Chapter 1096
So-ho swallowed dryly, his eyes unfocused.
Wasn't there only one place in the world named Sword Tail Mountain?
'Langya Pavilion.'
In the martial world, there were only two people who could break this Mind Seizing Secret Art—and if one of them resided in the current foremost sect of the Demonic Path, Langya Pavilion...
Did that mean only the terrifying Human Demon Ak Mu-ryeong could save Sulgwae?
'Either Sulgwae dies, or I do.'
The Human Demon's reputation in the martial world was that of an unfathomable Great Demon, whose emotions, from joy to anger, were impossible to read.
It was said he would slit throats at the slightest provocation and turn his surroundings into a bloodbath over the smallest disrespect.
And no matter how much they called him the Wandering King...
So-ho doubted that a mere dagger would be enough to move the Human Demon Ak Mu-ryeong.
"Um..."
As So-ho opened his mouth with a trembling voice, staring at the dagger, Black Leopard sensed his hesitation and waved his hands dismissively.
"Don't worry. The next Pavilion Lord will take care of it."
"The next Pavilion Lord...?"
"The Martial Soul Lord will handle it himself."
So-ho gasped.
The leader of the Evil Soul Squad, a superlative martial expert of the Demonic Path Murim who transcended generations.
This was his chance to meet the young grandmaster of the Demonic Path, revered by the entire martial world.
Shashashasha...
But then, an eerie sound began echoing from the distant sky.
A noise so unsettling it made one's stomach churn just hearing it.
"They never learn to give up."
Black Leopard muttered under his breath.
"Why does trouble always find me when I'm training alone?"
"Huh?"
When So-ho asked, Black Leopard let out a deep sigh.
"You should hurry back to the Central Plains."
"What's happening?"
"It seems these forces have deep roots even beyond the frontier."
Black Leopard's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the Black Wing attached to his shoulder.
When he had rescued Sulgwae, he had encountered those who wielded supernatural powers.
Though he had defeated them in an instant, looking back, their energy bore an uncanny resemblance to that of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
And now, dozens of individuals with the same supernatural fluctuations were converging here.
"Maybe it's better to call for reinforcements, even if it's late."
Black Leopard took out a signal flare from his robes to summon the Wanderer Unit, but then shook his head.
"No. I can't miss this chance to grow further."
Like Bu Eun-seol, Black Leopard pursued the Martial Way through extreme combat.
Fighting life-threatening battles against formidable foes was how he sought to advance his martial arts.
"I'll hold them off here."
"Great Hero..."
"I pray you return safely to the Central Plains and save your friend."
Turning around, Black Leopard spread his arms wide, palms open.
Crackcrackcrack!
In an instant, rocks and wood fragments scattered across the ground burst upward, and a translucent light spread across the entire rocky terrain.
He was deploying a massive battle formation to eliminate the incoming enemies, ensuring they could not harm So-ho on his way back to the Central Plains.
"Great Hero Black Leopard! I will repay this debt without fail!"
So-ho, staring at Black Leopard's back, dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
Then, gritting his teeth, he picked up Sulgwae and sprinted back toward the Central Plains.
I swear...
The image of Black Leopard's towering figure—dressed in black robes, shoulders broad enough to prop up Mount Tai—lingered in his vision like an afterimage, refusing to fade.
I too will become a hero who helps others without hesitation.
So-ho's chest burned with determination.
Namgung Un. Black Leopard.
Despite their youth...
These two had extended their hands without hesitation, risking their lives to save a nameless wanderer.
For just a brief moment...
Standing alongside these peerless young heroes, So-ho felt the fiery soul of chivalry ignite within him.
And this resolve would later become the first chapter in the legendary tale of the Lone Star Hero, a renowned hero whose name would echo through history.
"I must survive to repay this debt."
Muttering under his breath, So-ho tightened his grip on Sulgwae and unleashed his movement technique toward Jade Gate Pass.
'Young Hero Namgung tracked them strategically.'
Namgung Un, with his exceptional tracking art and insight, had instantly deciphered the masked men's cunning escape methods.
And So-ho, who had witnessed it firsthand, had gleaned invaluable wisdom from it.
'I need to conserve stamina.'
Whoosh!
Instead of sprinting recklessly at full speed, he maneuvered through treacherous cliffs and ravines—
Slowing his pursuers' advance and preventing large groups from forming encirclements.
Even while running, he constantly scanned the terrain for brief resting spots.
Releasing his lightness art, So-ho moved along waterways or rocky areas where footprints wouldn't linger, erasing his trail.
Anticipating scent-based tracking, he adjusted his path according to wind direction.
At times, he even faked leaps across cliffs to mislead his pursuers.
Thanks to these efforts, So-ho managed to pass through Jade Gate Pass and completely evade his pursuers for a full four days.
But masters with extrasensory perception rendered all such preparations meaningless.
They were doggedly tracking him down, somehow finding traces of his passage no matter what.
It was only a matter of time anyway.
So-ho had never truly believed he could shake them off completely.
From the beginning, his goal hadn't been to escape pursuit—
but to reach a location where he could use the emergency flare U Gyeong had given him.
If we're here, there should be a branch stronghold within range of the Evil Soul Squad's signal.
Though he hadn't made it all the way to Jinling, this region of Jiuquan still lay firmly within the borders of the Central Plains. The Evil Soul Squad had to be nearby.
If not... this journey ends here.
An emergency signal like this could call allies to his aid—but it would also reveal his position to the enemy.
"Sulgwae."
So-ho spoke softly as he gazed at Sulgwae, still unconscious from the effects of the Soul-Stealing Great Law.
"I will save you."
Drawing the bamboo tube U Gyeong had given him, So-ho raised it toward the sky.
Piiii—
The firework streaked upward—
Fizzle.
But instead of exploding, it sputtered out weakly and vanished.
Did it get damaged along the way?
So-ho bit his lip.
Emergency flares carried by unit members on high-risk missions were built to be indestructible—immune to water, shock, anything.
Yet somehow, whether from improper storage or sheer bad luck, his had failed.
"Last hope—"
Before his mutter could even finish—
KWA-BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook heaven and earth, and the distant sky began to bleach white.
The Evil Soul Squad's emergency signal didn't just alert their branch strongholds to a member's location—
it also bought endangered operatives time to conceal their location and flee by unleashing a tremendous blast of sound, light, and concussive force.
My Lightness Art isn't strong enough—staying here is safer.
The signal had already blanketed the area, and the enemy wouldn't pinpoint his exact position.
In that case, staying put was far better than making a clumsy attempt to move.
I need to set up the formation.
U Gyeong had taught him a concealment battle formation for situations where escape was impossible.
Snap, crack, rustle—
Gathering branches and stones from the surroundings, So-ho swiftly began arranging the Five Elements Formation.
Battle formations borrowed the energy of the earth and the power of nature—
and deploying one required intense focus, stamina, and an exceptional memory.
Beginners often made mistakes during setup, but—
driven by sheer determination to save Sulgwae, So-ho completed the Five Elements Formation flawlessly.
Zzzing—
As the formation activated, So-ho carried Sulgwae inside.
Though the Five Elements Formation was transparent from within, allowing clear observation of the outside, it remained invisible from the exterior—making it ideal for monitoring enemy movements.
I'm exhausted.
The moment the formation's quiet enveloped them, fatigue and drowsiness crashed over So-ho like a wave.
Hold on.
He couldn't fall asleep.
Pinching his thighs, he fought to stay awake—again and again.
But in the end, his eyes fluttered shut, and he succumbed to sleep.
Blink.
How much time had passed?
So-ho jolted awake as he sensed presences closing in from all directions.
Swish, swish—
Beyond the transparent barrier, countless shadows darted past at blinding speed.
The same masked men who had kidnapped Sulgwae.
This is bad.
So-ho held his breath as he watched them pass.
Their eyes gleamed sharply, and their movement techniques were swift as a gale.
If they caught him now, he wouldn't even leave bones behind.
Rustle, rustle—
They swept past the formation, circling the mountainside once.
Clearly, they had tracked his trail this far—but with no sign of So-ho or Sulgwae, they began prowling the area relentlessly.
Glance, glance.
Peering out from within the formation, So-ho—
locked eyes with the masked man at the group's forefront.
Even though the formation should have made him invisible, the moment their gazes met, a chill shot down So-ho's spine, his hairs standing on end.
Oh no.
Only then did he realize his grave mistake.
Though the Five Elements Formation concealed both sight and presence, these were masters with extrasensory perception.
They could detect even the faintest ripple of awareness—
and he should never have met their gaze.
"......!"
The masked man who had locked eyes with So-ho lingered near the formation, circling it slowly.
So-ho stifled his breath, suppressing all traces of his presence.
But then—
"Mmm..."
Sulgwae, still subdued by the Mind-Seizing Art, let out a faint groan.
It was an almost inaudible sound—
and within the formation, it shouldn't have reached the outside.
But it didn't escape the keen ears of the masked man.
"A formation, is it?"
The masked man's eyes gleamed wide before twisting into a sinister grin.
"No matter how profound the battle formation, destroying the area will suffice."
Whoosh!
Before anyone realized, a violent storm had begun swirling in the Masked Man's hands.
BOOM!
When he slammed both palms onto the ground, the earth trembled as if struck by an earthquake, and the Five Elements Formation began shaking violently from within.
Crackle—
Simultaneously, the once-transparent outline of the formation rippled like disturbed water.
"Over here!"
Following the Masked Man's shout, countless martial artists surged forward, surrounding So-ho's position in an instant.
"What a troublesome brat."
Spotting So-ho clutching Sulgwae within the nearly collapsed formation, the Masked Man clicked his tongue.
"Not even a disciple of the Beggars' Sect, just some orphan we confirmed—almost became a lifelong regret."
'Heuk-pyo's prediction was right.'
They hadn't just kidnapped random vagrants—they had conducted meticulous investigations beforehand.
And because their identities couldn't be exposed, they were chasing them down so desperately.
"Well, doesn't matter now."
The Masked Man stretched out his hand.
"Even if you were princes, you wouldn't survive this."
Just as the light gathering at his fingertips was about to engulf So-ho—
Goooooo—
A strange sound echoed from the distant sky, followed by—
Swish!
A deafening Sound of Breaking Air tore through the heavens as a black shadow streaked down like a meteor, carving a blazing trail.
Shiiiiing!
Without slowing in the slightest, the shadow descended—
Flash!
A blinding sword light erupted, felling the Masked Men surrounding the formation in an instant.
Slash! Slash-slash-slash!
The black figure moved at speeds beyond human sight, unleashing razor-sharp sword energy.
Thud-thud-thud!
After felling over forty martial artists in the blink of an eye, the shadow landed beside So-ho.
"So you're So-ho."
Standing before him was an elderly man clad in flowing black robes, his aged face bearing a tiger-like gaze crackling with lightning.
A faint smile played on his lips.
It was none other than the guardian of the Death Shadow War Unit, the self-proclaimed retainer of Bu Eun-seol—the former master known as the Flying Demon, Tak Il-hon.
"E-elder—"
As So-ho stammered in shock, Tak Il-hon replied calmly.
"I've heard everything from Cheonho."
Cheonho was U Gyeong's codename.
The bamboo tubes of the Evil Soul Squad were strictly issued only to formal members and meticulously managed.
Since U Gyeong had given his own token to So-ho, he had to report it immediately.
Coincidentally, Tak Il-hon had been in Taiyuan investigating Heavenly Mechanism Star's movements under Bu Eun-seol's orders.
Following protocol, the report had reached him first.
—I've already covered the token's cost.
Producing an emergency flare for a Evil Soul Squad member required an astronomical sum—thirty thousand taels.
Bu Eun-seol had shouldered this expense for his subordinates' safety.
But since U Gyeong had arbitrarily given his token to an outsider, he had reimbursed the unit.
—Don't worry about such trivialities.
Tak Il-hon had said.
—But we must report this to the Evil Soul Squad Leader and the Martial Soul Lord. This is something they must know.
Bu Eun-seol had been the one to bring So-ho in as an intelligence scout for the Evil Soul Squad.
He also knew U Gyeong had been training him like a disciple—so this situation naturally required reporting.
Thus, the details had been relayed to the Evil Soul Squad Leader and Bu Eun-seol through Tak Il-hon.
"You can rest easy now."
U Gyeong had long intended to officially recruit the clever and talented So-ho into the Evil Soul Squad.
He had privately brought it up to Tak Il-hon multiple times.
"Hmm."
The Masked Man didn't so much as blink even as Tak Il-hon felled all his subordinates.
Instead, his sharp gaze raked over the old man's figure.
"Well, well—who do we have here?"
Though he recognized Tak Il-hon's face, the Masked Man wore a smug expression.
"I heard you crawled back to the Demon Hall to serve as the Martial Soul Lord's lackey after losing all your men... How's that working out for you?"
For Tak Il-hon—who had once lost nearly all his loyal subordinates at Bima Palace due to misguided ambition—this was a taunt that stabbed deep into his heart.
In the past, he wouldn't have been able to suppress his fury.
But after joining Bu Eun-seol's ranks, his Spirit and Mind cultivation had reached heights rivaling even Buddhist masters—so he merely chuckled darkly.
"Not much of a talker yourself, are you? A dog kidnapping children for its master's hunt isn't in any position to bark."
The Masked Man had called him a lackey.
Tak Il-hon simply upped the insult—calling him a dog.
"We're not kidnapping them—they have a purpose!"
As the Masked Man shouted, Tak Il-hon laughed hoarsely.
"What words could possibly come from the mouths of cowards who torment the weak, kneel before the strong, and chase profit without scruples?"
"You dare—?!"
Crrrrrr-
As the enraged Masked Man began exerting his power, the surrounding earth writhed—
—until Tak Il-hon's feet sank deep into the ground, buried up to his ankles.
One Hundred and Eight Stars.
Through his mysterious supernatural power, the Masked Man had completely immobilized Tak Il-hon.
"Flying Demon. No matter how swift your movement technique may be, you cannot withstand the might of Earth-Firm Star."
Zzziiing—
The Masked Man—Earth-Firm Star—was not merely burying Tak Il-hon's feet in the earth.
By harnessing the earth energy beneath the land, he was forcibly draining every ounce of power from Tak Il-hon's body into the ground.
"Only your bones will remain soon."
Feeling the pure energy being siphoned from Tak Il-hon, Earth-Firm Star curled his lips into a vicious smirk.
"Since when was the Flying Demon ever truly the Flying Demon?"
In that instant, an eerie light surged from Tak Il-hon's body.
He was the guardian of Death Shadow War Unit—
A veteran who had led countless battles to victory, personally instructed by Bu Eun-seol in insight and the True Void Martial Arts.
And he was once the master of Bima Palace—
A peerless expert in Body-Locomotion Martial Art, surpassing even Bu Eun-seol in sheer movement technique alone.
Wooong—
Tak Il-hon's entire body began vibrating rapidly, transparent currents of energy rippling outward.
To break free from Earth-Firm Star's grip, he vibrated his body relentlessly, escaping the very space he stood in.
"Futile."
Earth-Firm Star chuckled.
"If you escape, I'll simply expand the earth."
Grroooowl—
As the ground trembled, the distance between Earth-Firm Star and Tak Il-hon began widening—
—until, in that split second—
BOOM! SHWIIING!
With a deafening roar, Tak Il-hon tore through space, unsheathing a dagger right before Earth-Firm Star's face.
Sschk!
Earth-Firm Star's eyes bulged as half his neck was severed in a single slash.
"H-How—?"
"You expanded the distance by half a li in an instant."
Tak Il-hon scoffed coldly.
"This guardian can traverse a full li in the same time."
Earth-Firm Star's pupils trembled.
No matter how renowned the Flying Demon had been in the past, he was now nothing more than a has-been master.
Since when had he refined his Body-Locomotion Martial Art to such heights?
"Im...possible."
Grrrk—
The half-severed wound on his neck twitched.
Every member of the One Hundred and Eight Stars possessed unique physiology.
And Earth-Firm Star had been born with a Construct-Spirit Body—capable of instantly regenerating external injuries.
SHWIIK!
In that moment, accompanied by the shrill sound of breaking air, Tak Il-hon became a streak of light, charging at Earth-Firm Star once more.
PAK!
A razor-sharp sword aura erupted from the dagger, grazing Earth-Firm Star's neck.
"Hmph."
Earth-Firm Star snorted dismissively, having evaded what should have been a fatal strike.
But just as he prepared to counter—
Tsssk!
A crimson blood line suddenly traced a perfect circle around his neck.
Tak Il-hon had slashed his throat so swiftly that Earth-Firm Star had mistaken it for a mere glancing blow.
"You think mere movement technique can overcome the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars?"
"It is no mere movement technique."
Earth-Firm Star's eyes widened in suspicion—what secret was this?
Then, with solemn reverence, Tak Il-hon declared:
"The eternal sun of the Demonic Path's martial world. The undefeated general of a hundred battles. The peerless sovereign whose legacy shall transcend eras and generations. The one and only savior of our fates—our lord himself bestowed upon this guardian the invincible Body-Locomotion Martial Art."
Earth-Firm Star's face twisted in bewilderment.
He couldn't comprehend a single word Tak Il-hon was saying.
Thud.
In the end, Earth-Firm Star collapsed with his eyes wide open, lifeless.
PSHHH—!
As his Construct-Spirit Body failed, a fountain of blood gushed a foot high from his neck, pooling beneath him.
"Haaah..."
Tak Il-hon exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from his brow.
To execute Light Body Art—compressing distance in an instant—
—required an advanced technique that explosively detonated the energy within one's body.
"In the past, attempting this would have left me collapsed."
Bu Eun-seol had tailored his teachings—from Internal Energy Method to martial arts—to match the individuality of Death Shadow War Unit's core members.
Having received every last secret art from Bu Eun-seol, Tak Il-hon's martial prowess had ascended beyond comparison to his former self.
"Elder."
So-ho approached with concern.
"Are you alright?"
Tak Il-hon chuckled at the sight.
"Of course."
"A relief."
So-ho also smiled.
In his eyes, Tak Il-hon's movement techniques were truly unparalleled in the world. No matter who came at them, he felt there would be nothing to worry about.
"We must flee quickly."
At that moment, Tak Il-hon spoke with an expression graver than ever.
"Reinforcements have arrived in the time we've been talking."
His heightened senses were sounding the alarm.
"I came alone this quickly because I was already traveling Beyond the Frontier on business. It would take the Evil Soul Squad at least another day to arrive."
The masked men's organization was vast beyond measure—not one to be underestimated.
They had swiftly deployed forces even to this region near Jade Gate Pass.
But by heaven's grace,
Tak Il-hon, who had been traveling Beyond the Frontier under Bu Eun-seol's orders, spotted the Evil Soul Squad's emergency signal and immediately rushed here.
'Do we hold our ground here? Or do we move?'
If Tak Il-hon were alone, he could protect himself no matter what master appeared.
But with two boys in tow while being pursued by such a formidable force, he had no confidence they could all escape safely.
"Then what if we set up a battle formation here?"
At So-ho's words, Tak Il-hon shook his head.
"If masters of the same caliber as that man swarm us, they'll shatter the formation in an instant."
"Then..."
"There's no other choice."
Tak Il-hon drew upon his internal energy as he spoke.
"Relax your bodies and don't move a muscle."
In the end, Tak Il-hon made his decision.
Whoosh.
As he channeled his power, So-ho and Sulgwae floated into the air, each gripped firmly by Tak Il-hon's arms.
"Close your eyes."
Swish!
Tak Il-hon, now airborne, vaulted over several mountains in the blink of an eye.
Whoooooosh...
Before they knew it, the sky darkened ominously, and faint ghostly wails echoed from somewhere.
Not even a quarter-hour had passed, and already, pursuers were closing in.
"Did they blockade this entire area already?"
By now, even if the main Evil Soul Squad hadn't arrived, at the very least, local branch forces should have mobilized.
But the enemy had already sealed off the region and poured in a massive contingent.
Fwoooosh!
Dozens of concealed projectiles rained down toward the flying Tak Il-hon.
They were Flying Wing Blades—deadly enough to pierce protective astral energy in a single strike.
Whirr—CRACK!
Tak Il-hon descended to the ground and plunged into a dense forest.
Here, even if the hidden weapons poured like rain, the trees could mitigate some of the damage.
Thwip-thwip-thwip!
The Flying Wing Blades fell like a storm, but their speed slowed as they embedded into trees or punched through them.
While moving swiftly, Tak Il-hon deployed a defensive formation, deftly deflecting the barrage.
Yet his movement technique grew progressively slower.
To shield So-ho and Sulgwae from harm, he had to expand his protective astral energy wide, draining his internal power at an alarming rate.
"Seems this old man's stamina isn't what it used to be."
Muttering low, Tak Il-hon doubled his movement technique.
Hiss-hiss-hiss...
But the forest was now filling with dark shadows.
The troops, having locked onto his movements, had completely encircled the woods.
FWOOOM!
From a distance, they fired another volley of Flying Wing Blades, this time propelled by transparent energy currents like cannon fire.
Whizz—CRASH!
Tak Il-hon arced through the forest, evading the projectiles,
but with So-ho and Sulgwae cradled in each arm, his movements lacked their usual fluidity.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Now, explosions tore through the surroundings, collapsing the landscape.
Had they realized his movement technique was too fast—and decided to bring down the entire forest instead?
"They're forming a battle formation."
Their tracking methods were fiendishly clever.
Rather than targeting Tak Il-hon directly, they were encircling the area while deliberately leaving an escape route—guiding him into a prearranged formation.
Hiss—FWASH!
Tak Il-hon, soaring like a swallow with the two in his arms, amplified his energy.
He intended to break free just before the formation fully materialized.
Whoosh!
But the pursuers seemed to anticipate his plan.
Shrieeeeek!
Now, dozens of masters with formidable movement techniques openly gave chase.
FWIP!
Though none could match the speed and intricacy of his technique,
the tightening formation increasingly restricted his mobility,
and with retreat paths preemptively blocked, the distance between them gradually shrank.
Shhhk.
Finally, Tak Il-hon halted.
"It seems we'll have to settle this here after all."
He gazed up at the cloudless sky and muttered under his breath.
"Time to savor the stench of blood I've long forgotten."
Though he had crouched obediently in the Death Shadow War Unit out of loyalty to Bu Eun-seol,
his true nature remained that of the Flying Demon—the one who once bathed the martial world in storms of blood.
As a battle of flesh and carnage loomed, a strange exhilaration burned within him.
"Elder, leave us behind and escape."
Misunderstanding his words, So-ho pleaded earnestly.
"We'll be fine."
"You think this old man would flee in fear of mere hunting dogs?"
"Then take revenge for us instead."
So-ho's eyes blazed with an iron will hot enough to melt steel.
"Isn't this less a retreat and more a step back to strike?"
For a moment, Tak Il-hon looked stunned—
"Hahahaha!"
Then he threw back his head and roared with laughter, his beard fluttering wildly.
So this was why the exceptional Evil Soul Squad member U Gyeong had been so protective of him.
Not only did he possess peerless talent, but he also had the unyielding spirit and indomitable will to look down upon the world itself.
"Very well. Then let's do this."
Tak Il-hon smiled.
"If you survive this place, you'll become this old man's disciple."