Zhengxie Sect - 1
The head of Mount Emei, Lady Gyeol-han, struck Zhengxie Sect on the night after leaving Guanyin Hall.
She and her forces had arrived near Zhengxie Sect much earlier, but upon learning that Zhengxie Sect's main power was concentrated in Guizhou, she decided to wait until the night when most of their strength was away.
Her junior, Lady Gyeol-sang, asked:
"Elder Sister, how shall we enter Zhengxie Sect? Should we search for a weakly guarded wall?"
Lady Gyeol-han scoffed.
"Hmph! I, head of the Great Mount Emei, would not sneak into the likes of Zhengxie Sect! I shall enter through the main gate! I will stride through the front and wash away all of the Blood Cult's lackeys in blood!"
It was bold talk, possible only because the sect was largely empty.
But even if that had not been the case, Lady Gyeol-han had confidence.
Among the thirty or so close aides she had brought, no fewer than twenty were peak experts.
Though Mount Emei no longer commanded over a hundred peak experts as in the past, they still had nearly forty, and over half of those were Lady Gyeol-han's loyal followers.
Moreover, Lady Gyeol-han herself had not become sect head through politics alone.
Her martial prowess had reached over ninety years of inner cultivation, approaching the transcendent realm. Within the weakened Emei Sect, fewer than five could even hope to contest her.
She was, without exaggeration, the strongest master in Mount Emei at present.
And with herself and twenty peak experts at her side, Lady Gyeol-han was certain they could erase Zhengxie Sect in a single night.
Kwaaaang!
In the silent night, the main gate of Zhengxie Sect exploded into pieces with a thunderous roar.
Leading her experts, Lady Gyeol-han strode in proudly through the shattered entrance.
The guards at the gate had long since become wandering souls.
"W-what was that sound?!"
"An intruder!"
"Enemies! Enemies have broken in through the front gate!"
Alarmed shouts rang out as Zhengxie Sect's night guards rushed to the gate.
Lady Gyeol-han stood with cold eyes, waiting for them to gather. Then she infused her voice with inner strength and shouted:
"I am Gyeol-han of the Great Mount Emei! I have come to punish the Blood Cult lackeys who have deceived the world under the false name of Zhengxie! Blood Cult lackeys, kneel at once!"
Her mighty voice caused the gathered warriors to look at each other in confusion.
"What nonsense?! Our Zhengxie Sect, the Blood Cult?!"
"B-but… that is indeed Lady Gyeol-han, Head of Mount Emei!"
"What?!"
"H-how can this be…?"
Their bewilderment did not seem feigned.
Then Lady Gyeol-han realized: most of Zhengxie Sect's common warriors were locals from Sichuan.
The rank-and-file likely knew nothing.
In truth, they were merely deceived, not cultists themselves.
But Lady Gyeol-han barked firmly to her followers:
"They side with the Blood Cult all the same! Slay them all!"
"Yes, Head!"
Whether they were cultists or not mattered little to her.
What mattered was showing the world that she had crushed Zhengxie Sect—and these weaklings were perfect sacrifices for that display.
The thirty warriors at her back fanned out and began butchering Zhengxie Sect's men.
"Kill them!"
"Leave no survivors!"
In the dark of night, the blazing sword-qi of twenty peak experts lit the surroundings like a mythic scene.
But up close, it was no legend—only slaughter.
Most of Zhengxie Sect's warriors were second-rate, with only a few first-rates among them. Against twenty peak experts, they had no hope.
Shuack!
"Aaagh!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Whoosh!
"Gyaaah!"
"Spare me!"
Lady Gyeol-han herself cut down three warriors in a single stroke, then strode deeper into the sect with a cruel smile.
"Search the inner halls! Rescue the captives and kill any remnants! If none remain, burn it all to the ground!"
"Yes, Head!"
Around her, Emei's experts moved quickly—slaughtering survivors, setting buildings ablaze.
Though she had said to search inside, none of them bothered. They simply killed those who fled and torched the rest.
From a hidden spot by the rear wall, Seonu Jin, Bi Sa-yeong, and Hwa Yeong bin watched the massacre unfold.
Bi Sa-yeong muttered quietly:
"Strange… Never mind the slaughtering of mere warriors who aren't even cultists—shouldn't they at least check inside instead of just killing whoever comes out and setting fires right away?"
Seonu Jin nodded.
"Exactly. It doesn't look like they have any intention of checking inside. Seems they never planned to rescue anyone in the first place."
Hwa Yeong bin shook his head grimly.
"A tragic sight indeed… How could the head of Mount Emei fall so far…"
As they watched, flames spread like ink soaking across white paper, engulfing all in the sect's path.
Lady Gyeol-han gazed upon the scene with a satisfied smile.
The warriors still running out were all weaklings—at this rate, burning the entire sect would be easy.
Thus she would gain the merit of burning down a den of the Blood Cult. No one would dare accuse her of collusion with Zhengxie Sect.
Though she regretted the loss of future tribute payments, tonight she planned to take everything at once by fire. Better she reap the benefits than leave it to ashes.
Everything was going her way. The thought made her burst into laughter.
"Ohohohohoho!"
Then—
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Aaaaagh!"
Suddenly, new screams.
But this time, not from Zhengxie Sect warriors.
They were the screams of Mount Emei disciples.
"…Hm?"
Lady Gyeol-han turned, startled.
Through the flames, she saw three Emei experts already torn apart, their bodies mangled.
And slowly walking forward was a small, wiry old man—holding one Emei disciple by the throat with a single hand.
The old man was smiling brightly, as if delighted.
Some surviving Zhengxie Sect warriors cried out:
"It's the Sect Leader! The Sect Leader has come!"
"The Sect Leader will drive out the intruders!"
But most of the warriors seemed not to know him, muttering in confusion.
"The Sect Leader?"
"That old man is our Sect Leader?"
The old man raised his voice with inner strength.
"Zhengxie Sect disciples, fall back and guard the rear gate! I alone will deal with the intruders here!"
At once, those who recognized him shouted:
"Retreat! Sect Leader will handle this!"
"Everyone, go guard the rear!"
The surviving warriors, still bewildered, withdrew like a receding tide.
Now alone, the old man looked at the captive in his grasp with satisfaction.
The woman in his hand was Lady Gyeol-jin, who had joined from Guanyin Hall.
Immobilized as if acupointed, she pleaded with terrified eyes toward Lady Gyeol-han.
"M-Master, save me…!"
Crunch!
She never finished her words.
The old man squeezed lightly, and her neck burst like fruit, severing her head from her body.
"Ugh!"
"Gyeol-jin!"
"Sister!"
Even hardened warriors of Emei turned away in horror at the gruesome sight.
Such cruelty shocked even the blood-soaked martial world.
Furious, several Emei experts charged.
"You bastard, how dare you!"
"We'll avenge Gyeol-jin!"
"Die!"
Their sword-qi shone blue and gold—true peak masters, every one.
But even as they rushed, the old man only chuckled.
"That I, myself, must act against such rabble…"
He stepped forward lightly, almost playfully, and swung his arm.
The arm of the foremost Emei expert, who had charged in and swung her sword, was torn clean off—still gripping the blade.
Puhak!
"Aaagh!"
It looked easier than twisting off the arm of a child.
He was an unbelievable master.
But that was only the beginning.
No sooner had he ripped off the first arm than the old man moved before the second expert and reached out—her head fell cleanly away.
Shaak!
The next instant, blood spurted from her neck like a fountain.
Puhwaak!
The last of the three, horrified, abandoned her attack and hastily assumed a defensive stance.
The old man chuckled.
"Too late."
He casually tossed away the severed arm in his hand.
The sword still clutched in that arm flew backward, impaling the chest of its original owner, who was writhing in agony.
Puk!
"Ghhhk!"
At the same time, the old man extended his now-empty hand and seized the head of the third expert.
As simply as one might pick up a stone by the roadside.
But there was nothing ordinary about the hand of such a master.
The Emei expert, unable to underestimate him, unleashed all her strength into her sword art.
It was Emei's signature technique—the Storm-slicing Sword.
"Haaahp!"
Shuaaak!
Her sword lashed out like a raging gale, slashing at the old man from every direction.
He only waved his hand lazily, as if annoyed.
A tiny movement, yet massive force erupted from that hand, striking her sword again and again.
Puh-puh-puhng!
"Kh—?!"
The overwhelming force made it impossible for her to control her blade. It was as if the sword were alive, struggling to escape her grasp.
Puk!
While she desperately clung to the weapon, the old man plucked her head off as easily as one might reach into a pocket.
Her severed head's eyes were still wide open in shock, as if she hadn't even realized she was dead.
Now the old man walked forward slowly, holding two freshly torn heads in his hands.
Behind him, her headless body collapsed, spraying blood like a fountain.
Thud!
A shabby appearance, a small, wiry frame.
Yet now, to the Emei warriors, he looked like the very God of Death.
He chuckled darkly.
"You have forced me to act myself. None of you shall leave here alive."
With that, the two heads in his hands burst like watermelons.
Paak!
It was a grotesque sight.
Everyone present could only stare at him in stunned silence.
Lady Gyeol-han whispered blankly:
"A t-transcendent master?"
From where he hid by the wall, Hwa Yeong bin's face twisted in shock as he muttered quickly:
"Slitted eyes like a viper, small stature, transcendent martial prowess… and that smiling expression. That must be So-myeon Magun, Sa Won-yang!"
"…What?!"
"Sa Won-yang, the So-myeon Magun?!"
The burning buildings lit the courtyard brightly, and Hwa Yeong bin, who had studied the Blood Cult more than anyone, recognized him at once.
"So-myeon Magun…"
Seonu Jin ground his teeth, biting down on his lips.
In truth, this was exactly why they had followed behind Emei Sect.
Even if Zhengxie Sect's forces had moved to Guizhou, Seonu had suspected that some troops would remain—and especially the sect leader, whose identity was still unknown.
Their plan had been to let Emei draw him out, then infiltrate behind.
But now—
"Sa Won-yang… That's far too big a monster."
Sa Won-yang, the So-myeon Magun, was known to be on par with the heads of the great Nine Sects themselves.
Compared to him, Lady Gyeol-han, the fallen head of Mount Emei, was nothing.
Bi Sa-yeong asked:
"So what about our plan? Shouldn't we be infiltrating to find Lady Jeong-in right now?"
"…"
Seonu Jin couldn't answer immediately.
The plan had been to slip inside while Emei bought time. But with Sa Won-yang as their opponent, could they really stall him long enough?
If things went wrong, they might run straight into him after trying to rescue the captives—fresh from slaughtering Emei's forces.
And if that happened, attempting the rescue would be worse than not trying at all.
Yet retreating wasn't wise either. With Zhengxie Sect's main forces away and Emei drawing attention, this was their only chance. If they lost it, they might be stuck waiting for Qingcheng Sect indefinitely.
Resolving himself, Seonu quickly whispered to Hwa Yeong bin:
"Hwa Daxia, I have a request."
He murmured too quietly for others to hear, and Hwa Yeong bin nodded gravely.
Meanwhile, Lady Gyeol-han shrieked hysterically at the advancing Sa Won-yang, forcing a smile through her panic.
"What are you all doing?! He's only one man! Attack that fiend at once!"
"Yes, Head!"
The Emei experts, shaken by Sa Won-yang's overwhelming presence, regained their wits at her command and hurled themselves forward.
"Die, demon!"
"Haaaahp!"
"Taaaah!"
More than ten masters surged in, their sword-qi blazing in myriad colors.
It was a magnificent sight.
Lady Gyeol-han herself also unsheathed her sword, ready to strike the moment she saw an opening.
But Sa Won-yang only smiled leisurely at the spectacle.
"Glittering moths drawn to the flame."
As he spoke, glowing crimson orbs formed naturally in his hands.
They were spheres of concentrated qi—Kanghwan.
At that instant, the foremost Emei expert swung her sword down.
"Haaap!"
But Sa Won-yang's slitted eyes suddenly flared with light as he shot the two orbs like lightning.
"Hap!"
Shuaaak!
"!"
The speed was terrifying.
The two experts at the front, who had been charging in side by side, hastily raised their sword-qi to block.
But it was impossible.
Jjeojeong!
"Ghk!"
"Urk!"
The two crimson spheres shattered their sword-qi as though it were glass.
And in the same breath, they smashed through their blades and pierced their bodies as if nothing.
Puk!
The experts charging behind them fared no better.
The orbs tore straight through their comrades' bodies and impaled them too, before they could react.
Pupupupuk!
"Kyaaaagh!"
"Uwaaaah!"
"Ghhhk!"
Lady Gyeol-han, who had been poised to strike, stared in horror.
"This… cannot be…"
With just two spheres, six peak experts had been killed or crippled outright.
It was an impossible sight.
READ MORE CHAPTERS HERE : https://payhip.com/Beastnovels
ON KOFI : https://ko-fi.com/ripper1920