novelraw Chapter 142 : Chapter 142
Chapter 142 : Chapter 142
Chapter 142 - If I'm not caught, I didn't do it
The tips of Biyoung's feet touched the surface of the lake.
His legs, which should have sunk, kicked off the surface as if it were solid ground to take the next step.
An unparalleled movement technique he had only heard of in words but never witnessed once.
With wide eyes, Sedong uttered the name of the technique.
“Wa… Water-Walking Flight!!”
Water-Walking Flight.
Also known as Stepping on Duckweed to Cross Water.
It was a martial art of running on water, something that seemed utterly impossible for the human body.
At that incredible lightness skill, Sedong's jaw dropped.
However.
Compared to the shock of those swimming towards them, his was rather mild.
“!!!”
The movement technique Biyoung displayed was so astounding that their ceaselessly moving limbs froze on their own.
‘Water-Walking Flight… Water-Walking Flight, you say?’
‘No way. Is such a thing really possible?’
‘Why isn’t he sinking into the water…!!’
‘This is cheating… This is cheating!’
If they could, everyone would want to use Water-Walking Flight.
It was a much faster and more convenient method than swimming in the water.
But to perform Water-Walking Flight, one needed martial arts that far surpassed the ordinary level.
It was a sight even they, who had spent their entire lives on Elm Leaf Lake, were seeing for the first time.
The Hojubang's black-clothed warriors, including the Yewi Twin Tyrants, swam much faster than ordinary people.
This was because they infused their internal energy into the movements of cutting through the water.
But no matter how much they used internal energy to swim, they couldn't handle someone running on water.
Biyoung was sprinting across the surface of the lake at a speed that was almost insulting to compare to swimming.
Papat!
‘He’s… coming!’
Their arms and legs were already not free because they were swimming.
The Hojubang's black-clothed warriors belatedly pulled short daggers from their waists, but there was no way to block the sword auras being swung from above the water.
Chwaaaak!
“Kuaaaak!”
Every time Biyoung swung his sword, the bodies of the black-clothed warriors shot up into the air along with the white spray of water.
And yet, Biyoung's legs never went more than a hand's breadth below the surface, a truly marvelous movement technique.
‘Water-Walking Flight...’
At the name of the movement technique he heard, Biyoung slightly curled the corners of his lips.
Water-Walking Flight?
He had never learned such a thing.
This was neither Water-Walking Flight nor Stepping on Duckweed to Cross Water, but simply a martial art of the Diancang Sect.
Vast Sky Eagle Body Method.
The lightness skill of the Diancang Sect, renowned as the best in Murim.
If one mastered the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method to the seventh stage or higher, it was possible to run on the surface of water, and if one surpassed the ninth stage, it became possible to step on the air and leap (Heaven-Treading Cloud-Breaking).
Even Biyoung himself had not expected to reach this level at his current age.
But the current Biyoung had a 'vessel' that even the World's Fastest Sword of the past did not possess.
A Dantian more pure and noble than in his previous life.
Precious spirit medicines, including the Heaven-Shaking Divine Pill.
And even the circulation of the Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art.
At least in terms of movement techniques, Biyoung had recovered more than half of the skill of the World's Fastest Sword.
When he could even step on the air, what was the big deal about walking on water?
Biyoung brandished his movement technique without restraint, as if to mock those in the water, and the Hojubang could only be helplessly defeated.
Splash!
“Drag him down! Grab his trouser legs and drag him under the water!”
Chu Gap managed to give orders while swimming.
“Yee!”
The Hojubang's black-clothed warriors put away their swords and tried desperately to grab Biyoung's legs with both arms.
Not to strike the opponent, but simply to hold on and drag him down.
It was truly a pitiful scene that could not be watched without tears.
However…
Pababat!
Even when chasing on land, it was nearly impossible to catch up to the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method.
There was no way they could grab Biyoung's legs with wet arms from the water where their own legs were not free.
Chwaaaak!
The hands that had reached out over the water fruitlessly cut through the air, and in their place, white foam and blood mixed and churned.
“Kuaaah!”
A great slash like a natural disaster.
And a one-sided massacre that couldn't even be called a naval battle.
In an instant, the Hojubang's forces had been reduced by more than half.
By just one person.
By just a single swordsman.
“Retreat! Everyone, get back on the ships!”
Chu Gap had no choice but to order a retreat.
If they couldn't pull him into the water and couldn't block his attacks, it was better to be on the ships.
If naval combat was difficult, they could just use other martial arts.
If Chu Gap had only been strong in naval combat, he wouldn't have been able to control the entire Elm Leaf Lake.
He had a trick or two up his sleeve.
“Here… take my hand!”
“Get lost!”
Chu Gap roared at the subordinate who extended a hand from the ship.
Less than five minutes had passed since he had descended below the surface with great vigor and then returned.
His pride was crumpled like a piece of wastepaper, and receiving help on top of that made his anger erupt.
Hwiik!
With a nimble movement, Chu Gap pulled himself up and stood on the deck.
He was soaking wet, but due to the material of his clothes, his body didn't feel heavy.
Chu Gap looked around at the surrounding ships to assess the situation.
“…………!”
Then he bit his lip until it bled.
Less than half of what they started with remained.
Even including the injured who were lying on the decks bleeding.
“Since it's come to this, we’ll go with a swarm offensive! When the ships touch, wipe them all out!”
“Yes!”
At Chu Gap's command, all his subordinates answered in one voice.
But unfortunately, they couldn't hide the look of fear that had sprouted in their hearts.
“They’re coming!!”
The Hojubang’s ships approached the Yi Family Clan’s vessel at close range.
They were now in a position where they could leap onto the merchant guild’s ship with a strong jump.
“Form up!”
The guild leader raised his voice as loud as he could.
He had handpicked the best escorts in Yiliang County.
On the ship, there should be no great difficulty in protecting the merchants.
Chwaang!
The escorts drew their swords and stood in a line in front of the merchants.
Like well-trained escorts, their movements were flawless, but they couldn't completely erase the worry on their faces.
‘There are just too many.’
Would this be the feeling of witnessing a swarm of cockroaches by the lakeside?
Seeing the Hojubang approaching in their clinging black outfits, he was getting sick of it even before swinging his sword.
It was a relief that Biyoung had reduced their numbers; otherwise, they might have been crushed to death by the sheer number of people, not by swords.
Thud!
The first Hojubang ship to arrive collided with the merchant guild's bow.
It wasn't aimed at ramming, so there was no damage to either side.
But the dull sound of the ships colliding weighed heavily on the escorts' chests.
It had finally begun.
The fight against the Hojubang's black-clothed warriors, known as the masters of Elm Leaf Lake.
“Kehehe!”
As if aware of their overwhelming numerical superiority, three or four black-clothed warriors leaped onto the ship at the same time with raucous laughter.
The merchant guild’s escorts gritted their teeth and tightened their grip on their swords.
But just then,
Peobeobeobeobeok!
The men who had boarded the merchant guild's ship were flung back like springs.
“Kehehaak!”
It was a fleeting moment where laughter and screams mingled.
The Hojubang's black-clothed warriors, who had jumped in with great vigor, were pushed far back and plunged below the surface of the lake.
Plop!
The escorts, startled, all turned their heads at once.
There stood an adorable pretty girl with her hair in two braids.
“Where do you think you’re putting those dirty feet on this ship?”
The girl spoke with a spirit unbecoming of her age and then thrust her palms forward again.
Buuuung….
A faint sound like the flapping of wings could be heard from her palms.
A whitish haze appeared, and soon, a powerful palm force erupted.
Buaang!
Peobeobeobeok!
“Kwaaek!”
The Hojubang's black-clothed warriors who jumped in next were once again flung off the ship.
“Kyahaha! Cockroaches are best when they’re squashed and stomped on!”
Looking at the pretty girl before them, Hyeokri Hong, the escorts couldn't close their gaping mouths.
The palm attack she was unleashing was clearly not of an ordinary level.
The black-clothed warriors hit by her palm attack didn't just stagger; they were sent flying more than three zhang before crashing into the lake's surface.
‘A monster… a monster.’
‘At such a young age, how?’
As first-class escorts hired by the Yi Family Clan, they had experienced various battles.
Among them were surely those who used fist techniques and palm attacks instead of swords.
But they could swear, they had never seen a master with a more powerful palm attack than the one she was displaying.
“Hahaha! Repent in hell for daring to point your swords at this young lady!”
Peobeobeobeok!
There was one more surprising thing.
Hyeokri Hong's face was so pretty that one couldn't help but look forward to how she would look in five, no, ten years.
Should one call her an unfinished masterpiece with the vessel of snow-white skin and flower-like beauty?
“Die!”
But from her cute mouth, a stream of profanities poured out,
Buaaaang!
and her hands dealing with the black-clothed warriors were merciless.
Not just her palm attacks, but the cute girl's temperament was also very impressive.
“What are you all staring blankly at! Focus!”
“…………!”
At the roar of the middle-aged man who was their leader, the first-class escorts snapped back to their senses.
This was no time to be mesmerized by that pretty girl's palm attacks.
Perhaps thinking the resistance was unusual, the remaining ships were bypassing them and approaching the stern of the ship.
“Oh?”
Hyeokri Hong also seemed to notice this and her eyes flashed fiercely.
Then, she widened her arm position and stance a little more.
A peculiar light flickered in Absolute Protector's eyes as he watched her.
He realized what she was about to do.
“Haaat!”
With a clear shout, palm force erupted from Hyeokri Hong's palms.
Not the Wing Waving Palm she had used so far, but a much more eccentric and menacing palm force.
It was the Mad Dog's Barking Palm she had learned from the Mad and Aberrant Man, Gwangyo.
Buaaaang!
“!”
An eccentric palm force, like the movements of a madman, raged around the ship.
Peobeobeok!
“Kuaaaak!”
About ten black-clothed warriors who were trying to bypass and board the ship were sent flying, splattering blood as they crashed onto the lake's surface.
Kwajik!
“Oops!”
Hyeokri Hong flinched her shoulders and hastily withdrew the Mad Dog's Barking Palm.
As it was a difficult martial art to control, she had blown away a part of the ship's stern.
Hyeokri Hong scratched the back of her head with an awkward expression.
‘But this much should be fine, right? I got permission, after all.’
Strictly speaking, using the Mad Dog's Barking Palm was forbidden.
Because the Mad Dog's Barking Palm was not a martial art of the Diancang Sect, but Gwangyo's unique martial art.
No matter how much of a tomboy Hyeokri Hong was, she was not a girl who would carelessly break the sect's rules.
The reason she could use the Mad Dog's Barking Palm so freely was because of a secret suggestion from a handsome man who looked as if he was drawn in a painting.
Before the ship departed.
The handsome man had left Hyeokri Hong with meaningful words.
-Long ago, Ji Seok-gi of the Beggars’ Union said something like that.
-What did he say?
-If I'm not caught, I didn't do it.
-Hoooo?
The clever Hyeokri Hong understood the handsome man's meaning at once.
Depending on the situation, it was okay to use the Mad Dog's Barking Palm.
As long as she kept her mouth shut about it later.
-You bunch of good-for-nothing rascalsaaaaa!
Of course.
If Jeokseo on Kongtong Mountain and the deceased former Sect Leader in heaven saw this scene, they would surely foam at the mouth.
‘I need to use the technique with more precision.’
Just as Hyeokri Hong was recalling the Mad Dog's Barking Palm she had just withdrawn.
Swish.
Behind the ragged body of a black-clothed warrior, a man's eyes glinted.
The younger of the Yewi Twin Tyrants.
Chu Eul had used his subordinates' bodies as shields to finally get on the ship.
He was a man whose whole body overflowed with a sharp aura, different from the ordinary black-clothed warriors.
A sticky and dangerous aura that martial artists usually called 'killing intent'.
At that aura, Hyeokri Hong hastily turned her back.
“You rat-like bastard!”
Hyeokri Hong launched a Wing Waving Palm with a flustered voice.
Using his subordinate's body as a sacrifice to get on the ship.
It was a method she had never expected even in her dreams.
Papak!
Seeing the Wing Waving Palm, Chu Eul, far from being scared, quickly moved his body.
His footwork was fast and precise, unbelievable for someone on a shaking ship.
“Ah…!”
The Wing Waving Palm grazed over Chu Eul's head as he lowered his posture, and in no time, his body had reached right in front of Hyeokri Hong.
A life-and-death crisis.
Hyeokri Hong's heart sank.
Just as the dagger in Chu Eul's hand was about to touch Hyeokri Hong's white neck,
Kaang!
With an ear-piercing sound, Chu Eul's dagger stopped.
“!?”
Hyeokri Hong, who had squeezed her eyes shut, slowly lifted them.
“Ah…!”
A long sword was protecting her neck.
On the martial uniform of the man, who was a head taller than Chu Eul, was the sect's characteristic wing crest.
“Senior Brother!”
Absolute Protector.
With his usual expressionless face, the tall swordsman was blocking Hyeokri Hong's front.