Chapter 1317
Have you ever seen hell? (2)
In the moment between life and death, when breath ceased and hearts tightened, Hye Yeon’s fist sliced through the air from behind Tang Pae’s back.
“Paahhh!”
Numerous fists erupted.
Unlike the usual heavy and solemn power, the lightning-fast strikes from Hye Yeon knocked down Maninbang’s warriors with unparalleled speed.
“Kwadduk!”
The jaw of an enemy crumbled instantly upon receiving the blow.
Blood and broken teeth spilled as they were thrown back.
Hye Yeon gritted his teeth.
Desperately unleashing his fists, he had no time to spare for the lives of his opponents.
Of course, they would soon lose their lives due to the poison.
‘I know.’
But even so, the fact that Hye Yeon ended their lives wouldn’t change. Without a moment’s hesitation, his enemies charged again like rabid dogs.
“Kuk!”
During the brief moment Hye Yeon provided, Tang Pae, somehow regaining his senses, swung his hand swiftly, launching poisoned bullets.
Phweong! Phweong!
Although the black poisonous smoke erupted thickly one after another, without mixing the inner strength, it couldn’t dominate the entire gorge.
Hungry packs of wolves charged relentlessly through the gaps in the poisonous smoke. But that wasn’t all.
“Kagagagak!”
From above, the sound of scraping metal against rock echoed incessantly.
Those who had climbed the cliffs were now driving their swords into the cliff face, propelling themselves up to attack Tang Pae and Hye Yeon at once.
“Above!”
“Got it!”
Hye Yeon immediately unleashed a flurry of punches towards those charging from the front. Simultaneously, cow hair needles [우모침(牛毛針) – umochim], barely visible, shot out from Tang Pae’s sleeves like a spray, targeting Maninbang’s warriors.
Kwaang! Kwaang!
While those charging from the front were struck by Hye Yeon’s punches and sent flying in a bloody mess, those attacking from above, despite being pierced by needles all over their bodies, did not cease their assault.
“Krrraaaagh!”
The excruciating pain of countless tiny needles burrowing into their bodies.
But weren’t these Maninbang warriors trained to wield their swords even with blades piercing their hearts?
Tang Pae’s martial arts were insufficient to fend off such enemies.
In a panic, Tang Pae once again attempted to reach into his sleeve.
But before his hand could withdraw, the speed of Maninbang warrior’s sword striking his head was faster.
In that split second, Tang Pae widened his eyes.
Parararararack!
The crescent-shaped energy descended leisurely, contrasting with the urgency of the battlefield, much like a butterfly gracefully landing on a blooming flower.
It swiftly landed on the wrist of Maninbang’s warrior aiming for Tang Pae. The trained hand of the warrior was severed in an instant.
But this was just the beginning.
Successive crescent-shaped waves of energy poured onto the bodies of Maninbang’s warriors who were advancing towards Tang Pae.
Ssuk! Ssuk! Ssuk!
Light movements akin to the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings. Yet the outcome was anything but light.
From the split bodies, dark poisonous blood gushed out uncontrollably.
Thud!
The lifeless body of Maninbang’s warrior fell to the side. As Tang Pae turned to look, a lightning-like shout pierced his ears.
“Pull yourself together!”
“No-Nokrim King!”
“If you can’t stop what can’t be stopped, stop trying so hard! Focus on what you can do! The rest will be taken care of by others!”
Upon hearing this, Tang Pae quickly nodded.
After all, his poison alone couldn’t entirely stop their onslaught. If that’s the case, he should relieve the burden on others as much as possible.
Cheng! Cheng!
Smashing several bottles of poison in succession, he immediately exerted his energy.
The potent poison imbued with Tang Pae’s inner strength spread widely throughout the valley, abandoning the futile attempt to block the enemy’s approach with poison-coated walls.
Instead, his intention was to poison all those rushing from behind.
The faint but expansive spread of poison engulfed the enemy.
Maninbang’s warriors gnashed their teeth as they witnessed the advancing poisonous cloud.
It wasn’t as dense as it had been a moment ago, obscuring their vision less. Yet, it was still Tang clan’s poison.
Despite knowing the inevitable outcome if they charged forward, they not only refused to halt but also increased their speed.
The outcome was inevitable anyway. Once the charge was ordered, the orders of the commander wouldn’t change.
If they hesitated and stopped in the face of the advancing poison from the front, their throats would be cut by flying swords from behind.
So, the only way to survive was to push forward!
Madness flashed in the eyes of Maninbang’s warriors. They moved as one and leaped into the poisonous fog.
“These lunatics!”
Im Sobyeong spat out harshly.
He could make his subordinates fierce. Given enough time, if he could control the huge organization known as Nokrim as he pleased, he could train them into elites who wouldn’t lose to Maninbang within ten years at least.
But that doesn’t mean Nokrim can stand on the same level as Maninbang.
Maninbang is Maninbang.
They are unparalleled and unique even within Evil Sects. The reason why Maninbang, with such a short history, became one of the four main Evil Sects, ultimately seizing the center of Sapaeryeon, is not simply because they were strong. It’s because they are undoubtedly the craziest in Gangho.
The inherent difficulty in controlling Sapas due to the weakness of their members’ loyalty is like an incurable ailment of all Evil Sects.
That’s why, despite outnumbering them, the Evil Sects have repeatedly been defeated by the Just Sects.
But Maninbang is different. Their solidarity and loyalty surpass those of the Just Sects’ effortlessly.
No matter how hard Im Sobyeong tries, he can’t bring out such blind loyalty.
That insane solidarity has already surpassed the realm of Gangho… No, hasn’t it transcended the realm of humanity?
“Fall back…”
At that moment, a group swiftly swooped in from behind Im Sobyeong and charged ahead.
“Haenam?”
Im Sobyeong’s eyes widened in surprise. Elders of Haenam, who had rushed from behind, jumped over not only Im Sobyeong but also Hye Yeon and Tang Pae, clashing with the frontline of Maninbang.
“Come on! You evil bastards!”
“This is Haenam’s fight! They can’t take a single step without overcoming me!”
“Die, filthy Maninbang scum!”
Shoooaahhh!
With a sound resembling a massive crashing wave, the force unleashed by the elders of Haenam swept away Maninbang’s warriors like tidal waves.
“Huh…”
An empty breath escaped from Im Sobyeong’s lips.
These people, who hadn’t seemed particularly formidable until now, had only been concerned with protecting their disciples.
But now, the shackles of being with their disciples were released. They were proving why Haenam was one of the Great Sects, and what kind of beings those elders of Haenam were.
A desperate flight that none of them had expected to experience in their lifetime.
At this moment, the swords of the elders, suppressed by pressure until now, were venting all their pent-up resentment.
Chwaaahh!
Layers upon layers of blue sword energy resembling the sea were unleashed. It carried the profound heritage meticulously accumulated by the masters of the Just Sects over decades.
Although Maninbang’s warriors were considered elites among the martial arts world, they were utterly incapable of withstanding the heritage-filled sword energy of the elder-level practitioners from Gupailbang.
Kagagakang!
“Aaaargh!”
“Aaaaaaaaaa!”
Just as a person can do nothing against an incoming tidal wave, the fate of Maninbang’s warriors who dared to stand against the sword of Haenam was equally inevitable.
When their swords clashed, they shattered, and when they exerted force to block, they were swept away by Haenam’s sword energy.
“Cut off all their breaths!”
With a thunderous roar, Geum Yangbaek shouted as he shook his sword.
The blue sword energy that had adorned his sword violently surged forward and fell behind him.
Maninbang’s warriors, who had been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to strike from behind, were suddenly swept away and cut down by the unexpected attack.
“Aaargh!”
“My arm! My arm!”
Whether soldiers or martial artists, the reason they could fight with their lives on the line was one and the same.
Those who had reached the frontline were already half out of their minds.
But if one were to put it into words, those who hadn’t yet reached the frontline hadn’t fully succumbed to madness.
Fear flickered in the eyes of Maninbang who witnessed the disaster unfolding before them.
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
Geum Yangbaek shouted.
“Yes!”
In response, the elders of Haenam raised their voices, veins bulging in their necks as they shouted in unison.
Breaking through Guangdong was akin to entering hell.
Among their ranks, it wasn’t just the disciples of Haenam who were hardened by battle. Even the elders, who had peacefully trained on the tranquil island, exuded an unprecedented vigor and venom in their swords.
“Kwadduk!”
With each swing of the swords by the elders of Haenam, Maninbang’s warriors were ruthlessly cut down. Poisonous black blood gushed from the throats pierced in an instant.
Paahh!
Without hesitation, the elders drew their swords and advanced, not content with merely holding their ground but pressing forward.
Despite knowing their mission was to defend, it was the hatred for the enemy that propelled them forward.
“Come on! You dog-like Maninbang scum!”
Their eyes overflowed with determination.
“Huuaaargh!”
The difference in skill was evident. At least to Maninbang’s warriors charging at the forefront, this line of defense formed by the elders of Haenam seemed impenetrable.
Yet, Maninbang charged at it without a single moment of hesitation.
Like a bird eager to peck at its prey, they willingly offered their lives to the elders.
Swush!
The sword energy surged past, unable to cut through their bodies. Even as their hearts were pierced, Maninbang’s warriors continued to wield their swords. Even as their waists were severed, causing them to collapse to the ground, they still aimed their blades at the legs of the elders.
There was no mercy. Even in death, they sought to harm their opponents.
But the elders of Haenam, facing them, were just as ruthless.
Puk!
With their waist severed and attempting a final swing of their swords, a blade plunged into the back of one of Maninbang’s warriors.
The sword that had pierced the heart also swiftly severed the throat of the remaining one.
Kwadduk!
A dreadful sound erupted incessantly. The sword lodged in the chest of Maninbang’s warrior caught on the rib bones, emitting a sickening crunching noise. The agony of the sword ravaging through the chest would be indescribable.
Though screaming until his throat burst, Maninbang’s warrior, consumed by the madness of the battlefield, gripped the sword embedded in his chest with both hands, seemingly unaware of the pain.
“Ugh?”
At that moment of distraction when the elder’s sword was momentarily locked, two swords swiftly descended from both sides.
There was only one choice: to release the sword and retreat. But what blocked this obvious choice was the teaching that a swordsman must not let go of their sword until their life is severed.
The lifetime of training ultimately kept him holding onto the sword.
Swush! Swush!
The flying swords cleaved through the body of the elder of Haenam, slicing him sideways. Soon, blood gushed from the gaping wound.
“These… bastards!”
Decades of companionship ended as the life of the elder faded away. In the eyes of the other elders who faced his death, simmered a fierce hatred and determination.
They slashed, stabbed, killed, and cursed.
It was a scene that had unfolded endlessly since the formation of Gangho.
In the clash between Just and Evil, where people on different paths collided, such scenes always occurred.
They had forgotten what they had pursued, what they had sought to obtain, and even the reasons they fought for.
Everyone had become nothing more than beasts, slashing and killing whoever stood before them.
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