Chapter 1459
That’s not just a small number. (4)
“They’re coming!”
Boom!
The elegant roof of the pavilion shot into the sky. As much as they wished it were a dream or a hallucination, it was an undeniable reality.
“Haaa!”
With a loud shout, the tiles covering the pavilion roof exploded in all directions, resembling fireworks bursting high in the sky.
Shwaa!
The tiles, scattering like sparks, flew at high speed and rained down on the stunned onlookers.
“Argh!”
“My arm! Argh!”
The faces of Evil Sects’ members who had gathered turned deathly pale at the chaotic scene.
“We must stop them! Somehow!”
It was a meaningless cry. Who didn’t know that?
Their original mission was to guard Chengdu while the forces of Sapaeryeon were away, ensuring that the residents of Chengdu didn’t dare to escape. It wasn’t an especially challenging task.
If they couldn’t even manage that, it was obvious what those wolf-like bastards of Sapaeryeon would do to them.
But…
“This is insane!”
‘Must do’ and ‘can do’ might sound similar, but they are entirely different.
Those present here keenly realized the difference down to their bones.
Something massive landed right in front of the half-dazed Sapas.
Boom!
“…Wh-what…”
A figure at least twice – no, probably three times the size of an ordinary person loomed over them, twitching his eyes as he looked down. They could only describe him as a ‘giant.’ Those who had never seen such a colossal human before were paralyzed by his overwhelming presence.
“You lowly Evil Sects’ scum.”
His words, seemingly muttered, reverberated powerfully.
How could muttering be described as reverberating? The reason was simple.
“I’ll crush you all!”
The genuine ‘shout’ that followed was so immense that calling it reverberating was an understatement.
The Beast Palace Lord, Maeng So, swung his arms at frightened members of Evil Sects in front of him. His arm, resembling a pillar of the royal palace, moved, creating a truly terrifying sight.
Boom!
The robust men, martial artists who had trained for decades, were tossed aside like twigs hit by a runaway carriage.
“Eek!”
Witnessing their comrades being literally smashed to pieces, Sapas instinctively tried to retreat. But their movements couldn’t match the speed of Maeng So, who charged at them like a wild beast.
Boom! Boom!
A series of deafening explosions erupted, sending the crumpled Sapas soaring into the sky of Chengdu.
“M-Monster! Dieeee!”
Of course, they didn’t just stand there and take it. One swordsman, aiming for Maeng So’s back as he charged forward like a giant beast, rushed in. A swift sword strike descended upon the broad back.
However, that swordsman didn’t realize one crucial fact: despite his immense size, Maeng So was neither slow nor dull-witted.
Swish!
Maeng So’s body rotated with surprising agility, despite his massive build. Simultaneously, his formidable foot, akin to a gigantic boulder, slammed into the jaw of the assailant who charged towards his back.
Boom!
It was the pinnacle of retreat techniques. The body of the assailant, who had received the blow, soared through the air, tracing a dark line as it pierced through the high wall and vanished.
“Th-this is insane…”
In the midst of the incomprehensible situation, the frozen eyes of those momentarily stunned beheld an even more terrifying sight unfolding before them. A man had leaped up above Maeng So’s head.
“I-it’s the…!”
“The Poison King! Get down!”
Swish!
The flying daggers sent from the Tang Gunak’s hands fiercely cleaved through the air. His daggers were as ruthless as they were merciful. For those whose breath had ceased, all they saw was a fleeting flash of light. It was a death so swift that they wouldn’t even feel pain.
Tang Gunak, who delivered the cleanest death to his enemies, pounded the ground with a stern expression.
They are not them. They are not the bastards who set fire to Sichuan Tang Clan and slaughtered innocent members of the family, even though these are nothing but scum, mere thugs. But still, invading Tang clan’s territory like this is no different than trampling on sacred ground.
Suppressing his surging anger, Tang Gunak channeled his wrath entirely into his daggers.
Thwack!
Once again, the hidden weapons shot forth, piercing another person’s forehead.
“Agg! There’s no place to retreat to! We have to stop them!”
Stop them? Stop who? Who exactly are they supposed to stop?
That monstrous Beast Palace Lord? Or the Poison King wielding his rage-infused daggers? Or perhaps…
Kwaaaah!
At that moment, a brilliant white radiance burst forth from somewhere.
“N-Namgung! It’s Namgung clan!”
“W-What? Namgung Hwang?”
“Namgung Hwang is dead, you idiot!”
“Then what is that? It’s Namgung Hwang’s sword!”
“That…”
Whenever and wherever it may be, it doesn’t matter. Anyone who has ever seen the aura of Namgung Hwang’s sword even once will never forget that sight. And for those who hold that memory, the white radiance emanating in the middle of Chengdu was pure terror itself.
“Th-There! Over there!”
“What?”
“Damn it! There!”
“The Plum Blossoms! Hwasan is here!”
As if in response, a sword energy that would no longer be an exaggeration to say was the most famous in the world fluttered from the side where the white sword energy was pouring out.
A crimson-hued blade resembling plum blossoms.
It was Hwasan’s Plum Blossom Sword.
“W-Why on earth…? Why…”
A few? Just a handful? What significance could these numbers hold? Even if there were a thousand here, they wouldn’t be able to stop it. No, perhaps even ten thousand wouldn’t be enough.
The leaders of the world-respected sects were personally launching their assaults, yet these people, who don’t even have proper titles, how could they possibly stand in their way?
“S-Sapaeryeon! Where is Maninbang? Why do we have to deal with these bastards?”
“Ahh! Take cover!”
As they scrambled away in panic, the white radiance descended upon them like meteorites.
Quaaang!
Quaaang!
His clothes fluttered madly in the shockwaves. Truly overwhelming results. However, the face of the one calmly observing the scene from the rooftop still bore an expression of dissatisfaction.
“Push harder, come on! Has this guy not even eaten? Is this the best you’ve got, just those measly swings?”
“I-I’m doing my best…”
“Your best? That’s your best? Your father’s blade was twice that size!”
“Well, that’s only natural!”
“Natural? What’s natural about it? He was the Lord, and now you’re the Lord too, so why can’t you do more? If you’re both Lords, your swords should be the same!”
Tears welled up in Namgung Dowi’s eyes. Couldn’t he at least attempt to argue from some logical standpoint?
“You won’t leave this place today on foot. Once this is over, if you have any energy left, I’ll send all the Namgung brats to the front lines of Sichuan! Straighten up if you don’t want to see all the Namgung brats become human shields for the arrows!”
“Ahhh!”
Namgung Dowi exerted all his remaining strength to unleash his sword energy.
Kwaaaaah!
“That’s it!”
Chung Myung nodded as if finally satisfied. But his eyes flickered once again, showing signs of unease.
“Make it grand! Not just here, but the whole world must know! They must know that we demolished Chengdu!”
“Ch-Chung Myung. We can’t let rumors spread that we destroyed Chengdu. We’re here to save Chengdu!”
“Huh? Oh, right.”
Chung Myung nodded with an “Ah” sound. But now, that wasn’t the important issue.
“Where did this bandit bastard go? Is he playing around?”
“O-On my way! I am here, damn it!”
Im Sobyeong swung his fan frantically, cursing under his breath.
“Is this all you’ve got?”
“No! What do you expect from me when my martial arts are different?”
It was too harsh. Maeng So was a formidable threat with his body alone, and Tang Gunak was naturally imposing as the Poison King. And Namgung and Hwasan were known for their unique martial arts, weren’t they?
But Im Sobyeong couldn’t produce the same intensity no matter how hard he tried. It was like a tortoise trying to imitate the splendor of a peacock.
“Ah, you useless brat! You’re really no help!”
“Why are you picking on me? Even Lord Seol is as useless as I am!”
“Oh…”
“Ugh… Now he is even bringing kids into this.”
“Apologize, Nokrim King.”
Criticism poured in from all sides. Im Sobyeong clenched his lips, gnawing at them. But his anger quickly shifted elsewhere.
“Who the hell suggested bringing that human into the position of the General? Who?”
“Well, it was Lord Tang, to be precise.”
“Who the hell is it?”
“It was Lord Tang, I said.”
“I’ll make sure to deal with whoever it is!”
…Watching Im Sobyeong desperately avoid reality, Jo Geol wiped the moisture from his eyes with his sleeve. Yes, they had to survive somehow…
“What are you doing, you idiot?”
“…I’m your Sahyeong, Chung Myung-ah.”
“So?”
“Y-Yes! I’m going. Damned General!”
Jo Geol dashed forward. He charged straight into the terrified Sapas, his sword unleashing dozens of beams of light.
“Aaah!”
“It’s the Swift Sword! The Flashing Blade [일검분광(一劍分光) – ilgeom-bungwang]*!”
“It’s Jo Geol, the Flashing Blade! Run for your lives!”
“…Huh?”
Jo Geol, about to continue his onslaught after swiftly defeating those in front of him, suddenly paused, taken aback.
“What are they saying? The Flashing Blade?”
“…Isn’t that your title?”
“Huh? My title? Me?”
Jo Geol looked perplexedly at the fleeing individuals.
“When did that happen?”
It’s common for people to become famous without realizing it, especially when they’re busy fighting from one place to another. The reputation of those who have been fighting tirelessly from Hainan to here has grown even more within Evil Sect, than in Just Sects.
“What are you doing! Let’s go!”
“Um… Sahyeong!”
“Why?”
“Is there any special title for you, Sahyeong?”
“…Ah.”
Yoon Jong’s sword swung nervously.
Crash!
Chaos erupted throughout the city of Chengdu.
With just over ten people, they were displaying a spectacle that far exceeded common sense.
“Run away!”
“Hey, you crazy bastards! We can’t run away! Sapaeryeon will kill us!”
“Damn it, it’s better than dying right now!”
“Oh, no… Aaargh!”
Cheonumang’s secretly thrown dagger… No, it was an enormous and dazzling golden sword, pouring ice-cold water onto the soaring momentum of Sapaeryeon.
“Kekeke.”
Watching the chaos unfold in Chengdu, Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed triumphantly.
“He’s probably underestimating people because he’s been giving us a hard time until now.”
From the start, who to let escape, what to defend… Chung Myung is someone who has never done such things in his life.
“Look at that smart head frantically scheming. From now on, I’ll show you what I’m capable of. Uhahaha!”
With shining eyes, Chung Myung drew the sword at his waist.
“Destroy everything! Set it all on fire!”
“Oh, no, Chung Myung! This is Chengdu, you crazy bastard!”
“Let’s go!”
“Someone stop that guy, please!”
With a powerful thrust, Chung Myung soared into the middle of Chengdu with tremendous force.
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