Clash with the Black Sword Pavilion (1)
A few days after the joyous reunion of the Black Wolf Three Swords with the Demon Sword Sect.
Who was it that said good fortune is often followed by misfortune?
No sooner had the funeral rites for the Demon Sword Fiend concluded than sinister figures set their sights on the Demon Sword Sect.
"So, the funeral for the Demon Sword Fiend has finally wrapped up?"
A raspy voice, hoarse as if strained, yet laced with undeniable authority.
The speaker was none other than Black Dragon Blood Sword Jo Do-hwan, master of the rising unorthodox faction, the Black Sword Pavilion, who had long coveted the Demon Sword Sect.
"Yes, Pavilion Master. Moments ago, the Demon Sword Sect issued an official declaration that all funeral proceedings have concluded."
The elite warriors of the Black Sword Pavilion raised their voices in unison to answer him.
"Excellent. Splendid."
Jo Do-hwan, the Pavilion Master, cut an unassuming figure—short in stature, resembling an ordinary rural middle-aged man.
Yet appearances deceived; he was a formidable mid-tier master and a genuine power player in the unorthodox world.
'With the Demon Sword Fiend's funeral over, there's nothing holding us back.'
Originally, they had planned to raid the Demon Sword Sect a week earlier.
But the sect's sudden announcement of the funeral had forced a change in plans.
Regardless of pretenses, the Demon Sword Fiend Cheon Baeksang commanded the respect of all unorthodox warriors and had been the very reason their kind could step into the light of day.
In truth, even this Black Dragon Blood Sword Jo Do-hwan held the man in esteem.
"Tonight, once the hour grows late, the Vice Pavilion Master will lead the vanguard and strike the Demon Sword Sect."
Respect was respect, but reality was another matter.
The current Demon Sword Sect, bereft of its Demon Sword Fiend and with its other pillars scattered or fallen, was like a weed ripe for trampling.
A weed with endless uses, at that.
Seizing the Demon Sword Sect would let them claim inheritance of the Demon Sword Fiend's legacy—and more importantly...
'This Hebei Province is crawling with the Beggars' Sect, the Murim Alliance branch, the Hebei Pang Family, Jinju Yeon Clan, and other longstanding martial houses. It's no easy place for an unorthodox faction to rise.'
Absorbing the Demon Sword Sect's legitimacy and history would allow them to build true power, painting on a grander canvas.
The orthodox sects' vigilance made it tricky, but once they gripped the reins of power here, explosive growth was inevitable. No way they'd let this chance slip.
"Understood! As you command."
In response to Jo Do-hwan's order, Black Cloud Hidden Sword Yeon Ji-ryang—the Vice Pavilion Master and a peak-realm master—nodded firmly.
Truth be told, it wouldn't be difficult.
"As we discussed earlier, the Demon Sword Sect's current forces amount to little more than Acting Sect Leader Flash Light Flying Gentleman Eum Ji-myeong, Elder Plum Death Gentleman Jeong Inheon, and the young warriors led by Little Light Demon Gyeon Jong-o."
Their intelligence was impressively detailed.
The only issue was that it hadn't been updated in about a week.
"We're aware. Besides, Eum Ji-myeong's half-crippled and can't fight properly, and among the young ones, only Gyeon Jong-o has any real skill. The only real concern is Elder Jeong Inheon at the peak realm... but..."
Yeon Ji-ryang, whose moniker "hiding a sword in black clouds" hinted at his assassin origins, continued with his signature cruel smile.
"He's in his twilight years, past his prime and on the decline. If I take him on, I can pin him down easily enough."
Yeon Ji-ryang spoke true.
While he kept Jeong Inheon occupied, the vanguard elites would sow chaos in the sect. If all went well, they could even capture the acting sect leader, Eum Ji-myeong, alive.
And if things went south? Reinforcements were ready—no risk of disaster.
"No other variables?"
Pavilion Master Jo Do-hwan inquired.
He was the cautious type, prone to worry until every detail was ironclad.
"Ah, there's talk of a young, handsome new disciple who's been active lately... but he's not even twenty yet."
Yeon Ji-ryang mentioned it just in case.
"Ha! Hahaha!"
Jo Do-hwan snorted derisively at the mention of "not even twenty."
'Right, how strong could some green kid under twenty be?'
Of course, in this brutal martial world, tales existed of young boys toppling super peak masters—rare, but real.
Still, he couldn't imagine such a prodigy gracing a crumbling sect like the Demon Sword Sect.
"I also considered the Demon Sword Fiend's eldest and third disciples might bring forces to aid them, but that's unlikely."
Only after hearing every report from his subordinates could Jo Do-hwan finally set aside his worries.
'This time, Black Sword Pavilion will surely triumph.'
A confident smile tugged at his lips as victory seemed assured.
"Very well. Tonight... we launch the operation!"
Would the Black Sword Pavilion achieve all it desired?
In stark contrast to the Black Sword Pavilion's scheming ambush...
Hahahahaha!
Laughter echoed ceaselessly within the Demon Sword Sect.
To celebrate the return of the Black Wolf Three Swords and the appointment of new Sect Leader Hyeon Yucheon, they had thrown a modest banquet.
But what was this?
Curiously, amid the festivities, not a soul was drunk or rowdy.
The masters sipped tea, listening to the guqin’s melodies, savoring elegant refinement.
There was a reason for it.
"They'll come soon."
The young Demon Sword Sect Leader Hyeon Yucheon grinned.
Indeed.
He had intuitively foreseen the Black Sword Pavilion's impending raid.
"Mm."
At Hyeon Yucheon's words, the hot-tempered Little Light Demon Gyeon Jong-o grimaced, failing to mask his displeasure.
Honestly, he was the type to guzzle booze at banquets, and this restraint chafed.
He hadn't touched a drop for over half a day, stuck on standby.
Here's what happened: the day after the Black Wolf Three Swords rejoined...
—We've received intelligence that the Black Sword Pavilion will soon raid our headquarters.
Hyeon Yucheon dropped the bombshell.
Shocked, Jeong Inheon, Eum Ji-myeong, and the Black Wolf Three Swords demanded to know how he knew. Hyeon Yucheon explained:
—All the rumors and whispers of Hebei Province flow down the Haeha Stream to the Haeha Guest House.
I'm on good terms with its owner, so I heard the chatter.
And it was true.
Hyeon Yucheon visited the inn often, lest owner Jeong Se-in worry, and she'd shared startling news.
The Black Sword Pavilion was acting suspiciously.
With the funeral of the unorthodox world's supreme master underway, their war preparations over condolences were impossible to hide.
"And today marks the end of Master's rites... they won't let the day pass."
Hyeon Yucheon anticipated dawn at the earliest, evening at the latest.
And sure enough...
Sss...
Something ominous stirred beyond the Demon Sword Sect's main gate.
Naturally, it was Black Sword Pavilion Vice Master Black Cloud Hidden Sword Yeon Ji-ryang and his vanguard elites.
Mostly assassins, they slipped through the darkness with minimal noise.
Yet they couldn't fool the sect's elite masters.
"They're here, Sect Leader."
Cheonu, eldest of the Black Wolf Three Swords, spoke up.
Especially Hyeon Yucheon, Eum Ji-myeong, and the Black Wolf Three Swords—all super peak-realm transcendents.
Their senses were razor-sharp.
The enemy, assuming no super peak masters remained, had grown bold. Even without prior warning, defeat was inevitable.
"Tsk tsk, fools. Moths to the flame, blind to death."
Hyeon Yucheon clicked his tongue.
"Senior Brother Eum, let's go out first—you and I."
He turned to Eum Ji-myeong.
'This is just their vanguard.'
More forces likely waited. Revealing the Black Wolf Three Swords prematurely would be wasteful.
Against Yeon Ji-ryang and this bunch, he, Eum Ji-myeong, the battle-ready Gyeon Jong-o, and the young disciples could handle it.
"Understood."
Eum Ji-myeong nodded.
Just in case they came for some other reason, he stepped forward.
Now, the real fun would begin.
"Hm?"
Black Cloud Hidden Sword Yeon Ji-ryang sensed something off as he neared the Demon Sword Sect's entrance.
Oddly, no guards stood watch.
The gate even stood slightly ajar, as if inviting them in.
"What now?"
His subordinates asked, unnerved.
Leading thirty elite vanguard members, Yeon Ji-ryang held full command.
After a brief pause, he decided.
"Charge straight in."
His reasoning was simple.
'What could go wrong?'
This was no famed orthodox sect or mighty rival—just a decaying, decrepit Demon Sword Sect.
Peak masters? Only two, one too ill to fight.
His vanguard? All first-rate or better, with Yeon Ji-ryang himself mid-tier peak.
Even if it was a trap, victory was assured.
Paat!
To steady his men, Yeon Ji-ryang took point and boldly breached the main gate.
Creak!
As he planted his feet inside, an involuntary smile crept across his face.
'As expected—nothing to fear.'
Relief washing over him...
"Who might you be?"
A figure appeared near the gate.
And not just any—musicians, food, tea instead of wine from the ongoing banquet. The brightly lit interior revealed neatly arrayed Demon Sword Sect disciples.
Here, Yeon Ji-ryang made a fatal error.
Fleeing then would have salvaged the plan as a wise retreat. But he squandered his escape window.
The greeter was none other than Flash Light Flying Gentleman Eum Ji-myeong—the very man he'd dismissed as a paper tiger.
"The acting sect leader, eh? I'm the Black Sword Pavilion's Vice Master."
Yeon Ji-ryang replied in cold assassin tones.
Thirty first-rate masters surged behind him.
Their polished aura should have cowed the sect disciples, yet the mood turned peculiar.
"A belated unorthodox junior, then. Pray tell, what brings you with armed forces at this late hour?"
Eum Ji-myeong called out his rudeness.
He knew full well, but asked anyway.
"Junior? Pfft! Hahaha! Why else? To take your crippled neck and claim this hollowed-out Demon Sword Sect. Your faction falls to our Black Dragon Blood Sword Pavilion Master. Even the Demon Sword Fiend in heaven would wish it..."
Crossing the line, Yeon Ji-ryang poked the sect's sore spot—
Sslash!
The sword of the Demon Sword Fiend's third disciple—no, fourth—Flash Light Flying Gentleman announced its revival.
Eum Ji-myeong had reached super peak, honing daily against his stronger young junior. His skill dwarfed his past self.
The result of his single flash strike?
Spurt!
In the blink of an eye, a deep gash tore across Yeon Ji-ryang's shoulder.