The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 7

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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 7
“Quite impressive.”
Though Sa Woo spoke with measured calm, his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets in astonishment.
To evade sword strikes deployed in absolute silence within merely four days? This was impossible even for someone blessed with innate genius in the martial arts.
“Dodge once more.”
Bu Eunseol’s senses had grown razor-sharp in every way except sight.
Moreover, having cleaned corpses alongside Bu Chanyang, she had become as intimately versed in human anatomy as Haeng Rim himself.
Thus, from the mere currents of air, she could discern Sa Woo’s stance and the trajectory of his incoming strikes to some degree.
A sharp whistle cut through the void.
As the blade sang through empty space once more, Sa Woo’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile.
“That won’t suffice.”
And unlike before, he began unleashing sword strikes in rapid succession.
“What martial master deploys only a single technique?”
Thud. Thud.
Bu Eunseol began taking blow after blow from the relentless barrage of strikes.
‘I can sense them, but I cannot evade.’
Sa Woo’s swordplay was incomparably more exquisite and far more lethal than Neung Woon Gang’s had been.
Bu Eunseol had no choice but to endure half an hour of punishment.
“Ugh…”
As Bu Eunseol collapsed to the ground, now drenched in blood, Sa Woo finally sheathed his blade.
He then withdrew a leather pouch from his robes and hurled it before her.
“Drink it.”
Bu Eunseol immediately seized the leather pouch that had fallen at her feet and drank its contents.
It was not water, but a viscous liquid.
“Until you complete the Beast Path, you must not consume food. The heightened senses you’ve cultivated will dull once more.”
Bu Eunseol had no choice but to swallow the thick liquid.
Though it bore no scent, the substance—neither fully liquid nor solid—flowed down her throat in a sticky mass.
As it passed through her throat, a scorching heat bloomed in her belly like strong spirits.
“What is this?”
Bu Eunseol asked a question for the first time.
‘During Beast Path training, she never asked anything.’
Sa Woo, suppressing an inward laugh, shook his head.
“There’s nothing to know.”
“…I understand.”
“We resume in one hour.”
A metallic rasp echoed.
Sa Woo drew his blade from its sheath, his voice turning glacial.
“From now on, you must truly stake your life on this.”
Screech! Screech screech screech screech!
The piercing cry of blade cutting air reverberated in all directions.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
Each time the sharp blade grazed her body, blood sprayed from Bu Eunseol’s form.
“Do not think with your head!”
Sa Woo’s voice rang out with solemn authority.
“If you assess the opponent’s technique and then dodge, you’re already too late. The moment an attack begins, you must react instantly!”
Slash.
As a lethal killing stroke thrust toward her throat, Bu Eunseol had no choice but to roll her body across the ground.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.
In that instant, Sa Woo’s blade unfurled like a fan, piercing down at Bu Eunseol’s sprawled form.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
Dozens of blade edges swept across her body.
“Ugh!”
“In the martial world, attacks from many against one are commonplace. Surely you don’t believe only fair duels exist?”
Whip-crack.
Sa Woo’s blade curved like a whip, driving toward her vital points.
Yet Bu Eunseol, as if anticipating the strike, leaped up like a carp and twisted her body to the side.
“Lucky to survive that.”
“Haa… haa…”
Though the blade had missed her heart and lungs, Bu Eunseol’s wounds were far from light.
Yet even as she gasped for breath, one hand gripped her sword firmly.
‘Without being told, she never lets her guard down.’
Sa Woo tossed the leather pouch from his bosom once more.
“Drink. We’ll begin again shortly.”
“…Understood.”
Despite her vision being obscured, Bu Eunseol’s hands found the fallen leather pouch with perfect accuracy.
Gulp-gulp.
As the viscous liquid entered her mouth, her mind sharpened, and the blood and vitality that had drained from her body seemed to return.
Yet even so, she did not tilt her head back, keeping her legs and shoulders lowered to dodge any attack at a moment’s notice.
‘Her bone structure isn’t exceptional, but she possesses an innate talent for mastering martial arts.’
Sa Woo, observing her, stroked his chin.
He had intended merely to pass the time with cursory instruction.
Yet here he was, grudgingly dispensing even the Extreme Spring Spirit Water, which he had hoarded without tasting.
‘Damn it. How can one not teach such a person properly?’
Bu Eunseol possessed a desperate tenacity and burning resolve that stirred the hearts of all who witnessed it.
It was the condition of an unparalleled martial genius, one that could not be found even by searching the entire martial realm.
Half a month later.
Clang-clang-clang-clang.
Before Sa Woo’s dwelling, the metallic ring of weapons clashing echoed without cease.
“Receive this once more!”
With a shout like thunder, Sa Woo’s blade blazed with brilliant light.
Flash!
A sword strike bright as lightning pierced toward my neck.
Crack.
But as I twisted my body, the sharp blade grazed my shoulder instead of my throat.
“Don’t let your guard down.”
Whoosh.
The sword that had swept past my shoulder spun violently through the air before driving toward my vital point at the base of my skull.
Clang!
Yet this time too, I had anticipated it and blocked with my iron sword from behind my back.
“….”
Keeping my body low, I braced myself for the barrage of techniques that would surely follow.
But no matter how much time passed, no further attacks came.
“Hehehehe….”
Sa Woo, who had been watching me, suddenly burst into wild laughter.
“Gwahahaha! Wahahaha!”
His laughter, infused with inner power, resembled the roar of a Shaolin Temple lion.
‘The martial genius I’ve searched for so long—and they were right before my eyes!’
The Beast Path.
To master this bizarre and crude foundational technique, even the greatest martial artists in the world would need to risk their lives for three months and ten days to learn it.
Yet to have perfected the Beast Path in merely half a month?
‘With this one’s talent, they could restore the martial arts of this sect—now fallen to the depths—to glory throughout the martial realm!’
Sa Woo’s laughter ceased abruptly, and he flicked his finger.
Pop pop pop.
As the wind force grazed my eye acupoint, the entire world began to brighten into white.
He had reopened the optic nerve that had been sealed.
“Mm.”
As my surroundings suddenly became clear, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.
To see.
It was dizzying—the sheer flood of information it provided. And simultaneously, it stirred up countless distracting thoughts.
“You’ll adapt soon enough.”
Sa Woo spoke matter-of-factly.
“The more accustomed you become to the Beast Path, the more you’ll sense through your instincts rather than what your eyes perceive.”
“Thank you.”
As I bowed my head, Sa Woo slowly approached.
“Listen.”
And with piercing light blazing in his eyes, he spoke.
“Abandon the Ten Demonic Gates at once and become a formal disciple of this sect.”
“Pardon?”
“If you become a formal disciple of this sect, I will make you one of the foremost masters of the Demonic Path within ten years!”
Though we had barely exchanged words during these half months, I could sense that Sa Woo was not one to speak idly—that his words were bonds he would keep.
If he were to make me a master, I could truly become one.
‘The enemy who killed my grandfather. Would the martial arts of Nangya Sect alone not suffice to kill him?’
But if the martial arts of Nangya Sect could not kill him….
Crunch.
Bu Eunseol clenched her teeth tightly.
To even entertain such calculations meant I had already failed in my revenge, did it not?
“I will become a member of the Ten Demonic Gates.”
“To master all the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Gates?”
Sa Woo let out a derisive snort.
“Let me speak plainly. Even if you were an unparalleled genius like Cheon Ma Dae Je, you could not master all the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Gates.”
He stared intently at Bu Eunseol’s eyes as her focus returned, then spoke.
“For example, to master the White Horse Palm of the White Horse Sect, you must learn the Demonic Steel Finger Force, which hardens the middle knuckles and proximal interphalangeal joints like steel. But if you do that, your hands become unsuitable for wielding sword techniques or saber techniques.”
Realizing that Bu Eunseol’s eyes showed no wavering whatsoever, Sa Woo spoke again.
“No matter how naturally gifted you are in martial arts, mastering two or three of the Ten Demonic Gates is all you can achieve. Rather, dedicating yourself entirely to perfecting a single martial art would be the shortcut to becoming the greatest master of the Demonic Path.”
His words were not wrong.
Learning multiple martial arts did not make one stronger, and studying too many diverse techniques only scattered one’s inner strength.
“I apologize.”
Bu Eunseol bowed deeply, then looked directly into Sa Woo’s eyes.
“I wish to challenge myself with the other martial arts of the Ten Demonic Gates as well.”
Her gaze was as hard and unyielding as steel refined a hundred times.
“…There is no helping it.”
Sa Woo smacked his lips at Bu Eunseol’s resolute expression.
One could force a master to accept a pleading disciple, but one could not force a disciple to come.
“Very well. Then begin learning other martial arts from now on.”
As Sa Woo turned his body, Bu Eunseol wore a puzzled expression.
“But I have only learned the foundational martial arts. I have not yet completed the martial arts of Nangya Sect….”
“The martial arts of this sect are not transmitted through incantations or scriptures. Had another master come instead of me, they would have taught the Wild Beast Technique somewhat differently, though similarly.”
Sa Woo spoke with a serious expression.
“And have you not already learned this old man’s martial arts?”
“What do you mean….”
Instead of answering, Sa Woo drew the sword at his waist and thrust it toward Bu Eunseol’s neck.
Ching.
Bu Eunseol, who had already foreseen the incoming technique, blocked Sa Woo’s sword with her iron sword.
“You have already mastered this sect’s Wild Beast Technique. Over these fifteen days, there is no way you could have forgotten the sword techniques this old man unleashed.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol’s eyes widen.
All the attacks Sa Woo had unleashed until now—they were equivalent to a master of practical combat demonstrating each technique and teaching them individually.
“Nangya Sect has not only this old man, but countless masters of practical combat. When you enter this sect, you can learn practical martial arts by directly sparring with those masters.”
Sa Woo spoke with a calm smile.
“In a state of lost vision, you did not suffer a fatal wound from this old man’s techniques…so at the very least, you will not die from being struck by weapons.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“There’s no need for gratitude. I taught you only by order of the Demon Hall.”
“Yet you did not begrudge me the precious elixir you possessed, Master.”
Bu Eunseol understood this truth.
Everything Sa Woo had given her was a treasure beyond any monetary value—a spiritual elixir of immeasurable worth.
Each time she drank the liquid from the leather pouch, her grievous wounds healed in moments, and her senses grew ever more acute.
“I shall never forget the kindness you have shown me, Master, not for all my days.”
As Bu Eunseol bowed respectfully, Sa Woo’s lips curved into a bitter smile.
“Forget it.”
“Pardon?”
“The martial world is such a place. Whether it be kindness or enmity… it is best to forget if one can.”
Sa Woo’s words carried the weight of some profound sorrow.
Bu Eunseol pondered his meaning, then bowed once more.
“Then I shall take my leave now.”
Without hesitation, she turned and walked away.
Step by step.
Unlike when she had first arrived at Mo Wok, Bu Eunseol’s gait was now perfectly balanced, bearing the bearing of a master.
The gaunt child he had seen a fortnight ago had vanished without a trace.
“Where did such a monster come from….”
Watching Bu Eunseol walk away against the setting sun, Sa Woo exhaled a hollow laugh.
“I thought her a water dragon, yet she was a sleeping dragon all along.”
Recalling the children who had descended upon Hell Island, Sa Woo’s eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.
That place held martial prodigies whose talents surpassed Bu Eunseol’s foundation by tenfold.
“A storm of blood shall sweep across Hell Island.”

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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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