Chapter 275

When the three masters, each at their peak, unleashed their killing techniques freely, sword energy flew in all directions.

The Zhuge family warriors, Evil Sect members, and Qingcheng Sect Taoists also began fighting. Since the Qingcheng Sect Taoists focused more on incapacitating rather than slaughtering and protecting the Evil Sect members, despite their high martial arts skills, they couldn’t gain complete advantage. Woon-jeong was also busy protecting Soso.

At times like this, the battle ends when the leader is defeated.

Jin Ja-gang rushed toward Zhuge Son-gi from the beginning.

Zhuge Son-gi also saw Jin Ja-gang and his eyes blazed.

The source of all these incidents, Poison Dragon who had received the Zhuge family’s death warrant.

Poison Dragon at least had to be killed.

It wasn’t for nothing that he followed Zhuge Ming, the second-in-command of the Zhuge family. Zhuge Son-gi was also skilled enough to rank within the top twenty of his family.

Zhuge Son-gi held a sword in his left hand and pulled his right hand back in a strange stance. The sword was also a span shorter than ordinary swords, with long grooves carved along the blade and a sharp triangular tip – a deformed sword.

‘Left-handed!’

Jin Ja-gang raised his internal energy to fill all four dikes completely.

The advantage of Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art was that it could use internal energy to the maximum from the beginning. Since it drew upon the body’s energy channels and turbid energy to their current limits, it could display power more easily than internal energy accumulated in the dantian.

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes moved busily. He was concerned about Zhuge Son-gi hiding his right hand behind his back. Zhuge Son-gi approached using footwork to close the distance. His right hand suddenly shot out.

It was the Zhuge family’s hand technique, Celestial Mountain Ghost Soul Art. It mixed finger wind and palm wind, but had the property of being duller than finger wind and spreading more sharply than palm wind. Jin Ja-gang moved his body sideways.

At that moment, Zhuge Son-gi thrust with his left hand. Like lightning, the sword advanced and retreated three times.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

Due to the tremendous speed and the grooves in the blade, the air-splitting sound was so loud it made one’s ears ring.

Jin Ja-gang hastily twisted his shoulder, but somehow a triangular wound had appeared on his shoulder. Blood spurted out along the groove in the sword.

Piercing Hole Sword!

Zhuge Son-gi breathed rapidly while pulling his left elbow back and then pushing it forward like a spring.

Shrill!

It was an attack method extremely focused on thrusting. However, by concentrating only on thrusting, its speed was faster than imaginable. Using only the shoulder and elbow to pull and thrust, it was sufficiently threatening without requiring great force.

Jin Ja-gang used footwork to avoid the thrusts. Zhuge Son-gi gathered his right hand fingers then spread them while sweeping his arm.

Multiple streams of energy spread from his fingers like diffused reflection. It was compensating for the lack of variation in simple thrusting with Celestial Mountain Ghost Soul Art.

Since he used it by suddenly spreading his fingers, it was a difficult attack to grasp where the five streams of finger wind and palm wind from the palm center would go.

Jin Ja-gang rolled sideways on the ground.

Pop pop pop!

The finger wind and palm wind embedded in the ground and wooden pillars. Dirt flew and tree bark shattered and scattered.

Zhuge Son-gi swept the blade of his Piercing Hole Sword with his right hand’s sword finger while preparing his next technique.

Jin Ja-gang crouched low as he rose and gripped needles to throw. Throwing projectiles at close range was Jin Ja-gang’s specialty. However, Zhuge Son-gi thrust his Piercing Hole Sword toward Jin Ja-gang’s palm as if his own life didn’t matter.

If it had been the previous Jin Ja-gang, he would have been willing to sacrifice his hand and thrown the projectiles to the end. But Jin Ja-gang’s instincts detected this would be disadvantageous.

Jin Ja-gang cleverly twisted his wrist to throw one needle before retrieving his hand. His palm stung. There was already a small hole in his palm. The thrust was faster than throwing projectiles. If he hadn’t retrieved his hand, a hole would have been drilled from his palm to his wrist.

Jin Ja-gang had no time to check his injuries as he turned and hid behind a tree.

Pop pop pop!

The Piercing Hole Sword made three holes in the tree. Jin Ja-gang climbed the tree and hung upside down to scatter poison powder. Zhuge Son-gi tried to sweep away the poison powder with his right sleeve.

Jin Ja-gang clasped both hands together while breathing out long, rotating the whirlpool to maximum and unleashing Blazing Twin Scale Palm.

Spark.

Sparks flew between his palms. Jin Ja-gang spread his hands then clapped them together forcefully.

Sparks flew and the poison powder burst into flames.

Bang!

The fine soot from the burned poison powder enveloped Zhuge Son-gi. Zhuge Son-gi was startled, closed his eyes, and rotated his body while retreating.

“Kugh!”

He hastily gathered saliva to spit out, but his nostrils and lips stung.

To give Zhuge Son-gi no opening, Jin Ja-gang flipped down from the air while throwing projectiles. The Flying Needle Twelve Points traced beautiful curves as needles aimed for Zhuge Son-gi’s glabella, throat, and abdomen.

Zhuge Son-gi leaped while holding his breath to avoid the projectiles. The needles barely grazed past his ear and under his foot. Zhuge Son-gi used Celestial Mountain Ghost Soul Art to block Jin Ja-gang’s approach and withdrew from the poison powder’s range.

Once poison powder was scattered, he couldn’t breathe properly.

“You vicious bastard, using poison even with allies around…!”

But already there was no one around Jin Ja-gang. As if they had expected this, the Evil Sect members and Qingcheng Sect Taoists were already far away from Jin Ja-gang.

A small-bodied masked Taoist was blocking at an appropriate distance to prevent getting too close to Jin Ja-gang.

Zhuge Son-gi gritted his teeth and spread his right hand.

“Let’s see if you can dodge this too!”

Celestial Mountain Ghost Soul Art – Heaven Net!

He unleashed Celestial Mountain Ghost Soul Art three times in succession, creating a net of finger wind and palm wind across the front.

Jin Ja-gang confirmed the direction of Zhuge Son-gi’s fingers and palm center. At a glance, there seemed to be space to dodge the finger wind to the right. But dodging that way would make him prey for the Piercing Hole Sword thrust.

Realizing Zhuge Son-gi’s aim, Jin Ja-gang deliberately dodged left even while taking finger wind to his left foot. His left thigh was hit by four streams of finger wind, tearing the skin and spurting blood. But it was only superficial. The whirlpool’s internal energy filled with turbid energy deflected the force and prevented damage to his energy channels.

Zhuge Son-gi thought Jin Ja-gang would naturally dodge right and hesitated while trying to thrust his Piercing Hole Sword.

Jin Ja-gang had continuously fought opponents far superior to himself. He never missed the single moment that could decide victory.

Jin Ja-gang slid on his buttocks and kicked at Zhuge Son-gi’s supporting foot.

Zhuge Son-gi lifted his body into the air and shot finger wind and palm wind with Celestial Mountain Ghost Soul Art again. Jin Ja-gang kicked off the ground and leaped to catch Zhuge Son-gi’s right hand with Grappling Technique. Zhuge Son-gi curled his fingers to abandon Celestial Mountain Ghost Soul Art and made a fist. When Jin Ja-gang grabbed and twisted his fist, Zhuge Son-gi also concentrated his internal energy to resist.

[TL Note- i mistakenly used Golden Thread Hand as a technique but it’s supposed to be Grappling Technique.]

However, the more he used internal energy, the more his left arm stung. Poison had activated, creating discomfort in operating his left arm. But with his right hand caught, he had no choice. Zhuge Son-gi stabbed with his left hand’s Piercing Hole Sword. However, the Piercing Hole Sword that should have shot out like a ray of light became ridiculously slow.

Before Zhuge Son-gi could even extend his Piercing Hole Sword, Jin Ja-gang pushed Zhuge Son-gi’s left shoulder and arm with his other leg. Unable to extend his left arm fully forward, the Piercing Hole Sword couldn’t reach Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang gripped Zhuge Son-gi’s right hand forcefully. Zhuge Son-gi resisted with strength. Jin Ja-gang maximized his finger strength with Drilling Dragon Claw and firmly grasped Zhuge Son-gi’s fist.

Crack.

Zhuge Son-gi’s fist bones crumbled and his fist was crushed. Jin Ja-gang then wrapped his leg around Zhuge Son-gi’s right arm and shoulder like a coil and fell to the ground.

Crunch!

The moment they hit the ground, his body weight crushed Zhuge Son-gi’s right wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Zhuge Son-gi felt pain so intense that stars flashed before his eyes, but gritted his teeth to suppress his scream. At the same time, he drove his Piercing Hole Sword into Jin Ja-gang’s ribs with all his might.

However, even then his left arm’s movement was extremely sluggish. Only then could Zhuge Son-gi see a needle embedded in his left elbow.

Zhuge Son-gi was horrified.

‘When!’

The only moment he had let his guard down was when he briefly closed his eyes while the poison powder burned.

He was certain he had dodged all the needles thrown afterward.

‘Ah!’

Though he thought he had dodged all the needles, he might have been hit before that when he closed his eyes. The later needle throws were to hide this fact.

To use the fact that Zhuge Son-gi didn’t know and catch him at the decisive moment.

Of course, the technique Jin Ja-gang used was the Tang family’s projectile art, Sharp Needle.

Jin Ja-gang twisted his waist to catch the Piercing Hole Sword Zhuge Son-gi thrust between his left armpit while drawing a sickle from behind his waist with his right hand. As he drew it, he spun the sickle in his hand using Single Moon Sickle Blade technique and struck Zhuge Son-gi’s left shoulder in the shortest trajectory.

Thunk!

The sickle pierced through Zhuge Son-gi’s shoulder and struck into the ground.

“Ahhhhh!”

Zhuge Son-gi finally screamed. Jin Ja-gang pressed down Zhuge Son-gi’s left hand with his left hand and wrapped his leg around his arm and neck to bind Zhuge Son-gi immobile. Then he lifted the embedded sickle.

Zhuge Son-gi found himself facing the sickle with his head clearly exposed between Jin Ja-gang’s legs.

“How could I lose to a mere mongrel like you…”

Zhuge Son-gi’s eyes still couldn’t believe he had lost.

“Since you tried to kill me, I hope you bear no resentment.”

“Even in death, I’ll become a vengeful spirit and chase you!”

However, Zhuge Son-gi realized that spewing such curses was also pathetic.

Jin Ja-gang turned Zhuge Son-gi’s head to the side and struck with the sickle upward from his lower jaw.

“Kek!”

With a single scream, the sickle’s blade passed through Zhuge Son-gi’s jaw and protruded from the crown of his head.

Jin Ja-gang twisted and broke Zhuge Son-gi’s neck bones to confirm his death before standing up. The places pierced by the Piercing Hole Sword ached dully. The bleeding wouldn’t stop properly either. This was because the sharp triangular shape of the sword tip was designed to induce bleeding.

Jin Ja-gang steadied his breathing as he stood.

The Zhuge family warriors saw Zhuge Son-gi die at Jin Ja-gang’s hands and their morale plummeted greatly. With the Qingcheng Sect Taoists present, they couldn’t capture the Evil Sect members with their strength alone. Only their pride as Zhuge family warriors prevented them from fleeing.

However, if even Baek Li-jung fell in this situation, their lives would become worthless. The fight between Baek Li-jung, Dan Ryeong-gyeong, and Elder Bok-cheon was their lifeline.

But they couldn’t get close to help.

The area around the three was completely devastated. Leaves and branches cut by sword winds flew about, and there were many trees with only stumps remaining. All the great trees had been cut down and fallen as if logged.

Baek Li-jung, Dan Ryeong-gyeong, and Elder Bok-cheon were clearly fighting fiercely. Dan Ryeong-gyeong was attacking Baek Li-jung with single-minded aggression, disregarding life and death, while Elder Bok-cheon was pouring out his internal energy without reserve as if this fight was his last.

Baek Li-jung was relaxed. He wasn’t being pushed back at all.

“You think you can kill me with this level of skill? Ridiculous.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong shouted.

“Shut up!”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong pulled her blade inward then rotated the blade itself while thrusting outward. Blade energy extended in a crescent moon shape, aiming for Baek Li-jung’s philtrum. Baek Li-jung drew a round circle with the tip of his Heavenly Vermillion Blade to dispel Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s sword energy while using his other hand to press down and block Elder Bok-cheon’s kicking instep.

Then he lifted one foot to kick Elder Bok-cheon’s knee hollow while thrusting his Heavenly Vermillion Blade downward to target Elder Bok-cheon’s instep. Elder Bok-cheon pulled his foot back while striking Baek Li-jung’s temple with his elbow. Baek Li-jung deflected Elder Bok-cheon’s elbow with his forearm while rotating sideways to redirect the force. Simultaneously, showing his back, he stepped on Elder Bok-cheon’s knee and kicked Elder Bok-cheon’s chest with his back foot. Elder Bok-cheon gathered both arms to block the back kick.

Thud!

Elder Bok-cheon was pushed back a full zhang while blocking his chest. Dan Ryeong-gyeong rushed at the falling Baek Li-jung and kicked repeatedly. Baek Li-jung leaped backward while continuously blocking Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s kicks with both feet. Dan Ryeong-gyeong pressed forward several steps while pursuing Baek Li-jung, but Baek Li-jung landed lightly and drew his Heavenly Vermillion Blade vertically. Dan Ryeong-gyeong hastily twisted her body sideways. The sword drawn vertically passed right in front of Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s nose.

Slash!

A space nearly three zhang was split vertically, creating a deep sword mark in the ground. Dan Ryeong-gyeong scattered blade energy while retreating.

Unable to gain advantage and frustrated, Dan Ryeong-gyeong panted heavily while Baek Li-jung smiled with murderous intent.

“You seem upset.”

But Baek Li-jung’s eyes slightly changed. His gaze went beyond Dan Ryeong-gyeong and Elder Bok-cheon toward the back.

Jin Ja-gang also turned his head at the suddenly felt different killing intent.

“Found you!”

A sharp voice.

Myowol appeared in the scene holding a blood-stained Non-Killing Sword. Myowol’s eyes fixed on Jin Ja-gang and wouldn’t move.

And behind him, Mang Ryo appeared with a relaxed expression, leaning on a wooden staff.

“I heard there was something interesting happening here, so I came to watch… Is there room for me to join in?”