Moorim Pochang - Chapter 107

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

Chapter 107. Counterattack (3).

Finding Dok-go Eun, Eon So-ryong drew his blade at once.
Crash—crash—bang!
She, who had been cutting down enemies, met his strike with one of her own.
“Eon So-ryong.”
Dok-go Eun recognized him immediately.
Eon So-ryong retreated and broke into a sinister grin.
Hehehehe…
“Can a mere woman of the Ma-gyo truly block my blade? Why not spread your legs before me now? Then I’ll take you as a concubine.”
“You bastard—all mouth and no sense…”
Her body technique shot forward alongside her sword.
Crash—crash—bang!
Eon So-ryong fell back, batting away her incoming strikes in rapid succession.
“Go ahead. Try to take my head.”
He kicked the ground and launched himself backward with his body technique.
Dok-go Eun, radiating killing intent in waves, pursued him with her own technique.
But she stopped short and pivoted to cut down other enemies instead.
Part of her wanted to tear Eon So-ryong to pieces on the spot, but containing the enemy forces took priority now.
Scrape…scrape…
Crash—crash—bang!
As she severed the throats of oncoming attackers, the sound of the Murim Alliance’s Main Gate collapsing echoed across the field.
“Hold them back—!”

*

‘Drawing that woman out won’t be easy.’
Gu Ya had wanted Dok-go Eun.
But she was far more calculating than appearances suggested.
Gu Ya shifted focus and searched for another target.
‘This one will do nicely.’
A fitting mark had just caught his eye.
Ju Young-ban of the House of Nam Chang.
He was blood kin to a hundred heroes, yet had not gained entry into Jamryong-hoe.
His martial arts were respectable, but not quite strong enough to place in the top fifty.
In fact, he fell well short of Jamryong-hoe’s standards.
He had even sought Gu Ya out once to air his grievances about it.
What Ju Young-ban truly coveted was Baek Ha-yeong—for marrying her would make him the Alliance Leader’s son-in-law.
“Ju Young-ban. Still in that pitiful state?”
Eon So-ryong stepped into his path and sneered.
“Who are you? Identify yourself.”
Ju Young-ban did not recognize him.
Tch tch tch…
‘Tattoos covering his entire face and he asks me to introduce myself? What a fool.’
Eon So-ryong, laughing inwardly, opened his mouth.
“If you couldn’t make it into Jamryong-hoe, shouldn’t you at least be earning some merit?”
“You—!”
Enraged, Ju Young-ban charged forward, his saber raised.
Saber energy glimmered along his blade.
Clash—clash—clang! The ground—!
Eon So-ryong parried the strike and retreated as before.
“Young master Ju, allow me to assist!”
“And I as well!”
The skilled personnel fighting alongside him rushed at Eon So-ryong.
At that same moment, tattooed masters moved to intercept them.
“Fall back!”
But at Eon So-ryong’s word, they disengaged and moved to engage different enemies.
Clang-clang-clang…!
Eon So-ryong blocked the weapons pouring in from three directions at once.
Weak as they were compared to him, three attackers coordinating their assault still carried a sharp edge.
Clang-clang-clang…! Clang-clang…!
Eon So-ryong continued to slash with his sword while retreating.
“Don’t you recognize me? I’m Eon So-ryong.”
He feigned urgency as he revealed his identity.
At that, those wielding blades and swords turned to look at one another almost in unison.
Eon So-ryong—wasn’t he the defector who had gone over to Hyeol-gyo?
Once they had been friendly enough, but now he was an enemy.
An enemy who must be killed without fail.
If only they could capture or kill him, they might earn credit enough to gain entry into Jamryong-hoe.
“Seize him…!”
“Kill him…!”
As the three skilled personnel rushed at him, Eon So-ryong didn’t even glance back before breaking into flight.

*

Slash…thud…!
The moment she severed an enemy’s throat and drove her blade through his chest, another sword came falling from above, raking across her ribs.
Boom…! Bang…!
As Baek Ha-yeong slashed back with sword and saber, she retreated—only to have a spear point drive in from behind.
Moving her body technique urgently, she cut down the enemy at her back.
Slash…
But the enemies kept coming, wave after wave.
‘There are far too many strong ones.’
The tattooed enemies wielded sword energy and sword technique as their basic arts.
Though their sword energy and technique came wreathed in black qi, the force they carried felt even more devastating.
Even if she managed to block their attacks, the Murim Alliance would suffer catastrophic losses.
‘If only Yang So-hyeop would come help.’
The beauty known as Gu Ya was so stunning that even Baek Ha-yeong felt a chill run through her.
The skilled personnel had lost their wits, but she still had faith in Yang So-hyeop.
Yet even he whom she trusted had let his mind be stolen away by that beauty.
Boom…!
As incoming blades came at her, she parried—and another sword flew in at her back.
The instant she moved her body technique, the enemy behind her toppled.
Urgh…
The faintly groaning enemy soon let his head fall limp.
A blurred shadow moved past the corpse sprawled beside her.
Startled, Baek Ha-yeong moved to cut the shadow down.
But that shadow was severing an enemy’s legs.
Slash…
The moment the enemy’s legs were cut through, a sword drove in at his throat.
The swordwork was blindingly fast and perfectly clean.
“Yang So-hyeop.”
Only then did she recognize the shadow’s face.
Slash…
Having cut down an enemy’s throat, he turned to face her.
“Thank you so much, Yang So-hyeop.”
Baek Ha-yeong’s eyes held nothing else.
Though blood and death swirled across the battlefield, only the handsomest face under heaven—Yang Jung’s face—filled her vision.
Yang Jung answered with a gentle smile.
“I’m relieved you’re unharmed, Miss Baek.”
“Really…thank you, Yang So-hyeop.”
Tears welled up in Baek Ha-yeong’s eyes.
The moment she saw his face, all the hurt she had been carrying washed away.
Yet this was still a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance.
“Ha-yeong…!”
At the sound of Baek Won-yeong’s call, she quickly spoke.
“I have my comrades to fight with, so I’d be grateful if you could protect the Main Gate of the Murim Alliance.”
Ha ha…
“Rest assured. I will hold the Main Gate.”
Yang Jung’s bright, ringing laugh faded as if sinking into the earth.

*

‘How am I supposed to hold the Main Gate of the Murim Alliance alone?’
He had spoken boldly in front of Baek Ha-yeong, but now that he actually faced defending the Main Gate, his vision swam with despair.
Already, enemies were pouring into the Murim Alliance in great numbers.
And if a master beyond his ability set foot inside, he would have no choice but to die—there would be nowhere to run.
Shhh…
Yang Jung concealed himself among the ruins of the broken Main Gate.
The moment he hid his body, enemies came rushing through the gate.
Thump, thump…
Sword blades thrust up from the rubble, then vanished.
Hack, gurgle…
Two enemies fell, but a third swung his sword toward the debris.
Crash!
The ruins of the gate shattered and scattered.
In that instant, a blade pierced through his neck.
Thud.
The enemy with a hole through his throat collapsed without even a scream.
Exhale.
Yang Jung steadied his mind and lay sprawled on the ground like another corpse.
The moment he became a body, more enemies lunged through the gate with their Body Technique.
Thud, thud…
The enemies using their Body Technique crashed straight into the ground.
Yang Jung shifted position and sprawled like a corpse once more.

*

‘Tedious.’
Gu Ya watched the brightening eastern sky in silence.
‘Was the winter dawn ever this bright?’
The morning sun of winter was not as brilliant as the morning sun of summer.
Yet today it seemed unusually radiant.
Long ago, she too had once smiled gazing at the dawn.
But it was so long past that she had forgotten it.
No—she did not wish to remember that time at all.
As she gazed at the morning sun, she suddenly rose to her feet.
Whoosh…
Gu Ya moved her Body Technique across the withered grassland.
She had not been given the exact location, but she had to move herself to find it.
Stopping her Body Technique, she watched Eon So-ryong approaching swiftly from a distance.
Ha ha ha…
“He brought three of them?”
She was pleased.
She did not know how many Moyong Se would bring, but the fact that he had heeded her words filled her with satisfaction.
‘All of much the same caliber.’
None of the three caught her eye.
Yet they were far superior to any ordinary Gangho martial artist.
‘That is why they joined the Murim Alliance.’
A soft rustle.
As she extended her hand, the whip coiled at her waist unwound and came into her palm.
“I have brought them.”
Eon So-ryong, stopping before Gu Ya, bowed deeply.
“Step aside.”
At her command, he moved to the side.

*

Was there another woman in the world as beautiful as this one?
The skilled personnel who had stopped their lightness skills could only stare at her face.
“Will you come with me?”
Only after hearing the beauty’s voice did they manage to compose themselves.
“W-what are you saying?”
“Who… who are you, miss?”
In response to their questions, Gu Ya smiled gently.
That smile too was beautiful enough to pierce the heart.
“Will you die? Or will you come with me?”
At her question, the skilled personnel’s eyes wavered intensely.
Now it was clear—this beautiful woman was on the same side as Eon So-ryong.
Which meant this woman was also a master of Hyeol-gyo.
‘Heaven is indifferent indeed. How could such a beautiful woman have sided with Hyeol-gyo?’
They reluctantly raised their weapons toward her.
Their hands holding the weapons trembled with regret, sorrow, and despair.
Recognizing this, Gu Ya laughed coldly.
Ho ho…
Yes. This was only natural.
No one dared to draw a blade recklessly before her.
“Even now… you may surrender.”
“I will inform the Alliance Leader of your unfortunate circumstances… and see that your punishment is lightened.”
Though she had said nothing yet, the skilled personnel took her side.
“You’re all cripples anyway. Get out of here.”
She spat curses and turned back to Eon So-ryong.
At this, he bowed his waist and launched his body technique back toward the battlefield.
Whoosh…
But none of the skilled personnel pursued him.
“If just one of you can block my whip, I’ll surrender to the Murim Alliance.”
At Gu Ya’s words, one of the skilled personnel stepped forward eagerly.
“I will block it, miss.”
Swish…
The moment his words ended, Gu Ya moved her body technique and swung her whip lightly.
The skilled personnel swung his sword to strike the whip flying toward the side of his head.
Clang…! Crack…!
The heavy metallic sound rang out, and then his head exploded.
Blood and brain matter spilled forth, and his body collapsed limply.
“Who else wants to try blocking?”
At her question, the skilled personnel trembled violently.
Now they understood.
The most beautiful woman in all the world was a master of masters whom they could never presume to oppose.
One of the two remaining skilled personnel reversed his body technique.
The only way to survive this place was to flee.
Swish…
In that instant, the whip undulated like a living thing and tore into the skilled personnel’s back.
Crack…!
The fleeing skilled personnel’s back was split clean in two.
At the same moment, the skilled personnel attempting to escape froze in place at the sight.
Heave…!
From his abdomen, now pitched forward, his entrails spilled out.
“What will you do?”
Gu Ya turned her gaze to the last remaining skilled personnel.
“I… I… I…”
The skilled personnel was so terrified he could barely string words together.
“Say it quickly—I want to kill you.”
“… Y-yes… please spare my life.”
In the end, Ju Young-ban threw down the blade he was gripping and fell to his knees.
“Just one left. Finally saved just one.”

*

Kang Jo sat on a branch, watching the distant Murim Alliance through narrowed eyes.
Smoke rose ceaselessly from behind the fortress walls, and the Grassland before it was still thick with bloody battle.
‘The casualties won’t be light.’
He shifted his gaze, and the figures of Baek Moon-do and Cheol-goe came into view far below.
Crack-crack-bang! Crack-crack-bang!
Sword and spear collided endlessly, each impact sending waves of energy spiraling into the forest.
He turned his attention elsewhere and spotted Yeo Hwa and Cho Yak.
Yeo Hwa stood alone against Cho Yak, yet Cho Yak fought alongside Dok-go Il.
Further on, Baek Won-yeong exchanged techniques back and forth with Moyong Se.
Baek Won-yeong fought alone, but Moyong Se had masters from Hyeol-gyo at his side.
‘Where has he gone?’
Kang Jo searched for Yang Jung.
But nowhere could he find him.

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