novelraw Chapter 156 : Chapter 156
Chapter 156 : Chapter 156
Chapter 156. I am not familiar with a martial artist's honor, but...
- Do you think I would have attacked the Demonic Prison without any plan?
- You bastard……!
- I'm going to make you wither away slowly, so don't rush me. Even though your body must be all fired up.
The Sword Saint truly wanted to kill Jin Cheon.
In fact, he had the ability to do so.
After all, the Sword Saint was an absolute master whose equal was hard to find in the world.
However, the situation was not like that.
“What is this situation?”
“Is the Alliance Leader lying?”
The Righteous Heavenly Alliance warriors were agitated.
Moreover, the Sword Immortal and the Wudang Sect Daoists were openly showing their hostility, and it was on the verge of a bloody conflict between members of the same Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
To attack Jin Cheon in this situation, one could not even guess how severe the damage would be.
For now, it was nearly impossible for the Sword Saint alone to face not only Jin Cheon but also the Sword Immortal.
‘I should have come with that friend.’
The Sword Saint bitterly regretted not moving together with the Great Divine Physician of Immortals.
It had been a losing move to move in different directions just in case.
If they had moved together, they might have been able to take the extreme measure of wiping out the Sword Immortal and the Wudang Sect Daoists all at once…….
Grit!
The Sword Saint unconsciously gritted his teeth.
Thinking of how much damage he had suffered because of Jin Cheon, and now letting a cornered rat escape, he ground his teeth.
However, as long as the Sword Immortal and the Wudang Sect Daoists were watching with their eyes wide open, he could not rashly start a fight.
It would be good if at least the Great Divine Physician of Immortals could join, but even that was not feasible in the current situation…….
“Sword Immortal, you may not be willing, but please travel with us.”
Jin Cheon showed a slight courtesy to the Sword Immortal and invited him to accompany them.
“No matter how high the Sword Immortal's martial arts are, if those disgusting trashes target your back, your disciple might be in danger.”
“Hmm.”
The Sword Immortal could not easily agree to Jin Cheon's proposal.
No matter how much favor he had, and no matter the current situation, it would not be an easy decision to travel with the Demonic Cult, an enemy of hundreds of years.
If they were to be backstabbed by the Demonic Cult, not only the Sword Immortal but also the swordsmen of the Wudang Sect could be in danger.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
After some deliberation, the Sword Immortal accepted Jin Cheon's proposal.
Right now, since the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Wudang Sect were in a state of alliance, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance could not easily attack them, but if they were to separate, the story would be different.
Whether it was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult or the Wudang Sect, they could be in a dangerous situation at any time due to the attacks of the Sword Saint and the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, so he concluded that cooperating was the best option for now.
Besides, his disciple Unhyeon was not in a good condition, so from the Sword Immortal's perspective, a fight would inevitably be burdensome.
“That is a wise decision. You will learn on this occasion that our Cult is better than those trashes.”
“Haha.”
The Sword Immortal laughed as if in dismay.
“I’ve lived a long life to see this day. I never thought I would hear such words from the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult.”
“The current Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is not the place you think it is, Sword Immortal.”
“But the Demonic Cult is still the Demonic Cult, is it not.”
“Well, that’s true. But at least we don’t backstab. It’s another story if we attack openly from the front.”
“Chuckle.”
The Sword Immortal laughed.
It seemed that Jin Cheon's subtle jab at the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was somewhat amusing.
“Hey, Gongryung.”
The Sword Immortal turned to the Sword Saint.
“If it were up to me, I would want to separate your head from your body right now, but given the situation, it seems that would be a bit difficult.”
“……”
“So wait a little. I will take your neck as the price for daring to touch my disciple.”
At the Sword Immortal's declaration, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance warriors were in great shock.
“Wh-what is this.”
“The Sword Immortal is challenging the Alliance Leader to a life-and-death duel……”
“What is happening with this situation?”
For the warriors of the Orthodox Faction, the Sword Immortal's statement was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
It was a very unusual event for the Sword Immortal, the greatest master of the Wudang Sect, a Perfected Person who had cultivated the Dao his entire life, to openly threaten to kill someone like that.
Especially when the opponent was none other than the Righteous Heavenly Alliance Leader, the Sword Saint.
“Well then, I will be on my way first. Don't even think about following, just in case. Though I don't know if the brothers of the Righteous Heaven will obediently follow your words.”
“……”
The Sword Saint could not retort, nor could he issue any command.
He simply stared blankly as the carriage procession started to move again.
Dududududu!
Immediately after the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Wudang Sect disappeared.
“First… we return to the Alliance.”
The Sword Saint gave the command with difficulty, as if chewing out the words.
Thinking of the storm that would follow this incident, his vision already swam.
* * *
Jin Cheon, who had shaken off the pursuit of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance with the joining of the Sword Immortal and the Wudang Sect, soon arrived at a fairly large pier.
There, several ships of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, disguised as merchant ships, were waiting, and these were, of course, assets mobilized by the Bat Squad, the intelligence agency under the Outer General Manager.
Although they would never be usable again after today, given the gravity of the matter, it would not be a loss.
Jin Cheon, along with the warriors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the prisoners of the Demonic Prison, boarded the ships.
“I’ve experienced all sorts of things in my life.”
The Blood Qilin shook his head as if he found it absurd.
“To think we’d be in the same boat as those Wudang Sect bastards.”
“Indeed.”
Yeom Bi also had a dazed expression, as if the current situation did not feel real at all.
Who would have thought that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would be in the same boat, not figuratively but literally in the same boat, with none other than the Wudang Sect?
“Anyway, he’s an amazing guy in many ways.”
The Blood Qilin pointed to Jin Cheon, who was conversing with the Sword Immortal at the bow of the ship, and made a fed-up expression.
“Certainly.”
Yeom Bi also agreed with the Blood Qilin's opinion.
It was absurd enough that the disciple of the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior, the greatest of the great heroes, had defected, but he was recognized for his genius talent in demonic arts and became the disciple of the Cult Leader, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, grew into a master representing the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and was now even shaking the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
In the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, only the Heavenly Demon had single-handedly troubled the Righteous Heavenly Alliance to this extent, so Jin Cheon's achievements were already sufficient to be recorded in the Divine Cult Historical Records.
“But is this right? For us to join hands with the Wudang Sect?”
“I'm not sure about that either, but at least we're not at a loss, are we.”
“Hmm.”
“If we had charged in without thinking, we would have suffered enormous damage.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“So it would be best to just think that the youngest is doing well.”
“Tch.”
The Blood Qilin pouted.
“Properly speaking, all the Orthodox Faction bastards should be killed, that’s the real taste.”
“Stop talking such crazy things. The Orthodox Faction bastards who hear it will be offended.”
“What do I care? Hmph!”
The Blood Qilin snorted and disappeared into the cabin.
In a situation like this, there was no one to listen to his sulking, and he would only look strange, so he decided to just leave the spot.
“Honestly.”
Yeom Bi shook his head as if he couldn't be helped.
Of course, considering the Blood Qilin's usual personality, it was admirable that he had stopped at this…….
Meanwhile, Jin Cheon discussed the future political situation while exchanging various stories with Great Monk Gongheo and the Sword.
Now that the Wudang Sect and the Righteous Heavenly Alliance had crossed a river they could not return, there was a need to talk.
“Sword Immortal, when we drop you off at a suitable place, please return to Wudang quickly.”
“I was planning to do so anyway.”
The Sword Immortal nodded his head.
Since the resentful Righteous Heavenly Alliance might attack the Wudang Sect in the Sword Immortal's absence, it was essential for the Sword Immortal and the Wudang Sect swordsmen to return quickly.
“But, are you really going to keep your promise? From your, no, from the Demonic Cult’s perspective, this is a golden opportunity to eliminate me and the disciples of my sect, isn't it?”
“Just because I have learned demonic arts, I am not familiar with a martial artist's honor, but…”
“……!”
“And……”
Jin Cheon's eyes gleamed coldly.
“If I really have to kill you, I can just kill you later. I don’t want to go so far as to betray trust.”
“Are you saying you can kill this old man now?”
“It would be a bit difficult, but it’s not like I can’t kill you.”
“It would be difficult with your skills.”
“That may be so for now, but won’t it be different in a few years.”
“Incredible.”
The Sword Immortal clicked his tongue as if he was fed up.
It was surprising that Jin Cheon had reached such a realm at his age, but he was also surprised by Jin Cheon's spirit and confidence in saying that he would compete with the Sword Immortal in a few years.
If it had been any other prodigy, he would have dismissed it as nonsense and laughed it off, but since it was a plausible story, he was subtly terrified.
“So you’re thinking of invading the Central Plains and killing this old man?”
“If there is a need to kill, then I must.”
“If there is a need to kill? What does that mean?”
“The Demonic Dao’s Rule Over the World that I envision is not simply invading the Central Plains and carrying out massacres.”
“……!”
“So you don’t have to worry that I will stain the world with blood.”
After saying so, Jin Cheon looked at the Sword Immortal and Great Monk Gongheo alternately and said.
“From now on, Shaolin and Wudang will have to form an alliance.”
“It will have to be so.”
“I also agree.”
The Sword Immortal and Great Monk Gongheo agreed with Jin Cheon's words.
‘As planned.’
A smile appeared on Jin Cheon's lips.
Now that they had become sworn enemies with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, if they did not form an alliance, they would be defeated one by one.
Of course, if that happened, only the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would benefit, but Shaolin and Wudang had no other choice.
Why?
Because they had crossed an irreversible river with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
Moreover, the cause of that was the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s commission of an act that angered both heaven and man, so they could not blame the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
* * *
The escape was not entirely smooth.
It was while they were heading west along the waterway of the Yangtze River.
“E-enemy fleet spotted ahead!”
“Enemies!”
“All hands, prepare for battle!”
Jin Cheon was having tea with Great Monk Gongheo and the Sword Immortal in his cabin when he was attacked by enemies.
“Liege, enemy warships are approaching at high speed. There are many of them.”
Danmok Cheong rushed into the cabin and reported urgently.
“The Imperial Navy and the Righteous Heavenly Alliance's high-speed boats?”
“Yes.”
“Right, I thought so.”
Jin Cheon nodded his head as if he had fully expected it.
In fact, it was an open secret that the Righteous Heavenly Alliance had strengthened its navy through coordination with the Imperial Navy after losing Jin Cheon on the Yangtze River in the past.
Not only did they teach the martial artists naval warfare, but they had also established a system to quickly mobilize the navy in case of an emergency through close ties with the imperial family.
“It seems they intend to drown us.”
Jin Cheon snorted.
“This is no time to laugh.”
The Sword Immortal frowned.
Right now, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's fleet was composed entirely of merchant ships, so it was impossible to face the Imperial Navy.
No matter how skilled the martial artists were, if they were attacked from a distance with cannons, the ships the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was currently on would be helpless.
“You and I might not be seriously injured even if the ship breaks, but as for those who were imprisoned in the prison……”
“They will be fine.”
Jin Cheon declared.
“It is not us who will sink, but them.”
“Hmm……”
“Today will be a feast day for the fish of the Yangtze River.”
The moment Jin Cheon's words fell.
Boom!
Kwaaaaaaang!
A tremendous roar and explosion echoed out.