Chapter 79: The Spearman Who Gained Strength (4)

Ma Ungyeol walked forward with his spear slung over his shoulder, his stride unhurried, almost leisurely—like a man taking a stroll.

Looking down at Gugwi, who was kneeling and vomiting blood, a cold sneer crept onto his lips.

“It’s over.”

He muttered the words quietly.

Taking the spear from his shoulder, he gripped it with both hands. The spear tip aimed straight at Gugwi’s chest.

Gugwi lifted his head to look at Ma Ungyeol.

His vision blurred; blood continued to spill from his mouth.

Ma Ungyeol’s eyes were calm and icy—gazing down at him as though at a mere insect.

“I thought your Spirit Flow Core was something impressive, but it seems it’s nothing special.”

He raised his spear.

“Now, I’ll take your life.”

Ma Ungyeol drew the spear back.

Gugwi tried to lift his own spear to block, but strength refused to return to his arms. His weapon slipped from his grasp and clattered onto the ground.

Ma Ungyeol smiled faintly.

“You can’t even resist.”

Then, he thrust forward.

A lightning-fast strike—the spear tip shot straight toward Gugwi’s heart.

At that instant, Yeon Sohye darted forward.

Paaang!

A burst of silvery mist exploded outward. Her dagger clashed against Ma Ungyeol’s spear, trying to deflect it—but Ma Ungyeol had already moved to his next motion.

Shriik!

Twisting his spear, he struck aside Yeon Sohye’s dagger. The blade flew through the air and embedded itself in the wall.

First thrust—then the second!

The returning spear tip pierced Yeon Sohye’s shoulder like lightning.

Puuuk!

“Aaagh!”

Yeon Sohye screamed as she was hurled backward.

Blood spurted like a fountain from her shoulder. Her body spun twice in the air before crashing back-first into the wall.

Kuung!

Cracks spread across the stone.

Yeon Sohye slid helplessly down to the floor.

Jang Unhyeok’s eyes widened in horror as he spread both arms.

“Blazing Fire Warrior! Wind Sword Wolf!”

Red flames roared to life on his left, while a blue gale spiraled on his right.

Harmony of Flame and Wind!

The two spirits fused into one, forming a massive vortex of fire.

The whirlwind’s diameter spanned over two jang. The black marble floor melted like magma, oozing downward as smoke thickened in the air.

The flaming cyclone surged toward Ma Ungyeol.

Ma Ungyeol slowly lifted his spear.

His movements flowed like the swaying branches of a willow. He pointed the spear downward, rotating it once clockwise—just a single turn.

A crimson circle bloomed in the air from his spear tip—clear and vivid, as if drawn with blood.

And when that circle collided with the firestorm—

Time seemed to freeze. Then came the explosion.

Boom! Paaang!

The firestorm shattered to pieces.

Flames scattered like fragments; the raging wind dispersed into a faint breeze.

The shockwave slammed into Jang Unhyeok.

His body flew through the air like a frog kicked by an ox. Limbs limp, he crashed against the wall with a violent impact.

Kwaang!

His back struck hard. Spiderweb-like cracks spread from the point of impact.

Then he fell to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth like flowing water.

“Kuhk… kuhk…”

He coughed blood, collapsing completely.

In the blink of an eye—

Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok were both down.

This was what made Ma Ungyeol terrifying. All that time he’d hung back, watching, never rushing in—biding his moment. But once he drew his spear, the outcome was absolute.

That both Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok could be crushed so effortlessly—

Gugwi was horrified.

He had never imagined Ma Ungyeol’s skill to be this fearsome. The title Eleventh True Army was no empty boast.

All the while, Gugwi had been receiving treatment from Namgung Hoyoung. From the moment Yeon Sohye blocked Ma Ungyeol’s spear, Namgung Hoyoung had pressed himself close to Gugwi’s back, healing his internal injuries.

Transparent needles pierced into Gugwi’s body—starting from the Danjung, Guigweol, Zusamni, Gokji, and Hapgok Acupoints.

Namgung Hoyoung’s hands moved with lightning speed.

Each time a needle went in, vibrations rippled through Gugwi’s body. Blocked meridians burst open, and reversed energy and blood began to flow properly again.

He drew out every bit of spiritual energy that the Nameless Martial Artist had left within Gugwi.

Deep in his Dantian, that dormant energy stirred awake. Pure and clear qi spread throughout his body.

Tsssss!

It felt as though his internal injuries were mending.

Torn meridians closed, and his damaged organs began to heal. The blood loss from his earlier hemorrhaging was replenished—no, even more—by the Nameless Martial Artist’s spiritual energy.

Color returned to Gugwi’s face. His blurred vision cleared.

But time was running out.

Ma Ungyeol was already approaching.

His stride was easy, as though the battle’s outcome had already been decided.

Namgung Hoyoung drove his needles faster.

Dozens of transparent needles pierced Gugwi’s back, shoulders, and arms. The vibrations intensified—spiritual energy burst forth explosively, whirling through his body.

“Just a little longer…”

Namgung Hoyoung’s voice echoed in his mind.

“If I only had a bit more time…”

But Ma Ungyeol did not wait.

He raised his spear—Gugwi’s life hung at the spear’s tip.

“Your turn now. No regrets, I hope?”

This time, he meant to finish it.

Sssht!

Gugwi gripped his spear.

“General Madal!”

He released Un Serim—and summoned only General Madal. All softness, technique, and finesse were stripped away, leaving only pure destructive force. He would decide it with the Flying Swallow Slash.

Paaang!

General Madal descended in spirit contact.

At that instant, Gugwi’s body solidified like an age-old stone cliff.

The commanding presence of a general charging across the battlefield radiated from him perfectly.

“Oh-ho! Madal? Is that General Madal? Excellent. This will be a fine duel against the Red Blood Spear King. I just hope… you don’t die too easily.”

Swish!

Ma Ungyeol too performed spirit contact—with the Red Blood Spear King.

A colossal armored warrior materialized, his figure far larger than General Madal’s—

it was like watching a bear rise to its full height.

“Ugh…”

Yeon Sohye staggered to her feet, blood streaming endlessly from her lips.

His mastery… his proficiency is superior. A fight decided in a single second… we can’t win this one!

“Grab… Gugwi… by the neck!”

She shouted weakly toward Jang Unhyeok, her voice barely holding together.

“The underground… passage!”

Jang Unhyeok immediately understood.

She meant to retreat back into the underground tunnel they had escaped through earlier. It would be like cornering themselves in a trap—but at least it would buy them distance from Ma Ungyeol.

Shhhhhh!

Jang Unhyeok used the Wind Sword Wolf’s movement arts, darting forward as if flying. With a trembling hand, he seized Gugwi by the back of his neck.

“Let’s go!”

No sooner had he spoken than Yeon Sohye summoned her last ounce of strength, releasing So Ryeonghwa’s silver mist.

Paaaat!

Their vision was completely obscured.

Shweeeek!

The Red Blood Spear King’s spear shot through the fog, as if refusing to let them escape. Even as Jang Unhyeok dragged him, Gugwi unleashed the Flying Swallow Slash—splitting the mist cleanly in two with his strike.

Kwaaaang!

The two spear forces collided violently, pushing each other back.

Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok dove into the underground passage.

Behind them, Ma Ungyeol’s relaxed voice rang out.

“Running won’t help. Front and back are blocked—where do you think you’ll go? Live underground? Hahaha!”

His laughter echoed through the square.

The three had no strength to respond. Once inside the passage again, they could only pant heavily, their tension slowly uncoiling as their legs lost power.

The damp air pressed on their lungs; only the sound of water droplets dripping from the wall echoed faintly.

Yeon Sohye leaned against the wall, clutching her bleeding shoulder.

Jang Unhyeok held his chest, coughing up blood-tinged saliva.

Then… from deep within the tunnel came a faint groan.

“Ugh… ugh…”

The three cautiously approached the sound.

A red-spear martial artist sat slumped against the wall.

His condition was horrific.

His chest was caved in, exposing his ribs. White bone protruded fully from his shoulder. Blood from his mouth trailed down his chin, neck, and chest.

His face was pale—almost corpse-like.

His eyes were unfocused.

Even so, he raised the broken half of his spear and pointed it at Gugwi.

“F… fight…”

His voice wheezed weakly, barely audible—like air escaping a punctured lung.

“It’s… not… over…”

The shattered shaft trembled in his grasp, threatening to slip from his fingers.

He was on the brink of death.

Jang Unhyeok leaned toward Gugwi and whispered,

“Heal him.”

“…?”

Gugwi looked at him in disbelief.

They themselves were the ones in desperate need of treatment—Yeon Sohye, Jang Unhyeok, and Gugwi. There was no time, nor reason, to heal an enemy.

If they did, the man would likely strike at them the moment he recovered.

“There’s a reason. Just heal him first.”

Jang Unhyeok’s gaze was serious.

Gugwi hesitated, but decided Jang Unhyeok must have his reasons. He was once the Head of the Intelligence Division—he would know much about the people of the Heavenly Sound Cult.

“Namgung Hoyoung.”

The physician spirit appeared.

“Heal that man first.”

Namgung Hoyoung approached the red-spear martial artist, transparent needles beginning to pierce into his acupoints.

The wounded man’s ragged breathing gradually steadied.

Meanwhile, Jang Unhyeok began to speak.

“His name is Jin Geonmu. He’s from the Blood Spear Sect.”

“The Blood Spear Sect!”

Yeon Sohye’s eyes widened. The Blood Spear Sect was famous for spear arts—a sect that pursued combat-focused spear techniques, where nearly half its disciples died during training.

Yet those who obtained the blood-stained spear—the Blood Spear—were unimaginably strong.

Jang Unhyeok’s voice lowered.

“But… he met a woman—a Spirit Summoner. Not from here, but from the south.”

“Who?”

Yeon Sohye asked quickly. A female Spirit Summoner from the south—there weren’t many; even hearing the name would be enough to recognize her.

“You wouldn’t know her. She was killed long ago by Hwe Unjin of the Wudang Sect. About twenty years back? A witch… a demoness—you know the type. Jin Geonmu joined the Heavenly Sound Cult to avenge her.”

Yeon Sohye sighed softly.

“That makes sense.”

“The problem is, Hwe Unjin bound his wife’s soul. She can’t even pass on—wandering the netherworld, trapped between realms. That’s the grudge he carries.”

“Does he know where her body is buried?”

Gugwi asked.

“He should. I heard he buried her himself.”

“Then the bound soul can be released. If the resentment isn’t too deep, she might even ascend.”

Though his voice was quiet, it carried clearly through the still tunnel.

The red-spear martial artist’s eyes snapped open.

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