Chapter 138. A Lucky Day

"You're slow."

The Alliance Leader glanced back as he spoke.

So-hwa was stuffing the documents stolen from the archives into her sleeve, while in her arms she was carrying a spirit beast, plump from snatching and eating whatever it could. Even carrying just one made it hard to keep up speed, but burdened with both, her pace naturally slowed.

Yet strangely, there were no pursuers—no Blood Sect members in sight.

The Alliance Leader seemed to know the way well. Without even looking around, he just kept running. When she had entered with the Blue Blood Hall Lord, it had taken a full day's walk to penetrate the formation, but the Alliance Leader dashed through at a maddened pace, passing several formations in just two quarters of an hour.

"If you had learned qinggong, we'd get there faster. As it is, we'll arrive just in time.”

Clicking his tongue, the Alliance Leader shot her a glance.

"Shall I carry you while running?"

"I'll follow faster."

"Your slowness was beyond my expectations. They must all be waiting."

His voice had grown dark.

So-hwa hugged the Mae-hwa tightly, careful not to drop it, and quickened her steps.

"Will everyone really make it back alive?"

The Alliance Leader did not answer easily.

"Life is never something one can be certain of. That lies in Heaven's will."

"......"

"But since I've focused on bringing you back, ordinarily, no one will die, nor even be hurt. Most of those who came value survival over vanity, so no grave problem should occur."

He murmured, more as though reassuring himself than her. He, too, seemed uneasy. In the damp heart of Jin Yin Mountain, such feelings were natural. He had surely witnessed countless deaths going in and out of this mountain.

Those who had scolded that the plan would fail were the very ones believing it would succeed. Understanding the confusion bred by anxiety, So-hwa held her tongue.

Step.

The Alliance Leader halted, as though they had reached the entrance.

Frowning, he looked around. Something was wrong.

So-hwa asked stiffly.

 "Why is there no one here?"

"Our path was faster. Since I asked them to lure the Blood Sect members, it may have delayed them."

Though he said that, his eyes kept scanning their surroundings.

"I thought I might be late because you crawled along like a worm... but this is strange."

"Did you not just say no one would be harmed?"

Her voice was sharp. More than his disregard for her speed, it was his words that caught her nerves.

"I never said that."

His reply was cold.

He stopped searching the surroundings, as though deciding to wait and trust.

"To march into enemy ground and expect everything to go according to plan—that's greed."

When his eyes met hers, he gave a hollow laugh.

"It's not Heaven I blame. Misfortune on the battlefield comes regardless of Heaven's will."

His laugh was not one of cheer, but So-hwa asked no more. Heaven's will and the Alliance Leader's feelings were not her concern. She fixed her gaze where his had lingered—likely the path from which the Tang Clan, who had come to rescue her, would arrive.

She clenched her hand. Forcing blood into her pale fingers, she tried to relieve her tension.

Moments later, the Alliance Leader's brow twitched. Then Mae-hwa, weak in her arms, suddenly lifted its head.

From the darkness, small figures emerged. In an instant, they drew near. Soon, a sharp battle cry pierced her eardrums.

"You, you, you! Once we get back, I'll break your legs! Spoiled like this, you dare go running off without fear!"

The Black Sky Demon raged, eyes glaring.

So-hwa did not feel fear—instead, she felt something that had been weighing on her heart disappear. Just as she let out a breath of relief, she froze.

It was because she had spotted the Tang Clan Head. More than her father's furious face, what drew her eyes was the blood-soaked youth in his arms.

Tang So-hwa stepped forward without realizing it. But the Tang Clan Head did not allow her to see Tang Hak. He drew his arm back and spoke in a voice full of anger.

"You will explain yourself once we return."

Tang So-hwa could not reply. She stood frozen, eyes fixed on her blood-drenched younger brother.

“Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp!”

Mae-hwa let out a torn sound, stretching its head toward Tang Hak, as though checking on him.

"Ah, the Young Lord isn't dead yet! Worry about yourself! Once we're back, you're dead by my hands!"

The Black Sky Demon shrieked, lunging at Tang So-hwa. The Sword Saint beside him seized and held him back.

"Calm yourself!"

While Tang Min's furious curses rang out, the Alliance Leader looked over the group. Strangely, only the Young Lord was beaten to a pulp—everyone else was unharmed. Some had mud splattered over them, but that was all.

Though grateful the situation had unfolded as he wished, the Alliance Leader also felt unease. Fortune had almost never been on his side before.

"There's no time to waste. Let's return quickly."

The Alliance Leader immediately used the command tablet to open the entrance. Thankfully, outside lay Jin Mountain. And since the sun had just risen, even the sand was cool.

"... A lucky day indeed."

He muttered with furrowed brows.

Fortune had come to him one after another. Yet instead of satisfaction or fear, he simply kept running.

The others followed him as though by tacit agreement. There was no suspicion in their eyes. When first entering, they had been wary of the Alliance Leader, but seeing that Young Lady Tang had been rescued without sacrifice, all his words now seemed true.

But they had not slept for days, and constant flight had left them worn down. Their bodies grew heavy, and their speed flagged.

'Still, the Central Plains are right before us.'

As they entered the vast grasslands, one of the weary Zhuge youths' eyes lit up.

Longing to return quickly, he ran with all his might, placing himself almost at the front. The fact that Muso, Sword Sovereign, and the others guarded the rear also helped.

It was in that daze, as he sprinted toward the final passage—

Boom!

His body was suddenly hurled backward as crimson light flashed before his eyes.

"Alliance Leader!"

Muso unleashed sword energy, turning toward him.

The Alliance Leader was staring straight ahead. Quietly, he muttered to himself

'... So it seemed my luck was too good.'

Of course it was. Time would not show favor to him. To the Absolute being in Heaven, the Alliance Leader was a sinner.

Muso, quick to sense the killing intent, struck first—but still, the enemy had not revealed themselves.

The others, though not leaping forward like Muso, felt the approaching aura as well.

The Alliance Leader placed his hand on his sword hilt and spoke.

"Do you remember when I said the head of the east gate was in the Central Plains?"

"Tch, how long has it even been since I heard that? Of course I remember."

When the Black Sky Demon answered back, the Alliance Leader drew his sword.

"Seems the fellow has returned from the Central Plains."

"What?"

The Black Sky Demon was startled, but soon turned his eyes away from the Alliance Leader.

Out on the plain, where nothing had been visible, a massive figure appeared.

A giant, looking like a mountain bandit, stood there grinning.

"Only those worthy enough for me to recognize have come, I see."

The red-haired man in the middle stretched his lips into a long smile.

"Well, only people of your caliber would dare to come across here without fear."

The Red Blood Hall Lord's crimson gaze slid toward a woman. Spotting Tang So-hwa, he let out a short laugh.

"All these great people suffer because of you. What is it about your worth that stirs such chaos?"

Clicking his tongue, he suddenly twitched and raised his hand fast.

Clang!

The Red Blood Hall Lord narrowly blocked a hidden weapon that had been about to pierce his mouth. He spoke in a voice full of irritation.

"A man is speaking here."

But from the other side came a reply full of laughter.

"Exactly. That's why I answered—to tell you to shut up."

Ignoring the clash of nerves between the Black Sky Demon and the Red Blood Hall Lord, the Alliance Leader shouted.

"They're only stalling until the Blood Demon arrives. Ignore them and keep running!"

Even in a head-on fight, it wasn't a battle they could win.

And these enemies weren't blocking them with any intent to win, either. The fact that they hadn't charged proved it. Either they weren't the true target, or they had no intention of wasting their strength in battle.

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