Chapter 175
Chapter 175
＃1
7
5. <The Black Flame Dragon That Swallows the Blood Sea (5)>
“Are you all right? Mister Jaehwa?” (Eun Seollan)
Moyong Jaehwa was gasping for breath.
His face had flushed bright red, and his hands and feet trembled.
The veins across his face and his entire body were standing taut as if they might burst.
It was proof that he had drawn on his inner arts to the limit.
“Miss Eun, I am sorry, but could you cool my face?” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Seeing Moyong Jaehwa, whose voice itself sounded cracked and split, Eun Seollan raised her Small Water Divine Art instead of answering and cooled his heat.
Moyong Jaehwa, who closed his eyes for a moment, looked as though he wanted to collapse and sleep at any second.
But.
Swaek.
At the sound of an arrow cutting through the air, Moyong Jaehwa opened his eyes wide, shoved Eun Seollan aside, and fell.
“Are you all right, Miss?” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Eun Seollan, intensely tense at the sight of Moyong Jaehwa lying over her body, barely managed to answer.
“Yes, I, I am all right.” (Eun Seollan)
“It seems they are about to begin again.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Moyong Jaehwa quickly rose and nocked an arrow to his bow.
It was an arrow the enemies had shot, which Eun Seollan had personally recovered and brought back.
Since it had already been used once, the shaft’s fletching and the direction of the arrowhead were crooked, but at the very least, it was far better than breaking off tree branches to use.
Swaek.
The arrow fired from Moyong Jaehwa’s hand crossed the encampment and flew toward the people wearing blood-robes.
Compared to the dozens of arrows they had shot, it was only a drop in the bucket, but the blood-robed people could not take their eyes off Moyong Jaehwa’s arrow.
Pupeok. Thud!
One of those in the front who had been holding two shields layered together blocked the arrow, then was pushed far back by the impact, disrupting the formation.
“Kheuk!”
“Keoheuk!”
The blood-robed unit that had been trying to advance once again hid behind rocks as quickly as a crab hiding its eyes.
Seeing that, Moyong Jaehwa let out a long sigh.
Already half a day.
That was how much time he had spent confronting the blood-robed people with the academy students who had collapsed after being caught in the illusion behind him.
Ilgak was waking people one by one, but those who barely came to their senses had their insides shaken so badly they could not move easily.
If there was anything fortunate, it was only that after he shot a few Penetrating Demon Arrows toward the places where the sorcerers were, the illusion formation had no longer unfolded. ‘Should I consider this fortunate?’ (Moyong Jaehwa) He was keeping the blood-robed people from approaching with the Penetrating Demon Arrows, but before he knew it, they had been surrounded widely.
They could advance neither forward nor backward.
No, someday, the moment they failed to stop that encirclement from narrowing.
It was certain that everyone here would die.
Rustle, rustle.
No sooner had the sound of footsteps come from behind than Eun Seollan gathered cold energy thickly in both hands.
A cold chill, more biting than the cold wind of a high mountain region, formed in her two hands.
Eun Seollan immediately slammed both hands down toward the place where the sound had come from.
Chwaaaaaak.
Jjeojeojeok, jjeojeojeok! Jjeojeojeok!
Sharp ice spikes sprang up from the ground in the pitch-black forest, aiming for the ankles of the blood-robed people.
Moyong Jaehwa put down his bow for a moment, then picked up a sword whose owner he did not know and charged at the blood-robed people.
Puk-.
Chachachaeng.
He killed two of them at once, but because of his unfamiliar swordsmanship, he continued clashing with the other two.
And slowly, he began to be pushed back. ‘Damn it…… How cowardly, fighting with swords!’ (Moyong Jaehwa) If they were opponents who would listen to him say, ‘Let’s settle this with archery!’ then they would not have used evil arts and ambushed them without warning in the first place.
While cursing the opponents’ cowardice inwardly, Moyong Jaehwa gradually began finding the blood-robed people’s swords overwhelming.
“Mister Jaehwa! Duck!” (Eun Seollan)
As soon as Eun Seollan’s words reached him, he lowered his head like lightning, and ice spikes pierced through the chests of the blood-robed people.
“Keuheuk.”
“Keuruk.”
The blood-robed people collapsed with a thud, spraying blood.
Behind them, Eun Seollan was gasping for breath with a pale complexion.
“Are you all right, Miss Eun?” (Moyong Jaehwa)
“Heok, heok, heok. I, I am all right.” (Eun Seollan)
She had originally possessed skin so clear her veins could be seen, but now her face was pure white, as if all color had drained from it.
Anyone could see she had been driven to the very limit of her limits. ‘Damn it.’ (Moyong Jaehwa) From the start, even though he had learned from Jin Soun how a few should fight many, he could not make use of it.
The twisted arrows often missed, and the enemies, having realized the arrows they shot kept coming back at them, were now throwing spears or stones instead of arrows. ‘If only I could use the Thunderbolt Arrow…….’ (Moyong Jaehwa) Moyong Jaehwa had never in his life felt wronged by the fact that his martial arts were not strong, but now, more than ever, he desperately wanted powerful martial arts.
If only he had completed the Thunderbolt Arrow, he could have reduced the damage to the academy students.
If only he had the Thunderbolt Arrow, he could have helped Eun Seollan escape.
From the moment the dawn sun rose until now, there had been more than one or two moments when he had wanted to use the incomplete Thunderbolt Arrow.
But he could not bring himself to try.
Kkigigik
-The sound of the horn and wood joints splitting was heard every time he drew the bowstring.
Attempting the Thunderbolt Arrow, which had broken horn bows recklessly even when they were intact, at a time like now, when the bow was on the verge of breaking, was no different from saying he would throw away his bow.
It was not something he could attempt in a situation where a single mistake held not only his own life, but Eun Seollan’s life, and further, the lives of the academy students behind them.
“Phew…….” (Moyong Jaehwa)
A situation where he could do neither this nor that.
Moyong Jaehwa looked at Eun Seollan.
Her face, which had been clean like an elegant snowflake, was covered in soot, and her clothes were full of dust and stains.
Her eyes were flushed red from the aftereffects of the evil arts and lack of sleep, and her hands were trembling because she had used her martial arts to the limit. ‘At the very least…… Miss Eun, if no one else…….’ (Moyong Jaehwa) While he was calculating that for a moment.
Pupeopeok! Thud! Thud!
Ilgak approached while striking down the blood-robed people.
“Benefactor Jaehwa, Benefactor Seollan……! Are you all right?” (Ilgak)
Ilgak, who was asking after their safety, did not look very well either.
The perfect image of Ilgak, one of the foremost experts of the Murim Academy, did not exist here.
“As you can see, we are not exactly completely fine.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Moyong Jaehwa answered with a forced smile, but Ilgak immediately understood what he meant.
“This cannot continue.” (Ilgak)
Ilgak looked at the two and said,
“You two should circulate your qi.” (Ilgak)
“Hm?” (Moyong Jaehwa)
“…….” (Eun Seollan)
Ilgak’s words telling them to circulate their qi in such an urgent situation were absurd beyond belief.
Even so, Ilgak continued as if it were nothing.
“Even a single handful of inner arts will be enough. Gather just enough to use movement arts.” (Ilgak)
Only then did Moyong Jaehwa understand Ilgak’s intent and shake his head.
“That is…….” (Moyong Jaehwa)
But Ilgak cut off Moyong Jaehwa’s words and spoke firmly.
“Now is not the time to argue. We must inform the Martial Alliance of this news immediately.” (Ilgak)
Moyong Jaehwa nodded, then looked at Eun Seollan and said,
“Miss Eun, circulate your qi.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
“Yes? What do you……. What about you, Mister Jaehwa?” (Eun Seollan)
“I will remain.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
“Benefactor Jaehwa!” (Ilgak)
Even at Ilgak’s urging, Moyong Jaehwa spoke without wavering.
“If conveying the news was important, we should have done that yesterday.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
“…….” (Ilgak)
At the words that pointed out his mistake, Ilgak tightly closed his mouth.
“If we leave now, every person over there will die. Are you still all right with that?” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Ilgak turned his head and looked behind him.
His senior and junior brothers of his sect, the senior and junior brothers of the secular martial sects, the dozens of people with whom he had formed connections in the Righteous Path Association.
All of them would die here.
Before he knew it, Ilgak clenched his hand tightly. He absolutely did not want to see such a sight.
“…….” (Ilgak)
“I am not all right with it.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Who would want to see such a sight?
But right now, even one person had to live.
And the ones who should live had to be those without responsibility for this matter.
Whether he knew Ilgak’s feelings or not, Moyong Jaehwa continued.
“Moreover, when I think of Brother Soun, who will arrive soon, I do not want to show him the sight of me running away alone.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
At Moyong Jaehwa’s words, Ilgak wanted to immediately retort.
Did he still believe that Jin Soun would come here?
“…….” (Ilgak)
He would not be able to come here, that it was something no one could easily do, so expecting it itself was wrong.
However, Ilgak suppressed that feeling and barely asked,
“Even if that faith is betrayed…… do you still think you will not regret it?” (Ilgak)
He asked heavily, holding the skepticism he himself had felt.
And.
“Yes.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Moyong Jaehwa answered without the slightest hesitation.
“……!” (Ilgak)
Without even a trace of doubt.
He looked straight at Ilgak with unwavering eyes and said again,
“Yes.” (Moyong Jaehwa)
“…….” (Ilgak)
Faith without any conditions.
Faith that even seemed noble.
Pure faith.
At this point, Ilgak became curious about the root of that faith.
The foundation of that faith.
Was it Moyong Jaehwa’s naivety?
Was it the product of the sense of responsibility Jin Soun had shown?
“Understood. Then Miss Seollan, at least…….” (Ilgak)
Ilgak and Moyong Jaehwa looked at Eun Seollan.
But Eun Seollan answered with a sulky expression.
“You said Brother Jin is coming. Why would I go out of my way to do something dangerous?” (Eun Seollan)
Ilgak and Moyong Jaehwa nodded at the same time. ‘That is true.’ (Moyong Jaehwa) ‘Indeed.’ (Ilgak) Without realizing it, Ilgak ended up believing like Moyong Jaehwa.
While the two were realizing their own foolishness, Eun Seollan pointed ahead and said,
“They are coming!” (Eun Seollan)
Ilgak turned his head and frowned.
“They have prepared a countermeasure against Benefactor Jaehwa’s arrows.” (Ilgak)
The blood-robed people, who had now realized that ordinary shields could not block Moyong Jaehwa’s arrows, began approaching while carrying iron plates with cauldron lids attached and large boulders over their heads.
Seeing the scene he had least wanted to see, Moyong Jaehwa cursed.
“Damn it…….” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Knowing that the Penetrating Demon Arrows would no longer work, Moyong Jaehwa desperately operated his qi circulation and gathered a handful of true qi.
“It seems we have no choice but to engage in close combat.” (Ilgak)
At Ilgak’s words, Moyong Jaehwa looked behind him.
There were still no academy students who could properly take part in battle.
This was not Changban Slope, and blocking hundreds with only three people was absurd. ‘No choice, then.’ (Moyong Jaehwa) Then he took out one proper arrow, which he had been trying not to use until the very, very end.
“It is still incomplete, but with this one shot, we should be able to inflict quite a lot of damage on the front unit. If I fail……. Then…….” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Moyong Jaehwa could not continue speaking.
Because he did not even want to imagine such a terrible future.
With desperate hope, Moyong Jaehwa nocked the arrow to the string and began drawing the bowstring.
Kiiiiiiik.
The horn bow, which had reached its limit, screamed. ‘Just once……. Please hold out just once!’ (Moyong Jaehwa) The power of the Moyong Clan’s martial art, the Heaven and Earth Wave-Cleaving Sword, was loaded into the arrowhead.
The arrow fixed between his two hands shook violently, and accordingly, the horn bow shook no less fiercely.
Kkeugeugeugeugeuk.
The moment he carefully poured the minimum amount of the Heaven and Earth Wave-Cleaving Sword’s power and released the arrow from the bowstring.
Kwajik.
The horn bow, which had ultimately reached its limit, separated into pieces.
Ting.
The snapped bowstring drooped powerlessly.
“Damn it!!!!” (Moyong Jaehwa)
As soon as the blood-robed people saw Moyong Jaehwa’s horn bow break, they threw aside the boulders and shields and began running.
Ilgak and Eun Seollan did not even have time to comfort Moyong Jaehwa.
As if enraged by the fact that they had been hiding from Jaehwa’s arrows all this time, the blood-robed people were running madly toward them.
“Benefactor Jaehwa, step back.” (Ilgak)
After pressing his palms together, Ilgak fired both fists, which shimmered with golden light, forward.
Pupeopeopeopeopeok.
Pupeopeopeopeopeok.
The blood-robed people were sent flying by the Dragon King Flowing Fist, which shot out roughly thirty times per second, but the empty space was quickly filled again by blood-robed people rushing in from behind.
“Haaat!” (Eun Seollan)
Chwaaaaaak.
The Small Water Divine Art Eun Seollan scattered froze the bodies of the blood-robed people, but the ice art, drained of internal power, was not very threatening.
Moyong Jaehwa also picked up a sword again and unfolded clumsy swordsmanship.
With no more means of defense, they were completely surrounded by the blood-robed people and were expecting the end, when.
“Uaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!” (Nam Hwaseong)
Green radiance fell in every direction, crushing the heads of the blood-robed people and smashing their chests.
Pupeopeopeopeopeopeopeong.
Pupeopeong! Pupeopeopeong!
At the violent explosion sounds, sand and dust scattered everywhere, and Ilgak, Moyong Jaehwa, and the others, who had instinctively closed their eyes, barely opened them into slits and confirmed the opponent.
“Heok, heok, heok!”
The huge man’s complexion itself was pale, as if he had exhausted all of his mental and physical strength.
Moreover, large wounds were borne here and there across his body.
It was enough to make one wonder how in the world he had made it all the way here.
The huge man looked at Moyong Jaehwa and said,
“Heok, heok, you, you. Moyong Jaehwa! You are Moyong Jaehwa, right?” (Nam Hwaseong)
Moyong Jaehwa, who had been pointed out, saw the huge man’s face and wore a startled expression.
“Na, Nam Hwaseong? Why are you here……?” (Moyong Jaehwa)
“Heok, heok, I, I am glad you are alive. Truly glad!” (Nam Hwaseong)
Nam Hwaseong trembled with emotion as if he had found a lost younger brother.
Moyong Jaehwa, the person in question, was only bewildered by this situation.
Why would Nam Hwaseong of all people pop out here?
And why was he relieved that he had survived?
Nam Hwaseong swallowed with a pained expression and barely continued speaking.
“……
Jin Soun, Jin Soun sent me.” (Nam Hwaseong)
“Ah!!! As expected!!!” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Nam Hwaseong handed the luggage he had been carrying to Moyong Jaehwa as if throwing it.
He wanted to hear about the circumstances, but neither the current situation of being surrounded by the blood-robed people nor Nam Hwaseong’s condition was one where he could possibly hear the story.
Moyong Jaehwa, who was examining the luggage in confusion, tilted his head when he saw a long iron rod sticking out. ‘What is this……?’ (Moyong Jaehwa) The small grooves at both ends and the grip wrapped in leather at the center of the iron rod.
And the bundles of arrows and heavenly silkworm thread filling the bundle.
They were items that naturally made him wonder why Jin Soun had tried to send them.
Then suddenly, something was drawn in his mind.
“Su, surely…….” (Moyong Jaehwa)
Moyong Jaehwa’s gaze moved between the heavenly silkworm thread and the iron rod.
“An, iron bow?” (Moyong Jaehwa)