Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Avalanche
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People's gazes all turned toward the spot Hyeon-gak was staring at.
Atop the snow mountain where they stood, a white blizzard was kicking up. Along with it, one side of the snow peak had collapsed entirely, roaring as it barreled toward the ice valley.
It seemed the thunderous clash between Heuk Do-san and Seop Dae-gang in their final exchange had cracked the snow that had piled up for thousands of years.
But its size and momentum were anything but ordinary.
"An avalanche!"
Hyeon-gak said.
"What do we do?"
Dang Yak-ran said.
"Everyone, stay calm! The ice valley ahead will hold it back, so it won't reach us here."
Heuk Do-san said.
He was still blocking Seop Dae-gang with his axe.
But even he and Seop Dae-gang were overwhelmed by an avalanche of a scale neither had ever witnessed, so neither put any real force into it.
Their axe and sword were merely touching.
Kwarrr rumble boom!
It was a wonder wrought by the great forces of nature. An immense mass of snow, too vast to measure, came hurtling down the mountainside.
It was as if the entire snow peak had crumbled away. The snowball, growing larger by the moment, reached the mountainside where the people stood in an instant.
Grooo rumble rumble!
As the distance closed, so did the roar.
Ears nearly shattered.
The people forgot their fight and watched the avalanche in tense silence, each on edge.
Would the snowball truly halt at the ice valley, just as Heuk Do-san predicted?
Boom! Kwarrr rumble boom!
The snowball seemed to get sucked into the ice valley at first. But moments later, pushed by the colossal volume of snow surging from behind, it rode the curve and soared right over.
A complete misjudgment.
"Everyone, run!"
Heuk Do-san shouted.
"Fuck this."
True to form, Yeom Jin-sang bolted first. The weakest among them excluding Bing-seol, but in moments like this, he was a peerless master of the world.
The people scattered like sheep fleeing a tiger.
In that split second, Heuk Do-san grabbed Dang Yak-ran's waist. He dashed about three zhang away, then stomped down hard.
A hole gaped open, revealing the tunnel they had dug to cross the ice valley. Without a glance back, he scooped her up and leaped inside.
At that instant, the massive snowball engulfed the camp. Heuk Do-san pulled Dang Yak-ran close, shielding her completely as he took the brunt of the snow pouring down on his back.
Kwarrr rumble boom!
Ruuuumble!
How much time passed?
Finally, the shaking stopped, and the sounds faded.
Heuk Do-san swept his hand to clear the snow filling the space. Moments later, Dang Yak-ran's face emerged from the snow that had buried her.
He cupped her flushed cheeks and asked.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. What about you?"
"I'm good."
"You said the ice valley would keep us safe."
"That's what I thought."
"No way."
"I'm not all-knowing."
"Anyway, what about the others?"
"No idea."
"They should be fine, right? Bing-seol doesn't know martial arts—if Seventh Star Lord hadn't protected her..."
"Can you move?"
"The snow's packed so tight I can't even twitch a finger. It's like being buried in a sand pit."
"I'll make an opening."
Heuk Do-san thrust both hands upward with force. He then unleashed the Heaven-Obscuring Finger Technique, digging upward through the tunnel.
Tap-tap! The sounds echoed for a while.
The two climbed fully three zhang—about nine meters—before emerging outside.
Looking around, not only the tents but the people themselves had been swallowed by the snow.
"Anyone alive? Sound off!"
He shouted loudly.
But no response came from anywhere.
*This isn't good.*
Air was scarce under the snow—even if they were still breathing now, they wouldn't last long. If they'd lost consciousness while trapped, they were as good as dead.
"Master Hyeon-gak! Senior Mo!"
Dang Yak-ran called out too.
But only hollow echoes answered.
"No way we're the only survivors, right?"
"They're all top experts who boast about their skills. They won't die that easily."
"Then why no response?"
"If they're buried deep, they might not hear. Keep calling anyway—just in case it wakes someone unconscious."
"Got it."
The two shouted until their throats were raw. Fortunately, not long after, two figures burst through the snow a short distance away.
Seop Dae-gang and Mo Yong-ak.
"Senior."
Dang Yak-ran lit up and called to them. Heuk Do-san exchanged an awkward glance with Seop Dae-gang.
"Yak-ran, the others?"
Mo Yong-ak asked.
"No idea."
Then, with a *pop!*, someone shot up from the snow right next to Heuk Do-san. He landed gracefully on the ground, brushed the snow from his clothes, and said.
"What the hell is this mess?"
It was Gong Cheon-ak.
"No injuries?"
Dang Yak-ran asked.
"As you can see. The others?"
No sooner had he spoken than, some distance away, Hong Gong-tak and the Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts emerged one after another from the snow.
Surprisingly, all six of the Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts, including Hong Gong-tak, were unharmed.
Finally, from the edge where the flat ground tapered off, Yeom Jin-sang crawled out like a groundhog. He flopped into the snow in a shape and unleashed a torrent of curses at no one in particular.
"Master Hyeon-gak and Lady Bing are missing."
Dang Yak-ran said.
"Didn't they escape together?"
Gong Cheon-ak asked in surprise.
"What? Master Hyeon-gak maybe, but you were closer to Lady Bing."
"I was facing off against those Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts or whatever... But when the avalanche hit, I saw someone snatch her away in a flash. Thought it was Heuk Do-san, so I relaxed. No one else would protect her."
"He snatched *me*."
"Then who...?"
"Who else? The meat-eater."
Heuk Do-san said.
Everyone quickly turned to where Heuk Do-san was looking. Sure enough, beyond the swirling snow, Hyeon-gak stood cradling Bing-seol.
"Is Lady Bing safe?"
Dang Yak-ran shouted.
"She took a hit from the snow and blacked out briefly. Good thing I acted fast, or she'd be a corpse."
Deep relief washed over them once everyone's safety was confirmed. Gong Cheon-ak and Dang Yak-ran let out long breaths.
"Too early to relax. The whole snow mountain's unstable after the avalanche. We need to get out of here fast."
Heuk Do-san said.
Sure enough, atop the snow peak, another massive snowball hung precariously. It looked at least as big as the one before—if not bigger.
"But where to?"
Dang Yak-ran asked.
"Look over there."
Heuk Do-san pointed west.
After the avalanche, a long gray streak had emerged along the western slope.
It hadn't been visible before.
Snow flurries whipped by fierce winds made it hard to identify precisely, but from experience, it was definitely a rock vein.
The slope was gentle enough, with rough patches here and there—plenty climbable.
And not far from the peak—practically the summit—was a clearly visible open cave.
"We climb there, spend the night in the cave, and scout at dawn. No time—grab only essentials."
Even now, Heuk Do-san's clothes were shredded, leaving him nearly naked. All the more reason to hurry.
He grabbed his axe and dagger first, then his bow and arrows.
Dang Yak-ran tossed her sword to Mo Yong-ak, then strapped the poison needles Heuk Do-san had given her to her ankle.
As they finished preparing and moved to go, Seop Dae-gang spoke.
"Hold."
On cue, the Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts gathered around him.
Moments later, Seop Dae-gang, Mo Yong-ak, and the six Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts including Hong Gong-tak blocked Heuk Do-san's group.
Far behind them stood Hyeon-gak and Bing-seol. In an instant, Hyeon-gak and Bing-seol were isolated.
"What's your play?"
Heuk Do-san asked.
"Like you said, up the western slope. But you're not companions—you're prisoners."
Seop Dae-gang said. He turned and nodded.
Hong Gong-tak barked orders swiftly.
"Kill the witch!"
At the command, five Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts charged across the snow like gale winds. Hong Gong-tak shot forward too, aiming for Hyeon-gak.
"No one move!"
Heuk Do-san bellowed.
But the Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts took it as a threat and kept charging. Then, about ten zhang from Hyeon-gak and Bing-seol, a roar erupted as the ground suddenly caved in.
Kwarrr rumble rumble!
When the ground underfoot collapses, no master in the world can do a thing.
On solid earth, one might sense the anomaly and leap away.
But on sinking snow, not even one final chance is given.
"Argh!"
"Aaack!"
No time to react.
The Soul-Chasing Ten Ghosts were sucked into an endless abyss along with the snow.
Hong Gong-tak, leaping a beat late, kicked off a subordinate's back to shove him into the pit, using the faint rebound to barely escape.
Even after Hong Gong-tak landed safely, the sounds of falling snow and the ghosts' screams echoed for a long while.
When silence fell at last, a massive ice valley yawned between them.
The sudden avalanche must have precariously covered the ice valley. The ghosts had charged blindly into it.
Seop Dae-gang and Mo Yong-ak rushed to the valley's edge and peered down. From the pitch-black depths, only chilling winds howled up.
"This is ridiculous..."
Seop Dae-gang choked out.
They'd survived the all-consuming avalanche, only to die in an ice valley.
Heuk Do-san recalled Bing-seol's words.
*Tonight, a few will die.*
He'd thought she meant casualties in the fierce battle. Not such a pointless end.
"Anyway, how'd that bald bastard cross that?"
Gong Cheon-ak said.
Glancing casually at Hyeon-gak, Heuk Do-san snapped alert.
It *was* strange. Dodging that massive avalanche was feat enough—how had Hyeon-gak crossed the ice valley?
Carrying Bing-seol, no less.
Hyeon-gak looked equally baffled, his face pale as death.
An eerie silence fell.
Then, a rumble echoed from the snow peak's summit, sending small snowballs tumbling down. Nothing like the prior avalanche, but an ill omen nonetheless.
At that, Hyeon-gak on the far side suddenly hoisted Bing-seol onto his back. He turned and bolted.
"What's that bald monk doing now?"
Gong Cheon-ak said.
Heuk Do-san hurriedly scanned around. By sheer luck, thirty-some zhang away at the ridge's edge, a snowball still clung over the ice valley, not yet fallen.
"Yak-ran, how far along are you with lightness skill?"
"Not at Grass-Walking Flight or Snow-Treading Without Trace, but I can run along tree branches without snapping them. Why?"
"And Seventh Star Lord?"
"You're asking that even after seeing me burst from the snow? In lightness skill, you lot can't touch my toe..."
"Enough. You two, follow me."
Heuk Do-san turned to Seop Dae-gang and added.
"We're crossing the ice valley now. Chase us or go down and save your men—your call. Either way, get out of here ASAP for your own good."
With that, Heuk Do-san shot off. Dang Yak-ran and Gong Cheon-ak followed.
Yeom Jin-sang, standing off to the side, glanced between Seop Dae-gang and Heuk Do-san, then suddenly dashed toward Heuk Do-san's group.
The snow bridge spanning the ice valley was a mere three or four zhang wide. How it formed was a mystery—like a crescent moon hung across the Milky Way.
"You're crossing *that*?"
Dang Yak-ran said, paling.
"Build speed from afar, then leap as horizontally as possible at the end. You'll need to touch down twice around the middle. Minimize impact each time, and crucially, don't put pressure on your toes during the leaps. Got it?"
Heuk Do-san said.
"Run full tilt and glide across?"
Gong Cheon-ak asked back.
"Yeah."
"Ever done this?"
"Nope."
"Could collapse midway."
"Obviously."
"You first."
"What's this? Yielding for once?"
"What?"
"Even minimizing impact, each step transmits some force. The later you go, the higher the collapse risk. Thanks anyway."
"I'll go first."
"Why change your mind?"
"Sorry. On second thought, gotta catch that lecherous bald monk before he flees too far."
Gong Cheon-ak bolted across the snow. No need for distance—he was already at the edge. There, he launched his body.
Where did such agility come from in that frame, hefty enough for a bull?
Gong Cheon-ak flew five zhang in one leap—nearly horizontal, no arc.
He skimmed the snow twice like a swallow touching water, adding three more zhang. With the final zhang left, he slid across to the far side.
Thud! Skreeech.
"Whoops, foot slipped."
Gong Cheon-ak brushed snow from his clothes as he stood.
A lie.
Fearful of pressing during the third leap, he'd thrown his body forward, landing chest-first to cover the shortfall.
A brilliant lightness skill and clever ploy—yet dismissed with bluster.
That's the Seventh Star Lord for you.
"Next, Dang Yak-ran..."
Before Heuk Do-san finished, a dark blur streaked past them.
Yeom Jin-sang. Like Gong Cheon-ak, he charged full speed, leaping hard at the edge.
He touched down twice midspan, then—like Gong Cheon-ak—threw himself forward to minimize impact.
But how to compare the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Seventh Star Lord to the Black Island Gang's seaside chief?
Yeom Jin-sang plowed chest-first across the snow but halted abruptly two-thirds across, not reaching the other side.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Flustered, Yeom Jin-sang stealthily stood and crept the rest of the way.
"Thought the middle might be weak and collapse, but it's more packed than expected."
Heuk Do-san said.
"You tricked those two just now, right?"
Dang Yak-ran asked.
"Tactics."
"This isn't a fight."
"Life's a nonstop chain of battles."
"What nonsense..."
"No need to run anyway. But high pressure is risky—wait till I'm across."
Heuk Do-san crossed the snow bridge.
Casually, like strolling a plain.
On the far side, Gong Cheon-ak and Yeom Jin-sang glowered at him, faces rotting with envy.
Dang Yak-ran shook her head and stepped forward.
Moments later, the four who crossed safely dashed toward the distant western rock vein.
At that instant, a rumble sounded, and another snowball tumbled from the snow peak.
"Sword Lord..."
Hong Gong-tak quietly called to Seop Dae-gang.
Seop Dae-gang looked up at the sky. The snow flurries from gale winds showed no sign of letting up.
In just six days, he'd lost every Soul-Chasing Ten Ghost except Hong Gong-tak.
Meanwhile, Heuk Do-san had saved every single person merely nearby, without a single loss.
*How did it come to this?*
"We must hurry."
This time, Mo Yong-ak spoke.
Seop Dae-gang ground his teeth.
"Everyone, cross the ice valley."