Chapter 208: I Knew It Would Be Like This.
Chapter 207 – I Knew It Would Be Like This.
The Three Shadowless Sabers flinched and glared at Namgung Cheon.
A cadet newly entering the Jianghu recognized them.
Simply by looking at their curved sabers and the fact that there were three of them.
Thinking of it in a positive light, it meant their reputation was known to that extent.
However…
‘Even so, it shouldn’t be to the point where cadets newly entering the Jianghu would know…’
Ildo calmly assessed their position. Although they might be slightly known among unorthodox groups, there were many orthodox martial artists who did not know them.
Much less a greenhorn like this.
Ildo let out a chilly voice.
“Do you know us?”
“Of course. I know. You are the eldest brother, Ildo.”
“……!”
“That one is Ido, and you are Samdo.”
The Three Shadowless Sabers flinched individually and looked at each other.
Ildo twisted the corner of his mouth faintly.
“It seems you are a child who must not be kept alive.”
“I just asked to see the goods, yet you exude killing intent. You are really bad bastards.”
Killing intent began to rise from Namgung Cheon’s entire body.
“……!”
Ildo flinched and unconsciously took a step back.
‘How can a kid have such killing intent…!’
Truly, it sent shivers down his spine.
The concentration of the killing intent was far too thick to be that of a cadet who had barely reached twenty.
Should he say he was like a person who had spent his entire life in a battlefield strewn with corpses?
“You arrogant…! Attack!”
Pa-pa-pat!
In an instant, the Three Shadowless Sabers kicked the ground simultaneously and flew forward.
“Uwahhh!”
Yun Jong-seung let out a sound that was either a scream or a battle cry as he stretched his hand toward Ido.
Yu Hyeon quietly swung his sword, aiming for Ildo’s heart.
Jin So-hong threw her meteor hammer to attack Samdo’s face.
Bang!
Clang!
Ping!
Ildo, Ido, and Samdo retreated as if bouncing back.
The cadets who had reacted at the same time also stepped backward and moved away.
Namgung Cheon, who still had not budged from his spot, quietly watched the situation.
‘Only Yun Jong-seung retreated three steps. Should I give that guy a Superior Clarity Elixir too?’
Looking at the kid in that state, Namgung Cheon kept feeling soft-hearted.
‘At this rate, I will really become a beggar.’
However, if they fought together like this more often, it would not be a bad thing to raise Yun Jong-seung into a useful fellow.
While Namgung Cheon was lost in thought, Yun Jong-seung pointed a finger at him, trembling all over.
“L-Look at that…! You caused the trouble all by yourself, yet you are just watching with your hands behind your back! Damn it! What are we going to do about this situation! We are all going to die at this rate!”
Watching Yun Jong-seung shouting at the top of their lungs, Namgung Cheon shook his head.
Yes, it was still premature.
Whether that fellow was qualified to consume the Superior Clarity Elixir remained to be seen.
At any rate, Yu Hyeon and Jin So-hong had noticeably increased their internal energy.
In particular, Jin So-hong, who had consumed the Great Returning Pill, had thrown her meteor hammer a moment ago, forcing Samdo to retreat three steps.
Meanwhile, the Three Shadowless Sabers glared with eyes wide enough to tear.
‘What kind of cadets have this level of skill…!’
It far exceeded their expectations.
Of course, they considered Namgung Cheon, who recognized their identity, to be unusual.
Thus, they did not let down their guard either.
Rather, they focused solely on the thought of blowing off his neck in a single strike through a sudden ambush.
However, he did not even move, and the other cadets stepped forward.
Conversely, Namgung Cheon calmly just watched.
As if he had anticipated this outcome.
Ildo spoke to his younger brothers.
“Do not let your guard down. They are no ordinary punks.”
“Yes, Brother.”
The Three Shadowless Sabers raised their momentum individually.
The cadets also gripped their weapons tightly and did not relax their tension.
‘They are tense, but not afraid.’
Are all cadets these days like this?
He had thought the Martial Alliance was highly corrupt, but was it because of these reasons that it still had not collapsed?
First, if Samdo held out a bit against that girl and the guy who used fist techniques, and Ido dealt with the Mount Hua kid…
‘That fellow Namgung Cheon, I will somehow…! Huh?’
While he was making that pledge, did Namgung Cheon not walk over with a calm expression?
It was such an easy expression that his tension relaxed naturally.
‘What is it? Does he have something to ask?’
Finally reaching close range, Namgung Cheon slowly raised his hand. No, to be precise, he raised his sword.
Because each and every movement proceeded so slowly, the thought of defending did not arise in the slightest.
Just as continuous minute changes became familiar to the eye and made it look as if there were no change.
Namgung Cheon was exactly like that right now.
Not only the Three Shadowless Sabers but also the cadets just watched Namgung Cheon’s actions in a daze.
It was when the Emerald Silk Sword reached the vicinity of Ildo’s neck.
Belatedly, Ildo snapped back to his senses.
‘No, what in the world am I doing now…!’
To be spacing out until the enemy’s sword reached near the neck?
How could such a thing happen?
At the very moment he tried to react quickly!
Slash.
A streak of light slashed across Ildo’s neck and passed.
Thud, roll, roll…!
The head fell, and blood surged like a fountain from the severed neck.
Chwaaaa!
Only then did Ido and Samdo widen their eyes in shock. The watching cadets were the same!
“Gasp!”
“Suddenly!”
But it was not sudden.
Namgung Cheon had only thoroughly hidden his killing intent, so had there not been warning signs earlier?
“You bastard!”
With his eyes rolled back, Ido swung his curved saber and rushed at Namgung Cheon.
However, the moment Namgung Cheon’s indifferent gaze directed at him,
Stab!
Before anyone knew it, the Emerald Silk Sword pierced Ido’s heart and protruded from his back.
“Guh… Keok!”
Rolling his eyes back as he was, Ido slowly fell to his knees and collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
Silence.
Not to mention Samdo, even the cadets held their breath.
Because it was late at night, the street was quiet.
A guest who was casually stepping out of the tavern ran inside in horror.
“H-How did he do that?”
Yun Jong-seung muttered blankly.
It was strange.
To think it was a situation where it was hard to understand what and how Namgung Cheon did it, even while watching clearly with both eyes.
Holding the Emerald Silk Sword, Namgung Cheon muttered.
“Oh, so this works.”
Namgung Cheon had just mixed the pickpocketing technique of a Baesu and the illusion art of Baek Mu-geuk.
In his past life, he had briefly entrusted himself to the Hao Gate, and at that time, he had learned how to pickpocket from a Baesu for a short while.
If it were an ordinary Baesu, it would amount to nothing more than suppressing their presence, but among the Baesu belonging to the Hao Gate, there were masters who used internal energy cultivation methods for pickpocketing.
They mainly stole items from martial artists, and the circulation of internal energy at this time was of great help in living as a fugitive.
Fusing that qi circulation method with Baek Mu-geuk’s illusion art had brought about this result.
‘Certainly, looking at it at times like this, a Baesu’s cultivation is more secretive than an assassin’s.’
An assassin stopped at hiding their presence, but a Baesu deceived the presence.
It was a method of naturally approaching the side and secretly snatching the necessary items.
That was the reason why it had to be far more careful and secretive than an assassin, who was done after simply killing.
Meanwhile, as Ildo and Ido lost their lives in an instant, Samdo stood with his mouth wide open, not knowing how to move.
Rustle.
Namgung Cheon’s gaze directed toward Samdo.
The curved saber held by Samdo trembled.
He no longer looked like a cadet.
It felt as if a bloodthirsty grim reaper were in front of him.
How could a person’s eyes be so heartless?
His instinct warned him.
Do not mess with that fellow.
Flinch!
When Samdo unconsciously backed away, Namgung Cheon bent his waist, grabbed Ildo’s head fallen on the ground, and lifted it.
“Gasp!”
Samdo retreated another step.
Namgung Cheon slowly twisted the corners of his mouth and asked.
“Are you now inclined to show me?”
“What…”
“That item. I will give you the payment.”
Namgung Cheon suddenly thrust forward Ildo’s head and continued.
“Let’s trade.”
Samdo’s expression turned dark and gloomy.
‘This bastard, he really knows everything!’
Looking at Ildo’s face dangling and swaying in Namgung Cheon’s hand, Samdo ground his teeth.
If he rejected the fellow’s proposal here, he would definitely not escape alive.
In the end, he replied reluctantly.
“I understand.”
Samdo put down the bundle he carried on his back and supported Ildo’s head with both hands.
It did not feel real at all that the head of Ildo, with whom he had been sharing a cup of liquor just a moment ago, was held in his hands.
Namgung Cheon took the bundle and said.
“Since meeting like this is also fate, shall we go inside together and talk a bit more?”
* * *
As a streak of light cut through the air, blood splattered.
“Argh!”
A scream followed it.
A group of martial artists ran along the valley. Each of them was covered in cuts and stab wounds.
And the men in black closely pursuing behind them.
“Run! If we go straight down this path, a shrine will appear! We will hold out there!”
“We obey!”
Paeng Jeok-ho, who had issued the order, clenched his molars tightly and looked back.
“Blood Sword Soul Chaser! For that fellow to… my family…”
Blood Sword Soul Chaser.
A person who was not only known among unorthodox figures but had also registered his name as a public enemy of the Martial World.
However, from three or four years ago, his tracks had become mysterious.
But to think he would lead unorthodox figures to strike the Paeng Clan now.
Hebei Paeng Clan Leader Paeng Jeok-ho trembled all over.
The estate was occupied by the men in black led by Blood Sword Soul Chaser, and he was forced to flee leading his vassals.
Had there ever been such a disgrace in his life?
It was fortunate that he had evacuated his family members to a safe place in advance. Otherwise, could they not have suffered the disaster of extermination?
It was a greater blow than when Clan Leader Paeng was killed by the Great Killing Star Jin Cheon-rang long ago.
It was a situation where he had no room to care for the vassals who fell to the unorthodox figures’ blades. He himself had suffered a deep stab wound on his left shoulder and was bleeding profusely.
As Paeng Jeok-ho, who reached the lower reaches of the valley, climbed up the sloped path, the old shrine of their destination finally appeared.
Although it was a shrine that seemed ready to collapse at any moment, it would still be much easier to reorganize their formation and fight defensively there.
Glancing back, the unorthodox figures were swarming in black.
‘Disgusting bastards!’
Their numbers seemed to be more than three times those of his allies.
Now it was no longer a question of winning or losing.
It was a question of whether they could survive.
Paeng Su-hyeok, who had arrived first, stepped forward with his great saber and shouted.
“Father! I will block them here!”
“What nonsense! You of all people must pull back!”
As Paeng Jeok-ho shouted, the other elite vassals also stopped simultaneously and drew their swords.
“Clan Leader! We will fight risking our lives!”
Paeng Jeok-ho ground his molars and gripped his sword anew.
How did the Paeng Clan weaken to this extent?
To think they were reduced to abandoning even their estate and fleeing because they could not block mere unorthodox figures!
‘Is Jin-ak safe?’
His younger brother Paeng Jin-ak was staying as the Hebei Branch Leader.
However, seeing that the unorthodox forces struck the Paeng Clan Estate, the branch would not be safe either.
‘At all costs, he must at least preserve his life.’
Conveniently, the unorthodox figures also arrived one after another in front of the shrine. Soon, dark shadows of death densely surrounded the shrine.
Through them, Blood Sword Soul Chaser walked over with a leisurely expression.
Narrow eyes like a little snake and a thin sneer.
A cold sensation as if a grim reaper were approaching.
Gulp!
Paeng Jeok-ho applied strength to his hand gripping the sword and swallowed dry saliva.
Blood Sword Soul Chaser let out a sluggish voice.
“Fleeing while even abandoning the estate. Is it not too unsightly, Clan Leader?”
“Shut up. A gentleman’s revenge is not too late even if it takes ten years. We can reclaim the estate anytime, and I will definitely take revenge on you bastards.”
“To think the Paeng Clan is harping on about being gentlemen.”
As Blood Sword Soul Chaser chuckled, a chilly night wind brushed past between the two.
A touch-and-go state of tension.
It was finally the moment when Blood Sword Soul Chaser was about to open his mouth.
“See! I was right! I told you a bunch of dark things were rushing over here.”
A voice that popped up out of nowhere.
Everyone’s gaze turned to the direction of the sound.
Seeing the owner of the voice, Paeng Su-hyeok’s mouth fell wide open.
“Y-You…! Why are you here?”
“It has been a while… not really. See you again, Paeng Su-hyeok.”
Namgung Cheon grinned and waved his hand.