Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Surface - 1
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"Lock the gates!!"
The village walls weren't particularly high. But even so, they offered some defensive value.
That's why one of the soldiers shouted with foam at the corners of his mouth, and the terrified villagers, shaking uncontrollably, hurriedly barred the gates against the approaching bandit horde.
But they couldn't afford to relax just yet.
-Creak...!!
"Hahaha! Fire!!"
Some of the bandits charging on horseback drew their bowstrings. Horsemanship archery, no less. Something even the soldiers couldn't pull off easily.
"Shields up!"
The moment the soldiers raised their shields, the arrows were loosed.
The volley streaked through the sky toward us. No dodging that.
In that case!
I took a step forward. What I traced was a circle.
An area where anything approaching me would be slashed apart.
-Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
One, two, three. Four. I swept my sword to deflect the arrow rain pouring down like hail.
The first arrow glanced off, the second slid aside, the third ricocheted away, and the fourth shattered.
"Huuu..."
As the barrage ended, I lowered my sword. Broken arrows littered the ground beside me, and I confirmed the nearby soldiers were unharmed.
"Young hero! Over there!!"
No sooner had the arrows stopped than the enemy charge began. Bandits armed with spears, swords, shields, and the like rushed toward the walls.
The faces of the soldiers atop the walls grew paler at the sight of what looked like hundreds bearing down on them.
"How many soldiers does the village have in total?"
"Only about seventy..."
It wasn't a large village, so the garrison was small. They couldn't commit everyone to battle. They needed some to help evacuate the villagers in case things went south.
I shouted to one of the soldiers.
"Go to Cheonyang Inn and fetch Fist Emperor senior!!"
I glanced down at the base of the walls. Trying to block arrows, perhaps? Behind the bandits with massive shields, I spotted others hauling a huge log.
They were clearly aiming to smash the gates.
-Boom!!
The enormous log, wielded like a battering ram, slammed into the gates. The impact shook them violently—the force was no joke.
How many hits could they withstand? I turned to Ju Yu-ri, who stood beside me at a loss for what to do.
"Do you intend to help?"
"Uh..."
"Protecting strangers you have no ties to isn't obligatory. Even so, will you step up?"
Even if she were from the Righteous Faction, I couldn't ask her to join in this situation. Let alone her—an Evil Faction member.
One of those who cast aside righteousness and chivalry for personal gain.
Ju Yu-ri gave no reply. I couldn't read the meaning in her gaze as she stared silently at the bandits. But her inaction was no reason for me to hold back.
With that, I drew my sword and leaped down from the gate.
I landed atop the log. Without sparing a glance at the startled bandits below me, I swung.
-Slash!!
Fountains of blood erupted from the necks of the four brutes holding the log.
Ignoring that, I sliced through an incoming spearhead and bit my lip.
"Hup!!"
Fighting hundreds alone. It was undoubtedly impossible.
But there was no time to debate possibility.
All that mattered now was cutting down the enemy.
One step forward—a strike. Spin around—another strike. Dodge the blunt, rusted spear, kick its wielder, and cleave his skull. The next assault: leap into the air, counter with a downward slash, then on landing, swing wide to check them.
"You're insane! Trying to take on all of us alone!!"
The basic foot soldiers fell back as those who'd trained in martial arts pressed forward. Dozens of them, by the look of it. Gripping my sword tighter, I eyed them.
And then.
-Slash!!
The bandits lunging at my opening were sent flying by a powerful strike.
The one who'd done it was none other than Ju Yu-ri. The Evil Faction woman had joined this pointless fight.
As I looked at her in surprise, she flashed a smile and cracked her whip.
-Crack! Slash!!
"I've got your back!!"
An unexpected intervention.
But not unwelcome. With Ju Yu-ri covering my rear, my options opened up.
"Just buy a little more time. Fist Emperor will be here soon!"
"Got it!"
Hundreds of foes still remained.
I'd been using the area from my Taiji Sword, but now I gripped my blade firmly.
"Hup!!"
The internal energy from my Five Elements Circulation Art surged through my dantian. As the cycled power flowed into my sword, I gritted my teeth and swung wide.
-Sweep!!
Sweeping Away Heavenly Armies. I'd fused the second form of the Three Ultimates Sword Art with Taiji Sword. Expanding the area to its limit, a single strike yielded massive results.
It cleaved multiple enemies within my domain in one go.
But it wasn't enough.
More.
I needed to widen the area further.
"Kill him! Kill him dead!!"
"He's alone anyway!! He'll tire soon—charge!!"
Alone, my foot. Can't you see the person behind me? Sneering at the desperately bellowing leader, I shifted my area.
Not around me this time—forward. I'd been on defense until now, but with my back secured, I could go on the offensive.
I called out my thanks to Ju Yu-ri and stomped forward powerfully.
-Boom!!
In that instant, my expanded area encompassed dozens of foes. Pouring internal energy into my sword, I...
-Vmmm...!!
A low sword hum rose, blue light spilling from the blade.
The internal energy manifesting visibly—sword aura revealed.
"Haaap!!"
I kept pouring in more.
A little further. Just a bit more.
Until I hit my control limit, the aura stretched to a blade about three meters long.
The extended aura widened my domain accordingly. Using it, I unleashed Taiji Sword once more.
-Kabooom!!!
The result was staggering. Dozens of bandits caught in the path of destruction were obliterated beyond recognition.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
Using so much energy at once? My breath came ragged. But I wasn't collapsing. Retracting the aura, I steadied my breathing and raised my sword for the next foes.
And then.
-Boom!!!
An explosion rang out. A golden sphere leaped from the walls, dominating the surroundings.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
From the golden sphere emerged none other than Fist Emperor Cheon Si-jeok.
His usual stoic face softened with what seemed like quiet satisfaction as he patted my shoulder.
"Those who protect the emperor's subjects deserve commensurate reward. Rest now."
-Crack.
He cracked his knuckles lightly, loosening up, a grin tugging at his lips.
"I'll take it from here."
.
.
.
It was a battle that showed why the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces were called superhumans.
Just bare fists, yet his body was tougher and stronger than a finely honed blade.
The bandits shattered utterly under attacks that didn't even use fist aura.
Minutes after arriving, he'd felled the rest alone and tore the horrified leader apart alive. Then, in his gruff tone, he addressed us as we rested.
"We've got them all, but there might be more. You two stand guard here against any stragglers."
With that, Fist Emperor vanished in a blur of lightness skill. No idea where he was headed, but I could leave the rest of the search to him.
As tension ebbed with the battle's end, I let out a sigh.
"Good work."
"You too. More than that... I didn't expect you to step in."
"Huh? What an odd thing to say."
Huh? Did I misspeak? Puzzled, I looked at her, and she gave a bright smile, raising a finger leisurely.
"I joined because it seemed profitable."
Profitable. Well, Fist Emperor had just said protecting imperial subjects warranted praise and reward.
If he reported this to the emperor, even the Four Black Alliances might gain something.
"I'll put in a good word with Fist Emperor for you."
"Pardon?"
"Huh? Wasn't that your angle—currying favor?"
"Ah... yeah, that too. Hehe."
She smiled sweetly and pulled a small box from her bosom. Opening it released a faint, pleasant herbal scent—like a golden sore salve.
Scooping a bit, she gently applied it to my cheek.
"Helping you seemed like it'd pay off."
Helping me wouldn't bring the Evil Faction much gain, though...
"I'm not Sword Heaven's disciple. Aiding me won't get you anything from her."
"Mm? I know. You said so earlier."
"Then what is it?"
"Hm? Who knows~?"
She smiled coyly, withdrew her hand from my cheek, pocketed the salve, and spoke brightly.
"The road to Sichuan—I'll make sure it doesn't get boring, okay?"
This is trouble. I'm not that entertaining.