It’s not just a fox. (1)

The Black Dragon King’s distorted eyes flashed with killing intent.

“You…!”

Struggling to continue speaking due to rising fury, the Black Dragon King barely squeezed out his voice, thrusting force into the hand gripping his guandao.

Boom!

Hye Yeon, who had been blocking the crescent moon blade of the guandao with both hands, couldn’t withstand the force and was pushed back.

“You brats!”

Rooooar!

Immediately, the Black Dragon King, wrapped in black energy, explosively unleashed his blade towards Baek Cheon. It was a violent scene, as if a black dragon imbued with all the world’s malice was swooping down.

Baek Cheon’s face momentarily lost its color.

“Aaaaargh!”

It was not Baek Cheon but a young swordsman from Hwasan who jumped forward with all his might to block the blade.

Boom!

“Yoon Jong!”

Red blood gushed out from Yoon Jong’s mouth.

Hwasan’s sword is exceptionally light, swift, and fierce. However, this also means it’s not very suitable for blocking something.

“Die!”

The Black Dragon King, with a voice filled with rage, pressed down his blade. Yoon Jong’s sword was about to be swept away and bounce back like in a typhoon.

Boom!

Another sword, flying like a lightning bolt, joined Yoon Jong’s to block the Black Dragon King’s guandao.

It was distinctly different from Yoon Jong’s plum blossom sword. It was slightly heavier and shorter than the plum blossom sword, giving it a sturdier appearance.

“Ugh!”

“Lee Sohyeop!”

Lee Songbaek’s lips were slightly torn, causing blood to trickle out. However, his sword, though shaking, was solidly blocking the Black Dragon King’s guandao.

And then!

Swish!

A black shadow fell over the Black Dragon King’s head, accompanied by a sound of fluttering silk in the wind. The shadow descended like a hawk aiming for its prey. It was Yu Iseol.

Flash!

A rain of red sword energy poured down!

The Black Dragon King, Jeok Segwang, twisted his face in anger, withdrew his weapon, and kicked off the ground.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sword energy embedded itself dangerously close to where he had been standing.

The sword energy that he couldn’t completely dodge slashed a long cut across his chest, and soon, fresh blood began to seep out.

“How dare you!”

“What are you babbling about, you Sapa scum.”

Before the Black Dragon King could unleash his roar, a cold and arrogant voice came from behind him.

Fwoosh!

White sword energy, as pristine as snow, poured down over the Black Dragon King’s entire body. The dazzling movements of the sword energy were so overwhelming that even the large crescent moon blade of the guandao couldn’t hope to block it all.

Boom!

At that moment, the Black Dragon King chose a simpler method.

“Ooohhhhhh!”

He swung the guandao horizontally with great force.

From the broad blade, black energy gushed out in torrents, resembling a black landslide overwhelming the raging blizzard.

Roaaaaar!

The Black Dragon King, having swept away the dazzling and fierce sword energy in one fell swoop, thrust the guandao into Jin Geumryong’s chest, whose face had turned pale.

Clang!

Jin Geumryong barely managed to raise his sword and block his chest from being pierced, but he was pushed back.

“…This bastard.”

A slight hint of shock appeared in Jin Geumryong’s cold eyes. The force was terrifying.

It was just a brief clash, but his wrist, which had gripped the sword, was throbbing in pain.

If he had been a moment slower in extending his sword, his wrist would have broken, and the blade would have pierced his chest.

‘This is… the Black Dragon King!’

Jin Geumryong’s face hardened. He now fully realized who he was fighting against.

The overheated atmosphere briefly cooled down during a momentary pause.

After the fierce battle that left him breathless, the Black Dragon King found a sliver of respite and looked at the person standing beside him, not his enemy.

“You…”

“W-wait! Black Dragon King! No one expected their arrival…”

“Silence!”

Swish!

The Black Dragon King swung his guandao. The head of the terrified person was instantly severed from his body. The blood that spurted up fell back to the ground in a futile way.

“…Useless fool!”

It had been a mistake from the start to keep someone sent by Ho Gamyeong by his side.

Even though he knew they regarded the Black Dragon King, Jeok Segwang, as nothing more than a gambling piece…

He ground his teeth. Even after beheading the man, his anger was not appeased, so he kicked the sprawled corpse away.

Thud!

Now that he had dealt with the hindrance, there was no one to stop him.

The Black Dragon King glared at those surrounding him with a ferocious madness.

‘Hwasan… and Jongnam.’

They are nothing but brats.

But the Black Dragon King knew. Just because it was a brat’s sword, it didn’t mean it couldn’t pierce his body. The belief that the strong must always die at the hands of someone stronger is a delusion held by those who have never experienced Gangho.

“So… you think you brats can take my head?”

“Amitabha.”

Hye Yeon folded his hands and began to speak.

“You have committed too many sins. It is now time to pay for them.”

“Sins? Did you say sins? Hahahahahaha!”

The Black Dragon King burst into loud laughter.

“Yes, that’s right! I am a sinner. But hearing it from a blood-reeking monk twists my gut!”

Hye Yeon’s face hardened at the Black Dragon King’s words.

It was an undeniable fact that his hands were still stained with the blood of the enemies even at this moment.

“But you brats! A sin only matters when there’s someone to punish it. Do you know what the world calls someone who sins without being condemned?”

The Black Dragon King struck the ground with the end of his guandao, shouting.

“They call him a king!”

At the same time, a tremendous aura exploded from him. Even Hye Yeon, who had trained with the pure inner strength of Shaolin, turned pale from the overwhelming force.

“I am the king! Who dares to judge me!”

Indeed, his presence was befitting of the title ‘Master of the Yangtze River!

“You lot are nothing but a pack of wolves! Do you think losing one arm will make me vulnerable to the likes of you?”

His eyes shone with a terrifying blue light.

“I will kill you all!”

Boom!

The Black Dragon King kicked off the ground and charged straight at Jin Geumryong.

As his twisted waist snapped back into place with fierce momentum, the added force made the crescent moon blade of the guandao slice through the air with terrifying speed, as if it would split Jin Geumryong in half.

“Ugh!”

Jin Geumryong retreated with all his might.

However, the Black Dragon King’s guandao was not only powerful but also incredibly fast. It was hard to believe he could swing such a heavy weapon with such speed.

Jin Geumryong, realizing that his waist would be cleaved if things continued this way, mustered all his inner strength and infused it into his sword.

Clang!

The moment Jin Geumryong’s sword clashed with the crescent moon blade of the guandao in midair, his body was launched like a cannonball.

“Sahyeong!”

Lee Songbaek shouted, and fury erupted in Baek Cheon’s eyes.

“Don’t let your guard down! The opponent is…”

At that moment, Baek Cheon couldn’t finish his sentence.

The Black Dragon King, having flung Jin Geumryong away, glanced at them briefly before throwing himself towards the open path instead of charging at them.

His overwhelming ferocity, which seemed like it could tear everyone apart, suddenly seemed futile.

“Stop him!”

Baek Cheon’s face showed confusion.

The Black Dragon King still hadn’t given up on fleeing. Even if that wasn’t the case, he certainly had no intention of fighting while surrounded by them.

“What are you doing! You useless fools!”

The Black Dragon King’s booming shout spurred his subordinates into action. They rushed forward and, risking their lives, blocked Yoon Jong, who was pursuing the Black Dragon King.

“Protect the Black Dragon King!”

“You won’t get through!”

“Haaaap!”

Yoon Jong’s sword flew through the air with swift precision, just like Jo Geol’s sword, piercing the necks of the pirates.

But at that moment, Yoon Jong realized that the massive figure of the Black Dragon King, who had been fleeing just moments ago, was now right in front of him.

‘What..?’

Swoosh!

The Black Dragon King’s guandao was swung horizontally.

Yoon Jong desperately tried to retrieve his sword, but it got momentarily stuck in the bones of the pirate he had just struck, causing a split-second delay.

“Ugh!”

Crunch!

The crescent moon blade of the guandao, which had already cut through the waists of the collapsing pirates, sliced into Yoon Jong’s side.

Yoon Jong’s delayed sword managed to block the blade in front of him, but it lacked the proper strength.

Bang!

With a short, powerful explosion, Yoon Jong’s body was sent flying.

“Sahyeooooong!”

Jo Geol screamed, throwing himself towards Yoon Jong.

“You idiot… never take your eyes off the enemy!”

Rolling and battered, Yoon Jong shouted angrily at Jo Geol. But Jo Geol couldn’t hear him at all – he only saw the long, bleeding gash in Yoon Jong’s side.

“Even now, you still talk…”

Gritting his teeth, Jo Geol quickly tried to stop the bleeding from Yoon Jong’s side. The knowledge forcibly drilled into him by Tang Soso came to mind somehow.

He pulled out the bandages he had brought along, but Yoon Jong pushed Jo Geol’s hand away and struggled to his feet.

“Saheyong!”

“Later!”

Jo Geol bit his lips hard.

The Black Dragon King stood among the pirates, glaring at everyone. His impressive stature was at least a head taller than the others.

Yoon Jong cursed inwardly.

‘…Damn it.’

He wanted to curse at the cowardice, to call the sight of using his subordinates’ corpses as bait despicable.

But he couldn’t. He understood now. In a battlefield where lives are at stake, there is no such thing as fairness or cowardice.

It wasn’t cowardly – it was experience and cunningness.

The Black Dragon King smirked mockingly, as if the murderous aura he had exuded moments ago had been a mere facade.

Then he spoke.

“Attack! The target is…”

The Black Dragon King slowly scanned the surroundings. His gaze stopped at Jo Geol.

More precisely, at Namgung Dowi, who was carried on Jo Geol’s back.

“That dying one.”

Immediately, the pirates screamed and charged.

“Damn it!”

“Jo Geol!”

Jo Geol had to carry Namgung Dowi with one hand. In such a situation, it was impossible to fend off all the pirates attacking from all directions.

Just as Baek Cheon and Yu Iseol reflexively rushed toward Jo Geol,

“You idiots!”

The Black Dragon King shot forward like a lightning bolt, right in front of Yu Iseol, who was suspended in mid-air.

“Sago!”

Bang!

Her body was flung backward. Yet, Yu Iseol was still Yu Iseol. Even in that moment, she swung her sword, causing blood to spurt from the Black Dragon King’s wrist.

“Sago!”

Twisting her body in mid-air, Yu Iseol landed gracefully, lowering her stance. Blood trickled down her white jaw, evidence of internal damage from the impact.

“Hmph!”

The Black Dragon King glanced at the blood flowing from his wrist and roughly shook it off.

“Did you think it would be easy to kill me just by catching up?”

“Did you think the Black Dragon King Jeok Segwang was that insignificant? Do you really believe the world praised you because of your skills? You fools don’t even know your place!”

Clear mockery and derision were evident.

Everyone understood now. The figure standing before them was not just a mindless brute unable to control his rage, but a seasoned veteran who had survived countless battlefields to reach this point.

“I’ll make you understand what happens to a fox that loses the tiger behind it!”

With killing intent rising, the pirates swarmed in like a black tide.