NOVEL NEXT Chapter 143
Chapter 143
The Army of Extinction
‘What is this?’
A-gwang looked around.
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Birds chirped here and there, and the sound of flowing water tickled his ears.
Amid this peaceful atmosphere, a sharp gaze held a hidden killing intent.
‘This sensation…’
It was strange.
It felt as if a tiger was watching him, ready to pounce on its prey.
Of course, it was just a feeling. There was no evidence or reason.
‘Is someone watching?’
That couldn’t be.
This was the southernmost tip of the Daebyeol Mountain Range in Hunan Province, an isolated place where not even hunters ventured, let alone the Murim Alliance.
It wasn’t because the terrain was rugged. This valley was a hidden place that couldn’t be seen even from the mountain top. It wasn’t a location one could find by chance.
‘…….’
A-gwang sighed.
“What’s wrong, Leader?”
“Nothing.”
It seemed he was just overly sensitive.
A hundred elite soldiers of Eumsabang were stealthily surveying the surroundings like ghosts.
He trusted his subordinates. Although they usually operated deep within cities, Eumsabang members were also adept at mountain warfare. This was because most of the Eumsabang members were former bandits.
The world underestimates bandits, but there’s no one as dangerous in mountain warfare as bandits. Once bandits gain power and vision, they become an army.
Thus, Eumsabang members were an army.
“Leader.”
“What is it?”
“That guy, is he alright?”
A-gwang glanced behind him.
There, riding a particularly sturdy horse, was a middle-aged man with a massive frame, his upper body wrapped in chains.
He had a huge build. His matted hair covered his face, making his expression unreadable.
But the strange intimidation he exuded was incomparable to anyone in Eumsabang.
“He’s no ordinary threat.”
Eumsabang’s second-in-command, Sangyo, was more serious than ever.
“His aura is extremely fierce. I don’t know how powerful he is, but… it feels like there’s a tiger prowling behind me.”
A tiger.
A-gwang shook his head.
“He’s a tiger, indeed. Half-mad, though.”
Sangyo’s face stiffened.
“I’ve wanted to ask since he arrived. Who is he?”
“He’s a disciple of ‘that person’.”
“What? That person?”
“Yes.”
“That person… No way?!”
A subtle fear crossed A-gwang’s face.
“He went insane while training in martial arts. But he’s not completely mad. I don’t know what kind of life he’s led, but he follows the orders of anyone who calls his name.”
“Is that possible?”
“That’s the direct message from that person. There’s no reason not to believe it.”
“Ah…”
“They said the chances of him regaining sanity are zero. It’s unfortunate, but he’s a useful tool, so we should try using him.”
If that’s true, it’s like having a loyal tiger at their disposal.
“That person doesn’t speak falsehoods. Just make sure to feed him on time and manage him properly.”
“Yes, understood.”
A-gwang’s face held a sinister intent.
‘We are the lowest of the Black Path Thirty-six Gates. They’ve given us a dangerous bomb. If we succeed in this task, it means that person will support our main faction.’
Thinking of that person made A-gwang’s palms sweat.
That person was a legend in the Black Path Murim. It had been three hundred years since such a high master emerged in the world of the Black Path Murim.
While everyone in the Black Path Murim should have been elated, they couldn’t be entirely happy.
‘That person shows no mercy. We must not fail.’
However, it was rare for that person to assign tasks. And that person granted immense power to the Black Path factions that successfully completed their missions.
One misstep and they would die. But if they succeeded, they would gain immense wealth and honor.
‘Just hold on for a few months.’
How long had they been walking like that?
When they reached the entrance of the valley near their destination,.
‘……?!’
A-gwang’s eyes changed.
‘What is this?’
He sensed restrained auras from within their destination.
He couldn’t determine the exact number. But it was clear there were fewer of them than his own.
‘These auras…’
A-gwang frowned.
‘Who are these dull guys?’
The fact that someone was at their destination itself was alarming. Moreover, most of them seemed to possess martial arts comparable to Sangyo.
But why? It was surprising, yet they didn’t feel threatening. They possessed great martial arts, but their skills seemed lacking.
‘Amateurs?’
Sangyo, also sensing something, spoke to A-gwang.
“Leader. Over there…”
“I felt it too.”
Eumsabang’s advance temporarily halted.
Sangyo’s face showed astonishment.
“There’s someone there. Could it be that we’ve been discovered by the Murim Alliance?”
A-gwang’s eyes turned cold.
This was only their third visit. The possibility of the Murim Alliance discovering this hidden place was extremely low.
But…
“Let’s go.”
“Leader!”
“They must have noticed our presence by now. Let’s find out who they are. Everyone, cover your faces.”
The leader’s orders were absolute. All Eumsabang members pulled up black masks to cover their faces below their eyes.
Under A-gwang’s command, Eumsabang’s forces moved.
Flash!
Finally, A-gwang saw fifty young men and women gathered together.
A-gwang, and the Eumsabang members, recognized their identities at a glance.
‘The Nine Great Schools!’
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong’s cold voice echoed through the valley.
“Exterminate the enemy.”
Despite the order, the late-blooming disciples hesitated, looking at each other.
Then, someone moved first.
Slash!
The person who shot out at a terrifying speed was Cheok Gang. Displaying the Splitting Light Body Technique of Jeomchangpa, he advanced with full readiness for battle.
A-gwang’s eyes flashed.
His hand swept his waist like lightning.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
The clash of power was decided in an instant. Cheok Gang was pushed back at a terrifying speed.
A-gwang pointed his broadsword at Cheok Gang and spoke.
“You’re remnants of the Nine Great Schools.”
A startling statement.
Those on the Black Path, regardless of their level, feared the Nine Great Schools. They knew how formidable their power was.
But A-gwang was different. No, Eumsabang was different.
When they took on this mission, they all staked their lives. They wouldn’t have accepted the mission without that resolve.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Though surprised, he quickly regained his composure.
A-gwang assessed their power at a glance. There were some capable ones, but most were inexperienced in actual combat.
He would show them that possessing advanced martial arts didn’t make one strong.
“Don’t let a single one escape.”
Slash!
Their movements were different.
Unlike the confused and hesitant late-blooming disciples of the Nine Great Schools, Eumsabang members immediately surrounded them upon A-gwang’s command.
A hundred members spread out in an instant, blocking all escape routes. They were extremely familiar with this kind of task, glaring at the late-blooming disciples with eyes full of killing intent.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.
‘Indeed.’
Individually, their martial arts level was lower than that of the late-blooming disciples, but their ability to form a formation was exceptional. Though not comparable to the elite of the Black Emperor Castle, they were a dangerously formidable enemy for those inexperienced in actual combat.
“You!”
Tat-tat!
Having retreated, Cheok Gang charged at A-gwang again. The energy imbued in his sword was immense, as if trying to make up for his earlier mistake.
A-gwang shouted.
“Bury them all!”
Cha-cha-cha-chang!
The Eumsabang members, who had drawn their weapons, rapidly closed the encirclement.
“Damn it!”
“Who are these people?!”
The late-blooming disciples panicked.
Then, Song Yeongyeong shouted.
“Attack! They intend to kill us!”
Her words snapped everyone out of it.
“All Amipa disciples, respond with the Buddha’s Light Zen Spear!”
“Yes!”
Fifteen spear-wielding Amipa disciples thrust their spears at the approaching Eumsabang members.
The deadly blades clashed head-on with the Buddha’s Light Zen Spear of Amipa.
Clang-clang-clang!
“Argh!”
“Kill them all!”
The battle intensified instantly.
Yoon Ho shouted.
“Dong Ho! Use the Two Rites Formation!”
“W-what?!”
“Move now… Damn it!”
Clang!
Yoon Ho swiftly swung his sword.
‘How can this be!’
The Huashan Six Harmonies Sword was a fundamental technique, simple and flexible enough to be used anytime, anywhere.
Yet, his sword was blocked from the first strike. Three Eumsabang members simultaneously blocked his sword.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Damn it!”
Clang! Clang! Thud!
Yoon Ho jumped into the midst of the Eumsabang members, swinging his sword.
“S-senior brother!”
Slash!
“Ah!”
A cut appeared on Dong Ho’s shoulder.
He instinctively twisted his body to survive. Had he not dodged, his shoulder would have been completely pierced. He couldn’t even see when or how the attack came.
Dong Ho’s sword moved reflexively.
Slash!
Surprisingly, the first person to kill an Eumsabang member was Dong Ho. With a single swift stroke, he slit the
throat, staining his sword red.
“Gasp!”
Dong Ho’s face turned pale. He had killed someone in his desperate struggle to survive.
Experiencing his first real combat and the horror of his first kill unexpectedly.
Dong Ho staggered and collapsed. The shock was too great, leaving him in a daze.
The Eumsabang members didn’t miss their prey who had lost the will to fight.
Slash!
Four members approached Dong Ho in the chaos, bringing their swords down.
Dong Ho, still in shock, stared blankly at his sword. His trembling eyes were filled with extreme confusion and shock.
At that moment, a single smooth sword stroke blocked the Eumsabang members’ attack.
Clang-clang-clang!
The sword technique of the Song family, tracing the circle of Tai Chi, deflected the attacks of three members.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Dong Ho’s eyes widened.
“Master Okcheong!”
A sword from an Eumsabang member was embedded in Okcheong’s thigh as he stood in front of Dong Ho.
Considering Okcheong’s attained level, it was unbelievable. The intensity of real combat had put excessive strain on his shoulders, and the reckless technique to save Dong Ho had severely distorted his usual sword form.
Okcheong gritted his teeth and extended his hand.
Boom!
The combined energy of Tai Chi’s attack sent one Eumsabang member flying, spitting blood.
However, he did not die. Okcheong had instinctively reduced the force at the last moment.
Despite having the power to kill, he did not. This leniency in combat was the deadliest weakness, causing hesitation in crucial moments.
It wasn’t just Okcheong.
Yeoguk, Song Yeongyeong, and all the others from the Nine Great Schools were struggling to respond properly. Though barely managing to fend off the attacks due to their fundamental strength, Eumsabang’s relentless assault kept them on edge.
At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed. Only a few would survive this merciless battle without preparation.
Dong Ho, trembling, shouted.
“Yeon Gongja! What is happening?! Do something…!”
At that moment, Dong Ho’s face turned pale.
Yeon Hojeong stood with arms crossed, surrounded by three Eumsabang members with smashed heads.
Yeon Hojeong’s gaze at Dong Ho remained cold.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“If you don’t want to die, kill.”
Splash!
Blood spattered across the sky.