Chapter 411 – Standing Alone Before the Storm (2)

The first to sense the ominous sign was Go Seol-cheon, who was positioned midway up the mountain.

"Huh?"

He was checking arrows specially prepared to hunt Dam Ho when he stopped all movement and stared ahead.

Thud thud thud!

Fine vibrations were felt through the soles of his feet.

At first he thought it was his imagination. But the vibrations quickly intensified, and storm-like energy waves struck him.

"Already?"

According to his calculations, Dam Ho was supposed to pass through this place only after at least two quarters of an hour. His route should also have been the mountain path below, more than a hundred zhang away from here.

But the moment he felt energy waves so intense they could peel skin, Go Seol-cheon instinctively sensed something was wrong and nocked an arrow to his bowstring.

It was a weapon made of Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron, not just the arrowhead but the entire arrow shaft. Fine grooves were carved in spirals throughout the arrowhead and shaft, multiplying its destructive power several times over.

The Heaven Kill Bow with arrows made of Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

This was the strongest hand he could play.

Blue energy gathered on the arrow and formed a distinct arrow shape. He had layered the arrow with sword energy.

Swish!

The arrow wrapped in sword energy instantly pierced through the bushes and disappeared.

Boom!

An explosion erupted beyond the bushes, and flames shot up to the sky. At the same time, leaves and grass were swept up into the sky all at once before falling down like snow.

Suddenly Dam Ho burst out, his torn black robe fluttering.

Disheveled black hair and fierce black pupils shining between them.

Bestial killing intent crashed down on Go Seol-cheon like a waterfall.

Dam Ho's mad charge, which couldn't be stopped by the bow energy, made him panic.

"Crazy!"

But contrary to his bewildered mind, his body was already preparing to shoot the next arrow.

Swish swish!

Two arrows flew toward Dam Ho in succession.

This time it wasn't bow energy but ordinary attacks. The kind Dam Ho could dodge just by shaking his head left and right.

Dam Ho, who had deflected the two arrows, threw his fist toward Go Seol-cheon. It was Shattering Star Punch.

Thud!

Dam Ho's pupils suddenly wavered. Because of an arrow that had pierced through his chest from behind.

It was one of the arrows he had just deflected. Unless the arrow had wings, it would be impossible for it to curve around and pierce his chest from behind. If it were an ordinary attack, that is.

"Hehe! This is Controlling Arrows with Energy."

Swish!

As if to prove Go Seol-cheon's words, another arrow curved through the air and fell toward Dam Ho's head.

It was already too late to dodge.

Dam Ho spread his left palm wide toward the air.

Thud!

The arrow pierced through his palm.

The arrow spinning at terrifying speed broke bones and tore flesh as it advanced. The hole the arrow was boring grew larger and larger.

This was precisely the power of arrows made from Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

No force could stop it, and it bored through human flesh like tofu, destroying it.

Finally, the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron arrow lost its power and fell to the ground only after boring a large hole through Dam Ho's palm.

Dam Ho's body staggered momentarily. Go Seol-cheon didn't miss that opening and nocked another arrow to the Heaven Kill Bow.

It was a golden opportunity that wouldn't come twice.

The Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron arrow aimed at Dam Ho's head. But Dam Ho, who should have collapsed, continued charging forward.

"Grr!"

Go Seol-cheon deployed Blood Light Stream's secret footwork technique Full Shadow Step and quickly retreated.

For archers like him, the most important thing was movement that allowed shooting with optimal posture under any circumstances. And Full Shadow Step was the best footwork technique that made this possible.

Swish swish swish!

Three arrows were fired in succession. All three contained the principles of Controlling Arrows with Energy.

Like meteors burning everything and bombarding the earth, Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron arrows fell into Dam Ho's blind spots. No matter where Dam Ho dodged, Controlling Arrows with Energy followed him.

"It's over."

Go Seol-cheon shot an arrow formed with sword energy at the cornered Dam Ho.

Roar!

It was an attack of a completely different dimension.

A triumphant smile appeared on Go Seol-cheon's face.

Though unintended, it was the moment of achieving the feat of hunting the world's Fist Demon alone.

BOOM!

Following Controlling Arrows with Energy, the arrow with sword energy exploded on Dam Ho's body. Dam Ho's form caught in the explosion was torn to pieces.

"Got him!"

It was the moment Go Seol-cheon shouted loudly without realizing it.

Whoosh!

The air rippled and the space in front of Go Seol-cheon distorted. And Dam Ho revealed himself.

"What?"

Go Seol-cheon's eyes bulged as if they would tear. Because something impossible by his common sense had happened.

Thwack!

Dam Ho's fist exploded on his abdomen.

With the sound of leather bursting, Go Seol-cheon's body was flung backward. It was fortunate he had raised protective energy; otherwise his internal organs would have burst from this single strike. But it was too early to feel relieved. Because Dam Ho followed up at terrifying speed.

Crack!

At that moment the texture of air burst and shock was delivered to Go Seol-cheon's eardrums.

It was Air Severing Wall.

Tinnitus came and his body's balance collapsed. Dam Ho's fist was flying toward him once again.

Go Seol-cheon hastily blocked the front with his Heaven Kill Bow. But Dam Ho's fist cleverly avoided the Heaven Kill Bow and exploded on his chest.

Bang!

It was Single Yang Strike.

"Gack!"

Go Seol-cheon staggered while spitting blood.

His chest opened wide, becoming temporarily defenseless. In that gap, Dam Ho's palm adhered to him.

Five Finger Rock Breaking Force emitted spiral-shaped energy.

Boom!

The energy spreading throughout his body made Go Seol-cheon's bones move randomly. In that gap, Dam Ho grabbed his collar. Earth Heaven Strike had entered.

Go Seol-cheon, sensing his ominous fate, mustered his last strength and shouted.

"N-no!"

That was the last voice he uttered while alive.

CRASH!

His head was smashed straight into the ground.

Like a ripe watermelon, his head shattered and bone marrow and blood splattered in all directions. The headless body stuck upside down in the earth swayed for a moment before collapsing.

That was the end of Go Seol-cheon, leader of Blood Light Stream, one of the Demon Cult's Thirteen Branches.

He was definitely not someone who should have died so futilely. But he made a critical mistake in facing Dam Ho.

The fact that he failed to properly assess what kind of martial artist Dam Ho was.

"Huff!"

Hiss!

Blood-colored heat haze rose from Dam Ho's body as he caught his rough breath and straightened his back. It was a phenomenon caused by the blood he had been covered with evaporating. That much intense heat was being emitted from Dam Ho's body.

Dam Ho looked at Go Seol-cheon's corpse with indifferent eyes.

Go Seol-cheon was certainly a tremendous master.

His archery had tremendous power that Dam Ho had never seen before. Especially Controlling Arrows with Energy was a technique even Dam Ho hadn't anticipated. If he had maintained just a bit more composure, it would have been Dam Ho lying on the ground.

Go Seol-cheon's mistake was knowing too little about Dam Ho.

Dam Ho looked at the black robe torn to shreds and fluttering in the wind. What Go Seol-cheon's Controlling Arrows with Energy had pierced wasn't Dam Ho but the robe he was wearing.

In the moment of crisis, Dam Ho deceived Go Seol-cheon's eyes with his robe and mixed the principles of Shape Transformation into Charging Step to avoid Controlling Arrows with Energy and bow energy. In exchange he suffered a large wound on his shoulder, but ultimately was able to kill Go Seol-cheon.

No matter what sacrifice he had to make, even if it was a wound close to death, Dam Ho could stake everything without sparing his body.

That was the kind of martial artist Dam Ho was.

In any situation or crisis, he threw his whole body into the clash. Clashing, and clashing again, finding a path of life in the most dangerous death road – Dam Ho's fighting spirit was unparalleled.

Dam Ho suddenly reached toward his chest. He grasped the arrow protruding through his chest. It was an arrow made of Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

When Dam Ho grasped and pulled out the arrow, flesh tangled in the fine grooves was torn out together. Thrilling pain was felt along his spine.

Blood burst out between his tightly bitten lips. It was pain even Dam Ho found hard to endure. But Dam Ho stubbornly pulled out the arrow.

Bright red blood was dripping from the flesh that came out with the arrow. Dam Ho discarded the arrow without regret.

A tremendous amount of blood flowed from the wound where the arrow was extracted. Dam Ho tore his sleeve and stuffed it into the wound. Then the amount of blood flowing out gradually decreased.

Dam Ho left Go Seol-cheon's corpse behind and moved forward.

Stepping on the ground with his right leg and dragging his left leg…

***

"The east has completely collapsed."

"He's charging at unbelievable speed."

"Hidden Blood Gate has been annihilated."

"The archers have all been wiped out…"

"Ah! Blood Bow Death God has fallen to him."

Unbelievable news kept coming.

"This can't be!"

Nam Hyeon-so clenched his fists. Disbelief appeared on his face.

The heavenly net spread to catch Dam Ho had completely collapsed. More shocking was that Go Seol-cheon, Blood Bow Death God, whom he had difficultly invited, had lost his life to Dam Ho. Along with the hundred or so archers who came with him.

It was truly tremendous damage.

No matter how much Nam Hyeon-so was a central figure of the Demon Cult and a martial artist who received the Cult Leader's full trust, he couldn't remain safe after causing such damage.

Blood vessels appeared in his bulging eyes. He looked as if he might drip fresh blood at any moment.

"Hehe! There was a reason Black Wing Death King told us to avoid collision."

He understood with his head.

The martial power of Dam Ho reported so far was itself a breakthrough beyond his expectations. It was understandable that Black Wing Death King Jin Do-hwi told him to avoid it.

But his heart couldn't accept it.

Countless subordinates he had brought had lost their lives, and even Go Seol-cheon, who had been the greatest fighting force, was dead. His pride wouldn't allow retreating powerlessly after suffering such tremendous damage.

Then Yo Sa-ran approached his side.

"Will you continue?"

"I can't retreat like this."

"The heavenly net has collapsed."

"So we should just retreat? Hah! Not a chance. This Nam Hyeon-so has never once retreated or stood by while facing an enemy. Moreover, my subordinates are still intact."

Nam Hyeon-so looked behind him.

His direct subordinates, the Divine Fire Hall martial artists, were lined up. Though two hundred had lost their lives while annihilating the Namgung Family, three hundred still remained intact.

Their martial power was tremendous even by Demon Cult standards. Moreover, having already annihilated even the Namgung Family, their morale was at its peak. Strange heat was rising from their entire bodies.

They too were sensing the upcoming bloody battle and their bodies were reacting.

Retreat while leaving such subordinates behind?

Nam Hyeon-so's pride wouldn't allow it.

"Sigh!"

At such appearance of Nam Hyeon-so, Yo Sa-ran quietly sighed. Because she realized no words could change his determination.

"If you're scared, Commander Yo may retreat."

"Are you provoking me?"

"So?"

"I can't retreat before repaying my debt."

"Hehe! I thought so."

Nam Hyeon-so let out a cold laugh. But Yo Sa-ran couldn't smile.

She never knew the debt she owed him would become such shackles.

It wasn't that she feared the Fist Demon, but she hated having to fight so cowardly.

Though she belonged to the Demon Cult, she considered herself an upright martial artist. Though her methods were cruel and merciless, earning her the unwelcome epithet Blood Wheel Witch, she had never once been cowardly before a fight.

Yo Sa-ran suddenly raised her head to look at the sky.

It had become evening before they knew it. Blood-red sunset was welcoming the setting sun.

With his back to the setting sun, someone appeared casting a long shadow.

A man stained with blood as much as the sunset that reddened the sky.

Yo Sa-ran's eyes shone coldly.

"He's come."

"Fist Demon."

Nam Hyeon-so growled.

The man who appeared with his back to the blood-red sky was precisely Dam Ho.

Go Lu-bon was speechless and glared at Jin Ja-gang in disbelief.

“What are you, bastard.”

Jin Ja-gang answered as if asking why he was asking something obvious.

“Why do you ask when you already know?”

“No no, I’m not curious who you are…”

As if he thought his excuse was shabby, Go Lu-bon frowned.

“So I’m asking why you bastard are here.”

Jin Ja-gang answered calmly.

“If you knew we were coming yet held out until then, it means you had many things to transport as much as possible. Enough quantity to go back and forth with dozens of carts daily.”

“What… hmm… well…”

“And deliberately splitting into two directions to flee was to disperse pursuit, which means you hadn’t finished moving everything yet, right?”

“That would… be so?”

“If there were still things you wanted to transport until the end, even if you dispersed pursuit, you’d eventually have to go somewhere.”

Go Lu-bon’s eyes widened and rolled left and right.

“No no, so… you were waiting here because of that?”

“No matter how hard you try with carts, traces remain and it’s slow, so you’ll eventually be caught up to. You have no choice but to go by boat.”

“Well… that’s right…, no! No! Are you testing me right now!”

“I’ve been to Guizhou before. This Motae Port is a strategic point south of the earthen castle, with routes leading west to military lines, north to tea trade routes, and east to salt transport routes. Whether going by boat or land route, you have no choice but to pass through Motae Port.”

“So you figured out I’d pass through here?”

“I just anticipated it.”

Go Lu-bon couldn’t deny it further. Jin Ja-gang’s words all fit together perfectly without gaps.

Go Lu-bon asked with a trace of suspicion.

“Hmph. Then can you guess which direction I came from?”

“Probably the old man came from the cart side that went northeast.”

Go Lu-bon’s mouth gaped open. He looked truly surprised.

“Are you a fortune teller!”

“Some would have stopped midway to block pursuers while the old man came through the mountains to here. If you had rather hidden the cart’s contents and fled empty-handed, I might have followed with all my might.”

“The others didn’t follow? Then did we work for nothing?”

“No. Everyone else followed. Since it’s just my speculation, they have to follow and confirm.”

Go Lu-bon smacked his wrinkled lips.

“Poison Dragon, I only heard the name Poison Dragon, and I was curious why King of Hell died, but now I understand.”

“I haven’t killed him yet though.”

“He’ll die soon. It becomes poison if you leave that kind alive.”

Go Lu-bon smacked his lips and shook his head left and right.

“But you know, I have one more curious point.”

“What is it?”

Go Lu-bon’s drooping eyes looked straight at Jin Ja-gang.

“Why do those who act smart always babble without knowing they’ll die?”

“Are you talking about me?”

“Everyone chased after them, which means only you are here alone… and if you blabber all that…”

Go Lu-bon’s crooked, sparse teeth showed. His mouth opened left and right with a long, mean laugh.

“Makes me want to kill you, doesn’t it?”

Go Lu-ben’s sluggish killing intent aimed at Jin Ja-gang.

All the unorthodox sect warriors moving with the carts drew their swords.

Clang!

But Jin Ja-gang showed no change in expression.

“Ah, is that so?”

Jin Ja-gang raised his hand.

Thread-thin lines were pulled, creating small sparkles in the air.

Swoosh! Dust clouds rose from the middle of the cart procession. The dust clouds were pulled forward. The dust clouds swept over the knees of nearby unorthodox sect warriors and the lower parts of cart wheels.

Thud! The wheels of the heavy carts loaded with cargo fell off first, tilting the carts.

Crash! As carts toppled sideways, the coverings lifted and straw sacks popped out. White powder was slightly stuck to the surfaces of the sacks. Seeing this, Jin Ja-gang’s eyes narrowed.

Then the horses pulling the carts fell crying out with severed legs. The warriors in the path of the dust clouds were the same.

“Huh?”

The moment the warriors flinched in surprise, their bodies slid from their shins. No matter how they flailed their arms trying not to fall, it was useless.

“Aaaahhh!”

The warriors screamed and scattered blood from their ankles. Blood sprayed instantly with the struggling horses, creating chaos.

Instantly Go Lu-bon threw his body backward. Then he put his hands on the ground and crouched, blocking the dust clouds with his body.

Ping!

Soul Seizing Thread caught Go Lu-bon’s upper arm and cheek, pulled taut.

Jin Ja-gang applied force and pulled Soul Seizing Thread. Soul Seizing Thread dug into Go Lu-bon’s cheek.

But absurdly, Go Lu-bon wasn’t cut. Soul Seizing Thread caught on the drooping wrinkles of his cheek, only making the skin slide. The upper arm was the same. Though it cut through clothes sharply, only the sagging skin was pulled.

“Heh heh heh.”

Go Lu-bon laughed with Soul Seizing Thread caught on his upper arm and cheek.

“I’ve heard the rumors indeed. Soul Seizing Thread. But such tricks don’t work on this elder’s Lump Tree Skill.”

Jin Ja-gang shook Soul Seizing Thread. Soul Seizing Thread bounced up and down, creating countless lines on Go Lu-bon’s clothes.

Go Lu-bon’s upper garment was cut to pieces. And Go Lu-bon’s revealed body was horribly grotesque.

His entire body was covered in layers of tremendous wrinkles, with lump-like masses protruding deformedly here and there. It looked like the bumpy trunk of a very old zelkova tree. Those wrinkles and lumps were all calluses. Calluses were protecting Go Lu-bon’s body like scales!

Jin Ja-gang slightly frowned one eyebrow.

“Lump Tree Skill, the names ‘lump’ and ‘zelkova tree’ suit you very well.”

“You know something, kid. Lump Tree Skill is comparable to Diamond Imperishable.”

Between Jin Ja-gang’s fingers, poison needles spun. Jin Ja-gang threw poison needles using Flash Severance technique.

Poison needles shot straight and embedded in Go Lu-bon’s lumps and wrinkles.

But Go Lu-bon laughed.

“Poison needles can’t pierce my skin. So naturally poison doesn’t work either.”

When Go Lu-bon slightly shook his body, the needles that seemed barely embedded fell powerlessly.

“I understand why Sword Empress was defeated.”

At Jin Ja-gang’s words, Go Lu-bon laughed as if delighted.

“Sword Empress’s Swallow Brave Slanted Cliff Sword is definitely first-rate, but it’s meaningless if it doesn’t work, right? Even Sword Empress could only threaten me a little after using sword energy.”

“And after exhausting all sword energy, she was captured when her strength failed.”

“Exactly!”

Go Lu-bon tore off his tattered upper garment and showed his side. There was a sword mark that seemed burned by fire, cutting through lumps and wrinkles for about a span. It was the only noticeable mark among countless small scars.

“This is the only trace Sword Empress left on my body. You try too. Who knows? Maybe you can make it longer than this.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Go Lu-bon briefly then waved his hand.

Swish, Soul Seizing Thread caught on Go Lu-bon’s body released and flew into Jin Ja-gang’s hand. Jin Ja-gang put the blood on Soul Seizing Thread to his lips and licked it.

“I’ll say I’m not confident for now.”

Go Lu-bon frowned and spat.

“What a disgusting bastard. Are you some damn demon cult member? Why do you creepily lick other people’s blood?”

Jin Ja-gang ignored Go Lu-bon’s words and raised one hand. Spinning, poison needles popped out from between Jin Ja-gang’s fingers.

Go Lu-bon sneered.

“Even after seeing it doesn’t work, tsk tsk. Do you have some other method?”

“No. Since the old man won’t work, I’ll kill the rest instead. Kill people and kill horses too.”

“What?”

The unorthodox sect warriors’ faces turned pale.

Go Lu-bon might be fine, but they couldn’t possibly survive being hit by Poison Dragon’s poison needles!

“W-wait!”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t even listen to Go Lu-bon and threw poison needles first.

Ping!

Five lines crossed through space. Go Lu-ben jumped up and received the lines with his chest. Four lines stuck in Go Lu-bon’s chest then fell, but one line suddenly curved sharply to the side and stuck in a warrior’s neck.

“Ahhh!”

The warrior quickly pulled out the needle, but soon blood filled his eyes and bloody foam poured from his nose and mouth. Other warriors hesitated and hid behind carts.

But horses couldn’t be hidden.

Neigh neigh!

The horses felt unease and kept rearing up.

Horses dying wasn’t a simple problem. Without horses, carts couldn’t be pulled, and without warriors, horses couldn’t be handled.

“Do you want to die?”

Jin Ja-gang said leisurely. Swish, five more needles rose between Jin Ja-gang’s fingers.

“The cargo loaded in those carts. Wasn’t it important enough to stay and transport until the end?”

“This damn…”

Go Lu-bon twisted his wrinkled lips in indignation.

Then he suddenly shouted.

“Bring that out!”

A warrior lifted the covering on one cart.

Sword Empress Im Yi-yeon was stuffed in the cart like luggage!

The warrior kicked Im Yi-yeon off the cart and dragged her to Go Lu-bon, but she couldn’t resist. She was cut and wounded everywhere with bloodstains and was a mess.

“Sword Empress?”

Go Lu-bon grabbed Im Yi-yeon’s hair and showed her face. Im Yi-yeon’s eyes burned. Her eyes were alive but with vital points sealed, she couldn’t move her body at all.

“That’s right, you bastard.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

Go Lu-bon ground his teeth.

“Try throwing poison needles one more time. I’ll twist this bitch’s neck immediately.”

Jin Ja-gang’s expression darkened.

“Hmm.”

Jin Ja-gang thought briefly then folded his hand into a fist.

Go Lu-bon suddenly kicked Im Yi-yeon’s right arm with his foot.

Crack!

The wrist broke immediately. Unable to move, Im Yi-yeon had no choice but to take it. Im Yi-yeon’s eyes became bloodshot. Though her forehead also showed veins from pain, she couldn’t even make a groan.

Jin Ja-gang soon put poison needles in the opposite sleeve and lowered his hand.

“I’ll give up.”

“Why? Why don’t you try something while acting smart like before? Huh?”

Go Lu-bon broke Im Yi-yeon’s other arm too.

Crack!

Im Yi-yeon’s face turned bright red.

Jin Ja-gang frowned and twitched his fingers as if about to throw poison needles any moment.

“Throw them. Throw them, you bastard.”

Jin Ja-gang finally put poison needles in the opposite sleeve and lowered his hand.

“I give up.”

“Should have done that from the start. Arrogant bastard…”

Go Lu-bon was satisfied only after Jin Ja-gang confirmed again. But soon he showed his sparse teeth and made a mean smile.

“Then beg to save this bitch’s life. Go on.”

Jin Ja-gang looked straight at Go Lu-bon and said.

“Please spare her.”

“…”

Go Lu-bon felt strange.

“Beg! Is that how you make requests?”

“Please spare her. I’m begging you.”

“…”

Go Lu-bon’s face became sullen.

“Something feels unsettling…”

Jin Ja-gang was definitely making a request, but his expression wasn’t pitiful. Seeing his expressionless face from earlier, maybe that was his original expression.

But looking at what he’d been doing, his temperament seemed nasty. If pushed further, he might come out recklessly.

Actually, killing Im Yi-yeon wouldn’t particularly benefit him…