Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Flying Heaven Fortress (2)
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"Even though you're the enemy, I can't help but acknowledge you."
Yu So Baek paid his respects as a fellow warrior to Namgung Kyung, who had burned with indomitable spirit until the very end.
He felt a slight regret at not having clashed properly in peak condition, but at the same time, he thought it fortunate.
"No need for prisoners. Finish them off."
Yu So Baek issued the order to his waiting subordinates, then slowly turned his body.
The moment he turned, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.
Yu So Baek instinctively twisted his body.
The flying dagger that grazed his arm struck the men who had been attacking Namgung Kyung and his group.
"Krahk!"
"Guhk!"
Screams erupted one after another.
The disciples of the King of Hell Sect couldn't respond properly to the darts that changed direction freely in midair as if they were alive. Their encirclement collapsed in an instant.
Yu So Baek saved his subordinate, who had been exposed to the darts defenselessly, and shouted.
"Who are you? Show yourselves!"
At Yu So Baek's bellow, the bushes to the left rustled, and Poison Freak Dang Cheon Hwa, long pipe in hand, led the Tang Clan warriors who had come from the Ha Hu Clan for Jo Mun. Among them was So Su Rin, who had successfully tamed the poison qi.
Their numbers were few, but Yu So Baek couldn't hide his tension. The aura emanating from each one was far from ordinary. Especially when his eyes met Dang Cheon Hwa's, who was biting down on his long pipe and staring at him, an inexplicable foreboding wrapped around his entire body.
"W-Who are you?"
Dang Cheon Hwa didn't answer Yu So Baek's question and simply exhaled the smoke from his mouth.
At that signal, the Tang Clan experts drew their hidden weapons in unison.
From palm-sized daggers to tiny needles hard to discern with the naked eye, every kind of concealed weapon targeted the King of Hell Sect disciples.
The sight of eight experts, excluding Dang Cheon Hwa and So Su Rin, unleashing their weapons simultaneously, blanketing all space, was truly spectacular.
"D-Dodge..."
"Spare me!"
"R-Run away!"
Screams and shouts exploded everywhere at once.
They desperately tried to block the hidden weapons, but their opponents were far too superior.
The Tang Clan warriors had woven a net of darts as dense as a heavenly snare on earth. All of them were seasoned veterans with positions in the Tang Clan, possessing exceptional skill as a result.
"This can't be!"
Yu So Baek gaped at the scene unfolding before him.
He blocked the darts lunging at him with ease, but unfortunately, his subordinates could not.
In just one pass of the storm of hidden weapons, only twelve subordinates survived. Nearly forty men had fallen without any chance to resist.
The survivors' conditions weren't good either.
Whether the darts had been coated in poison, two subordinates trembled like aspen trees before collapsing limply. Almost simultaneously, another fell.
"Cowardly bastards!"
No sooner had Yu So Baek spoken than Dang Cheon Hwa moved toward him.
With just a single step, the distance between them vanished without a trace.
Yu So Baek's nearby subordinates rushed to block Dang Cheon Hwa.
Dang Cheon Hwa easily evaded their attacks with a light shake of his upper body, then blew smoke toward them.
Those who inhaled the smoke shuddered violently before collapsing powerlessly. They convulsed madly, spewing blood from their seven orifices, and breathed their last.
"Everyone, hold your breath!"
Warning his terrified subordinates, Yu So Baek swung his sword at Dang Cheon Hwa.
The skill of the man who had felled Namgung Po, younger brother of Sword Saint Namgung Hu, was not something even Dang Cheon Hwa could ignore.
Dang Cheon Hwa swung his long pipe to counter Yu So Baek's attack.
What always followed the name of the Four Great Tang Clans was poison and hidden weapons. But they also possessed superb swordsmanship and fist techniques. In particular, the Phantom Twelve Swords were renowned as an unpredictable and aggressive sword style, and the one said to wield them most perfectly in Tang Clan history was none other than Poison Freak Dang Cheon Hwa.
Yu So Baek could barely keep his wits as the long pipe thrust at vital points from head to toe.
He faced mortal danger several times, and even when counterattacking at the cost of injury, he could only graze Dang Cheon Hwa's robes at best.
His subordinates attacked Dang Cheon Hwa to aid him, but it was futile.
p>Equally famous as the Tang Clan's poison and hidden weapons was their lightness skill, Cloud-Moon Wanderer's Step.
Dang Cheon Hwa's form, executing Cloud-Moon Wanderer's Step to its limit, was like a ghost.
His gait was slow, as if strolling under the moon and clouds, yet no one could track his movements properly, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't even brush his sleeve.
Each time Dang Cheon Hwa passed by his attackers, he lightly exhaled smoke from the tobacco in his long pipe.
Having already seen what happened to those who inhaled it, they all held their breath, but the smoke Dang Cheon Hwa exhaled couldn't be blocked merely by holding one's breath.
For those with weak inner power, even skin contact caused severe poisoning, so few could endure it.
When Dang Cheon Hwa finally stopped, the only one left standing on the ground was Yu So Baek. Even he was covered in wounds, on the verge of collapse.
'Where did this monster of an old man come from?'
The poison qi he had barely suppressed had already spread throughout his body, his mind growing hazy, breathing labored.
Judging further resistance pointless, Yu So Baek let his sword drop limply.
So Su Rin walked up to Dang Cheon Hwa, who had finally halted and leisurely bit down on his long pipe.
"Tsk tsk, who knows when the King of Hell Sect started playing lapdog. Well, that's about their level."
Yu So Baek flinched in surprise that So Su Rin had instantly seen through their identities.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Would you even know if I told you? My name's somewhat known, but it's hard for it to reach a backwater like the King of Hell Sect."
Yu So Baek's face hardened at So Su Rin's dismissive words toward the King of Hell Sect.
As she said, the King of Hell Sect's position in the Heavenly Demon Cult was minor. They had played no significant role during the unification, merely swept along by the tide. But that was no reason to be insulted.
"Y-You dare..."
Anger roused his fading mind, but it couldn't revive his dying body.
So Su Rin, now right in front of him, seized his nape.
"When the King of Hell asks who sent you, say it was the Blood Rakshasa of the Divine Demon Division."
Dismissing any reply as worthless, So Su Rin snapped his neck.
Dang Cheon Hwa shook his head at So Su Rin tossing the limp Yu So Baek aside like trash.
"I've heard plenty that I'm a vicious one, but you're no slouch either."
So Su Rin just grinned without a word.
"Wonder why we saved a guy like that."
Shaking his head again, Dang Cheon Hwa walked toward those who had been chased by Yu So Baek.
"Namgung Clan brats, are you?"
"Yes."
The people surrounding Namgung Kyung nodded cautiously.
"You've suffered."
Dang Cheon Hwa offered brief comfort, then stood before Namgung Kyung, who was barely holding onto consciousness.
"Tsk tsk, what a state for the famed Soaring Heaven Sword."
A faint smile formed on Namgung Kyung's lips at the tongue-clicking.
"That's how it is. Anyway, long time no see, Senior."
"Save the greetings for later."
Dang Cheon Hwa pulled a small jade box from his bosom.
"Not comparable to a Great Reversion Pill or Supreme Purity Pill, but it'll do decently for treating internal injuries."
Namgung Kyung accepted the pill Dang Cheon Hwa offered without refusal.
"Thank you, Senior. I won't forget this favor."
"Cut the nonsense and take it quick."
Dang Cheon Hwa spun around, and Namgung Kyung immediately swallowed the pill.
Namgung Kyung sat cross-legged and began circulating his qi.
As the Namgung retainers moved to protect him, Dang Cheon Hwa wagged a finger signaling them to back off. Then he himself stood guard beside Namgung Kyung, arms crossed.
"Everyone, sit."
As Blood Light Martial Emperor gestured and sat, the leaders of each faction gathered to discuss the assault on Flying Heaven Fortress also took their seats.
"I've only just arrived, so I'm not fully apprised of the situation. Of course, I've received some reports, but a brief explanation seems necessary."
As soon as Blood Light Martial Emperor finished, Man Sa Gok Chief Dong Chuk rose from his seat.
"I'll explain."
"Oh! Chief Dong. You're here too."
He spoke as if pleased, but Blood Light Martial Emperor's expression showed no change. Having never held Dong Chuk in high regard to begin with, it was mere formality.
"...Three days ago, we confirmed the Namgung Clan's entry into Flying Heaven Fortress."
Dong Chuk sat after his brief explanation, and Blood Light Martial Emperor nodded in thanks. Propping his chin on his left hand, he tapped the table with his fingers and spoke.
"Currently, about four hundred are gathered at Flying Heaven Fortress, with another hundred fifty expected to assemble. Quite a number in just a few days' delay."
"Even so, few know how to fight properly. Excluding Flying Heaven Fortress and the Namgung Clan, they're just small fry from minor sects around—no need to worry much."
"Same for us."
"Pardon?"
"No, I mean we mustn't get complacent."
"Chief Dong's right, but we should be wary of the Ha Hu Clan's reinforcements."
Jang Gon, dispatched from the Military Affairs Division, glanced at Dong Chuk and said.
"Ha Hu Clan?"
"Yes. According to reports from Shadow Agents watching the Ha Hu Clan, they departed late but are moving at tremendous speed. Predicted to arrive at Flying Heaven Fortress in as little as three days, four at most."
"Almost the same time as us. What's their size?"
"Around fifty, as far as we know."
"An awkward number."
"Means they're all elites. The Ha Hu Clan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Five Great Clans. We can't underestimate them."
"Hm."
Blood Light Martial Emperor pondered briefly, then turned his head left.
"Wind Demon Division Leader."
"Yes."
"I'd like to entrust the Ha Hu Clan to the Wind Demon Division. Can you handle it?"
"Leave it to us."
Wind Demon Division Leader Ju Seung Geon bowed, eyes flashing.
Ju Seung Geon was the younger brother of the previous Wind Demon Division Leader Ju Pung Gi, who had died in the operation to reclaim the Heavenly Demon Ring from the Heavenly Demon Cult. He harbored deeper grudge against the Ha Hu Clan than anyone, solely because of their involvement in his brother's death.
"You all step up too."
Blood Light Martial Emperor's gaze turned to the Protectors he had brought.
"Understood."
Sword Demon Dragon answered quietly on behalf of the Protectors.
Sword Demon Dragon was an expert among experts in the Protector Hall full of powerhouses, top five easily, and among those present, no one except Blood Light Martial Emperor could match him.
"Not leaving it entirely to the Wind Demon Division—might need support..."
As Blood Light Martial Emperor trailed off, leaders from several factions volunteered. Better to claim merit attacking the important Ha Hu Clan than waste away pointlessly at the bloody Flying Heaven Fortress.
After brief debate, it was decided that Ghost Path Hall would move with the Wind Demon Division.
"Alright, that's it for today. We've delayed much, so from tomorrow, move swiftly. Keep that in mind."
Blood Light Martial Emperor rose. Then he pulled a large bead from his bosom.
"One thing to check first."
The leaders, half-rising to follow, awkwardly stared at the bead in his hand.
"You might've heard of it. It's called a Poison-Avoiding Pearl."
Blood Light Martial Emperor's smile as he slowly scanned the leaders was chillingly sinister.