am-books Chapter 289
Chapter 289
Chapter 289
The Serpent-like Woman
Even after Mu-jin and Mu-gyeong left to capture Wi Ji-hak, the battle in Woe-hyeon remained intense.
Jegal Muhwan calmly observed the battlefield, giving directions with his fan while assessing the situation.
‘Hmm. This is certainly exceeding expectations.’
Despite sending the Ba-gua formation throughout Woe-hyeon and losing Mu-jin, the Shaolin and Wudang sects were fighting exceptionally well.
They were even managing the incredibly difficult task of subduing the Murim Alliance members without killing them.
‘Wudang is impressive, but Shaolin’s level far surpasses expectations.’
Jegal Muhwan had felt this once before at Mount Zhongnan, but that was under the strategic advantage of ambushing the enemy’s rear.
Now, despite being at a disadvantage, they were overwhelming the enemy with individual skill.
Of course, there were casualties.
Since the beginning of the battle, groans from Shaolin and Wudang martial artists struck by enemy weapons could be heard throughout the battlefield.
But.
“Ugh...”
These instances were fewer compared to the Murim Alliance members.
Two hours into the battle, over half of the Murim Alliance members had fallen, and the frequency of their groans increased significantly.
“The No-eum and So-eum teams, spread out to the left and right to prevent the Alliance members from escaping!”
With the momentum now on their side, Jegal Muhwan ordered his troops to encircle the enemies.
“You despicable monks!!!”
“We won’t forget this grudge even in hell!!”
Cornered, the Murim Alliance members shouted in anger.
“You are being deceived!”
“We haven’t killed a single one of you!”
The Shaolin and Wudang members shouted back, but the Alliance members found it hard to believe.
At that moment, the Ba-gua formation that had spread throughout Woe-hyeon began to return.
They had been clearing out Xincheon martial artists who had set traps or tormented civilians.
With the enemy’s numbers increasing, the resistance of the Alliance members was overwhelmed by despair.
“Even if we lose our lives, we must not give up! We must show the world that the Murim Alliance’s spirit lives on!”
Someone shouted to lift the sinking spirits.
Deceived by Wi Ji-hak, the Alliance members quickly regained their morale, believing they were doing the right thing.@@@@
‘Hmm.’
Jegal Muhwan closely watched the one who shouted.
‘He is likely a spy.’
Even after subduing the Alliance members, it was necessary to segregate those suspected of being spies.
As the Alliance members were about to resume their resistance, Mu-yul, who had just joined the battle, shouted with a bright face.
“Mu-jin!”
Turning to where he looked, Mu-jin was returning to the battlefield with Mu-gyeong.
“No, it can’t be.”
“The leader has been defeated.”
He was carrying what appeared to be the body of the Murim Alliance leader over his shoulder.
Though it was inferred from the physique and attire, the face was unrecognizable as the head was completely shattered.
It was a devastating sight.
Even the Xincheon spies were momentarily speechless, unable to incite the Alliance members.
They had expected Wi Ji-hak, their leader, to escape safely.
Amidst everyone’s attention, Mu-jin walked with the strength of a veteran.
Due to his damaged muscles and bones, he was moving solely through the power of internal energy.
Of course, Mu-jin wasn’t foolish enough to reveal his weakened state in such a situation.
“The leader who deceived the orthodox sects and you all has died by my hand! Stop fighting now!”
Even when they were outnumbered, they had been fighting advantageously, so the overwhelming numbers now made it easy to subdue them swiftly.
The Shaolin and Wudang martial artists temporarily imprisoned the subdued Alliance members in the Murim Alliance’s cells.
Meanwhile, those who had been knocked out in the early stages of the battle began to regain consciousness.
The Shaolin and Wudang, along with the enlightened Alliance members, shared the truth with the newly awakened ones.
Some, like those subdued at the end, continued to deny the truth, but many more fell into despair or felt a deep sense of futility.
“How could this be...”
“I was deceived by the leader all this time...”
Amidst the dark atmosphere they created, a young Alliance member who had just realized the truth asked Mu-jin.
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
Mu-jin looked puzzled by the unexpected question.
Seeing his confusion, the Alliance member spoke urgently.
“Now that we know we were deceived by the leader, we want to correct our mistakes! We want to help as much as we hindered you!”
The young member’s words seemed to act as a catalyst, and many of those in despair began to speak up.
“Let us help!”
“We want to atone for our sins!”
These were people who had accepted the truth and acknowledged their wrongdoing.
Knowing that Shaolin and Wudang had subdued them without killing a single member, as testified by the civilians, they had no reason to doubt.
‘Is this what they call a blessing in disguise?’
Having gone through the trouble of subduing them without killing, they were now gaining reinforcements instead.
In the midst of this, Mu-jin looked at Jegal Muhwan for judgment, finding him even more perplexed.
Jegal Muhwan wore a calm expression, as if he had anticipated this outcome.
* * *
While the orthodox factions were embroiled in internal conflict, the Sa-doryeon was being pressured by the Namgung Family, as the Southern Heavenly Demon was severely injured and in hiding.
At this time, another dark cloud was looming over the Sa-doryeon.
In the bustling city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province.
There lay the Guangxi Jin family, one of the seven pillars of the
Sa-doryeon, known as the Sa-Pa Je-il Se-ga.
People began to gather near the Jin family’s vicinity as night fell in Guangzhou.
A young man dressed in black martial attire approached the main gate of the Jin family.
“Who are you!”
The fierce gatekeeper, vigilant as part of the Sa-Pa Je-il Se-ga, snarled, but the young man calmly replied.
“I am the leader of the Tu-shin Bang.”
“Tu-shin Bang?”
Momentarily puzzled, the gatekeeper’s face turned to shock as he recalled the name of a rapidly rising faction in Guangxi Province.
Or rather, it would have, if not for the fact that his face fell from his neck.
With a swift cut, the gatekeeper’s head was severed, and the remaining force cleaved the large gate of the Jin family in two.
Creak!
The cut gate fell with an unsettling noise, and Jin family martial artists rushed to the entrance.
But Tu-shin Bang leader Dao Yuetian leisurely stepped inside, ignoring the commotion.
“Who are you!!!”
“Do you know where you are!”
Despite the fierce gazes of the Jin family martial artists, Dao Yuetian gripped his iconic black sword and declared.
“From today, Guangdong Province will be taken over by our Tu-shin Bang and Guryongbang.”
As he declared war on the Jin family martial artists.
“Attack!!!”
Hundreds of martial artists simultaneously leaped over the walls and appeared within the Jin family’s grounds.