Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: The Birth of a Righteous Martial Artist
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Just before Nangong Myeong pierced the Shadowless Guest's heart, Hyeon-gong was desperately fighting while constantly scanning his surroundings.
The state of the battle was a continuation of yesterday's fight.
The unorthodox warriors steadily pushed back the righteous sect warriors. Meanwhile, the righteous sect warriors failed to seize any chance to reverse the tide and were endlessly retreating.
Looking toward the back, he could see Dang Mujin and Nangong Myeong captured by the Shadowless Guest.
Hyeon-gong nodded slightly.
'As expected, things are unfolding as anticipated.'
While Hyeon-gong fought, observing the battlefield, a small problem arose. Hong Geolgae had been caught in Blazing Yama's feint.
"...Ah!"
Hong Geolgae stood unsteadily, letting out a dazed sound. To make matters worse, Manli Monk was in no position to protect him.
Blazing Yama infused his foot with internal energy and kicked Hong Geolgae squarely in the stomach with a resounding strike.
Thud!
"Oof!"
It was fortunate he hadn't been sliced by the sword, but the power of a kick loaded with internal energy was no joke.
Hong Geolgae, his supreme master status utterly belied, rolled head over heels several times.
It was a thoroughly pathetic sight, no matter who looked.
Hong Geolgae hurriedly tried to get up but couldn't steady himself easily. In the end, he dropped to his knees, hands on the ground, vomiting repeatedly.
"Urk, blegh!"
Hyeon-gong clicked his tongue as he watched.
'His qi and blood are in disarray. Fortunately, he's not coughing up blood, so it's not fatal.'
A manageable injury if he took a moment to regulate his internals.
But this was in the midst of battle, where even a small opening could prove fatal.
Hong Geolgae's gap was immediately exposed.
Manli Monk, who had been fighting Blazing Yama alongside him, suddenly found himself in dire straits.
"Urgh!"
Manli Monk's face stiffened as he unleashed White Lotus Divine Fist and Nahan Fist repeatedly against Blazing Yama, but he couldn't hold out at all.
Blazing Yama swung his massive sword endlessly to seize Manli Monk's attention, then subtly extended his left foot to trip him.
It wasn't even a martial technique, yet it was the most effective attack possible.
"...!"
Crash.
Manli Monk fell, exposing a massive opening.
Manli Monk glared upward with bulging eyes. He couldn't even stand, only craning his neck.
Sure enough, Blazing Yama's sword came swinging down from above. No countermove came to mind.
'Is this the last sight of my life?'
As Manli Monk resigned to death, a single sword slipped between Blazing Yama and him, disrupting the sword path.
Manli Monk turned his head to see who had thrust the sword.
It was Hyeon-gong.
He had rushed over diligently the moment Hong Geolgae fell, arriving just in time before Blazing Yama.
That brief respite was enough. Manli Monk sprang up and shouted.
"Thanks!"
"It was the right thing to do!"
Now, Hyeon-gong took Hong Geolgae's place beside Manli Monk, blocking Blazing Yama's sword.
It was purely defensive, but Hyeon-gong's defense was no less than that of supreme master Hong Geolgae.
If anything, his sword path was far more solid and precise, perhaps even a cut above.
Moreover, Hyeon-gong's temperament was extremely cautious, so he didn't fall for feints like the one that fooled Hong Geolgae or the footwork that downed Manli Monk.
A stifling frustration welled up deep in Blazing Yama's chest.
He was certain: until this battle ended, he couldn't break through the combination of Hyeon-gong and Manli Monk.
'I wanted to send at least one of these beggar scum or the monk to the afterlife right here.'
Blazing Yama glanced toward the rear of the battlefield.
The Shadowless Guest still hadn't broken through Dang Mujin and Nangong Myeong.
'...The beggar will come to his senses soon. Even I can't handle three alone. Things are getting dangerous for me.'
The overall situation still favored them, but Blazing Yama had no intention of sacrificing his life just to inflict damage on the righteous sect warriors.
He had dragged in unorthodox fighters to minimize the Demonic Cult's losses. It would be absurd for him to throw away his own life.
'It's a shame, but I should pull back soon.'
As Blazing Yama thought that, a small voice pierced his ear.
-Can you hear me?
It was a transmission. Blazing Yama scanned around to pinpoint the source.
But no one was looking at him. Everyone was focused on their own fights.
Yet the transmission came from an unexpected place.
-It's me. Hyeon-gong.
Indeed, Hyeon-gong was swinging his sword while secretly moving his lips to send the transmission. Blazing Yama's eyes widened.
'...Sending a transmission while swinging a sword?'
Transmissions weren't particularly advanced, but they consumed immense mental energy.
Even Blazing Yama would struggle to do it while wielding a sword.
Hyeon-gong's transmission continued.
-I have no choice but to use transmission since we must avoid Manli Monk's eyes. Please understand.
Hyeon-gong glanced at Manli Monk, then dropped a bombshell.
-Senior Blazing Yama. I wish to defect to the Demonic Cult.
It was utterly unexpected.
Blazing Yama swung his sword even more fiercely on purpose. Hyeon-gong parried it while sending the transmission without faltering.
-You're suspicious, I know. But I'm young, with big dreams. I don't want to spend my life sitting idly on Mount Wudang. Life is short—shouldn't a man chase grander ambitions?
"..."
-I heard from the Ghost King that the Cult Leader bestows unparalleled martial arts upon Demonic Cult warriors. I want to learn them and rise to a position under one, above all others.
Sensing Blazing Yama's displeasure, Hyeon-gong quickly backpedaled.
-No, not surpassing you, Senior Blazing Yama. Under two, above all... no. Including the Left Protector, under three, above all—that would be fine.
The situation was so abrupt that Blazing Yama's mind grew chaotic.
Was it a ploy to confuse him?
But the content was too specific, petty, and realistic for mere deception.
Hyeon-gong swung his sword vigorously and transmitted again.
-I don't want to swing my sword at someone who could become my senior. If you're willing to accept me as an ally, attack me with kicks or fist strikes to subdue me. Then, when you return to the Demonic Cult, just drag me along as your captive.
Blazing Yama thought desperately.
But no matter how he pondered, his thoughts leaned toward taking Hyeon-gong along.
Hyeon-gong's words didn't feel like lies, and removing him from this battlefield was too enticing.
Plus, poaching one of the top young talents from the righteous sects for the Demonic Cult was ideal.
Yes. It was too attractive to pass up over faint risks.
'...I'll trust him once. If it smells off, I can always bail.'
Blazing Yama clenched his left hand like a bird's talon and thrust it toward Hyeon-gong's shoulder.
As expected, Hyeon-gong reacted a bit clumsily, exposing a gap.
Blazing Yama raked his hand like claws. His nails dug into Hyeon-gong's shoulder.
Then, Blazing Yama yanked him roughly.
"Oof!"
Hyeon-gong tumbled dramatically behind Blazing Yama. Blood flowed from his shoulder, but it wasn't deep—just a light gash.
Yet somehow, Hyeon-gong coughed and spat blood.
"Urgh... ugh, my qi and blood are twisting!"
"..."
Hyeon-gong retched as if his guts were churned, spewing a mix of gastric fluids and blood like a battered warrior.
It was so convincing that even Blazing Yama wondered if he had unleashed some devastating technique.
In any case, Hyeon-gong had clearly signaled to Blazing Yama that he was out of the fight. Delighted by the unexpected gain, Blazing Yama resumed pressing Manli Monk.
"Hyeon-gong!"
Two people gasped in horror at the sight.
One was Hong Geolgae, the other Seolhwa, fighting a short distance away.
Hyeon-gong's gaze went not to the grimy beggar Hong Geolgae, but to Seolhwa.
She looked at him with a face full of worry. Hyeon-gong's heart melted softly.
'My dear. Just wait a little. Once I succeed in the Demonic Cult, I'll come back and make you live in luxury.'
Then, Hyeon-gong glanced at Hong Geolgae with a somewhat indifferent expression.
Hong Geolgae was swinging his staff even more ferociously than before.
Hyeon-gong averted his eyes subtly and coughed affectedly.
'...Sorry, Hong Geolgae. But isn't it better for me to be happy too?'
Guilt had pricked him at first.
But upon reflection, he realized this situation wasn't bad for Hong Geolgae either. The guilt faded bit by bit.
'No one knows how the world turns. Hong Geolgae or the others might join the Demonic Cult someday. If I rise high first, I can look after them when they defect. I'd be their final shield.'
But Hyeon-gong's fantasy didn't flow smoothly. His mind felt unsettled, as if an unfamiliar hand gripped his nape. Like he was missing something.
'What am I overlooking right now?'
But no matter how he racked his brain, nothing came up.
He had no prior experience in a similar situation, no clues...
No, there was a clue.
'Flower Beggar!'
Not long ago, Blazing Yama had thrown a paper stamped with a palm print to frame Flower Beggar.
Unlike most ordinary, naive warriors, Blazing Yama was extremely cunning.
What would such a man do here?
The answer lay in his brief exchange with Flower Beggar. Blazing Yama had tried to sow discord between Flower Beggar and the righteous sect warriors.
'Won't he try to cut off my path back to the righteous sects from the start?'
The more he thought, the more certain he became. Blazing Yama would spread the word of Hyeon-gong's defection to the righteous warriors.
And that was the last thing Hyeon-gong wanted. His goal wasn't to fully commit to the Demonic Cult, but to straddle both sides and join the victor.
Staging a scene of being overpowered by Blazing Yama to head to the Demonic Cult was for that reason—to preserve his reputation among the righteous sects. That way, if things changed, he could feign ignorance and return.
'If Blazing Yama pulls a dirty trick, what should I do?'
Faced with an ultimatum between righteous and demonic, what then? Hyeon-gong desperately mulled it over.
The Demonic Cult seemed slightly advantageous now. But the more he thought, the more he felt it was barely breaking even.
How much effort had he poured into building his reputation? He didn't want it ruined by a few words from someone else.
Plus, serving a scheming bastard like Blazing Yama in the Demonic Cult didn't appeal. The future looked bleak.
"Cough, cough!"
Coughing again while scanning around, Hyeon-gong spotted a special event far off. Nangong Myeong had stabbed the Shadowless Guest in the back!
'For now, victory in this battle tilts toward the righteous sects.'
Manli Monk and Hong Geolgae, focused on protecting Dang Mujin and Nangong Myeong, hadn't noticed, but Blazing Yama had confirmed the Shadowless Guest's death.
Thinking his ominous premonition would come true, Hyeon-gong quietly rose from his spot.
Sure enough, Blazing Yama acted as predicted. He swung his sword with massive force, shoving Manli Monk and Hong Geolgae far back.
Then he opened his mouth.
"Hyeon..."
Hearing just that one syllable, Hyeon-gong could predict the rest.
He had overheard what Blazing Yama said to Flower Beggar—it wasn't hard to infer.
'Hyeon-gong! You've sided with the Demonic Cult, so do your part! Fight by my side!' or something like that.
"...gong! The Demonic..."
As expected, his guess was spot on.
Hyeon-gong focused his mind and unleashed Jeyun Bell, the pinnacle of Wudang lightness skills, at full power.
His form stretched elongated, slipping behind Blazing Yama. It was stealthier and faster than when he targeted assassins' backs at Yangyang.
Soon, Hyeon-gong's sword deeply slashed Blazing Yama's side. Blood sprayed.
Seizing the interruption, Hyeon-gong bellowed in a resounding voice.
"You got careless, Blazing Yama! Did you think that would take me down? I am Hyeon-gong, the unyielding Taoist of Wudang, embodiment of integrity!"
Blazing Yama stared at Hyeon-gong with genuine shock.
He had considered the possibility of betrayal, but not this quickly.
Hyeon-gong coldly sorted his thoughts.
'My ties with Blazing Yama are severed. No choice but to enact the next plan.'
He had prepared a second plan in advance.
First, kill Blazing Yama and all the unorthodox warriors to silence any leaks.
Then, assess the situation, let the Ghost King escape, pretend to be captured by him, and enter the Demonic Cult.
'Right. No need to go through Blazing Yama. The naive, obedient Ghost King is better.'
Hyeon-gong shouted again.
"Everyone! Don't let a single one escape alive! We must cut down every evil fiend, even at the cost of our lives!"
From the moment the Shadowless Guest's chest was pierced until now, barely ten breaths had passed.
The sudden reversal left unorthodox and righteous warriors alike dazed.
At that moment, Dang Mujin's flying wheels began slicing through the air.
Cleaving the dark night sky, the wheels silently reaped the unorthodox warriors' lives.
Quick-witted righteous warriors finally grasped the situation.
"Push them! Kill them all!"
As a few shouted in ecstatic fury, the rest gained momentum upon realizing.
The righteous warriors charged with pent-up rage, pressing the enemy, and Hyeon-gong clenched his fist.
'Good. The situation's mostly under control!'
At this rate, most unorthodox warriors could be eliminated.
Even Blazing Yama was a rat in a trap, surrounded by Hyeon-gong, Manli Monk, and Hong Geolgae.
Once Nangong Myeong joined, not even Blazing Yama could survive.
"Huff, huff."
Then, Blazing Yama panted heavily and pulled a round object from his bosom.
It was about the size of two fists combined, pitch-black in color.
'What the hell? Some odd weapon? Like an iron orb?'
The next instant, Blazing Yama hurled it to the ground.
It exploded with a sky-splitting roar, spewing deafening smoke and scattering metal shards everywhere.
It startled even Hyeon-gong and Hong Geolgae, not to mention Manli Monk, sending them tumbling back.
As the smoke cleared slightly, Hyeon-gong felt pain in his arms and legs.
Blood streamed from his limbs, embedded with black metal fragments. Clearly from the object Blazing Yama had thrown.
'What the... Where'd Blazing Yama go?'
Hyeon-gong belatedly looked around. Blazing Yama had vanished.
Far off, Blazing Yama clutched his side, blood streaming from his back as he fled. Like Hyeon-gong's arms, he hadn't escaped the shards.
Hyeon-gong shouted desperately.
"We must catch Blazing Yama!"
But it was impossible. His group's condition was far from normal, and Blazing Yama had fled too far.
Hyeon-gong sighed.
"Ah..."
But he was the only one lamenting. The righteous warriors cheered their sudden victory, shouting exuberantly.
"We won, we won!"
"What was that last boom?"
"How should I know!"
They rushed to Hyeon-gong and Dang Mujin, leaping and rejoicing wildly.
It was warranted. To them, the battle's top heroes were Dang Mujin with his flying wheels and Hyeon-gong, who had slashed Blazing Yama.
Yet Hyeon-gong's expression was subtly dark.
For one reason: Blazing Yama had escaped.
'...That bastard will spill everything to the Cult Leader, including my story.'
Hyeon-gong's plan to gauge and join the winning side as a "wise, neutral observer" had collapsed.
Now, he realized only one path lay before him.
'Now it's really just the "upright righteous martial artist" plan.'
Hyeon-gong clenched his fists tightly.