Chapter v8c7

“Me?”

Bi Ryu yeon wore a reluctant expression. It seemed he was somewhat unwilling.

“Why? Is there a problem? You’re not saying you’re scared now, are you?”

“No! Of course not. I was just thinking it might be a hassle and was considering passing it on to someone else.”

With a sly grin, Bi Ryu yeon’s devilish smile spread across his lips.

Jujakdan and Yeom do thought to themselves that they definitely did not want to be the ones to take on that responsibility. They began to ponder how they could gracefully decline, knowing that if they didn’t prepare about five reasons in advance, they might be at a disadvantage later. Cheong heun and Baek Mu yeong were still clueless, just staring blankly. They probably thought Bi Ryu yeon was joking, making light hearted thoughts out of comfort. However, Jujakdan and Yeom do were well aware that this was far from a joke.

The one who saved them from this predicament was, amusingly, Gu Cheon Hak.

“Who else would take your place? Since you were the one who blocked our way first, shouldn’t you be the one to finish this?”

Gu Cheon Hak’s determination was firm and dignified. Indeed, a giant among men.

“Well! If that’s the case, then I can’t help it, thanks for your support everyone!.”

As Bi Ryu yeon conceded, Yeom do and the Jujakdan let out a sigh of relief.

Click clack!

The imposing Gu Cheon Hak finally stepped forward. The weight of his presence felt as if a mountain was moving.Bi Ryu yeon Whistled

“That’s a good horse.”

“It’s called Mookseong!”

Gu Cheon Hak’s beloved horse, Mookseong, was covered in black fur down to the last strand. It exuded a fierce aura as if it might roar at any moment. Its massive size, at least one half larger than an ordinary horse, it was an intimidating sight to behold. Moreover, the horse’s eyes were so fierce that they seemed to spit fire, reminiscent of a wild beast. At this point, it was almost inappropriate to simply call it a horse.

“Is it finally the leader’s turn?”

“If you beat me, this will be the last fight. But if not, all the efforts you’ve made so far will have been in vain. It will be a single combat on horseback.”

Gu Cheon Hak realized that any further close combat using his squad would be a needless sacrifice. They had already been swept away by the atmosphere of the monster with the face of a young boy. It was an inescapable quagmire. Unbeknownst to themselves, they were floundering in an endless mire. The only one who could reveal the bottom of this swamp and cut it off was himself.

Snap!

A hand as white as jade grabbed Bi Ryu yeon’s arm. The owner of the delicate hand was Na Yerin. Bi Ryu yeon looked at Na Yerin puzzledly.

However, there was not even a trace of emotion that could be called emotion on her face. And then she left just one word.

“Be careful.”

With just that one word, Bi Ryu yeon was satisfied. It was an action that she would never normally take. Even now, Na Yerin could not understand or explain her own actions. An unknown emotion had compelled her to do so.

“Hahaha! To hear such words from Miss Na Yerin, I must be lucky today. Just for that, this fight is worth it. Don’t worry!”

Bi Ryu yeon said with a broad smile. Then she replied with a serious look.

“Who said I was worried?”

“Of course, it’s Miss Na Yerin!”

“I’ve never been worried.”

She declared firmly. But she failed to disappoint Bi Ryu yeon.

“Really?”

“Really.”

At Na Yerin’s answer, Bi Ryu yeon smiled wryly again.

“Well, then it must be true. But thank you for worrying!”

Bi Ryu yeon thought that was enough. The indifferent disciples could be dealt with later with sufficient mental training to instill discipline.

Bi Ryu yeon relaxed his limbs and eased his entire body.

The silent bell signaling the start of the duel quietly rang in their hearts. Now it was the beginning.

Snap!

In an instant, Gu Cheon Hak’s right arm, which had been pulled back, shot forward like a flash of light.

Bang!

A resounding boom as if piercing through the atmosphere! The powerful spear shadow swirled the air around it.

Bababababat!

Suddenly, an invisible shadowless spear fiercely passed by Bi Ryu yeon’s left ear. A few strands of hair were caught in the power of the shadowless spear strike and scattered into the air.

The loud sound of breaking air buzzed in the ears.

“Shadowless Spear! Empty Strike Wound!”

Yeom do exclaimed in admiration. It had been a long time since he had seen such a perfect Empty Strike Wound. The power to harm an enemy by leaping a distance of ten feet was not an ordinary power that could be seen anywhere.

“And it wasn’t even full power!”

It was clear that he had held back. This made the Cheon gwan do feel uneasy.

“Master! Can the elder brother win?”

Namgung Sang asked with a worried tone.

“Perhaps!”

As if it was too bothersome to say more, Yeom do’s gaze turned forward.

With a sly grin, Bi Ryu yeon smiled.

“Ho? Is this instead of a greeting? How kind.”

He had deliberately aimed slightly off to the side, not directly at the front.

“You’re someone who doesn’t even properly receive a greeting.”

He had no intention of aiming directly at the front against a younger junior in one strike. His pride as a senior did not allow it. However, he had intended to take at least one ear. And Bi Ryu yeon had narrowly avoided even that.

‘Could he have seen it?’

Gu Cheon Hak denied the suspicion that had arisen in his mind.

Snap!

Now, with the intention of really trying, Gu Cheon Hak held the spear with both hands and aimed it straight ahead. What had just happened was only a taste. Now was the real deal.

The atmosphere felt taut as if being pulled tight, and the tension constricted the hearts of the onlookers.

” hee heeing!”

In the strange silence, only the sound of Mookseong’s trotting could be heard intermittently. The bowstring of tension was pulled back further.

As Gu Cheon Hak kicked the horse’s belly with his foot, Mookseong burst forth like a gale, as if it had been waiting for this moment. The earth screamed as if it would be torn apart under Mookseong’s hooves.

The earth’s soil flew roughly in all directions. The man and horse became one, transforming into a gale that swept away everything.

“Ha!”

Bang!

Gu Cheon Hak thrust his spear into the atmosphere. Along with a sharp breaking sound, an invisible penetrating force flew towards Bi Ryu yeon.

The secret technique of the shadowless spear, Empty Strike Wound, unfolded again. But there was a significant difference in its power.

If what was shown before was one penetrating force, now there were five.

Shadowless Spear Secret Technique

Empty Strike Wound Five Star Strike

But no matter how one became five, Bi Ryu yeon was not one to fail to dodge again.

Swish!!

As Bi Ryu yeon’s body swayed like a willow branch, the five forces of penetration helplessly passed through his body as if piercing through, striking the innocent ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground deeply cratered, and five giant pillars rose up. The Empty Strike Wound Five Star Strike had returned to naught, and Gu Cheon Hak quickly twisted the reins to drive his horse diagonally to the left of Bi Ryu yeon, that is, to his own right side. It was more convenient for his right hand to attack Bi Ryu yeon this way.

Swoosh!

This time, Gu Cheon Hak swung his spear horizontally. Then, as if the spear had become a whip, it stretched out long and the spear shadow undulated like waves.

Kwa kwa kwa

Again, Bi Ryu yeon narrowly avoided Gu Cheon Hak’s attack. But this strike was truly an unexpected change. Along with a high wall of dirt rising in front of Bi Ryu yeon’s feet,

a giant straight trench had formed.

But it was not yet time to be careless. Once again, a wave of light surged towards Bi Ryu yeon. This time, it did not stop at once.

Shadowless Spear Five Techniques

Wave Crushing Strike

Earth

A terrifying spear shadow that surged like a wave! A wave of Qi!

Gu Cheon Hak circled around Bi Ryu yeon, continuously casting the technique he had just used. True to its name, Earth, the ground was torn and shattered, screaming out.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Now, Bi Ryu yeon’s figure was hidden from their sight by the rising dust and the light of the spear blades. It was a relentless attack, like the whip of a beast tamer, leaving no room to breathe.

Hee hee hee heeing!

Gu Cheon Hak’s beloved horse, Mookseong, made a pleasant trotting sound. Circling around Bi Ryu yeon in for an attack, Gu Cheon Hak had already returned to his original position.

But the dust that had completely covered where Bi Ryu yeon stood had not yet cleared. Gu Cheon Hak watched the front without relaxing his tension.

‘It was a perfect attack without any flaws. But what is this anxiety?’

Gu Cheon Hak gripped his spear even tighter, overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of unease. Surely, he must have been hit.

“Waaaaah!”

Already, cheers were erupting from all over the Ironclad Horse Brigade. On the other hand, the faces of the Cheonmu disciples, led by Yeom do, were seriously hardened. The disciples waited with grave faces for the dust cloud to clear.

That’s when it happened.

“Cough! Cough!”

One figure, covered in dust, walked out of the dusty cloud. He was coughing continuously. Apparently, the thick dust had irritated his airways. The blurry figure was, of course, Bi Ryu yeon. As if to show off his tenacious vitality, Bi Ryu yeon walked out leisurely from the hell of relentless attacks.

Sadly, apart from being covered in dust, there was not a single scratch on him.

“Oh dear! I don’t have many spare martial suits, and now I’ll have to wash this one.”

Bi Ryu yeon grumbled continuously as he dusted off the dirt that had settled on his body. Clouds of white dust rose from Bi Ryu yeon’s limbs, competing to rise first.

“Amazing!”

Gu Cheon Hak exclaimed sincerely. The blood of a warrior within him was boiling. A thrill ran up his spine. Such a man was worth clashing with all his might without any regrets.

“Is there another like you in this world?”

“Probably not.”

It was a truly shameless answer from Bi Ryu yeon.

“This will be the last attack. I will put all my heart and strength into this attack. If you can safely receive it…”

After a pause, Gu Cheon Hak continued. Now his mind was completely settled.

“I will acknowledge my defeat and return to Dark Heaven Alliance with my troops. Are you ready?”(TLN : dude is so shamless tbh basically he said ill try to kill you and if i fail i will leave .-. )

A flash sparked in Gu Cheon Hak’s eyes.

“Anytime.”

Bi Ryu yeon was always ready.

With a serious face, Gu Cheon Hak raised the spear he held in both hands as if aiming at the upper ranks. His left hand gripped the tip of the spear, and his right hand lightly held the middle of the spear. It felt as if it had become a single blade.

“Indeed, it’s Gu Cheon Hak of the Gale Marks.”

Yeom do sincerely admired. Indeed, the martial arts skills were of a different dimension than the Wi Musang he had just fought. It was surprising that he could use the spear in a way that was not at all spear like.

Chang!

The spear, raised above his head, was slashed down at a terrifying speed.

Shadowless Spear

The Righteous Fatal

Shadowless Blade

Bi Ryu yeon could momentarily sense the formless sword energy targeting him, flying through the sky like a hawk. The blade was as fast as light, formless and shadowless!

Swish!

However, Bi Ryu yeon, in a rather underhanded move, even dodged this fatal blow filled with a killing intent. Even as the atmosphere seemed to split in half, he ended up with only his clothes being slightly cut. Had he not released the Weights, he might not have been able to dodge it. Such was the terrifying speed and formidable power of the Shadowless Blade.

A fatal technique is one where you stake your own life to take the opponent’s, and if it fails, the mental blow that rebounds on oneself is tremendous. Who could remain unscathed when their life has been wasted in vain?

Bi Ryu yeon launched his final strike towards the disheartened Gu Cheon Hak.

Flash!

A flash of light pierced straight through space.

Crack!

The helmet split in half, and Gu Cheon Hak’s hair fluttered in the wind. His vision was momentarily obscured by his disheveled, flying hair. When his sight cleared, Bi Ryu yeon had somehow mounted Gu Cheon Hak’s beloved horse, Mookseong, without paying a fare. And now, a Biryo do with bared teeth was shining coldly at Gu Cheon Hak’s neck. It was Gu Cheon Hak’s complete defeat.

“I lost.”

Thus, the fight reached its conclusion.

Now the sun was setting over the western mountains, spreading a deep twilight.

“Is everything settled with this?”

Na Yerin asked.

“So much blood was spilled.”

In this fight, Bi Ryu yeon had shown no mercy and used his hands ruthlessly. It was a battle heavy with the stench of blood.

“Once I’ve decided to shed blood, I do not fear it. It’s the shield of determination that protects my heart. If one’s spirit is eroded by the fear of blood and murder, one can never exert one’s full strength. Of course, it wasn’t a situation that required my full strength…”

Bi Ryu yeon spoke in a calm voice. Na Yerin looked at him with a quiet gaze but did not open her mouth to say anything. She just quietly observed.

The sight of the renowned and powerful Ironclad Horse Brigade, pushed back by the force of a single person and turning their heads back towards the horizon, would be an unforgettable scene in Cheong heun’s mind for the rest of his life. Cheong heun and everyone around him watched, listening to the sound of hooves echoing hollowly across the land, as the dust rose and they disappeared beyond the horizon.

Despite the sound of hooves resonating harmoniously between heaven and earth, there was an inexplicable silence filling the space. This made their figures seem all the more surreal.

Only after confirming that the entire Ironclad Horse Brigade had disappeared over the horizon of the vast plain did Cheong heun’s gaze turn towards Bi Ryu yeon. It was as if the Ironclad Horse Brigade had truly returned, without a single sacrifice!

He stared intently at Bi Ryu yeon, the instigator of this event, the embodiment of recklessness, the master of impulsive actions, and a habitual offender. He regretted not being able to dissect and see through him due to his lack of training.

‘What exactly is the identity of this person?’

Who in this martial world could have raised such a figure, no, such a monster?

The Ironclad Horse Brigade, which boasted invincibility and speed faster than the wind, now had ten of its iron armored horses lying dead, rolling in the blood sand on the ground. And the rest of the Ironclad Horse Brigade had turned their heads back to their starting point.

‘Has there ever been a time in the past thirty years when the Ironclad Horse Brigade had to turn back?’

Certainly not. Wherever the Ironclad Horse Brigade, one of the symbols of the invincible and strongest Dark Heaven Alliance, passed, there was only victory and the destruction they brought.

That day, Cheong heun was fortunate to witness the one exception. Whether it was luck or misfortune, he could not be sure.

And everyone, as if they had made a pact, unanimously kept silent about what they had seen that day. Not only Bi Ryu yeon’s disciples, the Jujakdan, but also Jang Hong, Hyo ryong, Baek Mu yeong, and Cheong heun.

No one wanted to be pointed at and treated like a madman by those around them for babbling carelessly. Fortunately, none of them found pleasure in such madness.

“Hey! Hey! Cheong heun! Cheong heun!”

Cheong heun’s reverie, recalling the past, was shattered by Baek Mu yeong’s call.

“Huh? Ah! Is that you, Muyeong?”

Only then did Cheong heun regain focus in his eyes and stared at his friend. It was a friend who had gone with a solemn resolve but had returned safely without doing anything.

“What are you pondering so deeply?”

Baek Mu yeong asked.

“Ah! It’s nothing.”

“Are you thinking about that day?”

Indeed, his friend was quick witted and perceptive. Cheong heun didn’t say anything, but Baek Mu yeong had no trouble guessing his inner thoughts.

“Don’t think about that day anymore. It’s not good for your mental health.”

Whenever he thought of that day, he became confused whether he was existing in the real world or wandering in a fantasy. It was like a dream… That day’s events were still very dreamlike and surreal to them.

“Yes, that would be best. I should seal it deep in my memory and not open it for a while. If I dwell on it any longer, I might go mad.”

Baek Mu yeong actively agreed with his thoughts.

“An excellent choice. Well thought out! Well thought out!”

When Cheong heun collected his thoughts and looked around again, Bi Ryu yeon had already disappeared somewhere. Cheong heun gave up on thinking any deeper.