Chapter 238: How Dare You Touch Bonga (1)
Chapter 237 – How Dare You Touch Bonga (1)
Gallop, gallop…!
Riding their fine horses, the cadets ran toward Mount Huang without stopping.
Having run all night like that, Mount Huang finally began to appear in the distance.
Yun Jong-seung, who was closely following behind Namgung Cheon, glanced to the left. The eastern sky was already faintly brightening.
‘I hope we aren’t too late.’
He felt strangely anxious.
The closer they got to Mount Huang, the more his heart pounded.
Of course, the Namgung Clan would be in greater danger than the Mount Huang Yun Clan. No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reason for the mysterious enemies to strike the Mount Huang Yun Clan.
It was not a place that had made a great name for itself in the Jianghu, nor was it overflowing with money.
However, the Namgung Clan was a symbolic family in many ways. Even if their fortunes had declined, wasn’t it still the Namgung Clan?
Furthermore, they were recently preparing for a rebound due to Namgung Cheon’s activities. Therefore, if the enemies targeted one of the two places, there was a high probability it would be the Namgung Clan.
Even so, Yun Jong-seung was strangely worried about his father.
With his father’s usual personality, he wouldn’t care if the Namgung Clan were on fire or robbed, but for some reason, his mind was unsettled now.
‘I have no choice but to go and see for myself first! If the Namgung Clan is truly in crisis, I can’t just stand by and watch!’
It was a complicated feeling, worrying about his father while also hoping he would be there.
Yun Jong-seung looked at Namgung Cheon’s back as he ran ahead.
‘The fellow who saved a comrade’s clan from crisis twice.’
Who would have known that Namgung Cheon, who returned alive from the dead, would change like this?
At times, Namgung Cheon felt so unfamiliar that he seemed like a different person, but one thing was certain.
That if one were with Namgung Cheon, one would grow.
It felt as if not just martial arts, but even one’s thoughts and attitude toward life were growing.
‘Namgung Cheon! I will face the crisis that has befallen you together with you!’
Yun Jong-seung tightened his grip on the reins as he made a fresh resolve.
How much further did they run like that?
It was at the point where Mount Huang was right in front of them.
Neigh!
The horse Paeng Su-hyeok was riding suddenly let out a shriek-like neigh and tumbled forward just like that.
Crash…!
Having run so fast, even after falling to the ground, the horse slid for a long time before hitting a rock and stopping.
Snort…!
The panting steed snorted and struggled once, but in the end, it could not get up.
Meanwhile, Paeng Su-hyeok, who was riding the horse, quickly threw his body and rolled smoothly on the ground, so he was not seriously injured.
Consequently, the other cadets also brought their horses to a halt and gathered around Paeng Su-hyeok.
“Damn it! The horse seems to have been too exhausted.”
Paeng Su-hyeok grumbled as he brushed the dust off his clothes.
Indeed, the horses of the other cadets were all exhausted as well, in a state where they might collapse at any moment.
And no wonder, since they had run at full speed all night without resting, it was only natural for the horses to be exhausted.
Namgung Cheon leaped down from his horse.
“Let’s run. From now on, performing lightfoot techniques to run will be faster. Since we saved our internal energy and physical strength in the meantime.”
“Yes, that would be better.”
Jin So-hong also immediately jumped off her horse.
Yun Jong-seung rode up, pointed behind his back, and asked.
“Then what do we do with this guy?”
The person tied by the waist and riding on the horse with Yun Jong-seung was none other than the Hefei Branch Leader.
Yun Jong-seung untied the belt and slung the Branch Leader over the saddle.
“If we all run, will the horses follow on their own?”
Jin So-hong shook her head.
“They are quite smart creatures, but it will be a headache if the Branch Leader wakes up in the meantime.”
At that, Yu Hyeon spoke calmly.
“Then let’s just kill him.”
“…”
“…”
Paeng Su-hyeok stared blankly before shaking his head.
“Just who corrupted our Daoist Yu Hyeon like this?”
It was a remark made without much meaning, but coincidentally, everyone’s gaze directed to one spot. Namgung Cheon pointed at himself and asked.
“Why look at me? I never did that.”
“Hmm. Let’s move on. Rather than that, we can’t just leave the Branch Leader behind, so why don’t you take care of him, So-hong?”
“Huh? Me?”
At Jin So-hong’s reaction, Paeng Su-hyeok nodded.
“Since Namgung Cheon and Yun Jong-seung might have their clans involved, their minds will be rushed. And leaving him to Daoist Yu Hyeon makes me uneasy.”
“Do I make you uneasy?”
As Yu Hyeon wore a face that showed he did not understand, everyone looked back in unison.
‘To think you don’t know that. You make us even more uneasy, as expected!’
In the end, Jin So-hong nodded.
“Fine. I will bring the Branch Leader and follow behind.”
“Good, then let’s go quickly.”
At Paeng Su-hyeok’s words, Namgung Cheon pulled something out of his chest and tossed two of them to each of the cadets.
“What is this?”
“Are you giving these to us?”
Namgung Cheon tossed one of them into his mouth and said.
“They are the White Spirit Pill and the Strength-Strengthening Divine Pill. The white one is the White Spirit Pill. It can speed up the flow of internal energy. As for the effects of the Strength-Strengthening Divine Pill that hardens the body, everyone should know.”
“Uh… thank you.”
“Now, let’s go. I need to see what bastards are looking to die by touching our clan.”
The moment Namgung Cheon’s words fell, he kicked the ground.
Boom!
Instantly, a strong wind blew, violently whipping the cadets’ hair and hems.
Namgung Cheon receded at an immense speed, soon becoming as small as a dot.
The cadets, looking at each other, nodded and swallowed the White Spirit Pill.
Paeng Su-hyeok smirked.
“Good, my blood is boiling! Shall we go?”
Whoosh!
Soon after, the other cadets also kicked the ground and began to run like arrows.
* * *
Pant, pant, pant…!
Whew. Whew…!
Namgung Pyo and Namgung Seol-hui stood side-by-side, their shoulders shaking.
It felt as if their hearts were about to pop out of their chests.
No matter how many enemies they sliced, there was no end to them.
On the other hand, the number of allies was rapidly decreasing.
A few members of the Azure Eagle Squad, including the captain, were still fighting tenaciously, but quite a few casualties had already occurred.
It was truly a desperate crisis.
Moreover, the desperate struggle taking place on the roof of the martial arena hall in the distance.
Though they did not know for sure, an immense expert was attacking Namgung Geom.
It truly looked like a battle between a dragon and a tiger.
The problem was that Namgung Geom, who had fought a blood battle all night, was quite exhausted.
‘Brother…!’
Namgung Pyo grit his teeth.
Now, both physical strength and internal energy were hitting rock bottom.
It was practically like holding out on sheer willpower.
He glared at the men in black surrounding the Deep Blue Courtyard.
“You dog-like things! Where do you think this is, daring to shove your heads in…!”
“Pyo, your words lack dig…”
“Sister! Is dignity a problem right now? When this trash has resolved to ruin our clan!”
“Still, these fellows aren’t using fire attacks. It must mean they are targeting something in our clan. We will protect it to the end.”
“Of course! Didn’t our Young Patriarch go through so much trouble to obtain it?”
Namgung Seol-hui chuckled.
‘Our Young Patriarch.’
She felt once again that Namgung Cheon, who had changed that stubborn younger brother of hers like that, was amazing.
However, the sentiment did not last long.
“Die, old hag!”
When one of the men in black spat out harsh words and lunged, Namgung Pyo blocked his path and exploded his sword qi.
Swish!
“What did this son of a bitch dare call my sister? I will rip your mouth open!”
“Pyo, dignity…”
“Oh, Sister, stop nagging me! When we are all about to die, dignity can go freeze to death…”
“Tch…”
Namgung Seol-hui clicked her tongue with a disapproving look, but she did not seem to dislike it.
For wasn’t her brother currently enraged at the men in black who insulted her?
Namgung Pyo was originally like that.
He was frivolous, simple, and hot-tempered, but should it be said that he was warmer inside than expected?
Clang, clang! Clang! Slash!
“Argh!”
Metallic sounds and battle cries harmonized, and screams erupted.
The two, who had been slicing down enemies without hesitation, stood back-to-back at some point to catch their breath.
“Pant, pant…! Sister.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know what’s really funny?”
“…?”
“I hated that kid so much… but strangely, I want to see him right now.”
“…!”
Namgung Seol-hui let out a light sigh.
“Actually, me too.”
“Huh…? You too, Sister?”
“Hasn’t that child shown us something? For some reason, I have a vague expectation that if it were that child, there would be a way to overcome this crisis.”
Namgung Seol-hui was surprised at her own words.
‘It seems I truly recognize that child as the Young Patriarch. To think that the presence of a child who is but a mere cadet was this great?’
The only saving grace was the belief that as long as the Young Patriarch survived somewhere, he would carry on the lineage of the Namgung Clan.
Just when Namgung Seol-hui was about to mutter something.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out from above the martial arena pavilion. The roof tiles there exploded in all directions, and fragments scattered thickly.
“Sister, Brother is…!”
“I saw it too!”
Namgung Seol-hui tightened her grip on her sword.
Whoever it was, they were clearly driving Namgung Geom into a corner.
‘If it is a clash of that magnitude, could it be a duel of internal energy? But Brother must have consumed a lot of internal energy fighting all night… Huh? Wait…!’
Namgung Seol-hui, who was continuing her thoughts, winced and looked toward the martial arena hall.
From time to time, desperate screams surged up.
‘Come to think of it, over there is…! Don’t tell me!’
At that moment, a thought flashed through Namgung Seol-hui’s mind, and she snapped her head toward Namgung Pyo.
“Pyo!”
“What is it?”
Namgung Pyo barely answered as he swung his sword at an enemy.
“It seems the bastards already know!”
“Know what?”
“The location of the Demonic Pill Valley elixirs!”
“Ah…!”
Only then did Namgung Pyo wince and look toward the martial arena hall. The Demonic Pill Valley elixirs had been stored separately in the underground of the Clan Leader’s Residence and the martial arena hall.
On the roof of the pavilion, Namgung Geom was completely motionless, holding his sword in a straight line against an old man, as if in a duel of internal energy.
‘If it’s a duel of internal energy, Brother’s feet will be bound!’
Having finished his thoughts, Namgung Pyo shouted.
“Sister, I will go!”
“It’s too much for you alone!”
“There is no other way! Don’t we have to protect this place too?”
“Mmm.”
Namgung Seol-hui swallowed a groan and grit her teeth.
Just as Namgung Pyo said, there was no other way.
Ultimately, she pulled up her internal energy and urged him.
“Please be careful.”
“Don’t worry!”
“Then I will clear a path! Protect the martial arena hall together with Brother!”
Finishing her words, she exploded her internal energy and instantly unleashed the One Arrow of the Azure Sky of the Boundless Sky Limitless Sword Art.
Swish!
The blade flying like an arrow sliced the men in black to the left and right.
“Aaaargh!”
“Agh!”
As a path opened through the densely packed men in black, Namgung Pyo began to run headlong.
Swish!
Namgung Pyo ran like the wind, unfolding his family’s martial art, the Heavenly Wind Movement Art. Just as a man in black appeared to block his way, he leaped high and stepped off the opponent’s crown to spring forward.
It was truly an elusive movement technique.
Namgung Seol-hui bit her lip as she watched Namgung Pyo distance himself in an instant.
‘Pyo, I leave it to you!’
Namgung Pyo jumped over the wall and entered the inner courtyard of the martial arena hall. Sure enough, men in black were gathered densely, and at the firmly locked entrance of the martial arena hall, Lord of the Elders’ Court Namgung Heon-sang was dying, his body pierced by various weapons.
“Cough, ugh!”
When Namgung Heon-sang fell after coughing up a bucket of blood, Namgung Pyo, his eyes rolled back, burst into a roar using the Lion’s Roar.
“Court Master! Grr…! You dog-like bastards!”
Swish!
Flying like a single arrow in an instant, Namgung Pyo sliced and stabbed the men in black, reaching the entrance of the martial arena hall.
Only then did the corpses of the Namgung Clan’s martial artists scattered all around enter Namgung Pyo’s view.
‘To think they all died trying to protect this place…!’
With bloodshot eyes, Namgung Pyo raised his chin with a look that could swallow a ball of fire.
His expression was so ominous that dozens of men in black flinched and retreated a step.
“You bastards who deserve to be torn to pieces. As long as I stand here, you cannot take a single step inside.”
Among the flinching men in black, someone sneered.
“The old man must have gone mad. You intend to face us alone?”
“Try getting bitten by a mad dog. I will let you know that vivid pain starting now!”
“Hmph! A beating is the only medicine for a mad dog! Attack!”
Instantly, the men in black threw their bodies in unison and flew toward Namgung Pyo.
Seeing the sharp weapons pouring in, Namgung Pyo shouted with a face filled with madness.
“Fine! Come! I will awaken you to the true terror of our clan!”
Boom!
Facing the dawn, Namgung Pyo’s figure suddenly emitted brilliance and flew up.
It was the start of a blood-spattered fight to the death.