A red plum blossom bloomed on the cliff edge.
From the tip of Baek Cheon’s sword, a burst of energy surged, riding on the wind above the cliff to bloom a vivid red flower.
“Heup!”
Baek Cheon’s fighting spirit filled eyes were greatly distorted.
Has there ever been a time when a plum blossom has been drawn with so much effort? This infinitely sophisticated and terrifyingly vivid plum blossom contains everything that Baek Cheon has accumulated so far.
However,
A blue energy soared over the plum blossoms that Baek Cheon had brought to life with all his might. The blue energy, so intense it could freeze one’s soul, overwhelmed the blossom like a massive wave.
Even plum blossoms that finally bloomed after overcoming the cold winter, the scorching sun, and strong winds were helpless in front of the oncoming waves and just perished mercilessly.
Baek Cheon distorted his face.
Kwaaaa!
But that was not all. The blue energy that had crushed the plum blossom now flowed like a venomous snake’s tongue, reaching out toward Baek Cheon.
“Keuk!”
It seemed as if the energy had a will of its own. A chill ran down his spine at the deep malice lurking in the energy.
Kagagagak!
The plum blossom sword, filled with all his energy, collided with the incoming energy.
“Kkeuk!”
A suppressed groan burst from Baek Cheon’s mouth.
His hands felt like they would tear apart. The magnitude of the force in that flying energy far exceeded Baek Cheon’s expectations.
‘Hold, hold...’
But then, the blue energy covering his plum blossom sword fluctuated and writhed as if alive, completely enveloping the sword and charging at Baek Cheon.
‘What?’
A disciplined body moves faster than the brain. Baek Cheon rolled on the ground just in time, and the blue energy barely skimmed above him.
Sweat poured down his face like rain.
‘The energy seems alive!’
It is a nonsensical operation. The remaining force after colliding with his sword filled with internal strength transformed into an attack.
Of course, it is not impossible.
But isn’t Jang Ilso not only dealing with Baek Cheon now?
Geugeugeuk!
Baek Cheon, who had stabbed his sword into the ground, quickly stood up. And without a moment to think, he kicked the ground and rushed toward Jang Ilso in a straight line.
When his sword stops, those energies will target his Sahyung. That was absolutely unacceptable.
He knew. He had just brushed past death.
Had he rolled a moment too late, he would be a lifeless, blood-soaked body now.
Then, is he afraid?
‘Don’t make me laugh.’
Death is not scary. What truly scares him, is surviving only to witness the others die with his very own eyes.
‘I will be the first one to die!’
That’s how Baek Cheon of Mount Hua lives.
At that time, Chung Myung was clearly seen flying toward Jang Ilso like a shot arrow.
“Chung Myung-ah!”
Paaaaat!
A surging energy engulfs Chung Myung. But at that moment, Chung Myung’s sword began to emit countless plum blossoms. Each one was vivid, as if alive.
The overwhelming scale of it was even more striking than its vividness. It is very difficult to chase a single plum blossom in a forest of plum blossoms that bloom like clouds in an instant.
Kagagagak!
The fiery blue energy and Chung Myung’s plum blossoms tangled in the air.
Tat!
At that moment, Chung Myung lifted himself up slightly to the air and swung down the plum swords he bloomed and slashed Jang Ilso’s energy at once.
Paaaaat!
With his energy completely expended, he naturally, but swiftly, charged forward.
But Jang Ilso was already running toward Chung Myung as if he had expected this.
“Hahaha!”
Jang Ilso spread his arms wide, and the wide sleeves fluttered like red wings.
Paaaat!
A slash like a ray of light followed.
As soon as Chung Myung’s sword which contained red energy flew out, Jang Ilso’s once soft sleeves sharpened like blades.
Jang Ilso twisted the corner of his mouth in response.
“Quite audacious of you, member of Righteous Faction, to join forces like this. Don’t you think so?”
“Hearing such a thing from a guy who pours oil and uses gunpowder makes me feel ashamed and want to die.”
“Hahaha.”
Jang Ilso exposed his fangs.
Indeed, they were a rather dangerous pack of wild dogs. Even a tiger could sometimes die to a wolf, and if unlucky, could be torn apart by a pack of wild dogs.
But...
“Even if a thousand dogs, not just five, swarm at me, they won’t be able to deal with me. Do you know why?”
“....”
“Because there’s a very simple method to deal with them.”
At that moment, a sinister light poured out of Jang Ilso’s eyes.
Paaaaat!
Jang Ilso rushed toward Chung Myung at an unimaginable speed. It was so fast that Jang Ilso’s body looked just like a red line.
Jang Ilso, who rushed instantly, struck Chung Myung with a bizarre smile on his face..
Hwaaaaak!
Blue flames emanating from Jang Ilso overflowed and engulfed Chung Myung. Chung Myung flew back immediately, but Jang Ilso kicked the ground and caught up faster by pushing off the ground.
Kwaaaang!
The ground where Jang Ilso had struck exploded. However, their bodies had already moved far from that place.
Chung Myung, who had flown backward, brandished his sword at the pursuing Jang Ilso.
Dozens of sword energies aimed at Jang Ilso’s vital points flew at once. However, the sword energy clashed with the palm energy created by Jang Ilso before they could fully stretch out.
Kagagagagang! Kagagang!
Jang Ilso, who had blocked the sword energy by crushing them, twisted his wrist and revealed his teeth. Chung Myung’s sword, which had been aimed at Jang Ilso’s neck, grazed the bracelet and deflected.
Kagang!
Seizing the moment, Jang Ilso flicked away the sword and rapidly threw three punches at Chung Myung’s exposed chest.
Chung Myung, who had unfolded Plum Blossom Scattering Palm (????(梅花散手)), swiftly blocked Jang Ilso’s fists.
Kwang!
He twisted his wrist with one punch.
Kwaang!
The second punch collided with Chung Myung’s fist and he was unable to withstand the force, causing him to strike himself in the chest.
And the third punch!
Kwaang!
Jang Ilso’s fist exploded on Chung Myung’s hand that was guarding his chest. Blood spurted out like a fountain from Chung Myung’s mouth.
“Keuk!”
Chung Myung, who had been backing down endlessly, immediately kicked the ground and rushed forward instead.
However, at that moment.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Chung Myung’s body rolled on the ground and was flung to the side. As if Jang Ilso knew Chung Myung’s thoughts in advance, he already shot his energy in the direction Chung Myung jumped in.
“So predictable. Really!”
As soon as Jang Ilso tried to rush toward Chung Myung, who had yet to recover his stance, Yoo Iseol and Baek Cheon, who had been following closely, leaped up and scattered plum blossoms toward Jang Ilso’s back.
Instead of looking back, however, Jang Ilso charged at Chung Myung with the sword energy chasing his back. The unsophisticated martial art created a gap, and the plum blossom sword energy found its way into his back.
It was an attack he could have blocked if he had tried, but Jang Ilso didn’t even spare a glance backward. It seemed as though nothing but Chung Myung could enter his eyes right now.
Kwaang!
Hitting the ground hard, Jang Ilso lunged at Chung Myung who was just getting up and swung his palm. He clashed head-on with Chung Myung’s sword using a reinforced claw as sharp as a hawk’s claw.
Kagagagagagaga!
The Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword bent as if about to break, and Chung Myung’s body was pushed back. The reinforced energy emitted from Jang Ilso’s claws reached right in front of Chung Myung’s face, leaving scratches across it.
In an instant, multiple streaks of blood appeared on Chung Myung’s distorted face.
“Hahahat!”
Jang Ilso burst into loud laughter as he continued to push Chung Myung back.
“Chu- Chung Myung-aaaaaaaah!”
Overwhelmed by force, Chung Myung’s body was quickly pushed toward the cliff’s edge. And Jang Ilso, seemingly not satisfied with just that, leaped out of the cliff after Chung Myung.
Both men, their swords and hands locked together, started plummeting off the cliff.
Gagagak! Gagagagagagagak!
“Heuahahahahat!”
In the eyes of the two people entangled and falling downwards, madness and hostility boiled like molten lava.