Chapter 284: Chapter 284
The day after arriving at the Emei Sect.
Waking up early in the morning from his bed, Cheon-hwi went to the window and opened it.
Perhaps because the room was on the fourth floor.
His vision was completely unobstructed.
Glancing over the lightly falling snow, Cheon-hwi dropped his gaze downwards at the sound of an energetic shout coming from below.
“Haap!”
“Heup!”
The members of the Extermination Unit were spurring on their training, radiating intense heat.
As if they had been training for quite a while, their clothes were drenched in sweat.
At that moment, Cheon-hwi let out a soft chuckle.
“They are nervous, they’re nervous.”
He could tell just by looking.
It was to be expected, as their movements while wielding their respective weapons or throwing punches and kicks were stiff and rigid.
The tension had made their bodies shrink.
No matter how successfully they had completed their missions of destroying the Red Tiger Stronghold and the Blood Rain Sword Clan, the war that was about to take place was on a completely different level.
It would not be easy to face a total of two thousand elites of the Four Black Alliances.
“More than that, it’s about time for it to come up…”
Just then, Cheon-hwi’s gaze turned sharply.
It was because a white flame soared high into the sky, radiating its light.
A beacon arrow.
It was a signal sent by one of the people who had spread out and were waiting throughout Mount Emei.
“They’re here.”
Cheon-hwi’s eyes curved.
It was time to move.
Turning his body, Cheon-hwi grabbed the two swords he had hung on one side and moved his feet.
Descending from the pavilion in a single breath, Cheon-hwi smiled gently toward the Extermination Unit, who were blankly staring at the beacon arrow.
“Is everyone ready?”
At his question, all the members of the Extermination Unit took a deep breath, and soon answered vigorously.
“We are ready!”
“Yes!”
Along with their answers, they put on the pure white cloaks they had left to one side.
It was a refreshing and swift preparation.
Then, lining up in front of Cheon-hwi, they placed their hands behind their backs, waiting for his command.
At that sight, Cheon-hwi grinned.
Was it thanks to him touching them up a bit, one by one, starting with Danli Gwan-cheon?
Everyone was wide awake and focused.
Only now did they seem a bit like a unit.
Erasing his smile, Cheon-hwi scanned them one by one for a moment, before letting out a low voice.
“Everyone remembers the mission I mentioned yesterday, right?”
At his question, the unit members nodded in unison.
It was what Cheon-hwi had explained while beating up Danli Gwan-cheon.
How could they forget it?
Seeing the unit members nodding, Cheon-hwi slowly turned his body and opened his mouth.
“Well, let’s go then. To do the mission.”
As Cheon-hwi moved his feet and advanced, the Extermination Unit followed behind him.
At that time.
Like Cheon-hwi, those who saw the beacon arrow gathered at the mountain gate of Fuhu Temple.
Their number was about seven hundred.
Even if a few people had slipped away along with the young disciples who were evacuated, it was still quite a large number.
It was thanks to the Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect, the surrounding orthodox sects, and the martial artists from the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance coming to help.
However, despite such a quite large number having gathered, they broke into a cold sweat at the sight below the mountain.
It was because martial artists exuding an evil aura were surging like a tide on the bleak mountain path, and their numbers were immeasurable.
The movement of those wearing red martial arts uniforms and those wearing black uniforms was enough to evoke the illusion of a red wave and a black wave crashing simultaneously.
“Amitabha.”
“To think it would be to this extent.”
“To think there are that many…”
Those watching drew in sharp breaths.
Seeing the martial artists of the Four Black Alliances climbing the mountain path right now, even the numbers they had painstakingly gathered seemed to immediately lose their luster.
“For something like this to happen…”
One of the disciples of the Emei Sect let out a sigh and tightly closed their eyes.
It was an unprecedented and bizarre event.
Mount Emei was the territory of the Emei Sect.
Because of that, it was a place where even the ruffians and scoundrels of the underworld, let alone martial artists of the Unorthodox Faction, dared not set foot.
But now, people of the Unorthodox Faction had flocked to such a place.
Their numbers were even large enough to more than sufficiently block the vast mountain paths of Mount Emei.
And were they just ordinary Unorthodox Faction people?
The killing intent and evil energy that had descended on Mount Emei.
They were on a completely different level from underworld scoundrels who had luckily learned some evil martial arts.
“…Can we win?”
“It’s dangerous.”
When the seeds of anxiety began to sprout.
Abbess So-woon lifted the Samsara Six-Ringed Staff in her hand, then lightly struck it against the ground.
Jingle.
The sound of bells spread in all directions.
The faintly echoing sound of bells carried a warm energy that felt like a mother’s embrace, enveloping them.
Abbess So-woon, who had instantly stabilized those who were violently trembling, parted her lips.
“Those who wish to leave, please leave even now.”
It was a gentle recommendation.
However.
“What are you saying?”
“We have already come to help, risking our lives.”
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. Sect Leader, please take back those words.”
The martial artists refused this.
Everyone gathered here were people who had come to help the Emei Sect, putting their lives on the line.
Silenced for a moment by the martial artists’ reactions, Abbess So-woon bowed her head.
“…Thank you.”
“Sect Leader!”
The disciples of the Emei Sect were startled.
It wasn’t just them.
The martial artists who came to help were also unable to hide their bewilderment at the Emei Sect’s Sect Leader performing such an unconventional act of bowing her head.
“You don’t need to go that far.”
“Please raise your head.”
However, Abbess So-woon acted as if nothing was wrong amidst such a commotion.
It was because she knew better than anyone else just how difficult it was to risk one’s life to help another sect.
“I will not forget this grace.”
A smile hovered around the mouths of the martial artists who had come to help at her sincere greeting.
Abbess So-woon slowly captured them in her eyes.
They were benefactors.
‘They are people I must not forget.’
While looking and imprinting their faces into her mind, she suddenly felt something strange.
The Extermination Unit was not there.
‘They moved first.’
However, she soon smiled inwardly.
What she had requested of the Extermination Unit was the protection and evacuation of the young disciples.
Seeing that they hadn’t come even now, they must have moved together when slipping away.
A sense of relief washed over her.
Soon, feeling calm, Abbess So-woon raised the Samsara Six-Ringed Staff high into the sky.
And then.
“Disciples, open the Killing Precept!”
She shouted thunderously.
The Lion’s Roar containing Dharma power caused the mountain gate of Fuhu Temple to stagger greatly.
The war risking the survival of the Emei Sect.
It was the beginning of the Emei Holy War.
* * *
“Is that a beacon?”
“Looks like a rat nearby sent it flying.”
“Stupid fools. Doing such useless things.”
The beacon arrow shot toward the sky could be confirmed by anyone in the Four Black Alliances.
However, they brushed it off indifferently.
To be precise, they were not even paying attention.
In the first place, leading a force of two thousand people without being discovered would have been stranger.
Meanwhile, those walking a bit apart on the far left among the two thousand strong army frowned at the beacon arrow, but then quieted down following the reactions of the others.
Their appearance was unique.
There were those wearing entirely pitch-black martial arts uniforms from head to toe, as well as those with dangling ornaments hanging all over their bodies.
Furthermore, even the weapons they carried were all different.
From having nothing at all to hand guards, axes that seemed too heavy even to lift, curved blades with twisted edges, and some wearing soft swords.
At a glance, their appearance was visibly differentiated from the elites of the Four Black Alliances currently gathered, the red-uniformed Blood Shadow Squad and the black-uniformed Ghost Shadow Squad.
It was natural.
It was because they were martial artists affiliated with the Four Black Alliances who had followed behind in order to build their reputation in this mission.
“What a spectacle.”
A heavy voice flowed out from among them.
It was from the mouth of a mean-looking man with a long sword scar carved on his forehead.
Hongyang Sect Leader Chu Geon.
He was the sect leader of one of the many minor sects and factions affiliated with the Four Black Alliances.
Having participated in this war with fifty of his sect disciples, he clicked his tongue at the sight unfolding before his eyes.
It was a truly overwhelming sight.
The mountain path of Mount Emei was densely packed with people. Moreover, the personnel filling the road uniformly harbored killing intent and evil energy.
It was a truly immense army.
An arc was drawn on his lips.
“With this, we can’t lose.”
He was certain of victory.
It was not just any ordinary military power.
Two thousand elites of the Four Black Alliances had gathered to annihilate the Emei Sect.
And that was spearheaded by the renowned Blood Shadow Squad and Ghost Shadow Squad.
No matter how much the Emei Sect was a part of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, it was a fighting force that could absolutely not lose.
Just as the smile lingering on his lips deepened even more just by looking around.
Swish.
Suddenly, a handsome young man appeared in the air and lightly landed in front of them.
It was like something out of a dream.
“…What?”
“What is it?”
When Chu Geon and everyone around him were staring blankly at the suddenly appearing handsome young man.
“P-Plum Blossom?!”
“It’s the Mount Hua Sect!”
A few people yelled out.
They were shocked to see the pattern drawn on the sleeve of the suddenly appeared handsome young man.
Plum Blossom.
There was the emblem of the Mount Hua Sect, whose rumors had spread more widely than anywhere else in the current Jianghu. At the same time, the title of a certain figure flashed and came to their minds.
It was the title of the Taoist who had contributed to the wide spread of the Mount Hua Sect’s rumors like now.
“Plum Blossom Divine Hero…?”
As Chu Geon spat out the words through his lips.
“Oh? Now you recognize me right away without asking.”
The handsome young man, Cheon-hwi, replied shortly.
At that acknowledging answer, confusion erupted momentarily.
“The Plum Blossom Divine Hero came here?!”
“Crazy!”
Their eyes were stricken with terror.
They had heard the rumors of the Plum Blossom Divine Hero until their ears bled.
The absolute master who defeated the Green Forest Great Emperor.
He was an absurdly powerful master whom they could never possibly face with their skills.
It was when a few people tried to stealthily back away.
“What a stupid fool.”
Looking at Cheon-hwi, Chu Geon opened his mouth.
With an attitude and tone that seemed not at all intimidated even by Cheon-hwi’s appearance.
“To dare think of invading this army all alone, do you completely lack a brain compared to the martial prowess you possess?”
Not stopping there, Chu Geon bitterly added words with a confident attitude.
No matter how much the Plum Blossom Divine Hero was a master widely known in Jianghu, right now they were an army reaching two thousand men.
No matter how great a master, there was no way one could face this number of people single-handedly.
At those words, smiles began to return one by one to the corners of the mouths of those trembling in fear.
“The Hongyang Sect Leader’s words are correct.”
“Tsk tsk, we have heard the rumors of the Plum Blossom Divine Hero well, but he was a stupid fool compared to his martial prowess.”
“To walk into the tiger’s jaws on his own two feet. To think he would be a crazy bastard begging to die.”
Regaining their momentum, they drew their weapons.
All sorts of eccentric weapons were sharply raised, pointing directly at Cheon-hwi.
Accompanied by fierce killing intent.
“This is another unique experience.”
As if the situation unfolding right now was funny, a smile spread across Cheon-hwi’s lips.
Ssrng…
At that time, drawing his sword, Chu Geon said.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kill the Plum Blossom Divine Hero!”
At his shout, everyone’s eyes shone.
The active part they would play in the war with the Emei Sect was one thing, but what if they killed the Plum Blossom Divine Hero?
And what if it was them who took his life?
Their reputation would instantly skyrocket.
Greed began to dwell in their eyes, and they began to rush forward all at once.
In the midst of that, Chu Geon laughed inwardly.
‘I just need to wait until he runs out of strength.’
His goal was Cheon-hwi’s neck.
There was no need to step up first for nothing.
Slowly and persistently.
He intended to wait and look for an opportunity.
‘I just need to cut off his life.’
Looking at the martial artists rushing from all directions, Chu Geon raised his internal energy.
To prepare for the final strike.
Wind arose beneath his feet.
It was the manifestation of the Hongyang Qigong.
The internal force raised to its limit made the red robe he was wearing flutter greatly.
It was a strict and threatening momentum.
At the same time, the moment he glared at Cheon-hwi.
“…!”
He froze just like that.
The smile having disappeared at some point. Under the eyebrows whose ends were raised, eyes with a faint red light lingering in them were staring straight at him.
An indifferent attitude that seemed not to even care about the martial artists rushing close.
It was to the point of seemingly appearing arrogant.
Just then, Cheon-hwi twisted his lips.
It was an obvious sneer.
Soon, his red lips that had been heavily twisted parted very slowly.
“Extermination Unit.”
Pababak!
Right after the words fell, dozens of figures appeared behind his back and shot like arrows toward the rushing martial artists.
It was an incredibly fast speed.
Soon, those who shot forward clashed with the rushing Unorthodox Faction martial artists.
Thwack! Crunch! Slash!
“Keuk!”
“Kueok!”
Soon, gruesome sounds erupted from all directions.
Someone flew backward helplessly, someone died instantly with their neck slashed, and someone else’s chest caved in.
A result that happened in a single moment.
It was a contest so short that they couldn’t even let out a long scream.
The Unorthodox Faction martial artists aiming for Cheon-hwi hurriedly fell away due to the sudden situation.
“What in the!”
“When did reinforcements…”
Their eyes shook.
The group that appeared all uniformly pulled down pure white cloaks, revealing only their eyes, while exuding a sharp aura.
At a glance, it was enough to make one feel terrified.
At that moment, Cheon-hwi lowered his eyes.
A gaze looking down upon everyone.
It was an overly haughty attitude.
However, no one questioned such an attitude.
It was because his current appearance suited Cheon-hwi so well, as if he had done exactly what he was supposed to do.
Following that, a low command fell.
“Sweep them all away.”