Chaos (3)
“Over there.”
Moyong Woo looked at Kang Liang.
“Is that the place?”
“Yes, it is.”
Kang Liang’s eyes fixed between the small peaks.
“The operational principles of assassins share similarities with spies. Since they cannot openly reveal their names and must operate in the shadows, they thoroughly conceal their main base as a matter of principle.”
“Hmm.”
“However, places that are excessively devoid of human presence should be excluded. The principle of the darkest place is under the lamp applies to assassins as well. Top-class killers often live disguised as merchants, courtesans, or butchers.”
“But if it’s the Shadow God, the story changes.”
“Correct. The Shadow God is the king of the assassin world. He has no choice but to hide completely. It is not a position where the ‘darkest under the lamp’ principle applies.”
“So even if he builds an impenetrable fortress, he does not blend into the lives of ordinary citizens. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Exactly.”
Moyong Woo’s eyes gleamed.
“The earthquake struck in a region roughly fifty li from here.”
“If we head there, we’ll be annihilated. They will have prepared a trap, a death formation designed so that no one can possibly return alive.”
“Hmm.”
“I found it suspicious from the beginning. The location I heard from the Black Dragon Department Lord through my sworn brother—Alliance Leader Yeon—was similar, yet the terrain was subtly different. That is why the intelligence advisor secretly concluded that the earthquake site was the Shadow God’s main headquarters.”
“It was an understandable assumption.”
Kang Liang smiled bitterly.
“It is the way of assassins and the way of the Dark Faction. Having lived under constant pursuit, setting up double and triple traps is standard. Without them, survival is nearly impossible.”
Moyong Woo gazed at Kang Liang.
He knew the man’s origins. Kang Liang was the successor to the Guicheol Sword Sect, the greatest sword sect of the Dark Faction. After a traitor within the sect destroyed everything, he had become a lone avenger.
Yes. Kang Liang carried a grudge that demanded resolution. And one of the targets of that revenge was none other than the Black Dragon Department Lord, Yang Cheon.
“Were you not resentful?”
The question came out of nowhere, but Moyong Woo had to ask.
Kang Liang tilted his head.
“Of what?”
“You met Yang Cheon alongside the Alliance Leader.”
“……”
“We did.”
“I know this is not an appropriate question for a moment like this, but I still wish to ask. The King of Combat, Yang Cheon, is your mortal enemy. You cannot live beneath the same sky, yet all you did was meet once and return.”
It was a question that bordered on rude. The fact that the usually disciplined Moyong Woo would ask it at all proved how deeply he trusted the strength of Kang Liang’s mind.
Kang Liang shook his head.
“You are correct, but the order of my revenge is different.”
“Different order?”
“To conquer the Dark Faction, Yang Cheon destroyed countless sects, including the Guicheol Sword Sect. Sometimes he acted directly. Other times he used schemes and spies.”
“So I have heard.”
“He is a conqueror. His forces are powerful enough to match the title, and his personal martial prowess stands at the peak of the Jianghu.”
Kang Liang gave a bitter smile.
“He is the final enemy I must topple, but the time is not yet right. With my current strength so lacking, how could I possibly target Yang Cheon? Besides, I do not possess the strategic mind or keen insight of the Alliance Leader.”
“……”
“That is why Yang Cheon cannot be my primary target. The one I must kill first is the traitor who betrayed our sect.”
“I see.”
Moyong Woo let out a long sigh.
“I pay respect to your self-control. Even seasoned veterans of the Jianghu struggle to restrain themselves before their enemies. Yet at your young age, you already understand what must come first.”
“You overestimate me. Truthfully, I don’t even remember how I kept my expression under control. The moment I saw Yang Cheon, all I wanted was to draw my sword.”
“……”
“But that would have been meaningless. Yang Cheon didn’t even spare me a glance.”
“Is that so.”
Kang Liang ran his hand along his sword hilt.
He was recalling the day he had stood before Yang Cheon with Yeon Hojeong. Even now, far more composed than he had been then, the memory made rage surge through him.
“When I deal with the traitor who destroyed my sect, I have no interest in distinguishing between proper and improper methods of revenge. I will kill him in the most miserable way possible, no matter what it takes. But Yang Cheon is different.”
“……”
“He probably didn’t even realize I was the successor of the Guicheol Sword Sect. To him, I was likely nothing more than another common warrior brought along by the Alliance Leader.”
“……”
“I will make him look at me. I will become strong enough to draw his eyes no matter the circumstances. Only then will I declare my revenge against Yang Cheon.”
Moyong Woo nodded.
“You will manage it. That much I can guarantee.”
It was not merely because of Kang Liang’s talent.
Beyond that, the man possessed a frighteningly tight grip on his emotions. Moreover, he was surrounded by the geniuses of the Yeon family and outstanding senior swordsmen.
Kang Liang would grow strong. At a terrifying speed.
Before anyone realized it, he would explode with growth and become a powerhouse whose name would be carved across the world.
“The conversation has grown long. Shall we go strike the enemy’s main base now?”
“Let’s. Ah, before that—I heard you made a separate request to the intelligence advisor.”
“It wasn’t quite a request. More like a small scheme I cooked up with the Alliance Leader.”
“A scheme?”
“What else would one request from an intelligence organization? Information, of course.”
“……?”
“You will understand naturally once we arrive.”
“Hmm. Then I’ll wait and see.”
Clang!
Moyong Woo drew the Tangma Greatsword.
“All troops, advance.”
Rumble.
The five hundred warriors of the Tangma Army crossed the ridge.
And one hundred and fifty li behind them, a master radiating golden true qi raced forward at terrifying speed.
A hand-blade strike infused with sinister yin fire qi that could sever even the toughest defenses.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The Mad Dragon Axe flew through the sky.
The weapon, repelled by the enemy, followed the movement of the Flood Dragon Chain and drew a wide arc before hurtling back toward the earth.
Boom!
Rocks shattered. The ground overturned.
Though a gap in martial realm existed, the destructive power of the Mad Dragon Axe was already charging toward the pinnacle of the martial world. Even if countermeasures existed for its techniques, its raw destructive force could not be ignored. Whether it was Yayul Jeok or So Bang, no matter how much stronger they were than Yeon Hojeong, allowing a direct hit from the Mad Dragon Axe would inflict fatal wounds all the same.
Crash!
The movement of the Flood Dragon Chain was astonishing.
It handled the weight of a weapon exceeding eighty catties—multiplied several times over by centrifugal force—with effortless grace.
This was not simply due to the chain’s special material. It was because Yeon Hojeong’s internal energy control while wielding the Flood Dragon Chain had reached an exquisite, extreme level of refinement.
Clatter!
As the Flood Dragon Chain retracted, the Mad Dragon Axe floating in the air returned to Yeon Hojeong’s hand.
Yayul Jeok’s eyes deepened.
“Impressive.”
Yeon Hojeong was strong.
Beyond his martial realm, his skill in handling both heavy weapons and irregular arms was artistic. Furthermore, his movement technique had reached the ultimate peak, perfectly supplementing his weapon skills and allowing him to avoid any attack.
It looked as though one could easily close in and land a strike, yet he had already slipped outside the line of attack. It was a baffling feat.
At least in movement technique, he is not beneath me.
Yayul Jeok was a master who had received high praise even within the Saum Sect.
That same man had entered the previous Shadow God’s tutelage and mastered the strongest assassination arts of the Central Plains. He had reached the absolute peak in both direct martial confrontation and killing techniques.
In terms of martial versatility, he even held a slight edge over So Bang. At least, that was what Yayul Jeok believed.
This bastard…
Flash!
Yayul Jeok closed the distance at terrifying speed and swung a hand-blade strike.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The taut Flood Dragon Chain suddenly slackened, neutralizing the force of Yayul Jeok’s attack.
This bastard is even better than me!
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong was sent flying backward. Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He had deflected most of the force, but the tiny fraction he could not completely disperse had shaken his internals.
To only suffer this much after deflecting the Yin Fire God Slash?!
That was not all.
Whoooosh!
The true qi that surged from Yeon Hojeong’s body in an instant was wood qi brimming with vitality, reminiscent of a spring day.
After that wood qi flashed like lightning, the disturbed aura around Yeon Hojeong stabilized in the blink of an eye.
Yayul Jeok’s eyes trembled.
He healed his internal injury? In that instant?
Was such a thing even possible? And even if it were, to boldly focus on healing an internal wound while facing a master of higher realm than himself?
This guy.
Yet it did not end there.
Bang!
Yeon Hojeong had already stepped in front of So Bang, who was rushing toward Ok Cheong and Sama Hyeon.
It was an action that defied imagination. While locked in fierce combat with the legendary master Yayul Jeok, he had used lightning-like footwork to protect the two and swung his axe.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
So Bang’s face twisted.
The trajectory of her Blood Yin Palm was shattered in a single moment. Yeon Hojeong’s Mad Dragon Axe had chopped apart the flow of blood qi that was about to link into a continuous palm strike.
“You son of a bitch!”
Boom!
Blood sprayed from Yeon Hojeong’s mouth.
Even though he knew the exact counter to the Blood Yin Palm, the difference in raw power was overwhelming. When she abandoned technique and struck with pure, extreme internal energy, even Yeon Hojeong found it difficult to block.
The situation was different from when he had formed the formation with Muk Bi, Ok Cheong, and Yeo Guk. Back then, the power of the formation had let them overwhelm So Bang. Now he had to endure her full strength alone. Even the incarnation of real combat known as Yeon Hojeong could not easily dream of a counterattack beneath such wave-like, oppressive power.
It was then.
Flash!
A streak of white light shot straight toward the center of So Bang’s chest.
So Bang, who had been about to press in for a follow-up strike, recoiled in alarm and leapt aside.
Boom!
The White Dragon Axe grazed her collar, then completely shattered a large boulder behind her.
So Bang’s eyelids trembled faintly.
“Huk! Huk!”
Yeon Hojeong breathed heavily.
Despite his pale face, his aura had stabilized once more. He was igniting the energy of the Wood Spirit Pill Yang Cheon had given him with Blue Dragon Qi, seizing control of his internal injuries moment by moment.
Of course, that was not the only factor. Though Yeon Hojeong’s combat sense could be discussed as the greatest under heaven, the healing power of the Blue Dragon Qi alone was clearly insufficient to face two such opponents.
“So that’s how it is.”
Srrk.
Yayul Jeok had already moved to So Bang’s side. His gaze turned toward the rear of Yeon Hojeong.
There stood Ok Cheong. The Wudang Daoist had gathered his hands, collecting Taiji true qi while keeping his eyes fixed on both Yayul Jeok and So Bang.
“They were able to deploy a formation even with just the two of them.”
Whoooosh.
The divine arts of Wudang possessed a harmonious range that touched every orthodox cultivation method under heaven.
Behind Yeon Hojeong’s flexible and unbreakable true qi stood Ok Cheong.
Ok Cheong was the axis of the formation. At the same time, he was supporting Yeon Hojeong’s qi circulation with the pinnacle divine art known as Mixed Origin Qi.
Yeon Hojeong’s real-combat ability, combat sense, extreme weapon mastery, and overwhelming movement technique.
It was only because Ok Cheong supported all of it that they could endure while being endlessly pushed back.
However.
While So Bang was fighting with full power, Yayul Jeok had not yet used his own full strength. It was the ingrained habit of an assassin—to achieve maximum efficiency with minimum force.
If we continue this way, we cannot win…
Suddenly Yayul Jeok’s eyes flashed.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
“Keuk!”
Yeon Hojeong’s body slid backward. Had Ok Cheong not supported him from behind, he would have been forced back another three zhang.
So Bang looked at Yayul Jeok with startled eyes.
Yayul Jeok extended his hand, radiating thick killing intent. That strike had contained his full power.
“So Bang! This is no time for games! Use every ounce of your strength and kill them!”
“What?”
“These bastards aren’t trying to fight us.”
Yayul Jeok’s face distorted.
“They’re stalling! They have some kind of scheme!”
It was then.
Whoosh!
From the far side of the escape route, five heavy auras approached with frightening speed.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.
“They’re here.”
The personnel capable of deploying two Myeolsa Three Kills Formations.
Five of the soldiers stretched across the center of Guangdong Province had arrived, already forming their ranks.
Yeon Hojeong swung the Flood Dragon Chain.
Clatter! Clank!
The Flood Dragon Chain was caught in Yayul Jeok’s hand.
Yeon Hojeong smiled coldly.
“I don’t know about that bitch, but you’re not going anywhere.”