Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 261 : Jaseung, Fights the Demonic Cult Leader

Yao Hong rose from his seat.Lee Jaseung wanted to throw at least one mockery about how his heavy backside refused to stand even as his subordinates were dying, but the man who rose revealed a massive sense of pressure.

He was as strong as he was evil.

Yao Hong walked slowly and stood before Sword God’s corpse. Lee Jaseung stepped back slightly.

Yao Hong, who approached as if to say a final farewell to the coldly chilled Sword God, merely examined the cause of death on the body.

He possessed no dignity as a Cult Leader. No, he had no courtesy as a human and no pride as a warrior.

However, the massive malice created by the gathering of those shallow and ugly traits certainly held a certain power. Because he used any means necessary, it was a dirty and cheap power that felt like it would survive until the end, and thus it was a truly terrifying force.

Lee Jaseung looked at Yao Hong and spoke.

“It seems you chose the wrong profession. Yours is a wretched life that should have been spent rummaging through corpses.”

Lee Jaseung insulted, provoked, and taunted him. He hoped that when the man flared up, his weaknesses would leap out along with his anger.

But Yao Hong did not succumb easily.

While Yao Hong was miserable in terms of character, he was different once he stood on a battlefield. Although he had been betrayed by his disciple and had only been suffering at Lee Jaseung’s hands, he was different now.

He was a beast with the lethal will to kill his opponent by discovering their weakness, even if it meant sacrificing his cherished subordinates.

However, the first thing that beast showed was not sharp claws but a bright red tongue.

“It is not too late even now. If you come under me, I shall grant you the position of successor.”

“Is that the best you could think of while looking at the corpse of a loyal subordinate?”

“I am already old. There is no need for you to wait a thousand or ten thousand years.”

“Has such a shitty trick ever worked even once?”

“It worked better than you would think.”

“Then I shall refuse. If the Demonic Cult is a place filled with such blockheads, I can easily seize it without having to go under you.”

Yao Hong laughed coldly. Naturally, he did not expect Lee Jaseung to accept the proposal easily.

The reason he made such an attempt regardless was because Lee Jaseung’s skill was formidable. While watching the fight with Sword God, he had ultimately failed to find Lee Jaseung’s weakness.

He could not discover anything special from the corpse either. He only felt that the opponent was strong, and he could not produce an estimate for the fight on how to handle Lee Jaseung. The meaning this held was significant. It meant the opponent was at least his equal.

Therefore, he had thought of making the opponent's head complicated by proposing the successor position and then killing him in a single blow when an opportunity arose.

But far from letting down his guard, Lee Jaseung even drew Dream Phantom and held two daggers in his hands.

“Is this special treatment?”

To Yao Hong’s question, Lee Jaseung replied.

“No, it is just that you have so many places I want to stab.”

The provocation continued.

There was a reason Lee Jaseung drew two daggers.

Surely Yao Hong had faced those who used daggers before. Whether they were the slashing type or the throwing type.

But had he ever faced a master who used two daggers, one in each hand?

Lee Jaseung was certain he had not. He himself had never heard of such a master existing in the Jianghu.

That was exactly what Lee Jaseung aimed for.

The unexpectedness of not knowing what would spring from the opponent.

That would strike fear into the heart and stiffen the body.

Clearly, it was effective. Yao Hong felt the daggers held in Lee Jaseung’s hands were terrifying.

However, there was also a counter-effect created by that unfamiliar fear.

Yao Hong felt the demonic beast within him awakening.

His martial art was the Northern Sea Demonic Art.

While it could not be compared to the lost Nine Divine Demonic Arts, it was a powerful demonic art that made it difficult to find an equal otherwise.

The two men began to circle each other slowly.

The match could be decided in a single exchange, or they could end up fighting for ten days and nights. Neither Lee Jaseung nor Yao Hong knew how the fight would flow.

Lee Jaseung opened all his senses and exerted his full concentration.

A mistake meant immediate death.

Surprisingly, the one who moved first was Yao Hong. It was the result created by all of Lee Jaseung’s previous provocations.

In a flash, Yao Hong lunged toward Lee Jaseung.

The movements of the two were nearly identical in speed. It was a rapid movement that no one present could follow.

Yao Hong’s hand flew out, seeking to tear Lee Jaseung’s throat.

Lee Jaseung parried the wrist. But before the hand and wrist could collide, Yao Hong retracted the attack.

This time, Lee Jaseung’s Asura flew toward the same spot.

It was a speed as fast as Yao Hong’s, and Yao Hong’s reaction was equally quick.

Yao Hong’s hand tried to snatch Lee Jaseung’s wrist rapidly, but Lee Jaseung also pulled his hand away.

The same moves were exchanged, and the results were the same.

The revealed skill was indeed a close match.

The problem was how much skill each was hiding.

Lee Jaseung’s attack followed immediately. Asura slashed through the air. Lee Jaseung’s head was filled entirely with thoughts of how to kill Yao Hong.

Yao Hong dodged the attacks by twisting his body left and right.

Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!

Lee Jaseung thrust Asura in succession.

The speed grew faster and faster.

Just as Sword God had attacked him before, the speed was increasing.

Yao Hong also dodged well.

But it was different from Sword God. While Sword God’s attacks raced toward an extreme and exploded at the peak, Lee Jaseung maintained that speed at a level just below the peak.

Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!

It was a momentum like a herd of hundreds of water buffaloes rushing in all at once.

* * *

Mujin surged forward while cleaving through the torso of a Demonic Human.

Attacks flew in from both directions.

Swish! Swish! Thud! Squelch!

Mujin’s swords flew left and right simultaneously, and the two Demonic Humans who were launching the attacks collapsed where they stood.

A fierce battle was breaking out in all directions.

Since the Soul Phantom Army was also highly elite, a neck-and-neck fight was taking place.

Fortunately, because Mujin and Ma Young-gi eliminated the Captain of the Soul Phantom Army with a combined attack, they were able to compensate for their numerical disadvantage.

They knew that if this continued, the sacrifice of the Divine Sword Regiment and the Iron Cavalry Regiment would be too great, but they could not retreat.

At that moment as the bloody battle continued.

“Waaaaaaa!”

A shout was heard, and over two hundred warriors intruded into the area.

The complexions of Mujin and Ma Young-gi turned dark. Reinforcements for the Demonic Cult in this situation? It would depend on who came, but if it were an organization of a similar grade to the Soul Phantom Army, this side would be the one annihilated.

They naturally thought it was the enemy.

“I have arrived!”

Surprisingly, the person leading the way was Baek Seolyoung. Those she brought were the Four Dragons of the Northern Sky and the Raging Dragons.

The Raging Dragons was a level below the Iron Cavalry or Divine Sword Regiments in martial arts. However, they numbered as many as two hundred, and they were accompanied by the Four Dragons of the Northern Sky, the four rising masters representing the Northern Sky Clan.

And above all, Baek Seolyoung was there.

Swish swish swish swish swish!

Whenever her sword embroidered the air, Demonic Humans bled and collapsed.

Having become able to even launch Sword Kinesis, her martial power was immense. Furthermore, she was a woman rich in practical combat experience due to the continuous battles of late.

As she joined with the Four Dragons of the Northern Sky and the Raging Dragons, the tense battle situation collapsed.

Eventually, the Soul Phantom Army all became corpses and fell.

Of course, the damage to their own side was considerable. However, considering the outcome if Baek Seolyoung had not come, it was a result that could be called a great victory.

“Just how did this happen?”

Mujin asked her. There had been a request from Lee Jaseung for Baek Seolyoung never to come here.

“I cannot help it even if I am scolded.”

She simply could not stay still because she was so worried. Therefore, she had rushed here immediately leading the Four Dragons of the Northern Sky and the Raging Dragons. She intended to send only a scouting party and observe the situation, but knowing the situation here was urgent, she had rushed in without looking back.

Mujin bowed his head to her.

“Thank you. Thanks to the Great Lady, we were able to minimize the sacrifices.”

Ma Young-gi added.

“I shall repay this with loyalty.”

The warriors of the Divine Sword Regiment and the Iron Cavalry Regiment standing behind bowed their heads in unison.

She was the one who had previously saved Mook Young and all the warriors of the Guard Hall.

And today, she had even saved the warriors of the Divine Sword Regiment and the Iron Cavalry Regiment.

Baek Seolyoung looked at the building.

She felt an ominous energy erupting from the building.

Just what kind of fight was taking place?

Her gaze deepened as she watched the place.

Hurry and win and come out. Because I am waiting here.

* * *

Booooom!

The surroundings vibrated along with a massive explosion.

Yao Hong was holding his palm forward.

Everything visible in front of him had become a ruin. It truly felt as if a massive storm had passed through.

Blood was trickling down from his forearm.

Unable to dodge Lee Jaseung’s attacks any longer, he had launched a major strike. He had cut off the continuous attacks, but his forearm had been sliced in the process of unleashing the palm technique.

Yao Hong’s gaze slowly turned toward the air.

Lee Jaseung was floating in the air. Blood was dripping from the Asura held in his hand.

A blue killing light erupted from Yao Hong’s eyes. Veins popped out on Yao Hong’s face, arms, legs, and his entire body. It was a hideous sight just to look at. It was a phenomenon that occurred when the Northern Sea Demonic Art was exerted to its limit.

“You will regret standing against me.”

Yao Hong’s voice echoed gloomily.

Yao Hong’s movements changed completely.

As the Northern Sea Demonic Art was exerted to its limit, he became even faster and stronger.

Lee Jaseung could tell.

That if he had not reached the first stage, he would have already been lying as a corpse.

Yao Hong was strong.

He was strong enough to make one wonder if it was truly alright to be this strong.

To the point that he felt proud of himself for blocking the attacks like this.

Clang clang clang clang clang!

Paaaaaaaang!

The building had already been shattered and collapsed. Baek Seolyoung, Mujin, and Ma Young-gi, who were outside, had already retreated far away leading their subordinates.

Before they knew it, the duel between the two had become a duel of Qi.

As the powerful Qi launched by the two collided, a storm arose. Everything in the vicinity turned to powder and was swept away.

At a glance, it looked as if they were launching Qi randomly, but it was a succession of accurately calculated attacks.

Thud! Booom! Thud!

The surface of the earth was overturned, and the sound of thunder was heard in all directions. It felt as if ghosts were wailing from the killing intent created by Yao Hong.

Boooom!

The inner Qi of the two was nearly equal.

For the past forty years, Yao Hong had focused on increasing his inner Qi. Since he was the Cult Leader, how many spiritual medicines must he have consumed?

He naturally thought he would overwhelm Lee Jaseung’s inner Qi, but he could not. The inner Qi also exhibited a similar power.

‘Just what is this bastard?’

That was Yao Hong’s honest feeling.

The exchanging of their Qi stopped.

A sudden silence arrived. It was a feeling like the pouring heavy rain had stopped and the sun had risen.

At that moment, Yao Hong’s body flinched.

As he watched the monster-like Lee Jaseung standing before him, a sense of crisis that something was wrong overcame him.

And Lee Jaseung’s hand caught Yao Hong’s eye. One hand was empty.

The only dagger held in Lee Jaseung’s hand was Asura.

‘There were clearly two?’

Yao Hong turned around abruptly.

At some point, Dream Phantom was floating in the air. In the form just before unleashing Sword Kinesis.

Swaaaaaaaaak.

Along with an ear-splitting sound of wind, Dream Phantom flew in as fast as light.

It was the Sword Kinesis using a flying dagger.

Drip, drip, drip.

The sound heard there was the sound of blood drops falling.

Yao Hong’s gaze turned toward his arm.

Half of his arm had been cut away. If the wound had been even slightly deeper, the arm would have fallen off.

Yao Hong pressed the blood vessels of his arm. Then the blood stopped immediately.

Yao Hong was greatly shocked.

To leave a flying dagger floating behind one's back without a trace amidst that insane fierce battle where Qi was flying just now was a thing truly difficult to believe even after suffering it.

Truly, it was an unexpected surprise attack to the point that it would not have been strange at all even if he had died in that one move.

Lee Jaseung’s expression, having failed to kill Yao Hong, was dark.

That move just now was truly a move of the heart. It was an attack that should not have ended with merely leaving a wound on the arm. The internal power that went into this one move was not small.

As if to pay the price for that failure, the moment Yao Hong’s eyes flashed, a pitch-black darkness arrived in the surroundings.