HDCLSSRS Ch 11

Chapter 11 Is This What It Means to Live? (4)

 

“I have some medicine. Let me at least perform some emergency treatment with this.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Namgung Cheonchu obediently entrusted his body to Seong Muyeon.

Fortunately, his belongings hadn’t been taken. Using the gold wound medicine Ilgwang had given him, he temporarily treated his injuries.

Then he fiddled with a round pill inside his sleeve. He hesitated about whether to give it or not, but eventually held it out to Namgung Cheonchu.

“Take this. It’s a Jeongsimdan.”

“……Th-this precious thing, how could I…”

It was a medicine that helped restore energy or treat minor internal injuries. Martial artists carried one or two as emergency medicine, but it was a luxury unimaginable for ordinary civilians.

“Use this to recover your strength. And once you get out of here, don’t forget who gave you the Jeongsimdan. Understood?”

“Of course! I’ll never forget it!”

Namgung Cheonchu took the Jeongsimdan and closed his eyes to focus.

Seong Muyeon also closed his eyes and put his hands together in a sincere prayer.

‘I hope your determination to go to the bathroom doesn’t change on your way back out.’

A moment later, a group of people opened the door and appeared.

“Hurry up and get out!”

The thugs had the people in the cells line up one by one in the hallway. Finally, the door to Seong Muyeon’s cell was opened.

“What are you doing? Get out already, can’t you take a hint?”

“Ah, yes……”

A rough-looking man kicked Seong Muyeon’s backside. Just because he wasn’t moving quickly enough. Seong Muyeon made sure to remember the man’s face.

“What are you looking at?! Want to die?!”

“N-no, not at all……”

‘Just you wait.’

When Seong Muyeon went to the back of the line, the man slung the limp Namgung Cheonchu over his shoulder.

They led the people upstairs. The upper floor was a wide open space, and aside from those who came up with Seong Muyeon, there were dozens more frightened civilians.

‘……What are they planning to do with these people?’

Seong Muyeon had grown up his whole life in the Demonic Cult and was well-versed in how it operated. But even he couldn’t understand what he was seeing.

Even though the Demonic Cult committed all sorts of evil and was considered the scourge of the martial world, they usually didn’t touch ordinary civilians. That was something all sects in the martial world avoided.

Though the Imperial Court currently turned a blind eye to their militarized existence, the moment they crossed an unseen line, a suppression force would be sent.

As Seong Muyeon looked around, a middle-aged man entered with guards flanking him. He didn’t even glance at the hostages, passing by as if they were mere decorations or objects.

Namgung Cheonchu was also lying bound at the man’s feet.

‘Wait, that person…!’

Seong Muyeon recognized him well. It was Heo Jimyeong, the branch manager who attended events when major ceremonies were held at the main sect.

Like other sects, the Demonic Cult had branches in other regions to manage business enterprises, and Heo was one of the managers.

Branch Leader Heo stood in front of the central altar and fiddled with something. With his back turned, it wasn’t clear what he was doing.

“Wh-what are you going to do to us?!”

One brave hostage shouted toward Branch Leader Heo.

But not only Heo, even the guards completely ignored it. He might have shown more interest if a dog barked somewhere.

“I asked what you’re doing!”

Infuriated by the disregard, the man shouted again.

That’s when it started. Once one person opened the floodgates, the previously silent crowd began to stir and murmur.

Some burst into tears, others tried to break from the line.

As the situation quickly spiraled out of control, Branch Leader Heo gestured with his chin to a subordinate beside him.

“Use one of them as an example. Show them what happens if they resist.”

“Yes, sir.”

The subordinate drew a large sword from his waist. People were in such a state of panic that they had no idea what was happening—it was utter chaos.

The man walked heavily toward the first person who had protested. Without a hint of hesitation, he raised his sword high.

“No, stop……!”

Just as Seong Muyeon witnessed it, the massive blade sliced through the air without mercy.

Swoosh—!

“……”

Everyone went silent, noticing something strange. An oppressive silence fell over the room.

Seong Muyeon saw it.

Namgung Cheonchu, who had been lying around carelessly, was now on his feet, blocking the blade. What had blocked it was none other than a belt. He gripped the belt in both hands, his arms trembling as they absorbed the weight of the sword.

“You bastard, when did you…?!”

“Ugh.”

Namgung Cheonchu endured perilously. The belt infused with internal energy gradually sank, and soon his knees hit the ground.

“Subdue him!”

The middle-aged man shouted. A dozen martial artists of the Demonic Cult surrounding them rushed forward simultaneously.

As the belt snapped, Namgung Cheonchu relaxed his body and rolled to the side.

Clang!

Thanks to that, the greatsword crashed to the floor, unable to overcome its own momentum. Namgung Cheonchu tripped the man’s lower body, which had lost balance, and seized the sword.

As Namgung Cheonchu raised the sword high above his head, the martial artists flinched and dared not approach.

“Waaah!”

Cheers erupted at the appearance of a savior. Namgung Cheonchu spun the blade skillfully, showing off with flair.

Watching this, Seong Muyeon’s expression quickly soured.

‘Is this really the time for showboating……’

Despite his showy display, Namgung Cheonchu fought well. Having somewhat recovered his internal energy and injuries with the pill, he moved like a fish in water.

“You’re all dead, you filthy Demonic Cult bastards!”

Swoosh—!

“Aaaargh!”

Each swing of the enormous greatsword, brimming with energy, sent Demonic Cult warriors flying into the walls.

It was so exhilarating that just watching it brought cathartic relief.

‘Win! Namgung Cheonchu, win!’

Seong Muyeon cheered eagerly among the crowd. There wasn’t much else he could do.

At this rate, they might really escape with his help.

But, as always, life wasn’t that easy.

Thud, thud.

A chilling tremor echoed and grew louder.

A martial artist with a monstrous build large enough to fill the doorway appeared. For a moment, Seong Muyeon thought a heavenly general had descended. Wielding a massive guandao that defied perspective, the man looked like a reaper from hell.

Thud, thud.

With each step he took, the ground shook.

As Namgung Cheonchu wreaked havoc, Branch Leader Heo reappeared from hiding and shouted.

“Georyang! Subdue that Namgung bastard! Just keep him alive!”

“Yes, Branch Leader!”

At the appearance of a new enemy, Namgung Cheonchu’s face turned pale. Understandably so—Georyang was at least one and a half times bigger than Namgung Cheonchu.

Despite his size, Georyang moved nimbly.

Boom!

Georyang’s guandao nearly sliced Namgung Cheonchu in one blow, but it struck the floor instead.

Namgung Cheonchu had narrowly evaded it.

As the two began to fight, the other warriors stepped back to watch at leisure. They were certain Georyang would finish him off.

In contrast, Namgung Cheonchu, already severely injured, reacted sluggishly. Clearly flustered, he looked tense.

Seong Muyeon was equally taken aback.

‘This isn’t how it was supposed to go.’

According to his plan, Namgung Cheonchu was supposed to wipe out the branch. At the very least, he needed to buy enough time to call for outside help.

‘Ugh, did I just waste a precious Jeongsimdan for nothing?’

If Baek Ryeoil were here instead of Namgung Cheonchu, that Georyang fellow would’ve died before he could even make a sound. After all, Baek had defeated the famed Ilgwang in a single move.

‘I was wrong to compare him to Baek Ryeoil.’

He felt slightly guilty toward Namgung Cheonchu. Still, wasn’t he fighting desperately?

Clang!

Namgung Cheonchu’s greatsword clashed head-on with Georyang’s guandao.

“Ugh…!”

Despite the size difference, Namgung Cheonchu exerted remarkable strength to block the weapon, but his feet kept sliding backward. The weight class difference was undeniable.

Eventually, Namgung Cheonchu tried to retreat by lowering his sword. Georyang didn’t miss the chance.

Thwack!

He struck Namgung Cheonchu with the shaft of the guandao.

What followed was a suffocating exchange. Georyang relentlessly pressed Namgung Cheonchu with his weapon, and Namgung Cheonchu swung his greatsword desperately to block.

But the sword itself was heavy, and as Namgung Cheonchu gradually lost strength, small wounds began to appear on his body.

“Ugh!”

Eventually, Namgung Cheonchu dropped his sword.

A fierce kick from Georyang sent the greatsword flying. Namgung Cheonchu struggled to get up but, having reached his limit, kept collapsing to the ground.

Georyang walked toward him with the leisurely steps of a victor.

“Huff… huff…”

Though Namgung Cheonchu’s eyes still shone brightly, it was clear he didn’t have the strength to lift a finger.

“He said not to kill you, but I’ll take a leg. Can’t have you acting up again.”

Georyang raised his guandao. A massive shadow loomed over Namgung Cheonchu’s body.

At that moment—

“Wait!”

With a booming shout, the one who leapt between Namgung Cheonchu and the thug was, of course, Seong Muyeon.