Chapter 389: The Rift
“Guang Yeom-ra, Guang Yeom-ra! Snap out of it!”
“Ugh, ugh…”
Zuo Hobeop shook Guang Yeom-ra gently, ensuring he wasn’t caught in the chaos of the battle. He then carefully led him away from the fray.
Watching this unfold, Dang Mujin turned to Hyun Gong with a questioning look.
“Hyun Gong, what did you do?”
Hyun Gong frowned, clearly annoyed. “I didn’t do anything. Why are you blaming me? You saw him collapse the moment I showed up. I didn’t even have time to pull any tricks.”
“Then why is Guang Yeom-ra like that?”
“Who knows? Maybe he practiced some strange dark arts and the demonic energy seeped into his bones. But this time, it’s not my fault. I’m innocent.”
“Innocent, huh… Hmm.”
Linking the word “innocent” with Hyun Gong was no easy task. However, given the circumstances, Dang Mujin couldn’t find any reason to doubt him further, so he turned his attention back to the battlefield.
Namgung Jincheon was, as expected, facing off against Seon Naseung. But unlike his usual aggressive style, his swordplay was cautious and defensive, reminiscent of the Taoists from the Wudang sect. Dang Mujin had a hunch why.
‘Is it because of his internal energy?’
Namgung Jincheon possessed a considerable amount of internal energy, even among the top martial artists. The Namgung family was wealthy enough to easily acquire elixirs if they were available. As the head of such a family, it was only natural for Namgung Jincheon to have a vast reserve of internal energy.
The problem was that Seon Naseung’s internal energy was beyond imagination. Dang Mujin recalled the tremor Seon Naseung had caused earlier by placing his palms on the ground.
In all his encounters, Dang Mujin had never met anyone with such overwhelming internal energy. Not a single person.
‘Is it even possible for a human to amass such internal energy? Even if he healed his meridians and achieved harmony between yin and yang, accumulating that much internal energy should be impossible.’
Though Namgung Jincheon was at a slight disadvantage, his understanding and insight were clearly superior, so it didn’t seem like he would be easily defeated by Seon Naseung.
With that in mind, Dang Mujin turned his attention to the others.
‘The situation… It’s still unfavorable.’
Aside from true masters like Seon Naseung, Guang Yeom-ra, and Zuo Hobeop, the demonic cult had three more top-tier martial artists. However, their skills seemed oddly lacking. They were like half-baked masters, similar to those who had escaped the cult to become bandits.
‘No, calling them masters is too generous.’
Even so, they were still formidable enough that their presence could cause significant damage. They could easily overpower the Taoists of the Kunlun sect who had surpassed the peak.
However, they couldn’t instantly cut down the Kunlun sect’s top-tier masters. The situation was precarious, but the front lines hadn’t collapsed.
The issue was that the Kunlun sect only had six top-tier masters.
It wasn’t that the Kunlun sect was particularly lacking. Except for exceptions like the Shaolin Temple, which had more than ten top-tier masters, most large sects had around seven or eight.
From the start, the battle was against overwhelming odds.
Yet, strangely, the Kunlun sect’s casualties weren’t as high as expected.
“What’s going on? How are they holding up?”
Hyun Gong tapped Dang Mujin’s shoulder and pointed to the side.
“Look over there.”
“What am I supposed to… Wait!”
A familiar Kunlun Taoist was on the brink of death.
The Taoist lay on the ground, sword in hand, while a demonic cultist stood over him, sword raised. It was a life-or-death moment.
But just as Dang Mujin was about to intervene, the Kunlun Taoist began to roll backward. It was the Naryeotagon technique.
The real surprise came afterward. As the Taoist rolled away, his figure suddenly vanished.
“You little… again!”
The demonic cultist swung his sword in the direction the Taoist had disappeared. But there was nothing there.
Yet, the cultist’s sword rebounded as if it had struck a rock, clumsily bouncing back.
Frustrated by the strange phenomenon, the cultist shouted in anger.
“You coward! Running away again? Show yourself!”
Then, out of nowhere, a blade emerged from the empty air, aiming for the cultist’s abdomen.
The cultist twisted his body in haste, and the Kunlun Taoist reappeared, grinning.
“Let’s start again.”
Dang Mujin finally understood what was happening.
‘A formation?’
He reached out behind him and felt an invisible wall. Transparent and solid, it perfectly concealed what lay beyond.
Dang Mujin turned to Hyun Gong.
“What’s going on with the formation?”
“It seems its nature has changed. The Kunlun Taoists are hiding within it.”
Dang Mujin realized the situation. The Kunlun Taoists had pushed themselves to create a new magical formation.
Thanks to this safe zone created by their magic, the Kunlun Taoists were managing to hold off the martial artists despite their lack of numbers.
They could attack more aggressively than usual, retreating just a bit to find safety from their opponents’ strikes.
However, there was one problem. Dang Mujin couldn’t enter the formation.
“How do I get in?”
Hyun Gong explained, “The formation reacts to internal fire energy, blocking those who possess it. Only those who sustain themselves with meditation, avoiding fire energy, can freely move in and out.”
In other words, neither Dang Mujin, Hyun Gong, nor Namgung Jincheon could hide within the formation. Though there was no ill intent, the situation felt a bit unfair.
After explaining, Hyun Gong dashed toward Namgung Jincheon.
“Keep an eye on the battlefield. I’ll help Master Namgung and be back!”
Dang Mujin watched Namgung Jincheon.
Seon Naseung’s disciples, shamelessly, were attacking Namgung Jincheon together, exploiting any openings.
But with Hyun Gong’s arrival, he could easily handle three of Seon Naseung’s disciples.
Now, Dang Mujin pondered how he should fight.
‘In a chaotic battle, the most efficient way to subdue the most people is undoubtedly with poison techniques.’
Among poison techniques, spreading poison through the air was the most effective.
But that wasn’t an option. In the mountains, it was nearly impossible to predict the wind’s direction.
If he released poison into the air, it could harm not only the enemies but also the Kunlun Taoists and those hiding within the formation.
‘And I can’t waste poison by splashing it around. It’s too costly.’
As Dang Mujin considered this, a demonic cultist charged at him with a sword.
The cultist’s eyes were dull, and he rushed forward without thinking, as if in a daze.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
With a single motion, Dang Mujin drew his sword and slashed, leaving a deep diagonal cut across the cultist’s torso. A fatal wound.
As blood splattered, a small gasp came from behind him.
“Wow! Did you see that? He took him down in one strike!”
“Master Dang, keep it up!”
The voices of the children from the Taoist temple reached him. Then, a familiar voice followed.
“Hang in there! Don’t get hurt!”
It was the voice of Mr. Im, the peddler who had been dragged into this mess and brought to Mount Kunlun.
Though he couldn’t see them, he knew there were many people behind him, all watching the battle with bated breath.
At that moment, Dang Mujin felt a small red banner unfurl in his mind.
The tiny banner whispered to him.
Dang Mujin. Now is the time.
The time for what?
The moment when you can shine the brightest. Opportunities like this don’t come often. Go for it!
Dang Mujin’s heart raced. His breath quickened. Was it the thrill of battle? No, it was a different kind of excitement.
Unconsciously, Dang Mujin spoke to Mr. Im.
“Sir, what do you think of my skills?”
“I heard you’re a top-tier master! Quite impressive among them, too…”
Just then, six demonic cultists charged at Dang Mujin.
A few children let out small screams.
Dang Mujin steadied his breath and spoke to the children behind him and to Mr. Im.
“Sir.”
“Be careful! They’re targeting you!”
But Dang Mujin paid no heed and shook his sleeves. Six flying rings slipped from his sleeves, three on each hand. A total of six rings.
Dang Mujin declared, “Watch closely.”
“Watch what?”
“And don’t tell anyone…”
Until now, Dang Mujin could only handle four flying rings at once.
He decided to skip five and challenge himself with six.
He felt it was possible now. No, it had to be. He had already set the stage and couldn’t back down.
‘If I fail, it’s the banner’s fault!’
And Dang Mujin was the type to pull through when the situation demanded it.
He held his breath for a moment, then swung his arms with precision.
The six rings left his fingers, each with a slight delay.
The small discs traced six arcs in the air.
With only two eyes, Dang Mujin couldn’t watch all six rings, each following a different trajectory.
However, Dang Mujin was acutely aware of the trajectory, speed, and altitude of every flying blade, as if he could sense the position of his own body even with his eyes closed.
His mind felt like it was boiling over.
The heat burned away all distractions, incinerating the barriers that once defined his limits. His thoughts became clearer, and his boundaries expanded, if only slightly.
Dang Mujin’s fingers moved erratically, as if plucking the strings of an invisible instrument.
In that instant, the blades soaring through the sky abruptly changed course, plummeting toward the ground.
Swoosh—
It was as if a bolt of iron lightning had struck, or a celestial being had swung a sword from the heavens.
The heads of the six men advancing toward Dang Mujin flew into the air simultaneously, their eyes wide with disbelief, still fixed on him as if trying to comprehend what had just happened.
“What the—!”
“How did that happen?”
“Is this what a true master can do?”
“Is it because the opponents are weak, or is Dang Mujin just that strong?”
“Stop with the clueless comments!”
Unfortunately, there was no one present who could truly grasp the extent of Dang Mujin’s prowess.
Feeling a twinge of regret, Dang Mujin refocused on the battle.
The battlefield, which had been teetering on the brink of chaos, began to stabilize thanks to the efforts of Dang Mujin and Hyungong.
Yet, Dang Mujin couldn’t afford to relax.
‘We must settle this before Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop rejoin the fray.’
Jwahobeop had taken Gwangyeomra away personally, indicating he had a plan to aid him. Moreover, Gwangyeomra’s episode seemed temporary. Whether sooner or later, he was likely to regain his composure with Jwahobeop’s help and return to the battlefield.
A foreboding sense of inevitability loomed.
And soon enough, Dang Mujin’s prediction came true.
“Huff, huff… That was close.”
Gwangyeomra, clutching his head, rejoined the battle, gasping for breath.
Dang Mujin’s hands were slick with sweat. Even without the two supreme masters, the situation had been precarious. With Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop back, the outcome was all too predictable. They were not half-baked warriors.
Yet, Dang Mujin couldn’t recklessly attack them. Disrupting the balance here would collapse the front line they maintained with the Taoists of Mount Kunlun.
If that happened, the burden on the Kunlun sect’s formation would be immense. Worse still, if the formation broke, it would be the end.
Once the untrained and the demonic warriors mingled, there would be no way to restore order.
Whether it was fortunate or not, Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop began to stride toward Namgung Jincheon, Hyungong, and the Taoist monks and their disciples.
Hyungong felt despair. It was already a struggle with just the Taoist monks and their disciples. How could they possibly withstand the addition of Jwahobeop and Gwangyeomra?
To make matters worse, the Taoist monk was not one to cling to pride as a warrior.
Thus, as Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop approached, the monk didn’t hesitate to shout.
“Let’s join forces!”
Hearing this, Gwangyeomra chuckled and raised his sword.
“Unexpected. I thought you’d lecture us about the afterlife and hell for taking lives… But in the end, you’re just another warrior, aren’t you?”
Gwangyeomra responded lightly, but the monk took his words seriously.
“You’re beyond saving.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’re destined for hell anyway, whether it’s the hell of unending suffering or the hell of blackened souls. Even Buddha would find it hard to save you, so it’s better for you to bear the burden of your sins. Since you’re already a lost cause.”
In short, ‘You’re already doomed, so I’ll let you take on more sins.’
Gwangyeomra looked at the monk with an incredulous expression.
Then the monk kindly explained.
“You’re already a lost cause.”
“A lost cause?”
“Whether you fall into the hell of unending suffering or the hell of blackened souls, you’re definitely going to hell. Even Buddha would find it hard to save you, so it’s better for you to bear the burden of your sins. Since you’re already a lost cause.”
Gwangyeomra pointed at Hyungong with a look of disbelief.
“If I’m going to hell, where does that leave him? Is there something below hell?”
“That young man is a good person. A sage who seeks medicine for the sick… So it’s better to end his life before he commits any sins and falls into hell.”
The monk spoke with a gaze full of pity directed at Hyungong.
Gwangyeomra’s head spun with confusion.
It was disconcerting enough to hear such blunt words from an ally, but being considered lesser than Hyungong was even harder to swallow.
Gwangyeomra, as if realizing something, shouted at Hyungong.
“You bastard, what nonsense have you been feeding the monk? If you’re a warrior, fight with your sword, not your tongue!”
Hyungong swung his sword wide, deflecting the monk’s disciples, and replied.
”…What are you talking about? I haven’t said a word. If I had bewitched the monk, would I still be fighting him?”
“Ugh…”
Hyungong’s argument was logical enough to leave Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop speechless.
Hyungong noticed the subtle tension between Gwangyeomra, Jwahobeop, and the monk.
‘If only an opportunity would present itself…!’
Just then, one of the monk’s disciples lunged at Hyungong with a fist.
Hyungong, about to block the punch with his sword, suddenly widened his eyes and leaped toward Gwangyeomra. Both Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop raised their swords in alarm.
But Hyungong’s sword wasn’t aimed at Gwangyeomra. Instead, it sliced through the empty space between Gwangyeomra and the monk.
Simultaneously, the disciple’s fist connected with Hyungong’s side.
“Ugh!”
Hyungong spat blood. It was the first injury he had sustained since the battle at Mount Kunlun began.
Gwangyeomra shouted in confusion.
“What, what is this?”
Clutching his side, Hyungong continued to cough up blood but managed to send a mental message to Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop.
Both Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop instinctively took a step back.
Gwangyeomra, realizing something, sent a mental message back to Hyungong.
Hyungong’s expression twisted with frustration.
With that, Hyungong ended the mental communication, spat out more blood, and took a deep breath. Huff, huff.
Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop tried to maintain a calm facade.
But Hyungong could see it all. Their eyes trembled slightly.
Finally, Gwangyeomra’s gaze flickered to the right. It was a brief moment.
But it was more than enough. Once the seed of doubt is planted, it only needs time to grow.
Hyungong’s eyes gleamed with a cunning light.