Chapter 473

Jeolnak-seong and Gang Pae-cheon were at odds with each other.

If a Supreme Martial Artist had to die and offer their heart, at the very least, the hearts of our Jeolnak-seong and Gang Pae-cheon warriors should be off the table!

The two Sapa factions found common ground in their thoughts.

A peak martial artist might be persuaded with words to some extent.

But a Supreme Martial Artist?

Inside the sect, they were key players.

Younger generations had to be nurtured, while older ones were seasoned veterans with a wealth of experience.

In the pitch-black of night, torches flickered wildly, casting shadows that danced and erupted in a cacophony of dark shapes.

For a moment, the eyes of both Sapa leaders nervously gauged their numbers.

The Sado Ten Great Stars were five thousand strong.

In terms of scale, while Gang Pae-cheon was one of the three leading powers among the five thousand, they were still much more powerful than Jeolnak-seong.

However, when it came to immediate combat strength, the head of Jeolnak-seong had shown up in person for an overwhelming victory.

The Gang Pae-cheon warriors tentatively shifted, trying to cover their escape.

With a deficit like this, charging in would only lead to their defeat versus the entirety of a sect’s might.

Thus, they were preparing to flee.

Jun Gi-chung’s eyes were flickering wildly.

Should we strike now or hold back?

But then again, what guarantee was there that they could catch a Supreme Martial Artist fleeing in the dark?

What if they missed their chance?

They couldn’t withstand the revenge of Gang Pae-cheon!

But, if they fought now, they’d likely win.

Future troubles? After acquiring the Heart Consumption Technique, would they even fear Gang Pae-cheon?

Yet, Jun Gi-chung held firm.

The strange mechanical system at the entrance demanded the heart of a Supreme Martial Artist.

Were there really no traps inside?

And how vast was the space within?

If they charged in, wouldn’t they end up paving the way for those following later if they triggered a trap?

Moreover, with flames rising so brilliantly, all those lurking outside would definitely be drawn out.

Meanwhile, the Gang Pae-cheon warriors had taken position, ready to flee.

The unspoken signal was clear: attack, and we’re out of here.

No one in Gang Pae-cheon commanded this strategy, but it was purely a collective instinct at play.

This felt like a strong rapport, a true synchronicity among the Sapa.

“Listen here, Commander. This is not the time for us to fight. Didn’t you come up here also seeing the flames? The rabble are surely coming in droves; we can’t let them get their greedy hands on Demonic Arts!”

“And what then? Is the heart of a Supreme Martial Artist something you expect the Saint to prepare for us?”

The commander of the search party, Yuk Cheon-seung, responded in place of the Young Master.

To which, Jun Gi-chung shook his head.

“Even among the rabble, there’s bound to be at least one Supreme Martial Artist. If our Sado pillars combine forces, can’t we secure just that one?”

It wasn’t incorrect, but still…

Yuk Cheon-seung had suffered a little too much rambling while denouncing the Blood Sect, albeit he had great skills in his writing.

But writing genuinely well indicates that one has read a lot of literature.

Yuk Cheon-seung’s mind spun round and round.

If they fought right now, they’d undoubtedly defeat Jeolnak-seong.

But Jeolnak-seong couldn’t afford to engage in battle either.

They would also suffer significant losses, and after that, how could they deal with the ‘rabble’ that the lord had just mentioned?

But?

Would those enemies be willing to share the Demonic Arts with them?

No way.

Even if it were to be taken to Gang Pae-cheon, would they really pass on even a fraction of that unparalleled Divine Skill?

After all, the heir of Gang Pae-cheon didn’t even manage to protect their father.

No matter how just and fair the leader was, what would a father’s heart feel?

Even more so, Kang Chu-on, the head of Gang Pae-cheon, was hardly a paragon of fairness to begin with.

Offering the Heart Consumption Technique would only grant them the fate of being discarded later on.

Better to…

Yuk Cheon-seung forcibly swallowed his sinister thoughts.

“Alright then. I can’t just let the scum of the world take this great slaughter and not find a way to stop them. So, do we have a proper plan?”

“Isn’t there bound to be a Supreme Martial Artist among the ronin and those miscellaneous sect lackeys? Let’s capture one, open the door, and let the rest shove through, so they can blunder into the traps with their bodies!”

“Oh, the Saint truly does have an ingenious plan!”

So the two Sapa factions, a little softened, but still keeping a hand on their blades, faced each other.

It was only natural.

They spoke of joining forces.

But how would they divide the Demonic Arts?

It wasn’t something to be shared kindly in a mutually supportive way.

In the end, they’d ultimately be quarreling over the secret manuals.

Amidst this, a very unfamiliar sound uttered in an uneven tone, like a whispering breeze flowing from every direction.

It lacked the divine finesse of the Six Harmonies of Heaven but was distinctly clear from one direction.

It signified considerable Inner Strength.

All eyes turned toward a jutting stone protrusion down the slope.

At last, emerging from the light was a monk, too skinny to be normal, giving off a bizarre aura.

With a body that appeared like a mummy with skin stretched over bones, not a muscle to spare.

However, the eyes peering through those hollow sockets burned with such intensity that it instilled fear in everyone.

For now, they had agreed to combine forces.

The highest-ranking among them was the leader of Jeolnak-seong, and so Jun Gi-chung stepped forward to take command.

“What brings you here, revered one?”

The monk glared, then spoke in a voice coarse like sandpaper.

“Cheon-cheon…”

“Pardon? What do you mean by take it slow?”

“Language of the Central Plain is difficult. This one is A-mook-hap-rab.”

“A-mook-hap-rab!” “Strange Monk!” “A-mook-hap-rab!”

The Strange Monk A-mook-hap-rab.

Usually, the term ‘strange’ is used affectionately for oddities.

Not that they’re bizarre because of any defect in character.

But rather, they’re unpredictable in behavior, sometimes acting like a bandit, and other times as a heroic knight, being neither here nor there, thus deemed strange.

In essence, it means impossible to pin down.

“Why are you here concerning affairs of the Central Plain—”

A-mook-hap-rab raised a hand, abruptly interrupting Jun Gi-chung.

And once again, he spoke.

“Slowly. People of Central Plain believe all speak Central Plain tongue. ###, a mother does not exist.”

Muddled in the middle were some incomprehensible phrases.

But everyone understood that whatever it was, it was bound to be an insult.

The content was indeed offensive, yet the awkward pronunciation lessened the sting.

“I came to seek the Heart Consumption Technique. Please make way. My martial arts are truly ferocious.”

Jun Gi-chung pondered momentarily.

Should he eliminate this elder now?

A glance at Yuk Cheon-seung showed him nodding in agreement.

Jun Gi-chung raised three fingers.

Then two, then one.

Just as the last finger was about to fold…

Thud. A faint sound of something settling down.

Yet what had settled was a mass that could easily weigh over two hundred pounds.

For such a small frame, it had a staggering amount of blubber.

The face was round with flesh gathered toward the center, making the body appear like an inflated pig’s bladder.

Anyone who caught sight would remember that visage.

Thus, it was easy to recognize this porky fellow.

The folks of the Central Plain referred to him as Pobidon, the hefty swine.

“Looks like there are already many guests here.”

“Pobidon!” “Pobidon!” “He’s the Great Swine of the World!”

“Indeed, I am Pobidon, the one responsible for the Great Swine among the world’s ronin. Haha, Gang Pae-cheon and Jeolnak-seong? With Lama Monks present? No, you mighty heroes, don’t you need to stake your claim to all this fine martial arts for yourself? Shouldn’t you rather grant such demonic arts to the homeless drifters among the martial world?”

“Do you dare to disturb the event of the Sado Ten Great Stars?”

However, Pobidon nonchalantly turned a deaf ear.

With arms so chubby they struggled to lift their own weight, merely digging into his ears made him look like an exhausting task.

“Honestly, if I could get the Heart Consumption Technique, I could climb high up in the Sado ranks and swagger around, so what’s the big deal about just causing a little disruption?”

“What? Are you ready to take responsibility for those words?”

“Aren’t you being a bit too harsh on those without nests? Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Sure. Your words are quite sound.”

With that, a new figure emerged from the mountain path.

She wore a steel claw-like Qi Gate Weapon on each hand, a defining characteristic of the martial world.

When one thought of a woman wielding a Qi Gate Weapon, the first name that came to mind was Jo Ah-yo, Lee Hye-hye.

And naturally, she was famous for her three loyal followers, three sturdy men flanking her, resembling guardians shadowing her on both sides.

“Is that you, Jo Ah-yo? Has this young lady also come seeking that dreadful martial art?”

“Of course! Who wouldn’t want it? It’s been my lifelong dream to master a proper Divine Skill!”

“You think some paltry Paul Steel might be enough of a Divine Skill?”

“Oh come on, why would you say that? You know full well. Brother Pobidon, are you satisfied with your Six Locus Golden Strength?”

Martial artists using Qi Gate Weapons or bizarre techniques were particularly thirsty for such Divine Skills.

The term ‘Qi Gate Weapon’ sounds great, but it’s honestly just one unique trait—it’s something that is hard to deal with.

If they had genuinely good weapons, sharp swords for instance, we would have all shared in it.

The same goes for bizarre martial techniques.

The Six Locus Golden Strength is a unique technique that bulks up the body for extraordinary defense.

But if it were truly efficient, wouldn’t all martial world folks be too wrapped up in surplus fat to even wipe their own behinds?

If one could thrive while using such flawed weapons and techniques, wouldn’t they have become acknowledged masters from the outset?

Thus, it was evident why such techniques remained a source of craving.

Jun Gi-chung gritted his teeth internally.

Why here?! This swine just had to show up!

The term “Great Swine of the World” refers to the top five masters among the ronin.

Of course, among the ronin, how many weren’t known figures?

There could certainly be those greater still.

Yet none compared to the renowned Great Swine of the World.

Each one was qualified to represent the ronin.

If Pobidon rallied the ronin to his cause, the plan to catch one Supreme Martial Artist and use them to open a door just became a nightmare.

And Pobidon’s intentions were just that.

As he continued to size up each individual coming forward, positions were forming with factions of Sado, ronin, and the elder monk all in a chaotic free-for-all.

And as numbers swelled, a chill of murderous intent slowly thickened in the air.

One Supreme Martial Artist had to die.

Only then could the door be opened.

When Cheong’s group reached Seomun, they arrived right in the midst of this tension.

Having delayed their departure while getting ready to disguise, they managed to arrive at a good pace.

The combined effect of Cheon Yu-hak’s map and Qing’s superhuman night vision yielded remarkable results.

In front of the Stone Gate stood three factions.

One was that of the Sado.

But where were the rest?

Just then, Cheon Yu-hak stepped forward, claiming a position on one side.

On the other side were the miscellaneous madmen and unknown guests.

“Master? Is this the right place? Looks like a bunch of shady characters are lounging about. Do you recognize anyone here?”

“The position looks like a cauldron foot, so we should stick to the weakest side in this situation.”

The ‘cauldron foot’ shape referred to the somewhat less famous Three-Way Division of the World by Zhuge Liang.

Of course, the original idea of a divine strategy came from a much older figure, Guicheng, but if he felt wronged, he ought to have made a name for himself greater than Zhuge Liang. What a pity.

A big cauldron stands on three legs.

With three legs, no matter the ups and downs, the cauldron will remain steadier.

With four legs, it risks wobbling on uneven ground, and with two legs, it wouldn’t stand at all.

So, their plan was to align themselves with the weakest side and observe the ongoing situation.

Not that other rebel factions were any better off, of course.

Joining with five men provided a peculiar reaction where the enemy was wary yet relaxed at the same time.

As they watched Cheong’s movements, they noted that they needed the heart of a Supreme Martial Artist to open the door?

Or else it would collapse?

“Hah. They said it was the domain of Heart Consumption, but from the entrance alone, it’s as wicked as you can get.”

– A bit of a stretch, but I’ll need to shift sides.

Cheon Yu-hak sent a signal.

Cheong responded.

– Why!!!

At that, Cheon Yu-hak’s expression darkened considerably.

It wasn’t just Cheon Yu-hak; those martial artists around him also scowled angrily at Cheong.

That was precisely why Cheong didn’t use signals more often.

He couldn’t control his volume whatsoever.

– You idiot, just come over and whisper! We need to open the door first if we want to destroy that Heart Consumption Technique anyway. It looks like this side’s the safest option for us; let’s head to the ronin’s side.

Yet Cheong remained obstinate, only fiddling with the fake flesh he had pasted to his own cheek.

– Why?

Cheong whispered into his master’s ear.

“If the entrance collapses, won’t nobody be able to get in?”

– Won’t that include us?

“Why can we go in then?”

– That’s simply because we need to eradicate that cursed Demonic Art from this world, argh!

With that, Cheong flashed a devilish grin.

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