-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Mutual Destruction, One Escapes
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Damn it!"
Yagul Maha reached for the hilt of his sword.
Clack!
The moment his hand grasped the hilt, Black Wind's right hand pinned his wrist. At the same time, his left arm looped behind Yagul Maha's neck.
"You cocky bastard…"
Yagul Maha thrust his left hand straight out.
"Stop!"
Talli shouted sharply.
Yagul Maha's hand halted right in front of Black Wind's chest.
"You're taking his side?"
Yagul Maha knew exactly what kind of person Talli was.
"I'm saving you, not him."
"You saying I'm weaker than this guy?"
"Even if you're stronger than him, if you'd struck his chest with your palm, your father would've become a parent who lost their child."
"What do you…"
Yagul Maha looked at Talli with a puzzled expression.
"Look behind your neck."
"Behind my neck?"
Yagul Maha turned his head slightly.
"Gasp!"
He let out a groan. A peculiar weapon carried by Wind Corps members was pressed against the back of his neck. It meant that if he had struck Black Wind's chest, his own neck would've been torn open.
"In sparring, the strong always win, but in real combat, miracles happen where the weak triumph."
Black Wind sheathed his demon hook.
"You son of a bitch!"
The instant the demon hook was sheathed, Yagul Maha unleashed his left hand.
Thud!
"Gah!"
Black Wind's body slid back. Even as he retreated, he held his demon hook and halberd in a defensive stance.
"That's why they say you need proper family upbringing, kid. You've been branded a despicable bastard who tried to kill his life savior. Smearing your father's face is just icing on the cake, son."
"Truly…"
Sching!
Yagul Maha roughly drew his sword.
"Your family education's a total mess, so let's see how well they taught you martial arts."
Black Wind extended his left arm holding the demon hook forward, halberd back, left foot forward, and upper body slightly lowered.
"Mutual destruction, one escapes!"
Little Wind muttered softly.
"What's that?"
Talli asked.
"Exactly as it sounds—meaning one of them must die."
"One of the two, him or his opponent?"
"That's right. And mutual destruction, one escapes, is that guy's specialty."
"He uses it often?"
"Do you know why that bastard's a myriad commander and thousand commander?"
"Cause he's tall with a big voice?"
"Plus, he's always first."
"First in what?"
"When charging into enemy lines, he's always number one."
"And he survived ten years doing that?"
"That's right."
Just then, Yagul Maha's voice rang out.
"You must think I'm a joke."
His voice dripped with murderous intent, hardened like steel.
"Weren't we supposed to save him?"
Little Wind said to Talli.
"He could've ended it by begging, but that idiot escalated things. Adults take responsibility for their own actions."
"But that guy's one of the Border Wastelands Ten Heroes."
"You saying he can't win?"
"Exactly."
"I see it differently."
"Differently?"
"Drag it out, and he loses, but in a one-strike duel, no one can guarantee victory. That bastard provoked Yagul Maha precisely for a one-strike battle."
"Provoked him for a one-strike duel?"
"No, I misspoke. It wasn't provocation that started the fight—it became unavoidable, and judging he couldn't avoid it, he steered it toward a one-strike duel. Right?"
Talli turned around.
Yao Wind stood there.
"I don't know that guy well either. But from the aura he's emitting, it feels like he's staking his life."
"I see."
Talli nodded.
Thud!
Then Black Wind slapped his chest with his left hand gripping the demon hook and shifted it to his left side.
"What's that mean?"
"A provocation to stab his chest."
Yao Wind answered.
"Shit!"
Rage boiled over, and a curse burst from Yagul Maha's mouth. He tensed his back foot. One surge of inner energy, and he'd launch. He flung open his dantian and circulated his qi.
"Stop!"
A thunderous shout exploded from the opposite side.
"Damn!"
Yagul Maha's face twisted.
He turned his head.
A burly middle-aged man was crossing the lake toward them.
"Hell Lion King!"
Little Wind muttered like a groan.
The middle-aged man walking on water with Void Step was Yagul Jeokson, lord of Hell Fortress known as Divine Hell Heaven, an absolute powerhouse ranked third among the Border Wastelands Ten Heroes. Yagul Jeokson soon arrived before Yagul Maha.
"Father."
"Go back."
"That bastard insulted me."
"Go back."
"Father."
Slap!
A sharp crack echoed from Yagul Maha's cheek.
"Urk!"
Yagul Maha cried out and tumbled away.
"I'll say it once more. Return to your place."
"Understood."
Yagul Maha clutched his cheek and returned to his spot.
"I'll apologize on his behalf."
Yagul Jeokson cupped his fists toward Black Wind.
"Your apology's more than enough, so no need. I'm Black Wind."
Black Wind introduced himself.
"Black Wind—Wind Corps commander, right?"
"That's me. Started as a ten commander, rose to hundred, thousand, myriad, then back to thousand."
"What got you demoted?"
"In the last ten years, exactly twenty-three thousand five hundred twenty-two from our Wind Corps died. Two years ago, when numbers dropped to a thousand, I became thousand commander—and we've held there since."
"So not demoted—numbers shrank."
"Right. And one thing to make clear: not just Border folk died in this war. Wind Corps has plenty to say too. But we keep our mouths shut because I'm not on the fallen list."
"Survivors should say nothing?"
"We should be grateful to be alive."
"Indeed. By the way, I'm Yagul Jeokson."
"My apologies. I'd like to wash up… nearly died chasing that woman."
Black Wind pointed at Talli.
"Do as you like."
"Then."
Black Wind cupped his fists and left.
"Did you come together?"
Once Black Wind's group departed, Yagul Jeokson asked Talli.
"Went to kill him originally, but somehow ended up having to spare his life."
"You mean Black Wind's life?"
"No. Black Wind demanded I spare his subordinates too. So I gave my word as Crimson Witch Talli: preserve their lives until they leave the Border Wastelands."
Those words weren't just for Yagul Jeokson. They were a warning to all watching Black Wind's group with hostile eyes.
In other words: 'These are lives spared by Crimson Witch Talli'—don't touch them.
"To promise to spare a whole Wind Corps squad means you got something impressive."
"Qualifying to enter the Divine Hall—does that suffice?"
"Oh! So Crimson Witch has the final piece. Congratulations."
"Who all?"
"Me, Wheel Demon King, Storm Emperor, Ice Demon Queen."
"Just you four?"
"All Eight Desolation Heaven Flipping Lords are here."
"I see. All at the shelter?"
"Yes. Shall we meet now?"
"Indeed."
Talli glanced where Black Wind's group went to wash, then headed to the shelter.
Meanwhile.
Black Wind and the eighteen Wind Corps elites went to the most secluded spot by the lake.
"You wash first."
Black Wind said to Yao Wind.
"You guys first."
"Worried we'll peek?"
Black Wind asked.
"How long since you lot slept with a woman?"
"Don't remember."
Little Wind answered.
"Me neither. Forgot what a naked woman looks like."
Big Wind continued.
"You?"
Yao Wind looked at Black Wind.
"I'm a total bachelor."
"…You bastard. Anyway, no lies. Wash first, you punks!"
Yao Wind bellowed.
"We live and die together in battle—don't we wash together too?"
Little Wind asked.
"You getting tired of breathing?"
Yao Wind reached for his sword hilt.
"Got it."
Little Wind raised his hands, went to the water's edge, pulled everything from his bosom and set it aside, then jumped in clothed.
Splash!
"Refreshing!"
Little Wind grinned wide. The others followed suit into the water. Black Wind set out jerky he'd made last night and some items, then jumped in.
"Feels good."
Black Wind grinned wide.
He soaked first, scrubbing his clothes with his hands. Just rubbing brought out muddy water and blood. After roughly cleaning his clothes, he washed his camouflage cloth. He wrung the clean cloth and set it aside, then stripped naked.
His body was packed with solid muscle. More fine muscles than bulky ones. Over them sprawled scars from slashes, stabs, tears—countless marks blending so you couldn't tell scar from muscle.
"Seeing you, it's a miracle you're alive."
Little Wind said, eyeing Black Wind's scars.
"No fatal wounds, though."
"Fatal wounds?"
"Yeah."
"…True."
Little Wind nodded. Just like Black Wind said.
Normally, stabs lead to fatal outcomes, but the scars covering Black Wind's body were mostly slashes.
"You did that on purpose?"
"Yeah."
"Impressive."
"My eyes are pretty good."
Black Wind smiled.
The group busily washed.
Once clean, they climbed out, dressed, equipped their gear, and packed the jerky.
"You stay; rest leave."
Yao Wind pointed at Black Wind.
"You gonna show me your naked body 'cause I'm a pitiful bachelor?"
"Turn around and stand watch."
"Watch?"
"Face the lake or I'll kill you."
"Little Wind's the watch expert—why not him?"
"Tall guys stand watch in places like this."
"Can't sit?"
"No. Stand. Move and die."
"Jerky okay?"
"That you can eat."
Black Wind stood there, tearing into jerky. It reeked of that distinctive wolf-gamey smell.
"Where'd that come from?"
Yao Wind asked.
"Which?"
"The sun emblem?"
"Some old guy who saved me shared his godawful jerky and gave it."
"Don't know who?"
"First time seeing him. But seems like huge shots are here, right?"
"Yeah. All Eight Desolation Heaven Flipping Lords."
"Eight Desolation Heaven Flippers?"
"Eek!"
Then a short yelp hit Black Wind's ears. From Yao Wind.
"Don't worry. I won't look back, ever. I keep promises even with a blade at my throat."
Black Wind chewed the jerky loudly.
"Uh, Black Wind, I kinda…"
Splash!
"Huh?"
Black Wind whipped his head around.