Chapter 224: What Is That (2)
Chapter 223 – What Is That (2)
A scene of slaughter unfolded at the main gate of the Eon Clan. The scent of blood drifted heavily, and shouts and screams blended chaotically.
As the wild desires of countless people mingled, it was nothing short of pandemonium. Someone fought with desperation, someone for a great cause, and someone with wretchedness.
Watching this from a hill in the distance, Ryu Nan spoke to his subordinate standing beside him with a faint smile.
“Is it not beautiful?”
“Yes…?”
When the subordinate asked back with a puzzled expression, Ryu Nan smiled his usual gentle smile and continued.
“Wretchedness and earnestness are only a hair’s breadth apart. Look closely. That is the outcry of desire. It is the flame of desire and the sublimation of desire. The desire that survives there will develop into conviction, and if it is weeded out, it will vanish into five desires. It is the moment when everyone’s desires burn most brilliantly until the very end.”
“I, I see.”
The subordinate did not fully understand the meaning of Ryu Nan’s words, but roughly nodded with the thoughts he faintly felt.
Ryu Nan smiled faintly.
“What about Iron Arhat?”
“He has probably finished preparations at the flank by now. The Eon Clan will collapse soon.”
Ryu Nan shook his head.
“It cannot be concluded so. The Eon Clan is strong. The current Eon Clan is underestimated.”
“Then do you think the Eon Clan will hold out until the end?”
“Well. That is not important.”
“Yes?”
The subordinate tilted his head as if he did not understand.
Ryu Nan smiled broadly and continued.
“Whichever side it is, it is not particularly bad for us.”
At Ryu Nan’s puzzling words, the subordinate only wore an ambiguous expression.
After a brief silence, Ryu Nan opened his mouth first.
“But who is that?”
The subordinate winced and followed Ryu Nan’s gaze. Some of the Black Cloud Squad members who were charging toward the main gate were tied down in one place and could not advance further.
When he narrowed his eyes and looked closely, did a single martial artist not run amok in all directions among the Black Cloud Squad?
Because that divine power was truly surprising, the subordinate opened his mouth wide and turned back to Ryu Nan.
Ryu Nan was also wearing a serious expression as if he also felt an unusual sign.
Then, seeing the opponent’s face reflected in the moonlight, he winced.
‘A youth?’
The opponent fighting like a combat god was a youth who was probably around adulthood.
Did someone with that level of martial prowess exist in the Eon Clan at that age?
Otherwise…
Ryu Nan, who had something in mind, winced and raised his head.
‘Could that child be the son of Jin Cheon-rang?’
His suspicion gradually turned into certainty.
Because the rough and domineering way he fought was exactly like the appearance of Jin Cheon-rang in the past.
“As expected, a tiger does not breed a dog.”
Ryu Nan smirked and told his subordinate.
“Send the Blood Sword Corps slowly.”
“Accepting orders!”
As soon as the subordinate’s answer fell, Ryu Nan flew away.
“I will go for a moment.”
“Ah! Where to…!”
However, Ryu Nan’s figure was already flying away, growing as small as a dot.
* * *
“Sigh! Just how long do we have to wait?”
Paeng Su-hyeok clenched his saber tightly and huffed continuously.
Currently, a fierce battle was taking place at the outer wall of the estate.
Shouts and screams blended, and a thick smell of blood blew all the way to the annex.
Even so, Paeng Su-hyeok was tied down in the Reception Hall and could not move. This was due to the instructions Namgung Cheon had separately given. Of course, Paeng Su-hyeok regarded it as a request rather than instructions.
Just then, Yu Hyeon spoke gently.
“It is better to wait. Because it probably means they are defending well.”
“Tsk, who doesn’t know that? Others are fighting at the risk of their lives while I’m stuck here, so I’m just getting restless!”
As Paeng Su-hyeok grumbled, Yun Jong-seung let out an ambiguous chuckle.
“Still, as Namgung Cheon said, we must protect the Reception Hall. Otherwise, Clan Leader Paeng might fall into danger.”
“Listen carefully. I’m not here because of what Namgung Cheon said! I’m here to protect my father.”
“Sure, sure.”
Yun Jong-seung smiled with effort and soothed Paeng Su-hyeok.
Indeed.
The reason they remained here was to protect Paeng Jeok-ho, who was engrossed in his final cramming.
Namgung Cheon had told Paeng Jeok-ho to study the Hunyuan Thunder Divine Art a bit more.
“Everything has its time. If there is something tickling you right now, within reach yet elusive, study it. If you miss that moment, the feeling might drift away again.”
Although his pride might have been hurt hearing such things from a cadet who was much younger, Paeng Jeok-ho obediently listened to him. It was because he thought those words were correct.
Thus, until Paeng Jeok-ho opened the door and came out on his own, the cadets remained here to protect him.
Just how much anxious time did they spend like that?
Suddenly, a chaotic noise erupted from the west, and Eon Ho-ryang came running in.
“The west wall is breached! They will barge in soon!”
“Those dog-like bastards have finally come!”
Paeng Su-hyeok drew his saber and stepped forward.
While all forces were deployed at the main gate carrying out the defensive battle, the Arhat Squad led by the Iron Arhat had struck the west wall.
The moment the cadets braced their tension and took defensive stances,
Boom!
The door of the Reception Hall was torn off and flew away, and a group of iron-armored martial artists poured in.
“Come on!”
Paeng Su-hyeok let out a shout and rushed out like a wild beast.
Fwoooosh!
The saber let out a wind-breaking sound, carrying saber qi like waves as it flew. It was as if he was releasing all the pent-up resentment at once.
Clang, clang, clang!
As the metallic sounds erupted noisily, a group of iron-armored martial artists collapsed in a heap.
They had seen only young cadets gathered and had looked down on them inwardly.
However, they could not hide their shock when a fresh youth wielded a saber as tall as an adult’s height while displaying immense martial prowess.
“Kill that fellow first!”
“He is of the Paeng Clan! Kill him!”
The iron-armored martial artists rushed toward Paeng Su-hyeok.
However, the other cadets and Eon Ho-ryang blocked them.
“Where! Do you think we have no hands or feet!”
Eon Ho-ryang shouted and struck with the Eon Clan Fist, Jin So-hong threw her meteor hammer, and Yun Jong-seung unleashed the Red Lotus Palm.
Thud! Thud!
Swish, clang!
A melee immediately broke out in the Reception Hall’s courtyard, turning it into a shambles.
Even in such a situation, Yu Hyeon calmly swung his sword, subduing the enemies.
When the cadets unexpectedly fought well, the iron-armored martial artists were greatly flustered and began to hesitate.
The cadets raised their momentum further and subdued the iron-armored martial artists.
Particularly, since Paeng Su-hyeok had been restless, he ran amok like a fish in water.
“Do not look down on the Hebei Paeng Clan! You trash!”
Letting out a shout, Paeng Su-hyeok wielded his saber of anger.
Each time he swung his saber, he poured out the sorrow of when he had abandoned the Paeng Clan Estate and fled.
The retainers who died to protect him. The loyal servants who threw themselves to open an escape route, saying they would protect the Young Patriarch no matter what.
Wielding his saber while recalling the faces of each of them, killing intent naturally rose.
“What kind of brat is like this…!”
“Do not let down your guard! They are no ordinary fellows…!”
Thud!
One of the iron-armored martial artists who was warning his companion was hit in the chest by the Red Lotus Palm and sent flying.
After rolling around for a long time, he crashed into the Reception Hall wall and lost consciousness.
When the iron-armored martial artists fell into confusion before the unexpected strength, the cadets’ momentum boiled up further.
‘What? These guys! Looking at them now, they are just fellows who run wild trusting only their numbers! To think we lost our branch and estate to such fellows! There is no greater disgrace!’
Paeng Su-hyeok grit his teeth and wielded his saber in a state of self-forgetfulness.
Just how long did he run amok in all directions like that?
When he was getting drunk on the thrilling sensation flowing along the blade, he suddenly felt a chilly energy behind his back and spun around.
“Who…!”
He swung his saber fiercely, but the next moment, the blade bounced as a metallic sound rang.
Clang!
Stumbling once, Paeng Su-hyeok grit his teeth and raised his head.
Although Paeng Su-hyeok was also quite large, the giant before his eyes was far larger than Paeng Su-hyeok.
It was the Iron Arhat.
As the Iron Arhat wearing dark armor glared while flashing his eyes, Paeng Su-hyeok grit his teeth and swung his blade again.
“What is this? This guy who is only big!”
“A young fellow has lost his fear.”
Letting out a heavy voice, Iron Arhat raised his wolf-tooth mace and swung it lightly.
Clang!
In an instant, sparks exploded, and Paeng Su-hyeok was pushed back five or six steps.
“Ugh!”
At the pain that rang through his entire body, Paeng Su-hyeok let out a groan despite himself.
The cadets shouted in surprise.
“Paeng Su-hyeok!”
“Are you okay?”
Paeng Su-hyeok gripped his saber tightly and spoke as if spitting it out.
“What are you looking at during combat? Concentrate on your own fight!”
His pride hurt, he kicked the ground and rushed forward again.
“Hyaaaah!”
Paeng Su-hyeok let out a thunderous shout and swept his saber horizontally. A dark saber qi dragged a long tail, unleashing the Iron-Blood Returning Wind stance of the Iron-Blood Star-Plucking Saber.
“Ho, the young fellow is quite something!”
Iron Arhat shouted jovially, then held his wolf-tooth mace backward and blocked the saber.
Claaaaang!
Screeech!
Sliding two zhang, Iron Arhat twisted his lips with a smirk.
“Indeed. You have the skill to flee like a rat even after receiving our alliance’s attack.”
“What? You… dog-like boar of a bastard!”
His eyes rolling back, Paeng Su-hyeok flew forward in madness.
Swish!
In an instant, Paeng Su-hyeok, who discharged power through his Yongquan acupoints, soared into the air. Subsequently, falling like a meteor, he loaded all his weight onto the saber.
Fwoooosh!
The dark saber qi struck down like thunder.
It was the Iron-Blood Wall-Breaking stance that Namgung Cheon had once advised him on.
Iron Arhat narrowed his eyes, then pulled his right foot back and laid his wolf-tooth mace horizontally to block.
Claaaaang!
Thud!
As it was a powerful attack, the courtyard floor broke, burying Iron Arhat up to his ankles.
Iron Arhat was sincerely surprised.
“Amazing. As much as you are amazing… I must pull out the sprout!”
Letting out a chilling voice, he swung his wolf-tooth mace diagonally.
Indeed, an agile movement that did not suit his massive build at all.
Fwoooosh!
“Gasp!”
Paeng Su-hyeok, who quickly raised his saber, received the impact of the wolf-tooth mace with his entire body.
Crash!
“Aaargh!”
As if hit by a cannonball, Paeng Su-hyeok was sent flying.
Boom!
As Paeng Su-hyeok fell, breaking the Reception Hall wall, all the cadets stiffened as if frozen on the spot.
At the same time, the same thought rose in their heads.
‘If only Namgung Cheon were here…!’
They did not know why Namgung Cheon was the first to cross their minds.
However, strangely, Namgung Cheon came to mind first.
Even so, they could not just be defeated helplessly like this.
Yu Hyeon quickly ran out and unleashed a sword strike at the Iron Arhat.
‘This man is strong! If I do not strike first, there is no hope!’
Unlike the Iron-Blood Star-Plucking Saber which was entirely powerful, his sword was soft, brilliant, and flexible.
Swish, swish, swish!
“Now that I see, there are many talents in the Martial Alliance! Having many sprouts to pull out is also a pleasant thing!”
Smirking, the Iron Arhat clashed directly with Yu Hyeon.