Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Long Time No See (3)
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"You were both impressive. I was quite surprised."
In response to Sima Geon's curt reply, Dang Cheonhwa bristled.
"Cut the flattery and be precise."
"Haha! It wasn't from the very start, so it's hard to say exactly. All I saw was Neung Sohwa blocking the elder's attack and countering."
"And how was it?"
Neung Sohwa asked. Faced with her serious demeanor, even Sima Geon had to respond with a bit more care.
"It was excellent. But the allocation of internal energy was a touch lacking, and above all, the movements were overly expansive. I don't know if that's her natural style, but if the elder had been willing to take some damage and press in close, it would've been a tougher fight. Blocking the elder's attack was splendid, but afterward..."
Like a dam bursting, Sima Geon laid bare his unfiltered critique of the spar, especially toward Neung Sohwa.
Neung Sohwa, who had initially nodded earnestly, now wore a frosty expression, but Sima Geon remained oblivious.
The onlookers, ears perked, stared in disbelief at Sima Geon's audacious advice. They couldn't fathom anyone critiquing the Sword Empress's skills so freely. Nor could they understand why Dang Cheonhwa or the Sword Empress tolerated such nonsense.
"And finally..."
"That's enough."
Unable to stand it any longer, So Surin jabbed Sima Geon sharply in the side.
"What's that for?"
"You know you've said more in these few minutes than in days?"
"Have I?"
"You have."
"Anyway, that's about it."
Neung Sohwa, glancing back and forth between Sima Geon and So Surin, narrowed her eyes and nodded.
"Thank you. I heard every word loud and clear."
With chill radiating from her, Neung Sohwa spun on her heel.
"Tsk tsk, you and your mouth."
As Dang Cheonhwa clicked his tongue,
Woooooo!
A wolf's howl echoed from somewhere.
Sima Geon's group instantly recognized it as Black Fang's cry, which they'd momentarily dismissed amid the crowd. They also knew it signaled discovered enemies.
"Isn't that Black Fang?"
Dang Cheonhwa asked.
"Yes. It's the howl he makes when he spots foes. Seems some suspicious characters are approaching."
"Suspicious characters? Who dares come here?"
Dang Cheonhwa hadn't even dreamed that Dangga Fortress or the Dang Family would come under attack.
"Chief, could it be those crazy monks from earlier?"
At Cheol Woo's words, Dang Cheonhwa's brow furrowed.
"What's this now?"
"We ran into experts from Thunderclap Temple heading this way just before reaching Dangga Fortress. A disciple from Demon Buddha Temple was guiding them."
"Ah, so that's why you looked like that."
Only then did Dang Cheonhwa notice Cheol Woo's tattered clothes and bloodstains. So Surin was in a similar state.
"They were skilled, but not numerous. They wouldn't attack the Dang Family with just that bunch—probably planning to link up with others."
"Others... Hwe Cheon Alliance, then."
Dang Cheonhwa pinpointed it immediately.
"I heard they sent retainers to aid Emei Sect. They're likely exploiting that opening."
"Foolish lot. Time to make them regret the blunder. Clan Leader."
Dang Cheonhwa called to Dang Yu.
"Yes, Uncle."
"Check immediately. See if enemies have truly invaded, as this friend says..."
No need to finish.
Murmurs rose as a bloodied man dashed in frantically.
"E-enemies! Enemies are attacking!"
Before he finished, screams erupted from afar.
"Enemies!"
"Danger—run!"
Amid screams and shouts from all sides, Dang Cheonhwa's form shot forward like lightning.
Leading the Dang Family retainers out of the training grounds, they found dozens of Dangga Fortress residents already slain and sprawled.
Though most residents knew basic martial arts, few could stand against foes hell-bent on assaulting the Dang Family.
"Halt!"
Dang Cheonhwa bellowed like thunder. Simultaneously, he hurled hidden weapons at enemies attacking fleeing residents.
The projectiles arced cleverly around stumbling civilians.
Dang Cheonhwa trusted they'd neutralize the foe, but the enemy swiftly drew a sword across his chest, deflecting them.
Dang Cheonhwa frowned at the enemy batting away his weapons. Even drained from the Sword Empress spar and lacking full power, it was deflected too easily.
As Dang Family elites arrived behind Dang Cheonhwa, the indiscriminate attackers halted, forming ranks.
Over a hundred strong—two-thirds in golden robes, the rest in crimson.
"You lot... from Thunderclap Temple."
At Dang Cheonhwa's shout, the Thunderclap Temple group's center parted, revealing So Binta emerging slowly.
"Are you the Poison Ghost?"
Dang Cheonhwa straightened proudly at So Binta's question.
"Indeed. I am Poison Ghost Dang Cheonhwa."
"Where's the Sword Empress?"
Glancing side to side, So Binta's gaze locked on the stone-faced Neung Sohwa.
"So you're the Sword Empress bitch."
Neung Sohwa's brow furrowed at So Binta's lustful leer, a chill crawling over her like a snake slithering across her skin.
So Binta was slightly rattled by the Sword Empress's unexpectedly fit state but inferred from his subordinate effortlessly blocking Dang Cheonhwa's recent projectiles that their spar had been fierce, leaving significant aftereffects.
Of course, he was confident even a fresh Sword Empress was manageable—especially with many of the Dang Family's core experts away aiding Emei Sect. Defeat wasn't on his mind.
"You know what you've done?"
Dang Cheonhwa's eyes glinted murderously over the residents' corpses.
"Not a single one of you leaves alive."
A smile curled So Binta's lips.
"That's exactly what I wanted to say. Today, the Dang Family vanishes from the martial world."
Thunderclap Temple disciples roared in unison.
Yet Demon Buddha Temple's mood was off—especially leaders like Yo Gong and Yo Un, visibly unnerved.
"Wh-why are those monsters..."
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, if I'm not mistaken... aren't those the Divine Demon Division Leader and Deputy Leader?"
"Seems so."
"Why are they at the Dang Family?"
Yo Un's voice trembled.
"Exactly. How are they here?"
Yo Gong shook his head, equally flustered.
So Binta didn't miss their disruption.
"What's wrong?"
"Elder, look at those men."
Tsking at Yo Gong's fear, So Binta turned where indicated.
"Who the hell are..."
So Binta abruptly fell silent.
'What kind of gaze...'
Locking eyes with Sima Geon, goosebumps erupted across him. His grip tightened on his staff.
"Who are they?"
"They're the Divine Demon Division Leader and Deputy Leader."
Yo Gong shuddered.
"Mm."
A short groan escaped So Binta.
The monsters who razed Demon Buddha Temple—key players in unifying the demonic path, dubbed top demonic experts.
He'd dismissed rumors as exaggeration, but seeing them proved otherwise.
Not just the Division Leader.
Beside him, a massive man grinned eerily.
'Divine Demon Deputy Leader, Diamond Yaksha.'
Not quite matching Sima Geon's intensity, but Cheol Woo's presence was beyond imagination.
"Hey, old monk."
Cheol Woo's shout riled Thunderclap disciples to charge.
So Binta slammed his staff down, reining them in, masking unease with arrogance.
"Speak, Diamond Yaksha."
"Oh! You know me. Heh heh heh! My fame's reached Thunderclap Temple. Not bad. Anyway, on our way here, we met some baldies in matching robes."
So Binta's eyes quivered sharply.
Already anxious about his delayed reinforcements from Thunderclap Temple, hearing of them from Cheol Woo unnerved him.
"You—you met them?"
"Yep. How many was it?"
Cheol Woo glanced back; Manchu quickly replied.
"Thirty-five. Thirty-six including the Demon Buddha Temple monk."
"Right. Said they came to sightsee after hearing of Dangga Fortress's fame. Laughable."
"What happened to them?"
Cheol Woo ignored So Binta's question.
"Can you believe it? Reeking of blood, spouting lies even dogs wouldn't buy..."
"I asked what happened to them."
As So Binta yelled, Cheol Woo smirked.
"What else? Snapped their necks, all of 'em."
"Don't spout nonsense. How could they..."
"Pretty tough, actually. Tore my clothes to shreds."
So Binta eyed Cheol Woo's ruined garb, confirming a fierce clash. The issue: the blood staining it belonged to Thunderclap disciples.
"Amitabha!"
A low, fury-laden chant escaped So Binta.
Slowly raising his staff, murderous intent poured from him.
"Leave not a single ant alive."
At the attack order, Thunderclap disciples charged en masse.
Demon Buddha Temple disciples, cowed by Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, shouted and leaped too—but none neared them.
"It's me, Papa."
At Jong Yo's voice, Blood Slaughter Papa signaled his attending maid to leave.
Jong Yo shuffled in, urgency etched on his face.
"I heard there's a meeting. What's up?"
Blood Slaughter Papa, holding early dinner, greeted him with alarm.
"Stepped out for urgent business. We need to prepare."
"Prepare?"
Blood Slaughter Papa's face hardened.
"As expected, Demon Buddha Temple and Thunderclap Temple are up to no good."
"Yes. Moments ago, confirmed Qingcheng Sect and Dang Family reinforcements arrived nearby."
"Must be chaos. Idiots."
Blood Slaughter Papa sneered at Hwe Cheon leaders.
"They don't know yet—and won't. The spotters were Ghost Gate Clan retainers."
"Well said!"
Blood Slaughter Papa exclaimed unwittingly.
"Dawn tomorrow, the assault on Emei Sect begins. We'll block all four paths to Emei and push simultaneously."
"Finally leaving this damn temple. So, which way for us?"
"Over Phoenix Ridge."
"Dangerous route. Weren't we pulling to the rear?"
"That was the plan, but the meeting hall's atmosphere was off. They're suspicious. Sending disfavored troops rearward won't fly. Better to lead from the front."
"That narrows our room to maneuver. Phoenix Ridge is practically the main assault—won't other forces join?"
"Even if they do, not many. We'll eliminate them at the right moment."
Blood Slaughter Papa swallowed hard at Jong Yo's cold words.
"As I mentioned before..."
"Strategist."
"What is it?"
"They summon you back to the meeting hall."
"Got it."
Jong Yo rose.
"Don't worry, head back. I know exactly what to do."
Exchanging meaningful glances with Blood Slaughter Papa, Jong Yo bowed.
"See you at dawn."
As Jong Yo left, Blood Slaughter Papa, lost in heavy thought, began moving quietly.