Chapter 179
Baek Mu-Gun and Beigong Xue's group continued their journey, leaving Mount Dahei behind and entering Huzhong. However, their progress was hindered by the sleet and poor visibility caused by the wintry weather.
How can you live in such a barren land with such a harsh climate?
Mu-Gun marveled at the resilience of the people living in this harsh environment. The frozen landscape and the biting, swirling winds made it clear that the locals had to be truly remarkable to endure such conditions.
"I was born here, so I lived here thinking it was natural," Beigong Xue replied.
Mu-Gun expressed his amazement. "Come to think of it, the Beihai Ice Palace is really amazing to be able to create such a huge force in this land of ice."
Beigong Xue nodded. "That's because you can't survive on Beihai's land without being strong."
From her words, Mu-Gun realized that for the Beihai Ice Palace's martial artists, martial arts were crucial for their very survival.
"I've been thinking about how to make the Baek Sword Sect's martial artists stronger. Perhaps sending them to Beihai for training is a good idea," Mu-Gun said.
"Anytime you want. But they'd better be well-prepared. Beihai's land is more unforgiving than any other place."
Mu-Gun chuckled at Beigong Xue's intimidating remarks.
"Why are you laughing?" Beigong Xue asked curiously.
"I was just joking, and I couldn't help but laugh when you took it so seriously, Young Matriarch Beigong."
Beigong Xue smiled awkwardly, "Really? I must have been too serious; I didn't realize that."
"You don't usually enjoy jokes, do you?" Mu-Gun asked.
Beigong Xue responded, "I'm not great at socializing, perhaps due to my lifelong martial arts training. People find my personality a bit dull, too."
"Normally, it doesn't matter if a beautiful woman like you isn't funny," Mu-Gun teased.
Beigong Xue responded with a crestfallen look, "That means you agree that I'm not funny."
"Ahaha, that's not what I meant. It doesn't mean you're boring."
Beigong Xue couldn't help but laugh at Mu-Gun's explanation.
Dumbfounded, Mu-Gun asked, "Are you making fun of me right now?"
He chuckled, but his expression suddenly stiffened.
Beigong Xue noticed his change, "What's the matter?"
Beigong Xue looked at him in confusion.
Mu-Gun replied with a serious tone, "It seems we have uninvited guests."
Despite the sleet reducing visibility, Mu-Gun's Thunder God's Heavenly Eyes allowed him to see dozens of people in black armor approaching on horseback, armed with sabers and spears. Their numbers were around two hundred.
It looks like they are the Ma Thieves Gang's martial artists.
Beigong Xue asked, The Ma Thieves Gang? Aren't they an evil sect from the Central Plains?
"Yes, they were originally an evil faction based in Liaoning Province. Not too long ago, it was revealed that they were connected to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. When the Hebei Peng Family attacked, they abandoned their base and fled toward Beihai."
Beigong Xue deduced, "So, it's highly likely they have joined forces with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect."
"Given that they're coming for us, your assumption is probably accurate, Young Matriarch."
"How many of them are approaching?"
"There seem to be around two hundred people."
"That's a lot."
Mu-Gun reassured her, "No worries, we should have the strength to overcome their numbers. Besides, they might just be bait sent to assess our combat capabilities."
"Bait?"
Mu-Gun explained, "The Nine Celestial Demons Sect would have grown suspicious due to my presence, especially since I'm traveling with you. You went to the Central Plains seeking assistance, but you returned with just one man? It's natural for them to suspect that this man might be an exceptionally skilled martial artist."
"They mightve even guessed that you are the Thunder God's successor."
"Exactly. The Ma Thieves Gang's martial artists are likely the forces sent to confirm this."
Beigong Xue expressed her concern. "So, isn't it risky for you to reveal yourself, Young Master Baek?"
"That's why I intend not to employ the Thunder God's martial arts just yet."
Beigong Xue asked, "Can you defeat them without using the Thunder God's martial arts?"
"Don't worry. I can use many martial arts techniques, not just the Thunder Gods."
Beigong Xue sighed in relief. "You are a Supreme Realm master, after all. I worried for no reason."
"You should remain here with your four guards, Young Matriarch Beigong."
"What are you going to do?"
Mu-Gun explained, "They are all mounted on horseback. First, we need to halt their advance. I will prevent them from charging ahead. The five of you should be on standby."
Mu-Gun swiftly advanced, vanishing into the sleet. He activated the Dark Specter Stealth Art, concealing his presence as he neared the Ma Thieves Gang's Black Wind Troupe. This troupe was maintaining a wedge formation while charging ahead, a tactic that allowed them to disperse their forces to either side and evade a secondary collision should the leading horse be targeted by an enemy strike.
Then, I will aim for the middle.
Mu-Gun didn't target the lead horse but the one behind it. With the Dark Specter Stealth Art, he swiftly closed in and then activated the Thunder Gods Aerial Steps. The Black Wind Troupe's horsemen in the front were taken by surprise and launched a hurried attack, but Mu-Gun effortlessly evaded their strikes with his mid-air jumps.
Once the lead horsemen passed beneath him, Mu-Gun unleashed the Supreme Moonlight, the ultimate technique of the Celestial Moonlight Sword Art, toward the mounted squad below. Moonlight sword qi cut through the sleet and rushed toward the Black Wind Troupe's warriors. Despite their frantic attempts to block it, the sword qi was too fast to defend against. Dozens of sword qi blades fell onto the warriors and horses, causing severe injuries and chaos.
More than thirty men fell to the frozen ground, their bodies badly mangled. Their horses also fell as they got entangled with their riders bodies, and the ones following from behind barely managed to avoid a collision. Mu-Gun seized the opportunity to dismount one of the horses, effortlessly overpowering the Black Wind Troupe member who was riding it. The defeated member tumbled off the galloping horse, covered in wounds.
With the stolen horse, Mu-Gun charged forward, tailing the Black Wind Troupe. He released another wave of moonlight sword qi, cutting down the horsemen ahead of him.
Argh-!
Amidst the frantic screams of the Black Wind Troupe's men, the mounted squad slowed their pace and quickly repositioned to encircle Mu-Gun. Realizing the threat he posed, they decided to confront Mu-Gun head-on. They swiftly surrounded him from all directions, readying their spears to engage.
Mu-Gun wasn't fazed; he propelled himself off the horse's saddle, leaping into the air. From his elevated position, he released waves of moonlight sword qi towards the spearmen encircling him. The Black Wind Troupe's martial artists tried to block his attacks with their spears, but the moonlight sword qi, with the power akin to an Absolute Realm master's vajra qi, overwhelmed their defense.
In a deafening explosion, the Black Wind Troupe's spearmen and their horses fell, blood gushing as the sword qi wreaked havoc. Mu-Gun had single-handedly dispatched over ten of the Black Wind Troupe's spearmen, leaving behind a grim scene of destruction. Landing softly on the ground, he remained unscathed.
No matter how strong that bastard is, he is still only one man! Everyone, attack him together! The squad leader of the Black Wind Troupe spurred his comrades on.
Despite their fear of Mu-Gun's formidable martial arts, they believed they could still overpower him.
Mu-Gun found their bravado amusing and, with a mocking look on his face, stomped the ground with force. The spears abandoned by the fallen spearmen suddenly levitated into the air. The Black Wind Troupe's martial artists watched in disbelief as the spears hung weightlessly in mid-air. Mu-Gun gave them a sardonic grin before unleashing a powerful shockwave in all directions, sending the floating spears hurtling toward the charging members of the Black Wind Troupe.
The spears swiftly struck their targets, piercing their throats before they could react. The Black Wind Troupe members crumpled to the ground, their bodies frozen not only by the bitter cold but also by the overwhelming fear of death. Paralyzed with terror, they dared not make another move against Mu-Gun. The squad leader shared their predicament.
With the Black Wind Troupe's martial artists no longer mounting an attack, Mu-Gun inquired, "Are you done already?"
His question was met with silence; the martial artists remained incapable of offering a response.
Shrugging indifferently, Mu-Gun continued, "You can decide to start a fight, but how it ends is a different matter."
From the back of his horse, he took a step forward, bearing down on the Black Wind Troupe's martial artists. The overwhelming force of his approach left them trembling, causing them to retreat in fear.
Mu-Gun casually remarked, "I don't think running away will keep you safe."
He gestured with his chin, prompting the Black Wind Troupe's fighters to glance behind. There, they witnessed a colossal ice blade hurtling toward them. It was the White Ice Flash unleashed by Beigong Xue, and it cleaved through the ranks of the Black Wind Troupe's martial artists, freezing them in place with each impact. The ground beneath the point of contact was rapidly encased in ice, freezing all within a thirty-foot radius.
The martial artists of the Black Wind Troupe found themselves shocked by the power of the White Ice Flash. Confronting Mu-Gun alone had already pushed them far beyond their abilities, and now Beigong Xue had added her devastating power to the mix. It was a relentless succession of misfortunes for the group. Without hesitation, Beigong Xue unleashed the White Ice Divine Sword Art upon the disoriented fighters. Each ice blade that emanated from her sword proved lethal, ensuring the demise of dozens of Black Wind Troupe members each time.
Mu-Gun remained ceaselessly active, fluidly maneuvering amidst the panicking Black Wind Troupe martial artists, delivering fatal blows. Overwhelmed by fear, the fighters attempted to flee, but their escape routes were effectively blocked by the coordinated assault of Mu-Gun and Beigong Xue. As the majority of the Black Wind Troupe had been decimated, Mu-Gun delegated the task of finishing off the remaining members to Beigong Xue and the Beihai Four Shadows before meticulously inspecting the vicinity.
Mu-Gun believed that there was an observer not far from the combat scene. True to his suspicion, he detected a faint energy source approximately one hundred feet away. To identify the source, Mu-Gun concentrated on the energy, sensing that it bore the distinctive demonic qi associated with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
Detecting such energy from a distance of one hundred feet was nearly impossible for most, but Mu-Gun's exceptional sensitivity to qi, thanks to reaching the Supreme Realm, allowed him to achieve this feat.
Mu-Gun thought that by pursuing this observer, they might lead him to the group from the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
As Beigong Xue and the Beihai Four Shadows secured victory over the remnants of the Black Wind Troupe, the observer who had been monitoring the situation decided to act.
I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I'll need you five to wait in a safe location for a while, Mu-Gun explained.
What kind of matter is it? Beigong Xue asked.
I'll explain when I return.
Mu-Gun swiftly retrieved the Flying Golden Shield, which he had entrusted to the Beihai Four Shadows, and hurriedly followed the path where the Nine Celestial Demons Sect's watcher had disappeared.
Beigong Xue had to put her many questions aside for the time being as she watched Mu-Gun's urgency. After Mu-Gun's departure, she and the Beihai Four Shadows began searching for nearby villages.
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