Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Not One to Trifle With
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"Don't worry, it's just ordinary bandits-53 (53/178)"
[EP.53] Not One to Trifle With.
"Dokgo Young-!!"
Jeok Yeom unleashed his full killing intent and leaped toward Dokgo Young. His massive build paired with speed that belied his size.
The sight of him charging with a battle axe bristling with sharp edges was utterly terrifying...
'Damn it.'
But to anyone who'd reached a certain level of skill, it was nothing more than a crude, brute-force attack.
Dongryong immediately glanced at Dokgo Young's face. He could tell from the faint smile there that Dokgo Young was thinking the same thing.
"Jeok Yeom-! Stop-!!"
Dongryong belatedly drew his blade and chased after Jeok Yeom, but the excited bandit had already closed in right up to Dokgo Young.
Whoosh-!
Jeok Yeom swung his axe at Dokgo Young with ferocious momentum.
But...
Swish-.
Dokgo Young simply leaned back to evade the obvious path, then drew his sword.
Striking second to seize control first.
The Dokgo clan's swordsmanship was a swift blade that pierced multiple vital points simultaneously.
It was optimized for deflecting an opponent's attack and countering into the resulting opening.
Even now, Dokgo Young could see Jeok Yeom's vitals blatantly exposed after that single axe swing.
'...A shame, but shall I send one off first.'
With that thought, Dokgo Young unleashed his sword forms.
Viper Seven Styles.
Shaaa-.
Serpentine killing strikes, like fangs bared, poured straight onto Jeok Yeom's body.
Slash-.
"Huh...!"
Jeok Yeom's thigh was sliced first, and only then did he realize his mistake—but the next strikes were already incoming for his vitals.
He twisted his body late and tried to block with his axe, but the eerie swordplay of the Dokgo clan twisted its trajectory as if mocking him.
'No...'
At that moment...
Boom-!
A fierce blade wind blasted through, shattering Dokgo Young's sword qi entirely. Fortunately, Dongryong had intervened just before it could slice Jeok Yeom's vitals.
"Jeok Yeom-! You alright-!"
"My thigh got cut, but it's nothing serious. But..."
Jeok Yeom gritted his teeth, eyeing Dongryong's shoulder.
"...I'm sorry. I lost my head and got you hurt, Second-in-Command."
The shattered sword qi must have flowed toward Dongryong, as blood was trickling from his shoulder.
"This is nothing. More importantly, that guy—is he...?"
"Yes, the one we mentioned before."
Dongryong waved off the self-reproachful Jeok Yeom a few times, then stepped forward.
Ahead of him, Dokgo Young stared back with a slightly surprised expression.
"Hmm... His internal energy isn't deeper than mine, even after I took spirit pills since childhood... To shatter Viper Seven Styles with mere blade wind..."
It wasn't a full-power strike, but Dongryong had blocked it effortlessly, so Dokgo Young couldn't help but be surprised.
Of course, that didn't mean he was scared.
Thump-.
The emotion surging in Dokgo Young now was pure battle lust.
The martial world had been far too peaceful lately. The Martial Alliance regulated disputes in the jianghu and suppressed larger conflicts—that was its role.
But since Dokgo Young joined the Alliance, had there even been any real disputes?
At best, trouble from petty unorthodox riffraff, minor power struggles between mid-sized sects, or small-scale border skirmishes with the Demonic Cult.
That was it.
There were plenty of monsters stronger than him, but they only ever sparred by agreement—never true life-or-death battles.
But now...
"Haa..."
He'd finally met one. A real enemy.
His heart pounded, his hands itched.
His body screamed to kill the bastard right away.
Feeling sweat from the thrill, Dokgo Young aimed his sword at Dongryong.
"Yes... I just want to lop off your head already."
"......"
Dongryong watched him with a meaningful gaze.
And then...
"You must be itching for it too. Let's start right aw—"
"Hold on."
...He raised a hand to halt Dokgo Young, then said something to Jeok Yeom behind him.
"...Pardon? Ah, yes. Understood."
Having received orders from Dongryong, Jeok Yeom nodded...
Swish-.
...and slung his axe over his shoulder, stepping right up beside Dongryong.
Dokgo Young eyed the odd sight curiously.
"...What are you up to?"
"What do you mean? I'm just gonna fight alongside Jeok Yeom."
"What...?"
So he wasn't going one-on-one—he meant to gang up on him...?
In the martial world, ganging up with numbers on a lone foe was reviled, regardless of whether the opponent was stronger or weaker.
"Have you no pride or honor?"
Dokgo Young, who'd lived his life as an upright orthodox sect member prizing honor above all, was momentarily flustered, but Dongryong replied proudly.
"Does honor or pride put food on the table?"
"...What?"
"Our Boss always says: even if the enemy seems evenly matched, always gang up on 'em if you can."
"......"
Ignoring Dokgo Young's dumbfounded look, Dongryong infused his voice with internal energy and bellowed to those around.
"Listen up-! From now on, pair up with whoever's next to you and gang up to annihilate the enemy-! Whatever you do, don't go one-on-one-!"
"Yes-!"
"...And don't die-!"
Swish-.
Finishing his words, Dongryong readjusted his grip on his blade.
And then...
"Let's go, Jeok Yeom."
"Yes, Second-in-Command."
...He charged at Dokgo Young alongside Jeok Yeom.
**
He'd encountered weaklings ganging up before.
The weak had to do whatever it took to survive. Teaming up raised their odds.
But Dokgo Young swore he'd never...
...seen a martial artist of decent attainment stoop to ganging up.
Those types prided themselves on their personal prowess and saw it as cowardly.
So why...
Boom-!
Was this bastard, with such skill, charging in so shamelessly?
Clang-!
"Urk-!"
Mid-thought, Dokgo Young's and Dongryong's blades clashed. Dongryong's ferocious momentum forced Dokgo Young back a step at first, but...
Clang-.
Soon, Dokgo Young's deeper internal energy gained the upper hand. But...
Whoosh-!
Jeok Yeom's axe came flying at Dokgo Young's head from above, breaking his momentum.
Again.
Whenever Dokgo Young built up some rhythm, Jeok Yeom swung his axe to disrupt it.
Jeok Yeom's attacks were crude and predictable—easy to dodge—but perfect for breaking flow.
For Dokgo Young, who needed to seize control with swift strikes and rush in, it was utterly frustrating.
The enemy outnumbered his allies. He could see his subordinates struggling against their swarm tactics.
And above all...
"...This isn't fun."
Unable to maintain flow or draw blood, it was no fun at all.
His heart raced wildly, but they wouldn't engage him properly. And...
"Take this-!!"
Boom-!!
That bandit king's blade work.
At first, he'd thought it pure Northern Peng Clan style. But... something was off. It felt laced with some alien martial art.
Fiercer and more domineering than the Northern Peng Clan's, making its momentum overwhelmingly savage.
It clashed badly with the Dokgo clan's swift, piercing swordsmanship.
"Hoo..."
Feeling stifled, Dokgo Young glared at the two before him.
Supporting each other perfectly, holding firm with blade and axe—it pissed him off.
'These damn bandit scum...'
He hated seeing their resolute expressions. He wanted to twist them into grimaces.
Just then...
"......"
...His eyes caught other bandits.
Each busy with their foes, full of openings. And then... a good idea struck.
The enemy was unorthodox. No need for him to fight fair—they weren't playing nice either.
So...
Rather than dragging out this boring fight, why not vent his killing urge on the weaklings—and maybe draw out that guy's openings?
"Yes... When you're hungry, don't pass up the scraps."
"What do you...?"
The moment Dongryong's attention faltered at Dokgo Young's sudden mutter.
Flash-!
Dokgo Young spun and leaped toward the other bandits.
"Everyone, watch out...!"
Dongryong shouted, chasing after, but...
Slash-!
"Arrrgh-!"
In that instant, Dokgo Young's sword had already pierced another subordinate's back.
"You bastard...!"
Dongryong's pursuit threw off his stance briefly. More than that, spreading the battlefield made it hard for the slow-footed Jeok Yeom to keep up.
'Ah... So that's how to do it.'
Seeing that, Dokgo Young grasped the strategy.
To execute it, he darted everywhere, slicing bandits down.
Slash-!
"Aaack-!"
"Urgh-!"
His nimble swordsmanship outpaced Dongryong's heavy blade work in speed.
Dongryong couldn't block him from cutting down subordinates as he ran.
Soon, as Dokgo Young leaped again to stab another bandit's back...
"Maknae-!"
"Uh...!"
Clang-!!!
...Was it Dongryong's shout that prompted it, or just fast reflexes? For the first time, Dokgo Young's sword was blocked.
Maknae barely parried the sudden strike, but...
"Eek..."
Screeech-.
His sword quickly gave ground. It looked like he'd fall to Dokgo Young's blade any second.
Dongryong poured internal energy into his feet and leaped to strike Dokgo Young's back—!
Thud-, spin.
As if he'd been waiting, Dokgo Young kicked Maknae's gut to send him flying, then whirled to face Dongryong.
"Finally caught you."