Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Declaration of War
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Kwa-ang!
A massive shockwave erupted from the center of the clash.
In the midst of the earth torn apart in devastation, the two stood facing each other at the exact same distance as before. Do Cheon with his calm expression, and the Heaven-Rending Legion with his face rigid with tension.
"Is that truly the Thunder Barrier Fist?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion asked.
"Yes, it is."
Thunder Barrier Fist.
The signature ultimate technique of the Iron Lion King, who had once stood shoulder to shoulder with the Generation's Heavenly Demon. The Heaven-Rending Legion simply stared at him, at a loss for words.
"You came to the Iron Lion Sect and tasted one of its ultimate arts. Why the surprise?"
Do Cheon smiled faintly.
The fight's outcome remained undecided. Yet he carried himself like the victor.
The battle with the Heaven-Rending Legion.
From the start, Do Cheon's intent had been for all under heaven to learn that the Iron Lion Sect's great disciple had clashed evenly with the Heaven-Rending Legion. The result of the fight itself had never mattered to him.
"So that's what you gained there? Truly, there was no manual from the Generation's Heavenly Demon?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion asked.
The moment he recognized it as the Thunder Barrier Fist, his anger had vanished. If it was the Thunder Barrier Fist, then he had every right to face him. The actual clash proved it was no easy opponent. The shock that he might suffer an unsightly defeat without pouring out everything he had sent chills through his body.
At that moment, Do Cheon turned his gaze toward Byeon Ryeo-gun and Ga Gyeom-chang without answering.
"I hear the Alliance Leader is nearby. Why not fetch him so we can talk together?"
Ga Gyeom-chang shot off like an arrow at the suggestion of speaking in the presence of both the Heaven-Rending Legion and the Great Righteous Alliance Leader. Do Cheon then turned his head to look at one other person.
Baek Ri-jung of the Baekri Clan.
His heart had skipped a beat watching Do Cheon fight evenly with the Heaven-Rending Legion. When talk of the Generation's Heavenly Demon's secret manual arose, his eyes widened in shock.
"You said you'd cleaned up Dongting Lake, right?"
Do Cheon asked.
Even in a calm tone, when spoken by a true master, it could be more terrifying than any threat.
"It seems there was a slight misunderstanding."
Baek Ri-jung replied, forcing himself to stay composed. It was a complete shift from his earlier arrogant, informal scolding.
How could he have known that a fallen sect like this housed such a formidable expert?
"Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold is under my command. Cleaning up Dongting Lake means you touched what's mine. The Baekri Clan will have to pay the rightful price."
"You're treating our clan too lightly."
Impressive was impressive, but not frightening. Even if the Iron Lion Sect's young Iron Lion had matched the Heaven-Rending Legion, it meant nothing to the Baekri Clan. The power of a clan that had dominated one region for ages wasn't something a single expert could topple.
'They have bandits under them?'
Like most in the world, Baek Ri-jung had mistaken the Iron Lion Sect for a righteous faction. If they truly commanded bandits, it would give the righteous sects cause to condemn them.
"The Iron Lion Sect never shies from a fight that comes to its door."
Do Cheon declared, surging with aura.
It felt like he could sweep away Baek Ri-jung and all the Baekri Clan warriors present in an instant.
"You haven't confirmed what happened at Dongting Lake yet."
Byeon Ryeo-gun interjected. Before things escalated further, she spoke again.
"One of the Baekri Clan's warriors just raced off toward Dongting Lake. Young Master Do, even if you're angry, shouldn't we first clarify the results? If the Iron Lion Sect wishes to reclaim its place as a great sect, you must act with gravity."
Her advice rang with sincerity. Do Cheon's aura vanished as if washed away.
"We'll look into Dongting Lake and then visit the Baekri Clan. Now get out of my sight."
"No, we can't do that. A secret manual from the Generation's Heavenly Demon? We need an explanation."
Baek Ri-jung's gaze shifted from Do Cheon to Byeon Ryeo-gun. She inwardly cursed her slip, but kept her composure.
"I told you, it wasn't just the Secret Shadow Pavilion acting alone."
"Then I'll see the Alliance Leader and hear it directly."
Byeon Ryeo-gun's face fell.
From the moment they'd opened the secret chamber, her fear had been that the whole world would get dragged in. Righteous or unorthodox, if numerous factions and people got involved, chaos was inevitable—especially since it would surely reach the demonic path.
The Generation's Heavenly Demon's secret chamber.
What better pretext for the demonic path's invasion of the central plains?
They would come in droves. That's why she'd thought of the Volcanic Divine Sword and the Heaven-Rending Legion. Those two would grasp the gravity and handle it quietly. If the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate arts were found, they'd keep their promise to study them together to block the demonic path.
Do Cheon's sudden appearance had thrown everything into disarray, leading to this. Now even the Baekri Clan knew.
"The Baekri Clan stays here too."
The Heaven-Rending Legion declared abruptly. All eyes turned to him.
"Can you guarantee not a single rat among them?"
His gaze fixed on the Baekri Clan warriors. Could they be sure none were spies from rival factions? Or that none would blab, even by accident?
Byeon Ryeo-gun and Do Cheon nodded silently. Baek Ri-jung scowled.
"Are you detaining me and my men right now?"
As Baek Ri-jung protested, the Heaven-Rending Legion let out a long whistle. Hundreds of figures appeared at high speed. They were the elite and elders of the Tyrant Emperor Sect under his direct command. Without a word from him, they moved to block the Baekri Clan's escape routes.
"Choose for yourselves. Bury your bones here, or get detained as you said."
"We can accept detention. But I must report this to our clan lord."
"Looks like I need to snap your neck after all!"
As the Heaven-Rending Legion growled, Baek Ri-jung shouted to his warriors.
"The Baekri Clan will never yield!"
At Baek Ri-jung's cry, the Baekri Clan warriors drew their swords in unison. Their bearing befitted warriors of a great clan, brimming with spirit. But that wouldn't quell the Heaven-Rending Legion's rage.
"Fine! I'll smash every last one of your skulls!"
"The Baekri Clan is a pillar of the Great Righteous Alliance. If you strike, it could escalate into a righteous-unorthodox war."
Byeon Ryeo-gun stepped forward.
But the Heaven-Rending Legion scoffed.
"Think I fear some petty righteous-unorthodox war?"
"Word of the secret chamber will spread across the land. Then they'll definitely come. Righteous-unorthodox war, then righteous-demonic, unorthodox-demonic—the world will plunge into chaos. I don't know about you, Heaven-Rending Legion, but I fear such turmoil."
"Hmph!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion snorted.
He acted arrogantly even before all the righteous factions combined, but the demonic path was another matter entirely. He spat toward Baek Ri-jung.
"The Alliance Leader will come too, so tell your clan lord not to bring a mob of trash—just him."
"We'll do that, but mind your words toward our clan lord."
"Tch!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion's brows shot up. Instead of smashing his head, he turned away coldly.
"We'll stay at the Iron Lion Sect."
Baek Ri-jung shouted to his warriors, and they sheathed their swords.
Thus, Baek Ri-jung and the Baekri Clan warriors headed to the Iron Lion Sect, surrounded airtight by Tyrant Emperor Sect warriors on the Heaven-Rending Legion's orders. Do Cheon stared intently at the scene, prompting the Heaven-Rending Legion to say,
"To block any rats from sneaking in."
With that, he strode toward the Iron Lion Sect. Baek Na-chal had no choice but to follow him back inside once more.
"What will you do?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun asked, her face etched with worry. Do Cheon gazed at the Heaven-Rending Legion and replied,
"Nothing to do on my end. I'll just tell the truth. The choice is theirs."
It sounded like letting things unfold naturally, but given his usual words and actions, it carried a stubborn edge. As Byeon Ryeo-gun frowned,
"You two want to be seen as conspiring?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion bellowed from ahead. Do Cheon shook his head and walked on. Byeon Ryeo-gun followed alongside.
The Great Righteous Alliance Leader, Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang, and the Alliance's experts who had entered the Generation's Heavenly Demon's secret chamber with him.
The Heaven-Rending Legion Kang Yi-wi and the Tyrant Emperor Sect's experts who had entered with him.
The Baekri Clan lord, Baek Ri-jung, and three elders.
Not a single undistinguished master among them—the grand hall of the Iron Lion Sect's warrior quarters felt packed to bursting.
"I heard the Iron Lion Sect Lord is elsewhere. Thought I'd pay respects while here, but he must be quite busy."
Once greetings wrapped up, Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang remarked casually to Do Cheon.
Do Cheon sat in a chair placed before the head seat. Though surrounded by experts of renown status and fame, no one could look down on the man who had faced the Heaven-Rending Legion.
"With protecting this one body of mine being overwhelming, I placed him somewhere safe."
Do Cheon replied.
The Iron Lion Sect's members were now in the Iron Lions' training chamber, its massive doors sealed shut by Do Cheon—none knew they were there.
"Anyone hearing that would think we're about to attack the Iron Lion Sect."
"Depending on the situation, we just might."
"If you think that, then don't create such a situation."
"Some ears only hear what they want, even when the truth is spoken."
As their parallel conversation dragged on, the Baekri Clan lord cut in loudly.
"My apologies to the Heaven-Rending Legion, but before the secret chamber talk, I have a question for the Alliance Leader."
Baekri Clan Lord Baek Ri-hyeon-do was in his early fifties, a master still brimming with vigor. Blunt and direct rather than roundabout, he asked straight out once the Volcanic Divine Sword looked his way.
"Alliance Leader, why did you open the secret chamber only with the Heaven-Rending Legion?"
"You're asking why you didn't inform the various sects joined to our Alliance?"
"Yes. It was a risky choice that could threaten your position as Leader."
He meant they could raise the issue at the Great Assembly and move to dismiss him. The Volcanic Divine Sword nodded as if understanding.
"Because the client who knew of the chamber's existence and could open it demanded we do so together as a condition."
"Who was that client?"
"Miss Byeon here."
All eyes turned to Byeon Ryeo-gun. As if expecting it, she spoke right away.
"I was certain news of the Generation's Heavenly Demon's secret chamber would plunge the world into chaos. In that chaos, word reaching the demonic path was obvious as fire. So I proposed to you two trustworthy figures that we open it together. If the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate arts were found, we'd study them jointly to prepare against demonic invasion—and you both graciously agreed."
At Byeon Ryeo-gun's answer, the Volcanic Divine Sword looked at the Baekri Clan lord as if to say, satisfied now?
"How did Miss Byeon know of that secret chamber's existence?"
"My sect has known of it for generations and researched how to open it."
"I know the Celestial Insight Maiden's sect is a one-person lineage. Did you hear of the chamber from your master, by chance?"
"Yes. But it involves a sect secret I cannot disclose."
"Hmm."
The Baekri Clan lord let out a heavy hum. It wouldn't be easy to press the Alliance Leader like this. Then the Heaven-Rending Legion slammed the table.
"Enough. Settle your righteous squabbles without me. Now let's hear from that kid."
All gazes shifted to Do Cheon. He stood, but didn't immediately spill about the Generation's Heavenly Demon's secret chamber as hoped.
"You attacked Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold and gave its chief a sword wound, right?"
Do Cheon's eyes pierced the Baekri Clan lord.
"Settle your business without me!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion shouted.
"The Iron Lion Sect is neither righteous nor unorthodox! The Baekri Clan ambushed my subordinates, so they must pay! Heaven-Rending Legion, Alliance Leader—stay out of it!"
"You're truly not righteous?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion asked.
"Our sect has only walked the path we deem right, never once treading the righteous path."
The Heaven-Rending Legion fell silent at Do Cheon's reply. Though unspoken, his satisfaction was clear.
"Did you truly launch a sneak attack?"
The Volcanic Divine Sword asked the Baekri Clan lord.
"What's the big deal about attacking some bandits?"
The Baekri Clan lord retorted with a scowl. But that made the Volcanic Divine Sword's face grow grave.
"Bandits mean unorthodox. Did the Baekri Clan ambush an unorthodox group without cause? Were you hoping for a righteous-unorthodox war?"
The Volcanic Divine Sword's eyes were heavy.
Then the Heaven-Rending Legion slammed the table again.
"Hearing it now, that's exactly it! You dared preemptively strike an unorthodox group? Declaring war?"
His aura turned ferocious. This was no light matter. If he took the Baekri Clan's ambush as a declaration of war on the unorthodox, a righteous-unorthodox conflict was inevitable.
"I told you, Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold is under my command!"
Do Cheon said loudly. He scanned the room and declared firmly.
"No word games or nitpicking. Whether the Baekri Clan knew or not, Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold is mine, and attacking them is attacking me. True to our sect's teaching of never shying from a fight at our door, we'll act—so you two, stay out."
Do Cheon's gaze swept the Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword, then fixed on the Baekri Clan lord.
"I demand an official apology and compensation for damages. Of course, the great Baekri Clan will refuse? Then we'll take it by force."
It was Do Cheon's declaration of war on the Baekri Clan.