Chapter 188
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: The Battle of Sorrowful Song Valley 1
At the very front of the escort, atop the canyon cliff, stood Hong Lin, the leader of the Flower Serpent Sect.
Upon hearing that her opponents were warriors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, she was struck with fear. Her body trembled, yet she did not retreat.
Behind Hong Lin stood a woman in a pure white robe and a mask. On the woman’s mask was written ‘First Robe,’ and behind her were other women wearing identical masks.
On their masks were characters like ‘Second Robe,’ ‘Third Robe,’ and ‘Fourth Robe.’
First Robe, who stood at the forefront, mimicked Un-gak’s earlier words.
“Will you throw your lives away, blinded by greed? Or will you abandon your riches and save your skins? Ha, what a fine-sounding man you are.”
Unlike his relaxed response when he first saw Hong Lin, Un-gak was now tense.
Seeing this, Cheon Hui-san also sensed that the situation had taken a turn for the worse and began to brace himself.
At the head of the caravan, a man in black, no ordinary warrior, blocked the path. He had seen him before. He was likely the leader of the Umbral Soul Assassins, who had supposedly joined the Flame Demon.
Jeok-in. The assassins he led were surrounding them from atop the canyon.
Just then, a sharp voice echoed from the rear of the escort.
“However, you will not be able to escape even if you abandon your goods. If you surrender quietly, we will lessen your pain, so do not resist.”
Warriors appeared out of nowhere. They wore strings of red beads around their necks, and on the beads were inscribed ‘First Demon,’ ‘Second Demon,’ ‘Third Demon,’ and ‘Fourth Demon.’
The one responsible for the escort, following at the very rear, was the Azure Dragon Unit Leader, Cheon Ga-rak. He was the most powerful master in the current escort and the only one who fully understood the identity of their enemies.
That was why Cheon Ga-rak knew the exact reason for the sweat trickling down his spine.
The men targeting him from the rear were the Red Bead Four Demons, an elite unit of the Flame Demon, each one a master of the Transcendent Peak.
And the ones surrounding the caravan from the cliffs and blocking the path ahead…
‘They are the Umbral Soul Assassins. I heard their leader, Jeok-in, has also reached the Transcendent Peak.’
And the masked women looking down coldly from the front of the canyon. They were undoubtedly the Ice White Seven Robes.
‘At least Transcendent Peak. They say First Robe is at the level of a Transcendent Demon…’
Unbelievably powerful figures, some of the most renowned in the Cult, had gathered in one place. However, their own forces were not to be underestimated, so it wasn’t an impossible fight.
Not long ago, Cheon Ga-rak, the Azure Dragon Unit Leader, had surpassed the wall of the Transcendent Peak and entered the realm of the Transcendent Demon. His skill was worthy of his title, the Azure Dragon Demonic Spear of the Cult. The Wind Leaf Unit Leader, Un-gak, had also reached the Transcendent Demon level.
The Blade Leaf Demon’s greatest disciple… He heard the Blade Leaf Demon had reached the Supreme Demon level, and now his greatest disciple was a Transcendent Demon… Just what had happened in Blade Leaf Valley?
In any case, Pa-sun and Un-pyo were at the pinnacle of the Transcendent Peak. They too were formidable warriors, having experienced countless real battles.
However…
‘The problem is who is behind them. The Flame Demon… the Ice Demon…’
If these were all they had to face, they might be able to make it back alive. The caravan would fail, of course. But what if the Flame Demon or the Ice Demon were nearby?
The situation would become the absolute worst.
Cheon Ga-rak steadied his breathing and spoke calmly.
“This caravan is from the great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. I know you are also elites of the Cult, but why do you block our path? Surely you know that this caravan is for the revival of the Cult?”
Hearing Cheon Ga-rak’s words, First Robe let out a sneering laugh.
“Hahahaha! You speak well! You lot, who appeared like a bolt from the blue, pushed out the perfectly functioning Red Demon Pavilion, and now run around claiming you will challenge the heavens!”
The Red Bead Four Demons also roared with laughter.
“Kyahahahaha! Azure Dragon Unit Leader! If you had just quietly guarded the Heavenly Dance Family, this would never have happened. Why did you follow a Demon?”
“…What fault is there in following the great Demon? The real fault lies in causing chaos for the Demon.”
“And the one causing chaos for the Demon is none other than the Dragon Demon.”
Their animosity and their purpose were laid bare.
Cheon Ga-rak, Un-gak, Pa-sun, and Un-pyo now understood. They were here on the orders of the Ice Demon and the Flame Demon to cut off Lord Dragon Demon’s limbs.
At that moment, Pa-sun and Un-pyo met the enemy’s hostility with even louder laughter.
“Hahahahahaha! Ahit! Hahahaha!”
“Kuhahahahahaha! Kyaa! Hahahaha!”
Greatly annoyed by their behavior, First Robe spoke in a chilling voice.
“Have you lost your minds?”
“Not a chance!”
Pa-sun and Un-pyo’s voices were even more gleeful.
“In the end, the Demon as cold as ice and the Demon as hot as a volcano…”
“…were afraid of being devoured by the Dragon Demon?”
“What did you say!?”
“Isn’t that right? The reason you all came here.”
“In other words, you came on the orders of a frightened Demon.”
“How insolent!”
At that, the Red Bead Four Demons and the Ice White Seven Robes unleashed a suffocating killing intent.
“What!?”
“You worthless lackeys of the Dragon Demon Pavilion Lord dare to run your mouths so freely!”
“You… will not die a peaceful death.”
However, Pa-sun and Un-pyo were not the least bit intimidated.
“You goddamn idiots, is that thing on your neck just for decoration?”
Then, infusing his voice with internal energy, he roared.
“Why should I watch my tongue when you’re the ones who came with swords drawn!”
At Pa-sun and Un-pyo’s shout, a roar that was almost a battle cry, the Azure Dragon Unit charged toward the rear, and the Wind Leaf Unit surged toward the front.
“Break through!”
Cheon Ga-rak, a Transcendent Demon, and two squads of the Azure Dragon Unit would face the Red Bead Four Demons at the rear. Similarly, Un-gak, also a Transcendent Demon, and the Wind Leaf Unit would face the Ice White Seven Robes at the front, on the cliff.
Pa-sun and Un-pyo would each take on the Umbral Soul Assassins.
They gathered their energy to strike with all their might.
“The key is a swift, decisive battle!”
* * *
Sensing the crisis, Cheon Ga-rak sent a telepathic message to Un-gak, Pa-sun, and Un-pyo.
[ The Red Bead Four Demons. ]
[ The Ice White Seven Robes. ]
[ The Umbral Soul Assassins. ]
[ They are not the important ones. If the Cult Leader’s disciples, the Ice Demon and the Flame Demon, are nearby, we will be annihilated. ]
[ Therefore, we must abandon the caravan. The important thing is a swift battle. We will drive them back, break their encirclement, and then escape. I will say it again: we must escape before the Ice Demon and Flame Demon can intervene. ]
Pa-sun and Un-pyo immediately objected.
[ Then what about the caravan? This is the first caravan our lord has resumed since taking charge of the Dragon Demon Pavilion. It must succeed. Are you saying we should just give up on such an important task because of something we don’t even know is here? ]
[ I know how you feel, but give it up. Right now, even one of us must survive to return and inform the Dragon Demon of the enemy's intentions. ]
[ But! If the caravan fails, it will tarnish our lord’s name! Why don’t we fight the enemy carefully, win, and then continue the journey? We don’t even know for sure if the Ice Demon and the Flame Demon are nearby, do we? ]
[ No, they are definitely here. ]
[ Surely, individuals of their stature, the Cult Leader’s own disciples, wouldn’t come here in person, would they? Let’s just deal with these enemies and continue the journey. ]
Just then, the Wind Leaf Unit Leader, Un-gak, chimed in.
[ Un-pyo! Pa-sun! Your confidence borders on arrogance! ]
[ Elder Brother…! ]
[ Abandon the caravan for now! The merchants are what’s important! What if everyone dies because you’re greedy about the caravan? Can you take responsibility for the lives of the dead? ]
[ That’s…! ]
[ First, provoke and engage them, then give the signal. We will attack simultaneously. ]
Cheon Ga-rak calmly explained the plan: who would face which enemy, and after breaking the encirclement, which merchants to prioritize.
[ We will get the other merchants out. Pa-sun, Un-pyo, your top priority is the safety of Young Master Cheon Hui-san. Get out with him! ]
Cheon Ga-rak’s plan prioritized who would be sent to safety. It was essentially a plan to save Pa-sun, Un-pyo, and Cheon Hui-san. In other words, it was a plan where the Azure Dragon Unit, the Wind Leaf Unit, and all the merchants were highly likely to die.
But they had no choice but to follow.
They knew better than anyone that this decision was not based on personal feelings, but on a selection of who would be most helpful to the Dragon Demon Pavilion Lord, Baek Mu-heun.
And so, the sound that signaled the start of the operation rang out.
[ Why should I watch my tongue when you’re the ones who came with swords drawn! ]
Pa-sun launched himself forward, infusing internal energy into the spear held in both hands. Then, he violently rotated the energy to add piercing power and thrust forward.
“Spiral Piercing Wave!”
*Swoosh!*
The spiraling spear flew toward the leader of the Umbral Soul Assassins. In response, Jeok-in countered with his twin swords.
“Severing Wings!”
As if clipping the wings of a flying bird, a precise and swift sword energy wrapped around Pa-sun’s spear and deflected it.
*Kagagakang!*
Jeok-in couldn’t help but admire Pa-sun’s sharp spear strike.
“Hahaha! Are you really the same brat from the Divine Dragon Assembly?”
Pa-sun gathered the deflected energy back to the tip of his spear. A rotation that reduced the loss of energy and added power. Preparing the second strike of his spear, he said.
“Why don’t you find out for yourself!”
“Haha! Alright! I look forward to a good fight!”
The clash of twin swords and a spear.
*Kagagagang!*
Meanwhile, Un-pyo was fighting the members of the Umbral Soul Assassins, that is, all the assassins except their leader, Jeok-in. He swung his massive greatsword, Black Cloud, with tyrannical force.
“Blade Leaf Great Wind!”
So that they could not interfere with the fight between Pa-sun and Jeok-in, he swung the greatsword in a wide arc, attacking the assassins.
The wind from the blade of Un-pyo, who had reached the pinnacle of the Transcendent Peak, was at a level where most assassins couldn’t even get close.
Furthermore, during his trip to the Central Plains, he had sparred with Gu Yang-baek of the Killing Palace, known as the best assassin group in the Cult. He had seared Yang-baek’s movements into his memory, so the assassins’ movements were clearly visible to him.
Having experienced the Killing Palace and the Tang Clan, Pa-sun and Un-pyo could feel the clear difference in skill.
Un-pyo was leisurely dispatching the Umbral Soul Assassins.
The escorts and porters hired by the Cheonbu Merchant Guild were also confronting some of the assassins…
“Blade Leaf Wind!”
*Swoosh!*
*Kwaang!*
He constantly sent gusts of blade wind to help them.
However, Un-pyo had a different, true objective.
The martial prowess of Pa-sun and Jeok-in was equal. Therefore, an opening would eventually appear in their fight. He intended to seize that opening and feed him a blast of blade wind.
‘Once the encircling Umbral Soul Assassins are dealt with to some extent, I will evacuate the Young Master and the merchants!’
* * *
The clash of weapons.
The sound of shattering rocks.
Booms, screams, the whistle of attacks through the air.
A chaotic battle where such sounds echoed from all directions.
Cheon Ga-rak and the Azure Dragon Unit were engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the Red Bead Four Demons.
“Azure Dragon Demonic Spear Arts, Fifth Form: Seventy-Two Demons Dragon Kill.”
Cheon Ga-rak’s demonic spear was not just about stabbing quickly and forcefully. It was a spear art that used speed as a base to create illusions. The tip of the spear blurred, splitting into sixteen strands, then thirty-six, then seventy-two.
Spear strikes of blue energy, seventy-two of them. The awl-like blue spearheads gathered to form an azure dragon.
*Kwaaaaaang!*
It was a detailed yet wide-ranging attack that even the Transcendent Peak masters of the Red Bead Four Demons found hard to withstand.
“Kugh!”
At that moment, Ho-ryang of the Flowing Water Sword and Seo-bong of the Iron Wind Sword, whose internal energy was approaching the wall of the Transcendent Peak, charged forward with their squad members.
“Flowing Water Sword Formation!”
“Iron Wind Sword Formation!”
Sword formations in coordination with their squad members. With these, they would face two of the Red Bead Four Demons. If Cheon Ga-rak could take down even one in that opening…
They might be able to seize victory.
But just then.
“Stop.”
A figure of red-haired flame, clutching Un-gak by the neck, issued a command to the warriors in the valley.