CLS-Chapter 273

Chapter 273

“Run, run away!”

“The Demonic Cult bastards are swarming in!”

The spectators were terrified and retreated backward.

It was already spine-chilling enough that the Demonic Cult had appeared before them, but now they were actually attacking.

“Back! Fall back!”

“Where are we supposed to retreat to!”

They began running toward the opposite direction, but similar thoughts started arising in everyone’s minds.

‘Where are we supposed to escape to?’

This was the peak of Mount Hua. Mount Hua was the most treacherous mountain among all mountains existing in the Central Plains. It was a place where one couldn’t even dare to climb the mountain unless following the designated mountain paths.

But the only path leading up to the Mount Hua Sect had already been seized by those bastards. The only direction they could flee to now was backward, but behind Mount Hua lay sheer cliffs that dropped straight down.

“For, for now, fall back! Don’t get in the way of Mount Hua’s martial artists dealing with those bastards!”

Hearing the urgent voice, the spectators quickly retreated backward.

“D-Dad.”

“It’s alright.”

Wei Jeong-han stroked the back of the trembling Wei Su-ryeon.

‘The Demonic Cult…’

Though his hand stroking her back was gentle, Wei Jeong-han’s face was hardened as if covered with iron armor. The lifelong enemies he had fought against in his youth had revealed themselves to the world once again.

“San-ho.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Take Su-ryeon and take shelter in the back.”

“I’ll fight alongside you.”

“No.”

Wei Jeong-han’s eyes swept over Wei San-ho.

“Now is not the time for you to fight, but to recover.”

“But…”

“No.”

Wei Jeong-han shook his head firmly.

“Since they’ve appeared again, we’ll have to fight whether we want to or not. We’ll probably fight until we’re sick of it.”

Just as the young Wei Jeong-han had done.

“You mustn’t get injured because of momentary rashness. For the sake of the martial world, it’s right that you fully recover your body and become a strength to us. And if you’re not here, who will protect your mother and Su-ryeon?”

“I will follow Father’s words.”

“Good. Your mother should be at the lodging, so go quickly.”

“Yes.”

Watching Wei San-ho run backward holding Wei Su-ryeon’s hand, Wei Jeong-han quietly closed his eyes.

‘I had hoped they wouldn’t have to experience this.’

War with the Demonic Cult is cruel and painful. His youth had been sacrificed in that terrible war, but he had hoped that at least his children could live in a peaceful martial world without war.

But perhaps it had been a futile wish.

His gaze turned toward the black-clothed figures charging at the disciples of Mount Hua.

It was a familiar and utterly detestable sight.

“The martial world is ultimately the martial world.”

Wei Jeong-han shook his head and slowly walked forward.

“Where are you going?”

At the voice that seemed to call him to a halt, Gwang Muryang raised his head to look at the Plum Blossom Sword Sage.

“You should play with me instead.”

Gwang Muryang smiled.

“You wish to face me?”

“Since Black Sage isn’t here, you’ll have to be my opponent instead, won’t you? Dealing with your subordinates would be too boring.”

“Hahahaha.”

Gwang Muryang grinned.

“Indeed, it wouldn’t be proper etiquette to bore the world’s Sword Sage. Though this humble one may be inadequate, I should be able to serve the role of stirring the Sword Sage’s interest.”

“You certainly talk more than Black Sage.”

“Our predecessor was particularly taciturn.”

Gwang Muryang’s calm attitude was irritating the Sword Sage. Even with him standing before him, Gwang Muryang showed not the slightest sign of fear. Even facing him, who competed for the position of the world’s greatest swordsman.

‘He’s no ordinary fellow.’

The Demonic Cult doesn’t have the concept of generational succession. The strong occupy positions, and the later generation pushes out the previous by becoming stronger than them, rather than having positions handed down.

Then the fact that he had taken the position once held by Black Sage meant that the bastard before his eyes was a powerhouse equal to Black Sage.

That Black Sage.

“By crossing swords with you, I’ll be able to tell. Whether the Demonic Cult truly possesses the same power as in the past.”

Gwang Muryang slowly shook his head.

“The Sword Sage need not be curious about that fact.”

The Plum Blossom Sword Sage’s eyes darkened.

“Why?”

“What would someone destined for the Yellow Springs today need to know that for?”

“Kkeul kkeul kkeul kkeul.“

The Sword Sage laughed as if finding it absurd, then drew his sword.

Seureurereureuk.

His Plum Blossom Sword was drawn.

“Boy, even if you’re stronger than the Black Sage of this generation, you can’t be my match. Twenty years have already passed. I can now cut down someone at the level of this generation’s Black Sage as an after-meal snack.”

“I’m sure you could.”

Gwang Muryang’s eyes began to glitter.

“So I can only express my condolences.”

“Condolences?”

“Keuk keuk keuk keuk.“

Storm-like demonic energy began pouring out from Gwang Muryang’s body.

“Because you’ll be able to feel more clearly than anyone just how much stronger we’ve become! When that tenacious breath of yours is finally cut off!”

Gwang Muryang, covered in demonic energy, charged toward the Plum Blossom Sword Sage.

“Support the front!”

At Cheong Yeong-ja’s words, those guarding the upper seats all flew forward in succession.

‘We must hold them back.’

Cheong Yeong-ja bit his lips tightly.

What happens at Mount Hua must be resolved by Mount Hua. No matter how much the opponent might be the Demonic Cult. How this situation came about wasn’t important. What mattered was the fact that the Demonic Cult was here now, and they had to stop them.

“Sect Leader!”

At the voice from behind, Cheong Yeong-ja answered immediately without looking back.

“Mu-jin!”

“Yes!”

Gong Mu-jin, who had come leading the Plum Blossom Sword Ghosts, knelt on one knee behind Cheong Yeong-ja.

“Lead the Plum Blossom Sword Ghosts and protect the spectators.”

“But…”

“We are still the organizers and those responsible for this tournament. We cannot allow those who cannot respond because they’re distracted by battle to get hurt.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Go!”

“Yes!”

The sound of air being torn could be heard from behind as the Plum Blossom Sword Ghosts flew away.

“Is this the beginning of a chaotic age?”

Cheong Yeong-ja spoke as if lamenting.

How much blood would flow again now?

And how many more would have to die?

‘This isn’t the time to whine.’

Cheong Yeong-ja observed the situation with hawk-like eyes. First, he needed to overcome the current predicament. To do that, he needed to accurately assess the combat strength of the personnel here and deploy them in the right places at the right time.

Though he wanted to grab his sword and charge to the front lines immediately, Cheong Yeong-ja knew exactly what he needed to do. The strongest combat forces he could utilize right now were the Plum Blossom Sword Sage, the Taiji Sword Immortal, and…

Cheong Yeong-ja turned around with a displeased expression.

Chyap chyap chyap chyap.

“…Is it going down?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if the snack is going down your throat?”

“…Good grief, making such a fuss over one snack!”

Cheong Yeong-ja’s face twisted miserably.

‘Wait, this bastard’s father is Wei Jeong-han, so doesn’t he understand what it means that the Demonic Cult has attacked?’

Normally in a situation like this, even water shouldn’t go down one’s throat. But this is being too carefree even by reasonable standards—how does it make sense to still be munching on snacks in this situation?

“Do you have the state of mind to be eating that!”

“Tsk tsk, Sect Leader doesn’t understand either.”

“Huh?”

Wei Yan-ho raised his finger and waved it, grinning.

“Those are the Demonic Cult.”

“That’s right.”

“Then there’s going to be chaos now, so where would we get proper meals? I need to stock up well in advance.”

“…”

“It breaks my heart that you would condemn such wise measures taken with a long-term perspective to prepare for the future.”

Cheong Yeong-ja turned his head to look forward again.

‘Let’s forget.’

It was better to forget that bastard’s existence. Thinking about him gave him a headache, and recalling him burned his insides.

Chyap chyap chyap chyap.

But the sound of snacking from behind didn’t stop.

“Uaaahhhhh!”

Cheong Yeong-ja, with irritation rising, kicked the chair in front of him.

Not all the spectators had evacuated.

No matter how much they had come to Mount Hua to watch, these people were also martial artists. Among them were those who had experience participating in the war against the Demonic Cult in the past.

Just because Mount Hua was trying to protect them didn’t mean everyone obediently retreated to the back. There were many who couldn’t control their boiling blood and drew their weapons to join the battle lines.

Shaanxi Soul Chaser Mo Dun was one such person.

He, who had made a name for himself in Shaanxi, was someone who had participated in the war against the Demonic Cult in the past and achieved distinguished military accomplishments.

After the war ended, Mo Dun had made this fact his lifelong pride, so there was no way he would obediently retreat when an opportunity came to achieve merit once again. Mo Dun drew his beloved weapon, the Ghost Soul Ruler, and boldly faced the Demonic Cult member charging from the front.

Kaaaang!

The Demonic Cult member’s Ghost Head Blade and Mo Dun’s Ghost Soul Ruler collided, announcing the start of battle.

‘What?’

And the moment their weapons first clashed, Mo Dun couldn’t help but fall into shock.

His arm twisted halfway and he was flung backward.

‘H-how could this happen!’

Of course, dealing with Demonic Cult members hadn’t been easy in the past either. The Demonic Cult members, who pursued strength through all sorts of bizarre methods, were people who, setting aside their character and morality, definitely satisfied the one thing called ‘strength.’

But Mo Dun was the same.

He already had a record of cutting down several Demonic Cult members, and he was confident that he had become several times stronger than back then. Yet after exchanging just one blow, his elbow was halfway twisted and crying out in intense pain.

‘Th-this can’t…’

There was no time to think.

Without giving him even a chance to think, the Demonic Cult member’s Ghost Head Blade came down toward his head again.

“Block…”

The Ghost Soul Ruler, infused with all his internal energy, was raised above his head.

But…

Seogeok!

With a sound like cutting through well-dried wood in one stroke, his Ghost Soul Ruler was cleanly severed. Seeing the Demonic Cult member’s Ghost Head Blade cut through his beloved weapon and charge toward his head, Mo Dun’s eyes bulged.

‘How much stronger have they become…’

Seuseus.

His thoughts couldn’t continue further.

All his thinking stopped, and his body stiffened completely. The Demonic Cult member who had retrieved the Ghost Head Blade that had been brought downward looked at Mo Dun quietly, then walked past him as if brushing by.

“Trash.”

Only that one word remained.

Mo Dun, who had been standing there blankly unable to react at all, began to have a red line drawn starting from his forehead.

With a sound like forcibly tearing apart layered wet cloth, Mo Dun, split in half from head to groin, collapsed to the ground.

Thud.

Though the venue was chaotic beyond measure, that sound alone was clearly heard by everyone’s ears.

The first death.

Along with the thick scent of blood, a chill began to spread. Those who witnessed Mo Dun’s death could finally realize it.

Those they were facing were the Demonic Cult.

And this was not a martial competition but war. A war where blood and flesh would fly, where life would target life, had finally begun.

“Kill them all.”

“By your command!”

Determination began to fill the eyes of those facing the charging Demonic Cult members with their Ghost Head Blades drawn.

Peace was now over.