Chapter 423: Heavenly Timing (2)

Chwaruruk!

The Nine Heavens Celestial Thunder, wreathed in black lightning, slit the throats of the Qingcheng Sect disciples in a single strike.

It was a sudden ambush, but Jeok Yu responded swiftly.

Vast Azure Clouds

The Qingcheng signature technique, Cheongun Jeokhageom, extended like a serpent and slashed at the throat of the attacker who had landed nearby.

However—

The Cheongun Jeokhageom passed futilely through the opponent’s neck.

Flinch!

Realizing that he had cut through an illusion, Jeok Yu’s expression twisted briefly, but the body of a martial artist prepared for what came next.

However, Jeok Yu’s resistance ended there.

“Kgh!”

A stabbing pain, as if being pierced multiple times in the back with a blade, struck instantly, and Jeok Yu’s body froze on the spot.

“How…?”

Jeok Yu couldn’t finish his sentence.

His entire network of major acupoints, including the Devil’s Hole, had been subdued in a single move.

For someone like him—an apex-level master—to be overpowered so easily…

‘Don’t tell me, it’s the Northern Murim Alliance Leader and the Death King’s Consort?!’

The Death King’s Consort.

A nickname referring to So Cheon, the lover of Baek Sang-ah—also known by the alias Death King.

Surprisingly, almost no one knew So Cheon’s true identity accurately, not even within the Southern Murim Alliance or the Northern Murim Alliance.

In fact, he had almost no visible activity even within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult itself, so it was only natural.

The first time So Cheon was properly given a nickname was after he assassinated the new Evil Overlord, Lee Jaseong.

‘Damn it, if the Death King’s Consort is here, then I’m as good as dead.’

In that moment, a red gleam flickered in Jeok Yu’s eyes.

Knowing full well what kind of person the new Evil Overlord was, Jeok Yu instinctively sensed his end, despite being surrounded by the Southern Murim Alliance’s forces.

Thus, his decision was swift—

Crack!

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Kugh!”

Jeok Yu’s suicide attempt was stopped by So Cheon’s swift intervention.

So Cheon stomped firmly on the back of the unconscious Jeok Yu’s head and spoke to Baek Sang-ah.

“Looks like we’ve found something worthwhile this time.”

“He certainly didn’t behave like someone from the orthodox side.”

From targeting the neck right from the start—

To so readily attempting to throw his life away.

His behavior was all too unorthodox for someone supposedly from the righteous sects.

Baek Sang-ah sighed with a hardened expression.

“It seems something has happened within our Cult.”

The sky is changing.

Not something one would utter lightly or based on trivial information.

If a rebellion had truly occurred in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Cult Leader had been replaced, it meant the rear flank, which the Northern Murim Alliance had considered a safe zone, had been sealed off.

But—

“So it seems. Whatever.”

So Cheon’s unexpectedly indifferent response made Baek Sang-ah blink.

“Young Master So Cheon, aren’t you worried? This means a rebellion has broken out in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!”

So Cheon shrugged.

“Rebellion… it could happen. I heard they fought the Cheon Clan too.”

“N-No, I mean…”

Even if it were true, wasn’t this way too unconcerned?

Reading her gaze, So Cheon stated firmly.

“We’re in no position to worry about that right now.”

“……!”

So Cheon’s judgment was cold but realistic.

“We can deal with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s affairs after we survive this mess.”

“…You’re right, Young Master So Cheon.”

Baek Sang-ah admitted her misplaced concern.

Right now, securing their survival had to take priority.

“More importantly, these guys—they’re not afraid of dying at all.”

The ones who ambushed them tried too readily to initiate Mutual Destruction when things turned against them.

Most failed before they could even try, but even one successful attempt could be fatal.

“What’s even more troublesome is—we still don’t know who’s commanding this army.”

“True.”

Every military force had a commander.

Especially with such a precise and sharp ambush, the Southern Murim Alliance couldn’t have managed this without a leader.

The problem was that even after executing such a clean ambush, the Southern Murim Alliance moved like a disorganized mob, showing no trace of coordinated action.

A contradiction, plain and simple.

“In the end, we might have to go straight into their center…”

Until now, they had managed to nibble away at the enemies in the outskirts by utilizing the terrain of the forest, but from this point forward, they had to be prepared to be fully exposed to danger.

Especially once the enemies realized that the temporary main base of the Northern Murim Alliance was empty—no one could predict how their movements would change.

“In the end, this war won’t end unless we eliminate their leader.”

Baek Sang-ah made her decision.

“Let’s go.”

“Gladly.”

So Cheon had already decided to follow her—wherever, however far the path led.

The moment they approached the center of the enemy camp—

From that point on, the notion of assassination lost its meaning.

It was merely a continuous repetition of cutting down the endlessly charging enemies.

Baek Sang-ah and So Cheon rushed straight toward the center, where the Southern Murim Alliance’s leadership was likely stationed.

‘Something’s strange.’

The pressure felt looser than expected.

Warriors of the Southern Murim Alliance kept appearing from the front like a swarm, and although they were cutting them down steadily—

It couldn’t compare to the overwhelming pressure they’d felt during the war against the Evil Overlord.

Sssrk.

Wiping blood from her cheek, she turned her gaze to So Cheon.

“Young Master So Cheon.”

“Something feels off.”

So Cheon also furrowed his brow as he withdrew the Nine Heavens Celestial Thunder spread out in all directions.

“It’s like they’re luring us in. As if inviting us this way…”

“A trap?”

“Not sure…”

The deployment of their forces was too irrational.

They should have sealed off all routes and worn them down, or focused elite warriors on one point to annihilate them.

Instead, the enemies weren’t using any tactics for many-versus-few combat.

On the contrary, it felt as if they were tossing out just enough prey to say, ‘Don’t run away.’

“Young Master So Cheon, what would you do in this situation?”

So Cheon immediately replied.

“I’d retreat for now and regroup with allied units. At this point, the front-line troops must have realized the enemy’s incursion and would be converging on this area.”

Baek Sang-ah’s lips parted slightly at the unexpectedly reasonable and standard response.

“…You’re the same man who charged alone to assassinate the Evil Overlord?”

So Cheon shrugged.

“Right now, your safety is at stake.”

“Young Master So Cheon, you know this already, but right now we…”

“We need to minimize the bloodshed. I know that.”

So Cheon cut her off.

For some reason, a hint of anger colored his next words.

“But even if this whole region becomes the Blood Sea of Dead Mountains—if Lady is safe, I don’t care how many people die.”

“……”

She realized again.

The person before her had grown up in the ruthless environment of the Demonic Cult.

‘Well, it’s a bit extreme, but it’s also rather sweet in its own way…’

Baek Sang-ah couldn’t bring herself to make such a harsh decision like So Cheon.

Even though she wielded demonic qi, death qi, and bore the nickname ‘Heaven-Destroying’—

Her roots were righteous. Upright.

Of course, one didn’t cry justice in a war where the victor took all, but if she could reduce the damage, she was the type to willingly sacrifice herself.

“For now, let’s head to the center. As long as it’s just you and me, we can always escape.”

Nod!

So Cheon gladly respected Baek Sang-ah’s choice.

Like that, Baek Sang-ah and So Cheon cut down hundreds and finally arrived at what appeared to be the main base of the Southern Murim Alliance.

And there, they witnessed a scene where three hundred of the Southern Murim Alliance’s top leaders were gathered.

‘…What is this?’

Baek Sang-ah immediately sensed something ominous from them.

None of them seemed to be preparing for battle.

Even though these were the ones who had sent sacrificial pawns at them, not a single one had drawn their weapon.

Instead, they sat comfortably, facing them as if welcoming guests.

And at the center of them all—

Baek Sang-ah spotted a young woman around her own age seated on a jade throne in the heart of the camp.

With drowsy eyes, the woman looked their way, her hair long enough to be unthinkable for a martial artist.

But Baek Sang-ah sensed it instinctively.

That woman seated in the center was the new ‘leader’ of the Southern Murim Alliance.

Before Baek Sang-ah could open her mouth, the woman slowly stood up.

At that moment, those who seemed to be high-ranking unorthodox experts stepped forward and lifted her hair with silk, preventing it from touching the ground.

‘They… they’re definitely not just attendants.’

Each of them appeared to have surpassed the absolute realm, and all wore identical uniforms…

And their number reached as many as fifty.

‘Don’t tell me… the Ten Thousand Ultimate Commanders?’

Alongside the Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad Unit and the Yaksha Celestial Dao Unit, one of the Three Great Martial Divisions of the Central Plains.

Within the Southern Murim Alliance, there was only one group capable of uniting that many unorthodox martial masters.

While Baek Sang-ah’s thoughts raced, the other party bowed gracefully.

“Welcome, Northern Murim Alliance Leader. I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

“……”

Given the opponent’s identity, their tone was surprisingly courteous.

“You… who are you?”

To this, the other responded readily.

“They call me Ju Yang, the Sovereign of Heaven.”

Sovereign of Heaven.

Even if her name, Ju Yang, was unfamiliar, the title Sovereign of Heaven was already so infamous in the world that none in the martial realm would not know of it.

“So you’re the new Evil Path Castle Leader?!”

She gave a slight laugh as she replied.

“I’m also the new Southern Murim Alliance Leader now.”

“I heard the Sovereign of Heaven was a young man…”

That was indeed what the intelligence reports had said.

Ju Yang twisted her long hair in her fingers and replied.

“It’s not hard to tweak what gets shared with the outside world. I didn’t want to die pointlessly before the time came. Like that idiot Lee Jaseong who couldn’t even fulfill his duties properly.”

Baek Sang-ah felt a strange sense of discomfort from the undertone of her words.

“Until the time came?”

Instead of answering, Ju Yang asked her a question in return.

“Sovereign of Heaven and Subordinate of Heaven. Don’t you think those are grandiose names for people like us?”

“……”

She was clearly an Awakened Being of the Heaven-Defying Society.

Yet, the martial energy she emitted only reached the early stage of the absolute realm at best.

If she had entered the later stage of martial cultivation, she might be counted among the top masters, but for someone who claimed the title of king, it felt exaggerated.

“The titles given to us Awakened Beings, like king, don’t mean ‘ruler’ in the usual sense.”

“Then, what do they mean?”

“Sacrificial kings, prepared for when the Heavenly Timing arrives.”

“……!”

Sssrk.

At some point, she had drawn a small dagger from her robes.

She smiled as she looked at the blade, which gave off a dangerous aura.

“Among the Awakened Beings of the Heaven-Defying Society, the ones most suited to be sacrifices.”

“Sac…rifice.”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Suddenly, the hundreds of warriors gathered inside all simultaneously drew their swords.

What was strange was that even those who seemed unfamiliar with weapons also held swords.

And none of their pupils showed the slightest glint of light.

“Huhuhuhu…”

“Wait.”

Baek Sang-ah’s face twisted grotesquely.

“What the hell is this bullshit?”

The honorifics dropped from her mouth.

“You’d be better off just attacking. If you used all their power, you’d have a decent chance of taking down the two of us… so why the hell are you doing this instead?”

Those gathered here were all the core of the Southern Murim Alliance.

Even just the masters at the absolute realm numbered in the dozens, and among them were many nearing the Transformation Realm.

Even Baek Sang-ah and So Cheon could not handle them all.

However.

Ju Yang showed a self-deprecating smile.

“Because that’s the fate of those who made a pact with Evil.”

She then lightly waved her hand toward the rear.

Puck! Puck! Puck! Puck!

And just like that, the hundreds of Southern Murim Alliance leaders began stabbing their swords into their arteries and committing suicide in response to her gesture.

One by one, more and more collapsed to the ground.

Martial artists who had trained all their lives and polished their techniques met a hollow death with just a single motion from her hand.

“……”

“……”

Baek Sang-ah and So Cheon were at a loss for words in the face of such a surreal scene.

And not long after—

A massive ritual was initiated using their deaths as the medium.

-It’s been a while, you two.

Gunggi of the Four Atrocities.

He… had appeared.

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