Episode 1573. Not Just a Fox. (3)
*Swish*
Three arrows streaked towards Jo Gol in a straight line.
Just as the name "Eighteen Bandits of the Yangtze River" implied, their arrows were as swift and sharp as venomous snakes.
But even faster than the sturdy arrows, three black arrows, shining with a white light, flew twice as fast.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Like lightning striking between arrows, the black arrows deflected three of the bandits' arrows simultaneously, piercing their chests.
*Thud*
Without a moment's delay, Jo Gol swiftly moved back, ready to face the next opponent.
"Move aside!"
Jo Gol shouldered the bodies of those already incapacitated, unwilling to waste any time waiting for them to fall.
*Thump!*
Their bodies soared through the air like shields, as Jo Gol dashed towards the bewildered river bandits, unleashing sword qi in every direction.
"Pah!"
His strikes were as swift as lightning, and each one struck with deadly precision.
"Here I come!"
But the bandits were not to be underestimated.
Dozens of long ropes, resembling live snakes, flew towards Jo Gol, each ending in a gruesome hook that gleamed menacingly in the sunlight.
These were the Iron Hook Ropes, grotesque weapons used by the evil sect to capture their prey.
The sight of dozens of these ropes raining down on Jo Gol was akin to seeing a swarm of vipers descending upon a trapped tiger.
However, Jo Gol paid no heed to the Iron Hook Ropes, charging forward without hesitation. Instead, Yun Jong, soaring through the air, swiftly unfolded his sword above Jo Gol's head.
*Swish*
In an instant, the sword cleaved through dozens of ropes, snaring them all.
"Haaah!"
Simultaneously, Yun Jong's sword swung down with tremendous force.
*Woosh!*
The ground trembled beneath the powerful blow, causing the ropes entangled in the sword to thrash wildly like waves crashing against rocks. The force was too much for the bandits, who were impaled on the ends of the ropes, to bear, and they were slammed into the ground.
"Gah!"
The shockwave of impact rippled through them, but before they could even comprehend the pain, Jo Gol's sword descended upon them.
"Keep going!"
"Yes!"
Vividly...
The intricate patterns carved into the hilt of the sword felt as deep as a vast canyon, while the enemy's breath sounded as loud as thunder.
Jo Gol honed his razor-sharp senses even further, poised and ready for action.
*Bang*
His sword struck out once again, disregarding defense and putting everything into the attack.
Arrows and sword qi clashed in the air.
"Arrggh!"
Amidst the sound of branches rustling in the strong wind, Jo Gol's sword qi continued to pierce through the bodies of the river bandits.
Screams of agony and despair echoed throughout the forest.
It was a spectacle created by a single sword qi attack. Truly a refined strike, yet Jo Gol failed to block a single one of the arrows aimed at him.
Yet, there was no hint of fear in his eyes.
"There...!"
In that moment of shock, Li Songbaek, who followed closely behind, gasped.
"That damn guy again!"
With all his might, Yun Jong leaped forward, swiftly intercepting the arrows aimed at Jo Gol. Jo Gol, however, paid Yun Jong no attention, pressing forward without hesitation.
Li Songbaek felt a shiver run down his spine.
'How...'
How could one entrust their life to others without a moment's hesitation? If Yun Jong had been just a moment late, Jo Gol would likely already be dead.
It was a level of trust that seemed unfathomable to a sane mind. Could a person truly trust someone to that extent?
The profound bond of trust between them generated an incredibly powerful force.
"Argh!"
"Ugh!"
As the forest erupted into chaos, with the clash of swords and the cries of battle echoing around him, Li Songbaek's face contorted involuntarily.
While those ahead were defeating their enemies, he could only follow behind. It wasn't due to a lack of skill in the lightness technique. It was simply that he couldn't react to the overwhelming power displayed by them.
Yet, paradoxically, amidst all this, hope began to bloom.
'Yes, this is it!'
This time, it was truly the Black Dragon King!
As Li Songbaek looked ahead with hope in his heart, the Black Dragon King, observing Jo Gol and his martial arts, sneered and leaped back.
"Ah..."
Li Songbaek's eyes widened.
He charges, only to retreat. It's a blatant maneuver.
But in that moment, Li Songbaek couldn't help but feel it. The retreat, which amounted to nothing more than running away, made him ponder why it was treated as a single tactic among numerous martial arts.
A single step back, after drawing the opponent in as much as possible. That single retreat, so timely that it bordered on despair, momentarily broke Li Songbaek's resolve.
Those who remained in the spot where the Black Dragon King had retreated were visible. No, not just that, the river bandits were crowding into that space even more.
Pushed by the swirling yellow dust, the river bandits clad in blue surged forward. In Li Songbaek's mind, a single word surfaced momentarily.
River (강). It's like a giant river.
Even though this was clearly land, the Black Dragon King was using his subordinates to transform it into the most familiar form of battlefield.
In the overwhelming spectacle, Li Songbaek found himself holding his breath.
"Gol!"
"Yes!"
The two of them leaped into the river, facing the surging river bandits head-on.
It was like a bear lifting its front paws towards an approaching cart. But unlike the hesitant Li Songbaek, there was no trace of hesitation in the movements of the two.
"Foolish...!"
"Amitabha Buddha!"
At that moment, a thunderous Buddhist prayer erupted from beside Li Songbaek.
"Ahhhh!"
Hye Yeon's robe began to billow as if about to burst.
It was not the robe symbolizing Shaolin nor a complete robe of Mount Hua. It was a patched robe made from the black robe of Mount Hua.
Hye Yeon reached out firmly.
Wuuuuuuu!
Gradually, the golden radiance extended like a cocoon around Jo Gol and Yun Jong.
Supreme Power.
It gently but firmly pushed back the river bandits who had been trying to overwhelm Jo Gol and Yun Jong. The golden brilliance pushed them away like a tide on the Yangtze River.
"Ugh!"
"M-Missed... Ugh!"
The unexpected attack left the enemies reeling. In that opening, Jo Gol's sword flashed.
*Thud*
Those pierced through the chest fell, spraying blood as they collapsed.
'Will it work?'
No. There's no reason to entertain such thoughts, no need to doubt.
Just keep moving forward. Even if Jo Gol's sword doesn't reach the Black Dragon King, it doesn't matter. If he collapses from exhaustion, those behind him will surely open the way.
So, onward!
*Bang*
Jo Gol's movements became faster and faster.
Body and sword as one. The state where sword and body become one.
Jo Gol's body, transcending even that state, began to accelerate like the sword he wielded. Unlike the struggling Yun Jong, there was no hesitation in the movements of the two.
*Bang*
Sword qi split into dozens in an instant.
It wasn't the fluttering sword qi of Mount Hua. It was sword qi that scattered like plum blossoms but did not flutter, shooting out like arrows. It was the sword of Mount Hua, and also Jo Gol's own.
Just as the Black Dragon King hesitated and moved back again.
"Haah!"
Jo Gol accelerated once more, charging towards the Black Dragon King like his own sword qi.
"Hup!"
Startled, the Black Dragon King swung his guandao.
Clang!
In that moment, Jo Gol's sword pierced through the ankle of the airborne Black Dragon King. Like an arrow shot towards an eagle in flight!
"Kuk!"
The Black Dragon King jerked, twisting his body. He resembled a fish struck by an arrow.
"No-oom!"
Swung!
The Black Dragon King swung his guandao diagonally, lifting Jo Gol by the ankle.
Jo Gol's body floated into the air.
In that moment!
"Take this!"
From behind Jo Gol, Yun Jong emerged like a shadow, springing up unexpectedly. With one hand, he grabbed Jo Gol's ankle mid-air, while simultaneously unleashing dozens of strikes from his Plum Blossom Sword towards the Black Dragon King.
As Black Dragon King swung his guandao fiercely, attempting to deflect all the sword qi, Yun Jong's Plum Blossom Sword found its way through the gaps the cumbersome guandao couldn't block, piercing through like a mist.
*squeak* *squeak* *squeak*
Large gashes appeared on the massive figure, spraying lines of blood into the air.
"This rat boy!"
Black Dragon King snarled, pulling back his guandao. The curving blade emanated a dense misty aura as it swung through the air.
"Ooooh!"
In an instant, the guandao, which had been tautly drawn back, soared through the air towards Yun Jong and Jo Gol, slicing fiercely.
"Uwaaaah!"
Fear gripped them, causing every hair on their bodies to stand on end.
Yet, Li Songbaek embraced that fear, hurling himself forward instead of retreating. It was his role, his path not to flee even in the face of potential defeat.
Kwaaaang!
Li Songbaek's sword collided head-on with the guandao of the Black Dragon King. Blood gushed momentarily from the seven orifices, and the shock of impact reverberated through his entire body.
But even with a sword wielded with such determination, it only momentarily slowed the Black Dragon King's advance. And into this fleeting gap, a monk dressed in black robes pursued, thrusting forward.
Kuuuuung!
His fist, filled with all his strength, struck against the majestic blade of the guandao.
Kwaaaaa!
The fierce impact from the blade's end barely missed Jo Gol and Yun Jong, grazing past them in a hair-raising manner. They narrowly escaped.
"This...!"
Kwuung!
The excited Black Dragon King's powerful strike landed fiercely on Hye Yeon's side.
Despite crossing his arms and attempting to block with his flying kick, he was still pushed aside by three steps.
"These damn dogs!"
A vicious hatred blazed in the eyes of the Black Dragon King.
But even in the midst of escalating anger, the cunning fox did not lose his sanity. Instead of rushing further, he immediately struck the ground. They had to get out of there.
*swish*
But at that moment, a sharp sound pierced the air from behind. Startled, the Black Dragon King instinctively twisted his body.
*squeak*
A searing pain, like an earthquake in his spine, spread throughout his back.
Quietly yet fiercely, Yu Yiseol's sword had carved a long and deep wound into the back of the Black Dragon King.
Simultaneously, as if in agreement with a pre-arranged plan, Jo Gol and Yun Jong twisted their bodies and propelled downwards towards Heo Kong.
"Oooh!"
Reactively, Black Dragon King swung his guandao.
*crash*
As desperation heightened, instinct faithfully responded to the perceived threat. The guandao perfectly intercepted Jo Gol's sword, shimmering like a ray of light.
But on the opposite side, Yun Jong's strong sword couldn't be entirely blocked.
Thud!
Yun Jong's Plum Blossom Sword plunged into the hollow of his shoulder.
Despite piercing through flesh and bone, it sounded like a hammer breaking bones. The sound reverberated not through the air but through the bodies.
The internal strength that pierced through his body via the sword twisted within the Black Dragon King's body. Blood rushed back, staining his lips a deep red in an instant.
"Black Dragon aaaargh!"
At that moment, with Nangong Dowi's support, Baek Cheon charged straight at the Black Dragon King.
The once-clouded eyes of the Black Dragon King suddenly refocused.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
The muscles of the Black Dragon King tensed. Eventually, his massive guandao fell towards Baek Cheon's forehead, ignoring the attacks of others completely.
It was such a powerful blow that everyone froze in shock.
"You fool!"
Kaaaang!
And the one who blocked that blow was none other than the Southern Edge's sword. Jin Geumryong poured all his internal strength into the short blade.
Having blocked and countered the Black Dragon King's guandao, Jin Geumryong spewed blood from his mouth and was pushed back, crashing onto the ground.
Amidst the blood flying in the air, Baek Cheon and the Black Dragon King locked eyes fiercely.
Paaaang!
The sword, drenched in all the blood spilled by both sides and in the struggle to open a path, slashed through Heo Kong like a ray of light.
Thud!
It echoed in everyone's ears.
Like the claw of a bird that lost its wings, it pierced through the Black Dragon's spine fiercely.