Chapter 153
“So, this is the place. *Hmph*.”
Just then, figures exuding a fierce and brutal aura appeared before the main gate of the Peng Family. There was no need for an introduction; their mere presence was enough to know.
These were Demonic Cultists.
However, seeing the Peng Family already fully armed and ready for battle from the entrance, Gwak Un-do, the Cult Leader's third son and the one in charge of this operation, clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“It seems the news has already leaked.”
“Hmph, what does it matter? In the end, they’ll all die anyway. *Heh*.”
In truth, once they had drawn somewhat close, they hadn't even bothered to conceal themselves.
Who could possibly stop them?
Unless an alliance had been formed specifically to counter them, no single force in the Current Martial World, apart from the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Alliance, could stop them now that they had arrived.
Even Shaolin and Wudang would be insufficient.
Yet, the aura emanating from the Peng Family warriors, facing such a Demonic Cult, was formidable. Many were undoubtedly nervous.
But more than that, a resolute will filled the warriors of Hebei: they would never surrender this place to them.
“Demonic Cult.”
Peng Mugang murmured quietly. They had arrived even earlier than Jin So-baek had predicted. If they had been even slightly delayed in evacuating their family, it would have been a truly dire situation.
Soon, all the Peng Family warriors stood in full battle readiness, confronting the Demonic Cult.
The Sword Demon, having witnessed the full might of the Peng Family with his own eyes, scoffed.
They were already overwhelmingly outnumbered. It was only natural.
Even the Martial Force Units of each of the Ten Great Demon Stars had been mobilized.
The sheer numbers completely overwhelmed the Peng Family.
The outcome was already decided, whether they fought or not.
*And to think they still had that glint in their eyes. Tsk.*
“Do you truly believe you alone can stand against us? How pathetic.”
“Hmph. Judging by your words, it seems you’ve only ever fought battles you were sure to win.”
At the Sword Demon’s words, Peng Mugang stepped forward. His presence caused the eyes of the Ten Great Demon Stars, including the Sword Demon, to widen slightly.
“I’ve heard much about you. You are the Hebei Hegemon, aren’t you?”
“Indeed. I am Peng Mugang, Family Head of the Peng Family.”
After introducing himself, Peng Mugang unleashed a fierce aura from his entire body. It was truly the momentum befitting the *Roaring Tiger of Hebei*.
However, the Sword Demon, instead, chuckled with apparent delight and drew his Sword.
“I’ve always wanted to see how strong those Ten Great Masters, arbitrarily chosen without including us Ten Great Demon Stars, truly are. This works out perfectly. Today, right here, I shall witness the Hebei Hegemon’s skill.”
“Lord Sword Demon. This is problematic.”
“*Hmph!* You’re already acting like our master. You haven’t even become the Young Cult Master yet, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t get ahead of yourself.”
“No, it’s not that...”
Gwak Un-do’s face twisted into an awkward expression under the Sword Demon’s scowling, growling presence.
“*Heh heh*. Sword Demon, that fellow won’t be satisfied until he does something once he’s made up his mind, so it’s best to leave him be.”
“Just enjoy the show. *Heheheh*.”
“...Understood.”
When the other Ten Great Demon Stars, Red Demon and Cold Demon, chuckled and spoke, Gwak Un-do finally bit his lip and stepped back.
*Damn it. They’re all just self-centered old men.*
Gwak Un-do was utterly exasperated. No matter that they were the Ten Great Demon Stars, his father had personally entrusted him with this mission. Therefore, they should follow his command in any situation.
But the Sword Demon had completely ignored him and unilaterally challenged the Peng Family Head to a one-on-one duel. Naturally, Gwak Un-do couldn't help but be displeased.
However, there was nothing he could do about it. Not yet.
It was true that Gwak Un-do had the highest chance of becoming the Young Cult Master among the surviving Successors, but it wasn't yet confirmed.
So, the Ten Great Demon Stars had no reason to listen to him.
*Just you wait, Sword Demon. When I become the Young Cult Master soon, and eventually the Cult Leader, I will make you regret your words and actions today.*
Gwak Un-do gritted his teeth inwardly.
“Alright then, come on out and let’s have a go!”
The Sword Demon strode forward. Peng Mugang also drew his Blade and faced him.
In this situation, there was no reason for him to avoid a one-on-one duel with the Sword Demon.
*Rumble!*
The Sword Demon, as if needing no initial probing, unleashed his full Aura. Soon, a crimson aura began to spread from his entire body.
*At that moment, his Sword, leaving afterimages, flew towards Peng Mugang at high speed.*
It was the Death Declaration Wind Light Sword Art, the Sword Demon’s pride.
“Everyone, fall back!”
Peng Mugang, not to be outdone, also unleashed the Primordial Thunderclap Blade, the representative Blade Art of the Peng Family.
*CRASH!*
The ground around them cracked from their collision.
The power of the two Masters was truly immense.
But at some point, a dark shadow crossed the Sword Demon’s face.
*Damn it! How can this be?*
With just a single clash, he realized it.
Peng Mugang was a cut above him.
At this fact, which no one else yet knew, the Sword Demon unconsciously gritted his teeth. Indeed, the Roaring Tiger, the Hebei Hegemon Peng Mugang.
His strength, wielding a Blade, was on a completely different level from the other Ten Great Masters.
It was undoubtedly the skill of someone who had already surpassed the Ten Great Masters and was eyeing the Twelve Venerables.
However,
“I’ll kill you in one blow!”
Even though Peng Mugang’s Martial Arts far exceeded his expectations, the Sword Demon could not retreat now without losing face.
He unleashed his full power, fiercely bringing forth his Ultimate Technique.
Heaven Burning Thunder Sword!
A terrifyingly fast Sword shot towards Peng Mugang’s neck.
“Hmph!”
Peng Mugang missed none of its movements. He, too, brought forth his Ultimate Technique.
Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!
His fierce Blade Energy devoured the Sword Demon’s Heaven Burning Thunder Sword and then sought to swallow the Sword Demon himself.
Seeing the Blade Energy rushing towards him, the Sword Demon dodged with all his might.
To survive.
“Damn it!”
The Sword Demon, who had tumbled ungracefully to the ground, hastily tried to get up.
But Peng Mugang was already upon him, swinging his Blade.
*One down, for now!*
If he could quickly take down one of the Ten Great Demon Stars like this, it wouldn’t be bad. He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
But then,
“Wait!”
Another group appeared from a different direction than where the Peng Family and Demonic Cultists were confronting each other.
Peng Mugang’s eyes widened.
“How...?”
Not just Peng Mugang, but all the Peng Family warriors’ faces turned to stone.
Most of the Peng Family members who had been evacuated earlier were now being brought in, captured by the newly arrived Demonic Cultists.
Among them were Dan Hee-young, Peng Seo-yeon, and even Yul-i.
“Oh, I just had a feeling this would happen. *Heh heh*.”
A tall, gaunt man grinned maliciously. He was the Demon Chaser.
One of the Ten Great Demon Stars present today, he possessed a talent for tracking and detecting things. Before arriving at the Peng Family, he had split off from the main Demonic Cult force to scout for escape routes from the Peng Family.
Sure enough, he found the Peng Family members who had been separately evacuated moving along one of those routes.
*You villain!*
Peng Seo-yeon had charged at him, but even she didn't have the strength to face one of the Ten Great Demon Stars. Peng Seo-yeon was subdued, the family members could no longer resist and were dragged along.
Of course, there had been an unexpected incident in the middle of it all. A child, seemingly the daughter of the woman who had suddenly attacked him, had used a strange artifact to activate a protective Formation.
However, it couldn't protect the entire family. More importantly, seeing her mother in danger, the child had voluntarily deactivated the protective Formation.
Upon investigating how this had happened, it seemed the power came from a necklace the child wore.
*An artifact that deploys a protective Formation... could it be...*
It was clear. It was the Guardian Mirror, one of the Seven Great Treasures of Murim. He didn't know why the Guardian Mirror, contrary to what was known, was in the form of a necklace rather than a mirror, but in any case, he felt like he had struck gold today. He had unexpectedly acquired such a treasure.
Of course, he had no intention of telling the other Ten Great Demon Stars about it. This was now his.
*Meanwhile, Yul-i was sobbing in Peng Seo-yeon’s arms, her face filled with anxiety.*
“You scoundrel! How dare you touch my granddaughter!”
At that sight, Peng Mugang’s eyes blazed.
But the Demon Chaser chuckled, as if finally understanding.
“Oh, so she was your granddaughter after all. I thought something was strange. For such a treasure to be held by a mere child.”
“What? What are you...?”
A treasure?
Peng Mugang couldn't understand what the Demon Chaser was saying.
“Well, anyway, you’d best not move an inch from there. Unless you want to see this child, your family, and your household members die.”
“You bastards...”
It was then.
*CRASH!*
Suddenly, Sword Energy flew towards Peng Mugang. The fallen Sword Demon had attacked Peng Mugang.
“*Ugh!*”
Peng Mugang reeled back violently and then collapsed. Blood, dark red, trickled from his mouth.
He had hastily tried to block it with his Body-Protecting Qi, but it was insufficient. Even though he had dominated the one-on-one duel, he wasn't strong enough to take an attack head-on. The Sword Demon was not so easily defeated.
“Lay down your weapons obediently. Unless you wish to die.”
“Even if we do, you bastards were going to kill us all anyway, weren’t you?”
“*Heh heh heh*. Yes. You’ve understood perfectly. Shall we begin then? Kill them all.”
The Demon Chaser hadn't actually brought the family members to use as hostages. He had merely brought them to kill them all. And to do so right before their eyes.
Soon, the blades held by the Demon Chaser and his subordinates turned towards the family members. The Demon Chaser’s blade glinted in Yul-i’s eyes.
“N-no!”
The pale Peng Mugang and the warriors cried out urgently.
But it was already too late. It seemed no one could stop that blade.
However, at that moment.
*SWISH!*
Suddenly, Sword Energy flew towards the Demon Chaser and all his subordinates.
“W-what?!”
In the end, they had no choice but to stop swinging their Swords and retreat.
“W-who are you?!”
“How dare these Demonic Cult rabble oppress our Five Great Families!”
A middle-aged man with an impassive face appeared. Following him were swordsmen in blue embroidered warrior robes, exuding a noble Sword aura.
“You!”
Peng Mugang’s eyes widened even further. It was an incredibly familiar face.
They were none other than Sword Emperor Namgung Hwan and the Namgung Family swordsmen. They immediately protected the Peng Family members, shielding them behind their backs.
“How could you be here?”
Peng Mugang felt as if he were dreaming. Sword Emperor Namgung Hwan offered a small smile to Peng Mugang.
“How could I pretend not to know when a friend is in danger?”
Even so, Peng Mugang couldn't understand it at all. How had they known and arrived so early? The messenger sent by the Peng Family wouldn't have even arrived yet.
As if reading Peng Mugang’s mind, Namgung Hwan continued.
“It’s not just our Namgung Family who has come.”
“Huh? What do you mean...?”
“We’re here too!”
A burst of hearty laughter rang out. It was a very familiar voice.
Soon, Hwangbo Gyun, the Raging Wind Divine Fist, and the Iron Blood Heavenly Sword Unit appeared. Following them were the Tang Clan of Sichuan and the Jegal Clan.
“Looks like you got beaten up right from the start, *tsk tsk*. Honestly, you can’t do anything without me.”
Hwangbo Gyun approached Peng Mugang with a good-natured air, chuckling heartily.
“What in the world is going on?”
“Do you know why I returned to the Hwangbo Clan, leaving my precious granddaughter Yul-i behind? It was all because of what that friend, the Heavenly Seer, told me.”
On Yul-i’s birthday, the Heavenly Seer had quietly given Hwangbo Gyun a warning. It was about a great calamity that would befall the Peng Family in the near future. He even provided the exact date and time.
He had told him to seek help from the other Five Great Families. He said that if this calamity could not be prevented, the world would never be able to withstand the *Dragon’s Wrath*.
However, he also said that the Peng Family must not know about this warning. If the party experiencing the calamity knew about it beforehand and tried to avoid it, it would return as an even greater disaster.
Hwangbo Gyun didn't understand what the last part about the *Dragon’s Wrath* meant, but he moved as the Heavenly Seer had instructed. Very quietly. Without the world knowing.
Thus, all the Five Great Families had gathered here today.
And now, in this moment of confrontation, everyone was once again astonished by the Heavenly Seer’s uncanny accuracy.
The Demonic Cult seemed greatly flustered by the sudden appearance of all the Five Great Families. More than anyone, the Demon Chaser was furious that his plan had been thwarted.
“Hmph! In the end, these Five Great Families are nothing but rabble! Do you truly think you can stop us?!”
“Well, we’ll see who the rabble are once we fight.”
“We will make you realize just how great a mistake it was to provoke our Five Great Families!”
Until then, the silent Family Head of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, Poison Rain Tang Jinwoo, and the Family Head of the Jegal Clan, Heavenly Brain Jegal Sung, stepped forward, their eyes gleaming fiercely.
Behind them, the Red Moon Unit, the pride of the Tang Clan, and the Young Dragon Sword Squad, known as the swords of the Jegal Clan, drew their weapons.
“*Grrr!* In that case, I’ll kill you all! What are you waiting for?!”
Following the Demon Chaser, the Sword Demon roared, and all the Demonic Cultists present fiercely drew their blades.
Behind him, Red Demon and Cold Demon gathered their Aura, preparing for battle.
But there was no need to fear.
For the united Five Great Families were that strong.
Peng Mugang, having recovered, stood shoulder to shoulder with his friends.
And then, like a roaring tiger, he shouted loudly,
“Not a single Demonic Cultist present here today shall return alive!”
The scales, which had been heavily tipped, now found their balance once more.
It was a situation where the outcome was utterly unpredictable.
Thus, the full-scale battle between the Five Great Families and the Demonic Cult began.
*At the same time.*
*CRACKLE! BOOM!*
Something was soaring through the high heavens at incredible speed. It left afterimages like a dragon.
Its speed was so immense that a thunderous roar echoed belatedly in its wake.
That something was Yeo Un-hwi.
*I hope I’m not too late...*
After hearing the news from the Demonic Alliance about the Peng Family, he had flown towards Hebei without a moment’s rest.
It was a distance that would normally take a long time. But for the current Yeo Un-hwi, a single day was enough.
No, he was rushing to arrive even faster than that.
So, Hebei, and the Peng Family, were now not far off.
But in his anxiety, Yeo Un-hwi unconsciously bit his lip.
The faces of Yul-i, Peng Seo-yeon, and every member of the Peng Family flashed through Yeo Un-hwi’s mind.
*Please. Please, let no one have died.*
However, a sense of foreboding seeped in, and Yeo Un-hwi once again increased his speed.
Soon, his Divine Form shot forward even faster, like lightning.