Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 265
Chapter Title: The Special Unit Departs
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“Already heading out on a mission?”
Kunlun Sect Elder Go Yeong-jin furrowed his brow at the news he had just heard.
No, it wasn't just him.
A single wrinkle creased the foreheads of many others seated around the table, just like Elder Go Yeong-jin's.
It had been only two days since the Murim Conference ended.
The creation of the Special Unit had been announced that day.
Yet the Special Unit was already carrying out a mission?
“Have they even selected the members for the Special Unit?”
Elder Go Yeong-jin asked, his expression puzzled.
It was nearly absurd to think they had finalized the unit's roster in just one day.
Yet...
“Yes.”
“Did they really select everyone in just one day?”
“How on earth did they screen them...”
Those who hadn't yet heard how Cheonhwi had selected the Special Unit looked baffled.
Normally, choosing subordinates required careful deliberation, with days spent sifting through candidates.
Yet they had picked everyone in a single day?
It felt as if they had just grabbed anyone at random.
“But, Military Strategist, even if they've selected the members, isn't this too hasty? It's only been two days.”
“Amitabha. This poor monk agrees with the elder's words.”
“Cheonhwi, the young Taoist... no, Cheonhwi, the Unit Leader—we've heard he selected all the members, but sending them on a mission without any training is tantamount to throwing them into danger.”
Worried voices rose from all around.
It was only natural.
The Special Unit was meant to spearhead the front lines in the impending war against the Evil-Black Alliance.
Not only had they selected such a crucial unit's members in a mere day—which was already dubious—but they were sending them out immediately?
Wasn't that the same as saying they wanted to die?
As everyone gathered voiced their opposition, the Military Strategist finally spoke.
“Have you forgotten the purpose of creating the Special Unit?”
Everyone flinched for a moment, and seeing this, the Military Strategist continued calmly.
“The Alliance created the Special Unit to carry out missions in this very war. If we were going to wait for them to train and grow, there would be no need to form it at all.”
His voice was impassive.
But the content was enough to silence those who had been worried.
At that moment...
“I understand the reason for creating the Special Unit. But is it feasible?”
The white-haired, white-bearded elder of the Qingcheng Sect, Elder Do Yang-heun, who had been sitting silently, fixed his gaze on the Military Strategist and spoke.
“I've heard the Special Unit has very few members.”
“As you said, the numbers are small. Reports indicate forty-two members, not even fifty. Including Unit Leader Cheonhwi, that makes forty-three.”
“Can such a small force carry out... no, succeed in a mission?”
As he spoke, Elder Do Yang-heun stared intently at the Military Strategist.
Cold light gleamed beneath his refined, snow-white eyebrows. At the same time, his beard twitched as he opened his mouth again.
“That's not all. Though fewer than fifty, they are all disciples trained in their respective sects' martial arts. They've gathered people with differing styles—how could they succeed in a mission without any training?”
“The numbers are few, but Unit Leader Cheonhwi judged them sufficient for the mission and requested it from me himself.”
Even under Elder Do Yang-heun's piercing gaze, the Military Strategist spoke indifferently.
“If the mission fails, the responsibility will fall on no one but Unit Leader Cheonhwi.”
For a moment, Elder Do Yang-heun's eyebrows twitched, and his eyes flashed with icy sharpness.
“...Are you trying to shift the blame?”
“It's what Unit Leader Cheonhwi himself requested.”
The Military Strategist's eyes narrowed.
“No matter who is selected for the Special Unit, how they are trained, or how they carry out the mission—all authority rests with him. And with such authority comes responsibility. Surely everyone here knows that?”
“...”
Elder Do Yang-heun clamped his mouth shut.
The others listening did the same.
There wasn't a single person present who didn't bear responsibility for their actions.
Suddenly, as if recalling something, Elder Do Yang-heun glanced sideways and asked.
“Is that alright?”
Hyeondo glanced at Elder Do Yang-heun, who was looking at him, then nodded firmly.
He had already heard it from Cheonhwi.
“It doesn't matter.”
With even Hyeondo agreeing, Elder Do Yang-heun said no more and simply nodded.
His concern had been one thing.
Danri Gwancheon's inclusion in Cheonhwi's Special Unit.
But with the Military Strategist and now Hyeondo affirming that Cheonhwi would take responsibility, he could at least feel reassured.
At that moment, Kunlun Sect Elder Gok Pyeong, who had been waiting for a chance to speak, finally chimed in.
“Still, wouldn't it be better to wait just a little? Look—even the Jade Qilin hasn't fully selected his unit's members yet. It would look better if we went on the mission together, and we could assist each other.”
“That's far too complacent.”
A voice as cold as midwinter frost slipped from the Military Strategist's lips.
“The war has already begun. We need to move as quickly as possible—yet you're suggesting we delay the mission for such a trivial reason?”
As Gok Pyeong's eyes twitched at the overtly aggressive tone...
“Perfect timing, then.”
The Military Strategist added indifferently, glancing sideways.
Then, the Deputy Military Strategist Seolgeom, who had been sitting quietly beside him, bowed his head once.
The moment he raised it and stood...
“Hm?”
“What's that?”
A massive scroll was clutched in Seolgeom's hand.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
With those words, he untied the red string binding the scroll and unrolled it across the table.
Roll...
As the enormous map unfurled, everyone's eyes widened upon seeing it.
“A map of the Central Plains?”
“But it's different from ordinary maps.”
Their eyes locked onto the Central Plains map.
It appeared ordinary at first glance, but closer inspection revealed the differences.
Red circles were marked in various places—dozens of them.
As they focused on them...
“The red circles indicate sects belonging to the current Evil-Black Alliance.”
“Heh.”
“...So many?”
The Military Strategist explained, and gasps echoed from all sides.
They knew there were many unorthodox sects, but seeing them plotted on a map hit differently.
It truly felt like one of the Nine Provinces' Three Great Calamities.
Then, the Military Strategist pointed to the Yangtze River slicing through the center of the Central Plains map.
“As you can see, most unorthodox sects under the Evil-Black Alliance are located south of the Yangtze, in Jiangnan.”
His finger moved toward the bottom of the map.
Sure enough, the red circles were densely clustered below the Yangtze.
But no one was particularly surprised.
From ancient times, orthodox and unorthodox sects were like oil and water, unable to mix.
Thus, they built their forces at a distance from each other.
And the boundary was the Yangtze.
Orthodox in the north, unorthodox in the south.
They had established their territories accordingly and avoided encroaching on one another.
“In the era before the Nine Provinces' Three Great Calamities, the Alliance would have concentrated its forces on this Yangtze. But...”
The Military Strategist trailed off, his finger crossing the Yangtze and moving northward.
“We can't now. Right here, north of the Yangtze, there are unorthodox sects affiliated with the Evil-Black Alliance.”
Originally, it would have been hard for unorthodox sects to establish bases north of the river, but after the Zhuge family-led clans withdrew from the Murim Alliance, the situation had changed dramatically.
The orthodox side had split in two amid their conflict with the unorthodox.
The unorthodox had advanced northward in that chaos.
And among those who successfully settled was White Ghost Castle, now destroyed.
“Ghost Shadow Sect, Blood Rain Sword Clan...”
His finger pointed to several red circles north of the Yangtze, naming the sects one by one.
After indicating about ten such circles, he paused at one.
At the same time, he spoke in a chilling voice.
“And among the unorthodox sects north of the river, the most threatening is Green Forest.”
He pointed to the mountain stronghold closest to the Murim Alliance, then looked up.
“Do you know the current state of Green Forest?”
“...”
Everyone shook their heads.
They had been too focused on the recent Murim Conference and the war with the Evil-Black Alliance to gather intelligence on Green Forest.
But one person was different.
“They're in disarray.”
Yong Ju-gae grinned as he spoke.
“With the Green Forest Great Bandit King gone missing, the main stronghold at Mount Heng Bandit Fort is in chaos as everyone vies to become the Supreme Bandit King. And the other fortress leaders are busy carving out their shares in the absence of a leader. Isn't that right?”
“Exactly.”
The Military Strategist nodded.
“Green Forest is shaken. Now is the perfect time to strike them.”
Only then did everyone grasp his intent.
“You're sending the Special Unit there.”
“Yes. We must crush these northern unorthodox sects before they can join forces with the Evil-Black Alliance.”
Relief washed over the gathering at the Military Strategist's words.
Moving toward the Evil-Black Alliance's heartland would be dangerous, but facing the northern unorthodox sects would actually be good experience for them.
“With the most threatening northern force, White Ghost Castle, gone... this is actually ideal.”
“You should have said so earlier. If it was a mission like this, I wouldn't have spoken so sharply.”
As Gok Pyeong laughed, thinking his worry unfounded...
“But we can't let our guard down.”
The Military Strategist shook his head slowly.
“Just as we've noticed, the Evil-Black Alliance has caught on as well. We've received word that several experts have ventured out.”
“Experts?”
“Who are they?”
“...The youngest disciple of the Evil-Black Alliance Leader, Black Night Yaksha, and the Protectors.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A night when darkness had deeply settled.
The northern gate of the Murim Alliance, which should have been closed, swung open, and a group of people emerged.
“P-Please be careful.”
The gate guard who opened it stared rigidly at the young Taoist ahead.
He had no choice.
This was Cheonhwi, the Plum Blossom Divine Sword whose fame now rang throughout the current era.
Cheonhwi gave the guard a casual nod and glanced back.
Behind him were those still bewildered, not fully grasping the situation.
Real combat is the best teacher.
Training? Practice?
Those were fine, of course.
But only when there was time.
War was at their doorstep now.
Training rookies who had never seen blood in such times would be meaningless.
They'd just end up dying to some blind sword stroke after half-heartedly following protocols.
And there's a perfect target nearby.
Recalling the Green Forest stronghold relayed through Yong Ju-gae, Cheonhwi spoke.
“Follow me.”
With that brief command, Cheonhwi unleashed Sky-Soaring Steps.
“Gasp!”
“How can he be that fast!”
The onlookers gasped in shock.
The moment his foot hit the ground, Cheonhwi had already shrunk into a distant speck.
It was a movement technique that left mouths agape.
Especially Ho Gwang-gae of the Beggars' Sect, one of the top in lightness skills alongside Kunlun, stuck out his tongue.
If I unleashed Myriad Li Chasing Wind Body Technique at full power, I might barely keep up...
He shook his head mid-thought.
But catching up—no chance.
It wasn't even full speed.
His advancing steps looked leisurely.
Then—
Whoosh—
A shadow shot past like an arrow.
It was Danri Gwancheon.
“...I heard Three Willow Isle was weak in lightness skills. Just a rumor, then.”
Mu Hong muttered softly.
“That's why you have to filter half the rumors out there.”
Ho Gwang-gae shrugged.
There were many rumors in the world, but many were exaggerated or false.
Thus, one shouldn't blindly believe them but discern wisely.
That was the Beggars' Sect way.
As Ho Gwang-gae replied while watching the dashing Danri Gwancheon, he suddenly realized and circulated his qi.
“We'll lose them at this rate.”
In the brief exchange, Cheonhwi and Danri Gwancheon's backs had nearly vanished.
“I'm going ahead.”
Ho Gwang-gae tossed the words to Mu Hong and hurriedly unleashed his lightness skill. Mu Hong followed without delay.
As the four pulled ahead...
“Damn!”
“We have to catch up...”
The rest hurriedly activated their movement techniques one by one, chasing after them.
“Nice air.”
Confirming everyone had set off, Cheonhwi murmured while scanning his surroundings.
Perhaps because it was night air from the mountains after so long, inhaling deeply cleared his sinuses.
Then, someone caught up.
“Aren't you worried about the others?”
Cheonhwi glanced at Danri Gwancheon, who had matched pace right beside him, with a stern expression.
“Hm, should I be?”
“...At this speed, some will fall behind midway.”
Danri Gwancheon subtly gestured back.
Most following had pale faces, gasping for breath.
A few looked on the verge of respiratory failure.
But...
“If they can't keep up at this pace and lag behind, better they drop now.”
Cheonhwi said coldly.
If they couldn't handle even this speed, they'd die in war anyway.
Besides, no one here is weak enough to collapse at this level.
Finishing his thought, Cheonhwi addressed the two closely trailing right behind.
“You two think the same, right?”
Mu Hong and Ho Gwang-gae hadn't expected to be asked, inwardly startled, but...
“The Unit Leader is right.”
“Better to survive by dropping out now than die later.”
They promptly agreed with Cheonhwi.
“Well, if you don't like my way, feel free to leave right now.”
Cheonhwi stared at Danri Gwancheon as he spoke.
“...!”
Danri Gwancheon suddenly felt his breath catch.
Those eyes, starkly divided in black and white.
The indifference in pupils blacker than the draped darkness made his hand tremble.
“You've missed the last chance to leave the Special Unit.”
Cheonhwi, emitting a cold gaze, twisted his lips as he stared at Danri Gwancheon.
“Unless I permit it.”