Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: An Impossible Mission
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Before the Seongma Hall, the Heavenly Demon stood tall on a high platform.
Below him, over three thousand martial artists, ready for departure, stood in solemn formation.
It was the Blood Martial Corps, having recently returned after completing a mission outside the pass.
They had once again received the Heavenly Demon's command to deal with the alliance of bandits that dominated the Qinghai region.
They had completed their preparations to march out against the Black Alliance.
The Heavenly Demon, standing tall and alone under the sun, swept his gaze over them.
And he left them with a single, short command.
“Annihilate the Black Alliance.”
—As you command!
The resounding cry of three thousand martial artists shook the heavens.
The war against the Black Alliance had finally begun.
* * *
Near the Nu River, which flows between the steep mountain ranges of Qinghai, lies a plain known as Yeogeomji.
A large fortress stood there, its exterior as shabby as the Beggars' Sect headquarters.
But inside, the buildings were cleverly arranged and designed to defend against a large number of enemies.
This was the stronghold of the Black Alliance, the collective of bandits that held sway over the Qinghai region.
Yet, a few li from Yeogeomji, where the Black Alliance was established, a large encampment began to be set up.
The Blood Martial Corps had finally established a forward base to annihilate the Black Alliance.
The center of the Blood Martial Corps' encampment.
Outside, armed martial artists stood guard with solemn expressions.
Inside, a table had been set up, upon which a map detailing the terrain of Yeogeomji was spread out.
A dozen martial artists in martial attire stood around the table, and before it stood a middle-aged man.
At his waist hung a blood-red sword, its scabbard stained the same color, and his eyes were as sharp as a blade.
He was the Corps Commander of the Blood Martial Corps, Jwa Dae-baek.
“Hmph.”
He swept his gaze over the martial artists lined up at the table.
Ten of them were the squad leaders of the Blood Martial Corps. And at the very end, two young men with handsome features that stood out even from a distance faced each other.
If one man exuded a brilliant handsomeness, straight and radiant like the sun…
The other possessed a lyrical yet decadent beauty, like the light of the moon.
They were the candidates for the succession of the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol and Do Cheon-rin.
“The objective of this campaign is the annihilation of the Black Alliance.”
Jwa Dae-baek's gaze was fixed not on the squad leaders, but on Bu Eun-seol and Do Cheon-rin.
“You two must think this battlefield is where the position of successor will be decided.”
He looked down at Bu Eun-seol and Do Cheon-rin with a fearsome glare.
“However, the matter of succession has nothing to do with me.”
Bu Eun-seol and Do Cheon-rin were the orthodox heirs of the Ten Demonic Gates and the next successors of the Demon Hall.
Among the younger generation of the Demonic Path, they could be said to hold the most revered status.
But this was a time of war.
A strict chain of command had to be maintained. If anyone disobeyed an order, he held the authority to execute them on the spot.
“Squad Leader Sa-yeong.”
Jwa Dae-baek spoke in a solemn voice, as if to remind them of the situation once more.
“Though your Shadow Spirit Squad may be recognized as a first-class unit, right now, it is nothing more than a unit under my command.”
“I am aware.”
As Bu Eun-seol replied, Jwa Dae-baek withdrew his gaze and spoke in a loud voice.
“The Black Alliance has thirty thousand troops. Though they are bandits, even their lowest foot soldiers have some martial arts training. In other words, they are quite evenly matched with our three thousand troops.”
Jwa Dae-baek pointed to the map again and said.
“Even though our corps has entered Qinghai, they have no intention of surrendering. Instead, they are blatantly setting up a defensive line.”
He then spoke to the Cold-Blooded Squad Leader, Seo Baek-myeong, who was beside him.
“First, we must assess the enemy's movements and morale. Cold-Blooded Squad, move to this area immediately and scout the Black Alliance's movements.”
“Understood.”
Afterward, Jwa Dae-baek gave several more orders to his squad leaders.
Then he spoke to Do Cheon-rin.
“You brought fifty masters from the Blood Flame Saber Clan?”
“That is correct. The Grand Commander permitted me to bring a force of a size equal to the Shadow Spirit Squad.”
The fifty or so saber-wielders Do Cheon-rin had brought were the absolute elite of the Blood Flame Saber Clan.
It was as if he had brought an entire special forces unit from the Demon Hall.
Jwa Dae-baek nodded with an indifferent expression.
“I will assign two additional units, Muhyeol and Amjeok, to your command.”
He pointed at the map and said.
“When the all-out offensive begins, the forces under my command will break through the path to Yeogeomji. At that time, you are to immediately advance into the heart of the Black Alliance.”
Then Jwa Dae-baek turned his head and looked at Bu Eun-seol.
“Since you already lead a well-trained force, you can act as a detached unit.”
“A detached unit…”
“You will be tasked with harassing the Black Alliance's rear.”
Jwa Dae-baek spoke in a low, solemn voice.
“Take this path, cross Duak Mountain immediately, and move to the rear of the Black Alliance. Then, repeatedly strike their rear and withdraw to divert their attention.”
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol's eyebrow twitched.
*This isn't just blatant, it's completely out in the open.*
The Black Alliance was not foolish.
As soon as they heard rumors of the Demon Hall's offensive, they had immediately established a solid defensive line from the Nu River to Duak Mountain.
To lead his men around Duak Mountain and reach the Black Alliance's rear now, they would have to use their movement techniques without rest for about half a month.
Even if they arrived after such a forced march, far from being able to achieve anything… his men would be exhausted.
Repeating hit-and-run tactics would only result in the entire unit being wiped out.
*They're determined to make Do Cheon-rin the successor.*
There was no way the Blood Martial Corps Commander, Jwa Dae-baek, would do this on his own.
Just as the rumors spreading among the Demon Hall's leadership had suggested, there must have been some kind of deal between Do Cheon-rin and the Ten Demonic Gates.
*If I refuse… they'll use that as a pretext.*
Jwa Dae-baek was the commander with full authority over the unit.
What if he defied this order?
He would surely be given an even more ridiculous or difficult mission.
*Hmm.*
Bu Eun-seol did not answer immediately and instead looked at the map.
As he stared at the map for a long while, a brilliant light flashed in his eyes.
*Qinghai…*
As Bu Eun-seol was lost in deep thought,
*Heh, he has no choice but to refuse.*
Jwa Dae-baek did not press for an answer and watched Bu Eun-seol intently as he looked at the map.
*He must know this is just bait.*
A sly smile appeared on his lips.
In truth, the mission for the Shadow Spirit Squad to single-handedly circle Duak Mountain and harass the Black Alliance's rear was absurd.
Jwa Dae-baek had intended to use this impossible mission as a pretext to tarnish Bu Eun-seol's reputation and…
give him another mission that was perilous but would earn him no merit.
“Understood.”
But an unexpected answer came forth.
Wasn't that Bu Eun-seol nodding and clasping his hands?
“My unit will take on the mission of harassing the Black Alliance's rear.”
*Huh?*
Faced with an unexpected reply, Jwa Dae-baek blinked.
“You'll harass the Black Alliance's rear with only fifty men?”
“Is that not what you commanded?”
Only then did Jwa Dae-baek come to his senses and nod.
“Well, yes.”
Jwa Dae-baek, who had looked dumbfounded for a moment, flashed his eyes again.
“You mean to say you will undertake that mission?”
“I will.”
Bu Eun-seol took it a step further.
“If, while harassing their rear, an opportunity arises, would it be acceptable to break through and attack the heart of the Black Alliance?”
“What did you say?”
Jwa Dae-baek frowned, finding it utterly absurd.
*Is this brat joking with me?*
With the Shadow Spirit Squad's numbers, they wouldn't even break through the defensive line, let alone reach the Black Alliance's rear, and would obviously be annihilated.
And yet he spoke of breaking through to the center?
A thought suddenly struck Jwa Dae-baek.
*Did he figure out the plan?*
He had intended to use the refusal of the mission as a pretext to assign Bu Eun-seol another perilous task.
But he concluded that Bu Eun-seol, having noticed this, was making a move to save his own life.
*He plans to escape the immediate crisis and report it later.*
—I was given an absurd mission, so naturally, I couldn't achieve anything!
He was certain that after returning to the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol would use such an excuse to aim for the successor's position again.
Jwa Dae-baek wore a faint smile.
*That won't happen.*
The Heavenly Demon was not a man who would ever accept such excuses.
Hiding his sly smile, Jwa Dae-baek nodded with a solemn expression.
“Very well. Then depart at once.”
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands and left the command tent.
Do Cheon-rin watched him go with a sharp gaze before speaking to Jwa Dae-baek.
“Commander. Please have the fastest messengers in the Blood Martial Corps monitor Bu Eun-seol and the Shadow Spirit Squad.”
“There's no need for that.”
Jwa Dae-baek snorted.
“This is Qinghai. Even if that man has the talent to soar to the heavens, he has no way of striking the Black Alliance from behind.”
*He's not listening.*
Do Cheon-rin narrowed his eyes.
Bu Eun-seol had completed every mission that had been deemed impossible until now.
There was no way he would meekly give up everything because of Jwa Dae-baek's interference.
“Understood.”
Nodding without another word, Do Cheon-rin whispered softly to his confidant, Du-yeong.
“Select the swiftest of the masters we brought and have them monitor the Shadow Spirit Squad.”
“Will Commander Jwa permit us to move our forces arbitrarily?”
“He is already on our side. He won't say much about a single man going missing.”
“Understood.”
As Du-yeong bowed and departed, Do Cheon-rin looked up at the distant sky.
*This mission must not fail.*
It didn't matter if he himself achieved no merit.
He already had the support of the majority of the Ten Demonic Gates.
He just had to ensure Bu Eun-seol could not achieve any merit this time. If Bu Eun-seol managed to achieve something on par with him here… the position of successor would be gone forever.
*Bu Eun-seol. This time, even you will be helpless.*
Biting his lip hard, Do Cheon-rin cried out softly.
“For the future of the Demonic Path… I must be the one to become the successor of the Demon Hall.”
* * *
Inside the tent where the Shadow Spirit Squad was staying.
When Bu Eun-seol explained the mission, the atmosphere became funereal.
Normally, the entire Shadow Spirit Squad would have been in an uproar, protesting furiously.
But now, they said nothing. Because the one in more pain than them would be Bu Eun-seol himself.
After a long silence, Myo Cheon-u finally stepped forward.
“Bu Eun-seol.”
Usually, the squad members didn't use honorifics with Bu Eun-seol and would often cut him off.
But in a time of war, they never spoke informally.
However, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong were Bu Eun-seol's former comrades, so they always spoke to him comfortably, regardless of the situation.
“The Demon Hall is, in the end, an alliance of power. In other words, to rise to the top, one must inevitably have a powerful faction at their back.”
With a bitter smile, he said to Bu Eun-seol.
“But you became a first-class squad leader on your own. That in itself is a tremendous accomplishment.”
It was the warmest comfort a friend could offer.
But Bu Eun-seol turned his head as if he hadn't heard.
“What did you just say?”
“Huh? Ah, it's nothing.”
Myo Cheon-u thought Bu Eun-seol was so shocked that he wasn't thinking straight.
But that shock was soon returned to Myo Cheon-u.
“Everyone, prepare. We will now move to strike the Black Alliance.”
“What did you say?”
Myo Cheon-u blinked his eyes.
“Bu Eun-seol. Are you out of your mind?”
“What do you mean?”
“Harass their rear with these numbers? If we actually show up in their rear, we won't even set foot in Yeogeomji before being annihilated by the forces guarding Duak Mountain.”
“Myo Cheon-u is right.”
Unable to watch any longer, Yu Un-ryong also stepped forward.
“They might be lax elsewhere, but they will have heavily fortified the path through Duak Mountain, where they could be flanked, and the area along the Nu River, where they could be struck directly in the side.”
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening quietly, frowned.
“Who said we were heading straight for Yeogeomji?”
“What?”
Yu Un-ryong frowned.
“Then where are we going?”
Bu Eun-seol said in a low voice.
“Sakgeomryeong.”
The squad members looked at each other.
Wasn't the area around Sakgeomryeong where the sword sects of the self-proclaimed Qinghai Demonic Path, who were not on good terms with the Demon Hall, were gathered?
“Don't tell me you plan to borrow boats from the Qinghai Demonic Path sects to get to Yeogeomji?”
At Yu Un-ryong's question, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“That's right.”
“Impossible.”
Yu Un-ryong shook his head firmly.
“That's where the demonic sects that are at odds with the Demon Hall are gathered. There's a high chance they might even have some sort of alliance with the Black Alliance.”
Pausing for a moment, he spoke again.
“And we, a unit from the Demon Hall, are going to show up and ask to borrow their boats?”
Yu Un-ryong said with an incredibly serious expression.
“Bu Eun-seol. I know you possess abilities superior to anyone else.”
“…”
“But this is a pitched battle where large forces are gathered to fight in a specific area. It's not something you can accomplish on your own.”
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
The fact that the usually terse Yu Un-ryong had said so much meant he was fulfilling his duty as a team leader of the Shadow Spirit Squad.
“Don't worry.”
Bu Eun-seol smiled like a spring breeze.
“I have a plan.”
At that, the eyes of every dazed squad member glinted.
—Just who is our squad leader?
Unwavering trust shone in their eyes.
Among the missions Bu Eun-seol had handled so far, not a single one had been ordinary or easy.
Things they had always thought impossible. He had accomplished them all.
“…I understand.”
Yu Un-ryong nodded as if he had no other choice.
Then Myo Cheon-u exchanged glances with Won Se-mun and Wi Cheon-gyeong and said.
“Let's get ready to move out.”
Sakgeomryeong.
This area was originally called Taki-mok.
But because the Sakgeom Sect, the birthplace of the Qinghai Demonic Path, was located there, it had always been called Sakgeomryeong.
Bu Eun-seol and the Shadow Spirit Squad left the encampment immediately and, after a full day's run, arrived at Sakgeomryeong.
This was a place where seven demonic sword sects, influenced by the Sakgeom Sect, were based.
Although their martial arts and power could not compare to the Demon Hall, they had established a considerable force in Qinghai and enjoyed a period of prosperity.
And the place Bu Eun-seol led the Shadow Spirit Squad to as soon as they arrived at Sakgeomryeong.
It was the Pungsa Sword Sect, which boasted the most powerful force among the demonic sword sects.
“How may I help you?”
The guard maintained a confident posture even while facing the formidable presence of Bu Eun-seol and the Shadow Spirit Squad.
With thousands of disciples, and generations of them placed in key positions within the government and merchant circles…
they would not be intimidated, even by the arrival of a unit from the Demon Hall.
“I am here to see your Sect Leader.”
“And who might you be?”
“I am Bu Eun-seol from the Blood Martial Corps.”
Other than slaying the Seven Kings of the Evil Spirits, Bu Eun-seol's name was only known for the Dongpyoseorang martial tournament and his clash with the Dae-ui-go-su.
He had made very few public appearances in the martial world.
Moreover, with his stunning beauty, like that of a peerless maiden, and his slender build, unless he was introduced with titles like 'Orthodox Heir of the Nangya Pavilion' or 'Successor Candidate of the Demon Hall'…
most people wouldn't easily recognize him.
“The Blood Martial Corps…”
The guard's expression grew tense.
There wasn't a martial artist alive who didn't know the Blood Martial Corps was the force dispatched from the Demon Hall to strike the Black Alliance.
“Please wait a moment.”
The guard went inside and returned only after a considerable time.
“Please come in.”
*Creeak.*
As the massive gates opened, Bu Eun-seol and the Shadow Spirit Squad members entered.
The interior of the Pungsa Sword Sect, known as the number one sword sect in Qinghai, was quite spacious.
But the atmosphere was exceedingly hostile. In particular, men armed with powerful crossbows were stationed along the path.
—They're ready to attack at a moment's notice.
A sense of tension flickered in the eyes of the Shadow Spirit Squad members as they looked around.
What if they were attacked in this state? Not just the Shadow Spirit Squad, but even an army several times larger would be helpless.
But Bu Eun-seol walked on with a calm expression, showing no signs of tension at all.
—I have no idea what the squad leader is thinking.
Though the squad members were tense, they weren't particularly worried.
As long as Bu Eun-seol was with them, they could walk into hell with a smile.
“This way.”
At that moment, the guard walking ahead cautiously pointed to the door of a pavilion with a plaque that read ‘Pung-u Pavilion’.
“You all wait here for a moment.”
As the squad members nodded in response, Bu Eun-seol entered the pavilion without hesitation.
Unlike the lavishly built exterior, the furnishings inside were very simple.
Also, the simple and clear scent of a forest, which one could only smell deep in the mountains, was wafting from somewhere.
“Welcome.”
An elderly man in his later years, who had been tending to an orchid by the window, slowly turned around.
His silver hair was neatly combed, and his wide-sleeved robes were somewhat reminiscent of the Dark King, Yeop Hyo-cheon.
However, his aura was vastly different, to the point that in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, he felt like a truly ordinary old man.
“I heard you were from the Blood Martial Corps, dispatched from the Demon Hall.”
“I am Bu Eun-seol.”
As Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands, the old man smiled warmly and nodded.
“I am Guyang Jeong-hak.”
This elderly man was the Sect Leader of the Pungsa Sword Sect, and the man once known as the Qinghai Demonic Sword, Guyang Jeong-hak.