Chapter 41: Chaos (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 41: Chaos (2)
A dark basement.
Thick, hazy smoke filled the already dim underground corridor. The haze was so dense it was impossible to tell one direction from another.
Thud!
A palm slammed against the wall.
"Ugh..."
Along with a pained groan, the hand slid down the stone surface. The wall, illuminated by a flickering lamp, was stained with blood.
Crunch!
"Ack!"
The sound of something being crushed echoed through the smoke.
Soon after, someone pushed open the heavy, sealed door of a secret chamber. Several silhouettes appeared through the haze. One figure stepped forward from among them.
"They’re holding out quite well. They must have some kind of poison-resisting pill."
The face was that of a man, but the voice was unmistakably a woman's. Beneath the human skin mask of an ordinary young man lay the true identity of Baek Hye-hyang.
The man following behind her spoke.
"The Tang Family likely took precautions. As expected of the Martial Alliance, the security of their main headquarters' Secret Vault remains ironclad even with the key figures away."
His words revealed a startling fact. This place was the Secret Vault, one of the central hubs of the Martial Alliance. Baek Hye-hyang, a prominent candidate for the position of Blood Cult Leader, had shown the audacity to infiltrate its very heart.
"Is this the last stretch?"
"There may still be formations and mechanical traps remaining. I will go first—My Lady!"
Ignoring the man’s warning, Baek Hye-hyang walked forward.
A long corridor stretched out before them. With every step she took, the hallway attempted to shift like a living maze. Baek Hye-hyang’s eyes glowed with a dark red light. Had it not been for the thin, transparent membrane covering her pupils, that light would have shone a brilliant crimson.
Swish! Snap!
As she tilted her head back slightly, a sharp spear lunged from the right wall and embedded itself into the opposite side. She shattered the protruding shaft with the edge of her palm.
She continued her relentless advance. Mechanical traps triggered one after another, but none could touch her.
The man marveled silently.
As expected!
Neither traps nor formations stood a chance before her eyes. As she passed a certain section of the corridor, she stomped firmly on the floor. With the sound of something breaking, the twisting, maze-like hallway straightened into a single path.
At the end of that corridor, a space illuminated by lamps revealed itself.
"Interesting."
At Baek Hye-hyang’s remark, the man followed her, looking puzzled. He let out a scoff of disbelief.
The walls of the chamber were covered with countless sword hilts. Nearly hundreds of scabbards and handles were plastered with yellow talismans.
"They’ve certainly gone to great lengths."
It would be difficult to find the specific sword this way.
"It seems they did this to suppress the sword's energy."
The reasoning was clear. The blade known as the legendary Demon Sword was no ordinary weapon. It was said to devour the very sanity of those around it.
What should we do?
Drawing and checking every single sword would take far too much time. They were in a race against the clock. It wouldn't be long before the Alliance Leader and other high-ranking officials arrived.
"Did they think I couldn't find it just because they hid it like this?"
A red haze began to shimmer and rise from Baek Hye-hyang’s body. She was pushing her Divine Art to its limit to resonate with the blade. Her dark red eyes slowly scanned the wall of swords before she leaped lightly into the air and snatched a specific hilt.
"Is that it?"
Baek Hye-hyang nodded silently.
"Please, verify it."
To the man's request, she shook her head. He wondered why, but her next words made everything clear.
"We can make use of these."
She pointed to the rest of the talisman-covered swords lining the walls. A cruel smirk played on the man's lips as he looked at them.
*
Arriving at the Secret Vault located behind the main headquarters building, Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk stared at the smoke billowing from the structure with a grim expression.
The Alliance warriors nearby were all covering their mouths with cloth. It was clear the smoke was poisonous.
How dare they!
Even a man like him, who rarely lost his composure, could not suppress his rage at the audacity of the intruders. A bearded, middle-aged man of handsome features rushed toward him.
"Alliance Leader!"
"Strategist Sama."
The man was Sama Jung-hyeon, the Second Strategist of the Martial Alliance. He had been the first to arrive after the incident began and was currently managing the situation.
Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk asked him, "What happened?"
"The enemy used a poison trap. Elder Dang Woo-jung has personally entered to neutralize the poison mist filling the basement."
Dang Woo-jung was the Vice Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Family. In the entire Orthodox Faction, no one handled poison better than the Tangs. However, the poison mist wasn't the primary concern.
"Have the intruders been captured?"
"The Elders and Hall Masters who were nearby have scattered to pursue them."
"Them?"
"The enemy employed a deception strategy."
"What do you mean?"
"A significant number of people burst out of the Secret Vault, all of them carrying talisman-covered swords as they scattered in every direction."
"How long will it take to catch them?"
"The confusion has intensified because even the warriors guarding the Secret Vault have been mixed into the chaos."
"What are you talking about?"
Strategist Sama pointed toward a group of people. Members of the Tang Family and Alliance physicians were carrying warriors on stretchers; the men were pale and vomiting blood. Beside them lay six swords covered in talismans.
"The intruders forced our men to tie the swords to their backs and told them to run blindly."
"Ha!"
"They tricked them, saying that if they didn't keep running to stimulate their Yongcheon pressure points, they would die within moments. The deceived warriors scattered and fled in all directions."
"...How many are there?"
"We estimate at least forty people."
That was no small number. And the real culprit was hidden among them.
What a cunning trick.
He didn't know whose plan it was, but it was brilliantly executed. Strategist Sama spoke in a grave voice.
"Alliance Leader... I believe we must issue an Emergency Order. If we worry too much about the ongoing Grand Martial Assembly, we might truly lose the sword."
Baek Hyang-muk fell into deep thought. The Grand Martial Assembly was currently in progress. If he issued an Emergency Order during a major event attended by the most influential figures of the Orthodox Faction and countless martial artists, the prestige and face of the Martial Alliance would be dragged through the mud.
There is no other way.
His hesitation didn't last long. If the greatest trophy of the Great Orthodox-Evil War was stolen right under their noses, the Alliance's prestige would suffer an even greater blow.
Baek Hyang-muk opened his mouth. "Issue the Emergency Order immed—"
BOOM!
Before he could finish his sentence, a massive explosion thundered in the distance. It came from the direction of the Great Training Ground, where the Successor's Martial Discussion was being held. Then, more explosions followed in rapid succession.
KABOOM!
Though the distance between the headquarters and the Great Training Ground was considerable, the screams of the crowd following the blasts reached the ears of Baek Hyang-muk, one of the Eight Great Masters, with startling clarity.
With a hardened face, Baek Hyang-muk commanded, "Issue the Emergency Order immediately. And send the forces of the Five Halls to the Great Training Ground at once!"
"As you command!"
This was no longer a situation where they could afford to worry about prestige.
*
...Sigh.
After receiving Zhuge Won-myeong’s request, I had been heading toward the duel platform for the second preliminary round, wondering how to handle the situation. I was racking my brain for a way to resolve this without the spies revealing my identity in a desperate attempt to take me down with them.
But as if to mock my concerns, the situation exploded—literally.
—Are they actually insane? A suicide bombing?
The Lesser Conversation Sword clicked its tongue in disbelief. The man I was originally supposed to fight—the one suspected of being Baek Hye-hyang’s spy—had suddenly stripped off his shirt while dueling his next opponent.
He had gunpowder strapped to his chest.
"Peerless Fortress does not forget a grudge!"
With those words, he blew himself up. The Hall Master acting as the referee for the 'Jeong' platform tried to stop him, but it happened so fast that he was caught in the blast instead.
Was he just a disposable pawn?
My gaze naturally shifted toward the 'Eul' platform. Kwon Young-ha, the disciple of the First Venerable, was there. As if using the explosion as a signal, Kwon Young-ha, who had been in the middle of his duel, immediately deployed his Lightness Skill and fled the platform.
"He's escaping! Capture them!"
Zhuge Won-myeong’s voice, infused with internal power, thundered across the grounds. After the explosion, there was no longer any need for secrecy.
The Hall Masters and others, including Taoist Master Hoyang, the Plum Blossom White Sword of the Huashan Sect, immediately gave chase to capture him and the other spies.
But then, another problem arose.
"Peerless Fortress does not forget a grudge!"
At the shout coming from the spectator stands, not only my eyes but also those of Taoist Master Hoyang and the Hall Masters chasing Kwon Young-ha turned toward the source.
At that moment, another explosion erupted.
KABOOM!
Blood and fragments of flesh sprayed in all directions. Screams tore through the air.
"Aaaaahhh!"
Those lunatics!
I thought Jo Seong-won and the Alliance warriors had captured everyone carrying explosives in the stands, but it seemed one had slipped through. The impact of this blast was far more devastating than the one on the duel platform.
"E-Explosives!"
"Run!"
In an instant, the Great Training Ground became a scene of absolute carnage. The Alliance warriors tried to calm the crowd, but it was futile. The fear that another explosion could happen at any moment threw the venue into total chaos.
As tens of thousands of people scattered to escape, the noise and the surging crowd provided perfect cover for Baek Hye-hyang’s spies.
"Everyone, stay calm!"
Zhuge Won-myeong’s shouts were drowned out by the bedlam.
They made sure to create an escape route.
With this level of chaos, escaping wouldn't be difficult for them at all.
Phew...
Our plan had been blown to pieces. If Baek Hye-hyang’s diversion succeeded, she would take the Blood Demon Sword. If it failed, there would be no other way to seize the blade.
With such a disaster occurring, there was no way the Successor's Martial Discussion would continue. While I had avoided immediate suspicion, it might be better for us to escape now as well.
—Will that be okay? If you suddenly vanish, won't the Yikyang So Family take the fall?
The Lesser Conversation Sword’s words gave me pause. I didn't care what happened to the Yikyang So Family, but my younger sister, Yeong-yeong, was the problem. If I disappeared, she might be the one to suffer the consequences.
This is driving me crazy.
The situation had become incredibly complicated. I needed a plan.
By the way...
Where are they?
Sama Yeong and Jo Seong-won were nowhere to be seen. I had told Sama Yeong to find him and come to the official's stand. Surely they hadn't been caught in the explosion in the spectator area?
Anxiety began to gnaw at me.
Thump! Jostle!
People kept bumping into me as they trampled over the training ground to escape. It was impossible to find them like this.
Then, a good idea struck me.
Namcheon, Sodam. Can you find Young Lady Sama’s sword?
I could hear the voices of swords too, but with so many blades and people around, I couldn't concentrate.
—Hold on.
—I'll look.
It was better to let them search. I needed to slip away with the crowd while the chaos was at its peak. I decided it would be better to head up toward the spectator stands to find them.
Just as I was about to push through the crowd...
—Woon-hwi! Behind you!
Along with the Namcheon Iron Sword’s warning, I felt a surge of killing intent. Someone was approaching me through the gaps in the crowd, dagger in hand.
This guy?
It was none other than the spy from Baek Hye-hyang’s side whom I had fought in the first match of the second preliminary round. He must have been desperate to kill me if he was targeting me even while he should be focused on escaping.
The man, who had been trying to carry out a silent assassination, revealed his true colors when I turned around.
[Give up on escaping!]
He sent me a message via Sound Transmission. Did he think the match wasn't over just because he had fallen out of bounds?
He pushed through the crowd toward me. I looked in his direction and nodded.
"!?"
The man frowned as he approached, looking confused.
I wasn't nodding to you.
At that moment, someone wrapped an arm around his neck from behind.
"Gack!"
Startled, he tried to stab backward with his dagger, but before he could, his neck was snapped. The man collapsed to the ground, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Hmph! Who do you think you're targeting?"
The person who had broken his neck was none other than Sama Yeong. Jo Seong-won stood behind her, breathing a sigh of relief.
Just in time.
I hadn't been nodding to the spy; I was giving Sama Yeong permission to kill him as she asked for it from behind him.
Murmur, murmur!
[Strip off his mask.]
As the fleeing crowd nearby stared in shock, I sent her a Sound Transmission to remove his human skin mask. As the mask was torn halfway off, the man’s original face was revealed. He had sharp eyes and pale, jade-like skin—a face that looked far more like a member of the Blood Cult than his previous disguise.
"A human skin mask?"
"Is he a spy?"
Spotting an Alliance warrior among the murmuring crowd, I called out to him.
"Wait, this is..."
The warrior gasped in surprise as he saw the torn mask. I told him, "I believe he's a spy. He was targeting someone."
That was enough. The warrior hurried over to examine the body.
"Please identify him. I have to go; Strategist Zhuge has given me a task."
"A-Ah, understood."
Leaving him behind, I took Sama Yeong and Jo Seong-won and blended into the crowd. It was to avoid the Martial Alliance's scrutiny for the time being.
As we naturally exited the Great Training Ground with the throng of people, Sama Yeong sent me a Sound Transmission.
[Vice Unit Leader. It’s chaos outside the training ground right now.]
[What do you mean?]
[People carrying talisman-covered swords are fleeing all over the city, and the Alliance warriors are chasing them.]
[...How do you know that?]
I wondered where she had been; it seemed she had already stepped outside the training ground. When I looked at her with a frown, she confessed.
[Um... I heard the Second Strategist of the Alliance is from the Sama Clan...]
I see. Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon. He was indeed a member of the Sama Clan. Sama Yeong waved her hands dismissively.
[I wasn't trying to meet him. I just wanted to see his face.]
And you expect me to believe that?
She was someone who harbored a strange, deep-seated rage whenever the Sama Clan was mentioned. However, I didn't intend to scold her right now. In fact, thanks to her sneaking out, I now knew the situation outside.
She said there are people carrying talisman-covered swords.
That meant there wasn't just one. And the Alliance warriors were trying to catch them.
The Blood Demon Sword.
If my guess was correct, it was the Blood Demon Sword. I didn't know if Baek Hye-hyang’s side had prepared them, but they were using fake Blood Demon Swords as a diversion to lure the Alliance warriors away.
They set up a strategy similar to ours, yet different.
We had planned to leave a fake Blood Demon Sword in the vault. But Baek Hye-hyang’s side had boldly used multiple fakes as a distraction.
However, I didn't know how long that would last. Although the city was in chaos due to the pincer attack, it wouldn't stay that way for long.
[Vice Unit Leader, what should we do? I think we should take this chance to escape the city or come up with another plan.]
Jo Seong-won sent me a Sound Transmission, having heard the situation from Sama Yeong. He had reached a similar conclusion.
What should I do?
If I just ran away and the Blood Demon Sword fell into Baek Hye-hyang’s hands, the internal war would end in her victory, and I would remain under the Alliance's suspicion.
I have to seize it.
I had to take the Blood Demon Sword no matter what. But how could I find the person carrying the real one?
It was then, as I was agonizing over the choice...
—Kill. I will kill them all.
Shiver!
Goosebumps erupted across my entire body. At the voice filled with intense murderous intent echoing in my head, I turned my gaze in its direction.