Chapter 252: A Consumable in a Conspiracy
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Pure white petals fluttered gently as if dancing, and snowflakes mingled with the wind danced down to settle on bare branches.
It was a mountain scene reminiscent of a painting.
The cold winter had taken a big step forward, singing and adding to the beauty.
Gazing at it quietly, one naturally came to understand why this place was called both a superior mountain and a famous mountain.
The deep ambiance of the forest scattered with pure white snow flowers was simply admirable.
However.
The caped man had no interest in such scenery.
From the start, his gaze remained fixed on the distance, unmoving.
Zhongnan Sect, which had become a scene of carnage.
A bloody battlefield where both camps were entangled like swarms of ants.
The distance was quite far so he couldn’t see the battle situation in detail, but the noisily echoing sounds informed him of the intensity of the engagement.
CHAECHENG… JJEOJEOJENG… KWAKWANG… PEOPEONG…!
The caped man’s gaze fixed on that place was as cold as a dagger.
Then soon a smile spread across his lips.
‘HU… to think things exploded already. A disgusting stench of blood vibrates in the sacred mountain of Taoism.’
It was a satisfied expression.
As if it didn’t matter which side won or lost, which side lived or died.
That’s right.
A complete bystander’s attitude.
One could tell just from his posture of standing quietly with hands behind his back.
‘Yes, you’re all doing well. Don’t back down from each other, keep fighting with increasing intensity.’
He suddenly recalled a conversation he had with Aryun-nan in the past.
“Cult Leader Aryun, how is your physical condition?”
“Thanks to the Star-Absorbing Great Art that person gave me, I’ve developed continuously for over ten years. As you can see, it couldn’t be better.”
“Are you confident of victory in an all-out war?”
“Of course. I assure you, even the current Abbot of Shaolin Temple would have difficulty handling the Star-Absorbing Great Art.”
“By the way, the rumors about Cheol Ryu-heun seem serious…”
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll steal and possess his power with the Star-Absorbing Great Art.”
“Indeed, that’s just like Cult Leader Aryun. At that rate, you’ll truly possess limitless internal power. Well, that is the essence and wondrous function of the Star-Absorbing Great Art from the start…”
“Now, please bring it out. What is that person’s message?”
“Our sky… His Lordship is eagerly awaiting news of the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s victory. So he told me to convey this to the Cult Leader. That you must win. And that you should kill as many renowned masters as possible. He said what comes after will flow smoothly. Because he has already finished a series of calculations.”
“Wait, that means… plans for after our cult’s victory are already in place…?”
“Yes.”
“What are they?”
“I’ll explain simply. Power escalation through the formation of an official alliance.”
“HO-OH.”
“An unprecedented coalition will likely be established. It will be a very great benefit for the Sun Moon Demon Cult.”
“HMM… a precondition of winning was attached… then does that mean he intends to shake hands after finally confirming my power?”
“That is the will of the great Lord.”
“A kind of test? The great fight with the orthodox and unorthodox factions that will come soon…?”
“Correct.”
“…”
“One predetermined to pass.”
“HAHAHA, HAHAHAHA! A test predetermined to pass… that’s a very pleasant thing to hear.”
“Doesn’t it mean he trusts Cult Leader Aryun’s martial prowess that much?”
“I still know nothing about your organization. Separate from the expert lineup, is the total force at a level that surpasses our cult?”
“I’ll teach you just one thing borrowing this occasion. I’ve already received permission from His Lordship.”
“…?”
“Eleven years ago, we annihilated Namgung Family, which was the backbone of the Six Great Families, with only a small fraction of our forces.”
“…!”
“Moreover, the martial power of the personnel dispatched at that time was in an incomplete state.”
“I-is that… true?”
“Does it seem like a lie?”
“UMMM… no, it seems true. Judging by your attitude…”
“Our force is no different from a secretive martial faction. So set aside your doubts about the total force scale.”
“HUHUT. Martial faction… that’s a grandiose expression. But you say it because you have that much power.”
“Anyway, the price of victory news will exceed expectations. Enough that all cultists here will benefit.”
“All of them…?”
“Also, separate privileges have been prepared for the leadership.”
“Is that perhaps something equivalent to Star-Absorbing Great Art?”
“Didn’t I say earlier? That it will exceed expectations.”
“KEUT, well, this is… my heart is already pounding.”
“His Lordship has already bestowed great grace… I hope you will meet those expectations and wait.”
“I have already received much. I will gladly fight and win according to his will. But…”
“Speak.”
“What is the true purpose of your force? Conquest and dominance of the martial world like our cult? It seems unlikely given the long gap since the Namgung Family was annihilated…”
“I’ll reveal it when this matter ends. No, you’ll come to know. Naturally.”
“AH. Well, we’ll be close allies.”
“Indeed. If you prove your power through results, we’ll help in every way. To make the Sun Moon Demon Cult plant enormous roots in this land.”
“HMM, I don’t know how this will sound.”
“Speak of whatever concerns you.”
“Can you dispatch some forces as a token of joining hands?”
“I’ve already selected personnel in advance knowing you’d ask that.”
“OH…!”
“I’ll personally bring them along soon. If there’s anything else, speak.”
“No, there isn’t. That’s sufficient. Now all that remains is to sweep away the party led by Cheol Ryu-heun with this power.”
Having erased his ruminations, the caped man smiled again.
‘Don’t end up getting swept away yourself. A body destined to die today anyway. You were merely a consumable from the start.’
He was smiling, but there was no human scent.
As if representing his inherent cold-blooded nature.
Just then.
SASAT, SASAT-
A figure appeared behind him with covert movement.
A swordsman in his mid-thirties wearing a black leather cape.
“Lord Bung, I’ve assembled the small unit.”
At the respectful address of Lord, the caped man at the cliff’s edge responded solemnly.
“Tell them to return and stand by.”
“AH…”
“It’s too late to pretend to help him. As you can see, the orthodox-unorthodox camp’s action was faster than expected.”
The finger of the one called Lord Bung pointed toward Zhongnan Sect.
At that, the thirties swordsman also seemed to understand.
“Yes, they were caught off guard.”
“You can tell without going closer. That top-tier experts from various regions have been mobilized. So Aryun-nan will overexert the Star-Absorbing Great Art. The end of that will be death.”
“Star-Absorbing Great Art is unstable to call an ultimate technique. Because of its side effects…”
“The White-Haired Witch in the past also died from overusing it without knowing that. When the energy stored in her body caused disharmony and exploded… Aryun-nan’s survival until now is only due to the Rejuvenation’s influence.”
Having snickered, the caped man continued.
“He’s a foolish fellow. He may gain temporary superiority, but the energy of those experts is each at a very strong level. If he recklessly absorbs that, he’ll eventually explode. And I… raised that possibility even higher. HOOT.”
“Pardon?”
“I gave him an improved prototype as a gift.”
“AH…!”
“Star-Absorbing Great Art that cannot absorb internal power stronger than the practitioner’s. So I gave it. So that if there’s someone who surpasses Aryun-nan, they both die in mutual destruction.”
“For us, it’s killing two birds with one stone.”
Right after the swordsman nodded and spoke.
FLUTTER-
Along with the sound of flapping clothes, one person appeared in the back.
A man in his thirties with identical attire.
“Lord Bung, I have a report.”
“What is it?”
“News of the Four Divine Generals has arrived.”
At that, a gleam appeared on Lord Bung’s face.
“Did they win?”
“Yes. Overwhelmingly.”
With both eyes shining, Lord Bung smiled and murmured.
“HUHUT. Good. That is the victory news I was truly waiting for. Not some Demon Cult member’s win or loss result…”
“AH, and there’s one more thing…”
When the man trailed off, Lord Bung’s gaze turned.
“Did good news and bad news arrive together?”
“It’s still uncertain, but… we’ve lost contact with the small unit executives who were investigating the site of a fortuitous encounter.”
“What?”
“Shall we send additional personnel?”
“HMM…”
Lord Bung quietly stroked his chin and thought.
‘They shouldn’t be personnel who would fall to someone’s hands…’
Then he gave an order in a solemn voice.
“This body must now go to meet His Lordship. So you organize a team among yourselves and go check today. Confirm whether the gu poison exploded and any traces.”
“Yes!”
As two swordsmen answered and simultaneously disappeared with covert movement.
Immediately after.
Lord Bung, who had been gazing at the distant Zhongnan Sect for a moment, turned his form and spoke inwardly.
‘Something even greater awaits the survivors. Will the rough waves end with just one? HOOT. The Shiwan Mountains… will soon summon you.’
* * *
A figure rapidly cutting through the forest far from Zhongnan Sect.
The owner of that swift and covert movement was Yeom Sang-ah.
At that moment, a group of swordsmen blocked her path.
A total of over twenty people.
They were elites of Flying Star Squad, the prominent swordsman group within Falling Star Sword Sect, which was assigned the mission of monitoring escapees around the Zhongnan Sect.
Yeom Sang-ah, who had hesitated in her steps, furrowed her brows.
‘TCHIIK, persistent…!’
True to being members of the Flying Star Squad, the premier swordsman group within Falling Star Sword Sect, each person’s aura was outstanding.
However, Yeom Sang-ah demonstrated her genius talent and lofty martial prowess by breaking through head-on.
HUHUHUHUHUHUNG-!
The chained sickle rotated greatly as she charged forward.
Black demonic energy was released as if a giant windmill was turning.
KAKAKAKAKANG- PEOPEOPEOPEOPONG!
The Flying Star Squad members who had formed a half-moon formation like a folding screen were strongly bounced away.
“KEUK!”
“UUUK!”
In the midst of that, one swordsman’s head was severed.
TUHAAK!
Following that, several people fell.
They didn’t lose their lives but were wounded.
Yeom Sang-ah’s offense was chillingly fierce and violent.
Thus when a path opened.
“GAL!”
Sect Leader Ham Chong, the Starfire Sword Master charged in from the side.
JJEOJEOJEOJEOJONG-!
Having consecutively deflected the chained sickle, Ham Chong thrust out his right-hand sword.
A sword technique like a shooting star flew out with a PING!
Startled, Yeom Sang-ah performed an aerial somersault to evade, then dashed in a different direction.
PAPAK!
But Ham Chong’s movement was also fast.
Before she knew it, he was closely following behind her.
“Where do you think you’re running!”
Befitting the head of a powerful force that shared territory with the Mount Heng Sect and the Anneung region, it was swift movement.
Yeom Sang-ah was exhausted.
Because she had expended considerable strength breaking through the tight net-like encirclement.
SSWAESSWAENG!
Ham Chong’s sword tip narrowed the gap even further.
Yeom Sang-ah felt it without looking back.
That it was too late to evade the blade tip.
But at that moment. An explosive sound rang loudly.
KWAKWANG!
Ham Chong was pushed back hard by something and retreated.
“KEUM!”
It was none other than Lewd Cruel Demon Servant Yo Mong-ji, Yeom Sang-ah’s attendant and confidante, who had appeared.
But in the meantime, the number of Flying Star Squad members had increased even more.
Yo Mong-ji’s urgent voice transmission.
PEOPEONG, PONG, PEOPEONG…!
The black palm-leaf fan continuously spewed heavy demonic energy.
Seeing that, Yeom Sang-ah utilized maximum power and ran with all her might.
In the midst of that, a strange doubt settled in her mind.
‘Strange. Yo Mong-ji’s energy somehow seems…’
* * *
KWAKWAK!
Cheol Ryu-heun’s foot pressed down on Aryun-nan’s chest.
“KEO…”
“That fellow you mentioned – was he strong enough to collapse a mountain range with a single sword?”
“KKEO… HEO… N-no more… words to say.”
A strange mockery was contained in Aryun-nan’s strained voice.
At that, Cheol Ryu-heun expressionlessly stated.
“I’ll find out myself.”
Soon his two eyes began to turn red.
CHEUTSEUTSEU, CHEUTSEUTSEUTSEUT…
It was the activation of the wondrous, unfathomable divine power that dominates another’s upper dantian to peer into their mind.
‘Though it’s still an incomplete divine power, I will definitely find out. Whether the person he mentioned is that ronin or not.’
But suddenly.
BULGE.
Aryun-nan’s chest, which he had been stepping on, swelled up.