Fate (6)
Thud!
Pa Sa Leok was flung backward, shock clouding his eyes.
What the hell is this guy?!
Thwack!
Yeon Hojeong lightly kicked off the ground and closed the distance in an instant. His speed wasn't overwhelmingly fast, yet it was strangely hard to counter.
Whoosh!
Boom!
It was heavy. Even drawing up every ounce of his Sumi Yeok Bul Gong protective energy, the force still bent Mo Yong Woo's waist backward.
"You bastard!"
A crimson glow flared around Pa Sa Leok's massive fist as it scorched the air, aiming straight for Mo Yong Woo's head. It was swift and sharp. Taller than Mo Yong Woo by a head, his body armored in muscles pushed beyond human limits, yet he wielded incredibly fluid and rapid techniques.
But that was all.
Mo Yong Woo, now fully focused on his opponent, unleashed martial arts on an entirely different level.
Bam-bam!
Pa Sa Leok's eyes widened in disbelief. The fist infused with Bul Yeong Sin Gwon power was instantly deflected upward. Layered palm strikes had disrupted its trajectory.
Crack!
Pa Sa Leok's face twisted in agony.
Damn it.
A whipping kick struck his abdomen, sending a sharp pain lancing through him. Even with his Do Geom Bul Chim body, impervious to blades, he felt pain? That meant his opponent's attack power surpassed his defenses.
"You dog!"
It was a betrayal from the body he believed unbreakable unless struck by a mountain hermit of the Nine Great Peaks or a top elder of the Six Great Clans. Pa Sa Leok stomped the ground hard.
Boom!
The earth trembled violently. Mo Yong Woo's eyes flashed.
Thud!
Leaping into the air to evade the incoming shockwave, Mo Yong Woo gripped his Tang Ma Greatsword with both hands.
Sever.
Flash!
The heavy blade grazed Pa Sa Leok's shoulder. It was a strike meant to decapitate him in one blow.
Pa Sa Leok's flexible evasion shone in that moment.
He's composed himself well.
His body looked endlessly sluggish on the surface. But the reality was different. The power from his well-developed muscles was immense, his joint flexibility rivaled any Central Plains master, and his movements were as nimble as a swallow's.
The bandit leader who preyed on commoners' blood had honed his martial arts to perfection. It was a body and art in perfect harmony of strength and softness.
Clang!
Mo Yong Woo blocked the barrage of fists with the flat of his greatsword. A true martial artist knew the precise timing for attack, evasion, and defense. Those who advanced further could execute two or three at once—wielding evasion and attack in a single breath.
Pa Sa Leok was such a master. That was why he could fell armed foes barehanded with ease.
But.
Whoosh!
Mo Yong Woo's form appeared at Pa Sa Leok's rear left flank. Urgency flickered across Pa Sa Leok's face.
That's all you have.
Boom!
"Guh!"
Pa Sa Leok staggered. He twisted to counter with a fist strike, but Mo Yong Woo's greatsword carried the weight of a mountain.
Bam!
Closing the gap, Mo Yong Woo swung with blinding speed.
Slash-slash-slash!
"Urk!"
A dozen sword wounds bloomed across Pa Sa Leok's body. This assault had only sliced flesh again. It hadn't severed muscle or bone. But Pa Sa Leok realized.
Deeper?!
The cuts were subtly deeper. As he recoiled in alarm, the greatsword extended, biting into his pectoral.
"Hng!"
Clang!
He smacked the blade away with his fist and hunched forward. Blood trickled down.
Pa Sa Leok's eyes shook. This strike had not only cut skin but sliced muscle. He hastily constricted his muscles with qi to staunch the bleeding, but the spurt had been considerable.
"Getting the hang of it now."
Pa Sa Leok glared at Mo Yong Woo.
Flash!
A terrifying light blazed in Mo Yong Woo's eyes as sky-blue qi surged from his body.
"I've finally gotten used to your toughness."
Pa Sa Leok's face contorted.
Used to it? Just getting accustomed allowed him to cut what he couldn't before?
"You little punk, trying to end this neatly...!"
Then—
Boom!
Thud!
"Aaaargh!"
"R-Run!"
"Leader! Leader!"
"Boss! We have to retreat!"
Rumble!
Pa Sa Leok's eyes bulged. The wall linking inner and outer camps crumbled as his subordinates poured in. They weren't fleeing—they'd been pushed back here by the enemy's overwhelming force.
Whoosh!
Beyond the surging bandits, someone radiating explosive energy emerged.
Boom!
Boom!
Like leaves in the wind. Black-and-white chains writhed, tearing out throats; the dragon-shaped great axe swept through, shattering bodies to pieces. It was the charge of a three-headed, six-armed monster no one could stop.
The killing intent of the one massacring the bandits rippled like flames. The title War God fell short.
And behind that War God, a divine archer danced through the air, drawing her bowstring.
"...What."
Pa Sa Leok's pupils quivered.
"What the hell is that madman?!"
Then Mo Yong Woo spoke.
"It's the Myeol Sa Army Leader."
"What?"
"The commander of the Myeol Sa Army, the Central Plains' greatest latecomer known by the epithet Bi-san Tiger General, eldest son of the Yeon family. And..."
Mo Yong Woo readjusted his grip on the Tang Ma Greatsword.
"My sworn brother."
Boom!
A thick vein bulged on Pa Sa Leok's forehead.
"Eek!"
It was monstrous power. Having witnessed Yeon Hojeong's mad exploits, Mo Yong Woo's own fighting spirit blazed.
Pa Sa Leok crossed his arms to block the sword strike but was still pressed back by the overwhelming strength.
Drip.
The greatsword dug deeper into his muscles.
No!
Pa Sa Leok accurately assessed his state.
I'm losing.
Losing wasn't the issue. The problem was he could actually die here.
Escape!
Honor and pride meant nothing to Pa Sa Leok. As Mo Yong Woo had said, survival was always his highest value. And it was the same for all who bore the name bandit.
Pa Sa Leok bellowed.
"Everyone, scatter...!!"
Thud!
"Graaak!"
Pa Sa Leok dropped to one knee. An invisible arrow had struck his back.
A qi arrow—Mu Yeong Tan. Muk Bi, slaughtering bandits dozens of paces away, had loosed a furious shot. If it had been an iron arrow instead, his life would have ended.
For Pa Sa Leok, it was a stroke of immense luck.
Crack!
Blood sprayed from Pa Sa Leok's mouth. Mo Yong Woo's knee had smashed his jaw.
Bam-bam-bam!
Mo Yong Woo's eyes gleamed. He'd aimed to sever the neck in one blow, yet even amid desperation, Pa Sa Leok blocked with fists and palms. Tenacious bastard.
Of course, it wasn't without result.
Slash!
Pa Sa Leok's left index, middle, and ring fingers were severed.
"Eek!"
Boom!
Slash!
Pa Sa Leok hurled himself left. Mo Yong Woo's sword sliced his back, but he'd broken free somehow.
Mo Yong Woo's eyes flashed.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Then—
Clank!
A chain pierced the blood-misted air, coiling around Pa Sa Leok's throat.
"Guhk!"
Fearsome killing intent poured from Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
"Come here."
Shing!
The Gyo Ryong Swai tensed, yanking Pa Sa Leok into the air.
Flash!
Mo Yong Woo's greatsword shot forward like lightning.
Slash!
A response that drew involuntary admiration. Throat chained, airborne, yet he twisted to evade the sword-flash. He took a grievous back wound but avoided being bisected.
Insane will to survive. His ability to read killing intent was beyond imagination.
"Raaargh!"
Boom!
Pa Sa Leok stomped the ground with both feet and yanked the chain. His innate superhuman strength, amplified to the limit by Sumi Yeok Bul Gong, plus mortal peril—monstrous power beyond comprehension.
But his opponent was the wrong one this time.
Hummm!
Vermilion Bird Qi of fiery heaven infused the Gyo Ryong Swai.
"Hup!"
Boom!
Pa Sa Leok's body lifted into the air again.
What, what?!
Pulled back despite his explosive yank. And the enemy was using just one hand!
Pa Sa Leok's pupils dilated. There stood the blood-soaked monster glaring at him.
"Aaaargh!"
Thud!
Pa Sa Leok's legs were severed below the knees.
Boom!
The legless Pa Sa Leok crashed to the ground. Yeon Hojeong stomped his face.
Splat!
Nose crushed, teeth flying. Right cheekbone caved in. Pa Sa Leok's trembling body went limp.
He'd passed out.
Yeon Hojeong looked at Mo Yong Woo. A glance conveyed his intent.
Mo Yong Woo shouted loudly.
"Everyone, stand down!"
Hummm!
His voice boomed across the field, no less thunderous than Pa Sa Leok's sound arts.
"You've lost! Drop your weapons now!"
Terror etched the bandits' faces. Beside Mo Yong Woo, Yeon Hojeong lifted Pa Sa Leok by the nape, his killing gaze fixed on them.
Chill!
The remnants of the Hwarang Group shuddered in fear. The sudden axe-wielding monster had inflicted massive casualties. Unfatigued, he emanated destructive energy while holding their boss aloft, eyes promising death.
Clank!
Clank!
Bandits dropped their weapons one by one. Simple folk, they surged with morale when ahead but crumbled irreparably when broken. Their greatest strength became fatal weakness.
The limit of bandits. For those prizing survival above all, no noble last stand existed.
Mo Yong Woo sighed.
Is it over?
Then his gaze shifted to Yeon Hojeong, who slowly shook his head. The killing intent in his eyes burned fiercer.
Surprise crossed Mo Yong Woo's face.
Kill them?
Yes.
They've surrendered. No need to...
Easier without weapons.
...!
Don't worry. I'll bear the karma.
Mo Yong Woo's eyes widened in alarm as he spotted the formations. When had it happened?
Yeon-je?!
Yes. From the moment they entered the fray, Yeon Hojeong had considered not just enemy annihilation but minimizing allied losses. That's why he hadn't broken through one point to crush them utterly—more kills, but greater friendly casualties.
Flashing east, flashing west, clustering allies. Unbeknownst to them, Tang Ma and Myeol Sa Armies had encircled the Hwarang Group perfectly. Optimized for ambush.
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong tossed Pa Sa Leok aside like trash and glared at the bandits.
And not just that. While Tang Ma Army relaxed in victory, every Myeol Sa soldier's eyes mirrored Yeon Hojeong's. They'd seen this countless times.
Yeon Hojeong said coldly.
"Myeol Sa Army, hear my command."
Whoosh.
Killing intent spread like mist.
"Send them off cleanly."