The first thing he noticed was a clear difference.
The Demonic Cult members they had faced until now were, so to speak, beasts—terrible creatures as if they had just burst out of hell into the world all at once.
But those who now revealed themselves felt distinctly different from those before. If ordinary Demonic Cult members were heavy blunt weapons, these were like forged blades. Their chillingly sharp edges already pierced through the whole body.
"Monk!"
"I know, Taoist!"
As Baek Cheon shouted, Hae Yeon kicked off the ground and soared into the air. Twisting his body midair, he threw a punch like a lightning bolt. A formidable power surged forward.
'Hundred Step Divine Fist!'
Seeing that, Jo Gul clenched his fist.
One of the seventy-two exquisite techniques that Shaolin proudly boasts to the world, and the most famous fist martial art in the world! Especially the power of the Hundred Step Divine Fist unleashed by Hae Yeon's hand was beyond words.
Literally, a lightning-like force surged toward the Enforcing Guard.
And at that moment.
Paaaaaat!
The Enforcing Guard swung his hand through the air. Then a line darker than darkness bloomed, and Hae Yeon's qi, flying at a terrifying speed, was instantly split in two.
'…What?'
Those who saw the scene doubted their eyes for a moment.
The Buddhist tradition's internal qi is the qi of dispelling evil and malice. Like Taoist righteous qi, it contains the nature of destroying the world's evil. Yet they cut Hae Yeon's qi so easily.
The meaning of this scene was enormous.
'They are strong!'
More than just a sensation.
To make matters worse, the moment the Enforcing Guards appeared, the Demonic Cult members who were losing strength began to wildly raise their momentum.
A fierce demonic qi covered them like a dark mist.
"Hup!"
"Th-this!"
The Five Swords shouted briefly in confusion.
At that moment, Jang Ilso stretched out his hand. The bracelet on his wrist began to spin fiercely on its own and moved forward.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The bracelet spinning at tremendous speed in front of Jang Ilso's face soon became a beam of light and shot toward the Enforcing Guards.
A golden light cutting through the dark night sky. Even the disciples of Mount Hua, who clearly recognized him as an enemy of the Sect, couldn't help but be momentarily amazed by this tremendous strike.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The bracelet, filled with terrifying qi, precisely targeted the upper body of the leading Enforcing Guard charging forward. Jeok-Il's eyes twisted as he saw the bracelet flying as if to pierce him thoroughly. His face revealed cruelty.
Paaaat!
Jeok-Il, holding a sword, stretched his arm forward. The sword tip and Jang Ilso's bracelet collided in midair, causing a massive explosion.
Kwaaaaang!
As the explosion roared loudly, golden qi and black demonic qi burst like fireworks in all directions in the night sky.
At that moment, Baek Cheon saw Jang Ilso's bracelet caught on the thin tip of Jeok-Il's sword.
'That…'
A chill ran down his spine. Just deflecting a bracelet flying with such force is no easy task. Especially if the beloved weapon is such a thin sword, protecting it from breaking under that impact is not easy.
But that Enforcing Guard not only struck away Jang Ilso's bracelet with his strength but also neutralized and snatched it.
'The level they are at is so different.'
Some here had already encountered Enforcing Guards in the North Sea. But the Enforcing Guards they met then and those who were approaching now only shared the same rank; their skills were incomparable.
'There are ten of these.'
Baek Cheon bit his lip unconsciously at his thoughts. Meanwhile, the Enforcing Guards closing the distance stood before the Demonic Cult members.
Thud!
They stopped and looked up at Chung Myung and Jang Ilso's group. Their number was exactly ten.
Behind them, the Demonic Cult members gathered silently, sending arrogant gazes.
Just by looking at that, it was clear.
The Demonic Cult members feared the Enforcing Guards more than the Mount Hua disciples who would face them, or the Red Dogs glaring like hunting dogs at the intruders.
'They fear their own?'
It was hard to understand at first, but in the Demonic Cult, this was common sense.
Enforcing Guards manage and command laypeople, commonly called demonic soldiers by the Central Plains people. But their greater mission is to root out apostates within the Cult and correct doctrinal deviations happening in the Demonic Cult.
Therefore, for Demonic Cult members, internal figures like Enforcing Guards were naturally more feared than external enemies. The cult's doctrine is the words of the Great Heavenly Demon. Those who violate this gospel face only one consequence.
But there is one more certainty.
No matter how much they punish cult members, Demonic Cult members are also warriors who worship strength. Their fear proves the power the Enforcing Guards possess.
Ka-ga-gak.
Jeok-Il, at the front, scraped the ground briefly with his sword.
"I admit it."
A clear voice flowed out.
It was an ordinary voice, but that made the unknown feeling even stronger. After all, the only sounds heard from the Demonic Cultists here were threats and howls. This was the first time hearing such a calm voice.
Jeok-Il glared coldly with sunken eyes at the Justice-Evil sect people standing before him.
"I'm saying that even among the lowly Central Plains people, there are some worth using."
Everyone's face stiffened upon hearing those words.
It was mockery disguised as acknowledgment, disdain disguised as praise.
"But even so, nothing changes."
Jeok-Il slowly pulled down the mask that covered half his face. Rough skin and dark lips were revealed. His eyes gradually reddened.
"There is only one fate for you who defied the Cult without knowing your place: Death."
His dark lips twitched.
"But don't be sad. Your death won't be entirely worthless. Your death will convey to the world the fear of the Cult, His greatness, and your weakness…"
"Wow, your tongue is really filthy and long."
Chung Myung abruptly cut off Jeok-Il's words.
Jeok-Il closed his mouth and glared fiercely at him. Chung Myung paid no mind and sneered coldly.
"If you want to chatter so much, answer my question first."
Jeok-Il's mouth twisted.
"Talking to an unbeliever twists my insides… but the Cult is originally a merciful place. Speak, foolish one. What do you want to know?"
"Why have you entered the Central Plains?"
"…What?"
"One High Priest with this many Demonic Cult members… It seems like a High Priest is acting alone. You shouldn't have that much authority."
Jeok-Il's eyes trembled widely for a moment.
Because it was a completely unexpected question. Aren't they Central Plains people?
"Who… exactly are you?"
How does a Central Plains person know such things about their Cult?
Chung Myung chuckled.
"Are you… apostates?"
At that moment, an enormous killing intent burst from the Demonic Cult members' bodies. Not only the Enforcing Guards but also the Demonic Cult members guarding from behind emitted all their demonic qi and killing intent.
The momentum was so fierce that even the Red Dogs flinched.
"How dare… how dare!"
Jeok-Il, who had maintained composure, suddenly rolled his eyes white as if losing reason.
"How dare you utter such words! How dare you! You worm worse than a bug! How dare you!"
It was almost a howl.
No one around Chung Myung understood this sudden intense reaction. Because no one knew what apostasy meant to the Demonic Cult.
"No, no."
Chung Myung continued calmly with a sluggish voice.
"Small fry like you don't even have the ability to apostatize. If someone apostatized, it would be the High Priest."
Chung Myung glanced at the spiky-haired figure and asked.
"What do you think? Did he apostatize?"
"Shut up, you dog!"
Jeok-Il lost reason and roared.
"How dare you understand the High Priest's deep thoughts! You unbeliever who can't even guess why he set foot on this filthy land!"
"Ho…"
Chung Myung's eyes darkly gleamed for a moment.
'I seem to be right.'
This confirmed it. If the real Demonic Cult had moved, it wouldn't be just one High Priest leading only his diocese onto Central Plains soil. This means it's the High Priest's solo action.
Just discovering this achieved the primary goal. If these guys are dealt with, the Demonic Cult's invasion will stop for now.
But for that…
"Ridiculous."
Chung Myung showed a cruel smile.
"The Demonic Cult seems to be divided. Well, good thinking. A wise choice. It's been over a hundred years since the Heavenly Demon's head was cut off, yet those still licking his feet are the world's fools."
"Grrr…"
Blue veins began to bulge on Jeok-Il's neck and face. Having completely lost reason to anger, he glared at Chung Myung as if ready to kill.
The reason he couldn't rush out was not because he judged he should control his anger. The overwhelming rage even bound his feet.
"Don't worry. If the worst happens, I'll help you."
Chung Myung smiled and flicked his sword.
"Even if the Heavenly Demon returns, there's no guarantee a head cut once won't be cut twice, right?"
"HUMANNNNNN!"
Jeok-Il, furious, charged forward without looking back.
His original plan was to organize the Demonic Cult members who had lost reason and charged to surround them. There is no better tactic against a strong minority.
Martial arts of the Demonic Cult basically steal human reason. There is an extreme difference between charging like beasts and moving under someone's command.
If he had calmly controlled those following him, dealing with this handful might not have been so difficult.
But now, having fallen for Chung Myung's provocation, all his plans burned to white ashes in anger.
"I'll tear that mouth apart!"
Because Jeok-Il himself lost reason the most.
Like a dragon whose scale was struck, Jeok-Il, whose inviolable domain of the Heavenly Demon was invaded, became a beast himself and charged at Chung Myung. The Demonic Cult members hiding behind also rolled their eyes and rushed like a black tidal wave pushed by a typhoon.
It was a feast of madness with no reason at all.
It was a sight that would scare anyone, but Chung Myung smiled brightly instead.
Bright red sword qi rippled on his sword.
"This is why I like the Demonic Cult."
Kwang.
Chung Myung stomped the ground hard and met Jeok-Il, who flew straight at him.
Fighting an enemy is war. But facing a beast that has lost reason is just hunting. Chung Myung's sword, which had hunted the Demonic Cult countless times, shone vividly in the darkness.