Demonic Beast Flood.
Occasionally, there is a phenomenon where demonic beasts swarm together in large numbers, and people casually refer to it as such.
This can happen as a natural result of the increasing population of demonic beasts, but there are also cases where beasts of unknown origin appear out of nowhere.
In such cases, people often suspect the Demon Cult. It is quite common for demons to manipulate these beasts.
‘Demon Cult...’
Seo-jun pondered as he moved toward the vicinity of Mount Hwang.
Ideally, he would like to eradicate the Black Lotus Union entirely, but it is not an easy task, as one might imagine.
Because of the Black Lotus Leader.
Hyun Gyeong, a former member of the Pacheon Sect. As long as that individual holds a position in the Black Lotus Union, completely eradicating the group is impossible.
‘Could I use the Demon Cult’s power?’
Isn’t it the beginning of the Demon King’s reign?
Though the last time had nearly ended in disaster, if things turn out well, he might be able to secure a position within the Demon Cult.
Even so, unless Cheonma takes action, it’s unlikely that anything can be done about the Black Lotus Leader, but at the very least, it could provide some help.
‘Or maybe the Martial Alliance Leader could step in.’
It wouldn’t be surprising, but the Martial Alliance also has a powerful master.
Though it is said that it has been a long time since he showed himself, there are very few people who still know his face... But one thing is certain: he exists.
There is a reason why the forces of the present martial world are divided into three factions.
However, Seo-jun knew little about this Hyun Gyeong.
Why don’t they move? If they do, how far could they go? What are they thinking? The information was far too insufficient.
‘Let’s think about it later.’
For now, he could only focus on his father-in-law’s funeral and the upcoming wedding.
But first, the demonic beast flood.
Whoosh! Seo-jun’s new sword disappeared beyond space.
****
"Lord, is reinforcements coming?"
One of the warriors from the Namgung Clan’s Biyondae asked absentmindedly. His eyes slightly squinted in the rising dawn.
Namgung Chang-hwi, the head of the Biyondae, answered.
"I don't know. Even if they come, it will take some time."
"It seems like it would be tough to handle this on our own."
"...We might have to give up a few cities."
A demonic beast flood doesn’t usually bring out exceedingly strong beasts. Occasionally, demonic beasts on a level similar to the ultra-elite will appear, but that’s about it.
Even then, it’s rare for them to know how to fully wield their power. Because of that, an ultra-elite warrior could generally ensure victory.
Even here, with Namgung Chang-hwi, an ultra-elite warrior, present, the individual beasts weren't a major problem, but the issue was their number.
Namgung Chang-hwi couldn’t guard all the cities. Inevitably, there would be gaps, and once a demonic beast entered the city, the damage would be uncontrollable.
"Fortunately, Biyondae was nearby. I don't know what's going on with the Central Plains these days."
"It will pass eventually."
Namgung Chang-hwi stood up. Dust was rising faintly in the distance. Thud-thud-thud—! The ground shook with countless footsteps. Namgung Chang-hwi clicked his tongue and drew his sword.
"Endure. War always ends eventually. You’re doing your best, aren't you?"
"Ah..."
The warriors stood by Namgung Chang-hwi’s side. Since they were divided into squads to defend the city, there weren’t many of them.
"If you’re talking about the Taesa, didn’t Lord mention that he once fought on the same battlefield?"
"He was no ordinary person."
Namgung Chang-hwi grinned and wrapped his sword with strong energy. The sword hummed—! The energy from the Changgungbiyeon Sword emitted a light, scattering across the surroundings.
"First... let’s reduce their numbers."
Namgung Chang-hwi’s sword crackled with thunder energy. The Taesa of the Namgung Clan, more familiar to some as Namgung’s young master, had created this technique.
Cheonroe Myeol Ma Gong. Among the techniques, this one consumed relatively little internal energy.
Cheonroe Myeol Jin (Heavenly Thunder Destruction Array).
Bang! Namgung Chang-hwi slammed his sword into the ground. Waves of blue electricity spread outward, emanating from the sword.
Wooooo-!
Cheonroe Myeol Jin was an advanced technique that utilized the principles of formations to drastically reduce internal energy consumption. Although Seo-jun didn’t fully understand the precise mechanics, he had no issues using it.
Zzzt-
The waves that spread began to tangle at a specific point, like threads.
Each of these entangled threads was like a lightning bolt.
Krrr-!!!
The ground turned blue with lightning.
Kyaaaaack…! Krrrkkk…! Demonic beasts collapsed, electrocuted. However, the technique didn’t cease. The remaining lightning continued to burn the fallen beasts within a certain range.
Krrr... The bodies of the demonic beasts, already dead, turned black, with acrid smoke spreading through the area.
"Woah...!"
One of the warriors gasped in awe.
"This technique is perfect for catching these foolish beasts!"
The lightning from Cheonroe Myeol Jin didn’t vanish. It remained, circulating endlessly.
The demonic beasts tried to avoid the lightning-scorched ground, but now, their numbers became the issue.
The wave of beasts pushing from behind shoved the others into the lightning.
Kwiiyyiikk…!
Zzzt-! The continuously burning lightning consumed the demonic beasts, releasing dark smoke as they burned.
Soon, only a pile of blackened corpses remained in the area.
"Enough talk, focus. This is just the beginning."
Namgung Chang-hwi wiped the sweat from his forehead and drew his sword from the ground.
The demonic beasts that had bypassed the Cheonroe Myeol Jin rushed toward them.
"Let’s go!"
"Yes!"
Namgung’s Biyondae stood firm against the beasts.
****
The battle that began at dawn continued until midday.
Biyondae fought fiercely. While no one died, not a single person was without injury, large or small.
The martial factions that had settled in the city also fought desperately, assisting Biyondae.
However, they weren’t much help. Their numbers were far too few compared to the beasts.
In the end, the human warriors, mere mortals, began to tire.
Namgung Chang-hwi gritted his teeth.
"Have the civilians evacuated?"
"Almost done, but..."
The head of an unnamed martial faction shouted in a hoarse voice.
"There are still some who are refusing to leave their hometown, holding out..."
"This..."
Namgung Chang-hwi bit his lip.
What should he do? Should he give up on the remaining people?
One of Biyondae’s warriors could save dozens of people. Was it the right choice to risk a warrior’s life for those who chose to remain behind?
‘But...’
He couldn’t abandon them. Namgung Chang-hwi remembered why he held a sword.
Without the protection of martial warriors, the commoners couldn’t survive in the perilous Central Plains.
Seeing Namgung Jincheon protect his family, Namgung Chang-hwi wanted to take care of the powerless like family.
The sword he had once wielded without purpose now carried meaning, and not long after, a star appeared in his sword.
Namgung Chang-hwi, It’s Like He Was Holding a Sword for the First Time.
‘A warrior who loses their resolve cannot move forward.’
Namgung Chang-hwi muttered quietly in his mind and then shouted aloud.
"...For now, you all step back and forcibly evacuate the remaining people!"
The warriors fighting alongside Namgung Chang-hwi widened their eyes in surprise.
"Are you sure you’re alright?"
"No big problem. It's not difficult to block them for a while and retreat."
Despite the overwhelming numbers, the demonic beasts were distinctly weaker than Namgung Chang-hwi.
Though he had traveled around the city, wearing himself out by patching up the defense lines whenever they were breached, Namgung Chang-hwi was confident that he could manage on his own for a little while.
"But..."
"Go now!"
When Namgung Chang-hwi shouted at the hesitating warriors, they bowed their heads.
"Yes!"
The warriors reluctantly turned away. They were worried, but their lord was strong. There was no way a mere demonic beast could harm him.
"Let's go."
The warriors rushed toward the interior of the city. But then, they suddenly felt something was off. Something was wrong.
The first man to realize it opened his mouth in disbelief.
"The sound..."
The battlefield had quieted down.
The other warriors instinctively turned their heads. Soon, their eyes widened. What they were seeing was hard to believe.
"What is this...?"
The demonic beasts, whose red eyes had been charging forward, suddenly froze in place. They didn’t attack. They simply stood still, panting heavily, and drooling.
"Ah, it’s been a while."
A man walked through the air. Dressed in Namgung’s clothes, he casually approached and stood before Namgung Chang-hwi.
"Young Master?"
Upon hearing Namgung Chang-hwi’s words, the warriors immediately realized. They hadn’t recognized him at first due to the confusion, but this man was none other than Namgung’s young master, the Taesa, Seo-jun, the Heavenly Lord Who Annihilates Evil.
Although he hadn’t been formally appointed to the position yet, everyone who knew of him was already aware of his status.
"Taesa, I salute you!"
The warriors immediately knelt. Seo-jun, the Taesa, smiled lightly and waved his hand.
"It’s fine. You must be tired."
Swish-, the sword at the Taesa’s waist floated up into the air by itself.
"So, how have you been? I haven’t seen you around lately."
"I was just returning to the clan."
"Why so formal? Just act like before."
"Now that you’re Taesa, it’s only right..."
"What difference does it make?"
Seo-jun chatted casually with Namgung Chang-hwi. The warriors were too stunned by the strange discrepancy to even think of composing themselves.
The battlefield, once urgent and fierce, had grown eerily still, with demonic beasts—formerly charging with red eyes—now hesitating in place.
Seo-jun, however, seemed completely unbothered by the situation. The swarm of demonic beasts that Biyondae had been desperately holding back turned into nothing more than a backdrop, like a decorative screen before him.
As the warriors blankly stared at him, they suddenly felt a shift in his gaze. Seo-jun looked at them.
"Ah...!"
Realizing their rudeness, the warriors quickly lowered their heads.
"My apologies!"
"Hmm? What for?"
Seo-jun smiled and waved his hand toward the sky. His sword followed the gesture, rising above.
"Don’t apologize. Just remember what you saw."
In that moment, all wind stopped. Time seemed to freeze, and nothing moved.
A bitter smile played at the corners of Seo-jun’s mouth.
"I’m just doing what I’ve learned."
Fwoooosh-!!!
The sight turned green. The earth had been dyed in the sky’s hue.
A chill ran down the warriors’ spines, and their mouths dropped open.
"Ah..."
Where the blue sky had been, there was nothing now. The demonic beasts had vanished without a trace.
It happened in the blink of an eye. The warriors trembled, wondering if they had been the ones to disappear, not the demonic beasts.
‘We would’ve been dead.’
They could feel the weight of the name "Heavenly Lord Who Annihilates Evil" resonating in the current martial world.
Yet, instead of fear, they looked at their Taesa with reverence. The man standing before them was none other than Namgung’s Taesa.
But Seo-jun didn’t seem particularly proud of the feat he had just accomplished.
He stared at the empty battlefield with a strange expression for a moment, then extended his hand. Something flew toward him. It was the demonic beasts’ cores.
Seo-jun casually rolled the small cores on his palm before extending them toward Namgung Chang-hwi.
"Want them?"
Namgung Chang-hwi shook his head.
"No, I’m fine."
"You’re not going to take them? I might be in trouble."
"Excuse me?"
"I got them from my father-in-law."
After a moment of hesitation, Namgung Chang-hwi took the cores. It felt like the right thing to do.
Seo-jun smiled.
"Feels like I’m catching up a bit, doesn’t it?"
"The clan head... or, are you referring to the clan head?"
"Yes."
"Wouldn’t that be true? Your growth has been unprecedented even in the Central Plains."
"Is that so?"
Seo-jun paused for a moment, staring up at the sky with a faint smile, his expression darkening a bit.
"Well, let’s go now. I’ll take you there."
****
Seo-jun, despite the warriors’ objections, helped with the cleanup of the battlefield. It wasn’t much trouble.
Since the demonic beasts had left no corpses behind, there wasn’t much to do. Seo-jun simply gathered up the remnants with Hogongseobmul.
"We’re fine, really!"
"Ah, it’s fine."
Soon, Seo-jun, lifting all of Biyondae with Hogongseobmul, headed toward the Namgung Clan.
Hogongseobmul is an area highly influenced by Qi.
Seo-jun felt he had reached a level similar to his father-in-law’s in this regard.
‘I wish that were true…’
A bitter smile appeared on Seo-jun’s lips.
He wondered if he was truly doing well in his place, in Namgung’s shadow.
It was still uncertain.
****
As time passed, the funeral of Namgung Jincheon drew near.