Chapter 263
I realized, to my dismay, that I had messed everything up because I was too excited.
To have Man Haksoong become wary of me—that was a complete mistake.
“Damn it, I went too far. I still need more time…”
Of course, I had already prepared a contingency plan for when I inevitably had to face him in battle.
But whether that plan would actually work was still uncertain.
Even if it did, it would take more time.
So, getting targeted by Man Haksoong right now meant I had no countermeasures at all.
He was one of the absolute elites among the Ten and Fifteen Absolute Masters, a top-tier warrior in the world.
Facing someone on par with Elder Hyeolma or Sword Saint head-on?
It was nothing short of suicide.
“So… what now?”
As I wrestled with that thought, Man Haksoong gave me a cold, sharp smile and said,
“Well, what are you waiting for? It’s time to finish this. Go ahead and avenge your parents.”
His words meant I had to kill Jin Taedo immediately.
Whether he was giving me one last chance to avenge my parents or trying to drain my strength, I couldn’t tell.
But I could sense that after Jin Taedo, it would be my turn.
It was a difficult situation.
Following his command to kill Jin Taedo was risky, but letting him live was no better.
Yet, amid this dilemma, I found a glimmer of hope.
It seemed he hadn’t realized that I had seen through his intentions.
I had to use that to my advantage.
So, I bowed my head politely and answered with utmost respect.
“Understood, Elder.”
Then I looked toward Jin Taedo.
Man Haksoong finally pressed on the blood point on Jin Taedo’s shoulder to stop the bleeding, his face pale and eyes flickering nervously as he watched both of us.
Suddenly, a thought struck me.
“He’s completely broken.”
Perhaps from the shock of my earlier strike, Jin Taedo had lost all fighting spirit.
For someone ranked among the Thirty-Six Stars of the World, it was pitiful to see him like this.
I pointed my White Tiger Sword at him and declared,
“Jin Taedo! This ends now!”
His eyes widened in fear as he stumbled backward.
“Ughhh!”
It was such a pitiful sight that I couldn’t help but frown.
But strangely, his pitiful act made me more alert.
“Hmm. Something’s off here.”
Could someone who had reached the Thirty-Six Stars really collapse so completely after just one defeat?
Reaching that level wasn’t just about physical training.
I suddenly asked Elder Mukrang in my mind,
“Elder, is he really scared? Or is he just pretending?”
Elder Mukrang’s voice came back with a knowing chuckle.
“Of course.”
I couldn’t help but admire the cunning.
To fake such a pitiful act just to keep me off guard until the last moment—that was truly worthy of Hyowung.
But the fact that his spirit wasn’t broken was actually to my advantage.
If he still had fighting spirit, it would help my plan.
I gave a bitter smile and said to him,
“Pathetic, Jin Taedo. I always knew you were this kind of man.”
Then I sent a mental message.
His eyes flickered wildly, clearly startled.
I sent another message immediately.
He trembled and pleaded with me.
“Don’t come near me! I—I was wrong! Please forgive me!”
But then a cold mental message came through.
Despite his tearful appearance, the voice was icy.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Both of us were excellent actors.
“Don’t be ridiculous! The only way for you to atone is death! Draw your sword now!”
“Please, no! Spare me!”
“I don’t want to kill someone who hasn’t drawn their sword! Draw it now!”
I saw his eyes twitch with frustration.
But in the end, he had no choice but to follow my orders.
Earlier, I had overwhelmed him by recklessly using the fourth form of the Moonlit Sword Dance, which I couldn’t repeat again.
But he didn’t know that.
For someone desperate to survive, my offer was probably his last hope.
Sure enough, he sent a trembling message.
“Please, please spare me!”
“Draw your sword! Otherwise, I’ll just cut you down!”
“No! Aaaah!”
He clutched his head in terror and screamed.
It was an utterly disgraceful sight.
But while he was like that, I noticed Jaseongjin, who had been watching with a frown, suddenly look surprised.
He must have received a message from Jin Taedo.
Jaseongjin hesitated for a moment, then swallowed hard and glanced toward Man Haksoong with a resolute expression.
I watched him out of the corner of my eye, feeling my heart tighten.
Unlike Jin Taedo, it was clear he had no talent for acting.
At that moment, a message came from Jin Taedo.
Jaseongjin has agreed to join.
Good. I’ll herd you toward him and throw the White Tiger Sword. Use that opportunity.
Surprise flashed in Jin Taedo’s eyes when he heard that.
Even though his sword was broken, he hadn’t expected me to give him the White Tiger Sword.
“Alright, let’s begin.”
The stage was set for a grand deception with these hastily gathered players.
“Jin Taedo! I won’t wait any longer! Even if you don’t draw your sword, I’ll cut you down!”
I charged at him and swung my sword down.
“Hah!”
He rolled desperately to the side to dodge.
“Please spare me!”
I barely held back a laugh.
His tactic of rolling on the ground like a lazy donkey was the worst.
“Ughhh!”
He crawled like a madman toward Man Haksoong.
His pitiful act was so unbearable to watch that I grimaced, then threw my sword at him, shouting,
“You’re utterly disgusting! Just die already!”
Shuak!
The White Tiger Sword flew like a streak of light, embedding itself in the ground right beside him.
Or rather, just as it was about to land, he snatched it out of the air and charged at Makyeong.
Even I, who had anticipated a surprise attack, was shocked at how fast it happened.
“Hah!”
Shuak!
Makyeong Man Haksoong watched with a mocking smile as Jin Taedo begged for his life in a pitiful, groveling manner.
Of course, he didn’t truly believe Jin Taedo had fallen so low.
“He’s probably just struggling to survive.”
But no matter how desperate, it was astonishing that the leader of a sect could stoop so low.
In any case, he was a remarkable man.
From Makyeong’s perspective, it seemed Inparang was the one caught in the mess.
He looked shaken, unable to steady himself after witnessing the disgraceful display of his parents’ avenger.
If he stayed so careless, Jin Taedo might seize the chance to strike him down in an instant.
But…
“That’s fine.”
Makyeong had already made up his mind.
He couldn’t keep a creature with such sharp claws as a pet.
It was wiser to kill him before he became a threat.
So if Jin Taedo managed to turn the tables and kill him, that was fine too.
Either way, it was just good entertainment for Makyeong.
At that moment, Jin Taedo rolled on the ground like a dog and crawled toward him.
“Ughhh!”
It was a pitiful sight.
Even knowing it was an act, I couldn’t help but feel a bit amused at how pathetic it was.
When Inparang, who had been scowling at the sight, threw his sword at Jin Taedo, Man Haksoong was caught off guard for the first time in a while.
“Hah!”
Shuak!
Jin Taedo caught the sword in an instant and lunged at him.
It was the fierce technique I had found threatening earlier—the Fierce Dragon Piercing the Sea.
Paoooong!
With the force of a cannon blast, the sudden surprise attack came crashing in.
Makyeong hurriedly parried.
“How dare you!”
Kwaaaang!
The impact was tremendous, and Makyeong was knocked back.
It was a chilling moment.
But then, from above, a flash of light—a secret strike—came piercing down.
I truly had to hold my breath.
Ssssshhhk!
Before he even realized it, Sun Woo-jin had silently slipped in like a shadow, thrusting his sword down from above.
He’d drawn out his Mukrang Sword after a long time, and his strike felt even faster than Jin Tae-do’s fierce Maengryong Gwanhae technique.
It was the Ilshisa-il move from the Sailsword Style.
In this moment of crisis, Man Hak-soong unleashed his full internal energy.
It was the Hoshin Gang-gi.
“Ughhhah!”
Thwack!
Sun Woo-jin’s Mukrang Sword struck against the Hoshin Gang-gi but couldn’t penetrate it, bouncing off instead.
He’d survived the attack.
Only then did Man Hak-soong begin to understand what was really going on.
“Those damn bastards…”
It seemed the two of them had been scheming together to toy with him.
A volcano of rage erupted inside him.
But at that moment, Sun Woo-jin shouted out.
“Do-jang! Now!”
Huh?
Glancing up, Man Hak-soong saw the Liuhe Sword Masters of the Hyungsan Sect thrusting their blades toward him.
‘When did these guys get involved too?’
He was utterly dumbfounded.
It was almost unbelievable how thoroughly they’d conspired.
Man Hak-soong casually swung his arm, deflecting the two swords aimed at him.
Thwack!
Attacks like these were nothing but a joke to him.
But that confidence quickly faded.
The two who had been knocked back were immediately replaced by others who stepped forward in a seamless, gear-like chain attack.
A relentless, interlocking assault.
“Hoh!”
This time, Ma-gyeong unleashed a proper double strike.
Bang!
A heavy impact was felt.
Unexpected.
‘Their internal energy?’
The opponents, who had seemed only at the very start of the super-advanced level, wielded surprisingly potent power.
At this level, they even felt stronger than Jin Tae-do.
And then, like clockwork, another attacker descended from above in a gear-like motion.
“!”
Man Hak-soong recalled what Sun Woo-jin had said earlier.
‘They said that even the greatest sword in Honam, Wi Jeong-guk, couldn’t withstand this sword formation…’
He realized he’d have to face them properly.
But then—
A scream came from behind him.
“Gyaaaah!”
“No!”
“Bi, Biyo!”
A chilling premonition ran down his neck.
Shocked, Man Hak-soong deflected the Liuhe Sword Masters’ blades and spun around.
“?!”
What he saw froze him in place.
His direct subordinate, Daenam Sahyung Biyo Ma-gun Sang Do-gyeong, was split in two.
Sun Woo-jin, who had retreated behind him after being deflected, had killed him.
Though Man Hak-soong didn’t know the details, it was the power of the Mukrang Sword Style’s Ilcho Gaechun strike.
“Biyo!”
And Sun Woo-jin didn’t stop there.
As if unleashing a terrifying transformation, he suddenly appeared before Heukgyo Ma-gun.
Startled, Heukgyo Ma-gun raised his guard and shouted.
“You—!”
But in that instant, a lightning-fast sword strike came down.
Once again, the Mukrang Sword Style’s Ilcho Gaechun was unleashed.
Sssshhhhk!
“Gyaaaah!”
“Heukgyo!”
Enraged, Man Hak-soong deflected the relentless sword strikes from the Liuhe Sword Masters and charged forward.
But suddenly, the Liuhe Sword Masters surrounded him from all four sides, thrusting their blades.
Sssshhhhk!
“These annoying pests!”
Fwoosh!
Thud-thud-thud!
Man Hak-soong released the Hoshin Gang-gi again, sending them flying.
At that moment—
Sun Woo-jin and Jin Tae-do’s coordinated attack pierced through the back of the last remaining Baekjeok Ma-gun.
Poke!
“Ugh!”
While Baekjeok Ma-gun was wary of Sun Woo-jin, Jin Tae-do had struck from behind.
Man Hak-soong cried out in grief.
“Nooo!”
Those Daenam Sahyung were his subordinates who had followed him for decades.
They were more like disciples or younger brothers than mere subordinates.
And now, all four had been killed.
By Jin Tae-do and Sun Woo-jin.
Click.
“Ughhh…”
Unable to contain his fury, Man Hak-soong trembled, letting out a low groan.
Sun Woo-jin and Jin Tae-do, as well as Ja-seong Jin-in, involuntarily swallowed hard at the thick, murderous aura radiating from him.
It was an overwhelming, savage energy.
Their skin tingled, and even their hair fluttered slightly.
Sun Woo-jin swallowed and asked Jin Tae-do.
“It’s surprising you’re not running away in this situation.”
Jin Tae-do scoffed in reply.
“Hmph! Do you think I’m an idiot? The one who runs now will be the first target.”
At that moment—
Man Hak-soong charged forward like a bolt of lightning.
Fwoosh!
“!”
“!”
Startled, Sun Woo-jin and Jin Tae-do leapt to either side, trying to dodge his attack.
But then, from Man Hak-soong’s hands, a massive energy sphere shot out.
Sssshhhhk!
Sun Woo-jin was horrified.
The sphere heading toward him looked taller than he was.
A gigantic boulder hurtling at incredible speed—the scale of this attack was incomparable even to Jin Tae-do’s Maengryong Gwanhae.
“Ughhh!”
Sun Woo-jin unleashed the Cheonpung Sinbeop to its limit.
The massive sphere just grazed past him, missing by a hair.
Sssshhhhk!
His heart chilled.
The next moment, the sphere collided with the canyon cliff.
Kraaaang!
The explosion was smaller than expected.
And the reason was clear.
The sphere hadn’t exploded upon impact—it had pierced through the cliff, burrowing deep like a cave.
Dust billowed as the sphere’s path carved deep into the rock.
Its power was truly immense.
At that moment, a thought flashed through Sun Woo-jin’s mind.
‘I dodged it, but what about Jin Tae-do?’
He could avoid it with Cheonpung Sinbeop, but Jin Tae-do probably couldn’t.
He quickly turned to look.
“!”
He saw Jin Tae-do, his left shoulder completely gone, blood spurting out.
The remaining part of his left arm, severed earlier, was gone along with the inside of his shoulder.
It was a miracle the injury hadn’t reached his heart.
“Ughhh!”
Jin Tae-do, pale-faced, clutching his shoulder, dropped to his knees.
The wound was too severe.
There was no way he could keep fighting.
He wasn’t dead yet, but he was out of commission.
‘All from a single blow?’
Sun Woo-jin’s spine went cold.
It had taken only one energy sphere to incapacitate Jin Tae-do, one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars.
At that moment, two Liuhe Sword Masters seized the opening and stabbed Ma-gyeong in the back.
Sssshhhhk!
Man Hak-soong released the Hoshin Gang-gi once more.
“Haaah!”
Fwoosh!
Then, charging forward, he surrounded himself with energy.
Thud-thud-thud!
The Liuhe Sword Masters’ blades were useless against him.
They all bounced off helplessly.
Sun Woo-jin looked on, now thoroughly unnerved.
‘He’s moving like that while maintaining Hoshin Gang-gi?’
Hoshin Gang-gi was an incredibly draining technique, even for a super-elite master.
A single release could exhaust most of one’s internal energy.
Yet Man Hak-soong was maintaining it effortlessly while charging forward.
The Liuhe Sword Masters’ blades all bounced off lightly, and Ma-gyeong quickly reached Ja-seong Jin-in, flashing a sinister smile.
“You’ve got the head.”
Fear instantly filled Ja-seong Jin-in’s eyes.
Ma-gyeong’s palm swung toward his face, rapidly growing larger.
Smack!
With a single strike, Ma-gyeong crushed Ja-seong Jin-in’s head.
The other Liuhe Sword Masters froze stiff, unable to move.
The moment the Hyungsan Sect’s strongest force, the Liuhe Sword Masters led by Pa Cheon-jo, was so easily neutralized was utterly humiliating.
Ma-gyeong clicked his tongue, glancing at the immobilized Liuhe Sword Masters.
“Disgraceful. Hypocrites of the righteous sect.”
He slowly turned his head to look at Sun Woo-jin.
His eyes blazed with a beast-like murderous glare.
Grinning fiercely, he said,
“I thought you’d run off by now, but you were waiting. Is it because of that woman?”
Man Hak-soong glanced briefly at Jin So-eun standing inside the canyon, then chuckled and began approaching Sun Woo-jin.
Sun Woo-jin swallowed hard, overwhelmed by Man Hak-soong’s immense presence and power.