novelraw Chapter 179 : The Prelude to Chaos Opens
Chapter 179 : The Prelude to Chaos Opens
Chapter 179: The Prelude to Chaos Opens
At the foothills of the Kunlun Mountains in Qinghai Province.
Natural Village.
Below the mountain slope, a small village where thatched cottages were huddled closely together was welcoming an unusually bustling morning today.
“Hmm, what is this medicinal herb good for, Daoist?”
“Motherwort is excellent for ailments caused by abdominal swelling, so try decocting it and drinking it.”
“Oh my, yes, yes. Thank you kindly. You even give me medicinal herbs for free…… How on earth should I repay you?”
“Repayment, you say. We cannot govern the heavens, but matters of people can be tended by human hands, so that is all we do.”
Daoists of the Kunlun Sect had descended from their main sect and were caring for the common folk.
The Kunlun Sect’s Daoists, clad in pristine dao robes, prepared medicine for the elderly and played ink-bamboo games with the children.
And at the center of it all stood one figure, neatly draped in white dao robes with a long white beard.
Though his eyes, tirelessly tending to the people, were filled with fatigue, a gentle smile was also upon his face.
“Taesang Sect Leader, would you not take a short rest now? Mealtime has long passed.”
“Hoo, has it already come to that?”
An elder spoke in a worried tone, trying to dissuade the former Kunlun Sect Leader, Master of the Wind, Yeonghwa Dojang.
Straightening his once-bent back and receiving the warmly pouring sunlight, he slowly moved into the shade.
That 모습 truly differed as heaven and earth compared to a few months ago.
Though he had once been judged as hot-blooded and violent by nature,
the martial artist who thought of nothing but the sword day and night was gone, replaced entirely by the 모습 of a Daoist.
All of these changes came from Yeonghwa Dojang’s mental growth during his recovery, after falling into Inner Demons from losing his disciple and being aided by the Alliance Leader.
After gaining enlightenment and sensing the impermanence of life, he stepped down from the position of Sect Leader and spent his days caring only for the common folk like this.
Other Kunlun disciples who wished to take on roles within the White Path Union could not understand his decision, but his stubborn resolve could not be bent.
“Taesang Sect Leadeeer.”
“Heh heh, yes. What is it?”
At that moment, a young Daoist of about six or seven years of age approached Yeonghwa Dojang, who had been resting.
The child Daoist handed him fallen flower petals and said,
“Hehe, the weather is so nice. I wish we could come out every day.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Yeonghwa Dojang smiled brightly and gently patted the young Daoist on the head.
It was a moment of truly peaceful afternoon calm.
……But it was right then.
Tudadadada!
‘……!’
In an instant, Yeonghwa Dojang’s gaze changed as he turned his head.
Beyond the horizon, a pitch-black sandstorm that seemed to pierce the sky was charging straight toward the village.
Yet Yeonghwa Dojang’s eyes were fixed not on the storm, but on a black streak of light flying toward them at an even faster speed.
‘That dreadful demonic qi……!!’
Kwa-rururung!
A moment later, as a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the mountains tore the heavens and earth apart—
“Enemies!! Kunlun disciples, protect the common folk!!”
“!!”
At Yeonghwa Dojang’s command, the Kunlun Daoists, who belatedly realized the enemy’s appearance, scattered at once and drew their swords.
As the storm drew closer, hundreds of frenzied martial artists wearing crimson robes and riding horses revealed themselves.
The moment the Outer Four Palaces, Gale Sands, revealed themselves.
“Kyaaah!”
“Aaagh!! B-bandits! D-desert bandits!!”
“W-what?!”
Children screamed and fled, while villagers panicked and stumbled about in terror.
They could not help but be shocked and confused.
This was a village right beside the Kunlun Sect, one corner of the Nine Sects and One Gang.
There had never been a history of demonic outsiders appearing in such a place.
[ Amitabha—. ]
Kurururung!
A Buddhist chant filled with overwhelming demonic qi resounded, and at last a being stepped forth.
A Buddhist monk, wearing enormous blood-colored prayer beads around his neck, walked out quietly.
“So you are the Sect Leader of Kunlun.”
Blood Cult Fifth Elder, Sa Bul, clasped his hands together and greeted him.
Feeling the Manifestation Realm qi emanating from the opponent, Yeonghwa Dojang could not help but fall into a brief silence.
‘How has a demonic practitioner who has reached extreme demonic heights come all the way here……!’
But he could not reveal those thoughts.
Behind him stood countless innocent commoners he had to protect.
Sreung!
Raising his sword, Yeonghwa Dojang spoke.
“I do not know who you are, but for mere bandits to trespass upon Kunlun’s territory. You truly must have abandoned your lives.”
“Heh heh, you must already sense your end, yet your desperate struggle is truly pitiful, benefactor.”
“……!”
As Sa Bul mocked him with a sneer, Yeonghwa Dojang clenched his teeth and raised the tip of his sword.
Tudadada!
At that moment, Gale Sands’ forces completely surrounded the village.
With every escape route sealed, Sa Bul intoned,
“Now then, the Blood Maitreya who serves the Demon God has descended. Today, all of you shall depart to the side of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.”
“You wretch!! Your nonsense has gone too far—!!”
Pabat!
Suaaah!
As everyone was frozen in fear, Yeonghwa Dojang stamped his foot and charged forward.
It was a terrifying speed, like lightning striking down from the heavens.
“Kuahaha! May you be reborn in Hell-Blood Existence!”
Sa Bul burst into mad laughter and swung his twin fists, already dyed blood-red.
The once-peaceful mountain foothills were being engulfed in blood and flames.
At the same time, the North Sea Ice Palace and the Southern Sea Sun Palace were also extending their demonic claws toward their own prey.
The chaos of the Outer Regions that would later be called the Three Palaces Rebellion.
The first flames of a chaotic era were igniting beneath Kunlun of Qinghai.
Gansu Province.
The main headquarters of the Lee Trading Company.
Tudadada!
Rough footsteps echoed through the once-quiet corridor.
The situation was so urgent that an uninvited guest had burst in without regard for etiquette.
‘It’s over! We’re really finished—!!’
The Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, Myeongwolja of the Demon-Suppressing Charcoal Sword, wore an expression graver than words could describe.
Bang!
Soon after, he burst open the door to the Clan Head’s Chamber and rushed inside.
“Clan Head!!”
With a flushed face and cold sweat dripping down, he shouted a single cry.
Inside the room sat Lee Jamyeong and a middle-aged martial artist together.
The situation was so urgent that Myeongwolja, regardless of the presence of an outsider, blurted out the contents of the message he had just received.
“An e-emergency report has come up from the White Path Union’s Inspection Department!! Kunlun is……, Kunlun is in danger!!”
That was right. News of Gale Sands’ assault had arrived.
“Kunlun has used a sorcery tool. And not just any—one of the top-secret spell tools used to notify the Union only when facing a crisis of survival!!”
“…….”
Yet strangely, unlike the frantic Myeongwolja, Lee Jamyeong and the middle-aged man showed no reaction at all.
“At this rate……, Kunlun might truly collapse! W-we must go rescue them as soon as possible, even if it’s only for a moment!”
“Kuhahahaha!”
“-!!”
At that moment, Golden Wave Dignitary Roh Gyeongmyeong, who had been seated beside Lee Jamyeong, suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Myeongwolja’s face instantly stiffened.
After laughing for quite some time, Roh Gyeongmyeong wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and spoke.
“Heh, how curious, truly curious. You’re repeating exactly what this Clan Head foresaw, not missing a single word.”
“……What do you mean by that? If you already knew……, then why haven’t you dispatched reinforcements yet……?”
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes?”
At that moment, Lee Jamyeong called out to Myeongwolja in an ice-cold voice.
Just as Myeongwolja felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding—
“I. No, we, will not be going to save Kunlun.”
“?!”
Lee Jamyeong spoke shocking words.
Myeongwolja’s pupils shook violently.
“C-Clan Head. W-what do you mean by that?”
“We are going to strike the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“Kunlun is an ally of our White Path Union! If we don’t go save them now, everyone there will die…….”
“No. To me, ‘we’ has from the very beginning meant only the Kongtong Sect and the Lee Trading Company. It seems you are under some misunderstanding.”
“……!”
This man was not speaking lightly.
Only then did Myeongwolja realize that Lee Jamyeong was serious.
As he stood there, unable to say anything in shock, Lee Jamyeong quietly continued.
“Now, calm yourself and calculate it carefully.”
“Calculate……?”
“Even if we stop Gale Sands, who are fighting Kunlun, there is no benefit for us whatsoever.”
“……!”
“No, rather, it would be an enormous loss. The damage we suffer while protecting them would pile up 그대로.”
“C-Clan Head!”
“But if we strike the Tang Clan right now?”
Lee Jamyeong tapped the map on the desk with his finger.
Lee Jamyeong’s eyes, staring at the map marked with the name ‘Sichuan Tang Clan,’ gleamed with greed.
“We would be able to seize all of the Divine Weapons and wealth they possess.”
‘Ah…!’
A sigh nearly escaped Myeongwolja’s lips.
What in the world was he saying right now?
To abandon comrades of the White Path who walked the same path.
That was absolutely not the mindset of the orthodox.
That was— that was the choice of a merchant.
“Heh heh, either way is fine by me. A mercenary just fights whoever the employer paying the money tells him to fight.”
The Dignitary casually joked, as if this entire situation were amusing, while downing the liquor in his cup.
Looking at Myeongwolja, who stood frozen in place like a stone statue, Lee Jamyeong continued once more.
“Right now, Tang Sewoon has forcibly waged war with Guizhou and, without a shred of fear, even picked a fight with the Heaven-Piercing Sect. Are you saying we should just let such a golden opportunity pass us by?”
“……!!”
“It would be no different from an ownerless empty mountain. If we strike the Sichuan Tang Clan’s main house right now—!”
Kwaang!
Jjaeng-geurang!
Lee Jamyeong slammed his fist down onto the table.
The force carried in his fist shattered the table into pieces.
All the liquor bottles and cups placed atop it fell to the floor and shattered, turning the place into utter chaos.
“Tsk. Such a waste of good liquor.”
“…….”
As he looked at the wrecked scene, Myeongwolja’s gaze slowly turned toward Lee Jamyeong.
Before he realized it, a trace of greed had taken root even in Myeongwolja’s eyes.
Like the tongue of a snake that had found its prey, Lee Jamyeong’s lips slowly parted.
“Now, if we even take the former Tang Clan Head hostage, wouldn’t we gain a hold over Tang Sewoon’s weakness as well?”
“……!”
“He’s known as a filial son, so we could subdue him easily without even exerting much force.”
“But…… even so, if we abandon Kunlun, our relationship with the White Path Union would…….”
“Hm.”
This was the point where the final nail had to be driven in.
Lee Jamyeong abruptly rose from his seat.
The shadow cast by his form loomed as if it might swallow Myeongwolja whole.
“If that is your stance, I will not force you.”
“……!”
“But if you go, then go alone as the Kongtong Sect. And remember well— from that day on, our relationship ends that very day.”
“C-Clan Head……!!”
“Choose.”
Lee Jamyeong’s voice echoed low.
There was no qi imbued within it.
Yet it was terrifying beyond measure— a savage voice.
“Whether you choose glittering treasures, or useless loyalty.”
“Ah… ah.”
Silence.
In the meeting room, not even the sound of wind could be heard.
Myeongwolja’s eyes trembled.
As if struck by an earthquake.