Chapter 1196. Cutting Down (1)

Stab!

It came thrusting at Kang Jin-Ho from the darkness.

The battlefield was still bathed in darkness as the dawn hadn’t broken yet. However, Kang Jin-Ho’s shadow proved to be even darker than the night itself.

From within that darkness, a blade that gleamed too brightly to match its surroundings thrust out and tried to stab into Kang Jin-Ho’s side.

Creaaaaak!

The blade emitting azure-ish sword qi collided angrily against Kang Jin-Ho’s demonic qi to create shrill metallic noises.

After losing its momentum, the blade retreated into the darkness faster than when it tried to stab its victim.

BOOM!

Kang Jin-Ho punched the ground where his shadow lay with his fist cloaked in demonic qi. The ground exploded, causing debris to scatter all over. However, there was no one underground.

Kang Jin-Ho slightly turned his head to stare in a direction. That was when a figure of a man suddenly materialized out of thin air.

This man, kitted out in a figure-hugging black outfit, stood with his arms across his chest. He was glaring right back at Kang Jin-Ho. Even his face was covered in a distinct black cloth mask.

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

‘I couldn’t sense him?’

A person’s shadow always existed in the closest spot to that person. An assailant was hiding within Kang Jin-Ho’s shadow, yet he couldn’t sense any presence?

‘I don’t understand the principle behind it.’

Kang Jin-Ho knew countless techniques and tricks the demon cult possessed. Even then, he couldn’t figure out how that man completely masked his presence from Kang Jin-Ho’s senses. It was also a mystery how that assailant had hidden ‘in’ the ground.

He remembered hearing about some heretical cult possessing a sorcery that allowed them to melt into walls in ancient times, but this was his first time witnessing it.

“Ts-Tsukikage?”

Yoshinobu’s flustered voice burrowed into Kang Jin-Ho’s hearing.

‘Tsukikage, is it...?’

Hadn’t he heard that name before?

Although he wasn’t 100% sure, it felt like he did hear that name in the past. Whatever the case might be, though, one thing was for sure—this man was in another realm of strength compared to the shinobis Kang Jin-Ho had fought before.

Even the Crimson King wouldn’t be able to mask his presence completely from Kang Jin-Ho’s senses and slip into the latter’s shadow undetected. But an assassin incomparably weaker than the Crimson King had pulled that feat off.

Kang Jin-Ho studied the assassin in renewed interest.

‘How unique and interesting.’

This didn’t seem like a question of abilities, but more like the unique characteristics inherent to different cultivation systems.

Even though Kang Jin-Ho’s knowledge of martial arts was substantial, it was still limited to South Korea’s and China’s.

But the modern era taught him that martial artists around the world had developed unique martial arts of their own.

The Round Table’s magic and swordsmanship were something Kang Jin-Ho had no knowledge of. The concept of using mana to manipulate space and distort the laws of nature was completely unheard of back in Zhongyuan, for instance.

Since that was the case, Japan developing its own unique martial arts shouldn’t come as a surprise.

“What a bizarre bastard you are,” said the assassin.

It seemed he shared Kang Jin-Ho’s sentiments.

“I’ve never seen a man who’s actually stab-proof. And I was sure of having my target, too! Your infamy is well-deserved, indeed.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly absorbed the demonic qi back into his body.

Once all the burning demonic qi disappeared completely, Tsukikage glared at the exposed Kang Jin-Ho with withdrawn eyes.

Kang Jin-Ho held that icy gaze. Before he could say something, though, Yoshinobu shouted first.

“W-why are you here, Tsukikage?!”

Tsukikage briefly glanced at Yoshinobu before grunting deeply. “Don’t be stupid. Of course I’m here under the Iemoto’s orders.”

“B-but! I was not made aware of this change, sir!”

“Are you suggesting that the Iemoto must keep you in the loop at all times?”

“...No, I wouldn’t dare.”

Tsukikage shifted his attention away, then licked his lips under the mask.

‘As expected.’

He also used to think this operation was a little over the top.

The insolent Chinese bastard’s plan sounded ridiculous. To kill one man, the Japanese must sacrifice one thousand and five hundred men? And on top of that, they must also send one thousand elite warriors deep behind enemy lines?

Anyone with common sense and a functioning brain would never even attempt such a stupid operation.

However, the Iemoto did not reject such a plan. And he even dispatched Tsukikage here, even though he could’ve achieved outstanding results elsewhere.

Ordinary men would never entertain the thoughts of making such a decision.

However, in this very moment, Tsukikage acknowledged that the Iemoto had made a wise, nay, a

faultless

decision.

“According to that bastard’s testimony, Kang Jin-Ho seems to be the type to make your jaw drop in astonishment. However, this plan is based on Kang Jin-Ho’s strength a few months ago. Which is illogical. I wish for a complete victory, Tsukikage. Even if it means we must sacrifice everyone, Kang Jin-Ho must die! Do you understand?”

‘I understand completely now, Iemoto!’

Tsukikage grimly narrowed his eyes. If he hadn’t come, these elites would have been annihilated without putting up decent resistance.

His cold, withdrawn eyes studied Kang Jin-Ho even more closely.

‘I’ve never encountered someone as powerful as this man.’

Experts stronger than Tsukikage? Of course he had encountered quite a few in his lifetime. Hadn’t he run into countless of them when he was still a youngster? Even though not many of them were still around these days?

Tsukikage felt despair countless times at how much stronger his enemy was in the past. But this...

‘This situation goes way beyond that.’

This was the difference between the realm one could reach and the realm well beyond one’s reach.

One could try extremely hard to scale a tall mountain and succeed in their task one day. However, soaring through the skies would still be impossible without growing a pair of wings.

Even if Tsukikage could wind the clock and go back in time to devote decades of his life to intense training, he’d still not be able to reach the realm Kang Jin-Ho currently occupied.

That was how strong Kang Jin-Ho really was!

“Truly remarkable. Enough to leave me speechless,” said Tsukikage.

That was when Kang Jin-Ho suddenly groaned deeply. He stabbed his swords on the ground again before rummaging through his pockets. He eventually found a packet of cigarettes.

After mouthing a cigarette, he lit it, then turned around to face the Japanese. Why did it feel like he had already gone through a similar situation to this one before?

“Someone who can speak Korean,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

His nonchalant tone left the Japanese speechless.

“Translate.”

Tsukikage was slightly flabbergasted as he stared at Kang Jin-Ho. Yes, he was aware of the possibility that they couldn’t communicate. However, to think he’d nonchalantly demand for an interpreter in this situation! And from the enemy, no less!

Kang Jin-Ho seemed a little removed from what others considered as common sense. Then again, finding a powerhouse with all their screws in the right places was a tall order, wasn’t it!

“Anyone who can translate, step forward,” said Tsukikage.

That prompted three men to step up, although they looked a bit sheepish to be under the spotlight like this. Tsukikage gestured at them.

“Translate this to him.”

“Yes, sir!”

Tsukikage was about to say something, only for a brief chuckle to interrupt him. This situation was rather amusing to him.

“Our leader, the Iemoto, evaluates you highly. That’s why he has ordered me to bring him your severed head.”

Kang Jin-Ho listened to the interpreter while smoking silently away.

The conversation between the two men was enough to pause the war. Despite not fully understanding the situation, the other combatants dared not interrupt the proceedings by saying something out loud.

“

Fuu-woo

...”

Kang Jin-Ho exhaled quickly and forcefully before glaring at Tsukikage.

“You will?”

“That’s right.”

“Really? Even though you already know the outcome?”

“That I do,” said Tsukikage with a brief nod. “I can never win against you.”

Tsukikage readily admitted to the truth. There was no need to be ashamed of it, after all.

Unless one was the absolute being under the heavens, there were bound to be opponents one could never win against. Admitting to one’s shortcomings was much better than stubbornly refusing to acknowledge them.

“However, it doesn’t matter even if I can’t win against you. Because I can still kill you.”

“

Hmm

?”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked softly. For some reason, his spine began tingling.

‘That’s right. They have been lackluster.’

Shinichi-kai’s elites, led by Yoshinobu, had been far too unqualified to serve as Kang Jin-Ho’s opponents. He wasn’t sure whether that was because these Japanese warriors had been too weak or he had gotten much stronger than before.

However, this Tsukikage emitted a soul-chilling aura that Yoshinobu and his underlings didn’t have.

“Besides...” Tsukikage muttered while snapping his fingers. “I don’t have to be one to kill you, no? As long as we achieve the desired outcome, it’s all fine. Don’t you agree?”

Shuffle...!

That was when a dozen or so new shadows suddenly appeared behind Tsukikage.

Kang Jin-Ho’s eyes opened slightly wider.

There were at least a dozen more assassins emitting the same sort of presence as Tsukikage. And the problem this time was the same as before. Until they revealed themselves, Kang Jin-Ho had no idea they were hiding nearby.

Although there was some distance between him and the assassins this time, their stealthiness and the technique to mask their presence were easily miles better than the experts of Zhongyuan.

They weren’t the only new combatants to join the fray, either.

Clomp, clomp. Step, stomp...!

The footsteps of a large crowd could be heard coming from the hill leading up to the Assembly’s sports field. Naturally, everyone’s attention shifted in that direction.

Kang Jin-Ho smirked deeply while observing the large contingent of Japanese warriors walking up the hill.

These men, kitted out in matching black uniforms and carrying several lengthy katanas, completely ignored their fellow Japanese warriors filling up the Assembly’s sports field and headed straight toward Kang Jin-Ho.

Their forceful aura prompted the Japanese warriors to get out of their way in a hurry. One of those warriors was Yoshinobu.

He watched the black-clad assassins walk past as complicated emotions swirled in his heart.

He bit down hard on his lip until blood seeped out.

‘Iemoto! Doesn’t this mean you never trusted me?’

To achieve the desired outcome, this could’ve been the right call. Despite knowing that, though, Yoshinobu couldn’t think of a way to rebuild his shattered pride.

Kang Jin-Ho observed the newcomers before glancing back at Tsukikage.

“So. Are these samurais? Or whatever it’s called?”

“We aren’t that old-fashioned,” said Tsukikage.

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “Really? When you’re dressed like that?”

“...Touche. But my point still stands. We are not the same as those idiots swinging swords around in movies and TV shows. Besides, it doesn’t matter what people call us. What matters is whether we’re strong or weak.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Kang Jin-Ho liked this. He liked

them.

The weak cared about what others called them. However, the strong wasn’t interested in such things.

They could prove who they were with their strength, after all. Why should they get obsessed with nicknames and titles in that case?

Tsukikage narrowed his eyes and said, “A rather extravagant combat force to fight one man, I admit. For that reason alone, you can hold your head high, Kang Jin-Ho.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled softly.

This smile was different from the ones he had shown before. For one, he wasn’t mocking anyone. He genuinely was enjoying himself.

Kang Jin-Ho replied to Tsukikage. “Let me say this now.”

“...?”

“Many others said the same thing to me in the past. Where do you think they are now?”

Kang Jin-Ho pulled out the Crimson Destiny and Azuremourne from the ground.

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you meet them soon.”

Tsukikage smirked odiously, then glanced at his men.

The assassins glaring at Kang Jin-Ho rushed forward and encircled him. At the same time, the shadows silently standing behind Tsukikage melted back into the darkness.

“You won’t even know how you died, Kang Jin-Ho!”

“Right back at you,” Kang Jin-Ho casually replied.

“Kill him.”

Killing intent taut and intense enough to cut flesh zeroed in on Kang Jin-Ho.

His muscles tightened, and his jaw clenched on their own. Even a man as used to hostile killing intent as Kang Jin-Ho tensed up from how intense it was this time.

Kang Jin-Ho bared his fangs in a deep smirk at this sharp, blade-like killing intent stabbing into his skin.

All the hair on his body stood up. Chills ran down his spine.

‘Yes, this is it!’

This was how a fight should be. This was what a battle should feel like!

It felt like his heart was pounding away madly. And every cell in his body was waking up.

This intimate yet still unfamiliar sensation brought that savage smirk on Kang Jin-Ho’s face without him realizing it.

“This time, you better...”

The Crimson Destiny and Azuremourne pointed at the enemies in front.

That was when killing intent easily exceeding what Kang Jin-Ho had been subjected to gushed out of his body like a raging torrent. It was so intense and destructive that martial artists with low cultivation realms would’ve keeled over from the shock alone and died!

“...Not disappoint me.”

Kang Jin-Ho charged forward at the enemies.

The devil’s eyes glowed eerie-crimson in hue, a sign that a hellscape with blood and severed flesh raining down was about to begin anew.

The moon hid behind the cloud cover to dye the land below in even deeper darkness.