Kang Sogun

'Gasp!'

The black-masked man's eyes widened in an instant.

The sensation from his hand was strange.

It felt as if he had struck a piece of armor.

-Pow!

Blood burst from Kang Sogun's back.

The black-masked man who had slashed Kang Sogun's back immediately turned his blade, intending to stab him.

In that moment, Kang Sogun spun around, his right foot soaring upwards.

-Swoosh!

Kang Sogun's foot drew a semi-circle and exploded against the black-masked man's head. The blade that had been aimed at Kang Sogun's back narrowly missed.

-Thwack!

The head inside the mask burst, and the black-masked man collapsed.

Kang Sogun gripped his blade and looked down at the dead man for a moment.

Though he had been through countless battlefields, he had never encountered foes as tenacious as these.

"Ugh!"

A groan erupted from Yeon Hwasim's group.

Kang Sogun quickly pulled out his blade and turned to look.

He saw Wi Eunghwan's chest, slashed by a blade, turning red.

The enemies had focused their attack on Wi Eunghwan, the strongest of the three.

Three were on Jungrang, one on Yeon Hwasim, and six had swarmed Wi Eunghwan.

Although Jungrang occasionally helped, Wi Eunghwan, who had not fully recovered from the serious injuries sustained in the bloody battle with the Heaven's Mandate Brigade, found his body unable to keep up with his will.

He ended up taking a blade to the chest, but fortunately, he had shown presence of mind at the last moment to be struck at an angle.

However, a chunk of flesh had been torn away.

Kang Sogun kicked a blade rolling on the ground.

The blade flew in a straight line, aiming for the side of the black-masked man who was about to strike Yeon Hwasim's waist.

Unable to ignore the flying blade, the black-masked man dodged and swung his own.

-Clang!

As the blade fell, Yeon Hwasim lunged forward and thrust her sword.

-Stab!

Feeling an unfamiliar sensation for the first time in her life, Yeon Hwasim almost dropped her sword hilt.

As the black-masked man instinctively pulled back, he felt his ribs being ground down.

-Scraaaape!

At the bizarre sensation of a human bone being ground, the strength drained from Yeon Hwasim's arm. Seizing the opportunity, an enemy beside her struck at her neck.

"Get a grip!"

Jungrang's sword deflected the blade aimed at Yeon Hwasim's neck.

"Keuk!"

Because he had pulled his sword back, the blade of the man in front of him struck Jungrang's shoulder.

Although Jungrang twisted his shoulder to make it a glancing blow, a long stream of blood flowed.

"Brother!"

Yeon Hwasim's mind snapped back to reality.

She kicked the stomach of the black-masked man in front of her, pulled out the sword embedded in his chest, and simultaneously slashed horizontally, stabbing at the neck of another black-masked man who was targeting Jungrang again.

The black-masked man quickly twisted his body, and the attack missed, but a line of blood was drawn on his neck.

"Heavenly Star Revolving Heaven!"

At Jungrang's shout, Yeon Hwasim instinctively rotated the sword in her hand and slashed diagonally downwards.

"Kuaargh!"

The black-masked man's neck was half-severed, spewing a fountain of blood. Yeon Hwasim and Jungrang were drenched in it.

In the meantime, Jungrang swept the lower bodies of the enemies targeting him and Yeon Hwasim, forcing them back.

Simultaneously, he slashed the waist of a man aiming for the staggering Wi Eunghwan's back.

-Slice!

Jungrang's sword, at its peak, flowed like a meteor and embedded itself in the enemy's side.

Yeon Hwasim was now thoughtless.

Her energy was depleted, and the blood she was covered in flowed into her eyes, making it impossible to see properly.

Just then.

*Hwasim!*

Suddenly, Yeon Hwasim heard the voice of her father, Yeon Seong-gyeol, in her ear.

'Father!'

The thought that this was her father's voice, which she could never hear again, brought a faint sadness and an uncontrollable rage welled up inside her.

"Kiaaaah!"

A scream burst from Yeon Hwasim's lips, and her sword quickened. However, the sword, swung wildly without following any form, posed little threat to the enemy.

"Hwasim! Heavenly Star Gazing at the Moon!"

Heavenly Star Gazing at the Moon was the opening stance of the Heavenly Star Sword Style, aimed calmly at the empty sky.

Yeon Hwasim unconsciously followed Jungrang's words and performed the Heavenly Star Gazing at the Moon stance. Then, she began to swing her sword following the path of the Heavenly Star Sword Style.

The sword style, which followed a righteous path, was not a great threat to the enemy, but unlike the wild swings, it exposed no openings.

This was because the Heavenly Star Sword Style was a superior sword art where defense existed within attack, and attack existed within defense.

This all happened in the brief moment after Kang Sogun kicked the blade.

In that time, Kang Sogun joined the fray.

"Gak!"

Kang Sogun's blade was unstoppable. As Kang Sogun joined and the enemy's momentum broke, the offenses of Jungrang and Wi Eunghwan also revived.

The fight between Jang Mugang and Shim Mabaek was also nearing its end.

"Keok!"

Jang Mugang's dagger stabbed into the black-masked man's throat.

The last remaining man retreated three zhang. Jang Mugang knew his martial arts were particularly strong.

'That one is the leader.'

Since they were all masked and attacked without a word, it was impossible to identify the leader.

The black-masked men were silent even as they attacked. Even as they died, they only let out short groans.

Jang Mugang was about to chase the retreating leader but turned at a sound from his side.

In that time, Shim Mabaek had defeated one man and was fiercely fighting two others.

While trying to stab the enemy in front with his spear and dodge a blade coming from the side, Shim Mabaek was severely cut on his shoulder blade.

'That guy again!'

Shim Mabaek often disregarded his own body, willing to trade flesh for bone.

Jang Mugang gave up chasing the leader and threw his dagger.

The dagger spun and embedded itself in the forehead of the black-masked man who was about to strike Shim Mabaek's back again.

In that instant, Shim Mabaek also pierced the throat of the enemy in front of him with his spear.

-Whew!

The leader whistled, and the four black-masked men attacking Yeon Hwasim's group leaped away and disappeared.

"Keuk!"

Wi Eunghwan collapsed to the ground.

"Brother!"

"Great Warrior Wi!"

Jang Mugang and Shim Mabaek rushed over, but Yeon Hwasim had already supported Wi Eunghwan before them.

"Haha. I'm fine. My chest stings a bit, but I'm alright. It's been a while since I had a proper workout."

Wi Eunghwan said, then lost consciousness. He had lost too much blood.

Shim Mabaek took out some wound medicine, sprinkled it on Wi Eunghwan's chest, and took clothes from his bundle to wrap tightly around Wi Eunghwan's upper body.

"Come here. You're not in good shape either."

Shim Mabaek's shoulder was also covered in blood. Jang Mugang tore a strip of cloth and wrapped it to stop the bleeding.

"Are you okay?"

Jungrang's side wound was deep. He tied a cloth around the wound and approached Yeon Hwasim to ask.

Yeon Hwasim's whole body ached.

She had been grazed by the enemy's blade energy in more than one place. But there were no major injuries.

This was because Wi Eunghwan and Jungrang had protected her without regard for their own bodies.

Yeon Hwasim felt ashamed that she was a burden to them. The thought of surrendering to the enemy resurfaced.

Kang Sogun stood apart from the group, looking at the road they had come from.

Blood flowed from the long gash on his back. Fortunately, it was a flesh wound.

The serious problem was his chronic internal injury.

Though his face showed no expression, he was in the process of calming his relapsed internal injury.

He had overexerted himself by continuously unleashing his inner energy. He swallowed the blood that surged up his throat and scanned the distant fields.

Twenty-six had come, and five had survived. The pursuit would likely not end here.

-Thudududu.

From the other side of the main road, a group of horsemen was approaching, kicking up dust.

At the sound that shook the ground, Jang Mugang, who was tending to his brothers' conditions, felt his heart sink.

If they had to face another enemy here, they would surely die.

Kang Sogun slowly moved forward and blocked the road.

Yeon Hwasim thought his back, with blood flowing from it, looked incredibly lonely.

Jungrang instructed Yeon Hwasim.

"Hwasim, get on the horse."

Although Wi Eunghwan's horse was dead, there were horses left by the black-masked men, so everyone could ride.

"What are you going to do?"

"Hurry!"

Jungrang's voice was firm. He then spoke to Jang Mugang.

"Great Warrior Jang, please go ahead with your brothers."

Jungrang readjusted his grip on his sword and walked forward.

Jungrang's back, as he walked towards Kang Sogun, seemed somehow dependable.

"We are late!"

The one leading the charge was No Ichil.

No Ichil clicked his tongue as he looked at the bodies of the black-masked men scattered everywhere.

They had lost twelve Flying Shadow Brigade members to kill fifteen black-masked men.

But here, there were over twenty bodies. And yet, the six people were fine. No, not completely fine, but they were not dead.

"Was there a war here?"

No I-chil said to Kang Sogun and then instructed Gyeong Cheonseung.

"We are close to Anyang City. The government troops might come, so clean up the bodies quickly."

Gyeong Cheonseung and the Flying Shadow Brigade members moved the bodies of the black-masked men into the forest.

"Let's go to the fortress quickly."

No Ichil said after examining Kang Sogun's group. They didn't look like they were dying, but their injuries seemed quite severe.

"Our school has a safe house in Anqing City. Let's go there!"

***

-Crash!

A thick wooden table, half a ja thick, shattered.

"What did you say? The Killing Demon Squad was defeated!"

At Jo Gaeryang's report, Gu Yeongang erupted in fury. A storm of killing intent raged from his entire body.

"By just a few men?"

Jo Gaeryang bowed his head. When Gu Yeongang was angry, one had to wait it out like a passing shower.

There was a reason for Gu Yeongang's rage. The Killing Demon Squad was one of the secret military forces he had raised for his conquest of the world.

It had taken ten years and an enormous amount of funds to raise a hundred members of the Killing Demon Squad. It was only natural for him to be this furious after losing half of them.

Jo Gaeryang made no excuses.

"That bastard! You must catch him! I will personally cut off his head!"

"As you command!"

Jo Gaeryang cupped his hands and received the order.

Only then did Gu Yeongang's anger subside.

"Speak! Ten members of the Killing Demon Squad can take down a top-level master! But fifty of them were defeated by just six men. How on earth were they managed?"

"There were two variables."

Jo Gae-ryang said calmly.

"The Great Righteous Martial Hall mobilized thirty warriors. And there was one more unexpected person."

"An unexpected person?"

"The Third Young Master of the Dragon Slaying Society, Fire Dragon Saber, was there."

"Dragon Slaying Society? Why did they show up here?"

The Dragon Slaying Society's territory is north of Henan.

"There are no particular movements from the Dragon Slaying Society. It seems Fire Dragon Saber is acting alone."

"Hmm."

Gu Yeongang fell into thought.

He had come to avenge his son and take over the Three Blade Sect. Depending on the situation, he had considered advancing into the southern part of Henan.

To do so, a clash with the Great Righteous Martial Hall was inevitable. But he had not considered the Dragon Slaying Society.

"The martial world's attention is focused on the Lord's personal campaign. It's strange that the Dragon Slaying Society isn't moving. However, it's unexpected that the Third Young Master himself has appeared."

"He's just a kid. Is there anything to worry about?"

Gu Yeongang did not want to clash with the Dragon Slaying Society right now. He meant to ignore them.

"The Dragon Slaying Society's leader, U Mungeuk, is immensely powerful. His disciples also possess considerable strength."

"So?"

"If we capture Fire Dragon Saber, it will be easier to deal with the Dragon Slaying Society."

"Hmm."

Gu Yeongang fell into thought.

The reason the Four Great of the World had been maintained until now was that their powers were evenly matched. With the death of the Yocheon Pavilion, one pillar had fallen. But a tripod can stand on three legs. This meant that even with Three Great, a balance of power could be maintained, just like with the Four.

Gu Yeongang pictured a scenario of facing the Great Righteous Martial Hall and the Dragon Slaying Society at the same time. It was indeed not easy.

'What on earth is this guy planning?'

Jo Gaeryang was a smart man with ambition. But he treated warriors like pieces on a chessboard.

The sacrifice of half of the Killing Demon Squad was proof of that.

'Does this bastard know how much effort it takes to raise a single warrior?'

Gu Yeongang used Jo Gaeryang for his intelligence, but sometimes he was a burden. Like now, when he was acting recklessly.

Gu Yeongang thought for a moment and asked.

"Are you suggesting we fight the Great Righteous Martial Hall and the Dragon Slaying Society at the same time?"

Jo Gaeryang gave a faint smile. No matter how much Gu Yeongang used his head, he was ultimately a warrior. He lacked the depth to understand his own profound strategies.

"Of course not. I intend to make them fight each other."

"Make them fight each other?"

"Before that, we need to change the aspect of the battle. I intend to pull back the military units and deploy the masters."

(End of Chapter)