❀ ❀ ❀
The expressions of the Evil Tyrant Alliance warriors turned deathly pale.
A group was charging forward relentlessly, emitting sword energy like crimson flower petals.
Dressed in black martial robes and wielding swords that painted petals in the air, they were unmistakable—figures now far too famous in the martial world.
"M-Mount Hua...!"
Crunch!
Before the shout could fully escape, a plum blossom sword energy pierced through the body. And then, a single sword flew straight to the throat.
Slash!
With an incomparably precise strike, the head was cleanly separated from the body.
"Aaaaargh!"
The barrage of sword strikes instantly shattered the defensive formation of the military advisors. The collapse was so complete that even the sound of destruction was absent—it was unsettling.
"Second wave!"
Yoon Jong shouted the command.
The Mount Hua swordsmen, who had been charging forward, immediately stepped on their comrades' shoulders and leaped into the air. In an instant, they plunged down upon the still-confused military advisors.
"We—We have to dodge—!"
A dozen heads soared into the sky.
Landing amidst the headless bodies, the Mount Hua swordsmen immediately pushed off the ground and surged forward.
"You bastard brats!"
The military advisors screamed, trying to block their advance.
But before they could even extend their spears, a multitude of flower petals blossomed between them and the Mount Hua swordsmen.
"Uh...."
Their vision was cut off.
The profusion of petals concealed not only the figures of the Mount Hua swordsmen but even their presence itself. Yet, focusing solely on the unseen enemy beyond the petals was impossible.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Because those very petals were slicing through flesh as they flew in every direction.
"Aah, Aaargh!"
Crunch!
The moment a scream erupted, a sword thrust deep into the gaping mouth.
With a single stroke, the Mount Hua swordsman severed the enemy's cervical spine, twisted his sword free, and charged forward once more.
"Ugh... Urgh!"
"These bastards... every last one of them!"
The Evil Tyrant Alliance warriors recoiled in fear. They knew they had to fight back, but their bodies refused to move. No matter how fierce a mantis may be, standing in the path of a cart is not bravery but folly.
Their morale had crumbled, utterly shattered. With their spirits broken, the Evil Tyrant Alliance warriors started retreating in blind panic.
"Don't retreat, you idiots! Hold the line! Fight back!"
One of Ho Gamyeong's lieutenants roared. But despite his commanding tone, his own eyes trembled with fear.
'Is... Is this truly Mount Hua?'
He had never underestimated them. As someone serving as a military advisor, he knew better than to disregard Mount Hua. After all, it was the military advisor division of Evil Tyrant Alliance that had suffered the most at Mount Hua's hands.
Yet, even so, the military advisors were unable to conceal their shock.
'When did they become this powerful?!'
There was no need for further analysis. The truth was evident—Mount Hua was simply overwhelmingly strong. They were crushing the military advisor division's elite forces with sheer power.
Whoosh!
Plum blossom sword energy scattered through the air once again.
"Ho Gamyeong!"
Yoon Jong roared. In just the span of a few breaths, Ho Gamyeong had already moved dozens of feet, attempting to escape the battlefield.
Seeing this, fire blazed in Yoon Jong's eyes.
"Don't even dream of it!"
His sword radiated a fierce aura.
Stomping heavily, he cleaved through the enemies blocking his path in a single motion, then shouted once more.
"Chase him! Do not let him escape!"
"Ooooooh!"
Mount Hua surged forward.
"Stop them! Block their path—"
"Be silent."
The lieutenant, who was about to scream, suddenly froze at the quiet voice behind him.
"When did you—?"
Thunk.
Before he could even turn around, a sword pierced his heart from behind.
Blood gushed from his mouth.
"Ugh... urgh..."
The lieutenant crumpled to the ground.
Standing over his fallen body was Yoo Iseol. With an expressionless glance at the corpse, she effortlessly pulled her sword free.
The remaining Evil Tyrant Alliance warriors, half in a daze, instinctively raised their weapons. But before they could even strike, Yoo Iseol's sword had already cut through the air.
Whoosh.
Another head flew.
"Behind us! There's one behind us too!"
"Aaaah!"
Though she was just one person, the soldiers were already at their breaking point.
Her mere presence behind them was enough to make them lose their last shred of resolve.
"We—we can't stop them! Run! RUN!"
Those who had been prepared to give their lives to hinder Mount Hua now scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.
Yoon Jong paid no attention to the retreating enemies.
His focus remained solely on his target.
Ho Gamyeong was now nothing more than a tiny speck in the distance.
'Can I reach him?'
The thought flickered through Yoon Jong's mind but was immediately discarded.
Now was not the time for thinking—only for moving.
"Oooooooooh!"
With a battle cry, Yoon Jong threw himself forward, leading the charge of the Mount Hua swordsmen across the battlefield.
On the vast plains, figures stood like scattered dots.
But none stood in their way.
There was no clear path forward, but a path existed nonetheless.
That meant there was only one thing left to do.
Yoon Jong concentrated all his energy into his legs, maximizing his speed. The other Mount Hua swordsmen pushed themselves to the limit, chasing after him with all their strength. Together, they resembled a single black arrow tearing through the battlefield.
'What's the situation?'
Yoon Jong instinctively scanned the battlefield.
He could only see a handful of scattered Heavenly Comrade Alliance members—most had already split into dozens of different directions.
Like Mount Hua, they too were closing in on their target—whether real or a decoy was unknown. But unlike Mount Hua, they had already reached within striking distance of Jang Ilso.
"We've got him—!"
A warrior, now within range, leaped and slashed toward Jang Ilso's back.
At that moment, Jang Ilso spun around and flung open his crimson robe.
And then—
BOOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion erupted. The blast was deafening, and the resulting shockwave swept over the battlefield.
"Yoon Jong!"
"Don't stop! Keep moving!"
BOOOOOOOM!
Another explosion detonated in the distance.
"Damn it! Don't look back!"
At the familiar voice behind him, Yoon Jong gritted his teeth. He desperately suppressed the urge to turn around.
'What an obvious trick!'
Since he had chosen to chase these people, who might even be fakes, he had to accept this kind of trap. After all, there was only so much explosive a person could carry. The moment he shrank back in fear, he would truly fall into their scheme.
"Don't get in my way!"
Yoon Jong's sword gleamed coldly as he charged toward the group of Evil Tyrant Alliance warriors who had unexpectedly blocked his path. His merciless strike cut them down in an instant.
'Faster! Faster! Even faster than before!'
The backs of the fleeing enemies were drawing closer. The swordsmen of Mount Hua did not waste their strikes on them.
Whoosh!
Thud!
They cut down only those who absolutely had to be cut down—swiftly and perfectly.
"If you want to die, then try stopping me!"
A battle where everything had been placed on a single goal had finally brought him to this moment.
He could see him!
Yoon Jong's bloodshot eyes widened as he roared.
"Ho Gamyeooooong!"
The figure of Ho Gamyeong, which had momentarily vanished from sight, appeared once more. Ho Gamyeong slightly lifted his head. Though his expression wasn't visible, Yoon Jong and the other disciples of Mount Hua could easily imagine what it must have been.
Ho Gamyeong gestured.
At the same time, dozens—no, hundreds—of arrows were launched toward Mount Hua. Each was imbued with internal energy. But they were no obstacle for the disciples of Mount Hua.
Tarararak!
Petals that had risen in unison intercepted and shattered the incoming arrows. Poisoned arrows grazed their faces, yet not a single swordsman slowed their charge.
Two hundred zhang. [around 666 meters]
One hundred zhang.
Kwaaaaang!
Something exploded from the ground. The sudden pressure felt as if it would tear their insides apart. Yet, the disciples of Mount Hua did not stop.
Fifty zhang.
Thirty zhang.
Finally, the distance between them and Ho Gamyeong was close enough to reach out and grab him.
"Uwooooooh!"
Realizing he would soon be caught, Ho Gamyeong's guards abruptly turned and charged toward the swordsmen of Mount Hua.
It was a sight rarely seen among the Evil Sect—a willingness to sacrifice oneself for another.
But at this moment, Yoon Jong didn't care about such distinctions.
"Pierce through them!"
The moment his shout erupted, the disciples of Mount Hua surged ahead of him. Black robes fluttered as his sahyungs charged forward, while the enemy rushed toward them, their faces steeled with grim determination.
Yet, Yoon Jong saw none of it. His gaze was fixed on one thing—Ho Gamyeong's back.
Twenty zhang.
Yoon Jong's sword pierced the enemy blocking his path.
"I won't let you go!"
Slash!
Ten zhang!
His breath caught in his throat.
"Y-you can't…!"
Someone desperately grabbed at him, but Yoon Jong sliced through their wrist and staggered forward before regaining his balance.
Five zhang.
His heart felt like it would explode—no, maybe it already had.
"Mount Huaaaaa!"
Enemies, their eyes bloodshot with desperation, lunged at Yoon Jong, their blades gleaming like the fangs of demons.
"Just like that."
A calm voice suddenly rang out. Trusting that voice, Yoon Jong did not stop. Yoo Iseol stepped onto his shoulder and soared forward.
Claaang!
Her sword struck, forcing the enemy's blade back. In that brief opening, Yoon Jong shot forward like an arrow.
Crack!
Even as Yoo Iseol's sword targeted their throats, the military advisors continued to latch onto Yoon Jong's body. They were throwing their lives away.
"Aaaaaah!"
He felt as though his body would be crushed under the pressure, but Yoon Jong didn't stop. One more step. Just one more step.
His body leaned forward, stretching out as if he would collapse. Now, Ho Gamyeong's back loomed so close that he could nearly grasp it. Only three zhang left. A single leap would be enough!
Crunch. Crack!
Even as their carotid arteries were severed and their souls escaped, military advisors refused to release him easily. At this rate, the distance would widen again.
'Not a chance!'
Scrraaaaape!
Yoon Jong raked his sword across the ground as if digging into the earth.
"Uwooooooh!"
Whiiiiiing!
Like a soaring swallow, his Plum Blossom Sword twisted upward in a fierce, rotating arc—straight toward Ho Gamyeong.
And at that moment, Yoon Jong saw it.
The world seemed to slow—almost stop—as Ho Gamyeong turned his head, his face twisted in shock.
Claaang!
His sleeve deflected the sword, but its trajectory shifted—
Slash!
The rotating blade cut deep into Ho Gamyeong's upper thigh, slicing down to the bone. His body crumpled, slamming into the ground. Almost simultaneously, Yoon Jong also lost his balance and tumbled violently.
Thud!
The sound of both men crashing down echoed in unison.
"Haaah…"
Harsh breaths burst from Yoon Jong's lips. His face was drenched in sweat, but at the same time, overwhelming triumph filled his expression. Eyes bloodshot, he glared at the fallen figure before him and grinned as he spat out his words.
"Got you, you bastard."
[note: Today the Korean author updated 8 hours later than usual, that's why I just updated at this hour]