Chapter 364 – No One Can Predict Even an Inch Ahead in This World (2)
"Huff! Huff!"
Geom Yul-cheon continuously exhaled rough breaths. His lungs were greatly expanded and his heart was racing. This was because he had run over a distance of thousands of li without resting even for a moment.
Thanks to this, his vast internal energy that had been like an ocean had hit rock bottom, and his steel-like stamina had also reached its limit. However, his eyes were shining more intensely than ever before.
"Finally… I've caught up."
The place where he stood precariously was atop Heavenly Cliff. Below his feet, he could see a narrow gorge stretching dangerously. And through it, a carriage was racing.
Void Spirit Guest Gwan Mu-oe and the Void Spirit Killers were truly meticulous.
After kidnapping Eum Yu-kyung, they had thoroughly erased their traces. Because of this, even Geom Yul-cheon found it difficult to track their trail.
He had wasted effort several times and chased wrong decoys. At this point, he could have given up, but Geom Yul-cheon's persistence was truly remarkable. He returned to the starting point several times to resume pursuit, and finally was able to follow them to this place.
Geom Yul-cheon looked around. Having been so frantically tracking them, he didn't even know where this place was. Dense clouds were swirling throughout the gorge, making the atmosphere look quite eerie.
"Is this a tiger's den?"
He couldn't know whether there were tigers in the gorge, or perhaps even worse monsters. But Geom Yul-cheon had no choice. For him, saving Eum Yu-kyung was the top priority.
Geom Yul-cheon kicked off from the gorge summit and launched his body. With both hands spread wide, descending toward the earth, he looked like a large bird.
Just before Geom Yul-cheon, who had been descending at terrifying speed, landed on the ground, he kicked the top of his left foot with his right foot and rebounded. At that moment, the carriage passed beneath his feet.
"It's him."
"That persistent bastard!"
The martial artists guarding the carriage discovered Geom Yul-cheon and gritted their teeth. Meanwhile, Geom Yul-cheon landed lightly on the ground and caught up to the carriage at terrifying speed.
"Die!"
"Haaaah!"
Instantly, the martial artists guarding the carriage jumped down and attacked Geom Yul-cheon.
Swoooosh!
Powerful blade strikes flew one after another.
Geom Yul-cheon didn't slow his speed at all and avoided the blade strikes with just a few body movements. Then his counterattack followed.
Kwareurung!
Thunder roared through the clouds. The Thunder Strike Technique was deployed. And the two martial artists who had attacked Geom Yul-cheon were turned into mincemeat and sent flying. It was truly terrifying power.
Thud!
Geom Yul-cheon used that momentum to leap directly onto the carriage. At that moment, five gleaming sharp sword blades protruded through the carriage roof. If he landed like this, Geom Yul-cheon's feet would be pierced by the blades.
"Chaaaat!"
But instead of avoiding them, Geom Yul-cheon moved his feet frantically.
Clang clang clang!
The sword blades made of refined steel were shattered by Geom Yul-cheon's kicks and scattered in all directions.
Without catching his breath, Geom Yul-cheon immediately thrust his fist into the carriage roof. Then he tore off the carriage roof entirely.
Crack!
The interior of the carriage was revealed.
A large coffin placed in the center of the carriage, and five martial artists positioned around it. They were precisely the Void Spirit Killers who had kidnapped Eum Yu-kyung.
They discarded their broken swords from Geom Yul-cheon's kicks and drew new swords to attack.
Swish swish swish!
Sharp sword energy swept through the cramped carriage like a storm.
"Hmm!"
Instantly Geom Yul-cheon deployed his protective energy and leaped directly into the carriage.
Kwakwakwang!
The protective energy and sword energy collided, and the carriage exploded like a firecracker. The Void Spirit Killers who had attacked Geom Yul-cheon were also swept up in the explosion and flung outside. But they too were masters who had reached the supreme level. Their reaction was truly dazzling. The moment they landed on the ground, they launched sword energy toward Geom Yul-cheon once again.
Swoosh!
At that moment, Geom Yul-cheon soared into the air. On his shoulder was the coffin that had been loaded in the carriage.
"Yu-kyung."
It was the moment when Geom Yul-cheon tried to hastily open the coffin.
Thwack!
Suddenly a sword blade protruded from the coffin and pierced through his abdomen. At the unexpected ambush and pain, Geom Yul-cheon's eyes widened greatly.
"Keoheuk!"
Without realizing it, he dropped to one knee. At that moment, a mysterious woman burst out, breaking the coffin. The woman with her face covered by a black veil was also a member of the Void Spirit Killers. She had been disguised as Eum Yu-kyung and hidden inside the coffin.
That's when it happened.
"Finally caught a big fish."
An ordinary-looking middle-aged man walked out from one side of the gorge. He was precisely Void Spirit Guest Gwan Mu-oe, the master of the Void Spirit Killers. Beside him stood Eum Yu-kyung, restrained.
"Yu… kyung!"
Though Geom Yul-cheon shouted with all his might, Eum Yu-kyung couldn't respond. Her entire body's pressure points had been sealed.
Gwan Mu-oe only released the pressure points near Eum Yu-kyung's neck.
"Yul-cheon!"
Only then did Eum Yu-kyung cry out for Geom Yul-cheon. Her eyes were so red and bloodshot that she seemed about to shed bloody tears.
Her only love was injured and bleeding because of her. Just seeing that sight was torture for her.
"Yu-kyung!"
Geom Yul-cheon covered his sword-pierced abdomen with his hand and stood up. Tremendous fighting spirit was swirling throughout his entire body.
Though he had unexpectedly fallen into the enemy's trap and been injured, this much couldn't completely incapacitate him.
"Hmm!"
When he inhaled and tensed his muscles, the wound tightened and the blood that had been flowing freely stopped completely.
"Truly remarkable."
It was when Gwan Mu-oe was bursting into admiration at that sight.
Crackle!
Lightning formed around Geom Yul-cheon's body. It was proof that Geom Yul-cheon's anger was that great.
The Void Spirit Killers didn't dare attempt to attack at the lightning flickering around Geom Yul-cheon.
In their eyes, Geom Yul-cheon didn't look human but like a thunder god.
Thud!
Geom Yul-cheon stepped toward Gwan Mu-oe. Instantly the entire area shook as if an earthquake had occurred.
It was truly overwhelming imperial dominance.
Even the renowned Gwan Mu-oe couldn't help but flinch. But that was only momentary. He soon looked at Geom Yul-cheon with a calm expression.
"Truly remarkable. Except for the Fist Demon, you're probably the best among young martial artists. If you had been born in the right era, you would have become an emperor. What a pity."
"Cut the nonsense. This place will become your grave anyway."
Thick killing intent appeared in Geom Yul-cheon's eyes.
His momentum grew like a snowball, becoming almost unbearable. Indeed, cold sweat and the light of tension appeared on the faces of the Void Spirit Killers positioned around him.
"Chaaaat!"
It was the moment when Geom Yul-cheon charged with a battle cry. Gwan Mu-oe smiled and raised his hand.
"Stop!"
"Cut the… non… sense…"
Geom Yul-cheon's eyes widened greatly. It was because of the round plaque in Gwan Mu-oe's hand.
"Could it be?"
"That's right. This is the sacred object of the Demon Cult that you've been searching for so desperately."
"That can't be!"
Geom Yul-cheon's pupils shook.
It was the object Eum Yu-kyung had risked her life searching for so desperately. The only divine artifact that could control the Demon Cult was in Gwan Mu-oe's hands.
"You're saying that's real? I can't believe it."
"Ask her. As the Holy Maiden, she should know for certain, shouldn't she?"
At Gwan Mu-oe's words, Geom Yul-cheon looked at Eum Yu-kyung. Then Eum Yu-kyung silently nodded.
"It's real?"
"Divine Blade Mad King Jeong Yul-hwi."
"……"
The moment Jeong Yul-hwi was mentioned from Gwan Mu-oe's mouth, Geom Yul-cheon tightly closed his lips. He instinctively realized it was the truth.
Two people mentioned in the Thousand Days Secret Records that Eum Yu-kyung had obtained from Shaolin Temple. One was Master Hyeondo of Taeul Sect, and the other was precisely Divine Blade Mad King Jeong Yul-hwi.
Among them, they had already met Master Hyeondo, but it was determined that he didn't possess the sacred object. The remaining person was precisely Jeong Yul-hwi, but he had hidden his tracks long ago and couldn't be traced, so they had almost given up.
"How?"
"We had a hard time finding him too. He had hidden his tracks for so long that there were almost no traces left. But we finally found him and were able to recover the sacred object like this."
Gwan Mu-oe waved the sacred object in front of Geom Yul-cheon. Geom Yul-cheon's pupils shook along with it.
If only they had the sacred object, they could control the Demon Cult that had become an uncontrollable monster. That's why they had searched so desperately for the sacred object.
Gwan Mu-oe read the desire in Geom Yul-cheon's eyes.
"Do you want to reclaim the sacred object?"
"……"
"Then I'll give you a chance. Kill the Fist Demon. Then I'll return the sacred object. How about it?"
Gwan Mu-oe's voice was as sweet as a devil's whisper. But Geom Yul-cheon firmly rejected his proposal.
"He is my friend."
"A friend."
The corners of Gwan Mu-oe's mouth curved into a gentle arc. It was clearly mockery by anyone's standards.
"Heroes usually have many friends. But does he also consider you a friend?"
Instantly Geom Yul-cheon's eyes narrowed. Gwan Mu-oe's voice had pierced the vital point like an awl.
"Right now you're on opposite sides to prevent the Demon Cult's rampage, but isn't your root the Demon Cult? The Thunder Lightning Style you learned is one of the Demon Cult's Thirteen Branches."
"How do you know that?"
Geom Yul-cheon clenched his fists tightly.
Only a very few knew the fact that he inherited the Thunder Lightning Style, one of the Demon Cult's Thirteen Branches. At most Eum Yu-kyung, Sin Mu-wol, and Myeong-cheon. If he added one more, it would only be Dam Ho. But they wouldn't have told Gwan Mu-oe such a fact.
That's when it happened.
"I'm sorry."
Suddenly Eum Yu-kyung apologized.
"What for?"
"I… told him. I'm sorry."
Eum Yu-kyung couldn't look directly at Geom Yul-cheon's face. It was proof that she was suffering from that much guilt.
"Why did you?"
"Because of this."
Gwan Mu-oe waved his hand. Then the sacred object in his hand reflected light chaotically.
"The sacred object?"
"You might not care about sacred objects, but she's different. She's a Holy Maiden, after all. A Holy Maiden cannot deny the authority of the sacred object."
Eum Yu-kyung had been raised as the Demon Cult's saintess from birth. Just as many masters of the Demon Cult had no choice but to follow the sacred object, she too couldn't be free from the sacred object's influence.
For her to deny the sacred object was tantamount to denying her identity.
Geom Yul-cheon could finally understand why Eum Yu-kyung had revealed his identity.
Gwan Mu-oe spoke again.
"Will you really not follow the sacred object's command?"
"Someday there will come a day when I fight him with my life on the line. But that will be done entirely by my own will, not because of the sacred object or others' coercion."
"You truly are a great man. I acknowledge it. That this mere sacred object cannot move you. But what about the Holy Maiden? Can she be as resolute as you?"
Instantly Eum Yu-kyung's pupils shook.
Gwan Mu-oe released the pressure points that had been restraining Eum Yu-kyung's body and said:
"Saintess of the Demon Cult. Will you also deny the sacred object?"
"……"
Naturally, Eum Yu-kyung couldn't deny the sacred object.
"By the authority of the sacred object, I command you. Saintess, obey the command. Saintess, execute the Demon Cult traitor Geom Yul-cheon. If you won't follow the command, I'd rather destroy the sacred object."
Eum Yu-kyung squeezed her eyes shut.
The sacred object was more precious than life. She would rather die herself than let the sacred object be destroyed.
"Saintess Eum Yu-kyung accepts… the sacred object's command."
With her answer, Eum Yu-kyung looked at Geom Yul-cheon. Tears had already formed in her pupils.
"I'm sorry, Yul-cheon."
"It's alright."
"I'm really sorry."
"I said it's alright. I understand everything."
Geom Yul-cheon smiled.
At that moment, Eum Yu-kyung kicked off the ground and charged toward Geom Yul-cheon.
Swiiish!
Eum Yu-kyung's signature technique, the Falling Moon Divine Sword, was deployed.
Claaaang!
Geom Yul-cheon spread his palm wide and blocked Eum Yu-kyung's attack. Considerable shock was transmitted through his palm.
'Hurry up.'

Then Dam-gok, having caught his breath, intervened making it two against one. Though Namgung Geol wasn’t greatly pushed back while facing both opponents, his attacks were constantly blocked by Dam-woon with little effect.

“Here too!”

Im Yi-eon joined in and deployed Swallow Brave Slanted Cliff Sword. Like a swift swallow, Im Yi-eon’s sword slashed at Dam-woon’s legs. Dam-woon suffered a slight sword wound on his knee and limped back.

But Im Yi-eon couldn’t continue her attack either. She had to watch Mu-gak’s reactions in case he suddenly intervened.

Namgung Geol immediately went in and stabbed at Dam-woon’s abdomen. Dam-woon deployed Iron Shirt to block.

Scrape!

Namgung Geol’s sword tip pierced Dam-woon’s outer clothing and went in about an inch. Though Dam-woon wasn’t seriously wounded, his inadequacy in directly facing Namgung Geol was revealed.

Dam-gok shoulder-charged Namgung Geol’s side. Namgung Geol pressed on Dam-gok’s shoulder while spinning his body back to disperse the force. Im Yi-eon kicked the back of Dam-gok’s knee as he appeared alone after Dam-woon briefly withdrew.

Thump! Dam-gok’s leg staggered and his balance collapsed. Im Yi-eon turned her body, balanced on one foot and extended her back foot. Using mandarin duck kick technique that rotated body and leg together in reverse, she struck Dam-gok’s chin.

Crack.

Dam-gok’s neck turned sideways. For an ordinary person, this would have been enough to knock them unconscious or shatter their jaw, but Arhat monk Dam-gok, whose neck was twice as thick as normal people, only staggered briefly without losing consciousness.

Meanwhile, Namgung Geol who had retreated and returned slashed Dam-gok’s shoulder. Blood spurted from the shoulder that couldn’t deploy Iron Shirt in time.

Namgung Geol aimed simultaneously at the blood vessels behind Dam-gok’s ear and neck with Heaven Sky New Sword. Im Yi-eon prepared Swallow Brave Slanted Cliff Sword right behind.

Then Mu-gak shouted.

“Mental Karma!”

Power entered the eyes of Dam-gok, who had been staggering back with weakened legs and wounded shoulder.

“Uoooooh!”

Dam-gok and Dam-woon slapped their own bald heads with their palms. Then they came pressing forward with Iron Head technique in turn.

At Dam-gok’s and Dam-woon’s sudden charge, Namgung Geol retreated half a step to create distance for attack.

Then Namgung Geol’s and Im Yi-eon’s swords became entangled.

Clang!

Im Yi-eon had been about to circle around to strike Dam-woon from behind. Dam-woon’s charge path had been extremely ambiguous.

For a moment, Namgung Geol’s and Im Yi-eon’s gazes met.

Sure enough.

A shadow immediately fell over them.

Namgung Geol and Im Yi-eon threw their bodies left and right.

The Vajra monk holding Mu-gak came down into the empty space then returned again.

Soon Dam-gok pressed forward to Namgung Geol’s front.

Namgung Geol struck Dam-gok’s back of the head with his sword handle. Dam-gok forcefully raised his head and struck away the sword handle with his crown. Namgung Geol’s hand bounced off the hard skull of Iron Head technique. Namgung Geol used that rebound force to turn his body while retreating, then swept his sword straight up diagonally from below.

A semicircular sword energy shot out as if to cut Dam-gok in half. Dam-gok bent his waist backward to avoid the sword energy.

Swish!

The tip of his clothing was cut off.

Dam-gok turned his body while swinging his massive cleaver horizontally.

Im Yi-eon blocked Dam-gok’s front and deflected the cleaver with her sword. Dam-gok again rammed Im Yi-eon’s solar plexus with Iron Head technique.

Im Yi-eon laid her body sideways and bent her back foot forward, striking Dam-gok’s nape and ear with her heel. It was a mandarin duck kick filled with internal energy, not to be ignored.

Thud thud!

Dam-gok’s earlobe tore and bled, while blood also burst from his opposite ear canal.

Whii- ing!

Dam-gok’s pupils shook as he knelt on one knee.

Dam-woon from behind pressed all the way in and rammed Im Yi-eon’s ribs from the side.

Crack!

Though Iron Head technique pushed through her protective energy and made cracking sounds from her ribs, Im Yi-eon only grimaced briefly before kicking Dam-woon’s knee. The already sword-wounded knee bent with an unpleasant sound.

As Dam-woon fell forward, Im Yi-eon immediately grabbed Dam-woon’s robe collar and pulled while thrusting her sword up from below. At this rate, the sword would pierce diagonally from Dam-woon’s neck through to his back skull.

Dam-woon’s eyes opened wide.

Suddenly Mu-gak shouted.

“Three Wheels!”

Im Yi-eon and Namgung Geol flinched.

The remaining three Arhat monks all charged out simultaneously. Two of them drew staffs similar to their height, attached sharp spear points to the ends to make spears, while one held two short clubs studded with spikes.

If the three surrounded her, Im Yi-eon would be disadvantaged. Im Yi-eon kicked Dam-woon away and retreated to prevent being surrounded.

Then Dam-gok stood up and blocked behind. Im Yi-eon’s back bumped into Dam-gok’s chest. Dam-gok gripped Im Yi-eon’s shoulders and head with both hands. Dam-gok, whose build was twice as large as Im Yi-eon’s, pressed down as if crushing a ball with his hands.

Im Yi-eon’s neck gradually bent toward her shoulder making cracking sounds. Her feet gradually lifted off the ground as her body was raised, and blood flowed from the corner of her lips. Im Yi-eon stretched out her feet, bringing her toes over her shoulder to kick Dam-gok’s eyes behind her.

Smack! Dam-gok staggered after being hit in the eye. Blood vessels in his eye burst making it blood-red, and the area around his eye socket swelled up.

“I’ll strike his back, so be careful!”

Namgung Geol warned Dam-gok while swinging his sword at Dam-gok’s back.

But Dam-gok ignored the warning and didn’t even turn his head.

Clang clang! Clang clang!

Sparks flew from his back surrounded by Iron Shirt. Namgung Geol continuously swung his sword without rest. Heaven Sky New Sword’s energy broke through Iron Shirt, cutting it piece by piece.

Meanwhile, Im Yi-eon spun her sword within her palm. Then gripping the sword in reverse, she precisely stabbed the acupoint on Dam-gok’s wrist that was pressing her head. Dam-gok’s hand stiffened and lost strength.

Dam-gok rammed Im Yi-eon’s head from above like driving a nail with Iron Head technique. Im Yi-eon once again kicked Dam-gok’s nose behind her with mandarin duck kick. Dam-gok dodged his head while lifting and throwing Im Yi-eon backward.

Namgung Geol stopped his attack and raised his sword upward. Im Yi-eon did a somersault with sword tip pointing down, precisely matching Namgung Geol’s sword tip to form a straight line. Then with help from the sword’s slight bending elasticity, she safely landed behind.

Meanwhile, the two Arhat monks with spears attacked. They consecutively stabbed at feet and ankles from both sides with their spears.

Tap tap tap, tap tap!

Namgung Geol and Im Yi-eon hopped around avoiding the spear points. The spear points thudded into the floor following them. Rather than direct attacks, these were movements to trap them inside the formation.

“Do you think we’ll let you do as you please?”

Im Yi-eon snorted and stuck her sword diagonally into the floor to block a spear point.

Clang!

The Arhat monk glared at Im Yi-eon with raised eyes. Im Yi-eon stepped on the spear shaft and ran to kick the Arhat monk’s chin. The Arhat monk kicked up the spear shaft to stand it upright. Im Yi-eon grabbed the rising spear shaft and spun around while swinging her sword at the Arhat monk.

Clang clang clang! Clang!

The Arhat monk lost his spear and deployed Iron Shirt while frantically retreating.

At that moment, Im Yi-eon suddenly stopped her attack and rolled sideways.

A Vajra monk appeared to attack Im Yi-eon but stopped and returned. The sight of Mu-gak’s thin arm emerging from the Vajra monk’s embrace then withdrawing was chilling.

Im Yi-eon gritted her teeth.

“How annoying.”

Namgung Geol, not to be outdone by Im Yi-eon, cleverly used footwork to confuse the Arhat monk who was stabbing at his feet with the spear. The Arhat monk leaped up and spun his spear in a large circle, striking Namgung Geol’s shoulder with the shaft. When Namgung Geol twisted his waist to dodge, the spear shaft smashed the floor.

Crash!

Namgung Geol placed his sword against the spear shaft and ran while pushing the sword with both hands. The spear shaft was sliced thin like peeling bark. If he kept holding the shaft, the Arhat monk’s hands would be cut too.

The Arhat monk struck the spear shaft down to the floor with his opposite forearm. Namgung Geol kicked the shaft back up to prevent his sword from coming free. While doing so, he swung his sword trying to stab the Arhat’s philtrum. The Arhat monk twisted and pressed down the shaft again, making Namgung Geol’s sword get pressed down together. Namgung Geol rotated his body and leaped up just slightly about a span, kicking the Arhat monk’s chest with his back foot. The Arhat monk lowered his head to receive Namgung Geol’s kick with his head.

Thump thump! The Arhat monk was pushed back smoothly. A red footprint remained on his head.

The Arhat monk gritted his teeth and slapped his own head repeatedly, actually burning with fighting spirit.

“Take it.”

Namgung Geol kicked the fallen spear shaft back to the Arhat monk. The Arhat monk caught the spear, peeled off the bark of the long-cut shaft, and gripped the spear.

The Arhat monk with two clubs charged at Namgung Geol. Like beating laundry with a paddle, the Arhat monk continuously brought down his clubs without rest.

Namgung Geol smoothly deployed sword techniques, tapping away the clubs.

Tap tap tap, tap tap tap tap!

It was truly admirable force distribution. The Arhat monk’s strength was gradually deflected, unable to properly strike the sword with his clubs. Namgung Geol slightly shifted his body and swept his leg.

The Arhat monk flailed and walked unsteadily like a tired horse losing strength.

Namgung Geol didn’t follow but turned his head to confirm Mu-gak was in place. Mu-gak hadn’t moved.

Only after reaching almost to the wall did the Arhat monk stop and glare at Namgung Geol with fiery eyes.

But one of the young men by that wall saw the Arhat monk’s back turned and, perhaps harboring resentment, quietly picked up a blade. Since Namgung Geol had too easily tapped away the clubs, he seemed to think the Arhat monk before him wasn’t as formidable as expected.

Before Namgung Geol could stop him, the young man swung his blade at the Arhat monk’s nape. The nape was somewhere both Iron Head technique and Iron Shirt couldn’t protect.

“Die!”

The Arhat monk turned around like lightning while swinging his club. The young man tried to deflect the club with his blade like Namgung Geol had and strike the Arhat monk’s neck again.

But the Arhat monk’s club shattered the young man’s blade and embedded straight into the young man’s cheekbone.

Crash!

The shattered blade fragments flew off spinning and fell.

“Uh… uh…?”

The young man looked bewildered with the club embedded in his cheekbone. The Arhat monk twisted out the embedded club and quickly struck the young man’s head twice with both hands.

Thud thud! The young man’s skull caved in and burst. The young man collapsed and died.

“Tsk tsk.”

Namgung Geol clicked his tongue as if pitying him.

Though the sword seemed advantageous in length, clubs were unexpectedly troublesome to face with a sword. If the sword face was hit, the sword would break, and if the blade hit the embedded spikes, it would chip.

Moreover, no matter how much the Arhat monks were struggling against Namgung Geol and Im Yi-eon, they were originally at a level incomparable to the young men!

Other young men near the dead youth sat cowering, then scooted backward and fled sideways.

Namgung Geol caught his breath briefly while assessing the situation.

The Arhat monks themselves weren’t major obstacles. But Mu-gak became an obstacle by intervening periodically. Mu-gak was overcoming his physical disadvantages by creating walls.

So to face Mu-gak more easily, they ultimately had to defeat and overcome the Arhat monks blocking the front. And even the Vajra monk behind who hadn’t yet intervened.