Chapter 209: A Friends and the Blood Road (2)

And that amusing moment soon came to pass.

The Heavenly Demon King Unit, who had pursued them into the forest, were ambushed one by one by the assassins of the Blood Green Unit who had been hiding in stealth. They were killed in succession.

Ma Jeung spotted the assassins and shouted.

“Get out of the forest!”

No matter how powerful the Heavenly Demon King Unit were, they couldn't withstand the assassins' stealth attacks.

Moreover, the Blood Green Unit were not originally assassins but elite warriors of the Hidden Saint Cult, and their martial arts were high-level. The Heavenly Demon King Unit had no way to resist.

He blamed himself for not suspecting Yong Hwarin, who had fled into the forest.

‘I momentarily forgot that this was the one who defeated all three Young Masters. He's not someone you can afford to be careless around.’

Even while being trapped in the perfect scheme of the First and Third Young Masters, Ma Jeung couldn’t help but admire Yong Hwarin's ability to mobilize assassins in such a manner.

But he still had nearly thirty elite warriors under his command.

Even if it were only half that number, he had confidence.

The loss of twenty warriors from the Heavenly Demon King Unit in the forest was too painful.

If he had judged the situation correctly, they wouldn’t have died.

Baekseom stepped out of the forest on his own once he saw the enemy's numbers had been reduced to thirty.

If their numbers were roughly equal, Baekseom was confident.

“Now this is a fight worth having.”

But Baekseom soon regretted stepping out of the forest.

Nearly a hundred warriors were charging in from the riverside forest.

Ma Jeung had been extremely displeased when he received the message that Lee Yung had redirected the troops meant for the manor to his location.

Sending additional Heavenly Demon King Unit members to support him while he was facing Namgung Yoo and Baek Cheonggye felt like a sign of mistrust.

His lord’s overly cautious personality was irritating at times.

But now he thought Lee Yung had the foresight of a sage.

Of course, he knew it was because Lee Yung didn’t want to support the Third Young Master, so he had redirected the troops. But in a critical moment like this, such thoughts disappeared.

Namgung Yoo’s legs gave out and trembled when she realized that even with Yong Hwarin on their side, they couldn’t possibly withstand over 130 first-rate experts.

In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to look at Yong Hwarin, believing she had put him in danger.

But Yong Hwarin did not shrink back even when he saw the reinforcements.

“The plan hasn’t changed! We’re breaking through!”

However, when Namgung Yoo didn’t lift her head, Yong Hwarin shouted.

“Ah Yoo!”

At that, Namgung Yoo looked up at Yong Hwarin.

Namgung Yoo was so overcome with guilt that she couldn’t bring herself to meet Yong Hwarin’s gaze.

“If something like this is enough to make you shrink back, can you really call yourself the bloodline of the Namgung Clan? If it were my friend Pang Giyok, he’d be grinning ear to ear, saying there were more bastards to kill! I can’t stand seeing my friend lose spirit before even starting the fight! The reason I accepted Ah Yoo as a friend is because, though you’re a woman, you carry yourself like a true man!”

As he scolded her, Yong Hwarin placed a hand on Namgung Yoo’s shoulder.

“Ah Yoo, today I’ll show you what it means to be a true man.”

The sight of a hundred warriors drawing their swords and charging was a spectacular one.

The light reflecting from over a hundred blades looked like hundreds of silver fish leaping above the water’s surface.

‘I might die today!’

Rather than fear, excitement welled up.

Such a thought crossed his mind, but Yong Hwarin held on to a sliver of hope.

He believed in the Protective Energy he had learned from the Demonic Master as he grasped the ultimate principle of the Inner-Outer Realm.

‘That’s right, with the Protective Energy, I can break through them!’

“I'm going! Ah Yoo! Division Leader, I’m going in!”

Baek Cheonggye, filled with heroic spirit, shouted loudly.

“To die alongside the heroes of the Murim today—what greater honor could there be! Leave the rear to me!”

In contrast, Namgung Yoo murmured softly.

“I’ll guard your back until I die.”

“Then I'm going, friend!”

As Yong Hwarin dashed forward, he infused his energy and recited something under his breath.

“Geocheonhaji Gwanggeo!”

A true man must live upright

in the broadest place under the heavens.

Hearing the first line, Namgung Yoo tightened her grip on the Poison Sword.

She seemed to understand what Yong Hwarin was trying to convey.

The words Yong Hwarin was reciting were the teachings of Mencius on what it meant to be a true man.

Overflowing with righteous energy, the East Evil Division Leader Baek Cheonggye followed with a loud shout.

“Ipchunhaji Jeongnip!”

He must stand upright

in the most just place under the heavens.

The writings of Mencius on the true man were well-known verses throughout the land.

Then, continuing the verse, Namgung Yang wiped her tears and shouted out.

“Haengcheonhaji Daedo (行天下之大道)!”

A true man must walk

the greatest path under the heavens.

Yong Hwarin expelled the power of Three Gaps through the Laogong Point and Yongcheon Point, syncing with Nature’s Energy, and then withdrew it again.

However, instead of drawing it back into his Dantian, he absorbed the energy into his body, and the True Qi that had resonated with Nature’s Energy wrapped around him.

Yet, no one noticed this transformation within Yong Hwarin.

Only Baek Cheonggye, standing behind him, sensed a tremendous surge of energy radiate from Yong Hwarin and believed it to be simply a rise in spirit.

When Yong Hwarin swung his sword at the approaching enemies, five warriors from the Heavenly Demon King Unit simultaneously blocked his sword.

But Yong Hwarin, undeterred, charged straight toward the Heavenly Demon King Unit with unyielding momentum.

The warriors of the Heavenly Demon King Unit blocking the front sneered as they watched his reckless rush.

They had seen such behavior often from those who threw themselves at death and didn’t pay it much attention.

Ma Jeung also muttered as he watched.

“It’s over. Now the name of the Heavenly Sword Hero will be buried in this Kirin River.”

Although he regretted not being able to finish it with his own hands, now was not the time to dwell on that.

He feared that if he lost, even with overwhelming forces, it meant Yong Hwarin could still defeat him.

Seeing that the First Young Master had reinforced with over a hundred troops, Ma Jeung abandoned his own ambition.

Kwaaang!

With a thunderous explosion, a red aura erupted from the point of Yong Hwarin’s collision.

It was none other than a mist of blood—Blood Mist.

Then, unexpectedly, the limbs of the Heavenly Demon King Unit warriors flew into the air.

Puh-eok!

Each time the sound of impact rang out, the Blood Mist rose, and severed limbs floated into the air. Even Ma Jeung, who had fought through countless battles, had never seen such a sight.

“That’s…!”

Seeing the Heavenly Demon King Unit warriors’ limbs torn apart after colliding with Yong Hwarin, Ma Jeung couldn’t hide his shock.

As he tried to think of what martial art could produce such power, a cry of astonishment burst from his mouth.

“Could that be… the Protective Energy?!”

Ma Jeung was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped.

To Namgung Yoo, the sight of Yong Hwarin charging and slaughtering the enemy was pure shock.

“Wahahahaha! This is truly the highest state of the Jiangshi that this old man has dreamed of all his life. To see it realized through Young Master Yong! Wahahahaha! This is exhilarating!”

“Oh my! Isn’t that Protective Energy?!”

“Yes! I’ve never seen it before myself, but if that’s not Protective Energy, then what is?!”

“Heavens! I can’t believe Hwarin reached the level to wield Protective Energy!”

As everyone looked at Yong Hwarin with stunned expressions, Baek Cheonggye responded.

“Miss Namgung’s friend is truly extraordinary! No wonder Miss Namgung speaks so highly of him!”

As Yong Hwarin pierced through in an Ego-less State, the Heavenly Demon King Unit shouted desperately.

“Stop him! If swords don’t work, block him with your bodies!”

But each time they tried to block, the Blood Mist rose without fail.

After charging through over a hundred jang with the Protective Energy surrounding him, his True Qi rapidly depleted.

As his legs started to falter, Baekseom came up beside him and said,

“Young Master Yong, keep running. We’ll hold this place.”

Yong Hwarin looked at Baekseom.

Rather than answering directly, he raised his voice and cried out like he was singing.

“Deukji yeomin yuji, budeukji dokhaeng gido!”

If the world understands my will,I shall carry it out together with the people.

If the world does not, I shall walk my path alone.

Yong Hwarin recited the next verse of the True Man’s Creed in response to Baekseom.

‘Martial skill, character—he lacks in nothing. Now I understand why the Young Cult Leader calls Young Master Yong “Orabeoni.”’

Baekseom grinned widely.

As a proud devotee of the Hidden Saint Cult, he felt a pang of regret at the fact that they were reduced to acting as assassins.

But at this moment, he was no longer an assassin, but a warrior. He wanted to remain as a true devotee of the Hidden Saint Cult.

And Baekseom, revealing his white teeth, shouted aloud.

“Bugwi buneung eum, bincheon buneung i!”

Even if wealth and honor tempt my life,

I shall not become corrupted by them.

Even if I am poor and low-born,

I shall not change the course of my life because of it.

That verse pierced his heart as if it were written about him.

Being a devotee of the Hidden Saint Cult, he had always been troubled by their acts as assassins for the sake of raising funds and expanding power.

But he had suppressed all that shame under the mission of rebuilding the Hidden Saint Cult.

Now, he realized he had, without knowing, changed the course of his life just because he was poor and low.

“Protect Young Master Yong to the end!”

At his words, the twenty or so members of the Blood Green Unit gritted their teeth.

Baekseom’s shout felt like the True Man’s path directed at them.

The Heavenly Demon King Unit, once numbering over a hundred, had been reduced to half by Yong Hwarin’s Protective Energy.

Just by clashing and colliding, such a result had emerged—even the elites of the Heavenly Demon Sect, known for their fearlessness, could not help but be shaken.

But as Yong Hwarin’s Protective Energy gradually faded, the number of warriors deflected away sharply decreased.

“Keuk!”

Yong Hwarin, having exhausted the internal energy of Three Gaps, took a sword strike to his side.

Blood splattered, soaking the right side of his torso red.

“Wahahahaha! You bastards! I am none other than Baek Cheonggye, Division Leader of the East Evil Division! Come to me!”

As the Heavenly Demon King Unit all focused on Yong Hwarin, Baek Cheonggye stepped forward and shouted.

Namgung Yoo had moved too far forward trying to protect Yong Hwarin, and Namgung Yang grabbed her sleeve.

But when she saw Namgung Yoo smiling fearlessly, tears welled up in Namgung Yang’s eyes.

To see, right before her, the very image she had dreamed of all her life as a martial artist, filled her with overwhelming emotion.

“Ah Yoo! Even if you die, you have to complete the final line of the True Man’s Creed!”

Yong Hwarin was too occupied at the front, swinging the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm wildly against the Heavenly Demon King Unit, to spare any breath for words.

Namgung Yoo, looking at Yong Hwarin who had always regarded her as a True Man till the end, shed tears.

Fortunately, her tears were hidden as enemy blood soaked her face, so no one could see.

“Wi mu buneung gul!”

No matter what threat or intimidation comes, I shall never bow my life in submission.

Just as she was about to recite the final verse, a clear voice echoed loudly from the direction of the river.

“Chaji widae jangbu!”

Such a life as this—

That is what one calls a True Man.

It came from a large boat upstream.

And then, a Lion’s Roar erupted.

“Everyone, cease at once!”

Screeeeeeech!

Kwaang!

A spear struck down between Yong Hwarin and the Heavenly Demon King Unit.

The Heavenly Demon King Unit, who had been charging like demons, froze at the emblem attached to the spear.

Embroidered on the banner tied to the spear was a golden dragon poised to ascend—a symbol of the Imperial Family.

“It is the order of Muhwa Lord! All forces, cease combat immediately!”

As a middle-aged man standing at the bow of the boat shouted with infused Qi, the riverbank pebbles trembled.

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