Five Families Alliance (4)
Seo Baek's group couldn't hide their astonishment.
Joo Eun-ri had used a Rabbit (Mao) talisman to lure the hawk.
But she didn't stop there. She linked the hawk's vision to her own with sorcery.
Chorang, the small and swift ferret-like creature, went unnoticed by the martial artists. However, as a ground-dweller barely reaching ankle height, its field of view had severe limitations—it couldn't see over high places.
A hawk, on the other hand, had no such limits.
Famed among beasts for its eyesight, the hawk spotted prey from the clouds and hunted it down.
Now, peering down at the fortress through the hawk's eyes, there was likely no blind spot in Joo Eun-ri's vision.
It was sorcery worthy of shaking heaven and earth!
Her claim that there was a better way than using Chorang hadn't been empty words.
Song Hyeon, in particular, narrowed his eyes and observed her closely. Even as she controlled the hawk with sorcery, she showed no sign of losing her own consciousness.
Past con artist Pyeon Bok Teacher had to shift his consciousness entirely when sharing vision, but this girl seems unaffected.
That was truly impressive.
It made sense why Joo Eun-ri had dismissed Pyeon Bok Teacher's skills. In terms of martial prowess, she outclassed him by at least two levels.
"The seven watchtowers inside the fortress stand in the shape of the character King."
At those words, the group immediately grasped the watchtowers' positions.
The King shape meant three on each side and one in the center of the fortress.
Joo Eun-ri's scouting went beyond mere observation.
Her descriptions were precise enough to sketch a map, detailing every corner of the fortress!
"Each watchtower has a large bell hanging, with ropes connected not only down to the base but also linking to the other watchtowers."
"……."
Seo Baek's group fell silent at her report.
Watchtower guards typically signaled intruders with horn pipes or the like. Thus, they were the first targets in any fortress infiltration.
The problem was that bells and horn pipes required entirely different approaches.
A horn pipe was as good as part of the guard's body. A dead guard couldn't blow it, so eliminating the guard solved the issue.
But a bell could be rung in unknown ways.
With ropes attached, someone on the ground could ring it upon spotting a dead guard above.
In the worst case, if ropes were tied to the guard's body, killing them would ring the bell instantly as they fell.
In short, infiltrating via the cliffs guarded by those watchtowers was impossible.
Joo Eun-ri continued describing the fortress as seen through the hawk's eyes.
Notably, there were six large wooden buildings in the central area.
Seo Baek thought as he listened.
The Five Families Alliance's five peak experts must each occupy one building.
Even allied, martial artists never fully trusted one another—a fact any three-year-old child knew.
Thus, the five experts would each hold a building with their personal Dharma Protectors.
The remaining one was likely communal barracks for the warriors.
"There are also several smaller buildings around them. About twenty? Some are obscured by trees, so I can't see clearly. The canyon makes the paths between buildings extremely narrow."
What did densely packed buildings imply?
It favored intruders over defenders.
Narrow, complex terrain gave the absolute advantage to infiltrators, multiplying hiding spots.
The only regret was the imperfect view due to foliage and trees. In a life-or-death crisis, even minor details could mean survival.
"Two martial artists per watchtower."
Two at the front gate, two at the rear—seven in the center.
Eleven watchtowers total.
Two per tower meant twenty-two guards on watchtowers simultaneously.
"Twelve martial artists at the front gate, twelve at the rear. No separate guards visible at the other buildings."
Before Joo Eun-ri finished, Seo Baek's mind was already calculating.
Twenty-two on watchtowers. Twenty-four at the gates.
Forty-six in total.
On three rotating shifts, that meant 138 guards per day.
Unknown total manpower, but a massive commitment to defense.
"It's ironclad... not even an ant could slip through."
Wang Yi Sam voiced what they'd realized.
But Seo Baek shook his head and countered calmly.
"On the flip side, if we evade the guards' eyes and reach the buildings, it'll be easy. Doesn't that mean only the Alliance's Dharma Protectors are inside?"
"Tch, yeah... guess so."
Wang Yi Sam inwardly hoped to scrap the plan, but with Seo Baek ignoring that, he grumbled softer, deflated.
"Seo Baek is right. Overinvesting in outer guards means smooth sailing once inside."
"……."
With Song Hyeon chiming in, Wang Yi Sam had nothing left to say.
Joo Eun-ri continued listing fortress details.
Path connections between buildings, dead ends, water channels, wash areas, cooking fires, latrines, livestock pens for chickens and pigs, stacked rice straw granaries, and more.
The group memorized every detail. As she scanned from south to north, a bird's-eye map formed in their minds.
Then, describing the rear gate blocking the north:
"Near the rear gate, close to the eastern cliff, there's a warehouse. Doesn't look like a food store."
An unidentified warehouse—Seo Baek swallowed and focused harder.
And sure enough, her next words were odd.
"Five martial artists guarding that warehouse."
"……?"
Suspicious. No guards elsewhere, yet five at this one by the eastern cliff?
"They're short on numbers already—why guard just that spot so heavily? Something important inside?"
Wang Yi Sam's puzzled mutter hit the nail on the head, uncharacteristically sharp.
"They built it deliberately isolated. Five guards is unusual, for sure..."
Suddenly, Seo Baek realized the warehouse's secret and trailed off.
Is that it?
Seeing his enlightened expression, Wang Yi Sam itched with curiosity. Song Hyeon, true to form, crossed his arms calmly, waiting.
Finally, Seo Baek spoke.
"We don't know what's inside yet."
"Huh? You don't know? Thought you had it."
Wang Yi Sam chuckled, disappointed. But his laugh vanished at the next words.
"These are five famous Central Plains families allied by necessity—not trust."
"Prideful orthodox sect types, yeah. So?"
"The five guards—one from each family."
"Wh-what...?"
"Mutual distrust means each sends one to watch the others."
"……!"
"That warehouse holds the Five Families Alliance's most vital treasure."
Seo Baek nailed it.
Wang Yi Sam nodded in admiration; Song Hyeon gave a slight approving nod.
Finally, Seo Baek added:
"That warehouse might be the fortress's weakness."
Joo Eun-ri had scouted the fortress through the hawk's eyes over a single meal's time.
Her relayed overview etched the full layout in their minds like a vivid panorama.
Scouting done, she joined her right index and middle fingers, tracing a small circle in the air.
Her dazed eyes, fixed on empty space, regained vitality. She'd released the vision-sharing sorcery.
"The talisman will burn up on its own, so no worries about the hawk."
At will, she could capture animals with talismans and link their senses.
She likely had many more sorceries, but this one alone promised immense battlefield value.
Next: infiltrate the fortress.
Yet Seo Baek felt uncharacteristically stumped.
The fortress is too perfect.
Truth be told, the Five Families Alliance fortress was far sturdier than the Wang Family Fortress.
Standing between sheer twin cliffs, it was a natural stronghold.
Above all, guard numbers were formidable. Watchtowers everywhere blocked any cliff descent.
Joo Eun-ri's sorcery was invaluable.
But knowing every nook like a map only highlighted the impenetrable defenses, deepening the impasse.
"No way through the front gate?"
Seo Baek couldn't hold back, asking Song Hyeon.
Song Hyeon replied in a tone admitting no easy answer.
"Twelve guards at the gate, four more in the flanking watchtowers—sixteen total. Impossible."
"What about scaling the cliffs at night?"
"Bare rock, no vegetation. Moonlight alone would expose you, forget torches."
"Then..."
Seo Baek proposed infiltration routes; Song Hyeon explained why each failed.
To Wang Yi Sam, it looked like a game of go.
Seo Baek advancing a general; Song Hyeon countering with a king's move.
Suddenly, Song Hyeon muttered thoughtfully.
"Wish So Un were here."
"Brother Yu So Un?"
"Yes. He'd silently take out two watchtower guards before descent."
"Brother Yu never misses, no matter the shot. He's adept at cliff climbing too."
"Grown since we last met. His diligent nature makes it no surprise."
As Seo Baek and Song Hyeon reminisced about Yu So Un, Wang Yi Sam sourly interjected.
"Tch, that directionless guy. Always absent when needed!"
He regretted it instantly.
Everyone pondering infiltration, yet he alone complained...
Weak in martial arts but no thick-skinned fool, Wang Yi Sam apologized.
"Nah, I mean, So Un's never around when it counts... just brainstorming alternatives..."
Abruptly, uncharacteristically, Wang Yi Sam stopped mid-sentence.
Used to rambling or derailing talks, his sudden silence drew curious glances.
His eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"Junior, want me to tell you how to get inside the fortress?"