Chapter Index

    146. Jongnam

    “The best in the world······.”

    Yohan trailed off. For such words to come from Samahan, of all people.

    Who was Samahan? A man who used to say that there was no such thing as the best in the world.

    The conditions for the best in the world that Samahan spoke of were very difficult. A martial artist who wins against their opponent in any situation and never loses. That is the best in the world.

    Yohan turned his head sharply to look at Ganja.

    “Really, has that Hwageom True Man reached the next level?”

    “Well······. I don’t know the details. But he did say that he had achieved something.”

    “Achievement······.”

    It was an ambiguous expression. Because, as is often the case with martial artists’ levels, it is impossible to say definitively.

    Samahan said calmly.

    “That’s enough. I can’t know for sure until I see it for myself anyway. Whether that old man has stepped into the next level or not, our goal remains unchanged.”

    Yohan agreed with that. Samahan turned his body.

    “Let’s go now. Is there anything else to ask?”

    “No.”

    “Is that so? Then finish it quickly.”

    “Yes.”

    Ganja wore a bewildered expression at their exchange.

    “Huh? Huh? Wai, wait a minute─”

    Pshuk!

    Soon, a sound like air escaping was heard. Ganja dropped his head limply, his eyes having lost focus.

    Unlike the torture so far, the pain was instantaneous. But Ganja will now wander in the darkness for a long time.

    Life is short, but death is eternal.

    “Let’s go. Necromancer.”

    “Yes.”

    ***

    The Black King’s group headed towards the Jongnam Sect in Shanxi in an unstoppable surge.

    ‘Is the next one the Hwasan Sect?’

    There is a person living in Hwasan who might be the best in the world. Yohan felt it instinctively. If he were killed, this war would surely end.

    A hero is a spiritual pillar that raises everyone up. Conversely, if a hero falls, everyone else can fall too.

    “We’re here.”

    The Black King, who was at the very front, muttered that. Yohan craned his neck forward to look ahead.

    ‘Hmm?’

    Something was strange. The Jongnam Sect is a fairly well-known sect.

    ‘It’s too desolate? As if they’ve evacuated

    ······.’

    Yohan wasn’t the only one who felt that way. The Black King frowned slightly and entered the Jongnam Sect.

    First, a huge training hall came into view. There wasn’t a single person, let alone an ant, to be seen. The Black King’s group continued walking.

    Eventually, they entered a building with the sign “Cheonwondang” on it.

    “Hmm······.”

    The Black King stroked his chin. Then he asked Samahan.

    “This is the biggest building······. Do the Jongnam Sect’s Taoists live in other buildings?”

    “There’s no way. They all ran away.”

    Samahan said that while kicking something with his foot.

    It was a wooden drawer. What was unique was that the center was hollow, so you could see right through.

    Samahan chuckled.

    “They only grabbed what was inside and ran away. They must have been pretty desperate.”

    Perhaps they broke it with their fists, a Jongnam Sect Taoist punching an innocent drawer.

    ‘How absurd.’

    It was regrettable that he didn’t get to see that scene in person.

    “Lord. Let’s stay here today. No matter how many Jongnam Sect Taoists there are, they can’t be more numerous than wealth and food. It’ll be reasonably livable.”

    Chief Manager Shim said while carefully looking at the floor. He occasionally poked it as well.

    Suddenly, Yohan had a question. The Jongnam Sect Taoists couldn’t have been unaware of these consequences.

    ‘The building is too intact.’

    As if they were showing consideration so that the Black King Fortress martial artists could rest comfortably, it was too intact.

    Yohan asked Samahan in a quiet voice.

    “Could there be a trap? Like they’re ambushing us and then suddenly attacking, or something like that.”

    “Hmm? Ah, no. That won’t be the case.”

    Samahan’s voice was quite confident. He continued.

    “Right now, the Black Faction has the upper hand, but the situation could change again at any time. The Jongnam Sect guys are holding onto hope. The hope that they’ll return here again in the distant future.”

    “Ah, I understand.”

    Even if the Jongnam Sect is defiled by the Black Faction’s martial artists, they’re leaving it behind for future generations.

    It was a pretty noble hope.

    Just as Yohan and Samahan were finishing their conversation, Chief Manager Shim clapped his hands.

    “Everyone, take your places! There are quite a few rooms, but let’s try to sleep in rooms close to each other if possible! Just in case the White Faction martial artists attack!”

    “Yes!!”

    The Black Faction martial artists began to move with more relaxed faces.

    You can never get tired of resting. The moment one martial artist gleefully tried to open a door─

    Poof-!

    “······Ah?”

    The martial artist let out a dumbfounded exclamation. He looked ahead with trembling eyes.

    An old man wearing white martial attire was looking at him with the expression of a tiger. The old man said as if spitting out the words.

    “Tsk, I wish that demonic beast had come in instead.”

    Swish, the old man smoothly pulled out his sword.

    The martial artist clutched his chest. Gurgle- Crimson blood gradually gushed out. It was too late. There was no way he could live.

    ‘Ah, I’m going to die here······.’

    The martial artist slowly closed his eyes. That was the beginning. The martial artists who were nearby instinctively drew their swords.

    “You son of a bitch-!”

    “I’m going to kill you!”

    The martial artists attacked the old man all at once. It was an opening that their comrade had created at the cost of his life. There was no way they could miss it.

    But the opponent wasn’t just any old man. The opening that had appeared quickly disappeared.

    Before they knew it, the old man was lowering his stance, gripping the sword hilt with both hands.

    “Sss.”

    A short hiss was heard. At the same time, the heads of three martial artists flew into the air.

    The martial artists who were nearby widened their eyes.

    ‘He cut down the guy in the back as well in one go!’

    ‘No way!’

    It was a bizarre swordsmanship. A technique that skillfully ends lives no matter where the opponent is.

    Someone among the martial artists shouted.

    “He’s not an opponent we can handle! Retreat!”

    It was a very quick decision. The martial artists who heard that shout took a step back without even realizing it.

    The old man twitched his eyebrows.

    “Where do you think you’re going!”

    The old man roughly kicked off the ground.

    ‘I’ll take down at least one more, at least one more!’

    The martial artist who was closest to the old man inadvertently turned around.

    And then, a light flashed.

    Clang!

    “Hukk!”

    A strong gust of wind ruffled the martial artist’s hair.

    The martial artist trembled and looked at the two swords that had appeared before his eyes. One was that crazy old man. The other was······

    ‘Sword Commander!’

    The first female Sword Commander of the Black King Fortress. She was facing the old man.

    The old man’s face turned red as he roared.

    “Get out of the way!”

    “······.”

    She didn’t bother to answer. She simply rushed into the old man’s arms and threw a punch.

    Clack, the old man grabbed her fist with one hand while holding his sword.

    Sarah smiled slightly. Immediately after, her hand spread wide open.

    “What······!”

    The old man, the Jongnam Sect Leader, was greatly surprised. No matter how old he was, how could he lose in a contest of strength so easily!

    Thud-

    She grabbed the Sect Leader’s hand with her outstretched hand. And then pulled him in as he was.

    The Sect Leader was helplessly dragged in. The difference in strength was clear. Her strength, blessed by the tower, was superhuman.

    “Keuk!”

    In an instant, Sarah and the Sect Leader’s eye levels were reversed. Sarah swung her elbow down as she was still holding the sword.

    Clang!

    The Sect Leader hurriedly pulled up his sword and defended against it.

    ‘Huh! What kind of woman has this much strength!’

    He wondered if she was a man dressed as a woman. He sincerely suspected it.

    Bang bang bang!

    Sarah continued to push the Sect Leader back. She skillfully used punches, kicks, and sword strikes to take the lead in the situation.

    Yohan, who was watching this from afar, was inwardly impressed.

    ‘That old man. He’s holding out pretty well. Is that the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swordsmanship?’

    A swordsmanship that was created a long time ago by a Taoist who was the founder of the Jongnam Sect. A martial art that held the realization that one could not be defeated by occupying the thirty-six directions based on oneself.

    Similar to the Wudang Sect’s Tai Chi Sword, its style of fighting by focusing on defense stood out.

    ‘But it won’t work against Sarah.’

    Clang! Clang! Pow!

    Her sword becomes more and more agile. The Sect Leader, who was defending against Sarah’s sword strikes with trembling eyes, shouted as if screaming.

    “Wh, what! No way! In that short amount of time······!”

    Sarah quietly shone her eyes and swung her sword. Little by little, she becomes accustomed to the Sect Leader’s swordsmanship.

    ‘I’ll reach him soon.’

    Everyone who was watching their fight thought that. Eventually─

    Poof!

    “Keuek!”

    A long sword pierced the Sect Leader’s thigh. It was quite deep. Enough for two fingers to enter.

    Thanks to that, the muscle’s reaction slowed down a level. Footwork is essential for swordsmanship. With slow legs, one cannot unleash its full power.

    The Sect Leader gritted his teeth and contracted his thigh. It stops the blood flow a little. But, it was only a temporary measure.

    Swish, scratch-

    The Sect Leader’s entire body is being ruthlessly cut to pieces. The wounds continued to increase.

    Clang!

    When Sarah swung her sword greatly, the Sect Leader slid back.

    “Huk, huff. Hng······.”

    The Sect Leader struggled to lift his sword. He had bled too much. Maybe that’s why, but the sword was too heavy.

    Sarah walked towards him step by step. The Sect Leader raised his head with his back bent.

    He saw the woman’s face, which was darkly shaded. That darkness whispered to the Sect Leader. Come here, come here.

    ‘Ah, Jongnam······.’

    Poof!

    That was the Sect Leader’s last memory. He collapsed powerlessly on the floor.

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