Chapter 588: Side Story 88
Chapter side_88
“Then those lowlifes even attacked the Dan family residence?”
“Yes. Although they failed thanks to Elder Bi…”
Sado Hak swallowed a dry laugh with an absurd expression.
Although he knew that the Heavenly Earth Sect’s information gathering was decent, he had never imagined that they would even find out about the Hunan Dan Family.
It was a place with a quite high reputation in the past.
There was no one who did not know the name, and whether it was the Murim Alliance or the Cheondo Association, if one mentioned the Hunan Dan Family, there were even people who would break out in a cold sweat and flee in a hurry.
However, Dan Woo-hyun blocked the information of the Hao Sect, and Zhuge Wun re-entered the Murim Alliance, blocking all information about the Hunan Dan Family.
Since more than ten years had passed like that, it would not have been easy, but seeing that they found it, he thought that they were indeed no ordinary bastards.
This seemed to be the same for Namgung Cheon, who swallowed a groan.
“They are very bold, hohoho.”
But soon, he smiled as if proud of something and shook his head.
No matter how much all information was hidden, if many people heard the name of the Hunan Dan Family, they would still tremble in fear and collapse.
Those who led the Murim Alliance and the Cheondo Association would not have wanted to be involved with the Hunan Dan Family no matter what. However, the fact that the Heavenly Earth Sect did not know such information was equivalent to saying that they had failed to win over the high-ranking officials leading the Orthodox Faction.
The Demonic Cult fell and the Unorthodox Faction fell, but the Orthodox Faction was fine.
What situation could be more pride-inducing than this?
Namgung Cheon glanced at Sado Hak and smirked.
“Unpleasant bastard…”
“Hoho. Don’t think of it badly. Originally, the deeper the roots, the firmer it is.”
“And yet those bastards split in half and are acting like that?”
“Hohoho. That will also become one again soon. Even stronger, that is.”
Watching Namgung Cheon smile broadly and straighten his shoulders, Sado Hak gritted his teeth. He wanted to refute it, but he could not because Namgung Cheon’s words were not particularly wrong, considering the situation of the Orthodox Faction he had observed for a long time.
“Whatever. However… I do not like that they tried to attack my home.”
Just then, Dan Woo-hyun’s calm voice was heard.
Perhaps he too had not thought that far, as his eyes looked grim.
What would have happened if Bi Cheon-ung had not appeared?
Although they would have been able to fend off the intruders, in the end, it was highly likely that the house would have burned down, and it was a situation where Jang Sam-tae’s two children could not be said to be safe either.
Letting out a groan, Dan Woo-hyun rose from his seat.
“What? Where are you going?”
“To the Martial Sovereign Castle.”
“What?!”
“Gasp!”
“W-what does that mean…?”
Upon suddenly hearing the words Martial Sovereign Castle, the one who was most surprised was none other than Gwon Mu-jin. In this situation, the fact that Dan Woo-hyun was going to the Martial Sovereign Castle meant that it, too, had some relationship with the Heavenly Earth Sect, did it not?
With a dazed expression, he glanced slightly at Namgung So-hye.
Soon, her lips parted as she transmitted her voice.
As the current situation of the Unorthodox Faction was conveyed from beginning to end, Gwon Mu-jin’s complexion gradually stiffened. Like someone who had heard unbelievable words, he tried to deny it fiercely with his eyes, but the words that dug into his mind never disappeared.
“H-how can that make any sense?!”
“It is an already confirmed fact.”
“H-he is one of the Five Sovereigns!”
“Does anyone not know that?”
She already understood Gwon Mu-jin’s feelings well enough.
How could he be fine after hearing that the one he trusted and followed had been dragged down, confined, and gone missing, and that most of the Martial Sovereign Castle was being absorbed into the forces of the Heavenly Earth Sect?
Even though he had already left, his heart belonged to that place.
Namgung So-hye let out a sigh.
“I… must go and check immediately…!”
“Now, now, calm down first. Family Head Dan, you sit down too.”
In the end, the one who stepped forward to mediate the noisy situation was none other than Namgung Cheon. Wearing a bitter smile, he held down Dan Woo-hyun, who was about to rush to the Martial Sovereign Castle immediately, and made him sit, while suppressing Gwon Mu-jin with his gaze to shut his mouth.
“Gasp!?”
In that instant, Gwon Mu-jin swallowed his breath and shut his mouth as if he had seen a demon. The figure who had been venting his grief and pouring out anger just a moment ago was nowhere to be seen, and he sat down quietly in his seat with his shoulders hunched like a mouse in front of a cat.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Hoho. Didn’t I tell you earlier?”
Blood always flowed in Dan Woo-hyun’s footsteps.
Among those present here, there was no one who did not know that. If judged to be an enemy, he would cut them down cleanly, leaving not even a trace.
Even so, they could not go as far as to bring down the Martial Sovereign Castle just to catch the Heavenly Earth Sect, could they?
If the pillar known as the Martial Sovereign Castle collapsed like this, the Unorthodox Murim would fall into absolute chaos; groups trying to regain power and strength would appear with swords in hand, and it was obvious that Shanxi would be devastated by the fights breaking out everywhere.
Was that all?
The Orthodox Faction would also have to be on guard to no small degree.
Since there was no guarantee that the fight would take place only in Shanxi. He was thinking that expelling only the Heavenly Earth Sect as quietly as possible was the wisest method.
“Hoho, let’s be a little calm here…”
“I see… That is, if the opponent is friendly.”
And in that moment, Dan Woo-hyun smirked.
At the moment Namgung Cheon, who did not understand the meaning, wore a puzzled expression, he opened his eyes wide like someone who had realized something, and soon frowned deeply.
“Hoho. This is indeed… troublesome.”
“What is there to be troubled about? It was destined to be like this from the beginning.”
Sado Hak drank the cup of liquor placed on the table and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. As if he knew that something interesting was about to happen from now on, a broad smile appeared on his face.
“Then I will assume there are no objections.”
And in that instant, Dan Woo-hyun’s sword was drawn.
Kwabang!
* * *
“Even so, isn’t this a bit too much? To wipe them out in a place like this…”
“It is an order from above. Do not grumble.”
The Light Sword Squad, an assault unit counted among the top five even within the Martial Sovereign Castle, was frowning in front of the large inn. In truth, they had no idea who the people inside were.
However, an extermination order had come from above, and they were in a position where they had to carry it out.
However, as they could not shake off the uncomfortable feeling at all, they all failed to step forward first and seemed to be waiting for someone else to take the lead.
“Ever since the Castle Lord went into closed-door cultivation for treatment… something feels strange. The atmosphere of the Martial Sovereign Castle is like that too.”
“Silence…”
For Song Hyeon, the squad leader of the Light Sword Squad, it was also a mission where he could not help but feel uncomfortable inwardly. It was because an extermination order targeting people whose identities were unknown, right in the middle of the provincial capital’s marketplace, was something that had never happened before.
In addition, ever since Jeok Mu-seong entered closed-door cultivation, a strange atmosphere had been flowing within the Martial Sovereign Castle. Completely unknown people suddenly occupied high-ranking positions, and those who suddenly entered the castle in droves also increased.
It was full of bizarre occurrences from beginning to end.
However, their mission was only one.
To perfectly carry out the command issued by the chief counselor who was acting on behalf of the Castle Lord.
Thus, they could no longer harbor doubts, nor should they. Even if it was something that would lead the Martial Sovereign Castle to the abyss, they must not stop.
“Let’s go!”
The Light Sword Squad threw their bodies toward the inn all at once.
The way they advanced in a single breath was so nimble and fast, just like seeing a single swallow, that everyone had to stop their steps and watch.
And in that moment.
Something flashed.
Slice!
“Urgh?!”
Song Hyeon opened his eyes wide and turned his head.
He saw three of his subordinates collapsed, their bodies split open, spilling bright red blood and organs. Instantly breaking out in a cold sweat unconsciously, he turned his gaze toward the inn once again.
Boom!
Soon, with another massive explosion, light flashed.
“Dodge!”
It was literally an instant.
He shouted the moment the light flashed, and simultaneously with his words echoing, they threw their bodies in all directions. It was unmistakably a movement as fast as lightning to anyone’s eyes, yet they could not shake off the flying sword light.
Slash!
“Aaaaargh!”
“Keugh!”
Once again, the subordinates fell to the ground as corpses. These outstanding talents, each famous in the Central Plains Murim, collapsed like autumn leaves without even being able to make a proper move.
Did this make any sense?
Sweating coldly, Song Hyeon stared at the inn.
At the same time, with a creaking sound, the door of the inn opened.
Step, step!
Footsteps were heard.
A young man in the center, and two old men wearing strange masks.
Although it could not be seen in detail, their eyes were clearly indifferent even with the world-renowned Light Sword Squad right before them. Did it not seem as if they were looking at annoying flies?
Song Hyeon felt his mouth going dry.
From the moment he looked into their eyes, a chill ran through him, his body trembled, and his cold sweat would not stop flowing. It was as if his instincts were warning him that he must not face them and that he must flee.
“Is that the Martial Sovereign Castle?”
Just then, the man in the center spoke.
With an expression that was bluntness itself, he looked at the high pavilion of the Martial Sovereign Castle visible in the distance. His eyes clearly showed that he held no particular interest, but soon he could not hide his shock as he looked at the person who appeared beside him.
“Yes, Lord. There is no mistake.”
“I see…”
“…!?”
Was that person not surely Gwon Mu-jin?
For someone who had left the Unorthodox Faction to live in seclusion long ago to appear in a place like this? He could not understand what kind of situation this was at all.
Or had the chief counselor sent them to subjugate Gwon Mu-jin? If so, did that move from earlier belong to Gwon Mu-jin?
At the moment he harbored such doubts.
The sword of the man at the very front was swung.
“…?!”
“Gasp!”
It was a movement that was no exaggeration to call an elegant dance. It was nothing more than a light swing, yet it was a sword path that completely captivated all onlookers.
There was no clutter anywhere, and there was no opening anywhere.
Even if one dug in, they would be cut; even if they tried to avoid it, they would be cut; even if they blocked, they would be cut. It was a simple strike that gave off such a feeling.
However, the sight that followed brought a vastness that transcended shock.
Boom!
A colossal sound.
The vibrating earth.
Subsequently, a massive wind pressure seemed to push his body back.
Simultaneously, at the moment his gaze naturally turned toward the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Rumble!
The symbol of the Unorthodox Faction that had protected Shanxi’s provincial capital for a long time.
The Martial Sovereign Castle was split in half and collapsing.
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