Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: Upheaval in Nine Dragons (10)
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As the large old man and the Great Pure Adept appeared, the warriors of the Gray Dragon Hall and the Black Dragon Hall rose in unison.
“A disciple of the Black Dragon Hall greets the Grand Elder!”
“The Gray Dragon Hall’s…”
They were showing respect to the venerable elders of their sect, figures as high as the heavens.
In contrast, the Heavenly Sword Baek Sang-ji and the other two from the White Dragon Hall faction looked utterly astonished.
“Could it be…?”
Sensing that something was amiss, he quickly sent a telepathic message to the Great Pure Adept.
[What happened?]
[The Heavenly Sword trapped the hermits who wouldn't follow his orders.]
[What? Is that even possible?]
[He said they were fed a colorless, odorless poison. If I had arrived a moment later, all the hermits would have crossed over to the other side.]
[……!]
A colorless, odorless poison wasn't readily available, nor was it easy to acquire.
That meant the attack on the Hermit’s Forest was a thoroughly premeditated crime.
It meant those bastards had joined hands with another power.
‘They’re insane.’
To bring in an outside force for the selection of the Lord of Nine Dragons Fortress. This was no different from treason.
And that wasn't all.
*Fwip! Thud.*
An old man in a blue robe descended from the sky.
As he brandished the sword in his hand, nine unconscious children slowly floated down from above.
Everyone was astonished by the near-divine feat of telekinesis, but this was on another level.
‘No.’
Sword Controlling Qi.
He was using a legendary secret art just to transport people.
*Thud, thud.*
As the children were laid on the ground one by one, the Blue Dragon Hall Master rushed to the old man in alarm.
“Your disciple, Cheong-u, greets Elder Yi Pung!”
“I brought them from deep within the Nine Dragons Mountain Range where they were being held captive. Explain to me what happened.”
“It is due to this disciple's incompetence…”
“Just explain.”
“...Last night, the Silver Dragon Hall Master came to me and said that if I didn't do as he said, he couldn't guarantee the lives of my disciples.”
“And you just stood by and watched?”
“I sent the Clear Water Squad and two elders to find the disciples. I was stalling for time until their return.”
Yi Pung nodded and glared at the Silver Dragon Hall Master with intense eyes.
“How dare a mere Silver Dragon Hall abduct the disciples of the Blue Dragon Hall… As soon as this is over, I will visit you with my sword.”
“N-No, that’s!”
The Silver Dragon Hall Master’s face turned ashen.
He waved his hands, trying to make an excuse, but couldn't bring himself to speak.
It seemed there was no room for excuses.
At that sight, the Blue Dragon Hall Master’s eyes widened, and he prostrated himself.
“This unworthy disciple! I am deeply indebted to you, Elder.”
“A couple of bottles of good wine will suffice.”
Only then did I begin to understand what had happened.
‘A mere hostage situation…’
For a plot to take over Nine Dragons Fortress, wasn't this a rather simplistic scheme?
I frowned for a moment, then shook my head at a sudden realization.
‘No. Knowing Baek Jung-cheon’s personality, a hostage situation couldn't be the end of it. He would use this as leverage to add more to it.’
Something like Gu Poison, one of the clichés in martial arts novels.
‘If that’s the case…’
I shifted my gaze toward the Gold Dragon Hall Master.
After hearing the Blue Dragon Hall’s situation, I could guess why he had betrayed them.
And just as I expected.
*Thump.*
Two figures fell from the sky.
They were Geum Pil-dae and Geum Jong-dae, the sons of the Gold Dragon Hall Master.
An old man in a green robe, looking utterly exhausted, landed in front of the Gold Dragon Hall Master.
“Elder Dok-chi!”
“You fool. How can the head of a family be so careless with his own blood?”
“*Sob*!”
“I moved heaven and earth to save them, so don't you dare lose them again.”
“I will never forget this kindness!”
“If you're truly grateful, send over some medicinal herbs that are good for the body. Wine would be even better.”
“Of course, Elder!”
I didn't recognize his face, but I knew who he must be.
The one called Dok-chi, who had just rescued the hostages, had to be him.
Meaning.
“Grand-disciple, Dang Hyeon, greets the Grand Uncle!”
He was the grand-uncle of the current Green Dragon Hall Master.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, I trust you have been well.”
“I have been well.”
He looked at Baek Sang-ji, who was standing before him, and spoke.
“I almost died because of that bastard over there. Isn't that right, Jeon-ga?”
At that, the large old man who had appeared with the Great Pure Adept stepped forward and bellowed.
“You dare lay a trap for us?!”
He drew the greatsword from his back.
A storm-like aura erupted from his massive blade.
“If it weren't for the Great Pure Adept here, we would have been done for. You didn't think you'd survive after pulling a stunt like that, did you?”
“The crime of joining hands with heretics and harming the members of Nine Dragons Fortress will not be taken lightly.”
“I'll melt you down with a handful of my poison.”
“……”
Watching the scene unfold, the word ‘providence’ came to mind.
‘My master left for the Hermit’s Forest two days ago.’
‘Already?’
If the Great Pure Adept hadn't left for the Hermit's Forest earlier than planned.
Or if Baek Sang-ji had known in advance that the Great Pure Adept was retiring.
Everything would have gone according to the Baek father and son’s scheme.
*Drip.*
A cold sweat broke out just thinking about it.
The martial artists of Nine Dragons Fortress, now aware of the full story, stared at the Baek father and son and the Silver Dragon Hall Master with horrified eyes.
It was only natural.
Those three had committed an act utterly unforgivable for members of the Righteous Path.
The warriors of the White Dragon and Silver Dragon Halls, in particular, were restless.
They couldn't help their Hall Masters, nor could they simply stand by and do nothing.
Surrounded by the hermits, my master, and the Green Dragon Hall Master, the three men’s faces grew dark as they faced a desperate crisis.
“……”
I could see Baek Jung-cheon gritting his teeth and scanning his surroundings.
He was probably looking for a way out, but…
‘This is a checkmate.’
A hermit from the Hermit's Forest had stepped in and resolved the matter. The Blue Dragon Hall Master's testimony also pointed to the Silver Dragon Hall Master's misdeeds.
No matter how much he racked his brain, there was no way out of this.
But.
As they say, a rabbit digs three burrows.
The father and son’s scheme wasn't over yet.
“...What a shame.”
At Baek Sang-ji's mumble, the large hermit let out a furious roar.
“I will tear you to pieces and feed you to the fish!”
“You'll be torn apart first.”
In that instant, Baek Sang-ji pulled a crimson orb from his robes.
“I didn't want to have to use this…”
*Gulp.*
Muttering lamentably, he swallowed the orb in one gulp.
*Fwoooosh!*
A tremendous demonic energy swirled around his body.
“This is?!”
It was an aura I had felt before.
Blood Mountain Lord, Chu Cheol-o.
I felt a demonic energy similar to what the deceased Southern Heaven Palace Lord had obtained by sacrificing hundreds of young boys and girls.
Although the amount and quality of the demonic energy seemed far inferior to that time, likely due to a smaller number of sacrifices.
But because the user's skill was so superior, I could feel that Baek Sang-ji had become incomparably stronger than the Southern Heaven Palace Lord of that time.
Perhaps even comparable to the deceased Lord of the Ten Demon Alliance.
And then.
*Shaaaaaa!*
Baek Sang-ji’s eyes blazed crimson as he unleashed an immense killing intent.
“Hoo.”
He then took a deep breath and drew his sword.
*Slice!*
“Keuk!”
In a flash.
A sword strike, too fast for anyone present to perceive, sliced through the Silver Dragon Hall Master's neck.
“Why? Why…”
*Drip. Thud.*
His head fell and rolled across the floor.
*Shaaa…*
“Good.”
A smile graced Baek Sang-ji’s lips as he radiated demonic energy.
“Very good.”
Faced with a scene that seemed to be straight from hell, the four hermits stepped forward.
“Have you now forsaken the righteous path?”
First was Dok-chi, with his black, poison-laced hands.
“I’ll cut you in half and kill you.”
The former Gray Dragon Hall Master with his greatsword.
“If you surrender now, I will spare your life.”
And Yi Pung, the elder of the current Blue Dragon Hall Master.
The Great Pure Adept supported them from behind.
With the Hermit's Forest, known as the last bastion of Nine Dragons Fortress, stepping in, it seemed the situation would be resolved quickly, but.
‘It’s no use.’
[He said they were fed a colorless, odorless poison. If I had arrived a moment later, all the hermits would have crossed over to the other side.]
If they were in peak condition, perhaps, but not now.
In the end.
*Grip.*
My master, the Green Dragon Hall Master, the Blue Dragon Hall Master, and I would have to step in and stop him… or so I thought.
*Step.*
“No one interfere.”
My master strode forward and stood before Baek Sang-ji.
***
Though he stepped forward confidently, Bukgung Baek was not being careless in the slightest.
Of course not.
His opponent was the Heavenly Sword, Baek Sang-ji.
A former member of the Ten Great Masters of the World and a great swordsman of his generation, said to have reached the pinnacle of fast sword techniques.
Such a swordsman had spent thirty years honing his blade in the mountains and was now brimming with demonic energy.
In other words, even for someone like him, a single moment of carelessness could mean getting his head lopped off.
Of course, that didn't mean he was considering defeat.
Real combat.
No matter how much one honed their sword, no matter how much they inflated their internal energy with demonic power.
When your neck is broken and your heart bursts, death is inevitable.
A man who hadn't experienced real combat for decades was bound to reveal an opening.
He, on the other hand, had lived through constant life-or-death battles on the front lines until just recently.
‘Being strong doesn't mean you survive.’
Surviving is what makes you strong.
With that thought, Bukgung Baek slowly walked forward.
“……”
His vision flashed.
“Hup!”
His instincts erected a protective aura.
The aura of intense heat, so hot it seemed to burn the very air, was instantly split apart.
*Fwoosh.*
The sword strike, which couldn't be seen, let alone felt, was steeped in demonic energy.
*Tssss.*
The flowing blood instantly evaporated, forming a scab.
“Good senses.”
At Baek Sang-ji’s taunt, Bukgung Baek fixed his gaze.
His eyes fell on the sword, still in its sheath.
“……”
It was a speed he had never encountered before, a rare sharpness.
Combined with the demonic energy, it boasted formidable power.
But he hadn't stepped forward in the first place if he was going to falter at something like this.
*Fwoooosh.*
A jet-black flame began to engulf Bukgung Baek's entire body.
He looked like the incarnation of Zhurong, a fire god once worshipped in the lands of Shu.
As the fire god stomped his foot, flames erupted, and his figure vanished.
*Fwoosh!*
Baek Sang-ji’s demonic sword split the space.
*Swish-swish-swish-swish.*
In the time it took to split a second into ten, dozens of slashes shot toward Bukgung Baek’s entire body.
*Fwoosh!*
For a moment, his protective aura burned away the demonic energy, blocking the attacks.
A single slash reached Bukgung Baek’s body.
The incredibly sharp attack pierced his shoulder.
However, Bukgung Baek was also a master in his prime.
He ignored his pierced shoulder and launched his own attack.
*Fwaaah! Crackle.*
The peerlessly exquisite Black Dragon Hand shattered space itself as it flew toward Baek Sang-ji's face.
*Shaaa…*
The moment the swirling demonic energy couldn't withstand the attack and began to dissipate.
Baek Sang-ji moved his feet, instantly creating distance.
It was a movement as fast as his sword.
In the end, Bukgung Baek had sacrificed his shoulder but gained nothing.
Or so it seemed.
*KABOOM!*
“……!”
As his hand pointed to a spot, a massive explosion erupted, engulfing Baek Sang-ji.
*FWOOSH!*
The ultra-hot black flames even incinerated the demonic energy.
Black Dragon Bomb.
It was Bukgung Baek's own secret technique, an evolution of the Black Flame Dragon, the final form of the Black Dragon Hand.
Of course, his opponent was Baek Sang-ji.
He wouldn't die from something like this.
When the flames subsided, he emerged, shrouded in a bloody mist, walking out unharmed.
Bukgung Baek sneered at him.
*Grin.*
“Looks like you’ve lost your touch, hiding away in the mountains.”
“I’ll chop you into pieces.”
His beard scorched black, Baek Sang-ji unleashed his demonic energy and swung his sword.
Bukgung Baek, his hand also cloaked in flames, met his blade.
*Flash! KABOOOM!*