Chapter 398: Chapter 398

It is a night when the full moon rose.

Deep darkness descended thickly, and only a single ray of moonlight pierced the clouds to shine light. Except for that single ray, it was a place filled solely with vague darkness, so it even gave a gloomy feeling.

That gloominess also fell upon the manor where Dan Woo-hyun was.

Tension overflowed.

Except for Dan Woo-hyun who sat leisurely, every single one had their senses on edge like a person with a life-and-death fight right before their eyes.

Not to mention their eyes, even the touch of sharpening their swords was careful, and since there was not a single person who spoke, indeed only silence lingered.

Dan Woo-hyun took that scenery into his eyes.

Namgung So-hye, Zhuge Yeon, Ma Jang-gang, Gwon Mu-jin, and even Jang Sam-tae.

Excluding the old men, they were those who wielded quite some power even within the Hunan Dan Family, and experts who did not fall behind wherever they went were gathered.

Dan Woo-hyun looked at them and laughed.

“Are you tense?”

At that question, their gazes focused.

Although they did not answer, they all had eyes containing the meaning of affirmation.

Until now, there had been many fights.

If one said it was the same as that, it could be the same, and if one said it was different, it could be a different situation.

Since it was also the first time the entire strength of the Hunan Dan Family was stepping forward, it was an unavoidable reality that they felt tense without realizing it.

Namgung So-hye looked around.

Perhaps, among them, there might be someone who would not see tomorrow’s sun rise.

It might be oneself, or it might be a friend.

As fights risking life and death always did, it made them brace sadness and determination.

“Not amusing.”

“What kind of words are you saying in front of people placed at the crossroads of life and death?”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words, Namgung So-hye shot a sharp gaze.

Only he was leisurely, but the others were not.

Therefore, even if it was a word spat out as a joke, she did not feel very good.

“If you are that tense, stop. In truth… is it not even our fight, is it?”

“We are cleaning up after the matter Young Master Dan caused, you know?”

Namgung So-hye shook her head at the absurd words. This entire situation was no different from what Dan Woo-hyun had created.

In the situation of driving out the Blood Demon Cult, the remaining remnants joined forces and established the Blood Heaven, and due to that, the orthodox martial world and unorthodox martial world collapsed and chaos arrived.

In the end, this matter was no different from cleaning up after that.

Dan Woo-hyun let out a short laugh, saying ‘Haha-’.

As he glanced and turned his head, Namgung Cheon, Jeok Mu-seong, Mu Cheon-pung, and Sa Do-hak revealed their appearances.

They all covered their faces while wearing masks.

However, the gaze revealed between the masks was sharper than ever, naturally making people shrink.

This was precisely the Five Emperors.

The felt sensation was to the extent of giving goosebumps.

Even though it was nothing more than simply looking at them, a momentum to the extent of making their whole body tingle flowed through their entire body. It was to the extent that they turned their heads despite themselves, avoiding their gazes.

“It seems the preparations are all complete.”

“Yes. Let us go. Time is pressing…”

Namgung Cheon hurried and gripped his sword.

It looked as if he wanted to chase and cut down the Blood Heaven right away. This was the same for Jeok Mu-seong, and that momentum was felt intact in his tone and gaze.

“Indeed…”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded and lifted the wine bottle.

Before he knew it, there were nine cups in front of him. He did not know when he prepared them, but Dan Woo-hyun carefully poured wine into them.

Trickle-

Every time each cup was filled, the feeling was peculiar.

There would be no one among those in this place who did not know what he was doing and with what thoughts he did such a thing.

Therefore, their hearts were even heavier for no reason.

“Drink a cup each. Since today might be the last.”

At the words Dan Woo-hyun spat out, they all frowned.

Far from saying return alive, to say it might be the last?

Every one had an angry face at the not even funny words.

“Agh, damn! I will surely return alive!”

The first to lift the wine cup was none other than Jang Sam-tae.

Approaching without hesitation, he drank a cup, wiped the wine on the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, sat in front of Dan Woo-hyun, and glared at him.

“If I return alive, buy me wine tastier than this.”

“Haha, yes.”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded at the words he spat out without fear.

Was it because of that look of Jang Sam-tae?

They all began to tilt their wine cups, wearing absurd smiles.

In the wine cups they all drained, they contained the will to surely return alive.

* * *

Tang Sa-hwi staggered as he retreated.

However, the opponent did not even wait for him to catch his balance, and soon, along with a ‘Thud!’ sound, Tang Sa-hwi’s body rolled on the ground.

“Keuh…”

Blood flowed in gulps from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing how many wounds he suffered, there seemed to be a discrepancy from Tang Sa-hwi’s usual appearance.

Slowly standing up from his spot, he looked around.

Except for the two, Tang Jung-ak and Namgung Yong, everyone was lying face down like corpses, catching their breath faintly. Although they did not die, they were a lamp before the wind that might be extinguished at any moment.

The same was true for the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance that was fighting a fierce battle. The morale of those who swung swords while trusting and following Tang Sa-hwi was broken by the sight of him being beaten, and corpses were piling up rapidly.

“H… How…”

Tang Sa-hwi could not believe this situation.

It had been over ten years since he went into retirement to surpass Namgung Cheon. In the meantime, he had done countless training transcending human limits, and felt like he crossed what was called a wall several times.

However, in reality, the strength he possessed was too weak.

He felt his strength, which could not even brush past the collar of just one of the five men properly, extremely miserable.

“Boring.”

The man spoke such words and slowly approached Tang Sa-hwi. Whether he had no desire to drag this boring fight any longer, one felt strength entering the sword he held.

“Y-You bastard!”

He must block him.

Otherwise, he dies.

Tang Jung-ak, who realized that fact, quickly tried to block the front of the man, but along with a harsh ‘Thud!’ sound, Tang Jung-ak’s body flew into the empty air.

“Father!”

Tang Mun-hye’s shout was heard.

Also, the warriors of the Sichuan Tang Family also rushed in, shouting.

However, not a single person reached the man’s body. Merely by extending his hand lightly, he slammed down countless warriors of the Tang Family.

“Keuh!”

“Kuaak!”

“Aaaak!”

At the unbelievable reality taking place consecutively, everyone could not close their mouths. The Sichuan Tang Family of the world was played with, and Tang Sa-hwi, whom they trusted, collapsed without even being able to use his strength properly.

Their morale was not just broken but crawled on the bottom, and because of that, even those fleeing began to emerge.

But they did not miss them.

They begged to be saved and shed tears, but the opponent’s ruthless blade absolutely did not tolerate and did not intend to. Their blades were merely heartless and also brutal.

“H… How can such a thing…”

Tang Sa-hwi, who was shedding blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up from his spot with difficulty and trembled violently.

Because a thing that could never exist took place, the shock he received was indeed grand.

He looked at the man with a desolate gaze.

The moment their gazes met.

Thud!

Tang Sa-hwi ended up collapsing.

“U… Uh…”

Tang Mun-hye, who was lying face down, watched that situation and blocked her mouth. Tang Jung-ak, whose mind still remained, also looked at it with a look of disbelief.

The one who was confident in front of anyone was precisely Tang Sa-hwi.

That was why many people still praised and followed him.

Such Tang Sa-hwi collapsed in terror.

The feeling of disbelief was clear even in those watching.

“To think a fellow of this level is one of the Seven Stars? A not even funny joke.”

The man slowly approached Tang Sa-hwi.

Whether he had already lost interest in the Poison Sage, his gaze was exceptionally heartless, to the extent that not even emotion was felt.

At that moment, Namgung Yong blocked his front.

Although he could not bring himself to swing his sword, he stood without trembling. Even with the one who brought fear to everyone in front of him, he did not back down.

“Decent eyes. Was it the Namgung Family? Interesting. To the extent that if the Sword Emperor were alive, I would have wanted to meet him once.”

“…….”

Namgung Yong said nothing.

It was scary, but he must not take his eyes off. The moment he took his eyes off, he did not know who would die. Even if his neck flew, his will to surely protect those behind was seen.

“Far better than the likes of Tang Sa-hwi.”

“You compare me to that person? I do not match even the soles of that person’s feet.”

“You joke well.”

The man shined an absurd smile and approached Namgung Yong.

He knew.

Even if he held his sword, Namgung Yong would not be able to swing it. He was already pushed back by the momentum and his heart was captured by fear.

While the will of holding the sword and blocking the front was a surprising thing, that was the best and all Namgung Yong could do currently.

The man merely had to approach and cut.

“Family Head!”

“Father!”

The voices of the elder and Namgung Gang were heard from behind.

His desire that at least they would survive was great. The moment Namgung Yong shined a bitter smile and settled his determination.

Swish!

Something flew in.

Momentum like a giant wave.

It completely wound inside this battlefield and captured everyone’s gaze, and was a lofty method that made even any person unable to hide their shock.

The man turned his gaze and swung his sword toward it.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

A harsh sound of sword clashing with sword was heard.

The body of the man, who had not even blinked an eye at any attack until now and had not backed down even a single step, slid backward.

Everyone watching let out shouts of shock.

“Oh dear, oh dear, I am slightly late…”

At the heard familiar voice, Namgung Yong trembled violently. Turning his head and looking up, a large back he had seen since his childhood was seen.

What mountain could look higher than this?

“F… Fa…”

“Haha, you seem to be fine.”

Namgung Yong could not bring himself to spit out the remaining words. Namgung Cheon’s eyes, which turned his gaze, blocked his mouth.

Namgung Yong eventually bowed his head without being able to say anything.

“Leave this place to this old man and go elsewhere. Hurry.”

“Y-Yes, understood.”

Namgung Yong moved slowly like a person who heard an command that could not be refused. Simultaneously, a familiar voice stimulated his ears once again.

“Well, it’s completely destroyed.”

The one approaching while looking around leisurely was Sa Do-hak. Wearing the mask of Machun-gun, he looked alternately at the collapsed and the dead, and threw a sneer to his heart’s content toward Tang Sa-hwi who had collapsed.

Soon, he looked at the five men gathered in one place.

Just who would be the strongest among them?

While he stood for a moment, having such thoughts.

“It… It’s the Hunan Dan Family…!”

“It’s the Hunan Dan Family! The Hunan Dan Family-!”

Voices began to be heard from various places. Following the appearance of the Gentleman’s Sword and Machun-gun, everyone including Ghost Face revealed their appearances all together.

The moment they slowly approached and drew their swords.

A shout was heard from among the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance.

[Waaahhh!]

“They say the Dan Family came to save us!”

That was a resonance filled with joy.

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