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Heavenly Dark Village

Did Jin So-cheong suddenly look like a moth to them? The leaders of the Great Sword Gate and the Iron Blood Gate stood there, expressions utterly baffled. They had decided to forget about face and honor to annihilate us, yet they looked utterly dazed by the sudden charge. It’s no surprise—some of the strongest warriors in Jianghu were gathered right there, and here he was, charging in alone.

It was a strange sight. Jin So-cheong’s movements were clearly the Thunder Shadow Step and Heavenly Gathering Kill, yet something about it didn’t match what I knew. I couldn’t even explain it myself.

Bang bang bang!

In the next instant, the Master of the Great Sword Gate slashed left while the Iron Blood Gate leader attacked from the right. It was quite unusual for peak experts to coordinate against a single foe like this. They were truly desperate! At the same time, a swift flash of silver and a thunderous ruckus exploded that barely registered in my senses.

‘Ugh…!!’

Having missed the moment to jump in, I could only watch with sweaty palms. Observing the Absolute Slash from the Master of the Great Sword Gate and the Iron Blood Gate, it struck me that there was no way I could survive if I had been there.

Suddenly, a feeling shot through me:

Jin So-cheong was about to be hit.

No, that’s not it.

‘Huh…?’

Something was odd.

With human senses, it was hard to catch that moment—I felt as if Jin So-cheong was… smiling.

This sensation reminded me of that brief moment when I faced the Twelve Joules from the East.

In an instant, Jin So-cheong’s spear cleaved through the air twice.

Swish!

It sounded like ice cracking. At that precise moment, a shockwave erupted from the experts’ combined pressure, and Jin So-cheong danced gracefully, turning twice before landing smoothly. Then he drew a sword that had been previously empty in his left hand.

Peep!

“……!!”

I gaped in disbelief.

Both the sword and the spear were now being wielded by Jin So-cheong!

The sword in his left was executing the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, and the spear in his right was performing the essence of the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear! It was as if he split his body in two and swiftly countered the attacks from the peak experts.

Bam! Bam!

Sword Qi and Sword Flame clashed in the air, dozens—no, hundreds of times. Standing there, Jin So-cheong wielded both sword and spear with ease, effortlessly deflecting the two leaders’ onslaughts. He didn’t even seem to be using his full strength.

“Ugh…!!”

“What?!”

The Master of the Great Sword Gate and the Iron Blood leader were furiously swinging their weapons, utterly shocked. How could a mere twenty-something youth stand his ground against their assault?

I was left speechless.

‘He’s using both spear techniques and sword techniques together?’

Using two distinct weapon styles simultaneously didn’t just mean swinging two weapons at the same time—it required an unfathomable sense of balance and understanding to wield different techniques as extensions of one’s body. One thing was clear: no matter how much I wished it, I could never show the same talents as Jin So-cheong.

“Quick, let’s wrap this up.”

“Right.”

At that moment, the heads of the three families, remaining from the scattered forces, stepped forward. Two of them approached me, while the other headed towards Jin So-cheong. They seemed to be planning to gang up on Jin So-cheong, with the goal of killing him while I distracted the leaders of the Twin Gate Sect.

They surrounded me from both sides and spoke. The voices of the middle-aged men came low and steady.

“I am Seo Yoon from the Seo Clan.”

“I am Jang Bong from the Zhang Clan.”

Seo Yoon seemed to specialize in fist techniques, entering a defensive stance with gray martial garments, while Jang Bong wielded a knife, displaying a readiness to attack. I could tell from their postures that they too had reached peak expertise.

Clenching my teeth, I spoke up.

“Why are leaders of the Twin Gate Sect acting so foolishly? Soon, the capital will fall, and as a result of this ambush, your clans will meet their end!”

At that, Jang Bong sighed while rubbing his temple, and Seo Yoon let out a heavy sigh in response.

“… We have hostages.”

It seemed murderous intent lingered over their hesitation to join forces alongside a kid like me and the shame of being a martial artist. I asked back,

“What?”

“We came out to save villagers stricken by a strange disease.”

Seo Yoon’s hard voice held a complex mixture of emotions. It seemed they weren’t here of their own volition to attempt an assassination and had been forced into this predicament.

“So you think that by assassinating the Huang Yeon Army officials, you can cure the disease?”

“Exactly.”

“What kind of disease exactly is this…?”

“There’s no time to discuss it further. Die!”

Boom!

At the same moment, Seo Yoon charged forward, delivering a Thunder Fist.

Normally, fist techniques serve as supplementary martial skills, lacking the distance control necessary to stand against more formidable weapon arts. Therefore, those who used fists in the Jianghu were either trained in special martial skills or had incredible confidence in their own abilities. Among them, the Seo Clan emerged as martial artists prominent in Luoyang.

Bang!

“Ugh.”

I felt my Sword Flame being overwhelmed by Seo Yoon’s Thunder Fist. Despite our significant difference in power, I found myself pushed back at that moment. Before I could ponder how this was happening, Seo Yoon’s fist began hurtling transparently through the air toward me.

As I attempted to parry Seo Yoon’s fist with the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, Jang Bong attacked in succession. Evading Jang Bong’s swift blade with my techniques, I tried to break free from their encirclement, but they didn’t allow me an easy escape. A violent assault of energy fell upon me.

Crash!

Eventually, unable to win through my techniques, I had no choice but to unleash my internal power to push them away. Using the power of my internal techniques, I emitted a shockwave that repelled everything around me. They pivoted gracefully in the air, regaining their stance to charge once again.

‘Damn it!’

I grimaced. Once again, my opponents were masters skilled in techniques that could easily deflect my attacks. If one of the Twelve Joules were attacking, I’d be facing those in the mid-tier. One-on-one, I might have had a chance, but with them cooperating, no matter how much I relied on my internal power, my chances were low.

Thankfully, the two exceptional leaders of the Twin Gate Sect were currently engaged with Jin So-cheong. Moreover, the master of the Yi Clan had now allied with Jin So-cheong, adding significant pressure.

‘No, I can’t think about them right now! What do I do?’

Just then, a melodious laugh echoed through the chaos.

“Hahaha! Who dares to act so bold before me?”

Suddenly, amidst the duel, a figure clothed in white appeared between me and Jang Bong. That white entity struck at Jang Bong’s blade with a shapeless hand, sending him flying backward as he couldn’t resist the force. Judging by Jang Bong’s staggering movements, that power was indeed tremendous.

I spotted the being before me and shouted in joy,

“Miho!!”

“Hmph. I’ve subdued one.”

Miho’s gaze fell upon Jang Bong, who appeared staggered, his eyes glazed and not immediately charging forward again. Instead, he simply swayed in place.

‘She cast the Enchantment Technique!’

Miho successfully enchanted Jang Bong. That meant I only had Seo Yoon left to deal with. As our gazes fell upon him, he grimaced and said,

“Stop staring and jump in!”

“Hahaha…”

Whirrr!

As Miho’s enchanting song resounded, a sudden wave of enchantment swept through the room. All the experts engaged in battle momentarily swayed under its allure but managed to withstand it due to their accumulated internal strength and mental fortitude.

At that moment, Miho tilted her head at me. I caught on quickly and charged at Seo Yoon. For just that brief moment, a significant opening presented itself, enabling me to strike true. Although my attack was a step late, I was able to avoid a fatal injury after my sword sliced across his forearm.

Slash!

My blade left a deep wound on Seo Yoon’s arm, but it wasn’t life-threatening. He quickly attempted to staunch the bleeding with his remaining power, which allowed me to attack him once more and press forward.

Bang! Bang!

My sword strikes sliced through the air, meeting the steely flesh of Seo Yoon in quick succession. Remarkably, his body absorbed my flame-infused blade strikes as if he were untouched. This could be due to the effectiveness of the Seo Clan’s unique internal technique. Nonetheless, the difference in our internal strength was unmistakable, and he continuously sustained deeper wounds.

Swoosh—

Eventually, I seized an opening and positioned my sword against his throat, ready to finish it in just about 80 seconds. Seo Yoon trembled as he looked into my eyes, then slowly closed them.

“Kill me.”

“Farewell.”

With a swift motion, I severed his neck. My quick blade made him feel no pain at all. Though he was my enemy, he was the head of a clan and a master of martial arts, deserving of respect. After confirming that his head fell to the ground, I quickly glanced toward Jin So-cheong.

Clang!

“Hah!”

A cry echoed like that of a dying snake. The Master of the Great Sword Gate struck down, aiming at Jin So-cheong’s shoulder, while the Iron Blood Master aimed for his lower half. Joining them was the Yi Clan leader, aiming to deliver a killing blow to Jin So-cheong’s head.

Three peak experts converging!

‘What are they planning?’

I believed there was no way I could survive in that position. The best I could do was use my foot techniques to push back the enemies, but even that would be fraught with risk of severe injury. Jin So-cheong suddenly twisted his spear.

Moments later, the sword in Jin So-cheong’s left hand severed the Yi Clan leader’s weapon, while the spear struck low, knocking away the Iron Blood Master’s sword. At the same time, the Great Sword Master’s blade was deflected by a swift counter-strike.

“……!!”

Not only did their joint assault fail spectacularly, but Jin So-cheong also effortlessly entangled their weaknesses, showcasing a perfect martial flow. The Yi Clan leader received a blow to the solar plexus from Jin So-cheong’s kick.

“Gah!”

All three peak experts staggered backward, shock and disbelief painted across their faces. Even I was left speechless, my mouth hanging open. The movements Jin So-cheong exhibited just now could easily be described as the pinnacle of martial mastery—an art form in itself.

The Master of the Great Sword Gate stuttered,

“You’re one step ahead. How can that be?”

Jin So-cheong answered nonchalantly,

“Because I can see it. That’s all I can say.”

“……!!”

“Well then, it’s time to get serious.”

Fizz!

Jin So-cheong’s eyes began to glow white. His entire being seemed enveloped in thunder, with every hair standing on end. Seeing this stunned me.

‘Thunderclap?!’

Bang!

In an instant, it seemed Jin So-cheong vanished. I thought he had vanished, but it was simply that my body couldn’t keep up with the movement of him anymore. Both I and the three peak experts stood dazed.

Slash!

Then, the head of the Iron Blood Master flew away. He died with a face still focused, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened. Jin So-cheong’s slash had followed the most straightforward of paths, yet I couldn’t even fathom how to defend myself against it. It contained a level of mastery far beyond my comprehension.

With a thud, the Thunder God Fist of Jin So-cheong smashed the Yi Clan leader’s throat. That too, seemed to be a fatal blow, leaving behind only lifeless fish-like eyes. It was an unexpectedly pathetic end for one considered a master of martial arts renowned across the world.

An intense sound resonated through the room.

Crash!

“Kuhak!!”

The sharp sound of blades echoed as the Master of the Great Sword Gate was sent flying. From the look of blood spilling from his mouth, he must have sustained serious internal injuries. When he landed, a gust of wind suddenly swept through the hall.

Striding forward through the wind was Jin So-cheong’s sword form. He took a moment to catch his breath, the thunder’s power subsiding. He then addressed the Great Sword Master, who was struggling to rise.

“Don’t get up. If you do, I might really have to kill the Master of the Great Sword Gate.”

Jin So-cheong’s voice sounded calm but bore an undeniable fierce resolve. Despite the almost threat-like warning, the Great Sword Master still mustered the strength to rise from the ground. He stood tall and, with a smirk, raised his sword again.

“Everyone was mistaken…”

“Master of the Great Sword! I warned you.”

“If you were in my position, would you stop? In the face of your family’s annihilation, would you hold back to save your miserable life?”

“……”

“I will give my best as a martial artist. You needn’t feel guilty.”

Jin So-cheong bit his lip and charged back into combat.

After nearly twenty seconds of intense battle, the Great Sword Master seemed to expose a large opening due to his injuries, and Jin So-cheong swiftly struck his heart with the spear. Jin So-cheong quickly pulled back his weapon from the Great Sword Master’s chest, the movement executed so cleanly that hardly any blood trickled out.

“Farewell.”

Looking dejected, the Master of the Great Sword Gate breathed,

“So this is the end…”

As he slumped to the ground, dead, Jin So-cheong suddenly coughed up blood.

“Cough!”

I hurriedly approached Jin So-cheong.

“Are you alright?!”

“I’m… fine…”

Jin So-cheong looked pale, drained of energy like someone who had been ill for days.

I checked his pulse and soon realized why he looked so faded.

‘His internal power is almost depleted! And his vital energy was damaged!’

It had to be the consequence of the Thunderclap he had just unleashed. While I had plenty of internal energy to spare, he couldn’t afford to use it so recklessly. Though he had seemingly dominated the fight, Jin So-cheong had clearly paid a price of his own.

Miho, watching from the sidelines, spoke.

“Let’s just go. The outcome between Lee Kwang and the Han Clan leader is more pressing.”

After a few more coughs, Jin So-cheong added,

“That little one is right. Quickly, let’s help our Master…”

“Just give me a second.”

I quickly pulled out a vault and took out Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. Forcing it into Jin So-cheong’s mouth, he widened his eyes.

“Ugh?!”

“It’s good for your body, so eat up!”

“……?!”

Jin So-cheong gave me a baffled look. Not intending to spoon-feed him, I turned my gaze toward the sky where Lee Kwang had disappeared. If I followed the trail of energy, I’d probably locate Lee Kwang fighting with the Han Clan leader.

‘Let’s hurry.’

I couldn’t afford to miss that battle.

Because it was evident that the strongest beings from the Thunder God Lineage and Fire Spirit Techniques were about to clash in a grand confrontation.

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