Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Chapter 8. Chaos Is Like a Swamp That Draws Everything In (3)
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True Man Hyeon So looked around with a frustrated expression.
No matter where he turned, towering walls enclosed him on all sides.
The place he was in was a small annex in the corner of the Sakju branch. It was called an annex, but with only one entrance and surrounded by high walls, it was no different from a prison cell.
True Man Hyeon Geom had said that he and the children would stay here, and tomorrow morning, disciples from the Mount Hua Sect would come to take them back to Mount Hua.
Until then, they had no choice but to remain stuck here. It was only for a single day, but it felt suffocating, like being trapped in a chicken coop.
“Grandpa.”
Ha Yeong and the children gathered around him like chicks seeking their mother hen.
“It’s fine. Everything will be fine.”
Those words were as much for himself as for them.
At that moment, the entrance to the annex opened, and someone stepped inside. Tension flashed across the faces of True Man Hyeon So and the children.
The young man, who appeared to be in his late twenties, was none other than Cho Yeon-un.
Cho Yeon-un greeted True Man Hyeon So and the children, who were visibly on edge, with a smile.
“I am Cho Yeon-un of the White Battle Gate. Since I’m friends with your disciple Dam Ho, there’s no need to be so tense.”
“Cho Yeon-un?”
“That’s right. Dam Ho and I have been connected since our first forays into the martial world.”
“I see.”
The wariness faded from True Man Hyeon So’s face.
“Come in. Given the circumstances, I can’t help but suspect anyone new.”
“I understand. I’d do the same.”
“A friend of my disciple... Even seeing you now, it’s hard to believe. That boy making friends.”
“Haha! It wasn’t easy at first. As you know, he’s quite prickly.”
“Mm! Ho does have his rough edges.”
“Don’t even get me started.”
Cho Yeon-un chatted amiably, as if reuniting with an old acquaintance.
He spoke of his meeting with Dam Ho, their actions in Evil Sheep, and everything else he knew.
True Man Hyeon So became completely absorbed in Cho Yeon-un’s words.
The life of his disciple that he knew nothing about. He laughed and cried at Cho Yeon-un’s tales.
Ha So-wol glanced toward the annex.
A long time had passed since Cho Yeon-un had entered, yet he showed no sign of coming out. That meant there was much to discuss.
“Whew!”
A faint sigh escaped through Ha So-wol’s red lips.
For some reason, her heart felt especially unsettled today. She had tried to head to the training ground and swing her sword freely, but her focus wouldn’t settle, so she gave up.
Spring had arrived, but the wind was still chilly. As Ha So-wol pulled her collar tighter and began to walk.
Rustle!
A low noise that would have gone unheard if not for the deathly silence spread through the air.
“What’s this?”
Ha So-wol’s face hardened.
An ominous feeling assaulted her mind. Such instincts had never once been wrong.
Boom!
Immediately after, a sinister energy swept through the Sakju branch. It was so powerful that even those with weak senses could feel it.
“It’s an attack.”
“The Demonic Cult! The Demonic Cult is attacking!”
Urgent voices rose from all directions.
“Damn it! An attack in the dead of night.”
“Move out!”
Warriors who had been sleeping poured out in droves. The armed warriors rushed toward the main gate with furious expressions, where the enemies had struck.
Ha So-wol also headed toward the main gate. Her face was set hard.
The cold wind carried a thick murderous intent.
“This will be a very long night.”
Shing!
She drew her cherished sword, Byeoksang.
Upon arriving near the main gate, a thick stench of blood hit her. As expected, a fierce battle with the Demonic Cult was raging near the gate.
In the darkness, it was impossible to count exactly how many had attacked. What was clear was that there were a great many of them, and they were extremely strong.
The fact that most of the fallen, bleeding warriors were from the Martial Alliance side said it all.
“You devilish bastards!”
“Kill them all!”
The Martial Alliance warriors’ curses echoed through Sakju’s night sky.
From low-ranking warriors to Sakju Branch Chief Gong Son-jung, all had rushed out to clash with the enemy.
Instead of joining the fray, Ha So-wol stared into the darkness.
She could sense even stronger foes waiting behind the veil of shadows.
Their阴湿 breaths chilled her nape ominously.
‘The real ones are those. The rest are just bait to gauge our response.’
As Ha So-wol gripped Byeoksang tighter.
“Not bad.”
Someone emerged from the darkness.
For a moment, Ha So-wol felt as if the shadows themselves were writhing.
He was a middle-aged warrior with a hooked nose, prominent cheekbones, and robes as red as blood.
An indescribable ominous aura emanated thickly from his body.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Deng Tianxiao. Have you heard of me?”
Ha So-wol shook her head. A sinister smile curled on Deng Tianxiao’s lips.
“What a pity. But you’ll know soon enough. Who this Blood Sea Judge Deng Tianxiao is, that is. Ah, but you won’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll die here. The dead can’t hear rumors.”
Deng Tianxiao treated Ha So-wol as already dead.
Gritting her teeth, Ha So-wol said.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Hmm? Should I?”
“You should. My name is Ha So-wol.”
“Oh! The Sea Flower? One of the Nine Dragons is here.”
Deng Tianxiao’s eyes gleamed even more ferociously. Ha So-wol flinched momentarily but did not retreat.
Deng Tianxiao approached her.
“One of the Nine Dragons will more than suffice as a sacrifice.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“Impressive! So arrogant. Youth has its perks—brimming with spirit.”
Boom!
As a powerful aura erupted from Deng Tianxiao’s entire body, Ha So-wol’s form was pushed back. Her face paled.
‘Strong!’
Deng Tianxiao exuded a force stronger than any warrior she had ever faced.
She instinctively knew she was no match. But she had no intention of sitting idly by and accepting defeat.
As she steeled her resolve.
“Fine child. However, knowing you’re outmatched, sometimes retreat is the wisest path.”
A cold voice came from behind Ha So-wol.
Step. Step.
Low footsteps followed.
Startled, Ha So-wol turned to see a middle-aged man walking out from within the Sakju branch.
“Ah!”
“I’ll handle him. Go aid the others.”
His face was as cold as ice, matched by his chilling demeanor. A middle-aged man with a sharpness like a honed blade.
At his appearance, Deng Tianxiao’s expression hardened.
The newcomer radiated an extraordinary aura.
True Man Hyeon Geom looked at Deng Tianxiao and said.
“Worried we’d say not all Demonic Cultists are wicked, so you bully children.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Hyeon Geom of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“Hyeon Geom? Mount Hua’s Supreme Sword?”
“Indeed.”
“Oh! A real heavyweight has appeared.”
Only then did a smile form on Deng Tianxiao’s lips. Finally, a worthy opponent.
“Shall we see just how skilled Mount Hua’s Supreme Sword is?”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
Shing!
True Man Hyeon Geom drew his weathered iron sword.
It wasn’t sharp like a new blade, nor did it possess any particular brilliance. Yet it felt eerily menacing.
Deng Tianxiao also drew one of his three swords.
Whoosh!
True Man Hyeon Geom charged, whipping up the wind.
Clang! Clang!
Swords clashed, sparks flying in the darkness.
A fierce gale swept the surroundings.
“Mm!”
Ha So-wol hurriedly retreated.
Deng Tianxiao and True Man Hyeon Geom.
Their skills far surpassed Ha So-wol’s level. They were opponents she couldn’t dare insert herself against.
Leaving them be, Ha So-wol sought another foe. She soon found one.
He was a young warrior wielding a sword, who had already slain over five Martial Alliance warriors with his blade.
“Cha!”
Ha So-wol charged at him without hesitation.
Swoosh!
Byeoksang spat forth a blue sword qi.
“Urk! What’s all this commotion?”
Cho Yeon-un’s face twisted.
He had been deep in conversation with True Man Hyeon So in the annex when the uproar suddenly erupted.
He worried about his fellow disciples and wondered about the safety of the others.
He wanted to rush out and fight the enemies himself. But True Man Hyeon So and the children were defenseless, ignorant of martial arts. He couldn’t leave them unguarded and run off alone.
“Please hold on.”
He prayed his fellow disciples were safe.
Turning his head, he saw the children huddled around True Man Hyeon So, their terrified faces clear.
Cho Yeon-un forced a smile toward True Man Hyeon So.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect this place.”
“Thank you!”
“It’s only natural. No need to thank me.”
Raising his internal energy, Cho Yeon-un prepared for any sudden eventuality.
It was then.
Swoosh!
A group of warriors leaped over the wall.
Cho Yeon-un gritted his teeth.
“No good scum sneak over walls in the dead of night.”
He unleashed the Eight Emperors Divine Fist toward them.
Crack! Crack!
“Urk!”
“Guh!”
The intruders screamed and fell.
He dispatched four in an instant, but many more had scaled the wall.
Shing!
Drawing their swords, they charged at Cho Yeon-un, True Man Hyeon So, and the rest.
“Aaah!”
“Scary! Grandpa!”
Frightened by their murderous eyes, the children burst into tears. True Man Hyeon So gathered them close and said.
“It’s fine. Everything will be fine.”
“Waaah!”
The yard instantly turned into chaos with the children’s wails.
“Tch!”
A grinding of teeth leaked from Cho Yeon-un’s clenched lips.
“You think you can harm the children?”
He unleashed successive ultimate techniques of the Eight Emperors Divine Fist. The intruders faltered before its fearsome power. Then their leader shouted.
“His weakness is the Daoist and the kids. Subdue them first!”
Those not engaging Cho Yeon-un circled around toward True Man Hyeon So and the children.
“Damn it!”
Even witnessing it, Cho Yeon-un couldn’t move.
The enemies swarmed like dogs. Cho Yeon-un was pinned down by them.
Meanwhile, the warriors approaching True Man Hyeon So and the children swung their blades.
Swoosh!
“Stop! You dog bastards.”
At that instant, a group of warriors burst through the door into the annex. They shielded True Man Hyeon So and the children while confronting the intruders.
“Junior brothers!”
Relief finally washed over Cho Yeon-un’s face.
The ones who had suddenly appeared to protect True Man Hyeon So and the children were his fellow White Battle Gate warriors.
Now able to breathe a sigh, Cho Yeon-un grinned at the intruders.
“You’re all dead meat.”