Chapter 422
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 422
Chapter Title: Don't You Even Have This Much Resolve?
The Demon-Sealing Corps moved with extreme caution.
As if the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest had grown even more dangerous than during the great martial conference, they advanced meticulously within a very narrow range.
No single squad was allowed to move alone; a minimum of three squads operated together.
Fifteen from the Demon-Sealing Corps and fifteen from the Fierce Dragon Corps.
Thus, thirty men formed a single unit, searching only within that limited area of the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
With only three squads deployed per day, the range covered by those thirty was their entire scope.
They methodically scoured the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest for several days like this.
"No anomalies?"
Do Sim-geuk frowned as he reviewed the search reports from that period.
Yang Bi-chang nodded.
"They say it's no different from usual. The newly updated area maps match the current jiangshi territories exactly."
"Then what the hell is this? Did that bastard Pung Geon deceive us?"
Do Sim-geuk's face twisted savagely.
Yang Bi-chang shook his head.
"No way. They truly encountered that monstrous new-type jiangshi. They couldn't confirm its full form since they were only focused on fleeing."
That day.
Yang Bi-chang had seen all four from Black Squad Two and the five from the Fierce Dragon Corps.
Their faces unanimously conveyed one fact.
A colossal monstrous jiangshi had appeared in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
Their expressions were those of men who had barely escaped the jaws of death.
"Then what is this?"
Do Sim-geuk waved the report Yang Bi-chang had just delivered.
"That's true as well. We don't know why, but the new-type monstrous jiangshi that appeared to Black Squad Two has vanished."
"Why?"
"It's inexplicable. Whatever scheme the Blood Cult remnants are plotting..."
Yang Bi-chang said gravely.
Do Sim-geuk rubbed his temples as if his head ached.
"Sigh. What should we do?"
"Follow the orders from above."
A straightforward answer.
"Tch."
Do Sim-geuk didn't like it.
Having to move strictly according to superiors' commands.
The Demon-Sealing Corps was a combat unit under the Elder Council, but due to its special role in managing the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest, it enjoyed near-complete autonomy.
There was no significant interference from headquarters, and inspections were merely formalities.
Thanks to that, Do Sim-geuk wielded power here in the Demon-Sealing Corps headquarters akin to a king.
Now, every single action required approval from above.
Not even from the Elder Council, but from the Heavenly Eye Pavilion.
It was the fallout from their previous scheme being exposed.
That frustration gnawed at him.
"Can't we just report it as no anomalies? Say Black Squad Two was mistaken and move on..."
"No!"
Yang Bi-chang shouted firmly before Do Sim-geuk could finish.
This was one line they couldn't cross.
The jiangshi that attacked the walls wasn't something they could brush off lightly.
"Sigh. I know, I know. Just venting frustration. Get back to work."
Do Sim-geuk waved him off dismissively.
"Damn it."
Bam!
Alone now, Do Sim-geuk spat curses in frustration and slammed the desk.
Crack.
His fist, unwittingly infused with internal energy, sank into the wood.
"Not enough inner pills... fuck."
The tiny mutter, unheard by anyone, dripped with irritation.
Alone, Do Sim-geuk vented his frustration with curses.
The report he'd received had already been sent via messenger pigeon to the Heavenly Eye Pavilion.
Until new orders arrived, they had no choice but to maintain the current operations.
Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord Gong Son Dan-gyeong, who also served as Strategist of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
He gazed gravely at the sealed letter in his hand.
This wasn't delivered by messenger pigeon or falcon, but by a person directly.
And the messenger wasn't ordinary.
Sitting across from Gong Son Dan-gyeong right now was...
Solitary Cliff Cave Lord Dok Do-gun.
The master of Solitary Cliff Cave, one of the Eight Great Sects of the Unorthodox Alliance, had personally come to the Righteous Heaven Alliance bearing the letter.
Claiming it was a personal missive from the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
"This is a personal letter from the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, you say?"
"Indeed."
"Do you know its contents?"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong asked cautiously, and Dok Do-gun nodded.
"I received word from the Alliance Leader's retainer."
"What does it say?"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong cut straight to it.
"Why send a sealed letter otherwise? The Alliance Leader must see it personally. But I can say this much: it's a matter grave enough to send someone of my stature as envoy."
True enough, so Gong Son Dan-gyeong fell silent.
His mind grew complicated.
The envoy's status naturally reflected the letter's gravity.
For someone like the Solitary Cliff Cave Lord to come as envoy meant the contents were far from trivial.
"Understood. Then come with me to see the Alliance Leader."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong rose.
He had already conducted all possible inspections on the sealed letter.
In the Righteous Heaven Alliance, only Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong could open it.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong led the way to the Alliance Leader's hall.
The warriors of the Righteous Heaven Alliance glanced warily at Dok Do-gun, who reeked of unorthodox aura.
Upon arriving at the hall, Gong Son Dan-gyeong headed straight for the Alliance Leader's office.
News of Dok Do-gun's arrival had already spread.
The two met So Hwi-woong without hindrance.
"Welcome. Solitary Cliff Cave Lord. It's been too long."
"Greetings to the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader."
Exchanges of courtesy followed.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong carefully handed the sealed letter from Dok Do-gun to So Hwi-woong.
So Hwi-woong slowly broke the seal and perused the contents.
His expression hardened instantly.
A heavy aura began to emanate from his body.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong frowned slightly at the sight.
'So my suspicions were correct...'
He'd expected it wasn't minor news.
But for the Alliance Leader to exude such pressure in front of an Unorthodox Alliance envoy...
"Strategist."
"Yes."
"Look."
So Hwi-woong passed the letter to Gong Son Dan-gyeong.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong's face also stiffened as he read it quickly.
"Solitary Cliff Cave Lord."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"Do you know the letter's contents?"
"Of course."
The same question as before, but laden with different weight.
Yet Dok Do-gun answered calmly.
That composure under pressure was why he'd been sent as envoy.
Dok Do-gun slowly circulated his internal energy.
Poisonous miasma began to waft faintly from his body.
"Now I understand why the Solitary Cliff Cave Lord came as envoy."
So Hwi-woong spoke with killing intent.
"Indeed. What else could warrant sending me?"
Dok Do-gun smiled faintly.
"Solitary Cliff Cave Lord. We absolutely cannot permit the Unorthodox Alliance to send forces into Gangseo Province. It is unequivocally Righteous Heaven Alliance territory."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong interjected.
"Then you should have managed the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest properly."
Dok Do-gun replied without losing his smile.
"Holes in your management causing harm to the Righteous Heaven Alliance is none of our concern. But if that jiangshi horde crosses into Gangseo and enters our territory? We of the Unorthodox Alliance cannot stand idly by."
"Block them at the Hunan Province border, then."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong stated firmly.
"And if the border is breached? The Unorthodox Alliance suffers directly. We have no intention of turning our lands into a battlefield."
"Lack confidence in holding the line?"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong provoked.
"Even the Righteous Heaven Alliance failed at management. Why wouldn't we?"
Dok Do-gun calmly admitted the jab.
"Do we seem that weak to you?"
So Hwi-woong's voice chilled.
The sword sheath beside him floated lightly.
The thin miasma around Dok Do-gun expanded gradually.
"Alliance Leader!"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong cried urgently.
They couldn't attack Dok Do-gun here.
Killing him would provoke the Unorthodox Alliance; failing to kill him would invite devastating counterpoison.
He was, after all, the foremost poison arts master of the unorthodox paths.
So Hwi-woong might survive, but countless around the hall—including Gong Son Dan-gyeong himself—would perish.
Yet So Hwi-woong's aura didn't waver.
"A messenger declaring war anyway. Don't you even have the resolve for this?"
A query laced with killing intent.
"That's why I'm here—resolved. I won't die alone."
The miasma thickened.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong hurriedly circulated energy to resist it.
Dok Do-gun smiled faintly.
"Taking the Righteous Heaven Strategist and hall warriors with me? Quite the profitable trade."
Shing.
At those words, the sword half-emerged from its sheath.
"Think you have the leisure to unleash your petty poison arts?"
A swift strike cleaving time itself.
Among Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade's ultimate techniques was one reaching the pinnacle of speed.
Heaven-Severing.
To cleave the heavens required such velocity.
"The poison arts are already active. No matter how swift your blade, Alliance Leader, you can't stop it. The instant I die, miasma erupts from my body."
A declaration of poison arts primed for mutual destruction.
Dok Do-gun could be killed, but not the technique.
His deep, serene gaze affirmed its truth.
So Hwi-woong glared with murderous eyes.
"Hoo."
With a deep sigh, he relented his aura.
Dok Do-gun's miasma lightened accordingly, though the mutual destruction poison arts remained active.
"The moment Unorthodox Alliance scum sets foot in Gangseo Province, prepare for war with the Righteous Heaven Alliance."
So Hwi-woong warned.
"I'm not sure the Righteous Heaven Alliance has such leisure."
Dok Do-gun smiled and turned away.
As he stepped out of the hall, his palms were slick with sweat.
"Urk."
Cho Mu-ha groaned, rolling across the ground.
He'd taken Ha Mu-baek's final blow.
"Next."
Ha Mu-baek said calmly.
Cho Mu-ha rose with a resentful face.
Once again, he hadn't unleashed sword qi.
Something tickled, as if it was imminent, but the final step eluded him.
That frustration burned.
As Cho Mu-ha withdrew.
Woong Cheol stood facing Ha Mu-baek.
The Fierce Dragon Corps' greatest giant.
He too was one Ha Mu-baek had his eye on.
Stimulated by Bi Jin-hyeop's growth, he'd trained even harder lately.
In spars with Ha Mu-baek, focusing solely on blocking his monstrous sword strikes unwittingly stirred his dantian energy.
The strikes were that forceful.
But alone, it never budged.
No opportunity for such intense blocks in solo practice.
While Worrying thus.
Bi Jin-hyeop offered casual advice in passing.
"Instead of fixating on defense, just focus on unleashing powerful sword strikes yourself, right?"
Like a sledgehammer to the head.
He trained that aspect intently.
Today was the day to show results.
"Come."
At Ha Mu-baek's word, Woong Cheol charged.
His sword hurtled toward Ha Mu-baek with ferocious momentum.
Clang!
Ha Mu-baek parried lightly.
'Well now?'
Inwardly, he was mildly surprised.
Though deflected easily, he'd felt the power in the blade—and the dantian energy stirring.
This time, Ha Mu-baek struck.
Three Talents Heart Method's energy path.
Kang!
The clash rang out again.
Unlike before, Woong Cheol held firm.
Woong Cheol's follow-up strike came immediately.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Innate divine strength, bolstered by will and focus to strike harder.
And his dantian responding.
Ha Mu-baek infused more energy into his sword.
To make Woong Cheol concentrate and crave more.
'Let's see you endure this.'
He parried lightly, then countered instantly.
Kaang!
A resounding clang, and...
Woong Cheol slid back three steps.
Ha Mu-baek's eyes gleamed again.
'Endured that too?'
Three steps back was impressive, considering the power Ha Mu-baek had put in.
Woong Cheol had instinctively channeled energy to maximize his divine strength.
Grit.
Woong Cheol clenched his teeth.
And swung.
Kang.
Ha Mu-baek blocked lightly again.
"Relax your strength. Power is good, but excess tenses the body, slowing you. Such strikes are half-baked."
His casual swing followed.
Kaaaang!
Woong Cheol staggered back five steps.
He stared at Ha Mu-baek in shock.
"Come."
Ha Mu-baek smirked, flicking his sword.
"Raaah!"
Woong Cheol bellowed unconsciously, swinging.
Immense force loaded, but body relaxed as advised.
The result.
Ha Mu-baek sidestepped slightly.
Kwaaaang!
The sword cratered the training ground with a massive boom.
Deep gouge centered where it struck.
Woong Cheol.
Unable to control his own swing's power, sprawled on the ground.
"I said relax, not lose control so your body follows the blade."
Ha Mu-baek sighed.
But Woong Cheol didn't hear.
He just stared blankly at his handiwork.
He'd never imagined such power within himself.