Chapter 165 : The Sole Tyrant of the Great Desert. -03
Chapter 165: The Sole Tyrant of the Great Desert. -03
The Spear Lord cautiously opened his mouth, carefully reading the situation.
Beside him, the Fist Tyrant also moved his lips.
He looked as though he was debating whether to speak or not.
“Are you confident?”
“Capturing the Mad Wolf was impressive, but I do not think he is yet my equal. Fortune must have favored him through carelessness as well.”
“Ha.”
At In Gyeong-bo’s derisive chuckle, not only the Spear Lord but the other Great War Gods blinked in confusion.
The laugh carried mockery within it.
And since its meaning could only be one thing, all six of them wore puzzled expressions.
“L–Lord of the Ironblood Fortress?”
“That’s enough.”
The Spear Lord asked in a trembling voice, but In Gyeong-bo cut off the conversation as if he no longer wished to speak.
Then, after glancing toward the opposing formation that had drawn near, he stepped down from the Four-Man Palanquin.
“It is quite difficult to get a look at your face.”
“I was told you arrived yesterday.”
“Heh heh! I did not know the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress was so particular.”
Passing by the Beggar King, who had appeared as if to welcome him, In Gyeong-bo’s gaze swept over Namgung Ho, Peng Mancheol, and Sang Il-gi in turn.
However, the one he had truly expected did not move from his spot.
“Better than being cowardly.”
“Hoh. Cowardly, you say? I do not think the one who dragged in the Eight Evils and the bandits is in a position to speak.”
“And you even sent assassins.”
Peng Mancheol subtly added to the Beggar King’s words.
The Eight Evils and the bandits were one thing, but the most painful damage had come from the nighttime ambush.
Peng Mancheol brought it up casually.
“The one who got hit is the fool.”
“Then I suppose you have no particular feelings about yesterday’s food raid.”
“It seems the Blade King trained his mouth instead of his martial arts.”
“I trained both. Hahaha!”
To further provoke In Gyeong-bo, Peng Mancheol deliberately laughed in an exaggerated manner.
Though the content was trivial, he burst into loud laughter.
Yet despite Peng Mancheol’s jeering, In Gyeong-bo’s expression did not change.
He merely furrowed his brow slightly.
Brrrrr!
Instead, the Great War Gods emitted terrifying Killing Intent.
If In Gyeong-bo gave the order, they looked ready to hack Peng Mancheol into a thousand pieces, glaring at him with savage eyes.
But Peng Mancheol was no less formidable.
Even under the murderous stares of the Great War Gods, he continued clutching his stomach and laughing.
“Judging by how you have come forward like this, you must have something to say. Have you come to propose a truce?”
“Is that what you are hoping for?”
In Gyeong-bo asked back with a twisted smile.
His tone made it sound as though they were the ones who wanted a truce.
“Not at all. We do not desire a truce. We have come too far for that.”
“The same goes for me. There will be no truce.”
“Then why have you come?”
“I was thinking there was no need to spill unnecessary blood. In any case, the outcome of this war will be decided in our hands. So I would like to propose something. I believe it is not a bad offer for you either. A total of seven will step forward and fight one-on-one. The side that loses will withdraw.”
“Now of all times? And why should we?”
Namgung Ho wore an incredulous expression.
Though the situation was evenly matched for now, as time passed, the advantage would tilt toward the Orthodox Martial World.
Unlike the Ironblood Fortress, whose supplies were hindered by the desert, this place was practically the front courtyard of the Orthodox Martial World.
Though they were being pushed back somewhat, with reinforcements from other regions, they could easily overturn this disadvantage.
“Because otherwise you will all die. It would be better to plan for the future than lose four of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.”
“You are lying. As time passes, you will grow more disadvantaged, so you are bluffing.”
“Me?”
In Gyeong-bo let out a hollow laugh.
Then he released his aura.
As if to directly refute Namgung Ho’s words.
Whoooooom!
In an instant, a terrifying presence crushed down on all directions. Not only Namgung Ho, but even the sneering Peng Mancheol’s expression completely changed.
Both their faces stiffened like stone.
And the same went for the Beggar King, Sang Il-gi, and Ilwoo, who stood slightly apart.
“Mm!”
Since being called the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, they had never been overwhelmed by someone like this before, and shock filled their eyes.
They had expected him to be strong—but not to this extent.
A groan escaped them all at once.
“I am showing you mercy. If I kill you all here, it would be dull. Reorganize your strength and come again. But if you wish to die here instead, I will not stop you.”
“…Do not assume we will be the only ones to fall. You could die as well.”
“If you can, then by all means try. But I do not think you can. Or do you plan to attack together, all four at once? Swallowing your pride?”
In Gyeong-bo sneered at the Beggar King and the others.
His gaze seemed to ask whether they truly could.
“It is not impossible. This is not a duel between martial artists—it is war.”
“As expected of those historically known for cowardice. In the past, even the Demonic Cult Leader was killed by the joint assault of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families.”
Namgung Ho and Peng Mancheol’s faces flushed red.
But they could not refute him.
It had truly happened, and they had nothing to say.
Instead, they glared at In Gyeong-bo as though they wished to tear him apart.
“Then you will have no complaints if you are attacked together.”
“If that is what you want, then do so. I will not avoid it.”
“You said it first.”
“No. I offered mercy, and you rejected it. There is a way to spill less blood. Ah, there is even a way to spill none at all. You can surrender. Then everything will be neatly resolved.”
Creak!
Unlike Peng Mancheol and Namgung Ho, who had maintained their composure, even the Beggar King’s eyes trembled slightly.
This statement alone was difficult even for him to endure.
At the words telling them to submit on their own, he unknowingly clenched his fist.
“Very well. Let us see this through to the end.”
Rooooom!
No sooner had the Beggar King finished speaking than Namgung Ho, Peng Mancheol, and Sang Il-gi released their auras.
Ilwoo, who had remained in the rear, joined in as well.
Though he had not yet fully adapted to his changed body, he was in far better condition than yesterday, and he intended to fight alongside them.
And as expected, Seong Jung-gyeong, the Sect Leader of the Mount Zhongnan Sect, stepped forward to join them.
“Before you reach the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress, you will have to get past us first.”
“Let’s settle this today.”
In front of In Gyeong-bo stood the Spear Lord, the Fist Tyrant, and the other Great War Gods.
Their expressions were entirely different from yesterday.
Each of them wore the face of someone fully prepared for death, and seeing that, the expressions of the Beggar King and Namgung Ho grew grave as well.
It felt as though some kind of conclusion would be reached here today—one way or another.
‘But we cannot retreat.’
As he felt the violent gusts stirred by the tangled Killing Intent, Namgung Ho clenched his lips tightly.
He had the premonition that he might die here.
Such was the overwhelming aura emanating from In Gyeong-bo.
It was enough to make him feel a fear he had never experienced even from the Law King or the Sword King.
‘I will bring him down somehow.’
At the same time, he realized how deeply the Central Plains Murim had been intoxicated by peace.
They had called themselves the center of the world.
But in truth, they were not.
Perhaps they once had been—but not now.
Realizing that through his very body, Namgung Ho gripped his beloved sword, Changcheon Sword.
The target is the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress. Do not waste too much strength on the Great War Gods.
I know.
Then let us survive this.
Swaaaang!
True to his impatient nature, Peng Mancheol did not wait any longer.
He was the first to charge, unleashing a slash.
His target was In Gyeong-bo, standing behind the Great War Gods.
Kurrung!
At the same time Peng Mancheol lunged forward, the Beggar King and Sang Il-gi also moved.
Like Peng Mancheol, who had dashed ahead, their target was In Gyeong-bo.
“Foolish bastards.”
“You will fall at our line!”
The Great War Gods sneered at the four men who charged straight ahead, aiming solely for In Gyeong-bo.
Their intentions were far too obvious.
They were clearly trying to break through and reach In Gyeong-bo, and from the Great War Gods’ perspective, they only needed to block them.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Soon, thunderous explosions erupted one after another around the ten figures.
The sky shook and the earth trembled as though a natural disaster had struck.
“Chaap!”
When Ilwoo, Seong Jung-gyeong, and the Elders of each sect joined in, the Elders and Protectors of the Ironblood Fortress also launched themselves forward.
They moved to block them without interfering with the Great War Gods’ battle.
As a result, the surrounding area of the clash was instantly reduced to ruins.
“Fall back!”
“Do not get swept up!”
At the sight, both the Ironblood Fortress and the Orthodox Martial World’s martial artists steadily retreated.
If they were caught in the aftermath, it seemed they would not even be able to gather their bones.
When masters fought, the weak only became a hindrance, so both sides withdrew to a considerable distance.
Among them was Ban Hojin and his group.
“Lord of the Ironblood Fortress!”
Amid a battle far fiercer than yesterday, Namgung Ho roared in a voice that seemed to vomit blood.
In a blink, his figure surpassed the Great War Gods and advanced toward In Gyeong-bo.
Taking advantage of the opening created by the Beggar King and Sang Il-gi, he surged toward In Gyeong-bo.
Wrapped in a milky-white aura, Namgung Ho displayed the realm of sword and self as one and thrust at In Gyeong-bo.
“Hmph.”
Yet even as Namgung Ho shot forward like a streak of lightning, In Gyeong-bo merely snorted.
As if it were not enough.
And he proved it himself.
Booooom!
The moment In Gyeong-bo’s right hand grasped his blade, a dazzling flash burst forth.
At the same time, Namgung Ho’s chest was sliced diagonally open, and he tumbled across the ground in a wretched state, blood spraying from his mouth.
The single sword strike that contained the very essence of his lifetime of cultivation had been effortlessly broken.
“Namgung Family Head!”
At the sight, not only the Beggar King but Peng Mancheol cried out in shock.
They had not imagined that Namgung Ho, called the Yama King, would collapse within a single exchange.
It was a level of martial prowess of an entirely different order, and Sang Il-gi and Ilwoo’s faces hardened.
“You are fortunate. I was intending to split you cleanly in two.”
“C–cough!”
Gravely wounded at a glance, Namgung Ho staggered to his feet.
But he was in no condition to fight.
Blood continued to pour from his wound, as though it could not be staunched. The Beggar King tried desperately to reach him, but the Spear Lord would not allow it.
As if declaring that no one could interfere in what In Gyeong-bo did, he clung stubbornly to the Beggar King.
“Lord!”
“We will protect the Family Head!”
At that moment, martial artists clad in blue martial robes—the symbol of the Namgung Family—rushed in from all directions.
As Namgung Ho fell into mortal danger, the Namgung Family’s martial artists hurried forward to save him at all costs.
But tragically, there was nothing they could do.
Even the Elders could not withstand a single blade from In Gyeong-bo.
Thud. Thud-thud.
Those who had been alive just moments ago were reduced to lumps of flesh.
Seeing that, Namgung Ho’s pupils went blank.
For an instant, his mind went completely empty.
But as hot blood began to soak the ground, his eyes bloodshot and his face twisted violently.
“You bastard!”
As Namgung Ho roared, blood spurted from the wound on his chest.
The barely sealed injury had split open again.
Yet as though he felt no pain, he charged at In Gyeong-bo while spewing blood.
“That changes nothing.”
“Namgung Family Head!”
The Beggar King barely shoved aside the frenzied Namgung Ho.
Then he swung his Beggar’s Staff toward the incoming slash of In Gyeong-bo.
He unleashed the Beggar’s Staff Technique, a martial art only the Beggars’ Sect Leader could learn, to its utmost limit.
But In Gyeong-bo’s blade strike shattered the Rod Force in an instant, and with strength still to spare, continued surging toward the Beggar King.
Boom!
“Y–you?”
Having instinctively raised his Protective Energy against the blade force that rushed like lightning, the Beggar King’s eyes widened.
An entirely unexpected figure stood before him.