Chapter 452
Chapter 452
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 452
Chapter Title: Coincidence and Inevitability (6)
After tossing the key to Jang Sun-rip and his group, I stepped out of the Thunder Prison.
And to get outside, I started sprinting down the underground passage.
- Is it really okay to give that old geezer Jang Sun-rip the key to the Thunder Prison?
'It'll be fine. To begin with, we've already released the regular prisoners with light sentences, and moved the heavy offenders elsewhere.'
My master seemed to harbor a deep dislike for Jang Sun-rip, adding another comment.
- If they were just ordinary prisoners, I wouldn't say anything. Even if those guys get out, what they're gonna do is obvious, right? At worst, they'll just run away.
But as I mulled over his words...
It felt like more than just personal distaste for Jang Sun-rip—he seemed worried about a particular scenario.
'Could it be that you're concerned they might side with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?'
- Aren't they the type who only bicker over petty politics? No wonder you'd think that. So, Yong-un, do you trust those bastards?
'I don't trust those people. But I trust the situation.'
- Trust the situation... That's something you say now and then. But right now, the demons are the ones attacking?
'Yes. And because it's that kind of situation, those petty political bickerers don't have many choices available to them.'
- ...Hmm. Is that so?
I recalled the faces of the doctors imprisoned in the Thunder Prison and replied.
'These are people who've endured all sorts of humiliations, great and small, watching their influence dwindle bit by bit, yet stubbornly holding out in the Backbone Society.'
In short, they saw themselves as representatives of their clans and sects.
Until now, they'd equated their own pride with that of their backgrounds, picking fights at every turn.
But in the unprecedented crisis of the Murim Alliance under attack, they didn't have many options.
'If they were the type to only think about saving their own skins, they might side with the cult. But they won't make that choice. For example, even if Jang Sun-rip throws in with the cult, would the entire Jongnam Sect follow suit?'
- ...Probably not. Even if those guys are cowards who only talk big, they live with the pride of guarding the birthplace of Taoism.
'Exactly. If they did that, they'd be denying their own existence to the Jongnam Sect, which is basically their entire life. No matter how shameless Jang Sun-rip is, he wouldn't go that far.'
As I spoke, I entertained a faint hope.
'They're not idiots. As the Sword Emperor said at the Heavenly Martial Tournament, they're just trapped in factional logic, viewing the world through a distorted lens to protect their pride. If they think about it, they'll realize there's no reason for me to crawl into a prison and lie to them.'
- And so?
'Then they'll have two choices. Stay in prison to preserve their lofty pride, even knowing we're right... or come out.'
Before I knew it, my footsteps had reached the exit of the Thunder Prison.
'In the first case, Master's worries don't even come into play. In the second...'
Ku-gu-gu-gung—
As the heavy iron gate swung open, the sight of black smoke rising from various spots across the Murim Alliance came into view.
'...In the second case, they'll see this. Won't they realize they need to do something to make up even a little for what they've done?'
- Khm. Hearing it out, it does make sense. You had a plan after all?
At that moment.
I sensed someone approaching.
- Who's coming?
'Doesn't seem like friendlies.'
Kwaaang!!!!
Bursting through the walls surrounding the Thunder Prison came a group of demonic cultists.
'...Twenty in total. The leader looks about my great-uncle's age.'
- No young ones, and that Hyeok Ryeon-so guy isn't here either?
'Yeah. It seems like one of the aides supporting him, not Hyeok Ryeon-so himself, has come this way.'
The old man standing there, sizing me up just like I was him, jerked his chin and spoke.
"You're Eon Yong-un? All alone?"
In response, I cracked my neck muscles and grinned.
"Yeah, I'm single."
"???"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Inside the Thunder Prison after Eon Yong-un left.
Jang Sun-rip was staring intently at the key tossed in front of him.
"......"
As Jang Sun-rip's silence dragged on unexpectedly long, the members of his faction began speaking up one by one.
The first to open his mouth was Yeong Hoseop, a doctor from the White Emperor Sect.
"Vice Chairman, what are you pondering so deeply?"
The White Emperor Sect, based in Baekje Castle at the edge of the Jang River, had suffered the most when naval forces stirred up trouble there.
Yeong Hoseop was the type to nitpick even if Gong Sun-mu and Eon Yong-un were grinding soybeans into meju together.
And sure enough.
"Let's just sit tight here."
Even now, he insisted on protecting their pride.
Some nodded in agreement.
Others shook their heads firmly.
"That won't cut it. The signs aren't good."
The representative of the latter was Hwangbo Ung, head of the Hwangbo Clan, who had warned about the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's raid on Luoyang.
"Listen here, Hwangbo Clan Head. Didn't you hear what Vice Chairman Jang said earlier? There's some scheme afoot. I strongly agree. That sly fox sat there casually with the key in his pocket—what wouldn't he do?"
Deududeududu—
At that moment, the ground shook with vibrations, followed by the explosive sounds typical of clashing qi.
Peng! Peung!!
Peeeeeng!!!
"But this is far from normal! How could these sounds be faked? I can even smell the acrid smoke. Even if this is the Alliance Leader and Eon Yong-un's ploy, they're the ones who locked us up—what could they possibly gain by throwing us the key?"
"So, what exactly are you saying, Hwangbo Clan Head?"
"You dismissed it as nonsense before, Vice Chairman, but it seems the demons have invaded the Murim Alliance. We can't just sit here."
"What can't we do? As you just said, those bastards are the ones who put us here. If we claim ignorance from this dark prison, what can they do to us?"
Though only two were arguing,
Jang Sun-rip's entire faction was splitting into two sides, with them as representatives.
"Would such excuses hold up? This is an unprecedented attack on the Murim Alliance!"
"Right!"
"What's right about it?! Hwangbo, your boy's a eunuch thanks to Eon Yong-un—do you want to dance to that punk's tune? No balls?"
"What did you say?"
As the two sides' opinions clashed sharply, the argument heating up,
Hwangbo Ung swallowed his rising anger and stared at Jang Sun-rip.
"We'll just end up hurting feelings with endless bickering. Vice Chairman, as our leader, please decide. Wouldn't it be best to at least check?"
Yeong Hoseop didn't back down and spoke up.
"The very premise of 'at least' doesn't hold. The moment we leave the prison, we can't claim ignorance anymore. We'd be falling right into the Alliance Leader and Eon Yong-un's trap."
However, Jang Sun-rip remained silent, still glaring at the key.
Regardless of their debate, Eon Yong-un's final words kept replaying in his mind.
'Judge for yourselves. Whether to cling to what you want to believe and end up as history's scum... or seek another path.'
As the two men opened their mouths simultaneously.
"Vice Chairman!"
Jang Sun-rip raised his palm and replied.
"I've heard both sides. I'll decide soon, so give this old man a bit more time to think."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The demonic cultists I faced formed a tight formation like a living mechanism, making it hard to find an opening.
Chaeng! Chaeang!
Chaechaechaechaechaechaeng!!
'Excluding that white-browed elder, most are at the early supreme realm...'
Of course, comparing individual martial prowess, there was a huge gap between me and them.
However, these weren't the cult's elites.
'Can't waste energy recklessly.'
So, I calmly parried their attacks while deducing their strategy.
'The demonic arts they're using... similar to Chae Gyu and Chae Hyang, the black-and-white twins I fought at the Silver River Fleet.'
Once I identified the lineage of their demonic arts, their identities naturally came into focus.
"Demonic cultists from the Chae Clan of the Ghost City Eight Families, huh?"
Based on that, I could even guess the identity of the old demonic leader I was facing.
"And you're something like Hyeok Ryeon-so's Left Inner Guard, right?"
"......"
I knew that of the two Inner Guards assisting the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's later-generation disciples, the Left one excelled in both skill and status.
So, I instantly grasped the big picture Hyeok Ryeon-so was drawing.
"Left Inner Guard and Hyeok Ryeon-so are tied up with the Alliance Leader, huh?"
With that opener, I swung Regret and prodded at their nerves.
"While you and your underlings keep me pinned here, their top forces take down the Alliance Leader... Guess Hyeok Ryeon-so racked that thick skull of his for this plan?"
"......"
However, the cultists refused to engage with me at all.
Seemed like they had some standing order among them.
Kang! Kang!!!
Kaaang!!!
Well, it wasn't incomprehensible.
We'd researched countermeasures against them, even forming the Anti-Demonic Alliance, so naturally, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had studied how to fight us.
- They're not even responding to you? Looks like they've prepared some defense against that devilish tongue of yours.
'Devilish... Yeah, seems like it with the cultists.'
But it was worth a shot.
If a light prod didn't work, just prod harder.
I immediately dragged out the name of the current Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Leader, Hyeok Ryeon-gang.
"Hah. These punks ignore even when Ancestral Master speaks? Should be kowtowing and begging forgiveness—did Ryeon-gang teach you like that?"
"......!"
The cultists still maintained their silence.
But clear fury flashed in their gritted teeth.
So, I decided to go further, invoking the name of their revered founder, the First Heavenly Demon Hyeok Ryeon-geum.
"Tsk tsk tsk. No manners at all. Master told me Ryeon-geum was quick-witted and polite, earning a martial art from him for it. But a few generations down, and all that's left are impudent brats! Sheesh!"
"...You bastard! How dare you insult the First Heavenly Demon with such drivel! Think every mouth can spew anything...?"
Seizing the opening from the visibly shaken cultist's disrupted breathing, I thrust in the Heaven-Splitting Alliance Formation technique without hesitation.
Whiiiish!!!
Puk!
The enraged cultist who had revealed his fury took the hit, clutching his throat and collapsing.
The old demonic leader commanding the formation hurriedly grabbed the cultist by the collar, tossing him back.
"Number Seven!"
"Yes! Inner Guard, sir!"
He assigned one of his subordinates to the throat-wounded cultist.
"Don't let him die. Treat him!"
"Yes!"
From their actions, I reconfirmed their consistent resolve.
"Guys who treat your lives like straw for the Heavenly Demon's return suddenly discovering populism? Nah, you're just scared I'll turn your corpses into my undead soldiers, right?"
It was another sign that the cult hadn't slacked in preparing to topple us.
'Fights like this must be happening everywhere...'
As that thought crossed my mind.
Whir—
My released scout construct, Ungyong, suddenly flew back and began circling above my head.
My brow furrowed instinctively.
'In these evenly matched battles everywhere, if even one front collapses, the scales could tip in an instant.'
So, even if it meant pushing myself, I gripped Regret tighter, resolved to break through these cultists.
Ku-gu-gu-gung—
At that moment, the sound of the Thunder Prison's iron gate opening again echoed.
Jang Sun-rip and his faction came rushing in, joining the fray against the cultists.
Chaeng! Chaeng!!!!
Chaechaechaechaeng!!!!!
And Jang Sun-rip himself addressed me.
"Are we late?"
"There's an old saying that when you think you're right on time, you're actually the fastest. But in reality, when you feel it's late, it's already too late."
"......"
"Well, at least this might prevent Your Excellency's blunder from dragging down the Jongnam Sect?"
Hearing my words, Jang Sun-rip let out a shallow breath and readjusted his grip on his sword.