“Thank you so much. There was no other place to ask for such a favor except for the Namgung Clan.”

“Don’t worry about it and come in.”

Through the wide-open main gate of the Namgung Clan, the martial artists of the Hebei Peng Clan entered with their shoulders slumped.

In the meantime, the martial artists of the Peng Clan, who had to move along the rough mountain paths to avoid the surprise attacks of the heretic path forces, were in a state of complete exhaustion.

The head of the Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Sogeon, cupped his hands and expressed his gratitude to the head of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Muhyeok, who had warmly welcomed them.

“What happened to the rest of the family members?”

At Namgung Muhyeok’s worried question, Peng Sogeon said with a self-deprecating smile.

“They have all been scattered to places that are not easy to find.”

Namgung Muhyeok nodded his head at Peng Sogeon’s decision.

It was the best judgment that a clan head who had given up even the family’s home and had been defeated could make.

What was important to the heretic martial world was not to wipe out the seeds of the Hebei Peng Clan, but to reduce the number of the Hebei Peng Clan martial artists who would be a threat to them in the upcoming large-scale battle.

So the family members of the Hebei Peng Clan who had been scattered here and there were rather safe.

“Now the attention will be on the Namgung Clan.”

“It’s rather a good thing. Since the sword of Namgung and the saber of Peng have gathered in one place, no matter how many of the heretic path there are, can they break our swords and sabers?”

“…”

Peng Sogeon, who had gained strength from Namgung Muhyeok’s words, straightened his slumped shoulders.

“Until the moment our lives end… our Peng Clan will fight side by side with Namgung.”

“It’s an honor.”

The head of the Namgung Clan and the head of the Hebei Peng Clan held hands and strengthened their resolve.

The Namgung Clan, which had already finished preparing for the decisive battle through the Alliance Friend Order, was guarding the estate with only the martial artists who could fight.

They sharpened their swords every day so that they could fight at any time, with golden hero towels with golden dragons embroidered on them tied around their foreheads.

Thanks to that, a powerful aura was emanating from the estate of the Namgung Clan.

“Their surprise attack was instantaneous. The reason why the heretic path is dangerous right now is because of their human wave tactics. When those who have been blinded by desire push in, risking their lives, the masters of the heretic path thrust their swords in between.”

“And on top of that, the Peng Clan’s proud Fierce Tiger Iron Saber was not there…”

Recently, even the Sichuan Tang Clan had suffered damage close to annihilation and had used the last resort of burning down their own estate with their own hands.

Along with the Nine Great Sects, two of the Five Great Families, which were the five prestigious martial families that supported the righteous martial world, had already been defeated by the heretic martial world.

Now, what was left was the Moyong Clan and the Zhuge Clan, which were located on the outskirts of the Central Plains, and this Namgung Clan was the only one.

“Is there any news from the Zhuge Clan?”

“Although the heretic path forces have surrounded the Zhuge Clan, there have been no direct attacks or raids.”

“That’s a relief.”

Peng Sogeon let out a sigh of relief with all his heart.

Since ancient times, many talented people with amazing intelligence had been born in the Zhuge Clan.

Thanks to that, the talented people of the Zhuge Clan had become masters of mechanisms and formations, and it was enough to make up for their lack of martial talent.

And this was also the reason why the Zhuge Clan, which was relatively lacking in martial power, was still safe.

‘Because there won’t be any ignorant bastard who would openly attack the Zhuge Clan.’

In the Zhuge Clan, there were many rare formations and mechanisms that had never been known in the Central Plains, so many that they were kicked around.

If they had ignored this and had forced an attack on the Zhuge Clan, they would not have been able to avoid a mass death.

The Heretic Path's Alliance and the group of men in black, who knew this, could not do anything to the Zhuge Clan and were only surrounding them.

Of course, thanks to that, the Zhuge Clan, which had an impregnable fortress, was in a state of isolation by the heretic path forces.

For Peng Sogeon, who was frustrated by this situation, Namgung Muhyeok showed him a letter that had recently come to the clan.

“The Martial Alliance has moved.”

“Oh! Finally…! The alliance leader has moved!”

“Ah, the Peng Clan head must not have heard the news.”

“Was there something else?”

Namgung Muhyeok told him about the clash between Gwak Doyeop and Ju Cheon in the front yard of the Martial Alliance and the result.

And he also told him about the White Moon Divine Lord, Cheon Yusin, who had newly taken on the role of acting alliance leader.

Peng Sogeon, who had been stiff with shock while listening, wiped his face with both hands.

“It’s a pity, but… the White Moon Divine Lord is a trustworthy person…”

“What’s important is that the Martial Alliance is moving, and it means that the righteous martial world will soon be able to unite.”

“If the righteous path joins forces, not only those vicious heretic path bastards, but also the Heretic Path's Alliance can be uprooted and driven out of the Central Plains.”

Peng Sogeon, who had discovered a spark of hope, clenched his two fists tightly.

“The time for revenge is not far off.”

Peng Sogeon tried to calm his burning anger for the revenge of his dead blood relatives.

In the meantime, Namgung Muhyeok quietly looked at the map of the Central Plains that he had spread out to organize the situation.

‘Huashan and Jongnam survived with the help of the Flying Heaven Sword Ghost.’

Namgung Muhyeok knew who the rumored Flying Heaven Sword Ghost was.

In the Central Plains, the only ones who could use flying swords were Kang Cheon and Jin Sohyun, and Kang Cheon had the respectable titles of Flying Heaven Sword Master and Ten-Armed Blood Ghost.

That meant that the new rising star, the Flying Heaven Sword Ghost, could only be Jin Sohyun.

‘There’s nothing to worry about in the north… but is the problem Sichuan?’

The Sichuan Tang Clan, which had suffered damage close to annihilation due to the attack of the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.

At this, the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect, which were based in the same provincial capital, were busily joining forces.

And the Sichuan Tang Clan had joined them, and the Sichuan Alliance was born.

‘In Sichuan, the Sichuan Alliance… and here, the Peng Clan and our clan have joined forces.’

Now, if these alliances joined forces with the Martial Alliance at the forefront, a true righteous path alliance would be born.

The one that had stopped the Ming Cult in the past Righteous-Demon War.

“…”

The corner of Namgung Muhyeok’s eye, who was watching the map of the Central Plains, twitched to one side.

“What’s wrong? Namgung Clan Head?”

As Namgung Muhyeok stared at the map of the Central Plains, Peng Sogeon also stared at the map.

Soon, Namgung Muhyeok muttered as if to himself.

“The heretic path forces did not touch Namgung.”

“That’s because the Namgung Clan is the most threatening martial family among the Five Great Families, isn’t it? So…”

“And in Sichuan, there were no sects that suffered damage other than the Tang Clan.”

Namgung Muhyeok, who had even shot up from his seat, had his two eyes shining so intensely that it seemed they would pierce through the map.

“Apart from the fact that Huashan and Jongnam suffered damage… this cannot be called a coincidence.”

What if everything was an intended situation?

“They attacked the Hebei Peng Clan, and they attacked the Sichuan Tang Clan. And they also attacked Huashan and Jongnam. But strangely, they did not touch Namgung, Emei, and the Qingcheng Sect.”

Peng Sogeon held his breath and listened to Namgung Muhyeok’s words.

In the meantime, Namgung Muhyeok’s explanation did not stop, but rather became faster.

“If they were afraid of the solidarity of the righteous martial world, they should not have attacked in this way. Rather, they should have attacked the Five Great Families at the same time or pressed the Nine Great Sects at the same time. But… the heretic path did not do that.”

“Namgung Clan Head.”

Peng Sogeon’s right hand was placed heavily on Namgung Muhyeok’s shoulder.

“Tell me too. The clan head’s thoughts.”

“…”

Namgung Muhyeok swept his bangs with one hand and let out the hot breath he had been holding back.

And he said.

“An intended fight… an intended battlefield… if all of this is not a coincidence, an all-out attack will begin. The target is…”

Namgung Muhyeok’s eyes crossed the map of the Central Plains and reached Sichuan.

The alliance that was established in the place where the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon had personally come out and had destroyed the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“The Sichuan Alliance.”

***

“Thank you so much.”

“No. Haven’t we been protecting Sichuan together for a very long time since the old days? Rather, I’m sorry that we couldn’t protect the Tang Clan from the disaster that befell them together. And the matter of the clan head…”

The elder of the Tang Clan, Dang Surim, who had survived, could not even raise his head at the warmth of the Qingcheng Sect, which had warmly embraced him and the family members of the Tang Clan.

The place that the survivors of the Tang Clan had come to, avoiding the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, was Mount Qingcheng.

Currently, there were also many nuns from the Emei Sect there, and among them, the most noticeable were the twenty nuns who had a sharp aura even at first glance.

“Have you calmed down a little?”

The middle-aged nun, who had introduced herself as the Jingyu Master, was famous for having the swiftest and most outstanding sword skills in the current Emei Sect, and was the leader of the Demon-Subduing Sword.

“Ah, yes.”

“Can you explain what happened?”

No rise or fall of emotion could be felt in the Jingyu Master’s voice.

At her voice, which even felt heartless at first glance, Dang Surim chewed on his past memories.

The Jingyu Master, who had not even blinked once while listening to the explanation, turned her body and looked at the Daoists of Qingcheng.

“Where is the sect master?”

“I am here.”

A noble-looking old man with a blue robe and a gray beard that came down to his solar plexus walked out.

He was the current sect master of the Qingcheng Sect, the Qingyu True Man.

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about our enemy.”

The Qingyu True Man listened to the Jingyu Master’s story with an interested expression, and in that place, the elders of the Qingcheng Sect, the first-generation disciples, and Dang Surim were also together.

“The gate of the Tang Clan does not open so easily. But… the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon opened the gate of the Tang Clan with just a single sword strike.”

That was the last thing that Dang Surim remembered.

He had taken the family members of the Tang Clan and the young late-stage prospects at the instruction of the clan head, Dang Muhak, and had led them through a back road that no one knew.

And so, Dang Surim, who had escaped the Tang Clan through an underground passage that was no different from a mine, had witnessed their land engulfed in flames.

“If they are moving in small numbers, it is right for us to strike first.”

“Are you saying we should find the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon and kill him?” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

At the Qingyu True Man’s question, the Jingyu Master nodded her head once.

“They must have expected that the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect would have moved after seeing what happened to the Sichuan Tang Clan. And they will not stop at this.”

In the north, Huashan and the Jongnam Sect had almost suffered a great disaster, and the Hebei Peng Clan, like the Tang Clan, had suffered damage close to annihilation.

Since there was no way the offensive of the heretic path would end at this.

The Jingyu Master’s opinion was that they should find the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, who would be moving in small numbers, before he could prepare properly and attack.

“If the power of our Demon-Subduing Sword and Qingcheng are together, it will be possible.”

“That’s not wrong.”

“The Tang Clan will also do our best to help.”

Although the majority of the survivors were the late-stage prospects of the Tang Clan, Dang Surim wanted to be of help in any way.

Believing that that was the only way for Sichuan.

But at that moment, a young Daoist of the Qingcheng Sect came running in hastily.

“Sect Master Elder!”

“What is it.”

“A person has come. But…”

“Hurry and speak.”

“He says he is the current sect master of the Poison Sect.”

“The Poison Sect!?”

The remnant of the Ming Cult, which had attacked the Sichuan Tang Clan with the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon and was thought to have disappeared.

At the appearance of the Poison Sect, the Qingyu True Man hurried his steps with the Jingyu Master and Dang Surim.

The place they arrived at was in front of the Dowon of the Qingcheng Sect.

And there, a middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back.

“Hello.”

The middle-aged man cupped his hands leisurely and introduced himself.

“I am Sahwangcheon Hamgi, the current sect master of the Poison Sect. It is an honor to meet the sect master of Qingcheng like this.”

“Sahwangcheon Hamgi… what brings the sect master of the Poison Sect here.”

At the Qingyu True Man’s shout, which was close to a roar, Hamgi smiled slyly and rolled his eyes from side to side.

“I heard the survivors of the Tang Clan who had run away are here.”

“So?”

“Please hand them over.”

“Ha…”

The Qingyu True Man could not bear it any longer and emitted a fierce fighting spirit that was unfitting for a Daoist.

“To think that the only thing you have to say is such nonsense… did you come here to die! Poison Sect Master!”

“Of course not. I just came to give a warning for the sake of Qingcheng. I will give you a generous period of about four days. Please make a decision within that time.”

“Is there any reason for me to let you go like this.”

The Daoists of the Qingcheng Sect, including the Qingyu True Man, all drew their swords at once.

At this, the nuns of the Demon-Subduing Sword and the Jingyu Master also drew their swords, and Hamgi chuckled and put his hand in his bosom.

“Think carefully.”

Soon, a group of several martial artists in white appeared from behind Hamgi.

They were wearing clothes with long sleeves that completely covered their hands, and they had covered half of their faces with veils.

Dang Surim, who had discovered them, was greatly surprised and warned the Qingyu True Man.

“Be careful. Those are not ordinary martial artists.”

“What do you mean?”

As the Qingyu True Man asked in a low voice, Dang Surim sent a telepathic message.

—Those are poison men. It’s certain, seeing that all the hair on their bodies has fallen out due to the strong poison flowing in their pressure points.

At Dang Surim’s telepathic message, the Qingyu True Man’s eyes narrowed.

As he had said, the dozen or so martial artists who had newly appeared had no hair, not even eyelashes.

In the meantime, Hamgi turned his back and said.

“Think carefully. What is the path for Qingcheng…”

With these words, as Hamgi was going down Mount Qingcheng, the Jingyu Master whistled.

At her whistle, a hawk that was circling the sky quickly fell and landed on the Jingyu Master’s wrist.

“The Blood-Sucking Sword Demon must be nearby. I will send a message to the main mountain.”

“I’ll ask you to.”

The Jingyu Master hastily wrote a letter, tied it to the hawk’s leg, and sent it flying.

Hwiing—!!

The hawk, which had soared quickly into the sky, flew at a very fast speed.

‘I hope it’s not too late.’

With the Jingyu Master’s wish.

***

Hwiing—!

A hawk with a letter tied to its leg arrived at the peak of Mount Emei and sat on a roof.

The hawk was confused.

Because there was not a single person there to whom it had to deliver the letter.

What the two eyes of the hawk with excellent eyesight found were the corpses of the nuns who seemed to have died a short while ago, and the only one who was alive.

Just one man with a blood-red sword.

(End of Chapter)