Chapter 46 – Honey Belly Sword (5)
In the hands of a murderer, it becomes an evil spirit that kills people, and in the hands of a soldier, it becomes a guardian that protects the emperor’s solemn laws. That is the essence of the sword.
Therefore, those who cultivate martial arts must always think and think again before drawing their sword. That is the standard that separates martial arts from violence. It is called chivalry.
It was a teaching they had already learned at the Sunmoo Academy. Unfortunately, only one fellow student remembers it in this place. And it’s an old enemy with whom relations have never been good.
Feeling conflicted about this fact, Go Gyeom swung the Iron Dragon Silk with all his might. The iron whip, spun as thin as thread, was as sharp as a famous sword.
However, the greatest advantage of the Iron Dragon Silk was none other than distance. Although the Iron Dragon Silk was more difficult to handle than an ordinary whip, in return, it gave him the advantage of distance.
Thanks to this, the Hundred Great masters who faced the Iron Dragon Silk had to somehow avoid the threadlike whip that was barely visible and get closer. Certainly, that method would have worked.
If two or three people thoroughly focused on the Iron Dragon Silk, it would not be impossible to defend against it. In that gap, if the remaining personnel struck Go Gyeom’s neck, they could deal with him without much difficulty.
At least, if it weren’t for the presence of Ma Kang, who was clearly protecting Go Gyeom from the front. The lump of iron, too crude to even be called a great sword, was swung with all its might.
Kwaaang!!!
The impact was like an earthquake, enough to make even the Hundred Great masters stagger. Not missing this opportunity, Go Gyeom, who was behind Ma Kang, moved his hand.
“Kuk!!!”
“Don’t get caught by the Iron Dragon Silk!! Once you’re caught by that thing, it’s over!!”
“Damn, why are they working so well together?!”
From the past until now, these fellows who had been worse than mere enemies. It was maddening that they suddenly worked so well together when fighting side by side.
The original plan was to quickly eliminate Go Gyeom, who was the most troublesome, then capture the disciples of the Sword Demon and join up afterward. But instead, the four of them ended up getting held back.
“I gave you everything on a silver platter, and you still couldn’t catch even one of them. It’s astonishing in a different way.”
“You just focus on holding on properly. Or is your strength as lacking as your looks, which are more fitting for a gigolo?”
“It seems you’re dying to die first.”
“…These guys…!!!”
Baek Sanha felt anger rising to the top of his head at the sight of Go Gyeom and Ma Kang bickering even in this situation. They were fighting for their lives, yet they had the leisure to make such jokes?
How long do you intend to ignore me? Yes, all of this is your fault.
Go Gyeom was the first to notice the change. He was the first to recognize that an ominous aura was emanating from Baek Sanha, who was confronting them.
“What strange thing is that now? Has he learned some new martial art?”
“If what I’ve heard is correct, that should be an evil art.”
“Evil art? Even the name sounds ominous.”
“I heard it’s a martial art that allows one to become strong in a short period. Naturally, there must be a price to pay.”
In response to Ma Kang’s words, Go Gyeom silently nodded his head. Indeed, the red aura rising like a heat haze didn’t look particularly healthy.
“I don’t understand. Not just anyone, but Hundred Great masters who have made a name for themselves, how could they succumb to such petty power?”
“I don’t completely fail to understand that feeling.”
“What?”
“Don’t think everyone was born with talent like yours.”
“What nonsense…?!”
But Go Gyeom couldn’t finish his words. In that moment, Baek Sanha, unable to contain himself, intervened with a strike that instantly reached for his throat. A speed beyond imagination.
Thanks to that, his reaction was slightly delayed. It was fortunate that Ma Kang directly blocked it with his great sword; otherwise, it would have been over with that single strike. Go Gyeom bit his lip hard.
“…Thank you.”
“What did you say?”
“I said thank you for saving my life!”
“Save that kind of gratitude for later, if we survive.”
“Funny, do you think I’ll say it again?”
“It seems you still have the leisure to exchange banter?”
Just as Baek Sanha, enraged by Go Gyeom and Ma Kang’s blatant disregard for him, was about to swing his sword again, his eyes rolled back at the sudden killing intent that intervened.
“Kraaak!!”
“An Chu gave his back so easily?!”
“…Haha, it seems the young lady has come personally.”
It was a speed that even Go Gyeom himself couldn’t follow with his eyes. And having been hit by such an unexpected attack, the situation couldn’t be better than for himself, who had his shoulder pierced.
Of course, he didn’t sympathize.
After all, he brought it upon himself.
The first-class master who instantly beheaded An Chu, one of the Hundred Great masters, used that speed to join Ma Kang and Go Gyeom. Sua clicked her tongue and said.
“It’s a shame I could only kill one with the surprise attack.”
“That’s enough, young lady.”
“Now we can each take one. Or I’ll take two, including your share, so will you just rest quietly in the back?”
“Watch your mouth. I have a score to settle with that one.”
In the direction Go Gyeom pointed was Baek Sanha, glaring at them with bloodshot eyes. His appearance was closer to that of an evil spirit than a human.
“Although he’s a beast who has abandoned his humanity… As someone who was once a friend, isn’t it my duty to end this life that has fallen to beasthood with my own hands?”
“Do as you please.”
“By the way, young lady, what about the other young ladies…?”
“They’re currently dealing with the assassins disguised as attendants. Fortunately, as they weren’t martial artists above the second-class, my martial sisters should be enough.”
“That’s fortunate. Thanks to you, we’ve survived.”
Admiring the skills of the Sword Demon’s disciples who had competently handled the remaining concerns, Go Gyeom looked at Baek Sanha. Now it seemed he could finally resolve this ill-fated connection.
â—‡
Kwang! Kwang!!
While somewhat human-like battles were continuing above, a battle closer to a beast’s slaughter was taking place below the cliff. Mu myung frowned.
If there was a common point he had noticed when facing martial artists so far, it was that he could predict their sword paths to some extent. That’s why he could easily block or avoid them.
But the fight with the ones before him now was different. Movements closer to beasts than people. Movements faithful to instinct transformed into attacks that could not be predicted at all.
What was particularly confusing was that the claw hand swung from the front twisted in an impossible direction like a wave, ultimately avoiding the sword in front and plunging its nail into his chest.
“Kuk!!”
If he hadn’t twisted his body to avoid a direct hit, her nail would have penetrated Mu myung’s heart in an instant. But that didn’t mean Mu myung just took the hit without retaliating.
At the very moment her claw hand stabbed his chest, he simultaneously swung his sword and half-severed her arm. Of course, since it was close to an improvisation, he couldn’t completely cut it off.
At least sealing one arm in this fight was a sufficiently significant achievement. Although he couldn’t kill her immediately, if he fought by slowly chipping away like this, he could endure.
That’s what he had thought.
Right before his eyes.
Until she regenerated her mangled arm.
‘Come to think of it, there were certainly evil arts that could heal wounds.’
But wasn’t that something only master-level masters in the Evil sect could do? The woman, openly enjoying Mu myung’s dismayed expression, brought the blood on her nails to her mouth.
“Hmm~ Your blood tastes fresher than I expected. Like a young man.”
“He’s the Sword Demon. It wouldn’t be strange for his body to be healthy.”
‘These bastards… I’m not an old man, I’m thirty years old.’
However, Mu myung wasn’t thoughtless enough to mention that fact in this life-or-death situation. But he did briefly wonder if he should really shave his beard.
But it wasn’t entirely without gain. First, the evil art that regenerates the body consumes an enormous amount of internal energy. After all, it’s a evil art that only master-level masters can use.
At least they wouldn’t be able to keep using it so carelessly. And from the recent clash, Mu myung succeeded in figuring out the opponent’s strategy to some extent. By somehow landing attacks,
Their intention to gradually wear him down and kill him was obvious. At first, he was caught off guard, but not anymore. There’s a huge difference between not knowing and knowing.
“I now understand clearly what you’re trying to do. Let me give you some advice? Go beyond your best and attack me with all your might.”
“What pathetic bluff…”
“I’ll say it once more.”
At that moment, the two masters of the Evil sect unconsciously retreated more than five steps. The shabby-looking old man who had been right in front of them had vanished.
And in his place was a giant who could step forward and crush them like insignificant ants. Finally, the old man, imbued with a presence as massive as a Mountain Tai spoke.
“Attack with all your might. Otherwise…”
You’ll die instantly.
