NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 152
“Is this the place where the Blood Sacrifice Sect Master resides?”
“Y-yes, it is…”
I had expected the estate to have more presence, but it seems rather understated.
Are they using an old estate, or did they intentionally construct one this way?
Considering the size of the city, it seems more likely it was built intentionally. Despite lacking any ostentation, the estate itself is quite expansive.
The problem is, since this is their main base, it’s possible the place is brimming with troops and traps.
I turned my attention to the martial realm practitioner Hye-ryeong had dragged in.
“Who else is inside the estate besides the Blood Sacrifice Sect Master?”
“That… the Blood Sacrifice Sect Master, his confidants, and various martial experts…”
“Hmm.”
He knows very little, probably due to his lowly position.
“Hye-ryeong, release him.”
“Yes!”
Once freed from Hye-ryeong’s hold, the martial artist slumped to the ground, gasping in pain, before dragging himself away.
We have no further need for him; it is time to proceed.
“Hye-ryeong, Mok-kyeong. Stick close to me. Given that this is the main base of the Blood Sacrifice Sect, which boasts significant influence even within the evil factions, they will spare no dirty tricks.”
“…I am prepared.”
“Me too!”
“…Good. Then let’s move.”
I lifted my foot towards the wall surrounding the estate.
It looks sturdy, but to me, it might as well be made of clay. Infusing my foot with internal energy, I kicked the wall.
———————————
Bang!
The sudden explosion startled all the practitioners residing in the estate, who rushed towards the source of the sound. With the knowledge that an assassin targeting the Blood Sacrifice Sect was already known, their response was unusually organized.
If they fail to capture this assassin, the Blood Sacrifice Sect will suffer catastrophic damage that could make recovery impossible.
In such a situation, other forces, currently lying in wait, would inevitably reveal their teeth and move to devour the weakened Blood Sacrifice Sect.
To prevent this, the sect members were desperate.
“Everyone, hurry to the eastern wall!”
With three hundred members sprinting to the same location, it was quite a spectacle. Some among them optimistically believed this would be enough to capture the assailants.
However, those with a clearer understanding of the situation remained grim-faced.
The assassins who had previously eliminated over ten peak experts were no joke.
Among the Blood Sacrifice Sect members, the number of peak experts numbered less than one-tenth of the total. It would be difficult to subdue these attackers.
“Let’s put up a show of resistance but be ready to flee if things go wrong.”
The forces of the evil sects were often transient alliances.
If the Blood Sacrifice Sect falls, other sects will surely recruit their surviving members to bolster their own ranks. Thus, some skilled members acted with restraint.
“There were three attackers, right?”
“Yes.”
“Even if they’re strong, can they do much against so many of us?”
“Three peak experts shouldn’t be underestimated.”
“And we have three ourselves.”
“Hold on, Guangyun. People don’t storm this recklessly unless they have a reason.”
“Hmm…you’re right.”
As the two exchanged words, they arrived at the scene. From a safe distance, they observed the attackers.
One woman and two men.
“…The gender of the third is unclear.”
“That’s not the important part.”
Regardless of their gender, these attackers were clearly hostile.
The members arranged themselves in combat formations and surrounded the intruders.
“Anyone who enters here should not expect to leave alive!”
A thin, cunning voice pierced through the air—Lianhong.
“I’ve always hated the sound of his voice.”
“If things go well, we might not have to hear his eunuch-like voice again.”
Lianhong, the trusted confidant and general manager of the Blood Sacrifice Sect Master, stood with his neck craned, gesturing aggressively at the intruders.
Thinking this place is where, he dared to storm in!
William pulled back his hood smirking.
“Big talker.”
“S-someone with colored eyes?”
“Don’t chatter needlessly; call me ‘master.’ We have no business with you.”
Upon the sudden appearance of the colored-eyed person, the Blood Sacrifice Sect members stared at him with a mix of confusion and murmurs.
“Colored eyes? Is this the person who’s making a name for themselves in the Central Plains?”
“The Lion Sword Hero?”
“Idiot, it’s the Lion Sword Hero!”
“Wait, isn’t that the person who fought on equal terms with the Alliance Leader…”
At the mention of this, all heads turned towards William. Nonchalantly, he drew out his longsword, placing it in front of him with one hand.
“If you wish to die, feel free to attack. If you wish to live, flee and save yourselves.”
‘Of the ones running at me, some will surely die, but there’s no need to chase the ones fleeing.’
Back in the days of war, he would have swung his sword without hesitation to eliminate as many enemies as possible. But he wasn’t that person anymore.
This was not a battlefield.
‘Not everything should be solved by killing.’
A world where life was worth less than fallen scraps of coins. Yet, that didn’t mean he should value a human life as such.
Thus, he leaned on his sword, glancing around at his surroundings.
The hesitant ones, those watching his cues, and the rare few who showed hostility.
“Don’t be fooled! He’s just a rumor! Peak experts aren’t that common! Just some barbarian…”
“Hmm.”
William’s sword glowed with a blue hue. As if starlight had descended onto his blade, the eyes of the sect members widened.
Fear.
Horror.
Awe.
Multiple emotions surged as the worst rumors were confirmed.
What had been slightly quieter became loud again as the members tried to shift the atmosphere.
“A sword energy technique!”
“Damn it! I can’t do this!”
“Attacking a supreme expert is asking for a painful death!”
What use is loyalty when they are nothing more than expendable to the Blood Sacrifice Sect Master? By displaying his sword energy, William confirmed his status as a supreme martial expert, causing cracks to form among the Blood Sacrifice Sect members.
With most members being second-rate or below, the sect had no way to stop a supreme expert.
Even with numerical superiority, very few were willing to risk their lives against him.
As the situation ripened, William took a step forward.
Simultaneously, the members took a step back.
Despite their considerable numbers, instead of standing firm, the members scurried away like rats.
“…Damn it!”
Lianhong’s face showed signs of helplessness.
“Supreme expert? Why couldn’t the other experts handle this? Because we’re dealing with a supreme opponent!”
A scenario he had never considered.
Lianhong’s thoughts tangled like a knotted thread.
“The Sect’s already splitting apart. To stabilize the situation, I must capture this person…but how?”
A supreme expert, almost impossible to harm even with mediocre strategies.
Lianhong knew this well since his own master had reached the supreme state.
“The Sect Master must confront him! There’s no other way. If the Sect Master wins, things can be salvaged!”
Lianhong’s body dashed towards the pavilion where the Sect Master resided, moving with lightning speed. The sudden retreat of Lianhong caused the combat formation to start breaking apart.
“Hmm…”
“Aren’t we lucky to not have to spill a single drop of blood, Uncle?”
“…Looks like it. Mok-kyeong, how are you holding up?”
“…I’m fine.”
Her injuries weren’t fully healed, but fighting with these wounds would be disadvantageous.
However, this might be the only chance to capture the Blood Sacrifice Sect Master.
“If we don’t eliminate him now, who knows where he’ll flee to.”
Regardless of the odds, this was the moment for revenge.
“Are we just going to wait, Uncle?”
“Since it is so cold, why don’t we simply walk in and wait?”
William approached naturally, as if invited. Hye-ryeong and Mok-kyeong followed behind him while, like the parting of the Red Sea, the sect members moved aside.
They didn’t want to anger a supreme expert unnecessarily.
When an opportune moment arrived, William grabbed a nearby sect member and asked.
“Where is the Blood Sacrifice Sect Master?”
“T-there!”
The pointed member showed no hesitation in pointing towards the pavilion where the Sect Master resided.
“Thank you. And from now on, live honorably. Avoid exploiting others.”
“Y-yes, yes!”
The targeted sect member responded with a brisk, military-like response.
The three proceeded unhindered.
How long had they walked? They spotted a figure walking towards them with hands behind his back from afar.
“…That’s him.”
“The Blood Sacrifice Sect Master.”
William instinctively grabbed Mok-kyeong’s shoulder before she could charge forward.
“Hold on a bit longer.”
“…Understood.”
“Ho ho. What brings the esteemed Lion Sword Hero to our humble residence?”
Despite the grandfatherly tone, William redirected his gaze towards the speaker.
“…His cultivation is undoubtedly high. Clearly, a master of the supreme realm.”
“I have come to claim blood-debt.”
“Blood-debt?”
“I’ve come to sever that loathsome neck of yours that keeps wagging with nonsense. Blood Sacrifice Sect Master… Jin Mu-han.”
A voice filled with grudge pierced his ears.
The Sect Master turned to Mok-kyeong in surprise upon hearing the bitter declaration.
“And who might you be to…”
The Sect Master’s feigned ignorance infuriated Mok-kyeong, who stepped forward, drawing her sword.
“The successor and last survivor of the Yunnam Dan family, exterminated by you. I’ve returned… to exact vengeance!”