Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 178

Fate

“What? An attack?”

“They appeared at such a crucial moment, which suggests they’ve been watching us all along. They seem to be those who go on about justice in Jungwon, but we don’t know their exact identity.”

Pasaruk frowned, annoyance flickering in his blue eyes.

“Do they look strong?”

“They do… They look quite strong. There are quite a few of them too.”

Hang Chun was always the one to praise himself as the best, even if it was just flattery.

For someone like that to admit the enemy looked strong, it meant they weren’t ordinary.

“What about the ones we sent to the neighboring village?”

“Just in case, I sent a few more. They’ll join us soon.”

“Well done.”

Doing well was doing well, but being angry was being angry.

Boom!

Pasaruk’s large fist smashed the stone wall of the warehouse.

“Who the hell are these bastards, really?”

This invasion of the Haeryong Caravan wasn’t just a pastime. It was because he had received a request from one of the strongest and most evil individuals in Jungwon, someone even more malevolent than himself.

Of course, even as one of Jungwon’s strongest, a simple bribe couldn’t move Heilangdan. Pasaruk was as prideful as he was shrewd.

But this time, there was no choice. Even the leader of the greatest bandit group in the world couldn’t ignore the command to train with Jungwon’s strong ones.

“This is why we shouldn’t align with Jungwon people. Idiots! If there were stragglers following, they should have told us in advance.”

Hang Chun spoke cautiously.

“Maybe they’re not known to them either?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Do you think they’d deliberately withhold information just to stab us in the back?”

The possibility of betrayal couldn’t be ruled out. But Pasaruk believed that person would never betray them.

Not because he trusted his character, but because he trusted the situation. At that moment, even the strength of an ant was precious to him.

“Murim Alliance.”

Pasaruk snorted.

“If it’s a force that’s hard for him to identify and presumed to be righteous, it’s likely the newly formed Murim Alliance.”

Quick thinking that didn’t match his massive build. It was why Heilangdan could roam freely for ten years.

Hang Chun’s face hardened.

“If it’s the Murim Alliance, shouldn’t we run?”

“We should.”

Pasaruk’s face turned indifferent.

“We should run, but there’s no proper retreat. A fight is inevitable.”

“Right.”

“Damn.”

Pasaruk looked towards the corner of the warehouse.

A dozen young women were trembling. All of them were exceptionally beautiful.

“It’s a shame. We have to kill them without even tasting them.”

Kill them? The meaning was hard to grasp, but the murderous tone was clear.

Pasaruk gave a meaningful smile.

“Prepare the stakes.”

“Chief, the leader of the enemy is coming.”

“I know.”

Moyong Woo’s cold gaze shifted from the broken outer wall to the inner wall.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The bandit group approached with heavy steps.

‘They’re well trained.’

Before martial arts, their bodies were well refined. Not from meticulous training but from countless real battles.

‘Individually, they’re inferior to the Tangma Army, but if they fight as a group, surely…’

At that moment.

“…!!”

Moyong Woo’s expression twisted slightly.

“What, what is that?”

“Madmen!”

Hundreds of bandits swaggered into view. Behind them, bandits with exotic looks were holding iron poles over one length long.

And at the end of those iron poles were corpses with severed limbs hanging as flags. Skewered like kabobs.

It was a sight unbearable to the human moral sense.

Jinpae’s eyes glinted with murderous intent.

“Chief, let’s sweep them away.”

Even Jinpae, known as the oldest and most cautious in the Tangma Army, couldn’t suppress his rising anger.

Moyong Woo didn’t speak. If he opened his mouth, he feared he might curse.

At that moment, Heilangdan’s leader, Pasaruk, shouted from the outer section.

“Heyyyy!”

For a moment, the atmosphere seemed to ripple. His voice carried an incredible resonance.

The horses of the Tangma Army pranced in place, uneasy from the strange energy in Pasaruk’s voice.

At that moment, Moyong Woo raised his greatsword.

Woooooong!

The Heaven and Earth Eight Extremes True Energy emanated thinly from the greatsword, creating an invisible barrier.

A curtain of energy enveloping all directions. A divine skill not replicable with ordinary comprehension and internal energy.

Purr!

The horses quickly calmed down. Surrounded by familiar energy, they regained their composure.

‘Ho.’

Pasaruk’s eyes gleamed with interest.

‘A young master of a prestigious family, I see.’

He looked around thirty. Yet, he displayed such precise internal energy control.

It was a technique Pasaruk couldn’t replicate. Not because he was weaker than Moyong Woo, but due to the nature of the martial arts he had mastered and trained in all his life.

‘A genius.’

Pasaruk smiled.

He had met countless so-called geniuses. And all those geniuses died miserably after being toyed with by him.

A well-trained genius from a prestigious family. A fun opponent to play with.

Swish!

Pasaruk rushed to the front of his group in an instant.

‘Hmm.’

Pasaruk, looking at Moyong Woo from the outer entrance, stroked his chin.

‘He’s not an inexperienced genius.’

His eyes told the answer. The gaze of the opponent looking down on him was filled with deep anger and cold caution.

Moyong Woo spoke.

“Pasaruk, isn’t it?”

Interesting?

Pasaruk’s face showed interest.

There wasn’t a hint of wavering in his voice. Not trying not to waver, but truly unwavering.

He was angry, but his mind was calm. Pasaruk felt a strange burden from this unexpected trait.

‘Not an easy opponent to toy with.’

Pasaruk glanced at the Tangma Army.

“Wow, where did you gather such a bunch of ragtag soldiers?”

Hisss.

A murderous aura emanated from the Tangma Army soldiers.

Already struggling to contain their rising anger from the enemy’s heinous acts, they found it hard to control themselves after being insulted.

But.

“Choose.”

As Moyong Woo spoke, the murderous aura from the entire Tangma Army fluctuated.

“Disarm and surrender, or face us head-on.”

Pasaruk chuckled.

“Do you trust these ragtag soldiers that much?”

“I’ll give you a quarter of an hour.”

Zap!

The intensely heightened Heaven and Earth Eight Extremes True Energy turned Moyong Woo’s eyes blue.

Unlike Pasaruk, who was born with blue eyes, Moyong Woo’s transformation was even more mysterious and terrifying. Pasaruk felt his fist tremble involuntarily.

“If you surrender, you’ll be imprisoned for ten years after having your dantian sealed and your limbs’ tendons severed. But if you resist, I’ll kill you all.”

“……”

“For you bandit scum, survival is your top priority, isn’t it? Even if it means begging.”

Pasaruk’s smile widened.

It was quite a provocative challenge. The fact that it was genuine, not feigned, made it even scarier.

“What a ruthless proposal. How can anyone survive in fear like this?”

Pasaruk shook his body dramatically, clearly intending to mock his opponent.

“Then shall we make a proposal too?”

Pasaruk waved his hand.

“Kyahhh!”

The bandits parted, revealing naked women being dragged out by their hair.

Moyong Woo’s face filled with murderous intent.

Pasaruk sneered.

“If you don’t retreat a hundred li immediately, I will tear these women apart one by one.”

“……”

“Just like this.”

Even before he finished speaking, a large bandit grabbed one woman’s neck.

Crack!

A horrific sound followed as her neck was torn off.

“Aaah!”

“Kyahhh!”

Blood splattered everywhere.

That wasn’t all. Two bandits began to slash the corpse of the decapitated woman with their swords.

Moyong Woo’s eyes slowly filled with blood. No matter how much he tried to endure it, this had gone too far.

Pasaruk burst out laughing joyfully.

“I showed you an example. As long as you obey, all those women will be spared, so don’t worry too much.”

“……”

“How about it? Not a bad proposal, right?”

“If you touch another innocent person even once more.”

Hisss.

Pasaruk’s eyes deepened.

The dam of murderous intent he had barely held back burst open. Overwhelmed by Moyong Woo’s murderous aura, Pasaruk felt his internal energy writhing uncontrollably.

“I will start by making sure you die first.”

A threat to counter a threat.

Moyong Woo, who had lived a fairly rough life, had never been threatened so brutally. However, he knew one thing.

Never trust the proposals and threats of villains.

The moment he showed weakness, it would be over. Moyong Woo’s response was not the best, but it wasn’t the worst either.

‘He’s serious.’

Pasaruk’s eyes glinted.

‘This guy is really aiming to kill me first.’

This situation was turning quite interesting.

‘Did I misjudge him?’

No. The Moyong Woo that Pasaruk saw prioritized the safety of hostages over annihilating enemies.

Yet he threatened back? Was it simply because he didn’t want to lose?

‘That can’t be it.’

This guy was different from the countless amateurs he had seen before.

‘He must have something he believes in.’

Pasaruk’s quick wits and experience allowed him to grasp the situation instantly.

Pasaruk shouted.

“Secure the perimeter thoroughly! It seems these guys have more allies!”

Swish.

Heilangdan watched all directions.

They hadn’t received any formal group training, so their formation was sloppy. But there were no gaps. The unique tactics of Heilangdan, honed through countless experiences, were like those of wild wolves.

Pasaruk burst out laughing again.

“Hey, kid. If you want to negotiate with your opponent, don’t reveal your cards.”

Pasaruk, looking up at the sky and laughing loudly, heard Moyong Woo speak.

“Half a quarter of an hour remains.”

“……?”

“In half a quarter of an hour, your fate will be decided. Think carefully.”

“Oh.”

Pasaruk’s blue eyes gleamed.

“You’re quite an interesting kid. Aren’t you?”

“……”

“I clearly said I’d spare the hostages if you listened, but if you keep acting like this, it won’t be fun.”

Pasaruk waved his hand again.

At that moment, a terrifying shout erupted from Moyong Woo.

“If you want to see your leader die!”

His resounding voice echoed through the area.

“Touch those women. I will split that pig in half and drown you all in the sea.”

Flinch!

His heavy voice carried an ominous killing intent.

Whoosh.

Blue energy surrounded the Tangma Greatsword. He seemed ready to strike at any moment.

The bandits around the women hesitated. They had experienced countless situations like this, but this opponent’s spirit was overwhelmingly intimidating.

Pasaruk sneered.

“I must admit, you have guts. You say you’ll kill me? Are you confident?”

“If you’re curious, try it.”

“I can’t resist curiosity.”

“So go ahead and try.”

Watching Pasaruk laugh, Moyong Woo shouted.

“Tear one apart!”

“Prepare to charge, Tangma Army!”

Rumble.

An unusual surge of energy rose.

The bandits looked at each other in confusion. They couldn’t decide if they should really kill the hostages.

Pasaruk yelled.

“You bastards! Since when do you think? Tear them apart now!”

“Even if you miss them, make sure to kill the leader!”

“Kill them, you bastards!”

“Target the leader first, no matter what!”

It was a fierce confrontation. Neither side showed weakness.

Whoosh!

Pasaruk finally unleashed his killing intent. It was directed at his own bandits.

“If you don’t kill them, I’ll kill you first.”

Only then did a bandit grab a woman’s hair.

Moyong Woo’s eyes blazed with fury.

“Prepare to charge…!”

At that moment.

A chilling flash pierced through the arm of the bandit holding the woman’s hair.

Thud!