Chapter 450
Chapter 450
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 450
Chapter Title: Coincidence and Inevitability (4)
I had instructed the Twin Ghost Hands of the Green Forest Stronghold to contact me through Response if anything urgent came up.
The fact that the fellow who should be there had come looking for me meant something had happened nearby.
With that, tension instantly settled over the conference hall.
Especially the master of the Green Forest Stronghold, Do Jung-gwang, who unwittingly rose from his seat.
"……!"
"...Shall I have Senior confirm it personally?"
His feelings weren't incomprehensible, so I asked Do Jung-gwang.
However, he shook his head and sat back down.
"No. Just read it."
"Yes."
I gave a brief reply to Do Jung-gwang and unfolded the letter tied to Response's leg to begin reading.
"I don't know if the Chief is reading this or that punk Eon Yong-un, but anyway, it's written in plain speech."
From the first line of the letter, it seemed the Green Forest Stronghold was safe.
Do Jung-gwang relaxed his stiff expression and cracked a joke.
"Ugh, that idiot Twin Ghost Hands doesn't know the value of paper and wrote all that nonsense! Makes you realize how impressive Gong Yun is. How did he get a guy like that to learn the Thousand Character Classic?!"
Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the conference hall lightened a bit, and I continued reading the letter.
"Chief and Young Master Namgung probably know this, but near Zhaogu Pass on the road to Shaanxi, there's a village called Moonlit Night Village. There... a massacre took place."
The content that followed weighed down the room's air once more.
"A village that was fine just three days ago turned into that overnight. It looks like the Demonic Cult's doing, so I'm sending this letter."
In that heavy atmosphere, Zhuge Seolji spoke up.
"Demonic cultists move, and these things happen... To prevent a chain of tragedies, I'll do my part."
"Do that."
I replied in a deliberately cool tone.
"From the letter, it seems the Green Forest Stronghold is safe for now?"
It was as if she was aligning her thoughts with mine, so I answered right away.
"Seems so. If something happened there, Response wouldn't be this docile."
Then Zhuge Seolji's gaze turned to Do Jung-gwang.
"If the letter is accurate... We've spotted a detachment of demonic cultists infiltrating the Central Plains. Based on that, we can calculate their route and approximate position. Senior, can we trust Twin Ghost Hands' judgment?"
"The Moonlit Night Village area is one of the most treacherous spots in the Great Pa Mountains. Hard to access, nothing to plunder. Even bandits like me avoid it. Only demonic cultists would pull something like that there."
With Do Jung-gwang's words.
Zhuge Seolji bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you for confirming."
She moved toward the map placed in one corner of the conference hall and called Yin Xia Lian.
"Hall Leader Lian?"
"Yes. Let's begin."
As the two started compiling the latest news with existing intel to plot the demonic cultists' route.
Namgung Yun opened his mouth with blazing eyes.
"The slash-and-burn farmers in Moonlit Night Village are people driven to the edge of the cliffs, rarely venturing out. They fear murim folk... Yet they committed such slaughter?"
Having stayed at the Green Forest Stronghold and seen the geography around the Great Pa Mountains and its people with his own eyes, it weighed on him more.
At that moment, Do Jung-gwang crossed his arms and spoke.
"Not sure if a black path guy like me should say this to you lot. But you're doing well. People are born and die somewhere in the world right now. You gonna check every one? That's arrogance."
After Do Jung-gwang's somewhat rough words lingered for a moment.
Yeo Chi-su, seated to the side, nodded and spoke.
"I agree with the King of Greenwood. You're trying hard enough. That's why old retired soldiers like me and others joined the Eastern Path Alliance."
When he finished.
Gongson Mu-gyeol slowly nodded and spoke.
"Both are right. Moonlit Night Village isn't your responsibility. Of course, no matter what we say, you'll feel downhearted."
"……."
"But if the orthodox murim had given them faith, become their support. They wouldn't have settled in such a place to begin with. It's the fault of inept adults, especially mine as Murim Alliance Leader."
Starting like that, Gongson Mu-gyeol let out a faint sigh and continued.
"That's karma I must bear. So you all, just don't forget the feelings you're having now."
At Gongson Mu-gyeol's words, I carefully raised my clasped hands in respect.
Following me, my siblings did the same.
Then Zhuge Seolji spoke.
"Calculations done."
And she brought out the map she'd been holding.
"The blue dots are Eastern Path Alliance relay points. Green and black dots are Hao Clan and Beggar Clan branches with forty or more personnel each. The red lines are possible routes for the demonic cultists."
But the two had drawn five red lines.
As my master looked puzzled.
- Five routes? Isn't the margin of error too big? Even with Ha Yeon and Seolji on it, that's the conclusion?
Yin Xia Lian, who had taken the floor from Zhuge Seolji, stood before the map and addressed exactly that.
"Might look like many routes. But assuming they'll avoid Moonlit Night Village's position and our publicly known branches, we've marked all possibilities."
Starting like that, Yin Xia Lian looked at No Sam, representing the Beggar Clan, and Wang Seon-nam, for the Hao Clan, and spoke again.
"But the Hao Clan and Beggar Clan have secret safehouses and branches not public knowledge."
"……."
"……."
"Those folks will report any demonic cultist sightings anyway. If you share those locations now, we can narrow our preparations."
She bowed her head slightly and added.
"If you do, I'll cover all costs for any new bases later. I promise on the Silver Radiance Merchant Group's name."
At that, Wang Seon-nam stood and strode forward, adding green dots to the map.
"If the Silver Radiance lady vouches, it's worth it even if we lose nothing."
Then No Sam came forward and added black dots.
"How much does it cost beggars to set up a shack? Silver Radiance stepping up? We don't need it. Gimme the brush."
With the added info, Zhuge Seolji eliminated three of the five routes.
And derived the time for the demonic cultists to reach Luoyang.
"Shortest four days. Longest six. Within a two-day margin, enemies expected to cross the mountains around Tong Pass between Xi'an and Luoyang."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Gongson Mu-gyeol checked the Murim Alliance sub-leaders' preparations based on Zhuge Seolji's calculations.
When Confidential Secretary Kuk Do-jin, the last, finished his report.
"The innermost fortress is prepared for potential sieges with advice from Seniors Tae-gong and Ak-gong. Key documents all moved there."
Gongson Mu-gyeol cracked his knuckles and spoke.
"Murim Alliance internals and civilian evacuation systems seem fully ready... So where do we crush those demonic cultists?"
At Gongson Mu-gyeol's words, Namgung Young folded his fingers and spoke.
"Block their path at Tong Pass or lure into Luoyang... Two options?"
I shook my head and answered.
"Opposing at Tong Pass spreads our encirclement too thin. Can't without moving Mount Hua or Shaolin. They'd notice and switch to massacring civilians."
"...Then?"
"Lure them fully into the Murim Alliance grounds. Then current forces can handle without those sects. Fewer civilians swept up."
Wang Seon-nam stroked his chin and asked.
"Got a way?"
"The Demonic Cult's youngest prince leading them is both meticulous and bold."
"How do you know?"
It was proven in the original story, but I had logic ready to convince the gathered.
"Met the Fourth Young Lord before. His ally was the eldest prince, described as insidious in methods and temperament."
"...So the rival youngest is the opposite?"
"People in power tend to mirror that."
Seeing nods, I continued.
"So I thought of a plan. Demonic cultists have two goals. First, eliminate Murim Alliance, Leader, and me. Second, protect the youngest prince."
Then Yeo Chi-su nodded and added.
"Like princes competing for the throne, sending troops for merit. Youngest aims to take down the eldest; his demons protect him."
"We can use that to draw them deep."
Gongson Mu-gyeol asked then.
"How?"
"Conveniently, Backbone Society elders caused a nice incident. Use that as pretext to reveal my location."
Starting like that, I approached the map where Zhuge Seolji and Yin Xia Lian stood.
"First, protests from elders' sects lead to my imprisonment in the dungeon. Spread that. Spies will inform the youngest prince. He'll calculate routes accordingly."
Drawing small circles on the adjacent Murim Alliance layout, I continued.
"Maximize formations. Scatter our forces; he'll advance on the dungeon, detaching men piecemeal."
After spilling my thoughts, Gongson Mu-gyeol slowly opened his pursed lips.
"Blocks leaks, but strongest forces head your way. Confident?"
"I trust the time my friends and I prepared, and everyone here. And..."
"And?"
I grinned and spoke.
"Didn't the gazette say? I'm the real one; those guys are fa... fakes."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's detachment, thanks to leader Hyeok Ryeon-so's bold decisiveness and meticulous nature.
Pierced through the web of surveillance by the orthodox murim spanning Shaanxi and Henan.
"Young Lord, good news! Protests from Backbone Society elders' sects led Murim Alliance Leader to imprison Eon Yong-un."
"Reliable intel?"
"Yes. Eon Yong-un's fans riot daily before the Alliance."
"...The rat entered the poison."
"Yes!"
Finally reaching Luoyang, they scaled the Murim Alliance walls.
Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!
A group of warriors blocked the demonic cultists' path.
None other than retired soldiers led by Won Cheon-seok.
Hyeok Ryeon-so spoke.
"Expected them ready for open battle. But that formation... Imperial Guard's?"
"Seems so. Court wouldn't meddle this deep... Must've rallied local dojos."
"Told you they'd be weaklings? More martial than expected."
"...My apologies."
"Fine. If Eon Yong-un were easy, two Myriad Demon Hall elders wouldn't have fallen."
After standoff lingered.
Hyeok Ryeon-so decided.
"No time for blame here. Detach ten to hold them; we advance."
"Yes!"
They dashed predetermined route to the dungeon holding Eon Yong-un.
Soon, another group blocked Hyeok Ryeon-so.
"Ha. Like this? Ignore and break through to dungeon..."
As Hyeok Ryeon-so focused power.
The lead warrior drew a sword crackling with brain lightning and spoke.
"Namgung Yun of the Namgung Clan is here!"