Chapter 107: Showing Strength (1)
The Twin Dragons of Fury spoke with a flushed face.
"Master, we did not retreat even while fighting the experts of Blood Demon Castle alongside the Young Master. We fought with death in mind and eventually defeated the warriors of Blood Demon Castle. If we run away from these scoundrels, the Young Master will not forgive us."
The guards behind also responded.
"You are the one who said that if chivalry lives, even in death, one lives. We will not resent dying here. We became disciples of the Heavenly Central Sect for the sake of chivalry."
Yong Biyang looked over them and smiled.
"At least I didn't live in vain. Thank you."
Yong Biyang spoke to the five promising disciples of Mount Hua.
"You still have a bright future ahead. There's no need for you to die here. Go quickly."
However, Mount Hua was a Taoist sect that pursued the Way through the sword.
Mount Hua revered righteousness and chivalry as one with swordsmanship, whether in life or death.
Thus, even in unfavorable situations, they never retreated.
"If we survive here, our senior brothers will not even glance at us. Whether we die or live, it must be here for us to be Plum Blossom Sword Disciples of Mount Hua."
Ho Cheongun already had eyes prepared for death.
Even the two female warriors already had resolute eyes.
"Indeed, this is Mount Hua. Even the young swordsmen have such determination."
Yong Biyang couldn't help but admire the spirit of the young swordsmen.
"It can't be helped. Then let's focus on evacuating the young trainees as much as possible. Fighting is absolutely disadvantageous, so let's choose to protect the young trainees. What do you think?"
"We will follow the will of Master Yong."
As Ho Cheongun clasped his fists, Yong Biyang took the sword from Namwook and said,
"I'll get to see the swords that are said to have developed astonishingly."
"Hahaha, Master. This sword has cut down dozens of those Blood Demon Castle bastards. Don't be too surprised when you see it."
The Twin Dragons of Fury stepped forward and descended from the banquet table.
Behind them, the five prodigies of Mount Hua followed.
Then, those who had been standing on the wall descended inside the wall all at once.
Jeon Man, who was standing above the main gate and looking down, shouted.
"Kill them all! Retrieve the blood tokens of Iron Blood Demon Sect!"
At those words, the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit charged forward.
"Uwaaah!"
As the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit rushed in and swung their swords, the trainees fell like leaves in the autumn wind.
From the trainees' perspective, it was a bolt from the blue.
Even though they were martial artists from the renowned Mount Hua, they had just joined the martial arts hall after completing their training and were attending the opening ceremony.
Bongdu Sword had announced that he would provide a month of free instruction to trainees attending the opening ceremony, which is why so many trainees had gathered.
The Iron Response Blood Demon Unit showed no hesitation in cutting down the young trainees.
Seeing this, Yong Biyang shouted.
"Even if you are of the demonic path, how can you so cruelly kill children who don't even know martial arts!"
Yong Biyang drew his sword and charged at the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit.
Namwook and Jungwook of the Twin Dragons of Fury took the front, while the other two guards took the rear.
However, they were outnumbered.
There were about a hundred enemies, and those fighting against them now were only five from the Heavenly Central Sect, five promising disciples of Mount Hua, and about ten of Bongdu Sword and his disciples.
They fought while protecting the trainees fleeing toward the back gate.
"Hmm, aren't those swordsmen from Mount Hua?"
Jeon Man muttered as he looked at the promising disciples of Mount Hua.
Jeon Woong had not yet entered the battlefield.
"Yes, we didn't expect Mount Hua to attend. We've been monitoring, but since we didn't notice them, it seems they arrived at the end of the opening ceremony. What should we do?"
When Jeon Woong asked, Jeon Man replied quietly.
"It's already begun. A few warriors from Mount Hua dying won't change anything. Right now, we only need to think about showing the world what kind of place Iron Blood Demon Sect is."
While they were conversing, the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit was being defeated by Yong Biyang and the swordsmen of Mount Hua, coughing up blood and collapsing.
"Still, it's Mount Hua. Tell them not to kill the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Central Sect."
"I've already instructed the main unit. The Sect Leader of the Heavenly Central Sect must be captured. However, their skills are not ordinary."
It was as he said.
Especially, the Twin Dragons of Fury were sweeping through with a fierce momentum, attacking from both sides.
Their momentum was so intense, resembling the swordsmanship of the demonic path, that the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit was floundering.
It was so fierce that even Yong Biyang hesitated.
'These children, having survived the bamboo forest, their swordsmanship has become terrifying. In fact, in such situations, showing mercy with the sword only leads to more casualties.'
He himself was unable to properly take the lives of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit.
As a result, he couldn't advance and was becoming isolated.
'Because of me, innocent people will die.'
Yong Biyang changed his mindset.
Having never used a killing sword before, it wasn't easy for him to kill members of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit, even if they were of the demonic path.
However, after changing his mindset, Yong Biyang's sword began to sharpen.
"Keuak!"
He pierced the chest of a member of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit who was about to cut down a trainee defending with a stick.
And immediately moved to fight another member of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit.
As the Sect Leader's momentum changed, the Twin Dragons of Fury looked back and nodded.
They had no intention of letting the Sect Leader die.
They planned to leave the battlefield once the trainees had mostly escaped. No matter how good chivalry was, they couldn't let the Sect Leader die in such a place.
The swordsmen of Mount Hua responded with the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, a unique skill of Mount Hua, killing members of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit.
Even though killing wasn't easy, seeing them fight calmly showed that the title of promising disciples of a prestigious orthodox sect was not in vain.
"Quickly get the trainees out of the martial arts hall."
Ho Cheongun shouted as the trainees, who had been escaping well, started to get stuck.
When he went to the back gate, he saw that the Sect Leader of the Dabie Sect and his guards were fighting the members of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit who were guarding the back gate.
Because they were blocking the way, the trainees couldn't escape.
"Move aside! Let the trainees escape."
Ho Cheongun shouted at Hwang Sinjik.
"What are you talking about! I'll go out first."
However, the guards of the Dabie Sect couldn't break through the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit.
"At this rate, we'll all die! Who knows how long Sect Leader Yong can hold out!"
When Ho Cheongun spoke, Sa Jeokwoo and Poong Imso nodded.
"We'll try to break through the back gate."
Ho Cheongun replied.
"I will trust only in you, Senior Brother."
In truth, when they were first introduced here as fellow disciples, it was mentioned that they had studied together. However, Poong Imso was a prodigy who held the seat of the Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Sword Technique.
They had refrained from speaking to avoid revealing their identities.
"Junior Brother, let's go."
Without a moment's hesitation, Poong Imso and Sa Jeokwoo dashed toward the back gate.
"Master, we must now retreat and escape."
At Namwook's words, Yong Biyang shook his head.
"If we vacate this place, who will protect these children?"
"Master! We cannot die a meaningless death here."
At Jungwook's words, Yong Biyang looked at them and said,
"What are you saying! Saving these children and dying—how is that a meaningless death? You two should go! I will hold them off alone."
Sensing that they couldn't take Yong Biyang, who was already prepared to die, the Twin Dragons of Fury chuckled wryly.
"It's just like looking at the Young Master."
"He's his father's son, after all."
"Are we to die here? We who survived even the bamboo forest?"
"Even if we die, the Young Master will avenge us."
"Yes. The Young Master will surely avenge us."
The Twin Dragons of Fury stood beside Yong Biyang, ready to die.
The other two guards had already become cold corpses, lying on the ground.
Namwook and Jungwook looked at their fallen comrades, smirked, and charged forward.
"You bastards. The Twin Dragons of Fury are coming!"
Yong Biyang smiled gently as he watched his two brave guards.
He didn't welcome death.
However, having lived his life with chivalry on his lips, he couldn't run away, leaving the young trainees behind.
'My son, you would have made the same decision, wouldn't you? It's so hard trying to be a father you wouldn't be ashamed of.'
Yong Biyang's body was already covered in blood.
He couldn't muster strength in the hand holding his sword.
Having used up his qi without reservation to save the young trainees, he had no more qi left to sustain himself.
He drew upon his innate qi one last time, ready to die, and raised his sword.
As the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit surrounded Yong Biyang and prepared to attack, a voice repelled them.
"Stand back!"
At that, the members of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit parted, creating a path.
A middle-aged man, holding a sword, walked toward Yong Biyang.
"Master Yong, I cannot understand why the Heavenly Central Sect has remained quietly hidden until now. Because of you, nearly twenty of our children have died."
Jeon Man spoke coldly, staring at Yong Biyang.
"I wish I could kill you all, but things don't go as I wish. Are you the Sect Leader of the Iron Blood Demon Sect?"
Jeon Man nodded.
"Why commit such cruel acts, killing these children? What purpose does it serve?"
"This is the way of the demonic path. When killing, one does not discriminate. Drop your sword. Then you might save your life."
"Hahaha, you say you'll spare me after killing these innocent young lives. All I can do is laugh. I have no desire to live."
"Indeed, worthy of a family that produced the Supreme Dragon of Henan."
The two raised their sword and saber, facing each other.
Jeon Woong stood behind Yong Biyang, preparing for any unforeseen events.
As the Sect Leader of the Iron Blood Demon Sect and Yong Biyang faced off, the Twin Dragons of Fury struggled to move toward them.
The demonic martial arts and the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword harmonized so exquisitely that the two had been killing enemies without sustaining fatal injuries.
Seeing this, Jeon Man said to Jeon Woong,
"You go and handle them."
"Yes, Master."
Jeon Woong leaped toward the Twin Dragons of Fury.
The corpses of the dead trainees hindered Ho Maeyok's movements, making it difficult for her to wield her sword properly.
With little real combat experience, Ho Maeyok and Sa Ilhyang could only fend off the attacks of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit.
Protecting them, Ho Cheongun was fighting valiantly.
However, Ho Cheongun clearly demonstrated that he hadn't become a member of the Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Sword Technique without reason.
"Junior Sister, what do you think? Isn't our Senior Brother quite impressive?"
"Senior Brother Ho is indeed remarkable."
Even as the two women frantically blocked attacks, they maintained their composure.
They were being pushed back not because they lacked skill, but because they couldn't bring themselves to kill the enemy.
"If we survive, give our Senior Brother a chance."
"Alright. If we survive."
Sa Ilhyang knew that Ho Cheongun had feelings for her, but she had pretended not to notice because he didn't meet her standards. However, seeing Ho Cheongun risk his life to protect them in this situation made him appear manly.
Unlike the women's composure, Ho Cheongun's expression darkened as he saw the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit closing in.
The Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Sword Disciples are granted the qualification to become one of the Twelve Plum Blossom Sword Disciples after years, even decades, of rigorous training.
Compared to the Twelve Plum Blossom Sword Disciples, he still had a long way to go.
Among those Twelve, being selected as one of the Five Plum Blossom Sword Disciples of Mount Hua, or the Five Swords of Mount Hua, was considered a true master of the Mount Hua Sect.
Ho Cheongun was training in Mount Hua with that dream in mind.
Considering that all the Five Swords of Mount Hua were middle-aged, he resolved that he would become one of them in several decades.
'I can't die here like this.'
He wanted to revive the River Center Escort Agency of his family and make it the best escort agency in Henan, and he wanted to become one of the Five Swords of Mount Hua to command the martial world.
As strength returned to his weakening hands, he drove back three members of the Iron Response Blood Demon Unit.
However, contrary to his determination, his internal energy was gradually depleting, and his strength was waning.
"Junior Sister, if you reveal your identity, at least they won't kill you."
If he couldn't protect her by dying, he wanted to protect his beloved junior sister in any way he could.
"I don't think I can hold on any longer."