The Calamity of Hubei
Hyeok raised an eyebrow, seemingly taken aback by Ryeong’s blunt question. Perhaps because the words had carried such a sharp, heavy edge, his expression remained inscrutable and difficult to read.
“[If you are contemplating suicide, I strongly suggest you reconsider.]”
“I’m not asking for your personal opinion,” Ryeong retorted. “If I’m gone, does the karma of the Adversary simply pass on to someone else?”
“[The destiny of the Adversary cannot be so easily foisted onto another. If you disappear, this world will be destroyed.]”
A dry scoff escaped her lips. It was not that she felt crushed under the weight of some grandiose, world-saving fate, but to claim that her death would mean the end of all creation... She could already envision just how grueling and treacherous the path ahead was going to be.
“Were these sacred relics arranged specifically for me? Strangely enough, they harmonize remarkably well with my Four Divine Beasts Sword.”
“[One could say yes, and one could say no. In truth, I never anticipated you would comprehend and awaken the Four Divine Beasts Sword to begin with.]”
It was a familiar frustration; Hyeok never gave a direct, clear-cut answer. Ryeong had no way of knowing what role he played in the grand tapestry of this world, nor how he was supposed to act. But from the perspective of the person receiving the answers, it was exasperating. Was this simply how immortals behaved? Perhaps she should be satisfied that he wasn't speaking entirely in riddles.
Ryeong pressed him with several more questions after that. Fortunately, unlike when she had inquired about the Red Cloud Divine Sword, she managed to glean a considerable amount of information. The most astonishing revelation concerned the Ak Family.
The evil dragon—the very origin of their ancient curse—was still alive. The sole reason the Ak Family had been unable to step forth into the martial world to this day was to prevent the beast from achieving complete regeneration.
“Wait a second. If that’s true, doesn't removing the Yellow Dragon Scale mean the evil dragon will fully revive?”
“[The probability is exceedingly high.]”
“Then doesn't that mean I can't take their relic? What happens if that monster breaks free?”
“[You simply have to kill it. Your power will act as a lethal poison to the beast.]”
And just like that, the entire burden had been dumped squarely onto her shoulders. Hyeok still hadn't explained why all five sacred relics had to be brought together in one place, leaving her with the distinct impression that collecting them was meant for something far beyond merely increasing her combat strength.
An entire clan capable of producing masters of the Profound Realm was currently dedicating their full might just to maintain the dragon's seal. Ryeong couldn't even fathom how powerful she would have to become to slay such an entity with her own hands.
With those parting words, Hyeok dissolved into nothingness once more. Who knew how much time would pass before she encountered him again?
Shaolin's Green Jade Buddhist Staff was practically the sacred symbol of the Abbot himself. Expecting things to unfold as smoothly as when Ok-yeong gifted her the Taiji Heavenly Tablet was nothing short of wishful thinking. For all intents and purposes, claiming Shaolin's relic was virtually impossible. The Myriad Poison Ring had already fallen into the hands of the Demon Blood Divine Cult, and the Yellow Dragon Scale could not be touched without destabilizing the dragon's seal.
At the very least, it was a relief that the relic was housed within the Ak Family's stronghold. Given their terrifying martial prowess, even a surprise assault from the Demon Blood Divine Cult wouldn't rattle them.
Time marched forward. After holding detailed tactical discussions with the Daoist Masters of Mount Wudang, Ryeong descended the peaks and returned to her quarters.
Before long, the day of the expedition arrived.
Gathered around the leadership of Wudang and the Zhuge Clan, martial artists from across the Orthodox faction assembled into disciplined ranks. Their numbers reached a staggering three thousand.
To say they had mobilized in such vast numbers merely over the eradication of a single Unorthodox sect would be an overstatement. Avenging an Unorthodox clan was merely the pretext. The Demon Blood Divine Cult's naked ambitions to swallow the Central Plains had become an undeniable reality; the alliance had concluded that crushing them before a greater catastrophe unfolded was of paramount importance.
Naturally, this coalition was the direct result of Ryeong's persistent urging, yet even she had not expected a host of three thousand warriors to rally. The problem, however, lay not in quantity, but in quality.
There were scarcely any masters at the Peak realm or beyond. While the Daoist Masters of Wudang would arrive as reinforcements, in an outright clash of raw power, three thousand ordinary warriors were little more than honeybees facing hornets.
The only saving grace was that the Zhuge Clan fielded a formidable corps of formation masters. The tactical variables they could orchestrate held the potential to surpass the combat power of several Peak-tier masters combined.
Among everyone present, the person trembling the most was none other than Jin-yeong. To his eyes, this battle was not a mere skirmish, but the terrifying prologue to an all-out war.
“Why is your face so pale?” Ryeong asked. “Worried we won't win?”
“It is not that, young lady. Since you are with us, we will triumph somehow. Yet it is certain that oceans of blood will flow. I... I do not know if I will be able to keep my wits about me amidst such carnage. I have no confidence in myself.”
Jin-yeong nervously chewed on his dry, parched lips. She had never seen him this wound up before.
“Don't dwell on that,” Ryeong said firmly. “You've taken lives before, haven't you? Just focus on surviving right where you stand. You're someone who has already crossed that threshold—do you really think you'll freeze up when the blood starts spilling?”
“I have never stood upon a true battlefield, which is why I fear it. Perhaps... I might even meet my end out there.”
“Die? Who said you could die, you fool? I'm not going to let that happen. If you dare die on me, I'll kill you myself, so you'd better stay alive.”
Jin-yeong let out a soft chuckle. Ryeong’s clumsy, sharp-tongued reassurance managed to lift some of the suffocating weight from his chest, drastically softening the dread of marching to war.
It was right then that a booming voice resonated across the assembly grounds.
“Brothers and comrades of Hubei! We can stand idly by no longer! The vile demons of the Demon Blood Divine Cult have encroached upon the very front yard of Hubei! If we allow this to continue, our beloved land will be devoured whole!”
Zhuge Hongun, Patriarch of the Zhuge Clan, stood before the gathered host and began his address.
Not only the martial artists, but the common townsfolk who had gathered to watch the army depart turned their undivided attention toward him. Ryeong and Jin-yeong halted their conversation as well, listening intently to the passionate call designed to rally the troops' spirits.
“We must march forth and stop them! For our families! For our homeland! For the peace and harmony of the Central Plains! We cannot sit back and tolerate the atrocities of the Demon Blood Divine Cult any longer! We must fight!!”
The roar was heavily infused with internal energy, echoing across the plains. Zhuge Hongun’s heartfelt plea resonated deeply within the hearts of every warrior present.
Deciding to seize upon this swelling fervor and deliver the final spark, Ryeong stepped forward.
Fwoooosh!
“Y-Young lady?”
“Crush the Demon Blood Divine Cult!!”
Unfurling blazing wings of fire, she soared straight into the azure sky. As she projected her voice across the entire field using the Six Harmonies Voice Projection, the spark caught fire, and a thunderous roar erupted from three thousand throats.
“Crush the Demon Blood Divine Cult!!”
“Crush the Demon Blood Divine Cult!!”
“Crush the Demon Blood Divine Cult!!”
Having whipped the crowd into a roaring frenzy, Ryeong let the corners of her mouth curl into a confident smirk. Zhuge Hongun, clearly caught off guard by her dramatic intervention, offered her a deep, grateful nod from the podium.
“Hubei Alliance! Forward march!!”
“WAAAAAAAH!”
Under Zhuge Hongun’s command, the great host of three thousand began its thunderous march toward the stronghold of the Demon Blood Divine Cult.
Yet wherever light gathers, darkness lurks in equal measure. Cultists embedded among the common folk watched the departing army with cold, calculating eyes.
“Release a carrier hawk to inform the Fifth Blood King.”
“The enemy has mobilized. At this pace, they will arrive at our gates in less than two days.”
Shadowy figures moved with quiet urgency through the alleyways. From high above in the heavens, Ryeong peered down, her sharp eyes tracking their subtle movements beneath the crowd.
Even if you send word now, it’s far too late.
They would win this battle without fail. No, she would guarantee their victory.
I’ll see to it personally.
“Fifth Blood King, we have detected the enemy’s movements.”
“What is our current strength here?”
“Slightly over one thousand men. However, ten unit commanders at the realm of the Extreme Demon have assembled. In total, our stronghold currently houses twenty masters of the Extreme Demon.”
“A number more than sufficient to make the dogs of the Central Plains weep tears of blood.”
The Fifth Blood King, Geuk Pyeong, twisted his lips into a cruel sneer. The Extreme Demon realm was identical in power to the Transcendent Realm of the Orthodox factions. With twenty such peerless powerhouses gathered under one roof, there was no possibility of defeat, regardless of how many thousands of fodder the enemy threw at them.
Moreover, potent demonic formations were already woven across their stronghold. The moment the invaders stepped within their perimeter, the foul blood qi would tear their flesh to ribbons.
“Order all forces to conclude their preparations immediately and assemble in the Great Cavern. Furthermore, we will accept no additional reinforcements. Instruct the units currently en route to Hubei to bypass this valley entirely and launch a surprise assault on the main peak of Mount Wudang.”
The Fifth Blood King had remained at this stronghold for two distinct objectives. The first was to thoroughly slaughter the bothersome wretches of Hubei, putting the terrifying might of their cult on full display.
The second was to seize Mount Wudang's sacred relic while their defenses were drained of men.
Knowing that the Taiji Heavenly Tablet was kept deep within the inner sanctuaries of Mount Wudang, he intended to strike when their greatest masters were absent. A significant number of Wudang's Taoists had already succumbed to demonic qi during their initial skirmish. With their high elders dispatched to raid this stronghold, Wudang would scarcely have the strength left to mount a coherent defense.
Everything was unfolding precisely according to plan. The Taiji Heavenly Tablet would soon fall into his grasp, and after that, marching on Shaolin to claim the Green Jade Buddhist Staff would be child's play.
Geuk Pyeong had no inkling that the relic at Mount Qingcheng was an outright fabrication. Convinced that Qingcheng's treasure could be plucked whenever he pleased, he basked in supreme confidence.
Yet a profound, devastating shock awaited him in the days to come.
He could not foresee that the battle at their stronghold would descend into a savage, desperate struggle far beyond anything he had conceived.
Nor did he suspect that Ryeong had already completely cleansed the demonic corruption poisoning Wudang's Daoist Masters—and that the Wudang Sect was currently sharpening its blades, lying in wait for the Demon Blood Divine Cult to walk into their trap.
At this moment, Geuk Pyeong could not have fathomed such a nightmare in his wildest dreams.