Chapter 315 |
Chapter 315
The Greatest Allies
Right after Mu-jin departed from his conversation with Ou-yang Pae, the latter also began to move, leading those gathered at the assembly point.
Originally, the number of defectors gathered in Nanzhao was slightly over one hundred fifty.
In addition to Ou-yang Pae and the Red Tiger members who were already stationed, Cheong Nae-wang had joined with over a hundred of his subordinates.
However, now there were just a little over one hundred remaining.
No matter how much Mu-jin rampaged to divert the enemies' attention, some of his subordinates were discovered, killed, or seriously injured and recovering somewhere.
'We can't afford to lose more comrades here.'
Recalling the plan discussed with Mu-jin, Ou-yang Pae steeled himself.
As soon as Ou-yang Pae gave the order, the subordinates split into groups of about ten and scattered in all directions.
This was to pinpoint the exact locations of their enemies, and the Red Tiger Leader also led ten of his subordinates on a reconnaissance mission.
In the dense tropical rainforest, where enemies could suddenly emerge from hidden spots, they had no choice but to move cautiously.
'One might not notice their arrival, but their departure leaves a trace.'
As he moved to locate the enemies, Red Tiger Leader couldn't help but think of Mu-yul and Mu-gyeong.
With Mu-yul's exceptional sense of smell and hearing, and Mu-gyeong's incredible perception, they had never felt such tension while moving before.
'We only spent about two days together.'
Though they had always moved cautiously, without the two of them, it felt unbearably uncomfortable.
However, Red Tiger Leader soon shook his head.
'A warrior of the great demon cult relying on monks? Unthinkable!'
Especially since Mu-gyeong was the one who shaved his head, he couldn't depend on such people.
'It doesn't matter if they're not here. We are more familiar with this Nanzhao rainforest anyway.'
With his resolve strengthened, Red Tiger Leader led his subordinates cautiously through the rainforest.
"!!!"
Sensing a presence from afar, Red Tiger Leader quickly signaled his subordinates.
Upon receiving his signal, the Red Tiger members minimized their movements, and Red Tiger Leader slowly crawled towards the direction of the presence.
Carefully hiding his body in the thick foliage, he peeked through the leaves and moved stealthily.
'Ilgongja!'
Their target was there.
* * *
After returning from the reconnaissance, Red Tiger Leader reported to Ou-yang Pae, who then asked:
"You said you found Ilgongja?"
"Yes, Young Lord."
"Who else was with him?"
In response to Ou-yang Pae's question, Red Tiger Leader answered:
"There were eight elders from the Daoist faction and over a hundred followers, all in formation."
"Did you see Igongja or any elders from the Hwan family?"
"To avoid detection, we kept our distance, but as far as I could tell, they were not present."
Nodding at his answer, Ou-yang Pae concluded:
"It seems the two princes have decided to fend for themselves. But just in case, we should first locate Igongja and his followers before making any moves."
"Yes. I will continue to monitor Ilgongja's movements with my subordinates."
After Red Tiger Leader left, Ou-yang Pae received reports from other subordinates who had scattered for reconnaissance.
Once all the reports were compiled, Ou-yang Pae made his conclusion:
"It doesn't seem to be a trap."
At his words, Geum Yang-hwi and Cheong Nae-wang, who were waiting nearby, spoke with contrasting expressions.
"Yes. It appears that Ilgongja and Igongja have given up on cooperation."
"Clicking his tongue. Letting personal feelings dictate on a battlefield where lives are at stake—both princes still have a long way to go."
"Their discord is an opportunity for us. Especially considering the strategy we've prepared, it couldn't be better."
Both men nodded in agreement with Ou-yang Pae's words. Then, Geum Yang-hwi asked on behalf of them both:
"Are you planning to start now?"
Nodding at his question, Ou-yang Pae replied:
"Send a signal to the Shaolin Dragon. It's time to hunt the boar that can't tell heaven from earth."
* * *
"Hurry up and find them!"
Ilgongja was urging his subordinates to move quickly.
Having boldly disregarded his half-brother, he had to achieve results this time.
"But Ilgongja, if our subordinates scatter, they risk being picked off one by one."
"I know. But for the greater good, sacrifices are sometimes necessary. We are nearby, so while they are dying, we will capture the enemy."
Interrupting Elder Yan Huan's words, Ilgongja replied.
Though not as irritable as in the last meeting, Ilgongja still managed to maintain a semblance of respect.
While Elder Yan Huan sighed at Ilgongja's demeanor, a shout was heard from beyond the bushes.
"Defectors have appeared!!"
Upon hearing the awaited news, Ilgongja immediately led the charge towards the sound.
Behind him followed the elders and subordinates.
Swish.
"Ugh..."
Indeed, upon reaching the source of the sound, they saw the defectors slaughtering the demon cultists.
"Ou-yang Pae!!!"
And leading them was that accursed illegitimate child, swinging his sword.
"You won't escape this time!"
Dismissing his previous defeat as mere luck, Ilgongja charged at him.
Ilgongja's reckless charge unleashed a savage sword technique, which Ou-yang Pae met with a composed sword swing.
Clang!
After a brief exchange as if greeting each other, Ilgongja's brutal sword technique clashed with Ou-yang Pae's effortlessly fluid swordsmanship.
Swish.
"Ugh..."
But the skill difference was undeniable, as within a few moves, Ilgongja received a shallow cut on his arm.
"I will join the battle! Ilgongja!"
Realizing Ilgongja might lose his life, Elder Yan Huan joined the fray.
Though Ilgongja frowned in pride, he said nothing.
'In any case, Elder Yan Huan is on my side. After killing the illegitimate bastard, I just need to claim I faced him one-on-one.'
Elder Yan Huan wouldn't tarnish the reputation of the successor they were pushing for.
However, Ilgongja's thoughts were merely arrogance.
Ou-yang Pae was a genius. Having already experienced Ilgongja's sword technique once in the first battle, he fully understood it.
Moreover, Ilgongja wasn't used to collaborating with others in battle, making it easy to exploit him.
Ou-yang Pae deflected Ilgongja's brutal sword technique to clash with Elder Yan Huan's sword, and then aimed his sword at the gap created between the two.
"Ugh."
As even Elder Yan Huan received a shallow cut on his side, another elder attacking the defectors nearby quickly leaped towards them.
"Haah!"
Ou-yang Pae gracefully dodged the energy attack the elder sent towards him, as if dancing.
"Are you alright?"
"A mere scratch like this won't unsettle an elder of the Sacred Sect."
Finishing their quick conversation, Elder Yan Huan sent a telepathic message to Ilgongja.
- Ilgongja, if you face him head-on, we two elders will support you.
Unlike Ilgongja, Elder Yan Huan had ample combat experience. He had accurately identified why he almost got hit earlier, despite fighting alongside Ilgongja.
- Since you're not accustomed to collaborative attacks, it's better if we two elders adjust to your movements.
Understanding Elder Yan Huan's intention, the other elder nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, infuriated by being pushed back, Ilgongja charged at Ou-yang Pae again like a boar with its tail on fire.
Clang!
As Ou-yang Pae blocked Ilgongja's sword, Elder Yan Huan and the other elder attacked with their own sword energy and palm strikes to hinder Ou-yang Pae's movements.
"Tch."
Every time he exchanged blows with Ilgongja, those attacks came flying at him like hidden weapons, causing Ou-yang Pae to click his tongue lightly.
The interference from the two experienced elders was quite troublesome.
"Destroy the defectors!"
"Celestial Demon Descends!! Ten Thousand Demons Bow!!"
While this happened, the demon cultists who had scattered to find the defectors began to gather around.
Piiiii!!
In response, a whistle was heard among the defectors.
Following the whistle, Ou-yang Pae suddenly swung his sword powerfully to push Ilgongja back and then fled into the bushes.
Not only Ou-yang Pae, but the defectors also started scattering to flee as the demon cultists swarmed in.
"You scoundrel!!!"
Obviously, Ilgongja wasn't going to just stand by and watch.
Seeing Ilgongja charging towards the bushes where Ou-yang Pae disappeared, Elder Yan Huan hesitated for a moment.
'It could be a trap.'
However, the defectors were all scattering to escape.
Unexpectedly, only a handful of defectors were running in the direction where Ou-yang Pae, their leader, had fled.
'Even if it's a trap, capturing that bastard would mean our victory.'
Having made up his mind, Elder Yan Huan shouted urgently.
"Blood Knife Squad, follow us!!"
Elder Yan Huan and another elder, along with about twenty warriors from the Blood Knife Squad, one of the martial forces of the Flaming Demon Clan, chased after Ilgongja.
Chasing the traces and silhouette of Ou-yang Pae left in the bushes with their qinggong technique, they soon caught up with him, but there was a problem.
"Shaolin?"
"I see members of the Wudang Sect as well."
Ou-yang Pae was with the hypocrites of the orthodox sects.
Momentarily thinking they had fallen into a trap, Elder Yan Huan witnessed something that was far beyond his expectations.
Boom!!
"Ugh."
Ou-yang Pae was being beaten up. He was being collectively assaulted by the warriors of Shaolin and Wudang.
"More demon cultists have appeared!!"
While more than twenty people were besieging Ou-yang Pae, a monk pointed towards them and shouted.
"They must have come to rescue him!"
"Amitabha. Prepare to kill!"
As soon as the monk's cry ended, most of the assailants surrounding Ou-yang Pae charged towards the demon cultists.
While they were at a loss, Ilgongja, glaring at Ou-yang Pae as if to kill him, shouted.
"What are you doing!! Whether they're defectors or hypocrites of the orthodox sects, they are all our enemies to be killed!!"
With that, Ilgongja drew his sword again and charged towards the enemies, and the Blood Knife Squad members followed without hesitation.
And Ilgongja realized too late why his half-brother, Igongja, had to run away with his tail between his legs.
Thwack!
"Oohk!!"
"Oohk!!"
"Oohk oohk!!"
A young monk resembling a monkey, a middle-aged monk, and an actual monkey were toying with the Blood Knife Squad members like they were playing with toys.
"Hyaa!!"
Meanwhile, an ugly monk emitted a fierce Yang energy that resembled the Infernal King's Scorching Palm, harassing the warriors.
Although other monks and Wudang sword masters were also skilled, their actions stood out particularly.
However, compared to two others, even their feats seemed overshadowed.
Slash!
"Ugh..."
A monk, whose origin was unknown, appeared and stabbed someone’s heart with a short sword before nonchalantly searching for his next target.
Absurdly, the one whose heart was pierced by the monk’s short sword was none other than the elder of the Daoist faction who had been moving with Elder Yan Huan.
A high-ranking elder of the demon cult had died from a single surprise attack.
And as for the remaining elder, Elder Yan Huan...
Boom!!!
His entire body shattered to pieces from a single punch from a monk enveloped in golden light.
* * *
The suppression of the Blood Knife Squad and the elders was swift.
The only survivor was Ilgongja, Gouyang Cheon.
"Where did he go?"
"Sorry. While we were distracted by these guys, it seems he escaped."
Listening to the monks casually chatting right in front of him, the subdued Ilgongja ground his teeth with bloodshot eyes.
The one they were talking about was Ou-yang Pae.
While they were being slaughtered by the monks and Wudang sword masters, Ou-yang Pae seized the opportunity to escape.
The conversation that followed only fueled Gouyang Cheon's already blazing anger.
"It's alright. After all, it wasn't that guy but this one that Igongja asked us to handle."