Chapter 474

Chapter 474 – The Wheel of Blood Moves Again (3)

Creeeak!

The Demon Cult's headquarters main gate that had been closed for long opened wide.

Yueyang people looked at the headquarters' main gate with eyes full of curiosity. They'd thought at most one or two organizations under the Demon Cult would march. But beyond their expectations, an endless procession continued. Only then did people sense an unusual atmosphere.

The Demon Cult that had even brought down Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance. Only one reason existed for them to mobilize large-scale forces again.

"The Demon Cult has started conquest war again."

Though bound to happen someday, now that it came as reality, people trembled in fear.

People's interest was one thing.

Which unfortunate sect would become the Demon Cult's sacrifice was the utmost concern.

As far as people knew, no large sect remained that could oppose the Demon Cult.

Among the Nine Great Sects, Zhongnan Sect, Hua Mountain Sect, Shaolin Temple, Wudang Sect, Qingcheng Sect, and Emei Sect had already suffered great or small harm from the Demon Cult, and remaining sects like Kunlun Sect, Diancang Sect, and Kongtong Sect were too far from Central Plains to pose great threat to the Demon Cult.

Same with the Five Great Families. Namgung Family and Zhuge Family had already suffered harm, and remaining families had long chosen gate closure.

In such circumstances, they couldn't help wondering which sect was large enough for the Demon Cult's forces to mobilize.

News that the Demon Cult moved also reached nearby sects. They trembled in fear that the Demon Cult's blade might aim at them.

Hebei Peng Family was also one such anxious family.

Hebei Peng Family that once flew renown as one of Central Plains' Five Great Families. But recently Hebei Peng Family's renown and prestige weren't what they used to be. Not just shrinking but receiving outright criticism.

Actually Hebei Peng Family had somewhat unjust aspects.

They'd supported the Martial Alliance with tremendous amounts of gold and human resources. Truly generous support that shook pillars to their roots. But as the Martial Alliance was annihilated, they too had to suffer tremendous damage.

Most disciples dispatched to the Martial Alliance died, and support funds became unrecoverable. The family's martial artist numbers clearly decreased, and funds were also insufficient.

In such circumstances they chose gate closure to protect the family, but people constantly criticized them.

Though Hebei Peng Family had somewhat unjust aspects, no one listened to their excuses. Because of that, the atmosphere inside Hebei Peng Family was truly worst.

Though saying they'd lock gates and build strength, family limits consisting only of blood relatives were clear. Precisely that they couldn't accept disciples from outside. They could only wait for blood relatives to increase after at least one generation passed.

Getting so much criticism, dissatisfaction was rampant inside Hebei Peng Family too. Hot-blooded young martial artists insisted they must go outside and fight the Demon Cult whether living or dying. But Hebei Peng Family's Head Peng Wu-yeol forcibly suppressed such internal voices.

Most important to Peng Wu-yeol was precisely Peng Family's safety. Completely passing down the precious family continued for hundreds of years to later generations was his greatest duty.

Not knowing his inner thoughts, young disciples came again today. Martial artists who were like nephews to him.

"Head, we must open the gates and fight the Demon Cult."

"That's right. Like this, we might maintain the lineage, but Hebei Peng Family's honor will fall to the ground trampled."

Though they spoke with heart-bleeding feelings, Peng Wu-yeol dismissed their suggestions with the head's authority.

"Huu!"

Peng Wu-yeol sighed raising his wine cup.

Peng Wu-yeol drinking alone in his quarters wasn't comfortable inside either.

Wouldn't he mind external criticism? But he was one responsible for Peng clan blood relatives' safety. He mustn't waver to trivial criticism.

Consoling himself so, Peng Wu-yeol sipped wine. One cup, two cups, wine bottles piled up. But no matter how much wine he drank, he didn't get drunk.

Peng Wu-yeol thought strong internal energy was cumbersome at times like this. Because it didn't get drunk easily.

"Tch!"

Finally when Peng Wu-yeol clicked his tongue setting down the wine cup.

Suddenly Peng Wu-yeol's complexion turned cold. Because he felt someone moving stealthily.

"Bold fellow. Daring to invade Peng Family's heart."

The presence's owner was approaching straight to where he was as if his liver had swollen.

Lightning seemed to pour from his eyes.

When he reached to empty air, the sword hanging on the wall was pulled in. The art of Void Grasping.

Already in a depressed mood. Peng Wu-yeol decided to cut the intruder in half at once.

When he infused power into the sword.

"Head, please calm down for a moment. I am an envoy from Blue Sky Alliance."

With a gentle voice, the intruder revealed himself before Peng Wu-yeol. He was a monk in his early thirties with clean-shaven head.

Peng Wu-yeol's eyebrows shot to the sky.

"Blue Sky Alliance?"

"That's right. This lowly monk is called Ja-cheon. Currently residing with Blue Sky Alliance."

"Ja-cheon? A Shaolin disciple?"

"Amitabha! That's right."

Monk Ja-cheon took palm salute position toward Peng Wu-yeol. Shaolin's characteristic greeting method.

Peng Wu-yeol glared at Ja-cheon with sharp eyes.

"However much a Shaolin disciple, the crime of secretly climbing our family's wall is great."

"I'll gladly receive punishment later."

Peng Wu-yeol sneered.

"Hmph! Obvious what you want. Telling me to cooperate with Blue Sky Alliance. I'll say clearly here. I refuse. Peng Family won't move under any circumstances."

Blue Sky Alliance's envoys had visited Peng Family several times before. Each time Peng Wu-yeol had refused as cleanly as cutting radishes.

A gathering of losers made by Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple's defeated soldiers, to him Blue Sky Alliance was such a place.

However much Hebei Peng Family couldn't lead the fight forward, not wanting to fight swept along by such losers and youngsters was his honest feeling.

Ja-cheon stared at Peng Wu-yeol for a moment. Peng Wu-yeol felt Ja-cheon's appearance unpleasant. Because it somehow felt challenging.

"Leave now. Thinking of old ties, I won't question the crime."

"Aren't you ashamed?"

"What?"

"Do you want to continue Peng Family's lineage to that extent?"

"Shut up!"

"Our Shaolin at least didn't do that. Didn't hide tightly with gates locked in fear of the Demon Cult."

At Ja-cheon's words, Peng Wu-yeol's face twisted viciously. Because Ja-cheon's words became daggers stabbing his heart. Though wanting to strike Ja-cheon if possible, he couldn't. Because Ja-cheon's calm gaze became a stake nailed in his chest.

Ja-cheon took something from his bosom.

"Anyway since it's the Head's decision, I won't argue further. Instead please accept this."

"What's that?"

"Our Alliance Leader said you'd know when I gave it to you."

"Mmm!"

What he handed Peng Wu-yeol was an object wrapped prettily in cloth.

"Then…"

Ja-cheon took palm salute position toward Peng Wu-yeol then withdrew.

Left alone, Peng Wu-yeol stood blankly looking at the cloth in his hand.

Clearly light. Yet strangely felt heavy.

Peng Wu-yeol carefully unwrapped the cloth. But inside the cloth no object was visible.

"A trick?"

Peng Wu-yeol frowned deeply.

He regretted for the first time letting Ja-cheon go peacefully.

That was when. Suddenly he saw a mysterious pattern inscribed on the cloth. Staring penetratingly at the pattern, cracks appeared in Peng Wu-yeol's cold face.

"This is?"

It wasn't a pattern. Letters.

Hebei Peng Family.

Written clearly so in now-faded golden thread.

Only then did he realize.

What Ja-cheon had given him wasn't some object hidden in cloth, but the cloth itself.

Only then did he recognize the cloth's identity in his hand.

"Hundred… Battles Flag."

The symbol that all of martial world had presented to Jang Il-san who'd achieved great merit during the First Orthodox-Demon War, inscribing sect names.

What Peng Wu-yeol held was precisely the corner with "Hebei Peng Family" written. The part his grandfather had personally written then embroidered with thread.

"Heo… heo!"

A hollow laugh flowed from his mouth.

The red cloth stained with countless people's blood approached with unbearable weight.

Not only Peng Wu-yeol received part of the Hundred Victories Flag. Jinju Yan Family's head too, Mount Heng Sect's leader too, far away Changbai Sect's leader too received parts of the Hundred Victories Flag.

An era's legacy that wasn't ashamed of itself, that shone before everyone.

***

Dam Ho asked.

"Are you okay?"

"Lighthearted!"

Cho Yeon-woon answered without hesitation.

When Dam Ho stared at him, Cho Yeon-woon grumbled.

"Really. You don't know how much Master's legacy weighed on me. How embarrassing carrying around something no different from rags patched again and again."

"…"

"Now I can walk comfortably. Really."

"Alright!"

"Really!"

"Alright!"

Dam Ho silently patted his friend's shoulder with his large hand.

The two were wordless for a while.

First to break the silence was Cho Yeon-woon.

"I'm glad you're here. Thanks to you I could come this far. Thank you!"

"No, all of this was done purely by your own power."

"It would have been impossible without you. Because you became a solid protective wall, I could sprint full speed until now without worry."

This time Cho Yeon-woon patted Dam Ho's shoulder.

Heavy feeling transmitted to the shoulder receiving the touch.

As if the weight of life Cho Yeon-woon had carried during the past year was fully contained in the touch.

Dam Ho silently looked at Cho Yeon-woon.

His friend had truly run this path breathlessly without wasting even an instant. He'd washed away powerlessness and defeatism rampant in Blue Sky Alliance, he'd planted new purpose. While so busy, he hadn't neglected his own training either.

Truly superhuman conduct.

Dam Ho respected such Cho Yeon-woon. Because he walked a path Dam Ho himself could never take.

Dam Ho spoke.

"You'll definitely defeat the Demon Cult."

"Really, speaking like others' business. You must fight the Demon Cult too."

"You defeat the Demon Cult."

"What?"

Cho Yeon-woon raised his head in surprise.

Dam Ho's indifferent face filled his eyes.

The moment seeing his face, Cho Yeon-woon realized.

"You're thinking of facing Heavenly Evil Cult alone?"

"…"

"Ha! That's your plan. Damn!"

Cho Yeon-woon glared at Dam Ho. If an ordinary person, they couldn't dare bear his gaze containing internal energy. But even Cho Yeon-woon's intense gaze couldn't crack Dam Ho's face.

First to sigh was Cho Yeon-woon.

"Damn! Haaa!"

"…"

"The fight with Heavenly Evil Cult won't be recorded in history. Because almost no one knows their existence."

"…"

"So your fight also won't be recorded in history. Such a lonely and solitary fight. You understand? The fight you're trying to undertake."

"I don't care."

"Damn! I care. Just please bend your stubbornness just this once? I'm begging like this."

"No time for that."

"Time?"

"Right! Time!"

"Please! Speak clearly. What time?"

"It's still just my speculation. So I can't speak."

"Why?"

"Speaking wrongly might influence your judgment."

Cho Yeon-woon's eyes trembled.

Dam Ho put his hand on his shoulder.

"You're different from me. You must be responsible for countless people's lives. You must have the most cold-headed judgment and reason above all. Having wrong information means getting affected emotionally."

"So you'll fight alone?"

"Right!"

"Crazy bastard! I've thought since before, you're definitely completely crazy."

"I know."

Dam Ho nodded.

For him, a day of unusually much talking.

Only possible because the other was Cho Yeon-woon. Cho Yeon-woon was one of the few people he thought especially about.

Cho Yeon-woon's voice rose.

"Then promise one thing."

"Speak!"

"If it's hard, tell me anytime. Even abandoning everything I'll come help."

"Alright!"

"You promised."

"Alright!"

Dam Ho answered indifferently.