Chapter 57. Justification for Battle (1)
Myeong Onji was flustered.
What the hell is that?
Wooong! Wooong! Wooong!
A translucent blue energy flickered in and out, piercing through a turtle-shell pattern to form the shape of a snake. It was an astonishing sight.
When qi density was high, its color often became visible to the naked eye upon release, but this shape was different somehow.
It's intent!
Yes. It wasn't mere qi. It was qi molded into form by powerfully tempered intent.
Myeong Onji was purely shocked. For qi to take shape according to one's will was nearly impossible even for peak masters.
"You... what the hell are you?!"
That was when it happened.
"Kahh! You bastard!"
A faint golden glow spread from Myeong Do's body. Myeong Onji's eyes wavered.
"Myeong Do! No!"
Pahak!
His eyes rolled back in rage as he charged at Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
Peureok!
Myeong Do's fist was blocked by Yeon Hojeong's palm.
Not bad.
The fist power transmitted through his palm was considerable. He had easily blocked it with Black Tortoise Qi in his hand, but it was force enough to shatter a thick tree trunk.
Ududuk.
Myeong Do's eye twitched. The fingers wrapping around his fist seemed ready to crush it at any moment. Tremendous grip strength.
"You bastard!"
Tuwoong!
He struck the back of Yeon Hojeong's hand with his forearm to free his fist, then swung wildly like a madman.
Pababapak!
Myeong Do's eyes widened in shock. The martial art he unleashed was the Iron Chain Eight Fists of the Nine Provinces Prestigious Families. An improved version of the scattering strike Iron Chain Palms, it was a powerful fist technique that overwhelmed foes with continuous barrages.
Astonishingly, Yeon Hojeong was deflecting the entire barrage with one hand.
"It resembles the technique that third young master punk used."
Pahak!
Ududuk!
Myeong Do's eyes turned bloodshot. After deflecting sixteen punches, Yeon Hojeong snatched his wrist like a ghost.
Kuh!
His wrist bent. Then his entire body twisted to the right. The grip was so strong he couldn't escape. No, far from escaping, his forearm felt like it would snap under the tightening pressure.
Udududuk!
"Krahhhak!"
Just as Yeon Hojeong was about to completely shatter his arm.
Flash!
The sword wielders scattered in all directions and unleashed their sword arts. More cautious than before, but the blades' sharpness remained undiminished.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
Peureok!
Yeon Hojeong's foot slammed into Myeong Do's lower abdomen. Myeong Do's mouth gaped open as he dropped to his knees.
Right then, the Dark Killer Squad members' swords closed in.
Kuwoong!
Lowering his stance, he swung Myeong Do around.
Huh!
They hadn't expected him to grab a man's arm and swing him like an object. At tremendous speed, no less. The startled Dark Killer Squad members withdrew their swords.
Yeon Hojeong released Myeong Do. Three squad members caught the flying man.
Myeong Onji's eyes flashed.
Now!
Teoreong!
She charged at Yeon Hojeong in an instant. Her speed was blindingly swift.
At the same time, Yeon Hojeong's form blurred like mist.
Huh!
Myeong Onji was horrified. As if he'd anticipated it, Yeon Hojeong was charging right at her. The closing speed defied imagination. The moment she kicked off, he was already half a jang away.
Kwang!
Myeong Onji's body flew backward. The impact wasn't great. Her martial art focused on the flower-branch grafting method, absorbing ordinary blows with ease.
But what shocked Myeong Onji wasn't Yeon Hojeong's power—it was the attack itself.
A body slam?
To send someone flying with such a reckless charge?
What kind of power...?
And it didn't end there.
Teoreong!
After sending Myeong Onji flying, he spun and charged the rearmost Dark Killer Squad member, his movements flowing like water.
Yeon Hojeong closed the distance in a flash. Finally, he swung his massive axe.
Jjeoeoeong!
The sword shattered in one strike. The panicked squad member dropped it and tried to unleash a fist strike.
Peong!
"Guk!"
The squad member crumpled on the spot. His shoulder bones shattered from the shockwave.
It was the Yeon Family's Chain Flying Swallow Palm.
How he'd executed it while wielding a heavy weapon and off-balance was impossible to fathom.
"Grab him!"
Sasak!
The Dark Killer Squad members leaping at Yeon Hojeong moved with fluid grace. No footfalls despite their speed.
The squad closed in again. From the rear, Myeong Onji gathered her qi, waiting for the decisive moment.
That was when.
...!!
Myeong Onji's face changed at the glance Yeon Hojeong shot her way.
This guy...?
Buwoong!
Peoreong!
The axe strike that broke the sword hadn't been full power. Amid the charging foes, he swung mercilessly, the circular shockwave keeping them at bay.
He knows our tactics?!
Pahak!
Not just that. After halting their advance, he charged a squad member at moderate distance and thrust the axe.
An axe was for cleaving, not thrusting like a spear. But at eighty geun, the heavy weapon made it a terrifying stab.
Kwajik!
The squad member spewed blood and flew without a scream. By the axe's weight, three or four ribs were surely broken. He was lucky to survive.
But that strike exposed a gap. The squad members swung at Yeon Hojeong's back.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes blazed blue.
Jjeojeojeojeong!
It was like a typhoon hit. One swing snapped ten swords like twigs.
Myeong Onji felt chills.
This can't be!
His martial arts transcended imagination, overwhelming in power. Prestigious family heirs or skilled warriors rarely used axes. A single sword could deliver heavy blows. Thus, few among heavy or giant weapon users were truly skilled—mere mountain bandits with basic training handled them.
But Yeon Hojeong was different.
Peureok!
Peoreok!
He smashed down to crush, thrust like a polearm to send flying. He stabbed to break bones, interspersed fist and foot strikes to fell foes. He freely shifted the heavy axe's center of gravity, adding punches and kicks as needed.
Rather than slicing with the blade, he bludgeoned with the flat to disable.
He was a whirlwind. Yeon Hojeong himself had become a massive vortex.
The entranced Dark Killer Squad members scattered like autumn leaves before his giant weapon mastery.
Chance!
Myeong Onji flinched as she moved to exploit a gap. Yeon Hojeong's eyes locked on her the instant she stirred. How many times had it happened? It felt like he saw through their every tactic.
What the hell are you?!
That was when.
"You son of a bitch!"
Pahang!
Myeong Do charged with a ghostly expression.
"I'll tear you apart!"
Yeon Hojeong's eyes burned. After punching one squad member away, he poured Bi-ra Jin-gyeol into the axe.
Wooooung!
A vivid blue aura rose from the blade.
Myeong Onji shouted.
"Myeong Do!!"
Yeon Hojeong's axe moved like lightning.
Peoreoreok!
Myeong Do's body split diagonally.
Cheolpeok!
His upper body, unable to halt its momentum, slammed into a tree and fell.
Kung.
The headless lower body staggered as if to step forward before collapsing.
Puhwaaak!
Massive blood sprayed. Intestines spilled from the cleaved torso, scattering on the ground.
"...!!"
Silence fell.
Yeon Hojeong grimaced.
No choice.
He'd preferred not to kill. But he couldn't spare someone charging with full murderous intent.
Myeong Onji's eyes shook violently.
"Do you... realize what you've just done?!"
Kwang!
One squad member flew into the air, dangling from a branch. Only one remained—two including Myeong Onji.
Yeon Hojeong shouldered his axe and spoke coldly.
"Time for round two?"
Tsutsutsu.
Killing intent finally rose in Myeong Onji's eyes. Yeon Hojeong had crossed an uncrossable line. Incapacitation was one thing, but killing—and butchering a prestigious family's kin.
Yet as Dark Killer Squad leader, Myeong Onji thought rationally.
He's strong. Without that martial art, a frontal fight is impossible.
But this was a forest. Open around the campfire, but dense trees just three jang away.
Myeong Onji decided.
"Dark Seven! Link with the other five and head to the branch!"
Pahaaak!
The last member headed west. Simultaneously, golden light rose from Myeong Onji—far superior to Myeong Do's qi.
Kuwoong!
She stomped powerfully and thrust a palm strike.
Kwang!
The explosive blast tore Yeon Hojeong's sleeve. Tremendous power—leaps beyond Myeong Do's strikes.
Teoreong!
Myeong Onji charged. Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
Fast, as expected.
The Dark Killer Squad's tactics were simple yet efficient: all charge to subdue. If outmatched, distract to create openings—for Myeong Onji's ambush.
Simple, but effective. Her soft features and demeanor amplified it.
Individually, she shone more in one-on-one than coordinating. Proven in their clashes.
Peopeopeong!
Jjeong!
Fast. Graceful like a peacock, yet thunder-quick fists and palms, each lethal.
Yeon Hojeong gripped the shaft with both hands.
Kwang!
Kwaang!
His axe was equally swift. Storm-like blows threatened life itself. Impressively, no gaps despite the massive weapon.
Peoreong!
Hup!
Myeong Onji staggered, back slamming a tree.
He pierced it!
Her left hand bled. She'd tried to deflect the iron axe strike, but its destructive power wounded her.
No ordinary attack to brush off. In offense, he outclassed her.
"Tch!"
Myeong Onji dashed into the forest. Yeon Hojeong pursued.
Myeong Onji's eyes gleamed.
Yes, chase me.
Open ground favored him, but dense woods were different. The iron axe was heavy and long—a giant, extended weapon ill-suited to tight trees.
Plus, he'd expended stamina felling the squad. Odds tilted her way.
Teoreong!
After thirty-odd jang, Myeong Onji turned behind the largest tree for ambush.
Fool! I'll end it here...
Myeong Onji's eyes bulged.
Hwaaaak!
Tree-blocked view. But azure energy flashed like lightning left and right.
Kwang!
The massive tree exploded like cannon fire. Through the debris, Yeon Hojeong emerged, axe raised, eyes ferocious.
"Is this the best tactic your tiny brain could come up with?"
"...?!"
"Spies, my ass."