Chapter 328: Bearing the Same Ambition
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At a stream on the northwest outskirts of the Shiwan Mountains in the Guangxi region, over a dozen martial artists appeared.
Being nighttime, they held torches and quietly stopped walking before a narrow path leading to a secluded valley.
Following that, the person at the front muttered while gazing ahead.
“It’s truly been a long time since I last came here.”
He was a man roughly in his late forties.
The features of him who had grown a short beard were very solemn.
It was an atmosphere that others couldn’t easily approach, perhaps.
As if hinting that he was the head of a powerful family possessing formidable authority, martial force, and such.
His clothes were the same.
A light red vest – luxurious yet not vulgar – swayed in the breeze and radiated dignity.
Also, the white martial attire he wore underneath created a vivid contrast that added elegance and made him stand out.
It was truly the bearing of a hero who dominated an era.
Not just anyone could emit such deep and heavy intangible aura.
Just looking at his bearing, one could guess.
A peak master of the Jianghu.
That’s right.
It was the tyrannical air unique to an ultra-first-rate warrior.
Silver characters indicating who he was sat on the left side of his light red vest, gleaming as they caught the firelight.
Tang Mun.
Silver embroidery symbolizing the Sichuan Tang Family – a great prestigious martial clan of the Sichuan region among the Seven Great Orthodox Families.
The identity of the peak master was none other than that place’s current family head, Tang Chun-chu.
Proficient in unpredictable flicking techniques and hidden weapons, he was a figure called by the epithet Butterfly Dance Great Lord because his hand techniques evoked chaotically flying butterflies.
He was also one of the powerhouse representing the Sichuan region, commonly called the Four Famous Hands of Sichuan.
At that moment, a family martial artist approached behind Tang Chun-chu.
A young man with a slender physique and distinct features.
Twenty-three years old this year, the best rising talent within the Tang Family and Tang Chun-chu’s eldest son, Tang Yi-yeok.
His Jianghu epithet was Eight-Arm New Edge, meaning his hand technique combinations were so swift that his two arms looked like eight.
“Night is deepening… are you planning to continue forward?”
Tang Chun-chu, having turned his head, softly asked back.
“Our family’s large-scale forces are standing by over there behind us, so what is there to worry about?”
At that, Tang Yi-yeok wore a faint smile and spoke.
“Hoot, I’m not worried. Because Father is at my side. Therefore, I fear no threat.”
For him, it was natural trust.
After all, his father Butterfly Dance Great Lord Tang Chun-chu was the Hegemon of the Four Famous Hands of Sichuan.
Was that all?
Even counting all of the Jiangnan Jianghu and the Orthodox faction, he ranked in the upper tier.
Moreover, Thrusting Sword Elegant Scholar Murong Kang, head of the Murong Family – one of the same Seven Great Families – and one of the Five Elegants of Jiangxi, had also acknowledged his father’s martial prowess.
Therefore, his trust toward him was very firm.
Tang Chun-chu also smiled faintly in return.
“Heh, you rascal…”
And then his gaze cast toward that narrow path ahead.
It was quiet.
Nothing could be seen except darkness harmonized with moonlight.
Therefore it was eerily frightening.
Tang Chun-chu soon issued a low voice as if reciting.
“It’s the true starting point of the Shiwan Mountains. That path…”
Having trailed off, he gestured toward the rear.
It meant they would spend one night here and then proceed along that path once day broke.
Tang Yi-yeok looked at the group behind and commanded.
“Prepare to camp outdoors.”
At that, the dozen or so martial artists shouted in unison.
“Yes, Young Master!”
The said personnel set up tents in unison.
CHYARAK-CHYARAK, TTUKDAK-TTUKDAK…
But then.
SAT-
A faint sound reached Tang Chun-chu’s ears.
‘Hm?’
Having twitched his eyebrows, he gazed silently at the forest ahead.
‘There was definitely…’
He had definitely heard some kind of presence.
It was ambiguous whether it was human or beast.
“Everyone pause for a moment.”
At Tang Chun-chu’s command, the group stopped working.
UUTTUK.
Tang Yi-yeok tilted his head and whispered.
“Father, what’s wrong?”
“Something… made a sound. Everyone stand by until we ascertain what it is.”
His statement aroused tension and alarm.
At that moment.
SAT, SASAT-
The suspicious presence was sensed even more clearly.
‘Within ten Zhang.’
Tang Chun-chu used his excellent energy sense to estimate the distance.
Sure enough.
SAK, PAPAT-!
From a ten-Zhang distance, the presence suddenly kicked off the ground and moved, clearly sensed.
At last the others also felt it.
“On guard! A skilled master.”
Having spoken thus, Tang Chun-chu had somehow drawn his weapon.
KARAK, KARARAK-
A whip that curved and rose up long, then dropped down as if drooping.
An iron whip with decorations, handle, lashes, and cracker all made of iron.
To be precise, it was a family treasure of the Sichuan Tang Family called the Heaven-Terrifying Divine Whip.
Though not one of the Ten Great Heavenly Weapons, it was both a whip and treasure considered one of the divine weapons and legendary artifacts.
Over there ahead, a large tree buried in darkness swayed slightly.
Tang Chun-chu didn’t miss that and detected it.
Through superior eye power based on deep internal power.
‘Who is it!’
Having shouted inwardly, Tang Chun-chu immediately swung the Heaven-Terrifying Divine Whip in his right hand hard.
KARARAK- KIKING- KKWAWOONG!
When the whip struck the ground, a straight heavy force shot forward like lightning.
JJEOJEOJEOJEOJEOJEOJEOK!
The ground split long to left and right.
Fearsome power instantly crossed the gap and struck the old tree.
WAJIKKKEUN- KKWAGWANG!
The debris of the tree destroyed without mercy scattered in all directions.
PAPAPAPA-
A human figure burst out through the dust and darkness.
‘Oh!’
The moment the group was startled.
SSYAESSYANG-!
The figure rushed to Tang Chun-chu’s front in the blink of an eye and unleashed hand techniques.
A blade cutting through wind while bearing killing intent, and not to be outdone, an iron whip rapidly rising up in curves.
JJEOGEOEONG- PEOHEOEONG!
No sooner had noisy metallic sounds and air-splitting explosions burst.
HWIIRIK, HWIIRIK-
The figure quickly retreated, flipping through the air.
It was just one clash, but Tang Chun-chu clearly felt it.
The fact that his opponent was a swordsman of this era who could stand with the best.
The gap between them was roughly ten-some paces.
The figure revealed in the moonlight looked slender.
Having confirmed that face, Tang Chun-chu opened his mouth with a leisurely posture.
“What is this behavior? Coming all the way out here just to show you’re an evil wench of the Unorthodox faction?”
“Kakakaka! As for lip flapping… isn’t it better than you who acts noble on the outside but is sinister inside?”
The figure retorting thus was a woman in her forties.
A purple long robe, a body as slender as a flower vase, and features with an atmosphere as cunning as a snake…
She, who possessed an evil intangible aura, was a martial artist of Unorthodox origin.
Sol Byeok-ra.
The gate master of Purple Forest Bewitching Gate – a prominent Unorthodox power within the Sichuan region.
A female master whose temperament was cold-blooded and cruel, earning her the epithet Cold Cruel Peony, and who nominally ranked among the Four Famous Hands of Sichuan.
Sol Byeok-ra and Tang Chun-chu were in fact bitter rivals.
The reason was one – the territories of the Sichuan Tang Family and Purple Forest Bewitching Gate overlapped.
Therefore, the two powers frequently fought.
As that accumulated and accumulated, they had now become irreconcilable enemies.
Tang Chun-chu sneered while slightly raising his lip corners.
“Hoot, I don’t deny it. But I feel filthy. Having to hear such words from the likes of you…”
“Why, planning to use poison?”
“Nothing stopping me. Though I advocate the Orthodox path, my martial arts are of the Unorthodox stream.”
As he said, the Sichuan Tang Family belonged to Orthodox faction sects, but because their martial arts attributes were of the Unorthodox stream, their reputation was always divided.
Above all, their poison arts and hidden weapon arts optimized for killing were so.
At that moment, Cold Cruel Peony Sol Byeok-ra spoke meaningfully.
“Yes, you would and could do so. If something interferes with your objective, you won’t spare even allies – a ruthless ambitious schemer. Those who will die by your hand here… won’t be limited to just the Unorthodox faction.”
At those words, Eight-Arm New Edge Tang Yi-yeok flared up and shouted.
“Shut your mouth! How dare you insult Father!”
He too had somehow drawn hidden weapons.
However, Tang Chun-chu himself didn’t get angry.
Rather, he nodded lightly and wore a smile again.
“Hoot, you know well. If there’s anyone who interferes with obtaining the Divine Martial Sword… I will certainly kill and eliminate them. Before This Lord’s ambition and objective, the distinction between Orthodox and Unorthodox is meaningless.”
Then he hardened his gaze coldly and continued.
“Did you think you were an exception?”
Suddenly Sol Byeok-ra burst out a small sound.
“Kakakaka, kakakakaka…”
“I think I’ll feel a bit better once I shut that bewitching mouth first.”
When Tang Chun-chu operated massive internal power, the Heaven-Terrifying Divine Whip vibrated.
Sol Byeok-ra, having stopped laughing, casually asked.
“You’re still not certain, are you?”
That was a question asking about certainty regarding whether the Divine Martial Sword actually existed within the Shiwan Mountains.
“Heh, I’ll find out from now. Come, are you done talking?”
“Ohoho. Rather than waste energy here…”
Sol Byeok-ra pointed to the dark rear.
“I’ve already gone there and looked. A clue about the Divine Martial Sword. So how about coming with me to see? You need to verify it too.”
In that instant, Tang Chun-chu’s expression completely changed.
“…!”
“Why, does it bother you? Worried I might have arranged some kind of trap?”
“I’m not a body that would fall for such clumsy traps.”
“Yes, that’s right. I know that too. That’s why I deliberately appeared before you alone. Currently, our gate’s personnel are standing by nearby.”
“Could it be…”
“You’re perceptive. I’m suggesting we join hands. Until we discover the Divine Martial Sword – temporarily.”
Hearing those words, Tang Chun-chu’s gaze wavered slightly.
Temporary cooperation…
Considering the hostile relationship between them, it was truly an extraordinary and shocking proposal.
He even read the hidden meaning in those words.
“You’ve witnessed… the death of another group.”
“See for yourself and judge.”
“Hmm.”
Having thought about something briefly, Tang Chun-chu folded and put away the Heaven-Terrifying Divine Whip.
“Fine. Lead the way.”
At that, Tang Yi-yeok expressed concern.
“F-Father…”
“It’s fine. Wait here.”
Having spoken thus, Tang Chun-chu took a torch and disappeared along with Sol Byeok-ra.
* * *
A curved terrain connected to the narrow path.
Tang Chun-chu, having arrived at one spot, frowned.
“Hmm.”
By the stream, on the grassy area against the rock wall, the stench of blood was thick.
Fully one hundred or so corpses… and they were all martial artists.
The scene of massacre revealed by firelight was too horrific.
Severed limbs were commonplace, and some had even had their entrails dug out.
Most astonishing of all was…
‘Even those two…!’
Tang Chun-chu was shocked as he took in the two corpses that had fallen nearby.
Two men in their forties and seventies with their chests pierced through.
They were Hot-Blooded Sword Fighter Don Dae-deok, hall master of Loyalty Literature Sword Corps – an Orthodox power in the Guizhou region – and Feather-Soaring Sword Elder Hwang Ji-hwan, gate master of Elegant Feather Martial Gate – an Orthodox power in the Sichuan region.
Those two’s martial fame was by no means low.
Loyalty Literature Sword Corps Hall Master Hot-Blooded Sword Fighter Don Dae-deok was one of the Three Upper Seats of Guizhou, and Elegant Feather Martial Gate Master Feather-Soaring Sword Elder Hwang Ji-hwan was an ultra-first-rate martial artist at the Four Famous Hands of Sichuan level.
Those two masters had fallen to a mysterious enemy.
Right at that moment.
“There.”
Sol Byeok-ra pointed at one section of wall.
Following her motion, Tang Chun-chu turned his head that way and saw writing inscribed there.
The writing didn’t reveal who it was.
Seeing that, Tang Chun-chu quietly laughed.
“Heh…”
“How about it, does it give you a feel?”
“Seeing this, it was done by a mysterious person who possesses the Divine Martial Sword.”
“Of course. For Hot-Blooded Sword Fighter and Feather-Soaring Sword Elder to fall to them… they must be a world-shaking master possessing tremendous martial force. That’s why I reached out first. If we combine our strength here, we should be able to handle most situations.”
No sooner had Sol Byeok-ra’s words ended than Tang Chun-chu’s eyes gleamed.
“I agree. I promise cooperation until we discover the Divine Martial Sword. However, let me make one thing clear. After we secure the Divine Martial Sword… we decide ownership through martial contest.”
“Hoho. I agree to that as well. Shall we then begin searching in earnest? From what I hear, there’s no shortage of competitors seeking to take the Divine Martial Sword. I hear even the Zhejiang Son Family headed to the Shiwan Mountains not long ago.”
“Yes, waiting until tomorrow feels like a waste of time.”
The two exchanged glances, then each shot signal fireworks into the sky.
-Pihing, pihiing… Peobeong, peobeobeong!
Immediately after, the forces of the Sichuan Tang Family and Purple Forest Bewitching Gate – some three hundred strong – began converging on the signal flare’s location.