Chapter 92

Total Attack

The headquarters of the Demon Sect was located in Daesan (Great Mountain). Known as Sipman Daesan (Ten Thousand Great Mountains) due to its numerous peaks, Daesan boasts a very rugged terrain. After settling deep within Daesan, the Demon Sect has been there for many years. They installed countless traps, mechanisms, and formations throughout the mountains and built fortresses on important routes. By now, Sipman Daesan had become an impregnable fortress. Many famous orthodox sects had tried to raid their own territories, but the Demon Sect had never experienced such an attack, and the reason for this lies here.

However, a group was now attacking this impregnable fortress. They were dressed in black, with small white cloths attached to their right shoulders and left feet. The swords they carried were sooty, reflecting no light at all.

Each of them seemed to possess extraordinary martial arts skills, moving with incredible speed. A few sentries who noticed their actions were almost instantly killed. After they cleared the path, a slightly less skilled group followed behind them.

And at the very end, thousands of people who did not seem to be martial artists followed. They wore heavy armor, and to prevent the armor from reflecting the moonlight, they wore loose black clothes over it. Due to the weight of the armor, they rode large horses instead of using light movement techniques, and the hooves of the horses were wrapped in thick cloth to muffle the sound.

"Would it be alright to drink this?"

At Xue Wuzhi's cautious question, Mo Xiang put down the wine bottle he was holding to his mouth and smiled.

"This is the moment of long-prepared revenge. A toast is necessary. I wonder what expression Jang In-geol will have when he realizes he's been hit from behind. Did he think the same when he pushed me into a trap? Hehehe..."

While Mo Xiang was smiling sinisterly, a faint red light flashed three times and disappeared from the mountain peak. Although it was so faint that it was hard to notice, neither Mo Xiang nor Xue Wuzhi missed it. Xue Wuzhi, sitting on a rock, spoke politely to Mo Xiang, who was chuckling to himself.

"This is a report that the third target, Machun-ryeong (Demon Spring Ridge), has been occupied. It seems that Elder Cheonriduk is putting up a good fight, as it remains quiet."

"Where did the Chief Elder go?"

"He went to the opposite side of the headquarters with the Second Elder and the 5th division of the Cheonrang Corps. If all goes well, he will achieve the greatest merit."

"He went to block the escape route."

"Yes."

"But it's pointless. It's impossible to stop a high-level expert on an extreme horse with that number of people. Since my subordinates are also fighting hard, I should go now. You stay here. We need someone to oversee the overall situation and direct the troops, don't we?"

At Mo Xiang's words, Xue Wuzhi replied respectfully.

"Understood, Deputy Sect Leader."

As Mo Xiang ran forward, over ten black-clad figures who were standing around followed him. They were Mo Xiang's guards, elite members selected from the Cheonrang Corps.

"What's happening?"

Startled by the loud bell, Jang In-geol rushed out of his bed, burst through the door, and shouted at the guard.

"Yes, it's a Level 1 emergency signal. It seems that the enemy has infiltrated the sect."

"Enemy? Damn! Who in their right mind would dare to challenge a place that has never allowed outsiders in for a thousand years? Summon Elder Geomu-sang."

"Yes!"

The guard quickly ran to Elder Geomu-sang's quarters.

Less than half an hour after the guard ran out, a figure emitting a powerful demonic aura appeared before Jang In-geol. It was Wang Chan, the leader of the independent guard corps, the Moxue Jian Gui (Demon Blood Sword Ghost). Wang Chan immediately gathered the independent guard corps, who were resting in shifts, and issued a special alert to the Su Ma Corps, the long-range guard corps of the sect leader. He also sent a messenger to the Sa Sa Xue Shi Ma Corps, a direct subordinate force of the sect leader led by Bak Yong, the Butcher of Massacre.

Since the strongest combat force, the Cheonma Xue Jian Corps, was not in the sect, the second strongest, the Sura Ma Cham Corps, was likely dispatched to the infiltration site under the command of Elder So Mu-myeon. Therefore, he planned to call the third strongest, the Sa Sa Xue Shi Ma Corps, to guard the Cheonma Daedae (Heavenly Demon Grand Hall) where the sect leader resided.

While Jang In-geol stood with his arms crossed, silently gazing at the night sky, the situation was moving very rapidly. The Sa Sa Xue Shi Ma Corps led by Bak Yong was deployed around the Cheonma Daedae, and the high-level experts of the Ho Beop Won (Law Enforcement Hall) led by Yeo Jin, the Black Hand Thousand Demons, quickly gathered Jang In-geol's family into the Cheonma Daedae.

Jang In-geol had two wives and twelve concubines, and nearly thirty children and grandchildren. Gathering them quickly was no easy task, but the high-level experts of the Ho Beop Won accomplished it in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, messengers began to arrive one after another to report to Jang In-geol.

"The main force of the enemy is attacking from the north. They have already broken through the 6th to the 3rd formations and are advancing like a bamboo shoot splitting a bamboo stalk. When I ran here, Elder Sammin-inma was leading the Sura Ma Cham Corps to that location."

The messenger received a few instructions from Elder Geomu-sang and rushed back to the battlefield. Hearing the first messenger's report, Jang In-geol thought he should gift a fine sword to Elder So Mu-myeon the next morning for successfully repelling the attack, as he believed the Sura Ma Cham Corps led by Elder So Mu-myeon would be sufficient to repel the enemy.

Less than half an hour later, a second messenger arrived to report.

"There was a clash between the Jaseong Manma Corps and the enemy in the northeast."

Geomu-sang listened to the messenger's report with a cautious attitude, his mind racing.

'They are using a feint attack.'

"How many of them are there?"

"Yes! About 7,000."

"What? 7,000? To send 7,000 people to attack such a rugged fortress? Even if the orthodox sects are stubborn, they are not foolish enough to send that many people without proper defensive equipment to such a rugged place..."

Martial artists generally do not use armor or shields. It's not that they don't know how to use them or that they are ineffective, but because they are cumbersome. Additionally, if they carried such equipment, the government troops they would inevitably encounter on the way would not leave them alone.

Therefore, the standard equipment for martial artists is limited to swords or knives, which are considered decorative. Those who use spears usually carry them in pieces and only assemble them when an enemy appears.

Even if the government tolerates the activities of martial artists to some extent, there are limits. As long as there is a possibility that a heavily armed army could invade, martial artists cannot carry heavy combat equipment.

The messenger soon answered Geomu-sang's question.

"Elder Muyeong Shinma said that the enemy seems more like an army than martial artists. Please give me your orders."

Geomu-sang asked in disbelief. There was no reason for the army to attack the Demon Sect. Moreover, it was a time of turmoil due to the rebellion of the Jinchun King.

"An army?"

"Yes! They are armed with crossbows and longbows and show very meticulous movements. They seem to be wearing heavy armor and carrying large horse-mounted sabers, so they are likely not martial artists."

It was difficult to obtain accurate information about the enemy in the middle of a night attack. However, there was a significant difference in the way martial artists and government troops fought.

The army used effective mass-killing weapons such as crossbows, catapults, and battering rams, emphasizing collective strength over individual martial arts skills. Therefore, they received intensive training in various formations and military tactics.

On the other hand, martial artists valued individual martial arts skills over overall structure. Although various formations like the Seven Star Sword Formation developed, they had flexibility based on individual martial arts skills. Therefore, while the difference might not be noticeable if the enemy moved alone, it would be clear if hundreds or thousands of people moved and fought together.

The enemy numbered in the thousands, and their collective attack made Muyeong Shinma realize they were soldiers. Hearing the messenger's report, Jang In-geol was puzzled.

"Why would an army...?"

While Jang In-geol was deep in thought, Geomu-sang quickly gave orders.

"Report this to the Council of Elders. This is a matter of life and death for our sect."

"Yes!"

Without even seeing the messenger run to the Council of Elders, Geomu-sang turned to a man in his early fifties with a decadent appearance and a thick beard.

"Captain Bak Yong, please take about 500 members of the Sa Sa Xue Shi Ma Corps to assist Elder Muyeong Shinma. If the enemy is government troops, the Sa Sa Xue Shi Ma Corps, who have mastered the Guihun Qiangshen Dafa (Soul Return Body Strengthening Great Technique), will be more effective."

"Understood."