novelraw Chapter 49 : Chapter 49
Chapter 49 : Chapter 49
Chapter 49 - Didn’t I tell you? We’d meet again
To reclaim Diancang Mountain.
The word 'reclaim' could only be used by its original owner.
As far as Wi Sung knew, there was only one group who could say such a thing.
‘Could it really be the Diancang Sect bastards?’
That was the worst-case scenario Wi Sung could imagine.
Although the Tiger-Bear Stronghold's power was considerable, facing a sect head-on was nothing short of a suicide mission.
The reason the Tiger-Bear Stronghold had been able to occupy Diancang Mountain was that this place was, in effect, an 'empty house'.
News that the Diancang Sect had been annihilated by the dark factions.
And upon hearing that the place was essentially unclaimed land, Wi Sung had moved their base here.
Although Yunnan itself was barren, this place had a road connecting to Tibet, so a considerable number of merchant caravans passed through, making it a good place to rob.
Besides, isn't there a saying that even a rich man who goes bankrupt can live for three generations?
He had thought that since it was a prestigious orthodox sect belonging to the Nine Sects One Union, there must be something worth taking.
In the end, Wi Sung's judgment was correct.
The banditry was more profitable than at their previous base, and he had even found an unusual vault underground.
Unfortunately, that vault had been stolen by an unidentified person.
Hwiriririk.
The Black Snake Silk Whip that had been coiled around Uma's sword returned to its original place.
Wi Sung, with a grim face, asked the man wearing the hero's cap.
“Where did you vagrants roll in from.”
“………….”
The handsome man, from whom a sense of reliable trust emanated, was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked.
“Are you Wi Sung?”
“!”
Wi Sung felt insulted for the first time in a long while.
No one in this Tiger-Bear Stronghold could address him like that.
Seeing a brat who didn't even look thirty calling him this and that made him feel like his insides were twisting.
“My name is Eung Gajin.”
For some reason, the pronunciation of 'jin' seemed to have been stressed more, but that wasn't what was important to Wi Sung right now.
“As of today, we will reclaim everything that belonged to the Diancang Sect! If you surrender, we will spare your lives, but if you resist, you will not see the sun rise this morning!”
Eung Gajin's appearance, thrusting his chest forward and shouting gallantly, was quite magnificent.
But from Wi Sung's perspective, he was just an uninvited guest telling him to give up everything he had.
“What are you all doing! Attack!”
“Dieee!”
The surrounding bandits swung their weapons at the two men.
But their momentum was clearly weaker than before.
They had struggled so much against just one man, Uma, and now it seemed another swordsman of similar skill, though it was unknown where he came from, had been added.
However, contrary to the bandits' expectations, Eung Gajin had no intention of fighting alongside him.
“Can you still do it?”
“Don't worry about useless things and go.”
Uma spat once and pointed towards Wi Sung.
“The underlings usually lose their strength once the leader is caught.”
“Alright.”
Eung Gajin kicked off the ground and flew up without hesitation.
Although Uma was injured, he trusted that he was not skilled enough to be defeated by mere bandit lackeys.
Rather than being ambushed by the Black Snake Silk Whip while dealing with the bandits, it was better for one person to deal with Wi Sung exclusively.
“!”
Wi Sung's pupils, who had thought they would fight together, shook greatly.
It was because Eung Gajin was rushing straight towards him at the speed of lightning.
The advantage of the quick sword was not only in swordsmanship but also had an excellent effect in breaking formations and rapidly changing the situation.
“Where do you think you're going!”
Shwiiiiik!
The reflexively thrown Black Snake Silk Whip grazed the tip of Eung Gajin's ear.
If it had been a chi closer, one of his ears would have been torn off, but Eung Gajin didn't even bat an eye.
If Uma was a master of street brawls, Eung Gajin was accustomed to the fights of Jianghu.
He had much experience crossing hands with bandits and Jianghu people while working as an escort.
“!”
Wi Sung, who had not thought he would break through the Black Snake Silk Whip head-on.
Just as his pupils were swaying like a pendulum.
Pakang!
Eung Gajin's sword, which seemed about to cut his throat at any moment, stopped right in front of him.
“!?”
‘Who is it……?’
Someone was blocking his path.
Was he even twenty years old?
A youthful-looking young man, taller than even Uma, had blocked Eung Gajin's sword.
‘In what instant……?’
Eung Gajin's pupils swayed like a pendulum.
He was a guy who had not been in his line of sight when he rushed at Wi Sung.
That meant that he had rushed over in an instant from a farther position.
In other words, it meant he was a faster swordsman than him, who had unleashed a quick sword.
“Tahat!”
Eung Gajin retrieved his blocked sword and thrust again at the flank.
The man defended the blade with minimal movement, then quickly and concisely aimed for Eung Gajin's Adam's apple.
“!”
Eung Gajin was greatly alarmed and barely twisted his head.
Jureureuk.
He had avoided a fatal wound, but he could feel a hot liquid flowing from his neck.
‘Where did such a master come from……?’
Even the chief, Wi Sung's, Black Snake Silk Whip did not have this much power.
Eung Gajin could intuitively tell that his skill was not below his own.
‘Then is this guy?’
Only then did Eung Gajin recall what Biyoung had said before they attacked the main mountain.
That if there was an unusual, tall swordsman, never to face him alone.
He had said that guy was stronger than the Diancang Sect's next-generation disciples.
At that moment.
“Geez. You really don't listen.”
The very voice Eung Gajin had just recalled was heard from behind him.
At this moment, not only Eung Gajin and Wi Sung, but also the man who had blocked the sword, had to turn their heads.
A handsome young boy, who still had a stronger feel of a boy than a young man, a rare sight these days, was smiling like a mischievous child.
“Hey face-man. You have a knack for not listening.”
Eung Gajin, noticing that the gaze was directed at him, blushed.
“No. This one appeared suddenly. And are you going to keep calling me face-man?”
At that, Biyoung sighed as if it were really difficult and shook his head.
“You don't like Eung-ga Senior Brother. You don't like face-man. Just what should I call you to make you satisfied?”
My name!
Just call me by my name, you bastard!
Eung Gajin cursed inwardly and retreated without any lingering attachment.
He hated to admit it, but he had keenly felt the difference in their skills from the brief exchange just now.
As Biyoung had said, he couldn't face that guy alone.
“Kwaak!”
“Eok!”
“……?”
The screams of the bandits were noticeably increasing.
Eung Gajin turned his head once, then soon let out a cry of 'Ah!'.
It was because, opposite of the brutish Uma's swordsmanship, an exceptionally splendid sword dance was unfolding.
Hwiriririk.
The sword dance was beautiful enough to evoke admiration, but it was also as deadly as the thorns hidden in rose petals.
The lovely sword lines that embroidered the empty air soon turned into the fresh blood of the bandits and scattered in all directions.
“It’s him.”
Wi Sung, who had been watching the sword dance as if possessed, suddenly came to his senses.
“What?”
“The thief who stole the vault is that person right there.”
“!”
Wi Sung's eyes widened so much they looked like they would pop out.
The target he had been searching for, grinding his teeth even in his sleep, had appeared right before his eyes.
“Didn’t I tell you? We’d meet again.”
Biyoung grinned and greeted Absolute Protector.
Wi Sung glared at Biyoung as if to kill him and shouted convulsively.
“You bastard! Where did you hide the vault!”
“Hide it? I gave it to its original owner.”
Biyoung answered calmly, and Eung Gajin tilted his head.
“A vault?”
“There's something like that. If you're curious, ask Elder Jeokseo.”
“You could just tell me yourself……”
“It's a long story to explain. And it seems Senior Brother Solbo and Senior Brother Danseol are struggling a bit over there.”
He had said it because he was too lazy to answer, but the effect was more certain than he had thought.
“Really?! Then I have to go!”
Eung Gajin flew in the direction Biyoung pointed without any lingering attachment.
He was curious about the vault, but it wasn't enough to trade for the danger his junior brothers were in.
“I was thinking about it the wrong way.”
Walking slowly towards Wi Sung and the man, Biyoung sneered at himself.
“Instead of looking for you, it would have been easier to go for the one you have to protect.”
Absolute Protector.
A man with no other thoughts or anything left besides protecting his master.
With that loyalty, he would not leave his master's side for a single moment.
As Biyoung had thought, Absolute Protector was near Wi Sung.
“Absolute Protector! Half-kill that bastard and bring him to me!”
The tall, handsome man bowed his head once and then pointed his sword at Biyoung.
“Absolute Protector? That's a name as peculiar as Eung-ga Senior Brother's.”
Biyoung smirked and pulled out the sword at his waist.
In front of him was Absolute Protector, and behind him was Wi Sung with the Black Snake Silk Whip.
“As the former master of this place, let me ask you one thing.”
“?”
“Who was the one who suggested moving your base here? Was it your own arbitrary thought?”
At the unexpected question, Wi Sung blinked a couple of times.
Whose suggestion?
That was an idea that his strategist, Han Hoe, had come up with.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him for a while.’
Wi Sung thought of Han Hoe for a moment, but he was under no obligation to answer properly.
Wi Sung grinned at Biyoung.
“Hear the answer in hell.”
As if taking those words as a signal, Absolute Protector moved his body towards Biyoung.
Paang!
The trajectory of the sword that cut horizontally long.
Biyoung's martial uniform narrowly retreated out of that trajectory.
‘It’s long, as expected.’
Just like he had seen once before, he was tall, his limbs were long, and his sword was even longer.
It felt at least thirty percent longer than the range of a normal swordsman.
Hadn't even the great Biyoung had the front of his robe cut off at first?
But in terms of the impression from the first confrontation, Absolute Protector's was stronger.
‘I must not show an opening.’
An expressionless face and a calm mind without a hint of agitation.
Along with his long range, this was Absolute Protector's talent as a swordsman.
He clearly remembered the moment he had his acupoints suppressed by Biyoung before.
As his range was long, the opening after an attack was large, and he was vulnerable to an opponent who got close.
Recalling their past confrontation, Absolute Protector unfolded his swordsmanship as concisely as possible.
Paang!
‘Ho…….’
Biyoung was genuinely impressed.
It seemed the fellow's skills had improved again in the short time he hadn't seen him.
He had reflected on what he was lacking and changed the development of his swordsmanship.
His swordsmanship using his long range had become more concise, and the way he used his body had also become more efficient.
It might be easy in theory, but it was something that would take a very long time to apply in a real battle.
‘Above all…….’
The swordsmanship Absolute Protector used had no foundation.
A swordsman who had reached this level should have a martial art that forms the basis of his sword.
But no trace of any sect could be found in Absolute Protector.
To put it nicely, it was formless; to put it badly, it was a haphazard style of swordsmanship.
‘And yet he's at this level.’
Biyoung exchanged several blows with Absolute Protector, as if enjoying the confrontation.
But he couldn't enjoy the entertainment forever while his senior brothers were fighting.
Biyoung sensed that it was time to end it and increased his speed.
Paang!
Once again, Absolute Protector's sword cut through the empty air.
But this time, Biyoung did not retreat backward.
Biyoung lowered his stance until he was almost touching the ground, dodging Absolute Protector's sword and digging into his space.
The same development as when he had suppressed his acupoints before.
However.
There was one fact that Biyoung had overlooked.
That for Absolute Protector, Wi Sung was more important than his own life.
Hwiririk!
Absolute Protector did not go against the momentum of his sword swing and rotated his body as it was.
Thanks to that, his flank was completely exposed, but he could move the opposite hand, which was not holding the sword, just as quickly.
A posture as if welcoming Biyoung who was approaching.
In his opposite hand, something shining eerily was held.
“!”
Biyoung knew all too well what that action meant.
Mutual destruction.
Even if he had to give up his flank, he would stab his neck with the dagger in his opposite hand.