Kagang! Kagagang!
A sword full of internal strength struck at Jang Ilso��s ring, resonating with a chilling sound.
Chung Myung glared at Jang Ilso with distorted eyes as if to kill him, and Jang Ilso responded with a sneer.
��What a pity.��
“��.”
Kwadeuk.
Jang Ilso grabbed Chung Myung��s dark sword and threw it away. Chung Myung, who swirled around in the air and took a stance mid-air, landed on the cliff.
��Hmm.��
Jang Ilso looked down at Chung Myung, lightly shaking off the hand that had grabbed the dark blade.
��Do you know?��
����What?��
��There��s nothing so ugly as an actor who doesn��t get off the stage even though their role is over.��
Jang Ilso twisted the corners of his red lips.
��Your role would have already ended. Why are you still shamelessly here?��
��Role?��
Chung Myung smiled back at Jang Ilso. Their smiles looked oddly alike. Especially, the eyes that look down on the other person.
��Aah, I know very well what my role is. It��s to sever your neck and throw it to the dogs.��
��My, my.��
Jang Ilso shook his head as if he had given up on trying to argue.
��What a bad actor. A very bad actor, indeed. One who doesn��t even know his role. Such actors not only ruin themselves but also the stage.��
Jang Ilso took a slow step forward.
��It��s heartbreaking, but such actors must be forcibly removed from the stage.��
��Ah, is that so?��
Chung Myung spun his sword once and revealed his teeth. The expression, both like a smile and a growl, was terrifying. He chewed out slowly.
��My temperament has improved a lot, too.��
“��.”
��I can��t believe I��m letting a brat like you run your mouth like this. In the old days, I would��ve shoved a sword down your throat before you could open your mouth.��
��Hahahahahaha!��
Jang Ilso burst into huge laughter.
In fact, it was a bizarre sight.
At the bottom of the cliff where they stand, a fierce battle is raging on. And below that, the disciples of the sects, who represent the Righteous Factions, groan on cliffs to avoid falling oil and rocks.
Perhaps, the fate of Kangho was being twisted at that very moment.
Yet, the two were leisurely exchanging banter, as if all of those things had nothing to do with them. As if there is only one another in this world.
��That��s great. That��s great. Do you know, Mount Hua Divine Dragon? No, Chung Myung of Mount Hua. I really like you.��
“��.”
“So I am sorry. Very much so. The ones I like don��t seem to like me back. You��re the same, aren��t you?��
��Affirming it the second time will only hurt my mouth.��
��Indeed, indeed. It��s unfortunate. So�� it can��t be helped.��
Jang Ilso covered his face with his white, broad hands. It was a gesture that seemed like he didn��t want to show Chung Myung the expression on his face.
But the crazed look in his eyes, visible through the gaps between his fingers, was enough to guess the expression on his face. A soft murmur escaped from beneath his palm.
��I have no choice but to tear your neck to death.��
Chung Myung smirked at the words.
��I agree with you for the last time. Other than that, it��s all the opposite. I utterly detest you.��
Chung Myung pointed his sword straight at Jang Ilso.
��So I��ll kill you right now, you damned bastard.��
��Hm.��
Jang Ilso lowered his hand. He returned to a clean smile before he knew it, and tilted his head somewhat exaggeratedly.
��It��s strange. You��re a very smart kid. Sometimes, frighteningly so. A man like that shouldn��t be unaware that it��s impossible for him to defeat me alone.”
Kkagagak!
The ring tightly fitted on Jang Ilso��s finger made a chilling sound as it rubbed against his skin.
��Why then would you willingly seek death?��
��You��re talking nonsense.��
Chung Myung grinned and scanned Jang Ilso with sharp eyes.
��You must know the answer best.��
Chung Myung��s cold eyes and Jang Ilso��s soft eyes intertwined in the air.
��Yes, indeed, I know. I do know.��
Jang Ilso nodded.
��I asked a foolish question. How stupid of me. Climbing up isn��t about defeating those you can defeat. It��s meaningful not to beat an opponent you can win, but to pull down an opponent you can��t win. Biting at the ankles, stabbing with a poisoned blade, adding fuel to the fire.��
A chilling voice seeped out of his mouth.
��That��s the way to climb up. There��s no other way.��
“Don't rush in just because you see a gap! That is a snake with ten heads. If you rush in just because you see an opening, you will be bitten by poisonous fangs!”
��Got it!��
Chung Myung had never given these warnings even when facing the Bishop. That means, in other words, Chung Myung now values Jang Ilso beyond the Bishop.
It means that it is a battle that cannot be guaranteed even if he leads them, who have become incomparably stronger than at the time.
The entire body of Five Swords was tightly tensed.
Paegun Jang Ilso. That lofty name is now before them. Not far above, but within reach of the sword!
��Charge! Bite him to death!��
Kwang!
The Five Swords kicked the ground at the same time. Mount Hua��s mad dog rushed toward the tiger in front of them.
Towards a wild beast that goes beyond common sense and seems more appropriate to use the title of a monster than a house-sized tiger. Without an inch of hesitation!
Chung Myung��s sword, which took the lead, flew straight toward Jang Ilso.
Lightning Slash (��??�� ?(���C?��?»)). A sword technique without any complicated technique. Which made it faster and swifter than any other.
The sword, which flew at terrifying speed, was about to bite Jang Ilso��s neck.
Kakagang!
Jang Ilso, who swung his sword at once and deflected the flying sword, smiled brightly and struck Chung Myung��s head. Instead of stopping or backing down, Chung Myung dug more boldly into Jang Ilso��s arms.
And at that moment, between Chung Myung��s head and Jang Ilso��s hand, two swords suddenly darted in.
Kwaaang!
Baek Cheon and Yoo Iseol��s swords blocked the hand of Jang Il-soo, which aimed at Chung Myung��s head.
As if he had expected it to happen, Chung Myung leaped into Jang Ilso��s arms without a moment��s hesitation and released a dozen strikes aimed at his chest.
Paaaaaaat!
The sword energy poured down like a rain shower.
��Hm?��
Jang Ilso let out a short grunt and slightly jumped back.
Kagagagagak!
In the blink of an eye, Jang Ilso��s hand and Chung Myung��s sword clashed dozens of times in the air. Even Baek Cheon and Yoo Iseol couldn��t see the whole exchange with their eyes. They could only understand that something white was going back and forth.
Paaat!
Paaaaaaaat!
Jang Ilso��s shoulder was cut off and a handful of flesh was torn from Chung Myung��s side.
At that moment, Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol, who had quickly followed behind Chung Myung, thrust their swords under Chung Myung��s arms.
The swift Jo-Gol sword unleashed dozens of sword energy, and the disciplined Yoon Jong sword faced Jang Ilso��s palm energy toward Chung Myung.
Paaat!
Baek Cheon and Yoo Iseol were not just standing idly by either.
They didn��t even exchange eyes, but the two moved as one body.
Baek Cheon lowered his posture and rushed down as if he were crawling on the ground, while Yoo Iseol jumped over Chung Myung��s head and flew quickly toward Jang Ilso.
From below and above.
The blossoming red plum petals, like blood droplets, swept over Jang Ilso��s entire body.
Jang Ilso��s eyes changed completely.
��Worthless!��
Intense blue energy emanated from his hands and surged like flames.
Paaaaat!
The flying plum blossoms sword energy shattered upon hitting Jang Ilso��s energy. Jang Ilso��s eyes chased Yoo Iseol, who jumped into the air like a hawk.
Just as Jang Ilso��s hand was about to swing, Chung Myung jumped from the ground and kicked Jang Ilso��s head with his knees.
Kwaang!
Jang Ilso��s wrist quickly blocked Chung Myung��s knee. He twisted his wrist and unleashed ten fist energy towards Chung Myung.
Kwang! Kwaang! Kwaaaang! Kwaang!
Jang Ilso��s fist energy collided with Chung Myung��s sword. Every time a collision occurred, Chung Myung��s body was pushed back and forth helplessly.
At that moment, Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong grabbed Chung Myung��s back and kicked the ground.
Kwaaaang!
Geugeugeuk!
Chung Myung's sword was embedded in the ground as he pushed back, leaving a worm-like scar on the ground. However, he managed to avoid falling off the cliff.
At that moment Yoo Iseol landed in front of Chung Myung and revealed her fierce killing intent to Jang Ilso like a venomous wildcat, and at the same time Baek Cheon flew right behind Chung Myung to protect him and pointed his sword at Jang Ilso.
����Ha.��
Jang Ilso burst out laughing.
Drip.
A line of blood trickled down his white cheek.
Jang Ilso, who wiped the blood off his face with his index finger, slowly smeared the blood over his lips.
��Quite����
His lips, red as blooda���no, literally smeared with blooda���parted to reveal his white teeth.
��Quite impressive, Mount Hua.��
At that moment, a heavy pressure like that of a mountain began to weigh on Five Swords�� shoulders.