The Heavenly Mandate Hall locked its gates, leaving the charging Toad Shadow Squad behind.
The moment the gates shut, the martial artists of the Heavenly Mandate Hall appeared atop the walls.
The battle finally began as the Toad Shadow Squad attempted to scale the walls while the Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists moved to intercept them from above.
From a positional standpoint, the Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists attacking from above seemed to have the advantage, but they began to retreat below the walls one by one, pushed back by the Toad Shadow Squad’s aggressive assault.
Once the initial clash ended, the Toad Shadow Squad easily seized control of the top of the wall.
“I’ll send every last one of you to hell!”
Just as the Toad Shadow Squad members on the wall were about to attack the retreating Heavenly Mandate Hall members below, arrows came flying from deep within the manor.
*Whoosh!*
Startled by the incoming arrows, the Toad Shadow Squad fell into brief confusion as they tried to deflect them. Taking advantage of this opening, the Heavenly Mandate Hall members below the wall quickly retreated further back.
“Everyone, fall back!”
At Hong Hyeon’s shout, the Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists retreated from the wall in unison and formed a defensive formation.
The difference in skill was clearly revealed through just a few clashes.
It was not a difference in martial arts, but a difference in real combat experience—the difference between those who had killed before and those who had not.
For most of the Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists, this fight was their first real experience in combat.
On the other hand, the Toad Shadow Squad, rich in combat experience, charged even more fiercely as if they knew no fear even when struck by an opponent’s blade.
It was only natural for the Heavenly Mandate Hall members to be intimidated by such a sight.
The Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists even hesitated during decisive opportunities. It was an instinctive fear held by those who had never killed a person with a weapon.
Unless they overcame it themselves, it was a wall they would never be able to climb.
Watching his subordinates being constantly driven into a corner, Hong Hyeon shouted at them.
“If you don’t kill the enemy, your brothers will die! Everyone, wake up!”
By now, the Toad Shadow Squad had completely occupied the top of the wall.
Once control was established, the remaining members of the Toad Shadow Squad easily crossed over.
However, the Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists, who had reorganized their ranks below, began to attack the enemies who jumped down.
The Toad Shadow Squad used the Wild Beast Blood Battle Blade Technique.
Conversely, the Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists utilized the Shadowless Blade Technique based on the Shadowless Heart Method.
It was a confrontation between blade and blade.
*Whoosh!*
Even in the midst of the fight, the Heavenly Mandate Hall archers fired arrows to provide support whenever their allies seemed disadvantaged.
“Arrows like these won’t do anything!” a Toad Shadow Squad member shouted, deflecting an incoming arrow.
Of course, it was not easy to kill a first-rate expert with a bow.
However, the arrows flying irregularly during the fight were enough to disrupt the opponent’s concentration, even if they could not deal a fatal blow.
If the day came when they could properly exploit those openings, the martial artists of the Heavenly Mandate Hall would become far stronger than they were now.
Despite having the numerical advantage and support from the archers, the number of casualties among the Heavenly Mandate Hall members began to rise one by one.
If the Heavenly Mandate Hall members could not shake off their fear, the situation was bound to worsen.
At that moment, the thunderous voice of Hall Master Hong Hyeon rang out once more.
“The Heavenly Mandate Hall is the strongest in the Dark Path!”
“Waaaaaaaah!!”
Did the fear dissipate slightly at the shouts echoing from all directions? The movements of the Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artists seemed to become a step faster.
As the movements of the hall members grew swifter, the battle became tense once again.
Watching the scene, a smile spread across Pang Gipyeong’s face.
“The Hall Master is living up to his name. He has good judgment.”
“Whose hand touched him for him to be a weakling?” Nanseol added from the side.
“Ahem. Well, that’s not wrong.”
Though she looked relaxed, Nanseol’s tightly clenched hands were drenched in sweat.
As the chaotic battle continued, one Heavenly Mandate Hall member stumbled while backing away, losing his balance as if he had tripped over something.
Without missing the opening, the enemy’s blade plunged down toward him.
Rolling his body to the side to avoid the blade, the martial artist momentarily raised his right hand and fired a Somilgung.
As the enemy leisurely struck down with his blade to pursue his rolling target, an arrow from the Somilgung flew like a ray of light and lodged deep into his left shoulder.
*Whoosh! Thwack!*
“Argh!”
If he hadn’t moved his body instinctively upon feeling something strange, his heart would have been pierced.
The enemy retreated, clutching his shoulder.
The arrow was buried so deep, up to the fletching, that it could not be pulled out immediately.
The Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artist stood up and rapidly approached the retreating opponent who was enduring the pain.
The enemy raised his blade with his remaining arm.
The Heavenly Mandate Hall member struck the raised blade with force and swung his own blade toward the enemy’s neck in an instant.
*Squelch!*
The opponent’s head was separated from his body.
It was the first kill made by a Heavenly Mandate Hall martial artist.
Meanwhile, Hong Hyeon was roaming the battlefield, simultaneously boosting the morale of the members and helping those in danger.
At that moment, Pyo Seung, who had been watching the battlefield from atop the wall, sent a telepathic message to one of his squad leaders.
‘Capture that guy first.’
Having received the message, the Toad Shadow Squad martial artist approached Hong Hyeon and blocked his path.
“If you’re looking for an opponent, I’ll be the one to deal with you.”
After speaking, the opponent lunged at Hong Hyeon, radiating a terrifying killing intent.
Hong Hyeon calmly deflected the incoming blade.
Every time the blades collided, a rough energy, like that of a wild beast, was transmitted from the opponent’s weapon.
‘So that’s why they’re getting intimidated as they fight.’
After defending against the assault, Hong Hyeon took a step back and shouted to the members.
“Avoid clashing weapons directly as much as possible!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Hyeon used the Shadowless Lightning Footwork to burrow into the enemy’s flank and slashed at his waist.
The Toad Shadow Squad member, who had been prepared to block a frontal attack, flusteredly tried to block Hong Hyeon’s attack with his blade as his opponent seemed to disappear and reappear to his side.
However, contrary to his expectations, the blade had already sliced through his waist.
“Ugh…”
As his waist was cut, the opponent’s upper body slumped forward.
Hong Hyeon’s blade descended rapidly toward his head.
*Clang!*
A sword appeared out of nowhere and blocked Hong Hyeon’s blade.
“You’re quite decent.”
Pyo Seung, who had blocked the strike, lowered his sword loosely.
“I was waiting to see when you would come out.”
“Quite the confidence. Shall we play then?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Pyo Seung’s Soundless Sword flew toward Hong Hyeon without a sound.
It was a fast sword, so quick that it could not be followed with the eyes.
Furthermore, the sword made no sound at all.
Though he survived a few crises through his excellent senses, it seemed that even defending would be difficult at this rate.
Just then, Pang Gipyeong’s telepathic message reached Hong Hyeon’s ears.
‘If you can only know by seeing and hearing, what use is Qi? Your Hall Master is quite good at sensing Qi… Calm your heart and feel the changes in his Qi.’
It was difficult to immediately understand what Pang Gipyeong meant.
However, since it was advice from an expert who had watched him fight, he could not take it lightly.
Hong Hyeon looked at his opponent and shook his shoulders a few times to relax his tension.
“Haha. Do you think that will change anything?”
With a relaxed expression, Pyo Seung began his attack again.
Hong Hyeon tried to feel the sword flying toward him while staying as relaxed as possible.
Through this, Hong Hyeon barely managed to evade the attacks.
“You’ve only learned how to dodge.”
Disregarding the opponent’s mockery, Hong Hyeon focused on sensing the Qi surrounding the blade.
While fighting with such concentration, he felt a strange energy approaching rapidly, though he wasn’t certain.
‘Bottom right.’
Following the sensation, he lowered his blade to block his lower half.
*Clang!*
The blocked sword of Pyo Seung quickly swept toward Hong Hyeon’s upper right.
‘Top right.’
He tried to raise his blade to defend based on the feeling, but before the blade could cover his shoulder, the opponent’s edge had already grazed past.
And then, blood sprayed.
*Splurt!*
He had moved according to the sensation, but his speed was too slow.
The moment the blood sprayed, an arrow flew in.
Pyo Seung was about to continue his next attack but had to stop briefly to deflect the arrow.
Hong Hyeon used that gap to retreat.
“You’re a lucky one.”
Ignoring the opponent’s words, Hong Hyeon turned his shoulder to check the wound.
‘It’s not deep.’
Hong Hyeon took his stance once again.
Although he had spoken boldly, Pyo Seung’s mind was becoming increasingly complicated.
He had intended to end the battle in a short time based on overwhelming power, but several unexpected variables had disrupted his plan.
The archers were one of them.
While a first-rate expert would not likely be hit by an arrow, he was unable to drive the flow of the battle to the end because of the arrows flying at decisive moments.
Furthermore, the number of squad members getting injured while distracted by the arrows was beginning to increase.
The bigger problem was the strange hidden weapons they used.
Their power was considerable, and already over ten members had been struck by them.
Two of them had even lost their lives.
Moreover, the way these guys fought was unfamiliar.
Usually, martial artists fought the opponent they first engaged until a conclusion was reached before seeking the next opponent.
But these guys were different.
While fighting, if they saw an enemy that was easier to handle, they switched targets without hesitation. And crucially, this guy standing before him now was a problem.
He had only been conscious of Pang Gipyeong, but unexpectedly, there was another strong enemy. This opponent’s skill exceeded the norm.
Even though he believed himself to be several steps ahead, it seemed he would have to accept some level of loss to end the fight.
Just as his thoughts grew heavy, a loud noise erupted from the rear of the Heavenly Mandate Hall, and several new warriors rushed forward.
“I found you! I’ll kill you all!”
Finally, the members of Squad One of the Heavenly Sword Squad had arrived.
Sawu and Yedowi, who arrived first, plunged into the midst of the Toad Shadow Squad.
The two approached the left and right sides of a Toad Shadow Squad member like ghosts and swung their daggers.
It was an exquisite combined attack from both sides.
The startled Toad Shadow Squad member blocked the blade from the left, but at that moment, the blade from the right grazed his thigh.
*Stab!*
Blood sprayed from his thigh.
Another Toad Shadow Squad member nearby hurriedly blocked the path of the wounded member.
As if the situation wasn’t going as planned, the momentum of the newly appeared enemies was anything but ordinary.
It was now time to make a decision.
Looking around, Pyo Seung shouted to his members.
“Everyone, retreat!”
Quickly gathering their wounded and dead, the Toad Shadow Squad withdrew from the Heavenly Mandate Hall.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
A massive cheer erupted.
For the first time in their lives, they had become martial artists, and they had defeated the martial artists of the Haomun, who had been scarier than the Grim Reaper during their days in the back alleys.
The members of Squad One who arrived late looked at Jomu and grumbled.
“If you had been just a little faster, we could have killed them all.”
“Brother, I did my best too.”
“That’s enough.”
—
The Toad Shadow Squad retreated from the Heavenly Mandate Hall and moved to an unnamed hill on the outskirts of Hangzhou. Fortunately, the Heavenly Mandate Hall did not pursue them as they retreated.
“What’s the situation?”
“Seven people dead, thirty wounded.”
“What is the condition of the wounded?”
“Twelve are unable to fight.”
“Treat the wounded first and let everyone rest.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Also, have a few people go into the city to get some food.”
The ordered member scratched his head and hesitated to answer.
“Um… we have no money.”
Pyo Seung pulled a silver tael from his pocket and threw it to his subordinate.
“Hand over whatever money you have. I’ll pay you back double when we return.”
The subordinates handed over their money one by one.
Several subordinates who collected the money went down the mountain to get food.
“Get enough so that there’s plenty left over.”
Pyo Seung looked at the Toad Shadow Squad members lying on the ground as if they were collapsing and worried about what to do.
Since it was winter, camping like this was impossible.
He had to find lodging, but in their current state, what inn in the city would accept them?
However, if he tried to solve it with force, he would have to make the Heavenly Wolf Sect an enemy as well. Since no clear solution came to mind, he felt like he was burning up inside.
He grit his teeth and punched a random rock.
‘Should I report the situation to the Sect Leader and receive reinforcements?’
He shook his head at the thought.
Given the Sect Leader’s personality, he would not send reinforcements.
‘I must somehow retrieve the Mangwon Plaque with our current strength.’
The number of people currently capable of fighting was eighty-one.
Since a direct confrontation had no chance of success, he had to launch a surprise attack, but the opponent would surely anticipate it and be prepared.
Pyo Seung racked his brains to find the best possible method.
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