Sword God Reborn

Chapter 306 : That guy is the Heavenly Demon

A heavy silence had settled in the hall.

Moyong Su quietly looked around. There should have been five people in this place.

But now two seats were empty. Moyong Su's heart felt heavy. The empty seats looked unusually large.

The Heavenly Poison Emissary, Tang Cheon-mu broke the silence with a heavy voice.

"Fortunately, the martial artists of the Peng Clan are being taken care of by Elder Peng Seok, so it doesn't seem like they will leave the battle."

Moyong Su tilted his head with a look of incomprehension.

"If it's Elder Peng Seok, isn't he the vice-abbot of the law hall? Why is the great elder who is serving as the general manager not doing it..."

Moyong Su, who had been wondering, soon let out a short sigh of 'ah' and trailed off.

Since the head of the family had died, the next in line had to command the martial artists.

Naturally, the great elder who was in charge of the general manager had to take over. But the fact that a middle-ranking elder, the vice-abbot of the law hall, not even the one after the general manager, was taking care of the martial artists...

"Unfortunately, the great elder also died in battle with the head of the family."

"..."

Not only that. The Peng Clan, who were enraged by the death of the head of the family, had gone half-mad and had run wild. In a temporary vacuum of command where there was no leader to control the situation, it was natural that the damage would be great if they fought, swept away by a desire for revenge. Half of the elders who had followed them to the battlefield had died.

Although he was worried about the Peng Clan's departure due to the shocking result, he fortunately put his worries aside at the following explanation.

"Everyone's anger is piercing the sky. They are stepping forward, saying they will definitely get their revenge, and I heard that the young head of the family who was staying at the clan is gathering all the martial artists and is coming."

"...He's staked his life."

Whether they won or lost the war, it was clear that the Hebei Peng Clan would not be able to maintain its current status.

Moyong Su could not even dare to guess how many more would die in the future.

The enemy's offensive was much stronger than he had thought.

'Well, maybe I wouldn't have been in this place either.'

Even Cheonpaeildo Peng Cheol had been defeated, so would he have been safe?

If that strange person had not helped him, would he have been able to sit here now?

At that moment, Namgung Jo, who had been quietly silent, suddenly said.

"How is the Zhuge Clan?"

"...It is not easy to control the chaos."

Because he was one generation higher than him, Tang Cheon-mu carefully used honorifics.

Even at the answer, Namgung Jo's face was still indifferent.

Although Peng Cheol's death was a big deal, an even more important thing had happened.

"You're saying that the Strange Heavenly Brain elder was captured as a prisoner by the Demonic Path."

At Namgung Jo's dry voice, Tang Cheon-mu and Moyong Su's bodies hardened.

Although they were the heads of the same Five Great Clans, the Namgung Clan had the power to subdue the rest of the clans alone.

Moreover, the head of the family, Namgung Jo, was a generation higher than them, and his skill was also hard to approach.

What on earth was that expressionless face thinking? Although he did not express it, the experienced Moyong Su had a rough idea of his inner thoughts.

'It's not a horse. Although his hatred for the Demonic Path is sincere, that gentleman wanted to imprint himself on the world.'

Everyone in the martial world knew. The fact that Namgung Jo had a certain inferiority complex towards the Sword Venerable Yoo Baek-gi.

Wasn't he a person who was always compared to the Azure Sky Sword God and the Sword Venerable, who had established a history of not retreating and not being defeated against the Demonic Path?

'That's why he pushed himself and gathered our clans.'

If Namgung Jo were to achieve the same feat as the Sword Venerable in this Righteous-Demonic War.

Namgung Jo clearly had a desire to be recognized by the people of the world. Of course, that did not mean that his hatred for the Demonic Path was just a disguise. Namgung Jo, who clearly remembered how much the Namgung Clan had suffered at the hands of the Demonic Path, was clearly burning with a desire for revenge.

But far from getting his revenge, Peng Cheol had died and Zhuge Seon had been kidnapped.

How would the people of the world see it?

Above all, the fact that Zhuge Seon had been captured as a prisoner was fatal.

'He broke through the wall of countless orthodox path martial artists, neutralized the Strange Heavenly Brain elder in an instant, and then broke through the defensive wall that was blocking his way and escaped.'

And that defensive wall also included Namgung Jo.

The one who had gathered this personnel was Namgung Jo. Peng Cheol's death, Zhuge Seon's disappearance. He could not escape from the responsibility, and the arrow had to turn to Namgung Jo.

'What will he do? How will he fight the Demonic Path?'

Although the battle had ended with similar damage to each other, the fact that it was the orthodox path's defeat was being spread implicitly, although everyone was keeping quiet about it.

How would Namgung Jo fight, leading the martial artists whose morale had fallen?

At that moment, Namgung Jo said something unexpected.

"It was surprising."

"......?"

"My wrist is still numb."

"......What do you mean?"

In this critical situation, not only could he not come up with a solution, but what was this incomprehensible statement?

"Head of the family, what on earth are you talking about?"

Although Tang Cheon-mu said with a slightly raised tone, he closed his mouth as soon as Namgung Jo's eyes turned to him.

He felt his body shrink at the blazing light in his eyes.

As Tang Cheon-mu avoided his gaze, Namgung Jo's words spread slowly.

"That fleeing guy blocked my sword. I poured out my ultimate technique and tried to cut him down in one stroke. I poured out all my strength."

Moyong Su and Tang Cheon-mu looked at each other and were silent.

Even though the great Namgung Jo had poured out all his strength, the guy had succeeded in fleeing?

And with Zhuge Seon as a prisoner?

Moyong Su and Tang Cheon-mu's faces hardened.

"He blocked it. As if he had been waiting, without a single waver."

"......Good heavens."

Namgung Jo's gaze turned downwards. The hand that was repeatedly clenching and unclenching was trembling slightly.

"I couldn't even think of chasing him further. Because it was so shocking. Because the shock that was felt throughout my body was so great. I didn't think I could win even if I chased him at this level. So I hesitated."

At the untimely confession, only silence lingered in the hall.

"Because I've only felt this feeling twice in my life."

"Twice... you say?"

"Once when I was receiving teachings from the Azure Sky Sword God."

"..."

"Once when I was dueling with that Yoo Baek-gi guy with all my strength. That's it."

Moyong Su and Tang Cheon-mu were at a loss for words. Then wasn't the guy who had kidnapped Zhuge Seon and had escaped at least at Yoo Baek-gi's level?

If such a guy was in the Demonic Path...

"Yes. There would be just one."

Namgung Jo lowered his voice. Suddenly, a frightening presence poured out from around him.

"That guy, is the Heavenly Demon."

"..."

A suffocating silence fell.

* * *

Unaware that he was being mistaken for the Heavenly Demon in the orthodox path's camp, Cheon Mubaeck had to first solve the situation at hand.

'Although it's different from the original plan, well, you have to break through life with improvisation.'

The original plan was to quietly go back and forth in the demonic path's camp and to help the orthodox path.

The same went for helping Moyong Su, and for saving the Jongnam and Huashan martial artists.

The original purpose was to observe the inside of the demonic path and to prepare a Qimen formation through Zhuge Seol-ah.

But Cheon Mubaeck had changed his plan.

'If this goes on, it will be a difficult task for me to help the orthodox path, and for Young Lady Zhuge to complete the Qimen formation.'

It would be more certain if he stuck to her and prepared the formation together.

But if he was only focused on the formation, what would happen to the fight?

'I can't easily grasp the situation.'

If it was Cheon Mubaeck, he could get a sense of who would win or lose just by looking at the situation.

But not now.

The qualitative level of the individuals who had gathered was much higher on the side of the Five Great Clans. But the orthodox path had a serious lack of understanding and information about the demonic path's camp, and the guardian demon kings were stronger than the heads of the Five Great Clans, not weaker.

'It's a close match. Rather, the demonic path has a slight advantage.'

Cheon Mubaeck had to constantly go back and forth on the battlefield and observe the situation.

If the orthodox path was pushing, there was nothing to do, but if they were being pushed back, he had to intervene at the right time.

'A person who can help me make a formation while I'm away.'

It was Zhuge Seon.

Along with Yakseon, Zhuge Seon was the best formation master in the current martial world.

Since Zhuge Seol-ah had also learned from Zhuge Seon, it was no wonder. That was the reason why Cheon Mubaeck had seen Zhuge Seon on the battlefield and had brought him. Wasn't it killing two birds with one stone, ending the fight?

'So I have to make Zhuge Seon my responsibility.'

If he had kidnapped him secretly, it would be different.

He had caught him in a very noisy way. Now, when the fight was over and the demonic path's forces returned, the guardian demon kings would be looking for him and Zhuge Seon.

If the guardian demon kings were to say that they would manage Zhuge Seon here, it would be a truly difficult situation.

"So the Grand Lord has to help me."

"..."

Zhuge Seon looked at Cheon Mubaeck with a vague expression.

How much time had passed? Zhuge Seon let out a pitiful sigh.

"To kidnap the Strange Heavenly Brain of the world and to ask for help..."

"Well, if you don't want to, I can't help it."

"What?"

At Cheon Mubaeck's appearance of giving up so easily, Zhuge Seon's eyes widened.

Cheon Mubaeck shrugged his shoulders.

"If I let go, the Grand Lord will go into the hands of the guardian demon kings. Do you know how they treat prisoners?"

"...You!"

"This is all me trying very hard to save you, Grand Lord. So please follow my will."

"Hoho."

Zhuge Seon let out a hollow laugh as if he were dumbfounded. But he also knew that Cheon Mubaeck's words were right.

"Grandfather..."

Moreover, his precious granddaughter, Zhuge Seol-ah, was also here. If things went wrong, it wouldn't just be a problem for him, but also for Zhuge Seol-ah.

Suddenly, Zhuge Seon hated Cheon Mubaeck's pale face.

'To infiltrate the demonic path's camp with my granddaughter? And to even take me as a prisoner?'

He was suddenly angry. But what could he do? He was already in the same boat as Cheon Mubaeck.

"Then I'll take it that you'll help me. I'll tell them in front of them that I'm the one who captured the Grand Lord as a prisoner, so I'll manage him."

"Do you think that will work? You have no position here."

"Well, I have a plan. But I might have to show a scene where I treat the Grand Lord roughly. I'll show a scene where I treat him thoroughly as a prisoner. Is that okay?"

"Hoo, isn't that something I can't help?"

Since it had come to this, Zhuge Seon cooperated fully with Cheon Mubaeck.

He knew well that Cheon Mubaeck's actions were ultimately aimed at annihilating the demonic path.

"But, what is the Qimen formation that you are having Seol-ah make now?"

"Ah, the Grand Lord will also know. Because it's quite famous."

"What is it?"

"The Dream Soul Demon Luo Light Formation."

"..."

Whether it was a name he had heard somewhere, he frowned for a moment and thought for a long time. Then suddenly, at the memory that flashed in his mind, his body trembled as if electricity had flowed through it.

Zhuge Seon's face turned pale, not just white. The Qimen formation in the ancient book that came to his mind.

The Dream Soul Demon Luo Light Formation.

The moment he recalled the effect of the formation, Zhuge Seon realized what Cheon Mubaeck was thinking.

And he was shocked.

His eyes widened as if they would tear.

"You, you, no way...?"

Cheon Mubaeck said calmly.

"The Grand Lord is probably right in what he's thinking."

Zhuge Seon was at a loss for words with his mouth open.

The only thought that came to his mind was.

"A madman..."

That was all.