Chapter 485 – The Era of Heroes Arrives (1)

Countless scratches and wounds had formed on Blue Sky Alliance's tall walls that had been built not long ago. It was a miserable sight as if a giant had scraped them with its nails.

"Phew!"

Cho Yeon-woon, sitting atop the tall walls, let out a quiet sigh. His appearance was nothing short of battered and bruised. His clothes were torn like rags, and blood stained them red here and there.

It was evidence of fierce battle.

Still, they somehow endured until the third clash. But in the fourth clash, they were driven into a precarious situation by the Demon Cult's quantity offensive. Fortunately, a master named Muk Ji-gwang suddenly appeared to help, so they could repel the enemies.

Muk Ji-gwang was the valley lord of a mysterious sect called Yongcheon Valley. The martial prowess of Yongcheon Valley's martial artists, composed only of blood relatives, was no less than the great sects of the martial world. Especially valley lord Muk Ji-gwang's martial prowess was truly tremendous, greatly helping Blue Sky Alliance in its time of crisis.

But without time to catch their breath, the Demon Cult's fifth general attack began again, and Blue Sky Alliance was truly driven into a crisis of life and death. They were pushed back and pushed back until reaching the walls.

The traces remaining on the walls where Cho Yeon-woon sat were all created during the fifth clash. Many of Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists lost their lives in the fifth clash.

The moment enemies crossed the walls, Blue Sky Alliance would be finished. Knowing that fact, Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists desperately endured, truly abandoning their lives.

The savior who appeared then was precisely Wudang Sect. They who had pitiably gone into seclusion a year ago had gathered their remaining strength and rushed over. Since Wudang Sect also had an unforgivable grudge against the Demon Cult, they tenaciously held on.

In the end, the Demon Cult had no choice but to retreat this time too. But no one in Blue Sky Alliance rejoiced. Because too many had lost their lives through the past five clashes.

Still on the plain, the corpses of comrades they couldn't retrieve were rotting, forming small hills. The stench of death from the rotting corpses was assaulting people's noses.

Cho Yeon-woon sat on the walls taking in all that scenery. His eyes looked sadder than ever.

He was sad that they had to wage war where so many people had to die. But he wasn't given even the time to grieve. Because he had to prepare for the next clash with the Demon Cult.

'They'll attack again soon.'

Cho Yeon-woon thought victory or defeat would be decided in the next clash.

Through the five clashes already, they'd clearly grasped each other's weaknesses and strengths. Blue Sky Alliance lacked martial artists with much experience, and the Demon Cult's casualties among low-level warriors were too great.

No matter how much they treated low-level warriors as expendables, if casualties increased recklessly like this, internal strife could break out within the Demon Cult.

In fact, rumors were being heard that discord had arisen within the Demon Cult. But there was no way to confirm if the rumors were true.

'Victor and vanquished will be decided in the next clash.'

Neither Blue Sky Alliance nor the Demon Cult could drag out the war any longer. Especially from the Demon Cult's standpoint, if the war prolonged any more, they'd suffer tremendous setbacks in controlling all of Central Plains. To prevent such a situation, they had to end the war with Blue Sky Alliance as quickly as possible.

He could tell just by looking at the earthen fortress visible in the distance. Their energy had reached its peak. It was evidence they were mobilizing all their strength.

Ordinary martial artists couldn't tell no matter how much they looked, but once reaching a realm like Cho Yeon-woon's, one could read the atmosphere and intention just from their energy.

"It'll start soon."

Cho Yeon-woon stood up from the walls and turned around.

Blue Sky Alliance's interior was clearly visible. Numerous martial artists were sitting on the ground maintaining weapons or treating injuries. Though their bodies were battered and bruised, their eyes still gleamed brightly.

They had pride in having repelled the Demon Cult's invasions five times. Thanks to that, though their bodies were battered, morale had reached its peak.

In Cho Yeon-woon's view appeared a woman moving among the martial artists. It was precisely Great Divine Physician Jong Ri-yeon. She was treating injured martial artists leading several young disciples.

Thanks to her, moderate wounds healed quickly. Thanks to that, praise for Jong Ri-yeon was rampant among the martial artists.

It wasn't only Jong Ri-yeon. On one side, Bang Jin-bo was making special meals for the martial artists. The food Bang Jin-bo made was especially good for recovering vitality, revitalizing tired and injured bodies.

The influence these two had on Blue Sky Alliance far exceeded that of most absolute masters. From Cho Yeon-woon's standpoint wanting to borrow even a child's hands, he couldn't be more grateful to them.

Everyone was united with one heart. Because they existed, Cho Yeon-woon could find strength today too.

That's when it happened.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly loud drum sounds were heard.

Instantly not only Cho Yeon-woon but all Blue Sky Alliance martial artists' eyes changed. The drum sounds meant the Demon Cult's general offensive.

"Move!"

"They're attacking again."

"Hurry!"

Martial artists kicked off their seats and climbed atop the walls. Martial artists who'd been resting inside buildings also deployed lightness skills and climbed atop the walls as if they'd been waiting.

"Ugh!"

The moment they saw the earthen fortress from atop the walls, the martial artists' complexions hardened grimly. Because the Demon Cult's forces were approaching Blue Sky Alliance, covering the plain in black. If there was a difference from before, it was that their formation was very orderly.

Exchanging signals using large flags and drums, it was clearly operated according to military tactics.

"Sang Han-cheon has finally moved."

Cho Yeon-woon muttered.

Commanding such a large army in such orderly fashion was impossible unless one was a veteran military strategist like Sang Han-cheon.

The very fact that Sang Han-cheon personally took to the battlefield meant the Demon Cult had staked everything on this battle.

Hae So-wol approached and stood beside Cho Yeon-woon. Her entire body also bore large and small wounds.

Hae So-wol had faced Yo Sa-ran in the first clash. Their battle ended in a draw, and through this battle, Hae So-wol gained blazing fame.

Her opponent was one of the Demon Cult's supreme masters. No matter who saw it, it was a disadvantageous fight for her. Yet the very fact that she overcame the disadvantage and fought equally gave great inspiration to the martial artists.

After that too, she achieved brilliant military exploits. The turbulent times made her a hero, and now no one thought of her as a rising talent.

She was unquestionably one of the martial world's supreme masters. Therefore, the eyes of people looking at her were filled with admiration.

Hae So-wol opened her mouth.

"This is the final war."

"Are you afraid?"

"I'm afraid. If we lose this battle, there will be no more hope in the martial world."

"We will definitely win. We can win."

Cho Yeon-woon answered with conviction.

Hae So-wol looked at his face for a moment then continued.

"Will they keep their promise?"

"We must pray so. For now, that's all we can do."

"Phew! We must pray Heaven is with us."

"Heaven will help us too."

At Cho Yeon-woon's confident answer, Hae So-wol nodded.

Now Cho Yeon-woon was showing a trustworthy appearance befitting the lord of the massive force called Blue Sky Alliance. Through the past five clashes, Cho Yeon-woon had fully displayed dignity as Alliance Leader. He'd also grown. Now no one in Blue Sky Alliance doubted Cho Yeon-woon's qualifications. The same was true for Hae So-wol.

Before they knew it, Blue Sky Alliance's leadership had gathered around them. They exchanged looks and silently encouraged each other.

Through fighting battles of life and death together multiple times, trust stronger than friendship had built between them. They firmly believed in each other.

Cho Yeon-woon stood at that pinnacle.

He shouted.

"Now, it's the final battle. The martial world's fate hangs on this one battle. Then let's all meet again alive."

"Hahaha! See you again, Alliance Leader."

"Amitabha!"

"Let's all meet again alive."

All the leadership raised their voices to answer.

They knew better how difficult it was to meet again alive. Still, they prayed they could meet again. That they could savor victory alive.

The first to leap down from the walls was of course Cho Yeon-woon. Behind him followed over a hundred martial artists.

They called themselves the Alliance Leader Guard.

Moved by Cho Yeon-woon's appearance fighting the Demon Cult at the front lines from day one, martial artists voluntarily stepped forward to create the guard. They appointed themselves Cho Yeon-woon's hands and feet, following wherever he went.

Cho Yeon-woon and the guard ran toward the center where the Demon Cult's forces were most concentrated.

Cho Yeon-woon was always like that. He ran first to the most dangerous places and threw his whole body in.

Watching that appearance, Hae So-wol flew toward the Demon Cult's left flank. Since Cho Yeon-woon took the most dangerous place, the next most dangerous place was her portion.

Hainan Sect's disciples followed Hae So-wol. Though sect leader Neung Cheon-wol was still strong, the disciples followed Hae So-wol. Because sect leader Neung Cheon-wol had ordered it so. Instead, Neung Cheon-wol moved about freely slaying the Demon Cult's masters.

Following them, the Yama Monks led by So Cheon moved, and martial artists who'd joined Blue Sky Alliance late also moved along designated routes.

Swooosh!

Blue Sky Alliance and the Demon Cult clashed.

They threw themselves at each other with all their might.

"As expected."

Sang Han-cheon's eyes watching the battlefield grew sharp. In his hands were five small flags in purple, blue, yellow, black, and green.

Blue Sky Alliance and the Demon Cult were clashing across the entire long battle line. Despite pouring overwhelming quantity offensive, the Demon Cult couldn't avoid struggling. That's how fierce Blue Sky Alliance's resistance was.

Neither the previous Murim Alliance nor Shaolin Temple, the northern pillar, were like this. He had to admit what needed admitting. Blue Sky Alliance was a far trickier opponent to deal with.

"But that too ends today."

A cold smile appeared on Sang Han-cheon's lips.

Those who didn't know said the five previous attacks failing was Sang Han-cheon's incompetence. But all of that was within Sang Han-cheon's calculations.

"The real battle starts now."

He raised the purple flag. Then one of the martial artists guarding him raised and waved a large purple flag.

Swish!

Instantly the Demon Cult's military formation changed. Those who'd been in front fell away to the left, and those who'd been behind filled their places. Their movements caused a chain reaction, and the entire Demon Cult military formation transformed myriad ways like a living organism.

"What? The enemy's movements are unusual. Everyone be careful!"

"Focus."

Cho Yeon-woon and the guard, who'd been facing enemies in full swing, couldn't help being momentarily flustered when opponents suddenly changed. It was the same for other martial artists too.

Before their eyes, the Demon Cult's military formation was changing moment by moment. The martial artists they'd been facing until just now moved elsewhere in an instant, and new martial artists filled their places. They couldn't help being flustered.

But they too had improved in improvisation through five battles. They quickly regained composure and tried to respond calmly. But this time a different obstacle caught their ankles.

"Damn it!"

"The corpses…"

Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists let out startled cries.

Because the mountains of corpses piled here and there on the plain hindered their movements. Conversely, the Demon Cult's martial artists exquisitely used the mountains of corpses.

"What is this?"

"It's a formation. Insane! A formation using corpses."

Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists who belatedly realized it was a formation trembled.

The number of those who died in the five clashes exceeded several thousand. Their corpses became small hills piled here and there on the plain. Until now, they'd only felt sorry for not being able to retrieve their corpses, never thinking them bothersome. Because in battles of this scale, it was natural for mountains of corpses to form. Therefore, no one had been conscious of the corpse mountains. But now that the Demon Cult operated its military formation using the corpse mountains as medium, they couldn't be more cumbersome.

Five Elements Heaven Killing Formation.

That was the name of the formation Sang Han-cheon operated.

It was an extremely evil formation using as obstacles the corpses of the many who died in the past five clashes. To deploy the Five Elements Heaven Killing Formation, Sang Han-cheon had tolerated the past five clashes. And waited for enough corpses to pile up.

Not knowing that, there were those who cursed Sang Han-cheon for stubbornly insisting on frontal confrontation and tolerating the battle line. Especially among the Demon Cult's high-ranking members were such people.

Sang Han-cheon silently endured their criticism. Because he believed without doubt that ultimately he and the Demon Cult would be final victors.

It was truly a ruthless scheme forsaking human ethics.

"Kyaaak!"

"St-stop them!"

Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists couldn't follow the Five Elements Heaven Killing Formation's countless changes and were helplessly beaten.

"Don't panic, defend this side."

"Don't move, just guard the front."

At least martial artists who could read the big picture comforted comrades, but it was insufficient.

Like a solid levee collapsing all at once, Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists who'd held well until now collapsed in an instant.

"Kill them all!"

"Waaa!"

The Demon Cult's martial artists' courage increased a hundredfold, raising their momentum even more. They radiated fierce momentum and killed Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists indiscriminately.

"Ugh!"

"To think they'd plan such a devious scheme."

Even the Demon Cult's leadership trembled at Sang Han-cheon's far-sighted devious scheme.

That's when it happened.

"As expected of Military Strategist."

A weighty voice was heard from behind them. The moment they heard the voice, the leadership felt all their body hair stand on end and trembled.

"Cult Leader."

"We subjects greet the Cult Leader."

The voice's owner was precisely Cheok Gwan-hyeol, the Demon Cult's Cult Leader. He who'd been maintaining silence had finally revealed himself on the battlefield.

Kuukwakwa!

Just by Cheok Gwan-hyeol revealing himself, the air in the area shook madly. Even the Demon Cult's leadership held their breath at his suffocating presence.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol looked at the battlefield with raging eyes.

The Demon Cult was overwhelming Blue Sky Alliance.

Countless Blue Sky Alliance martial artists were losing their lives futilely. That said, the Demon Cult wasn't entirely without damage. Blue Sky Alliance's martial artists tenaciously held on until just before death. Because of that, the Demon Cult's damage was also gradually increasing.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol's eyes also saw dying Demon Cult martial artists. But he showed no particular emotion.

Sacrifice was unavoidable to achieve the great task anyway. If the Demon Cult's thousand-year great task was achieved through their sacrifice, that too would be joyful.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol, who'd been watching the battlefield for a while, finally opened his mouth.

"Variables?"

"Probably Mount Hua Sect or Zhongnan Sect."

Sang Han-cheon bowed his head respectfully and answered.

"They still haven't joined the battle?"

"Yes! They're probably watching for opportunities somewhere."

"Hmph! Like little rats."

"Since we're already anticipating them, they're not really variables. We've made full preparations for them."

At Sang Han-cheon's answer, Cheok Gwan-hyeol nodded. From his entire body, tremendous demonic energy was rising.

The madness he'd suppressed with effort until now was stirring again watching the battlefield.

His blood boiled and his whole body itched.

He wanted to drink enemies' blood to his heart's content in the middle of that, not just watch like this.

Sang Han-cheon's expression looking at such Cheok Gwan-hyeol hardened stiffly.

The reason he hadn't let Cheok Gwan-hyeol onto the battlefield until now was precisely because of that raging madness. Though the madness had subsided greatly thanks to Dan Un-hyang, once that madness activated, the damage wouldn't be limited to Blue Sky Alliance.

For him, the only real variable wasn't Mount Hua Sect or Zhongnan Sect but precisely Cheok Gwan-hyeol.

That's when it happened.

"Rescue Blue Sky Alliance."

"Drive out the Demon Cult members!"

Along with furious voices, groups appeared from the plain's east and west.

"They've finally appeared."

Sang Han-cheon's gaze turned toward them.

In his eyes entered a young Taoist hurling sword force. The one displaying absolute martial prowess leading Taoists was precisely Myeong-gyeong.

He'd appeared from the east leading Mount Hua Sect's Taoists. Those who'd jumped into the battlefield from the west were precisely Zhongnan Sect's martial artists.

Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect had appeared to rescue Blue Sky Alliance.

With their joining, the battlefield began shaking greatly once more.

“Uaaaah!”

“Die!”

“Kraaak!”

Screams, shouts, and roars mingled chaotically.

A scene resembling a hellscape was unfolding. Limbs flew and blood flowed to form pools.

There were so many people that the fallen corpses were becoming obstacles.

Jin Ja-gang was also buried under people’s corpses, pushed them aside, came up, and fought again. He killed and killed. Everything was plastered with bright red blood so it was impossible to tell who was who. The only distinction was between Jin Ja-gang doing the killing and the Righteous Alliance doing the dying.

Jin Ja-gang swung a chipped blade to sever an arm that appeared before his eyes and stabbed an opponent’s belly with a broken spear shaft. He struck behind with his elbow to shatter a jaw, and stomped on the head of an opponent crawling on the ground to burst it.

Someone slightly cut Jin Ja-gang’s waist. It was a small wound that didn’t even leak blood. However, the toxic fog rippled at that moment.

“Uaaak!”

The one who cut the waist got toxic fog in his eyes and screamed while stepping backward. Jin Ja-gang turned and followed that person. Other martial artists slashed at Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang dodged, blocked, deflected some, and followed to the end.

“Uaaa uaaaaa!”

The arm of the one who was screaming was caught by Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang pulled the arm and plunged a broken blade into his neck. Blood bubbled and boiled over from the neck of the screaming one, then became quiet.

Jin Ja-gang had become a blood person drenched in blood. Of course, most was others’ blood, but Jin Ja-gang had also been cut and stabbed several times.

However, there was no one happy about cutting Jin Ja-gang. They were just desperately trying to survive. If they didn’t kill Jin Ja-gang, they would die, so to not die, they had to kill Jin Ja-gang. They had to strike Jin Ja-gang while avoiding the toxic fog swirling around his body.

It was a space where death met death.

One step, no, moving even one inch wrong would instantly cross from life to death.

Already, two hundred, three hundred people had crossed from the boundary between life and death to the side of death.

Chwaak!

A net studded with weights and blades poured down over Jin Ja-gang’s head as he fought in the chaotic battle. Jin Ja-gang and other martial artists were all covered by the net at once.

“Uak!”

Because heavy weights were attached, blades embedded in bodies as the net covered them. Righteous Alliance martial artists trapped inside the net screamed.

Jin Ja-gang also had blades embedded in his shoulders and back. A blade scraped across his already cracked head, making thick blood flow.

“Pull!”

When Righteous Alliance martial artists pulled the net, it constricted and those caught cried out in pain.

“Uaaak!”

However, Jin Ja-gang stood firm and grabbed the net with both hands. The tough iron net made by twisting dozens of thin iron threads was pulled taut.

Piiing! The iron net couldn’t withstand Jin Ja-gang’s internal energy and tore away with snapping sounds, breaking off.

“Die!”

Those holding long spears attacked Jin Ja-gang. They pierced through even though their own allies were tangled together. Now wasn’t the time to consider such things.

Jin Ja-gang wrapped the torn-away net around spears coming from all sides. Then he struck down on the net with his opposite forearm.

Crack!

Over ten spear shafts got tangled in the net, gathered, then broke all at once. Jin Ja-gang pulled out and threw the broken spears. The spear tips that flew like hidden weapons embedded thump thump into martial artists’ bodies.

“Iyaaaa!”

One person bravely blocked Jin Ja-gang’s front and leaped to punch Jin Ja-gang’s cheek.

Pyok! Jin Ja-gang’s head turned very slightly. The martial artist, seemingly skilled in fist techniques, consecutively struck Jin Ja-gang’s jaw and temple. Jin Ja-gang pulled his head back briefly then rammed into the martial artist’s face as is.

Along with the sound of bones breaking, the martial artist’s face collapsed. Jin Ja-gang strangled the martial artist’s neck with the net to definitely cut off his breath. Among those tangled in the net, one on the ground slashed Jin Ja-gang’s ankle with a dagger. As soon as the dagger touched, Jin Ja-gang shot poison palm downward.

Pyong! The head burst and terrible debris spread beneath Jin Ja-gang’s feet. The dozen or so martial artists tangled together screamed and clamored.

“Uaaa!”

“Uaaaaa!”

However, tangled in the net, there was nowhere to flee.

Jin Ja-gang clenched both fists tightly and applied strength. Blood vessels all over his body protruded prominently.

Blood leaked from Jin Ja-gang’s body and created toxic fog. Bright red blood toxic fog wrapped around Jin Ja-gang. Those caught in the net together clamored trying to escape the net.

“Save me! Save me!”

“This net!”

However, they couldn’t escape the net.

The toxic fog grew thicker and thicker, concealing their forms.

And when the toxic fog disappeared shortly after, no human form remained there. Lumps of bloody pus that seemed to have been human were spread all over the ground, and Jin Ja-gang was casually lifting and pushing aside the net as he emerged.

The Righteous Alliance martial artists ground their teeth. Goosebumps rose. How could they win against such an opponent?

More than half were reduced. The number that was close to five hundred didn’t even have two hundred remaining.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the remaining martial artists.

The martial artists flinched and trembled.

Even becoming numb to the bloody smell, even becoming numb to cruelty… they couldn’t get used to that look in Jin Ja-gang’s eyes.

But then.

Someone shouted.

“The, the Alliance Leader isn’t visible!”

He wasn’t there.

“What…”

“Where did he go!”

Baek Li-jung wasn’t visible.

Those who came from Baek Li Family weren’t there either.

Jin Ja-gang had already seen that Baek Li-jung fled not toward where Namgung Rak was but in the opposite direction. Baek Li-jung didn’t even think to rush toward Namgung Rak and take him hostage. He knew that if he did, Jin Ja-gang would chase. So he fled in the opposite direction.

The Righteous Alliance martial artists now realized they had been abandoned.

The death god approaching from the front would never stop, and they would die here.

Earlier they thought they should fight… but now they knew the chance of survival was higher by fleeing.

The martial artists fled.

They discarded everything cumbersome to survive as much as possible. They abandoned injured comrades and weapons. They didn’t want to die so terribly that not even a corpse would remain.

Jin Ja-gang…

Didn’t chase them.

He just stood still and watched.

A thought suddenly occurred.

If they all survived and safely returned to their sects, what stories would they tell? Would they complain about Baek Li-jung’s cowardice and go around saying he abandoned them, or would they denounce Jin Ja-gang’s cruelty?

Probably the latter.

Jin Ja-gang would be driven even more as a public enemy of the martial world, and someone else, not Baek Li-jung, would appear to gather the remaining ones and incite them to strike Jin Ja-gang.

They were contaminated.

Accustomed to existing irrationality, unable to accept new standards, still grasped by greed. If another replacement for Baek Li-jung appeared, they would attach to that side.

So, could they survive just by fleeing? Could they escape their fate just by fleeing?

That’s why Jin Ja-gang didn’t chase those who fled.

He also left Baek Li-jung alone even though he saw him secretly flee leading his sect’s experts, for the same reason.

Jin Ja-gang watched until everyone fled.

The injured ones, though there were almost none, he still found and killed them all.

Now Jin Ja-gang stood alone, lost in thought.

For a long while.

The whole world was stained with blood. Nothing living existed except Jin Ja-gang. Not even the sounds of grass insects or birds could be heard. So paradoxically it was extremely quiet and peaceful.

It would be awkward to even make a sound and break the peace.

Jin Ja-gang, who had been lost in thought about something for a long while, soon turned and returned to Namgung Rak.

***

The Righteous Alliance martial artists fighting Namgung Rak fled as soon as they saw Jin Ja-gang.

Seeing him return drenched in blood after fighting with numbers no different from the main force, wasn’t it obvious what happened!

Namgung Rak was battered all over and nearly collapsed.

However, befitting an old hero, he didn’t show such a sight. He leaned on his sword like a cane and stood.

Namgung Rak breathed roughly and looked at Jin Ja-gang.

“Terrible. No, should I say tremendous?”

Jin Ja-gang drenched in tremendous blood didn’t seem like human form.

“You said you’d come right away?”

“I had something to think about.”

Though his tone was irritating, if Jin Ja-gang had something to think about, it definitely didn’t feel like a small matter.

“I want to hear what that thought is too!”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s voice heard after a long time.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong appeared with her usual dignified appearance, fluttering her empty sleeve.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“What are you doing here?”

“They suddenly started fleeing and the encirclement collapsed. Then how could I not come see what’s happening?”

However, Jin Ja-gang couldn’t be unaware it was actually because of Baek Li-jung.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong turned her gaze to Namgung Rak.

The old hero and the grand matriarch of the evil sect met. A strange atmosphere flowed.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong first raised one hand to her chest and clasped.

“Dan Mu of Shandong greets the Sword King.”

Namgung Rak breathed in deeply then straightened his back firmly to stand and clasped fists. It was a resolute attitude hard to see as someone with a broken leg and deep sword wounds.

“I am Namgung Rak. This is the first time meeting like this.”

His tone was stiff but not particularly hostile. Having been by Taoist Haewol’s side for long years, he wasn’t unaware of Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

After finishing brief greetings, Dan Ryeong-gyeong looked at Jin Ja-gang and asked.

“What happened to that person?”

“I let him go. He fled using the Righteous Alliance as a shield.”

“Hmph. A filthy bastard to the end.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong asked again.

“What do you plan to do from now on?”

All of the Central Plains would antagonize Jin Ja-gang. Perhaps they might even fabricate non-existent crimes, for instance framing it like Jin Ja-gang harmed Northern Li Sword Immortal.

“I’m interested in martial world affairs, but right now it seems I need to do something else first.”

“There’s something else?”

Namgung Rak was also curious. Jin Ja-gang asked back as if wondering why he was asking him such things.

“Won’t you return to your family home?”

Namgung Rak’s expression darkened.

“Urrm.”

Baek Li-jung said Great Buddha was attacking the Namgung Family. It probably wasn’t a bluff.

Naturally he should return and rescue them.

However… in this state, he couldn’t face Great Buddha, Shaolin Temple.

Namgung Rak ground his teeth tightly.

Jin Ja-gang asked again.

“How long can they hold out?”

“What do you mean?”

“If they resist without surrendering to Shaolin Temple.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“How long will the Namgung Family hold out? Just tell me that.”

“How dare you regard my family! The Namgung Family will disappear before kneeling.”

“Can they hold three days?”

From Yuelu Mountian to Mount Huang, eighteen hundred li.

Even rushing appropriately with qinggong, one would have to run for seven days and nights.

But three days?

Namgung Rak’s brow narrowed.

“You don’t mean…”

Jin Ja-gang had even more external injuries than Namgung Rak.

But then…

“There’s no time. Can they hold out? Can’t they hold out?”

“What on earth are you planning to do!”

Jin Ja-gang wiped blood that flowed into his eyes and said.

“What would I do? I’m going to meet Great Buddha.”