Chapter 63: Spear Spirit Suppression (3)

Puuuk! Puk! Puk!

Namgung Hoyoung’s transparent needles stabbed into multiple acupoints of Gugwi in succession.

In the span of a single breath, as many as thirty-six acupoints were stimulated.

Tuuung! Tung-tung! Dududung!

A vibration surged from the thirty-six points, striking against his wounds.

Zusanli, Quchi, Hegu acupoints...

The blood that had been flowing stopped.

Even from the wound on his back, no more blood came out.

Ssshhk!

Gugwi stood up.

It was as if he had never been injured at all.

“Isn’t this too much? This is full of foul play!”

Sasaha let out a short laugh of disbelief.

Whiririing!

Sasaha swung her whip high above her head.

The black whip studded with barbs traced a full moon in the air before lashing toward his side.

Crack!

The sharp barbs at the whip’s tip tore into Gugwi’s side.

His flesh split open as crimson blood spurted out like a fountain. As the barbs ripped away flesh, his clothes became ragged.

“Urgh!”

Gugwi swallowed his groan and staggered back.

Hot blood streamed from his side, staining the ground. But at that very moment, Namgung Hoyoung’s transparent needles pierced like lightning.

Puk! Puk!

When he stabbed into Quchi and Zusanli acupoints in succession, the flowing blood stopped instantly. The embedded needles pulsed with strong vibrations… and between the torn flesh, new tissue began to sprout.

Like a miracle… he was healed.

The wound from the whip did not vanish completely, but it no longer hindered him in battle.

As if nothing had happened, Gugwi rose again and counterattacked with Un Serim’s spear arts.

The spear tip glowed with blue light as it thrust toward Sasaha’s shoulder.

Whooosh!

Sasaha twisted her body to evade.

The spear tip brushed past her shoulder, leaving a long scar across her black armor.

“Healing that fast? Is that also the power of the Spirit Flow Core?”

Sasaha exclaimed in awe, but soon lifted the corner of her lips and attacked again.

The whip writhed like a serpent and coiled around Gugwi’s leg. The barbs dug into his calf, tearing muscle. Gugwi lost his balance and dropped to one knee.

Not missing the opening, Sasaha stretched out her left hand. Black energy erupted forth, striking Gugwi squarely in the chest.

Craaaack!

The sound of bones breaking rang through the cavern.

Gugwi spewed blood from his mouth as he was thrown back. Every breath sent sharp pain shooting through his chest.

Namgung Hoyoung’s needles shot out once more.

Puk! Puk! Puk!

Tanzhong, Zhongwan, and Qihai acupoints were pierced in turn.

The broken ribs realigned, and his breathing grew smooth again. The blood spilling from his lips stopped.

Once more, Gugwi stood up.

But Gugwi was not merely taking blows. Each time the whip struck him, he carefully observed Sasaha’s movements. And he searched for what he could do in return.

‘I have to read the whip’s trajectory.’

Swwheeeek!

Sasaha swung her whip again.

The barbs darted toward his throat!

Gugwi ducked his head to evade.

The whip grazed past the top of his head. At that instant, Sasaha’s wrist twisted. The whip curved with uncanny precision and lashed across Gugwi’s back.

Ssshhhraaaak!

Along with the sound of torn flesh, a deep wound opened across his back. Strips of flesh ripped away, exposing white bone.

“Khuhk!”

Gugwi collapsed forward. Blood poured from his back, pooling on the ground.

Namgung Hoyoung reacted instantly with the strike.

Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!

Shenshu, Mingmen, Yaoyangguan, and Dachangshu acupoints were pierced in succession. Vibrations pulsed from the needles the moment they sank in. The vibrations coursed through his entire body, resonating with one another.

The wound on his back began to heal rapidly. New flesh grew back to cover the exposed bone.

Ssshhht! Shhhweeeek!

Gugwi leapt up and unleashed the Flying Swallow Slash.

The heavy sword qi bore down upon Sasaha. Though the technique was meant to be wielded with a saber, he executed it with a spear.

Sasaha batted the spear aside with her whip.

‘I can read the trajectory!’

Gugwi moved immediately.

He anticipated Sasaha’s whip retrieval. Twisting his body, he avoided the strike. The whip struck where he had been, while his spear reflexively stabbed toward Sasaha’s side.

It was not about knowing or planning techniques. He simply reacted instinctively to the attack before him. Every strike, every defense—purely reflexive.

“Huh?”

Sasaha looked at him with startled eyes.

Her latest variation contained no fewer than eighteen changes. No matter where Gugwi moved, the whip should have followed. Yet with that strange counter, he nullified all eighteen.

‘This brat… he’s getting used to my attacks!’

Sasaha unleashed even faster consecutive strikes.

Whiiish! Whiiish! Whiiish!

The whip lashed three times in a row, tearing Gugwi’s left shoulder, right thigh, and left wrist in succession.

Ssshhhrip! Ssshhhraaaak!

Blood sprayed everywhere under her merciless blows. Gugwi’s body looked like a torn rag doll. Flesh visibly flew off from his frame.

Namgung Hoyoung’s healing grew even swifter.

Puk-puk-puk-puk-puk-puk!

Six needles shot out simultaneously, piercing the acupoints near each wound.

The bleeding stopped instantly, and the wounds began to close. The vibrations even numbed his pain.

Ignoring his injuries, Gugwi executed Un Serim’s Cloud Flow Spear.

Blue light flared at the spear tip, followed by a storm of thrusts from Fiery Radiance Burst.

Stab! Stab! Stab!

Three rapid thrusts streaked toward Sasaha.

She retreated, blocking with her whip, but the final thrust grazed her arm.

“Oh-ho!”

Sasaha’s eyes gleamed.

Now it was certain. Gugwi had begun to read her variations.

‘If that’s the case…!’

Fwooosh!

This time Sasaha expelled black snakes from her body.

Dozens of venomous snakes crawled across the floor and tore at Gugwi’s ankles and calves.

“Kuk!”

Gugwi’s legs began to go numb from the poison.

His body swayed and he lost his balance.

Sasaha did not miss the opening and rushed in quickly — twice as fast as Gugwi had judged. When she threw a punch, the power that leapt out struck straight into his solar plexus.

Gugwi flew backwards and slammed into the wall.

His back hit the rock with a dull thud.

“Ugh!”

He coughed blood and collapsed to the floor.

His whole body had been soaked in the poison and took on a dark bluish hue.

Namgung Hoyoung calmly deployed acupuncture. With emotionless hands and indifferent to Gugwi’s suffering, he did what needed to be done… and drove the needles in without hesitation.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Poison-neutralizing needles!

As the venom was neutralized, the dark blue aura that had settled on Gugwi’s face drained away. At the same time, other needles began healing his internal injuries. Broken bones and damaged organs recovered rapidly.

“Hoo!”

Gugwi got back to his feet.

Meanwhile, Un Serim and General Madal — Spirit Union warriors who had not possessed Gugwi — acted separately.

The two spirits dispatched each of Sasaha’s Spirit Union warriors as they emerged from the wall.

When Heuk Hyeokgang sprang out of the wall, General Madal’s sword flashed like lightning and severed his neck. The spirit screamed and scattered. When Kang Sojin tried to spew poison, Un Serim’s spear pierced her chest. The poisonous wind dissipated and the air cleared.

Wi Unseo tried to spread a silver mist, but General Madal’s sword intent sliced the mist and cleaved him in two.

Jin Mukgyeol was likewise stopped by Un Serim’s spear.

Sasaha’s Spirit Union warriors were trapped inside the cave wall and the Dark Blood Formation and could not properly come out.

Even if they had made it out, Un Serim and General Madal would have dealt with them in an instant.

If it had been a fight to the death, Un Serim and General Madal would each have slain more than twenty.

A spirit could not truly kill another spirit. It could shove or scatter a form, but not annihilate it — and yet it could cause harm to humans.

Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok, having taken a breather, swept their gazes over Sasaha.

Gugwi was still being pushed back. With the help of the Spirit Union physician he stood up several times, but at that rate… he would eventually collapse. They needed to join the fight and attack Sasaha.

Ssssh!

Yeon Sohye established a spirit link with So Ryeonghwa.

At that moment, Jang Unhyeok grabbed her arm to stop her.

“Wait. This is strange…?”

His sharp eyes watched the battle.

Yeon Sohye sensed something odd in Jang Unhyeok’s gaze and watched the fight more closely.

No matter how many times she looked… Gugwi was being pushed back.

He was taking repeated blows. Even a moment ago he had been wounded in the shoulder and ankle. If not for the Spirit Union physician, he would already have been covered in blood and collapsed.

But… despite owing much to the Spirit Union physician… he was fighting remarkably well. Moreover, the more he fought the more skillful he became. He was improving by the minute.

At first he had only taken hits, unable to properly respond to Sasaha’s whip. Now he was reading the whip’s trajectory. He was even succeeding in counterattacks.

The harmony between Un Serim’s Cloud-Flow Star Spear and General Madal’s Flying Swallow Slash had been awkward at first, like wearing someone else’s clothes. But now it flowed naturally — as if one martial art.

Blocking Sasaha’s whip with a spear while simultaneously countering became increasingly fluid. Un Serim and General Madal’s techniques were sinking into his body like spring snow melting.

That was it. Gugwi was using Sasaha as a training partner. Real, practical training.

He was fighting a powerful opponent to make Un Serim and General Madal’s arts his own. Thanks to Namgung Hoyoung’s treatment, he could train without worrying about his injuries.

“Good show.”

Yeon Sohye smirked and stepped back. She felt reassured.

“What a clever fellow.”

Jang Unhyeok also admired him.

Sasaha could not have failed to notice this situation. The more she fought, the more her energy drained. She realized she was becoming the subject of his martial training.

At first she had easily overwhelmed him. As time passed, Gugwi’s responses had become more precise. Now she had to be careful. He had progressed this much in such a short time.

“There’s nothing I can do about this!”

Sasaha retreated, annoyed.

“But… hohoho! I think I’ve found a way to deal with you. If I had used this at the start, you’d be dead already — a pity.”

“Whatever it is, try it now.”

“Now I don’t have the strength. I should have used it earlier… I’ll use it next time. And you will die. Hohoho! The Spirit Flow Core is indeed an astonishing thing.”

Her eyes shone dangerously.

“The item every Soul-Summoner covets, indeed. Today nothing will work; see you next time!”

Shhh!

Sasaha vanished in a plume of black smoke.

The Dark Blood Formation was lifted, and the cave instantly returned to tranquility.

Gugwi drew ragged breaths and steadied himself on his spear.

Although he had received treatment from the Spirit Union physician, he could not escape mental fatigue.

“That was a good fight.”

Gugwi murmured.

Only now did Un Serim and General Madal’s techniques finally feel completely his.

At that time, not far up the mountain slope, the Captain of the Blue Blood Unit stood with a haughty expression.

Nine Soul-Summoners knelt before him.

The man at the front was the Lord of the Yeongbi Pavilion.

A master who led Yeongbi Pavilion alongside Yeon Sohye.

Eight Soul-Summoners from the Yeongbi Pavilion knelt in a line behind him.

“Yeongbi Pavilion Lord, it’s been a while.”

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit said in a cold voice.

“We came at your summons, Daeju. The sect issues a decree to expel Yeon Sohye and Gugwi. This was the Sect Leader’s command.”

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord bowed his head in reply.

“Show sincerity with deeds rather than words. Capture Gugwi… you will take him with your own hands, your fellow comrades.”

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit’s eyes glinted coldly.

“We accept the order.”

The nine Soul-Summoners bowed their heads in unison.

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