Namgung Woon’s expression was one of bewilderment. Having faced the terrifying chaos of a fierce battle with assassins before, he was acutely aware of the dangers that lurked in the forest.
Suddenly, sparks erupted from below, signaling the arrival of Black Leopard.
“You must have felt it from your previous experience,” Bu Eunseol murmured, gazing into the forest. “In a place like this, martial arts are not the only way to fight. You must cut through your opponent’s flow and rely on your senses.”
Namgung Woon, who had been on edge, took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.
“Of course,” he said, “Fortunately, it wasn’t the dead of night.”
Rustling sounds echoed through the forest as the Human Sword Squad and the wandering vagrant, who had been waiting in the shadows, burst into action, shaking the trees. The full-scale battle between the Yin Death Valley and the wandering vagrant had begun.
“Wandering vagrants Squad! Forward!” Mun Gwang, standing at the forefront of the battle line, commanded in a solemn voice.
Mun Gwang was a master of Gangho, a martial art that emphasized agility and adaptability. As he surveyed the unfolding scene, he anticipated a melee and decided to hold back the Human Sword Squad. Instead, he deployed the wandering vagrant squad, who were skilled in mountain combat, to the front.
Pop-pop-pop-pop!
As hidden weapons rained down from the forest, the wandering vagrant deftly maneuvered through the terrain, dodging and counterattacking with their weapons.
Watching this display of skill, Namgung Woon couldn’t help but admire the effectiveness of the terrain in aiding the wandering vagrant’s combat prowess. “I see,” he said, “terrain can be a valuable asset in my own battles as well.”
While he was busy admiring, Bu Eunseol began to move forward.
Swoosh.
He skillfully utilized the terrain, unlike the wandering vagrant who had charged ahead. Boom! Crash! He pinpointed the assassins’ hiding spots and threw punches.
The seasoned veterans of forest combat, the Yin Death Valley assassins, were no match for Bu Eunseol’s punch.
“What kind of fist art is that heavy?” Namgung Woon, following Bu Eunseol, dropped his jaw. Rocks and trees shattered instantly from a punch that seemed to be extended lightly.
“Attack from above!”
As Bu Eunseol traversed the battlefield freely, the assassins changed tactics. They climbed trees to dodge attacks and fired hidden weapons.
Whoosh!
Skillfully dodging hidden weapons pouring from above, Bu Eunseol extended both arms. Then, sharp flying daggers were released from between his hands. Every time a sharp glint flashed, concealed assassins fell to the ground with a thud.
Seeing their comrades falling like autumn leaves from the air, the hiding assassins lost their will to attack and began to fall back to the ground.
“Is Brother Seol not going to use the sword on his back?” Namgung Woon, a master of the sword himself, was also constantly using fist arts and hidden weapons. However, his right hand was always ready to reach behind his back. Just from Bu Eunseol’s stance, Namgung Woon could tell he was a tremendous master of the sword.
“That bastard…”
As the tide of battle turned due to Bu Eunseol’s performance, the leader of the assassins pointed at him and shouted, “Strike that bastard first!”
In truth, the combat power of the wandering vagrant squad and the assassins was roughly equal. But as Bu Eunseol went around knocking down assassins like sheaves of straw, the situation instantly became unfavorable for them.
“Wasn’t he a High-grade wandering vagrant?”
Mun Gwang, fighting fiercely against assassins and observing Bu Eunseol, couldn’t help but feel it. He realized that Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess far surpassed that of a High-grade wandering vagrant. Moreover, the martial prowess he was currently displaying was not even his full strength.
‘Lucky.’
Mun Gwang inwardly stroked his chest. If not for Bu Eunseol and his party, the raid on Bear Clan’s Mountain Villa would have ended in failure ten times out of ten.
“B-Brother Seol, let’s go a little slower!”
Namgung Woon, following Bu Eunseol to assist him, felt like his soul was leaving his body.
“Only we have penetrated too deep! The enemy is flocking this way!”
“It’s a good opportunity.”
Bu Eunseol smiled coldly.
“A golden opportunity to accumulate combat experience. Watch closely.”
Bu Eunseol doubled his speed and shot forward even more.
His movements were very concise and changed according to the enemy’s attacks. It was not a set form. It was a movement like a flood dragon swimming freely and cutting through the currents.
“Where you hide is obvious.”
Moving secretly like a ghost, Bu Eunseol threw a punch at the assassins hiding under a rock.
Boom!
Every time a punch landed, the ground vibrated, and flesh and blood splattered. Whenever Bu Eunseol discovered a hiding assassin, he poured fist power from top to bottom. It was like a rock falling from the sky and crushing the assassins.
“What kind of fist art is that?”
The Fist Demon’s fist art diverged from the myriad fist arts prevalent in the Murim. Its fist power, which should have emanated solely from the fist, surged freely in all directions, rendering even skilled masters incapable of blocking it.
“He is a master we cannot face head-on! Hide and use secret techniques!”
The assassins, realizing Bu Eunseol was an expert they couldn’t block, resorted to stealth techniques and secret assassination arts. However, Bu Eunseol, spreading the essence of the Way of the Beast in all directions, could be considered the natural adversary of assassins. Wherever they hid, whatever they did, they were always within the reach of Buddha’s protection.
“For assassins, their level is truly pitiful.”
Bu Eunseol, having witnessed the killing methods of the Extreme Assassination Pavilion on Hell Island, found the secret techniques and stealth arts of the Yin Death Valley assassins to be child’s play.
“That bastard is a reaper.”
Assassins who cut people down as easily as eating usually have no fear. But the sight of Bu Eunseol pinpointing them accurately like a grim reaper was too terrifying. Was this even their front yard?
“To think the forest we made as a last resort is strangling our own necks.”
The Yin Death Valley assassins had transformed the interior of the Bear Clan’s Mountain Villa into a forest, creating a deadly trap. Even if one managed to breach the gate’s formation, escape became impossible if the retreat was blocked. However, as the tide of battle shifted and enemies blocked the entrance, they found themselves trapped like rats in a snare.
“That fucking bastard.”
Dark Assassin, the First Killing Ghost of Yin Death Valley, who was commanding the assassins while hiding in the most secret place of Bear Clan’s Mountain Villa, ground his teeth. Everything he had prepared had collapsed because of Bu Eunseol’s group, which had suddenly popped out.
“I will definitely kill that bastard.”
Even if nothing else, he had to kill that pale guy using fist arts before leaving.
Rumble.
The area where Dark Assassin stood sank, and his body vanished as if sucked into the ground. He had used one of the secret assassination arts of Yin Death Valley, the Yin Spirit Hundred Killing Earth Escape Art.
The Earth Escape Art allowed one to move freely and secretly underground, but it was very tricky to master. Dark Assassin was the only one in Yin Death Valley who had mastered the Yin Spirit Hundred Killing Earth Escape Art.
Rumble.
Secretly approaching beneath the ground where Bu Eunseol stood, Dark Assassin slightly raised something like a small tube above the ground. It was a Corpse Rotting Needle Tube prepared to assassinate any masters of the Thunder Heaven Sect who might invade.
‘It’s a waste to use on a guy like this, but.’
Just as he put his mouth to the tube to shoot the rotting corpse needle at Bu Eunseol—
“You’ve come.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol looked down at the ground and smiled coldly.
“I was waiting for you.”
When assassins participate in large-scale combat rather than acting alone, the most important thing is the commander. Unless the assassins, each with strong personalities, are strictly commanded, they become nothing more than a disorderly mob. That is why when assassins engage in large-scale battles, the commander does not step onto the battlefield but remains secretly hidden.
‘This ghost-like bastard!’
Sensing he had been discovered, Dark Assassin tried to use the Earth Escape Art quickly, but Bu Eunseol’s movement was faster.
Boom!
As Bu Eunseol’s fist struck the ground with a low vibration—
Pshhh.
Along with the sound of air escaping, the area of the ground became wet with red. With Bu Eunseol’s single punch, Dark Assassin was literally buried alive in the ground and died.
“Kneel immediately!”
In the meantime, the wandering vagrant squad and the Human Sword Squad had encircled all the remnants of the assassins. Assassins are beings akin to military warriors. If you eliminate the commander, the battle concludes effortlessly, as they operate and engage in combat solely based on their training.
“It is over.”
Black Leopard, standing behind Bu Eunseol, muttered low. Namgung Woon also sheathed his sword and looked around Bear Clan’s Mountain Villa. Although it couldn’t be said there were no casualties among the wandering vagrant squad and Human Sword Squad, thanks to the performance of Bu Eunseol’s group, losses were minimal.
“Thank you.”
At that moment, Mun Gwang approached Bu Eunseol’s group and spoke forcefully.
“Thanks to you, we were able to win.”
“Squad Captain!”
At that moment, a youth with an agile build hurriedly approached Mun Gwang from the rear.
“It’s a disaster.”
“What disaster?”
“While we were fighting here, the Saber Tyrant Sect led the remaining assassins of Yin Death Valley and invaded the main sect.”
“The main sect?”
Mun Gwang’s eyes became urgent.
The greatest power of the Thunder Heaven Sect could be said to be the three battle squads: Heaven, Earth, and Human. But with himself and the Human Sword Squad absent, they would absolutely not be able to block the forces of the Saber Tyrant Sect.
“Everyone…”
Mun Gwang shouted with a flustered expression.
“Return to the main sect!”
***
Thunder Heaven Sect.
Originally, this modest training hall had been a beacon of martial arts knowledge for a long time, transmitting the renowned Thunder Heaven Sword Art to the Xiangyang region. However, as martial artists hailing from the Thunder Heaven Sect gained recognition and prominence in escort agencies and constabularies throughout the region, the sect’s influence and size gradually expanded.
As the Thunder Heaven Sect evolved from a humble training hall into a small-to-medium-sized sect within the Murim, the position of the Saber Tyrant Sect, which engaged in smuggling activities near the Xiangyang border, became increasingly precarious.
Despite their differences in ideology, the core of the Thunder Heaven Sect remained steadfastly rooted in martial arts training. Since most of its disciples adhered to the righteous path, conflicts with the Saber Tyrant Sect were inevitable.
“Let’s settle this once and for all! Determine which sect holds sway over Xiangyang!”
The ensuing hegemony battle between the Thunder Heaven Sect and the Saber Tyrant Sect, which had begun with such a declaration, was now reaching its climactic conclusion.
As the Human Sword Squad Captain Mun Gwang embarked on a mission to confront the assassins of Yin Death Valley, the Saber Tyrant Sect seized the opportunity to launch a massive assault on the Thunder Heaven Sect.
“Waaaaah!”
With fierce cries, the masters of the Saber Tyrant Sect surged into the Thunder Heaven Sect, their sabers flashing in the air as they unleashed a torrent of attacks. Each time a sharp blade tip sliced through the air, disciples of the Thunder Heaven Sect fell, their cries of pain echoing through the hall.
“Ugh.”
At the very front of the battlefield, Heaven Sword Squad Captain Gwak Cheon, cutting down enemies, ground his teeth.
Originally, the power of the Thunder Heaven Sect slightly overwhelmed the Saber Tyrant Sect. It was a situation where such a sudden invasion could never succeed.
However, the current Thunder Heaven Sect was missing the Human Sword Squad, one of the pillars of the three battle squads. Above all, due to the assassins of Yin Death Valley filling the gaps in the Saber Tyrant Sect and repeating disruption and surprise attacks in all directions, the war situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable.
‘These bastards hired the Yin Death Valley assassins wholesale.’
He had thought the Saber Tyrant Sect merely hired some of the assassins to attempt a surprise attack on Mount Háncuì. But now looking, they had hired the Yin Death Valley assassins wholesale and were plotting a diversionary operation.
‘Information about us has definitely leaked to them.’
The Saber Tyrant Sect began the invasion immediately as soon as the Human Sword Squad hired wandering vagrant and went to Mount Háncuì. Ultimately, the Thunder Heaven Sect was defeated by the Saber Tyrant Sect in both money and intelligence.
‘How did those who only did smuggling businesses suddenly obtain such financial power?’
To buy the Yin Death Valley, teeming with first-rate assassins, wholesale, at least close to a million taels of silver was needed. The problem was, how could the Saber Tyrant Sect, whose financial situation was not that good, buy the Yin Death Valley wholesale? No matter how much he thought, Gwak Cheon could not figure out the reason.
“Aack!”
In the meantime, screams of Thunder Heaven Sect disciples were erupting one after another.
The most important thing in a melee is momentum.
As the assassins of Yin Death Valley traversed the battlefield freely, even the relatively weaker Saber Tyrant Sect members were overwhelming the disciples of the Thunder Heaven Sect.
A heavy despair like lead tightened around Gwak Cheon’s neck. In this situation, there was absolutely no way to turn the tide of battle.