BOOOOM!
Mookbi blew the last assassin’s head apart, then drew a deep breath.
“Haaaaah.”
She had unleashed dozens of Formless Bolts in a breathless barrage. Even with her vast reserves of Inner Qi, she could not help but feel drained after such exertion.
The assassins’ movement arts had been bewilderingly unpredictable. Keeping pace with their attacks while employing her own explosive movement art had taken a tremendous toll on even Mookbi’s stamina.
Thank goodness for all that unarmed-combat training.
In the past, she had often trained in close-quarters combat with Yeon Hojeong.
Lately, he had been too busy, so she had trained alone or exchanged blows with the troops instead. Those sessions never ended until both her Inner Qi and stamina were completely exhausted.
She had trained like that almost every day without fail. Thanks to it, she had been able to maintain her concentration until the very end of the battle against the assassins.
Once again, she found herself grateful for Yeon Hojeong’s instruction.
WHOOOOOM.
Her Steel-String Bow True Qi, founded upon Crimson Heaven Qi, surged fiercely around her entire body.
Her depleted stamina recovered at a startling rate. Without the support of Crimson Heaven Qi, she could never have recovered so quickly.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
Yeoguk wiped the blood from his face.
He might not have possessed Mookbi’s monstrous endurance, but his stamina was second to none. The same was true of every member of the Evil-Smiting Corps.
“I survived because I was supporting you, Deputy Commander. Without you, I would have been killed.”
Even another master of Mookbi’s level might have fallen. The only reason the two of them had managed to eliminate so many assassins was Mookbi’s uncanny movement art and supremely precise archery.
Mookbi shook her head.
“That isn’t what matters right now. Head north, gather the remaining Evil-Smiting Corps troops, and move to the third rendezvous point.”
“Understood. What about you?”
“I’m going to the battlefield.”
Yeoguk cupped his fist.
“I’ll contact you when we arrive.”
“Good.”
WHOOSH!
Yeoguk vanished from the spot.
Even after a brutal duel to the death, there was no instability in his movement art. Befitting a master who had cultivated Daoist martial arts to the highest reaches of the world, the flow of his True Qi remained perfectly even despite the ferocity of the battle.
Mookbi lightly slapped her cheeks.
All right, then.
BOOM!
She launched herself skyward once more.
The Dragon Flight Sequence gathered momentum. Not only had the power of her archery and the fluidity of her spearwork improved, but her lightness skill had also grown far more refined than before.
Her control over her True Qi had become so delicate that, given even the narrowest gap her body could pass through, she could disappear without anyone noticing. Through this battle with the assassins, Mookbi had gained a precise understanding of the level her martial arts had reached.
BOOM! BOOOOM!
She accelerated with every stride.
She wanted nothing more than to follow the path Yeon Hojeong had carved through the enemy, but right now, the five Evil-Smiting Corps soldiers mattered more than he did.
Had no battle begun, it might have been different. But if they had already engaged the enemy commander, the five soldiers were in far greater danger than Yeon Hojeong.
That was Mookbi’s judgment.
And she was right.
She had circled northeast, toward the direction the soldiers were approaching from, when her senses caught something.
KABOOM!
The thunderous blast that shook the air sharpened every nerve in Mookbi’s body to a razor’s edge.
The Three-Kill Formation!
There was no mistaking it. This was the energy of the Three-Kill Formation.
And the force disrupting it was the same sinister power she had once encountered before.
Was it called the Blood-Drinking Palm?
She recalled Yeon Hojeong’s words.
If an enemy appears along our escape route, then even if the Yin God isn’t there, that damned woman definitely will be. Naturally, she won’t come alone. Not after what we did to her.
That will most likely happen only after we’ve already come under attack. I doubt it will come to that, but if the eldest disciple has been tracked, it isn’t impossible. Should that truly happen, you must join forces with the troops no matter what.
Remember this clearly. The chances are extremely low. Under normal circumstances, we won’t be separated. But if it does happen, you will be the one commanding the Evil-Smiting Corps. Prioritize holding the enemy at bay over eliminating them, and survival over holding them at bay. Do not forget what I told you.
Mookbi remembered every word.
Most of the time, she could leave everything to Yeon Hojeong. But should circumstances force him away, then, as he had said, command of the Evil-Smiting Corps would fall to her.
She had to remain vigilant. She might not be capable of preparing as many contingencies as Yeon Hojeong, but she still had to consider every possible response and make decisions without hesitation.
Even so...
Mookbi could not help marveling once again at Yeon Hojeong’s foresight.
He said the chances were low... yet he still anticipated this.
Serving a highly capable superior was difficult.
But Yeon Hojeong was different. Having someone who looked this far ahead was an immeasurable source of reassurance to his allies.
She had benefited from his preparations.
Now it was time to do her part.
BOOOOM!
Her final step instantly doubled her speed.
Far to her right, she caught sight of Yeon Hojeong locked in a fierce battle.
Mookbi’s eyes flashed.
A powerful master!
Just as expected. The Blood-Drinking Palm master had not come alone, exactly as Yeon Hojeong had predicted.
Then that man is most likely the Yin God.
At that moment—
...?!
Mookbi’s eyes trembled.
That... that man...!
The Yin God’s eldest disciple, who had been standing behind Okcheong, suddenly moved with terrifying speed and hurled himself at the man presumed to be the Yin God.
CLATTER-CLATTER-CLATTER!
Yeon Hojeong, who had been swinging the Flood Dragon Chain, abruptly halted his attack midway. Even he could not have remained unfazed by such an unexpected development.
Mookbi faltered for only an instant before forcing herself to look away.
That is not my battlefield.
Yeon Hojeong would deal with it somehow.
He would. Without fail.
I’m going where I belong.
BOOM!
Mookbi continued flying through the air without hesitation. Soon, the five blood-drenched soldiers came into view.
Song Yeonggyeong!
The five Evil-Smiting Corps soldiers were Emei spearmen led by Song Yeonggyeong. They maintained their formation and wielded their six-foot spears with uncanny skill, yet they could not land a proper attack on the ghostlike Blood-Drinking demoness.
Damn it!
There was no time to weigh her options.
Mookbi immediately drew the string of the Red Lotus Bow.
Soh Bang turned her head and looked directly at her.
...!!
A chill raced down Mookbi’s spine.
Soh Bang’s eyes were fixed precisely upon her, blazing with murderous intent.
Mookbi released the string.
BOOOOM!
The Formless Bolt had not even crossed half the distance before it exploded in midair. Soh Bang’s palm force had reached it first.
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!
Mookbi twisted through the air with uncanny agility, changed direction, and landed behind the five soldiers.
Song Yeonggyeong’s eyes widened.
“Deputy Commander!”
Mookbi raised the Red Lotus Bow without replying. She could not afford to waste even the fraction of a second it would take to open her mouth.
The iron arrow nocked to the bow shot forward like a beam of light.
FWHOOOOOSH! BANG!
The iron arrow shattered and spun away through the air.
“You fucking bitch.”
Soh Bang ground her teeth after knocking the iron arrow aside with her fist.
A long gash had opened across her knuckles. Though the arrow itself had broken, its penetrating force had been greater than expected and had pierced through her shield of Inner Qi.
Mookbi’s eyes flashed.
She’s weakened!
Despite the Killing Intent pouring from Soh Bang, her evil qi was remarkably turbid and sluggish.
She was overwhelming the Evil-Smiting Three-Kill Formation, but that did not mean she was entirely unaffected by its power. The effect was not as severe as when Yeon Hojeong had served as the formation’s axis, but Soh Bang was unmistakably burning through her True Qi and stamina at a rapid pace.
At this level, we can fight her!
WHOOOOOM!
Steel-String Bow True Qi gathered densely around Mookbi’s fingers.
“Spearmen! Keep pushing forward! I’ll cover you from behind!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
With a thunderous shout, the five spearmen advanced in force.
Only one person had joined them, but that one person was the strongest warrior in the Evil-Smiting Corps—a master more than worthy of being called the Divine Bow.
With such a superior fighting beside them, what was there to fear?
Flames of fighting spirit blazed in the eyes of Song Yeonggyeong and the other spearmen.
Soh Bang roared.
“I’ll tear every last one of you into a thousand pieces!”
Mookbi coldly released the string.
“Try it.”
FWHOOOOOSH!
*****
...?!
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.
You!
In an instant divided into the smallest possible fraction of time, he caught sight of Sima Hyeon soaring over Okcheong’s shoulder like a phantom.
His movements were so swift and covert that Okcheong failed to notice him despite Sima passing directly over his head. It was an extraordinary concealment technique paired with an equally extraordinary movement art.
The problem was that Sima Hyeon was moving too fast.
Before Yeon Hojeong knew it, Sima had thrown himself between the onrushing Flood Dragon Chain and Yayul Jeok.
Damn it!
Even Yeon Hojeong had not anticipated Sima Hyeon’s sudden action.
CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK!
The Flood Dragon Chain veered aside midway through its flight. Otherwise, it might have punched straight through Sima Hyeon’s torso.
KABOOM!
The Flood Dragon Chain smashed into the ground, throwing up a dense cloud of dust.
THUD! CRACK!
At that moment, Sima Hyeon coughed up blood and staggered backward.
“Urgh!”
Yayul Jeok appeared before him.
A dagger was buried in Yayul Jeok’s chest, and horrifying Killing Intent seeped from his body. He had never imagined that Sima Hyeon would launch a surprise attack against him.
“You... You bastard!”
FWOOSH!
Beast King Evil Qi surged around him like flames.
Though Yeon Hojeong’s ability had caught him off guard and allowed an unexpected attack through, Yayul Jeok had maintained a perfect read on the Flood Dragon Chain’s movements. Just as he moved to counter it, Sima Hyeon’s wholly unforeseen attack had struck him instead.
Had he been circulating Supreme Yin God Qi, the ambush would never have succeeded.
But because his entire body had been filled with Beast King Evil Qi, he had failed to detect Sima Hyeon’s concealment art.
It was a painful mistake.
“You must be desperate to die!”
WHOOSH!
Yayul Jeok lunged at Sima Hyeon like a wild beast.
He intended to kill him in a single blow. The Killing Intent pouring from him was even more vicious than it had been during his battle with Yeon Hojeong.
Amid the chaos—
FLASH!
Yeon Hojeong used Blood-Wing Sweeping Heaven to appear beside Sima Hyeon and thrust a fist at Yayul Jeok.
At the same time, Okcheong swung the Taiji Wisdom Sword at Yayul Jeok’s back. Rather than moving to Sima Hyeon’s side, he had judged that striking Yayul Jeok with lethal force would be more effective.
Four masters targeted one another at a single point.
Yeon Hojeong’s Four Spirit Qi, Yayul Jeok’s Beast King Evil Qi, Okcheong’s Primordial Unity Qi, and Sima Hyeon’s Supreme Yin God Qi collided.
BANG! THUD! KRAAAAAANG!
“GAAAAH!”
“Urk!”
A tremendous shock wave erupted, devastating the surrounding area.
Sima Hyeon flew backward while coughing up blood, and Yeon Hojeong was also driven away with fresh internal injuries.
Okcheong hung limply beneath Yeon Hojeong’s arm, apparently unconscious. The sword in his hand had snapped cleanly in half.
“...Goddamn it!”
WHOOSH!
“GAAAAH!”
With a blood-choked cry, Yayul Jeok fled with the movements of a wounded beast.
Yeon Hojeong moved to pursue him, but Okcheong’s condition was far too grave. His breathing was so faint that it would not have been surprising if he died at any moment.
Yeon Hojeong’s face twisted.
BOOOOM!
He unleashed a long-range palm strike from the Red-Flame Six-Kill Hand and slammed it into Yayul Jeok’s back.
Yayul Jeok coughed up blood and nearly collapsed, only to throw himself forward again. His flight was driven by nothing but the instinct to survive.
“...!”
Yeon Hojeong stared hollowly at the escape route through which Yayul Jeok had disappeared.
Things did not always unfold as intended, but he had never imagined that a man already within his grasp would escape like this.
But that was not what mattered now.
Yeon Hojeong hurriedly checked Okcheong’s pulse.
His eyes trembled.
“Okcheong!”
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