Overlord of Sichuan

Chapter 79: Tang Serin (3)

Cha-cheng!

The Jagged-Tooth Sword and Serin’s Iron Fan clashed in midair.

The grotesque blade, shaped like a saw, seemed as though it would split the Iron Fan apart.

Kaga-gak!

Paz!

Sparks of orange light scattered wildly along with the sound of grinding steel.

The Jagged-Tooth Sword was a weapon renowned for its ability to destroy an enemy’s arms with its serrated edge.

The pirate showed a confident expression, but—

“?!”

That expression was soon dyed with shock.

The saw-like edges of the Jagged-Tooth Sword had been worn smooth.

The pirate’s eyes widened as if they would burst.

He hastily tried to withdraw his weapon, but—

Swae-aek!

Serin’s counterattack struck a step faster.

Her Iron Fan darted forth like a viper striking its prey.

Kwa-deuk!

It snapped the enemy’s neck bone in an instant.

The pirate’s body lost strength and collapsed like a puppet cut from its strings.

Jjeng-geurang.

At the same time, Serin felt a chill as she looked at the grotesque weapon clattering onto the deck.

‘……If it hadn’t been for Sewoon, I would have been in grave trouble.’

The enemy’s weapon was a top-grade armament, just a step below a Treasure Weapon. Had it not been for the new Iron Fan Sewoon had forged for her, she would have lost her main weapon in their very first clash and fallen into disarray.

Yet the Iron Fan Sewoon had gifted her before leaving for Kaifeng showed overwhelming durability, without even a single chip.

The enemy didn’t allow her much time to breathe.

‘-!’

Pabat!

Taat!

This time, three pirates charged her at once.

Unable to defeat her in skill, they sought to overwhelm her with numbers.

Tat!

Serin, keeping her eyes fixed on their charge, stepped back in retreat.

Seureung!

Chaeng!

Three grotesque weapons pressed her at the same time.

Just then, a rising mast blocked her path.

The pirates spread out in three directions, sealing every escape route.

Taat!

Pat!

“-!”

“!!”

Serin planted her foot on the mast behind her and leapt high into the air.

At first, the pirates were startled, but soon their lips curled into sly smiles.

She was going to throw Hidden Weapons from above—how laughable.

That was no different from suicide.

So long as they blocked the projectiles, unless she could use the legendary Sky-Stepping Footwork, she had no way to defend herself from their counterattack while in midair.

Uwoong!

Saaa!

At that moment, a dark green aura shimmered around Serin’s body like rising heatwaves.

Swae-aek!

Paaat!

The tearing of air rang out like thunder.

As expected, countless Hidden Weapons poured out like a torrential storm from her sleeves.

But the pirates had anticipated this. Blocking them was all too easy.

Chaecheng!

Chaechaechaeng!

Each pirate swung their weapon, deflecting every single projectile.

Not one of them suffered even the smallest scratch.

Their lips curled into triumphant smiles as they turned their blades toward the falling Serin.

“……!!”

“Kuugh!”

“Kuhk!”

But suddenly, their faces flushed a ghastly violet.

Jjeng-geurang!

Jjeng-geong!

They all dropped their weapons and clutched desperately at their throats and noses.

They had no choice.

It was as if their windpipes had been scorched shut—they couldn’t breathe at all.

‘They were directly exposed to Jeolhosan, so they must be in unbearable agony.’

Jeolhosan.

True to its name, it was a poison that immediately obstructed breathing upon inhalation.

Normally, it took the form of powder.

But astonishingly, just now it had been hidden in the aura within her Hidden Weapons, releasing upon impact when the enemies struck them away.

This was all the power of the Poison Cloud Formula.

Sewoon, wielding the talent of a Master Artisan, had created this new Tang Clan cultivation

art.

The Poison Cloud Formula allowed one to store poison within the body.

Its hidden ability was to mix the stored poison into one’s qi and scatter it outward.

Since no separate process of poisoning was needed, enemies were caught completely off guard and immediately succumbed to poisoning.

Cheo-cheok.

Serin landed lightly.

Without the slightest hesitation toward the dying enemies, she swung her Iron Fan like a spread of blades.

Seogeogeok!

With a chilling slicing sound, the three pirates’ heads slid from their bodies and rolled across the deck.

“Uugh!”

“……!”

At that moment, Serin’s heart plummeted at the sound of a groan.

It was none other than Peng So-hye’s voice.

Pabat!

She hurled herself toward the source.

In the distance, Peng So-hye was struggling in dire straits.

Whenever she struck out with a fist, the enemy evaded easily, while every counterattack landed squarely against her.

‘That’s it.’

Serin immediately understood why Peng So-hye wasn’t able to fight properly.

Swae-aek! Pupuk!

As she shot Hidden Weapons to hold off the enemies rushing at So-hye, Serin urgently sent a telepathic message.

[So-hye!]

[Ye-yes, Sister!]

[The ship will soon rock sharply to the left. You must put strength into your right leg to regain balance, then step half a pace further forward than usual! And strike your fist half a chi lower than usual!]

[Ye-yes!]

Anyone else might have questioned Serin’s sudden advice.

Cheo-cheok!

But Peng So-hye immediately took her stance.

Her faith and trust in Serin, built from experience, left no room for doubt.

Chwaaaa!

So-hye’s fist shot out toward her foe.

Her opponent sneered—the punch was clearly aimed at the wrong place.

But in that instant—

Chulleong!

“!!”

The ship really did lurch sharply to the left.

The pirate’s body staggered unsteadily.

And Peng So-hye’s fist, which had been aimed in a completely different direction—

“?!”

Kwaaang!

Her strike landed squarely on the enemy’s face.

The foe’s skull was grotesquely crushed as he was hurled backward and slammed into the deck.

At the sight of the situation turning in an instant from a single piece of advice, Peng So-hye looked at Serin in bewilderment.

Chwarak!

Chaechaeng!!

“……!!”

Serin fought with practiced mastery, driving her enemies back.

It was as though she predicted every sway of the ship, her movements flowing effortlessly.

Astonished, Peng So-hye blinked rapidly at the sight.

‘……D-does Sister have experience with naval warfare??’

Peng So-hye did not know, but the truth was that Serin was able to display such skill entirely thanks to Sewoon.

Huuuk, huu. Sewoon, but Sichuan is inland—why do we even need to prepare for naval battles?

Isn’t the Yangtze River in Sichuan? The current here rivals even the Three Gorges in Shaanxi.

Th-that may be true, but……

And in the Murim, you never know when or where something might happen.

Still, wouldn’t it be better to focus more on cultivating your poison arts……

I just don’t want you to get hurt anywhere, Sister.

……Sigh, fine. Fine. You really leave me speechless sometimes.

Sewoon had trained Tang Serin and all Tang Clan warriors to fight in every situation, naval battles included.

With Yeo Seon, he created extreme scenarios, driving them into relentless training.

They had suffered immensely, preparing for naval battles—like balancing atop giant cylinders while blocking a storm of Hidden Weapons that rained down like a torrential shower.

The core of Sewoon’s training in naval warfare was just one thing:

The shifting of balance.

The greatest variable in such battles was that the ground beneath their feet constantly swayed.

Thus, while displaying martial arts, they had to read the ever-changing flow and shift their center continuously.

Without this, they would end up in crises like Peng So-hye had earlier.

But even those with years of experience in naval battles found it difficult to predict the ceaseless swaying of the ship.

Still, Sister, you have an advantage here.

Hm?

Saaa!

In that instant, Serin’s Iron Fan swayed lightly with the wind.

‘The wind is blowing from the right this time.’

She instantly read the flow of the wind.

Chulleong!

By sensing the coming sway of the ship through the wind, she moved before it shifted.

Swae-aek!

She had already closed the distance before the enemy blocking her path.

She gathered her Iron Fan’s spread ribs into one, thrusting it like a spear.

Pupuk!

A hole pierced clean through the pirate’s forehead.

Chaechaeng!

Chaeng!

The Five Tigers Gate-Cutting Saber, pride of the Hebei Peng Clan, roared with destructive force.

As its name suggested, the blade struck with a domineering ferocity, like five tigers pouncing at once.

Peng Daeho’s saber swung with threads of azure qi woven tightly about it.

It was Sword Thread, qi that surpassed mere blade energy.

And this was no clumsy outburst from the entry to Supreme Peak, but a refined manifestation at the level of consummation.

Yet Peng Daeho’s face was grim.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Uwoong!

Chaechaeng!

His enemy’s sword was also wreathed in Sword Thread.

Peng Daeho and Nam Mujin were each locked in duels with enemy vice-captains.

Both foes, like them, were consummate Supreme Peak masters.

‘……Could they truly be from the Demonic Alliance? To think such men, who could slay even First-Rate experts, are here in numbers.’

Even at the ship’s bow, the battle still raged—it must have been the same on the opposite side as well.

As Peng Daeho’s thoughts grew heavy—

Chwaaaak!

“Kuugh!”

“-!”

Nam Mujin cried out in pain, a sword wound carved clearly across his back.

Fortunately, it wasn’t fatal, but it was far from light.

While Peng Daeho held his ground evenly, Nam Mujin was steadily being pushed back.

Unlike Peng Daeho, a consummate Supreme Peak master, Nam Mujin was only at the entry stage—he could not avoid being overpowered.

‘I should help him, but……’

Peng Daeho could only feel bitter frustration at his inability to turn the tide.

What use was being called the Saber Dragon, or the Unyielding Blade, when he couldn’t even protect a comrade?

Just then—

‘……What’s this?’

Tadat!

Suddenly, he sensed approaching qi from behind.

One was Peng So-hye’s familiar presence, the other—

“Young Master Peng! We’ll help you!”

“My thanks!”

Tang Serin had entered the battlefield.

Peng Daeho was taken aback.

‘She already defeated all those enemies?’

He had thought that since he and Nam Mujin were occupied with the enemy vice-captains, the remaining rabble must have swarmed Serin and Peng So-hye.

Even with Serin, who was at Peak Master Level like her brother, he had expected she could only stall them for time.

But that doubt lasted only a moment.

Now that there was a chance to reverse the situation, Peng Daeho’s eyes lit up.

‘Good. If two Peak Master Level fighters join that side, we might gain a slight advantage—?!’

Saaa!

Kwaa-ga!

Just then, a sudden wave of fierce qi burst forth.

“!!”

“……!”

All present, Peng Daeho included, could not hide their astonishment.

The burst of qi had erupted as Serin clashed with her foe.

And the strength contained in that explosive force—

It was no weaker than Peng Daeho’s Mixed Origin Thunder God Art.

Which meant—

‘……Supreme Peak?’

Tang Serin had shattered the wall of Peak Master Level and ascended to Supreme Peak.

Not far from the official road where the carriage carrying Serin had once passed.

Paat!

A flash of Lightning Fire tore through the mountains.

Kwaa-ga-ga!

Kwa-jijik!

Trees and underbrush split apart and exploded into splinters where the light swept across.

A figure raced through the forest.

Its demonic qi surpassed even the Heaven-Slaying Star that Do Yecheon had unleashed.

This demonic energy itself tore apart everything in its path.

‘It’ll be fine……, it can’t be…….’

Sewoon’s eyes glowed viciously, consumed by madness.