Chapter 368: Chapter 368

Consternation must be the word to describe something like this. The blood-drenched orthodox martial artists kept their wide-eyed gazes fixed, unable to calm them, watching only the three people.

Those who prided themselves on their skills to some extent, even as Family Heads of noble families or members of the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Even though such people were gathered together, they were in a situation where they could not hide their perplexity.

Although the skills of the Hyeongmun Sect or vagabonds fell significantly short compared to them, the skills of the Blood Heaven that appeared instead of them were no ordinary matter.

Yet, the corpses of such Blood Heaven warriors were scattered all over.

Who one lay sprawled, unable to move a single step.

The time it took for a mere three people to kill this many members was less than fifteen minutes, and even so, their figures overflowed with a level of leisure.

“Thanks to you, we survived.”

The ones who approached with a deep bow were none other than Namgung Yong and Hwangbo Won. Their glancing gazes were directed toward the one presumed to be the Ghost Face Mask.

While they knew well about Sa Do-hak or Namgung Cheon, it was because they had not yet penetrated the identity of the one appearing as the Ghost Face Mask.

‘No way… it can’t be.’

Namgung Yong dripped with cold sweat.

There was a man drawn in his mind.

The absolute beings called the Five Emperors-since two of them were here, it was a situation where it would not be strange even if one more was added. However, that was too wild and made no sense.

How could a single family have three of the Five Emperors?

Even more, the one in his head was someone rumored to have already died.

Namgung Yong looked at the Ghost Face Mask with a strange gaze.

“What are you looking at?”

“Ah… nothing.”

At the sharp voice, he bowed his head without realizing it.

For some reason, it probably was not an illusion that the thoughts remaining in his head kept turning into certainty. However, despite that, he shook his head, denying the thought.

If it was indeed the person in his head in reality, the Hunan Dan Family could be called the strongest.

‘Hey, no way…’

Namgung Yong and Paeng Do-ung shook their heads.

“Thank you for your help. If not for you, I do not know what would have happened…”

At that moment, Seonjin, who rose from his spot, bowed his head with full courtesy. It was so polite that one could not believe it was the behavior of him, who represented Shaolin and the orthodox Murim, surprising the surrounding people.

Having received the greeting, Namgung Cheon cast his gaze to Zhuge Yeon.

As if she realized something, she bowed slightly, walked over slowly, and clasped her hands toward Seonjin and the others.

“No. If we were of even a little help to you, that alone is more than enough.”

Those who received Zhuge Yeon’s greeting frowned. Abbot Seon-jin had definitely spoken toward the Gentleman Sword, but since Zhuge Yeon and no one else stepped up to answer on his behalf, they were dissatisfied.

Furthermore, the Zhuge Family had not even been absorbed into the Hunan Dan Family.

Only Zhuge Un and Zhuge Yeon, who had thrown away all duties and left, were members of the Hunan Dan Family. Since they stayed elsewhere without looking after their own family, that too did not look good.

In particular, the gazes of those who were running noble families were fierce.

However, even under such gazes, Zhuge Yeon’s expression did not change in the slightest. Rather, she stood in that spot, straightening her waist even more confidently.

‘Since when did you care about the Zhuge Family… Hmph!’

Zhuge Yeon sneered at them in her heart and vented her frustration.

There were those, not only among the Eight Great Families but even small and medium sects, who were displeased that the Zhuge Family, which was not strong in martial arts, was listed under the name of the Eight Great Families.

Also, minor local sects or small and medium families did not bow their heads before the Zhuge Family, opening their eyes straight, even while cringing before the other Eight Great Families.

For such people to worry about and curse the Zhuge Family now was rather ridiculous.

“For now, escaping this place must be the priority.”

At that moment, Tang Jung-ak spoke as if to change the atmosphere. The situation was already finished, and they had a little room to breathe.

Leaving this place before more of the others flocked in was the priority.

Then he glanced at Jang Sam-tae.

Seeing his state of barely standing with bandages wrapped around his wounded spots, moving right now did not seem like a good idea.

However, even so, they could not expose this many people to danger, could they?

Jang Sam-tae was seen frowning sharply.

“No, damn it! Because of whom was I injured, yet they say they will flee first?”

His coarse voice was heard.

Although it was a voice with less strength than at first, it was still clear enough to be heard by the surrounding people.

“We cannot put everyone in danger just to save one person.”

Paeng Do-ung was also of the same opinion as Tang Jung-ak.

There was no knowing when the enemies would flock back. In such a situation, remaining in this place was equivalent to sticking out one’s neck and waiting for the blade.

“Then you all go ahead first.”

At that moment, the one who spoke was none other than Namgung Cheon.

Although invisible due to the mask, he also seemed quite perplexed. Synthesizing this entire situation, Tang Jung-ak and Paeng Do-ung’s decision was extremely natural.

Because sacrificing the small for the big was necessary for any organization.

However, the Hunan Dan Family was not like that.

Also, they had no intention of doing so either.

“Will it… be alright?”

Seonjin looked up at Namgung Cheon with a somewhat guilt-ridden expression. His face was filled with complex feelings, which was because he wondered if he should follow Namgung Cheon.

However, Namgung Cheon shook his head.

“We cleared up the Hyeongmun Sect and the Blood Heaven crowd on our way here. If you go now, you will be able to escape easily. Shouldn’t we take care of our own kids?”

“…Is that so?”

Seonjin nodded.

Although surprised expressions were clear everywhere, regret dwelt on Seonjin’s face. If Namgung Cheon went with them, it would surely be more reassuring than anyone else, but it seemed his will could not be broken now.

“Then we will express our thanks later.”

At that moment, Paeng Do-ung stepped forward confidently and clasped his hands. Fitting his title as the Heavenly Dao Association Leader, he showed an appearance of not losing spirit even before Namgung Cheon.

However, Namgung Cheon showed a slightly bitter smile as he looked at him.

It was as if he noticed something.

“I understand.”

As Namgung Cheon agreed and nodded, the orthodox martial artists moved carefully and began to relocate one by one. As the group led by the Namgung Family people left the place in a crowd, the surroundings indeed became empty in an instant.

“Aigoo, I am dying!”

Whether his tension finally released, Jang Sam-tae fell flat onto the ground. It was fortunate that Sa Do-hak’s emergency treatment went well; otherwise, he might have fainted right away and never regained consciousness again.

However, whether he knew of such danger or not, Jang Sam-tae was quite nonchalant.

“Flippant fool, why did you even get hit by such a sword?”

Sa Do-hak frowned and spat out an absurd voice.

Since he had watched the entire situation from afar, he also knew well how Jang Sam-tae had gotten wounded. In truth, that man and Jang Sam-tae had poor compatibility.

The man’s sword was fast, but not as fast as Jang Sam-tae’s lightness art, so he could not kill him in a single breath. Conversely, Jang Sam-tae’s specialty was using his fast lightness art to target the opponent’s gaps, but because the man’s movements had no waste, he could not easily lead the battle as desired.

The Rotation Art was Jang Sam-tae’s last move to create a gap in the opponent.

He also probably had not thought that he would get slashed on the spot.

Sa Do-hak clicked his tongue and shook his head.

He was still far, far lacking.

“By the way, what do we do?”

“It has become difficult.”

“But they won’t be able to easily make an issue out of it.”

“True, since we showed them what we could do first.”

The others muttered to each other, wearing somewhat troubled expressions. Since he did not know the reason, only Jang Sam-tae looked up at Sa Do-hak in front of his nose with a blank face.

Tap!

“Argh!”

“What are you staring at like that, you fellow? It is because of you that we are like this.”

“Geez! What did I do for you to say that? I have no sin other than fighting for my life, do I?”

“Using the Rotation Art is the problem. You should have at least used the martial arts Dan Woo-hyun, that fellow, taught you…”

Sa Do-hak clicked his tongue.

Displaying demonic arts in front of the orthodox martial artists provided a pretext for them to misunderstand that the Hunan Dan Family was on the side of the Demonic Cult. Perhaps they might even carry out all kinds of maneuvers to tear down the Dan Family.

“Of course, not right now. The Blood Heaven is right in front of them, and that is the biggest problem they face. However, it will be the same that we must watch our backs.”

“Because using and throwing away is their specialty. Hahaha.”

Sa Do-hak and Jeok Mu-seong clicked together, wearing sneers and looking at Namgung Cheon. Since he was someone who had once led the orthodox path, it looked like they were saying it for him to hear.

“Ugh…”

Namgung Cheon let out a sigh with a perplexed expression.

That he could not make a counterargument was the problem.

The Sichuan Tang Family was also a concern, but right now.

Jang Sam-tae was the problem.

* * *

Thud, thud.

Tension still hung on the faces of the orthodox martial artists leaving the mountain. It was merely that they had parted ways with the figures of the Hunan Dan Family, but because they had seen that power before their eyes, they seemed to feel great anxiety over their absence.

Therefore, their expressions were not very good.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

Seonjin, who was leading the way, turned his head and looked to the side. Paeng Do-ung, who had followed before he knew it, frowned seriously with a cautious expression.

“It was the Heavenly Demon Heavenly Rotation Art… I mean Sa Do-hak’s martial art.”

Tang Jung-ak muttered, opening his eyes narrowly.

All sorts of emotions were mixed on his face. The Sichuan Tang Family and the Demonic Cult were places that could not live under the same sky. It was no exaggeration to say they targeted each other that much.

He had seen Sa Do-hak’s martial art before his eyes.

Although the dark red demonic energy was not as thick as Sa Do-hak’s, demonic energy was definitely felt, and he heard the name Heavenly Demon Heavenly Rotation Art.

From Tang Jung-ak’s standpoint, it was a situation where even killing him right away would not be enough.

“Do not think badly of it. Even if he is Sa Do-hak’s disciple, there is no doubt that we received his help.”

“…….”

On that part, Paeng Do-ung and Tang Jung-ak also agreed. If Jang Sam-tae had not held the leader man, the situation would have worsened, and many of them would have died.

However, although they knew it with their brains, it was not accepted in their hearts.

Tang Jung-ak nodded and slowly backed away.

His expression still looked complex.

-What do you think?

Tang Jung-ak sent a transmission to Tang Mun-hye beside him.

The talent who would lead this Murim, or rather the Tang Family, in the future was Tang Mun-hye. He asked because he was curious about her opinion.

-The fact that we received help is also true… Also, he seems somewhat clumsy to be seen as the Demon Sovereign’s disciple. His skill compared to his age is also like that.

Tang Mun-hye’s doubt was extremely natural.

If he had been raised as Sa Do-hak’s disciple, he would have naturally made a name for himself in the Demonic Cult. However, she was hearing the name Jang Sam-tae for the first time, and did not know that such a person existed either.

In the first place, the worldly speculation was that ‘the Demon Sovereign’s disciple does not exist’.

-I think now is the time to watch and see.

-Indeed…

As she sent the telepathic transmission, Tang Mun-hye glanced at her father’s face. Smiling with an unreadable expression, she could not tell at all what thoughts he was harboring.

However, at least one fact was clear.

Although Tang Jung-ak’s intention was unknown, it was highly likely that this matter would enter Tang Sa-hwi’s ears. If that happened, like it or not.

‘A clash with the Hunan Dan Family will be as clear as day.’

Tang Mun-hye shook her head.

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