Episode 347

The main gate of Wudang.

Seon Jin, kneeling and slumped there, could not suppress his lamentation.

All the events that transpired after he ascended to the position of leader, and the Murim Alliance he failed to protect due to his incompetence.

Shaolin’s sealed gate.

A series of incidents that shook the righteous Murim to its core, and he even thought that all of these were due to his lack of virtue.

He bowed his head and held his breath.

His body was exhausted, and he had even lost his dantian flow.

It was no exaggeration to say that it was astonishing he was still alive, as his mind and body were in disarray. Yet, the reason he was still clinging to life was due to the power of those standing behind him.

‘I would rather have died…’

He could not suppress his lamentation.

If becoming someone’s weakness and being manipulated in this manner were to happen, it would be right to cut off one’s tongue and commit suicide.

However, despite his will, his body did not comply with his mind.

The moment the thought of suicide occurred, his body froze like a statue and did not move.

It seemed that this was also due to the mysterious power they possessed.

“Amitabha…”

A weak sound escaped from his lips.

When he slightly lifted his head, many from the Wudang were visible.

They all looked at Seon Jin with solemn expressions.

Those who approached to save him all lay dead.

It had been three days already.

Without making any demands, they made Seon Jin kneel in front of the gate.

It was as if they were enjoying the entire situation, wanting the Justice Faction of Murim to deeply feel their own weakness.

Several corpses were scattered before Seon Jin’s eyes.

The stench of decay wafted nauseously in the hot air.

The people of Wudang swallowed hard, glaring at those behind Seon Jin.

Only two of them.

Yet, the power they possessed was not to be underestimated.

Having two individuals with strength comparable to the Five Emperors meant that even Wudang was in no position to act.

“Kneel and follow us. Do so, and we shall spare your lives.”

At that moment, a man muttered.

Their purpose was singular.

Complete domination.

Rather than mere brainwashing, they instilled fear to create an inescapable pit. This was the fastest and easiest way to subdue and command many.

The people of Wudang flinched and trembled.

“Don’t give up! Should the spirit of the Justice Faction be broken by such people?”

Although Seon Jin’s words carried no force, they awakened the spirits of many. The waning fighting spirit surged again, and the faltering minds regained their composure, becoming more wary of the opponent.

“It seems they won’t listen at this rate.”

A man chuckled as he approached Seon Jin.

They had been made to endure for days without a drop of water. With life hanging by a thread, it seemed pointless to keep them alive any longer for amusement.

Srrrng-!

He drew his sword slowly.

At the sharp metallic sound, Seon Jin closed his eyes tightly.

He knew it shouldn’t end this way, but his body wouldn’t listen, leaving him frustrated. However, this death must not shake their resolve.

Rather, it was necessary to further amplify their determination.

“Listen well. Even if the Murim Alliance collapses and this old monk dies, our spirit and vigor will not disappear. Keep your resentment inside and grit your teeth. Surely… Surely there will be a chance to reclaim everything.”

“Abbot!”

Seon Jin uttered a line and composed his mind.

He wanted to embrace all of this and die, but it did not go as he wished. However, that didn’t mean the spirit of the righteous path was dead, nor did he want to kneel and cling to them.

In the moment of accepting all deaths and calming his breath.

The man who was about to strike with his sword frowned and turned his head.

“They are ones who don’t know how to give up.”

At the end of his gaze, a group was approaching in a rush. At first, even the people of the Wudang, who didn’t know what it was, soon recognized the faces of those revealing themselves and exclaimed with delight.

“Pe…Peng Family Lord!”

“That is… Heavenly Way Alliance… And, aren’t they people from the Murim Alliance!”

“Even the Namgung family…”

It was as if all the power of Murim’s Justice Faction was gathered in one place.

Just looking at them was enough to naturally invigorate one’s spirit.

“You scoundrels! Daring to overthrow the Murim Alliance and commit such atrocities! It seems you aren’t even afraid of the heavens!”

The one who shouted, riding on the momentum, was Peng Do-woong.

At most, there were only two of them.

However, the thought that it would not be easy was already in his mind. If he didn’t at least make bold statements like this, he feared showing a defeated appearance in front of them.

Peng Do-woong’s words once again awakened the hearts of the Justice Faction’s warriors.

Each and every person tightened their grip on the weapon in their grasp.

No matter how strong the enemy may be, the Justice Faction of the Murim world does not crumble so easily.

“Just playing around.”

At that moment, a man who had been quietly observing the situation casually spoke and snapped his fingers.

With a sharp snap, shadows began to emerge as if springing from the ground. Dozens clad in blood-red garments.

Yet each exuded an extraordinary aura.

“But such entertainment isn’t so bad. Struggle all you want. I won’t kill you. But I’ll torment and trample you to the point where you’d be wishing for death.”

“It has begun.”

Dan Woo-hyun observed them from a distance.

Those who had captured Seon Jin were undoubtedly close to the Five Emperors in terms of skill.

However, in Dan Woo-hyun’s assessment, they fell short compared to Sa Dohak or Namgung Chun.

‘So, it means there are more of them.’

Sighing, Dan Woo-hyun took a deep breath.

He recalled the events that took place on Mount Changbai in his mind.

He thought he had killed quite a number of them. Among them were masters capable of overturning Central Plains. They weren’t just anyone; they were subordinates of that Blood Demon. It was obvious that they had been elevated to a considerably high level through both drugs and techniques.

But.

‘I have never sensed the presence of such beings…’

Dan Woo-hyun watched the unfolding battle with a skewed gaze. Countless figures clad in blood-red attire were fiercely swinging their swords, pressuring their opponents.

Though they were few in number, they seemed adept at fighting against the many, deftly parrying and countering the attacks of the numerous Justice Faction warriors without a hint of intimidation.

‘No, do they lack consciousness? Jiangshi?’

He had already heard from Zhuge Yeon about the existence of jiangshi. With all of the Blood Demon’s subordinates dead, it shouldn’t have been possible to perform the summoning technique.

This implies the presence of a sorcerer capable of creating jiangshi using corpses and not through summoning techniques.

“Interesting.”

Even while knowing that killing the Blood Demon was not the end, it seemed that the ties did not sever and continued to hold Dan Woo-hyun back even after the Blood Demon’s death.

Though he disliked it, a certain excitement welled up inside him.

Who else would bare their fangs at him, or lay traps and draw their swords, eager to kill?

Just imagining it was entertaining.

Rumble-!

At that moment, a slight aura emanated from Dan Woo-hyun. The ground vibrated and, for a brief moment, even the wind stopped.

This was a power only those who transcended humanity could possess.

“This is…”

Dan Woo-hyun realized his mistake and turned his gaze.

If he let his aura leak out this much, anyone would notice that Dan Woo-hyun was here.

“Ugh!”

Kwon Mujin’s blade was swung fiercely. It was at such a speed that it was almost invisible, yet his opponents blocked it effortlessly, maintaining distance and perfectly dismantling his attacks.

‘The situation is complicated… Zhuge Yeon was right.’

Kwon Mujin frowned and glanced sideways.

Zhuge Yeon stood idly next to Tang Mun-hye. She wasn’t trying to fight; instead, she was assessing the surroundings and reading the opponent’s movements.

‘Just because there are many doesn’t mean it’s good.’

The opponents were few.

There is a limit to how many one person can face, so unless it’s a well-organized sword formation or tactic, collisions are inevitable here and there.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Kwon Mujin moved with half-open eyes. The moment one man showed an opening, he slipped his blade into the man’s side and hurriedly retreated from the spot.

Simultaneously, blades pierced the man’s entire body from all directions, making it no exaggeration to say he was slashed to pieces.

If Kwon Mujin had been there, he too wouldn’t have escaped unharmed.

‘For the Murim Alliance and the Heavenly Way Alliance to fight like this…’

This is a method that only a disorganized mob would employ. Poorly coordinated, merely brandishing swords with the sole intent to kill the opponent.

‘Of course, I don’t think it’s bad, but if this chaos continues, it will surely escalate into an unfavorable situation.’

Swish!

At that moment, the gazes of the sect leaders, who had been quietly observing the situation, turned. Two men, who had been watching everything with Seon Jin, slowly rose from their seats.

At the same time, those who rushed towards them were suddenly sprawled on the ground, so fast that the trajectory of the sword couldn’t even be seen, leaving them speechless.

The moment they moved from their spots.

Everyone broke into a cold sweat.

“This is boring.”

“Yes.”

The two men yawned long and slowly stepped forward. In an instant, the head of the subordinate dressed in blood-red robe flew off beside them.

It was a relentless motion of the hand as if trying to tidy up the surroundings.

At that moment, while everyone watched the action in astonishment.

Rumble-!

Suddenly, with a force that swept in from all directions, everyone froze in place, without exception.

The two men were no different.

The relaxed expressions they had until now had vanished, and sweat flowed down their bodies as if a torrential rain was pouring.

The gazes of the two men turned to one place.

“This is…?”

“There’s no mistake.”

As if pondering something, he paused briefly, then another man, different from the first, snapped his fingers.

With a sharp crack, a fierce wind blew, and bizarre figures clad in bright red robes appeared. Their numbers far surpassed those from a moment ago.

“I don’t want to be disturbed… Make them all kneel.”

At the man’s command, the figures began to move.

In an instant, the surroundings descended into chaos once more, and the two men, cracking their joints, slowly started moving toward somewhere.

It was the expression of one who was challenging someone.