Chapter 64: The Great Battle of Moon and Blood Bamboo (4)
Due to their fight, the other high-ranking guardians had retreated to the back, and the battle shifted into a lull.
This was because the outcome of this fight would determine the victor of the entire conflict. The warriors of the noble clans swallowed dryly and cheered on the two.
Even Seomun Yuwon, who had disliked Yong Hwarin without reason, supported both Pang Giyok and Yong Hwarin at this moment.
Pang Giyok squeezed out all his internal energy and vitality to unleash the Five Tiger Severing Saber Technique.
Then, from his saber, three white tigers sprang forth and leapt toward Zhao Qiansheng.
Manifesting three white tigers through saber energy alone spoke volumes—not just of Pang Giyok’s talent, but also the extent of his cultivated power.
The new saber technique, the Five Tiger Severing Saber, was nothing short of spectacular.
At the same time, Yong Hwarin unleashed Dragon Scale Heavenly Explosion from the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword.
Though it belonged to the third stance of the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword, it was the most suitable technique at this moment.
As Zhao Qiansheng gathered his energy to sweep away the three white tigers, a sudden explosion of force flew toward him in the style of Heavenly Thunder Ascending Dragon, catching him off guard.
“I won’t fall for the same trick twice!”
But in that moment, something burst forth from Yong Hwarin’s flying sword.
Not one, not two—but dozens of condensed waves of sword energy shot out.
Even Zhao Qiansheng had not anticipated this kind of attack.
Yong Hwarin had poured in the entirety of the half set of martial techniques from the Demonic Master, along with his own half set, to unleash Dragon Scale Heavenly Explosion.
Zhao Qiansheng was dumbfounded by these young ones tossing out sword energy and illusions as if they were mere toys.
“Ugh!”
For thirty years, Zhao Qiansheng had lived without knowing pain—but Yong Hwarin and Pang Giyok changed that.
The golden robe he wore, made from luxurious silk, was soaked red from sword energy that grazed his shoulder and nape.
Zhao Qiansheng was so enraged he wanted to turn the two into slabs of meat hanging in a butcher shop.
On the other hand, Pang Giyok and Yong Hwarin were dazed.
Even after pouring everything they had into their attack, all they managed to do was lightly scratch his shoulder and neck.
To them, Zhao Qiansheng no longer looked human.
“Damn it, how can a monster like that exist...?”
The truth was, they no longer had the strength to lift a finger. The two had no choice but to acknowledge the vast difference in power between them and Zhao Qiansheng.
Unconsciously, the two grasped each other’s hands.
As Zhao Qiansheng approached, they instinctively realized it was their final moment.
“If I’m going to die, I’d like to die as your friend, Yong.”
“It won’t be lonely in the afterlife with a friend like you.”
“Wahahaha! Even so, dying and gaining a friend makes it not such a bitter death!”
Pang Giyok burst into a bold, booming laugh.
Yong Hwarin smiled gently at him, then scanned his surroundings.
Despite their injuries, the Two Wook Sword Demons and Mo Biyoung were crawling on the ground to save the Young Master.
Jong Seok was also charging toward Zhao Qiansheng, sword in hand, full of resolve to protect his brother with his life.
The elite warriors of the Pang Clan had also already steeled themselves for death and were charging in.
“Seok! Take Hyemye and get out of here!”
Yong Hwarin shouted, and Jong Seok glared wide-eyed as he shouted back.
“Brother! If I have a friend and a brother when I die, I won’t die lonely! Munhye, I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”
Jong Seok had already resolved to die.
Jong Munhye tightly shut her eyes, unable to bear the sight.
Seeing the fearless fighting spirit of the young warriors, the exhausted warriors felt the blood in their veins boil once more.
“We’ll go with you!”
The warriors of the noble clans rushed toward Zhao Qiansheng, without hesitation.
They knew the battle wouldn’t end unless he was defeated—this was their final wager.
And then it happened.
Dududududududu!
The ground trembled from the thunderous roar of galloping hooves.
“Ah! Reinforcements!”
“Reinforcements have arrived!”
“Waaaah! Reinforcements from the Shangguan Clan are here!”
The warriors of the noble clans cheered in overwhelming joy.
In the end, Jaegal Yohye had succeeded in convincing Shangguan Byeokin to mobilize all the elders of the Shangguan Clan and head to the battlefield.
With Shangguan Byeokin joining, it was practically the full mobilization of the Shangguan Clan’s elite.
Zhao Qiansheng clenched his fists.
Sticky blood welled up in his palm.
Surrounded by the warriors of the noble clans, Zhao Qiansheng realized that killing Yong Hwarin and Pang Giyok would no longer be easy. His eyes twitched.
“Guardian Zhao, we must fall back.”
One of the guardians shouted, and Zhao Qiansheng’s lips trembled as he replied.
“I am Zhao Qiansheng, Chief of the Blood Demon Castle’s Guardian Assembly. Remember my name, both of you! We will meet again! Especially you, little brat of the Heavenly Central Sect!”
Pointing at Yong Hwarin, Zhao Qiansheng’s eyes gleamed with venom.
His pride had taken a massive blow—it seemed his journey to the Central Plains had ended in total failure.
“You remember my name too! I’m Yong Hwarin! Don’t forget it even in your dreams!”
Yong Hwarin shouted, refusing to back down.
Seeing the brat not yielding even a word, Zhao Qiansheng groaned and soared into the sky, disappearing.
He still had energy left.
‘He really is a monster…’
Though he shouted boldly, Yong Hwarin sincerely hoped he would never meet Zhao Qiansheng again.
Jaegal Yohye, who arrived at the scene, was left speechless at the sight of what looked like the aftermath of a war.
“Was I… was I too late?”
Among all the noble clans, fewer than fifteen survived from each.
Despite having thirty to forty participants per clan, not even half remained. The damage was catastrophic.
But the achievements were also significant.
They had completely annihilated one of the six divisions of the Blood Demon Castle, part of the Three Demonic Heavens.
They had also killed and driven off one of the top guardians of the Guardian Assembly.
Though few elite warriors of the clans had participated, and most fighters had been of the Young Master’s age group, it was still a remarkable victory despite the heavy cost.
Jaegal Yohye’s heart pounded at the sight of corpses scattered in every direction.
She felt a sharp pain in her chest, thinking that if she had known sooner and sent reinforcements earlier, they wouldn’t have suffered so much.
“Why didn’t you retreat? If you had, you wouldn’t have suffered this much.”
In response, Jaegal Byeok answered.
“If we had run, none of us would’ve survived. Those dead bodies over there would’ve been ours instead of the Blood Dragon Unit’s. And Young Master Yong believed you would bring reinforcements. We trusted his words and held on until now. It was a majestic battle. One we’ll probably never see again.”
“Did he really tell you to hold out because I would come with reinforcements?”
“Yes. Honestly, I didn’t believe it myself, but Young Master Yong believed it without a doubt. He was convinced you’d realize we’d fallen into a trap and come to save us. He trusted you until the very end.”
Jaegal Yohye’s expression shifted subtly with mixed emotions.
One part was guilt—blaming herself for not recognizing the trap sooner, which resulted in so many deaths.
The other was a deeply personal feeling. A confusion born from being trusted so unconditionally by Yong Hwarin, who had endured until the end because of that belief.
Jaegal Yohye couldn’t shake the feeling that she had committed a grave sin.
“It was him who saved everyone here.”
Jaegal Byeok ended the conversation with those words and fell silent.
His feelings toward Yong Hwarin were complicated as well.
‘It’s painful to look at him. Watching helplessly throughout the entire battle made me feel so useless I could’ve died from shame. But I should still thank him. If it weren’t for him, not only would the warriors of my clan be dead, but everyone else would have perished too.’
Others might not have grasped that truth on a visceral level, but Jaegal Byeok, who had a full view of the battlefield, understood it clearly.
In truth, the young masters of the other noble clans likely knew it too. But it hurt their pride to acknowledge someone else's achievement, so they pretended not to notice.
‘In that sense, I’m also a petty man.’
Jaegal Byeok could only look at Yong Hwarin with deep bitterness.
The Moon and Blood Bamboo Records describe this battle as follows:
The Great Battle of Moon and Blood Bamboo ended with the complete annihilation of the Blood Dragon Unit of Blood Demon Castle.
And from that battle, two heroes were born.
After the fierce battle, Yong Hwarin found himself in a worse condition than before. The Demonic Master’s inner energy was rampaging inside him, and moans continued to escape his lips.
Then he recalled the rooster’s blood given by Nan Myeonggwak before his departure. He took out the jade bottle from his inner pocket and drank it.
Strangely enough, while this rooster blood might not have worked for others, it was the perfect mysterious medicine for Yong Hwarin.
“Hey, friend. You’re eating something alone? Good things should be shared.”
Pang Giyok started the conversation and extended his hand.
“I’ve suffered internal injuries, so I’m taking medicine.”
“If it’s medicine, my family has some excellent ones. Want me to give you one?”
Though they had only fought together for a brief moment, the comradeship formed through life-and-death battle made them fast friends.
Until now, Pang Giyok had never called anyone from another clan a “friend.” Because of his lofty pride, he referred to them as senior or junior brothers at best.
Yong Hwarin was the only person Pang Giyok casually addressed as “you.” After briefly checking on Yong Hwarin’s condition, he returned to the warriors of his clan.
Though he was urgently needed to care for his own people, his concern for Yong Hwarin had brought him over.
Yong Hwarin, recognizing that sincerity, smiled faintly.
“He’s a good kid.”
Pang Giyok’s pure-hearted attitude made people feel at ease.
Yong Hwarin closed his eyes again to manage his inner flow. He felt deeply grateful to Nan Myeonggwak who had given him the rooster blood.
Without it, he might have died from qi deviation right here.
The Demonic Master’s energy moved according to the will of the Demonic Master’s spirit.
It was only thanks to the spiritual spell infused in the rooster blood that the energy returned to its rightful place.
Even so, the blood vessels that had been struck by the immense energy still throbbed with pain.
Now somewhat stabilized, Yong Hwarin looked over the dying Two Wook Sword Demons and Mo Biyoung and spoke.
“I’m sorry… this is all because of me.”
His sincere expression prompted Mo Biyoung to suddenly ask,
“Young Master!”
“Yes?”
“Who… who exactly are you?”
After this battle, Mo Biyoung could no longer see Yong Hwarin as the frail scholar he used to be.
She had seen a hero.
And heroes aren’t born without preparation.
Only someone like Pang Giyok, who had trained and prepared tirelessly, could become a hero.
Someone who had always been bedridden couldn’t suddenly pretend to be a hero one day. And yet, this Young Master looked even more heroic than Pang Giyok.
Mo Biyoung couldn’t even imagine that this man before her had once learned martial arts from her as the Young Master.
“I am…”
Everyone watched Yong Hwarin’s lips, curious about what he’d say next.
“I am Yong Hwarin, the Young Master of Heavenly Central Sect. And the Flying Dragon Sword Hero newly emerged into the martial world.”
The three listening so seriously burst out laughing, and Jong Munhye shed a tear from the absurdity.
Once they returned to the Shangguan Clan, Yong Hwarin was dragged around everywhere.
He had to attend a meeting with the Shangguan Clan Leader and the Elder Council to report the details of the battle, and also sweated through another briefing for the branch head sent by the Northern Justice League.
There was no time to rest after the battle.
It wasn’t until late evening that he was finally able to sit down for dinner with the other young masters of the noble clans.