Chapter 216 – Yangtze River’s Blood Lord (3)

One of the black-sailed ships exploded.

It was a trap that would even sacrifice their allies. I was even swept away by it and almost lost my life.

I instantly used the True Blood Diamond Body even as Iron Sword flew upwards to protect me. However, we were caught up by the aftershocks of the explosion and were thrown into the water.

Iron Sword managed to find me as I was drifting in the water current. Once I managed to get out, I saw that many masked people had entered the boat.

-So many.

Just as Short Sword observed, more black-clad people were on the ship.

If we had been just a little late, this would have become much bigger.

-It’s easy to center the body, right? Wonhwi?

It’s better that way.

It was more comfortable to attack as one with the Sword Union while tapping into my internal qi. Holding onto the sword sheath and flying was uncomfortable as it felt like I was being dragged.

-I am also a little more stable like this.

Then, I am glad.

I heard that using your sword to fly was a technique called the Air Sword Flight. I heard it was possible for warriors skilled in the sword and sword techniques at the highest level. Thanks to the power of the sixth star, I could do it easily.

-Wonhwi, they will shoot arrows again.

With Short Sword’s warning, I rushed to the ship that was filled with masked people who had aimed their bows at me.

It looked like they would release it before I could even get close.

-Short Sword. Didn’t you say you wanted to move?

-Uh? Can I?

‘Show me.’

-Hehe.

Short Sword became excited and flew out of her sheath towards the ship. Of course, her smaller body meant she was much faster than Iron Sword.

As Short Sword flew at them, the masked men who had tried to shoot at me became flustered and tried to dodge her.

Swish!

However, Short Sword evaded them all and pierced through the masked men holding bows.

Chaos ensued as she pierced through five masked people like a sharp metal skewer.

“A-Air Sword!”

“Damn it, hold the line!’

The appearance of masked people running around while trying to evade Short Sword further excited her. At that moment, someone stepped forward.

It was a man with a scar around his mouth, and he attempted to grab onto Short Sword. Just by his movement, he seemed to be a great warrior.

‘Get to the ground.’

-Okay!

Short Sword pieced herself into the deck. I could detect the middle-aged man’s annoyance as he followed her.

Meanwhile, I managed to reach the deck safely.

Pat!

I jumped from Iron Sword sheath and landed on the ship’s deck. As we landed, a deafening cheer filled the air.

“Woahhhh!!”

“Warrior So!”

With my appearance, the warriors aboard the ship, alongside the Beggars Union and the Southern Edge Sect, regained their fighting spirit.

On the other hand, the masked people’s eyes became alert.

As if my appearance wasn’t enough, two swords were floating around me.

“Did I make you wait too long?”

Hearing this, Sima Young, who was standing behind me, said,

“I thought I would get tired of waiting.”

Such honesty.

Even as she said this, her face brightened up in relief as she was happy that I had returned safely.

My other companions as well.

Cho Seong-won sighed in relief while Song Jwa-baek spoke to the escort service women.

“He came this late on purpose to look cool.”

Was he desperate to look good in front of her?

Well, I get it somewhat.

She had looked a bit too thrilled when I appeared.

“Young Lord. You came.”

Sima Young handed over the scabbard draped on her back. Inside were Blood Demon Sword and True Evil Sword.

“Thank you.”

As soon as I received the scabbard and placed it around my back, their complaints filled my ears. They hadn’t been able to see anything since I had left them with Sima Young.

Sorry, but I will listen to it all later.

I left them with their complaints and turned around.

In front of me was a middle-aged man with a scar around his mouth. From what I could sense, he was an amazing warrior.

-Strong?

He was not just strong, but he was someone who had also crossed the wall.

-What? A warrior who crossed the wall?

I wasn’t even sure where this man came from.

If my guess was correct, then this man and the masked people likely belonged to the group run by the golden-eyed man.

If the words of the man who had blown himself up as part of a trap weren’t wrong, that is.

-No way, what do these people do? They have so many monsters around them that are around the same level as the Eight Great Warriors and Four Great Evils?

I wanted to ask that too.

From the former Great Evil, Mu Ack, to the Flashing Sword, and now to this man with the scar around his mouth, all of them were warriors who had crossed the wall.

-Wouldn’t they be on par with the Murim Alliance?

If we just looked at their internal qi, then yes. In terms of members among the Murim Alliance and the Dual Martial Troops, it would be rare to find a warrior like this man.

However, a warrior from this organization seemed to be someone who had crossed a third wall.

Even with just those three, it would be safe to say they were strong enough to take on the best in Murim.

But it felt strange.

-What?

I didn’t understand why they would try to compete with the Murim Alliance with this kind of strength without planning the use of a warrior like Mu Ack.

-Why do you think?

Well…

I only had two possible guesses.

This organization might have a purpose that we could not guess or assume, or they were in a situation where they could not openly expose themselves.

Whether it was the former or the latter, the fact that this organization was dangerous remained unchanged.

Then the scarred man opened his mouth.

“You are So Wonhwi?”

“Yeah, so?”

“How different from what I was told. Or did you hide your skills?”

He was speaking with interest instead of hostility.

The other masked men alongside him looked slightly puzzled.

I then asked him.

“You know me, but I don’t know you.”

“If I planned to not tell you, then I wouldn’t have removed the mask.”

“You mean you don’t have a mask on?”

Hearing this, the man smiled, emanating enough bloodlust that made everyone around us gulp.

“The dead cannot speak.”

“You are quite confident.”

Iron Sword landed in my grasp as I extended my hand. It was to show that I was armed and ready.

This didn’t seem to be a situation where we would have a long conversation. The scarred man then spoke.

“There is nothing less efficient than the air sword, which uses the internal qi.”

“Efficient?”

“You think you can use a technique that requires the utmost mental focus to fight against those who crossed the wall with life and death at stake? Skills like this are just to show your dominance over small fries.”

Was he saying that using the Air Sword wouldn’t work against him?

I snorted at him and replied,

“What do you want to say?”

“I will give you a chance.”

“A chance?”

“It would be a shame to kill someone as talented as you.”

These words shocked everyone around us. The man was speaking as if he wanted to recruit me.

The injured Do Wook shouted in protest.

“Cough… you shouldn’t listen to them at all, Warrior So!”

“Do not be tempted, Warrior So!”

Some of them were worried that I might be tempted by his offer. If I joined hands with him in a situation like this, the situation would truly become despair.

The scarred man then said to me,

“Come this way. Then I will guarantee the lives of those here.”

He was trying it again. However, unlike his previous offer, some of them were shaken by this offer as if he wanted me to take it.

They hoped that the fight would end, but this was a foolish thought.

I smiled and told him.

“Just give me three answers.”

“Three?”

The scarred man was puzzled by this. Regardless, I finished my words.

“Aside from those wearing masks, everyone else has seen your face. How can you guarantee their lives? Didn’t you say that the dead could not talk?”

Even those who had been shaken by his swords seemed startled. He realized what I did as he smiled.

“… smarter than you look.”

“Those who get deceived are fools.”

“Then change their minds. If you want to save their lives, how about coming this way?”

“You talk like you will always win the fight.”

“I understand it well. While you and I fight, everyone on the ship will die. So it is just a matter for everyone to die here.”

The man looked confident.

It was as if he would win, one way or another.

“Make a wise choice. Chances like this don’t come this often, So Wonhwi.”

In response, I sighed and chuckled.

“I will ask my second question. Do I seem skillful enough for your lord to want to recruit?”

‘…?!’

Hearing this, the man’s expression became stiff. There had been no reaction until now, but I could see one now. The masked men were also surprised.

After a moment of agitation, he said.

“… what about you?”

“Do you know why the golden-eyed man is called your lord?”

‘…!!’

Hearing this, the man unsheathed his worn-out weapon from around his waist, and his scar twisted around his mouth.

Srrng!

An intense qi filled the air around us. The man pointed his blade at me and said,

“How much do you know?”

“You said it all with your mouth.”

“What?”

Bang!

As soon as I said this, I stomped strongly on the deck before me. A loud roar spread around us.

An instance felt like an eternity of silence. At that moment, I wondered if the man knew what I was doing.

Pupupupupu!

“Kuak!”

“Ack!”

“Ack!”

Both Short Sword and Iron Sword flew around at the same time and pierced through the chests of the masked people.

“What is this…”

The scarred man couldn’t comprehend the situation. Instead of avoiding the sword, the masked men simply had blank looks and collapsed where they stood. Their senses were lost, and they only regained them when their chests were pierced.

The speed was so quick that nearly half their number was dead on the deck.

Pupupupupuk!

Their blood splattered everywhere as my two swords pierced through them.

“Youuuu!”

The scarred man rushed at me, which was the right thing to do.

It was quicker to stop the sword user instead of blocking flying swords.

Swish!

I reached out and summoned a sword from the ground and blocked his blade.

Chang!

“Stop this immediately!”

The scarred man rushed to me.

Chachachahcang!

This was all to break my concentration.

I released the Xing Ming Sword technique and blocked his path of attack. Even so, his eyes trembled as Iron Sword and Short Sword continued to attack his men.

“How in the world are you using the swords when you are fighting against me?”

It was possible because I was not moving. To someone who did not know, I must look like a monster.

As our sword and blade clashed, I asked meaningfully.

“And the 3rd question.”

“What?”

“If your head is cut off, you will die, but aren’t you being overconfident in your ability to recover?”

‘…!!’