Chapter 35
"You found out who Hyeokryeon Hui's master is?"
"I don't know if he's a master, but he's called a martial arts teacher."
He knew there was someone behind him. It was highly likely that he was related to the martial arts teacher.
Baihu Yun picked up a scroll, handed it to Cheongun, and said.
"He is a person dispatched from the Zirong Palace, and he is the third of the seven disciples of the Zirong Palace master."
Cheongun unfolded the scroll and quickly read the contents.
To be a peak-level master at the age of thirty was a great skill.
Cheongun finished reading the scroll and became curious about the true nature of the Zirong Palace.
He put down the scroll and said to Baihu Yun.
"What happened to the caravan?"
"The Hyeokryeon Manor will find out within a few days."
"Good work."
Cheongun had ordered the Red Turban Gang to attack the Hyeokryeon Manor's caravan. He had told them that the goods obtained there would be taken by the Red Turban Gang.
Instead, he had ordered them not to kill people but to take them as prisoners.
Thanks to that, for the past three days, the Red Turban Gang had begun to attack the Hyeokryeon Manor's caravan based on the information obtained from the Beggars' Sect.
'It's still not enough. I need more information.'
It was ambiguous to catch the guy as it was.
Since a scorpion tattoo was not common, he would know who it was if he made inquiries, but if he did that, he might not be able to catch the guys who were backing him.
Cheongun decided to gather a little more information.
* * *
The day after the noisy Kaifeng became quiet, the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor moved.
They split into two groups and began to flock.
One group went to the Black Sword Gang, and the other group went to the Red Turban Gang.
The ones leading the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor were the peak-level masters who had been recruited this time.
The Twin Blood Breaking Mountain, Zou Gangyuan, and the Yama Hand, Wu Quan, were included in the group heading to the Black Sword Gang.
The group heading to the Red Turban Gang was led by the Lightning Spear, Rui Neiqiu, and the Divine Hand Noble Sword, Zhu Qian.
They each led a hundred warriors.
Except for the fifty warriors who would guard the Hyeokryeon Manor, all of them had stepped forward.
"They are moving as expected. It is reported that they will arrive in a little while."
The tenth group leader, Baihu Yun, said next to Cheongun.
Cheongun nodded his head and stood in the wide courtyard.
He didn't know where he had gotten it, but he was wearing a human-skin mask, so it was impossible to know who he was just by his face.
"Don't step forward and guard the surroundings."
"I understand."
Baihu Yun immediately hid his appearance.
"The buildings of the Black Sword Gang look good like this."
Cheongun looked around as if to relieve his boredom.
The place he was in was the Black Sword Gang.
After moving the members of the Black Sword Gang to another place, he was left alone.
The Red Turban Gang had also evacuated its members, but the warriors had remained to face the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor with the Jinyiwei.
"You bastards!"
With a shout, a group of people rushed in through the main gate of the Black Sword Gang. Perhaps because the main gate was wide open, they did not break down the main gate and come in.
As soon as they came in, they surrounded Cheongun, who was standing in front.
Looking around, someone said.
"Where are the other guys?"
"..."
"This bastard!"
There were over a hundred people. So they didn't pay much attention to Cheongun, who was standing alone.
"Hurry up and scatter to find them!"
The warriors who had heard the order scattered in all directions.
They had come in with a dignified gait, but when they didn't see the Black Sword Gang guys, they lost their strength.
After a while, the ones who had scattered here and there returned.
"We can't see them."
"What? So you're saying it's just this one crazy guy?"
Everyone's gaze was focused on Cheongun.
Although it was a face they had never seen before, it seemed a power that could not be approached was flowing somewhere.
A man gestured with his chin. The other man next to him bowed his head slightly and stepped forward.
"Reveal your identity!"
He urged Cheongun as if shouting.
Cheongun didn't care. He just waited for whatever they would do.
The man who had stepped forward strode over and extended his hand. But the man could not achieve his goal.
Thwack!
Cheongun extended one hand, deflected the man's hand, grabbed his neck, and lifted him into the air.
"Gasp!"
The man struggled as if he were suffocating. At that sight, a killing intent rose from the two eyes of the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor.
"How dare you!"
"Attack!"
With shouts from here and there, they began to attack.
Cheongun threw the man he was holding at the rushing people and bent his upper body back.
Shwiik!
A sharp sword passed by, cutting the place where Cheongun's neck had been.
It was an attack without a moment's hesitation.
'You're saying you're going to kill me.'
It was clear that the Hyeokryeon Manor had come with the intention of killing all the people of the Black Sword Gang here.
'Then it would be a luxury to show mercy.'
If the opponent attacked to take his life, there was no reason for him to hold back either.
The sword was drawn from Cheongun's waist.
Pat!
Chwaak.
A fountain of blood erupted from the necks of the men who had passed by, brushing against Cheongun.
Spinning, Cheongun's body rotated and bent. He twisted his body as if to sit down and put his sword behind him.
"What are you doing! It's just one guy, kill him quickly!"
At the shout of the middle-aged man with a sharp impression, the warriors thrust their weapons from all directions.
Chajajajang.
Cheongun deflected the weapons with one move and bounced off.
Shushuk.
Sword energy scattered in the air. The five warriors in front collapsed like bundles of straw at the blue sword energy that was continuously emitted as if shooting arrows.
Cheongun stopped for a moment, scanned the surroundings, and said.
"Those who want to live... retreat."
The cold air of the north wind and snow wrapped around the Black Sword Gang.
If it was blood that he didn't have to see, he wanted to refuse.
But the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor, who had come to attack the Black Sword Gang, didn't care.
"It seems you have a move, but what can I do... I don't have the heart to do that."
The middle-aged man from before stepped forward and said.
Yama Hand, Wu Quan.
His unique martial art, which was said to open the gates of hell with one move as a peak-level martial artist, was known as a number one in the martial world.
Wu Quan gathered his twin palms to his chest. A red energy formed in both his hands. He twisted his upper body and swung his twin palms into the air.
Pang! Pang! Pang! Pang!
The sound of leather bursting rang out in the air through Wu Quan's twin palms.
Cheongun also took a step forward.
Uung. Pang!
The one who moved first was the Yama Hand. With his eyes shining coldly, he bounced and thrust his twin palms at Cheongun.
The momentum of thrusting in with his palms together was strong and fierce.
Cheongun slightly turned his upper body to the side and deflected Wu Quan's first attack.
Wu Quan, who had passed Cheongun, spun his body, kicked the air, and then his body rotated and attacked Cheongun in a straight line.
Ung!
Cheongun slightly lowered his eyes and clenched his two fists.
He moved his back foot back slightly, made it firm, and stepped forward with his front foot, thrusting his fist.
Kwaang!
In the air, a fist and a fingertip collided.
The one who was at a disadvantage was the Yama Hand, Wu Quan. His joined hands could not withstand the strength of the fist and were bent to the side.
Cheongun immediately thrust another fist at Wu Quan's chest with weight.
Pang!
Hwiririk.
Wu Quan, as befitting a peak-level martial artist, twisted his body at the moment of collision and deflected Cheongun's attack.
But it wasn't that there was no damage.
As if a heavy energy remained in his chest, Wu Quan, who had assumed a stance, swept his chest with his left hand and deflected the remaining energy of Cheongun.
"Not bad."
Wu Quan grinned as he looked at Cheongun.
Thinking that he was his equal, or even more, he looked for Cheongun's weakness.
'Damn it, it's full of openings, but when I try to attack, there are no openings.'
Cheongun's stance was full of openings. But when he tried to move his body to attack, the openings disappeared like a lie, and openings appeared in other places.
Wu Quan noticed that Cheongun's openings were a feint.
'This guy, he's above me.'
Wu Quan had a lot of experience in the martial world. The reason why he was a peak-level martial artist and had a high reputation in the martial world was also partly due to his insight.
"Great Hero Zou, it seems we have to attack together."
As soon as Wu Quan came to a conclusion, he immediately asked for help from the Twin Blood Breaking Mountain, Zou Gangyuan.
A man of great build pushed through the warriors and stepped forward.
It was Zou Gangyuan, who swung his twin peaks like a ghost.
He was a sturdy man with a belt with studs on it crossed over his chest.
In each of his hands, a short staff with an iron core was held.
"A guy with considerable skill."
The two made eye contact and then kicked the ground and began to attack.
Zou Gangyuan's short staff was swung, aiming for Cheongun's waist and legs. Wu Quan floated his body into the air and immediately aimed for Cheongun's head and chest.
Cheongun clenched his two hands as if to cup his hands in a fist, then extended them forward and spread his legs.
He extended his left hand straight and clenched his right hand, crossing them up and down, and blocked the two's attack from the front.
Thwack! Thwack!
The moment he stepped back and spun, a dark light appeared in Cheongun's two hands.
Black Dragon Breaking Heaven Fist.
The ultimate art of the Thunder Emperor was reenacted in Cheongun's body.
Wu Quan and Zou Gangyuan attacked Cheongun in a chain. The two, as if they had coordinated their moves, pushed Cheongun without a hitch.
Every time the three's offense and defense continued, the sound of the atmosphere being torn echoed in the air.
Pang! Pang! Thwack! Thwack!
Cheongun deflected the attacks that came in a chain without a single error.
In an instant, ten moves had passed.
The Blood Emperor, who was watching from the side, suddenly said a word.
[I've seen all I need to see. End it.]
Cheongun swung his two hands as if flapping his wings, separated the two, and assumed a stance again.
He extended one foot slightly forward and twisted his front foot. His two hands had already formed a dragon's claw, reminiscent of a dragon's claw.
The true ready position of the Black Dragon Breaking Heaven Fist.
Zou Gangyuan and Wu Quan were surprised at Cheongun's changed momentum and flinched.
Even though they had directly exchanged hands, they could not accurately gauge Cheongun's skills.
'It seems one move will be enough...'
'Is he playing with us? Or is he lacking in real battle experience?'
The two were confused.
It seemed they could subdue Cheongun at any moment, but it didn't go as they had intended. A subtle movement would appear at a decisive moment, and the offense and defense would continue.
It was possible if a master was playing with them. But looking at his face, he was a young man who looked to be at most in his coming-of-age.
Wu Quan quickly sent a telepathic message to Zou Gangyuan.
-Brother Zou, something is a little strange. Just in case, let's use the warriors to attack and look for an opening.
Zou Gangyuan's head was nodded. Just as he was about to give an attack order to the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor, Cheongun's figure moved first.
"Where!"
With a shout, Cheongun's figure approached the two and swung his twin palms. The two were surprised and tried to defend, but it was too late.
A black dragon shot out from Cheongun's twin palms and struck the two's chests.
"Keuk."
"Gasp."
With a short groan, the two collapsed helplessly to the floor with faces that said they couldn't believe it.
Cheongun looked at the fallen two once and then scanned the surroundings.
The warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor staggered back.
When the two peak-level masters collapsed without even showing a proper movement, fear washed over them.
Cheongun momentarily worried about what to do with those who had tried to kill him.
'Should I kill them?'
As if he knew Cheongun's worries, the Blood Emperor said.
[If you live as a martial artist, there will be no day when your hands are not stained with blood. But there is no need to kill needlessly.]
Cheongun looked at the Blood Emperor who was saying that.
The Blood Emperor continued to speak with a bitter expression.
[That is the only part I regret. You have to be bold when you see blood. It is foolish to spare those who want to kill me. But there was no reason to kill those who had no will to fight.]
Cheongun nodded his head.
He soon made up his mind and said.
"Everyone, throw down your weapons and surrender. Then I will spare your lives."
At the cold words, the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor looked at each other.
They already knew that Cheongun's skills were greater than theirs. Since he was an existence that the two peak-level martial artists could not win even with a combined attack, it was certain that he was an opponent they could not win against.
But there were always foolish people who ignored mercy.
"Don't talk nonsense! We are the Gyeongcheon Sword Unit of the great Hyeokryeon Manor!"
At the shout of one man, the morale of the warriors, whose will to fight had been broken, was revived.
Because of that, the situation flowed in a direction that Cheongun did not want.
"He's alone! Unfold the combined attack formation!"
(End of Chapter)