Chapter 158

“More nonsense from your mouth!”

The clash of plum blossom and purple magical energy distorted the space once again.

Within the collision of plum blossoms and magical energy, Yeopyeonggang’s fist and Dohwa’s sword crossed.

Amidst the fierce battle of wits within the mixed plum blossoms and magical energy, both Yeopyeonggang and Dohwa were simultaneously repelled.

A streak of blood splattered across Yeopyeonggang’s face.

Meanwhile, Dohwa was gushing blood.

Yeopyeonggang, living up to his title as the “Heavenly Slaughter Emperor,” had reached a higher realm than Dohwa.

Yeopyeonggang relentlessly pressed Dohwa.

With each strike, Dohwa’s wounds increased.

At that moment, a crushing sound echoed as bones shattered, and Dohwa nearly lost consciousness but barely held on.

Dohwa, barely standing, exhaled deeply.

It felt like death was imminent.

But Dohwa couldn’t fall here.

She had insisted to Cheon Hong-ryun that she would resolve this matter.

She didn’t want her sister to suffer any longer because of the Murim.

The Murim must end within the Murim.

Dohwa’s plum blossom-colored eyes shone brightly.

Once again, plum blossom petals began to scatter.

“Persistent, aren’t you?”

Yeopyeonggang cracked his neck.

Dohwa seemed determined to fight to the death, taking more time than expected.

At this rate, Cheon Hong-ryun would escape.

Yeopyeonggang, annoyed, clenched his fist again.

The anxiety built up due to Cheon Hong-ryun’s presence urged him to end this fight quickly.

“If you wish to die so badly.”

It would be only right to grant that wish.

At that moment, not purple but pitch-black magical energy surged from Yeopyeonggang’s grasp.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the black magical energy transformed into dark flames.

The burning black flames resembled the fires of hell.

“This martial art was honed to burn Cheon Hong-ryun’s camellias.”

Seeing the black flames, Dohwa swallowed hard.

The plum blossoms around her couldn’t withstand the black flames and began to burn.

“It’s a waste to use this on the likes of you, but let’s see how you handle it.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yeopyeonggang charged forward, engulfed in the black flames.

Like a runaway train, black flames roared behind him.

Facing him, Dohwa inhaled deeply, focusing on a single plum blossom at the tip of her sword.

“You said you would burn the camellias with those flames.”

Dohwa spoke softly, aiming her sword at the burning flames.

Indeed, the black flames were threatening.

The intense black flames, capable of burning even her plum blossoms, were Yeopyeonggang’s trump card.

But Dohwa clearly sensed one thing he had overlooked.

Yeopyeonggang was in a state of extreme unease.

The massive wall that was Cheonma Cheon Hong-ryun had begun to weigh heavily on him once more.

The confidence that he might have surpassed her after years of growth was shattered the moment he faced her again.

The thought that he might not have the strength left to fight Cheon Hong-ryun if he used his full power now pressed heavily on him.

Dohwa didn’t miss this.

Facing Yeopyeonggang, who was wreathed in black flames, the plum blossom petals that had been white began to turn red.

The red of camellias replaced the plum blossoms.

Magical energy.

Dohwa, once a pure martial artist, began to emit turbid magical energy.

The ominous magical energy was thick and potent, enough to cover dozens of miles.

“You! How are you using magical energy?!”

“How many years do you think I spent in the Demon Sect after being sold by the Murim Alliance?”

Born as a martial artist of the Hwasan Sect.

But half of her life had to be spent in the Demon Sect.

Thus, she followed in Cheon Hong-ryun’s footsteps.

The martial art of blooming camellias with added magical energy was the pinnacle of power.

And in those footsteps, Dohwa learned to control magical energy, sealing it deep within her body.

Even knowing that using magical energy would clash with her martial energy, leading to internal conflict, Dohwa kept it within her for this day.

The explosively released magical energy consumed Dohwa’s martial energy, burning fiercely.

Even as blood poured from every wound, Dohwa momentarily reached the realm of Cheon Hong-ryun’s camellias.

Whoosh!

And the world began to be covered in camellias.

Even amidst the black flames, the ephemeral beauty of the camellias bloomed, scattering petals.

The black flames, meant to burn Cheon Hong-ryun’s camellias, couldn’t withstand Dohwa’s camellias.

The final spark of a martial artist’s life-and-death struggle was that fierce and terrifying.

Realizing this, Yeopyeonggang’s anger erupted even more.

Even as he tried to muster his full power, it was too late.

“You! You of all people!”

“Under the name of Cheonma, the blooming camellias will not burn in any flame.”

Dohwa’s eyes turned crimson.

Realizing how much they resembled Cheon Hong-ryun’s, Yeopyeonggang poured all his power into the black flames, but it was too late.

Yeopyeonggang’s fist and Dohwa’s sword crossed once more.

Crash! Boom!

Dohwa was sent flying by Yeopyeonggang’s punch, crashing through a wall and tumbling.

The black flames burning on his chest showed just how powerful Yeopyeonggang’s punch was.

Moreover, the price of using magical energy had left Dohwa’s insides a mess.

Yet, Dohwa felt no regret.

“Guh, guh.”

Because blood was pouring from Yeopyeonggang’s neck.

It meant that death had come for Yeopyeonggang.

The blood scattering in the wind resembled crimson camellia petals.

Seeing this, Dohwa swallowed quietly, and Yeopyeonggang’s eyes began to tremble.

With his vocal cords severed, he couldn’t even utter a sound.

“Heavenly Slaughter Emperor, this is your end.”

Yeopyeonggang’s eyes, filled with rage, turned crimson.

“Guh, guh.”

At that moment, Dohwa sensed something strange.

Yeopyeonggang’s body, which should have collapsed, began to swell.

Seeing this, Dohwa noticed a blood-red needle embedded in Yeopyeonggang’s arm.

“No way.”

Feeling the sinister magical energy from the needle, Dohwa realized what was happening.

Yeopyeonggang was using his death to summon the True Cheonma.

Though a distant bloodline, he was still one of Cheonma’s descendants.

Thus, he resorted to this final act of desperation.

Realizing this, Dohwa mustered her last strength to strike the ground.

Though her martial and magical energies were in chaos, she couldn’t allow the True Cheonma to descend.

“What are you doing?”

At that moment, Dohwa was yanked and nearly tumbled.

Cheon Hong-ryun had appeared, grabbing her collar.

“Tsk, using magical energy like this, no wonder you’re in this state. Your training is lacking.”

Clicking her tongue, Cheon Hong-ryun effortlessly guided Dohwa’s magical energy outward.

All magical energy moved freely under her control as the Cheonma.

Thanks to this, Dohwa felt her internal chaos gradually subsiding.

But now was not the time for this.

“Sister! The True Cheonma!”

“I know.”

How could she be so calm knowing this?

As Dohwa tried to speak, she felt a chilling sensation.

In the distance, an overwhelming aura exploded, one that even Dohwa found daunting.

“This is…”

“My husband.”

As Cheon Hong-ryun smiled, Dohwa realized Yeopyeonggang had disappeared.

At the same time, Dohwa saw it.

A red lightning bolt screaming across the sky outside the window.

Crash! Boom!

As the window shattered and the loud sound struck her ears, Yeopyeonggang witnessed all the clouds in the night sky vanish.

The overwhelming sight was something Dohwa had never seen in her life.

Staring blankly, a man and a girl walked in through the broken window.

It was none other than Ha-chan and Si-ho.

As Yeopyeonggang transformed into the True Cheonma, Si-ho’s spatial movement sent him into the sky, where Ha-chan’s full-powered Thunderbolt obliterated him.

Yeopyeonggang turned to ash and vanished into the sky.

His ambition to dominate the Murim was completely shattered by a game meetup.

“See? That’s the man who will be my husband.”

Cheon Hong-ryun said to Dohwa, who was staring blankly.

“Truly, you are my sister.”

Thinking how much she had struggled for something so simple, Dohwa finally realized she was completely free from the Murim.

“Dohwa!”

At that moment, Dohwa turned to another voice.

Running towards her were none other than Nae-ki and Ggotbi.

Nae-ki, looking quite disheveled, saw Dohwa and immediately ran to hug her.

“Are you okay?! What happened! You’re badly hurt!”

As Nae-ki frantically tried to treat Dohwa’s wounds, Dohwa let out a hollow laugh.

This was the first time a woman had worried so much about her.

And Dohwa had long thought about spending more tender moments with her.

“Miss Nae-ki.”

As Dohwa spoke, Nae-ki looked up at her.

Seeing the lover who had fought the Blood Demon for her, Dohwa opened her heart.

“Would you like to have tea with me?”

Truly a Dohwa-like proposal, Nae-ki stared blankly before slowly blushing and nodding quietly.

“Yes.”

Hearing that answer, Dohwa felt immense joy at finally escaping the Murim.

—

With the Heavenly Slaughter Emperor Yeopyeonggang and the Blood Sect’s invasion leaving the building in ruins, the party was effectively over.

We took Dohwa and Nae-ki to the hospital for treatment.

Though the party had barely started, I felt a sense of relief knowing Dohwa’s ordeal was finally over.

“Domi Oppa.”

At that moment, I turned to a voice beside me.

There, Ayu looked at me with a slight, bitter smile.

“Sorry, the party got ruined because of me.”

“Ruined? We can always have another one.”

Hearing that, I reached out and patted her head.

Ayu, feeling a bit better, leaned into my embrace.

“Now you don’t have to worry about Ayu anymore, right?”

“…Hehe, yeah, I finally feel free from the Murim.”

Seeing Ayu’s foolish smile, I smiled back.

Her smile showed a hint of relief.

That alone made today’s meetup worthwhile.

If everyone hadn’t been here today, we wouldn’t have been able to resolve things so easily.

‘For the Heavenly Slaughter Emperor, it was the worst possible timing.’

Though an enemy, he was truly unlucky.

Attacking when the world’s strongest had gathered.

He must have felt unjust.

But given his actions, I hope he paid his dues.

“How long are you going to stay like that?”

At that moment, I heard Si-ho’s voice and jerked my head up.

There, the meetup members stood outside the hospital.

“Right. Oppa, how long are you going to keep hugging her?”

Ji-eun also complained, and I awkwardly looked at Ayu.

Ayu, in turn, glared at the others.

“Can’t you read the mood and leave when it’s time to leave?”

“No.”

Si-ho flatly refused and ran to hug me.

Soon, Ji-eun joined in, and chaos ensued.

This was embarrassing.

As Ayu, Si-ho, and Ji-eun began to bicker, the two others smiled wryly and looked away, meeting Seolhyang’s gaze.

She smiled briefly, as if this was nothing, and shrugged.

Where does that composure come from?

As I pondered, someone approached me.

It was none other than Ggotbi.

Sneaking closer, she stood beside me, and when our eyes met, her face turned bright red.

She then reached out and hugged me tightly.

What kind of mess is this, being sandwiched between women? I saw Hyuk-seo clicking his tongue.

For some reason, Eva noona avoided my gaze.

Judging by her expression, she seemed to remember everything she did while drunk.

How did the meetup end up like this?

“…Enough.”

As I shouted, everyone stepped back, sensing the mood.

For a brief moment, my head throbbed, but I held it in and spoke.

“Let’s go back. There’s nothing more to do here.”

We had already drunk and talked enough, so there was nothing left.

No one objected to my words.

Though Si-ho and Ayu tried to cling to me, I managed to push them away.

As I was about to send everyone off, Baeksan suddenly walked through the wall.

“Hey, Kang Ha-chan.”

I turned to Baeksan, who was frowning with a slight headache.

“Something’s wrong.”

As I wondered what he meant, Baeksan spoke.

“I think I came back earlier than expected.”

Baeksan from this world had returned.