Chapter 389
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## C389
## Luoyang
## Gosung Village
Unfortunately, the rise of the Yeon Academy ended in a single day.
Only five nangin joined on the second day.
When the Three Death Gate and the Gui House started acting seriously, the nangin hesitated to join the Yeon Academy’s side.
The expressions of the Yeon brothers, who were leading the conflict with the Iron Blood Sect, and the Jeong Family warriors darkened.
As the sun set, bonfires were lit throughout the Yeon Academy.
Yeon Mubaek, the Waryong Swordsman and master of the academy, formed groups to remain vigilant against a possible surprise attack from the Iron Blood Sect.
No one was excluded.
Even Namcheon and the “Three of Luoyang,” the guests, were included in case of an emergency.
Namcheon and the “Three of Luoyang” accepted the master’s decision without hesitation.
They knew that if they retreated once, they would have no chance to counterattack against the large number of enemies.
Around midnight.
A nangin woke Yeon Jeokha, who was sleeping in his room.
Yeon Jeokha, after waking up and regaining his composure, went out to the courtyard.
The ronin who were by the bonfire greeted him with their gaze.
Yeon Jeokha nodded slightly and joined them.
A nangin in his thirties looked at Yeon Jeokha as if he wanted to say something.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, I heard you’re a secret disciple of the Wudang Sect.”
“So?”
“They say you’re a mystic? Is it true?”
“Yes.”
The other nangin, who were hanging around, paid attention.
It seemed like it was the first time they had seen a mystic up close, as they had curious expressions.
So Jeon-gwang, a nangin in his thirties, said timidly:
“They say mystics can perform miracles with amulets. Is that true?”
“Hmm. Well, just like not all warriors can control the sword, not all mystics can do that either.”
“Ah, you mean it depends on their mystic power?”
“I guess so.”
“What level of mystic power do the Wudang Sect Mystics have? Can they perform miracles?”
Not only So Jeon-gwang, but also the other ronin, were paying attention to Yeon Jeokha’s words.
“If it were that easy, the mystics of the Seven Great Sects would be treated with disdain in the martial world?”
The nangin looked away with expressions of “I knew it.”
Mystics in the martial world were slightly better than civilians.
Thinking that Namcheon also belonged to that category, their impression of him worsened considerably.
So Jeon-gwang said awkwardly:
“I see. But I don’t think those stories are absurd. Just like the warriors’ dream is to control the sword, you must also have a goal, right?”
“I guess so?”
When Yeon Jeokha answered vaguely, a look of pity flashed in So Jeon-gwang’s eyes.
“I hope you achieve your goal. If you keep moving on the right path, someday you will reach your destination. Isn’t that right?”
“What’s your dream?”
“I’m ashamed to say it, but it’s to establish a great family in the martial world, like Master Yeon.”
“It’s great.”
“Actually, I learned swordsmanship at the Waryong Manor. It was the first time I learned real swordsmanship. After the Waryong Manor was destroyed, I wandered the martial world.”
“Ah…”
Yeon Jeokha looked back at the man.
He felt a little worried because it seemed like he was wandering the martial world because of him.
“Seeing the nangin wandering the martial world like water plants, I thought… I want to give others opportunities, like the Waryong Manor. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn proper martial arts.”
The man was serious.
In the face of his sincere words, the nangin nodded.
For a nangin who lives depending on a sword, martial arts are like a lifeline.
No nangin/ronin lacked the desire to learn proper martial arts.
A heavy silence fell over the bonfire.
The dry branches danced every time the bonfire moved.
Then, Yeon Jeokha said:
“It seems like some uninvited guests are arriving.”
So Jeon-gwang blinked at Yeon Jeokha’s sudden words.
Wondering if it was true, he listened carefully, but he didn’t hear anything.
The other nangin also tried to sense someone’s presence.
Some even put their ears to the ground.
“I don’t hear anything. Isn’t it just the wind you’re hearing?”
Everyone nodded at So Jeon-gwang’s words.
Yeon Jeokha said indifferently:
“They are a hundred zhang (about 300 meters) away. I think we should wake the people up.”
The nangin looked at each other in surprise.
A hundred zhang away.
Since he was a mystic, everyone was hesitant about how to interpret his words.
Even so, So Jeon-gwang, who already knew him, was the first to react.
“I’ll go inform the people.”
“Okay.”
So Jeon-gwang ran towards the main house.
A moment later, people rushed out of the main house and the nangin’s rooms.
Yeon Mubaek, the Waryong Swordsman, approached Yeon Jeokha with a tense expression.
“They say the enemies are coming?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Mubaek slowly extended his internal energy.
He could feel someone’s presence at a distance of ten zhang (about 30 meters) with his internal energy.
But he didn’t feel anything.
Tilting his head, he muttered to himself:
“That’s strange. I don’t hear anything less than ten zhang…”
“They are thirty zhang (about 90 meters) away. You’ll hear them soon.”
“…”
Yeon Mubaek looked at Namcheon.
As he was a secret disciple of the Wudang Sect, he wasn’t lying.
Did he really feel someone’s presence thirty zhang away?
Although he was curious, he couldn’t do anything since he was a disciple of the Wudang Sect.
Everyone at the Yeon Academy held their breath and concentrated on the sound.
*Crack, crack*.
The sound of sparks resonated intermittently.
Song Jinwol, the Fresh Wind Swordsman, was the first to detect something unusual.
“As expected. They’re coming.”
The Yeon brothers and the Jeong Family warriors turned their gazes to Song Jinwol.
Then, Hong Jangso, the Bird Swordsman, and Dong Hwa-go, the Thunder Fist, nodded.
Yeon Mubaek’s gaze deepened.
He felt secure but worried knowing that the martial arts skills of the “Three of Luoyang” were superior to his own.
Then, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
Yeon Mubaek told a nangin who was nearby:
“Open the door.”
The nangin ran, opened the door, and quickly returned with the other nangin.
About seven minutes later.
Someone’s voice was heard outside the door: “Well done.”
Then, a group of warriors burst into the courtyard.
There were one hundred and fifty of them.
In the face of the overwhelming number of enemies, the nangin’s expressions hardened.
Yeon Mubaek stepped forward.
“I am Yeon Mubaek, the master of the Yeon Academy. Are you from the Iron Blood Sect?”
Joyubae, the commander and third in rank of the Iron Blood Sect, replied briefly:
“Yes.”
“Did you come for what happened two days ago?”
“You already know. Will you surrender or die?”
Yeon Mubaek couldn’t help but be surprised at the opponent’s stubborn attitude.
How dare they mention death like that, even knowing that there are secret disciples of the Wudang Sect?
“Are you serious? Or is it a tactic to intimidate?”
If it was serious, there would be a bloody wind, but if it was a tactic, it could be easily resolved.
A smile appeared on the lips of Joyubae, who was watching him.
“You don’t answer. I’ll assume you want to die.”
“That’s not…”
Just as Yeon Mubaek was about to refute, someone rushed out from among the Iron Blood Sect warriors.
It was Juyeonshin, the sub-leader.
He attacked Yeon Mubaek with his large knife.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh*.
A white aura swept over Yeon Mubaek with a sound that seemed to tear the air.
Just as Yeon Mubaek, astonished, was about to draw his sword, Song Jinwol’s sword was faster.
*Swish*.
The power of the sword, which shot out like lightning, collided with the power of the large knife in front of Yeon Mubaek’s eyes.
*Bang!*
Yeon Mubaek quickly stepped back as he felt the force of the impact.
“Ha, ha!”
Although Song Jinwol and Juyeonshin were the ones who exchanged blows, Yeon Mubaek’s breath became heavy.
It was not because of fear, but because of concentration.
Juyeonshin, who had attacked by surprise, withdrew his knife as if nothing had happened.
“Well done. Are you the Fresh Wind Swordsman?”
“That’s right. Seeing your large knife, it seems like you are Juyeonshin, right?”
“I don’t want to kill the disciples of the Wudang Sect. Let the disciples of the Wudang Sect withdraw from this matter.”
“The disciples of the Wudang Sect do not ignore injustice.”
“It seems you misunderstood what I said. I didn’t say I couldn’t kill them.”
“If we prepare to die and fight, the Iron Blood Sect will also suffer heavy losses. Do you really want that? Is it worth it for Gosung Village?”
“Are you asking if it’s worth it? Unless they are merchants, the Iron Blood Sect doesn’t care about that.”
“Then why are you so eager to destroy the Yeon Academy?”
“Because they challenged the Iron Blood Sect without knowing their place. We will only give them the punishment they deserve.”
“You mean if you don’t have power, you’ll be beaten and have to give up what you have if they ask for it?”
“I didn’t hear that we asked you for anything.”
“I heard Lee Cheolwon said he would consider things if Yang Yihwa was handed over. Isn’t that asking for something?”
“…”
Juyeonshin frowned because the conversation was dragging on.
It seemed like the secret disciples of the Wudang Sect had no intention of retreating.
‘Should I kill them all?’
He was a little worried about the secret disciples of the Wudang Sect, but in reality, they weren’t a big problem.
If the “Three of Luoyang” are backed by the Wudang Sect, they are backed by the Yoomyung Cult.
If the Wudang Sect claimed responsibility, they could ask Yoomyung to mediate.
The Wudang Sect would not fight Yoomyung just for a few secret disciples.
Then…
“Jajajaja.”
An unpleasant laugh shook the Yeon Academy.
Juyeonshin, who had been proud, stepped back in surprise.
A black shadow rose behind Juyeonshin.
The shadow, five zhang (about fifteen meters) in the air, let out another laugh.
“Ha, ha, ha!”
A terrifying power swept over the Yeon Academy.
Not only the Yeon Military Academy, but also the warriors of the Iron Blood Sect, the Three Death Gate, and the Gui House, staggered, grabbing their ears.
The expressions of the “Three of Luoyang” turned pale.
What terrifying power with just a laugh!
The nangin of the Yeon Academy, who had little internal energy, collapsed, bleeding from their noses.
*Crack, crack*.
The nangin were thrown into the air with a chilling sound of bones breaking.
The black shadow, which had descended, was sweeping the nangin.
The “Three of Luoyang,” who had regained their senses, quickly attacked the shadow.
Two swords swept the shadow.
*Clang, clang, clang*.
The shadow, Song Jinwol, and Hong Jangso became entangled at an invisible speed.
Dong Hwa-go, a martial arts master, was waiting for an opportunity to attack, as he orbited around the three.
But the fight ended before he could intervene.
*Clang, clang*.
Song Jinwol and Hong Jangso’s swords were cut.
Then, the two, clutching their chests, stepped back, staggering.
The appearance of Song Jinwol and Hong Jangso under the moonlight was horrible.
Their torsos were torn as if an animal had scratched them.
The black shadow slowly turned towards Dong Hwago.
Just then, the moon illuminated his face, revealing a creepy white hair.
He was an old man of an indecipherable age, with an aura as dark as the night itself.
At the tips of his fingers, ten curved blades, sharp as demonic claws, gleamed, reflecting the moonlight with a deadly shine.
Dong Hwa-go’s heart sank into an abyss of despair.
“Y-You…? Are you…?”
His voice trembled as he recognized the man’s identity.
“Heavenly Killing Claw Demon! (천살귀조, Cheonsalgwijou)…”
The very demon that “even the heavens fear”.
The Heavenly Killing Claw Demon licked the blood of one of his blades with his tongue, his eyes gleaming with a cruel shine.
And with a voice as cold as death itself, he whispered:
—Warriors, do not fear death. Your fate is already sealed.