Chapter 116
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Blood Light Sword Lord's Arrival
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A man with a stern face and half-white hair stepped into the Black Refinement Sect Leader's hall. The Black Refinement Sect disciples treated him with extreme caution.
Surprisingly, the Black Refinement Sect Leader yielded the seat of honor to him.
"It is a great honor that you have visited our sect, Great Hero."
"Long time no see, Black Killer Ghost Lord."
Though they appeared to be similar in age, the man spoke to the sect leader without reservation.
He had no choice but to do so. He was none other than the Blood Light Sword Lord.
The sect leader's hall was already filled with the Black Refinement Sect's top brass, and Bok Yeo-wol's expression was particularly grim.
'They've ultimately called in this man. Sect Leader, you won't regret this?'
Oblivious or not to Bok Yeo-wol's inner thoughts, the Black Refinement Sect Leader wore a smile.
As the Blood Light Sword Lord took his seat, sharp formless sword energy naturally radiated in all directions.
"......!"
'Ugh! Incredible.'
'To emanate such presence. As expected of the Blood Light Sword Lord.'
Everyone in the hall was instinctively overwhelmed by him.
The Blood Light Sword Lord slowly scanned the room before opening his mouth.
"So, the North Heaven Dragon came and went?"
The Black Refinement Sect Leader quickly bowed his head.
"Yes, Great Hero. He insolently warned us not to engage in hostilities before leaving."
The Blood Light Sword Lord's eyes flashed sharply.
"And you just let a lone intruder go?"
"I-I'm sorry, Great Hero. I feared committing the error of alerting the enemy prematurely......"
The Blood Light Sword Lord's terrifying aura poured toward the Black Refinement Sect Leader.
"Urgh......!"
His face twisted under the immense pressure.
"You speak flowery words. I question whether your sect, cowed by a single man, will be of any use."
"I apologize."
Bok Yeo-wol, who had been watching, quickly stepped forward.
"I'm sorry, Great Hero! Our sect considered striking him down, but I believed it proper for you to take the North Heaven Dragon's head yourself, so we acted accordingly."
"......"
The energy directed at the Black Refinement Sect Leader vanished as if it had been a lie.
"Huff, huff, huff."
The Blood Light Sword Lord's gaze turned to him.
"You are......?"
"I am Bok Yeo-wol, leader of our sect's Black Killer Brigade."
The corner of the Blood Light Sword Lord's mouth twitched upward.
"I see, Bok Yeo-wol. You speak pleasing words."
"I apologize."
The Blood Light Sword Lord exuded a chilling killing intent.
"Indeed, your words ring true. I will personally sever that man's head and lay it before Lady Mok's spirit."
Mok In-gyeom, the Blood Yin Death Lord. He had been close to the Blood Light Sword Lord in life.
The Blood Light Sword Lord, who wandered freely without any affiliation, had learned of the Blood Yin Death Lord's passing too late and flew into a rage.
But by then, Seol Hwa-un had already returned to the North Sea Ice Palace, leaving him helpless.
No matter what, he could not charge into the North Sea Ice Palace alone.
It was then that the strategist of the Yama King Sect, Yi Jeong-myeong, secretly approached him.
The Blood Light Sword Lord looked at the Black Refinement Sect Leader and asked.
"The North Heaven Dragon has finally arrived. What do you plan to do now?"
"Th-that is......"
Their eyes met. The Blood Light Sword Lord's gaze gleamed with razor-sharp menace.
"......!"
The Black Refinement Sect Leader instinctively realized it.
His answer here could mean the end of his life.
Gulp.
He promptly bowed his head and spoke.
"Immediately! We must rally all the unorthodox sects of Shanxi Province and strike the North Sea scum!"
The Black Refinement Sect's executives looked at him in shock.
"......!"
Only the Blood Light Sword Lord wore a satisfied smile.
"Is that so."
His gaze shifted back to Bok Yeo-wol.
"It's a good plan, but won't they catch on if we do that?"
Bok Yeo-wol sighed inwardly.
'Hah! So it comes to this after all.'
There was nothing more to be done. The matter was already beyond his control.
"Swift and decisive. Order them to gather at the Taegok sub-branch without any strategy meetings or executive gatherings."
"Oh?"
"Our sect will arrive first, secure the position, wait for the other sects to join, then launch a simultaneous assault. Even the North Sea Ice Palace won't be able to withstand that."
"Hahahaha!"
The Blood Light Sword Lord suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Wooong!
'Ugh!'
The laughter, infused with inner energy, caused a faint pain in everyone's eardrums, forcing them to hastily circulate their qi for protection.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The hall itself shook. It was truly terrifying power.
Finally, the laughter ceased.
"Excellent. Black Refinement Sect Leader, carry it out just like that."
"......Understood."
* * *
Tadadada!
Bing Cho-pung rushed breathlessly into the meeting room.
"Urgent report!"
The eyes of those in the midst of the meeting turned to him.
"The Hao Gate reports that all unorthodox sects in Shanxi Province...... are mobilizing. It seems they're heading for our sub-branch."
Yu Gong-seon's eyes darkened deeply.
"......This must be the Black Refinement Sect's answer."
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
"Indeed, it appears so."
"Even if they've decided to oppose our palace, moving this quickly is certainly beyond expectations."
Seol Hwa-un also found it suspicious.
'Too fast, far too fast. The sect leader's independent decision?'
From the brief encounter, it didn't seem like his temperament.
'Something's off. It's like they're being pushed into it......'
Then, something flashed through his mind.
'No way?'
Yu Gong-seon spoke.
"It seems they're moving swiftly to deny our palace time to prepare."
"Hmm."
They had been in the middle of discussing countermeasures, having learned the rumors originated from Shanxi's unorthodox sects.
Yu Gong-seon asked Bing Cho-pung.
"Which group will arrive first?"
"The Black Refinement Sect, it seems. They're fast and bringing their elite warriors."
Over a dozen large and small unorthodox sects were mobilizing, besides the Black Refinement Sect.
"I see. It looks like they plan to have the strongest, the Black Refinement Sect, secure the position first, then have the others join one by one. That way, they avoid being picked off individually before assembling."
The Sword Platoon Leader spoke.
"What if we strike the moment the Black Refinement Sect arrives? It would be tough, but eliminating them early......"
Yu Gong-seon shook his head.
"Good idea, but their forces are formidable. If it drags on, we risk encirclement."
"Of course, but given the situation, we must take some risks. Even the Black Refinement Sect has no one who can match the Little Palace Lord. If we seize the initiative......"
At that moment, Seol Hwa-un spoke.
"It won't be easy."
"Pardon?"
"It's just a hunch, but it seems the Blood Light Sword Lord is with the Black Refinement Sect."
The executives' expressions hardened instantly.
"No way?!"
"The Blood Light Sword Lord, one of the Four Demonic Lords?"
Seol Hwa-un nodded and relayed what he had heard from Red Wolf Hall.
"He was the one behind pressuring the ronin via Red Wolf Hall to prevent them from joining our palace."
"Ah!"
Yu Gong-seon nodded gravely.
"Now the Black Refinement Sect's swift movement makes sense. He's forcing them to attack our palace."
They knew of the ties between the Blood Light Sword Lord and the Blood Yin Death Lord.
Though grouped as one of the Four Demonic Lords with the Blood Yin Death Lord, the Blood Light Sword Lord was held in far higher regard.
The Blood Yin Death Lord had the Four Heavenly Gates Sect, but the Blood Light Sword Lord operated alone—yet was still counted among the Four Demonic Lords.
"The Blood Light Sword Lord......"
Even Seol Hwa-un could not fell him quickly.
"But we can't just sit and watch them gather, can we?"
"......"
After a moment's thought, Seol Hwa-un turned to Yu Gong-seon.
"How complete is the formation?"
Yu Gong-seon looked troubled.
"Well, it's still...... less than two-tenths......"
He had been preparing it piecemeal since arriving at the Taegok sub-branch, but time had been too short.
"Can't use it at all?"
"Not quite. We can manage a temporary simple illusion array."
"Good. Then let's do this."
"How......?"
"We'll pick them off individually, but change the target."
"......!"
"Sword Platoon Leader."
"Yes, Little Palace Lord."
"Select sixty fast-footed members from the Sword Platoon."
Yu Gong-seon immediately grasped his intent.
"You plan to form a detachment?"
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
"Yes. We'll target the smaller unorthodox sects besides the Black Refinement Sect."
"Then the Taegok sub-branch's defenses......"
"The rest will hold. Of course, we keep that from them."
Bing Cho-pung blurted out unwittingly.
"That's too dangerous! If they catch on, they'll swarm our sub-branch immediately."
"Exactly. That's why we must be covert."
"......!"
Yu Gong-seon's eyes flickered with various emotions.
"If we avoid detection...... it does raise our chances significantly."
"Yu Strategist, prepare whatever formations you can for contingencies."
Yu Gong-seon bowed at Seol Hwa-un's words.
"Yes."
"The situation is disadvantageous either way. For now, we hold them with just the Taegok sub-branch's forces."
He had sent a call for aid to the Shanxi Sword Sect but held little hope. They were likely already blocking the paths.
Seol Hwa-un stood and looked around the room.
"Don't worry too much. Two years ago, I broke through worse than this. The Little Palace Lord will be at the forefront holding them back."
"Yes, Little Palace Lord!"
Trust filled the executives' gazes as they looked at him.
Even so, concerns lingered.
'The new recruits we just took in will be shaken.'
It had been merely five days since they joined the Taegok sub-branch. It wouldn't be surprising if fear drove them to flee.
Yu Gong-seon stared at Seol Hwa-un.
'The Little Palace Lord will steady them well.'
That night, sixty Sword Platoon members, led by the Sword Platoon Leader, slipped out of the Taegok sub-branch in secret.