Chapter 1716: Betting Your Neck (1)
“Who are you?!”
“Who are you?!”
The disciples of the Wudang Sect, surprised by the appearance of strangers in the backyard, drew their swords and positioned themselves defensively, protecting Baek Cheon and Heo Gong.
‘When did they appear?’
Cold sweat ran down the backs of the Wudang disciples.
Even though they were busy tending to the wounded, they hadn’t noticed that such a large group had approached them.
‘They are not ordinary opponents.’
Only those with exceptional skills could achieve something like this.
In fact, there was no need to calculate too much. The sinister energy emanating from the men in the courtyard was enough to understand their power.
“Who are…?”
A man wrapped in dark red bandages, like dried blood, smiled at the wary Wudang disciples.
“It seems that’s what concerns you the most right now. The inhabitants of the Central Plains always have interesting thoughts.”
A low laugh resonated in the silence.
It was not only an unpleasant laugh but also ominous. His chilling appearance, his voice filled with malevolence, and the energy he emitted irritated the Wudang disciples.
However, the anxiety and discomfort they felt did not compare to what Jo Gul, who stood next to Baek Cheon, experienced.
‘Damn it.’
Jo Gul’s body was drenched in cold sweat. The energy of the man who had suddenly appeared made his hair stand on end.
He was an absolutely formidable opponent. Although he wasn’t sure, he probably wasn’t less powerful than the leader of the Southern Sea Sun Palace.
‘Blood Palace...’
Baek Cheon had mentioned that the Blood Palace had appeared in Shaolin and retreated without a significant conflict.
It was unclear if the Blood Palace was allied with the Evil Tyrant Alliance, but they had appeared right now.
‘Damn it…’
There’s a saying: ‘The good don’t come, and those who come aren’t good.’
Although their intentions weren’t clear, it was obvious they hadn’t come with good intentions.
Jo Gul looked at the unconscious Baek Cheon and bit his lower lip.
‘It’s dangerous.’
Baek Cheon was like a ticking time bomb. The slightest shock could kill him instantly.
In other words, if a fight broke out, Baek Cheon would die on the spot. Moreover, those who should face these men: Jo Gul, Tang Gunak, Mu Jin, and even Jin Hyun, were busy transferring their energy to Baek Cheon.
‘What should I do?’
Jo Gul tried to find a solution while maintaining his energy flow into Baek Cheon.
If he stopped transferring energy, Baek Cheon would die. But if he didn’t stop, they couldn’t face these men.
Which life is more important? Whom should they save?
He looked around desperately, but the others were also disoriented. Their eyes reflected the same uncertainty.
‘When will this damned treatment end?’
The best option he could think of was for Heo Gong to stop the treatment for a moment, but he was already in a deep trance, and it was impossible to communicate with him.
They were trapped in a situation with no way out, no possibility of retreat.
“What a pitiful situation. What a pity.”
The Blood Palace leader seemed to understand the situation perfectly. His lips, covered in bandages, moved peculiarly.
His red eyes looked directly at Baek Cheon on the bed.
“I remember before… you were quite arrogant.”
At that moment, Jo Gul saw the Blood Palace leader begin to clench his hand, which had been hanging loosely.
The tension in the air intensified. The moment that tension broke, the men from the Blood Palace would attack Baek Cheon and everyone present.
‘Please, someone… anyone!’
But before Jo Gul could finish his thought, the Blood Palace leader’s eyes lit up with a red glow.
“First, I’ll settle the debt with Shaolin.”
The Blood Palace leader slightly flexed his knees. Jo Gul, understanding what that meant, closed his eyes tightly.
“Your master.”
Someone spoke, stepping forward. His hands visibly trembled due to the tension.
Jo Gul, surprised, looked ahead.
‘Sasuk?’
Baek Sang had stepped forward to face the Blood Palace leader. Swallowing hard, he continued to speak.
“It seems your master ordered a retreat, why are you still here? Haven’t you heard the order because you’re foolish?”
It was a desperate strategy. He couldn’t even hide the tremor in his voice, making him seem even more desperate. Baek Sang was willing to do anything.
“Master?”
But, surprisingly, the Blood Palace leader reacted to his words. It wasn’t clear if he was irritated by the term or if he just enjoyed playing with his prey.
“Master… interesting. Who could be our master? A mere lackey from the Central Plains?”
The Blood Palace leader’s eyes shone with a threatening red light.
That gaze emanated not only martial power but also an energy that made anyone shrink. It wasn’t just sinister energy but a deadly energy.
But Baek Sang, despite the fear that nearly paralyzed him, didn’t back down.
He knew that if he retreated, Baek Cheon would die. For Baek Sang, there was no place to retreat.
“You have no master?”
“Only one person could be our master.”
“Then why do you follow the orders of those who are not your master?”
“Orders? Pathetic. You spoke of a retreat, and now you talk of orders. You make no sense.”
The Blood Palace leader, who had shown slight interest, quickly lost interest. But at that moment, Baek Sang spoke again.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“Hmm?”
The Blood Palace leader tilted his head. He didn’t seem to be mocking but genuinely surprised.
“Did you say… a deal?”
“Yes, a deal. Even if you don’t speak our language well, you must understand that.”
“Us and you?”
“Yes.”
The Blood Palace leader looked at Baek Sang with strange eyes.
Baek Sang felt as if a poisonous snake was scrutinizing him. His body was drenched in cold sweat, but he still forced his words out.
“If you are not the lackeys of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, if Jang Ilso is not your master, then we can make a deal. Tell me what you want. We’ll give you what you ask in exchange for you leaving here.”
The Blood Palace leader slightly moved a finger, and Baek Sang’s eye twitched.
He knew it was a desperate action. But for Baek Sang, there was no other choice at this moment.
‘At least it will interest him.’
Baek Cheon had already told him what happened in Shaolin. This man had retreated without hesitation when he felt his position was unfavorable. This meant that, unlike the enemies they had faced until now, he was completely different.
What he sought was gain. Complete gain without any losses or damages for him. If he could guarantee that...
“If you really came here without any orders from them, then the Evil Tyrant Alliance doesn’t even know you’re here. So, why not just take what you want and leave? It wouldn’t be a loss.”
The Blood Palace leader showed no reaction. Those who reacted were the Wudang and Mount Hua disciples.
“Dojang! You’re out of your mind…!”
“Silence!”
Baek Sang glared at the one who had shouted behind him. The ferocity in his expression made the Wudang disciple fall silent.
Baek Sang took a deep breath and looked back at the Blood Palace leader.
“A deal... a deal...”
The Blood Palace leader muttered to himself and then laughed.
“Yes. Not bad. After all, the only thing that matters to us is gain.”
Baek Sang felt relieved, though he tried to maintain his outward calm.
“What do you want?”
“Wealth. And elixirs. Ah, and also good weapons, if you can get them.”
“We can give you as much...”
“And add one more thing, little one.”
Baek Sang’s face hardened slightly. There was a strange smile on the Blood Palace leader’s face when he mentioned “one more thing, little one.”
“What is it?”
The Blood Palace leader pointed to something behind Baek Sang with his chin.
“The head of the one lying there.”
“...What?”
“And if it’s a head cut with pain, even better. I have a debt to settle.”
Baek Sang’s face hardened indescribably.
“That’s...”
“Oh, this is a condition that cannot be eliminated. Sometimes, there are things more important than wealth.”
The Blood Palace leader’s eyes were filled with mockery.
Baek Sang finally understood. The desperate conversation he had been having was nothing more than a cat-and-mouse game for the Blood Palace leader.
“Now, I’ll count to three. Bring the head, and the rest will live.”
“Wait a...”
The Blood Palace leader raised three long, dry fingers.
“Three.”
One of the extended fingers slowly bent.
Baek Sang looked back desperately. The Wudang and Mount Hua disciples also reflexively turned.
“Two.”
However, the eyes of those surrounding Baek Cheon showed not a hint of doubt.
“One.”
The last finger firmly bent, and a raspy voice echoed chillingly.
“The negotiation has failed.”
Boom!
At that moment, the Blood Palace leader released a surge of red energy and lunged at Baek Sang.
Baek Sang instinctively drew his sword. He had to block him. Even if he died trying, he had to prevent that man’s hand from reaching Baek Cheon.
But before he could draw half of his sword, the Blood Palace leader’s bandaged claws headed for his neck.
‘Ah...’
Baek Sang closed his eyes, expecting imminent death.
Boom!
Suddenly, a crash resonated in front of him. The sudden pressure sent Baek Sang flying backward and crashing to the ground.
“Eh?”
What was that?
He reflexively touched his neck and found it still attached to his body.
‘What happened?’
With his head dazed, Baek Sang looked ahead. Then he saw it. The Blood Palace leader had been pushed back several meters and was covering his face with one hand, staggering.
“It’s...”
When he lowered his hand, his face appeared disfigured.
Then, a low voice resonated in his ears.
“Where do you think you’re going with your dirty hands?”
“Ah...”
Baek Sang and the others trembled.
It was a very familiar voice. It wasn’t an illusion.
Tap.
A figure stood in front of Baek Sang.
“Chung...”
Seeing the familiar figure in Mount Hua attire, Baek Sang and the other Mount Hua disciples shouted in unison.
“Chung Myung!”
“It’s my dear Sasuk, after all.”
Chung Myung turned his neck and looked at the Blood Palace leader with narrowed eyes.
“Let’s negotiate again. This time, betting your neck.”
A cold smile formed on Chung Myung’s lips.
