Chapter 396: Alliance (4)

Her resolve to depart for battle was firm.

Wisdom Talent and Jegal Eun instinctively realized they wouldn’t be able to stop her.

“Unni….”

In truth, So Cheon had pushed herself considerably during this assassination attempt.

She had delivered the Evil Overlord’s head as easily as pulling something out of her pocket, but due to the excessive use of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Supreme Yin-Yang, her internal injuries had worsened more than before.

More than anything—

“The external injury inflicted by someone else played a huge role in rendering him combat-incapable….”

“What did you just say?”

“It’s nothing.”

The moment she saw the killing intent flash between the gaps of the mask, Jegal Eun immediately shut her mouth.

‘But really… if unni hadn’t beaten him just enough, So Cheon Gongja might have gone out of control again.’

Jegal Eun imagined So Cheon and Baek Sang-ah standing side by side.

Honestly, they looked good together… but Baek Sang-ah was too good for him.

Judging by appearance alone, So Cheon was one of the top prospective husbands across the entire Central Plains.

He was from the Heavenly Demon Cult, yes—but even there, he was of direct descent from the Six Great Demonic Clans, with high likelihood of succeeding as clan head.

His martial prowess had already reached above the peak master level, and putting aside his unkempt hair, his looks were rather fair.

It was just that his damn laziness and that accursed hand habit canceled out all of his merits.

‘Too good for unni. Maybe if it were someone like Young Master Jin… But wait, he’s already married—no, that’s not the point!’

Smack!

Realizing how deep her thoughts had wandered, Jegal Eun slapped both cheeks of her mask.

“E-Eun-ah?”

“S-Sama Advisor?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Thunk! Thunk!

She slammed her forehead on the table again and pulled herself together.

‘War! This is war! How could I be thinking such nonsense in this urgent situation?’

Well, considering Jegal Eun was still barely of age, it wasn’t unusual for her emotions to explode in strange directions. Even so, it was definitely not the kind of thought one should be having on the battlefield.

Quickly regaining her composure, she spoke to Baek Sang-ah, who was looking at her in disbelief.

“Unni… No, Ryonju-nim’s resolve is firm, so I won’t try to stop you anymore.”

“You understand well.”

“Please remember just one thing.”

Rubbing her stinging forehead, Jegal Eun emphasized again.

“Mutual destruction must be avoided at all costs. If you judge that defeating the enemy is impossible, please retreat immediately. We must always preserve our strength for what comes next.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Nodding heavily, Baek Sang-ah picked up her twin swords and walked out of the tent.

Outside, Hyeol Jae and about a hundred martial artists were already lined up.

Appointed as the first Grand Lord, Hyeol Jae placed a hand over his heart and shouted.

“Black Sky Water God Unit, we are here to carry out Ryonju’s command!”

Looking around at them, Baek Sang-ah spoke in a low voice.

“Today, we will annihilate the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit and subjugate the Evil Overlords of Heaven. Will you follow me to the end?”

“Of course. No matter where Ryonju goes, we will follow without fail!”

Hyeol Jae responded with a slightly excited expression.

At last, he had the opportunity to witness firsthand the true nature of his new master!

“Very well.”

Baek Sang-ah took a deep breath.

Then, standing at the forefront, she shouted.

“Black Sky Water God Unit, advance!”

“Uwoaaaah!”

As the flag of the Black Sky—symbol of the Black Lotus Union Leader—fluttered in the wind,

the vast battlefield shook.

“I-It’s the Demonic Sword Flower!”

“The Black Lotus Union Leader herself has come out!”

The moment Baek Sang-ah made her move, the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit was forced into a dire decision.

Should they maintain their defense?

Or switch to an offensive?

“Hmm….”

The current Grand Lord of the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit, the Golden-Body Yaksha Ho Il-gwang, pondered.

‘The elders’ order was clearly to hold the line…’

They insisted that if they could just endure, reinforcements from the orthodox sects would arrive, and that would mark the Evil Overlords of Heaven’s victory.

But Ho Il-gwang, with his warlike nature, didn’t like that order.

They had invaded orthodox territory—he didn’t want to survive only because of help from those same orthodox forces.

Still, due to practical concerns, he had reluctantly followed the order.

But now—

From the distance appeared the best possible reason to reverse that judgment!

Seeing the flag of the Black Sky, Ho Il-gwang immediately made his decision.

“The Black Lotus Union Leader has appeared! Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit, charge! If we capture that woman, this war will end in our favor!”

“Finally!”

“We can stop this damned game of statues!”

At Ho Il-gwang’s command, the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit—freed from their leash—broke formation and charged.

The strongest martial force in the demonic factions, with each member at or above the peak master level.

Standing at the very front to receive their onslaught, Baek Sang-ah thought,

‘Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit… I’ve faced them before, so I know what level they’re at.’

That was back when they were led by Geum Jeoksan of the Demonic Emperor Lord’s army, at the ruins of the Ninth Heavenly Maiden.

‘I can do this. With the strength I have now.’

Her movement skill accelerated.

Starting from Yongcheonhyeol to Baekhwehyeol—

With the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art as its foundation, her true qi surged through her meridians and exploded in power.

“Follow Ryonju! Do not fall behind!”

Hyeol Jae shouted at the top of his lungs, urging the Black Sky Water God Unit.

As the two forces charged toward each other, closing in to within a hundred jang—

Flash!

Baek Sang-ah kicked off the ground and soared into the sky.

The entirety of the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit, numbering over a hundred, came into her view in an instant.

‘I’ll go all in on the first strike!’

Originally, she preferred precise swordplay that wasted no strength.

After awakening her demonic energy, her sword techniques had become somewhat more aggressive, but her overall style hadn’t changed much.

And after being instructed by Ancestor Murder Demon, her swordsmanship became even more silent and precise, characteristic of an assassin.

But now—

At this moment, she abandoned her usual inclinations.

Kuuuuung!

Dark energy condensed onto the once supple twin swords.

That condensation now carried a force of an entirely different magnitude.

A single word dominated her thoughts.

Power.

Overwhelming power!

Her twin swords slashed diagonally, drawing a cross.

Heaven-Slaying Twin Star Sword Art

Myriad Heaven Soul Wav

In front of the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit members charging at Baek Sang-ah, a massive black cross-shaped current appeared, blanketing the sky.

“W-What… what is that…?”

Ho Il-gwang’s mouth parted slightly.

It was huge.

No—far too huge!

Just by sheer scale, it was comparable to Ten Thousand Violent Blood Seas.

The slanted cross slash that covered the sky momentarily blocked out the sun and cast an enormous shadow.

Whether switching from defense to offense had been the right decision or not—was decided in a single move from her.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!

As death descended upon the land, a deafening roar echoed across the entire battlefield.

While Baek Sang-ah’s power surged toward the Evil Overlords of Heaven—

***

Nearby Xi’an, in Shaanxi Province.

Jongnam Sect.

“Foolish bastards.”

Son Gok, one of Jongnam’s elders and master of Six Directions Sword, clenched his teeth and cursed toward the distance.

In his view, hundreds of martial artists from Mount Hua and Gongdong Sect were laying siege to the sect’s entrance.

“They’re blind to the tides of the world!”

“……”

“……”

The Jongnam disciples who had been following him turned their heads away at his outburst.

They were all thinking the same thing.

‘Honestly.’

‘He’s really shameless.’

They could fully understand why Mount Hua and Gongdong Sect had come to make a life-or-death decision at the mountain gate.

That was how disgraceful and fatal Jongnam Sect’s betrayal had been.

Among the disciples, there were quite a few who hadn’t accepted the last betrayal and had questioned the Sect Leader.

Most of those who had done so were dragged to the Hall of Repentance and never heard from again.

Regardless of whether he understood the disciples’ sentiments or not, Son Gok boldly shouted toward the mountain gate.

“Listen well, Sect Leader of Mount Hua! In no more than seven days and nights, support from the Murim Alliance will arrive!”

Most of the disciples who didn’t know the full story were relieved at the mention of the Murim Alliance.

No matter how despicable the betrayal, if the Murim Alliance was offering support, there must be some justification—or so they hoped.

“Stop this foolishness and accept the natural order!”

The reply came instantly.

“Silence!”

Jeon Wonjong, Mount Hua’s Sect Leader and Plum Blossom Sword of a Hundred Blades, roared back.

“To ally with the Evil Overlords of Heaven and stab your allies in the back—how dare you speak of order?!”

Murmur murmur!

The disciples of Jongnam, who had been comforted by the word Murim Alliance, were now shaken by the sudden mention of the Evil Overlords of Heaven.

“Do not panic! It’s nothing more than a feint tactic!”

Son Gok barked at his disciples, but their expressions didn’t brighten in the slightest.

To be honest, if the sect really had joined hands with the Evil Overlords of Heaven and betrayed Mount Hua and Gongdong Sect, then everything that had happened so far made perfect sense.

Mount Hua’s Sect Leader continued his lion’s roar.

“Jongnam Sect! Before the Murim Alliance arrives, you will pay the price for your betrayal! Wipe your necks and sit quietly inside!”

Originally, he had opposed this operation.

But after seeing the decision of the Plum Blossom Sword of a Hundred Blades, his actions quickly and decisively followed the respected elder’s lead.

Even before the Plum Blossom Sword had moved, he had persuaded Gongdong Sect—who had long been sharpening their blades—to completely surround the area near Jongnam Mountain.

Thanks to that, Jongnam Sect, which had been preparing to sally forth and strike the rear of the Black Lotus Union, had no choice but to pull back its disciples in the face of the intimidating momentum of the Plum Blossom Swords who now blocked the main gate.

‘It’s now riding the tiger. May the Black Lotus Union achieve victory, and may the Murim Alliance support arrive late…’

Jeon Wonjong silently prayed while staring at the tightly closed mountain gate of Jongnam Sect.

“Grand Lord, we will soon arrive in Shaanxi Province.”

But unexpectedly, the movement of the Murim Alliance’s Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad was faster than anticipated.

Ignoring the affiliated martial forces assigned by the Alliance, they had crossed the border of Henan and Shaanxi in just two days.

“Kuhuhu…”

At one subordinate’s report, an elderly man with a reserved expression chuckled.

Monstrous Sword Lord Gongson Su.

He was the old monster of the martial world who had taken the seat of the newly appointed Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad Leader, replacing the retired Heavenly Night Sword Baek Gongjin.

“Those foolish Black Lotus bastards. Challenging a battle so recklessly without even looking back.”

Though he was well past seventy, his eyes still gleamed with desire.

“If I bring back the Black Lotus Union Leader’s head, ascending to the position of Vice Alliance Leader wouldn’t just be a dream. Don’t you think so, boys?”

“……”

“……”

For some reason, not a single squad member responded to that remark.

They were utterly silent.

Monstrous Sword Lord clicked his tongue at the sight of his subordinates.

“Hmph, dull little brats.”

“……”

In truth, the Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad members weren’t all that taciturn by nature.

After Baek Gongjin, the previous Grand Lord, stepped down, Monstrous Sword Lord had been newly appointed. By seniority and skill, he certainly seemed qualified to lead the squad.

However, Monstrous Sword Lord was a man of insatiable greed.

Since his appointment, the Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad had taken on numerous life-threatening missions—so many that multiple members had lost their lives.

And once it became known that all of it stemmed from Monstrous Sword Lord’s thirst for power, the discontent had greatly swelled among them.

Naturally, Monstrous Sword Lord wasn’t foolish enough to be unaware of the mood among his subordinates.

“This squad’s state is deplorable.”

At someone’s comment, Monstrous Sword Lord nodded instinctively.

“My thoughts exactly. For subordinates to dare glare at their Grand Lord like that… Who said that?”

Monstrous Sword Lord furrowed his brows at having agreed so casually.

“Which bastard dared to utter such nonsense?!”

As he glared over the squad, he soon realized the voice hadn’t come from any of them.

It had sounded far too young for one of his subordinates.

As befit their title as the strongest squad, the Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad’s average age was quite high.

“Over here.”

All eyes turned in unison.

There, sitting casually on a large rock, was someone wearing a black mask.

“…Black Sky Mask?”

The Black Sky Mask—a symbol of the Black Lotus Union’s officers.

As the name of the Black Lotus Union had grown, the fame of the Black Sky Mask had long since spread across the entire Central Plains.

“Who are you?”

In response to Monstrous Sword Lord’s somewhat tense question, I answered politely.

“Black Lotus Union First Strategist, First Strategist Black Thunder, Myeong Jin.”

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