Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 278

The border of the blood-red mist that enveloped Luzon. There, numerous martial artists and players were lined up. After a long wait, they had been unable to grasp the situation. Finally, those they had been waiting for began to appear before them. Swoosh. The martial artists parted like the Red Sea. Murmur, murmur. They began to speak in low voices and take a respectful stance. Thwack! It was a sign of respect and courtesy. Respect and courtesy for the rulers who truly governed the Philippines, for the masters far above them, and for those who had been the guardians of the martial world throughout its long history. “It’s Jeomchang!” The giant that had not moved had finally begun to stir. “It’s Jeomchang—!” People shouted upon seeing the Jeomchang flag. The Jeomchang martial artists walked through the parted ranks of martial artists like the Red Sea. Saaa! Each of their auras was incredibly sharp, and their very presence felt like a well-honed blade. Indeed, their name was not an empty boast. The Nine Great Sects. Among the countless sects and forces of the martial world, only ten were considered great sects. They stood shoulder to shoulder with the Five Great Families, possessed an even deeper history, and were practically living witnesses of the martial world’s history. Now, that force was approaching. Flap-! The flag with the name Jeomchang written on it fluttered in the wind. The martial artists wearing the Jeomchang uniform numbered only fifty. However, the aura they emitted dominated the entire area. “……!” At that moment, the martial artists’ eyes began to widen. Although the Jeomchang insignia on their uniforms was the same, there were martial artists wearing uniforms with slightly different colors and styles. They wore gray masks and their eyes gleamed with a blue light. At first, it was impossible to tell who they were. However, soon someone recognized them. “Th, that’s Jeomchang….” A trembling voice. And then, a cry close to astonishment followed. “The Jeomchang Six Swords—!” The Jeomchang Six Swords. Murmur, murmur! The martial artists began to stir at the sound. The Jeomchang Six Swords. “R, really?” “Are they really the Jeomchang Six Swords?” “My goodness!” The representatives and the best of Jeomchang. Their mastery had reached the pinnacle of the Profound Realm [a high level of martial arts mastery], and they were reclusive masters who did not appear unless a great threat was posed to Jeomchang. People had only heard stories of their names and their mastery, and the number of martial artists who had actually seen them was said to be countable on two hands. “…….” The footsteps of Jeomchang stopped, and the murmuring of the people also ceased. The appearance of the Jeomchang Six Swords completely changed the situation. Just a moment ago, they had cursed Jeomchang for remaining silent and not moving, and they had cursed the Gray Faction for standing by. However, with the appearance of just fifty, no, six people. “Waaaah—!” They felt that they had not been abandoned. They felt as if they were being compensated for all the hardships and waiting they had endured. Now, there was nothing more to fear. As long as they were together, nothing except disaster-level monsters could stop them. Feeling that the situation had ended with their appearance. That was the power of a master. Swoosh. The Jeomchang Six Swords stood in place and scanned the martial artists. At that gaze. Twitch. The martial artists trembled. “Something….” A cautious voice. “Something feels off…?” Jeomchang was a member of the Nine Great Sects, symbolizing the orthodox sects. Their martial arts and mental cultivation were based on pure inner energy, and Jeomchang could also be considered a Taoist sect belonging to the Taoist school. It was known that the profound energy and aura they emitted after long periods of training warmed the surroundings and had the effect of calming the mind’s anxiety. However. Twitch. The gaze of the Jeomchang Six Swords now, the aura they emitted, was not like that. “We greet the Jeomchang Six Swords!” The Jeomchang Six Swords simply looked down at the martial artists who were taking a respectful stance towards them. Their eyes lacked what should have been there. Life. Those were dead eyes. They were also bloodshot eyes. Extremely ominous…. ‘No.’ Demonic eyes. That made everyone uneasy, and the martial artists denied the feelings they were experiencing. Thwack! Someone took a respectful stance. “I am Tak Jin-soo of Jeomchang.” “Great Hero Tak!” The martial artists recognized him, the one who spoke on behalf of the Jeomchang Six Swords. “The Earth-Splitting Sword! Tak Jin-soo!” The Earth-Splitting Sword, Tak Jin-soo. He was not comparable to the name of the Jeomchang Six Swords, but he was one of the rising masters representing Jeomchang. One of those called the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords, he was known to be a master who had reached the Profound Realm. “The Jeomchang Six Swords are currently focusing on controlling their inner energy in preparation for the upcoming battle, so I ask that you refrain from disturbing their minds.” He spoke in a polite voice, but it was a clear warning. “Y, yes, we understand.” The martial artists, intimidated by the name of Jeomchang, stepped back. “Then….” As Tak Jin-soo gave the signal, the Jeomchang Six Swords moved. It was ironic. The Jeomchang Six Swords were not those who would be under anyone’s command, yet they seemed to obey Tak Jin-soo’s orders. Having moved in that way, the Jeomchang Six Swords had already approached the blood-red mist and drawn their swords. Swoosh. It was simultaneous. They thrust their swords, drawn at the same time without an inch of error, straight into the mist. Thwack! The blood-red mist, which no one had yet touched properly, cracked as their swords pierced it. At that moment. Kwaaaaah! The inner energy of the Jeomchang Six Swords exploded. “From now on….” Tak Jin-soo said with a smile. “We will take over.” The blood-red mist. It was seeping in through the swords of the Jeomchang Six Swords. * * * The gates of Jeomchang opened, and a group of people entered. “……!” The eyes of the martial artists on guard gradually widened. And then. Thwack! They took a respectful stance with more precision and speed than ever before. “The…!” They shouted. “We greet the Heavenly One Sword!” At the front of the group that entered through the gate, there was someone that no one in Jeomchang could not know. The Heavenly One Sword, Jang So-young, was standing there. She had left Jeomchang, saying she was going into seclusion. Finally, she had returned. Swoosh. Jang So-young ignored them and moved forward. “W, wait a moment!” The Jeomchang martial artists blocked her path and said. “Who are these people…?” Jang So-young was not alone, and there was a group with her. “Ah…!” However, the Jeomchang martial artists soon recognized those who were with Jang So-young. “We greet the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords!” They were the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords. The masters representing Jeomchang. However, the young martial artists guarding the gate might not have known their faces. Most of the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords had left Jeomchang to carry out missions in the central regions and the mainland. And now, they had returned with Jang So-young. “We must inform the Sect Leader immediately…!” The gatekeepers were about to deliver the news. “Step aside.” At that moment, Jang So-young’s icy voice was heard. “Just a moment! Please give us a moment!” However, the gatekeepers did not step aside and bowed their heads. Considering Jang So-young’s status in Jeomchang, and the status of the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords, it was absurd. However, that was the rule of Jeomchang. Anyone who visited Jeomchang had to receive permission from the Sect Leader. Also, they were blocking them because of a sense of unease they felt upon seeing Jang So-young and the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords after a long time. And then. Snikt. A sound of something being cut was heard. Thud. Following that, a sound of something falling was heard. “……What….” The young martial artist who had been blocking Jang So-young’s path had fallen, his face frozen in shock. “What are you….” As the flustered gatekeeper trembled. Snikt! Another sound of something being cut was heard. It was not Jang So-young who had moved. “Jeomchang has become a mess.” It was the doing of Soo Yang-ho, one of the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords. In the meantime, martial artists, having noticed the commotion, gathered. Since it was the entrance to Jeomchang, many martial artists were on standby to prevent any mishaps. They approached, sensing the commotion, and were bewildered upon seeing Jang So-young’s face. “Heavenly One Sword! What is the meaning of this!” Slaying a fellow disciple was a sin that could never be forgiven. “Why…!” Especially with Jang So-young’s gaze, which indifferently looked at the young disciple, they felt as if all of this was a lie. “…….” Silence fell. Who was Jang So-young? She was the one who had been nominated as the next Sect Leader, and she was a disciple of the current Sect Leader. Also, she loved Jeomchang more than anyone else. -I will do anything for Jeomchang. She was someone who was prepared to sacrifice herself for Jeomchang. In the past, when Jeomchang’s martial artists were killed by monsters, she had single-handedly swept through five gates. When a Jeomchang martial artist had a dispute with the Beggars’ Sect, she had stepped in to resolve the situation and punished the Beggars’ Sect members who had harmed the Jeomchang martial artist, with the approval of the council. These stories were famous. The important thing here was how much she loved Jeomchang and the martial artists of Jeomchang. Yet, such a person had cut down a young martial artist of Jeomchang, even if not directly, and was looking at it indifferently. Something…. ‘Something is wrong.’ There was a problem. “Step aside.” Jang So-young’s voice. And then. Clang! The Jeomchang martial artists drew their swords. Swoosh. Finally, Jang So-young’s hand moved and touched the hilt of her sword. Twitch. The martial artists twitched and stepped back. The Heavenly One Sword. She was not nominated as the next Sect Leader simply because she was the Sect Leader’s disciple. She was recognized because she was the one who had inherited everything from Jeomchang, and she was a master who could represent Jeomchang. If she truly turned against them, and also. Swoosh. If all of the Jeomchang Sixteen Swords beside her stepped forward, Jeomchang would become a sea of blood. “Are you truly!” A martial artist shouted. “Are you truly going to point your sword at us!” A voice that sounded like a wail. Even so, the moment Jang So-young, with a blank expression, looked at him. “Stop.” A solemn and heavy voice flowed out. “Sect….” The martial artists quickly sheathed their swords and took a respectful stance. “We greet the Sect Leader!” It was the appearance of the Jeomchang Sect Leader. * * * Quite a bit of time had already passed since Lee Ro-woon had stopped in Luzon. After leaving Bohol, Lee Ro-woon, who seemed like he would move straight to Jeomchang, had stopped in Luzon for some reason. Even though the goal was to expand and reveal the Blood Cult. -More than half of the sects in Luzon have joined the cult. Player guilds are also waiting, hoping to join. It could be said that the goal had already been achieved. Even so, Lee Ro-woon did not move. He simply settled in the Blood Cult’s guild house and waited quietly. “What are you waiting for?” Lee Yong-jin approached Lee Ro-woon and said. He was the master he had decided to serve, but Lee Yong-jin did not change his attitude towards Lee Ro-woon. “Isn’t it okay to just charge into Jeomchang right away?” Lee Yong-jin’s face showed that he truly did not understand. Lee Ro-woon, who had been half-closing his eyes languidly, glanced at Lee Yong-jin. “Please tell me.” Lee Yong-jin said, as if frustrated. Finally, Lee Ro-woon opened his mouth towards him. “Truth.” “Truth?” Lee Ro-woon slightly raised his body. The blood-red mist approached his side and seeped into him. “A truth that, in the past, I would never have even suspected.” Unintelligible words. However, Lee Yong-jin could tell by looking at Lee Ro-woon’s eyes. “I’ll prepare.” That he would move soon.