Chapter 336 |
Chapter 336
Tathagata
'He appears to have fallen into Qi Deviation.'
Watching Mu-gung's face rapidly change color, Chongpyo Paja sneered.
It was not uncommon for someone to suffer internal injuries when attempting to use power beyond their control. Among them, using Extreme Yang Energy carried even greater risks, so it wasn't strange for someone to fall into Qi Deviation due to overexertion.
Thinking that dealing with him had become easier than expected, Chongpyo Paja swung his axe towards the bandit-like monk who had fallen into Qi Deviation.
At the same time, Mu-gung also extended his palm towards Chongpyo Paja.
Chongpyo Paja instinctively felt a sense of unease as he watched Mu-gung reach out with his palm towards his axe.
'His color has returned.'
Hastily, Chongpyo Paja poured his internal energy into his axe, creating a powerful energy to counter Mu-gung's attack.
Boom!!!
A loud explosion echoed, and Chongpyo Paja frowned at the throbbing sensation that traveled up his wrist.
Unlike before, when everything was easily cut like paper, Mu-gung's Tathagata Palm had managed to block his axe.
Seeing an opportunity, the swordsman and the dagger-wielder, who had been swarming around like flies, attacked with their sword and dagger energy.
"Hmph."
However, Chongpyo Paja merely snorted, swinging his axe wide to nullify their attacks.
Mu-gung's Tathagata Palm had only temporarily regained its balance. There was no reason he couldn't block it.
At that moment, another powerful palm strike filled with strong energy was directed at Chongpyo Paja.
'So, this wasn't a coincidence.'
Chongpyo Paja quickly gathered his internal energy, infusing it into his axe as he swung it to meet the palm strike.
Boom!!
Again, the palm strike didn't cut easily but instead created a huge explosion.
Mu-gung, having momentarily startled Chongpyo Paja, shouted urgently.
"I'll handle him! You two protect Miss Baek and get out of here!"
The two who had been fighting alongside Chongpyo Paja looked confused.
But only for a moment. They quickly leaped towards the struggling guards.
Chongpyo Paja, who had paused for a moment in the unexpected situation, burst into laughter.
"Hehehe. It seems my little brother has gone mad. Just because he gained some insight while fighting, he thinks he can face me alone?"nn
Despite Chongpyo Paja's mocking question, Mu-gung only focused on steadying his breath.
He had no energy to spare for a response.
The Extreme Yang Energy was still rampaging through his forcibly expanded meridians, making his entire body feel like it was on fire.
Yet somehow, his mind felt as cool as if it had been doused with cold water.
After a brief glare at Mu-gung, Chongpyo Paja launched a sudden attack.
Mu-gung countered with the Tathagata Palm aimed at the swinging axe.
"!!!"
But the axe swing was a feint from the start.
Chongpyo Paja naturally adjusted his stance and sidestepped Mu-gung's Tathagata Palm, closing the distance in an instant.
Whirr.
Mu-gung had to quickly dodge the ferocious axe attack using the Falling Dragon Technique.
When Mu-gung, who had been rolling on the ground, quickly got back up, Chongpyo Paja's axe was already aimed at his head.
"Huff!"
But Chongpyo Paja quickly inhaled and twisted his body as he aimed the axe at Mu-gung's head.
Swoosh!
Mu-gung's Tathagata Palm narrowly missed Chongpyo Paja's position.
"Now I see, my eyes were right."
Instead of blocking the axe, Mu-gung had aimed his Tathagata Palm at Chongpyo Paja's body in a suicidal move.
Chongpyo Paja became convinced that Mu-gung had indeed gone mad.
And he also understood why Mu-gung wanted to face him alone.
"Hehehe. So, you planned to die from the start."
Mu-gung intended to entangle him, or at least injure him, to buy time.
Meanwhile, the two who had joined to help would be able to escape with Miss Baek through the encirclement.
Although Mu-gung nearly got decapitated by Chongpyo Paja's axe, he looked regretful.
It was because he missed the opportunity to die together.
Slash.
"Ugh…"
At that moment, the sound of something being cut and a dying scream reached Chongpyo Paja's ears.
nn
But this time, it wasn't the screams of the guards.
The Special Operations Unit members who had joined the battle managed to kill one of the Noklim members.
Chongpyo Paja frowned as he lost a capable subordinate, while Mu-gung smiled in satisfaction.
"Your plans won't work."
Not liking Mu-gung's smile, Chongpyo Paja charged at him again.
Boom!!
The Tathagata Palm and Chongpyo Paja's axe clashed, creating loud explosions.
Slash.
However, every time the axe danced, more wounds appeared on Mu-gung's body.
Although Mu-gung had managed to break through a barrier thanks to an unexpected opportunity, completely closing the gap with Chongpyo Paja was impossible.
While their martial power was similar, Mu-gung couldn't keep up with the varied feints and unpredictable movements that came from experience.
But despite pushing Mu-gung to the brink, Chongpyo Paja wasn't enjoying himself.
'Those eyes are unsettling.'
Even as Mu-gung's wounds increased, his expression remained endlessly calm.
Boom!!
The energy Mu-gung emitted was unreasonably heavy and hot.
Chongpyo Paja knew very well what Mu-gung was aiming for with that calm face.
"Do you think I'll let you?"
Swinging his axe, Chongpyo Paja quickly twisted his body, avoiding Mu-gung's Tathagata Palm.
Ignoring the heat that passed by his position, he swung his axe again, creating another wound on Mu-gung's body.
Mu-gung was aiming for one decisive strike. Whether it was a suicidal move or a sacrificial strike, he was using his body as bait.
Despite the skill gap, the fight was dragging out longer than expected because of this.
Chongpyo Paja had no intention of dying or being crippled just to kill this brat.
But Chongpyo Paja had survived in the martial world for a long time, so he wasn't about to let things go according to Mu-gung's plans.
After exchanging a few meaningless blows with Mu-gung, he suddenly sprang towards the battlefield where Noklim members and guards were fighting.
Since Mu-gung's goal was to entangle him, he decided to attack those Mu-gung was trying to protect instead.
As he ignored Mu-gung and jumped, Mu-gung quickly chased after him, looking shocked.
The moment Mu-gung extended his palm towards him, Chongpyo Paja sneered and swung his axe.
n
Chongpyo Paja had expected Mu-gung to leap to protect his comrades.
Knowing that Mu-gung would leap to protect his comrades, he had expected this move.
But when Chongpyo Paja twisted his body and swung his axe, he felt uneasy at the sight of Mu-gung's eyes.
They were too calm for someone who had rushed to protect his comrades.
When Chongpyo Paja realized this, Mu-gung had already retracted his extended palm.
The initial palm strike was a feint.
Just as Chongpyo Paja had anticipated Mu-gung's move, Mu-gung had also predicted Chongpyo Paja's actions.
Mu-gung's Tathagata Palm, which had been a feint, erupted from his other hand.
Having already swung his axe, Chongpyo Paja couldn't block it and had to roll on the ground to avoid it.
It was the Falling Dragon Technique.
Though it was the same technique used by Mu-gung and the Special Operations Unit members several times, the context was different.
This time, a superior was using it against an inferior.
As Chongpyo Paja quickly got up from the ground, Mu-gung's laughter reached his ears.
"Hahaha. As expected of the bandit leader's nimble footwork."
For the first time, Chongpyo Paja's face turned red as he had been looking down on Mu-gung while fighting.
Chongpyo Paja, who had risen to his current position by tearing apart those who looked down on him with his axe, couldn't tolerate being looked down on by a young brat.
Grinding his teeth, Chongpyo Paja muttered.
"You won't die easily."
Ignoring everyone else, Chongpyo Paja relentlessly pressed his attack on Mu-gung.
Mu-gung, already struggling to hold on, quickly accumulated more wounds.
Mu-gung's body turned so red from the axe wounds that he could be called a blood man.
Mu-gung, whose internal energy was rapidly depleting while fighting a superior opponent, sighed heavily in regret.
'Only lasted one period.'
Miss Baek's carriage hadn't yet broken through the Noklim members' encirclement.
From what he could perceive through his senses and hearing, the Special Operations Unit members had killed a few more Noklim members but it wasn't enough yet.
"Hoo."
Mu-gung took a deep breath and steadied his mind.
'Just one more period.'
Seeing Mu-gung, still calm despite being heavily injured, Chongpyo Paja frowned again.n
Clearly weaker than him, yet Mu-gung's
calm gaze made him feel overwhelmed.
Feeling his pride shatter again, Chongpyo Paja gripped his axe tightly, preparing to finish Mu-gung off.
"!!"
From a distance, he felt a presence approaching rapidly.
Glancing in that direction, he saw a figure kicking up a dust storm as it rushed towards them, followed by five or six others.
Looking back and forth between the approaching figures and the near-dead Mu-gung, Chongpyo Paja made a decision and shouted to his men.
"Retreat!!"
Though the young brat was almost dead, Chongpyo Paja had a feeling.
A feeling that he wouldn't be able to kill this brat before the mysterious master arrived.
At Chongpyo Paja's command, the Noklim members who had been attacking the guards began to retreat.
Of course, the guards didn't want to let them go easily.
With the addition of the two Special Operations Unit members, the battle had shifted in their favor.
"Haa!"
As the guards rushed at the retreating Noklim members, Chongpyo Paja swiftly swung his axe, sending a wave of energy at them.
The guards, trying to chase the retreating Noklim members, were injured by the axe's energy, causing Miss Baek, who was directing from the carriage, to shout with a pale face.
"Let them go!"
At her command, the guards and Special Operations Unit members hesitated, allowing the Noklim members to increase the distance.
As his subordinates retreated, Chongpyo Paja gave Mu-gung one last look before turning his back and leaving.
"…"
Covered in blood, Mu-gung stood still, watching Chongpyo Paja's retreating back.
By the time Chongpyo Paja's figure became small in the distance, the masters who had kicked up the dust storm arrived.
Among them, a young man in the lead approached Mu-gung, who was covered in blood.
"…You've suffered."
At the familiar voice mixed with concern and admiration, Mu-gung, who had been staring blankly ahead, turned his head.
There stood Mu-jin, looking at him with a worried expression.
"Why… are you so… late…"
Mu-gung's words trailed off as he collapsed.