Chapter 180: When Did I (2)
Chapter 179 – When Did I (2)
He should have run into him or seen him at least once.
‘But he is nowhere to be seen…’
Due to the haze, it was difficult to grasp how the battle was turning.
Surely he hasn’t been done in already?
An ominous thought suddenly crossed his mind, but he soon shook his head.
Was it not Namgung Cheon of all people?
Only a year ago, such a thought would have been natural, but now it was unimaginable.
Yun Jong-seung walked step by step and looked at the Second Peak Captain who had been thrown back after being hit by the Red Lotus Palm.
Twitch… twitch…!
The unconscious Second Peak Captain was sprawled out spread-eagle with foam at his mouth, merely twitching occasionally, perhaps due to muscle spasms.
A red lotus pattern was beautifully engraved on his sturdy-looking abdomen.
‘As expected…!’
Yun Jong-seung clenched his fist tightly once more.
The lotus shape was getting darker and more perfect.
Accordingly, his overall martial arts skill also seemed to improve.
‘That fellow’s words were right. The statement that one could become a Jianghu expert just by mastering the Red Lotus Palm. The saying that all principles lead to the same source was true!’
However, the next moment, the joy that made his heart boil suddenly cooled down, sending a chill down his spine.
Whoosh!
Turning around sharply at the spine-chilling sensation, Yun Jong-seung clearly saw a blade falling toward his forehead.
“Ah…!”
He could not block it.
Although the moment the blade fell felt as long as eternity, he could not even wiggle a finger.
In that instant, his life flashed before his eyes.
The days of playing happily with Namgung Cheon in childhood, fighting alongside him when others insulted Namgung Cheon as the bastard of the Great Killing Star, betraying him and treating him like a pushover upon entering the academy, and even the sight of Namgung Cheon advising him to master the Red Lotus Palm properly.
‘Damn it, why are only things related to Namgung Cheon flashing before my eyes at the moment of death?’
This was probably all because of the sight of Namgung Cheon descending from the sky over there.
Hmm?
But why is Namgung Cheon descending from the sky?
My goodness… I must really think of that fellow as someone grand.
It’s not like he is some god that fell from the heavens…
Anyway, this was the end.
Still, since he gained enlightenment at the end, maybe his life wasn’t entirely in vain?
Now that blade is touching my forehead…
Boom!
At that moment, a sound like an explosion was heard, and did the blade falling toward his forehead not vanish without a trace?
Soon after, a nagging louder than the explosion sharply pierced Yun Jong-seung’s eardrums.
“What are you doing standing there stupidly and grinning? Are you crazy?”
“Uh…? Namgung Cheon?”
“Did you lose your mind? What is it?”
“Huh? Did you just descend from the heavens…?”
“What are you talking about? You absentminded bastard! Wake up!”
“Ah, r-right!”
Yun Jong-seung, who belatedly snapped out of it, swallowed hard and touched his forehead.
It seemed a thin line of fresh blood was trickling down, perhaps because the blade had grazed him.
After roughly wiping the blood flowing from his forehead with his sleeve, he quickly turned to Namgung Cheon.
“Thank you, Namgung Cheon. For giving me enlightenment.”
“What is that about again?”
Yun Jong-seung clenched his fist tightly, took a starting stance, and continued speaking.
“You said it. That one could sufficiently become a Jianghu expert just by mastering the Red Lotus Palm.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes.”
“I said such a thing? That one becomes an expert just by mastering something like the Red Lotus Palm?”
“Uh… yes. Don’t you remember?”
“No way… with just something like the Red Lotus Palm…”
“What?”
“Ah, no. Well, that could be true? Probably? Maybe?”
Yun Jong-seung frowned deeply.
“What is with that lukewarm reaction! You said so during the past journey! When I said I wanted to learn other martial arts, you told me to just master the Red Lotus Palm properly!”
“Ah… right, I did.”
“Yes! Since all paths return to the source, if one reaches the peak in one martial art, other martial arts will be learned naturally.”
“Ayy, still, it’s impossible with the Red Lotus Palm.”
“What…?”
“Ah, no. Whatever the case, what I originally said is all correct. Of course, absolutely.”
What? This bastard! He inspires no trust at all!
Yun Jong-seung shouted in a huff.
“Be honest! Were you just lazy back then?”
“Ayy, I said it’s not. Practice the Red Lotus Palm diligently. It will all be beneficial.”
“No, that’s not it, your reaction right now is…!”
Just then, Murong Gang’s rough voice shouted from beyond the considerably thinned haze.
“Damn it! If you finished off the enemy, you should help! Are you just fooling around!”
At the place Namgung Cheon and Yun Jong-seung quickly turned to look, Murong Gang and Yun Gyeong were surrounded by enemies with their backs to each other.
At least, as the effect of the smoke bombs was almost over, their figures were faintly visible.
“Ah, sorry!”
It was right when Yun Jong-seung was about to run over.
Whoosh, crash!
Did Paeng Su-hyeok not suddenly fall from the sky like a comet?
Soon after,
Whoosh, bang!
Baek Mu-geuk also fell, letting out a heavy sound.
Coincidentally, at the places where the two landed, a Black Mountain Stronghold bandit and a Three Peaks Sect martial artist were crushed respectively, foaming at their mouths.
Yun Jong-seung widened his eyes.
‘Uh…? As expected, I didn’t see wrong! Those two also fell from the sky…!’
Naturally Yun Jong-seung, as well as Murong Gang and Yun Gyeong, looked up at the sky unconsciously.
However, because a faint haze was still lingering and the rock walls cast a heavy shadow, it was difficult to find anything special.
“Yo-heave-ho!”
Paeng Su-hyeok immediately drew his Great Saber and swung it at the nearest enemy. Coincidentally, that opponent was the Chief of the Black Mountain Stronghold.
Clang!
Sparks erupted, and the Black Mountain Stronghold Chief, pushed back by the immense force, trembled.
And for good reason, did a cadet who suddenly dropped from the sky not crush his subordinate and swing an enormously large saber?
Furthermore, another cadet who fell right after him began to run wild like a yaksha, holding a chain sickle that looked unfamiliar.
“Kihyaa!”
Baek Mu-geuk, with First Pole stepping forward after a long time, stuck out his tongue long and began to swing his sickle.
Slash! Slice!
“Aaargh!”
“Kikiki! How thrilling! Kaa! This is the taste!”
“T-this crazy…! Guh!”
“Aaargh!”
He was truly nothing short of a bloodthirsty killer.
One would wonder if that fellow was really a cadet. No, was he even an orthodox martial artist?
As the effect of the haze wore off, the surroundings began to be seen much better than before.
However, it was actually worse than not seeing it.
Still, he had hoped a little.
Because their numbers were overwhelmingly large.
He had expected the escort party to be near annihilation by now.
Yet…
‘At this rate… our side is the one in danger!’
Over there, Do Ji-baek, the Leader of the Three Peaks Sect, was fighting a hard battle against the Leader of the Biwol Sect.
The Black Mountain Stronghold Chief stole another glance at Baek Mu-geuk, who was fighting like a runaway colt, and grit his teeth.
‘A failure! This is a failure! Damn it!’
Even Bi Ryang was displaying divine might beyond the thinning haze.
There was absolutely no hope.
He should have realized it from the beginning.
No matter how much the haze had prevented them from grasping the situation, they should have realized that bringing such a large force and still fighting until now was already a failure.
Namgung Cheon, who observed the expression of the Black Mountain Stronghold Chief, smiled coldly.
“Why? Now that things have come to this pass, do you feel regret? You should have known earlier. With a brain that slow, it’s only natural that you are at best a bandit chief.”
“You are definitely…”
“Yes, I am the Divine Dragon of the Jianghu, Namgung Cheon.”
“You bastard, someday I will surely…”
“Now, now, stop babbling and get lost while you still have a chance. I am very tired today. Under my usual temperament, I would have snapped your neck and stared at it as a side dish every time I drank, but today I am truly tired. Isn’t this a good opportunity? Hurry up and quietly get lost.”
“Tch!”
The Black Mountain Stronghold Chief ground his teeth and retreated slinkingly.
Normally, he would not have even snorted at such a greenhorn’s bluff.
However, he had witnessed Namgung Cheon’s martial prowess with his own eyes. Moreover, it was entirely Namgung Cheon’s stratagem that had made the situation this difficult.
He must not take the kid’s warning lightly just because he was young.
“Just you wait. Retreat!”
Finally, a Lion’s Roar burst from his mouth.
Since the enemies were already exhausted to the limit, the order to retreat was welcome rather than frustrating.
“It’s a retreat!”
“We’re going back!”
As the Black Mountain bandits began to withdraw like an ebbing tide, Do Ji-baek shouted loudly.
“Chief! Retreating now! Then we lose everything…!”
“Shut up! Shouldn’t we at least save our lives! There is no hope even if we fight more!”
“Tch!”
In the end, Do Ji-baek also slowly began to withdraw his body while casually trading clashes.
As the Black Mountain Stronghold Chief also turned around and began to flee, the sound of clashing weapons gradually faded and soon quieted down.
Murong Gang, without fully relaxing his tension, stole a glance at Paeng Su-hyeok and asked.
“What on earth are you guys? Where were you before appearing now?”
“We were always here.”
When Namgung Cheon replied with a brazen face, Murong Gang snapped with a sharp expression.
“Then why are you only visible now?”
“It must be due to the haze.”
“Hmph! It’s not like you came out after hiding in some mouse hole, right?”
At that, the flinched Paeng Su-hyeok suddenly cut in.
“W-what nonsense are you talking about? Do you perhaps think we went into some mouse-like hole, wandered around a place like a royal tomb, and somehow climbed up to the top of the cliff only to jump back down?”
“…”
“…”
Namgung Cheon put his hand to his forehead.
Sigh, that idiot. In any case, you have to hand it to those Hebei Paeng Clan fellows for being brainless.
Fortunately, Murong Gang seemed to have taken it in a slightly different sense.
“If not, then not. Why are you being so sarcastic?”
“Tch! Because it’s annoying! We fought diligently while suffering to death until now…!”
Namgung Cheon nodded his head diligently.
Indeed. It was true they had suffered to death.
Murong Gang narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Then what is that ignorantly large sword?”
“T-this…?”
“Yes. It isn’t yours originally.”
This time, Namgung Cheon and Baek Mu-geuk also looked at Paeng Su-hyeok with tense expressions for no reason.
Strange words must not come out of that simpleton’s mouth. The moment even the letter ‘De’ of Demonic Pill Valley came out, we would all be in trouble!
After thinking for a moment, Paeng Su-hyeok spoke bluntly.
“I picked it up on the way.”
“What?”
“I said I picked it up on the way! Do you have a problem?”
“No, where do you just pick up something like that?”
“One of the Black Mountain bandits must have dropped it! Why do you keep questioning? Is this yours? Huh? Do you also think everything you lay eyes on is yours, like someone? Huh? Why? Do you want it? Should I give it? Do you want to have it?”
“Forget it. Then Baek Mu-geuk, what is that you have?”
This time, everyone’s gaze turned to Baek Mu-geuk.
Baek Mu-geuk also looked at the chain sickle in his hand, then at Namgung Cheon and Paeng Su-hyeok in turn.
‘Why are you looking at us!’
While Namgung Cheon observed his reaction, Baek Mu-geuk pointed his finger straight at Paeng Su-hyeok.
“Paeng Su-hyeok picked it up on the way and gave it to me.”
“…”
“…”
That… idiot…! Sigh, I should just not say anything.
While Namgung Cheon scratched the back of his head, Paeng Su-hyeok placed his hand on his waist and spoke even more brazenly.
“What? Why? So what? Is that yours too? Or should I pick one up and give it to you guys as well?”
“No, there’s no need for that.”
“If you need one, just say so, you bastards. Don’t stare at it like it’s all yours because you are greedy like someone!”
Sigh, should I cheer for that ignorant fellow, or should I curse him?
Namgung Cheon wore an dumbfounded expression, but fortunately, Paeng Su-hyeok’s boldness seemed to have worked to some extent. Murong Gang shrugged his shoulders and turned around.
“Forget it. I have no interest in spoils.”
Only after watching Murong Gang walk away with large strides did Paeng Su-hyeok let out a sigh of relief.
Then he looked at Namgung Cheon and twisted the corners of his mouth. It was a laugh full of arrogance.
As if to show that this was how acting was done.
‘Should I… kill him?’