Chapter 274 : I Am Here

Peng Sogeon, the family head of the Hebei Peng Clan, was a strong man.

Even when his family collapsed under the surprise attack of the heretic martial world, Peng Sogeon stood firm and tried to protect his family.

This time was no different.

Peng Sogeon stood shoulder to shoulder with Peng Ohyun and threw his whole body at the forefront of the righteous martial world, only for their victory.

He was a strong man.

That’s why his desire for the Blood Jade was also strong.

‘If I just have that.’

If he could just take the power of the Blood Jade… he could end this tiresome fight, and the martial world could regain peace again.

He could regain the faded glory of the Hebei Peng Clan.

Kwang—!!

Peng Sogeon’s dao narrowly missed Jin Sohyun.

“Young Master Jin!”

“You insolent girl!”

The person who had struck Peng Sogeon’s dao in front of Jin Sohyun was none other than Cheon Yerang.

Cheon Gasung, who had appeared with her, added his sword and stood next to Jin Sohyun.

“Your body?”

“I can’t move a single toe.”

Cheon Gasung nodded his head without any change in expression.

In the first place, the natural qi of all things in heaven and earth that Jin Sohyun had borrowed to face the Blood Demon was not a power that could be handled by a human body.

Jin Sohyun, who had used such a power several times, was also not an ordinary human.

“Yerang.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, we will protect Jin Sohyun.”

“I understand.”

Cheon Yerang aimed her sword at Peng Sogeon and stuck close to Jin Sohyun.

“Young Lady Cheon.”

“Please speak.”

“The reason the family head has become like that is all because of this Blood Jade. So… we have to get as far away from here as possible.”

Peng Sogeon was just the beginning.

The Blood Jade was still humming and calling for a host to embrace it.

If this continued, a second Blood Demon, a second Peng Sogeon, would be born.

“Will you help me?”

As Jin Sohyun asked with a slightly embarrassed expression, Cheon Yerang nodded her head and smiled.

Her smile was like a flower that had bloomed on the battlefield.

“Of course.”

Cheon Gasung, who was listening to their conversation, struck Peng Sogeon’s dao, which was fiercely coming down, and shouted.

“Yerang! Get Jin Sohyun out of here right now. The rest of you, protect Cheon Yerang and Jin Sohyun!”

“Yes!”

“Alright!”

The seven members of the Flying Sword Escort Unit, who had returned after a fierce fight with the Mixed Demon Unit, began to open a path, protecting Jin Sohyun again this time.

“We will open the path.”

“Don’t fall behind and follow!”

Hyeok’ugun and Jong Ryeo'ak began to open a path, breaking through the entangled martial artists.

In between, Cheon Yerang, who was carrying Jin Sohyun on her back, ran at a fierce speed, and Namgung Seoru and Yonghui supported her from behind.

But they, who had suffered large and small wounds from the fight with the Mixed Demon Unit, could not properly pick up speed.

Having no choice, Namgung Seoru stopped in her place with Yonghui.

“We will block them here.”

“Yes.”

Since they would only slow down the speed if they went together, Namgung Seoru and Yonghui each gripped their sword and dao again and blocked the front of the martial artists who were endlessly rushing at Jin Sohyun.

Next to them was also Beomkang.

“We will try to block the Peng Family Head, so please take care of my brother.”

Cheon Gasung, who had retreated after striking Peng Sogeon’s dao, followed closely behind Cheon Yerang without a word.

“Stop there!!”

Peng Sogeon tried to chase the retreating Cheon Yerang, but Beomkang, Namgung Seoru, and Yonghui blocked his front.

“You bastards… are you also on the side of that traitor!”

“Young Master Jin is not a traitor. But if you are asking if we are on his side.”

Namgung Seoru’s sword was dyed in a golden light.

“We are on his side.”

Looking at the young martial artists who were not retreating, Peng Sogeon chuckled.

That laughter was stained with madness and sounded bizarre.

“Then you too… are traitors of the righteous path.”

***

“It seems… this is it for me too.”

“Keuk… shiiit!”

Hyeok’ugun and Jong Ryeo'ak squeezed out their last strength and opened a path.

It was a situation where they could not carelessly swing their swords because allies and enemies were entangled.

Hyeok’ugun created a sword wind and pushed back the martial artists, and Jong Ryeo'ak threw his body and made a path.

“Now! Go quickly!!”

Through the path that Jong Ryeo'ak had made by throwing his body, Cheon Yerang, who was carrying Jin Sohyun on her back, ran at a fierce speed.

Cheon Gasung followed behind her.

“Hmm.”

Ju Cheon, who was watching Jin Sohyun’s escape from a distance, stretched out his fist at Kang Cheon, who was blocking him in front.

Kwang—!!

The figure of Kang Cheon, who was pushed back by the punch, staggered greatly.

“To block me in a state where you can’t even handle the flying sword you are so proud of. If you value your life, get out of the way, Kang Cheon.”

Kang Cheon barely gripped his flying sword with his creaking right arm and said.

“You use a peculiar martial art. The transition between fist and palm techniques is free, and in between, there are claw techniques and grappling techniques mixed in… there is no one in the martial world who uses the same martial art as you.”

There was no way that an excellent martial art that could face the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains had fallen from the sky or had sprung from the ground.

That meant.

“The martial art you have… is not of the martial world.”

“…”

In front of the silent Ju Cheon, Kang Cheon curled the corners of his mouth.

“This is surprising… to think that the Heretic Path's Alliance Leader, who had committed all sorts of evil deeds, was not someone who was supported by the power of the imperial palace… but the will of the imperial palace… itself.”

He could only know after they had exchanged hands.

The martial art of Ju Cheon was something that did not exist in the martial world.

His martial art came from the palace, and it was not the martial art of the generals who faced external enemies, but the martial art of the imperial guards.

“The imperial guards can’t even carelessly hold a weapon, so their fighting techniques using bare hands have greatly developed. Just like the martial art you are using now.”

“To think that there is someone in the martial world who recognizes the martial art of the imperial guards. It’s surprising.”

“If I didn’t know that the imperial palace was behind the Heretic Path's Alliance, I wouldn’t have recognized it either.”

“But that doesn’t change anything. Soon… the cleaners will come.”

“Cleaners?”

“Yes. The cleaners who will erase the huge stain called the martial world, which is dirtying the Central Plains, are coming. Now… Kang Cheon. What will you do now? Since you have found out the truth, you have to choose.”

Kang Cheon’s gaze turned to the back.

Something was coming.

***

“Something is coming.”

“Is it the reinforcements of the Heretic Path's Alliance?”

“I don’t know yet. But, their military force is unusual.”

Cold sweat flowed down Gu Daepil’s forehead.

The role of the Beggars' Sect was to mobilize all the beggars who could fight to protect the first gate in preparation for a possible situation.

But according to the information that Gu Yong and the fast-footed Yellow Robe Beggars had brought, a military force wearing black armor was approaching the old site of the Martial Alliance.

Their force was unusual, and they did not have anything that symbolized them.

Like the messengers of hell. They were advancing straight towards the battlefield with their faces hidden by deeply pressed helmets.

“Get out of the way!”

At that moment, Kang Seopyeong’s shout was heard from beyond the first gate.

“Get the hell out of the way!!”

Kang Seopyeong made a path, pushing away all the martial artists who were blocking the path, without distinguishing between allies and enemies.

“Go!”

Only after making a path beyond the gate did Kang Seopyeong stop.

Following the path he had made, Cheon Yerang, who was carrying Jin Sohyun on her back, passed the gate and escaped the battlefield.

Cheon Gasung followed behind her.

“What is it!?”

As Zhuge Suk was confused, unable to understand the situation, Gu Daepil quickly climbed the wooden tower.

“Zhuge Family Head! The situation is unusual.”

“A black military force? Who are they?”

At Zhuge Suk’s question, Gu Daepil shook his head and said.

“There is nothing certain yet. But one thing is certain.”

Gu Daepil said firmly with a hardened face.

“They are not martial artists. They are soldiers.”

“Soldiers…”

Zhuge Suk’s face turned pale.

“He sent the cleaners!”

Perhaps the imperial palace had been watching the war between the righteous and heretic martial worlds from a place no one knew. And the situation of the war had not flowed as they had wished, and in the end, they had sent the cleaners they had on standby.

A black military force with no affiliation or name.

They would kill all the martial artists remaining in the old site of the Martial Alliance, without distinguishing between the righteous and heretic paths.

Because the annihilation of the martial world was the will of heaven.

“Family Head! Get a grip! At this rate, everyone will die!”

“…”

Zhuge Suk squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them.

“Sect Leader… there is only one way that comes to my mind. And for this…”

The folding fan in Zhuge Suk’s hand was crumpled as if it would break.

“The Beggars' Sect… has to shed blood.”

***

—I have to deliver the news quickly! At this rate, everyone might die!

Gu Yong had to run as if his feet were on fire.

Since he had no time to avoid the corpses, he passed through the gates one after another, sending words of apology in his heart.

The person who came to Gu Yong’s side was an unexpected person.

“Why are you running with such a face?”

Oh Yoran, who had been watching Jin Sohyun escape the battlefield, stuck close to Gu Yong.

She had also noticed that the situation outside was unusual.

“The imperial palace has sent the cleaners.”

“Cleaners…!”

Oh Yoran instantly realized the situation.

The problem was that to deliver this message, the battlefield was a complete mess.

Oh Yoran gripped her daegeum.

“The time I can buy is truly a moment. You will have to deliver the message within that time.”

“…Yes!”

Oh Yoran, who had passed the fifth gate with Gu Yong, squeezed out all her remaining internal power and put the daegeum to her mouth.

Woooong—!!

The sound of Oh Yoran’s daegeum began to echo on the battlefield.

Although the number was very large, and it was not enough to stop all the martial artists who had gone mad with the smell of blood, it was enough to create a momentary silence for Gu Yong.

As the martial artists flinched for a very short moment at the clear and beautiful sound of the daegeum, Gu Yong shouted without delay.

“The place where the message is delivered the highest! Go there! There is no time!!”

Gu Yong’s shout, which was imbued with internal energy, was delivered to the ears of the leaders of the alliance, including Kang Cheon.

“Gu Yong?”

Kang Cheon, who had discovered Gu Yong, turned his gaze to Ju Cheon.

But Ju Cheon’s figure was not visible.

But now was not the time to look for the disappeared Ju Cheon.

He hurriedly ran to Cheon Yusin and said.

“The imperial palace has sent the cleaners. It seems they have come close.”

“Damn it…!”

Cheon Yusin gritted his teeth and repeated the words that Gu Yong had delivered.

‘The place where the message is delivered the highest…’

“It’s the messenger pigeon pavilion.”

Cheon Yusin, who had realized the meaning of Gu Yong’s words, shouted for the martial artists who had fallen into a slight lull thanks to Oh Yoran’s performance.

“Everyone, follow me!”

“Follow the Alliance Leader!”

“Hurry up and gather!!”

At the shout of the Martial Alliance Leader, Cheon Yusin, the martial artists in white began to move, following him.

The martial artists of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, who had realized the seriousness of the situation, also followed Cheon Yusin, following their respective leaders.

“We are going too!”

The masters, including Gwak Myeong, took their respective disciples and ran to the messenger pigeon pavilion, following Cheon Yusin.

Since the majority had passed the fifth gate to protect Jin Sohyun, they were able to gather at the messenger pigeon pavilion without exception.

In the meantime, outside the battlefield, a large carriage was placed under a high wall.

The carriage was full of black iron balls.

“That’s a relief.”

The identity of the iron balls was thunder bombs.

Zhuge Suk, who had gathered the thunder bombs that had been stockpiled in preparation for a possible situation, instructed with his fingertips.

“Detonate… all of them.”

***

Thump— thump— thump— thump—!!

The earth swayed, and even the insects held their breath.

A black military force approached the old site of the Martial Alliance, the battlefield where the war for the future of the martial world was taking place.

Pitch-black armor and pitch-black swords and spears.

The only thing visible was the two brightly shining eyes.

They stood proudly in front of the beggars who were blocking the first gate.

“Who are you?”

Although Gu Daepil knew their identity, he could not pretend to know.

Because these were people who moved without records, and their tracks would never be revealed to the outside.

Whatever they did here, they were people who did not exist from the beginning.

“…”

The soldiers in black armor were silent.

They just drew their swords and spears.

“Is there no room for discussion?”

Gu Daepil swallowed his dry saliva and took out the striking club from his waist.

‘We have to protect the future of the martial world with our lives.’

He had to buy time.

Time for the martial artists to escape the battlefield.

“We will die here, but it will by no means be a futile death.”

At Gu Daepil’s words, the beggars, though afraid, faced the black military force with eyes full of resolute will.

It was then.

“In this place where life and death intersect… it seems we are not the only ones who have come as guests.”

“You are…”

In front of Gu Daepil’s eyes, an old monk in a monk’s robe appeared.

That was not all.

The monks of the Shaolin Temple, including Songwu, appeared in a line, wearing monk’s robes, and blocked the front of the Beggars' Sect.

Seungryun put his hands together in a prayer gesture and greeted the one who seemed to be the leader of the black military force.

“I am Seungryun, the abbot of Shaolin.”

“…”

“If you want to pass this place, you will have to step on me.”

Kwang—!!

At the loud explosion from behind, the black military force flinched.

Although they approached with heavy footsteps, Seungryun did not move an inch.

In the end, the black military force, who could not stand it, aimed their spears and swords, but this time too, Seungryun did not move.

He just stood there like a solid rock.

Seungryun stared at the spears and swords that were touching his eyes with a dry gaze and said.

“I am here.”

***

Ma Seongun opened his eyes at the vibration that shook the earth.

He could feel someone carrying him.

“Pyo…ung…”

“Are you awake?”

“Where… are we going?”

“We are going outside. The Alliance Leader has disappeared, and the war is ending.”

“The Mixed Demon Unit…”

“I am the only one who survived.”

Ma Seongun came down from Pyo Ung’s body.

“If you move now…!”

“Pyo Ung.”

“…”

Ma Seongun patted Pyo Ung’s shoulder and then took the sword from his waist.

“My fight… is not over yet.”

Ma Seongun advanced towards the faint light he saw in front with staggering steps.

He tore his clothes and tightly wrapped his wounded abdomen.

Soon, the back door that the Heretic Path's Alliance had secretly made after occupying the estate of the Martial Alliance appeared.

Ma Seongun, who had opened the door and had come outside, looked down at his hand.

The Blood Jade had disappeared, and the powerful qi that had been overflowing without knowing its limits had also disappeared.

Now, what was left for him was.

“Me…”

Only himself.

Ma Seongun looked up at the sky for the first time in a long time on that day.

He could see the reddened sky as the sun was setting over the mountain ridge.

“Let’s go… let’s go.”

Ma Seongun walked forward.

There was no need to worry about where to go.

Because the Blood Jade was calling him.

(End of Chapter)