Sword God Reborn

Chapter 233 : The Man Who Captures Hearts

"So, you're saying we should join hands with the Blood Demon Valley?"

Jang No asked with a puzzled face.

It was difficult to immediately accept the first order from Cheon Mubaeck, who had now effectively become his lord, so he had no choice but to ask again.

"That's right, Jang No."

There was no further explanation.

Jang No stared at Cheon Mubaeck for a moment and then organized his thoughts.

An old martial artist of Jang No's caliber could easily guess Cheon Mubaeck's intentions.

"You intend to plant us within the Demonic Path, Young Master."

"That's right."

"It will be dangerous."

"That's also true."

"...If we are discovered, the Sword Sect will be annihilated."

"That's also true."

"...I will follow your orders."

"Good."

Cheon Mubaeck grinned.

In fact, it was a dangerous task.

All the spies who were watching the Sword Sect were dead.

This fact would soon be reported to the Blood Demon Valley.

If the Sword Sect were to join hands with the Blood Demon Valley under these circumstances, they would surely be suspicious.

Moreover, with a little investigation, the fact that the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero was in Henan Province would surely be known.

Then, it was natural for suspicion to arise that the Sword Sect might have betrayed the Demonic Path and joined hands with the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

Jang No accepted it with a firm face.

Since he had already decided to follow his will, what counterargument was needed?

There is no sweet fruit without dangerous work. Fortunately, Cheon Mubaeck had fully foreseen the danger.

"The Blood Demon Valley will be suspicious of betrayal, but they won't be able to be certain."

"Hmm..."

"At least, that's what the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero is to them."

"What do you mean by 'that kind of existence'?"

"Because they consider me a being who will never forgive the Demonic Path."

"Ah..."

Well, that was true.

Looking at the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero's actions, he seemed like a person who had a deep-seated hatred for the Demonic Path.

Didn't he act as if he were looking at an irreconcilable enemy?

For the Blood Demon Valley, it was actually difficult to even suspect that the Sword Sect had betrayed them and joined hands with the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

"Moreover, the reason the Blood Demon Valley extended a hand to the Sword Sect is surely because they need its power."

"That's right."

"The power of the Blood Demon Valley has shrunk by at least half."

"Are you saying that since their power has decreased, they intend to restore their power with the Sword Sect?"

"For now, yes, but..."

Cheon Mubaeck trailed off.

If that were the case, wouldn't they have sought out the Sword Sect long ago?

Cheon Mubaeck knew well the nature of the Seven Demonic Sects and their history.

Although they cooperated for the sake of the Demonic Path's world, in reality, they were a group that engaged in fierce internal strife.

'In the end, you need power for war. The more numbers you have and the stronger you are, the stronger your voice becomes within the Demonic Path. The reason the Blood Demon Valley suddenly wants the power of the Sword Sect is because they have felt the need to suddenly increase their power.'

What could that need be? Cheon Mubaeck deduced it without difficulty.

'It must be to show off their power in front of the other sects of the Seven Demonic Sects.'

The remaining three sects, excluding the Dark Sect and the Blood Sect.

And all those sects were outside the borders.

Until now, their stages of activity had been different, but from the fact that the Blood Demon Valley wanted the Sword Sect, Cheon Mubaeck had sufficiently guessed.

'Are the demonic forces from outside the borders coming to the Central Plains...'

Therefore, the Blood Demon Valley would feel the need to increase their power, even by force.

Having deduced that far, Cheon Mubaeck intended to use this opportunity to prepare a device to project his power within the Blood Demon Valley.

That was the Sword Sect.

"Still, it will be a dangerous task. Considering the treatment the Sword Sect has received from the Demonic Path in the past."

"The situation has already become like that. Even if we had refused the Young Master and joined hands with the Blood Demon Valley, they would not have given us their complete trust."

"Even if they don't give you their trust, I will make it so that they have no choice but to treat you well."

"Yes?"

Cheon Mubaeck grinned as he looked at the puzzled Jang No.

"The demonic arts of the Sword Demon that you have inherited have many shortcomings."

At that moment, Jang No's eyes widened.

He had understood the meaning of Cheon Mubaeck's words.

To make the Blood Demon Valley, while being suspicious, have no choice but to use the Sword Sect in an important position.

It was simple.

They just had to prove that the Sword Sect was useful.

That was overwhelming strength.

They just had to prove that they were a force that could not be ignored.

The corner of Jang No's eye trembled.

"It must be because so much time has passed. Being pushed around here and there, running away, the martial lineage must have been cut off, erased, and disappeared. The things that have been passed down must also be full of distorted content."

Cheon Mubaeck's point was accurate.

'The early Sword Sect was powerful. It became one of the Seven Demonic Sects in an instant, and to the extent that all the other sects were wary of it.'

It wasn't just because of the enormous power of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Demon.

If they had relied only on the Heaven-Shattering Sword Demon, would all the sects have joined forces to drive out the Sword Sect after the Heavenly Demon had died?

The power of the Sword Sect was that great.

But not now.

Because it had become weak. It wasn't just that the numbers had decreased and the power had shrunk.

The martial lineage had been cut off and had disappeared. The powerful martial arts of the early Sword Sect had been lost, and the things that had been passed down were all distorted.

That was the point Cheon Mubaeck had pointed out.

Feeling the trembling gaze, Cheon Mubaeck smiled lightly.

"The day the Sword Sect regains its roots, it will be a natural thing for it to become the only and complete Demonic Path among the Seven Demonic Sects."

At that moment, Jang No's heart fluttered.

Considering his talent and outstanding insight, when he first joined the Sword Sect, his master had not spared any praise, saying that he was a prodigy who could discuss the realm of divinity.

But even after training for his whole life, the peak was his limit.

Jang No knew well where that limit came from.

'The martial arts...'

The martial arts, which had been lost and distorted in many ways over time, were a limit in themselves.

It was an obstacle that could not be overcome.

But Cheon Mubaeck had said.

It didn't matter how he knew the martial arts of the Sword Demon.

What was important was the reason why Jang No's heart was beating as intensely as it had in his youth.

The admiration for the strong as a demon that had been hidden until now, and the boiling blood as a martial artist.

This was not just for Jang No, but the same feeling for the rest of the demons of the Sword Sect.

Jang No prostrated himself with a trembling voice.

"Young Master, no, I will follow my lord's command."

Cheon Mubaeck smiled.

The demonic forces of the Sword Sect, including Jang No.

It was the moment their hearts also came into Cheon Mubaeck's grasp.

* * *

A few days passed as Cheon Mubaeck helped to fix the martial arts of the Sword Sect.

Zhuge Seola came to visit early in the morning.

"A message has come from the Righteous Alliance."

At Zhuge Seola's somewhat serious expression, Cheon Mubaeck's eyes narrowed.

A look of astonishment was evident beyond her white, transparent skin.

"It doesn't seem like good news."

"They were attacked."

"The Blood Demon Valley?"

"Yes."

Cheon Mubaeck's mind spun fiercely at the sudden action of the Blood Demon Valley, which had been quiet except for trying to recruit the demons of the Sword Sect from under the water.

"To be precise, the attacks were carried out on the small and medium-sized sects that had joined the Righteous Alliance."

As Zhuge Seola listed the sects, Cheon Mubaeck's brow narrowed.

"There's a common point."

"Right? They are all relatively small sects with less than a hundred members..."

"Sects that have recently joined the Righteous Alliance."

"That's right."

"The Righteous Alliance's response?"

"It was a very sudden incident, and they simultaneously half-destroyed 19 sects and escaped, so they are currently tracking them."

"This is a headache."

The intention of the Blood Demon Valley was understandable.

The reason why small and medium-sized sects were joining the Righteous Alliance in the face of the launch of the Black Society and the threat of the Blood Demon Valley was obvious.

To enter the fence of the Righteous Alliance and receive protection.

But if small sects that had just joined were attacked simultaneously, the position of the Righteous Alliance, which claimed to be the new fence of the Orthodox Path, would become difficult.

"The problem is that the Righteous Alliance's system is not yet perfectly established. There is also a strong backlash from the young warriors within who want to start a big fight right away..."

As Zhuge Seola trailed off, Cheon Mubaeck finally noticed that there was another reason for bringing up the story.

"Is it written that I should be brought back quickly?"

"Umm. It seems the conflict with the young warriors is more severe."

"Well, since they were attacked, the main opinion would be to launch a large-scale counterattack."

"That's right. But my father and the leaders of each sect are being cautious. The power of the Blood Demon Valley has not yet been fully grasped."

"Seeing as they are urging me to be brought back, it doesn't seem like a simple conflict."

As Cheon Mubaeck said that, Zhuge Seola's eyes widened. Then she sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"You're really quick-witted in things like this, Young Master Cheon."

"Things like this?"

"The affairs of the martial world. You're strangely frustrating in other areas..."

"Other areas?"

"No. Anyway, you're right, Young Master. There have been incidents where young warriors acted alone and were instead brutally killed by demons."

"The hot blood of youth."

Cheon Mubaeck sighed.

In fact, the creed of the Righteous Alliance was somewhat different from the Orthodox Path alliances that had been created so far.

Although it was common to gather the power of the Orthodox Path to pursue the peace and interests of the martial world, the Righteous Alliance, among them, had specifically declared its will to resist the Demonic Path.

Moreover, as Cheon Mubaeck began to wage a full-scale war with the Blood Demon Valley, the aftermath had spread throughout the entire martial world.

As the Blood Demon Valley no longer hid and revealed its demonic nature, sects had become embroiled.

As many sects suffered damage in the process, the young warriors of the sects naturally threw themselves into the Righteous Alliance, which had raised the banner of resisting demons.

Moreover, the Righteous-Demonic War of 40 years ago was not a distant story to them.

Their grandfathers or fathers had fought in the Righteous-Demonic War or had survived its flames, so they had grown up listening to stories about the Righteous-Demonic War since they were young.

Therefore, their hostility towards the Demonic Path was clearer than ever. And the tragedy of the Righteous-Demonic War, which they had not experienced, rather made the young martial artists who had not experienced it boil with a fighting spirit. Because they had also heard stories of numerous heroes.

A situation where the hot blood of youth and the desire for fame unique to warriors were combined.

It would not be easy for the Righteous Alliance to control.

"It seems the independent actions of the young warriors are getting bigger."

"That's right. There are even movements to form their own private organizations within the alliance to fight the Blood Demon Valley."

"Good grief."

The Righteous Alliance had chosen Cheon Mubaeck as the only person who could break through this situation.

"I thought I had a little more time, but seeing as a letter has come to the young lady, it seems more serious."

"Are you going right away?"

"I was going to go after being relieved that Neung-heo's baby didn't resemble Neung-heo, but that has become difficult."

"She will resemble Sister Seolyeong."

"Then that would be a relief."

The serious atmosphere seemed to be diluted by Cheon Mubaeck's light joke.

Zhuge Seola's expression changed strangely.

"Then Mister Neung-heo can't go, right?"

"If I take him in this situation, I'll get all sorts of curses. Especially from Seolyeong."

"Then we can leave quickly. The atmosphere seems unusual."

For some reason, a look of excitement appeared on Zhuge Seola's face.

Well, it couldn't be helped.

'If Mister Neung-heo can't go with us, then it's just the two of us, right?'

The distance from Henan to Chongqing was quite far.

Even if they rode horses in a hurry, there was no way to avoid sleeping in the open.

Normally, she would have shaken her head, thinking it was a terrible thing, but Zhuge Seola glanced at Cheon Mubaeck.

The two of them.

Without Neung-heo. Just the two of them.

At the new fact, Zhuge Seola's heart pounded.

"Then when would be a good time to leave?"

"Well, right now...!"

"Right now?"

"Uh, umm. We should finish some simple preparations and leave as soon as possible, right?"

Zhuge Seola said, trying her best to maintain a calm expression.

But she couldn't stop her cheekbones from twitching.

(End of Chapter)