Chapter 508: You Use a Giant Dao, Too

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong stood side by side on a rooftop, looking down at the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect from a distance.

The Mount Phoenix Sword Sect wasn't in a remote location. It was built in a place with a lot of foot traffic.

Looking down from above, its scale was considerable. The fact that such a large establishment was right next to the marketplace spoke volumes of the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect's influence.

Sects attending the meeting were arriving one by one. There was still time before the appointed hour, but some were arriving early.

Seo Daeryong was looking over some documents. The files he was reading contained information on the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect and the sects invited today. They were, of course, documents sent from the All-Knowing Hall.

"The Mount Phoenix Sword Sect's Sect Leader, Bang Cheongmun, is a man who despises our Cult. The purpose of today's meeting is also to unite against our Cult. Ah, look over there."

A sect was just arriving.

"The sect that just arrived is the Southern Central Sect. The expected number of attendees was twelve… that's right, twelve. Sect Leader Won Heung is someone favorable to our Cult. He acts as a bridge between our Cult and the orthodox sects of the Chongqing murim, yet he was invited to today's meeting."

"The public banner is to unite against our Cult, but in the end, it's a political meeting."

Nodding, Seo Daeryong continued. "Since their goal in annihilating sects is to anger the orthodox sects, the Southern Central Sect is the furthest from their target."

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"If it were me, I would've targeted the Southern Central Sect."

"What? Why?" Seo Daeryong asked with a surprised expression.

"If we were to strike the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect, which is usually hostile to us, the orthodox sects would be furious, but they'd also see it as a natural consequence. After all, they're openly hostile to us."

"I suppose so."

"What if we had struck the Southern Central Sect? Would they really be happy that a sect favorable to us was annihilated?"

"They're still fellow orthodox sects, so they wouldn't be happy about it."

What Geom Mugeuk was trying to explain was the nature of anger.

"Exactly. Then what would their perception of us be? Annihilating a sect that's favorable to them? Wouldn't they think we're truly insane? How would they feel, looking at us committing such an irrational and barbaric act? I don't think their hatred for us would be any less. It would only be greater."

This was a point Seo Daeryong hadn't considered at all. Hearing it now, he realized the repercussions of striking the Southern Central Sect would be far greater.

Seo Daeryong was certain. If Geom Mugeuk were his enemy, he would be a hundred, no, a thousand times more difficult to deal with than he was now.

"And you still think my head is better than yours, Young Cult Leader?"

"Your head is better than mine. You've memorized all those documents, haven't you?"

"I did memorize them."

This time, Geom Mugeuk flinched in surprise.

"You memorized them? Really? I was just joking when I asked."

"……"

"You're joking too, right? Right?"

"…Of course, I'm joking."

"Don't tell me you're joking with such a confident look in your eyes!"

Seo Daeryong clearly had the relaxed air of someone who had memorized everything.

However, that couldn't be possible. There was no way he could have memorized all of this in such a short time.

Ah, now that I think about it, when we first met, Seo Daeryong had come with all the personal information of the Demonic Army memorized. Could it be? No, surely not.

"Let's go."

Before they left, Geom Mugeuk used his scorching yang energy to burn the documents in his palm. The papers turned to ash and scattered.

FWOOSH.

"When will I be able to do that?"

This was what Seo Daeryong envied the most. He would definitely try it in front of his subordinates when he could finally do it. Reading a secret document and then casually burning it in his palm. A nonchalant FWOOSH. Just thinking about it was cool.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected. "Your inner arts are sufficient now, too."

"Really?"

"It won't be long."

At those heart-pounding words, Seo Daeryong could feel just how great his recent miraculous encounter had been.

"Alright, let's go!"

Geom Mugeuk leaped away using his movement arts, and Seo Daeryong followed right behind him.

With his qi center overflowing with inner arts, Seo Daeryong felt a new confidence in his every move.

Sects participating in the meeting were steadily arriving at the main gate of the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect. The leaders of each sect brought with them at least a dozen, and sometimes several dozen, subordinates. Given the circumstances, they were taking every precaution for their safety.

Since they couldn't enter through the main gate, Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong scaled the wall. The security was tight, but not so tight that the two of them couldn't get in.

After climbing the wall, Geom Mugeuk walked confidently, making no effort to hide.

"Is it okay for us to just walk around like this?"

"Straighten your shoulders. Act like an invited guest."

"Won't my sword be conspicuous?"

"It'll only be conspicuous if you worry about it."

Sure enough, the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect martial artists they encountered merely bowed their heads lightly. They didn't ask for their identities. No one would ever imagine that a deadly foe would be walking around in broad daylight carrying a giant dao.

"Keep a sharp lookout. The reconnaissance bastards might already be inside."

"Will they launch a surprise attack with a large number of people, like they did at the Chongqing Branch?"

"I don't know. It could be one person, or it could be a hundred. The only thing that's certain is that they'll try to kill the leaders with the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique."

As Seo Daeryong imagined someone killing people with the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique, his heart pounded as if it would burst.

One thing was certain. If they couldn't stop them, countless people would die here today.

If he told the people here, no one would believe him. With so many masters gathered, who would dare come to kill them? And in broad daylight, no less.

Since the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect wasn't in a remote location, such an ambush would be even more unimaginable.

However, they would come. Just as they had come for him when he was in prison.

"What do we do now?"

Geom Mugeuk had already figured out how to handle the situation on his way here. "We need to meet the Sect Leader of the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect."

Seo Daeryong was startled by the unexpected method. He had thought they would hide and then reveal themselves to stop the enemies when they appeared.

"If we just try to react without knowing how they'll attack, the damage could be immense. I don't know about the others, but we need to speak with the Mount Phoenix Sect Leader beforehand."

"Will he really believe us when we say we're here to help?"

He won't even believe that you're the Young Cult Leader, Seo Daeryong thought.

"I'll have to make him believe."

Seo Daeryong thought this plan was only possible because it was Geom Mugeuk. He had faith that Geom Mugeuk would somehow be able to persuade the Sect Leader.

"Let's go. The Sect Leader's hall is that way."

"I'll go meet the Sect Leader alone."

Geom Mugeuk pointed to Seo Daeryong's giant dao. "If you, carrying a giant dao, are with me when I reveal I'm from the Demonic Cult, the Sect Leader will suspect it's a trick by our enemies."

"That makes sense. Then where should I be in the meantime?"

"Find out if there are any suspicious individuals."

"By myself?"

Geom Mugeuk said with a smile, "Isn't finding the enemy in a dangerous place cooler than burning paper in your palm?"

Leaving Seo Daeryong behind, Geom Mugeuk headed toward the Patriarch's hall. He judged it was still safe for now. The enemies would likely make their move when the meeting officially began.

The Mount Phoenix Sword Sect's Sect Leader, Bang Cheongmun, was in the Sect Leader's hall. He stood by the window, watching the martial artists from various sects arriving at the main gate.

A subordinate came and reported to him. "The invited sects are arriving one after another."

"Has anyone informed us they won't be attending?"

"Not a single one."

"Go and thoroughly check the preparations for the meeting."

"Yes!"

After dismissing his subordinate, Bang Cheongmun wore a satisfied expression. This meeting was an opportunity for a great leap forward.

One shouldn't use another's tragedy as an opportunity, but the annihilation of the Great Justice Sect was certainly an opportunity for the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect. They had constantly clashed and competed with them.

They were now naturally beginning to absorb the various interests the Great Justice Sect had once held.

Today's meeting was intended to show off the power of the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect while uniting with sects close to them. His goal was to use this opportunity to become the number one sect in Chongqing. This was his goal.

Just then, someone opened the door and entered. A subordinate would have announced their entry.

When he turned, he saw a young man he had never seen before.

Bang Cheongmun secretly raised his qi. This place was supposed to be guarded like a fortress by his subordinates. Furthermore, there was no sign from the bodyguards who were supposed to appear in an emergency. It meant they had all been subdued.

He asked calmly, "Who are you?"

"I may be an uninvited guest, but I'm likely the guest you need most today."

Of course, the young man was none other than Geom Mugeuk.

"What happened to my men?"

"I only sealed their pressure points, so don't worry."

Fortunately, the smell of blood was nowhere to be found.

"Who are you?"

Geom Mugeuk didn't hide his identity. "I'm Geom Mugeuk, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

Bang Cheongmun's eyes widened. If not for the recent bloody incidents in Chongqing, and if the public purpose of today's meeting wasn't to join forces against the Demonic Cult, he would never have believed such an outlandish claim.

"A hard thing to believe."

Bang Cheongmun drew his sword. It was a sword he had to draw anyway. If the man was the Young Cult Leader, he couldn't have come with good intentions. If he wasn't, he was a dangerous man impersonating him. He had to draw his sword either way.

SHWAAAK.

Geom Mugeuk instantly rushed toward Bang Cheongmun.

Bang Cheongmun thrust his sword toward Geom Mugeuk, who had appeared right in front of him in a flash. However, the tip of his sword met only empty air.

SWISH.

The Black Demon Sword was aimed at his neck from behind. He was the leader of a great sect like the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect, but he couldn't block Geom Mugeuk's Hell Step.

"I didn't come here to kill you."

"Then why did you sneak in? Why are you pointing a sword at me?"

"I couldn't very well enter through the front gate of a place holding a meeting to stand against our Cult, could I? The reason I pointed my sword at you was to confirm my identity."

Geom Mugeuk withdrew his sword.

In that instant, Bang Cheongmun spun around like a thunderbolt and swung his sword. SHIING!

However, the space behind him was empty again.

SWISH.

Again, a sword was aimed at his neck from behind.

"I can understand twice, but there won't be a third time. I have no intention of dealing with someone that foolish."

When Bang Cheongmun nodded, Geom Mugeuk withdrew his sword.

Bang Cheongmun had no more intention of attacking. He could dismiss the first time as being caught off guard, but the second time, he had clearly launched a surprise attack first. He had confirmed the overwhelming difference in their skills.

"If I had come to kill you, you'd already be dead, and I'd be writing on that wall with your blood."

Listening to Geom Mugeuk's words, Bang Cheongmun turned around.

"Today, someone who actually intends to do that will come."

"!"

Bang Cheongmun's heart sank. Geom Mugeuk's clear, deep eyes were not the eyes of a liar.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know either. There are those who are trying to incite a war by driving a wedge between us and the orthodox sects."

Bang Cheongmun still wore a look of disbelief. "Driving a wedge? I heard that the martial arts that killed the master of the Great Justice Sect were the Demon Supreme's martial arts."

The Murim Alliance wouldn't have intentionally spread such a rumor, so this rumor must have also been spread by them. Even if not, it was a rumor that was bound to spread anyway.

"That's why I came here myself today. To reveal what's truly happening."

Bang Cheongmun hadn't let go of his suspicion, but he was more lenient than before. Among martial artists, a single display of skill produced faster results than a hundred words.

"Frankly, I can't believe it. That the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult is wandering around alone like this."

"I understand."

Geom Mugeuk said, looking out the window. "More unbelievable things will happen today."

His gaze, which had been directed outside, turned back to Bang Cheongmun. "If you can't trust me, then trust this sword that has spared you twice. It's a sword that will spare you a third time as well."

Bang Cheongmun had a strong premonition that the man before him was indeed the Young Cult Leader. To subdue him in a single exchange at such a young age? It would be impossible if he wasn't the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

He didn't know if everything the man said was true, but for now, he had to ask.

"What is it you want?"

Seo Daeryong wandered around observing people. He walked confidently with his shoulders squared, and no one suspected him as he checked for any suspicious individuals.

"Haven't seen your face before, have I?"

A white-haired martial artist with twin swords at his waist had likely asked because the giant dao on Seo Daeryong's back stood out. While many martial artists carried swords, Seo Daeryong was the only one with such a large giant dao.

Just as the gazes of those nearby focused on him, Seo Daeryong spoke.

"I'm hurt, Martial Artist Yang. I greeted you when we met last time. You even said we should have a drink next time."

"Ah, did I? My apologies. I keep forgetting things as I get older."

Recognizing him, the man called Martial Artist Yang didn't press any further.

Seo Daeryong knew the details of this old martial artist. Fortunately, there was only one white-haired martial artist who used twin swords. He really had memorized the characteristics of every person in the documents.

Just as Seo Daeryong was inwardly sighing with relief, someone spoke to him from behind.

"You use a giant dao, too."

When Seo Daeryong turned, a young man was standing there. He was a tall and handsome martial artist, and on his back, he carried a sword as large as Seo Daeryong's own giant dao.

Who was the martial artist who used such a giant dao at such a young age?

There was no need to try and recall who it was. There was no such person in the documents.

The man began to walk toward Seo Daeryong with a friendly smile.