Chapter 145
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Knife Mountain Sword Forest (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sama Gul-gi's swordsmanship was straightforward and utterly inflexible. He never skipped a single step, so even after seizing the initiative and pressing relentlessly without pause, it still took time.
But that's precisely why he could steadily push forward without falling for any of A Jeok-gang's deceptive flourishes and tricks with the chain sword.
In the end, the scales of victory began to tip.
Constantly driven back, A Jeok-gang's already depleted internal energy was now hitting rock bottom, his stamina plummeting rapidly. Whenever his chain sword whipped out, the myriad variations it once unleashed dwindled one by one, losing their sharp edge.
From some point on, the red lines that had relentlessly etched across Sama Gul-gi's body ceased to appear.
The time it had taken to reach this point was one ke (15 minutes).
It might seem short, but they were locked in a desperate life-or-death struggle. Not a single instant could they afford to look away; they had to pour everything into every moment.
Thus, whether it was Sama Gul-gi, who had firmly grasped the advantage, or A Jeok-gang, cornered and desperate, both had hot breaths heaving from their lips without cease.
Hoo. Hoo.
Yet Sama Gul-gi's eyes burned with unmatched vitality, his blazing battle spirit unyielding in the slightest.
'This pain is nothing. I'll cleave through this suffocating barrier holding me back. Thereby proving myself—and starting anew!'
Sama Gul-gi's current situation was dire. His irritable reactions to every word spat by Flying Tiger were but an extension of that.
The Sama Family, which had been everything to him, had crumbled into utter ruin, leaving him lost and adrift. Then, by chance, he encountered Jang Geum, and through him, he dreamed the sweet dream of rebuilding the Sama Family.
And not only that. At Jang Geum's urging, he came to Jeonghae Pavilion to leave his mark in the Superficial Realm, only to luckily cross paths with Flying Tiger as well. A path to fulfill his long-stalled vow of vengeance had opened.
Sama Gul-gi had felt fortune finally flooding his way.
As recently as yesterday afternoon.
But Jang Geum died a hollow death. And he ended up at odds with Flying Tiger, whose aid was essential for revenge. Jang Geum had forced him to choose between himself and Flying Tiger, so after agonizing at the crossroads of dream and vengeance, he sided with Jang Geum. This was the result.
How could he not feel utter emptiness and rising fury?
Looking back, Sama Gul-gi's life had always been one of endless toil.
As a collateral branch scion, how much discrimination and scorn had he endured just to gain recognition in the Sama Family? Every time he thought he'd achieved something, he'd plummet back down, repeating the cycle endlessly.
Yet what always lifted him from the depths? His unyielding will and the single sword in his hand. Through ceaseless trials, only these two remained by his side, believing in him and cheering him on.
So why would this time be any different?
Thus, he consoled himself that the situation wasn't entirely hopeless. At least he still had those two.
So, as always, he simply had to rise again.
Where there is light, there must be shadow. As Sama Gul-gi's eyes gleamed brighter, A Jeok-gang's grew darker.
His opponent gave no respite, hounding him relentlessly, allowing no proper counterattack after the initial clashes. This was how he'd been backed into such a state.
But A Jeok-gang steadied his mind once more as impatience threatened to rise. He couldn't afford to botch things now.
Instead, he resolved himself.
If there truly was no other way, what could he do?
'Mutual destruction. If even that fails, I'll take one of his limbs!'
A Jeok-gang wasn't without attachment to life, but he simply read the situation coldly and sought to accept it calmly.
'This is the fate of one who wields the blade!'
That was A Jeok-gang's mindset in traversing the jianghu. And that day had arrived today.
Whirl~
Sama Gul-gi's coiling sword deflected A Jeok-gang's chain sword, spinning grandly through the air in a full circle.
It was "There Is a Man Under Heaven," the opening stance of the Three Parts Return to the Groove Swordsmanship.
Judging by the blade's trajectory, it would soon descend diagonally, intent on severing A Jeok-gang's neck.
In executing this stance, Sama Gul-gi's movements were expansive, amplifying the destructive power accordingly. If A Jeok-gang diligently retreated, there was room to evade—but little else.
Thus, this move herded him into a dead end.
Should A Jeok-gang pull back, Sama Gul-gi's killing blows would pour forth without end.
In that instant, A Jeok-gang's eyes widened, and he bit down hard on his tongue.
And he shouted inwardly.
'Fine, let's do it!'
A Jeok-gang tilted his body sideways and thrust his left hand forward. The intent was to intercept Sama Gul-gi's sword with one hand while distancing himself as much as possible from the blade.
But could such a sacrifice truly block a sword swung with full commitment?
Not a chance.
Still, wouldn't it at least delay the moment of death, even briefly?
That was his thinking.
And he had to make it work!
A Jeok-gang blocked and evaded that way, while whipping his chain sword in his right hand like a lash.
He'd offer his neck in exchange for claiming one of his opponent's ankles.
Yet whether this would truly slow Sama Gul-gi's sword even a moment and allow him to sever the ankle in that gap—who could say?
But having laid this counter-fire, A Jeok-gang's own death was now a foregone conclusion.
His final gamble!
The result...
Swish.
Sama Gul-gi withdrew his attacking stance and pulled back. In doing so, he faltered at A Jeok-gang's reckless move.
Perhaps he was surprised at himself for not responding aggressively to the provocation this time—for stepping back instead.
But from his position, it was the natural choice. With victory in hand, why receive the enemy's dying spasm?
Moreover, the target was his ankle, of all places.
If his ankle gave way...
Even if he felled A Jeok-gang, what could a crippled man like him do next?
The challenge would end there, leaving a wretched existence worse than death.
For these reasons, Sama Gul-gi halted his forward advance for the first time. His relentless drive onward had broken.
Though uneasy, he quickly calmed his startled mind with rational thought.
'Nothing's changed. Just a brief delay. So now, start again...!'
Whip!
As if squeezing out his last reserves, A Jeok-gang's chain sword quivered, brimmed with variation, and thrust toward Sama Gul-gi's heart.
Pure offense, defense utterly ignored.
Sama Gul-gi meant to restart, but A Jeok-gang had no such intention.
Until just before, it had been, "You want my neck? Then give me an ankle." Now it was, "Don't like that? Fine, you die, I die. Better than before."
Sama Gul-gi took another step back, shifting to a defensive stance. If A Jeok-gang charged headlong again, he'd counter and unravel a reversal.
In that moment.
A Jeok-gang, rich in combat experience, instinctively sensed a faint lifeline amid the dead end.
Thud!
A Jeok-gang spun his charging step, stomped the ground hard, and launched into the air.
Delaying his attack by half a beat, he exhaled and inhaled sharply, clearing his choked breath.
And as he descended, he whipped his chain sword fiercely.
Scree—
Seizing the gap as his foe switched from offense to defense, A Jeok-gang caught a brief breather—while denying Sama Gul-gi the same.
'Damn it... Get it together. Stay calm!'
Sama Gul-gi cursed inwardly as the fish nearly in his net not only slipped free but bit back.
Troublesome, but not yet unmanageable.
He'd blocked it once—why not twice? The opponent's strike was sharp enough, but far from its initial power.
That was his rational assessment.
But Sama Gul-gi overlooked one fact: A Jeok-gang was on the brink of exhaustion, and he himself was no less spent.
Perched on the edge of a cliff, driven by desperate fervor, he hadn't noticed.
Like one drunk on drugs.
But as he regained his senses and moved, his muscles screamed in protest, his bones creaking in agony.
Like sobering up abruptly!
"Tch, time for me to step in."
"Seems that way, doesn't it?"
"What about you? Heading out right away too?"
"Just a bit longer."
"......"
Casual words exchanged between the Shandong Elder and Flying Tiger. Yet the elder's eyes blazed with battle intent, while Flying Tiger's were deeply shadowed.
The battlefield outlook was grim.
Jin Ga-yong's side unfolded more or less as expected. Ho Ye-hwa deserved praise for holding her own even briefly.
She pressed with her twin swords, especially the Soul Spirit Sword at the fore. Bong Yeon-ja circled the perimeter, lending support with occasional hidden weapons.
But even that momentum was fading.
Jin Ga-yong had stuck to defense throughout, now slipping in sharp counters. Each time, Ho Ye-hwa's twin swords visibly faltered.
Perhaps Jin Ga-yong had been toying with them just enough to recover his spent energy.
'Likely.'
The elder had surmised as much early on but watched. In exchange, he'd gained more time to study Jin Ga-yong's sword.
Now, he intended to step forth and test it himself.
Meanwhile, Sama Gul-gi had victory in sight but stumbled at the final hurdle, the tide turning sharply. Still chaotic, but...
'A Jeok-gang has the momentum, Sama Gul-gi is on the downslope. Both too exhausted for further reversal.'
Flying Tiger foresaw Sama Gul-gi's defeat and planned to enter once that side wrapped up.
Then the Shandong Elder asked.
"Wait just a bit? Planning to step in only after the Sama kid dies?"
"Not exactly. I've baited the hook—expecting a bite soon. So I'll hold off a little."
"But if that happens..."
"Might be late. But what can you do? Each bears responsibility for their own steps with their own blades. That's our world, isn't it?"
The Shandong Elder nodded in agreement, took a couple steps toward the fray, then halted. Without turning, he spoke to Flying Tiger.
"Suppose."
"......?"
"If you harbor second thoughts, flee this path. Don't resent this old man's merciless blade. And... sorry about last night."
"......!"
With that, the elder departed.
Flying Tiger watched his hunched back briefly, then murmured gloomily.
"Thanks for the words, old timer. But tell me—where would you have me go?"