Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 296
Chapter Title: Diversionary Operation
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Following Chu Gwang, they arrived at a riverbank where several ships were moored.
'They've already gathered this many ships?'
While marveling at the vessels prepared in such a short time.
"Hm?"
Cheonhwi suddenly narrowed his eyes.
The flags planted on each ship fluttered fiercely in the blowing wind, and the characters written on them were all too familiar.
[All-Under-Heaven Merchant Group]
They said they'd joined hands with the Murim Alliance—had they provided this kind of support as well?
No wonder it seemed so thorough, gathering so many people on such short notice. Seeing the flags made it all click.
In war, nothing was more essential than money, especially as the numbers mobilized grew.
Supplies and food were a must, of course.
And in this war split between south and north of the river, ships to cross the Yangtze were particularly vital.
Conditions that would normally be far from easy.
But with the All-Under-Heaven Merchant Group lending aid, it became simpler than anything.
They had money to spare, and as those who regularly crossed the Yangtze for trade, they owned multiple vessels.
'Looks like they really gritted their teeth for this.'
Gazing at the flags boldly bearing the merchant group's name on every ship, Cheonhwi recalled the face of the All-Under-Heaven Merchant Group's leader he'd seen before.
A white-haired elder with a gentle countenance.
But beneath it lurked the cold sharpness of a crafty fox.
And such people weren't merciful enough to leave threats to their position alone.
That was the result.
Normally, they wouldn't need to fly flags reading 'All-Under-Heaven Merchant Group.'
These were ships for Murim Alliance warriors to board.
But the merchant group made no effort to hide it.
The implication was singular.
They wanted the world to know they were backing the Murim Alliance.
'The outcome of this war will reshape the commercial landscape under heaven.'
The war between the Murim Alliance and the Evil-Black Alliance.
Behind it raged a fierce contest between the All-Under-Heaven and Great Silver Merchant Groups for the title of supreme merchant power.
'Victory means plenty to claim.'
Cheonhwi's lips curled upward.
The war's result would surely bring downfall to one of the two merchant groups.
And Cheonhwi was certain, naturally, that the Murim Alliance would triumph.
'With me here, it's a given.'
As Cheonhwi thought confidently, his lips twisted further.
"We've arrived."
Chu Gwang halted and spoke.
They stood before the largest among the many ships.
Cheonhwi pushed aside his thoughts and turned his gaze to the ship Chu Gwang regarded.
"Come aboard."
With those words, Chu Gwang stomped the ground.
Thud.
Qi rippled from his stepping foot, kicking up dust as he cleaved through the air.
In a single bound, he landed on the bow and looked down.
Then he flinched.
Cheonhwi, who should have been below, was gone.
'Where did he...'
As the startled man started to turn his head.
"Now we head that way, right?"
A voice came from right beside him.
Chu Gwang whipped around in alarm, his eyes widening round.
Cheonhwi stood right there.
'When...?'
Chills raced up his spine.
The distance was close enough to hear breathing, yet he hadn't noticed.
Not his movement, not even his presence.
If Cheonhwi had been an enemy, his neck would already be gone by now.
'Hah. To possess such prowess.'
A hollow laugh escaped in disbelief.
He'd heard endlessly that the Plum Blossom Divine Hero was exceptional, but this was his first time witnessing it firsthand.
And he understood instantly.
It was that overwhelming.
He shook his head.
'A different league altogether.'
At that moment, Cheonhwi took a step forward.
Though Chu Gwang hadn't said where, his stride was unwavering.
'Looks like it's signaling over there.'
Cheonhwi's gaze fixed on the stern, where a strange aura emanated.
Multiple presences clashed in rivalry.
'Having a contest of auras?'
Cheonhwi smoothly deflected the flow of auras as he continued stepping forward.
One step, two steps.
After about ten steps.
He stopped.
Cheonhwi had reached his intended destination at the stern.
In the ship's rear, swaying with the Yangtze's waves, sat a crudely assembled round table and seven chairs.
Four of them held a man and woman staring each other down, each radiating presence.
At Cheonhwi's arrival, their eyes flashed sharply.
"Hm? Mount Hua Sect...?"
"Then that young kid must be the Plum Blossom Divine Hero?"
"We heard he'd come straight from the Ami Sect, but faster than expected."
"I always wanted to see you someday—perfect timing."
As their remarks toward Cheonhwi tapered off.
Whoosh!
From the two men on the left, translucent energy surged across their bodies, crashing toward Cheonhwi like Yangtze waves.
Well, now.
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
The two who'd released their auras watched him with gleaming, intrigued eyes.
As if to pressure him—no, more like testing him.
"Hm, playing an interesting game."
Cheonhwi chuckled softly and raised his right hand.
Flick—
A light motion, as if brushing something away.
An elegant gesture like chasing a butterfly.
But the result of that single gesture was astonishing.
The soft energy from the elegant motion manifested instantly as hundreds of strands of sword energy, clamping down on their auras.
Slice!
It severed their auras in one stroke.
A single technique that instantly disrupted the flow.
The manifestation of a realm's pinnacle technique.
"...!"
"Gasp!"
The startled pair swallowed hard.
Not just them—the opposite man and woman, who hadn't exuded auras, had shaken eyes at the scene.
The situation resolved in one technique.
In the face of such overwhelming spectacle, even awe-inspiring, the four lost their composure.
It was inevitable.
Who were the two who'd just unleashed their auras?
Demonic Subjugation Unit Leader, Soul-Severing Single Skill Master So Seongjeok, and among the Murim Alliance's top sword experts, Evil-Exorcising Ghost Sword Ko Youngnak.
Both elders-level in the Nine Great Sects, their skills had glimpsed the Transcendent Realm from the Boundless Realm.
Yet their auras crumbled in one stroke—it was natural they'd be thrown into turmoil.
Cheonhwi smirked at the four with dazed, incredulous expressions.
It was mockery.
"Shall I return the favor?"
With those words, Cheonhwi drew up his Plum Blossom Divine Art energy and took a step forward.
Step.
The sound was faint.
But in that instant, his presence swelled like a giant's, an immense aura spreading out.
From behind his back.
The indescribable aura bloomed momentarily like a flower bud unfurling, scattering a subtle glow in all directions.
Thud!
It crushed them—no, precisely just So Seongjeok and Ko Youngnak.
"This...!"
"...!"
As their faces paled trying to dispel the crushing pressure.
Thud.
Someone dropped down from above.
A middle-aged man clad in deep blue flames like armor over his body.
The man furrowed his brow at Cheonhwi's aura, then cautiously spoke.
"Could you withdraw your aura?"
Cheonhwi looked at him and replied.
"They started it first."
"......"
The man's eyebrow twitched.
He turned back, addressing the group.
"Is the young hero's word true?"
"Ahem."
"Khm."
The two who'd unleashed energy on Cheonhwi coughed awkwardly, averting their eyes.
"......You two again."
As if this wasn't the first time, the man let out a deep sigh.
He turned back to Cheonhwi and bowed his head.
"My apologies. These two have long been curious about you, famed across the rivers and lakes, and couldn't hold back their interest. Isn't that right?"
At the end, he glared at the pair with weighted tone and raised brows.
They smiled sheepishly and bowed their heads.
"Sorry about that."
"We just wanted to see the prowess of the rivers and lakes' prodigy."
Seeing them bow and apologize, Cheonhwi felt his rising excitement deflate.
"Hm, what a shame."
With those words, he withdrew his energy.
It had happened before he even finished speaking.
The onlookers paled.
Drawing up energy was quick, but dissipating it was harder.
Especially the more you'd amassed.
But Cheonhwi?
It was instantaneous.
And utterly natural.
Meaning, by his standards, this level of energy wasn't much.
'A monster.'
'Nearly got ourselves killed testing a guy like this.'
'The world's top prodigy, indeed...'
'Righteousness's great fortune.'
The two who'd tested him clicked their tongues, while the others exclaimed in admiration.
That was when.
"The Six Heroes have arrived as well."
Vanguard Unit Leader Chu Gwang reappeared.
Seeing the middle-aged man, he greeted him with a bright expression.
And rightly so—the man was renowned even in the current rivers and lakes.
Heavenly Might New Blade Yuk Won.
A master acknowledged by the Nine Great Sects' sect leaders.
"It's been a while, Vanguard Hero."
Yuk Won smiled faintly at the Vanguard Unit Leader, then turned and murmured.
"Now that everyone's gathered, shall we begin the meeting?"
Moments later, all took their seats.
Heavenly Might New Blade Yuk Won.
Vanguard Unit Leader, Fleeting Sword Chu Gwang.
Demonic Subjugation Unit Leader, Soul-Severing Single Skill Master So Seongjeok.
Evil-Exorcising Ghost Sword Ko Youngnak.
Scattered Hand Shadowless Eun Seolseol.
Heaven-Piercing Single Spear Ki Junghak.
And Plum Blossom Divine Hero Cheonhwi.
Each was a pillar and famed figure in the Murim Alliance.
Yuk Won scanned the six seated, then spoke gravely.
"As everyone here knows, taking down all the Immortal Heaven Cult's followers with this number is impossible."
A negative start.
But realistic.
No matter how many the Murim Alliance mustered—thousands—they numbered only a fraction of the cult's tens of thousands.
Eradicating them all would take ages.
"So, we're launching a diversionary operation."
"Diversionary operation?"
"A small force strikes from the rear to eliminate the Immortal Heaven Cult Leader. If the leader falls, even the Immortal Heaven Cult will fall into chaos."
All held their breath.
The most efficient method.
But far from easy.
Even a raid wouldn't make the path to the cult leader any less perilous.
And the Immortal Heaven Cult Leader was no ordinary master.
A Transcendent Realm expert whose name had shaken the rivers and lakes for decades.
"Is that feasible?"
Heaven-Piercing Single Spear asked cautiously.
"I don't know. But we have to make it possible somehow."
Yuk Won replied calmly.
"It's the only way."
"......"
As Heaven-Piercing Single Spear fell silent.
"How many will go?"
Evil-Exorcising Ghost Sword asked, nose bridge furrowed.
Perhaps the key question.
"No more than ten."
"Ten or fewer?"
"......Too risky."
"Is it possible?"
"Isn't that too few?"
"......"
The five, excluding the nonchalant Cheonhwi, furrowed their brows tighter.
Far too small a number.
Seeing their uneasy faces, Yuk Won shook his head.
"Attacking the Immortal Heaven Cult head-on—if we're short on elites, they'll notice something's off. And larger groups limit mobility. A handful of top masters is more threatening."
"......"
His words poured like a waterfall, silencing them.
There was logic to it.
"Thus, the Demonic Subjugation and Vanguard Units' warriors are out of this mission."
Noting the displeased expressions of the Vanguard and Demonic Subjugation leaders, he quickly added.
"Instead, you two lead your units head-on to shake the Immortal Heaven Cult. Keep the diversion secret. Ideally, draw the eyes of their elites—the Thirteen Dead Ones and Immortal Chief Instructors. The higher the odds the Cult Leader stands alone, the better our chances."
At Yuk Won's continued explanation, the pair nodded slowly with tense gazes.
It was as crucial as slaying the Cult Leader.
Yuk Won then turned to the remaining four.
"You four will move with me."
His expression grew solemn.
As the three excluding Cheonhwi mirrored his gravity, Yuk Won drew a deep breath and declared.
"To kill the Immortal Heaven Cult Leader."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The meeting ended, and the Murim Alliance warriors began boarding the ships.
Ten vessels carrying over a thousand crossed the Yangtze.
Toward the opposite shore, where Guizhou—and the Immortal Heaven Cult—lay.