Chapter 158
Chapter 158
Potala Palace, Western Regions—
The White Lotus Cult, which had slaughtered the palace lord, Galryeoncheon, and had swallowed the So-noeumsa Temple, one of the two major forces of the Western Regions, in one fell swoop, was expanding its power here in the Western Regions.
This was nothing short of a courageous decision.
There was a good reason for making such a courageous decision.
First, there were still forces in the Western Regions martial world that resisted the White Lotus Cult.
If they did not restrain and monitor them, there was a high probability that they would lose the Potala Palace, which they had painstakingly recovered, so the White Lotus Cult needed to protect the Western Regions even at the risk of dispersing its forces.
Furthermore, since it was completely free from the interference and checks of the two major forces of the martial world, the Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Western Regions martial world was a land of opportunity for the White Lotus Cult.
Therefore, while the largest cult branch, Gansu, was managed by the Left Heavenly Demonic Path, Go Eung, the other of the Twin Demonic Old Freaks, No Yeong-myeong, was in charge of the central part of the Central Plains, and the cult leader, the Blood Demon, Taeho-gong, was in charge of the Western Regions martial world.
But...
Recently, a bloody wind had been blowing in the Potala Palace, where the Blood Demon, Taeho-gong, was staying.
Lately, he would not only fly into a rage at the slightest provocation, but he would also commit murder without distinction, whether it was a cult member or a trusted subordinate, and the fear of the cult members had reached its peak due to the Blood Demon's madness.
And...
Today too, the Blood Demon, Taeho-gong, burst into a loud shout with a face that was tinged with a somewhat uncomfortable look.
"Why is the number of human sacrifices decreasing exponentially? Why on earth!!"
At that.
"Cult Leader... due to the machinations of the Orthodox Path forces, a phenomenon of the people avoiding our cult is occurring. There has been a disruption in the supply of cult members, and a while ago, the government raided our cult branch. Therefore..."
"Will you not shut up!!!"
The man could not finish his words.
A menacing gleam flashed in the Blood Demon's eyes.
It was a clear killing intent.
'It's dangerous... the Cult Leader is not in his right mind.'
Tremble-tremble-tremble—
The man trembled as he saw the madness in the Blood Demon's eyes.
He could not even breathe properly before the explosion of the thick killing intent.
Just then.
"Listen."
"I obey!"
"From today, you must capture more humans to be used as sacrifices, by any means necessary. If you cannot buy them with money, do not hesitate to use any means and methods. It does not matter if they are men, women, old people, or children. Do you understand?"
"I-I will do so!"
"Leave now."
'Phew...'
Cold sweat was pouring down the man's forehead like rain.
'I'm alive for now!'
As the suffocating killing intent also gradually subsided, the man finally felt a sense of relief and was about to leave the room...
In that moment.
'H-Hee-ik!'
The man saw something he should not have seen.
'The... the Cult Leader... the Cult Leader!'
In a fleeting moment...
The man's two eyes had captured a strange person with fangs growing like a monster and eyes dyed crimson like a demon.
Needless to say, that strange person was the Blood Demon, Taeho-gong.
'The descent of the Blood God is not far off...'
He was scared.
That fear was an unspeakable terror, and the man did not doubt that soon, all the martial artists in the world would face this terror.
***
"I simply cannot understand your words. For what reason are you going to search our family? Also, you're going to escort me and the members of my family? Please, I pray that I have misheard."
At the sudden warning of the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jin Won-tak, Moyong Baek's bewilderment was beyond description.
But on the one hand, he was on his guard.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Their power reached the heavens, and even if they were to compare their power right now, he could not be sure of the Moyong family's superiority if a full-scale war were to break out.
'So-ah, Hwa-ah, and Su-ya are all out on Martial Alliance business... why on earth did they have to come at a time like this!'
Before he knew it, the question of 'why is the Embroidered Uniform Guard trying to search the Moyong family' had become a secondary matter in Moyong Baek's mind.
Because that was not what was important right now.
'No matter what, I have to stop them.'
Moyong Baek, making a firm decision, stared at the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jin Won-tak, with transcendent eyes.
At that.
"The great disciple of the Moyong family, Jin So-ah, has dismantled the Eastern Depot, an imperial organization, and has also attacked a eunuch of the state. This has a high probability of being interpreted as him harboring a rebellious heart. Our Embroised Uniform Guard has visited to conduct a detailed investigation into that matter."
"Head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I can explain that part."
"Of course. The family head will be given a chance to explain. But I do not want to hear your explanation here. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the emperor's direct unit, which is given the authority of summary judgment depending on the situation. Considering that the Moyong family is the representative martial family of Liaoning, I wish to show you courtesy, so I hope the family head will make a careful choice. If you block the search, we will have no choice but to suppress you by force."
Just then.
The elders of the Moyong family, who had been listening to the commotion from outside the gate, slowly approached.
And then.
"The government and the martial world have long maintained an implicit custom of not invading each other's territory. But how can you search our family and escort the family head without any reason?"
"It is we who are giving you a chance. Didn't our benevolent family head say that he would explain the matter to the Embroidered Uniform Guard in detail? With this alone, our family has made many concessions!"
"Hmph! How arrogant... what's with the what and what? You dare to forcibly suppress our family? Are you kidding me now?!"
The elders, with various, but all uncomfortable looks, shot at Jin Won-tak.
In fact, even just this was a considerable concession.
The people of the Moyong clan, when compared to the martial artists of other martial families, were not belligerent and had a strong scholarly temperament, but they were people who possessed the pride of the Yan royal bloodline.
Therefore, although they were endlessly generous to the weak, they would never bend even if a sword was at their throat to the strong, and furthermore, if the opponent was the government, they would not break their spirit even at the risk of death.
'As expected... I was prepared for a clash of force.'
A single streak of light flashed in Jin Won-tak's two eyes.
Soon, a deliberately heavy voice flowed from his mouth.
"In the end, is the family head planning to choose the penalty drink?"
At that.
"Hahaha!"
Wasn't Moyong Baek suddenly laughing out loud?
"Is the Embroidered Uniform Guard originally this foolish?"
"..."
"It is you who have chosen the penalty drink, not our family."
"..."
"If you do not withdraw right now, our family will erase the Embroidered Uniform Guard from the world."
***
It was a spirited one sentence.
But the people of the Moyong family, as if they were not surprised at all, were just transcendent.
It was because they knew Moyong Baek's upright character well.
Although Moyong Baek was usually gentle and mild, he was not a person who would cower before a crisis he faced.
Also, weren't all the people of the Moyong family those who lived by the philosophy of the former family head, the God of War, Moyong Cheon, as their creed?
The teaching of Moyong Cheon, to protect the values of justice and mercy, but never to show tolerance to the enemy, had become the family tradition and spirit of the Moyong family today.
"Chief Steward. Evacuate all the workers who are currently constructing the main and annex buildings right now. Civilians must not be sacrificed in the affairs of our family."
"Yes, Family Head!"
Even while continuing his words, Moyong Baek's gaze was fixed on Jin Won-tak.
The tense tension flowing between the two had become the calm before the storm.
Soon...
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard will execute the national law from this time. Suppress all the Moyong people and search the family estate!"
At Jin Won-tak's command,
"I obey!"
The fifty or so members all drew their swords at once.
At that.
Chae-chae-chae-chae-chaeng—
The Moyong family side also drew their swords at the same time and assumed a battle stance.
In an instant, the two sides clashed violently.
When a hundred or so swords and swords clashed, a metallic sound that tore the eardrums spread and the sparks created a sword fire.
'As expected, it's the Embroidered Uniform Guard! The name of the imperial court's number one martial force was not in vain!'
Moyong Baek, who was facing Jin Won-tak while performing the Moyong family's family martial art, the Flashing Light Dividing Cloud Sword, could not hide his surprise.
Although the fame of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was great, he had inwardly disregarded the fact that they were not orthodox martial artists who had a record in the martial world.
But the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which he had experienced firsthand, was displaying a truly seasoned martial prowess.
In particular, watching the Embroidered Uniform Guard's combined attack formation, which was cleverly unfolded while exchanging offense and defense with each other, Moyong Baek once again realized that the imperial palace martial arts were not inferior to the signature secret arts of any sect.
But what was truly astonishing was not the Moyong family, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
'Although it's not orderly, the various martial arts of each individual are forming a variety! The Moyong family is not a place to be taken lightly!'
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, watching the Moyong family, which was not being pushed back at all even by their combined attack art, keenly felt the true power of a martial family of the martial world.
If the advantage of the combined attack art, whose power was doubled in a many-on-many fight, had not been displayed, they would not have been able to handle the Moyong family at all.
"Switch to the third form of the combined attack art!"
"Execute!"
"Execute!"
At the stronger-than-expected power of the Moyong family, Jin Won-tak shouted with a voice full of internal energy.
At that, the fifty or so members quickly transformed their formation like lightning and formed a fan-shaped formation.
Chaeng, chaeng-chaeng!
The sword fire raged even more fiercely.
Kwa-a-a-a-ang!
Furthermore, the brutal metallic sound made the spines of the workers, who had stopped their work from a distance and were trembling, tingle.
'What on earth is this?'
'Are we going to die too?'
'Dammit! I thought I could work comfortably because the conditions were so good! This is why you get hurt when you get involved with martial artists!'
The fights of martial artists sometimes lead to the death of innocent civilians.
Before they knew it, a terrible fear had spread in the hearts of the workers.
'The longer the battle goes on, the more disadvantageous it becomes for us. The elders who are fighting with their old bodies must be feeling the physical burden!'
Although Moyong Baek was continuously tying up Jin Won-tak by unfolding the Flashing Light Dividing Cloud Sword and the Heaven and Earth Breaking Flash Sword in succession, he could not help but worry.
In terms of individual martial arts, one elder of the Moyong family could easily overwhelm one member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
But considering the precise combined attack art of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the age of the elders, the prolongation of the duel would lead to a deep color of defeat.
'I'll cut down the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! If I cut him down, I can break the formation in one fell swoop!'
Moyong Baek thought that killing Jin Won-tak as quickly as possible with all his might was the only way to break the situation, and,
...he raised all his internal energy at once, and,
...unfolded a strong sword strike accompanied by a flashing lightning.
'Sword gang?!'
It was a part of the sword gang.
The moment the immense sword gang came out of Moyong Baek's sword, all the people, regardless of friend or foe, could not help but be astonished.
But.
'He's taking the sword gang?'
Jin Won-tak received the sword gang of Moyong Baek's final secret art, the Heaven and Earth Hundred Absolute Sword Solution, in its entirety.
Jin Won-tak's sword emitted a dazzling golden light.
The exquisite combination of the secret of the Golden Robe Divine Art, the strongest secret art of the imperial palace martial arts, and the Sea Dragon Golden Shadow Sword had produced this feat.
In that moment.
It was a roar of heaven and earth breaking apart.
When that roar was imprinted on the hearing of the people, a half-dozen or so members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already collapsed like rotten old trees, foaming at the mouth without even letting out a single groan.
"You guys... who are you?"
"..."
"No. The question was foolish. There's no need to know that in the first place."
"..."
"Whoever you are, and for whatever purpose you have caused a disturbance in our family, you will be shitting blood today."
The man who was grinding his teeth, emitting a glaring eye light, was.
"So-ah!"
...the great disciple, So-ah.