Almighty God of War - Chapter 188

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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188

Suddenly, Neungnam Gwang shot up from his seat.

Without a word, he turned around and strode purposefully toward the wall of the guest room. Then, without hesitation, he slammed his forehead against the wall.

Thud-!

“To be evenly matched with a younger brother who has only learned martial arts for three years…”

Thud-!

Once again, a dull sound echoed through the room.

“A blockhead like me has no face to meet Master in the afterlife.”

Thud-!

Even as his forehead turned red and swollen, he didn’t stop.

“What’s the point of living… I’ve lived in vain, completely in vain!”

It was self-mockery bordering on a scream of anguish.

He was someone who had spent forty years stuck before the wall of intermediate Transformation Realm, grinding his life into martial arts.

The reality that such a person was at a similar level to a young man who had trained for only three years completely pulverized his pride as a martial artist that he had built up over a lifetime.

No, it wasn’t just a matter of pride—it felt as if the very common sense of Gangho that he had believed in was being uprooted entirely.

‘The one I took as a younger brother was a monster wearing human skin…’

Guyang Cheongang watched his back with an awkward bitter smile.

He had expected some degree of shock, but he hadn’t anticipated that the great Neungnam Gwang would show such a childlike reaction.

“Elder Brother, please calm down. Are you alright?”

When Guyang Cheongang cautiously spoke up, Neungnam Gwang whirled around and shouted.

“How could I be alright, you bastard!”

His face was horribly contorted, and tears of frustration were welling up in his large eyes.

His forehead was already swollen red enough to form a bump.

“Three years… only three years…”

Neungnam Gwang muttered like someone who had lost his mind, then threw his head at the wall again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

From the back of the old master who began repeatedly slamming his head with enough force to break the wall, deep doubt about the martial studies he had devoted his life to and awe at Guyang Cheongang’s genius poured out like a single scream.

Guyang Cheongang let out a deep sigh.

“Elder Brother… please stop.”

“No! I need to hit it more! My head is just decoration!”

Thud! Bang! Crash-!

Under Neungnam Gwang’s head-banging, the solid guest room wall finally developed spider web-like cracks.

Guyang Cheongang shook his head and approached, grabbing Neungnam Gwang’s massive shoulders.

“Elder Brother, please calm down.”

“Calm down? Could you stay calm if you were me!”

Neungnam Gwang whirled around and shouted.

Gone was the dignity of a master who had commanded respect in Gangho; there was only the face of an old man overcome with sorrow.

He trembled his lips, unable to continue speaking.

Before the enormous wall called ‘talent’ that couldn’t be explained by logic or overcome through effort, he stood dazed like a child.

Guyang Cheongang smiled bitterly and comforted Neungnam Gwang.

Meanwhile, Baek Muok was still sitting in lotus position, deeply immersed in a state of selfless meditation.

Whether the wall beside him cracked or a great senior of Gangho screamed in existential crisis, the boy simply continued his energy circulation and breath control within the peaceful sanctuary his master had provided.

True to its nickname as the city that forgets night, countless lanterns outside the window still illuminated the darkness.

But inside the guest room, the life crisis of an old master who had dominated an era was proceeding tragically, while the young man who caused it watched this scene with calm eyes.

It was truly a strange night.

About three hundred zhang away from Sewun Guesthouse, there was a large manor crouching in the darkness like a beast.

The high walls and magnificent scale suggested it was a wealthy merchant’s mansion, but now the place was quiet as death.

All lights were extinguished and not a trace of human presence could be felt.

However, on the roof of the highest hall in the manor, two figures stood there, their forms difficult to discern as if they had become one with the darkness.

Night wind blew and violently shook their robes and hair, but they remained motionless like rocks rooted in the earth.

The figure on the right was a blue-robed old man in his sixties.

The face revealed beneath his graying hair was cold as ice.

His eagle-like sharp gaze and tightly closed lips showed that he was a cold and sharp person who thoroughly excluded emotions.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man in his mid-forties.

With his bushy beard and sturdy build, he had a domineering appearance, and in the depths of his eyes, terrifying demonic energy pooled like a swamp.

He stood shoulder to shoulder with the blue-robed old man, indicating they were in equal positions rather than a superior-subordinate relationship.

Their gazes were fixed on Sewun Guesthouse over three hundred zhang away.

Though it was an incredibly distant location, to the spirit-filled eyes of Transformation Realm masters, everything was as clear as broad daylight.

They had witnessed the entire scene of Guyang Cheongang killing Yohwarang and Dokpaja, who had made names for themselves throughout All Under Heaven.

That brutal series of events was deeply imprinted on both men’s retinas.

The silence was heavy, and the stillness of night was even deeper.

The brutal slaughter that had unfolded over three hundred zhang away continuously replayed before their eyes.

They analyzed the meaning of what they had witnessed and meticulously calculated the consequences of the actions they would take at the end.

The middle-aged man broke the oppressive silence and spoke.

“Jin Hobeop.”

His low voice carried undeniable admiration.

“That man’s martial arts are stronger than we expected. To instantly the coordinated combined attack of Yohwarang and Dokpaja and kill them both…”

He paused briefly and slowly shook his head as if finding it hard to believe.

“This is a variable that even we never anticipated.”

A coordinated attack by two elder-level masters of Cheonsa Bu who had reached the intermediate level of Transformation Realm.

Guyang Cheongang’s martial prowess in directly receiving that attack and taking their lives was enough to greatly shock both men.

The blue-robed old man, called Jin Hobeop, nodded and continued.

“Indeed, Bu Hobeop.”

His voice was cold enough to give listeners goosebumps.

The blue-robed old man continued with a cautious expression while still gazing at Sewun Guesthouse.

“It seems the matter of dealing with that man should be decided after observing for a bit more time.”

Jin Hobeop’s tone clearly contained wariness.

But rather than fear, it was closer to the instinctive caution of a hunter facing a massive beast of unknown identity.

Bu Hobeop frowned.

His face clearly showed blatant displeasure and signs that he couldn’t agree with Jin Hobeop’s judgment.

For someone of his domineering temperament, retreating before a target right in front of him was something his pride wouldn’t allow.

“Jin Hobeop’s words sound like you’re essentially giving up on the mission to secure that man’s person. Am I correct in my assumption?”

A cold edge entered Bu Hobeop’s voice.

It was a direct question that wasn’t easy to answer. However, Jin Hobeop opened his mouth without a moment’s hesitation.

“That’s correct.”

At that answer filled with unhesitating conviction, Bu Hobeop’s complexion instantly hardened.

“Maengju clearly ordered us to bring that man before us! How can you treat his command so lightly?”

Bu Hobeop’s voice mixed reverence and fear toward the being called Maengju.

But Jin Hobeop remained unshaken.

Rather, he wore a cold smile and flashed an ominous glint in his eyes.

“Bu Hobeop seems to have forgotten Maengju’s final words.”

“Final words?”

Jin Hobeop slowly and clearly recited Maengju’s words.

“He said to judge the situation severely on site, and if we deemed it an unavoidable situation, we could retreat empty-handed.”

Discretionary authority granted to the field commander.

It was a kind of escape route left by Maengju, who had insight into the variability of situations.

Bu Hobeop hesitated momentarily upon being reminded of this fact.

He too couldn’t deny that Maengju had made such arrangements.

“Ah… Then Jin Hobeop truly judges that now is such a situation?”

Jin Hobeop nodded and gazed at Sewun Guesthouse once more.

“That’s right. It wouldn’t be impossible for us to capture that fellow. However, judging by the martial arts we just witnessed, to achieve our objective, we too would have to accept bone-cutting losses.”

He was concerned that hasty actions could lead to a fatal mistake.

It was a conclusion reached through extremely cold calculation.

They could achieve victory, but if the price was too harsh, it couldn’t be called victory.

Was it truly worth risking their lives and the internal energy they had accumulated over a lifetime just to capture one Guyang Cheongang?

Jin Hobeop was posing that fundamental question.

“Hmm…”

A heavy groan escaped Bu Hobeop’s mouth, his aggressive momentum broken and leaving him speechless.

Jin Hobeop’s point was sharp enough to pierce bone and was based on facts.

Guyang Cheongang was strong, and he was dozens of times more dangerous than the intelligence they had gathered beforehand.

“Heavenly Evil Manor lost Yu Garyang in this Pungnimgok expedition.”

Jin Hobeop’s calm voice cut through the night’s silence.

“And today, even Yohwarang and Dokpaja lost their lives at that young man’s hands.”

He extended his fingers one by one, proving the gap in their forces with numbers.

“Three of the twelve elders who supported Heavenly Evil Manor disappeared in an instant. Bu Hobeop, you know well how painful the loss of fighting strength they suffered is, don’t you?”

It was a devastating result.

Transformation Realm masters couldn’t be bought with money, and were irreplaceable bastions of a sect that took decades to cultivate.

Heavenly Evil Manor had essentially thrown away a quarter of their core fighting strength against a single young man.

Jin Hobeop’s tone grew heavier as he continued.

“To what depths of Pungnimgok that fellow reached, what exactly he obtained there – nothing has been confirmed. Everything is uncertain.”

“Hmm…”

Jin Hobeop let out a cold sneer and continued speaking.

“Hmph! Yet Heavenly Evil Manor was blinded by the greed before their eyes and recklessly attacked, ultimately suffering wounds difficult to recover from. Our Gunja League cannot follow their foolish precedent, can we?”

These were the protectors of Gunja League, one of the Five Supremes Under Heaven.

Bu Hobeop responded with a stern expression.

“Even so, wouldn’t giving up on that bastard be too hasty?”

Jin Hobeop looked at the dim lantern light of Sewun Guesthouse.

His eyes held both coldness and a persistent gleam.

“I don’t mean to withdraw immediately and retreat. We should see how Heavenly Evil Manor vents their fury over losing comrades, and above all, there may not be absolutely no opportunity to capture that fellow.”

Bu Hobeop narrowed his eyes and asked with a puzzled expression.

“What do you mean by that? There’s an opportunity?”

A meaningful smile spread across Jin Hobeop’s lips.

“Bu Hobeop, do you think only our main alliance and that foolish Heavenly Evil Manor are targeting that young man?”

At Jin Hobeop’s slowly continuing words, Bu Hobeop’s eyes flashed with an eerie light.

“The renowned masters and family houses of Gangho are also watching him. There are more than a few who are salivating over the opportunities of Pungnimgok.”

Jin Hobeop’s sneer grew deeper.

“Among them, there will surely be those who cannot restrain themselves and reach out first. When the mantis stalks the cicada, the sparrow is already sharpening its beak behind it.”

Bu Hobeop finally nodded.

There was good reason why the Maengju had made Jin Hobeop the commander of this mission.

“Understood. I will follow Jin Hobeop’s words.”

A gust of wind blew and their figures disappeared from the rooftop.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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