Chapter 1595: Even The Buddha Has Abandoned You (Part 5)

A coldness poured over Jeokho's entire body Even though it was the first time he had seen the figure in front of him, he could immediately recognize his identity.

There was no other choice.

In a world with countless people, there were few who could stand firm with just a word.

Just by looking at the black robe and the sword at the waist, there was no need for further thought.

"Mount Hua's...Chivalrous Sword."

A groan escaped from the open lips.

Jeokho tightened the grip on the sword in his hand, teeth gritted. Could it be done? He was still only one person. It might be difficult to defeat the man, but at least an attempt to sever Beopjeong's neck with one blow might be possible.

If he risked his life...

But Jeokho couldn't swing the sword in the end. The moment he met the eyes staring at him, he had an intuition. If he swung this sword, he would die. Without even touching the Beopjeong's neck.

'This is Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword... No, the Plum Blossom Sword Demon.'

He was on a completely different level than what he had heard. Even if he risked his life, it wouldn't reach. He would just meet a meaningless death.

Ugh.

In the rush of humiliation, he couldn't help but gnash his teeth.

At that moment, there were signs of people approaching rapidly behind Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. It must be his entourage.

If he hesitated here, it would be impossible for Jeokho to escape alive.

Whether it was because he was merciful or because he considered swinging that sword a waste of time, it was unclear. But anyway, Jeokho had to get away from the Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword.

Jeokho silently stepped back.

"...See you again."

Jeokho, who preserved his meaningless pride with that short phrase, glanced at Beopjeong, then disappeared. Chung Myung looked at Jeokho with cold eyes.

And a moment later, Hye Yeon, who belatedly caught up with Chung Myung, fixed his gaze on Beopjeong.

"Bang...!"

Staring blankly at Bangjang with wide-open eyes, Hye Yeon looked around in bewilderment. Then, as if a scream, he shouted.

"Elder!"

Hye Yeon flew towards the Beopgye like the wind. When he embraced the scar-ridden Beopgye, the lifeless body limply rose with no strength left.

"Elder! Elder, wake up! Elder!"

Too much blood was flowing from the deep scars on the neck and chest. Just by looking at it, Beopgye's fate was obvious.

Hye Yeon screamed.

"Elder!"

With tears pouring incessantly from his big eyes, Hye Yeon belatedly infused energy into Beopgye's dantian.

Would it work?

After a moment, Beopgye, who had been motionless, felt his eyelashes tremble. Gradually, the eyes opened. Unfocused pupils stared into space for a moment, then finally focused on the person who embraced him.

"Hye... Yeon...?"

"Elder, I'm here! It's Hye Yeon!"

Hye Yeon grabbed Beopgye's limp hand. Beopgye, who had been staring blankly with tear-drenched face, soon spoke with a voice that seemed on the verge of extinguishment any moment.

"Is Bangjang...?"

"...He's alive, Elder. Banjgang is..."

Hye Yeon couldn't continue his words, as if his throat was clogged.

A small smile appeared at the corner of Beopgye's mouth. In Hye Yeon's eyes, that smile seemed too comfortable.

"Thank goodness..."

Beopgye's head slowly tilted. Hye Yeon embraced the slumped body. His shoulders were trembling endlessly.

Chung Myung quietly looked down at Beopjeong.

Whether he had lost consciousness or couldn't bring himself to face it, Beopjeong lay with his face buried in the ground.

Chung Myung turned away from Beopjeong without saying a word.

Naturally, anger surged, and resentment boiled, but now was not the time to vent that.

It needed to be seen with eyes. What had happened in front of him and what the world had to bear from now on.

Thud.

Chung Myung strode forward, passing by the crumpled Beopjeong, the wailing Hye Yeon, and the forever silent Beopgye.

His steps quickened, soon accelerating like the wind. Towering trees, growing imposingly and shaking as if in response, surrounded him.

Thud!

Although the destination wasn't far, it felt like an eternity. His mind may have distorted his desire not to witness the unfolding spectacle.

However, the flight wasn't long, and passing the towering trees, an expansive wilderness unfolded before Chung Myung.

"..."

Chung Myung's teeth sank into his lips.

Blood-soaked ground and death spread all over it.

The land was so vast that it might be a small part, but by straining the eyes, 'tragedy' was densely spread as far as his eyes could see.

Chung Myung captured it all without leaving a single detail behind.

Too many corpses to count, broken weapons scattered around, and a nauseating fishy stench permeating the air even from this far away.

And over these bodies that were already dead and worthless, those who were hungry for more slaughter roaming around like crows.

Chung Myung felt nauseous for a moment. Perhaps even despair.

It was due to forcibly pulling out a moment from his memory that the gruesome scene in front of him would never disappear.

Squelch.

A twisted sound like a writhing movement escaped from his tightly clenched fist.

After a while, his gaze shifted towards the center of the battlefield. Unsurprisingly, the person at the center was also staring at Chung Myung.

Though they were supposed to be far enough not to discover each other, the two locked eyes as if they had promised. As if it were fate. [...]

Despite being so far apart, he could hear it.

His red lips moved, creating a soft voice that blended with the laughter in Chung Myung's mind.

"Oh, my, my... A distinguished guest has arrived."

As if truly welcoming a guest, his eyes drew a gentle curve. At first glance, it even seemed warm, but now, there was no one in the world who could accept that smile as it was.

He looked truly delighted.

"But... Shouldn't you have hurried a bit more? Huh?"

"..."

"Hahaha! Hahahahaha!"

A hearty laughter struck Chung Myung.

His fist trembled. Filled with resentment but nowhere to go, full of anger but unable to vomit it out.

Jang Ilso's laughter continued to echo in his ears.

But unlike Jang Ilso, who surrendered himself to such joy, Ho Gakmyung stared at Chung Myung, who finally revealed himself, with a more serious gaze.

It was hard to distinguish even his appearance with his eyes, but the intense aura emitted by that man pushed Ho Gakmyung's whole body into a freezing abyss.

His back was damp with cold sweat.

He thought it would be impossible for him to come. How carefully they set traps to lure that unpredictable monster out of this battlefield. Even sacrificing the life of the Black Dragon King to attract the Plum Blossom Sword Demon.

Despite all that, the monster-like being had reached this place before the blood flowing through the battlefield had even cooled down.

If that man's movements had been a little faster, if their trap had been a little less sophisticated, the outcome might have been different.

But anyway, the one who now claimed victory was undoubtedly the Evil Tyrant Alliance and Ryeonju-nim.

Jang Ilso opened his mouth again.

"That's why... I told you."

It was a voice so faint that one could only wonder if it could be heard from such a distance. However, even if it wasn't audible, the meaning Jang Ilso wanted to convey would clearly reach Chung Myung.

"Choices."

The two eyes of Jang Ilso, which still retained a glint of laughter, suddenly sparkled with an ominous light.

And he began to approach Chung Myung step by step, as if a predator imposing itself on its prey, slowly but surely.

"I told you they're not something to be taken recklessly."

Tap.

Chung Myung, who had been observing them from a distance, also stepped forward. For a moment, there was a hint of murderous intent in Ho Gakmyung's eyes.

'Could it be...?'

Tap.

Chung Myung took another step towards them. Ho Gakmyung's eyes widened gradually.

'Is he charging at us now?'

Here?

Inadvertently, Ho Gakmyung clenched his fist.

Impossible. Even if he was a fool, he wouldn't do such a thing. Especially Chung Myung. Even if he were blinded by anger, could he make such a foolish choice?

If that were really the case...

For some reason, a corner of Ho Gakmyung's heart was restless.

What if the Plum Blossom Sword Ghost didn't stop this step?

Ho Gakmyung clenched his fist even tighter.

'I can end his life here.'

A fierce thirst came over him. It was a momentum that could burn Ho Gakmyung's entire body. He didn't have to rush at them. If he just came a little closer from there...

'Just a little more...'

Perhaps Jang Ilso wouldn't want it.

But this was a task that must be done. Now that the Ten Great Sects had been completely destroyed, capturing the Plum Blossom Sword Demon here meant there would be no one left to stop the disaster in this world.

It would be as if like the world was in his hands.

'Just a little more...'

At that moment, when Ho Gakmyung's fingertips were instinctively throbbing.

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso let out a leisurely snort. Then, he slowly raised his hand.

Everyone stared at Jang Ilso's fingertips as if they were enchanted, forgetting even to breathe.

Until a little while ago, they had all fought against the Ten Great Sects, and even won a one-sided victory. With a single gesture, he focused them as if he were a conductor directing an orchestra.

Jang Ilso's presence at this moment was enormous. At least at this moment, no one in the world could dare to match him.

And the loyalty of the Evil Tyrant Alliance to Jang Ilso was also at its peak.

The moment the hand descended, everyone here would rush forward without distinguishing their origin and martial arts.

To tear apart and punish that shameless one who dared to show his fangs against their leader who accomplished such a feat.

Everyone held their breath, muscles tense, at that very moment.

"Well, then..."

Snap.

Instead of lowering his hand, Jang Ilso lightly flicked his finger.

It was an instruction whose intention could not be immediately understood. Everyone looked at each other cluelessly, and Jang Ilso spoke with a smile.

"Let's run away. Like the Evil Sect members we are."

At that moment, everyone's faces went blank. Ho Gakmyung's jaw dropped at Jang Ilso's unexpected command.

But Jang Ilso turned around without any hesitation, as if the choice was too obvious.

"Rye, Ryeonju-nim!"

Ho Gakmyung quickly followed and called, and Jang Ilso turned back with calm eyes.

"Why are you doing that?"

To his genuinely casual question, Ho Gakmyung's eyes momentarily blurred.

Everyone still hesitated, unable to believe in Jang Ilso, and Jang Ilso looked around at them and said.

"What are you doing?"

An endlessly clear laughter echoed. Somehow, with a creepy smile, those who met eyes quickly lowered their eyes.

"It's a retreat. Move."

"Yes!"

The Evil Tyrant Alliance began to move reluctantly.

With that order, Jang Ilso turned his gaze back. To Chung Myung, who was still walking towards them.

Jang Ilso mouthed the words clearly.

"There's nothing more pathetic than an actor crawling onto a finished stage. There is no place for you here."

That sneer was imprinted painfully on Chung Myung's eyes.