Time of Resurrection (4)
Gasp!
Sa-hon Troop Leader Kyung-san’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets in shock.
Pa-ba-ba-ba-bak!
He swept away every flying stone fragment and splinter of wood with a single hyop-bong sword. It was extraordinary swordsmanship. To deflect that many stones and wooden shards not with slashes but with thrusts—a technique specialized in piercing—meant his sword art had reached a profound realm.
And that was just the beginning.
The entire Sa-hon Troop were masters of the sword path. Moreover, they had cultivated a special inner art that allowed them to recover their depleted internal energy with just a few breaths. They also mastered techniques specialized in shattering enemy auras, capable of pulverizing even the most powerful martial arts.
In short, the Sa-hon Troop was a force optimized for battles against fellow masters.
Furthermore, they had never failed a single mission in their history.
But the situation now was dire. Their opponents weren’t lone masters rampaging on raw power—they were an army.
Piuuuuung! Peo-eok!
It was invisible to the naked eye. A single iron arrow sliced through the darkness, piercing straight through one Sa-hon Trooper’s skull. Terrifying archery.
Kyung-san bellowed, “There’s an archer! Close the distance and take out the archer fi—!”
Peo-eok!
An iron spear sent another Sa-hon Trooper flying. Its sheer power was horrifying.
The charge of warhorses, combined with the spear arts of the secular world’s top expert from the Ami Sect who had mastered their advanced techniques, was lethally devastating in itself. And she wasn’t alone.
Cha-cha-cha-chang!
The synchronized spearwork of ten spearmen whirling as one unleashed tremendous destructive force. It was the advancing spear formation led by Song Yeon-gyeong and the Ami Sect spearmen.
The barrage of Tangma Spears raining down from horseback was pushing the entire Sa-hon Troop back.
Fearsome power. Murderous martial arts.
“Disperse!”
At Kyung-san’s shout, the Sa-hon Troop split sharply to the left and right.
Kwa-rung!
Kyung-san, about to issue the attack order, suddenly felt his jaw drop.
Behind the central spearmen pressing forward, forty-odd cavalry split precisely in half and charged. As if they had anticipated the split, the horses moved with immediate precision.
Huuuung!
A light piercing the darkness unleashed a chilling killing intent. Without exception, every soldier infused their weapons with peak true energy.
The blades of swords and sabers gleamed under the moonlight, brilliantly illuminating the wide mountain path.
Muk Bi shouted, “Charge!”
Hee-hee-hee-hing!
With earth-shaking neighs that rattled heaven and earth, the troops swung their weapons in unison.
Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeong! Kwa-ang!
Kyung-san’s eyes twitched.
‘Strong!’
The Sa-hon Troopers grouped in pairs or trios, shattering or deflecting enemy attacks. Yet they were still being pushed back. The overwhelming force made perfect defense impossible.
‘Damn it! The terrain...!’
They had clashed in a place where they never should have. The Sa-hon Troop had been climbing the mountain path, while the suddenly appearing Myeol Sa Army was crushing down from above.
No matter how elite the Sa-hon Troop, they couldn’t exert full power in such unfavorable terrain.
That was when it happened.
‘Killing intent?’
Kyung-san instinctively ducked his head.
Piuuung! Peok! Kwa-ang!
It was a bone-chilling moment. The iron arrow that grazed Kyung-san’s hair pierced a Sa-hon Trooper’s chest, then obliterated the tree trunk behind it.
The jaw-dropping power left Kyung-san speechless.
‘This is too strong. Archery like this in the world...?!’
Kwa-rung!
“Kwaaaak!”
A scream finally rang out.
It wasn’t from the Myeol Sa Army. It came from a Sa-hon Trooper’s mouth.
Seok!
Yeoguk, who had thrust her sword into one Sa-hon Trooper’s chest, cleanly severed his neck.
A precise, murderous sword strike. The martial arts of Kunlun—called the holy land of Taoism—unfolded as a deadly killing move.
Kyung-san roared, “What are you doing?! In group combat, we won’t lose!”
In that instant, the Sa-hon Troopers’ eyes changed.
Paa-aak!
They scattered at terrifying speed. Some climbed trees, others leaped high into the air, and some burrowed deep into the ground.
The Sa-hon Troop, which had lost composure to the sudden enemy appearance, now began to live up to their moniker as the “troop of death.”
The dispersed troopers swung their hyop-bong swords toward the Myeol Sa Army.
That was when it happened.
Pi-pi-pi-ping! Peo-beo-beo-beok!
“Krak!”
“Keuk!”
Seven Sa-hon Troopers attempting overhead strikes from midair vomited blood and flew backward.
Cold fury flashed in Muk Bi’s eyes.
“You dare.”
Formless Bullet: Sevenfold Volley. An advanced realm of shooting formless arrows with internal energy. Though lacking the power of real arrows, its destructive force was ample, especially with the advantage of rapid fire.
“Kuhuk!”
The repelled Sa-hon Troopers spat blood again. None were dead, but every one suffered internal injuries.
Kyung-san’s face twisted viciously.
Muk Bi shouted, “Don’t hold back—kill them all!”
Kwa-rung!
After the divine archery came the devastating cavalry charge. Myeol Sa soldiers scattered individually, swinging weapons at the Sa-hon Troopers.
Jjeo-jeo-jeong! Kwang! Peo-eok!
Fearsome power. They had been strong before, but the current Myeol Sa Army was different from the past.
Whatever training they had undergone in recent months, even in mountain warfare where mobility suffered, they naturally overwhelmed the enemy.
Truly, man and horse as one.
As if they had trained for mounted combat from their first martial arts lessons, they fought like battle-hardened veterans.
Kiiing!
A Sa-hon Trooper’s extended hyop-bong sword clashed against Yun Ho’s shoulder guard and bounced off. It wasn’t luck. Yun Ho had twisted his body exquisitely to block with the guard.
The Sa-hon Trooper’s eyes widened in shock. Yun Ho’s sword spat fire.
Chwaaaaak!
A chillingly sharp sword strike tore the Sa-hon Trooper’s body into five pieces.
The charging horse’s momentum, honed saber techniques, and Hwasan internal energy made aura-shattering useless.
The Sa-hon Troop’s strength lay in quick reactions and teamwork, but scattered like this, they couldn’t exert proper power.
Peo-eok!
Cheok Gang’s brutal saber strike severed a Sa-hon Trooper’s arms and legs entirely.
Kwaaang!
Dong Ho’s Dead Leaf Hand exploited a gap to crush a Sa-hon Trooper’s face.
A chain of ruthless attacks. But their eyes held no hesitation. They had changed.
Cheok Gang, once endlessly passionate; Dong Ho, who once retched at the smell of blood; Yun Ho, always full of mischief. All had transformed into battlefield demons.
Regardless of their true personalities, in combat, they moved like killing machines focused solely on slaughtering the enemy.
Hwaaaaak!
Flames of energy roared like a blaze, unleashing a tyrannical storm that could fell a mountain.
Kwaaaang!
Three Sa-hon Troopers flew back from a mighty horizontal saber sweep. Herculean martial arts, iron-blooded blade law.
The work of Paeng Manho’s massive saber.
“You bastards...”
Unlike the other soldiers, Paeng Manho was different. His twisted face and blazing eyes resembled those of a wrathful demon.
“You dare go after my brother-in-arms!!”
Indeed. The Myeol Sa Army could have killed more efficiently. But now, they prioritized overwhelming power and brutality over efficiency.
Because they were furious.
A cold rage, hidden deep and festering. The Sa-hon Troop had tried to kill Yeon Hojeong.
Their first impression of him hadn’t been great, but now Yeon Hojeong was more than just a superior to them.
Because of him, the Myeol Sa Army existed. Thanks to him, every soldier had gained priceless experience as true masters.
To them, Yeon Hojeong was a leader worthy of the title.
For such grotesque unknowns to hunt and try to kill their leader—it was only natural they couldn’t contain their rage.
Paeng Manho bellowed, “I’ll crush you all!”
The massive saber-sword and spears, along with swirling auras, swept over the Sa-hon Troop.
Kwa-rung! Kwa-ang!
The Sa-hon Troop was no ordinary foe. Even scattered and unable to unite their strength, they were one of Muk Ryong Bu’s elite units. Even without fully unleashing their deathly arts, they were the ones who had kept even the world’s Yeon Hojeong Troop from annihilation for half a shichen.
“Kill them! Kill!”
“Don’t fall back! Hold!”
“What are you doing?! Target the horses!”
It was an unexpectedly fierce melee.
The Sa-hon Troop, mobilized on Yang Cheon’s orders, wouldn’t yield easily.
Then, Muk Bi’s Hong Ryeon Palace spat threatening flames.
Peo-eok! Peo-eok!
In this chaotic brawl, the power of an archer like Muk Bi was enough to tip the scales. With precise single shots, she had already blown off five Sa-hon Troopers’ heads.
Her attacks were too fast and sharp to even shatter the auras. Perhaps, for the Sa-hon Troop, Muk Bi was an even harder opponent than Yeon Hojeong.
That was when it happened.
“You bitch!”
Hwuk!
Muk Bi’s eyes flashed. Kyung-san had closed in right before her, unnoticed. Had he used stealth? She hadn’t sensed his presence until now.
“Die!”
In that instant, Muk Bi’s body moved dazzlingly.
Kwang!
“Kuhuk!”
Kyung-san staggered back five steps. With one hand gripping the reins and the other the horse’s mane, she unleashed a kick technique. To execute such power from an unsteady mount was unbelievable.
Muk Bi swiftly nocked her bow.
Ta-ta-ta-tang!
Five formless bullets exploded the ground and trees. Kyung-san was no ordinary leader. His footwork, dodging every formless bullet while closing in, was exquisitely masterful.
Hwuk!
Kyung-san lunged again, targeting Muk Bi’s leg. Fury blazed in her eyes.
Jjeee-eong!
Kyung-san’s eyes widened. The hyop-bong sword that should have pierced her thigh was blocked by something and bounced back.
‘An arrow?’
No. It wasn’t an arrow.
Kyung-san, hastily checking her hand, gaped.
‘A spear!!’
Yes. Muk Bi, who had slung her Hong Ryeon Palace on her back, now held a short spear.
Not the long spears of the Ami Sect spearmen. The four-chi short spear looked too brief at first glance, but it was light and elastic.
Muk Bi said in a chilling voice, “Knew you’d try something if you got this close?”
“...You bitch!”
Muk Bi thrust the short spear vigorously.
Hwuk!
Jjeee-eong!
Kyung-san gritted his teeth.
‘What inner energy is this?!’
The penetrating force was monstrous. Aura-shattering wasn’t working properly. Her internal energy—no, her skill itself—was as tricky as facing a supreme master.
Muk Bi bellowed, “Stop wasting time and kill them all! We’re not here to vent!”
At her commanding shout, every Myeol Sa soldier’s eyes gleamed.
Kwaaaang!
The Myeol Sa Army, now focused on swift annihilation, pressed the Sa-hon Troop with dazzling charges. The Sa-hon Troop, only just starting to respond properly, saw their momentum crumble like waves crashing over them.
Peok! Peo-eok!
Seok!
Sa-hon Troopers began falling, one by one, lifeless.
In the end, Kyung-san had to make the call. The order he absolutely didn’t want to give, but now had no choice.
“All units, retreat—!”
Then, a chilling voice rang out.
“Not so fast.”
Chwa-rururuk! Peo-eok!
An iron chain flying at tremendous speed pierced straight through Kyung-san’s abdomen.
“Keuheok!”
As Kyung-san collapsed to his knees with a groan, a young man with a massive axe slung over his shoulder stepped forward.
Myeol Sa Army Leader. Four Gods Martial General.
The deathly commander, whose brutal title suited him far better than his name Yeon Hojeong, had finally regained his strength.
“You’ve seen my face. Can’t let you go.”
Muk Bi immediately hurled her short spear.
Peo-eok!
The short spear embedded in Kyung-san’s chest.