Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 330 – Sichuan’s Upheaval (3)

‘!!!!!!’

The moment the carriage door opened, two swords floated out like swimming fish.

Seeing this, Hyun Mun-ja of the Qingcheng Sect, who had half-drawn his sword, froze in place.

The same went for the other Qingcheng Sect warriors.

“Co- Could it be?”

“Qi-controlled swords?”

Any warrior who wielded a sword would recognize it.

It was said that the Qi-Controlled Sword Technique could only be achieved when one’s sword reached the realm of perfection and their internal energy was close to the peak of peaks.

Senior Brother Hyun Mun-ja and the other Qingcheng Sect warriors were stirred.

There weren’t many swordsmen in the entire martial arts world who could wield the Qi-Controlled Sword Technique.

How could such a supreme expert appear in a place like this?

Moreover, the face they saw earlier looked no older than 17 or 18 years old, let alone a young adult.

‘That can’t be. No way!’

At that moment, Hyun Mun-ja thought that the person displaying this rare technique was not that young man.

There must be an extraordinary master inside the carriage…

-Swish!

Right at that moment.

The qi-controlled swords flew towards him at a lightning-fast speed, startling him and making him exert all his strength to dodge.

By a hair’s breadth, the swords grazed past his left shoulder.

However,

-Stab!

Although he managed to dodge the qi-controlled swords, the other Qingcheng Sect warriors did not.

Like skewering with a skewer, the swords instantly pierced through the heads and hearts of three Qingcheng Sect juniors.

-Stab stab stab!

“Ack!”

“Urgh!”

Except for the one whose head was pierced, the other two collapsed with dying screams.

As three lives were lost to the qi-controlled swords in an instant, the Qingcheng Sect warriors panicked and broke their formation, scattering in all directions.

“Jong-wan! Junior Brother Bu-hyeon!”

“Ru- Run!”

There was no time to feel anger or grief over the deaths of their martial brothers.

Mok Gyeong-un’s two swords, Evil Commandment Sword and Plundering-killing Sword, pierced through the fleeing Qingcheng Sect warriors at a tremendous speed, as if hunting.

-Stab stab stab!

‘How… How can this be…’

As four more people died in an instant, Hyun Mun-ja’s eyes trembled like crazy.

He had thought that none of them would be very strong since they were all young, except for the expelled monk Demonic Demon Fist Sage Ja Geum-jeong.

But that was a miscalculation.

They had touched something they shouldn’t have.

If someone could freely control two qi-controlled swords and render experts from the first-rate to the early stage of the peak realm so helpless, they could be considered a top expert in the martial arts world, equal to or surpassing the Eight Stars.

They were already beyond their ability to handle.

However,

‘It’s impossible for everyone to escape.’

Nearly a third of them had already been killed.

If he used them as shields, he might be able to save his own life, but how could he abandon his martial brothers and flee?

Moreover,

-Drip drip drip!

The wound on his left shoulder, which had been cut by the sword, was strange.

He had clearly pressed the blood-stopping points and sent true energy to the wound, but it kept bleeding, and the pain was gradually intensifying.

‘A strange sword.’

The wound from the cut wasn’t healing.

Even if he tried to escape, he didn’t know what would happen.

Thus, Hyun Mun-ja made a decision.

-Whoosh!

Hyun Mun-ja launched himself towards the carriage.

Even if it was a supreme expert, if he recklessly charged in with a desperate move, sacrificing his own energy, couldn’t he at least buy some time for his martial brothers to escape?

“Se- Senior Brother!”

Seeing his actions, one of the juniors shouted.

Then, Hyun Mun-ja, without stopping his movement, shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Everyone disperse!”

“Senior Brother!”

Hearing that shout, the juniors understood Senior Brother’s intention.

They couldn’t let Senior Brother’s sacrifice go to waste, so they tried to scatter.

However,

-Whoosh!

At that moment, a black qi erupted from the flying swords.

Then, at a speed incomparable to before, Evil Commandment Sword and Plundering-killing Sword began piercing through the Qingcheng Sect warriors.

-Stab stab stab!

“Argh!”

“Ack!”

Hyun Mun-ja, who had tried not to look, couldn’t hide his shock at the sight.

Although it had a completely different glow from ordinary sword qi, it was definitely sword qi.

‘Qi-controlled sword qi?’

He couldn’t believe it.

Even grandmasters who had reached the level of the Eight Stars couldn’t display the divine skill of wielding qi-controlled swords and manipulating qi.

That meant,

‘A… A true grandmaster of the Six Heavens level?’

It was a divine skill that was impossible unless one was at the Six Heavens level, known as the current pinnacle of the martial arts world.

Hyun Mun-ja, who had been launching himself with the resolve to make a desperate move, fell into despair rather than shock the moment he saw the qi-controlled sword qi.

Just who was the person inside that carriage?

At that moment.

-Grab!

Someone grabbed the back of his neck as he was launching himself.

Then, they smashed his face directly into the ground.

-Bam!

“Urgh!”

The one who grabbed him and slammed him down was none other than Seop Chun.

He had quickly caught up and grabbed him because he was trying to target his lord, Mok Gyeong-un, after casually passing by him.

Seop Chun grabbed his hair and lifted him up.

“What’s the use of a pawn trying to capture the king out of the blue?”

“You bastard!”

Hyun Mun-ja tried to shake off Seop Chun’s hand grabbing his hair.

But the moment he grabbed his wrist, he could instinctively tell that Seop Chun’s internal energy far surpassed his own.

‘What?’

Just who are these guys?

This fellow also looked to be no older than a young adult, but how could his cultivation be so strong?

It was unbelievable.

Hyun Mun-ja’s eyes trembled violently.

Just what was happening in Sichuan, with the Green Forest bandits surrounding the Tang Clan’s manor?

However, he could no longer continue his thoughts.

-Crack!

Seop Chun had snapped his neck.

They had followed them just because they encountered them at the inn, so there was no benefit in leaving loose ends.

Seop Chun, who had killed him, clicked his tongue as if disappointed.

He wondered how it would have been if they had properly fought, considering they seemed to be from a righteous sect.

He had killed him too easily because he was injured and had become impatient.

‘Well, it can’t be helped since we’re short on time.’

At that moment, someone approached from the side and said,

“Step aside.”

It was Ma Ra-hyeon in a mask.

“Huh?”

“It’s the lord’s order.”

“Ah.”

With that, Seop Chun stepped to the side.

Then, Ma Ra-hyeon picked up the sword of Hyun Mun-ja, who had died with a broken neck, and began carving something on his forehead.

He carved a vertical line through the center of the character “two.”

It was the symbol of a Secret Society where the third wooden slip served as the leader.

“What’s this?”

“Carve it on the bodies of all the dead.”

“Is that also the lord’s order?”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

At Ma Ra-hyeon’s words, he went towards the other dead bodies.

Meanwhile, the Evil Commandment Sword and Plundering-killing Sword, which had been floating in the air and killing all the Qingcheng Sect warriors with the wondrous technique of qi-controlled swords, returned to the carriage.

Seeing the two swords, Ma Ra-hyeon clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘He’s getting stronger and stronger.’

From inside that carriage, without taking a single step, he had discerned the movements of the enemies with just his qi sense and killed them all.

It seemed he had reached a level that was truly difficult to approach, which was both awe-inspiring and admirable.

At this point, even his master So Yerin would probably be no match for him.

‘…He’s truly a monster.’

***

On the morning of the fourth day, the last day of the time given by Green Forest Fighting King Seok Pae-ung.

In the rear courtyard of a villa inside the Sichuan Tang Clan’s manor.

A woman in her early twenties with a graceful beauty, wearing short hair, stood in front of Tang In-hae, the head of the Tang Clan, with her hands neatly clasped.

Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae, who had been staring intently at the woman, opened his mouth.

“Song-ah. Have you still not changed your mind?”

At this question, the woman called Song-ah had a peculiar expression.

Her name was Ye Song-ah.

She was the offspring of the Ye Family, a branch family mixed with the blood of the Tang Clan, and the only granddaughter of the Fire Faith Order’s Holy Fire Priestess.

“Clan Leader…”

“Today is the last day of the time he proposed. What do you want me to do?”

At Tang In-hae’s words, Ye Song-ah recalled the conversation he had four days ago.

[To be honest, our family is facing a crisis.]

[Is it because of those surrounding the manor right now?]

[Of course, with the Fighting King present, they are also a threat. But there’s something even bigger.]

[Something bigger?]

[I don’t know where the information leaked from, but the fact that we are protecting you is spreading everywhere.]

[Ah…]

[There aren’t many ways to handle this.]

[…]

[Although you are also a branch family member and a family we must protect, as the Clan Leader, I have to make choices that prioritize the Tang Clan.]

[…]

Ye Song-ah knew.

Just as she followed the teachings of the Fire Faith Order, the Clan Leader prioritized the interests of the Tang Clan.

If it brought harm to the Tang Clan, he wouldn’t forgive even a branch family member.

If it weren’t for “that,” he probably wouldn’t have even had this conversation and would have abandoned her for the sake of the Tang Clan from the start.

The reason he was explaining the situation in detail now was ultimately,

[But if you promise to abandon the Fire Faith Order and use your power for the sake of our family, I, no, the Tang Clan will protect you even if we have to bear everything.]

Yes, that was the purpose.

Her grandmother, the Holy Fire Priestess, had lost her qualification, and her power had been fully passed down to her.

And Tang In-hae, the head of the Tang Clan, wanted it.

He had given her four days to think about it for this reason.

“Now, depending on your decision, I will…”

-Boom!

Before he could even finish his words.

A tremendous boom erupted.

Tang In-hae frowned at the sound that even made the villa building tremble slightly, then stopped what he was saying and went outside.

***

Just a moment ago,

Outside the manor of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Green Forest Fighting King Seok Pae-ung was sitting under a tent with his arms crossed and his legs on the table.

He hadn’t expected them to use up the entire given time.

Seeing this, it was clear that the Fire Faith Order member she had mentioned was indeed inside.

Otherwise, there was no way they would have stalled for so long.

However, thanks to this, a question arose.

‘Just what is that Fire Faith Order member that the Tang Clan is trying so hard to protect?’

They were a part of the Righteous Alliance and a member of the righteous path.

For them, the fact that they were protecting a Fire Faith Order member was a fatal weakness and a stain on their honor.

Yet, the Sichuan Tang Clan had been pondering for nearly four days without giving up on the Fire Faith Order member.

Did that mean there was something worth protecting even if they had to bear all of this?

‘Just what is it?’

He had come here and done this because it was her request, but that woman also wouldn’t make a pointless request.

There must be a reason for her request.

Was there something special about that Fire Faith Order member?

As he was pondering,

“Hmm?”

‘!?’

Hearing a voice from somewhere, Seok Pae-ung turned his gaze in that direction.

There, he saw a young man with a troubled expression, also with his arms crossed.

Seok Pae-ung raised one eyebrow.

‘Who is this guy?’

He had never seen this fellow before.

His attire was neat, and his face was very handsome, so he didn’t seem to be one of the Green Forest bandits.

But when did this fellow enter the tent?

‘Wait a moment… Why didn’t I notice this fellow coming so close?’

Something was strange.

He didn’t feel anything special from this fellow in terms of qi sense.

Yet, he hadn’t detected his presence as he approached.

Did that make sense?

He, one of the Eight Stars known as the current top experts of the martial arts world, had failed to detect even the presence of such a young fellow until he was right in front of him?

“…Who are you, young man?”

Seok Pae-ung took his legs off the table, stood up, and spoke.

Then, the young man who had been standing with his arms crossed and a troubled expression opened his mouth.

“It’s strange.”

“What?”

“I came here because I heard the Tang Clan was in crisis, but it doesn’t seem like a crisis at all.”

Seok Pae-ung frowned.

What nonsense was this guy spouting?

Could it be that he had come to help the Tang Clan?

“…Who the hell are you?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Who else do you think I’m talking about?”

“Aha! I see. I am Moo-jin, the eldest son of the Yoo Family.”

“Yoo Moo-jin?”

It was a name he had never heard before.

Then, the young man who had introduced himself as Yoo Moo-jin scratched his head and said,

“It seems to be nothing serious, unlike what I was worried about, so I’ll just leave.”

“Ha!”

At his words, Seok Pae-ung scoffed as if absurd.

“Who do you think you are to come and go as you please?”

“If there’s nothing to see, I’ll just leave.”

“Hah.”

Seok Pae-ung let out a sigh.

And the moment that sigh ended,

-Swish!

His figure blurred, and he instantly reached in front of the young man named Yoo Moo-jin.

Having approached him in an instant, Seok Pae-ung threw a punch towards the fellow’s abdomen.

-Bam!

It was a strike delivered with 5-star power, to properly test him since he had approached without any presence.

However,

“Is this all?”

‘!?’

The eyes of Seok Pae-ung, who had thrown the punch, widened.

It felt like he had hit a thick rock rather than the abdomen.

Of course, even a thick rock would shatter from his punch, but this fellow was looking at him without moving an inch.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t noticed because the fellow’s clothes were loose, but why was his upper body so thick?

His entire body was a mass of muscles.

At that moment,

-Bam!

“Ugh!”

Seok Pae-ung’s body was pushed back five steps by the punch swung by the young man.

-Murmur murmur!

The surroundings stirred.

The Green Forest bandits, who had been watching what the Fighting King was doing at the sudden commotion, couldn’t hide their surprise.

It was the first time they had seen the Green Forest Fighting King being pushed back.

The person involved, Seok Pae-ung, was equally surprised.

-Throb throb!

His abdomen throbbed violently, and nausea welled up.

‘What kind of punch does this bastard have…’

Even without internal energy, the impact shook his entire body, pushing him back.

At this, Seok Pae-ung’s wariness seemed to have risen, and he properly assumed a stance.

He was also confident that he wouldn’t lose to anyone in terms of strength, having secured a seat among the Eight Stars solely with his external martial arts.

As he assumed his stance,

“Oh. You’re strong. With this level, you must belong to the quite powerful group in the martial arts world.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I thought five stages would be enough, but it seems I’ll need to go to four stages.”

“What?”

What was this bastard saying?

As he was puzzled, he saw Yoo Moo-jin fiddling with a golden ring-like object on his right arm.

He turned it,

-Clink clink clink!

That sound was grating.

Feeling a strange sense of foreboding, Seok Pae-ung made the first move.

-Whoosh!

If it was 5-star power until now, this time he drew out 10-star power in an instant.

This punch contained enough power to blow away a small hill.

However,

-Grab!

‘No way?’

Yoo Moo-jin, the young man, lightly caught his punch with one hand.

But that wasn’t the end.

-Sizzle!

The biceps and forearm muscles of the fellow’s right arm swelled up distinctly, turning red and emitting white steam.

Seok Pae-ung’s eyes trembled at the extremely bizarre sight.

Then, Yoo Moo-jin, the young man, grinned and said,

“It’s better to bite down hard.”

“Wait a moment…”

-Boom!

Before he could even speak.

At that moment, a fist struck his face, and his body was hammered into the ground.

The power was so strong that the ground instantly caved in nearly five jang (approx. 16.5 meters), and fragments flew in all directions.