Namgung Do-Wei gripped his sword with all his might. He was confident he could help. Although he acknowledged there was a difference in skill, he didn't think it was that significant. Even if playing a major role was difficult for him, he believed he could fully contribute as one person in this battle.
But now, he was struggling not only to help but even to keep up with those running ahead.
'What on earth?'
There were more than a few things he couldn't understand.
"Damn it!"
Kagak!
The sword he swung pierced the neck of a Demonic Cult member. Although the sword was filled with pure internal qi based on the Boundless Sky Cultivation Technique, it only penetrated about an inch and did not pierce through the neck bone.
"Kahaaak!"
The Demonic Cult member with the sword stuck in his neck screamed and slashed his sword toward Namgung Do-Wei's abdomen.
At that moment.
Paaaah!
A sword flew at terrifying speed and instantly cut off the Demonic Cult member's neck.
"Are you alright!?"
Namgung Do-Wei bit his lip tightly instead of answering.
'Taoist Yoon Jong.'
He knew. Yoon Jong was strong.
At one time, he thought those called the Five Swords of Mount Hua had an excessively inflated reputation compared to their actual skill. Certainly, Chung Myung, the Mount Hua Sword Saint, was a powerhouse impossible to underrate, but the others likely became known more by relying on Chung Myung's fame than their own skills.
So others probably thought that Namgung Do-Wei was a step ahead of the other four swordsmen except Chung Myung.
But watching what they showed here now, he couldn't help but admit his thoughts were completely wrong.
'Was the difference really this big?'
He knew well that Chung Myung was strong. He also knew Baek Cheon was strong.
But Yoon Jong and Jo Gul cutting off Demonic Cult members' necks so effortlessly compared to him was confusing no matter how much he thought about it. Even if skills were similar, it would be confusing, but he never expected such a huge gap.
'Damn it.'
He wondered if he had been stubborn for no reason. He came here to help, not to protect his pride.
But here, he was nothing more than a fool holding back their feet. Even without him, their speed would have been half a step faster.
Every time Yoon Jong and Jo Gul glanced back to check on him, the pride inside him shattered and stabbed his heart. Even though he knew all that concern came from goodwill.
Paaaah!
A vivid crimson sword aura blossomed brilliantly ahead. The bright sunset-colored sword aura swept away the Demonic Cult member blocking the way like an enormous number of petals in an instant.
Not even a brief conversation was needed.
No one asked or doubted why they had to break through or where they were going now.
Because there was a signpost there.
The red sword aura rising at the front led everyone more powerfully than a thousand words.
Namgung Do-Wei slightly bowed his head. He wanted to step forward, but now he was only a hindrance to them. Rather…
"Namgung Do-Wei!"
At that moment, Chung Myung's sharp voice pierced his ears.
"Yes?"
"Step forward, you bastard!"
Before his mind could think, his body reacted to Chung Myung's voice. Reflexively pushing off the ground, Namgung Do-Wei broke through those running ahead and dashed forward.
The moment he reached right behind Chung Myung, Chung Myung grabbed Namgung Do-Wei's shoulder and pulled him strongly.
"Why the hell are you lagging behind, you stupid Namgung Family bastard!"
"Yes?"
"Up front!"
Chung Myung pushed Namgung Do-Wei forward.
"Break through at the front! That's the Namgung Family! Empty your mind and swing at any enemy you see ahead!"
"T-taoist!"
"What are you waiting for!"
Namgung Do-Wei stared blankly at the Demonic Cult member charging at him for a moment. But it was fleeting. Soon, intense light blazed from his eyes.
Grit.
Namgung Do-Wei bit his lip until it bled and raised his sword without hesitation.
"Hyaaah!"
Massive internal qi surged from his dantian. At the same time, tremendous sword aura erupted from the tip of his sword.
A white radiance shimmered at the sword's tip. Namgung Do-Wei swung his sword with all his strength. The dazzling white sword aura symbolizing the Namgung Family shot forward like a cannonball.
Kwaaang!
The Demonic Cult members rushing ahead were caught in the explosion caused by the sword aura and scattered in all directions.
Strength surged into Namgung Do-Wei's hand gripping the sword.
'Yes!'
He couldn't wield the sword as precisely as the swordsmen of Mount Hua. Nor could he target enemies' weak points as accurately as they did. He admitted it. He was still lacking.
But sweeping away opponents with overwhelming internal qi was his, or rather the Namgung Family's specialty, wasn't it?
'This is my place!'
An Emperor waits for enemies at the very back. But a king annihilates enemies at the very front. The one bearing the Namgung name must stand here, at the front!
"See?"
Chung Myung grabbed the back of Namgung Do-Wei's head and forcibly turned it to look at a place.
Namgung Do-Wei's eyes caught sight of the jagged ruins rising up.
"There!"
Namgung Do-Wei nodded absentmindedly.
"Open the path up to there. We'll handle what comes after. Don't think, just pour everything you've got!"
"Yes!"
Namgung Do-Wei answered in a loud voice and readjusted his grip on the sword.
There was no explanation. It was almost a command. But that was enough.
As soon as Chung Myung's hand released him, Yu Yiseol and Baek Cheon flanked him. Then Hae Yeon rose above Namgung Do-Wei's head, stretching both arms forward.
"Uoooooo!"
An auspicious Buddhist light radiated from Hae Yeon, spreading like waves in all directions.
The nearly perfect Buddhist light pushed the Demonic Cult members back gradually. As distance formed, Baek Cheon and Yu Yiseol swung their swords as if by mutual agreement.
Plum blossoms, and more plum blossoms, and yet more plum blossoms!
The scattered plum blossoms fluttered like a vision. It looked as if the whole world was filled with swirling plum blossoms.
"Young lord!"
"Young lord!"
At the urging voices, Namgung Do-Wei reflexively raised his internal energy.
"Ooooooh!"
His sword slashed vertically from top to bottom.
In a world filled with golden Buddhist light and red plum blossom petals, a pure white beam struck down like lightning.
Kwaaang!
It exploded, swept, and pushed away again.
Namgung, Mount Hua, Shaolin—the three sects protecting the righteous faction. Though it might be a bit early now, someday those who will represent each sect stood at the front and began leading everyone.
Namgung's Overlord, Mount Hua's Illusion, and Shaolin's Weight.
Their martial natures differ, but their goals do not. So there is no reason they cannot harmonize. Indeed, isn't harmony possible precisely because they are different?
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
Namgung Do-Wei gritted his teeth and accelerated his running speed. Baek Cheon, Yu Yiseol, and Hae Yeon quickly followed on his sides and behind.
Seeing Namgung Do-Wei's confident shoulders, Chung Myung adjusted his breathing right after. Then he slightly lowered his sword and looked back.
Im So-Byeong, wisely retreating to the rear of the group, was pushing away the Demonic Cult members aiming from behind. When his eyes met Chung Myung's, his face twisted abruptly.
"No! Why am I the only one like this…."
But before he could finish complaining, Chung Myung took his gaze off Im So-Byeong and turned his head forward again.
Jang Ilso was watching this entire process with cold eyes.
'They are like raising a young tiger cub.'
From that guy's perspective, it would actually be easier to handle things himself. Usually, it's easier to get help from others, but with such a gap, delegating and watching is more troublesome.
But the Mount Hua Sword Saint does not forget to nurture those rookies even in this dire situation.
"Hey, Evil Sect bastard."
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Chung Myung's voice suddenly sounded, making Jang Ilso frown.
"Stop rolling your eyes to think nonsense and do your job. You're not here just to watch, right? No matter how much freeloading is the Evil Sect's nature, this is your home, isn't it?"
A bitter laugh escaped Jang Ilso's lips. Was there anyone else in the world who could shamelessly say such things in front of him?
"I was just about to start moving seriously anyway."
Bright blue flames surged from Jang Ilso's entire body.
Slaughtering Blue Flame. Soul Severing Strong Flame.
The blue flames, flickering like a living tongue, charged forward and engulfed the Demonic Cult members.
"Aaaaaaah!"
A desperate scream poured out.
The tremendous flames, harder than steel and radiating terrible heat, tore wounds that instantly cauterized. White smoke rose here and there.
"Tsk tsk. If they hadn't resisted, they could have died so peacefully."
Jang Ilso stomped on the head of a struggling fallen Demonic Cult member and quickly ran forward.
Still, he didn't forget to smile and spoke to Chung Myung.
"So you found that High priest man?"
"Long ago."
"Quite useful. More than I thought."
Chuckling, Jang Ilso looked up at the half-ruined ruins. Madness flickered briefly in his eyes.
"Is he there?"
"Yes."
"High priest. High priest..."
A sly smile crossed his face.
"There must be guards protecting him around there?"
"Enforcing Guards."
"Huh?"
They call themselves Enforcing Guards. They are the high priest's henchmen. In the past, in Central Plains, they were also called Demon Generals.
"You know a lot of interesting things."
Jang Ilso's eyes darkened ominously.
"Yes, no need to waste time. After shaking off these nuisances, we kill those Enforcing Guards and then cut off the high priest's head. That's why we came here in the first place, isn't it?"
Delaying could change the situation. The number of Demonic Cult members had increased since they left the border, meaning more reinforcements could arrive. The longer they wait, the more disadvantageous it would be for them.
'We must aim for the head in one strike.'
That's why they risked entering this dangerous terrain. They had no time to leisurely open a path from the outskirts.
'We just need to reach where the high priest is.'
After that, he would swing his well-sharpened sword and cut off the high priest's neck.
But Chung Myung's next words completely disrupted his calculations.
"You're wrong."
"Hmm?"
Doubt flickered in Jang Ilso's pale eyes. Chung Myung said coldly.
"They're not Enforcing Guard."
Chung Myung's gaze was fixed ahead.
"They are the Enforcing Guard(s)."
Jang Ilso's face stiffened instantly. He too sensed the terrifying killing intent as they flew like lightning toward them.
Chung Myung bared his white teeth and laughed fiercely.
"Yes. That's the real thing now."
At that moment, over the ruined building beyond the Demonic Cult leaders, a dozen or so black silhouettes rose up.