As the Heavenly Demon Sect and my movements spread throughout the world, the gossip among the residents of Sacheon City about me never ceased.
I carefully observed their reactions and made an excuse to leave Sacheon City, claiming that I was going to greet the sects of Sacheon.
It looked like I was fleeing from gossip, and the excuse was a necessary action to regain the waning public sentiment and support, so I wouldn’t be suspected.
So, I casually wandered around Sacheon, killing time while waiting for the situation to ripen.
“Hmm.”
The Bicheongmacha was constantly stopping and going, but I could always feel someone’s presence nearby. It’s only natural for the forces of the world to keep an eye on me and the Heavenly Demon Sect.
But even if the watchers caught a hint of something, it didn’t matter since the rice was already cooked and ready to serve.
While lost in thought and swinging my legs in the chair, a small hand tugged at my pants.
Zip!
As soon as the cart halted, Seo Gong burst out, covered in dirt, proudly showing off the Spirit Herb he had just gathered.
“Um.”
I ruffled his hair without saying anything, and Seo Gong puffed up his nose while boasting the Spirit Herb to the rest of the group. Tang So-yeol scratched Seo Gong’s head with a bored expression, and the rest of the group couldn’t help but look at Seo Gong with expressions of “so cute, I could die.”
In truth, Seo Gong had no reason to trample over hills and fields to gather Spirit Herbs.
The herbs, forcibly stuffed into Seo Gong’s cheeks by Wi Seoryeon, were all stored in the Bicheongmacha.
Considering Seo Gong’s usual energy and the amount of herbs, it would last him at least several decades.
Still, his reasons for gathering Spirit Herbs seemed rooted in a desire for recognition. Recently, after being cuddled by anyone and everyone, Seo Gong voiced intense dissatisfaction, likely concluding that he was not being respected because he hadn’t done anything noteworthy.
After leaving Sacheon, his enthusiastic gathering of Spirit Herbs and showing off the spoils might just be an effort to prove his hunting skills.
Flap, flap!
A messenger pigeon swooped down and circled around the Black Cat. The Black Cat reached out, accepting the message and showing a “you’re here” expression.
“There have been continuous suspicious movements from Mosan. It seems they aren’t even trying to hide, so it’s probably…”
“Right.”
It seemed the Blood Sect had seen through my deception. They must have realized that apart from an all-out war, they had no means to overcome the current crisis.
So now, there was no need to put on a show anymore.
“Let’s go.”
Tang Do-yeon, who was grooming Seo Gong’s fur alongside Hyeok Gi-rin, flashed a fierce smile.
“Now we can really get running.”
Simultaneously, the rest of us, including Seo Gong, let out a collective sigh. While it was a time for Tang Do-yeon to run wild, for us… well, what can I say?
Thud, thud, thud!!!
“Hahaha!”
With Tang Do-yeon’s laughter, the Bicheongmacha charged forward toward the west.
*
Heading from Sacheon to Mosan, we were easily able to join the martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Sect who were moving toward Mosan from Shengsu.
Flap, flap!
The Black Cat was continuously visited by messenger pigeons, gathering and relaying the information provided by the Wolbok-dang.
“It seems that Mosan is definitely the base of the Blood Sect. There are distinct reports of sightings of entities and movement patterns near Mosan.”
“No more need to hide, then.”
“It wouldn’t be strange to consider the Mosan Sect and the Blood Sect as one body. Moreover, we’ve confirmed that allied factions of the Blood Sect are heading toward Mosan. In particular, the martial artists of the black forest faction from Honam are making considerable movements, and given the scale of what’s been spotted, Hyeong-gyeong, the leader, Gu Mo-seol, is likely also in Mosan.”
An elite martial artist from Hyeong-gyeong.
A bigger fish than expected has appeared.
Most of the allies of the Blood Sect are simply those riding the big wave or seeking shallow gains, so the expectation of having solid allied forces was too much to hope for.
While it may be a branch, the Moyong Clan, being one of the Five Great Clans, had infiltrated the Shengsu Faction of the Blood Sect, and they shared the same stronghold with the long-standing Righteous Faction of the Mosan Sect… Given these movements, it’s only natural that there would be more allied forces.
“We’ve received reports of sightings of elite martial artists moving in small numbers, but it becomes nearly impossible to track their movements in such cases… we should keep those strong ones in mind as well.”
“Indeed.”
As Wi Ji-cheon calmly nodded, the Black Cat took a step back with a sheepish expression.
Given that Wi Seoryeon alone had taken down hundreds of outcast thugs from the Gunlun Sect, what difference would a few elite martial artists make in front of Wi Ji-cheon?
“A blood ancestor who doesn’t know that the number of martial artists is meaningless in front of the Black Dragon Qi isn’t worth worrying about. So the key remains with the entities.”
Wi Ji-cheon asked me.
“The Blood Sect has never deployed a large number of entities until now. Isn’t that so?”
“Yes. If they had been able to deploy two or three entities to one spot, the Blood Sect would have already become the ruler of the Central Plains.”
However, this time would be different.
“I believe they must have some means to overcome that limitation. No matter how powerful the entities are, they cannot contend with all seven Array Formation Teams alone.”
“Indeed. Otherwise, an all-out war would be impossible.”
“Yes, irrespective of what means they possess, if they did not have the strength to simultaneously block all seven Array Formation Teams, they wouldn’t have chosen an all-out war.”
“Hmmm. It seems we can only rely on speculation regarding this portion.”
“Taking into account the current strength of the Blood Sect, we must assume they possess at least seven entities, if not more than eight.”
The current dynamics of the Blood Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect resembled a complicated game of rock-paper-scissors.
The Heavenly Demon, with the Black Dragon Qi capable of overpowering numerous martial artists at once. Yet that Heavenly Demon cannot exert power against the entities.
As Wi Seoryeon puts it, the Black Dragon Qi has a mind of its own, and while there’s no issue with defense or evasion, when it comes to attack, controlling Qi becomes several times more difficult than usual, creating a rock-paper-scissors scenario.
Thus, confronting entities has to rely on the Array Formation’s strength. The passing of the Array Formation’s techniques, crafted to take down entities since the times when they ruled the world, makes the Array Formation Teams the natural predators of entities.
However, the Array Formation is vulnerable to external disturbances, so, in essence, the weakness of Array Formation Teams is the martial artists.
With a clear strength disparity, the side that gains the upper hand in synergy has a high probability of being the victor in an all-out war.
And the side that needs to neutralize that aspect is precisely the Blood Sect.
Unlike our formation, which encompasses Heavenly Demon, Array Formation Teams, and martial artists—a complete set of rock-paper-scissors—the Blood Sect is missing the cards of entities and martial artists.
“It’s likely the Blood Sect will try to deploy troublesome entities to tie down the Heavenly Demon’s feet.”
Given the Mosan Sect’s strong abilities in the arts and the battlefield being in the Mosan Sect’s turf, it is challenging to imagine the Array Formation or the sorcery working on Wi Ji-cheon.
Thus, they would attach entities.
This is merely my conjecture, but I suspect they would try to engage one of those unidentified flying entities to restrain Wi Ji-cheon.
Wi Seoryeon petted Seo Gong and opened her mouth.
“Hmm. If that’s the case, the showdown with the Blood Sect will become quite a messy affair. The Blood Sect will pull out all stops to tear us apart.”
“Such a possibility exists, but I doubt it is high.”
“…Hmm?”
Wi Seoryeon’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Why is that? From the Blood Sect’s perspective, this is a battle they must win at all costs.”
“Yes, indeed.”
The Blood Sect must win this battle.
However, they cannot simply win; it’s essential to win decisively.
“Furthermore, the Blood Sect will have no choice but to confront head-on.”
That’s how I set the stage.
“Why don’t you go declare war on the Blood Sect?”
Normally, the one who set the stage was the side that has the capability to consume the opponent.
*
Having just remembered a recent event, Sparrow No. 3, a member of the information-focused sect, Yajo-dang, gulped dryly.
Since Ho Cheon-an was revealed as a saint of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the sect had set foot in the Central Plains, the hottest topic among the martial artists of the Central Plains became the movements of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Consequently, intelligence organizations were desperate to obtain even a single scrap of information on the Heavenly Demon Sect and, naturally, placed watchers capable of monitoring and gathering information on the sect’s movements.
Sparrow No. 3 was one of the watchers the Yajo-dang had stationed at the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Sparrow No. 3 recalled the incident from earlier and swallowed hard.
Before Mosan, the martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Sect halted, and then out stepped the Heavenly Demon and Ho Cheon-an, suddenly letting out a mighty roar.
[To the Blood Sect’s thugs and the Blood Ancestor, I declare. I have already seeped through your hiding in Mosan. As I announce a declaration of war, do not cower and hide cowardly; show yourselves!]
‘So the Heavenly Demon Sect, which seemed to be expanding its influence in Shengsu, is heading west in such haste because this is the base of the Blood Sect!’
The Heavenly Demon Sect planning to raid the Blood Sect’s stronghold!
That would turn the world upside down.
In the current situation, Sparrow No. 3’s heart was pounding violently, but as if it had been waiting for this moment, he was left even more astonished by the three figures darting out from Mosan.
It would not be surprising for the leader of the Blood Sect, Blood Ancestor, to appear, but the puzzling part was the two people appearing alongside Blood Ancestor.
‘Gu Mo-seol…!’
What was the Hyeong-gyeong elite doing here, when they should be in Honam?
While Gu Mo-seol’s appearance was shocking enough, Sparrow No. 3 could hardly contain his astonishment upon recognizing the second person accompanying Blood Ancestor.
That was none other than Jo Jin-hwi, the sect leader of the Mosan Sect.
The demeanor of Gu Mo-seol, together with Blood Ancestor Seogwankwi, appeared so natural, signaling one thing.
‘The Mosan Sect and the Blood Sect are in cahoots!’
The long-standing Righteous Faction, the Mosan Sect, turned traitor and joined forces with the Martial Forest Alliance! That was indeed explosive news that would shake the martial world.
Even so, that revelation was nothing compared to the impending clash.
As Sparrow No. 3, along with the watchers and spies trailing the Heavenly Demon Sect and Bicheongmacha, all held their breath, Ho Cheon-an, Wi Ji-cheon, Seogwankwi, Gu Mo-seol, and Jo Jin-hwi faced each other.
Five figures stood at the entrance of Mosan, separated by a distance of three paces.
The first to speak was Ho Cheon-an.
“Are you ready for an all-out war?”
Blood Ancestor twitched an eyebrow at Ho Cheon-an’s attitude, as though the answer was preordained.
The stakes of this battle differed hugely between the Blood Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect.
The Heavenly Demon Sect stood to gain nothing and lose nothing in this fight.
Though they had hastily raided their main stronghold while pretending to expand influence, some might think that would lessen the weight of the Heavenly Demon’s words.
However, what about the reputation the martial artists hold regarding the Heavenly Demon Sect? Their infamy had spread widely, and they had to shed that notoriety somehow.
If there was a likelihood of incurring significant damage or if the battle seemed unfavorable, it wouldn’t be a problem to postpone combat.
But what about the Blood Sect’s position?
Blood Ancestor looked around.
He could sense the presence of numerous others lurking in the distance, trying to glean information.
Most of them were likely spies, trying to ascertain the movements of the Heavenly Demon Sect or Ho Cheon-an. With so many forces of the world focused on Mosan, it couldn’t be concealed that the Blood Sect’s base lay here, nor that the Mosan Sect and the Blood Sect had long been allies.
The fact that the Blood Sect’s stronghold and the Mosan Sect’s treachery would be laid bare to the world.
Those who had been sizing up the situation between the two factions would soon be forced to make a choice.
With the reveal of their main base and the identification of important allies, the Blood Sect was cornered, while the Heavenly Demon Sect, successfully masking their intentions, began to dominate the situation.
It was a foregone conclusion whose side people would take.
Should the treachery of the Mosan Sect become public knowledge, the Martial Forest Alliance would not sit idly.
Taking the Heavenly Demon Sect’s emergence as an opportunity, they would strengthen their own standing by subduing the entities within their domain. Nonetheless, the Mosan Sect’s betrayal would be a matter they could not overlook, regardless of how they sought to consolidate their powers.
To ensure their very existence, the Martial Forest Alliance would need to punish the Mosan Sect, making an attack against the Blood Sect irrefutably inevitable.
At worst, sensing the emergence of a traitor from within, they might join hands with the long-time rival, the Heavenly Demon Sect, to pressure the Blood Sect.
The Blood Sect was trapped in a multitude of predicaments.
Yet the only glimmer of hope for the Blood Sect to turn this situation around rested on a singular element.
That was to showcase their might to the world.
If they could demonstrate that they possessed strength to not yield even in the face of the Heavenly Demon Sect, those neutral forces observing from the sidelines would return to join, creating a foundation upon which they could orchestrate a comeback.
“Fine.”
Defensive wars relying on traps and formations wouldn’t allow the Blood Sect to properly demonstrate their strength.
Therefore, Blood Ancestor had no choice but to accept Ho Cheon-an’s suggestion for an all-out war.
“Having tasted the waters, you’ve played your hand well.”
At Blood Ancestor’s provocation, Ho Cheon-an simply smiled.
“It’s thanks to your good example, Blood Ancestor. As the saying goes, ‘Even the wisest can err.’ You must have spent a long time planning to conquer the world, yet when the game gets too big, there’s bound to be something slipping through the cracks.”
Blood Ancestor’s expression twisted.
Ho Cheon-an noted the fury on Blood Ancestor’s face, understanding that the anger was fabricated to lull the opponent into complacency.
‘This won’t be easy.’
If he hadn’t expected this situation and prepared for it, he wouldn’t resort to a ruse to distract or deceive his opponent.
One had to assume he had something prepared.
As that sank in, Ho Cheon-an turned his gaze sideways. He already recognized that it was impossible to shake Blood Ancestor’s resolve with mere words, opting instead to try to sway someone else.
“When did the Mosan Sect start walking down the same path as the Blood Sect?”
“Long ago.”
Contrary to Ho Cheon-an’s anticipation that Jo Jin-hwi would clam up and invoke the right to silence, Jo Jin-hwi easily engaged in the dialogue.
“How did you end up aligning with the Blood Sect? It’s not too late even now.”
“Haha, it was long overdue to ally with the Blood Sect.”
Realizing that he could not sway Jo Jin-hwi’s heart with mere dialogue, Ho Cheon-an sighed.
“To understand the fundamental essence of Qi that supports the world, whether through sorcery or martial arts, is remarkably similar, I would argue. However, the offshoot of power produced in the process differs vastly. Martial arts strengthens the body and unleashes immediate force, but sorcery operates in an unseen realm, creating vague power. Why would anyone choose sorcery?”
“That’s why you allied with the Blood Sect?”
“I judged that if things continued as they have, not only the Mosan Sect but also the world would lose their grasp on sorcery. There are countless adept martial artists familiar with various martial arts, but the vast majority of sorcery is unknown to the masses except for a few Array Formation techniques. But if the Blood Sect’s entities come to dominate the world, the legacy of sorcery will surely endure.”
“Wasn’t the Blood Sect labeled as a faction of undesirable elements for a reason? They’ve wrought havoc upon the martial world.”
“I will accept the condemnation of having strayed from the right path. Yet… even herbivores will eat the small ones when they’re starving. When facing death, struggling to survive is simply instinct. Would you prefer to die with dignity or to live desperately?”
“Is it essential to preserve all forms of sorcery? Isn’t survival an option that allows for adaptation?”
“Hahaha! That might be true. Yet how could a Mosan Sect without the arts even qualify as the Mosan Sect? Is merely surviving enough, then, why did you come all the way to this Mosan to align with the Heavenly Demon Sect?”
Realizing that he could not sway Jo Jin-hwi, Ho Cheon-an sighed once more.
“Is that what you believe too, great hero?”
Gu Mo-seol didn’t even spare Ho Cheon-an a glance in reply.
His attention was fixated solely on Wi Ji-cheon.
“How odd,”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t understand why an absolute martial artist like yourself would follow the whims of such a loose-tongued fellow.”
In response to Gu Mo-seol’s taunting, Wi Ji-cheon calmly replied.
“While his words may be slick, the brilliance doesn’t solely lie in verbosity.”
It was neither a compliment nor an insult; Ho Cheon-an’s expression turned nuanced, while Gu Mo-seol simply chuckled at the remark.
“Do as you wish. After all, leisure is the privilege of the strong.”
“…Hmph.”
Wi Ji-cheon’s eyebrows twitched, but after shutting his mouth, he turned away as if considering the conversation done.
Blood Ancestor decided it was time to speak.
“The showdown will be tomorrow. I’ll be waiting at the entrance of Mosan.”
Ho Cheon-an silently watched the three figures rise and leave, contemplating.
The clash.
The clash was looming close.
