Chapter 206
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Four Great Ghost Generals
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The vice leader of Black Mountain Stronghold was a coward at heart. He held the title, but his martial arts were barely third-rate.
In truth, he had been appointed vice leader for his administrative skills rather than his fighting prowess—he was more scholar than warrior.
That was why, once subdued by Seol Hwa-un, he was terrified and answered every question promptly.
The vice leader didn't know as much as expected, but he still provided some useful information.
Yang Mu-seung was secretly cultivating an ominous martial art. And he had slipped away on a covert outing with a group of unidentified men.
'As expected, it was the Green Forest Bandits who raided the merchant caravan—and Yang Mu-seung among them.'
It was likely to settle an old grudge.
Having identified the culprits, Seol Hwa-un next inquired about "Teacher Gal."
Teacher Gal's name was Gal Jung-hwang.
He was a strategist recommended by one of the Five Great Leaders of the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits, a mysterious figure with no known affiliation.
'From the looks of it, he taught Yang Mu-seung the Demonic Possession Art...'
Seol Hwa-un's eyes sharpened.
'Does that mean he's a remnant of the Demonic Cult?'
But he soon shook his head.
'I can't be certain yet. He might have simply obtained a Demonic Cult manual.'
Ever since the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's destruction, over the past two hundred years, their manuals had surfaced periodically, sowing chaos in the martial world.
Seol Hwa-un himself had once faced a bloodthirsty man using demonic arts in Hangzhou's Black Wind Hall.
'But that Gal Jung-hwang was extremely proficient in demonic arts.'
He couldn't say for sure, but the technique Gal used to calm Yang Mu-seung also resembled the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's sorcery.
Having heard Seol Hwa-un's account, Sa In-gyeol spoke up.
"This is more serious than anticipated. If we assume this Gal Jung-hwang is a Demonic Cultist, the Green Forest itself may already be infiltrated by the cult."
"I agree."
The Five Great Leaders who recommended Gal Jung-hwang held the second-highest influence in the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits after the Chief Steersman.
If one of the Five Great Leaders had recommended a Demonic Cultist like Gal Jung-hwang, that leader was likely connected to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as well.
Hong Seong-chil asked,
"What will you do, Fortress Lord?"
"......"
Of course, Seol Hwa-un wanted nothing more than to mobilize North Heaven Fortress's forces and wipe out Black Mountain Stronghold now that the culprits were known.
'But if the Green Forest is truly tied to the Demonic Cult...'
North Heaven Fortress might end up clashing with Heavenly Demon Divine Cult remnants instead of just the Black Mountain Stronghold's Green Forest bandits.
Seol Hwa-un, who had personally destroyed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, knew better than anyone the terrifying reserves of power they possessed.
'If the Demonic Cult is acting this boldly, they've already built considerable forces.'
In that case, North Heaven Fortress would have to brace for far greater sacrifices than against mere Green Forest bandits.
'A troublesome matter.'
He couldn't decide right away.
"For now, we return to the fortress."
He needed to inform Seo Mun-gong and hear Yu Gong-seon's thoughts as well.
Depending on the situation, he might even need to alert the Martial Alliance or Orthodox Heaven Alliance to their presence.
"Yes, Fortress Lord."
* * *
Seol Hwa-un and his group swiftly left the Black Water region, heading south along the official road.
Shwoosh!
Past midnight, the surroundings were dark, but it posed no issue for their movement.
Thud!
Driven by the urgency to return as quickly as possible, Seol Hwa-un suddenly halted in place.
"......"
Sa In-gyeol and Hong Seong-chil, following behind, stopped immediately as well. Four black silhouettes blocked their path.
All four were bald with massive builds, each exuding a heavy aura.
'This energy...'
As Seol Hwa-un's eyes flashed, Sa In-gyeol demanded of them,
"Who are you!"
One of the silhouettes ignored Sa In-gyeol and addressed Seol Hwa-un.
"Indeed, an aura unlike any junior. Worthy of all four of us."
This time, Seol Hwa-un asked,
"I said, who are you."
One silhouette bared white teeth.
"Kekeke, fine. Since you're about to die, I'll tell you. We are the Four Great Ghost Generals of the Blood Demon Sect."
"Blood Demon Sect?"
Hong Seong-chil and Sa In-gyeol looked puzzled at the unfamiliar name, but not Seol Hwa-un.
"One of the Eight Great Demon Sects, that Blood Demon Sect?"
The Four Great Ghost Generals were the ones taken aback.
"How do you...?"
"So it really is the Demonic Cult."
"......!"
Seol Hwa-un's words left his two retainers stunned.
'The Demonic Cult for real?'
The eldest of the Four Great Ghost Generals scowled.
"How dare you... still call our sacred cult the Demonic Cult! Vermin who will suffer eternally in the flames of the Holy Fire!"
Seol Hwa-un's eyes gleamed.
"I see. So that Gal Jung-hwang really is Demonic Cult after all."
Ignoring his words entirely, the eldest radiated intense killing intent.
"Arrogant to the end. Let's see if you're still smirking when you're drenched in blood."
Seol Hwa-un gave a faint smile.
"With just the likes of you?"
"Praying mantis against a chariot. Will you shed tears only when you see the coffin?"
The Four Great Ghost Generals charged at Seol Hwa-un's group.
Shwoosh!
The third and fourth targeted Sa In-gyeol and Hong Seong-chil respectively, while the first and second attacked Seol Hwa-un together.
Their movements showed no hesitation, as if pre-planned.
Seol Hwa-un had no worries for his retainers.
"Kill them if needed—just don't get hurt."
"Yes, Fortress Lord!"
At that moment, the first and second of the Four Great Ghost Generals struck from Seol Hwa-un's left and right.
Their hands were cloaked in dark crimson qi, an eerie energy that sent chills through any observer.
'Blood Demon Sect's Black Blood Qi.'
Wasting no time, they unleashed powerful strikes from the outset to end it quickly.
"......"
Faced with their ferocious assault from both sides, Seol Hwa-un lightly thrust his fists four times.
Shwoosh!
Boom boom boom boom!
Their hands were repelled and flung back by his fists in an instant.
"......!"
The two Ghost Generals' faces twisted.
'Urk!'
'Fists like that...!'
Seol Hwa-un said impassively,
"If this is your full strength, I'm disappointed."
He drew his fists back to his body, then thrust them forward with explosive force.
Baaaang!!
A deafening sonic boom erupted as fist winds blasted left and right.
"......!"
The startled first and second hastily raised their arms in defense.
Kwaaang!!
They blocked it, but the immense impact sent them skidding backward.
Only then did they sense Seol Hwa-un's martial arts were extraordinary.
'They revere it as the North Sea Divine Fist, but...'
'Isn't he just a junior?'
It was a fist art far beyond their comprehension.
"You'll have trouble if you're shocked by this much."
Seol Hwa-un's form shot toward the second.
"......!"
Seeing Seol Hwa-un's utterly calm expression, the second flew into a rage.
"Insolent fool!"
The Black Blood Qi in his hands swelled larger.
"Die!"
Two dark crimson arcs sliced through the air.
Shwaaak!
The power and speed in his hands were formidable.
'A rather sharp technique.'
It matched the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult arts he had encountered before.
That was Seol Hwa-un's only impression. He quietly gathered internal energy into his right hand.
Soon, pure white flames flickered from his fist.
Fwaaa!
'I'll end this.'
Shwaaak!
Seol Hwa-un's fist thrust forward. Blazing Flower Fist—no, White Flower Fist's first form: White Flame Piercing Strike.
Kwaaang!!
Clashing with his fist strike, the Black Blood Qi vanished in an explosion, and the second's hands failed to block it, rebounding away.
The second couldn't believe it.
'My Black Blood Strong Hand broken so easily...?!'
Seol Hwa-un's White Flower Fist plunged into his undefended chest.
Puuuuk!
Crack crack!
"Guuk!"
A dull impact rang out, followed by the sound of shattering bones.
Unable to withstand the fist's power, the second's body crashed to the ground.
Thud!
"You bastard!!"
The first, now closing in behind Seol Hwa-un, thrust both hands forward. Intense demonic energy gathered in his palms.
Shwaaak!
As his attack neared Seol Hwa-un's back, Seol Hwa-un's form vanished.
"......!"
More precisely, he hadn't vanished—Seol Hwa-un had swiftly bent his upper body, causing the first to miss.
Whoooosh!
The first's hands sliced empty air, and at that instant, Seol Hwa-un's right foot drove into his abdomen.
The first hadn't seen it coming, but white flames burned at Seol Hwa-un's toes.
It was the Mixed Origin Sect's kicking art, Flash Thunder Shadow Step.
Puuuuk!!
The impact was so massive that the first's eyes bulged.
"Keuk!"
His body shot into the air before plummeting back down.
Thump!
"Kuuh!"
"Kuhuk!"
The second, smashed into the ground, and the first, who had fallen, both spewed black blood from their mouths.
A single strike had inflicted fatal internal injuries.
They could barely think straight.
'Even the two of us together couldn't match him...'
'You're... too strong!'
Gal Jung-hwang had thought the Four Great Ghost Generals sufficient for Seol Hwa-un's group, but that was a clear miscalculation.
It stemmed from poor intelligence. The Blood Demon Sect, focused on the Green Forest, had neglected gathering info on the wider martial world.
Thus, they arrogantly assumed they could overwhelm the famed Seol Hwa-un.
The result of that hubris was惨烈.
The first struggled to rise.
'I have to report! Regardless, the North Sea Divine Fist's power is beyond us...'
But he couldn't stand easily. The fatal wound left him helpless.
'No... My internals are completely wrecked from one blow. At this rate...'
"......!"
A shadow loomed over his head, startling him to look up. Seol Hwa-un gazed down at him.
"Just one question."
"......"
"Are the other Eight Great Demon Sects operating in the shadows like you?"
The Eight Great Demon Sects.
The massive pillars upholding the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"Keh heh, think I'll answer?"
"As expected."
Seol Hwa-un snapped his fingers, unleashing Ice Ring Finger from his fingertip.
Puk!
The strike bored a small hole through the first's forehead, killing him instantly.
"......!"
The second, who had barely risen, flinched at the sight.
"I'll ask once."
As Seol Hwa-un approached, the second stumbled back. Then he realized his own state.
'...Am I afraid of this guy?'
Shame burned in him. His martial arts might be lacking, but fearing an enemy was intolerable.
'I am one of the Blood Demon Sect's Four Great Ghost Generals.'
Grit!
Gnashing his teeth, the second summoned his last strength and charged at Seol Hwa-un.
"Die!"
"......"
In that instant, pure white light blazed from Seol Hwa-un's fist.
Flash!
Kwaaang!