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Chapter 1135
Chapter 1135
Chapter 1135
Kwadeuk!
A worn-out coin struck Baek Cheon’s forehead as he resisted until the end.
Pajik!
The wooden coin shattered into pieces and Baek Cheon collapsed backward, foaming at the mouth.
Thud.
A white mist rose from his forehead as he lay sprawled on the ground.
Tang Gun-ak, who had taken down defeated the last standing Baek Cheon, casually brushed off the hand that had thrown the coin.
“Mount Hua Sect certainly has tenacity.”
“Compared to them, those kids from Tang Family don’t seem to have any persistence, do they?”
“…Is it?”
Tang Family members who had been lying down flinched when they heard that short exchange. Even without raising their heads, they could clearly see the eyes of Tang Gun-ak looking down at them.
“Well, it can’t be helped. Our kids have been rolling around in those harsh mountains, while Tang Family kids have lived comfortably in the well-off lands of Sichuan. How can we compare them?”
“…But it sounds like you’re stating that Tang Family is living in luxury and has no willpower?” (Willpower also read as poison)
“Hahaha. That’s so funny. That Tang Family has no poison. Hahahaha.”
“….”
“Haha….”
“….”
“You weren’t joking?”
Udeuk.
The sound of Tang Gun-ak grinding his teeth could be heard clearly. The eerie noise made those lying on the ground shudder again.
‘No, that crazy guy….’
‘Why does he scratch people like that?’
While those who were down felt like spitting blood, Chung Myung had never cared about such things before and wouldn’t start now.
“Oh, come to think of it, maybe it’s not that.”
“…What do you mean?”
Chung Myung supported the back of his head with his clasped hands and continued nonchalantly.
“Now that I think about it, it might not be because of living in luxury. Namgung Family kids, who’ve grown up even more luxuriously than Tang Family, definitely have persistence.”
“….”
“Then why is Tang Family like this? I can’t figure it out. Is it because the environment is bad? Or is it because they were born with it…. Kuhum.”
In an instant, Tang Gun-ak’s venomous gaze was fixed on Tang Pae and Tang Zhan. The two, who had already been wary of the situation, quickly lowered and buried their heads to the ground.
“…The reason isn’t important. What matters is changing the result.”
“Well, that’s true. But that’s easier said than done.”
“Even if it’s not easy, it must be done. One way or another.”
Clear tears spread across Tang Pae’s eyes.
Tang Gun-ak today was different from yesterday. Of course, he had been aggressively pushing them even yesterday, but today, he was literally running wild as if he had a knife in his mouth, for some reason.
Just thinking about Tang Gun-ak’s murderous gaze made them feel like their pants were about to get soaked, but why did that person keep provoking him! Why!
That rotten Taoist bastard!
Amidst this, Chung Myung glanced at the people lying on the ground and spoke up.
“Fortunately, we have plenty of time. It looks like you all still have a lot more to endure.”
“I don’t know if it’s fortunate or unfortunate.”
At Tang Gun-ak’s words, Chung Myung laughed and shouted at those who collapsed.
“We’ll be doing the same training tomorrow. Make sure you’re well-prepared.”
“….”
“No matter how much I prepare, I doubt the result will be any different. Kikikik.”
Chung Myung turned around and left the training ground. The elders of each sect and Maeng So, after glancing at the collapsed, followed him.
Tang Gun-ak, the only one who did not follow Chung Myung and remained there, frowned and opened his mouth.
“Sogaju.”
“….”
“Sogaju.”
“Y- Yes! Gaju-nim!”
Tang Pae raised his head. At that moment, he met Tang Gun-ak’s cold gaze. Tang Pae shivered. It was a gaze he had not seen much of recently. It was like Tang Gun-ak’s gaze before he met Chung Myung.
“Everyone at least should do their minimum share.”
“I- I’m sorry….”
“Is there anyone among you who showed a behavior worthy of the name descendant of Sichuan Tang Family?”
“….”
“Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword may have been said as a joke, but it doesn’t sound like a joke to me. Since everything has always been handed to you without you putting effort, you have no reason to be impatient or desperate.”
Tang Pae lowered his head in silence.
“As punishment… today, Tang Family will fast.”
“…Yes.”
There was no room for excuses when told not to eat because they hadn’t earned their meal.
Tang Gun-ak, who scanned everyone with emotionless eyes, quickly left the training ground. At the same time, Tang Pae, who had been barely holding on, collapsed, his head hitting the ground.
After a long while, Jo-Gol staggered to his feet and groaned.
“Uuuuugh. No… Why’s everyone so determined today?”
His voice was filled with irritation and fatigue. Jo-Gol glanced at the person lying next to him like a corpse and spoke.
“Sahyung.”
Still getting no response, he stretched out his leg and poked Yoon Jong in the side.
“Sahyung, still alive? Sahyung.”
Pok. Pok.
“You dead?”
“…I’m not dead, you little shit.”
“Hey, what? I thought you were gone.”
“…Ugh.”
A groan escaped Yoon Jong’s mouth.
If he had any strength left, he would have smacked Jo-Gol’s impudent mouth mercilessly, but now he’s so exhausted that even if it were not Jo-Gol but Evil Tyrant Alliance who was running wild, there would be nothing he could do. Moreover, his head was pounding from where Chung Myung had struck him, making it hard to even speak.
What on earth makes this guy, Jo-Gol, still have the strength to tease others like that after going through the same thing? That guy got hit twice as much, too.
“But isn’t this a bit too much?”
“What is?”
“No… To be fair, Chung Myung and the sect leaders, and even the elders team up against us. How can we deal with them! What kind of training is this? It’s just beatings under the guise of training.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? We’ve been through this all the time.”
“Huh? Now that you mention it…”
Jo-Gol tilted his head. Meanwhile, Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh. Though he hadn’t said it, he felt the same way.
Given their numbers, it was natural for them to lose, but as was repeatedly emphasized, the difference in numbers didn’t hold much weight in Kangho.
A fully grown adult can only exert at most ten times more force than a six-year-old child. But that doesn’t mean an adult is exactly ten times stronger than a child.
Though it wouldn’t happen, an adult could undoubtedly take down not just ten, but even a hundred six-year-olds if they truly went all out.
In Kangho, the difference between the absolute martial masters and those below them is even greater.
Although those from Mount Hua are accustomed to such situations, having frequently faced Chung Myung, the problem lies elsewhere…
Yoon Jong glanced at those who were lying down. While he couldn’t see the expressions of those lying face down, he could see the faces of those lying on their backs, staring up at the sky.
Yoon Jong came to a clear conclusion.
‘They’re all done for.’
Their face was reminiscent of someone who had left an exam hall, confident of acing it, only to realize later that night that they had forgotten to write their name on the answer sheet and had been disqualified.
No, rather, their faces were so devastated that it made him think that the hypothetical person was a little better.
Yoon Jong fully understood their feelings.
‘We were like that at first too.’
There are more than enough martial artists in Kangho, but it is surprisingly difficult to find someone who is recognized as a supreme master anywhere. It’s so rare that it’s enough for a sect to be treated as a prestigious sect just for having one or two of them within their sect.
That’s why, there are countless people who introduce themselves as a person of Kangho but never see the face of a martial master in their entire lives.
Those who belong to a prestigious sect have the opportunity to meet their elders, so their situation is somewhat better… But it is not common for a martial master, who is busy just slightly improving his skills, to mix with children from the sect that are like a swarm of flies. At best, they may teach a few talented children a few times as a form of play.
‘And now they’ve experienced a martial master going all out.’
It would be even stranger if they were hit by a martial master’s killing intent right in front of their eyes and their soul didn’t flee.
“Ugh.”
Just then, Baek Cheon, the last one to fall, staggered to his feet.
“As expected of Sasuk, he recovers quickly.”
“He’s someone who has a knack for getting hit right.”
“Yeah, I’ve taken my share of beatings too, but compared to Sasuk, it’s just a drop in the bucket.”
Baek Cheon’s face distorted as he heard the vague words of compliments or insults.
“Damn it…”
He ground his teeth.
“Chung Myung alone is making me crazy already.”
Handling Chung Myung, who could single-handedly sweep through Mount Hua, was no easy task. However, Maeng So, who attracts more attention than Chung Myung because of his size, runs wild like a wild beast, and between them, the hidden weapons of Tang Gun-ak fly in.
The elders of each sect filled the gap that was barely found, so there was no dealing with this.
Of course, the number of people receiving training has also increased….
“A hindrance.”
Baek Cheon deeply agreed with Yoo Iseol’s quiet remark.
‘It would be better without them.’
He never once imagined that something could happen that would interfere with the formation of allies. But that ridiculous thing was happening in this training ground.
The swordplay they have developed to deal with Chung Myung is completely useless. Other people were interfering with their movement, and the chaotic atmosphere of the other groups spread to Mount Hua.
He couldn’t help but think that they might have fared better against Chung Myung, Maeng So, and Tang Gun-ak with just Mount Hua alone.
‘Was war originally this complicated?’
He thought that he would win if he just built a stronger force. But what he experienced today in this training ground was enough to fundamentally distort his thinking.
‘If too much power is concentrated in one place, it will actually be harmful.’
So, what should they do? If gathering their strength causes interference, but spreading out means they can’t face a powerful enemy?
“…In this case, each sect has to move separately, and a small number of them have no choice but to go around supporting the places that are being pushed back.”
Baek Cheon nodded heavily at Yoon Jong’s words.
He wasn’t wrong. Given the circumstances, that was the best approach. But even then…
At that moment.
“What the hell!”
One of Beast Palace warriors suddenly sat up. With his face swollen, he yelled in frustration.
“Why do you keep swinging your sword in front of me! Our Gungju-nim is not someone you can deal with! Even a real sword won’t penetrate Gungju-nim’s body, so what are you going to do with a wooden sword?”
At those words, Jo-Gol widened his eyes.
“Are you talking to us now?”
“Yes! You Mount Hua bastards! What do you think you’re doing blocking the way with your pathetic swordplay? We can’t fight properly because of you!”
The disciples of Mount Hua gaped. Interference? Who was interfering with whom?
“No ….”
But there was no need to refute that statement. Someone else was ready to get angry on their behalf.
“You muscle brain spouting nonsense. If you had just stopped interfering and allowed us and Mount Hua to unite, things would have been much better.”
“What? Is this because you guys also use swords?”
“That’s just the truth. You lot are of no help at all!”
Ice Palace immediately took Mount Hua’s side.
Im Sobyeong, who was listening, snorted.
“Well then, why don’t you two handle it together?”
Then Namgung Dowi intervened, gritting his teeth.
“Don’t criticize your allies. Why are you creating divisions?”
“Aigoo, the great Namgung Family speaks to a lowly Evil Sects. How humbling.”
“…What?”
They openly mocked and blamed each other. The animosity ran so deep that even in such a situation, they couldn’t stop grinding their teeth at one another.
Baek Cheon sighed deeply.
‘I’m not sure if this is right, Chung Myung.’
His gaze turned towards the direction where Chung Myung had gone.