Hwiririk.
The man, somersaulting off the roof, landed with a black band tied around his head and a long spear in his hand.
Hwirik! Shwik shwik shwik shwik.
The man showed off a few dazzling spear techniques, then finished with a flashy movement, drawing a semi-circle with his left foot.
Chwaaat! Cheok.
Namgung Cheon, standing with his legs apart, spoke indifferently. "Quite the show. Are you a descendant of General Yue Fei?"
"I am Ak Goeng, the second son of the Shandong Ak Family."
"To be born into such a fine family, yet your spear art is in that state. General Yue Fei must be lamenting in his grave."
"Hmph! Trying to use a taunt, are you? It won't work."
Ak Goeng smiled coldly and aimed his spear shaft straight.
Namgung Cheon picked his ear. "It's not one-on-one, so what's the point of a taunt? I just stated a fact."
Ak Goeng's brow furrowed. It was then.
"You've got guts!"
A booming voice came from the roof, and a large-bodied man dropped like a meteor.
Kuuung.
His body was so heavy that the ground shook faintly when he landed.
Cheocheok.
As he took a step, a deep footprint was revealed in the ground. The large man readied his fists in an opening stance, and his heavy qi was clearly transmitted.
Namgung Cheon pursed his lips in admiration. "Ooh, you're really big. I should apologize to the Ghost King for calling him an old pig. There was a real pig right here."
"You bastard…"
As the large man spat out the words, a yellowish qi condensed tightly around his two fists.
Namgung Cheon said, "Seeing as you're wearing amber-colored leather bracers and using fist techniques… are you from the Hwangbo Family?"
"Hoho. Your eyes aren't rotten, I see."
"Nothing's rotten. Thankfully, I came back to life before they could."
Namgung Cheon grinned. Hwangbo Seung looked baffled.
'What's with this guy? He has no sense of tension.'
Just then, a turbid laugh flowed from the roof.
"Kekekek. This is an amusing guy. I thought he just got lucky and beat Jo Gangmin, but just as Jegal Gi said, he must have something he trusts in."
The man on the roof, backlit by the moon, split his lips in a wide grin. As if his voice were a signal, shadows rained down from the roofs of the buildings on both sides.
Shu-shu-shu-shu-shuk.
Nearly thirty men surrounded Namgung Cheon, front and back. Not only that, about ten still remained on the roofs, watching.
A total of forty men. Escape was impossible.
'Tsk, annoying.'
It wasn't like he could dig into the ground to escape. He had no choice but a frontal assault.
Seureureung.
Namgung Cheon drew his Byeokrageom and spoke. "Form a line."
"…?"
"I said, form a line in the order you want to get beaten. It's hard to beat you up when you're standing so disorderly."
"Kuk, hahaha! This guy is really funny. You're one of two things. A madman, or just a funny guy."
Namgung Cheon was startled. How did he grasp that so accurately? It was true. In his past life, "madman" and "funny guy" were the two things he heard the most. The Baekdo people usually called him a madman, and the Heukdo people called him a funny guy. In any case, the bastard's insight was remarkable.
If that's the case, I have to return the favor.
"And you, since you won't even crawl down from the roof, you must be a despicable Tang Clan bastard, hiding in a corner and flicking hidden weapons."
At the blatant mockery, Dang Ugi's laughter stopped. In the darkness, his rage-filled eyes gleamed.
"You'll die because of that mouth."
As soon as his words fell, something flashed and flew.
Shwiiiik.
Of course, even before that, Namgung Cheon had seen the Gongnyeok soar from Dang Ugi's Danjeon, race down the Sutae-eum Pyegyeong (Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian), and explode from the Sosang-hyeol (Shaoshang acupoint) of his thumb.
Considering that most hidden weapon techniques release Gongnyeok from the index and middle fingers, concentrating it in the Sosang-hyeol meant it was the Tang Clan's ultimate technique, the Chuhon Bijeop (Soul-Chasing Flying Butterfly).
Sure enough, the movement of the hidden weapon flying through the air was unusual. The flat weapon tumbled wildly, as if it had been thrown poorly. At a glance, it looked like a butterfly fluttering.
In truth, hidden weapon techniques were quite tricky, even for Namgung Cheon. What the Chogyeon Pagongan could deconstruct was, in the end, something connected to the body. A hidden weapon that had already left the hand was meaningless, even if he saw it.
Nevertheless, the reason Namgung Cheon could quickly use his footwork to dodge the Chuhon Bijeop was thanks to the countless experiences of his past life. Among his pursuers, there had been an annoying number of Tang Clan martial artists, including the Tang Clan Head.
The key to dodging or blocking the Tang Clan's Chuhon Bijeop was to wait until the weapon was right in front of your nose. Until you thought you were about to die.
'Just like now!'
When the weapon was within arm's reach, Namgung Cheon executed his Muhanbo.
Seuseuseuk.
His feet glided naturally, as if the ground were a sheet of ice.
Shiiik.
The hidden weapon passed through the spot where Namgung Cheon had just been.
In that instant.
Shikkaang!
The Byeokrageom shot up like lightning and deflected the black hidden weapon.
Shwiiik, Puk.
"Keo-euk!"
The deflected weapon, in the blink of an eye, embedded itself in the side of a Jeonghyeopgwan student. The student's eyes went wide. He convulsed, then collapsed. It didn't look like a fatal wound, but the weapon must have been coated in paralysis poison.
"This is a real bastard. He even put poison on his weapons?"
As Namgung Cheon frowned, Dang Ugi twisted his lips. "This bastard knows how to play! Let's see how long that smart mouth of yours lasts!"
Pababat!
In an instant, Dang Ugi waved his hands as if dancing.
Shwi-shwi-shwiiit.
A total of twelve hidden weapons flew, linked like a chain. The Tang Clan's ultimate technique, Yeonhwan Shibi-cham (Twelve Linked Slashes).
At the same time, the students who had spread out charged, roaring.
"Iyeop!"
"Haaat!"
Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue and shot forward. "You bastards. I told you to form a line, you really don't listen."
Namgung Cheon deflected the first weapon that flew at him.
Kaang!
With a clear metallic sound, the first weapon was sent flying.
Puk.
"Kkeuak!"
Someone's scream. In truth, if Dang Ugi had properly executed the Yeonhwan Shibi-cham, it would be impossible to deflect it so easily. But Dang Ugi was still young. He would need at least an I Gapja (120 years) of internal energy to use it threateningly. The current Yeonhwan Shibi-cham was just a plausible imitation.
If he's the son of a great family, he should eat some elixirs. The Tang Clan should be overflowing with them.
It was the same for the Chuhon Bijeop he threw earlier. Why was it called Chuhon Bijeop (Soul-Chasing Flying Butterfly)? Because it chased one's very soul. It was most effective with deep Gongnyeok. But Dang Ugi, with his shallow Gongnyeok, lacked the ability to control the weapon at will. Because of that, he was just throwing a weapon that would fly erratically due to air resistance and calling it Chuhon Bijeop. It was an clumsy imitation.
Not that it was completely terrible.
'Well, for his young age, even that imitation is impressive.'
If Dang Ugi had been at his best, without an ounce of carelessness, it might have been annoying. But at this level…
'Not a chance!'
This is the body that dodged even the Mancheon Hwau (Rain of Ten Thousand Blossoms) while using Gyeonggong.
Of course, the fact that I almost died back then is a secret.
Tukakakagang.
After deflecting five or six more weapons, he headbutted the first student who reached him.
Ppaak.
"Keo-euk!"
As the student staggered back, clutching his nose, a hidden weapon embedded itself in his back. The students who had been charging so confidently froze with dumbfounded expressions. It was only natural. What was this? Forgetting Namgung Family techniques, he was headbutting? Wasn't this just a dogfight?
It couldn't be helped. When facing an absolute majority, to hell with techniques! His original, instinctual way of fighting was bound to come out. The sword forms of the Changung Daeyeon Geom-beop and a reckless, dogfight style mixed together.
Peok! Chwaak! Ppaak! Peok! Chwachwaak.
"Keuak!"
"Aak!"
The feeling of striking an enemy and the sensation of cutting flesh is always thrilling. As the smell of blood hit his nose, it felt as if all his senses were awakening and cheering.
How long has it been? Ah, I shouldn't be getting a thrill from this… but I can't help it.
Namgung Cheon, drenched in a strange nostalgia, leaped up and stomped his foot on a student's forehead.
Peok.
"Keo-euk!"
Soaring up, Namgung Cheon quickly flew right in front of Dang Ugi.
"You bastard!"
Dang Ugi, in his haste, drew a bido (flying dagger) and swung it.
Kaang!
A metallic sound, and sparks flew.
"You should have eaten some elixirs and raised your Gongnyeok. Did your dad not give you any? Did he say he'd eat them all himself?"
"You crazy bastard!"
This guy really does read me well. That's why I don't like him.
In an instant, Namgung Cheon used Geumnasul, grabbed Dang Ugi's sleeve and collar, and threw him off the roof.
Shuuut, Kuung.
Dang Ugi, landing on his shoulder, grit his teeth and quickly stood up.
Pabat!
In that time, a dark shadow soared into the air and swung his spear at Namgung Cheon. It was Ak Goeng.
Shikaaang!
Namgung Cheon barely blocked the spear, but the immense force sent him skidding back, breaking roof tiles, before he fell into the alley below.
Chareureureuk! Hwirik, Tak.
"You baaastard!"
This time, Hwangbo Seung charged like a bull. "I'll smash that mouth of yours!"
Suaaaang!
Hwangbo Seung's fist, imbued with Gwongi (fist energy), flew straight.
Namgung Cheon quickly executed his Muhanbo to move. Hwangbo Seung's fist struck the wall.
Kwaaang!
The solid wall cracked. Hwangbo Seung retracted his fist and grinned. "Your running around like a colt ends here."
In a flash, Jeonghyeopgwan students, radiating a menacing gido (aura), surrounded Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon looked at the cracked wall and said to Hwangbo Seung, "I take back what I said about the pig. Promoting you to wild boar."
"You crazy bastard…"
It was then.
Peo-eok.
"Eu-ak!"
A dull thud, followed by a student's scream, came from behind.
The Jeonghyeopgwan students flinched and turned. Paeng Suhyeok was wiping blood from his mouth, growling.
"You bastards… daring to touch another man's meal…"
"What is this now?"
A Jeonghyeopgwan student lifted his chin and strode over.
In that instant, Paeng Suhyeok swung his Daedo. The flat of the blade struck the student's cheek.
Peo-eok.
"Keok!"
It happened in the blink of an eye. The student was sent flying like a bullet and slammed into the building wall.
Kudaang!
Paeng Suhyeok slung his Daedo over his shoulder. "Whoever wants a piece of Namgung Cheon, get in line behind me, you bastards. No cutting."
As the Jeonghyeopgwan students stared blankly, Namgung Cheon shrugged. "See? What did I say? I told you to form a line."
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