Chapter 150. Invisible Battles Are More Frightening (5)
Shark Mouth Stronghold, nestled in northern Hubei, was the youngest among the Green Forest bandit dens. Yet astonishingly, this outpost barely a decade old had grown into a force rivaling Mountain Lord Stronghold for supremacy in the bandit world.
It was all thanks to its master, the Blood Shark Death Blade Do Chil.
Blood Shark—shark dyed in blood. He had once been a rising star among the Yangtze River Waterway Stronghold's river pirates. No one knew why such a man had turned to the mountains as a bandit. What mattered was his exceptional martial prowess and commanding talent. He was even versed in the art of war.
For a pirate who had scraped by on the rivers to master land tactics was no small feat, yet Do Chil wielded strategy like a weapon.
Do Chil, the Green Forest's top fighter and greatest tactician—disaster had befallen him.
Creeeeeng!
"Kuhk!"
Under the onslaught of storm-like sword strikes, Do Chil ground his teeth and fell back.
"You damn whelp!"
"Shut up."
With a cold retort, the young man unleashed another barrage of strikes. It was Jang San.
Vroooom!
A resounding sword cry like it might burst at any moment swept in with a crisp sword wind.
Refreshing? Dodge, or die.
The sword Jang San wielded was the Pine Wind Sword, an ultimate technique of the Qingcheng Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.
Do Chil's straight sword whipped about wildly.
Clangclangclang!
Sword clashed against sword, sparks flying. Astonishingly, Do Chil's blade work outmatched that of Jang San, disciple of an orthodox sect. His explosive saber strikes wove power and skill in perfect harmony, enough to overwhelm most masters.
But Jang San had the martial legacy of Qingcheng, a pillar of the orthodox factions for centuries, at his back.
Chiriring!
Flutter!
Do Chil's eyes wavered.
This bastard again!
The relentless Shark Tooth Killing Sword sliced through empty air once more. A blinding evasion. Not particularly fast or intricate, yet somehow he'd slipped to the flank rear.
What kind of ghostly nonsense is this?!
Qingcheng's secret footwork, Azure Cloud Step. Footwork that flowed like azure clouds, effortlessly disrupting the opponent's attack line. When executed perfectly, it made offense and defense airtight.
"Hah!"
Thud!
With a shout, Do Chil stamped the ground and scattered strikes from his straight sword.
Creeeeng!
Jang San retreated to the rear once more. Surprise flickered in his eyes.
He's strong.
He'd honed his sword at Qingcheng for over ten years—not the pinnacle, but solid. Yet Do Chil surpassed that decade of training; he was the real deal, a true master.
No mere bandit leader to be underestimated.
If I hadn't blended Azure Cloud Step with sword principles to boost my practical combat ability, I'd be dead already.
And that wasn't all. Every bandit in Shark Mouth Stronghold was a trained martial artist. One had to wonder where he'd recruited such scum and turned them into bandits.
Clangclang!
Splat!
Thwack!
"Kaaack!"
"Left flank! Push from the left!"
"Yeon-gyeong! Stay together!"
"Rear attack incoming! Cover the back!"
It was utter chaos, a field of asuras.
Fewer than fifty men and women scattered, striking at Shark Mouth's bandits. They were the Myeol Sa Army's soldiers.
Thwack!
"Tch!"
Dong Ho's three swords severed two bandits' necks. He'd cut the enemy. The eerie sensation made his fingertips numb.
No! Don't hesitate!
Grinding his teeth, Dong Ho charged again, thrusting fiercely.
Boom!
Another bandit spewed blood and collapsed. Mount Hua Sect's pinnacle art, Dead Leaf Hand, had landed true.
"You little brat!"
Vrooom.
A bandit leaped high, swinging a massive blade. Overwhelming killing intent. So thick it seemed to blot out the sun.
Yun Ho shouted.
"Danger!"
In that instant, a cloud-like palm force struck the bandit's side.
Boom!
"Guhk!"
The man lost balance mid-air. Dong Ho swung savagely at the falling foe.
Slash!
Splatter!
Half his neck severed, the bandit sprayed blood as he fell.
"Hah! Hah!"
Dong Ho's breath came ragged. If that palm hadn't landed, his life would've been forfeit.
Strong martial arts meant nothing without wide vision. He was freshly reminded of combat's brutality.
"Thanks, Yeo sister!"
"Not the time for thanks!"
Flutterflutter!
Yeoguk closed in at terrifying speed, grabbing Dong Ho's collar and yanking him down. His torso naturally tilted diagonally.
Yeoguk thrust her sword as if she'd planned it.
Thud!
"Gurgle!"
A precise strike piercing the throat. Swift, refined single sword.
"Get it together! Zone out and you're dead!"
"Yes! Don't worry!"
"Don't make me worry, you fool!"
Yeoguk, Dong Ho, and Yun Ho burst out in three directions, swords flashing.
Splatter!
Spraying blood dimmed the sunlight, and death's shadow cast futility over the earth.
The Myeol Sa Army's fifty soldiers formed teams, pressing Shark Mouth Stronghold.
Three months of hellish training, yet they were still unpolished. Some showed gaps, others shuddered at the feel of piercing flesh. Their foes were bandits versed in martial arts—who knew where they'd learned. Three hundred strong, killers as routine as eating. And this was their home turf.
Not easy prey even for the rigorously trained Myeol Sa Army. A single slip meant death.
A deadly melee demanding utmost focus.
Of course, some shone like fish in water, flaunting brilliant martial feats.
Thwack!
A powerful kick sent a bandit vomiting blood to the ground. One Kick One Kill.
Point Cang Sect's secret Flying Bow Treading Wave Kick—Cheok Gang's merciless strike buried in the foe's gut.
"Gang, aren't you too ruthless? Whoa!"
"Watch your left!"
Slash!
"Argh! Hey! I said left!"
"Left from my side! Damn it!"
Whoosh!
Ting!
A sword strike like lightning felled another bandit. For all their grit, the Myeol Sa Army still faltered in real battle. Movements uncoordinated, lacking cool assessment.
But they had one new weapon: guts.
Flash!
A fierce blade whistled past her nose. Half an inch closer, and both eyes would've flown.
Yet Song Yeon-gyeong didn't blink.
"This much."
Thwack!
The Subduing Demon Spear's forward thrust pierced the bandit's chest.
"Is nothing compared to the Army Lord's axe."
Crack!
A backswing shaft shattered another bandit's collarbone.
"Just a breeze."
Snap!
Indestructible Divine Leg's short strike snapped a bandit's neck.
Emei Sect reveres Buddha. Their arts rival the world's best, but not with such killing fervor.
Song Yeon-gyeong and her spearmen wielded Emei arts differently. Secular disciples with talent enough to access the sect's secrets.
Now unleashing killing intent, each strike became unstoppable slaughter, ravaging foes.
Most striking on this field. Centered on Song Yeon-gyeong, Emei disciples' spearwork formed an iron fortress, smashing enemies.
Thudthudthud!
Clang!
They'd pierced to the enemy's heart. Crushing all who approached.
They'd grown most in training.
"Not bad."
Yeon Hojeong nodded from the hill overlooking the battlefield.
"This level after three months? Decent."
"...Jeong-ah."
Yeon Hojeong glanced at Jegal A-yeon. Her face was pale.
"What the hell did you do to them?"
"What?"
"Who'd imagine those are orthodox sect disciples...?"
She was too shocked to finish.
Paeng Manho felt the same.
What the hell is this hellhole?
Dong Ho's clumsiness? Qingcheng disciples' sluggish responses? Meaningless.
Awakened to battle, the Myeol Sa Army unleashed terrifying power.
A bandit stronghold gunning for Green Forest supremacy—with power to raze minor sects overnight. Yet the Myeol Sa Army pressed them.
Without a single death.
"It's all about this in the end."
Yeon Hojeong thumped his chest with his fist.
"Guts to advance and strike even as blades fly at your face. The venom to crush the enemy before dying, even in death."
"..."
"That's what they learned these three months."
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
"First few days, some couldn't eat or sleep. A few got really cut."
"Gasp! For real?!"
"Ok Cheong was one. See? His movements lack finesse. Wounds healed, but that first day's internal injuries linger."
They gasped.
"Internal injuries not fully healed?"
"Yeah."
"And you still deployed him? What if he gets chronic illness!"
Yeon Hojeong's eyes chilled.
"Enemy blades are blind. No foe politely checks your condition."
"...!"
"Trained enough and still die? That's your limit. No one's fault but your own—pure luck."
Yeon Hojeong spoke bitterly.
"That's real combat. War. Survivors live, the doomed die."
Heavy words, born of experience.
Even after learning Four Gods Martial Arts and descending the mountain, he was just a greenhorn. His infamy as the Black Path's deadliest came from clawing through kills and survival.
Yeon Hojeong looked skyward.
Why? Watching the Myeol Sa Army stirred memories of Black Emperor Castle days. True warriors who'd risked all to unify the Black Path with him. Of those surviving to found it: himself included, just seven.
"They'll live."
"...?"
"They'll survive. Not the type to die here."
"...How do you know?"
"They weren't the only ones risking lives. I staked mine training them."
"..."
"Anyone seeming likely to die, I dragged them personally and etched life's desperation into their bones. With that sincerity, they can't die easily."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"They'll do well. Gotta go home and do big things when the Myeol Sa Army disbands someday."
Jegal A-yeon, watching quietly, smiled faintly. Yeon Hojeong's fingers trembled minutely, arms crossed.
The ruthless man fearing no enemy was anxious watching his army fight.
"Don't worry."
"Hm?"
Jegal A-yeon grinned like a hero.
"You made me the Myeol Sa Army's strategist, right? I'm a genius at this stuff, you know."
"Oh yeah?"
"I won't let our friends die. Never."
No absolutes in the world. Not in battle, martial arts, or relations.
But Yeon Hojeong wouldn't spoil her resolve with empty words.
"Yeah. Count on you."
"Heh heh."
"Don't laugh so sleazily."
"Sleazy?!"
Then Muk Bi spoke.
"It's over."
Qingcheng's Jang San beheading Do Chil marked the end. Longer than expected, but zero casualties.
Jegal A-yeon exhaled deeply.
"Whew, watching made my heart race."
"No time to gawk. Patch up quick and move to the next target."
"Gasp! Again?!"
"Yeah."
Yeon Hojeong looked skyward again.
"Before this autumn ends, we'll clean up as much of the Black Path as we can."