At the abrupt sound of the door swinging open, Beok Jeong, who had been maintaining a silent and meditative posture, slightly furrowed his eyebrows.
"Abbot!"
However, the urgency in the voice that followed made it impossible for him to keep his eyes closed.
It wasn't Cave Sect Leader Jongli Hyeong who rushed in after forcefully opening the door, but rather Peng Yeob.
"Family Lord?"
Peng Yeob wasn't someone to act so rashly without reason. Nonetheless, his sense of urgency indicated that something serious had happened.
"What's the matter?"
The response didn't come from Peng Yeob, but from Jongli Hyeong, who had entered with him.
"Abbot! The Four Tyrants Alliance has made a move!"
Beok Jeong immediately rose from his seat.
"The Tyrant has made a move?"
"Yes! They're currently moving northward, having left Zhangjiajie!"
Beok Jeong's eyes widened for a moment.
Any leader of a sect shouldn't panic without reason.
But the news that had just come in was enough to make everyone lose face.
"Where to? Where are they heading?"
"To the due north. They're literally moving towards the north."
'North?'
Beok Jeong felt dizzy. If the Four Tyrants Alliance, which was originally in Zhangjiajie, moved due north, they could target Hubei to the right or Shaanxi to the left.
No, if they continued beyond Hubei... even Hanam would fall under their jurisdiction.
Beok Jeong's hand holding the incense trembled roughly.
"Has the Tyrant's location been confirmed? Who knows what else he might do!"
"W-well, about that..."
Jongli Hyeong hesitated to respond, clearly unsure if what he knew was accurate.
"The Tyrant is currently leading the Four Tyrants Alliance from the front."
"The front?"
"Yes, abbot."
Beok Jeong's face momentarily froze.
"Are you sure it's not a deception?"
"It doesn't seem to be. Witnesses have reported seeing Jang Ilso, the leader, using his unique martial arts to eliminate informants from the Beggars Union."
Beok Jeong clenched his fist as if trying to grind the incense holder.
Unlike the martial arts of righteous sects, evil sects' martial arts were notoriously difficult to understand. Therefore, imitating someone's unique martial arts, especially Jang Ilso's, wasn't an easy task.
"...It seems to be true."
"Yes, abbot. It appears that this time, the Four Tyrants Alliance is genuinely intending to engage in a serious confrontation."
Upon hearing Peng Yeob's concerned tone, Beok Jeong pondered for a moment before speaking with a serious expression.
"Is that really possible?"
"...What do you mean?"
"The opponent is none other than Jang Ilso. There's no way they wouldn't have a plan against such an obvious move. Moreover, it's unlikely that he even considers engaging in a fair fight."
"In that case... is this also a trap?"
"Of course."
Beok Jeong responded as if there was no need for further consideration.
Jongli Hyeong nodded with a lukewarm expression. It was indeed too blatant. Why would Jang Ilso choose to reveal himself at the forefront?
Just by hiding his appearance to a certain extent, he could have made everyone's minds much more complicated.
"So, what do we do?"
"Yes. Naturally, they must have a plan to draw us in."
Peng Yeob sighed deeply.
"A trap... it's obvious when you think about it. I'm sorry, abbot. I got carried away."
As Jongli Hyeong tried to express his bewilderment, Beok Jeong's body exuded a sharp momentum.
"What about the reinforcements we agreed upon?"
Caught off guard by the imposing momentum, Jongli Hyeong swallowed his question and responded hesitantly.
"Kunlun hasn't arrived yet, but the Moyong Family has reached the vicinity. And each lay sect of the various factions is currently gathering."
"Amitabha."
Beok Jeong's eyes turned cold.
"What about the Southern Edge?"
"Xian has already been exposed, so for now, we'll focus on defending Xian..."
"That's right."
Beok Jeong nodded slowly, his expression filled with disdain.
Southern Edge and Wudang were originally supposed to be core sects alongside Shaolin in the Nine Sects and One Union.
But they abandoned their duties and chose the path of a sealed sect. Even if that sealed sect were to be released, it wouldn't be the same as before.
But it didn't matter.
The enemy's forces amounted to nothing more than Myriad Man House and Black Ghost Fort. Southern Edge or Wudang weren't necessary to deal with them. At most, they would just share the spoils.
"Sect leader, gather all available personnel and hurry Moyong."
Jongli Hyeong swallowed dryly, almost unconsciously.
It was sincere.
Right now, Beok Jeong was genuinely targeting the Four Tyrants Alliance.
"What are you waiting for? Immediately!"
"Yes! Yes, abbot!"
Jongli Hyeong, suppressing his confusion, hurriedly dashed out.
Watching his hurried figure, Beok Jeong turned his gaze to Peng Yeob. Peng Yeob was staring intently at Beok Jeong alone.
Beok Jeong inquired, "Is something amiss?"
"No, nothing is amiss."
Peng Yeob nodded.
"You've always chosen restraint for a reason, abbot. I'm just curious about what makes this choice different from before."
Beok Jeong nodded in understanding and replied, "Because the Tyrant is there."
The Tyrant was there? Peng Yeob furrowed his brows slightly.
Beok Jeong elaborated, "It might not seem so, but I've never feared the enemy's traps. Yet the reason they've always managed to evade those traps is quite simple. There was nothing to gain by falling into those traps."
"So you're saying this time there is something to gain."
"Amitabha."
Beok Jeong recited the Buddhist prayer as if no further response was needed.
And indeed, no response was necessary. There was something to gain within that trap, something undeniably certain.
Jang Ilso's head.
What else could there possibly be?
Beok Jeong was right.
Regardless of whatever trap the Four Tyrants Alliance had set, whatever scheme they had prepared, victory would ultimately belong to whoever could claim Jang Ilso's head.
And under heaven, it would be remembered that it was the Nine Sects and Five Great Families who brought an end to this war.
As it had always been.
"So we must hurry, Family Lord. Before the Heavenly Friendship Alliance clumsily interferes and ruins everything."
"Understood."
Peng Yeob nodded and turned away. His eyes were filled with unwavering determination.
'Jang Ilso.'
Everything in the world was determined by results. Peng Yeob already knew this fact.
From the Yangtze River Disaster to now, the disgrace and blame they had endured would turn into praise and admiration because of one single result.
They had been waiting for this moment.
'Surely.'
It was when he clenched his lips and reaffirmed his determination that Beok Jeong's voice called him back.
"By the way, Sir Family Lord."
Peng Yeob took a deep breath and turned back.
"Yes, abbot."
"What is the Heavenly Friendship Alliance doing right now?"
Peng Yeob's face stiffened.
"Well, that is..."
---
*Kuung!*
Under the relentless pressure, Nangong Dowi's sword seemed on the verge of snapping.
But the sword, which had borne the two characters of Changchun for so long, stubbornly withstood the immense force exerted on it.
*Taaang!*
Once again, the sword, now springing back with resilience, deflected the heavy guandao that had been thrust at it.
*Woosh*
However, as if the guandao, which had been pushed into the air, was lying about being pushed back, it surged with even greater speed and force toward Nangong Dowi's sword.
*Kwaaang!*
An explosion resounded, and Nangong Dowi was pushed back. His feet dug deep trenches, and his soaked torso seemed about to snap backward.
"*Cough*"
Struggling to regain his balance, Nangong Dowi coughed up blood, but blood spattering anew on his already crimson face seemed natural. It wasn't even visible.
"You brat..."
The Black Dragon King's eyes emitted a fierce light.
However, unlike the gaze that seemed to rush to crush Nangong Dowi, his movements were incredibly cautious.
It was also confirmed.
The venom possessed by someone considered nothing more than a dog. The fact that those fangs could pierce his throat.
From the moment he abandoned his arrogant posture and prepared to be cautious, an undeniable gap emerged between them.
It was a gap called 'experience,' which couldn't be filled even with praises for Nangong's qualifications to bear.
"Do you think you can win?"
Black Dragon King's growling voice echoed in Nangong Dowi's ears.
"Do you think you can win just by being filled with anger, holding onto grudges, and having a sense of righteousness? You, a mere young master sheltered in a greenhouse!"
Closing the distance in an instant, Black Dragon King rushed at him.
*Whoooosh!*
With immense force, he swung his guandao.
Nangong Dowi gritted his teeth and struck back with his sword.
*Clang!*
This time, instead of an explosion, a grating metallic sound reverberated. As their blades met, Black Dragon King rotated his guandao and brought it down heavily on Nangong Dowi's shoulder.
*Crack!*
His collarbone snapped, and flesh sunk in.
Nangong Dowi's body was violently kicked away.
His consciousness faded, and the sounds around him became muffled, as if underwater. His grip on the sword loosened involuntarily.
*Kwaaaaah!*
But before he could even register the dreadful sound ringing in his ears, Nangong Dowi was swiftly rolled over on the ground.
*Kwaaaang!*
The ground beneath him, which had moments ago been compressed, now exploded like a field of rocks meeting a snow-covered plain.
"*Cough*"
Unable to avoid the aftermath, Nangong Dowi coughed up more blood as he staggered once again.
"Dowi!"
In the distance, Nangong Myeong's cry faintly reached him.
"You fool."
Black Dragon King sneered. "Anyone can have a sense of righteousness, willpower, and anger! Did you think you were special? You weakling who can't do anything without the Nangong family name!"
Nangong Dowi's lips curled into a weak laugh as he lay on the ground.
"What's so amusing?"
"Don't... delude yourself, enemy."
Struggling to open his mouth, Nangong Dowi forced out the words.
"I may be foolish... but I... don't overestimate myself."
Black Dragon King's face contorted.
What more was there to say?
To the man whose body had become pitifully weak, who had become unable to even kill a single ant, what more was there to say?
All he could do now was beg for a swift death, it seemed.
"If you want revenge, you should have endured it! A weakling who can't handle even one grudge will die waiting on the ground. That's the law of the Martial Arts World!"
"That's enough!"
Nangong Dowi's sword tip thudded into the ground.
Struggling to hold onto the grip with both hands, he laboriously pushed himself up from the ground.
At some point, he couldn't see clearly anymore.
The once vivid image of Black Dragon King, even despised in dreams, now appeared blurry.
But instead of despair, Nangong Dowi pushed his sword into the ground with renewed determination. Even if he died, he wouldn't fall.
"...Black Dragon King."
"Are you still going to babble on?"
"That statement... may be... true."
With eyes so swollen it was hard to recognize his original appearance, Nangong Dowi spoke. Despite staring directly at Black Dragon King, his eyes seemed strangely vacant.
"...I am still... lacking. To surpass you..."
"Hmph. You talk big, boy. Let me make one thing clear to you. Because of your foolishness, not just you, but the entire Nangong Family will die here. When you meet your father in the afterlife, try to explain yourself."
Nangong Dowi's back trembled.
Unable to hold back the laughter that distorted his face even further, he burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Don't... misunderstand, enemy."
Nangong Dowi forced his mouth open.
"I may be foolish... but... I don't overestimate myself."
Black Dragon King clenched his fist.
There was no reason to listen to this nonsense any longer. He wasn't so idle as to listen to the ramblings of a half-crazed man.
"Whatever's left, say it in the afterlife."
As Black Dragon King exerted force on the guandao gripped in his hand,
"But... I have already... learned... yes, I've already learned. I don't need to win alone."
"What?"
At that moment.
*Kwaaaaah!*
With a loud crash, a corner of the river bandit group that had surrounded the Nangong Family collapsed.
"What?"
Surprised, Black Dragon King quickly turned his gaze to the source.
There, suddenly appeared unfamiliar... no, incredibly familiar figures, swinging their swords like demons.
Black Dragon King's face contorted in horror.
"Hu... Sanpa?"
"Young family lord!"
Confirming Nangong Dowi's dire state, Baek Cheon bit his lip.
With burning eyes, he glared at Black Dragon King as if to kill him, then shouted loudly.
"Help the young family lord, immediately!"
"Yes!"
Swordmasters from Mount Hua, who had received orders, rushed to overwhelm the remnants of the Nangong Family and charged toward the collapsed section of the river bandit group.
"Get out of the way! You bastards!"
And once again, Jo Gol, leading the charge, began to gather his internal qi with a ferocious plum blossom.
The blood-soaked battlefield was once again shaken as the river bandit group crumbled under the onslaught.