Chapter 240: The World Doesn't Change (2)
Hm?
Hwa Won squad leader Won Dong tilted his head.
What is it? Did something happen?
For some reason, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him. Won Dong let out a light sigh.
One of the Hwa Won squad members asked, "What's wrong, Captain?"
"Nothing. Maybe I've just been thinking too much lately."
"Pardon?"
Won Dong smacked his lips. "I feel like our lord's been moving too aggressively these days."
"C-Captain."
"I'm just saying. Honestly, didn't we both join under him to make a name for ourselves?"
"...You're right."
"But our lord's reputation is in the gutter. He's even been pushed down the ranks by some young punk. What the hell is this?"
The Hwa Won squad member smacked his lips too. "We can't just switch sides now, though."
"Exactly."
Won Dong sighed deeply. "Forget it. Talking like this won't change anything. We just keep living as we have."
"Tch."
"Tighten up again. It probably won't happen, but who knows what might blow up."
"No way that's happening."
"Hey, what if it does? Then what?"
"Speaking of which, even that new intelligence chief is a peak expert who's broken through Mujongjibyeok. And our lord's martial arts are incredible too."
"True, but..."
"Crucially, the intelligence chief is here as the vice-leader's proxy. Killing him would put us at odds with the world's strongest, the man who claims to be number one under heaven. Unless we strike first, he won't make the first move easily."
"...Yeah, you've got a point."
Won Dong looked at the squad member with admiring eyes. "You're smarter than you look."
"Heh heh, just some street smarts. I hear the Moyong family head's supposed to be brilliant."
"That's what they say."
"I can think like this, but someone like the Moyong family head wouldn't make a mistake, right?"
"Mm, but listen."
"Yes, Captain."
"What if the Moyong family head's in a particularly foul mood today... or whatever, and he actually causes an incident? What then?"
"What then? We'd be in deep shit for real..."
It was then.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out, and a massive door flew through the air.
The squad member's eyes went wide. "...War breaks out."
Won Dong whistled.
Pweeeet!
The shrill sound pierced their ears, and the entire Hwa Won squad rushed toward the explosion.
Won Dong shouted, "Surround the command hall... Gah!"
Flash!
A bolt of lightning-like gleam blinded his vision.
And that was the end.
Thud!
Won Dong collapsed, his head severed.
It was a merciless, lightning-fast slash. Though not on Hwa Won's level, Won Dong had reached a realm similar to the late Won Gak, yet he lost his life in one strike.
And it didn't stop there.
Flash! Flash!
Every time a sharp blue sword gleam flashed, four or five Hwa Won squad members were bisected horizontally.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"What's going on?!"
"This is bad! Contact the other Twelve Branch Gods quick... Ack!"
The lightning-fast, ferocious sword gleam turned a dozen-zhang radius into nothingness. It was an astonishing display of Sword Qi Gong.
Under the invincible swordsmanship that flashed silently, the Hwa Won squad was reduced to ruins in an instant.
And that wasn't all.
"Run! Get out of here!"
"......"
"Hey, you idiot! Gah!"
Slither.
A death god descended without a sound, delivering silent doom. An terrifying assassin darted like invisible smoke, stabbing daggers into the vital points of the Hwa Won squad.
The last surviving Hwa Won squad member, one of the Four Apes, muttered in terror.
"Wh-what the hell is going on?!"
Kaboom!
A ferocious explosion echoed.
The squad member spotted someone flying through the air toward him.
"Intelligence Chief!"
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong crashed into the ground and spat up a mouthful of blood.
The squad member rushed to Yeon Hojeong. "A-are you okay?!"
Yeon Hojeong gritted his teeth and yelled, "Enemy raid! Call in all the remaining Twelve Branch Gods!"
"Understood!"
The squad member turned and shouted, "Enemy raid!"
His booming voice carried over a hundred zhang.
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong's hand blade swung.
Slash.
The squad member's head flew off.
"You."
Moyong Gun appeared before the annihilated Hwa Won squad, his face twisting like crumpled paper.
"What the hell have you done?"
"Kyaak! Ptoo!"
"Why didn't you kill him before he could shout?"
"Would it have made a difference?"
"What?"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh boom!
Four peak experts charged from all directions at terrifying speed, followed by three hundred warriors.
"Intelligence Chief!"
"Are you alright?!"
Yeon Hojeong glared at Moyong Gun and shouted, "Kill the Moyong family head! He's the one who ambushed us!"
Moyong Gun's face twisted sharply.
This bastard!
This was how things had to play out anyway. Killing Yeon Hojeong and luring in the entire operations team to disguise their deaths was the safe way out.
But even in the same flow, a single poor response could make things easier or harder.
Why does he keep making unnecessary trouble?!
Then, Hwan Sa approached Yeon Hojeong.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine—kill him now! He's far stronger than expected!"
The Hwa Won squad was wiped out, and even the intelligence chief had spat blood. There was no time to investigate.
Hwan Sa bellowed, "Everyone, kill Moyong Gun! I'll handle the chief!"
Whoosh!
Cheong Ho, Su Ryong, and Gwang Gyeon unleashed their killing intent in unison.
Moyong Gun, about to swing his sword, flinched momentarily.
These guys.
Their killing intent was no joke. Individually weaker than him, but with three auras crashing down at once, he couldn't ignore them.
Boom!
Cheong Ho stomped fiercely, unleashing his inner energy to the limit.
Crack! Crack crack!
Sinister sounds echoed from his joints.
Cheong Ho opened his maw wide.
Rooooaaarrr!!
It was a roar that sent chills down spines, twice as loud as a real tiger's and ten times more intimidating—a sonic art.
Whoosh!
And not just him. Su Ryong and Gwang Gyeon emanated far more formidable auras than usual, on par with those who had broken through Mujongjibyeok.
Moyong Gun's face hardened.
What the hell are these guys?!
They had been mere annoyances at first, but in an instant, they became tricky opponents. An unbelievable transformation before his eyes—this was the ultimate card held by the elite among the Twelve Branch Gods.
Yeon Hojeong shouted again, "Moyong forces are hiding by the western riverbank! Handle them with the remaining troops!"
Moyong Gun panicked for real. "You!"
Yeon Hojeong gave him no chance to speak. "What are you waiting for? Attack now!"
"Yes, sir!"
Cheong Ho, Su Ryong, and Gwang Gyeon charged Moyong Gun together.
And not just them—their subordinate units moved west as per Yeon Hojeong's orders.
Numerous peak experts clashed in chaos. It was utter pandemonium.
"Nngh."
Yeon Hojeong clenched his teeth, clutching his side.
Hwan Sa asked urgently, "Intelligence Chief! You okay?"
"Senior, get me out of the command area for now. I got hit by a Chimtu Gyeong."
"Gasp!"
A proper hit from Chimtu Gyeong could rupture organs at best, kill instantly at worst.
Hwan Sa quickly hoisted Yeon Hojeong onto his back. Though new, he had witnessed Yeon Hojeong's prowess firsthand. He couldn't let such a man die.
It was then.
Flash! Kaboom!
Hwan Sa and Yeon Hojeong's bodies lifted into the air.
Damn!
Looking back, the ground was cratered. It seemed to be from Moyong Gun's sword strike explosion.
You dog bastard.
While Hwan Sa hurriedly stabilized, Yeon Hojeong fell limply.
Thud!
Hwan Sa's face paled. Even a peak expert would suffer broken bones falling three zhang unprepared—let alone the injured chief.
"Intelligence Chief!"
Hwan Sa rushed to him.
It was then.
"Cough! You, come here!"
Yeon Hojeong spat more blood and called over an expert heading west.
Hwan Sa hurriedly asked, "Intelligence Chief! You okay?"
With a pale face, Yeon Hojeong said, "At least one of us must survive to report this to headquarters!"
"Yes!"
"But not me or you."
"Pardon?"
In that instant, Yeon Hojeong's hand twisted like a snake.
Pierce!
Gasp!
Hwan Sa's mouth gaped.
As consciousness faded, Yeon Hojeong's kind voice rang in his ear. "Thanks for everything."
Hwan Sa felt a surge of emotion.
Intelligence Chief! No...!
Slump.
Hwan Sa collapsed.
"Take Senior Hwan Sa and return to base! Hurry!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
The warrior hoisted Hwan Sa and sped away.
Immediately, color returned to Yeon Hojeong's face.
He scanned the surroundings.
Good.
Moyong Gun locked in mortal combat with three Twelve Branch Gods.
And far west, three hundred peak experts heading there.
Where's that guy from Moyong Gun's personal unit?
Yeon Hojeong was certain of Mu Yeon's presence.
Hummm.
Black Tortoise Qi arose, raising ambient humidity.
Lucky. One rippling presence was captured by the Black Tortoise Qi.
Mu Yeon, moving two zhang to Yeon Hojeong's right, was heading west at full speed—to support the Moyong forces.
Hummm.
Azure Dragon Qi surged from Yeon Hojeong's body.
Whoosh.
Liver function activated, forcibly healing his internal injuries at rapid speed.
No eyes on me now.
Flash!
In a burst of flame, Yeon Hojeong shot like a beam of light.
He escaped the command area in one breath.
Exploding Vermilion Bird Qi scorched his heart madly.
Moyong Gun.
Yeon Hojeong pierced the sky with unmatched speed.
Mission accomplished. Just escape cleanly.
Yeon Hojeong smirked.
But I can't miss this golden opportunity. Not just you—Muk Ryong Bu's momentum needs crushing too.
Thus, Yeon Hojeong vanished as a streak of light.
His destination: the main street where the operations team was moving.
Kaboom!
A heavy sword strike sent Cheong Ho, Su Ryong, and Gwang Gyeon flying back.
This bastard.
Moyong Gun couldn't focus on the fight.
What the hell is he scheming?!
Yeon Hojeong had pulled some trick—it was obvious.
He wanted to investigate immediately, but the situation was too urgent.
Fury peaked, but he couldn't chase Yeon Hojeong down.
After all, he was the mission commander; his job was to safely withdraw the entire operations team.
But why the hell?!
If he'd just stayed put, they could've returned safely to base. Why start this mess?!
Then, Cheong Ho's face paled.
"Gasp!"
Thud!
Gwang Gyeon, flung back again by Moyong Gun's sword strike, spat blood and asked, "Damn it! What's wrong?!"
Cheong Ho's eyes bulged red.
"Moyong Gun, you dog bastard!"
He ground his teeth and yelled, "Emergency! Headquarters was ambushed by Moyong family forces!"
"...!!"
Moyong Gun's face drained of color.