Chapter 230 –  Even a carefully built tower can collapse in an instant (2)

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The battle between Cho Yeon-woon and Jo Ja-gyeong had reached its climax.

Boom!

Explosions kept ringing out, and their bodies shook.

Cho Yeon-woon’s entire body was covered in numerous open wounds, and Jo Ja-gyeong’s face was filled with exhaustion.

Their powers were almost evenly matched. As a result, neither could completely overwhelm the other.

From Cho Yeon-woon’s fists, the ultimate technique of the Eight Desolation Divine Fist was unleashed, while Jo Ja-gyeong’s Rotating Sword Style was poised like a highly agitated snake, waiting for an opportunity.

Fist and sword intertwined and separated numerous times. Both of their bodies were tattered like rags from the energy of fists and swords.

In their eyes as they looked at each other, a faint light of admiration had risen.

‘Impressive, Jo Ja-gyeong.’

‘Cho Yeon-woon, is this your limit? Indeed, without eliminating you, my future won’t exist.’

Jo Ja-gyeong bit his lip.

From the moment he first met Cho Yeon-woon, he had felt particularly uneasy. His instinct had felt an extreme aversion to Cho Yeon-woon.

Now he clearly understood the reason.

Cho Yeon-woon was his natural enemy. His martial arts, his temperament, his everything was at the opposite extreme of Jo Ja-gyeong. It was like looking at his own reflection in a mirror.

Jo Ja-gyeong drew out every last bit of energy remaining at the bottom of his dantian.

His master had always said:

The sword is alive.

A true swordsman is one who draws out all the abilities of the sword.

The Rotating Sword Style that his master had passed down was a sword that found its way on the battlefield.

As Jo Ja-gyeong’s aura became ominous, Cho Yeon-woon also drew out all his energy.

His whole body ached from Jo Ja-gyeong’s killing intent.

Even at this moment, his fellow disciples were falling, wounded by the Thousand Heaven Squad. If he delayed any longer, many would die. He had to prevent that situation at all costs.

Behind him, the massive One Hundred Battles Victorious Flag was fluttering.

He didn’t want to show any shameful appearance to the One Hundred Battles Victorious Flag.

“I didn’t expect to use this technique here…”

A red haze rose from both of his fists. It was a phenomenon occurring as all his energy concentrated in both fists.

After glaring at each other for a moment, Cho Yeon-woon and Jo Ja-gyeong rushed towards each other almost simultaneously.

“Chaaaat!”

“Haat!”

Cho Yeon-woon unleashed the technique of Eight Desolations Destroy Heaven, while Jo Ja-gyeong unleashed his Rotating Sword Style, trusting his instincts.

Clash!

As the two collided in mid-air, an intense light burst forth. At the same time, a fierce storm swept in all directions.

“Kuk!”

“Heuk!”

The Hundred Battles Sect martial artists and Thousand Heaven Squad members fighting nearby were blown away by the storm.

“Senior!”

“Leader!”

The martial artists who barely regained their senses looked towards where Cho Yeon-woon and Jo Ja-gyeong had collided.

Dust was rising thickly where the two had clashed. Through the dust, the faint figures of the two could be seen.

Both were on their knees, so it was impossible to tell who had won or lost.

Then someone coughed up blood.

“Cough!”

The blood spilling from his mouth stained his chest red.

“Kheuk, I…”

The man looking at his blood-stained chest with an unbelievable expression was none other than Jo Ja-gyeong.

He was barely supporting his upper body with his broken sword.

“Keu!”

Cho Yeon-woon was sitting in front of Jo Ja-gyeong. His chest was also deeply cut and bleeding profusely.

It was a wound so deep that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had died instantly. Between the torn muscles and bones, his heart could be seen pulsating painfully.

Cho Yeon-woon didn’t even dare attempt to stop the bleeding and covered the wound on his chest with both hands. Yet blood was still gushing out between his fingers.

Cho Yeon-woon’s complexion turned pale in an instant.

Then Jo Ja-gyeong asked.

“It was a hair’s breadth difference. Wasn’t it?”

“That’s right!”

Though his consciousness was fading, Cho Yeon-woon struggled to hold on and answered.

Jo Ja-gyeong asked once more, as if to confirm.

“Right?”

“Yes!”

“It was fun. Enough to leave no regrets. Don’t you think?”

“Yes!”

At Cho Yeon-woon’s answer, Jo Ja-gyeong smiled. His smile, with his mouth and chest stained with blood, was chillingly desperate.

Cho Yeon-woon silently watched Jo Ja-gyeong’s smiling face. Jo Ja-gyeong’s laughter gradually subsided.

“Jo… Ja-gyeong.”

Cho Yeon-woon closed his eyes.

Jo Ja-gyeong’s laughter was no longer heard. His breath had stopped.

A strangely hollow feeling came over him. He couldn’t muster strength in his limbs, and his vision turned completely black. Then, he heard someone’s urgent voice.

“Leader!”

At Jo Ja-gyeong’s death, the Thousand Heaven Squad warriors rushed in like madmen. The disciples of the Hundred Battles Sect desperately blocked them.

“Block them!”

“Protect the senior!”

A more fierce battle broke out as the Hundred Battles Sect warriors and the Thousand Heaven Squad became entangled.

Cho Yeon-woon lay sprawled out. The blood flowing from his chest was staining the ground red.

The Hundred Battles Victorious Flag was fluttering vigorously under the red sky of dawn.

That day, the Murim Alliance retreated from the Shouzhou branch.

Although Cho Yeon-woon, Hyeon Geom, and a few other warriors had achieved victory, it did not lead to an overall victory.

The damage caused by the Phantom Demon Squad was especially severe. The Phantom Demon Squad first ambushed and killed the leadership of the Murim Alliance in the Shouzhou branch. As a result, key figures such as Gong Son-jung, the head of the Shouzhou branch, and Taeul of the Xuandao Sect lost their lives.

Above all, the greatest loss was the death of Yeom Jung-hwa, True Sword of the Zhongnan, who was the first to notice and respond to the Phantom Demon Squad’s infiltration.

It was said that the one who killed Yeom Jung-hwa was Jin Hye-won, the Crescent Moon Immortal, one of the Seven Great Demon Masters. She killed Yeom Jung-hwa and took his head in just over fifty seconds.

It was a moment when the might of the Seven Great Demon Masters was revealed to the world.

The entire Zhongnan Sect was shocked, and the Murim Alliance, which had been optimistic about victory, also suffered a tremendous blow and fell into depression.

The Murim Alliance warriors who lost Shouzhou scattered in small groups and moved south, and the Demonic Cult organized pursuit teams to exterminate these warriors. Moreover, they mobilized troops operating in the Central Plains to block the southern routes.

Many Murim Alliance warriors suffered heavy losses as they were suddenly attacked from both sides.

Countless people died, and the blood they shed flowed like rivers.

The southern route was blocked, and eventually, the survivors had no choice but to seek refuge in nearby sects to save their lives.

Some fled to the Mount Hua Sect, while others took refuge in the Zhongnan Sect. Many also entrusted their lives to the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province.

The Murim Alliance urgently dispatched troops to rescue them, but it inevitably took time.

Later, historians called the events of this day “Blood Rain Falling on a Spring Day”.

The rain of blood that fell that day spread throughout the world. The world was entering into chaos.

***

“That’s how it happened.”

“……”

“Brother?”

Muk Il-gwang cautiously called out to Dam-ho.

Dam-ho’s face was expressionless. So it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

‘Brother.’

Muk Il-gwang held his breath.

He was scared. That expressionless face was frightening.

Just now, he had informed Dam-ho of the Murim Alliance’s defeat in Shouzhou. Dam-ho had silently listened to everything Muk Il-gwang said. Dam-ho, who showed no change in expression even after hearing the entire story, seemed even more frightening.

Muk Il-gwang watched Dam-ho while holding his breath.

After a moment, Dam-ho opened his mouth.

“I see.”

He raised his head. An enormous pressure was felt.

‘Brother has become even stronger.’

Muk Il-gwang felt goosebumps rising all over his body.

Since returning here, Dam-ho had never once revealed his martial power. But Muk Il-gwang could instinctively tell.

That Dam-ho had become stronger and more terrifying.

Feeling the goosebumps not easily subsiding, Muk Il-gwang rubbed his shoulders with both arms. The goosebumps gradually faded.

Dam-ho asked.

“You say Yeon-woon was severely injured?”

“That’s the rumor circulating among the warriors.”

“Where is he now?”

“We haven’t been able to find that out yet.”

“Find out.”

“I will definitely find out.”

Muk Il-gwang answered loudly without realizing it.

“What are you going to find out?”

At that moment, someone entered the hut with a youthful voice.

“Ah, Young Miss!”

Muk Il-gwang brightened.

The one who entered the hut was Hwang Hye-ryeong. She was carrying a tray of fruits in her hands.

“What are you going to find out?”

Muk Il-gwang didn’t know what to do under Hwang Hye-ryeong’s gaze. The one who saved him from this situation was Dam-ho.

“What’s the matter?”

“I came to bring you some fruit, Brother.”

Hwang Hye-ryeong quickly smiled at Dam-ho.

During the time they were apart, Hwang Hye-ryeong had matured significantly. Her previous youthful appearance had completely disappeared, and she was exuding a womanly charm.

Hwang Hye-ryeong sat opposite Dam-ho and asked.

“Is it because of that incident?”

“……”

“I know too. That the Murim Alliance suffered a great defeat in Shouzhou. And that the world has fallen into great chaos because of it.”

Hwang Hye-ryeong spoke calmly while peeling fruit. Meanwhile, Muk Il-gwang was the one who couldn’t sit still.

He lowered his head deeply, like someone who had committed a crime. Muk Il-gwang always became weak in front of Hwang Hye-ryeong.

“Many have died, and many more will die. The world will be engulfed in great chaos. But this place is so peaceful. It’s all thanks to you, Brother.”

“Hye-ryeong.”

“If it weren’t for you, Brother, Father wouldn’t have been able to remain healthy, and the Green Forest wouldn’t have enjoyed such prosperity. So I’m grateful to you, Brother.”

“……”

“But sometimes I wonder. Is it okay for only us to be this happy… I wonder if we’re enjoying happiness beyond our share. Brother…”

“Speak.”

“Is it really okay for only us to enjoy such happiness? Is it okay for us to be so carefree? When the world is in such chaos. When so many people are dying.”

Hwang Hye-ryeong’s voice was calm. That’s why it left a deeper impression.

She placed the peeled fruit in front of Dam-ho.

“Please eat.”

“……”

“Go ahead.”

At Hwang Hye-ryeong’s urging, Dam-ho bit into the fruit. His mouth was filled with sweetness.

“It’s sweet, isn’t it?”

“It is sweet.”

“Whenever you come to visit us alive, I’ll serve you sweet fruit.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, don’t worry about us and go outside. You’ve tried hard enough, Brother. Until now, your life has been all about me and Master Hyeon-so. You’ve spent almost all your time for us two. But you don’t have to do that anymore. Don’t hesitate because of us.”

“……”

“Use your time for yourself, Brother. Live as your heart tells you, as you want to live. If you want to find your friend, do so. I’ll support whatever decision you make.”

Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled at Dam-ho. Her appearance was dazzlingly beautiful.

“As I want?”

“Yes! As you want, Brother. He’s your friend. Your only one.”

Hwang Hye-ryeong’s voice penetrated Dam-ho’s heart like a spell.

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