CHAPTER 414: THE GREAT BATTLE (1)

Crackle, crackle

It was the sound of cloth being scratched.

It came from within Dam Hyun’s arms.

Dam Hyun lifted his collar and checked on Cheongho.

Cheongho scratched his fur as if it was feeling uneasy about something.

To animals, Dam Hyun’s tone was gentle.

However, Cheongho glanced up at Dam Hyun once and then lowered his head deeply.

“Are you feeling uneasy?”

Dam Hyun asked so.

The basin was so vast that even fifty thousand warriors of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance could set up camps comfortably.

Once the Demon Cult members appeared on the opposite side of the basin, the war would begin.

Naturally, a grim atmosphere hung over the basin.

Much blood would be shed.

‘Perhaps because it’s a basin, the air feels damp and heavy.’

For some reason, a strange discomfort was sensed in the air.

Like the sweat smell of those tense individuals.

The answer to the question “Are you feeling uneasy?” came not from Cheongho but someone else.

“I’m not feeling uneasy.”

It was the young swordsman beside them.

It was Moyong Jin speaking.

“I’m not uneasy. Because we will win.”

Moyong Jin said confidently.

Moyong Jin, with his long hair tied back tightly, wore a single earring on his ear.

It was a gift from his older brother, Smiling Sword Wolf.

The grown Moyong Jin resembled his brother, famous for his brilliance.

In fact, he belonged to the Muyong Squad and had achieved remarkable feats.

Namgung Shin, Soryu, Moyong Jin.

How many unorthodox and demonic martial artists had these three young masters defeated?

Moyong Jin was no longer the rookie who got beaten and cried in Xi’an.

However, Dam Hyun mercilessly scolded Moyong Jin.

“Who said anything?”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

Yet, he still seemed somewhat sloppy and absent-minded.

Whether Moyong Jin looked embarrassed or not, Dam Hyun didn’t care.

“Why are you so confident we’ll win?”

“Not just winning, but overwhelming victory.”

“So why?”

“Both the quality and quantity of our masters are superior.”

Moyong Jin regained his confidence.

There was nothing wrong with his words.

It was estimated there were three demons at the Unrestrained Demon Realm.

Considering the Demon Cult is a single force, it’s huge, but the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance has more Absolute masters.

Recently, the Iron-blooded Merciless Baek Ryu-san, and leader of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, also ascended to the Absolute Realm.

“Forty thousand and fifty thousand, the number difference isn’t large. And those guys are crazy demon leaders, while we’re a loose alliance.”

Dam Hyun pointed out. His words were correct.

The number difference isn’t big, and demons are all inherently dangerous.

But Moyong Jin expected such a rebuttal.

“The Ming army will assist us.”

“The Ming army?”

“Sixty thousand soldiers including three thousand Iron Cavalry will participate. General Sun Mu will command them.”

Moyong Jin showed a satisfied expression at Dam Hyun’s low exclamation.

Moyong Jin’s confidence had grounds.

Martial artists tend to look down on official armies, but trained troops are very dangerous.

Soldiers who obey orders and form battle formations can kill even masters.

There is a limit to parrying spears flying from all directions.

If even one wound occurs, one can only die like a cat devoured by a swarm of rats.

What about the advance of the Iron Cavalry?

One hundred Iron Cavalry units charging on horseback threaten even Transcendent masters. There are about three thousand such units.

Commander General Sun Mu is a renowned general respected even by civilians.

“Don’t act so proud.”

“…I wasn’t acting proud.”

Moyong Jin blushed.

Namgung Shin and Soryu stepped back one pace.

They left Dam Hyun’s to Moyong Jin.

After that, Dam Hyun repeatedly asked questions and gave instructions to Moyong Jin.

Moyong Jin obediently followed but sometimes seemed upset.

“Aren’t you treating me too much like a servant?”

“Oh? They say gratitude is deeply engraved, but your attitude changed completely?”

Moyong Jin finally shut his mouth tightly.

He had recently visited Dam Hyun to express gratitude.

He had gone all the way to Sky Shattering Island to rescue Peng Mu-ah and the others, even promising to repay the favor.

But Dam Hyun immediately told him to repay the favor and started dragging Moyong Jin around.

He smiled wryly and said.

“I can’t help it. Others just glare with disdain when they hear Azure Forest disciples”

“…That might be true.”

The Azure Forest is a respected sect.

Besides standing shoulder to shoulder with the Nine Sects One Gang, it is respected for its legitimacy.

Because whenever great calamities occur in Murim, they descend from the mountains to fight alongside others.

“Because the Azure Forest refused to participate.”

But this time was different.

The forest leader of the Azure Forest, Im Gi-hak, did not send any Azure Forest disciples.

That was not all.

He issued a summons to the disciples in the Central Plains as well.

Even the Murim Alliance leader Baek Ryu-san and other elders’ earnest requests were met with silence.

Condemnation of the Azure Forest pierced the heavens.

Since Dam Hyun revealed himself as an Azure Forest disciple and questioned them, it was natural to be treated coldly.

“Let’s stop here.”

Dam Hyun stopped abruptly.

“…Is there nothing more you want to know?”

“Yes. I’m done.”

As Dam Hyun tried to leave, Moyong Jin said with a stern expression.

“I wish you good luck.”

“You too.”

The fierce battle was imminent.

In a situation where anyone here could die.

Dam Hyun waved his hand roughly and stepped back.

His expression looked somewhat frustrated.

‘…Nothing strange.’

As a Taoist and martial artist, he could not ignore his intuition.

He told Do Meng and Do Won-myeong about it.

The disciples did not ignore Dam Hyun’s intuition but did not overtrust it either.

‘Is this morale really because of the impending war?’

There was no change in the operation.

Dam Hyun returned to the barracks assigned to the Honor Flower Disciples.

“Come in.”

Do Won-myeong, guarding the door, let Dam Hyun in.

Inside were already the Honor Flower Disciples.

It was not only Do Meng and Do Won-myeong.

There were three more Honor Flower Disciples.

So Mu-tae and Cha Mu-reu came from the vast northern grasslands. They were rescued by an Azure Forest Honor Flower Disciple in their childhood and had entered the sect.

They were senior disciples whom Dam Hyun had never even seen.

There was also a senior uncle named Dong-ye from Joseon1.

There were Six Honor Flower Disciples including Dam Hyun.

They would carry out the ‘operation.’

“You’re late, Dam Hyun.”

“I was looking around.”

Do Meng clicked his tongue as if displeased.

“I already got the troop deployment; is it really necessary?”

A large sheet of paper lay before Do Meng.

The basin’s terrain was drawn quite precisely, and wooden pieces arranged in military formations.

It was a troop deployment map or an operational map used by commanders.

“Did the alliance leadership give this?”

Dam Hyun said with a suspicious look.

It was top secret since it revealed both enemy and ally deployments.

The masters of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Unorthodox Alliance would strike first at the front.

“Somewhat. The rest was helped by Cha Mu-reu.”

The senior brother, Cha Mu-reu, was a man of few words.

He had a stiff face and was serious, with a hawk perched on his shoulder.

It was said he mastered a unique technique to share the hawk’s vision.

‘…Impressive.’

Dam Hyun wanted to put Cheongho on his shoulder, but Cheongho seemed reluctant to come outside.

“There is good news and bad news. Which do you want first…?”

“Just tell me both at once.”

Do Meng showed a displeased expression at Dam Hyun’s words.

“It’s presumed that the Twin-headed Demon Brain is the Cardinal, Gwi-ryeong. His location can be easily identified.”

Do Meng took out a colored picture and showed it.

It was a lavishly decorated palanquin.

It was a two-person carriage carried by one porter in front and one behind.

“Demon Brain moves by palanquin. Though he is an Unrestrained Demon Realm master, as the commander-in-chief, he will rarely participate directly in battle.”

The good news was that the target could be easily identified; the bad news was that approaching him would not be easy.

“However, confident in his own strength, he will likely roam to places needing his intervention. The two palanquin bearers are also Extreme Demon Realm masters, named…”

The Honor Flower Disciples listened attentively to Do Meng’s explanation.

“…Dong-ye will summon mist mixed with mountain dust on the western outskirts of the basin. Luring Demon Brain is the first strategy.”

Do Meng and the Honor Flower Disciples were definitely different from other Azure Forest disciples.

They did not hesitate to use any means.

Their mastery of both sorcery and martial arts gave them few limits on what they could do.

“Then, infiltrate and capture him.”

“If Demon Brain is a Cardinal, capturing him won’t be easy.”

Dong-ye pointed out.

But her expression was calm.

Do Meng answered without hesitation.

“The limitation on power borrowing is removed. The standard for this operation is unlimited.”

Several Honor Flower Disciples’ expressions turned serious.

Power borrowing is a unique power of Honor Flower Disciples but it’s not omnipotent.

There are severe side effects and required offerings.

But Do Meng’s words did not end there.

“We have prepared three forbidden treasures.”

Dam Hyun smiled.

He had used the forbidden treasure, the Star Mist Alarm Bell.

It was a powerful item that sealed the mighty soul of the Heavenly Demon.

Perhaps such non-martial means were Azure Forest’s true strength.

Dam Hyun thought so.

“Dam Hyun will have one, Dong-ye one, and I will have one.”

A welcome sound to hear.

At that moment, there was commotion outside the barracks.

The Honor Flower Disciples quietly peeked out the barracks door.

Warriors hurried about carrying weapons.

The cause of the commotion was quickly understood.

It was the sound of tens of thousands of trained soldiers marching.

Through the narrow path leading to the basin, the Iron Cavalry appeared.

Tens of thousands of armored regular soldiers arrived inside the basin.

The warriors greeting them showed glimpses of hope on their faces.

But not only the Ming army appeared before them.

On the opposite side of the basin.

Large, dark masses were crossing over the mountain.

Those masses were actually groups of people.

Tens of thousands of demons dressed in black robes were gathering on the opposite side of the basin.

All who would fight had gathered.

Now only bloodshed remained.

“Prepare for tomorrow.”

Do Meng said so.

The war had begun.

Various people had gathered in this basin of Kunlun.

Not only prestigious sects like the Nine Sects One Gang or the Unorthodox Sects who ruled a castle at night.

Those running military offices in small rural villages.

Lowly Unorthodox thugs who lived by extorting kids’ money.

They too had come all the way to the Qinghai Province to fight the Demon Cult.

How often in their lives would Central Plains people go all the way to Kunlun Mountain?

For them, the current situation did not feel real.

The war drum sounded by the Ming army was like the beating of a heart.

The exquisitely resonant heavy drumbeats seemed to synchronize with heartbeats.

Everyone’s heartbeats blended into one.

Thus individuals become an army, and conflicts turn into war.

Cold sweat from tension emitted a musty, foul stench.

But such emotions were not seen in the demons ahead.

Indeed, the Demon Cult’s notorious reputation was not built in vain.

They snarled and smiled as if starving for blood, not looking human.

However, there were many brave ones on the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance side as well.

The head of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, the Alliance Leader.

The Iron-blooded Merciless Baek Ryu-san stepped forward at the head of the army.

No arrows flew.

He raised his sword high to the sky and shouted.

The voice of a master staking everything resonates through heaven and earth.

“Charge!”

What use are subtle tactics and military strategy to martial artists?

The Demon Cult shouted the same cry, and both armies began running toward each other.

Their strides soon turned into full sprints.

“Let’s go!”

The warriors on the army’s right wing shouted loudly, trying to overcome their tension as they ran.

Among those relatively lagging were some with extraordinary gazes.

They were Dam Hyun and the Honor Flower Disciples.

Do Meng pointed straight ahead.

A lavish palanquin was visible far ahead.

“That is the target.”

The Honor Flower Disciples hid within the army and ran toward the target.

1. TL/N: Korea ️