Chapter 292
Chapter 292
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 292
Chapter Title: Sichuan Tang Clan (2)
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A hatchet the size of a child's toy spun in Dowol Wolma's hands like a pair of chopsticks.
The spinning hatchet unleashed pitch-black whirlwinds formed of qi in all directions.
Sssak! Sssaak!
Ssseeeaak!
Tang Ho-tae charged straight toward the Dowol Wolma.
In the meantime, I opened my mouth.
"We'll handle the western side!"
At that, the remaining two directions saw Gwi-ui and Dok-gwi kick off the ground.
My Eon younger brothers, who had taken responsibility for the west, drew their swords and dashed out.
All except one person.
Ye Hae-su stood frozen in place.
'It's not that I don't understand...'
Ye Hae-su was someone who had never experienced real combat.
He had lived a peaceful life at the Azure Bamboo Pavilion and only handled clerical work even at the Murim Alliance.
On top of that, the killing intent Dowol Wolma had just unleashed was so intense that even I, with all my battlefield experience, felt it prickling my skin.
'It's no wonder his qi is faltering.'
However, staying like that would put both him and us in danger.
I halted my step toward the west and grabbed Ye Hae-su's shoulder.
"Senior Brother!"
"Huh? Ah, yes! Junior Brother!"
"Pull yourself together."
"Ah, got it."
I pointed toward the building where the Sichuan branch head of the Hao Clan was leading his informants inside and spoke.
"Go there. He's not an opponent we can fight while worrying about you. If you stay here, you'll be in danger, and so will we."
"...Yes, Junior Brother."
While I steadied Ye Hae-su like that, the black whirlwinds shooting toward the west were blocked by the others.
But Tang Ho-tae himself was being pushed back by Dowol Wolma.
Kang!
Kakang!
"So you're the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, huh?"
Dowol Wolma's breathing and footwork showed not a single flaw as he pressed his assault.
"...For someone meeting me for the first time to speak so rudely on sight, it seems you've lived all those years without learning any manners. Don't they teach basic etiquette in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?"
Tang Ho-tae was barely blocking the attacks, but he couldn't escape the defensive posture.
"A poison toad stuck in the well called Sichuan, propped up as the Poison Sage or whatever—looks like it's gone to your head. Today, I'll make you realize just how insignificant you are."
Kang!
Kakakang!!!
Though Tang Ho-tae wasn't using his specialty poison arts, even accounting for that, there was a clear gap between the two.
If things continued like this, his steps and breathing would soon falter.
- That Dowol Wolma seems to be on a completely different level from anyone you've faced before, Yong-un.
'...Yes. The ambient qi feels like it's stabbing at me.'
I immediately called out to my Eon younger brothers.
"Jeong-hyeon, you come with me to lend the clan head a hand."
"Yes!"
"Ok-gi, provide cover. The rest of you, watch the surroundings. Dowol Wolma just got here first because he's hot-tempered. The rest of the palace's forces will follow soon."
With that, I charged toward Dowol Wolma.
Gwi-ui and Dok-gwi joined us as well.
We who rushed at Dowol Wolma took up five directional positions as if by prior agreement and unleashed a barrage of sword strikes.
Kang! Kang!!!
Kakakang!! Kaaang!!!!
Yet even then, we couldn't pierce the hatchet Dowol Wolma wielded at terrifying speed.
Kang!
Kaang!!
Especially Jeong-hyeon and I were shedding cold sweat just deflecting the power behind the transmitted attacks, taking a moment to catch our breath.
Fortunately, at that very moment.
The Grand Marshal arrived, leading the forces of the Murim Alliance and the Zhuge branch family.
"We couldn't spare attention from the eastern side, so we were a bit late."
"Eon hyung! Amitabha nuns are coming too!"
And the Ami support forces led by Abbess Gyeong-min arrived as well.
"You send the Grand Marshal's token and Abbess Gyeong-hye's without explaining the reason, just telling us to stay in Chengdu. We of Ami, uninvolved in the Tang Clan's internal strife, were wondering if we really had to get this involved... "
Abbess Gyeong-min trailed off as if chastising the Grand Marshal.
"So the Demonic Cult is involved? Couldn't you have given us a heads-up, Grand Marshal?"
"My apologies, Sect Leader. It was a matter requiring strict secrecy, and we were preparing based on suspicion without solid evidence. I couldn't inform you."
At the Grand Marshal's follow-up words.
She drew the sword from her waist without another word.
"Disciples of Ami, draw your swords! Restoration Sword Guards, forward!"
Chaenchaechang!
At Abbess Gyeong-min's command, the Ami disciples drew their swords in unison.
No sooner had they done so than Taoist priests of the Whirlwind Blade Valley poured out from a nearby alley.
"Qingcheng disciples have arrived as well!"
At the announcement of their arrival, the Grand Marshal hurried to greet them.
"True Virtue Daoist has come right on time."
"Our sect rarely concerns itself with worldly affairs, but we cannot claim to be righteous without lending a hand in a matter like this."
"Thank you. I'll explain the details later, so from now on, follow my command."
"Primeval Lord of Heaven. As you command."
With that, a siege network formed around Dowol Wolma.
However, the reinforcements weren't just for us.
Fudududuk—
A single demonic figure with an ominous aura, at least at the inner guard level, soared through the air into the encirclement.
He opened his mouth toward Dowol Wolma.
"Your subordinates have arrived!"
"Inner guard?"
"Yes!"
"The vermin have gathered nicely for the slaughter. Cut them down as you see them!"
"Understood!"
At that moment, shouts from beggars rang out.
"Demonic cultists with pitch-black whirlpool emblems on their collars and sleeves are swarming in!"
The Grand Marshal urgently spoke up.
"Capture the king, and the battle ends! I'll command the rear disciples, so those here, take down Dowol Wolma!"
* * *
With the addition of the Grand Marshal, Ami, and Qingcheng forces, the situation completely turned.
As the Grand Marshal took command of the rear.
Aside from the first inner guard who flew over the encirclement, the Moon Palace demonic cultists couldn't breach it.
Thanks to that, the main forces of Sichuan's White Path martial world could focus on attacking Dowol Wolma and the inner guard.
Abbess Gyeong-min was said to lack martial prowess compared to Abbess Gyeong-hye.
But she too was a famed sword expert whose name resounded across the land.
Ssseeeaak!!
True Virtue Daoist paid little heed to worldly matters as a Qingcheng Taoist, so his name didn't shake the world.
But within Qingcheng, he was called the prime sword.
Ssseeeaakaak!
With the two joining in, Dowol Wolma now alternated between offense and defense.
"Jeong-hyeon! Let's head that way!"
"Yes! Eon young hero!"
Jeong-hyeon and I immediately withdrew from engaging Dowol Wolma.
And joined those handling the inner guard.
"Silver River Star, duck your head!"
"Yes!"
Ssseeeaak!
Chaeng!
I spotted an unexpected problem.
"Qingcheng Taoists there, fall back too... All Taoists, really."
Unlike my Eon brothers, who moved in perfect sync.
The two sects, shunning the secular world, rarely interacted.
Ami and Qingcheng disciples weren't coordinating well.
"Guhk!"
"Euk!"
Because of this, several Qingcheng and Ami disciples took hits from the Moon Palace inner guard and spat blood.
Seeing that, I urgently spoke up.
"It's chaotic, but we should start with introductions. I'm Eon Yong-un. These are my brothers, and I'm leading them. Who are the Qingcheng Azure Cloud Sword Guard and Ami's Restoration Sword Guard leaders?"
"Sang-won of Qingcheng."
"Ok-yun of Ami."
"You both seem my senior in age and rank, but from now on, I'll take command."
"That's..."
"Why should..."
"Have you fought demonic cultists more than I have?"
"......"
"......"
"I'll take your silence as agreement."
Having taken command of the Qingcheng and Ami disciples like that, I didn't aim too high.
I focused solely on checking the inner guard to prevent him from aiding Dowol Wolma and getting our own coordination down.
"Ami, fall ba... "
At some point, the inner guard ignored his own body and charged our way.
Ssaek!!
Was he aiming for Flesh-Severing Bone-Chopping Strike?
I twisted my body to evade and slashed horizontally with Regret.
His right arm fell from his body.
Chwaaak!!
But it seemed his target wasn't me or my brothers.
He didn't attack us but brushed past.
And blocked the path of Abbess Gyeong-min and True Virtue Daoist thrusting toward Dowol Wolma.
Puk!!!
Puuk!!!!
"Kuhuk. Divine Cult... invincible..."
Kang!
Kaaang!!
In the meantime, Dowol Wolma shook off Tang Ho-tae and the Sichuan Twin Freaks forcefully and escaped the siege to catch his breath.
"Hoo."
My master, who had been watching the rear battle, informed me of the situation.
- Your fight was touch-and-go too, so I held back, but they had just barely seized a big opening over there.
'...I see. What a shame.'
- But now that the inner guard is dead, you can join in taking down Dowol Wolma, right?
'Yes.'
I replied to my master and turned toward Dowol Wolma.
My Eon brothers and the Qingcheng and Ami disciples raised their swords following me.
But at that moment.
Ryeong-yong, circling overhead, let out a cry.
Bbiiiiaaak!!!!!
A middle-aged woman in Ami's robes burst through the encirclement in a panic and shouted.
"Sect Leader! Clan Head Tang! Demonic Cult reinforcements and suspected Heavenly Poison Valley members have appeared in the rear, unleashing poison arts!"
"What?"
"What did you say?"
"Exactly as reported! Disciples are vomiting blood! The Grand Marshal requests Clan Head Tang's support..."
At that, Dowol Wolma muttered under his breath.
"Nangjung Demon Army. You're quick."
He began his assault anew.
Ssaek! Ssaek!!
Ssseeeaakaak!!!
Abbess Gyeong-min left a word behind and resumed her sword barrage with the Restoration Sword Guards.
"I'll hold him! Clan Head, hurry to the rear! Ok-yun, come help!"
"Yes! Sect Leader!"
"Azure Cloud Sword Guards, come assist!"
"Yes! Master!"
True Virtue Daoist and Qingcheng sword guards clung to Dowol Wolma.
"......"
Tang Ho-tae kicked off toward the rear but paused to look at us.
My master asked me.
- The rear is urgent, so why is the Tang Clan Head standing there like that?
'...Hm. I think he's worried about Ok-gi.'
I shared my thought with my master, and it seemed Tang Ok-gi felt the same.
She stepped forward with an unusually serious expression and spoke to Tang Ho-tae.
"Dad. No, Father. I believe our clan is the greatest in all of Sichuan, no matter what anyone says. There are countless sects and families in Sichuan besides Ami, Qingcheng, and the Beggars' Clan, but none put 'Sichuan' before their name."
"That's obvious..."
"Exactly. So I think Father needs to protect the Ami and Qingcheng disciples and the citizens of Chengdu."
"...Khm."
"We're proud members of the Sichuan Tang Clan, and you're the clan head. Besides, I'm not that weak, you know?"
"......"
Tang Ho-tae wore a complex expression for a moment.
Gwi-ui cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"Ahem. We'll protect Ok-gi and the others with our lives, so go."
"I'll trust the two elders."
Tang Ho-tae clasped his fists toward the Sichuan Twin Freaks.
Dok-gwi seemed embarrassed and grumbled unnecessarily.
"Talking about staking our lives, and you just say you'll trust us—feels a bit anticlimactic."
* * *
Leaving the rear to the Sichuan Twin Freaks, Tang Ho-tae urgently kicked off the ground.
Pat—
Leaping into the air, he bounded over the encirclement formed by the White Path martial artists' shoulders, flying like a bird.
'Man, whoever's daughter she takes after, she sure talks smooth.'
Even as he soared, his mind was on Tang Ok-gi.
'When did the kid who could barely grab my pinky with her five fingers grow up like this?'
His once clueless daughter had become so admirable, filling him with pride. But a child was still a child, no matter how grown.
He couldn't help worrying.
'With the Ami nuns and Qingcheng Taoists plus the two elders, they barely got one opening... Will they be okay without me?'
Leaving her out there felt like placing her by the water's edge, and the water where Tang Ok-gi stood even had a beast called Dowol Wolma.
'Well, Yong-un's there at least.'
From Tang Ho-tae's perspective, he trusted the young man more than Abbess Gyeong-min of Ami or True Virtue Daoist of Qingcheng.
But trust bred worry.
'He can't get hurt either.'
The number of people who truly stepped up, risking their lives at his call as a friend of the Tang Clan, could be counted on one hand in his lifetime.
His talent, praised by the world, was one thing, but the boy had an extraordinary resolve.
'Am I getting old? Endless worries.'
To end those worries, he had to hurry back.
Just then, as he neared where poison arts had been unleashed, a sour poison scent reached his nose.
At the same time, he spotted a mass of troops in attire distinctly different from the White Path martial artists.
Pak!
Tang Ho-tae stomped the last White Path warrior's shoulder with all his might and leaped into the sky.
Charging alone toward a densely packed enemy was something ordinary warriors would call suicidal.
But for Tang Ho-tae, this situation with no allies and only foes was perfect for revealing his true colors.
Swish—
With the sun at his back, Tang Ho-tae infused his inner power into both hands.
Without hesitation, he flicked his sleeves.
Countless poison needles and hidden weapons poured from his sleeves.
Those that passed directly through his hands bloomed with blue poison flowers as they fell.
Full Sky Flower Rain.
It was the moment death's floral rain blanketed the heavens.