Chapter 357: True Reinforcements
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Before long, one Silver-Furred Divine Ape rushed at Byeok Song-ha.
HUHOONG!
A stout fist cleaved the wind.
Not to be outdone, a slender blade went out to meet it.
JJEOGEOHEONG- PEOHEOEONG!
Along with the sound of collision, a large heat haze expanded circularly.
Simultaneously, Byeok Song-ha’s upper body swayed.
‘Ugh…!’
It was a strength she had never experienced before.
A heavy power qualitatively different from Internal energy.
It was surprising.
That this was merely pure arm strength.
KKIK, KKIKIK-
A sound like metallic friction leaked out from where blade and fist made contact.
She was newly feeling the solidity of the Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s body, like steel.
Still, thanks to the supreme power she had quickly drawn up, she held her ground without being pushed back.
At the moment the Wild Chrysanthemum Sword Squad swordsmen, startled out of their wits, were about to jump in.
“I’ll do this!”
Byeok Song-ha, having burst out a sharp shout, extended her right leg straight.
PEOEOEOK!
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s large body, having taken the hit to its belly, slid backward.
JIIIIIIK, JIIIIIIK-
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape, having retreated while scraping the ground with both feet, let out a sound somewhat like a groan.
It appeared to have been shocked by the power discharged through the YongCheon acupoint on the sole of the kicking foot.
At that, not only the Wild Chrysanthemum Sword Squad but even Meng Wang and Meng Min had impressed expressions.
‘Indeed, befitting a famous female high master.’
Meng Wang thus mentally praised Byeok Song-ha’s skill and smiled broadly.
Indeed, there was reason behind the great reputation of any martial artist.
That’s right.
She too was not here as a mere bystander.
Hadn’t she come to this place upon Cheol Ryu-heun’s order to put an end to this situation?
As a person whose name of Chrysanthemum Fragrance Sword Mother was resoundingly famous as the foremost among the Three Upper Seats of Guizhou.
Byeok Song-ha, having tilted her blade, advanced while treading with graceful footwork.
Flashing eyes that spoke.
That since she had witnessed the south’s southern forest potential, she too must naturally show the potential of Jianghu’s Orthodox faction.
HWIT, HWIHWIT, HWIT-
Along with her steps, currents resembling white chrysanthemums spread out.
They transformed into clusters, making it difficult to predict the path of her movement.
It was the White Chrysanthemum Bewildering Glass Trace Steps, a Lightness technique representing the history and tradition of the Chrysanthemum Martial Hall.
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape, having instantly recovered its composure, charged while crying out ferociously.
“Kyakahng!”
It was instinctive movement relying on the creature’s unique sixth sense and vision.
It had intuited that waiting would be dangerous.
However, Byeok Song-ha, treading the White Chrysanthemum Bewildering Glass Trace Steps, lightly evaded the Silver-Furred Divine Ape charging forward and immediately circled around to the flank.
HOOWONG!
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s two arms sliced through empty air.
It was the effect of the white chrysanthemum clusters confusing its vision.
The sword of Byeok Song-ha, who had quickly occupied the side, danced.
CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU, CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU-!
The blade trembled while pouring out countless chrysanthemum-shaped sword energies.
Colorful energies.
Mighty power was radiated amid such brilliance.
It was the deployment of the Four-Bodied Chrysanthemum Ball Sword, a killing technique of the Chrysanthemum Profusion Sword Style, the supreme sword study representing Chrysanthemum Martial Hall.
PUPUPUK, PUPUK, PUPUPUPUK-!
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s body, which had boasted steel-like solidity, was pierced through and spurted fishy fresh blood.
Small and deep chrysanthemum-shaped holes were punched through.
It was tremendous sword power.
The true worth of her Internal energy level, which had made further progress through Cheol Ryu-heun’s arrangement, was being displayed.
TEOLPPEODAK.
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape, lying collapsed on the ground, died just like that.
In the meantime.
PEOHEOK- TUHAK-!
By the tusks wielded by Meng Min with enhanced whole-body muscles, another Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s body was brutally pierced through.
Following that.
PPEUDEUDEUDEUK…… CHYUAAAAK!
When she spread both arms left and right as if forcefully throwing open a door, as before, the Silver-Furred Divine Ape was ripped in half, spilling fresh blood and entrails.
And then.
PEOGEOK!
Meng Wang, at a not-too-distant spot, also swung the Green Fang Poison Horn fiercely and brutally smashed one Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s head.
No.
Not content with smashing it, he even discharged tremendously toxic currents and completely melted it away.
“Ppuuuuuuu!”
The Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s screaming majesty was overwhelming.
UDEUK, UDEUDEUDEUK, UDEUK……!
By the large trunk quickly swung about, three Silver-Furred Divine Apes died with their entire bodies crushed.
The remaining Silver-Furred Divine Apes appeared terrified by the successive deaths of their kin.
Currently, the surviving number was merely five.
But suddenly.
PAPAT!
One of them raised both arms high, then let out a long roar as if sending some kind of signal.
“Kawooooooooong!”
Simultaneously, dark currents rose from the Silver-Furred Divine Apes’ bodies.
SEUSEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEUSEU……!
The air in the forest grew heavy.
It was because of the dark energy the Silver-Furred Divine Ape group was radiating.
Byeok Song-ha and Meng Wang’s group, sensing something unusual, quickly gathered together in one spot.
The Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant also positioned itself beside them as if shielding them.
Immediately after, Meng Wang muttered with an interested expression.
“Ho-oh, look at those guys? They even operate otherworldly energy Internal energy like martial artists?”
The Internal energy level touching his energy sense was not ordinary.
Within each Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s body, strange energy was explosively expanding.
JJEOK, JJEOJJEOK……
The ground trembled and cracked.
It was an Internal energy level that had amplified several times in an instant.
Judging by the spatial vibration, it had clearly risen to a level matching an ultra-first-rate tier internal energy master.
The Aura/Aura/bearing of the Silver-Furred Divine Apes, with transcendent external force now joined by outstanding Internal energy, was murderously fierce.
At that moment, Meng Min spoke about something that had occurred to her mind.
“That seems like they’ve ignited their innate True Energy, resigned to death.”
At that, Meng Wang immediately nodded.
“Yes, you’re right. They’ve detonated vast energy staking their lives. Probably the Heretic Cult and Darkness-Craving Blood Clan taught them that knack through some method.”
Following that, Byeok Song-ha also quietly added her words.
“I suspect they implanted vast otherworldly energy in those creatures’ bodies using incantation and arranged it so it could be ignited in a moment of crisis. Like the unknown enemy who possessed Gu poison…”
No sooner had those words ended than countless beast presences began to be sensed from the distant four directions.
Sure enough, the sound of something pushing through the grass thickets and approaching was heard.
SASASASASAT, SASASASASAT, SASASASASAT-
There were far too many.
It was to the extent that even sharp energy sense found it difficult to count the exact number.
Such fast and fierce momentum touched the skin.
Only then did everyone realize.
The reason one Silver-Furred Divine Ape had roared at length earlier was to summon other groups to this place.
Soon, the creatures that had been approaching while making their presences known appeared in all directions and formed a large encirclement.
Ahead, where the Silver-Furred Divine Apes were positioned, about forty gray apes of six cheok height appeared; to the left and right directions, about sixty enormous toads reaching a full three cheok each and about twenty tigers, as large as great bears with bodies inky black as if painted with ink, stood growling like a folding screen.
Also, to the rear, about sixty beasts with features like a mix of fox and wolf bared their sharp teeth and drooled.
Mad Gray Apes, Three Poison Toads, Ink Coiled Poison Tigers, Gold Fierce Jackals… All of them were venomous creatures famous for their violent temperaments and deadly toxicity.
As they were numerically disadvantaged, the party’s tension heightened.
Because of that, the Silver-Furred Divine Apes’ momentum rose.
“Kawung!”
“Kawoong!”
It was a confident roar flaunting numerical superiority.
In the midst of that, Byeok Song-ha felt for the Charm Light Pearl in her bosom.
‘Quickly, the Ghost Cloud Great Bee swarm…’
At that moment, Meng Wang formed a relaxed smile.
“Keukut. It’s alright.”
Then he stroked the leg of the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant standing right beside him while continuing his voice.
“Though this fellow is a divine creature worth a hundred, worth a thousand, isn’t it a stretch to call it reinforcements? Since there’s only the one.”
Byeok Song-ha’s eyes widened slightly as if she had grasped something.
“That statement means…”
“Literally, we are not an army that has come for reinforcement. How could the name ‘army’ be applied to this handful of combat strength including myself?”
At that moment, a heavy rumbling burst out from the rear.
KKUNG, KKUNG, KKUNG……
It was the sound of several enormously large objects moving.
And then.
KKUNG, KKUNG, KKUNG, KKUNG, KKUNG-
The speed of the approaching sound became fearsomely fast.
Simultaneously, the sixty-odd Gold Fierce Jackals, sensing the threat, all turned around at once and barked viciously.
“Keong!”
“Keokeong!”
At that moment, several shadows enormous as bears suddenly rushed in and each bit a Gold Fierce Jackal in one gulp, bursting and killing them.
PUHAAK, PUHAK, PUHAAK……!
The remaining Gold Fierce Jackals, startled by the terrifying attack, swiftly scattered to both sides.
The thick and large beings that entered through the path thus opened made strange sounds and gathered beside the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant.
Their identity was none other than ten hippopotamuses.
The Chrysanthemum Martial Hall group brightened with joy.
‘Ah, those are…!’
Though it was their first time seeing them in person, they recognized them at a glance.
That these were Chunk Iron Hippos, venomous creatures unique to the southern forest with dimensions different from ordinary hippos.
It was truly an overwhelming appearance.
Especially the large mouths that looked ready to simply gulp down any average fierce beast were impressive.
The reason they were called Chunk Iron Hippos was, beyond their surprising strength, because of their outer skin that looked like thickly clumped iron.
They didn’t compare to the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s level, but their skin toughness was no different from an iron shield.
That wasn’t the end of it.
SYUISYUISYUISYUI, SYUISYUISYUISYUI-
Along with a clamorous wind sound, about thirty red hawks flew in, attacking half the Three Poison Toad group with their pointed talons and beaks before circling in the air above their master Meng Wang’s head.
“Kkureok……”
“Kkureok, kkureok……”
The toads called Three Poison Toads because they were armed with three types of deadly poison bled before soon turning bluish and meeting their deaths.
The toxicity of the southern forest’s famous venomous creatures, the red hawks, namely Red Earth Poison Eagles, had been stronger.
Following that, about fifty elite masters including the leadership of Southern Embrace Poison Palace came rushing in through the opened path at the rear.
Each could be sensed having outstanding intangible Aura/Aura/bearing.
Among them, when one old man in his seventies draped in rags put a strangely-shaped flute to his lips and blew.
PPYAEAE, PPYAEAEAE, PPYAEAE……
Before anyone knew it, over a hundred snakes of various kinds had crawled soundlessly across the ground and were wildly sweeping through the surviving Three Poison Toads.
Demon Face Snake, White Wind King Snake, Yellow Earth Snake, Red Head Flying Snake, Gold Chain Snake – they were famous venomous snakes of the southern forest.
Those snakes each killed the Three Poison Toads by biting with their deadly venomous fangs, and not content with that, even drank the blood of the carcasses.
Byeok Song-ha, who saw them, trembled with a mysterious thrill.
‘Incredible!’
Meng Min, standing beside her, spoke with a grin.
“Hoohoo. They’re creatures as crazy about blood as the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.”
Suddenly, Meng Wang threw out his mighty voice loaded with Internal energy while broadly expanding his chest.
-Don’t leave a single one and eliminate them all! Poison Army!
“Your command!”
The Southern Embrace Poison Palace martial artists launched a fierce attack simultaneously with their answer.
Also, some personnel opened the lids of jars they had brought and released various venomous insect swarms.
KKUNG, KKUNG, KKUNG, KKUNG-
The ten Chunk Iron Hippos, having charged while shaking the ground, also fiercely attacked the Ink Coiled Poison Tiger group.
UDEUK, KKWADEUDEUK, KUKUNG……!
Beginning with the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant, Meng Wang and Meng Min, as well as Byeok Song-ha and the Wild Chrysanthemum Sword Squad all advanced toward the Silver-Furred Divine Apes and Mad Gray Apes.
The forest had transformed into a blood-red battlefield.
However, that commotion was not long.
In barely more than a quarter hour, everything was sorted out.
It was an overwhelming victory.
As everyone thus caught their breath.
CHEOLKEOK.
Byeok Song-ha, having sheathed her weapon, spoke with a soft smile.
“Honestly, I didn’t know it would be this much. It’s a stroke of great fortune that Southern Embrace Poison Palace is not our enemy.”
At that, Meng Wang drew a smile in return.
“From now on, there will be no occasion for us to become enemies. Since I’ve already received great favor from Sect Master Cheol.”
He soon turned his head and issued an order toward his subordinate personnel.
“Everyone, reorganize ranks. Now we are going inside the Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation to meet Sect Master Cheol.”
“Yes! Palace Master!”
* * *
At a time just past the end of the hour of the rat (11 PM – 1 AM).
Cheol Ryu-heun was standing alone in the small courtyard of a dilapidated house.
This was a house that Martial Immortal Dongbang Ya had built in the past.
Soon, a door opened with a creaking sound and one figure trudged out into the courtyard.
It was former Heretic Cult Leader Shin So-sul.
Cheol Ryu-heun asked in an indifferent voice without even looking back.
“You’ve already woken?”
“Ah, yes… After regaining consciousness and getting up, my condition seems somewhat better.”
He breathed the outside air and regulated his breathing, then quietly approached Cheol Ryu-heun’s back.
“Sect Master Cheol, now I should tell you my story.”
“It’s fine. We can hear it tomorrow, so go inside and rest more.”
“No. I’m fine.”
When Shin So-sul politely shook his head, only then did Cheol Ryu-heun turn around.
“Understood. Then I’ll listen. What happened.”