Chapter 274

The Sichuan sect leaders spoke with troubled expressions.

“You want us to antagonize the Three Powers of Sichuan?”

“Receive meager rewards and fight the Three Powers in Sichuan?”

Zhuge Son-gi tried to smooth things over.

“I don’t mean to fight. But since they’ve ruined the Martial Alliance’s event to this extent, they can’t avoid responsibility!”

The Sichuan sect leaders showed even more obvious displeasure.

“No sect can survive in Sichuan while ignoring the Three Powers.”

Zhuge Son-gi wasn’t unaware of the Sichuan sect leaders’ intentions.

If Master Hae-weol, the Martial Alliance Leader, had been in perfect condition, they would never have voiced complaints.

The ambitious heroes who had been unable to spread their wings were eagerly watching for opportunities, so the coming chaos was obvious without seeing it.

If things went wrong, the only place the small and medium sects of Sichuan could rely on was the Three Powers of Sichuan.

Baek Li-jung, practically a disciple of Master Hae-weol, was essentially a broken kite, so he wasn’t a reliable hill to lean on. The Zhuge family, who couldn’t even catch one Poison Dragon for nearly a year, was even less so.

It was much better to stay in Sichuan where the Tang family, Mount Emei, and Qingcheng Sect were located.

So much so that when Qingcheng Sect chose to flee rather than fight, the small and medium sects actually breathed sighs of relief. If Qingcheng Sect’s strength was preserved intact, they could make a comeback anytime.

The Martial Alliance, united by interests rather than trust.

The new standard of the martial world created by Master Hae-weol had resulted in weakening the Martial Alliance’s unity.

Zhuge Son-gi, who noticed their intentions, spoke in a strong tone.

“Then! Will you flee like this? Will you choose the path of traitors like Qingcheng Sect, Mount Emei, and the Tang family and see Sichuan’s martial world annihilated!”

“Watch your words!”

The Sichuan sect leaders became angry.

“No matter how great the Zhuge family is, you’re outsiders in Sichuan!”

“What does an outsider know to speak recklessly about annihilation!”

As the atmosphere became strange, Zhuge family warriors gathered toward Zhuge Son-gi’s side. There were nearly fifty of them.

One of the Sichuan sect leaders stepped forward and said.

“We dislike the Evil Sect, but we also dislike others telling us what to do. What has the Martial Alliance done for us while we’ve been fighting the Western Tibet Demon Cult and Northern Heaven Evil Sect? And now what? You’ll annihilate Sichuan’s martial world?”

The Sichuan sect leaders glared at Zhuge Son-gi with angry expressions.

The Sichuan sect leaders’ protests intensified.

“Even though all Three Powers of Sichuan have withdrawn, we remained because of loyalty to the Martial Alliance. But you say you’ll annihilate us? You’re mistaken if you think we’re slaves of the Martial Alliance!”

Zhuge Son-gi bit his lips. He had wrongly touched the pride of Sichuan martial artists. Since he needed their help, he should have persuaded them well.

“I’m sorry. I misspoke. That was my…”

But Zhuge Son-gi stopped speaking mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

Tremendous killing intent suddenly poured out. Not only Zhuge Son-gi but everyone present felt the killing intent.

The killing intent was so vicious that every breath felt like thorns were embedded in it.

The Sichuan warriors and Evil Sect members looked toward the source of the killing intent.

The source of the killing intent spoke.

“Why apologize to these rebel scum? I should just kill them all.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong looked at the source and screamed.

“You!”

It was Baek Li-jung. Baek Li-jung walked into the scene with his hands and face painted with blood. His eyes were reddened with killing intent.

Baek Li-jung glanced sideways at Dan Ryeong-gyeong, then looked around at the Sichuan sect leaders and muttered.

“That’s why the Martial Alliance doesn’t trust Sichuan.”

“What did you say?”

A nearby Sichuan warrior bristled at Baek Li-jung’s words. Instantly, Baek Li-jung backhanded the warrior.

SMACK! CRACK!

The warrior’s body flew several zhang and crashed into a tree, smashing it. The Sichuan sect leaders were furious.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

Baek Li-jung grumbled in a low voice.

“This one, that one. Nothing pleases me.”

His voice was ominous. The Sichuan sect leaders felt something was wrong. It was strange to feel such damp and sinister killing intent from an orthodox sect master who had learned proper mental cultivation methods.

The Sichuan sect leaders were enraged at Baek Li-jung for killing their warrior.

“We’re done here!”

“If you can, try doing well among yourselves!”

Zhuge Son-gi tried to stop them.

“Wait a moment! I’ll admit I misspoke. But if you quit now…!”

However, Baek Li-jung spoke without any hesitation.

“Go. But don’t let me see you.”

The Sichuan sect leaders bristled. Baek Li-jung added.

“From now on, anyone I see will be considered a traitor and I’ll kill them all.”

The Sichuan sect leaders trembled with anger at Baek Li-jung’s arrogance.

“Let’s go!”

The Sichuan sect leaders gathered their warriors and withdrew.

Zhuge Son-gi couldn’t stop them.

“Damn it…!”

Who would have known the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation would collapse so anticlimactically! Zhuge Son-gi clutched his head. With the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation failing twice, the Zhuge family had suffered fatal damage that would be difficult to recover from.

Moreover, what had happened to Zhuge Ming! Why couldn’t he command and why had there been no news until now!

“Done worrying?”

Zhuge Son-gi looked up at Baek Li-jung. Baek Li-jung looked down at Zhuge Son-gi with reddish eyes and said.

“If you’re done worrying, get up. We need to kill all of them.”

Zhuge Son-gi slapped his own cheek to gather his wits. The Evil Sect members and the traitor Qingcheng Sect Taoists still remained.

And Poison Dragon too.

At minimum, they had to kill Poison Dragon to save face. Zhuge Son-gi shouted.

“Zhuge family warriors, listen! Today we will fight with the resolve to die and protect the Zhuge family’s honor! Don’t think about returning alive!”

The Zhuge family warriors gripped their weapons and raised their fighting spirit.

The masked Qingcheng Sect members looked troubled but didn’t avoid the fight.

Jin Ja-gang stepped forward.

“I’ll take him on.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong blocked Jin Ja-gang with her one arm. Flames were blazing in Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s eyes.

“Just for today, just this once, please don’t stop me.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong could clearly see Venerable Woo-am dying in pieces. Dan Ryeong-gyeong emitted sharp killing intent.

“I’ll help.”

When Jin Ja-gang said he would fight together, this time one of the masked Qingcheng Sect members blocked Jin Ja-gang’s path.

“Kids shouldn’t interfere in adults’ business.”

Though masked, his sturdy build and familiar voice and manner of speaking…

When Jin Ja-gang stared up at the masked figure, the masked person frowned.

“What are you staring at? Do you know who I am?”

“No.”

Jin Ja-gang was conflicted. He too had to take revenge on Baek Li-jung, but Elder Bok-cheon also had sufficient qualification. He should take revenge for Venerable Woo-am.

However, Jin Ja-gang had endured eight years of hell-like mine tunnels for this moment.

Yet now he was thinking he had no choice but to yield.

Jin Ja-gang realized his thoughts had changed greatly recently.

Had the meaning of revenge become blurred?

No.

The meaning hadn’t become blurred.

However, there had been a change in that he now had people to protect.

The past Jin Ja-gang had no power, so he couldn’t promise he could complete his revenge to the end. He had no leisure to think beyond completing his revenge. Therefore, when he was powerless, he clung desperately with his life on the line to not miss a single opportunity.

But now that he had people to protect, he couldn’t continue like that.

He had to think about the future after revenge was complete. Not for Jin Ja-gang himself, but to protect Tang Ha-ran and their child, he needed to have far-sighted vision.

Jin Ja-gang had to protect those two from the retaliation that would inevitably come after his revenge.

To do that, Jin Ja-gang had gained Qingcheng Sect’s support and joined hands with Mount Emei. And he had to safely send away the Shandong Evil Sect, who would become another source of strength for Jin Ja-gang in the future.

That would guarantee the safety of Jin Ja-gang, Tang Ha-ran, and their child after revenge.

In the worst case, even if it meant letting Baek Li-jung live, saving the Shandong Evil Sect took priority.

Jin Ja-gang quietly stepped back. The masked Elder Bok-cheon looked at Jin Ja-gang briefly, then turned his gaze to Baek Li-jung.

Then a small-figured masked person approached Jin Ja-gang’s side and tugged at his sleeve.

“Young Master.”

It was Woon-jeong.

Woon-jeong was turning her head left and right, looking for someone.

“Soso is with Elder Bian Bu in the back.”

“Ah, I see. That’s a relief.”

Woon-jeong, who looked around once more, said.

“The situation has become strange.”

Zhuge Son-gi and fifty Zhuge family warriors. And Baek Li-jung.

On this side were about a dozen Shandong Evil Sect members and five from Qingcheng Sect.

Thanks to Qingcheng Sect joining, there were many masters, so they wouldn’t be pushed back that much.

“First, we need to open a path.”

They would leave Baek Li-jung to Dan Ryeong-gyeong and Elder Bok-cheon, while Jin Ja-gang would handle Zhuge Son-gi and the Zhuge family warriors.

The mountain, which had been in a temporary lull, began to build with tension.

Elder Bok-cheon spoke quietly to Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

“This poor monk… no, as I said before, I greatly dislike you. My senior brother suffered his whole life because of you.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong stared into the eyes of the masked Elder Bok-cheon and said.

“I too have come to understand the meaning of what Elder said. At the very end… when the Venerable smiled as he passed away. And only then was I finally able to accept the Venerable’s heart.”

Elder Bok-cheon’s eyes reddened.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong suggested to Elder Bok-cheon.

“I have regretted and continue to regret, but there’s no way back now. However, now I finally want to pay the price for my ignorance and recklessness. Will you help me?”

Elder Bok-cheon gritted his teeth and answered bluntly.

“I would do it even without being asked. But it’s not for you, it’s just my final tribute to my senior brother who lived foolishly his whole life.”

“In any case, we’ll be doing the same thing.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong picked up a sword with her one arm, and Elder Bok-cheon also drew his Blue Steel Sword.

“Be careful. Before the Venerable passed away, he sensed something amiss and told me to flee.”

“It wouldn’t be strange for that black-hearted bastard to be plotting some scheme.”

Baek Li-jung heard their conversation and snorted.

“Have you finished your last words? I wasn’t planning to leave any loose ends anyway, so this works out well. I’ll kill you rebel scum cleanly, including my past mistakes.”

Elder Bok-cheon lightly shook his sword.

Swoosh!

Clear sword energy extended a foot from the sword. Elder Bok-cheon pointed at Baek Li-jung with the tip of his sword energy.

“Indestructible Heavenly Sword Baek Li-jung. There’s one thing you don’t know well.”

“There’s something I don’t know? Are you stronger than your senior brother who was first-rate?”

When Baek Li-jung mocked him, Elder Bok-cheon gritted his teeth and said.

“My senior brother was better in skill, but there’s a difference between him and me.”

“What?”

Elder Bok-cheon attacked Baek Li-jung by surprise without saying anything more.

CLANG!

Elder Bok-cheon’s sword energy and Baek Li-jung’s sword energy collided, scattering fragments of light.

Elder Bok-cheon pressed Baek Li-jung with force while saying.

“I’m originally a fellow with no roots, so I have nothing binding me!”

Baek Li-jung resisted while smiling at the corner of his mouth.

“Too bad, but you know your senior brother even less than I do. That was true for him too. No, he was even worse when it came to having no roots.”

Elder Bok-cheon’s eyebrows twisted.

“You’ve become skilled at insulting the dead.”

CLANG!

Baek Li-jung repelled Elder Bok-cheon. Dan Ryeong-gyeong immediately joined in. The three people intertwined and crossed swords.