Distorted, Black Dragon King's eyes flashed with a yellowish light.
"This...!"
Struggling to continue speaking due to rising anger, Black Dragon King exerted force into the hand holding the guandao and pushed it away.
*Kwooong!*
Hye Yeon, using both hands to block the guandao, was unable to overcome the force and was pushed back.
"You brats!"
*Quaaah!*
Soon after, the explosive force of Black Dragon King's armed guandao poured down towards Baek Cheon. It was as if a black storm was carrying all the evils of the world, a violent sight.
Baek Cheon's face momentarily lost its color.
"Uuaaaargh!"
But it wasn't Baek Cheon who blocked the blow, it was a young sword master from Mount Hua who leaped forward towards the full force.
*Quaaahng!*
"Yun Jong!"
Red blood gushed from Yun Jong's mouth.
Mount Hua's sword was as light and swift as it could be, but conversely, it wasn't suitable for blocking something.
"Die!"
Black Dragon King shouted furiously as he swung the guandao downwards. Yun Jong's sword was swept away like a leaf in a storm, momentarily pushed back and bounced off.
*Kwooong!*
Another sword flew like an arrow and intercepted Black Dragon King's guandao alongside Yun Jong's sword.
This sword, unlike Yun Jong's Plum Blossom Sword, was noticeably different. It was slightly heavier and shorter than the Plum Blossom Sword, making it look sturdier.
*Kuk!*
"This young warrior!"
Li Songbaek's lips split slightly, blood oozing out. But his sword, though wavering, firmly blocked Black Dragon King's guandao.
And!
*Parararak!*
With a sound like fluttering clothes in the wind, a dark shadow loomed over Black Dragon King's head. Soon, the shadow became as strong as a hunting falcon targeting its prey. It was Yu Yiseol.
*Bang!*
The subsequent torrent of red sword qi rained down!
Black Dragon King's face contorted as he raised the guandao and struck the ground.
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
The sword qi, barely avoided, pierced into the ground where he had stood, leaving a near-missed trail.
The sword qi that hadn't completely missed left a long gash on Black Dragon King's chest, and soon blood began to seep out from there.
"How dare you!"
"What are you babbling about, you evil sect scum."
Before Black Dragon King could explode with rage, a cold and arrogant voice came from behind.
*Hwaaah!*
A white sword qi poured out of Black Dragon King's entire body like a blizzard. It was a sword qi with such a magnificent and flashy movement that it wouldn't even consider blocking it with a large guandao.
*Kwoong!*
At that moment, Black Dragon King opted for a simpler method.
"Ohhhhh!"
The guandao swung broadly sideways.
From the long and broad blade of the guandao, sharp energy spurted out like streams. It was like a black landslide covering the raging snowstorm.
*Quaaaah!*
Black Dragon King, who had blown away the splendid and fierce sword qi, slammed the broad end of the guandao straight into Jin Geumryong's chest.
*Bang!*
Just barely preventing the sword from piercing his chest, Jin Geumryong was pushed back.
"This guy..."
A slight confusion appeared in Jin Geumryong's cold eyes. It was a terrifying power. It was only a brief clash, but his wrist, which held the sword, was already in pain.
If he had reached out with his sword just a moment later, his wrist would have broken, and the guandao would have pierced his chest.
'This is... Black Dragon King.'
Jin Geumryong's face stiffened. Only now did he truly realize who he was fighting against.
The overheated air calmed down for a moment amidst the fierce battle.
With a breathless gasp, Black Dragon King, finding a moment of fleeting calm after the intense battle, looked at the person standing beside him, not an enemy.
"You...".
"Wait, hold on! Black Dragon King! No one...!"
"Shut up!"
*Paaah!*
Black Dragon King's guandao swung down. The head of the terrified individual was separated from their body in an instant, and the blood that had surged towards the sky was now scattered on the ground.
"...You useless fool!"
It was a mistake from the start to have someone sent by Hu Jiaming by his side.
Even though they knew that Black Dragon King was nothing more than a pawn in their hands...
He dismissed it. Even beheading him didn't ease his anger, so he kicked the sprawled corpse away.
*Pwoeek!*
Now that the nuisance had been dealt with, there was no one left to stop him.
Black Dragon King emitted a sinister madness as he glared at those surrounding him.
'Mount Hua... and Southern Edge.'
Nothing more than brats.
But Black Dragon King knew. Just because they were brats didn't mean their swords couldn't pierce him. The belief that the stronger always falls to the even stronger is just a delusion for those who haven't experienced the Martial Arts World.
"So... you brats think you can take my life?"
"Amitabha."
Hye Yeon spoke as the head monk.
"You have committed too many sins. It's time to pay for your sins."
"Sins? Did you just say sins? Hahaha!"
Black Dragon King burst into loud laughter.
"Yes, that's right! I am a sinner. Though it twists my stomach to hear it from a monk stinking of blood, it's true!"
Hye Yeon's complexion stiffened at Black Dragon King's words.
At this moment, it was an undeniable fact that his hands were soaked in the blood of river bandits.
"But you brats! The concept of sin only matters when there is someone who can condemn you. Do you know what the world calls those who commit sins but aren't condemned?"
Black Dragon King struck the ground with the broad end of his guandao, shouting.
"Kings!"
At the same time, an immense energy exploded. It was an internal strength that could make even Hye Yeon, who had trained in Shaolin's pure internal strength, turn pale.
"I am a king! Who dares to condemn me?"
Truly befitting the title of the owner of the Yangtze River.
"But even so, you jackal bastards! Do you think I'd be caught by the likes of you just because I lost an arm?"
Fearless intensity emanated from his piercing gaze.
"That's all you are, jackal bastards! I may have lost an arm, but would I allow myself to be captured by the likes of you?"
His eyes gleamed with a fierce madness.
"Kill them all!"
*Quaaah!*
Black Dragon King charged straight towards Jin Geumryong, his guandao aimed directly at him.
As his waist, which had twisted, forcefully returned to its place, the guandao, now even more elastic, tore through the air with terrifying momentum. It seemed like it would split Jin Geumryong in half any moment.
*Kuk!*
Jin Geumryong retreated with all his strength.
However, Black Dragon King's guandao was not only powerful but also incredibly fast. It was unbelievable that he could swing such a massive weapon at such speed.
Anticipating that his waist would be sliced, Jin Geumryong poured all his internal strength into his sword.
*Kaaaah!*
At the moment of collision in the air between the guandao's end and Jin Geumryong's sword, Jin Geumryong's body was propelled like a bullet.
"Senior brother!"
A cry burst from Li Songbaek's lips, and Baek Cheon's eyes flashed with age.
"Don't let your guard down! The opponent is..."
But in that instant, Baek Cheon couldn't finish his sentence.
Black Dragon King, who had sent Jin Geumryong flying, glanced back at them briefly before throwing himself towards the open path.
He still hadn't given up on the island leader. Or rather, even if he did, he certainly didn't intend to fight them while surrounded.
"What are you doing! You useless fools!"
As Black Dragon King's thunderous roar echoed, the river bandits rushed at them like a tide. Then, Yun Jong, who followed behind Black Dragon King, stood in front of them, risking his life to block the way.
"Protect Black Dragon King!"
"We won't let you pass!"
"Hah!"
Yun Jong's sword, swift like Jo Gol's, pierced through Heo Kong's throat among the river bandits.
But at that moment...
Yun Jong realized. Just a moment ago, Black Dragon King, who had shown his back and fled, was now right in front of him.
"What...?"
*Paaaah!*
Black Dragon King's guandao swung horizontally.
Yun Jong desperately tried to retrieve his sword, but the sword that had been stuck in the river bandit's neck caused a momentary delay due to the bone catching.
*Kuk!*
*pow*
The guandao, which had been slicing through the crumbling river bandits' waists, pierced into Yun Jong's side.
Yun Jong's sword, a breath too late, managed to block in front of him, but it couldn't fully exert its strength.
*Thud!*
With a short, powerful sound, Yun Jong's body was thrown back.
"Ah! Ahh!"
Jo Gol, grimacing, flew towards Yun Jong.
"This bastard... Don't take your eyes off the enemy!"
In a mess, Yun Jong turned his fury towards Jo Gol. But Jo Gol couldn't hear his voice amidst the chaos. Only Yun Jong's side, pouring blood from the gash, was visible.
"Even in this situation...!"
Jo Gol gritted his teeth and quickly applied pressure to Yun Jong's side. Knowledge Tang Soso had instilled in him somehow surfaced.
He even managed to pull out bandages forcibly brought along. Grasping Jo Gol's hand, Yun Jong pushed it away and struggled to rise.
"Senior brother!"
"Later!"
Jo Gol bit his lips firmly.
Black Dragon King could be seen gazing around amidst the river bandits. Compared to others, he stood tall and imposing.
Yun Jong cursed inwardly.
'...Damn it.'
He wanted to curse their cowardice. To condemn their ruthless act of using even their own subordinates' corpses as bait.
But he couldn't. He understood now too. In a battlefield where lives were at stake, there was no righteousness or cowardice.
That wasn't cowardice; it was cunning, and it was also intelligence.
Black Dragon King let out a mocking laugh. The ferocious momentum he had exuded just moments ago seemed entirely false now.
Then he spoke.
"Attack! The target is..."
Black Dragon King scanned his surroundings slowly. His gaze soon stopped on Jo Gol. Or more precisely, on Nangong Dowi riding on his back.
"That guy who's dying."
Immediately, the river bandits roared and rushed forward.
"For heaven's sake!"
"Gol!"
With one hand carrying Nangong Dowi, it was impossible to use internal qi to fend off the river bandits rushing from all sides.
It was then that Baek Cheon and Yu Yiseol reflexively rushed towards Jo Gol.
"You fool!"
In the air, Yu Yiseol's feet lifted off as Black Dragon King swooped down like lightning.
"Senior sister! Ohh!"
*Quaang!*
Her body was thrown backward. But Yu Yiseol was Yu Yiseol. Even amidst that, she swung her sword, and blood spurted from Black Dragon King's wrist.
"Senior sister!"
As Yu Yiseol's body spun in the air, she lowered herself and landed. Streams of blood flowed down her white chin. Her internal organs were rattled by the blow.
"Hmph!"
Black Dragon King flicked away the blood dripping from his wrist.
"If catching up to me would mean nothing but death, did you really think it would be that easy?"
"..."
"This Black Dragon King, did he really seem that easy to deal with? Did you really think the world praised you because of your abilities? You fools who don't even know your place!"
It was a clear mockery and scorn.
Now everyone understood. The one standing here wasn't just a mere demon who used evil for his own gain.
He had survived cunningly through numerous battlefields and had finally risen to become the elder of the Martial Arts World.
"Let me show you what happens to a fox who loses its tiger from behind!"
The river bandits, brimming with killing intent, began to push forward like a black tide.