Chapter 1510: Some People Settle Things Through Words (Part 5)

Lee Songbaek took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.

"Ugh!"

"Be careful!"

At that moment, Tang Soso's sword struck the cane of the Beggar's Union elder, who was pressing down on his own sword. Maintaining a defensive stance, Tang Soso asked.

"Are you okay?"

"Thank you, Sojeo!"

Expressing his gratitude, Lee Songbaek bit his lip tightly.

'Their internal energy is tremendous.'

The aura emanating from the cane was fierce. While the elders of the Beggar's Union may not have had a high martial level of skills, martial skills and internal energy were different.

Time flows equally for everyone. Just because they were elders of the Beggar's Union didn't mean time passed faster for them. Whether they lacked combat skills or not, the accumulated internal energy over the long period was evident in their attacks, making them formidable.

Although Lee Songbaek had also grown through the Southern Edge Sect's Bongmun, he hadn't accumulated internal energy to match theirs.

Moreover, Lee Songbaek's sword was specialized in facing opponents head-on. Facing an opponent who used internal energy to suppress the opponent wasn't favorable.

Given more time, Lee Songbaek could become a formidable force, but he hadn't reached the perfection of his sword yet.

"Hayap!"

Swish!

However, Lee Songbaek blocked every cane flying from all directions without missing a single one.

Tang Soso, who fought alongside him, couldn't help but marvel at him. The term "iron wall" must be used for something like this. Lee Songbaek's heavy and refined sword, different from Mount Hua's sword, was blocking every attack flawlessly.

'Impressive.'

Objectively, the Mount Hua Sect's disciples had many opportunities. They obtained extraordinary elixirs that couldn't be imitated elsewhere and experienced numerous real battles. Moreover, the Mount Hua Sect had Chung Myung.

But even without such privileges, Lee Songbaek, who diligently honed his own sword, was showing a sword that impressed Tang Soso.

How relentlessly must he have worked? Each time he wavered, he would have had to grab hold of himself countless times to come this far.

'These are the people standing at the pinnacle of Kangho.'

Yes, originally, it should be like this…

"Urrghh! Die!"

At that moment, Jo Gol leaped into the midst of the elders, wildly swinging his sword in all directions. It looked ridiculous and pathetic, but the sharpness of his attacks was unbelievably formidable.

Truly, the current state of the sect was bizarre. When she thought about it, that pathetic human was taking up space that should've belonged to Lee Songbaek.

"...Something is wrong."

"Yes?"

"Oh, no! Nothing."

Putting aside guilt and sadness, Tang Soso gripped her sword again.

Meanwhile, Pungyeong Shin Gae, who was guarding their backs with a solemn expression, charged forward, wielding his staff with all his might.

Kwaaaang!

The elders, blocking the flying jade-colored energies, stared sternly at Pungyeong Shin Gae.

"Leader!"

"Are you still calling me leader?"

"...Forget it. If you surrender now, your lives can be spared. After all, you don't possess particularly outstanding martial skills, do you? If you surrender, everyone can be saved."

Pungyeong Shin Gae sighed heavily with a somber expression.

"That's a wrong statement. Even if I surrender, they won't stop. He has never given up from the past until now."

"Whom are you talking about?"

Pungyeong Shin Gae shook his head.

"Words are unnecessary. Come forth. I will mete out fair punishment to those who disrespect the authority of the sect leader."

"If you have the ability, then try!"

Kwaang!

Pungyeong Shin Gae's staff clashed with the elders' canes in midair. With each collision, an impact that twisted his insides assaulted him, but what truly tormented Pungyeong Shin Gae was not physical but mental anguish.

'Where did things go wrong?'

They knew he was the leader of the sect, yet they were trying to kill him. Didn't they understand the meaning of life on this staff? [idk]

Chung Myung's words were like a thorn stuck in his chest.

'Shifu, we were wrong.'

The Beggar's Union had degenerated. It no longer followed the principles. It had become a place where only the selfish pursued their own interests and safety.

He, of all people, had made the Beggar's Union like this.

With a heart shedding tears of blood, he was about to swing the staff when a small and slender cane flew in, striking Pungyeong Shin Gae's side.

Kwaang!

"Ugh!"

"Leader!"

"Oh no…!"

Pungyeong Shin Gae staggered, and the elders rushed in, launching a relentless attack. At this moment, Tang Soso, risking her life, jumped in to block their canes.

Kwaang! Kwaang!

The internal energy surged through the sword and pushed into the body.

"Cough!"

Red blood poured out from Lee Songbaek's mouth.

"Sohyeop!"

Startled, Tang Soso extended her sword like a barrier, pushing the elders back for a moment, but Lee Songbaek had already suffered a significant injury.

"Now's the time!"

"Don't give them a chance! Finish it!"

The energized elders rushed forward with grim determination. They had no other choice at this point. If they had to produce a result, the quicker, the better.

"Ik!"

Hye Yeon, who sensed the crisis, unleashed a burst of power.

Kwaaaaah!

The golden energy surged fiercely, bouncing off several elders. However, there were too many opponents to block with the power unleashed from a distance.

"It can't pass through! Move aside...."

Desperately swinging the sword and parrying the canes, Tang Soso momentarily stopped. In the process of protecting others, she noticed a cane flying towards her face.

'Ah...?'

Unstoppable.

Sensing the imminent impact, Tang Soso did not close her eyes but instead stared directly at the incoming cane. At that moment, a sword suddenly flew in front, blocking the cane.

"Sago... No, huh?"

"Do you not know the word 'Sahyung' at all?" [lmao]

"Why are you here? That side is collapsing!"

"What do I know! Damn it!"

Reacting to Tang Soso's critical situation, Jo Gol rushed forward, swinging his sword with frustration. Following him, Yoon Jong shouted.

"Stay calm, Soso!"

"Yes, Sahyung!"

Nodding, Tang Soso tightened her grip on the sword again.

'But...'

They shouldn't be here. The siege had been broken. When gathered in one place, they can't avoid being surrounded.

"Kuk!"

"Amitabha!"

Sure enough, those who were holding their ground behind gradually couldn't withstand the pressure and began to falter.

"Ik!"

Unable to control his anger, Jo Gol's sword momentarily filled with immense energy. However, at that moment...

"GOL-AH!"

"....Jeez."

Yoon Jong's roar restrained the energy infused into Jo Gol's sword. Swearing, Jo Gol glared at the approaching elders. He looked like a furious wildcat.

Yoon Jong bit his lip, surveying the situation. Things were not looking good.

Of course, they could fight much better if they used deadly techniques as they would against the Evil Sect. However, that was not the way.

'Sasuk...'

Moreover, the biggest problem was that Baek Cheon didn't seem to be in good condition. A severe pressure weighed on Yoon Jong and everyone.

"Kuk...."

Another elder clutched his chest and collapsed.

Chung Myung observed the surrounded group as he adjusted his breath. At the moment when his expression hardened, a mocking voice reached his ears.

"Indeed, they're quite remarkable. But even if you don't know, they are not as extraordinary as the rumors."

Without saying anything, Chung Myung turned his gaze back. The relaxed appearance of Ilho Shingae caught his eye.

"...Something seems to be a misunderstanding, but whether they become formidable from now on depends on the situation."

"Well, that may be true."

Ilho Shingae acknowledged Chung Myung's words with a nod.

"But such greatness can change depending on the situation. Don't you agree?"

Chung Myung didn't respond.

"Although you may want to kill all those who stand in your way, you're the one who knows best that it's not the right thing to do."

Chung Myung squinted his eyes.

A painful critique. Trying to make the Beggar's Union's Sect Leader join them and killing all the elders was out of the question. They would never side with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. No, it might even turn into a confrontation with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

Moreover, with the already precarious state of Pungyeong Shin Gae, there was no way to recover after that.

No, there was no need to go that far.

Even if they were different in opinion, killing all those who hadn't committed major crimes would be no different from the Evil Sect.

That's why Chung Myung and the Five Swords couldn't kill the elders. [but they can kill the kids??? wtf is this] Even though he was prepared to cause injuries, the goal should be 'suppression' rather than 'execution.'

This was entangling everyone's ankles.

"Although I'm not the one who deals with information, rumors are certainly unreliable. Jumping into a battlefield where victory is impossible... It's ridiculous. Martial arts was impressive, but the intelligence was exaggerated. You shouldn't have set foot here."

"Shut up...."

"Ah!"

Chung Myung, who was about to smirk, hardened his expression and turned his head sharply. It was the voice of someone from the group defending while being surrounded. He had no choice but to turn around as if catching his attention.

He knew. They wouldn't go down easily.

But he couldn't completely cut off his attention and focus only on this place. Chung Myung could no longer be the Chung Myung of the past.

He bit down on the flesh inside his mouth.

There was no time to waste like this. This fight was different from what they had experienced so far. Breaking through meant that if one side collapsed, someone would open the way. However, in a defensive and suppressive fight, if one side crumbled, a chain reaction occurred instantly.

Since the opponent was defending intensely, there was no opening for Chung Myung's sword to reach Ilho Shingae. The way they used allies as shields and thoroughly withdrew their bodies, fighting with that kind of combat style, was something the martial arts practitioners hadn't commonly seen.

Chung Myung sharpened his sword.

"A guy who doesn't know shame."

"Shame, huh?"

Ilho Shingae smirked.

"I lived for decades, groveling and living after losing my seat to a junior brother. Adding one more small shame to all that embarrassment... what difference does it make?"

Another groan reached Chung Myung's ears.

"Kuk!"

Instantly, Hye Yeon's power surged. It was a tremendous force that could blow away the elders at once, but paradoxically, it meant that the situation had become desperate.

"Sasuk!"

"Don't come! Hold your ground!"

You didn't need to see it with your eyes to know. They were cornered in a dead-end.

"Are you anxious?"

Ilho Shingae chuckled. A glint of determination flashed in Chung Myung's eyes.

"Already there's no need to despair so much. Real despair is now..."

Paaat!

Before Ilho Shingae could finish speaking, Chung Myung's body stretched like a stretched rope and charged forward. The sword fiercely penetrated through the cane extended reflexively to protect Ilho Shingae. Chung Myung's sword powerfully thrust through the openings, pushing aside everything and creating a path.

Quaaang!

Quaaang!

The overwhelming force filled the air as Chung Myung's body soared through the air. The blood spurting out formed a red line in the air.

Chung Myung's eyes were focused solely on one person, Ilho Shingae.

Paaat!

The sword extended like lightning.

Kagagang!

Although blocked, it didn't matter.

"Ha!"

Chung Myung let out a rare shout. The explosively released canes were all deflected. The ominous energy-infused sword of the Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword aimed directly at Ilho Shingae's neck.

"Yaaaaat!"

In the midst of confusion, Ilho Shingae also pushed all his internal energy from his entire body.

Wooooong!

At his fingertips, a jade-colored energy spread like clouds. The jade-colored force, storming like a tempest, collided head-on with the red-tinged aura on Chung Myung's sword.

Kagagak!

Twisting like a dance, the Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword penetrated through Ilho Shingae's force.

Ilho Shingae widened his eyes.

"Haaaaaah!"

Desperately, he gathered all the remaining power, pushing it into his energy.

Kwak!

However, Chung Myung's sword pierced through Ilho Shingae's energy like a cloud, stabbing his neck.

Thud!

Ilho Shingae's body was thrown backward.

The blood spewing from his neck drew a crimson arc in the air.