Chapter 590: Side Story 90

Chapter side_90

“Wow!”

Dan So-mi let out a small exclamation and was speechless. Not only the high cliff, but the waterfall pouring down through it was enough to make her doubt her eyes.

The sound of the waterfall beating against her ears and the thick water mist.

The sight, which was worlds apart from a downpour, was indeed beautiful enough to make one’s eyes spin.

It was not that she had never seen a waterfall before, but since this was the first place to show such a spectacle, Dan So-mi could not take her eyes off it for even a single moment.

Boom!

Kwabang!

“Ugh…”

“Gasp?”

However, on the contrary, Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong could not close their mouths for a different reason.

In the distance, the buildings of the Martial Sovereign Castle were collapsing, split in half.

Subsequently, continuous explosions were heard, and at a glance, they could realize that something unusual had occurred.

Thus, although they were thinking that they should go back, Dan So-mi, who was looking at the waterfall, showed no sign of moving.

“Excuse me… it seems something is happening. Going back might…”

“We just came out after a long time, and already?”

Dan So-mi sighed deeply with a very regretful expression. She had come out to get some fresh air even if only a little, so she was reluctant to return to the inn without even sightseeing properly.

“But… it seems a big trouble has occurred. It could be dangerous…”

However, Jin Tae-gong was firm.

The Martial Sovereign Castle was attacked.

Since the members of the Unorthodox Faction would start running wild, they had no way of knowing what would happen where. Moreover, was the next place they were going to not even closer to the Martial Sovereign Castle?

He did not want her to go near there if possible.

“We have Uncle Bi, so it’s okay. Right?”

“…Yes. I shall protect you.”

At Bi Cheon-ung’s words that followed, Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong realized they could no longer stop her. Since none other than the Slaughter Sovereign said so, what could they, who were less than ants in comparison, possibly say?

They just had to nod their heads while sweating coldly.

Kwabang!

“Then where shall we go next?”

“Ahem!”

“Ah… th-that, you mean? Ho, hoho. If we go a little further from h-here, there is a tea house in a place with good scenery. Let’s drink tea there… and move on.”

Dan So-mi smiled and nodded vigorously.

Enjoying tea at a tea house was also a refined taste.

Moreover, if the scenery there was good, there was nothing more to say. It would be much better than listening to the booming noises in a place like this.

And in that moment, Dan So-mi turned her head and asked.

“Is it okay with you too, Uncle?”

“…Yes.”

An existence who was always there, but whose presence could not be felt unless seen with one’s eyes. Therefore, Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong swallowed their breaths and cast their eyes down to the ground.

Anyone could tell at a glance that their bodies were trembling unconsciously.

One who could remain unintimidated even in front of Namgung Cheon and Sado Hak.

A human from whom nothing could be felt, like a ghost.

Was he not one of the Five Sovereigns!

If they had known such a human would be included, they would not have followed Dan So-mi. It would have been far more beneficial to chase after Mae-hyang, who went to find Jang Sam-tae.

Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong truly felt like crying.

* * *

Boom!

Keugh?!

“H-hiiiieeeek!”

The Martial Sovereign Castle was indeed a complete mess.

The Martial Sovereign Castle, which was like the symbol of the Unorthodox Faction, collapsed so absurdly, and the small number of people who invaded were beating people up without even a hint of mercy.

Even if they slashed with all their might, they could not cut; even if they poured out internal energy, they could not inflict a single wound. How could such a thing happen?

To them, the current situation was absolute horror.

Friends collapsed bleeding everywhere, losing their breath and begging to be saved, but the reason no one could rescue them was due to only one thing.

Horror

Those people were horror itself.

The moment they faced them, their entire bodies trembled, and they could not even grasp their weapons with proper strength. Since they instinctively realized they could not win by any means, there were to the point of being more people trying to flee than those trying to fight.

Kwabang!

Among them, one person in particular.

As he lightly swung his sword, the pavilions collapsed in heaps.

At that figure, who seemed as if he would blow away all the pavilions of the Martial Sovereign Castle without a trace, everyone watching swallowed their breath and was lost for words.

How could a person…

Boom!

Blow away a pavilion entirely with a single swing of a sword?

“E… Elder! Is-is this a dream right now?”

Kwon Hyeong-tae trembled.

Was that sight unfolding before his eyes truly reality?

If not a dream, was it something that could occur in reality?

A person collapsing a pavilion with a single sword stroke?

Was it not something that even Jeok Mu-seong in his prime could not do?

“W-we must flee… Chief counselor, w-we must run away!”

“Fleeing?! Are you saying we should abandon the Martial Sovereign Castle?”

Kwon Hyeong-tae frowned as he looked at the elder’s face.

Telling him to abandon the Martial Sovereign Castle was equivalent to telling him to lose everything. He had only just dragged down Jeok Mu-seong and seized everything he had, and yet they were telling him to lose it again?

The moment Kwon Hyeong-tae gritted his teeth at the absurd talk.

“Have you rolled your brain a bit?”

A voice was heard.

Unconsciously flinching, he looked toward the direction of the sound. Standing there was the man who had been smashing the pavilions one by one until just a moment ago.

The moment they made eye contact.

Goosebumps rose all over his body.

From head to toe.

His breath caught along with a sensation as if even his fine hairs were standing on end.

He must not make eye contact.

The man’s appearance was chilling enough to make him think so.

“Right… now, what kind of petty tricks do you intend to play?”

“W-who on earth… are you…?”

Kwon Hyeong-tae had no choice but to ask.

Because he could not understand at all what grudge they had to destroy the Martial Sovereign Castle and kill people like this.

However, the man did not answer and merely laughed.

In his sneer-filled appearance as if asking if there was truly nothing that came to mind, Kwon Hyeong-tae widened his eyes and pictured Jeok Mu-seong.

“…!?”

“Pathetic…”

The man, or rather Dan Woo-hyun, spoke as he looked at the people standing before him.

He said they were the number one group of the Unorthodox Faction, but he was filled with disappointment.

Why they were pushed aside by the Orthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult, and did not receive proper treatment.

Although the Martial Sovereign Castle was collapsing and numerous people took up swords, they were all in disarray.

Against an overwhelmingly strong opponent, no one tried to unite, and those fleeing to save their own lives were seen here and there.

This was what happened when there was a lack of pride in belonging.

Although they had become a single mass, personal power and strength were more important to them than that sense of belonging. Thus, this was also the reason why, despite beating down so many people and smashing the pavilions, no one could come forward with a proper response.

“How about receiving help from the Heavenly Earth Sect?”

“…!?”

Having lost interest, Dan Woo-hyun looked at Kwon Hyeong-tae again. The moment the name of the Heavenly Earth Sect came out of his mouth, his embarrassed expression was clearly revealed.

It was a face filled with the question of how they knew about the Heavenly Earth Sect.

Dan Woo-hyun shook his head.

Stab!

“Keugh?!”

And in that instant, the neck of the elder beside him was pierced.

Although even a single step of his walk had not been seen, he had already approached the elder’s side and extended his sword. The person whose neck was pierced stumbled while clutching his neck with both hands, and soon collapsed.

The gushing blood soaked the ground heavily.

“So this is all…”

“Keugh?! Wh-what are you doing! Kill that man immediately!”

Only then did Kwon Hyeong-tae, who was utterly terrified, raise his voice and urge those around him. His resonant voice let them know how urgent he was, but the strange thing was that despite the chief counselor’s command, no one stepped forward.

“T-the Castle Lord… the Castle Lord must step forward…”

“Chief counselor! Where on earth is the Castle Lord?!”

“We will all die at this rate! Bring the Castle Lord quickly!”

Those who did not follow the chief counselor’s words shouted, searching desperately for Jeok Mu-seong. Was Jeok Mu-seong not someone whom it would not be strange to call the head and pride of the Unorthodox Faction?

In this situation, the only existence they could think of who could protect them was Jeok Mu-seong.

“Keugh?!”

However, Kwon Hyeong-tae could not bring himself to answer.

What was the point of looking for someone who was already poisoned?

And even if he were here, would he even rescue them?

Seeing the bastards who had shared Jeok Mu-seong’s power and lived pompously now looking for him to survive, there was nothing more disgusting.

“Shut up and block him!”

Soon, yelling harshly, he drew his sword.

Releasing his momentum to the fullest, he rushed toward Dan Woo-hyun. It was as if he wanted to pour out everything he possessed toward the person before his eyes.

If they could not stop this man, the Martial Sovereign Castle would no longer exist.

Because he felt such a premonition, Kwon Hyeong-tae risked his life.

Soon, his sword swung violently.

Clang!

“…!”

However, the situation unfolding before his eyes was even more shocking. It was clearly a single strike into which he had poured all his internal energy and strength, yet it was easily blocked just by Dan Woo-hyun slightly moving his sword.

In addition, although the condensed power should have been transmitted back to him entirely, why was this man standing so perfectly fine?

“You are not even half as good as Jeok Mu-seong.”

“Wh-what?!”

In an instant, light suddenly flashed before his eyes.

He opened his eyes wide, unable to comprehend the meaning, but why was blood dripping down? Why was his body not listening to him either?

The scenery revealed before his eyes was gradually turning crimson.

It felt as if he was cut somewhere and bleeding.

“Ke… keugh…”

Slash!

Soon, Kwon Hyeong-tae’s body split vertically and collapsed.

His figure, sprawled with an expression of not even knowing the fact that he was dead, was enough to present extreme horror to those watching.

“The ch-chief counselor…!”

“H-how can this… make any sense…!”

“Is-is he truly human?”

Everyone looked at Dan Woo-hyun, thinking the same thing.

Even the ability that annihilated numerous pavilions before their eyes was earth-shaking, yet he went beyond overwhelming the current number two of the Unorthodox Faction, Kwon Hyeong-tae, and thoroughly trampled him.

This was enough to move the minds of the members of the Unorthodox Faction, who were not united to begin with.

“I-I don’t w-want to die! I don’t want to die like th-that!”

Someone’s shout spread loudly.

That single word was like representing people’s hearts, and naturally had the effect of pushing forward those who could not take a step.

“Uaaaargh!”

“M-me too! The same goes for me! How on earth are we supposed to block something like that?!”

Everyone who was watching Dan Woo-hyun began to run away.

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