Ghk!

The leader of the Death-Soul Team, Gyeongsan, was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out.

PABABABAK!

With a single Narrow-Edge Blade, he knocked away every flying shard of stone and splinter of wood.

It was extraordinary swordsmanship. To deflect that many stones and wooden fragments not with cuts, but with a Narrow-Edge Blade specialized for thrusting, meant his swordsmanship had reached a profound level.

And that was not all.

The entire Death-Soul Team consisted of masters of the sword. On top of that, they cultivated a special Inner Qi art that let them recover spent Inner Qi with only a few breaths, and they had mastered martial arts specialized in force dispersion, allowing them to shatter even the most powerful techniques.

In other words, the Death-Soul Team was a martial force specialized for fighting masters.

And until now, the Death-Soul Team had never once failed a mission.

But the situation now was bad.

The ones they were facing were not masters rampaging about in blind faith in their own strength, but an army.

FEEEEEEWNG! PUUUK!

He could not even see it.

An iron coin shot through the darkness and pierced straight through a Death-Soul Team member’s skull.

It was terrifying archery. Gyeongsan shouted.

“There’s an archer! Close the distance and kill the archer first—!”

PUUUK!

A single spear sent another Death-Soul Team member flying.

The power was truly terrifying. The charge of a warhorse, combined with the spear technique of the foremost lay master trained in the higher martial arts of the Emei Sect, boasted lethal force in and of itself.

And she was not the only one.

CHACHACHACHANG!

The spear techniques of ten spearmen sweeping forward as one body unleashed tremendous destructive force.

It was the spear assault of an advancing army, the charge of the Emei Sect spear-wielders led by Song Yeongyeong. A shower of Demon-Sweeping Spears crashing down from horseback was forcing the entire Death-Soul Team backward.

Terrifying power. Martial arts overflowing with Killing Intent.

“Spread out!”

At Gyeongsan’s shout, the Death-Soul Team split wide to left and right.

KWARURURUNG!

Just as Gyeongsan was about to issue the next attack order, his breath caught in his throat.

Behind the spearmen pressing forward through the center, more than forty riders had split into two perfectly equal groups and were charging in. The warhorses’ movements were instantaneous, as if they had known in advance the Death-Soul Team would divide that way.

HOOOOOOOONG! 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

A light that brightened the darkness radiated chilling Killing Intent.

Every single one of them had poured extreme True Qi into their weapons. The keen edges of blades and swords gleamed in the moonlight, brilliantly illuminating the broad mountain path.

Mookbi shouted.

“Charge!”

HIIIIIHIIIIIHIIIING!

Together with a neigh that seemed to shake heaven and earth, the soldiers all swung their weapons at once.

JJEOJEOJEOJEONG! KWAANG!

The corners of Gyeongsan’s eyes twitched.

Strong!

The members of the Death-Soul Team gathered in small groups and either shattered or deflected the enemy’s attacks.

And yet they were still being pushed back. The force crashing down on them was so overwhelming that perfect defense was impossible.

Damn it! The terrain...!

They had clashed in the worst possible place. The Death-Soul Team had been climbing along a mountain path, while the suddenly appearing Evil-Smiting Corps was smashing down on them from above.

No matter how formidable the Death-Soul Team was, they could not possibly bring out ten-tenths of their strength on unfavorable terrain.

Then it happened.

Killing Intent?

Gyeongsan instinctively ducked his head.

FIIIIIWNG! PUK! KWAANG!

It was a moment that made his skin crawl.

An iron coin that grazed Gyeongsan’s hair pierced through a Death-Soul Team member’s chest, then flew on and even destroyed the base of the tree behind him.

At power so absurd it left him speechless, Gyeongsan could only click his tongue.

This is too strong. What kind of archery in the world is this...?!

KWARURURUNG!

“KRAAAH!”

At last, a scream rang out.

It was not from the Evil-Smiting Corps. It burst from the mouth of a Death-Soul Team member.

SHK!

Yeoguk, who had driven a sword into one member of the Death-Soul Team’s chest, instantly severed his neck as well.

It was a clean sword strike overflowing with Killing Intent. The martial arts of Kunlun, called a sacred ground of blade arts, were unfolding as lethal killing moves.

Gyeongsan screamed.

“What the hell are you all doing?! If it’s group combat, you’re no worse than they are!”

At that instant, the eyes of the Death-Soul Team members changed.

PAAAAAK!

They scattered at frightening speed.

Some ran up the trees, some leaped high into the air, and some burrowed deep into the ground.

The Death-Soul Team, which had lost its composure at the enemy’s sudden appearance, finally began showing skill worthy of its nickname as a unit of death. Scattered apart, they each swung their Narrow-Edge Blades at the Evil-Smiting Corps.

Just then—

PIPIPIPIPING! PUH-BUH-BUH-BUH-BUK!

“KRAK!”

“Ghk!”

Seven Death-Soul Team members who had been about to launch attacks from above spat blood and were blown backward.

A cold light burst from Mookbi’s eyes.

“How dare you.”

Formless Shot, Sevenfold Rapid Fire.

It was a higher realm technique that fired invisible arrows using Inner Qi. It could not produce the same power as a real arrow, but its destructive force was more than enough, and above all, it had the advantage of rapid fire.

“Cough!”

The Death-Soul Team members hurled back through the air coughed up blood again.

Not one of them had died.

But not a single one had avoided internal injury, either.

Gyeongsan’s face twisted viciously.

Mookbi shouted.

“Stop holding back and kill every last one of them!”

KWARURURUNG!

After the divine archery came a cavalry charge overflowing with destructive force. The soldiers of the Evil-Smiting Corps spread out individually and swung their weapons at the members of the Death-Soul Team.

JJEOJEOJEOJEONG! KWAANG! PUUUK!

The power was terrifying.

They had been strong before as well, but the Evil-Smiting Corps now was different from what it had once been.

Whatever sort of training they had undergone over the past few months, even in mountain warfare, where mobility should have put them at a disadvantage, they were naturally overwhelming their enemies.

It was truly perfect unity between man and horse. It was as if they had assumed mounted warfare from the first moment they began learning martial arts. They fought like veteran warriors seasoned by a hundred battles.

KIIIIING!

A Narrow-Edge Blade thrust out by a Death-Soul Team member struck Yunho’s shoulder guard and bounced away.

It was not luck. Yunho had twisted his body with exquisite timing and blocked the Narrow-Edge Blade with the shoulder guard itself.

The Death-Soul Team member’s eyes widened.

Yunho’s sword erupted.

CHWAAAAAAAK!

A grotesquely sharp sword strike ripped the Death-Soul Team member’s body into five pieces.

The power of a charging warhorse, a refined killing art, and the Inner Qi of Mount Hua combined into something against which force dispersion meant nothing. The Death-Soul Team’s strength was its quick reactions and strong coordination, but scattered apart like this, it could no longer bring that strength to bear properly.

PUUUK!

Cheokgang’s brutal sword strike blew off a Death-Soul Team member’s arm and leg in one blow.

KWAAAAANG!

Dongho’s Bamboo Leaf Hand, aimed at an opening, crushed a Death-Soul Team member’s face.

It was a relentless chain of savage attacks.

But there was no wavering in their eyes. Before anyone realized it, they had all changed that much.

Cheokgang, who had once been nothing but boundless passion. Dongho, who used to retch at the smell of blood. Yunho, who had always been overflowing with mischief.

All of them had transformed into killing fiends of the battlefield. No matter what their real personalities were, in combat they moved like murder machines concerned only with how best to butcher the enemy.

HWAAAAAAK!

An aura-wave blazing like fire unleashed a tyrannical storm that looked capable of smashing apart the mountain itself.

KWAAAAANG!

Three Death-Soul Team members were blown backward by a mighty saber strike swung sideways.

It was martial power of monstrous strength, an iron-blooded saber art. It was the scene created by Peng Manho’s giant blade.

“You bastards...!”

Peng Manho was not like the other soldiers.

His face was twisted to the limit, and his eyes, burning like fire, looked exactly like those of a demon.

“How dare you touch my brother!!”

That was right.

The Evil-Smiting Corps could originally have killed the enemy more efficiently than this. But right now, they were placing more emphasis on raw force and savage attacks than on efficiency.

Because they were angry.

A cold anger they did not show on the outside, one they were swallowing down again and again. It was because the Death-Soul Team had tried to kill Yeon Hojeong.

Their first impression of him had not been very good, but to them now, Yeon Hojeong was more than a mere superior. The Evil-Smiting Corps existed because of him, and because of that, every single soldier in it had gained precious experience as a true master.

To them, Yeon Hojeong truly was a commander worthy of being called commander.

And now strange bastards from who-knew-where had been chasing after him, declaring they would kill him.

Of course they could ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) not suppress their rage.

Peng Manho shouted.

“I’ll crush every last one of you!”

The giant blades, spears, and raging force swept over the Death-Soul Team.

KWARURURUNG! KWAAAAANG!

The Death-Soul Team certainly was no ordinary force either.

Even scattered apart and unable to display their full strength, they were still one of the elite units under Ink Dragon Manor. Even without deliberately unleashing Four Spirit Qi, they were opponents whom even Yeon Hojeong, of all people, had not managed to annihilate even after half a shichen.

“Kill them! Kill them!”

“Don’t get pushed back! Hold the line!”

“What the hell are you doing?! Target the horses!”

It was an unexpectedly fierce close battle. The Death-Soul Team too was a unit of death moving under Yangcheon’s orders. There was no way they would collapse so easily.

Then Red Lotus Bow in Mookbi’s hands spat threatening flames.

PUUUK! PUUUK!

In a chaotic melee like this, the power wielded by an archer of Mookbi’s level was more than enough to tip the scales.

With careful strikes, one after another, she had already blown apart the heads of five Death-Soul Team members.

The attacks were so fast and sharp there was no chance to use force dispersion at all. To the Death-Soul Team, Mookbi might even have been a harder opponent to deal with than Yeon Hojeong.

Then it happened.

“You bitch!”

HWOOK!

Mookbi’s eyes flashed.

Before she knew it, Gyeongsan had closed to right in front of her. Had he used some kind of stealth art? She had not sensed him at all until he got this close.

“Die!”

At that instant, Mookbi’s body moved with dazzling grace.

KWAANG!

“Ugh!”

Gyeongsan staggered backward five full steps.

With one hand on the reins and the other gripping the horse’s head, she had unleashed a kicking art. To use a kicking art with that much power atop a swaying warhorse was hard to believe even while seeing it.

Then Mookbi drew the bowstring.

TATATATATANG!

Five Formless Shots exploded through the ground and trees.

Gyeongsan was no mere squad leader, either. His movement technique as he dodged every single one of Mookbi’s Formless Shots and kept closing in was exquisite enough to draw admiration.

HUK!

Closing again, Gyeongsan aimed for Mookbi’s leg.

A fiery light blazed in Mookbi’s eyes.

JJEOOOOOEONG!

Gyeongsan’s eyes widened.

The Narrow-Edge Blade that should have pierced straight through Mookbi’s thigh had been blocked by something and was knocked backward.

An arrow?

No. It was not an arrow.

Gyeongsan hurriedly checked Mookbi’s hand and his mouth fell open.

A spear?!

That was right.

At some point, Mookbi had slung Red Lotus Bow across her back, and in her hand was a short spear.

It was not the long spear used by the Emei Sect spear-wielders. The short spear, only four feet long, looked almost too short at first glance, but that made it light and flexible.

Mookbi spoke in a cold voice.

“You thought you’d have a chance if you got in close?”

“...You bitch!”

Mookbi thrust the short spear powerfully.

HWOOK! JJEOOOOOEONG!

Gyeongsan ground his teeth.

What kind of Inner Qi is this?!

The power driving through the weapon was monstrous.

His force dispersion was not working properly. Judging by her Inner Qi alone—no, by her skill as a whole—it was as troublesome as facing a Transcendent Peak master.

Mookbi shouted sharply.

“Stop wasting time and kill them all! We didn’t come here just to vent our anger!”

At her commanding cry, all the eyes of the Evil-Smiting Corps flashed.

KWAAAAANG!

The Evil-Smiting Corps changed its mindset and concentrated on annihilation in the shortest possible time.

As they drove the Death-Soul Team back with dazzling charges, the momentum of the Death-Soul Team, which had only just begun responding properly, became precarious in an instant, as if swept away by a wave.

PUK! PUUUK! SHK!

One by one, the Death-Soul Team members fell dead.

In the end, Gyeongsan had to make a decision.

That order he had absolutely not wanted to give—now he had no choice but to issue it.

“Everyone, retre—!”

Just then, a cold voice rang out.

“That won’t happen.”

CHWARURURURURUK! PUUUK!

A chain flying in at terrifying speed pierced straight through Gyeongsan’s lower abdomen.

“Kuheok!”

As Gyeongsan dropped to his knees with a groan, a young man appeared before him with a giant axe resting on his shoulder.

Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps. Martial Commander of the Four Spirits.

Only now had the general of death, whose savage title suited him far better than the name Yeon Hojeong, truly regained his strength.

“You’ve seen my face. I can’t let you live.”

Mookbi instantly threw the short spear.

PUUUK!

The short spear buried itself in Gyeongsan’s chest.