Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: The Black Sleeve
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Ok Ho-bang spoke, his expression utterly grave.
“A hundred of our top-tier mercenaries went, so under normal circumstances, wiping out Pung-ho-bang should have been a simple matter. However, as if anticipating this, Pung-ho-bang has also recruited exceptional experts.”
“Experts?”
“Yes. We haven't been able to obtain precise information, but we believe they are not unrelated to Hell Blood Castle.”
A glint appeared in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
Hell Blood Castle. Why would one of the Ten Demonic Sects involve themselves in something like this?
Reading Bu Eun-seol’s expression, Ok Ho-bang lowered his head in embarrassment.
“They consider our presence in Guizhou a thorn in their side. Besides, there was that incident before…”
He had put up the Yeong-sa-sin-geom as the prize for the martial arts tournament while secretly plotting to offer it to the lord of Hell Blood Castle.
However, because Bu Eun-seol participated in the tournament and foiled his plan, his relationship with Hell Blood Castle had soured.
‘Considering Hell Blood Castle's actions so far, it's possible.’
Hell Blood Castle was not only sensitive to profit but also tended not to interfere much in the affairs of its hall-master-level figures.
Having finished his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol asked.
“Do you have proof that these helpers are experts from Hell Blood Castle?”
“There have been no reports of poison arts being used yet… but the experts Pung-ho-bang brought in are said to be suddenly using strange poisons and hidden weapons. Most antidotes are apparently ineffective.”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed.
In a clash between factions involving large numbers of combatants, poison and hidden weapons were exceptionally effective tools.
Moreover, Hell Blood Castle was the grandmaster of poison arts.
If they were truly using the poisons and hidden weapons of Hell Blood Castle, the tide of battle could turn in an instant.
“But the mercenary bands, including Heuk-pyo, are fighting on without giving up.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded lightly.
“Excellent.”
“Pardon?”
“I will also register as a mercenary of Dong-pyo-seo-rang.”
Realizing Bu Eun-seol’s intention, Ok Ho-bang shook his head with a grave expression.
“Absolutely not.”
“What do you mean?”
“Young Master, are you not already in the position of a Grand Master of the Demonic Cult? If they truly are experts from Hell Blood Castle, and the Sa-yeong-dae were to get involved in the fight…”
Ok Ho-bang couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
Bu Eun-seol’s current identity was that of a Grand Master of the Demonic Cult. What if he used the power of the Sa-yeong-dae to help Dong-pyo-seo-rang?
He could face a severe backlash.
“Don’t worry.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“I won’t be using the Sa-yeong-dae.”
***
Around noon the next day,
A carriage waiting in front of Un-hyeon Inn slowly departed.
Inside the carriage sat Bu Eun-seol, Myo Cheon-u, and Yu Un-ryong.
“A mercenary?”
After listening to Bu Eun-seol’s explanation for a while, Myo Cheon-u tilted his head.
“So, to quickly bring back that young mercenary you took in, you’re going to handle a mercenary band’s job?”
“That’s right.”
“If it’s a job for mercenaries, why not just have your subordinates do it?”
Bu Eun-seol stated firmly.
“That is not possible. Hell Blood Castle may be involved behind the scenes.”
“Hell Blood Castle?”
At that, Yu Un-ryong, who had been silent all along, flashed his eyes.
“That sounds interesting.”
His voice was laced with deep resentment and regret.
Yu Un-ryong had suffered the most wretched treatment among the Ten Demonic Champions.
As a result, he would grind his teeth at the mere mention of not only the White Horse Temple but any of the Ten Demonic Sects.
“You’ve arrived.”
Upon reaching Deung-myeong-gak, Ok Ho-bang, who had been waiting, bowed his head.
He then had his subordinates immediately register Bu Eun-seol, Myo Cheon-u, and the others as mercenaries of Dong-pyo-seo-rang.
“It is done.”
Ok Ho-bang handed Bu Eun-seol and his companions a piece of tough, black-dyed cloth.
“This is the Heuk-su, the Black Sleeve, which symbolizes our top-tier mercenaries. You can attach it to your weapon or wear it on your waist.”
As Bu Eun-seol accepted it, Ok Ho-bang spoke with an exceedingly serious expression.
“Please, take good care of that child.”
Not only had he had a change of heart after meeting Bu Eun-seol, but he also felt a sense of apology and affection for Heuk-pyo, who had grown up without a father.
Bu Eun-seol looked at him silently before giving a slight nod.
“I understand.”
Cheon-hye-rim.
This was a medical family situated near Mount Beom-jeong in Guizhou.
Although the surrounding area was barren and encircled by mountains, they had made a name for themselves as a medical family because many spirit herbs grew near Mount Beom-jeong.
Inside Cheon-hye-rim, which should have been filled with a peaceful atmosphere from saving countless lives with their medical skills, a murderous aura now flowed.
*Ching! Clang!*
In the center of the large estate, about two hundred warriors were entangled in a chaotic battle.
‘What in the world is happening?!’
A middle-aged man gritted his teeth as he continuously swung his sword, fending off the flood of warriors.
He was Im Hwan, the captain of the mercenary band hired by Cheon-hye-rim.
‘Don’t tell me all the mercenaries guarding the pass from Pung-ho-bang were killed?’
The mercenaries of Dong-pyo-seo-rang had built an earthen fortress near the pass of Mount Beom-jeong and were using it as a base to fight Pung-ho-bang.
But for Pung-ho-bang's experts to have come down Mount Beom-jeong and reached Cheon-hye-rim…
Didn’t that mean all the mercenaries guarding the fortress had been annihilated?
“Argh!”
Meanwhile, the screams of mercenaries echoed from all sides.
The attackers who had stormed Cheon-hye-rim were not only highly skilled in martial arts, but they also used poisoned weapons and strange hidden projectiles.
The experts of the mercenary band, including Im Hwan, were doing their best to hold back the advancing disciples, but it was not enough.
*Fwoosh!*
Just then, a sharp sickle grazed past his back.
In that instant, his entire body felt paralyzed, and his vision went dark.
‘Poison!’
Barely blocking the onslaught of attacks, he retreated and quickly swallowed an antidote pill from his robes.
However, while the paralysis subsided, the darkness in his vision did not improve much.
“Hah!”
He forced himself to circulate his internal energy and swing his sword, but his body grew progressively slower, and his wounds began to multiply.
“Ugh.”
Im Hwan bit his lip until it bled.
No matter how much he circulated his energy or took antidotes, he couldn’t suppress the poison.
Furthermore, the attackers possessed martial skills far too advanced to be mere members of Pung-ho-bang.
“Is this the end…?”
The strength in the hand gripping his sword was fading. No matter what he tried, he couldn't defeat them.
A life sold for money, anyway…
A warrior’s life hangs on the tip of his blade. Having lived on the battlefield, there was nothing to regret about dying on one.
The only regret was dying by the blades of such scum.
Just as resignation began to cloud Im Hwan’s unfocused eyes,
*Ping! Papapapak!*
Suddenly, a sound of slicing air was heard, and a silver light descended from the sky.
They were incredibly thin and sharp throwing knives.
“Who’s there?!”
The Pung-ho-bang members brandished their weapons, trying to deflect the knives.
But contrary to the sound they made, the knives descended in a very gentle and slow arc.
It was a clever technique, not meant to kill, but to halt the movements of those attacking the mercenaries.
*Thud.*
At the same time, a black shadow descended from the sky and began to unleash a torrent of sharp sword energy.
“Argh!”
A series of screams rang out as the Pung-ho-bang members at the forefront fell like autumn leaves.
“You are…”
Im Hwan’s mouth fell open at the sight.
The black shadow that had suddenly appeared and saved them was none other than Heuk-pyo.
“How did that kid…”
Im Hwan rubbed his eyes.
Heuk-pyo, fighting with daggers, was covered in blood, his body riddled with wounds both large and small.
“Heuk-pyo, what happened?”
“There was a surprise attack. Not from Pung-ho-bang, but from experts using unique hidden weapons…”
Heuk-pyo couldn't continue, busy fending off the barrage of attacks.
But Im Hwan understood the whole situation at a glance.
‘The experts brought in by Pung-ho-bang must have wiped out the mercenaries at the fortress.’
The members of Pung-ho-bang had brought in unknown experts and had easily dealt with the mercenary band.
And Heuk-pyo was the sole survivor of that hellish battle.
*Flash!*
At that moment, Heuk-pyo’s swordsmanship changed again.
Each time a sharp light flashed from his hands, the Pung-ho-bang members fell, spewing blood.
After cutting down all the Pung-ho-bang members in the front line in an instant, Heuk-pyo approached the wounded Im Hwan and said.
“I’ll open a path. Take the men and retreat.”
*Swoosh!*
Just then, three greatswords shot toward Heuk-pyo’s vital points.
The Pung-ho-bang experts, having quickly reformed their ranks, were now targeting the highly skilled Heuk-pyo.
*Vwoom!*
In that moment, a faint light flickered from Heuk-pyo’s dagger.
*Clang!*
Simultaneously, the greatswords aiming for his body became entangled in mid-air. He had used his dagger to execute a deflecting technique, completely altering the trajectory of the greatswords’ attack.
*Flash!*
At the same time, a sharp light glinted from the dagger in Heuk-pyo’s hand, and a torrent of murderous sword energy poured down like rain.
“Kuaargh!”
After instantly slitting the throats of three Pung-ho-bang members, Heuk-pyo once again created a countless number of sword energies.
Anyone touched by the sword energies that rained down from different angles inevitably had a spray of blood erupt from their neck.
Heuk-pyo was freely executing techniques, having transcended the limitations and forms of a weapon like the dagger.
“Ugh!”
“Aaargh!”
Screams erupted one after another as the bandits fell like sheaves of straw.
Simultaneously, the Pung-ho-bang’s assault that had been pressing the mercenaries slackened. Just Heuk-pyo’s addition had changed the tide of the battle.
“Use the hidden weapons!”
As Heuk-pyo single-handedly tore through the battlefield, cutting down the disciples, the Pung-ho-bang members launched a volley of hidden weapons.
But his movements were so fast that they missed every time.
Not only that, but with his cunning movements, he redirected the hidden weapons, only increasing the casualties among the Pung-ho-bang members.
*Boom. Boom.*
Every time light burst from his dagger, an enemy would fall without fail.
Watching this, Im Hwan’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
“To think his martial arts were at that level.”
Just a few years ago, Heuk-pyo had been nothing more than an information mercenary with slightly fast movement skills.
But now, he had become a top-tier expert who could easily defeat first-rate masters.
“I will fight too!”
Despite an escape route being opened, Im Hwan did not flee and instead rallied the mercenaries.
“Help Heuk-pyo and let’s finish these bastards!”
The fight continued for some time.
With Heuk-pyo at the forefront dealing with the bandits, the tide of battle was quickly reversed.
Just as they were pushing back the Pung-ho-bang members who had penetrated deep into Cheon-hye-rim towards the entrance,
“Hoh, to think there’s such an expert among the mercenaries.”
A low voice echoed, and then,
*Swiiiiiish.*
With a bizarre sound of cutting air, ten shadows descended from the sky into the Pung-ho-bang’s formation.
They wore strange martial uniforms with a red sheen, and their fingers were dyed red, like burning charcoal.
The middle-aged man at the front stared at Heuk-pyo as if he had discovered an interesting toy.
*Thud, thud.*
As they walked forward, the battlefield suddenly fell silent, as if doused with cold water.
Their presence alone had instantly changed the atmosphere.
“Wipe them all out. Don’t leave a single ant alive.”
At the leader’s command, the warriors in formation leaped into the battlefield at once.
*Whoosh!*
One of the blood-robed warriors, having closed the distance in an instant, swung his claws at Heuk-pyo, who stood at the front.
*Clang-clang-clang!*
A loud metallic sound rang out as the dagger and claws clashed repeatedly.
As Heuk-pyo stood his ground and blocked the claw techniques, two more blood-robed warriors joined in, surrounding him in a three-pronged formation.
*Whoosh! Chwaak!*
Sword shadows and claw shadows chaotically filled the air.
As Heuk-pyo fought against the three blood-robed warriors, small scratches began to appear on his body.
“Ugh!”
Meanwhile, the screams of mercenaries erupted from all sides.
With the addition of the blood-robed warriors, the mercenaries were collapsing uncontrollably.
*Clang!*
Creating a massive cross-shaped sword energy, Heuk-pyo broke through their encirclement and instantly rejoined the mercenaries’ ranks.
As he capably handled the three blood-robed warriors, the remaining mercenaries also managed to somehow withstand the attacks.
“That one’s the problem.”
The leader had discerned that the only reason the mercenaries could hold on so tenaciously was because of Heuk-pyo.
*Boom.*
Leaping into the air in a single bound, the leader extended his hand, and the sky suddenly seemed to darken.
*BOOM!*
Simultaneously, a black energy flowed from the hand of the leader, who was suspended in mid-air.
*BOOM!*
At the same time, a low, monstrous sound was heard, and an immense pressure enveloped Heuk-pyo’s body.
“Keuk.”
Heuk-pyo fiercely swung his dagger, trying to break free from the perimeter of pressure.
But the pressure was like a ghost that moved with him, tenaciously sticking to him.
*Pang! Taak!*
Realizing he couldn't evade the downpour of formless pressure, Heuk-pyo infused his dagger with internal energy.
*Vwoom!*
Then, with a low vibration, an immense amount of force erupted from around the dagger. He was using a heavy sword technique to push back the formless pressure.
*Flash!*
As Heuk-pyo unleashed his swordsmanship with all his might,
*KABOOM!*
An explosive sound was heard, and a massive shockwave spread out in all directions. As the thick dust that had risen settled, Heuk-pyo’s figure was slowly revealed.
“Hah, hah.”
Holding his daggers crossed in front of him, Heuk-pyo gasped for breath.
He had neutralized the formless pressure, but the aftershock had left him with considerable internal injuries.
“Hoh.”
The leader couldn't hide his surprise.
His technique had crushed the bodies of countless foes for decades, yet a young man barely of age had withstood it?
“To withstand the Cheon-jung-man-dok-gi at your age.”
“Cheon-jung-man-dok-gi…”
Only then did Heuk-pyo realize the identity of the blood-robed leader, and he bit his lip.
“Dok-jung-tae-san… Dok Mu-jeong.”