His body split into eight afterimages, each launching its attack at the fake Chun Mu-seong using fists, palms, kicks, fingers and toes, claws, swords, blades, and spears.
It was as if eight warriors were working together.
“Kuak, you!”
Surrounded, Chun Mu-seong swung his sword and fought against the technique by creating a whirlwind.
It was as if Chun Mu-seong’s arm had split into eight parts, such was his speed. Even for a fake, the skills he had were amazing.
Chachachang!
The two of them were fighting not with weapons but as weapons; such was how scary they seemed.
Even as they fell through the air, Jin Song-baek had the upper hand. All who were fighting in front of the tower stopped and watched this amazing scene.
-I never thought that they would be this strong. It is surprising, Wonhwi.
-Just how did your father get killed?
I don’t know.
I couldn’t fathom how this man who made it impossible to counter him could have died.
Looking at the current situation, Jin Song-baek had an advantage.
‘Was it said to have been an assassination?’
It could be so.
The Murim only declared that he was dead. I really wanted to see the conclusion of this fight, but I didn’t have time for it now.
Chakk!
I infused qi into the string and climbed down the wall.
-They are coming down too.
I looked up after hearing Short Sword’s words.
I could spot someone coming down the tower wall through the hole at the top floor. It seemed like they were coming to help Jin Song-baek.
However, they were moving slower.
Chang!
As we neared the ground, the sound of colliding weapons was clear.
The forces on both sides, which had been distracted by the sight of their lords fighting, had gone back to fighting again.
And then came the cry.
“That man! Catch the one-eyed one!”
One eye?
Were they talking about me?
As I was wondering that, someone ran for me.
“Die!”
He was wearing the robes of the Martial Heavenly Order.
As soon as I saw him, I retrieved the silver string and pulled out Iron Sword to block his sword.
Chang!
I then immediately hit the man on the jaw with my foot. He bounced back with a scream.
Perhaps they were given the order to attack me if I came out.
-To the left!
Even without Short Sword’s shout, I could feel the light that was shining and aimed toward me.
‘Tch!’
Reacting to this, I twisted my body and moved back.
A middle-aged man with a mustache came at me with a sword.
‘He is strong.’
He seemed to be a warrior from one of the floors of the tower.
He was aiming for the blood points on my left side with a blade technique that was better than the others.
Anyway, everything was a mess…
‘Clam Shaped Sword technique.’
It was one of the Xing Ming Sword techniques. It was a sword blade that would counter an attack with an explosive attack of its own.
For each of the techniques used, the sword would counter it correctly.
“You!”
The man was clearly startled.
This wasn’t the end of the technique.
If the sword was made to counterattack first, then the next form would forcibly open a gap in the opponent’s defense.
Pupuak!
I stabbed the man in the chest and collarbone.
“Euk!”
The man stumbled back and collapsed with a scream.
Even though he was skilled, I was a warrior who had opened up all of his blood points.
At the very least, it would be difficult for me to be defeated unless a warrior at the level of a Lord of the Order came against me.
-Hurry!
‘I know.’
I tried to use footwork and move directly toward the tower of the Martial Heavenly Order. However, I was continuously being blocked.
It seemed like no one wanted me to pass through.
If there was another building that was as tall as the tower, I would use the string again, but nothing like that was around.
‘Phew.’
There was nothing else to be done. I think I have to use the golden eye.
Even as the eye covered under the patch was under my eyelids, the flow of the qi was clear.
The only way through was to pierce through their weak points.
Pat!
I immediately flew toward it and attacked them.
They rushed to block me, and I rushed to take them down.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t normally kill them, but since they were now trying to kill me, I could not afford to be lenient.
So I, too, aimed for their necks, hearts, and heads.
Puak!
“Huek!”
Blood splattered around each time I cut another of them down. Perhaps that was why my enemies could not recklessly attack after a while.
I was grateful for that pause. I had been trying to break through for a while.
Flinch!
But I could suddenly feel a large presence around me.
As I looked around, I didn’t see anyone but a gray-haired old man whose body shone as he moved.
The old man swung his sword with the intent to cut me down.
Sring!
I blocked it as swiftly as I could.
The moment our swords collided, we were pushed back three times.
The gray-haired man’s eyes shone.
“You are pretty good.”
Looking at his clothes, it seemed like he was on the side of the fake. Judging from how he fought, he was a warrior who had reached the peak state.
“Who are you, Elder?”
At my question, he smiled.
“When sahyung said he coveted you as a disciple, I wanted to know how great you were, but it is surprising that you have reached this level at such a young age.”
‘Sahyung?’
Was he talking about that fake?
Just in case, I asked the gray-haired old man.
“Is the sahyung you are referring to that fake?”
This question made him raise his eyebrows.
Hearing that he was fake and not showing much of a reaction meant that he was someone in the know about this.
“You are the same as him.”
“Your head works fine too. Well, that is why you managed to escape from my sahyung. But that luck has run out.”
The old man aimed his sword at me.
I could feel the sharp qi from his sword. He wasn’t some half-assed warrior but was one who wouldn’t be forced back against even the Elders of the Blood Sect.
‘Damn it.’
I don’t know if I could match up against this man. The longer the fight, the more Baek Hye-hyang’s life would be in danger.
Then, as if he had read my mind, he said,
“By now, the man I sent to kill the girl must be at the tower. Hehehe!”
He was deliberately trying to make me impatient. He was as cunning as his sahyung.
The only answer was to deal with this man and go instead of wasting time by talking.
As I was about to take my stance, I heard a familiar ringing of a sword.
‘Uh?’
And then the voices came.
“In a hurry?”
It was Lee Jung-gyeom. It seemed like he had come down from the tower’s top floor, as he said.
“Just when I was about to have fun, strange things happened.”
“You…”
Lee Jung-gyeom pulled out his sword from its blue sheath and said,
“Leave this old man to me and find your other half.”
I would have spat out water if I was drinking any as I frowned.
“Ah. Is that so? I misunderstood it because you said you risked your life. Who cares? Saving them is the important part.”
With that, he pointed his sword to the gray-haired man.
This man had nothing to do with this, so I don’t know why he was coming to help me.
When I looked at him, he then smiled.
“If Haun-hyung is out, then the third test will be boring.”
Was that it?
This was a situation where we didn’t know if we could even take the test again, yet his words meant that he still wanted to compete with me. Whatever his plan was, the situation wasn’t right to turn down this favor.
“I will pay back this debt later.”
“Debt.”
I bowed my head to him. Seeing us like this, the gray-haired man screamed as he moved towards me.
“Who said I was letting you go!?”
He was aiming for me, but Lee Jung-gyeom quickly blocked the path. It seemed like he was using the defensive technique of the Wudang Sect.
“Old man, I am your opponent.”
“You cheeky bastard!”
The gray-haired man tried to pierce through Lee Jung-gyeom while moving, but he sighed as he drew a circle with his sword and blocked his path.
His sword had that unique softness and harmony in its qi, making it seem like the Taiji Sword of the Wudang Sect.
Chachachang!
I was concerned because the old man seemed strong, but Lee Jung-gyeom was not being pushed back in the slightest. Maybe I shouldn’t worry about him.
In response to this, I hurriedly moved out.
Four types of towers existed inside the Dual Martial Forces. All four towers did not share the same floors or shapes.
In the case of the Martial Heavenly Order, its towers had seven floors, and all except the Lord of the Order were forbidden to enter except for special cases.
Tatatat!
A man in a black robe hurriedly moved on the fifth floor’s stairs.
Upon reaching the 6th floor, two middle-aged men in gray guard robes stood at the stairs that led to the 7th floor.
“What is it?”
They blocked the path as the man in the black robe approached. In response, he showed the symbol of the Lord and said,
“It is his order. Since the plan failed, they asked me to put an end to the woman who was imprisoned.”
“Is this how the order was made?”
“Yes.”
“I understand. I will come along and deal with her.”
Between the middle-aged man, one with a scar on the corner of his mouth smiled.
“Are you saying you will come?”
“Isn’t it just killing?”
Seeing his vicious smile, the other man said,
“Your bad habits are still there. Trying to get relief for your lower body before killing her?”
“She’s going to die, so what difference will it make?”
“Tch tch!”
“Do not make noise. We will handle it quickly.”
The middle-aged man, called Jeon-ju, excitedly left the stairs, went up to the top-most 7th floor, and followed the aisle.
He then opened a door into a place that was made of black iron.
When they entered, a woman stood near the wall with shackles on both arms.
Baek Hye-hyang.
Her clothes were covered in blood, and her hair was loose.
“Poisonous woman!”
The guard clicked his tongue as he saw her.
Blood was dripping down both of her bound wrists. It made him guess at how strongly she had pulled using those hands.
‘A wench with her internal qi sealed is no threat.’
As soon as they entered, she glared at them.
They knew what kinds of torture she had been subjected to under their Lord, but her eyes were still filled with rage.
‘It doesn’t matter. She will be killed.’
From the time she had been brought in, this guard had been greedy for her. This was a chance to enjoy her in a state where she could not resist.
He opened the cell and said.
“Ei, wench. It is torture time.”
She snorted.
At this, Guard Jeon-ju shook his head.
“Let us see how long your cocky attitude will last.”
“Until the end.”
He smiled brightly as he heard her words and said.
“It will be different this time. You will scream from the unusual pain.”
The guard loosened the belt around his pants.
Baek Hye-hyang, who was staring at him, smiled as she said.
“Do you have pain in your lower body?”
Jeon-ju frowned at seeing an attitude that was completely different from what he expected. He wanted her to reject this or shout at him.
Well, he was going to get what he wanted.
“If you want to hear those kinds of screams from me, you need to be able to satisfy me.”
Baek Hye-hyang spread her legs.
Seeing this, the guard approached her with a smile.
“You know how to act with me.”
He thought she would resist, but if she was going to be this willing, there was no reason not to do it.
Baek Hye-hyang licked her lips as she seductively said.
“Take off my bottoms with your hands.”
“Hehe. Of course, I will take it off.”
Jeon-ju was excited and tried to grab her waist. At that moment-
She wrapped her legs around his neck.
“Kuak! You-you woman!”
The man raised his internal qi and tried to pull away, but the woman wouldn’t let go.
“Y-you!”
To his surprise, the seal on her internal qi was released, and the grip around his neck tightened.
“Kuak…”
“What, choking?”
She turned her body back.
Crack!
The guard died as his neck broke, not even allowing him to scream. Baek Hye-hyang then looked at the dead man.
“You should never take it easy when it comes to the lower body.”
