novelraw Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135 Star of the Grasslands (3)
Confirming that the grassland people charging at a tremendous speed were raising their bows high, Thousand Households Commander Ma shouted loudly.
"Embroidered Uniform Guard! All of you, Soul Guarding Stance!"
The martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, hearing Commander Ma's cry, quickly gathered and raised their spears high. Meanwhile, Commander Ma, who had picked up his fallen spear with his left hand and rolled forward, ran ahead.
He quickly took his position in the center of the Embroidered Uniform Guard members, and as he raised his energy, the energy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard gathered into one, shone with a golden light, and spread out widely in all directions.
"They're coming! Concentrate your energy!"
─ DOOOOM!
─ THUD THUD! DOOM!
Each time an arrow collided with the golden energy, the bodies of the Embroidered Uniform Guard members were pushed back in a group.
─ WHOOSH
─ CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
The last three arrows that flew in contained a much greater energy than the others.
Blood trickled down from the corners of the mouths of the Embroidered Uniform Guard members who had struggled to block all the arrows.
The giant, who was watching the scene from behind with astonished eyes, suddenly let out a loud laugh.
"Hahahahaha! Those are the arrows of the wind! The Root Tribe has finally made its move!"
"The warriors of the grasslands have gathered! Everyone, take out your short spears!"
Following someone's cry after the giant's laughter, the warriors of the Rock Tribe all took out their short spears. At the same time, a heat haze began to rise from the warriors' bodies.
It was like that for a moment.
Soon, the warriors' bodies were bent back like bows.
"De mairo kuha!"
"De mairo kuha!"
─ SWOOOOSH!
Dozens of short spears imbued with the energy of nature left the warriors' hands. The short spears, containing the immense power of nature, spun here and there as they shot toward the rear of the Embroidered Uniform Guard members.
"Everyone, Interception Stance to the rear!"
The martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had deflected the powerful arrows, all turned their bodies according to Commander Ma's voice. And this time, they extended their spears toward the short spears flying toward them.
─ CRAAAAASH!
The incoming short spears and the spears of the Embroidered Uniform Guard met, spreading a massive impact sound.
"Huh...?"
The expression of the Embroidered Uniform Guard member who had deflected the first short spear to arrive hardened.
─ CRACK!
The short spear that had met his own spear was exploding in mid-air, turning into sharp fragments and pouring down.
─ CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Each time a spear of the Embroidered Uniform Guard met a short spear thrown by the tribe's warriors, the short spear exploded, and then the sharp fragments of the exploded short spear rained down on the bodies of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
"Keuk."
"Keoheok."
In an instant, the martial robes worn by the Embroidered Uniform Guard were stained red.
"Get a grip! Half face the front, half face the rear!"
Even in a situation where their entire bodies were covered in blood, the Embroidered Uniform Guard quickly formed a formation with disciplined movements.
'I'll have to leave the rear to them for now.'
Glancing at the Rock Tribe, Commander Ma, who had turned his body toward the approaching Root Tribe warriors, flashed his eyes sharply.
"Hah!"
Commander Ma's body shot forward.
As Commander Ma ran forward with his spear, he sensed something and suddenly raised his head.
"Is that... demonic energy?"
A look of wonder appeared in the eyes of Commander Ma, who had sensed the energy contained in the arrow nocked on Jaun's bowstring.
"Why is there demonic energy here?"
─ KRRRRR
Jaun's horn bow was fully drawn, and soon, it let out another massive explosion sound.
─ CRAAAAASH!
The arrow, filled with Jaun's demonic energy, shot toward Commander Ma.
"Everyone, fall back!"
Commander Ma looked at the incoming arrow and then pulled his spear back in a serious stance.
[Chaotic Dance Shattering Slash]
At the same time, a thick blood qi flowed over Commander Ma's body and mingled with the golden energy.
Then, with light movements as if dancing, Commander Ma began to swing his spear.
─ SWISH, SWISH
─ WHOOSH, VROOOM
In the blink of an eye, the spear began to slash through the air. Each time Commander Ma's spear was swung, a massive amount of energy shot forward and rushed toward Jaun's arrow like a wave.
─ BOOM! BANG! BANG! BOOM!
Jaun's arrow, which had collided with the successively shot out energy, eventually lost its power and fell to the ground.
"Hoo."
Commander Ma, who had taken a deep breath, held his spear forward and stood on the spot.
"Stop! Who are you!"
As Jaun raised his hand to stop No-seok, who was about to raise his bow, he lowered his bow and let out a loud whistle.
─ WHEEEW
Confirming No-seok's whistle, the warriors of the Rock Tribe all lowered their short spears and stopped in their tracks, while the martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard held their spears forward and took a defensive stance.
A silence momentarily fell upon the grasslands.
─ CLIP-CLOP CLIP-CLOP
The warriors of the Root Tribe, who had approached slowly, spread out and began to surround the Embroidered Uniform Guard members.
Following them, the warriors of the Rock Tribe formed a semicircle on the opposite side, and the martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were completely surrounded by the warriors of the two tribes.
Commander Ma, who surveyed the surroundings and grasped the situation, took a deep breath.
"We are the Imperial Guard Command. We are carrying out a mission under the order of the Imperial Court! If there is a person of the Central Plains mixed in there, stop at once!"
Jaun slowly urged his horse forward.
"Did you say you were a Thousand Households Commander?"
Hearing Jaun's voice, Commander Ma tilted his head.
'I've heard that voice somewhere before.'
After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Commander Ma opened his mouth.
"I am Ma Ryun-hoe, Thousand Households Commander of the 13th Army of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Do you know me?"
"...I know of you, roughly. A parasite that preys on the Blood Cult and exploits the blood of the innocent."
At Jaun's words, Commander Ma's expression instantly hardened.
"..."
Without opening his mouth any further, Commander Ma's lips twitched as he stared intently at Jaun.
'The matter with the Blood Cult is a top secret even within the Imperial Court. But how...?'
Commander Ma, who had been glaring at Jaun for a long time, raised his hand and sent a hand signal to the rear. The martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who confirmed Commander Ma's hand signal, gripped their spears tightly.
"When did you form a relationship with the Blood Demon? And how many in the Embroidered Uniform Guard have a relationship with the Blood Cult?"
At Jaun's continuing questions, Commander Ma frowned.
"...You bastard. I don't know how you found out about that, but since you know something you shouldn't, I cannot let you live."
A golden energy began to surge and spread from Commander Ma's body.
"I'm sure we're both curious about many things. If one of us has to die anyway, how about we satisfy our curiosity before we go?"
Commander Ma, who had gripped his spear tightly, hesitated for a moment and stared at Jaun before slowly opening his mouth.
"...Are you a person of the Central Plains?"
Jaun nodded.
"How did you find out about the matter with the Blood Cult?"
"I was once a member of the Divine Cult myself, so it would be more difficult not to notice a blood qi that isn't even properly concealed."
"...A person of the Divine Cult. Heh. So that's it, that's it. I heard that even within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, there are those who do not accept the martial arts of the Blood Cult. You must be a follower of that old glory."
After thinking for a moment, Commander Ma nodded his head.
"Still, it's a relief. If it's a member of the Divine Cult, the Blood Demon will take care of silencing them. Are there any others who know about this besides you?"
Jaun shook his head from side to side as if that were not the case.
"Now it's my turn to ask. How many in the Embroidered Uniform Guard have received the martial arts of the Blood Cult?"
Commander Ma stared at Jaun and then opened his mouth.
"...You're going to die here anyway, so I'll play along one last time. About one-tenth of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have been chosen."
"Chosen, you say. Well, fine. Then I'll answer your question first. Besides the people here, no one else knows about this properly."
"That's good to hear."
"Then I'll ask the next question. How did the Embroidered Uniform Guard first obtain the martial arts of the Blood Cult?"
"...I cannot answer that."
"Was it given by Prince Yeomseong? When was that?"
At the mention of Prince Yeomseong from Jaun's mouth, the smile disappeared from Commander Ma's lips.
"This bastard..."
"Well, it doesn't matter if you don't answer. I'm not that curious about your answer anyway. To be honest, I just needed some time to recover my tired body."
A red light began to shimmer from the body of Commander Ma, who was glaring at Jaun.
"Everyone, raise spears."
At Commander Ma's words, the martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard raised their spears as they were.
"Kill to silence. They know something they shouldn't. Eliminate everyone here."
"As you command."
The martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard answered in unison at Commander Ma's words.
"It is permissible to use the Red Blood Art. Do not let this story leak out under any circumstances."
As soon as Commander Ma finished speaking, a red energy began to spread from the bodies of all the Embroidered Uniform Guard members.
"...Is that the Red Blood Art you have learned?"
Jaun took out the sword he had tied to his saddle and jumped down from his horse.
As Jaun drew his sword, the red blade reflected the sunlight and revealed itself. Then, a massive black energy began to surge from Jaun's body.
"How clumsy."
At Jaun's words, Commander Ma frowned. Just as he was about to say something, Jaun kicked off the ground and shot toward the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
─ TWANG
'They have all learned the martial arts of the Blood Cult. There is no need for mercy in my hands.'
A powerful energy began to surge in Jaun's sword.
As Jaun shot forward, Commander Ma quickly raised his spear forward.
"He is one who has learned the martial arts of the Demonic Cult! Everyone, do not be careless and form an interception stance!"
Commander Ma stepped back and took his position among the martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The martial artists of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had their spears held forward, extended their spears toward the charging Jaun.
─ WHOOSH
Dozens of spears shot forward, creating a fierce energy wave.
─ KIIING
Jaun's Mangru Blood Sword was filled with the energy he had raised, and soon, it drew a large semicircle and cut through the air.
─ SLASH
─ SWOOSH
"Keuk."
"Aack!"
Blood spurted from the arms of the two Embroidered Uniform Guard members standing on the outermost flank.
Commander Ma, who was watching his subordinates being helplessly defeated by Jaun's single move, bit his lip and raised his hand toward the rising blood.
─ SWOOOOSH
Then, as a red energy shimmered from Commander Ma's body, the blood floating in the air turned into smoke and was sucked into Commander Ma.
The Blood Demon's signature technique, the Wuji Red Blood Art, was a marvelous art that absorbed the opponent's blood and made it one's own energy. The more wounds the opponent had, the stronger the martial art became.
Nevertheless, Jaun, who had been quietly watching Commander Ma absorb the blood qi, indifferently swung his sword horizontally again.
─ CLANG CLANG CLANG
Dozens of spears of the Embroidered Uniform Guard members quickly blocked the path of Jaun's sword.
The spears of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which had struggled to stop Jaun's sword, poured down on Jaun once again.
─ CLANG CLANG! CRASH!
As Jaun swung his sword brilliantly toward the pouring spears, the spears were sent flying in all directions.
Jaun, who had deflected even the last spear shot by Commander Ma, lowered his body as much as possible and swung his sword horizontally.
─ SWOOSH
"Keuk."
Blood spurted from the waist of another Embroidered Uniform Guard member. And the blood again turned into smoke and seeped into Commander Ma's spear.
─ CRASH! SWOOSH!
─ CLANG! SLASH!
As time passed, the number of wounds on the bodies of the Embroidered Uniform Guard members increased, and accordingly, the energy that Commander Ma obtained grew larger and larger.
However, for some reason, Commander Ma could not control the increased blood qi at will. The moment his spear met Jaun's sword, the blood qi fluctuated violently, and as a result, the blood qi was actually hindering the execution of his martial arts.
'What on earth... is happening?'
In a situation like this, the more he increased the blood qi, the more disadvantageous it became.
'...I have no choice.'
Commander Ma, who felt that there was no chance of victory if things continued like this, gripped his spear tightly and scattered the collected blood qi into the air. Then, he fully drew out only his own energy, kicked the ground hard, and shot forward.
[Golden Dragon Seizes Bird]
A spear containing a massive golden energy extended in a straight line toward Jaun.
─ CRAAAAASH!
Using the force of Jaun deflecting his spear, Commander Ma rotated his body and swung his spear horizontally once again.
─ CRASH! CRASH!
Commander Ma's successive spearmanship was quite excellent.
He knew how to use his opponent's strength, his control of strength and weakness was free, and the transition between feints and real moves was truly elegant.
Moreover, since it was an orthodox spear path, there was no wavering whatsoever.
However, that was as far as it went.
Jaun, who had instantly grasped Commander Ma's spearmanship, did not miss even the slightest gap created by the clash and immediately followed up with a counterattack.
─ SWOOSH
Before ten moves had even passed, a fierce spray of blood erupted from Commander Ma's shoulder.