The Humiliation of Paradise (3)
Pungroeja gazed at the hillside with sharp eyes.
"You said it was over there?"
"Yes. The information indicates that the group who abducted the vice hall master moved in that direction. All the witnesses' accounts match."
"Hmm."
Pungroeja frowned.
"Deunghwa has finally caused trouble. That's why I told you to cut all their throats long ago."
He spoke of terrible things with ease. Yet the words suited him perfectly. Having shed the blue robes embroidered with Qingcheng's clouds for a dark ash-gray martial uniform, he no longer resembled a Taoist. He was a sword demon in all but name.
"I'm sorry, brother," said the middle-aged woman standing beside Pungroeja with a sigh.
She possessed a beauty far surpassing Deunghwa Satae's. Her shoulder-length hair and natural makeup enhanced her already striking features, giving her an air of nobility.
Pungroeja smiled.
"How could this be your fault? Deunghwa has always liked straying from the path. That's why she remained a vice hall master despite her skill."
"I have nothing to say."
"We've already cast off the facade of our sects. Don't blame yourself."
The woman, Myeongjin, shook her head.
"We still haven't shed the dreadful facade our sects gave us. True freedom will only come after the Two Mountains One Family alliance collapses."
"You're right about that."
"Until then, we cannot discard the Taoist and Buddhist names our sects bestowed upon us. We mustn't. Pretending otherwise will only lead to a future filled with defeat."
They could not use secular names without first overturning the world. Even they had their own lines they would not cross.
Pungroeja burst into hearty laughter.
"That's why I like you, sister. You give your unworthy brother insights beyond his reach."
"Hoho, you flatter me."
It was a strange sight. Despite the countless experts behind them, the two looked at each other with affectionate eyes. A Taoist and a nun—people who had supposedly renounced the secular world—yet their gazes were filled with desire.
More shockingly, most of those watching from behind also bore expressions of unfulfilled lust. They had likely sated their carnal appetites before coming here.
It was a disturbing revelation. Some among them were practitioners of Qingcheng and Emei, while the remaining forty or so had long trained in the arts of the Two Mountains One Family alliance. Those unaffiliated with sects might be expected to behave this way, but the eleven supreme masters were clearly high-ranking figures from Qingcheng, Emei, and the Tang family—renowned names all.
Yet their faces were steeped in worldly desires. It was not merely lust. Their clothing, though dyed in colors suited to darkness, was made of astonishingly luxurious fabric upon closer inspection.
They were no longer practitioners. They were commoners drenched in secular greed.
"Let's handle the matter at hand first. We must rescue Deunghwa regardless."
"You're right. But if the worst happens..."
A subtle killing intent flickered in Myeongjin's eyes.
"Even if we must kill Deunghwa, we have to bury this incident."
"Wise words."
Pungroeja raised his hand.
"Come. Let us go."
Thus, the fifty or so experts began their slow advance into the hills. The remaining hundred assassins had already formed a flanking formation, approaching from both sides. Though united under the name Three Great Powers, an unbridgeable gap existed between the Black Dark Unit and the fifty experts from the start.
It was not merely a matter of martial prowess—the difference in status was vast. They were not equals who could walk side by side.
They had not gone far when Pungroeja furrowed his brow.
"Hmm... How surprising."
"You felt it too, brother?"
Myeongjin's eyes gleamed.
"It seems they were waiting for us."
"Indeed."
Though it was a hillside, the slope below the midpoint was nearly vertical. Of course, this posed no challenge to experts of their caliber. If they unleashed their movement techniques in earnest, they could scale it in an instant.
However—
"If they were waiting for us, they may have laid traps here."
"They would be meaningless."
"Still, caution never hurts."
Pungroeja looked to his right.
"Brother Dang."
"Yes, brother."
There stood a slender man who appeared to have just passed fifty. His eyes were sharp as a treasured blade. It was Dang Guk, the Fifth Elder of the Tang family.
"What do you think? Do you sense any traps?"
The Tang family specialized in poison and hidden weapons. Yet their expertise extended beyond that. Poisons and hidden weapons thrived in ambushes and traps, so they were naturally adept at formations and snares as well.
After surveying the surroundings, Dang Guk tilted his head.
"I don't sense any traps. The terrain itself favors defense, but it wouldn't significantly hinder experts of our level."
"Strange."
Pungroeja frowned.
"Well, why don't we try talking first?"
"I think that's best."
"Good."
Pungroeja raised his head. At the point where the near-vertical slope abruptly ended stood a man looking down with an expressionless face.
Pungroeja channeled power into his dantian.
"Who are you?"
His resonant voice echoed across the entire hillside, yet remained confined to it. Not a single word reached the rear.
It was an extraordinary display of internal energy. As the highest elder of the Qingcheng Sect, his skill was undeniable.
Pungroeja continued.
"You seem to have been waiting for us. Since we've met like this, let's exchange names."
His tone carried leisure. The man on the slope, Pae Yul, spoke.
"Impressive internal energy."
Pungroeja smiled.
"Thank you for the compliment. I'm still far from the peak. But your skill doesn't seem ordinary either. Your stance alone tells me that much."
He was different from the experts Yeon Hojeong had encountered in the back alleys. Pungroeja had descended into the secular world, tasted fine food, learned luxury, and indulged in lust. Yet those very experiences had elevated his martial arts to a higher realm. The environment, so unlike the pure atmosphere of Qingcheng Mountain, had instead drawn forth new insights.
Myeongjin had undergone the same.
Of course, they had never neglected their training for even a single day to achieve such enlightenment.
Pae Yul spoke.
"A high-ranking member of Qingcheng, I see. This deep, pure internal energy must be the Heaven and Earth Unified Qi Art, is it not?"
Pungroeja chuckled heartily.
"Your discernment is remarkable. Indeed, the art I have cultivated is the Heaven and Earth Unified Qi Art."
Even within the Qingcheng Sect, the Heaven and Earth Unified Qi Art was considered one of the greatest divine techniques. If someone had mastered such an art to this depth, they were no ordinary expert.
"A pity."
"What do you mean?"
"I've heard few in this generation have cultivated the Heaven and Earth Unified Qi Art as deeply as you. Precisely because it is so profound."
Pae Yul's eyes flashed.
"It is lamentable that someone with such astonishing talent has fallen into the demonic path."
Dang Guk roared.
"Shut your mouth! How dare you speak with that filthy tongue!"
At that moment, Pungroeja raised his hand.
"Calm yourself, brother."
"But brother—"
"You knew this would happen. Until we change everything, we must endure such judgments. It may be unpleasant, but there's no need to get overly excited."
"...I showed an unseemly side."
"Not at all. I understand."
Pungroeja turned back to Pae Yul.
"Our positions are simply too different. I don't think a lengthy explanation is necessary."
"..."
"If you don't wish to exchange names, I'll ask something else. What happened to Deunghwa?"
Pae Yul smiled. His cold smile beneath the moonlight was chilling enough to make one's nerves stand on end.
"What do you think happened?"
"Did you kill her?"
"I made her wish she were dead instead."
Pungroeja's eyes deepened.
"Was that necessary?"
"Necessary? If you want to have that conversation, then I have a question of my own. Did you need to set foot in such a lawless world?"
"Haha, you got me there."
Pungroeja nodded.
"Very well. Now that it's come to this, there's no helping it. I thought we might resolve this without conflict, but it seems inevitable."
"The moment you crossed the line, no one could deal with you easily."
"I won't deny it."
Shrrring.
Pungroeja drew his sword. The Pine Wind Sword, symbol of Qingcheng, was nowhere to be seen. The blade in his hand was no blunt Taoist sword—it was a jeweled saber radiating fierce killing intent.
"You probably won't answer, but I'll ask one last thing."
Flash!
A brilliant light surged in Pungroeja's eyes.
"Where are the others? The report said there were four of them."
Whooooong.
Pae Yul drew his spear. His eyes now gleamed with a terrifying light as well.
"Why do you think I stayed behind? To capture and kill all of you?"
"...?"
"Hardly. My companions have already scattered in all directions to spread word of your existence."
Whoosh!
A tremendous killing intent erupted from the fifty experts. It was like a storm of murderous aura. Pae Yul, who prided himself on his spirit and courage, could not help but be shaken by the combined presence of so many masters.
Pungroeja's face hardened.
"You're making this difficult."
"That's what I wanted to say. You're awfully relaxed given the situation."
"Don't be so confident. Our eyes are spread throughout Sichuan. Your entire group will be captured before today's events can even be reported to your superiors."
Ziing! Ziiing!
A crimson glow blazed along Pungroeja's saber.
Pae Yul's eyes wavered. Red Descent Sword!
Pungroeja took a step forward.
"Let's start by catching you."
In an instant, his sword slashed upward from below.
Flash! Kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!
A vertical crimson sword light carved a massive gash into the slope. The tyrannical sword force split the cliff in half and continued toward Pae Yul's position.
Whoosh!
Pae Yul leaped into the air.
Pungroeja's lips curled upward.
"As expected, excellent skill."
Merely dodging that single strike proved the opponent had mastered a high-level art.
"However, fleeing into the air was a mistake."
Whooooong!
Dang Guk and over twenty experts raised their poison arts and drew hidden weapons.
Dang Guk shouted.
"Everyone, prepare—!"
At that moment—
Kwaaaang!
With a tremendous explosion, an enormous fighting spirit erupted before Pungroeja.
Shock flashed across Pungroeja's face. He couldn't see the face. There was no time to care about such things.
He couldn't tell where the attacker had come from. Had they been hiding in a tunnel beneath the ground?
"Who—?!"
Shrrrrrrk!
The Flood Dragon Chain whirled toward Pungroeja's neck.
Pungroeja desperately raised his saber to block.
Claaang!
A deafening resonance pierced every expert's ears. This!
Pungroeja's eyes widened. His palms felt as though they would tear apart. Even though he had responded to the ambush with his sword, the unknown opponent's attack was overwhelmingly powerful. What in the world is this!
Whoosh! Thud!
A black axe, accompanied by wind pressure, struck Pungroeja's shoulder.
Staggering backward, Pungroeja looked up. A gleaming white axe blade filled his vision. I can't dodge—?!
Thud!
With a sickening sound of flesh tearing, Pungroeja's head split in two like a ripe fruit.
Boom!
Myeongjin's fist wind and Dang Guk's palm force rained down, but the assailant had already retreated.
"Hoo."
The attacker, Yeon Hojeong, spun the White Dragon Axe and grumbled.
"Only one? You all talked quite big."