Chapter 422: Chapter 422
The Orthodox-Demonic Alliance advanced, continuously suppressing the enemies swarming them. After a month-long battle, they reclaimed Hubei, and then immediately marched toward Henan.
The tide had already turned.
Blood Heaven, which had once been on the verge of dominating the Central Plains, no longer had its flag fluttering in the wind.
Frightened by the declining power, people abandoned the faction and began to scatter.
Those who had supported Blood Heaven held their breath.
Since no one had expected the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance to emerge victorious, there were also those who could not easily accept the outcome of this battle.
However, their momentum was like a splitting bamboo.
Having seized Chongqing and Hubei, the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance used that momentum to advance into Henan.
The fiercely resisting forces of Blood Heaven also grew weaker as time passed, and in the end, they were forced to let the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance step on the lands of Henan.
“Kill them-!”
It was the same for both sides that they had people they absolutely had to protect.
The resistance of those who had pledged loyalty to Blood Heaven and knelt before them was fiercer than expected.
It was obvious what would happen if they lost this battle.
Since the power they held would completely collapse, it was as if the resisting ones were fighting a battle with their survival on the line.
But…
Slash, slash-!
It was practically impossible to break the momentum of the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance, who had already gained momentum and virtually tasted victory, and since they had allowed them to step on Henan, Blood Heaven no longer had any strength left.
They were pushed back in an instant.
It was a fleeting moment before they were pushed back from the edge of Henan to the capital of Henan, where the Murim Alliance once stood.
No one could block the power of the Hunan Dan Family standing at the vanguard, and their martial achievements continued to spawn rumors upon rumors, causing an uproar throughout the Central Plains.
And at some point.
Namgung Cheon, arriving at the location where the Murim Alliance had once been, looked at the sight with a renewed expression of deep emotion.
A pavilion completely different from the Murim Alliance was erected in that place, and the flag of Blood Heaven fluttered at the very top.
“We finally made it here…”
Namgung Cheon smiled bitterly.
All these events happened because he had chosen not to step forward and left things as they were. Every single thing felt like his fault, digging into his aching heart.
How many people had died?
The more he thought about it, the more things tormented him, but since it was the moment to put an end to the battle, he had to shake them off one by one.
“Hahaha-! I don’t know what kind of bastard the Lord of Blood Heaven is… but since we’ve come this far, I’ll just smash his head!”
“You are being loud.”
Jeok Mu-seong burst into a loud laugh, celebrating their victory.
Facing the main pavilion where the flag of Blood Heaven fluttered, a sense of revenge boiled up against those who had driven him out.
He was the one who had killed the most Blood Heaven members so far, but this was a feeling that would never disappear unless he smashed the head of the Blood Heaven Lord.
However.
“It is strangely quiet. The fierce resistance we faced until we entered here feels like a lie.”
Zhuge Hyeon asked with a questioning look.
How much resistance had they faced getting here? The rough offensives of those who had already thrown away their lives were enough to make one click their tongue.
Yet, even though they had arrived at the place where the Blood Heaven Lord was, no one appeared, let alone resisted.
If they intended to surrender, they should have come out waving white flags, but there was no such sign.
Namgung Cheon adjusted his mask and looked at Jeok Mu-seong.
The two nodded and stepped forward. Even as many watched the two stepping forward first, they kept their guard up, looking around in all directions.
Bang!
Eventually, the main gate of Blood Heaven shattered.
It was reduced to dust in pieces by a single punch from Jeok Mu-seong.
“…”
The people, expecting the Blood Heaven crowd to rush out at the same time, gripped their swords tightly, but still, not a single presence could be felt.
What was this?
Unable to bear the curiosity, Namgung Cheon stepped inside.
An empty pavilion.
No one was there.
There were traces that people had been there, but it did not seem like anyone was left here now.
The wind was merely quiet, and no one’s presence could be felt.
Silence and stillness lingered.
Soon, the people began to look around.
“Ah… there is no one here.”
“It is the same over here!”
The members of the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance, swarming in, broke into the pavilions to find the Blood Heaven group. It felt like they should have seen at least an ant, but no matter how much they searched, they could not find a single person.
Namgung Cheon and Jeok Mu-seong looked at each other.
“What on earth… is this…”
In a situation they could not comprehend at all, their doubts only deepened.
* * *
Man Hu-ryang was certainly no fool.
He also knew very well that there were battles he could not win.
The tide had already turned, and the power Blood Heaven possessed was no longer what it used to be.
Since the ones who could be the main pillars were dead, it was absurd to think they could defeat the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance, which had all Five Emperors alive.
But that did not mean he could just fold his hands and sacrifice his life, right?
He was looking far away.
Quiet villages could be seen.
A place that had not suffered any damage no matter what happened. Also, the place where the person tied to an annoyingly persistent destiny lived.
Yes, this place was Yueyang, Hunan.
Man Hu-ryang turned his gaze.
Around him, those who had once devoted themselves to the Blood Demon Cult and served the Blood Demon were bowing down, waiting only for his orders.
Whatever order he gave, they would carry it out at the cost of their lives.
“He… must have known it would turn out like this.”
Man Hu-ryang chuckled.
This feeling of having become someone’s puppet.
He had thought so since he first gained power.
That he was nothing more than a tool to divert attention.
But still, if he could just get revenge on the Blood Demon.
No, even if it was just to torment him, Man Hu-ryang would gladly accept whatever task it was.
“This is all I have left.”
Using the money possessed by the Myriad Gold Merchant Group, he had bribed wandering warriors and numerous sects to resist the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance. Looking at the timing, he suspected that even that had collapsed by now.
Their faces were drawn in his mind.
The faces of those who stood before Blood Heaven to celebrate the final victory, only to make vain expressions after gaining nothing.
Just with that, Man Hu-ryang was satisfied.
And now, with his last remaining life, he would end this annoying ill-fated relationship and bestow upon him the greatest pain and suffering.
This was the last loyalty Man Hu-ryang could show for the dead Blood Demon.
“Kill them, leave no one behind! If they live in Yueyang, spare not a single ant, regardless of age or gender.”
“Your command!”
The echoing voices rang out fiercely.
* * *
Hong Wonchang was having a headache.
Recently, as Blood Heaven and the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance began to run wild, bandits and mountain robbers had started to appear, taking advantage of the chaos.
The absence of the people from the Hunan Dan Family also played a part.
It was not easy to subjugate them with just the constables.
“Sigh… are they not going to return soon…”
Sitting at his desk, he wrapped his head with both hands and swallowed a groan.
Having not slept properly for days and being lost in worries, he felt like his head was going to burst right then.
The only relief was that, aside from that, it was as quiet as a dead mouse.
“It feels like the calm before a storm… Oops! I shouldn’t say things like this.”
Hong Wonchang shook his head and stood up from his seat.
It seemed he needed to drink a cup of tea and enjoy a brief moment of rest.
At that moment.
“B-big trouble!”
Suddenly, someone’s voice was heard.
Hong Wonchang really did not want to hear that echoing sound.
Because whenever those guys shouted that it was big trouble, bad things were bound to happen.
Hong Wonchang opened the door and looked at the man.
He looked up at Hong Wonchang with a pale blue complexion.
“What is it now? Did mountain bandits appear somewhere?”
“T-that’s not it… B-Blood Heaven!”
“Huh?”
“B-Blood Heaven… is attacking Yueyang!”
Hong Wonchang wondered if he had heard wrong. Weren’t the Blood Heaven groups the ones who should be fighting bloody battles with the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance?
Why were they coming all the way down to Yueyang to attack?
At those incomprehensible words, Hong Wonchang tilted his head.
However, the trembling constable did not seem to be lying at all.
“What on earth happened!”
“I-I don’t know! They suddenly appeared and started killing people. We are holding out by closing the city gates, but how long that will be possible…”
“T-t-this… what nonsense!”
Hong Wonchang shouted and went into his office.
Returning with a sword, he put on his shoes and recklessly ran out to check the situation.
But he did not have to run for long.
Bang!
Along with a violent sound, the city gates shattered, and people wearing crimson blood robes were seen climbing over the city walls and entering toward Yueyang.
“Block them! Block them no matter what!”
“W-we are no match!”
“You still have to block them! The people are dying! Aren’t you bastards getting paid to protect these people!”
Hong Wonchang shouted as he ran.
It was a meager strength, but he had to add to it. The only relief was that there were quite a few wandering warriors on the streets of Yueyang.
Also, the Namgung Family was staying here.
“Magistrate! We will hold them off, so hurry and evacuate the others!”
Hong Wonchang nodded with a resolute expression.
The Namgung Family was reliable.
But their fighting power was not that great. After all, weren’t they the ones Namgung Yong had hidden away to prevent their bloodline from being cut off by Blood Heaven’s vicious hands?
They were certainly first-rate masters, but they were clearly lacking in numbers, and the swarming Blood Heaven groups seemed endless.
“Damn it, how did this happen…!”
Hong Wonchang spat out a curse and turned his head.
He had to evacuate the people while the Namgung Family held out.
And he also had to prepare to help them.
It was a strenuous situation to leave everything to the Namgung Family.
“Please, please, please, please!”
Hong Wonchang ran.
Giving orders to the constables and recruiting the wandering warriors. Since it was a situation that could not be dragged out for long, his footsteps became even faster, and his heart only grew more anxious as time passed.
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