Chapter 94 : Chapter 94

Chapter 94. You’re Still the Same (3)

“…….”

Eon Sohui frowned.

When she first received news that Hell Gate was attacking, she had been confident.

The Limitless Gate was stronger than the world knew, and she had the wisdom to utilize that strength well.

In fact, her plan had mostly worked.

Luring Hell Gate to the desired location, binding them with the Eon Clan warriors and Jo Clan Cavalry, then finishing them with arrow barrages from the tower ships—it should have been decisive.

But…

“There were too many unexpected variables.”

She never imagined Hell Gate would use such a method.

Regardless of whether they could or not, she had never thought—even for the Evil Faction—that they would use living humans as bombs.

“I was careless and arrogant.”

Eon Sohui bit her lip hard.

No matter how much of a genius one is, everyone crashes into the wall of reality at least once.

For Eon Sohui, that moment was now.

And from here, it would be decided.

Whether she was a fragile genius who shattered after breaking once, or the real thing who could rise again and become stronger even after failure.

In Eon Sohui’s case…

SLAP!

She suddenly struck both her cheeks with her hands.

“Miss?”

“Chief Steward?”

Her guards were startled, but she didn’t care.

With reddened cheeks, she spoke sharply.

“Now is our chance while the officers are holding Hellfire Dragon.”

Her voice rang out with fierce resolve.

“Eon Clan warriors, hold the front so our allies can retreat!”

“Archers on the tower ships, focus fire on enemies that have fallen to the rear!”

Even if no brilliant stratagem came to mind, do what you can.

When things feel hopeless, this is the basic principle.

The warriors of the Limitless Gate moved according to her orders, gradually turning the battlefield favorable again.

“It’s Miss' order! Hold this position at all costs!”

“Yes!”

Especially the Eon Clan warriors looked ready to give their lives to obey Eon Sohui’s command, and their valor inspired the others as well.

‘Good. We can do this.’

Watching the battlefield slowly tilt in their favor, Eon Sohui clenched her fist inside her sleeve.

If things continued like this, they could win this war.

But for that…

‘The officers must defeat Hellfire Dragon.’

That part was already beyond her strategy.

All she could do now was pray for her comrades’ victory.

“Master Jang Hyun, Master Jo Bi, Young Master Junggang. Please, all of you, hold on.”

---

The battle between Hellfire Dragon Yado and the four was fierce.

Junggang, charging head-on with monstrous strength.

Jo Bi, unleashing relentless attacks from mid-range with his spear.

Jang Hyun, maintaining distance and firing arrows without pause.

Im Cheong, maintaining a perilous close distance, continuously striking at vital points.

Even Hellfire Dragon Yado struggled as the four coordinated their assault.

“You despicable bastards! Aren’t you ashamed to gang up four-on-one?!”

Hellfire Dragon Yado roared in fury.

But none of the four wavered.

“This is real combat. Looking for fairness?”

“Ganging up on bad guys is justice.”

“My mom told me to listen to my elders.”

One person said nothing, but…

“Huuh….”

Hellfire Dragon Yado rampaged like a maddened bull.

But…

‘This won’t do.’

His mind was cold and rational.

Hellfire Dragon Yado was famous for his cruelty and savagery, but that wasn’t all he was.

Much of his brutality was deliberately cultivated.

By emphasizing savagery, he instilled fear in enemies and terror in subordinates.

Yet while displaying that cruelty, he also analyzed situations with a calm, rational mind.

‘If I deal with these four one by one, it will take too long.’

He didn’t think he would lose, but they were not easy opponents.

And while he was tied down here, his incompetent subordinates would surely be slaughtered.

‘Tch. No talent. No talent at all….’

How was it that even a small sect had this level of talent, while his own faction—one of the Eight Evil Gates—was full of deadwood?

‘It can’t be helped. I’ll resolve this myself again. Just like always.’

Used to solving situations on his own, Hellfire Dragon Yado made his decision.

He swung his saber forcefully to push them back, then retreated himself.

And then…

“We’ll stop here for today! Consider yourselves lucky, you cowards!”

Leaving those words behind, he fled without looking back, abandoning even his subordinates mid-battle.

“What?”

“Is this for real?”

“Is he allowed to do that?”

The three left behind were dumbfounded.

Wasn’t he the head of one of the Eight Evil Gates?

One of the strongest representatives of the Evil Faction, just running away like this?

“So… did we win?”

“Yes. There’s no need to pursue.”

The Limitless Gate’s objective was to stop Hell Gate’s invasion and protect Akyang.

If Hellfire Dragon Yado withdrew on his own, there was no need to chase.

“Let’s return to the battlefield.”

“That’s probably—ugh….”

At that moment, Jo Bi felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

When he regained focus, a saber blade had pierced through his stomach.

SHRRRK!

Instantly, Im Cheong’s sword flashed through the air without hesitation.

CLANG!

A metallic clash echoed in midair.

At the same time, Hellfire Dragon Yado appeared, his entire body wrapped in a silver cloak.

“You?”

“How?”

They couldn’t help but be shocked.

No matter how much he suppressed his presence, approaching this close in broad daylight for an ambush was impossible.

Unless…

“A nice look, ponytail. I really wanted to cut you once.”

Jang Hyun aimed his arrow sharply and said.

“A treasure?”

“Sharp as ever.”

“…….”

“It’s called the Silver Night Robe. When worn, it conceals the user’s form.”

Crunch.

Jang Hyun ground his teeth.

He had been careless.

Treasures were rare, but a sect master of the Eight Evil Gates could certainly have one.

Hadn’t Han Cheong-un himself possessed the Ruyi Belt?

He should have been suspicious when the man retreated so awkwardly.

“And now, I’ll hunt you one by one.”

Hellfire Dragon Yado once again faded into the air as if melting away.

Jang Hyun fired arrows in desperation, but they passed uselessly through empty space.

“Everyone, be careful! He’s coming again!”

At Jang Hyun’s shout, Junggang and Im Cheong tensed, scanning all directions.

Junggang even pulled the fallen Jo Bi into his arms to protect him.

“Hey, put me down. At this rate, you’ll—.”

“Nope.”

Junggang refused firmly.

And then…

SLASH!

“Ugh….”

Feeling pain from behind, Junggang swung his fist wildly.

WHOOSH!

His massive fist cut through the air.

The enemy had already withdrawn.

And next…

“Ghk….”

“You bastard!”

Invisible blades struck Jang Hyun and Im Cheong as well.

Deadly attacks from an unseen enemy.

They sharpened their senses to the limit, but just before each strike, there was no killing intent, no presence.

‘It’s not just invisibility.’

‘As expected.’

The Silver Night Robe concealed sound, breath, scent, and presence perfectly.

Its weakness was that the effect vanished at the instant of attack, and also when qi was actively circulated.

Originally, it was more suited for escape than assassination, and Hellfire Dragon Yado had survived many times in his weaker days thanks to it.

“Ghk….”

“Ugh….”

“Agh!”

Saber strikes continued to come at fixed intervals from all sides.

They swung weapons and fists at empty air, but it was useless.

Hellfire Dragon Yado strictly used hit-and-run tactics, repeating only safe attacks.

‘That big brute aside, the others are ordinary flesh. Even these minor wounds will accumulate.’

There was no need to stab deeply like when he first pierced that brat Jo Bi.

That would only invite counterattacks.

Wearing them down like this was far better.

At that moment…

‘This is dangerous.’

Jang Hyun realized it.

If this continued, they would be the ones to fall.

‘I’ll gamble while we still have strength.’

Jang Hyun made his decision.

“Junggang, protect our comrades.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“You’ll see.”

He drew a single arrow from his quiver and aimed it at the sky, focusing his qi.

An excessive amount of qi gathered into the arrow, dyeing it entirely in white light.

Hellfire Dragon Yado instinctively sensed danger and tried to stop him—but it was already too late.

“Watch carefully. This is my trump card—Unavoiding Death Arrow Jang Hyun’s ultimate move.”

THWOOOM!

Jang Hyun fired the arrow straight into the sky.

The arrow soared more than fifty zhang high, then…

BOOM!

It exploded midair into countless fragments, like a festival firework.

Hellfire Dragon Yado stared for a moment, wondering what it was.

Then he understood.

“Damn it!”

“Shit!”

The fragments repeatedly split and multiplied, soon filling the sky before raining down.

Myriad Illusion Heavenly Bow.

A technique Jang Hyun had not yet fully mastered.

It was the secret art of the Falling Sun Sect.

The founding ancestor was said to have annihilated a thousand enemy soldiers with a single arrow.

Jang Hyun wasn’t at that level—but…

“It’s more than enough to cover this entire area.”

Jang Hyun curled his body and covered his head.

THUD THUD THUD! BANG! BOOM!

An arrow rain poured down.

Even Jang Hyun, having unleashed the technique, couldn’t avoid it and had to endure it with his body.

Exposed completely, Hellfire Dragon Yado was forced to choose.

To dodge, he would need to use lightness skill, which would cancel the treasure’s effect.

He couldn’t tank it either—if the Silver Night Robe were damaged, the treasure itself could be ruined.

In the end…

“Damn it!”

There was only one choice.

Hellfire Dragon Yado hastily tore off the robe and swung blazing qi.

“Haaaah!”

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The exploding flames formed an umbrella above his head, blocking the arrow rain.

And Jang Hyun didn’t miss that moment.

“This bastard!”

He rushed in and grabbed Hellfire Dragon Yado’s arm, clinging to him.

He had no arrows left. This was all he could do.

“You little—!”

Hellfire Dragon Yado raised his knee and smashed it into Jang Hyun.

BANG!

A pain like every rib breaking erupted, blood bursting from Jang Hyun’s mouth.

But…

GRAB!

Jang Hyun held on.

“Junggang!”

He shouted desperately.

And Junggang, who had been shielding their comrades with his body, responded instantly.

“HAAAH!”

BOOOOM!

A destructive stamping step that sank to the ankles.

The ground shook as if a small earthquake had struck.

Junggang moved exactly as he had been taught.

His mastery of the Eon Clan Fist was still low, making complex techniques difficult.

But he had practiced the simple ones endlessly.

Stomp the ground.

Transfer the rebound through knees, waist, shoulders, elbows, wrists—perfectly linked.

Innate divine strength combined with martial principle.

Mountain-Shattering Advancing Fist.

A basic Eon Clan Fist technique.

The moment it fused with the Great Strength Vajra Body…

BOOOOM!

“KUHAAAARGH!”

A fist that looked capable of shattering mountains smashed squarely into Hellfire Dragon Yado’s torso.

“UOOOOOOARGH!”

Junggang pushed with everything he had.

Hellfire Dragon Yado raised his protective qi to the limit—but it was useless.

BOOM BOOM BOOM! BANG!

He was sent flying, crashing through three thick trees and smashing into a massive rock behind them.