"What?"
The sound coming from the entrance wasn't from one or two people. Considering the volume, it was at least a thousand people.
'Even injured, I didn't notice!'
Guangmuliang's face contorted.
If he hadn't been distracted by Wei Yanho, he would have noticed that crowd coming up the mountain. It was a mistake.
"Demon Cult! Long time no see!"
People dressed in white appeared, running through the entrance and jumping over the walls.
"The Righteous Martial Alliance!"
Guangmuliang gritted his teeth.
He recognized the white clothes. The embroidery of "武" (Wu, martial arts) on the chest was the symbol of the Righteous Martial Alliance.
The swords stopped, and attention focused.
Guangmuliang gritted his teeth.
'How did they know?'
The fact that there were so many people meant that they had anticipated the attack and prepared.
"Didn't you think about escaping when the evil members of the Demon Cult appeared in the Central Plains?"
"And you?"
Guangmuliang straightened his shoulders upon seeing an old man with a long sword.
"I am No Jaseong. You must have heard of me."
"No Jaseong, the fire army?"
"You know me well."
"The leader of the red flag group… a great character."
"As old friends, it is my duty to face you."
"Kukukuk."
Guangmuliang laughed softly.
"As expected of the Righteous Martial Alliance. You are worthy opponents. We thought we were acting in secret, but the fact that you have arrived means that you already knew of our plans."
"If you are from the Demon Cult, you must not forget this. As long as the Master of Divine Abilities is with us, you will not be able to overcome us."
"The Master of Divine Abilities… a nostalgic name."
Guangmuliang shook his head.
He didn't need an explanation. That name said it all. He was someone who could read the sky where others couldn't. Even if they explained how he knew of their plans, Guangmuliang wouldn't understand.
"Many have arrived."
Guangmuliang clenched his fists as he saw the warriors of the Righteous Martial Alliance filling the entrance. They were different from the crowd.
They were the best warriors trained by the Righteous Martial Alliance to face the Demon Cult and other clans.
'Will I die here?'
A blue aura emanated from Guangmuliang's eyes.
He was about to swear that he wouldn't show weakness, even if he died, when…
"Heh."
A mocking laugh irritated him.
Wei Yanho, surrounded by the members of the Demon Cult, poked his head out and mocked him.
"What a shame! You almost killed me. Is this a unique opportunity? Hahahaha."
'Should I kill him and die?'
If he received the order to kill Wei Yanho, he could do it. But all the other members of the Demon Cult would be defeated by the warriors arriving.
He had to decide whether killing Wei Yanho or weakening the Righteous Martial Alliance was more beneficial.
"The general has a message for you, Demon Cult."
Guangmuliang looked at No Jaseong.
"We will let you go this time."
Confusion appeared on Guangmuliang's face.
"Let me go?"
"Yes."
"…What is happening?"
"I don't understand it either, but that man's orders cannot be understood. It was like that in the past, and it is the same now. We just follow them. Decide, leader. Will you surrender or return to the Heavenly Mountain in silence?"
"E…"
Guangmuliang's face contorted.
It was a humiliation greater than death. For him, who respected power and the cult, there was no greater humiliation than begging for his life.
"How dare you?!"
No Jaseong stopped Guangmuliang, who was about to give the order to attack.
"If you don't accept, I must tell you this."
"..."
Guangmuliang trembled.
If the Master of Divine Abilities revealed their plans, Guangmuliang would accept it.
But he couldn't ignore it.
Guangmuliang realized what it meant to be manipulated.
"The general said: 'Are you so angry that you want to let others benefit?'"
Guangmuliang looked at No Jaseong with a stunned expression.
"Benefit?"
"Yes."
"Benefit…"
Guangmuliang's face contorted.
"As expected of the Master of Divine Abilities. You attack where it hurts."
"Hahaha, what will you do, leader?"
"I must leave."
Guangmuliang nodded.
"It is shameful to obey them, but I must admit that he was right. Open the way."
When No Jaseong raised his hand, the warriors blocking the entrance separated.
"Huh?"
Wei Yanho shouted upon seeing that.
"What are you doing?"
"We are opening the way."
No Jaseong smiled. As he was coming here, he had thought that this guy…
"Are you crazy?! Why are you letting them go? Do you think this is a children's game? That's why everyone underestimates you!"
…He had heard about that guy's madness.
'It's worse than I heard.'
He was already prepared. Before coming here, the Master of Divine Abilities had told him not to listen to Wei Yanho, and not to get angry no matter what he said.
He even seemed to fear Wei Yanho more than the Demon Cult.
"Huu, huu…"
No Jaseong took a deep breath.
"There is a reason."
"Reason? I have never seen something like that work. You must dig your own grave!"
"E…"
No Jaseong, speechless, looked at Guangmuliang angrily.
"Why don't you leave?"
"Why are you shouting at me?"
"Ugh."
"Hahaha, you must be annoyed too. What a shame that that monster is like that."
"I don't want your sympathy! Leave! I don't know when I will change my mind."
"You must be careful with what you say."
Guangmuliang looked at No Jaseong with eyes full of blue flames.
"You don't know what will happen if you anger me."
"That guy!"
The gazes of No Jaseong and Guangmuliang met.
"We will open the way, and I will let you go. But…"
Guangmuliang's gaze rested on Wei Yanho.
"We will meet again. It won't be long."
"Heh, so you can get another beating?"
"Kukuk, you are an interesting guy."
Guangmuliang shouted.
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
The members of the Demon Cult retreated and began to exit through the entrance opened by the Righteous Martial Alliance.
Some looked at them with relief, others with disappointment.
"Well done."
Wei Jeonghan approached Wei Yanho and patted him on the shoulder when Wei Yanho complained.
"Don't get so angry."
"How can I not get angry when you let them go?"
"We haven't defeated them."
"...Huh?"
"You haven't seen how terrifying the Demon Cult is yet. If they are really willing to die, Mount Hua will be stained with blood."
"…What do you mean?"
"You will know soon."
Wei Jeonghan looked at Guangmuliang leaving with a somber expression.
'He showed that power without using the explosive blood technique. If they really try to invade the Central Plains, there will be a war much bigger than the previous one.'
Wei Jeonghan's face darkened.
"Hmm…"
Guangmuliang nodded.
'I have recovered quite a bit.'
His body, which had been torn apart by Wei Yanho, was recovering. If he recovered his internal energy…
"Bishop."
Guangmuliang turned his head.
A man dressed in black was behind him.
"Why did you disobey the order and leave?"
"Because I wanted to."
"Bishop!"
"Why? Can't I?"
"They won't accept it."
"No, they will accept it."
The man looked at Guangmuliang with red eyes.
"We cannot change the plans of the cult for something as trivial as benefiting or power. Without a valid reason, even you, Bishop, cannot avoid divine punishment."
"Kukukukuk."
Guangmuliang showed his teeth upon seeing the man.
"Do you dare to say that in front of me?"
The man's body trembled at Guangmuliang's aura.
'Why…'
Why had he decided to retreat even after recovering his energy?
He had trusted him because of his aggressiveness.
Suddenly, Guangmuliang's aura disappeared.
"Benefits… I don't care."
"Then why?"
"Because I need to verify something."
"Verify?"
"Yes."
"What?"
Guangmuliang shook his head.
"It is not something you should know. I will take care of the important matters, don't ask anymore."
"…As you wish."
Guangmuliang stopped looking at the man, who was still hesitant, and looked at the top of Mount Hua, which was already far away.
'They are similar.'
Defeat your enemies.
But there was someone there who should be considered an enemy or not.
If his thinking was correct?
'No one involved in this will survive.'
And another thing.
'The glory of the Cult will be renewed.'
Guangmuliang smiled slightly and descended the mountain.
***
"They said they let him go?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Saha, the Historian, tilted his head, not understanding the actions of the Master of Divine Abilities.
Gwanggu Singae smiled upon seeing Saha.
"That is how he is. He doesn't explain the reasons to others, so people get frustrated."
"…I don't understand. If they could weaken the cult, wasn't that beneficial?"
"They thought it wasn't."
"Why?"
Gwanggu Singae yawned and said:
"The cult planned this."
"...Ah!"
"The cult was just a tool. What was the objective?"
Saga nodded.
"Mutual destruction."
"Mutual destruction is fine, or not. If you throw the cult where there are warriors, their power will decrease and there will be chaos. That is what they wanted, but we cannot let them do it."
"Weren't the cult and they allies?"
"No. Only their paths coincided. They could never unite."
Gwanggu Singae said with a serious voice.
"The massacre of Mount Hua in itself does not have much meaning, but it created tension in a peaceful world. After that day, the martial world began to prepare for a new war. Everyone smelled blood."
"Everyone?"
"E…"
Gwanggu Singae scratched his head.
"Well… except one."
It was not necessary to ask who it was.