I Was Mad Too (1)
A biting dog never barks.
The Red Dogs were proving that old saying true right now.
Jang Il-so’s dogs. They had accepted even that humiliating nickname and charged the enemy like hounds after prey.
One look at their lowered eyes and tightly pressed lips made it clear that not a shred of hesitation lived in their hearts. Without mercy, they brought their blades down toward the heads of the Demonic Sect disciples.
Kagagagak!
The blade, wrapped in a chilling killing intent, bit into the arm the demonic disciple threw up to block the strike. The screech of hard bone grinding against metal rang out horribly.
And then, in that instant—
Paaat!
A second wave surged in from behind. Treading on the back of the man in front, one fighter sprang upward and drove a lightning-fast cut toward the demonic disciple’s head. It was a seamless follow-up, flowing naturally as if they had agreed to it from the very beginning.
It was a scene that showed exactly how brutally they had been trained.
“Thi—!”
As the startled demonic disciple tried to wrench back the arm with the blade embedded in it, the Red Dog in front spun his sword and hauled hard, clutching the arm like he was embracing it and pulling it in place.
And then—
Sweak! Sweak! Sweak!
From the left and right, one each, and one from above.
Like trained hounds lunging at a tiger, three crimson lines shot out from behind the Red Dog in the lead and carved across the demonic disciple’s entire body.
“...Ghk.”
The disciple, sliced open across both flanks and the center of his head, reeled backward for a moment.
Shwaaaaaak!
Then a flying blade slammed into his neck with full force.
Kagagagak!
It was less the sound of a head being cut off than the sound of a saw biting through metal. The blade half-buried in the neck got caught on the tough flesh and refused to go any farther, grinding horribly.
But right then—
Like a bolt of lightning, a Red Dog flipped through the air and struck the blade embedded in the demon’s neck with all his strength.
Kagang!
At last, the demon’s head flew cleanly into the air. Yet even after dispatching one demonic disciple without a scratch, there was not the slightest trace of triumph in the Red Dog’s eyes.
Five.
It took five men to take down one demonic disciple without injury. Five Red Dogs could handle most peak masters without trouble. In other words, each and every demonic disciple scattered across this battlefield possessed strength on the level of a peak master.
With a heavy sense of danger hanging over them, the Red Dogs kicked off the ground and threw themselves toward their next prey.
“Kyaaaaaaagh!”
Along with a ghastly shriek, a blackened hand shot toward them. Demonic energy swirled violently around it, and the long nails formed from that energy were viciously aimed at their throats.
But...
Kaaang!
Without the slightest disturbance, Baek Cheon’s clean, sharp sword deflected the attack with ease. The moment sword and hand met, the demonic energy wrapped around that hand was forced back, and a crimson sword wound was carved into the palm.
Paaaat!
Then came the thrust. Baek Cheon’s sword, flashing like lightning, split into dozens in an instant and blanketed the demonic disciple’s entire body.
Sweak! Sweak! Sweak!
The sound of flesh being sliced open stabbed at the ears.
“Kraaaah!!”
A furious roar erupted from the demonic disciple’s mouth. His blood-red eyes were enough to make anyone’s knees go weak just by meeting them.
But—
Kagak!
Baek Cheon stabbed through the incoming arm and shoved it back. Then he bit down on his lip and took one more step forward.
Paaaaaaaaat!
At last, a band of sunset light was etched into the air.
The blazing line brushed past the demonic disciple’s neck. Blood gushed from the mouth of the disciple whose throat had been cut halfway through.
“Khuh...”
The one whose cervical spine had been half-severed flailed in a desperate frenzy. At that very moment, a black silhouette surged up like a mirage above Baek Cheon’s head.
Yu I-seol shot up into the dark sky, twisting her body in midair as she swept her sword through the air. The place her blade pointed, of course, was the demonic disciple’s neck.
Sweak!
His head came off with perfect neatness.
Pulling her extended sword back, she slashed once more at the air. Using that force, she lifted herself up again. Then countless crimson plum blossoms bloomed from the tip of her sword and swept in all directions.
“Kkhh!”
“Damn it!”
Rough curses burst from the mouths of the demonic disciples.
There was nothing harder to deal with than an attack raining down from above. Moreover, Mount Hua’s swordsmanship, with its blend of reality and illusion and its wide-ranging offense, was especially devastating in a group battle like this.
The plum blossom sword qi pouring from above pierced the demonic disciples’ bodies again and again.
“Senior brother!”
“Move!”
And then, at that moment, Yoon Jong and Jo Geol shot forward like streaks of light from behind Baek Cheon.
The demonic disciples launched wild, frenzied attacks, but the two did not avoid a direct clash. Instead, they met the charging disciples head-on with fierce, heavy sword strikes.
Kwaaaaaang!
A thunderous blast erupted across the battlefield, which had been filled with the sounds of cutting, clawing, and slashing. Jo Geol and Yoon Jong sent the demonic disciples staggering back in a single blow, then pressed even harder and shoved the enemies to both sides.
“Sister!”
Dang So-so raced down the path they had opened with ferocious speed, flipped her body, looked up at the sky, and thrust out her sword.
Yu I-seol brought her sword down, and their blades crossed in the air. Dang So-so then swiftly swung her sword and hurled Yu I-seol upward, higher and higher.
Sarararak!
Her blade once again burst out line after line of crimson sword qi.
Falling Plum Blossoms.
The perfected Twenty-Four Forms Plum Blossom Sword Art painted countless blossoms beneath the blackened sky. Like a rain of blood, drifting plum petals poured down over the heads of the demonic disciples.
“Kk...”
“Kheh...”
Those pierced through arms, legs, or torsos only had to endure the pain. But the ones struck through the head or neck trembled violently and collapsed to the ground. The plum petals infused with immortal energy gave them no chance to resist.
“You filthy infidel bitch!”
The demonic disciples roared and kicked off the ground. What they aimed for, naturally, was the place where Dang So-so was descending. They meant to tear her apart with hatred and rage.
But someone here would prove exactly how wrong that choice was.
“A—Mi—Ta—Bha!”
Holy golden light spilled across the dark world.
With a hard stomp into the ground, Hye Yeon drove a punch from his waist.
Arhat Divine Fist.
The fist of the Arhat, which annihilated all wicked things, washed over the clustered demonic disciples like a tidal wave. For a moment, the brilliant golden radiance seemed to illuminate the whole world.
“Kraaaaaagh!”
“Aaaaagh!”
The demonic disciples screamed miserably as they were swept away by that force. The sensation of the demonic energy they had built up inside their bodies shattering and grinding apart brought pain far beyond that of flesh being broken.
“Well, well...”
Watching the scene, Im So-byeong snapped his fan shut and shook his head.
There’s a limit to how perfectly people can sync up.
From what he had seen, after entering battle they had not exchanged a single word. And yet the moment they began to swing their swords, they moved as if they had heard in advance exactly what each of them should do.
Even Hye Yeon, who came from Shaolin and not Mount Hua, was like that.
Is this what people mean when they say allies are reassuring and enemies are terrifying?
Well, that was fortunate. By now, he had become more than qualified to call himself their ally.
“But, hmm... I should at least earn my keep if I don’t want them looking down on me.”
Tap.
Moving forward with the lofty grace of a crane, Im So-byeong spread his fan wide and waved it gently. The qi exhaled from the iron ribs of the fan scattered around him like a swarm of butterflies.
Kagagak!
The demonic disciples rushing at Baek Cheon faltered as that energy barred their way.
“Now then, isn’t it time we move forward?”
“...”
Without a word, Baek Cheon kicked off the ground and surged ahead. Im So-byeong and Un Geom ran behind him, supporting him like escorts.
Incredible.
Im So-byeong’s lips twitched again and again, as if he were barely holding in laughter.
Baek Cheon’s figure, his long hair streaming behind him as he charged at the front, was as impressive as anything he had ever seen. If there truly was such a thing as the image of a hero in this world, it must have looked just like this.
If he had made even one wrong choice, Im So-byeong and the Green Forest would have ended up facing these people in the end. Just thinking about it made his blood run cold.
Meanwhile, Baek Cheon’s eyes were not nearly as heated with excitement as one might expect from the way he charged.
Sweak!
He cut down a rushing demonic disciple in one stroke, then bit his lip slightly.
This isn’t hard.
Now he knew for sure.
Their immortal energy was a calamity to demonic disciples. Even the strong Red Dogs and the elite of Black Ghost Valley had trouble dealing with demonic energy, but here it was being cut apart and driven back as though it were nothing.
At last, he could understand what the last three years of training had been for.
The demonic disciples attacked in vicious, almost indescribably bizarre ways, but Baek Cheon could respond to every one of them.
He had already experienced it.
Not in the Northern Seas. In the countless bouts of training he had endured with Cheong Myeong. For those who had survived three years under Cheong Myeong’s training, this battle was nothing special.
The madness the demonic disciples spewed was nothing compared to the murderous intent Cheong Myeong had once flung at them. It was barely even irritating.
So the situation itself was not especially unfavorable.
But...
This can’t be all there is.
He was not overestimating the enemy’s strength. Baek Cheon’s standard for judging an opponent was unwavering.
If that had been all, that bastard wouldn’t have reacted like that. There has to be more.
Baek Cheon’s gaze shifted toward Cheong Myeong, who was driving the demonic disciples back from the front line far away. There was no way that extreme reaction had been directed at opponents of this level alone.
“Don’t get careless! Don’t get drunk on your sword!”
Baek Cheon’s shout rang out, and the Mount Hua disciples answered at once with voices strained tight with effort.
And then, at that very moment—
Baek Cheon’s eyes caught sight of Jang Il-so approaching Cheong Myeong.
Paaaat!
Cheong Myeong had just cut down another demonic disciple when hot blood splashed across his face. He was about to continue on, not even blinking, searching for the next one, when a cold voice settled by his ear.
“Don’t enjoy yourself too much.”
“...”
Cheong Myeong turned in silence. Jang Il-so had already come close enough to stand within arm’s reach, wearing that strange smile of his.
“You haven’t forgotten who your enemy is, have you? This isn’t the time to waste your strength on these small fry.”
Cheong Myeong looked at Jang Il-so with icy eyes.
“Move.”
Jang Il-so cast a bleak glance over the battlefield around them.
He was probably one of the only ones—along with Cheong Myeong, and perhaps, if one wanted to be generous, Im So-byeong—who truly understood the situation on this battlefield.
“It’s not time to rejoice that you’re winning. There are only a hundred enemies here, and there are at least three hundred more somewhere in this place. These ones are nothing but outer-ring lackeys. Once the main force joins them, things will get harder. Before that happens...”
Jang Il-so paused briefly, then smiled brightly.
“We should kill that archbishop bastard. You’ve shown enough kindness already. I appreciate the Daoist’s heart in wanting to save even the lowliest petty scum from the evil sects, but this isn’t the time for it.”
Cheong Myeong glared at him coldly, then twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Your insides must be so black the stench is about to leak out.”
“Hmm?”
“But fine. I’ll play along. Your little tune.”
The two looked at each other and smiled coldly. Then Jang Il-so turned his head and shouted,
“Ga-myeong!”
“Yes!”
“Keep up.”
Malice gleamed in Jang Il-so’s eyes.
“We’re going to cut off that archbishop bastard’s head from here on out.”