Chapter 28
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Breakthrough (1)
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Jinmyeong was running without a clear destination.
“Get them!”
“Show the Demonic Cult bastards no mercy!”
It was because of the Kunlun Sect Daoists chasing them from behind.
‘I thought I wouldn't have to run for my life after opening my eyes in this world.’
Having stolen the protagonist's fortuitous encounter and learned powerful martial arts, not to mention possessing a higher status than he had expected, he thought he would never have to flee like this.
But not long after leaving the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, here he was, being chased.
‘Whose fault is it that we're in this mess? And he's smiling in this situation.’
Mok Jagyeong was still smiling as if he was enjoying himself.
‘Don't tell me he planned this too?’
With the appearance of the officials, the Kunlun Sect had retreated too easily.
He thought it was all over then, but it didn't take long to realize how wrong he was.
‘To think those bastards from the Orthodox Faction were hiding so cowardly.’
To be precise, they had been waiting for them to come out.
The officials had told them not to fight on the streets of Xining, where civilians could be harmed.
That meant they wouldn't care if they killed each other somewhere without civilians.
Master Haksu had perfectly understood the officials' meaning and was waiting outside Xining.
And with even more Daoists than he had in the city.
“Haha. I didn't expect the Cloud Dragon Sword to show up.”
Mok Jagyeong laughed as he watched the middle-aged Daoist leading the chase.
It was Master Heo Un, known as the Sword of Kunlun, the one who had blocked them in the Kunlun Mountains.
‘The Shadow Demon Brigade Leader is certainly strong.’
Jinmyeong recalled the image of the Shadow Demon Brigade Leader at the very front, cutting down the Kunlun Daoists without hesitation before darting away.
He looked like a completely different person from the man who had tried so hard to avoid a fight in the Kunlun Mountains.
‘But we're about to leave Qinghai. How long are they planning to chase us?’
It was strange for the Kunlun Sect to pursue them this relentlessly.
Of course, Mok Jagyeong had killed a Daoist who was spying on them, but such incidents were common in the martial world.
‘Is this really necessary just because one person died?’
On second thought, it wasn't just one person.
When Master Haksu attacked Jang Hu's group, unfortunately, a few more Kunlun Daoists had died.
And not a single member of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had been killed.
‘They all seem like crazy people.’
It was a detail he hadn't paid much attention to when reading the novel.
In fact, scenes where characters picked fights over trivial matters only to be defeated by the protagonist were all too common.
But experiencing it firsthand, they all seemed to have lost their minds.
‘Are they willing to risk a war?’
While the Orthodox, Heretical, and Demonic factions were on bad terms, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult wasn't unconditionally evil.
In fact, in this novel, the Orthodox, Heretical, and Demonic factions coexisted in a precarious balance.
That was why he couldn't understand the Kunlun Sect's reaction.
‘What's this?’
Just as they were widening the distance from the pursuing Kunlun Sect.
From ahead, he felt an aura similar to the Kunlun Sect's, yet sharper.
“Hmm.”
And before they knew it, a group of Daoists appeared and blocked their path.
‘Their clothes are different.’
Their robes were similar to the Kunlun Sect's, but the color was completely different.
“This is unexpected.”
Mok Jagyeong scratched his head as if troubled.
But a smile still played on his face.
“The Kongtong Sect…”
One of the Nine Great Sects and the rulers of Gansu, they blocked the path ahead.
The Kunlun Sect must have asked for their help.
Swallowing their pride.
The Kunlun Sect had gone so far as to ask for the Kongtong Sect's help just to capture thirty people.
‘Do they want a war that badly?’
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed the Kunlun Sect was dead set on starting a war with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
‘This has become troublesome.’
The Shadow Demon Brigade Leader glanced at Mok Jagyeong, who wore a relaxed smile.
‘I can't understand why the Lord ordered me to bring that man along.’
He couldn't shake the feeling that Mok Jagyeong had orchestrated this situation.
‘No, that's not what's important.’
Doubts were unnecessary.
The Heavenly Demon gave him a mission, and he just needed to complete it.
“Make it to Shaanxi alive.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The people looked puzzled by the Shadow Demon Brigade Leader's sudden words.
But the Shadow Demon Brigade Leader led his brigade members and shot forward.
“Don't tell me he abandoned us!”
Watching him go, the people wore flustered expressions.
The Shadow Demon Brigade wasn't their escort, but to think they would abandon them and flee like this.
“Damn it. I'll kill that bastard for sure.”
Jang Hu gritted his teeth as he watched the Shadow Demon Brigade Leader's retreating back.
Then he began to gather his subordinates.
“Haha. Things are getting interesting. What will you do, Junior Brother?”
Mok Jagyeong asked Jinmyeong, who was standing alone.
“Stay out of my business. You should worry about protecting those people, Senior Brother.”
“Still running your mouth in a situation like this.”
With martial artists of the Orthodox Faction closing in from front and back, Mok Jagyeong was still at ease.
“Same goes for you, Senior Brother. Well, see you around, if we see each other.”
Jinmyeong had no intention of staying here.
‘I hope they serve as a good decoy for me.’
Groups formed around the Heavenly Demon's disciples.
Jinmyeong moved, hoping the five groups would draw the attention of the Kunlun and Kongtong sects.
“Let's go together.”
Shin Yehyang caught up to the running Jinmyeong.
“How do you know what I'm going to do?”
“I'm not sure. But I feel like I should watch Young Master Jin's final moments.”
“…How very kind of you.”
When she blocked Mok Jagyeong's attack, she seemed to be trying to save Jinmyeong's life.
But now, she was talking as if she didn't care if he died.
‘Why is everyone hiding so many things?’
If they were characters who appeared often in the novel, he might have known what they were thinking.
But the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's story was brief, and there wasn't much about Mok Jagyeong or Shin Yehyang.
‘First, I need to think about getting out of here.’
Jinmyeong looked at the Shadow Demon Brigade running ahead.
‘The Kongtong Sect warriors don't seem very interested in the Shadow Demon Brigade.’
Then who was their target?
The Heavenly Demon's disciples, of course.
The ones who could be called the future of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
‘It would be easier to follow the path the Shadow Demon Brigade cleared.’
Having reached a conclusion, Jinmyeong immediately moved in the direction the Shadow Demon Brigade was heading.
*Vwoom!*
At the same time, five swords floated out from the wooden box on Jinmyeong's shoulder, circling around him.
“How fascinating.”
Shin Yehyang's eyes sparkled as she saw Jinmyeong's Heaven-Embroidering Sword Control Arts for the first time.
How could she not be intrigued, getting to witness a martial art she had only heard about?
*Fwoosh!*
The five swords, burning with pure white flames, flew towards the Kongtong Sect Daoists blocking his path.
“Keuk!”
“What in the world is this!”
The Kongtong Daoists began to panic as the swords, flying on their own, attacked them.
“Sword Control?”
Seeing five swords continuously flying through the air and attacking them, it was only natural for them to think of Sword Control.
“It's just simple telekinesis!”
Some, noticing the simplicity of the swords' attacks, realized it wasn't Sword Control.
“They're just flying straight, so if we block… Keuk!”
But figuring it out didn't mean they could block the attack.
The chest of the Daoist who had stepped forward confidently was pierced through.
The swords were so fast he couldn't even react.
‘He's definitely strong. Even stronger than what Father said…’
It was only five swords.
But with those five swords, Jinmyeong had turned the situation into a scene of utter chaos.
*Fwoosh!*
Shin Yehyang swung her drawn saber, creating a massive tempest.
“Keuk!”
The tempest tore the Kongtong Daoists blocking their path to shreds.
“Quite the cruel hand you have there!”
As she swung her saber again, an old man's roar was heard.
*Boom!*
And soon after, with a sudden impact, Shin Yehyang's body was pushed back.
“The young ones seem stronger than I thought.”
The ones who stopped Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang were two old men.
“The Twin Monsters of Kongtong?”
“Tsk. You run your mouth so carelessly. Should I make it so you can never speak again?”
The one who reacted to Shin Yehyang's words was the scrawny one of the two old men.
Their correct title was the Twin Elders of Kongtong, the strongest masters in the Kongtong Sect.
As the senior brothers of the current Sect Leader, their influence in the Kongtong Sect was even greater than his.
“Are you that Blood-Laughing Demon or whatever brat? The Heavenly Demon's first disciple.”
The skinny old Daoist, Guk Jeon, kept his eyes fixed on Jinmyeong.
“You've got the wrong person.”
At Jinmyeong's words, Guk Jeon's eyebrow twitched.
“You're quite the insolent brat.”
“I don't see any reason to respect someone who's rude to me from the get-go.”
Seeing Jinmyeong's taunt, Guk Jeon's body trembled with anger.
“Hoho, at his age and with his skill, he's earned the right to be insolent.”
Someone placed a hand on the angry Guk Jeon's shoulder.
He was the portly man called Guk Yang, who, along with Guk Jeon, was known as one of the Twin Monsters of Kongtong.
Guk Yang, who consistently wore a benevolent smile, didn't lose his smile even while looking at Jinmyeong's arrogant demeanor.
“But you are too arrogant.”
Guk Yang thrust a fist into the empty air.
*Fwoosh*
Though it was clearly a light thrust, the fist wind that erupted from it rushed towards Jinmyeong as if to overwhelm him.
*Pop!*
Jinmyeong also extended his index finger forward.
Then, Guk Yang's fist wind collided with the Heavenly Demon Finger and vanished into thin air.
“See? I told you he was skilled.”
“You look pretty annoyed right now, though.”
Guk Yang said with a laugh, but Guk Jeon didn't miss the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“Are you really not that Blood-Laughing Demon brat?”
“I told you, I'm not.”
“Hmm. Then who in the world are you?”
Guk Yang and Guk Jeon were trying their best to figure out Jinmyeong's identity.
“Why are you two seniors here?”
Shin Yehyang couldn't understand why the Twin Elders of Kongtong were here.
It made no sense for the Twin Elders to mobilize just to kill thirty members of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Hoho. You're a curious child.”
Guk Yang laughed, stroking his fleshy chin.
It seemed he had no intention of answering easily.
“Isn't your target Mok Jagyeong?”
And Jinmyeong wasn't curious about why the two were here.
“The Heavenly Demon's disciples are back there. Why don't you go after them?”
Jinmyeong said, gesturing slightly behind him.
“Hmm. That's certainly not a bad idea, but…”
Guk Yang and Guk Jeon looked at each other.
“Still, I think killing the two of you would be better.”
It seemed Guk Yang and Guk Jeon had decided that killing Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang was a better option than killing Mok Jagyeong.
They had judged these two to be more dangerous than Mok Jagyeong alone.
“Looks like the Kongtong Sect can't refuse Kunlun's requests as easily as I thought.”
“What?”
Guk Jeon and Guk Yang looked puzzled at Jinmyeong's words.
“I mean, isn't it? Mobilizing the Kongtong Sect just to kill thirty people has to be a blow to your pride, right?”
Even if they were the young demons who would lead the future of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Are you trying to say that Kongtong takes orders from Kunlun?”
“Huh? Am I wrong?”
“…This kid certainly knows how to run his mouth.”
Guk Yang said, holding back Guk Jeon, who was trying to rush at Jinmyeong.
A smile was still on his face, but it was quite different from his usual one.
“Or is it that the Kongtong Sect, a supposed Daoist sect, is getting a reward from Kunlun?”
“Hmph. Ridiculous.”
Guk Yang and Guk Jeon scoffed at his words, but Jinmyeong couldn't shake the feeling that the two had received something from Kunlun.
“Money? No. Money is important, but a sect from the Nine Great Sects that accepts many disciples wouldn't be bound by money.”
The Nine Great Sects accepted the children of merchant guilds as disciples to receive financial support and maintain their sects.
It wasn't that they didn't need money, but they weren't desperate enough for the Twin Elders to mobilize.
“Then did you agree to receive some kind of elixir?”
“Hmph. You keep spouting nonsense.”
Guk Jeon and Guk Yang shook their heads as if it were absurd.
“The mere existence of you Demonic Cult bastards is a sin.”
“Therefore, we will kill you to protect the peace of the martial world.”
Hearing the Twin Elders' words, filled with conviction, Jinmyeong shivered.
“This is…”
“Kuhuhu. It seems you're scared.”
A smile appeared on the Twin Elders' lips as they saw Jinmyeong unable to respond.
“How can you be so childish? To act like that at your age.”
But Jinmyeong's next words made the two old Daoists' faces contort.
“You brat!”
The Twin Elders' faces flushed red.
“The rest of you, stay back. We will be the ones to kill this brat!”
Unable to contain his anger, Guk Yang shouted to the Kongtong disciples and charged forward.