Chapter 144: Evil-Smiting Corps (4)

Who is he?

CLAAAANG!

“Kh...!”

Cheok Gang finally coughed up blood and staggered back.

The eyes of Agwang, who had blasted Cheok Gang away with a powerful single blade, had been fixed on Yeon Hojeong from the very beginning.

The others are all clumsy. They’re full of people who’ve never cut a man even once. But that one...

With a casual palm, he had smashed his subordinates’ skulls in a single blow.

From the start of his attack to the completion of the strike, there hadn’t been a hint of hesitation in the chain of movements. Three of his men had died in an instant to utterly natural slaughter.

He’s seasoned in real combat. He’s killed more people than he can count.

Every man of Gloom-Death Hall was a diehard who had survived hellish real battles.

That was why they understood. Now was not the time to go for Yeon Hojeong.

Rather than clumsily going after Yeon Hojeong, it was better to kill all the small fry first and then crash down on him. Instinctively, they knew that, and so they did not rush him.

And Agwang, too, had realized how dangerous Yeon Hojeong was.

A real one—someone who can bring out more than ten-tenths of his skill in real battle.

Just then, Agwang’s gaze snagged on the massive axe standing beside Yeon Hojeong.

...?!

Had the strange sense of wrongness Yeon Hojeong gave off simply been too strong?

The axe, at a glance, was both stately and ornate. And it was big. It looked like something even most martial artists would struggle to pick up, let alone swing.

A great war axe...? Don’t tell me!

In that instant, he thought of one man who had, of late, built himself a dazzling reputation.

A bold young expert of late-generation age who had dared to cross blades with the former number one under heaven, a youth whose single body of martial arts was said to be on par with—or beyond—Twin Dragons and Three Peaks.

Agwang roared,

“Stop!”

CHIRIRIRING!

At the end of fierce clashing of blades, the men of Gloom-Death Hall all drew back at once.

Even after driving their enemies with such overflowing killing intent, when it came time to retreat, they moved as swiftly as the wind. They had been trained to respond to their superior’s orders instantly.

It was like watching a well-trained army. Seeing that, Yeo Guk felt his chest go cold.

Different. They’re completely different from us...

Agwang opened his mouth.

“Green Mountain Tiger General?”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“I should have stood a little farther back.”

The axe was wonderful in every respect—but far too distinctive.

A subtle wariness entered Agwang’s eyes.

“How did the Yeon Clan’s eldest son end up here?”

“With the late-generation disciples of the Nine Sects swarming all over the place, what reason would the Yeon Clan’s eldest son have not to come?”

Agwang shut his mouth.

Damn.

Rumors about the Green Mountain Tiger General were everywhere across the Central Plains. But Agwang didn’t believe all of them were true.

On the dark path, the highest value was survival.

People risked their lives for higher positions whether they walked the dark or the white. But when their lives were truly on the line, it was only natural to pull back and plan for another day.

Born and raised on the dark path, Agwang couldn’t bring himself to believe in the existence of people who would stake their lives alone against a massive organization. He couldn’t easily accept it.

In the end, the truth of those rumors about the Green Mountain Tiger General had to be one of two things.

Either he’s built martial arts strong enough that even facing a great clan doesn’t threaten his life... or the rumors are wildly exaggerated.

Naturally, he could only believe the latter. Rumor had it Yeon Hojeong was only just past twenty.

And that thought hadn’t changed even now, in this very moment.

But... he’s not ordinary, that much is certain.

He could smell the scent of blood you only picked up after wading through seas of it.

Agwang leveled his blade at Yeon Hojeong.

“I don’t know how you found this place, but...”

“You’re spoiling my fun. Let’s shut this down now.”

At Yeon Hojeong’s cold remark, Agwang furrowed his brow.

What was that supposed to mean?

Just then—

...?!

WHOOOOOOM.

From far off atop the cliff, he felt the sudden flow of terrifying internal force.

It was so intense that not only Agwang, but everyone present turned their heads to look.

WHIIIIIIIIISH!

A fierce gale rose.

The spinning threads of internal force, beyond imagination, seemed to alter the very flow of the air.

At that immense power, Agwang shivered, feeling his spine go cold.

TING!

A clear sound rang out, like the string of a seven-string zither being drawn.

BOOOOOOOM!

A skin-crawling blast of wind gathered into a single point and shot toward the left cliff edge, where a mass of rocks was piled high.

KWA-BOOOOOM!

With an explosion, the cliff collapsed, and countless rocks, losing their path, tumbled down.

KWA-KWA-KWANG! THUUD!

With thick dust, the mouth of the valley was blocked.

And that strike was not the only one.

BOOOM!

A woman shot into the air with dazzling movement, a red bow in her hands as she took aim at the right cliff. The bowstring of the Red Lotus Bow she drew created a blue whirlwind around a solid iron arrow.

A blow into which she had poured her entire being.

TWIIIIING! KWA-BOOOOOM!

This time, it was decisive.

She poured Dragon Tooth Cannon into a spot where the ground was weak, and all the rocks piled atop the cliff came pouring down into the mouth of the valley.

For Mookbi, who had spent her life training in the mountains, this sort of thing wasn’t difficult—as long as she had enough strength.

BOOOM! BOOOOOM!

With terrifying archery, Mookbi sealed the mouth of the valley, then unleashed a body movement like the wind.

PABABABAK!

Her movement was godlike.

She skimmed along the edge of the cliff, then launched her body left and right as she descended, and soon, as if she were some flying fairy, she crossed an astounding distance and landed behind Yeon Hojeong.

THUD!

Standing behind Yeon Hojeong, Mookbi drew her bow and aimed at the men of Gloom-Death Hall.

Once she locked onto prey, her focus turned terrifying. The light in Mookbi’s eyes as she glared at the men of Gloom-Death Hall was that of a predator. It was the complete opposite of her usual gaze.

...!!

Agwang felt his throat go dry.

This is insane...

No matter how weak the ground, dropping that many rocks with just two arrows was absurd.

Her martial arts had transcended common sense by a vast margin. Even Agwang, with all his experience in the rivers and lakes, had never heard ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) of such brutish archery existing.

THUNK!

Agwang’s gaze swung back to Yeon Hojeong.

At some point, he had hefted the axe up onto his shoulder. He had lifted that heavy axe as naturally as if it weighed nothing.

“I thought they’d be suitable for training targets, but I was wrong.”

Yeon Hojeong spoke to Cheok Gang.

“Cheok Gang.”

“Yes?”

Cheok Gang, who’d been staring at Mookbi with a dazed expression, bewitched by her overwhelming archery, flinched and looked to Yeon Hojeong.

Smiling, Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Good work. Your skill is lacking, but I liked the idea of dropping the enemy commander to crush their morale, and the courage to charge without hesitation. If you’re just a little more careful, you’ll more than pull your weight.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Cheok Gang scratched the back of his head, feeling a little embarrassed. Truth be told, he hadn’t had any grand plan like Yeon Hojeong described.

But he had drawn his sword with his life on the line. Cheok Gang had turned his words into action.

Yeon Hojeong looked over the late-generation experts.

Most of them had small wounds all over their bodies. But not a single one had died.

Of course, that too was thanks to Yeon Hojeong. When five of the late-generation experts had nearly died in their daze, he had quietly launched Finger-Wind to break the crisis without anyone noticing.

Any more of this would be pointless.

This time, he turned to Mookbi.

Huff. Huff.

Her focus had climbed to a frightening peak. But having fired two consecutive Dragon Tooth Cannon shots, her breathing was just slightly unstable.

Yeon Hojeong gripped Mookbi’s shoulder.

“Can you keep going?”

“Anytime.”

“Good. Then let’s wrap this up.”

Mookbi poured killing intent into the arrow she had aimed at the men of Gloom-Death Hall.

Eyes sharp as blades, she stared at them—then suddenly twisted her upper body.

TWIIIIING! FWEEEW!

The arrow, loosed at insane speed, targeted Agwang’s head.

THUD!

It was fortunate he had already been bracing himself. The arrow grazed Agwang’s shoulder as he twisted his body on instinct and buried itself in Sangyo’s shoulder instead.

THUD!

“Gaaah!”

With a scream, Sangyo collapsed.

At that exact moment, Yeon Hojeong charged.

FLASH!

Yeon Hojeong lunged at terrifying speed, bringing Mad Dragon (Axe) up in a rising strike toward Agwang.

Agwang’s eyes went wide.

This—!

A surprise attack. With his attention on Mookbi’s arrow, Agwang was caught off guard by Yeon Hojeong’s tremendous rush and swung his pudao in a panic.

CLAAAANG!

“Kh!”

It was martial arts of monstrous strength.

When he caught that heavy weapon of more than eighty catties, it felt like his hand and entire arm holding the blade would shatter. The weight of it was chilling.

Amazingly, the attack didn’t end there.

VROOOM! VROOOOM!

The black axe raised afterimages, accompanied by a hair-raising tearing of the air, throwing Agwang’s vision into chaos.

CLASH-CLASH-CLAAAASH! THUD!

“Aaagh!”

The pudao snapped, and his right arm was severed from the shoulder. He had not only failed to counterattack properly; he hadn’t even properly parried and now suffered internal injuries and the loss of an arm.

Vomiting blood, Agwang shouted,

“What are you doing?! Kill them all!”

BOOOOOM!

The men of Gloom-Death Hall charged with terrifying speed.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

Oh no you don’t.

Mookbi’s Red Lotus Bow spat fire.

PIPIPIPIPING! PUPUPUPUPUK!

The heads of seven men of Gloom-Death Hall charging the late-generation experts sprouted holes.

It was rapid fire at staggering speed. The sense and stamina she had gained from close-quarters sparring with Yeon Hojeong were finally beginning to shine.

The eyes of Mookbi, blazing with concentration, wavered faintly for a moment.

Killing...

When she’d abducted Mongui, she had annihilated the assassins. But they had been closer to dolls than people. It had felt more like breaking puppets than killing.

This was different.

The emotion called fear that hung in the enemies’ eyes shook Mookbi’s heart.

But Mookbi quickly steadied herself.

I am an archer. My heart must not falter.

She thought of Baek Gungcheon.

Her older brother’s face, choosing death of his own will at the very end so he could watch his younger sister’s achievement.

PUPUPUPUK!

Another ten-odd men of Gloom-Death Hall dropped where they stood.

VROOOOOM!

Behind Mookbi’s godlike archery, Mad Dragon’s endless charge began.

THUUUUD!

Yeon Hojeong’s attacks were far more destructive and brutal than Mookbi’s.

In an instant, he pierced through the key points of their formation, then unleashed a storm-like barrage.

CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLAAAASH! FWOOOOSH!

The bodies of the men of Gloom-Death Hall burst apart without distinction, spraying blood in every direction.

Though he commanded the lowest-ranked hall, Agwang was still the master of a gate that made up one wing of the Thirty-Six Dark Gates. Though he had been overwhelmed from the very first exchange, he at least had the ability to block a few of Yeon Hojeong’s destructive blows.

The men of Gloom-Death Hall did not.

Yeon Hojeong’s axe was decisive, and its merciless power matched that decisiveness. With the level of martial arts the men of Gloom-Death Hall possessed, none of them could withstand even a single one of his strikes.

Agwang shouted again,

“Target the Nine Sects brats!”

The eyes of the men of Gloom-Death Hall turned bloodshot.

Flustered by the merciless attacks of the pair, they now threw themselves, all of one mind, at the late-generation experts.

WHIIIIISH!

White wind gathered along the edge of Mad Dragon (Axe).

KWAANG!

Driving forward on powerful steps, Yeon Hojeong swung his axe at the men of Gloom-Death Hall.

Nor was that all. Wherever Yeon Hojeong’s storm-like martial arts crashed through, Mookbi’s gale-like archery swept up the remaining enemies.

PUPUPUK! FWOOOOSH!

The numbers of Gloom-Death Hall dwindled at a terrifying rate.

The late-generation experts stared blankly at the man and woman.

For Yeo Guk, the shock was beyond words.

He had thought himself fairly confident in real combat, yet he hadn’t handled even a single enemy properly. Meanwhile, those two were displaying unbelievable ferocity with utterly merciless hands.

“T-this can’t be!”

Yeon Hojeong, smashing enemy heads with pitiless axe blows; Mookbi, cleaning up the stragglers with ghostly archery.

They were a combination whose hands and feet matched perfectly. In that moment, the pair’s wave-like, alternating attacks had reached completion.

“H-Hall Lord!”

At Sangyo’s shout as he clutched his shoulder, Agwang snapped back to his senses.

“Everyone, retrea—!”

He never finished the word. His eyes went wide as if they would tear.

Come to think of it, that demon-like woman had blocked the mouth of the valley with her vicious archery. To flee that way now would be no different from throwing themselves into a dead end.

Damn it all!

A thick killing intent rose in Agwang’s eyes.

One mistake had brought Gloom-Death Hall to the brink of extermination. He couldn’t contain himself any longer.

“Pyeongsan!!”

The huge man on horseback at the rear of Gloom-Death Hall.

Red, baleful light blazed in that man’s two eyes.

KAAANG!

The iron chains shattered into fragments.