Chapter 280: Chapter 280
“It is said that the Extermination Unit has annihilated the Blood Rain Sword Clan and is in the midst of wiping out the Unorthodox Faction forces in the surrounding Western Forest area.”
The result of the mission accomplished by Cheon-hwi and the Extermination Unit flowed out along with a low voice.
It was from the mouth of the Vice Strategist, Seol Geom.
“The Unorthodox Factions swept away so far are the Blood Rain Sword Clan, and the nearby Four Heads Gang, Black Room Society, and Ghost Laugh Fortress…”
As the names of the Unorthodox Faction sects continued to come out of his mouth, the eyes of the people in the audience changed.
The Extermination Unit was a hastily assembled detached force.
Although it was considered an opportunity for the rising stars to build their reputation, there was no expectation that they would perform as actively as existing units.
However, since they were executing their mission perfectly, how could admiration not come out?
How long had he continued speaking like that?
“…Except for a few sects that have not yet revealed themselves, all have been swept away under the hands of the Extermination Unit.”
Finally, Seol Geom finished speaking.
“Haha, that is amazing. To completely subjugate the Western Forest area in just ten days.”
“It is to the point of being hard to believe. To subjugate and organize that many sects in such a short time. Just how…”
Only then did those who had been quietly listening part their tightly closed lips.
Admiration and astonishment flowed out.
At the same time, everyone’s gazes headed to one place even though no one said anything.
It was none other than Mount Hua’s Hyeon-do.
His appearance, which was full of pride all over his face, even made it feel as if his nose was slightly raised.
It was then.
“Are there perhaps any injured?”
Someone asked urgently.
It was the Elder of Kunlun, Immortal Go-yeong.
Worry was cast over his face as he stared at Seol Geom. It was understandable because there were disciples of Kunlun in the Extermination Unit.
What kind of place was the Blood Rain Sword Clan?
As a clan that had ruled Western Forest for over two hundred years, even if their power could not reach that of a great sect, it was just a level below that.
Among the small and medium sects, it was to the extent of being counted on one’s hands.
Although it was a more outstanding result than expected, the prediction that they would succeed because the Plum Blossom Divine Hero went with them was common.
However, it was normally difficult to think that they would carry out the mission without any injuries.
And Immortal Go-yeong was not the only one with such concerns.
The figures of the sects that had disciples in the Extermination Unit looked at Seol Geom with worried eyes.
Seol Geom read the emotions cast on the wrinkled faces of those looking at him from around, and he nodded his head up and down.
“They say everyone is safe.”
“Haha, is that so.”
Vitality returned to Immortal Go-yeong’s face.
“Phew, that is a relief.”
Around the time when the Elder of Qingcheng, Do Yang-heun, who was holding his breath on the side, also let out a sigh of relief.
“And one more thing. There is something important I must relay.”
Seol Geom parted his lips once again with a stiff face.
“The Black Yaksha made an appearance at the Blood Rain Sword Clan. And bringing along the Heartless Blade Guest and the Star Splendor Rakshasa Envoy at that.”
At that moment, the expressions of the audience sharpened.
The weight that the title ‘Black Yaksha’ possessed was by no means light.
The youngest disciple of the Four Black Alliances Leader.
Just by that position alone, the existence called the Black Yaksha had no choice but to be placed above any other figure in the Unorthodox Factions.
But then, experts called the Heartless Blade Guest and the Star Splendor Rakshasa Envoy appeared together there.
How could they not react?
However, that too only brought up a question for a moment.
Just before, Seol Geom had definitely said that the Extermination Unit had annihilated the Blood Rain Sword Clan and was even wiping out nearby Unorthodox Factions.
But the fact that the Black Yaksha made an appearance at the Blood Rain Sword Clan meant…
“Has the Black Yaksha also been wiped out?”
The Chivalric Escort Unit Leader, Chu Gye-gwang, asked in a low voice.
It was a question that everyone harbored.
Seol Geom smiled bitterly at the gazes focused on him and shook his head from side to side.
“Unfortunately, it was said that in a situation where they had almost completely caught the Black Yaksha, they regrettably missed him.”
“That is unfortunate.”
“Are you saying they missed him.”
Sighs flowed out from here and there.
The Black Yaksha was someone with a high probability of becoming a political enemy of the Martial Alliance in the future.
Since things had come to this, it would be good to pull up the weeds by the roots. However, since they eventually ended up missing him, it was only unfortunate from their perspective.
Meanwhile, Hyeon-do and Dragon Pearl Beggar tilted their heads inwardly after hearing Seol Geom’s answer.
‘Are you saying Hwi missed the Black Yaksha?’
‘He is a guy who saw through the Flying Heaven Footwork. But he missed? Is the Black Yaksha stronger than the rumors? Or maybe there might be something else.’
The martial prowess of Cheon-hwi that they knew was at a level where no matter how much it was the Black Yaksha, he would not be an opponent.
To face him, one had to be at least at the level of a Sect Leader of the Five Imperial Sects.
It was understandable because those that Cheon-hwi had faced and defeated were the White Snake God and the Green Forest Great Emperor.
Around the time the two were guessing about why Cheon-hwi had missed the Black Yaksha.
“Is not the opponent who he is?”
Seol Geom added words towards those who were letting out sighs in regret.
At those words, everyone made expressions of being convinced and nodded their heads up and down.
Come to think of it, the opponent was not easy.
Seol Geom, who was scanning the audience where the atmosphere had relaxed a little, thought this was the time and added words.
“In addition, it is not as if there were no results. The Heartless Blade Guest perished by the hands of the Plum Blossom Divine Hero, and it is said that the Star Splendor Rakshasa Envoy and the Black Yaksha fled while suffering fatal internal injuries.”
“Are you saying he struck down the Heartless Blade Guest?”
“On top of that, the Star Splendor Rakshasa Envoy and the Black Yaksha suffered fatal internal injuries?”
At that moment, everyone’s eyes grew wide.
The Heartless Blade Guest and the Star Splendor Rakshasa Envoy were individuals who greatly shook their reputations in Jianghu, and they were experts in the Limitless Realm.
In particular, the Star Splendor Rakshasa Envoy was an expert with such outstanding skills that his realm was known to have peeked into the Heavenly Martial Realm.
Furthermore, since it was said that the Black Yaksha had also suffered internal injuries, it was not without results as Seol Geom had said.
“To achieve that much against those three, it is amazing.”
“I know they are comprised only of rising stars, but to achieve such results.”
The audience clicked their tongues in amazement.
Everyone was well aware of the fact that the Plum Blossom Divine Hero had struck down the Green Forest Great Emperor.
However, most had secretly thought that the Green Forest Great Emperor must have been weaker than the rumors.
It was understandable because if that was not it, it meant that a child who had just passed the age of twenty had reached the Heavenly Martial Realm.
“Amazing. Truly amazing.”
“To achieve such results with a detached force that has not even been formed for a few days, it is surprising.”
At that time, the Elder of the Cheonjung Sword Sect, Iron Hand Flying Sword, parted his lips while looking at Hyeon-do.
“It must be nice for the Immortal.”
He continued speaking while shedding envious glances.
“Not to mention his martial prowess at that young age, he also seems to have outstanding leadership skills, so you have truly raised an amazing disciple.”
Others next to him also agreed.
“That is what I mean. I am truly envious.”
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. Seeing such an outstanding child, no, a young hero emerge in the Mount Hua Sect, the Heavenly Venerable must have protected them.”
“It is a great fortune for the Alliance.”
The corners of Hyeon-do’s mouth rose on their own at the high praises that came out consecutively.
“Haha, you give excessive praise.”
He acted modestly, but the smile formed on Hyeon-do’s lips only grew deeper.
It was to the extent that anyone looking could tell Hyeon-do was pleased.
At the same time, they rapidly racked their brains.
‘The Mount Hua Sect will greatly shake its name in the future.’
‘When this war ends, the Mount Hua Sect might even threaten Wudang…’
‘Should we join hands with Mount Hua?’
Right now, the immediately faced war was the priority, but they also had to think about the future.
Because with this war, the Four Black Alliances would disappear, and the landscape of Jianghu would change greatly.
And in such a Jianghu, Cheon-hwi’s existence would certainly be incomparable to now.
While those seated like that were thinking about how they should handle their relationship with the Mount Hua Sect.
“Is there any other information?”
A dry voice was heard.
It was the Military Strategist, Zhuge Gong, who had continued to remain still even in the midst of the conversation taking place.
Even with the continuation of shocking information, his appearance was incomparably indifferent just like usual.
Seol Geom, who glanced at such a Zhuge Gong, slightly frowned and unfurled his glabella in an instant.
An expressionless face that did not even budge a single eyebrow.
He absolutely could not know what he was thinking.
Seol Geom, who had become a bit anxious, fiddled with the folding fan inside his sleeve and parted his slightly chapped lips.
“There is nothing else.”
Along with his words, Seol Geom sat down in his seat.
It meant that what he had to say was finished.
The Military Strategist looked at such a Seol Geom for a moment, then turned his gaze to Dragon Pearl Beggar and asked.
“How are the Five Imperial Sects?”
Dragon Pearl Beggar’s nose wrinkled at the question that was asked directly without any head or tail, but he soon gave an answer.
“They have begun to gather one by one.”
The audience buzzed.
“Are you saying already?”
“To think that the gang that only repeated gathering and scattering for their own benefits is already gathering into one…”
As if they could not believe it, they all opened their surprised eyes.
No matter how much they had created a massive organization called the Four Black Alliances, they were ultimately an Unorthodox Faction.
They would not be able to throw away that habit.
Therefore, they had thought they would accumulate strength while watching each other’s reactions until the end even in this war, but…
The situation flowed differently from what was expected.
At that time, Dragon Pearl Beggar added words.
“They must have felt that the situation is serious.”
The expressions of the audience stiffened.
Amidst such an atmosphere, Zhuge Gong parted his lips with an expression that still remained unchanged.
“Then we will have to move in a hurry.”
His gaze swept through the audience.
To be precise, it was looking sequentially at those leading the Three Squads and Four Units of the Martial Alliance.
“Are the preparations for departure complete?”
Excluding the single absentee, the Iron Blood Squad Leader, the remaining six people nodded their heads.
“If so, first the Three Squads and Four Units…”
Thud!
While speaking, the Military Strategist cut off his words at the loud sound of a door suddenly heard and turned his head back.
There stood a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man, who was completely covered in sweat, politely cupped his fists and bowed his head.
“I, I apologize for interrupting the meeting. However, I have something urgent to relay, so I came in despite the rudeness.”
The audience initially tried to get angry at the person who suddenly came in without asking for understanding while a meeting was in full swing. Then, soon after, they confirmed his identity and made surprised expressions.
“The Unhidden Party Leader?”
It was because he was someone who could not attend the meeting because he was busy at all times, the Party Leader of the Martial Alliance’s intelligence organization, the Unhidden Party, Wi Ji-bok.
“What is the matter?”
The Military Strategist asked Wi Ji-bok.
At that, Wi Ji-bok chewed his lower lip nervously and revealed the purpose of his visit.
“Four days ago, I confirmed that a group of people came out from the Four Black Alliances. From what we grasped, their numbers are about two thousand or more…”
“What!”
“Two thousand people?!”
At Wi Ji-bok’s words, some jumped up from their seats.
It was a shocking statement.
To say two thousand people meant it was a military strength comparable to a place with a considerably large scale even among small and medium factions.
Especially if they were those sent from the Four Black Alliances, that military strength would be on a different level from a normal two thousand people.
Even in the midst of everyone being surprised like that, Wi Ji-bok continued to recite the information he found out.
“…Their composition is the Blood Shadow Squad and the Ghost Shadow Squad of the Four Black Alliances, and their martial prowess is at least first-rate or higher.”
Everyone’s mouths dropped open in shock.
Their expressions became blank as if they had been struck in the back of the head with a hammer.
At that time, the Military Strategist, who merely furrowed his eyebrows unlike the others who were in a daze, looked at him and asked.
“Rather than that, where is their destination?”
It was the most important question.
It was something that had already happened.
He asked with the thought of coldly grasping where they were heading and making a move, and the Unhidden Party Leader, who soon swallowed his saliva, parted his lips.
“…It is Sichuan.”
“What?! You said Sichuan?!”
“Sichuan?!”
The elders of the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect, who were based in Sichuan, opened their two eyes wide.
Their voices trembled severely.
It was said that two thousand Unorthodox Faction martial artists were coming to attack.
And with a troop composed of the Blood Shadow Squad and the Ghost Shadow Squad together, which were widely notorious for being vicious in the Four Black Alliances at that.
It was seen that Sichuan would be dyed with blood.
“I, I must go see!”
“This poor monk as well…”
When the two were about to rush out.
“Please wait a moment.”
The Military Strategist spoke in a low voice.
“It will be of no use even if you hurry now. Rather than that, how about requesting help from those who are in a nearby place?”
“If you mean those nearby…?”
“Is there not a battalion that went to carry out a mission near Sichuan?”
At that moment, the battalion that was the subject of the meeting a little while ago came to everyone’s minds.
* * *
The tidying up of the Blood Rain Sword Clan was in a state of riding a rapid current due to the joining of Taoist Unhak.
First, the dantian of most of the Unorthodox Faction members was destroyed. Afterwards, they were locked in an underground prison or mobilized for the work of restoring the manor.
In the midst of such a commotion.
“Thank you for helping us. Great Hero.”
Tiger Mad Beggar expressed his gratitude while looking at Taoist Unhak and his party who helped with the tidying up.
The Unorthodox Faction members of Western Forest had a large number.
The number of those currently tied up or working in the Blood Rain Sword Clan was a whopping five hundred people.
It was no ordinary hard task to control all of them with the Extermination Unit of barely over forty.
In the midst of that, the help of Taoist Unhak and his party was like sweet rain during a drought.
“No.”
Taoist Unhak waved his hand and spoke at Tiger Mad Beggar’s greeting.
“What could there be that I did? I only tied up the Unorthodox Faction members you all struck down and helped with the aftermath.”
He had a bitter smile in his mouth as he spoke.
Because just like those words, there was truly nothing he had done.
However, Tiger Mad Beggar shook his head and laughed heartily.
“That is a great help to us.”
It was a word containing sincerity.
“If it had been just us, we would have still been out of our minds taking care of the aftermath.”
“Haha, is that so.”
While Taoist Unhak also smiled back at that laugh for a moment, his gaze headed upwards.
A handsome youth sitting on a chair while wearing a Taoist uniform where red and black colors harmonized.
A person with an appearance that looked extraordinary even at a glance, and even his aura looked outstanding.
It was none other than the Plum Blossom Divine Hero, Cheon-hwi.
‘How amazing. To wipe out all the Unorthodox Factions of Western Forest in merely a fortnight.’
A sense of awe arose on its own.
Even though he was young in age, the deed he had accomplished was unprecedented in this Western Forest.
‘They say a hero appears in turbulent times…’
Meanwhile, Cheon-hwi, whom he was looking at, was in the middle of reading the communication sent from the Martial Alliance.
[The Blood Shadow Squad and the Ghost Shadow Squad of the Four Black Alliances are advancing north. Their numbers are at least two thousand people. Their destination is Sichuan. The one leading them is…]
Information condensed short and concisely.
However, just with that, he could sufficiently grasp how the situation was flowing.
“It worked out well just in time. Because it seemed like there were no more Unorthodox Factions nearby now.”
Cheon-hwi, who formed a faint smile, got up from his seat while putting the communication into his embrace.
Staying here was also over now.
Cheon-hwi draped the pure white cloak, which he had placed behind the chair, over his shoulders.
And slowly stepped forward.
The two swords at his side moved.
Hwawol and the Demonic Sword.
He, who felt the two swords that now felt like his hands and feet, soon stopped his steps.
It was the front of the manor.
“Uh? Squad Leader?”
“What is the matter?”
The members of the Extermination Unit, who were enthusiastic about restoring the manor, parted their lips as they looked at the approaching Cheon-hwi.
Since Cheon-hwi, who had only been taking a rest for the past few days, approached, they were in a state of being slightly nervous.
While Cheon-hwi scanned them for a moment.
“I will give you fifteen minutes. Prepare to leave.”
He gave an unilateral notification.
It was while twisting the corner of one side of his mouth.
“Now we should do the next mission.”