Chapter 237: United Front (3)

The first day of the Martial Arts Tournament had passed.

Out of the sixty-four late-stage prodigies, half had been eliminated, leaving thirty-two remaining.

All of Namchang was abuzz with stories about the tournament.

“Man, I’m really glad I came!”

“No kidding. The ones on the stage today—give it ten years, and they’ll be such bigshots you won’t even be able to look them in the eye!”

“Of course we have to go see it tomorrow too, right?”

“I’m worried the scalper ticket prices are going to shoot through the roof.”

In every tavern and guesthouse near the Namcheon Baek Clan, drinkers gathered were all talking about the tournament.

“As expected, we really can’t underestimate the strength of the Demonic Cult.”

“Exactly. Even if we set aside that youth Demonic Heaven Dragon, all his subordinates passed their rounds with overwhelming victories.”

The Three Demonic Dragons, the subordinates of the Demonic Heaven Dragon.

The fame of Baeksa, Heuksa, and Jeoksa had already spread across the entirety of Namchang.

“Especially since they defeated none other than the Six Divine Dragon….”

It had been a huge shock when Peng Unyeong, one of the favorites to win, lost not to Demonic Heaven Dragon himself, but to his subordinate Baeksa.

That one match had raised the public’s opinion of the Demonic Cult several notches.

Annoyed by the constant talk of the Demonic Cult, a wandering martial artist from the orthodox side raised his voice and tried to change the subject.

“And what about that First Strategist Black Thunder, the strategist from the Black Lotus Union? Didn’t the Tang Clan’s hidden weapons have absolutely no effect on him?!”

“Ah, right! The Four-Star Qi was intact too. More importantly, doesn’t the Namcheon Baek Clan also have some trump cards like the Azure Dragon and the Thunder Spear Dragon?”

“Of course! There’s no way they’d lose to mere demonic lackeys!”

“Now, now, drink up, everyone!”

The orthodox martial artists gathered there raised their cups high, trying hard to shake off their growing unease.

In truth, it was the higher-ups of the orthodox factions who were more bewildered by the rise of the Demonic Cult and the sudden appearance of new dragons.

“What in the world is going on here? Wasn’t there supposed to be only one late-stage prodigy representing the Namcheon Baek Clan?”

“Seems like the Alliance Leader was playing tricks on us. Still, what’s with all these damn dragons showing up?”

No less than nine dragons had registered for the tournament.

Of course, more than half of them were self-proclaimed and unofficial nicknames.

The real problem was that their skills were far from ignorable.

“That young man named Jin Myeong… His martial arts didn’t seem like they were from the Namcheon region. Where the hell did such a wild brute come from?”

“This might end up as a massive embarrassment for us.”

With sixty-four elite late-stage prodigies gathered, no one had predicted that two of the Six Divine Dragons, considered strong contenders for victory, would be eliminated in a flash.

Then someone sighed and spoke up.

“That’s not the real issue. The real problem is that the strength of the Demonic Cult far exceeds what we imagined.”

“……”

“……”

“The Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan isn’t even considered one of the most prominent among the six great clans of the cult. And yet, not a single so-called elite from our prestigious sects has managed to beat any of their members….”

With those words, a strange sense of crisis began to spread through the hall.

Until now, the southern martial world had maintained peace with the Demonic Cult for over fifty years without major conflict.

At most, there had been skirmishes along the remote borders of Shaanxi or Sichuan.

But now, after so long, the true power of the Demonic Cult had reappeared—and it was enough to instill real fear in their hearts.

“Maybe we should stage an accident and nip this in the bud…”

“Hey!”

“What are you saying?!”

At that muttered suggestion, many turned pale with shock.

Wasn’t that the kind of dirty trick only the evil factions would pull?

“Ahem! That was a foolish remark.”

The person who’d spoken was none other than an elder of Mount Hua.

Unlike the other sects gathered here, Mount Hua was still actively clashing with the Demonic Cult.

And their future hope, the Seven-Plum Sword Dragon, had been left almost incapacitated, heightening their hatred to a fever pitch.

“I understand how you feel. But the ‘time’ has not come yet.”

The elder of the Namgung Clan sitting beside him gently patted the Mount Hua elder on the shoulder.

“Ahem! Hmph!”

Even with those consoling words, the elder’s expression didn’t improve much.

Unlike Mount Hua, who had been eliminated in disgrace, Namgung Cheong, the Azure Sky Sword Dragon of the Namgung Clan, had easily made it past the first round.

“There’s no need to be so disheartened. If not Mount Hua, our Cheong will surely achieve great results in this tournament—”

Just as Namgung Hak was slyly trying to rub it in—

“Sir, urgent word from the main house.”

A bodyguard who had accompanied Namgung Hak whispered the message in his ear.

Upon hearing it, Namgung Hak’s eyes widened.

“What? An intruder at the main house?!”

***

Late at night.

Near the Namgung Clan’s main estate.

Apparently, the Taiji Token really worked, because it hadn’t even been a full day and the entire Namgung Clan was on high alert.

Not only were warriors patrolling inside the Namgung household, but even those sent on external missions had been recalled, placing the entire estate under heavy security.

But on the flip side, I could feel the number of people around our target area beginning to thin out.

“Dao Zun eld… I mean, Sister.”

“What is it?”

I was stationed with a few others on the outskirts, waiting for the right moment to infiltrate.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Speak.”

I finally brought up something that had been driving me crazy with curiosity for a while.

“Why is someone like you going around picking other people’s pockets?”

Swoosh!

As soon as I finished my sentence, Dao Zun’s fist came flying toward the back of my head.

I tried to accelerate my perception of time to dodge the strike—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Smack!

But Dao Zun’s fist, moving faster than me, struck the back of my head cleanly.

“Ugh!”

“Picking pockets, you say? That’s rather rude.”

I rubbed my stinging head and replied.

“…Isn’t it true, though? You don’t earn the nickname ‘Divine Thief’ by robbing just a couple people.”

There’s a reason I acknowledge So Cheon as the future Thief King.

A thief had to put in several times more effort than an ordinary martial artist to earn a nickname.

At that moment—

“Desire for material wealth is what corrupts people most easily.”

“…What?”

Dao Zun averted her gaze and muttered that excuse.

“If one wants to rid the world of wicked thoughts and endless greed, then wouldn’t it be most effective to eliminate the very subject of those desires?”

“…….”

“If we keep doing that, perhaps the world will become just a bit more beautiful.”

Saying that while unable to make proper eye contact didn’t make her argument any more convincing.

I glared at her in disbelief.

“Why don’t you go bash some rich people’s heads in with a magic wand while you’re at it?”

“A magic wand? Hmm, magic, you say. Disguising myself as a shady sorcerer isn’t a bad idea at all. I’ll consider it.”

“…….”

Well, if there was one thing I could say for certain—

This woman was definitely So Cheon’s master.

At that moment, Cheon Yura, still wearing a mask, asked from the side.

“Jin Yeomyung, how long do we have to wait?”

I turned away from Dao Zun and replied.

“Gu Chil and Myeong-oh will make a proper distraction soon. We’ll move in when the opening appears, so hold on a bit longer.”

At those words, Cheon Yura suddenly removed her mask.

A smile she couldn’t quite hide stretched across her exposed face.

“Judging from that unpleasant presence I’m sensing inside, Cheon Yujeong must be in there for sure.”

“…You can sense that?”

“Of course. There’s no way I’d ever miss that wretched creature’s aura.”

…If she had said she sensed Sa Biyeon’s aura, I might’ve been touched.

“But do you really think we can assassinate the Namgung elders in the middle of all this? It seems more like we’ll get smashed instead.”

With someone like Dao Zun included in our lineup, we could probably just bulldoze our way through them head-on.

Of course, there’d be no way to handle the aftermath.

I nodded and answered.

“If news gets out that the hostage escaped, those bastards will have no choice but to rush over. At that moment, Dao Zun elde—”

Flash!

“…If Sister Dao Zun helps, we’ll be able to wipe them out and escape before the place descends into chaos.”

“Hmph, I suppose that’s true.”

Cheon Yura nodded in agreement.

‘Still… this is surprising.’

Even in this situation, Dao Zun hadn’t let go of her cigarette, and I couldn’t help but stare at her again.

Trying to cling to youth was one thing—

Smack!

…but I hadn’t expected her to so actively cooperate in assassinating the Namgung elders.

Dao Zun, having smacked me on the head with her pipe, glared fiercely.

“I might not have all Six Divine Perceptions like the Venerable Buddha, but my eyes can still detect at least some impure intentions.”

People who’d reached the Transformation Realm were troublesome not just for their martial power but for their overdeveloped senses.

“Hmph, I can pretty much guess what you were thinking.”

Pouting slightly, she bit into her cigarette again and spoke.

“Let me ask you something. Why have you come all the way to distant Namcheon to suffer like this?”

“…To prevent as much blood from being shed as possible.”

“I’m the same.”

“……!”

“I foresaw the future—rivers of blood would be spilled. So I’m doing everything I can to reduce it.”

Looking closer, there was a mix of bitterness and deep fatigue around her eyes.

She was a figure even Gwan Hyun, the Sword Supreme Sage, referred to as one of the Three Supremes.

She was the eldest of the Central Plains’ Three Supremes, and yet had never settled in one place—wandering the martial world like a ghost.

It could only mean one thing: she, too, was constantly in motion, trying to prevent a catastrophe, as someone who knew the hidden truths of the world better than anyone.

Dao Zun grinned faintly and said,

“So, wouldn’t a little mischief now and then be forgivable?”

“No, not even a little.”

“Click. You cold-hearted little brat.”

Cold-hearted or not—who in the world calls something like this a bit of mischief?

Just as I was about to curse her out with my eyes—

Kuuuung!

A distant explosion rang out.

It was far enough away that most wouldn’t notice it, but both Dao Zun and I sensed it clearly.

The problem was—it came from the very area we were targeting.

“Now that’s flashy.”

Dao Zun let out a dry chuckle.

“That’s…”

“Looks like your companions escaped. They must’ve caught a weak point inside.”

It seemed the chaos stirred up by the Taiji Token had finally created a gap in the Namgung Clan’s defenses.

“Let’s go. Time to rescue Biyeon.”

At Cheon Yura’s urging, we hurried over the walls of the Namgung estate.

From here on, it was a race against time.

Sa Biyeon glared at Cheon Yujeong’s back, who had utterly wrecked their surroundings.

“Wasn’t that a bit… excessive?”

“It couldn’t be helped. Not even I can fully control Blood Reversal Qi Art.”

Having undone her restraints, Cheon Yujeong was now radiating a sticky, blood-red aura across her entire body.

Sa Biyeon rubbed her aching wrist and muttered,

“Good thing I could cut through it with the Heavenly Trust Sword Technique.”

“Hmph, I’ll admit that was mildly useful.”

The reason the two of them had managed to break free from their bindings was simple.

Sa Biyeon, who had been less tightly restrained, used her internal energy and precise finger force to cut through Cheon Yujeong’s cuffs.

“By the way, your restraints were far stronger than mine. Any idea why?”

Normally, if there’s a difference in hostage importance, they’re kept in separate locations—not bound with different levels of restraint.

Cheon Yujeong scoffed at that.

“Hmph, because I’m a blood relative of the great Cheon Clan, obviously.”

“…Forget I said anything.”

No point wasting time arguing.

And then, the price of unleashing Blood Reversal Qi Art began to show itself immediately.

“The hostage has escaped!”

“Restrain them!”

The warriors guarding the area quickly sensed the commotion and charged in.

But—

“Ugh!”

“Graaaagh!”

They were no match for the two who had reached the Master Level.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen warriors were cut down.

Sa Biyeon checked the uniforms of the fallen warriors and let out a low sigh.

“So they were from the Namgung Clan.”

“Looks like your guess was on point. That would make this Namchang, right?”

“Possibly.”

“…This just got troublesome.”

Cheon Yujeong frowned.

Even if they managed to escape the Namgung Clan, this was still the heart of orthodox faction territory.

No matter how powerful they were, even as Masters, escaping wouldn’t be so simple.

“Hey, unless we come up with something—what the hell are you doing?”

What she saw was Sa Biyeon, suddenly feeling along the wall for no apparent reason.

“I learned this from someone. In situations that look utterly hopeless, the best chance of survival often comes from stirring up even bigger chaos.”

As her fingertips explored the surface, Sa Biyeon’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Found it.”

Clatter…!

With the sound of something sliding, a hidden passage was revealed.

Cheon Yujeong stared in astonishment.

“There was something like this in the middle of the manor?”

Sa Biyeon grinned.

“Whoever locked us in here clearly isn’t from a proper orthodox sect. Most likely, it’s someone from the evil path masquerading as the righteous.”

She had overheard a few voices nearby—presumably from the kidnappers or their collaborators.

“And so?”

“They’ve stashed us away in one of their bases. Obviously, we need to find proof. That might just open a path to survival.”

Grin.

“Now that’s a line I can get behind.”

“Let’s go. Time to cause some mayhem.”

And with that—

Sa Biyeon and Cheon Yujeong’s figures slipped into the darkness.

Unaware that a rescue team was already coming from the outside.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep