Volcanic Age - Chapter 28

Ju Seo Cheon shouted valiantly as he moved forward. He had Mak Won Gap as his aim.

Why are you doing that?

Mak Won Gap backed away out of fear. He no longer exhibited the same level of bravery that he had when he initially entered.

“First, get rid of that bastard!”

The term “brat” had evolved into “bastard.”

“Hy, Hyung-nim. He says that he is a Sword Examiner of Mount Hua.”

The one that got to stand at the forefront after the death of the big guy spoke in a scared voice. His body was trembling slightly.

Mount Hua. That name was terror itself for low leveled martial artists of the River of Death.

“Al, also, obviously he’s not even twenty yet…”

“He’s a member of the Lotus Peak without a doubt!”

Everyone here knew what it meant when someone that wasn’t even twenty came out to Kang Ho.

“If we touch the Lotus Peak…:”

Someone spoke carefully. A member of the Lotus Peak was someone that received special treatment even inside Mount Hua.

It was hard to touch him as they were scared of the aftermath.

“You idiots!”

Mak Won Gap raised his voice with a red face. Blue veins had appeared on his neck.

“So are you planning on retreating here? Anyone knows that this place only has injured people, if we escape we will be a laughing stock and our lives will end right here!”

They had separated a hundred warriors for the decoy. It meant that the damages the main troop would suffer would increase.

They had to pass through here somehow, take over this place and take the families of the people at Weng An as disciples.

“And you, a disciple of Mount Hua”. 

No, member of the Lotus Peak, you are still a child in the end!”

Mak Won Gap kicked the back of a warrior that was trying to pull out.

“In the first place, not having followed the Fourteenth Gallant Sword means that his skills are lacking! Don’t be scared and suppress him quickly, you useless bastards!”

Maybe they got persuaded by Mak Won Gap’s yell or they became scared that the warriors of the River of Death raised their swords again. Most of them were looking at Ju Seo Cheon.

“Why is it that you speak more than the Righteous Faction?”

Ju Seo Cheon contained his laughter and put more strength in his hand holding the sword.

“Stop babbling and speak with your sword!”

After Ju Seo Cheon stopped speaking the warriors of both sides clashed once again.

“Remember the words of young master Ju!”

The second-rate martial artist that had been assisting the places that got pierced through or were having a hard time, yelled.

Thirty minutes ago, Ju Seo Cheon had taken the third and second-rate martial artists and set up a brief strategy.

At first, the warriors didn’t even try to listen to him because they thought that Ju Seo Cheon was useless.

But Ju Seo Cheon said,

“I will spread that you tried to escape alone while trying to take and escape with the properties 

but you failed and died. If you are warriors that have families to protect, you will know what will happen to that family of yours, right?”

“A demon, a demon is here!”

….And threatened them like that.

 

Most of them had already given up on despair so they decided to follow Ju Seo Cheon without complaining much.

 

Actually, it wasn’t something that could be called a strategy. It was simply blackmailed.

 

They had to surround the gate so that not every enemy could enter.

 

In addition, second-rate martial artists would assist the places that got opened.

 

Lastly, Ju Seo Cheon would defeat the warriors that belonged to the River of Death one by one in the center of the battlefield.

 

When they first heard that tactic the warriors thought that Ju Seo Cheon was crazy, that he was being too overconfident.

 

It was obvious to think like that. He was only a twelve-year-old kid, even though he belonged to the Lotus Peak. On top of that, it was his first time in Murim.

 

They didn’t know how he would act after his first murder but he wanted them to leave everything to him. All their rationality had escaped far away.

 

The enemy warriors got closer before they could even object and in the end, all of them despaired and proceeded with the tactic.

 

But what was this?

 

The tactic was a success.

 

No, the tactic wasn’t the problem. The power Ju Seo Cheon showed was just too shocking.

 

At first, everyone just blinked and doubted their eyes.

 

But they finally got able to believe 

it was after Ju Seo Cheon defeated three more warriors after the first one.

 

They didn’t know how this happened. It was a martial power that exceeded common sense.

 

They weren’t able to hide their happiness when they got hope of being able to get out of this place alive.

 

“Left-wing, you are delving in too deeply so be careful! I understand how you feel but we have fewer numbers so calm down a bit!”

 

Ju Seo Cheon checked the situation even while swinging his sword. He had a bit of commanding experience due to his past life, although not much.

 

“Yes”

Third-rate warriors answered in a dignified way. The despair that was filling them up until then had disappeared.

 

They were fewer in numbers and their morale had fallen to the bottom.

 

There was no hope…

 

There were injured people behind them. The people that couldn’t fight were trembling in fright while hiding.

 

They were embarrassed for having thought for a moment of leaving them behind so they reflected on that and moved.

 

‘There it is.’

 

The third-rate warriors saw it.

 

‘The back of the third-rate warriors is there.’

 

A back that was more reliable than any others.

 

The back of a kid that wasn’t even 20 yet.

 

It may be a bit embarrassing but they relied on the back of that kid and fought fiercely by following his orders.

 

“Die!”

 

A warrior belonging to the River of Death yelled and charged forward.

 

Ju Seo Cheon pulled out the sword that was stuck in the chest of an enemy warrior by his side and then swung his sword by twisting his body.

 

Something fell above the heads of the warriors of the River of Death before they could even grasp the identity of the sound.

 

“Guaaaak!”

 

“Aghh, where did this come from!”

Screams were heard everywhere.

The warriors that were charging like boars got scared.

 

The things that fell above their heads were arrows. And there were at least twenty raining down on them all at once.

 

“….Hahaha!”

 

Ju Seo Cheon also became a target for the arrows as he was in the middle of the enemy grounds but he just fended them off with his sword.

 

His eyes were looking at Zhuge Seung Kye, who was holding up a bamboo barrel that was tied with ropes.

 

“These Zhuge Sega bastards are 

so dirty.”

 

The Bamboo Crossbow.

 

It was a weapon that fired several arrows after placing arrows inside the bamboo barrel and pulling a string.

 

So, that means…

 

“Seung Kye created an assassination tool, and because they were ashamed to be Righteous Sect members, they went and sold it to the Sichuan Family.”

 

“Haha! I’m a success!”

 

In jubilation, Zhuge Seung Kye hoisted his bamboo crossbow and his arms.

 

It was a genuine joy from overcoming a difficult situation.

 

“He is without a doubt the Heaven’s Late Known Partner!”

 

Zhuge Seung Kye had hidden as soon as he heard the news that the River of Death was attacking them. Due to this People thought that he had gotten scared and hid.

 

But it wasn’t at all the case. It was the exact opposite.

 

Zhuge Seung Kye designed an assassination weapon using materials like arrows and bamboo barrels rather than hiding.

 

“An, a weapon of mass murder?”

Mak Won Gap became perplexed.

 

The Sichuan Family, perhaps?

 

He had never seen or heard of such a weapon before. Only members of the Sichuan Family would employ that particular type of killing weapon.

 

“Ahaha, it worked! A triumph!”

 

Zhuge Seung Kye yelled and leaped for pleasure.

 

“Well done Zhuge Seung Kye!”

 

Ju Seo Cheon called out Zhuge Seung Kye’s name out loud on purpose. It was so that everyone in the surroundings was able to hear him.

 

“The Zhuge family?”

 

Mak Won Gap asked back with a surprised face.

 

“No, why would the Zhuge Sega use assassination weapons?”

 

The Righteous Faction considered that using assassination tools was a disgrace, except for the Sichuan Family.

 

Even if it wasn’t practicing it and helping others use it, the four factions penalized it greatly.

 

“Huk! Th, they saw me!”

Zhuge Seung Kye stopped jumping for joy and got bewildered.

 

This was the first time he had gotten so much attention that he felt his hands tremble and his heart sink.

 

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead and his mind turned 

white.

 

“Wh, what are you looking at? I also know that I’m useless!”

 

His negative way of thinking had returned.

 

Zhuge Seung Kye embraced the bamboo crossbow and got teary. It was a hard situation for a kid that was only ten.

 

In addition, he hadn’t trained in martial arts properly so he wasn’t able to hold it when the warriors of the River of Death looked at him menacingly.

 

“For the Zhuge Sega to use assassination weapons, how cowardly! You should be ashamed!”

 

Mak Won Gap’s eyes turned red and yelled.

 

“Hah.”

 

The second-rate warrior of Weng An looked at Mak Won Gap dumbfoundedly and the third-rate warriors also showed similar reactions to him.

 

The River of Death was a group that didn’t care about honor if it meant winning.

 

But Mak Won Gap didn’t care about their gazes and continued to criticize Zhuge Seung Kye.

 

“Don’t fight like that from up there and let’s have a fair square fight!”

 

‘That’s dangerous.’

 

The bamboo crossbow made Mak Won Gap wary. The soldiers who were fired a while back weren’t in danger of dying, but it was still upsetting.

 

He lacked the time to focus on those arrows. Ju Seo Cheon would have murdered him if he had.

 

“Furthermore, if you tell Righteous Faction, martial artists, that doing so is cowardly, they will give up on themselves. There is no chance that he won’t be duped.”

 

Mak Won Gap knew it for sure.

 

“Wasn’t it you who arrived to use a large bunch to attack a tiny one? You are now highlighting what is right and incorrect. Embrace your shame.”

 

Ju Seo Cheon stepped forward as if that wouldn’t work and smirked.

 

“Seung Kye, it has become certain with this. You are a genius. That’s why you should serve me as your older brother.”

 

“You are spouting nonsense again.”

 

Zhuge Seung Kye put on a tired expression.

 

“Attack!”

 

Mak Won Gap’s voice rang resonantly.

 

A third-rate warrior holding a sword charged toward him. He had quite a confident expression but he was so slow it made Ju 

Seo Cheon yawns.

 

“Die!”

 

The third-rate warrior yelled energetically and swung his sword. Ju Seo Cheon took a step to his left and dodged it lightly.

‘Plum Blossom Brilliant Sword Art!’

 

Ju Seo Cheon’s blade moved so fast that to the average warrior it had simply disappeared.

 

“Huk!”

 

The third-rate warrior stared at the sword with a surprised look but it was too late. Great pain was felt in his solar plexus and blood poured out.

 

“This brat!”

 

This time two warriors attacked him from both sides. Ju Seo Cheon held his sword more tightly and got satisfied.

 

‘I have been training constantly so I was worried that I wasn’t able to use it in real combat, so I’m glad that isn’t the case.’

 

He had succeeded in the Fourteen Stances of the Plum Blossom Sword and the Plum Blossom Brilliant Sword Art without many problems.

 

This time, Ju Seo Cheon took a defensive posture and executed the Five Elements Plum Blossom Sword Art.

 

The Five Elements Plum Blossom Sword Art, which contained the five elements, was a martial art that circulated defensive and offensive attacks naturally.

 

It was a sword technique that immediately let you attack after having defended.

 

The sharp sound of wind being split was heard from both sides and swords came flying toward him. However, Ju Seo Cheon lightly fended them off.

 

“Ugh!”

 

A third-rate warrior couldn’t hold his weight and fell to his right and the other third-rate warrior that was attacking from the right got bewildered.

 

“One.”

 

He swung his sword horizontally and cleanly cut off the heads of the warriors that were to his right.

 

Ju Seo Cheon twisted his wrist and grabbed his sword inversely to stab the back of the falling warrior.

 

He could feel a life being cut off followed by a groan from his sword.

 

“Hi, hiiik!”

 

The warriors of the River of Death hesitated. Their faces were now filled with fear rather than excitement.

 

And Ju Seo Cheon didn’t miss that opportunity. He charged towards them and entered their grasp.

 

“Uaaagh!”

 

“Kuak!”

 

The sword containing the plum blossom danced in the air. Its execution was perfect, it was as tranquil and serene as it should be yet it delivered a powerful attack.

 

At times, it seemed like a butterfly was fluttering its wings but soon turned into a fierce storm to threaten the warriors of the River of Death.

 

Their heads got separated from their bodies and a hole got pierced in their chests and blood poured down from it.

 

‘Is it really his first time in Kang Ho?’

 

The second-rate warrior of Weng An got thrilled by Ju Seo Cheon’s strength. He had a face that he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

 

Based on his information, Ju Seo 

Cheon was only twelve. A kid that was only twelve years old didn’t have any hesitation at all in his first battle. It was to the point that he felt a bit of alienation.

 

“Come!”

 

Ju Seo Cheon shook off the blood in his sword and yelled.

 

“I am Ju Seo Cheon, of the Mount Hua sect!”

 

Ju Seo Cheon of the Mount Hua Sect!

 

He got goosebumps all over his body and felt thrilled.

 

He had never yelled this confidently in his past life. He only followed others when they yelled.

 

But that wasn’t the case now. The warriors were following his back. It didn’t matter that they were the third rate.

 

They believed in him and were looking at his back. This moment was one that he wouldn’t be able to forget.

 

“Waaaa!”

 

The warriors of the Murim Association cheered. It was the opposite of how they were a while ago.

 

There was a difference in numbers that was twice as large but they had a young expert here. 

 

They believed in that.

 

Even if an allied warrior got stabbed in their chest, they didn’t feel fear and counter-attacked him.

 

“There’s no need to push yourselves so just do what I told you to!”

 

Ju Seo Cheon yelled towards the warriors of the Murim Association.

Before the warriors of the River of Death destroyed the gate, he had told them to induce the enemy warriors to his side. Most of them disapproved of his words but now they were following it in earnest.

 

The warriors of the Murim Association focused on defense and at the same time sent the warriors toward Ju Seo Cheon.

 

Ju Seo Cheon flew off swiftly when an enemy entered his, even if it was only by a little, and inflicted a blow.

 

“Kuaaagh!”

 

The thirty warriors that had first entered the gate decreased exponentially.

 

Then, the enemy warriors that were holding in wait in a relaxed manner also entered the gates and an additional thirty people arrived.

 

The warriors of the River of Death, that number of a hundred, in the beginning, decreased to fifty.

 

A pile of corpses started to accumulate in front of the gate to the point that it disturbed entering the gate.

 

The path got blocked by the enemy warriors that were only third rate so it became harder to fight. Ju Seo Cheon roamed freely as if he didn’t care about that at all and executed sword dances.

 

“Take this!”

 

The most annoying thing was Zhuge Seung Kye, who was at the rear. There weren’t that many bamboo crossbows because he made them in a hurry but it obstructed them every time they wanted to pass over the warriors of the Murim Association.

 

Ju Seo Cheon noticed that like a ghost every time that happened and swung his sword swiftly to take the lives of the warriors.

 

The battle in this place was at a low level compared to the battle taking place in Kaiyan, which was half a day away from this place, but it was still fine.

 

The members that could enter through the gate were limited and formed a solid defensive formation to take away the lives of the enemies.

 

“Da, damn it!”

 

Mak Won Gap hurriedly rolled his eyes and scoured the area for a route out when things started to develop unexpectedly.

 

He was worried about getting into jail if he fled, but he saw no hope if things went on as they were.

 

The other River of Death warriors’ eyes, which had initially been filled with gold, appeared to have changed from gold to terror at the same time.

 

“What in the world are you doing, exactly?”

 

On the battlefield, Mak Won Gap’s terrified voice could be heard.

 

“And what are you supposed to be doing?”

 

Ju Seo Cheon walked towards Mak Won Gap and everyone trembled at that even though he wasn’t particularly aggressive.

 

“He’s putting on airs, I’m sure of it. I’m certain that he’s exhausted as he has been fighting until now.”

 

Mak Won Gap mumbled to himself as if trying to fall into self-hypnosis.

“That would be right in ordinary cases.”

Ju Seo Cheon nodded in agreement.

“But I’m not. I’m sorry to take away your hopes but my nickname as the flashy yet frail is quite the misconception you see.”

Ju Seo Cheon smiled brightly without even dropping a drop of sweat. That smile looked like it belonged to the devil for Mak Won Gap.

“Don, don’t get any closer!”

Mak Won Gap yelled with a scared voice, this fear affected the other enemy warriors.

Even if that wasn’t the case, they were already scared of Ju Seo Cheon for having killed close to fifty warriors in an instant.

Everyone else lost their fighting spirit as the commander and the strongest of them showed fright.

“Es, escape!”

“Uaaagh!”

One person escaped and that spread to the others like a disease. Everyone let out scared voices and escaped.

“Damn it!”

In the end, Mak Won Gap also had to give up. He couldn’t do anything about his members that became uncontrollable.

He pushed away the warriors of the River of Death with force and tried to escape.

“Get away! I’m getting away first!”

Mak Won Gap’s voice rang on the battlefield.

“No, you can’t leave.”

He closed the distance with Mak Won Gap as if the corpses spread on the floor didn’t obstruct him at all.

Mak Won Gap got grabbed by his collar after having only advanced a few meters.

“Oh my, great master! I’m sorry for not having recognized you!”

Mak Won Gap screamed pitifully as soon as he got grabbed. He dropped his sword to the floor as if he didn’t even want to resist.

‘I don’t know how this happened but this kid is a kid I can’t do anything against. I have to find a way to live.’

After witnessing Ju Seo Cheon’s fighting style, he had entirely lost all will to fight. He was a challenge he could never overcome.

As soon as he was certain of something, his decision-making was lightning-quick.

To live, Mak Won Gap threw away and diminished his pride.

“You must continue to exist so that I may hear the specifics from you, hence you must remain here.”

“My knowledge is little, wonderful master. If you leave me alone, it will be more comfortable. Things like th…”

“Really? Then I ought to murder you.”

“I’ll respond to any question you have! I’m going to start following the great master right now!”

 

Translated by Novel multiverse

Edited by Beetlesme