I was not even permitted to grope at the image by sketching it.
The sword paths they wielded, the sword dance itself—none of it was visible to me.
—There we are. Good! I evade by grafting the Life Death Like Law Decree onto the Butterfly Myriad Sword, step back once, and strike with the Tai Chi Flying Heaven Sword!
“Not bad. Not bad at all!”
Ah.
If it were possible, I wished to become your worthy rival.
If it were possible, I wished to claim all your hope for myself.
I wanted you to spend your final days in joy for no reason but me.
But I cannot see it.
All I can manage to see and hear is this:
“Good. I’ll slip past using the subtlety of the Flowing Cloud Divine Method.”
—Countering with the third form of Heaven Beyond Heaven, the Tai Chi Flying Heaven Sword!
Merely this.
Their swords remain invisible to me.
“Very well. I’ll meet it with the second form of the Cloud Dragon Twelve Sword, the Myriad Wave Intersecting Butterfly.”
—I’ll pursue with the Earth Dragon Bound Dance!
It makes no sense.
“Excellent. Then I’ll strike down your defenses and your rhythm with the tenth form of the Fire Blood Flame Dragon!”
—Swift, so swift. Evading with the Piercing Kill Blade, then aiming for the throat with the Life Death Like Law Decree.
“I’ll parry and counter with the tenth form, the Butterfly Myriad Sword, striking at your center!”
—Using the Treading Snow Shadowless Steps to slip through, reversing the Divine Chariot Great Rotation into a counterattack, then spinning the Eastern Doctrine Intersecting Sword to strike.
“Now—accelerating, driving forward with power and speed—”
It was dark.
The realm in which those two moved was so far beyond my reach.
“After I parry—”
It was then.
My master, breathing heavily, turned to look at me.
……
For a moment, time seemed to stop.
My master’s gaze.
A dark and luminous look settled upon my face.
“…Yes.”
A small smile played at my master’s lips.
“Disciple, the blade is cold today.”
……
“As the season turns to winter, this place becomes an eternal snow plain. The snow plains are a harsh battlefield for martial artists. Each step sinks deep; you must always be ready to unleash your footwork. Do you understand?”
My master touched the snow with a fingertip.
Fine flakes clung to the tip of my master’s finger.
“And so martial comparisons on the snow plains always turn to breaking the opponent’s stance. Disciple, do you grasp it? There is no need to stubbornly insist on taking their neck or severing their waist. Force them to abandon their footwork, and victory is yours.”
……
“Your Ghost and the Lord are thus struggling to seize the opponent’s space—to rob them of room to move, to shrink the width of their motion.”
My master.
“The heavy use of kicks serves the same purpose. Not merely to strike the opponent, but to scatter the snow and obscure their vision, even if only slightly. Yes, truly a desperate battle. Is it not so?”
My master whispered close to my ear.
“Close your eyes.”
My master’s left hand slowly covered my eyes.
“The Lord sees the opponent.”
“Yes.”
“A master of great power and higher station. His frame is enormous—nearly twice the size of the Lord’s own bulk. Is that not so?”
In my mind’s eye, I drew the form of the Backhoe Spirit.
“Yes.”
“A great master like a wild bear, breathing roughly. As if to say, ‘Come at me’—laughing with supreme confidence. The difference in physique is vast. He is assured, yes?”
As my master’s whisper continued, the image of the Backhoe Spirit grew clearer.
“How could the gap in natural build be overcome? We accept it. We accept it, yet we remember the Lord’s own strengths. The Lord can move with far greater speed than that creature. More than that—the Lord is familiar with the snow plains. The Lord will wield the Treading Snow Shadowless Steps with far greater grace than he ever could.”
“Yes.”
“A war of attrition. Do you understand, Disciple? The Lord seeks a prolonged battle.”
My master spoke playfully, almost teasingly.
“Yet that fool sees through the Lord’s design. His movements grow hurried. His blade quickens. Like a wild boar, he charges toward the Lord—”
And then.
“But fear not. It was anticipated. The Lord steps backward, lightly, stepping backward with grace—”
Before my eyes.
“Drawing him in.”
A scene painted itself across my vision.
“The Lord continues to retreat. Each step is light, ever lighter. The creature, truly like a wild boar, scatters snow in all directions as he charges forward—”
Winter has come again and again, and the world is now an eternal Snow Plain.
My master retreats, stepping backward.
The Backhoe Spirit charges forward.
“…With every step we take, snow blossoms bloom and scatter between us.”
For me too.
The blades of the two became visible to me at last.
S-Rank: Must Die to Live Hunter (Serialized)
Author │ Shin Noa
Publisher │ Kim Joo-hyeong
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok
Address │ Room 204, 288 Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Daelung Post Tower 1st)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
© Shin Noa 2019
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder. The contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this shall result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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