“Sichuan?”

“Yes. It’s Sichuan.”

Just a few days ago, Wiso had dug up information on the movements of the Heretic Path's Alliance’s intelligence organization, the Heejak, who were currently moving the heretic path forces, in order to find out the movements of the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.

Of course, this was a gamble.

For the Hao Sect, who was in the position of providing information, to dig up the movements of the Heejak.

And on top of that, to dig up the movements of the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, Ma Seongun, was no different from proving that they were spies.

‘I tried to be as careful as possible.’

The victory or defeat of the war that Wiso had judged.

It was not Cheon Yusin, who was leading the righteous martial world, or the Heretic Path's Alliance Leader, Ju Cheon.

The Flying Heaven Sword Ghost, Jin Sohyun, who was emerging as the hero of the righteous path.

The Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, Ma Seongun, who was emerging as the hero of the heretic path.

The one who won among these two martial artists would hold the hegemony of the martial world.

And since the Hao Sect had already bet all their stakes on Jin Sohyun, finding out the information on the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon was the top priority.

And finally.

Wiso had found out the movements of the Heejak and the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon in the depths of the Heretic Path's Alliance.

And even their goals and objectives.

But in this process, a situation that even Wiso had not expected had occurred.

The appearance of the Five Evils.

The five absolute masters of the heretic path, who were rumored to be like legends, had all appeared to catch Wiso.

Thanks to that, Wiso had to lose all the Ghost Star Travelers, who were like his own life.

“The Ghost Star Travelers were like my alter egos. You can trust the information that I obtained at the cost of their lives.”

As Jin Sohyun nodded his head and showed his trust, Wiso continued.

“In Sichuan, there is currently a Sichuan Alliance formed by the survivors of the Qingcheng Sect, the Emei Sect, and the Sichuan Tang Clan. Of course, it is not a complete alliance yet, and it is said that the elites of the Emei Sect and the survivors of the Sichuan Tang Clan are gathered at Mount Qingcheng.”

“Is Ma Seongun’s target them?”

“Yes. From the beginning, the invasion of the Central Plains by the heretic path was not a scheme to weaken the power of the righteous path and gain an advantage in the war. Their goal was from the beginning… to set the table for Ma Seongun.”

A huge table called the Central Plains, prepared for Ma Seongun, who craved human blood and martial arts.

The entire purpose of the war was a stepping stone for Ma Seongun from the beginning.

“Gathering in an alliance is just a very good opportunity for the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon to feast.”

“Time?”

“Probably… there isn’t much left.”

At Wiso’s words that there wasn’t much time left, Jin Sohyun closed his eyes and calculated the distance.

From the south of Shanxi, where he was, to Sichuan was a straight distance of about a thousand li.

Jin Sohyun, who had finished his calculations, opened his eyes.

“Uncle Kang Seopyeong.”

At his call, Kang Seopyeong, who had been eavesdropping on the two’s conversation from outside, came in, startled.

“Y-you called.”

“Gather all the fortress masters.”

“Huh? All of them?”

“Yes.”

“Yes. It’s the order of the general fortress master.”

Kang Seopyeong, as Jin Sohyun had ordered, gathered all the fortress masters of the Green Forest.

Jin Sohyun, who stood in front of them, who had gathered in an orderly manner, put internal energy into his voice so that everyone could hear his words without exception.

“If everyone is gathered, listen carefully. Because this is the last order I will give as the general fortress master.”

“The last order?”

“What is he going to say?”

The fortress masters looked at Jin Sohyun with puzzled faces but opened their ears and listened.

“From now on, I will go down to Sichuan. Probably, everyone, including the fortress masters, will not be able to follow me. Instead, there is something you have to do.”

“…?”

“This is what I…”

In front of the curious fortress masters, Jin Sohyun said.

“It’s a command and a promise that you have to protect even if you die.” 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

***

Jin Sohyun, who had finished his last command, entrusted Cha Seol to Jeokmyeon and Gwan O and then ran down with all his might.

The speed was so fast that he didn’t even dare to follow.

“What do you think?”

Gil Simun asked, looking at the departing Jin Sohyun.

“What do you mean, what do I think?”

“The last command of the general fortress master… no, Young Master Jin.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Seopyeong, who was stroking his chin and was in thought, turned his body and approached Wiso.

“You’re the Hao Sect Master, right.”

“That’s right.”

“I am…”

“I know. The Green Forest General Fortress Master, Kang Seopyeong.”

“Wow, as expected of the Hao Sect Master. Then you must know the answer to my question well.”

Kang Seopyeong came close to Wiso and asked.

“That Blood-Sucking Sword Demon bastard… how strong is he?”

“Before that, how much do you know about the person named Jin Sohyun?”

“Roughly?”

“Then add double what the forest master knows. Even then, you won’t be able to completely approach the martial artist named Jin Sohyun.”

Kang Seopyeong’s face hardened slightly.

What Wiso’s words meant was that the power of Jin Sohyun that Kang Seopyeong knew was just the tip of the iceberg.

“So?”

“The opponent that such a Jin Sohyun has to risk his life against is the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon. Is that an answer?”

“…”

Cheon Yusin, who was considered the closest to being the number one in the world.

But Jin Sohyun, who was becoming the rising hero of the righteous path with a talent more dazzling than him.

If the opponent that he had to risk his life against was the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, Ma Seongun.

“He was telling us to die.”

Kang Seopyeong scratched his head and smiled faintly.

“This is crazy.”

Kang Seopyeong walked in front of the fortress masters, who were confused because of the last command, and put strength into his voice.

Just as Jin Sohyun had done.

“Now, everyone listen. Since the former general fortress master has left the Green Forest, I am now the general fortress master again. If any of you have a complaint, come out right now.”

Of course, there was no bandit who was brave enough to fight Kang Seopyeong for the position of general fortress master.

Anyway, what was important to them was their own survival.

“Well, if no one has a complaint… I’m the general fortress master again. So listen carefully. Got it?”

“Yes!”

Kang Seopyeong, who was satisfied with the loud shouts of the fortress masters, said with a smiling face.

“From now on… we are going to Sichuan.”

***

‘The reply is not coming.’

The Jingyu Master was puzzled that no reply was coming.

The Blue Eagle that she and the Emei Sect used as a carrier pigeon had large wings for its body, so it was not good at changing directions, but its speed was much faster than other hawks.

It should have delivered the letter to the Emei Sect long ago, and a reply should have come by now.

But.

No reply came.

‘Don’t tell me something happened to the main mountain?’

As if she had noticed that the Jingyu Master was confused, the Qingyu True Man, who had come to find her, asked.

“Jingyu Master. Is there something wrong?”

“…No.”

“The time that the Poison Sect Master promised is soon.”

“Already…”

“Has no reply come from the Emei Sect?”

“No. It seems it’s taking a little more time.”

“Hmm… well, it must not be an easy decision to support martial artists, leaving the ancestral mountain. I believe in the Emei Sect, so don’t worry too much.”

“I understand.”

Since no reply had come, the Jingyu Master inspected her weapons with the nuns belonging to the Demon-Subduing Sword.

She polished her sword, calmed her mind and body, and maintained the optimal body condition to fight.

In the meantime, the Daoists of the Qingcheng Sect were provided with wound medicine and elixirs.

Unlike the Hebei Peng Clan, the Sichuan Tang Clan, or the Huashan Sect or the Jongnam Sect, who had been surprise-attacked, the Qingcheng Sect, which had been warned of the invasion of the Poison Sect and the heretic path forces, had finished their preparations firmly.

In between, the survivors of the Sichuan Tang Clan also prepared to fight.

The old and the women who did not know how to fight took refuge in the guest quarters of the Qingcheng Sect, and the late-stage prospects, led by Tang Surim, prepared for battle.

‘Everyone is nervous. Well… it’s understandable.’

They were young children who had never experienced a proper fight, let alone a war.

From 13 to 18 years old.

Young children who had not even become adults.

Tang Surim closed his eyes tightly and then opened them, burning with a fighting spirit.

‘I will never let a single one of them die.’

They were the future of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Since they were the children who would one day rebuild the collapsed pillars of the Tang Clan, he had to protect them somehow.

Tang Surim inspected the poison and hidden weapons he had and came outside.

“Will you really be okay?”

The Qingyu True Man, who had discovered Tang Surim, asked.

“We can’t just stand by with our hands tied. Anyway, if Qingcheng collapses, there is no way to live.”

That was not wrong.

The Qingyu True Man nodded his head and lightly patted Tang Surim’s shoulder.

“Since Qingcheng, Emei, and the Tang Clan have joined forces, we will be able to win.”

“Yes.”

A man in white approached them, who were strengthening their resolve.

The firmly closed Dowon opened, and the Qingyu True Man personally greeted him.

“Hello. I am Hamdok. I am the son of Hamgi, the sect master of the Poison Sect.”

The man, who had identified himself as Hamdok, the son of Hamgi, said with a polite attitude and a sly smile that did not match it.

“The Sect Master is expecting that the Qingcheng Sect has made the right decision.”

“Of course, I have made the right decision.”

“Excellent. Then will you hand over the survivors of the Tang Clan.”

“No.”

The Qingyu True Man raised his internal energy and shouted.

“I will never accept your cunning proposal. So get lost!”

At the Qingyu True Man’s shout, which echoed through Mount Qingcheng, Hamdok shrugged his shoulders and said with a smiling face.

“Oh my… what a pity. I can’t help it.”

As Hamdok shook his head from side to side and stepped back, the poison men in white appeared.

And what they took out from their bosoms were iron pills the size of a fist.

“Ah, does the sect master of Qingcheng remember? About the five exterminating poisons of the Tang Clan.”

Tang Surim’s face, who was standing next to the Qingyu True Man, hardened.

“Don’t tell me that’s…”

The very poison that had almost taken the lives of all of them at the Four Daoist Assembly, a Martial Alliance event where nearly three hundred talented late-stage prospects of the righteous path had gathered.

The iron poison pills contain the Formless Earth Killing Poison.

It had now appeared again at Mount Qingcheng.

“A wrong choice… sometimes brings disaster.”

Hamgi appeared from between the men in white.

He stretched out his hand, grabbed one of the iron poison pills, and faced the Qingyu True Man.

“With the name of the Sichuan Tang Clan becoming nominal… which sect can stand against the poison of our Poison Sect.”

“Did you think you could defeat us with just that.”

As the Qingyu True Man did not back down and rather drew his sword, Hamgi chuckled.

“This is just the beginning.”

Hamgi’s raised hand fell vertically.

That was the signal.

The iron poison pills containing the Formless Earth Killing Poison crossed the high walls of Mount Qingcheng.

At this, the Qingyu True Man shouted urgently.

“Block it!”

At his shout, the Daoists of Qingcheng all drew their swords at once and swung them.

The sword ki that spewed from the sword strikes imbued with internal energy struck the iron poison pills hard.

‘To minimize the damage of the Formless Earth Killing Poison, we have to create a sword wind and blow away the poisonous gas!’

The Qingyu True Man took a starting stance and finished preparing to create a sword wind.

And so, the moment the iron poison pills that had flown high were hit by the sword ki created by the swordsmen of the Qingcheng Sect.

An explosion occurred.

Kwang— kwang—!!

With the deafening sound of the explosion, what poured out from the iron poison pills was not poisonous gas.

“Oh no!!”

It was a bundle of hidden weapons that poured out in all directions due to the aftermath of the explosion.

The nail-sized blades were shot in all directions with the explosion of the iron poison pills, and the Daoists of the Qingcheng Sect, who had not been able to prepare, were in agony with fragments embedded all over their bodies.

“Be careful!”

Although he had warned, it was already too late.

The second iron poison pill was flying over the wall.

Having no choice, the elders of the Qingcheng Sect kicked off the wall and jumped up, throwing their palms at the flying iron poison pill.

Since it was a palm force with controlled strength, the iron poison pill did not explode and was deflected.

But the moment they jumped up, there were those who had appeared with them.

‘Who are these people?!’

The martial artists in black who had flown up into the air with them.

The martial artists in black, consisting of a total of seven people, swung their own weapons.

The elders hurriedly used their swords as shields to defend against the attacks imbued with powerful force, but since it was such a sudden surprise attack, it was not a proper defense.

Puk—!

Seogeok—!

Three elders were stabbed in the abdomen with swords or had their necks cut.

“Keuk!”

The condition of the rest was not good either.

Starting with the elders who had been surprise-attacked and had fallen below the wall.

Hamdok shouted.

“Begin!”

(End of Chapter)