Chapter 292: Moment of Crisis
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When Divine Wind, having crossed the high sky, descended and trampled the ground.
KKUKKUNG…!
Along with a heavy sound, the dirt floor rippled like waves and slightly rose up.
‘Wow…’
Na Rae-hyang, holding the reins, inwardly admired.
She was surprised by the comfort, as if sitting in a carriage traveling on flat ground.
She already knew it was a legendary spirit creature, but actually riding it was too wondrous.
“Just a little further.”
Just as Divine Wind was about to leap high again after hearing Na Rae-hyang’s words.
-Piiiiiing… Peopeong…!
From far away, a sound reminiscent of some firecrackers was faintly heard.
Na Rae-hyang turned her gaze toward that direction.
‘What is that? Some kind of signal?’
It seemed to be firecrackers that the enemy had set off.
At that moment.
-Pihing… Ping, pihiing… Pihing… Ttatttak, ttak… Ttattak… Peong, peopeong, peong… Peopeong…
Firecracker sounds rang out consecutively from all distant directions.
Na Rae-hyang immediately sensed it.
‘Ambush!’
No doubt.
A mysterious enemy secretly ambushed in this place was exchanging some kind of signals using firecrackers.
Divine Wind, having paused upon hearing the sounds, turned his head and neck.
Breath forcefully expelled.
“Kkihiing!”
He even let out a roar.
It seemed his instinctive wariness had been triggered.
Si Yu-min, who was riding as if embraced by Na Rae-hyang, barely managed to speak in a strained voice.
“Woon… nie… the path…”
She meant it would be safer to travel along the path rather than jumping through the air.
Na Rae-hyang agreed with those words too.
“Right, that would be better.”
The target of the enemies ambushed all around was clearly her current destination – the secret location of the Heavenly Demon where her master Song San was secluded.
So it would be proper to move without being seen.
It would be troublesome if the entrance was exposed.
Who knew what other warriors might be lurking here?
“Now let’s run along the path. Hiding your footsteps as much as possible.”
When Na Rae-hyang stroked his mane and spoke, Divine Wind flapped his ears.
As if he understood every word.
Sure enough.
SAT, SASAT, SAT, SASAT-
Divine Wind moved like a feather grazing the ground.
The execution of Treading Snow Without Trace.
He was moving quickly by deploying supreme lightness arts said to leave no marks even when stepping on snow.
However, not long after.
“Wait a moment!”
Along with a brief shout, a figure appeared and blocked the path ahead.
A masked person in gray attire who had dropped down from atop an old tree.
PURUREUK!
Divine Wind exhaled and wildly displayed hostility with an excited air.
Ready to just ram them with his body if need be.
The instant Na Rae-hyang also revealed killing intent along with it.
“Ah! P-please calm down! I’m a secret courier!”
When the masked person hurriedly waved his hands, Na Rae-hyang’s expression relaxed somewhat.
“Ah, did Master Gongsun send you?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. It’s me. The one who visited before.”
He hurriedly lowered the gray mask downward.
A man in his thirties with strong features.
Only then did Na Rae-hyang’s eyes show relief.
He was someone she had met before.
His name was Ja-woo.
However, she didn’t know if that was his real name or not.
Given the nature of the work, one naturally disguised their identity.
Anyway, since he was a familiar face, she was relieved.
“You were hiding here?”
At Na Rae-hyang’s soft question, Ja-woo nodded.
“Yes. I was deliberating because of the sudden commotion. But I happen to see you here.”
He handed over a sealed letter with a fortunate-despite-misfortune expression.
Then he spoke carefully.
“Will you be all right?”
He meant whether she could safely arrive at the destination following the path.
“Can’t be helped. Given the situation. Now, please depart immediately. It seems there are many enemies, so it’s dangerous.”
“My heart is quite heavy. I’ve completed the mission, but… I’m sorry I can’t be more help. Still, let me provide cover for a moment before I go. My martial power isn’t that weak.”
“No. This horse has special power. So you don’t need to worry too much…”
She couldn’t finish her words.
PURUK, PURUREUK!
Because Divine Wind expelled breath again, sending a danger signal.
Ja-woo also detected the presences and swiftly put on his mask.
No sooner had his sound transmission ended.
PASAK, PASASAK-!
Caped figures appeared, breaking through the brush to the side.
They were five mutes.
Before she knew it, Ja-woo gripped an iron sword.
Ahead of him, the mute caped figure at the front closed in while thrusting a sword operating internal power.
KKAHANG- PEOPEONG!
As the mute caped figure and Ja-woo each retreated three or four steps.
KKWAKKWANG!
Simultaneously with a heavy sound, white current reminiscent of waves rushed toward the front of the caped figures.
It was energy that Divine Wind had released by striking the ground with his hooves.
SHYUSHYUSHYUSHYUT- PEOPEOPEOPEOPENG!
Along with the series of loud sounds, the mutes bounced backward.
Each seemed to have sustained heavy internal injury, staggering badly.
That was inevitable.
Because Divine Wind’s pure energy, having evolved through mysterious great techniques and elixir consumption, was actually at a level matching the martial world’s leading masters.
The hooves struck the ground again.
KKWANG- SHYUSHYUT-!
Then massive white current again poured out like a flood.
The five mutes, who had been staggering, ultimately collapsed from the shock.
It had succeeded because it was an unexpected surprise attack.
That is, those people hadn’t accurately predicted the monstrous power of Divine Wind, the unexpected spirit creature.
It wouldn’t work twice.
Immediately after, Ja-woo rapidly moved toward them.
PUK, PUPUK, PUK…!
The sound of consecutively stabbing the hearts of the personnel collapsed on the ground.
Having thus made sure to finish them, Ja-woo gestured and sent a voice transmission.
Ja-woo, having nodded, deliberately left clear tracks as he disappeared.
To make them track him.
Na Rae-hyang also quickly shook the reins in her hand and commanded.
“Let’s go!”
Divine Wind again advanced while executing Treading Snow Without Trace.
Before long, a valley revealed itself ahead.
They had almost arrived.
If they rounded the path with the cliff wall on the left, it would be the entrance to the secret location.
However.
PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK, PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK-
Suddenly the sound of robes fluttering reached her ears.
A sharp sound following, cutting through the wind.
CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU-!
About a dozen caped figures who had appeared like ghosts on both sides at close range had simultaneously shot sword energy.
PAK!
Divine Wind, having instinctively stopped, kicked off the ground and leaped.
The sword energies struck that spot by a hair’s breadth.
PEOBEOBEOBEOBEONG- KKWAGWAGKKWANG-!
Amid broken dirt floor and rock debris shooting up high.
“What a rare spirit creature.”
A caped figure who had let out a single soft voice targeted the rear of the two women and horse across the void.
As if he had waited for them to leap.
‘Ah!’
The instant Na Rae-hyang’s heart lurched.
SHYUKAAK!
Sword energy accompanied by heavy wind pressure flew in.
PEOHEOEOONG!
Divine Wind, wrapped in pure white haze, fell back to the ground.
KKUKKUNG-
The horse hooves heavily pressing the ground.
However, having fallen due to the sword force, he lost his balance.
His body tilting sideways.
Because of that, Na Rae-hyang and Si Yu-min’s bodies also tilted.
Even amid that, Divine Wind immediately released white current and regained his balance, befitting a spirit creature.
At that moment, the caped figure who had deployed the formidable sword technique rushed head-on.
Straight sword energy.
Blade work targeting the horse’s head.
Na Rae-hyang forcibly operated internal power despite being injured.
A palm technique thrust out immediately.
KKWAANG!
When the two’s energies collided across the distance, an explosion sounded and.
CHWAHAK…!
The massive body of Divine Wind, carrying Na Rae-hyang and Si Yu-min on his back, rapidly retreated backward.
The caped figures on both sides released sword energy again.
CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU-!
Divine Wind reflexively reacted and kicked the ground.
KKWANG!
Thus using that force, he narrowly evaded the series of sword energies while turning back the way he came.
Na Rae-hyang had pulled the reins and changed direction.
It was a diversionary tactic to not reveal the entrance.
‘Tchit…!’
Na Rae-hyang, having bitten her red lips, had her eyes waver greatly with anxiousness.
More than expected figures had ambushed this place.
In multiple teams.
Now she didn’t know where they might suddenly appear.
‘Shall I go back to Sect Leader Cheol?’
The group that had ambushed earlier set off firecrackers.
-Piiiing- ttadadak- peopeong-!
That sound came from behind.
It was probably a signal meaning personnel assembly and pursuit.
After a while.
From the side of the horse running down the path, sword energy rapidly flew in.
It was stealthy and also fierce.
No ordinary skill.
PUHOOUK!
The eerie sound of piercing flesh.
“Aaak!”
Along with Na Rae-hyang’s scream.
“Kkihiing!”
Divine Wind, having cried out briefly, completely lost his balance.
TEOLPEODEOK-!
Two women tumbling on the ground.
Si Yu-min finally fainted, and Na Rae-hyang’s injuries worsened.
“Kkeu… heut…”
From between the brush, the very person who had released that sword energy leisurely walked out.
“Huhoot.”
A middle-aged man displaying an exceptional aura.
It was the Seventh Great General, a master at the highest tier of Eastern Heaven Division.
Soon, about twenty subordinate caped figures gathered nearby.
CHEOK, CHEOCHEOK, CHEOK…
Half the personnel were the mute group, and the other half were Middle Generals and Young Generals.
The Seventh Great General aimed his sword tip with an arrogant attitude.
“Black Rope Wondrous Lady, don’t struggle anymore. Today will become the memorial day of you Four Great Strange Women.”
Suddenly.
-Before that, I should find out.
A voice like Six-Directional Transmission sounded and.
SEUEUEUK.
A figure revealed himself beside the caped figures.
It was truly unfathomable movement.
A swordsman of advanced age wearing white martial attire.
An old man with long white hair, giving the feeling of an immortal’s bearing.
On the other hand, his intangible aura was sinister and tyrannical.
How to put it – as if thousands of white snakes with bared fangs were coiled around his entire body…
Even his flashing eyes resembled those of a snake flickering its tongue.
Upon seeing him, all the caped figures respectfully bent at the waist.
“Welcome. White Heaven Sword King.”
White Heaven Sword King.
From the Unorthodox faction, his name was Jil-ryang.
He was one of the Thirteen Seats – the same as Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon – martial world transcendent masters from the era when Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon Ba Hun was active.
White Heaven Sword King Jil-ryang’s gaze turned toward Na Rae-hyang on the ground.
“Child. Guide me to the place of fortune. Of course… you don’t have the right to refuse.”
* * *
KKWAKKWANG!
Cheol Ryu-heun’s stomp destroyed the ground within a one-zhang radius.
Danmok Cheon’s form flew backward hard by the dark flames released following his toes and smashed through a boulder.
KKWADEUDEU…!
It was the majesty of the Heavenly Demon World-Destroying Step.
Immediately after, Cheol Ryu-heun rotated his form and thrust out the Gan jiang Sword.
Toward the direction of the swordsmen who were pressing and attacking Ximen Yue, Jeung Ji-rim, and Wang Su-ah.
Half of the personnel had been slain by the fierce counterattacks of the three, with twelve remaining.
An entrance of darkness was created above their heads by the energy released by the Gan jiang Sword.
“Eoeo!”
“R-retreat…!”
The instant the swordsman group was startled out of their wits.
KWAAAAAAA-
Fearsome dark attraction sucked in the swordsmen’s forms.
Thus trapped in darkness, all their bodies twisted wildly.
By the fearsome vacuum pressure held within the black demonic energy.
KWADEUDEUDEU, KWADEUDEU, KWADEUDEUDEU-!
Bodies crushed into pieces, compressed beyond recognition and scattered like powder.
SEUSEUSEUSU, SEUSEUSEUSU…
It was the Heavenly Demon Gravity Star, a supreme move within the Heavenly Demon Divine Art possessing the essentials of attraction, compression, destruction, and pulverization.
Thus the twelve swordsmen disappeared without even corpses remaining.
At that moment.
Rapid presences arose from all directions and about a dozen caped figures appeared.
That wasn’t the end.
Caped figures appearing one after another, cutting through the wind.
Their number amounted to several dozen.
Including Great, Middle, and Young General ranks.
Suddenly.
“Keut.”
Danmok Cheon, having let out a brief laugh, raised his great sword and strode out.
“It’s far from over. Cheol Ryu-heun.”
Amid that, Ximen Yue, Jeung Ji-rim, and Wang Su-ah quickly positioned themselves behind Cheol Ryu-heun.
At that moment.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having gripped the sword hilt anew, quietly swept his gaze over the group gathered in all directions.
Then a blunt voice seeped from between his lips.
“I buy a little time and everyone just appears on their own.”
At those words, Danmok Cheon’s eyebrows twitched upward.
“What did you say?”
Cheol Ryu-heun threw out an indifferent voice without caring.
“The group funeral begins now.”