Chapter 453

Chapter 453 – Only Resentment Accumulates Layer Upon Layer (3)

The scenery around Mount Song was truly miserable.

Due to continued fighting between the Martial Alliance and Demon Cult, the area had become completely scorched earth, and countless people had died. Smoke rose everywhere, and the streets were filled only with corpses of the dead.

"Haah!"

Yu Cheong-eon, squad leader of the Martial Alliance's Outer Hall, who was watching that scene, let out a sigh. The place where he stood was once called Dengfeng County.

If Huayin County symbolized the Mount Hua Sect, Dengfeng County symbolized Shaolin Temple. Having risen and fallen together with Shaolin Temple for generations, people didn't think of them differently.

People thought of Shaolin Temple first when Dengfeng County was mentioned. Such Dengfeng County was thoroughly destroyed. Because two of the past five battles had taken place here in Dengfeng County.

Though not involving civilians was an unspoken rule of the martial world, such common sense didn't work on the Demon Cult. They tried to pass through Dengfeng County to attack Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance. Naturally Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance tried to stop them, and the people of Dengfeng County helped them.

To the people of Dengfeng County, Shaolin Temple wasn't just a martial sect. It was another self they'd shared joys and sorrows with for over a thousand years. So they couldn't just watch Shaolin Temple be threatened by the Demon Cult.

They became Shaolin Temple's eyes and ears, and sometimes performed the role of hands and feet. With their help, Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance could occupy advantageous positions and block the Demon Cult's invasion.

In the process, the Demon Cult suffered considerable damage and morale fell. When circumstances became such, Sang Han-cheon employed extreme methods. Precisely to destroy Dengfeng County.

They set fire to Dengfeng County and killed people. They slashed more cruelly and plundered to set an example for those who helped Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance from the shadows.

Countless people died and lost their homes. Every house overflowed with corpses, and the streets were full of people's cries. Evil energy thickly settled in the village once full of Buddhist devotion, and due to fear people couldn't dare think of helping Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance.

Those who sensed such atmosphere first were martial artists who fought the Demon Cult on the front lines like Yu Cheong-eon. Village people who'd always secretly helped them locked their doors tight.

"Cruel and inhumane bastards! To cruelly massacre even people with no connection to the martial world."

Yu Cheong-eon trembled with rage.

Though he'd known long ago the Demon Cult was cruel, the acts occurring here completely forsook human ethics.

That was when.

Rustle!

Suddenly a human presence was felt.

"Who is it?"

"Who goes there?"

Yu Cheong-eon and the warriors pointed swords toward where the sound came from and shouted. Tension was evident on their faces.

"Are you Martial Alliance warriors?"

Along with a low voice, a group appeared.

The moment they saw them, Yu Cheong-eon's and the warriors' eyes widened greatly.

"C-could it be?"

"The Suicide Squad?"

Though their appearance was shabby, seventeen young martial artists emanating extraordinary momentum. They were precisely the young Suicide Squad martial artists including Cho Yeon-woon.

Clothes all torn, hair matted from not washing for long, they looked no different from beggars, but only their eyes shone cold yet sharp like blades.

Cho Yeon-woon, Hae So-wol, So Cheon, Cheong-un, and the remaining thirteen.

Injured and exhausted, but the momentum they emanated overwhelmed Yu Cheong-eon and the Outer Hall warriors.

Yu Cheong-eon cautiously approached them.

"Is it really Hero Cho?"

"Captain Yu."

Yu Cheong-eon firmly grasped Cho Yeon-woon's hand. At that Cho Yeon-woon smiled and nodded.

"You're alive. What a relief."

"Thank you."

Cho Yeon-woon looked around with sorrowful eyes.

Dengfeng County backed by Shaolin Temple had been a splendid city. Such a city being miserably destroyed pained not only Cho Yeon-woon but the young talents' hearts.

Especially the sorrow So Cheon, Shaolin Temple's talent, felt was beyond words.

"Amitabha! Amitabha!"

His face already pale from severe internal injuries turned even whiter.

Cho Yeon-woon looked at such So Cheon with a pitying expression.

"So Cheon."

"Amitabha! We must quickly go up to Shaolin Temple."

"I'll escort you. Please follow us."

Yu Cheong-eon led them taking the front.

Mount Song was different from the scenery So Cheon knew. Wooden barricades were installed on the once tranquil mountain path to block the Demon Cult's invasion, and numerous troops were deployed.

Thick blood scent floated in the air as if fierce combat had occurred here too.

"The Suicide Squad has returned."

"It's Hero Cho."

"Lady Hae of the Sea Flower is here too."

News that the Suicide Squad had returned spread to Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance.

Gwang-cheon, Shaolin Temple's abbot, jumped up from his seat.

"So Cheon has returned?"

"Yes. They say he's coming up now."

"Amitabha! Buddha watched over him. What relief. Such relief."

So Cheon was Shaolin Temple's last hope.

If only he existed, they could plan for the future even in the worst case. That was why Gwang-cheon breathed a sigh of relief at news he'd returned safely.

"Let's go out. I must see So Cheon with my own eyes."

"Yes!"

Gwang-cheon hurried to the mountain gate.

Many people had already come out before the mountain gate. Many of them were people from sects the Suicide Squad martial artists belonged to. Their faces were full of excitement.

Then someone shouted.

"They're coming."

"It's the Suicide Squad."

As they said, the Suicide Squad revealed themselves above the hill. Instantly exclamations and sighs crossed.

"Ah!"

"Oh, they're not here."

Those exclaiming were people from sects whose surviving Suicide Squad members belonged to, and those sighing were people from sects whose Suicide Squad members didn't return.

Gwang-cheon closed his eyes tight.

Though endlessly happy So Cheon had returned alive, he couldn't display emotion where despairing people existed.

Finally Cho Yeon-woon and the Suicide Squad entered the mountain gate.

"Seventeen members of the Suicide Squad have now returned."

Representing everyone, Cho Yeon-woon spoke to Gwang-cheon.

"Amitabha! Welcome back."

"We're sorry. The mission failed. We're truly sorry."

"I know. But don't blame yourselves. How could this be your fault? Everyone must be weary from the long journey, so please go in and rest. I'll hear the report after your fatigue subsides."

"Thank you for your consideration. I was wanting to rest a bit anyway."

"Please go in."

"Yes!"

Cho Yeon-woon cupped his fists to Gwang-cheon then went inside. The Suicide Squad's martial artists followed behind.

Last, So Cheon bowed to Gwang-cheon.

"Disciple has returned."

"Welcome back. Your complexion looks poor. Rest quickly and recover from internal injuries first. Let's talk details later."

"Understood. Then…"

After So Cheon greeted other elders too, he followed Cho Yeon-woon.

People who'd come to meet them parted in all directions.

From Cho Yeon-woon and the Suicide Squad's entire bodies flowed momentum overwhelming the surroundings. Though exhausted and injured, the momentum they emanated was so fierce it made people not dare approach or speak.

"Amitabha! They've grown again. That's fortunate at least."

Gwang-cheon closed his eyes tight.

Those who overcame hardship and adversity tended to show remarkable growth. Moreover, they were the martial world's supreme talents. Since such people returned alive rather than dying, it was hard to easily guess what great achievements they'd obtained.

Especially the momentum Cho Yeon-woon emanated was truly outstanding.

Treating Cho Yeon-woon as a younger generation martial artist would insult him. He was already approaching the martial world's highest level. At least that's how it looked to Gwang-cheon's eyes.

The sixteen Suicide Squad members following him were the same. Countless martial artists gathered at the mountain gate were overwhelmed by the momentum they emanated. They were no longer hothouse flowers.

Gwang-cheon told an elder beside him.

"So Cheon seems to have suffered severe internal injury. Make him take a Great Recovery Pill."

"Great Recovery Pill?"

The elder looked up at Gwang-cheon in surprise.

Great Recovery Pill was a priceless treasure of which only a few remained even at Shaolin Temple. Just taking one pill could gain internal energy that would take decades to accumulate through cultivation, and could instantly heal even the most serious internal injuries. But it was too difficult to make, so they'd been unable to make new Great Recovery Pills for already over ten years.

Moreover, So Cheon had already taken a Great Recovery Pill. So he couldn't help being surprised to say they'd give him another.

"Just give it. It will greatly help So Cheon. Perhaps he might even cross the wall."

"Understood."

"Also give Small Recovery Pills to the other talents. They all seem to have suffered considerable internal injuries, so it will greatly help."

"I'll do so."

The elder answered respectfully.

Small Recovery Pill was certainly precious too, but compared to Great Recovery Pill, there was much more flexibility.

"It's fortunate they returned at this time."

That the Suicide Squad's mission failed wasn't a problem.

Though at the time they had no choice but to be swayed by Jeok Gyeong-cheon and the previous Suicide Squad's rhetoric without room for doubt, looking back now it had been an unreasonable operation from the start. No matter how strong the young Suicide Squad, ultimately they were just the martial world's younger generation martial artists. Entrusting the martial world's entire fate to them was truly shameless.

"Amitabha! Amitabha!"

Gwang-cheon's hand movements turning prayer beads were only slow.

***

Thud!

Cho Yeon-woon laid his body on the bed.

His entire body hurt as if struck by an iron hammer. Joints ached and muscles cried out in pain as if being torn apart.

The hardships Cho Yeon-woon and the Suicide Squad experienced while coming here after escaping the Demon Cult's main base were too arduous to express in words.

Since the Demon Cult's eyes spread across the world, it was continuous tension. Sometimes they had to walk for days without rest, unable even to relieve fatigue through circulating internal energy.

What made Cho Yeon-woon most difficult was the sense of responsibility to safely return survivors to Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance.

With the single-minded determination not to let even one person die in vain, he moved. Tremendous responsibility pressed his shoulders with overwhelming weight. Nevertheless, he never once showed a difficult expression.

The Suicide Squad only looked at and followed him. If he showed weakness, the Suicide Squad would surely waver too, so he had no choice but to steel himself.

The consolation was being able to use Silver Merchant Agency's safe houses while coming here. Resting at safe houses and gathering information, they came to this place. And when they almost reached Dengfeng County, Eun So-cheong could meet Silver Merchant Agency's martial artists who'd been waiting at safe houses.

Eun So-cheong returned to her father with Silver Merchant Agency's martial artists, and Cho Yeon-woon and the Suicide Squad could come here with much lighter hearts.

"What relief, such relief."

If even one person had died, Cho Yeon-woon wouldn't have been able to forgive himself. But having actually returned them all safely, he lost all strength and couldn't move.

It was when Cho Yeon-woon lay on the bed blankly looking at the ceiling.

"Amitabha! Hero Cho, may I come in briefly?"

"Ah, yes!"

At the voice suddenly heard from outside, Cho Yeon-woon barely raised his body. That moment a Shaolin Temple elder entered from outside. In his hand was a small wooden box.

"What's that?"

"Abbot Elder ordered me to give Hero Cho a Small Recovery Pill."

"I can't casually accept such a precious thing."

"Amitabha! This is all we can do for you. So please don't refuse. Then…"

The elder forcibly pressed the wooden box into Cho Yeon-woon's hand and went outside.

Cho Yeon-woon stood blankly for a while holding the wooden box. It was much later when focus returned to his eyes.

"Right! I must cheer up."

He poured the Small Recovery Pill into his mouth and entered cultivation.

Tsssss!

The pill's medicinal power unhindered surged through his body's blood vessels. His blood vessels and meridians had already greatly expanded and become sensitive due to continuous fierce battles.

In that situation when the pill's medicinal power entered, they began greedily devouring it. Without any waste, having absorbed all the medicinal power, new changes appeared in Cho Yeon-woon's body.

Hazy mist began emanating from his body. The mist swirling around his body soon gathered above his head creating three rings.

Following that, Cho Yeon-woon's body sitting cross-legged slowly rose into the air. But Cho Yeon-woon fell into a world of self-oblivion without even recognizing that fact.