Chapter 330: Through Arrangement
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Goe Je-shin and Beop-yeol recalled old records and inwardly marveled.
‘Oh…!’
The mystical current Cheol Ryu-heun was currently deploying was clearly Superior Immortal Relieving White Hands – an exalted skill of immortal arts.
A technique for governing multiple people with a vast amount of immortal energy, one that only Martial Immortal Dongbang Ya could execute…
The countless white hands soon moved as if attaching to the martial talents’ bodies, caressing every nook and cranny.
It was the start of the full-scale Pushing the Palace Through the Acupoints process.
“To see Superior Immortal Relieving White Hands directly – truly I’m deeply moved.”
At Goe Je-shin’s words, Beop-yeol nodded.
“Sect Leader Cheol’s ability is truly unfathomable. Like the divine power said to be possessed by the Divine Martial Sword…”
Hearing that, Cheol Ryu-heun inwardly smirked while executing the technique.
I AM that Divine Martial Sword, you young ones.
At that moment, Gun Mu-ak asked.
“How long will it take?”
“About one shichen or so. It’s fast because it’s me. Originally it takes more than two shichen.”
“Once that’s finished, will everyone fall into deep sleep like that?”
“Yes. I plan to wake them around dawn.”
“About one shichen, you say… then I should stand guard. Just in case.”
Namgung Sang-rin, who had heard that conversation, stood up while gripping the Heaven Reliance Sword.
“Sect Leader, we’ll guard the perimeter. So please complete it without worry.”
Along with him, not only Hae Su-yeon and Mun Bin but also Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol took positions to guard all four directions.
Little-Face Bell Demoness Eun Yi-bi and Delusional Seductive Demoness Ya Baek-ji, who couldn’t just sit still, also quietly rose to their feet.
But suddenly.
“No need.”
Gun Mu-ak, with an expressionless face, abruptly let out his voice and drew the jet-black sword.
Demon God Sword – tempered with black dragon’s blood.
SAAAAK-
The blade that was smoothly drawn made one’s skin crawl just from looking at it.
Because of the terrifying demon god pattern inscribed on one surface.
And on the opposite surface, a phrase was carved.
First Demon God of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Writing signifying that he was the highest demon god of all worlds.
Gun Mu-ak’s aura while holding the sword was different yet again.
What to say – it felt as if countless blades were being released from within darkness, swirling around like a great storm.
To the point of feeling the illusion that one’s skin was being sliced…
Mun Bin, encountering that fearsome presence, clicked his tongue.
‘As befits the protagonist of the arrogant expression “First Demon God of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths,” what a fearsome presence.’
Gwi Je-shin became wary of that movement.
“What are you trying to do?”
At that, Gun Mu-ak replied dryly.
“Why, don’t you trust me?”
“…”
“I meant there’s no need for many of you to tediously guard the perimeter.”
“Hm? Then…”
“I alone am sufficient for guarding.”
Having said that, Gun Mu-ak stabbed the Demon God Sword into the ground.
KWAKKWAK-!
Simultaneously, the blade vibrated.
WOONG-
Following that.
CHYACHYACHYACHYA, CHYACHYACHYACHYA…
Jet-black heat haze spread rapidly in all directions like a tidal wave.
It was surely demonic energy.
However, it had no effect on the party.
It seemed Gun Mu-ak had intentionally controlled it.
In the blink of an eye, a black curtain had completely blocked off a space with a three-Zhang radius and was undulating like waves.
“It’s a demonic energy barrier. It will last until dawn, so rest comfortably.”
Hearing those words, the party’s pupils lightly shook.
That one’s ability is also truly unfathomable!
Gazes that seemed to say so.
Suddenly Cheol Ryu-heun’s voice struck their ears.
“As expected, excellent skill.”
At that, Gun Mu-ak put away the Demon God Sword and replied.
“I’ll sleep now. Wake me when we depart.”
Cheol Ryu-heun nodded, then soon laughed inwardly.
‘Hoot… that sword has unique power. Anyway, he’ll be quite helpful going forward.’
* * *
The atmosphere of the night-shrouded jungle was truly spine-chilling.
However.
More spine-chilling than that atmosphere was the attack of poisonous creatures.
PADAK-PADAK, PADAK-PADAK, PADAK-PADAK- PIPIT, PIPIT, PIPIT-!
A flock of huge bats pressed close to the martial artists.
“Chyichyep!”
“Jjirik, jjirik!”
Bats rushing in like a gale while letting out chilling cries.
They were blood-sucking bats famous as the Shiwan Mountains’ endemic poisonous creatures.
It was impossible to count how many there were.
So many flew in that it felt like darkness upon darkness.
Against them, over a dozen martial artists swung their swords repeatedly while shouting.
“Be careful!”
“You absolutely must not let them suck your blood!”
“Ah! Duck your head!”
The group’s identity was the elite of South Lake Sword Sect – an Orthodox power within the Guangdong region.
After separating from the Crow Pattern Sword Hall, Righteous Sea Martial Gate, and Iron Shadow Blade Gate groups, they had wandered lost and accidentally stepped into this jungle – the habitat of blood-sucking bats.
Moreover, their original numbers had been halved.
It was because they had been ambushed by the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan just last night.
The enemy had killed only half and then disappeared again.
As if enjoying taking lives bit by bit.
At that moment.
CHYUHAAAK!
One streak of giant sword energy cut long through the air.
Simultaneously.
HUDUDUDUDUDUK, HUDUDUDUDUDUK…
Finely shattered blood-sucking bats fell in countless numbers.
The one who had executed the fearsome sword energy was a martial artist in his sixties with streaks of gray hair and a sturdy build.
He was Byeok Woo-ham, gate master of South Lake Sword Sect and one of the Four Pillars of Guangdong, bearing the epithet Great Lake Sword Elder.
Following his hand movements, Abyssal-Clarity Sword – the treasured sword symbolizing South Lake Sword Sect’s history and tradition – repeatedly emitted chilling light.
SYUKAT, SYUKAAK, SYUKAT-!
Sword energy loaded with superior internal force tore apart the surroundings.
HUDUDUDUK, HUDUDUDUK, HUDUDUDUK…
Each time, blood-sucking bat corpses tumbled to the ground.
However… before long, Byeok Woo-ham had also grown exhausted.
Just seeing his wrist tremble slightly after forcefully swinging the Abyssal-Clarity Sword made it easy to tell.
‘Argh! There’s no end!’
At that moment, one of his subordinate swordsmen was bitten by a blood-sucking bat that had rushed from behind.
Immediately after, his left and right pupils moved in different directions and he let out a bizarre laugh.
“Eehi, eehiik…!”
It was most likely a symptom of rabid disease.
That was what made the blood-sucking bats living here terrifying.
A person whose blood was sucked would go mad for a certain period of time.
And in that state, they would become food for the blood-sucking bats.
Offering their blood and flesh…
There was a cure, but it was impossible here.
PING!
The finger wind Byeok Woo-ham fired struck the crazed swordsman’s chest.
“Keoh…!”
His body trembled slightly, then he collapsed limply on the dirt floor like wet paper.
THUD-
It was the effect of being struck in the fainting acupoint near the middle dantian.
Indeed, befitting a warrior at the Four Pillars of Guangdong level, his acupoint-striking skill was excellent and precise.
Byeok Woo-ham swiftly moved to shield the fallen swordsman and swung his sword.
SSYANG, SSYAESSYANG-
That fierce sword stance contained desperate feelings.
‘Every life is precious! I cannot lose more subordinates here! I, as gate master, will fulfill my duty!’
Having steeled his heart, Byeok Woo-ham shouted.
“I’ll open the way! Go first!”
At that, his subordinate swordsmen’s expressions rapidly hardened.
“What? What do you mean…!”
“That won’t do!”
“We cannot do that Gate Master!”
“Yes! How can we leave you alone…!”
However, Byeok Woo-ham replied solemnly and firmly.
“I’m fine! I’ll follow right after!”
At that moment, a strange sound was heard ringing out loudly.
-Boowooowoong, boowooowoong, boowooowoong…!
‘Hm?’
Byeok Woo-ham turned his gaze slightly while busily moving his sword.
Then he saw a swarm of insects rapidly approaching from the sky over there.
Their scale was truly enormous.
The fiercely vibrating air represented their momentum.
It was like an army made of flying insects approaching.
The identity of the insect swarm filling his field of vision was, amazingly, hundreds of thousands of bees.
‘What!’
The South Lake Sword Sect party was astonished.
Because those weren’t just ordinary bees.
They were as big as a human fist, with blue bodies and red wings.
Ghost Cloud Great Bees.
A rare poisonous creature and divine creature famous as the natural enemy of blood-sucking bats.
They had been given that name since ancient times because their appearance when swarming together looked like a ghost’s cloud.
The situation changed rapidly due to the bee swarm’s charge.
The blood-sucking bat flock began scattering in all directions, screaming in terror.
Not to be outdone, the Ghost Cloud Great Bees formed a wide encirclement and unleashed an offensive of poison stingers.
BOONG, BOOWOONG, BOONG!
And some of them circled around the South Lake Sword Sect party.
As if forming a barrier to prevent approach.
‘Wait, this movement… could they be trying to help us?’
Ghost Cloud Great Bees attacking the blood-sucking bat flock with fierce wingbeats repeatedly.
The situation was quickly resolved.
Before the organized offensive of countless Ghost Cloud Great Bees, thousands of blood-sucking bats either died instantly or fled.
Thus the jungle regained its original tranquility.
Byeok Woo-ham wore a bewildered expression, not knowing what was happening.
His subordinate personnel were the same.
But at that moment.
“Cousin!”
Suddenly a middle-aged woman appeared nearby with nimble movement.
Simultaneously, Byeok Woo-ham’s eyes shook, creating transparent ripples.
“What, how are you…?!”
“What great fortune! I happened to find you here!”
A woman in her fifties wearing a pale pink palace-style robe with extraordinary dignity.
It was Byeok Song-ha, called Chrysanthemum Fragrance Sword Mother, foremost among the Three Upper Seats of Guizhou, and the former hall master of Orthodox Chrysanthemum Martial Hall.
Byeok Woo-ham grabbed her hands tightly and brightened.
“Ah! Was it you? That thing earlier…!”
Byeok Song-ha smiled gently, nodded, and answered.
“That’s right. I commanded the Ghost Cloud Great Bee swarm. Actually, it was Sect Leader Cheol’s arrangement.”
“What did you say? That… Sect Leader Cheol – do you mean the White Peak Sword Sect Leader?”
“Yes.”
Byeok Song-ha soon spoke toward the Ghost Cloud Great Bee swarm hovering in the air.
“Now, please guide us.”
As she spoke, she lightly shook the sphere held in one hand.
Suddenly.
WOONG-
The sphere that had vibrated briefly emitted a strange light.
At that, the Ghost Cloud Great Bee swarm moved in unison, forming a procession and beginning to fly forward.
Following behind them, Byeok Song-ha moved her steps and spoke.
“The Ghost Cloud Great Bees will guide us to a safe place. That too was prepared by Sect Leader Cheol.”
* * *
“Rise.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s apathetic voice, the party opened their eyes.
“Ah…”
“Hmm…”
Since the sun wasn’t fully up yet at dawn, the field’s colors were still dim.
The energy barrier Gun Mu-ak had deployed the previous night had already lifted.
The gazes of those who had awakened from sleep were clearer than ever.
It was the effect of having seen the results of Superior Immortal Relieving White Hands and then getting a comfortable night’s sleep.
“Yaaawn.”
Hae Su-yeon, having stretched long, soon rose to her feet and asked.
“Are you moving out right away?”
“Yes.”
Cheol Ryu-heun then looked at the distant sky and spoke again.
“Soon a mystical transportation will appear. So that everyone can arrive as quickly as possible. I can just ride Divine Wind.”
At the sudden words, Hae Su-yeon tilted her head.
“Pardon? Mystical transportation…?”
“Yeah. The legendary Somersault Cloud.”