Chapter 45 – Honey Belly Sword (4)
Due to the unstable ground collapsing from the impact, I fell down the cliff along with two men from the evil sect. Even during the fall, they launched attacks from the other side.
Fortunately, amidst the misfortune, I was somehow able to deflect their attacks. Being the first to land on the ground, I raised my head and looked up at the sky. The cliff was deeper than I thought.
It’s certainly not something I could climb by pushing off a few times. Does that mean it’s impossible to ignore the ones in front of me now and climb up the cliff?
I clicked my tongue and shifted my gaze back downward. There was some beast-like furry creature and a woman with black hair wearing a beast mask. What is this?
“Is it a beast imitating a human? Or a human imitating a beast?”
“Originally, the human race had nothing better than beasts, so why do you look down on us in such a way?”
“If you’re going to spout such absurd arguments, just die right here.”
This isn’t the modern era, so why are they going on about beasts in times like these? Unless their brain has regressed to the level of a beast, I can only suspect mental illness.
As I don’t have the luxury or reason to waste time, I quickly raised my sword to attack. Until I heard the words of the black-haired woman wearing the mask.
“If you kill us, your disciples will die too.”
“What kind of dog-like threat are you making…?”
“Think about it. Up there, besides the Hundred Great masters, even among the attendants, there are warriors we’ve planted in hiding. Do you think your disciples can withstand that?”
“…”
I kept my mouth shut. Because it was an undeniable story. In my mind, I immediately concluded that my disciples wouldn’t last even a few seconds with their current strength.
“Fine, giving you the benefit of the doubt, that could be the case. But does that give you a reason not to die?”
“Are you deliberately turning a blind eye? You can feel it too right now. This intense energy that we’re emitting.”
“…You mean evil energy?”
“And most of the Hundred Great masters fighting up there have pledged allegiance to the evil sect. If nothing else, they can sense evil energy exceptionally well, can’t they?”
I roughly understood the situation. If I kill these people here, the disciples who might have been taken prisoner above would be killed by them.
Literally a dead end with no way out. Nevertheless, I didn’t drop my sword until the end. Rather, seeing my determination, the woman tilted her head and said.
“Do you mean to abandon your disciples? Indeed, without blood or tears…”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. When did I say I’m abandoning my disciples?”
“Then surrender immediately…”
“I won’t surrender either. Because you haven’t brought my disciples before my eyes.”
I can’t deny that the situation is unfavorable. Even if I kill these creatures and climb the cliff, if my disciples have been taken prisoner, they will die in those few seconds.
But that doesn’t mean I can give up here. Because I didn’t teach my disciples to give up. So, as long as my disciples are fighting, I will continue to fight too.
“Come at me. I’ll cut off your limbs.”
With those final words, their fighting energies collided with all their might.Â
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Getting one’s name on the list of the Hundred Great masters is certainly no easy feat, but actually, maintaining that name is also very difficult. Although there are no specific tests,
In the current martial arts world that thoroughly evaluates based on skill, they notice even the slightest dullness with ghostly perception. Or perhaps there are many who harbor envy and jealousy.
From that perspective, Go Gyeom and his peers could be considered a truly blessed generation. Not a single one of them failed to get their names listed among the Hundred Great masters.
This wasn’t empty flattery; Go Gyeom was genuinely proud of himself and his fellow peers. Especially since quite a few fall prey to the temptation of power and take the wrong path.
Therefore, when he was suddenly stabbed in the back, it was none other than Go Gyeom who felt the greatest sense of betrayal. It was only because it was Go Gyeom that he barely avoided a fatal wound.
If it had been any other warrior, they would have died on the spot. To think that his friend would swing such a merciless killing blow at him…
“What… What are you doing?”
“…”
“I’m asking what you’re doing!!!”
Unable to contain the rising sense of betrayal, Go Gyeom finally shouted. With crimson blood spilling from his mouth as he shouted, he looked almost like a ghost.
“If it was a mistake, even now…”
“There’s no way I would swing a sword at a friend by mistake.”
“…You.”
Sea Cloud Sword Baek Sanha, a young man with navy blue hair similar to the sea, answered Go Gyeom’s question with a sneer on his lips. Of course, Go Gyeom didn’t ask because he didn’t know.
With the sudden appearance of assassins and the sight of his friends swinging swords at him, who was responsible for guarding this procession. How could Go Gyeom not understand this situation?
Nevertheless, the reason Go Gyeom asked them questions until the very end was simple. It was because he couldn’t overcome his desire to trust his friends until the very last moment.
“I don’t understand. Do you think you’ll be safe after betraying the righteous martial arts alliance? No, what kind of wealth and glory are you seeking through such terrible betrayal?”
“A genius like you would never understand our feelings, even if you died.”
“…What do you…”
“Do we need more conversation here? We’ve made our choice. Now it’s your turn.”
Go Gyeom silently looked at his shoulder. True to his grand title of Sea Cloud Sword, Baek Sanha’s wave-like thrust had made blood pour like a waterfall from his shoulder.
“…Alright, I clearly understand. But you seem to have no understanding of your own situation.”
“What did you say?”
Whish! Paat!!
The whip made of iron that was hidden in his sleeve instantly approached Baek Sanha’s neck. Fortunately, another Hundred Great master next to him deflected it.
If no one had intervened, Baek Sanha would have lost his life right there. Realizing this without difficulty, Baek Sanha felt a chilling sensation run down his spine.
“During the past 5 years when we trained together at the Sunmoo Academy…”
“…”
“Have you forgotten that none of you ever beat me even once?”
“…That arrogance of yours is disgusting, Go Gyeom.”
“At times like this, it’s called confidence, not arrogance.”
‘Damn, the situation isn’t exactly favorable.’
Not showing weakness to the enemy is a basic principle of fighting, beyond military tactics. Despite knowing this, Go Gyeom couldn’t help but frown.
The unexpected sneak attack had essentially sealed off his specialty. Go Gyeom mainly used two whips made of iron woven as thin as thread.
Thanks to this, he had even been given the rather excessive title of the Twin Dragon Iron Silk. However, due to the sneak attack that pierced his shoulder, he couldn’t raise his shoulder in the immediate fight.
In the end, it was no different than having his strength reduced by half from the start. But Go Gyeom soon corrected his negative thoughts. Come to think of it, hadn’t he almost died from that attack?
“Yet luckily avoiding a fatal wound, I can still move one arm and my legs without issue. I should be grateful that I can still fight right now.”
‘Even in such an unfavorable situation, he can smile. That monster…!!!’
As Go Gyeom raised his Iron Dragon Silk with his good hand while smiling despite bleeding, Baek Sanha once again felt overwhelmed.
Not only Baek Sanha but also the other Hundred Great masters were completely crushed by Go Gyeom’s spirit. However, there was one exception among them, who strode forward.
Among the Hundred Great masters, he was the largest, bear-like in stature, carrying a huge greatsword on his shoulder. Striding forward proudly like a victorious general was Magang.
“…Ha! Well, this works out well for you. You’ve disliked me so openly all this time.”
“Yes. I couldn’t stand how much you behaved like a weasel. I swore that someday I would correct that habit of yours.”
“I guess today is the day you’ve been waiting for?”
Since Go Gyeom’s relationship with Ma Kang hadn’t been particularly good since their days training together at the Sunmoo Academy, he didn’t have any special expectations. However, Ma Kang shook his head.
“At least not today.”
“What?”
“Are you trying to break our agreement now? Ma Kang!!”
“You were the ones who broke the agreement first.”
The reason Ma Kang joined this attack was simple, he joined believing in the condition that he could fight Go Gyeom at full strength. However, the current Go Gyeom could not be considered whole.
“You broke the agreement first. So why should I keep my agreement with you?”
“You, don’t you want to climb higher?!!!”
“What meaning would there be if I don’t climb with my own strength?”
“Puhah!!”
At the completely chaotic situation, Go Gyeom burst into laughter. The friends he believed would be with him for life had betrayed him, and the person he disliked was now helping him.
“…This is the only time I’ll be indebted to you.”
“Don’t bother stating the obvious.”
