Chapter 1061
Mount Hua’s disciples hesitated and opened their eyes in the swirling aftermath of the explosion.
“Tha- That….”
With each surge of the strong force (??(勁力)) unleashed by Dan Jagang, the earth ruptured and the terrain twisted. However, even in the midst of the tremendous demonic energy explosion, Jang Ilso did not back down even an inch and stood against Dan Jagang.
Facing attacks that seemed capable of toppling a great mountain, Jang Ilso stubbornly clung to Dan Jagang.
It was truly a tightrope walk.
No, it is a stunt so dangerous that it cannot be fully expressed in such words.
Even Mount Hua’s disciples, who had no other feelings towards Jang Ilso but only malice, felt their hearts sink every time the dark demonic energy nearly touched his body.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of exchanges took place. If he makes just one mistake, that damn demonic energy will immediately hit him directly from a short distance, and at that moment, half of his body will be blown away.
And Jang Ilso, who was the person involved, must know that fact much more clearly than Mount Hua’s disciples. However, he continues to push Dan Jagang as if he was immune to fear.
As if…
“Tha- That… Chung Myung….”
Baek Cheon nodded his head without realizing it when Jo-Gol groaned the words. The fighting style that Jang Ilso is currently showing resembles that of someone they are familiar with.
‘I never thought there’d be another person in the world who could do that.’
It’s such a ridiculous thing that even Baek Cheon, who constantly watched and learned from Chung Myung, wouldn’t even dare to try it. The reason Baek Cheon couldn’t try that method in the first place was not because he was weak.
Because just knowing doesn’t mean you can do it.
In a situation where invisible attacks come and go, maintaining such proximity without ever allowing a hit is a matter of sense rather than martial arts. And human senses cannot escape their innate limitations, no matter how much they are honed.
Baek Cheon is actually better than Chung Myung when it comes to boldly unfolding martial arts in accordance with the correct instructions. However, no matter how hard Baek Cheon tries, it is impossible for him to imitate Chung Myung’s beast-like senses.
And now, Jang Ilso was handling the bishop just like Chung Myung would.
At that time, Yoon Jong, who had been watching with fascination, opened his mouth as if in pain.
“Too…. Isn’t that too dangerous, that… ?”
The acrobatics on that razor-edge line of life and death that tightened the hearts of those who watched it eventually elicited words of concern from Mount Hua disciples for Jang Ilso.
They knew.
If he can accomplish the same thing, Jang Ilso might be better than Chung Myung right now.
However, despite this realization, watching the scene unfold did nothing to ease their minds. It seemed as if Jang Ilso’s head would explode at any moment and scatter his brains in all directions.
‘Is that really possible?’
Sweating profusely, his whole body felt sticky.
“If Jang Ilso gets hit by a chance….”
Just then, a chilling voice reached his ears.
“You spout nonsense as it comes. The young punk of Righteous Sects.”
Baek Cheon reflexively turned his head and looked at the speaker.
Advisor of Evil Tyrant Alliance, Ho Gamyeong. He continued speaking without taking his eyes off the fierce battle between Jang Ilso and Dan Jagang.
“If you don’t know, then shut up and watch. He is not someone you can judge with your petty mouths.”
Baek Cheon was momentarily overwhelmed by anger, but it quickly subsided. It wasn’t because of Ho Gamyeong’s presence, but because of the expression he was making.
As far as Baek Cheon knows, Ho Gamyeong is the same as Jang Ilso’s limbs.
Even before Evil Tyrant Alliance was formed, back when the group was still called Myriad Man Manor… No, even before the name Myriad Man Manor was coined, the names of Jang Ilso and Ho Gamyeong were already spreading together.
If so, Jang Ilso would be an irreplaceable being for that person, Ho Gamyeong. How could he remain so calm while his lord was performing such a life-threatening tightrope walk?
At that time, Ho Gamyeong slowly shifted his gaze and looked at Mount Hua’s disciples coldly.
He had no desire to converse with them, but…
“Do you find Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword more trustworthy?”
Baek Cheon did not answer, but Ho Gamyeong continued what he wanted to say as if there was no need for an answer.
“That must be because you’ve witnessed the miraculous victories created by Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword with your own eyes.”
Baek Cheon opened his mouth to refute but then closed it tightly.
That’s not the sole reason they trust Chung Myung. However, if Chung Myung had not shown them the ability to win seemingly impossible battles one after another, they certainly would not have been able to blindly trust Chung Myung like they do now.
“How long have you watched him? Five years? Ten years?”
“….”
“Understand this clearly, you little punks of Righteous Sects.”
Ho Gamyeong spoke as if spat out.
“For over twenty years, Paegun Jang Ilso has always trampled on those who are stronger than him. If there had been even one defeat among them, the name Jang Ilso would have been forgotten as a common name.”
“….”
“Because he has not been defeated, he has survived; because he has not been defeated, he has conquered. Whether the opponent is strong or not doesn’t matter.”
At that moment, Baek Cheon felt a chill down his spine.
Of course, they also place too much trust in this person called Chung Myung. However, Ho Gamyeong’s trust in Jang Ilso was on a different level from theirs.
‘Isn’t that closer to Magyo?’
It was closer to faith than trust. Without questioning the reasons or circumstances, just believe.
But… come to think of it, wouldn’t that be likely?
If they, too, continue to witness Chung Myung achieving victory in this manner for over a decade, wouldn’t they eventually become fanatical about him in terms of combat?
Just as Ho Gamyeong, who has watched it all, blindly believes in Jang Ilso.
At that time, Ho Gamyeong spoke as if driving a wedge.
“At least I cannot even imagine seeing Paegun defeated.”
Baek Cheon, who trembled at that firm and blind faith, unconsciously looked back at Jang Ilso.
A giant who reached the pinnacle of Evil Sects with his own two hands.
A few severed strands of hair were flying in all directions.
Jang Ilso, who had become disheveled, rushed forward, spurting blood. Both of his shoulders had long since turned black from the pressure emanating from the demonic energy.
A body that looks completely ruined to anyone who sees it.
However, the look in his eyes that could be seen through the messy hair was so intense that it could not even be compared to when the battle began.
Kwadeudeuk!
Dan Jagang’s hand clawed at Jang Ilso’s wrist, literally tearing off a handful of flesh. Even a mere brush left him with a wound so deep that his bone was visible.
Though tearing flesh from bone was undoubtedly painful, Jang Ilso still did not show the slightest reaction and persistently aimed at Dan Jagang’s head.
‘Crazy guy.’
Chung Myung, who was supporting Jang Ilso, let out a snort of laughter.
It wasn’t for the purpose of provocation on the battlefield, but a genuine, incredulous laugh, which was rare.
The extent of Jang Ilso’s display was exceptionally brutal.
‘Is this what it looks like when I’m being watched from behind?’
When you’re in the action yourself, you don’t see it. People cannot objectively see themselves. An experience that no one else can have. Chung Myung had only one appreciation for the incredible experience of watching himself fight through the eyes of a third-person perspective.
‘…Thank goodness I survived until the end.’
Doing all that. It seemed he now understood why those who had seen him fight felt a certain distance from him, and he was sure he understood how his opponents must have felt.
Of course, Jang Ilso is not perfect.
He is a swordmaster, but Jang Ilso is a fist master. No matter how much they try to align, there are fundamental differences. Those differences had pushed Jang Ilso to the brink of death time and again.
But that didn’t matter. Chung Myung was backing him up.
The fact that Chung Myung has never once experienced supporting someone is also not important. Because he can tell. He can tell with his senses, not eyes, how the person who was always standing behind him protected him.
Yes, what he was witnessing now…
Is the scene that Tang Bo was seeing a hundred years ago.
You must breathe and harmonize. Every breath, every movement, even the smallest muscle twitch should be felt as if you could touch it with your hands. You must perfectly integrate yourself with the person in front of you, predicting movements before they even begin.
‘You’ve done a good job of this terrible thing, damn you!’
He didn’t like the fact that the damned Jang Ilso was the one he had to protect at such lengths, but somehow he didn’t feel as bad as he thought.
Thanks to this, he could etch into his eyes a scene he could never have known alone.
Paaaaaat!
Chung Myung’s sword stretched out. Immediately after that, Dan Jagang and Jang Ilso reached out fiercely towards each other. Chung Myung’s sword, which advanced for a split second, preempted and blocked the direction of Dan Jagang’s attack, and cut into his flesh with an unexpected attack.
An extreme stab that throws everything with a single strike. This was closer to something that a hidden weapon art master would do than a swordmaster.
– Another hidden weapon? Well, if needed, just use it. I just like this one. Why? Got a complaint?
‘Stupid bastard!’
Only now, standing behind, did he understand.
To kill an opponent, subtle hidden weapons are far more useful. If combined with the poison of Tang Family, the priority is to somehow hit the opponent with the hidden weapon.
But that’s not enough to protect the person in front. To block an enemy, force must be applied, and to threaten an enemy, they must be visible to the enemy’s eyes.
The absurd paradox is that the hidden weapon, which should be more secret and swift than any other weapon, must be thrown in such a way that it is visible to the enemy. What is completed within that paradox is the Twelve Flying Hidden Weapon (????(十二飛刀)).
Eudeuk.
Chung Myung bit his lip until it bled.
‘Why on earth are you realizing everything too late, you stupid….’
Even on the battlefield, which was extremely solitary and sometimes even lonely, there were many people standing behind him. If it weren’t for them, Chung Myung would not have cut off Heavenly Demon’s head, but would have become a cold corpse lying on the battlefield.
At that moment, Dan Jagang let out a terrible sound and raised his arms. There was no way Jang Ilso would just watch that large movement. Jang Ilso, who dug inside at once, struck twelve punches into the upper body of Dan Jagang in the blink of an eye.
“Keuruk….”
Blood spurted out from Dan Jagang’s mouth again. However, even as blood spewed out from his mouth, Dan Jagang’s eyes glimmered even darker with a bloody light.
“Second… Coming of Heavenly Demon.”
At that moment, Jang Ilso’s gaze shot upward.
Unlike a swordsman’s attack, a fist martial art’s attack can be withstood with protective energy. That difference was dragging Jang Ilso down to the bottom of hell at this moment.
“Myriad—Demon’s—Advance!”
Demonic energy the size of a house erupted from Dan Jagang’s fingertips and fell on the heads of Jang Ilso and Chung Myung at the same time.
That moment!
– Taoist Hyung-nim!
‘I know!’
Chung Myung stepped forward as if he already knew.
‘Is this how you do it?’
Chung Myung’s sword shot out like a flash and flew towards Dan Jagang’s neck with a single hidden blade.