Chapter 57
Tangled Fates
Ihwan watched as figures pushed through the forest.
About fifty of them, perhaps?
“If they’re advancing so openly, they must be confident.”
He calmly issued his orders.
“Everyone, fall back and form a formation.”
The guards quickly arranged themselves. Though everyone gripped their swords tightly, most were visibly tense.
Wang Jikyung asked nervously,
“Are they the ones sent by the Hwangryong Guild?”
“Most likely.”
“Can we stop them?”
“Just watch.”
“Please, make sure to stop them at all costs!”
Wang Jikyung’s voice trembled violently.
Cheol Muok glanced at Ihwan.
“Hold position.”
“Yes.”
Ihwan scrutinized the approaching figures, then immediately spotted Sangsan Hyeoldo. Though masked, Ihwan remembered his grand sword clearly from their first encounter at the mansion.
“Found him?”
“Yes. He’s moving from behind. Leave him to me.”
Ihwan understood Cheol Muok’s intention. Warriors using the same weapon often sought to measure each other’s strength.
“Stay vigilant, Muok.”
“Yes.”
Swish.
Ihwan slowly drew his sword, dismounted, and stepped forward.
“Protect the dignitary.”
“Yes!”
The guards formed a protective circle around Wang Jikyung.
Wang Jikyung shouted at Ihwan,
“You should stay by my side!”
“There are too many opponents. We must reduce their numbers quickly. Do not worry, nothing will happen.”
“…!”
Ihwan advanced, flanked by three from the Do-Wang lineage. Glancing at them, he gave a faint smile.
“Shall we see how skilled you really are?”
The forest swayed in the wind.
Gomi watched the tense scene unfold, her anxiety rising.
‘Can they hold out?’
The enemy’s numbers were overwhelming, especially with Sangsan Hyeoldo leading them, a renowned expert.
On Ihwan’s side, most of the guards remained around Wang Jikyung, leaving fewer to confront the attackers. Gomi observed Ihwan stepping forward. His calm, serene expression betrayed no hint of worry.
‘What could he possibly be relying on to remain so composed?’
She moved closer, preparing to intervene if necessary, subtly raising her sword.
Click.
At that moment, Gomi felt a strange sensation from behind and quickly turned. A lone figure stood atop a towering tree.
‘Who is that? One of the Hwangryong Guild’s?’
A casual voice whispered in her ear:
“Do not concern yourself with them. They are not your problem.”
The wandering swordsman diverted his gaze from Gomi to the imminent battle.
His deeply set eyes soon fixed on Ihwan.
‘Completely at ease.’
He then observed Cheol Muok beside him, who showed no hint of tension either.
‘With such a strong opponent there, even a master will have to use their special techniques. That will reveal their true identity.’
He crossed his arms, leaning against a branch.
Whoosh!
A strong wind shook the trees, and the fight began.
Five glowing orbs shot high into the sky.
The leading masked figures hesitated mid-step. Sangsan Hyeoldo’s cold command followed:
“Strike!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The masked assailants charged simultaneously. The orbs descended at incredible speed.
Thud! Thump!
Four fell instantly, while one staggered, bleeding from the shoulder.
Ihwan smiled faintly.
‘Not bad at all.’
Whirr…
His sword resonated with energy, though no aura formed along the blade.
Flash!
Cheol Muok’s sword erupted with a dazzling light. He did not revert his weapon to its previous form.
Bang!
The one who tried to block him was sent flying like a severed kite. This signaled the three from the Do-Wang lineage to simultaneously engage.
Clang! Crack!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
Ihwan did not advance but watched those retreating. Some tried to attack him, but breaking through was impossible.
The initial clash displayed the overwhelming disparity in strength. Wang Jikyung, tense and observing the combined might of Ihwan, Cheol Muok, and the others, laughed strangely.
“Heh heh heh.”
Even the guards were stunned.
“Wow! They’re that strong…”
“Seems even stronger than before.”
Cheol Muok remained the most visually striking, delivering overwhelmingly destructive blows.
At that moment, someone charged Cheol Muok from behind. With incredible speed, he swung his sword and struck the opponent’s grand blade.
Crash!
A torrent of dirt and mud erupted like a waterfall. The nearby masked assailants scattered, yet one failed to evade, collapsing in blood.
Cheol Muok regarded the attacker with cold indifference. The eyes visible through the mask twitched nervously, shocked he had not been pushed back.
Cheol Muok smiled.
“You seem very startled.”
“What are you?”
“If you’re curious, why don’t you ask me yourself?”
Bang!
Cheol Muok struck first.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Four rapid exchanges followed. Cheol Muok attacked while Sangsan Hyeoldo struggled defensively.
None dared approach them. The flying mud acted like lightning in its chaotic eruption.
Shhhaa!
Sangsan Hyeoldo was pushed back.
‘Impossible!’
His eyes shook violently. Cheol Muok approached, and two masked figures had their necks sliced, flying through the air.
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
Cheol Muok lifted his sword and muttered coldly:
“Sangsan produced an exceptional expert? Disappointing.”
Bang!
Sangsan Hyeoldo gritted his teeth and removed his mask, revealing his identity to the already aware opponent.
Crash!
His eyes scanned the battlefield quickly. His subordinates were falling. At the center were agents from the Song family inn. But what chilled him most were the orbs flying through the air.
Whenever they fell, heads exploded like watermelons.
‘I never imagined such martial skill existed…’
“Not a moment to be careless…”
Sangsan Hyeoldo fixed his gaze on Cheol Muok, his eyes now blood-red.
“I will kill you.”
“Try, if you dare.”
Watching the blood-soaked battlefield, the wandering swordsman felt disappointment. Ihwan and Cheol Muok had not used the techniques he anticipated. Beneath his disappointment was a subtle murderous intent.
‘Even though they’re not on our side, they recognized the separation of soul technique…’
That meant they were enemies.
‘I must confirm for myself. If they aren’t the ones I seek, I must kill them.’
Click.
He opened his sword stance. His eyes met Gomi’s, who coldly shouted:
“You said I’m not involved!”
“That may have to be retracted.”
Swish.
Gomi drew her sword.
“Servant of the Hwangryong Guild?”
“Not them. I just have business with those people.”
“Don’t move from there!”
“Interfere and you die.”
Whoosh!
The wandering swordsman lightly descended to the ground. Gomi stepped forward to block him.
“Step aside.”
“This person is a general of this nation! Anyone who harms him will be punished for treason!”
Shing!
Gomi’s sword radiated energy. The swordsman’s eyes briefly reflected admiration before he drew his sword, a rusty-looking, unimpressive blade.
But as its edge appeared, Gomi felt a chilling aura, as if her body might be torn apart.
‘He’s far more skilled than he looks!’
Her tension rose, yet she stepped forward, sword raised.
“Step back!”
“I wonder… if you are with the army, why do you only watch instead of fighting?”
“That is none of your concern!”
“I need to verify something. Again, interfere and I may kill you. I spare no one for being a woman.”
“Then don’t spare me.”
Shing!
Gomi’s aura intensified. The swordsman furrowed his brow; her gaze made it clear she would not retreat.
“Are you involved in state affairs?”
“And if I am?”
He hesitated. He wanted to confirm Ihwan’s identity personally, but that required killing Gomi first, which he was reluctant to do.
He was a descendant of chivalrous warriors, devoted to righteousness.
‘A dilemma…’
He stared at the battlefield. At that moment, his calm eyes shifted as figures appeared behind Ihwan’s group.
“Ah!”
“Look behind!”
Shouts from the guards made Ihwan glance back. About thirty masked figures charged fiercely. Wang Jikyung’s surrounding guards panicked.
Ihwan whispered to Cheol Muok:
“Muok, hurry.”
Cheol Muok turned, saw the attackers, and darkened his gaze.
Sangsan Hyeoldo smiled coldly.
“You pretend to retreat, then joyfully swing your sword. I assure you, today this will be your grave. Hahaha.”
Snort.
“Pretending to retreat? Then I must reconsider.”
Clang! Clang!
Cheol Muok’s sword transformed into a grand sword. The others did likewise.
‘What now?’
Sangsan Hyeoldo was internally shocked. The energy surrounding the swords shifted noticeably.
“Let’s see if you really are pretending to retreat.”
Shing!
Three beams of light rose from Cheol Muok’s grand sword, a sign of activating the separation of soul technique.
