Chapter 155 : Variable

Variable

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the blink of an eye, half of the enemy collapsed.

They had clashed head-on, but to the enemies, it must have felt as sudden as an ambush.

Among them, there wasn't a single one whose wits were scattered or who fell limply to the ground, nor anyone who passed out face-first.

All those swept up by the bursting energy of the sword strike crossed the river of death instantly.

There was no need to hold back. There were no ordinary folks here to get caught in the crossfire.

Only things that contributed nothing to this land were swarming here. He intended to cut them all down.

"......"

Jeong-un swept his gaze to the end of the group.

At the entrance to the den that formed their massive village, there weren't any new enemies coming out yet.

'Is this not enough?'

If so, he needed to stir up more chaos.

He'd already seen the High Priest and regular cultists; there were bound to be more subtle layers of hierarchy linking them.

Even now, the enemies at the front were slightly stronger.

He had to make such guys come out, leading their subordinates behind them.

'That way, the last remaining High Priest will reveal himself.'

By continuing the disturbance, Jeong-un figured the lone High Priest might head his way.

That was the real target.

Of course, it was possible that the last one had already left for another battlefield.

Hundreds of Heavenly Martial Hall warriors were advancing up the mountain, herding the enemy and encircling them as they went.

Skirmishes must have been breaking out everywhere.

'There's bound to be at least one left behind.'

A High Priest within their group would be highly valued.

That meant it was very likely at least one of them would be defending the Main Headquarters.

Ta-ak!

With that, Jeong-un once more unleashed a wave of sword strikes and advanced.

By now, Moonlight Swift Steps had joined the ranks of his ascended martial skills.

With a single step, he covered a distance of several mats.

"Kraak!"

"Ugh!"

As he did, he kept swinging his sword.

The ki wave created by Moonlight Swift Steps merged with the bursting energy unleashed by his sword, forming a massive vortex.

All around was utter mayhem. Between the screams of the enemies, blood burst out in succession.

Right behind him, Yong So-myeong cut down all the remaining enemies in Jeong-un's wake.

Each sword move was precise and aimed only for the vital points.

If he brushed by with a single slash, it was death, nothing more.

Waste of cultivated power was minimized to the extreme.

His sense in regulating true ki through his body was nothing short of exquisite.

In fact, for someone of Yong So-myeong's caliber, there was no need to play second fiddle—his martial skills were more than enough to sweep through enemy lines alone.

And yet, he quietly followed Jeong-un and supported the flow.

Despite both being two-stripes, Yong So-myeong had clearly been impressed by Jeong-un's earlier feats.

In an instant, they broke through the enemy ranks and approached the front of the lair.

Over the walls, which stood at a fair height, the cluster of pavilions spread out like an ordinary village.

― Are you planning to enter right away?

Yong So-myeong's sound transmission reached him.

Jeong-un stared at the entrance for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

― We shouldn't enter deeper. It's better to keep eliminating those who come out to us from here, so we can retreat at any time.

― Got it.

Yong So-myeong agreed without asking for justification.

Of course, there was a good reason not to go deeper.

To Jeong-un, their current position was extremely advantageous.

If they went further inside, they could be surrounded by the enemy in an instant.

For now, they were still fine, but as their true ki and internal energy ran dry and minor wounds accumulated, things could turn dangerous.

More importantly, it was unclear how much longer Yong So-myeong's internal energy would last.

Even if he had taken all sorts of elixirs worthy of a great sect's disciple, he couldn't match Jeong-un.

Besides, these guys were sly enough to lob fire bombs around.

If thousands of such enemies joined together under a veteran High Priest, it would become truly perilous.

Jeong-un added,

- Let's keep drawing their attention here for a while. Stirring up further commotion could help. If there's a High Priest inside, it might bring him here.

- Understood.

As the reply came, Yong So-myeong's figure blurred.

Saaak!

This was no longer the supportive movement from before.

As if waiting, he dashed toward the enemies, unleashing a chill of sharp ki wave in every direction.

Then, he executed three tremendous swift sword moves, scattering bursting energy in multiple streams, sweeping his surroundings.

Even at a glance, they were masterfully executed sword moves.

The enemies' responses varied.

Some tried to flee cautiously; some lunged in, screaming; others tried to creep up, using allies as shields.

"Guh!"

"Kkuek!"

But whatever their intentions, the result was the same.

They couldn't properly block the storm of bursting energy from the sword.

The Wudang Sect was said to be revered by commoners for its justice and relief.

Now, Jeong-un saw why—they seemed like immortals.

Even their smallest step held an unusual dignity.

Seeing someone like that mercilessly wield a sword against villains would drive anyone to their knees in awe.

'Yes.'

That was exactly the image Jeong-un remembered. The razor-sharp flow of ki like a single sword.

The cold, emotionless face, as if free of any personal feelings. The very epitome of a swordsman's poise.

At the time, Jeong-un had looked up at him with admiration.

It was natural—to Jeong-un back then, just setting foot in the martial world with a wisp of internal energy, he seemed like a legend.

But now, things were different.

Now, Jeong-un was a true expert who had built a reputation across the vast Central Plains.

His fame spread not just at the Heavenly Martial Hall but throughout the martial world.

He was no longer someone who could just stand there in awe.

Pa-at!

Ki wave exploded outward from his entire body. Jeong-un's current energy was purer than anything possessed by ordinary martial artists.

It rivaled even masterful elixirs.

The Blood Cult was known for essence-draining the impure vital energy of cannibalism to fuel their martial arts.

To such foes, Jeong-un's ki was an irresistible appeal to their instincts.

"If only I could take a little of it——"

Were they smacking their lips even at a time like this?

Some of them even stood frozen, staring at Jeong-un in a daze, completely taken aback.

'How ridiculous.'

He didn't even feel angry. Jeong-un poured cultivated power into the hand gripping his sword.

True ki, boiling up from his dantian, coursed through the central channel with a slight vibration.

Then, bursting from his entire body as ki wave, he twisted his waist and unleashed a swift sword move.

Saaak!

With a sunlight-catching flash of the sword, a line was drawn across the napes of the greedy-eyed foes before they could even comprehend their situation.

Puhak!

Their stunned faces flew off their bodies into the air. Blood spurted like fountains.

The expressions on the flying heads remained vivid—the only difference was the light had faded from their eyes.

He didn't stop there. Jeong-un leapt again, kicking up a cloud of dust with a Whoosh.

He didn't bother concealing the ki wave surging from his body. There was no need.

He let it swirl around his arms and legs as he swung and kicked, channeling it into sword strikes and palm techniques.

In an instant, the enemies around him were swept away.

"R-run away!"

Finally, one of the others shouted loudly.

He was right in front of his own side's den. The notion of running at this point was absurd.

Just then, Yong So-myeong's transmitted voice brushed his ear.

― It looks like more of their reinforcements are coming.

― I sense it too.

He could feel waves of ki in the distance, surging as their reinforcements rushed in.

After watching for a moment, the enemy had apparently decided to deploy more men in response to the havoc at their doorstep.

This was exactly what Jeong-un wanted.

The objective was to cut down those rabble while drawing out the High Priest, who was probably watching all this from within.

At some point, he would get provoked and come out.

Chwa-aak!

The two warriors from Heavenly Martial Hall were ruthless.

These guys deserved no thought of mercy.

Without an ounce of hesitation, they swept their swords through the enemy as if reaping them.

Spurting blood wet the ground everywhere.

"......"

At that moment, Jeong-un sensed another powerful ki wave from far away.

The distance was considerable, but it wasn't the usual foul and chilling energy of these enemies.

Instead, it was the distinctive clear and majestic aura of the orthodox martial artists.

What's more, the number was meaningful. Their intent was clear.

'The corps leaders have arrived.'

The corps leaders of the White Tiger Corps, Black Snake Corps, Blue Scale Corps, and Red Dragon Corps—each was a martial expert ranked among the top hundred in the entire martial world.

The High Priests couldn't truly stand against them; at most, they could buy some time.

It was only natural for them to make it this far.

'Good.'

That meant there was no reason to stay here any longer. Instead, they needed to move further away.

Joining the corps leaders would be meaningless now.

Their forces might grow, but there was a risk the enemy would concentrate their men in one spot.

It would not be a good move.

Jeong-un now possessed martial skills on par with the corps leaders.

With Yong So-myeong adding to his strength, they would pose a significant threat to the enemy.

If they kept drawing attention on the opposite side, it would be easier for the corps leaders to break through into the enemy base.

Moreover, soon the other teams were due to arrive, each moving in formation.

Jeong-un's task was clear.

'Scatter the enemy and trim their numbers.'

With this decision, he sent Yong So-myeong a sound transmission.

― We should move.

― Where did you have in mind?

― The corps leaders are approaching from the west. If we move even farther away and cause more disturbance, the enemy will scatter even more.

― It's a good idea.

As soon as the reply came, Jeong-un cut down more enemies with his sword, pushing through them, then struck the ground hard.

Pa-at!

He then dashed forward, charging toward the enemy stronghold.

"Young hero! Why are you heading that way?!"

Behind him, Yong So-myeong's panicked cry receded swiftly into the distance.

He must have been so shocked that he forgot to use sound transmission, yelling with his actual voice instead.

Jeong-un ignored it and surged ahead like a gale.

The enemy's piled-up wall loomed rapidly before him.

Tatadak!

He placed his foot directly on the wall and sprinted along its surface.

Kicking off it as if it was flat ground, he soared into the sky.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, his field of vision widened. He could take in the whole battlefield at a glance.

In the west, the four corps leaders were mercilessly cutting their way through the enemy, charging toward another entrance to the base with tremendous force.

Once their plan for a stealthy entry had failed, they seemed to have decided to just smash through the front.

Meanwhile, from the other two entrances, Blood Cult members were pouring out.

With their numbers said to be in the thousands, it was no exaggeration.

Even with numerous Heavenly Martial Hall warriors constantly killing them, there were still that many left.

'That way.'

With his destination set, he twisted his body in midair. Just then, gravity pulled at him as his flight began to drop.

He skillfully kicked the wall again with his toe, adjusting his falling speed, this time applying the subtlety of Moonlight Swift Steps.

Paaang!

With a kick, he hurled himself elastically back toward Yong So-myeong.

"......"

Yong So-myeong stared at Jeong-un with wide eyes.

He had definitely seen Jeong-un kick off the wall and soar, almost as if gliding through midair.

'The sense for channeling true ki into lightness skill......'

With a bewildered face, Yong So-myeong stared at Jeong-un.

Could someone of my own age group really be this strong?

When he had seen him at the Heavenly Martial Hall, Jeong-un hadn't seemed this fearsome.

Mixed emotions flickered across his face.

Jeong-un looked at him impassively and spoke.

"Let's go."