Chapter 158 - The Black Flame Dragon Quelling the Chaos (3)

As day broke, new information was delivered through Haomun.

"Phew..."

"What is it?"

At Seong Moran's question, having not even washed away the traces of last night's battle, I silently handed her the message.

"Oh my..."

Her reaction was not much different from mine.

One sect.

Three martial arts halls.

Annihilated.

That was the number of Orthodox faction forces that had vanished overnight.

Normally, the Yujang Sect would have been included in this.

"What in the world are they thinking? Are these people... really planning to wage war against the Murim Alliance?"

Considering that most of the targeted sects were small to medium-sized sects with no connection to the Murim Alliance, there is only one thing they want.

'To instill fear.'

GRIND.

If Deception (詐) bewitches and deceives the opponent, and the Demon (魔) overwhelms and eliminates them, then the Underworld (黑) breeds fear to make them flee.

The fear that there will be no compromise.

The declaration to not expect mercy.

The despair that survival is impossible.

The only thing those who become enemies of the Underworld can do is give up and run away.

The effect was immediate.

Due to last night's events, two martial arts halls had already hastily closed their doors, and two sects had grabbed what little they could and fled.

Fear had swallowed the entirety of Yueyang.

"Representative."

When I turned my head toward the voice, Jang Ujae's friends, the academy students, were standing there.

Just like our group, they looked as though they hadn't been able to wash away the traces of last night's desperate battle.

"Is something the matter?"

"..."

A man who appeared to be the representative of the academy students slowly knelt.

Following him, the other academy students knelt one by one.

"... Why are you doing this?"

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

"Please do not give up on the Yujang Sect."

"..."

"We know that we, who have only been walking on eggshells until now, must not look good to you. That is why we wish to reflect on our actions and ask this of you. Please do not abandon our friend, Ujae."

I had thought their gathering was no different from any other.

Like the Orthodox Council, the White Path Council, and the Twelve Peaks and Castles.

A faction formed by gathering those who lacked a faction of their own.

A faction that only thought of its own safety.

"We are all people who have been indebted to our friend Ujae at least once. We do not want him to die before we can repay that debt."

"..."

"We will also do our best. Please, Representative, lend him your strength."

However, for the attitude of people gathered purely out of mutual interest, their eyes were entirely full of sincerity.

I let out a small sigh.

"Stand up."

"Representative..."

"I already planned to do so even if you hadn't asked. There was also the declaration I made to the Dark Blood Gang last night."

"... Thank you! Thank you! We will never forget this favor."

Even though they had been swept up in someone else's war, they naturally accepted it as if it were their own.

Just like the hidden experts who appeared in the mortal realm when the Orthodox-Demonic Great War broke out in my past life.

They were not cowards who only thought of their own safety.

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

"Representative Jin. The Sect Leader is looking for you."

He was trying hard to act like nothing was wrong, but I could feel his emotions on the verge of crumbling at any moment.

I deliberately pretended not to notice the emotions he didn't want revealed and replied.

"Understood."

* * *

Eighty-seven.

That was the number of coffins piled up in the grand training ground.

Considering their total scale was a mere three hundred, a massive third of them had ended their lives in that short battle.

This is what war is; this is what a battle is.

If I were fighting alone and died, it wouldn't matter.

But while I am fighting, the people around me end up dying like this.

That was the reason I had so desperately wished for the growth of the Taiyi Sect.

Hong Saryeon and the Geum-eun-dong Brothers following me must have also felt the weight of the sorrow the Yujang Sect was experiencing, as they kept their mouths firmly shut and followed along.

"You've arrived?"

The Sect Leader's face, seen after just one night, had become as haggard as if he had weathered ten years of hardship.

He looked similar to Hong Mungi from my past life.

"Are you alright?"

"..."

I offered the usual greeting, but no answer returned.

Instead of answering, he looked at us and Jang Ujae's group and spoke.

"I cannot express how relieved I am that none of you were hurt last night. It is something to thank the Deities of Heaven and Earth for."

"..."

"I have a favor to ask of everyone gathered here, including you, Young Master Jin."

"Please speak."

The Sect Leader of the Yujang Sect heavily parted his dry lips.

"Please go your own ways now."

"... What does that...?"

"As of today, the Yujang Sect will disappear from Jianghu."

I looked at Jang Ujae.

As if he already knew, Jang Ujae was biting his lip until it bled, holding back his tears.

"Many sects that were planning a response have already sent word that they are leaving. We have also judged that leaving Yueyang now is the best way to minimize the damage."

The Sect Leader of the Yujang Sect let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping.

When the Sect Leader raised his head a moment later, his eyes looking at me were filled with guilt.

"We cannot put you in danger because of us, Young Master Jin."

"I do not mind."

The Sect Leader nodded.

"You are a friend who understands chivalry better than any rising star of Murim I have ever seen."

"..."

"Even if the Yujang Sect disappears, I will always remember the favor the Yujang Sect received today. When Ujae has a child, I will teach it to them, and when that child has a child, I will make sure they remember it too."

As if making a vow, the Sect Leader squeezed his hand tightly for the first time.

"... Someday, no matter how much time passes, I will never forget and will surely repay today's debt."

Everyone in the Yujang Sect who had been listening together shed silent tears.

Their long, storied history disappearing in just one night.

They likely could not believe the fact that they had lost their home and could no longer be together.

"Where are you planning to go?"

The Sect Leader slowly looked around the grounds.

"Everyone will return to their respective homes. And those with nowhere to go will travel with me to Hubei Province, where my wife's family is."

"That will be a long journey."

"Most likely, yes."

The Sect Leader's lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he could not speak.

I broke that silence for him.

"We will go with you."

The Sect Leader's lips quivered before he finally nodded.

"Could I ask this of you just until we make it out of Yueyang?"

His face flushed red, as if he felt ashamed of his own actions.

Either way, it was time for both our group and Jang Ujae's group to return to the academy.

Just as I was about to answer that we would accompany them on our way.

A warrior burst in, looking so urgent it seemed he was about to lose his breath entirely.

"S-Sect Leader, we have a huge problem."

"... What huge problem could there be now?"

"I think you need to come out and see."

"...?"

Starting with the Sect Leader, the Hall Leaders of each hall, and our group all followed the warrior toward the main gate.

The collapsed main gate and the gaping hole in the wall.

Seeing the clearly exposed view outside and the people standing there, our group spat out curses, without anyone having to speak first.

"Those damn bastards..."

Warriors were lined up outside the large hole.

Even beyond the wall, the presence of more than dozens of people could be felt.

Underworld warriors had completely surrounded the entire Yujang Sect.

At their highly intentional show of force, one of the elders let out a sighing remark.

"How can people harbor such wicked hearts?"

* * *

Not to mention the warriors of the Yujang Sect, even our group could not take a single step outside the Yujang Sect.

Unable to hold back, I tried to leave the Yujang Sect, but the man wielding a sickle from the night before blocked my path.

"If you move, not a single blade of grass will be left in the Yujang Sect."

"..."

"Did I not tell you? That you would need to be prepared."

"Why are you going this far?"

"Your petty chivalry will cause more blood to flow in Yueyang. We are simply acting to prevent that."

Do the tongues of these Underworld bastards also soften with experience?

"What an incredibly grand cause."

"Will you still go outside?"

"... Never mind."

If I tried to force my way out, it wasn't impossible.

But I wouldn't be able to handle what happened afterward.

No matter what advantageous situation a battle was fought in, the ones who would suffer the most damage in the end were the Yujang Sect.

Furthermore, now, individuals from other Underworld sects aside from the Dark Blood Gang were openly swarming in.

Their intention was to end the battle as quickly as possible with a complete numerical advantage.

No matter how hard I wracked my brain, I couldn't come up with a plan to turn the situation around right this moment.

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the gate.

"Ah! I'm telling you, move! I have business inside!"

"You cannot enter."

"Hey! It's fine that you're fighting over supremacy in Yueyang. But there are still lines that must be kept. Do you honestly believe the Underworld Murim can rule over Yueyang after interfering with the duties of the Murim Alliance's Yueyang Branch Chief?"

It was a voice I had heard many times before.

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

"Branch Chief."

"Tsk."

As soon as Dang Hyeokjae saw my face, he frowned and signaled his retinue with his eyes.

The attendants set down the packs they were carrying on their backs and walked among the people, handing out rice balls and wound medicines.

"How did you know to come here?"

I had been meaning to contact Dang Hyeokjae anyway, but I hadn't had a proper way to do so.

In response to my question, Dang Hyeokjae stared intently at my face and spoke.

"Look here."

"Yes."

"Why don't you relax your face first."

"Pardon?"

"You look exactly like a fierce evil deity right now."

"What do you mean..."

When I turned my head to look at Eunho, Eunho hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Are you very angry?"

"... A little."

"Still, could it be worse than mine?"

"Pardon?"

"The financial backer I was going to invest in is about to die, so I'm in a position where I have to unpack the bags I've been packing."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you know what the Underworld forces of Yueyang have prepared?"

"... They certainly have large numbers."

"They brought in five of the Eight Evils (八惡), not to mention the nearby free warriors."

At Dang Hyeokjae's words, those in the courtyard could not hide their startled expressions.

The Eight Evils (八惡), hailed as the unparalleled experts of the Underworld Murim.

The fact that they were here in Yueyang meant that the Underworld forces had no intention of stopping halfway.

"Are they really planning to wage war with the Murim Alliance?"

"It probably won't go that far. But they must figure they can handle the fallout even if they eliminate someone like you."

"..."

Having invested this much, it was clear they would not step back until they obtained all the supremacy they desired in Yueyang.

I was incredibly curious.

"What on earth are they doing all this for?"

It was hard to rationalize.

At this point, it went beyond the phrase 'taking a risk' and was on the level of 'dancing with swords on the edge of a blade.'

A situation where even a single misstep would shatter their foot, and if things went wrong, their heads could be chopped off.

"And even if they gained a justification, are you saying they aren't afraid of the Murim Alliance's retaliation later?"

Dang Hyeokjae scratched the back of his head.

"It doesn't exactly play out like that."

"What do you mean?"

"It means the faction they've expanded this time might actually last."

Yueyang was a golden city that the massive factions rooted in Jianghu could absolutely not afford to lose.

There was no way the Murim Alliance and the Mount Cangshan Sect would watch with their eyes wide open as this lucrative city was taken from them.

"Isn't there the Underworld Alliance?"

"Pardon?"

"The Underworld Alliance is being prepared with the Four Emperors Peak at the center, isn't it? This is likely their way of entering it and raising their voices. And once the Underworld Alliance is established, the Murim Alliance won't dare move carelessly either. They must have thought it was a gamble worth taking, even with the risks."

My head throbbed.

Only then did the tangled pieces in my head begin to find their places one by one.

"... Damn it."

"Yes, damn it indeed."

"They would absolutely have no intention of stepping down."

It wasn't a situation where they would just appropriately back off.

Seeing how much massive growth the Murim Alliance's founding sects had achieved over the past five hundred years, there wouldn't be a single member of the Underworld who didn't want to become a founding member of this new Underworld Alliance.

So, after causing a scene with the mindset of 'I just need to win it back and pay it off,' they would hide behind the Underworld Alliance.

Then all of Yueyang would fall into their hands forever.

"I sent a request for backup to the Murim Alliance, but it will take a long time for it to be processed and for warriors to be dispatched."

"They'll probably arrive after Yueyang falls into their hands."

"What will you do?"

"..."

Those bastards were likely unable to shut their mouths, imagining the massive amounts of money they would rake in after this gamble.

A gambler riding a winning streak cannot be stopped even by their own parents.

"Branch Chief, please mediate for us."

"Don't say such nonsense. Didn't you say it yourself? They won't have any intention of stepping down."

"That's exactly why I'm asking you, Branch Chief. Please pass on the message that we should settle this with a 'Decisive Sparring Match.'"

"... As if they'd actually accept that."

Even if we sent our intent to resolve the conflict with the result of a sparring match, they would just snort at it.

Since they had already seized the advantage, they would have no reason whatsoever to engage in a 'Decisive Sparring Match.'

"If they don't accept it, we just have to make them accept it."

We simply needed to use the exact same method they did.

* * *

The Dark Blood Gang and the rest of the Underworld practitioners did not leave the Yujang Sect even as evening fell.

As if hanging a corpse in the middle of a market to prevent others from rebelling, they had perfectly surrounded the Yujang Sect without leaving a single gap for water to leak through.

I stared up at the moon.

The moment the bright moon hid itself behind dark clouds.

I executed the World-Traversing Lone Footwork and soared into the sky.

SWISH.

Because it was a movement meant to drastically muffle sound, I couldn't build up proper speed, but it was still more than enough to escape the Yujang Sect.

THUMP.

Landing about thirty jang away from the Yujang Sect, I advanced straight toward the Dark Blood Gang.

Because of the strange tension flowing through Yueyang, all the taverns had closed early and turned off their lights, but the Dark Blood Gang alone had its lights shining brightly as if it were broad daylight.

'They have it nice.'

Music drifted out from the largest pavilion, along with the occasional drunken ramblings of men.

Judging by the fact that I detected two people with tremendous presences inside the pavilion, it seemed they were throwing a banquet for two of the Eight Evils (八惡) that Dang Hyeokjae had mentioned.

'So the remaining three Evils are at the Black Axe Palace, then.'

With a willing heart, I put on a bandana, employed the Turtle Breath Footwork, and hid myself on the roof of the pavilion.

I wondered how much time had passed.

The sounds of people sleep-talking began to be heard one by one, and the music gradually died down.

Then, I carefully moved, following a single presence I felt inside the pavilion.

After confirming that the presence I had been closely watching had entered the deepest part of the pavilion.

I carefully released my inner qi to search for shadow warriors.

'As expected...'

An old saying went that the Orthodox faction dies due to bravado,

And the Underworld dies due to bluffing.

The Gang Leader of the Dark Blood Gang was a man who faithfully followed that old saying.

In short, it meant he was an idiot whose head was ruled by bluffing.

I removed a roof tile from the ceiling, squeezed my body through the gap, and stepped into the room.

The Gang Leader of the Dark Blood Gang, who had been taking off his alcohol-drenched clothes, must have suddenly felt something strange, as he spun around like lightning and drew his sword.

SHING!

"Who..."

However, he could not finish his sentence.

STAB.

Because the Black Dragon Sword lodged in his chest had stopped his heart.

"Y-You..."

I spoke right in front of him, who reeked heavily of alcohol.

"Fear isn't something only you lot can use."

The Gang Leader of the Dark Blood Gang, with his eyes wide open, had a look that could not believe his own death even in the moment he collapsed.

"Who goes there?!"

Just then, I felt two massive energies approaching like lightning.

CRASH!

I smashed through the roof and soared up.

"Haha, what a fascinating fellow. How did you evade our senses?"

I locked eyes with Snake Evil (蛇惡) Ak Junghak, the one whose movement technique was said to be the most outstanding among the Eight Evils (八惡).

I immediately imbued both my hands with the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand before executing the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist.

BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The fire fists I poured out and the kick energy he countered with clashed in midair, bursting flames in all directions.

"Ugh! Sword Evil!"

Snake Evil, who had taken the full brunt of the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand's flames, faltered.

Following that, the moment Sword Evil (劍惡) whipped up a sword wind to quell the flames, I executed the World-Traversing Lone Footwork at full power and fled the Dark Blood Gang.