Chapter 262

Chapter 262

On the way to Gahyang.

“This is strange. Strange…”

“…”

“It’s strange, I tell you. Uicheonmun Master. Don’t you find it strange?”

“Please just sit down.”

I sighed looking at the person walking around constantly muttering that it was strange. And at my reaction, the Sado Alliance Leader chuckled.

“Haha. Uicheonmun Master doesn’t seem worried at all. When the Great Seal might be broken, choosing such an aggressive operation.”

“An aggressive operation?”

“That’s right. Dividing forces in half when we don’t know what the opponent has prepared—where else is there such an aggressive strategy? We might get defeated piecemeal.”

“If the enemy has completely seen through our strategy, then yes. That could happen. But such a thing won’t occur.”

Half the search party departed toward Oyeon.

But the search party won’t actually end up fighting the Blood Cult forces. After all, in this strategy, Oyeon is a discarded piece.

The evacuation of residents is already complete. If the Blood Cult occupies Oyeon, the only benefit they’ll gain is destroying Oyeon’s axis.

Therefore, the search party will just stall for an appropriate time in front of Oyeon then withdraw. Meanwhile, we’ll occupy Gahyang and revive the axis.

“According to strategy, there’s not much risk. Unless the opponent has forces surpassing ours and comes with an encirclement and annihilation strategy, which isn’t the case.”

“That would be true.”

“If things flow as expected, there’ll be no major problems. After all, there aren’t really any other methods left now.”

The arrow has already left the bowstring. What remains is merely praying things flow according to strategy.

We’re not leisurely enough to worry needlessly. As I spoke with such meaning, the Sado Alliance Leader nodded as if my words were correct.

“Only suspicion can’t proceed with anything. But shouldn’t we know this?”

“What do you mean?”

“That the Blood Cult isn’t an opponent that can be caught this easily.”

“…”

“The Blood Cult is weak. Far more so than the Sado Alliance or the Murim Alliance.”

What forces divide the Gangho?

The Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance. The forces divided into Orthodox Path and Unorthodox Path, Righteous Sect and Evil Sect, have generally seen the Evil Sect at a comparative disadvantage, but the overall balance itself has never changed. Why?

That’s because no force approaching these two forces’ fortresses has emerged. Setting aside the Demonic Cult which can’t leave Xinjiang, no single force or alliance has emerged that could encroach upon these two forces. And that’s the same for the Blood Cult.

“Throughout Gangho history, there have been numerous evil cult groups.”

“…”

“White Lotus Cult. Sun-Moon Divine Cult. Fire-Worshipping Cult. Bright Cult… Each one employed sinister techniques beyond measure. But all those evil cults have had their lineages severed, and only one remains alive. That’s the Blood Cult.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying they’re terrifyingly tenacious like that. Uicheonmun Master.”

The Blood Cult has vitality like cockroaches. Though this matter is no different from their long-cherished wish, if there’s even the slightest possibility of failure, they’re the type who wouldn’t attempt it—such cautious creatures are the Blood Cult.

“It’s strange for the Blood Cult to use such a risky strategy. So shouldn’t we change our perspective?”

“…”

“Actually, this strategy isn’t risky from the Blood Cult’s standpoint. Perhaps we’re.”

Falling into the Blood Cult’s scheme.

“What do you think?”

“…”

At the Sado Alliance Leader’s words, I briefly fell silent, then let out a small sigh and shrugged. Then the Sado Alliance Leader’s eyes widened at my motion.

“What does that mean?”

“It means we can’t avoid it.”

“That means…”

“I never had any intention of not setting up safety measures from the start.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means it’s not only the other side that can use teleportation formations.”

Increase my variables, decrease the opponent’s variables. Thus expand room to maneuver and minimize the opponent’s movements.

I learned the basics of strategy that way from Jegal Pyeong. Using everything available to pressure the opponent is the correct method.

“Don’t the Blood Cult have numerous sinister arts?”

“They do.”

“I don’t think Chilryun will respond, but among them is something called the Blood-Exploding Great Method. A great method that temporarily burns innate gi to extremely raise martial prowess level. If the opponent employs such a method.”

“We could be greatly pushed back in a battle of strength versus strength.”

“Yes.”

Besides that, the Blood Cult has many bizarre and monstrous sinister arts. After all, didn’t the Blood Cult already know about matters concerning divine beasts, whose existence we didn’t even know until hearing elder brother’s words at Anhwa County?

“They’re an opponent whose sinister arts they might employ we can’t predict. Wouldn’t it be foolish not to prepare?”

“Hmm.”

“After all, we don’t even know how the main camp’s defenses are set up. In the worst case, if it’s firmly sealed with formations, it’ll take quite a while for us to break through.”

Didn’t we buy time that way at one axis of the Great Seal?

Ultimately, though news came that it fell, if even slightly delayed, we’re the ones in trouble.

“I asked Gonryunseon to create teleportation talismans. They link with other teleportation talismans.”

Five talismans.

Talismans that can transport one person each, only core fighting strength. It would have been nice to make more, but apparently because the distance between Gahyang and Oyeon is far too great, they couldn’t make many.

“If the main force falls into danger, Gonryunseon will inform us of the situation through a voice transmission talisman. Then we just need to tear the teleportation talisman and move.”

“Hmm.”

“It’ll be less than the entire search party that went to Gahyang returning, but ultimately five core masters will return. That shouldn’t be a problem for reversing the battle situation, should it?”

Ten Sipcheon-level absolute masters.

With that many, even if the opponent were the Demonic Cult rather than the Blood Cult, we could buy time until the main force arrives. It means martial power at a level where even if they spread a Heaven-Earth Net, we could tear through all the nets and emerge.

“As expected of Uicheonmun Master. Thorough preparation.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“The offer’s still valid—what do you think? Any thoughts on joining under the Sado Alliance? I can provide support so Uicheonmun can quickly enter its prime.”

“My roots are in the Orthodox Path.”

“How rigid.”

At my firm refusal, the Sado Alliance Leader clicked his tongue and pushed aside the flowing sand with his toe, then suddenly raised his head. The Sado Alliance Leader’s eyes beginning to shine with an eerie light.

“…That’s.”

“Did you see something?”

“No. I don’t see anything.”

“Then…”

“That’s the problem. Not seeing what should be visible.”

Paat!

The Sado Alliance Leader, having wiped away all traces of humor, quickly ascended to the top of the highest sand dune nearby using Qinggong. Then the Sado Alliance Leader finally let out a groan.

“…What’s wrong!”

“It seems we’ve been had.”

“Been had, what do you…”

“Among yokai hunters, besides those with hatred for yokai, there are those who seek Xinjiang to hone their martial arts between the crossroads of life and death. I also have such experience.”

At Daesageom’s words, the Sado Alliance Leader answered listlessly while looking beyond the sand dunes and continued.

“To cross beyond Xinjiang, you must cross the great boundary to the north. I went to the entrance of the great boundary and returned. That’s why I know Gahyang’s location. But.”

“…”

“Gahyang isn’t at that location.”

Reinstalling an axis.

Originally that’s only possible if even some of its form remains. Just as to perform a ritual you must at least set up a simple altar, it can only function as a formation axis if it maintains some degree of form. But.

Gahyang has disappeared without a trace. The probability of being buried under sand due to natural disaster is low. Then the remaining method is one.

“It’s not something possible with human power.”

“…Then.”

“Isn’t it simple?”

Explosives.

“It seems they blew the whole thing up.”

All of this size.

Watching the Sado Alliance Leader let out a hollow laugh, I hardened my expression.

The voice transmission talisman in my pocket seemed to be trembling.

***

Oyeon.

“If I knew it would be like this, I should have gone to Gahyang. Don’t you think?”

“Be quiet.”

At Cheon Seoryeong tearing open field rations while speaking, Baek Rigang dismissed her words with heavy speech. However, as if waiting for those words, Cheon Seoryeong began chattering.

“Honestly, you’re disappointed too, aren’t you? You know. That this side won’t have much fighting.”

“…”

“I thought I’d loosen up my body after a while.”

“Killing people isn’t a particularly pleasant experience.”

“Hoho. That’s not wrong. Except for the fact that the opponents are Blood Cult members.”

Blood Cult members aren’t human.

Having laid out such an argument, Cheon Seoryeong tapped her sword hilt and fell into reminiscence. Thinking about it, it was truly a long time since participating in a subjugation battle.

‘When was the most recent Blood Cult subjugation… the Jinan Bloodbath?’

The Jinan Bloodbath.

Two hundred years ago, using the martial arts of the former Number One Under Heaven, the Sword Demon, as bait, the Blood Cult released Jangbodo. At that time, many martial artists of the Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance, deceived by the bait, flocked to Jinan. Though Cheon Seoryeong, then the young master of Geomgak, didn’t participate, several of Geomgak’s disciples also headed to Jinan.

Regardless of Orthodox or Evil Sect, everyone was frantic about the Sword Demon’s martial arts. Countless people hung around wondering if they could obtain the Number One Under Heaven’s martial arts, and Jinan, already prosperous, suffered from the flood of martial artists. However.

What happened after that?

‘A third of the martial artists who flocked to Jinan died.’

Thousands died to the Blood Cult’s scheme. Murim Alliance warriors, Sado Alliance martial artists. Wandering warriors. And even Geomgak’s disciples.

Among the dead was her martial junior sister. The junior sister who left saying she’d prevent the scene where Jangbodo was discovered from being stained with slaughter returned as a cold corpse. And.

That year, Cheon Seoryeong beheaded two hundred Blood Cult members.

That’s the reason Cheon Seoryeong hates the Blood Cult.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to behead a few? If it’s hit-and-run, we could do it easily enough.”

“Independent action is forbidden. Geomhu.”

“I know. I was just saying. After all, following strategy can kill more Blood Cult members.”

“…”

“We have to kill them all without leaving any, don’t we? Since they’re vermin.”

At Cheon Seoryeong asking with a bright smile, Baek Rigang didn’t answer but silently looked at Cheon Seoryeong with hardened eyes. Then a low voice finally flowed out.

“Don’t be consumed by emotion.”

“…”

“Don’t be consumed by vengeance. What you should look at isn’t the past but the future.”

“Always with such serious talk…”

“It’s necessary talk. If you continue that way, you’ll be consumed by Heart Demons.”

Just because one has reached Sipcheon doesn’t mean they don’t fall into Qi Deviation. If you don’t refuse the Heart Demons that come and continue accepting them, if you try to be consumed by them, Qi Deviation will come at any time.

“…”

“Find peace of mind. Beheading Blood Cult members can be postponed until after—it won’t be too late.”

“I under… stand.”

“If you understand, that’s enough.”

“…So serious, honestly.”

Having answered heavily and looking around again, Baek Rigang watched while Cheon Seoryeong, who had unnecessarily pouted, grumbled and looked around.

“Still, it’s strangely quiet. I thought they’d arrive about now.”

“According to calculations, they’ll definitely arrive within today.”

“Right? I don’t know what confidence they have coming here, but since we just need to hold position, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

“…”

“…Senior? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Shh.”

—!

—!

At strange vibration sounds coming from somewhere, Baek Rigang covered Cheon Seoryeong’s mouth and quietly focused his attention. Subtle noise as if shaking the ground that shouldn’t vibrate.

The gigan trembles.

“It seems we’ll be fighting after all.”

Feeling the ominous energy spreading from afar, Baek Rigang clenched his sweat-beaded fist and quietly looked at the army approaching from beyond the sand dunes.

“Combat preparation.”

The Blood Cult was coming.

Together with all manner of yokai.