Chapter 104 : Chapter 104

Chapter 104: The Chase (2)

“Please spare me, Great Hero!”

Not even a quarter of an hour, not even half a quarter, had passed before all the good-for-nothings in the establishment knelt.

This was not a metaphorical expression but a description of the actual scene.

This was because the good-for-nothings, who had realized that Ma Sok's martial prowess was unusual, did not get up to tend to their injuries but knelt demurely like the daughters of a nobleman's house.

“Keuuu……”

“We surrender! Just please spare us!”

“You bastards! What rudeness have you committed against the Great Hero!”

The sight of the good-for-nothings, a mixture of those groaning in pain, those surrendering meekly, and the sycophant who had already turned to Ma Sok's side, was reminiscent of a marketplace.

“All of you, shut up. Before I kill you.”

“Hup!”

At Ma Sok's low word, the good-for-nothings who had been pleading quickly shut their mouths.

After a moment of silence.

“……Esteemed sir, what brings you to this place?”

One of the good-for-nothings, who had been watching the situation, asked cautiously.

I know that good-for-nothings are the very model of those who are weak to the strong and strong to the weak.

His voice as he addressed Ma Sok, who had been judged to be strong, became truly gentle.

The reason Ma Sok had acted so roughly, unlike his usual self, was for a quick resolution.

“Where is Geombigak?”

“I don't know.”

Thump!

“Hiiik!”

Ma Sok, who had frowned at the good-for-nothing's answer, stomped his foot hard.

The floor that was stomped on caved in and lost its shape, so it was not difficult to imagine what would have happened if a person had been in that spot.

“I really don't know. Please spare me!”

“Please spare me!”

When one good-for-nothing said so and prostrated himself, the rest of the good-for-nothings followed suit.

Their survival skills were unusual; the one who had prostrated himself first seemed to be the leader.

The sight of Ma Sok standing alone before them resembled the footsteps of a hero who had pacified a chaotic era, but his expression was not so.

This was because he had noticed that they truly did not know anything.

If he had his way, he would have beaten Geombigak's limbs, these bastards, to a pulp, but he couldn't do that either.

It must be because Ma Sok does not know that they too are Rogues' Guild members whom Yeo-wol cherishes.

In truth, what sin does a subordinate have?

“Hoo-”

Ma Sok let out a deep sigh.

This was because this was not the first time this had happened.

“We have to go somewhere else.”

The seventh time already.

They had continuously raided the establishments that Geombigak managed or stayed in, but they could not find his trail.

“How many more bases are there?”

“……There are about thirty more that I know of.”

“Hmm.”

This was not good.

***

“Please spare me, Great Hero!”

“Where is Geombigak?”

“……I don't know.”

Thump!

Ma Sok stomped his foot hard.

“Heeik! It's true. Just please spare me! I'll give you everything I have.”

The sight of the good-for-nothings, who were seeing the sublime foot stomp that caved in the floor of the pavilion for the first time, being utterly terrified was as if it were cast from a mold.

“Geombigak is?”

Ma Sok asked again eerily.

“No…… how can I tell you something I really don't know. Please don't do this to subordinates like us……”

Their answers were all the same.

“These bastards……”

“Great Hero! Please spare me!”

For a good-for-nothing, a lofty pride was something that was only activated against the weak, so in front of Ma Sok, who had been judged to be strong, their knees bent more easily than reeds.

It was a scene that had been repeated twelve times already.

It meant that it was the twelfth time Ma Sok had beaten up a group of good-for-nothings, and it was also the twelfth time he had made the floor collapse with a strong stomp.

Since he had not taken a single life of a good-for-nothing so far and had only pounded the innocent floor, I had no choice but to acknowledge Ma Sok's patience.

Because Ma Sok's handiwork was swift and sharp, and because most of those who stood in his way were just third-rate good-for-nothings, it did not take much time to clear out one establishment.

But the important thing was that they had come up empty at twelve places already.

It meant that there was no way to stop the time that was passing by helplessly.

As if to prove that fact, the sun, unable to overcome the natural order, was crossing over the mountain ridge.

The red sunset, which would have been considered picturesque in normal times, came with an ominous feeling.

“…….”

Impatience and anxiety simultaneously flickered across Ma Sok's face as he caught his breath while looking at the sunset.

Even while firmly believing that Geombigak would not harm Yeo-wol, it is impossible to shake off the anxiety that rises in one's heart as time passes.

In truth, one wouldn't know what other methods he might use besides killing Yeo-wol.

If the emotion of anxiety was something that anyone could easily shake off, there would have been no reason for the Grandmaster Bodhidharma to devote himself to wall-gazing for nine long years, so Ma Sok's feelings were inevitable.

“The other subordinates?”

I asked Ma Sok.

I know that the forces that Yeo-wol and Ma Sok have cultivated so far are not small.

Had I not personally witnessed their martial prowess when the Iron Mountain Demon Lord led the Demonic Cult members over the walls of the Dancheon Clan?

“……The command authority is only with the Mistress of the Pavilion, so for now, I have ordered them to protect the base.”

“Hmm.”

Although it is unfortunate in the current situation, I can guess the reason why the system was organized that way.

It is pointless to argue about the rights and wrongs of the system now, and it is because I know what Yeo-wol's power base is like.

“How about we split up?”

It was Ma Sok's suggestion.

I know that both Ma Sok and I are top-tier masters who have no reason to ask each other for favors.

“…….”

But the reason why I could not easily agree was because I knew that Ma Sok was not in a perfect state, and at the same time…….

“Wouldn't it be dangerous if that person is with him?”

It was because of the nameless master who had ambushed Ma Sok and exhausted his qi and blood.

Although it was a sneak attack, since he was a master who had neutralized a master of Ma Sok's caliber in a single move, my worry was by no means groundless.

In truth, I had just expressed my thought that even if Ma Sok were to meet him again now, he would not be able to win.

I know that it is a statement that could be taken as an unparalleled insult to a top-tier master.

“I will not overdo it.”

Fortunately, Ma Sok did not insist on his pride.

It must be because Yeo-wol's safety is more important than his pride.

“Let's clear that place and decide.”

“Thank you.”

Worrying about Ma Sok any more than this would be a breach of etiquette, so it would be right to make a decision.

And so, we entered Geombigak's thirteenth establishment.

Bang!

“Geombigak! Come out!”

It was along with Ma Sok's thunderous roar.

.

.

.

“Who goes there……”

Thwack!

“Kkuek!”

“Geombigak is?”

“Who do you think you are to be so safe!”

Thwack-!

“Keoheuk!”

“Do you really not know?”

“I don't know……”

Thwack-!

“Kkeuak!”

“Really?”

“Yes……”

Geombigak was not here either.

As if it were natural, there was not even anyone who knew any information about Geombigak's whereabouts.

Considering that all thirteen places they had visited so far were under Geombigak's command, the conclusion is not difficult to draw.

Geombigak had disappeared at the same time as he had kidnapped Yeo-wol.

Thump-!

Because Ma Sok had stomped his foot so hard, the entire pavilion shook.

“Heeik!”

The good-for-nothing fellows trembled at Ma Sok's imposing presence.

However, this time, the stomp was not to intimidate the good-for-nothing fellows.

“Damn it……”

It was closer to Ma Sok throwing a tantrum, unable to control the anger boiling inside him.

When I approached such a Ma Sok, he showed an apologetic expression.

He must have thought that I had reacted to his emotional display, but that was not my business.

“Shh.”

I calmed Ma Sok by placing my index finger to my nose.

A question appeared on Ma Sok's expression for a moment.

“Outside.”

“……Hmm.”

Ma Sok immediately understood my short words. This was because he too was a top-tier master who boasted a vast Qi sense.

“It seems we are surrounded.”

Stealthy figures, an estimated fifty of them, were surrounding Geombigak's thirteenth establishment.

“How does it seem?”

“It wouldn't be bad.”

Ma Sok's expression as he answered my question was brighter than before.

Normally, being surrounded means a life-or-death crisis.

But Ma Sok's face was flushed for the first time in a while, and in response, the corners of my mouth were also subtly rising.

The reason was that, only after entering the thirteenth establishment, a variable had occurred for the first time.

In the Jianghu Murim, the words 'crisis' and 'opportunity' are close to being synonyms.

Since both Ma Sok and I were martial artists to the bone, we knew this fact well.

In truth, the biggest problem we had faced was the time that just kept flowing by, so we couldn't help but be pleased with this change.

In the first place, there was also the fact that we were confident we would not face a crisis from a mere fifty Rogues' Guild members.

“I will take the lead.”

Considering the circumstances, it would be right to see that the enemy had intentionally surrounded us.

Since it would be an elaborate trap, they would be of a different class from the third-rate good-for-nothings, so it was right for me to step forward rather than Ma Sok, who was not in a perfect state.

But…….

“Young Master, please step back.”

Ma Sok stubbornly stopped me.

In truth, Ma Sok did not seem to have much intention of receiving my help.

My guess is that if it weren't for the existence of the nameless master that Ma Sok had mentioned, he might not have asked me for help in the first place.

It also meant that the sense of responsibility he felt for Yeo-wol's kidnapping was that great.

“Be careful.”

Although I checked with my Qi sense, I could not detect the presence of a master who would be a great threat to Ma Sok, so I decided to yield.

At the same time as I gave a slight nod…….

Bang!

Ma Sok's foot technique struck the wall of the pavilion.

Rumble-

Since the foot technique emitted a presence greater than the stomp that had caved in the floor, one side of the pavilion's wall disappeared in an instant.

“……!”

The enemies, who had not predicted Ma Sok's actions, were surprised for a moment.

Ma Sok scanned the surroundings with the eyes of a hawk.

Tat!

Ma Sok flew his body swiftly.

At the end of where Ma Sok was heading, a martial artist with a large and sturdy build was standing.

I acknowledge Ma Sok's insight.

This was because, even by my guess, that person seemed to be the leader of the encircling unit.

Originally, a top-tier master also shows talent in unarmed combat, so even without a weapon, Ma Sok's handiwork was unhindered.

Whooosh-

The tip of Ma Sok's foot, as he twisted his whole body and swung a roundhouse kick, boasted a sharpness greater than that of a weapon.

But the opponent's leader was not to be trifled with either.

Thud!

For the first time, Ma Sok's foot technique was blocked.

Even if Ma Sok's condition was not perfect and it was unarmed combat, not his specialty of weaponry, this was by no means something that could be dismissed.

It meant that the opponent was also a top-tier master who had learned a thing or two about martial arts.

Ma Sok was not one to be flustered just because his roundhouse kick was blocked once, so he immediately prepared his next attack.

When they hear the word 'uninterrupted', most of the peers in Jianghu would think of Wudang's sword, but they should also know that it is 'uninterrupted among swords'.

This is because true uninterruptedness can be said to be the essence of unarmed combat, especially foot techniques.

Whoosh-

Using the rebound from the blocked roundhouse kick, Ma Sok's body rotated in the opposite direction.

Whooosh-

It was a magnificent reverse roundhouse kick.

“Hup!”

Papang!

The opponent was not to be trifled with either.

As if he had thought there was no end to blocking, the opponent, who had crossed his arms in an 'X' shape, kicked Ma Sok's roundhouse kick upwards.

But Ma Sok used even that force.

Ma Sok's foot technique, which had naturally risen, instantly regained its balance and then descended.

Whoosh-

A powerful axe kick aimed at the opponent's brow.

“Tsk!”

Bang!

The opponent, who had clicked his tongue briefly, blocked Ma Sok's axe kick by crossing his arms in an 'X' shape as before.

Screeech-

“Keuk!”

Although he was pushed back, his feet dragging for a distance of over one zhang, his tenacity in firmly holding his center of gravity and not falling was superb.

Tat!

The way he offset the force at the end by flipping his body over with the technique of an iron plate bridge was also impressive.

I can tell that the opponent is not just a martial artist who has learned forms and techniques, but a martial artist hardened in actual combat.

“You bastard!”

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

Although it was an exchange of blows that flowed by as quickly as a flash, it was enough time for the surrounding martial artists to come to their senses.

“How dare you attack our big brother!”

As if to protect their leader, the martial artists who had been surrounding the building instantly surrounded Ma Sok.

“Attack!”

Someone's command was given, and the martial artists with a stern air were about to rush at Ma Sok, when.

“Stop!”

All the martial artists who had been rushing in with murderous intent quickly stopped.

This was because that command was from their leader, who had regained his posture.

Their stern conduct was like that of the imperial army, but a little different.

If I were to put it into words, it felt closer to the hierarchy of ruffians rather than military discipline.

Step.

The leader, who had calmed his subordinates, took a step forward and offered a clasped fist greeting to Ma Sok.

“Brother Ma Sok, calm down. It's me.”

“You are……”

Ma Sok's face, after confirming the opponent's face, was finally tinged with relief.