Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Who the Hell Are You? (2)
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"Looks like there's another wild boar."
Jang Gwal remarked with an intrigued expression, reminded of the boar they'd hunted earlier by Cheol Woo's massive frame and fearless movements.
Cheol Woo swung his fist with brutish force.
Pung Yo Sang sensed the punch carried no ordinary power and thrust his bear pipe forward.
The pipe grazed past Cheol Woo's fist, aiming straight for the nape of his neck.
The bear pipe that had lunged swiftly at Cheol Woo's nape suddenly faltered. Then, as if bouncing off an invisible barrier, it rebounded sharply.
Pung Yo Sang's face stiffened rigidly. He had been certain this strike would sever his opponent's breath in one blow, never imagining it would be blocked by protective aura.
If the protective aura could nullify an attack infused with over a jia of inner energy, it meant his foe was at least an equal master in prowess.
"Not some ordinary bastard!"
Pung Yo Sang bellowed boldly as he channeled his full power.
His frame seemed utterly puny compared to Cheol Woo's hulking build, but the surging aura enveloping his body was anything but.
"An amusing old codger."
Judging Pung Yo Sang's presence comparable to the countless demonic experts he'd felled before, Cheol Woo rolled his broad shoulders leisurely to loosen up.
In stark contrast to Cheol Woo's relaxed posture, as if inviting an attack anytime, Pung Yo Sang hesitated, unable to strike recklessly despite spotting so many glaring openings.
"You gonna come or what?"
Pung Yo Sang's body reacted instantly to Cheol Woo's mocking tone.
Their distance was about three jang. But to these two, that meant nothing.
The moment he thought to move, Pung Yo Sang was already in Cheol Woo's face, thrusting his bear pipe.
A single thrusting motion, yet the pipe targeted eight lethal acupoints in deadly sequence.
Resistance surged through the pipe.
Pung Yo Sang, who had poured nearly two jia of his full strength into this assault, felt the fierce opposition vanish in an instant and inwardly cheered.
He spotted Cheol Woo's fist flying late, but dismissed it as a futile death throe.
"It's over."
The same words slipped from Sima Geon and Jang Gwal's lips as they watched the duel.
The outcome was nothing like what they expected.
"Krahk!"
Jang Gwal cried out sharply and snatched Pung Yo Sang's flying body mid-air.
Reeling from the force carried in Pung Yo Sang's body, Jang Gwal staggered back several steps, a groan escaping him involuntarily.
"What the hell..."
Jang Gwal stared in disbelief at Pung Yo Sang, who was vomiting blood.
"M-Monster... be careful..."
Gripping Jang Gwal's arm, Pung Yo Sang couldn't finish his warning before passing out.
As Jang Gwal stood frozen in shock at how Pung Yo Sang had crumbled powerlessly under the counterattack despite striking first, Cheol Woo—who had neutralized him in a single blow—grimaced in dissatisfaction, clicking his tongue.
"Boss, has my skill dulled? Or is that old man actually strong?"
Cheol Woo asked just in case, but the reply was curt.
"Seems like your skill's slipped."
"Damn it! I thought so too. Definitely rusty. Guess pigs and boars aren't enough practice."
Neung Wi and the unconscious Pung Yo Sang stared at Cheol Woo's sigh, speechless. Neung Sa Jong, examining Pung Yo Sang alongside Jang Gwal, was equally dumbfounded.
They had seen it clearly.
The bear pipe, which should have pierced Cheol Woo's protective aura, skewered his heart, and ended him in one thrust, had been halted by mere human flesh and snapped feebly.
Followed by a devastating counterpunch.
Even as Pung Yo Sang instinctively raised his arm to block, he sustained a fatal wound.
His left arm shattered on impact with the fist, bone fragments piercing into his chest and pulverizing his heart and lungs. He clung to life by a thread, but recovery was impossible.
A bandit elder, a master who could boast anywhere in the martial world, demolished in one hit. And the one who achieved it was whining about his own skills declining—infuriating beyond words.
"Who the hell are you bastards?!"
A terrifying killing intent poured from Jang Gwal, seething with rage.
"You deaf? We told you already. No need to know us. What matters is that old man's from the Golden Fox Bandit Lair."
Jang Gwal drew a short breath.
He wanted to call it youthful bravado from an insolent pup, but the opponent's prowess was far too superior for that.
He'd have to give it everything. Anything less, and he'd end up like Pung Yo Sang.
"Tahaap!"
With a mighty shout, Jang Gwal's fist hurtled toward Cheol Woo's chest.
Cheol Woo could tell the punch packed serious power. He figured Overlord Blood Victory Aura could block it, and Ink Gang Asura Qi would let him counter immediately. But he changed his mind.
Cheol Woo's body tilted left, flowing like water to evade Jang Gwal's fist. Simultaneously, his own fist shot forward.
Overlord Sixteen Fists.
A chain attack based on Overlord Blood Victory Aura, unleashing sixteen punches in a single motion.
Factoring in the feints hidden between, it was no exaggeration to call it a storm.
Jang Gwal twisted desperately in horror at Cheol Woo's counter.
He hastily punched to block the onslaught closing from all sides, but perfectly defending a barrage in one breath was impossible.
Thud! Thud!
Two fist strikes slammed into Jang Gwal's body.
"Kuhuk!"
A scream burst from his mouth.
As Jang Gwal spat crimson blood and reeled back, Cheol Woo's gaze shifted not to him, but to Neung Wi's subordinates charging at him.
Led by Yeom Heuk, those attacking Cheol Woo on Neung Wi's orders wore faces full of fear and terror.
Even if compelled by orders, they'd witnessed with their own eyes how two bandit elders they revered as heavens had fallen without landing a proper blow—their reaction was only natural.
Yeom Heuk's sword, twisted like a fierce demon, lunged for Cheol Woo's throat, flanked by synchronized attacks from both sides.
Five swords pierced Cheol Woo's throat, heart, and dantian.
Yet the attackers' faces filled not with triumph, but bewilderment.
They had clearly succeeded in stabbing Cheol Woo's body.
But the sensation transmitted through their blades was utterly alien.
Not like stabbing flesh, but like striking a massive boulder.
"Annoying flies."
Cheol Woo swung his fist with an irritated scowl.
"D-Dodge!"
Yeom Heuk, the first to "succeed," sensed the overwhelming force surging in and screamed in panic.
Before his cry finished, Cheol Woo's fist swept through everything.
No time or room to evade.
They could only swing their swords, clinging to a shred of hope from lifelong training.
It took but an instant to realize it was futile.
Feeling as if struck by a giant hammer, Yeom Heuk flew helplessly, brushing past a terror-stricken Neung Wi before crashing into a tree two jang away and breathing his last.
He wasn't the only one.
All who attacked Cheol Woo met the same end without exception.
With a single counter, Cheol Woo slew Yeom Heuk and ten others, then advanced on Jang Gwal.
About ten foes still surrounded him, but Cheol Woo paid them no mind.
Heads bowed, frozen in deathly fear, these wretches could do nothing.
Regaining a brief respite from his subordinates' sacrifice, Jang Gwal glared murderously at the approaching Cheol Woo.
Seeing that glare, Cheol Woo sneered.
"Still not giving up, huh? Good spirit."
"Shut your trap! I'll admit you're strong. But I won't die alone."
Before Jang Gwal finished, he charged.
It was Great Force Collapsing Fist, the technique that earned him the moniker Mighty Overlord.
Unleashed in defiance of death, its power could shake heaven and earth.
"That's just what you think, old man."
Cheol Woo smirked coldly and swung his fist.
The immense forces of Great Force Collapsing Fist and Overlord Thirteen Fists clashed head-on, erupting in a thunderous boom. A massive gust swirled around them.
Unable to withstand the shockwave, Jang Gwal spat blood again and staggered back.
Cheol Woo pursued leisurely, pressing with relentless punches.
One to the chest made Jang Gwal reel; one to the gut bent him double, then launched him skyward.
Cheol Woo, hauling his bulk effortlessly, caught up in mid-air and stomped down with his left foot.
With a sickening burst of hide tearing, Jang Gwal's body rocketed toward Neung Wi.
Neung Wi flinched back in alarm; where he stood, Jang Gwal's mangled corpse landed, barely recognizable.
"Slippery bastard. Didn't expect you to dodge to save your own skin."
Cheol Woo, who had aimed to finish Neung Wi using Jang Gwal, clicked his tongue and approached.
Neung Wi, unwittingly retreating, suddenly hit something and halted.
Turning slowly, he saw Neung Sa Jong impaled on his sword—held in a prayer grip—embedded in a tree, lifeless.
As Cheol Woo prepared to strike Jang Gwal again after felling Yeom Heuk and a dozen subordinates, Neung Sa Jong had moved to aid the beleaguered elder.
One-on-one was hopeless, proven already. But together, they could hold out. Buy time until reinforcements from Golden Fox Bandit Lair arrived.
Though marked for elimination, Bandit Chief No Geuk was no pushover, nor his men. United, they could fell this foe.
As Neung Sa Jong stepped toward Cheol Woo, a chilling sensation made him turn.
A sword hurtled at terrifying speed.
His warrior instincts snatched it mid-air in prayer grip. But the force was beyond him.
Backpedaling, he poured all his energy to deflect it—but failed.
Backed against a massive tree, Neung Sa Jong could move no more. The sword pierced his chest, pinned him to the trunk, and stopped.
Neung Wi's gaze turned to Sima Geon, standing casually with hands behind his back.
He recalled how this monster, toying with bandit elders like children, had advised Cheol Woo his skills had slipped.
Trembling uncontrollably in ultimate dread, Neung Wi saw Cheol Woo approach after dispatching the rest, seizing his nape.
"This one's the last. What do we do, boss?"
Cheol Woo asked Sima Geon.
Sima Geon turned away indifferently. He was already irritated at the unexpected delay from these nobodies.
Feeling the grip tighten, Neung Wi thrashed desperately and cried out.
"I-I'm the... ban...dit... chief's... son."
Cheol Woo tilted his head and loosened his hold. Sima Geon glanced back mid-stride.
"What'd you say?"
Sensing this pivotal moment between life and death, Neung Wi spoke cautiously.
"The... Golden Fox Bandit Lair's chief... is my father."
"That's what he says, boss."
Cheol Woo looked to Sima Geon for input.
Sima Geon's icy gaze fixed on Neung Wi, racking his brain for escape.
"Does it matter?"
At Sima Geon's retort, Cheol Woo chuckled.
"Nah."
That was it.
As horrified Neung Wi opened his mouth to plead, Cheol Woo's grip clamped down. His neck snapped without a word, ending him.
Cheol Woo flung the limp corpse aside and caught up to Sima Geon, muttering.
"Sometimes this kinda fun hits the spot."