Chapter 411: And So the Night Passes
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The death of Sang-jan, the pillar of the Detached Three Army Corps.
That instead brought joy to Heuk Ma-yung.
It should have been an unexpected loss, yet he called it welcome news.
Why.
The reason was simple.
Because the Detached Three Army Corps were also a force he had intended to sacrifice anyway.
As spiritual offerings necessary for summoning the otherworldly Demon God.
Even Eastern Heaven Division was no exception to that.
The Heretic Cult sorcerer who had reported the matter, Geum Direction Master who had become a Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing, also wore a smile.
“His death will make the other leadership rely on us even more.”
Even the fangs revealed along with his laughter seemed to sparkle with the light of joy.
Right at that moment.
SEUK.
Along with a small sound, one large shadowy figure approached and stood beside him.
The one who had appeared with mysterious movement was Blood-Robbing Deep Ghost Gin-gyun.
“So His Majesty the Great King personally went to the trouble of subduing him.”
He examined Yan Po-Wook who had collapsed on the ground to one side and continued speaking.
“I apologize. I should have moved faster… I was too leisurely.”
“No. I also moved to avoid the distrust of those Heaven Emperor Society gang. If I stayed back even after the sunset, they wouldn’t view it favorably… I couldn’t give the impression that I was harboring some other scheme.”
“Well, since that side’s Commander is also at the forefront…”
“Yes, and on top of that, he even lost his life.”
Then Gin-gyun’s grayish-white pupils created ripples.
“Par…don?”
He couldn’t help but be surprised at the death of Sang-jan, the great demon of the previous era, of all people.
When Gin-gyun turned his head, Geum Direction Master responded with a wordless nod.
Seeing that, he realized it was fact again.
“Was it Gun Mu-ak’s doing? Or…”
“It was Cheol Ryu-heun.”
“Cheol Ryu-heun… Was that bastard’s martial power at that level? Hmm…”
Gin-gyun’s eye-light deeply sank as he released a sound close to a low hum.
“It was already confirmed through Eastern Heaven Division’s Sixth Great General.”
As soon as Geum Direction Master said that, Gin-gyun threw a question.
“Sixth Great General? Does that mean he barely survived?”
“KEUREU… Yes. Cheol Ryu-heun made him a messenger.”
“A messenger?”
When Gin-gyun tilted his head, Geum Direction Master hurriedly said.
“He carved several lines of writing on his body.”
At that time, Heuk Ma-yung’s smile deepened.
“Huhut, he wrote on his body? Quite an amusing fellow.”
“Indeed. It was clearly a provocative message.”
“What did it say?”
“It said his party is on standby inside the Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation, and when dawn breaks, they will emerge through the eastern valley on its boundary.”
Gin-gyun’s complexion suddenly stiffened.
“…!”
The Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation was the highest forbidden area within the Shiwan Mountains.
To think Cheol Ryu-heun and his party were inside there, of all places.
It was certainly a dangerous place, so was it actually a safe place for them?
‘Hmm, the signs of change in the Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation’s energy were not coincidence.’
Most likely, Cheol Ryu-heun had displayed some kind of skill.
In that state, Heuk Ma-yung’s voice leaked out.
“Since Cheol Ryu-heun boldly threw out bait, the Detached Three Army Corps and Eastern Heaven Division will converge their total forces tonight. To the eastern valley on the Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation’s boundary.”
Having nodded slightly, Gin-gyun opened his mouth in turn.
“They’ll surely request rear support, won’t they?”
“We’ll have to pretend to help while staying back and waiting for the right moment.”
“Yes, those are most proper words. Now it will be easy to manipulate that group. The Division Commanders have already taken our side. Completely unaware that they’re being deceived.”
“Did you have a conversation?”
“Yes, Danmok Cheon requested help. Actually…”
Gin-gyun informed him of the matter regarding Danmok Cheon’s party that he had met earlier.
And even the conversations that had been exchanged at that time.
-If we add to the power of the Nature Assimilation Realm the help of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan and Heretic Cult… minimal safeguards will be prepared. Don’t you think? Heavens Direction Master.
-Hmm… Will you be alright?
-Of course we will. We’ll become a new type of Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing.
Once the series of explanations ended, Heuk Ma-yung’s voice followed.
“There’s no loyalty toward the leader.”
“That’s right. They all merely serve the Heaven Emperor Society Lord.”
“That’s the nature and characteristic of the Special Forces. That positions can change at any time depending on power… That’s something the Heaven Emperor Society Lord directly permitted. Anyway, from this hour onward, the Division Commanders replacing the Grand General will be easy to handle. Since they’ll need our unique abilities to strengthen their power…”
Heuk Ma-yung then suddenly gazed into the air.
“He must be wandering somewhere here with resentment.”
Those words meant the soul of Sang-jan himself.
That’s right.
Several years ago, the Heretic Cult leadership had spread a sealing sorcery barrier throughout the entire Shiwan Mountains to collect the soul energy of the dead.
In other words, even if they died, their souls could not leave the Shiwan Mountains.
Tomorrow’s battle would produce even more dead.
Then they would additionally secure large amounts of soul energy essential for opening the dimensional gate connected to the otherworld.
Having withdrawn his gaze, Heuk Ma-yung turned his head.
“Did you finish the work cleanly?”
A gaze and question thrown toward Gin-gyun.
“Yes. I’ve subdued all members of Purple Forest Enchanted Gate and Sichuan Tang Family and am in the process of moving them.”
“That’s enough. There’s no need for further activity today. Tomorrow, we’ll secure large amounts of soul energy through the sacrifice of Heaven Emperor Society personnel.”
“My thoughts are the same as Your Majesty’s. However, there is one person we must have. That outstanding talent will act as an important key to the complete opening of the dimensional gate. So we must capture and bring him within tonight.”
Heuk Ma-yung also knew well who that referred to.
“Of course. Once darkness falls, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong will personally lead the elite. Also, I’ve told clan masters to accompany them in case of emergencies. By now, they should have returned to the den and heard my message.”
“While we’re at it, should we capture all the personnel on that side too…”
“There’s no need to be greedy. Even without increasing prisoners, it’s enough. Time is on our side. Since Cheol Ryu-heun doesn’t know our base anyway… Hut. If things go awry, we can increase prisoners again. Snake-Robed Hwa-nong will judge and act appropriately. So I intend to let her handle it herself.”
“Understood.”
“I should also return now. It seems there’s much work to do overnight.”
As Heuk Ma-yung turned around with those words, Geum Direction Master quickly picked up Yan Po-Wook, who lay collapsed on the ground, and hung him over one shoulder.
Gin-gyun respectfully clasped his two hands and said.
“Then I will return after finishing the cleanup.”
Heuk Ma-yung, having shown a nod, soon disappeared along with Geum Direction Master.
Right after that, Gin-gyun moved in the opposite direction while murmuring.
“Tomorrow will be a truly historic day for us.”
In the sky, the sunset had already faded at some point as darkness was arriving.
As if a blessing upon the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
* * *
The headquarters of the Heretic Cult and Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, with cliffs spread like folding screens on three sides.
A woman who had entered the spacious plaza inside suddenly furrowed her brow.
It was because an inexplicable uncomfortable sensation was felt.
Something she couldn’t pinpoint….
The tall woman was Lust-Blood Seductive Ghost Hu-ra, one of the Three Spirits.
Snake-Robed Hwa-rang, standing shoulder to shoulder with her, lowered his voice and asked with a puzzled look.
“Are you still uncomfortable even after your external injuries healed?”
“I don’t know. It’s a feeling that’s hard to explain in words. Whether the internal power Cheol Ryu-heun expelled remains in my body… But there are no signs of internal injuries.”
At those words, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong said as if it were nothing.
“It’s probably just your imagination.”
“Yes, it seems so. Probably the displeasure toward him remains…”
Suddenly, the fight with Cheol Ryu-heun flashed through her mind.
-Dark? What’s dark about it?
-…!
-I can see everything.
-What…?
-From now on, clench your jaw tight. Unless you want your fangs broken.
For Hu-ra, who held the highest tier among warriors within the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, it had been a truly humiliating defeat.
KWAK!
Hu-ra, having clenched her fist, spoke quietly.
“After taking the blood of the Silent Blood Heart Master, I should take a bath. Then I’ll feel better.”
With that, she disappeared with swift lightness technique.
At that time.
A Heretic Cult member in his thirties approached and delivered Heuk Ma-yung’s request.
Snake-Robed Hwa-nong, having heard that story, slightly narrowed her brows and spoke.
“No time to rest. But it’s something that must be done. Understood.”
When the Heretic Cult member disappeared, Snake-Robed Hwa-rang asked.
“I don’t need to go with you, right?”
“Of course, Brother. I’m thinking of just kidnapping that fellow. We don’t know when or where Cheol Ryu-heun might appear, so we must be vigilant. I’ll process it quickly before they can contact each other and return. I’ll select personnel and depart immediately.”
With that, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong also disappeared for the mission.
At that moment, a figure carrying a giant sword appeared.
It was Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon, a Division Commander of the Detached Three Army Corps.
“So you came? I was just waiting for you.”
“Why do you look like that?”
“I was struck by Gun Mu-ak’s hand techniques.”
“I see… If the opponent was Heavenly Demon Cult’s Great Prelate, that’s understandable. But the power of Cheol Ryu-heun that I saw was also considerable.”
“That’s why I keenly feel the need to become stronger.”
“That means…”
“Make our leadership into a new type of Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing. Then wouldn’t it be beneficial to both sides?”
“You’re… serious?”
“Of course.”
When Danmok Cheon readily nodded, Snake-Robed Hwa-rang inwardly let out a laugh.
‘Hut. Are you resolved to not even shy away from fighting over positions in order to increase your martial power?’
Snake-Robed Hwa-rang responded with a nod.
“Understood. It’s something I welcome. I’ll make you into a Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing with power surpassing the Grand General.”
* * *
One shichen later.
A commotion arose in the mountains where darkness had encroached.
CHAECHAECHAENG, CHAECHAECHAENG… PEOPEOPEOPONG, PEOPEOPEOPONG…!
The source of the commotion was the place where Young Sword King Son Ja-ryong and the Zhejiang Son Family party were preparing to camp.
Snake-Robed Hwa-nong’s subordinate personnel, whom she commanded as Heretic Cult’s Vice Cult Master, had attacked.
Amid the commotion everywhere, Zhuge Bi shouted.
“Retreat! Retreat! Everyone fall back! I’ll spread a formation in the rear to disrupt their vision…”
At that moment, one woman approached without a sound.
SEUREUREUK.
As if water seeping into the ground, she quietly approached from the front.
It was Snake-Robed Hwa-nong.
Startled, Zhuge Bi rapidly extended his right hand.
A heavy palm technique struck Snake-Robed Hwa-nong.
PEOHEOEOEONG…!
But simultaneously, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong quickly scattered like smoke.
An illusion, a bizarre illusory technique.
The moment Zhuge Bi was startled, energy rapidly flew toward his back.
PEOPONG!
Zhuge Bi, who had received the shock defenseless, collapsed face-down on the ground.
“Keo…”
Snake-Robed Hwa-nong, having taken position behind him for the surprise attack, spoke coldly.
“Did you think I’d just let you show off your skills?”
Then she attached a talisman to Zhuge Bi’s body and chanted an incantation.
‘Euuk!’
Thereupon, Zhuge Bi fell unconscious from the deviant energy that bound his entire body.
Snake-Robed Hwa-nong, having grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, commanded.
-Let’s go now!
A gang that appeared mysteriously and withdrew at unparalleled speed.
Thus, the enemy kidnapped only Zhuge Bi and disappeared.
It was not a long fight.
As if nothing had happened, silence covered the forest again.
In that state, Son Ja-ryong, while storing away the Ten Great Heavenly Weapon Dragon Throne Sword, asked.
“Is everyone alright?”
Then his cousin, Conquering Heaven Sword Assembly Master Son Jung-chaek, answered as representative.
“Yes. There are no seriously injured.”
“That’s fortunate. Anyway, things went according to plan. Get some sleep in advance. When dawn comes, we will move to the location we agreed upon with Sect Master Cheol.”
“At your command.”
Son Ja-ryong, leaving behind his party’s answer, gazed at the pitch-black night sky where the moon hung brightly.
‘Bi, we’re coming soon! Just hold on a little longer!’
* * *
Before anyone knew it, dawn broke.
Someone’s voice rang out in the yard of a shabby house.
“Now then, shall we go out to fight.”
The owner of that indifferent voice was none other than Cheol Ryu-heun.