Chapter 152
Chapter 152
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Summoning the Evil Ten Absolutes
-----------------------------------------------------------------
How many battles do martial artists who roam the jianghu fight in a lifetime?
Those who have only recently begun learning martial arts, or the young ones, might not see many at all.
But in general, unless they seclude themselves entirely for cultivation, by the time they mature from youth to manhood, they'll have engaged in dozens of fights or sparring matches.
By middle age, that number swells to hundreds, and for those who reach old age, it can climb into the thousands.
And crucially, in those fights or spars, the opponent is always a living person.
Facing off person-to-person, pitting inner strength against inner strength lifetime after lifetime, builds something beyond mere martial prowess.
That something is...
'The ability to gauge them.'
How strong is the opponent?
What level is their cultivation?
What are their weaknesses?
What kind of attacks do they favor?
And can I win if we fight?
Martial artists naturally size up their foes the moment they meet.
Hudo, witnessing the battlefield now, was no different.
To him, the flailing warriors and disciples of the Danri Clan looked less like people and more like rats.
Beings he could crush underfoot whenever he pleased.
Yet...
'What the hell is that guy?'
Hudo stared blankly at the Nakryong Society Leader who had joined the fray.
He wasn't wielding flashy, extravagant martial arts, nor wielding sharp, keen weapons.
He simply crushed bones barehanded, tore muscles, and ripped flesh from bodies.
In his wake trailed scenes of carnage and agonized screams.
Just watching sent chills racing up Hudo's spine.
"What the fuck did these crazy righteous faction bastards call in as reinforcements...?"
Muttering to himself, Hudo took hesitant steps backward.
Then, as he turned to flee, he paused.
"......"
Still, he was the sect leader of the Gu-sa Sect. Could he really tuck tail and run like this?
Who was he?
The master of the Gu-sa Sect, hailed as the top demonic sword sect in Shaanxi Province.
That thought shifted his mind in another direction.
Sure, that society leader might seem strong against weaklings, but maybe he had weaknesses against true masters?
Even now, looking closer, he wasn't displaying any proper martial arts.
Maybe it wasn't that he didn't use martial arts, but that he was ignorant of them?
A ronin, perhaps with killer instincts honed only in real combat?
It was a plausible theory.
'...Thinking like that, he seems manageable enough.'
No matter how strong, he couldn't compare to a true expert like himself, versed in orthodox techniques.
Besides, if that guy was the society leader, taking him down would leave no one stronger in Dankyeong, right?
Even the Danri Clan Patriarch hadn't given off that vibe.
Overpower him, and the tide in Dankyeong would swing straight to the Gu-sa Sect.
Chin.
His thoughts settled, Hudo whirled back around.
Staring at the Nakryong Society Leader, his resolve nearly crumbled again, but he held firm.
Hoo. Hoo.
Gripping his greatsword tighter, he took deep breaths to steady himself.
Seizing the moment the Nakryong Society Leader turned his back...
Thud thud thud thud!
He surged forward in a burst of speed from behind.
'Die—!'
And as he swung the greatsword high overhead in a massive downward chop...
Their eyes met as the Nakryong Society Leader glanced back.
And then...
"Urgh......"
Hudo blinked his eyes open, groaning.
Regaining his senses, he surveyed his surroundings.
He lay sprawled amid the ruins of the shattered inn, moonlight streaming through the gaping hole in the ceiling.
Beside him lay his prized greatsword—its blade utterly shattered, leaving only the hilt.
Taking stock of the wreckage, he tried to rise.
But his body, battered as if smashed to pieces, refused to obey.
"Hah."
Sighing deeply, he abandoned the effort and stretched out comfortably on the inn's ruined floor.
'My gut feelings never lie, huh.'
To think he'd be knocked out without even grazing the guy.
As his instincts had sensed, the gap in skill between him and the Nakryong Society Leader was vast.
"Damn it. We were so close, and then this wrench gets thrown in."
He hadn't for a second imagined losing a head-on clash between the Danri Clan and Gu-sa Sect, families and sects pitted directly.
They'd prepared meticulously for ages, and their numbers of top experts were decisively superior.
They'd been on the verge of claiming Dankyeong outright.
But then, an abrupt variable crashed the party.
"If those ronin bastards hadn't shown up—if not even just that society leader—we could've swallowed Dankyeong whole!"
Clang—
Fury boiling over, Hudo hurled the broken sword hilt aside.
No matter how he replayed it, the plan was foolproof. One person's interference had ruined everything.
How could anyone have predicted such a freak intervention?
He felt the world itself had wronged him.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
Then, footsteps approached from the inn's entrance.
A man rushed in, shouting at him.
"Sect Leader!"
Horrified by Hudo's wretched state, he hurried over.
"Are you alright?"
"Does this look alright to you?"
"S-sorry."
Hudo snapped irritably at his innocent deputy, who had come looking for him.
The deputy alternated glances between the demolished inn and Hudo, unable to hide his shock.
"What calamity befell you...?"
"I met a devil."
"......Pardon?"
The deputy tilted his head in confusion, but Hudo offered no elaboration.
With the deputy's support, he dragged himself up and limped away.
Seeing this, the deputy spoke in a voice thick with despair.
"With you injured, Sect Leader, we'll have to go fully defensive and hold out while you recover."
The Gu-sa Sect's top fighter, the sect leader himself, had been pulverized.
By the look of it, a full year of recuperation wouldn't suffice.
Worse still, it meant the Danri Clan side had an expert capable of inflicting this damage.
Thus, the deputy prioritized countermeasures.
"First, we'll rally all disciples, declare the sect closed, and revise our plans."
Having assessed Hudo's condition, the deputy's proposal was eminently reasonable.
But Hudo thought differently.
"No. No need."
He cut the deputy off curtly.
The deputy voiced his doubt.
This was clearly the best path—why refuse...?
"Do you have some ingenious stratagem to resolve this?"
Hudo twisted his lips in a sinister smirk.
"They called in sneaky reinforcements, so we'll counter in kind."
"You mean..."
"Exactly."
Nodding, Hudo intoned in a chilling voice.
"We'll request aid from the Four Black Alliances."
Flinch.
The deputy's shoulders twitched at the words.
The Four Black Alliances' name was not one to utter lightly.
"They won't ignore us. Our bid to dominate Dankyeong ties into their interests too."
Hudo hadn't originally planned to call for help.
Achievements won by one's own strength brought greater rewards.
But now, that luxury was gone.
On the brink of losing everything, who had time for rewards?
Winning the immediate battle came first.
"With the Four Black Alliances' support, we can crush the Danri Clan effortlessly."
"More importantly, who they send matters. We need someone to take down that devil."
The deputy nodded.
"When we send word, I'll request one of the demonic hundred masters."
"...No, that's not enough."
Hudo dismissed it outright, prompting the deputy to tilt his head.
"Pardon? Then...?"
Hudo spoke with unyielding resolve, lips parting.
"One of the demonic ten masters."
"......!"
As the deputy's pupils dilated, Hudo continued in a voice that sent shivers down the spine.
"Request the aid of the Ten Absolutes of the Evil Path."
"It's quiet."
"Yeah. The Gu-sa Sect disciples have completely vanished."
Seven days and nights had passed since the simultaneous Gu-sa Sect raids.
Having failed and retreated, they hadn't shown their faces since.
Thus, Dankyeong's streets now held only townsfolk and Danri Clan warriors.
The Nakryong Society patrolled leisurely, while Hyeok Mulin strolled casually with Danri Hyang, chatting idly.
Danri Hyang's gaze fell on merchants hawking wares before shops and children playing in alleys.
A faint, pleased smile crossed his face as he watched.
"They hardly ventured outside until recently. Now, you can really feel how much safer the town has become."
"Places where demonic and righteous factions mingle always carry risk. They could turn into battlefields any moment."
"Still, it's a relief. With the Gu-sa Sect in hiding, it looks like they're admitting defeat and preparing to close their gates."
Danri Hyang's view aligned with the common sentiment. But Hyeok Mulin seemed unconvinced.
"Is that so?"
"......Pardon?"
As Danri Hyang turned, Hyeok Mulin elaborated.
"Sealing their gates isn't an option for them."
Danri Hyang blinked in puzzlement at the firm tone.
"It's too late for them to sue for peace now, and the Danri Clan wouldn't accept anyway."
"Those aren't their only choices."
Danri Hyang pondered as they walked slowly.
Then, face hardening as realization dawned, he spoke.
"No way...!"
Just as he opened his mouth, a beggar woman approached and halted before them.
Toothless, hair disheveled, no trace of martial cultivation—a common street urchin.
As she blocked their path, Danri Hyang spoke first.
"Something to say?"
The beggar slowly replied.
"I... have something to deliver to the hero here..."
"......?"
She pointed at Hyeok Mulin.
From her bosom, she drew a crumpled sheet of paper and cautiously offered it to him.
"What's this?"
"I don't know exactly, but some lord told me to deliver it specifically to this hero..."
"Who was this lord?"
"He hid his form with a concealing technique. Couldn't tell who."
Hyeok Mulin could guess the setup.
Paying beggars a tael of silver to pass items or letters anonymously.
A common method to convey messages without revealing oneself.
He took the folded paper.
The beggar hesitated, then turned to leave.
"W-well, I've delivered it, so I'll be..."
Hyeok Mulin let her go.
Questioning her would just confirm she truly didn't know the sender.
Glancing at the paper in his hand, he unfolded the crumpled sheet.
Reading the words, he smirked.
"Interesting."
Danri Hyang approached cautiously.
"What does it say?"
Hyeok Mulin's lips curved upward as he answered.
"They want a one-on-one duel with me."
Just the two of us, away from the Danri Clan.
"......!"
Danri Hyang's eyes widened at the note's contents.
A duel alone? Absurd.
Demonic scum wouldn't honor it anyway.
He raised his voice in objection.
"That's too dangerous! They must have a trap waiting...!"
"Doesn't matter."
Interrupting calmly, Hyeok Mulin continued.
"Whatever they've prepared, it'll be a pipe dream against me."