CHAPTER 448: HERE AND NOW (2)

"That doesn't sound like a very important reason. Get down."

"Ugh!" Although the Black Snake Alliance Chairman's voice contained no inner qi or veiled threat, his words weighed heavily on the Phantom King.

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The air instantly grew thick with tension. There was an unmistakable air of authority in the Black Snake Alliance Chairman's command. The Phantom King almost unconsciously stepped down from his palanquin.

Shaking with rage and humiliation, he just barely stopped his feet from moving. He was the Sect Leader of the Mount Mo Sect, a master of the special martial arts and sorcery passed down through generations. Since becoming the Sect Leader, he had never bowed to anyone's authority.

"You dare order me around?" he barked, a ghastly blue energy gathering in his eyes. He was confident he could easily fight one of the Ten Supremes as long as he was prepared, and today, he was more than ready. How dare the Black Snake Alliance Chairman, whom he had just met, demand his obedience?

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

For a Sect Leader of the unorthodox, known to be among the most arrogant, it was unthinkable.

"What will you do if I refuse?" he spat, releasing a mist-like qi and transferring it to the jiangshi supporting the palanquin.

"Growwwwwl..."

The iron-masked jiangshi let out bizarre sounds, while their blackened fingertips twitched grotesquely.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

A confrontation between the Black Snake Alliance Chairman and the Phantom King...

If this goes well, I might get to witness the skills of two monsters today.

The best outcome would be for them to cripple each other.

The unorthodox leaders also gathered their inner qi, bracing for the worst. This was a gathering of the world's most violent and unscrupulous groups, and a bloodbath could erupt at any moment. Anticipating a clash, all parties had brought their most elite forces.

Baek Suryong was no exception. He focused intently on the Phantom King and the Black Snake Alliance Chairman's movements.

Fuck, I didn't expect a conflict to break out before the conference even began.

He didn't want a fight to break out just yet. If necessary, he was prepared to intervene.

The Black Snake Alliance Chairman frowned slightly. "Do you not understand what the words 'get down' mean?"

"... After ten years of seclusion training, you must've forgotten your basic language. I said, I refuse."

The Chairman of the Black Snake Alliance was one of the Ten Supremes and the Three Blights, but the Phantom King was also one of the Ten Great Villains. Moreover, almost nothing was known about his martial arts or sorcery.

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No matter how peerless a master the Black Snake Alliance Chairman was, the Phantom King was confident in his own abilities. Although little was known about the Mount Mo Sect, martial artists had long feared the jiangshi, talismans, and bizarre sorcery they wielded.

The Phantom King is putting up more of a fight than we expected. What happens next is important.

The Black Snake Alliance Chairman attempted to seize the initiative but failed. Will he back down meekly? Or will he draw his blade?

Everyone observed the pair cautiously. The course of this meeting hinged on how the Black Snake Alliance Chairman responded.

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"Is that so?" the Black Snake Alliance Chairman chuckled.

He did not move a muscle. Instead, a wave of energy spiraled out from his feet, carving a clear mark on the ground.

RUMBLE!

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

Dozens of rocks around the Black Snake Alliance Chairman, ranging in size from fist-sized pebbles to rocks the size of a human head, floated into the air as he used telekinesis as naturally as breathing.

The other unorthodox leaders tensed at this tremendous display of power. Some cloaked themselves in protective enhanced qi, bracing themselves for an attack.

"Phantom King," the Black Snake Alliance Chairman remarked casually, as if nothing in the world could shake him. "I heard you're a sorcerer who commands phantoms."

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A terrifying killing intent and ghostly energy flowed from the Phantom King. "You really want to go at it, huh?!" he warned.

Baek Suryong snorted. He could sense the fear behind that killing intent.

"Coincidentally, the Black Snake Alliance has a phantom of its own," the Chairman chuckled, as if telling a bad joke.

At the same time, the swirling stones shot out in every direction.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

FWOOSH!

Each rock flew with terrifying speed like hidden weapons. While some rocketed into open space, others hurtled toward the martial artists present.

"Crazy bastard!"

"Black Snake Alliance Chairman! Are you planning to attack us as well?!"

"What the fuck!"

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Flustered, the unorthodox leaders stepped forward to protect their subordinates. The rocks weren't much of a threat to them, but they were powerful enough to kill or injure their underlings.

The Black Snake Alliance Chairman sneered, "Bow Phantom."

The woman accompanying him drew her bow and fired so quickly that only the unorthodox leaders and Baek Suryong could see her move.

Streaks of light erupted from the bow and vaporized all the flying rocks.

""......""

Everyone was rendered speechless from the shock. Shooting down a distant target was something any decent archer could do, but hitting hidden targets with unpredictable trajectories was difficult even for a supreme master.

Above all, only one archer in the world possessed the skill to imbue an arrow with so much power that it could instantly shatter dozens of rocks to dust.

"As I thought..." Baek Suryong sighed. He had guessed who the woman was when he first saw her, but thanks to the Black Snake Alliance Chairman, he was now certain. "...She was indeed the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom."

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"...What?"

"Who did you just say she was?!"

Everyone stared at the tall woman in disbelief. The Soul Hunting Bow Phantom was one of the Ten Supremes and Three Blights!

The Viridian Scholar was the first to recover from the shock. "Why... did the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom come with you?" he asked incredulously.

Mimi sniffled quietly, her round eyes glistening. "They said there were pop-ups," she whispered, her cute voice trembling. "But... we don’t have any!"

"She's staying at my place as a guest. She's also my friend."

"Friend, my ass. Make me perform like a clown one more time and I'll put a hole in your head," the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom grumbled, slinging her bow back onto her back.

The few remaining skeptics gaped in astonishment. Besides the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom, there couldn't be another woman in the world who would threaten to put a hole in the head of the great Black Snake Alliance Chairman.

"Is she really the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom...?"

"This is insane."

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The unorthodox leaders grew troubled. The Phantom King was no longer the issue. Two of the Three Blights had arrived at the meeting together. If a fight broke out, they could likely annihilate everyone present.

Even if I could escape from the Black Snake Alliance Chairman, the moment I turn my back, an arrow from the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom would be embedded in it.

Silence ensured once again as the unorthodox leaders all imagined a similar scenario.

Amidst the occasional sound of gulping, the Black Snake Alliance Chairman stared at the Phantom King.

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"...I'll get down," the Phantom King mumbled.

This was, for all intents and purposes, a declaration of surrender. He had abandoned the very thought of confronting the Black Snake Alliance.

For the first time in ten years, the Phantom King stepped foot outside the Mount Mo Sect. His dignified appearance from moments ago now seemed pathetic. Standing on the ground, his already small frame seemed even smaller.

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"Sit down, everyone."

No one objected to the Black Snake Alliance Chairman taking charge of the conference. The unorthodox leaders quietly took their seats, which the Valley of Evil had prepared the day before.

[Senior Brother, the situation's gotten complicated,] the Viridian Scholar whispered anxiously through telepathy.

Baek Suryong nodded imperceptibly. [Yes, the balance has been completely shattered.]

The Black Snake Alliance now had an overwhelmingly advantage in negotiations. Even if the Valley of Evil, the Viridian Forest, and the Mount Mo Sect joined forces, they would have a difficult time facing the Alliance.

[Accomplishing our goal won't be easy, even if the other factions reveal all their hidden cards.]

[Don't forget, those two might not be the only ones from the Black Snake Alliance. They might have more elites waiting at the foot of the mountain, just like the Giant Spirit Keep or the Tiger Pass Keep.

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[It's one complication after another. Who would have thought that three of the Ten Supremes would gather in one place?]

The Viridian Scholar looked dejected. He had believed that, even in the worst-case scenario, he could preside over the meeting as long as he was with Baek Suryong. However, now that the Black Snake Alliance Chairman had appeared with the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom and seized the initiative, the future was uncertain.

[This is all my fault. I should've kept a closer eye on the Black Snake Alliance...]

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[Don't blame yourself. Even I didn't expect the Black Snake Alliance to become such a huge variable.]

Baek Suryong quietly observed the Black Snake Alliance Chairman, who had naturally taken the seat of honor. Aside from the loftiness of his realm, he gave off the strong impression of a true martial master.

Separate from the situation, Baek Suryong couldn't help but admire the man as a martial artist.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

He probably didn't even need to bring the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom.

He couldn't find any openings in the Black Snake Alliance Chairman, and it probably wouldn't be possible to do so without crossing blades.

"Let's begin the meeting," the Black Snake Chairman announced from the seat of honor that should have belonged to Blue-Eyed Freak.

Blue Eyed Freak rose from his seat. Eyeing the Black Snake Alliance Chairman, he began stiffly, "I extend my gratitude to all unorthodox leaders in attendance. The purpose of today's meeting is to decide our stance on the impending war between the orthodox murim and the Blood Cult..."

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

"I'll state my position first." The Black Snake Alliance Chairman interjected, standing back up.

The unorthodox leaders reflexively rushed to their feet. If the Black Snake Alliance Chairman were to make a move now, they would be able to react a fraction faster if they were standing.

"It seems I've made you uncomfortable. Let's just sit and talk," the Chairman chuckled as he sat back down.

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The unorthodox leaders sat down one by one, their expressions rigid.

Baek Suryong's face darkened. He's totally toying with them.

At this rate, the meeting would proceed exactly as the Black Snake Chairman intended. He had no intention of standing by and watching that happen.

"The Black Snake Alliance's position is..."

"Before we begin the meeting, there's something I'd like to propose!"

Everyone glared at the speaker in shock. Just who was the madman who dared interrupt the Black Snake Alliance Chairman?

Baek Suryong stepped in front of the Viridian Scholar and clasped his hands together in greeting. "Hi! I'm Maeng Ryonghwi of the Yama Keep."

Jang Geol and Gu Gil were restless, despite knowing Baek Suryong's true identity. Even the Viridian Scholar had to steady his breathing.

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

"I apologize for interrupting, but I felt like this was my only chance, so I came forward even knowing it was rude."

The Soul Hunting Bow Phantom chuckled. "You're a brave one, aren't you?"

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

The Black Snake Alliance Chairman stared at the willow leaf dao at Baek Suryong's waist, his expression unreadable. "You're a bladesman," he concluded.

"Pardon?"

"Your body is very well-trained. What kind of blade art do you use?"

"......"

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Noticing the Black Snake Alliance Chairman's eyes light up with interest as he scrutinized his body, Baek Suryong finally understood the essence of this formidable bladesman.

He's a martial arts maniac.

His eyes gleamed with mischief. People like that tended to be pretty easy to win over.

"My master was a loner obsessed with the blade, and I am his only disciple. If I get the chance, I'd like to have my master's creation acknowledged by the world's greatest bladesmaster."

"You're the only disciple, huh..." The Black Snake Alliance Chairman's lips curled upward faintly.

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Baek Suryong's hopes surged. Until now, the man had seemed uninterested in anything, but his curiosity had finally been piqued.

"You have my permission to speak."

"Thank you, sir." Baek Suryong surveyed the assembled unorthodox leaders. "Four factions representing the unorthodox sects have gathered here today: The Viridian Forest, the Black Snake Alliance, the Mount Mo Sect, and the Valley of Evil."

The unorthodox leaders appeared puzzled by this obvious statement. However, what followed was anything but predictable.

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"However, the Viridian Forest has three representatives who don't get along very well. Since they'll clearly be at odds with each other, wouldn't it be counterproductive for them to attend the meeting together?"

The Giant Spirit Boss shot up from his seat and glared at Baek Suryong as if he wanted to murder him. "So? What are you getting at, you son of a bitch?"

"Here and now." Baek Suryong fixed his gaze on the Giant Spirit Boss and the Tiger Pass Boss. "How about we decide on a single representative for the Viridian Forest Alliance?"