Only I Am A Reader

"Who gave you the right to walk away with the Azure Tree's core like this?"

The Emei Sect Master was someone who always tried to gain whatever she could, but she also made sure to do so while sustaining the least harm possible. Just like she knew better than to participate in the battle with the Poison Dragon for no reason, she knew that the person she was scolding wasn't an ordinary Martial Artist.

Just being capable of flight made him the biggest threat around. However, she could already tell the faction that he belonged to from his actions, and that was something that she found strength in.

"Hmm? I'm only retrieving something that originally belongs to us."

The Heavenly Demon's casual words raised her self-confidence as she ignored the confident tone in his words. Since the man was admitting to being part of the Heavenly Strength Society by attaching himself to the other confirmed members, she had basically proven her case.

"Hah? Belongs to you? This is something that you could only obtain thanks to the heroic sacrifice of the Sword Sage! You think we will stand still while you snatch it from under our nose?!"

Although she had cowered from the fight earlier, she easily made herself relatable to the rest of the crowd. She didn't possess the strength to fight a terrifying opponent like this, but…

"Right!"

"Those who fought by the Sword Sage's side can't let this happen!"

"We…"

Unity! Relatability! All she needed was to establish that this small group stood on the side opposite to theirs! As long as the table turned in the way she wanted, all the Righteous powerhouses present would logically join in and pressure the opponent to put the core down!

Although the core itself held no immediate value, it was undeniable that someone would pay a fortune to obtain an Azure Tree for their future generation. With how tight things had been under the Monster Hunter Association's constant draining, all she had to do was slightly offend Murim's future enemy to get a share of the resources that the core would go for!

"Ah, I see, is this what they call a moral extortion? This is quite the interesting experience. Let me think about it. Since you don't want me to move the core away…"

No tension could be sensed in the Heavenly Demon's words as he took light steps toward the Emei Sect Master. However, his voice suddenly turned faint as he…

Swish!

"What do you say if I just slaughter this whole crowd of intruders as I initially should have done, and then leave the core in the same spot? What do you think of this then?"

The Heavenly Demon's figure disappeared, reappearing a split second after as he continued his words that almost pushed everyone to the ground with the heavy intent carried within.

"Aaaah!"

As if to decorate his oppressive performance, the Emei Sect Master's scream resounded in the plain as she collapsed to the ground.

"Oh? You are still around?"

No one knew where her right arm had flown to, but blood was violently gushing from her empty shoulder like a fountain. Though that didn't seem like it was within the Heavenly Demon's intentions.

"Right, someone interfered…"

Although his words seemed calm, the rage inside him was boiling even further. He had carelessly let out his slash, so it wasn't strange that someone diverted its direction, but there was no second time.

Not only had someone arrogantly dared to announce the existence of the Azure Tree under their watch, but an impudent monster had even come and destroyed it. Martial Artists from all over the world disregarded his Society and marched into their plains without care…

He had barely held himself back considering that exterminating monsters came first, giving the people around a pass as he focused on the interest that Leo sparked. Yet, someone had actually overestimated his patience enough to order him to hand over the remains of what originally belonged to the Heavenly Strength Society?

"Do you also want this core?"

He might as well do what he should have done from the start!

"Gulp… No, I do not. I apologize for interfering in your battle, but I wonder if you can reconsider-"

Just as the Sword King who interfered to stop the Emei Sect Master's death tried to relax things, the old woman who had momentarily lost her senses came to as she screamed once more.

"Aaaa… kill-"

However, before she could say much, the Flame Emperor who appeared behind her directly knocked her out using his Extreme Heat Palm.

"Again, I apologize for not stopping her nonsense earlier, but I hope you can reconsider her death for the sake of the bigger picture."

The Sword King stood tall with no intention of lowering himself, but he emphasized his point with some self concession. Hadn't he been busy looking over Geochin's breakthrough, he wouldn't have let the old woman start her little mind game…

"I'm not sure if I want to do that anymore…"

In reality, the Emei Sect Master could go die for all he cared, but the Sword King simply couldn't allow her to die at the hand of who he suspected to be the Heavenly Strength Society's leader. As proven by the Poison Dragon's appearance today, humanity couldn't afford to break into a factional fight!

Most importantly, the other side not only had this beast that he couldn't see through, but even the Absolute Spear and someone around his level stood behind him. Let alone future fights, they really possessed the ability to annihilate everyone as long as they decided to expend some effort…

"But fine, I will let it go this time since that old man did so much to keep everyone alive."

Although he appeared completely decided a second earlier, the heavy killing intent started to fade as the Heavenly Demon turned back, glancing in Cheon Chang's direction as if he wanted to say something.

The Heavenly Strength Society's dignity and stance couldn't be tarnished! However, since the other side admitted their mistake and recognized their terror, he could let it go as an exception for the person who traded his life with one of their mortal enemies.

"Let's go back."

Under the heavy breathing of the onlookers, the Heavenly Strength Society's terrifying beasts disappeared from everyone's sight, retreating to their lair with grandeur...