Chapter 215

Chapter 215
Chapter 215
Chapter 215: Blood Alliance’s Shameless Arrival

The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly stood without question as a festival belonging solely to the righteous martial world.

Even so, it was hardly unheard of for young disciples from unorthodox or evil sects to slip into the Dragon-Phoenix Competition. There was simply no way to stop every last person who concealed their identity and crept in.

Yet making a public declaration of intent to participate was an entirely different matter.

That rang especially true for the Blood Slaughter Alliance—one of the two great evil powers in existence, alongside the Yangtze Water Dragon Alliance.

“Even counting my past life, nothing like this has taken place for at least a hundred years.”

With Ah Doo and Hyun Geom already taking part, so many events had already strayed far from the timeline he remembered. The Blood Slaughter Alliance joining the fray might simply be a natural turn of events in this altered reality.

But then again—

“Following that same logic, the Blood Cult Leader skulking in the shadows could be something that never happened before, too.”

Whether it was the Blood Slaughter Alliance’s open participation or the hidden presence of the Blood Cult Leader, neither was a welcome development. No, to be honest, he would have avoided both if he could.

The Blood Slaughter Alliance in particular was the very reason Yang-hwi had been laying every groundwork with such painstaking care around this so-called paper tiger, the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.

“Where are those Blood Slaughter Alliance scoundrels?”

“As of yesterday, they were a day’s ride outside Wuhuan. Considering when our messenger was dispatched, this amounts to an unannounced, surprise declaration that they’re taking part.”

If that were true, they ought to arrive at any moment. Guizhou, where the Blood Slaughter Alliance made its home, lay west of Wuhuan…

“Let’s head for the west gate—no, they likely sailed down the Yangtze, so the south gate it is.”

Yang-hwi’s party immediately sped toward the southern gate. The area nearby was already packed shoulder to shoulder with onlookers.

From a distance, roughly a hundred warriors came into view, drawing near. A prickle of unease crawled over his skin.

“They’re letting their presence blare openly—just putting on a show for everyone to see.”

“Brother, those people… they’re incredibly rude, as if no one ever taught them basic manners.”

“Agreed. Not that evil sect trash would ever have had the chance to learn any.”

“That much is certain.”

Either way, they had no intention of slipping in quietly, watching the events unfold and leaving without a sound. Their brazenly radiating auras sent a clear signal—a bold statement of purpose.

That was the moment.

A fierce gust of wind tore through the air.

“Ugh, my eyes…!”

“What’s with this sudden gale… huff!”

Every spectator turned toward where the wind originated, and shock rippled through the crowd as one. It was inevitable.

A figure stepped forward—an elder who seemed to have descended from the heavens themselves.

“Taeguk Sword Elder…!”

“The Grandmaster has made his appearance!”

Taeguk Sword Elder swept a piercing gaze across the surroundings. Hundreds of people stood gathered, so noise should have been unavoidable—yet every sound died away instantly.

*Brother… just speaking aloud could catch the eye of one of the Heavenly Martial Ten Supremes. What a rare opportunity!*

*You fool—we’re talking about glares, not just eyes landing on us.*

*Ah, right. So what do we do now?*

What was there to do? There wouldn’t even be an opening to step in. The two central figures in the discussion about to unfold were Wudang and the Blood Slaughter Alliance. As the young heir of the Baek Clan, he was not yet in a position to insert himself into the conversation.

“First Blood Unit—halt!”

At the sharp command, the approaching Blood Slaughter Alliance warriors came to a stop. Their discipline was striking—far better coordinated than anyone would expect from rabble of an evil sect.

*Their leader… that must be the one, right?*

A man in his mid-twenties stepped forward, his expression laced with venom. His attire and bearing marked him plainly as the vice leader of the Blood Slaughter Alliance.

*Hm. Something feels wrong. He doesn’t look like the man I remember.*

The vice leader raised a hand in a haughty gesture.

“Greetings, righteous fellow warriors of the martial world!”

The Wudang disciples standing near Taeguk Sword Elder all hardened their expressions in unison.

“Impudent cur!”

“Hm? I’d say that’s rather a chilly welcome. Ah—of course! We have a most distinguished guest in our midst!”

Only then did the vice leader appear to notice Taeguk Sword Elder, exaggerating his surprise as if he had just spotted the elder for the very first time.

“Sword Elder, sir! My master sends his warmest regards!”

His tone was insolently familiar, disrespectful toward someone who was easily more than a century his senior. Yet Taeguk Sword Elder replied smoothly, not a flicker of emotion crossing his face.

“Ah—you truly take after your master. It seems you have indeed learned well from him.”

“Hahaha! That is exactly why this humble vice leader has graced you with my presence today!”

“Had you come alone out of respect for your master and for me, I would have received you with all due honor. Let’s see… fifteen first-rate experts, eighty masters of the Transcendent realm.”

Nearly a hundred members of the Blood Slaughter Alliance, with well over half having attained Transcendent cultivation. To put that in perspective—in Ak-an County, where the Baek Clan resided, a single Transcendent expert could dominate the entire region. This was a terrifying force to muster.

“Ah… what brings you all the way to Wuhuan with strength enough to wipe out a respectable sect?”

“Haha! There is no need to exaggerate, Sword Elder! For the Blood Slaughter Alliance or for Wudang, bringing this many is simply a matter of saving face!”

“Even while ignoring this old man’s face entirely?”

“That is precisely why we brought only Transcendent-level experts! That is deference—pure respect!”

He was not entirely wrong. Had even one pinnacle Transcendent or the Alliance leader himself come, the visit would have been interpreted not as a courtesy call, but as an act of invasion. Wudang would have ensured exactly that.

Even so… how did this man intend to get away with speaking so glibly?

*Brother… that forked tongue of his matches his shifty face perfectly.*

*Couldn’t agree more.*

It looked as though this verbal duel, disguised as polite conversation, might drag on. He could not very well stand idly by—he might as well make some inquiries of his own.

He sharpened his senses to their absolute peak. That was not sufficient, so he unfurled hundreds of qi threads, each finer than a human hair. *Heh heh… let’s see just how capable you really are, you lot. Anyone who picks up on this—I’ll remember your face well.*

In that split second, Taeguk Sword Elder’s gaze flickered briefly in his direction.

Ah, damn it. He should have accounted for the elder as well.

*Well… since Master mentioned the matter before, there is no need to hide my capabilities from the Sword Elder any longer.*

First, he swept his perception broadly across the entire group. Then he focused every qi thread intently upon the vice leader.

*Ugh—foul. Typical evil sect filth… their dantians are absolutely tainted.*

The rank-and-file members were one thing, but even the vice leader’s internal energy was of shoddy quality. It was far from pure, far from refined. It carried the stench of corrupted energy, though not the perverse reverse-heaven flow characteristic of true demonic arts. Still, it leaned far closer to demonic energy than Nanghon’s cultivation did.

At this rate, exposing the Blood Cult Leader before the Assembly had even begun was looking unlikely.

“How frustrating… they must have sensed him already but failed to recognize who he is. When it comes to the Blood God Blood Cult’s leader, it is hardly surprising if he conceals his aura with some unknown trick.”

For now, he would treat the vice leader as a suspect—alongside Nanghon—as a potential identity for the Blood Cult Leader.

Just as that thought settled in his mind, the vice leader’s boasting grew bolder.

“My master has commanded me to return as the Supreme Dragon! Therefore, I shall enter the Dragon-Phoenix Competition! Given our close ties, might I trouble you for a heaven-grade invitation? Surely a figure as generous as Sword Elder could grant such a small favor!”

Taeguk Sword Elder fell silent. As if catching sight of something, the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

“Ah. Did you receive specific orders?”

“Orders for what?”

“Orders to run your mouth before this old man, did your master instruct you to do so?”

“Oh—how did you guess? He said to be as affable as possible given our long-standing association, haha!”

“I see… heh heh heh.”

Formless energy gathered in the air, swelling, condensing, taking distinct shape. A single sword materialized.

“Ah.”

The vice leader could no longer maintain his arrogant demeanor. Beyond drawing breath, he seemed incapable of any movement at all. That was the Sword Elder’s sword. Its mere existence carried enough weight to impose its will upon every person standing there.

“I descended from Wudang Mountain after decades in seclusion, all for the sake of this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. And look—so many distinguished guests have arrived. However… Wudang extends hospitality in its own very particular fashion. Your master is well aware of that.”

Taeguk Sword Elder did not even swing his weapon. Yet they were cut all the same. Ninety-six members of the Blood Slaughter Alliance collapsed where they stood.

“Leaving guests standing about is terribly poor etiquette. This is Wudang’s welcome for you. Are you satisfied now?”

The vice leader could offer no reply. To avoid suffering dangerous qi deviation, he had to pour every ounce of his mental focus into repairing the spiritual wounds inflicted upon him. *Tch—I knew it would turn out exactly like this.*

For all his sage-like bearing, Taeguk Sword Elder’s temperament was far from conventional. His actions alone made that abundantly clear.

“All Blood Slaughter Alliance participants are granted entry to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. However… you shall earn your invitations through your own efforts.”

Taeguk Sword Elder’s form faded from sight, followed immediately by the Wudang disciples.

“That was… unexpected.”

It was not only Yang-hwi—his companions appeared equally taken aback.

“Wudang has no reason whatsoever to welcome the Blood Slaughter Alliance.”

“If they are confident Hyun Geom will claim the title of Supreme Dragon, having more competitors in the field can only work in their favor, can it not?”

“Even so, there is no benefit to be gained. The Jeon-gal Clan could seize upon this as proof we have entered into league with demonic forces.”

Jeon-gal Seol-ha, who was directly referenced, wore a look of quiet perplexity. An adversary acting in an inscrutable manner? For someone as calculating as she was, it must have been deeply frustrating.

“It appears Taeguk Sword Elder knows something the rest of us do not.”

Without some hidden advantage or information, such a decision made no logical sense.

“Could Wudang have struck a secret pact with the Blood Slaughter Alliance to achieve some goal? No… that seems far too far-fetched.”

“It is not Wudang, nor is it the Namgung Clan. But for you to say as much, Dang-hyung—you are truly intrigued, are you not?”

Dang Gun nodded solemnly.

“Our alliance stands to gain much from this gathering. With circumstances shifting so rapidly, how could I not be curious?”

“Heh—true enough. I am beside myself with curiosity as well.”

“So am I—but you are even more so… wait a moment.”

Dang Gun’s expression paled as he caught sight of the look in Yang-hwi’s eyes.

“Wait—no. Not that. Please.”

“I have not said a single thing yet.”

“Do not speak it—do not even think it. Anything but that.”

He turned his gaze subtly toward Jeon-gal Seol-ha.

“Seol-ha.”

“Yes, brother? What is it? It sounds like fun!”

Unlike the visibly alarmed Dang Gun, Seol-ha’s eyes sparkled with mischief. She looked exactly like a child who had just been handed a torch and told to play with fire.

*(For the record, Yang-hwi wore precisely the same expression.)*

“Seol-ha… one of the old sages’ sayings just came to mind. Can you guess which?”

“Oh, let me think… is it this one?”

Seol-ha grinned impishly.

*”When seeking understanding, ask even a child of three if you do not know the answer!”*

“Keh—exactly right!”

Yang-hwi held out his hand; Seol-ha slapped it in a high-five.

Clap!

“No—brother, no! Someone stop him! Do none of you recognize that look by now and intervene?!”

Chudal simply shook his head; Baek Heon-so bowed gently.

“None of us have ever succeeded in stopping him, Young Heir.”

“Besides… when he says something will be fun, it usually is…”

*(Heart-pounding terror notwithstanding.)*

“If you are going to do something, at least discuss it with us first!”

“No—you would just unleash some poison or other trick to stop me.”

“I have already figured it out! You intend to question the Blood Slaughter vice leader, do you not?!”

“Oh?”

“Do not give me that innocent ‘oh’—you rascals!”

Dang Gun suddenly squared his shoulders, his resolve hardening.

“I will stop you. No matter what it takes.”

“Hm. Seol-ha—Dang-hyung seems quite determined.”

“Hm… Brother Yang-hwi?”

“Yes?”

Seol-ha looked up at him with wide, guileless eyes.

“Between the two of us, are we not first and second in mastery of lightness skill?”

“We are. Master’s ultimate arts include a supreme lightness technique, after all.”

Whoosh—in an instant, they had both vanished from sight. Dang Gun’s shout rang out behind them.

“You little scoundrels!!”

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The Blood Slaughter Alliance members, granted permission to enter Wuhuan, had taken over an entire grand residence and settled in. The place was deathly quiet; everyone appeared drained, tending to their injured spirits.

From his vantage point overlooking the manor, Yang-hwi turned to Seol-ha.

“Seol-ha—what do you think? Honey trap or provocation?”

“Not a honey trap. Dragging more people into this sounds tedious.”

“Understood. Provocation it is, then.”

“How will you go about it? To needle someone properly, you have to know exactly where they itch.”

“I had not figured it out earlier… but I do now.”

He unfurled his qi threads, his senses extending until they locked onto the vice leader at the very center of the compound.

*Your father’s surname is Heo, is it not?*

The vice leader’s aura flared violently.

*Wondering who this is? Come outside. I am perched in the tree right here.*

Just in case he chose to ignore the message, Yang-hwi added fuel to the fire.

*Scarecrow Heo, All-Talk Heo, Windbag Heo—every single one fits perfectly