Chapter 1040: You'll Understand It Too (Part 5)

Paaah!

With the setting sun, Baekcheon raced like a meteor.

Every time his feet touched the ground, his body leaped over a distance of more than three li, as gracefully as a soaring bird. It was a speed that brought to mind the word "prodigy."

But there was nothing particularly special about it. Everyone around him was running at the same speed. Baek Cheon glanced to his side for a moment.

Un Geom had a calm expression as he ran. He didn't seem to be exerting much effort. Baek Cheon sighed with relief and turned to look behind him. They were all keeping up without falling behind.

This kind of high-speed movement was nothing new for the likes of the Five Swords, so he wasn't too concerned. What worried him were none other than Nangung Dowi and Im Sobyeong.

However, to his surprise, the seemingly frail Im Sobyeong was running with a calm and composed expression. Moreover, Nangung Dowi was also keeping pace without any difficulty.

'Impressive.'

The Mount Hua Sect had always emphasized the fundamentals. Of course, at this point, Baek Cheon couldn't help but think that Chung Myung didn't pay attention just to the fundamentals but also to the mobility of the sect...

In any case, it seemed that Im Sobyeong and Nangung Dowi weren't feeling too uncomfortable with the speed they had built from the basics. It was a sight that hinted at their high level of background and training.

'It's not the time to worry about others.'

Baek Cheon breathing slightly quickened. This level of exertion was not a challenge for him. Under normal circumstances, he would maintain a speed twice as fast as this without a change in expression.

However, the reason he was feeling the burden now was one and one only.

The martial artists surrounding them, dressed in fiery red attire.

Unlike the disciplined aura of the righteous sects, these rough and untamed individuals exuded a wild and explosive energy, as if they were surrounding the Mount Hua party, ready to erupt at any moment.

Baek Cheon's expression hardened.

He knew that they didn't necessarily have evil intentions, but the burden was inevitable. After all, not too long ago, they had been in combat with the Mount Hua Sect.

'Myriad Man Manor...'

Members of the Myriad Man Manor, distinctive in their white and red robes.

'Hongyeon (Red Dogs)...'

There must have been a different name they were called by at first. Probably a name that made sense. But at some point, Kangho began calling them Hongyeon.

The red dogs.

The dogs of Jang Ilso, who showed unwavering loyalty only to their master.

Fear and contempt were mixed in that nickname for Jang Ilsu's followers. However, the actual individuals welcomed this name and proudly referred to themselves as Hongyeon, demonstrating their blind loyalty to Jang Ilso.

Therefore, Kangho would call them dogs while still feeling a sense of fear. Clad in their symbolic white and red robes, they always surrounded Jang Ilso, trampling his enemies as loyal hounds.

Now, these Red Dogs were surrounding Mount Hua's disciples. Occasionally, the unrefined energy in the air made their hairs stand on end. It was a completely different aura compared to the righteous sects, a sharp wildness that never allowed them to relax for a moment.

'Is the Myriad Man Manor this strong?'

While they weren't pushing themselves to their limits, the Mount Hua party now boasted individuals who wouldn't fall behind anywhere in terms of martial prowess. However, among Myriad Man Manor, there were over a hundred Hongyeon who could keep up with this speed.

Due to their experiences confronting Myriad Man Manor's elite and repelling the assailants who attacked Mount Hua, they had believed that they could handle at least one Myriad Man Manor alone, and that confidence was now being shattered.

Baek Cheon bit his lip slightly.

'Well.'

No wonder Myriad Man Manor had been able to secure a position as the leader of the Evil Tyrant Alliance. Even if Jang Ilso were a remarkable figure, he would never have been able to rise above these formidable individuals without the support of a powerful faction.

Thud!

Instinctively, strength surged into Baek Cheon's legs as they struck the ground.

'They are our enemies.'

That was certain. He knew that. And so, Baek Cheon couldn't help but maintain a cautious mindset. But at this moment, these terrifying individuals who were supposed to be their foes became comrades with the same enemy.

The feeling of anxiety and reassurance, awkwardness and hope, coexisted in a strange way. At that moment, Yoon Jong's voice was heard.

"Sasuk, when do you think we'll arrive?"

"It should be soon."

From Guijiang to Hangzhou, it was a distance of a thousand li. For an ordinary person, it would take ten days of continuous walking to reach the destination, but for them, it was a distance they could cover in just half a day.

They had been running tirelessly from sunrise to midday, so they would likely enter Hangzhou soon.

"...Then we'll see each other shortly."

The word referring to the target was missing. However, everyone here knew who Yoon Jong was talking about.

Demonic Sect.

The two words flashed in Baek Cheon's mind as he naturally gazed ahead. The leaders of the group, the two individuals running at the very front.

For a moment, he felt his breath catch. The sight of Chung Myung in a black martial arts uniform and Jang Ilso in a red robe was etched into Baek Cheon's eyes like a vivid image.

'In my lifetime... I never thought I'd see those two running side by side.'

The person who the disciples of Mount Hua could trust the most was undoubtedly Chung Myung. Although he might be the most untrustworthy person in the world at ordinary times, Chung Myung on the battlefield was someone they could rely on more than anyone else.

And the person feared the most among Mount Hua's disciples was undoubtedly Jang Ilso. In Mount Hua, Jang Ilso was not only the embodiment of hatred but also a symbol of fear.

Now, these two individuals were leading the group behind them. It was a sight that had never been imagined even once. So, Baek Cheon's profound sense of foreignness was only natural.

However, at the same time...

'If I say this, I might sound like I've lost my mind.'

Baek Cheon glanced back for a moment. As if he was concerned that his inner thoughts might be heard by the other disciples.

'When I see those two together, I don't think we'll can ever lose.'

Perhaps other disciples of Mount Hua were having similar thoughts. 

At that moment, Jang Ilso' relaxed voice rang out.

"It seems like Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword is quite tense."

Chung Myung didn't respond to Jang Ilso's words. He simply fixed his gaze ahead and continued to run. However, Jang Ilso smiled casually, as if he had anticipated such a reaction.

"You don't need to be too tense. You don't have much to do. Just finish things at the right time. If I ask too much of a little guy like you, it makes me look bad, you know?"

At that moment, Chung Myung looked at Jang Ilso running beside him and raised the corners of his mouth. It was a clear smile, bright enough for Baek Cheon to see even from behind.

"Hmm?"

Jang Ilso asked with a curious expression.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Keep going."

"Huh?"

"When you can talk, it's better to talk. The composure on that face is going to disappear soon."

"Ho...?"

Jang Ilsu looked at Chung Myung with an air of curiosity.

"Do you think I'm underestimating their power?"

"No, you're not the type to do something stupid like that."

"But?"

Chung Myung's eyes darkened.

"You'll understand it too."

"... ."

"There are things in the world that cannot be measured with calculations."

Chung Myung didn't bother to explain further. He simply turned his head slightly to check on the followers behind him.

Baek Cheon, Yoo Iseol, Yoon Jong, Jo Gol, and Tang Soso.

The only ones who had their expressions change due to Chung Myung's words were those who had experienced the Demonic Sect in the North Sea. They knew the meaning behind Chung Myung's words.

"You're probably going to see something you've never imagined."

Chung Myung said abruptly, and Jang Ilso looked at him with a strange look in his eyes.

"That... ."

As Jang Ilso made a light gesture, Ho Gakmyung, who was not far away, quickly caught up. Jang Ilso gave him some instructions in a low voice.

Ho Gakmyung quickly nodded and slowed down to join the Honggyeon, who were trailing behind.

Chung Myung watched the process with both eyes.

Whether Jang Ilso felt that gaze or not, he looked at Chung Myung with a sly smile.

"Why? What are you curious about?"

"... What instructions did you give?"

"Out of the blue, I just told them not to be surprised no matter what kind of spectacle they saw, just as you said."

"... ."

"Whether your words are right or wrong, it's better to be prepared than to be taken in. You gave me advice, and there's no reason not to take it, is there?"

Chung Myung let out a bitter laugh.

In the past, even those on the same righteous side would not accept his advice as it was. But this time, this Evil Sect guy was taking his words seriously.

For that guy, there's no distinction between righteousness and evil. The only division is between what can be used and what can't. Such thoughts crossed Chung Myung's mind once again.

Chung Myung and the Heavenly Demon were beings outside the laws of the world. What would have happened to this powerhouse if those people had not appeared?

Perhaps everything would have played out as it pleased in this guy's hands?

Looking at it from that perspective, it might be none other than Jang Ilso who ended up suffering the most because of the existence of Cheonma and Chung Myung.

"It's strangely... unpleasant."

Jang Ilso's lips twisted into a frown, and his ornamental accessories made a jingling sound.

"Don't look at me with that gaze. It makes me want to gouge out your eyes."

"You lunatic."

The words were harsh, but the tone was wickedly kind. Chung Myung turned his head to the opposite side with a disgusted expression.

There was no helping it if people weren't temperamentally compatible. This guy and he were joining hands for this one time only.

And then it happened.

"Over there!"

Baek Cheon's voice suddenly rose as if he had discovered something. Chung Myung's instinctive gaze turned forward.

"... ."

At the same time, his swiftly moving feet gradually slowed down. It slowed down a bit, then quickly, and finally came to a complete stop.

Everyone who had been running like the wind stopped in their tracks.

No one spoke. Even their breathing couldn't be heard.

Everyone just stared in silence at the scene that unfolded before their eyes.

What was visible... was the ground, and corpses.

The ground was smeared with blood, and it had turned black from the drying blood. The wretched corpses filled it to the brim.

They understood. They were all fighters who had fought countless battles, so they could tell just from the scene left behind. This wasn't a trace of a battle. Those who had fought and killed each other, used evil, and struggled would never leave behind such a trace.

This was... just a place where a massacre had swept through.

"Uwook!"

Tang Soso pressed her lips together and bent over, and Yoo Iseol, who was beside her, held her shoulders tightly.

"How...?"

Corpses stretched endlessly before them. They couldn't even imagine how a person could commit such an act. Even a sane human being wouldn't be able to endlessly kill even a single ant like this.

Thunk.

At that moment, Jang Ilso took a step forward.

"Is this...?"

He slowly licked his red lips while standing before the earth stained with death. A cruel smile spread across his grotesque face.

"It's the work of the Demonic Sect."

Dark determination began to fill his pale, light eyes.