Episode 208

“You little bastard!”

Hwa Cheong stood up with a gasp.

However, because he had no strength in his ankles, he couldn’t stand up properly.

“I will kill you.”

As Hwa Cheong, clutching the spear with deadly eyes, approached with a limp, Chung Sang too struggled to stand up.

“Sahyung!”

Chung Woo, who had pushed away the enemies he was fighting, blocked Chung Sang’s path.

“Chung Woo!”

“I will deal with him! Sahyung, take some time to recover.”

“No! The opponent is too strong.”

“Huh! Even if he is strong, I will have to do it like Sasuk!”

Chung Woo clenched his thick fists as he snorted harshly.

“Ha!”

With a short burst of qi, Chung Woo stepped ahead and rushed at Hwa Cheong.

Woow!

Chung Woo’s Seven Star Fist flew like a meteor and struck the spear.

Wak!

The moment the spear swung with qi, Chung Woo’s special skills were displayed.

The original Seven Star Fist was fought head on with confidence, but this was not the case for Chung Woo.

The Seven Star Fist which Jinmu had modified for Chung Woo.

It may seem like a comical roll, but its speed is faster than most changes in style, and it persistently targets the enemy’s blind spots to occupy the rear.

When it comes to fighting skills alone, no one in Yongbong Hall’s Courageous Valor Troops could be a match for Chung Woo.

His evasion means was to roll low on the ground, exploiting the weakness of the opponent and their attacks and if they missed his movement even for the slightest moment, Chung Woo’s fist would dig in harshly.

Euk!

“Kuak!”

Hwa Cheong, whose ankles were cut by Chung Sang, was unable to move freely and hence was unable to keep up with Chung Woo’s peculiar movements.

“Th-this bastard!”

Fire was spewing out Hwa Cheong’s eyes as he missed Chung Woo’s movement every time.

Thud!

Hwa Cheong’s spear, who stepped on the ground and soared to avoid Chung Woo’s fist, created five curved flows of qi which overlapped and covered Chung Woo like a net.

White Horse’s Five Silk Light Smoke Technique.

As a martial artist that started from Buddhism, he had to possess good Buddha qi, but his spear technique exuded a fierceness that seemed as if it would tear the opponent to pieces at any moment.

“Chung Woo!”

When Chung Woo was vulnerable to attacks coming from the air, Chung Sang swallowed his gushing blood and immediately swung his sword.

Drip.

The sword slash, which spreads smoothly like a flowing cloud, sharply tears through the five-layer net created by Hwa Cheong.

Shh! Tak!

But the opponent was a master of qi.

The only thing the sword qi contained in Chung Sang’s sword technique could manage was to slow down its speed.

Fortunately, however, Chung Woo took advantage of the delay and quickly rolled over to escape the attack.

Paaack! Jjkkk!

The qi of the net roughly tore up the floor, raising a pile of dirt.

It was so powerful that if it had been hit as is, it would have been unharmed.

“Sahyung!”

“Chung Woo, come to your senses! The opponent is a master of qi! We will have to fight together!”

“Yes!”

Chung Sang extends the sword, cleverly cutting off the attack flow of the spear wielded by Hwa Cheong, and Chung Woo attacks in between.

“You bastards!”

Even though he was a Buddhist, Hwa Cheong wasn’t holding back and he was swearing louder and the spear’s killing qi intensified.

Kwakwakwang!

A fight that won’t give up.

Their fight instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the Temple.

Puak!

Even though they worked together, Hwa Cheong’s momentum couldn’t be stopped easily.

This time, Chung Woo, who makes up for the lack of precision with tenacity, blocked the spear attacks with his thick flesh and while Hwa Cheong hesitates, Chung Sang swings his sword, aiming for his neck.

And in the midst of the fight, Zhuge Sansan, who was watching at the scene, quickly shook her head.

The one that Chung Sang and Chung Woo were fiercely fighting.

Hwa Cheong was the chief monk of the White Horse Temple.

He was the key.

There was no need for the other members of the Temple. If he was stopped, the fight would end.

“Everyone help Taoist Chung Sang and Chung Woo! Form a circle and protect them!”

After quickly assessing the situation, she swung her sword vigorously in a circle, shaking off the surrounding enemies and flying toward Hwa Cheong.

“Fuck me!”

Namgung Chang-wi, who was fighting with three people, cursed at this.

Chung Sang and Chung Woo, he wanted to take them down.

He didn’t like this, but he couldn’t help it.

This was because the warriors of other Courageous Valor Troops were already surrounding Chung Sang and Chung Woo as if to protect them, preventing White Horse Temple’s monks from intervening.

‘Damn it! Those damned Taoists!’

Namgung Chang-wi fiercely swung his blade and killed the enemies surrounding him and joined the circle.

The fight of the White Horse Temple.

Two circles were created.

The Courageous Valor Troops helping Chung Sang and Chung Woo.

And the siege of White Horse Temple monks trying to save Hwa Cheong.

But, as time passed, holes began to form in the original formation of the Troops.

To begin with, eight was already too great a number, and although Chung Sang and Chung Woo were the best of the Courageous Valor Troops, it was still too much for them to fight Hwa Cheong.

“Euk!”

“Lee Baek-wi!”

Seeing Lee Baek-wi being pushed back after getting struck by a blunt weapon, Zhuge Sansan hurriedly swung her sword and saved them.

However, their power wasn’t enough to fill the gaping hole.

“Ah…”

The moment Zhuge Sansan raised her head in sorrow, a figure in yellow was climbing over the wall of the Temple.

Woong!

Then, dozens of shouts rang out loud from the White Horse Temple monks, and people in yellow robes rushed into the fray from all sides.

“Ahh!”

Help arrived just when they were feeling despair.

A huge blast of Buddha qi spreads out in all directions, cracking the White Horse Temple monks’ encirclement.

And the figure in yellow that had climbed over the wall the first time, pressed down on the wall and at the same time flew a long distance to land right in the middle of the circle of the Courageous Valor Troops.

Kuuuk!

The moment this person landed, the qi that burst through his feet swirled everywhere.

Wheik!

The flexibly stretched out hand wrapped around the spear that attacked Chung Sang and shook it off.

Euk!

The old monk stood upright, glancing at the spear which was thrown away in an instant.

Gak Ryo, the leader of Shaolin’s Arhat Hall.

He led the Arhats of Shaolin and appeared to help the Courageous Valor Troops.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

A gentle look unbecoming of an urgent situation, directed towards Chung Sang and Chung Woo.

“No.”

“Take a break now. You’ve been hard at work. From now on, we will let Shaolin take charge.”

“That won’t happen. There are enemies everywhere and we have to quickly subdue those from the Temple.”

“I see. Then, leave this place to me and help the others out.”

“Yes, Great Monk!”

Chung Sang and Chung Woo hurriedly joined the fray.

Gak Ryo turned and looked at Hwa Cheong, who was clutching the spear while spewing out deadly intent.

“You seem like an ugly one…”

“……”

Hwa Cheong’s face hardened at the words of reproach.

Now that Shaolin has appeared, there is no longer any chance for the victory of this side.

But why doesn’t the Palace Lord appear?

With her help, they would be able to break through them and escape.

Now that he thought about it, he couldn’t see any of the subordinates who usually accompanied her.

“You are looking for someone, Hwa Cheong.”

“……”

Gak Ryo frowned at the sight of Hwa Cheong constantly glancing around while glaring at him.

“Hwa Cheong, stop and gather your thoughts. It is all done for. Many disciples have changed their direction. How are you going to bear all the karma you have accrued?”

Hearing the words of the Gak Ryo reprimanding him in a pitiful tone, Hwa Cheong turned his head and saw in the eyes the disciples of White Horse Temple being defeated by the Arhats and the warriors of Courageous Valor Troops.

Their impending death.

And now he knew for sure.

That he has been abandoned.

By those who have devoted their loyalty to the start of a new world.

But he couldn’t surrender.

“Kuak, Gak Ryo. It is too late now. If I stop, what will I have left?”

“What would you have left? It is right for us to repent for our sins and atone before the Buddha.”

“Hehehehe.”

Hwa Cheong laughed oddly.

“In this situation what is the point of atoning? I just chose the path I thought was right. The current world is infinitely confused and turbid and is being disturbed by evildoers. Even though I committed the sin of killing, I only wanted to become a demon myself and bring them to ruin, and correct the chaotic lives of people.”

“Hwa Cheong! Destruction! Demon! How can a Buddhist think of such things? You must have the intentions to persuade, guide, and make things right!”

Gak Ryo scolded him with eyes wide, and Hwa Cheong’s face contorted greater at that.

“Gak Ryo, stop with the nonsense now! How can you persuade me that you and I have different intentions!”

Hwa Cheong grabbed the spear.

The qi he roughly mustered up as he gritted his teeth glowed brightly and shrouded the spear in his hand, and the rings hanging from the end rang with a clanging sound.

“Hwa Cheong… you…”

Gak Ryo’s eyes turned fierce.

The fire that Hwa Cheong was giving off could no longer be felt, and his eyes were filled with a dark murderous glow, as if prepared for death.

Gak Ryo, who was looking at him intently, took a deep breath and spat out like a lion’s roar,

“Shaolin, listen! There are no more Buddhists in this place! I permit you to commit killings, so deal with the enemy with all your might!”

A loud cry resounded within the White Horse Temple, and the spirit of the Arhats that were dealing with the enemy, turned vicious.

And Buddha qi of Gak Ryo, who clenched his fist, swelled as if it poised to explode.

“Come!”

“Haaa!”

With the cries of Gak Ryo, Hwa Cheong’s spear, prepared for death, was swung.

Woong!

The fierce, even ferocious, qi, rushed like a whirlwind into Gak Ryo’s fist, drawn at his waist.

Thud!

One lightly taken step.

The fist thrown out twisted and fired, contorting the space.

There are countless famous martial arts techniques in the Central Plains but among them, there was one that is always considered as the best and that is of Shaolin.

When spread out in a well, the power in the fist breaks the bottom and even from a hundred steps away, the power does not decrease and breaks down rocks, so this is called the Hundred Step Divine Fist.

Puak!

The clash between the Fist qi and the spear distorted the air.

Kuaaak!

Even though the whirlwind in the attack changed direction, it fired out without slowing down.

Puak!

“Ugh!”

Even though the fist didn’t even make contact, Hwa Cheong’s chest caved in and he coughed up blood.

Hwa Cheong, who had lost his strength while dealing with Chung Sang and Chung Woo, was no match for Gak Ryo now.

Puak! Puak! Puak!

Each time, Hwa Cheong was hit in the chest by the fists in succession, he staggered and took a step back and each time, blood inadvertently stained the air.

Thud.

When Hwa Cheong couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed.

“Euk…”

Hwa Cheong looked at Gak Ryo, who was catching his breath and recovering his fist, with blurry eyes as he lost his vitality.

The fight was coming to an end now.

The followers of the Temple couldn’t win against the Arhats who joined in to help the Courageous Valor Troops and were in disarray.

“Hwa Cheong…”

“Hehehe, do not look at me like that, Gak Ryo.”

“……”

Hwa Cheong laughed bitterly, bleeding so much that it dripped under his chin.

“Do you think it will end here?”

“What?”

“This Murim. You who have disguised yourselves in the name of justice to take care of your own interests will never win.”

“……”

“It will be the same for the other factions too.”

Although Hwa Cheong was coughing up blood, he continued to speak until the end.

“Do you think it was just one or two that grew in the darkness of the Justice Faction? Hehehe. Eventually your faction will collapse. Even though the White Horse Temple and I will perish here….”

“Hwa Cheong.”

Gak Ryo, who had listened till there, cut him off.

“Fool. You are overconfident.”

“……”

“Why do you think the Justice Faction has been silent till now? Why do you think that the Great Commander Zhuge didn’t act?”

“What?”

“It isn’t just the Commandment to kill that I broke.”

Hearing the words of Gak Ryo, Hwa Cheong was looking shocked.

“N-no way? A lie?”

“How could only Shaolin have come here?”

“……”

Gak Ryo recited quietly to Zhuge Sansan, who joined them, what they had heard about the secretive moments of the alliance.

“Do you think that Zhuge Hyeop-jin’s wisdom is the same as ours? Do you think his vision is so narrow? They were just waiting because they were suspicious of the plans of their subordinates. Just as you deceived their eyes and ears, the Justice Faction too deceived your eyes and ears and waited. Until you moved.”

“……”

“Great Commander has been collecting your information for a long time through the Beggars Union. All the young warriors from the Yongbong Hall moved to a place which was already suspicious.”

“Th-that.”

“And do you think that is all?”

“……”

“The elite of numerous sects, including Tang Wi’s Poison Blood Pavilion and Mount Hua’s Plum Blossom Swordsmen moved in secret and headed to a place they had been secretly investigating.”

“That is ridiculous!”

“If you want to believe it, do it. But it will start now. The leader’s orders have already been conveyed for everyone to carry out the plan that Zhuge Hyeop-jin has been preparing for a long time to catch you….”

“……”

Be aware.

It starts only when you know yourself and your enemy.

Hwa Cheong’s eyes, which were overflowing with killing intent, began to tremble.

Could it be? Has he been playing into the hands of the Justice Faction?

Could they have been preparing so much without him even noticing?

“Huh!”

All of it was in vain.

Hwa Cheong felt as if the time he had waited for for so many years, was now falling apart all at once.

“Right. It was something like that.”

Hwa Cheong, who had been sitting down, bowed his head.

“Stop and surrender now. Your sins…”

Puak!

“…!”

Gak Ryo’s eyes widened at Hwa Cheong’s subsequent actions.

Hwa Cheong’s hand reached up and stabbed himself in the neck. Red blood spurted out.

“Hwa-Hwa Cheong!”

Gak Ryo rushed to help the collapsing body but it was too late.

“This…”

Darkness clouded his face. The intention wasn’t to save him for nothing.

He wanted him to repent his sins and come back to the right path.

As Gak Ryo looked at the dead Hwa Cheong in a daze, the warriors of the Courageous Valor Troops, who had subdued the White Horse Temple monks, approached him.

“Did he kill himself?”

Gak Ryo nodded heavily in response to Chung Sang’s question.

“So this is it?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

Gak Ryo’s voice sounded lonely and heavy. It seemed like he was saddened by witnessing the gruesome death of a fellow Buddhist.

“It all begins in earnest now.”

“Right. Everyone has probably started moving by now.”

“Hmm… that is amazing. The Great Commander was preparing for all of this.”

Chung Sang nodded at Gak Ryo’s words.

“It was all thanks to the Sword of Wudang.”

“….?”

The words that Zhuge Sansan said suddenly, approaching them.

“If it wasn’t for him, it wouldn’t have been perfect.”

“What does that mean?”

“They say it all started with the gunpowder trafficking at the Dangang-gu district which was solved by the Supervisor there.”

Zhuge Sansan explained.

“In addition to the facts which came out through the prisoners taken from the battles in Qingcheng and Sichuan, it seems that they secretly singled out the enemy using the things learned by the Tang family and Kunlun.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Through him, the Great Commander and the Alliance Leader found out that there was a secret agent in the Justice Faction, and he was able to proceed with the work by deceiving their eyes and ears. I’ve only found this out now.”

“Right. All of this is achieved thanks to the Sword of Wudang.”

“Yes. In addition, as the corruption of the Money Hall was revealed, secret cooperation with the Government began. It was also he who discovered the Original Flower Garden.”

“Huh, that’s wonderful, but officials? Could it be that the Palace forces are working secretly amongst the officials?”

“We haven’t heard of any of that yet.”

“Hmmm.”

“In any case, starting with the White Horse Temple, those who have been in cahoots with the enemy under the administration of the Justice Faction, will be wiped out all at once.”

“The smell of blood will spread everywhere and won’t go away for a while.”

“It’s something that cannot be helped.”

“Amitabha….”

Gak Ryo tried to soothe their distraught minds by chanting prayers and looked at Chung Sang.

“Are you his sajils?”

“Yes.”

Chung Sang answered Gak Ryo politely.

“You have a great Sasuk.”

“Thank you. He is like a benefactor to me.”

Not just Chung Sang, but even Chung Woo next to him looked proud at those words.

“Right, so did he participate in this battle?”

“No. We received word from Mount Hua that he has departed… since then, we have no idea as to his whereabouts…”

“Is that so?”

As Gak Ryo shook his head, Zhuge Sansan said,

“He is probably doing something for the justice of Murim somewhere. Maybe he was fighting with people in the Palace even before we did.”