Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Raid on the Heretic Alliance
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Gwiyeong and Wi-ak, leader of the Tyrant's Path Society, finished their preparations at dawn, ready to lead their men and move out swiftly.
Having crushed the Black Dragon Society, and with Wi-ak wearing a confident expression, the atmosphere just before their departure was good.
However, Gwiyeong, still bothered by what she had heard from the orthodox faction martial artist named Jinseon, cautiously asked Wi-ak.
"By any chance, is there anyone else from the orthodox faction or other powers who knows about this attack plan?"
"Hmm? That's impossible. Only my closest aides know. My men will likely be waiting nearby when we arrive. I've already told them everything."
"Are those aides trustworthy?"
Gwiyeong's question could have been uncomfortable depending on who heard it, but Wi-ak answered as if it were nothing.
"Of course. They are men I have been with for a long time, so there is no need to worry."
She nodded in acknowledgment.
Since only Gwiyeong could currently hear Gale Blade's voice, he asked despite Wi-ak being right next to them.
[Are you going to tell him what happened yesterday?]
Gwiyeong shook her head, signaling she wouldn't, and sent her voice via telepathy so only Gale Blade could hear.
-From the looks of it, it's better to keep quiet about yesterday. Let's just watch the situation for now.
[Fine. If that is your wish.]
Gwiyeong decided to observe the situation for the time being.
If any signs of trouble appeared, it wouldn't be too late to act then.
She had already instructed her subordinates that if things went wrong or not according to plan, she would give a signal for them to scatter and escape.
Wi-ak, leader of the Tyrant's Path Society, boarded his carriage and said to Gwiyeong.
"I'll be leaving first, so don't be late."
"I will not."
Gwiyeong saw Wi-ak off and then boarded her own carriage.
And so, the carriage carrying Gwiyeong and Gale Blade followed Wi-ak's, heading toward the Heretic Alliance.
It was quite luxurious compared to the ones her subordinates rode in.
Gwiyeong asked Gale Blade, who was beside her.
"There was something I didn't get to ask before. Those demons who trapped you in the weapon... what group did they belong to, exactly?"
Gale Blade (The Blacksmith of the Demonic Cult) seemed to ponder for a moment before answering nonchalantly.
[Well, I can't be sure of the details. But I think they were bastards from the Blood Cult.]
It was a group of villains so vile that even the Six Paths Blood Demons, the highest-ranking executives of the Blood Cult, had acknowledged them.
He spoke without hesitation, since it wasn't like there were any Blood Demons nearby to call him out on his lie.
"Indeed. No matter how radical the Demonic Cult is, they wouldn't do something this insane. The Blood Cult, on the other hand, makes sense."
Gale Blade subtly averted his eyes.
"Don't you think so too? It's too cruel to be the work of the Demonic Cult."
Hearing that question, Gale Blade continued to avoid Gwiyeong's gaze as he answered.
[O-Of course. Only bastards from the Blood Cult would do such a thing.]
Gwiyeong clenched her fists, vowing revenge against the Blood Cult.
"Gale Blade, as your one and only friend, I will join you in your revenge."
[...Thank you.]
Gwiyeong could not forgive the demons of the Blood Cult who had done this to her companion.
If the executives of the Blood Cult had known the truth, it would have created quite an interesting situation, but unfortunately, that did not happen.
Gwiyeong planned to help Wi-ak and become one of the Four Heavenly Lords of the Heretic Alliance, then build her strength for Gale Blade's revenge.
***
After some time had passed, the carriages of Wi-ak and Gwiyeong entered a city located between Jiangxi and Fujian.
As it was the main base of the Heretic Alliance, despite being surrounded by hills and lakes, it was densely packed with large commercial and residential areas.
Befitting the headquarters of the unorthodox faction's strongest power, the city grew more lavishly decorated the closer one got to the center.
Wi-ak, leader of the Tyrant's Path Society, and Gwiyeong disembarked at the town entrance and entered with their faces veiled.
"You've arrived right on time."
"I merely followed your carriage, Guild Leader."
"Since your subordinates have also arrived safely, we can begin the attack immediately. How should we proceed? You must be tired from the long journey. Shall we rest for a day?"
"As you wish."
Wi-ak seemed to contemplate for a moment before making a decision.
"It'll be hard to rest properly before such a big event anyway, so let's just push through. Besides, with so many martial artists arriving, the Heretic Alliance is likely to notice."
"Understood."
"The warriors of the Tyrant's Path Society will gather the moment the attack begins, so let's go now."
Wi-ak threw off his bamboo hat, slung his guandao over his shoulder, and strode confidently toward the Heretic Alliance's main base.
Seeing this, the people around them watched with uneasy eyes.
This was because the city was built around the Heretic Alliance, so most of its residents were martial artists of the Alliance, their families, or their associates.
From the residents' perspective, Wi-ak and his subordinates, openly carrying a guandao and dressed in flamboyant clothes, were impossible not to be wary of.
As Wi-ak reached the Heretic Alliance's headquarters, massive pavilions came into view.
They were the largest buildings in the city, exuding an overwhelming presence that made it clear to anyone that this was the Heretic Alliance's domain.
Gwiyeong looked at her subordinates, whose numbers had suddenly swelled.
It seemed the warriors of the Tyrant's Path Society who had been hiding in the city had joined them.
"Halt!"
A guard at the large main gate, highly vigilant, stopped Wi-ak, Gwiyeong, and their followers.
"Do you know where you are, to dare...!"
"I am Wi-ak, leader of the Tyrant's Path Society and one of the Four Heavenly Lords. Open the gate at once. I am here to see the Alliance Leader."
"…!"
At the mention of the Four Heavenly Lords, the guard was startled and fell silent.
If he was truly one of the Four Heavenly Lords, the highest-ranking executives of the Heretic Alliance, he was an immense figure.
"A-Are you truly one of the Four Heavenly Lords?"
"You fool. Look at this token."
Wi-ak took out a token engraved with a black moon and clouds from his robes.
This token, depicting a black sky, was held by only four people in the Heretic Alliance, meaning the guard could not fail to recognize that Wi-ak was indeed one of the Four Heavenly Lords.
"M-My apologies! I failed to recognize you, my lord!"
"Yes. Now that you know, open the gate."
However, the large number of martial artists behind Wi-ak was unsettling, so the guard could not bring himself to open the gate so easily.
"P-Please, could you wait just a moment?"
"What?"
"I must first report this..."
"Hmm."
After a moment of thought, Wi-ak gave a wicked smile and said.
"Truthfully, now that we're here, it's a race against time."
"...Pardon?"
"We attack now."
While the guard stood there with a dumbfounded expression, not understanding what was happening, Wi-ak strode forward, grabbed the guard's head, and slammed it into the gate.
-CRASH!
With a tremendous impact, the gate broke off its hinges, and the guard's head exploded, killing him instantly.
This drew the attention of all the martial artists training in the Heretic Alliance's estate to Wi-ak, who grinned and shouted.
"Don't give them time to react! Charge!"
At his command, the martial artists outside leaped into action, launching a surprise attack on the Heretic Alliance.
The warriors of the Tyrant's Path Society vaulted over the walls, flying like arrows, and in an instant, they drenched the estate in blood and screams.
Seeing this, the warriors of the Black Ghost Guild and White Serpent Guild also hurried to act.
"Attack!"
"Kill them!"
"Join the Tyrant's Path Society and conquer the Heretic Alliance!"
Wi-ak looked at the Heretic Alliance's main pavilion and said to Gwiyeong.
"The Alliance Leader will notice this commotion but will remain firmly in his place. He's an arrogant man."
"Then we should head there directly."
"Exactly. Even if the leader stays put, his subordinates won't."
Wi-ak crouched, his guandao still on his shoulder.
"I'll go ahead and face the Alliance Leader. You take care of the other executives below."
"Understood."
Hearing Gwiyeong's reply, Wi-ak immediately launched himself forward, smashed through the wall of the Heretic Alliance's pavilion, and entered directly.
He reached the third floor in almost a single leap, breaking through the wall to enter, a testament to his monstrous strength.
Gwiyeong watched him and said to Gale Blade.
"...Now that we've come this far, there's no turning back. Right?"
[Right. Since we've started, we have to see it through to the end.]
A chilling aura wreathed Gale Blade as Gwiyeong entered the Heretic Alliance's pavilion.
"Guild Leader! We'll help you!"
The elite warriors of the Black Ghost Guild followed behind her.
"It's an attack!"
"How dare they attack the Heretic Alliance's main base! Fools!"
The Heretic Alliance warriors unleashed their sword energy, threatening Gwiyeong.
As expected of the Heretic Alliance's headquarters, the skill level of the warriors guarding the pavilion was high.
But even peak-level martial artists could not stop Gwiyeong when she was with Gale Blade.
-Kiiiiing
A powerful energy streamed from Gale Blade's eye.
[I'm ready.]
Hearing this, Gwiyeong immediately slammed Gale Blade into the floor.
-Kugagagagaga
Gale Blade unleashed a powerful aura, and the wooden floor of the pavilion splintered, shattered, and flew up.
The Heretic Alliance warriors charging toward Gwiyeong were stopped in their tracks, exposed to the flying wooden splinters.
"Kaaargh!"
"Such a cheap trick...!"
While their vision was momentarily obscured, Gwiyeong immediately unleashed a slash infused with Gale Blade's energy.
The bodies of the Heretic Alliance warriors were split in half, spraying blood everywhere as they were torn apart.
Gwiyeong's eyes glowed like will-o'-the-wisps as she held Gale Blade straight out, pointing forward.
"Go."
At her single word, the Black Ghost Guild warriors following her charged forward with terrifying momentum.
"Kill them!!"
"Leave none alive!"
Gwiyeong, leading from the front, cutting down enemies and commanding her subordinates, resembled a general waging a war of conquest.
[Kekek, let's show these bastards our power.]
Amidst the battle cries, the Heretic Alliance's pavilion filled with Gale Blade's eerie laughter.