Chapter 593: Side Story 93

Chapter side_93

What was it? What had happened?

What on earth was the situation that had just unfolded before their eyes?

In the Heavenly Earth Sect, in terms of individual martial prowess, Baek Man-ryang could be said to be the second only to the Cult Leader. The reason he had never failed even once despite executing numerous missions in the Central Plains so far was precisely because of the martial power he possessed.

It was possible because it was one of the secret manuals created a thousand years ago by the Great Dharma King, who reinterpreted the martial arts of the Three Heavens he had witnessed.

But what on earth was this?

Without even delivering a proper blow, he was split in half.

Was it not a situation where the word futile was truly fitting?

“This… makes no sense… It is impossible!”

Strongly denying reality, he shook his head.

It was Baek Man-ryang, whom he had trusted more than anyone else in terms of martial prowess.

Even if he could not win, he had expected him to at least inflict a fatal wound, but as even that vanished vainly, he could not continue speaking.

Just staring blankly at the man who was still cutting down the cultists was all he could do.

“Cult… Leader… First, let us flee.”

“Flee…? Me! I must flee?!”

Yuk Cheol-wan flared up and glared at Hwang Do-jin.

By heaven’s will, he had obtained the fortuitous encounter of the Great Dharma King, established the Heavenly Earth Sect, and was now on the verge of swallowing the Unorthodox Faction, which could be called the final step toward the unification of the Central Plains.

Such a person as himself… had to flee?

At Hwang Do-jin’s absurd words, the corners of his mouth trembled.

Could there be any other humiliation like this?

“That man’s martial prowess is unusual…”

It was just as Hwang Do-jin said.

Even during this brief hesitation, more than a hundred corpses piled up again. The man’s swordplay, which seemed to declare he would never stop, was pressing the opponents even more threateningly.

And at that moment.

The man’s sword was swung again.

Easily cutting down the several enemies in front of him, the sword wind that stretched out flew toward Yuk Cheol-wan without losing its strength.

Slash!

“Ugh?!”

And it vanished after precisely wounding Yuk Cheol-wan’s cheek. Had there been just a bit more power behind it, his head, not his cheek, would have flown off.

“Cult Leader! Pull yourself together!”

“Y… Yes…!”

At Hwang Do-jin’s words that followed, Yuk Cheol-wan regained his senses and caught his breath. Having already seen with his eyes that this situation was bad, he knew it, and he even thought that there was nothing he could do even if he stepped forward himself.

That was how truly overwhelming the opponent’s strength was.

“We must… retreat!”

Hwang Do-jin was right.

They could not lose any more cultists.

Only by saving as many people as possible could they reorganize later. Yuk Cheol-wan did not like this fact, but he seemed to recognize that there was no other choice.

‘Where on earth did you spring from…!’

Turning his back, Yuk Cheol-wan gritted his teeth.

* * *

Slash!

The method of killing the enemy before one’s eyes was simple.

Swinging the sword and cutting the flesh.

Cutting one, cutting two, and as he cut three or four like that, the one standing until the very end was ultimately Dan Woo-hyun alone. Though that was already a thousand years ago, it was something that absolutely never changed, whether then or now.

“Argh, argh… Gack?!”

Fear had already settled in the eyes of the enemy.

A situation like this was precisely when it was easiest to kill a person.

Because those seized by fear could do nothing but accept the blade. Thus, all Dan Woo-hyun did was tear the opponent to pieces with overwhelming terror, showing even greater fear and power.

That was the power of Dan Woo-hyun, who had been perfectly fine even after cutting down tens of thousands in the past.

“R-Run away!”

“W-We can’t win… We can’t win…!”

Those who lost their will to fight began to flee.

The sight of them fleeing like the ebbing tide was utterly laughable.

As if running like that would allow them to live.

Dan Woo-hyun narrowed his eyes and raised his sword.

Though it was a short moment, the gathered strength condensed strongly on the blade. Soon, simultaneously with his swing, the power released from the sword stretched out far in all directions.

Boom!

“Argh!”

“Gack!”

The ground was dug up, shattered, and sent flying.

The gale-like sword wind blew away the dead, creating an absurd comedy where they tumbled on the ground mixed with those who wished to live.

What was happening at Dan Woo-hyun’s hands now was a disaster.

The kind of thing that could not be helped by human strength, where one could do nothing but accept death. And Dan Woo-hyun, who was creating that situation, seemed solely focused on cutting people down, with a deep smile on his face.

As if the sleeping Slaughter Star had opened its eyes.

Or, as if that which had been subsided since the moment he opened his eyes had seized him once again as he experienced various events one by one.

Whichever it was, it was a nightmare for the cultists of the Heavenly Earth Sect.

“Young Master Dan!”

At that time, Namgung So-hye’s sharp voice pierced his ears.

Dan Woo-hyun, who was about to swing his sword, came to a halt and slowly turned his head to look in the direction of the voice.

There stood Namgung So-hye, unable to hide her shock as she looked at this nightmare-like scene. However, she soon composed her breathing calmly and approached slowly.

“Are… you okay?”

Everywhere was splattered with blood.

With every step, it was a disgusting feeling as if stepping on various parts of human bodies. The rolling pieces were so wretched that it was impossible to distinguish whether they were arms, legs, or entrails.

Though she flinched and trembled each time, her steps approaching Dan Woo-hyun did not stop and she walked even more vigorously.

“…”

“Are you… really okay?”

Namgung So-hye gulped dryly and asked with difficulty.

His entire body was covered in blood.

There was almost no spot from head to toe that was not stained with blood. If someone who did not know saw this, they would think he had been hacked to pieces by someone.

However, she knew.

That none of the blood flowing on that body belonged to Dan Woo-hyun.

And at that moment, Dan Woo-hyun’s savage eyes slowly began to return to normal, and the killing intent drifting around him also subsided rapidly.

Soon, catching his breath once, Dan Woo-hyun slowly spoke.

“…Yes, I am fine now.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes, I am fine.”

At the question asked repeatedly, Dan Woo-hyun smiled bitterly.

Looking at the scenery revealed before him, he could understand why she asked multiple times. The area where he stood was truly like a textbook example of how to make a mountain of corpses.

That was how immense a number of corpses lay scattered all around.

Among them, there would probably be people from the Heavenly Earth Sect and also people from the Martial Sovereign Castle. However, because it was a jumble, it would be impossible to tell who was who.

“Sigh… I was so worried.”

“…Was that so?”

“Yes, wipe your face.”

Namgung So-hye took out a handkerchief from her bosom and handed it over. It was a natural movement, and nothing in particular was revealed in her expression, but her trembling hand let him know that she was feeling fear.

There was no way Dan Woo-hyun would not realize that either.

However, he did not show it and forced a smile.

Soon, receiving the handkerchief, he wiped his face.

Although it was doubtful if the immense blood would be cleared by that, he seemed to be returning to the usual Dan Woo-hyun through that action.

“What happened to him?”

“Ah, Elder Jeok has already been rescued and settled at the inn. He hasn’t eaten for so long… he’s just like a mummy.”

“I see…”

Dan Woo-hyun answered briefly and smirked.

The image of him when leaving the Hunan Dan Family was vividly drawn. Although he did not want to go, it was a situation where he had to, and so he wanted to at least take Gwon Mu-jin along, but because of Dan Woo-hyun’s mood, he could not even bring it up.

Thinking of such a person’s appearance, he let out a sigh.

“Thank you.”

“Yes?!”

Suddenly offering his gratitude, Dan Woo-hyun raised his left hand, which had relatively little blood on it, and stroked Namgung So-hye’s head.

Surprised by the sudden situation, Namgung So-hye widened her eyes, not knowing what to do, and watching her like that, Dan Woo-hyun smiled again.

“It is not over yet.”

“M-Mmm. It seems the C-Cult Leader has fled.”

“Yes.”

Dan Woo-hyun also knew it.

Because he was already sensing those presences.

Even so, he had no intention of letting him go.

Because letting him escape was equivalent to giving them another pretext in the end. Considering that the reason he killed so many people was also to completely sever the connection with the Heavenly Earth Sect, he had to capture the Cult Leader, who could be called the core.

The moment he turned his back with those thoughts, Namgung So-hye’s voice was heard.

“Let’s go together!”

“…Fine.”

“Huh?”

Namgung So-hye stared at Dan Woo-hyun with a dazed expression again. She had surely thought he would prevent her from following, but he had permitted it easily.

Finding the situation quite fascinating, she stared intently at his face.

“What is it?”

“No… I was just wondering… if the sun will rise from the east tomorrow…?”

“The sun naturally rises from the east.”

“…?!”

Instantly, Namgung So-hye’s face turned crimson.

Looking at Dan Woo-hyun, she had muttered thoughtlessly without realizing it, because she had not perceived at all that she was stating the obvious.

Since she had grown up hearing that she was quite smart since childhood, she hung her head low in embarrassment, not knowing what to do.

“Is this a situation where we should be glad it doesn’t rise from the south?”

“Y… Yes. That’s right.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words, Namgung So-hye said no more.

Whether he did or not.

Other words would not reach her ears anyway.

“Let’s go then.”

“Do you know where it is?”

“When a person is in a hurry, they hide in the place they consider safest.”

“Ah-“

Namgung So-hye understood Dan Woo-hyun’s words at once.

The headquarters of the Heavenly Earth Sect was in a place where the Martial Sovereign Castle was visible. Considering the place Geum Ji-ran had shown by even unfolding a map, it was not very far.

Turning her head, she looked at the large mountain to the west. Although it felt different from the famous mountains of Shanxi, it was famous for being dense enough for a person to hide and also rugged.

They were probably devising a plan there by now.

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