Chapter 404 : The Successors in Danger

Chapter 404: The Successors in Danger

Past Yeo-nam lay Mount Seokyo, a range that shared the same leyline as Mount Tianzhong.

From the middle slopes of Mount Seokyo, Jaegal Yohye and Jaegal Cheongyeong looked down at the valley below.

“They’re slowly forming an encirclement and moving up the mountain.”

Jaegal Cheongyeong spoke in a grave tone.

“This might be the last time we can block them with formations. Once they realize how to break through them, they’ll unleash a large-scale assault.”

“The family’s formations won’t be so easily broken.”

Though Jaegal Yohye spoke firmly, her expression betrayed uncertainty.

There seemed to be a formation master within the enemy ranks who could dismantle her array in less than half a day.

Because of that, they had been forced all the way here.

“For now, let’s go discuss our next course of action.”

Jaegal Yohye and Jaegal Cheongyeong moved toward where the successors of their clans were gathered.

In a small cave halfway up Mount Seokyo, about a dozen people were seated together.

“They’ve set up the Celestial Silk Snare and are pressing the attack.”

After hearing Jaegal Yohye’s report, Pang Giyok spoke up.

“Then this formation won’t last long. We’d best make preparations. No one outside knows we’re under attack—the enemy’s Celestial Silk Snare is preventing any information from leaking out.”

Tang Cheolgi asked,

“Then what do you propose we do?”

“Our best option is to cross this ridge and make our way to Mount Tianzhong.”

Namgung Yoo nodded.

“I agree. Heading to the Heavenly Central Sect is our best choice for now.”

At that, Hwangbo Mak spoke quietly.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just break through their encirclement rather than climb over the mountain?”

Seomun Yuwon shook his head.

“The Demonic Cult’s elites and Dark Echo Valley’s specialists are gathered here. If we try to force our way through, half of us will die before we get anywhere.”

Pang Cheollyeon followed up immediately.

“I’m not afraid of dying. But if any of us are captured alive, our clans will have no choice but to bow to their demands. I’d rather die than become a hostage.”

Her extreme words silenced the group.

They all knew exactly what the enemy wanted.

Jaegal Cheongyeong broke the heavy silence.

“For now, heading toward Mount Tianzhong is our best move. They’ll expect us to aim for the Heavenly Central Sect and position their forces accordingly, but they can’t possibly guard every inch of this mountain. The distance isn’t far, so we’ll find a weak point in their perimeter and break through.”

Pang Giyok glanced out of the cave.

“Let’s move toward Mount Tianzhong while this formation still holds.”

Originally, these successors had gathered after the Shaolin conference.

After all that had happened there, they had come to realize the necessity of establishing Sejungryeon, the Union of Successors.

Having witnessed how the Nine Great Sects clung to their privileges, they refused to remain subservient and had gathered here to forge their own unity.

Though the clan heads would ultimately found Sejungryeon, it would one day be these very successors who led it. That was why they had come together in secret—to form a bond of shared resolve.

But their meeting had been ambushed by the Demonic Cult and the warriors of Dark Echo Valley.

They had fought fiercely before retreating here, to Mount Seokyo.

“When night falls, we’ll use the darkness to move toward Mount Tianzhong.”

As the mountains were slowly swallowed by dusk, Pang Giyok looked up at the darkening sky and spoke.

Yong Hwarin’s group traveled by Lightfoot Arts until the sun set, then stopped to rest.

“Looks like we’ll have to camp out here for tonight.”

They had followed the Demonic Cult’s trail deep into the mountains, but there wasn’t a single inn in sight.

And with their friend’s life hanging in the balance, none of them had the mental room to rest comfortably anyway.

Hong A-yul said,

“If it’s because of me, don’t worry. I can circulate my qi and keep going.”

“Miss Hong, you need to rest.”

Though he said that, the real reason Yong Hwarin decided to camp wasn’t her—it was Mo Biyoung.

She hadn’t said anything, but she looked utterly exhausted.

And Yong Hwarin knew why.

She hasn’t slept for days, just training nonstop. Even if her internal strength surpasses Three Gaps, no one can maintain focus when sleep-deprived. Her qi will become unstable, impossible to control properly.

He hadn’t stopped her, because he understood her heart.

Ever since she’d been taken hostage by the Blood Yin Witch in that cave, she hadn’t rested once.

Hong A-yul fell asleep almost immediately after finishing her qi circulation.

After traveling all day with Lightfoot Arts, it was no wonder she was worn out.

But when Yong Hwarin appeared to have fallen asleep, Mo Biyoung quietly rose and slipped into the forest.

Yong Hwarin opened his eyes and followed.

In the forest, Mo Biyoung swung the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword again and again, pushing herself beyond exhaustion.

Then she sensed his gaze and stopped.

“Gaga!”

“What are you doing out here?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I was just training for a bit.”

Yong Hwarin smiled faintly.

“Who’d believe someone who says they can’t sleep for days and just keeps training instead?”

“You knew?”

“Of course I did. You can’t keep torturing yourself like this. Proper rest is as vital to growth as training itself.”

As he spoke gently, Mo Biyoung lowered her head.

“I don’t want to hold you back, Gaga. Even if I can’t protect you, I want to be strong enough not to be a burden.”

The once-proud, cold Mo Biyoung now saw Yong Hwarin as the most precious thing in the world.

“Yeong-mae, your very existence gives me strength. And you’re already strong—stronger than you realize. Don’t rush. Strength will come with time.”

He understood her feelings well.

The world saw her as the granddaughter of Mo Baek, Lord of the Blood Demon Castle. She wanted to be strong enough to silence their scorn—to defeat beings like the Blood Yin Witch with her own hands.

But desperation didn’t bring progress.

In fact, it risked leading her into Qi Deviation.

That was why Yong Hwarin decided to stop her this time.

“Right now, your internal strength has risen too quickly—it’s unstable. You need to make that energy completely your own first. Widen and strengthen your meridians until you can draw out all the energy of Three Gaps without strain.”

Having once reached this state through the Demonic Master, he understood her condition better than anyone.

At last, Mo Biyoung realized how recklessly she had been pushing herself.

“I’ll do as you say, Gaga.”

“Good. That’s how it should be.”

Yong Hwarin pulled her into his arms and whispered softly.

After a while, when she tried to pull away, he tightened his embrace.

Feeling the warmth and safety in his arms—like nothing could harm her—Mo Biyoung finally drifted into sleep.

Feeling her breathing steady, Yong Hwarin carried Mo Biyoung back to the camp where they would spend the night.

Hong A-yul, who hadn’t yet fallen asleep, quietly watched them return. A faint tinge of envy flickered in her gaze—envy toward Mo Biyoung, who was loved by someone like Yong Hwarin.

As the first light of dawn broke the horizon, Pang Giyok and the others began to move.

They couldn’t afford to waste a single moment—this was their only chance to break through the Celestial Silk Snare.

With Pang Giyok leading the way, the group followed close behind. Tang Cheolgi guarded the rear, tightly holding Han Gwiok’s hand.

Since the mission to rescue the hostage from the Blood Demon Castle, they had stayed together—even through Shaolin—and had naturally grown close.

Han Gwiok’s sincere devotion toward Tang Cheolgi had brought them together.

“They won’t find us for a while. I’ve set up a diversionary formation to mislead them, and we’ve already gotten quite far from Mount Seokyo. Even with the Celestial Silk Snare spread out, it’ll take them time to locate us. In that gap, we must reach Mount Tianzhong.”

Jaegal Cheongyeong spoke as she and Jaegal Yeongcheon completed setting up another formation.

Indeed, after crossing three mountain ridges through the night, they believed they had finally escaped the snare.

After running for quite some time, the group reached a large clearing and stopped to rest.

Having been on the move since before dawn, with barely a moment’s rest, they were all exhausted.

Han Gwiok turned to Tang Cheolgi.

“I’ll step into the woods for a bit.”

He knew that whenever she said that, it meant she was going to relieve herself, so he nodded.

“Be careful.”

About two hours later, someone emerged from the forest.

“So this is as far as you came after all that struggle?”

From the woods appeared Lord Sanbi and So Yonghwa. The moment they did, Pang Giyok and the others shot to their feet, scanning their surroundings.

Soon after, warriors of the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley revealed themselves as well.

“I didn’t sense their presence… Ah, so you were lying in ambush here!”

Jaegal Yohye’s voice rang sharply.

“But how did you know we’d be heading this way and prepare an ambush?”

Sanbi smirked.

“Come out.”

At those words, Pang Giyok’s eyes darted across his group—but no one moved.

Then who…?

The betrayer stepped out from the woods.

The meaning behind it was immediately clear.

Jaegal Yohye was the first to cry out.

“Han Gwiok!”

Sanbi turned to her and said with a low chuckle,

“You’ve done well until now.”

Tang Cheolgi’s voice trembled as if struck by lightning, filled with anguish and disbelief.

“Why…?”

Jaegal Yohye frowned deeply and spat out,

“What do you mean, why? It’s clear she was already recruited by them before she even met Young Master Tang.”

“Is… is that true?”

Tang Cheolgi turned toward Han Gwiok, unable to believe it.

But she couldn’t raise her head—nor could she answer.

Sanbi replied in her stead.

“She’s been working with us long before she even set out for Shaolin. Throughout the journey, she left coded signs so we could track your route. Otherwise, how could we have spread the Celestial Silk Snare across such a vast mountain range?”

The successors, never once having suspected betrayal from among their own, stood frozen in shock.

Tang Cheolgi asked through clenched teeth,

“If she was cooperating with you… then why did you kill her brother?”

“Who? Han Chong?”

So Yonghwa tilted her head, then gave a thin, mocking smile.

“Brother Mun said so himself—the Sword Poison Sect isn’t much trusted by the Orthodox Murim. So, we killed Han Chong on purpose, to make Han Gwiok misunderstand and draw her to our side.”

The one most shaken by that confession was none other than Han Gwiok herself.

“What? You mean… you killed my brother on purpose?”

So Yonghwa spoke, her tone faintly apologetic but unrepentant.

“It was part of the plan. There was no other choice.”

Han Gwiok trembled, tears streaming down her face.

“You filthy bastards! You’ll pay for this!”

She wasn’t just consumed by grief—she was burning with rage. Not only had she been manipulated, but her innocent brother had been made to die like a dog.

Tang Cheolgi closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.

No matter how much pity he felt, she had committed an unforgivable sin.

In the Orthodox Murim, the principle most revered was righteousness (義).

Even if one’s family were taken hostage, a true martial artist was to uphold righteousness above all.

If one’s kin were captured and forced to harm others, the righteous path was to resist and save them through one’s own strength—not by betraying others.

To betray others for the sake of one’s own family was something the martial world could never forgive.

Han Gwiok had crossed an irreversible line.

Having grown up with that very doctrine, Tang Cheolgi’s affection for her vanished like mist.

“You cowards! You’ll use any vile means to reach your ends!”

Seomun Yuwon shouted, his voice filled with fury.

“So naïve, the lot of you,” So Yonghwa sneered.

Pang Giyok regained his composure and sent a telepathic message to his companions.

—It can’t be helped now. We’ll have to split up and break through separately. Two groups. I’ll lead the charge head-on. Young Master Tang, Young Master Seomun, Young Master Hwangbo, and those from the Jaegal Clan—head right.

As the acting leader of their group, Pang Giyok’s decision was accepted without objection.

He led the frontal assault himself, joined by Namgung Soomyung, Namgung Yoo, and Pang Cheollyeon.

—Go now, hurry!

As Tang Cheolgi and the others darted toward the weaker right flank, Sanbi and So Yonghwa exchanged a sly grin.

“You should’ve wondered why that side was left unguarded. The Four Evil Blood Flame Swords (四惡血炎劍) of our cult are stationed there.”

Pang Giyok’s face twisted in dismay.

The Four Evil Blood Flame Swords were elders of the Sacred Heaven Cult—but their reputation far exceeded that title.

Each time they appeared in the martial world, hundreds of Orthodox masters died, earning them the title Hundred-Slayer Demonic Swords (百人斬魔劍).

They were part of the Six Demonic Clans, and it was said that when the four joined forces, even a Demon King would hesitate to face them.

No matter how talented Tang Cheolgi and Seomun Yuwon were as successors, they were still far from such monsters.

Against them, survival was impossible.

Pang Giyok shouted,

“Come back!”

So Yonghwa sneered.

“Too late.”

No sooner had she spoken than the clash of weapons rang through the forest where Tang Cheolgi and his group had entered—followed by the chilling screams of the dying.