A biting dog does not bark.
This proverb was now being proven true by the Red Dogs.
The dogs of Jang Ilso—those who willingly accepted even that derogatory name—pressed the enemies like hunting dogs stalking their prey.
Just by looking at their sunken eyes and tightly closed lips, it was clear there was no wavering in their hearts. They mercilessly swung their swords down toward the heads of the demonic cultists.
Kakagak!
The sword, imbued with a chilling energy, pierced the arm blocking the cultist's head. The sound of hard bone and metal scraping echoed eerily.
At that moment,
Paat!
The second wave rushing from behind stepped on the back of the person in front and leapt up, swiftly thrusting a sword strike into the cultist's head. It was as if they had promised to do so from the start—a seamless combination flowing like water.
This scene clearly showed how fiercely they had trained.
"I…!"
When the startled cultist tried to pull back the arm with the sword stuck in it, the leading Red Dog twisted his sword and grabbed the cultist's arm as if embracing it, pulling it tightly.
Then,
Screech! Screech! Screech!
One from each side, and one from above the head.
Like trained hunting dogs stalking a tiger, three streaks of red lines extended from behind the leading Red Dog, slashing across the cultist's entire body.
"…Ugh."
The cult member, wounded in both sides of the ribs and the middle of the head, staggered backward for a moment.
Swaaaak!
Then a flying sword forcefully stabbed into the cult member's neck.
Kakagak!
The sound resembled a saw cutting metal more than a sword slicing a neck. The sword, half-embedded in the neck, was caught on tough skin, rattling and unable to advance.
But right then,
The Red Dog, flying like a flash, spun in midair and struck the sword embedded in the cultist's neck with full force.
Kakang!
Finally, the cult member's neck was cleanly severed and soared into the air. Yet, in the eyes of the Red Dog who had flawlessly dealt with one cultist, there was no trace of joy from victory.
'Five.'
It takes five to flawlessly handle one cultist. Five Red Dogs can easily deal with even a top master. In other words, each cultist scattered here possesses top master-level skills.
The Red Dogs, wrapped in a deep sense of crisis throughout their bodies, stomped the ground toward their next prey.
"Kyaaaaak!"
With a terrible eerie scream, a blackened hand flew in. The demonic qi covering the hand surged wildly, and the long claws shaped by the qi aimed sharply at the neck.
But…
Kaang!
Baek Cheon's sword swung cleanly without the slightest hesitation, parrying the cult member's attack without much force. The moment the sword touched the cult member's hand, the demonic qi surrounding it was pushed back, leaving a crimson sword mark on the palm.
Paaaat!
Then came a flying thrust. Baek Cheon's sword extended like a flash and instantly split into dozens, covering the cult member's entire body.
Screech! Screech! Screech!
The sound of flesh being sliced pierced the ears.
"Khaak!!"
A furious roar burst from the cult member's mouth. His bloodshot eyes alone were enough to send chills down one's spine.
One.
Kakak!
Baek Cheon stabbed the flying cult member's arm and pushed it back. Then he bit his lip and stepped forward one more step.
Paaaaat!
Finally, a sunset-colored streak was drawn in the air.
That intense streak brushed past the cult member's neck. Blood gushed from the cult member's mouth, whose neck was half sliced.
"Kkeuh…"
The cult member, whose cervical vertebra was half cut, flailed his hands desperately. At that moment, a dark figure rose above Baek Cheon's head like an illusion.
Yu Yiseol soared into the dark night sky, spinning her body in midair and swinging her sword. Naturally, her sword aimed at the cultist's neck.
Screech!
The cult member's neck was cut off with utmost cleanness.
She pulled back her extended sword and swung it again into the air. Using that force, she lifted her body once more. Then countless crimson plum blossom petals blossomed from the tip of her sword, sweeping all around.
"Kheuk!"
"You damn bastards!"
Harsh voices burst from the Demonic Cult members' mouths.
Nothing is harder to deal with than attacks pouring down from above. Moreover, Mount Hua's swordsmanship, mixing reality and illusion to unleash wide-ranging attacks, showed its power especially in such group battles.
The plum blossom sword qi raining from above pierced the Demonic Cult members' bodies countless times.
"Sahyung!"
"Let's go!"
At that moment, Yoon Jong and Jo Gul dashed forward like rays of light behind Baek Cheon.
Though the Demonic Cult members attacked spasmodically, the two did not avoid their opponents. Instead, they struck down the cult members charging with fierce enhanced sword strikes.
Kwaaang!
A booming sound erupted in the battlefield filled with noises of cutting, slashing, and hacking. Jo Gul and Yoon Jong, who struck down and pushed away cult members at once, gained momentum and pushed the surrounding Demonic Cult members to the left and right.
"Sago!"
Tang Soso, rushing out at incredible speed through the path they opened, flipped her body and looked up to the sky, extending her sword.
Yu Yiseol lowered her sword to meet Tang Soso's blade. Then Tang Soso swiftly swung her sword, lifting Yu Yiseol higher and higher.
Sarararak!
Her sword emitted a stream of red sword qi once again.
Falling Plum Blossoms Scattered.
The perfected 24 Movement Plum Blossom Sword Technique painted countless plum blossom petals under the darkened sky. Like red rain falling, the scattering blossoms poured over the cult members' heads.
"Kkeuk…"
"Kuhuk…"
Those pierced through limbs and bodies could just endure the pain, but those pierced through the head or neck trembled violently before collapsing. The plum blossom petals imbued with righteous qi did not even allow them to resist.
"You filthy unbelieving bitch!"
The Demonic Cult bastards cursed and stomped the ground. Naturally, they aimed for where Yu Yiseol was falling, intending to tear her apart with hatred and rage.
But there was someone here to prove how wrong that choice was.
"A-mi-ta-bha!"
A sacred golden light radiated through the dark world.
From Hae Yeon's waist, who stomped the ground strongly, a fist extended.
Arhat Divine Fist.
The Arhat's fist, which destroys all evil, overwhelmed the clustered Demonic Cult members like a tidal wave. The intense golden light seemed to brighten the world in an instant.
"Kraaaak!"
"Aaaah!"
The Demonic Cult members screamed in agony as they were swept away by that forceful fist power. The sensation of the demonic qi inside them shattering was more painful than their bodies breaking.
"This, this…"
Watching the scene, Im So-Byeong snapped his fan shut and shook his head.
'Even coordination must have its limits.'
From what he observed, since entering battle, they hadn't exchanged a single word. Yet from the moment they began swinging their swords, they moved as if they already knew what to do.
Even Hae Yeon, who was from the Shaolin sect, not Mount Hua.
'Is this what they mean by being reliable as allies and terrifying as enemies?'
That was fortunate. Now he was someone who could confidently call himself their ally.
"But hmm… I have to earn my keep to avoid complaints."
Tap.
Im So-Byeong, moving forward gracefully like a crane, fully opened his fan and swung it gently. The qi emitted from the iron ribs of the fan spread around like a swarm of butterflies.
Kagak!
The cult members charging at Baek Cheon hesitated, blocked by that qi.
"Now, shall we move forward?"
"…"
Baek Cheon silently pushed off the ground and surged forward. Im So-Byeong and Un Geom ran behind him, supporting him like guards.
'Amazing.'
Im So-Byeong's lips twitched as if barely holding back a smile.
Baek Cheon, running at the front with his long hair flying, was an impressive sight to witness. This must be exactly what the world calls a hero.
If they had made even a slight wrong choice, Im So-Byeong and the Green Forest would have ended up facing them. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.
Meanwhile, Baek Cheon's eyes while running were not as excited as expected.
Screech!
Baek Cheon bit his lip slightly after swiftly cutting down a charging cult member.
'Not difficult.'
He was certain now.
Their qi was a disaster for the Demonic Cult members. Even the strong Red Dogs and elite Black Ghost Fort struggled with the cult members' demonic qi, yet Baek Cheon was cutting and pushing it away effortlessly.
Now he could finally understand.
What the past three years of training had been for.
The cult members attacked fiercely and in ways hard to describe as anything but extraordinary, but Baek Cheon was able to handle all those attacks.
Because he had already experienced them.
This was not the North Sea. These were attacks he had faced countless times during training with Chung Myung. For those who endured Chung Myung's training for three years, this battle was nothing special.
The madness emitted by the cult members was nothing compared to the killing intent Chung Myung had unleashed on them.
Therefore, the situation was not particularly unfavorable.
But…
'This can't be all.'
He was not overestimating the enemy's strength. Baek Cheon's criteria for judging opponents were very firm.
'If it were just this much, that guy wouldn't have reacted like that. There's definitely something more to come.'
Baek Cheon's gaze turned to Chung Myung, who was driving away the Demonic Cult members at the front. Such an extreme reaction surely wasn't just because of these opponents.
"Don't let your guard down! Don't get intoxicated by the sword movements of ours!"
At Baek Cheon's shout, Mount Hua disciples immediately responded with voices full of strength.
And at that moment,
In Baek Cheon's sight appeared Jang Ilso approaching Chung Myung.
Paaaat!
Hot blood poured onto Chung Myung's face as he swiftly cut another cult member's neck. Without blinking, as he moved to find the next cultist, a cold voice settled near his ear.
"Don't get too cocky."
"…"
Chung Myung silently turned around. Jang Ilso, who had come close, stood there with a strange smile.
"You haven't forgotten who your enemy is, right? This isn't the time to waste energy fighting these small fries."
Chung Myung looked at Jang Ilso with cold eyes.
"Go."
Jang Ilso glanced around with bleak eyes.
Probably only he, Chung Myung, and if one more is added, Im So-Byeong, truly understood the current battlefield situation.
"This isn't the time to celebrate victory. The enemies are only about a hundred. There must be at least three hundred more from here. These guys are just small fry circling the outskirts of the place. When the main force joins, the situation will get tougher. Before that…"
Jang Ilso paused briefly and smiled brightly.
"We have to kill that high priest. We've shown enough mercy. I appreciate the taoist's heart wanting to save even one more of those insignificant Demonic Cult guys, but now is not the time."
Chung Myung glared coldly at Jang Ilso and twisted his lips.
"Your heart is so black that the stench is about to leak out."
"Hmm?"
"But whatever. I'll play along. To your tune."
The two looked at each other and exchanged cold smiles. Then Jang Ilso turned his head and shouted.
"Ga-Myung!"
"Yes!"
"Follow me."
A chilling light flowed from Jang Ilso's eyes.
"From now on, we're going to cut off that high priest's neck."