Chapter 1454: Please Take Care Of Us From Now On (Part 4)

Kaaaah!

The sound of swords clashing resonated intensely.

"Prevent the evildoers of the Evil Sect from setting foot here! We are Diancang!"

Men in navy blue robes shouted so loudly that their throats seemed to burst. On the other side, warriors in red robes laughed scornfully as they drove them away.

Blood splattered everywhere, flames rising, staining the ground.

And corpses already severed from life.

The eyes of the Thousand-Faced Gentleman, witnessing this horrifying scene, simmered like flames.

"...They're quite resilient."

Of course.

This was different from the sudden attacks on Qingcheng and Emei. Unless Diancang was foolish, they must have known that they would be the next target after Qingcheng and Emei. Their approach had to be different from how they dealt with those they had trampled over so far.

Moreover, the current forces of the Evil Tyrant Alliance attacking them were different from before. There were no Paegun or Myriad Man Manor here. However...

"Push them back."

"M-Master, but..."

As the Thousand-Faced Gentleman glared at his subordinate with cold eyes, the subordinate nodded vigorously.

"Yes, understood!"

As the subordinate rushed forward urgently, and a faint sound of a clicking tongue emanated from the Thousand-Faced Gentleman's mouth.

'It's not to my liking.'

He understood the situation well. It would take time to bring down the enemy. The Thousand-Faced Gentleman was not as foolish as the Black Dragon King.

But despite knowing all that, the current situation where they couldn't break Diancang highlighted the stark difference in abilities between him and Jang Ilso, causing his blood to boil.

What if Jang Ilso had come here? If he, who led Myriad Man Manor instead of Hao Sect, had attacked Diancang with the Blood Palace?

At least, it wouldn't have been as precarious as it is now.

"Second in command..." [not sure] 

Those three words brought searing pain as they rolled off his tongue.

When he ascended to the position of Hao Sect's Sect Leader, he thought he wouldn't have to submit to anyone anymore...

What was strange was that he himself didn't accept that situation with as much agony as he thought he would.

"Aaaah!"

The Thousand-Faced Gentleman laughed heartily at the desperate scream from ahead.

"Not bad."

The Evil Tyrant Alliance had already subjugated not only Sichuan but also Yunnan. Second in command of the Evil Tyrant Alliance? It was an extraordinary position incomparable to the position of Hao Sect's Sect Leader.

Whether to resist Jang Ilso or submit to him. A choice even a three-year-old could make.

Thud.

The Thousand-Faced Gentleman's knuckles cracked. He extended his hands, walking slowly forward.

"Then I must prove my worth, right?"

And that would be proven by the blood of Diancang.

❀ ❀ ❀

At the same time.

The gaze of someone who heard urgent reports sank deeply.

"Again."

"Yes, Ba-Bangjang. Th-the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, heading toward Sichuan, didn't go to Diancang, but instead, they went to help the Tang Family. After rescuing the Tang Family, they are heading north instead of going to Diancang!"

The one who delivered the report involuntarily cowered.

There was only one condition for them to help the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. To rescue Diancang. Going to the Tang Family instead of Diancang was a thorough betrayal, nothing more or less.

So, Bangjang's wrath exploding at any moment was to be expected.

But...

"They're heading towards Shaanxi?"

"Y-yes."

"Amitabul."

Bangjang, reciting a mantra in silence, slowly nodded.

"So it is."

"..."

Everyone glanced at Bangjang cautiously. However, Bangjang just recited the mantra, not showing the reaction they expected.

The one who explosively vented his anger in this strange silence was none other than Kongtong's Sect Leader Jonglihyung.

"What the hell is this talk! Wasn't the Heavenly Comrade Alliance supposed to go to Diancang to fulfill the promise we made with them? But why are they going to Shaanxi!"

The reporter bit his lip, unable to answer in detail as he had no knowledge of the information from outside.

"So go check again! Can they really go to Shaanxi?"

"No use."

The one who answered instead of Jonglihyung was none other than Peng Yeop.

"If they intended to rescue Diancang, they should have headed to Yunnan from the beginning. The moment they rescued the Tang Family first, Diancang's face was sealed."

"T-that's..."

Jonglihyeong's face turned pale.

"Bangjang, then shouldn't we go too? Qingcheng and Emei have already fallen. We can't afford to lose Diancang as well, can we?"

"There's no way."

"Yes?"

"Amitabul."

Beopjeong silently shook his head.

"Diancang won't last until we get there. Jang Ilso is not someone to be taken lightly; they will have to endure for two more days at most."

Jonglihyeong frowned, startled. Then he looked at Beopjeong with bewildered eyes.

"Two days... did you say?"

"That's right. So there's no way."

"..."

Jonglihyeong, who seemed about to say something, closed his mouth without uttering a word.

"The tragedy that has befallen Diancang is indeed regrettable, but... with this, it's certain."

Normally, Jonglihyeong, who would have naturally inquired further, kept quiet, and Peng Yeop spoke instead.

"What are you talking about?"

"They. The righteousness the Heavenly Comrade Alliance so fervently advocated was merely about rescuing their own."

Peng Yeop's eyes became sharp.

"All we wanted from helping them was to save Diancang from the threat of the Evil Tyrant Alliance. But they casually abandoned the promise with us. If the righteousness they mentioned was really so important to them, they would never have left Diancang alone like this."

Everyone nodded involuntarily upon hearing those words.

Among them, there were those who clenched their lips, emitting enmity towards the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

"Do you understand? Why I feared the existence of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance so much?"

"...Bangjang."

Beopjeong shook his head.

"Send letters to each sect and inform them of the current situation. That Qingcheng, Emei, and Diancang have fallen. The Evil Tyrant Alliance's clutches will not spare them now."

"..."

"So tell everyone that they need to join forces. Summon the leaders of each sect in my name. Immediately."

"Yes, Bangjang."

Peng Yeop nodded firmly.

Beopjeong had already done the same thing several times. One thing was for sure, the response was not particularly impressive.

But now it would be different. It had to be different.

Now it was not a matter of gain but a matter of survival.

You could expose your body anywhere when the sun was warm, but when heavy rain fell, even a short eave was earnestly sought.

"And also."

"Yes, Bangjang."

A chilly air emanated from Beopjeong's gaze.

"Make it public throughout the realm. From today, the Ten Great Sects, including Shaolin, will never look upon the sects under the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's command with favor. They bear responsibility for the destruction of Diancang, and we will offer them no assistance."

"But, Bangjang, that's..."

"Do as I say!"

"Yes, yes! I understand!"

It would spread. Through numerous sects. And through the Beggar's Union. And through the many disciples who entrusted themselves to the name of the Ten Great Sects.

The Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the Ten Great Sects have completely separated. When that happened, those who were terrified of this huge fire would inevitably entrust themselves to more familiar and trustworthy places under the names of the Ten Great Sects and Shaolin.

Peng Yeop unconsciously clenched his fist.

'Bangjang...'

The damage to the Ten Great Sects was undoubtedly irreversible. Qingcheng, Emei, and Diancang, the three sects that formed an axis of the Ten Great Sects, had all been lost.

But looking at it the other way, those three sects were never cooperative with Shaolin from the beginning. They never followed Beopjeong's orders even once. They openly criticized the deeds committed by Beopjeong. They were just a nuisance for Beopjeong, nothing more.

In the place of losing those three sects, Beopjeong had re-established the fallen position of the Ten Great Sects. Now, if all the sects in the world gathered under the name of Shaolin, Beopjeong's words would resonate with a weight different from before.

A firmly established enemy and a loss of justification.

Based on these two, the Ten Great Sects would shine again.

Ironically.

'Is this really a loss?'

Well, it may vary depending on the perspective. Certainly, the power that the Ten Great Sects could mobilize had suffered a significant setback.

But how about from Beopjeong's point of view?

Did he really consider this situation a loss?

Peng Yeop's sharp gaze examined Beopjeong's expression, but there was nothing to read from Beopjeong's face.

"Amitabul."

Beopjeong, who recited the mantra of avoiding calamity, closed his eyes.

"We have suffered too great sacrifices. We have been betrayed in trust, and we have lost comrades."

"..."

"But there is no time to mourn. The Evil Tyrant Alliance will no longer stay as a mere threat. Now, we must fight for the fate of Central Plains with them. Everyone, prepare yourselves."

"We will keep that in mind."

"Hoo..."

Beopjeong, who briefly exhaled, stood up from his seat. As if wanting to calm his restless mind, he seemed to think he needed to catch some wind.

Others who had been watching Beopjeong also stood up and left the room. Only one person, Jonglihyung, remained standing there like a statue.

His gaze was directed towards the door Beopjeong had left.

'Two days.'

From now on, within two days, Diancang would collapse. In other words, even if the Heavenly Comrade Alliance mobilized its forces from Nanjing to Diancang with all their might, they might've not been able to rescue them in time.

And yet, despite anticipating this fact, Beopjeong insisted on imposing such a promise on them.

Instead of finding a way to rescue Diancang, he forced them into an unavoidable situation, pushing the Heavenly Comrade Alliance into a corner.

What was the result of that?

'Did you know, Bangjang?'

Jonglihyung suddenly felt afraid.

Externally, it would appear that Shaolin, which had done its best to help the Ten Great Sects, had been thoroughly betrayed by the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. People would have no choice but to see it that way.

But what about internally? Was that really what he saw?

"Hahaha..."

Jonglihyung closed his eyes.

'I've seen too much.'

Even if he had seen too much, what could he do?

In secular times, once you come down from the mountain, you can't easily shake off the dirt that sticks to you. He too was in that dirty mud puddle now.

"Hahahaha..."

Jonglihyung's empty laughter filled the empty room.