Chapter 406 : Returning

Chapter 406: Returning

“This might very well be the beginning of a war.”

Yong Hwarin had fought against the warriors of the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley, fully aware that it was reckless. He had done so because several thoughts weighed on his mind.

First, to intercept them before they could join the Dabie Sect, thereby securing a tactical advantage in any future clash with the Dabie Sect. Second, if they sustained enough damage here, the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley would be hesitant to act recklessly for a while.

And since Moonwoo of Blood Demon Castle and Ok Girin of the Heavenly Demon Sect had been thoroughly beaten by Yong Hwarin, they wouldn’t be moving any time soon either.

Large organizations, once newly formed, were always eager to flaunt their strength.

If Yong Hwarin hadn’t intercepted this alliance, the Butcher Alliance might have been provoked and acted out of a sense of urgency. In that case, the Heavenly Central Sect would have inevitably been caught in the power struggle between great forces.

Had he made a single misstep, a war between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions could have broken out right here—and that was the last thing Yong Hwarin wanted.

He hadn’t captured Moonwoo and Ok Girin because it wasn’t yet time. He had only spared them for now.

If he had killed them, Blood Demon Castle and the Heavenly Demon Sect might have gone all out in a quest for vengeance, ignoring all broader consequences in the Murim world.

Considering all those variables, he had decided to spare Moonwoo and Ok Girin.

And for the same reason, he had no intention of killing Sanbi and So Yonghwa either.

So he felt at ease seeing them escape.

“Catch those bastards!”

As warriors from all around chased after the fleeing Sanbi and So Yonghwa, Yong Hwarin surveyed the battlefield.

Once the Heavenly Central Flying Dragon Unit formed their formation and began their assault, the warriors of the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley—who had spread wide to encircle Pang Giyok’s group—were no longer difficult to handle.

Only then did Yong Hwarin have a moment to check on Pang Giyok and his group.

“Giyok, Ahyoo. Are you two alright?”

Pang Giyok nodded, and Namgung Yoo smiled brightly.

“We’re fine. You didn’t seriously think we’d lose to those chumps, did you?”

When Pang Giyok boasted, Yong Hwarin quipped in return.

“Of course not! If you got beaten by the likes of them, I wouldn’t call you my friend.”

The moment their eyes met, the others nearby stepped forward and began exchanging greetings.

Yong Hwarin noticed that even Seomun Yuwon—who had once looked at him with cold eyes—now bowed his head in greeting. He had clearly changed.

But in truth, it wasn’t Seomun Yuwon who had changed.

It was Yong Hwarin who had become someone they could no longer dare to talk down to.

Pang Giyok and Namgung Yoo, who interacted with Yong Hwarin freely and openly, had become objects of envy.

Dang Cheolgi stepped forward.

“Brother Yong!”

Among them, Dang Cheolgi—who considered himself closest to Yong Hwarin—called out in a friendly manner.

Yong Hwarin grinned at him.

“Brother Dang! I’m glad you’re safe.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Brother Yong.”

“Don’t mention it.”

When others threw envious glances at Dang Cheolgi, he shrugged his shoulders smugly.

Seeing the tension fade from the young elites, Yong Hwarin spoke.

“Let’s save the chatter for later. For now, let’s take care of those rats first.”

Everyone nodded at Yong Hwarin’s words.

Having just been on the run, their pride had taken a serious hit. They wanted to vent their frustration with this opportunity.

“I’ll take down fifty of them myself!”

As Dang Cheolgi puffed up with bravado, wagers broke out all over the place on who would take down the most enemies.

Pang Giyok sighed at the childish antics of these successors.

“Huu, we’ve got a long way to go.”

“Don’t be too hard on them, Giyok. Right now, that kind of behavior is something they need.”

Responding to Yong Hwarin’s words, Pang Giyok unsheathed his blade and declared,

“Then I’ll take down a hundred!”

As Pang Giyok charged in, his younger sister Pang Cheollyeon followed close behind.

The siblings’ blade techniques were razor-sharp, and they began to mow down their enemies.

“Hwarin, you’re so devious.”

Namgung Yoo chuckled.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean starting the fight. You didn’t need to have them fight those enemies. But you did it to make their clans mortal enemies of the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley, didn’t you?”

Yong Hwarin smiled at Namgung Yoo, who had seen through his plan.

“That’s not the only reason. If they don’t get their revenge now, they’ll lose their confidence and won’t be able to fight properly in the coming war with the Demonic Path. That’s what I was worried about.”

Namgung Yoo winked.

“Well, I don’t care. I’ll follow you no matter what. Because I believe the path you walk is the path of justice.”

With that, she ran off toward where Namgung Soomyung was.

The successors of the noble clans fought like fish returned to water, likely due to all they’d endured up to this point.

The only ones not moving were Jegal Yohye, who couldn’t use martial arts, and Jegal Cheongyeong, who stayed to guard her.

Though Jegal Cheongyeong wanted to jump into battle too, she couldn’t leave Yohye alone.

“You should go fight too, Unnie.”

When Jegal Yohye said that, Jegal Cheongyeong shook her head.

“No. I can’t leave you alone.”

“Yong So-hyup will protect me.”

At her words, Jegal Cheongyeong looked toward Yong Hwarin, who stood a short distance away.

Standing next to him was Mo Biyoung, and the two looked so well-suited together that it made her heart ache.

‘Am I still holding feelings for Brother Hwarin?’

She had truly believed she had completely sorted out her feelings for Yong Hwarin.

But seeing him in front of her now, she realized it had been nothing more than an illusion that she had fully forgotten him.

‘I’m really such a fool.’

Cheongyeong could no longer hold herself back and dashed into the battlefield.

She felt that a good fight was the only way she could calm the indescribable emotions welling inside her.

“Brother Hwarin! I’m leaving Yohye to you.”

Jegal Yohye gazed at Cheongyeong’s back with sorrowful eyes, as if she understood her feelings.

In a massive melee like this, those from military units clearly had the advantage.

From the second line, axes were thrown. From the third line, hidden weapons and spears were launched, blocking the warriors of the Demonic Cult.

The moment the enemies tried to avoid the hidden weapons, swords from the first line stabbed forward.

In this place, no one could rival the Heavenly Central Flying Dragon Unit when it came to group combat.

What’s more, each of them was comparable to first-rate experts, so their tactics were solid beyond belief.

“Keuk!”

Eventually, the top warriors of the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley began to collapse one by one.

With first-rate warriors employing military strategy, the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley, which had been trying to incite chaos, couldn’t gain the upper hand even with their numbers.

To make matters worse, Sanbi and So Yonghwa, who should have been commanding them, were the first to flee—so it was only natural their morale had completely collapsed.

Moments later, a man who seemed to be a leader among the Demonic Cult warriors shouted.

“Everyone, retreat! Fall back to the base!”

From that moment on, it was no longer a battle—it became a slaughter.

However, Yong Hwarin didn’t wish to pursue and annihilate the fleeing enemies.

Even a rat, when cornered, would bite a cat.

If he kept pressing, the enemy would fight to the death, and that would only bring unnecessary losses.

“Do not pursue!”

At Yong Hwarin’s command, Pil Gye-young and Bang Yeorip began to rein in the Heavenly Central Flying Dragon Unit.

Once they regrouped, Yong Hwarin addressed them.

“The Heavenly Central Flying Dragon Unit is the invincible battle formation of our main house. You all make me proud beyond words.”

Hearing Yong Hwarin’s words, the warriors of the unit lit up with excitement.

Currently, the most talked-about martial artist in the Murim was the Heavenly Sword Hero Yong Hwarin. And now, his name was no longer just associated with being an outstanding successor—it was starting to become legendary.

That very Heavenly Sword Hero had acknowledged them, and the Flying Dragon Unit felt deeply inspired.

Yong Hwarin raised his hand and shouted.

“Invincible Heavenly Central Flying Dragon Unit!”

The unit roared back with full voices.

“Invincible Heavenly Central Flying Dragon Unit!”

Seeing that, Bang Yeorip muttered.

“This guy handles people better than we do. If he’d been in the army, he’d have made a perfect general.”

Rousing morale and instilling confidence in people was no easy task.

But this young Small Sect Leader had done it so effortlessly that admiration came naturally.

Off to the side, the Greatest Sword Under Heaven suddenly murmured.

“It’s in his nature. His nature.”

Yu Maelim looked up at the Greatest Sword Under Heaven and asked,

“What kind of nature?”

“A hero’s nature.”

“Hm.”

As she looked at Yong Hwarin, Yu Maelim couldn’t help but feel the same—that he truly wasn’t an ordinary person.

He was someone charismatic enough to steal even the heart of the Greatest Sword Under Heaven.

That very Greatest Sword Under Heaven, who had hardly ever had personal connections aside from his teacher, had now volunteered to become a guest of the Heavenly Central Sect—proof enough that Yong Hwarin wasn’t ordinary.

“Master!”

As the battle ended, Hae Cheollyeong ran toward Yong Hwarin and jumped into his arms.

It was a scene unheard of in the strict master-disciple relations of the orthodox sects. But since Yong Hwarin always treated Hae Cheollyeong like a younger sibling, this behavior came naturally to her.

“Cheollyeong.”

Yong Hwarin gently patted her head as she clung to him.

Seeing the bloodstains on her sword, he realized she had fought against warriors of the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley.

It must’ve been tough for someone so young to harm others, but judging by how composed she seemed, it didn’t appear to have shaken her much.

That very trait made Yong Hwarin think she might truly become the Greatest Under Heaven someday.

In a way, it was admirable. But just in case, he gave her a word of caution.

“When you wield a sword, always remember: you must be its master. Never let yourself be controlled by the blade.”

“I will engrave your words onto my bones, Master.”

Hae Cheollyeong bowed her head, understanding what he meant.

“Is this child your disciple?”

Pang Giyok and Namgung Yoo approached and asked.

Yong Hwarin smiled and introduced Hae Cheollyeong.

“Cheollyeong, these two are my dearest friends. This handsome one is Pang Giyok, the Young Master of the Pang Clan, and this peerless beauty is Namgung Yoo of the Namgung Clan.”

Hae Cheollyeong gave a respectful bow.

“I am Hae Cheollyeong, disciple of Master Yong. I’ve long heard of your esteemed names. It is an honor to meet you both.”

At Hae Cheollyeong’s confident manner, Pang Giyok was impressed.

“Whoa, I was worried Hwarin had taken a disciple too early, but I see now that’s not the case. If I’d met her first, I would’ve tried to take her in myself.”

A child her age would normally be shy in front of adults, but Hae Cheollyeong showed none of that.

Her refined presence even reminded him of the first time he met Yong Hwarin.

“It feels the same as when I first saw your master.”

Whether she was pleased by the comment or not, Hae Cheollyeong beamed brightly.

Among all people in the world, aside from Ha Deokgong, the one she respected most was Yong Hwarin.

So being told she resembled the person she admired—that alone made her feel indescribably happy.

Still, words of humility naturally came from her lips.

“Your praise is too kind.”