Chapter 189: Organizing The Group Members (2)
Chapter 188 – Organizing The Group Members (2)
Clang!
A loud metallic clang resounded, and Namgung Cheon’s eyes widened.
“Gigolo…?”
“I would prefer you call me Young Master Jade Smile.”
Young Master Jade Smile replied with a faint smile.
Just before Namgung Cheon’s sword tip could pierce Crimson Anger Madam’s heart, Young Master Jade Smile had appeared and unfolded his fan.
Seeing that a metallic sound occurred despite the collision of a fan and a sword tip, it was either no ordinary fan or his internal energy was powerful. Or perhaps it was both.
Skrrr!
Namgung Cheon, who slid back, narrowed his eyes and looked at the two.
However, he was not given time to think deeply.
Swish-swish-swish!
Young Master Jade Smile and Crimson Anger Madam attacked in perfect synchronization.
‘The fan is first!’
Namgung Cheon checked the qi rapidly rising along the meridians from Young Master Jade Smile’s dantian.
For it to be transmitted to the fingertips at such speed, he surely intended to throw the fan.
Sure enough, the pure white folding fan flew in, spinning rapidly as it unfolded wide.
Whiz-whiz-whiz!
When Namgung Cheon quickly bent his waist backward, the fan brushed past his collar. Immediately after, Namgung Cheon straightened his body and flew toward Crimson Anger Madam, spinning like a top.
Swish-swish-swish!
Clang!
As the fingernails and sword collided, a metallic sound echoed once again.
‘As expected, she has not lived her years in vain!’
Although it was unknown how she had accumulated her internal energy, it was clear that her qi was considerably deep.
In the case of a finger art that did not use separate weapons, deep internal energy was a necessity.
Whiz!
In that instant, Namgung Cheon recognized the fan flying toward the back of his head and quickly twisted his body.
The fan that had brushed past him earlier was returning after circling in the air.
Slash!
This time, the fan lightly cut his shoulder as it passed.
However, it also deeply cut the forearm of Crimson Anger Madam, who was right behind him.
Slash!
“Keu-eut!”
Flutter!
Crimson Anger Madam retreated with a groan, while Namgung Cheon’s collar was completely torn open, causing his shirt to flutter in the wind.
When his firm upper body was exposed, Crimson Anger Madam curled the corners of her mouth.
“Are you seducing an old woman?”
“Old hag, you are acting senile in your old age.”
As Namgung Cheon sneered, Crimson Anger Madam glared fiercely and charged.
Swish!
“You need to learn some manners for that mouth of yours!”
“No one has ever managed to shut my mouth so far, so what trick does an old hag like you have?”
Namgung Cheon kicked the ground again and flew toward Crimson Anger Madam.
But there were two opponents.
As Young Master Jade Smile suddenly intervened from the side, Namgung Cheon stepped aside using footwork and retreated.
Clang!
A metallic clang echoed as the sword and fan clashed,
Clatter!
And sparks burst as the fingernails collided with the sword blade.
Namgung Cheon’s figure, navigating between the two, was like watching a butterfly.
A butterfly flitting irregularly in the sky.
Its direction was hard to gauge.
But the movement itself was as swift as a bee.
As the fight dragged on, Young Master Jade Smile’s expression gradually stiffened.
‘What on earth is this martial art?’
At times it seemed like the Namgung Clan’s sword art, at other times it was like Wudang’s Taiji Sword, and at some moments it became as flashy as Mount Hua’s Plum Blossom Sword.
Then it would become as heavy as Jongnam’s heavy sword, and sometimes a sinister energy like unorthodox sword arts would spread.
Any martial art was bound to have a distinct pattern, but no such pattern could be seen in Namgung Cheon.
Madness seeped into the corners of Namgung Cheon’s mouth.
“Why? Confused? This is the crazy butterfly dance. Named the Crazy Butterfly Dance!”
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clack!
A hectic exchange of blows ensued.
Now, even Crimson Anger Madam and Young Master Jade Smile fought driven by instinct, forgetting all about stances and the like. That was how much the two were dedicating their entire souls.
In contrast, Namgung Cheon had truly become a crazy butterfly. Flying around chaotically, stinging like a bee, and then fluttering about again.
‘This child… is enjoying it!’
Crimson Anger Madam narrowed her eyes.
Cold sweat trickled down her spine.
What kind of child was this?
Was this really a sword art displayed by a child who had not even passed twenty?
His internal energy was not that grand.
If they only compared internal energy, hers was far deeper.
Yet this young child’s Crazy Butterfly Dance was truly bizarre.
It seemed to have no stances, yet seemed to contain countless stances. It appeared as though he were swinging his sword recklessly, yet it also felt like he had swept up all the martial arts in the world.
“Old hag! You should charge more fiercely!”
Namgung Cheon let out a shout filled with madness.
At this moment, Namgung Cheon had returned to being Jin Cheon-rang. To his days as a blood-soaked fugitive. To his appearance in those days when he slaughtered countless enemies and struggled to survive.
Clang!
A clash occurred, and as Namgung Cheon retreated briefly, Crimson Anger Madam deployed her proprietary technique, the Flash of Red Finger Art.
Ten red streams of energy shot toward Namgung Cheon’s vital acupoints. In addition, Young Master Jade Smile swung his fan.
‘Hmm?’
However, Young Master Jade Smile’s qi flow was rather bizarre. Was the internal energy focused at his fingertips not splitting as thin as threads, dividing into dozens of streams?
Namgung Cheon, detecting danger instinctively, quickly channeled the Taiyi Divine Art.
Whoosh!
While circulating the Taiyi Divine Art, which specialized in defense, he deployed the Taiyi Sword Art.
Rumble!
A wave of sword qi rose thickly over a wide area.
In an instant, the ten streams of Flash of Red Finger Art and the fine needles shot from Young Master Jade Smile’s fan ribs collided with the wave of sword qi and were swept away.
Clack-clack-clack-clang!
Skrrr!
As Namgung Cheon slid back and regained his balance, Crimson Anger Madam and Young Master Jade Smile, who had poured out their decisive attacks, were visibly flustered.
Young Master Jade Smile let out a hollow laugh.
“Was that just now Jongnam’s Taiyi Sword Art?”
“What on earth is your identity?”
Crimson Anger Madam asked, wrinkling the bridge of her nose deeply.
Namgung Cheon smirked.
“Me? Namgung Cheon, the Divine Dragon of the Jianghu.”
“You bastard!”
The moment Crimson Anger Madam charged with a loud shout,
Whoosh!
When Namgung Cheon swept the ground with his Emerald Silk Sword, a cloud of dust rose and enveloped Crimson Anger Madam.
“Keu-eut! You cowardly…”
“Geez, that is grating to hear. Two of you are attacking a single cadet, yet it is cowardly for me to throw some sand? When there is a guy over there hiding fine needles in his fan ribs to attack?”
“Eek!”
The moment Crimson Anger Madam struggled to open her eyes, she stopped breathing. Was Namgung Cheon, who had approached right in front of her at some point, not grinning?
“You must not covet other people’s belongings.”
Slash!
Instantly, Crimson Anger Madam felt a chill below her neck before seeing the world tilt.
Thud, roll, roll…
Spurt!
The headless torso of Crimson Anger Madam slowly fell over, spurting blood like a fountain.
But at that moment!
Stab!
“Huh?”
Did something not suddenly burst out, piercing through Crimson Anger Madam’s abdomen?
For this time, Namgung Cheon’s First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes did not work as he was blocked by Crimson Anger Madam’s body.
What burst from Crimson Anger Madam’s stomach was a tightly folded fan!
Just as the fan, sharp as a blade, flew straight toward Namgung Cheon’s dantian,
Swish!
A gust of gale blew in and swept past Namgung Cheon and Young Master Jade Smile.
Skrrr!
“…”
“Bi Ryang…?”
Namgung Cheon and Young Master Jade Smile stopped their movements simultaneously and turned to look at Bi Ryang, who had appeared like a lie.
Bi Ryang smiled brightly.
“You should append ‘Instructor’ to the end, right?”
“Ah… yes…”
While Namgung Cheon replied blankly, did Young Master Jade Smile not widen his eyes and stagger, dropping to one knee?
“Keu-huk!”
Spurt!
In that instant, he could not understand why his upper body was sliding and splitting diagonally.
Plop!
As Young Master Jade Smile collapsed looking like a lump of meat, Namgung Cheon scowled deeply.
“Ugh. You fight so brutally.”
“It was out of my urgent desire to save a cadet.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You indeed came quite far. There was a fork in the road on the way, so I had some trouble finding you.”
“It would have been fine even if you had not come.”
“I could not do that. When a cadet falls into danger, a teacher naturally has the responsibility to save him.”
“Well, if you really think so.”
“Actually, I have lived a rougher life than you think. I usually tried not to speak of it, but it seems it is time to tell you now. Originally, I was…”
“Shh!”
“Hmm?”
As Bi Ryang flinched and looked back, Namgung Cheon narrowed his brows and stared intently into the dark part of the canyon.
Bi Ryang’s expression stiffened.
“I will tell you quickly. Originally, I was a Martial Alliance secret…”
“Please be quiet!”
“Ah, right.”
Although Bi Ryang looked at him with a face that was almost crying, Namgung Cheon stared into the darkness with an expression more serious than ever.
Only then did Bi Ryang let out a light sigh, turn around, and throw words toward the darkness.
“Which master has come from where? Reveal yourself and let us resolve this through conversation.”
“Huhuhu.”
Only a husky laugh flowed out from the darkness.
Instantly, Bi Ryang flinched in surprise and dashed over next to Namgung Cheon.
“Ah, damn it, that startled me. There really was someone?”
“Yes?”
When Namgung Cheon looked at him with a bewildered expression, Bi Ryang spoke with a silly smile.
“I thought you were just setting a mood for no reason.”
“What did you say?”
“Now, now, let us gloss over it.”
Bi Ryang quickly waved his hand.
Namgung Cheon was so dumbfounded that words failed him.
‘What is it with this guy?’
Judging by the divine might he showed just now, he was surely an incredible expert, yet he did not sense a presence at all?
Can ability and sensory perception function separately like this?
In the meantime, a figure strode out from the shaded part of the canyon. A man with pitch-black hair and a sharp impression. In particular, the sword scar crossing his face made his impression even more fierce.
He was the man Crimson Anger Madam and Young Master Jade Smile had called the Vice Valley Leader.
“To notice me. You are quite something, kid.”
Then, Bi Ryang stepped in front of Namgung Cheon.
“Who are you?”
Bi Ryang’s usual carefree appearance was nowhere to be seen, and he radiated a chilly aura. It meant the opponent was a formidable expert.
“You must be Bi Ryang.”
“And you?”
Instead of answering, the man looked back and forth between Namgung Cheon and Bi Ryang, then let out a light sigh.
“I see. That is no longer here.”
While Namgung Cheon watched with a flinch, did the man not turn around without regret and murmur as he walked?
“In any case, I should not have entrusted the task to untrustworthy ones.”
In an instant, Bi Ryang’s figure flew like a ghost.
Swish!
Boom!
A loud sound erupted, enough to make the canyon echo.
Skrrr!
The man and Bi Ryang slid back for a dozen zhang before barely coming to a halt.
Before anyone knew it, the usual playful smile had disappeared from Bi Ryang’s face. Bi Ryang spoke with a cold, stiffened expression.
“You should exchange names before leaving.”
The man, looking at his temporarily throbbing hand, chuckled.
“Interesting. Is this indeed an opponent that does not allow dropping one’s guard?”
Rumble.
Before long, the man’s expression also stiffened, and the hem of his long robe swelled greatly.
Bi Ryang twisted his lips slightly.
“Have you finally found the mind to do this properly?”