“It’s not like we’re deviating from the rules.”

Dokgo Pae laughed heartily.

“If the Unorthodox Alliance is outnumbered in a fight, they have to flee. It’s foolish to fight to the death in front of a powerful enemy. Of course.”

At Dokgo Pae’s words, the leaders of the Unorthodox Alliance sects who were nearby nodded their heads as if in agreement.

There was no reason to protect their base by sacrificing their lives foolishly. If one’s body was intact, and one had just one sword, wasn’t it the life of the Unorthodox Alliance to be able to crawl back up tenaciously and bide their time?

“Even if I give up my base, I take the base of another force. That’s the reason why the Unorthodox Alliance has endured in the martial world.”

The foundation that the prestigious Orthodox Path sects had built, if lost once, would take decades, no, hundreds of years to rebuild, or it would collapse completely.

The foundation of the Unorthodox Alliance was different. Even if it collapsed, it could be rebuilt. Even if it was abandoned, it could rise again in another place.

Was it because of that? When Cheon Mubaeck moved with the flag, the reaction of the spectators from above was rather favorable.

“It’s not just the Yangtze River side that had that thought. Our Green Forest is also moving with the flag.”

The Great Strength King’s eyes shone.

The Salt Light Fortress Leader was the subordinate and younger brother that the Great Strength King trusted the most.

Wasn’t he a veteran of a hundred battles with a lot of experience and qualifications? Although he had failed to capture Wang Jeonyu and had given him an excuse for a counterattack, he was his most trusted subordinate.

As expected, the Salt Light Fortress Leader also seemed to have grasped the loophole in the rules, and he was moving with the flag, abandoning his base.

“On the other hand… the Three Monsters are quiet.”

The base where the Great Dragon Gang’s flag was fluttering was quiet.

Rather, what was felt was a deep sense of leisure. From their actions to their expressions, a sense of leisure was felt.

“Well, since they are friends who like to use their swords rather than their heads. That’s a pity.”

Although Dokgo Pae muttered with a smiling voice, there was no one who could not feel the confidence contained in those words.

“…”

Although Wang Jeonyu did not show it, his expression was somewhat dark.

‘The Three Monsters are more than the rumors.’

He felt that he could win if he fought one-on-one.

But as for Haei, the eldest of the Three Monsters, he felt a prayer that he could not guarantee victory even in a one-on-one fight.

He understood why Dokgo Pae was confident. The surrounding atmosphere was also like that. They just watched with interest as Cheon Mubaeck or the Salt Light Fortress Leader moved with the flag. They did not show a great reaction.

Because they were implicitly thinking that the Great Dragon Gang would win anyway.

But Wang Jeonyu felt a strange sense of rebellion.

‘If it’s the Black Heart Gang leader.’

His eyes flashed and landed on Cheon Mubaeck, who was moving through the bushes.

* * *

‘I will definitely win this proxy war. Only then will the Great Strength King become the leader, and the Green Forest’s world will open at the Black Assembly.’

Although the opponent was the Three Monsters, the Salt Light Fortress Leader was confident.

‘Even so, they’re just guys who have been swinging their swords in the back alleys.’

On the other hand, who were they?

They were the Green Forest, who fought most fiercely in the knife-like martial world, based on the rough mountains.

In the martial world, it was a common saying that one should avoid the Green Forest, at least in the mountains.

The Salt Light Fortress Leader decided to display their specialty to their heart’s content.

“In any case, what we’re taking is not the base, but the flag. If the mountain fortress is in danger of being taken, we can just abandon it and run to another mountain, right?”

At the Salt Light Fortress Leader’s words, the two other fortress leaders who had participated also nodded their heads.

Because it was a very natural thing for them. Weren’t there countless mountains in the Central Plains, and if there were only mountains, wasn’t it the Green Forest to grow a mountain fortress from scratch again?

The Salt Light Fortress Leader immediately stuck the flag on his back and moved.

“Everyone, scatter and find the turtle bastards. Search thoroughly while maintaining distance and spacing!”

“If we find them?”

“We have to buy as much time as possible. Lure the Black Heart Gang leader guy to the mountain path, and in the meantime, take the base. If it’s not him, the Iron Face Palm or the guy with the burn marks are nothing special.”

“He’s a guy with considerable skill, can we lure him well?”

“No matter how much of an absolute master he is, he can’t run through the mountains as if they were flat ground.”

A confident gaze without a moment’s hesitation. The confidence revealed in his expression was a conviction that did not doubt victory.

‘The Black Heart Gang leader, that guy is not a man who will cooperate meekly.’

Just as Cheon Mubaeck was wary of the Green Forest, it was the same for the Salt Light Fortress Leader.

‘In any case, since there can only be one leader, we have no choice but to fight in the end. If so, I’d rather subdue the Yangtze River first.’

This proxy war reflected the physiology of the Unorthodox Alliance as it was.

To have one’s flag taken meant that one’s power had collapsed.

In the Unorthodox Alliance, when a disputing force collapsed, it did not disappear into dust. It was to take over the force. To absorb it into one’s own force was the Unorthodox Alliance. This proxy war was also like that. If you took it, it would immediately become your side.

‘If it’s the Black Heart Gang leader guy, he’ll definitely be a help when we fight the Great Dragon Gang!’

A chill ran down his spine as he briefly recalled that terrifying divine might.

The great man who had unfolded the Dengpingdushu over the heads of the Green Forest members, had killed the vice-fortress leader in one blow, and had cut off his arm.

And the epitome of swiftness that had cut off the Yufeng Gang leader’s wrist like a flash of lightning.

The answer was simple. To take the Yangtze River’s flag and handle Cheon Mubaeck as a subordinate.

Since he had mentioned cooperation with the Green Forest with his own mouth, he would not be able to say anything if his flag was taken.

‘Hehe. The thought of that arrogant guy following my orders makes me laugh!’

The Salt Light Fortress Leader smiled as he recalled a pleasant future. His confidence did not come from nowhere.

“I know Mount Wuyi well.”

Very well indeed.

Hadn’t he ambushed Wang Jeonyu here? It was a matter of capturing the River King alive. It was natural to have thoroughly investigated and grasped the surrounding environment. All the mountain paths of Mount Wuyi and even the territories of the beasts. Everything was mapped out and engraved in the Salt Light Fortress Leader’s head.

‘It’s highly likely that their base is this way.’

The plan was simple. To lure Cheon Mubaeck and draw him to the mountain path, and in the meantime, the other fortress leader would retake the base.

<Cuckoo, cuckoo>

It was then.

‘That way!’

A pre-arranged signal that the enemy had been found. The Salt Light Fortress Leader immediately turned and ran. He ran through the mountain, which had no path and was not even frequented by beasts, as swiftly as a horse galloping on a main road.

As he pushed through the dense bushes, a scene unfolded before the Salt Light Fortress Leader’s eyes.

‘The Black Heart Gang leader!’

Just then, Cheon Mubaeck’s gaze, who had turned his head at the presence of the Salt Light Fortress Leader, met his in the air.

‘This is it!’

The Iron Face Palm, or the guy with the burn mark holding that flag. If he just took out Cheon Mubaeck, the rest would be enough to subdue them!

The Salt Light Fortress Leader smiled triumphantly and shouted.

“You bastard! Since my arm was cut off, I’ll cut off your neck today!”

“…!”

At the unrestrained harsh words, Neung-heo, who was confronting the Green Forest, let out a hollow laugh for a moment.

‘He’s really choosing to commit suicide in a new way.’

Of course, from the Salt Light Fortress Leader’s perspective, it was to lure Cheon Mubaeck…

Did that provocation work? Or was it because he saw the flag on the Salt Light Fortress Leader’s back?

Cheon Mubaeck turned his body and rushed at the Salt Light Fortress Leader.

“Hup!”

The Salt Light Fortress Leader’s face turned pale at the swiftness that was like a thunderbolt.

A swift lightness art that was more than he had expected.

The Salt Light Fortress Leader also immediately turned his body and threw himself into the bushes.

The Salt Light Fortress Leader also gritted his teeth and ran at the enormous momentum that was coming from behind.

‘If I go this way, I’ll come out to a swamp. First, this way!’

Even in the situation of being chased by Cheon Mubaeck, the Salt Light Fortress Leader maintained his composure as much as possible.

Numerous paths came to his mind. A faster, more stealthy path to hide his body. Even in the dense forest where all sorts of bushes were complicatedly entangled and difficult to break through, the Salt Light Fortress Leader moved, finding a path like a ghost. A movement that was swifter and more stealthy than a mountain beast.

It was a scene where one could understand why he had confidently said he would lure Cheon Mubaeck to the mountain path.

Because the Salt Light Fortress Leader’s movements were like a ghost, as if to prove that the common saying in the martial world that one could not chase the Green Forest in the mountains was accurate.

But at some point, the momentum that had been coming from behind the Salt Light Fortress Leader disappeared.

The Salt Light Fortress Leader’s face contorted as he glanced back.

“Damn it, did I shake him off too quickly? Did he give up and go back already?”

He felt a sense of regret.

“You foolish bastard. You were all talk. A guy with no backbone.”

The Salt Light Fortress Leader even felt a sense of triumph. He had cut off his arm, and had attacked the Great Strength King and had even made a useless proposal for cooperation.

By now, the other fortress leaders would have taken the Yangtze River’s flag.

The Salt Light Fortress Leader was on the verge of throwing his head back and laughing at the thought of Cheon Mubaeck, who had belatedly realized that fact, being swept away by his provocation and chasing him, and then giving up and hurriedly returning.

No, he couldn’t hold it in, and a laugh escaped his lips.

“Hehehe! You moron.”

It was then. A voice that hit his ears as clearly as if it were right next to him.

“There you are?”

“…!”

The Salt Light Fortress Leader’s body became stiff as if he had been struck by lightning.

The Salt Light Fortress Leader’s neck, as if his acupoints had been struck, snapped back.

On the tree.

An indifferent gaze from behind the mask was pouring down.

“Heok!”

Was this what it felt like for one’s heart to sink? As a chill seeped from the tips of his toes to his head, he instinctively turned his body and ran again. He ran through the dense forest with all his might, unfolding his lightness art.

A prey being chased by a hunter can sometimes run faster than it normally can. The Salt Light Fortress Leader’s figure, who felt an extreme sense of crisis, pierced through the Green Forest like a thunderbolt.

“You’re trying hard. You’re trying really hard.”

But the voice was still coming from above his head.

“…!”

A cold sweat drenched his back.

He just ran hard. He ran with all his might, using his lightness art. Unless it was the Great Strength King, no master of the peak could chase him in this dense forest.

That is, while stepping on the mountain.

“Your feet will get sweaty, hey. Run moderately.”

“Sh-shut up!”

The Salt Light Fortress Leader ran. Cheon Mubaeck flew.

That was the blind spot. No matter how much he ran, how could he stop a person who was flying in the sky, even if he was running on the ground?

To be precise, he was not flying. An overwhelming lightness art of crossing by stepping on the treetops. No matter how much he ran, how could he shake off Cheon Mubaeck, who was unfolding his lightness art as if he were flying above his head!

“Well, that’s enough, give me the flag.”

In an instant, Cheon Mubaeck’s figure plunged down from above like a thunderbolt. The Salt Light Fortress Leader hurriedly twisted his body in a strong sense of crisis, but Cheon Mubaeck plunged accurately, as if he had expected even that.

Kwaduk!

“Ugh!”

At the dull impact on his shoulder, he was pinned to the ground at the speed he was running and slid.

“Ugh…”

The sight of him barely lifting his face, which was pinned to the ground, was truly terrible. His nose was broken, and his teeth were falling out.

The emotion revealed on his face was a complicated emotion mixed with astonishment and fear.

But strangely, there was a hint of a smile.

“Hehe. Do you think it went as you wished? It’s already too late. We must have taken your flag.”

A judgment that he must have bought enough time.

Cheon Mubaeck’s reaction was indifferent.

“If the flag had been taken, news would have come.”

“What?”

Ignoring the Salt Light Fortress Leader, who let out a dazed sound, Cheon Mubaeck took the flag without hesitation.

Hwiiiik! Peong!

As he took the flag and waved it once, a signal flare was shot from the peak where they were watching the proxy war.

Only then did the Salt Light Fortress Leader’s face, who had grasped the situation, turn pale.

“Well, the flag is done. What did you say? That you would cut off my neck. That I was a foolish guy, that I was a guy with no backbone.”

“…”

Somehow, the voice was eerie.

“Well, it’s true that you have no backbone. Since I only cut off one arm. The balance is right only when both arms are cut off, but I was too soft-hearted.”

“…”

“But don’t cry. I won’t cut off your neck. I’ll just cut off your arm to match the balance.”

It was then.

“I came after seeing the signal flare, but it wasn’t that the Green Forest had taken the Yangtze River’s, but that the turtle bastard had caught the mountain boar bastard?”

Doki of the Three Monsters slowly appeared. Perhaps it was fortunate for the Salt Light Fortress Leader. Because Cheon Mubaeck’s gaze left him and turned to Doki.

“It would have been nice to end it by taking two flags at once, but it’s a pity that there’s only one.”

Doki said so and raised his momentum. A poisonous qi spread from the spot where he was, and the green bushes around him quickly withered and turned black.

It was poisonous qi.

Cheon Mubaeck made an annoyed expression.

“Hey. Salt Light Fortress Leader.”

“Huh?”

“If you don’t want to have your other arm cut off, run away with the flag. Keep it well. I see that although your sword skills are clumsy, you’re good at running away.”

“…”

“If you get caught, you’ll die.”

At those words, the Salt Light Fortress Leader glanced at Doki. The strong poisonous qi that was spreading from him was so terrifying that it felt as if his lungs would be squeezed if he inhaled even a little.

That’s right. If he got caught, he would become a pool of blood in that poison.

“No, not him.”

“…?”

“If you get caught, you’ll die by my hand. It won’t end with just one arm.”

The Salt Light Fortress Leader ran away as he was.

Doki sneered as he looked at his back.

“Hmph, how far can you run? And you, I didn’t like you from the beginning, so I’ll teach you a lesson this time.”

“You’re really clueless.”

At Cheon Mubaeck’s calm reaction, Doki flinched for a moment.

An unshakable expression. No matter how much of an absolute master he was, when he met a master who used poison, he would instinctively be reluctant. Even if the person felt like a subordinate to him, there was nothing more reluctant than poison.

But Cheon Mubaeck, far from being reluctant, was rather annoyed.

“I had spared you then, but now you’re crawling here, asking to be killed.”

Tsk. Even if I show mercy, you still want to die.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep