Chapter 441

Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu swung their blades simultaneously.

The black blade and the white blade tore through the air, flying toward Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol used the Serpentine Steps to evade their attack.

By a hair’s breadth, the two blades grazed past Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol tried to use the momentum to pass by the two men.

His goal, after all, was Ma Wonik on the boat and the Buddhist scriptures he had stolen.

Past the bend ahead, the river would widen again. If the boat entered the wider part of the river, the pursuit would become chaotic once more.

He had to take the risk and catch up. That was why Pyo Wol tried to bypass Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu instead of engaging them. But both Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu were Experts who surpassed Pyo Wol’s expectations.

“Hah!”

“Don’t even think about it.”

Chwa-ha-hak!

They spun on the spot like tops and launched Blade Energy at Pyo Wol’s back.

The two streams of Blade Energy flew in an exquisite intersection, making them impossible to ignore or dodge.

Pyo Wol had no choice but to turn and bat away the Blade Energy with both hands.

Kkang!

With a metallic clang, the Blade Energy launched by the two Escort Chiefs was deflected.

Seeing Pyo Wol deflect Blade Energy with his bare hands, the two Escort Chiefs’ eyes widened.

“What the?”

“You bastard!”

They had never expected him to deflect Blade Energy with his bare hands, so their surprise was all the greater.

It was common sense in the Jianghu that blocking Blade Energy with bare hands was impossible unless one had mastered a special Hand Art, but Pyo Wol had completely defied it.

They spotted the Wrist Guards on the back of Pyo Wol’s hands and forearms.

“So you’re wearing an item.”

“Hmph! Using cheap tricks.”

The two were enraged by the fact that Pyo Wol had deflected the Blade Energy not with his bare hands, but with Wrist Guards.

Shuuuu!

Pyo Wol skimmed low across the ground like a swallow.

He had confirmed the performance of the Wrist Guards Tang Sochu had made for him by deflecting the Blade Energy.

Even though he had deflected the Blade Energy without channeling any Internal Power, there wasn’t a single scratch on the Wrist Guards.

At this rate, he wouldn’t fear any famed sword in All Under Heaven.

Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu unleashed their Supreme Arts.

Pabababang!

The air burst around the black and white blades.

Pyo Wol deflected all their attacks using the Wrist Guards and pushed forward.

Shuuuu!

The Soul Restraining Thread was unleashed.

“Hut!”

At that moment, Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu threw themselves backward.

They had already obtained information that Pyo Wol used the Strange Art called Soul Restraining Thread, so they were fully prepared.

They waited for the Soul Restraining Thread to pass before counterattacking.

“Chaaat!”

“You bastard!”

It was common sense that at close range, short weapons like swords or blades were more advantageous than long weapons like whips or threads.

Swish-swish-swish!

The black and white blades chaotically sliced through the air.

They were deadly Technique Forms, like the fangs of a wild beast.

The two had known each other for a very long time and had synchronized their movements just as much.

They could read each other’s thoughts with just a look or a gesture.

Kakakakang!

The two blades and Pyo Wol’s Wrist Guards clashed repeatedly.

Sparks flew in all directions.

Pyo Wol realized that the blade techniques they were using were extremely practical.

Blades were inherently more practical than swords.

It took a long time to fully grasp the subtleties of the sword and apply them in actual combat. But blades were much more intuitive than swords, making them easier to learn.

Even considering that characteristic, the blade techniques they displayed were incredibly brutal. They held a wildness that only those honed in real combat could possess.

“Haat!”

“Chat!”

They slashed horizontally like lightning and cut down vertically.

The black and white Blade Energy dazzled Pyo Wol’s eyes.

While blocking their attacks, Pyo Wol studied their faces.

They were plain faces without any distinguishing features.

Bladesmen of this skill level should have been famous in the Jianghu. But Pyo Wol had never heard of Bladesmen with such faces.

If so, there was only one possibility left.

“You’re from the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild.”

“Hut!”

“……”

For a moment, Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu felt a shock as if their hearts had dropped.

Despite their vast experience, they couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions at this moment.

From their reaction, Pyo Wol was certain his guess was correct.

‘Then the Silver River Escort Agency, or perhaps the New Moon Manor, must be related to the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild.’

Until now, the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild had been as elusive as a cloud.

He had confirmed its existence, but he had been at a loss, unable to find its true form. Yet, he had come close to their reality in such an unexpected place.

Pyo Wol asked.

“Why is the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild after the Buddhist scriptures?”

“Shut up.”

“Silence!”

Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu went berserk, attacking even more fiercely.

Shwaaa!

Brutal blade techniques continuously aimed for Pyo Wol’s vital points.

A fierce storm of attacks, with all unnecessary frills stripped away, leaving only the main trunk, raged on.

At a glance, Pyo Wol looked like a leaf caught in a storm.

He seemed to be tossed about by the two men’s attacks. But no sense of crisis could be found on Pyo Wol’s face.

If anything, it was the two attackers who were growing anxious.

‘Damn it!’

‘Is he a ghost?’

All their attacks missed by a hair’s breadth.

It was like fighting a ghost with no physical form.

Though they had fought countless real battles, this was the first time they had faced such an enemy.

Cold sweat trickled down their spines.

They realized that Pyo Wol wasn’t counterattacking not because he was cornered, but because he was observing them.

“You baaastard!”

“Don’t look down on us!”

They let out roars and each unleashed their strongest Ultimate Technique.

Swish-swish-swish!

The air filled with Blade Shadows.

Hundreds of black and white Blade Shadows rained down on Pyo Wol.

In that instant, Pyo Wol unleashed Black Lightning.

As the Lightning power stimulated his nerves, his physical reaction speed became several times faster than usual.

Kwa-kwa-kwang!

A rain of blades poured down where Pyo Wol had been. But Pyo Wol was no longer there.

Pyo Wol had already circled around Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu and landed a good distance away.

“Huh?”

Just then, Jin Pyodu’s eyes caught the Silver Thread flowing from Pyo Wol’s hand.

Only then did he remember that Pyo Wol had circled around them.

“Don’t tell me?”

“Damn it!”

At that moment, Pyo Wol pulled the Silver Thread.

Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu’s eyes widened.

A fiery pain flared from their waists.

Looking down, they saw a single Silver Thread digging into their waists as if slicing through a rotten radish.

It was the Silken Serpent Strong Energy.

Pyo Wol had circled their bodies and created a noose with the Silken Serpent Strong Energy.

The noose instantly bisected their waists.

The upper bodies of Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu slid off their waists and fell to the ground with a thud.

Pyo Wol retrieved the Silken Serpent Strong Energy and immediately ran after the boat.

He had wasted a lot of time dealing with them.

He used his Lightness Art at full power to catch up to the boat.

In the meantime, the boat carrying Ma Wonik and the others had passed the bend and was entering a wider part of the river.

This was the last chance to get on the boat.

Pat!

Pyo Wol kicked off the ground and launched his body.

His body flew through the air like a bird.

It was then.

Suddenly, an arrow flew from the boat with ferocious momentum.

Paaang!

Just from the sound of the air exploding, one could tell how much power it contained.

It was too late to dodge in mid-air.

Pyo Wol crossed his Wrist Guards to block the arrow.

Kwang!

With a loud explosion, Pyo Wol’s body was thrown backward.

Pyo Wol ended up crashing near the water’s edge.

He wasn’t injured, but his wrists, protected by the guards, throbbed.

Pyo Wol got up and looked at the receding boat.

The one who shot the arrow was Ma Wonik.

In his hand was a great bow, the size of a small child. He had sniped Pyo Wol with the great bow.

While Pyo Wol had fallen, the boat had moved further away.

Even if he launched himself again, it was now impossible to get on the boat in one go.

“Hoo!”

Pyo Wol let out a shallow breath and glared at Ma Wonik.

Ma Wonik also stared at Pyo Wol, breathing heavily.

The great bow he held was an artifact called the Black Heaven Great Bow. It was an artifact whose destructive power was said to be on par with a battering ram. But the problem was that it consumed an enormous amount of Internal Energy and mental strength.

After firing one shot, his whole body was exhausted, and he no longer had the strength to draw the bowstring.

Thud!

Ma Wonik threw the Black Heaven Great Bow to the floor.

Since it was an artifact that could only be fired one shot at a time, there was no point in holding it any longer.

Two steel arrows remained.

There was no guarantee he could shoot Pyo Wol head-on like this next time. It was uncertain if Pyo Wol would even reveal himself like this again.

Ma Wonik said to the captain.

“Steer the boat at full speed.”

“Yes, sir!”

All the sails were fully unfurled.

The boat, filled with wind, descended the river at a terrifying speed.

Ma Seowon approached Ma Wonik.

“Father! Are you all right?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fire the Black Heaven Great Bow again.”

Ma Wonik replied with a frown.

“Still, now that we’ve put some distance between us, I think we can rest easy.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Pardon?”

“Look over there.”

Ma Wonik pointed in Pyo Wol’s direction.

Ma Seowon’s eyes, following his father’s gaze, widened.

He could see Pyo Wol, who had seemed to have taken a huge shock from the Black Heaven Great Bow, running after the boat.

Although the distance had widened considerably, Pyo Wol had not given up and was still in pursuit.

“Father!”

“I heard he was tenacious, but I never imagined it would be to this extent. He looks like he’d follow us to the ends of hell.”

Ma Wonik’s beard trembled.

In his youth, he too had been a tenacious Martial Artist. If not, he wouldn’t have been able to build a large enterprise like the Silver River Escort Agency. But even he was daunted by Pyo Wol, who stuck to them like a leech.

Jin Pyodu and Geum Pyodu, who had blocked Pyo Wol, were both incredible Experts, yet they couldn’t hold him off for more than a few seconds before being cut in two.

It was truly a Martial prowess that surpassed imagination.

The problem was that he was still in pursuit.

Ma Wonik asked the captain.

“Is there a section ahead where the river narrows?”

“About two hundred li from here.”

“How narrow does it get?”

“The river width narrows to about fifty zhang, and the current becomes extremely fast.”

“Fifty zhang?”

Ma Wonik gritted his teeth.

It was an ambiguous distance.

It was too far to jump in a single leap, but it was a distance that could be covered by using a Water Glider or by throwing a log to use as a foothold.

They had to get past the narrow section before Pyo Wol caught up. But seeing Pyo Wol doggedly pursuing them, it seemed impossible to shake him off.

Ma Wonik had to make a decision.

After a moment of thought, Ma Wonik looked back.

“Ju Pyodu!”

“Yes! Agency Master.”

A Martial Artist called Ju Pyodu stepped forward.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to make a sacrifice.”

“I understand.”

Ju Pyodu answered without a hint of hesitation.

Ma Wonik’s face was filled with anguish as he looked at him.

Ju Pyodu was weaker than Geum Pyodu or Jin Pyodu, who had died earlier.

Telling him to stop Pyo Wol was no different from forcing him to commit suicide. But right now, he had no other choice.

Besides his Martial Arts, Ju Pyodu had a trump card, and that was the only means to tie Pyo Wol down.

The captain steered the boat toward the riverbank, and Ju Pyodu leaped onto the sandy shore.

The boat left him behind and sailed away leisurely.

Ju Pyodu gritted his teeth and stared ahead.

A demon-like man was approaching at a terrifying speed.