Chapter 408
Chapter 408
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 408
Chapter Title: Dyed (7)
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Before the Pearl Eon Family's Dire Dragon emerged into the world, there was Myeong Yeong of the Wudang Sect.
The Boundless Sword, Myeong Yeong.
Starting as the top disciple of the Righteous Martial Academy, he was now said to be positioned to claim the title of the next era's supreme martial artist under heaven.
The Crimson Army's True Blood Unit members recognized him at once.
"It's the Boundless Sword!"
And they raised their voices, pointing to the Wudang disciples lined up alongside him.
"The Wudang Five Heroes!"
However, the Wudang disciples who had descended were not five, but six in number.
Besides Myeong Yeong and the five Myeong brothers grouped as the Wudang Five Heroes.
"Un Gyeong."
Un Ja-bae's senior disciple, Un Gyeong, was among them.
"Yes."
"Our allies are exhausted, while the enemy's momentum is at its peak. We need to create some breathing room first."
Having grasped the state of the battle at a glance, Myeong Yeong left those words for Un Gyeong.
"Explain the circumstances before and after to the True Blood Unit Leader."
"Yes!"
"Join me, junior brothers!"
He charged toward the Ox King's legion, swinging his sword alongside his four junior brothers.
Swaeek! Swaeek!!
Swaaaek!!!!
Thanks to them, the Crimson Army gained a moment to reorganize their lines. Un Gyeong bowed with a fist salute toward them.
Dokgo Cheol, who received the greeting while holding his sword blade reversed, immediately posed a question.
"...What is the meaning of this? I thought the reinforcements coming by land were all the strike force waiting at the Ox Prince's residence."
"Upon hearing that the True Blood Unit had launched an attack on the Blood Heaven Asura Palace, we deemed joining you urgent and came ahead. The Sword Comet should be following with the strike force, so they'll arrive soon. Ah, there they come."
At Un Gyeong's words, Dokgo Cheol asked again.
"I wasn't saying the strike force is missing, but why have Wudang disciples come?"
"Ah. When the East March Society's plans were set, I heard the East March Society Leader and the Dire Dragon secretly requested it from the Wudang Sect Leader."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. I only heard about it on the way here escorting Grandmaster Myeong Yeong and my master, so I don't know the details. You all... didn't know either?"
At that moment.
Yin Xia Lian came running up and shouted out.
"To deceive the enemy, you have to fool your own side first—that's what they said! That Eon Young Master of ours is always so consistent! Right?!"
"......"
"......"
At Yin Xia Lian's words.
Jeong Hyeon and Dokgo Cheol, who had experience dealing with a certain Eon Yong-un, held their tongues.
Sa Geum and Son Cheon-jeong, for whom this was truly their first proper encounter, let out sighs of relief and surveyed the battlefield.
"It's come to pass effectively... We were holding out here even considering retreat, so it seems the enemy misjudged us as well?"
"I think so too. If the situation had been different, not just the Ox King's legion but the Human King's legion would have stayed put. We wouldn't have avoided annihilation then. The Dire Dragon's fame resounding throughout the land is no empty rumor."
Then Sa Geum turned to Dokgo Cheol with a suggestion.
"This is our chance. We should press forward with the Wudang disciples."
In agreement, Myeong Tae-seong, who had arrived leading the Leader's direct strike force alongside Yin Xia Lian, spoke up.
"Exactly. Everyone's caught their breath a bit, so now's the time to push. We should launch the attack again. All units, prepare the Channel Formation!"
At his command, Yin Xia Lian and the strike force martial artists swiftly formed their ranks in perfect order.
The Crimson Army also straightened their lines.
Cheo-cheo-cheok.
Jeong Hyeon, who had remained silent since the Wudang disciples appeared, moved to join the strike force side.
"......"
It had been a long time since the Channel Formation became the Blue Bamboo Pavilion's Linked Sword Formation, so he was familiar with it.
And since he and Wudang had only just begun to understand each other, he had been cautious.
But Un Gyeong grabbed Jeong Hyeon.
"Jeong Hyeon. You come over here. As you can see, the Wudang disciples who came as the rear guard number six including me. To avoid exposing Grandmaster Myeong Yeong's movements by moving too many, only this many came."
"...Meaning?"
"We'll form the True Martial Seven Severing Formation."
True Martial Seven Severing Formation.
This was the pinnacle of Wudang linked sword formations, conceived by the sect founder Zhang Sanfeng in his later years after much deliberation while compiling his martial arts.
"You plan to form that with just six?"
This formation unleashed its power by combining seven sword techniques, each embodying different principles.
Even performing the sword sequences alone yielded formidable might, as they were powerful martial arts in their own right.
With two combining forces, the power doubled.
Three, four, five, six.
The more participants, the greater the might, reaching perfection when seven united—as Zhang Sanfeng had envisioned.
Jeong Hyeon shook his head in affirmation.
"No. I'll join you."
And he merged into the gap among the Wudang Five Heroes alongside Un Gyeong.
With that, the seven Wudang disciples stood back-to-back.
Myeong Il, the Wudang Pavilion Master responsible for training the young disciples and known as the Escaping Sword, spoke up.
"When Senior Uncle Taeheo entered the Repentance Cave, two of the Myeong brothers joined him. Since then, we haven't formed the seven-man formation... but now we will."
On the day Jeong Hyeon's report exposed Senior Taeheo's misdeeds to the world, leading to his downfall.
The Wudang Seven Heroes became the Wudang Five.
Thus, it had been ages since they properly formed the True Martial Seven Severing Formation, and Myeong Il was simply voicing his pure sentiments.
"......"
But that made Jeong Hyeon miss his chance to greet them.
Myeong Han, standing beside Myeong Il, raised his voice.
"Senior Brother, why bring that up now? It's all water under the bridge."
"Who said otherwise? I just meant it's been truly a long time, nothing more."
"That's your thought. Think about how the listener feels."
Jeong Hyeon gave an awkward smile.
"I'm fine."
At that moment.
Myeong Yeong, focused on repelling the oncoming foes, shook off the Ox King's legion decisively and spoke.
"Don't mind him—he's the one who worries about you the most despite appearances. He's just expressing fresh emotions without any other intent."
"Yes."
"I feel the same. My current feelings are beyond words."
"......"
"Jeong Hyeon. The resolve with which you took the blame for the Branch Annihilation Clan and reported our sect's elder. Because of that, you could no longer call the sect your home and wandered the world as a path of thorns."
Myeong Yeong began his tale in a calm tone and continued.
"Wudang had to endure shame. And to protect the other disciples, we sealed the sect."
Each word from his mouth.
Seemed to reopen Jeong Hyeon's wounds.
"But thanks to that, you stand here now."
"......"
"We too used the seclusion to evade the enemy's eyes and reach this place."
Yet the conclusion was one of understanding and reflection.
"What goes around comes around, back to the Taiji. This path leads to exterminating the demons and saving the common folk. In the end, your courage and integrity brought us together here. You bear no fault. Straighten your shoulders."
"...Yes!"
Only then did the Songmun Sword in Jeong Hyeon's hand proudly assume the ready stance.
"Let's go."
The sword sequences of the seven Wudang disciples began tracing clear Taiji patterns.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, Do Jung-gwang, who had been leading his subordinates in fleeing from the Human King's legion, used one of the palace halls as a turning point and reversed direction.
His path now headed back toward the Human King's legion.
One of his followers, Blind-Eyed Adamantine, hurriedly halted and spoke up.
"If we're fleeing, shouldn't we go that way? If we keep going this way, we'll hit the place we just fought again?"
"Right. We're heading back there."
At the response, Blind-Eyed Adamantine squinted his one remaining eye in disbelief.
"Huh? Didn't you say we were rabbits?"
"It was a tactical retreat. When I say retreat, we retreat. Don't you get it?"
"No!"
"How could you not? A fresh young junior stayed behind—we can't just run off alone!"
"Tell that damn junior to go eat shit. Leader, didn't you always want to retire? And as bandits, we've done plenty here! No one can complain!"
At Blind-Eyed Adamantine's words, the other bandits chimed in with their own excuses.
Do Jung-gwang stomped his crescent blade into the ground and retorted.
"You worthless bastards. Doesn't your pride sting? The young master of the Nangong Family, who has everything to lose, trusted us and stayed behind alone. If we really run now... we'll be spineless scum!"
"Just pretend we don't have any..."
"You idiot. Do you know what our world is like? Get looked down on, and you're done. And remember that Dire Dragon's eyes?"
"......"
"Look at the Blood Cult now. Mess with the wrong guy like that, and you'll be in deep shit! It'll be as exhausting as becoming a public enemy of the martial world."
"......"
"Better to land one on the Blood Cult scum and show them—demonic or whatever, underestimate us and you're fucked!"
"...And then?"
"That Palace Yun kid's grandpa is the Sword Emperor, right? We go there, claim we're his grandson's saviors, and squeeze a fat reward. Isn't that better?"
"Why didn't you start with that?"
Having persuaded his subordinates this way, Do Jung-gwang returned to the battlefield.
There, they saw Nangong Yun wildly swinging his sword amid demons surrounding them.
Kang! Kang!
Kakakakang! Kaaaang!!!
'Kid, you're still holding out like you bragged.'
Confirming the sight, Do Jung-gwang gripped his crescent blade and charged.
"Attack!"
The demons, who had relaxed thinking they had fully fled, panicked at Do Jung-gwang and the brigands' return.
It was inevitable.
Nangong Yun, ordered captured alive, proved unexpectedly strong, making it tough to fight back-to-back.
And Do Jung-gwang's crew were no pushovers either.
Chaos spread through the Human King's legion.
"Guk!"
"Keuk!"
Seizing the gap, Do Jung-gwang and Nangong Yun whittled down the enemies facing them.
The Human King abandoned thoughts of capturing Nangong Yun intact.
"Shallow tricks... Fine, I'll sever your limbs first!"
He unleashed a pitch-black palm strike infused with potent qi.
Swaaaaaeak!!!
At that moment.
Do Jung-gwang, who had swept through enemies like a broom and broken the encirclement, inserted himself into the Human King's path.
To counter the intruding Do Jung-gwang, the Human King twisted his body like lightning.
Whiric!
He threateningly thrust his left palm to force Do Jung-gwang back.
Swaek!!
But instead, Do Jung-gwang stepped forward, colliding with the Human King's fist.
Bwoooong!!
With a drum-like thud, Do Jung-gwang spat a mouthful of blood.
"Cough."
In that instant.
For some reason, a smile crept across Do Jung-gwang's face.
As an instinctive "oh no" flashed through the Human King's mind.
"!"
Do Jung-gwang discarded the crescent blade in his right hand and seized the Human King's arm.
Immediately, Nangong Yun's thunder-qi infused sword came down upon it.
Chwaaak!!!!!
Only by sacrificing his arm did the Human King escape dismemberment.
"Ptoo! You underestimated us ragtag bandits? How's it taste, you old demon bastard!"
As Do Jung-gwang spat the blood pooling in his mouth and sneered at the Human King.
"F-Fire!"
Flames erupted from the Blood Asura Gate, the main entrance of the Blood Heaven Asura Palace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Judging by the writhing mass of blood vessels in the Dire Demon Vessel each time I spat a few words.
Its ears were wide open, and my taunts were hitting home.
So I brought up the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's current Cult Leader—what one might call the Dire Demon Vessel's reverse scale among reverse scales.
"Gwi-ryang, you bastard. What glory or riches made you crawl out from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains? To end up suffering like this. Hyeok Ryeon-gang would suit you perfectly as a mere Ten Captain under him, but you go chasing independence and overstepping your station. Look where that's gotten you."
While saying that, I steadily severed the leather tubes linking it to the blood hounds.
After furiously working my mouth and hands.
I finally lopped off the Bewitching King's head, who had been at a loss protecting what he desperately wanted to safeguard.
Chwaaaaaak!!!!!!
Now with truly nothing holding me back.
I charged straight at the Dire Demon Vessel.
"!"
For a split second, chills ran down my spine, so I kicked off the ground in reverse.
The Dire Demon Vessel, eyes snapping wide open, ground its teeth.
"...You sure run your mouth well."
The Dire Demon Vessel's state was far from having perfected the Blood Rain Divine Art.
No, it was clear even its internal energy had been whittled down.
I grinned and opened my mouth.
"My voice has always been famous for being pleasant to the ear."