Chapter 342: Fire Demon (2)
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Flames poured from all directions and burning trees collapsed, but the martial artists paid no heed at all. Even if a tree fell from behind, they already perceived it through sensory perception and dodged it.
Among the martial artists currently entering Mount Wudang, there was no low-level practitioner unable to endure the heat.
However, Muk Hui-yeong instantly turned five black-robed men into wandering spirits. As the black-robed men died, they let out screams, and upon hearing those screams, other black-robed men gathered toward Muk Hui-yeong one by one.
“That bastard is the Eastern Emperor! Seize him!”
“The Heavenly Demon desires the head of the New Justice Association Master!”
From the moment Muk Hui-yeong sent the first five heads flying, he had already noticed they were people of the Blood Cult. The energy ripples emanating from the black-robed men’s bodies were unmistakably from the Blood Cult.
To describe the Blood Cult’s energy briefly, it was turbid demonic qi. Of course, they were still affected by the Heavenly Demon’s energy possessed by Muk Hui-yeong, but they did not obey unquestioningly like Gwan Seo-ye and the other demonic practitioners in Torofan.
Furthermore, the stronger they were, the more turbid their internal energy became, to the point where first-rate peak experts would not bat an eye even if Muk Hui-yeong unleashed the Heavenly Demon’s energy.
Of course, that was completely separate from whether they could actually capture Muk Hui-yeong. Even excluding the Heavenly Demon’s energy, Muk Hui-yeong had already become an expert who could not be recklessly touched.
Muk Hui-yeong penetrated deeper into the Wudang Sect where even fiercer flames surged. He was checking if there were people left inside the buildings of the Wudang Sect and the New Justice Association.
Perhaps the mountain had been on fire for quite some time, as the wooden buildings already had their pillars crumbling and collapsing. No matter how much Muk Hui-yeong defended against the heat with protective qi, he could not enter such buildings, so he released surging force inside and confirmed whether people were present by the rebounding sensation.
Even while checking the buildings like that, black-robed men continued to rush in like moths to a flame.
“Get lost already!”
Muk Hui-yeong swung Bright Elegance with an irritated voice. Along with a sword wind, a crescent-shaped sword qi gave off the cry of a gyrfalcon and cleaved through the black-robed men.
‘But why the Blood Cult?’
Even while cutting down the flying black-robed men, Muk Hui-yeong could not erase that question.
Although Mount Wudang was the core of the New Justice Association, other forces still remained solidly intact elsewhere. Could the Blood Cult’s strength really be vast enough to openly make enemies of the surviving New Justice Association like this? That could not be. If that were the case, the Blood Cult would have already revealed itself to the world.
In that case, they had something to rely on. The most likely possibility in the current situation was indeed collusion with the imperial palace. No, by process of elimination, that was the only remaining possibility.
Because right now, the only force in the Central Plains capable of supporting the Blood Cult while being hostile to the New Justice Association was the imperial palace.
‘They have truly gone mad.’
Even so, the bastards of the Blood Cult were blind blades without a shred of righteousness, chivalry, or the barest minimum of conviction. No matter how much the imperial palace disregarded the distinction between orthodox and unorthodox among martial forces, he never expected they would pull in even the Blood Cult.
In the first place, tracing the Blood Cult’s roots back also revealed them as descendants of Great Ming, so with what mindset had they joined hands? That remained unknown for now.
“He is truly a match for a thousand.”
“Indeed so. It seems we underestimated the New Justice Association Master too much.”
“It seems so.”
A hunchbacked old man gazed from afar at Muk Hui-yeong darting through the Wudang Sect buildings. Even though he was watching across nearly an entire hill, the old man’s eyes tracked Muk Hui-yeong’s trajectory with pinpoint accuracy.
“Still, he will not be able to leave alive. It is truly a talent worthy of the Heavenly Demon.”
“Even the Sword Demon, who never gives empty flattery, praised him.”
“Let us stop the useless sacrifices now. Ordinary cult members seem incapable of handling the New Justice Association Master. Have them all pull down. In any case, preparations are all complete.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Clicking his tongue in regret, the old man glanced at Muk Hui-yeong moving desperately before heading down Mount Wudang. The assisting black-robed man bowed his head and followed behind.
“Shout if you are inside!”
Muk Hui-yeong’s voice rang out so loud that it echoed across the entirety of Mount Wudang.
Though his sensory perception told him no one was there, he checked two or three times just in case he had missed someone.
Rumble.
Just then, the sound of collapse came from the Golden Summit of Mount Wudang, Heavenly Pillar Peak. The Three Purities Hall stood isolated by itself and was the only hall Muk Hui-yeong had not yet checked.
However, since Muk Hui-yeong also had to descend now, he needed to sweep through the Three Purities Hall one last time.
Muk Hui-yeong immediately ascended toward Heavenly Pillar Peak. And the moment he stepped onto Heavenly Pillar Peak, Muk Hui-yeong froze instantly.
The Three Purities Hall, which could be called the very symbol of the Wudang Sect, had completely collapsed.
Even if he was a lay disciple, the roots of the martial artist named Muk Hui-yeong belonged to the Wudang Sect, and since he thought of himself that way, the sight was shocking.
“……Haa.”
Was it at least fortunate that he confirmed there were no people inside the Three Purities Hall either?
Only then did Muk Hui-yeong realize that his sword and clothes were drenched in blood. Having continuously cut down the rushing black-robed men, it was inevitable.
He looked back. This was the Golden Summit, the highest peak of Mount Wudang. The full view of Mount Wudang being consumed by the fire demon entered his sight clearly. As if it were a living evil spirit, the fire demon mercilessly devoured the remaining greenery of Mount Wudang.
Now the heat could be felt through his skin as well, and the smoke was so acrid that it was difficult to purify even with internal energy. Inhaling any more smoke felt like it would cause him to faint. He had to descend quickly.
Come to think of it, from the moment he was searching the middle of the Wudang Sect, the black-robed men had stopped rushing him; they too seemed to have completely retreated.
Muk Hui-yeong decided to cover his mouth and nose with his sleeve and descend the mountain. His destination was the direction of Jun County.
Cheong-hwa, Myeong-gyeong, and Namgung Hwi should be waiting there.
There was a harvest. He thought he would see at least one corpse, but Mount Wudang had been completely and cleanly vacated. Although he did not know for what reason the people had emptied Mount Wudang, the Blood Cult bastards had essentially burned an empty Mount Wudang. Then again, had the people of the Wudang Sect remained fully intact on Mount Wudang, the Wudang Sect would not have fallen so helplessly.
However, for what reason had the disciples, and even the sect leader himself, left the Wudang Sect filled with the traces of their ancestors? Where they had gone also needed to be discovered quickly.
Muk Hui-yeong descended at high speed. He followed the embers that had quieted down after burning everything in their path. The green and beautiful Mount Wudang had become a single massive heap of ashes. For that alone, the Blood Cult could never be forgiven.
Muk Hui-yeong descended to the entrance of Mount Wudang leading toward Jun County. As expected, many black-robed men were already deployed in formation, waiting. At the very front stood an ominous-looking hunchbacked old man.
“I greet the Heavenly Demon of Torofan.”
“Is it you? The sinister gaze watching me from afar.”
“You felt that? Truly remarkable.”
Muk Hui-yeong gave a smirk.
“Do not underestimate me. When it comes to sensory perception, I am confident against any martial artist in the Central Plains.”
Combining his developed sensory perception with the senses granted by the Wind God was certainly enough to discuss being the greatest under heaven. As far as sensory perception was concerned, there was not the slightest exaggeration.
“Hehe. I offer my apologies.”
“Old man, looking at you roughly, it seems you hold a position around that of the Nine Demons.”
“You saw correctly. I am called the Illusion Demon. It is an honor to meet the Heavenly Demon of Torofan.”
“The Illusion Demon.”
Muk Hui-yeong narrowed his brow. The Illusion Demon—a name that, at a glance, suggested proficiency in sorcery and sinister arts.
Not a single sword or saber was tied to his waist. Yet because he was said to be one wing of the Nine Demons in the Blood Cult, Muk Hui-yeong could not let down his guard.
“Do you intend to cast sinister arts on me?”
Muk Hui-yeong asked. In truth, he was confident internally.
Even if one wielded sinister arts, it was performed through demonic qi. There was no way the Heavenly Demon’s energy would be enchanted by turbid, miscellaneous arts.
However, the Illusion Demon shook his head.
“How could I cast sinister arts on the Present Demon?”
“Are you choosing not to? Or unable to?”
“Naturally, I am unable to. Moreover, casting sinister arts requires trust more than one might think.”
“Trust? In whom?”
“In me.”
“In the person subjected to the sinister art?”
“No. In me, the Illusion Demon.”
Muk Hui-yeong furrowed his brow even further. He could not grasp what nonsense this was. Why would someone being subjected to a sinister art place trust in the Illusion Demon?
The Illusion Demon laughed heartily as if understanding Muk Hui-yeong’s confusion.
“Haha. You seem to be misunderstanding something. The target of the sinister art I cast is not you. It is our cult members.”
“Ah. Then that makes sense. But what good does casting sinister arts on your own allies do?”
“Have you never heard of such things? Like a mother lifting a heavy pillar to save her child from a house engulfed in fire, superhuman strength being displayed.”
“I have heard of it, but never seen it in person.”
“Yet when facing a crisis, does not a human naturally become sharp and nimble?”
“That is true.”
“I merely bestow that kind of sensation upon them.”
Muk Hui-yeong let out a sigh of admiration. Come to think of it, the black-robed men had truly charged forward as if they had no fear of death. Seeing them charge without a shred of hesitation even after watching their comrades get sliced down, he had thought it was because they were fanatics, but it was due to the Illusion Demon’s sinister arts.
“That is quite malicious, isn’t it?”
“What a regrettable thing to say. I merely draw out more of human potential.”
“Does potential not drawn out by oneself hold any meaning?”
“Why would it not? Do not those revered as masters in orthodox sects also draw out potential from their disciples?”
“Is that the same as this?”
“There is no difference.”
Muk Hui-yeong let out a bitter smile. He was a bastard to be killed anyway. There was no particular reason to win a verbal argument.
“Right. Thoughts are free. Just do not harbor them in this world anymore.”
“Hehe. Arrogance worthy of the Heavenly Demon. Even with enemies on such a massive scale before you, you are not intimidated in the least.”
The Illusion Demon smiled. Even while standing still, his figure gradually grew hazy, before soon vanishing completely.
“Let us see how long you can last.”
As the Illusion Demon vanished, the black-robed men bearing intense fervor in their eyes pounced simultaneously.
Despite being under the Illusion Demon’s illusion arts, their intellect remained intact, and they organized their own formation to attack Muk Hui-yeong. Had they attacked haphazardly it would have been preferable, but taking turns attacking blind spots made them exceptionally troublesome.
“Hup!”
Whether the Illusion Demon’s illusion arts were powerful or these men were originally peak experts, the Heavenly Demon’s energy failed to make them submit.
Even when he strongly unleashed the Heavenly Demon’s energy, they merely flinched for a moment, their attacks continuing unabated.
Yet why was it? Even though Muk Hui-yeong was surrounded by numerous experts like this, the thought that he might die never crossed his mind for even a moment.
They say even a dog has the upper hand in front of its own house; could a martial artist of none other than the Wudang Sect die at the foot of Mount Wudang?
“Come all at once!”
Muk Hui-yeong shouted gallantly and took an opening stance. Combining softness and hardness simultaneously, the Cloud Rainbow Sword unfolded like a beautiful dance.
That dance had not the slightest interruption and felt entirely natural. To the Illusion Demon watching, it felt as though Muk Hui-yeong was performing a sword dance while the black-robed men stepped up on their own to die.
Watching from afar, the Illusion Demon realized belatedly.
The state of selflessness he had placed upon his subordinates through illusion arts was something Muk Hui-yeong was drawing out entirely on his own right now.
Forgetting that Muk Hui-yeong was his enemy, the Illusion Demon stared blankly at the sword dance.
Anything that had reached a certain transcendent realm was inherently beautiful in itself.