Worry about Maninbang’s bastards! (2)

“Done!”

“With sheer brute force alone!”

Even the disciples of Hwasan, who had been observing the situation behind, momentarily cheered and clenched their fists. If that ship hadn’t moved, they would have been slaughtered here without a chance, but indeed, Hye Yeon is a person who can do anything!

“Sasuk!”

“Not yet! Hold on a little longer!”

Baek Cheon shouted loudly.

Although the ship was afloat, it was not yet time to retreat. They were not ordinary people. There was no reason not to attack just because they were on a ship on the sea.

No, it would actually become easier to attack. The enemy just needed to poke some holes in the ship. For now, they needed to secure a distance where Maninbang would find it difficult to attack the ship.

“Kuk! Sasuk!”

But that was by no means an easy task.

The enemy kept coming endlessly, and human concentration was not infinite. Above all, the momentum they had built up to repel the enemy in a short period was gradually weakening.

Kakang!

Baek Cheon bit his lip, deflecting the incoming blade.

Sapas sense the enemy’s momentum like ghosts. Whether they noticed that Cheonumaeng’s members were struggling little by little, the incoming Maninbang’s fighters were increasing their momentum.

“Huhahaha!”

“It’s Hwasan! Capture and tear them apart!”

The absence of camaraderie is never a good thing in battle. At least Baek Cheon had always believed that.

However, Baek Cheon keenly felt the sharp edge of the other side of the coin at this moment.

Even if their comrades, with whom they shared hardships, were cut down in front of them, they never faltered. No, it was not just a matter of not being shaken by it – it seemed as if they didn’t even care.

That ruthlessness overwhelmed Baek Bheon.

‘So this is the true Maninbang…’

He must intervene. But if things continue like this, the elders of Haenam will collapse first. While older warriors become stronger due to their internal strength, endurance is necessary for the ongoing fight. As the battle prolongs, stamina is depleted before experience.

‘What should I do?’

The one in charge here is Baek Cheon. The decision must come from him.

The lives of dozens, or more like hundreds, are at stake based on his judgment. But in this situation…

That’s when it happened.

A mocking voice echoed in Baek Cheon’s ears.

“You act as if you’re going run out and swing it.”

“Chu… Chung Myung…”

“Just being alive isn’t enough!”

Chung Myung surged forward.

Baek Cheon saw Chung Myung’s back rushing forward. In that moment, as he charged, Maninbang collectively swung their weapons, focusing their attack.

Suddenly, from Chung Myung’s fingertips, dozens of beams of light erupted. No, they weren’t beams of light, but sword strikes. They moved so fast that they appeared as mere flickers of light, impossible to track with the naked eye.

Swiftly and relentlessly, the sword strikes slashed through Maninbang’s members’ bodies, eliciting dreadful screams as they gripped their throats, wrists, thighs, and sides.

In that brief exchange, Chung Myung’s sword precisely severed the vital points of his opponents without leaving any room for escape.

“Damn you!”

With a piercing swoosh, the sword flew through the air, decapitating a charging Maninbang’s warrior in an instant. The human head that left the body spun like a top, spraying blood in all directions.

Covered in blood but wearing an eerie grin, Chung Myung then turned towards the staggering Maninbang’s members, resembling a grim reaper as he closed in on them.

With another ear-splitting cry, the sword swung down once more, cleaving through flesh along with the desperate attempt to raise a sword.

“Monster…”

Maninbang’s warriors, seasoned by countless battles, renowned, and even occupying the highest position within Saparyeon, were each formidable fighters in their own right, devoid of any hesitation towards death.

Yet, in the eyes of those who knew no fear, a palpable sense of terror was now rising.

For them, the death of comrades might not instill fear, but even a Sapa couldn’t help but fear their own demise. No, precisely because they were Sapa, their own lives were all the more precious.

Paaaat!

A lightning-like sword thrust pierced through the chest.

As the sword penetrated flesh, muscles, and tendons clung desperately to it. In that moment, the sword twisted momentarily, wrenching the body from within, leaving it convulsing in agony, unable to even muster a proper scream amidst the excruciating pain.

With another thunderous cry, the sword that had just left his body swung down once more, striking his neck in one swift motion.

Thud!

The face of Maninbang’s member, who had hastily swung his companion’s head aside like a cannonball, turned pale.

Was it because he had struck his comrade’s head? No, there was no such humanistic reason.

In the moment of swinging his sword, he had suddenly discovered Chung Myung charging towards him like a storm.

Frrrr.

Chung Myung’s Dark Plum Sword began to tremble violently as if encountering a strong wind. It split into dozens, then hundreds, filling the world with crimson plum blossom petals.

It was neither as tender as Yu Iseol’s plum blossoms, nor as sturdy as Baek Cheon’s. It wasn’t as swift as Jo Geol’s, nor as gentle as Yoon Jong’s.

Chung Myung’s plum blossoms were simply razor-sharp.

“Aaaaaaah!”

Sapas caught in the storm of petals screamed in agony, a sound they wouldn’t want to hear again even in their worst nightmares. It was a pitiful sight, unworthy of being called the members of Maninbang.

But anyone witnessing this scene would understand.

How could someone suppress screams when their body was riddled with dozens of holes? It was a situation that evoked sympathy from anyone.

However, there was no trace of compassion on Chung Myung’s face, the one who had created this gruesome spectacle.

He passed through the falling bodies as if they were mere obstacles.

Moments later, the necks of those with gaping holes were simultaneously snapped, and crimson streams gushed out.

Anyone who opposes him must die.

That was one of Chung Myung’s ironclad rules forged through countless battles.

In the face of his merciless hand, the momentum of the raging Maninbang crumbled in an instant.

In this vast battlefield, one person rampaging might not seem like a remarkable feat. No, it shouldn’t be.

But everything changes depending on who that one person is. Even those among the disciples of Hwasan, who were pushing the defensive line forward, couldn’t help but be startled by the screams coming from behind.

Naturally, in that moment when the enemy’s assault weakened, Baek Cheon’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“Namgung!”

“Understood!”

Jo Geol and Yoon Jong struck out momentarily, wielding their swords against Maninbang’s fighters who had crowded around Namgung Dowi.

Taking advantage of the opening created by the two, Namgung Dowi raised his sword. With his towering sword, a dazzling white light gathered around him.

It was the moment when the unmatched swordsmanship, based on his immense inner strength, manifested its power – the supreme swordsmanship of Gangho, the Emperor’s Sword Style of Namgung clan.

“Haaaaaaaap!”

A surge of inner strength condensed momentarily at the tip of Namgung Dowi’s sword, forming a blade that seemed to be drawn out as far as his power allowed.

At the same time, Namgung Dowi’s sword descended like lightning towards the ground.

Kwaaaaaaa!

The sword energy emitted by Namgung Dowi created a straight path of pure white in front of him. It was the moment when the Emperor’s Sword Style, The Path of the Emperor [제왕지로(帝王之路) – jewangjilo], manifested not in Namgung Hwang’s, but in Namgung Dowi’s sword!

With no deviation, the path extended straight ahead, and in an instant, it was dyed crimson by the blood sprayed by the enemies.

It was quite literally the path that an emperor should walk.

“Kuk!”

Namgung Dowi, momentarily pale, staggered. Just as his knees were about to buckle, his shoulders were grabbed by Tang Pae, who acted swiftly.

“Dowi!”

“I’m fine! More importantly!”

Namgung Dowi, who was about to shout to continue the attack, paused and remained silent.

The sight of crimson flower petals blooming dazzlingly was the reason.

‘Ah…’

Five plum blossom trees stretching out in different forms.

Each tree was different, but weren’t they ultimately part of the same forest when they came together?

The land of Haenam.

Plum blossoms blooming on this distant land, blooming with all their might, it seemed like they endured the long winter and finally blossomed, beautiful and enchanting.

Hwaaaaa!

Scattered plum blossom petals fluttered in the wind, pouring down like a torrent towards the enemies.

No matter how formidable the warriors of Maninbang were, they could not possibly withstand the deluge of plum blossom petals raining down upon them.

Suk, suk!

Raising one’s inner strength to block the attack meant they wouldn’t receive life-threatening wounds. Each petal wasn’t inherently lethal.

But that didn’t necessarily offer much hope.

Suk! Suk! Suk! Suk!

Because they wouldn’t die, they had to endure the excruciating pain of their entire bodies being battered.

“Kwaaaaah!”

Harsh screams erupted one after another.

And before those screams could even subside, what came crashing down were the majestic waves of strikes emanating from the elders of Haenam. Unlike the plum blossoms, these strikes brought certain death to the warriors of Maninbang.

Baek Cheon, his complexion noticeably pale, turned his head.

Farther away from the shore, a ship was visible. Whether it was because they were rowing with all their might, ship was swiftly moving away, faster than expected.

Chung Myung was still fighting fiercely ahead.

For a moment, a conflict flashed in Baek Cheon’s eyes. But ultimately, trust quelled that conflict.

Baek Cheon shouted with determination,

“Retreat! Retreat to the ship!”

“Yes!”

Everyone gathered their remaining strength to widen the gap between them and the enemy. Then, they immediately turned and ran towards the coast.

Only one person, Seol Sobaek, stood there, unable to move.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Jo Geol threw him over the shoulder and ran towards the ship.

Though they widened the distance, they were facing Maninbang. Given a moment to catch their breath, the enemy would pursue. They had to jump into the sea before that happened.

“No! Chung Myung Dojang is over there!”

“I know!”

Jo Geol shouted impatiently,

“Worry about yourself! Do you think that guy is someone like us?”

Seol Sobaek hesitated, then Jo Geol continued,

“If you’re worried…”

Jo Geol turned his head slightly, noticing the hesitant Maninbang’s members who couldn’t bring themselves to approach Chung Myung.

“Worry about Maninbang’s bastards! Those poor fools who got caught by that guy!”

“Um… yes?”

Seol Sobaek looked puzzled as he glanced towards where Chung Myung was. There, he saw Chung Myung, holding his sword in reverse grip, charging towards the enemy.

A shiver ran down Seol Sobaek’s spine as he witnessed the scene.