*bang*
*bang*
He watched as heads exploded one after another.
The flickering blue flames seemed more dangerous and deadly than they appeared, extending beyond mere sight, and their sensation felt more lethal.
Like something alive, they swayed in unexpected directions, cutting through everything in their path and contorting every body within their range.
Cheongyeom killing energy. Jang Ilso's unique martial arts.
As befitting the renowned skill of Jang Ilso, who had engaged in countless battles, his martial arts proved truly formidable when surrounded by enemies on the battlefield.
Kaaah!
The flickering flames deflected the flying sword. Simultaneously, they plunged into the opponent's chest, ruthlessly, like the claws of a dragon.
*pow*
The chest tore apart entirely, blood spraying forward. The merciless flames even crushed the back of the falling figure.
Peuseok!
The flames swayed and spread like dancing in ecstasy.
"Jang Ilso!"
A sword as swift as lightning extended towards Jang Ilso's face.
Remaining calm, Jang Ilso casually tilted his head, taking a step forward.
*thud*
A massive hand seized the face of the one who had wielded the sword.
Kwaaak!
Followed by a tremendous force, the face distorted in agony as Jang Ilso's grip tightened.
"Gah... Gck..."
"Remember."
Peuseok!
With a gentle remark, Jang Ilso completely crushed the man's face.
"To those stronger than me."
Paaat!
Jang Ilso's sleeve fluttered dramatically. The man, aiming for him, fell, his neck sliced by the sleeve's edge.
Puuuut!
Blood sprayed, creating a thick mist around Jang Ilso. It was a scene of such cruelty that it seemed hardly believable in this world.
"It's not about charging head-on."
Amidst the crimson mist, Jang Ilso grinned slyly.
Paaat!
The man who lunged at him fell, landing in the middle of his allies. His robe fluttered like the wings of a red butterfly.
*thud*
Like a lightning bolt, his fist pierced through the chest of a Peng Family member wielding a sword. Though his blood-soaked fist protruded from the back, Jang Ilso whispered into the ear of the falling Peng Family member.
"Did that... hurt?"
*bang*
Jang Ilso might be quite merciful. With a swift swing, his arm, streaked with lightning, cleaved through the body of the Peng Family member, ending his life.
Once again, hot blood scattered in the air.
*woosh*
Yet, the crazed swords aimed at him did not lose momentum, heading towards a deathly encounter.
In fact, five swords, brimming with internal strength, seemed poised to carve Jang Ilso into pieces in an instant.
*crash* Kaga gang!
But as they flew towards him, the swords collided with Jang Ilso's wrist, precisely with his reinforced accessory, bouncing off. His muscular forearm, thicker and larger than most, easily blocked the blades.
"Die!"
However, neither the Peng Family nor the cave's sword masters retreated. Before them stood Jang Ilso, dazzlingly bright. Ripe, ready to fall at any moment, like a ripe fruit.
Like madmen, dozens of soldiers charged towards Jang Ilso, exuding malice.
The corners of Jang Ilso's mouth twisted cruelly.
"Not enough."
Paaaat!
At that moment, dozens of threads of energy shot out from his fingertips.
"Crack!"
"Kuuuuaaaah!"
The shock of something piercing through bodies. Those with pierced heads fell instantly, while those with pierced bodies screamed in unbearable agony.
Something plunged into their bodies, violently rotating and twisting everything inside.
*crash*
Finally, the things that had pierced through bodies emerged, bouncing off the rocks on the ground and soaring into the air. Everyone momentarily forgot to breathe, gazing at the glittering rings entwined with flesh and blood.
"That's the degree of it!"
Whiiiiing!
Jang Ilso shouted loudly, sweeping his hand horizontally.
From the elongated nails grew sharp claws akin to those of young demons, swiftly slicing through the bodies writhing in agony.
Flesh scattered, and crimson blood poured forth. Jang Ilso, adorned with unmistakable traces of slaughter and death, burst into laughter as if he couldn't contain himself.
"Hahaha! Hahaha! Slaughtered like pigs, you bastards! Ahahaha! Come on! Come at me more! Bring it on!"
A martial art beyond anyone's imagination.
Mercilessness that spared no opponent.
Laughter and mockery pouring forth endlessly.
With the addition of complexity, everything about Jang Ilso prevented anyone from looking away from him. Once one laid eyes on him, there were only two choices.
To either succumb to his madness and die, or to sever that madness clinging to him with one's own hands.
Infected by Jang Ilso's madness, the Peng Family's swords plummeted towards him. Or perhaps, what was reflected in their eyes was fear.
The fear one feels when faced with an endless abyss, where there's no end in sight. That darkness.
"Huaaaaa!"
The Peng Family member spasmodically swung his sword.
Kaaang! *squeak*
However, the outcome was unexpected.
His sword was deflected by Jang Ilso's accessory, barely causing a scratch. But it did inflict a visible, deep wound on Jang Ilso's body, drawing crimson blood.
"Ah... Ah?"
Chaeng!
The sword lodged in his arm instantly turned red-hot, accompanied by a sharp metallic sound. The broken blade's tip remained embedded in the man's neck.
Though no different from the deaths of others under Jang Ilso's hand, it was undeniably distinct.
That blow remained vividly etched in everyone's eyes.
If they were of the Peng lineage, they would remember the name of the one who inflicted such a grievous wound upon Jang Ilso. That's what honor meant!
As despair slowly engulfed them, flames surged once again in their chests.
"Ooooo!"
Those who had mustered courage... no, desire, rushed towards Jang Ilso, their eyes filled with determination.
Swords clashed, again and again. Blades and more blades. Daggers upon daggers, the only intention behind them was malice. Far removed from any righteous sect, they shouted, their malice thick and stubborn.
"That's right."
Jang Ilso looked at the products of malice hurtling towards him with a twisted face. A face filled with endless delight, yet also with boundless disgust.
"This is it."
Kwaaaang!
As he stomped his foot, the accessories that had been thrown away returned, piercing through the bodies of those rushing towards him like pieces of paper.
"Kraaaack!"
Their bodies bore only fist-sized holes. Terrible screams echoed. Blood sprayed like fireworks, splattering Jang Ilso's white face.
"Aaaah!"
Even in agony, some filled with venom refused to give up. Swords flew, slicing through Jang Ilso's cheek, while a large blade peeled off a chunk of his shoulder.
Yet, Jang Ilso showed no sign of pain, his expression unchanged. He only grinned with a face full of madness.
Those who charged forward, those who collapsed in agony, those swept away without even knowing what they were doing.
All of them surged towards Jang Ilso, tangled like chunks of meat.
"Hahaha!"
Jang Ilso burst into laughter.
These were the so-called righteous sects that had criticized and mocked him. Fancily perched up high, laughing at the struggles of the world, those damn fuckers.
Tck!
Jang Ilso's hand gripped the distorted face of his opponent.
Why?
The reason they could look down on everyone so arrogantly was simply because everyone already possessed what they desired.
If they too developed a craving, they were no different from the dirty scavengers of the world.
Paaaat!
From the hem of Jang Ilso's sleeve, a vicious true qi surged. The sleeve that had drawn a fair line through the world sliced through those surrounding him in half.
Meanwhile, Jang Ilso observed closely.
The eyes boiling with hatred gradually fading into despair. The eyes of those refusing to acknowledge their fate of floundering here and dying, cooling into nothingness.
Loneliness, emptiness, fear, sadness. Various emotions filled the air, each distinct in its own way.
Yet amidst all those gazes, there lingered an undying desire in one corner.
Jang Ilso had seen it countless times before, and he would see it again in the future. As long as he lived, what he witnessed wouldn't change.
The crimson silk shoes trod slowly over the fallen bodies and the empty spaces they left behind. Cold feet pressed indifferently against the cooling cheeks of the fallen.
It was merely a step forward.
But others could read much more into that single step. The cruelty of treating the dead as mere flesh, a chilling indifference to what had already cooled, and the leisure of a predator embedded within.
"Why do they do this?" Jang Ilso raised his hand slowly.
Blood from his wounds mixed with that of others, dripping down.
As he touched his cheek with his fingers, the red marks seemed to blur and distort.
Watching the hesitance of those around him, Jang Ilso smiled ghostly. Then he whispered,
"I am here. Hurry and kill me if you want. What you desire."
In that moment,
*swish*
Over a dozen shadows, black as night, surged over the tangled bodies. In that fleeting moment, Jang Ilso's eyes gleamed. This opposition was different. They weren't the indecisive ones he had dealt with before.
"Attack!"
The crimson Taoist and the scarlet sword Qi rushed fiercely towards Jang Ilso.
Instead of confronting them directly, Jang Ilso quickly evaded backwards.
Clang! Clang!
The pouring energy roughened the ground beneath Jang Ilso's feet, sweeping only the fallen bodies mercilessly aside.
"Huh?"
Jang Ilso's eyes flashed for a moment.
Twang!
His retrieved rings flew once more towards Heo Kong as if tearing through space.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
But this time, the opponents were not unprepared. The Cave and Peng Family elites, already aware of Jang Ilso's tactics, deflected the rings as expected.
However, the elders of the Cave wielding swords were pushed back by the aftermath. Their swords being lighter compared to the Dao, it was inevitable.
Thanks to this, the elite members of the Peng Family, like tigers, rushed towards Jang Ilso.
The moment Jang Ilso's eyes emitted a piercing killing intent!
Whooosh!
Suddenly, Jang Ilso's body was thrown backward.
"Ah!"
"What, what?"
The elite members of the Peng Family, who were charging forward, paused in confusion.
What appeared after the sudden shock was a golden authority.
Due to its incredible speed, it seemed as if Jang Ilso had been thrown back alone, a characteristic of Shaolin's unique bright authority.
"A―mi―ta―bha!"
A resounding Buddhist prayer shook the earth and sky.
Gradually, a person descended where Jang Ilso had been standing.
"Abbot!"
"Abbot!"
Those who were retreating in fear and those who were seizing the opportunity stared in astonishment at Beok Jeong.
However, Beok Jeong paid no attention to them, focusing solely on the fallen Jang Ilso. His gaze was heavy and dark.
"Tyrant, cease your hand."
It was an extremely awkward scene.
With bodies and weapons entangled, and Jang Ilso lying sprawled on the ground, soaked in red, it didn't fit at all.
"Huh..."
Soon, a disappointed sigh escaped from Jang Ilso's lips.
Slowly rising, he dragged one leg and sat down. With a sluggish posture, he looked at Beok Jeong in front of him and spoke.
"This... "
A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
"Is your honor tarnished?"
A flash of killing intent flickered in Jang Ilso's eyes.
Shaolin's abbot, Beok Jeong.
The leader of Myriad Man House, Jang Ilso.
It was the moment when the two collided fiercely on the blood-soaked ground.