Chapter 1589
Then who the hell are they? (9)
Tearing through the darkness, the eyes of Cheon Myeon Susa [Master of the Thousand Faces], Dam Yeohae, emitted a sharp killing intent.
His throat felt parched, or perhaps he was feeling an unquenchable thirst, as he continuously licked his dark lips.
Someone might scorn him for being frivolous.
But if anyone saw the perfectly orchestrated situation unfolding before his eyes, they would feel the same thirst.
‘Ryeonju.’
Did he truly know? The exact moment when Sapaeryeon’s reinforcements would arrive?
From which direction they would charge in?
Impossible.
Yet, this unimaginable event was happening right now. It was as if Jang IIso had fought right beside him, directing him, creating the most perfect scenario for Haomun to go on rampage.
A massive enemy with severed limbs writhed in pain. At any moment, he could tear open the belly and feast on the hot entrails.
“Charge!”
“Yes!”
Inner strength swirled around Dam Yeohae’s hands.
‘When did it begin?’
The one he had merely considered a madman, but could no longer dare to call so, had started drawing this grand picture.
‘How long had he waited?’
For the moment to plunge the sharp blade called ‘Sun Palace’ into the backs of the unsuspecting enemies charging in without any doubt!
Seizing Yunnan and Sichuan had been for this one move. To keep this decisive blow, which would strike Hubei like a thunderbolt, concealed until the end!
Could they have even dared to imagine this massive and wicked scheme?
“Smash them all! Show those arrogant Central Plains’ fools the power of the Southern Sea!”
A roar loud enough to burst eardrums echoed.
The term ‘Central Plains’ fools’ was somewhat annoying, but it didn’t matter.
That voice, laden with inner energy, would instill even greater fear in the enemies.
And in truth, one part of that statement was deeply satisfying.
Wiiiiing!
The inner strength wrapped around Dam Yeohae’s hand began to surge like a storm.
Elevated to the point where his facial disguise could almost peel off, Dam Yeohae shouted with all his might.
“It’s time to take over the Central Plains!”
Haomun and the Sun Palace.
Jang Ilso’s two finely honed daggers rushed toward their prey caught in a trap.
“H-Haomun! Haomun has appeared!”
“Another one there! Unknown force is closing in rapidly!”
“Sect Leader, the situation has changed! Please give us orders, Sect Leader!”
Cries echoed from all directions, but Jongli Hyeong stood in a daze, blankly watching the figures rushing towards them.
‘Sun Palace?’
He had expected Haomun. Not expecting them would have been stranger, considering they proudly held one pillar of Sapaeryeon, and it made no sense for them not to appear when their leader was in mortal danger.
Yet, the reason Jongli Hyeong had been able to lead everyone to this place was his unshakable belief that, even if Haomun joined, they would never lose their advantage.
“Why… why are they siding with Sapaeryeon?”
But that belief shattered completely with the appearance of the Sun Palace.
The Five Palaces Beyond the Border. Though they weren’t close to the Just Sects, they were even further from the Evil ones. Why on earth would they suddenly decide to help Sapaeryeon? Why!
“Sect Leader!”
Another desperate shout pierced his ears, finally brought Jongli Hyeong back to his senses.
‘We must escape…’
They had to flee.
Even in a well-maintained formation, they barely matched their opponents’ strength.
Facing them in this chaotic state? The outcome was obvious.
It was utterly overwhelming.
But escape seemed nearly impossible.
Maninbang and Black Ghost clung to them like ravenous wolves, snapping at their heels. To make matters worse, the command structure had long since collapsed – there was no way to retreat in an organized manner, and Jongli Hyeong’s orders weren’t even reaching his disciples.
How could they possibly escape in this situation?
“This, this isn’t my fault… it’s not my fault! This isn’t something I did wrong…”
“Sect Leader!”
Someone grabbed his shoulder and shook him violently.
“Get a hold of yourself, Sect Leader! If you don’t issue orders right now, we’re all going to die!”
In that moment, Jongli Hyeong saw it.
Haomun and Sun Palace, having raced across the vast land, plunged into the battlefield with all their might, like a swarm of ants.
“Uaaaahhhh!”
“Aaaargh!”
Countless heads and bodies flew into the air.
They spared neither friend nor foe. Rather than lose momentum by distinguishing between allies and enemies, they killed everything in sight.
It was a brutal and ruthless strategy, but it was equally effective.
The raw shock and terror overwhelmed the disciples of Gupailbang. Jongli Hyeong was no exception.
“R-Run away.”
“Sect Leader!”
“Run away! We must get out of here immediately! Now!”
“Sect Leader, please calm down! First…”
“You fool! Can’t you see the enemies behind us? What do you mean, calm down?”
Jongli Hyeong shouted, channeling his inner energy into his sword.
They would die.
It wasn’t the fierce attackers breaking through that he feared.
What Jongli Hyeong feared were the forces behind, slowly tightening their encirclement, seizing this opportunity.
Once surrounded, there would be no escape. They wouldn’t leave any survivors. They would kill every single member of Gupailbang present, down to the last ant.
“Elders, clear a path! We must break out of here. Cut them all down and open an escape route!”
Jongli Hyeong’s eyes gleamed with a mixture of ferocity and fear. In the face of an unprecedented fear of death, even the martial prowess he had accumulated over the years seemed useless.
Before arriving here, they had been proud martial artists, but now they had become beasts scrambling for survival. With Jongli Hyeong’s own frantic struggle, the barely restrained terror burst forth.
“R-Run away!”
“We’re all going to die! If we stay here, we’ll all die!”
A different kind of chaos unfolded.
This was neither a duel nor a scholarly exchange of martial arts.
It was pure warfare. The side that lost its momentum would lose.
But Kongtong’s disciples lacked the experience to understand that, and they crumbled, unable even to think of holding themselves together.
Fear poured in like a torrent. Those caught in it scattered like sparks from a forge. It was the moment their formation completely, instantaneously collapsed.
“Noooooo!”
He shouted until his throat felt like it would burst, but Beop Gye’s voice didn’t reach anyone.
Without a chance to intervene, the disciples of Gupailbang began to scatter in all directions.
This was the worst possible decision.
Even staying together was dangerous, but scattering? It was like offering their necks to the enemy.
How could they make such a senseless choice?
“Sahyeong! The enemies…!”
A voice kept urging from beside him. Beop Gye’s eyes wavered greatly.
‘What should I do? What should I do?’
He had thought he had cornered them.
But the Southern Sea Sun Palace, which should have been impossibly far away, had appeared here. This meant that this place was a trap Sapaeryeon had been preparing for a long time.
How could such a thing be possible? How could anyone…
“Sahyeong!”
The angry voice finally pierced his ears. Beop Gye bit his lip until it bled.
It was pointless. Such thoughts had no value now.
What he needed to do was somehow reverse this situation. And somehow overcome it.
The collapse wasn’t completely beyond control yet, so there should be a chance to recover. Surely…!
“Elders, follow me! First…”
But at that moment.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The sound of something sharp scraping the ground accompanied the slow approach of someone towards Beop Gye.
Beop Gye’s face hardened.
Jeok Ho.
The man whose mere presence had held Beop Gye in place was finally making his move.
“This…”
“I’m not in a particularly good mood. I may not be as renowned as the monks of Shaolin, but surely I don’t deserve to be ignored like this.”
Jeok Ho’s blade emitted a menacing growl, clearly indicating that he wouldn’t let them leave so easily.
“If you still choose to ignore me, then I have no choice but to prove myself.”
Jeok Ho’s eyes bore down on Beop Gye like those of a tiger, and soon, the Red Dogs he led bared their teeth, pressing down on the elders of Shaolin.
‘This…’
The color drained from Beop Gye’s face.
Even though the main force was being pierced without proper resistance, these men hadn’t left Jang Ilso’s side.
Naturally, Beop Gye had believed their objective was to rescue Jang Ilso and kill Beop Jong. How could he have thought otherwise?
But their goal was different.
At this moment, their aim was to bind those who would step forward to stabilize the faltering Gupailbang. That was the purpose behind their silent restraint, even at the cost of great sacrifice.
It was nothing short of a thorough mockery. And Beop Gye’s thoughts proved to be right. At this very moment, Paeng Yeop was also surrounded by the Red Dogs.
Beop Gye gritted his teeth and asked.
“Was this your plan from the start?”
“Of course not.”
Jeok Ho sneered, shrugging his shoulders with ease.
“No one can fathom Ryeonju’s true intentions. We merely trust that he has a purpose.”
“Even as your subordinates are being wiped out?”
“Is that supposed to be something significant?”
Crunch.
Beop Gye clenched his fist tightly.
To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies. Jang Ilso had executed this principle perfectly.
That’s why they hadn’t noticed. The screams, the vivid fear, the momentary hesitation on their faces as they died at the hands of the Just Sects – all of it had been real.
“…It’s not over yet. If I take your life and Jang Ilso falls, the outcome will be the same.”
“You’re right.”
Killing Jang Ilso.
To Jeok Ho, this was an almost blasphemous statement, but he surprisingly nodded in agreement. His loyalty to Jang Ilso was different from those who would react hysterically to minor insults.
Jeok Ho smirked.
“But you’re still missing the point.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You should’ve responded differently. The one you should be wary of right now is neither me nor Ryeonju.”
Confusion flickered in Beop Gye’s eyes. Then it struck him – this was all a distraction. Just as he was about to shout to silence that wicked mouth, Jeok Ho’s thick lips moved first.
“He’s not someone I particularly like, but I have to admit it. The most dangerous man on this battlefield is…”
“…What?”
At that moment.
Paaaah!
A massive banner was raised high into the sky.
In the midst of the enemy’s camp, a vibrant, multicolored flag shot up, revealing a man standing at its center.
That man was…
“Ho Gamyeong?”
Poisoned Heart Rakshasa, Ho Gamyeong.
The Commander of Sapaeryeon surveyed the battlefield with chilling eyes. His voice, devoid of any emotion, slipped out.
“Raise the Red Flag.”
“Yes, Commander!”
No sooner had the command been given than the red flag soared high into the sky.
Immediately, the red and black forces of Sapaeryeon, mingled with the enemy, moved in perfect unison. They slithered and coiled around the enemy like a giant snake constricting its prey.
Ho Gamyeong gazed down at the battlefield. What he saw wasn’t a chaotic battlefield teeming with people, but an immense board. His eyes, cold and calculating like those of a seasoned gambler, assessed the scene.
“Raise the Green Flag. Encircle the enemy. Keep the Red Flag at an angle! Hold them by their ankles and drag them down.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Behind Ho Gamyeong, the flags fluttered furiously in the wind.
After enduring so much, this was the opportunity they had seized. Through that time, they had honed their resolve to a razor’s edge. Ho Gamyeong poured everything he had into this moment.
“Not a single one… shall escape.”
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