Chapter 57 : Chapter 57

Chapter 57: The Well-Intentioned Don't Come, Those Who Come Aren't Well-Intentioned

I remember a time when I, along with Senior Brother Chun-baek, conducted thorough preliminary research and employed various strategies to acquire the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fleeceflower Root from the Heuksu Mun.

In particular, the Handsome Man Trap used to lure out Ma Yu-han, the Young Branch Lord of Heuksu Mun, was a plan I prided myself on as being truly timely and perfect.

Although Senior Brother Chun-baek was disgusted at first, didn't he too, in the end, acknowledge the greatness of the Handsome Man Trap?

However, as is often the case, thorough preparation and meticulous strategy are more often used by those who lack strength to overcome their shortcomings.

What I mean is, with the Emperor Breaker by my side now, pushing through with force could be much more efficient than some half-baked strategy.

Wasn't I, Dancheon Myeong, who had lived the life of Myeong-gae and returned to change the future, the embodiment of efficiency who knows the value of time?

“So you're saying we just have to smash everything?”

“No, that's not what I mean……”

But first, it would be to discipline that spirited Murim Alliance Leader so he doesn't ruin things.

* * *

There isn't much to find even if you look for information on the Blazing Flower Sect.

How much information could there be about a small to medium-sized evil faction located on the outskirts of Zhejiang Province?

In truth, by the time information about the Blazing Flower Sect became important, they had already exploded and scattered, so it was natural that there couldn't be much information.

However, I did not bother to scrape together information about the Blazing Flower Sect even after my regression, because I already had all the necessary information.

First, that they were a small to medium-sized gang in Zhejiang Province without a master of the State of Harmony.

Second, that the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure was in the depths of the Blazing Flower Sect.

Third, that they were a force that had colluded deeply with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to the point of using the art of Going Against the Heavens.

Except for the first, the other pieces of information were unobtainable in the current timeline, so what more was needed?

I had established a plan with information one step ahead, so there could be no problems.

A dark night when even the moon had hidden its tracks.

“Do you all remember the plan?”

I asked, my face covered with a mask bought from the market.

“Of course, wouldn't I?”

Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, similarly masked, replied.

If the core of the Heuksu Mun operation was the Handsome Man Trap, it would be right to name the core of the Blazing Flower Sect operation the Robber Ploy.

We had disguised ourselves as robbers who had infiltrated the Blazing Flower Sect in the dead of night.

The plan was perfect, but the excitement of Yeom Gi-ha was not hidden even by the mask, so I couldn't erase my worries.

-Oh, I've always wanted to do this before I die.

Yeom Gi-ha’s murmur before putting on the mask would not leave my ears.

“I will explain again.”

“Tsk.”

Although Yeom Gi-ha was fed up, it meant that my act of re-explaining the plan was by no means excessive.

“What did I say was the core of the plan?”

“Smashing everything.”

“No.”

Even though a sigh escaped me, I did not give up and explained again.

“Do not rashly use power beyond that of a Transcendent Peak master. You must continue an evenly matched fight.”

This was the core of this operation.

We were robbers who had infiltrated the Blazing Flower Sect.

The Blazing Flower Sect members would fight fiercely to defend their gang against us robbers.

From the Blazing Flower Sect's perspective, it would seem like they could defeat the robbers, but it wouldn't be easy.

It would seem like they could win if they used their hidden power, but for now, it was a bit tough.

We had to give the Blazing Flower Sect exactly that kind of impression.

The Blazing Flower Sect, hiding its demonic arts, was merely a small to medium-sized gang, so the standard for that would be the Transcendent Peak realm.

The realm was like that.

Although it was true that one grows by leaps and bounds each time one advances to a new realm, the gap between the Transcendent Peak and the State of Harmony was the largest.

That was what it meant for a human body to blossom the Spirit. It was also the reason why the State of Harmony and above was considered truly superhuman.

It meant that if we carelessly revealed power beyond the Transcendent Peak, the Blazing Flower Sect might give up everything and flee.

It wasn't that there was no alternative, but it would become bothersome to find evidence that they had colluded with the Demonic Cult, so it was right to be cautious.

“But, you know.”

“Please speak.”

“How weak is the Transcendent Peak?”

“Hmm.”

Even I, who prided myself on being brilliant, could not easily find an answer.

Although the Transcendent Peak was a realm where one could hold a leadership position even in a prestigious family, and secure an elder position in the Nine Sects One Gang, from the Emperor Breaker's standard, it was indeed weak.

From a hawk's eye view, wouldn't a one-story pavilion and a three-story pavilion be the same?

I found an appropriate answer.

“Do not use Sword Flux. Not until your life is in danger.”

Even without using Sword Flux, the Blazing Flower Sect members could not threaten Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha’s life, so I thought it was a truly perfect answer.

“I see. I understand.”

Since Yeom Gi-ha seemed to have understood perfectly, I would say it was an explanation at an appropriate level.

“Can we invade now?”

“Let's go.”

I walked side by side with Yeom Gi-ha.

Since the core of this operation was the Robber Ploy, not the Thief Ploy, we did not use stealthy movement techniques like gentlemen on the beams, nor did we leap over the wall.

It meant that we, wearing masks and with our backs to the moon, walked slowly and confidently to the entrance of the Blazing Flower Sect.

“Who are you!”

“Halt!”

If they didn't suspect our appearance, that itself would be a dereliction of duty, an act of negligence.

Two martial artists of the Blazing Flower Sect, who were on guard duty at dawn, shouted as they gripped their swords.

My eyes met with Yeom Gi-ha’s. As if our minds were connected, we lightly nodded at each other.

Swish.

Our two figures moved fleetingly as if in unison.

Thwack.

“Kuk.”

Kwajik.

“Guek.”

The two martial artists of the Blazing Flower Sect fainted without knowing what hit them.

It seemed the martial artist hit by Yeom Gi-ha was hit a bit hard, but that was within the expected range.

Since we had knocked out the guards who would open the main gate, it was right for us to open it and enter ourselves.

“May I signal the start?”

Yeom Gi-ha asked with an excited look.

“Go ahead.”

It would be fine to concede this much.

“Kuhaha. I've always wanted to do this too.”

Hwoooong.

Yeom Gi-ha unleashed a kick towards the main gate of the Blazing Flower Sect. Although I had confirmed that there was no Sword Flux formed in his kick.

Kwaang!

With a huge roar…….

Jjeojeojeok.

Not only the main gate but the entire wall began to crack.

Gugugung—

One side of the Blazing Flower Sect's wall completely collapsed.

Kuuung.

Dust fluttering in the air replaced the spot where the wall had collapsed.

“Hmm.”

At the very least, I was certain that a Transcendent Peak master could not display such martial prowess.

“We're screwed.”

It seemed my explanation had been insufficient.

* * *

If there was a silver lining, it was that the martial artists of the Blazing Flower Sect were either more persevering and spirited than expected, or ignorant, falling into one of those two categories.

It was right to judge it as the latter.

It meant that they had appeared with a triumphant air, perhaps thinking that what had demolished the wall was not the intruder's kick but something like a thunderbolt bomb.

Although it was a deep night when even the moon was asleep, because there had been such a big commotion, many martial artists soon gathered.

“Who are you!”

The one who appeared to be the gang leader asked.

“We are gentlemen on the beams.”

I answered.

“You're madmen.”

“Hmm.”

It seemed the Blazing Flower Sect leader was smart. I didn't know why such a smart person had colluded with the Demonic Path.

As it is said, "the well-intentioned don't come, those who come aren't well-intentioned," the smart Blazing Flower Sect leader had figured out that we who came in the dead of night were enemies.

“Attack!”

At the gang leader's command, the martial artists of the Blazing Flower Sect rushed towards us.

My real worry lay elsewhere.

“Do not forget.”

I did not forget to remind Yeom Gi-ha again.

“I know.”

Saying so, Yeom Gi-ha leaped into the middle of the Blazing Flower Sect members.

Although I had overcome a crisis with my back against Senior Brother Chun-baek's at the Heuksu Mun, the situation was different now.

There was the difference of being a Transcendent Peak master having achieved the Third Stage of the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, versus having entered the State of Harmony by achieving the Fourth Stage, and the difference of my companion being Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, not Senior Brother Chun-baek.

It wasn't that I didn't have the trust to leave my back to the Emperor Breaker, but it was closer to saying that there was no need to rely on each other because our individual capabilities were so outstanding.

“Kuhaha!”

Although he was clearly not using Sword Flux, Yeom Gi-ha’s majesty as he faced the Blazing Flower Sect members was like a tiger that had leaped into a pack of dogs.

Kwajik.

“Keoheok.”

When he swung his fist, a Blazing Flower Sect member flew off and hit a wall.

Ppagak.

“Ggeuak!”

When he swung his leg, a Blazing Flower Sect member with a dangling arm laid his body on the ground.

I realized that the fault was with me for asking Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha to pretend to be weak in the first place.

That man was a monster who could unleash power beyond the State of Harmony without even bothering to use Sword Flux.

Swish.

I unfolded the Stepping on Clouds Gait with the intention of resolving the situation before Yeom Gi-ha could mess things up further.

Since the entire offense of all the Blazing Flower Sect martial artists was focused on Yeom Gi-ha, my body reached the Blazing Flower Sect leader without difficulty.

Since the plan to draw out the demonic arts by pretending to be evenly matched had failed, I had to find a new path.

“If you hand over the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure, I will let you avoid the disaster of having your sect exterminated.”

I said so, imagining the most vile voice possible.

“……!”

The Blazing Flower Sect leader, who had a surprised expression, asked.

“Who are you?”

“Who do you think?”

I answered and smiled.

My expression would not be visible due to the mask, but my eyes and voice alone would be able to lead the Blazing Flower Sect leader's deduction.

Because at this point in time, there was only one place that could possibly know of the existence of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Extreme Blood Treasure.

Geudeuk.

The Blazing Flower Sect leader ground his teeth harshly and muttered.

“Those Heavenly Demon Divine Cult bastards, backstabbing us……”

It seemed my intention had hit the mark perfectly.

A firm resolve formed on the Blazing Flower Sect leader's face. It was right to call it a desperate determination.

“I permit the use of demonic arts!”

The Blazing Flower Sect leader declared.

“Hmm.”

Compared to the Heuksu Mun, I would describe it as a disappointing response.

The point where he did not more thoroughly verify the truth of my words was one,

The point where he failed to gauge the opponent's capabilities was another,

And the point where he so easily revealed the fact that he had learned demonic arts was another.

“Blazing Flower Sect leader, you are not so clever.”

“Shut up, you bastard!”

It would be right to withdraw my assessment that the Blazing Flower Sect leader was a smart person.

Indeed, if he had been clever in the first place, he wouldn't have caused the catastrophe of a volcanic eruption six years later.

As soon as the gang leader's command fell, the eyes of the Blazing Flower Sect members turned red, and their energy exploded.

I knew this to be a characteristic of when one's latent potential is ignited.

Although one could generate great power in a short time, the damage to one's original qi and spirit could not be avoided, so it was a characteristic of a low-grade demonic art.

Compared to that of the Heuksu Mun, it was right to describe it as a demonic art of a much lower grade.

“Kekeke.”

Furthermore, a black and ominous aura flickered from the entire bodies of the Blazing Flower Sect members, which could also be called a clear sign of demonic arts.

“Brace yourself.”

Confidence could be read on the Blazing Flower Sect leader's face.

Although I had called it a low-grade demonic art, the power of ignited latent potential could not be taken lightly. It was because original qi and spirit possessed a majesty that easily surpassed internal energy.

If the Heuksu Mun members had used that martial art, it was to the extent that I and Lee Chun-baek would never have seen the rising sun again.

However…….

“Hoh. Interesting.”

It was right to say that these people had summoned the emissary of the underworld with their own hands.

As the Blazing Flower Sect members manifested their demonic arts, Yeom Gi-ha, whose expression had become cold after erasing his smile, approached me.

“Should I kill them all?”

“They will die even if left alone.”

Since they had ignited their latent potential, they were already dead men.

Seeing their triumphant expressions, it seemed they themselves were unaware of it.

“It would be better for me to send those fellows on their way with my own hands.”

I knew that this was the Emperor Breaker's own form of mercy.

“Do as you please.”

“Alright.”

At the end of those words…….

Gugugung.

A great power descended upon the Blazing Flower Sect.

The expression 'Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva' came to mind on its own.

It was because of the countless Formless Swords that had formed around Yeom Gi-ha, too many to count.

No, I stand corrected. The army of Formless Swords he had unfolded resembled a Fire Demon. The unquenchable, powerful momentum and intent were so.

The complexions of the Blazing Flower Sect members, who had been expressing confidence based on their demonic arts, instantly turned pale.

“I will send you off peacefully.”

Before his intent could command the Formless Swords, I made a request.

“Please leave the bodies.”

It was the best prayer for the dead I could offer.

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