Chapter 579: The White Snakes Won't Be Coming

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk stared at the back of Yeom Baekjin, who stood protectively in front of Seo Jin.

This was the kind of man he was originally. He was someone willing to face death for another.

However, before his regression, he had lived on the dark side, the opposite of this heroic image. Perhaps back then, his brother, the Sword King, and everyone else had only seen the other side of the coin.

Seo Jin asked Yeom Baekjin.

"Why are you trying to save me?"

He couldn't very well say that he found his eyes and heart strangely drawn to her.

"Because my brother is the one who did wrong."

Yeom Baekjin said, turning to look back at Geom Mugeuk.

"You said you came out to protect Seo Jin too, right?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

"Help me protect her!"

He was agitated. He knew he needed to be calm in moments like this, but the three masked figures who had appeared before them possessed an extraordinary aura. To reveal themselves like this meant they were masters so skilled they had no need for a surprise attack.

The best of the best from the White Snake Society have come.

His hand, which had drawn his sword, trembled. It wasn't simply out of fear. The target of his current rage was his brother. Sending masters of this caliber meant he was determined not to fail.

He really is trying to kill me.

Yeom Baekjin thought that if he was going to die anyway, he wanted to at least save this woman.

"I may be just the brother of a mere Principal, but the woman beside me is of the Ghost Sect's bloodline. If you bastards kill her, you'll be annihilated by the Ghost Sect."

Seo Jin, who had been standing behind Yeom Baekjin, stepped forward to stand beside him.

"They don't seem like the type to back down just because you say that."

Yeom Baekjin looked at Seo Jin. She had every reason to be afraid, yet she was calm.

Is it because she's the child of a prestigious family?

Seo Jin's calm nature was a factor, but her composure came from her trust in the two people behind her. With Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn standing there, what was there to fear?

Yeom Baekjin's gaze shifted to Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn behind them. He misunderstood the two.

Are you just going to stay back there and not step forward?

The thought crossed his mind, but he didn't say it aloud. Right, how frightening must this be at their young age? He understood them.

Of the three masked figures who appeared, the first to speak was the Fifth White Snake.

"Those who are about to die by our hands only ever say three things. They threaten, they hate, or they beg."

The Fifth White Snake's eyes held a mocking tone as he looked at Yeom Baekjin.

"In my experience, the ones who threaten are the weakest."

Yeom Baekjin remained unshaken. He momentarily forgot his anger toward his brother. He had to be calm in this moment.

"You should know this isn't a threat. Do you think the Ghost Sect's leader would simply overlook his daughter's death?"

Then, the Eighth White Snake spoke up.

"The brother of the Yellow Dragon Academy's Principal, who was bewitched by the beauty of the new female members, violated them, and then disappeared."

From those words, he could tell how they planned to handle this incident.

Rage surged within Yeom Baekjin. It wasn't enough that he would lose his life, his reputation would also be dragged through the mud. Yeom Baekjin thrust his sword forward and said coldly.

"Go on, try it."

The Eighth White Snake drew his sword and glanced back at the First White Snake. All that remained was the First White Snake's permission.

At that moment, the First White Snake was staring at one person. That person was Lee Ahn.

The Eighth White Snake and the Fifth White Snake assumed he was staring because she was so beautiful, but that wasn't it. The First White Snake was seeing a true nature that the other two could not.

I see now why the Sect Leader sent me.

The Eighth White Snake could handle Yeom Baekjin and Seo Jin well enough.

The problem was the young man and woman standing behind them. The feeling emanating from Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn was strange. The issue was that he couldn't be certain of their skill. They should be either a master or a novice, but what he felt was that they seemed to be greater masters than him, yet at the same time, they seemed to have insignificant skill.

The woman is the greater master!

Meanwhile, the Fifth White Snake came to a different conclusion.

"It's a shame to kill such a woman."

It seemed the Fifth White Snake had judged her skills to be insignificant.

Finally, the First White Snake's order was given.

"Kill that man first."

At that, the Eighth White Snake stepped forward.

"I will take care of it."

The Eighth White Snake rushed toward Yeom Baekjin. He didn't give his opponent a chance to prepare. His sword flew toward Yeom Baekjin's neck, heart, and other major vital points.

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Fortunately, Yeom Baekjin responded calmly. A battle of offense and defense ensued where a single mistake would mean death.

Lee Ahn focused on Yeom Baekjin's movements.

Yeom Baekjin was someone who had achieved complete mastery of the Yellow Dragon Sword Technique. Because of that, she could see through his fight how the original Yellow Dragon Sword Technique was used in actual combat.

She needed to know the original Yellow Dragon Sword Technique precisely to understand how it had been reinterpreted.

In an instant, over thirty exchanges passed. Yeom Baekjin, who had achieved complete mastery of the Yellow Dragon Sword Technique, was not a weak man.

However, as the exchanges continued, he fell into a disadvantage. The martial arts he had learned was the orthodox swordsmanship of a martial arts academy, while the Eighth White Snake's martial arts was designed to kill the opponent. Moreover, his practical combat experience was severely lacking in comparison.

Blood spurted from Yeom Baekjin's arm.

Seeing blood, Yeom Baekjin became agitated, and the situation grew even more unfavorable. The Eighth White Snake did not miss the opportunity and pressed him.

Just when he could no longer hold on.

HIIIIIIIIK.

Suddenly, with a ghostly wail, Yeom Baekjin's shadow lunged and covered the Eighth White Snake.

The one who helped him in his moment of crisis was Seo Jin, using her ghost arts. She was still only able to use ghost arts that showed illusions or restricted an opponent's vision, rather than direct attacks.

However, in this fight, that single move was an opportunity that could turn the tide of victory and defeat.

Because of the shadow covering his face, the Eighth White Snake momentarily lost sight of Yeom Baekjin.

Yeom Baekjin did not miss this chance. Instead of retreating, he slid diagonally, surged forward, and swung his sword.

SHWIIIIK.

PWAK!

Blood spurted from the side of the Eighth White Snake, who couldn't block in time.

Now the situation was reversed. Just as Yeom Baekjin was about to rush forward to finish off his staggering opponent.

The Fifth White Snake, who had been watching, threw a spray of hidden weapons. It was aimed at both Yeom Baekjin and Seo Jin.

CHWAAAAAAAK!

As the hidden weapons flew at them, Yeom Baekjin instinctively threw his body in front of Seo Jin. He couldn't let the woman who had saved him die.

Is this the end?

He expected several hidden weapons to embed themselves in his back.

He heard the sound of hidden weapons being deflected from behind him.

When Yeom Baekjin turned around, he saw that Lee Ahn had somehow moved to block the way in front of them.

She deflected all those hidden weapons?

It seemed like dozens of hidden weapons had been scattered. Yeom Baekjin stared at Lee Ahn with a shocked expression. That wasn't all.

THUD.

The Eighth White Snake pitched forward and collapsed. The hidden weapons that Lee Ahn had deflected were embedded in his neck and heart.

The Fifth White Snake stepped forward.

"So you were hiding your skills."

He glanced back at the First White Snake. He sent a look that meant they should attack together, as her method of deflecting the hidden weapons was extraordinary, but the First White Snake did not step forward.

Is his precious self too proud to join forces?

He hoped that was the case. If the First White Snake wasn't stepping forward out of a sense of crisis that their opponent was truly formidable, then they would be in a very difficult situation.

Meanwhile, Seo Jin was stopping the bleeding from Yeom Baekjin's arm. He was the one who had thrown his body in front of her when the hidden weapons flew.

Watching them, Geom Mugeuk was certain that the fate of these two had completely changed. They had now become people who had saved each other's lives.

It's done.

This was the moment he achieved the greatest purpose for coming to the Yellow Dragon Academy.

Soon, the fight between the Fifth White Snake and Lee Ahn began.

Because Lee Ahn fought using the Yellow Dragon Sword Technique, Yeom Baekjin, who was watching her swordsmanship, was inwardly surprised.

It's similar to the Yellow Dragon Sword Technique.

It seemed similar, yet it was different from what he had learned.

That instructor must have taught her!

In that technique, Yeom Baekjin saw a gently flowing river, a fiercely blowing wind. He saw hot flames rise, and he saw lightning strike.

As the fight continued, Yeom Baekjin's eyes widened. Today was the first time he realized the Yellow Dragon Sword Technique could be such a strong and beautiful form of swordsmanship.

He didn't know. He didn't know that the swordsmanship being displayed was something she had just learned today. Nor that she was using it so magnificently in actual combat.

In the earlier fight with Yeom Baekjin, the Eighth White Snake had gained the advantage as the exchanges went on, but in this fight, Lee Ahn gained the advantage with each passing exchange. Her Yellow Dragon Sword Technique was becoming incomparably more stable with every move in its first real battle.

When they first crossed swords, the Fifth White Snake thought he had a chance, but the balance crumbled in an instant, and he began to be pushed back.

The moment the Fifth White Snake shouted for help.

SHWIIIIK!

PUUK!

Lee Ahn's sword pierced the Fifth White Snake's chest. The moment she heard the word 'violate' from the Eighth White Snake, she felt no hesitation in killing them.

"…You will die a miserable death. That man is the number one in rank at Headquarters."

Despite the Fifth White Snake's words, Lee Ahn showed no fear.

"The words you say before you die are just the same."

It was what the Fifth White Snake had said earlier. That his opponents would threaten, hate, or beg before they died. He himself had not escaped that category.

SPURT SPURT SPURT!

When Lee Ahn pulled out her sword, he collapsed, spewing blood.

Geom Mugeuk watched her with a satisfied expression.

To display this much skill with martial arts she learned today was a clear demonstration of how outstanding her talent for martial arts was, and also how high her current level was.

Get stronger, Lee Ahn.

In this murim, teeming with all sorts of villains, to live while showing that face to the world, she would have to become so strong that no one would dare challenge her.

Lee Ahn did not feel happy or triumphant. She just silently looked down at her sword.

It was the first time for both. The first time killing with the Yellow Dragon Sword Technique, and the first time staining the Sun Moon Sword with blood.

The reinterpreted Yellow Dragon Sword Technique truly felt like it had no unnecessary movements. And while its power was weaker than the Soaring Sky Sword Art, it required far less inner arts.

For that reason, there could be no better supplementary swordsmanship. There would be times when she had to hide her identity, and also times when she had to fight while conserving her inner arts.

The First White Snake's expression was completely stiff. It was a truly unexpected situation. However, that didn't mean he felt fear. Because he was the First White Snake.

"Who are you?"

Geom Mugeuk answered leisurely.

"We're the new members of the Yellow Dragon Academy's White Dragon Class, aren't we? You should have investigated before coming."

The investigation was completely wrong.

Chairman! If something was bothering you, you shouldn't have accepted the contract.

However, it wasn't something to blame the Chairman for. When he was coming here, he had been full of arrogance, thinking that the fact he was sent instead of the Second White Snake meant there was something that required his attention.

"The number one in the White Snake Society? The number one is fighting a member of the Yellow Dragon Academy's basic White Dragon Class! If I were you, I'd be too embarrassed to mention my rank."

Geom Mugeuk stood at the very back, provoking and teasing him with words, but the First White Snake did not fall for it.

He faced Lee Ahn cautiously. He planned to kill them all, one by one, just as he had always done. In the end, he would be the one left standing.

SWEEEEEEEK!

Sword qi suddenly poured out from the First White Snake's sword in a surprise attack.

"……"

The sword qi released from Lee Ahn's sword collided with the First White Snake's sword qi. Dust rose with an ear-splitting explosion.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

As sword met sword, sparks flew within the dust.

The First White Snake was strong. He was on a different level from the two who had died earlier.

The First White Snake's martial arts was a sword style that had climbed a tower of murder to stand at its peak.

However, Lee Ahn's Soaring Sky Sword Art, which she had achieved complete mastery of, was a martial art that the tower of killing intent could not handle even if it reached the heavens.

Her Soaring Sky Sword Art was completely different from the Yellow Dragon Sword Technique she had displayed earlier, and it was also different from the Soaring Sky Sword Art that Geom Mugeuk used.

Her swordsmanship was delicate and elegant, yet at the same time, sharp and powerful.

Amazingly, when he exchanged the first blow with her, the First White Snake already foresaw his defeat.

He found himself wishing that the Eighth White Snake and the Fifth White Snake were still alive. If they saw this fight, they would think, Ah! So this is why we lost.

No, even if they saw it, they wouldn't understand. Just how strong this woman was.

SHYAAAAAAAK.

Her sword cut through the air, creating a dazzling trajectory that he could never hope to follow.

In that moment, he saw it. In Lee Ahn's eyes, the countless people he had killed flashed by like a revolving lantern.

SHWIIIIK.

PUUK!

Even though the sword pierced his chest, he felt no pain.

His last words were not a plea, nor hatred, nor a threat.

"Perfect."

His final words were a tribute to Lee Ahn.

With those words as his last, the First White Snake collapsed and died.

Lee Ahn was bewildered. She thought it would be a much more difficult fight. How much so? Enough that she had sent this telepathy to Geom Mugeuk.

[Is this person really the number one in the White Snake Society?]

Geom Mugeuk's pleased reply came back.

[Do you understand your own skill now?]

Lee Ahn's level was not one that the likes of the White Snake Society could do anything about.

Yeom Baekjin stared blankly at the corpse of the First White Snake. That woman killed the number one master of the White Snake Society?

Yeom Baekjin expressed his gratitude to Lee Ahn in a trembling voice. He no longer treated her informally.

"Thank you for saving me."

"Master Yeom, you were trying to save our Seo Jin too, weren't you?"

Yeom Baekjin felt more depression than joy at having survived. He hadn't known his brother was trying to kill him, and he hadn't recognized that this woman was such a great master.

I deserve to die.

His gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

He was someone who had given off a strange feeling ever since they met. Perhaps he was an even greater master than this woman.

"Now that you've killed their number one, the White Snake Society won't just stand by. The entire White Snake Society will come for you!"

At Yeom Baekjin's worry, Geom Mugeuk gave an enigmatic smile.

"As we go on living, all sorts of animals might come to the Yellow Dragon Academy. However, the white snakes will never come again."

"How can you be so sure?"

Geom Mugeuk said to Lee Ahn.

"Send a message to the White Snake Society. Tell them not to interfere in our affairs any longer."

"……"

Yeom Baekjin asked in a trembling voice.

"Who in the world are you people?"

Could it be that if they told the infamous White Snake Society not to interfere, they would simply obey?

Geom Mugeuk finally revealed his identity.

"I am Geom Mugeuk, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

"!"

For a moment, Yeom Baekjin froze.

Lee Ahn and Seo Jin also revealed themselves.

"I am Lee Ahn, leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Ghost Shadow Squad."

"I am Seo Jin, a Division Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Ghost Shadow Squad."

Yeom Baekjin turned pale and couldn't say a word.

Could anyone believe that a blood relative of the Ghost Sect was a mere Division Leader? Yes, one might believe it, if it were for just one place.

A person who travels with the world's number one beauty, who can casually kill the number one ranked member of the White Snake Society? Yes, if it was just one person, one might believe it.

Even so, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!

And I've been treating him so casually until now.

Toward his confusion and disbelief, Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.

"Whether I disappear from your life like smoke, or become a vicious Young Cult Leader, is now up to you."