No matter how powerful the cult leader was, no one could have predicted the sudden hostage situation. This unexpected turn of events brought the fight to a tense standstill before the leader could even showcase his true skills.
“Impressive…”
Hyun-gong found himself quite enjoying the delicate balance of the current situation. A hostage situation was the most effective way to seize control, and Hyun-gong was confident he could wield that control to his advantage.
Unlike the excited Hyun-gong, Eom So-yul was a bit flustered. It wasn’t the sudden hostage situation that caught her off guard. She had joined the group precisely to be used as a hostage, to create hesitation in the cult leader and find a momentary opening to eliminate him.
In other words, Eom So-yul had agreed to the hostage plan. She was even prepared to use her own life as a weapon if necessary. If it meant ending the cult leader’s suffering and granting him a peaceful end, she was willing to make that sacrifice. She had known from the start that survival was unlikely when she sought out the Hwasan sect.
However, upon assessing the cult leader’s condition, Eom So-yul’s certainty wavered. Even in the direst situations, as long as communication was possible, hope could be found. Surprisingly, despite seeming utterly mad, the cult leader was more coherent than expected.
“If luck is on our side, maybe the leader can return to his senses…”
While she was ready to face death, the prospect of survival was undeniably more appealing. Eom So-yul discreetly pinched herself, signaling Hyun-gong to stop the hostage act, but he didn’t lower the sword pressed against her neck. With the blade so close, further resistance was impossible.
During the brief standoff, Hyun-gong, an expert in hostage situations, made a swift and calculated decision.
“A hostage situation is not about threats; it’s a negotiation process.”
The demands of a hostage-taker shouldn’t be too extreme. Telling the cult leader to take his own life would be futile. It would only lead him to reject all negotiations and act more recklessly.
“The essence of a hostage situation is to coax the leader by gradually adding conditions he can accept.”
Hyun-gong made his proposal to the cult leader.
“There’s no need for unnecessary bloodshed. Leader, put down your sword.”
The cult leader scoffed.
“You know that for a warrior, discarding a sword is akin to giving up one’s life.”
Understanding the importance of empathy in negotiations, Hyun-gong added calmly, “That’s not what I mean. I understand you need a way to protect yourself. You can keep the sword in your right hand. I’m asking you to lower the sword that’s flying in the sky.”
“Hmm.”
The cult leader pondered for a moment, then the sword that had been hovering in the air slowly descended to the ground. The first negotiation condition was accepted.
”…This is a good start.”
“I’m Hyun-gong of the Martial Arts Alliance.”
No matter how astute the cult leader was, even with his long reign over many, he couldn’t see through Hyun-gong’s intentions. Hyun-gong was confident in this belief. Indeed, the cult leader couldn’t detect any deceit in Hyun-gong’s gaze.
The cult leader, still gripping his sword, asked Hyun-gong, “So, what do you want from me?”
“I want assurance that you’ll end this bloodshed and leave as a warrior.”
“Assurance, huh? How do you propose I give you that assurance? This doesn’t seem like something that can be resolved without bloodshed.”
Hyun-gong glanced at Dang Mu-jin before addressing the cult leader again.
“Leader, you’re familiar with the poison of the Jin-seng, right?”
”…Of course.”
“We’ll use a very diluted form of the Jin-seng poison to seal your energy center. It won’t cause any immediate issues, but over months and years, your internal energy will gradually dissipate.”
The cult leader frowned.
“Giving up my internal energy means giving up my martial arts. Why should I accept such a proposal?”
Hyun-gong, as if offering a favor, replied, “Look, the important thing is that your internal energy won’t dissipate immediately. Do you understand what that means? We’re offering you and the Great Protector a safe exit from this place.”
The cult leader’s gaze shifted from Hyun-gong to Dang Mu-jin, who tried to appear as harmless as possible to reassure him.
The cult leader approached within five steps of Dang Mu-jin and Hyun-gong before stopping.
“How do you plan to administer the poison?”
“Just make a small cut anywhere and let it seep in…”
As Dang Mu-jin explained, Yu Jin-gwang and Namgung Jin-cheon, standing slightly behind him, exchanged a glance.
Then, in unison, they took a half-step forward.
Thud.
Before the sound could even spread, they drew their swords and swung. But their target wasn’t the cult leader—it was above Dang Mu-jin’s head.
As their swords reached above Dang Mu-jin, a sword, like a bolt of lightning, descended from the sky. It was the very sword the cult leader had placed on the ground earlier.
Clang—
”…!”
The situation became clear. The cult leader had been feigning compliance with Hyun-gong’s words, setting a trap all along.
‘Or perhaps he never intended to negotiate from the start…’
Despite the sudden turn of events, Dang Mu-jin remained calm and stepped back.
But the cult leader’s target wasn’t just Dang Mu-jin. Drawing the sword from its sheath, he swung it at Hyun-gong.
Betrayal from someone you trust ignites a fiercer anger than ever before.
‘The chance of the Great Protector siding with the cult leader is extremely low.’
Thus, Hyun-gong spared Yeom-so, knowing that a simple sword would be useful in the fight against the cult leader. As he wielded the Seungmun Gyeonggeom against the cult leader, he offered a small piece of advice to Yeom-so.
“Great Protector, when you betray someone, always be more prepared for the situation where you’re the one being betrayed.”
“Have you ever been betrayed?”
“No. Preparation isn’t for cleaning up after the fact. It’s to prevent betrayal in the first place.”
With that, Hyun-gong charged at the cult leader. Behind the cult leader, Namgung Myung and Jang Il-nam were also rushing forward.
The cult leader swung his sword, radiating light, repelling everyone who approached him with a single strike. Those who directly faced the cult leader’s sword found their bodies marked with clear signs of the encounter. Despite their recent intense training, their skills were no match for the cult leader’s overwhelming swordsmanship.
‘The sword might break. Is time on the cult leader’s side… No, his internal energy isn’t infinite, so maybe it’s in our favor?’
Simultaneously, as the cult leader moved with elemental precision, the sword controlled by his swordsmanship began targeting Dang Mu-jin. The cult leader clearly recognized Dang Mu-jin as the weakest link in defense and the most dangerous among the orthodox martial artists.
“Block the swordsmanship!”
There was no prior agreement, but Hong Gyeol-gae, Gwang Yeong-ram, and Man Ryeok-song stood by Dang Mu-jin, focusing all their efforts on defending against the swordsmanship.
The power of the swordsmanship was so overwhelming that it felt more challenging to face than the sword directly wielded by the cult leader.
‘Damn it.’
Man Ryeok-song cursed inwardly as he defended against the swordsmanship. All martial arts are designed with human opponents in mind, but the movements of the swordsmanship ignored human limitations, making it impossible to predict its next trajectory.
Even its power was extraordinary. Despite wearing the sacred armor of the Shaolin Temple, the Cheonjam Gap, and reinforcing his fists, Man Ryeok-song struggled to fend off the swordsmanship.
Each time his fists met the swordsmanship, his hands became increasingly bloodied. The Cheonjam Gap was tattered, and now even the white bones of his fingers were faintly visible.
Then, the sword that had been targeting Dang Mu-jin suddenly aimed at Man Ryeok-song. It seemed the swordsmanship decided it could take down Man Ryeok-song before Dang Mu-jin, temporarily shifting its focus.
Man Ryeok-song hesitated as he prepared to strike with his right fist. Could he withstand the swordsmanship?
He wasn’t sure.
It might be possible, but the risk of failure was significant. And the cost of failure was too high. The sharp blade would undoubtedly slice through his right arm, tearing it from fist to shoulder.
Man Ryeok-song knew Dang Mu-jin was behind him. But he couldn’t overcome the instinctive fear and slightly twisted his body. Perhaps the Cheonjam Gap and Gwang Yeom Gap would protect him. That was his hope.
Man Ryeok-song’s hope wasn’t misplaced. The Cheonjam Gap Hong Gwan exerted all his strength to deflect the swordsmanship. However, the swordsmanship quickly regained its balance, moving faster than any human could.
And then, the swordsmanship surged toward Man Ryeok-song again. Already off-balance, Man Ryeok-song knew he couldn’t withstand the sword without injury.
’…Even if I lose both arms, I must survive.’
A situation that could have been prevented with a hoe now required a plow.
But in the heat of battle, misjudgments are common. The moment to pay the price had arrived.
Man Ryeok-seung thrust his arms forward, desperately trying to fend off the incoming sword technique. Yet, the situation was so perilous that he wasn’t sure if even that would save his life.
“Please…!”
Just then, someone stepped in front of Man Ryeok-seung.
It was Gwang Yeom-ra. In an even more precarious stance than Man Ryeok-seung, Gwang Yeom-ra didn’t bother to steady himself before throwing his body in front of him. It wasn’t a reckless attempt to block the master’s sword with his body. Instead, he aimed to intercept the flying sword technique with his own blade.
However, the force behind the sword technique was far too powerful for Gwang Yeom-ra’s blade, which lacked the full strength of a seasoned guide, to withstand.
Gwang Yeom-ra’s arm was violently flung to the side.
Man Ryeok-seung thought Gwang Yeom-ra would use the momentum to dodge and save himself. He also believed the master’s sword technique would claim his own arms, or perhaps his life.
But Man Ryeok-seung’s expectations were shattered. Instead of using the force to evade, Gwang Yeom-ra opened his hand and let go of his sword.
Gwang Yeom-ra lifted his head and looked back at Man Ryeok-seung, who stood behind him. With a tense, resolute expression, he spoke.
“Don’t forget.”
Gwang Yeom-ra spread his arms wide. Watching from behind, Man Ryeok-seung noticed that Gwang Yeom-ra’s arms were trembling with fear.
Yet, Gwang Yeom-ra did not retreat. Instead, he embraced the sword flying toward him.
Man Ryeok-seung felt the warm splash of Gwang Yeom-ra’s blood on his face.