Chapter 476

Chapter 476 – The Era Moves (1)
Hyeongmun Manor was located on the midslope of Hyeongmun Mountain in southern Hubei Province. The master of Hyeongmun Manor was Gu Jung-hak, who had once flown renown in the martial world by the alias Eight-Armed Swordsman.
Gu Jung-hak extremely hated injustice, so throughout his activities in the martial world, he slew countless evil practitioners. Because of that, in Hubei and Hunan Provinces where he mainly operated, he was known as the Death God.
The place that Gu Jung-hak established after retiring from the martial world was precisely Hyeongmun Manor. Originally when someone retired, completely washing their hands of the martial world was customary, but peculiarly, Gu Jung-hak's influence grew even greater after retiring from the martial world.
He accepted as disciples those who came admiring the alias Eight-Armed Swordsman. Especially by accepting many children of high officials, he expanded his influence. Though called a manor, it was actually no different from a martial school that took money to teach martial arts.
Gu Jung-hak dispatched some of the disciples he taught this way to nearby merchant companies. He got his disciples employment as merchant company escort warriors. The disciples who established positions in merchant companies called in other disciples again, and thus Hyeongmun Manor expanded its power in Hubei Province.
Though it couldn't compare to the traditional martial world powers Wudang Sect and Zhuge Family, it was still able to solidly build its foundations in Hubei Province in quick time. Hyeongmun Manor completely stopped its martial world activities precisely after seeing the Demon Cult bring down Wudang Sect and Zhuge Family.
Gu Jung-hak recalled all the disciples he had dispatched externally and completely forbade external activities. His words were that he would return to Hyeongmun Manor's original posture, but those who knew all understood. The fact that he had prostrated himself flat in fear of the Demon Cult.
When even Hubei Province's leaders Wudang Sect and Zhuge Family had been swept away by the Demon Cult's wild wind. Needlessly holding one's head high risked getting one's neck cut off by the Demon Cult's sharp blade.
Gu Jung-hak was tilting wine cups alone in his quarters.
Though he was past seventy years old, he maintained a robust physique and complexion rivaling young people. His virility was so good that he had over five concubines.
Thud!
Gu Jung-hak roughly set down his wine cup.
"Damn it!"
After already living only inside Hyeongmun Manor for a year, his stuffiness had reached its peak. Having relations with concubines was fine for a day or two, but living only inside Hyeongmun Manor every single day like this made him feel like a bird trapped in a cage.
"Filthy Demon Cult bastards! If you swept away Wudang Sect and Zhuge Family, why not just withdraw from Hubei Province instead of establishing a branch?"
After the Demon Cult established a branch in Hubei Province, Hyeongmun Manor's position narrowed even more. His recalling disciples to Hyeongmun Manor wasn't for the disciples' safety, but because merchant companies no longer wanted to employ Hyeongmun Manor's disciples.
Merchants were more sensitive to trends than anyone. They followed the tide, contracting with the Demon Cult and receiving warriors from them. Naturally they had to cut dealings with mid-tier sects like Hyeongmun Manor.
Gu Jung-hak found that fact utterly frustrating and shameful. But that didn't mean he dared to fight opposing the Demon Cult.
He had retired from the martial world and created Hyeongmun Manor because he could no longer handle vigorous young warriors. So he withdrew from the martial world in the form of retirement, raising disciples and accumulating wealth.
The profit earned by sending out disciples was several times greater than when he operated as Eight-Armed Swordsman in the martial world. He had lived like an emperor with the money earned that way, but the fact that the Demon Cult prevented him from even enjoying that anymore made him merely frustrated.
Then a familiar voice came from outside.
"Master, this disciple Jeong Ju-myeong. May I enter?"
"Enter."
Shortly after, the one who entered opening the door was Gu Jung-hak's second disciple, Jeong Ju-myeong. As soon as Jeong Ju-myeong entered, he bowed his head greeting his master. But Gu Jung-hak pretended not to notice and tilted his wine cup.
"Master."
"What is it? You're not coming again to say that Hyeongmun Manor should join hands with some alliance, are you?"
"My apologies."
"You?"
Instantly Gu Jung-hak's expression contorted. But Jeong Ju-myeong continued speaking regardless.
"Another envoy came from Blue Sky Alliance. We must join hands with them before it's too late."
"Quiet. How many times have I told you not to bring up that talk? There's no reason to join hands with such youngsters."
"But continuing like this, our Hyeongmun Manor will gradually wither away. Please reconsider, Master."
Jeong Ju-myeong's voice was earnest. But Gu Jung-hak's gaze looking at him was utterly cold.
"If you say such things once more, I'll expel you from Hyeongmun Manor."
"Master!"
"Huh! Still? Do you truly wish to leave Hyeongmun Manor? Then abolish all the martial arts you learned from me and leave."
Gu Jung-hak's cold voice rang throughout the room. Eventually Jeong Ju-myeong could say nothing more and could only leave outside desolately.
Before establishing Hyeongmun Manor, Gu Jung-hak had been the martial world's great hero. He had become a disciple charmed by his master's appearance of making examples against injustice, but after secluding himself in the manor, Gu Jung-hak had changed one hundred eighty degrees.
His previous righteousness disappeared, and only his philistine aspects seeking wealth and glory were highlighted. That fact left Jeong Ju-myeong deeply regretful.
"Huuu!"
When he opened the door sighing softly.
"Ugh!"
"Attack."
Suddenly screams and shouts came from outside.
"What?"
Jeong Ju-myeong and Gu Jung-hak's complexions changed simultaneously.
"The Demon Cult! Demon Cult bastards have invaded."
At that moment someone's scream-like voice was heard particularly loudly.
"The Demon Cult? Why would the Demon Cult…?"
Gu Jung-hak made an expression of incomprehension.
He had recalled all his disciples to avoid offending the Demon Cult. Therefore he couldn't logically understand the fact that the Demon Cult had invaded Hyeongmun Manor.
Even in that moment, the disciples' screams echoed throughout Hyeongmun Manor. There was no longer leisure to think.
The two rushed outside. The scenery that first entered their eyes was Demon Cult warriors surging like a tidal wave. They couldn't even see where it ended.
Hyeongmun Manor's warriors resisted doing their best, but were swept away without trace by Demon Cult warriors surging endlessly like waves.
Everything was collapsing.
Everything Gu Jung-hak had built racing his whole life.
"What is this? Why the Demon… Cult?"
He was so shocked he couldn't speak properly. His mind went white, not knowing what to say.
"Kyaaak!"
"Aaak!"
Even in that moment, Hyeongmun Manor warriors' desperate screams echoed.
"Stop!"
Without further thought, Jeong Ju-myeong drew his sword and flew toward the Demon Cult's warriors.
At that moment, four warriors sprang toward Jeong Ju-myeong from among the Demon Cult's warriors.
Their swords sliced through empty air indifferently. An exquisite combined attack as if measured with a ruler.
Shugagak!
In just one exchange Jeong Ju-myeong's arm flew off, with the second sword both his legs were cut. With the third sword his head fell from his neck.
Jeong Ju-myeong perished without even screaming.
Gu Jung-hak's pupils shook.
With his head he thought he should draw his sword and swing, but his body wouldn't obey.
Clatter!
Meanwhile the warriors who killed Jeong Ju-myeong rushed toward him.
Their murderous eyes met Gu Jung-hak's pupils.
"Aaaah!"
Only then did Gu Jung-hak draw his sword shouting a scream-like battle cry.
Clang!
But before he could swing his sword, the warrior running at the front deflected his sword. Not missing that gap, the warriors running behind thrust swords into both of Gu Jung-hak's legs.
"Krak!"
Gu Jung-hak knelt with a scream.
Puwook!
At that moment the last warrior thrust a sword into his right shoulder. Instantly the sword penetrated Gu Jung-hak's shoulder.
Gu Jung-hak could no longer scream. Because the warrior who had first deflected his sword was already aiming a sword at his throat.
Gulp!
Gu Jung-hak forcibly swallowed the scream that had surged up his throat.
'What?'
It happened in an instant.
The four moved as if sharing one thought, without a scrap of wasted motion. Truly killing machines optimized for suppressing and killing enemies.
Then.
Kuuuu!
Suddenly the atmosphere rippled.
Simultaneously the Demon Cult's warriors occupying Hyeongmun Manor like locusts split to both sides. Through the gap he walked.
"Ah!"
The moment he saw him, Gu Jung-hak involuntarily opened his mouth. The moment he saw him, his mind turned pitch black.
His body trembled of its own accord. Yellow liquid flowed between his trembling legs. He had wet himself.
Though he had long abandoned his fighting spirit as a warrior, still, Gu Jung-hak was a sect master. Such a Gu Jung-hak showed the disgrace of wetting himself paralyzed with fear. But none of Hyeongmun Manor's disciples could criticize Gu Jung-hak.
Because all their nerves were caught on him.
He seemed not human.
Like a crystallization aggregating all the world's evil and demons.
He was precisely the Demon Cult's Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol.
The demonic energy flowing from Cheok Gwan-hyeol's body covered the sky. It was the first time seeing such a scene. It seemed like seeing not a human but a demon god.
Gu Jung-hak instinctively realized his identity.
"The Demon Cult's Cult… Leader?"
Gu Jung-hak's guess was fact.
He was precisely the Demon Cult's Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol.
At the fearsome demonic energy he emitted, the atmosphere screamed and heaved, and everyone held their breath.
Though the Demon Cult's leadership was behind Cheok Gwan-hyeol, they didn't even enter his eyes. So much did Cheok Gwan-hyeol's fearsome presence catch and not release Gu Jung-hak's gaze.
When Cheok Gwan-hyeol finally approached within arm's reach, Gu Jung-hak struggled even to breathe. But there was something he had to ask.
"Why? Hyeongmun Manor never harmed the Demon Cult."
He genuinely felt wronged.
Gu Jung-hak had forbidden all external activities lest he needlessly cause the Demon Cult's misunderstanding. He had no clash whatsoever with the Demon Cult, yet he couldn't understand why he was suffering such disaster.
Cheok Gwan-hyeol's indifferent pupils turned toward his face.
"Keuuu!"
Gu Jung-hak screamed feeling both his eyes burning with pain.
Cheok Gwan-hyeol muttered looking at such a Gu Jung-hak.
"So why did you establish some manor in the path I'm taking?"
"Just… for that reason?"
"Even for lesser reasons, one can die plenty in the martial world."
"But I…"
"Tsk! A sect master has a long tongue."
"Kek!"
Instantly Gu Jung-hak's face turned earth-colored. His face died turning pitch black, then soon even his arms and legs dyed black.
Fushhh!
Then his body became powder scattering in the wind.
The human named Gu Jung-hak existed leaving not even traces, becoming powder and disappearing.
Heaven Enveloping Demonic Art.
The fearsome demonic art said to be capable of enveloping even heaven finally displayed its true power. The power of the completed Heaven Enveloping Demonic Art was truly terribly ghastly. So much so that even fellow Demon Cult warriors trembled in fear.
'The Cult Leader has already transcended human limits.'
'Who could dare face the Cult Leader? The Cult Leader is not human but a god.'
Kukuung!
The Demon Cult's warriors occupying Hyeongmun Manor all knelt on one knee worshiping Cheok Gwan-hyeol as if promised.
Among them were absolute masters like Sang Han-cheon and the Four Great Army Commanders. Even they felt awe naturally at the aura Cheok Gwan-hyeol emitted.
While coming to Hyeongmun Manor, over ten sects were trampled like ants. Most of them were sects that had stopped activities crushed by the Demon Cult's might. But Cheok Gwan-hyeol completely annihilated them merely for being in his path, making them unable to rise again.
Though Hyeongmun Manor's two hundred fifty warriors died, Cheok Gwan-hyeol's face showed no emotion.
His gaze aimed north.
North where Lesser Mount Hua was. Blue Sky Alliance was his destination.
He won't accept surrender. It's useless even if they crawl prostrate with tails rolled. He will annihilate all sects in the path to Blue Sky Alliance.
That was Cheok Gwan-hyeol's will.
Actually Cheok Gwan-hyeol proved his will by annihilating all sects encountered while coming here.
His will made not only enemies but even Demon Cult warriors fearful. Actually some warriors looked at Cheok Gwan-hyeol with concerned eyes.
'Does the Cult Leader truly intend to make all of the martial world his enemies?'
'Going like this, we'll cross the river of enmity impossible to return from.'
But crushed by Cheok Gwan-hyeol's might, they could say nothing.
Then.
"Military Strategist."
"Yes! Cult Leader."
Cheok Gwan-hyeol called Sang Han-cheon.
"What became of Un-hyang?"
"My apologies."
"Still haven't found her?"
"Please kill me."
Sang Han-cheon knelt before Cheok Gwan-hyeol.
Immediately after holding the ceremony at Mount Song, Demon Enchantress Dan Un-hyang disappeared without trace. Sang Han-cheon was doing his utmost tracking Dan Un-hyang but hadn't found her yet.
"Find her as quickly as possible. I have something to ask her personally."
"Understood."
Kung!
Sang Han-cheon struck his head on the ground. His forehead tore bleeding everywhere, but Sang Han-cheon wasn't even feeling the pain. Because the demonic energy flowing from Cheok Gwan-hyeol shook even cool-headed Sang Han-cheon's reason.
Cheok Gwan-hyeol moved his steps.
His steps aimed north. Now Shaanxi Province where Blue Sky Alliance was located wasn't so far.
Cheok Gwan-hyeol's demonic energy rippled more fiercely.
'Fist Demon!'
He was there.
Soon he could see him.
'I expect you're different from these weaklings.'
On the path he walked, death piled.
No sect existing in his path, no warrior avoided death.
The death Cheok Gwan-hyeol brought covered all the land.
Demonic incarnation bringing death.
People sometime began calling him Death God.