Scholar Demon Venerable

"How long are you going to make me wait?"

Hyeokryeon Jongdo sent a look to the general manager standing next to him. The general manager bowed, took a step forward, and said to Cheongun.

"Who are you to be making a disturbance since morning?"

"We'll get to that later. Seeing you all gathered like this, it seems you're plotting something... am I right?"

"Plotting? You insolent bastard!"

The general manager raised his voice and glared as if he were about to eat him.

"Didn't you kill our Hyeokryeon Manor's warriors and capture the rest!"

"Hahaha. A group of bandits were going to attack the good people, so I captured them."

"You bastard! There's nothing a young thing like you can't say. Good people? The trash of the evil and demonic paths attacked us first, so we were dispatched to punish them."

The battle of justification was an important thing. Whose fault it was was sometimes decided by a single word.

The general manager glared at Cheongun fiercely and continued to speak.

"Reveal your identity at once! Otherwise, you will not be able to leave this place safely!"

No matter what the general manager said, Cheongun didn't care and looked around.

The people from the Zirong Palace had already drawn their swords and were in their ready positions.

Cheongun looked at the Blood Emperor and said.

"It would be better to check without dragging it out any longer."

[Alright. I was getting bored anyway.]

Cheongun brought his internal energy to a boil.

The appearance of the ordinary pale-faced scholar was nowhere to be seen, and in an instant, he had changed into a well-forged famous sword.

The Heavenly Mandate Divine Art, which was recorded in the Heavenly Mandate Divine Art of the Heavenly Hermit, who was called a martial saint seven hundred years ago, began to stir in Cheongun's body.

It was the best divine art that Cheongun could operate now that he could not use the Blood Emperor Divine Art.

Ung, uung, uung!

A quiet growl echoed from deep inside Cheongun's body.

When his whole body was full and tense with internal energy, Cheongun said coldly.

"Stop talking and how about we speak with our swords?"

"Th-that bastard!"

The general manager got angry.

It was Cheongun's clear provocation.

It was not Hyeokryeon Jongdo who would just let that provocation pass.

"If you insist on refusing the cup of persuasion and want the cup of punishment, I will have to give it to you."

Hyeokryeon Jongdo stood up from his seat. He looked at one of the several martial artists standing on his right and said.

"I'll leave it to you."

"Don't worry."

A man cupped his hands in a fist, greeted Hyeokryeon Jongdo, and turned around.

The man was a person named Bisan Sword, Ou Hulong, who had been dispatched from the Zirong Palace.

Countless evil and demonic path people had met their end at the lightning-like sword art that he, the leader of the Demon-Subduing Unit, unfolded.

Ou Hulong glared at Cheongun once and then gave an order to the Demon-Subduing Unit that was lined up in front.

"Launch the attack!"

"Chung!"

The Demon-Subduing Unit answered in unison and began to move.

First, seventy-two people stepped forward. The rest of the personnel retreated.

The space was too narrow for hundreds of people to unfold a formation at the same time. So only one unit of the Demon-Subduing Unit had activated the sword formation.

Cheongun looked at the Blood Emperor who was next to him.

The Blood Emperor shook his head from side to side.

[It's not a martial art of the Heavenly Cult.]

If the Zirong Palace were related to the Heavenly Cult, they would use the formation of the Heavenly Cult, but it wasn't.

Cheongun let out a deep breath, slightly bent his knees, and then straightened them.

Kwaang!

Jjeojeojeong!

Cheongun's figure shot forward like lightning.

The place where Cheongun had been standing cracked like a spider web, and dozens of sword energies struck the place where Cheongun had been.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Hoodoo-dook!

Stone powder and dust scattered into the air.

The sword formation of the Demon-Subduing Unit was activated. Unlike the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword Formation that the Gyeongcheon Sword Unit of the Hyeokryeon Manor had unfolded, sword energies spread in all directions.

The power of the Demon-Subduing Unit, which moved as one body, had a power that even Cheongun could not look down on.

Chajajajang.

Cheongun flinched at the sword formation of the Demon-Subduing Unit, which moved as one. Although they were nothing special one by one, the power of the Demon-Subduing Unit, which was united as one, was fierce and sharp.

Eight swords attacked one place at the same time.

Cheongun faced the sword that was thrusting straight from the front.

Chaeng!

He took two steps back, rotated his body, and escaped from the enemy's attack.

The Blood Emperor followed him and gave advice.

[Don't block it with force, deflect it. If you're not going to break it at once, don't face it.]

Chajajajang!

As Cheongun retreated, the enemy's offensive clung to him.

Cheongun continuously moved his upper body and swung his sword quickly.

The attack of the Demon-Subduing Unit struck nine times.

It was not easy to deflect the attacks that poured down as one from eight people. But they could not even touch Cheongun's collar.

The leader of the Demon-Subduing Unit, as if he were not satisfied with Cheongun's appearance of leisurely facing the sword formation, changed the formation.

"Annihilation!"

The members of the Demon-Subduing Unit all stopped and lined up in a long line.

As the sword formation, which seemed like it would not stop and would move continuously, stopped, Cheongun also stopped.

The members of the Demon-Subduing Unit formed a sunflower shape of nine rows towards Cheongun.

In each row, eight people became a group and took different stances.

Again, with the loud voice of the leader of the Demon-Subduing Unit, the attack began.

"Annihilate the evil!"

The ones in the front raised their swords towards Cheongun in a straight line from eight directions.

Chajajajang!

In the perfectly ordered movement, there was one change.

The ninth row scattered in all directions. They inserted themselves between the attacks of the eight rows and unfolded their swords.

It was a different sword art from the martial artists of the eight rows. It was a sword that was somehow sharp and had a thick killing intent.

At the change in their sword formation, the Blood Emperor said a word.

[It seems we've finally caught the tail. The sword art that the ones who have melted into the sword formation are unfolding is the Nine Nether Asura Demonic Sword.]

Cheongun, who had bent his head back and dodged the hidden sword, replied to the Blood Emperor's words.

-Is it a martial art of the Heavenly Cult?

[It's a pretty useful sword art. The sword will change in an instant. Since the subtlety of strength is contained in the flow, you could be defeated if you take it lightly.]

Cheongun spun his body and dodged the swords of two people. The moment he thought he had dodged the swords that were thrusting in succession by jumping slightly, a strong blow came.

Chaeng!

Cheongun, who had raised his sword and blocked it, made a surprised expression at the heavy force that was transmitted.

'As you said, Blood Emperor. I almost suffered a great loss.'

They were nothing special. But when they unfolded as one, their power rose to a level that could not be ignored.

[Be careful of your head. Yes, from there, if you charge forward, you can deal a blow to the sword formation. Be careful of the upper thrust of the guy hidden in the shadow. The place he is aiming for looks like the glabella, but it is actually the solar plexus. Don't be deceived.]

Listening to the Blood Emperor's advice, Cheongun moved without rest. He was gaining real battle experience against an enemy.

Chajajachang.

Cheongun exploded the sword he had been deflecting gently with a kiai.

The ones who had been endlessly clinging to Cheongun were pushed back by the momentum and jumped back.

Seureureu.

Cheongun slowly raised one arm to be parallel with his shoulder.

It was the ready position of the Universe Nine Swords.

"I have witnessed your martial arts well."

Cheongun's cold words echoed in the Hyeokryeon Manor.

To the onlookers, Cheongun was nothing special. They thought Cheongun would be caught at any moment. But he dodged here and there like a rat.

It was a breathtaking duel, so much so that there were even onlookers who were holding their breath.

But at Cheongun's changed momentum, they became tense without being tense.

The ones who were unfolding the sword formation also became very tense at the unusual momentum.

Cheongun's head slowly looked around and then he said again.

"Let's end it now."

Uung!

Cheongun's sword let out a low cry.

As the sword cry rang out, the Jietian Sword Unit that was surrounding Cheongun became very tense.

The Jietian Unit Leader, seeing Cheongun's momentum changing like a storm, hurriedly gave an attack order.

"Annihilate!"

The Jietian Sword Unit was shot at Cheongun.

At the same time, Cheongun's sword was slowly raised above his head.

A strong light burst from his sword and was shot in all directions.

Universe Overturning Heaven.

The second move of the Universe Nine Swords of the Thousand Ages Sword Sovereign was unfolded.

The limbs of the ones who were rushing at Cheongun were cut off by the streaks of light.

Hoodoo-doodook.

A red rain fell from the sky. As if it were hail, something fell with a thud.

As everyone's mouths fell open at the watercolor painting that embroidered the sky, Cheongun's sword moved again.

Once, twice...

Every time Cheongun swung his sword, three or four people's lives disappeared at once.

'They are not people to be dealt with moderately. A clumsy sympathy is just a luxury for me.'

Cheongun steeled his heart.

They were not people he could go easy on like the warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor. Since they were people who could defeat him if he was not careful, he did not hold back.

The time it took for the Jietian Sword Unit, which was composed of seventy-two people, to collapse was only three or four breaths.

Cheongun raised his head and looked at Hyeokryeon Jongdo. It was a silent pressure asking what he would do now.

Hyeokryeon Jongdo and the others who were gathered here were so astonished that they could not speak.

The Jietian Sword Unit Leader, who had been dispatched from the Zirong Palace, also trembled at the unbelievable sight.

Overwhelming martial prowess, it was a formidable martial art. A martial prowess that he could not handle with his own strength.

But he could not retreat, leaving his dead subordinates behind.

As everyone was in an awkward position, Cheongun's mouth, which seemed like it would not open, slowly opened.

"Everyone!"

At the single word, everyone's gaze gathered as if drawn by a magnet.

Cheongun said again.

"Tie them up!"

"As you, command!"

With a loud sound from behind the wall, a group of warriors appeared on the wall.

People, who seemed to be over a hundred in number, were standing, wearing crimson cloaks.

"It's the Jinyiwei!"

Someone shouted like a scream.

Only then did the people gathered in the Hyeokryeon Manor look around.

"Th-the Jinyiwei? Why are they?"

"Then is that person a Jinyiwei?"

Again, everyone's gaze gathered on Cheongun. As if to solve their curiosity, Cheongun said.

"I am the Jinyiwei Pacification Envoy, Lee Cheongun! By the order of His Majesty the Emperor, I arrest you!"

Ureureung.

A lion's roar struck the Hyeokryeon Manor.

At the lion's roar, which was infused with internal energy, those with weak martial arts covered their ears and frowned.

"What are the Jinyiwei doing! Arrest the traitors at once!"

"As you command!"

The Jinyiwei all flew down at once and attacked the people gathered in the Hyeokryeon Manor.

"Throw down your weapons and surrender!"

"Attack the traitors!"

"Follow the order of His Majesty the Emperor!"

The Jinyiwei members who had come with Cheongun and the Jinyiwei members who had come for support from the Henan provincial garrison surrounded and attacked the Hyeokryeon Manor together.

The warriors of the Hyeokryeon Manor and the warriors dispatched from the Zirong Palace could not resist properly.

Thud, tuduk.

One by one, they threw down their weapons and sat down.

If the ones who had attacked them were from the evil and demonic paths, they would have fought with their lives on the line, but the opponent was the Jinyiwei, who received the Emperor's order.

"What is this!"

"Your Excellency! What have we done wrong that you are causing a bloody calamity?"

Although they spoke as if to argue, Cheongun did not even pretend to listen. He just walked indifferently towards the stairs where Hyeokryeon Jongdo was standing.

On the stairs, the key figures of the Hyeokryeon Manor and the Zirong Palace were gathered.

"Tie these people up too!"

"As you command!"

Hyeokryeeon Jongdo and the Jietian Sword Unit Leader retreated and looked for a way to escape.

But they soon gave up on escaping and resisting and were obediently tied up.

Resistance was rebellion. If they were not careful, not only themselves but also their families could be annihilated.

No matter how strong the power of the Hyeokryeon family and the Zirong Palace was, wasn't the opponent the Emperor?

After a while, all the members of the Hyeokryeon Manor were dragged out.

Hundreds of people were tied up in the wide courtyard stained with blood.

The courtyard was so crowded because there were so many people.

Cheongun sat on a chair prepared on the foundation.

Seok Deok-jo and Xiong Tian stood on his left and right.

Seok Deok-jo took a step forward and unfolded a scroll.

"You people, receive the order of His Majesty the Emperor!"

(End of Chapter)