Chapter 230: Countering a Scheme with a Scheme (4)
Chapter 229 – Countering a Scheme with a Scheme (4)
At Hong An-gae’s pressing, Eon Yang-geol nodded.
“Yes. In our clan’s secret manual, the method of manufacturing talismans that can control most Jiangshi is written.”
“Indeed! That is why those unorthodox bastards deliberately released imperfect Jiangshi in the Eon Clan!”
Since Hong An-gae was already making deductions on his own as if he were clever, Eon Yang-geol had little to add.
He merely nodded his head diligently, pretending to be amazed by Hong An-gae’s reasoning ability.
“As expected of Senior Hong An-gae! With only that short detail, you have grasped the general situation.”
“Isn’t it a not-so-difficult problem? This much is nothing.”
When Eon Yang-geol flattered him, Hong An-gae chest out and put on an air of humility.
Then, he soon grasped the surrounding situation once more and quickly asked.
“So did you protect that secret manual?”
“We thoroughly defended our clan’s library. Thanks to that, we were able to keep the secret manual safe.”
“Well done! The Eon Clan has been outstanding in the Jiangshi Art since ancient times, so if such a secret manual fell into the hands of unorthodox bastards, we wouldn’t know what would happen. You did very well! But it is a strange thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“The unorthodox bastards are not visible at all, so why are only the Jiangshi running rampant?”
It could have been a sharp question, but this was also a part Namgung Cheon had anticipated.
Therefore, Eon Yang-geol did not panic and recited the prepared lines again.
“As I said, controlling Jiangshi is no easy matter. Those Jiangshi cannot distinguish between friend and foe. Thus, they released the Jiangshi in our clan and attempted to steal the secret manual, but when circumstances became unfavorable, they merely escaped with their bodies.”
“Indeed. That is how it happened.”
While Hong An-gae nodded, he watched the situation with a troubled expression. He suddenly raised his head and looked at Eon Yang-geol.
“Are you absolutely sure? That you can control the Jiangshi?”
“I think it is possible. However…”
“However?”
“Our clan abolished the Jiangshi Art long ago and integrated into the orthodox Martial World. Yet, if we use the Jiangshi Art again because circumstances are unfavorable, I worry that the eyes of the world will not look kindly upon us.”
“Hmm. That… might be so.”
Hong An-gae nodded.
Eon Yang-geol could not help but chuckle inwardly.
In fact, by this point, he thought Hong An-gae would say that such things did not matter and tell him to control the Jiangshi quickly.
Yet, even while the Beggars’ Sect disciples were mixed up and fighting with the Jiangshi, he was having such worries.
‘Certainly, the orthodox Martial World has considerable prejudice against Jiangshi.’
Since it had turned out this way, they had to proceed to the second step.
And that second step was…
“Uwaaaak! Get out of the way!”
Namgung Cheon shouted like a scream and ran toward this direction.
“Gasp!”
“Argh!”
Eon Yang-geol and Hong An-gae shouted and retreated simultaneously.
Behind Namgung Cheon, weren’t as many as seven Jiangshi following in a row?
Boom! Thud thud thud!
The Jiangshi with pale skin and glowing red eyes were repeatedly throwing fists and palms at Namgung Cheon while exuding killing intent.
“Uwaaaaah!”
“Uh… why are you following me!”
Hong An-gae shouted in irritation and began to run away.
Namgung Cheon, who finally caught up with Hong An-gae, grabbed his shoulder and used the momentum to turn him around.
“Save me!”
Hong An-gae, who turned around in confusion, thrust out both palms to confront the Jiangshi.
Boommm!
“Keugh!”
The Jiangshi was blown back, and Hong An-gae was also blown back.
Hong An-gae could not help but be inwardly surprised, realizing that the martial arts level of the Jiangshi was considerable.
Meanwhile, another Jiangshi swung its hand blade at Namgung Cheon from the side.
“Gasp!”
Namgung Cheon rolled on the floor in horror.
It was the unsightly method of the Lazy Donkey Roll, but wasn’t surviving the immediate concern?
However, the hand blade of the Jiangshi, which had lost its target, went straight for Hong An-gae, which was a troubling thing.
“Tch!”
Clicking his tongue, Hong An-gae quickly bent his waist back and unfolded grappling techniques to snatch the Jiangshi’s wrist.
Crack! Snap!
As the Jiangshi’s hand bent, a sound like a bone snapping rang out.
Because the Jiangshi’s body was as hard as steel, even just bending the wrist consumed considerable internal energy.
Yet, as if the Jiangshi did not care about pain at all, didn’t it throw its opposite fist as it was?
“Gasp!”
Inhaling sharply, Hong An-gae stepped back and barely evaded.
From the fist that reached right in front of his nose, a blast of wind blew, making his hair flutter wildly.
A difference of about a span.
Truly, cold sweat naturally flowed down his spine.
However, their attacks did not end with that.
The seven Jiangshi attacked Namgung Cheon fiercely simultaneously, and every time, coincidentally, didn’t Hong An-gae get dragged into the fight?
In fact, from Namgung Cheon’s perspective, there was no opponent as easy to manipulate as a Jiangshi.
Because just looking at the flow of internal energy in the body, the next movement was naturally anticipated.
If it were a human, the flow of internal energy might change abruptly depending on their thoughts, but the Jiangshi was continuing its attacks with a very honest flow.
Of course, to ordinary people who could not use the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes, the Jiangshi would be an object of fear by its very existence.
Anyway, as Namgung Cheon used the Jiangshi’s movements to the maximum to keep cornering Hong An-gae, the situation grew increasingly urgent.
Originally, Hong An-gae intended to subdue the Jiangshi with force, but subduing the Jiangshi, which knew neither pain nor fear, was not as easy as he thought.
‘Damn it! This troublesome fellow has run to me!’
Hong An-gae glanced sideways at Namgung Cheon, who was rolling and dodging here and there beside him.
It was indeed a mess.
While rolling his body to somehow dodge the randomly charging Jiangshi, miraculously, he was holding out without sustaining a single wound.
It was just that he was annoyed because he was repeatedly dragged into the fight as a consequence.
Judging by his look, he seemed to be a cadet, so he could not drive him away heartlessly, and it was truly annoying to death.
At this rate, might he not lose his life as well?
Ultimately, Hong An-gae, who had even sustained a few wounds on his chest, shouted irritably.
“Eon Clan Leader! Can you definitely control these guys?”
“Yes? Ah, yes! If we use the Jiangshi Art written in the secret manual, it will be possible. However…”
“However what? Quick!”
Clang! Clang!
The Dog-Beating Staff and the Jiangshi’s limbs collided repeatedly, making a chaotic noise.
The Eon Clan Leader pretended to hesitate before opening his mouth.
“Then our clan will end up using the Jiangshi Art again…”
“That is not the problem now! Aren’t those guys about to exterminate your clan right now!”
Even in the midst of this, Hong An-gae never said that he was having a hard time as if he would die.
Just then, Namgung Cheon bumped his back against Hong An-gae’s and shouted.
“No! Clan Leader! We must subdue these guys with force! Otherwise, the world… argh!”
Namgung Cheon suddenly let out a scream and lay flat on the spot.
Consequently, the Jiangshi’s fist struck Hong An-gae’s back directly.
Boom!
“Keup!”
Vomiting blood, Hong An-gae staggered.
“Gasp! Are you alright, Senior?”
When Namgung Cheon ran over with fuss, Hong An-gae irritably brushed his hand away.
“Enough! I won’t die from this! Anyway, quickly use the Jiangshi Art even if…!”
“We cannot do that! If we use the Jiangshi Art, how are we different from the unorthodox factions? We must subdue them in a righteous way!”
When Namgung Cheon openly opposed, Hong An-gae was on the verge of his eyes turning.
‘You crazy bastard! Then try subduing them all yourself!’
Truly, he barely held back a handful of curses rising from within and said.
“Scoundrel! When you are rolling here and there unable to protect even your own body, what kind of nonsense is that! Eon Clan Leader! They say justice lies not in martial arts, but in people! If we use the Jiangshi Art to establish justice, how can we disparage it as an evil art? Quickly subdue these guys!”
“Bu-But…”
“Oh dear! Do we have to all die to bring you to your senses? Can you not see the current situation?”
Now, Hong An-gae was the one burning with anxiety.
When the shadow of death had reached before his eyes, to think he was hesitating!
Finally, Hong An-gae struck one Jiangshi charging at him far away with both palms and shouted.
“My friend! If we can reclaim and even control the Jiangshi on this occasion, isn’t it killing two birds with one stone? Why are you acting so stuffy!”
Ultimately, Hong An-gae’s voice grew rough.
At this, a faint smile appeared on the expressions of Namgung Cheon and Eon Yang-geol.
The words they had been waiting for had finally burst out.
Namgung Cheon blocked one Jiangshi with difficulty and suddenly shouted.
“No, Eon Clan Leader! To use the Jiangshi Art again! Such an evil-looking…”
“Shut up! You child whose hair hasn’t even dried!”
“Tch, then are you going to take responsibility, Senior?”
When Namgung Cheon stared straight at him and shouted, Hong An-gae was dumbfounded.
No, what kind of situation was this?
He was telling him to use it, yet what kind of green cadet was coming out more conservatively?
Loading his voice with internal energy, Hong An-gae shouted.
“Yes! I will take responsibility! In a situation where our lives are in jeopardy, what kind of useless debate is this! Eon Clan Leader! Quickly use it! Trusting me!”
Finally, all conditions were met.
Eon Yang-geol rejoiced inwardly and replied.
“Understood! Then the Eon Clan will trust only Elder Hong An-gae of the Beggars’ Sect and make the decision! I will first go to the library to check the secret manual and make the talismans! If there are any attached talismans, I will use them immediately! Please hold out until then!”
Having finished speaking, Eon Yang-geol leaped and ran toward the library.
Only then did Hong An-gae feel relieved and devoted himself to the fight with the Jiangshi.
Certainly, the level of the Jiangshi could not be ignored.
Not to mention their strong martial arts, and since they knew neither emotion nor pain, weren’t they even more chilling entities?
‘To think he would speak such stuffy words even in front of these chilling things! Tch! A person must have flexibility!’
When such a close situation continued for a while, Eon Yang-geol, whom they had been waiting for, appeared.
“I am sorry for being late!”
“Never mind that, quickly!”
“Yes, Senior!”
Eon Yang-geol quickly threw the talismans.
Swish swish swish swish!
Cutting through the air fiercely, the talismans began to stick flatly to the foreheads of the Jiangshi one after another.
Sure enough, as soon as the talismans stuck, the Jiangshi froze on the spot like stone and stopped their movements completely.
“Gasp, gasp, gasp…!”
“Ah… I lived…!”
Only then did sighs of relief and voices of joy pour out from various places in the courtyard. The beggars who had fought the Jiangshi were also finally able to catch their breath.
For their part, they had joined the fight immediately after traveling a long distance, so they were exhausted to the limit.
Eon Yang-geol approached Hong An-gae and clasped his hands in respect.
“Thanks to Senior’s brave decision, we were able to overcome today’s crisis. Thank you!”
“Senior Hong An-gae! Your decision saved us all!”
At some point, Paeng Jeok-ho also ran over, panting for breath, and shouted. Beside him, Paeng Su-hyeok said with exaggerated hand gestures.
“Ah! Truly. Extremely. Fearful. And. Scary. Jiangshi. They. Were.”
At the acting skills that made the hands and feet shrivel, everyone’s expressions stiffened as they turned to look at Paeng Su-hyeok.
But Hong An-gae, who had really had a rough time, did not even notice Paeng Su-hyeok’s clumsy acting.
“It is fortunate that it was resolved well.”
Hong An-gae looked around and carefully scanned the Jiangshi.
“Hmph, for the unorthodox bastards to use Jiangshi! But they ended up shooting themselves in the foot! It seems these will become the protective guards that protect the Eon Clan in the future.”
“Without Senior’s brave decision, we would not have dared to even think of it.”
Eon Yang-geol deliberately attributed the credit to Hong An-gae.
“Ahem, what is there to go that far.”
Since Hong An-gae was also a human, as people repeatedly flattered him, he could not help but feel good.
Then, he suddenly saw Namgung Cheon standing beside him and furrowed his brows slightly.
The guy who had prevented using the Jiangshi Art until the end.
“What is your name, boy?”
“I am Namgung Cheon.”
“Namgung Cheon? Are you that Jianghu Divine Dragon?”
“Yes. I am indeed that Jianghu Divine Dragon.”
“Indeed. That is why you had useless pride.”
“Hey, those words are a bit harsh.”
“Silence! Do you know how much damage almost occurred because of you? A person must have flexibility. What is more precious than life? Belief also ends up being nothing but an illusion if you lose your life.”
“Yes, yes, I will keep it in mind.”
When Namgung Cheon replied half-heartedly, Hong An-gae was about to flare up again, but turned back as if remembering something.
“Come to think of it… there was news you should know.”
“News I should know? What is it?”
In the next moment, an completely unexpected answer flowed from Hong An-gae’s mouth.
“I hear a group of unorthodox martial artists ran toward Mount Huang.”
“……!”