"What?"
The sound coming from the main gate was definitely not from just one or two people. Judging by the roar, it was at least a thousand people shouting.
'Even though I'm injured, how could I miss something like this!'
Gwangmuryang's face twisted horribly.
If he hadn't been distracted by Wei Yan-ho, there was no way he would have missed such a large force climbing the mountain. It was a mistake.
"Demonic Cult bastards! It's been a while!"
Scaling the main gate and leaping over the walls, people dressed in pure white martial robes came flooding in.
"The Martial Alliance!"
Gwangmuryang ground his teeth.
There was no way he wouldn't recognize those pure white martial robes. The character for martial embroidered on their chests was the hateful symbol of the Martial Alliance.
The commotion stopped and all eyes focused.
Gwangmuryang clenched his teeth tightly.
'How did they figure it out?'
The fact that such numbers had come here meant they had predicted their attack in advance and prepared countermeasures.
"When the filthy lackeys of the Demonic Cult showed their faces in the heart of the Central Plains, surely you didn't think you'd return alive?"
"And you are?"
Looking at the old man stepping forward with a long narrow sword, Gwangmuryang straightened his shoulders.
"I am called No Ja-seong. You must have heard of me?"
"Fire Corps No Ja-seong?"
"You know me well."
"Red Flag Corps Commander, quite a big shot has arrived."
"Since old friends have come visiting, it would be proper for me to greet you personally."
"Kuk kuk kuk."
Gwangmuryang let out a low laugh.
"Indeed, the Martial Alliance. A worthy opponent for us. We thought we moved in secret, but your arrival now means you were already aware of our movements?"
"If you're Demonic Cult bastards, there's something you must never forget. As long as the Divine Strategist is with us, you can never get ahead of us."
"Divine Strategist… Such a nostalgic name."
Gwangmuryang shook his head.
No reason was necessary. The name Divine Strategist carried that meaning. He was one who read the heavens from places others couldn't see. Even if they explained how they knew of their movements, Gwangmuryang wouldn't understand.
"Quite a crowd you've brought."
Gwangmuryang clenched his fists as he looked at the Martial Alliance warriors filling the walls densely. These were different from the rabble that had been gathered here.
These were the real deal among the real deals that the Martial Alliance had painstakingly gathered and trained to face the Demonic Cult and other forces.
'Will I die here?'
Fierce determination blazed in Gwangmuryang's eyes.
Even if he died here, he was about to vow never to show an ugly sight when—
"Heheng."
A low snicker stimulated his rage.
Surrounded by black-robed Demonic Cult members, Wei Yan-ho poked his head out and grinned at him with an openly mocking face.
"Tsk! What a shame. Just a little more and you might have been able to kill me. Is this what they call a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Kil kil kil kil."
'Should I just kill that bastard and die myself?'
Even at this moment, if he gave the order to kill Wei Yan-ho at all costs, it might be possible to take his head. Instead, all the other cult members here would be swept away by the warriors charging from behind without even being able to resist.
A fierce battle began in his head over whether it was more beneficial to kill Wei Yan-ho or to reduce the Martial Alliance's forces.
"I convey the Strategist's words. Demonic Cult bastard, listen carefully."
Gwangmuryang glared at No Ja-seong.
"This time, we'll let you go."
Bewilderment appeared on Gwangmuryang's face.
"Let us go?"
"That's right."
"…What kind of nonsense is this?"
"Though I don't understand it either, that person's orders are not meant to be understood. It was like that before, and it's the same now. We simply follow. Decide, Demon Lord. Will you offer your neck here, or will you quietly return to Mount Tian?"
"This…"
Gwangmuryang's face contorted hideously.
This was a humiliation worse than offering his neck. For him who revered martial arts and the cult, there was no greater humiliation than being begged to spare his life by the enemy.
"How dare you!"
Just as he was about to give the charge order, No Ja-seong stopped him.
"If you don't accept these words, he told me to convey this as well."
"…"
Gwangmuryang trembled with rage.
If the next move of the Divine Strategist came from that man's mouth, he would have to accept the Divine Strategist's words.
But he couldn't help but listen.
Gwangmuryang keenly felt what it meant to be played by someone's mind.
"The Strategist said, 'Are you planning to give the fisherman the benefit by being unable to overcome your hot blood?'"
Gwangmuryang stared at No Ja-seong with a blank expression.
"The fisherman's benefit?"
"That's right."
"The fisherman's benefit…"
Gwangmuryang's face twisted.
"Indeed, worthy of being called Divine Strategist. You strike where it hurts."
"Hu hu hu, what will you do, you demon bastard!"
"I'll have to return."
Gwangmuryang nodded.
"Moving as you say wounds my pride, but I must acknowledge that Jo Hyeon's words aren't wrong. Clear the path."
When No Ja-seong raised his hand, the warriors blocking the main gate split left and right.
"Huh?"
Wei Yan-ho shouted at the sight.
"What are you doing?"
"Opening a path."
No Ja-seong said with a slight smile. He too, during his journey here, that precious one who would elevate the Martial Alliance's status to the heavens for the next generation…
"No! Has this man gone senile! You catch them all and then let them go? What is this, some children's game? Acting like this is why the Heavenly Alliance and the Nine Sects all look down on us and attack!"
…he had heard the rumors of that troublemaker until his ears were sore.
'It's worse than what I heard.'
He had already prepared himself mentally. Before departing for this place, Divine Strategist had grabbed him and earnestly warned him not to listen to Wei Yan-ho's words no matter what happened, and absolutely not to get angry no matter what he heard.
He had even shown signs of finding Wei Yan-ho more terrifying than the Demonic Cult itself.
"Huu, huu…"
No Ja-seong took deep breaths.
"There's a reason for this."
"The reason can freeze to death. I've never seen things go well when I rack my brains like that. Just dig a grave! A grave!"
"You…"
No Ja-seong's words were blocked, so he turned his head and vented his anger at Gwangmuryang.
"Why aren't you leaving quickly!"
"Why are you taking it out on the wrong person?"
"Grrrr."
"Kuk kuk kuk, your side must have a headache too. Of all things, that monster has such a personality."
"Bah! I don't want comfort from a demon bastard. Get lost right now! I don't know when I might change my mind."
"You'd better watch your words too."
Gwangmuryang glared at No Ja-seong with eyes blazing with fierce determination.
"Because you don't know what might happen if you really anger me."
"Bastard!"
No Ja-seong and Gwangmuryang's gazes clashed in midair.
"Since you're opening the path, I'll return for today. However…"
Gwangmuryang's gaze turned to Wei Yan-ho.
"We'll meet again. It won't take very long."
"Heheng, coming to get beaten again?"
"Kuk kuk, what a delightful fellow."
Gwangmuryang shouted.
"Let's go!"
"Yes sir!"
With Gwangmuryang's words, the Demonic Cult members retreated backward, then began moving toward the main gate that the Martial Alliance had opened.
Some watched their backs with relief, while others watched with regret.
"It's the right thing to do."
When Wei Yan-ho expressed his dissatisfaction, Wei Jeong-han approached and patted his shoulder.
"Don't get too heated."
"How can I not be angry when we're letting caught rabbits just go?"
"They weren't fully caught."
"…What?"
"You haven't seen the Demonic Cult's true terror yet. If they were truly prepared to die, Mount Hua would be dyed with blood."
"…What do you mean by that?"
"You'll understand soon enough."
Wei Jeong-han looked at Gwangmuryang's retreating back with dark eyes.
'He showed such power without even using the Blood Explosion Technique. If they truly aim for the Central Plains again, a war several times greater than the past will break out.'
Wei Jeong-han 's face darkened.
"Hmm…"
Gwangmuryang tilted his head.
'I've recovered somewhat.'
His insides, which had been shattered by Wei Yan-ho, were regaining their original state in that short time. Now if he could just recover his expended internal energy…
"Cult Leader."
Gwangmuryang turned around.
A man wrapped entirely in a black robe stood behind him.
"Why are you disobeying orders and returning?"
"Because I want to."
"Cult Leader!"
"Why? Is that not allowed?"
"Those people will not tolerate this situation."
"No, they will tolerate it."
The man looked at Gwangmuryang with red eyes and said.
"The cult's military cannot be turned for such trivial matters as fisherman's benefits or factional power. Without proper reason, even if you are the Cult Leader, you cannot escape divine punishment."
"Kuk kuk kuk kuk."
Gwangmuryang bared his teeth at the man.
"How dare you spout such nonsense before me?"
The man's body trembled at the energy Gwangmuryang emanated.
'How could…'
Even with such energy remaining, why did he choose to retreat before the enemy?
They had entrusted this plan to him because they valued his belligerence.
Suddenly, Gwangmuryang's energy disappeared completely.
"Fisherman's benefit and whatnot, such things don't matter."
"Then why?"
"Because there's something I need to confirm."
"You said confirm?"
"That's right."
"What?"
Gwangmuryang shook his head.
"That's not something the likes of you should dare to know. I'll handle the upper management myself, so don't ask any more questions."
"…If you say so."
Gwangmuryang turned his gaze from the man who withdrew, still unable to dispel his doubts and looked at Mount Hua's peak, which had already grown distant.
'So similar.'
Enemies must be defeated.
But there was someone there whose status as enemy or not needed to be questioned.
If his thoughts were correct?
'Not a single one of those involved in this matter will survive.'
And one more thing.
'The cult's glory will be reproduced for ten thousand generations.'
Gwangmuryang descended the mountain with a low laugh.
***
"You mean they just let them go?"
"Yeah."
"Wh-why?"
Sa-ga tilted his head as if he couldn't understand Divine Strategist's intention at all.
Gwanggusin looked at Sa-ga and chuckled.
"That's how that fellow handles things. He doesn't tell others all his reasons, so those watching from the side often feel frustrated."
"…I don't understand. If we could reduce the Demonic Cult's forces there, wouldn't that be beneficial no matter how you look at it?"
"He saw it as not beneficial."
"But why on earth?"
Gwanggusin yawned and said.
"Did the Demonic Cult plan this?"
"…Ah!"
"The Demonic Cult was merely a means in this matter. Then what's the purpose?"
Sa-ga nodded.
"Mutual destruction."
"Whether it's mutual destruction or not doesn't matter. They just throw the Demonic Cult into places where warriors are, and naturally forces are weakened and chaos arises. That's what they were aiming for, but we can't just do what they want."
"Weren't the cult their allies?"
"No. Their paths just happened to be the same. They were beings who could never mix from the beginning."
Gwanggusin spoke in an unusually firm voice.
"Mount Hua's blood incident has no particular meaning by itself, but it has the significance of instantly driving a peaceful world into tension. From that day forward, the martial world began preparing for a new war. Everyone smelled the thick scent of blood."
"Everyone?"
"Well…"
Gwanggusin scratched his head vigorously.
"No, well… as you know, except for one guy."
Who that one guy was didn't need to be heard to be understood.