Chapter 46: Insubordination

Heretic Alliance Lord, Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han.

Although I had never seen him in person, I could recognize him at a glance.

It was because his actual appearance was not a bit different from the wanted poster I had seen before.

‘Is he not here.’

Even though I secretly looked around, I couldn’t see any trace of the Murim Alliance’s Shanxi Branch Chief, Peng Ga-heon.

It was a disappointment, as I had guessed he would be here, even if it was too much to ask for the forces of the Shanxi Murim Alliance.

‘Tsk.’

And to think I had trusted him.

But didn’t they say that a rabbit digs at least two burrows?

I was not such a sloppy person as to entrust the success or failure of all my plans to the presence of Peng Ga-heon, so I immediately executed another plan.

“I will step forward.”

“It seems that old man came for us.”

“The Murim Alliance does not pass on its work to guests who have entered its territory.”

This time, I had no intention of yielding either.

“……Alright. I’ll leave it to you.”

At my firm attitude, Han Baek-rim took a step back.

I stood before Wiji Han, who had a leisurely posture as if the dense killing intent from before was a lie.

“What brings the Heretic Alliance Lord all the way here?”

At my words, Wiji Han’s brow twitched.

It was likely because he had not expected that I would recognize him.

I also felt the commotion among the martial artists of the Ice Palace.

They seemed surprised by the identity of the old man, which surpassed their imagination.

The name of the Heretic Alliance Lord was enough to be known even in the distant Northern Sea.

“Do you know this old man?”

“I have some knowledge of the state of affairs in the Jianghu Murim.”

It was a matter of course, but the footsteps of the Heretic Alliance Lord could not be a personal matter.

Wasn’t that the fate of a leader?

In fact, the truth that the perpetrator who had executed the Ice Palace delegation was the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han was a truth that was known only in the form of a rumor long after the fact.

I cannot deny that I had a slight hope that he might back down if I recognized him.

“Are you also a member of the Ice Palace?”

Wiji Han asked so because my appearance was quite different from the Ice Palace delegation.

“No.”

“Tsk.”

As Wiji Han clicked his tongue at my answer, I could guess his meaning.

“Since you have recognized this old man, I am sorry, but you must die as well.”

A sad premonition is never wrong; it seems I got the answer right.

‘Tsk.’

Even after getting the answer right, I didn’t feel very good.

But the execution of my plan was not over yet.

I put as much strength as I could into my voice and spoke clearly.

“I am the second son of the Dancheon Sword Clan of Anhui, and the foremost rising star of the righteous faction who has earned the alias of the Severing Dragon.”

“Hoh.”

I was not boasting about the nobility of my status in front of the great Heretic Alliance Lord.

“If you harm me, it will be difficult to avoid a war between the righteous and the heretics.”

This is what I wanted to say.

I was now threatening the Heretic Alliance Lord.

“Hmm.”

As if troubled by my long speech, the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han stroked his chin for a moment.

The martial artists of the Ice Palace were ultimately outsiders, but my position was quite different from theirs.

Wasn’t I a direct descendant of the Dancheon Sword Clan, which belongs to the Murim Alliance?

The matter of the Heretic Alliance Lord executing the martial artists of the Ice Palace and the matter of the Heretic Alliance Lord executing a direct descendant of a prestigious clan belonging to the Murim Alliance had to be different.

It was a matter that could sufficiently cause the outbreak of a war between the righteous and the heretics.

Although the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng could not be described as ‘mere’, it would not be enough to handle a war between the righteous and the heretics, would it?

“I see. I shouldn’t kill you.”

It seemed like a positive statement at first glance, but I, who had read the context implied in his words, could tell that it was not good news.

Moreover, there was no time to be disappointed.

Peok!

I didn’t even see when the Heretic Alliance Lord had moved.

Wiji Han, who had instantly occupied the space behind me, kicked my back with his leg technique.

His technique was so extraordinary that even my martial might, which had reached the State of Harmony, could not resist it.

Buung – teolseok.

My body, which flew a good three jangs, collapsed pathetically to the ground.

‘Is this… the Transcendent Realm.’

The martial might of the Heretic Alliance Lord, one of the Ten Great Masters of the Heavens, was far beyond my expectations.

This was the pinnacle of the current Jianghu Murim.

I thought I had become sufficiently accustomed to ethereal movements through Uncle Yeo Baek, but I realized that it was arrogance.

“This old man has specially held back, so you will not die.”

Wiji Han’s calm voice rang in my ears.

‘Damn it, my life.’

This was a slightly different development from what I had expected.

It could be said that things had gone a little wrong.

No, perhaps they had gone very wrong.

* * *

To have my life spared even after being kicked by the Heretic Alliance Lord’s leg technique, it could be said to be a rare experience that most righteous martial artists who live in the Jianghu Murim could never experience in their lifetime.

The good news did not end there.

My body, which had achieved the Golden Body and reached the Indestructible Diamond Body, had completely absorbed the shock of the leg technique.

Although I had shown a pathetic appearance due to the unexpected attack that exceeded my expectations, there was no major shock.

It might also be because Wiji Han, who could not fully recognize my realm due to my Returning to the Original State, had held back his hand.

But even so…….

‘What should I do.’

It was not a satisfactory situation.

In the end, the situation had escalated to the worst I had imagined.

I decided to watch the situation and stay still for a while.

Wouldn’t I need more information to attempt a brilliant move of reversal?

Perhaps thinking I had fainted, Wiji Han’s gaze turned towards the Ice Palace delegation.

“If you hand over the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng, I will withdraw meekly.”

The Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han said so.

Perhaps this would be the best.

Although the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng was a waste, since I had the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass, it would not be a complete failure.

But.

“No, that’s not right. My apologies. I almost made a mistake.”

At the same time as a bad premonition arose.

“I had promised to execute you all.”

The giant had retracted his words.

“Everyone here, you must die.”

The god of death had descended on this land.

Quite different from his casual tone, the dense killing intent of the absolute master instantly dominated the space.

‘So this is how it was.’

It seems my prediction was wrong.

In fact, there was a point I couldn’t understand about the annihilation of the Ice Palace delegation.

Wasn’t there a way to save their lives by handing over the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng?

It was because the opponent was not a band of thieves but an absolute master who needed the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng.

I had pieced together this missing link of information with the idea that it was caused by Bukgung Seol-a disregarding her own life, but it is right to judge that it was a wrong inference.

Bukgung Seol-a stepped forward.

Han Baek-rim tried to stop her, but she firmly pushed him away.

“……Did Han-yu say so?”

As Bukgung Seol-a quietly asked, the Heretic Alliance Lord’s brow twitched.

It seems she also knew who the real perpetrator was.

“Let’s just say that.”

The Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han answered.

Since he was not a person with a loose tongue, it would be right to call it a last gift to the dead.

“……So that’s how it was.”

In her answer, which seemed like resignation, I could tell that she had long imagined a situation like this.

Bukgung Han-yu.

I had guessed, but I would say he was a piece of trash.

Since he was a person who wanted to occupy the position even by taking his sibling’s life, it would be right to judge him as an irredeemable piece of trash, incomparable to my elder brother Dancheon Hak.

“Heut!”

I bounced off the ground with both arms and jumped up.

I deliberately made a sound, so it was a natural result that the attention was drawn to me.

I pretended to be nonchalant and dusted off my martial arts uniform.

“Are you, alright?”

The perpetrator Wiji Han asked.

There was a strange light in his eyes; he had seen something in me, who had not fainted.

“I’m fine.”

I swung my arms around exaggeratedly.

Just as Wiji Han was about to say something to me.

“Run away.”

Bukgung Seol-a’s voice once again stole the attention.

Reading her gaze, it seems she was talking to me.

“What did you say?”

“Run away. No one will blame you.”

As if holding onto her own resolve, Bukgung Seol-a said again.

Han Baek-rim’s gaze also urged me to flee.

Her gaze shifted back to Wiji Han.

“Just kill me. Let the others live.”

After taking a moment to catch her breath, she took something out from her bosom.

“The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng is with me.”

It seems her words to run away were not just for me.

The wavering gaze of Han Baek-rim proved this.

Wiji Han, who had been silent for a moment, opened his mouth.

What was on his face was clearly displeasure.

“What is the reason I should do that?”

“…….”

“Are you, mistaken about something? I am not your brother’s subordinate.”

Wiji Han’s gaze took in everyone.

“To me, they are just lives with no particular difference.”

To an absolute master of the heretic faction who had decided to kill, all of them would be just the same sacrifice.

My position was coincidental, so the appearance of all the Ice Palace martial artists was captured in my eyes.

That appearance.

That gaze.

I felt a familiar sense of déjà vu.

Their appearance resembled that of the Murim Alliance’s suicide squad, who had charged in small numbers towards the great army of the Demonic Cult.

Their future was naturally drawn in my mind.

“Martial artists of the Ice Palace, draw your swords.”

Chaeng!

Everyone reacted to Han Baek-rim’s low voice.

Dozens of swords were drawn, making a single sound.

“Step back.”

Bukgung Seol-a said hurriedly, but sometimes, insubordination is loyalty.

“Let’s go.”

Han Baek-rim, ignoring Bukgung Seol-a’s command, walked forward, and all the Ice Palace martial artists followed him.

Although I cannot say I agree with Han Baek-rim’s values, at least I know that he is a true gentleman of his word.

Having drawn his sword in front of a martial artist of the Transcendent Realm, he was a martial artist with the courage to fully accept his own death.

It was the same for the others; even though it was a path to a life-and-death battle, there was not a single Ice Palace martial artist with hesitation in their steps.

Perhaps to those who had braced their spirits, the opponent’s strength was not important.

“Young Lady, please run away.”

“Young Lady, please survive.”

“Young Lady, we will buy time, so……”

The martial artists passing by Bukgung Seol-a each said a word.

Their words intertwined and became an encouragement for life.

They all spoke of Bukgung Seol-a’s safety before their own.

Perhaps to the martial artists of the Ice Palace, Bukgung Seol-a’s life was more important than their own.

But there was someone who moved faster than the martial artists of the Ice Palace.

Teok!

It was me.

I imitated what Wiji Han had done to me and aimed for his back with a leg technique, but unfortunately, I failed.

I jumped back and prepared my starting stance.

“……Do you also wish to die?”

The Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor asked me with a face full of displeasure.

In reality, that expression was likely due to the spirit of the Ice Palace martial artists rather than me.

I know.

I had to back down at this point.

Wasn’t that the original plan?

Since I had the mission to prevent the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, I should not risk my life in a place like this.

I knew I had to do so at the point where the prepared arrangement had gone awry.

But…….

What did I see in Bukgung Seol-a’s appearance?

My fingers betrayed my own reason and performed a provocative beckoning.

“Come at me, old man.”

My thoughts and actions were playing separately; it was a truly strange yet refreshing feeling in my chest.

“I see.”

Wiji Han slowly nodded his head.

“In the end, it comes to this.”

Behind a mumble that seemed like self-mockery…….

“Everyone will have to die. Including you.”

Came the death sentence of the absolute master.

“I will become a demon.”

As if steeling himself, the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor mumbled so.

He had finally made a firm decision to kill and silence everyone.

“It won’t be easy.”

I also steeled myself.

Since I had to start a life-and-death gamble, it could be said that nothing in the world is truly easy.

Fortunately, this time too, I was not alone.

Tat!

Dozens of silver-gray hairs flew through the air like arrows.

The first move was made by the Ice Palace martial artists.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep