Chapter 296: Where Do You Think You're Going
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-Kkwang…!
Simultaneously with the echo of the explosion.
‘…!’
The expression of Ximen Yue, who had been sprinting with supreme lightness arts, changed completely.
A massive wave of light.
It had shot up beyond the forest over there.
At that moment, Bamboo Forest Divine Lady Jeung Ji-rim and Profound and Wondrous Sword Beauty Wang Su-ah urgently said.
“Young Master Ximen! It seems to be from where our unnies are!”
“It’s definitely an enemy ambush! Let’s put out more effort and go faster…”
Suddenly, a fearsome wind sound swallowed the end of her words.
HUUUNG-!
A fierce wind swept behind the backs of the three who had paused in startled surprise, and someone suddenly approached.
PAPAPAPA, PAPAPAPA-
Ultra-fast movement that shook even the atmosphere. The protagonist was Cheol Ryu-heun.
“Ah!”
As everyone exclaimed upon seeing him.
Cheol Ryu-heun left behind a brief Voice Transmission and disappeared in an instant.
It was movement breaking through the front in a straight line, like Divine Wind.
A sprint operating extreme-level energy from the start – it truly resembled a flash of light.
Thus the storm passed and.
“Waaa…”
Jeung Ji-rim and Wang Su-ah again admired, looking toward the front where he had disappeared.
It seemed he had already dealt with Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon.
Whether he had killed him or he had fled was unknown, but one clear fact was that Cheol Ryu-heun had won.
Immediately after.
PAPAK!
Ximen Yue kicked off the ground and ran forward while shouting.
“Now, let’s hurry!”
At that, Jeung Ji-rim and Wang Su-ah also deployed lightness arts again.
Ximen Yue, who had suddenly worn a smile, said.
“You two, I don’t think you need to worry too much.”
The two women behind him spoke in unison.
“Pardon?”
“The light just now seems to be energy that Divine Wind released.”
“Ah…”
“That spirit creature, you mean?”
“Yes. My guess is probably correct. Given what Sect Master Cheol said about putting away our worries…”
Then he shone his eyes and muttered inwardly.
‘How surprising once again. To feel such relief… hoo, together with that person, it seems any danger could be overcome.’
* * *
About half a quarter of an hour earlier.
When Na Rae-hyang had fallen into a predicament, a master appeared.
It was none other than Ja-woo, the masked courier.
Having turned back out of worry, he had burst into the encirclement at the critical moment and fiercely executed swordsmanship displaying extreme-level energy, making about twenty enemies step back several paces.
The power of the consecutive dozen-or-so seconds was truly fierce.
Ja-woo’s wide-ranging sword technique displaying extreme-level energy as if forbidding approach exceeded the Young General tier of Eastern Heaven Division.
No, it seemed to surpass even the Middle General tier above.
Befitting a courier performing special missions, his hidden martial skill was truly admirable.
White Heaven Sword King Jil-ryang, the leader of the group, sent a hand signal.
“Stand by.”
At his command, his subordinate personnel who had been about to launch a combined attack paused their movements while maintaining distance.
Following that, Jil-ryang asked solemnly.
“Where did you learn martial arts?”
It was a tone deeply impressed by Ja-woo’s skill.
“None of your business.”
Ja-woo, having replied with cold eyes, injected massive true energy into his sword and glanced behind.
Na Rae-hyang, having quickly nodded, tended to the body of the fainted Si Yu-min while enduring the pain of her injuries.
Divine Wind, who had briefly fallen to the ground, had also risen up at some point.
Suddenly.
-Kwakwakwakwakkwang… Peopeopeopeopeopeng… Kkwauuuuuung…!
A series of loud sounds transmitted across the void from far away.
Jil-ryang narrowed his brow and let out a soft voice.
“Strange.”
It was presumed to be the explosions from where Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon was located.
That raised questions.
If sounds that great were echoing, it meant Danmok Cheon’s group was pouring out massive energy.
Against the remaining two women of the Four Great Strange Women…
It was an incomprehensible situation.
Did it mean those two women were handling that number of personnel?
What, that made no sense.
It seemed some variable had occurred.
Jil-ryang’s gaze soon fixed on Ja-woo.
“Hm, did you bring along a group separately?”
In the meantime, the explosions echoed continuously across the void.
-Kkwauuuuuung, kkwauuuuuung…
At that, Ja-woo raised the sword in his right hand while emitting killing intent and fighting spirit.
“Yes.”
Actually, he also didn’t know what was happening, but he fabricated as if he knew.
A kind of psychological warfare intended to make the opponent anxious.
However, Jil-ryang wasn’t flustered.
“It’s futile.”
No sooner had those words ended than about a dozen mutes, the lowest rank caped figures, each tilted their swords diagonally.
At that moment.
HWIRIK, HWIRIRIK-
Along with nimble sounds, two figures dropped down from the void.
Movement fast as a beam of light.
The two figures who had appeared in front of Ja-woo immediately kicked off the ground and charged.
One released sword force, the other released palm force.
It was a surprise attack accomplished at rapid speed.
At that, Jil-ryang reflexively thrust out both palms.
KKWAKKWANG- PEOHEOONG!
The two figures, pushed back by the repelling force, retreated backward again.
Jil-ryang’s upper body swayed as well.
However, despite handling the combined attack, there were no aftereffects of internal injury.
The identity of the two figures who had positioned themselves with Ja-woo, Na Rae-hyang and others behind their backs was the Thirteen Seats of the World.
Ink Zither Aged Grandmother Song San, and Deviant Eccentric Physician Bo Hwoe.
“If you wanted to live quietly in hiding, what is this behavior?”
Song San drove her seven-string zither straight into the ground while letting out a cold voice.
Following that, Bo Hwoe also aimed his sword tip forward.
“Brazen fellow… you haven’t abandoned your bad habits from the old days.”
At the appearance of those two, Jil-ryang spoke with a distinct smile.
“This is quite interesting. I hadn’t expected you two were hiding here.”
Then he briefly looked over at Na Rae-hyang.
“Ah, so that wench received the teachings of you two? No, is it that all four of the Four Great Strange Women are your disciples?”
But Song San and Bo Hwoe deployed their martial arts instead of answering.
TTARARANG!
Song San’s plucking of strings.
When she strummed the strings with her fingers, fearsome power was released.
Solemn energy creating transparent waves spread wide.
PAAAAA, PAAAAAAA-
It wasn’t the black seven-string zither she had used during her Thirteen Thrones days in the past, but that supreme power had advanced further, representing the gap of years.
It was Sound Form Empty Quake Strike, the supreme technique symbolizing is epithet “Ink Zither Aged Grandmother.”
Simultaneously, half of the Eastern Heaven Division personnel immediately reacted and operated sword energy.
PEOPEOPEOPEOPENG-!
Amid that, Bo Hwoe’s sword also wildly released massive energy.
A wave of sword energy fiercely sweeping forward through space.
KWAKWAKWA, KWAKWAKWAKWA-
At that, the remaining Eastern Heaven Division personnel also shot sword energy in response.
PEOPEOPENG, PEOPEOPEOPENG, PEOPENG-!
Amid continuous explosions, Ja-woo also joined in.
KKWANG, KKWAKKWANG…!
A combined attack of three forbidding the enemy’s approach.
It was a space where sound waves and sword energy ran wild.
At that moment, Song San operated maximum internal power and strummed the strings consecutively.
TTARARARARANG, TTARARANG, TTARARARARANG.
Energy harmonized with light-hearted melody expanded.
Sound force waves released like a circular curtain charged toward the enemy lines ahead and played heavy roars.
KKWAREUREUREUNG, KKWAREUREUREUREUNG-!
It was the highest supreme cultivation called Sound Curtain.
From the aftermath of both sides’ massive energies fiercely colliding, the space within a three-zhang radius vibrated clamorous.
It was a fierce offensive and defensive battle conducted across distance.
KKWAREUREUNG, KKWAREUNG, KKWAREUREUNG…!
Eventually.
WALGKAG.
Finally, several mute caped figures suffered internal injury and coughed blood.
From the sounds confusing their minds and mental images, and the waves pressing their bodies.
In an instant.
SHYUSHYUSHYUSHYUSHYU-!
Pure white sword energy spread like a storm.
It was Jil-ryang.
A heavy piercing sound shaking the ground and atmosphere.
Loud sounds rang out and Song San’s formidable Sound Curtain was broken in an instant and scattered like dust.
At that moment.
PING- TATANG!
Song San seized and released the strings hard, emitting sound waves.
A transparent and massive sound form that looked like a fist shot straight out.
Accompanied by ripples vibrating the air as well.
Sound Form Wave Motion Fist, a secret technique across distance.
Bo Hwoe was not to be outdone – he drew his sword vertically downward.
A light-beam sword wave rapidly advancing in serpentine curves like rapids.
It was an attack supporting the Sound Form Wave Motion Fist.
Jil-ryang, having gleamed his eyes, thrust his sword out hard.
KKWAUUUUUUUNG-!
Thus both sides’ massive energies collided, and the mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees screamed.
Following that.
“Uut!”
“Hmhm!”
Song San and Bo Hwoe let out soft moans.
Because of the shockwave that heavy repelling force had delivered across the gap.
Those two cried out identically in their minds.
Surely he couldn’t be at this level!
It was surprising.
That he could readily meet head-on the combined offensive alone.
A truly fearsome martial prowess where his past skill was no reference at all.
In an instant.
HUWAAAAAK!
Divine Wind, who had been positioned to the rear at some point, came out to the front and released light.
A massive light brilliance bursting from his entire body in an instant.
The dazzling light exploded and wildly covered all directions.
KKWANG!
By that tremendous force, the caped figure group was pushed backward.
Along with it, Jil-ryang’s upper body swayed too.
‘Ho!’
It was admirable.
The power of the energy Divine Wind had explosively released.
DEUDEUDEU… JJEOJJEOJJEO…
The ground rose fiercely and cracked.
Divine Wind, wrapped in light, was generating a rectangular energy wall protecting the party.
Upon seeing that, Jil-ryang twisted his lips.
“Hoot. What an outstanding spirit creature.”
The Yang essence energy flowing within Divine Wind’s body was too great and solemn.
By estimation, it was mighty Yang energy approaching a thousand years’ worth.
In terms of pure internal power level alone, it was at a level exceeding himself.
However, he hadn’t realized.
That at some point, the roaring from that direction had stopped.
Also, he hadn’t seen.
The signal from the firecrackers that had burst when Divine Wind released massive power.
‘Wait, now that I think about it…’
Jil-ryang suddenly recalled a certain rumor in his mind.
It was about the legendary-grade famous horse that the new Sect Master of White Peak Sword Sect, Cheol Ryu-heun, possessed.
At that moment.
-You held out well. Let’s end this now.
A resonant Voice Transmission was heard from somewhere.
The instant the enemy flinched in startlement.
KKUKKUNG!
Cheol Ryu-heun, having descended like a flash of light, turned his back to the party and executed a supreme secret technique with the Gan Jiang Sword.
KWAAAAAAAA-
Following the movement of the blade, a massive and dark hole appeared in the front-right direction.
KWADEUK, KWADEUDEU, KWADEUK, KWADEUDEUK-!
About a dozen mute caped figures made eerie sounds as they turned to powder and completely vanished.
Crushing accomplished in an instant.
It was Heavenly Demon Gravity Star displayed with extreme-level energy.
That wasn’t the end.
Immediately, a sealed secret technique of Heavenly Demon was deployed.
KUKUKUKUKU, KUKUKUKUKU- DEUDEUDEU, DEUDEUDEU-!
Pillar-like demonic energy wildly shot up as if encircling the enemy.
It felt like countless massive black incense sticks being burned.
Heavenly Demon Grand Sacrifice Ritual
KWAAAAAAAAAAA- KWAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!
Countless black demonic energies swept toward the center like a whirlwind, spitting out heavy pressure.
The remaining ten enemies had no time to evade.
KKWAGWAGWAGWAGWAGWAKWANG-!
An explosion that seemed like it would tear apart the eardrums.
Within the dark vortex, the bodies of all Young General and Middle General tiers were torn apart.
Along with it, gu poison exploded and released green flames.
‘Keuk!’
Jil-ryang, startled out of his wits, urgently retreated backward.
KWAKKWANG, KKWANG, KWAKKWANG… HWASUREUK, HWASUK, HWASUREUK…!
Had he been a bit slower, he would have been swept into the gu poison explosion.
He only then realized.
That something had gone very wrong.
It was carelessness.
If he had noticed the signal earlier, he would have promised another day and fled.
‘KEUK, did Danmok Cheon also fall? His strength exceeds mine…!’
He discerned who his opponent was by looking at the attire.
Cheol Ryu-heun.
But why he had appeared here…
PAPANG!
Jil-ryang, having explosively released true energy through his Bubbling Well acupoint, began fleeing.
If he had his way, he’d want to decide the match one-on-one with the fellow, but it wasn’t the time.
He still didn’t know the whole story.
Withdrawing first was the priority.
The moment he swiftly rotated his form and deployed lightness arts.
“Where do you think you’re going. Rat.”
An indifferent voice approached from behind.
Jil-ryang reflexively twisted his upper body while deploying a horizontal sword move.
JJEOEOEOEONG- KKWAAAAANG!
No sooner had that heavy sword force collided than Jil-ryang flew backward precariously.
A form disappearing far away through the dense brush.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s words as he looked back, Song San opened her mouth.
“Ho, you mean to fight alone…?”
“Yes, I must kill him.”
Having spoken thus, Cheol Ryu-heun ran beyond the dense brush.
While the party each cast blank gazes.
-Kwakkwang… Peoheoong… Kkwang, kkwakkwang… Ureung, urureung…!
Fearsome roars echoed in succession.
Tremendous energy was fiercely colliding.
It must be the battle between Cheol Ryu-heun and Jil-ryang.
Amid the noisy sounds ringing one after another, three people revealed themselves nearby.
It was Ximen Yue with Jeung Ji-rim and Wang Su-ah.
“Ah! Are you all right?”
When Jeung Ji-rim asked as if shouting, Song San nodded.
“Yes, are you all right?”
“Yes. Thanks to Sect Master Cheol, we got through the crisis!”
Then she pointed toward the direction where the roaring was heard.
“Is he fighting over there?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Song San then carefully tended to the bodies of her two injured disciples together with Bo Hwoe.
Also during that time, they exchanged brief conversation and learned what had happened before.
The eyes of Ja-woo, who had been listening quietly, wavered greatly.
‘Heavens, I never knew the young White Peak Sword Sect Master was that strong…’
At some point, the roaring had stopped.
The forest had become quiet as if by a lie.
And not long after, Cheol Ryu-heun appeared holding something in his hand.
It was Jil-ryang’s cleanly severed head.
“Please be at ease. As you can see, it’s finished.”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze turned toward Bo Hwoe’s face.
“Are you the Living Hand Sword Physician?”
That was Bo Hwoe’s epithet before he was called Deviant Eccentric Physician.
“Hmm… did you recognize who I am right away?”
“Yes. But I want to confirm something. Is the gu poison the enemy uses connected to you, Elder?”
At that, Bo Hwoe’s eye light became dark as the deep sea.
As if struck at the vital point.
Sure enough, he soon nodded.
“Yes, it seems so. No, having come to this point, I’m certain. That it was developed by stealing my knowledge…”
Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged his shoulders and received the words with an expressionless face.
“There must be much to discuss with each other now. Well then, everyone come inside the secret location.”