Chapter 411
Chapter 411
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 411
Chapter Title: Dyed (10)
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[Senior. Let's do it this way.]
When cornered with no way out.
I had seen many Blood Cult fanatics attempting mutual destruction by driving their bloodlines into overdrive.
'I've managed to handle it somehow up until now, but...'
In an environment where enemies and allies were chaotically intermingled, if the Blood Cult's Cult Protector Kings resorted to such measures, the damage would be catastrophic.
'Even if we somehow behead Jin Gokryang after untold hardships, what's the point if we end up facing those consequences?'
Thus, I concluded it would be better to open a path that looked like an escape route.
[Let's run.]
I conveyed words encapsulating that thought.
Clang!
Clang!!
Myeongyeong narrowed his brow and asked back.
[...Run?]
[Shall we call it a tactical retreat?]
[Can you explain in more detail?]
[I've destroyed the facility where the Blood Demon was absorbing primal blood. And with you having infiltrated this far, Jin Gokryang must have a rough idea of the situation outside.]
Clang clang clang!!
[In this situation, what do you think he'll do if we run?]
[He'll chase us, of course.]
[And after that?]
[He'll check the burning Blood Heaven Asura Palace and regroup with his subordinates... Wouldn't that be like releasing a feral beast?]
Myeongyeong seemed to think the demonized subordinates would launch a fierce counterattack once they regained their senses.
I shook my head.
[He may look like just another fiend, but Jin Gokryang is a shrewd calculator. He harbors ambitions and grudges.]
The current leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Hyeok Ryeon-gang.
Jin Gokryang hated him for driving his clan to the brink of annihilation.
And he coveted every position and authority that Hyeok Ryeon-gang enjoyed.
[He'll realize in an instant that fighting us would only make the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult laugh...]
That was the man who had lurked under Hyeok Ryeon-gang in a crouching tiger, hidden dragon stance despite harboring such feelings.
[If we precisely open an escape route, he'll flee instead. Fighting us wouldn't align with fulfilling his ambitions, but running away would.]
Caaaang!!!
[That way, the mingled enemies and allies will naturally separate.]
Myeongyeong nodded at my words first.
However, some lingering doubts remained.
[But what if we let the Blood Demon and his subordinates escape completely? We've blocked the Blood Rakshasa Gate side, but a bit further ahead is the Nan Chang River. If they slip out to the sea through there, it'll be a massive future threat.]
[Around the Nan Chang River's triangular delta, the Dongdo Association Leader and the Geomcheong disciples have set up an ambush. And downstream, reinforcements are approaching by sea from Hebei.]
[From Hebei? Well, it makes sense you wouldn't have only prepared for Wudang. I see, I see.]
[Yes. So what looks like an escape route to them will ultimately be a dead end.]
[...Not aiming for a golden fortress, but a four-sided siege. That seems right for the current situation.]
As I answered without hesitation, Myeongyeong finally seemed relieved and agreed.
[I'll trust your judgment.]
* * *
[Then what should I do? I'm not great at deceiving others...]
[I've seen Jeonghyeon do it, and from your earlier conversation with Jin Gokryang, I already suspected.]
Leaving this side chamber was a task for Jin Gokryang anyway, so no special lure was needed.
[I'll give you a signal when the moment comes. Just bolt then.]
[Understood.]
Soon after aligning our intentions, Myeongyeong's sword dramatically repelled Jin Gokryang's assault.
I immediately shouted without delay.
"Now!"
I promptly turned and unleashed the Shadowless Heaven-Splitting Step.
Myeongyeong followed suit, displaying Wudang's signature Cloud-Skimming Step.
Jin Gokryang looked puzzled at us starting to flee.
"...Suddenly running away?"
But he had no other options.
As expected, he closely pursued us.
Of course, he didn't follow quietly.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Blood veins like hidden weapons shot toward me and Myeongyeong's backs.
While blocking Jin Gokryang's tricks, I needed to stoke his impatience.
So I raised the corpses scattered throughout the side chamber.
"Rise!"
And sent them charging at Jin Gokryang.
After throwing in the corpse soldiers and twisting my body while advancing for a moment.
Clang! Clang!
Clang clang clang!!
We reached the entrance of the side chamber, the clash of blades ringing clearly in our ears.
"Blood Surge!"
I summoned Blood Surge last and sent it lunging at Jin Gokryang before.
Grrrrr!!
Leaping out of the side chamber.
Thud-
As Myeongyeong and I emerged relatively unscathed.
Joy lit up the faces of our allies locked in fierce combat below.
"Eon Yong-un! It's Eon Yong-un!!"
"Infinite Sword is there too!"
Despair like the sky collapsing crossed the enemies' faces.
"...How did only those guys...?"
"...Did something happen to the Lord?!"
The clashing blades halted abruptly.
Seizing the gap, I roared.
"Everyone, fall back!"
The Red and White Armies retreated in perfect order at my command.
The Blood Cult's Cult Protector Kings, centered on Ja Wang, turned their blades toward us.
"Don't let a single one live!"
Soon, blood-soaked Jin Gokryang chased after us.
"Eon Yong-uun! What trick is this?!!"
They immediately shifted stance and turned toward Jin Gokryang.
"Protect the Lord! Escort the Lord!"
Shortly after the mingled foes and allies began to split.
As expected, the Blood Cult leadership started retreating.
"Lord. This is urgent, but we must leave the main base for now. Chuk Wang! You take the lead! In Wang! You command the center and delay the enemy's pursuit!"
They must have prepared escape mechanisms for emergencies.
As the leadership turned to flee, one of the Blood Heaven Asura Palace's outer walls crumbled with a roar.
Boom!
Kwaaaang!!!
The demonized subordinates ebbed away like the tide through that path.
I immediately conveyed orders to our allies reorganizing their ranks.
"Pursue them!"
From Myeongyeong to Dojung-gwang, they nodded and charged ahead.
To block our advance, the rearguard demons lunged forward.
"Stop them!"
Slash!
Slaaash!
I cut them down while relaying precautions to our allies.
"Chasing the enemy is priority, but don't get overexcited and isolate yourself! And all the Eon siblings scattered among the units, fall in with me for now!"
Excluding Dokgo-cheol acting as Blood Unit Leader, all the Eon siblings gathered.
"Looks like everyone's safe for now."
The first to speak was Dang Ok-gi.
"What about you? That Jin Gokryang guy... Just glimpsing him made my legs go weak."
"Infinite Sword Senior arrived in time, so I'm fine."
As I mentioned Myeongyeong, a subtle smile crossed Jeonghyeon's lips.
Seeing his attitude change from paling at any mention of his sect.
Something must have progressed between him and Wudang.
"...Is there something on my face?"
"Looks like something happened... "
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
As I pondered that, Yin Ha-yeon spoke up.
"Young Master Eon, you showed up right on time. I was worried the demons might go all-out in desperation... But the enemies and allies separated naturally."
"I trusted in Jin Gokryang's true nature and made my move. Thankfully, it worked. If we drive them to the Nan Chang Riverbank like this, we can corner them naturally."
"But is there no chance the Blood Cult allies with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?"
I was about to answer Yin Ha-yeon's follow-up question.
"If they truly feel cornered, they might... "
Then Woo So-reung pointed rightward and raised his voice.
"Hey, Eon hyung! Fire's rising over there?!"
Yin Ha-seong nearby urgently added.
"Yeah. Isn't that where the Dongdo Association Leader is stationed? Like sis said, are the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult moving?"
Confirming the flames spreading in the meantime, I shook my head.
"They saw the Blood Heaven Asura Palace collapsing, so the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult will move... But that's not a fire they set."
Zhuge Seolji immediately chimed in.
"Young Master Yong-un is right. If Grandfather was attacked by demon lightning, the fire would be at the camp, not spreading along the riverbank like that. This is Grandfather helping us!"
Then my master mused to himself.
- How does setting a fire count as helping? Ah, it narrows the paths the Blood Demon and his subordinates can take?
'Yes. Plus, it's meant to sow seeds of suspicion toward the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in Jin Gokryang's mind.'
Replying, I turned to Zhuge Seolji.
"I figured he'd notice our intent if we made enough noise. As expected of the Heavenly Mechanism Mystic Mountain Elder."
Namgung Yun nodded.
"I see. So from the Blood Cult's perspective... Left and rear blocked by us. Right by flames, front by the Nan Chang River?"
Then voicing concern.
"But they're demons. The river won't be much of an obstacle. No word from the sea reinforcements either. Is this plan really solid?"
Namgung Yeong furrowed her brows and scolded her brother.
"Don't jinx it, brother. Words have power."
"Just checking in case we overlooked something."
I spoke up again.
"If the Hebei troops haven't arrived on schedule, they likely hit rough seas. I've taken separate measures, so they won't be too late."
"See? Is Senior Yong-un just anyone?"
"...Whose little sister are you, anyway."
I rallied the Eon siblings once more.
"In all the battles we've fought so far, I've always said not to relax too much. Cornered Blood Cultists can never be too tense. Don't forget they could self-destruct for mutual destruction at any moment."
"Yes!"
We then began reorganizing formations.
"From now on, slightly adjust the unit placements. Wudang disciples and Red Army with me in the center. Young Lady Yin with Professor No Sam on the left wing, Young Lady Zhuge on the right wing..."
While pushing through the dense underbrush for a moment.
Suddenly the view opened wide, revealing the Blood Cult forces standing firm on the riverbank's sandy shore and the fleet blocking their front.
『Hao Gate Leader Mok Yeom-yak.』
The familiar faces aboard the flagship flying banners with those seven characters included my father.
Led by Woo So-reung, the Eon siblings waved.
"Eon hyung! It's the Family Head! Little Eon hyung and Paeng sis are there too!"
"Jangho and So-cheon hyung too!"
At that moment.
Among the Blood Cult Protector Kings, Ja Wang seemed to bow toward Jin Gokryang.
Then straightened rigidly and addressed us.
"Hear us, orthodox rabble. If you truly seek a fight to the death, your losses won't be light. Even your revered Daoist scriptures say satisfaction brings no shame."
He slyly turned toward the fleet's flagship and spoke again.
"Hao Gate Leader, hear me! We'll overlook bringing orthodox reinforcements. Given you're lowly river folk, it must be hard to refuse them. But! Ferry us this time. Then we've aided both sides, and we can remain on good terms as before."
The middle-aged woman beside my father ignored Ja Wang and called out to me.
"That young master in the back must be the rumored Little Dragon, right?"
Recognizing her as the Hao Gate Leader, I immediately cupped my fists.
"Eon Yong-un of the Pearl Eon Family greets the Night Master."
"As rumored, fine features and heroic aura. Looks like you took only the best from your mother and father."
At Mok Yeom-yak's demeanor.
Ja Wang ground his teeth and raised his voice.
"......! Gate Leader Mok. No regrets over that choice? If even one of us escapes, the Hao Gate will be drowned in blood!"
Only then did Mok Yeom-yak's gaze turn to Ja Wang.
"This heart is already dyed in a certain young man's resolve. Can't be helped. It'll be tough for you. We're notoriously tenacious."
At Mok Yeom-yak's words.
An unprecedentedly intense blood aura enveloped Jin Gokryang's body.
"Enough. Ja Wang, don't tarnish this Lord's dignity bandying words with that wench! Just kill them all!"
Following Jin Gokryang, the demons wrapped themselves in blood aura.
Our allies gripped their weapons and assumed stances in response.
"No confidence."
The Eon siblings visible amid our ranks.
Wudang disciples right beside me.
And Sa Gyeom and Dokgo-cheol.
My mouth uttered one line unbidden.
"I have confidence of victory."