Episode 196

“Still, not the useless kind. It saves me the trouble of looking around.”

The older brother Doto was laughing.

He had a high price for being a ronin. Because of that they were rarely called on, but now they were happy to be called and took on jobs which paid a lot.

“The newly learnt skills… I am finally going to put them into practice.”

Gyeol Hyo, who was one year younger than Doto, was burning up in excitement. Being just five feet tall yet the weapon in his hand was horrifying to look at.

It was the Heaven and Earth Haltering Fist.

At first glance the weapon was in the shape of a wheel around the hand, the kind which seemed handed down instead of bought.

This weapon which looked like this when thrown would be hardly noticeable as it continued to gather speed at the movement, and this was not usually used, not even in the Demonic Sect.

That was because these weapons which moved as such did not distinguish between friend or foe. This was because the ones wielding them were taught to only handle the weapon without them alone not getting hurt.

“What is this now?”

Imugi shouted at the two men who suddenly appeared.

The technique that these people used to kill Wei Cheon a second back, it was not something which was shot directly at someone like an assassin would use, but it soared into the sky and fell down.

For a normal assassin this was not normal, and it felt more like a curved hit than a straight one, so it felt like the man was skilled.

“Hmm. As for who we are, wait…”

Doto with his smooth bald head, he put the vicious looking knife aside and put his hand into the shirt.

Swish

A hand pulled out from the chest a dagger which was held between the knuckles, and soon it moved in the air with a gold light.

And—

“Kuak!”

“Euk!”

“Huk!”

“Kuk.”

They were probably on the same side, but the escort warriors who came with Wei Cheon fell to the ground with simple groans.

The assassination technique had been carried out masterfully. The bald man who had killed four people without even giving out killing intent or hostility grinned.

“You see my weapon is quite unique. I don’t want to show others what I am capable of, especially in this business, right? Well, that includes this side too.”

“…”

“You will die soon after hearing this, but let us start with our names first. I am Doto and this child is Gyeol Hyo. Kangho knows us as the Blade Dawning Two Forces.”

“…Uh?”

Imugi groaned like it was familiar. And with a thought he nodded his head.

“Warriors in the Hundred! Right!?”

“Right, you know well. We are them. Your information is pretty good?”

Gyeol Hyo’s face brightened as he was recognized. Should it be said that they had a simple personality?

Step

Three steps was the distance and Seol-Hwi approached Imugi on the side.

“So the Sleeping Dragon Forces sent them?”

At Seol-Hwi’s words, the baldie nodded.

“Our employee.”

“For what purpose?

“You know right? The pill. We came to get it.”

“Hmm.”

Seol-Hwi was serious now as he looked at the two.

This oddly zigged knife and that spiked circle around the fist—

These were weapons which were not regularly seen even within Kangho. The strength they held was unfamiliar to them, and it was even harder to estimate because of these weapons.

It was not easy to know how they would move.

“Imugi.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You take care of that little brother there, and do the best you can, do not be careless.”

“…You see him as that great of an opponent?”

“Seems like it, so being careful shouldn’t be a bad idea.”

As Imugi shrugged, Seol-Hwi shook his head and added,

“Even with such bizarre weapons being used, the movements felt so smooth. It must mean that the body is fully accustomed to the weapons they are using, be it the technique, the cultivation or anything, everything seems higher than yours for now.”

“Um…”

This made Imugi’s face harden. Come to think of it, the opponent is part of the top hundred.

He must be different from the idiots he had met up until this point.

“Great Virtue Pill… we have that. But do you think you can take it by defeating me?”

Seol-Hwi smiled looking at the two and asked.

“Well, that is simple.”

When Doto looked to the side, Gyeol Hyo nodded.

“Leave him to me. Yah!”

He pointed to Imugi.

“You come out and fight. It is narrow here.”

“Good.”

Imugi agreed right away. And when the two of them moved, only Seol-Hwi and Doto stayed behind.

“See. Then, today’s task, should we begin?”

Doto was sure of his win today. This was not arrogance he had from a few victories in a row. Actually, he is the kind who respected any warrior he fought.

Which is why he would always push himself to the edge when sparring or training, and he was able to rise to the current position by putting in extensive effort.

“Right. I have wondered about it too.”

Looking at Doto, Seol-Hwi sighed and cracked his knuckles.

“Warriors in hundred. Among the numerous people within the central plains, there are those who are on the rise to be strong. And now let’s find out the truth behind it.”

“…”

Clack

Seol-Hwi took out his sword and he naturally moved.

Tuk

Doto’s face distorted as he noticed the sudden change within Seol-Hwi. There was something odd about the man he was facing

The man was far away. And strangely enough, he did not seem like a tough one and even looked weak at glance.

To be more precise, he did not even want to attack because the man seemed so weak.

“You won’t come? Then should I come?”

“…Let’s start with me.”

Doto tried to ease up this unknown feeling when holding the weapon.

I just need to clash with him to realize what the abilities are.

The look in his eyes changed as he realized this was not going to be easy, and what had previously been a light gaze had now changed into a focused glare.

Shhh!

His form, which took a huge stride, moved ahead in an instant. Even though the back foot did not move, he managed to arrive right in front of Seol-Hwi.

What he learned was the First Rate Steps. It was the footwork technique that made it impossible to know if the legs were walking or jumping to reach its destination.

Swish!

Doto, who approached the opponent like that, immediately slashed the knife from the shoulder on the right side down to the left thigh.

Shit.

But Doto could feel that his attack had happened as the opponent had moved back to dodge.

Wheing!

And only empty air was cut. But the situation was going in his favor since he had the initiative.

There was no way a retreat movement to avoid an attack cannot be followed.

“Hah!”

Swish! Swish!

This time Doto continued to swing in the most unexpected way to cut down the man.

But this time too the attack was short. Seol-Hwi stepped back and dodged the attack.

Ching

“…?”

The opponent was dodging the attack which was not so simple to avoid. The knife with blade qi on it was cutting in the pattern of a cross from the tip of his weapon.

…Wide!

The man named Doto must have been one who was truly experienced. The range of his movement and the way he was responding proved it.

Kaaaang!

Dirt rose from the ground, and the walls collapsed with a roar.

It was a formidable release of internal energy with the intent to destroy everything in its way.

Wheing

The dust disappeared and Seol-Hwi appeared. A few strands of cloth were cut.

“This… you are good.”

Doto’s movements were much better than expected, and having strength was one thing, but the utilization of it was amazing.

“To transform the form of the technique. Indeed, you really are a skilled one and your name in the top 100 is no fluke.”

“…You, who avoided this, aren’t so normal either.”

Doto’s face was flushed.

Until now, most of the people were swept down by this technique of his. The fact that he avoided it with only a couple of nicks on his clothes meant that he was skilled.

“I defended once…”

Seol-Hwi grabbed the sword and said,

“So I will come this time.”

Tuk. Tuk.

Seol-Hwi jumped once from his place

Pat

He moved as if he had disappeared there and moved like an illusion running.

It was the martial arts of the Seven Messengers of the Demonic Sect.

“What!”

Of course, Doto, who could not grasp the movements, reacted a bit late.

Still, he held onto the weapon and swung it in the path he thought he would come.

Crack!

The defense gave him the chance to strike back.

“Uh!?”

Seol-Hwi was surprised. Shockingly, despite the weapon of the opponent being hit, he did not fall back.

Shhh!

In the meantime, the guy put his hand near the chest, and this was something Seol-Hwi was familiar with.

Swish!

A handful of assassin weapons appeared. They were thin and sharp like needles flattened out, and the tips could not even be seen, that was how sharp they were. Furthermore, it seemed like there was poison on them.

“Seems like you came too far?”

Paah!

In a situation where Seol-Hwi was still being forced to use his sword defensively, Doto swung the needles from his fingers.

Swish!

Dozens of them, dozens of thin long needles scattered around from the face to the thigh of Seol-Hwi.

They were all shot from close range. The distance had to be too close for him to avoid it.

“…What?!

However, the moment the needles went for the body, Doto doubted his eyes. The person in front of him suddenly split into six.

Swish!

The sharp needles with poison which he threw in air hit the various bodies and then there was only one remaining—

Right behind the back of Doto.

“And crisis once again.”

“Kuak!”

The moment Seol-Hwi’s sword drew out, white light shone.

Clench!

Doto gave up one arm to save his life and stepped back with a dark face.

“T-this…?”

Nothing changed. He managed to block the attack somehow thanks to using his internal energy.

Sting

The part of the body which took the shock felt so numb. The blow of the opponent had coldness seeping in.

In addition to the physical attack, the internal energy with cold began to freeze an arm.

“That isn’t such a great ice skill. But the response was pretty good.”

Seol-Hwi mumbled like this was not that impressive, but deep inside he admired it. It was clear that he almost had the chance to kill the man from behind, and it was a situation where he could have ended this, but the opponent managed to twist the body to the side in an instant and managed to avoid the rest of his attack with minimal loss.

Is it because it is a divine weapon?

Looking at it again, the weapon of the opponent, the jagged knife, was unusual. It was different from the divine weapons Seol-Hwi had seen.

It was not the ability to change direction, but… had a common known way to parry the attacks.

Jjjkkkk!

While watching it, the frozen arm of Doto was being released, and it turned back to normal.

This was another shocking thing. It was not like the ice was melting due to internal energy or time, but it was like it did not even have anything to do with internal energy.

“You, the thing you did before… an illusion?”

Doto asked about the technique Seol-Hwi did. Was it because he felt overpowered at that moment?

“Of course it is, did you think it was real?”

Seol-Hwi answered with a confirmation. Actually though it was done perfectly, it was an illusion.

“That arm… unusual. Are you using a divine weapon?”

This time Seol-Hwi asked,

“Of course. Why act so surprised? The blade with you and the shoes too.”

Doto showed his shoes and the sheath.

“Shoes?”

Seol-Hwi looked down. He could see this old fashioned indigo color and silver design shoes.

“You must have a lot of money to be wrapped around in so many such expensive things.”

Good skills, great internal energy which were difficult to see in one person and the secret technique of shooting assassin needles from close range.

It felt reasonable for the guy to be hailed into the top hundred considering how many divine weapons he had on him.

“Now I met someone worth fighting against properly.”

“Properly? You’re seriously pulling my leg.”

When Doto said so, Seol-Hwi laughed.

Jkkkkk

However, he did not care and pushed ahead.

“Among the things I own, this weapon is the best. Once I use this, you will realize it too.”

Shhh

Seol-Hwi’s eyes widened up at the energy he saw.

“W-what! Enhanced energy?”

Did he misunderstand something?

From his presence it was evident that the opponent had not touched the Peak Demon level yet.

Even so, there was no doubt that he was strong, but this…

This was a problematic thing now

“Haha. Now do you see how strong your opponent is? You picked the wrong man to fight.”

Doto was confident.

This was one of the most powerful of the weapons he had, and if he concentrated his internal energy, he was sure to display an astonishing level of power.

And due to the nature of his zigged knife, it had an effect to push away any external wide range pressure put on him.

“This is my level, my energy. Let’s see how you respond to this!”

Woong!

With those words, the enhanced energy moved for Seol-Hwi. It was an attack where the enhanced energy bent into a curved shape.