Chapter 217
Chapter 217
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: Songshan Blood Battle (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"A surprise attack? Is that really true?"
Gong-su asked, his face full of shock.
"Yes. At first, we thought it was likely, but just before arriving here, we received confirmed reports. The North Sea Ice Palace is approaching Shaolin Temple for a surprise assault."
"Didn't the Clan Leader say last night that they would all withdraw? It's not even been a few hours."
Gong-jin, who had rushed over after hastily donning his robes, shouted with an angry expression.
"Junior brother."
As Abbot Gong-su fixed him with a stern gaze, Gong-jin forcibly suppressed his rage and bowed his head.
"I'm sorry, senior brother."
"You should apologize to the Clan Leader, not me."
"No. How could I have the face to ask for forgiveness? I have nothing to say, even if I had ten mouths."
Cheon Su Singae, who had spoken of the Iron Blood Palace and North Sea Ice Palace's withdrawal as if it were a foregone conclusion, bowed deeply with a face full of shame.
"How could this be the Clan Leader's responsibility alone? Not just you, but all of us made that judgment."
Gong-su raised Cheon Su Singae's upper body.
Even without Cheon Su Singae's words, Shaolin's leadership had inwardly believed there would be no attack from the Iron Blood Palace or North Sea Ice Palace. That was why his statement carried even more weight.
"The only question is how such a sudden move was possible. Not only the Beggars' Sect disciples but our own were monitoring their movements."
"After the Blood Cult's defeat, the scouts operating in the area nearly vanished. For several days, there was no movement at all. Everyone let their guard down because of that. It seems the Iron Blood Palace and North Sea Ice Palace took advantage of the gap, devoting themselves since last night to eliminating the scouts. We've confirmed that most of the Myriad Steps Troop disciples watching around Shaolin have lost their lives."
At the news of the Myriad Steps Troop's massive losses, sighs escaped Gong-su and Gong-jin's lips.
"Still, it's fortunate. We learned of the surprise attack before the enemy struck. Even now, if we prepare and meet them, we can surely win."
"We must. We should inform the warlords outside as well."
"I've already sent the message. By now..."
Right then, Hwe-so came rushing in, his face pale as death.
"Master!"
Seeing Hwe-so's expression, Cheon Su Singae's face hardened.
"What happened?"
"Th-the enemy attack has begun."
"What? There's still time... No way!"
Cheon Su Singae's body stiffened for a moment.
"The Iron Blood Palace?"
"Yes. The Iron Blood Palace. They say most of the warlords who were farthest from Shaolin have already lost their lives."
"Amitabha!"
Gong-su and Gong-jin recited the chant in unison.
"Junior brother."
"Yes."
"Take your disciples and go immediately."
"Understood."
Gong-jin moved with a resolute expression, gesturing, and the Shaolin disciples who had just arrived followed behind him.
"When do you think the North Sea Ice Palace's attack will begin?"
At Gong-su's question, Cheon Su Singae's gaze turned to Hwe-so.
"Sh-shortest half a gak, longest no more than an hour."
"That's some relief, at least."
There was less time than expected, but it was far better than being caught completely off guard.
"Leader of the Arhat Hall."
Mu-ae, who had hurried to his side, stepped forward at Gong-su's call.
"Yes."
"We must not let these villains set foot inside the mountain gate."
"That will never happen."
Mu-ae replied with a confident expression.
"Brother Gong-yeong, go with him."
Gong-yeong, Mu-ae's master and the former Arhat Hall Leader, bowed politely.
"Understood."
"Ah, and on the way, inform the Dharma Hall of the enemy attack as well."
At the mention of the Dharma Hall, all the surrounding disciples flinched.
"It shall be done."
Gong-yeong received the order and hurriedly withdrew with Mu-ae.
Gong-su's expression remained troubled as he watched his disciples rush toward what might become a deathtrap.
It was then, as the North Sea Ice Palace, right on the doorstep of Shaolin, paused to catch their breath.
Black Moon Troop Leader Buk Ri-je reported to Buk Ri-hwang with a grim face.
"What? They've already started?"
Buk Ri-hwang asked, furrowing his brow.
"Yes. We've even confirmed they won the opening battle."
Mo Gong-jeong let out a hollow laugh at Buk Ri-je's response.
"They've thoroughly embarrassed themselves. We hurried as fast as we could."
"They have fewer numbers compared to our palace. It must have been easier for them to move."
Buk Ri-jin said, glancing at his father's mood.
"That's just an excuse. Late is late."
Buk Ri-hwang dismissed Buk Ri-jin's words and raised his voice.
"Hurry! We missed the first strike, but our palace will seize Shaolin first."
At Buk Ri-hwang's shout, the North Sea Ice Palace and the North Sea martial artists following them roared in unison.
The cheers echoing through Mount Song announced their presence to the enemy, but no one pointed it out or stopped it. Now that the battle had begun, silence was meaningless.
"Enemies."
Buk Ri-jin pointed to the warlords appearing one by one in the distance.
Buk Ri-hae drew his sword. Then he shouted.
"Charge! Let the Central Plains know the might of the North Sea!"
At the attack order, the Heaven Lake Sect and Cloud Mountain Sect, who had been rampaging through Shanxi martial world, surged forward as if they had been waiting.
"Insolent fools!"
Buk Ri-deung stepped forward, drawing an absurdly large blade.
"Will you go yourself, Uncle?"
At Buk Ri-hwang's question, Buk Ri-deung replied as if it were obvious.
"This is Shaolin, not some backwater. If not me, who else stands at the vanguard for this glory?"
Buk Ri-hwang had nothing to say in the face of his resolute determination to claim the vanguard position. He glanced at Mo Gong-jeong for help, but Mo Gong-jeong supported Buk Ri-deung instead.
"Of course Uncle should lead."
"Right! I knew you'd understand."
"Hurry, or we'll be late."
"Damn!"
Confirming that the Heaven Lake Sect and Cloud Mountain Sect were about to clash with the warlords, Buk Ri-deung launched himself forward.
"You..."
"No time to argue. Are you going to let Uncle go alone?"
"I'll go."
Before the words finished, Buk Ri-do charged ahead.
Seeing the North Sea Ice Palace elites move after Buk Ri-do, Buk Ri-hwang could only give a wry smile in the end. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Iron Blood Palace, having successfully pulled off their initial surprise attack, advanced like a tidal wave. Far greater numbers of warlords blocked their path, but true to their name as overlords of the great curtain, they displayed overwhelming prowess and racked up victory after victory.
Their unstoppable advance first halted upon encountering the Wudang Sect experts.
Though few in number, the Wudang experts proved why they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Shaolin in fame.
Especially the exploits of Wudang Sword Immortal Hyeon-so, who led the Wudang contingent, were outstanding.
He routed the aggressively charging Left Sword, then engaged in a fierce bloodbath with Yin Jeok-so, who had barely rescued him.
Yin Jeok-so, who possessed an indestructible diamond body from the Immortal Poison Spirit Technique and had perfectly mastered the Iron Blood Demon Lord's martial arts, had gained ample real combat experience while seizing the Iron Blood Palace. Yet Hyeon-so's sword did not yield easily.
Even drenched in blood from head to toe and poisoned, Hyeon-so refused to retreat a single step, tying down Yin Jeok-so's feet. In the meantime, experts from the Zhongnan Sect and Huashan Sect arrived on the battlefield upon hearing of the Iron Blood Palace's attack.
They had been insisting on striking first while the Iron Blood Palace was retreating anyway. For those dreaming only of revenge against their sects, news of the Iron Blood Palace's surprise attack might even be glad tidings(?).
The Zhongnan and Huashan experts, whose sects had been utterly destroyed by the Iron Blood Palace, fought with desperate ferocity for vengeance against their masters and brothers.
Not one fell easily.
Even with limbs severed, they did not back down; with guts spilling from gaping wounds, they stuffed them back in and swung their swords. If that failed, they sacrificed their lives to aid comrades.
First, the Wudang who grabbed the Iron Blood Palace's ankles; then the Zhongnan and Huashan disciples throwing away their lives without hesitation for revenge; and finally, even Shaolin experts joining somewhat late—these inflicted non-trivial casualties on the Iron Blood Palace.
Yet the tide did not favor Shaolin.
If anything, one could say the overall battlefield atmosphere was in the Iron Blood Palace's grasp.
The reason was simple.
The warlords gathered at Shaolin were suffering at least three or four times the casualties the Iron Blood Palace endured.
At the center was the Poison Blood Demon.
Yin Jeok-so could have toppled Hyeon-so, who was holding his ankles, much faster by deploying the Poison Blood Demon, but he refrained. Though the Poison Blood Demon's power had been crucial in seizing the Iron Blood Palace, as its Lord who followed only the strong, shying from a one-on-one duel would undermine his authority before his subordinates.
For that reason, the unleashed Poison Blood Demon freely massacred the warlords.
Before the Poison Blood Demon, even the Zhongnan Sect and Huashan disciples who fought so desperately were no different from the rest.
A body impervious to swords, terrifying poison gas emanating from every movement, combined with their martial prowess. The twelve Poison Blood Demons became ultimate weapons, sweeping the battlefield.
"Keurk!"
With a strangled cry, Wudang's giant Hyeon-so staggered back. Each step soaked the ground with blood spurting from his chest.
"Whew, tough old man."
After a grueling fight, Yin Jeok-so succeeded in plunging his sword into Hyeon-so's chest. He wiped blood from his face and exhaled deeply. Though no major wounds, he had plenty of minor ones, and dull pain throbbed.
"Wudang lives up to its name."
Yin Jeok-so was genuinely impressed by Hyeon-so's skill. Among Iron Blood Palace experts, few could defeat him.
"It... hasn't... ended... yet."
Hyeon-so straightened his broken sword and assumed position.
"Stop dragging it out and just lie down."
Yin Jeok-so, having caught his breath, said coldly. As if deeming him unworthy, he turned away—but Hyeon-so charged. His movements were pathetically slow compared to before, his sword's power negligible.
"If you insist that much."
Yin Jeok-so swung with full power.
The sword aimed at Yin Jeok-so shattered like sand, and Hyeon-so collapsed in an unrecognizably gruesome state.
Yin Jeok-so turned without regret and calmly surveyed the battlefield.
Fierce fighting everywhere, but one spot where Iron Blood Palace struggled notably caught his eye.
Seeing the uniforms of the enemies, Yin Jeok-so smirked. He understood why his men were faltering.
"Huashan remnants."
Judging the damage could no longer be ignored, Yin Jeok-so pursed his lips. A low whistle, audible only to Poison Blood Demons, spread across the field.
The Poison Blood Demons ravaging the warlords turned as if by signal and gathered at Yin Jeok-so.
"Good boys."
Yin Jeok-so gazed lovingly at the arriving Poison Blood Demons, then turned to the Huashan Sect.
"Let's go."
Led by Yin Jeok-so, the twelve Poison Blood Demons charged toward the Huashan warriors.
"They're coming!"
"Block them!"
Zhongnan Sect warriors moved to intercept Yin Jeok-so approaching Huashan.
Fewer in number and overall skill inferior to Huashan, but their resolve and thirst for revenge matched them.
But their opponents were poor choices.
Yin Jeok-so didn't even need to act.
The Poison Blood Demons were too powerful for mere resolve. Attacks did no good, and retaining their past prowess as Divine Demon Division members, their movements were overwhelmingly threatening. Ignoring pain or death, they displayed far superior skill than before.
The heartrending, eye-averting slaughter ended in half a gak.
In the blink of an eye, Yin Jeok-so and the Poison Blood Demons annihilated Zhongnan, then turned to attack Huashan.