Chapter 422

Chapter 422 – Finding a Path of Life in the Path of Death (1)

"I'll go see the Cult Leader. Since I don't know how long it will take before I come out again, Blood Elder, please rest in the meantime."

"I understand."

Blood Elder bowed his head in gratitude at Dan Un-hyang's consideration. Dan Un-hyang smiled and headed toward the Forbidden Zone.

When her figure was no longer visible, Sang Han-cheon spoke to Blood Elder.

"I've prepared separate lodging for you."

"No. This old man wishes to stay with the missionaries of Middle Heaven."

"But that place is too shabby…"

"Heh heh! It's a place where those who spread the will of the Venerable One gather – what does it matter if it's shabby? Rather, this old man is more comfortable there, so you needn't worry about it."

"I understand. If that's really what you want…"

Sang Han-cheon replied with an unpleasant expression.

Blood Elder's answer was reasonable, but strangely it left an uncomfortable aftertaste. Conversations with Blood Elder were always like this. That's why it bothered him even more.

Sang Han-cheon looked at his subordinate.

"Guide Blood Elder to Middle Heaven."

"Yes sir!"

Two subordinates answered energetically and guided Blood Elder. Sang Han-cheon stared at Blood Elder's retreating figure.

The taste in his mouth was still unpleasant, but in any case Blood Elder wasn't someone he could do anything about. Middle Heaven led by Blood Elder was a place beyond Sang Han-cheon's reach.

Sang Han-cheon was someone who could only be satisfied when he directly controlled everything. Nevertheless, he left Middle Heaven alone because it was a missionary organization, not a military organization.

There was no need to unnecessarily stir up trouble.

Sang Han-cheon decided to focus on the pressing matters instead.

"I'll need to move diligently to receive guests."

***

Cho Yeon-woon's face was flushed red.

"Phew!"

The sound of heavy breathing could be heard from all around.

They were still young martial artists. Among them were some who maintained composure through considerable martial world experience, but there were many more who did not. Tension was clearly visible on their faces.

Despite the opposition of several people, Jang Jin-myeong ultimately assembled the suicide squad and disguised them as Silver Treasure Escort Agency's merchant group.

Up to that point it was still acceptable. After all, the suicide squad had been assembled to strike at the Demon Cult's main base.

That wasn't the problem.

Cho Yeon-woon protested vehemently to Jang Jin-myeong with his flushed face.

"So-cheong cannot do this."

"She must participate."

"Great Hero Jang!"

"There's no choice. Isn't she the actual person in charge of Silver Treasure Escort Agency? Do you think the Demon Cult will let the merchant group in without her?"

"But So-cheong is merely a merchant. Using her is too cruel."

"How can we distinguish between merchants and martial artists in the face of the martial world's crisis? If there's even a sliver of possibility, we must put forth our full effort."

Jang Jin-myeong scolded him sternly.

The corners of Cho Yeon-woon's eyes trembled.

No matter what he said, Jang Jin-myeong wouldn't listen. He only wanted to push forward with what he himself thought. It was his first time in life encountering such a completely blocked wall.

Cho Yeon-woon looked around. He could see So Bo-won and Gu Ui-jin. So Bo-won at least showed a slightly apologetic expression, but Gu Ui-jin had exactly the same expression as Jang Jin-myeong.

"During the first Righteous-Demon War, if we had been picky about this and that and preserved ourselves, do you think we would have defeated the Demon Cult? Young martial artists these days tend to spare themselves too much. How do you expect to defeat the Demon Cult like that?"

Gu Ui-jin instead scolded the young talents with a frost-like voice. Some of the talents flinched at this, while others burned with fighting spirit.

"Amitabha! Brother Cho, please endure."

"They're not the type to listen even if you speak to them."

Finally, only when So Cheon and Hae So-wol dragged Cho Yeon-woon away did the confrontation with Jang Jin-myeong end.

Dragged to a secluded place by the two, Cho Yeon-woon let out a big sigh.

"Phew! They absolutely won't listen to others. What about the other people?"

"They think it's actually a better opportunity."

At So Cheon's answer, Cho Yeon-woon's face turned even redder. Hae So-wol looked at such Cho Yeon-woon and said:

"The atmosphere has already heated up so much that they won't listen to anyone's words."

"Meaning the tide has already turned."

"That's right."

Hae So-wol's expression also wasn't very bright.

When they first decided to participate in the suicide squad, the atmosphere hadn't been like this. The martial artists of the previous suicide squad listened very well to the young martial artists' words and seemed to have very open personalities. But that was Hae So-wol's miscalculation.

As time passed, the previous generation martial artists gradually became more closed-minded. Rather than listening to others' words, they wanted things to proceed according to their own opinions, and they pushed forward that way.

Only So Bo-won listened a little to others' words, while the rest didn't even pretend to listen. Hae So-wol could only feel frustrated about this point.

That's when it happened.

"Yeon-woon!"

Suddenly a cold voice echoed in Cho Yeon-woon's ears.

When he turned his head, he saw a familiar face.

A man with impressive cold eyes and expression. The domineering aura emanating from his body was provoking Cho Yeon-woon.

"Nam Hak?"

He was precisely Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest Nam Hak. Behind him, Shadowless Divine Dragon Eom Tae-cheon was also visible.

At the appearance of the two, Cho Yeon-woon frowned.

From long ago, the relationship between Nam Hak and him hadn't been very good. Because of that, they had clashed, and Cho Yeon-woon had crushed Nam Hak.

From the shock, Nam Hak had gone into seclusion, and after that had disappeared from the martial world for a very long time.

Nam Hak reappeared in the martial world around the time the Martial Alliance moved to Mount Song. From then on, he actively participated in Martial Alliance events and expanded his influence. But perhaps because of the memory of his previous defeat, he maintained a distant and cool state with Cho Yeon-woon.

When the suicide squad was first recruited, Nam Hak was the first to volunteer and took the lead in bringing in other young martial artists. One of those he brought in was precisely Shadowless Divine Dragon Eom Tae-cheon.

Eom Tae-cheon was also one of the Nine Martial Dragons and was quite close to Nam Hak. Perhaps due to Nam Hak's influence, Eom Tae-cheon also kept his distance from Cho Yeon-woon.

When the two people who had no particular contact even after joining Silver Treasure Escort Agency appeared, Cho Yeon-woon's expression crumpled.

"What's the matter?"

"I heard the story."

"What story?"

"That you oppose Great Hero Jang's plan. Is it true?"

"What if it is?"

"I'm disappointed, Yeon-woon."

"What?"

"The fate of the martial world rests on our shoulders. We should naturally set aside petty emotions and act together. But you're causing discord just because your opinion differs. Your actions are only lowering our morale and providing no help whatsoever."

Nam Hak criticized Cho Yeon-woon harshly.

His eyes were emitting sharp killing intent like blades. If eyes could kill people with their gaze alone, Cho Yeon-woon would have died dozens more times already.

Cho Yeon-woon's gaze also turned fierce.

"Petty emotions?"

"That's right."

"Nam Hak, watch your words."

"What?"

"Just because you have a mouth doesn't mean you can run it carelessly."

"How dare you!"

Instantly Nam Hak unconsciously released his aura. Then storm-like energy waves swept through the area.

Cho Yeon-woon's head tilted askew.

"Why, are you suggesting we do this now?"

Eyes, atmosphere, and air changed.

The good-natured face disappeared completely, and the tyrant's nature hidden deep within slowly revealed itself.

The corners of Nam Hak's eyes trembled.

He had spent three years grinding his teeth to avenge the defeat he suffered from Cho Yeon-woon. Through secluded training he had achieved some success, and now he had gained confidence that he wouldn't lose even if he fought Cho Yeon-woon. But when he actually faced Cho Yeon-woon, such confidence wavered.

The memory of defeat slowly surfaced. He thought he had completely shaken it off during the three years, but he still hadn't escaped from its lingering effects.

He knew the fact that Cho Yeon-woon's leg had been severed. He thought his martial arts wouldn't be the same as before, but when he faced Cho Yeon-woon, he strangely felt uneasy.

Being overwhelmed in aura, even his eyes that had been emitting sharp light wavered. He could only clench his fists tightly without rashly attacking.

Then Eom Tae-cheon stepped between the two.

"Now now, both of you please calm down. Your emotions have become too heated. Let's think a bit more rationally."

Although Eom Tae-cheon's martial arts level was also considerable, it was insufficient to calm the aura of two people whose emotions were already hurt to the extreme. Then So Cheon and Hae So-wol also stepped forward.

"Amitabha!"

"Both of you please calm down."

When the two joined in, Cho Yeon-woon and Nam Hak couldn't continue their confrontation indefinitely. Finally the two released their internal energy and stepped back. But the resentment remaining in their hearts wasn't resolved.

"Yeon-woon, I'll say this one last time – please don't hold back the suicide squad. If the suicide squad's mission fails because of you, I will absolutely never forgive you."

"You?"

Nam Hak didn't even listen to Cho Yeon-woon's answer and turned around, striding away. Cho Yeon-woon watched Nam Hak's retreating figure with his flushed face.

He felt like smashing Nam Hak's mouth, but he couldn't cause any more discord.

Eom Tae-cheon looked at Cho Yeon-woon and said:

"Please understand. Nam Hak is saying all this because he wants things to go well. He thinks this mission is the perfect opportunity to restore his honor."

"……"

"There's no reason to sharpen your blade against him, is there? If you really don't feel like it, just step back. There's no need to cause unnecessary discord, is there?"

"Discord?"

"You may not think so, but it might look that way to others."

"Do those others include you?"

"That's…"

At Cho Yeon-woon's unexpected question, Eom Tae-cheon hesitated for a moment. Though brief, a flustered light passed across his face. And Cho Yeon-woon didn't miss such change in Eom Tae-cheon.

"Damn it!"

Cho Yeon-woon gritted his teeth hard.

He could feel the tide had already turned to the other side. It was something supported by the previous suicide squad and two of the Nine Martial Dragons. No matter how much he opposed it, he couldn't turn back the tilted scales.

"I'm withdrawing from this mission."

***

Cho Yeon-woon made a thunderbolt declaration.

Dozens of carts were loaded full with rock salt.

Besides what they brought when entering Hunan Province, they had scraped together even the salt stored in Silver Treasure Escort Agency and loaded it on the carts.

"If preparations are complete, let's depart!"

Eun So-cheong shouted toward the talents disguised as the merchant group's martial artists.

At her cry as a signal, the merchant group left Silver Treasure Escort Agency and headed toward the Demon Cult.

"Finally!"

"It's beginning."

Resolute light appeared on the young talents' faces.

Especially Nam Hak and Eom Tae-cheon showed extraordinary determination. They stood at the front of the young talents leading them, while Jang Jin-myeong and others watched with pleased expressions.

"Sigh!"

Eun So-cheong suddenly sighed and looked around. Cho Yeon-woon, who had always been by her side bickering and quarreling, was nowhere to be seen.

When they were together, she thought he was annoying with all the arguing, but when he wasn't by her side, she felt a great emptiness.

It wasn't just Cho Yeon-woon. Cheong-un had also said he would withdraw from this mission. Since there was a limit to the number of martial artists escorting the merchant group anyway, not only the two but quite a number of young talents had been left out. But unlike Cho Yeon-woon and Cheong-un, they hadn't withdrawn voluntarily, so their faces were full of regret.

If this suicide squad's mission succeeded, their names would remain in martial world history forever. Not being able to be part of that historic moment made them feel disappointed.

Finally Silver Treasure Escort Agency's gates opened and the procession of carts loaded with salt emerged. At its head was Eun So-cheong. Beside Eun So-cheong, Hae So-wol and So Cheon stayed close.

"Don't be too intimidated just because Great Hero Cho isn't here. We'll be with you."

"Thank you, sister."

Eun So-cheong was moved by Hae So-wol's comforting words.

Her warm words helped ease Eun So-cheong's tense mind a little. Hae So-wol looked at such Eun So-cheong with pitying eyes.

When you thought about it, there was no reason for Eun So-cheong to be mobilized for this mission. Essentially Silver Treasure Escort Agency was a merchant group, not a force that placed great emphasis on the martial world. But the times and circumstances made it impossible for her to withdraw from this mission.

Though she was called the young master of the massive merchant group Silver Treasure Escort Agency, she was still a young girl. A situation too cruel and frightening for those small shoulders to bear was waiting.

Cho Yeon-woon had earnestly entreated Hae So-wol. To protect at least Eun So-cheong. And Hae So-wol had agreed.

That's when it happened.

―Everyone manage your expressions well. This is the Demon Cult's main base.

Jang Jin-myeong's quiet voice echoed in everyone's ears. He had simultaneously sent sound transmission to all those people.

It was a passage showing just how formidable his internal energy was. But the nervous young talents didn't notice such facts.

In such tense atmosphere, the merchant group arrived at the Demon Cult's main gate.

"For the Martial Alliance to become the Demon Cult's main base."

"These wicked bastards!"

Martial artists who still remembered the old Martial Alliance's appearance trembled with rage seeing the Demon Cult's main base standing tall in that place.

The Demon Cult's main base in Yueyang was largely divided into three sections.

The outer fortress with outer court and various subordinate organizations, the inner fortress with the inner court and main organizations, and the Forbidden Zone where the Cult Leader resided. Since the Forbidden Zone was the Cult Leader's residence, outside entry was strictly forbidden, and the limit for ordinary people was the outer fortress. But there were occasionally exceptional situations.

One of those was precisely merchant groups. Since warehouses storing major supplies like food and weapons were inside the inner fortress, merchant groups could naturally enter. But inside the inner fortress they were watched so strictly that they couldn't even dare think other thoughts.

Therefore, for the Martial Alliance suicide squad, disguising as Silver Treasure Escort Agency's merchant group was a good choice.

To deliver rock salt, they would naturally have to enter the inner fortress, and once they got inside the inner fortress, opportunities would arise.

That's when it happened.

"They've come."

With a familiar voice, a familiar woman walked from the main base's gate direction. Eun So-cheong's pupils shook when she confirmed the woman's appearance.

The woman approaching Eun So-cheong with a smile was precisely Won Seol-hwa.

"Welcome! I was waiting for you." ​