Chapter 376

Chapter 376: Chaos (1)

Gong Son-hyeon held the position of Supreme Strategist within the Martial Alliance, though his underground associates in the Eastern Depot knew him as Jeong Yi-ho.

Ever since the commander of the coalition surged forward into the fray, a lingering, indefinable anxiety had gripped his mind.

Initially, he swept the feeling aside, attributing it to basic overthinking. After all, those who formulate military strategy are naturally inclined to fret over every variable.

For a brief period, his doubts appeared completely justified. The Alliance Leader lunged from hiding at the individual who seemed to command the opposing forces—a youthful member of the Demonic Cult—and unleashed a ceaseless torrent of strikes.

Yet that dominant display dissolved almost instantly.

Following a brutal exchange that persisted for roughly fifteen minutes, the Alliance Leader found himself locked in a savage, close-range struggle for survival.

“The Alliance Leader has been slain!!”

A frantic cry echoed across the dirt as a blade tore through his midsection, ending his life in an unexpectedly abrupt defeat.

Watching his grim premonition manifest before his eyes, Gong Son-hyeon ground his teeth together and whipped his head to the side, glaring intently.

“Are you seriously planning to just stand by and observe this disaster?!”

His furious words were aimed directly at Zhuge Mun, the patriarch of the prestigious Zhuge family.

Strangely, this master had chosen to remain far from the frontline, anchoring the rear alongside Gong Son-hyeon, the Supreme Strategist.

A handful of combatants from the Zhuge family stood beside him, and though the bulk of their forces had indeed joined the skirmish, their conduct was entirely uninspired, opting for passive holding maneuvers rather than launching genuine offensives against the Demonic Cultists.

Faced with Gong Son-hyeon’s fierce condemnation, Zhuge Mun merely let out a weary breath.

“We are doing everything within our power under the circumstances. The rash manner in which the Alliance Leader threw himself into danger completely crushed the spirits of our men.”

The death of their supreme commander plunged the righteous fighters into utter confusion, and with the primary authority of the Demonic Cult currently pinning down Namgung Jin, a merciless massacre was on the verge of unfolding.

“Our priority now should be organizing a tactical withdrawal.”

Gong Son-hyeon opened his mouth, fully prepared to dispute Zhuge Mun’s detached assessment—

Suddenly, far off to the north, a massive contingent drew near at incredible velocity, kicking up vast plumes of dirt that immediately drew his attention.

“You absolute degenerates of the Demonic Cult!! I, Yang Mu-ja, am going to rip every last one of you apart with my bare hands!!”

This was the exact force that had been trailing the Demonic Cult toward the northern territories.

There was a specific explanation for how they managed to close a twelve-hour separation in such a short window of time.

…

While they were making their way toward Zhangye County, their attention was pulled toward columns of dark grey vapor spiraling into the upper atmosphere far away.

“Curse those Demonic Cult fiends—they must have stationed lookouts along the path to monitor us.”

Hearing Yang Mu-ja voice such uncharacteristically coarse language, Hwang Bo-ak gave a firm nod of agreement.

“That appears to be the case. We must accelerate our pace to intercept them before they manage to retreat any further.”

Yang Mu-ja agreed with Hwang Bo-ak’s assessment, but Bul-jon, who was moving in tandem with their group, offered an opposing view.

“Would it not be wiser to alter our path immediately and redirect toward Qinghai? Amitabha.”

“What nonsense are you uttering? You expect us to abandon the trail now?”

“Pay close attention to the origin of that vapor. If we persist on this exact trajectory, they will completely elude us.”

While Hwang Bo-ak and Yang Mu-ja stood locked in hesitation, Bul-jon pressed his point.

“The fate of the Mount Hua Sect is deeply tragic, but was it not their own unbridled avarice that invited this disaster upon their heads? Amitabha. If the two of you simply cannot abandon this path, then continue your journey northward. This humble monk intends to guide his followers straight toward Qinghai.”

Finishing his statement, Bul-jon spearheaded the movement of the Shaolin monks, marching toward the rising vapor first.

Once they verified that no hidden Demonic Cult operatives were lingering in that specific sector, they shifted their destination toward Qinghai.

Yang Mu-ja wrestled with indecision for a moment before ultimately tracking behind the moving Shaolin monks, which naturally prompted Hwang Bo-ak and the rest of the gathered martial artists to turn their path southward as well.

Observing the arrival of these fresh troops, Gong Son-hyeon threw an icy glare toward Zhuge Mun.

“Do not think for a moment that you will escape consequences for your inaction once this is over.”

Yet, before Gong Son-hyeon could even finish delivering his threat.

The leader of the Beggars’ Sect was not arriving unaccompanied.

The Beggar King advanced alongside the legendary Taiji Sword Sage, both of them eating up the terrain at unbelievable velocity through the use of supreme lightness skill.

A handful of days prior to this moment.

While the various righteous sects were converging upon Gansu, which had essentially transformed into a lawless territory devoid of leadership.

The Beggar King had personally traveled to Wudang Mountain for an audience with the Taiji Sword Sage.

“So the accounts they delivered were entirely accurate?”

Responding to the query posed by the Taiji Sword Sage, the Beggar King offered a grim nod.

“After tracking down the specific leads they provided and verifying them against rumors that our Beggars’ Sect originally dismissed as irrelevant noise, the probability of this being factual is exceptionally high.”

A portion of those seemingly trivial fragments of information, when scrutinized with greater intensity, pointed directly back to the operations of the Eastern Depot.

“We lack definitive proof, but the surrounding details point to at least a seventy percent certainty. In my personal estimation, I would place it above ninety.”

“…We are obligated to halt this conflict between the righteous factions and the demonic entities, no matter the cost.”

As the Taiji Sword Sage uttered these weighty words, the Beggar King mirrored his serious demeanor with a deep nod.

Without losing a single moment, the two masters exited Wudang Mountain, with a contingent of dedicated Wudang disciples trailing close behind them.

Furthermore, the various mendicants pooling in the vicinity of Wudang Mountain rallied behind the Beggar King as he journeyed toward the west.

Following several days of grueling travel, they reached Lanzhou, only to be met with startling intelligence.

They learned of the oppressive actions taken by Mount Hua and Jongnam, which triggered a retaliatory strike from the Demonic Cult—and that the righteous combatants had emptied out of Lanzhou in massive numbers to hunt them down.

They pivoted north to track the righteous vanguard, discovering near Goyang County that the pursuing force had split into two distinct paths.

“Their destination is almost certainly Qinghai. Immeasurable Buddha.”

“Knowing the unyielding character of that monk Il-mok, he will absolutely refuse to leave Jongnam in peace.”

With that realization, they altered their heading toward Qinghai.

The gravity of the crisis forced them to push their lightness skill to its absolute limits without taking a single breath of rest, allowing them to arrive at the edge of the conflict at this exact moment—a feat nothing short of extraordinary.

Deafening shouts reverberated from both the northern and eastern flanks as fresh forces poured into the fray, instantly throwing the ongoing engagement into complete chaos.

Boom!!

Shockwaves of condensed qi radiated outward in every direction from the violent impact. Il-mok utilized the backward momentum of the collision to execute a massive leap away from the clash, bellowing at the top of his lungs,

“Pull back immediately and re-establish your defensive formations!!”

Obeying Il-mok’s authoritative directive, the Demonic Cultists who were actively locked in life-or-death struggles broke away one after another, executing a synchronized retreat.

“You will not escape!”

Namgung Jin leveled his blade directly at Il-mok, prepared to lunge forward, but a fresh wave of vocal uproars erupted from the north and east once more.

“Wipe out every single one of these Demonic Cult degenerates!!”

“This entire conflict is a trap orchestrated by the Eastern Depot!! Lower your weapons this instant!!”

The moment the Beggar King’s booming declaration echoed across the space, every warrior who had been preparing to plunge back into the slaughter froze dead in their tracks.

It was the shocking mention of the Eastern Depot that paralyzed them.

Had such a claim been voiced by an ordinary martial artist, it likely would have been discarded as complete fabrication, but coming directly from the esteemed leader of the Beggars’ Sect, no rational person could simply ignore it.

“A trap by the Eastern Depot? What kind of ridiculous claim is this, Sect Leader!”

Predictably, the incredibly volatile Yang Mu-ja stepped forward to demand clarification, but the Beggar King pivoted the focus to an entirely different matter.

“The Alliance Leader! Tell me where the Alliance Leader is!”

An oppressive, freezing quiet descended over the area following the Beggar King’s inquiry, leaving both him and the Taiji Sword Sage looking utterly perplexed.

Then, Il-mok let out a booming shout, causing the newly arrived duo to exhibit expressions of profound shock.

“The commander of your alliance has already perished by my blade!”

Though they were well aware of Il-mok’s formidable martial prowess, they had never anticipated that the supreme leader of the righteous forces would fall so rapidly.

However, their astonishment lasted only a fleeting moment. Recognizing the sheer peril of the ongoing crisis, the Beggar King rapidly reeled in his emotions and roared to the crowd,

“The individual you called your Alliance Leader was nothing more than a puppet serving the Eastern Depot!”

“What sort of sudden madness are you spouting!”

This particular objection did not originate from Yang Mu-ja. Gong Son-hyeon, who had been silently monitoring the unfolding disaster, finally lost his restraint.

“For what possible reason would the supreme leader of our alliance bow to the Eastern Depot unless he had completely lost his sanity!”

In response to his furious counter, the Taiji Sword Sage shifted himself to the forefront.

“Immeasurable Buddha. He functioned as an operative for the imperial palace from the very inception of his rise.”

The most undeniable proofs of this accusation were the exact occurrences that Il-mok had previously highlighted: the atrocities committed throughout the era of the Blood Cult conflict.

“When we meticulously combed through the evidence left behind from the horrific slaughter inside Guizhou City—an act publicly attributed to the Blood Cult—we uncovered the undeniable interference of the Eastern Depot!”

Naturally, during this explanation, he purposefully avoided making any reference to Il-mok.

“Speak words that actually make logical sense! It is completely preposterous to label our Alliance Leader a tool of the Eastern Depot, but moreover, what possible objective would the imperial palace achieve by butchering innocent citizens? Especially while wearing the guise of the Blood Cult!”

Detecting a massive threat to his position if this dialogue were permitted to continue, Gong Son-hyeon screamed out over the crowd before either the Beggar King or the Taiji Sword Sage could offer a rebuttal.

“What are you standing around for?! Slay these Demonic Cult bastards this instant!!”

Caught in the middle of this widespread uncertainty, a specific faction of Martial Alliance fighters immediately sprinted toward the Demonic Cultists to resume the slaughter.

These specific individuals were covert operatives positioned inside the Martial Alliance by the joint efforts of the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards.

Spurred by their abrupt offensive, Namgung Jin, who had been analyzing the situation, adjusted his grip on his weapon and hurled himself back at Il-mok.

“Patriarch of the Namgung family! The words of the Beggar King are absolute reality!!”

Il-mok Made a desperate attempt to de-escalate the man’s fury, but his pleas struck a wall of pure rage.

“With my kin already slaughtered by the hands of your organization, your deceptive words hold absolutely no meaning to me now!”

Answering Namgung Jin’s anguished roar, the remaining combatants of the Namgung family raised their steel and followed him into the fray against the Demonic Cultists.

As the entire area stood on the precipice of descending back into an all-out bloodbath, the validation-seeking Yang Mu-ja raised a hand and joined the charge.

“Followers of the Hyunsan Sect! Eradicate these Demonic Cult fiends!!”

Bellowing his war cry, he spearheaded the charge back toward the lines of the Demonic Cultists, with the disciples of the Hyunsan Sect tracing his steps.

“Dammit all.”

The Beggar King spat a curse under his breath and barked out a frantic command to the gathered members of his faction.

“Beggars’ Sect, move in to disrupt and halt this combat!”

As the words left his lips, he channeled his entire reservoir of internal energy into his lightness skill to physically cut off Yang Mu-ja’s advance.

“Immeasurable Buddha.”

The Taiji Sword Sage softly uttered his holy mantra and glided straight into the swirling melee, with the Taoists of the Wudang faction flowing in right behind him.

As the terrain devolved into complete pandemonium once more, the deeply analytical Bul-jon issued solemn directions to the gathered Shaolin monks with a commanding, resonant chant.

“Amitabha. Intercept and neutralize these chaotic elements who seek to shatter the tranquility of this land.”

Abbot Gonghwan moved alongside his followers as they poured onto the field, while Hwang Bo-ak, who had been frozen in deep contemplation, finally resolved his inner conflict.

Whoosh!

Hwang Bo-ak blurred forward with incredible swiftness, planting himself directly in the trajectory of Abbot Gonghwan.

“I ask for your understanding, but this particular patriarch chooses to place his trust in the words of Senior Beggar King.”

“…Amitabha.”

Abbot Gonghwan cast a sorrowful gaze toward Hwang Bo-ak, whispered the sacred name of Buddha, and shifted his body into a combat posture.

Thus commenced the duel between Hwang Bo-ak and Abbot Gonghwan.

“Place your faith in the guidance of Seniors Bul-jon, the Taiji Sword Sage, and the Beggar King.”

“Amitabha. By what logic can we permit these transgressors who practice the dark arts of the demonic path to walk free?”

Simultaneously, Yang Mu-ja clashed directly against the Beggars’ Sect Leader.

“You pathetic, bottom-feeding parasite, you’ve finally severed your last tie to sanity!”

“You absolute praise-addicted excuse for a spiritual cultivator!!!”

“What did you say?! Did your worthless mouth just refer to me as a praise-addicted spiritual cultivator?!”

Meanwhile, Il-mok remained locked in combat against Namgung Jin.

“Open your eyes to the manipulation around you, Namgung Patriarch!!”

“You possess incredible arrogance to think you can deceive this master with nothing but your silver tongue!”

Legendary combatants clashed violently across every corner of the valley: the forces of the Demonic Cult traded blows with the Martial Alliance, the members of the Beggars’ Sect fought to restrain the Hyunsan Sect, the holy men of Shaolin locked weapons with the masters of Wudang, and the tacticians of the Zhuge family turned their might against the warriors of the Namgung family. Disciples hailing from countless minor and intermediate organizations threw themselves blindly into the meatgrinder, transforming the entire location into a scene of pure, unadulterated anarchy.

The engagement zone, fractured by the clashing agendas of so many different forces, was an absolute disaster.

Yet, even within this terrifying mess, a semblance of structure was gradually beginning to take shape.

This stabilizing effect was largely driven by the precise actions of the Taiji Sword Sage and the Wudang faction.

True to their reputation for absolute impartiality, they focused entirely on physically separating the combatants of both factions, acting as forceful peacekeepers.

Most notably, because there was no single entity on the field capable of matching the sheer power of the Taiji Sword Sage among the clashing masters, he was able to dart across the terrain like a phantom, striking specific pressure points to paralyze fighters and forcing them out of the engagement.

Furthermore.

“Provide immediate assistance to the Beggars’ Sect and the Wudang forces.”

The elite of the Zhuge family, who had spent the majority of the engagement maintaining a detached neutrality, suddenly shifted their full weight to support this peacekeeping effort.

Zhuge Mun flashed a mocking grin toward Gong Son-hyeon, and the moment his command echoed, a cluster of high-ranking Zhuge family combatants lunged directly at the strategist.

Reinforced by the tactical entry of the Zhuge family, the overwhelming chaos of the battlefield finally appeared to be stabilizing, piece by piece.

The warriors of both the Beggars’ Sect and the Demonic Cult, strictly adhering to the strategic commands issued by the Beggar King and Il-mok, dedicated their efforts entirely to holding a defensive line rather than seeking to inflict casualties.

Unfortunately, that positive shift in momentum was cut incredibly short.

Yet another massive contingent, advancing rapidly from the eastern direction, swept toward the warzone utilizing high-level lightness skill.

“Slaughter every last one of these Demonic Cult aberrations!!”

It was the arriving vanguard of the Jongnam Sect Taoists.