Kang Sogun

-Thwack!

Yu Maun's eyes widened as if they would tear.

Although it was a distance of thirty feet, it seemed he had heard the sound of Bu Chagyeok's neck being pierced by a spear.

Bu Chagyeok's saber art was the Lightning Chain Saber.

The reason it was named lightning was because it was that fast.

The chain was because the saber forces followed one after another without rest, driving the opponent.

Bu Chagyeok did not even get a chance to properly unfold the saber art that had given him his nickname.

The spear that had extended in a straight line had pierced Bu Chagyeok's neck.

"That crazy..."

In Yu Maun's eyes, it seemed as if Bu Chagyeok had thrown himself at the opponent's spear.

He had neither avoided it nor deflected the spear shaft.

In Yu Maun's eyes, it had not been that fast, but he could not understand how Bu Chagyeok had been defeated so absurdly.

Bu Chagyeok stood for a moment with his neck pierced, and then, as Kang Sogun pulled out his spear, he fell backward.

Kang Sogun slowly approached Bu Chagyeok and then picked up the saber that had fallen to the ground.

Kang Sogun, holding the saber, looked this way. Yu Maun felt a chill run down his spine.

'The annihilation of the Heaven's Mandate Brigade and the Black Horse Brigade is true!'

Kang Sogun did not seem to have any intention of coming this way.

After taking Bu Chagyeok's saber, he got on his horse and slowly ran along the main road.

It was as natural as if the warriors of the Heavenly Star Brigade were not even in his sights.

The Heavenly Star Second Team, which had lost its team leader in an instant, could not even think of avenging its team leader due to Kang Sogun's martial arts, which were on a completely different level.

They knew how strong their team leader was. To attack a person who had killed such a man in one blow meant that they had to give up their lives.

If he were still alive, it would be a different story, but Bu Chagyeok was already dead.

There was no team member who would give up his life for the revenge of Bu Chagyeok, who had treated them harshly.

"Ch-chase him!"

Yu Maun gathered his senses and ordered the Heavenly Star Brigade members, who were standing blankly and watching Kang Sogun go.

Yu Maun felt shame and humiliation as he chased Kang Sogun.

Kang Sogun's actions were taken to mean that they were not even worth paying attention to.

Yu Maun had heard the information that Kang Sogun was injured, but he did not know exactly what state he was in now.

Kang Sogun had not recovered from his serious injuries. He had killed Bu Chagyeok by putting all his internal energy and strength into one blow.

Yu Maun, who did not know that fact, just chased Kang Sogun.

Yu Maun was so engrossed in Kang Sogun's martial prowess that he did not look behind him.

'Ugh.'

Kang Sogun swallowed the lump of blood that was rising.

Although he had obtained a fortuitous encounter and the fire of his Golden Elixir True Art had reached great success, he was hovering on the line of death due to successive internal injuries.

He had to rest for at least a hundred days, but he had no peace of mind.

After finding the red jade dagger, his mind had become particularly anxious.

He was thinking of going to Nanjing to find out the identities of the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard at that time.

The premonition that if their identities were revealed, he would be able to find out about Jang Yeongyeong's life or death was turning into a conviction.

Kang Sogun continuously operated his Golden Elixir True Art as he ran down the main road that continued into the darkness.

The enemy would come again, and they would be stronger. He had to stabilize his internal energy even a little more.

***

-Swish!

"Kuh!"

About ten arrows flew from the darkness.

Yu Maun managed to deflect them, but the Heavenly Star Brigade warriors were not so lucky. About ten of them fell at once.

"There's an ambush! Be careful of the crossbows."

The Heavenly Star Brigade warriors quickly formed a circular formation.

Yu Maun stood in the center and shouted.

"We are the Heavenly Martial Faction. Reveal your identities!"

The bushes on both sides of the low hill were thick. The ones who had shot the arrows were probably hiding in them.

It was a mistake not to have prepared for an ambush since it was a wide field.

Whoever they were, they had chosen almost the only place for an ambush.

-Swish!

Arrows flew again. This time, they were not just hit.

As the Heavenly Star Brigade warriors swung their swords and sabers, the arrows were blocked.

"As expected of the Heavenly Martial Faction's Heavenly Star Brigade!"

A rough voice was heard from the darkness.

Yu Maun's complexion darkened. The opponent knew who they were. He judged that they had ambushed them with the intention of annihilating them.

'If they openly confront the Heavenly Martial Faction?'

In the current martial world, there were not many places that could openly confront the Heavenly Martial Faction.

It was either the Dragon Slaying Society or the Great Righteous Martial Hall.

'The Dragon Slaying Society is active mainly in Shandong. It is highly likely that it is the Great Righteous Martial Hall, which is based in Nanjing.'

The Dragon Slaying Society controlled Hebei and the northern part of Henan. The place that controlled the southern part of Henan and the Yangtze River area was the Great Righteous Martial Hall.

"The Great Righteous Martial Hall!"

"..."

The person in the darkness was silent.

"Is the Great Righteous Martial Hall trying to start a war with the Heavenly Martial Faction?"

Yu Maun asked again, but there was still no answer.

While speaking to the opponent, Yu Maun raised his hand and was withdrawing the formation.

The Heavenly Star Brigade members, in a circular formation, retreated below the hill, dragging their injured comrades.

***

No Ichil was hesitating.

Kang Sogun was not running at full speed. In fact, considering his condition, riding a horse was a strain in itself.

That's why No Ichil had been able to catch up with Kang Sogun and the Heavenly Star Brigade, bypass the field, and set up an ambush.

No Ichil examined Yu Maun and the other Heavenly Star Brigade members and counted their numbers.

'Exactly twenty.'

Although Yu Maun was a master, he was not at a level to be in No Ichil's sights.

But in terms of overall strength, they were at a disadvantage. The subordinates who were ambushing were twelve.

Their individual martial arts were also inferior compared to the Heavenly Martial Faction's inner circle's main force, the Heavenly Star Brigade.

Because they had been gathered so hastily, there were also those with a level of martial arts that should not have been in this place.

'I just have to hold out for tonight.'

Since he had requested support, the warriors of the Great Righteous Martial Hall would join them in the morning.

'Is this really the right thing to do?'

No Ichil was taking a risk.

A master who had annihilated two of the Heavenly Martial Faction's military brigades single-handedly.

If he could bring him into the Great Righteous Martial Hall, it would be a great achievement.

Although he used that logic to justify himself, there was actually another reason.

No Ichil was drawn to Kang Sogun without realizing it.

He didn't know why. He had risked the lives of many people for a reason he didn't even know, so the burden on his mind was great.

In the end, he compromised. He had decided to retreat at this point.

By now, Kang Sogun would have escaped the field.

No Ichil gave a hand signal. It meant to fall back.

Eight of the twelve warriors carefully fell back.

They had tied their horses behind the hill, so if they rode and fled, the enemy would not know who had attacked them.

The remaining four still aimed their crossbows and retreated backward.

Yu Maun was perplexed. He had felt the ambush team withdrawing.

'What is this?'

He wanted to run and check right away, but he couldn't go right away because he was worried there might be another trap.

But the moment he heard the sound of horses moving, he made a decision.

Yu Maun was a cautious man, not a cowardly one.

If he was ambushed and didn't even know the enemy's identity, he would be immediately demoted to a low-ranking warrior.

The Heavenly Martial Faction did not want those who prioritized their own lives, but those who would risk their lives and fight in front of the enemy.

Yu Maun raised his hand and gave a hand signal.

Five remained, and fifteen used lightness skill and headed for the hill.

-Swish!

Four arrows flew, but they were no longer effective against the Heavenly Star Brigade warriors who were on guard.

-Clang!

The arrows were deflected.

The moment Yu Maun saw the four arrows, he was certain.

'About ten at first, four this time. These bastards?'

The enemy was ambushing and then fleeing.

Yu Maun shot up and followed behind the leading Heavenly Star Brigade warriors, shouting.

"The enemy is small in number! Catch them at all costs!"

In an instant, arrows flew again.

"Hmph!"

Yu Maun raised his saber to deflect the arrows and threw himself forward. He had to not give them time to reload.

-Swish!

This time, the sound of flying was different.

Yu Maun instinctively felt danger and immediately twisted his body.

A pair of shurikens grazed the tip of his nose.

"Kuh!"

Yu Maun managed to avoid them, but a few warriors were not so lucky. Two fell to the successively flying shurikens.

"You cowardly bastards!"

Yu Maun shouted and went around to the back of the bushes.

In the meantime, No Ichil and the four warriors had joined their comrades who had gone ahead.

"Don't let them get away!"

Yu Maun shouted, but what came back were the arrows shot by those on horseback.

The arrows were concentrated on Yu Maun, so he rolled to the side and barely avoided them.

"Hah, hiyah!"

In the meantime, No Ichil pulled the reins and fled.

The Heavenly Star Brigade warriors chased and took out hidden weapons from their bosoms and threw them.

"Kuh!"

As one person was hit by a hidden weapon and was about to fall, No Ichil, who was chasing, caught him and put him behind him.

Yu Maun, who was watching the Heavenly Star Brigade warriors chase, suddenly came to his senses.

There was a side path that branched off from the main road behind the hill, and the ambushers were going down the side path.

"Stop! Come back!"

Yu Maun shouted and called back the Heavenly Star Brigade warriors.

Yu Maun looked at the damage and was dumbfounded.

Three had died from the crossbows. There were also five who were seriously injured.

'The Great Righteous Martial Hall! You cowardly bastards!'

Yu Maun gritted his teeth. But he couldn't even confirm if they were really warriors of the Great Righteous Martial Hall.

Since they had suddenly ambushed and then fled right away, he could only guess.

"We have to chase that bastard right away!"

He had no face to show the Heavenly Star Brigade Commander, Go Gyeongyeom.

So he had to not miss Kang Sogun at least.

Yu Maun had the lightly injured warriors take care of their dead comrades and the seriously injured, and then he led the remaining personnel and chased Kang Sogun again.

***

"Who are you?"

One of the Heavenly Martial Faction warriors, who was injured and taking care of his comrades, jumped up, raised his saber, and stood on guard.

A person was walking from the other side of the main road. No, it was too fast to be called walking. But it wasn't running either.

It was as if he were walking, but with each step, he slid a full ten feet.

Just by looking at his lightness skill, one could tell that he was no ordinary master, so it was natural for the Heavenly Martial Faction warriors to be extremely wary.

The one who had come close was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. He had a saber at his side, and from his appearance, he looked like a ronin warrior.

"Reveal your identity. We are the Heavenly Martial Faction's Heavenly Star Brigade!"

A Heavenly Martial Faction warrior, who had a relatively light injury with an arrow embedded in his left arm, shouted at the ronin.

The young ronin glanced at the bodies and the seriously injured lying on the side of the road and then passed by without a word.

The young ronin had appeared without a sound and had disappeared like a ghost.

The Heavenly Martial Faction warrior felt as if he had been possessed by a ghost.

***

A faint light appeared in the sky.

The main road that stretched straight ahead was the land route.

Kang Sogun turned to the right and headed for the mountainous region.

According to the map in his head, if he crossed those mountains, Anqing would appear.

He was thinking of taking a boat from Anqing and heading for Nanjing.

Kang Sogun did not think deeply about why he had decided to cross the mountain instead of the flat land. He just thought it was to shake off the enemy's pursuit.

The judgment that he could shake off the enemy in the mountains was a miscalculation.

"!"

He stopped his horse on the path leading into the mountain. Killing intent flowed from both sides of the path leading into a narrow valley.

The Heavenly Star Brigade Commander, Go Gyeongyeom, was once again impressed by Jo Gaeryang's ability.

'How did he know that bastard would come this way?'

He was not called the Divine Strategist for nothing.

But what he could not understand was the order to drive him away without catching or killing him.

He had been told to drive him to Hefei like a rabbit hunt. Moreover, he had said that the killing demons would do the driving, so the Heavenly Star Brigade just had to provide support.

This was the reason why he was impressed with the Divine Strategist Jo Gaeryang but could not submit to him.

'It means to just watch the back of the killing demon squad.'

(End of Chapter)