The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life

Chapter 69: The Depths are Truly Different

Inside the wooden barricade stood a total of four buildings.

Each was a rather large two-story structure. Suddenly, the doors of all four buildings flung open, and people began pouring out.

Altogether, there were about forty of them.

It seemed that each building had produced ten people.

However, they were all actual humans—there were no reanimated corpses among them.

“They really aren’t handing over the elixir, huh,” Byeok Taesan muttered quietly as he scanned the people coming out.

Their strength was fairly uniform. About half of them were significantly weaker than Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon, while the other half were roughly comparable to the two.

None of them appeared to be true masters.

It seemed the real experts had yet to reveal themselves.

“Who do you think you are? Do you even realize where you’re standing?!”

A voice bellowed from the crowd.

Byeok Taesan paid no attention to the voice. Instead, he casually turned his head to glance at the hole in the barricade they had entered through.

Baek Li Jangcheon peeked his head slightly inside, surveying the area.

Their eyes met.

Caught in the act, Baek Li Jangcheon awkwardly withdrew his head and cleared his throat, stepping inside.

“Ahem. Ahem. Well… I happened to pass by and noticed it. There seem to be quite a few of them here. Looks like I’ll have to lend a hand,” Baek Li Jangcheon mumbled something, unclear whether to himself or to someone else, before quietly moving to stand beside Yeon Harin.

“Senior, we’re grateful for your assistance,” Yeon Harin said with a smile.

Baek Li Jangcheon beamed and nodded in satisfaction.

“I’ll gladly accept your thanks. But when someone offers help, they should make sure it’s worth the gratitude.”

With that, Baek Li Jangcheon stepped forward with firm strides.

“I know you attacked our Hubei Martial Alliance. Surrender quietly, kneel, and I might just spare your lives.”

Despite his declaration, the enemies remained completely still.

Instead, a figure leaped down from the second floor of one of the nearby buildings.

It was a man dressed entirely in black, the same one who had engaged Baek Li Jangcheon during the earlier ambush.

“I didn’t expect you to chase us all the way here. You must’ve had a hard time cleaning up,” the man said as he scanned Baek Li Jangcheon’s group.

His gaze landed on Byeok Taesan, and his brow furrowed deeply.

“You brought that cursed bastard along too, huh.”

The situation elicited a deep sigh from Byeok Taesan.

“Sigh… What on earth are they trying to pull? Even after I gave them ample time to escape, they’re still not running.”

After saying this, Byeok Taesan looked around at his companions.

“For now, just hold the line.”

Everyone gave him puzzled looks, trying to decipher what he meant by that.

Byeok Taesan glanced at Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon before adding, “I’m going to observe how you handle yourselves. I’m seriously considering whether I need to adjust the intensity of your training.”

“We’ll endure no matter what!” Cheon Kyungwan declared.

“No one can break through us or take us down!” Yoo Seoyeon added resolutely.

The moment the two spoke, Byeok Taesan’s figure vanished from where he stood.

Startled, everyone looked around frantically, but there was no sign of him anywhere.

At that moment, Baek Li Jangcheon lunged at the black-clad expert who had appeared last, aiming to prevent him from issuing commands.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The clash of swords between Baek Li Jangcheon and the black-clad man reverberated, releasing waves of energy in all directions.

That was the signal. The forty fighters behind the black-clad man rushed forward in unison.

“Uwaaa!”

Cheon Kyungwan let out a near-roar, swinging his sword with ferocious momentum.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The charging enemies were sent flying in all directions. It wasn’t just a clash of swords; his attacks carried a dangerous force that inflicted damage upon impact.

“Haaap!”

Yoo Seoyeon, not wanting to be outdone, let out a spirited cry as she swung her sword.

Her strikes were also imbued with the same lethal energy as Cheon Kyungwan’s, bursting forth as she attacked.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

An enemy who clashed with her blade was immediately thrown back.

But there were simply too many of them.

As enemies swarmed forward, Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon’s swords moved in a coordinated, net-like fashion, leaving no gaps.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two focused on defense, holding their ground against the attackers.

The task of launching counterattacks fell to others. Amid the cover provided by the duo, the Needle Master pulled out a handful of needles.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The needles shot through openings, piercing enemies’ bodies with deadly precision.

Each time, another enemy would collapse without fail.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Divine Healer and Yeon Harin also began moving. Both were skilled fighters in their own right.

The Owner of the Golden Jade Pavilion and the Hao Clan guide assisted sporadically, waiting for clear openings to strike effectively.

For now, the situation seemed manageable. Not only were they holding the line, but it also appeared they might even defeat the enemies entirely if this pace continued.

But as always, things rarely go as planned.

From the second floor of a distant building, another figure leaped down.

The individual emanated an unmistakable, powerful presence.

He was also clad in black, but unlike the previous man, this one carried a long spear.

He charged forward, thrusting his spear.

Shraaak!

A sharp sound cut through the air as a deadly force extended outward.

Boom!

Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon swung their swords simultaneously to block the attack, managing to deflect most of the force but still being pushed back several steps.

Regaining their footing almost instantly, they resumed their defensive stances.

But in that brief moment, the spear-wielding man had already closed the distance.

His spear spun menacingly as he launched a barrage of attacks at the two.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon gritted their teeth as they blocked the spear strikes.

This was clearly a master-level fighter.

He was so strong that the two of them struggled to hold him off. It seemed he was even more formidable than the opponent Baek Li Jangcheon was currently facing.

If it weren’t for the occasional needles from the Needle Master disrupting the spear-wielder’s rhythm, the two might have already been overwhelmed.

Still, they were barely managing to hold on.

The problem lay in the gaps created by their struggle. The remaining enemies had yet to be fully dealt with.

The task of handling these attackers fell to the Heavenly Divine Healer and Yeon Harin.

The Owner of the Golden Jade Pavilion and the Hao Clan guide provided assistance where they could, but it was a difficult fight.

The battle was slipping into a stalemate.

It had become a relentless test of endurance, forcing them to persevere while depleting their stamina.

The situation was treacherous, akin to treading on thin ice, yet they somehow managed to hold on.

Yeon Harin suddenly recalled the four buildings within the barricade.

Two experts had already appeared from two of the buildings.

What if there was one expert in each of the remaining two buildings as well?

Shaking off her thoughts, Yeon Harin tightened her grip on her sword and continued fighting.

Now wasn’t the time to be distracted. All she could do was grit her teeth and hold on.

Meanwhile, Byeok Taesan had separated from the group because it was obvious the enemies would attempt to hide the semi-reanimated corpses.

It wasn’t just an ordinary elixir for him—it was something special, even if he hadn’t fully confirmed it yet. He couldn’t let it slip away.

He had already determined where the majority of the elixirs were stored.

He had also confirmed that each stash was guarded by a capable individual.

Byeok Taesan made his way to the farthest building.

The elixirs were divided between this building and another nearby. Each location had a skilled guard.

The moment he entered the building, he activated the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art.

The semi-reanimated corpses were gathered on the first floor.

They were tightly packed together in one corner, taking up little space despite their large numbers.

As Byeok Taesan stepped into the first floor and took three steps forward, the semi-reanimated corpses collapsed en masse.

The building became saturated with energy.

“Impressive,” Byeok Taesan murmured. It was beyond his expectations.

It wasn’t just ordinary energy—it was properly refined energy. Of course, not all of it was suited for Byeok Taesan, but even so, it was far more than the energy he had obtained after defeating the semi-reanimated corpses with the bandits earlier.

“Damn it. I’m late.”

As soon as the semi-reanimated corpses collapsed, a man leapt down from the second floor.

He was holding a massive blade in his hand, glaring alternately between the fallen semi-reanimated corpses and Byeok Taesan, grinding his teeth.

“You’ll pay for this with your life.”

Byeok Taesan, unconcerned by the man’s words, swiftly left the building.

The man hurriedly pursued him.

However, by the time he exited the building, Byeok Taesan was already standing near another building.

Surrounded by the bodies of fallen semi-reanimated corpses.

A martial expert from that building had been trying to take the semi-reanimated corpses elsewhere but ended up running into Byeok Taesan instead.

Once again, Byeok Taesan absorbed some refined energy.

A satisfied smile lingered on his lips.

Soon, two men dressed in black appeared, one standing in front of Byeok Taesan and the other behind him.

One held a massive blade, while the other wielded a pair of short spears in both hands.

“Who the hell are you to interfere with our business like this?”

The man with the massive blade gritted his teeth and asked.

Byeok Taesan closed his eyes as if he had no intention of answering.

“This elixir… has a different depth.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Byeok Taesan abruptly opened his eyes and stared silently at the man who had just shouted.

The cold glint in Byeok Taesan’s gaze made the man shudder.

‘What kind of monster is this?’

He had just felt fear, unmistakably. Though he quickly shook it off, how many people in the world could evoke such terror with just a single look?

The man clenched his teeth. He couldn’t afford to lose his composure here. He launched himself forward, pushing off the ground.

Simultaneously, the man behind Byeok Taesan gripped his spears tightly and charged.

The two had extensive experience with joint attacks.

At the perfect moment, the massive blade slashed downward, and the spear stabbed forward.

It was a meticulously calculated attack, leaving no room to evade.

There was no other choice but to block it.

At least, that was what they thought—until now.

Byeok Taesan’s eyes gleamed.

“Not bad.”

With those words, he twisted his body at an angle.

The massive blade grazed past his face.

At that moment, the spear aimed for Byeok Taesan’s shoulder. Since it was within his expectations, there was no hesitation in the attackers’ movements.

Byeok Taesan turned his body further, twisting his upper body to an extreme degree.

The twist caused the spear to slide harmlessly past him.

But there were two spears. As if anticipating this, the second spear shot toward Byeok Taesan’s thigh.

In that instant, Byeok Taesan’s thigh seemed to vanish.

No, that’s how it appeared to the man with the spear.

Byeok Taesan had raised his leg high and swung it powerfully, using the momentum from his twisting motion to deliver a devastating strike.

Thwack!

Byeok Taesan’s foot slammed into the temple of the man with the spear.

Continuing the rotational motion, Byeok Taesan extended his swinging leg backward.

Crunch!

His heel dug into the chest of the man wielding the massive blade.

Crash!

Both men were sent flying and tumbled across the ground.

The man holding the spears spat out foam mixed with blood before losing consciousness.

The man with the massive blade, on the other hand, collapsed against a shattered wall, blood spilling from his mouth.

“Cough!”

He slowly lifted his head to look at Byeok Taesan. His eyes flickered with disbelief.

“You… What are you…?”

What kind of being could incapacitate him and his sworn brother in a single move?

Byeok Taesan remained composed.

His expression hadn’t changed from beginning to end, except for the moments when he absorbed energy.

“Well, at least I kept one alive. I really need to control my emotions better. Losing control just because I got a bit excited… How embarrassing.”

With a calm expression, Byeok Taesan muttered this to himself, shaking his head.

The man stared blankly at Byeok Taesan before suddenly bursting into laughter.

“Heh… Seems like I stepped into the wrong place, brother.”

With those words, the man attempted to take his own life.

But he couldn’t.

Before he could do anything, Byeok Taesan had closed the distance and struck the man’s pressure points at both his chest and stomach with the tip of his foot.

With a single stomp, two pressure points were sealed simultaneously.

The man’s eyes filled with panic.

Byeok Taesan ignored him and turned away, walking toward where his group was still engaged in a fierce battle.

It was the limit. No, they had surpassed their limit. From this point onward, it was purely a matter of willpower.

The only fortunate thing was that Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon possessed extraordinary mental fortitude.

Both of them had undergone rigorous training, to the point where their limbs were nearly torn apart. They had lived through injuries that brought them to the brink of death.

Coming so close to death repeatedly could damage one’s mind, but overcoming that resulted in substantial growth in mental strength.

Having endured such training, it was only natural that their willpower was exceptional.

They knew that giving up would only bring greater suffering. The concept of surrender didn’t exist in their minds.

But even their immense willpower was beginning to falter.

Their bodies were breaking down. They had lost far too much blood.

They had no time to rest or recover, and the accumulated damage was taking its toll.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if either of them collapsed at any moment.

And if Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon fell, there was no need to elaborate on the fate of the others.

Despite this, the spear-wielding man who attacked them remained as strong as ever.

He didn’t rush.

He methodically and calmly attacked, almost annoyingly so. He knew as well as they did that their collapse would signal the end of this battle.

Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon’s eyes began to lose focus.

As their minds started to waver, a voice seeped into their ears.

“Your training is still lacking.”

It was an unbelievable phenomenon.

Their collapsing spirits steadied. Strength they didn’t know they had surged from deep within their cores, racing through their Qi pathways.

A powerful slash was unleashed.

The spear-wielding man was startled and hurriedly swung his weapon.

Boom!

While the attack surprised him, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide of the battle.

The man quickly regained his composure and thrust his spear again.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Just as the spear was about to pierce through Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon, their bodies were abruptly yanked backward. Or rather, it seemed as though they were flying through the air.

Byeok Taesan appeared behind them, grabbed the backs of their necks, and tossed them aside.

Even amidst this, Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon forced their bodies to land precisely instead of rolling across the ground.

They let out sighs of relief.

Had they fallen over, their future training would have been unimaginably grueling.

They watched as Byeok Taesan strode toward the spear-wielding man.

They didn’t need to see what happened next to know the outcome.

The spear brushed past Byeok Taesan’s side, and Byeok Taesan lightly struck the man’s solar plexus with his hand.

The man flew backward, vomiting blood, while the remaining enemies were swiftly dealt with by the Needle Master, the Heavenly Divine Healer, and Yeon Harin. The situation was resolved in an instant.

Now, the only battle left was the one between Baek Li Jangcheon and the remaining enemy.

Byeok Taesan stood silently, observing their fight.