Chapter 39 : Chapter 39

Chapter 39. Tsk, Can't You Understand When I Say It Like This? (1)

Dang Jin spoke while checking all directions with hidden weapons in his hand.

“Do we just need to spend time like this now?”

“Probably, that should do.”

This is strictly a test.

There is no reason to defeat all enemies.

Just enduring until the incense burns out is enough.

Having occupied an advantageous position, it is enough just to stick to this spot and defend. However…….

“Wahahaha. Kill them all!”

“Yes, Boss!”

“Yes, Boss!”

Looking at times like this, there are always tactless humans.

Here, Black Dragon Steel Jin Song was like that.

Leading dozens of his subordinates, he pressured the surroundings and smashed everyone who stepped forward.

Seeing that appearance, Han Cheong-un spoke.

“He works hard uselessly.”

“Indeed. Why does he do that?”

“Probably he wants to reduce competitors taking this opportunity.”

“Well, that could be true too.”

Jin Song was quite strong, and the ones he brought were also elites selected and picked from the Black Dragon Fortress.

Since the bastards attacked the surroundings matching their coordination as a group, more than half of the examinees inside the building fell.

Jin Song, who was performing actively like that…….

“You kid there!”

He shouted looking at Han Cheong-un in the corner.

When Han Cheong-un pointed at himself with a finger making a face saying ‘Me?’, Jin Song shouted.

“You acted arrogantly just a while ago, didn't you?”

“Did I?”

Han Cheong-un didn't particularly agree.

But Jin Song had already made up his mind.

“This elder will teach you the lesson of humility.”

Black Dragon Steel Jin Song, who shouted like that, charged toward Han Cheong-un together with his subordinates.

Looking at those bastards, Han Cheong-un smiled coldly and said.

“You are making a mistake right now.”

And Han Cheong-un abandoned the formation and ran out forward. At that moment, Jin Song also jumped up from among his subordinates and charged toward Han Cheong-un, and the huge broadsword he swung fiercely clashed with Han Cheong-un’s spear.

Kabooom!

The moment the two collided.

Along with the collision of terrifying qi, shockwaves rang out in all directions.

The two landed on the ground subsequently.

Jin Song made a slightly surprised face and said.

“To think a young kid blocked this elder's single strike, quite impressive.”

“Elder my foot…….”

Han Cheong-un smirked.

Then Jin Song stroked his chin with his hand, harboring a deep smile, and said.

“Quite impressive. You have guts and your skill is outstanding, definitely impressive.”

At that appraising remark, Han Cheong-un’s mood was about to get slightly bad.

Just as he was about to swing his spear again…….

“Good. You pass.”

“……What?”

“Become my subordinate.”

“……Huh?”

“Become my subordinate and let’s conquer the Yangtze together. I will become the King of the Yangtze.”

Seeing that appearance, Han Cheong-un sighed deeply and said.

“This is absurd.”

“What?”

“Since when did bandits become able to say King confidently?”

“How dare you…….”

“Enough.”

Whoosh!

Han Cheong-un swung his spear strongly, aimed at Jin Song, and said.

“Come on. I will help you grasp the reality.”

Then Jin Song burst out a roar with a face turned completely red and rushed in.

“I will kill you!”

Kaboom!

Han Cheong-un and Jin Song clashing again.

Shockwaves much more intense than before spread in all directions. But unlike before, neither retreated this time.

Right after exchanging the initial offense and defense, both firmly rooted their legs to the ground and held out. And then…….

Bang! Bam! Bambambam!

They entered a full-scale contest exchanging offense and defense continuously.

If one were to express Jin Song’s blade technique in one word, the expression ‘ferocious and rough’ would fit perfectly.

Although slightly messy, Jin Song’s blade technique was fierce enough to cover that messiness.

“Uaaaaaaaah!”

An attack raging roughly like a storm.

If swept into that attack even for a moment, a human body would turn into minced meat. However…….

Kabam! Bam! Bam!

That is when hit.

From the moment the full-scale offense and defense began, Han Cheong-un’s two legs did not move as if rooted in the ground, and his body did not shake like a thousand-year-old giant tree.

In that state, handling the spear freely, he struck away and blocked all of Jin Song’s rough attacks.

Other figures around who had become spectators unnoticed clicked their tongues seeing that scene.

“Amazing.”

“What kind of…… that young kid still…….”

“Is he a monster?”

What Unorthodox practitioners are superior at compared to Righteous practitioners is that they do not let their guard down looking at the opponent’s appearance or age.

In the first place, in the Unorthodox sects, it is common for strong people without roots to appear out of the blue, and there are bastards who disguise themselves as weaklings intentionally to induce carelessness.

So Han Cheong-un’s young age was not an object of carelessness for them. However…….

No matter so, isn't Black Dragon Steel Jin Song a verified strongman?

He was a man currently spreading notoriety the most even among the water bandits of the Yangtze.

Against such Jin Song, Han Cheong-un was not pushed back.

No, rather, as time passed, he was overwhelming him.

“Did he say Ultimate Path Gate?”

“I should remember it.”

The name Ultimate Path Gate was engraved in a corner of the minds of the Unorthodox practitioners present here.

* * *

“Huk……. Huk…….”

Jin Song breathed out roughly, breath rising to his chin.

He pushed the enemy one-sidedly with only an attack-oriented approach. But such fierce attacks eat away at one's own stamina if not adjusted appropriately.

Especially when realizing the opponent is not tired at all, even more so.

“This…… this monster bastard.”

“Are you done to your heart's content?”

“…….”

“Normally speaking.”

“……?”

“I haven't heard rumors that you particularly committed a great sin or anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“But you are a water bandit. Even a bastard spouting bullshit like the revival of the Yangtze River Water Fortress.”

“How dare you laugh at my ambition?”

“A bandit wanting to become a bigger bandit is ambition? It deserves to be laughed at.”

“I will kill you!”

Jin Song rushing in foaming at the mouth.

And Han Cheong-un made up his mind.

He is a figure who will be destroyed even if left alone. But thinking of the civilians who will be harmed by the water bandits led by this guy until then…….

‘Hmm, as expected, he is not worth keeping alive.’

Intent acts immediately.

The moment he made up his mind, his body moved.

For a warrior of Han Cheong-un’s level, it is possible to extend a killing move without a speck of killing intent.

Puck!

“Keok…….”

A single flash extended straight without any omen heartlessly pierced Jin Song’s heart.

“Yo…… You…….”

Jin Song glared at Han Cheong-un trembling with the blade he couldn't bring down.

Han Cheong-un received that gaze indifferently and pulled out the spear, and Jin Song fell to the floor as is.

Thud!

It was a shabby and futile death for a big shot who spread notoriety in the Yangtze.

But in Jianghu, there are those who rise anew stepping on someone's death.

“If there is anyone to avenge this man, step forward now.”

When Han Cheong-un stepped one step forward and shouted, Jin Song’s subordinates flinched.

But that was all.

No one shouted ‘Enemy of the Boss, I will avenge him!’ and rushed in.

Rather, they looked away and ignored him as soon as their eyes met Han Cheong-un’s.

‘Well, that's why they are Unorthodox and why they are bandits.’

Just as Han Cheong-un thought so and was about to retrieve the spear…….

“……!”

Along with a chilling feeling, Han Cheong-un moved his body. And a single arrow stuck where he was.

Thwack!

How immense the power of the arrow was, it pierced more than half deep even through the thick floor.

And those arrows flew in continuously in succession.

“Tsk.”

Han Cheong-un lifted the spear and moved quickly, blocking those attacks one by one.

Clang! Clang-clang-clang!

The spear is originally not a weapon very suitable for defense. But a master of Han Cheong-un’s level can sufficiently block flying arrows too. However…….

“Terrifying power.”

Because the opponent wasn't an ordinary archer.

Han Cheong-un, having blocked the arrows, looked at the archer aiming the bow at him and spoke.

He already expected who it was.

Unavoidable Death Arrow ang Hyun.

Who else would shoot arrows of such heavy power? And at this close range at that.

Han Cheong-un aimed the spear and said to Jang Hyun.

“I thought you would only watch, didn't know you would step in. Do you have some connection with Jin Song?”

“None.”

“Then what is the reason for stepping in?”

“I need ten thousand taels of gold.”

“That is…….”

“For that, it is better if there are no or few competitors.”

Having said that, Jang Hyun notched an arrow on the bow again.

‘Ah…… So it means he will eliminate competitors in advance. That's it.’

I understand.

That man is really desperate for money.

He was a man who did anything if paid, to the extent of accepting a request to eliminate the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect during the Righteous-Evil War.

And Han Cheong-un knew why he was doing so.

“Jang Hyun, I can give you what you need. So let’s talk.”

At Han Cheong-un’s words, Jang Hyun nodded and said.

“Of course, you can give me what I want.”

Oh, conversation works. Thank god…….

“Give me your neck.”

Works my ass…….

Seeing the arrows flying innumerably, Han Cheong-un gritted his teeth and moved his feet.

* * *

It is a story of quite a long time ago.

Wait, when the First Righteous-Evil War ended and Han Cheong-un went to the front lines of the north following the Imperial Palace's conscription demand.

Han Cheong-un was in a state where his martial arts were completed to some extent.

He had made the Supreme Polarity Sword Emperor’s teachings his own.

Honestly, he thought barbarians of the far north were nothing. However…….

“Kuk……. These cowardly bastards! Can't you come and fight fair and square?”

That conceit was broken immediately upon going out to the first real battle.

Battles with horse-riding tribes were different in texture from battles between Jianghu warriors.

Unlike Jianghu where the side that wins by competing in martial arts becomes the victor, the war of the north mobilized everything one had for victory.

It was real war.

Han Cheong-un didn't know how to respond to their combat method of riding horses from afar, circling widely, shooting arrows, and retreating.

Even if a Jianghu warrior is fast, he cannot run faster than a horse over a long distance.

No matter how fast and strong Han Cheong-un’s spear is, it cannot extend farther than an arrow.

Cowardly?

So what about it?

Later he found out that allies laughed at him too.

Eventually, Han Cheong-un had to retreat without being able to do anything in the first battle.

At that time, he realized two things.

One is that war is different from combat.

The second is…….

“……Shall I try learning archery?”

Honestly, the bow was too useful a weapon.

* * *

“Well, I tried learning it directly but quit because I had absolutely no talent though.”

Seeing the arrows flying without rest, Han Cheong-un laughed bitterly.

Jianghu warriors do not use bows well.

They are reluctant to use it because archery is far from the martial arts (Wu) that warriors pursue.

As a result, proper archers are extremely rare in Jianghu. However…….

Thwack! Pop!

This man is an exception.

He is a man who reached the realm of the Way of the Bow beyond Archery Skills.

Not to mention the power of the arrow, the appearance of moving agilely in all directions and shooting arrows freely was worthy of being called martial arts.

‘Indeed, a covetable man.’

The more he dealt with him, the stronger Han Cheong-un’s thought became that he must recruit this man, thinking about it again.

Han Cheong-un diligently narrowing the distance and catching the enemy.

And Jang Hyun tried to widen the distance somehow by running stepping on walls and ceilings like flat ground.

“Leech-like bastard! Get away a bit!”

Jang Hyun’s appearance of flying his body, twisting his waist in mid-air, and shooting five arrows simultaneously was truly like a divine skill. However…….

“For whose benefit?”

Han Cheong-un dodged Jang Hyun’s arrows skillfully and gradually narrowed the distance.

‘It’s fortunate that it is inside a narrow building.’

Distance is life when dealing with an archer.

Naturally, unlike the wide outdoors, the archer is bound to be disadvantaged indoors.

‘Dangerous. Did I step on a tiger's tail?’

Jang Hyun sweated cold sweat seeing Han Cheong-un narrowing the distance.

Although he picked a fight first, he didn't know he was an expert of this level.

If he knew, he wouldn't have tried to fight in such disadvantageous terrain. However…….

‘There is a hidden move to be used at the last moment.’

Jang Hyun firmed his resolve.

Originally, this technique is not something to use in a place with many people's eyes like this.

But given the opponent, he couldn't spare it either.

Ten thousand taels of gold were absolutely necessary.

‘Now, come.’

Jang Hyun with firm resolve.

And the moment Han Cheong-un dodged his arrow and finally narrowed the distance to point-blank range…….

“Take this!”

He took out something from his bosom and threw it.

A pouch about the size of a walnut wrapped in cloth.

Before it even touched Han Cheong-un, it suddenly swelled up and…….

Poof!

It exploded spewing smoke.

Instantly Han Cheong-un brought his hand to his mouth.

‘Poison?’

No.

It was just smoke. But this thick smoke blocked Han Cheong-un’s vision in a short time, and aiming for that moment, Jang Hyun moved forward secretly.

He who had only been retreating backward and dodging moved forward for the first time.

That gait was secretive like that of a cat holding its breath, and there was no omen.

And having narrowed the distance like that, he stabbed the arrowhead held in his hand quickly toward Han Cheong-un’s neck.

This is Jang Hyun’s life-saving ultimate technique.

Tiger Gap One Strike

It is a technique.

A fatal attack where a hunter who allowed distance to a tiger stabs the unprepared tiger by surprise.

In fact, it is closer to military strategy than martial arts.

But what does it matter?

The effect is absolute after all.

There was no one who avoided this technique until now. And…….

Stab!

It was the same this time too.

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.