Chapter 1588
Then who the hell are they? (8)
Kwaaaaaang!
The clash of two forces sent shockwaves across their surroundings. It was a battle befitting the giants who ruled the era. However, those standing on the ground had no capacity to be distracted by it.
“Graaaaah!”
A sword pierced through someone’s heart.
“Sajeeeeeee!”
“You bastard!”
Someone who had shared joys and sorrows for decades fell to an untimely death. Enraged swords flew from all directions, turning the enemy into a pincushion.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A man with over ten swords embedded in him coughed up blood and collapsed on the spot.
There was no room on this land to even briefly mourn these countless tragic deaths.
“Dieeee!”
“Amitabha!”
A member of Sapaeryeon, charging forward, was struck by a golden fist, spraying blood as he was sent flying. Indeed, Shaolin’s martial arts were as impressive as they were renowned. Even against armed foes, they showed no sign of retreat, fighting barehanded.
But that didn’t mean Shaolin’s situation was favorable.
“Ugh!”
“Hahaha! Even the esteemed Shaolin monks can be pierced with a sword!”
“Fall back!”
Boom!
Shaolin monk, having taken a hit, clutched his shoulder while swinging at the smirking Maninbang warrior, sending him flying. He then tried to raise his fist again, but his injured shoulder wouldn’t cooperate, causing him to stagger.
Seeing this, Beop Gye shouted loudly.
“Channel your inner strength to resist the poison!”
“Yes, Elder!”
He bit his lip tightly.
‘This isn’t good!’
Shaolin disciples were seen bleeding everywhere. He didn’t want to see it, but even through the thick dust, he could make out those, who had fallen forever.
‘It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It really wasn’t supposed to be..’
Of course, no war can be won without sacrifices. Sacrifices must be made to achieve victory.
But he hadn’t expected the sacrifices to be this great. It far exceeded his expectations.
“Aaaaaargh!”
At the horrifying scream heard from somewhere, Beop Gye’s fingers began to tremble.
‘Why..’
It was too much. They could have slowly surrounded and pushed the enemies back.
But the enemy’s strength wasn’t as great as anticipated, and the impatience over the possibility of Jang IIso fleeing at any moment made everyone charge forward as if they had forgotten to look back.
And now, everyone was paying dearly for it.
Crunch!
“Gaaaaaaah!”
Jang Ilso’s loyal dogs were tearing into Shaolin’s disciples. Ignoring the elders and Beop Gye at the front, they attacked primarily the lagging rear, like starving beasts hunting a herd.
“Sahyeong! If this continues, the casualties will be too great! We must do something now!”
Beop Gye’s eyes wavered at the desperate cry of his Saje. Too great a loss? Of course, Beop Gye knew it painfully well.
But he couldn’t move.
“Tell them to hold the line!”
“Sahyeong!”
“I said, hold the line!”
The formation now stretched out like a long nail. The so-called wedge formation was incredibly powerful when piercing through and charging at the enemy, but the moment the charge stopped, they were exposed to the enemies surrounding them on all sides.
In short, it was a formation with no rear defense.
If asked whether they had failed, the answer was no. They had succeeded in breaking through the enemies and sending Beop Jong to Jang Ilso.
The problem was what came next.
It was like three snakes surrounded by a swarm of mice moving in like clouds. No matter how strong the snakes were, there was no way to shake off all the mice biting and tearing at their bodies as the mice in front died.
As the snake’s sharp teeth bit into the mice, the mice’s teeth also gnawed at the snake’s tail.
“The rear! The disciples at the rear are collapsing, Sahyeong!”
“I said, I know!”
Beop Gye shouted sharply. Then he gritted his teeth.
The situation had changed so drastically from what he had originally envisioned…
‘We can’t retreat now!’
If they fell back to save those being attacked at the rear, Beop Jong himself would be put in danger.
Only the Just Sects adhered to the idea of a fair duel between leaders. Those filthy Evil Sect members would seize any opportunity to swarm and kill Beop Jong to rescue Jang Ilso.
‘That would mean losing everything.’
He could distinctly feel the pressure from those closing in on him from not too far away.
Especially those “Daeju,” who had been guarding Jang Ilso from the beginning, exuded an aura that was anything but trivial.
If even two of those formidable foes joined the battle, Beop Jong’s life could not be guaranteed. Beop Gye could not afford to move even a single step from his position.
“Hold the line! Endure it, no matter what!”
“Sahyeong!”
“The Abbot will soon bring down that demon! Then it will all be over! We just have to hold out until then!”
Beop Gye’s desperate shout left a few disciples with despair in their eyes.
Their fellow disciples were falling with screams at the rear, yet they couldn’t fight or help them. Who had created this hellish scene?
Beop Gye’s eyes, surveying the battlefield, were bloodshot.
The sacrifices were undoubtedly great. But they were merely sacrifices. The battle was not yet lost. Their forces were still superior. The moment Jang Ilso fell, everything would unfold as they had planned.
“The Abbot will! The Abbot will definitely succeed!”
He knew just how extraordinary Beop Jong was!
Having watched him all his life, there was no way he could not know. He believed. He believed with all his heart. Beop Jong would surely bring down Jang Ilso and restore all glory to Shaolin.
So, they couldn’t retreat just yet…
At that moment.
“Sahyeong!”
“I said to hold on! Don’t you hear me?”
“It’s not that, Sahyeong! Look! Look over there!”
“What?”
Beop Gye turned sharply to where his Saje was pointing.
His eyes widened as if they would tear apart.
❀ ❀ ❀
Thwack!
Hands intertwined.
Beop Jong’s hand, imbued with terrifying internal energy, grasped for Jang Ilso’s remaining healthy hand like a roaring dragon.
But Jang Ilso, slippery as an eel, skillfully evaded Beop Jong’s grasp.
“You…!”
Killing intent surged from Beop Jong’s eyes. Jang Ilso smirked at his reaction.
“Hm. You seem impatient. Oh dear. A true ascetic monk should be more relaxed, don’t you think?”
“Shut up!”
Beop Jong’s thunderous fists stormed towards Jang Ilso’s head.
Swift and fierce, his merciless blows were filled with the intent to crush Jang Ilso’s head.
Wip! Wip! Wip!
Jang Ilso tilted his head, narrowly avoiding Beop Jong’s strikes.
However, the close distance made complete evasion difficult even for him. The force of the punches grazed his ear, splitting it and causing blood to sprout.
Beop Jong bit his lower lip tightly.
‘Why?’
Jang Ilso’s condition was evidently precarious. Despite his efforts, it was clear who had the upper hand in this duel.
Having fought countless battles, Jang Ilso must surely know this as well.
Yet, where did his composure come from? Had he transcended life and death, leaving no attachment to life?
No, that couldn’t be it.
Beop Jong could see it clearly. Jang Ilso’s monstrous eyes gleaming, filled with intense desire and a fierce attachment to life!
Jang Ilso clung to life more than anyone. So how could he still show such composure?
Even as the end drew near.
Beop Jong would never let him go or allow him to survive. No matter what happened, he would make sure of it. Jang Ilso knew this as well. It could be nothing more than the desperate struggle of a cornered man.
But more than his sinister martial arts or his unbelievably strong body, it was that unfathomable composure that made Beop Jong increasingly anxious.
“Paeguuuun!”
From a distance close enough to reach out with a touch, Beop Jong unleashed his Hundred Step Divine Fist.
Abandoning its original power for speed, the divine punch pierced through the blue flames and struck Jang IIso’s chest.
Kwaaaaang!
Jang Ilso spewed blood from his mouth and was pushed back, his body reeling from the impact.
“Oooooooh!”
Beop Jong charged at the retreating Jang Ilso, determined not to let the advantage slip away.
All he had to do was bring him down. If he could just defeat this man, everything would be over!
Then he would finally regain everything.
Retrieve all the lost glory. All the honor that should rightfully be his!
He would dispel the doubts of those who questioned him and once again place Shaolin’s name as the Northern Star of Gangho.
If he could just bring down this one man!
“Jang Ilsoooooooo!”
The blue flames roared, fueled by everything Beop Jong poured out. To Beop Jong’s eyes, it all seemed infinitely radiant.
Crunch!
The energy shaped like the flames crushed Beop Jong’s shoulder and struck his advancing ankle. But his eyes were fixed solely on Jang Ilso, enveloped in those flames.
“Youuuuuu!”
Beop Jong’s fist shot out with terrifying speed.
It was a simple thrust, hardly worthy of being called martial arts. Though imbued with tremendous power, it lacked any of Shaolin’s principles. It was merely a punch.
And then, at that moment.
Thud!
Just as Jang Ilso seemed to stagger, he suddenly grabbed Beop Jong’s fist with a strength unlike any he had shown before.
‘What?’
Beop Jong’s eyes widened.
Slowly, Jang Ilso’s head, which had been thrown back, returned to its place.
A chilling sensation ran down Beop Jong’s spine.
His shoulders tensed involuntarily.
Jang Ilso’s eyes, which met Beop Jong’s, were cold and devoid of any heat. They were like the eyes of a predator quietly stalking its prey in the underbrush. The eyes that had been previously filled with greed now seemed like a complete lie.
“Pae…”
“Hm.”
A soft, nasal sound pierced Beop Jong’s ears. Goosebumps prickled his back.
‘What…?’
Jang Ilso, who had been staring at Beop Jong with transparent eyes, slowly lifted the corners of his mouth. A bright smile spread across his previously expressionless face.
“You’ve done better than expected…”
Though he spoke to Beop Jong, Jang Ilso’s gaze was fixed beyond him, looking somewhere else. Somewhere far from here.
Unconsciously, Beop Jong turned his gaze to follow Jang Ilso’s line of sight.
Moments later, Beop Jong’s mouth slowly fell open.
A massive dust cloud, like one that might sweep across a desert at night, was approaching the plain. The intent was clear and unmistakable.
Within the rapidly approaching dust cloud, a huge force began to emerge.
Beop Jong’s trained eyes could discern their identities even in the darkness.
“Haomun…!”
Haomun, who had remained hidden until now, had entered the battlefield at the most perfect moment.
Grind.
Beop Jong gritted his teeth.
Even though he had known, it still hurt deeply.
However, it was too soon to conclude that the situation had worsened. Even if they joined, the advantage was still theirs…
“They’re coming, again!”
At that moment, an unbelievable shout reached Beop Jong’s ears.
‘Again? What do you mean again?’
What in the world…?
Beop Jong’s gaze reflexively turned in the opposite direction, not towards the west where Haomun was advancing, but to the east.
And he encountered an unbelievable sight.
In the dead of night, a giant sun was rising over the horizon.
No, it wasn’t the sun. It was a massive red flag adorned with a blazing sun.
“A… a sun?”
There was only one sect in the world that used the sun as its symbol.
‘The Southern Sea Sun Palace!’
It was unmistakable. That flag belonged to the Southern Sea Sun Palace.
One of the Five Outer Palaces that had remained uninvolved in worldly affairs, the Southern Sea Sun Palace, was now revealing its presence on this battlefield.
Why were they here? Why were those who should be far away here now? Were they enemies? Or allies?
Beop Jong felt his blood run cold.
Only then did he see it clearly. The formation, broken and chaotic, rendering them unable to exert their full strength. And surrounding them, charging at them, were the forces of Haomun and the Sun Palace.
Like Jang Ilso’s puppet Beop Jong stepped forward boldly.
It was Beop Jong himself who had orchestrated this entire spectacle, moving forward like a moth darting into flames, unaware of its own wings being burned.
Before Beop Jong could fully sink into despair, Jang Ilso spoke. His whispering voice sent shivers down Beop Jong’s spine.
“Aren’t you enjoying this?”
When Beop Jong turned around, Jang Ilso was laughing even more intensely than before, bright in the darkness like a burning demon.
“Smile. Don’t just hold onto your anger, eh? Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
His laughter slashed at Beop Jong’s heart like a sharpened blade.
The twisting flames engulfed everyone, including Beop Jong himself and even Jang Ilso, feeding on endless madness and desire without end.
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