Chapter 36
Thirty-six of the Hyeokryeon Manor's martial artists formed pairs and surrounded Cheongun from the front and back. The remaining martial artists formed a circular formation.
But the Blood Emperor, who had been watching the situation and giving advice, suddenly blocked Cheongun's front and looked around.
[Look at these guys?]
As the moving figures of the Hyeokryeon Manor's martial artists came into the Blood Emperor's two eyes, he emitted a killing intent that was not just cold but chilling.
Cheongun, realizing something from the Blood Emperor's suddenly changed attitude, asked with a telepathic message.
-Is it a formation you know?
[Yes, it seems to be a formation I know.]
-Is it a formation of the Heavenly Cult?
[That's right. It's called the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword Formation, and it's a formation that the warriors of the Heavenly Cult learn.]
The Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword Formation was one of the formations of the Blood Demon Heavenly Cult. It was a terrifying sword formation that stole the opponent's soul and led them to their death.
-That's great. I'll have to shake them up thoroughly.
Ung, uung, uung!
In the meantime, the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword Formation was activated. The warriors moved chaotically and gathered their internal energy together.
Although the sword formation was gradually increasing its power, Cheongun just watched and listened to the Blood Emperor's explanation about the sword formation.
[The circulation of the Nine Palaces starts with Kan, Kun, Zhen, and Xun, stays in the center, and then flows in the direction of Qian, Dui, Gen, and Li. The Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams is the core of the formation, and a lightning-fast attack starts from the Zhen Palace in the east. Like now.]
Chaeng! Chaechachaeng!
Cheongun deflected the swords that were attacking him quickly in a chain.
[The Kan Palace is calm, but if you attack this place, the Kun Palace, which is the position of the earth, will follow. If you take care of the mother first, the children will follow.]
Pabang!
Cheongun's sword energy struck the ones in charge of the Kan Palace.
Soon, as the Blood Emperor had said, four martial artists from the Kun Palace attacked, aiming for Cheongun's back.
Cheongun's figure spun, deflected the men's swords, and dug in, emitting a light.
Chajajajajang.
Seogeok.
Cheongun did not stop and attacked the martial artists in each direction. Since they were in pairs of four in each direction, the martial artists he had to face at once were four.
Every time Cheongun's single sword flashed, a thin line was drawn on the bodies of the four.
Nine Streams of the Whirling Wind Sword.
It was one of the one hundred and eight martial arts obtained from the Imperial Palace Armory.
The sword art of nine moves, which unfolded as freely as the wind and as gently as water, was a good sword art when facing many.
When it was discovered in the Imperial Palace Armory, the Blood Emperor had been happy, saying that it was a martial art that Cheongun needed.
The Blood Emperor watched Cheongun, who was walking around the sword formation as if taking a walk, and gave advice.
[A martial art is not necessarily good just because it is outstanding. In a situation like this, the Nine Streams of the Whirling Wind Sword is better than the Universe Nine Swords of the Thousand Ages Sword Sovereign.]
-What do you mean? Isn't the Universe Nine Swords much more powerful than the Nine Streams of the Whirling Wind Sword?
Cheongun was puzzled because one of the strongest sword arts he was learning was the Universe Nine Swords. The Blood Emperor solved Cheongun's curiosity.
[That's true. But it's a waste to unfold the Universe Nine Swords in this situation with your current skills. It wouldn't matter if your cultivation deepened a little more and your skills improved, but with your current skills, the Nine Streams of the Whirling Wind Sword is much better.]
-Ah! I see what you mean. You're saying that there is a martial art that is suitable depending on the situation and the opponent, and also on the current capabilities.
[Yes. You understood well. After dealing with these guys, think about it calmly. Whether it was better to face them with the Universe Nine Swords, or whether it was better to unfold the Nine Streams of the Whirling Wind Sword.]
-I understand.
In the meantime, the power of the sword formation was pressuring Cheongun.
"Don't retreat! Maintain the collapsed sword formation!"
"Yes!"
The warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor did not retreat.
After learning the sword formation, no one had looked down on the Gyeongcheon Sword Unit. Because they had suppressed all such people by unfolding the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword Formation.
But today, that pride was cracking. Although he gritted his teeth, he could not catch Cheongun, who was moving without obstruction like water.
Seogeok, puhak!
Again, a fountain of blood embroidered the air.
Everywhere Cheongun passed, a red flower bloomed in the sky.
The flowers that the falling warriors had bloomed were beautiful, but the hearts of the onlookers were filled with fear.
Finally, as the four martial artists in the center who were maintaining the sword formation fell, the connection was broken.
Seogeok, kung!
As the man who was giving orders was killed, the sword formation collapsed in an instant.
The ones who had been unfolding the sword formation and the martial artists who were positioned in the back stopped awkwardly.
Looking at the surviving warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor, Cheongun said, growling.
"Is there no one else who will attack?"
"..."
"I don't want to see unnecessary blood. Throw down your swords and surrender."
With Cheongun's order to surrender, people wearing bamboo hats and black cloaks appeared on the wall surrounding the Black Sword Gang.
Every one of them had an extraordinary momentum.
The surviving warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor looked at each other.
They had not known they would be defeated, and they had been defeated by an overwhelming military force, so the mental shock was great.
Jjaenggeurang.
Someone threw the sword they were holding on the floor.
The sound that had started once infected the others like a plague.
In the end, all the surviving warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor surrendered.
With this, half of the military power of the Hyeokryeon Manor had disappeared.
* * *
Kaifeng was turned upside down. It was because of the fight between the Hyeokryeon Manor and the evil faction that had happened around noon.
By tomorrow, the rumor would spread throughout Henan Province. That the Hyeokryeon Manor had been thoroughly defeated by the evil faction.
"General Manager! Is it really true? Is it true that all the dispatched warriors have died or been captured!"
Hyeokryeon Jongdo's face turned red, and he let out a roar.
The general manager bowed to Hyeokryeon Jongdo and reported.
"We have lost the four peak-level martial artists who were recruited from the outside and the four units of the Gyeongcheon Sword Unit at the same time. All that is left is the first unit of the Gyeongcheon Sword Unit and the warriors of the family."
"Keung."
A groan flowed out from Hyeokryeon Jongdo's mouth.
It was as if he had lost all the power of the Hyeokryeon Manor that he had prepared for the past year.
To grasp the situation, Hyeokryeon Jongdo asked the general manager again.
"How many of the martial artists were captured by them?"
"We are currently assessing. It is said that the Lightning Spear, Rui Neiqiu, and the Divine Hand Noble Sword, Zhu Qian, were injured and captured. It is said that about fifty out of the one hundred and twenty members of the four sword units of the Gyeongcheon Sword Unit survived."
"You incompetent bastards."
Hyeokryeon Jongdo's impression contorted.
The entire force, which was half of the military power of the Hyeokryeon Manor, had been wiped out. He couldn't understand how they could have fought and been defeated and captured with that force.
But a question suddenly came to his mind. So Hyeokryeon Jongdo asked the general manager.
"General Manager, does the Beggars' Sect still not give information?"
"Yes, I couldn't even meet the leader."
He had already sent people to the Beggars' Sect several times. To find out the whole story of this incident, the help of the Beggars' Sect was absolute.
But the Beggars' Sect was ignoring his request.
Hyeokryeon Jongdo looked at the general manager with blazing eyes and said again.
"Did you say you would give a reward?"
"Yes, they said they wouldn't even look at it even if we said we would give ten thousand taels of silver as an information fee."
"This...! What grudge do those crazy bastards have against us to do this!"
Padeudeuk.
The sound of Hyeokryeon Jongdo's teeth grinding was heard.
He couldn't believe that the Beggars' Sect, of all places, had refused ten thousand taels of silver.
As he was panting, unable to hold back his anger, a clear voice was heard.
"Master."
It was a man who looked to be about thirty, who had been quietly watching the meeting from one side. He was the teacher who was teaching Hyeokryeon Hui.
The man looked at Hyeokryeon Jongdo and said firmly.
"It seems other people have intervened."
"Sir, what do you mean by other people?"
"Don't you also know, master? That the Hyeokryeon Manor cannot face the Black Sword Gang or the Red Turban Gang with their own strength."
Everyone in this place knew that. But hadn't all those predictions been wrong, and they were in this situation?
Hyeokryeon Jongdo looked at the man and said weakly.
"I have a suspicion..."
"A suspicion? Hahaha."
The man laughed loudly at Hyeokryeon Jongdo's words.
Although it was a breach of etiquette, no one among the people gathered in this room rebuked or stopped the man's laughter. That was how great the man's influence was in the Hyeokryeon Manor.
The man stopped his laughter and said coldly, as if for everyone to hear.
"Master, there are four sword units that have learned the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword Formation. It is a sword formation that can face even a super-peak-level martial artist. In addition, four peak-level martial artists moved together. Don't you know well that no one in the Black Sword Gang or the Red Turban Gang can face them?"
"That's true."
"A master cannot be made overnight. It is an impossible thing even for a huge sect. Do you think it is possible for them?"
Gulp...
Hyeokryeon Jongdo swallowed dryly.
Because the man had revealed his uncomfortable feelings.
The person who had passed down the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword Formation to the Gyeongcheon Sword Unit was the man in front of him. The person who had made the current Hyeokryeon Manor.
The man's eyes shone sharply, and he continued to speak.
"There is definitely someone behind them. And it's a great person who can even deal with the Beggars' Sect."
"Then what should we do?"
At the master's question, the man smiled at the corner of his mouth and said.
"I will go and see."
"Really?"
"Don't contact the main family, the Hyeokryeon family. They won't like it."
"Keung. That's right. Since they are under the care of the Zirong Palace, not themselves... anyway, thank you."
Hyeokryeon Jongdo cupped his hands in a fist and thanked the man.
The man nodded his head and then said a word and went out.
"Just in case, please contact the Zirong Palace."
"I understand. Don't worry."
As the man's figure disappeared, Hyeokryeon Jongdo gave an order.
"Hurry up and send a carrier pigeon to the Zirong Palace. If the family contacts you by any chance, make a good excuse. It's a place that only takes money and is not practically helpful."
"I understand."
* * *
The Red Turban Gang was in a festive mood.
A drinking party was held in the manor.
For the past three days, they had thoroughly shaken up the Hyeokryeon Manor, which was said to be the most prosperous in Kaifeng. In addition, they had killed and captured all the masters of the Hyeokryeon Manor who had attacked at lunchtime today.
Because of this, many of their subordinates had also died, but it didn't matter much. Because what they had gained was much more than what they had lost.
At the head of the table where the key figures of the Red Turban Gang were sitting, a rosy story about today's events and the future was exchanged.
The leader of the Red Turban Gang talked about the loss of power due to this fight.
"I'm sorry for the dead subordinates, but we can't just be sad, can we?"
"That's right, leader! It's because those guys were incompetent that they died."
"Kekeke."
The boisterous laughter did not stop.
Although it was a story that would have made others frown, it was a normal daily life for them.
They were an evil faction, and among the evil factions, they were known as vicious people. They were people who would not even blink an eye if their friend from yesterday died and would touch that friend's belongings.
The leader of the Red Turban Gang, the Red Turban Emissary, Lu Zhanghong, was such a person.
He was a person who wore a red hood instead of a blue hood on his head, as if he were Zhang Liang of the Red Turban Rebellion, and committed all sorts of atrocities.
"Are those guys all gone?"
"Yes, it's been a long time since they left."
"Hehe, you foolish guys."
The leader, Lu Zhanghong, sneered at the masked men who had helped them attack the Red Turban Gang.
As the leader was pleased, the deputy leader got excited and spoke.
"They didn't take any of the treasures and just tied up the ones they had caught with a rope and took them."
"That's why they're crazy. If their own guys had died, they should have taken a fortune, but they just left?"
If it were them, they would have insisted and taken a fortune. The deputy leader repeatedly nodded his head and said with a bright smile.
"Hehe. It must be because they couldn't show their strength in front of your fame, leader."
"Hahaha. In fact, except for that masked guy, the other guys are no match for me."
"That's right."
He was happy because he had won the fight and obtained treasures.
He celebrated the victory like that and greeted the night.
But that joy did not last long.
"Uwaaak!"
A scream rang out in the night sky.
(End of Chapter)