Chapter 78: Subjugation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78: Subjugation (1)
"What are you doing here?"
The figure weaving through the crowd of men was none other than Cheol So-yeon. She looked down at him, perched atop the branch of a gnarled, twisted tree.
"I thought you left. When did you come back?"
"There’s no time for idle chatter."
She hopped down, landing lightly beside Hyeok-jin.
"Well? Do you still have the strength to fight?"
"Heh... I can still take a hundred of them with me to the grave."
"Hah. Spoken like a true man—nothing but bluster."
With a smirk, Cheol So-yeon drew a flurry of daggers from her robes.
Chrararack!
She held four in each hand, fanned out like the blades of a folding fan.
"Lead the way. I’ll back you up. For the record, I’ll take the left. You take the right."
"Uh... are you serious?"
Hyeok-jin hesitated, pausing for a moment to gauge if she was truly in earnest.
"What are you staring at? They’re coming. Move!"
Thud!
Cheol So-yeon shoved his shoulder. In that instant, hope flickered across Hyeok-jin’s face.
The martial prowess she had displayed earlier was exceptional, befitting the granddaughter of Cheol Mu-jin. Moreover, the overwhelming number of enemies had significantly thinned out before they even realized it.
It felt as if a light was finally piercing through the darkness before his eyes.
"Uaaaaah!"
The strength that had surely run dry suddenly surged back into his limbs.
*
The men of the Black Snake Union fell one by one.
Among the combatants, Song Yeo-guk and Seok Myeong stood head and shoulders above the rest. Between them, they had struck down more than sixty enemies. The crowd that had once swarmed them was now visibly diminished, leaving only scattered groups here and there.
"Ugh, blegh..."
Song Yeo-guk led the charge, supporting Seok Myeong, who had stopped several times to retch.
"Is it too much to handle alone?" Dan Ri-geon asked with difficulty. His internal injuries were deep. He was addressing Hong Geom-baek.
When Hong Geom-baek remained silent, Dan Ri-geon continued. "I suppose so. That man is no ordinary fighter. Even that Qingcheng Taoist is proving troublesome."
"The Qingcheng Taoist? Hmph! I wouldn't care if ten of his kind showed up. It’s only that man we need to be wary of."
Dan Ri-geon looked at Hong Geom-baek, who was unusually on edge. His expression had gone beyond mere tension; he was so wary of the man that his face had turned pale.
Dan Ri-geon shifted his gaze and spoke again. "Both of them are starting to pant. It looks like we can move in soon."
"We must wait until the very end."
Dan Ri-geon’s eyebrows twitched. "Are you planning to let all your subordinates die?"
"Better them than me dying a dog's death."
"..."
Silence fell between them. Hong Geom-baek was still clouded with anxiety, while Dan Ri-geon stood there, unable to comprehend his fear.
Finally, Hong Geom-baek spoke. "Do you know of the Swift Wind Swordsman?"
"How could I not? He’s the one who dismantled the Black Snake Union single-handedly."
"That is him."
"...!"
In that instant, Dan Ri-geon’s eyes widened.
The man who had cut down hundreds of the Unorthodox Faction alone. In the past, the Samu Alliance had attempted to send masters to eliminate him, but for some reason, the plan had fallen through. That was the man standing before them.
"Do you understand now?"
Dan Ri-geon nodded slowly. He finally understood why Hong Geom-baek was so terrified.
"Our chance comes only after he is completely exhausted. So... get yourself ready."
*
"You must move in sync with the opponent's flow! Do not just observe your own; you must react to theirs!"
Seok Myeong’s head throbbed at the constant shouting. He was not accustomed to killing. Every time he saw a man’s skull shatter, the shock made his head spin. In the midst of such carnage, it was difficult to take the advice about "flow" to heart.
Song Yeo-guk cut down a man in front of him and shouted at Seok Myeong once more. "Don't just use brute force! Utilize the flow!"
He screamed while looking elsewhere. "Here they come again!"
From a distance, two men leapt forward, unleashing waves of Sword Aura. Seok Myeong dug in, swinging his sword violently from side to side.
Swish, clang!
One man fell, while the other managed to parry the blade. Suddenly, Song Yeo-guk appeared out of nowhere and slit the throat of the remaining survivor.
"Phew."
"Haah, haah."
By the time Seok Myeong and Song Yeo-guk’s breathing had grown heavy, the number of black-clad men had dwindled noticeably. Only about ten remained standing.
Then, two figures stepped forward: Hong Geom-baek and Dan Ri-geon.
"Well, well. Showing up now? You certainly took your sweet time," Song Yeo-guk mocked.
However, Hong Geom-baek and Dan Ri-geon remained unfazed.
"I wonder if you'll still be able to talk like that after you're dead."
"You think you lot can kill me?"
"We'll find out once we try. You seem a bit different than you used to be."
At those words, Seok Myeong glanced at Song Yeo-guk. In that moment, he noticed something striking: Song Yeo-guk’s fingers were trembling ever so slightly.
"Martial Uncle."
"Seok Myeong! Concentrate. Your opponent is the one next to him. I’ll finish this quickly, so just hold out for a bit."
"Understood."
Seok Myeong moved toward the forest to avoid being a hindrance. As expected, Dan Ri-geon followed him. This left Hong Geom-baek and Song Yeo-guk facing each other alone.
*
Whish!
A gust of wind blew past. Seok Myeong and Dan Ri-geon stood in a stalemate. Neither clashed immediately due to their respective conditions. Seok Myeong was feeling the burden of the martial arts he had just performed, and Dan Ri-geon found it difficult to take the initiative while fighting through his internal injuries.
"It won't be easy this time."
Perhaps Dan Ri-geon judged that his injuries weren't fatal enough to prevent him from taking down a boy.
Click.
In the end, Dan Ri-geon moved first. He once again wrapped the iron whip around his fist, preparing to use the same tactic as before. Though it was the second time Seok Myeong had seen it, he couldn't take his eyes off the sight.
How fascinating.
It was rare to see someone use boxing and an iron whip simultaneously. It was a martial art that could wrap the whip around the fist or use it like a lash depending on the situation. One likely wouldn't find such a technique even if they searched the entire Central Plains.
The combination of the iron whip and fist required movements so ingenious and violent that one had to force a new form where none existed. Without doing so, it would be impossible to strike through such complex and rigid movements.
As a fierce light flickered on Dan Ri-geon’s fists, Seok Myeong’s gaze deepened.
I should think of it as a unique weapon. To respond to such an erratic method of attack...
It would be difficult without exerting overwhelming power. However, in Seok Myeong’s current state, such power was impossible. He had no choice but to break through using his own abilities.
How can I win?
A thick, murderous intent closed in on Seok Myeong.
Zip.
As Dan Ri-geon closed the distance with his footwork, Seok Myeong first attacked his lower body. He intended to use the length of his sword to break the man's balance before he could get close.
"Hah!"
He immediately followed up with a linked technique. He slanted his sword toward the lower limbs, then swept it upward toward the abdomen. The moment the opponent parried, the form transitioned into a strike at the flank, then moved back to the chest for a deep thrust.
Contact, Circle, Thrust, and Knee.
This offensive pattern was primarily used in staff techniques, but it was also a common form in swordplay. Its ultimate goal was to lure the opponent's attack in the intended direction.
However, the enemy did not move as planned.
Chrarack!
Just as it seemed he would strike the shoulder, Dan Ri-geon threw the iron whip to disrupt the sword's trajectory. Then, he immediately threw a punch.
"Iron Righteous Fist!"
As the fist, shrouded in a halo of light, lunged forward, Seok Myeong twisted his body, barely evading the attack. He continued his assault, thrusting his sword deep toward the flank and then the chest.
In response, Dan Ri-geon fired the iron whip he had been holding in a short coil toward Seok Myeong with even greater speed.
Clang!
Seok Myeong’s posture finally broke. In that split second, Dan Ri-geon’s fist followed through.
Thwack!
Seok Myeong’s body was sent flying nearly thirty feet, spinning through the air before slamming into a wall.
"Die!"
Dan Ri-geon unleashed his fist qi once more at the staggering Seok Myeong. A thick murderous light filled his eyes as he charged forward like a bolt of lightning.
If I gather my strength, I can win.
Seok Myeong quickly snatched up his fallen sword and raised it toward the incoming fist qi. It was impossible to block fist qi with just a sword; he had to coat the blade with energy.
As he hurriedly gathered the strength of his entire body—
Vroom!
Seok Myeong was momentarily startled.
My internal energy...?
He felt a substantial amount of internal energy within his body. It was slightly less than before, but it was still a formidable amount. More than One Cycle of energy was flowing through him.
Seok Myeong immediately slashed his sword toward the fist qi.
"It's over!"
Seeing Seok Myeong’s action, Dan Ri-geon cheered inwardly. To try and block with just a sword instead of countering qi with qi was a foolish decision.
However, it didn't take long for him to realize that this was his worst nightmare.
C-crack!
The moment it touched Seok Myeong’s sword, Dan Ri-geon’s fist qi vanished.
"Gah?"
"Ah...!"
Seok Myeong let out a gasp. He had only thrust his sword out of desperation; he never imagined it would nullify the fist qi. It would have been one thing if a massive amount of energy had poured out, causing a clash or an explosion. But for it to simply vanish...
Whirrrr.
"What is this?"
Seok Myeong looked down at his sword, which was vibrating in his hand. Along with a sensation as if his energy was being sucked out and his body was becoming hollow, a ripple had formed. A faint black dot had appeared at the tip of the sword, creating a small vortex that seemed to be spreading.
"You brat! What kind of sorcery is this!"
Dan Ri-geon’s face turned beet red as he screamed. He had unleashed his signature technique, yet his energy had disappeared as if it were a lie.
Could it be the Absolute Realm? No, that was impossible. Judging by his behavior, the boy didn't even understand the trick he had just pulled; he was clearly a greenhorn of the Jianghu.
"To think I'm struggling against a brat like this...!"
His face was flushed with frustration at how long the fight was dragging on.
Tap!
Just as he widened the distance and prepared to release his fist qi once more—
Snap!
Seok Myeong leapt into the air.
"This kid!"
Illusory Lost Track Step.
Seeing that, Dan Ri-geon’s face contorted. The boy was trying to use the same movement technique he had seen several times already. Sick of it, he drew out even more of his internal energy. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth due to his earlier injuries, but he didn't care. He intended to end it with this next attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With the sound of rushing air, illusions began to trail before his eyes. Dan Ri-geon clenched his fists tight, sensing that Seok Myeong would appear soon. As expected, the two or three illusions soon merged into one.
It was then.
"T-this can't be..."
His hands, which had been ready to strike, slowly lowered. He had lost his wits as the merged illusion filled his entire field of vision.
And within that sight, he saw it. The vision of the illusion sliding right into his body!
"As I thought, the Illusory Lost Track Step isn't such a trivial movement technique."
Slash!
Dan Ri-geon’s head soared high into the sky.
Behind the headless body that still stood dazed, Seok Myeong held his sword horizontally, his expression cold.