Chapter 639: No Matter What

Baek Suryong stood on the edge of a tall pavilion’s roof, gazing at the land beyond the city as twilight settled in. His gaze did not waver until a familiar voice broke the silence.

“Aren’t you disappointed that the final match has been canceled?”

Baek Suryong glanced over to see the Murim Alliance Chairman staring at the same spot, his expression like that of a starving tiger.

He shrugged. “The students are more disappointed than I am. We were planning to parade down the main street together like conquering generals.”

“You can do that next year. All of your students are extraordinary.”

“Of course. Just look who taught them.”

The Murim Alliance Chairman raised an eyebrow. “I still can’t get used to this. Couldn’t you at least speak respectfully to the Murim Alliance Chairman?”

Baek Suryong snorted. “Why should I? Martial arts, seniority, status. .. I don’t see any reason to do so anymore.”

“...Have I ever told you it’s a good thing you were born in the orthodox?”

“I hear people say that all the time.”

They traded idle banter for a while to ease their tension.

The final of the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament and the closing ceremony of the Heavenly Martial Festival had both been canceled.

Before the final could begin, an urgent report had arrived from the Beggars’ Gang. An ominous, supernatural red mist was rapidly approaching.

“The report describes it as ‘heaven-defying sorcery.’ We cannot see inside the mist, but only the Blood Cult is capable of such sorcery.”

After examining the approaching mist with the Heavenly Eye, this was the conclusion the Black Tortoise Academy sorcerers had reached. Some of them had even fainted from the strain of the evil spell.

That was not all. Ok Jin of the Kunlun Sect, whom everyone thought had returned home, came back drenched in blood. Before collapsing, he delivered news of the Kunlun Sect’s annihilation.

“Everyone...they’re all dead! Every last one of them... Keoheok!”

The Heavenly Martial Festival was halted immediately, and all murim leaders convened. The orthodox leaders, including the Murim Alliance Chairman, the Supreme Buddha, and the Sword Sage, held an emergency council with the heads of the Unorthodox Alliance and the North Sea Ice Palace. Also attending were the principals of the Five Great Academies, the patriarchs of the Five Great Clans, Namgung Su and Baek Suryong.

The result?

“How does it feel to assume command of the war against the Blood Cult?”

The Azure Dragon Hero Baek Suryong was appointed Supreme Commander of the war against the Blood Cult with overwhelming support. The Nine Sects One Gang had accepted it based on the results of the Heavenly Martial Festival, the Unorthodox Alliance and the North Sea Ice Palace had backed it, and the Five Great Clans and the Five Great Academies had approved it unanimously.

Despite becoming the central figure of something unprecedented in history, though, Baek Suryong looked thoroughly unimpressed.

“It’s nothing special. Everything just went according to plan.”

“...I should have worked you harder when you were the Murim Alliance Chief Instructor,” the Murim Alliance Chairman grumbled, before breaking into a chilling smirk. “I have just one request. Put me in the vanguard.”

His tone was calm, but a long-held fury simmered beneath it.

He was the Fist King Yayul Hwang, a man who had climbed all the way to the seat of the Murim Alliance Chairman fueled by nothing but his thirst for revenge against the Blood Cult. He had no complaints about Baek Suryong becoming Supreme Commander. In fact, he welcomed it because he could now leave the complicated business of command to Baek Suryong and focus solely on killing his mortal enemies.

“Hmm... I’ll decide depending on the situation.”

“What’s there to decide? Surely you don’t doubt my skills?”

Yayul Hwang was about to launch into a long tirade, but stopped short when Namgung Su appeared beside Baek Suryong using an otherworldly movement art.

Namgung Su nodded briefly to the Murim Alliance Chairman, then delivered his report to Baek Suryong. “The Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans have finished their preparations. The sect leaders and patriarchs will arrive shortly after completing their final inspection.”

“And the Five Great Academies?” ℯ

“Some of the instructors will be deployed, while the rest will protect the civilians with the students.”

Baek Suryong nodded. He recalled the note Sagon had left him.

The Blood Cult is coming. Evacuate the people.

Are they seriously attempting a frontal assault here, where every master in the murim has gathered?

No matter how many times he thought about it, the idea seemed too reckless, even for fanatical cultists.

Judging by the letter, Sagon only found out the Blood Cult was coming at the last minute. If he’d known in advance, he wouldn’t have sent the warning in such a rush. Also, from what Number One told me a few days ago, this attack doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the Apostles.

Then who could it be? Who’s leading the Blood Cult right now?

The leadership council was full of predictions and speculation, but no clear conclusion was reached. Still, everyone agreed on one thing—the enemy was choosing all-out war because they believed they could win. Victory would not come easily.

PSSSSSSSH...

Soon, the supreme masters caught sight of the red mist drawing near. Not only was it visible in every direction—north, south, east, and west—but it was also creeping toward them at an alarming speed. Although the density and pace varied, the mists were closing in from all sides, as if to encircle them. The Blood Cult clearly didn’t intend to let anyone escape.

Even the supreme masters could not hide their unease at such an eerie sight.

The Murim Alliance Chairman groaned. “They number even more than we expected...”

“What an ominous sight.” Namgung Su added solemly.

“......” Baek Suryong remained silent. His eyes were fixed on the red mist directly ahead, which churned an especially deep, bloodlike crimson as it rolled in alongside the gathering dusk.

PSSSSSSSH...

The wind carried the fishy stench of blood.

Finally, he announced in a low voice, “The enemy will arrive soon. Tell everyone to prepare for battle.”

The Murim Alliance Chairman and Namgung Su nodded and vanished.

Baek Suryong remained where he stood, watching the colossal, writhing phenomenon approach.

Even without activating his Blood Demon Eyes, he was the only person in the world who could see inside it. He could make out the Night Emperor leading the Blood Cultists, the Blood Cult’s masters, and even the faces of his former trainees.

Gazing at the Night Emperor, whose hair and eyes had turned red, countless possibilities ran through his mind. He reviewed his conversation with Number One, remembering the anger and resentment of his former trainees... and the sorcery carved into their hearts.

“...Maybe this is your choice. Or maybe someone, or something, forced it on you. But no matter what...”