Chapter 679

The reconnaissance squad was made up of swift-footed elites, and it showed. More than two hundred strong, they reached the northeastern border in barely three days, even with breaks along the way.

But none of them—not even the two tribal chieftains leading the squad—had expected another group of unwelcome visitors to arrive before they encountered the mysterious monster known as the Blood Monk.

And this unexpected situation was nothing compared to the news those visitors had brought.

“What… did you just say?”

“What are you talking about?”

Chief Jang and Chief Go stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

It was shocking news none of them had expected. Had it come from anyone other than the Young Palace Lord of the Nanman Beast Palace, they would have dismissed it as nonsense. In fact, they wished they could.

But despite their desperate wish, Yayul Mok’s answer did not change.

“It is all true.”

The truth was there in his trembling eyes. The two chieftains could only sigh as they realized it had all happened.

“What in the world…”

“Why would the Palace Lord make that choice? Why?”

Yayul Mok clenched his fists so tightly that blood ran from his palms before opening his mouth.

“My father had already guessed that he would be unable to resist the tide of events once so many chieftains had joined hands with Uncle Baek—no, with Baeksang.”

“Even so, did he bring this danger upon himself just to save a few Han Chinese?”

“He did not bring it upon himself.”

“What?”

“My father said this when he sent me and the others to the underground prison. He said that repaying a righteous act with righteousness was keeping faith, and that turning away from someone who had helped us was injustice. So today, I intend to stake my fate on keeping faith. On those two people—Jin Taekyung and Baeksang.”

“……!”

“……!”

The two chieftains closed their eyes with low groans.

Having served at the Beast Miao King’s side for a long time, they had vaguely guessed what kind of person he was and what choices he would make.

But…

“This time, the Palace Lord was wrong. He should have gathered all the strength of the tribes that followed him and the Miao people, then executed the traitors in the Inner Palace.”

“Even if we give Jin Taekyung every benefit of the doubt, trusting him may have been the right choice. If the Young Palace Lord’s story is true, Jin Taekyung ultimately left alone in order to keep faith. But Baeksang is different.”

As the two chieftains spoke with such certainty, Yayul Mok, who had been looking at them with a trace of hope, opened his mouth.

“It is too early to judge. If Baeksang granted my father’s request…”

“Young Palace Lord.”

Chief Jang cut him off, his voice hollow.

“‘Subdue the Han Chinese in the reconnaissance squad and escort them to the Inner Palace.’ That is the first and last missive we received. Do you understand what it means?”

Yayul Mok faltered. Behind him, Namho, who had been watching quietly, suddenly understood. He spoke almost in a groan.

“He kept them in the dark on purpose.”

“Elder Namho, you mean…”

“There is no need to say more. The two chieftains here and the warriors in the reconnaissance squad are all people who follow the Palace Lord. If they were told about the trouble in the Inner Palace, they would surely interfere somehow. He probably intended to call them back after everything was finished. Or…”

Namho’s gaze darkened.

“Or… the Blood Monk. He may have planned to let that old monster deal with them.”

“……!”

“A borrowed knife to kill others. Baeksang and Dark Heaven chose a useful blade. No, in this situation, it isn’t even someone else’s blade. There is a strong possibility that the Blood Monk is in league with them as well.”

A cold silence settled over the group. Namho saw their shaken faces and felt his heart sink.

This is bad. The worst.

Behind them lay the Nanman Beast Palace, likely in Baeksang and Dark Heaven’s hands by now. Ahead stood a mysterious Supreme Peak master they could not face alone.

And Jin Taekyung, the one person they could count on most, was not here.

What are we supposed to do?

Even after a lifetime in the Hidden Shadow Pavilion, Namho had no easy answer. But he had to decide before it was too late.

Amid the suffocating feeling that invisible chains were wrapped around his entire body, Namho finally forced his lips apart.

“Where are the others?”

Chief Jang understood.

“If you mean the Han Chinese, we detained them as a precaution. We did them no harm—only struck their Sleep Acupoints.”

“……”

“You intend to send them back to the Central Plains?”

The question caught Namho squarely off guard. After a brief silence, Namho nodded heavily.

“I’m sorry. But for now, this is the best option. If they cross the Yangtze and report what is happening in Nanman, the Murim Alliance will never stand by and do nothing.”

“……The Murim Alliance.”

“I was born in Nanman and spent half my life in the Central Plains. Though I am nothing more than a powerless old man, I am someone who understands the circumstances of both Nanman and the Central Plains better than anyone. If it is the Murim Alliance I know, they will find a way to help Nanman.”

His voice was calm, but his resolve was unmistakable.

Beyond the dense grass where they were lying in ambush, the two chieftains gazed at the broad, endless waters of the Yangtze before opening their mouths with sighs.

“Damn it.”

“What should we do?”

Namho had already made up his mind.

“There are two ways. First, release the Han Chinese, leave this place at once, avoid Baeksang’s eyes, and wait for the right moment. Second, head to the Central Plains together with the Han Chinese.”

“Head to the Central Plains together? There is no ship of sufficient size anywhere around here. How are we supposed to—”

“There is. A ship that can take everyone.”

They turned toward the sudden voice. Sama Pyo was staggering to his feet, supported by Taishan.

“Is that true?” Chief Jang asked.

At Chief Jang’s question, Sama Pyo answered with a pale face.

“How do you think we got all the way to Nanman?”

“Do you mean…”

“The swift ship of the Yangtze River Channel League is not far from here. It’s half a day to the west. If we travel for even half that time, we might be able to rendezvous with it.”

Hope lit the two chieftains’ faces.

If they followed a tributary of the Yangtze as far as Sichuan, they would be within the reach of the Central Plains Murim. Even if Baeksang and Dark Heaven held the Nanman Beast Palace, reinforcements from the Murim Alliance—with the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families at their head—could turn the situation around.

There are already three prestigious great sects in Sichuan alone. Even if the Murim Alliance’s official reinforcements are delayed, those three will be different.

Namho calmly considered their prospects.

The Emei Sect. The Qingcheng Sect. The Sichuan Tang Clan.

Even though they had shed much blood and weakened during the Sichuan Bloodbath, their roots ran deep and firm enough that even Dark Heaven could not tear them out in a single stroke.

Moreover, all three sects considered Jin Taekyung their Benefactor. If they answered the call, gathered the strength of Sichuan Murim, and headed for Nanman…

Seven days and nights to return, if we’re fast. Ten days at most.

Namho was neither a hot-blooded youth nor a martial artist who trusted in his own martial arts. That was why his judgment was colder and more accurate than anyone else’s in this place.

Lead them back the way we came, and we’ll surely die. Bring the Central Plains to our aid, and we have a real chance. Until then, Jin Taekyung and the Beast Miao King will have to…

He could only trust that they would hold out. That they would still be alive when the others returned.

Even Namho himself could not quite believe in that hope. Then, as he held on to it—

Boom. Boom. Booooom!

Namho heard it. No—everyone hidden in the forest above the endless river could see and hear it.

A low drumbeat. A sleek hull approaching on the currents of the Yangtze.

“What is that…?”

“The Yangtze River Channel League! It’s their swift ship!”

But the next moment, the two chieftains, who had been celebrating with brightened faces, sensed something strange and fell silent.

The swift ship should have been at least half a day to the west. Why was it here?

They saw the rigid expressions on Namho’s and Sama Pyo’s faces, and their puzzlement turned to dread. Namho spoke through a groan.

“Prepare for battle.”

“……!”

Fear swept through the group. Namho thought of the one person who was not at his side—the one he needed now more than ever.

Damn it. I’m sorry.

They might die before they could save him.

Crash. Boom.

The hull cut through the water without slowing and drove hard onto the sandy shore.

And then…

Step.

Where a wave had swept over the sand, one person’s footstep was etched into it.

Whoosh!

Two streaks of light cut through the air.

Despite their strange movements, the twin wheels came at me like flashes of light. I swung White Flame diagonally downward to meet them.

KWA-BOOM! Rumble-rumble!

A tremendous roar erupted as a shockwave tore through the area and shook the air. But it was not over yet.

My five senses, sharp as blades, caught every movement of the twin wheels behind me.

They’re coming again.

As Muyaho slid backward, I caught him by the nape and twisted my body.

Whoosh—shhk!

A blue flash skimmed past me. I heard a sharp slicing sound and saw the White Tiger’s snow-white fur scatter through the air.

In my tilted field of vision, another sight came into view: a wild-haired freak charging at me like a mad bison.

“You bastard—!”

The Black Hand Fist Demon.

Black Force layered itself over his dark fist, and then he shot it straight toward my chest.

Whoom!

I felt the air ripple. Felt the terrifying power behind that punch. But…

That won’t be enough.

With a brief mutter, I straightened the body I had twisted as far as it would go. By then, the black Force had already reached point-blank range and was giving off an ominous light.

Beyond it, the Black Hand Fist Demon’s eyes gleamed with madness. They seemed to say, You’re dead now.

I had seen that certainty in the eyes of many enemies before.

From Third Rate swordsmen to Supreme Peak masters. Regardless of their level of martial arts, they had always worn that expression.

And when everything was over, I was always the one still standing on two feet.

Swish.

In the slowed-down world, the cool feel of the spear shaft slipped away from my hand.

The Black Hand Fist Demon had closed in so deftly that my spear had lost its advantage. Without a moment’s hesitation, I let go and struck with my palm.

KWA-BOOM!

Two differently colored Forces collided with a roar. Everything within a radius of ten-odd jang¹ melted beneath the horrific heat, and the Black Hand Fist Demon’s eyes flew wide open.

“You…”

One clash was enough for each of us to measure the other’s strength.

Even though the twin wheels had made me react half a beat late, I had easily blocked the Black Hand Fist Demon’s punch. Looking into his wavering eyes, I spoke calmly.

“A nobody. Right?”

“……!”

He knew something had gone wrong. Too late.

I clenched my other, empty hand.

Fwoosh.

Blue-white flames surged around my fist.

Flame-Extinguishing Divine Fist.

KWA-AAANG!