Chapter 460 – Everyone Has a Reason They Cannot Retreat (1)

"Are you alright?"

"I'm alright."

Despite Geom Yul-cheon's calm answer, Eum Yu-kyung couldn't easily relax her expression. Because Geom Yul-cheon's wounds were not light.

No color existed in his face, and on white cloth wound tightly around his chest, bright red blood was vivid. Hidden by white cloth but invisible, Geom Yul-cheon had a long diagonal slash from his right shoulder to left abdomen. A deep wound where had it been slightly deeper, all his organs would have spilled out.

That he could still be alive despite such wounds was thanks to his extremely trained body, but above all, Heavenly Demon Divine Art's influence was great.

The Divine Art left by the first generation founder, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, was an unprecedented supreme skill. It protected Geom Yul-cheon's heart meridian in near-death state while growing its own power eventually reviving him.

Geom Yul-cheon had dramatically revived from death's boundary like that. But his body's condition wasn't yet perfect. Though Heavenly Demon Divine Art was rapidly healing his wounds, much time was still needed for perfection.

Geom Yul-cheon raised his hand touching his chest wound. The wound with vivid bloodstains hadn't perfectly healed yet. Touching it hurt and made him recall that day's memories.

Geom Yul-cheon bit his lips firmly.

Blood Elder was strong.

Not simply strong in martial arts alone. He possessed something beyond martial arts. That something pressured Geom Yul-cheon, preventing him from displaying his full capability. The result was Geom Yul-cheon's current state.

If Eum Yu-kyung and Shin Mu-wol hadn't intervened in time to save him, Geom Yul-cheon would have long ceased to be a person of this world.

After learning Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Geom Yul-cheon had thought he'd have no rival. Such pride crumbled like a sand castle after clashing with Blood Elder, but he never despaired.

Living in the world, one could lose and collapse anytime. What mattered was rising again without despair. Fortunately Geom Yul-cheon possessed mental strength stronger than others and courage that wouldn't yield.

His alias wasn't Unyielding for nothing.

He rose again and reviewing that day's clash, sharpened his mind's edge anew.

Geom Yul-cheon's gaze went toward Eum Yu-kyung.

"He?"

"Disappeared."

Eum Yu-kyung answered shaking her head.

After clashing with Geom Yul-cheon, Blood Elder completely disappeared from the world. Without any trace.

Myeong-cheon was tracking Blood Elder's traces, but had yet found no clues whatsoever.

"Myeong-cheon is doing his best, so wait a little."

At Eum Yu-kyung's words, Geom Yul-cheon quietly nodded. But he thought Myeong-cheon wouldn't find Blood Elder. If he could be found that easily, they'd have found him already.

Blood Elder had lived thoroughly hiding his true form for decades. Most people in the world didn't even know of his existence. Even Geom Yul-cheon who'd persistently tracked him had only faced him for the first time in years. He didn't think at all that such a person would now easily have his tail caught by Myeong-cheon.

Eum Yu-kyung quietly watched Geom Yul-cheon's face.

Nowhere on Geom Yul-cheon's face existed a loser's bitterness. Seeing firm eyes that seemed they'd never waver even if heaven collapsed, her heart eased somewhat.

Eum Yu-kyung felt curiosity she'd barely suppressed these past days raising its head. She could no longer endure.

She asked without realizing.

"Who is Blood Elder? Is he truly the Heavenly Evil Cult Leader?"

Geom Yul-cheon turned his head looking at Eum Yu-kyung.

Eum Yu-kyung's eyes craved truth.

She wanted to know the identity of the fruit hanging at the end of truth she'd tracked for long.

She was certain that if Geom Yul-cheon who'd clashed directly with Blood Elder knew. And Geom Yul-cheon had a duty to answer her question. Because she had the right to know the truth.

Geom Yul-cheon answered.

"He is Ho Cheon-san."

"Ho Cheon-san? Bloodlight Death God."

"That's right. The sword technique I received was definitely Bloodlight Death God Ho Cheon-san's supreme killing technique, Sword Falls Heaven Perishes."

"How can that be…"

Eum Yu-kyung's pupils shook.

***

"He must be Lee Gwan. No, definitely Iron Blood Martial God Lee Gwan."

Dam Ho wasn't surprised by Gi San-wol's bombshell words. Because he'd thought it might be so.

Dam Ho had clashed directly with the stranger fighting him.

Masters who'd reached the same level could gauge the opponent's caliber by exchanging just one move.

A master who could give Dam Ho chills, moreover an absolute master of the previous generation whose identity was unknown. Given various circumstances, he'd thought it might be one of the Four Divine Emperors.

Yong Hwa-seol was a woman, and Pung Wol-je had died long ago.

Then only two choices remained.

Bloodlight Death God Ho Cheon-san and Iron Blood Martial God Lee Gwan.

Though unexpected that the opponent was Lee Gwan not Ho Cheon-san, still he was one of the Four Divine Emperors.

The problem was why Lee Gwan had lost his reason becoming a monstrous stranger.

Dam Ho had thought until now the Four Divine Emperors' traitor was Iron Blood Martial God Lee Gwan. Because given circumstances, thinking Lee Gwan betrayed everyone creating the Heavenly Evil Cult was reasonable. But if the stranger was truly Lee Gwan, the traitor became Ho Cheon-san.

"Ho Cheon-san's real name is Ho Cheon-myeong. I heard it said like that. Probably Ho Cheon-san was a false name he used when active publicly. So I didn't think he was one of the Four Divine Emperors. I was very young then."

Gi San-wol had seen the two when much younger than now. At that time Lee Gwan presided over everything. Therefore everyone's attention focused on Lee Gwan.

At that time Ho Cheon-san, or rather Ho Cheon-myeong, was outside everyone's attention. He merely occasionally stopped by the Heavenly Evil Cult meeting Lee Gwan, rarely showing his face. Therefore almost no one knew he was one of the Four Divine Emperors.

At least as far as Gi San-wol knew. Gi San-wol too only after spending long years in Avici Hell thought the mysterious martial artist he'd occasionally seen might be one of the Four Divine Emperors, Ho Cheon-san.

Having heard all of Gi San-wol's story, Dam Ho's eyes sank even deeper.

This confirmed the Heavenly Evil Cult Leader was Ho Cheon-san, or rather Ho Cheon-myeong. But why Lee Gwan who'd been Cult Leader before lost his reason becoming mad, and why Ho Cheon-myeong became Cult Leader instead, many facts remained unrevealed.

Above all, he still didn't know what Ho Cheon-myeong's true purpose was. What benefit he could gain by making the Martial Alliance and Demon Cult collide remained unknown.

Gi San-wol said.

"What I know truly goes only this far. Because until clashing with my lord, I was doubtful whether he was truly Iron Blood Martial God Lee Gwan."

"Why did Lee Gwan become that way?"

"Probably some sorcery consumed his reason."

"What sorcery?"

"I'm sorry. My meager knowledge cannot know that far."

Gi San-wol spoke truth.

Though called a soul sorcerer, his period at the Heavenly Evil Cult wasn't very long. Therefore the sorcery he'd learned also wasn't much.

The Heavenly Evil Cult's sorcery was uniformly either extremely wicked or beyond common sense. That among sorcery Gi San-wol hadn't learned existed one that seized people's reason making puppets wouldn't be surprising at all.

Dam Ho closed his eyes.

"I… still… must not awaken."

Those were the last words Lee Gwan said looking at him. Though broken into fragments with unclear pronunciation, Lee Gwan had said that.

"Must not awaken?"

"Pardon? What does that?"

Gi San-wol beside asked but Dam Ho didn't answer. Noticing Dam Ho was talking to himself, Gi San-wol didn't ask more. Because he felt Dam Ho also needed time to organize his thoughts.

"Hyu!"

Gi San-wol sighed.

Though Dam Ho's thoughts must be complex, the person most shocked was precisely Gi San-wol himself.

He'd thought until now Lee Gwan was the culprit who'd put him in Avici Hell. So he'd burned vengeance toward Lee Gwan. But seeing Lee Gwan's reason-lost state, it seemed the target of vengeance was wrong.

"Ho Cheon-myeong, what on earth are you thinking? Could it be Avici Hell? No, it can't be."

Gi San-wol shook his head denying the thought suddenly arising in his mind. But once arising in his mind, the thought didn't disappear, continuously taking root in his heart.

***

Cho Yeon-woon stood at Taesil Peak summit looking down at Songshan.

He could see Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance at mid-slope of Sosil Peak across. Though unable to see their full form hidden by forest, the atmosphere transmitted vividly.

Right now Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance's situation could be expressed in one word: chaos.

Like it or not, Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san was the Martial Alliance's central axis. His absence immediately brought command system confusion and dropped overall morale to rock bottom.

Currently Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance's atmosphere was truly the worst. Though somehow repelling the Demon Cult's attack, they couldn't guarantee repelling it again if they attacked with full force once more.

"Like this they'll definitely face annihilation."

The martial artists gathered at Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance already numbered over thousands. They could all be called the current martial world's elite. If they were annihilated, probably the martial world's spirit couldn't recover for at least hundreds of years.

The Demon Cult would dominate the world, and under their rule, recovering the martial world's former spirit would be nearly impossible.

Cho Yeon-woon bit his lips hard.

He'd agonized countless times these past days and stayed up all night sleepless. The conclusion reached was that defending here alone had no possibility.

The Demon Cult had already concentrated most forces at Songshan. They'd built a thorough encirclement and even now were steadily proceeding with preparations for Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance's fall. Repelling such Demon Cult with only divided Shaolin Temple and Martial Alliance forces was impossible.

"Staying like this, everyone will only die like dogs."

That was the conclusion Cho Yeon-woon reached agonizing these past days.

Kkuuk!

Cho Yeon-woon clenched his fist hard.

He descended Taesil Peak heading for Shaolin Temple at Sosil Peak. Precisely, it was Shaolin Temple Abbot Gwang-cheon's quarters.

Just then all of Shaolin Temple's leadership had gathered at Gwang-cheon's quarters. They too had fire at their feet. Their judgment was they could no longer lean on the Martial Alliance after Nam Cheon-san's death. Therefore they were concentrating on preparing countermeasures separate from the Martial Alliance.

"May I enter briefly?"

"Please come in. Who could dare stop Azure Dragon Divine Hero's steps? Haha!"

Gwang-cheon gladly welcomed Cho Yeon-woon. His tone addressing Cho Yeon-woon had already changed.

Cho Yeon-woon was no longer the martial world's rising talent.

The alias Azure Dragon Divine Hero carried weight even Gwang-cheon couldn't easily treat.

"So, what brings Azure Dragon Divine Hero here?"

"There's something I must tell you, so I came despite the rudeness."

"Just hearing what you'll say makes me afraid. Go ahead and speak."

Shaolin Temple leadership's attention focused on Cho Yeon-woon.

They were all life seniors who'd lived far longer than Cho Yeon-woon, and their positions in the martial world were also tremendous.

The previous Cho Yeon-woon might have been intimidated by their gazes. But to the current Cho Yeon-woon, their gazes weren't frightening at all.

What was truly frightening wasn't their gazes but the martial artists gathered at Mount Song facing annihilation.

After briefly catching his breath looking at the leadership, Cho Yeon-woon finally opened his mouth.

"I dare suggest retreat to the Abbot. I know how presumptuous and absurd my words will feel. But nevertheless I want to say it. Staying at Mount Song like this, not only the Martial Alliance but even Shaolin Temple will face annihilation by the Demon Cult."

"…"

Perhaps too shocking words, silence filled the hall. But only briefly, soon Shaolin Temple leadership began denouncing Cho Yeon-woon all at once.

"You call that speaking?"

"Amitabha! Gaining a little fame, you say anything."

"Telling us to abandon our base and retreat, are you saying that sanely?"

Countless condemnations poured but Cho Yeon-woon didn't blink once. Because he'd already resolved to accept any condemnation.

Gwang-cheon looked at such Cho Yeon-woon with deep eyes.

"Does Hero Cho now think we'll be annihilated?"

"That's right. No, it will definitely be so."

"Amitabha!"

Gwang-cheon firmly closed his eyes.

Currently Cho Yeon-woon's position in the Martial Alliance wasn't at all low. Having repelled the Demon Cult's invasion even gaining the alias Azure Dragon Divine Hero, they couldn't just ignore him.

Gwang-cheon's mind was complex.

If he were simply one martial artist of the martial world, he'd definitely have agreed with Cho Yeon-woon's opinion. Because objectively, Cho Yeon-woon's opinion was clearly right. But he wasn't merely one martial artist of the martial world.

He was the abbot of the thousand-year Great Shaolin Temple.

"Impossible!"

Cho Yeon-woon's pupils shook.

An already expected answer. But his heart aching couldn't be helped.

Gwang-cheon said looking at Cho Yeon-woon.

"I fully understand from what heart Hero Cho proposed such opinion. That this battle is that absolutely disadvantageous. In my heart I want to follow Hero Cho's intent. But for a thousand years Shaolin Temple has never once abandoned its base and left fearing foreign enemies. Not even once."

"But…"

"Those words mean precisely we've overcome any adversity. For a whole thousand years. In my generation I cannot break that tradition. The legend of thousand-year Shaolin undefeated must continue."

"…"

"We will definitely make it so. Never underestimate thousand-year Shaolin's capability. Shaolin possesses capability you don't know."

Cho Yeon-woon closed his eyes.

Though Gwang-cheon said more after that, it didn't reach Cho Yeon-woon's ears.

The chaos that erupted in Sichuan subsided quickly, largely due to Tang Ha-ran’s efforts.

By dispatching Tang Family experts to regions where disputes occurred, she actively mediated.

This not only sought Sichuan’s stability but also had the effect of raising the Tang Family’s standing, though it was also part of the search for clues about the Hungry Ghost King.

Consequently, sects with problems naturally came to the Tang Family.

“Another request for mediation came.”

Tang Ha-ran spoke to Jin Ja-gang while nursing Poison Heaven.

“This time it’s not internal sect rebellion but a conflict between two sects. Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect, apparently. I sent people, but they’ve been bitter enemies in Zigong for quite a long time, so it doesn’t seem easily resolved. I should send someone else.”

Jin Ja-gang had splints on his arm and bandages wrapped around his entire body, but the external wounds had all healed. Once the scabs fell off, his skin was smooth and translucent as before.

So much so that even the Tang Family women, and even Yeong-gwi and Son-bi, envied him.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“There are still places with disputes?”

“Most have been resolved. Except for a few places.”

“Shall I go take a look?”

“You?”

Jin Ja-gang held up the pile of documents in front of him.

They were reports written by experts dispatched from the Tang Family about sects where turmoil had occurred.

“I can’t find anything particular just from documents. I think I need to see directly.”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“Most who instigated the turmoil were those with grievances against their sects. They say they instigated rebellions for succession, or coveting wealth or positions.”

“That’s right.”

“But turmoil erupted throughout Sichuan, throughout the entire martial world at similar times. It can’t be coincidence. The Hungry Ghost King must have incited them to act.”

“But as you can see from the reports, there are no commonalities among the instigators, and no relationships between them at all. It can only be interpreted as each acting separately. Of course, I don’t believe that either.”

Despite being involved in suppressing most of the turmoil in Sichuan, they still hadn’t found clues about the Hungry Ghost King.

“Mm.”

“If someone deliberately approached to cause chaos, we definitely would have discovered it during our investigation. But the instigators all say the same thing. That they started trouble because they had grievances. That no one incited them.”

“For those with grievances to raise rebellion, only someone who knew the sect’s internal circumstances well and for a long time could do that. If they’d known each other like family for a long period, they could have been recruited and influenced without realizing.”

Tang Ha-ran made an expression of incomprehension.

“Just for chaos? Less than thirty percent of the rebellions in our Sichuan succeeded. They almost all failed. It’s really strange that plans to recruit people for decades failed.”

“I can’t figure that out either.”

“It’s still ongoing, but looking at not just here but the entire martial world, I estimate successful cases won’t exceed fifty percent. No one benefited from this. No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense.”

Tang Ha-ran held her forehead as if her head hurt.

Jin Ja-gang also tapped the table with his fingers.

“What are we missing? Perhaps it’s visible before our eyes but we can’t discern it, I don’t know.”

Then Poison Heaven started crying.

“Oh my, our Poison Heaven is good, right? Why are you crying after eating well?”

Tang Ha-ran soothed Poison Heaven, but Poison Heaven shook her head and cried while clenching her small fists.

Unfortunately, someone called for Tang Ha-ran from outside. Even as acting family head, there was much to do.

“This meeting will probably be long.”

Tang Ha-ran entrusted Poison Heaven to Jin Ja-gang and prepared for the meeting.

“Go to the place I mentioned earlier. Actually, there’s no one in the main family with insight like yours.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Ha-ran as if asking what she meant.

“I’m holding the child.”

“Go together with her.”

“I heard it’s not good to take a child outside before the hundredth day.”

“That’s because they might catch a disease. Do you know why we gave our child the childhood name Poison Heaven? Because she was born in the midst of poison and heaven, we named her Poison Heaven.”

Though she was completely an infant, there was no way Poison Heaven, born receiving Jin Ja-gang’s poison, would catch a disease.

Jin Ja-gang protested as much as possible.

“But she hasn’t finished nursing yet. She’ll be hungry.”

“Then feed her your poison.”

“What?”

Tang Ha-ran looked back at Jin Ja-gang while putting on her outer garment.

“Why? Or are you embarrassed to go out with Poison Heaven?”

“It’s not that, but I have to go to a sect where a dispute occurred…”

Tang Ha-ran approached, embraced Jin Ja-gang’s head against her chest while he was speaking, and patted him. Then she kissed Jin Ja-gang’s forehead and cheeks.

“Please. Affectionate Poison Heaven’s daddy.”

“…”

***

“…”

Jin Ja-gang, with a splint on his shoulder, held the baby carrier with his other arm.

“…”

Taoist Bok-cheon, who had awkwardly folded his sleeve after losing one arm, lost words for a moment seeing that sight.

“Where are you going like that?”

“I have business in Zigong. How is your condition?”

Looking down at his empty arm, Taoist Bok-cheon answered.

“Adapting.”

“But where are you going, Taoist?”

Taoist Bok-cheon also looked dressed for going out.

“I’m thinking of gradually returning to Qingcheng. The fellow disciples who left say they’re returning too. The martial world’s situation is serious. At times like this, we need to establish ourselves in Sichuan and hold the center.”

Shaolin Temple had resumed the Righteous Dharma Walk and Baek Li-jung was preparing to rebuild the Martial Arts Alliance. The chaos was reaching its peak. If they briefly took shelter before, now was the turn to stand firm to avoid being swept away.

“I see.”

If Qingcheng Sect returned, Sichuan would become more solid. Though it would be difficult to return to the three powers structure of the Tang Family, Emei Sect, and Qingcheng Sect, it would help Sichuan’s stability.

Woon-jeong and So-so came close to Jin Ja-gang, happy to see Poison Heaven.

“Wow! Cute!”

Jin Ja-gang warned.

“Don’t come too close. She sometimes can’t control poison energy and mixes it in her breath.”

“Oh, really?”

Woon-jeong nodded.

“Well… her name is Poison Heaven.”

“…”

“Why are you frowning?”

“It’s nothing. Anyway… is Taoist Woon-jeong also going together?”

“Yes.”

Woon-jeong would also leave with Taoist Bok-cheon, and Bian Bu and So-so decided to stay.

Shandong had been smashed by Shaolin Temple’s Righteous Dharma Walk.

Especially, the Hwangbo Family, who had long viewed Shandong’s Evil Sect as a thorn in their side, actively helped the Righteous Dharma Walk, they said.

Bian Bu requested from the side.

“Seon-rang will come to Sichuan soon, so don’t treat her coldly because she’s Evil Sect. If you treat her coldly, she’ll go to Qingcheng Sect.”

Taoist Bok-cheon snorted.

“Who said we’d accept her?”

“Don’t be like that, younger brother. Between brothers, why so…”

When Taoist Bok-cheon frowned, Bian Bu avoided Taoist Bok-cheon’s gaze and muttered.

“If you don’t like younger brother, well, you can call me bastard or mongrel…”

Because they’d promised to call him that if he didn’t accept the dice game’s result, Taoist Bok-cheon’s eyebrows trembled but he couldn’t say anything.

“I only asked you to be careful… in front of others.”

At that, Bian Bu rather pretended to be angry.

“Huh, if you’re embarrassed, let’s just quit. Who forced us to be brothers?”

Bian Bu, who used to shudder in fear at Qingcheng Sect Taoists, was now cornering Taoist Bokcheon.

“It’s not that I’m embarrassed…”

“Even the Poison Dragon is embarrassed by his child’s name, so the future Qingcheng Sect leader saying two things with one mouth could be embarrassing. Sure, that’s possible.”

Taoist Bokcheon, Woon-jeong, and So-so looked at Jin Ja-gang.

“Wow. Poison Dragon brother, were you embarrassed by Poison Heaven’s name? I think it’s fine.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“I’m not embarrassed.”

Bian Bu looked at him.

“…It seems like you’re embarrassed?”

“I’m not embarrassed.”

When Jin Ja-gang became serious, Bian Bu couldn’t press Jin Ja-gang further. He could press Taoist Bok-cheon instead, but when the renowned Jin Ja-gang said no, he couldn’t keep insisting.

“If you say no, then no. Why get so angry…”

Hearing Jin Ja-gang was going out, Yeong-gwi and Son-bi came. Im Yi-eon was also with them.

Son-bi saw Jin Ja-gang and blushed faintly. It seemed because it had been a while since seeing him. Son-bi approached and looked into Poison Heaven in the carrier. Poison Heaven also stared at Son-bi.

Son-bi wrote characters with her finger on Jin Ja-gang’s hand that hung with the splint.

—She looks a lot like you.

“Thank you.”

A child resembling himself, his own bloodline.

Poison Heaven…

“…”

It really doesn’t seem like Poison Heaven is right.

Jin Ja-gang’s brow furrowed slightly. Son-bi tapped his hand as if asking why.

“Ah, it’s nothing. But, are you also going out, young lady?”

Im Yi-eon, who was behind, answered instead.

“She’s searching for clues, you see. Sometimes those who have what others don’t can see what normal people can’t see. My disciple will be helpful.”

They needed help from anyone’s strength. Seeing they already knew, Tang Ha-ran must have told them and arranged it.

Jin Ja-gang nodded.

“Understood.”

***

“These bastards, I’ll kill them all. How dare you toy with us?”

“Shameless beyond measure! You tried to kill us first and what? We toyed with you?”

“Don’t lie! The ones already caught spilled everything! We’ve known for a while that you Mount Yao Sect have been eyeing our business.”

“You Grand Sword Sect are the ones who’ve been scheming to covet our land, you think we don’t know! Luring an innocent disciple with gambling to get him in debt and steal land deeds?”

“Why do you blame us because you taught your disciple poorly and he stole!”

“We know that gambling den is run by your Grand Sword Sect’s people. You obviously cheated!”

“These bastards dare target us with nonsensical schemes! I’ll tear those mouths apart.”

Dozens of martial artists divided into two sides, veins bulging on their foreheads, exchanging harsh words.

The elder from the Tang Family also couldn’t easily resolve it because the grudge between the two sects ran so deep, and was anxiously struggling. Then the Tang Family elder looked to the side and brightened.

“Oh! They said they’d send someone, but I didn’t expect the Poison Dragon himself!”

Instantly, Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect, who had been noisily exchanging insults, closed their mouths like a lie and looked to the side.

The Poison Dragon who defeated the Northern Heavens’ Thunderbolt Great Emperor Gamuru and killed Yelu Huan, the new leader of the Zoroastrian Cult.

That Poison Dragon was coming here!

But Jin Ja-gang was completely different from what Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect expected.

The Poison Dragon was a handsome youth with a pale complexion, holding a baby wrapped in a carrier in one hand. Next to him stood two women of exceptional beauty as if attending the Poison Dragon, and behind, a white monkey ran around near the baby.

“…”

The one who spoke after a while wasn’t Mount Yao Sect or Grand Sword Sect but the Tang Family elder who had come earlier for mediation.

“Wait, why the baby…?”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the Tang Family elder. Jin Ja-gang just looked, but emotion was mixed in so it seemed like glaring. The Tang Family elder nodded and avoided his gaze.

“Oh my, I misspoke… it’s his own child, so he can carry her around. If a father doesn’t carry his child around, who would?”

The Tang Family elder gestured to Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect.

“Continue what you were saying.”

Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect awkwardly continued.

“Ahem, so… isn’t it that you targeted our land and instigated disciples to rebel…”

Kyaa kyaa.

“You’re the ones who came to attack our sect… no, cowardly attacked us under the pretext of reclaiming land deeds you rightfully received…”

Kyaruk!

“…”

Monkey cries and baby laughter.

The martial artists of Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect became distracted and looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Kyarung?

Kyaak?

“…”

Jin Ja-gang’s face hardened more than before.

Flinch.

The martial artists of Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect shrank back.

Jin Ja-gang gritted his teeth and said emphatically.

“Don’t mind us and continue.”

The martial artists of Mount Yao Sect and Grand Sword Sect tried to force smiles but ended up with expressions like chewing bitter persimmons.