Chapter 292: Chapter 292
“It was an interesting martial art.”
Cheon-hwi stared at Nong-jil’s completely dried corpse placed under his feet and whispered.
It was a significantly heterogeneous martial art.
The energy that returned to heaven below the earth as soon as she died was death energy.
‘Death energy is an energy that even the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult avoided, but to try to contain it.’
It was impossible for the living to handle the energy of the dead.
However, she, who had died now, accomplished that task.
Although she became half a madman, of course, she clearly handled death energy and managed to use it.
Perhaps the martial art she learned, the Evil Heaven Absolute Art, suppressed the madness of the death energy.
“Hmm, the martial art of the Evil Emperor Palace…”
Cheon-hwi, who was muttering, pulled out Hwawol.
The blade that was accurately embedded in Nong-jil’s heart slipped out.
Blood did not flow out from the chest of Nong-jil, who had become the shape of a crumbly mummy.
Only the mark where Hwawol was stuck was clearly visible.
‘It must be the price for containing death energy.’
The moment Cheon-hwi soon withdrew his gaze from that dried corpse.
“Thank… you.”
A faint voice that seemed like it would run out of breath right away knocked on his ears.
Cheon-hwi slowly rolled his pupils and looked at the place where the faint voice was heard.
Abbess So-un, leaning her back against the wall of the half-collapsed hermitage, was looking at him.
Her body condition was a complete mess.
The pure white monk robe was dirtied with dirt and blood clumped together, and her body was full of wounds everywhere so blood was dripping.
Fatal wounds to the point where it seemed miraculous she was alive were engraved all over.
It was almost a living corpse state.
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at Abbess So-un, sheathed Hwawol and parted his lips.
“You regained your consciousness.”
“Thanks to you… I preserved… my life.”
Was it because the internal injuries were deep?
The irregularly exhaled breaths and the accompanying words could not connect and were cut off.
“Please do not speak. Your internal injuries seem serious right now.”
“There is still… something im, portant left.”
However, despite that, Abbess So-un shook her head and consecutively parted her lips.
“Though I am… shameless… cough!”
She, who was speaking, vomited blood with a cough, perhaps due to internal injuries.
Along with the blood spreading spot by spot on the monk robe, her complexion turned pale.
A serious state no matter how one looked at it.
However, she parted her bloodstained lips again to continue the words she was saying.
“Could you… help this humble monk?”
Her half-closed eyelids fluttered, and her two pupils contained Cheon-hwi.
The pupils that became blurry while vomiting a lot of blood.
However, the resolve contained within them was enough to be clearly transmitted to Cheon-hwi.
Cheon-hwi scratched his head and said.
“I’ll decide after hearing what it is first.”
* * *
Those who were fighting all over Mount Emei momentarily stopped their hands.
It wasn’t just one or two.
Any martial artist whose qi sense was developed stopped fighting and looked at the mountain gate.
Their complexions were slightly stiffened.
Because the mountain gate, which had been scattering heaven-shaking and earth-shattering shockwaves just a little while ago, was submerged in silence.
Was it only that?
The energy that was encroaching as if completely covering Mount Emei had become calm as if washed away at some point.
What that meant was one thing.
“…It became quiet.”
“Has it been decided?”
Sounds of swallowing breath were heard from here and there, and an unknown tension filled in.
It was natural.
The direction of the currently ongoing war could change depending on who won over there.
“Who won?”
“I don’t know.”
“I can’t feel any energy.”
Around the time when expectation and anxiety dwelled in their eyes silently staring at the mountain gate.
Jjallang…
Suddenly, the sound of a bell was heard.
At the same time.
Tak.
Abbess So-un revealed her appearance.
She who appeared was in an unwell state. Her monk robe was dyed with blood, and wounds were full everywhere on her body.
But what did that matter?
The fact that she appeared now was important.
“Sect Leader…!”
“Amitabha!”
“Abbess So-un has won.”
“Nonsense!”
“This can’t be!”
In an instant, the atmospheres of the martial artists on the Emei Sect side and the Four Black Alliances forces flowed in contrary single directions.
The nuns of the Emei Sect pressed their palms together with brightened faces, and the martial artists of the Orthodox Faction cheered inwardly.
On the other hand.
“Could it be that Lady Nong-jil…”
“Was defeated?”
The forces of the Four Black Alliance swallowed their breaths.
The tide of the war tilted completely.
Seueuk…
Abbess So-un’s half-closed eyelids lifted up, and a gaze that seemed to look at a distant place below appeared.
The forces of the Four Black Alliance, who were holding their breath and watching the situation, stiffened.
As the golden eyes containing mysterious Dharma power revealed their appearance, they were overwhelmed.
At that time, she, who was looking down at the forces of the Four Black Alliance just like a mountain god, lightly lifted her Reincarnation Six Rings Staff.
Kung!
And struck it down forcefully.
Hwaaaak!
A strong circular shockwave that started from the Reincarnation Six Rings Staff swept all directions.
“Heup!”
The forces of the Four Black Alliance faltered.
Some with weak martial might were swept by the surging shockwave to the extent of tumbling backward.
The manifestation of Dharma power containing the Great Serenity Divine Art.
The lips of Abbess So-un, who was looking down at them with an intense gaze, opened.
“Nong-jil has fallen!”
The Demon Subduing Roar spread everywhere.
“…”
At the fact that had become confirmed, the forces of the Four Black Alliance stealthily retreated backward.
“Waaa!”
“As expected…!”
Only then did the Orthodox Faction martial artists let out cheers to their hearts’ content.
Meanwhile, Abbess So-un barely swallowed the blood vomiting that was trying to rise from within in an instant.
‘If I endure just a little more…’
Due to the Demon Subduing Roar executed while suffering from internal injuries, her dantian shook along with tremendous severe pain.
At this rate, it would become a great internal injury.
However, she endured the severe pain even while drawing up her innate qi.
And she burst out the Demon Subduing Roar again.
“By the hands of the Plum Blossom Divine Hero!”
“…!”
“Plum Blossom Divine Hero?!”
“Wh-who did she say?”
Murmurs arose from here and there.
Not to mention the forces of the Four Black Alliance, even the nuns of the Emei Sect and the Orthodox Faction martial artists were startled by her words.
Because it was words that no one had expected.
When everyone could not hide their bewilderment.
Jeobeok. Jeobeok.
Suddenly, low sounds of footsteps were heard from the void.
In an instant, everyone’s gazes went up to the place where the sound of steps was heard.
A black dot was floating far away.
At that time when everyone was looking at the black dot with wonder, the dot instantly got closer.
And they could not close their gaping mouths.
Because under the sky, a figure was approaching at a fast speed while stepping on the void.
“What on earth is that…”
“Void Treading!…”
When someone who was looking as if they couldn’t possibly believe the situation before their eyes blankly muttered.
Jeobeok.
He took a step again.
Exactly one step.
However, with that single step, he advanced while overcoming a distance of over ten zhang in one breath.
A step as if space had merged.
Everyone who witnessed that mysterious and miraculous sight stiffened in that state.
It was an unbelievable sight even after seeing it.
A person was walking on the sky.
No, was that even a person?
Some rubbed their eyes and looked again.
However.
“…”
The visible sight was exactly the same.
Silence descended.
It felt as if their breathing was forcibly blocked.
Even amidst that, the figure floating in the void took steps indifferently as if he was some Heavenly God.
Jeobeok. Jeobeok.
The sound heard step by step gradually grew louder and pressured them.
The manifestation of a presence that forced silence.
No one could even think of parting their lips anymore and only watched the current sight.
It felt as if the sky was gradually sinking down following him.
Before long, his figure, which had been as small as a dot, landed next to Abbess So-un, and only then did his appearance become visible to people’s eyes.
A young Taoist wearing a black-red Taoist robe.
And the moment when the two swords, black and dark brown, at his waist particularly caught their eyes.
A single moniker came to everyone’s minds.
‘Plum Blossom Divine Hero!’
Cheon-hwi, who finished his unconventional entrance, lowered his two pupils with an indifferent expression.
And slowly parted his closed lips.
“Only the miscellaneous scums are left.”
A proud voice swept the battlefield.
The moment the internal energy steeped in the voice reached them, goosebumps rose on their whole bodies.
No one could say anything.
Only the silence deepened further.
In the midst of that, only Cheon-hwi’s pupils exerted a clear glint.
The forces of the Four Black Alliance, of course, but even the Orthodox Faction martial artists were swallowed by that glint.
A glint loaded with world-covering supreme spirit.
Seureureung…
Soon, Cheon-hwi pulled out Hwawol.
The moment the blade, hovering with a faint red light, reflected the down-pouring sunlight.
Heumchit!
The forces of the Four Black Alliance quickly rolled their eyes and exchanged glances with each other.
The situation was not good.
They had rapidly reduced the numbers of the Emei Sect nuns and Orthodox Faction martial artists, but the number of members of the Ghost Shadow Squad and Blood Shadow Squad had also decreased a lot accordingly.
But in this situation, the fact that Nong-jil was dead and Abbess So-un was alive was quite fatal.
On top of that, since Cheon-hwi, who was exuding such a strong momentum, appeared imposing.
‘If we keep going like this, it is an inevitable defeat.’
The same conclusion came to their minds.
Soon, after they exchanged glances for a moment.
Pababat!
They who were in the area began to flee simultaneously.
Anyway, since their numbers were larger, they judged that it would be better to plan for the future rather than surrender like this.
“What?!”
“Where are you trying to run away to!”
When the nearby Emei Sect nuns and Orthodox Faction martial artists urgently tried to catch them.
“Leave them be.”
Abbess So-un said in a low voice.
Those who were about to move flinched at the sudden words of Abbess So-un.
And taking advantage of that small opening, the forces of the Four Black Alliance hurriedly fled.
“Sect Leader…! You shouldn’t let them escape… S-Sect Leader!”
Abbess So-Jeong, who was watching this surprising situation from nearby, was about to request the Sect Leader to overturn the order, but was terrified.
Because black blood was flowing from the mouth of Abbess So-un who was standing straight.
No, was it only her mouth?
Black blood was also flowing out of her eyes and ears, dripping down onto her monk robe.
She hurriedly deployed her footwork and approached Abbess So-un.
“A-Are you okay?”
“I am fine.”
Abbess So-un, who answered the question in a low voice, turned her head and looked at Cheon-hwi.
“Did everyone… run away?”
Around the time Abbess So-Jeong was panicking at the very faint voice, Cheon-hwi parted his lips.
“Right now they are fleeing frantically. By the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like they’ll ever come back here again.”
“…What a relief.”
Along with a relieved expression, strength released from Abbess So-un’s two eyes that were kept forcefully open.
Eyelids starting to smoothly close.
Soon, she struggled to part her lips.
“Now… I can rest a bit…”
Abbess So-un collapsed just like that, unable to even finish her words.
“Sect Leader!”
The startled Abbess So-Jeong supported the collapsing her with one hand.
And she was horrified.
Hot heat was soaring from Abbess So-un’s entire body, and her breathing was weak.
The surprised Abbess So-Jeong looked at Cheon-hwi.
“W-what is going on?”
“What do you mean what is going on.”
Cheon-hwi shrugged his shoulders, looking at Abbess So-Jeong who still didn’t accurately understand the sudden situational change.
“It means it’s all over now.”
Cheon-hwi sheathed his sword and observed the battlefield.
Starting with the guys who were nearby, the forces of the Four Black Alliance disappeared as if washed away, and only the surprised Emei Sect disciples and Orthodox Faction martial artists remained, looking at them.
Surprise and worry, and bewilderment.
They were in a situation where they hadn’t yet realized that they had won the current war.
‘Tsk, it is a shame though. It would be refreshing to kill everyone since things turned out like this.’
Cheon-hwi smacked his lips.
In his heart, he wanted to kill all the martial artists of the Four Black Alliance, but to do so, he had no choice but to bear sacrifices.
Because the forces of the Four Black Alliance were still many.
And Abbess So-un did not want any more sacrifices to occur.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Just in time, they who had been blanking out belatedly began to regain their senses one by one.
“We, we chased away the Four Black Alliance!”
“W-we won!”
“We have chased away the vicious horde that attacked the Emei Sect!”
Cheering sounds erupted from here and there, and the Emei Holy War reached its end.