Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: The Eighteen Blade Guests (1)
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“They’re coming,” Sanggwan Cheon said.
His single sentence cast a heavy pall over the meeting room.
“When will they arrive?”
Sanggwan Baek opened his eyes, which he had closed in contemplation, and asked.
“Within half a shichen, I’d say.”
“Not much different from what we expected, but still faster than I thought.”
“The incident at Cheonri Plain must have sped them up.”
Sanggwan Baek shot Ha Hu Hyo a puzzled look.
“Cheonri Plain? The ambush failed, but they had no reason to rush. Wouldn’t regrouping their forces have been the smarter move?”
“They don’t have the luxury for that. Not now that they’ve confirmed those people’s presence.”
“Ah, those people.”
“From the enemy’s perspective, those folks getting involved would be a catastrophe. They’re probably keeping a close eye on their every move, staying on high alert. Even though we’re quite a distance from Heavenly Sky Hall now, the enemy’s paranoid they might intervene anyway. We know they won’t, but they don’t.”
As Ha Hu Hyo explained, he subtly gauged the reactions of Heavenly Sky Hall’s leaders.
While some shifted uncomfortably or looked troubled, Sanggwan Cheon seemed utterly unperturbed. If anything, he appeared annoyed at the mere mention of them again.
Sanggwan Baek, catching Ha Hu Hyo’s disappointed expression, let out a quiet sigh.
When word finally reached them that the Heavenly Demon Cult was targeting the Ha Hu Clan’s reinforcements, Heavenly Sky Hall had erupted in chaos. Many reinforcements had rushed to their aid, but the Ha Hu Clan’s were on another level qualitatively. The thought of anything happening to them was a nightmare, so they’d hastily assembled a rescue force—but it had arrived far too late.
Then came the miraculous news: not only had the Ha Hu Clan’s reinforcements survived unscathed, but their attackers had been nearly annihilated.
Heavenly Sky Hall, which had been holding its breath, exploded in victorious cheers. But the jubilation quickly died down when it was revealed that Sima Geon and his group were the ones who’d saved them. Accepting help from them had sparked massive debate before.
The argument, which had briefly subsided with the reinforcements’ arrival, reignited. Yet Sanggwan Cheon and his staunch supporters remained unyielding in their refusal to accept aid from Heavenly Demon Cult affiliates.
“Enough about them.”
Sanggwan Baek shook his head slightly at Ha Hu Hyo.
As Heavenly Sky Hall’s elder statesman, he felt guilty for failing to sway Sanggwan Cheon’s stubbornness. But with the enemy attack imminent, they couldn’t afford pointless squabbles. Understanding this, Ha Hu Hyo fell silent.
Sanggwan Je, sensing the tension between them, quickly spoke up.
“Alright, final check. Once their assault begins, we’ll start with...”
“Perfect atmosphere for a bloodbath.”
Dark Thunder Blade Chu Seung grinned at the sunset painting the western sky blood-red.
“How much farther?”
Blood Light Martial Emperor, who had been watching the sunset alongside him, turned and asked.
“Once we clear this forest, it’s straight to Heavenly Sky Hall,” Jang Gon replied.
Blood Light Martial Emperor nodded and chuckled.
“When the fight starts, pull back well out of range. They’re our troops, after all—no sense losing them to stray arrows.”
“I’ll ensure nothing like that happens, but I’ll follow your orders just in case.”
Jang Gon gave an awkward smile.
“By the way, you’re tracking the Divine Demon Leader’s whereabouts properly, right?”
“Not sure if it’s perfect, but no unusual reports so far.”
“That’s good enough. Just don’t miss any moves toward us.”
“We’re checking constantly. No need to worry.”
“Alright, got it.”
“Why fuss so much? This’ll be over before the night’s out. Even if they intervene, it’ll be too late.”
At Chu Seung’s rebuke, Blood Light Martial Emperor gave a wry smile.
“True enough. Ha! I’m getting old—worrying over nothing.”
“It’s not entirely baseless, thinking of the Divine Demon Leader or Diamond Yaksha. But now’s the time to focus ahead.”
Chu Seung pointed at Heavenly Sky Hall, which had just come into view.
Its main gate stood wide open, and a considerable force was already arrayed on the open ground before it.
“They’re waiting for us.”
“Quite a few, too.”
Chu Seung scanned the defenders arrayed before Heavenly Sky Hall and those held in reserve behind them.
“Doesn’t matter—a rabble’s a rabble.”
Blood Light Martial Emperor reached back, and someone promptly handed him a spear.
The weapon in his grasp was far thicker and longer than standard, its blood-red spearhead flickering ominously. Below it fluttered the Iron Blood Flag, symbol of his forces.
“Guess we should say hello first.”
With a sinister smile, Blood Light Martial Emperor tossed the spear lightly.
It flew like a streak of rain, piercing Heavenly Sky Hall’s gate plaque dead-center and embedding deep.
“Those bastards!”
Sanggwan Baek roared in fury.
He’d thought the distant spear had lost its trajectory, but for it to target their sacred plaque!
It was an utter humiliation for Heavenly Sky Hall.
“Charge!”
Sanggwan Cheon led the way, bellowing. Heavenly Sky Hall’s warriors surged forward with a unified shout, fanning out left and right—Purple Flower Gate warriors to the left, Dragon Tiger Pavilion to the right.
The Ha Hu Clan reinforcements followed right on their heels.
“Eighteen Blade Guests!”
At Blood Light Martial Emperor’s command, the middle-aged men standing behind him moved silently.
“Mow them down.”
“Understood!”
The Eighteen Blade Guests, bowing in acknowledgment, split into two groups and advanced.
Each was renowned in their own right, but their signature was the Eight Roads Chain Lock Formation.
Eight controlled the eight roads, while the ninth commanded from the center—nine as one, their formation wielded invincible might, no exaggeration.
As the Eighteen Blade Guests split left and right, Blood Light Martial Emperor glanced back.
“I’ll give you the opening the Gate Lord wanted.”
“My thanks.”p>
Bright King Gate Lord Yu Sa Hyu bowed, eyes blazing with eagerness for the vanguard.
“The enemy’s momentum is fierce, but show them Bright King Gate’s power.”
“Leave it to me.”
Yu Sa Hyu shouted confidently and signaled his men. Around seventy Bright King Gate warriors followed him forward.
“Winding Path Valley will support from behind.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dong Chuk mobilized his subordinates, inwardly irked at losing the vanguard but hiding it well.
“And...”
Blood Light Martial Emperor’s gaze shifted to those waiting at the rear.
His eyes held a trace of pity.
They’d been tasked with intercepting the Ha Hu Clan reinforcements—a critical mission—but returned after a crushing defeat.
It was so one-sided a massacre that even calling it failure felt embarrassing; they’d barely escaped with their lives. Yet no one blamed or reprimanded them. If anything, they were met with sympathetic condolences for their bad luck.
“You’re still recovering—sure you’re up for this?”
Blood Light Martial Emperor asked with genuine concern.
“We’re fine. Thanks to Supreme Elder’s care, our wounds have mostly healed.”
Pus still oozed from Ghost Path Branch Lord Gok Seon’s severed forearm, but his gaze was icy cold.
“And you?”
“I can move.”
Elder Jo Geon Saeng’s eyes were equally frigid.
“If you insist, I won’t stop you. No specific orders—fight where you will.”
Blood Light Martial Emperor showed maximum consideration to Ghost Path Branch, the survivors of the Divine Demon Leader encounter.
“Thank you.”
Gok Seon and Jo Geon Saeng bowed slightly and led their waiting men toward the center, where the fiercest clash was expected.
“Tsk tsk. Could’ve taken it easy.”
Blood Light Martial Emperor clicked his tongue, and Chu Seung chuckled.
“Complicated feelings, I suppose. They got smashed trying to score merits—now they need a chance to redeem themselves. Revenge for their fallen men, too.”
“I hope they all come through safe.”
“Heh heh! You’ve got a sentimental side. Doesn’t suit you. Been a while since I’ve seen those guys fight—wonder if they’ve changed.”
Chu Seung turned toward the Eighteen Blade Guests clashing with Purple Flower Gate.
‘These guys are strong!’
Purple Flower Gate Lord Yu Jin Gyo’s eyes wavered sharply. A heavy sigh escaped his parted lips.
Though only nine foes, their overwhelming presence as they swung their massive blades told him instantly they were no pushovers.
His grim premonition proved spot-on.
“Argh!”
“Kahak!”
Screams rang out in succession.
Purple Flower Gate warriors struck by the Eighteen Blade Guests let out agonized cries.
On the brink of life and death, the sight of comrades—who’d been laughing and chatting moments ago—collapsing in gruesome heaps froze their minds.
Regret for failing to save them, guilt, relief that it wasn’t them—it all coalesced into rage. But the Eighteen Blade Guests were too formidable to vent it on.
In the blink of an eye, over twenty lives were snuffed out.
No counterattacks allowed.
Every strike severed breath in one blow.
Like tigers among sheep, the Eighteen Blade Guests shifted directions fluidly, massacring Purple Flower Gate warriors at will.
“R-Retreat!”
“Danger!”
“S-Save...”
Despite outnumbering them several times over, Purple Flower Gate was powerless.
The encirclement they’d thought airtight was riddled with holes, collapsing in moments without chance to regroup.
Yu Jin Gyo and Purple Flower Gate’s leaders desperately tried to block them, but couldn’t halt their momentum. Some leaders even got trapped by the cunning Eight Roads Chain Lock Formation, dying pointlessly.
Even the leaders couldn’t stop them—fear and terror of death began overwhelming Purple Flower Gate warriors’ hearts. Unconsciously, they started edging back.
Sensing their momentum secured, the Eighteen Blade Guests intensified their assault.
No mercy in their strikes; they slashed with maximum cruelty and horror.
“Beasts worse than animals!”
Yu Jin Gyo’s rage pierced the heavens at the sight of Eighteen Blade Guests hacking relentlessly at a fallen subordinate, mangling the body.
He too had nearly died trapped in the formation, leaving him battered head to toe. But their atrocities snapped his reason.
Just then, Purple Flower Gate leaders launched a synchronized attack. Distracted, a crack appeared in the Eight Roads Chain Lock Formation.
Yu Jin Gyo’s eyes blazed as he seized the opening.
He darted in successfully, unleashing a strike laden with irrepressible fury and killing intent.
“Die!”
Ignoring his own life, driven solely by vengeance for his men.
Having pierced the formation’s flaw perfectly, the Eighteen Blade Guest couldn’t react in time.
Or so Yu Jin Gyo believed.