Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: The Path We Must Take (2)
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Crimson River Sword Sect.
A prestigious sect with a long tradition, it had actively supported and cooperated with the Divine Demon Clan from the very beginning when they unified the Demonic Cult, granting it considerable standing and influence within the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Even now, as the Heavenly Demon Cult waged war against the Nangong Clan, the Crimson River Sword Sect was making a name for itself, deploying its formidable forces alongside the North Heaven Sword Demon to lay waste to the martial world of Jiangnam.
Its momentum soared like the rising sun, and its scale matched that ambition.
The walls, reminiscent of a fortress, stood three zhang high and stretched over ten li in circumference. With hundreds of buildings large and small housing over seven hundred residents, it was no exaggeration to call it a small city.
Around noon, a group of about a hundred men emerged in a pine grove just southwest of the sect's main gate.
Killing intent seeped from them subtly, betraying their hostile intentions.
"This is just the beginning, brothers."
Eum Jeok-so spoke leisurely, glancing around as if out for a stroll.
In stark contrast to his relaxed demeanor, the two men standing shoulder-to-shoulder beside him couldn't hide their tension.
"Scared?"
Both men answered Eum Jeok-so's question in unison.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"I'd be lying if I said no."
Despite their timid responses, Eum Jeok-so didn't get angry. Instead, he chuckled.
"Heh heh heh! What are you so worried about? You've all seen it. You know what I'm capable of."
"That's why we're here."
The man on the left, Zuo Jian, the head of the Phantom Spirit Clan, replied curtly.
"Still scared, though. But don't worry—we're not backing out."
The man on the right, Ma Wu of the Crimson Flame Clan, glared at the main gate of the Crimson River Sword Sect as he spoke.
"We're about to write a new history. And it starts right here."
Zuo Jian and Ma Wu had no retort to Eum Jeok-so's confident attitude. Deep down, they knew it wasn't empty bravado. They had witnessed firsthand the power of the twelve Poison Blood Demons he had created.
After using Ten Thousand Poison Valley to eliminate the Blood Killer Cult's spies who had tried to sow discord in the Heavenly Demon Cult, Eum Jeok-so had sought out the Phantom Spirit Clan and the Crimson Flame Clan.
Both families had long-standing ties with Ten Thousand Poison Valley and shared the common tragedy of being brutally crushed by the Divine Demon Division during the Demonic Cult's unification. On top of that, their clan heads had recently met their ends while seeking revenge in Soheung.
Zuo Jian and Ma Wu, who had succeeded their fathers as heads of the Phantom Spirit Clan and Crimson Flame Clan, harbored deep grudges not only against Divine Demon Leader Sima Geon but against the Heavenly Demon Cult itself, which had trampled their families. However, their power was too meager for revenge, so they swallowed their rage and waited for an uncertain future.
That was when Eum Jeok-so arrived.
He declared that to avenge themselves against the Divine Demon Division and the Heavenly Demon Cult, they needed to gather forces and requested their support.
Zuo Jian and Ma Wu were aware of Ten Thousand Poison Valley's diminished state, even smaller than their own clans, so they were initially lukewarm.
It was true they had thick childhood friendships with Eum Jeok-so, but they couldn't stake their clan's fate on that alone. Yet when he demonstrated his power, they realized their revenge could shift from a pipe dream to reality.
The might of the Poison Blood Demons was overwhelming.
Even their all-out assaults with every martial art at their disposal failed to fell a single one. Even the few remaining elders joined the fray, but the outcome remained unchanged.
The Poison Blood Demons were as indestructible as diamond, their bodies incredibly tough, and their martial prowess formidable. Above all, the poison emanating from their entire forms was utterly devastating. Despite holding their breath as Eum Jeok-so warned, they still needed antidotes afterward.
And there were twelve of them. When they learned even Eum Jeok-so himself had reached that realm, there was no reason to hesitate in lending their strength to Ten Thousand Poison Valley.
With the power of the Phantom Spirit Clan and Crimson Flame Clan secured, Eum Jeok-so headed straight for the Crimson River Sword Sect.
Zuo Jian and Ma Wu suggested gathering more forces first. Countless others, like their clans, had fallen during the unification and nursed grudges against the Heavenly Demon Cult and Divine Demon Division.
Eum Jeok-so judged it more effective to display power first, then extend a hand. He had approached these two not out of dire need, but because the Phantom Spirit Clan and Crimson Flame Clan lay along the path to the Crimson River Sword Sect.
Agreeing with Eum Jeok-so's strategy of showing strength before recruiting, Zuo Jian and Ma Wu joined him with their elite forces.
Though once prosperous, the clans had suffered such heavy losses that their combined able-bodied fighters numbered fewer than eighty. Eum Jeok-so didn't mind. The real battle belonged to him and his Poison Blood Demons anyway.
"How are we attacking?"
Zuo Jian asked.
"Straight through the front gate."
"Isn't that reckless? Even if some are away, there have to be at least two hundred left."
As Ma Wu furrowed his brow, Eum Jeok-so grinned with eyes gleaming madly.
"Heh heh heh! Still scared, huh? Don't worry—just follow slowly. I'll show you that the Poison Blood Demons' power you saw before was nothing. Oh, and don't rush in right away. You might all end up dead. Hm! Ha!"
Sniffing the air as if savoring a delightful scent, turning his head this way and that before inhaling and exhaling deeply, Eum Jeok-so strode toward the main gate.
The bold steps showed no trace of fear, leaving those behind holding their breath unconsciously.
When Eum Jeok-so was about a dozen zhang from the gate, the twelve Poison Blood Demons lurking nearby silently fell in behind him.
"He said they're mentally linked, right?"
Ma Wu shook his head at Zuo Jian's question.
"No idea. He claims so, but who knows if it's really possible."
"Hard not to believe when it's right in front of us."
As the two conversed, the guards at the gate collapsed in an instant, and one of the closed gates shattered.
"Kyahahaha!"
Eum Jeok-so's mad laughter echoed, followed by screams erupting from all directions.
Moments later, flames shot up everywhere, and Zuo Jian raised his sword.
"Now it's our turn. Let's go."
As Zuo Jian moved, Ma Wu shouted to those behind.
"Charge!"
"Hey, little brother. The meeting isn't even over—where have you been? No matter how urgent the Purple Flag is, you should hold it in."
Biheaven Hall Leader Sanggwan Cheon teased Sanggwan Je as he quietly entered the meeting hall.
Laughter briefly rippled through the tense room. But the atmosphere around Sanggwan Je, who entered with a bitter smile, felt off.
"What? Something wrong?"
"There's a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
Sanggwan Je glanced around before leaning in to whisper.
"What? Poison Freak... Elder No?"
Sanggwan Cheon asked in surprise.
"Well..."
As Sanggwan Je hesitated, checking his surroundings again, an old man with white eyebrows drooping to his cheeks frowned.
"Not only did you leave the meeting abruptly, but now whispering? No more rudeness."
At the stern rebuke from Sanggwan Baek, the Biheaven Hall's senior elder, Sanggwan Je bowed his head quickly.
"My apologies, Uncle."
"Apologize to them, not me."
As Sanggwan Baek raised his voice, gesturing to the leaders of the allied factions, voices assured him it was fine from around the room.
"You mentioned Poison Freak Elder—has something happened?"
Gong Jeong, the Nam Pyeong Branch Leader of the Beggars' Gang who had rushed to aid Biheaven Hall, asked with a puzzled look.
Hesitating once more under Sanggwan Baek's glare, Sanggwan Je finally spoke.
"Poison Freak Elder won't be coming here."
The meeting hall erupted into chaos at his words.
"What do you mean?"
"We were counting the days for his arrival."
"Did the Heavenly Demon Cult attack him?"
"I heard he's with Soaring Heaven Ancient Sword Senior. Did something happen to him?"
Questions flew from all sides, but Sanggwan Je had no time to answer. He still had more to say.
"Soaring Heaven Ancient Sword Senior's injuries are severe, so it seems he's heading straight back to his clan. The Dang Clan warriors escorting Poison Freak Elder are taking him all the way to the Nangong Clan."
A brief silence fell, followed by sighs from every direction.
"Hm."
"Ah, so that's how it is."
"Can't be helped. We heard he'd been wandering on the brink of death for a while."
"Indeed. He needs to recover first."
They voiced acceptance, but disappointment was evident on their faces. The Nangong retainers following Soaring Heaven Ancient Sword aside, the Dang Clan warriors—few as they were—represented significant firepower. And Poison Freak Dang Cheon-hwa alone outmatched them all combined.
"Come now, no need for excessive regret. Without that friend Soaring Heaven Ancient Sword, we wouldn't have devised any countermeasures and would have been caught flat-footed. We nearly lost our lives. Isn't that enough? I know how you all feel, but let's pray he returns safely to his clan."
The hall's agitation calmed somewhat at Sanggwan Baek's words.
"What of the reinforcements from the Ha Hu Clan?"
Purple Flower Gate Leader Yu Jin-gyo asked worriedly.
"The Ha Hu Clan's reinforcements are still en route here without delay. They should arrive tomorrow night."
"That's a relief."
Yu Jin-gyo's face, which had been tense with fear they might not come, brightened slightly.
"Faster than expected."
Sanggwan Je nodded at Sanggwan Baek's comment.
"Yes. I was worried when word came that the Heavenly Demon Cult's movements had suddenly accelerated, but this is fortunate. They seem to grasp the urgency and are hurrying as fast as possible."
"Truly grateful. You must never forget this debt, Hall Leader—and you all as well. Of course, engrave the grace of everyone here deeply in your hearts."
"We will."
Sanggwan Cheon, Sanggwan Je, and the Biheaven Hall leaders bowed to the assembled heads in unison.
As the mood in the hall warmed again, Gong Jeong, who had hesitated to ask several times, spoke cautiously.
"Then... they aren't coming either?"
"You mean them...?"
Sanggwan Je's expression hardened slightly as he echoed the question.
"Yes. They say they're not coming."
"As expected."
Gong Jeong sighed heavily. Having gauged Sima Geon and his group's prowess better than anyone through Manchu, he couldn't hide his profound regret. He also sensed that the already grueling battle against the Heavenly Demon Cult would grow even harder.
"Oh, and Poison Freak Elder left a letter for Uncle."
Realizing his earlier slip late, Sanggwan Je hurriedly rummaged in his bosom.
"For me?"
"Yes."
Sanggwan Baek tilted his head curiously and tore open the envelope Sanggwan Je handed him.
His expression shifted repeatedly as he scanned the letter inside.
"So that's how it was!"
Having read it through, Sanggwan Baek crumpled the paper with a sigh.
"In the end, it came to this."
Sanggwan Baek recalled the letter's contents—half curses against the Hall Leader for rejecting Sima Geon's group and himself for failing to stop it—and wore a bitter expression.
Without revealing the letter's details to the curious onlookers, Sanggwan Baek rose from his seat.