Chapter 1433
You’ll have to get through me first. (3)
“They’re coming!”
The faces of the elders of the Tang clan flushed with determination. Prepared to face the onslaught head-on. But the moment they saw the fiends of Maninbang charging like wild beasts, the word ‘fear’ rushed into their hearts like a flood.
“Those damned Sapa bastards!”
Ordinary people might have been overwhelmed by that fear, but these were none other than the elders of Sichuan Tang clan.
Despite never having experienced real combat, the effort etched into their bodies and the pride ingrained in their hearts would never fade.
“Stay focused! If we break, the whole defense collapses and our family members will suffer!”
Tang Byeok shouted until his throat was raw.
‘We must hold them back!’
His face bore a grim resolve.
The terrain was unfavorable. The open land was the worst place for Tangga to exert its strength. But even so, when it comes to blocking the enemy, isn’t the Tang clan a sect that has no peer in the world?
“Release!”
As the enemies closed in, a piercing cry erupted from Tang Byeok. Simultaneously, a dense mist of poisonous smoke billowed from the sleeves of the elders.
In the windless wasteland, the toxic mist rose, creating a massive barrier between the two opposing sides.
The eerie aura emitted by the poisonous clouds sent shivers down the spine. Tang Byeok’s gaze swiftly rose upward.
‘Hidden weapons!’
His hand gripped the cow hair needles. If they couldn’t break through the front, they would naturally try to leap over the poisonous clouds. What they needed to do was to create holes in the undefended bodies of Maninbang’s warriors who would soar upward before they reach the ground!
Seemingly sharing the same thought, the elders who had trained together for a lifetime, he hoisted himself up with a burst of energy, grasping the sharp needles in both hands and aimed to pierce through the poisonous fog.
But then…
Paaaah!
The center of the poisonous cloud twisted as if writhing, its color turning ominous. Before the mind could fully register the change, a group of people clad in crimson robes burst through the poisonous clouds and surged forward in an instant.
‘What?’
Shocked to the point where his heart seemed to leap into his throat, Tang Byeok hastily released the needles from his hands. But before the needles could even slip from his grasp, the sword energy launched by Maninbang’s warriors pierced through their ranks.
Sword energy struck the torso of the elder in the front without mercy.
“Aargh!”
The elder’s body was cleaved in half by the impact, spraying crimson blood in all directions before the scream could fully echo.
“Ghak!”
Several elders were struck down in succession by the flying blades, unable to retaliate.
“Retreat!”
“Don’t give them any distance! Stand firm!”
Amid the cries of the overwhelmed elders, Tang Byeok’s eyes shook violently.
‘W-Without… hesitation!’
It’s not surprising that they pierced through the poisonous clouds with their bare bodies. Poison inevitably takes time to take effect, even if it’s the deadliest poison in the world.
What astonished Tang Byeok wasn’t that they pierced through the black clouds with their bare bodies, but rather the fact that they did so without a moment of hesitation.
It’s natural for anyone to freeze at the sight of poisonous clouds forming before their eyes. Yet, despite knowing that what appeared before them was Tangga’s deadly poison, they leaped into it without any hesitation.
‘Is this Maninbang?’
“Hahaha!”
A dark aura instantly spread across the faces of Maninbang’s warriors charging at the forefront. However, despite their faces being stained black, the Dao they swung were relentless, not reminiscent of the attacks of those who were poisoned.
“You…!”
The elders of the clan were not merely idling around. The venomous needles they unleashed with all their might pierced through the air like a torrential downpour, and in the blink of an eye, the bodies of Maninbang’s warriors, transformed into that of a hedgehog.
However.
“Ah!”
Despite that, the sword swung fiercely landed squarely in the chest of the elder standing before it.
Gurgle…
Maninbang’s warrior thrust his head against the trembling shoulder of the elder. With an indescribable smile, he twisted the sword plunged into the elder’s chest with full force.
“Aaargh!”
The agony of organs being torn apart. From the lips of the elder who couldn’t bear the pain, a desperate scream burst forth.
“Tang Muuu!”
Despite witnessing their brethren dying before their eyes, the elders could do nothing. For they too were already besieged by demons.
“Aaargh!”
Sharp daggers shot from the elders’ hands. Though flying daggers pierced their enemies’ chests from a short distance in an instant, Maninbang’s warriors, even with daggers lodged in their chests, relentlessly swung their swords, cutting down their foes.
Swoosh! Thud!
The swung Dao severed the elders’ arms and slit their throats.
There was no time to spread poison.
With lunatics already flipping their eyes and swinging their swords right before their eyes, when would there be leisure to release poison?
However, relying solely on hidden weapons wasn’t a solution either. Though the daggers they threw were undoubtedly hitting the enemy, that was all. There was no way to stop those who swung their swords with daggers embedded in their bodies.
“Aim for their heads! We must end them in one fell swoop!”
Tang Byeok shouted furiously.
Yet, the enemies were not fools either. While they ignored all hidden weapons piercing their bodies, they thoroughly blocked what was aimed at their heads and hearts.
And in that moment, Tang Byeok realized his mistake.
They needed to create distance. They couldn’t afford to stand clumsily in one place trying to block Maninbang. The Tang clan using hidden weapons, and relying on poison to subdue the enemy, inevitably lacked the ability to fight at close range.
The moment they allowed the enemy’s swords to reach them, the outcome was already decided.
“Kraaaaah!”
At that moment, enemies charged toward Tang Byeok. Venomous fury surged in his eyes.
“These damn dogs!”
Tang Byeok pulled something out of his sleeve like lightning and aimed it at the charging foes.
And then.
Kwaaaaaang!
A tremendous explosion swept through the surroundings.
“What?”
Even the elite Maninbang warriors, who were raging as if neither the Tang clan’s poison nor their flying daggers were of any concern, turned in astonishment. And what they saw were three torn bodies, no longer resembling human forms.
“Do not underestimate Sichuan Tang Clan!”
Tang Byeok shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Don’t hesitate! Use the Thunder Canons! Pour out everything you have!”
Before his words could finish, deafening explosions erupted from all directions.
Following the desperate screams and explosions, the once barren ground quickly boiled with blood and death.
“Hmm?”
Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed slightly. A small wrinkle formed on his forehead. He didn’t seem pleased with the sight before him.
“Is that artillery?”
“Most likely, it seems they are using forbidden hidden weapons.”
“Forbidden weapons…”
There was no other reason for the word ‘forbidden’ to be attached to that name. Simply put, these were weapons that should not be used under any circumstances.
The reason Sichuan Tang Clan unilaterally designated forbidden weapons was said to be because of their overwhelming power, which could attract the attention of higher authorities once used.
However, there was a slightly more sensitive reason in reality.
“It’s not even a cannon, it’s gunpowder. Seems like the Tang clan was in a hurry, huh?”
Jang Ilso chuckled.
Even though it was a small firearm rather than a cannon, the use of gunpowder was no different. The use of gunpowder inevitably invited governmental intervention. Therefore, unless it was on the Yangtze River where the government’s involvement could be minimized, one could not casually meddle with gunpowder.
Yet, that elder from the Tang clan took out a weapon with gunpowder in it.
“The damage will be significant.”
Jeok Ho’s concerns were not unfounded at all. Even if there were other reasons, the fact remained that Tang clan’s forbidden weapons possessed formidable power.
Those forbidden weapons were not just simple firearms. They were devices specially designed by the Tang clan to rapidly discharge their unique projectiles using the power of gunpowder and internal strength simultaneously.
Isn’t it obvious what the outcome would be if one were to charge head-on towards such devices?
“Well…”
However, Jang Ilso remained as composed as ever.
“That firearm.”
“Yes, Ryeonju.”
“It looks quite substantial, doesn’t it?”
At those words, Jeok Ho squinted his eyes. Indeed, it seemed too cumbersome to wield with just one hand.
“With the use of gunpowder, they probably can’t fire multiple times…”
A sinister grin twisted at the corners of Jang Ilso’s mouth.
“I wonder how many of those are tucked away in those wide sleeves? Once used, they become useless.”
Jeok Ho immediately understood the implication and nodded.
“Annihilate them!”
“Yes!”
Those around Jeok Ho swiftly sprang forward.
The forbidden hidden weapons they used weren’t necessarily advantageous to them. The shockwaves unleashed by the Thunder Canon scattered the poisonous clouds they had created in all directions. Without a chance to release poison again, they were now as defenseless as they could be on this vast land.
Leaving them be would inevitably lead to their downfall. However, Jang Ilso had no intention of being so leisurely.
“Red Dogs.”
The Reg Dogs, who were standing around Jang Ilso like a fortress, all turned their heads to look at him.
There was no need for a verbal response. Their acknowledgment was indicated by their actions. Why would there be a need for such a sign when they were already focusing all their attention on Jang Ilso?
Jang Ilso slowly licked his red lips.
“How tedious. Facing old men drains one’s energy.”
A gleam of anticipation shone in the eyes of the Red Dogs.
“Take care of everything. I am a busy man.”
At Jang Ilso’s command, Red Dogs turned their heads to look at the elders of the Tang clan.
And then.
Paah!
Without a gesture or a brief reply, Red Dogs surged forward. Like hungry wolves finding prey on a snow-covered ground, their ominous aura swept over the desolate land of Sichuan.
“I’ll be back.”
And as if understanding Jang Ilso’s intention, Jeok Ho bowed deeply towards him.
“Don’t go too wild. They should enjoy themselves too.”
“Yes, Ryeonju.”
With another nod, Jeok Ho drew his sword.
A solid black blade, the Mukdo [묵도(墨刀) – ink stained blade]. With his favorite weapon in hand, Jeok Ho charged forward with a fierce glint in his eyes.
“Oh dear, oh dear.”
Jang Ilso shook his head.
“They’re all too excited, aren’t they?”
It was understandable when one thought about it. Maninbang had grown through countless wars until now. But since the stabilization of Sapaeryeon, they hadn’t truly tasted blood, had they?
For others, it might be just a brief respite, but for them, it would have been a long period of suppression.
“I hope it’s not too brutal…”
Gifts are nice, but overly extravagant ones can sour the recipient’s mood.
But…
“There’s no other way.”
Jang Ilso shrugged his shoulders and leisurely lifted his foot.
“That’s because you all arrived late. The Poison King, and… Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
Chuckling, Jang Ilso walked through the blood-soaked ground as if taking a stroll.
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