Kang Sogun

Jungrang, forgetting that he was seriously injured, staggered as he tried to run towards Yeon Hwasim.

His internal energy was exhausted, and his vision went dark. Jungrang moved his feet with all his might.

"Gongno! What are you doing!"

The Blood Flute flared up in anger.

The Blood Flute's goal was to kill Jungrang.

He had pushed Yeon Hwasim aside for now and was going to subdue her slowly, but he had not known that Gongno would use his hands directly.

Gongno, displeased that the Blood Flute was flirting with Yeon Hwasim, had intended to kill her and cut off his lingering attachment.

He twisted the halberd that had pierced her abdomen and was about to destroy her internal organs when he heard a sharp sound of something cutting through the air.

-Swish!

A dagger flew in, scattering a cold light under the moonlight.

"Hah!"

Gongno let go of the halberd and jumped back.

Yeon Hwasim, still holding the halberd, collapsed sideways. Jungrang staggered over and embraced Yeon Hwasim.

"Hwasim!"

The daggers flew in succession. Gongno swung his one remaining halberd and deflected the daggers.

"Who is it?"

As Gongno was on guard against the direction from which the daggers had flown, three figures flew in.

It was the Three Tigers of Shandong.

"Eunghwan! Take care of Miss Yeon's injuries."

Jang Mugang immediately rushed towards Gongno and swung his two kitchen knives.

Gongno blocked the kitchen knives with his one remaining twin halberd and retreated another ten feet.

"Blood Flute! What are you doing, why aren't you quickly cutting his breath."

The Blood Flute, in the suddenly changed situation, had tried to rush at Yeon Hwasim, but it was not easy.

"You rat-like bastards, to rob an empty house!"

With a roar, a sharp spear qi was shot. Sim Mabaek had flown in, thrusting a blow with all his might.

-Swish!

The Blood Flute, knowing that the energy contained in the spear was unusual, raised his internal energy and swung his red flute.

-Clang!

The spear and the red flute clashed.

Sim Mabaek, knowing that the short red flute contained a solid internal energy, avoided a head-on collision and swept the spear up and down.

A sharp qi wave poured out from the tip of the spear.

'Damn it.'

The Blood Flute became tense as he met a master of the spear, which was rare in the martial world.

If their skills were equal, the longer weapon was inevitably advantageous. In terms of length alone, the spear and the red flute were no match.

If the Blood Flute was a master with sixty years of internal energy, Sim Mabaek was also a master of the spear who had gone through countless battles.

Although the Blood Flute was superior in terms of fame in the martial world, Sim Mabaek, who took advantage of his weapon, was also not to be taken lightly.

The two were instantly entangled and engaged in a fierce battle.

"Are you bastards the Three Tigers of Shandong?"

Gongno asked, his eyes flashing.

Gongno immediately realized that the stout man in front of him was not an easy opponent.

'Of all times.'

He only had one halberd. The other one was embedded in Yeon Hwasim's abdomen.

Jang Mugang, having been careless for a moment and seeing Yeon Hwasim's life on the line, was at the peak of self-reproach and anger.

He answered Gongno's question with his two kitchen knives.

"You boar-like bastard!"

Gongno cursed and swung his halberd to block Jang Mugang's flying kitchen knives.

Gongno, who was approaching sixty, was skilled enough to rule the martial world with his two twin halberds and his internal energy, but Jang Mugang was also a master who had gone through all sorts of battles. Since he was lacking one halberd, he was pushed back in the initial momentum.

In the meantime, Wi Eunghwan ran to the fallen Yeon Hwasim and examined her injuries.

Wi Eunghwan had seen countless injuries on the battlefield. As soon as he saw it, he knew that Yeon Hwasim's life was on the line.

"Move aside. I have to pull out the halberd first."

Wi Eunghwan pushed Jungrang aside and pulled out the halberd embedded in Yeon Hwasim's abdomen. Blood flowed out in a stream.

'What a relief!'

Gongno's halberd had missed her liver, so she had avoided instant death. The fact that Yeon Hwasim was wearing thick leather clothes because it was midwinter must have also helped.

But her side was half split. It was a large wound, so much so that her internal organs were visible. It would not be strange if she died right away.

Wi Eunghwan had the experience of taking care of the injuries of his comrades on the battlefield countless times. With a familiar skill, he sprinkled golden wound medicine on the open wound. Jungrang, who had come to his senses, tore his outer garment and handed it to him. Wi Eunghwan took it and wrapped it around Yeon Hwasim's abdomen.

"Let's get out of here quickly."

Wi Eunghwan carried Yeon Hwasim on his back and ran towards the door. Jungrang staggered and followed, guarding his back.

'Ah!'

A light of despair flashed in the eyes of Wi Eunghwan, who was going ahead.

Black figures standing on the wall, as if they had appeared out of nowhere, had come into his eyes. At a rough glance, there were dozens of them.

'Is this the end of Miss Yeon's luck?'

Wi Eunghwan felt sorry for the fate of Yeon Hwasim, who was on his back, rather than his own safety.

***

No Ichil and Yeomga, seeing Shangguan Qingyou's fire arrow, rushed and met.

"Wouldn't it be better to take a detour?"

No Ichil, looking at the ambush in front, sounded out the opinions of Shangguan Qingyou and Yeomga.

Shangguan Qingyou shook his head.

"Do you think there won't be an ambush on that side either? Since we have already sent an emergency signal, the ninth will come here. Let's take the opportunity when they are attacking from the front and back, and have the sixth hall master escort him."

The master of the Jeongha Martial Hall was the ninth hall master of the Great Righteous Martial Hall, Hyeong Uncheon. He was on standby at the Jeongha Martial Hall and was supposed to provide support in case of an emergency.

Among the three, the sixth hall master, Yeomga, who had the strongest martial arts, was to escort Zhu Zhanji, and they waited for the response of the Jeongha Martial Hall.

"They're coming now."

The gate of Hefei City opened in the distance, and a line of torches was seen coming out.

"Get ready."

As Shangguan Qingyou entrusted Zhu Zhanji's escort to Yeomga and was reorganizing the ranks, a shout was heard from behind.

"Who is it?"

"It's an enemy!"

No Ichil and the others were surprised and looked back.

"I'll take the rear. Brother Qingyou, please take the vanguard."

No Ichil ran to the back.

A person was running on the cold moonlit main road, and his momentum was like an angry dragon cutting through a storm.

'Huh? That man?'

The figure running with a spear held diagonally to one side was familiar even in the darkness.

"Wait! Stand by! It's not an enemy!"

No Ichil shouted urgently and went forward.

The lone rider approached. The person who had appeared on the moonlit main road was Kang Sogun.

"Great Warrior Kang!"

As No Ichil called, Kang Sogun ran without answering. Although it was a very dangerous thing to ride a horse so fast on a night road, Kang Sogun ran as if it were broad daylight.

"What brings you here?"

No Ichil was glad that his prediction that Kang Sogun would look for Yeon Hwasim was correct, but he had not known that he would meet him so suddenly.

Kang Sogun recognized No Ichil, pulled the reins to stop, and then asked.

"Where is Miss Yeon's party?"

No Ichil looked towards Hefei City and said.

"Rest assured. They are well at the Jeongha Martial Hall."

Kang Sogun pulled the reins again and ran. No Ichil shouted urgently as he followed.

"Make way!"

At No Ichil's command, the martial artists of the Great Righteous Martial Hall moved to both sides of the main road.

Shangguan Qingyou, seeing Kang Sogun running, was inwardly overjoyed.

'It seems he could not ignore the safety of the crown prince after all.'

Shangguan Qingyou had also heard of Kang Sogun's martial prowess. He was worthy enough to be placed at the vanguard.

But.

-Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Kang Sogun ran straight past the formation of the Great Righteous Martial Hall.

Shangguan Qingyou was startled and shouted.

"What are you doing? The vanguard has gone out. Let's go!"

At Shangguan Qingyou's words, the martial artists of the Great Righteous Martial Hall rushed forward. Yeomga and No Ichil followed behind, escorting Zhu Zhanji.

-Swish!

An arrow flew.

Kang Sogun's spear drew an arc and went forward.

-Clang! Clang!

The arrows were caught in the qi wave that Kang Sogun had created and were deflected.

-Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Kang Sogun did not stop his horse. He approached right in front in the short time that the ambushing enemies were reloading their arrows.

"Catch him!"

As the order was given, masked martial artists poured out from both sides.

-Neigh!

Kang Sogun boldly made his horse jump into the air. As the running horse jumped over the heads of the masked martial artists, Kang Sogun's spear flashed.

The spear blade, reflecting the moonlight, flashed from all directions. It was as if a blue flower were blooming in the air.

The blue flower was a demonic flower that called for death. Where the flower had bloomed and disappeared, screams invariably erupted and blood spurted.

"Aargh!"

"Kuh!"

The formation of the masked martial artists collapsed in an instant. As soon as his horse landed, Kang Sogun ran straight away.

"What? That bastard?"

The leader who was commanding the ambush stared at Kang Sogun's back, dumbfounded. It had happened so quickly.

"Aargh!"

"It's an enemy!"

In an instant, the Great Righteous Martial Hall rushed in. Since their position had been revealed, it was no longer an ambush.

"Waaah!"

The martial artists of the Jeongha Martial Hall, who had been running from the direction of Hefei City, also ran.

The master of the Jeongha Martial Hall, Hyeong Uncheon, saw the running Kang Sogun and tilted his head. Seeing him break through the ambush, he had thought he was an ally, but he was just running straight.

But for now, the fierce battle that was taking place in front was more important. He ignored Kang Sogun and rushed forward.

"Attack the enemy in front first!"

Kang Sogun passed straight through them.

The gate of Hefei City was firmly closed.

On the gate tower, officials and guards were standing and looking down. Although they had no intention of getting involved in the fight of the martial world, they had come out to watch the situation, not knowing what would happen.

As Kang Sogun reached the city gate, he threw himself forward. He flew three ten-foot lengths in one breath and then kicked the city wall and climbed.

-Thwack, thwack!

Kang Sogun, who had kicked the city wall a couple of times, disappeared.

Before the guards could even draw their swords, Kang Sogun had disappeared into the city.

***

Wi Eunghwan looked around in all directions, but all the escape routes were already blocked. The people standing on the wall were like ghosts, without a trace of presence.

They did not seem to have any intention of directly intervening in the fight and were just watching from the wall.

Wi Eunghwan put down Yeon Hwasim, took off his outer garment, and then carried Yeon Hwasim on his back and tied her firmly with the clothes.

Wi Eunghwan, whose both hands were now free, held a leather pouch containing hidden weapons in his left hand. He regretted that he had left his crossbow at his residence. Wi Eunghwan, guarding his back, said to Jungrang, who was following.

"Don't lose me and follow with all your might."

"Don't worry about me, take the opportunity and escape with Hwasim. I'll take the rear."

Wi Eunghwan looked at Jungrang, who was taking care of Yeon Hwasim's safety first even while staggering from his serious injuries, with a pitiful look for a moment and then turned his body.

Wi Eunghwan, who had drawn a dagger from the leather pouch, slowly walked towards the door. Accordingly, the Ghost Shadow Brigade on the wall also slowly moved.

-Swish!

Two daggers flew from Wi Eunghwan's hand.

"Kuh!"

-Clang!

One bastard fell, and the other one managed to deflect the dagger.

The daggers were just the beginning. In Wi Eunghwan's hand, there was already a handful of iron caltrops, and he immediately threw them at the enemies blocking the front of the door.

"He's a hidden weapon master. Be careful!"

Someone shouted and rushed at Wi Eunghwan. Wi Eunghwan's hand moved again.

"Kuh!"

A shuriken was embedded in the chest of the one who had rushed.

-Swish!

At the sound of something cutting through the darkness, Wi Eunghwan turned his body. He knew without looking that it was a short arrow fired from a crossbow.

As soon as he avoided the short arrow, Wi Eunghwan's hand brushed the leather pouch.

"Kuh!"

This time, three fell.

"This won't do. We'll take care of it ourselves!"

For some reason, the enemies seemed to have been waiting for the Blood Flute and Gongno to take care of everyone. But as casualties occurred one after another due to Wi Eunghwan, they could no longer just surround them.

The enemies on the wall threw themselves and rushed at Wi Eunghwan.

-Swish!

"This is called a blood horn. You should be careful. If you get hit properly, your bones will break!"

A dozen square blood horns flew from Wi Eunghwan's hand.

As he had said, the blood horns contained considerable internal energy, and those who were hit could not move.

"Retreat and disperse!"

At someone's command, the Ghost Shadow Brigade members retreated a full ten feet and surrounded them.

Wi Eunghwan took out a handful of needles from the leather pouch.

"This, you see. It's called the Soul-Shattering Needle, which would make even the Tang Clan cry. I guarantee it's a cut above the Tang Clan's needles."

Wi Eunghwan said calmly, looking at the Ghost Shadow Brigade members who were surrounding him.

The Ghost Shadow Brigade, at Wi Eunghwan's mysterious hidden weapon technique, did not dare to rush and just surrounded him.

As the standoff continued, Wi Eunghwan became anxious.

Just then.

"Kuh!"

A red light flashed, and the three or four who were guarding the door collapsed in an instant.

And a person crossed the door and revealed himself under the moonlight. In his hand was a large saber.

'Jo Unryong?'

The person who had newly appeared was Jo Unryong. But he was wearing a mask on his face.

***

Jo Unryong, who had parted with the Three Tigers of Shandong and was returning, had also heard the explosion of qi and qi clashing. And he knew that it was the Jeongha Martial Hall where the Three Tigers of Shandong were going.

The Jeongha Martial Hall was a martial hall under the Great Righteous Martial Hall. It was a rival to the Dragon Slaying Society, to which he belonged. Normally, he would never have gone near the Jeongha Martial Hall.

But since he had heard the sound of fighting as soon as the Three Tigers of Shandong had gone, he could not pretend not to know.

Jo Unryong had hidden and had been watching the situation that had occurred in the rear courtyard of the Jeongha Martial Hall, and when Wi Eunghwan was in trouble, he had put on a mask and had appeared.

"Who are you?"

The person who seemed to be the team leader of the Ghost Shadow Brigade asked.

Jo Unryong hid his Fire Dragon Saber behind his back and said.

"Me? A passerby?"

(End of Chapter)