Sword God Reborn

Chapter 309 : It reminds me of the old days

"Eradicate the Demonic Path! Protect Justice!"

With a shout that shook the heavens and the earth, a group of martial artists left the camp.

The orderly martial artists, filled with morale, moved in formation.

The elite forces of the Wudang Sect had all set out.

It was a magnificent sight. The Wudang Sect's flag fluttered as they shouted "Subdue the Demonic Path" in unison and ran forward.

As soon as the Wudang Sect had finished gathering, they immediately headed for Shanxi under the command of the sect leader, Jin Cheong-jin.

The Shaolin Abbot, Hyeryang Daesa, who had been watching the scene, slightly turned his head.

"The elites of Shaolin have already headed for Shanxi, and now the Wudang Sect has also set out. Wouldn't it be better for the Supreme Commander to also depart for the battlefield now?"

Then Zhuge Yeogang shook his head with an indifferent face.

"The Bota Sect and the Cheongseong Sect have not yet arrived. At the very least, I have to decide how they will move and what route they will take, so how can I leave first? You should depart first, Daesa. Shaolin has already left, and if the abbot is still here, it will not be good for morale."

Hyeryang Daesa smiled lightly.

"Namu Amitabha, the morale of the Shaolin monks who are fighting with the will to subdue the demonic path will not fall just because I am not there."

Zhuge Yeogang smiled bitterly. Shaolin, which was close to Shanxi, had already dispatched its elite forces to Shanxi.

But Hyeryang Daesa had not moved with them and had deliberately come to the border of Chongqing and Hubei, where the Nine Sects One Faction were gathering.

This was not an act to avoid the fight. It was all a consideration for Zhuge Yeogang and the Righteous Alliance. Zhuge Yeogang felt a new sense of gratitude.

'The roof of the world, the Northern Shaolin. Indeed.'

Hyeryang Daesa was the abbot of the Shaolin Temple. His fame and the status of Shaolin in the martial world were enormous.

Although Gwak Yong and Zhuge Yeogang had gathered their strength and had tried to gather the Nine Sects One Faction and to depart for Shanxi, it was not as easy as it sounded.

Although Gwak Yong's personal fame was high, his background was nothing special. Wasn't he the sect leader of a mid-sized sect in Chongqing? Although Zhuge Yeogang was also the head of the Zhuge Clan, he was not at a level where he could move the Nine Sects One Faction as he pleased.

So even if the Nine Sects One Faction gathered, various noises were bound to flow out.

No matter how urgent the fight was, it was only natural for each sect to pursue its own interests.

Although Zhuge Yeogang would do his best to mediate the friction between the sects, the limit was clear.

But just by Hyeryang Daesa being next to Zhuge Yeogang, all this situation was resolved.

The roof of the world, the Northern Shaolin.

Since ancient times, Shaolin had been the spiritual pillar of the martial artists of the martial world, even if its power had weakened.

All the leaders who were currently ruling the martial world remembered how desperately Shaolin had fought forty years ago.

Unlike the Demonic Path, since the Orthodox Path valued justification as well as the sword, no one could ignore the status of Shaolin.

The fact that Hyeryang Daesa was next to Zhuge Yeogang was no different from a declaration that Shaolin supported the events of the Righteous Alliance.

With such support from Shaolin, Zhuge Yeogang was able to gather the Nine Sects One Faction relatively smoothly, coordinate the forces, and to set out for Shanxi.

"Thank you. Daesa."

"Thank you, it is a natural thing to do as a fellow of the martial world. However, Supreme Commander. Although my knowledge is lacking compared to the military strategist and my wisdom is also shallow, I can handle the gathering and composition of the Bota Sect and the Cheongseong Sect. So wouldn't it be better for you to leave this to me and to go to Shanxi as soon as possible?"

"...I'm fine. Daesa."

Zhuge Yeogang made a bitter expression. Because he knew the reason why Hyeryang Daesa had made such a suggestion.

"My father is not a person who will be easily defeated. Perhaps that is also some kind of brilliant move."

"...Namu Amitabha, it is hard to easily understand the statement that the Strange Heavenly Brain elder was captured as a prisoner."

"My father was captured as a prisoner while doing his job. I also have to do my job."

Hyeryang Daesa nodded his head. It had been quite a while since Gwak Yong had led the forces of the Righteous Alliance and had departed for Shanxi.

The Wudang Sect had just set out, so the leaders who were here now were Zhuge Yeogang and Hyeryang Daesa.

And there were the Soul Chasing Rope of the Righteous Alliance and the Arhat Hall Master of Shaolin, who were each in charge of guarding.

The forces that were currently gathered were not the Nine Sects One Faction, but the martial artists of relatively mid-sized sects, and they were scheduled to depart last under the command of Zhuge Yeogang.

At that moment.

"Military strategist, military strategist!"

The Soul Chasing Rope ran over with an urgent voice.

Zhuge Yeogang tilted his head.

The Soul Chasing Rope was the vice-leader of the Red Sword Society, which had been inside the Wudang Sect.

When Cheon Mubaeck had resolved the conflict between the Red Sword Society and the Wudang Sect, the Soul Chasing Rope, who had been the vice-leader, had been drawn to the banner of subduing the demonic path and had joined the Righteous Alliance at Cheon Mubaeck's recommendation. He had been serving as a guardian elder of the leadership.

At the very least, the Soul Chasing Rope that Zhuge Yeogang had seen was a serious person, so he had never seen such an urgent face.

Zhuge Yeogang, who was seized by a strange ominous feeling, hardened his expression.

"What's going on?"

"A group of demonic people are heading this way!"

"......!"

"Namu Amitabha..."

At the sudden appearance of the demonic people, Zhuge Yeogang's eyes widened.

But he soon regained his composure.

"Well, since we've been gathering and sending out orthodox path martial artists for over a fortnight, they could have noticed. There are about five hundred martial artists left in the camp now..."

"The number of enemies is over two thousand."

"......!"

When he heard the number of troops, it was difficult for even the great Zhuge Yeogang to maintain his composure.

"What on earth..."

"Looking at the way they are coming, they were also moving in the direction of Shanxi. It seems they saw our movements on the way and are coming this way."

In a short time, the Soul Chasing Rope explained what he had analyzed.

Just as the orthodox path was gathering in Shanxi, the demonic path was also the same.

The Central Plains was so vast, and the number of people participating in the war was so enormous that even though the war had already begun, the gathering had not yet ended.

Zhuge Yeogang hurriedly checked the forces remaining in the camp.

As it happened, the Wudang Sect had left, so the elite troops were lacking.

The martial artists who were here now were the elites of the mid-sized sects, but compared to the Nine Sects One Faction, they were relatively second-tier resources.

The only saving grace was Hyeryang Daesa and the Arhat Hall Master who was guarding him, and about thirty Arhat monks.

They were one against a hundred.

As his worries deepened, the Soul Chasing Rope added a statement that made him give up on those worries.

"And, this is not certain, but... I saw a flag symbolizing the Heavenly Demon fluttering among the enemies."

"......!"

The Heavenly Demon.

At that word, Zhuge Yeogang and Hyeryang Daesa's bodies hardened.

If it was really a force led by the Heavenly Demon himself...

"Then it must be the very elite. We are lacking in both numbers and the quality of our martial artists."

"We must leave quickly and join them in Shanxi. First, I will send a person quickly and tell the Cheongseong Sect and the Bota Sect not to gather here but to head to Shanxi immediately."

"Namu Amitabha..."

Zhuge Yeogang moved quickly. But at that moment. Hyeryang Daesa, who had been quietly chanting, called Zhuge Yeogang.

"Supreme Commander."

"Yes. Daesa, let's get ready to move. We have to leave before they arrive."

"Is that possible?"

"...What?"

Zhuge Yeogang's head slowly turned. In his vision, Hyeryang Daesa's calm face was reflected.

"The enemies have discovered us and are coming on a precise route."

"..."

"The fact that I am by the Supreme Commander's side was something we deliberately advertised. To give strength to the Righteous Alliance."

"That's right."

"The enemies probably also know that I, or the Supreme Commander, are here."

"......!"

"The Supreme Commander of the Righteous Alliance and the Abbot of Shaolin. They are not names that can be easily let go."

"That means..."

"They have no reason to suffer damage and to fight on their way to Shanxi. But the reason they are coming is to take this opportunity to eliminate the key figures."

Zhuge Yeogang could not bring himself to answer. In fact, it was a fact that he had instinctively realized. But he had deliberately ignored the fact, thinking that if he revealed it, the turmoil would become more severe. He had believed that if he could just get out, he could go to Shanxi safely.

But it was just a self-rationalization.

"If the Heavenly Demon is really on that side, then he will be accompanied by the very elite, and we will not be able to get out easily."

"Daesa. I know. But."

"So I will stay. I will buy time, so please go to Shanxi as soon as possible."

"......!"

"Shaolin is the roof of the orthodox martial world. The roof does not move, and it stands firmly in its place, enduring rain, snow, hail, and thunder. That is how it protects the martial world. As long as the Strange Heavenly Brain elder is not here, the Supreme Commander's brain is absolutely necessary. That is the work of protecting the orthodox martial world. I will stay, so please go."

"I can't, Daesa! How can you!"

"Supreme Commander!'"

Hyeryang Daesa shouted roughly.

At the shout of Hyeryang Daesa, who had always maintained a gentle voice, Zhuge Yeogang's body flinched.

Hyeryang Daesa's face was so hard that it was frightening, and his eyes flashed. His face, which had always had a Buddha-like gentle smile, became as intense as a Yaksha.

That's right. This was the true face of Shaolin.

Infinitely gentle, but when angry, as intense and explosive as the Eight Guardians who protect the Buddha. Now, Hyeryang Daesa was emitting a rough fighting spirit.

"Go, military strategist."

"......!"

"I and the Arhat Hall Master will hold out. No, perhaps with this opportunity, we can cut the Heavenly Demon's neck with the Arhat Formation and end the fight. So trust me and go. Shaolin has never been afraid of sacrifice and a strong enemy, either in the past or now. That is Shaolin."

Only then did Zhuge Yeogang understand.

Why the Shaolin Temple, if turned into an enemy, would come like a disaster and was one of the Five Disasters of the Central Plains.

Why it was accepted as the spiritual pillar of the orthodox martial world.

Zhuge Yeogang nodded his head with a hard face.

"I will see you in Shanxi."

"Of course. I will go with the Heavenly Demon's head."

Hyeryang Daesa smiled. It was his usual gentle smile.

* * *

"..."

Cheon Mubaeck quietly looked at the bald head stuck on the spear.

"Tsk. In the past and now, anyway, the guys who offer the Buddhist law are so stubborn."

"..."

Although Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue as if it were nothing, Zhuge Seol-ah, who was looking at Cheon Mubaeck's face from the side, could not say anything.

In his indifferent, annoyed face, a hot anger like lava was flowing.

At least in Zhuge Seol-ah's eyes, it was clearly visible.

Cheon Mubaeck was now showing an intense anger that she had never seen before.

"It reminds me of the old days. Really."

Cheon Mubaeck muttered.

Forty years ago, they were like that. They fought, knowing they would die. They didn't have to go that far. If they had just made a show of it like the other sects, I, the Azure Sky Sword God, or my disciple, Baek-gi, would have helped them somehow.

"Well, that's why it's Shaolin. Why would it be Shaolin for no reason?"

Cheon Mubaeck shook his head and looked at the spear again.

The Shaolin Abbot, Hyeryang Daesa.

The Arhat Hall Master and the thirty Arhat monks under him.

All were stuck on the spear with only their heads left.

This was a warning. It was stuck on the highest hill so that it could be clearly seen from the opposite orthodox path's camp.

Cheon Mubaeck gritted his teeth.

"Well, he's making a grand entrance. The Heavenly Demon bastard."

Cheon Mubaeck's gaze turned.

The one who was slowly revealing himself among the Guardian Demon Kings.

The Heavenly Demon.

He was there.

(End of Chapter)