Chapter 402. Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes (2)

The Dark Heavens Association Lord regularly received reports from the Seven Stars Division on Zhou Xuchuan’s location. He had also heard that the swordsman had been deployed to the North.

Although he had expected to meet the swordsman face to face, not even a single hair of him had been seen.

“Blessed Existence Star, what do you think of my opinion?” the Dark Heavens Association Lord asked, his gaze fixed ahead.

“We believe it is as the great Lord said.”

“Why?”

"There's no way that one of the Six Empyrean Overlords, especially someone with absolute influence like Zhou Xuchuan, wouldn't step forward. The Sword God's mere presence is a source of morale and bravery, and is like the command itself. If he were to neglect this advantage and not step forward, he would be a fool."

"Isn't it possible that Zhou Xuchuan is a fool?”

The strategist from the Blessed Existence Star didn't answer the Dark Heavens Association Lord’s question directly. It wasn’t because he didn’t know the answer, but because he was hesitating to answer the lord. Still, he didn’t think long.

"Forgive me, but this lowly dreg will dare to respond. If he had truly been a fool, I don't think that our Association's plans would have been ruined so easily, and he wouldn't have been considered our true enemy."

“That’s exactly right, Blessed Existence Star.”

The Dark Heavens Association Lord nodded in satisfaction.

“If he had been that foolish, Zhou Xuchuan wouldn’t have had his name engraved on the top of the Slaughter List. Above all, it doesn’t make sense to sacrifice a beggar of the Beggar Gang who was even a Senior Master Uncle when they already had little fighting power, even though they knew what the outcome would be.”

The Dark Heavens Association Lord engaged in a chase with the Northern Lower Army.

If he had wanted to, he could have caught up to them alone, but he didn’t, thinking that this might be bait. Moreover, since the unit itself couldn’t keep up, he decided to take his time and pursue them steadily.

"Those foolish bastards are trying to block the path of our Association Lord with a bunch of beggars and waste time."

“Judging by the knot, he seems to be an elder of the Beggar Gang. If there’s anyone who knows anything about him, please tell me now.”

“He’s called Sun Yishan, the Temperance Staff Beggar.”

“He’s a beggar of the Beggar Gang who can’t get enough of meat and alcohol, but is completely abstinent from alcohol. He’s a unique person.”

“If you want information about Sun Yishan...”

“No, that’s fine. He’s dead anyway.”

The living were more important than the dead.

Even more so if the enemy was running away right in front of you.

“Vast Gate Star, did you send a signal?”

“Of course. We definitely sent it.”

The Seven Stars Division soldiers showed off their bamboo tubes.

The smoke that had been the signal rose faintly near the entrance.

“Good, follow me.”

***

The Northern Lower Army had begun climbing the ridge at the edge of the plains in an attempt to shake off the Dark Heavens Association Lord.

The air was heavy with the weight of Sun Yishan’s sacrifice.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Their bodies felt like wet cotton, exhausted and heavy, but they pressed on, unwilling to let his death be in vain. However, soon after, a report halted their brisk steps.

"Sob, sob!"

A beggar tried to say something while shedding tears and snot.

One of the beggars had been left at the foot of the mountain to report the results.

He had been ordered to return if Sun Yishan's force had been annihilated or something similar had happened. However, the issue was that his return had been too fast.

It hadn’t been long since they had started climbing the mountain. He should have come back to them at least half an hour later.

“Come to your senses!”

Shen Daoyun calmed the beggar down.

He was a grown man with tears and snot running down his face, but he didn’t look ridiculous at all.

He had been forced to watch his fellow disciples fall while unable to do anything. No one could judge him.

"Are you going to let the deaths of the Temperance Staff Beggar and your brothers be in vain?!"

"...!"

The beggar came to his senses at Shen Daoyun’s shout.

He wiped away his tears with his bloody and dusty sleeve, and only then was he able to make his report.

"Senior Master Uncle Temperance Staff Beggar and the others! They were all killed!”

The atmosphere in the Northern Lower Army became as cold as ice.

The disciples of the Beggar Gang looked like they were about to erupt.

They had known what was likely, but hearing it outright hit differently.

Already?

Shen Daoyun’s face turned pale.

“How long did they last after making contact?”

"A single

ke

, and barely that."

"Ha!"

Hong Jin sighed loudly and recited Buddhist sutras.

Ximen Erjin’s face distorted horribly.

No!

Shen Daoyun barely held back a shriek.

Not even two hours, no, not even two ke, but less than a single ke?

It couldn’t be worse than this. The situation was the worst possible one.

While he didn’t expect them to be able to delay for two hours, he didn’t think they wouldn’t be able to hold out for two

ke

.

They weren't familiar with the terrain around here, and there were a lot of trees around, so it wasn't easy to escape.

Eventually, once their stamina and morale were exhausted, they would be caught.

“Damn it!”

Someone finally couldn’t hold it in and let out a groan.

“Are you saying we're left with a dog’s death?”

“If I had known this would happen, I would have just faced them with resolve and...”

“This really is a dog’s death.”

Starting with the first shout, a wave of agitation swept over the allies.

No one was saying anything, but the continuous pursuit had exhausted them both mentally and physically.

More than anything, the presence of the Dark Heavens Association Lord was a source of pressure.

Just hearing the news that the Beggar Gang troops had been annihilated in an instant, their fear and anxiety skyrocketed.

“Don’t stop!”

Shen Daoyun shouted to calm them down.

"The Temperance Staff Beggar and the Beggar Gang have bought us a moment of time. If we stop or hesitate now, that would be tantamount to tarnishing their noble sacrifice. Please keep this in mind.”

“...”

Everyone fell silent at Shen Daoyun’s words.

“In order to preserve the

ke

that they gave us, we must...”

Rustle.

“Who is it?!”

It was then—

A presence was felt from the bushes on the side. Because everyone was so sensitive, the atmosphere quickly became tense.

"Eeeeek!"

A frightened mother and son appeared as they pushed through the bushes.

“P-please... s-spare us..."

Despite the murderous intent, the woman who seemed to be the boy's mother bravely didn't run away and instead hugged her young son in her arms as if hiding him.

"A person...?"

Ximen Erjin frowned.

It can't be...

Shen Daoyun looked at the mother and son and thought of something unpleasant.

For a moment, his gaze passed over to Hong Jin.

“Namu Amitabha. I am very sorry if you were very surprised.”

Hong Jin stepped forward to reassure the mother and son.

“This monk is called Hong Jin of the Shaolin Temple. We have absolutely no intention of harming you two, so please rest assured.”

“S-Shaolin Temple?”

At the mention of Shaolin Temple, the woman’s fear began to ease.

As a martial arts sect and the center of Buddhism in the Central Plains, the Shaolin Temple was a name that inspired trust among ordinary people.

“Is this really the time for this?” Ximen Erjin said, glaring at Hong Jin.

“I’m sorry. It’ll only take a moment.”

Hong Jin smiled bitterly.

“We were just passing through. Please don’t be alarmed. I apologize again for startling you, even though it wasn’t our intention. Please forgive us.”

“I-it's nothing..."

“Namu Amitabha Buddha, thank you.”

Hong Jin sat down in front of the mother and son, met their eye level, and greeted them.

“By the way, judging by your attire, you don’t seem to be a herbalist. What brings you here?”

"T-that's... my child said he was going to the back mountain to play, but he didn't come back after a while, so I grew worried..."

The smile on Hong Jin’s lips disappeared.

“No...” Shen Daoyun muttered.

They aren't martial artists, they're just ordinary people, and she's a woman at that. They wouldn't have gone that far. That means...

Shen Daoyun couldn’t bring himself to continue his thoughts.

“Is there a village nearby?”

“Yes, yes. If you go over that hill behind you, you’ll get there in no time.”

His heart sank.

“Let’s go right now!” Ximen Erjin raised his hand and shouted.

The mother and son shrank back in surprise.

“Wait.”

As soon as Ximen Erjin finished speaking, Hong Jin spoke up.

"What are you waiting for?”

Ximen Erjin’s eyes flashed fiercely.

"We've already lost too much time," he continued.

“There’s a village ahead of us," Hong Jin retorted.

“I know. So what? Just pass by it. The Dark Heavens Association Lord only cares about us.”

“Even though I’m not good at strategy, it’s not like I'm completely clueless about it," Hong Jin said, standing up.

"Let’s say, no, let’s assume, it’s not just a possibility. Based on the current situation, we won’t be able to shake them off. Sooner or later, the Dark Heavens Association will catch up to us. There will be a battle. Whether they win or lose, they'll need a place to resupply and reorganize.”

Shen Daoyun sighed heavily.

“If they win, they will occupy the village to recover their damage and stamina. Even if they lose or the chase is prolonged, if there are any casualties, they will send them to the village to recover or contact Hefei to report the situation. Am I wrong?”

"No, you're wrong. We just found these two by chance and learned of the existence of the village, but if we send them back, the village won't be found."

“The pursuers won't only follow our tracks, they'll also check other escape routes or send scouts ahead to check so that they don't get caught in a trap. Don't you already know that there's a group of strategists from the Blessed Existence Star next to the Dark Heavens Association Lord?” Hong Jin refuted Ximen Erjin’s words.

Ximen Erjin sighed, then stepped forward and grabbed Hong Jin by the collar.

"Y-you dare!"

“Senior Brother Abbot!”

The monks of the Shaolin Temple held their breath, their expressions burning with anger.

Even though they had formed an alliance, the man that Ximen Erjin was grabbing by the collar wasn't just anyone, but the head of the Buddhist Order. Their anger was only natural.

Hong Jin glanced sideways at his disciples, silently urging them to stay calm.

We’re screwed.

Shen Daoyun had felt anxious as soon as he saw the woman and child, anticipating this situation.

“Listen carefully, Abbot of Shaolin," Ximen Erjin looked at Hong Jin and growled softly.

“You may be the Abbot of the Highest Peak, the Shaolin Temple, but you’re still just a monk. Unless you’re a Buddha, you can’t save everyone. Since this is a helpless situation, we have no choice but to give up on them.”

“What do you mean by a helpless situation?”

“Are you really asking me that? Don’t you know what kind of situation we’re in right now?” Ximen Erjin shouted, eyes blazing.

"Behind us, the greatest disaster in the world, Dark Heavens Association Lord, is approaching us, even at this very moment. Our already weak forces have been reduced due to Sun Yishan’s sacrifice just now, and on top of that, we don’t even have any Empyrean Overlords like the Sword God or the Domination God Monarch!”

There was nothing they could do. This was truly a helpless situation.

All they could say was that they were just extremely unlucky.

“How many people do you think are in that village in the mountains? Maybe two hundred, at most.”

“Are you saying that those two hundred aren’t people?” Hong Jin continued to refute.

"Yes, you're right, they're people. They're people who have nothing to do with us, and even if we save them, they’re weaklings who have no power!”

Their foreheads met as they glared into each other’s eyes.

“This is a fight that will determine the fate of the

murim

. This fight will determine the fate of the future Righteous and Evil Factions, and you’re going to ruin it all for some random bastards you just happened to find? Don’t be ridiculous!”

The Righteous Faction and the Evil Faction could never understand each other.

Their very ideologies were different.

That was why they had been at odds for so long.

“I'll ask you again. What will you do?”

"I will save them. If you don't want to help, Thunder Inheriting Saber, step aside.”

“Damn it, why?!"

Ximen Erjin looked straight into Hong Jin’s eyes.

Hong Jin closed his eyes for a moment at that question.

Senior Brother, what would you have done if you were in my place?

He asked his dead Senior Brother.

Then, Hong Jin opened his eyes again and answered the question.

"Because they're not related to us."

The Abbot of Shaolin Temple continued.

“People who are not involved in the

murim

, I cannot let them die because of the war of martial artists.”

Hong Jin grabbed Ximen Erjin’s wrist and continued.

"There's no need for a reason to help people."

“Are you thinking of playing a hero?”

“I'm not a hero," Hong Jin said to Ximen Erjin.

“I'm just a monk of the Shaolin Temple.”