Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 65: Breaking Through the Death Line (1)

The members of the Demon Subjugation Group burst into hearty laughter as they looked at me.

"What was that? You're saying that was a martial arts novel?"

"Yes, Elder."

"That’s a relief. This old man was worried sick without even knowing."

"We’ll be heading toward the Ilguk Sect from here, so please, take care of yourselves."

Chong Samyeong took my hand.

"You’ve worked hard. Seeing how bright you are puts my mind at ease. And when you return to Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress, please give my regards to my daughter. Oh, look at me. Here I am, holding up someone who needs to hurry on his way. Go on, now. And stay safe."

Chong Samyeong’s warm touch made my heart swell.

I felt a heat in my chest, thinking that if I had a father, he would worry about me just like that.

It was only a brief moment of sentiment, but it gave me strength.

Just the fact that I had pulled these people out of a dangerous place made this reckless, crazy stunt worth it.

Yes, it certainly was.

"Let’s move."

I gave the order and began running down the path.

Even after fifteen minutes had passed, there was no sign of the Demonic Cult League warriors, making me think that the 'Heaven-Earth Dragnet' was just a load of nonsense.

But as we went a little further, I realized those words were true.

Warriors dressed in the martial robes of the Demonic Cult League blocked our path.

"Brother. There are thirty of them," Jeok Yeong said.

My heart sank at his words.

We were twenty-five, and they were thirty.

Then, that obnoxious voice returned.

[Candlelit Shadow Agent No. 4 here. Good job. If you take a right from here, you’ll run into masters from the Emei and Qingcheng Sects. So, you just need to deal with these guys. Hang in there a bit longer.]

I was so drained I didn't even have the energy to get angry.

Those guys and us—we were on completely different levels.

How were third-rate hacks like us supposed to evade them, let alone kill them?

The only real masters we had were Jeok Yeong and Do Yeon.

Those two alone couldn't handle thirty masters from the Demonic Cult League.

And even if we broke through them, there was no guarantee there wouldn't be others waiting.

I wondered if a tombstone reading, 'Here lies the Hero, the New Dragon of Sichuan, Eo Ja-seo,' would be erected around here.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠found myself imagining the inscription on my grave if I were to die in this place.

As time passed, the disadvantage only grew.

The thirty Demonic Cult League warriors slowly closed the distance, surrounding us.

"We’re just a group of travelers who got lost looking for an inn. Could you perhaps tell us where the nearest one is?"

"Is that a joke? Or are you just that composed?"

Do Yeon looked at me and gave a small smirk. My words had caused the Demon Subjugation Group to relax their tension.

That was my honest feeling, you woman.

"You lot aren't leaving this place alive."

I countered their threat with a bluff.

"You're hilarious. A 'Heaven-Earth Dragnet' made up of just the New Dragon and some warriors gathered from a nearby branch? Can you even call it a dragnet with less than a few hundred men? It’s probably a net full of holes."

The leader flinched as I hit the mark.

Even so, they were masters, making them a terrifying net for small fry like us.

"Little Brother Jeok, don't leave my side."

I spoke to Jeok Yeong.

"It’s fine, Brother. You don't need to protect me. I need to kill at least one more of them to create an escape route."

You idiot, I’m telling you to protect me!

Poison Wolf Ibu and the Smiling Face Sword were already forming a sword formation, preparing for battle.

'At least they haven't given up on me.'

Thinking that, I felt that even though the Demon Subjugation Group was made of low-level fighters, they were quite impressive.

You might ask why someone on the verge of death was getting sentimental, but suddenly realizing I had crossed the line between life and death with these people made me feel a certain fondness for them.

Caught up in that bittersweet emotion, I opened my mouth.

"Everyone, you’ve suffered a lot following me. We might die soon, but I take pride in the fact that we’ve come this far following the path of righteousness. Having shared that path with all of you, I find I’m not even that afraid standing here now. You’ve all gone through so much because of me."

As I spoke as if leaving a will before a final battle, a solemn atmosphere settled over the entire Demon Subjugation Group.

"Brother, we will get out of here no matter what. Don't worry."

"Young Hero Eo, it has been a pleasure being with you as well."

Jeok Yeong and Do Yeon smiled at me.

The Twin Heroes of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Guiyang spoke with heightened emotion.

"We will serve our Lord even in death, My Lord!"

"Leader, even if I die here and become a ghost, I’ll help you kill these bastards!"

One of the group members, overcome with emotion, shouted toward me.

At those words, a bolt of inspiration shot through my mind like lightning.

'Right! Come to think of it, there is a way!'

I called Hwang Chu over and whispered in his ear.

"Young Hero Hwang, is it possible to have the ghosts from the Soul Spirit Beads possess the members of our group?"

Hwang Chu caught on immediately and spoke quickly.

"I can do it. But it won't last more than an hour. If the possession lasts longer than that, they’ll go mad and die before they can even be killed by a blade."

I figured that was enough time.

"That’s plenty. And if you’re going to do it, pick the strongest ones. That’s the only way we can break through this dragnet and escape."

"But will the group members agree to it?"

"Leave that to me. They might refuse if I tell them it's possession, so I’ll just make something up."

My energy surged at the hope of survival.

Indeed, the heavens do not easily abandon the righteous.

With Hwang Chu and me in the center, I spoke to the members who had formed a crude sword formation.

"It seems there is a secret technique within Young Hero Hwang’s sect—a ritual that can explode one's latent potential for about an hour, turning them into a master. It will give you strength equal to these Demonic Cult League experts. I’ll only do it for those who want it, so raise your hands."

As expected, everyone except Jeok Yeong and Do Yeon raised their hands. They knew all too well that if things stayed as they were, they would be slaughtered in no time. They had no other choice.

"If it means we can beat these bastards, I’ll do anything!"

The members of the Demon Subjugation Group shouted, their eyes filled with venomous determination.

Once everyone had agreed, I nodded to Hwang Chu.

"Possess everyone except Fairy Doyeon and Little Brother Jeok."

Hwang Chu took out a bell and shook it.

Though the bell made no sound, as it shook, the Soul Spirit Beads around Hwang Chu’s neck began to glow slowly. Then, in an instant, a chilling energy erupted into the air before vanishing.

"Is it done?"

When I asked, Hwang Chu nodded. It was much simpler than I thought.

"I only had the strongest ones possess them."

"But what if the spirits flee after an hour?"

"Don't worry. The spirits are already sealed, so they’ll be forcibly summoned back to the beads after an hour."

"Ah!"

That was a relief.

"But why isn't there any reaction from the group members?"

"The spirits need time to take over the bodies."

Sure enough, the eyes of the group members began to flush a deep red.

"What kind of sorcery is this?"

Fairy Doyeon furrowed her beautiful brows, perhaps sensing a powerful, lingering malice.

"To be honest, I’ve had the spirits of past masters possess the group members."

"What?"

As Do Yeon looked on in shock, I quickly explained.

"This is the only way to escape the dragnet without anyone dying. You and I might be able to flee somehow, but it would be impossible for the rest of the squad. That’s why I had no choice but to use this method."

Do Yeon seemed to understand, thinking I had done it out of concern for the squad members.

"Little Brother Jeok, don't overextend yourself. Stay by my side and guard the rear. And Fairy Doyeon, please protect Young Hero Hwang so he isn't attacked."

Do Yeon nodded at my request.

The aura of the Demon Subjugation Group members began to shift.

From the bodies of the red-eyed warriors, an eerie ghostly energy—not just killing intent—radiated in all directions.

The ghostly energy was so potent that even the Demonic Cult League masters flinched and halted their encirclement.

"The possession seems to have taken hold properly."

"Then let’s break through."

Hwang Chu nodded and shook the bell. However, the squad members didn't budge.

Seeing this, Hwang Chu nodded and said, "It seems Young Hero Eo must be the one to give the orders for them to listen. Even though the spirits have taken over their bodies, their consciousness still belongs to the squad members."

"Understood."

"Everyone, break through here and head straight to the right! Maintain your positions and break through without leaving anyone behind! Move!"

At my command, the group moved.

Whoa! Their movements had completely changed.

Their motions mirrored the fluid agility of true masters.

'Perfect.'

I cheered inwardly and ran toward the Demonic Cult League experts.

So Gu-chi and Sim Geol leaped nearly thirty feet into the air.

Their flexibility was like that of a leaping salmon.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

They exchanged several blows with the enemy masters in mid-air before landing.

Spurt!

To my surprise, a spray of blood erupted from the neck of the Demonic Cult League master who had exchanged blows with them.

Then Sim Geol swung his saber.

Clang! Ching! Ting!

After five heavy metallic clashes, the Demonic Cult League master facing Sim Geol collapsed.

He had cut down an expert after exchanging only five moves.

That wasn't all.

Poison Wolf Ibu and the Smiling Face Sword were swinging their axe and sword as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if through an empty field, severing the limbs of the enemy masters.

And what about the Twin Heroes of Guiyang?

They mercilessly attacked and slaughtered anyone who dared to swarm around me.

'Did the Demonic Cult League only send their bottom-tier trash?'

But that wasn't it. Do Yeon was locked in an even struggle with an enemy master.

Even Jeok Yeong was only able to wound and kill his opponents after exchanging five to ten forms; the Demonic Cult League warriors were clearly first-rate experts.

If not for the possession, we would have been fated for total annihilation within fifteen minutes, leaving only Jeok Yeong and Do Yeon alive.

As the battle turned into a chaotic melee, I shouted.

"Don't scatter! Reform the line around me!"

At those words, the squad members swarmed around me in perfect unison.

This was it. I didn't even envy the Blood Wind Squad I’d seen at the Seong Estate. With these people, I felt like this 'Heaven-Earth Dragnet' was a joke.

"We have to get out while they’re still confused. The possession only lasts for an hour."

Hwang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Chu reminded me while I was momentarily distracted.

"Charge straight ahead! Do not break the formation!"

Following my lead, we formed a phalanx and charged forward.

"Aaaargh!"

We cut down the Demonic Cult League masters blocking our path and tore through the encirclement.

"Hah, to think they could display such skill through possession."

Jeok Yeong muttered in a hollow tone, clearly impressed.

Hwang Chu replied, "This is a great art only possible in the Profound Heaven Sect. That’s why it’s called the Possession Divine Skill. It’s not just a simple trick of being haunted by a ghost."

"Slay anyone who dares to approach without mercy!"

I poured out all the lines I’d always wanted to say once I became a master.

"Sweep the front!"

"Keep charging!"

"Step forward if you want to die!"

"Get out of the way if you want to live!"

When I infused my voice with internal energy to give orders, the squad followed them even better.

After advancing for another fifteen minutes past the initial breakthrough, dozens more Demonic Cult League masters blocked the road.

However, they only delayed us briefly; we broke through their line without much difficulty.

"Show no mercy to those who block our path!"

I ran, shouting as if I were invincible.

'Ah, so this is why people want to be masters.'

Seeing the enemies destroyed before my power, the pleasure and thrill were beyond comparison.

'I think I understand why masters choose suicide if their dantian is destroyed, rather than living a life of tilling fields. It feels like I’m a god presiding over life and death.'

"Halt!"

Look at that. With just one word from me, the entire squad stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

Quite a few were wounded. Even if they couldn't feel the pain now due to the possession, they would eventually die if they lost too much blood.

Hwang Chu and I bound the wounds of the injured members to stop the bleeding.

Being masters, Jeok Yeong and Do Yeon didn't use bandages like us; they used acupoint striking to stop the blood flow.

Here, the difference between a hack and a master was clear.

Since I didn't know how to strike acupoints, I was tearing cloth to wrap wounds, while Jeok Yeong and Do Yeon were just tapping points with their fingers to stop the bleeding.

"Brother, use acupoint striking. It’s faster."

I quickly searched for an excuse.

"Little Brother Jeok, striking the points might stop the bleeding quickly, but it also makes the movements sluggish. That would put them in an even more dangerous situation. It takes more time, but by applying pressure and bandaging the wounds like this, we avoid interfering with the blood flow, so their movements won't slow down."

Jeok Yeong let out an exclamation of admiration, as if he hadn't considered that. "Ah! I didn't think of that."

With that, he followed my lead, tearing his hem to wrap the wounds of the injured.

Do Yeon, hearing my words, also stopped striking acupoints and began bandaging the wounds instead.

Because we had delayed to treat the wounded, we had to move even faster.

"Let’s go! Everyone, advance!"

The Demon Subjugation Group began to run again.

Watching the squad move in perfect harmony at my command, I felt that if I had subordinates made of such masters, I might actually feel like making a name for myself in the Murim.