Chapter 1052

I must have been crazy too. (7)

“Uuuaaaaa!”

The enforcers had thought and pondered countless times. In the Central Plains, in terms of numbers, they faced an opponent that couldn’t be compared. It was about how to deal with them and how to defeat them. But at this moment, they encountered a situation they had never thought about in all their long years. A small group of Central Plains’ warriors was breaking through their defenses. This was an unimaginable situation for those who devoted everything to the sacred Heavenly Demon.

So, they were momentarily at a loss. How to deal with a small number of strong opponents was uncharted territory for them.

Ppaaaaaat!

Chung Myung’s clear sword, swung like a lightning, swiftly crushed demonic cultists who rushed towards it. It was unbelievably brutal and cruel, a sword strike unimaginable to originate from a Taoist. Before that strike, everything was merely equal.

If one were to witness a fellow comrades body being torn apart before their eyes, even the most resolute hearts would quiver. However, demonic cultists had proved with their lives why they were called the Demonic Cult.

“Kahaaaak!”

A cultist, coming from the rear, having crushed the remains of his fallen comrade, rushed toward Chung Myung, his hands, stained jet-black with demonic energy, ready to strike at Chung Myung’s face.

Kagak!

The hand of demonic cultist was blocked by something flying through the air, and a sharp metallic sound echoed. Jang Ilso, using the rings tightly fitted on his fingers, blocked the cultist’s claws, then swung his arm consecutively.

Thud!

Cultist’s head shattered into pieces, blood and brain matter splattering in all directions.

«You’re quite audacious.»

Jang Ilso commented briefly, his eyes turning dark. Soon, his gaze focused on the tall pavilion beyond demonic forces still surrounding them.

At that moment, Hye Yeon and Namgung Dowi rushed past him. Jang Ilso chuckled.

«Never thought the day would come when I’d receive the protection of Shaolin and Namgung. This is quite a rare occurrence.»

«If you have time to joke, then do the fighting!»

«…Hearing those words is quite a rarity itself.»

Jang Ilso shook his head as if there was no stopping him.

‘This is insane.’

Now they had pierced about halfway through demonic forces blocking their way. However, that was essentially placing them in the middle of the enemy’s formation. It might seem like things were going well now, but… The moment they stop…

‘They will swarm us from all sides.’

They would just be walking into the enemy’s encirclement by their own volition.

In that moment, everything would come to an end. The advantage of numbers could sometimes be insignificant, but at other times, an insurmountable and absolute difference.

If their steps halted, and the cultists around locked eyes with them, all that would remain for them was despair.

‘They must be aware of it, even so…’

The ones casually committing this reckless act and those relentlessly pursuing them without any doubt were here. That fact sent shivers down Jang Ilso’s spine.

If what they were aiming for wasn’t the Bishop’s life but Jang Ilso’s, if the one waiting on the other side wasn’t the bishop but Jang Ilso, how would he be feeling, watching them now?

«It truly is rare.»

Jang Ilso raised both arms. Bracelets shot up into the air simultaneously, then began to spin fiercely just above his head.

«No way in this Central Plains.»

Jang Ilso extended both arms fully.

«There are people crazier than me!»

Kwaaaaa!

The spinning bracelets were suddenly shot forward. In an instant, over a dozen golden meteor-like objects flew towards demonic cultists.

«Eik!»

The cultists tried to deflect the bracelets using their demonic energy. No, they tried to bring them down. But at that very moment…

Whiiiiiiir!

The bracelets, which had been flying in a straight line, wriggled as if they were alive. Evading the oncoming hands of demonic cultists, they traced bizarre curves and pierced into their bodies.

Thud!

Tough, unyielding skin momentarily resisted, but the rapidly spinning bracelets literally ground into their flesh, digging deeper and deeper.

«Aaaaaaagh!»

The bracelet that had pierced their chests tore through their insides and emerged through their backs. Even after shattering the bodies of the pierced cultists, the fiercely rotating bracelets still carried considerable force.

«Aaaaaaaa!»

«Aaaaaaaa!»

Desperate screams echoed from all around. The scene looked like ten golden serpents were rampaging.

One demonic cultist tried to grasp the bracelet flying toward his chest, but the golden bracelet drew an upward curve, piercing directly through the cultist’s face. It was reminiscent of a large star shooting up into the night sky.

«I guess I have to follow the rhythm too. If they don’t stop, what can you do, right?»

The momentum of those who had been charging fiercely crumbled in an instant. Even the disciples of Hwasan, who had been running in tandem, were momentarily speechless, staring in disbelief at the unfolding spectacle.

In that moment, there was only one person who didn’t miss their duty.

Crack!

Chung Myung’s sword effortlessly severed the throats of the cultists, who were shivering with agony.

‘Hoo?’

Just as Jang Ilso was about to express his amazement, two shadows rushed from either side of Chung Myung.

Crack!

Crack!

Baek Cheon and Yu Iseol, who clearly resembled Chung Myung, unleashed deadly sword strikes. Their swords were strikingly simple yet lethal, merciless deadly swords [살검(殺劍)] that allowed no room for any wasteful movement.

The heads of demonic cultists were consecutively sent into the air.

And the two swords began to change, as if it was a prearranged agreement. Once they secured space with their swift strikes, the swords transformed into the highly crafted plum blossom swords that sprayed countless sword energies in all directions.

Thousands of petals blossomed simultaneously from the tips of the two swords. Red plum blossoms fiercely swept through demonic cultists who hadn’t yet assumed their positions, burrowing into their bodies. There was no way to block the sword energies that filled every visible space.

And then…

«Amitabha Buddha! Ta-a-a-a-a-a-ack!»

Hye Yeon, unexpectedly unleashing a fierce battle cry, unbefitting a buddhist, raised his inner strength to the fullest. The inner strength cultivated meticulously in Shaolin and refined by Hwasan started to show in his fist.

Thud!

Powerful advance!

Geeeeeeeeeeeng!

Following a deafening noise that made it seem as though an entire building was collapsing, Hye Yeon’s inner strength surged from his fist, purging all evil and purifying all that was defiled, wielding the sacred authority of the Buddha’s Dharma [불법(佛法)].

Hye Yeon’s Arahat Divine Fist [아라한신권(阿羅漢神拳)] spread out with fervor, sweeping away demonic cultists.

In the space created like by Hye Yeon, Hwasan’s disciples, including Yoon Jong and Jo Geol, swiftly advanced.

«Clear the way!»

«Open a path!»

Their sword strikes poured forth incessantly, effortlessly piercing through the dense formation of demonic cultists. They were like sharp harpoons.

They didn’t aim for specific targets — their only task was to clear a single straight path leading to the pavilion.

«These filthy creatures!»

The law enforcers charged furiously toward Chung Myung. It was clear who needed to be taken out first.

Thunk!

But as if they had an agreement, Ogeom and Hye Yeon scattered in all directions, blocking the charging enforces.

Kaaaang!

Enforcers’ hands clashed with the disciples’ swords, creating a tremendous metallic sound in the air.

“Get out of the way, you filthy unbelievers!”

“No way!”

Jo Geol laughed mockingly at the enforcers.

“We’re desperate on our side too!”

Jo Geol’s eyes briefly grazed Chung Myung’s back.

“I won’t stop running until I’m dead, you stupid Magyo bastard!”

Hwasan’s swordsmen fiercely repelled the impatient enforcers.

“Ugh!”

“These scum!”

The enforcers were undoubtedly strong, but they couldn’t unleash their full power when their hearts were somewhere else, and their strengths was divided among different opponents.

While Hwasan’s disciples briefly engaged with enforcers , new faces emerged to fill the gaps.

“It might be a bit challenging alone.”

“No problem. We’re back to the front now — let’s go easy on them!”

With Red Dogs covering their rear, Un Geom and Im Sobyeong charged forward.

“Huff! Huff!”

As Namgung Dowi witnessed this scene, sparks lit up in his eyes. He, who had been panting as if he might collapse from exhaustion at any moment, clenched his teeth.

«Lead the way!»

A massive lion’s roar erupted.

«It’s my turn!»

Namgung Dowi, who had already begun to falter, forcefully raised his inner strength and rushed forward, brandishing his sword.

Gooooooo!

From the tip of his sword, a young white sword energy endlessly expanded. Namgung Dowi, who drew out a larger sword energy than most seasoned warriors, swung his sword with bloodshot eyes.

«Oooooo!»

Manifestation of the Emperor [제왕현신(帝王現身) — jewanghyeonsin].

The essence of Namgung’s prowess was wholly contained in the Emperor’s Sword Form [제왕검형(帝王劍形) — jewang-geomhyeong], and it was released in an instant.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

The white sword energy that fell in the midst of the enemy caused a massive explosion.

«Go, Dojang!»

«Go, Chung Myung!»

Heard all these cries, Chung Myung’s foot slammed into the ground. He didn’t turn his head, there was no need to verify the well-being of those left behind. That would be a disrespect to those who had opened the way.

The only thing he had to do was one thing. To run along that path and finally reach his destination!

As Un Geom and Im Sobyeong desperately pushed back charging cultists, Chung Myung and Jang Ilso slammed the ground simultaneously.

The two, their red and black streaks of light becoming one, tore through the thinning encirclement at a terrifying speed.

And then…

Kwaaaang!

Chung Myung, with his free hand, grabbed the head of the last cultist attempting to block them and slammed it into the ground, causing him to spring up from the recoil. The Dark Plum Sword, now held aloft, shone brightly.

Tah-a-a-a-ack!

And then the expelled red sword energy instantly crashed beneath the lowest level of the pavilion.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

With a deafening boom that made one’s ears ring, the already partially shattered structure began to crumble rapidly.

Rumble! Rumble!

The enforcers’ eyes were overwhelmed by despair and fear.

Dense dust emerged from the collapsing building, a testament that Chung Myung’s sword had finally reached its destination.

Kruuuuuuuunch! Kruuunch!

In moments, the pavilion had completely collapsed, and the thick dust was slowly carried away by the wind.

And… amidst the rubble of the pavilion, which had been so tragically reduced that one couldn’t even imagine its original form, a man slowly revealed himself.

A profound silence enveloped the world.

«Bis… Bishop!»

Only Jeogil’s scream, like a wail, echoed.

The man who heard the scream turned his head very slowly. Even through the lingering dust that had yet to settle, the chill in his eyes was clearly felt.

Facing those eyes, Chung Myung revealed a devilish smirk.

«Should I say it’s nice to meet you?»

The Dark Plum Sword emitted a sinister sword cry [검명(劍鳴) — or sword resonance] that had no equal.