Chapter 76 : Chapter 76

Chapter 76. The Life-and-Death Struggle of Two Martial Artists Has Begun (1)

"Trouble has erupted!"

Iron Mesh Beggar Seok Gu ran in panting and shouted.

It happened to be a place where Han Cheong-un, the Tang Clan Head, Taoist Qingcheng, and Abbess Hyeonwol had all gathered.

At his urgent shouting appearance, the Tang Clan Head spoke.

"What is the matter that you act like this?"

"The Evil Way bastards are attacking."

"Isn't that something that always happens?"

"Their number exceeds one thousand."

"……."

Everyone’s complexion hardened.

This was not good.

No matter how much the Evil Way has more numbers than the Righteous Way, the number one thousand is difficult to mobilize in the Murim.

That they mobilized that number means…….

"They have also made up their minds."

"It seems so."

"This is a problem."

Abbess Hyeonwol muttered while rolling her prayer beads.

"Total war……."

Abbess Hyeonwol, who was deliberating with her eyes half-open while rolling prayer beads, had all sorts of thoughts going back and forth in her head right now.

In the heavy atmosphere, Taoist Qingcheng offered a hopeful observation.

"Still, we are capable. The Beggar's Gang has joined, and since we also have Sect Leader Han, even if a total war breaks out, the odds of victory are sufficient."

That statement is true.

The Beggar's Gang supplemented the numbers, and Han Cheong-un performed much more brilliantly than expected, breaking the brunt of the Evil Way’s attack.

Then Seok Gu spoke.

"There is more news I haven't told you yet."

"What is it?"

"One piece of good news and one piece of bad news……."

"Tell us quickly."

To the Tang Clan Head who was urging him, Seok Gu sighed and said.

"The good news is that the Ghost Gate Palace has dropped out."

"The Ghost Gate Palace?"

"That is……. Certainly not bad."

"It is a great favorable factor. Apart from their martial prowess, they were cumbersome."

Certainly, the Ghost Gate Palace’s sorcery and illusion arts were a big obstacle separate from the level of martial prowess.

That such a Ghost Gate Palace dropped out is a favorable factor. However…….

"The bad news is……."

receiving everyone’s attention, Seok Gu spoke.

"The flag of the Limitless Gate was seen."

"What?!"

"Oh no……."

Abbess Hyeonwol and Taoist Qingcheng showed signs of great dismay.

And Han Cheong-un raised his eyes slightly and said to Seok Gu.

"Did you see only the Limitless Gate?"

"No, there is no way."

"……."

"I also discovered Cha Mugyeom. He was revealing himself as he is without even hiding."

This was truly bad news.

* * *

Judging by common sense.

Since the Ghost Gate Palace dropped out and the Limitless Gate appeared in that place, eventually the enemy’s substance is three of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way.

Looking only at numbers, it is not that big of a change.

However, the weight carried by the names Limitless Gate and Cha Mugyeom made the Sichuan Murim tense.

"Khm, Sect Leader Han, let me ask you one thing."

"Please speak, Abbess."

"Is it true that you competed with Cha Mugyeom previously and won?"

"Yes. That is correct."

Then color returned to the faces of the surrounding people.

Before the next words continued, that is.

"It was largely because Cha Mugyeom was careless, and I used a hidden trump card to hit a gap. I won the match, but if it were actual combat, I would have lost."

The expressions of the listeners distorted terribly.

"Probably, if it were actual combat and not a duel, I would have died."

In the first place, that match had many parts advantageous to Han Cheong-un. Han Cheong-un knew the human called Cha Mugyeom inside out, while Cha Mugyeom did not know Han Cheong-un.

In such a situation, Han Cheong-un used the competitive spirit of the martial artist called Cha Mugyeom to create a situation most advantageous to himself and brought victory.

Honestly, if they fight properly in actual combat…….

‘It is still difficult.’

And the problem is not just Cha Mugyeom.

"The Myriad Poisons Demon Snake and the Poison Hand Gate are bastards who exert greater power during a war where groups gather and fight rather than in personal duels. The Tang Clan would know this part better."

"I know. It is the characteristic of poison arts."

When dealing with multiple enemies as a group, poison maximizes its effect.

When a war breaks out, if the Myriad Poisons Demon Snake and the Poison Hand Gate decide to release poison, ordinary disciples with lower martial arts levels could be annihilated in droves.

"Our Tang Clan will handle that part somehow. Since they say poison controls poison……."

At the Tang Clan Head’s words, the others nodded.

And Han Cheong-un continued his words.

"The Red Blood Saber Ghost is strong. Probably……."

Han Cheong-un looked at Taoist Qingcheng and Abbess Hyeonwol and said.

"He will be stronger than you two."

For a moment, an emotion of insubordination flashed past their eyes. Their pride as martial artists was stimulated by what Han Cheong-un just said.

"I apologize for saying something rude to the two of you. But since it is an important issue ahead of the war, I had to say this."

"Mmm……."

"Amitabha Bodhisattva of Compassion……."

Fortunately, it seems both have enough cultivation to suppress their personal competitive spirit.

"I ask that the two of you block the Red Blood Saber Ghost together."

"You mean we should attack jointly."

"Since it is war, it can’t be helped."

Two Sect Leaders of the Nine Sects united to deal with one person. If such a fact becomes known, the honor of these two as martial artists will suffer considerable damage.

But it can’t be helped.

Because in war, the victory and survival of the group are more important issues than individual honor.

And Han Cheong-un looked at Seok Gu and said.

"Hero Seok, please take control of the whole and command the war."

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes. You."

Seok Gu spoke with a complicated expression.

"Are you telling me to lead the entire Sichuan Murim? Telling me to order the Tang Clan, Emei, and Qingcheng to roll left and roll right?"

"Yes. You know well."

"Would that work?"

Seok Gu sighed deeply.

He is not even the Sect Leader of the Beggar's Gang but merely a Branch Leader of the Sichuan Branch.

Furthermore, considering the declined position the Beggar's Gang holds in the Righteous Murim, there was no way disciples of other sects, especially elders who are superior in generation and age, would listen to a beggar.

It hurts his pride, but this is reality.

"If not you, there is no one to do it."

"No, why?"

"Didn’t you hear? The other Sect Leaders are busy."

"Groan……."

Seok Gu held his head and groaned, then said.

"Why don’t you do it instead?"

Recently, the status Han Cheong-un holds in the Sichuan Murim is rising day by day.

Considering Han Cheong-un’s reputation rising like an ascending dragon, it would be possible for him to hold command rights.

Although his young age is a flaw, still…….

‘They would think it’s better than listening to a beggar.’

But Han Cheong-un spoke firmly.

"I also have work to do."

"What is that?"

"First, I have to deal with Cha Mugyeom. And……. No, well anyway, I am busy."

"Haaa……."

Certainly, this is difficult.

He understands the saying that there is only him. But…….

"There is no way disciples of the prestigious Righteous Sects would obediently listen to a mere beggar. Eventually, the command system will become a mess. Then it will become worse than fighting individually."

"That is true."

Han Cheong-un smiled brightly.

As expected, this person has an excellent sense of reality.

He knows the problem accurately and does not turn away from it. Since he is such a figure, one can entrust the general command to him with peace of mind.

"If it is that problem, I can solve it for you."

"How? Are you planning to grab everyone by the collar and beat them up one by one?"

"No. Where is the time for that?"

"……."

Would you have done it if you had time?

Han Cheong-un turned his body and faced Abbess Hyeonwol, Taoist Qingcheng, and the Tang Clan Head squarely.

And bowing politely with clasped hands, he said…….

"Han Cheong-un, a junior of the Jianghu, has words to say to the three seniors."

Being unnecessarily polite makes one uneasy.

And Han Cheong-un threw a bomb.

"Please lend the Sect Leader Command Tokens of the three sects to Hero Seok of the Beggar's Gang for a while."

The mouths of the four people gaped open.

On the faces of the four seasoned martial artists who had experienced all sorts of hardships, the emotion ‘What did this crazy guy just say?’ clearly appeared simultaneously.

But Han Cheong-un was nonchalant.

"Wasn't that what a Sect Leader Command Token was for in the first place? Isn't it an object where the Sect Leader directly instills authority in a deputy sent to a place where the Sect Leader’s hands and eyes do not reach?"

"No, that is true. But……."

"We need unified command authority. And the only person who can take that on right here and now is Hero Seok."

"I understand the reason. That…… it is not a reason I cannot accept at all either."

"Then it is settled."

"However, in the long history of our Emei, the Sect Leader Command Token has never entered the hands of an outsider."

"That turned out well. Become the first Sect Leader to concede the Sect Leader Command Token to an outsider."

"……."

Will that happen? You crazy bastard!

Abbess Hyeonwol wanted to say this, but she suppressed it and rolled her prayer beads endlessly.

The speed of rolling prayer beads becoming faster and faster showed she was very anxious.

"Uhm, Sect Leader Han, from our Qingcheng’s position……."

"You know very well that now is not the time for Qingcheng to be picky about cold rice or hot rice, right?"

"……."

To poke that here.

It was cowardly but an effective method.

And Han Cheong-un glared sharply at the three, including the Tang Clan Head who was hesitating, and said.

"Hand over the Sect Leader Command Tokens."

Why does it feel like the sentence ‘while I am asking nicely’ is attached to the end?

To state the conclusion first…….

The Sect Leaders and Clan Head of the three sects had no choice but to obediently hand over the Sect Leader Command Tokens and the Clan Head Token.

Holding them in his hands, Seok Gu said joyfully.

"Oh, finally absolute power has come to this beggar. Now if you don’t listen to me, you are all dead! What should I order first?"

Watching that appearance, it was deeply anxious.

But what could they do?

The three Sect Leaders each have opponents they must handle.

So they have no choice but to trust the ability of Seok Gu, who controlled and led the massive Beggar's Gang in the Second Great War of Righteous and Evil.

Thus, the gathered total military power of the Sichuan Murim was…….

Qingcheng thirty people.

Emei Sect two hundred people.

Tang Clan one hundred and fifty people.

Beggar's Gang four hundred people.

Ultimate Path Gate four people.

The total number was a little less than eight hundred.

This was the number gathered by scraping together all forces except for the truly minimum defensive personnel.

"Did you say the number of Evil Way personnel was how many?"

"They said it exceeds roughly a thousand."

"Although we are inferior in number, it’s not to the extent we can’t do it."

"That is true."

"……."

"Besides, isn't the victory or defeat of masters more important than numbers in our Jianghu’s war?"

At Seok Gu’s words, Han Cheong-un also nodded.

The moment one absolute master is released freely.

Numbers become largely meaningless.

‘Eventually, we have to do well.’

Han Cheong-un, Tang Clan Head, Abbess Hyeonwol, Taoist Qingcheng.

It would not be a great exaggeration to say that these four hold the key to this war.

"Anyway, we have done all the preparations we can. Now we must go out and fight."

"That is correct."

The total forces of the Sichuan Murim marched out of Chengdu. At their appearance, the civilians of Chengdu came and cheered, scattering flowers.

"Please make sure to win and return. Tang Clan Head."

"Abbess, please take care."

"Sect Leader, you must win and return."

It was an earnest atmosphere rather than a noisy one.

The civilians also know.

How gloomy their lives would become if this land of Sichuan falls into the hands of the Evil Way.

Although the Righteous Way isn't always pretty, it was at least much better than falling under those immoral Evil Way bastards.

Han Cheong-un examined each of their expressions.

He abandoned himself as the Righteous Way.

He also left the Murim Alliance.

But there was one thing he did not abandon.

A martial artist must ultimately be a sword to protect the common people.

From the moment one forgets this part and pursues only one’s own honor and profit, he is not a martial artist.

Just a bandit.

‘I will protect you. This time too, surely…….’

* * *

Three Great Valleys.

It is a small basin terrain in the south of Sichuan Province surrounded by mountains.

The Evil Way group that was marching toward Chengdu stopped their feet all at once when they arrived there.

It was obvious what that meant.

[Let’s have a round here.]

It was a silent provocation saying so.

And the Righteous Way also accepted this provocation.

In the first place, if they were going to avoid this, there was no meaning in waging a total war.

The Righteous Murim also all gathered and stood facing them there.

In a basin not very large, nearly two thousand people faced each other and began to emit killing intent.

"Listen, ringleaders of the wicked Evil Way!"

Ahead of the war, Abbess Hyeonwol shouted in a ringing voice.

Considering purely by seniority on the Righteous Way side right now, the highest person stepped forward.

"Why do you covet our land of Sichuan and threaten the civilians enjoying a peaceful daily life?"

Although what she said was obvious.

Then from the Eight Gates of the Evil Way side, the Myriad Poisons Demon Snake came forward and spoke.

"You have a lot of words for someone who came to fight. If you are scared, say you are scared. If you surrender now, we will use the nuns of your Emei Sect to at least serve liquor to these elders."

A provocation returning thickly.

Instead of getting excited, Abbess Hyeonwol showed cold anger.

"Snake-like thing. You mean you don’t even need the justification for minimum face."

"Hahahaha. The winner is justification and justice. Seeing you don’t even know that simple fact, the teachings of the Bodhisattva of Compassion are also in vain."

Abbess Hyeonwol drew her sword and shouted loudly.

"Outcast bastard who gave up being human. Today, there will be absolutely no way you return alive."

"Only your words are grandiose. Go, kids. It’s a feast day after a long time!"

The moment the Myriad Poisons Demon Snake’s order fell.

The group of the Evil Way ran forward all at once.

"Kill them all!"

"Waaaaaaah!"

The war staking the fate of Sichuan began.