Chapter 168: Rainy Day Victory 2

Baek Moo-jin muttered.

“You guys are out of luck.”

He was speaking to the horsemen.

A fierce rain was pouring down. The clothes of those fighting here were already soaked through. Rainwater streaming down their faces occasionally obscured their vision, their boots felt heavier than usual, and above all, their body temperatures kept dropping. Of course, those with deep internal energy moved as if this rain were nothing, their bodies crackling and emitting wisps of steam.

But as the King of the Way said, this was no ordinary downpour.

It meant that the Heavenly Being watching from somewhere was also getting soaked to the bone.

Baek Moo-jin felt both disgusted and bitter that the Rain God had come to find him on a day like this. He didn’t know who had come, but he thought they must be unlucky souls. Baek Moo-jin circled the perimeter where the battlefield unfolded, scanning the surroundings, but the Rain God was nowhere to be seen. He could only guess that it had stayed far away, waiting to enter once the situation settled.

‘Not helping, just watching… After sending Madu, who bears a grudge against the Demon King…?’

Today was the day Baek Moo-jin’s White Flower Divine Art would shine.

Even the slightest touch from Baek Moo-jin’s hand would freeze all moisture in their bodies, hindering their movements…

Thus, Baek Moo-jin began cutting down his opponents as he moved through the rain.

‘They’d love to see us both destroyed, but that won’t happen.’

The moment Baek Moo-jin’s expression darkened, he punched the man blocking his path square in the solar plexus. With a crack of breaking bones, the Madu flew through the air, colliding with two other Madu before crashing to the ground, bones shattered in multiple places. The shockwave from the impact rippled out, affecting the surrounding area.

The heavy rain made visibility poor, so few masters could discern Baek Moo-jin’s swift movements. Moreover, Baek Moo-jin moved about using only his swift lightness skill, employing the simple sword techniques he had been contemplating.

It was broad daylight, yet the sky was as dark as night.

Baek Moo-jin moved silently, steadily reducing his opponents.

Swish… Clang!

Near Baek Moo-jin, Go Seon-woo swung his iron chain, deflecting the Moonlit Demon’s twin spears.

Go Seon-woo’s internal energy was weaker than his opponent’s, and his hands were gradually going numb.

At that moment, a white figure flashed briefly through the rain in Go Seon-woo’s eyes.

‘Lord Baek?’

A wave of icy coldness surged like a tidal wave, engulfing the Moonlit Demon’s entire body. Simultaneously, Baek Moo-jin thrust his left leg forward. As he passed, Go Seon-woo’s iron chain wrapped around the Moonlit Demon’s face, who had lost his balance, drenched in the icy coldness.

Thud!

By the time the Moonlit Demon’s face was horribly crushed, Baek Moo-jin had already leaped elsewhere.

Even Go Seon-woo hadn’t fully registered Baek Moo-jin’s movement.

Baek Moo-jin, who had been running, leapt off the ground and landed on top of the demon horse fighting Dang Gwi-sun. He scattered white powder, then stepped over it with his shoulder. This time, the hidden weapon Dang Gwi-sun had sent flying pierced the demon horse’s forehead.

Baek Moo-jin’s intent was clear.

He was dominating the battlefield, weaving through the rain. Rapidly deploying his lightness skills, he assessed the battlefield, exploited the openings of the Madu fighting his allies, disrupted the balance of the standoff, and injected just the right amount of coldness at the perfect moment to turn the tide.

A crackling flame erupted near Baek Moo-jin…

Baek Moo-jin approached Jin So-hye this time. A smile touched his lips the moment he saw her.

He swung the Silver-Lined Blade against the three demon lords. Each time the rain fell on the blade, already glowing red, a sharp hissing sound echoed proudly.

‘Good…’

Jin Sohye now wielded the Silver-Lined Blade as skillfully as an extension of her own body. Even as Baek Moo-jin charged in, she protected him without a hint of awkwardness, deflecting the enemy’s weapons.

In that instant, Baek Moo-jin, using the momentum from his charge, slashed low at a man’s waist with a crouching sword strike. Kneeling, he slid across the rainwater at incredible speed, unleashing a torrent of White Flower Blossoms to the left while simultaneously releasing a sword energy blast to the right.

With a crunch, Jin Sohye’s silver blade wrapped around the frozen horse’s neck… and a scream erupted.

“Kwaaah!”

As Jin Sohye unleashed the Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, a bizarre spectacle unfolded in the rain: one Madu was burning.

However, the demon who had deflected Baek Moo-jin’s sword energy leapt into the air, unleashing a dual-pronged sword energy blast toward Jin So-hye and Baek Moo-jin.

Baek Moo-jin joined her in a flash, yet their intent was already in sync.

Jin Sohye didn’t think about defense; she simply flicked the Silver-Lined Blade in a straight line. Flames from the Yanhuaji erupted from the blade’s tip, while the flying blades were exquisitely countered by Baek Mujin’s sword barrier.

It was a perfect pass achieved in a fleeting moment.

Thud!

The demon horse, struck by the Yanhuaji flying between the two streams of swords, dropped its weapon and retreated backward.

The King of Fists’ palm strike collided with someone else’s palm force somewhere, erupting in a fierce roar. Nearby, the Sword King also protected his entire body against Nokrok Maya while swinging his sword.

By all accounts, the sword master’s opponent was the most skilled, but Baek Moo-jin couldn’t join the fight immediately.

It would be disrespectful to Dowang, so he had no intention of interfering.

Glancing around, he saw Kwonwang facing two opponents. Gonoshinma and Mangsan Hyeolgwi were attacking Kwonwang in tandem.

Baek Moo-jin said to Jin So-hye.

“Sohye, go help Kwonwang first.”

“Yes, but what about you, brother?”

“It seems Bicheon has arrived. Inform Kwonwang as well.”

“Bicheon? Yes.”

Jin Sohye nodded and dashed toward Kwonwang. She didn’t even ask what Baek Moo-jin intended to do.

Baek Moo-jin also sent Jin So-hye to Nomadu, who was attacking the King of Gwon together, without worry. The King of Gwon was fighting quite well against the two of them. The moment Jin So-hye joined the fight, the tide of battle was bound to turn.

2.

Cheonryong gazed at the pouring rain and said.

“A perfect day.”

They had Baek Moo-jin’s location surrounded from afar. Whether Noknok Maya and the Madu won, or Baek Moo-jin’s group prevailed, they intended to resolve the situation alongside the Sixteen Yaksha Gods.

One of his subordinates said.

“It’s begun. I knew Nomadu would scheme… Seems he wanted to kill the Demon King first.”

Cheonryong replied.

“I’ll handle Baek Moo-jin. You lot subdue the rest. Jin So-hye is at the Sacred Flame Palace, so there’s no need to show her mercy.”

“Understood.”

At that moment, someone retorted in a casual tone.

“Who are you showing mercy to…?”

“What?”

Cheonryong scanned his subordinates. No matter how hard the rain poured, Cheonryong couldn’t have misheard. Moreover, there was absolutely no one here who could speak to Cheonryong in such a casual tone. Yet, his subordinates were also looking around.

Cheonryong whipped his head around to look left.

Amid the downpour, a man walked toward them, then stopped. He scanned Cheonryongsa as if counting something.

Cheonryong wiped the rainwater streaming down his face with his left hand and spoke.

“Who might that be…?”

Of course, the man in the rain was Baek Moo-jin. He had quickly cleared the battlefield, entrusted the remaining demon heads to his comrades, and was thoroughly searching the area when he found Cheonryongsa and his group waiting. But Baek Moo-jin was also quite surprised.

‘What bald bastards… Wasn’t Bicheon a Buddhist? That can’t be right…’

Cheonryong clearly hadn’t expected the young man who appeared to be Baek Moo-jin. His attire was barely visible through the rain, and Baek Moo-jin should have been fighting Nokryongmaya.

Cheonryong spoke.

“Which sect do you belong to? To have arrived here without a trace suggests you’re the scion of a prestigious lineage…”

Baek Moo-jin couldn’t help but snort at the words of the man who seemed to be the leader. Each word carried multiple meanings. The man’s tone implied that if he were truly a scion of a prestigious family, there might be room to show leniency or listen to his story.

Baek Moo-jin said.

“The scion of a noble house… No. The scion of a fallen house.”

Though Baek Moo-jin hadn’t revealed his true identity, he sensed that his very way of thinking differed from these men.

At the mention of a fallen family, Cheonryong nodded and said.

“Ah! So you are Baek Moo-jin.”

Without Cheonryong issuing any specific command, the Sixteen Yaksha Gods immediately moved. They took positions far from Baek Moo-jin, surrounding him as if encircling him, waiting for Cheonryong’s next words.

Chen Long stamped his golden sword hilt on the floor and declared.

“How dare a descendant of the White Flower Demon Clan appear before me so brazenly…!”

Baek Moo-jin raised his hand, cutting off Cheonryong.

“Hold on.”

Baek Moo-jin sank to the floor. Taken aback by this sudden action, Cheonryong stared at him, momentarily speechless.

Baek Moo-jin spoke.

“Did you send those demonic beasts to us? Are you saying Bicheon was a demonic cultivator?”

“Shut up.”

“Listen, monk. If Bicheon wanted to face me, he should have come himself. But sending those demonic beasts to attack Yangpaegusang? Is this Bicheon’s way? Is this the method chosen by those who walk the righteous path?”

“Baek Moo-jin… You’re mistaken. We are Cheonryongsa. It could be said our grudge against your Baekhwa Magwa runs deep.”

“Ah, so you come bearing personal grudges? I’d rather not make excuses, but I’ve heard tales of the White Flower Demon Clan from the demonic sects. My family is the Snow Mountain Bai Clan. I know not what the past held, but we’ve never committed any act so heinous as to deserve attacks from the White Sect or the Heavenly Demon Sect. Moreover, since descending the mountain, I’ve only faced the Black Sect and the demonic sects. Our family has resided in the Snow Mountains for over a hundred years now. Whatever happened in the past, how can you possibly hold me accountable for it? I ask again: Is this the will of the Heavenly Immortals? Is this their way?”

Baek Moo-jin’s words shook the hearts of the Cheonryongsa masters more coldly than the icy rain. Even those who follow orders have hearts.

Even though they were ready to act immediately if the Celestial Dragon commanded it, Baek Moo-jin’s words stirred unease within them. No matter how one thought about it, his words were utterly correct. Moreover, Baek Moo-jin was seated, not immediately displaying force, which gave his words an extraordinary persuasive power.

Now, the eyes of the Heavenly Dragon Sect’s subordinates were fixed on him, waiting for Heavenly Dragon’s response.

Cheonryong spoke.

“Evil deeds beget evil consequences. Was your family not part of the Demon Sect? The evil deeds committed by the Demon Sect are beyond description. Even the Celestial Dragon Sect suffered as a victim. The proper path is to quietly retreat to the snowy mountains and repent your sins. Even you, right now, are accumulating the karma of killing by overconfidently relying on your family’s martial arts, aren’t you? You kill black-clad practitioners, then black-clad practitioners kill others, and eventually you’ll kill indiscriminately… Our Celestial Dragon Sect is stepping forward to guide you. However, since you seem more reasonable than I’d heard, if you submit quietly and follow us, I won’t harm you.”

Baek Moo-jin nodded.

“Evil begets evil… Very well. Let me ask one last thing.”

“What is it?”

“If you force those who seek to live righteously down the path of evil through intimidation… what purpose does the distinction between the White Path and the Demon Path serve? You sent the Demon Path practitioners here outright for the purpose of a two-party confrontation. In my quarters, the King of Might and the King of Tao are present together. There is also the young princess, who, like me, repents her family’s past wrongs and seeks to stand with the righteous path. You brought up my family’s past affiliation with the Demon Sect, but does that mean you intend to kill even these people who have no connection whatsoever to the Demon Sect? If they fall victim to the Demon Lords, then you yourself can be called one without righteousness in your heart. Is there any corner of your heart that holds compassion?”

As Chen Long listened to Bai Wuzhen’s words, he found himself unconsciously glancing at his subordinates’ faces. All sixteen Yachas, drenched in rain, stared back at him with flushed expressions. It was proof that even his elite subordinates were being shaken by Bai Wuzhen’s words.

Cheonryong gave a dry laugh.

“What a wicked tongue you have. Compassion is for weak beings, not for the likes of you…”

At this, one of the Sixteen Yaksha Generals finally spoke up.

“Lord Baek’s words… hold no contradiction.”

Cheonryong slammed his golden scepter onto the floor.

“You are the guardians of Cheonryongsa Temple! Whose words are you swayed by? Attack!”

Despite the Heavenly Dragon’s command, not a single one moved. Moreover, even Baek Moo-jin remained seated, staring at the Heavenly Dragon.

How could Cheonryong have anticipated such a situation?

He was utterly bewildered.

As Cheonryong sank into turmoil, Baek Moo-jin spoke as if to resolve the situation.

“The righteous will prevail. I shall show you mercy instead. Let us set aside these labels—Bicheon, Cheonryongsa, Baekhama, Seolsanbaekga… After all, you are a martial artist confident enough to seek my life. Challenge me by the ways of the martial world. I accept.”

“Hahahaha… How is that mercy?”

At those words, Baek Moo-jin spoke as if issuing an order to the Sixteen Yaksha Gods.

“Everyone, withdraw.”

The moment Baek Moo-jin finished speaking, Cheonryong declared.

“Sixteen Yachas, subdue Baek Moo-jin.”

Baek Moo-jin addressed the Sixteen Yaksha Deities.

“Withdraw. You will come to realize that retreating was mercy.”

Then, the one who had spoken to Cheonryong was the first to lower his weapon, retreating backward and collapsing to the ground like Baek Moo-jin. Astonishingly, all sixteen Yaksha deities retreated, lowered their weapons, and sat cross-legged. Even those who had been silently listening behind Cheonryong were now sitting in place.

Baek Moo-jin had made them understand.

Only when Baek Moo-jin rose did he finally flash a refreshing smile. Baek Moo-jin had also exercised considerable patience. He possessed the confidence that whether the Sixteen Yaksha Gods attacked or the entire Cheonryong Temple attacked, he could freeze them all solid along with the rainwater. However, Baek Moo-jin couldn’t help but feel a surge of irritation rising within him, and he pointed at the Golden Captain, unable to resist spitting out a sarcastic remark.

“Come on… I’ll show you mercy and only beat you enough that you won’t die.”

Baek Moo-jin’s somewhat vulgar words felt like a refreshing breeze to the Sixteen Yaksha Deities. This rain-soaked exchange of words had already ended in Baek Moo-jin’s complete victory.

Great Victory in the Rain 2 End