The First Gate of the Hell Official Exam (6)
A person who has spent his whole life throwing his weight around cannot suddenly lower himself.
Moreover, if the other party is someone who used to bow diligently to him, rather than lowering his head, he ends up feeling betrayed.
Even so, I did not expect him to send the top experts he had hired to this side at such an important time.
‘How foolish.’
While I was thinking about the second thing I had asked Haomun for, Han Geumtak, the Windless Demon Rod, unwound transparent thread from his demon rod and spoke.
“This is why sharp-eyed brats are no fun.”
Han Geumtak’s specialty was distracting the opponent’s gaze with his threatening demon rod, then moving invisible thread and needles separately from the demon rod to hook the opponent’s body without them knowing.
I sheathed the Black Dragon Sword and said.
“Do you not need to follow your employer?”
“The Gyeryong Merchant Guild has already prepared more force than the mountain stronghold they targeted requires. And right now, that is not something you need to worry about.”
“What did the guildmaster order you to do with us?”
“He asked us to bring him one right arm and a dantian. If that proves difficult, he said cutting off your head would be fine too.”
“Is that not too cruel, even for wandering warriors?”
“Who knows? We are people who do our work properly for what we are paid.”
As we spoke, the distance gradually narrowed.
I spoke to the three brothers.
“Yeon Chuak of the Hell Department is known for the tremendous force of his downward axe strikes. Maintain the sword formation, disperse his strength as much as possible, and think about how you can win.”
“…….”
“…….”
When trainees confirm the level of their own improvement, they become able to devote themselves even more to training.
Thus, I handed Yeon Chuak over to the three brothers.
The children, experiencing real combat for the first time, had hands trembling with fear, but at least their gazes did not blur.
The moment I kicked off the ground, I unfolded the One-Man Path Under Heaven and instantly closed the distance between the three men and me.
“Hup!”
“What the……!”
“Damn it!”
At the same time, I unfolded the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist and created nine fist forms in the air.
Pupupupupupupupuck!
Han Geumtak and Dam Cheolgak frantically swung their life-defining techniques and retreated, while Yeon Chuak used his axe to deflect the fist forms and naturally circled to the side, charging toward the three brothers.
The confrontation I wanted had been created.
“Be careful!”
With those words, I again unfolded the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist and focused nine fist forms on the two men.
Clang. Bang.
From inside Dam Cheolgak’s sleeves, turtle-shell hands resembling the hands of a tortoise shot out and struck the fist forms.
Han Geumtak frantically retreated to create distance, but the more he did, the more I clung to him without allowing that distance to open.
“Damn it!”
Knowing that Han Geumtak needed distance, Dam Cheolgak dug in between the two of us.
Using the gap that opened, Han Geumtak was just about to swing his demon rod and manipulate the fishing hooks.
“Celestial Silkworm Thread is not something only you use.”
“Keuk, when on earth?!”
I retrieved the Flying Dragon Claw I had embedded in Han Geumtak’s chest along with the fist forms, lifted Han Geumtak into the air as if drawing a semicircle, and slammed him into a rock.
Crack!
“Keuheuk!”
As expected of someone said to stand at the boundary between first-rate and peak, Han Geumtak’s nose was smashed and wounds remained on his face, but in that brief moment, he offset the impact and pulled out the Flying Dragon Claw that had been embedded in his chest.
“You bastard! You are even more vile than the rumors say.”
“What rumors?”
“I am talking about the vile thoughts called Black Flame.”
“……It means thoughts as deep as pitch-black darkness…….”
“Shut up!”
The nickname I already disliked became even more hateful when interpreted that way.
“I will tell everything to the Lord of Four Emperor Peak later.”
I drew the Black Dragon Sword and immediately poured out the Twin Heaven Sword Art.
Between the two men and me, illusion swords and changing swords filled the space, beginning to blur their vision.
Dam Cheolgak, who first tried to strike down every sword he saw before him, realized that illusions were mixed among them and began concentrating on striking only the true swords.
Han Geumtak finally swung his demon rod and began whipping the fishing hooks in irregular directions.
Pupupupupupung.
Every time the Black Dragon Sword and turtle-shell hands collided, the air burst.
Just as the invisible fishing hook tried to pierce my nose, I unfolded the Taeul Eight Myriad Divine Steps and retreated.
“Kraaaak!”
The instant I retreated, the Flying Dragon Claw I had secretly embedded in Dam Cheolgak’s chest was pulled taut, delivering pain to him.
“When on earth?”
“When one focuses on one place, other things are hard to see.”
I unfolded the illusion steps of the Taeul Eight Myriad Divine Steps, dodging the fishing hooks while tearing out the Flying Dragon Claw with all my strength.
Crunch.
Along with the sound of flesh being ripped away, a fist-sized wound appeared in Dam Cheolgak’s chest.
“Keuk.”
Blood poured out like a waterfall and quickly dyed his martial uniform crimson.
The moment Dam Cheolgak placed his hand on the wound, I extended my left hand and activated the Blue Dragon Pill.
“What is this!”
Perhaps because his essence had been drained by the Blue Dragon Pill, the bleeding quickly stopped, but instead the wound rapidly necrotized.
While he was disoriented, I unleashed the Twin Heaven Sword Art toward Han Geumtak, who charged in, and the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist toward Dam Cheolgak, who was retreating.
Pupupupupupupupuck.
Pungpungpungpungpungpung.
Illusion swords and fist forms flew in all directions, raising thick clouds of dust.
“Cheolgak! Are you all right!”
Han Geumtak searched for Dam Cheolgak through the pale dust, but Dam Cheolgak did not answer.
The moment I saw Han Geumtak’s silhouette.
I unfolded the Taeul Sword Emperor’s secret technique, the Ten Thousand Seas and Heaven-Earth Sword Art.
At the sight of the three swords floating in the air, Han Geumtak frowned, then sneered.
“Are those damned illusion swords only at this level?”
Han Geumtak swung his demon rod in all directions to face the sword forms.
It was a process to confirm which was a true sword and which was an illusion sword.
However, no illusion sword vanished even after being struck by the wind of the demon rod.
“W-What!”
The sword forms he had thought were illusion swords were all real.
Having searched for the true sword to conserve his strength, he ultimately failed to distinguish between true swords and illusion swords and belatedly pulled his body back.
But the Ten Thousand Seas and Heaven-Earth Sword Art had already struck his body.
Pupupuk.
Two shallow wounds piercing both shoulders, and one deep wound cutting across his torso.
Han Geumtak squeezed out his final true energy and shot out his demon rod and fishing hook.
Whirrr. Ting.
However, the fishing hook that passed through the afterimage left by the illusion step flew a little farther, struck a rock, and bounced away.
“Huh, how?”
Standing behind Han Geumtak, I spoke.
“There is something our Small Elite Unit members used to say. Being fooled once is a mistake, twice is foolishness, and three times makes you an idiot.”
Han Geumtak’s eyes trembled violently like someone who had seen a ghost as he turned his head.
“This is the level between second-rate and first-rate?”
As if answering his empty words, the Black Dragon Sword moved.
In the pupils reflected in his eyes, illusion swords and true swords filled the view.
“You vile bastard…….”
The highest praise one can hear during battle.
I lightly expressed my gratitude.
“Thanks for the compliment.”
*
After dealing with Han Geumtak and Dam Cheolgak, I headed to where the three brothers were.
Chachachachang. Bang.
The Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers were desperately facing Yeon Chuak.
They had gained many small wounds here and there, but as I had told them, they were deflecting Yeon Chuak’s axe as much as possible and at the same time making full use of the advantages of the sword formation, dragging out the fight.
“You damn brats!”
Yeon Chuak’s attacks kept being blocked, while the three of them seized the gaps and attacked little by little.
The only regrettable thing was that even when chances to attack appeared while unfolding the sword formation, they hesitated and could not finish it.
“How long are you going to keep fighting?”
“Eldest senior brother!”
“Senior brother!”
When the three brothers called me, Yeon Chuak began paying attention to me.
“Already? Just what the hell…… damn it!”
Yeon Chuak, who had been paying attention to me, showed an opening.
Geumpyo tried to thrust his sword in but hesitated, and Eunho blocked Yeon Chuak’s axe in his stead.
“Dam Cheolgak! Han Geumtak!”
Yeon Chuak called the two men, but neither answered.
And just as he seemed to decide something and kicked off the ground to flee.
I leapt with him and poured the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist down upon him.
Pupupupupupuck!
Yeon Chuak took the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist with his whole body in midair and was slammed into the ground.
Around him, the three brothers again formed their sword formation.
However, their skill from training did not come out.
Even though they had room in their internal energy through moving circulation, they could not press the attack.
This was the gap between real combat and training.
“Will you do it properly only after one of your arms is cut off and your dantian is shattered?”
“…….”
“…….”
The three brothers came to their senses sharply, and their swords became fierce.
Yeon Chuak’s speed was gradually slowing.
Tang.
Eunho, who had the most internal energy, created an opening in Yeon Chuak.
Geumpyo thrust his sword in.
‘But it is shallow.’
Killing a person is not that easy.
Even while attacking an enemy with hostility, one instinctively hesitates.
In the end, just as I was about to swing the Black Dragon Sword, Dongryong’s eyes turned red and he charged out between Eunho and Geumpyo.
At the same time, killing intent that should not be able to erupt from someone his age poured out from Dongryong’s body.
“Uaaaaak!”
Yeon Chuak’s face turned pale, terrified by the killing intent that suddenly exploded.
‘No way…….’
While I was briefly stunned by Dongryong’s appearance, Dongryong left a large wound on Yeon Chuak’s body as the final blow.
“That is enough.”
When I placed my sword against Yeon Chuak’s neck, the bodies of the three brothers and Yeon Chuak stopped, and everyone panted roughly.
Their whole bodies were soaked in sweat, and hazy steam rose from them.
“Huu, huu, huu.”
While Geumpyo and Eunho caught their breath, Dongryong was still looking at Yeon Chuak with eyes full of killing intent.
Yeon Chuak was more afraid of Dongryong than of me, even though my sword was at his neck.
“Withdraw your killing intent now, Dongryong.”
“……Ah? Yes.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Dongryong’s eyes returned to their usual innocent look.
At the same time, perhaps because his tension loosened, he began panting heavily.
“P-Please spare me!”
I looked at Yeon Chuak as he begged for his life.
“Did you not come here to kill us?”
“I-I only did it to earn money. There were no personal feelings involved at all!”
“Would you have accepted this request even if we had been the Wudang Sect instead of the Taeul Sect?”
“…….”
Crack.
“Aaargh!”
I crushed Yeon Chuak’s arm to powder in one blow and shattered his dantian at the same time.
“Keuheuk!”
Yeon Chuak coughed up a handful of blood along with deep internal injuries.
“Remember this. If you ever raise a sword recklessly against the Taeul Sect again, your end will not be good.”
#
“…….”
“…….”
During our late-night meal, Geumpyo and Eunho were gloomy.
On the other hand, Dongryong, unaware that he had emitted tremendous killing intent toward Yeon Chuak during the day, was eating bowl after bowl of rice and dried-meat porridge, saying it was delicious.
When I subtly released killing intent, the bodies of the three brothers holding spoons flinched.
“!”
“!”
“!”
However, they did not retreat in a fit or panic.
They were already able to use moving circulation without discomfort.
Seeing that, I smiled faintly, and Geumpyo carefully opened his mouth.
“I am sorry, senior brother.”
“For what?”
“What happened earlier.”
Was he still thinking about that?
“We should have finished it quickly. In the end, we had to borrow senior brother’s hand…….”
“Killing is not that easy. I think it is impressive enough that you did not break out of the sword formation in order to protect one another.”
“……But.”
“In any case, the three of you ultimately defeated Yeon Chuak, did you not? I only finished it.”
Only then did the faces of the three brothers begin to relax little by little.
“Senior brother, since we defeated those three, will Guildmaster Gye Yeonseok not send more people after us?”
At Eunho’s words, Geumpyo and Dongryong swallowed dryly.
“You do not need to worry about that.”
“What?”
“I said I asked Haomun for two things.”
“One of them was to track Guildmaster Gye Yeonseok, right?”
I nodded and spoke.
“That is right. And the other was to deliver information to the mountain stronghold they are targeting.”
Gye Yeonseok had used his financial power to choose one of the mountain strongholds designated by the Murim Alliance with the smallest force.
Saho Stronghold, located near Fuyang in Zhejiang Province.
Aside from the chief and deputy chief, who had learned martial arts, it was a stronghold with no experts worth noting.
I had told Haomun to deliver word to them.
Since they now knew that the Gyeryong Merchant Guild’s escort warriors and wandering warriors were targeting them, Saho Stronghold might join forces with another mountain stronghold, or ask for help from one of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds.
“Th-Then what happens?”
“The Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds are practically beyond evaluation. They are not places an ordinary academy applicant can handle with a hundred martial artists.”
The Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds boast a size and influence counted among the largest even among the thousands of large and small mountain strongholds scattered throughout the murim world.
A single stronghold is no different in size from a single faction.
Though they are a motley crowd, each of them has learned at least a scrap of martial arts, so even martial artists from prestigious families often avoid these strongholds and take a detour.
“Then…….”
“If Saho Stronghold is smart, the Gyeryong Merchant Guild will not even be able to recover the bodies. If it is foolish, then they will at least recover the bodies.”
“Huh…….”
The three brothers opened their mouths after hearing my words.
“……Senior brother really is a frightening person.”
Geumpyo shuddered once and shook his head.
I looked at him and smiled faintly.
“That is what the murim world is like.”
At the first cold reality of the murim world they encountered after having drawn a rainbow-colored future of it, the boys were silent for a while, as if pressed down by its weight.
Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, Eunho spoke.
“……Somehow, I think people gave eldest senior brother a fitting nickname.”
“……What, you brat?”
“Hahaha.”
At some point, the three brothers were sitting side by side and smiling.
Eunho asked me.
“Ah, senior brother, then which mountain stronghold are we going to face? You said Guildmaster Gye Yeonseok found the weakest mountain stronghold.”
When I poked the campfire with kindling, sparks scattered in all directions.
“Twin Curtain Stronghold, one of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
*
While Eunho and Dongryong lay down to prepare for sleep, I approached Geumpyo, who was standing guard.
“Senior brother, the joke earlier went too far.”
“Hm? What joke?”
“……Is Twin Curtain Stronghold really the target?”
“We started late, so there are not many mountain strongholds left for us.”
“……No, even so, haa…… Never mind.”
Geumpyo let out a long sigh.
“More importantly, why are you not sleeping…… What are you doing?”
“Geumpyo.”
“Yes.”
“Listen without being surprised.”
“……When senior brother says something like that, it makes me more anxious.”
When I turned my head toward the campfire, I saw Dongryong curled up tightly to avoid Eunho’s mischief while lying beside him.
“About Dongryong. It seems he is a Heavenly Slaughter Star.”
“……Mmph!”
Geumpyo’s eyes shook violently as my hand covered his mouth.
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