Chapter 90: Sun Demonic Spirit Subjugation Part 3

Lightning split the night sky.

The figure of the Sun Demonic Spirit approached the main palace with long strides. In the history of Cheongdo Palace, only one person had ever crossed the enormous stone courtyard in front of the palace without the emperor’s permission.

It was Sword Master Seol Lee Moon.

Other than that traitor recorded in the historical texts, no one else had dared to do so.

Of course, the one crossing the large courtyard now did not take on the form of a human.

Thick pus dripped from its mouth, leaving a few drops on the ground as it moved.

Even the rainwater washing over its entire body couldn’t erase the terrible stench.

It had to eliminate the cause that trapped the Plague Demonic Spirit in the relentless flow of time.

Kill Sword Master Seol Tae Pyeong, Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun, and Maid Seol Ran, and allow the Plague Demonic Spirit to advance to the next era.

That was the sole purpose in the monster’s eyes.

And so, to kill its targets, it headed toward the place with the most people.

“A monster! The horrible monster that destroyed the Red Palace has appeared!”

“Call the guards! Call the guards! Damn it! Escape through the back gate!”

The panicked officials all rushed out, and even the few remaining guards began to tremble.

Nevertheless, they were thoroughly trained to protect the safety of Cheongdo Palace until the very end.

Their loyalty as warriors compelled them to draw their swords and charge forward, but it couldn’t suppress their instinct to survive. Their hands trembled uncontrollably.

Though the courage to stand before the Sun Demonic Spirit with trembling hands was commendable, it couldn’t overcome the desperate situation they faced.

“A-Aah! You monster!”

Whoosh.

The soldier who charged forward with a scream disappeared in an instant.

He got swept away by a single strike from the Sun Demonic Spirit’s sword, but he wasn’t cut down… he simply disappeared.

Vice warrior commander Han Cheon Seon also rushed to the main palace with his sword drawn, but his whole body trembled like an aspen tree.

He knew.

He knew better than anyone that stepping forward would mean death, but the warriors of Cheongdo Palace never turned their backs easily.

So, this is where my life ends…!

Even in the midst of the raging storm, the cold sweat that trickled down his back felt strangely vivid.

Yet he couldn’t run away.

It was when Han Cheon Seon drew his sword and accepted his fate.

Thud.

A sword blade pierced through the Sun Demonic Spirit’s chest as it stood in the storm.

“Gah, ugh.”

The blade that emerged from the blood-red chest of the monster bore the shape of clouds along its edge.

It was the Cloud and Mist Sword, a sword crafted by the Imperial blacksmith after studying the Grand General’s swordsmanship.

The Grand General himself appeared from behind and kicked the Sun Demonic Spirit while pulling his sword out in the process.

Shhhk!

Crash!

The old general who was now missing one arm stood panting in the pouring rain.

He shook his sword amidst the pouring rain.

The severed surface of his arm was covered in burn marks. He had grabbed a torch from beneath the eaves of the garrison and seared his own arm.

“Your opponent is me!”

It was a wonder how he could even stand.

Even without that, his body was already insignificant and haggard compared to his prime, and losing an arm made him feel as though half his body had been cleaved away.

Yet despite this, an inexplicable aura emanated from him as he held his sword aloft with his remaining arm.

A warrior of Cheongdo Palace never showed their back to the enemy.

As if to prove this, he lowered his long sword and stared at the Sun Demonic Spirit with cold eyes.

The majesty of one who stood at the pinnacle of the Cheongdo Palace warriors did not easily fade away, even as age and time took their toll on him.

When Grand General Seong Sa Wook shouted, his voice rippled through the rain-soaked air.

Clang! Whoooosh! Whoooosh!

Clang!

In this central courtyard, where all the authority of the vast Cheongdo empire was concentrated, stood the great palace.

On the broad stone floor, Seong Sa Wook’s movements as he deflected the demonic spirit’s blade were nothing short of acrobatic.

He could not win through brute strength alone. His opponent was faster, and their sword was just as powerful.

How could one hope to defeat such a monster?

But Grand General Seong Sa Wook possessed something the demonic spirit lacked—experience.

He moved quickly and exploited the gaps between the demonic spirit’s blows as if he could foresee the future.

But Seong Sa Wook knew deep down.

He could not slay this Sun Demonic Spirit.

He had no resentment toward his aging body. He was not one to complain about his circumstances.

But if he couldn’t strike the demonic spirit down, he would at least try to buy some time.

Whoooosh!

That was when it happened.

A huge cloud of smoke rose from the middle of the courtyard.

Normally, in a torrential downpour like this, a smoke screen would be of little use but this one, strangely enough, remained unaffected by the wind and rain.

The thick smoke began to envelop the entire palace.

Even the horde of lower demonic spirits advancing with the Sun Demonic Spirit lost their way inside the smoke. No matter how formidable the dead might be, they could do nothing if they couldn’t find their bearings.

It was a display of advanced Taoist techniques.

Rather than merely releasing smoke, a spell had been cast to obscure their vision.

Thwack!

The one who broke through the smoke screen and landed at the bottom of the courtyard was White Taoist An Cheon.

This young Taoist master, who wandered the sacred mountains of the country to perfect his Taoist arts, was Seol Ran’s longtime ally and a hero destined to rise in times of chaos.

His white hair glowed as if lit from inside. It shone brightly in the darkness of the night.

Despite his broad shoulders and sturdy frame which inspired confidence, his expression had grown grave.

He was always the epitome of calm but even An Cheon couldn’t help but swallow nervously in the presence of Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang.

“Over here! Let’s head to where Maid Seol is!”

Amidst the chaos, Wang Han’s voice rang out from beyond the smoke.

He was leading a group of five maids and riding out of the courtyard. The maids following closely behind him belonged to the Crown Prince’s Palace and were under Seol Ran’s command.

The Sun Demonic Spirit’s gaze shifted in their direction.

The Sun Demonic Spirit’s goal was….to kill those who interfered with the rise of the Plague Demonic Spirit.

Seol Ran was one of the foremost among them.

Wang Han who was dashing through the storm with the maids in tow looked as though he was gathering up Seol Ran’s scattered followers and leading them to safety.

Whooosh!

The Sun Demonic Spirit leaped high and began to chase after Wang Han.

Their intention was to head outside of Cheongdo Palace. Wang Han gritted his teeth and rode his horse with the maids through the rain.

Although Seol Ran had told him to bring Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang to where she was, Wang Han had no intention of doing so.

His plan was simple. As long as he could lure Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang as far away from Cheongdo Palace as possible, Seol Tae Pyeong would have enough time to reach the main palace.

There was no need to risk Seol Ran’s life in the process.

Seol Ran who was driven by her strong sense of justice acted as if she was willing to risk her life to lure away the Sun Demonic Spirit herself, but when he thought about it, there was no real reason to force her to do so.

If Seol Ran was the target, wouldn’t it be wiser to keep her far away from it?

It pained him to accept that his own life was on the line, but he was willing to take that gamble.

Expecting to win without putting anything at stake was a thief’s mindset.

Wang Han who had spent years wandering gambling dens knew this well.

If you want to win big, you have to bet big. Unfortunately, the biggest stake he could offer was his own life.

Clop, clop,

“Be careful not to fall behind! We can’t afford the luxury of slowing down!”

The faces of the maids riding behind Wang Han were filled with fear.

It was impressive that these maids, who were four or five years younger than him, could handle their horses so skillfully, especially since a monstrous creature was pursuing them with killing intent

Though I feel sorry for Maid Seol… risking the lives of five maids and one scribe is better than risking the life of a special attendant maid of the Crown Prince’s Palace as well…!

Wang Han’s face took on a resolute expression as he charged through the rain.

He was quick-witted.

He knew exactly where he needed to go.

It was the Hwalseong District.

***

“Huff… huff…”

Seong Sa Wook who was battered and bruised leaned on his sword for support as he gasped for breath.

Every raindrop that struck his body brought intense pain; he was in a state of utter exhaustion.

“We must… stop it…”

There were few in Cheongdo Palace who could properly stand against Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang.

If they mobilize all the general-level officials, that might hinder its path, but that would only lead to exponentially more casualties as the demonic spirits rampaged through the palace.

The generals who were scattered here and there in each palace to stop the demonic spirits needed to stay where they were.

Seong Sa Wook was likely the only one who could stand against Pyeong Ryang alone.

Though he was now in a dire state, he needed to quickly recover his strength and resume the pursuit of the Sun Demonic Spirit.

The sudden appearance of a young man had briefly diverted the Sun Demonic Spirit’s attention and gave Seong Sa Wook a moment to catch his breath.

In any case, once his strength returned, he would have to face Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang again.

As Seong Sa Wook pushed himself with his sword using his trembling hands and got up, White Taoist An Cheon landed in front of him.

“General Seong, you must first recover. You’ve lost too much blood.”

“The bleeding has stopped. Where is that young man taking the monster?”

His voice was rough as if he might collapse at any moment, but his fighting spirit remained the same.

***

– Kueeeeeek!

– Kaaaaaaaak!

There wasn’t a single place in the imperial palace that wasn’t in chaos due to the lower demonic spirits rising everywhere.

Especially at the Crown Prince’s Palace which was situated on the outer edge of the vast garden, the chaos was even more intense.

While the people stationed in other areas where the buildings were clustered together could join forces and hold out, it was a completely different story at the Crown Prince’s Palace.

In the vast garden, all the demonic spirits that had risen naturally converged on the Crown Prince’s Palace.

It was inevitable that an overwhelming number of demonic spirits would gather there.

“Damn it! Get inside! Protect His Highness the Crown Prince no matter what!”

Thwack! Thud!

The guards defending the Crown Prince’s Palace gritted their teeth as they slashed at the demonic spirits.

However, they were all reaching their limits. The blood of the demonic spirits gradually clouded their minds.

Fortunately, the pouring rain made it easier to wash away the demonic spirits’ blood.

But the accumulated damage wasn’t something that could be completely erased just by rinsing off the blood.

The number of lower demonic spirits that had descended here was significantly higher than in other places.

It was inevitable. The Crown Prince’s palace was located in a remote area after all.

“At this rate, they’ll break through…!”

It was at that moment when the guards continued to grit their teeth and cut down the demonic spirits.

Clop,, clop!

The guards who were slashing through the swarming lower demonic spirits couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw a figure approaching from afar.

Every building in Cheongdo Palace was under siege, so wandering outside was sheer madness.

Yet, they saw a girl on horseback cutting through the rain as she rode through the midst of the demonic spirits.

No matter how sluggish the lower demonic spirits might be, riding a horse through them was pure insanity.

If she made even the slightest mistake and her foot got caught, she would fall and meet a pointless death.

However, there wasn’t the slightest hesitation in the girl’s face as she gripped the reins and charged through the rain.

She had torn the hem of her skirt herself since it hindered her riding, and had tied up the sleeves of her robe to keep them out of the way.

Others might not realize it when she was dressed up as a special attendant maid, but she was a strong and determined woman.

Watching her skillfully weave through the demonic spirits with her eyes wide open, one would think she was an expert rider.

Was there anything she couldn’t do? As it was repeatedly said, being the heroine of a romance fantasy novel isn’t something just anyone can do.

She had casually leaped over walls, disregarded the palace rules, and dashed out of the inner palace. From the beginning, she wasn’t someone who could be controlled.

Seol Ran, who arrived in front of the Crown Prince’s palace in such a flashy manner, quickly dropped the reins and landed.

Her manner was almost on par with that of a man of great valor.

Thud!

Swoosh!

“Ahhhh!”

Crash!

However, the moment she landed, her foot slipped in the mud and she tumbled to the ground.

“…….”

Though her entrance had been impressive, her finish was rather clumsy.

Seol Ran swallowed the tears that welled up from the impact, picked herself up, and spoke to the captain of the Crown Prince’s guards.

“I am the special attendant maid Seol Ran! Is His Highness the Crown Prince safe?”

“Th-The special attendant maid…! Did you bring a horse all the way here from Peaceful Moon Pavilion?! In, in this situation?”

“I tend to be strong in a crisis!”

Was that really something she should be saying?

The captain of the guards opened his mouth in disbelief at the sight of the girl speaking confidently in the wind and rain.

He was about to scold her for doing something so reckless when she should be safely holed up in the Peaceful Moon Pavilion, but he realized now wasn’t the time for that.

“The Crown Prince is currently in the underground wine cellar of the Crown Prince’s Palace! It’s a shabby place, but it’s the deepest and safest location!”

“Understood! I will escort His Highness and inspect the interior of the Crown Prince’s Palace!”

The girl’s hands were covered in scratches from rolling on the ground, but she paid them no mind and dashed into the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Inside the Crown Prince’s Palace, the maids were huddled together and trembling in fear.

If the military officers outside failed to hold off the demonic spirits, the maids were prepared to sacrifice themselves to block them.

The sight of the maids praying fervently for the safety of the officers as they offered their prayers to the Emperor of Heaven was desperate and earnest.

When Seol Ran who was soaked from the rain entered the Crown Prince’s Palace, the maids were startled and immediately asked about her well-being.

“Everyone, stay where you are!”

With that, Seol Ran ran toward the kitchen in the back.

The entrance to the kitchen was blocked by all sorts of clutter. She climbed over it, broke through the window, and successfully made her way inside.

In the grand kitchen, she ran further in, past the hearth, and saw a door leading underground next to a woodpile.

She kicked open the wooden door and quickly descended. She then squeezed her small body through a narrow space between the stacked barricades before flinging open the floor door that led to the wine cellar.

Crash!

“Kyaa!”

It was so dark, and her entire body was drenched. This caused her to slip.

As she stirred up dust and reached the innermost part of the wine cellar, she saw Crown Prince Hyeon Won accompanied by two elite guards.

Amidst the swirling dust, the figure of the Crown Prince’s special attendant maid emerged.

Crown Prince Hyeon Won who had been huddled in a dusty corner of the wine cellar widened his eyes in surprise at Seol Ran’s sudden arrival.

Her arms were covered in scratches, she was covered in dust, and she looked like a drowned rat.

She appeared so utterly exhausted that it wouldn’t have been surprising if she had collapsed on the spot.

However, as if it didn’t matter at all, Seol Ran smiled brightly and said,

“I’m glad to see that you’re safe, Your Highness!”

At a time when the world was overrun by demonic spirits, even the most elite soldiers were filled with fear.

Why was the news of the Crown Prince’s safety such a relief for her…

However, Seol Ran stood up firmly, blocked the entrance, and spoke loudly.

“Have you heard about the situation outside?”

When Seol Ran asked this, Crown Prince Hyeon Won responded in that familiar, lifeless voice.

“They said a giant demonic spirit appeared….and destroyed the Red Palace. That’s all I know.”

“It’s a giant special demonic spirit called ‘Sun Demonic Spirit’. Its target is likely… me.”

“…What?”

Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun, Sword Master Seol Tae Pyeong, and Senior Maid Seol Ran.

These were the three people that the monster sought to kill. If one of them, like herself, stayed in the Crown Prince’s Palace, the Sun Demonic Spirit might eventually come here directly.

For now, Wang Han was buying them time, so she needed to finish what she had to do quickly and leave again.

“As Your Highness’s special maid, I had to make sure you were safe and well-protected. However, if I stay here now, I’ll only put Your Highness in danger.”

Seol Ran bowed deeply and said,

“I will lure the lower demonic spirits and Sun Demonic Spirit away from the Cheongdo Palace.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? More importantly, why would such a powerful monster be after a mere maid?”

“I promise I’ll explain everything in detail once the situation is resolved. But for now, the situation is urgent, so please have the guards keep watch outside. When the strength of the demonic spirit horde weakens, ride with the guards and head to the main palace.”

“…….”

“There is a main force led by General Seong Sa Wook on the side of the main palace. This place that is so close to the imperial palace is too dangerous. You must make a quick decision before the guards outside get breached.”

Even though she just resolved herself to face death, Seol Ran’s expression lacked any solemnity.

Instead, she carried an air of someone simply doing what must be done.

“You must survive, Your Highness.”

With that, Seol Ran offered her bow, then swiftly turned and climbed the ladder back up to the kitchen.

“Wait!”

“I’m sorry! Time is running out!”

Ignoring the Crown Prince’s command without hesitation, Seol Ran’s determined figure charged out. She was ready to sacrifice herself.

***

The general-level officers quickly deployed available soldiers throughout the palace to subdue the demonic spirits.

Buildings close to the main palace soon received military support to ensure their safety. Gradually, the palace’s internal system began to stabilize, and the leadership began to function properly.

However, this only applied to the area around the main palace.

Cheongdo Palace was far larger than any ordinary village. It would take far too long to eliminate all the demonic spirits inside.

The Red Palace on the west has already fallen to the demonic spirits. It already felt like a breeding ground for demonic spirits.

The main palace in the center, the inner palace in the north, the officials’ palace in the east, and the southern Guardian Spirit Palace were somehow holding out under the leadership of the dispatched general-level officers, but… the number of demonic spirits seemed endless, the relentless storm showed no signs of stopping, and worst of all, the Sun Demonic Spirit at the center remained unscathed.

Clop! Clop! Clop!

Wang Han gritted his teeth as he led the horses with the maids toward the Hwalseong District.

Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang deliberately kept its distance. It intended to allow Wang Han to reach the place where Seol Ran was.

Even as a demonic spirit, it was using its head, and that fact was truly terrifying.

With sheer physical strength alone, it surpassed the vice general in his prime, yet it commanded these countless demonic spirits as if they were an army and even assessed the situation to move strategically. It was frightening to realize that such a demonic spirit existed in the world.

As Wang Han charged forward wildly, a sense of intuition gradually dawned on him.

He would soon realize that he was merely a diversion meant to draw the Sun Demonic Spirit’s attention.

If only he could make it outside the palace, he could significantly reduce the damage.

Gritting his teeth and gripping the reins, Wang Han somehow steadied his trembling hands.

At the very least… he needed to get outside the southern Great Star Gate.

If even that was not possible, he had to make it at least as far as the Truth Insight Terrace, which was used as a garrison for soldiers.

That place was likely already filled with demonic spirits, but at least it would have soldiers capable of fighting.

Even if it wasn’t the main palace, drawing the Sun Demonic Spirit out onto the battlefield would be good enough.

I’m scared… Is this the fear of death?

His knees went weak at the sight of the Sun Demonic Spirit glaring at him and chasing him.

Wang Han was an official who used his head, not his body. He desperately wanted to avoid this kind of situation, but with things as they were, he had no choice.

“Kyah!”

At that moment, one of the maids following behind Wang Han fell off her horse.

It was an extremely tense situation.

With the wind and rain raging like a typhoon and demonic spirits filling every direction, there was no one who wasn’t nervous.

That maid was no exception; she trembled like a leaf until she finally fell under her horse.

Crash! Splat!

If a frail maid fell beneath a horse running at full speed, it wouldn’t be surprising if she died instantly.

By some incredible luck, the maid who had fallen managed to cough and steady herself somehow.

However, she couldn’t stand up. Perhaps she had broken a bone, as she writhed in pain.

“…….!”

Wang Han stopped his horse for a moment and looked back.

His instincts screamed at him.

He had to leave her behind.

In an extreme situation like this, being left behind meant death. No matter how valuable the maid was, since she had been personally assigned by Seol Ran herself, trying to save her now would only mean that they would all die.

But he couldn’t help it; his body and mind didn’t align.

Even the brilliant Wang Han made foolish choices sometimes.

That was the nature of being human.

“Damn it!”

Wang Han quickly turned his horse around and charged toward the maid, whose eyes were wide with fear.

In the pouring rain, he jumped off his horse and lifted her onto his back.

The maid screamed in pain from her injuries, but there was no time to worry about that.

He struggled to climb back onto the horse as the rain pelted down on them.

Slash!

The horse’s neck was severed.

No, saying the neck was completely blown off would be more accurate.

Even though Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang’s sword was very sharp, its sheer strength alone obliterated the creature’s form.

It wasn’t just cut; it was as if it had been swept away and erased.

When Wang Han looked up, the Sun Demonic Spirit was breathing in and out right in front of his nose.

When Wang Han saw the furious look in the Sun Demonic Spirit’s eyes, he realized that the demonic spirit had noticed it had been deceived.

“I swear… I’m not going to survive this…”

It was the moment Wang Han tightly shut his eyes,

Clang!

Just as the Sun Demonic Spirit’s sword was about to swing down, someone suddenly appeared and deflected the blade by striking it upwards.

The sheer strength needed to parry that huge sword, which seemed to weigh several hundred pounds, was nothing short of extraordinary.

Wang Han’s eyes widened in shock.

It was Jang Rae, the warrior commander of the Red Palace. He stood there in the rain, right in front of him.

The valiant warrior commander had just managed to knock the Sun Demonic Spirit’s sword away with a powerful upward slash.

“Grr!”

However, his expression was far from good.

Though he had successfully deflected the sword with a single upward strike, the impact had sent a jolt through his arm and he felt as if it were about to break.

He hadn’t even deflected a fully swung sword; just parrying the stationary one had caused this much shock.

“Raaaargh!”

The Sun Demonic Spirit roared and swung its sword once more.

With a quick kick, Jang Rae sent Wang Han flying far away, then lowered his stance to avoid the Sun Demonic Spirit’s blade.

However, even the aftermath of the Sun Demonic Spirit’s swing was enough to sweep Jang Rae off his feet and send him sprawling.

“Urgh!”

The Sun Demonic Spirit then adjusted its grip on the sword. It got ready to strike down the fallen Jang Rae.

──And then, the Sun Demonic Spirit’s head was cut off.

The cut surface froze instantly.

Thud!

Wang Han who was still on the ground gaped in shock as he watched the Sun Demonic Spirit’s severed head fall to the ground in the pouring rain.

And just beyond, he caught a glimpse of Seol Tae Pyeong sheathing his sword and standing where the Sun Demonic Spirit’s head had been.

Judging by the fact that he was floating in mid-air, he must have leaped a great distance.

In the brief moment that the monster’s attention was drawn to Jang Rae, Seol Tae Pyeong leaped up, used the Sun Demonic Spirit’s back as a foothold, and severed its head with a single strike.

Sword Master Seol Tae Pyeong.

His swift swordsmanship was nothing short of extraordinary.

Whack!

Thud!

However, even without its head, the Sun Demonic Spirit’s body swung its fist and struck Seol Tae Pyeong.

There was no way for him to dodge such an attack while he was suspended in mid-air.

“Urgh!”

Crash!

Seol Tae Pyeong was sent flying by the Sun Demonic Spirit’s punch and crashed into the wall of a nearby building.

Crack!

Boom! Thud!

The building collapsed, burying Seol Tae Pyeong beneath the debris.

A cloud of dust rose as rubble poured down.

“This is crazy!”

Wang Han quickly regained his composure, stood up, and tended to the maid.

If they stayed still, they would die. He didn’t know what kind of monster it was, but that creature kept moving even after its head was severed.

The Sun Demonic Spirit’s head that was lying on the ground dissolved into smoke and dispersed.

Then… the headless body began to regenerate its head.

As if it had never been severed in the first place.

A true monster.

How were they supposed to kill something like that?

After cursing under his breath, Wang Han hoisted the maid onto his back and checked on Jang Rae.

Jang Rae barely managed to get up again and held his sword. He seemed to have realized it intuitively as well.

That the Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang was a monster beyond his level.

Yet, just like the other warriors of the Red Palace, he refused to turn his back.

The rain intensified and limited even the visibility ahead. At the edge of his sight, Jang Rae caught glimpses of the Sun Demonic Spirit’s eyes glinting with killing intent.

The Sun Demonic Spirit gripped its sword once more and lowered its stance.

With a single leap and a single strike, Jang Rae’s life would be gone in an instant.

No one, not even the warriors of the Red Palace, could easily parry the Sun Demonic Spirit’s sword, which was too fast for the eye to follow.

Jang Rae clenched his teeth and tightened his grip on his sword.

He knew he couldn’t block it; doing so would turn him into minced meat.

He couldn’t deflect it either; a mere touch of the force would shatter his bones.

He had to evade it. But how could he dodge a strike he couldn’t even see?

Just as Jang Rae gritted his teeth hard enough to break them and focused every nerve on his eyes…

Crack!

Thud!

There was another who moved too fast for the eye to see.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl.

When Jang Rae snapped back to his senses, Seol Tae Pyeong had already leaped from the building’s debris and landed in front of the Sun Demonic Spirit while gripping his sword sheath.

Even in the rain, the way his clothes fluttered made him appear like a butterfly landing on a blade of grass.

But that feeling of time standing still lasted only a moment.

Seol Tae Pyeong drew his Cold Iron Heavy Sword and struck the Sun Demonic Spirit’s blade upward.

The impact was nothing like when Jang Rae had tried to deflect it.

The sword that had seemed about to descend on him flew upward with a powerful clang.

Clang!

Whoosh!

The impact of that single clash sent ripples through the rain and caused the surrounding raindrops to tremble.

Under the Sun Demonic Spirit’s gaze, Seol Tae Pyeong gripped his sword tightly. A ghostly energy now flickered in his eyes as well.

Blood streamed down his head, and his clothes were caked with dirt.

But even in the pouring rain, the coldness in his eyes was unwavering.

The chill that ran along his sword seemed to emanate from his very being.

There was actually more than one monster in this Cheongdo Palace where endless lightning and storms raged.

As if to prove that fact, Seol Tae Pyeong’s sword flew toward the Sun Demonic Spirit once more.