[Translator - Helga ]

    [Proofreader - Starfall ]

    Chapter 157: Mortal Enemies (1)

    Kwon Seonwoo was on his way to the VIP room with Joo Hayun guiding him when it happened.

    Suddenly, Kwon Seonwoo clutched his chest and dropped to his knees. Joo Hayun, startled, rushed to support him.

    "Chairman!"

    She called out urgently, but the chairman couldn’t respond. All he could do was endure the pain in his chest, cold sweat pouring down his face.

    “...Huff.”

    It took a long while before the pain subsided. He leaned against the corridor wall, exhaling heavily.

    “I’m fine. Don’t worry too much.”

    He addressed Joo Hayun, but she couldn''t hide her concern.

    “The recoil is much worse this time... probably because I used the Dragon Pearl.”

    Most people don’t truly understand the Incarnate Body.

    They think it’s simply a way to gain monstrous strength.

    But the reality is far harsher. Even someone like Kwon Seonwoo felt an immense burden each time he used it.

    It made sense. Even with the right bloodline, a mere human could never properly wield the power of a dragon.

    “...Was Kwon Hanul really that important to you? Important enough to endure this pain?”

    Joo Hayun suddenly asked.

    “What nonsense is that?”

    “Given your personality, Chairman, I doubt even a Demon King could have made you step forward like this. Not unless it was something greater.”

    Kwon Seonwoo was the trump card—his power overwhelming.

    His defeat would mean the downfall of Hyukcheon. That’s why he never revealed his strength unless absolutely necessary. It was to keep valuable intel from reaching their enemies.

    And yet, he had transformed into his Incarnate Body and flown to the arena—in front of the whole world—to save Kwon Hanul.

    “What a load of rubbish,” Kwon Seonwoo said with a bitter smile. “I stepped in because I didn’t want to lose a bearer of the true bloodline. Not because of that brat.”

    Just as Joo Hayun was about to say something more, Kwon Seonwoo cut in.

    “Don’t you dare mention any of this to Hanul. Understood?”

    “...Why give such an order?”

    He went quiet and muttered under his breath, “Because then he’ll keep thinking of me as an enemy.”

    His voice was so low, Joo Hayun couldn’t make it out.

    “Chairman? Could you repeat that—?”

    She asked again, but he said nothing and stood up.

    “Let’s go. I need rest.”

    * * *

    “Mei Xiao!”

    A shout rang out. Mei Hong charged with her longsword raised, aiming straight for Mei Xiao.

    But in that instant, Mei Xiao appeared behind her. She struck Mei Hong’s neck with the edge of her hand, and Mei Hong collapsed mid-charge.

    Kwon Hanul instinctively clenched his fists. Kwon Hudon and Gael Garcia also shifted into battle stances.

    “Everyone, calm down,” Mei Xiao said, holding up her empty hands. “I only knocked her out. I’d rather not cause a scene. Otherwise, the Chairman on board will notice me.”

    That’s when Kwon Hanul sensed something was off. Someone like Mei Xiao—this close—there’s no way Kwon Seonwoo wouldn’t notice.

    “You’re wondering why the Chairman hasn’t shown up yet, aren’t you?”

    She smiled knowingly.

    “Two reasons. First, your Chairman is exhausted from using the Incarnate Body. Second, I’m an Assassin Swordswoman.”

    Kwon Seonwoo had pushed himself too far, reducing his ability to sense threats.

    Meanwhile, Mei Xiao, a professional assassin, excelled at hiding her presence.

    “But if things escalate here, he’ll notice me for sure. So please—stay quiet, alright?”

    “What if we refuse?” Kwon Hanul asked provocatively.

    In truth, the one at a disadvantage here was Mei Xiao. No matter how skilled she was, she couldn’t defeat Kwon Seonwoo—even if he was worn out.

    “If you refuse... then I’ll die here at the hands of the Chairman,” Mei Xiao admitted calmly. “But before that, I’ll make sure to kill everyone else in this room.”

    A chill ran down their spines.

    Even without emitting killing intent, her words carried the weight of death.

    “We all want to live, don’t we? So let’s compromise a little. I only came to talk with you today.”

    Kwon Hanul stared at her for a moment, then loosened his fist.

    “What do you want?”

    “I’m glad you’re cooperative.”

    “Just answer the question.”

    “...My master.”

    Mei Xiao’s face lost all expression. It became arid, like a desert stripped of moisture.

    “What was the final fate of the Greatest Sword of Central Plains?”

    The Greatest Sword of Central Plains—Mei Rong.

    Once known as the strongest in the Mei clan.

    He lost to Kwon Myung-woo during the war between Hyukcheon and the Mei clan.

    Though it was Kwon Myung-woo who defeated him, the one who delivered the final blow was someone else.

    It was Kwon Hanul who took Mei Rong’s life.

    “Do you really need to hear this?”

    Bloodflame Blade Mei Xiao had been Mei Rong’s disciple.

    According to Mei Hong, Mei Xiao had surpassed her master even while still a student. Yet she chose the path of an Assassin Swordswoman to preserve his honor.

    That’s how fanatically devoted she was to him.

    “Yes. I absolutely do.”

    So it was obvious how Mei Xiao felt toward one of her master’s killers—Kwon Hanul.

    “Back then, he suffered heavy injuries fighting Director Kwon Myung-woo. His chest was pierced clean through—his heart obliterated.”

    He couldn’t have survived.

    “But to fulfill the Clan Head’s final order of at least killing me, he used an artifact to trap us both in a pocket dimension. Yet in the end, he died by my hand.”

    Kwon Hanul told the truth, though he left out how he did it. Otherwise, he’d have to reveal his Shura Bloodline.

    “Lies.”

    Mei Xiao immediately rejected it.

    “Given the gap in power at the time, that’s impossible. Even at death’s door, he wouldn’t have lost. There must’ve been another reason.”

    There was. Hanul had used the Shura King back then.

    “Mei Rong was overconfident,” he said. “That arrogance cost him his life.”

    “Don’t lie. That can’t be true.”

    “How is it a lie? The fact that I’m still alive proves it.”

    Mei Xiao fell silent.

    “...So it was really you who killed my master?”

    “Yes.”

    “You really are his mortal enemy, then.”

    Her expression twisted—sinister and sickly... and oddly delighted.

    Like a ghost grinning.

    “Do you know why I haven’t killed you yet?”

    Hanul shook his head. How could he possibly guess?

    “Because I didn’t want to kill my master’s enemy while he was still a nobody. That would tarnish Mei Rong’s honor.”

    Even after killing Mei Rong, Hanul wasn’t famous.

    Among gossip circles, he was just someone who rode Kwon Myung-woo’s coattails.

    He later made a name for himself through other events—but never enough to match the Greatest Sword of Central Plains.

    Now, things had changed.

    “Thanks to the Sky Arena incident, your name is known around the world. People admire you, fear you.”

    Now, Hanul had become worthy of assassination.

    “That’s why I came today. This isn’t just a hit—it’s revenge for my master and the honor of the Mei clan.”

    With that, Mei Xiao made her declaration.

    “I’ll come for you again soon. And next time, I’ll take your life.”

    The Mei clan’s greatest assassin.

    Its finest swordswoman.

    Declared her intent: She would kill Kwon Hanul.

    “You think Hyukcheon will just stand by?”

    “Of course not. But it doesn’t matter. No one can stop me.”

    Mei Xiao picked up the sword Mei Hong had dropped.

    She drew it effortlessly, raising the blue-tinged blade high into the air.

    A strange energy wrapped around it—part haze, part smoke.

    Then the energy changed—condensing into a solid form that began to shine.

    Kwon Hudon and Gael Garcia didn’t recognize it.

    But Hanul did—he’d wielded it himself before.

    “...Sword Force.”

    Sword Force— a level beyond sword aura or energy.

    A devastating technique said to destroy anything it touches.

    Even the Greatest Sword hadn’t attained it. But now, Mei Xiao had.

    She swung her sword through the air. The sword force vanished like a snuffed-out flame.

    “Struggle as much as you like. That will only make my revenge sweeter.”

    She set the sword down and bowed.

    “Then, let’s meet again.”

    A moment later, her body turned to smoke—and disappeared.

    Even after she vanished, the tension in Kwon Hanul’s body remained. Hudon and Gael felt the same.

    “...Ha, Hanul. Let’s ask the Chairman for help,” Hudon said bravely.

    It was the most logical move. Mei Xiao had declared assassination, and now she possessed Sword Force. Hanul had no way to survive.

    But he had no intention of following Hudon’s suggestion.

    “Hudon. Could you carry Mei Hong to the sleeping quarters?”

    “Y-yeah.”

    Without argument, Hudon picked up Mei Hong and carried her back inside the ship.

    “Gael.”

    “Yes, sir.”

    “What’s your opinion?”

    “I agree with Hudon. We should ask Hyukcheon for aid.”

    So they were of the same mind.

    Hanul thought so, until—

    “But I don’t think that’s what you’re planning.”

    Gael gave a surprising answer.

    “What do you think I’m planning?”

    “You seem angry.”

    That struck Hanul to the core. His lips curled despite himself.

    “You’re right. It brought back some very unpleasant memories.”

    When he first joined Hyukcheon, everyone had mocked him as the traitor’s son.

    Not just that—Kwon Jiseok, Kwon Chan-seong, even Kwon Mi tried to belittle and suppress him.

    “How absurd. They strut around so confidently when all they’ve ever done is lose to Hyukcheon.”

    Hanul gritted his teeth.

    “They must’ve hoped I’d tremble in fear until the moment I died.”

    His rage boiled. His killing intent surged.

    At that moment, Kwon Hanul made a decision.

    He would kill Mei Xiao himself.

    “The Chairman was right.”

    Kwon Seonwoo’s words echoed true. There was no room for complacency.

    He had to grow stronger—ruthlessly so.

    And to do that, there was one thing he had to secure: An elixir that could raise his abilities to SS-rank.

    “Gael. I have a favor to ask.”

    “Command me.”

    “Head to the Babel Clan’s ship right now. Give them this message.”

    Hanul handed over the letter he had been keeping close.

    “Tell them I’ll visit at dawn.”

    [Translator - Helga ]

    [Proofreader - Starfall ]