Chapter 425 : A Storm of Blood Rises (1)

Chapter 425: A Storm of Blood Rises (1)

‘So they’re the ones behind the destruction of my clan in my past life. If I don’t eliminate them, my clan will always be exposed to the same fate as before.’

Only now did I understand why the descendants of the White Tiger King were targeting the Heavenly Central Sect.

Without mastery over the Azure Dragon Three Marbles, the other Four Great Divine Items were practically useless.

Moreover, although I didn’t yet know exactly what the Dragon’s Qi was used for, if they took that too, there would be no force left to keep them in check.

That was why the forces of the White Tiger King never left the Heavenly Central Sect alone.

“Understood. Can you wait here just a moment?”

I needed time to return to my clan and issue several commands.

“I will wait here.”

The woman silently watched me as I returned to the Heavenly Central Sect.

The Sangmubo was located in Seohyeop, the border region between Henan and Shaanxi.

The Sangmubo originally operated in Shaanxi.

However, since Shaanxi fell under the sphere of influence of both the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect, it was naturally placed under the sway of those two sects.

Most small-to-mid sects were founded by secular disciples of Mount Hua and Zhongnan, leaving no room for other sects to gain footing.

In that sense, Shaanxi's martial isolation was comparable to that of Sichuan.

Gradually weakened under their influence, the Sangmubo was left with no choice but to relocate to Henan, which was under the influence of the Shaolin Temple.

While Henan was under Shaolin’s sphere, the Shaolin Temple was relatively tolerant of other sects.

In any case, in the foreign land of Seohyeop, the only martial household was Sangmubo, and the locals referred to it as the Seohyeop Sangmu.

In Shaanxi, where it had no real reputation among the many martial households, the Sangmubo had finally gained a nickname after arriving in Henan.

One could even say its recognition improved compared to its days in Shaanxi.

“We will strike the Heavenly Central Sect’s forces as they enter the valley leading to the Sangmubo.”

At Lord Sanbi’s words, the masked man nodded.

“A good idea. Ambush is the best option when facing a powerful enemy with limited numbers.”

The masked man agreed with Sanbi’s strategy. Eungjo, the masked man, intended to completely wipe out half of the Heavenly Central Sect’s elites here.

Sanbi then asked,

“Since we’re in the same boat now, wouldn’t it be better for you to reveal your identity? It’s been quite the eyesore seeing you masked all the time.”

In truth, Sanbi had been holding back. He found it unbearable that someone would dare wear a mask before the Young Cult Leader of the Sacred Heaven Cult.

Eungjo, however, scoffed inwardly at the remark.

‘Tch, acting all high and mighty with that Young Cult Leader title. If the Heavenly Central Sect hadn’t suddenly surged in power, I wouldn’t have needed to make use of the likes of you.’

Originally, Eungjo had planned to manipulate just the Dabie Sect Union and the Heavenly Demon Sect Branch to bring down the Heavenly Central Sect.

But as if they had sensed his intentions, the Heavenly Central Sect’s power had ballooned.

Strangers began pouring in, renowned martial artists visited, and what was once a minor sect suddenly rose to become a prestigious clan of Murim.

Realizing the Dabie Sect Union alone could no longer deal with them, Eungjo had reluctantly decided to use So Yonghwa and Sanbi as well.

But even that had proven inadequate.

The reinforcements brought by So Yonghwa and Sanbi were utterly worthless.

They had already lost all their elite warriors to Yong Hwarin, and the ones they’d scraped together were nothing more than useless third-rate fighters from nearby branches.

Eungjo had expected that with their arrival, elites from the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley would bolster their side, but that hope was in vain.

As a result, Eungjo was now forced to bring even his own subordinates into the fight—something he hadn’t originally intended.

Yet despite contributing nothing, Sanbi continued to flaunt his status as the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader and tried to seize control.

‘If anything, it’d be perfect if you got yourself killed by Yong Hwarin. That way, the Demonic Cult and Dark Echo Valley would have no choice but to fully commit to this war.’

Harboring such thoughts, Eungjo made sure to keep his identity hidden from them until the end.

‘If not Yong Hwarin, I’ll kill you myself and make it look like he did.’

That’s why, no matter how annoying Sanbi got, Eungjo exercised maximum patience.

“If I reveal my identity, then as the one with the greatest power, I would have to officially take command of this operation. Would that be acceptable to you?”

Eungjo’s words stirred Sanbi’s greed.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been short-sighted. That bastard’s forces aren’t insignificant either. If he becomes the commander, he’ll take all the credit. I’d be left with nothing.’

From that point on, Sanbi never again asked Eungjo to reveal his identity.

“The Heavenly Central Sect warriors are entering the valley.”

Eungjo and Sanbi, watching from above, smiled.

But the Heavenly Central Sect warriors stopped just short of the valley entrance.

“What the? Why aren’t they going in?”

Sanbi grumbled, and Eungjo responded,

“They’ve likely realized this is an ideal spot for an ambush and are sending scouts. Anyone with a brain would do the same.”

“Hm.”

Sanbi acknowledged the logic and fell silent.

Just as Eungjo had said, the Heavenly Central Sect dispatched a few warriors into the valley first.

Once they confirmed there were no traps or threats, the rest of the group began moving in.

Roughly three hundred warriors of the Heavenly Central Sect entered the valley—and the moment it seemed they had all gathered inside, Eungjo and Sanbi lowered their hands toward the ground.

Immediately, warriors sprang out from both sides of the valley, unleashing hidden weapons upon the Heavenly Central Sect warriors.

But something was off with the response from within the valley.

“Enemies! Vanguard, form shield defense formation!”

“Second unit, shield defense formation!”

At the very moment the command was issued, the Heavenly Central Sect warriors pulled the shields from their horses’ sides and formed a defensive formation.

Ting-ting! Tadadang!

The hidden weapons and arrows fired from above the valley bounced off their shields powerlessly.

Sanbi and Eungjo looked at each other.

“That’s...!”

Sanbi quickly gave an order to his subordinate.

“Bring me one of them!”

The subordinate descended into the valley and soon returned, dragging a captured warrior from the Heavenly Central Sect.

“Which unit are you from?”

The warrior, dressed in Heavenly Central Sect armor, responded in a terrified voice.

“P-please spare me!”

“I asked which unit you belong to!”

“I-I’m a soldier of the Southern Sky King’s Division.”

“What did you say? Then all the others over there—are they soldiers from the Southern Sky King’s Division too?”

“Yes. There are some warriors, but most of them are from the king’s division.”

“Tch.”

Sanbi and Eungjo simultaneously let out a sigh.

They both understood what it meant for the soldiers of the Southern Sky King’s Division to be wearing Heavenly Central Sect uniforms.

“We’ve been deceived!”

Sanbi muttered.

“Damn it! He completely tricked us. He disguised the soldiers in Heavenly Central Sect uniforms to make it seem like their forces had left. The moment we attacked the Heavenly Central Sect, he planned to strike our rear with the real main force. We must stop the assault on the Heavenly Central Sect immediately!”

But Eungjo responded through gritted teeth.

“Even if we send a Flying Pigeon, it’s already too late.”

“Then let’s annihilate Sangmubo instead.”

“I heard not long ago that a considerable number of warriors entered Sangmubo. That force is likely stationed there to defend it.”

“Who are they?”

“Most likely warriors Yong Hwarin had hidden away.”

“Then let’s immediately lead our forces from here to the Heavenly Central Sect!”

“It’s already too late. By the time we arrive, the battle will likely be over.”

“Damn it! Then what do you suggest we do?!”

Eungjo couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d been utterly played.

A report that had come in some time ago flashed through his mind.

Hwae Ungyeong of the Heavenly Sea Trading Company and the escort agency had headed to the Southern Sky King’s Division, escorted by Namgung Yoo.

‘I didn’t think much of it at the time since it wasn’t a large force… but now I see—they went to deliver Heavenly Central Sect uniforms. I overlooked that far too easily.’

“Lord San, hold back the soldiers of the Southern Sky King’s Division here and attack Sangmubo.”

“And where are you going?”

Eungjo gave a vague answer.

“I’m heading to the Heavenly Central Sect.”

Sanbi frowned.

“If you leave, how can we attack Sangmubo with the remaining forces? According to you, another faction is already stationed there.”

“I’ll leave my subordinates behind.”

“Well... in that case, I’ll give it a try.”

Eungjo vanished from the spot with only two subordinates in tow.

Sanbi, now left with the situation at hand, considered that wiping out Sangmubo might be the most satisfying act of revenge he could achieve.

“Those are government troops. There’s nothing to fear. We’ll trap them in the valley and move toward Sangmubo. Raise your spirits!”

At Sanbi’s cry, the warriors of the Demonic Cult roared in unison.

While Sanbi was attacking the government troops of the Southern Sky King’s Division, So Yonghwa and the Dabie Sect Union were advancing toward the Heavenly Central Sect.

The Dabie Sect Union was composed of the Iron Response Sect, Four Dragons Sect, Songcheongmun, and Muhuomun, who had mobilized most of their warriors. So Yonghwa, for her part, had gathered warriors from Dark Echo Valley branches located within Henan.

Their numbers totaled over 2,500, and their momentum seemed unstoppable.

Moreover, since half of the Heavenly Central Sect’s forces had supposedly left to guard Sangmubo, they had no doubt that this battle would end in their victory.

Masa had recently been searching for a suitable place to cultivate the Seonyuhonghwa Herb.

During frequent trips up Mount Tianzhong with Ha Cheolryeong, Tang Dohwa, his daughter Seok Unjeong, and Geum Yujin, he had discovered a promising spot.

These days, cultivating Seonyuhonghwa and surveying that area had become his routine pastime.

As usual, when Masa began preparing to ascend Mount Tianzhong today, Deung Hwaun said,

“I’ll go with you.”

Hong Ahyool also knew that Masa and Deung Hwaun would be heading to Mount Tianzhong, and she thought this might be a good opportunity to speak with Deung Hwaun in earnest.

“I’ll go too.”

When Hong Ahyool suddenly said she would join them, Masa and Deung Hwaun looked at her in surprise.

Until now, Hong Ahyool hadn’t climbed Mount Tianzhong even once.

She had been invited a few times, but she hadn’t had the time—always busy caring for her younger sibling.

So when she now volunteered to go on this mountain trip, Masa also considered it a good opportunity.

‘Perfect. This could be the chance for Lady Deung to speak with Miss Hong.’

Masa gladly approved.

“Very well. Miss Hong, come with us.”

Deung Hwaun looked slightly conflicted when Hong Ahyool decided to come along.

Just as Masa was preparing to head out, he spotted someone approaching.

It was Dong Oh.

He, too, had been staying at the Heavenly Central Sect while recovering from injuries sustained in the battle with Jade Three Elders at the medical quarters.

But Dong Oh had been conflicted.

He had rescued Hong Ahyool—should he now return to the Heavenly Demon Sect, or stay at the Heavenly Central Sect for her sake? He still hadn’t made a decision.

One day turned into two, and now time had simply passed without a conclusion.

And as he continued to hesitate, he realized that like Hong Ahyool, he couldn’t bring himself to leave—because of the genuine, warm relationships he’d formed within the Heavenly Central Sect.

People like Masa and Ha Deokgong, who once were enemies but now treated him like a friend, and Yong Hwarin and his family, who welcomed him as a guest of honor—at times, he even felt like a prodigal son returning home.