The Vulture Siblings (5)
All eyes were on Hae Cheong-yeon, but at least the leaders of both sides were exceptions.
Heo Gyeong, who wished to ride the rising momentum and inspire morale, and Hwang Janggon, who sought to reverse the atmosphere, both had no intention of conceding this round.
Heo Gyeong called for Yi Gongsan, the vice-captain of the escort corps, whom he had intended to send out from the beginning.
"I trust you, Vice-Captain Yi."
Yi Gongsan replied with fiery eyes, clasping his fists.
"I will not disappoint you!"
At the same time, Hwang Janggon of the Righteous Alliance summoned his own fighter and gave instructions.
"I had intended to hold you back for later, but this isn't the time. You know what you must do, don't you?"
The massive man standing before him bowed respectfully and answered.
"I will crush them with an overwhelming victory and completely break their spirit."
Satisfied, Hwang Janggon nodded with a pleased smile.
"Yes, exactly."
From the Sword Mountain Sect, Yi Gongsan strode lightly onto the plains with nimble movement skills, just as Cheon Jueun had done earlier.
The Sword Mountain warriors, already heated from the previous matches, cheered wildly at his appearance.
"Woooooahhh!"
"Vice-Captain Yi Gongsan!"
"Vice-Captain! Cut him down with a single strike!"
Because of the women's duels earlier, the atmosphere had shifted into that of an enjoyable martial exhibition.
Yi Gongsan stood tall, waiting as a figure slowly walked out from the Righteous Alliance side.
He was a hulking man, shirtless, carrying two massive axes in his hands, looking every bit like a bandit.
When the man stood before him, Yi Gongsan looked him up and down and scoffed.
"I heard the Righteous Alliance was a sect of the orthodox path… but why is a bandit standing before me?"
The man smirked lewdly, like a true bandit, and replied.
"Hehehe… If killing riffraff like you counts as serving the orthodox path, then what else matters?"
Yi Gongsan's eyes narrowed as he drew his sword.
"Then you admit you're no righteous man. You won't be killing me—instead, you'll be kneeling before me! I am Yi Gongsan of the Sword Mountain Sect!"
The other man raised his twin axes into a stance and replied.
"I am Yang Ho-ung of the Righteous Alliance."
Seeing the twin massive axes, Yi Gongsan thought:
'To wield such heavy weapons in both hands… he must be confident in his strength. Then I'll use speed, circling him and striking from outside his range.'
But just as he formed that thought, Yang Ho-ung suddenly stomped forward and charged.
Pababak!
"Wha—?!"
The distance between them had been about three zhang, so Yi Gongsan had felt safe. The sudden, explosive rush caught him completely off guard.
What shocked him even more was the speed.
'Fast!'
With no time to react, Yi Gongsan hurled himself sideways, hoping to evade and buy time.
But the surprises didn't end there.
Pababak!
Yang Ho-ung twisted at a right angle mid-charge, tracking him seamlessly.
Such explosive agility was unimaginable from a man of his massive frame.
Watching from afar, Hwang Janggon smiled in satisfaction.
"The first time I saw him, I realized that so-called god-given strength truly exists. Though he hasn't mastered qi projection yet, his physical power alone is already on par with peerless masters. The moment you judge him by common sense, the fight is already over."
Buaaaaang!
Yang Ho-ung barreled in like a wild boar, sweeping horizontally at Yi Gongsan's legs.
Forced by that unstoppable momentum, Yi Gongsan had no choice but to leap upward.
"Haap!"
But in that instant, he saw it—Yang Ho-ung's crescent-shaped grin, eyes gleaming with triumph.
Yang Ho-ung leapt after him and swung his opposite axe vertically with a roar.
"Urrraaaahhh!"
It was a blow that could split a mountain.
Psychologically cornered, Yi Gongsan couldn't even think of counterattacking—he only raised his sword to block.
But—
Claaang!
Splaaash!
The warriors of both sides gasped in unison.
Yi Gongsan's body, along with his sword, was split cleanly in two.
The two halves hit the ground with a thud, while Yang Ho-ung, drenched in blood, smirked wickedly at the Sword Mountain Sect.
This was a completely different spectacle from the elegant duels of the women before.
As both sides stared in shocked silence, one of the Righteous Alliance officers, on Hwang Janggon's signal, shouted loudly:
"Destroy the heretics! Kill the demonic scum!"
From all directions, voices echoed in unison.
"Destroy the heretics! Kill the demonic scum!"
"Destroy the heretics! Kill the demonic scum!"
Soon the entire Righteous Alliance roared the murderous chant.
"Destroy the heretics! Kill the demonic scum!"
"Woooooahhh!"
The warriors of both sides, who moments ago felt like they were merely watching a sparring match, now realized the truth.
This was not a martial exhibition. This was war.
The atmosphere flipped in an instant.
The Righteous Alliance warriors roared with killing intent, while the Sword Mountain warriors sat pale-faced and silent.
Having successfully shifted the mood to his advantage, Hwang Janggon smiled in satisfaction.
This was precisely what he had wanted.
He was certain now: the fear imprinted in their hearts would cause the Sword Mountain Sect to collapse on its own.
Sect Master Heo Gyeong of Sword Mountain grew desperate.
He called forward the captain of the escort corps.
"Captain Mun! You must avenge him!"
"Do not worry, Sect Master! I will take revenge for Vice-Captain Yi without fail!"
Though Mun was older, Heo Gyeong sent him out. Only a fighter of his level might hope to win.
But the result Heo Gyeong witnessed was horrific.
Mun too was split in two after only a few exchanges.
"This—this can't be!"
And then another.
And another.
Three Sword Mountain officers fell in succession, butchered by Yang Ho-ung's axes without even showing a proper fight.
The Righteous Alliance warriors roared in fiery ecstasy.
"Woooooahhh!"
"Yang Ho-ung!"
"The Reborn Xiang Yu, Yang Ho-ung!"
Meanwhile, watching from the rear, Bi Sa-yeong muttered.
"Brutal. That's a complete monster."
Sak Muhun nodded.
"Indeed. Beyond martial skill—it's sheer speed and strength. Among first-class warriors, none could match him."
"All the morale our ladies raised has just been destroyed. Sword Mountain's side looks like a funeral now."
"Yes, utterly tragic."
Just as they said, Sect Master Heo Gyeong of Sword Mountain felt utterly hopeless.
He had no one left to send.
Nor did anyone volunteer.
Whenever he looked around, all his men averted their eyes.
At the front, Yang Ho-ung bellowed taunts.
"Are these weaklings all the Sword Mountain Sect has?! Chopping firewood in the mountains would be harder than fighting you lot! Wahahahaha!"
His jeers further crushed Sword Mountain's spirit, while the Righteous Alliance roared endlessly.
"Wooooahhh!"
"Destroy the heretics!"
"Kill the demonic scum!"
Only now did Heo Gyeong realize why Hwang Janggon had proposed one-on-one duels.
With a monster like this, unless one fielded a peerless master, defeat was inevitable.
It was a feeling of utter despair.
Closing his eyes tightly, Heo Gyeong wondered what he could possibly do now.
He could already foresee it.
Even if they didn't fight further today, his side had already suffered a crushing defeat.
After this duel, his sect would collapse on its own.
It was then that someone spoke to him in a deep, heavy voice.
"Please, Sect Master. Allow me to go."
At that welcome voice, Heo Gyeong's eyes shot open.
"Oh! And you are…?!"
But as he opened his eyes, he realized his gaze only reached the man's chest. He had to lift his head higher.
Before him stood a muscle-bound giant, like an iron tower, looking down at him.
"I am Bae Jonggwan, the eldest of the Five Eagle Siblings."
"…The Five Eagle Siblings?!"
Hearing this, light returned to Heo Gyeong's eyes.
The deeds of the Five Eagle Siblings today had already been so extraordinary that even if the day ended now, they would deserve a great reward.
And if this eldest brother could show feats to rival his younger sisters?
With a trembling voice, Heo Gyeong asked Bae Jonggwan:
"Can you… defeat that man?"
Bae Jonggwan replied with a calm, weighty voice.
"I will return before the wine grows cold."
There was no heated wine nearby, but Heo Gyeong knew exactly what he meant.
He nodded firmly.
"Very well, I entrust this to you!"
Bae Jonggwan strode proudly out onto the plains.
There, Yang Ho-ung stood amidst six butchered corpses, axes in hand, blood dripping, grinning cruelly.
Yang Ho-ung sneered.
"Ohhh! This one's a bit bigger. Splitting you will feel especially good."
But ignoring him, Bae Jonggwan bowed politely and declared in a booming voice:
— "I am Bae Jonggwan, the eldest of the Five Eagle Siblings!"
Both sides erupted in murmurs.
"The Five Eagle Siblings?"
"He's one of them too?"
"Then he's the brother of those ladies earlier?"
Even Yang Ho-ung's gaze shifted strangely.
"So… you are the brother of those maidens?"
Even his tone had changed.
Guessing the reason, Bae Jonggwan smirked.
"Come, then. If you manage to kill me, perhaps one of my sisters might take an interest in you."
Yang Ho-ung's eyes blazed.
"Is that so? In that case…"
He hefted his twin axes.
"Draw your weapon! Let us begin quickly!"
But Bae Jonggwan chuckled.
"I need no weapon against the likes of you."
"…What?"
Yang Ho-ung's face twisted in fury at the insult.
The fighting spirit in his eyes now brimmed with killing intent.
"How dare you…! You'll regret this!"
Pababak!
Yang Ho-ung stomped off and charged again.
It was the same blistering rush that had already stunned his opponents three times before.
But Bae Jonggwan did not dodge.
Instead, a memory came to his mind—his earlier conversation with Hae Cheong-yeon.
'He's strong. A peak first-class warrior, though his physical ability is already equal to a peerless master. In speed and power he rivals you, Bae Gongja, but as a martial artist his skill may even surpass yours.'
At this, Bae Jonggwan had asked gravely:
'Then how should I respond to him?'
Hae Cheong-yeon had smiled faintly and replied:
'Is there really any need to respond at all?'
While recalling this, Yang Ho-ung's axe came crashing down with full force.
"Urrraaaahhh!"
It was a strike filled with killing intent, meant to split Bae Jonggwan in half in a single blow.
The axe crashed down at his head like a thunderbolt.
Kwaa-jijijik!
Yang Ho-ung's swing was merciless, dragging his axe downward from Bae Jonggwan's skull all the way below his groin.
The Sword Mountain warriors gasped in horror, expecting a gruesome sight.
"Ughhh!"
"No!"
"Again?!"
But what they saw was not what they expected.
Yang Ho-ung stood dazed, staring at the wooden handle of his beloved weapon.
The axe blade that had struck Bae Jonggwan's head had shattered into pieces.
"W-what is this…?"
Watching from concealment, Seonu Jin clenched his fist and muttered.
"That's it!"
Beside him, Sak Muhun gaped and asked.
"Is… is that even possible?"
Seonu Jin smiled faintly and explained.
"Once you reach the level of a first-class master, you can focus your inner qi on a chosen spot, multiplying the effect of your external arts. He knew the opponent would target his head, so he concentrated his qi there. In his current state, Jonggwan could stand against mid-tier ghouls or even specter demons without falling short. Without the qi force of a peerless master, not even a scratch can be made."
Sak Muhun nodded in admiration, gazing at Bae Jonggwan.
And at that moment, Bae Jonggwan finally moved.
With all his might, he drove an uppercut into the jaw of the stunned Yang Ho-ung, who still stared at his broken axe.
Buaaaang!
Caught off guard and shaken, Yang Ho-ung failed to defend and took the strike head-on.
Bboooom!
"Grahhh!"
His jaw shattered, and his massive body was launched skyward, before crashing down headfirst.
Kuuung!
With that single blow, Yang Ho-ung's consciousness was blasted far away.
It was a complete victory.
Bae Jonggwan tilted back his head and let out a thunderous roar.
"Uwooooooooooooohhhh!"
It was a beastly cry, announcing his triumph.
The stunned Sword Mountain warriors soon regained their senses and erupted in overwhelming cheers in response.
"Woooooaaaaahhh!"
"He won!"
"The Iron-Boned Bae Jonggwan!"
"The Diamond-Body Bae Jonggwan!"
The shouts poured into Bae Jonggwan's chest, heating the heart of a man who had devoted his entire life to the external martial path.