Chapter 158 :

Black Flame Dragon Who Quells the Chaos (3)>

Day broke, and new information arrived through Haomun.

“Phew …”

“What’s wrong?”

Seong Moran asked. She still hadn’t even had a chance to wash away the traces of last night’s battle. I handed her the letter without saying a word.

“Good heavens …”

Her reaction was much the same as mine.

One sect.

Three martial halls.

Annihilated.

That was the number of righteous factions that had disappeared overnight.

Under normal circumstances, Yujang Sect would have been among them.

“What on earth are they thinking? Do these people really intend to start a war with the Martial Alliance?”

Considering that most of their targets were small and mid-sized sects with no ties to the Martial Alliance, they had only one goal.

‘To spread fear.’

If deception beguiled and tricked its opponents, and demonic power overwhelmed and eliminated them, then the heretical factions fed their fear until they fled.

Fear that there would be no compromise.

A declaration that they should expect no mercy.

Despair at the thought of having no chance to survive.

Those who became enemies of the dark faction could do nothing but give up and run.

It was already working.

After last night, two martial halls had hastily shut their doors, and two sects had fled with only a few belongings.

Fear had swallowed all of Yueyang.

“Representative.”

I turned toward the voice. Jang Ujae’s friends, the Academy students, were standing there.

Like our group, they still bore the traces of last night’s brutal battle.

“Is something wrong?”

“ …”

The man who seemed to represent the students slowly knelt.

One by one, the other Academy students followed his lead.

“ …Why are you doing this?”

They looked straight at me as I tried to stop them.

“Please, don’t give up on Yujang Sect.”

“ …”

“We know we haven’t looked good, always waiting to see which way the wind blows. So we want to apologize and ask you this: please don’t abandon our friend Ujae.”

I’d thought their group was no different from the others.

Like the Righteous Path Association, the White Path Association, or the Twelve Peaks.

A faction formed by people with no power of their own.

A faction concerned only with its members’ safety.

“We’ve all received kindness from Ujae at one time or another. We don’t want him to die before we can repay him.”

“ …”

“We’ll do everything we can, too. Please be the strength he needs, Representative.”

But their eyes were filled with sincerity. They didn’t look like people who had gathered only because their interests aligned.

I let out a quiet sigh.

“Please stand up.”

“Representative …”

“Even without your asking, I’d already planned to do that. I also made a declaration to Mukhyul Gang last night.”

“ …Thank you! Thank you so much! We’ll never forget this kindness.”

Even though they’d been swept into someone else’s war, they accepted it as naturally as if it were their own.

They weren’t cowards who thought only of their own safety, like the reclusive masters who had emerged from seclusion during the Righteous-Demonic War in my previous life.

Just then, Jang Ujae came out of the main building and slowly approached us.

“Representative Jin. The sect leader would like to see you.”

He was trying to act as though nothing was wrong, but I could feel that he was close to breaking down.

I pretended not to notice the feelings he didn’t want anyone to see and replied,

“Shall we go?”

The sect leader’s face looked as if he had aged ten years overnight.

“Are you all right?”

Eighty-seven.

That was the number of coffins piled in the main training courtyard.

Yujang Sect had barely three hundred members in all. That meant a third of them had died in a short battle.

That was what war was like. What battle was like.

If I were the only one to die fighting, I wouldn’t mind.

But while I fought, the people around me died like this.

That was why I’d fought so desperately to help Taeul Sect grow.

Hong Saryeon and the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers, who followed me, seemed to feel the weight of Yujang Sect’s grief, too. They kept their mouths tightly shut as they came along.

I offered the usual greeting, but no answer came.

Instead, the sect leader looked at us and Jang Ujae’s companions and said,

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that none of you were hurt last night. We have Heaven and Earth to thank for that.”

“ …”

“I have a request for all of you gathered here, including Young Master Jin.”

“Please, go ahead.”

The sect leader of Yujang Sect opened his parched lips with difficulty.

“Please go on your way.”

“ …What do you mean?”

“From today onward, Yujang Sect will disappear from the martial world.”

I looked at Jang Ujae.

He seemed to have known already. He bit his lip until it bled, trying to hold back his tears.

“Many of the sects that had been preparing to respond have sent word that they’re leaving. We’ve decided that leaving Yueyang now is the best way to minimize our losses.”

The sect leader let his shoulders sag and breathed out a long sigh.

A moment later, he lifted his head and looked at me. His eyes were filled with guilt.

“We can’t put you in danger because of us, Young Master Jin.”

“I don’t mind.”

The sect leader shook his head.

“You understand chivalry better than any rising star of the martial world I’ve ever met.”

“Even if Yujang Sect disappears, we’ll remember the kindness you’ve shown us today. If Ujae has a child, I’ll teach them about it. And if that child has a child of their own, I’ll make sure they remember it, too.”

For the first time, the sect leader clenched his hand with determination.

“ …No matter how many years pass, we won’t forget. We’ll repay today’s debt someday.”

Everyone from Yujang Sect who had been listening silently began to weep.

Their long history had vanished in a single night.

They must have found it hard to believe they’d lost their home and could no longer stay together.

“Where do you plan to go?”

The sect leader slowly looked around the room.

“Each of us will return to our own home. Those with nowhere to go will come with me to Hubei Province, where my wife’s family lives.”

“That will be a long journey.”

“Most likely.”

The sect leader moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

I broke the silence for him.

“We’ll go with you.”

The sect leader’s lips trembled before he finally nodded.

“Could I ask you to stay with us until we’re out of Yueyang?”

His face flushed with embarrassment, as though he felt ashamed of his own behavior.

Our group and Jang Ujae’s companions would be heading back to the Academy soon anyway. I was about to say we’d accompany them along the way when—

A warrior rushed in, so frantic he could barely catch his breath.

“S-Sect Leader, something terrible has happened!”

“ …What could possibly happen now?”

“You’ll have to come and see.”

“ …?”

The sect leader led the way, followed by the hall masters and our group. We hurried after the warrior toward the main gate.

The ruined gate. The gaping holes in the walls.

Seeing the scene outside, and the people standing there, our group began cursing almost in unison.

“Those damn bastards …”

Warriors were lined up beyond the huge breach.

I could sense dozens more beyond the wall.

Heretical fighters had surrounded all of Yujang Sect.

One of the elders let out a bitter sigh at their deliberate show of force.

“How can anyone be so cruel?”

Neither Yujang Sect’s warriors nor our group could take a single step outside the sect.

When I could stand it no longer and tried to leave, the man with the sickle from the night before blocked my way.

“If you move, we’ll leave not even a single blade of grass in Yujang Sect.”

“ …”

“Didn’t I tell you? You’d have to be prepared.”

“Why go this far?”

“Your shallow sense of chivalry will cause more blood to be shed in Yueyang. We’re only acting to prevent that.”

Did dark faction bastards get smoother tongues as they gained experience?

“That’s quite a noble cause.”

“And you still intend to go outside?”

“ …Fine.”

If I forced my way out, I could probably break through.

But I couldn’t handle what would happen after that. No matter how favorable the battlefield, Yujang Sect would suffer the heaviest losses.

What’s more, warriors from other heretical sects—not just Mukhyul Gang—were openly gathering around us.

They clearly intended to use their overwhelming numbers to end the battle as quickly as possible.

No matter how hard I tried to think, I couldn’t come up with a plan that could turn things around right now.

Just then, a commotion broke out beyond the gate.

“Hey! I said move! I have business inside!”

“You can’t come in.”

“Listen! It’s fine to fight over control of Yueyang, but there are lines you have to respect. Do you really think the heretical martial world can rule Yueyang after obstructing the Yueyang Branch Leader of the Martial Alliance?”

I recognized that voice.

A moment later, the man who came inside with his attendants was none other than Dang Hyeokjae.

“Branch Leader.”

“Ah.”

The moment Dang Hyeokjae saw me, he frowned and gestured to his attendants.

They set down the packs on their backs and went around handing out rice balls and Golden Wound Medicine.

“How did you know to come?”

I’d been trying to contact Dang Hyeokjae, but hadn’t found a way.

Dang Hyeokjae stared at my face for a moment before speaking.

“Listen.”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you relax your face first?”

“What?”

“You look like a demon from a shrine painting.”

“What do you mean …?”

I turned to look at Eunho. He paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Are you angry?”

“ …A little.”

“Still, you’re not as angry as I am.”

“Pardon?”

“The investor who was going to put money into this place is about to die. I’ll have to unload all the baggage I’ve packed.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you know what the heretical factions in Yueyang have prepared?”

“ …They’ve gathered quite a lot of people.”

“They’ve brought in the wandering martial artists from the surrounding area, and five of the Eight Evils.”

Everyone present was unable to hide their shock at Dang Hyeokjae’s words.

The Eight Evils were renowned as peerless experts of the heretical martial world.

Their presence in Yueyang meant the heretical factions had no intention of stopping halfway through.

“Do they really intend to go to war with the Martial Alliance?”

“It won’t come to that. But they could deal with someone like you and still manage to clean up the mess, couldn’t they?”

“ …”

After investing so much, they clearly wouldn’t retreat until they had gained as much control of Yueyang as they wanted.

I couldn’t help wondering.

“What on earth do they want so badly?”

It was hard to understand rationally.

This went beyond “taking a risk.” It was like dancing with a sword on a chopping block.

One misstep, and they could lose a foot—or even their heads.

“And even if they get their justification, aren’t they afraid of the Martial Alliance’s retaliation later?”

Dang Hyeokjae scratched the back of his head.

“It doesn’t always work out that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Their expanded power might endure after this.”

Yueyang was a treasure of a city that the great factions, with enemies throughout the martial world, couldn’t afford to lose.

The Martial Alliance and Diancang wouldn’t just stand by and let Yueyang be taken from them.

“There’s the Dark Faction Alliance.”

“What?”

“Isn’t the Heretical Alliance being formed around the Four Emperors Peak? They probably intend to join it and make their voices heard. Once the Heretical Alliance is established, the Martial Alliance won’t dare act recklessly. They must think it’s a gamble worth taking, even with the risks.”

My head was spinning.

Only then did the jumbled pieces in my mind begin to fall into place.

“ …Damn it.”

“Exactly. Damn it.”

“So they have no intention of backing down.”

If you looked at the enormous growth the Martial Alliance’s founding sects had achieved over the past five hundred years, no heretical faction would want to miss the chance to become one of the Heretical Alliance’s founding members.

They’d started this with the attitude of “We’ll win now and pay them back later,” then planned to hide behind the Heretical Alliance.

That would put all of Yueyang in their hands forever.

“I’ve sent a request for support to the Martial Alliance, but it’ll be a long time before they process it and dispatch warriors.”

“They’ll arrive after Yueyang has fallen into the bastards’ hands.”

“What are you going to do?”

“ …”

They were probably already imagining the enormous profits they’d make after their gamble paid off.

Once a gambler got carried away by a winning streak, even their parents couldn’t stop them.

“Branch Leader, please mediate for us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Didn’t you say yourself that they had no intention of backing down?”

“That’s why I’m asking you, Branch Leader. Tell them we should settle this with a duel to decide the outcome.”

“ …Do you really think they’ll accept that?”

They wouldn’t even care if we suggested settling the dispute through a sparring match.

Now that they had the upper hand, they had no reason to agree to a duel to decide the outcome.

“If they won’t accept it, then we’ll have to make them.”

We just had to use the same methods they had.

Mukhyul Gang and the other heretical factions stayed outside Yujang Sect until evening.

They had surrounded it so completely that not even water could slip through, as if they had hung a corpse in the middle of a market to stop others from resisting.

I looked up at the moon.

The moment the bright moon hid behind dark clouds,

I used the World-Solitary Divine Movement and shot into the sky.

Zip!

My movement was so quiet that I couldn’t reach top speed, but it was still enough to get me out of Yujang Sect.

Tap.

I landed about thirty jang from Yujang Sect, then headed straight for Mukhyul Gang.

The strange tension hanging over Yueyang had driven all the taverns to close early and put out their lights. Mukhyul Gang’s stronghold, however, was as bright as day.

‘They’re living the good life.’

Music poured from the largest building, and people’s drunken shouts came from inside now and then.

I sensed two powerful presences inside. It seemed they were holding a banquet for two of the Eight Evils Dang Hyeokjae had mentioned.

‘So the other three Evils are at Cheukbu Palace.’

Gladly, I pulled on a headcloth, used the Ghost-Breathing Step, and hid on the roof of the building.

I don’t know how much time passed.

One by one, I began to hear people mumbling in their sleep, and the music slowly died down.

Then I followed one presence inside the building, moving cautiously.

Once I confirmed that the presence I’d been watching had gone into the deepest part of the building,

I carefully released my internal energy and searched for the shadow guard.

‘Just as I thought …’

There was an old saying: the righteous died from pride,

and the heretical died from vanity.

The leader of Mukhyul Gang followed that saying faithfully.

In short, he was an idiot whose head was ruled by vanity.

I removed a ceiling tile and squeezed through the gap to enter the room.

The leader of Mukhyul Gang was taking off clothes soaked in liquor when he sensed something wrong. He spun around like lightning and drew his sword.

Clang!

“Who …?”

But he couldn’t finish the sentence.

Thud.

The Blood Dragon Sword buried in his chest had stopped his heart.

“Y-you …”

I spoke to him, reeking of alcohol.

“Fear isn’t yours alone to use.”

The leader of Mukhyul Gang stared at me wide-eyed. Even as he fell, he seemed unable to believe he was dying.

“Who’s there?”

Just then, I felt two enormous bursts of energy approaching like lightning.

Wham!

I smashed through the roof and leaped into the air.

“Heh heh. You’re an interesting fellow. How did you evade our energy sense?”

I met the gaze of Snake Evil Ak Junghak, said to be the most skilled in movement among the Eight Evils.

I immediately filled both hands with the Sacred Fire Demon-Subduing Hand and unleashed the Myriad Transformations Invincible Fist.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The flaming punches I unleashed and the leg force he sent back collided in midair, scattering sparks in every direction.

“Ugh! Sword Evil!”

Snake Evil staggered after taking the full force of the Sacred Fire Demon-Subduing Hand’s flames.

Just as Sword Evil raised a sword wind to smother the fire, I used the World-Solitary Divine Movement at full power and fled Mukhyul Gang.