Chapter 655
Chapter 655
Chapter 655
Chwiririririt!
A single flexible sword swept fearlessly through the masked figures.
Puk! Pupuk!
"Kueok!"
"Eok!"
Blood sprayed and screams erupted.
Sa Biran's movements were so incredible they were hard to believe even while watching.
She became a gentle breeze, then a cascading waterfall, and at times blazing flames.
Ttadadang, chwirik! Puk!
"Keuaaak!"
The masked figures screamed and collapsed.
They were certain they had deflected her sword, yet the flexible sword curved like a lie and struck the vital point on their wrists.
Countless people dropped their swords and fell after being hit in their vital points.
And it wasn't just Sa Biran who was a problem.
The White Transformation Squad she led also fought remarkably well.
That was only natural since they were all disciples directly taught by Sa Bigang and Mae Seol-lan.
As such, each individual's martial arts were at a level that could not be ignored.
The leader of the masked figures, Blood Command Squad Leader Eom Cheol, ground his teeth inwardly.
While the Black Night Squad and Extreme Demon Squad had stolen the Magic Stones from the two families and returned, the Blood Command Squad remained behind to monitor the White Transformation Squad.
There were two reasons.
Since they had nearly faced annihilation in the trap set by the White Transformation Squad, they needed to observe their movements.
They needed to confirm how much the White Transformation Squad had figured out about their schemes.
The second reason was the Magic Stone that Ong Su-ryeong possessed.
In truth, they had gathered exactly the amount of Magic Stones they needed.
But more was always better.
It wouldn't hurt to have a few extra just in case.
Moreover, that Magic Stone was the one the Blood Command Squad's Vice Leader had failed to obtain previously, having been annihilated by Gu Gang-ryong and the White Transformation Squad.
It would be a lie to say there were no personal feelings involved.
In any case, for these reasons, the Blood Command Squad remained until the end and tailed the White Transformation Squad.
And they waited only for the moment when Ong Su-ryeong would be alone.
Having seen the White Transformation Squad's capabilities beforehand, they tried to avoid confrontation as much as possible.
And finally, the opportunity came.
But...
Kkagagang! Kkaeng!
Chachachang!
Metallic sounds ran rampant, and screams and shouts erupted in a tangled mess.
Yet it wasn't as if the enemy had superior numbers.
The White Transformation Squad numbered exactly ten people.
They had clearly handpicked only their elite forces to set up an ambush.
And Dan Li-hyeok, Dan Li-jeong's son, was fighting back with his great bow.
Naturally, the most troublesome person was none other than White Transformation Squad Leader Sa Biran.
Befitting Sa Bigang's daughter, she swept through the masked figures in all directions.
'The White Transformation Squad's military strength is stronger than I thought!'
Moreover, Ong Su-ryeong was using strange sorcery.
When she waved her hands, water pillars surged from the valley and then mercilessly poured down toward the masked figures.
What was even more astonishing was that as the deluge fell, each stream of water drove down as thin and sharp as arrows.
Chwaaaaaaaaa!
Syusyusyusyusyuk!
"Keuaaak!"
Puk! Pupupuk!
"Aaaaak!"
Sa Biran, Dan Li-hyeok, Ong Su-ryeong, and ten White Transformation Squad members.
The Blood Command Squad, numbering as many as fifty, was being pushed back against just these thirteen people.
At this rate, they would be fortunate not to be annihilated, let alone obtain the Magic Stone.
"Chit!"
Clicking his tongue, Eom Cheol lightly evaded one White Transformation Squad member charging at him and thrust his sword directly at them.
Jjeoeong!
With a loud friction sound, the White Transformation Squad member retreated while executing footwork.
The briefly staggered opponent swung their blade at the masked figure rushing toward them.
Eom Cheol swept his surroundings with a cold gaze.
Certainly, the Blood Command Squad had far superior numbers, but due to the enemies' unfamiliar fighting methods and high-level martial arts, the situation was nearly evenly matched.
Just then, Sa Biran's fierce battle came into his view.
Her martial arts were truly extraordinary.
Or rather, to be precise, the White Transformation Squad's martial arts themselves were that way.
They seemed like righteous techniques, then evil techniques, and sometimes even like demonic techniques.
With magic mixed in on top of that, it was truly dizzying to watch.
Compared to them, Sa Biran was better described as 'refined.'
But the reason for such a description was that each martial art was executed in perfect harmony.
Like classical martial arts passed down from long ago.
Yet those changes were unpredictable.
Ttadang! Chachachachang!
As friction sounds and sparks erupted, Sa Biran swept her sword once.
She appeared relaxed even while simultaneously facing over ten people.
Eom Cheol continued to watch for opportunities while occasionally flicking away White Transformation Squad members who charged at him.
When the battle was evenly matched, eliminating the enemy's head first was practically a rule.
If Sa Biran fell, the White Transformation Squad would lose their composure and panic.
And finally.
'Now!'
An opening in Sa Biran's defense entered his vision precisely.
It was an inevitable gap created from simultaneously facing over ten masked figures.
Of course, it lasted only an instant, but he had the skill to penetrate that gap.
Taat!
In that moment, he kicked off the ground and shot toward Sa Biran like a beam of light.
Swiiiiiik!
'Die!'
But just before his sword tip reached Sa Biran's back.
Kkwiaaaaaaaaang!
Once again, a ghost's wail erupted as a red beam of light flew in from the side.
"Heuk!"
Realizing it was Kang Qi, Eom Cheol quickly slashed with his sword.
Jjeoeoeong!
As the Kang Qi and sword collided, an eardrum-tearing noise exploded.
"Keueup!"
He ground his teeth hard to prevent his qi and blood from being disrupted.
'What kind of monstrous strength is this...!'
He had momentarily forgotten.
That bastard who shot arrows as soon as he appeared!
Where his gaze landed, Dan Li-hyeok stood with his bowstring released, looking this way with a deeply settled gaze.
Dan Li-hyeok shrugged his shoulders at Sa Biran and said:
"Beautiful women should always watch their backs. Men tend to follow them around."
Even while swinging her flexible sword, Sa Biran let out a small laugh.
She somehow wore an expression that showed she had believed Dan Li-hyeok would step in for her at least that much.
On the other hand, having his golden opportunity blocked, Eom Cheol glared at Dan Li-hyeok with a cold gaze.
"This damned bastard...!"
Paat!
In that instant, he kicked off the ground and flew directly toward Dan Li-hyeok.
Sswiaaaaang!
His blade cut through the air and fell toward Dan Li-hyeok.
Pababbat!
Dan Li-hyeok quickly retreated while executing footwork.
Tadaddat!
Swik swik swik!
Eom Cheol relentlessly pursued him while wildly thrusting his sword.
It was as if dozens of arrows were pouring down toward Dan Li-hyeok.
Ttadang! Ttang!
Dan Li-hyeok blocked with his bow while continuously retreating with footwork.
Papapapa!
Finally, Dan Li-hyeok even deployed Water Strider and crossed the valley.
Papapapa!
As Eom Cheol pursued Dan Li-hyeok, water spray erupted wildly from both their feet.
The water spray created so much mist.
At a glance, the two appeared as if they were playing with sword and bow atop hazy clouds.
Eom Cheol was inwardly surprised.
He had assumed his opponent must have learned archery.
In that case, they would inevitably be weak in close combat.
No one is good at everything.
Even that impressive Sa Bigang couldn't surpass Dan Li-jeong when it came to handling the bow.
Yet Dan Li-hyeok was fighting surprisingly well in close combat.
Even so...
"There are limits!"
Eom Cheol bellowed loudly and swept his sword upward.
Chyuaaaaa!
Water droplets splashed up as he sharply cut through the flowing valley water.
Dan Li-hyeok quickly leaned back and spun like a top.
Sswiaaaaang!
The blade narrowly passed his nose tip.
Simultaneously, water droplets that had sprung up from the ground struck his body wildly.
Whether it was due to added Kang Qi, the areas hit by the water droplets burned with pain.
The problem was what came next.
Eom Cheol's sword, which had shot into the air, twisted and immediately fell toward Dan Li-hyeok's head.
"It's over!"
In that moment, a chill ran down Dan Li-hyeok's spine.
'Ah, I'm going to die...!'
He had a premonition of death.
His life flashed before his eyes.
'Damn it, I really shouldn't have taken up the bow...!'
He suddenly felt it was unfair.
If he had just returned home from the start, he wouldn't be dying such a dog's death in a place like this.
Though it was truly only an instant, many thoughts passed through his mind.
In the distance, he caught sight of Sa Biran engaged in fierce combat.
'She doesn't even care that I'm dying....'
Feeling somewhat hurt inside, he squeezed his eyes shut.
Swiiiiiik!
Still, thinking it would look better to die with his neck severed rather than his head split open, he twisted his head.
But in that moment.
Chyuaaaaaaaa!
Suddenly, a water pillar surged up before him like a barrier!
Chyuaaaaang!
The water pillar took on a human form, raised its arm, and struck away the sword.
Papappat!
Eom Cheol's eyes widened in shock.
Paaaang!
Once again, the Water Person raised its large foot and struck Eom Cheol's chest directly.
"Keueok!"
Papapappat!
From that impact, Eom Cheol retreated to the edge of the valley while deploying Water Strider.
'What is that now...!'
As Eom Cheol's eyes widened, the Water Person crumbled as if it had finished its task.
Chwaaaaaaa!
Having narrowly survived the sudden event, Dan Li-hyeok also looked around with a bewildered expression.
Just then, Ong Su-ryeong, who had been extending both hands from the valley's edge, coughed violently and spat blood.
"Kuweek! Kulleok!"
Eom Cheol's gaze turned toward her.
'It's that woman!'
As he furrowed his brow intensely, he simultaneously launched his body toward Ong Su-ryeong.
Tadat!
"No!"
Dan Li-hyeok shouted and deployed Water Strider to cross the valley.
Papapappat!
Meanwhile, Ong Su-ryeong, whose body had weakened from forcibly using spirit arts, staggered with a deathly pale complexion.
In an instant, Eom Cheol slid up beside her, grabbed her while turning, and pressed his blade against her neck.
In the meantime, Dan Li-hyeok, who had crossed the valley, slid and picked up a fallen tree branch.
It was a fairly straight branch, which he intended to use as an arrow substitute, but it couldn't compare to a real arrow.
The moment Dan Li-hyeok nocked the branch on his bowstring and pulled it back.
"Stop!"
Eom Cheol's lion's roar resonated throughout the forest.
The voice infused with internal energy was so loud that night birds fluttered up and the valley's water stream churned wildly.
Of course, all the martial artists engaged in fierce battle flinched and turned to look at Eom Cheol.
Chachachak!
The masked figures and White Transformation Squad, who had been chaotically mixed together, naturally separated and formed a boundary.
As the masked figures lined up behind Eom Cheol, he looked at Dan Li-hyeok who aimed his bow at him, drawing a cold smile.
"Why don't you release that bowstring? Or are you thinking of gambling? Which is faster—your arrow or my sword?"
Having finished speaking, as he applied force to his hand, blood began to seep from Ong Su-ryeong's neck.
"......!"
Dan Li-hyeok flinched while keeping the bowstring taut.
It was truly a hair-trigger situation.
Everyone swallowed dry saliva and watched the two.