Cheon ryu-yeong broke into a laugh in the middle of the exchange, then gave an apologetic look and said,
"If you insist that much, then I have nothing more to say. But you did say the Sichuan branch was also locked in a fierce battle, correct?"
"That's right."
By now, the nun was no longer speaking respectfully to cheon ryu-yeong, but using the tone reserved for inferiors. Without realizing it, her speech had shifted toward someone she wanted to kill.
"Hm. In that case, that means there are far more Demon Cult forces infiltrating the area around Chengdu in addition to the six hundred attacking the Amitabha Sect, doesn't it?"
The nun was caught off guard and couldn't reply. Cheon ryu-yeong smiled faintly, locking eyes with her.
"Just how many could there be?"
"…"
"The Sichuan branch is known as the impregnable fortress of the Invincible Martial Alliance. So, besides the six hundred who attacked the Amitabha Sect, how many more are gathered around Chengdu? How many more beyond that?"
People turned their minds over at cheon ryu-yeong's questions, paying close attention to what he would say next.
"It's common sense that an attacking force should have at least three times the numbers of the defenders. So is the Sichuan branch being attacked by an army of over two thousand? And if you add the Amitabha Sect, that makes at least three thousand. No… I'm actually being too conservative. Could it be four or even five or six thousand?"
"…"
"With that many troops around Chengdu, how could it go unnoticed? What do you think?"
Cold sweat began running down the nun's back. Forcing her tightening expression to relax, she answered his question.
"It wasn't that many, and the Sichuan branch side was being attacked by around six hundred or so…"
Halfway through speaking, she grimaced. She had already learned from his earlier point that giving an exact number would only make her more suspicious.
But if she agreed with his suggestion of four to six thousand, they would all withdraw at once, and the Heavenly Demon Sword's Baek Unhoe's plan of defeating them piecemeal would collapse.
"S-so, I don't know exactly—just a few hundred or so were attacking. As you may have heard, the Heavenly Wolf Troop led by the Heavenly Demon Sword is famous for its strength and ferocity. That's why the battle was so evenly matched."
Cheon ryu-yeong clapped his hands.
Clap!
"Thank you. So there are around six hundred at the Sichuan branch. Only six hundred."
"N-no, that's not what I meant, I was just guessing."
Cheon ryu-yeong shook his head.
"Nun—no, I should say 'you,' since you're probably not a real nun anyway—you're cornered right now and naturally want to clear suspicion however you can. Isn't that right?"
"Benefactor! I am real."
"Pft. Well, let's say you are, for now. We'll find out soon enough. In any case, when someone is accused of a crime, human nature is to reveal a few truths to hide the bigger lie. I suspect you've just told us the actual number at the Sichuan branch."
The nun genuinely wanted to kill him. She wanted to tear that young man's mouth apart.
Just as he said, she was doing everything she could to avoid being exposed as a spy—yet, like the Monkey King trapped in the Buddha's palm, she was being toyed with, and the situation was infuriating.
Cheon ryu-yeong, watching her ever-changing expression, strolled toward her.
"In any case, thanks for that. There are few people in the world who haven't heard that the Heavenly Demon Sword is not only brave but also careful and values his subordinates. But would he really attack the Sichuan branch—known to have seven hundred elite defenders—with only six hundred men?"
"How would I know what's in the Heavenly Demon Sword's mind?"
"Tsk tsk, if you don't know his thoughts, you can at least give yours."
She wanted to speak, but was afraid of giving him more ammunition. As the nun wavered, cheon ryu-yeong straightened his back and said:
"I've passed by the Sichuan branch often while working for the escort agency—it's on a steep hill. Even for the Heavenly Demon Sword's top elites, wouldn't they need at least double the numbers to take it?"
The nun did not answer. She had already slipped earlier and revealed the Sichuan branch's numbers.
The previous night's raid had caused a hundred casualties out of thirteen hundred men. Half of the survivors—six hundred—had gone to attack the Amitabha Sect, leaving six hundred at the Sichuan branch.
"Doesn't it strike you as strange? Last night was the dark of the moon, and heavy clouds made it pitch black. If the Heavenly Demon Sword is the smart, undefeated commander we know, why would he pass up such a perfect time and attack in broad daylight?"
"…"
"With unfavorable terrain and fewer troops, would he also throw away the advantage of timing? Could the Heavenly Demon Sword really be that foolish?"
Cheon ryu-yeong stopped his approach and declared loudly:
"And that is the fifth reason you're lying."
The nun's hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched and trembled. She was truly afraid of this young man. Since beginning her martial training, she had never imagined she would one day fear an ordinary person.
"Sixth!"
Cheon ryu-yeong's pleasant voice captivated the listeners—or more precisely, it was the content of his words that did. To everyone except one—the nun, who was in fact a spy sent by the Heavenly Demon Sword's Baek Unhoe—it sounded like the voice of the King of the Underworld.
Smiling gently, cheon ryu-yeong said,
"Since you insist you're not a spy, I'll give you the chance to clear your name and live."
"…?"
Not only the nun but everyone else swallowed hard, unsure what would come out of his mouth next.
Even Black Tortoise Unit Leader Neung Unbi, who had been standing guard with his sword drawn, was taken aback. He had been pressing her relentlessly, and now he was offering her a chance to prove her innocence?
People began to wonder just what went on in this young man's mind.
Among the countless sects of the Central Plains, there were almost none composed entirely of women. In the harsh world of the martial arts, women inevitably lagged behind men in physical strength.
And yet, there was one sect that overcame this disadvantage and earned great fame throughout the Central Plains—
The Amitabha Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects!
In terms of martial arts history and scope alone, the Amitabha Sect was openly ranked alongside Shaolin and Wudang as one of the top three sects in the martial world.
Nowadays, countless sects operate with their own unique skills, but in the past, the martial arts south of the Yangtze River were summed up as fist arts, and those north of the Yangtze as leg arts.
Southern Fists, Northern Legs!
Warriors of the south favored fists influenced by Shaolin techniques, while those of the north were said to be adept with their legs.
The martial arts of the Amitabha Sect's region became known as "Amitabha Palm," giving rise to the phrase Southern Fists, Northern Legs, Amitabha Palm.
As the saying suggests, the Amitabha Sect's palm techniques were famed as some of the finest under heaven.
They also excelled in spear and staff techniques.
However, despite its long and proud tradition, the Amitabha Sect gradually declined, hampered by its all-female composition in the rough martial world.
That is, until the rise of the current sect leader, Abbess Bohyeon.
Defying strong opposition, she boldly accepted a small number of male disciples to revitalize the sect's atmosphere.
Many in the world viewed the entry of monks into the Amitabha Sect with skepticism. Yet Abbess Bohyeon's gamble to prevent further decline ultimately became the key to its revival.
For example, the sect's signature formation, the Demon-Subduing Coiling Dragon Formation, more than doubled in power compared to the past.
In positions that guarded the center and the four cardinal directions, considerable physical strength was indispensable. In the Demon-Subduing Coiling Dragon Formation, made by thirty people, assigning five of those positions to monks had proven highly effective.
Strength and gentleness in harmony!
The martial world praised Abbess Bohyeon, and the Amitabha Sect was once again treated as a true power among the Nine Great Sects, not just a ceremonial name.
While Clan Leader Dokgo's party was absorbed in the conversation between cheon ryu-yeong and the spy, Abbess Bohyeon was leading three hundred disciples north toward the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance.
The weather was clear.
The wind was still, and the sun caressed the earth that had shivered through the cold of the previous night.
As she traveled, Abbess Bohyeon glanced at the scenery.
A narrow path lay between two mountains. Beyond it stretched a flat grassland.
Whenever she traveled to the Sichuan branch, she took this shortcut, but each time she passed, she disliked the surrounding terrain.
It seemed far too ideal for an ambush.
She thought of the possibility for a moment, then shook her head. The enemy she was to face was still far away.
Shhhht—
Suddenly, she heard something slicing through the air. Abbess Bohyeon frowned and looked at the empty space ahead.
Thud!
A banner pole stabbed into the ground three jang in front of her.
Her eyes widened like lanterns.
The characters written on the red flag hanging from the pole:
Great Heavenly Demon God Sect!
As she and the Amitabha Sect disciples raised their eyes, black-clad men began pouring down from the mountain to the right.
"Kahahaha! Abbess Bohyeon! I've been waiting over an hour for you. Why are you only arriving now?"
From atop a tree at the front, an old man's voice oozing with demonic energy roared out. He immediately gave orders to his subordinates in motion.
"Boys! Leave not a single man—no, not even a single woman—alive! Slaughter them all!"
Even in their surprise, the nuns and a few monks of the Amitabha Sect gripped their spears and staffs tightly, without panic.
It was a moment when the Amitabha Sect's usual discipline and rigorous training shone. They all firmly believed in their sect leader, Abbess Bohyeon.
Abbess Bohyeon shouted toward the old man of the Demon Cult who had given the order, her face blazing with fury.
"Who are you to dare attack the Amitabha Sect?"
At the same time, she gathered her internal energy and unleashed a lion's roar.
"Uhhhaaaah!"
The air quivered and rumbled.
"Disciples, stay calm! We are the Great Amitabha Sect! Form Demon-Subduing Coiling Dragon Formations in thirties and meet the enemy!"
Her voice was both firm and warmly reassuring to those who might feel uneasy.
"We obey the Sect Leader's command!"
Shouting bravely, the disciples quickly rearranged their formation. The sight eased Abbess Bohyeon's mind somewhat.
The enemy's numbers were still unknown, hidden by the forest, but she judged they were not so many as to be unmanageable.
As a bit of calm entered her heart, another worry surfaced.
Could it be that the Dokgo clan's party is also being ambushed like us? In any case, we must inform the Sichuan branch and Clan Leader Dokgo of this.
But first, she needed to steady her subordinates and keep from losing the initiative to the approaching enemy. If the front line were breached, the situation would spiral into chaos.
"They're coming! Steady your breathing!"
Moments after her words, the clash began.
Chaaang!
The swords of the black-clad men clashed fiercely with the spears and staffs of the Amitabha Sect. Fortunately, the Demon-Subduing Coiling Dragon Formation held firm against the enemy's charge.
The old man in black who had given the order looked surprised for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Kahahaha. Impressive. Good. Bohyeon! I'll change my plan—I won't save you for last, I'll finish you here and now."
He leaped from the tree into the air, stepping in midair as he descended.
Swish swish swish!
Abbess Bohyeon's brow furrowed. The way he slid down through the air—this was no ordinary expert.
In the blink of an eye, he stood before her, a twisted smile on his lips.
"Know before you die. I am Elder Black Ghost Blade, Ma Shinrang of the Heavenly Demon God Sect."
At his self-introduction, Abbess Bohyeon let out a low groan.
This was the man who, forty years ago, had roamed the martial world for two years with nothing but a single blade. In that time, over two hundred orthodox experts had fallen to his sword.
Eventually, the Martial Alliance had declared him a public enemy of the martial world and issued an order for his execution. He had barely escaped death several times before disappearing from the Central Plains—only to reappear now as an elder of the Demon Cult.
Abbess Bohyeon, tense, gathered her left hand to her chest.
"You should have died long ago, demonic scum. Even if you were strong before, I am now the leader of the Amitabha Sect."
Her clear, ringing voice accompanied her left hand as it shot forward.
A tidal wave of palm force surged from her hand, deep and majestic. It was the Tathagata Palm, a technique only those of the Buddhist path could unleash.
The sacred energy-laden palm force exploded toward the Black Ghost Blade.
"Impressive, old hag."
Ma Shinrang spoke in genuine admiration as he raised his black-bladed saber and struck down with force.
Kwaaaang!
Their first exchange exploded with a thunderous sound, sending the Black Ghost Blade staggering back three steps. Part of his sleeve was torn and fluttering.
"This… this can't be! You must have been a snot-nosed brat when I was active in the martial world!"
He stared at Abbess Bohyeon in shock. But her own condition was not much better—she too had been pushed back three steps, her complexion slightly pale.
"You truly are a demonic scum worthy of being a public enemy."
Behind her, the shouts and screams of black-clad men and Amitabha disciples continued without pause. The unending clash of steel made Abbess Bohyeon's heart race with anxiety.
She had to defeat this demon quickly and help her disciples, but that was easier said than done.
Biting her lip, she stepped forward. Now was no time for idle thoughts—action was needed.
At that moment, her eyes widened and she turned to the left.
"Waaaaah!"
From the mountain to the left came a war cry, and more black-clad men poured down.
"Eradicate the Amitabha Sect to the last seed!"
"Umhahaha! I am Elder Naeng Jeol of the Demon Cult's Twin Cold-Bloods! Who will be the first to die?"
"I am Elder Hyeol Jeol! Erase the Amitabha Sect today!"
They had launched a surprise attack from the rear of the Amitabha Sect's solidly built Demon-Subduing Coiling Dragon Formation.
The color drained from Abbess Bohyeon's face. Ma Shinrang laughed as he advanced toward her.
"Abbess Bohyeon, where is your mind wandering? Do I look so easy to you? Kekeke."
The Black Ghost Blade's saber came down toward Abbess Bohyeon's head.