Chapter 139: Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts (5)

Shortly before the attack.

Cho Un-hwi, who had gone to fetch water, was walking along the forest path.

*Rustle. Rustle.*

The forest, shrouded in darkness, was so pitch-black that even moonlight couldn’t penetrate, as if a black curtain had fallen. Yet Cho Un-hwi walked without hesitation.

And when he stopped.

“Damn. Here you are.”

There was someone leaning against a tree stump, growing cold.

A body consumed by the darkness of the forest.

Approaching cautiously, Cho Un-hwi placed his fingers on the neck, finding the breath almost gone.

Looking down at the cooling body with cold eyes, Cho Un-hwi murmured.

“Instructor Yang.”

The person dying, half-leaning against the stump, had been a lively colleague until recently.

– I am Yang Dae-cheol of the Nine Hundred Iron Fist.

– Instructor Cho, what are you thinking?

– Being a lead instructor from the new semester is so stressful that my stomach hurts.

The face that laughed while treating at a cheap restaurant in the darkness came to mind.

When the memory faded, what remained was a close-to-death piece of meat.

Half-closed eyes had lost their light, and the blood at the corners of the mouth had dried up.

Suddenly, he noticed the broken right hand and the half-destroyed gauntlet lying nearby.

Cho Un-hwi’s gaze was cold as he looked down with chilly eyes.

No, it was so cold that it lacked any emotion.

“Humans are creatures of betrayal.”

Expectations are unnecessary.

“Why do they make me feel uneasy?”

A small warmth appeared in his eyes.

“Why do such insignificant things disturb my peace?”

It was a common death.

He had seen countless and caused even more.

As common as a stone on the road, as natural as autumn leaves was death.

“Sigh.”

A weary voice escaped his throat.

*Tap tap tap!*

Before he knew it, he found himself tapping the dying body.

“I didn’t think I had a fickle nature.”

Reviving the energy and quickly breathing life into the body, Cho Un-hwi found himself surprisingly disconcerted.

“Since I’ve saved him, I can’t just leave him.”

*Cough.*

Confirming the resumed breathing of the revived body, Cho Un-hwi grumbled.

“I can’t leave behind someone who caused me trouble.”

*Glint. Glint.*

In the darkness, two ghostly lights appeared.

Eyes scattering red and blue light looked beyond the darkness.

*Swish swish swish swish!*

At the same time, a black aura flowed from his body, spreading into the dark forest.

Ten meters. A hundred meters.

The black aura spread, making every creature in the forest tremble in fear.

Two hundred meters. Three hundred meters.

The endless spreading aura soon captured a familiar presence.

“Found you.”

The red lips under the glowing eyes stretched into a grin.

*Thump!*

A figure lying motionless in a crevice of the valley wall reacted to the aura and twitched.

“Come here, little one.”

I don’t like playing hide and seek.

– Screech!

Hearing the distant scream, Cho Un-hwi chuckled.

“Good. Since you troubled me, add some value to your worthless life before you die.”

Humming, Cho Un-hwi slung Yang Dae-cheol over his shoulder.

And with a cheerful step, he disappeared into the darkness of the valley.

***

They’re coming!

“Battle stations!”

*Clang clang clang!*

As soon as Mo Yong So-hye shouted, Namgung Yun-ho was pushed back.

“Hmm?”

The attacker, confident in a kill, let out a puzzled sound.

But something even faster followed.

*Thud!*

The campfire exploded, and Baek Ri Seol, who had been roasting her sword, threw it with the precision of a secret technique.

“Can’t you see this?”

*Swish!*

The attacker, who caught the flying sword in mid-air, narrowed his eyes.

*Sizzle.*

Feeling the heat of the sword, the attacker quickly shook his hand.

By then, Baek Ri Seol had already closed the distance, spreading her arms wide.

“White Crane Sword Technique.”

No, it was,

– Phoenix Flame Dance.

Feeling the threat climbing his spine, Baek Ri Seol pulled out her hidden move from the start.

*Slash slash slash!*

As she spread her arms, the sword strikes combined with the sparks from the campfire created a fiery dance.

*Bang! Bang bang!*

The attacker, deflecting the strikes with swift palm techniques, found himself hitting only air as Baek Ri Seol’s unpredictable swordplay cut and thrust.

“Impressive swordsmanship!”

Admiring her skill, Wang Woo closed the distance, forcing the attacker to abandon the surprise attack and leap away.

*Swish swish swish!*

Seeing the attacker leap into the air, Mo Yong So-hye shouted again.

“Jegal Tan!”

*Swish swish swish!*

Jegal Tan, who had been flicking his fingers to throw stones, completed the formation in a short time.

“North! Hour of the Dragon!”

*Boom!*

As he shouted, the attacker’s hands emerged from the darkness, striking Jegal Tan.

*Crash!*

The force of the palm strike shattered rocks beyond the formation.

*Buzz.*

But the air shimmered, and Jegal Tan’s figure melted away.

It was the formation.

“Grr?”

Realizing something was wrong, the attacker instinctively leaped into the air to find another target.

Mo Yong So-hye shouted again.

“Namgung Yun-ho! Help!”

“Behind you!”

*Clang!*

With a loud metallic sound, Namgung Yun-ho, who had been pushed back, slid and pulled Mo Yong So-hye into his arms.

*Bang bang!*

Quickly rolling away from the explosion of the palm strike, Namgung Yun-ho stood his sword upright.

At that moment, Wang Woo, who had arrived, unleashed a blue sword aura and shouted.

“Coward! Leave the youngsters and face me!”

*Swish!*

As the blue sword aura aimed at his head, the attacker raised his dark hand to block it.

*Boom.*

As the sword and palm collided, the ground around them sank with a sound like a giant bell ringing.

*Whoosh.*

The collision of energy created a vacuum, and a fierce wind swept through the area.

*Crack!*

In the span of five blinks, the scene unfolded.

Mo Yong Seon-ya and Yeo Mae-hong were stunned.

Mo Yong So-hye’s shout and the attacker’s appearance happened in an instant.

They could claim they didn’t expect such a rapid movement technique.

But they had known.

Relying on Wang Woo’s presence was a significant mistake.

“I’m so embarrassed I can’t speak.”

To be outdone by students on their first real combat.

“I’m a failure as an instructor.”

Yeo Mae-hong couldn’t hide her shock.

“They’re all incredibly skilled.”

They weren’t at the level of students.

The brief skirmish showed such high-level skills that Yeo Mae-hong felt intimidated.

“We can’t just stay demoralized.”

“Instructor Eun Hae-wol said.”

With her usual gentle expression gone, Yeo Mae-hong gripped her sword.

“A true instructor is not just someone with high martial skills but someone who stands in front of their students.”

“That’s a welcome thought.”

*Tap tap!*

The two ran towards the camp.

*Clang clang clang clang!*

Wang Woo’s rapid sword strikes were relentless.

But the attacker didn’t easily allow the offensive, creating a powerful palm aura around him.

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh!*

With a single wave of his hand, dozens of palm shadows followed, an incredible palm technique.

*Clang clang clang!*

*Bang bang bang!*

Amidst the chaotic sounds of the clash, Wang Woo’s eyes shone.

“An impressive palm technique.”

“Grrr.”

“To have such skill even after losing your mind, how did such talent end up a demonic minion!”

Righteously lamenting, Wang Woo’s sword strikes grew even faster.

*Swish swish swish!*

In response, the attacker intensified his dark palm aura, twisting his wrist.

*Bang bang bang!*

Such powerful demonic energy that even a slight twist of the palm created small whirlwinds.

“Unfathomable energy!”

The force of the palm strikes made Wang Woo’s clothes flutter, and he leaped into the air.

*Boom!*

As the ground exploded where he had been standing, the shockwave made Wang Woo stagger.

*Swish!*

Seeing his opponent lose balance, the attacker used a bird-like movement technique to fly up, targeting Wang Woo.

Flipping in mid-air, Wang Woo smiled.

“I didn’t expect anyone to challenge me in the air.”

*Pop! Pop pop! Pop!*

Changing direction five times in mid-air, Wang Woo brushed past the attacker.

“Argh!”

For the first time, the attacker screamed, flying into the air.

Landing gracefully, Wang Woo was startled.

“Flying on the wind?”

Even the impressive Cloud Dragon Eight Stances of the Kunlun Sect couldn’t match a technique that rode the wind.

Chasing the attacker, Wang Woo ran for a while.

*Swish!*

“Damn. I’ve been tricked!”

The attacker, who seemed to be fleeing, suddenly attacked from behind.

*Clang!*

The next target was Jegal Tan.

Avoiding Wang Woo, he aimed for the weaker ones.

“You underestimate me.”

The tip of Jegal Tan’s sword glowed like a firefly.

– Illusion Sword Technique.

*Swish.*

As the firefly-like glow danced on the sword tip, the attacker, surprisingly, struck the air with palm strikes.

*Swish.*

Caught in the glow, the attacker struck the ground with palm strikes.

‘What’s he doing?’

Mo Yong Seon-ya saw an opportunity.

“Jegal Tan!”

“Five steps to the right.”

Following Jegal Tan’s direction, Mo Yong Seon-ya saw the attacker flailing.

Seeing his exposed back, Mo Yong Seon-ya’s eyes gleamed.

‘This was the plan.’

The skill to coordinate the formation was beyond a student’s level.

‘I can’t miss this chance.’

*Flash!*

A green sword aura burst forth.

– Jade Wind Sword Technique.

It was a supreme sword technique only taught to the direct line of the Mo Yong Clan.

The green sword aura, filled with the energy of exorcism, split the attacker’s back.

“Argh!”

In agony, the attacker flailed, unleashing energy in all directions.

‘Such terrifying energy.’

Even the random strikes were hard to handle.

Fortunately, there was help.

“Sister!”

*Swish swish swish!*

Using a light footwork technique, Yeo Mae-hong closed the distance and touched Mo Yong Seon-ya’s back.

*Whoosh.*

Feeling the energy flowing through her back, Mo Yong Seon-ya took a breath, and Yeo Mae-hong joined in.

“Two and a half steps to the left.”

Following Jegal Tan’s direction, they surrounded the attacker on three sides.

‘Amazing. Jegal Tan’s ability to read the formation is incredible.’

Yeo Mae-hong, impressed, narrowed her eyes.

*Swish swish swish!*

Her sword technique was incredibly smooth.

The sword, swaying like bamboo in the wind, was the Whirlwind Eight Swords, a technique only taught to the secular disciples of Wudang.

Facing sharp exorcism on one side and continuous strikes on the other, the attacker’s hands became confused.

*Swish!*

With a strange glow joining the fray, the attacker finally allowed an attack.

*Thud thud thud thud!*

“Grrr.”

Groaning, the attacker staggered back, flailing his hands.

“Hah!”

“Yah!”

As they followed up with sword strikes, the attacker spread his arms.

“Hiss!”

Spreading a blood mist, the attacker soared, and Mo Yong Seon-ya screamed.

“It’s the Floating Cloud Steps!”

It was indeed the Hidden Moon Flying Thief!

“It’s a trick!”

*Swish!*

Pretending to flee, the attacker reversed and struck Mo Yong Seon-ya’s shoulder with a palm strike.

*Clang!*

Raising her green sword aura to block, her sword trembled and exploded, pushing her back.

“Cough.”

The forceful energy made her slide back, plowing furrows in the ground with her feet.

“Stop.”

From a distance, Wang Woo, running, unleashed a lion’s roar filled with energy.

Startled, the attacker hissed and leaped, targeting Yeo Mae-hong.

*Bang! Bang!*

Trying to deflect the energy with the Whirlwind Eight Swords, she struggled.

*Crash!*

“Ah!”

Receiving several strikes filled with energy, her sword cracked.

*Clang. Crack!*

The attacker, grabbing her sword, shook it, breaking Yeo Mae-hong’s sword with a snap.

“Instructor Yeo!”

As Baek Ri Seol and Namgung Yun-ho moved to help.

“Grr.”

The attacker, seemingly mocking, sank low.

“Kyaa!”

A high-pitched scream erupted as the attacker grabbed Mo Yong So-hye by the collar, making her struggle.

Was this the plan?

“Grr.”

Opening his mouth wide towards her pale neck, the attacker revealed blood-red fangs, freezing Mo Yong So-hye in fear.