Chapter 305
Chapter 305
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 305
Chapter Title: Eliminating the Rats
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"……."
The onlookers momentarily lost their words.
All those gathered were martial artists.
Moreover, they were elite experts from the Murim Alliance's Enforcement Squad, masters of internal energy.
Thus, the moment the Plum Blossom Divine Hero opened his eyes, everyone naturally sensed the spirit he emanated.
A mystical energy.
Though they had merely been watching, it wasn't enough that they were overwhelmed by the Plum Blossom Divine Hero himself—they were swallowed by his aura.
So when he finally opened his mouth, they had all anticipated what he might say.
But.
The first words he uttered were utterly different from what they expected.
"First time seeing circulation...?"
"We must have misheard that."
As everyone burst into bewilderment.
"Division Leader!"
"Are you alright?"
Some hurried forward.
It was the Extermination Squad.
They had arrived at the final battlefield after the fight ended and, upon seeing Cheonhwi circulating his energy, had immediately formed a protective circle around him.
The moment Cheonhwi opened his eyes, they rushed to his side.
There was no trace of bewilderment in response to his words.
On the contrary, they accepted what he said as entirely natural.
Because they knew his personality.
Meanwhile, Cheonhwi ignored them entirely and rose to his feet.
"Any casualties?"
He looked at them and asked.
"No deaths, just thirty-two injured. Fortunately, only light wounds that can heal with a few days of rest—no serious injuries."
Danri Gwancheon answered swiftly.
He had already grasped the Extermination Squad's status.
Cheonhwi gave the Extermination Squad a quick glance.
Under his gaze, every squad member smiled, their eyes filled with awe.
"That's not bad."
"More importantly, Division Leader, are you alright?"
Danri Gwancheon asked worriedly.
His furrowed brow was fixed on the bandages tightly wrapped around Cheonhwi's chest.
The white bandages were soaked red with blood.
It must be a deep wound.
"This is nothing."
Unlike Danri Gwancheon's concern, Cheonhwi himself was utterly calm.
'What's this compared to anything.'
To others, it might seem like a serious injury, but to Cheonhwi, it was negligible.
After all, it'd heal with a bit of saliva.
"Then that's a relief."
As Danri Gwancheon nodded.
"Division Leader. It's chilly out, and standing there like that doesn't look good, does it?"
Hogwanggae approached with a grin.
"How about throwing this on?"
Smiling, he extended his hand.
On it lay a black robe.
Cheonhwi eyed the robe held right in front of him, then looked down at his own upper body.
Only the bandages barely covered it.
The temporary shirt he'd used to staunch the wound had long been discarded, soaked in blood.
"I needed one anyway."
Cheonhwi snatched the robe and—
Swish—
draped it over himself with a flourish.
Then, looking at Hogwanggae and the Extermination Squad lined up behind him, he said,
"Everyone, stand by for a moment."
With that curt order, Cheonhwi strode forward.
Toward where Yukwon was.
Seeing Cheonhwi approach, Yukwon smiled gently and asked,
"How's your body holding up?"
"Good as new at this point."
"That's fortunate."
As Yukwon smiled with his eyes.
"Heading back now?"
Cheonhwi asked.
The assigned mission was complete.
The Undying Heaven Cult Leader had met his end, and the cult's main base had been utterly demolished.
To the point where even its shape was unrecognizable.
A perfect mission accomplished.
"Indeed. The cleanup's mostly done, so it's time to return."
Yukwon chuckled and replied, then—
Whish—
turned around.
Surveying the surroundings, he bellowed,
"Everyone, prepare to depart!"
His lion's roar echoed everywhere.
In response, the Murim Alliance martial artists, who had just finished organizing and were taking a brief rest, rose immediately and began preparations to leave.
Even the wounded did the same.
This was the southern murim.
Unorthodox territory.
If they delayed even slightly, enemies might swarm, so they had to hurry.
"Carry the seriously wounded in shifts!"
"We march without rest from here on!"
"Don't let your guard down! The mission isn't over until we return to the Alliance—don't forget that!"
Shouts rang out from all directions.
Cries to snap anyone who might have relaxed after the battle back to attention.
Yukwon, seeing those roaring without need for his own words, smiled in satisfaction. Once things were roughly sorted, he shouted once more.
"We're returning now!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than—
Whish— whish—
hundreds of martial artists unleashed their movement techniques.
Heading back to the Murim Alliance.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Undying Heaven Cult's main base was a wreck.
The Heavenly Canopy Pavilion, which had once overlooked the masses from the center, was shattered beyond recognition, and the surrounding halls and grounds were completely upended.
Nothing remained intact.
And in that desolate ruin.
"Ahh... Our god......"
"This cannot be......"
Sobs of grief echoed.
The Undying Heaven Cult disciples left behind by the departing Murim Alliance martial artists wandered in confusion, unsure how to accept the reality of losing their 'god,' the Undying Heaven Cult Leader.
Even with his severed head and limbless torso rolling on the ground before them.
Then.
"God... my god!"
A voice steeped in madness rang out.
The cult disciples' gazes turned toward the source.
There stood a familiar figure.
The Messenger of the Undying Heaven Cult, the Wandering Soul Lion.
"How could this happen......"
Madness filled his eyes.
His aura was chilling.
As he spread chaotic energy everywhere, he locked eyes with the Undying Heaven Cult Leader's lifeless gaze on the ground and knelt.
A slow, reverent motion.
Soon, with trembling hands, he reached out and grasped the severed head.
With utmost care.
He clutched it to his chest.
The blood had already dried stiff, and not a shred of vitality remained.
Only coldness greeted him.
Drip—
Tears flowed from his eyes.
Bloody tears, red as crimson.
Clutching the head, he turned, grinding his clenched teeth.
Toward the Undying Heaven Cult disciples.
"Do you not desire vengeance for our god?"
His madness-infused voice sharpened their senses.
Vengeance for god.
Those words jolted the minds lost in grief over their lost deity.
"If you do, follow me."
His words spread eerily.
Yet it was strange.
For all his burning rage, the energy in his voice was eerily calm.
In that instant.
Flash!
A gleam burst from his eyes.
A chaotic energy unlike before.
The demonic nature of the Heaven-Exterminating Demon Spirit Art.
He thrust the severed head high and bellowed,
"I shall avenge our god and grant you all eternal immortality!"
His voice echoed everywhere.
The Six Harmonies Battlefield Roar.
In an instant, the roar transformed into the Six Harmonies Battlefield Roar, searing into the disciples' minds.
As if it were the Undying Heaven Cult Leader himself speaking.
The Wandering Soul Lion, seeing life return to their eyes, unleashed his internal energy explosively.
"We shall exterminate the heavens that slew our god!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Murim Alliance martial artists, swiftly heading north and escaping Guizhou, boarded ships.
"You've arrived."
"Whew, we were wondering when you'd show."
Those who had waited anxiously on the ships for the Alliance martial artists' return lit up with joy upon seeing them.
"Huff, huff."
"I-is it finally over?"
But those who had rushed for three straight days collapsed in exhaustion the moment they boarded, skipping greetings to sprawl out flat.
Three full days.
They hadn't eaten properly, only drinking water as they pressed on.
"Ugh, I'm dying."
"So tired......"
Having gone without proper sleep too, some passed out immediately upon lying down.
Relief hit them upon reaching the ship, unleashing their fatigue.
Those with deeper internal energy reserves circulated their qi to rest.
"Phew, now we can finally relax."
Yukwon looked around with a faint smile.
It had been a near-impossible mission.
Kill the Undying Heaven Cult Leader and return.
Who could have imagined it?
"All thanks to the young hero."
His gaze followed Cheonhwi.
Having boarded and changed into fresh robes, Cheonhwi was moving his hands.
Gestures shifting here and there.
Like grasping the wind itself, exuding a captivating, subtle aura.
Then.
Swoosh—
Suddenly, his hand movements grew violent.
Gestures like raging waves.
The aftermath was immense.
The supple energy flowing from his hands churned wildly.
"Young hero. What's wrong?"
Yukwon urgently called out.
The energy felt ominous.
But Cheonhwi didn't stop—instead shaking his hands more fiercely as he replied,
"Got some rats."
"Rats?"
Yukwon muttered, then startled.
Cheonhwi had just shaken off his palm strike.
Boom!
Air exploded from his flung palm, slamming downward in all directions.
Toward the Yangtze River.
The opaque circular blast wave collided with the river water in an instant, creating massive waves.
"Hup!"
"Th-the ship's shaking!"
The ship rocked violently without warning.
Even those dozing awoke in alarm from the lurch.
Kaboom!
An explosion erupted, water geysering up.
And amid it.
Thud!
A figure emerged.
A man with jet-black hair cascading to his waist like ebony.
"S-such martial arts...!"
Leaping from the water, he scanned around in shock.
Then groaned.
No one else had escaped the attack like him.
Only the wretched remains of his subordinates below the surging river and spreading red blood.
'Fifty subordinates......'
His eyes trembled violently.
Unbelievable.
A mere palm technique had made the Yangtze explode.
An unheard-of feat.
Even he, a White Night—one of only fifty among Ilcheon's Ten Night Gate disciples—couldn't achieve such a thing.
No, not just him.
Not even the core forces of the Ten Night Gate, the Illusion Nights, could perform such a technique.
'To think that brat called the Plum Blossom Divine Hero possesses this kind of power!'
His mind raced.
He had detected the Murim Alliance ship arriving and sought information.
And now he had obtained the most shocking intel of all.
'Must report to the Gate Lord immediately!'
That thought dominated his head.
Nothing surpassed this information.
He suspected this figure might be the greatest obstacle to the Ten Night Gate's future.
Steadying his wavering body, he channeled the White Night Total Conclusion Art to its limits.
The moment pure white energy gathered at his feet.
He kicked off the churning waves.
His form flickered, piercing through the falling droplets from above.
"That one's a real rat."
Cheonhwi watched the man flee rapidly, then slowly raised his index finger.
And in that moment.
Flash!
A streak of crimson light shot out.
From his index finger, it pierced straight to the man's heart.
Stab!
Penetrating clean through.
Blood bloomed like petals from the man's body, and his corpse tumbled mid-flight, splashing into the river.
Instant death.
Only then did the water from the palm-exploded waves pour back down fully.
Whoosh—
Rain-like deluge followed, and the ship slowly regained its balance.
"What the hell just...?"
"What was that—hup!"
Those bewildered by the sudden outburst gaped at the blood spreading wide in the river and the floating corpses.
"Bodies?!"
"Hidden enemies?!"
As everyone recoiled in shock.
"Got all the rats now."
Cheonhwi, who had caused it all, said calmly.
"Let's go."