Chapter 294 |
Bloodline
Mu-jin, having composed himself, leaped towards the most dangerous location.
Though Tang-gak had distracted many martial artists and felled a considerable number at one part of the fortress wall, other areas remained in peril.
Bang!
The Tang Clan’s wall, unable to withstand Mu-jin’s Fast Ascent Step, collapsed.
However, the martial artists of the Tang Clan neither had the time to care about this nor a reason to.
Crack!
The force that even the wall couldn’t endure was now directed at the martial artists attacking the Tang Clan.
In an instant, Mu-jin closed several lengths and with one punch, created a massive hole in the abdomen of a Qingcheng Sect disciple.
Each time Mu-jin unleashed a strike, whether it be a punch, a palm, or a kick, a resounding boom echoed, claiming someone’s life.
There was no mystical enlightenment or elegant movement in his actions.
He was simply strong and fast.
His movements, powered by his extremely trained body, were so fast that even disciples of the renowned sects couldn’t easily follow.
Bang!
Each of his strikes had the power to topple the martial arts that they had spent decades training.
Naturally, the Tang Clan’s martial artists, who had been in a crisis, felt a sense of relief.
However, the martial artists of the Tang Clan were people who lived with pride in their clan.
In this war, countless relatives had died, and they weren’t so weak as to hope for someone else to protect them.
Believing they had to achieve revenge themselves, they didn’t miss the opportunity Mu-jin created and threw themselves into the fray.
Some spread poison palms, while others threw hidden weapons at the allied sects.
During this chaos, a feather needle thrown by someone happened to fly towards Mu-jin.
To be precise, it was because Mu-jin moved towards the direction of the needle at the moment it was thrown.
“Shaolin Dragon! Look out!”
The man who threw the feather needle shouted with a horrified face, imagining a terrible future, but it was an unnecessary worry.
Ping.
The feather needle, thrown with all his might, merely produced a futile metallic sound and bounced off Mu-jin’s Golden Turtle Technique.
This gave the martial artists of the Tang Clan a huge inspiration.
“Hidden weapons don’t work on the Shaolin Dragon!”
“Don’t worry and throw your hidden weapons freely!”
On the contrary, for those attacking the Tang Clan, it was a disastrous event.
Not only were their attacks ineffective, but it was also exhausting to deal with a demon who took a life with each strike.
And now, the barrage of hidden weapons flew at them, ignoring that demon.
“Arrgh!”
“We, we need to retreat!”
“You scoundrel! How dare you speak of retreat as a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect!”
Crack!
Amid the screams and groans, the sound of something breaking echoed, and those urging their disciples to fight died in vain from Mu-jin’s single strike.
It was a scene that could be described as hell on earth, but only those whom Mu-jin designated as “demons” were dying.
Standing alone on the blood-soaked fortress wall of the Tang Clan, Mu-jin’s appearance looked even more eerie due to Shaolin’s distinctive robe.
“Amitabha…”
Master Hyun-cheon, the Shaolin Abbot fighting below the wall, recited a Buddhist chant as he watched Mu-jin.
‘It’s like seeing an Asura rampaging for revenge against Indra.’
It was a sad sight.
It wasn’t the great slaughter Mu-jin caused today that was sad.
The Asura had found temporary peace in his heart after seeking refuge with Buddha.
But on this dreadful battlefield, there seemed to be no Buddha to embrace this Asura.
* * *
One of those assessing the war situation and giving orders, Geumsun Shinni, the head of the Emei Sect, had to make a decision.
If things continued like this, the disciples of Shaolin and Wudang would keep arriving from the rear, resulting in being trapped from both sides.
Yet, retreating now wasn’t an option.
“We need to seize the fortress wall to open a path for survival!”
After making her decision, Geumsun Shinni shouted, pointing to the young monk standing proudly on the fortress wall.
Understanding her intention, Changhyeon Zhenren, the head of the Qingcheng Sect, and Myunghwan Zhenren, the elder of the Mount Song Sect, nodded.
* * *
How many times had Mu-jin smashed the heads of the demons climbing the wall desperately?
Eventually, the leaders of these demons came rushing in all at once.
Thud.
As Mu-jin turned his gaze towards the three elderly men who landed on the fortress wall with elegant steps, they spoke first.
“Even if we are at odds, how can a fellow disciple of the same righteous path act so ruthlessly?”
“I will avenge my disciples’ grievances with your blood today, so do not hold a grudge.”
The two elders of Qingcheng and Mount Song, dressed in their respective martial robes, spoke in turn. The elderly nun of Emei, dressed in a monk’s robe, merely chanted her prayer beads silently.
‘A head of Emei and Qingcheng, and one… elder?’
Though he had never seen their faces before, he recognized the heads of Emei and Qingcheng from their descriptions.
Naturally, a sneer formed on Mu-jin’s lips.
“Are the heads of the sects planning to join forces just to capture me?”
At Mu-jin’s remark, the head of the Qingcheng Sect’s face turned red as he shouted, while the elder of the Mount Song Sect responded with a sneer.
“How dare you provoke us, mere third-generation disciple!”
“Hmph. What do age and position matter on the battlefield?”
The head of the Emei Sect sighed lightly and spoke in a calm tone.
“We don’t have time to be swayed by provocations. We must open the way quickly to save our disciples.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than the head of the Qingcheng Sect, exchanging glances, charged straight at Mu-jin.
Using swift footwork, his sword emitted a reddish glow as he approached Mu-jin.
Cheongwoon Jeokhagum (Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword).
The most famous swordsmanship of the Qingcheng Sect, inspired by the flow of clouds.
Typically, the sword art progresses from a blue hue to red in later stages, but Changhyeon Zhenren was using the advanced techniques from the start.
Mu-jin had previously faced the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword in Sichuan, but it was wielded by a second-generation disciple, vastly different from Changhyeon’s level.
While the second-generation disciple’s cloud spread slowly, covering the surroundings, Changhyeon’s cloud spread rapidly, creating a fog-like spectacle around the mountain.
The clouds, formed by sword energy, could shred anyone to pieces upon contact.
Clang!
Yet, it was an attack meaningless to Mu-jin.
The clouds spreading around him were crushed and scattered with metallic sounds as they touched Mu-jin’s Golden Turtle Technique.
Despite his ultimate move being thwarted, Changhyeon Zhenren didn’t seem too flustered.
Because among the clouds formed by his Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, tiny gaps existed.
Swoosh!
Aiming for those gaps, Myunghwan Zhenren of Mount Song used his Splendid Light Thirteen Hands.
His sword, attacking with incredible speed, collided with the golden energy shielding Mu-jin’s skin.
While the sword energy shattered uselessly against the golden energy, the blade managed to pierce through and touch Mu-jin’s skin.
Clang!
The sound that resonated wasn’t something one would expect from the clash of metal and human skin.
Mu-jin’s skin, which had already reached the level of being impervious to swords, couldn’t be pierced by an ordinary blade unless it was a divine weapon.
‘Damn it.’
Despite withstanding the barrage of strikes, Mu-jin could only frown.
Though his skin wasn’t peeled off or bleeding, the impact was felt.
More than anything, Mu-jin’s body, not yet fully recovered, ached with a dull pain in the muscles struck by the sword.
But now was not the time to focus on the pain.
Beyond the dispersing clouds of the Qingcheng Sect’s Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, Geumsun Shinni of the Emei Sect was approaching.
She was gathering golden starlight in her palm.
It was one of Emei Sect’s ultimate techniques, the Great Tiger Palm.
Geumsun Shinni wasn’t a master who could freely manipulate her inner energy, but thanks to Changhyeon and Myunghwan drawing Mu-jin’s attention, she had time to prepare her ultimate move.
Without hesitation, Mu-jin unleashed his Invincible Divine Fist to counter her Great Tiger Palm.
Bang!!!
The clash of the golden starlight caused a massive explosion, whipping up a cloud of dust.
Through the dust cloud, Myunghwan’s Splendid Light Thirteen Hands once again targeted Mu-jin.
Recalling the pain from before, Mu-jin frowned and used both hands to deflect the sword.
Clang!
As the dust fully settled,
Swoosh!
This time, Changhyeon Zhenren swung his sword imbued with sword energy at Mu-jin.
The clouds formed by the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword hadn’t dissipated. Instead, they were being condensed while the two drew Mu-jin’s attention.
Instead of countering with the Invincible Divine Fist, Mu-jin used his Fast Ascent Step to narrowly dodge the attack.
Slash!
Though he didn’t completely avoid it, and his robe was slightly cut on the arm, causing a thin line of blood, Mu-jin paid it no mind.
The wound wasn’t deep enough to damage his muscles or bones.
After several more exchanges, blocking or dodging the trio’s attacks, Mu-jin coldly assessed the situation.
‘The heads of Emei and Qingcheng are at about the same level as Ou-yang Pae, who has just mastered the Primordial Chaos Divine Art. The elder of Mount Song is clearly a notch below the two.’
Individually, none of them were a significant threat to Mu-jin.
But facing all three simultaneously, especially in his not fully healed state, was undoubtedly challenging.
In that sense, simply stalling for time wasn’t a bad strategy.
By tying up the three best warriors of the enemy, the battle would likely turn in favor of his allies.
However,
‘That would be meaningless.’
Even if they won the war, such a fight would result in countless casualties.
Mu-jin had promised the late Tang-gak to protect the Tang Clan.
And the “Tang Clan” Tang-gak envisioned was not just the clan head Tang Pae-jin or the buildings of the Tang Clan.
To save as many descendants of the Tang Clan as possible, he needed to deal with these three quickly.
Thus, Mu-jin made a bold move.
It wasn’t merely an emotional decision.
After exchanging blows several times, he had roughly gauged their abilities.
If things didn’t go as estimated?
‘I’ll resolve it with sheer willpower and determination!’
Bang!
As Mu-jin executed his Fast Ascent Step, Myunghwan’s swift sword once again targeted him.
The attacks had been irritating Mu-jin like flies, but,
Clang!!
Mu-jin boldly ignored them.
The pain surged up his flesh as the blade penetrated his Golden Turtle Technique, but Mu-jin didn’t mind.
Such pain was nothing compared to the agony of losing kin.
Following this, Changhyeon’s Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword spread out like a net to ensnare Mu-jin again.
Bang!
Mu-jin also ignored this and charged forward.
In his sight was Geumsun Shinni, preparing to unleash another Great Tiger Palm at him.
Mu-jin chose to target her first over the other two for a simple reason.
Myunghwan’s attacks were annoying and painful but not lethal to him.
Between Changhyeon and Geumsun Shinni, he chose the latter because,
‘If you felt that way, you shouldn’t have come to the battlefield in the first place!’
Her movements had hesitation.
After exchanging several blows, Mu-jin could tell. Geumsun Shinni’s demeanor and tone, and most of all, the killing intent in her martial arts, were much weaker compared to the other two.
It was as if she had been dragged out against her will.
Perhaps she knew she was on the wrong path. It might be a sliver of conscience.
But if that was the case, she should have quit sooner.
Such indecisiveness was the worst for a leader.
And that worst trait, ironically, provided Mu-jin a way to turn the situation around.
Bang!!
Mu-jin’s punch collided with her palm, causing an explosion.
But Mu-jin overpowered the recoil with his strength, extending his hand forward.
Grab.
Grabbing her open palm, Mu-jin pulled Geumsun Shinni towards him and struck with his left fist.
Startled, she quickly moved her left hand to block her abdomen.
Bang!!!
However, receiving Mu-jin’s powerful punch while being held was too overwhelming.
“Ugh…”
Though she prevented a hole from being punched through her stomach, the intense internal injury caused her to vomit blood and collapse to her knees.
At the moment she fell,
Swoosh!!
Myunghwan’s swift sword once again targeted Mu-jin, but he ignored it.
This time, he didn’t move to finish off Geumsun Shinni.
Bang!!
Having subdued her, Mu-jin turned and charged at Changhyeon Zhenren.
“Y-You bastard!!”
Shouted Changhyeon in surprise, hurriedly executing his Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword.
Clang!
But with Mu-jin’s relentless assault, he had no time to generate his inner energy.
Geumsun Shinni, who could have bought him time, was already down, and Myunghwan, trying to help from the side, couldn’t stop Mu-jin’s assault.
Clang!
Ignoring the pain from Myunghwan’s sword cutting into his skin, Mu-jin relentlessly punched Changhyeon Zhenren.
Bang!!
“Ugh…”
Before long, unable to withstand Mu-jin’s onslaught, Changhyeon coughed up blood and collapsed.
“This, this can’t be…”
With two of them down in an instant, Myunghwan’s face turned pale.
“Now it’s your turn, you mosquito-like bastard.”
Mu-jin quickly closed in on the annoying Myunghwan.
Already a notch below Changhyeon and Geumsun Shinni, Myunghwan couldn’t hold up against Mu-jin’s full assault alone.
Clang!
Mu-jin deflected Myunghwan’s sword and quickly closed the distance, grabbing Myunghwan by the neck.
“Ugh…”
Lifted into the air by Mu-jin’s immense strength, Myunghwan flailed his limbs desperately.
“You struggle like a mere insect.”
Crack!
Ultimately, unable to withstand Mu-jin’s grip, Myunghwan’s neck snapped with a futile crack.