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8. <혈해를 삼키는 흑염룡(8)>“시부럴…… 저게 철강시라고?”
남화성이 얼이 빠진 얼굴로 물었다.
나는 기가 찬 심정으로 말한다.
“딱 보면 모르냐?”
관절의 가동이 어색하고, 피부는 돌처럼 단단하다.
천하를 혼란케 만들었던 마도의 강시들 중 가장 저급한 것이지만, 이마저도 세상에 나오면 무인에게 악몽을 선사한다.
모르려야 모를 수가 없다.
과거 정마대전에서 무인을 가장 많이 죽인 것이 바로 저 철강시였으니까.
남화성이 손을 달달 떨면서도 소리쳤다.
“저게 뭔지 바로 알아차리는 네가 이상한 거지! 나, 나는 난생처음 본다고!”
“암튼 노력했네.”
녀석의 행동은 칭찬받아 마땅했다.
내가 부탁한 것 이상으로 일을 처리해 줬으니.
어지간히 복마부가 가지고 싶었나 보다.
“잘했다. 약속대로 복마부 다섯 장을 주마.”
“젠장……! 필요 없어!”
하여간에 솔직하지 못한 놈.
철순직 같은 놈이랑 같이 다니니 늘 저렇게 음흉하지.
나는 팽팽하게 당겨진 비룡조를 더욱 당겼다.
철강시는 벗어나려 버둥대다가 나를 보곤 미친 듯이 달려든다.
나는 녀석을 곧장 뛰어넘어 비룡조를 감는 동시에 철강시의 몸을 붕 띄웠다.
퍼걱. 쾅!
땅에 머리부터 처박힌 철강시가 미친 듯이 버둥댄다.
푸스슥, 푸스슥.
주변의 흙과 자갈들을 진흙처럼 쉽사리 파헤치고 나와 그 우스꽝스럽기 그지없는 발걸음으로 달려들기 시작한다.
콩. 콩. 콩. 콩.
전생에서 하급 무사들에게 철강시가 악몽이었듯, 내게도 철강시란 존재는 악몽 그 자체였다.
이지라는 것이 사라지고 고통을 느끼지 못하는 철강시는, 화살이 눈에 박히건 검기에 머리가 쪼개지건 두려움 없이 적을 죽이기 위해 움직인다.
그리고 그 무심함은 상대하는 이에게 악몽이 되는 것이고.
“하지만 그것도 이젠 그저 다 전생의 이야기일 뿐이다!”
나는 상념을 털어내며, 태을팔만신보를 내디뎌 철강시를 향해 달려갔다.
파파파팍.
삽시간에 사방팔방 환영을 남기며 움직이는 보법을 마주한 철강시는 허공을 향해 속절없이 날카로운 손톱만 휘두른다.
놈의 뒤를 잡은 나는 내공을 잔뜩 끌어올려 녀석의 뒤통수를 냅다 발로 찼다.
퍽!
쿵.
단단한 돌덩이끼리 서로부딪치는 소리가 울리며 철강시의 두 팔이 땅속 깊이 박혔다.
“저기 철강시를 때려잡으려는 멍청이가 있네.”
피를 한 움큼이나 토해냈던 남화성이 복수하려는 듯 이죽거렸지만, 신경 쓰지 않았다.
본래 뱁새는 대붕의 깊은 뜻을 알 수 없는 법이니까.
꿈틀꿈틀.
철강시가 땅속 깊숙이 박힌 제 두 팔을 빼내려 몸을 움직이려 할 때.
나는 녀석의 등을 밟고 흑룡검을 대어 나무를 패는 자세를 취했다.
그때, 입만 산 뱁새의 목소리가 들려온다.
“멍청아! 철강시는 검기로도 피부가 안 잘린다고 알려져 있다!”
방금 전까지만 해도 죽겠다고 덜덜 떨던 놈이 버럭버럭 소리는 잘만 지르네.
난 남화성을 쏘아보며 말했다.
“너 이제 괜찮지? 와서 도와라.”
“……
쿨럭, 내, 내상이…….”
왜 아무것도 안 했는데 내상이 도지는데?
남화성의 말대로 철강시의 피부는 어지간한 철보다 단단하다.
그 피부를 자르려면 최소 만년한철 수준의 강도를 가진 무기가 필요하다.
“그리고 마침 내가 선물 받은 흑룡검이 금강무괴철로 만들어졌단 말이지.”
나는 흑룡검에 검강을 둘렀다.
기침을 하던 남화성의 두 눈이 부릅떠진다.
“네, 네놈 따위가 검강을?”
남화성 너 이 새끼, 이제 안 아픈 거 확실하지?
나는 다시금 철강시에게 집중해, 전력으로 검을 내리쳤다.
떵.
거대한 범종을 때리는 것 같은 충격이 손아귀를 찌르르 울렸다.
내공을 잔뜩 끌어올려 손을 보호했음에도 뼈를 타고 충격이 전해져 왔다.
이런 수고가 헛짓거리가 아니었는지, 처음으로 죽음에 대한 공포를 느낀 철강시가 격하게 버둥거리기 시작했다.
파파파팍!
땅속에 있던 팔을 마구잡이로 휘둘러, 사방 일대 일(一)
장에 달하는 공간의 흙더미들을 폭발시켰다.
퍼펑!
흙가죽이 뒤집히고, 땅속 깊이 묻혀있던 흙더미가 사방으로 날린다.
내가 폭발의 여파를 피해 몸을 날려 남화성의 옆에 내려앉자, 그가 근심 어린 얼굴로 물었다.
“쟤 좀, 열 받은 거 아니냐?”
“목이 한 마디 잘려나갔는데 열 안 받겠냐?”
“하, 한 마디나 잘려나갔다고……?”
남화성의 말에 대답하는 대신, 천하독행신을 밟아 철강시의 손톱을 피해 재빨리 놈을 지나친 후, 비룡조로 녀석의 목을 다시금 묶었다.
팽팽하게 당겨진 천잠사에 내공을 끌어올려 불어넣자, 천잠사가 급속도로 수축하기 시작했다.
이윽고, 잘려나간 목덜미를 보호하려 버둥거리던 철강시의 신형이, 나보다 더 빠르게 쏘아져 나와 내 옆을 지나치며 절벽 벽면에 처박혔다.
쿠쿵.
나는 즉시 흑룡검에 기를 불어넣어 검기를 마구 쏘아냈다.
이럴 때 쓰려고 그렇게 영약을 꾸역꾸역 챙겨 먹었던 거지.
콰쾅 콰콰쾅. 콰콰콰콰쾅.
호쾌하다는 말로는 다 표현이 될 수 없을 만큼 엄청난 폭발음과 함께, 바위며 흙더미가 사방으로 날린다.
전생에 그토록 지긋지긋했던 놈이, 마치 움직이는 과녁처럼 무력해진 꼴을 보니 단전의 내공이 쭉쭉 빠져도 되려 시원한 감정이 쏟아져 나온다.
퍼드득.
무너진 돌무더기 사이에서 망가진 인형처럼 덜컥거리며 일어나는 철강시.
그사이 상처가 더 벌어졌는지 목이 한 치나 더 분리되어 있었다.
그때.
“저, 저기…….”
남화성이 기겁하며 손가락질을 한다.
나는 고개를 저어가며 녀석을 비웃어 주었다.
“아직도 모르겠냐, 철강시는…….”
“아니! 저, 저기 저놈들이 달려오고 있다고 인마!”
“…….”
철강시가 부서질까 걱정한 건지 혈교의 무사들이 죽어라 달려오고 있었다.
“쯧. ……
알고 있었다.”
“거짓말하지 마, 시부럴! 신경도 안 쓰고 있었잖아!”
뱁새가 눈치는 또 빠르네.
나는 남화성의 시선을 무시한 채 뒤를 돌아보았다.
“일각 학관생.”
Ilgak, who had been staring blankly at this side, suddenly snaps back to reality.
I looked deeply into his eyes.
“Is it alright if I entrust them to you?”
Il-gak looks once in the direction I pointed and nods his head.
Please leave it to me. Donor.
I told you it’s not an offering.
Is he rebelling because he’s called a student instead of a monk?
Whether I vented my frustration or not, Ilgak quickly rose from his seat and began beating up the Blood Cult warriors.
Even though I’ve exhausted all my Diamond Power, Shaolin is Shaolin.
“It will buy me enough time to handle Steel City.” “Then my opponent is… …” *Grrr.”
Steel City, growling like a wounded beast, wondering where the indifference of the past had gone.
Yeah, after suffering this much, you bastard must be dying to kill me, right?
Steel City now moves as if shot out like an arrow, closing the distance in an instant, instead of its characteristic comical scurrying steps.
pop!
Lotus flower toward the one flying in like an arrow
Use the technique to change the guy’s direction.
Steel City rushing past me into the solid rocky terrain.
Kwak kwak bang.
The creature that crushed the rock like tofu pushes its way out through the collapsing boulders and curls up again.
It seemed that the only clear objective remaining for him was to kill me.
“Yes, I vividly remember how many people your persistence has driven to their deaths.”
I thought of the members of the Sojeong Unit who were falling apart and had to sacrifice their comrades because of him.
We cursed you again and again, you who would not die no matter how much we beat you or how much we swung our swords.
We naturally choose the person to be sacrificed in front of you.
We naturally ran away from you.
You are the most vicious symbol of the Demonic Cult.
Your indifference makes me even angrier.
A monster created using humans as material to kill humans.
That vicious sense of purpose prevents even a shred of compassion from arising.
“Come on!”
Steel City shooting out like an arrow, propelled from the ground.
I shot at him at the same time.
Kyaooo!
He thrusts the Black Dragon Sword at the guy baring his teeth, which are bleeding black blood.
visor!
The Black Dragon Sword and the creature’s fangs clash, making a metallic sound.
The monster that withstood the Black Dragon Sword I thrust at using only its grip strength.
In the meantime, he tries to crush me with his black claws.
Swish swish!
His black uniform was torn and his fingernails dug in, but he did not dodge.
Because the Heavenly Silk Robe, the secret of the Wang clan hidden within the black martial arts robe, will protect me from the zombie’s claws.
“If you had any common sense, you would have tried to draw this sword right now.”
Internal energy gathers during the Black Dragon Sword’s strike, creating sword energy.
The young Black Dragon Sword, emitting a golden aura, did not stop there but began to generate sword energy.
Kkkkkkkkkk.
Cheolgang-si, noticing that something was off, began to tremble.
It’s late.
I continued to pour in internal energy to further increase the size of the sword energy.
Pfft!
The sword energy that pierced through the roof of the guy’s mouth and went all the way to the back of his head illuminated a bright light.
“Aaaargh!”
Just as he did in his past life, I pushed him away again and again.
He pushed the guy without backing down an inch.
Cheolgang-si thrashes his hands and keeps getting pushed back until he finally hits a rock.
Kkkkkkkk.
For some reason, it seemed as though Cheolgang-si’s eyes were shaking violently.
“Do you feel the fear of death, too?”
Kyaaaaaa!
Steel City growling like a beast once again.
Right. That’s a relief!
I drew up the Taeeul Jingyeong with all my might and split Cheolgang City in half.
*Crack*…
The guy with the black line running from his head to his groin is still trying to swing his claws.
Kaooo… … .
Then, it split into two pieces, flowing black blood like a waterfall.
The guy collapsed helplessly to the floor.
The steel city, cut in half, no longer moved.
Looking at the gruesome corpse of Cheolgang-si right before my eyes, I was somehow reminded of those Sojeongdae guys.
Hmph. A terrible monster
Seeing that must have reminded him of you terrible bastards.
A sense of pointless longing welled up in my heart. Moyong Jaehwa, who was dealing with the Blood-clad men approaching Jin So-woon with Ilgak’s help, quickly turned her head at Jin So-woon’s shout.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Engaging in a fierce battle with Cheolgangsi, Jin So-un was fixated solely on eliminating him, without even dodging his claws. ‘Th-what if he gets poisoned by the venom…’ He wanted to rush over and help immediately, but to Jin So-un right now, he was nothing more than a burden, not a help.
It is still the same now.
He was mimicking the Thunderclap Arrow with the arrow sent by Jin So-un, but it was not enough to turn the situation around.
If the Thunderclap Arrow had actually been completed, would those Blood Men have dared to approach again?
Moyong Jaehwa shook off the dizzying thoughts in his head and pulled the bowstring once again.
Thump. Whoosh.
-Pow.
The arrow explodes, inflicting massive damage on the Blood People.
And after that, a corner stirred up the Blood People and forbade them from approaching.
However, no matter how hard I try to shake off these thoughts, they do not easily go away. ‘If only I had completed the Thunderclap Poem… If only I had tried a little harder…’ My older brother would not have had to fight so desperately.
No, there would have been no reason for him to run into this grave to save himself.
Thinking that makes my heart feel even heavier. ‘What on earth am I doing?’ The Blood Men do not approach anymore.
“Hesitating, he stepped back and did not approach the corner any further. ‘Why?’ Turning my head to follow where the Blood Censers’ gazes were directed, I saw Jin So-un standing there motionless, radiating a golden sword aura.”
And following his gaze down, I saw a steel sphere cut in half and no longer moving. ‘Good heavens…’ In the end, my older brother had even caught the steel sphere all by himself.
“Young Master Jaehwa! They are retreating!”
Even with Eun Seol-ran’s joyful voice, Mo Yong-jae-hwa could not fully rejoice.
For some reason, I felt guilty toward Jin So-un, and because I ultimately failed to meet his expectations.
“Brother Jin!”
As the Blood Men began to retreat in earnest, Eun Seol-ran, who had been standing in hiding, ran and hugged Jin So-woon.
After a brief reunion with Eun Seol-ran, Jin So-un also spoke with Ilgak and Nam Hwa-seong.
Moyong Jaehwa took a step, then stopped in his place again.
I couldn’t approach him in the end.
“Murong Jaehwa!”
Jin So-un called Mo Yong-jae-hwa.
“B-Brother…!”
Are you out of your mind!
Moyong Jaehwa recoiled at the sight of Jin So-un striding angrily.
However, I could not avoid Jin So-woon’s hand suddenly reaching out toward me.
“Surely not, you didn’t keep shooting arrows while freezing your torn hand like this? Good heavens!”
Jin So-un’s gaze was focused solely on Mo Yong-jae-hwa’s right finger.
Jin So-un clicks his tongue as he examines the wound.
“Tsk, I suppose it’s your first time shooting an iron bow, so it’ll probably take a while to get used to it.”
Then, he immediately tore his martial arts uniform, applied antiseptic to the wound, and wrapped it up.
Still, you managed to hold out thanks to the arrow I sent.
yes?”
“You wouldn’t know… how many people you’ve saved.”
To think they even praised me for putting up a little good fight with such shaky archery.
Moyong Jaehwa could not lift his head.
Jin So-un gently stroked Mo Yong-jae-hwa’s head.
You really did a great job.
My hands ached and my body felt like it was breaking, but somehow I felt revitalized.
Let’s go back.
That one remark from Jin So-un made Mo Yong-jae-hwa okay.
