Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Azure Sword Command (3)
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'That's a lot of them.'
Seomun Sang, the sect leader of the Golden Sword Sect, bit his lip hard as he gauged the scale of the enemies revealing themselves in the distance.
The number of foes visible was already formidable, and there was no way to tell how many more lurked behind them.
In stark contrast, the assembled forces at the Golden Sword Sect numbered fewer than two hundred. Half were disciples of the sect itself, and the other half were those who had rushed to their aid. But it was far fewer than he had hoped.
'If only we'd had a few more days.'
Seomun Sang judged that the Azure Sword Command had been activated too late. If it had been triggered the moment the Heavenly Demon Cult began to stir, they wouldn't be at such a complete disadvantage now. They could have at least matched the enemy in numbers.
"Those idiots."
A curse slipped from Seomun Sang's lips.
It wasn't aimed at the Nangong Clan.
It was for the Murim Alliance, which had been too preoccupied with internal power struggles even after the Heavenly Demon Cult's movements were confirmed. He suspected the delay in the Azure Sword Command might stem from the Nangong Clan holding onto false hopes in the Alliance for too long.
"Hoo."
Seomun Sang let out a long breath and turned to face the warriors all staring at him.
"Even now, reinforcements are rushing from all directions to aid us. If we can just weather this crisis, we can win. But it will be a brutal fight. We may suffer heavy losses. Even so, we must fight. We have to hold out, no matter what, to stop the Heavenly Demon Cult from trampling our home. Don't fight to survive. Fight with the resolve to defend this place—our home—with your lives. We can do this."
"Waaah!"
"Let's fight!"
No sooner had Seomun Sang finished speaking than the Golden Sword Sect warriors and reinforcements erupted in cheers. He locked eyes with each of them, offering encouragement, then addressed the leaders who had brought their forces.
"We'll hold the center. We leave the left and right flanks to you."
"We'll handle the left flank from Wind Snow Stronghold."
A stout middle-aged man pounded his chest and stepped forward. Though not a massive force, the renowned sect that had produced many exceptional talents showed its spirit.
"Leave the right flank to us."
The leaders of Concord Gate and Grand Blade Hall exchanged glances and stepped up.
"Thank you."
Seomun Sang bowed slightly, hiding his regret.
He knew their skills fell short of Wind Snow Stronghold's, but in this moment, every bit of help was precious.
"I wish you all martial fortune."
As Seomun Sang offered his respects, a massive roar shook the heavens and earth.
"Hurry."
Nangong Kyung of the Soaring Heaven High Sword raced across the fields at a ferocious pace, his face etched with anxiety.
On his way back from a visit to the Hahou Clan, he had received word of the imminent Heavenly Demon Cult attack on the Golden Sword Sect and immediately turned south.
Contrary to his expectation of at least a day or two's grace, the assault had come far too swiftly. Despite pushing at maximum speed, he was too late.
"We can't go any further, Uncle."
Nangong Po reined him in.
"What are you saying? The Golden Sword Sect is under attack by now."
"We have no choice. We've been riding day and night for three days straight. If we keep this up, even if we arrive on time, we'll collapse from exhaustion before we can fight."
Nangong Po shook his head firmly.
Only then did Nangong Kyung notice the retainers gasping for breath.
Their breathing was ragged, faces pale—they looked ready to drop at any moment.
"Hah! You're right. I see. Let's rest a bit."
At Nangong Kyung's permission, Nangong Po sighed in relief and shouted.
"As you all know, we can't rest long. Make the most of this short time to recover your strength."
Pitying the retainers collapsing wherever they fell, Nangong Po bowed to Nangong Kyung.
"I'm sorry, Uncle."
"No. I nearly made a grave mistake in my haste."
Nangong Kyung gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"The Golden Sword Sect Leader is still holding strong. He'll endure. Don't worry too much."
Nangong Po, well aware of the bond between Golden Sword Sect Leader Seomun Sang and Nangong Kyung, offered words of comfort.
"I hope so, but the situation looks dire."
Knowing the extent of the Heavenly Demon Cult forces heading for the Golden Sword Sect, Nangong Kyung doubted they could hold out long. The one wildcard was the Azure Sword Command, which had united the southern murim sects. Many factions were likely mobilizing to aid them.
'We'll be there soon. Please hold on.'
Nangong Kyung steadied his breathing, thinking of the Golden Sword Sect Leader.
"Die!"
Driven mad by the slaughter of his disciples, Concord Gate Leader Yeo Mun-tak swung his massive blade wildly at Muk Ho-cheop, the young heir of the Black Dragon Mok Clan.
The enormous sword, as big as a child's torso, whipped through the air with momentum enough to topple a mountain.
But on Muk Ho-cheop's lips hung a clear sneer as he watched.
With a slight twist of his body, he evaded the blade effortlessly and plunged into Yeo Mun-tak's chest.
Yeo Mun-tak hastily redirected his swing to block, but the enemy was too fast.
Muk Ho-cheop shot out his left arm, seizing Yeo Mun-tak's wrist on the sword hilt, and smashed his right shoulder into the man's chest.
Fists hammered relentlessly into the staggering Yeo Mun-tak.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Grand Blade Hall Leader Mo Sa-chung arrived too late to save him, charging in desperately but unable to prevent Yeo Mun-tak's death.
Seeing Yeo Mun-tak crumple without even closing his eyes, Mo Sa-chung's breath caught in his throat. Muk Ho-cheop's ability to overwhelm a master like Yeo Mun-tak so one-sidedly was beyond him.
And as expected, Mo Sa-chung couldn't mount a proper counter before Muk Ho-cheop's storm of attacks forced him to his knees, lifeless.
"Seems we've cleaned up here."
Having crushed the Golden Sword Sect's right flank by eliminating Yeo Mun-tak and Mo Sa-chung, Muk Ho-cheop caught his breath lightly and surveyed the battlefield.
"It's over."
Just as Muk Ho-cheop said.
The right flank had collapsed, and the left was utterly overwhelmed.
The Golden Sword Sect warriors, facing vastly superior numbers, had poured every ounce of their strength into holding, but it was hopeless against such odds.
Not just the numbers—the individual Heavenly Demon Cult warriors outclassed the Golden Sword Sect and its reinforcements. Especially the Black Dragon Mok Clan fighters who had obliterated the left flank in the blink of an eye; their prowess was overwhelming.
"Once that one falls, it's completely done."
Muk Ho-cheop's gaze turned to the lone crane among chickens.
Seomun Sang, fighting valiantly alone.
"Impressive martial prowess."
Admiration burst from Muk Ho-cheop's mouth.
From the battle's outset, Seomun Sang had charged ahead, felling countless Myriad Death Valley warriors rushing him, proving with his body the reputation that placed him among southern murim's top five. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say most of Myriad Death Valley's losses in this fight came from him alone—a heroic display.
But even his solo stand couldn't reverse the tide. Moreover, Myriad Death Valley, having been invited by Mok Noe-gang to lead the central assault only to suffer humiliation, was desperate to fell Seomun Sang.
Endless attacks, relentless joint strikes from all sides—wounds began accumulating on Seomun Sang's body, his inner energy nearing depletion.
'Wind Snow Stronghold Lord.'
Unlike the right flank's swift collapse, Wind Snow Stronghold Lord Deung Il-pyeong had fought to the end in dire straits but finally fell.
Confirming his death, despair settled in Seomun Sang's eyes. With the right and now left flanks broken, the center would be swallowed in moments. All hope was gone.
"What are you waiting for? Kill him!"
At Elder Eom Jung's shout from Myriad Death Valley, the encircled foes lunged as one.
Dazzling sword flashes erupted from all directions, blades thick with killing intent aimed at Seomun Sang's life.
Facing the demons charging like fiends, Seomun Sang bit his lip until it bled.
Gathering the last dregs of his depleted inner energy, his cherished blade Crimson Blossom flared one final time.
Sword qi erupted from Crimson Blossom, sweeping all around amid thunderous explosions that shook heaven and earth.
Seizing the momentary halt in their assault, Seomun Sang leaped into the air and hurled Crimson Blossom with his remaining strength.
The blade shot like a comet toward its target at the battlefield's rear: Valley Lord Dong Chuk of Myriad Death Valley, prodding his men with a displeased frown.
"Valley Lord!"
Eom Jung cried out in horror.
Dong Chuk was already reacting.
Seomun Sang's final desperate strike clashed with Dong Chuk's sword mid-air.
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted, dust exploding around Dong Chuk.
"Valley Lord!"
Eom Jung, arriving late, clawed through the dust cloud searching for him.
"I'm fine. No need for the fuss."
Dong Chuk emerged covered in dust, a wry smile on his face.
His sword was gone, reduced to a hilt, his clothes shredded—but no serious injuries.
"Not bad for a last-ditch effort."
Minding the gathering subordinates, Dong Chuk brushed off the dust with feigned nonchalance, though his hands trembled faintly.
"Hah!"
A heavy sigh escaped Seomun Sang upon confirming Dong Chuk's survival. In his final moments, he'd hoped to take at least one heavy hitter along, but it was for naught.
"Kill him!"
Enraged at endangering their Valley Lord even briefly, they howled and charged.
Having exhausted his inner energy on that final strike, Seomun Sang had no way to block them.
"Ugh."
Do Kyung, the finest hunter in the area, trembled face-down on the ground. Right beside him, a massive tiger the size of a house lay gasping its last, its throat half-torn out.
Do Kyung couldn't comprehend his situation.
Heading home after wandering the mountains late into the night, encountering the tiger was rotten luck, but a hunter had to accept such fateful encounters.
If he'd been lying in wait for the hunt, that would be one thing—but facing a roaring beast head-on left nothing but prayers for a swift end.
Yet something unimaginable happened.
A wolf appeared from nowhere, seized the tiger—nearly twice its size—by the scruff, and slammed it into the ground.
Two brutal slams dethroned the mountain king.
When the wolf that neutralized the tiger in a blink approached him, Do Kyung braced for death once more.
"Whi...ch... way..."
At the eerie voice, Do Kyung involuntarily lifted his head. He saw the wolf's eyes blazing like hellfire and a human figure hunched on its back.
Do Kyung stared blankly, speechless, until a growl rumbled from the wolf. Startled, he pointed east.
"Th-that way. Over that mountain, keep going east..."
The freak on the wolf's back raised his head slightly.
Confirming the moonlit peak the hunter indicated, he lowered it again.
"Le...t's... go..."
As Do Kyung thought the monstrous man's voice fading, he looked up—only to find the glaring wolf already gone.