Episode 372

In Qitai County, Xinjiang, there was a basin surrounded by mountains, looking northward over the plains.

There was only one entrance, and even that was fortified with high stone walls like a fortress.

Whoosh!

As a gust of wind brushed by, the flag erected on the watchtower of the stone wall fluttered alone, forlornly.

On a background depicting the sun and moon, a single character was inscribed, Three (三).

This was the stronghold of the Third Grotto-heaven of the Demonic Cult.

The enormous stone gate was always wide open, but no one entered except those originally settled in the Third Grotto-heaven or warriors of the Demonic Cult.

The pervasive Demonic qi gave it the feel of an entrance to hell.

Thus, for decades, it naturally prevented the approach of outsiders.

For the first time, the gates of the Third Grotto-heaven Fortress were locked, and the stone walls were densely filled with warriors emitting fierce gazes.

How long did the tedious wait continue?

Doong, doong, doong.

The sound of drums could be heard.

The sound that could barely be heard by straining one’s ears gradually became clearer, filling the plains, and soon after, countless footsteps shook the ground.

“E, enemy!”

At the shout bursting from the watchtower, everyone’s gazes focused beyond the plains.

Through the shimmering haze of the plains, numerous silhouettes gradually became clearer.

Second Grotto-heaven and the Palace warriors were approaching, darkening the plains as they advanced.

In their leisurely yet disciplined advance, the warriors on the stone walls swallowed hard.

Just as the tension rose to the point where even their spines stiffened.

At the signal from the lead, they halted and immediately reorganized their formation.

Three groups split into nine, creating a formation that spread out to the left and right like a crane spreading its wings.

A distance of over five hundred yards separated them, with their fighting spirits clashing intensely.

At the center of the horizontal formation, at the very forefront, Sang Gwan-pyeong gazed at the warriors filling the stone wall.

Isn’t it truly a precarious stone wall?

The effort to defend such a fortress that would shatter into pieces in an instant if struck.

Sang Gwan-pyeong’s eyes settled with a chilling calmness.

Noh Guk-tae’s life and death were unclear, and Sama Do and the Shadow Swords were annihilated.

The anxiety seated in his heart clearly indicated that the culprit was inside that Third Grotto-heaven.

Perhaps a master stronger than himself or a cunning strategist awaited them inside.

But it doesn’t matter what it is.

In his hands was a beast that nothing could deal with.

Sang Gwan-pyeong gritted his teeth and turned his gaze to Han Seung.

Since arriving in the territory of Third Grotto-heaven, he couldn’t hide his greedy eyes, as if ready to leap out at any moment, emitting a dark aura and twitching his hips.

A beast mad with hunger had found its prey, making it difficult to endure any longer.

The time had come to unclasp the leash that had held it back until now.

There, in that fortress.

He would tear apart the flesh and crush the bones of all those who were unaware of their place, killed Sama Do and the Shadow Swords and blocked their path, dyeing the mountains and rivers in blood.

“Young Lord.”

“…?”

“They are the ones who killed the Palace’s warriors without your permission!”

At the heart-wrenching voice of Sang Gwan-pyeong, who cried out loud, Han Seung glanced at the stone wall.

It was a face that didn’t care at all about Sang Gwan-pyeong’s emotions.

However, the next words pierced Han Seung’s ears like a spell.

“They are worthless worms. Now, you may satiate your hunger as you wish.”

“…!”

Since the death of Sama Do, the intense hunger that had no outlet began to provoke Han Seung’s greed.

“As much as I want…”

Kuuu.

With a ghastly voice muttered under his breath, a surge of dark energy swept forth like a storm.

The two-legged beast, Greed (貪), began to rampage.

Uuuu!

With a territorial roar resembling that of a beast, Sang Gwan-pyeong, who was watching Han Seung shoot out toward the stone wall, slowly raised his hand.

“The vanguard is the warriors of Second Grotto-heaven. Send them to demolish the fortress wall!”

As his hand fell powerfully as a signal, the robust drummer swung the drumsticks wildly.

Doong, doong, doong, doong!

The halted formation’s movement dynamically changed with the resonating drum beats.

Dudududu!

The warriors of Second Grotto-heaven, waiting at the forefront of the formation, followed Han Seung, shaking the ground.

They are the sacrificial blades meant to exhaust the enemy’s strength.

Using the beast’s madness and their deaths as a stepping stone, they will capture Third Grotto-heaven without any harm.

It doesn’t matter if their forces dwindle. Once Third Grotto-heaven is destroyed, they can replenish them.

Rampage as you wish.

Kill and be killed to your heart’s content.

“Inner Palace! Follow the rear and advance slowly.”

As Sang Gwan-pyeong shouted and spurred his horse, the line of the formation composed of Palace warriors began to march slowly.

The left edge of the mountain embracing the basin.

Jinmu didn’t devise any particular strategy.

Just a slight ambush to deceive the enemy about their numbers and evacuating all nearby civilians to avoid casualties?

If it’s someone like Jeok Saeng, they might devise unexpected tactics and give a hefty smack to the back of someone’s head, but their strategy wouldn’t be particularly new.

After all, war is about killing each other until the last one standing wins.

In this case, it’s especially true.

The attack by the Palace men who seized Second Grotto-heaven is to be blocked by amassing more troops than they have. That’s all there is to it.

A considerable number of warriors have already arrived to overwhelm the enemy.

It’s true that the Palace’s warriors possess stronger skills, but they can’t overturn numerical superiority.

Of course, that might be possible if there’s someone over there who can think on their feet like Jeok Saeng.

However, in front of Third Grotto-heaven, a vast plain stretches out with nowhere to hide, and in broad daylight, any scheme is useless.

So, inevitably, the side with the greater number wins.

Except for the four masters that Dae Gung saw.

Having killed Noh Guk-tae and Sama Do, now, only two remain…

One is likely a beast, and the other is still unknown.

If they possess skills similar to Noh Guk-tae’s, only he among the gathered martial artists can face them.

If others intervene, they will clearly not survive, so he deliberately positioned himself apart from the martial artists on the mountain slope.

Just in case, he brought Hwang Shin, the children, the two sajils, and even the signal shooter Dae Gung with him.

Then, with the sound of drums, the enemies appeared.

Leading a large force of over a thousand but slightly under two thousand, forming a horizontal line.

Jinmu’s pupils settled into a cold calm.

Where are you, the damn beast that’s nurtured by the vitality of humans?

Though it was unlikely they would immediately present the beast nurtured with utmost care by kidnapping people, he had to find it quickly.

To prevent more meaningless sacrifices.

At the moment Jinmu’s gaze was meticulously scanning side to side, suddenly one of them jumped out.

A figure broke away from the formation and began running alone towards the stone wall of Third Grotto-heaven.

It’s him.

He was definitely that damned beast.

The instant Jinmu saw the figure cloaked in dark energy racing forward, he clenched his fist and stood up abruptly.

Flames surged in his eyes, and a chilling killing intent emanated from his entire body.

“Dae Gung!”

Simultaneously with the shout, Dae Gung swiftly drew the bowstring.

Piiing! Puh-ong!

The arrow soared into the air and exploded with a bang.

A signal sent to the warriors ambushing on the left and right of the mountain behind the basin.

The beast has appeared, and their formation has split into two, so there’s no need to wait any longer.

“Hwang Shin! So Dong-bo! The target is the wall’s defensive barrier! Dive into the battlefield and hunt down the master-level warriors!”

“Yes!”

“The beast will bring down the fortress wall. Everyone below Chung Sang, support the defense of the collapsed wall!”

“Yes!”

“Dae Gung, observe the battle situation from above and send signals to each warrior unit to control them!”

“Understood.”

Jinmu quickly assigned tasks to everyone, then swiftly launched himself while keeping his gaze fixed on one spot.

Damn beast bastard.

I thought it would stay hidden without showing a single hair, but to crawl out this quickly.

Well, it must have been hungry.

With its head filled with Demonic qi from the Demonic Absorption Arts, it couldn’t last a day without absorbing life force.

Now, Jinmu had one thing to do.

Hunt the beast.

“Fire the arrows!”

Ping! Pip-ping!

“Ugh!”

“Ack!”

The warriors pierced by the rain of arrows couldn’t maintain their running speed and crashed straight to the ground.

However, the warrior who rushed first was unharmed.

He charged directly toward the massive iron gate, deflecting arrows as if his skin were armored.

Why? Could he be trying to ram it?

The iron gate was more than a hand’s width thick.

For those with martial skills low enough to be stationed at the fortress archery platform, breaking an iron gate was unimaginable.

Thus, they were unprepared for what was about to happen.

Boom!

With the same speed he was charging, Han Seung slammed into the gate, overturning everyone’s expectations as the massive iron door crumpled like paper and flew back.

“……”

Han Seung stopped in front of the stone wall that collapsed along with the shattered gate, surveying the gaping interior with eyes darkened by Demonic qi.

The eyes gazing at the numerous warriors blocking the way with swords drawn emit a strange light.

Thirst, greed, murderous intent…

“Heh heh heh.”

A chilling laugh so eerie that it barely seems human.

Even those who lived as members of the Demonic Cult frowned instinctively at the intense Demonic qi emanating from Han Seung.

“Good. Very good.”

What was it that could have possibly been so good?

“Which one should I devour first?”

“…!”

At Han Seung’s words, the warriors widened their eyes in shock.

Is he treating them as mere prey?

“You slaughter-crazed beast! So you’re the monster rumored to have committed massacres in Second Grotto-heaven!”

“…?”

As one bold warrior mustered courage and pointed his sword, Han Seung turned his head and laughed ominously.

“So you’re the first.”

“What nonsense is this!”

The warrior leapt up at Han Seung’s words, swinging his sword.

Swoosh!

Despite the sharp momentum as if to sever his neck immediately, Han Seung did not even think of dodging, not moving a single finger.

Clang!

“…!”

It definitely touched his skin.

At the moment the warrior was bewildered, Han Seung stretched out his hand and grabbed his nape.

“Gahk!”

The warrior, suffocating and struggling, rolled his eyes back as Han Seung’s grip tightened.

Crack, crackle!

Simultaneously, his limbs twisted and shriveled, and his skin turned flaky.

Thud.

As the corpse fell at his feet, each person stepped back hesitantly at Han Seung’s maniacal smile and his eyes flickering like a snake’s tongue.

“I will… Devour you all.”

Lowering his body, Han Seung propelled himself forcefully off the ground, charging at the warriors.

“Ugh, aaah!”

The warriors, overwhelmed by fear, scattered in all directions without exception.

However, the moment the net of qi that escaped from Han Seung’s grasp spread out, the movements of the warriors near him were completely bound.

And the moment Han Seung reached out to one of them…

Ssshhhhh!

Something flew through the air, piercing through, and wedged itself into the gap.

Bang!

Han Seung frowned at the white blade that struck his wrist.

Though it didn’t cut his skin, the impact was sharp enough to sting.

Meanwhile, the sword moved freely as if alive, attacking Han Seung.

Ttang, ttatatang! Ttang!

Han Seung retreated, stepping back at the unfamiliar impact he felt with each clash of the sword.

“……”

And as he retreated, the sword floated in the air, threateningly aiming at his forehead.

Qi-controlled Sword? Who could it be?

Han Seung, turning his head rapidly to find his attacker, heard a mocking voice.

“What the hell does this bastard keep eating? Is he a cannibal?”

“……”

Jinmu descended lightly.

Han Seung glared fiercely at Jinmu, who stood blocking the warriors, growling.

Ha, this bastard. A beast dares to glare at a person?

I’ll gouge those eyes out.