Chapter 456
Chapter 456
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 456
Chapter Title: Coincidence and Inevitability (10)
Meanwhile, at the western border of Qinghai Province, Tianshan South Road.
This place served as the empire's border and the starting point of the Silk Road.
Tianshan South Road also marked the boundary between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's territory in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and the domain of Kunlun, one of the Nine Great Righteous Sects.
As such, tension always simmered between the two powers.
Occasional clashes would erupt between the cult's demons and Kunlun's disciples.
But over the past few days, the roar of war drums had echoed through the area.
Dung-dung-dung-dung-dung-
It was no mere skirmish—this was a war on a grand scale.
And today was no different.
『Ten Thousand Demons Hall』 『Divine Cult Invincible, Ten Thousand Demons Rise Again』 『Radiant Left Envoy Byeon Cheol-yeong』 『White Day is Dead, Heavenly Demon Shall Rise』 On one side, flags raised from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main camp.
『Demon-Subduing Vanguard Kunlun Sect』 『Murim Alliance』 『Left Observing Thousand Li Zhuge Hui』 On the opposite side, the Orthodox Murim's flags fluttered menacingly amid the clash of blades.
Chaeng! Chaeng!!
Chae-chaeng!!!!
Of course, it wasn't a full-scale war between both sides.
Their core forces were locked in standoff at the center.
Skirmishes resembling local battles stretched along the provincial border that spanned over a thousand li.
As Radiant Left Envoy Byeon Cheol-yeong and Demon Brain Gal Hyo-bong from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main camp kept watch on the Orthodox Murim's headquarters...
A messenger dashed up and knelt.
"Report! The Five Elements Cavalry blocked the Orthodox side's attempt to bypass via Tianshan North Road, but... it seems our cultists trying to slip behind enemy lines through Lop Nur have failed."
Hearing the report, Gal Hyo-bong pulled an order from his sleeve and handed it to the messenger.
"Deliver this to the Five Elements Cavalry Leader."
"Understood!"
The messenger saluted and vanished like smoke.
Byeon Cheol-yeong shifted his gaze back to the Orthodox Murim's camp.
"That woman they call the Grand Marshal of the Orthodox Murim... she's quite the thorn."
Gal Hyo-bong let out a dry chuckle in response.
"She needs to be."
The reason Byeon Cheol-yeong and Gal Hyo-bong were out here at the border was to prevent the Orthodox forces from concentrating on the infiltration team heading to Luoyang.
"Isn't the cult's preparation still insufficient for an all-out clash with them?"
Cult Leader Hyeok Ryeon-gang hadn't yet achieved great completion in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, and the cult had suffered significant losses from repeated failures.
For them, escalating these local battles into a full Righteous-Demonic War was not desirable.
"What if that woman provokes a wider conflict?"
"Even with their current assembled forces, they can't overwhelm us."
"Couldn't we just withdraw? Like scorched earth tactics."
Scorched earth tactics.
Deliberately yielding land while burning crops, poisoning wells, and salting the earth.
"Don't you know they can't easily resort to such measures?"
"We can no longer view the Orthodox Murim as that simplistic."
"True enough. But Kunlun would be reduced to ruins for sure—do you think their disciples would agree to that? Eon Yong-un's rise has empowered Gong Son-mu-geol and Zhuge Hui, but as long as they claim to be righteous, they can't stoop to that."
Byeon Cheol-yeong nodded at Gal Hyo-bong's words.
"Fair point."
A moment passed.
Byeon Cheol-yeong stroked his chin and changed the subject.
"By the way... Radiant Right Envoy should have returned long ago. Any idea why he's delayed, Demon Brain?"
Radiant Right Envoy Yeon Jeok-san.
In the current Ten Thousand Demons Hall, aside from Cult Leader Hyeok Ryeon-gang and Left Envoy Byeon Cheol-yeong, he was a supreme expert unmatched by most.
It was only natural.
In the demonic path, where power was order itself, one couldn't rely solely on the cult leader's name to command obedience.
A supreme expert like Yeon Jeok-san was among the elite even in the Orthodox Murim.
"It's hard to imagine a guest inn killing someone of his caliber, and his lightness skill is unparalleled across righteous and demonic alike—no way he'd vanish without word. No sign of him or contact. Do you know something, Demon Brain?"
Byeon Cheol-yeong's voice carried a tone of certainty.
Gal Hyo-bong nodded.
"When the report came from Tai Lake about finding the Pursuing Heavenly Demon's tomb, I sent word for him to head to Luoyang."
Byeon Cheol-yeong's voice sank as he retorted.
"The cult leader never issued such an order. Choose your words carefully. Your actions could be seen as betraying the cult and defying the leader."
"It wasn't betrayal. This old man acted solely out of desire for demonic supremacy."
At that, thick demonic energy gathered in Byeon Cheol-yeong's hand.
"Playing word games? This Luoyang strike was entrusted by the leader to the youngest prince's faction. He even said it wouldn't be bad to use it as kindling to rouse the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Your actions directly defy that."
Undeterred, Gal Hyo-bong spoke again.
"Strictly speaking, wasn't that just his personal sentiment? The official command was to restore the cult's prestige."
"......"
"For that, the infiltration team must succeed in their objective. The rest must fulfill their duties. That's why you and I are here pinning down their forces."
"So, what exactly are you saying?"
"The Right Envoy's role was originally to guide the Dragon Bloods, but now that the young masters have matured, he's directly monitoring events in the Central Plains. Checking the atmosphere in Luoyang and observing the youngest prince aligns with his duties."
"So you sent him to rescue the youngest prince? Weren't you backing the eldest, Demon Brain?"
"I thought keeping the eldest as heir would minimize chaos in emergencies... But with plans unraveling, I question if his temperament is sufficient against the Orthodox Murim."
As Byeon Cheol-yeong listened silently, brow furrowed.
Gal Hyo-bong continued.
"As you said earlier, they're no longer the old Orthodox Murim. Protecting a promising talent like the youngest prince wouldn't it aid demonic supremacy?"
"If it works out, perfect. But it could fail. Then the leader's plan to use them as kindling regardless falls apart."
"They've already served as kindling. Success or failure, half the Eight Great Clans will be purged—no need for extra fuel; the cultists will sense the crisis."
Yet Byeon Cheol-yeong remained unsatisfied.
"...They're openly inviting us in. We could lose the Right Envoy too."
"The Orthodox Murim has a few who could match him, but if he resolves to escape, who could catch him?"
Finally, Byeon Cheol-yeong nodded.
"True. Kunlun's lightness experts are all here... I hope your calculations prove right, Demon Brain."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Radiant Right Envoy.
The words slipped from Wang Sun-nam's mouth.
A heavy silence fell over the Pill King Sect disciples.
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
It was inevitable.
These disciples had journeyed the world with Eon Yong-un, facing the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and studied demons diligently through the Demon Defense Alliance.
They knew full well the weight of the name Radiant Right Envoy.
As the mood grew somber, Eon Yong-myeong spoke first.
"Radiant Right Envoy... isn't that the cult leader's right-hand man?"
Yin Ha-yeon nodded tensely, her voice soft.
"...Not exactly a typical second-in-command, but it's certain that Yeon Jeok-san ranks among supreme experts."
Wang Sun-nam, who had been listening, spoke again.
"Seems like it's definitely Yeon Jeok-san. From his bearing and age..."
A response came from the other side.
"You know my name? So the Demon Defense Alliance isn't just a fancy title."
Yeon Jeok-san casually revealed his identity, then posed a question.
"Then you know who I am. Tell me—where is Eon Yong-un?"
Cheon Jang-ho scratched his ear and replied.
"Beat it."
"Looks like you don't want an easy death."
Yeon Jeok-san flung his black hat toward Cheon Jang-ho.
Whiiiish!!!!!!
As the hat hurtled with a terrifying whoosh...
"Holy crap! Spare this beggar!"
"Ack! Why'd you piss him off?!"
Yeon Jeok-san's form blurred as he charged.
Kaaang!!!!
Yeo Chi-su blocked his advance, but...
"Where do you think you're going!"
"Interesting technique. Not from the Central Plains?"
It wasn't enough alone.
Yeo Chi-su's fishing line bent and snapped, nearly dragging him into Yeon Jeok-san's grasp.
"!"
Had Yeo Chi-su still been a lone wanderer, he'd have met his end facing Yeon Jeok-san like this.
But he wasn't alone anymore.
His comrades had rushed to his side.
"Jeong Hyeon, Taoist brother! Take the right flank!"
"Got it, Silver Hall Leader!"
Swaek! Swaek! Swaek!
Swaaek!
The disciples formed the Bird Formation in perfect unison.
Wang Sun-nam began plucking his Seven Strings Zither.
Dung! Dding!
Ddu-dung! Dung! Dung! Dung!!
Cuts large and small appeared on Yeon Jeok-san's body.
Shuk! Shuk! Shuk! Shuk! Shuk!
Chok!
His momentum seemed to wane slightly.
But Yin Ha-yeon soon realized they couldn't hold him alone.
The reason was clear: each exchange felt different in impact.
'Our attacks only leave him scratches, but every clash makes us cough blood.'
The two who caught the hat, Cheon Jang-ho and Dang Ok-gi, held a corner of the formation, but blood rimmed their mouths.
Jeong Hyeon, leading the main assault alongside Yeo Chi-su, grew paler by the second.
'...We can't last much longer like this.'
Yin Ha-yeon's gaze turned to Eung-yong-i.
The bird had been watching the Pill King Hall side.
Piiiish!!!
It screeched and dove sharply somewhere.
Kang! Kang!!
Kaaang!!!
Moments later.
Won-cheol and Namgung Yun appeared in the open space before Pill King Hall.
"Patrons!"
"Brother Won-cheol! Brother Yun!"
"Always lumping me with Eon Yong-un as 'Gungyun,' but now that it's urgent, you use my proper name."
"More importantly, are you alright? You look like you took internal injuries too."
"We'll hold somehow. Won't Shaolin arrive if we endure a bit?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Hyeok Ryeon-so, the youngest prince of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The punk was no pushover, in common parlance.
Whiririk!!
No matter if born with demon seed, those lacking talent would be consumed by the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
'Realm: Flower Transformation. About three stars in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?'
Far from great completion, but he wielded its essence properly.
Ssswaaaaek!!
The pity was his opponent was me.
Puuuung!!!
"Hyeok Ryeon-so. You're a brat. Is your brain fried? I told you my internal energy won't bend to your will."
"...Kuhk."
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art twisted foes' energy, mocking even superior experts.
But it failed against me, leaving him flustered and unable to perform.
He recoiled in panic not just from my strikes but even Yin Ha-seong's thrusting sword.
Pachichik!!
Well, understandable.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art had terrorized the Orthodox Murim in the last Great War.
He never dreamed it wouldn't work.
Anyway.
I gradually cornered him.
Seokeok!!!!
"A bit deeper and I'd have severed your whole arm. Just nicked your sleeve."
"...Ngh."
Then.
Eung-yong-i flapped right up close.
Ho-rook!!!!!
Dangerous move.
Even as a spirit beast, a stray burst of energy could kill it.
Yin Ha-seong and Wu So-rung hurriedly stepped forward.
"Huh? Eung-yong-i?!"
"Brother Eon!"
In the gap they created.
I addressed Eung-yong-i.
"You little shit. Get in the way wrong and you're dead without a trace..."
Glancing over, paper wrapping herbs was in its beak.
I changed tack.
"Pill King Hall's in danger now?"
Ho-ruk!
As Eung-yong-i affirmed.
Master voiced doubt.
- But didn't this one head toward the Vermilion Bird Sect around peak First Realm and not return?
Same question on my mind, so I asked directly.
"Weren't you fetching Namgung Yun earlier? Not enough with them?"
Ho-ruk!
Affirmative again.
"Wu So-rung."
"Yes?"
Sensing the Radiant Right Envoy's arrival, I handed her Hyeok Ryeon-so's torn sleeve.
"Go to Pill King Hall immediately. Show this to the demon there, and tell the kids not to show off—clear a path!"