Chapter 397: Chapter 397

“We have passed one crisis.”

Zhuge Hyeon bowed his head toward Tang Sa-hwi and expressed respects. Had he not appeared, even if the Tang Family was grand, they might have suffered great damage.

Tang Sa-hwi’s overwhelming presence led to the complete victory of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance.

The unorthodox members looked inwardly dissatisfied, but in the current situation where Jeok Mu-seong and most of the experts representing the Unorthodox faction had died, they also had no choice but to lean on Tang Sa-hwi.

“Hmph, to be flustered by the likes of them… utterly pathetic.”

Tang Sa-hwi snorted, looking at the surroundings.

The gaze looking at everyone of the Nine Great Sects and One Association and the Eight Great Families was exceptionally arrogant, as if looking at subordinates.

A Taoist of Wudang stepped forward with a surge of emotion.

“Do not speak like that. Their strength is not to that extent.”

“Even if so, is it not you who failed to block them and collapsed? That is precisely what is pathetic! To shake the orthodox martial world to this extent… tsk tsk.”

“Keuh…!”

“If that Sword Emperor fellow were alive, he would have said it is quite a sight to see.”

At Tang Sa-hwi’s single word, many people flinched and bowed their heads. The moment the Sword Emperor’s name came out, those who still held him in awe held their breath.

Tang Sa-hwi’s words might indeed be correct.

If the Sword Emperor were alive and saw this situation, what would he have said?

Just thinking of it made their hearts feel bad.

“So, what do you intend to do now? You don’t mean to merely stand guard here, do you?”

At Tang Sa-hwi’s question, Zhuge Hyeon nodded.

As if reversing the rough atmosphere, he tried to show a smile.

“Since we have passed the crisis, shouldn’t we go to reclaim it? We must consider it more than half successful if we just reclaim Hubei for now.”

“More than half? Merely by reclaiming Hubei?”

Zhuge Hyeon nodded.

He knew that many people had bowed their heads to the Blood Heaven. However, there were those who were not so. Still, many would be holding their breath and waiting for the right time.

Those who wanted to step forward but hid because their strength was lack. Or those who felt skepticism at the current martial world situation and laid down their swords.

What could gather such people was precisely showing the momentum of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance by reclaiming Hubei, and planting the will that it can be done.

If only that was possible, the pushed-back board could be returned tightly once again.

That was a new starting point to reclaim everything.

Tang Sa-hwi nodded as if he understood.

Because Zhuge Hyeon’s words did not look particularly wrong.

However, whether something was not to his liking, he looked at Zhuge Hyeon and asked.

“By the way, why are you here? Where did the Family Head go?”

It was referring to Zhuge Un.

Zhuge Hyeon wore an awkward smile for a moment.

He knew he was asking while already knowing everything. It was the world-famous Tang Sa-hwi. No matter how much he was in retirement, he was by no means a person who lived with closed ears.

“Brother is temporarily… because he has business…”

“Pathetic bastards, tsk tsk. That the martial world became this state is also the responsibility of Zhuge Un and that Sword Emperor fellow. Do you know?”

“…….”

Zhuge Hyeon could not bring himself to answer.

Although he knew it was absolutely not so, Tang Sa-hwi looked as if he decided to denigrate the two in this place where so many people were gathered.

“Why is there no answer!”

Whether Tang Sa-hwi thought Zhuge Hyeon was ignoring his words, his voice rose somewhat high, looking as if he was threatening.

Many people gritted their teeth, watching that sight.

However, there was no one who stepped forward.

Because the power of the current Sichuan Tang Family was that overwhelming, they could not show a bad side to them.

“Elder, your words are a bit harsh.”

At that moment, the one who stepped forward was none other than Namgung Yong.

Taking a step forward, he looked straight at Tang Sa-hwi. The gaze staring quietly at him was like looking at a rebellious child.

Most of the Namgung Family people were so.

Their eyes were sharp, making it look not strange even if a fight between the Namgung Family and the Sichuan Tang Family broke out in this spot right away.

“What?”

“Your words are somewhat excessive. If you insult my father who has protected this martial world in the meantime… the Namgung Family will risk its life to protect his honor.”

Power was loaded in that single word.

Simultaneously, all members of the Namgung Family grabbed their swords.

It was a situation where the enemy was right before their nose.

No matter how much they won an overwhelming victory, the remaining enemies were still many, and it was a situation where it was not strange even if a battle broke out right away.

Even so, the Namgung Family did not back down.

At that gaze, Tang Sa-hwi snorted and turned his head.

“Hmph, your will is commendable.”

“…….”

Namgung Yong frowned.

However, he also said nothing.

Not fighting was indeed the best. Since Tang Sa-hwi backed down a step, it was also correct for Namgung Yong to back down a step showing respects.

At that moment, someone ran quickly toward where they were.

“It is trouble!”

The appearance of the man who ran was unusual.

He was unmistakably the one sent on reconnaissance, but what happened to the others that he returned alone? Also, his appearance covered in blood all over was indeed to the extent of being horrible.

“Th… The Blood Heaven crowds… are flocking again!”

At the man’s words, everyone held their swords.

Whether they thought they could win this time as well since Tang Sa-hwi was present, everyone’s expressions looked much better than before.

However, Zhuge Hyeon’s thoughts were different.

It had not been long since the fellows retreated.

The ambush was perfect and inflicted significant damage on the Blood Heaven crowds. Thus, they should have taken about a fortnight just to collect themselves.

Yet the fellows’ movement was way too fast.

‘Could it be…’

Anxiety flooded fully into Zhuge Hyeon’s head.

* * *

“It feels like a collection of only trash?”

“…It looks so.”

The five men gathered shined absurd smiles, looking at those in front of their eyes. Without even needing all five to step forward, they had confidence in overturning the board at once merely by commanding their subordinates.

The strength of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance was by no means weak, but it was also not that strong.

Although they said a considerably large number was done in by this ambush, if only even one of the men had been present, they would not have been driven into such a situation.

The five men sent boring looks.

Blood splattered here and there, and the screams of people rang in their ears.

Corpses rolling on the floor with severed limbs kept piling up.

It could be called a place no different from a battlefield, but to a strange degree, leisure overflowed from the five men.

It was thanks to the confidence in the strength they possessed.

“But I do not feel very inclined.”

“Did we do it because we felt inclined? We did it because we must follow.”

“Damn it…”

Talking snugly, they even laughed.

To the extent that it could not be called a sight seen in a battlefield, they were calm and also looked to have leisure.

“Uwaaaak!”

A group of men rushed toward these men without fear.

Whether they thought it was an ambush, or considered it better to face a small number rather than a large number, the faces of those who rushed were filled with confidence.

Slash!

Merely by extending a hand lightly, they turned into corpses. The fragments of limbs falling with thuds were not just horrible but disgusting.

The men frowned at the thick smell of blood spreading.

“No matter. Since it is boring, let us finish quickly and return. Staying in this kind of place does not give a very good feeling.”

“Right… By the way, they said there is a fellow named Tang Sa-hwi…”

One man glanced around.

Whether trying to find a strong one among the figures of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance who rushed, he looked around with a fierce gaze.

However, whether he discovered him suddenly, his eyes sparkled.

“Is it that place?”

“Since most experts are gathered, it should be that place.”

They knew even without clashing swords.

They looked as if they could grasp the opponent’s strength merely by looking.

The five men walked leisurely, wearing faint smiles.

Those who rushed toward them turned into corpses without exception, and the path they took was filled solely with corpses and blood. From some point, it was to the extent that there were no people rushing toward them.

Soon, the five men came to a halt in one place.

The place where the experts of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance were gathered.

And in the center of it was Tang Sa-hwi.

“What are you guys?”

The one who asked toward those men was none other than Tang Sa-hwi.

He was still looking at the men with an arrogant gaze.

That he did not think of losing in the slightest was indeed worthy of someone inheriting the blood of the Sichuan Tang Family.

One of the men smirked.

Whether it was way too absurd, it was filled with sneers.

He threaded through the remaining ones and stood at the very front.

“Are you Tang Sa-hwi?”

“Who are you, rather?”

“Yoo Gak.”

“…It is a name I hear for the first time.”

“It will be the name you hear for the last time.”

Tang Sa-hwi frowned at the man’s single word.

A personality like looking at Sa Do-hak. That alone stimulated Tang Sa-hwi’s heart, making him unable to back down.

“You are bold. For such words to come out even when knowing who I am.”

“A funny fellow.”

“Hahaha.”

“Worthless…”

The five men shined sneers every single one.

Unmistakably Tang Sa-hwi is strong. Among the figures of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance in this place, that is.

However, to the men, he was merely an infinitely low person.

It is the same logic as a tiger not reacting because a dog barks.

They merely laughed even at Tang Sa-hwi’s words and never got angry.

Even if it barks, it is a dog, and if a dog acts up in front of a tiger, it is only death. A gap that can never be crossed exists between a dog and a tiger.

Does Tang Sa-hwi truly not know that?

The man who went ahead glanced at those behind. Looking around at the Namgung Family, the Hebei Paeng Family, and the entire Eight Great Families, he looked alternately at the remaining figures of the Nine Great Sects and One Association and the Unorthodox martial artists.

It was an expression filled with expectation as if wondering which toy to play with.

Clang, clang, clang!

At that moment, everyone drew their swords.

It is not ordinary.

It was a somewhat anxious feeling for Tang Sa-hwi alone to face those five.

Although they did not know how strong they were, they seemed to believe they were at least at a level to grab their ankles.

However, Tang Sa-hwi looked highly displeased with that.

But he did not stop them.

If he could save strength, nothing was better than that.

Tang Sa-hwi was not a fool to take on everything alone because he possessed strength, and also because he had such a personality, he held his current reputation.

“Just do not interfere.”

“Do not worry!”

The Family Heads shined their eyes every single one and took stances. Also, several moved to other places, heading to other battlefields.

Even if strong ones were gathered together, they would only suffer damage.

Also, in a fight between experts, that a majority was gathered was no different from an act of grabbing ankles.

Before long, the ones remaining were those who became the center.

They took their starting stances looking at the five men.

At this, Tang Sa-hwi also emitted momentum and applied strength.

“Realize your foolishness and die.”

“Crazy guy…”

One of the men muttered, stepping further forward.

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