Chapter 180: Fighting Ghost Unit (3)

Their own sect, the Baekmu Society, and their longtime comrades, the Fighting Ghost Unit.

None of that mattered.

The martial artists of the Baekmu Society had always been like this.

They gathered for one purpose alone—to become stronger. They held no real sense of belonging, nor did they band together well.

Within the Baekmu Society, brawling among themselves whenever they felt bored was routine, so it meant nothing to them to follow under a stranger if it served their purpose.

Why?

‘Because this side is more fun.’

It was a way of thinking that was extremely characteristic of Baekmu Society martial artists.

What they sought was not power, nor material gain.

Only strength. Martial arts. Fighting.

Battle maniacs driven by a simple reason.

Seo Ryeom suddenly calling Jang Woo-hyun “Captain” was absurd, but it was hardly the first time he had acted on a whim.

Seo Ryeom noticed others grinning faintly, ready to move. They must have been thinking the same as he was.

With a smile, Seo Ryeom opened his mouth again.

“Captain, should we get rid of those guys?”

To an outsider, it would have looked like he was Jang Woo-hyun’s loyal subordinate.

Jang Woo-hyun paused for a moment at Seo Ryeom’s absurd behavior.

He had set the bait himself, but he hadn’t expected someone to bite so quickly.

He hadn’t done anything—just spoken words—yet someone was already acting like one of his companions. It was almost laughable.

“Vice Captain! What nonsense are you believing in?”

From the Fighting Ghost Unit, a man with a frame as massive as Maeng Ye-ju stepped forward. He had not fallen for Jang Woo-hyun’s bait.

“You say you’ll face a True Immortal? Let’s see if your skills are real.”

Spinning a massive crescent blade with ease, he approached.

Jang Woo-hyun’s gaze shifted to him, then swept over the Fighting Ghost Unit martial artists, each showing different expressions.

“You want to test my strength?”

Jang Woo-hyun smirked.

At the same time, Yong Wang-rin separated itself.

Charruk.

Yong Wang-rin did not completely detach, instead transforming into twenty-some blades.

When Jang Woo-hyun infused his will, Yong Wang-rin moved on its own, striking at the crescent blade wielder and the Fighting Ghost Unit martial artists.

“That technique…?”

Seo Ryeom raised his voice. The martial arts he just witnessed resembled those of someone he knew.

Heavenly Sword of Golden Grace, Dang Myung. One of the nine strongmen of the Baekmu Society, like Seo Ryeom himself.

The twenty-some blades moved on their own, overwhelming the Fighting Ghost Unit. Even those who had reached the Realm of Immeasurability like Maeng Ye-ju could not withstand them.

Jang Woo-hyun alone dominated them all.

“Ha…”

Watching, Seo Ryeom’s body began to itch with anticipation. Aside from considering him as someone who might open a new world, he also wanted to cross swords with Jang Woo-hyun himself.

As he raised three swords, ready to jump in—

Whoosh!

A massive wall of flames erupted before him.

“If you want to fight our Captain, you’ll have to wait your turn.”

Turning with the wall of flames at his back, Seo Ryeom saw Jin Ha-un approaching, holding two swords. Beside him was Maeng Ye-ju.

“Azure Crimson Sword Ghost?”

Seo Ryeom’s eyebrows rose as he looked at them.

‘Well, well.’

Their skills surpassed the rumors.

“Master Seo, our Captain is busy. If you want to go through, you’ll have to beat us first.”

Maeng Ye-ju raised his fist, his aura flaring. Flames and frost poured from Jin Ha-un’s swords.

“Haha.”

Seo Ryeom laughed, nodding his head.

In that instant, Jin Ha-un and Maeng Ye-ju charged at him.

Now, Jang Woo-hyun’s group and the Fighting Ghost Unit clashed in earnest.

Yet neither Jang Woo-hyun, nor the Wind-Passing Great Sage, nor the Fighting Ghost Unit’s leader Mak Ya-wol stopped the battle.

What put an end to the fight was not a martial artist at all, but a man of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels, who had never trained in martial arts.

‘How long are these maniacs going to fight?’

Watching the chaos, Cho-su could not comprehend the mindset of martial artists. He didn’t even know why he had to be stuck in the middle of this.

At first, he simply watched, not understanding. But as the fight dragged on with no end in sight, irritation began to rise.

Soon it became obvious to even him—they weren’t fighting to kill, but to test each other’s skills. The pointless fighting continued.

Finally, Cho-su lost patience. He made a decision and took out a Dharma Treasure.

“C-Cho-su-nim?”

Thud.

A Dharma Treasure the size of a pillar.

It was the same one he had once shown Jang Woo-hyun—the Annihilation Thunder Cannon.

Recognizing the power sealed within, Nokgak Baekmyeon called to him, but Cho-su ignored him and activated the cannon.

Rumble!

A heavy sound built, then moments later—

Light erupted from the Annihilation Thunder Cannon.

“Enough fighting already, you bastards!”

Cho-su had created the cannon after experiencing the power of a True Immortal and regretting being powerless. He had poured his utmost effort into it.

Though it had drawbacks—long charging time and difficulty in hitting fast targets—it was designed to oppose a True Immortal, and its destructive force was beyond imagination.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!

With a single blast, one-third of the Floating Stronghold vanished.

By Lower Realm standards, it was not an island but the size of a small nation—yet a portion of it was annihilated in one strike.

Uwoooong—

The remaining shockwaves shook space and rattled the atmosphere.

Everyone stared in stunned silence, mouths agape, as Cho-su was blasted backward by the recoil.

“Enough! Baekmu Society, stop too. Woo-hyun, didn’t you say you had things to do? How long are you going to waste time like this!”

Even with his voice heavy with annoyance, no one dared to move. Such was the shock of the destructive force they had just witnessed.

The mood ruined by Cho-su, the Wind-Passing Great Sage left Mak Ya-wol of the Fighting Ghost Unit behind and approached Jang Woo-hyun.

“Who the hell is he?”

Even if a man of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels was a master craftsman, producing that kind of destructive power was not something easily done.

The Floating Stronghold had only lost a third because the shot had grazed it—if it had hit directly, the entire Floating Stronghold would have been destroyed.

Anyone here would have suffered a fatal wound if struck head-on. That was how powerful the Dharma Treasure Cho-su had created was.

When no one answered out of shock, Cho-su rotated the Thunder Cannon again.

“Want to keep going? Then here comes another one.”

“Surrender.”

As the Thunder Cannon began humming again, gathering strength, Mak Ya-wol stepped forward and raised both hands.

“Enough. Let’s stop here.”

Once the momentum had been broken, it was difficult to continue the fight.

Thus, the battle between the Fighting Ghost Unit and Jang Woo-hyun’s party came to an end, all because of Cho-su.

“I am Mak Ya-wol.”

Approaching while keeping a wary eye on the Wind-Passing Great Sage, Mak Ya-wol revealed his identity.

“Jang Woo-hyun.”

“Jang Woo-hyun? Don’t tell me—you’re the Cheonrin Sword Alliance?”

Mak Ya-wol furrowed his brow upon learning Jang Woo-hyun’s identity.

It was a name he had not expected. He had heard of it before, but he had never imagined his strength would be on this level. The others were the same—the Fighting Ghost Unit martial artists murmured among themselves.

“That’s the strength of the Cheonrin Sword Alliance?”

“He’s that strong?”

“More than the rumors.”

The martial artists who had recklessly charged Jang Woo-hyun and been crushed tried to observe him even while nursing their wounds.

‘So that’s what it was?’

Seo Ryeom, who had been fighting against Maeng Ye-ju and Jin Ha-un, nodded to himself. Now he understood the dozens of blades Jang Woo-hyun had unleashed.

His alias, “Thousand Scales,” referred to his use of hundreds of tiny hidden weapons. Since only dozens of blades had appeared earlier, Seo Ryeom had not recognized it right away.

But thinking about it, if he could control hundreds of hidden weapons, then dozens were nothing.

And the weapon of the Cheonrin Sword Alliance was said to shift between the form of a hidden weapon and a sword, so it was never fixed in one shape.

Seo Ryeom casually sidled up to Jang Woo-hyun again. Pointing toward the Baekmu Society, he asked playfully.

“Captain, what should we do about them?”

After fighting Jin Ha-un and Maeng Ye-ju, Seo Ryeom had firmly decided to stick with Jang Woo-hyun.

The two were stronger than their reputation, there was a man of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels wielding Dharma Treasures capable of threatening even masters of the Realm of Immeasurability, and even a Great Monster from the Demonic Spirit Realm, the Wind-Passing Great Sage.

‘This couldn’t be better.’

They were far more interesting than the Fighting Ghost Unit. Not just interesting—far more exciting.

He didn’t know whether they would actually fight a True Immortal, but just from the current situation, it felt thrilling.

With them, he felt he could experience something entirely new.

Smiling in delight, Seo Ryeom laughed. Mak Ya-wol looked at him with clear displeasure.

“And what exactly are you doing?”

“Shut it! Filthy Baekmu Society dog!”

“This bastard… starting again.”

Mak Ya-wol let out a heavy sigh, as if this were hardly the first time.

After the uproar had passed—

Both Jang Woo-hyun’s group and the Fighting Ghost Unit could finally speak like civil men.

“You want us to help you? What benefit does that bring us?”

“Then back off, you filthy Baekmu Society rats.”

“Yeah, just walk away. Filthy… ahem.”

At Mak Ya-wol’s sharp look, the Fighting Ghost Unit warrior who had been about to side with Seo Ryeom turned his head away.

The Fighting Ghost Unit numbered thirty-four, including their leader Mak Ya-wol and vice leader Seo Ryeom. But now, Seo Ryeom and nine others had shifted to Jang Woo-hyun’s side.

‘They must think that side looks more fun.’

Mak Ya-wol’s head throbbed at the sight of his subordinates, but there was nothing he could do.

That was what the Fighting Ghost Unit of the Baekmu Society was. If they weren’t like that, they wouldn’t be part of it in the first place.

“Just walk away, then.”

“Shameless Baekmu Society trash.”

Though their behavior was more exaggerated than usual, Mak Ya-wol understood.

They were probably excited by the prospect of following the Cheonrin Sword Alliance, Jang Woo-hyun.

What he had shown just now was enough to drive them wild.

A Great Monster of the Demonic Spirit Realm, battle-mad. Two up-and-coming experts, stronger than rumors claimed. A craftsman of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels wielding Dharma Treasures capable of threatening even masters of the Realm of Immeasurability. And, belatedly realized, Nokgak Baekmyeon, one of the Ten Elders of the Radiant Light Sect.

‘And most of all…’

At the center of them all, the Cheonrin Sword Alliance, Jang Woo-hyun. His strength was already no less than Mak Ya-wol’s own.

It was a combination as dazzling and unusual as any. Just watching them was entertaining—imagine traveling together.

Mak Ya-wol could understand Seo Ryeom and his followers, at least a little. But he himself did not need to be swept along. Unlike Seo Ryeom, he bore the responsibility of leading the Fighting Ghost Unit.

“There’s no benefit. If you want to help, travel with us for a while. If not, we’ll go our separate ways.”

“……”

Mak Ya-wol was struck speechless by Jang Woo-hyun’s bold reply. Who dared speak that way to the leader of the Fighting Ghost Unit of the Baekmu Society? The idea of “hiring” them like mere wanderers was absurd.

They were more troublesome than the Beast King Sect’s wild beasts, yet Jang Woo-hyun treated them as if they were mercenaries to be bought.

And since his words seemed sincere, Jang Woo-hyun turned away without regret.

They could have parted ways here—he would have let the Fighting Ghost Unit go. Fortunately, before Jang Woo-hyun’s arrival, they had not killed a single member of the Beast King Sect.

He had learned after the fight that the Fighting Ghost Unit martial artists did not kill unless under special circumstances.

‘Fight again next time?’

They let the injured go, so they could return later for revenge. They wanted to battle opponents who had grown stronger.

As Jang Woo-hyun had said, their very way of thinking was nothing but fighting and martial cultivation. They were, in his words, like a hairless Wind-Passing Great Sage.

“Captain, but what’s our goal?”

Seo Ryeom, grinning with excitement, walked at Jang Woo-hyun’s side as they moved on.

“Twin-Winged Lotus.”

“Uh…”

Seo Ryeom stopped in his tracks. His expression hardened.

Just Twin-Winged Lotus? Then this had been wrong from the very start.

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