Chapter 10
Chapter 10
10.
2.
Cutting Off Ma Su's Head (2)
The sparring match that had suddenly materialized caused an uproar in the training hall.
Un-hyeok and Neung Ja-pil.
Warriors surrounded the two in a circle.
"Waaaaah-!"
"Squad Leader, you must win! My bonus for this month depends on you!"
"Neung Ja-pil! Neung Ja-pil! Neung Ja-pil!"
Unlike the excited warriors, Mu-won couldn't just laugh it off.
"Brother…"
Neung Ja-pil was a first-rate expert who had achieved Sword Energy Wounding.
No matter how much Un-hyeok struggled, it was obvious he would suffer a quick defeat.
'I heard that Brother knocked down Black Bear. Could he be mistaking Squad Leader Neung for someone of similar skill?'
If so, it was a big problem.
Even if a hundred third-rate warriors like Black Bear rushed him, they wouldn't be able to touch Ja-pil's clothes.
The difference in skill between a first-rate expert and a third-rate was like heaven and earth.
'Should I stop him now?'
But that was a problem in itself.
If he ran away from the match, he would lose even more face than if he had lost.
He was worried that Un-hyeok might be hurt and go back to his old ways.
So Mu-won prayed earnestly.
'Squad Leader Neung, please be lenient when facing my brother.'
Meanwhile.
Un-hyeok and Ja-pil had finished their preparations.
The two stood facing each other, and Ja-pil frowned at Un-hyeok's weapon.
"Are you really going to use that for the sparring match?"
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"Ha, are you asking because you don't know?"
Unlike Ja-pil, who was holding a single sword.
Un-hyeok was holding daggers, each as big as his forearm, in both hands.
"Didn't you say we should treat the sparring match like a real battle? But you come with such pathetic weapons. Are you trying to insult me?"
"I'm asking, what's the problem?"
Ja-pil scoffed in disbelief.
"Dual wielding may seem like you can perform flashy techniques at first glance, but it's all show and no substance. The power is dispersed. On the other hand, a normal sword can concentrate power into a single point, making it more efficient."
In short, all that glitters is not gold.
Moreover, handling dual weapons required constant effort.
Unless you could draw a circle with your right hand and a triangle with your left, it was worse than using a normal sword.
"You're all about appearances. Do you think you, who have been living a life obsessed with women and wine, can withstand my sword?"
But what Ja-pil didn't know.
Un-hyeok chose dual swords as a way to capitalize on his own strengths.
Poison.
A means to inflict fatal injuries on the opponent even with a glancing wound.
To this end, Un-hyeok chose a flashy and unconventional attack method.
The moment the opponent lost their mind and was accidentally cut.
Swish-!
Crossing the River Styx would be instantaneous.
But Ja-pil, who had no way of knowing this, offered a suggestion as if doing him a favor.
"Pride is fleeting, but life is only once. It's not too late to kneel down and beg for forgiveness, and I'll let you off once for the sake of the Young Sect Leader."
"Hey, Neung Ja-pil. Did you get your Squad Leader position with your mouth?"
"What?"
"Why is your tongue so long?"
Click- Click-!
Un-hyeok moved his fingers to provoke him.
"Stop talking and come at me. I don't have time."
Looking like a hoodlum.
Ja-pil's veins bulged in his head for a moment.
"I was originally going to give you about five moves of leeway. But it doesn't seem like there's any need."
Ja-pil raised his sword and took a middle stance.
Un-hyeok picked his ear and said.
"Bullshit. Who's giving whom a break?"
"……."
"You don't mean you?"
Un-hyeok pointed at Ja-pil with his finger, then pointed at himself.
"Me?"
Snap-!
Ja-pil felt like a string had snapped in his head, and he rushed towards Un-hyeok.
"You bastard! I'll shut that venomous mouth of yours!"
"And you've been using informal speech since earlier."
Clang-!
Ja-pil's sword and Un-hyeok's dual swords clashed.
"So, you're a goner, huh? You can say anything to the Young Sect Leader now."
"The Young Sect Leader has to be worthy of the title!"
Ja-pil deflected the sword, gave it momentum, and stepped back.
He adjusted his stance and then swung his sword fiercely at Un-hyeok.
Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!
Un-hyeok frowned.
The impact coming through the sword's body.
His palms were tingling.
"Opening!"
Whoosh-!
Ja-pil's sword grazed the tip of his nose by a finger's width.
'If I'm not careful, I'll definitely be crippled somewhere.'
But even this was part of Un-hyeok's plan.
'I've succeeded in making him lose his reason for now.'
Un-hyeok's other specialty besides poison.
It was his verbal skill.
In the past, nine out of ten enemies who met Un-hyeok couldn't hold back their anger and rushed at him.
The fact that Ja-pil was recklessly scattering killing moves was proof that he was also furious.
Was it because he had shaken his psychology properly?
'His movements are excessive.'
Thanks to this, Un-hyeok was able to avoid Ja-pil's attacks, albeit barely.
In the meantime, Un-hyeok took in Ja-pil's moves.
'Greedy Wolf Sword Method. It's been a while.'
It was a martial art he had seen during the Central Plains Blood War, so he could still endure it.
But.
Crack-!
The dual swords, unable to withstand Ja-pil's attacks, cracked.
'This is a variable.'
In fact, Un-hyeok felt uneasy when he first saw the dual swords.
As was the case with most mass-produced items.
The quality wasn't great, but it seemed that even the Poison Demon Sect had neglected their management.
'Damn it, the warriors and the weapons are all a mess. It's already about to break before I even use Sin-gong.'
Un-hyeok grumbled inwardly.
'Damn it, isn't this too much!'
Once this sparring match was over, he would have to get new weapons right away.
A situation that looked desperate to anyone.
But Un-hyeok had the power to turn it all around.
'...It's okay. If I use the Ten Thousand Streams Return to Poison Divine Art, there are many ways to defeat him even without a sword.'
At that moment, Ja-pil burst into laughter.
"Kuhahaha-! See, what did I tell you? In the end, the sword couldn't withstand it."
"……."
"Still, it was unexpected. I didn't think you would last this long. But."
Whooooong-!
An intangible energy rippled on the surface of Neung Ja-pil's sword.
It was Sword Energy.
"I'll end it now!"
The moment Ja-pil raised his sword high and slashed diagonally.
Clang-!
Un-hyeok's dagger, which had blocked the attack, shattered into pieces.
While the fragments were scattered in the air.
'Now!'
Un-hyeok's eyes flashed.
The next attack was aimed at his left shoulder.
Without a moment's hesitation, Un-hyeok released the sword hilt.
At the same time as a green haze rippled from his entire body, sweat mixed with poison stained his hand.
In a fleeting moment, Ja-pil narrowed his brows.
'What is that…!'
Un-hyeok's arm moved so fast it couldn't be seen.
Dozens of fragments were shot out like hidden weapons.
It was the Continuous Soul Confusion Throwing Stars, one of the Sichuan Tang Clan's hidden weapon techniques.
'How does the Young Sect Leader know such a hidden weapon technique…!'
One of the fragments aimed precisely at Ja-pil's eye.
A situation where he had to avoid it at all costs.
Ja-pil hurriedly shifted his center of gravity, causing his body to sway.
But Ja-pil's sword did not miss Un-hyeok even in the midst of this.
'Such petty tricks…! I'll give up my flesh and take your bones!'
While dozens of fragments scratched Ja-pil's face.
Swish-!
Ja-pil felt the sensation of cutting something.
"……."
Blood trickled down from the wound on Ja-pil's cheek.
It could never be called a major injury.
On the other hand.
"Kugh…"
Un-hyeok's left sleeve was soaked with red blood.
Blood dripped down his arm.
"Not bad. You chose to attack rather than avoid it."
"……."
Tear-!
Un-hyeok tore off his sleeve and tied it around the affected area to stop the bleeding.
Ja-pil wiped the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand.
"So this is it. The backing you believed in that allowed you to act like a reckless puppy who can't tell heaven from earth."
No wonder that Dok Un-hyeok confidently asked for a sparring match.
He didn't know where he learned it, but he must have thought it was his trump card.
"Even that has been thwarted. You have no weapon in your hand. What are you going to do?"
Step-!
"Are you going to keep fighting to the end with that tattered arm?"
Step-!
"Or are you going to surrender and beg for forgiveness now!"
Ja-pil stood in front of Un-hyeok and aimed the tip of his sword at him.
"The match is over. You little brat."
The warriors who were watching burst into cheers.
"Waaaaah-!"
"As expected! Squad Leader, I believed in you! Thanks to you, I'll be able to drink a lot of alcohol with the money I won today!"
"Hmph, I knew it. There's no way the Young Sect Leader could beat the Squad Leader. It's impossible even if he's reborn."
"Neung Ja-pil! Neung Ja-pil! Neung Ja-pil!"
The situation was clearly Ja-pil's victory.
But it was strange.
He should be kneeling down and begging for his life right now, but this Dok Un-hyeok.
'...Is he smiling?'
Un-hyeok raised his head.
"How foolish."
"What?"
"To not even know what you've been hit with."
Ja-pil's head spun for a moment.
'Huh…?'
Suddenly, Un-hyeok's figure looked like two.
Soon, he felt dizzy to the point where it was difficult to stand.
'What is this…?'
Ja-pil's body tilted to the side and fell with a thud.
Un-hyeok looked down at him and bared his white teeth.
"Who said the match is over?"
Un-hyeok's shadow fell on Ja-pil's face.
"The real thing starts now."
Meanwhile, at that moment.
In Lyun Hui's office, Go-gu was chattering non-stop.
"As the Sect Leader knows, how dangerous is the Water Demon Cave."
"……."
"Once you go in, the probability of survival is less than 20%. But you're saying you're going to send Young Master Mu-won in anyway?"
Lyun Hui frowned.
"That's none of your business."
"Ehey, Sect Leader, are we strangers? How well I followed you in the past. How can you say such hurtful things?"
"……."
"And I'm also a father. Young Master Mu-won isn't even fifteen yet, so of course I'm worried."
Since there was no reason to respond, Lyun Hui remained silent.
He was just waiting for Go-gu to get tired and leave on his own.
But he was about to scratch Lyun Hui one more time.
"Is it because the disciples who have gone through the Water Demon Cave take up important positions in the church?"
"...What?"
"Isn't that right."
Go-gu shrugged.
"The trials of the Water Demon Cave are extremely difficult. It is said that if you pass them all, you can become a master of first-rate or higher."
The Demonic God Church would not leave such talents alone.
Therefore, many people challenge the Water Demon Cave even knowing that it is dangerous.
The Water Demon Cave was a kind of opportunity for promotion.
"It's truly unfortunate."
Go-gu shook his head.
"To think that you would drive Young Master Mu-won to his death for the sake of the Poison Demon Sect's revival. What should I do about this…."
"That mouth."
Lyun Hui glared at Go-gu with cold eyes.
"You'd better shut it."
Ooh-!
Lyun Hui's aura crawled up his ankle like a snake.
Soon, he felt like he was being strangled.
'As expected, the Absolute Poison Demon King. The name lives up to its reputation.'
No matter how much the Poison Demon Sect's fortunes had declined, no sect dared to devour them recklessly.
That was none other than because of Lyun Hui.
'Even though the Poison Demon Sect has weakened, the Absolute Poison Demon King seems to have become even stronger. Even more so than when he was active in the Great Demonic Blood War.'
It would be better to stop the pointless nagging.
Before Dok Ryeon-hwi's patience ran out.
Go-gu scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly.
"Oh dear. This loose tongue of mine doesn't seem to get fixed even as I get older. I'm sorry."
"...Don't cross the line. This is a warning."
"I will keep that in mind."
The moment Go-gu bowed his head to apologize, a shout erupted from the direction where the training hall was located.
"...?"
Wondering what was going on, Lyun Hui sharpened his senses.
'This, this can't be….'
The voices of the warriors he heard through his senses.
Lyun Hui couldn't help but be surprised.
'To think that my son and the Ink Shadow Squad Leader would be having a sparring match with real swords!'
Go-gu also saw Lyun Hui's bewildered expression and sharpened his senses, wondering what was going on.
And then, he smiled.
"Oh my. While we were talking, something interesting unfolded."
"Kugh…"
"I always feel this, but the Young Sect Leader is truly energetic. Seeing how he can't stay still for even a moment."
Bang-!
Lyun Hui kicked the chair and stood up.
As of now, there was no way Un-hyeok could beat Ja-pil no matter what he did.
He had to stop their match before he got hurt even more.
"...I'll get going first."
How urgent it must have been.
Lyun Hui left through the window after saying those words.
He quickly used his movement technique towards the training hall.
Seeing Lyun Hui, who had already disappeared into the distance, Go-gu leisurely opened the door and went out.
"Then, shall we go take a look?"
The corners of Go-gu's mouth formed an arc.
"I can't miss this good show."