Chapter 258: Another Darkness

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A stark contrast between victory and defeat.

Finally, the half-shichen-long large-scale bloodbath had completely ended.

Several hundred Sun Moon Demon Cult members knelt on the ground, assuming postures of surrender.

Amid that, the cheers of the masses subsided before long.

Their hearts had grown heavy because of the wounded and dead.

Such are the affairs of the world.

Nothing is obtained for free.

The same goes for bloody fights between groups.

Victory is necessarily accompanied by sacrifice.

It was an inevitable price.

The Sun Moon Demon Cult group with bowed heads was the same.

They had thrust sharp blades with the purpose of conquering this land with blood, and were paying a heavy price for their defeat.

Wudang Sect’s Sect Leader Ten Ultimate Martial Saint Immortal Muhyeon issued an order.

“Bind the enemy and tend to our casualties.”

“Yes!”

Personnel belonging to the Wudang Sect answered in one voice and dispersed in orderly fashion.

Along with them, each martial sect including the Beggar Sect, Mount Heng Sect, Thunder Lightning Sect, Heaven-Shaking Sword Palace, and Green Forest Alliance also moved busily.

It was fortunate if it could be called fortunate.

Casualties were few relative to the scale of the fight.

Even so, the regretful feelings would be difficult to erase for some time.

Dharma Master Won-gong, the Abbot of Shaolin Temple who was positioned on one side, chanted sutras while honoring the spirits of the deceased.

A large-bodied man appeared beside him.

“Venerable monk, is it proper for you to stain both hands with so much blood?”

It was Gung Roe the Green Forest Martial Buddha, the Alliance Leader of Green Forest Alliance.

Dharma Master Won-gong stopped chanting and turned his head.

“Who might you be?”

At that, Gung Roe twisted his expression.

“KEUK… Must you be like this?”

“Hehut. It was a jest. Benefactor Gung.”

“What do you mean benefactor? Please treat me casually. Master.”

When Gung Roe spoke somewhat awkwardly, a faint smile formed on Dharma Master Won-gong’s face.

“Do you still consider me your master?”

“In my heart, yes. Though our affiliations are different…”

“I observed it well. The Great Demon-Slaying Annihilation Technique.”

“Ah…”

“It felt as though I could sense the majesty of Patriarch Gwang-jong from long ago.”

“I still need to refine it further, but it was of great help in this battle. I apologize. Things being what they are, I couldn’t tell you beforehand.”

“It was Sect Leader Cheol’s arrangement, was it not?”

“Yes.”

“I see, i understand.”

“Is it… alright if I continue using it?”

“Why ask this old monk?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Hehut. Don’t concern yourself too much. After all, the Great Demon-Slaying Annihilation Technique doesn’t require approval from this temple. If it’s a power we cannot use, isn’t it right for another to use it? Of course, under the condition of proper justification.”

“Thank you. I wanted to hear those words.”

“However, even if you newly build up Buddhist devotion through it… the gates of this temple will remain closed and not permit an expelled disciple to enter the mountain.”

“Yes… I know that better than anyone. With what face would I come again?”

“But.”

“…?”

“The gate within my heart is always open.”

“…!”

“Do not forget. This temple expelled you, but Buddha has not cast you out.”

“Master…”

“Yes, call me as you please. Following the voice of your heart.”

“Hmm… you’re making me a bit choked up.”

When Gung Roe stroked his stinging nose bridge, Dharma Master Won-gong immediately bent at the waist and pressed his palms together.

“Benefactor Gung, since this old monk has bestowed such kind words upon you with Buddhist devotion, how about donating eighty thousand seok of rice for offerings to this temple?”

“…”

“Ah… is that too much? Then eight hundred seok would be fine as well. Benefactor Gung.”

“KEUK, Damn it…”

“Tsk tsk, such language. That’s why you were expelled from this temple.”

“What the hell…”

“Amitabha… Buddha, please do not forgive the wicked sentient being known as Gung Roe.”

Around the same time.

The White Peak Sword Sect party, having sheathed their swords, gathered beside Cheol Ryu-heun.

Among them, the first to speak was Namgung Sang-rin.

“Sect Leader, could it be…”

“That’s right. What you’re thinking.”

When Cheol Ryu-heun discerned his meaning and cut him off, Namgung Sang-rin’s gaze sank deep and dark.

‘As expected…!’

The words Cheol Ryu-heun had just uttered meant that the flames they had seen earlier were from gu poison.

In other words, it meant it was related to the force that had exterminated the Namgung Family eleven years ago.

“There are a few things I found out separately. I’ll tell you about them later. I also need to organize my thoughts.”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, the party nodded their heads.

At that moment, an old beggar approached.

It was Northern Dipper Beggar Woo Yong, one of the Seven Extreme Elders of Beggar Sect.

“Sect Leader Cheol, I have a report.”

“Yes, how did it go?”

“The personnel we selected in advance carefully observed the battle situation in all directions, but no suspicious persons were found. In other words, the roster of orthodox-unorthodox allies has been preliminarily sorted. It seems those gathered here can be trusted going forward.”

“That’s good then.”

From the start, Cheol Ryu-heun’s aim wasn’t just victory in the great battle.

Even for personnel who had answered the call to participate in the war, he had prepared for the possibility of another betrayal.

Is the Sun Moon Demon Cult the only enemy threatening the martial world?

Such groups tend to reveal their true nature in extreme crisis situations.

That’s why Cheol Ryu-heun had previously met secretly with the Beggar Sect and requested they observe the battle situation.

Woo Yong stroked his gray beard and spoke again.

“However, it’s not a stage where we can rest easily. From now on… it will be important. If we’re to prepare for true chaotic times.”

“I will visit the Beggar Sect headquarters soon. There are things to discuss separately.”

At that, Woo Yong wore a gentle smile.

“Yes, understood. Please come by anytime. Ah, right, and the Sect Leader asked me to convey his gratitude. We didn’t know you would even prepare such a great gift.”

Cheol Ryu-heun quietly laughed inside upon hearing those words.

A gift, you say – this was the first he’d heard of it.

But he immediately realized what this was about.

Red Cat Merchant Guild’s Leader, Hui Bu-yong.

Yes, most likely, it was her.

The person who had prepared the gift.

Didn’t the Qidiao Family’s Family Head, Brilliant Sword Hero Qidiao Hwang, promise when celebrating the conclusion of negotiations with Red Cat Merchant Guild?

To introduce the famous wealthy man Bak Bong of the great city Heochang, commonly called Henan’s Great Magnate Bak.

Bak Bong was the foremost great merchant throughout the entire northern region and a sponsor of the Beggar Sect.

Presumably, Hui Bu-yong, having met with him, had used gifts to establish connections for promoting friendly relations.

‘You moved quickly, Hui Bu-yong. Good, I like it. Well, it’s somewhat annoying that she keeps calling me Master every time we meet, but.’

Sure enough, Woo Yong spoke again.

“I just received word. The Red Cat Merchant Guild Leader brought a gift and earnestly requested of our Sect Leader. That she would promise continued support, so please strengthen cooperation with White Peak Sword Sect… Hehut, our Sect Leader said he was sorry. We were already grateful just receiving decisive information about the Sun Moon Demon Cult that we had been investigating, yet unexpectedly we received a gift on top of that…”

Cheol Ryu-heun immediately brushed it off naturally.

“It’s a token showing absolute trust in the Beggar Sect.”

“Hoho, those are truly grateful words. Please do visit our headquarters later. Our Sect Leader has already declared in writing. That the Beggar Sect will henceforth prioritize handling martial world matters related to the White Peak Sword Sect. Now everyone including myself will follow that will.”

“Yes. I look forward to the development of relations between both sides.”

Having said that, Cheol Ryu-heun muttered internally.

‘I was already planning a sort of alliance anyway, and thanks to Hui Bu-yong, I’ve saved the trouble. Eyes and ears of the Beggar Sect are also needed in finding that ronin bastard.’

At that moment, one person quietly approached their side.

A swordsman wearing a face covering.

It was Ju Yu-gang, hiding his identity.

He silently paid his respects as his eyes met Cheol Ryu-heun’s.

It was an extremely courteous posture.

He had deliberately adopted an attitude as if serving a superior to prevent others from guessing his identity.

He conveyed his gratitude through thought transmission instead of his voice.

Woo Yong, tilting his head, quietly asked.

“Um… Sect Leader Cheol, who is this person? He possesses tremendous Sword-Controlling Technique…”

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun replied indifferently:

“Just an errand boy.”

At those words, Ju Yu-gang flared up internally and screamed in his heart.

Shut up! Who’s an errand boy! How dare you call a proper government official that!

Cheol Ryu-heun, not caring in the least, added more:

“He handles a sword somewhat, so I brought him along. Seems he was of some use.”

Woo Yong wore a flabbergasted expression.

‘Huh… a servant of the sect?’

A mere errand boy being a peak-realm expert who freely wields Sword-Controlling Technique – did that make any sense?

It was absurd.

It might have been different if he’d introduced him as a guest.

“AHEM! AHEM!”

Ju Yu-gang, having coughed emptily, calmed his emotions.

‘He’s toxic! A fellow who provokes anger every time we meet! Gratitude is gratitude, but let’s never see each other again!’

Whether he did that or not, Cheol Ryu-heun completely ignored him and suddenly let out a long whistle.

PPIIIK-

Not long after, a pure white mass of light that had traversed the distant sky dropped down.

KKUKKOONG…

It was Divine Wind.

Having quickly climbed on, Cheol Ryu-heun grasped the reins.

“Everyone, wait here while cleaning up the scene. I’ll briefly stop by the Mount Hua Sect and return.”

“Understood.”

Simultaneously with the White Peak Sword Sect party’s reply.

KKWANG!

Cheol Ryu-heun and Divine Wind, who had kicked off the ground and leapt, vanished into the distant sky.

* * *

PAT, PAPAK, PAT-!

The owner of two legs moving busily without rest.

It was Yeom Sang-ah.

She, who had been advancing ceaselessly through the shadowy forest, soon stopped in front of a certain boulder.

“Haah, haah…”

Along with her gasping breath, her ample chest rose and fell.

Eventually, Yeom Sang-ah, having regulated her breathing, turned her gaze backward.

There was absolutely no sign of any presence.

It seemed she could feel somewhat at ease now.

‘Did I shake them off successfully?’

She had become worried anew.

About the safety of Yo Mong-ji and the Third Apostle, her two trusted subordinates.

-Young Lady, there are many of them! Please go in that direction first! I’ll buy time while blocking them!

-Young Lady, please hurry and go. I will follow shortly!

Having recalled the words of both in her mind, Yeom Sang-ah circulated her internal power and rapidly moved her two legs again.

PAT, PAPAK-!

The destination was already decided.

A place called “Toad Rock Hill.”

It was a location arranged in advance in case of emergency.

She just needed to go a bit further.

She would wait there for those two to arrive.

Thus Yeom Sang-ah vanished, moving swiftly and ethereally.

Immediately after.

A certain figure silently appeared in a spot near the boulder.

SEUK.

He was a young man who appeared to have barely passed twenty.

“Not bad.”

Having mumbled briefly, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring blankly at the path where Yeom Sang-ah had just vanished, then moved his steps.

SARAK.

Between his lightly swaying clothes, a single sword was slightly revealed.

A sword hilt decoration reminiscent of a demon god’s face.

It was a chilling feeling that would make one’s hair stand on end just from looking.

Those who know, know.

That it was one of the sacred objects symbolizing high-ranking positions within the Heavenly Demon Cult.