Chapter 246: Escape (1)

“You are…”

The Sword King tilted his head for a moment, puzzled.

The man standing before him was so insignificant that he barely registered any presence.

It was baffling how someone like that had entered a banquet of this scale.

Yet precisely because of that, the Sword King heightened his guard.

When a seasoned warrior like him couldn’t comprehend something, it meant he had to be wary.

The young man bowed gracefully.

“I am one of the leaders of the group you’re trying to frame.”

“The Heaven-Defying Society?”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The moment those words were spoken, Baek Gongjin, the Heavenly Night Divine Sword standing guard beside the Sword King, along with the Sword King’s personal guards, immediately drew their swords.

Even amidst that ominous atmosphere, the young man kept his smile as he introduced himself.

“Yes. I am the Fourth Heavenly Lord of the Heaven-Defying Society, and the now-fallen head of the Illusion Clan, Hwan Pyeong.”

“The Illusion Demon!”

The Sword King let out an exclamation that was closer to a sigh.

There was no way he wouldn’t recognize a clan head of the Six Great Demonic Clans.

The Sword King shot Hwan Pyeong a cold glare.

“Did you come here to die?”

This was the very heart of the Orthodox Factions, the core stronghold of the Namcheon Baek Clan.

No matter how powerful the Illusion Demon was, stepping into this place meant putting his life on the line.

But—

Hwan Pyeong responded with a chilling smile.

“Well now, I wonder who it is that truly wishes to die. You still haven’t fully recovered from the aftermath of your battle with the Supreme One, have you? That’s why you’re still letting that nephew of yours—who ruined your clan—live.”

“Wh-What are you saying?”

Baek Mun-jeol blinked rapidly, looking between the Illusion Demon and the Sword King.

“And it’s not like I’ve stepped into a deathtrap either.”

Snap!

Hwan Pyeong snapped his fingers, and the remaining Orthodox masters in the hall began groaning in agony and slowly encircled him as if to protect him.

“Ughhh!”

“Guh!”

“Th-This can’t be!”

The warriors of the Namcheon Baek Clan were appalled by the scene.

The elders of prestigious sects were now acting like leashed dogs!

“Huhu, if I burn through all the hunting dogs in this room, that should be enough to take down a wounded tiger, don’t you think?”

“You bastard!”

Baek Gongjin, enraged, was about to move.

But the Sword King quickly raised his hand to stop him.

“Hold, Gongjin.”

“B-But Clan Head!”

Ignoring Baek Gongjin’s protest, the Sword King spoke calmly.

“It seems he has something to say. I’ll listen to at least one thing.”

“One won’t be enough… but fine.”

Hwan Pyeong gave a meaningful smile and pointed to himself with his finger.

“We’ll gladly take the blame you’re trying to pin.”

“……!!”

As those around them silently screamed, unable to comprehend what he meant—

“And in return?”

“Thorough nonintervention.”

“…Nonintervention?”

“Weren’t you aiming for the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult?”

“……”

The Sword King fell silent, struck where it hurt.

“I’m after her as well. Our interests align—doesn’t that make us suitable partners in trade?”

“The Young Cult Leader’s life…”

“More importantly.”

Hwan Pyeong raised a finger.

“If everyone here stays quiet, then the truth about the Black Lotus Union Lord being your granddaughter stays buried, does it not?”

“F-Fourth Heavenly Lord?!”

“What are you saying…!”

Snap!

“Aaaaargh!”

The masters who had been drugged into dependency began writhing on the floor like insects once more.

The Sword King looked at them coldly and thought to himself.

Whether or not these people knew that Baek Sang-ah was the Black Lotus Union Lord…

The moment Hwan Pyeong learned the truth, it no longer mattered.

“Are you planning to put those same leashes on me now?”

“Hoho, what a cold way to put it. I’m someone who values secrecy very highly. I never break promises.”

Was he seriously asking to be trusted?

Regardless, things had come to a point where disaster was unavoidable.

“That young man, Jin Yeomyung… hmm… you may take him. I had intended to kill him, but if it guarantees the Young Cult Leader’s death, then I can afford that concession.”

“……”

“And there’s no need to worry about the Heavenly Demon Cult either. The Namcheon Baek Clan will stay completely out of this matter. Any wrath from the Cult Leader will fall solely on me and the Heaven-Defying Society.”

Perhaps that was the final blow.

A de facto agreement slipped from the Sword King’s mouth.

“I won’t allow any of this to happen inside the main estate.”

“C-Clan Head!”

Baek Gongjin and the Namcheon Baek elders stared at the Sword King in disbelief.

But the Sword King closed his eyes, avoiding their gaze.

Hwan Pyeong laughed cheerfully.

“Hahaha, of course. I never intended to go that far. I’ll thoroughly isolate the place—just outside Namchang—and squeeze until the blood drains dry.”

He had prepared enough to do so.

The Sword King, having made up his mind, looked at Baek Gongjin.

“Gongjin.”

“…Yes, Clan Head.”

“Cancel the tournament and issue a lockdown of the main estate. Don’t explain anything for now. Once public discontent rises enough…”

Once the Sword King made a decision, his words carried unstoppable momentum.

“Announce that Elder Baek Mun-jeol was assassinated by a demonic cultist.”

“C-Clan Head…! How dare—!”

Just as Baek Mun-jeol, who had been watching everything in a daze, leapt toward the Sword King in horror—

“Haha, when a puppet’s outlived its usefulness, it’s only natural for it to exit the stage.”

Snap!

The moment Hwan Pyeong snapped his fingers—

Squelch!

Baek Mun-jeol’s chest near his heart grotesquely twisted, and dark crimson blood burst from his mouth like a fountain.

“Urgh! Y-You b-bastard…”

Leaving behind only those final words, Baek Mun-jeol dropped to his knees and collapsed.

He died just like that.

A man once praised as a prodigy smart enough to pass the civil service exam, a martial artist whose skill reached the Master Level.

A man who once challenged for the position of Clan Head with all that he had—

His end was tragically empty.

“Well now, since we’ll be on the same boat for a while, I look forward to working with you, Alliance Leader. Hahaha!”

Hwan Pyeong offered a handshake with a hearty laugh, but the Sword King coldly turned his body away.

Awkward, Hwan Pyeong shrugged and withdrew his hand.

“Now, everyone. What are you waiting for? Go prepare your forces immediately.”

“Y-Yes, Fourth Lord!”

Though his tone had shifted to respectful speech, none of them were fooled—it was merely to mask his displeasure.

The Orthodox masters leashed by the poison called Solitude hurriedly left the hall.

“Oh, someone please relay this to Ninth Heavenly Lord. Tell him not to waste time playing sacrificial pawn—he should come help instead.”

It didn’t matter who would pass on that message.

Now that the Sword King and the Namcheon Baek Clan were involved, the absence of one Ninth Heavenly Lord wouldn’t ruin the plan.

“Well then, I suppose I should get moving too? That ‘Killer’s Trump Card’ is a shy little lady—you have to coax her gently…”

And with that, Hwan Pyeong’s figure vanished from the hall as well.

“……”

Someone who had been silently watching the entire situation unfold behind the banquet hall using the Stealth Qi Technique slowly stood up, gripping a spear in hand.

“Ugh… ngh!”

Baek Sang-ah ran.

Tears of betrayal streamed down her face as she sprinted.

“M-Miss Sang-ah?”

“What’s wrong?!”

Members of the Namcheon Baek Clan who recognized her called out in alarm, but—

She ignored them all and kept running.

She wasn’t headed for the quarters of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s delegation.

Instead, she was running toward the Medical Hall, where Sa Biyeon was.

Bang!

She slammed open the door of the Medical Hall, startling many who were treating patients inside.

“M-Miss Sang-ah!?”

“We heard you’d returned… it was true!”

The head of the Medical Hall rushed out in surprise.

But she waved aside his welcome and asked bluntly,

“Where is the patient I brought in?”

“Ah, that demonic…”

“I asked where she is!”

Her voice nearly a shout, the head flinched.

“A-As you ordered, I’ve been personally caring for her to the best of my ability. A few hours ago, she regained consciousness…”

“She’s awake?!”

“Yes, but although she’s conscious, she still needs a long period of recovery…”

Ignoring his explanation, she barged into the hall.

“Lady Sa!”

Before long, she found Sa Biyeon lying quietly with only her eyes open.

“Miss Baek…”

Sa Biyeon murmured weakly, unable to move.

“Somehow, I survived.”

“……”

Baek Sang-ah bit her lip.

As the hall master had said, it looked like she couldn’t move on her own at all.

‘What do I do now?’

Just then—

“Oh my, we have a guest?”

A faint but sharp presence came from behind her.

As Baek Sang-ah slowly turned her head, she saw someone in tight-fitting black clothes.

“You’re… the one Young Master Jin called the Lord of the Demonic Tower?”

The figure now looked like an assassin, far removed from the flamboyant attire she wore before.

But Baek Sang-ah didn’t mistake her identity.

“Vice Leader of the Divine Ghost Unit, Bu Ilhwa. I’m here on the Young Cult Leader’s orders to retrieve Lady Sa.”

“From Miss Cheon…”

Baek Sang-ah trailed off.

And for some reason, Bu Ilhwa glared at her, voice sharp.

“Though now I’m a little unsure. Are you our ally… or our enemy?”

“……”

It was understandable.

They had every reason to suspect everything about the Namcheon Baek Clan right now.

Baek Sang-ah sighed deeply.

“I don’t want to be anyone’s enemy.”

“The worst possible answer.”

Bu Ilhwa’s gaze grew cold.

But just as tension hung in the air—

“But I know what I must do right now.”

“……”

“I know Lady Sa must be protected. But she’s in no condition to move right now.”

“Hold on. Let me check.”

Bu Ilhwa stepped closer to Sa Biyeon and examined her condition.

She still looked dangerously unstable—any wrong move and her wounds might rupture.

Bu Ilhwa frowned.

“…You’re right. She can’t be moved like this.”

“The problem is we must find a way. Grandfather has already made up his mind. It’s only a matter of time before the clan’s warriors storm this place…”

And then—

“Stand aside.”

From behind her, the Saber King stepped forward and extended his hand.

Then, Sa Biyeon’s body slowly began to float in midair.

“Gr-Grandfather!?”

The Saber King smiled gently.

“If you’re worried about shock, then just eliminate the shock.”

If one had mastered Air-Grasping Technique to the Master Level, it was possible to move someone without even the slightest jolt.

“…You’re going to help?”

She had been so fixated on one thought that she had completely forgotten the presence of the Saber King until now.

The Saber King nodded.

“How could I sit idly by while that Baek brat walks the wrong path? I’ll beat some sense into him if I have to.”

“That’s…”

“More importantly, am I not the Ten Thousand Demon Blade Emperor, a friendly ally of the Black Lotus Union? Helping the Black Thunder is only natural! Wahahaha!”

At the Saber King’s hearty laugh, the heaviness in Baek Sang-ah’s heart lightened, even if only a little.

“Thank you.”

“Still, even for me, it’s not possible to keep a person floating with Air-Grasping Technique indefinitely. You’ll need to deal with any small fry who come charging.”

“Leave that to us.”

Bu Ilhwa placed a hand to her chest and bowed respectfully.

“We gratefully accept the kindness of the Dao Zun.”

At that, the Saber King smacked his lips.

“Tch, just call me Saber King for now. The real Dao Zun is somewhere nearby. If she hears me being called that, she’ll come charging in like a rabid dog.”

Even someone like the Saber King feared the wrath of a centuries-old monster.

“Yes, Elder Dao Zun.”

“…Are you mocking me right now?”

“Why would I ever do that?”

Seeing her softly smiling while stepping back, the Saber King couldn’t quite hide his displeasure.

“Anyway, let’s go. To where Miss Cheon is.”

With that, Baek Sang-ah and the group of four left the Medical Hall and headed toward the quarters where the Heavenly Demon Cult delegation was staying.

And there—

“Miss Cheon.”

“……”

Cheon Yura, with an aura that seemed to reject everything in the world from coming near her, quietly stared at their arrival.

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