150 - Blue Dragon Rain Dance Society (20) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Wi Gwang-cheon quickly threw Mok Riwon aside and surrounded himself with demonic energy to block the attack. With a resounding roar, the release of ki twisted the surroundings. Gang Qi met Gang Qi. The black Gang Qi enveloping Wi Gwang-cheon contrasted with Sa Baekwoon's aura, steeped in the color of platinum, as they clashed in a test of strength. Amidst this, Wi Gwang-cheon's expression was deeply furrowed. 'Transcendental.' And not just anyone, but the leader of the Central Plains martial world. An unfavorable opponent. Even if he tried to flee, this man would not easily let him go. But could he win if they clashed head-on? 'It's difficult.' The 15 years of his absence had been long. It would take a considerable amount of time to fully harness the demonic energy that was only now beginning to fill his body. In other words, Wi Gwang-cheon was not in his prime condition. Moreover, the absence of the Heaven-Slaying Star was the biggest problem. If only the Heaven-Slaying Star were present, the star's support would have directed the demonic energy. Without it, he found himself pushed into a defensive position. "Die!!!!!" With increased force, Sa Baekwoon swung his polearm mightily. At that moment, Wi Gwang-cheon took his stance. With a thud, the Heavenly Demon's supreme technique shook the ground. Faced with this, Sa Baekwoon released his own ki blast, regaining his balance. Wi Gwang-cheon calmly assessed the situation. 'No more significant attacks.' This condition applied equally to both sides. Wi Gwang-cheon needed Mok Riwon alive, while Sa Baekwoon had to protect the warriors of his group lying on the ground. Therefore, wide-reaching attacks were nearly impossible for both. The combat would have to take the form of a skirmish, exchanging blows while armored in Gang Qi. Hand-to-hand combat and the spear. A considerably disadvantageous situation. Once again, Gang Qi clashed. Wi Gwang-cheon dispersed the impact through his feet, attempting to shake off Sa Baekwoon and find an escape route. 'The longer this drags on, the worse it gets.' This was the heart of the Central Plains martial world. Without finding a breakthrough, the arrival of reinforcement troops would spell significant trouble. An unpleasant situation. What should he do? After a brief moment of contemplation, Wi Gwang-cheon decided on an answer. 'Bait.' He chose to use bait. Wi Gwang-cheon rounded his demonic energy on his fingertip and flicked it toward Kwon Pyowol, who lay fallen. Sa Baekwoon noticed it. After creating some distance, he stepped in front of Kwon Pyowol and swung his weapon. With a loud crash, the thrown demonic energy dissipated. However, the situation turned advantageous for Wi Gwang-cheon. "Fool." Sneering, Wi Gwang-cheon generated more demonic energy, targeting another fallen warrior. To protect his subordinates by giving up a strategic position seemed utterly foolish. Sa Baekwoon moved faster and more fiercely, defending all sides. Wi Gwang-cheon scattered his demonic energy wider, surveying the area. Escape routes, positioning Sa Baekwoon for the escape, and where Mok Riwon had fallen. It didn't take long to assess everything, and just as Wi Gwang-cheon finalized his escape route, Sa Baekwoon caught on. Sa Baekwoon's eyes widened. Wi Gwang-cheon smirked and shot a more potent blast of demonic energy towards Dang Hwa-seo. With a great roar, Sa Baekwoon shouted in anger and threw his weapon in reverse, directing it towards the incoming demonic energy. As the demonic energy dissipated in mid-air and Sa Baekwoon approached Wi Gwang-cheon unarmed, choosing to forego his weapon's advantage to stop the escape. It seemed a logical yet appreciated choice by Wi Gwang-cheon. 'We fight.' If it came down to hand-to-hand combat, gaining the upper hand was easier. He decided to finish this, whether by knocking down or killing his opponent. "Protect Lord Maeng!" Reinforcements had arrived. Wi Gwang-cheon's eyes widened. Too fast. Or, considering the time it took for Lord Maeng to reach this place, perhaps not. Either way, the situation worsened. Sa Baekwoon had gained more breathing room, and Wi Gwang-cheon's urgency became overwhelming when another twist occurred. "Screams!" Among the warriors rushing in from the venue, some turned on their allies, stabbing them. One of them reached Wi Gwang-cheon and dropped to his knees. "You must evade! The main force is approaching!" Wi Gwang-cheon's expression twisted grotesquely. For a moment, his gaze met Sa Baekwoon's. After a short hesitation, Wi Gwang-cheon chose to flee, attempting to pick up Mok Riwon again. "Where do you think you're going!" Sa Baekwoon, having retrieved his weapon, charged in a stabbing posture. With a thud, Wi Gwang-cheon was sent flying to the end of the venue. Returning was no longer an option. To rush back and seize Mok Riwon would mean engaging in a prolonged fight with Sa Baekwoon, essentially ending all strategies. "Heavenly Demon's arrival! All curses return!" A spy, Ma Un, exclaimed as he thrust his fingers into his Danjeon. Demonic energy surged through his body like it was about to erupt, and in that state, he charged towards Sa Baekwoon. Self-destruction. This was to buy time. With a tremendous roar, Ma Un exploded right before Sa Baekwoon's eyes. Wi Gwang-cheon gritted his teeth and turned around. It was a failure. * "Leader!" Just after Wi Gwang-cheon left, Gi Taewoon, the leader of the Blue Dragon Unit, rushed to Sa Baekwoon to check on his condition. Sa Baekwoon raised his hand to signal he was unharmed. "I'm fine. What about the other warriors?" "Most are safe! There are some serious injuries, but it seems the attackers didn't aim for vital points in their haste." Sa Baekwoon nodded and examined his own condition. 'A day of rest should suffice.' It had been too long since he faced an opponent utilizing Gang Qi, and adapting wasn't easy. However, as the battle was largely under Sa Baekwoon's control, he didn't suffer significant damage. Sa Baekwoon dwelled on the name of the one who fled, Kang Oh-seol... or so he was called, the spy. 'A transcendental spy...!' Such individuals were already emerging. Sa Baekwoon's expression turned grim. Though unsure of the identity, considering the spy's suicidal action, it had to be someone of importance. 'A cult leader?' No, that would be too young. And despite being touted as transcendental, that level of strength hadn't been felt. If anything, there was something off about his movements. What in the world was his identity? While Sa Baekwoon pondered, the main force arrived and swiftly handled the situation. Sa Baekwoon sighed, stood up, and gave an order. "Take care of the injured and immediately organize a pursuit team. Command will be under the Interior Minister." "Understood!" Sa Baekwoon looked towards Mok Riwon. 'Surely, they aimed to kidnap the Black Dragon.' A flurry of thoughts crossed Sa Baekwoon's mind. * Wi Gwang-cheon, along with the spy Ma Un, had fled a considerable distance away from the Infinite. Upon finally entering a forest, Wi Gwang-cheon was able to confront him. "You've arrived." A worm doing espionage for the sect. Garbage that disrupts at every turn, relying on the glory of a great family. It was Sama Gong, known in the Central Plains as the Divine Dragon. Wi Gwang-cheon glared at him sharply and grabbed his collar. "Why didn't you send troops to that location?" Sama Gong struggled to breathe as his neck was squeezed, yet fear did not reflect in his reaction; it was purely physiological. Wi Gwang-cheon didn't much care for such a reaction from Sama Gong. "Tell me. Why did you rely solely on hidden spies without sending additional troops?" Had the reinforcement troops of the league arrived just a bit later, had Sama Gong sent even a small force to hold them back while observing the situation, Wi Gwang-cheon could have defeated Sa Baekwoon and escaped from the scene. This could have led to a perfect conclusion rather than this stalemate. Again, Sama Gong. The damned Sama household. Enraged, Wi Gwang-cheon chastised him, prompting Sama Gong to speak. "I had to create confusion on the route escaping the Infinite. I needed the troops for that." "Worthless thing. What's the point if I can't retrieve the Heaven-Slaying Star?" The past 15 years were for reclaiming the Heaven-Slaying Star. The humiliation endured during that time was for its sake alone. Today was no different. The reason for deviating from the plan was for the Heaven-Slaying Star, and not trusting Sama Gong… '…Wait.' Wi Gwang-cheon replayed Sama Gong's words. They needed to lay spies beforehand for the confusion of the escape route out of the Infinite. There was another implication there. "…You knew. That I would bring out the Heaven-Slaying Star right from that spot." The original plan was to cripple the Heaven-Slaying Star and bring it out that evening. For that, at least ten supreme spies were needed. But there wasn't enough. They were all laid out outside the Infinite. Even anticipating his actions, they did not align with them. Demonic energy began to emanate from Wi Gwang-cheon's body. Sama Gong said, "Escape is more important." "…I must return. I must bring back the Heaven-Slaying Star." "That should not be done." Sama Gong argued back. Wi Gwang-cheon scoffed. "Should not?" He tightened his grip around Sama Gong's throat. "Ugh…!" "Do you dare to speak of impossibility before me? Before me?" "Urk…!" "I am master of the heavens. To become the supreme ruler of all mountains, and yet you dare…" Not knowing his place. "…to tell me what cannot be done?" Dark energy infiltrated the corporeal body of Sama Gong, who gasped for air, struggling. He seemed to have something to say, his lips twitching. Wi Gwang-cheon slightly loosened his grip, and Sama Gong collapsed to the ground, pulling out a letter. "What is it?" "A directive from the divine sect." "What is it, I asked." "Would you please check it first?" Wi Gwang-cheon frowned and took the letter. Upon unfolding and examining it, he was taken aback. "Return." Although only such a directive was given, Wi Gwang-cheon could immediately recognize whose handwriting it was from the brief message. Wi Gwang-cheon couldn't possibly mistake the owner of this handwriting: firm and tidy yet filled with a hint of ferocity. The only man within the vast Heavenly Demon Sect who could control him. The man whose absence had loomed so large over the sect. His mentor, Wi Gwang-cheon, the Lesser Heavenly Demon, and the true master of the sect. Sama Gong said, "He has returned. The Sect Leader." The letter and Sama Gong's words conveyed the same message. The Heavenly Demon had returned. After 25 years of seclusion, he had come back. The seclusion that hadn’t ended even when Dancheonhwa betrayed the sect to establish the Blood Heaven Sect, and even when that sect fell and the Heaven-Slaying Star was stolen, had finally concluded. Wi Gwang-cheon looked at Sama Gong. Sama Gong, with a slight smile, said, "The Supreme One has commanded." Wi Gwang-cheon crumpled the letter. With a trembling voice filled with unspeakable resentment, he said, "…By his command." The decree of the Heavenly Demon was as good as the entire sect's will.