Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Blood Ghost Squad
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“Kyaaak!”
A monstrous roar reverberated through the cavern.
I thrust my sword into the solar plexus of the Blood Ghost charging at the forefront with both hands outstretched ahead of it.
Normally, it would have pierced clean through its flesh in one go, but right now, the blade was still in its scabbard.
-Perk!
My attack merely delivered a blow instead of penetrating its body.
“Guhk...!”
Even so, the strike to its vital point must have been considerable, as it couldn’t steady itself and crumpled weakly to its knees.
Hm, even if its spirit has been subjugated, damage to the flesh can’t be ignored, it seems?
Sensing from the first clash that it was decently strong, I swung the scabbard at its jaw, now lowered to my waist height.
-Pbek!
The Blood Ghost’s eyes rolled back from the brain-rattling impact as it collapsed.
Seeing it go limp, it looked like it had passed out cold.
It was fairly strong and agile in its movements, but only to this extent.
Taking them on one by one wasn’t difficult.
The problem was that dozens of such bastards were charging at me all at once.
If I unleashed the Sovereign Sword Forms, I could probably sweep away even that irritating Elder Assembly Leader lurking in the back, splitting apart like a coward.
But if I did, the entire Blood Ghost Squad would get shredded to bits in the sword qi storm.
So, what should I do?
“Kuaak!”
Dodging three Blood Ghosts lunging at me simultaneously, I leaped up and smashed the back of the middle one’s head.
Without a care for its comrade tumbling forward, the left and right ones whirled around, baring their fangs.
I jabbed the throat of the one on my right while simultaneously striking the pressure point of the one on my left.
Sidestepping the left one as it stiffened and fell, I swung at the temple of the right one, which was clutching its throat and rolling on the ground.
-Puk!
That made four.
Without pause, I spun around to face the swarm of Blood Ghosts approaching from behind.
-Kung!
I stomped down with a wide horse stance toward them.
It was to bind their movements with my aura.
But,
“Kraang!”
“...Ha.”
They evaded it.
Before my aura could coil around their bodies, they leaped back, escaping the range.
It was a scene that gave off a strong sense of déjà vu.
No need to rack my brain—it was exactly what I’d experienced recently in my spar with Hyuk Ri-gwang.
So they really had gotten stronger and faster, and their senses were sharp too.
On top of that, even their beast-like movements resembled Hyuk Ri-gwang’s... resembled?
“...No way?”
In that instant, a strange intuition struck me.
Hyuk Ri-gwang and the Blood Ghost Squad.
The feeling that their similarities weren’t coincidence.
Come to think of it, the Blood Ghost Squad was supposed to become the Zhuge Clan’s new enforcer unit.
They’d pulled it out with considerable confidence, claiming it would subdue me.
The new enforcer unit, Blood Ghost Squad.
Hyuk Ri-gwang, said to be the strongest itinerant warrior residing in the clan.
Could Hyuk Ri-gwang be involved in the background of how the Blood Ghost Squad was created?
It was a hard-to-believe hypothesis, but I was witnessing and experiencing the Blood Ghost Squad’s movements firsthand.
Their motions were unmistakably the Fierce Tiger Stance.
Whether by choice or force, the Blood Ghost Squad was undeniably connected to Hyuk Ri-gwang.
“Krheung!”
As I fended off another Blood Ghost charging at me, I recalled Hyuk Ri-gwang.
We’d only met a few days ago, but the Hyuk Ri-gwang I’d encountered was a straightforward, magnanimous man, one whose exterior matched his interior.
That was why I’d taught him the Suction Finger Technique, to refine his Fierce Tiger Step.
I wanted to believe it wasn’t the case, but if Hyuk Ri-gwang knew about the Blood Ghost Squad’s existence and this horrific human experimentation...
“...Then we’d be settling things with a duel to the death, not a spar.”
Muttering under my breath, I decided to handle the matter at hand first.
“Kyak!”
The Sword Shadows Observing Heaven stance struck the Blood Ghost.
The simultaneous thrust targeting eight points on its upper body shattered its sternum, clavicles, and shoulder blades, sending it crumpling.
“...Twenty-two.”
The twenty-second Blood Ghost fell.
Before I knew it, only four remained encircling me.
I glanced sidelong at the Elder Assembly Leader, who had been observing the whole time.
He couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the sight of more than half the Blood Ghost Squad sprawled on the ground.
Yeah, he probably never imagined it turning out like this.
Look forward to it—I’ll let you taste that sword qi you love so much.
“Kyaaak!”
While my attention was briefly on the Elder Assembly Leader, one of the Blood Ghosts crept up behind me and leaped in a sneak attack.
Having noticed its approach long ago, I sidestepped casually, and it face-planted straight into the ground.
-Kwang!
Oof, that’s gotta hurt.
The ominous sound made me furrow my brow unwittingly, but the Blood Ghost stood right back up as if unfazed.
“Kuk.”
Its nose bizarrely crooked, twin streams of blood gushing from its nostrils.
I chuckled at the sight, and it bellowed a louder roar in rage before charging.
The issue was that it, plus the remaining three from my flanks and rear, all rushed in at once.
An assault from all four directions, with no blind spots.
In this situation, even these bloodthirsty beasts seemed to have decided on a coordinated attack.
“Young Master Goon!?”
Zhuge Geun-yeong, who had been holding out against the other Blood Ghosts still lingering with the cavern wall at his back, cried out in alarm at the sight.
Worry about yourself instead of me.
I stomped my left heel hard into the ground and spun my body like a top with it as the pivot.
The four Blood Ghosts were flung away simultaneously, struck by my whirling sheathed sword.
Sky-Piercing Single Sword: Return Light.
Originally a follow-up chain to the charging Sky-Piercing Single Sword, but it could be used like this too.
“Ah...!”
Zhuge Geun-yeong let out a sigh of relief upon seeing me effortlessly break the encirclement.
That’s why I told you to watch your own back.
“Kuhk!?”
See? That’s what happens.
While Zhuge Geun-yeong had glanced my way for a moment, one of the Blood Ghosts clinging to him seized the opening and burrowed right up to him.
Zhuge Geun-yeong noticed the Blood Ghost lunging for his throat.
But he realized a beat too late.
Just before the Blood Ghost’s gaping maw could bite his neck, he barely blocked it with his scabbard.
-Kwajik!
Grinding its teeth on the scabbard right in front of his face, the Blood Ghost’s wild red eyes glared as Zhuge Geun-yeong gritted his own and held firm.
Meanwhile, the other Blood Ghosts approached him, tongues flicking.
If I left him like that, he’d be reduced to bones in seconds, so I immediately stomped into a stance.
-Kung!
Reaching Zhuge Geun-yeong’s side in a flash with Sky-Piercing Single Sword, I bashed the surrounding Blood Ghosts and struck their pressure points.
“Uh, ugh...!”
Zhuge Geun-yeong shoved away the Blood Ghost leaning toward him as his body stiffened, groaning in pain.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be hurt anywhere.
“You okay?”
“Yes... I’m fine.”
He shook his head, quickly regathering his mind, body, and sword.
As I smiled faintly at the sight, the Elder Assembly Leader’s irritated voice burrowed into my ear.
“Argh, what are you doing! Surround him and charge all at once!”
The four encircling me and the six clinging to Zhuge Geun-yeong.
With only ten Blood Ghosts left now, a sense of urgency seeped into his voice.
“Kyaaak!”
Regardless, the Blood Ghosts faithfully obeyed the order and swarmed to surround us.
Since Zhuge Geun-yeong had been fighting with his back to the wall, we were instantly hemmed in by them.
“...Young Master Goon, that’s enough. You’ve already done more than your best. Draw your sword now.”
With things like this, it seemed impossible to subdue the Blood Ghosts without killing them, so Zhuge Geun-yeong urged me to unsheathe.
“Isn’t it too bad to give up after coming this far?”
“Hah, but...! If something happens to you because of me...!”
“Well, we’ll see about that.”
A bewildered gaze turned my way at my nonchalant reply.
Suspicion that it was mere stubbornness, mixed with a sliver of hope.
Feeling those two conflicting emotions, I slipped the scabbard back into my waist sash.
Zhuge Geun-yeong panicked at my action, while the Blood Ghosts lunged as if sensing an opportunity.
I extended both hands forward and splayed my five fingers wide.
Then, I concentrated internal energy into the pressure points at the tips of my fingers: Shao Shang, Shang Yang, Zhong Chong, Guan Chong, and Shao Chong.
“Kyaaak!”
The moment the ten roaring Blood Ghosts closed in on us, I unleashed the energy gathered at my fingertips in one burst.
-Duwung!
With a dull thud, the blobs of energy shot out and struck the Blood Ghosts, sending them all flying back at once.
Zhuge Geun-yeong’s eyes widened at the sight.
“Th-this... what kind of technique is that?”
“It’s called the Finger Flicking Art. I hadn’t really tested it in real combat yet, so I was a bit unsure about controlling the power, but it seems fine.”
Ever since coming to the Zhuge Clan, alongside the technique most associated with them—“that one”—I’d been devising this Finger Flicking Art in my spare time.
Concentrate energy into the fingertip pressure points and fire it off.
Honestly, it guzzled internal energy, so the cost-performance was abysmal, but it was pretty useful in a situation like this.
Shrugging as I answered, I drew my sword and swung.
A crescent sword qi traced the blade’s arc, slicing through the Elder Assembly Leader’s calf as he tried to slink away slyly.
“Kraaaak!?”
The old man shrieked, suddenly bereft of both legs.
He thrashed on the ground, his once-white beard and hair turning filthy.
“Now you look the part.”
After striking the pressure points of the Blood Ghosts hit by the Finger Flicking Art, I looked down at the Elder Assembly Leader clutching his severed legs.
“Now, be a good boy and answer my questions. Then maybe... I’ll let you live?”
His face twisted in demonic fury upon hearing his own words thrown right back at him.