Chapter 110 : Chapter 110

Chapter 110: Supernatural Power and Mysterious Phenomena (2)

The earth's axis began to tremble.

It was what is called an earthquake.

The only difference from a normal earthquake was that it was a phenomenon caused by a single human being's will, not the mysterious harmony of nature.

Crack-

The weak ground split along its grain, and…….

Thump-!

A large, arm-span-wide tree fell helplessly.

Normally, the most dangerous place during an earthquake would be next to falling objects, but since the area around us was an open space except for the underground secret cave, there was not much danger.

If so, the greatest danger would probably be in the ground itself.

It meant that the underground was the most dangerous.

My guess is that those in the cave must have been terrified.

“Hoo-”

Even after drawing on the power of the Immaculate Pomegranate dissolved in the veins of my entire body, the time I could cause an earthquake did not reach ten breaths.

Considering that a real earthquake caused by nature can shake the earth's axis for a quarter of an hour to several hours, I know that it is still insufficient.

But it was not insufficient to achieve my goal.

A moment of time passed.

Clatter!

The various escape routes of the underground secret cave were opened in an instant.

Since earthquakes usually cause aftershocks, they must have been hastily escaping the underground secret cave in preparation for an unforeseen situation.

“Found them!”

“Who are you bastards!”

“Uahahaha!”

The human net of the ruffians was repeatedly activated.

A mere three burrows of a cunning rabbit was not enough to escape the net that the ruffians had spread.

Clang!

Kkang!

Following the earthquake that had shaken the earth's axis, the fight between the ruffians and the enemies began to tear the air apart.

“What an amazing younger brother……”

Brother Gangpae, who had muttered so, added.

“Do you want to be the older brother?”

He said so.

It seemed that to him, older and younger brother were based on the ranking of martial power.

“No need.”

Since I am a young man who adheres to the law of respecting elders, I refused Brother Gangpae’s proposal.

In truth, there was not even enough time to exchange pleasantries.

Creak.

“……How did you get here?”

This was because Geombigak had revealed himself from the main entrance of the underground secret cave.

The subordinate following behind him was carrying Yeo-wol on his back.

***

Sssk.

A desolate figure appeared behind me without any warning.

“……!”

Of course, I was in a state of exhaustion right after performing the art of supernatural power and mysterious phenomena.

Nevertheless, the fact that I, who had reached a certain realm, only noticed the opponent's existence when they were at close range was proof that the opponent's stealth art had reached a certain realm.

It is said, ‘those who come are not good’.

Whoosh-

I detected a powerful punch of vicious penetrating force rushing towards my Gate of Closure acupoint.

‘Hmm.’

This was not good.

It was because I had not expected the opponent to launch such a reckless offensive.

The kind of people I knew as the Hidden Shadow were the kind who, based on the teachings of Sun Tzu, thought of the thirty-six stratagems, running away as the best move.

‘Dangerous.’

In the face of the crisis, my thoughts accelerated.

One enemy who had taken the rear.

Judging by the method of attack, it must be the one who had dealt a fatal blow to Ma Sok.

There is also a difference from Ma Sok's case.

Even if it wasn't a bladed weapon, judging by the powerful fist power contained in that fist and the flux overlaid on the penetrating force, it would not be insufficient to infer the intent to kill.

It meant that with an attack of that level, even a body that had achieved the Golden Body could not guarantee survival.

‘Tsk.’

It would be right to block it completely, even if it meant overexerting myself a little.

Wouldn't it be right to wring out my strength even if it meant twisting my qi and blood, rather than taking the penetrating force with my body?

Clang-!

But the ambush was blocked without achieving its goal, and I did not have to overexert myself.

“I won't be hit by the same move twice.”

It was thanks to Ma Sok, who at some point had drawn his sword by my side.

Tat!

The opponent, whose attack was blocked, jumped back.

“You were a tougher bastard than I thought.”

It must have been directed at Ma Sok, who had drawn his sword not even half a day after being hit by the penetrating force.

“Your fist must be soft.”

Even at Ma Sok's words, there seemed to be no change in the opponent's expression.

The reason I said 'seemed' was because there was actually a slight change.

The sharp vision of Myeong-gae, which had reached its peak, had caught that minute change.

That bastard, he's a little scratched now.

“I'll have to make sure you can't get up again.”

The opponent, who had spoken of killing with a toneless voice, now had a weapon in his hand.

The appearance of holding a bluish dagger in a reverse grip. It was undoubtedly the martial art of an assassin.

I know that person's identity.

“You're from the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan.”

This time, the opponent's eyebrows twitched noticeably. So much so that even Ma Sok noticed.

And…….

If he is a master of the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan who has devoted himself to the Hidden Shadow, it would not be difficult to specify his identity. Of course, that would only be the case for Myeong-gae, who had been a member of the Secret Pavilion.

“I see. Are you Ma Pyeong-sam?”

Ma Pyeong-sam.

I know him.

The high-ranking member of the Hidden Shadow who had taken the most lives of the Secret Pavilion members.

And an assassin of the Realm of Demonic Transformation who had also been a candidate for the Soaring Shadow Divine Demon.

In other words, how could I not know the existence of Ma Pyeong-sam, who had reigned as a source of terror among the Secret Pavilion members with the alias Puppet Kill?

The reckless offensive, uncharacteristic of the Hidden Shadow, must have been his confidence in his own martial prowess.

I can't judge whether my luck was good or bad, but Myeong-gae had never met him.

But as long as one was in the Secret Pavilion, wasn't Ma Pyeong-sam an existence that one could not not know?

“……What are you?”

At my words, for the first time, emotion appeared on Ma Pyeong-sam's face.

Although it was faint, it would not be an exaggeration to call it astonishment.

“I am Myeong, the second son of the Dancheon Clan.”

As if my answer was displeasing, the starting stance of holding the dagger in a reverse grip was directed at me.

“You, you know something strange.”

“Please say that my information network is good.”

Since I also have a grudge against him, it would be right to face him.

This was because the name of the person I had wanted to bite with my gums if I had no teeth was precisely Ma Pyeong-sam.

“Come.”

Sssk-

I took a starting stance.

A life-and-death battle is different from a spar.

It means that it is natural that it cannot be fought in a perfect state.

Instead of making excuses that my Qi Center was empty from causing an earthquake, the right direction is to ponder how to kill the opponent.

The battle of top-tier masters is a fierce battle where the winner and loser are determined only after a fierce battle that goes beyond hundreds, thousands of exchanges over three or four days.

On the other hand, the battle of top-tier masters is also one where everything is decided in a single exchange.

Judging by the opponent's disposition and my state, it would be right to bet everything on one exchange in this fight.

In my mind's eye, Ma Pyeong-sam and I circulated our true qi, searching for the optimal path to instantly kill each other in one blow.

In truth, it is a fierce battle of wits, no different from a sword debate.

The difference from a sword debate would be the fact that at the moment of conclusion, one of them would cross the Sanzu River.

“…….”

“…….”

Apart from the thick killing intent that filled the space, Ma Pyeong-sam and I did not move an inch, as if we were statues of a wife waiting for her husband.

No, we could not move an inch.

This was because the tens, hundreds of blades that had started in each other's minds had surrounded us like a sword net.

My five senses, expanded on the verge of life and death, captured everything in the surroundings.

In the touch-and-go situation, I saw Ma Sok's secret gaze fall on Brother Gangpae.

At the same time, Brother Gangpae’s body flew through the air swiftly.

Clang!

“Keoheok!”

In a surprise attack, Geombigak was subdued.

One side of the battlefield had ended without even giving him a chance to stage a hostage situation.

Gangpae, who had knocked Geombigak unconscious, instantly dealt with his subordinate and lifted the unconscious Yeo-wol into his arms.

“Nunim!”

In other words, it meant that Yeo-wol had been rescued.

As if Gangpae's shout was a signal, the situation began to change rapidly.

“Catch them!”

Clang!

“Keuak!”

“Don't let them escape!”

Thwack!

“We caught one here!”

The Hidden Shadow members who had come out of the secret escape routes of the underground secret cave were arrested one after another.

This was because it was impossible for the Hidden Shadow members, even if their individual capabilities were outstanding, to completely escape the human net of the five thousand ruffians.

Although the situation was turning urgent, the enemy's leader, Ma Pyeong-sam, was still unable to move.

Movement in stillness.

Although he was unmoving, it must be because he was already engaged in a fierce battle with me.

It would be the same as if I had tied him up.

Having gained some leeway due to the positive turn of events, I slightly deflected Ma Pyeong-sam's momentum and opened my mouth.

“How about you surrender?”

Ma Pyeong-sam shook his head emotionlessly.

“The returns don't match, so I'll have to take at least one head.”

“If so, there is no choice.”

Just as I was about to gather my momentum again.

Step.

Ma Sok took a position in front of me.

The fact that he had taken a position in front, not at the side, must be a declaration that he would not engage in a joint attack, but that he would have a life-and-death battle with Ma Pyeong-sam in my stead.

“Please give me a chance.”

The back of Ma Sok, who had said so, was visible.

It is the back of a strong martial artist.

The reason why I simultaneously felt the afterimages of my father Dancheon Gang and Uncle Yeo Baek from Ma Sok's back, is it because he is Yeo-wol's parent and at the same time her personal guard?

In any case, I know that I cannot block the path of a martial artist with such a back.

“Be careful.”

Ma Sok’s head moved slightly up and down.

A martial artist must sometimes, in front of a stronger opponent, not bend their spirit and move forward.

For Ma Sok, it seems that now is precisely that moment.

***

During the brutal Great War of Righteousness and Evil.

The beings that the martial artists of the Righteous Faction Murim considered the most unpleasant were undoubtedly the bastards of the Yin Blood Goru Clan.

How could one be pleased with bastards who use a venomous evil heart and a rare evil art like the Energy-Draining Grand Art?

But…….

If asked who the most feared existence was, more than seven out of ten would pick the bastards of the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan.

The God of Death of the Battlefield, the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan.

This was because the number of martial artists who had lost their lives to the martial arts of the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan was the highest.

The unique martial arts of the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan, which the Righteous Faction Murim had named the killing art, reigned on the battlefield as an object of terror.

This was because their martial arts were no different from that of an assassin.

The reverse grip dagger that, like the fangs of a ferocious tiger, would not let go once it bit, and the stealthy lightness art that could be compared to a stealth art, were such.

War was like that.

It was quite different from the life-and-death battles of the Central Plains martial artists, who even considered joint attacks a taboo.

The bastards of the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan, who stealthily roamed the chaotic battlefield and drove their daggers into the napes of their necks, were truly the gods of death of the battlefield.

But there is a fact that must be known.

Why is there no assassin sect that rules the Central Plains Murim, even though their martial arts are so powerful?

The reason is that an assassin cannot fully exert their power the moment their existence is revealed.

In a chaotic battlefield like a war, their stealthy handiwork would be no different from that of a god of death, but a one-on-one frontal life-and-death battle is not the specialty of an assassin.

An assassin who has come out into the sun would not be much different from other martial artists.

No, it would not be wrong to say that they are a little lacking compared to the realm they themselves have achieved.

The master who has reached the Realm of Demonic Transformation is precisely the master of the Hidden Shadow, Ma Pyeong-sam.

There was also such a reason for allowing Ma Sok to face such a martial artist.

Under the fully shining sun, Ma Pyeong-sam of the Realm of Demonic Transformation is a martial artist with not much of a capability gap with Ma Sok.

“Come.”

Ma Sok provoked the opponent.

With the exception of a supreme realm like 'striking second to control the opponent', 'the one who strikes first wins' is the common sense of the Jianghu Murim.

Ma Sok had just treated Ma Pyeong-sam as a lower-level fighter.

“You're not in a normal state.”

“I'm good enough to stop you.”

“It seems I've been underestimated.”

The corners of Ma Sok’s mouth, who had regained complete composure after Yeo-wol was rescued, naturally rose.

“Why? Are you scared?”

A witty remark that appropriately scratched the opponent's mood. It was truly an excellent strategy of provocation.

One must not forget that unlike his conduct, which was like that of a renowned master of the Righteous Faction Murim, Ma Sok was a master of the Evil Faction.

Grind.

Ma Pyeong-sam’s composure, which had been maintained even when his identity was revealed, finally broke.

“It seems he was scared.”

It was a time to realize once again that the strategy of provocation was truly the signature ultimate technique of the masters of the Evil Faction.