Chapter 131: What Shouldn't Have Happened
The bubbling sound and delicious aroma of the stew in the cauldron filled the air. Yeon Jeokha's group looked eagerly at the cauldron, impatiently waiting for the moment they could eat. From a distance, they merely seemed like travelers taking a break.
The initial tension in the atmosphere had considerably dissipated. After their victory at Five Peaks Mountain and the retreat of the Yoomyung Cult warriors from the Guangming Manor the previous day, the sense of danger had lessened.
However, that peace did not last long. In the distance, the experts of the Yoomyung Cult from Guangming Manor began to appear. There were twenty warriors from the Dark Division, along with the Black and White Twin Demons and the Infamous Soul Killer, Sa Do-yeong.
The Black Sword Warrior, Jang Danpyeong, observed the group from afar.
—"They all seem quite ordinary. Which one of them is Yeon Jeokha?"— he asked.
Despite all being Demon Warriors, there was a hierarchy between the Black and White Twin Demons and Sa Do-yeong.
—"The young man sitting with his back to the cart"— Sa Do-yeong replied.
The gaze of the Black and White Twin Demons shifted to Yeon Jeokha. The White Sword Demon, Ju Yushim, murmured:
—"He doesn't look like anything special. Did he really defeat you?"—
—"Indeed. Although he appears ordinary, he possesses extraordinary skills"— Sa Do-yeong responded.
—"Don't be discouraged! Even if he trained since the womb, he can't handle us"— Jang Danpyeong said, scolding Sa Do-yeong.
Sa Do-yeong felt somewhat unjustly treated but did not argue and simply nodded.
—"We'll take care of him. In the meantime, you and the Dark Division should handle the others. We need to keep the young man distracted"— Ju Yushim added.
—"Understood"— Sa Do-yeong replied.
The Black and White Twin Demons began to advance slowly, as if taking a leisurely stroll, then suddenly accelerated. Sa Do-yeong directed his subordinates.
—"You all heard him. The Black and White Twin Demons will deal with Yeon Jeokha. We'll take care of the rest"—
—"Yes!"—
The warriors of the Dark Division closely followed the Black and White Twin Demons.
Jang Danpyeong drew his sword and shouted:
—"We are the Black and White Twin Demons of Guangming Manor! Yeon Jeokha, come out and face us!"—
Yeon Jeokha looked at the cauldron regretfully before standing up. Namgung Yeon, the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower, quickly spoke to him.
—"Jeokha, we don't know who these Demon Warriors are, so face them one by one, okay?"—
It was a sensible order; killing the Demon Warriors simultaneously could have serious consequences.
—"Understood!"— Yeon Jeokha replied.
He unsheathed his sword and rushed towards the Black and White Twin Demons.
—"I am Yeon Jeokha! Why do you come to bother us so early? I'm hungry, so let's finish this quickly!"—
The sound of metal clashing echoed as their swords collided. The Black and White Twin Demons attacked with flawless coordination, as if they were one. One attacked from above while the other from below, and when Yeon Jeokha tried to counterattack, one would block while the other ferociously attacked.
Their precise attacks and retreats left Yeon Jeokha with no room to look around.
Sa Do-yeong led the twenty warriors of the Dark Division against the others.
Shim Tong, the Old Dao of Nine Heavens, blocked their path.
—"Are you a Demon Warrior too?"— he asked.
—"Ha! It's too late for regrets. You will all die here. Attack!"— Sa Do-yeong ordered.
The warriors of the Dark Division lunged at the remaining five, initiating a fierce battle.
Namgung Cheon and Namgung Yeon were recognized as experts, but Seol Chasu and his group were at a disadvantage. The martial skill of Seol Chasu, Yoo Geunsik, and Jin Seolha did not match that of the Dark Division. Namgung Cheon and Namgung Yeon had to protect them while fighting.
Despite Namgung Cheon's outstanding skill, the battle soon reached a tense equilibrium.
The Black and White Twin Demons were famous demons in the Murim, just like the Three Immortals of Kunlun. They had once been known as the Five Evil Kings in the past.
With the power of the Demon Warriors, they were like tigers with wings. Their coordination was unparalleled, having fought together their entire lives.
Yeon Jeokha wanted to face them one by one, but he couldn't find the opportunity.
Shim Tong was also in a difficult situation. Although his skill surpassed that of Sa Do-yeong, he had to buy time for Yeon Jeokha.
But Sa Do-yeong, unaware that Shim Tong was holding back, became increasingly aggressive. The only advantage Sa Do-yeong had over Shim Tong was his immense internal power, making his attacks brutal and difficult to evade.
In a critical moment, Shim Tong delivered a blow that nearly decapitated Sa Do-yeong. The mistake was interpreted as an attempt to counterattack, further enraging Sa Do-yeong.
—"Damn treacherous old man!"— Sa Do-yeong shouted, intensifying his attacks.
Shim Tong, struggling to control the situation, began to sweat profusely. He glanced at Yeon Jeokha, hoping the battle would end soon.
Meanwhile, Namgung Yeon was busy defending Seol Chasu and the others. A sword from a Dark Division warrior struck Seol Chasu's shoulder.
—"Argh!"— Seol Chasu cried out, retreating as he clutched his shoulder.
Jin Seolha quickly intervened to protect him, but she left a gap that another warrior exploited, wounding Yoo Geunsik.
—"Aaah!"— Yoo Geunsik fell to the ground, gravely injured.
Seeing the desperate situation, Namgung Yeon activated her ultimate skill, the Great Heavenly Ascension Technique.
Her powerful internal energy caused her clothes to flutter violently.
—"Cha!"— She shouted, moving with ghostly speed, unleashing her most lethal technique.
The Dark Division warriors fell one by one before her sword, unable to resist her overwhelming skill.
Seeing her wounded companions, Namgung Yeon sighed and decided not to hide her true strength any longer.
Meanwhile, Shim Tong, facing the fierce onslaught of Sa Do-yeong, was momentarily distracted when he saw Yoo Geunsik fall.
At that instant, Sa Do-yeong launched a decisive strike. Shim Tong, by reflex, turned and counterattacked. Shim Tong's sword cleanly cut through Sa Do-yeong's throat.
—"Kugh!"— Sa Do-yeong fell to the ground, clutching his neck as blood gushed out.
Shim Tong, horrified, looked towards Yeon Jeokha.
—"Young Master!"— Shim Tong shouted, seeing Yeon Jeokha's sword pierce through Jang Danpyeong's heart.
—"Brother Jang!"— Ju Yushim cried out, seeing his companion fall.
With Sa Do-yeong and Jang Danpyeong dead, the battle took a dark turn.
—"Jeokha, focus on your opponent! You must kill him before he kills you!"— Namgung Yeon shouted, giving Yeon Jeokha clarity.
Yeon Jeokha nodded, clearing his mind and preparing to face Ju Yushim with all his strength.
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