Chapter 1334
Just engrave that name. (4)
“Don’t let her escape!”
“We must kill her at all costs!”
The members of Maninbang pursued Yu Iseol relentlessly.
Their screams, echoing with the intensity of bursting throats, and the icy determination in their eyes were no different from the battles that had raged within the gorge.
But there was a clear difference in their facial expressions and demeanor.
More desperate. More urgent. The gleam in their eyes expressed a desperation and urgency that couldn’t be described in any other way.
Thud!
The members of Maninbang struck the ground forcefully. They were determined to chase down and capture Chung Myung, to plunge their swords into his throat, to completely cut off his breath.
“Capture her!”
This was their final chance. They couldn’t afford to let it slip away.
The members of Maninbang were not ones to fear enemies. They did not fear war, nor did they fear death. That’s why they were part of Maninbang. It was a pride each of them held in their hearts.
However, that pride shattered completely in the face of Chung Myung within the gorge.
At this point, everyone knew.
If they let him slip away here, they would eventually have to face him again. Someday. Or perhaps sooner than they thought.
They had witnessed Chung Myung annihilating the Blood Sword Squad. Facing Chung Myung, who would be unharmed, was a nightmare they didn’t even want to imagine.
He must be killed.
He must be killed at all costs.
There was no need for discussion or gathering opinions. The moment Chung Myung was lifted onto Yu Iseol’s back, the will of everyone present naturally converged.
No matter what it took, no matter the sacrifices, that man must be killed!
“Uwaaaah!”
The members of Maninbang surged towards Yu Iseol with tremendous force. It was less like people chasing after someone and more like a rushing torrent engulfing the gorge.
Thud!
Yu Iseol struck the ground desperately.
There was no question about the power of her light arts, but her inner strength had been depleted by prolonged battles. Moreover, carrying Chung Myung, who was unconscious, on her back made her steps heavier than usual.
“Dieeee!”
A member of Maninbang who caught up to Yu Iseol swung his sword full of malice.
In that very moment, Yu Iseol realized that the battle she was about to face would be markedly different from any she had experienced before.
Sword slashed through the air with terrifying momentum, not aimed at her neck, but at her back.
Whish!
With swift reflexes, her outstretched sword intercepted the slashing blade.
Thunk.
She gritted her teeth.
If she were alone, she wouldn’t have needed to block the attack.
No, it wasn’t a matter of not needing to block it, she shouldn’t have blocked it.
To forcibly deflect a sword that had deviated from the body’s center of gravity required more than just the strength of the core. The impact on the wrist was greater than she had imagined.
But now, there was no other choice.
Swish!
Another sword flew at her from the side.
Normally, she would have minimized waste with precise movements to avoid such attacks. But now, that wasn’t an option. Just because her body wasn’t injured didn’t mean the ordeal was over.
Yu Iseol twisted and maneuvered her body to evade the thrusting sword. Her movements were different from usual, causing her center of gravity to shift and her perfectly maintained body balance to collapse.
Her movements had always been fluid and graceful.
However, this was not innate. It was crafted meticulously through relentless practice, like weaving each strand of thread one by one. At its foundation naturally lay the word ‘balance’.
Once that balance faltered, the skill of Yu Iseol could no longer remain flawless.
“Haah!”
Rarely, a shout erupted from her lips, and instantly, the sword sliced through the air like a beam of light.
In situations where evasion was difficult, there was only one method: to attack before being attacked.
“Aaaaa!”
Yu Iseol’s sword struck mercilessly at the heart of Maninbang’s warrior.
Despite the altered path of her sword technique, Yu Iseol’s sword remained formidable even in its distorted form.
But her enemies were just as… No, perhaps even more desperate than her. Those who leaped forward using the pierced body as a foothold descended upon Yu Iseol like an avalanche of debris from a landslide.
“Dieeeee!”
Swish!
The sword that fell towards Chung Myung’s neck narrowly passed right in front of her shoulder. Though the blade itself was avoided, the trailing edge undoubtedly cut across Yu Iseol’s skin.
She had no time to feel pain. Almost throwing herself back, Yu Iseol spun rapidly, her hand touching the ground.
Crash!
Soon after she had left the spot, a deafening boom echoed as the ground upheaved and erupted. Had she been even a moment slower in evading, her body would likely have been crushed into a mangled mess by now.
Flying rocks pierced her body, but Yu Iseol, unaware of any injuries, swung her sword with all her might.
Taaaang!
Amidst the sound akin to a whip cutting through the air, the torsos of the three attackers raining down upon her were severed in an instant. Hot blood and fragments of intestines poured down upon her.
Yu Iseol grasped the ground tightly with all her strength, hauling herself up in one swift motion. Her fingernails turned and broke, but there was no time to notice.
As her body was pulled upward, two swords flew straight into the space where her legs had been.
Thwack!
Yu Iseol, while propelling herself off the ground, turned to face her rear once more. Although it would be much faster to simply run forward, she couldn’t afford to do so. There was no way to protect Chung Myung from the blades flying from behind.
Even as she tried to escape, she still had to confront her enemies. Before her eyes, the swords flew densely, defying her valiant attempts to withstand the dire situation with her entire body.
Yu Iseol swung her sword like a whirlwind, striking back at the attackers, but even for someone like her, it was difficult to block all the flying blades at once.
Swish!
The sword energy that grazed her upper arm severed her muscles in an instant, leaving a gaping wound so deep that her bones were visible.
Swish!
Another sword energy, brushing against her side, sliced through her skin, leaving a deep gash.
Kwaaaang!
Though the blade that struck her head-on didn’t pierce her body, it forcefully twisted her wrist that held the sword. Blood vessels burst, and her bones seemed to twist and strain.
It wasn’t just her who gained freedom of movement now. In the narrow gorge, the number of attackers who could strike simultaneously was limited. But the moment they stepped out of the gorge, attacks could come from anywhere within reach of the blades.
It was impossible from the start to evade and block all the attacks while carrying someone on her back.
However, instead of despairing, Yu Iseol tightened the cloth binding Chung Myung firmly to her back.
‘Protect.’
It wasn’t about being able to do it. It wasn’t even about wanting to do it.
Perhaps Yu Iseol, more than anyone else, understood Chung Myung’s words best amidst everyone in Hwasan.
This was what she had to do.
Yu Iseol had no doubt in her mind about that. Even if it meant sacrificing her own life, she must ensure Chung Myung’s survival.
Crack!
Covered in dirt, Yu Iseol turned momentarily towards the front and slammed her foot into the ground with all her might. With Chung Myung on her back, her body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Seizing the opportunity, a flying sword energy sliced into her calf. Blood scattered into the air.
However, the distance between Maninbang and Yu Iseol widened significantly.
“Chase after her!”
“Don’t worry about the woman! Focus on Hwasan Geomhyeop! We must kill him at all costs!”
“Don’t let them escape!”
The voices, fueled by malice, echoed around.
They had to kill Hwasan Geomhyeop. They absolutely had to take his life.
Ho Gamyeong glanced down at the lifeless body of the fallen Goe Ryang with indifferent eyes.
In Goe Ruang’s eyes, whose breath had ceased without even closing them, the fear he harbored just before death was fully encapsulated.
After a brief glance, Ho Gamyeong passed him by without a word and continued forward.
‘Danju.’
Unit and Squad [Dae and Dan] are different. And Daeju and Danju are even more so.
Losing a Daeju to the enemy’s hands or having them perish in a mission is something one can accept without much hesitation. Sacrifice and cost are inherent in everything.
But losing a Squad, and losing a Danju, are different cases altogether.
Squad’s of Maninbang is the core of its power, and if limited to those controlled by Ho Gamyeong, their value increases even more.
When such a force is annihilated, and the one who led them is killed, it’s undoubtedly a significant event.
Yet, even in this instance, there was not a hint of hesitation on Ho Gamyeong’s face.
His gaze was now fixed on Yu Iseol, who was fleeing, or more precisely, on Hwasan Geomhyeop carried on her back. The look in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes as he observed the unconscious Hwasan Geomhyeop was chillingly devoid of emotion.
By sacrificing Goe Ryang and the Blood Sword Squad, he rendered Hwasan Geomhyeop unconscious.
Others might deem it madness if they were to hear of it. However, Ho Gamyeong considered that he had achieved results beyond his expectations through this sacrifice.
Of course, Goe Ryang probably didn’t see it that way. But in the first place, Ho Gamyeong never once thought that Goe Ryang or anyone like him could defeat Chung Myung.
Could someone like that even pose a threat?
Fortunately, Goe Ryang had performed beyond his abilities. Or perhaps Chung Myung hadn’t fully demonstrated his, but the result remained the same.
If the fallen Goe Ryang could hear, he would probably rise from hell. But the value Ho Gamyeong placed on Goe Ryang was just that much. However, losing even one Danju, who could somewhat communicate, was regrettable.
‘The Blood Sword Squad and the like…’
If it meant killing Chung Myung, he could sacrifice as many as needed.
Now, all that remained was to capture those who were wandering aimlessly without a leader.
Those led by Hwasan Geomhyeop were formidable enough that even Ho Gamyeong had to risk his life, but those without Hwasan Geomhyeop were nothing but scattered ragtags.
“Are we ready?”
“As you commanded, everything is in place!”
“If even one thing goes wrong, you won’t be able to bear the consequences, even with your life.”
The subordinate responded with a pale face to the chilling voice.
“I will keep that in mind.”
In Ho Gamyeong’s eyes, a subtle yet sharp determination flickered.
‘Two moves, no… three?’
Now, just three moves remain. In terms of time, it’s just a fraction.
Within that fraction, the fate of Hwasan Geomhyeop will be decided. According to his predetermined plan.
Ho Gamyeong clenched and loosened his fist lightly.
‘Stay calm.’
Not even the slightest deviation could be allowed until the end.
This was everything he had put on the line. From Hainan to now, his strategy had focused solely on the life of Hwasan Geomhyeop, and the fruition of that strategy was gradually approaching.
‘A headless beast is easy to drive into a corner.’
Ho Gamyeong suddenly became curious about the expression on Jang Ilso’s face when faced with the head of Hwasan Geomhyeop.
‘Perhaps this is my feeble rebellion.’
Brushing away the fleeting, lurid image that briefly surfaced in his mind, he let out a light sigh. In contrast, his gaze grew darker with each passing moment.
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