I've Been Waiting
"I've been waiting."
Woo-gang's cold words hung in the air.
How had Woo-gang known they were coming?
And where were Dang Cheon-yong and the other Dang Family warriors who should have been with him?
The scene rewinds to the moment when Gong-yo and his group appeared before Woo-gang's party.
"You may come with us. It would be an honor for Shaolin if the disciple of the Flame King visits."
Hearing Gong-yo's words directed at Woo-gang, the Sword King sensed something off.
Was it simply because Gong-yo had recognized Woo-gang at a glance?
No.
It was because, in the instant Gong-yo stared straight at Woo-gang and spoke, a fleeting alien energy had flickered into existence and vanished.
It was too brief to pinpoint exactly, but it seemed to coincide with the words "disciple of the Flame King."
Elder.
Woo-gang had sensed it too and sent a sound transmission first.
The Sword King had never been more grateful for teaching Woo-gang the technique at that moment.
Woo-gang had asked about it first, and the Sword King had instructed him during their journey from the Ak Family to Sichuan.
You felt it too?
Yes. Something's wrong.
Indeed. These men are no Shaolin monks.
By that point, Woo-gang and the Sword King had already realized Gong-yo and his group were not from Shaolin Temple.
The Sword King conversed with Gong-yo openly while exchanging skilled sound transmissions with Woo-gang.
More importantly, because it concerned Ak So-cheon—and because they knew these were no Shaolin monks—Woo-gang had chosen not to follow the Sword King.
After parting from the Sword King and arriving in Deungbonghyeon, Woo-gang's group secured rooms at an inn and retired to rest.
Dang Cheon-yong, who needed to monitor Ak So-cheon's condition regularly, shared a room with him.
Can you hear me?
As Dang Cheon-yong settled Ak So-cheon in their room and checked his state, Woo-gang's voice rang in his ear.
Woo-gang's room was right next door.
Yes, I can hear you.
Listen carefully to what I say from now on.
Woo-gang briefly relayed the conversation he'd had with the Sword King before arriving in Deungbonghyeon.
Hearing it, Dang Cheon-yong broke out in cold sweat from shock.
He himself hadn't noticed anything amiss.
But this is Deungbonghyeon. Song Mountain is right there, and Shaolin Temple stands guard. Even if they're enemies, would they dare cause trouble here?
Dang Cheon-yong calmed his nerves and sent back a sound transmission.
The elder said as much. Enemies always strike when you're off guard. If nothing happens, all the better—but I doubt it will. They've already appeared near Song Mountain, haven't they?
Dang Cheon-yong nodded at Woo-gang's transmission.
How much closer to Song Mountain didn't matter.
They had already shown themselves in Henan Province, the sphere of Shaolin's influence.
In other words, the moment the Sword King had set off after them, things were already in motion.
So what should we do?
In response to Dang Cheon-yong's question, Woo-gang devised a contingency plan.
The result: Woo-gang would remain in Ak So-cheon's room, while Dang Cheon-yong and the Dang Family warriors quietly slipped out of the inn beforehand to intercept any fleeing enemies.
At first, Dang Cheon-yong objected.
It meant Woo-gang facing unknown numbers of potentially powerful foes alone.
And not just fighting—he had to protect the immobile Ak So-cheon while doing so.
Dang Cheon-yong, who knew full well how grueling that would be, insisted on helping, but Woo-gang wouldn't budge.
In the end, Dang Cheon-yong yielded to Woo-gang's will, leading to the current situation.
A ferocious killing intent poured from Woo-gang's entire body.
The room-filling aura blocked the enemies from taking even a single step forward.
The room was cramped.
The doorway even more so.
Without a surprise assault, achieving their goal was all but impossible.
In other words, with Woo-gang gripping his spear, eyes blazing fiercely, failure was inevitable for the enemy.
Normally, they would have retreated the moment their mission faltered.
But they stood frozen, unable to advance or withdraw.
Indecision from the twisted situation?
Far from it.
It was Woo-gang's unyielding will—no survivors—that bound them.
"You have business with me and Ak So-cheon? Then I have business with you. Don't think you'll leave this building alive."
And Woo-gang moved.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Enemies smashed through multiple walls, their bodies shuddering before heads lolled limp.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
Even more astonishing: Woo-gang hadn't swung his spear.
He vanished and reappeared, delivering a brutal kick to one foe—and chaos erupted.
But that strike had plunged Woo-gang right into the enemy's midst.
Shiiiik!
Dozens of weapons flew at him.
Seizing the gap, some dashed toward Ak So-cheon's room.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A cacophony of clashing metal pierced the darkness.
The enemies' weapons tangled against each other.
Woo-gang was already gone.
Crack! Boom! Boom!
An intruder stabbing down at Ak So-cheon's bed flew back.
Woo-gang swept his spear horizontally; the precise strike to the face sent the man crashing through the wall.
This time, no shuddering.
Dead before hitting the wall, the instant the spear connected.
Meanwhile, more enemies poured in.
They surrounded Woo-gang and Ak So-cheon's bed.
To any onlooker, Woo-gang was at a disadvantage.
Yet not a trace of worry crossed his face.
Unfazed by peril, unimpressed by advantage—a subtle dread they hadn't noticed crept into the enemies' hearts.
Outside, Dang Cheon-yong scanned the inn's perimeter anxiously.
The repeated crashes confirmed the clash had begun.
Should I go in?
He wavered.
He'd agreed to Woo-gang's plan, but now doubted its wisdom.
Boom! Boom!
More sounds; the building shook violently each time.
Watching the sturdy structure tremble as if on the verge of collapse heightened his fears.
Even if it fell, extracting Woo-gang alone was feasible.
But Ak So-cheon complicated things.
Escaping with the helpless man amid chaos? Near impossible.
Maybe they should have taken Ak So-cheon out when leaving the inn.
"Keep watch. If needed, we move in."
Dang Cheon-yong ordered his men.
Boom!
Something shattered overhead.
All eyes shot upward.
The wall of Ak So-cheon's room crumbled; debris rained down.
Dang Cheon-yong and his warriors stepped back.
Thud!
A heavy body hit the ground—a man.
Struck by Woo-gang's spear, blasted through the wall from the fifth floor.
Dang Cheon-yong rushed over, checking the neck.
Already dead.
Surviving that strike and fall would have been miraculous.
He looked up urgently.
Through the gaping hole, glimpses of motion inside.
Dang Cheon-yong clenched his fist.
Sparks of light flashed occasionally, but dark silhouettes dominated.
His resolve tipped toward charging in.
Whirrr! Boom!
Woo-gang's spear spun atop his palm without falling, tracing a wide arc.
It cleaved the neck of an enemy flanking toward Ak So-cheon.
Blood sprayed like a fountain; Woo-gang swept again.
The gore splattered away from Ak So-cheon, the decapitated body hurled into others.
The spear never rested.
Simple thrusts, sweeps, and overheads effectively sealed off approaches in the tight space.
Woo-gang's expression remained unchanged.
The enemies' pupils quaked as their numbers dwindled without closing in.
His gaze said it all: Come at me. Hundreds of you wouldn't faze me.
He who cleaved through hundreds of Murim Alliance warriors—this was nothing.
That experience forged his confidence.
It overflowed, blending with his innate divine art into an indescribable majesty.
In the pitch-black room, Woo-gang's eyes blazed with fierce light.
If we can capture one alive, it might be worth it—but prying their lips open won't be easy.
The Sword King's words before pursuing Gong-yo resurfaced.
Ak So-cheon is our constant. They're the sudden variable—or better yet, treat them as imaginary. Hesitate not; they were never part of the equation.
No hesitation, as the Sword King urged.
Especially not against enemies.
Woo-gang drew up his energy.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Vast power erupted, as if to burst the cramped space.
The building quaked; enemies staggered back, unable to withstand.
"Gahk!"
Some vomited blood, internal injuries from the pressure.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The tremors intensified.
Ak So-cheon's bed wobbled perilously.
Boom boom boom!
Woo-gang slammed his spear into the floor.
Cracks spiderwebbed from the deep-embedded tip.
They climbed walls to the ceiling.
Crackle crack!
Large stones plummeted from above.
The whole space tilted.
That strike had begun the collapse.
As boulders fell from overhead, the floor gave way—enemies inside vanished.
Boom boom boom!
A deafening roar as the building crumbled.
It happened in seconds.
Dang Cheon-yong, poised to rush in, froze in shock.
His mind blanked.
Unable to enter or stand idle—like paralyzed.
Boom!
Another explosion; something burst from the debris.
Dang Cheon-yong's eyes tracked it.
His pupils shook violently upon recognition.
Soaring into the air: Woo-gang.
Ak So-cheon cradled in his arms.
Woo-gang descended slowly before Dang Cheon-yong.
The poison expert still couldn't speak.
Thoughts tangled, words failed.
Woo-gang gently laid Ak So-cheon down.
No spear in sight—forgotten in the haste.
As Dang Family warriors rushed to Ak So-cheon, Woo-gang turned.
Not toward the rubble, but another direction—face still icy.
Boom!
Something erupted from the collapsed inn.
Startled heads turned; Woo-gang extended a hand toward the debris.
Whirrr!
The buried spear spun free, flying to his grasp.
Void Grasping Technique.
A stark display of his realm.
Shwick! Snap!
Gripping the flying spear, Woo-gang leveled it ahead.
Someone stood where the tip pointed.