Chapter 068
"Leave the orthodox faction dogs alone. We can't slaughter orthodox faction members in front of Sugyeong."
"Yes, Master!"
True to the strict hierarchical structure of the Sun Moon Cult, its warriors didn't even think to question the orders of their sole supreme leader. This wasn't because they didn't despise the orthodox faction members. Rather, it meant that the Sun-Moon Cult Master's commands took precedence over any personal feelings.
The King of Hell Unit warriors scattered like black waves flowing in all directions, following their master's orders by selectively cutting down only Blood Cult warriors.
The Blood Cult warriors, who had slaughtered a considerable number of orthodox faction fighters, were terrified.
"T-the Sun-Moon Cult Master!"
"I-impossible."
"The Sun-Moon Cult Master setting foot in the Central Plains...!"
"W-we must inform the Murim Alliance!"
The Sun-Moon Cult Master paid no attention to the commotion around him. His gaze was fixed solely on Baek Sugyeong, who stood between three women.
"Entertaining yourself with three women in the midst of such chaos? Interesting, Sugyeong. They say heroes are fond of women. One from the Hao Sect, one from the Namgung Clan, and one ordinary civilian?"
Gal Yerung gritted her teeth at the Cult Master's casual exposure of her identity.
The Sun-Moon Cult Master didn't care about Gal Yerung's identity at all. He was absolute. Within the Sun Moon Cult, he was a living god, and the same was true in the Xinjiang territory he ruled. No one could reject, refuse, or deny him.
A divine being walking the earth in human form.
The Sun-Moon Cult Master was a being of such formidable power that he could be called an avatar or incarnation in esoteric Buddhism. He was so indifferent to worldly matters that one could say he paid them no mind.
Baek Sugyeong was the only being he showed interest in.
"Truly fascinating."
Baek Sugyeong's face turned deathly pale as he stood supported by So Ssanga. With the screams of Blood Cult warriors as background music, the Sun-Moon Cult Master slowly stepped forward.
He paid no heed to the wary gazes of the orthodox faction warriors surrounding him. He wasn't considerate enough to care about such things.
"Protect Master Sugyeong!"
"Sun-Moon Demon Lord! How dare you set foot in Luoyang!"
"You'll have to kill all of us before you can reach Master Sugyeong!"
They closed in like a tightening net, weapons extended.
Among those willing to sacrifice their lives for Baek Sugyeong were figures like Cheongmyeong, Cloud Mist Sword of Mount Hua, and Clear Flow of Qingcheng.
As they gripped their weapons with determination—
"Stop!"
Baek Sugyeong's voice, coming from his deathly pale face, halted them in their tracks. His face was so white it looked like he might faint at any moment.
But he had to step forward.
He felt that if he didn't intervene, an unprecedented massacre might occur.
"Owner, no!"
"Let me go."
Baek Sugyeong was resolute.
The Sun-Moon Cult Master was only paying attention to him. This meant that only he could speak or act in a way that might go against the Cult Master's mood.
The Cult Master's pressure was so intense that Baek Sugyeong felt he might faint if he relaxed even slightly.
Was he scared?
Of course he was.
But Baek Sugyeong was the only one who had any chance of exchanging words with the Sun-Moon Cult Master. That's why he had to step forward.
Rejecting So Ssanga's support, Baek Sugyeong barely managed to stand and move forward.
"Teacher!"
"Owner!?"
"Master Baek!"
Ignoring the cries of the three women calling him, Baek Sugyeong stepped forward to face the Sun-Moon Cult Master.
The Cult Master stroked his chin with amusement as he watched Baek Sugyeong standing there, resisting the pressure he was naturally emitting.
'…Excellent.'
It was a statement that would have filled the King of Hell Unit and other Sun Moon Cult warriors with jealousy had they heard it.
The Sun-Moon Cult Master, known for being stingy with praise and making countless talented individuals anxious, had called Baek Sugyeong "excellent" upon their first meeting.
Was he praising Baek Sugyeong's mental fortitude?
Or perhaps he was praising Baek Sugyeong's potential that others couldn't see?
"Everyone, stop."
As the orthodox faction warriors halted at Baek Sugyeong's words, excited voices erupted from all around.
"Master Sugyeong!"
"Why?!"
"That man is the Sun-Moon Cult Master! The very root of demonic evil!"
"We must cut him down here and now!"
Baek Sugyeong responded coldly to these words.
"Is there any master here confident enough to take the Sun-Moon Cult Master's head? Even the Alliance Leader, who might compare to his power, isn't present."
"B-but...!"
"It would only be a foolish death. You'd be nothing but a line in Murim's history: 'The Sun-Moon Cult Master killed hundreds of warriors in Luoyang.' That's all that would remain."
Though his face remained pale, Baek Sugyeong's point-by-point reasoning seemed to overwhelm the crowd.
The atmosphere quickly settled down.
A silence fell over the people who had been excited by the bloodshed, as if cold water had been poured over their heads.
Through this silence echoed the Sun-Moon Cult Master's laughter.
"Hehe, hahaha, hahahaha! You've already thought that far, Sugyeong! Among all these countless fools, only you stand out! The Central Plains has truly produced a gem!"
The pressure flowing from the Sun-Moon Cult Master's body suddenly disappeared as he laughed toward the sky.
As the pressure washed away like water, color slowly returned to Baek Sugyeong's face.
Having barely withstood the pressure that could have made him faint, Baek Sugyeong staggered.
"Remarkable mental strength. Sugyeong, you have proven yourself worthy of respect."
The Sun-Moon Cult Master's eyes curved.
His face even bore a smile, showing he was in a good mood.
Baek Sugyeong would go down in the Sun Moon Cult's historical records as one of the few individuals who brought a smile to the lips of the Cult Master, who normally maintained such a cold expression that even his children considered him cold-blooded.
The King of Hell Unit warriors would record it even without the Cult Master's orders.
So Ssanga supported the staggering Baek Sugyeong again.
Namgung Somin and Gal Yerung gritted their teeth and stood protectively in front of him.
'…What an incredible master.'
'…Even with his pressure withdrawn, his natural aura is still overwhelming…'
It took tremendous mental effort for Gal Yerung and Namgung Somin to control their bodies that refused to move, just to position themselves in front of Baek Sugyeong.
Their faces were instantly drenched in sweat.
Facing a transcendent master consumes that much mental energy.
This is because the formless pressure that flows out even when they're standing still overwhelms everything around them.
Of course, the Sun-Moon Cult Master could fully control his pressure, but he deliberately left some of it unleashed.
Even so, if peak masters like Gal Yerung and Namgung Somin felt such tremendous mental drain, it truly showed what an incredible master he was.
"I have no intention of harming the orthodox faction today. All that matters to me is a conversation with Sugyeong."
"What do you want with our teacher...?"
The Sun-Moon Cult Master glanced at Namgung Somin as she spoke.
"So the daughter of the Sword King of Azure Sky inherited the Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art. Jade Sword Flower... A phoenix would suit you better than a flower. Tsk."
After clicking his tongue lightly, the Sun-Moon Cult Master turned his gaze back to Baek Sugyeong.
"What do you say, Sugyeong? While my cult members clean up the Blood Cult remnants, shall we have a pleasant conversation?"
Baek Sugyeong felt like acid was rising in his throat at the Sun-Moon Cult Master's words.
Already struggling with being caught up in all sorts of Murim incidents, now even the Sun-Moon Cult Master had come to torment him.
He felt like his insides were burning up.
"G-Guild Leader... P-Pingwei powder..."
"Hmm? Relying on such low-grade medicine? Weaker than I thought. Let me help."
He showed no hesitation even among numerous orthodox faction members.
The leisure that only an absolute master could display.
When the Sun-Moon Cult Master flicked his fingers, an invisible force gently struck Baek Sugyeong's chest.
A moment later, Baek Sugyeong bent over and vomited black blood.
"Teacher!!"
"Owner!"
"Master Baek!!"
The three women glared at the Sun-Moon Cult Master after seeing Baek Sugyeong vomit black, dead blood.
So Ssanga in particular gave him a vicious look, as if she would hire an absolute master with money to kill him if Baek Sugyeong were to die.
Namgung Somin and Gal Yerung were equally shocked.
"How dare you...!"
The Sun-Moon Cult Master laughed as he saw Namgung Somin place her hand on her sword.
"Do you think you can wound me with that twig? Surely you know I'm being lenient?"
"Kuk..."
"Recognizing the gap between yourself and your opponent is also a virtue of a martial artist. If I exerted even a little force, I could easily kill everyone here. Do you know why I don't?"
The Sun-Moon Cult Master's eyes, meeting Namgung Somin's, were frozen cold.
"Simply because Sugyeong would dislike it. Thank Sugyeong. Without him, all the orthodox faction members here, as well as the Blood Cult remnants, would all be lying dead equally."
A clear fact.
And a harsh truth.
Even if everyone here attacked together, they couldn't guarantee they could even scratch the Sun-Moon Cult Master.
That's how powerful he was.
"I'm... fine."
"Teacher!"
Namgung Somin turned to look at Baek Sugyeong.
With black blood stains at the corners of his mouth, Baek Sugyeong smiled weakly, looking somewhat better than before.
The Sun-Moon Cult Master said:
"Relying on medicine like Pingwei powder shows weakness. While I was at it, I removed the toxins from your body, so you shouldn't have any health problems for the next few years."
"...Why would you do this?"
In response to Baek Sugyeong's question, the Sun-Moon Cult Master waved Volume 8 in his hand.
No one knew when he had started holding it.
Everyone's eyes fixed on the copy of "Wudang Sword Hero" Volume 8 waving in the Sun-Moon Cult Master's hand.
It was well-worn, showing how much it had been read.
Baek Sugyeong's face contorted as if he'd been struck by a poison needle.
"W-where did you get that...?"
"Do you think Xinjiang is a land where merchant caravans don't travel, Sugyeong?"
The Sun-Moon Cult Master spoke with such familiarity.
Anyone watching might mistake them for old friends, as the Cult Master's voice was gentler than when addressing others.
Meanwhile, the King of Hell Unit warriors returned.
"Sacred One, we have completed the purge of the Blood Cult."
"Good work."
After tersely offering only those words, the Sun-Moon Cult Master looked at Baek Sugyeong.
"Well then, shall we summon the Murim Alliance Leader for a pleasant conversation?"
Why had things turned out this way?
Baek Sugyeong felt like crying from the headache pressing against his forehead.
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📚 Author's Note:
Thanks to Sleepy_cat2 for the 1 Power Stone!
🐧