A Sliver of Hope
Whoosh.
Having finished reading the letter, the middle-aged man burned it without a shred of regret.
"So, Iron Flower is coming."
A smile played on the lips of the Sasa Sect Leader as he recalled the letter that had arrived last night.
Long ago, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances, he had planted a spy within the Sichuan Righteous Alliance. That spy was still actively operating at the very heart of the alliance today. Thanks to them, he could track the enemy's movements in great detail.
However,
"The Qingcheng Sword Venerable is no fool, especially with the Demon-Slaying Monk by his side."
They surely suspected the existence of a spy to some extent. Yet, the fact that they were moving like this meant they possessed that much confidence. That confidence was strangely irritating, but looking at it differently, it was an opportunity—an opportunity to drag the Sichuan Righteous Alliance's momentum straight into the dirt in a single blow.
Of course, it would be no easy battle. The martial force led by Iron Flower would have the Tang family at its core. Even if they were from a branch family, the Tang family was not a name to be taken lightly.
Shift.
"What do you plan to do now?"
The Sasa Sect Leader's gaze shifted to a pale-skinned young man. The young man, whose presence was so faint he seemed almost invisible, was named Yeo Ui-gi.
As a scion of the Yeo Clan, one of the Ten Demonic Sects, he was the one who had provided immense help for the Sasa Sect Leader to reach his current position. Though his personality was as foul as any demonic practitioner's, the Sasa Sect Leader absolutely needed his assistance. The same went for Yeo Ui-gi.
Having abandoned the succession struggle to become Yeo Mi-ho's subordinate, Yeo Ui-gi's foundation was incredibly weak. That was why he had begged Yeo Mi-ho for his life and sought to become her strategist, but even that was no simple task. Though he had gathered the Sasa Sect and other nearby unorthodox factions to build a decent force, it was still far from enough to satisfy Yeo Mi-ho.
"We must kill them. Otherwise, we will be the ones to die."
The words slipped from his mouth with cold, effortless ease.
"Do you think I'm asking because I don't know that? I am asking if you have a plan."
"Hmm."
A plan. Yeo Ui-gi fell into silent contemplation. How much strength could he actually mobilize right now?
The Sasa Sect Leader before me and the entire Sasa Sect.
This was currently the most reliable force Yeo Ui-gi had, but they would struggle to face even Iron Sword, let alone Iron Flower. The biggest problem was the Dark Moon, the strongest martial unit of the Tang branch family that the siblings were bringing with them.
The Dark Moon was comprised of the most talented branch members bearing the Tang surname, handpicked and forged into an elite force. If they were unleashed, the Sasa Sect wouldn't last three days.
Even if I intervene, it will only buy us another day or two. The outcome won't change.
Bringing in nearby unorthodox factions might balance the scales slightly, but could they guarantee victory? The answer was still a resounding 'no'.
"There are two ways."
"One of them is obviously to flee."
Surrender was out of the question. Having cultivated demonic arts, the only thing left for the Sasa Sect Leader was a struggle for survival.
"The other is to stake everything on a sliver of hope and fight."
"Hope, you say."
It was a loaded word. What would a demonic practitioner demand as collateral for 'hope'?
"Would it be possible even if I sacrifice my family, and everything I have built?"
"I do not know."
Because he didn't know, it was only a sliver of hope. If Yeo Ui-gi backed down here, he would undoubtedly fall out of Yeo Mi-ho's favor. Though he tried to maintain a calm facade, he was inwardly burning with anxiety.
If I fail this time, Sister will kill me.
Yeo Mi-ho was a woman more cruel and cold-blooded than anyone. She had only kept him alive because he possessed a modicum of utility, nothing more. If he failed to prove himself here, he would surely die. Or worse...
I will become a sacrifice for the Soul-Depriving Sword.
Yeo Mi-ho coveted the Soul-Depriving Blade held by Pagun. Because its backlash was so severe, Pagun was currently undergoing a purification process, but in the end, the Soul-Depriving Blade would belong to Yeo Mi-ho.
"The Soul-Depriving Demonic Way."
The Sasa Sect Leader's eyes shook with complex emotions as he stared at the demonic manual Yeo Ui-gi held out.
"The decision is yours."
"Bullshit. I never had a choice to begin with."
Laughing bitterly, the Sasa Sect Leader unfurled the demonic manual.
"I will stake everything to kill them. So, you had better reward me accordingly."
"If you survive," Yeo Ui-gi replied nonchalantly.
The Sasa Sect Leader squeezed his eyes shut at the cold response, then turned away.
"Of course I will."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Strange.
The one leading the Dark Moon alongside Iron Flower and Iron Sword in the subjugation of the Sasa Sect was Dang Ja-ryeo, the Vice Commander of the Dark Moon. Despite her title as Vice Commander, Dang Ja-ryeo's martial prowess was in no way inferior to the current Commander of the Dark Moon. This was why she enjoyed the absolute trust of the branch family members.
To Dang Ja-ryeo, Yoo-sung's presence was highly irritating. He walked proudly beside Dang Hwa-young and Dang Hwa-soo—heights she could never reach no matter how hard she tried. She could force herself to understand that much; they were maternal cousins, after all. However, Yoo-sung occasionally cast a strange look in her direction.
At first, she thought it was the same lustful gaze she received from other foolish men. After all, she possessed exceptional skills and was quite beautiful. But as time passed, that gaze became increasingly blatant. Dang Ja-ryeo had realized the meaning behind that look only a few days ago.
Could he possibly know my true identity?
She quickly shook her head, trying to deny it. From her birth in the Tang family to becoming the Vice Commander of the Dark Moon, she had never once stepped outside the Tang family's territory. Therefore, no one could possibly know that she had joined hands with the remnants of Matian.
Now I understand why Chief Manager Tang found him so unsettling.
Ever since she became the Vice Commander of the Dark Moon, she had deliberately avoided meeting him. She judged that there was no need to arouse unnecessary suspicion, and indeed, no one knew that the two of them were in league. Yet, that very Dang Sa-oh had requested a secret meeting.
Kill him. Disguise it as an accident, do whatever it takes, but do it! Under no circumstances must he return to the Sichuan Righteous Alliance.
It was the first time Dang Sa-oh had ever shown such desperation. Seeing the usually stoic Dang Sa-oh so worked up had amused Dang Ja-ryeo. However, that amusement gradually faded the longer she spent time with Yoo-sung. The way he looked at her... he had definitely noticed something. It made no sense, but she couldn't afford to be optimistic. Since their identities must not be revealed yet, Dang Ja-ryeo hardened her resolve.
Just then—
Swish!
Sharp arrows rained down, embroidering the night sky. The Sasa Sect's full-scale ambush had begun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"It's the Bido Sect!"
Dodging the incoming arrows, Dang Hwa-young moved swiftly. As the fierce sword of the Iron Flower danced, the attackers collapsed rapidly. Perhaps they had no intention of clashing with full force from the start, for their retreat was incredibly swift.
"They really turned," Dang Hwa-soo clicked his tongue, examining the corpses of the Bido Sect martial artists. Once closely allied with the Tang family, the Bido Sect had been a prominent sect representing Sichuan's orthodox faction. Even though their power had sharply declined due to successive battles with Matian, they had still maintained their orthodox honor. Yet, the Bido Sect's path had changed a few years ago. Driven by their accumulated grievances, they had abandoned the orthodox path for the unorthodox, leaving those around them in deep regret.
"It's the power of the Demon Bow."
Yoo-sung pointed out something the other two had missed.
"The Demon Bow?"
Unlike the puzzled Dang Hwa-soo, Dang Hwa-young gasped in shock. "The Demon Bow?! You mean the archery of that murderous fiend?"
"Is he famous?"
When Dang Hwa-soo, who was still ignorant of the Demon Bow's power, asked, Dang Hwa-young let out a long sigh. "He is a Matian demon who reached the absolute peak of the Transcendental Realm through archery. I heard he came from the outer regions, though it's not confirmed. But considering how much he hated the people of the Central Plains, he must be an outer-region demon."
That made it even more puzzling. Why would the legacy of the Demon Bow, who despised and looked down on the Central Plains more than anyone, be passed down to a minor sect like the Bido Sect?
It must be Yeo Ui-gi.
The Demon Bow had been close friends with Yeo Il-cheon, one of the leaders of the Ten Demonic Sects. If Yeo Il-cheon's bastard son was hiding in the Sasa Sect, then it was no coincidence that the Demon Bow's power had reached the Bido Sect. After all, the decisive reason the Bido Sect had strayed from the orthodox path in the first place was their marital alliance with the Sasa Sect.
Swish!
Knowing the identity of the Demon Bow didn't solve the problem. If anything, some were intimidated by the sheer reputation of his power. However, the Bido Sect's attack didn't last long. After pouring down arrows for about two hours, they vanished as if they had never been there. Watching the others sigh in relief and let their guard down, Dang Hwa-young shouted at the top of her lungs, "Stay focused, everyone! Their attacks won't stop after today!"
Just as Dang Hwa-young feared, the previous night's attack was only the beginning. The Bido Sect's archers appeared at irregular intervals, day and night, firing volleys of arrows before vanishing. Although the casualties weren't severe, the constant, unpredictable harassment slowly wore down their minds and bodies. In particular, those who lacked experience with forced marches began to show signs of strain.
"Everyone, gather round."
Watching this unfold, Dang Hwa-young called the leaders together with a grim expression.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Slam!
The man venting his anger with a fierce glare was Heo Won-ho. He was the heir to the ruined Heo Family Manor, an orthodox family, and had deep ties with the Tang branch families. He had barely managed to persuade a Tang branch member to let him join this expedition. He had to establish merit no matter what to make the Heo Family Manor's name known to the world once more. Yet, his resolve faced a crisis right from the start.
"Tell me the reason, Iron Flower."
Heo Won-ho asked, trying his best to suppress his anger and remain polite. Dang Hwa-young was cold.
"The reason? Do I really need to spell it out? It is because you lack the strength."
"...!"
"And it's not just the Heo family; the same goes for the rest of you. Shaking like this after a mere ten days of harassment only proves you lack the capability to fight demonic practitioners."
Dang Hwa-young calmly pointed out the harsh reality. Sometimes the truth was cruel, and Heo Won-ho, along with the other orthodox martial artists, lowered their heads in spite of themselves. Still, returning like this would put them in an incredibly awkward position.
"I am not telling you to go back unconditionally; I am telling you to rest. If you continue with us like this, you will only become prey for the Bido Sect. Surely you do not wish for your subordinates to die in vain?"
"That is true, but..."
"Subjugation is not the only way to earn merit. Guarding the reclaimed lands so they aren't taken back is also a highly important task."
Having sharply pointed out the reality, it was now time to soothe them.
Despite the harassment that had lasted for over ten days, Dang Hwa-young's advance had been swift. They had seized the Bido Sect's vacant territories, freed those oppressed by them, and initiated purification efforts. However, Dang Hwa-young had to continue marching toward the Sasa Sect, which meant someone had to stay behind to guard the Bido Sect's former lands.
"Ahem. I suppose it cannot be helped."
Heo Won-ho finally took a step back and accepted reality. Of course, not everyone was so compliant.
"May I ask one thing?"
The eyes of a middle-aged man, who had kept a low profile until now, turned toward Yoo-sung.
"I understand why we are staying behind since we are of no help. But why are you taking that fellow along?"
"Did they say he is Do Yoo-sung of the Heavenly Sword Academy?"
"I've heard of it. Isn't that the place that vied for supremacy with the Cheondo Gate?"
"Vied for supremacy? Please. It's just a mere martial academy."
It was a blatant attempt to target and pick a fight with Yoo-sung. Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Dang Hwa-young and Dang Hwa-soo furrowed their brows.
Of course, their concern was not for Yoo-sung, but for the fools trying to provoke him. From what they had seen, Yoo-sung never let a provocation slide.
"Hmm, I wonder who it is. The one egging on these idiots to pick a fight with me."
Stroking his chin, Yoo-sung openly insulted them, acting exactly as Dang Hwa-young and Dang Hwa-soo had expected. With Yoo-sung's words, the atmosphere instantly turned ice-cold.