Chapter 351: Return of the Demon Sect
“Such… vile sorcery!”
Uk Cheong-pung furrowed his brow, his eyes wide with disbelief as he gazed down at the Seoha Plains.
Beside him, Muk Yang-je trembled slightly as he spoke.
“This… this is not something we can simply overlook. We must address this matter!”
“I know. How could this happen?”
As Uk Cheong-pung and Muk Yang-je exchanged words, their resolve only grew stronger.
They were utterly shocked by the sight of the undead and the summoned Natas, brought forth by Sabi-gang.
This was no mere trickery; it was akin to the dark arts practiced by the Demon Sect.
To think that someone from the righteous alliance would use such malevolent sorcery!
It was absolutely unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Gu Yoon, who had been listening in silence, could no longer contain his frustration and stood up abruptly.
“Gentlemen, can we stop this already?”
“What… what do you mean?”
Muk Yang-je’s eyes widened as he looked at Gu Yoon.
Uk Cheong-pung also turned his gaze, a hint of irritation in his eyes.
“What do you mean, stop? Strategist.”
“You’re trying to slander former Lord Sabi-gang, aren’t you?”
“Slander? Slander! That’s absurd!”
Uk Cheong-pung shouted, and Muk Yang-je’s expression soured.
“How can you call it slander? Can’t you see those monstrous things? The dead have risen to fight. Is this something we can understand as normal? Has our alliance ever taught such sorcery? Isn’t this the kind of dark art you’d expect from the Demon Sect? How can we just overlook this?”
Gu Yoon sighed deeply, his brow furrowed.
In a weary tone, he asked, “So, is former Lord Sabi-gang attacking our alliance with this Demon Sect sorcery?”
“Well, no, but…!”
“Then, is he endangering our alliance?”
“That’s not it, but…!”
“Then what exactly is the problem? Our alliance was on the brink of disaster, and now we’ve barely managed to survive. Why are you so intent on finding fault?”
“How dare you call it fault-finding! Strategist, you’re going too far! No matter how good the outcome, if the process is wicked, how can that be considered righteous?”
“What exactly is so wicked about it?”
“Didn’t you see the dead being resurrected? That’s disrespectful to the deceased!”
At this point, Gu Yoon couldn’t help but let out a small, derisive laugh.
Startled by his reaction, Muk Yang-je stammered, “Why… why are you laughing?”
“Before you worry about respect for the dead, perhaps you should consider respect for the living.”
“What… what did you say?”
“Of course, a good outcome doesn’t justify every process. But from what I see, the process wasn’t all that bad. What exactly distinguishes the righteous from the unrighteous? If saving lives is unrighteous, how is that different from righteousness? Is everything harsh and domineering unrighteous? Then do you intend to label the poison arts of the Sichuan Tang Clan as unrighteous too?”
“That’s going too far! There are standards for everything…”
“And who sets those standards?”
“Strategist, you…!”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
Gu Yoon shouted, his expression uncharacteristically stern.
His face was set in a hard line, unlike his usual demeanor.
He looked at the two men with a cold gaze and said sharply, “You two are to depart immediately and safely escort the Lord and the Righteous Heaven and Earth Pillars here.”
“But we haven’t finished discussing…”
“That’s an order.”
Gu Yoon’s expression was icy, leaving no room for further conversation.
For Muk Yang-je, it was one thing, but for Uk Cheong-pung, a leader of the Elder Council, it was a blow to his pride.
Though the strategist’s authority surpassed that of the Elder Council during wartime, it was usually a more ambiguous position.
Uk Cheong-pung, unable to contain his anger, began to release his energy, but before he could act, a woman descended like a snowflake in front of Gu Yoon.
With a slender, long sword drawn, she stood protectively before Gu Yoon. It was Bi-ryeong, the bodyguard.
“Are you defying the strategist’s orders?”
Her voice was dry and emotionless, yet it carried a clear intent to resort to violence if necessary, even against an Elder Council leader.
Uk Cheong-pung closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.
His earlier anger seemed to have cooled, and he appeared more composed.
He bowed slightly.
“I will follow the strategist’s command.”
“I will comply as well.”
In the end, the two men bowed their heads and turned to descend the hill.
“Finally, some peace and quiet.”
Gu Yoon sighed lightly, turning his gaze to the distance.
Bi-ryeong, watching his back, spoke softly.
“Are you alright with this?”
“What do you mean?”
“What former Lord Sabi-gang summoned… it doesn’t seem very righteous.”
“Are you saying that too?”
“It won’t be easy to let this slide quietly.”
“That’s not my concern. Former Lord Sabi-gang will handle it when the time comes. I just didn’t want to hear any more noise right now.”
Bi-ryeong chuckled softly.
Gu Yoon glanced back at her.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I just thought… you two are quite similar.”
“Similar? How so?”
“You and former Lord Sabi-gang.”
“Ah… is that so?”
Gu Yoon pondered for a moment, then allowed a faint smile to appear.
“That’s not the worst thing to hear.”
“I thought you’d say that.”
A moment later, Bi-ryeong quietly vanished.
Gu Yoon gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
‘Did you hear that? You’ve completely ruined my rationality as a strategist. We’ll have to resolve this later.’
In the distance, he could see Sabi-gang engaged in battle with someone.
Using his far-seeing lens, he identified the opponent as an old woman with a face painted entirely yellow.
“Today, I witness the heavens beyond the heavens.”
**
“Damn it! What the hell is going on?”
Dok Go-jin, leading the Death Squad, cursed as he cut down another undead.
These sudden appearances of the undead had cost the Death Squad dearly.
The only silver lining was that once the undead were chopped into pieces, they couldn’t move anymore.
It was shocking enough when Baold appeared, but now Sabi-gang had brought even stranger creatures.
“Is Chief Chu going to fight or not? Damn it!”
He glared at Chu Hee-ryong, who was hanging back with his troops, showing no intention of advancing.
“I should never have trusted that coward in the first place!”
Though the strategist had ordered caution, this was too much.
With the Demon Sect’s Baold defeated, what was there to be cautious about?
‘Once this is over, I’ll demand answers!’
Grinding his teeth, Dok Go-jin took a determined step forward.
Then…
“Long time no see.”
A familiar voice reached his ears.
Turning his head, Dok Go-jin saw Maeng Ga-sook twirling his nine-section whip with a sly grin.
“You…?”
“Maeng Ga-sook, leader of the Newborn Division.”
Before he could finish speaking, people began to appear around them.
They were all members of the Newborn Division.
Only then did Dok Go-jin realize he and a few subordinates were completely surrounded by the Newborn Division.
He gritted his teeth.
“You little punks… are you really going to try this against me?”
“Why not?”
“You’ve been under Sabi-gang’s thumb, and now you’re betraying us! You’re a disgrace to the alliance!”
“Ah, let’s get the story straight. We’re just here to settle a debt.”
“Debt? What are you talking about?”
“When we attacked the Ghost Division, you tried to expel us for it, remember? Now it’s your turn to be expelled. Permanently.”
“What? You crazy fools have lost your minds! Kill these traitors!”
In an instant, Dok Go-jin’s subordinates charged at the Newborn Division members.
Maeng Ga-sook smirked.
“Let’s sweep them away!”
With a flurry of movement, the Newborn Division members launched themselves at their foes.
**
Standing atop a bamboo stalk, the Green-faced Man watched the distant battle between the Yellow-faced Woman and Sabi-gang with bated breath.
Initially filled with worry, he gradually found hope as time passed.
Though far away, the Yellow-faced Woman was holding her own against Sabi-gang remarkably well.
If it were him, he would have faced death several times over, but the Yellow-faced Woman navigated the dangers with ease.
In fact, as time went on, Sabi-gang seemed to be losing his composure.
The Green-faced Man clenched his fist.
“As expected! With the completion of the Indomitable Asura, there’s no one to match her!”
He turned his gaze back to the Sima Alliance’s camp.
Chu Hee-ryong, who had been holding back, was now leading a group somewhere.
“Are they retreating now?”
He furrowed his brow and was about to leap from the bamboo when—
Whoosh!
An arrow sliced through the air at high speed!
The Green-faced Man twisted his body, extending his hands as he shouted.
“Shield!”
Thunk!
“Ugh!”
Fortunately, he managed to block the arrow with a shield, but the force was tremendous, as it was imbued with energy.
Moreover, he hadn’t completely deflected it, and the arrow grazed his shoulder.
Thud, splash!
Landing on the ground, he barely maintained his balance and looked up sharply.
“What the…!”
At that moment,
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
As shadows descended around him, the Green-Faced Man found himself surrounded.
It was none other than the Celestial Annihilation Squad.
The Green-Faced Man frowned, scanning the squad, when Yeom Jaryang clapped him on the shoulder with a smirk.
“Quite the trick you pulled, blocking our leader’s arrows like that.”
The Green-Faced Man sneered, his voice icy. “Impressive, is it? Want to see something even stranger?”
“What do you mean…?”
Snap!
Instead of answering, he snapped his fingers.
Suddenly,
Rumble, rumble…!
The ground began to tremble gently, and then—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Seven holes burst open around him, and dark shadows surged forth.
Hiss…!
These figures, exuding a murky, black aura, wielded long swords instead of hands.
They were the Black Demon Soldiers, protectors of the Green-Faced Man, known for combining the strengths of both the Ground and Sky Demon Soldiers.
In the next instant,
Whirl!
The Black Demon Soldiers spun like tops, launching themselves at the Celestial Annihilation Squad.
The squad members retreated, shouting in unison.
“Shields up!”
Whoosh!
Clang!
As the shields formed, the soldiers’ blades sparked and ricocheted off.
The Green-Faced Man’s eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.
“How could you…?”
Yeon Woo-kyung replied with a mocking smile. “We know a few tricks ourselves.”
“What?”
“Want to see something even stranger? Sosso.”
With that, Neung Sosso raised her staff and shouted in a clear voice.
“Celestine!”
Whoosh!
A fierce gale swept through, as if by magic.
Even the Green-Faced Man and his Black Demon Soldiers struggled to withstand the force, crossing their arms to brace themselves.
In that fleeting moment, Yeon Woo-kyung shouted, “Now! Attack!”
Before his words had even faded, the Celestial Annihilation Squad leaped into action.
In their hands, red flames flickered to life.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The Green-Faced Man, barely able to open his eyes, cried out in disbelief.
“This… this can’t be happening!”