The Young Heavenly Demon

Chapter 168 : Chapter 168

Chapter 168 The Chase (1)

“From now on, we will pick up the pace. Don’t try to fight the flow of energy, just entrust your bodies to it as much as possible.”

At the words of the bearded man who had run to the front of the main unit, Tang Hun slightly narrowed his eyes and turned his head.

Although they were currently forced to receive help from the Sado Alliance, the martial artists of the Tang family were not showing a very favorable attitude towards those from the Sado Alliance.

“……It’s impossible to go any faster.”

At Tang Hun’s words, the bearded man clicked his tongue.

“Then, what are you going to do? Are you all planning to die here?”

“I would rather risk death to kill one more of those Demonic Beings. That’s better than running away like this until all our strength is gone.”

“Tsk tsk. Well, just as expected of you Righteous Faction folks, you’re just sitting there talking nonsense. That’s what you call a dog’s death.”

“……Watch your mouth! How dare you try to defile a martial artist’s honor in such a way!”

“Hey, mister. What did the elder Poison King say when he left? Didn’t he say to survive at all costs and plan for the future?”

At the bearded man’s words, Tang Hun closed his mouth tightly with a flustered expression.

“I’ll buy you some time, so just follow my words.”

As the bearded man rotated his shoulders and loosened up, Tang Hun narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.

“How on earth are you going to buy more time here? Don’t cause unnecessary confusion with empty words……”

Before Tang Hun could finish his words, a faint wind began to blow around the bearded man’s body. The footsteps of the group, which had been running against the resistance of the wind, suddenly became lighter.

Tang Hun’s eyes widened as he felt it.

“……What is this?”

“You see, you only believe it when you see it. Huddle together as tightly as possible in one place and stick close behind me. This is my first time leading a group of this size, so you need to stick as close as possible to go even a little faster.”

Tang Hun, who had confirmed the bearded man’s serious expression, hesitated for a moment and then sent a hand signal to the rear. Soon, the martial artists of the Tang family began to close the distance and stand close to each other.

The bearded man, who had confirmed that the martial artists of the Tang family were ready, took a deep breath.

─ SWOOOOSH

In that moment, a strong whirlwind formed around the bearded man’s body. Although they had been running against a headwind, the headwind that had been holding the group back had now disappeared. Not only that, but a wind also came from behind, as if pushing their backs.

“Here we go. Everyone, follow me well.”

The bearded man, who had wiped away the sweat that had beaded on his forehead in an instant with his sleeve, leaned his body forward.

─ POOOOF!

As the bearded man kicked off the ground and ran forward, the wind completely enveloped his body. Then, the wind blowing from behind the group increased in intensity and began to push everyone’s backs. Thanks to this, the expressions of the Tang family martial artists became much more at ease, and they began to pick up speed again.

The beard of the bearded man, who was leading the energy of the wind at the very front, fluttered in all directions.

Although he couldn’t understand the situation at all, Tang Hun felt that a path to survival had opened and turned his head to shout loudly at the martial artists of the Tang family.

“The heavens are helping us! Let’s push a little harder!”

At Tang Hun’s words, a little light began to return to the faces of the Tang family martial artists.

“……Heavens, my foot. It’s obvious who’s responsible.”

The bearded man raised the last of his remaining energy with a pale face. As he properly raised the energy of the wind, an immense weight pressed down on his entire body. It felt like a thousand-pound rock was on his back.

He desperately wanted to return to his original position right away, but the deed was already done.

The image of Jaun cutting up his own body to infiltrate the Embroidered Uniform Guard flashed through the bearded man’s mind.

‘I can’t…… show any more of a shameful side to my little brother.’

The bearded man steeled his resolve and began to raise the energy of the wind to its maximum, pressing on his already throbbing head.

─ SWOOOOOSH

In addition to the energy of nature, a dry heat spread around the bearded man’s body. As the energy emanating from his body spread out sharply in front of him, his speed increased a little more.

At the huge energy emanating from the bearded man’s body, Tang Hun’s eyes widened for a moment.

─ SWOOOOSH!

As the bearded man once again focused on raising the energy of the wind, the wind blowing from behind became a little stronger.

Thus, the group, with the help of the bearded man on their backs, instantly picked up speed and began to run through the dense forest.

***

‘Hmm?’

Jaun tilted his head at the main unit’s sudden increase in speed, and then a faint smile appeared on his face.

‘Brother Sam-sik……!’

He could faintly feel the dry wind energy that the bearded man possessed.

The anxiety that had been filling Jaun’s heart subsided at the huge energy emanating from the bearded man.

‘At this speed, it will be close, but I’ll be able to join the main unit before they are caught by the Demonic Beings.’

Jaun pictured the bearded man grumbling as he led the group and let out a chuckle.

Using the energy of nature required immense concentration, and after using the energy, a considerable headache and a sense of exhaustion would set in.

He had tried various methods to utilize that energy somehow, but he couldn’t find a way to easily overcome the sense of exhaustion that came after using it. Therefore, Jaun had judged that using internal energy was much more effective and had been refraining from using the energy of nature.

On the other hand, the bearded man, who had learned the martial arts of the Frenzied Wind Sand which utilized the wind, was using the energy of the wind much more easily. He didn’t stop there and had recently been showing signs of constantly thinking about how to grow that energy and utilize it more actively.

‘……So that’s where it shines.’

The bearded man, who was always looking for a way to be of help to Jaun and a way to take revenge on the Demonic Cult, was demonstrating his true worth in a completely unexpected place.

‘Just a little, just a little longer, please hold on, brother.’

Jaun put aside his worries about the main unit for a bit and began to focus on running.

─ TAAANG!

Jaun’s body shot forward like an arrow.

***

“Huff, huff.”

The bearded man’s entire body was now soaked with sweat. His eyes were bloodshot, and a throbbing headache filled his head.

‘Until the little brother comes…… I have to hold on.’

He had almost lost consciousness several times, but with the single-minded determination to hold out until Jaun came, the bearded man was defending the very front of the main unit until the end.

The Tang family members, who had been able to reduce the energy they spent on moving quite a bit with the bearded man’s help, were gradually recovering their strength. Tang Hun’s complexion was also much better, and overall, their morale was much higher than before.

‘But…….’

Nevertheless, the distance between them and the Demonic Beings was not widening. They could avoid being caught, but they couldn't shake them off either.

Moreover, it was uncertain how long the bearded man could hold on like this.

The Ice Rakshasa bit her lip as she saw the bearded man’s eyelids twitch again.

‘Hero Jang…… is now using all his strength to his limit.’

There was still quite a distance to the border of Sichuan. The moment the bearded man’s strength gave out, the distance between them and the Demonic Beings would close in an instant.

The Ice Rakshasa looked at the bearded man’s back as he ran, cutting through the wind.

She could feel the legs of the bearded man, who had been leading the group with a stance as firm as a huge mountain, starting to tremble slightly.

‘If Hero Jang’s strength is exhausted, someone will have to tie up the Demonic Beings’ feet at the rear.’

If you can't speed up your allies, the only way is to slow down the chasing enemy.

The Ice Rakshasa turned her head and glanced at the faces of Yu Ha-rin and Jin Cheol-myeong. Yu Ha-rin, who understood her thoughts through her gaze, tapped the sword at her waist, and Jin Cheol-myeong also nodded slightly.

‘……The three of us will have to block the rear.’

There was no other way. She wanted to protect the two children of the Five Evils, who had set foot in the Murim for the first time, as much as possible, but it was not a number she could handle alone.

‘I should minimize the dangerous things as much as possible.’

Just as the Ice Rakshasa was cheering on the bearded man in her heart, the body of the bearded man running at the very front swayed greatly. Then, the bearded man’s body collapsed forward in the same running posture.

─ KWA-DA-DA-DANG!

“Hero Jang!”

“Are you alright?”

The group’s steps came to a halt.

Tang Hun and the Ice Rakshasa hurriedly approached and turned the bearded man’s body over.

“Ah……”

The bearded man’s hair had already turned more than half white, and his entire body was trembling uncontrollably.

“Guh.”

The bearded man, who had suddenly coughed up blood, soon stopped moving.

The Ice Rakshasa, who had quickly flipped the bearded man’s eyelids and checked his internal energy, turned to the group with a stern expression.

“It seems he has exhausted all his strength. His life is not in danger, but he may not regain consciousness for a while……”

Tang Hun, who was looking down at the bearded man, lifted his body.

“I will carry him. Let’s start again.”

The Ice Rakshasa nodded as she confirmed Tang Hun, who had hoisted the bearded man onto his back and tied him with his martial arts uniform.

“I’m counting on you. Everyone…… please run at full speed again. If we run for two more sijin, we’ll be at the border of Sichuan. Beyond that is the jurisdiction of the Sado Alliance, so if you cross over there and meet someone, please show them this jade plaque. They will then guide you.”

The Ice Rakshasa took a jade plaque from her robes and placed it in Tang Hun’s hand.

“Hmm? What are you talking about now. Then, Miss……”

“We are planning to block the pursuit of the Demonic Cult bastards here.”

Only then did the color drain from Tang Hun’s face as he grasped the situation.

Tang Hun, who was staring blankly at the Ice Rakshasa, shook his head.

“We can’t do that. There is no need for the Sado Alliance to make such a sacrifice for us.”

“We have the ability to escape somehow. But you are all at your physical limit and also have non-combatants with you. Once you are caught……”

The Ice Rakshasa stared intently into Tang Hun’s eyes.

“……You will all lose your lives.”

“Even if we lose our lives, it can’t be helped. The Tang family are not such shameless people who hide behind others to beg for their lives.”

“Ah, this is so frustrating! We don’t have time to argue. Do you really want to see the Sichuan Tang family annihilated here?”

At the word annihilation, Tang Hun flinched for a moment. He turned his head and looked at the members of the Tang family one by one, and his hand trembled slightly.

The Ice Rakshasa squeezed the jade plaque in Tang Hun’s hand once more and said in a firm tone.

“Go now.”

“But……!”

“I said go. That’s how you can help us. We can move more freely the further away you are. And you seem to be mistaken, but neither I nor these two have any intention of dying. We will survive somehow until Young Master Jaun comes, so don’t think about anything and run at full speed.”

At the Ice Rakshasa’s continued words, Tang Hun let out a deep sigh. Tang Hun, who was looking into the Ice Rakshasa’s eyes, bowed his waist deeply and expressed his respect.

“……I will not forget this kindness.”

“The saying that the Tang family repays kindness tenfold. I’ve only heard it in words so far, so I’ll see for myself.”

As the Ice Rakshasa smiled, Tang Hun, who had bitten his lip tightly, finally turned his body and started running toward the border of Sichuan.

“Phew. The first opponent I met on my first trip to the Murim is a bit much. Hundreds of elites from the Demonic Cult.”

Yu Ha-rin, who was watching the retreating members of the Tang family, drew her sword from her waist. Jin Cheol-myeong, who was looking at the rear with a stern expression from the side, also began to infuse his energy into the chain wrapped around his body.

The Ice Rakshasa, who had been looking at the two’s faces for a moment, stretched out both her hands and placed them on each of their shoulders.

“Absolutely, do not overdo it. Those bastards are not a number we can handle. So, focus on buying time until Young Master Jaun comes. If that’s not possible either, then just run without looking back. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

At the Ice Rakshasa’s words, Yu Ha-rin shrugged her shoulders once and then nodded.

The Ice Rakshasa, who was surveying the surrounding terrain, pointed to a cliff located a little further away.

“Fortunately, the terrain is not bad. To cross this mountain range quickly, we have to pass through that cliff. Let’s try to buy as much time as possible there.”

The Ice Rakshasa turned her body and ran toward the cliff, and Yu Ha-rin and Jin Cheol-myeong followed her.

The Ice Rakshasa, who had arrived at the cliff, quickly estimated the distance between the cliffs.

‘If we stand in a single line, we’ll have to face about fifty of them at a time at most.’

Between the two cliffs that stood steep as if they had been carved. The Ice Rakshasa took her place and stood in the middle of the path, which was about fifty jang wide.

Jin Cheol-myeong, who was looking around, untied his chain and knocked down trees, narrowing the path, and Yu Ha-rin cut down the trees standing in the forest on the other side.

Thus, Yu Ha-rin and Jin Cheol-myeong, who had blocked half of the path with trees, came and stood next to the Ice Rakshasa.

“As a senior of the Sado Alliance, I’ll give you one last piece of advice. If you get a wound that requires hemostasis, run away without looking back. You are still too young…… to throw your lives away here.”

“Cheol-myeong, did you hear that? The moment we get hurt, our first trip to the Murim is over. If we want to experience the Murim even a little more, we have to make sure they can’t even touch a hair on our heads.”

“You should be careful yourself. There are few in the Murim who can break through this Black Blood Ghost Whip and injure me.”

The Ice Rakshasa let out a deep sigh as she watched the two raise their energy with bravado.

The demonic energy approaching this place had already grown to the point of making their bodies tingle.

The three of them took out their respective weapons and slowly lowered their stances.