SWNOVELXO Chapter 158
Chapter 158: The Evil Dragon
Xinjiang
In the old Tang Dynasty era, this vast land was known as the Western Regions.
It was a vast area composed of the Tarim Basin, Tianshan Mountains, and Central Asia, serving as a crucial trade route between the East and West.
A rough land once ruled by the Xiongnu.
The Demon Sect exiled by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang settled in this land of the former Xiongnu, and with their immense power, they conquered the natives and renamed the land Xinjiang, meaning “New Land” in honor of their conquest.
The headquarters of the Demon Sect, located in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, was precisely our destination.
After a week of preparation, my companions and I departed from the Gongdong Sect Main Base.
There were only four members in the party.
Yeon Sowol and Wi Soryeon, representing the Evil Faction, and myself and my Senior Brother representing the Orthodox Faction.
Back at Gongdong Mountain, Goeui Dang Yeong-ryeong and my disciple were left to guard the Gongdong Sect Main Base.
Thud, thud, thud…
“His medical skills might be that of a quack, but Dang Yeong-ryeong’s mastery is indeed at the stage of transcendence, so I suppose he’ll at least do a decent job in case of emergencies.”
If not, it wouldn’t make sense to have accepted a quack.
Thoughts like these crossed my mind as I led the group past Dunhuang, finally crossing the Imperial border into Xinjiang.
From now on, this was the land of the Demon Sect.
The Demon Sect ruled over this vast region known as Xinjiang, much like a nation.
Whooooosh…
The arid land was engulfed in a swirling sandstorm.
“Ugh…”
Wi Soryeon frowned as the sandstorm obscured her vision.
She had lived in Sichuan all her life; the harsh Xinjiang terrain must have been unfamiliar to her.
However, my Senior Brother and I had both grown accustomed to the harsh conditions of Gansu Province, so Xinjiang didn’t faze us.
‘We’re not far from the Tianshan Mountains now.’
Just then, while we were braving the sandstorm across the wasteland,
“Master. Someone is coming from afar. A martial artist.”
My Senior Brother informed me.
Her eyes narrowed. Who was approaching? As I extended my senses, I felt a powerful aura approaching from a distance.
It was different from that of the Orthodox Faction’s masters—wild and rough energy.
It was a master of the Demon Sect.
They must have come out to welcome us. I raised my hand, signaling to halt our progress.
Right when the horses came to a stop, a fearsome presence washed over us.
The raging sandstorm abruptly calmed. At the center of this overwhelming energy stood a middle-aged man.
“So you are the immature ones from the Orthodox and Evil Factions.”
He was a man wearing a brown hood and a straw hat, with a sword at his waist.
I had never seen him before, but his face seemed familiar.
It resembled someone I had known in my past life.
‘Is that the Sword Demon?’
A master of the stage of transcendence who supports the Demon Sect beneath the Heavenly Horse. He was one of the Five Demons.
Behind him, I could see masters of the Demon Sect clad in black martial attire.
They were probably part of the Blood Sky Sword Demon group, his direct force.
It was obvious without looking.
“I am called the Sword Demon. I have been entrusted with the duty of guiding you brats to the Tianshan Mountains under the Great One’s command.”
The Sword Demon spoke to us with an arrogant tone.
“Yujinhwi.”
In response to his words, my Senior Brother replied bluntly.
“So it seems the one known as Yujinhwi from the Orthodox Sect has appeared…”
The Sword Demon’s brows furrowed. An aura as sharp as a blade emanated from him. Upon seeing this, black energy rose from my Senior Brother. Zzzzzt!
The two’s energies clashed in the air, creating a shockwave that spread in every direction.
The Sword Demon withdrew his aura. His parched lips twisted into a smile.
“You’re a rather competent brat for the Orthodox Faction. And next to you must be the Evil Faction’s Post-Stimulation Indicator, the Black Dragon, Huibong. And that must be…”
The Sword Demon’s gaze turned to me.
As he looked at me, I straightened my shoulders proudly.
That’s right.
I was the officially recognized Sword Dragon by the Martial Alliance. Hehe! Even the Demon Sect knew of this Sword Dragon’s fame. Clearly, the Yongbong Society needed to have a victory…
“…Are you the Evil Dragon, Lee Cheol-soo, who won at the Yongbong Society?”
However, the title that slipped from the Sword Demon’s mouth was Evil Dragon instead of Sword Dragon.
No way.
Why the Evil Dragon? I looked at the Sword Demon and said,
“Sword Demon senior, I am not the Evil Dragon; I am the Sword Dragon.”
And not just any Sword Dragon.
I was the genuine Sword Dragon personally certified by the Martial Alliance leader, Do-hwang.
“…Hahahaha! Evil Dragon! All the many antics you have pulled have reached even this Xinjiang land. It has been told that every night you embraced promising young ladies from the Orthodox Faction, teasing them during martial arts contests by stripping their clothes. Our Colorful Horse master has even praised you. How could one like you be a Sword Dragon?”
The Sword Demon looked at me and laughed.
What?
Just how twisted are the rumors circulating within the Demon Sect? It’s ridiculous.
Moreover, Colorful Horse? The Colorful Horse is also one of the Five Demons, a peerless master alongside the Sword Demon.
Why would such a person be interested in me?
This cannot continue.
My grand plan to spread the colorful techniques to the beautiful maidens of the Demon Sect!
At that moment,
“Sword Demon.”
Yujinhwi’s cold voice echoed across the wasteland. Her eyes cast a heavy shade.
The focus in Yujinhwi’s eyes disappeared.
“…I cannot tolerate insults towards my Master.”
Explosive energy erupted from Yujinhwi’s body. In an instant, her aura dominated the wasteland. *Fwooooo…
The wind began to blow. The Sword Demon met her energy head-on and chuckled.
“You’re no mere brat after all, Yujinhwi.”
The Sword Demon unleashed his own aura. The two peerless masters’ sincere energies clashed, wreaking havoc around them.
“We cannot fight here. While I wish to draw my sword right now, I have a command from the Great One that I cannot ignore. Consider it an honor and thank the Great One, Yujinhwi.”
The first to step back was the Sword Demon. As he retracted his energy, my Senior Brother followed suit.
“Let’s move.”
The Sword Demon didn’t say any more. He gestured for the masters to surround us, guarding us as we made our way deeper into Tianshan.
*
Xinjiang Tianshan.
A range of mountains stretching towards the heavens, sporting endless peaks covered in pure white eternal snow.
It was an awe-inspiring plateau filled with a landscape that could easily be called a million mountains, where the headquarters of the Demon Sect was located.
With the mountain range as a backdrop, enormous Golugeogak structures stood tall, and below them were houses, numerous event venues, and inns that resembled more a city than a sect.
As we entered the expansive headquarters of the Demon Sect—larger than the Martial Alliance Headquarters in Luoyang of Henan Province—people’s gazes turned to us in unison.
“Are those the Post-Stimulation Indicators of the Black and White Paths?”
“I hear this time around, they will determine the number one among the Post-Stimulation Indicators of our sect!”
“Is that the Evil Dragon Lee Cheol-soo we’ve only heard of?”
“The Evil Dragon, huh! Apparently, even within the hypocritical Orthodox Faction’s martial world, such rare talent exists!”
“I’d believe it if they said the Evil Dragon is the Post-Stimulation Indicator of the New Religion!”
“I’ve heard rumors that the Colorful Horse has taken a significant interest in the Evil Dragon.”
“I’m looking forward to it!”
Murmurs spread among the crowd.
Yet half of the chatter revolved around me. As they called me Evil Dragon or Colorful Dragon, my insides were boiling, but the Demon Sect was surprisingly evaluating me positively instead of negatively.
Honestly, they’re expressing their desires openly, which is more fitting for the Demon Sect than the Orthodox Faction.
They were assessing me on whether to laugh or cry.
No, why do they consider me part of the Demon Sect? To anyone, it’s clear that I’m a proud Post-Stimulation Indicator of the White Path Orthodox Faction who upholds justice.
Did I not just win the title of number one Post-Stimulation Indicator of the White Path at the Yongbong Society recently? I am no Demon Sect member.
As I thought this, I crossed the bustling center of the Demon Sect Headquarters, heading towards the most towering building.
It could even be called a Sky Tower, so imposing and grand that it resembled an inner citadel more than a royal chamber.
The Heavenly Horse Hall.
As we arrived, the heavy doors marked with the inscription swung open with a thud.
“The Great One is waiting for you. Prepare yourselves by cleansing and purifying your attire before meeting the Great One!”
The Sword Demon left only those words, separating each of us into individual rooms.
In the private rooms were attendants and servants. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a breath.
Soon.
I would meet the last of the three supreme masters of the martial world, the one and only Heavenly Horse Baek Murang.
I applied camellia oil to my hair as thoughts of Heavenly Horse Baek Murang filled my mind.
*
At the highest level of the Heavenly Horse Hall.
A great hall that symbolizes the authority of the Heavenly Horse, overlooking the New Religion Headquarters below.
In this place, adorned with massive black pillars engraved with demonic figures, sat a handsome young man with distinctly attractive features, wearing a bored expression.
The leader of the Heavenly Horse Church—the living god revered in his time.
Baek Murang.
“The Heavenly Horse descends! Blessings for all! New Religion’s world! Long live the Great One!”
A familiar voice drifted into the Heavenly Horse’s ears. He glanced down with interest.
On a plush carpet imported from the West, a man prostrated in the New Religion’s etiquette—performing the Five-Point Prostration.
That man was the Sword Demon.
“The Post-Stimulation Indicators of the Black and White Paths have just arrived at the Heavenly Horse Hall. They are in the process of cleansing and dressing properly to meet the Great One.”
Upon hearing the report from the Sword Demon, a faint glimmer of sharpness flashed in the Heavenly Horse’s hollow gaze.
The corners of his mouth turned upward slightly.
“Is that so.”
In truth, even without the Sword Demon’s words, he already knew the esteemed Post-Stimulation Indicators had arrived.
As the absolute master of the stage of transcendence, the Heavenly Horse was aware through his senses that Lee Cheol-soo and his companions had entered the hall from quite some time ago.
“They will be arriving shortly.”
“Right. Good work. You may leave.”
“Understood, Great One.”
Having received the Heavenly Horse’s command, the Sword Demon retreated with quick steps. Once again, the Heavenly Horse was left alone in the grand hall, closing his eyes.
Cheonmuji-che.
The running Yujinhwi, known as the unrivaled talent of her generation.
This could be the only worthy rival in the boring and mundane life he had lived. He wanted to know what kind of person she was. A long-lost feeling of expectation bloomed within the Heavenly Horse’s heart.
Not bad.
Just as the Heavenly Horse was about to open his eyes,
“Great One! The Post-Stimulation Indicators of the Black and White Paths have arrived!”
The voice of a guard posted outside the grand hall echoed in the Heavenly Horse’s ears.
“Let them in.”
The Heavenly Horse spoke in an arrogant tone.
Creek.
The sliding door opened, and the group of young men and women, having finished their cleansing, stepped into the grand hall.
Thud.
The door closed behind them.
Unlike the followers of the New Religion, who prostrated themselves, the four youngsters stood upright in the Heavenly Horse’s sight.
Knowing the faces of the guests, the Heavenly Horse had previously studied their features.
‘This is the Evil Dragon, and over there is the Black Dragon, and that girl is…’
At the moment the Heavenly Horse’s gaze met Yeon Sowol’s, his eyes flickered.
‘Yeon Sowol… That’s impossible.’
Reaching the peak of the Orthodoxy’s powers, the Heavenly Horse sensed alarms ringing in his head.
The girl before him was not just some Post-Stimulation Indicator. She was not merely a master at the stage of transcendence.
She was beyond that…
Perhaps someone with prowess equal to that of the Heavenly Horse himself. He was sure of it. And in his knowledge, there was only one such esteemed master who could attend this gathering among those regarded as absolute masters.
‘Is it possible… Elam Wang?’
Jeoksawol.
It could be no one else.