I Was Glad To Be Together. (3)

The battle between Storm Rider and Hwa Ryeong Satae had begun in earnest.

They fought so fiercely that gusts of wind whipped around them.

Even though the crowd kept their distance, Yu Jinsan and Meng Nam-cheon did not budge from their spots.

They were there to keep Elder Mu-jin and Hwa Ryong-gae, veteran masters of the Murim Alliance, in check.

• It seems the Yang Monster hero’s suspicion was correct.

Yu Jinsan, having received Meng Nam-cheon’s transmitted voice, barely nodded.

Indeed, Mu-jin and Hwa Ryong-gae did not look ordinary.

Their gazes seemed fixed on Storm Rider’s back.

• The Murim Alliance that once stood against injustice to protect chivalry has long since vanished. Now it’s just a group chasing profit and gain.

• That those who should hold the center of the Justice Faction have changed like this… I can hardly believe it.

Meng Nam-cheon’s voice was full of regret.

• With the Murim Alliance leader in that state, how could the Murim Alliance possibly run properly?

• The Yang Monster warrior was right. By the way, the elder seems to be at a disadvantage now; I’m worried.

Even at that moment, the fight continued.

They moved so fast and violently it looked like two bands of light entangled and danced.

Storm Rider focused only on defense and did not dare mount a counterattack.

It was not because he was weak.

It was because the Murim Alliance leader’s martial arts were putting him in a difficult spot.

• Did you just see that? The Murim Alliance leader just used the martial arts of the Qingcheng and Mount Hua sects.

And that wasn’t all.

She freely deployed all sorts of techniques from the Nine Styles of the Eight Directions, pressuring Storm Rider.

How could the Emei’s sect leader have learned the martial arts of other prestigious orthodox sects?

It was something that common sense simply could not accept.

• What she just displayed was the Kongtong Sect’s Limitless Bewildering Reason Palm. How could she…?

It was the Kongtong Sect’s supreme palm technique, passed down by single-line succession.

How could the Murim Alliance leader, who hails from Emei Sect, be using a technique of such a school?

It was unimaginable that a prestigious orthodox sect would leak its martial arts to an external heterodox school.

Even if a sword were held to their throat.

Watching it, one could not believe it.

What on earth had happened within the Murim Alliance?

There seemed to be some backstory, but now was not the time to dwell on it.

The most important thing was whether Storm Rider could hold out against the Murim Alliance leader.

• Fortunately, he isn’t collapsing easily.

The Murim Alliance leader’s offense was terrifying, but Storm Rider’s ironclad defense was truly remarkable.

It was like watching an impregnable iron fortress.

• The Mingtian Cultivation your master cultivated is the strongest defensive art. He’s probably chosen to endure.

Choosing to hold out meant he sensed it would be hard to win.

He likely intended to buy time until the Yin Monster arrived.

But the Murim Alliance leader was not someone who would fail to notice his intentions.

Hwa Ryeong Satae pressed Storm Rider as if being chased, while also guarding her surroundings.

Watching the battle closely, Yu Jinsan urgently sent a transmitted voice to Meng Nam-cheon.

• Prepare yourselves.

Because Elder Mu-jin of the Wudang Sect and Hwa Ryong-gae of the Beggars Union had made subtle movements.

Meng Nam-cheon had already noticed.

As he prepared to make his move, he asked,

• But is it really possible? To ambush the Murim Alliance leader?

He worried because Hwa Ryeong Satae’s martial arts were stronger than expected.

Besides, the Yang Monster wasn’t even wounded internally—his anxiety was understandable.

• There is no other way now.

If it became a six-person group fight, defeat was certain, so there was no other option.

They had to somehow land a blow on the Murim Alliance leader to give Storm Rider the advantage.

It wouldn’t be easy, but it was the best option.

And there was one more reason.

Facing his family’s sworn enemy now that they were in front of him, he couldn’t control his emotions.

Finally met, he thought.

Yu Jinsan held his breath and gripped the Dragon Slaying Spear tightly.

Then he fixed his gaze on the battle before him.

At some point, fierce qi gathered and whirled around Hwa Ryeong Satae.

It seemed she was about to finish with a killing move.

Blue energy burst from her sword like a waterfall and began to overwhelm Storm Rider.

Cornered, Storm Rider formed a circular qi shield with a staff to defend.

Kwak kwak kwak kwang-!!

Her assault continued, and Storm Rider couldn’t move.

And then.

In an instant, four absolute masters shot off like lightning toward some direction.

Taat-! Tatat-!!

Mu-jin and Hwa Ryong-gae, who had been approaching behind Storm Rider, wore surprised expressions.

It was because Meng Nam-cheon stepped forward to block them as if he’d been waiting.

“You bastards!”

The ambush had failed, but they couldn’t just stop.

If you’ve drawn your sword, you might as well cut someone.

Mu-jin’s sword traced a taiji, and Hwa Ryong-gae’s hands emitted golden tensile force.

Their target was Meng Nam-cheon, lord of the Soyo Mountain villa.

But Meng Nam-cheon also unleashed a decisive move, prepared to face death—a secret technique he had kept until the end.

Three types of techniques intertwined and a violent explosion of qi erupted.

Kwaaaang-!!

Just as a thunderous sound was about to erupt behind Storm Rider.

Yu Jinsan had already launched a counter-ambush from behind the Murim Alliance leader.

-Die, you devilish wench!

He swung with such force that the Dragon Slaying Spear bent like a bow.

The Murim Alliance leader frowned deeply, having sensed the ambush from behind. She apparently hadn’t expected the Yang Monster to ambush in return.

The problem was she had poured her entire bodily qi into Storm Rider, so she couldn’t stop abruptly.

The spearhead began to slash at her back.

Zjeeoong-!!

The moment it struck, a bright light flashed behind her back and then faded.

And there was even the sound of metal being struck.

Could it be the Vajra Indestructible Divine Arts?

That the Murim Alliance leader had practiced the Shaolin Vajra Indestructible Divine Arts he had learned.

And at that, it had apparently reached the utmost phase and was perfected.

This was unexpected, but it wasn’t without gain.

The heavy feeling in his wrist proved it.

He was sure he had inflicted some internal injury.

And she was still pressing Storm Rider, so Yu Jinsan watched for another chance.

Alright, then take this as well.

The tip of the Dragon Slaying Spear sliced the air and thrust forward like a piercing lightning strike.

It was the seventh move of the Yu Family Wind Slaying Spear, famed for its speed—the One-Light Extreme Flash.

Swaaaaaek-!!

Yu Jinsan inwardly wore a triumphant smile.

But it did not last.

The instant the spearhead pierced the Murim Alliance leader’s back, something flashed right in front of him.

Tuh-eop-!!

“Gasp!?”

The Murim Alliance leader’s left hand had grabbed the end of the spear shaft.

Storm Rider, who had been defending against her finishing move, had finally collapsed.

His heart sinking, Yu Jinsan frantically used his remaining hand to protect his head and face.

For the Murim Alliance leader’s hand was descending like a thunderbolt.

Jjeok-!!

“Ugh!”

It was sheer brute force.

As he stumbled backward, having lost the spear, his eyes fell on Storm Rider.

He saw Mu-jin and Hwa Ryong-gae pounce on the injured man.

And the Murim Alliance leader turned her back and joined them.

‘If I can’t stop them, it’s over.’

Yu Jinsan urgently extended his right index finger forward.

Then he gathered all his internal power and sent a beam of light toward her back.

Swaaaang-!!

The Murim Alliance leader, intent on using the Vajra Indestructible Divine Arts to block, ignored the qi beam and tried to attack Storm Rider.

But this attack was entirely different from the previous ones.

A supreme Murim finger technique that concentrates vast inner power into a single point and fires it.

It was the Amipa’s strongest art, Buddha Light Single-Line Finger.

Kuwoong-!!

A beam of light raced like the speed of light and pierced her left shoulder.

It had penetrated even the ultimate Vajra Indestructible Divine Arts.

“Ugh!”

Staggering as if about to fall, she glared at Yu Jinsan with a twisted face.

Her blazing eyes were full of fury.

“How do you like the taste of Buddha’s Light Single-Line Finger!? You hag who looks like a demon!”

His taunting provoked her to the point of fury.

“How dare you use our Emei Sect’s martial art…? I’ll kill you, you ancient brat.”

But she had no leisure to move toward Yu Jinsan.

“Murim Alliance leader!”

It was Hwa Ryong-gae’s urgent cry for help.

He and Mu-jin were surrounding Storm Rider.

Although he didn’t look well, the two of them alone were a burden.

The Murim Alliance leader had to choose.

If she struck Storm Rider first, the Yang Monster interfering from behind would be the problem.

Then there was only one method.

“Leave Storm Rider to me, and you two go capture that man behind. I have something to settle; keep him alive.”

“Understood.”

Yu Jinsan looked at the two approaching absolute masters with a grim expression.

They probably wouldn’t hold out even for a moment.

But who says you should sit and die?

“Let’s give it a try, Yang Monster Warrior.”

Somewhere, Meng Nam-cheon limped forward.

He looked far from well.

The white officer’s robe was torn to bloody rags, and his left arm hung limply from injury.

Yu Jinsan met his eyes and nodded once.

“Don’t give up until the end. What’s important for us now is an unbroken spirit.”

Shoulder to shoulder, Yu Jinsan and Meng Nam-cheon gripped their weapons with resolute faces.

Then another group of reinforcements appeared around them.

Tatt-! Taat-!

They were the instructors who supervised warriors’ training at Soyo Mountain Lodge.

They were also individuals who had accompanied the Yin Monster to White Flower Blood Cult.

“We apologize for disobeying orders, Villa chief.”

“We couldn’t just stand by and watch either.”

“We will have no regrets even if we die.”

Other capable warriors were also approaching them.

Surprisingly, some of them were warriors from small and medium sects in Zhejiang Province.

Meng Nam-cheon’s eyes reddened.

I’m grateful to you all.

They alone couldn’t hope to stop the two absolute masters, but their presence had another meaning.

Suddenly Mu-jin and Elder Mu-jin halted.

They were clearly hesitating about something.

Then Hwa Ryeong Satae, who had been facing Storm Rider at a distance, took a step back.

“What are you doing? Hurry and catch them.”

“We cannot massacre bystanders with no involvement.”

If they did that, how would the martial world judge this situation?

It was an action considering not only personal honor but the sect’s reputation.

But the Murim Alliance leader did not withdraw easily.

She was furious to her very core because of the Yang Monster.

“No need to worry. No one will leave this place alive.”

“W-what do you mean…”

“They’re traitors allied with the Yin Yang Twin Monster, so mercy is unnecessary.”

At that moment, the crowd watching from afar stirred in surprise.

No one expected the Murim Alliance leader to make such a resolution.

Her momentum was so terrifying that no one dared challenge her—except Yu Jinsan.

“So you finally show your true colors! You shouldn’t be the Murim Alliance leader but a common butcher!”

Hwa Ryeong Satae’s brow twitched.

“We’ll see if you can still flap that mouth in a moment.”

All that remained was the final clash.

Yu Jinsan’s internal injury was an issue, but Storm Rider and Meng Nam-cheon’s conditions did not look good either.

They were probably holding on by sheer willpower.

At this rate we’ll be wiped out. I need to think of some trick or tactic.

But no remedy for the current situation came to mind.

It was truly a dead end.

Then Yu Jinsan’s gaze fixed quietly on the distant clouds.

He saw a flock of birds flying as if chased by something.

After watching them for a moment, he suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.

“The Yin Monster has returned!!”

At that moment, everyone, including the Murim Alliance leader, flinched.

The Murim Alliance masters were stunned, while the warriors of Soyo Mountain Lodge and the crowd looked greatly relieved.

“Is that… really true?”

“Phew. We’re saved now.”

“Thank you, Buddha!”

Then the Murim Alliance leader, who had been looking around, narrowed her brow and spoke.

“Where did this sneaky brat get the lie…”

Hwa Ryeong Satae stopped speaking mid-sentence and widened her single eye.

Only Storm Rider knew why she was shocked.

He smiled quietly and said,

“Birds’ instincts are so sharp they can sense natural changes hundreds of li away. Don’t you feel it? The majestic aura of the Yin Monster elder sister approaching like a heavenly deity.”

Only then could Yu Jinsan sense something.

He felt some tremendous presence coming toward them, and at an unimaginable speed.

Although his shout had been meant to deceive the Murim Alliance leader, the granddaughter truly had returned.

Yu Jinsan looked at the Murim Alliance elders one by one and spat out a voice full of bitter anger.

“Just wait a bit. The Yin Monster will pluck out all your hair soon.”

A curse escaped from between Hwa Ryeong Satae’s lips.

“…Shit.”

Yu Jinsan, looking relieved, mocked her again.

“Ah, my apologies. Now that I think about it, you have no hair at all, do you? Then I’ll have to pluck something else.”