Chapter: 752
Kwadeudeuk-!!
Bang-!!
Explosions surge like wild fire.
The energy that has accumulated over decades. The sword generated from that energy was repeatedly striking the barrier.
Boom-! Boom bang-! Kwadeudeuk–!!
A decisive blow erupts.
Countless flashes of light erupt as if trying to tear apart the curtain, but
Sss–!
No matter how fiercely the energy rages, the barrier stands unchanged.
“Damn it—!”
The warrior, who had been swinging his sword non-stop, bursts out with a curse.
Having already used more than half of his energy, he found himself in a murky situation.
Let alone his own predicament, he had to glance sideways, struggling to catch his breath.
‘… Even the Seven Iron Three Swords couldn’t break that…!!’
The Plum Blossom of the Volcano.
The sword technique of the Wudang Sect.
Even the Sword Master of the Murim Alliance.
Not to mention those from prestigious families and renowned clans, yet three who are known as the ten top masters of the Central Plains stand here.
Even if they all combined their strength, taking down that barrier seemed impossible.
“What the hell is going on outside?!”
“… Urgh, please hurry up and do something.”
Behind them, the upper ranks were urging the unmanned warriors, their faces pale.
They seem to know just how bizarre this situation is.
How on earth did it come to this?
“… Hmmm.”
Plum Blossom, who was scattering red sword energy, frowned and stroked his beard.
Then he looked at the Sword Master next to him and said, “It doesn’t seem like a simple barrier, does it?”
“…”
Nod.
The Sword Master seemed to agree, nodding his head as well.
There had been several full-force strikes. The gathered crowd wasn’t low in prowess either.
With this kind of level, it was a power that even the Three Great Progenitors could not restrain.
However, despite taking all those hits, the barrier showed no signs of shaking; instead, it seemed to be absorbing more light.
At this point, anyone with half a brain could figure it out.
“This is the realm of the formation, or perhaps a boundary.”
“So what you’re saying is that it can’t be resolved with brute force? Well then, Ubong. Can you see anything?”
The elderly man, who had been observing the barrier rather than joining in while the Plum Blossom unleashed his firepower, turned to the open ark Ubongchuigae, asking.
“I’m seeing it… I’m just watching,” he replied.
“You’re saying you couldn’t deduce anything at all? Completely useless!”
“…”
At Plum Blossom’s provocative words, Ubongchuigae let out a groan…!
While that was true, he did have some grievances to air.
“This Taoist… How much do you really think you know about formations?”
“I thought you might have noticed something since you weren’t using force, just standing around. But looks like I was wrong.”
“I’m not involved in this… Oh right! The Wind Dragon Lord. What is that old hag doing?”
The one precisely in charge.
The female ward, Bimapa, managing the formation across the whole alliance.
If she’s around, it could be helpful, so I urgently asked the Sword Master.
Then the Sword Master, with a furrowed face, replied, “Since the situation has unfolded, she’ll arrive shortly.”
Even as he answered, the Sword Master looked around.
—Uuaaaaah…!
—I need to get out…! I have to get out! Let me through!!
He could see the chaos just beyond the barrier.
Those trapped in turmoil were creating pandemonium.
The once-promising martial arts tournament, heralded as an epic festival of sorts, had collapsed.
Seeing all this, the Sword Master clenched his fist.
Thud thud.
A harsh noise reverberated from his tightly closed fist.
His emotions were in turmoil, reflecting just how much.
‘What in the world is going on?!’
Something unusual was happening.
How did this even happen?!
‘Is this a raid? Where and how did they attack?’
What a foolish man to attack Hanam.
Was it even wise to raid where the alliance is assembled right now?
Even!
‘How did they manage to appear?!’
What trickery allowed them to instigate such sudden chaos?
‘The Wind Dragon Lord must have been vigilantly monitoring the formations!’
Despite all the power concentrated here, the risk was still lingering.
Moreover, continuous patrols were in place, alongside formations delicately laid out to avert attacks.
Even if they broke in, they should have triggered the formation and noticed the breach.
Surely not…
‘Did the Wind Dragon Lord betray us?!’
That suspicion isn’t unfounded.
The one overseeing the entirety of the alliance’s formations is none other than the Wind Dragon Lord.
If she betrayed them, then these events could very well be possible.
Especially given recent reports indicated something was off with her.
‘… No way. Is that why she isn’t here?’
The very reason she hasn’t shown up even amid such turmoil?
If her absence stemmed from betraying her post, then the logic stood.
Crack.
Emotions swelled in the Sword Master’s eyes.
Wrapped tight in chaos and confusion. Why was all of this happening right now?
Of all times, it had to be during his leadership.
Intense feelings surged within him.
He needed to find a way to resolve this.
For the sake of his own future, somehow.
Thinking that way, he strained his mind to come up with a plan when—
“It sure looks like a rat caught in a trap.”
A voice echoed from the air.
At that moment, those gathered all looked up.
In unison, they turned to observe the source of the voice.
“Quite a fitting sight, I must say.”
Sss.
Against a backdrop of thick, looming clouds, a scarlet line began to weave itself into existence.
Below that.
An old man dressed in black robes was seen slowly descending.
For an old man, he had a remarkably robust physique, holding a hefty blunt instrument in one hand.
The old man hovering in the air smirked at those gathered beyond the curtain.
“Tell me, how does it feel to be trapped like rats in a cage? I’m rather curious.”
“…”
With those words, everyone began to understand.
The architect of this mayhem was none other than that old man.
“…Wh-Who are you?!”
“Who do you think we are, daring to do this! Let us out—!”
As the huddle of upper-class members shouted at the culprit, a plum blossom leaf shot out, silencing their voices.
This was Plum Blossom’s doing.
Instigating the opponent would be dangerous—this was a calculated decision made.
Immediately after covering their mouths, Plum Blossom spoke up calmly to the old man.
“I am Do-hwa, the 16th head of the Hwasan Sect.”
“Plum Blossom. I know you well. It’s an honor to meet such a revered figure.”
“I don’t recognize you… May I ask the name of the one before me?”
“Ggghhh…”
The old man chuckled at Plum Blossom’s words.
“An introduction… A splendid deed indeed… Yes, we definitely need to know who brought us to this calamity!”
He let out a voice weathered by age.
Phew—!
He lifted his blunt weapon high.
“It’s been so long since I’ve even remembered my name, but at least I’ve never forgotten my true self! So allow me to introduce myself here.”
With eyes seething with resentment and fury, the old man peered beyond the curtain as he declared.
“I am the descendant of the Zhuge Clan, abandoned and falsely accused by you!”
Those inside the barrier reacted violently to the old man’s introduction.
“…What?!”
“The Zhuge…?”
“The Zhuge Clan? Surely not.”
Zhuge.
It was a name associated with the righteous faction of yore, a family elevated as one of the pillars standing tall among the five great clans, yet it had been disgraced after secretly seeking sinister powers, leading to their downfall.
Are we now saying that this old man is a survivor of the Zhuge family?
“What does it feel like, now that the very ones you thought were wiped away by false accusations return, blades aimed at your throats?”
“False accusations? What are you talking about?”
“I’m telling you, the Zhuge Clan…”
Rumors spoke of them seeking evil power—specifically, the corrupting force that caused the bloodshed of yesteryears.
To claim this is a false accusation? As they all stood bewildered by the nonsensical claims…
“Yes, it has been ages. It’s something the righteous faction has long wished to conceal… so I’m sure they erased all traces, leaving no records.”
The old man frowned at their reactions, as though dissatisfied with their perplexity.
“We, however, who have descended into hell, remember.”
Gugugugu—!!!
The vibrations grew increasingly pronounced.
“Even if you’ve forgotten us, those who cast us aside, we have not forgotten! How could we forget such agony! How could we ever forget–!!”
The atmosphere balled up, bursting forth with a resounding roar.
Hooaahh–!!
–Kyaaaaah—!
–Uaahhhh—!!!
This chaos also posed a risk to those still trapped within the alliance.
The old man’s rage burned fiercely.
Faced with the turmoil, the Wudang swordsman stepped forward, addressing him.
“So, is this the mess you’ve created?”
At the swordsman’s words, the old man locked eyes with him.
“Geomseon, you are the leader of this decayed Murim Alliance. The most useless and incompetent leader of all.”
The swordsman’s brow furrowed at those almost accusatory words. However, now wasn’t the time for disputes.
“I’m not familiar with Zhuge family affairs. But I understand your wrath at having been falsely accused and your desire for revenge. But is what you’re doing now truly right?”
Whatever the previous alliance did in the past.
Was it right to take revenge against those who weren’t part of it anymore, was the swordsman’s inquiry.
While it might be reasonable in a way, he continued,
“So you’d rather tell me to forgive them? If that were the case, then I wouldn’t be standing here, would I?”
Such words did not resonate with the old man.
“…This place isn’t just filled with members of the Murim Alliance, but civilians entirely uninvolved in those past events. If you’re seeking vengeance, then it would be better to—!”
“I understand. Yes, reform inevitably requires sacrifice.”
“…Are you suggesting you’ll harm even the uninvolved?”
“Haha.”
The old man guffawed at the swordsman’s frustrated remarks.
“How amusing, alliance leader.”
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s comical that you prattle on as if that’s the crux of the issue! Since when did you, or rather, your ilk, ever care about that?!”
“…What’s that supposed to-!”
“Just look.”
Cutting off the swordsman, the old man gestures widely.
Over yonder, past the chaos wrought by despair, he points toward the crowd fumigating around the barrier.
“Considering how the situation’s turned, where’s your justice? Where’s your consensus?”
Get out of the way—!! I said move!!
Kyaaah—!
Run away—!!
Was it the old man’s disruptive aura that modelled the scenario? The surrounding noise shifted, teeming with screams.
And amidst all of that.
Save the leader—!
Break the barrier—! We must rescue the leader!
Raid—! They said there’s been a raid…!!
My leader—! We need to support the offense…!
The leader is there right now—!! Get someone else and deal with this first! What in blazes! Why is the Wind Dragon Unit not doing anything!
The old man kept laughing, now pointing at the whirlwind of chaos among unmanned personnel. Was this really the face of said martial artists, tasked with shielding civilians?
Nothing was going as it should.
The oddity was that the warriors below appeared oblivious to the presence of the old man.
“Is this what you call discipline and justice? Is this the progress you’ve made, while hiding the rotting roots?”
“This is the world you’ve created by scrambling just to maintain your posts.”
“Thus, do not label this merely as revenge against you.”
The old man’s gaze bore down on the swordsman as he spoke up.
“This is the punishment we’re delivering upon you.”
Gugugugugu—!!!
A rising vibration amidst the dark clouds.
In that void, the old man spat a curse towards the barrier.
Inside, everyone showed faces of shock and wrath.
‘Very well.’
The old man felt gleeful as he observed their expressions.
‘This is it.’
This very look.
The very expressions he had shaped throughout his life.
And, indeed, the very expressions he desperately wished to see on their faces as well.
‘How does it feel, hmm?’
To feel hopelessness, trapped without a single option.
To fully experience the flood of emotions they had cast upon him.
Thrilling.
It felt incredibly satisfying.
‘Just a little longer now.’
Disaster looms closely on the horizon.
That barrier cannot be shattered by brute force—not unless its weaknesses are known.
To break it with pure strength would require a staggering amount of power.
Even if the strongest gather, even that may not suffice for such a task.
‘So for now, stay there stuck in your trap, and watch hell unfold.’
And be swept away within the tempest you created.
With that thought swirling in his mind, the old man savored his joy.
Woong.
“…!”
The old man swiftly turned on his heel.
In that instant.
Thwump—!!!
A massive surge of energy sliced through the air where the old man had just stood.
Kuwaaaaaah—!!! An explosion erupted in the skies.
The attack was sudden.
Who was it?
As the old man stared at the intruder in bewilderment,
“Are you the one behind this attack?”
A hulking figure with a deep voice came into view.
He was a middle-aged man clad in a yellow robe.
“I am the head of the Hwangbo Clan. They call me Hwangbo Yeolwi.”
“…”
What is this?
The old man felt a jolt of shock.
Not only did he land an attack, but the man was fixing his gaze squarely on him.
This situation was impossible.
Which indeed made perfect sense…
‘Clearly, the enchantment is working as intended. So how…?’
How could this individual possibly see him? It was an unbelievable circumstance.
But—
“From this moment onward.”
There was no room for such contemplation.
“I, the Tiger Strike Guild’s Hwangbo Yeolwi, will purge evil in the name of righteousness.”
As he concluded his proclamation, Hwangbo Yeolwi leaped forward toward the old man.
In response, the old man hastily swung his blunt weapon.
Wooooooong—!!!
The clash of powerful energies caused a whirlpool of waves to erupt.
Kwaaaaahh—!!!
Uaaaahhh!! What the hell—!!
Someone help me—!!!
As everybody screamed in shock, the old man, while refraining the impact, suddenly squinted.
Was this an illusion?
The eyes of the individual introduced as Hwangbo Gaju appeared to glimmer an unusual shade of violet.
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