Chapter 69: Trapped in the Formation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 69: Trapped in the Formation (1)
“Was I possessed as well?”
Hwang Chu stared at me intently.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. I was just wondering.”
Wait, was I actually possessed? Even I had to admit I’d been incredibly reckless.
As I stood there looking dejected, Tang Bin asked, “Why does Young Hero Eo look so troubled?”
I didn't respond and kept walking, so she asked again. “Why are you avoiding my question?”
At that moment, Fairy Doyeon hurried to my side and spoke up.
“Lady Tang, isn't it obvious? He has killed many people during the battles so far. No matter how much of a martial artist one is, any decent human being is bound to feel distressed by that.”
It seemed Doyeon thought my gloominess stemmed from the guilt of taking lives.
Well, I wasn't about to complain if she wanted to think of it that way.
Tang Ja-seong and the Tang Clan experts urged us to hurry toward the location where the Emei and Qingcheng Sects' Demon Subjugation Groups were reported to be.
“We also received intelligence that the Demon Subjugation Groups from Emei and Qingcheng were here.”
Tang Bin scanned the surroundings.
After a moment of silence, Tang Ja-seong spoke.
“Let’s head further inside. It sounds like someone is fighting.”
The place he pointed to was a bamboo forest. It was a vast, densely packed thicket.
Tang Ja-seong and Tang Bin led the Tang Clan experts into the forest. I just stood there blankly until Doyeon spoke.
“We should go as well.”
“It will be difficult for our Demon Subjugation Group to engage in another fierce battle,” I said with a troubled expression.
Doyeon looked at the members of the Demon Subjugation Group, who looked like they were at death's door. Their martial robes were so tattered they could pass for rags, and their faces and exposed limbs were covered in red spots from dried blood where they had been cut or stabbed.
Realizing it was too much to ask them to fight again, Doyeon said to me, “Then let the group rest. The two of us will go in first.”
Doyeon kept her eyes fixed on the bamboo forest where she believed the Emei Sect was fighting. She was clearly worried about her fellow disciples.
Then, she suddenly looked me up and down.
Huh? Why is she looking at me like that? Has our camaraderie blossomed into love?
However, the look in Doyeon’s eyes was one of pity.
“It seems it would be best for the leader to rest as well.”
Huh?
I checked my own body. I hadn't had a moment to look at myself during the chaos of battle. My martial robes were torn in so many places that my skin was clearly visible. If the other members' robes were rags, mine had been reduced to mere scraps.
Perhaps because I looked incredibly pale and exhausted, Doyeon added, “It might actually be dangerous for you to fight in that state.”
To think she’d tell me to rest even with a battle raging right in front of us. I nodded.
Hey, if I don't have to fight, that's fine by me.
Doyeon gave me a nod and then leaped toward the bamboo forest. It was impressive to see she still had that much energy left. She had fought harder than anyone against the Demonic Cult League’s Heaven-Earth Dragnet.
First, I looked for a place where the Demon Subjugation Group could rest. There was a small grove a short distance away from the bamboo forest.
“Young Hero Hwang, please stay here and rest with these men.”
As soon as I spoke, Poison Wolf Ibu chimed in.
“That’s enough, Leader. It sounds like a tough fight is happening over there; how can we just sit and rest?”
“Let’s just go,” the Smiling Face Sword agreed.
“You all need to rest. If you don't, you'll die,” I threatened.
The members of the Demon Subjugation Group just grinned at me.
“Leader, we hate seeing you act so weak just because of us.”
What on earth are they talking about?
“Our hearts swelled with pride at the martial prowess you displayed. This Poison Wolf’s heart is bursting with the fact that such a man is our leader and that we’ve been by your side!”
The Smiling Face Sword picked up where Ibu left off.
“It makes no sense for such a proud leader to be held back because of us. Go and show those bastards what real skill looks like. If you’ve set a man’s heart ablaze, you have to take responsibility for it!”
The Twin Heroes of Guiyang looked at me with pride and said, “We don't want to see our lord agonizing over us. we know you're burning with the desire to run over there and help right now. We already shed tears inwardly while watching your martial arts when we broke through the Heaven-Earth Dragnet. We shouted in our hearts dozens of times, 'That man is my lord!'”
Stop it, you guys. You're making my skin crawl.
The members of the Demon Subjugation Group began walking toward the bamboo forest.
“With our lord, we do not fear even death!”
One of the Twin Heroes of Guiyang suddenly roared.
“Righteous Spirit Soars to Heaven!”
“Righteous Spirit Soars to Heaven!”
the rest of the group echoed in unison.
Hwang Chu shook his head.
“They are so moved by you, Young Hero Eo, that they no longer fear death. It’s because they believe they won’t die as long as they are with you.”
Ugh, dammit. What a massive misunderstanding.
I couldn't exactly tell them they were wrong and to come back. At times like this, I truly regretted acting like a master.
Since the group was already heading toward the bamboo forest, I couldn't very well say I was going to hide and rest. I had no choice but to follow them.
Of course, I made sure Jeok Yeong was in the lead. It would be dangerous if there was a surprise attack.
As we entered the bamboo forest, the sounds of battle grew louder. However, the noise sounded muffled, as if it were being blocked by something, which I found strange.
As we moved deeper into the forest, a bizarre sight met our eyes.
Dozens of nearly naked women were swirling around in a circle as if performing a dance. They were dancing with only their vital parts covered.
In the center of them, dozens of warriors were swinging their swords, but they all looked like they were struggling. I saw Pung-hyeon of the Emei Sect and several Taoists from the Qingcheng Sect. Furthermore, Tang Ja-seong and Tang Bin were leaping around frantically with the Tang Clan experts, yet they couldn't seem to break through the sword formation of the naked women.
“Is that a sword formation?” I muttered.
Hwang Chu replied, “It looks more like a formation art than a simple sword formation.”
“But even if it is a formation, I don't understand why they can't get out. It doesn't look that powerful. Are you saying all those experts can't break through those women?”
Hwang Chu shook his head at my remark.
“A formation looks different from the outside than it does from the inside.”
As I tried to approach, Doyeon saw us and frantically waved her hand. Her gestures clearly meant for us to stay away.
However, I figured that if we attacked the naked women forming the array from the outside, the formation would collapse. Thinking it was a simple problem, I spoke to Jeok Yeong.
“Little Brother Jeok, if we attack those women, the formation will break. Let’s attack all at once.”
The Demon Subjugation Group straightened their ranks. Though they were women, they were formation experts who were currently pinning down masters from the Emei and Qingcheng Sects—two of the Great Nine Sects.
“Leader, I think we should consider this more carefully.”
The Smiling Face Sword, who had been thinking quietly, spoke to me.
“Is there a problem?”
When I asked, he replied with a serious face.
“That is a formation I’ve heard of before. It is undoubtedly the White Net Blazing Dance, created by Ban Ye, the genius formation master of the Demonic Cult League. It is said that when female experts who have mastered seduction and mind control perform the White Net Blazing Dance, its power is beyond imagination. They say it rivals the formations of the Jegal Clan.”
As expected of someone who had spent a long time in the Murim, the Smiling Face Sword was well-versed in its affairs.
“The woman over there seems to be the 'Demon Phoenix' Ban Ye.”
A woman wearing a black silk veil was directing the naked dancers.
Good grief, the Demon Phoenix Ban Ye?
She was the genius woman said to be the only mind capable of threatening the brilliance of the Jegal Clan. She was also famous for being the only daughter of Pan Gang, the Chief Protector of the Demonic Cult League.
However, Ban Ye was even more famous for being one of the Three Flowers of Murim. Because of this, she was often called the "Demon Flower" instead of the Demon Phoenix.
And she was here? The Deputy Commander had boasted that a Heaven-Earth Dragnet had been spread here; he must have been referring to this.
What should I do?
I agonized for a moment. I had no desire to fight someone like Ban Ye.
But my hesitation didn't last long. I saw Doyeon and Pung-hyeon inside the formation, still gesturing for me to retreat, as well as Tang Ja-seong and Tang Bin staring intently at me.
Right, they’re experts. Even if it’s tough right now, they’ll find a way out. Me trying to help them would be like a moth flying into a flame.
I justified my cowardice that way. I decided to use my Iron Face Divine Skill to ignore their plight and retreat. That was my creed and my philosophy, after all.
“Wait! It’s the Sword Palace Squad!”
Looking closely, I realized the Sword Palace Squad was also inside the formation. Ye Woon was looking at me with a gaze that was both glad and sorrowful.
Looking at his eyes, he’s finally grown up. He must have suffered quite a bit at the Ilguk Sect.
It seemed the Sword Palace Squad had left the Ilguk Sect to come rescue us after hearing we were trapped in the Demonic Cult League’s Heaven-Earth Dragnet.
Feeling puzzled, I said to Hwang Chu, “But they are all experts. It’s strange that they can't break through, no matter how great the formation is.”
“They are all young. They lack experience in the world. They have the skill, but they are driven by emotion, making them easily provoked. Their lack of composure makes them fall for the wicked tricks of those vixens.”
“But they are disciples of the Great Nine Sects.”
The Smiling Face Sword countered my remark.
“Even if they were the grandfathers of the Great Nine Sects, if they lack experience and maturity, they’re bound to be toyed with by their opponents. That’s just how the world of martial arts is. That’s why there’s a saying to be careful of old men and children in the Murim. You must be careful of old men because they are seasoned, and you shouldn't trust children because they are naive.”
Without me even giving the order, the members of the Demon Subjugation Group began walking forward to attack the women.
“Where are you going?”
Seeing the Sword Palace Squad, their sense of camaraderie must have kicked in, as they couldn't stay still and drew their swords.
“We can't ignore the Sword Palace Squad when they came all this way to save us. They might be annoying, but they’re still our comrades, aren't they? We haven't forgotten your words, Leader—that we’re all going back together.”
You idiots. You’re supposed to forget words like that!
As they strode forward after saying those words, I couldn't stop them. I felt like the situation had spiraled out of my control.
Well, if we just drive those women away, things should work out.
With that thought, I followed the Demon Subjugation Group.
But that was a mistake.
The moment we approached to attack the women, we realized we were trapped. As we drew near, the women vanished from our sight, and the faces of those already trapped in the formation appeared before us.
When I turned my head, I could see the women dancing naked outside the formation.
“What happened?”
Doyeon approached and said, “This isn't a simple formation; it’s the Double White Net Blazing Dance. In other words, the formation is dual-layered. If you approach the women, you end up trapped inside the second layer.”
Dammit, this is exactly why I didn't want to come. To think we’d get trapped too.
Despair washed over me.
“But why can't we just leave?”
“This formation is designed to exhaust a person's vital energy. Right now, everyone else is focusing all their mental strength just to withstand the momentum of the Blazing Dance. If you succumb to the dance, you'll start acting like someone poisoned by an aphrodisiac.”
“Then why haven't Fairy Doyeon and the rest of us fallen for it yet...?”
I trailed off and shut my mouth.
Before I knew it, the members of the Demon Subjugation Group had already succumbed to the dance, staring at the dancing women with vacant eyes.
“The members of the Demon Subjugation Group have weaker internal energy, so they fell for the dance much faster than the others. If they stay like that much longer, their vital energy will be depleted, and they’ll lose their minds, acting as if they’ve consumed a potent aphrodisiac.”
I shouted to wake the members of the Demon Subjugation Group.
“Everyone, sit in the lotus position and circulate your energy!”
As I shouted while stomping my foot, the members of the Demon Subjugation Group snapped out of it and hurriedly sat down to begin their Energy Circulation Practice.