Chapter 221: Chapter 221
Late at night.
It might have been inevitable that Dan Woo-hyun would take an interest in the sounds that drifted over, even though it was a time when people should have been asleep.
Stealthily moving forward, the two kept a certain distance as they followed the figures far ahead.
“There… There are way more of them than I thought?”
Jang Sam-tae was startled as he took in the sight.
At a conservative estimate, about a hundred people were moving in perfect order, as if drawn by something.
Even more surprising was that the crowd of a hundred comprised men, women, young, and old alike.
There were children who looked to be barely ten, and some who seemed even younger.
They held their hands clasped respectfully in front of them, keeping their heads bowed without uttering a single word.
It looked almost like some sort of ritual.
The one leading the way was a man.
Holding a torch, he looked like a guide leading the path.
“Let us just watch for now.”
Dan Woo-hyun slowly moved his body.
Before long, they finally came to a halt after walking for about an hour. Perhaps because they had traveled quite a distance at such a late hour, signs of exhaustion were evident here and there.
The place they arrived at was a large clearing deep in the mountains.
There were traces of trees and rocks having been artificially cleared away, and in front of where they stopped stood a platform that a person could climb onto.
“Welcome, everyone! You are the truly faithful!”
Soon, a man appeared and stepped onto the platform.
He had long, unkempt hair and a shaggy beard.
In one hand, he held a large staff, and he wore a dazzling robe that fluttered about him. Although he looked quite young at a glance, wrinkles could be seen upon closer inspection of his hands.
It meant he was by no means young.
Dan Woo-hyun began to watch the spectacle with amusement.
“Since ancient times! Those who believe are born with blessings! It is only natural that those who do not believe will eventually burn to death in the fires of hell! Your faith will surely return to you as a blessing!”
At his booming voice, the believers bowed their heads repeatedly. They seemed to be straining not to miss a single word the man spoke.
“Is… Isn’t he a madman?”
“That is what religion is. Once you start blindly believing in something, nothing else around you can enter your mind.”
As if proving Dan Woo-hyun’s words right, the man on the platform glanced at someone else.
An individual standing as if on guard stepped forward and entered the crowd of a hundred people.
When he held out a basket he had prepared, people could be seen pulling out money here and there.
As pennies and dimes began to pile up, it quickly turned into a substantial sum.
“Money is also merely a worldly possession to honor Him! When He descends, you will welcome a paradise on earth!”
[Woahhh!]
At the man’s words, the people finally began to cheer.
Just as the man was about to speak again. Dan Woo-hyun’s head turned elsewhere.
Rustle!
Sensing a presence different from them, a group of figures began to reveal themselves one after another.
“You scoundrels!”
It was a group of five men and women.
Dressed in martial robes, they carried swords at their waists.
As if knowing exactly who needed to be eliminated first, they thrust their swords toward the man on the platform.
At that moment, the man thrust his staff forward and blocked it.
Clang!
A sharp sound rang out as the blades clashed. Although the martial arts of those who suddenly appeared were not ordinary, the martial arts of the man on the platform seemed to overwhelm them.
“R… Run away!”
The believers hurriedly scrambled up and began to flee for their lives. As if this was not the first or second time such a thing had happened, they scattered in all directions.
The men and women holding swords tried to pursue them, but they only managed to capture a few at best.
“Haha, are you not the Five Swords of Mount Hua? Did you come to listen to the voice of this Sect Leader?”
“Silence! How dare you commit such atrocities within the territory of Mount Hua!”
The Five Swords of Mount Hua gnashed their teeth as they glared at the man called the Sect Leader. However, no matter how great their reputation was, it seemed they could not break the Sect Leader’s imposing manner.
The Sect Leader swung his staff with force.
Boom!
Along with a loud noise, the ground dug up and dust rose thickly. The Five Swords of Mount Hua, who were about to thrust their swords toward the Sect Leader, hesitated for a moment and unleashed sword winds.
When the dust cleared under the strong gusts of wind, the Five Swords of Mount Hua frowned.
“Damn it, he escaped!”
“We lost him right under our noses again! I thought we would definitely catch him this time!”
“It won’t be too late yet!”
Voices could be heard from all over.
It seemed that losing the Sect Leader was quite a painful blow.
Just then.
Snap! The sound of someone stepping on a twig caught their ears.
Startled, the Five Swords of Mount Hua turned their heads and threw themselves forward. In an instant, Jang Sam-tae stood at the spot where the swords were pointed.
“Argh!”
Startled, Jang Sam-tae hurriedly threw himself aside.
The incoming blade was fierce. Although he managed to avoid it by quickly throwing his body backward, it did not seem like he could possibly block the follow-up attacks that came in succession.
Grit his teeth, Jang Sam-tae hastily unleashed his kick techniques.
Thud thud!
His two feet shot out rapidly.
He struck the hilt of the woman’s sword as she tried to thrust it, pushing it away, and ducked his head to avoid the incoming blade. Although it happened in a split second, it was undoubtedly an astonishing display of martial skill.
Swoosh!
The Five Swords of Mount Hua and Jang Sam-tae faced each other in the wide clearing, locked in a standoff.
“He looks like the Sect Leader’s bodyguard! Be careful! He is no ordinary expert!”
Gi Chun-yoo, the eldest of the Five Swords of Mount Hua, shouted. Although it was just a single clash, he could not hide his surprise at the fact that the opponent had blocked and avoided their swords.
He might be even more dangerous than the Sect Leader.
Of course, considering that, his internal energy was somewhat weak.
“H… Hey! I think there is some misunderstanding…”
“What misunderstanding! Just being here at this hour is already proof enough that you are in league with them!”
“I said I’m not!”
Jang Sam-tae glanced toward where Dan Woo-hyun was standing.
‘Instead of coming out right now to explain, what kind of spectator is he trying to be?’
A headache was coming on.
Why did it have to be him?
When they had unleashed that sword strike at Jang Sam-tae moments ago, Dan Woo-hyun was standing right beside them.
Considering they did not even detect that, it was hard to tell whether Dan Woo-hyun’s ability was extraordinary or if the Five Swords of Mount Hua were just stupid.
Of course, without even needing to think about it, it would be the former.
Because even if only for a split second, he had seen Dan Woo-hyun’s body turn into a blur.
“Ah, I really mean it! I just followed because the presence felt strange, and I was just watching, you people!”
“We cannot believe that, though?”
Gi Chun-yoo had no intention of letting him go easily. Even if they captured commoners who did not know martial arts, there was nothing to learn. In that case, they had to capture the Sect Leader’s close associates, but that was by no means an easy task.
The Mount Hua Sect had also spent considerable manpower tracking them down for a while, but they had not been able to catch even a tail, so they had no intention of letting Jang Sam-tae go easily.
Na Yu-hwa, the youngest of the Five Swords of Mount Hua, drew her sword and pointed it at Jang Sam-tae.
“Will you quietly accompany us to Mount Hua?”
“I said I don’t want to.”
“Then we will have to drag you even by force.”
Gi Chun-yoo spoke firmly.
Shlick!
The Five Swords of Mount Hua took their stances. As if they intended to coordinate from the start, their momentum heavily pressured Jang Sam-tae.
This was extremely bad.
He had dealt with many people so far, but these were from a prestigious orthodox sect like the Nine Sects and One Gang, and the famous Five Swords of Mount Hua at that.
Even in a one-on-one fight, he did not know how it would turn out, but facing all five of them was nothing short of madness.
However, unless Dan Woo-hyun stepped in, it did not seem like the situation would end easily.
With his lips trembling, Jang Sam-tae took a starting stance.
He could not use his hands freely.
The injury he sustained while training finger techniques had not yet healed. In that case, he had to settle the match with kick techniques, but since he only knew a few, it was practically a suicidal act.
“Ah, seriously! What on earth are those guys that you are doing this to me? I am really innocent!”
“The Martial God Sect! Do you mean to say you do not know of it!”
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
Instantly, Jang Sam-tae let out a dumbfounded sound.
Moreover, a strange voice also drifted over from another place. Startled, the Five Swords of Mount Hua checked their surroundings, not letting their guard down.
“Who is it?!”
Gi Chun-yoo shouted loudly.
There was someone there, yet they had not sensed any presence at all. The thought occurred to him that perhaps an expert even greater than the Sect Leader was hiding.
Just then, the bushes parted, and Dan Woo-hyun revealed himself from the darkness.
He had a somewhat dumbfounded expression.
After sighing for a moment, he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“What did you say just now?”
“W… Who are you!”
Gi Chun-yoo did not answer Dan Woo-hyun’s question but asked back. Until he fully revealed himself from the darkness, he did not even know the opponent was there.
It meant the anxiety in his heart was correct.
“I asked what you said just now.”
“Didn’t you hear? He said the Martial God Sect, puhaha!”
Jang Sam-tae knew Dan Woo-hyun was the descendant of the Martial God.
That was why the moment he heard the term Martial God Sect, Dan Woo-hyun’s face came to mind.
Recalling how so many people believed Dan Woo-hyun to be the descendant of a god and revered him, he could not stop laughing.
“Ack!”
Dan Woo-hyun, who had approached him before he knew it, lightly struck Jang Sam-tae’s mouth. The guy who flew back rolled on the ground as if in pain, letting out a scream.
Dan Woo-hyun looked at Jang Sam-tae with a look of disgust.
“Are you laughing when you can’t even grasp the situation properly?”
“But… puhaha!”
What could he do when it was funny.
Even though he was struck, Jang Sam-tae did not stop laughing. He thought that if he told this story to Namgung Cheon or the others, they would probably burst into similar laughter.
However, there were also people who could not laugh.
It was the Five Swords of Mount Hua, who had not even seen the punch Dan Woo-hyun threw just now.
They stared at Dan Woo-hyun with terrified expressions.
“Did you say the Martial God Sect?”
Dan Woo-hyun looked at Jang Sam-tae with a rather displeased expression, then kicked his belly with a swift movement of his foot.
Another groan was heard, but his gaze was fixed on the Five Swords of Mount Hua, and the question that came from his mouth was also directed at them.
“T… That is correct…”
“Tell me in detail what kind of place it is.”
“…”
Gi Chun-yoo gasped.
He could not decide whether to follow the man’s words or swing his sword. However, knowing that they would be the ones to bleed instead, he sighed and lowered his sword.
“Do you really have no relation to that place?”
“Just as that fellow said, we merely followed after sensing a strange presence while camping out. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”
At Dan Woo-hyun’s words, Gi Chun-yoo looked at his younger martial siblings. Seeing their pale faces, he gave a bitter smile and clasped his hands.
“It seems there was some misunderstanding. Excuse us. I am Gi Chun-yoo, the eldest of the Five Swords of Mount Hua.”
“I have no need for introductions, so tell me about this Martial God Sect.”
Gi Chun-yoo nodded lightly.
Although it was not his intention, he had to speak. Since he knew he could not defeat the opponent, avoiding unnecessary trouble was the right thing to do.
“The Martial God Sect is…”
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