"Quickly!"
Beok Jeong shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Faster! We mustn't delay for a moment!"
Looking back at Beok Jeong's urgency, Beok Gye's expression was grave.
It was understandable. Beok Gye had long been mentored by him as a senior brother and then as an abbot. But seeing Beok Jeong so desperate was unprecedented.
"Abbot! We're moving too fast! At this rate, we'll exhaust ourselves before reaching the enemy!"
"Don't speak lightly, Beok Gye!"
Beok Jeong's angry voice burst out in response to Beok Gye's concerns.
"Exhausted? Is that more important right now? This is war, after all! Perfect conditions for facing the enemy only exist in military textbooks!"
"One moment..."
"More important than being fully prepared is not missing the opportunity! If we let him slip away now, we won't know how many more sacrifices we'll have to make! Now is not the time to think about retreat!"
Beok Gye bit his lip. Peng Yeob's voice, agreeing with Beok Jeong, could be heard as well.
"Grandmaster, I also agree with the abbot's words."
"Sir Family Lord."
Peng Yeob spoke fervently, driving his point home.
"The most important thing now is to track down the Tyrant. If we let him escape back south of the river, we'll have to go through this chaotic standoff all over again."
Beok Gye's face darkened.
How could anyone deny the truth in those words?
He couldn't remember when he had left Mount Song. He had reached a point where he could hardly distinguish between being a monk and being a warrior.
And he certainly didn't miss the days spent at Mount Song, immersed in fan technique.
It was truly tiresome. This war and the Tyrant.
If he could end everything with this one battle and return to Mount Song, Beok Gye would be the first to step forward to fight like an asura.
"But this is too aggressive. This isn't the way of the Nine Sects, is it? We should be a bit more cautious..."
"That's exactly why we should do it even more!"
"...Sect Leader?"
Jongli Hyeong glanced at Beok Gye with frustration evident in his eyes.
"Just as the Grandmaster said, this isn't the approach we've taken so far. So, they won't expect us to move like this either."
"But..."
Upon hearing it, there was some merit. Even Beok Gye, who had been by Beok Jeong's side for so long, hadn't expected Beok Jeong to choose such a sudden and aggressive approach.
Even though he was a Tyrant who played with the world, predicting such a move from the Nine Sects wouldn't be easy, would it?
"Finally, the opportunity has come. It's the chance to seize the Tyrant's life!"
Jongli Hyeong's eyes gleamed coldly. It was a stark contrast to how Beok Gye had known him so far.
It might be unfamiliar, but perhaps this was Jongli Hyeong's true nature. One couldn't obtain the position of Sect Leader of such a large sect just by being kind-hearted.
Beok Jeong and Peng Yeob also silently looked at Beok Gye in agreement with Jongli Hyeong's words. An unspoken pressure could be felt. In the end, Beok Gye could only bow his head.
"I understand what you mean."
Doubts still lingered in his mind.
Even if everything they said was true, was there really a need to rush like this? The Four Tyrants Alliance, already deeply entrenched north of the river, wouldn't easily withdraw. Wouldn't it be enough to calmly push them back?
But he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.
Beok Gye knew the real reason why they were hurrying like this.
"Where is he now?"
"Huh? Oh... If you mean the Tyrant... right now..."
"No."
Beok Jeong interrupted Beok Gye before he could finish.
"'He.' That's what I'm asking about."
Beok Gye realized belatedly whom Beok Jeong was referring to.
"...Mount Hua's Chivalrous Knight is confirmed to be in Anhui at the moment."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Abbot. The information from the Beggars Union, reports from smaller sects, and intelligence from our own sources all match."
Beok Jeong nodded heavily. His gaze was chilling.
Chung Myung wasn't here right now. They might hear news from Anhui, but even if he made quick judgments and gave precise orders, he wouldn't be able to respond faster than the Nine Sects who had already started moving.
In other words, the opportunity to end this war had fallen entirely into the hands of the Nine Sects, or more precisely, into the hands of Beok Jeong.
It would be unthinkable to let such a golden opportunity slip away.
"You must encourage the disciples! Keep up the pace without slowing down!"
"Yes, Abbot."
Looking back at his followers, Beok Jeong gazed firmly ahead once again.
"He's aiming for Jang Ilso's life.
The destination he's heading towards is a magnificent land that will secure the glory of the next hundred years."
---
"According to the reports, those who went to the Yangtze River have cut off the Black Dragon King's head!"
Hyeon Jong abruptly stood up. As soon as he heard it, the face of one person came to mind.
"Ch-Chung Myung! Did Chung Myung do this?"
"No! The military leader did not participate in this battle. It was solely accomplished by the Nangong young family lord, along with rising stars from the Five Swords and Southern Edge."
"Unbelievable..."
For a moment, Hyeon Jong seemed dazed.
After a while, he regained his senses and asked the question he should be asking.
"And the disciples! How are they?"
"Some are injured, but fortunately, there are no fatalities reported. The Nangong young family lord sustained serious injuries, but they say he can recover with proper care."
"Ah..."
Hyeon Jong sighed deeply and slumped back into his seat.
He had been so worried sick, but upon hearing that the disciples had acted bravely, all his tension seemed to dissipate at once.
"The Black Dragon King... and those kids..."
He could imagine it. His disciples beheading the demon who troubled the world and being praised under heaven.
No, he had imagined it countless times.
How joyful and proud would they be? But now that the imagined event had become reality, there was no room for pride. He felt only relief that the kids were safe and sound. A sense of relief washed over him.
Meanwhile, Tang Gunak remained tense.
"Have we received any response to the messages we sent?"
"Not yet."
"Not yet?"
"It seems that the report of finishing off the Black Dragon King reached us before our message arrived."
Tang Gunak's fingertips trembled slightly.
"And the Nine Sects...?"
"They are currently approaching the Four Tyrants Alliance. At this rate, they will likely meet within the day."
"Today... immediately?"
Tang Gunak tapped his desk impatiently with his fingertips. It was a movement filled with anxiety.
"Are they still not willing to cooperate with us?"
"They not only refuse to cooperate but also completely ignore the messages we sent. Even the messages sent through the Beggars Union are being disregarded."
"That bastard, Beok Jeong..."
Tang Gunak clenched his lips tightly.
He had always addressed Beok Jeong as 'abbot,' maintaining a minimum level of respect, but now, he was angered enough to use his full name.
"What on earth is he thinking, at a time like this...!"
Their opponent was the Four Tyrants Alliance, and even that Jang Ilso. Knowing well that they weren't easy to deal with, why would he show such reckless martial arts?
Was Beok Jeong really so thoughtless?
The answer to Tang Gunak's dilemma didn't come from Beok Jeong, who was far away, but from Im Sobyeong.
"It's a perfect exclusion."
Tang Gunak's gaze shifted to Im Sobyeong.
"There's no room for doubt. They aim for a perfect exclusion. They won't even give us a chance to intervene."
"In this situation?"
"Especially in this situation. Isn't that truly righteous sect-like?"
There was a hint of sarcasm in Im Sobyeong's smile.
In that cold demeanor, Tang Gunak felt a pang in his heart.
Dying for one's desires was evil sect, but dying for honor and rank fixation was righteous sect.
Im Sobyeong's smile seemed to tell Tang Gunak that the direction might be different, but in the end, it was the same despicable behavior.
"Green Forest King, no... military advisor."
"Yes."
Im Sobyeong met Tang Gunak's serious gaze. Tang Gunak asked.
"The situation... or rather, the chances of winning? If the Four Tyrants Alliance clashes with the Nine Sects like this, what do you think the outcome will be?"
"It will be a clear victory for the Nine Sects."
"A clear victory? That much?"
"I've thought about it many times, but there's no other possible outcome. At this rate, the Four Tyrants Alliance will be utterly defeated."
Tang Gunak fell silent.
But Im Sobyeong didn't wait for a response and continued with his opinion.
"The forces advancing now are centered around Jang Ilso's Myriad Man House and the heavily weakened Black Ghost Fort. The Underhanded Gate has yet to return."
"Indeed."
"Even if all three forces were present, facing the combined might of Shaolin, the Cave Sect, and the Peng Family would not be easy. Even if Shaolin's strength isn't at its peak. But with just two forces..."
It was a very logical and reasonable assessment.
If Myriad Man House and Black Ghost Fort alone had the power to dominate under heaven, Martial Arts World would not have enjoyed peace for so long.
The infamous reputation of the Four Tyrants Alliance mostly stemmed from Jang Ilso's extraordinary deeds over the past few years.
But reputation was just that—reputation.
Without the ability to replenish their dwindling forces, overcoming the weakness of the Four Tyrants Alliance would be difficult.
"But doesn't the Tyrant know that?"
"...Yes."
"If they had called back the Underhanded Gate sooner or set traps, they could have chosen a different path."
"Of course. And perhaps Beok Jeong is aware of that too."
"He knows there might be traps? And yet, he proceeds so straightforwardly?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because they need to jump into those traps to take Jang Ilso's life."
"..."
"And just because it's a trap doesn't mean it always works. A trap set to catch a wolf won't catch a tiger, and a trap set to catch a tiger won't catch a dragon. Thinking that one can block everything just because they know and prepare is nothing but the arrogance of those who discuss strategies from a distance."
It was a cold and sober assessment.
"The astounding victories of those who lag in power continue to be talked about because it's obvious and expected that those who lead in power win. But why would the Nine Sects hesitate?"
Tang Gunak nodded heavily. There was hardly any fault in his words.
If they faced each other head-on, the Nine Sects would be stronger. That was close to common sense.
So, from Beok Jeong's perspective, he couldn't afford to miss this opportunity. If he hesitated again and gave the opportunity to the Heavenly Friendship Alliance or the Four Tyrants Alliance, he would be recorded as a fool under heaven in the Martial Arts World.
However...
"Why am I still so uneasy?"
The image of Jang Ilso wouldn't leave his mind.
Did he really not know all of this? Was he really so confident in his own stratagems that he was leaping into the jaws of death himself?
If that were the case, how should the Heavenly Friendship Alliance move now?
And then, it happened.
"I bring urgent news!"
The door burst open, and someone rushed in frantically.
"The advance of the Nine Sects is faster than expected! At this rate, they should have met by now! They should have met...!"
Tang Gunak stood up abruptly.
"Now?"
A moment of hesitation. Or perhaps it could be called waiting. But in that brief moment, the Heavenly Friendship Alliance was 'excluded.'
---
"Hmm."
Jang Ilso narrowed his oily eyes.
The martial arts advancing from the distant plains came into view.
"The enemy!"
"The enemy is coming!"
Around him, people began to spot the martial arts and raise their voices in alarm, assuming a defensive posture.
"The enemy..."
The expressions of those at the forefront changed. They wore yellow-colored armor.
They charged fiercely like Asuras.
"Shaolin!"
"It's Shaolin! The Nine Sects are coming!"
Instantly, tension filled the air. Except for one person.
"Oh my, oh my..."
Jang Ilso chuckled nervously.
"They've arrived already. They must have sprinted here. The leaders with their heavy buttocks must have sweated profusely on the way. Don't you think so, Jiaming?"
"...Sir Alliance Lord."
"Their target is probably..."
His slimy fingers slowly traced his throat.
"This throat, I assume?"
His lips, red as blood, twisted into a sinister smile. There was a gleam in his eyes, as if anticipating the blood that would soon flow like a river on this land.
"Take them wherever you want. It won't be easy, though."
His long, nail-like fingers slowly crossed the straight neck.
A trickle of blood flowed from the red line created by that gesture. A harbinger of the copious bloodshed that would pour forth from this moment on.