Chapter 1289
Because from now on, you’ll get tired of seeing it all too often. (3)
They were familiar with war. They were accustomed to putting their lives on the line in battle.
Their confidence in themselves wasn’t baseless. It wasn’t necessarily wrong.
It was a time of peace. For nearly a hundred years since the war with Demonic Cult, the Central Plains had been peaceful.
Only the southern tip of Gangnam, dominated by Maninbang, was engulfed in the flames of war. So, in Gangho, there were probably none who had experienced as much war and seen as much bloodshed as they had.
In that sense, their conviction was based on clear evidence.
However, there was one thing they overlooked.
The war they had experienced and the war Chung Myung had experienced had fundamentally different outcomes.
Without understanding this fact, it was impossible for them to comprehend the existence of Hwasan Geomhyeop.
“Aaaaaaaaaagh…”
Desperate screams echoed incessantly.
Someone, fueled by anger, shouted loudly. Although it wasn’t clear what exactly was being said, the meaning was unmistakable.
Flee.
They had to escape from this place immediately, show their back to the beasts rushing at them, and run with all their might.
But Jo Namcheon, the member of Sahyeongmun [사형문(蛇形門) – Serpent Gate], couldn’t take a single step from where he stood. It wasn’t that he didn’t move. He couldn’t move.
While his head desperately commanded his legs to turn and run backward, his feet seemed glued to the ground, refusing to budge an inch.
Like a mouse freezing upon seeing a snake right in front of its nose, Jo Namcheon’s body, facing a predator it had never encountered before, refused to heed his commands and remained frozen in place.
If there was a difference, it was that while a snake leisurely swallows a frozen mouse, the demon now glaring at him was advancing with a grotesque intent. That was the distinction.
Swish!
The blood-stained sword swiftly severed Jo Namcheon’s neck. Without a moment’s pause for his body to fall, Chung Myung, who had trampled his chest, surged forward, crossing over Jo Namcheon’s neck, now spewing blood, and charged ahead.
Like a predator targeting its prey. No, more like a snake swiftly darting through the bushes.
Covered in the blood of numerous Sapas, he appeared almost demonic, with only his black pupils radiating a chilling terror amidst the sea of red. His gaze was so frightening that even the onlookers felt their hearts involuntarily stop.
“Stop him!”
“Run away!”
“No… No!”
Disorganized, scattered reactions erupted everywhere. It was chaos.
This was a natural response.
The net of heaven and earth – Inescapable Net Formation. Despite the grandiose name, it simply referred to a tightly woven net spread over a wide area.
It was a basic tactic used to either capture a minority fleeing amidst a majority or completely annihilate those who resisted with force.
The warriors of Gangnam had encountered net formations several times before. And each time, their experiences were almost identical.
It involved patiently observing those trying to hide and escape or resisting to the end, then mocking the foolish ones who dared to oppose Maninbang. That was usually it.
But this time, those who had comfortably assumed that nothing would be different were suddenly seized by fundamental doubts.
“Why!”
Someone screamed frantically.
“Why is that bastard here! Why!”
Kwaaang!
In an instant, someone’s upper body was torn apart and flung backwards. Blood gushed like a fountain, and limbs scattered in all directions. Those horrified by the gruesome sight also harbored the same question that the dying person had shouted.
Hwasan Geomhyeop. The one who decimated Maninbang, when they attacked Hwasan and engaged in a fierce battle against Jang Ilso, the leader of Maninbang, on the Yangtze River.
Acknowledged as the archenemy of Maninbang, a rising master of the prestigious Hwasan sect.
Perspectives and interpretations can change depending on one’s position and viewpoint. Chung Myung, his name, symbolizes heroism [호협(豪俠) – heroic/chivalrous person] in orthodox circles. But from the perspective of unorthodox sects, it evokes a chilling terror.
However, why is he, the one who should be confronting Jang Ilso on the Yangtze River, suddenly appearing here and swinging his sword?
Why are the people here supposed to face Hwasan Geomhyeop?
“Run away!”
“Aaaahhh!”
It was not a situation to discuss battle intentions.
Imagine you thought you were surrounding a fox’s den, but suddenly a tiger leaped out from within. Even the most skilled hunters would be thrown into chaos.
Yet, these were not skilled hunters, and Chung Myung was such a ferocious beast no one dared to confront. In such a situation, who would dare to stand in his way?
“Aaaahhh!”
Collapse was inevitable.
The inexperienced hunters, unable to become proper hunters, fled, showing their backs to the approaching beasts.
At first glance, it seemed like a prudent decision, but they were unaware of something. The reason hunters don’t show their backs to beasts is not because they are brave, but because humans may abandon those who show their backs, while beasts always attack those who show their backs. Not sparing an enemy who may target you again someday is the way of survival in the wild.
Chung Myung perfected himself in the hell of the battlefield. His mindset was no different from that of a wild beast.
While he might discuss righteousness and mercy with his mouth and recite Taoist scriptures, his sword, like the fangs of any beast in the world, mercilessly tears apart those who show their backs.
Thunk!
The blade pierced through the shoulder blade at an angle, lodging itself into the heart. Before the pain could fully register, the twisted sword shattered the insides in an instant. Then, with fierce momentum, it surged upward, slicing through the shoulder.
“Gah…”
Crash!
With a disdainful glare, as if even the fleeting moment was too much to spare, Chung Myung pushed the fallen opponent with his shoulder and flung them aside. Like a ferocious beast, he surged forward relentlessly.
It was unstoppable. Impossible from the start.
The title of “the world’s greatest swordsman,” once used to describe Chung Myung, was now a dead phrase.
Even if everyone here joined forces against him, they couldn’t be sure of stopping Chung Myung. There existed at least that much of a gap between the absolute masters vying for supremacy in the world and the skills of the small and medium-sized sects in Gangnam.
But this encirclement wasn’t initially deployed to contain someone like Chung Myung.
The scattered net, designed to never miss the traces of those attempting to flee, could never tie down Chung Myung’s feet.
And Chung Myung knew that precisely.
Whether he understood it with his head or grasped instinctively, his assault was more than enough to tear through this feeble net in one fell swoop.
It was as if he effortlessly tore apart the mesh with his nails and teeth after splitting it with his sword.
“Eek!”
As Chung Myung charged closer, a warrior nearby wrapped his head and simply sat down, resigned to the fact that the only thing left to do was to hope for a painless death.
However, even though his eyes had been tightly shut for a while, he didn’t feel any pain. As he slowly opened his eyes, he saw Chung Myung already sprinting past him, wielding his sword.
“I-I survived…”
Infinite relief flooded his chest. But then it happened.
Swoosh.
A sound, like a bird brushing against grass, pierced his ears. Instinctively, he turned around, only to see the figure of a woman who had somehow reached nearby.
No emotion or expression crossed her pure white face.
Furthermore, her gaze was unnervingly tranquil, unlike the chaos of the battlefield.
‘Who…’
At that moment, he noticed the plum blossom pattern on the woman’s white robe and the sword in her hand. Blood was dripping from the tip of the sword. In that instant, the man sensed his fate.
Snap.
A faint sound, like the fluttering of silk, echoed through the air.
At the same time, a sharp pain began to spread through the man’s throat.
“Ah…”
The seemingly indifferent woman paid him no mind and continued to rush forward as if she were merely a gust of wind.
His body slowly crumbled. And soon after, a group dressed in azure robes, resembling the color of the sea, surged forward aggressively.
“Charge!”
Baek Cheon’s roar erupted like thunder.
As Chung Myung pierced through mercilessly, Ogeom widened the gap, and Haenam rushed in through that gap.
Though the method seemed too crude and aggressive to be described as “protection”, no one could deny its utmost efficiency.
“Stop them!”
Like a spear piercing through, Chung Myung, who had passed through with terrifying speed, left those who had been stunned by the impending terror in a daze. It wasn’t until they saw Haenam’s group that they snapped back to their senses.
However, before they could properly react, swift strikes came hurling towards them.
Swish!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Five necks were pierced by a single sword, sealing their fates.
“Uwaaaa!”
The flashing sword, akin to splitting light, Bungwang Kwaegeom [분광쾌검(分光快劍)].
A practical sword closer Sapa’s than any Sapa, striking precisely at the vital points without any waste. It was now like a festival of death for Jo Geol, wielding the Light Splitting Sword.
Having killed five enemies in an instant, Jo Geol surged forward with the same force.
Swish!
Following behind, Yoon Jong swiftly filled Jo Geol’s empty flank, ready to counter any enemy who might sneak up from the side, ensuring no room for breathing.
Both of them were already soaked in blood for quite some time.
“Yoon Jong, leave the hanging ones alone and assist the rear! They’ll be coming for us from behind now!”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“Iseol, adjust your position to the rear! Too fast!”
“Yes.”
Yu Iseol slightly slowed down the terrifying pace at which they were charging ahead.
“Keep running as you are!”
Under Baek Cheon’s swift commands, they quickly corrected their disrupted formation and increased their speed even further.
Even at this moment, Gwak Hwanso was desperately clinging to Chung Myung, putting every ounce of his strength into it. Baek Cheon nodded firmly upon seeing this.
“We break through altogether just like this. Smash through them!”
“Yes!”
The disciples of Haenam were unaware.
Perhaps due to being completely absorbed in running, they were unaware that they were responding with all their might to Baek Cheon’s commanding voice.
With the convergence of Chung Myung’s forefront battle and Baek Cheon commanding the centre, they pierced through the heart of Gangnam like a wedge.
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