Chapter 41 – A Fateful Encounter (5)

“Ugh!”

Taking a direct palm strike from the Heavenly Demon, Yu-jin coughed up blackened blood. His veins bulged, a result of the Heavenly Demon’s demonic energy attacking both inside and out simultaneously.

‘Simultaneously striking the body from within and without to instantly extinguish one’s life force—that is the very core of the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts.’

“Is this the end?”

The Heavenly Demon raised his right hand, this time intending to shatter Yu-jin’s head. But Yu-jin would not go down so easily.

His bulging veins burst, spraying blood in all directions. It was a gruesome sight, yet Yu-jin’s expression grew calmer. Not that his crisis had passed.

“Of course not!”

With those words, Yu-jin threw a Heavenly Collapse Demonic Fist, which struck the Heavenly Demon squarely in the chest. However, the Heavenly Demon did not just stand there and take it; he unleashed a palm strike of his own, hitting Yu-jin once more.

“Ugh!”

The impact felt as if every one of his internal organs was being twisted, and Yu-jin staggered back reflexively.

Compared to Yu-jin, the Heavenly Demon was unharmed. He, too, had acquired regenerative abilities through the Great Art of the Living Corpse. Yu-jin’s powerful attacks had inflicted significant damage, but the Heavenly Demon had healed all his wounds with his regeneration.

‘I knew this would happen. The Great Art of the Living Corpse wasn’t created by the Heaven-Defying One; it originated from the Heavenly Demon himself. It’s only natural that he would regenerate at such a frightening speed.’

To injure the Heavenly Demon, one needed an attack powerful enough to overcome his regenerative abilities. The only way to do that, the Profound Heaven Ink Phosphorus Sword, couldn’t surpass the Heavenly Demon’s Asura’s Heaven-Shattering Sword.

‘But I won’t know until I’ve tried everything!’

In place of his broken right arm, Yu-jin picked up the Ink Dragon Sword, which he had driven into the ground earlier. Even amid the fierce battle, the Ink Dragon Sword remained pristine.

*Rumble!*

A torrent of inky energy gathered around the Ink Dragon Sword. The Heavenly Demon watched the unyielding Yu-jin, a smile playing on his lips as he soared high into the sky once more.

“My peer. To fight me to this extent despite being incomplete… I must acknowledge you. I have met countless masters, but you are the third to cause me such pain. In recognition of your strength, I shall show you my true power.”

‘There’s really no need for that.’

He was already on the verge of death. What more could the Heavenly Demon possibly show him?

But the Heavenly Demon ignored Yu-jin’s thoughts and drew forth even more demonic energy. The darkness deepened endlessly, eventually forming the figure of a colossal demonic god.

It was a sight truly worthy of the name Asura. Toward this vision, Yu-jin squeezed out every last bit of his strength and unleashed the Profound Heaven Ink Phosphorus Sword.

This time, instead of just a torrent of light, it formed the shape of a dragon and flew toward the demonic god.

*CRACK-CRASH-BOOM!*

The demonic god and the ink dragon clashed. The earth screamed, and the heavens wailed at the terrifying collision.

Yu-jin’s entire body was bloodied from the immense shock, but his spirit remained formidable. As time passed, however, the demonic god began to push back the ink dragon.

‘Well, I’ve been with many women, so it hasn’t been a life of regrets.’

It was a shame he couldn’t have all of the Five Phoenixes, but having bedded two female masters who had reached the Transformation Realm, he had no major regrets. Sensing his death, Yu-jin closed his eyes.

***

“Giving up so easily would be a problem, my future son-in-law.”

Just then, an unfamiliar voice reached Yu-jin’s ears, and he couldn’t hide his bewilderment. The voice was unfamiliar to him, but quite familiar to the Heavenly Demon.

The moment the Heavenly Demon recognized the voice, a blue saber-shaped energy slashed through the Asura and struck the body of the Heavenly Demon protected within.

“Kuh!”

For the first time, a look of dismay crossed the Heavenly Demon’s face as he dispelled the form of the demonic god. At almost the same instant, the ink dragon Yu-jin had unleashed completely vanished.

A moment later, and Yu-jin would have been torn to shreds. But ignoring the fact that he had nearly died, Yu-jin stared at the middle-aged man who had saved him.

The man’s face was quite pale, but his eyes burned brightly.

“I didn’t expect you to regain your senses so quickly, Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor.”

“I am the one who resolved to pacify the heavens with my saber, Heavenly Demon. It would be a mistake to think a mere clone could do anything to me. Besides, I’m rather displeased, Heavenly Demon. To think you’d face me with a mere clone, yet use your true body against my future son-in-law. But you know, don’t you? If I join this fight now, even you will be in danger!”

At Lee Hwan’s words, the Heavenly Demon frowned but did not reply.

Lee Hwan spoke the truth. The Heavenly Demon had, knowingly or not, expended a significant amount of power fighting Yu-jin. If a seemingly unharmed Lee Hwan were to join in, it would be dangerous even for him.

Indeed, the depth of Lee Hwan’s saber intent that had just cut through his Asura had wounded the Heavenly Demon’s true body, and that wound was not regenerating.

The Heavenly Demon glanced at the Blood Sword Brigade, who had kept their distance from his fight with Yu-jin, and shouted.

“Retreat!”

With that, the Heavenly Demon turned to leave. The demonic cultists of the Blood Sword Brigade wore expressions of disbelief as they heard the command. For hundreds of years, the Heavenly Demon had threatened the martial world, never once retreating from a one-on-one battle.

The times he had decided to retreat were only after the forces of the Western Heaven Demonic Cult, aside from himself, had been mostly annihilated. He had never withdrawn as a result of a personal duel like this.

“I will leave for today. But, my peer, grow stronger. You are still an incomplete being. If you grow stronger, you will be able to see the world through the same eyes as I!”

With that cry, the Heavenly Demon vanished completely, along with the demonic cultists of the Blood Sword Brigade.

“Haaa. That was tough.”

Confirming that the Heavenly Demon was gone, Lee Hwan finally slumped to the ground. His complexion was even paler than before.

Even though he had regained consciousness, he had taken a direct hit from the Heavenly Demon’s demonic energy, so there was no way he could be unharmed. Yet, Lee Hwan grinned and looked at the bewildered Yu-jin.

“Now then, future son-in-law. I am Lee Hwan, patriarch of the Cheonsan Lee Clan. In the martial world, they call me the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor. But that’s not what’s important right now. Before I accept you as my son-in-law, I’d like you to reveal your true identity to me.”

‘What is this guy talking about?’

Yu-jin felt a headache coming on as he looked at Lee Hwan spouting nonsense when he was exhausted to death.

***

Yu-jin stared with a dumbfounded expression at Lee Hwan, who was calling him son-in-law.

‘Son-in-law? Of course, I do intend to become one.’

He planned to make Lee Hye-yeon his woman as well, so Lee Hwan could be called his future father-in-law. But not yet.

In truth, for the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor, Lee Hwan, to call Yu-jin ‘son-in-law’ was a complete stretch. Yu-jin had never touched Lee Hye-yeon, nor had they promised to marry.

Besides, didn’t Yu-jin already have a fiancée to whom he had pledged marriage?

All in all, it was quite a stretch to call him son-in-law.

‘Still, I have to secure this one. It’s embarrassing to be this pushy at my age, but he’s more important than my pride.’

But a man like Yu-jin was valuable enough for Lee Hwan to forcibly call him son-in-law to claim him.

It was astonishing that he had reached the Profound Realm—the realm of absolute masters or transcendent beings—before even reaching thirty, but it was his hidden potential, with so many years ahead of him, that was even more anticipated.

‘To reach the Profound Realm at the young age of twenty-five, it’s not impossible for him to pioneer even higher realms in the future.’

For these reasons and more, Yu-jin had completely caught Lee Hwan’s eye, and Lee Hwan watched him with the gaze of a predator.

Being watched like that by a man was not a pleasant experience, so Yu-jin barely managed to keep from frowning as he spoke.

“I don’t understand. I have already pledged to marry Lady Namgung Hwa-rin. My only father-in-law is the patriarch, the Thunderclap Sword King, Namgung Ok.”

“It matters not. Who would dare criticize a man like you for taking three wives and four concubines? My daughter should be honored to become your concubine.”

Yu-jin was at a loss for words as Lee Hwan replied with a sly grin.

Lee Hwan’s wife had passed away not long after giving birth to Lee Hye-yeon. He had raised his daughter with the utmost care since then, yet he was now boldly declaring that he wouldn’t mind sending his precious daughter to be a concubine. Even the great Yu-jin couldn’t help but be taken aback.

‘No. That’s not what’s important right now!’

Whether he became a son-in-law or not wasn’t the issue at the moment. He was going to take Lee Hye-yeon with or without Lee Hwan’s permission.

What was important for Yu-jin now was to prevent the truth of his real power from spreading.

‘Though I can’t stop it completely.’

Even if Lee Hwan enforced strict silence, it would be impossible to completely prevent rumors from leaking. That was the nature of rumors.

If so, he could use that very nature to achieve what he wanted.

“Patriarch.”

“Haha. You are quite stubborn. Did I not tell you to call me father-in-law?”

“Very well. But if you grant my request first, I will gladly take Lady Lee Hye-yeon as my wife. I will also speak with the Namgung Clan and Hwa-rin to smooth things over.”

At Yu-jin’s words, an expression of interest appeared on Lee Hwan’s face as he looked at him.

“Let me hear this request of yours and I’ll decide.”

“You must grant it unconditionally. But I swear on my martial arts, it will not be a difficult request for you or the Cheonsan Lee Clan.”

Hearing this, Lee Hwan closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought. But his deliberation was short. His determination to secure Yu-jin remained unchanged.

Even if Yu-jin made an unreasonable request, he had to have him.

“Alright. What is this request?”

“It is a very simple one. You must say that it wasn’t I alone who fought the Heavenly Demon, but the warriors of the Cheonsan Lee Clan and those dispatched from the Martial Alliance. And that the one who commanded those warriors and repelled the Heavenly Demon was you, Patriarch.”

Hearing Yu-jin’s words, Lee Hwan frowned slightly. He sensed that Yu-jin was trying to hide his own achievements.

“You are a peculiar one. To possess such incredible power, yet have no interest in the thirst for fame that young men ought to have. May I ask why you wish to hide yourself?”

“My apologies.”

As Yu-jin quietly shook his head in response, Lee Hwan stared at him for a moment. But Yu-jin remained silent, and eventually, Lee Hwan gave up on getting an answer.

Even if he used force, he honestly wasn’t confident he could make Yu-jin talk. Yu-jin’s body was a mess, but Lee Hwan’s was in even worse shape.

It was as the two men were staring at each other.

“Father!”

Lee Hye-yeon cried out loudly, rushing toward Lee Hwan and embracing him tightly.

To see him alive and well when she had thought him dead was an overwhelming feeling.

Behind her were Na Ye-jin and the rest of Yu-jin’s party, as well as the warriors of the Cheonsan Lee Clan who had temporarily withdrawn. They had all rushed back after sensing the world-swallowing demonic energy disappear.

“You’ve done well, Hye-yeon.”

As Lee Hwan lightly hugged Lee Hye-yeon and spoke, she finally burst into tears.

Because of the two, everyone around them remained silent, waiting for Lee Hye-yeon to calm down. Yu-jin’s women wanted to approach him, but they didn’t dare interrupt the dramatic reunion of father and daughter.

“Father, what about my brother?”

“Do not worry. I left him safely in the clan’s secret chamber.”

Hearing that her brother was also safe, Lee Hye-yeon smiled brightly through her tear-streaked face.

Lee Hwan stroked her head, then let her go. He slowly approached the warriors who were watching him.

“First, I wish to thank our guests who have come from so far.”

Seeing Lee Hwan display the dignity of a patriarch despite his battered body, Na Ye-jin and the other warriors stared at him with frozen expressions.

“And to everyone, you have all worked hard.”

“Waaah!”