Kagaang!
Yu Yiseol's brow furrowed slightly.
The moment she blocked one sword strike, another came flying in, pressing down on her sword. Before she could respond, yet another sword strike followed.
Kaaang!
The preemptive sword strike collided swiftly, restricting the movement of her blade, and the heavy sword strike that followed seemed to bind her so she couldn't move.
Within this sequence, it was impossible to display the flashy sword techniques unique to Mount Hua.
If the numerical difference were two or three times, there might be room for a counterattack, but a difference of over ten times is impossible to overcome for anyone. Moreover, they skillfully exploited this numerical advantage against Mount Hua.
But!
'So slow.'
Paaaah!
Her sword was pulled back like a flash of lightning. Leaving a long trail in the air, Yu Yiseol drew her sword back and then thrust it forward at twice the speed.
The elite of the Black Ghost Fortress widened his eyes at the lightning-fast sword movement, but before a scream could escape, Yu Yiseol's sword mercilessly pierced his neck.
Kwa-deuk!
Yu Yiseol, habitually pressing down on the sword stuck in his neck to lift herself with the recoil, suddenly hesitated.
They were all just waiting for her to jump inside.
It wasn't just her who would become endangered by that action. The moment she was surrounded by enemies, her sahyungs and sajaes would rush to save her without caring for their own lives.
A sudden burden overwhelmed her—the fear that her momentary misjudgment might lead to the annihilation of her sahyung-sajaes.
The elite of the Black Ghost Fortress ignored their comrade's death and swung their swords again toward Yu Yiseol's exposed side.
Swaaaek!
Seeing the swords flying toward her sides, she swiftly withdrew the sword embedded in the enemy's neck and swung it widely to the left and right.
'No need to panic.'
Kaaang!
The incoming sword clashed with her blade and quickly bounced off.
Mount Hua's swordsmanship is certainly centered on illusion and change. It creates countless variations, cleverly mixing real and fake sword qi to confuse opponents—this is the essence of Mount Hua swordsmanship.
But that is not all of Mount Hua.
Paaaah!
Yu Yiseol's sword swiftly thrust again, piercing the retreating enemy's shoulder in one strike.
Kwa-deuk!
Their strategy was certainly quite good. This was the first time Yu Yiseol and other Mount Hua disciples had encountered enemies who could counter their swordsmanship.
It was true they felt bewildered and momentarily recoiled. They couldn't use their specialty footwork, nor could they freely draw the sword paths of the Plum Blossom sword technique they had swung countless times. The situation was precarious beyond simply being disadvantageous.
But Yu Yiseol's gaze was steady as ever, without the slightest wavering.
Paat!
She stamped her foot in place for balance and swung her sword like a ray of light, cutting through the air. It was an extremely efficient sword, utterly free of waste or excess.
'My body already knows.'
Certainly, this was the first time they had met enemies who could counter Mount Hua's swordsmanship. Yes, it was the first time for them.
But Mount Hua disciples had fought countless fierce battles against those who easily countered their swordsmanship. They had been broken and shattered by the opponent but continuously stood up and fought again and again.
Therefore, how to face such enemies was engraved not in their minds but in their bodies.
'Sajil!'
Originally, Mount Hua's sword is extremely strong on battlefields where groups clash, but in extreme melees where swords entangle in seconds, it cannot display its full power.
But these were different.
The basics they obsessively emphasized beyond stubbornness. And continuous realistic sparring that ordinary prestigious Justice factions would never allow.
All of that remained fully within this body.
Like hammering steel to make it harder, the constantly tempered body moved before the mind to slay the enemy.
Kaaaang!
The incoming sword collided with the thin blade and absurdly bounced off easily.
'Strength and internal qi aren't everything.'
She knew all this intellectually. Strength doesn't come just from exerting force. The important thing is to apply internal qi precisely when needed. Knowing the time and place can create multiple times the impact with the same strength.
And that proper time and place was remembered by her body.
All the almost forcibly instilled techniques were embodied and released from her body.
Swoosh!
She cleanly severed the carotid artery of the retreating enemy in panic. Then she calmly and unwaveringly stared at another enemy rushing toward her with cold eyes.
'Look at this?'
Im So-Byeong's eyes slightly widened.
The numerical difference was clear to the eyes. The difference in strength was also obvious. Therefore, he prepared various tactics, even ones close to luck, to overcome this huge gap that they had to cover.
But everything he prepared was becoming useless at this moment.
'They get stronger here too?'
That made no sense. They were already thoroughly trained. They were not beginners, so experiencing one real fight wouldn't suddenly improve their skills drastically.
This was not getting stronger but adapting, or rather changing. They adjusted everything from footwork to sword techniques and breathing according to the opponent.
It was truly a shocking sight.
It was a framework called martial learning. It meant standardization. That's why beginners start by drawing precise sword paths.
Endless repetitive training solidifies one's framework. The longer one trains martial arts, the firmer the framework becomes. Therefore, freely changing a once-made framework is practically impossible.
But they were now accomplishing the impossible. Their seemingly rigid frameworks were softly twisting and changing into forms suitable for the enemy.
'Who in the world has ever seen this?'
The existence of the heretics and the high priest's power was a huge shock, but this scene was shocking in another way. Those who understood what this change entailed would be even more shocked.
'I thought they would have gotten stronger over three years.'
That monstrous Chung Myung trained them, so naturally they should have gotten stronger. Such a master wouldn't bother teaching these rookies one by one in the murim world.
But what they showed went beyond Im So-Byeong's common sense.
'What on earth did you make, taoist…?'
Goosebumps ran down his spine at the sight. A sword that could respond to any battlefield and situation—that meant a sword without weaknesses, didn't it?
Of course, having no weaknesses didn't mean perfection…
'At least there will never be a case of them dying foolishly without showing their true ability.'
Watching the scene before him, Im So-Byeong finally chuckled.
"…What a relentless person."
He felt it from that sword. What the one who taught them truly wanted.
If they had only focused on strengthening Mount Hua's sword, the moment their sword was first countered, surely someone would have died or been seriously injured.
Because they mastered a sword that could respond to any situation, they could block and endure. Their nature focused on overwhelming and defeating opponents, but their sword was specialized in protecting their own lives.
It's easier said than done. To master such a sword, one can't even imagine what process they must have gone through.
One could feel a tremendous obsession bordering on terror.
Both the teacher and the learner must have crossed the brink countless times. The direction of that obsession was clearly visible to Im So-Byeong standing behind.
"Was your greed too excessive…?"
Im So-Byeong shook his head in disbelief but his eyes gleamed again. In any case, from his perspective, his cards had increased.
'Let's see.'
Centered on Chung Myung in the middle, Baek Cheon and the Five Swords surrounded all sides. Between Chung Myung and the Five Swords were Un Geom, Hae Yeon, Tang So-So, Namgung Do-Wei, and Im So-Byeong, supporting those guarding the front.
The skill levels of those inside varied, but it didn't matter. They were effectively holding an impenetrable shield now.
"Then shall we press a little more?"
Whoeeek!
He lightly swung his fan. The chaotic qi emitted from the fan's tip passed over Yoon Jong's back and momentarily pushed back those charging from the front.
"Let's widen the gap a bit more to create space to fight!"
No sooner had he spoken than the Five Swords stepped forward one step.
Thanks to this, the number of enemies they had to face at once increased, but their feet also became a bit freer.
"Dieeee!"
Jo Gul unleashed his specialty, a storm-like flurry of strikes, toward the charging elite of the Black Ghost Fortress. Dozens of sword qi burst forth, piercing the attackers one after another.
The space ahead momentarily emptied, but Jo Gul looked around instead of rushing forward as usual.
Paaaah!
Then, without hesitation, he swung his sword at an enemy rushing toward Yoon Jong.
The elite of the Black Ghost Fortress, startled by the sword flying from the side, quickly moved and turned his head, but Jo Gul's sword was twice as fast as his reaction.
Pook!
"Kkeuruk…"
The sword pierced through the side of the neck and came out the other side. The elite of the Black Ghost Fortress, foaming at the mouth, collapsed on the spot.
"No need to thank me."
"Just do your job, you idiot!"
"…Even if I help, I get cursed."
The brief opening was used not to kill enemies but to help others. Uncharacteristic of Jo Gul.
Im So-Byeong's gaze grew sharper.
Perhaps Plum Blossom Island was too narrow a battlefield for them to fully display their skills. After all, how could mere numbers draw out all their abilities?
"You've created real monsters."
Im So-Byeong's eyes scanned the battlefield. The situation was still far from good. Even if a few died, it was just a drop in the bucket against the ant-like enemies.
Im So-Byeong's gaze turned toward Desolate Gold Elder beyond.
'You created a hell where those who rush in nervously die?'
Im So-Byeong gripped his fan tightly.
"Isn't that the same for you?"
The one who moves first loses. He thought this was more a battle of guts than strategy. Im So-Byeong glanced back.
As expected.
'That's how it should be.'
Chung Myung had his eyes closed. At first glance, he seemed out of place on the battlefield, a peaceful look. But in fact, he was not resting but entering a meditative state.
Standing, he was circulating qi to prepare his body to fight again as quickly as possible.
In a battlefield where qi attacks and secret assassin techniques fly, to circulate qi standing? No sane person could do that.
It was impossible without absolute confidence that those surrounding him would block any attack.
"He's crazy."
Im So-Byeong smiled quietly and looked again toward Desolate Gold Elder.
Desolate Gold Elder was probably watching this scene too. Just knowing Chung Myung was circulating qi would cause unbearable mental pressure.
"Now, let's see who has more guts."
Im So-Byeong, with a steady smile, watched Desolate Gold Elder with a confident face.