Chapter 190
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Battle of the Valley of Sorrow 3
The Valley of Sorrow. Two hundred years ago, during the golden age of the Orthodox Sects, warriors from great clans and prestigious families defeated the Unorthodox forces known as the Four Tyrants of Heaven.
Having vanquished the most immediate threat to the Central Plains, they rode their momentum to declare war on the Demonic Cult.
However, the Demonic Cult was also a formidable power. Both sides, opting for an all-out war over defensive maneuvers, clashed here in the Valley of Sorrow.
The Cult Leader who led the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult at the time, along with countless followers, died here. The same was true for the Orthodox Sects.
A valley that claimed hundreds, thousands of lives from both the Demonic Cult and the Orthodox Sects. Moreover, all who died were either absolute masters or promising young prodigies.
A war with no victor. In the end, it produced no great achievements, no glorious victory. Only a vast, unforgettable sorrow.
To remember the sorrow of that time and to mourn the dead, this valley was named the Valley of Sorrow.
And now.
There were those who felt despair within the Valley of Sorrow.
Un-pyo, Pa-sun, and Cheon Ga-rak could not fail to recognize him. The face of the man who had instantly subdued the Maple Leaf Unit Leader and was now clutching Un-gak's neck in one hand.
A man cloaked in crimson flames reminiscent of a scene from hell, his red hair whipping in the wind.
The Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi.
A mind-numbing terror seeped through their skin, eyes, and ears. It felt as if their skin was burning away. The gap in power was that immense. The blazing flames seemed to sear their very lungs.
Pa-sun and Un-pyo finally understood.
What it meant to be a master of the pinnacle of demonic arts.
The level of the Transcendent Realm, as it was known in the Central Plains.
Having had Mu-heun with them all this time, they had never truly grasped it. The killing intent emanating from such a supreme realm made even breathing difficult.
The Cloud Dragon of Kunlun, famous throughout the Central Plains. The Light-Splitting Immortal, Gu Pae-seon.
The Sichuan Branch Chief of the Martial Alliance and Grand Elder of the Emei Sect, Gam Pa-pa.
When they thought about it, all the masters of the Transcendent Realm they had met so far had been friendly toward them.
The Poison Iron Sword Bi-yu, whom they met when they invaded the Tang Clan. His killing intent had been formidable, but he was only at the Peak Realm.
As for Dang Baek-ho, who had reached the pinnacle of the Transcendent Realm, Lord Mu-heun had dealt with him from the start, so they had never even seen him in action.
They forced down the dry saliva that wouldn't go down their throats, cold sweat trickling down their backs.
*‘That’s the pinnacle of demonic arts. The Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi, one of the Cult Leader’s five disciples.’*
Just then, the Flame Demon, still gripping Un-gak's neck with one hand, reached out with the other and placed it on Un-gak’s head.
“Don’t anyone move.”
Crimson flames blossomed from his hand.
*Fwoosh—*
“Or this one dies.”
Pa-sun bit his lip so hard it bled.
He bit down.
To overcome his fear and fight back.
Despair? Yes, their opponent was on a completely different level. A truly hopeless situation. But so what?
*‘I am Pa-sun, one who defies the natural order. I am not one to despair in a desperate situation!’*
Pa-sun’s hand, gripping his spear, was trembling. But he overcame his fear as if piercing a black wall with his spear. He then looked around.
*‘What’s the priority?’*
What was the most important thing to do for his lord, Baek Mu-heun? It was already too late for the Maple Leaf Unit Leader, Un-gak. Then… the Azure Dragon Unit Leader, Cheon Ga-rak? Un-pyo?
No.
There was only one person his lord needed to carry out the Dragon Demon Pavilion's work. The young master of the Cheonbu Merchant Guild, Cheon Hwi-san.
*‘It’s him.’*
*‘Then, I’ll join forces with Lord Un-pyo and save Cheon Hwi-san, if no one else!’*
Pa-sun immediately sent a telepathic message to Un-pyo.
[ Lord Un-pyo! ]
But Un-pyo didn't respond to the message.
He was… dazed.
[ Lord Un-pyo…? ]
Pa-sun had misjudged Un-pyo's relationship with the Maple Leaf Unit Leader.
“S-Senior Brother…”
Seeing Un-gak, who might die at the Flame Demon's hand, Un-pyo didn't know what to do. His senior brother, whom he had relied on since leaving the Azure Dragon Unit for Blade Leaf Valley, was like family to him, having shared both joys and sorrows.
And now that family was facing death.
“W-what should I do…”
Just then, Cho Yeom-wi was watching the situation from the top of the valley cliff and sending a telepathic message.
[ Red Lord, Sama. ]
[ Yes, my lord! ]
[ I'll handle the Azure Dragon Unit Leader. You and the Dark Soul Assassination Unit Leader take care of those two over there. ]
[ Sir! ]
The Flame Demon, in particular, curled his lips as he looked at Pa-sun.
*‘I can hear your little gears turning from all the way up here, you bastard.’*
At best, he was at the Peak Realm. He should have been panicking from the killing intent I'm emitting. But he bit his lip until it bled to stay focused.
And he was rolling his eyes, thinking of his next move.
*‘Impressive.’*
However.
*‘I see right through you.’*
Cho Yeom-wi then generated a red ripple from the hand he had placed on Un-gak's head.
*Whoom!*
Un-pyo’s face turned pale as he shouted.
“S-stop! Stop it!”
But. There was no way the Flame Demon would stop.
“Red Wave Palm.”
*Baaam!*
“Keuk!”
A shockwave that made the air shimmer. Un-gak coughed up blood from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears before passing out.
Seeing this, Un-pyo forgot his fear, raised his greatsword, Black Cloud, and leaped forward.
“You son of a bitch!”
“Calm down! Lord Un-pyo!”
Pa-sun tried to stop him, but it was too late.
Cho Yeom-wi suddenly appeared right in front of Un-pyo, who was leaping up from the valley floor.
“...!”
Then he grabbed Un-pyo’s head with one hand.
“I didn’t kill him, but when you act like this, it makes me want to.”
Red Wave Palm.
*Baaam!*
“Keoheok!”
In an instant, before Pa-sun could even react. In that brief moment, Un-pyo, like Un-gak, coughed up blood and collapsed.
“Not done yet.”
The Flame Demon instantly leaped and flew toward Cheon Ga-rak and the Azure Dragon Unit.
*Kwaang!*
The Azure Dragon Unit Leader, Cheon Ga-rak, hastily gathered his full internal energy to counterattack, but how could he possibly stand against the king of crimson flames?
Amidst the blazing crimson flames, the Azure Dragon Unit, like the Maple Leaf Unit, was annihilated.
Soon, Pa-sun was surrounded by the Dark Soul Assassination Unit Leader, Jeok-in, and the Red Lord, Sama.
Five Peak Realm warriors. There was no way out.
Pa-sun squeezed his eyes shut.
He had overcome the despair of death. He thought it would be fine to die, to fall, as long as he could be of help to the lord he had sworn loyalty to… But far from being helpful, it seemed everyone would be captured. What was he to do?
Just as there is always a lower bottom, true despair had arrived.
“Fuhuhuhuhu.”
Pa-sun gripped his spear so tightly it felt like it would break.
“Fine! Come on!”
*Kwaaaaaang!*
***
The ground was covered in fresh blood.
Pa-sun lay on the ground, his body drenched in blood.
In his fading consciousness, Pa-sun opened one eye.
He remembered resisting desperately… What he saw now were the Red Lord, Sama, and Jeok-in surrounding him.
*‘I see… so I lost.’*
Just then. He heard the sound of something being dragged across the ground.
A red-haired man was dragging the Azure Dragon Unit Leader, Cheon Ga-rak, by the hair. It was the Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi.
“Tie this bastard up with the others, and kill the rest.”
“Yes, sir!”
Pa-sun opened one eye and surveyed the situation again.
The Maple Leaf Unit was annihilated, as was the Azure Dragon Unit. Lord Un-pyo and Lord Un-gak were unconscious, held by the Ice Demon’s subordinates.
But something was strange.
The merchants were all unharmed, the goods and wagons were intact, and not a single person among the merchants or porters, including the young master, had been killed.
*‘I see…’*
The Flame Demon and Ice Demon’s goal wasn't to kill them. Nor was it to sabotage Lord Mu-heun's work by making the trade mission fail.
*‘Their target is… my lord.’*
*Pfft.*
A laugh escaped him.
Seeing him laugh, Cho Yeom-wi’s eyes widened as he spoke.
“Hm? You’re laughing? Hahat! Hahahaha!”
Then his expression hardened in an instant.
“Break all his limbs.”
“Yes, sir!”
*Crack!*
*“Aaaaargh!”*
Cho Yeom-wi seemed satisfied by the scream.
“Knock him out and take him.”
“Yes, sir!”
But even as his consciousness faded, Pa-sun did not lose his smile.
*‘You’ve made a bad move. You’re gravely mistaken. He is not someone you can kill. Keuk keuk.’*
The Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong, called out to the young master, Cheon Hwi-san.
“Are you the one in charge of this trade mission?”
A beauty with skin like white jade. But her sharp eyes and chilling voice inspired a different kind of fear than the Flame Demon.
“…Y-yes, that’s right.”
“I am Yeon A-ryeong, the Ice Demon of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
“Ah…”
Seeing Cheon Hwi-san trembling with nervousness, Yeon A-ryeong smiled gently and said.
“There’s no need to be so tense.”
“Yes! Yes!”
“The reason we are here is because the Flower Serpent Sect and the Azure Eye Sect, Unorthodox factions near Qinghai Fortress, attacked the Cult's trade mission.”
“…Eh? Ah… yes!”
“You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
“O-of course!”
Cheon Hwi-san repeatedly bowed to show Yeon A-ryeong that he understood.
“Good, that’s how a merchant should be. As long as you cooperate, this trade mission can be completed safely.”
“Th-thank you!”
“However, you’ll have to come with us to the Sidalmok Basin for a while.”
“Th-the Sidalmok Basin, you say?”
“Yes. We have no intention of harming you, and once this business is concluded, my subordinates will even act as your escorts.”
“Ah…! Then, thank you very much!”
Cho Yeom-wi approached Yeon A-ryeong and said.
“Everything is taken care of.”
“Good, I’m finished here too.”
“Should I replace him with one of my own if he doesn’t listen?”
“No, there’s no need. He’s a merchant. He’s cooperative, so there’s no reason to.”
“Haha, I suppose we can just kill him then if he betrays us.”
“Indeed. He wouldn’t dare, not unless he wants to see the Cheonbu Merchant Guild disappear.”
Goosebumps rose on Cheon Hwi-san’s skin as he watched Cho Yeom-wi and Yeon A-ryeong discuss the annihilation of his merchant guild right in front of him.
“M-my lords!”
“…?”
“I am a merchant! Loyalty? Such things mean nothing to me. All I care about is preserving my life and ensuring the trade mission succeeds! That is enough for me. The people who escorted us before? We don't care about things like that! We will follow any orders you give! Please, don't worry and command us!”
“…”
The Flame Demon and Ice Demon looked at each other and nodded. Seeing this, Cheon Hwi-san continued.
“We encountered an Unorthodox faction during our journey, and while we were being attacked, the Ice Demon and Flame Demon saved us! That’s what I’ll say! Or, I will alter my testimony to fit whatever happens in the Sidalmok Basin! So please! Just spare my life!”
Cho Yeom-wi burst into laughter at the sight of Cheon Hwi-san begging with his head pressed to the ground.
“Hahahahahahat! Hahahahat! I really like this guy, don’t you?”
Yeon A-ryeong also let out a small laugh.
“Very well. Continue to lead the trade mission as before and follow us.”
“Yes! Thank you, my lords! Thank you! Thank you!”
Cheon Hwi-san said, his head still pressed to the ground.
“Hahat! Now, this is a merchant! This is how the leader of a trade mission should act! Hahat! Good. Follow us without worry.”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
The Ice Demon and Flame Demon gathered their subordinates and the captured Pa-sun, Un-pyo, Cheon Ga-rak, and Un-gak, and headed for the Sidalmok Basin.
Cheon Hwi-san gathered the dead.
He persuaded Cho Yeom-wi, who wanted to just burn the bodies, that their belongings might be useful. He promised to gather all the valuables, sell them, and offer the proceeds to them. He persuaded, pleaded, and begged again, and was finally allowed to handle the bodies of the Azure Dragon and Maple Leaf Unit members himself.
Cheon Hwi-san ordered the porters and a few escorts to gather the bodies behind the valley, and pretended to search their belongings while he conducted his own search.
*‘Somewhere around here… I have to find them, quickly. They have to be here! Where, where are they!’*
Just then.
He found two unit leaders who were still breathing.