Chapter 469 – Heroes Gather Under the Blue Sky Banner (1)

Two men and one woman were climbing Lesser Mount Hua.

A man a head taller than ordinary people, a man wearing a splendid sword sheath like peacock tail feathers on his back, and a woman with mysterious atmosphere having her face half-covered with gauze.

From the giant man flowed heavy presence like mountains. He raised his head looking up at Lesser Mount Hua.

"Impressive. To make an entire mountain into a training hall."

The giant man recognized at a glance the Iron Blood Hell Training Hall created on Lesser Mount Hua.

The gauze woman spoke somewhat enviously.

"This must be the Central Plains martial world's true power?"

"Possible because they have a clear focal point."

"True enough…"

At the giant man's answer, the gauze woman nodded in agreement. The man following them wearing the splendid sword sheath didn't speak but had an agreeing expression.

That was when.

"Stop!"

With a booming voice, a group of martial artists appeared blocking their way. Martial artists guarding Lesser Mount Hua.

Ha Hu-myeong, who'd guided Taoist Hyeon-so and returned to his original position, stepped forward before the newly appeared visitors.

"Who are you? This isn't a place outsiders can freely enter."

His eyes looking at the three people were full of vigilance.

Lesser Mount Hua was the Central Plains martial world's final fortress.

If this place fell, no more hope would exist in the martial world. Therefore they were extremely wary of outsiders.

Then the young martial artist wearing the splendid sword sheath like peacock tail feathers stepped forward speaking.

"We came to meet Alliance Leader Cho."

"Alliance Leader?"

"I mean Great Hero Cho Yeon-woon, Alliance Leader of Blue Sky Alliance."

"How do you know that fact?"

Ha Hu-myeong's eyes gleamed sharply.

That Blue Sky Alliance was established here was top secret. The fact Cho Yeon-woon was Blue Sky Alliance's Alliance Leader was also a secret among secrets.

What martial artists entering Lesser Mount Hua were most concerned about was maintaining security. No matter how turbulent the world was with disaster, if the fact Blue Sky Alliance was building strength here leaked outside, the Demon Cult would certainly invade even if it meant overextending. Therefore they were extremely wary of secrets leaking to outsiders.

Martial artists behind Ha Hu-myeong grasped weapons taking defensive posture. Then the man wearing the splendid sword sheath raised both hands speaking.

"We're not enemies."

"How do we trust that?"

"If we were enemies, we'd have already informed the Divine Cult of this fact."

"Divine Cult?"

Instantly Ha Hu-myeong's eyes flashed, and the splendid sword sheath man who'd answered made an 'oops' expression.

Only one group in the world called the Demon Cult the Divine Cult. Precisely only martial artists belonging to the Demon Cult. At least martial world martial artists would never call the Demon Cult the Divine Cult.

Chwaaang!

Ha Hu-myeong drew his sword. Then martial artists behind him also drew weapons without hesitation aiming at the visitors.

"Demon Cult followers dare come here?"

"Did the Cult Leader order you to scout?"

Hostility appeared on the martial artists' faces.

They were martial artists who'd experienced Shaolin Temple, the Martial Alliance, and their own sects trampled by the Demon Cult. They hated so much they'd tremble at just mention of the Demon character.

The man who'd mentioned the Divine Cult looked troubled at his companions.

Instantly the giant man stepped forward speaking.

"My name is Geom Yul-cheon. Tell Alliance Leader Cho I'm here."

The giant man was precisely Geom Yul-cheon. The man wearing the splendid sword sheath was Ghost Sword Duke Shin Mu-wol, and the gauze woman was Eum Yu-gyeong, who'd been the Demon Cult's Holy Maiden.

Even after Geom Yul-cheon revealed his identity, the atmosphere didn't improve at all.

"Shut up. Who'd listen to Demon Cult followers?"

Ha Hu-myeong spat out angry words.

His face was dyed red with hostility.

Ha Hu-myeong's sect Jangsan Sect had long disappeared trampled by the Demon Cult. Having lost his master and fellow disciples, he'd lose reason just hearing the word Demon Cult.

Ha Hu-myeong shouted toward his comrades.

"Subdue the Demon Cult followers."

"Waaah!"

Martial artists rushed toward Geom Yul-cheon and Shin Mu-wol without giving them time to explain.

"Huuu!"

Geom Yul-cheon quietly sighed.

The original intention wasn't like this, yet they'd made enemies of Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists.

He told Shin Mu-wol.

"Subdue without injuring them."

"Yes!"

Shin Mu-wol answered while drawing a sword from his peacock sword sheath. During the past year, his martial arts had developed dramatically. Thanks to inheriting some insights from the Heavenly Demon Art.

From Shin Mu-wol's entire body rose sharp presence like a well-honed blade dominating the area. But martial artists rushing toward him weren't intimidated at all. They too had trained risking their lives during the past year. Added to that was infinite hatred toward the Demon Cult.

They didn't care if they lost their lives. If they could kill even one Demon Cult follower to take as companion.

The martial artists swung weapons with full power.

Ttadadadadang!

Shin Mu-wol's sword and the martial artists' weapons clashed bursting metallic sounds.

Ha Hu-myeong and the martial artists truly gave their all. The martial arts they displayed contained intact the blood and sweat of the past year. But their opponents were wrong.

Shin Mu-wol was a master they couldn't handle.

Even a year ago, he'd already ascended to absolute ranks. He'd long surpassed the level Ha Hu-myeong and others could dare challenge.

Subduing them wasn't difficult for Shin Mu-wol. The problem was having to subdue without injury as Geom Yul-cheon said.

Today they'd come not to fight but for dialogue and negotiation. The moment they injured martial artists, dialogue and negotiation would be ruined. Therefore it was difficult fighting.

Moreover, opponents were desperate, clashing with full power disregarding their lives. Such opponents were most troublesome.

Kakakang!

Swords repeatedly clashed, and sparks flew everywhere.

They moved at nearly invisible speed exchanging techniques.

Ha Hu-myeong and the martial artists truly gave their best. But the gap was too great. Shin Mu-wol deflected all their swords then performed acupuncture techniques.

"Keuuk!"

"Keuk!"

They were subdued by Shin Mu-wol's pressure points in turn. Shame and anger appeared on their faces as their bodies stiffened unable to move.

"Keuuk!"

"Damn it!"

They struggled trying to move their bodies. But Shin Mu-wol had used the Poison Sect's acupuncture techniques, so unless they knew the unsealing method, it absolutely couldn't be undone.

Ha Hu-myeong shed tears of frustration. Bitter that he'd been subdued without stopping the enemy. Geom Yul-cheon watched such Ha Hu-myeong with inner admiration.

"They're truly filled with proper venom."

If all martial artists at Lesser Mount Hua were like this, they were truly tremendous power. Geom Yul-cheon thought he'd come to the right place.

When Shin Mu-wol subdued the last martial artist.

"Intruders."

"Attack!"

Martial artists at Lesser Mount Hua who'd heard news of intruders came down and saw that scene. They rushed toward Shin Mu-wol without discrimination.

"Hyu!"

Shin Mu-wol quietly sighed. Because he felt the situation was getting increasingly tangled.

That was when.

Kwaang!

With a roar, cracks appeared in the earth, and ground surface and bedrock rose like an erupting volcano.

"Heot!"

"Wh-what?"

Martial artists who'd been charging vigorously stopped surprised at the earth's appearance rising like hedgehog spines.

At the crack's end was Geom Yul-cheon's foot.

Great Earth Stomp.

A technique concentrating internal power in the foot shaking the earth. Ordinary Great Earth Stomps could never display this level of power.

It was a technique possible because it was Geom Yul-cheon.

Uuung!

The greatly wounded earth burst into wailing.

"What?"

Fear appeared on the faces of martial artists who'd been rushing toward Shin Mu-wol.

Fighting spirit could only be displayed when levels somewhat matched. When the gap was absurdly huge like this, they couldn't even dare attempt it.

Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists were in that state now.

The technique Geom Yul-cheon showed was of a realm far transcending their imagination. This wasn't something they could dare challenge.

Geom Yul-cheon opened his mouth.

"I don't want to cause more problems unnecessarily. My name is Geom Yul-cheon. I want dialogue with Blue Sky Alliance's Alliance Leader."

His voice carried powerful energy echoing throughout all of Lesser Mount Hua.

That was when.

"Hu! I felt familiar energy and indeed it was you."

Someone walked through parting Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists.

Recognition appeared in Geom Yul-cheon's eyes confirming his face.

"Alliance Leader Cho."

He was precisely Cho Yeon-woon.

Cho Yeon-woon looked over Geom Yul-cheon and companions one by one with calm gaze.

"You, were you called Geom Yul-cheon?"

"You indeed remember."

"How could I forget? Thanks to you I saved my life. This is treating a lifesaver discourteously. Sorry."

"Not at all! Rather we're sorry for visiting without contact."

They conversed calmly like old friends meeting after long time. But tense tension flowed between them. Because they'd recognized each other's level.

Originally dragons recognize tigers. They were martial artists worthy of being called dragon-tigers.

Cho Yeon-woon walked toward martial artists subdued by Shin Mu-wol continuing to speak.

"What brings you here? Did you come to meet Ho?"

"No, I came to meet you."

"Me?"

Cho Yeon-woon tilted his head gesturing toward martial artists subdued by Shin Mu-wol.

Papapak!

Instantly with striking sounds the martial artists' pressure points were released. Martial artists whose stiffened bodies were freed and regained freedom thanked Cho Yeon-woon.

"Thank you, Alliance Leader."

"We're sorry."

"Stop calling me Alliance Leader."

Cho Yeon-woon waved his hands at the word Alliance Leader.

Shin Mu-wol was surprised at Cho Yeon-woon so easily breaking his Poison Sect acupuncture techniques.

"During the past year he's grown remarkably. Did he have some fortune?"

Though they'd been able to grow explosively by learning martial arts hidden in holy relics, Shin Mu-wol was curious what fortune Cho Yeon-woon obtained to develop like this.

Cho Yeon-woon, who'd unsealed Ha Hu-myeong and others' pressure points, turned with smiling face looking at Geom Yul-cheon's eyes.

"So, what's the matter? The reason for seeking me."

"Cooperation!"

"Cooperation?"

"Right! I want to cooperate. Between Blue Sky Alliance and Divine Demon Alliance."

"Divine Demon Alliance?"

At Geom Yul-cheon's unexpected answer, Cho Yeon-woon's eyes trembled slightly.

"Divine Demon Alliance will become the Divine Cult's new name."

"I'm not smart enough to understand. If Divine Demon Alliance is the Divine Cult's new name, why should we join hands? The Divine Cult, no, the Demon Cult is our enemy."

"Divine Demon Alliance is a place created by people gathering who share purpose with me. Divine Demon Alliance will absorb the Divine Cult."

"So you mean you'll absorb the Demon Cult changing it to the name Divine Demon Alliance. Did I understand correctly?"

"Precisely."

Geom Yul-cheon answered calmly. But the meaning contained in his answer wasn't calm.

Current Central Plains was Demon Cult world.

The Demon Cult's power was at its peak, and no martial sect in the Central Plains martial world could dare compare to the Demon Cult. Even Wudang Sect, Shaolin Temple, and the Martial Alliance had collapsed before the Demon Cult's massive wave.

Geom Yul-cheon was saying he'd absorb such a Demon Cult changing it to the name Divine Demon Alliance. Words that could only be dismissed as delusional ravings of a madman.

Cho Yeon-woon looked straight at Geom Yul-cheon's eyes. Geom Yul-cheon also met his gaze without avoiding.

"…"

For a moment silence hung.

Because Geom Yul-cheon's words were too shocking, no one around dared open their mouths.

The one who broke the silence was Cho Yeon-woon.

"How will you absorb the Divine Cult? Do you think that's possible?"

"Possible with Blue Sky Alliance's help."

Geom Yul-cheon answered without a moment's hesitation.

"Why do you think we'll help Divine Demon Alliance? And what can we gain from it? If Divine Demon Alliance absorbs the Demon Cult, you'll become our enemy."

"That's distant future matters. Is there reason to already worry about distant future matters? If Divine Demon Alliance absorbs the Divine Cult, we'll first withdraw to Central Plains' south. Isn't that alone sufficient reason to cooperate?"

"How do we trust you?"

"What would make you trust?"

"Try with full power. Then I'll trust you."

Cho Yeon-woon extended his fist.

Geom Yul-cheon, reading that meaning, smiled coldly.

"Can you handle it?"

From his entire body, tremendous presence unraveled like thread.

The young martial artists looked at Jin Ja-gang with eyes of reverence.

Though the same age as them, he had already become an absolute expert, a legend that wasn’t a legend.

Jin Ja-gang said nothing and met the eyes of the young martial artists one by one. The young martial artists tensed their bodies as they received Jin Ja-gang’s gaze.

Conversely, Jin Ja-gang also felt a different sensation than before.

Kyaaaa, giggle giggle.

White Ape and Poison Heaven were making noise noisily, yet surprisingly most didn’t even pay attention. They were focused solely on Jin Ja-gang. They were waiting for Jin Ja-gang’s words. Their expressions clearly showed their earnest attitude of not wanting to miss a single word from Jin Ja-gang.

Why does Tang Ha-ran try to respond to their wishes?

Jin Ja-gang realized the reason.

How desperate they are.

Just as much as I wanted to survive, they too are desperate.

Jin Ja-gang opened his mouth.

“White Ape.”

White Ape hung her head upside down from Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder and looked at Jin Ja-gang.

“Take Poison Heaven away.”

White Ape realized it wasn’t time to play around. She quietly carried Poison Heaven and withdrew far away.

Though some might think that scene strange, it was only for a moment. The young martial artists quickly focused on Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang opened his mouth.

“Why are you all here?”

The young martial artists were briefly flustered by Jin Ja-gang’s question but soon began sharing their thoughts one by one.

Because they wanted to participate in the flow of history the Tang Family and Jin Ja-gang were creating.

Because they felt no hope in other organizations.

Among them, someone even answered with the primal desire of wanting to succeed, but Jin Ja-gang didn’t scoff.

“Whether to accept you all will be decided by the acting family head and the leadership meeting. Probably most of you may have to return from this place.”

Nevertheless, not many were disappointed. Because there was hope that if even a few remained, they could be among them.

“So for you all who came this far, I want to say one thing.”

The young martial artists stared at Jin Ja-gang’s mouth, not even blinking and swallowing dry saliva.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“The Tang Family is not righteousness. If you came thinking the Righteous Alliance or Shaolin Temple is absolute evil and the Tang Family is absolute good, then you came to the wrong place.”

The young martial artists weren’t greatly shaken even by this unexpected statement.

One of the youths cupped his fists and asked boldly.

“I am surnamed Yang from Zhejiang. I presume to ask. Does Poison Dragon Hero mean the Tang Family is also a lesser evil, and that lesser evil is still better than the worst?”

Jin Ja-gang answered immediately.

“Evil and good are relative. What I define as evil may be good to others.”

“But I think it’s the essence of the martial world that the strong take what is good.”

“Then are all the weak evil?”

“That’s…”

Jin Ja-gang looked around at the others. His gaze asked if anyone had something to say.

A young female martial artist cupped her fists and spoke.

“I’m a disciple of the Shen Family from Xixia. The law governing the martial world is survival of the strong. I think even you, Hero, cannot deny that.”

“In a martial world where swords and sabers run rampant, denying martial force is like denying oneself. I won’t deny it. However, as I said, don’t try to see the world too simply. There’s a fact that must precede survival of the strong.”

The young martial artists’ eyes gleamed.

Several hesitated then shouted almost simultaneously.

“Chivalry!”

“Isn’t what you spoke of chivalry, Hero?”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Martial force without chivalry is merciless violence. The moment you bully the weak because you’re strong, you will become pure evil.”

“It’s difficult to understand. Earlier you said it’s hard to distinguish between good and evil.”

“That answer, both I and you all already know.”

The young martial artists paused briefly, then recalled the word they’d forgotten.

And when that word burst from Jin Ja-gang’s mouth, they felt a thrill.

Greater righteousness.

Greater righteousness!

How long has it been since they recalled this word!

How much had they wanted to hear this one phrase in a martial world rampant with money and schemes!

When it came from the mouth of someone who was no different from their hero, the emotion they felt was indescribably great.

Everyone had come here seeking something.

They came without knowing what it was themselves, and realized it in this moment.

Because they wanted to see such a martial world, a martial world overflowing with greater righteousness and chivalry!

The young martial artists’ hearts swelled.

Jin Ja-gang continued speaking as if flowing.

“Every individual has their own righteousness. Every organization has the righteousness the organization pursues. Like the Jialing River, Wu River, and hundreds of tributaries combine to form the Yangtze River, each righteousness combines and separates to ultimately form a grand greater righteousness. Greater righteousness is the cause that all commonly pursue and the standard of proper chivalry. For proper greater righteousness to be formed, countless righteousnesses must clash and clash again. Therefore, each righteousness cannot be said to be wrong, and rather, numerous righteousnesses coexisting is the proper martial world.”

It wasn’t Jin Ja-gang’s story.

It was what Taoist Haewol had told Jin Ja-gang.

Through Jin Ja-gang’s mouth, it was being transmitted again to young martial artists longing for a new era…

Jin Ja-gang said quietly while thinking of Taoist Haewol.

“Act chivalrously according to greater righteousness. When greater righteousnesses of equal size clash, decide with martial force. That is survival of the strong… that’s what I think.”

Jin Ja-gang’s words ignited the young martial artists’ chivalrous spirit.

When the young martial artists were too moved to continue speaking.

From inside, Tang Ha-ran led the Tang Family’s leadership and many warriors out.

The meeting seemed to have ended earlier than expected.

“It’s the acting family head…”

Though acting, she was the Tang Family’s face and representative now. The young martial artists immediately bowed their heads and cupped their fists in courtesy.

“We’re very glad you came to visit our family.”

Tang Ha-ran gave instructions to the warriors.

The warriors each placed a hammer before the young martial artists. Quite heavy, difficult to swing properly without sufficient strength.

The young martial artists were bewildered.

Is lifting the hammer a test? Or… are they supposed to beat the person next to them to death with this hammer?

While they were bewildered not knowing which, Tang Ha-ran gestured to Jin Ja-gang with her eyes.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Ha-ran and the faces of the leaders beside her in turn.

The leaders’ expressions were half concern, half expectation.

Jin Ja-gang realized what was decided in the meeting.

Jin Ja-gang strode toward the main gate of the Tang Family Main Estate. It was a new gate with the plastered parts fully exposed, only recently restored after Shaolin Temple’s vajra monks broke it.

Jin Ja-gang tore off the splint on his shoulder.

After rolling his shoulder and loosening stiff muscles, he extended both arms forward.

Ten threads of Asura Scripture flew out and embedded in the thick main gate of the Tang Family Main Estate. In that state, he drew up his internal energy to the maximum and released it through the Asura Scripture.

Asura World-Annihilating Soul!

Shhaaak!

The Asura Scripture sliced horizontally and vertically, and the newly decorated main gate of the Tang Family Main Estate, iron and wood alike, was cut into pieces.

The young martial artists were greatly flustered by actions as shocking as the tremendous power.

A perfectly good main gate!

But that wasn’t the end. The leaders also picked up hammers and began striking the outer walls of the Tang Family Main Estate.

Bang! Bang!

Only then could the young martial artists understand what the hammers placed before them meant.

Tang Ha-ran said.

“Everyone, this is our family’s answer to you.”

The young martial artists choked up. For them, merely a hundred or so people, the Tang Family decided to break its existing closed rules.

The young martial artists lifted their hammers in unison.

“Uaaaaaaah!”

Without exception, they rushed and struck the outer walls of the Tang Family Main Estate with hammers. Being so solidly repaired, they didn’t break properly, but it didn’t matter if they couldn’t actually break them.

Just tearing down the walls of the Tang Family Main Estate that surrounded the manor like an iron wall already had symbolic meaning.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Ha-ran and nodded. Tang Ha-ran smiled at Jin Ja-gang.

This is the path the Tang Family, Jin Ja-gang, will take forward.

Kwa-bang!

Just then, a particularly loud noise occurred, and one part of the outer wall completely collapsed.

Crash.

With everyone’s attention drawn, through the hole appeared an old man with a small stature carried on a laborer’s back. The old man was trembling while holding up a finger broken at an angle that couldn’t bend.

The old man’s body was twisted so he couldn’t seem to move properly except for his fingers.

The young martial artists were greatly surprised.

Seeing him collapse a wall that even hammers couldn’t break with just one finger, he must be an expert with tremendously advanced martial arts!

Someone with high knowledge muttered.

“Master Mu-gak…?”

A person who would have been difficult even to think of if he hadn’t revealed himself in Henan a while ago, being from too long ago.

“Demon-Subduing Monk Mu-gak?”

“It’s the Demon-Subduing Monk.”

The young martial artists murmured.

“Why is an expert from the Breaking Sect here?”

The Tang Family’s leaders also knew it was Demon-Subduing Monk Mu-gak, but their expressions didn’t change much. This was Sichuan and the Tang Family. And the Poison Dragon was here too. There was no reason to be afraid or scared.

Receiving everyone’s gaze, the old man asked Jin Ja-gang and Tang Ha-ran.

“That greater righteousness you spoke of. Will you let in an old man on death’s door?”

Jin Ja-gang immediately answered.

“No.”

“…”

It became an extremely awkward moment.

However, those of the Tang Family who knew Jin Ja-gang wore expressions showing they naturally expected Jin Ja-gang would do that.

Jin Ja-gang pointed his finger outside.

“Go out the way you came.”

Demon-Subduing Monk Mu-gak.

Having never been treated this way anywhere, he became an unwelcome guest before Jin Ja-gang.

Mu-gak frowned even more with his already twisted face.

“Go out, and enter through the main gate.”

Mu-gak laughed as if dumbfounded. But how could he not follow Jin Ja-gang’s words!

Mu-gak asked the laborer. The laborer carried Mu-gak out through the broken hole and came back in through the main gate.

“Is this okay now?”

When Jin Ja-gang nodded slightly, Mu-gak patted the laborer’s back.

“Good work.”

Then he called a young man nearby.

“You look like you can use some strength. Come here.”

“What? M-me?”

“Hurry and throw me.”

The youth threw Mu-gak toward the outer wall in bewilderment.

Mu-gak touched the outer wall with his broken, twisted finger.

Crrrack!

The outer wall collapsed as is and opened wide. The iron structures firmly supporting inside the outer wall crumpled as if melted, and the stones turned to powder and scattered.

Even while falling and rolling on the ground, Mu-gak laughed loudly.

“That’s refreshing indeed!”

Kekekekeke!

The young martial artists glanced at each other, then grinned and began hammering again.

Bang! Bang!

The solid outer walls that had protected the Tang Family for long years, but had also isolated and separated the Tang Family from the outside, were collapsing.