Everyone Gathers At The Strong Blade Clan (1)

After leaving the residence, Yu Jinsan hurried somewhere.

Throughout his journey, he couldn’t shake off his worries about his granddaughter.

‘I hope my Seol is alright…’

She was a smart kid, and he reasoned that it shouldn’t be hard for her to find her way back. While he had been confined to bed due to his old age, she had practiced traveling to far-off places.

Moreover, didn’t she have a strong mentality that allowed her to control her emotions, matching her physical strength?

Despite this, his heart was heavy with worry.

‘Phew. First, I need to address the urgent matter at hand.’

He arrived at a grand pavilion with the sign, “Great Flame Pavilion.”

It served as the heart of the clan, where the high-ranking members gathered to deliberate on every matter.

A group of about 30 people was already there, awaiting his arrival.

“You came, Elder?”

As Yu Jinsan entered, everyone rose and bowed to him.

It was somewhat peculiar to see adults bowing to a child, but the gesture went unquestioned.

Although he was a guest of the clan, the disciples had come to depend on him.

“It seems Baek Gyu has already departed.”

Kwak Hwi, the second in command of the clan, who was seated at the head of the table, presented a map of Ho County.

“Yes, the Clan Leader rushed to the scene immediately. Would you like to review the situation?”

“Hmm.”

Yu Jinsan took his place in the seat reserved for him and examined the map with clasped hands.

A southern road leading to the mountains of Southern Edge was where the fiercest fighting was anticipated.

By now, the formidable individuals in Ho County and the Southern Edge Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, were expected to be clashing there.

The west and north lay roads where various small and medium-sized clans were converging, and with the support of the other two clans and their alliance, they were fortifying the area.

Soldiers from the Evil Faction, who joined the war as reinforcements, were scattered and positioned at strategic locations.

“I think the situation isn’t as bad as I thought. Thanks to the Elder, we have a strong support team, and the Mount Hua Sect, which we were most worried about, has disappeared, so we aren’t at a disadvantage.”

All the disciples nodded as if in agreement. However, Yu Jinsan’s expression wasn’t as bright.

“You cannot let down your guard until it is the end. Let us not release this tension and watch the situation together.”

“Yes, Elder.”

The entire place was drenched in silence.

The silence continued, and as time passed, a subtle sense of tension rose.

Everyone was waiting for news with their hands sweating. Finally, the first message they were waiting for arrived.

One of the messengers delivering the information burst into the hall and shouted.

“Commander!”

There was joy on his face that couldn’t be hidden.

“What happened?”

Everyone looked at him with hopeful eyes.

“The situation at the northern entrance, guarded by the Killing Blood Clan, has been resolved.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the Justice Faction has completely retreated. Hahaha!”

Everyone jumped up from their seats at the unexpected news.

“Woahhh!!”

“Haha! I knew they would do it!”

“Look at that. Are we going to win?”

The disciples of the clan who had been waiting couldn’t hide their joy, as if the situation had come to an end.

Only Yu Jinsan remained immersed in deep worry with his hands clasped.

‘Did they say that the Clan Leader’s name was Cheon Su? He is skilled.’

More than five years ago, the image of him fighting Baek Gyu was still clear in his mind. Although he had lost an arm and had been defeated, his skills had reached Peak level.

However, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was unclear.

At that moment, Commander Kwak Hwi asked with a puzzled expression,

“Is something wrong? Your face doesn’t seem too good.”

“Hmm. The Murim Alliance must have known that we were preparing. Isn’t it odd that things are being resolved so easily?”

“It is a pointless concern. If the clan supports the other two locations, then they can be blocked. This will be over soon.”

Yu Jinsan sighed, his frustration evident.

“Since when did Murim, full of awareness and sly thoughts, decide to act according to our plan?”

The voice of a child with a small stature couldn’t possibly hold weight. Perhaps that was why Kwak Hwi didn’t care much.

“Do not worry too much, Elder. We aren’t that weak. With the Mount Hua Sect gone, our only rival in Shaanxi is the Southern Edge Sect.”

He leaned back in his chair, hoping his concerns would indeed prove unfounded.

Then the hall was enveloped in silence, and a moment passed.

Didn’t they say that ominous feelings don’t vanish easily?

“Commander!”

Another message arrived.

“…?”

And the warrior bringing the news looked a bit concerned.

Those dilated eyes and hands that wouldn’t stop shaking—it was a reaction as if he had just come across something shocking.

And what followed shocked everyone.

“…the western path collapsed as the Demon Heavenly Alliance’s leader collapsed.”

Commander Kwak Hwi couldn’t believe his ears, as if he had heard something in vain.

“Wh-what now? How can that happen!?”

“We tried to fight back using all sorts of tactics, but we were helpless against ‘him’…”

“What do you mean, ‘him’? Are you saying one person took down the entire alliance’s formation? Who was it?!”

Who on earth could take down a single force by themselves? It seemed like no one believed what the messenger said. That was until his next words followed.

“He is called… Moyong Seong…”

Everyone gasped.

Moyong Seong? The man known as the Iron Blooded Swordsman, and the strongest among the Five Great Families?

“M-Moyong Seong?!”

“Wh-why did he appear here?”

How could a mere messenger possess so much information?

The Moyong family was located far to the right of Shaanxi. They had secretly entered Shaanxi. Were they part of the troops of the Murim Alliance waiting? However, no one had anticipated his appearance.

The man’s sudden appearance left everyone feeling bewildered.

Yu Jinsan, more desperate than the others, seized a bamboo spear and flung it aside.

“How long do you plan to hesitate? If this continues, everyone will die!”

Kwak Hwi, jolted back to reality by Yu Jinsan’s shout, urgently issued orders to his disciples.

“You two, go and inform the Clan Leader and the Killing Soul Clan leader. Make sure all the important figures are aware!”

With the western path opened, scattering the troops to fight was pointless.

The main forces of both clans needed to regroup for battle. They had to stall for time to allow them to arrive before Moyong Seong did.

Those who bolted from the pavilion ran without a second thought.

Yu Jinsan, keeping pace with Kwak Hwi, who led the charge, inquired,

“How strong is this Moyong Seong guy?”

“He is one of those who came close to Grandmaster level.”

As expected.

From his explanation, his strength was beyond what Yu Jinsan could imagine.

Not even if Baek Gyu of Cheon Su intervened or if he himself joined the fray could their victory be assured.

“Then what do you plan to do now?”

“We must fight without retreating. That is our clan’s path.”

Yu Jinsan couldn’t help but exclaim at the simplicity of the response.

“You crazy bastard! You want us to charge in without any plan?”

“The only path is forward for our clan!”

There was a solemn determination on his face, as though he was already resigned to death.

Could any sect be more reckless than these in the Central Plains?

Yu Jinsan had no intention of dying here.

“I have a plan. Stop for a moment.”

When Kwak Hwi raised one hand high, everyone stopped moving simultaneously.

“Do you have a plan?”

Yu Jinsan surveyed the surroundings.

Since an announcement had been made in advance, the streets were empty.

His gaze settled on a building that seemed suitable.

There were two two-story buildings that caught his eye.

It wasn’t an opponent that would easily fall for an ambush, but they had to utilize everything at their disposal, including the terrain.

“If we engage in close combat with this force, we can’t afford to waste a single second. So, split them in half and send them to the main pavilion. And what about assassination weapons?”

“They each have two daggers.”

“I’ll find a way, so just hang in there for now. If assassination weapons are necessary, avoid close combat as much as possible and resort to throwing anything you can, like rocks or wood, from the rooftops.”

It was the same thing, one way or another.

Kwak Hwi, understanding this, directed the disciples around him.

“Split up to the left and right for the ambush. Move now!”

With little time to spare, the clan’s warriors dashed toward the buildings on either side.

Then, Yu Jinsan disappeared from sight.

Everyone held their breath, anticipating the enemy’s arrival.

Moments later, their pupils shook. They saw a group of people running towards them in terror.

The fact that they had hair indicated they were not warriors from Ho County. They seemed to be members of the Evil Sect sent to bolster their forces.

As they drew nearer, Kwak Hwi, who was in hiding, shouted.

“Excuse me! What happened?”

The warriors glanced across the pavilion and sprinted away.

They were too scared to be of any help.

“Moyong Seong is coming!”

“The Demon’s Heaven Alliance has been wiped out, so run if you want to live!”

Kwak Hwi lacked the confidence to persuade those who were already losing hope to fight alongside him.

He called out to their retreating figures.

“All the Evil Faction members of Ho County will gather at the clan’s manor, so head there!”

It was unknown whether they would join or simply flee, but it didn’t matter. Neither side could afford to think too far ahead.

After a while, they began to sense something from the direction the Evil Faction members had fled.

A blurry shadow was slowly approaching. It looked like a human figure, but then it seemed like a giant.

‘… Moyong Seong.’

He presented the neat appearance of a gentleman clad in a white robe embroidered with a white crane.

He took one step, then another.

Just the sight of him advancing with his sword held diagonally was enough to cause goosebumps.

Kwak Hwi felt pressure as if a massive mountain was looming closer.

And behind Moyong Seong, about a hundred warriors of the Justice Faction followed.

‘This was a mistake.’

Kwak Hwi looked anxious and gestured to his subordinate.

Moyong Seong, who was approaching, stopped exactly where they had planned to ambush him.

He slowly raised his head and began to survey the pavilion, his eyes filled with disgust and hate.

Those who met his gaze had their hearts racing.

“Fucking trash.”

His look of contempt seemed directed at the Evil Faction warriors.

Commander Kwak Hwi became desperate. If the situation continued like this, his subordinates would lose their will to attack. Without hesitation, Kwak Hwi threw his dagger first and shouted.

“Throw!”

As if on cue, weapons began to fly toward Moyong Seong from both sides.

Papapak!

The sword in his hand appeared to extend outward, blocking every single dagger with a clear ring.

Tung! Tung! Tung!

Yet, not one of them could even graze his clothing. From the beginning, Kwak Hwi hadn’t expected the attack to succeed. It was merely a ploy to buy some time.

As the assassination weapons were about to run out, Moyong Seong counterattacked as if he had been waiting for this moment.

He kicked the ground and rose high into the sky, full of ease.

The clan warriors tried to fight back, but their efforts were in vain.

Kwang! Kwang!

Watching him move from one spot to the next within the pavilion, slaying people, was horrifying. Wherever he went, death was certain for those in his path.

Then, as six had fallen, a loud shout erupted from somewhere.

Suddenly, a loud shout rang out.

“Stop!!”

A child’s voice resonated powerfully.

The incredible internal qi that emanated from the child’s voice piqued Moyong Seong’s interest.

“…?”

Everyone turned to locate the source of the sound.

And, to their astonishment, they saw a member of the Justice Faction in the child’s grasp.

“If you don’t stop now, I will kill him!”

The child, appearing to be about eight years old, was overpowering one of the warriors of the Murim Alliance.

It was Yu Jinsan who had stealthily approached amidst the distraction. His mastery of internal qi, a result of proper cultivation within the Justice Faction, aided his approach.

At that moment, someone who recognized him exclaimed.

“Yin Yang Twin Monsters!?”

Moyong Seong’s eyes flickered at the mention of the name. He leaped down from the pavilion roof and moved closer to Yu Jinsan.

Yu Jinsan showed no sign of nervousness. He understood the nature of the Justice Faction better than anyone else.

‘The higher a person rises, the more obsessed he or she becomes with fame.’

Moyong Seong, revered by members of the Justice Faction, would not dismiss the hostage and attack with so many witnesses present.

As expected, he halted at a distance.

“You are as cunning as the rumors say.”

Yu Jinsan snorted and pressed his spear’s blade against the man’s neck.

“To deal with cunning people like you, one must become cunning.”