Chapter 193: The Saber King and the Venerable Buddha (1)

The old man, whom Baek Sang-ah had called Grandpa Heon.

Given that he held a Saber, and considering his transcendent level of skill, there could be only one identity for such a man.

‘Saber King, Heon Yanghu!’

A hero renowned as the greatest swordsman of the current era, leading a force of thousands even within the Heavenly Demon Cult—though most were members of a certain clan.

Why had such a wandering warrior, who roamed the world as if it were his own home, appeared here?

“Kehehe! It really is you, Sang-ah?”

Baek Sang-ah hastily took off her mask and rushed over to the Saber King.

“How did you get here?”

“That’s what I should be asking you. What on earth are you doing here?”

“Well, um, that is…”

Baek Sang-ah fumbled, unable to find a proper answer.

The Saber King clicked his tongue and waved his hand once.

With that, a storm of mental pressure swept through the area, knocking unconscious the remaining demonic faction martial artists who were barely holding on.

“I heard from the old Sword King. He said your internal energy reversed?”

“You… you heard?”

“Yeah. He was practically begging me to help find a way to fix it.”

“Ugh…”

Just like how the Sword Demon and Saber Demon in the Heavenly Demon Cult didn’t get along well…

So too, in the orthodox sects, the relationship between the Sword King and Saber King was similar.

Of course, it wasn’t a genuine dislike like between the Sword Demon and Saber Demon.

They often exchanged words and had something of a rivalry, like bickering friends. But regardless, the Sword King absolutely hated owing the Saber King any favors.

“So? I saw you utterly wreck the Wudang Sect’s first disciple earlier. And what’s this ‘Black Lotus Union’ thing?”

“Y-you saw that?”

“I saw it quite clearly. Do you think someone like me wouldn’t recognize the Twin Heavenly Tyrant Strike?”

“Ugh!”

Baek Sang-ah clenched her eyes shut.

She thought she had disguised it pretty well, but of course, a master of the Saber King’s caliber had seen through it instantly!

“So? When are you going to answer my question?”

“Well, about that…”

Baek Sang-ah began explaining Jin Mo’s plan in detail.

“Huh? You’re gathering the demonic factions to suppress Wudang, and then you’ll discard them afterward?”

Hearing the plan, the Saber King looked genuinely surprised.

“More precisely, we’re using the already-uncontrollably-large group of demonic factions to our advantage.”

The Saber King looked at the corpse of Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend, whose head he had severed, and awkwardly spoke.

“So, you just swooped in and devoured the feast that bastard prepared, huh?”

“Well, something like that.”

“Still, that’s not the kind of scheme I’d expect you to come up with. Ah, is it that guy?”

The Saber King suddenly pointed at me.

I slowly stepped forward and bowed politely.

“It is an honor to meet you, Saber Lord. I am Jin Yeomyung of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, under the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“Huh?”

The Saber King blinked.

“A young man wearing a sword who actually knows his manners?”

As expected of someone who associated with ‘that’ Saber Demon, even one word carried his strong personality.

“Besides, Jin Clan? You’re a bit small for a Jin Clan member…”

His eyes held a touch of disapproval, and my face scrunched awkwardly.

‘That damned Jin Clan label follows me everywhere.’

So unfair. I really should bulk up a bit.

The Saber King continued.

“Well, your fate is up to that Sword King guy anyway… I won’t interfere right now.”

“Thank you… sir?”

I couldn’t help but feel like there was something discomforting and unpleasant in his tone.

“But putting that aside, the Taiji Sword Lord is by no means someone to take lightly. Even without the rest of Wudang’s disciples, he alone could wipe out every demonic faction gathered in Luoyang.”

Baek Sang-ah’s expression stiffened.

“You regard him that highly, Grandpa?”

“Indeed. If he revealed his full strength, even I would struggle to deal with him.”

“……”

Hearing that, I felt a subtle sense of doubt.

‘Not his “full strength,” but “everything”… That’s a vague way to put it.’

Could it be the Saber King suspects something?

“Then now it’s my turn. Grandpa, why are you here?”

And then, from the Saber King’s mouth, an incredible revelation came.

“I was watching over the Taiji Sword Lord’s movements at the request of the Venerable Buddha.”

“……!”

“W-what did you say?”

“Well, when I saw you suddenly wearing a black mask and doing suspicious things, I decided to drop in. Though I’ll admit, that mask does look pretty cool.”

Cheon Yura smiled in satisfaction.

“Your eye for style isn’t bad.”

The Saber King’s gaze shifted to her.

“…And who might you be?”

Cheon Yura slightly lowered her head.

Though she was from a demonic cult, she showed her own kind of courtesy toward an absolute master.

“I am Cheon Yura, Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult. It is an honor to meet the Saber King, famed across the Central Plains.”

Though her sudden revelation of identity was surprising, the Saber King surprisingly showed no hostility.

“Ah, you’re the Little Devil that monster is so fond of.”

Then, as if realizing something, the Saber King exclaimed.

“So that’s it. You were the one planning to face the Taiji Sword Lord?”

Nod.

Cheon Yura calmly nodded.

“Lady Cheon is not our enemy. She’s actually trying to help you, Grandpa…”

“No need to explain so thoroughly. I know enough.”

The Saber King cut Baek Sang-ah off with a wave of his hand.

“The Sword King told me you had clashed with them once too. Was it in Qinghai Province?”

Baek Sang-ah bit her lip.

“So you knew… Grandpa.”

“I’ve known the underside of Murim for a long time. My maternal family is from Northern Heavens.”

It was a secret not well known to the world.

“Now, over half of the Nine Great Sects have essentially fallen into their hands. The bloodline-centric clans are a little better off, but in my opinion, even they are living on borrowed time.”

The Saber King sighed.

“In that sense, the Demonic Cult’s announcement of entering the Central Plains this time wasn’t a bad move. Perhaps wiping everything out once and for all might actually be better in the long run.”

His statement was more extreme than I expected, and I furrowed my brows.

“Haphazard damage only hastens their infiltration.”

At my words, the Saber King scoffed.

“Naïve? You’re part of the Demonic Cult and still don’t understand how terrifying the Cult Leader is.”

“……”

I didn’t bother arguing.

I knew better than anyone just how terrifying the Cult Leader was.

That’s precisely why I didn’t need to refute him.

“If the Cult Leader had the slightest desire, the world of demonic martial arts would have been unified long ago. He simply doesn’t feel the need to do so.”

Yeah, I agreed with that.

“But to think a Demonic Cultist would say something so soft… that’s unexpected. Kehehe!”

I stuck out my lower lip.

“Let’s just say I’m trying to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.”

“Heh, is that so? Well, I suppose that’s exactly the kind of mindset that monster saw in you when he placed you beside his daughter.”

The Saber King was surprisingly well-informed about internal affairs within the Heavenly Demon Cult.

…The source of that information was painfully obvious, which made my head ache a bit.

“If your plan goes accordingly, the Taiji Sword Lord will storm in here soon.”

“That’s probably true.”

The Saber King turned his gaze toward Baek Sang-ah.

“Shall I lend a hand?”

“…What?”

“The Venerable Buddha will be arriving soon as well. If he understands the situation, he’ll surely help. He’s familiar with your character, Sang-ah.”

“…Excuse me?”

Baek Sang-ah echoed the words.

That’s how shocked she was by the Saber King’s offer.

‘Wait, he’s going to help us!?’

A completely unexpected and monumental variable had just entered the equation.

“Kehehe, the Black Lotus Union, huh. I’ve always been a bit jealous of that Bastard King ruling over a backwater as its head. Might as well satisfy myself with a bit of vicarious pleasure this time.”

“……”

Seeing the Saber King grinning ominously, I felt a strange sense of unease that I couldn’t quite explain.

About half a an hour later.

“Come out at once, you dog of the demonic faction!”

Gwan Hyun, the Taiji Sword Lord, stood before the pavilion where we were gathered and roared like a lion.

“I, Gwan Hyun of Wudang, will repay the blood of my disciples! Reveal yourself at once, Demon Sword Hua, master of the Black Lotus Union!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A tremendous blue aura surged from Gwan Hyun’s entire body.

Even with nearly a hundred demonic martial artists still swarming near the pavilion—

Gwan Hyun’s overwhelming presence completely suppressed them all.

He truly looked like an immortal or sage descending to the mortal realm!

And then—

“Hyahaha! I’ve been waiting for you!”

CRASH!

The top floor of the pavilion suddenly exploded, and from it, a man dressed in black and wearing a black mask burst out.

He unleashed a triumphant lion’s roar, filled with joy.

“I am the Friendly Protector of the Black Lotus Union, the Ten Thousand Evil Saber Emperor!”

RUMBLEEE!

From his entire body erupted a gray aura.

It wasn’t necessarily sinister like demonic qi, but the brutal and domineering force typical of those who followed the path of rebellion—Rebel Against the Dao—was unmistakable.

“…Huh?”

Gwan Hyun momentarily stared blankly at his opponent.

Though the mask and clothing obscured much, the scrawny physique, and more importantly, that familiar energy—he had experienced it once before and could never forget it.

“You… You’re the Saber King, aren’t you? Why are you…?”

“I am the Ten Thousand Evil Saber Emperor! The Saber King may be a fine swordsman, but he is no match for me!”

“You… you’re of the orthodox sects… what are you doing—?!”

But Gwan Hyun couldn’t even finish speaking.

BOOOOM!

This time, the other side of the top floor exploded.

Then, someone suddenly appeared in the sky and slowly descended as if walking down invisible steps.

Sky-walking to such a degree was not something that even most masters could imitate.

The one descending—also clad in black robes and wearing a black mask like the Ten Thousand Evil Saber Emperor—was a monk.

Golden light radiated gloriously from the monk’s entire body as he chuckled heartily and introduced himself.

“Hohoho! This humble monk is the Left Guardian of the Black Lotus Union—Ten Thousand Evil Buddha Emperor!”

“N-no! You too?!”

Gwan Hyun looked as though he might lose his mind.

That golden glow unmistakably belonged to Shaolin’s Supreme Divine Ability!

To perform such an act while using the Supreme Divine Ability at its peak—there was only one monk in all the world who could do it!

“Venerable Buddha! Why, as Shaolin’s greatest elder, are you involving yourself with demonic outlaws?!”

The Venerable Buddha—or rather, the Ten Thousand Evil Buddha Emperor—scoffed.

“Venerable Buddha? I’ve heard there’s such a virtuous monk somewhere in the Central Plains, but I have no relation to that person.”

Gwan Hyun trembled with fury at the shameless denial.

“You dare mock Wudang and try to deceive the heavens with your lies?!”

The Ten Thousand Evil Saber Emperor swaggered over and asked:

“So, what will you do? Care to take on the two Guardians of the Black Lotus Union?”

GRIT.

Gwan Hyun ground his teeth.

If it came to a fight, he’d gladly face them.

If he stalled until nightfall, not even the Venerable Buddha and Saber King could stop him.

But the gains were too little for what he’d lose in return.

Gwan Hyun turned away roughly.

“We’ll see. You’ll pay dearly for this.”

And it would be soon—ruthlessly.

As Gwan Hyun left with his disciple Jeonmu, planning his revenge for another day…

The demonic martial artists once again raised their weapons and roared in thunderous cheers.

“Uwooooooah!”

“The Black Lotus Union repelled Wudang’s headmaster!”

“Glory to the Black Lotus Union! Long live the Ten Thousand Evil Saber Emperor!”

“Long live the Ten Thousand Evil Buddha Emperor! Long live Master Hua!”

Their chants were even louder than before.

They had just turned away Wudang’s Headmaster—one of the Eight Great Seats of the Martial World!

If anything could display the might of the Black Lotus Union, this was surely it!

“Jin Yeomyung, it seems things have gotten quite tangled.”

“…No kidding.”

“At this rate, the Black Lotus Union is going to make a flashy name for itself all over the Central Plains.”

“……”

At present, the preparations for the creation of the Black Lotus Union were progressing as smoothly as a ship riding a current.

That bastard Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend, as vile as he was, had apparently left behind a well-organized staff capable of running the organization.

“Whatever happens, it’s not a bad result for the Cult, but your plan has basically fallen apart. What are you going to do now?”

Cheon Yura’s words struck right at my core.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep