Chapter 478
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 478
Chapter Title: Hey, Hold On!
With his qi sense spread as wide as possible,
Won Pyeong-sam moved downstream along the river.
The energy he sought was, of course, that of Manhwang.
Manhwang had been divided into eight fragments, called the Manhwang Eight Slices.
Standing in opposition to the six torn pieces of the Primordial Six Divine Arts were these eight energies.
Won Pyeong-sam naturally knew what those eight energies were.
It was thanks to the personal guidance from the Demon Sovereign.
The energy of Manhwang he had sensed lingering in the hidden cave.
He didn't even need to go that far.
The Poison Citadel.
Heavenly Poison Valley Lord Yeo Hong-gi had said it was the master of the Poison Citadel.
If it was the energy among Manhwang that handled poison,
'The energy of Manhwang's Poison.'
He moved incredibly slowly while searching for that energy.
Even after five days of travel,
he hadn't covered much distance.
Yeong So-hyang quietly followed behind him.
Today, too, Won Pyeong-sam moved slowly with his focus concentrated.
If he couldn't sense the Poison energy,
he at least had to find a place the Poison energy would favor.
Each fragment of Manhwang favored locations in harmony with its own energy.
The one who obtained Manhwang Poison might have instinctively headed to such a place in the border between life and death.
How long had they walked like that?
Won Pyeong-sam stopped and looked toward the east.
Yeong So-hyang swallowed dryly at her master's sudden movement,
wondering if he had finally found his target.
Won Pyeong-sam tilted his head while gazing east.
It was because he felt something like Manhwang's energy wafting from the distant east.
It wasn't the Poison energy.
It was too far away to pinpoint which of the eight slices it was,
but a distinct Manhwang-like energy seemed to rise and then fade away.
"Hmm."
Won Pyeong-sam let out a low hum.
'Could something like this happen?'
It wasn't a misperception on his part.
It had clearly been Manhwang's energy.
For it to rise and then subside like that.
He stared intently toward the east.
'I suppose I should check there too.'
It was so far away that
it was an energy he absolutely couldn't sense with his abilities,
but he could because it was Manhwang's energy.
And because it had just freshly risen.
Won Pyeong-sam turned his gaze away again.
The river flowing from the canyon was still raging fiercely.
It was rapids that no one swept downstream could easily escape.
Still, he had to search methodically.
That was the nature of Manhwang's power.
How long had it been since he started walking again?
Won Pyeong-sam stopped once more.
And he stared fixedly at the ground on one side.
"What's wrong?"
Yeong So-hyang cautiously asked this time.
"Faintly, but I sense Manhwang's lingering energy there. It seems they gathered their energy here."
The fierce rapids were still roaring noisily in this spot.
A current that someone gravely wounded couldn't possibly escape on their own.
It was clearly the work of Manhwang's power.
A lingering trace he could only barely detect by pouring all his power into his qi sense.
Once he recognized the lingering Manhwang energy, it became easy after that.
He could see the path they had taken.
And so,
he moved slowly.
A dense forest appeared,
and deep within,
a fairly large swamp with numerous small caves clustered around it.
It was a mysteriously natural terrain that no one could create even if they tried.
At the same time,
'A place Manhwang Poison would love.'
He knew it the moment he saw it.
This was undoubtedly where they were gathering their energy.
Won Pyeong-sam headed straight for one of the many caves.
The one where Manhwang's energy could be felt.
"Are you inside?"
Won Pyeong-sam asked calmly from the entrance.
But there was no response from within.
"I know you're there."
At his follow-up words,
KABOOM!
a massive surge of energy poured out from the cave.
Won Pyeong-sam, eyes wide, thrust out both palms and unleashed his palm force at full power.
BOOM!
A tremendous explosion rocked the cave,
and pebbles rained down.
Rumble rumble.
Won Pyeong-sam stood firm in place.
Yeong So-hyang's eyes went wide.
It was the first time she had properly seen her master's skills.
'He's strong.'
She had known it from sensing his energy,
but seeing it in action was different.
"Who are you?"
A voice thick with wariness burst out.
"Are you the master of the Poison Citadel?"
Won Pyeong-sam asked calmly.
"I asked who you are!"
Another powerful surge of energy rose from deep within the cave.
"Won Pyeong-sam. The one who came from Great Heaven seeking Manhwang's energy."
A flinch.
The energy wavered.
It had reacted to the word Manhwang.
'As expected, he knows the power he possesses.'
It was inevitable.
In Great Heaven's Manhwang candle,
Manhwang's flame had ignited.
That meant he had properly awakened Manhwang's power.
"Have you met Nakrak?"
"W-Who are you?"
The same question, but different from before.
His voice was trembling.
"I'm coming in."
Step. Step.
Won Pyeong-sam stepped into the cave.
Yeong So-hyang cautiously followed her master's confident figure.
The sun was just beginning to rise in the east.
Considering the late winter sun,
it was now fully morning.
Flame Evil Hwa Yu-gun had a Thousand-Li Black Pigeon sent from Ryeon perched on his hand.
It had flown at full speed and just landed in his grasp.
"What is it?"
It was obviously urgent news among urgent news,
so Hwa Yu-gun curiously untied the letter from the pigeon's leg and pulled out the scroll.
The contents read:
"Hmm..."
Hwa Yu-gun let out a low hum.
"The situation has concluded, so return immediately?"
Hwa Yu-gun's gaze turned to the opposite side.
The camp with countless tents and Righteous Heaven Alliance banners fluttering.
The enemy's camp.
They had been facing off, locked in a battle of wills,
and now the situation was over.
"What a shame."
He meant it sincerely.
Since the Martial World Great War ended,
there hadn't been any real battles.
He had grown bored before he knew it.
Flame Evil.
The "evil" in his moniker wasn't there for nothing.
"They're at a level worth fighting, after all."
He smacked his lips.
He had been ordered not to strike first, so he had held back.
To be precise, he had lightly prodded the enemy.
To make them attack first.
Their patience was wearing thin,
and now, a recall.
"Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest matter is settled, so I suppose I have to go."
Hwa Yu-gun muttered to himself.
He enjoyed battle, but he wasn't stupid.
On the contrary, he was clever.
Precisely, cunning.
That was why
Scholar Baek Song had recommended him.
Whether sending him to Haomun or entrusting him with this front line.
'The disturbance in Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest seemed serious, but for it to be sorted this quickly...'
Hwa Yu-gun turned his gaze, unable to shake the suspicion in his mind.
This campaign had been a massive commitment from Sa Hwa Ryeon.
Based on the expectation that Righteous Heaven Alliance's forces would be split due to the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest incident for a while.
Yet,
for it to resolve this quickly.
"That guy, maybe?"
Hwa Yu-gun muttered, suddenly recalling a certain man.
During the Martial World Great War,
wherever unexpected outcomes arose on the battlefield, that Ha Mu-baek was always there.
"Guess I should wrap up quick and leave."
Thinking of that guy made the regret vanish.
He didn't want to linger here
and have that Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest resolver show up on this front.
He didn't even want to imagine it.
The sun had risen,
and So Hwi-woong emerged from his tent.
He headed to where the corpses from the previous day had been gathered.
He examined each face one by one.
It had been decided to transport all of them back to the alliance.
To pressure those guys, Yang Bi-chang's testimony alone wasn't enough;
they needed solid evidence like this.
It was Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord Gong Son Dan-gyeong's opinion.
Since they were disciples from various sects,
it was perfect for pressuring the Baekdo Society.
Not just targeting Gongdong Sect and Yeon Ja-gyeong.
"Mu-hyeon."
"Yes."
"I need you to prepare something."
"Understood."
Transporting this many corpses was no small task.
They needed transport means,
coffins prepared,
and even measures against decay.
So Hwi-woong glanced at Han Seol-bing.
Recalling how she had frozen the Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi, asking Ha Mu-baek would be most reliable,
but that guy wouldn't oblige such a request.
Better to ask Han Seol-bing, who wielded ice arts.
At least the alliance leader's word carried weight with her.
"Deputy Leader Han Seol-bing."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"Once these corpses are placed in coffins, freeze them with your ice arts. Keep them frozen as long as possible."
"Ah...! Understood."
Han Seol-bing replied, realizing the decision regarding the corpses from So Hwi-woong's order.
Ha Mu-baek furrowed his brow.
"Wouldn't it be better to just burn the lot...?"
"Burning down the Blood Cult's hideout was enough. You have no idea how much our strategist Gong Son regretted it after hearing the news."
So Hwi-woong hadn't expected to sense the emotion in the writing.
In the part where Gong Son Dan-gyeong mentioned it, his regret and irritation were palpable.
"What's the big deal about burning that dump...?"
"It's a big deal. Who knows what information and documents were there."
At So Hwi-woong's response,
Ha Mu-baek
"What worth could there be in a hole where they hid like moles?"
grumbled like that.
At the time, swept in rage, he hadn't thought of it,
but hearing it now, it made sense.
There might have been info on remnant forces possibly still outside.
"Next time, in situations like that, think of our strategist Gong Son a bit. Mu-baek."
So Hwi-woong smirked, eyeing Ha Mu-baek's expression.
"I'll consider it."
He didn't refuse.
While the two conversed,
Dam Mu-hyeon moved swiftly.
Leaving only three Hocheon Corps members to guard the alliance leader,
he mobilized the Demon-Sealing Corps, Fierce Dragon Corps, and even the Dragon Training Pavilion cadets out for training.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze fell on them,
"Hey, there, hold on!"
and he called out to Dam Mu-hyeon.
"Yes? What's up?"
"What are you doing?"
"Carrying out the alliance leader's orders."
"That's why—what are you doing taking our kids?"
Ha Mu-baek's eyes were on the Fierce Dragon Corps.
"Well..."
He had meant to say it was natural since it was the alliance leader's order,
but Dam Mu-hyeon stopped.
It was a scene he had seen once before.
During the height of the war.
Yes.
When an elder from one of the Baekdo Society sects tried to commandeer Hocheon Corps members.
Ha Mu-baek had stepped in just like this.
It wasn't even for personal use.
It was for alliance business,
yet Ha Mu-baek intervened.
"What are you doing with our kids?"
To the answer of "alliance business," he said deciding what to do with the kids was the corps leader's job.
Even if the alliance leader came, no.
That's what he said.
Frankly, it was nonsense.
Hocheon Corps was directly under the alliance leader; even he couldn't.
Recalling that, Dam Mu-hyeon looked at Ha Mu-baek with a face full of grievance.
"Wow, Corps Leader. Now that you're promoted to leader, I'm not one of 'our kids,' but they're 'your kids,' and only Fierce Dragon Corps are 'our kids'?"
Ha Mu-baek chuckled at Dam Mu-hyeon's grumbling.
"You get it. Still, our kid's helping you guys out."
He pointed at Han Seol-bing.
The alliance leader had clearly asked to freeze the corpses with ice arts.
Dam Mu-hyeon glanced at Han Seol-bing,
then back at Ha Mu-baek,
then peeked at the alliance leader,
and
"Sigh."
let out a deep sigh before
"Fierce Dragon Corps, fall back over there."
issuing the order.
Saying that in front of the alliance leader
meant he wasn't even minding the alliance leader's presence.
So Hwi-woong didn't particularly stop him,
and the new Fierce Dragon Corps recruits moved to Ha Mu-baek's side at once,
while the veterans eyed the situation.
They had heard Ha Mu-baek was now corps leader,
but they had always moved with the Demon-Sealing Corps.
Suddenly this situation left them unsure.
"Aren't you Fierce Dragon Corps or Demon-Sealing Corps? Get over here!"
At Ha Mu-baek's firm command, Yu Gwi-gwang slunk over, and only then did the rest of the Fierce Dragon Corps move to Ha Mu-baek's position.