Chapter 17
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Crushing the Bandit Leaders
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As soon as Seol Hwa-un arrived, he spotted the Shanxi Sword Sect Leader in peril and immediately unleashed the Ice Ring Finger, allowing the sect leader to survive unscathed.
“Father! Are you all right?”
The Shanxi Sword Sect Leader, who had been standing there dazed without understanding what had happened, turned his head. Jin Pyo had already come to his side.
“Pyo!”
“It’s truly a relief that you’re safe.”
“……You’ve returned.”
The Shanxi Sword Sect Leader’s expression was peculiar.
‘If only you’d come a bit later…….’
He had told the other sect disciples to risk their lives, but as a father, his honest wish was for his son Jin Pyo to live.
“Yes, I went to the Black Refinement Sect and was on my way back when I heard that the main sect was in dire straits, so I rushed here immediately.”
He omitted the part about being ambushed by bandits on the return journey.
“Then, what about the matter you went for…….”
Jin Pyo’s face twisted awkwardly.
“That is…….”
At that moment, a sharp metallic clang rang out.
Creeeang!
“……!”
In their eyes appeared the Red River寨 Leader, being relentlessly pushed back.
The Red River寨 Leader’s eyes narrowed thinly.
‘That young punk unleashed such an energy art?’
It was hard to believe, but seeing the aura emanating from Seol Hwa-un, he couldn’t deny it.
“Who are you?”
“…….”
As if Seol Hwa-un deemed it unworthy of a response, he charged straight at the Red River寨 Leader.
“You bastard!”
He confidently raised his iron club, yet harbored a sliver of wariness deep down.
‘Judging by the traces, it’s a finger art infused with powerful yin寒 energy. He seems like a finger art expert, so if I just guard against that…….’
But Seol Hwa-un’s form was faster than expected. Before he knew it, a fist was flying right up to his nose.
‘Gasp!’
The Red River寨 Leader hurriedly defended with his iron club.
Creeeeang!
The fist collided with the iron club, producing a resounding metallic clash. Shockingly, the Red River寨 Leader, who held the club, couldn’t withstand the impact and staggered back.
“Urk!”
He gasped in astonishment at the clear mark left on the spot struck by the fist.
‘Such tremendous fist energy!’
Just then, Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi arrived in the courtyard.
Seol Hwa-un immediately issued a command.
“Assist the Shanxi Sword Sect!”
“Understood!”
The bandits were numerous, and the melee chaotic and dangerous, but Seol Hwa-un had no doubt that the two could fully demonstrate their skills.
“……?”
Sensing killing intent, he turned his head, only to see the iron club plummeting down from above.
“You dare take your eyes off me? Die!”
Kwaang!
Unfortunately for the Red River寨 Leader, his iron club struck the ground instead of Seol Hwa-un.
‘Damn it all!’
He paid the price for his failed attack. Seol Hwa-un’s fist smashed into his face.
Ppaak!
“Kek!”
Two broken teeth flew out, and his body tumbled backward.
‘An external art expert?’
Having been properly struck by a fist laden with fist energy from the front, astonishingly, the Red River寨 Leader was rising again.
“Ptooey!”
Spitting out blood, he grimaced.
“You damn brat, I’ll make you pay dearly for my teeth.”
The Red River寨 Leader glanced at the Ghost King寨 Leader and gave a wry smile.
‘I didn’t want to show this to that guy…….’
A faint red glow emanated from his entire body. It was his hidden external art, the Red Blood Shell Art.
But if he hadn’t used it, his life would have been in jeopardy.
‘No choice.’
“Since you’ve forced me to use my secret art, you’d better be prepared for the consequences?”
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
“Interesting.”
“Hmph!”
The Red River寨 Leader charged swiftly, swinging his iron club in a wide horizontal arc.
Whoooosh!
The speed was far greater than before, and the momentum even more ferocious. Seol Hwa-un lightly retreated, evading the club.
‘Hm?’
But then the iron club bizarrely changed direction and thrust straight at him. It was a truly exquisite attack.
‘Using forms now?’
Until now, the Red River寨 Leader had simply relied on his brute strength and internal energy, swinging wildly.
Now, he was properly employing martial arts.
“Fine, I’ll fight you properly.”
The fist energy gathered on Seol Hwa-un’s fist grew even more vivid.
Kwang!
The Red River寨 Leader’s form was flung backward. Watching this, the Ghost King寨 Leader grew uneasy.
‘Just who the hell is that guy?’
At that moment, Jo Bung, the vice leader of the Ghost King寨, returned.
“Jo Bung?”
“I’m late,寨 Leader.”
“Hmph! You let the vice sect leader escape and only now join us?”
“I-I’m sorry. Suddenly, that guy intervened…….”
“That guy?”
He stared at Seol Hwa-un, fiercely battling the Red River寨 Leader.
“Don’t be surprised,寨 Leader. That guy’s an expert from the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“North Sea Ice Palace?”
“Yes, I clearly saw him freeze my subordinates with the Ice White Divine Palm.”
“Cowardly bastard. So that’s why you ran?”
“…….”
Jo Bung had become vice leader thanks to his quick wits and sharp mind rather than martial prowess.
He was also the one who devised the plan to attack the Shanxi Sword Sect this time.
“寨 Leader, don’t underestimate him. If we’re not careful, that guy could ruin everything.”
“…….”
‘Everything else aside, this guy’s judgment is useful…….’
“Is that so.”
His eyes gleamed strangely.
Seol Hwa-un’s fist strike landed once more on the Red River寨 Leader’s chest.
Kwang!
“Urk!”
The fallen Red River寨 Leader was covered in blood from large and small wounds across his body. Yet he rose again.
“That much won’t bring me down.”
“…….”
Without responding, Seol Hwa-un surveyed the surroundings.
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won shone brilliantly. With them leading, they swept through the bandits, allowing the Shanxi Sword Sect disciples relative breathing room.
Thanks to that, despite being outnumbered, the Shanxi Sword Sect held evenly against the bandits.
‘They’re doing well.’
“Taking your eyes off me again!”
The Red River寨 Leader, who had closed in unnoticed, brought down his iron club like lightning.
Whoooosh!
In that instant, Seol Hwa-un’s fist emitted a pure white light.
Creeeang!
“Huh?!”
This time, the iron club bent completely at a right angle.
“Damn it!”
The Red River寨 Leader irritably tossed aside the iron club, which had reached the end of its usefulness as a weapon.
Whirl!
“Good! Let’s go at it bare-handed!”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
Seol Hwa-un and the Red River寨 Leader exchanged punches in close quarters.
Shoo-shoo-shook!
Ppaak!
Kwang! Kwa-kwang!
Seol Hwa-un evaded his attacks with flashy footwork, but the Red River寨 Leader took them with his body like a brute.
Bruises covered his body, and blood streamed from his nose, yet he didn’t fall.
“I can take all the punches like that with ease!”
He shouted boldly, but inwardly, it was excruciating.
‘Damn! How can he pierce through the Red Blood Shell Art and deliver such impacts?!’
“I’ll give you credit for your durability.”
Seol Hwa-un relaxed his fist and opened his hand.
“But can you withstand this?”
Pure white energy condensed in his palm, then struck the Red River寨 Leader’s abdomen squarely.
Pang!
“Hmph, it’s usele…….”
Mid-sentence, the Red River寨 Leader sensed something and lowered his head.
“Huh?!”
Powerful yin energy spread from his abdomen, soon enveloping his entire body.
“Th-this is?!”
Crackle-crackle!
In an instant, the Red River寨 Leader’s body froze solid.
“Remember this. This is the Ice White Divine Palm.”
“……!”
The Ice White Divine Palm could be used as an inner heavy hand method like this.
The panicked Red River寨 Leader tried to counter with his internal energy, but to no avail. The Ice White Divine Palm’s energy froze even his internal energy.
The Red River寨 Leader looked at Seol Hwa-un with a terrified expression.
“N-North Sea Ice Palace……!”
Those were his last words. His tongue had frozen solid.
“Farewell.”
Seol Hwa-un mercilessly swung his fist. This time, it was a plain thrust without even fist energy.
Cleng!
Crackle-crackle!
Yet the Red River寨 Leader couldn’t even scream as he shattered into pieces.
Plop-plop.
The moment he felled the Red River寨 Leader, Seol Hwa-un felt a chill.
“……!”
Behind him stood the Ghost King寨 Leader, who had appeared unnoticed, swinging his sword with full power.
Shuuuak!
The Ghost King寨 Leader was certain he would cleave Seol Hwa-un.
‘Die!’
At that moment, two streams of finger art suddenly shot out.
Creeang!
One deflected the descending sword.
Puk!
The other pierced the Ghost King寨 Leader’s right thigh.
“Ugh!”
Seol Hwa-un had unleashed the Ice Ring Finger with his left hand.
“I knew you’d pull something like that.”
Even while fighting the Red River寨 Leader, he had kept wary of the Ghost King寨 Leader.
He suspected ulterior motives from someone who merely watched without entering the fray.
Of course, he was confident he could handle both寨 leaders at once. But if even one sensed disadvantage and fled, it would be trouble.
So he feigned focus on the Red River寨 Leader, deliberately exposing an opening, waiting for the Ghost King寨 Leader to strike.
Sure enough, he lunged without missing a beat, and Seol Hwa-un pierced his leg with the Ice Ring Finger as if he’d been waiting.
“Now you can’t even run.”
“…….”
The Ghost King寨 Leader’s eye twitched.
‘He lured me in on purpose?’
It was unbelievable. Who was he? Yo Rip, the ‘Ghost Shadow Blade’ among the top five in the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits.
He had ambushed thinking it would be easy, never imagining he’d lose even in a frontal clash—despite seeing the Red River寨 Leader defeated so pitifully.
‘Fine, I’ll show you my true power!’
Clearing that Seol Hwa-un was no pushover, he used his ultimate technique from the start.
Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo!
His sword extended with blurry afterimages. It was the Ghost King Twelve Blades that made him the Ghost King寨 Leader.
Due to his injury, he couldn’t unleash full power, but it was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Even to Seol Hwa-un, ignorant of the sword style, it seemed highly refined.
“……!”
Seol Hwa-un first stepped with the Broad Cold Step to evade the sword strike.
But in that instant.
Pa-pat!
The sword split into two branches, attacking. One toward the direction Seol Hwa-un had dodged.
‘Pretty tricky.’
He unwillingly shifted position with footwork again. But once more, it split into two and pursued.
Pa-pa-pa-pat!
Thus, Seol Hwa-un changed direction five times, and each time, the Ghost King寨 Leader’s sword split, filling the area with countless afterimages.
‘It’s a sword art with extremely high proficiency in illusion and transformation.’
The Ghost King寨 Leader’s level was far higher than expected. If he had gone all-out with the Red River寨 Leader from the start, Seol Hwa-un wouldn’t have dispatched the Red River寨 Leader so easily.
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes grew icier.
‘With this level of skill, he’s just banditry?’
As he continued dodging sword shadows while moving, when he suddenly stood still, the Ghost King寨 Leader smirked triumphantly.
‘Keke, given up already?’
Indeed, the experts who faced him had tried endlessly evading like Seol Hwa-un and ultimately fell.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes flashed. Powerful寒 energy burst from his entire body, and his aura explosively surged.
He murmured lowly.
“The easiest way to break through illusion and transformation.”
Simultaneously, he thrust his fist like lightning. It was the Fist Cannon One Split of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.
Kuaaaa!
What the Ghost King寨 Leader then saw was a pure white light filling his vision.
‘Th-this……?!’
Crack!
A crack formed on the blade.
Ding-kang!
It shattered.
‘Wha?!’
Ultimately defenseless, the Fist Cannon One Split’s energy struck him squarely.
Kwaaaaang!
“Keok!”
Kung!
Flung like a cannonball, he crashed into a wall of a Shanxi Sword Sect building before collapsing.
With his body already crushed, he perished on the spot.
Seol Hwa-un finished his words.
“Is to overwhelm with absolute power.”