Chapter 98: War (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: War (4)
If there was one saving grace, it was that Namgung Chang-hwi possessed a fair amount of insight into strategy and tactics.
According to what Seo-jun had recently learned, the Namgung Clan was also quite famous for their mechanical trap formations. It seemed everyone in the family was remarkably bright in that regard.
As expected of the Great Namgung Clan.
A suspicion began to take root in his mind—perhaps it was the Namgung Clan, not the hype-filled Shaolin, that was the true Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the Righteous Faction.
‘Make the Namgung Clan Great Again…!’
Hoisting a metaphorical banner of war in his heart, Seo-jun made a suggestion.
“If charging in all together is a bit much, how about a small group for a hit-and-run? I’m pretty confident in that sort of thing.”
“Certainly…”
Even from the brief glimpse Namgung Chang-hwi had caught, he knew Seo-jun’s martial arts were specialized for mass slaughter. On a battlefield where large numbers of people clashed, those techniques would truly shine.
“But will you be alright? Killing that many people takes a heavy mental toll. If you aren't careful, your mental imagery could warp, leading to qi deviation.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve already sorted out my thoughts.”
Seo-jun’s eyes met Namgung Chang-hwi’s. Feeling a strange sense of unease from that steady gaze, Namgung Chang-hwi rubbed his goosebump-covered arms.
“Very well, then. However, you must always be cautious. Prioritize a safe retreat over dealing damage to the enemy.”
“Got it. Does the monk have any other opinions?”
Jibaek pressed his palms together.
“Amitabha… This poor monk only continues to realize his own inadequacies.”
“Ah, right.”
Seo-jun wasn't sure what to make of that, but he nodded anyway.
“Then first… I’ll ask just in case, but do you know anything about the martial artists of the Black Lotus Union?”
“Nope. I don’t know a thing, so please explain.”
“Hmm.”
Namgung Chang-hwi nodded hesitantly and began his explanation.
There were currently three known Super Peak masters on the enemy side: Heuk-gwol of the Great Black Mountain Sect, Cheok Mu-gang of the Black Dragon Sect, and Baek Yeon-ha of the North Sea Ice Palace.
All three were martial artists of the Seven Evil Black Sect, and none of them would be easy opponents.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t even know which groups make up the Seven Evil Black Sect. Do you?”
“How could you not kno— Never mind, I will explain.”
The Sama Clan, the North Sea Ice Palace, the Great Black Mountain Sect, the Giryeon Sect, the Heaven-Breaking Je Clan, the Sword Sect, and the Black Dragon Sect.
These seven factions were collectively referred to as the Seven Evil Black Sect.
As for why the clans were also labeled as 'Sects' in the title, it was related to a past incident—but Namgung Chang-hwi skipped the explanation, deciding it would take too long.
“Aha.”
Seo-jun smiled brightly and struck his palm with his fist.
“So that’s how it is.”
Anyway, there were three Super Peak martial artists on the opposing side for now. And since one of them was from the North Sea Ice Palace, there were effectively only two.
‘The North Sea Ice Palace is just a bunch of scrubs.’
If things went well, he might be able to just wipe them all out instead of merely holding them off.
After hearing descriptions of the martial arts the enemies primarily used, Seo-jun stepped out of the tent.
He headed toward where he felt Jang-geuk’s presence and found him talking with other martial artists. The atmosphere seemed quite good.
There was a mix of Namgung Clan warriors, monks, beggars, and martial artists of unknown affiliation.
“Mister. Let’s go do a job.”
“Oh, My Lord! A job? Has something happened?”
“I’m going to make something happen.”
“Oho, now that sounds interesting.”
Jang-geuk grinned and waved goodbye to the warriors he had been conversing with.
Just then, a beggar stepped forward.
“Could we come along too?”
“You?”
When Jang-geuk arched an eyebrow, the beggar nodded.
“That fellow Drunken Dog Beggar who died this time might have been a bit of an idiot, but he was one of ours. We have to settle the score for him, don’t we?”
“You’re quite the man, aren’t you?”
“I’m just a beggar.”
“Haha! I like you even more!”
Jang-geuk looked at Seo-jun, silently asking for his opinion. Seo-jun fell into deep thought.
Luring them out for a group beatdown? If that were possible, they would have already caught the four Super Peak masters when they were gathered together.
The core of this operation was to hit fast and run fast. Was there a place for the Beggar Sect disciples to shine in that?
He racked his brain, but he couldn't see any particular benefit.
“Sorry. I think that’ll be difficult.”
“Don’t be sorry. There’s no need for that at all. We’ll look for the next opportunity.”
The Beggar Sect disciple grinned and offered a fist and palm salute. The other warriors followed suit.
Seo-jun watched them for a moment, then gave a small smile and returned the salute.
“Let’s all come back alive.”
* * *
As Seo-jun walked with Jang-geuk, he gave a brief rundown of the mission.
“You got it, right? I go in, hit them, and run like hell. You’re the reserve force in case something unexpected happens. That’s it. Simple, right?”
“Well, everything is simple in words.”
“Hey now, don’t go raining on my parade before we even start.”
Seo-jun chuckled and scanned their surroundings.
The northern part of Shanxi was a plateau, leaving the view wide open. It wasn't exactly favorable terrain for a surprise attack.
If there was any stroke of luck, it was that the falling snow slightly obscured the enemy's line of sight.
“Phew…”
Seo-jun watched his breath puff out in white clouds and caught a fluttering snowflake. It melted instantly, vanishing into his palm.
Clicking his tongue, Seo-jun grumbled.
“When I get back to the clan, I’m going to have a snowball fight with Chun-bong.”
“Indeed, she might actually be out of secluded training by then.”
“I hope she is.”
Surely her chubby cheeks hadn't completely disappeared, right?
Actually, it wasn't as if he hadn't made any preparations.
When he created the New Azure Cloud Divine Art, he had completely removed the Fairy Art. Perhaps that, combined with Chun-bong’s mental imagery, would help her maintain her chubby cheeks.
Of course, it was just a hope. Things didn't always go as planned.
“Ah, Mister, wait here.”
“Hmm? We aren't going together?”
“I’m going to fire off one big shot and bolt. If it looks like the fight is getting intense, then come help.”
“Understood. I shall do so.”
Seo-jun left Jang-geuk behind and kicked off the ground. Not a single footprint was left in the shallow snow.
Jang-geuk’s eyes gleamed as he watched.
The realm of Walking on Snow Without a Trace. Actually, since Seo-jun was already capable of Walking on Water, this wasn't surprising.
‘For some reason, I don’t feel nervous at all.’
He figured it was highly unlikely that his Lord, who hardly seemed human, would ever be in real danger.
* * *
Seo-jun moved silently, spreading his qi sensing wide.
By applying the Emperor Sword Form to expand his field of vision, almost nothing could escape his notice.
At the same time, he recalled the movements of assassins.
‘I’ve seen them until I was sick of it.’
He thought of the night visitors who used to drop by whenever they were bored. He mimicked their movements as he stepped, gently layering that mental imagery over his flowing internal energy.
Sss—
Seo-jun’s presence grew faint. It wasn't a perfect Shadow Hiding Technique, but for now, it was sufficient.
A sudden gust of wind blew. Snowflakes swirled, pelting his face. Seo-jun pulled up his collar to cover himself.
The moment the martial artists of the Black Lotus Union entered his qi sensing range, Seo-jun stopped moving.
‘What should I do…?’
His hesitation was brief. If he wanted a martial art that could target a large number of enemies, the choice was obvious.
The Primordial Unity Sun-Moon Art.
Right now, he needed a wider area of effect rather than the mystique of concentration.
Then, his thoughts drifted to the sword his father-in-law had shown him. The vast sky. Yet, it was certain that anyone hit by it would be finished.
How did he manage to add the mystique of concentration while cutting through such an impossibly wide range?
With that question in mind, he kicked off the ground with explosive power.
Sst.
With a faint sound, Seo-jun’s figure soared high into the air.
He looked down upon a white world from the heights of the sky. Blending with the falling snow, he brought his hands together.
Clap!
Taiji formed between his palms. Since he had been using it so much lately, the Taiji felt quite stable.
But that wasn't what was important right now.
What mattered now was the sky, the falling snow. And what else?
He absentmindedly recalled the oral chant of the Emperor Sword Form. At the same time, he recalled the chant for the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword.
The Yellow Cloud Divine Sword—an art that even his father-in-law couldn't properly execute a single form of. Naturally, a doubt arose. Did he truly understand it correctly?
The doubt was short-lived. He simply conformed to the sky, the snow, and the gravity pulling his body down as he plummeted toward the earth.
‘Snow, huh.’
On impulse, he operated the Azure Cloud Divine Art instead of the Yellow Cloud Divine Art. Simultaneously, he invoked Snowy Plum. The blooming snowflakes harmonized with the Primordial Unity Sun-Moon Art, permeating the chaotic sphere in dots.
In essence, he just had to bring this sky down to the ground.
Primordial Unity Sun-Moon Art (混원일월공) – Snowy Sky (雪天)
Fwaaaaaaaaah—!
The sphere that left Seo-jun’s hand touched the ground and rapidly expanded.
The snowflakes within—countless fragments of sword qi—exploded outward.
The pure white sky Seo-jun had drawn was instantly dyed a vivid crimson.
“Aaaaaagh!!”
“I-It’s an ambush…!”
“Gaaah…! Save me…!”
It was a gruesome sight. Along with the explosion of the Primordial Unity Sun-Moon Art, the Snowy Plum scattered in all directions, effortlessly claiming lives.
Not only the people outside, but even the crudely built structures were shredded, resulting in countless deaths.
Seo-jun immediately steadied his wavering expression and kicked off the air. If he escaped now, the mission would be a complete success.
“Catch him!”
Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. The sorcery the enemies had prepared at their base suddenly activated.
Rumble!
The ground surged up into countless hexagonal pillars, lunging toward Seo-jun.
Seo-jun’s eyes quickly scanned the sorcery.
‘I see.’
Sorcery. He didn't know the complex theories behind it, but in the end, it was simply about using qi to manifest a phenomenon.
In a way, it was like magic, yet fundamentally different from standard qi arts.
It seemed to involve a rather complex process; copying it after seeing it just once without any basic knowledge would be difficult.
However, interference was possible.
Tap.
Seo-jun placed his palm against a surging pillar and instantly flipped his hand. At that exact moment, the pillars flying toward him all reversed direction.
Boom, boom, boom!
The martial artists of the Black Lotus Union, struck by their own returned sorcery, died in heaps once again.
Seo-jun gained a small realization.
‘Is it the Five Elements?’
He didn't know for sure, but it seemed to be sorcery based on the Five Elements. Surely some complex process was required to cast it, but originally, such processes were merely meant to compensate for a lack of ability.
‘It’s too easy. Why go through all that trouble for this?’
Even if he didn't know the underlying theory, he understood the feeling, making everything crystal clear.
He unleashed the sorcery he had comprehended through a single act of interference.
Five Elements (五行), Earth (土), Ejection (射出).
Rumble!
The ground surged. A single martial artist was in pursuit. Countless earth pillars lunged at him.
Slash!
They were all cut down in an instant. Stepping off the fragments of shattered earth, the martial artist flew toward Seo-jun and looked at him. No, wait.
‘Is he blind?’
The man's eyes were covered with a black cloth.
Seo-jun’s qi sensing picked up the flow of qi in their surroundings. A very fine vibration. He realized it immediately.
‘Is he sensing the world through qi instead of his eyes?’
The corners of Seo-jun’s mouth curled up.
This was clearly a Super Peak master Namgung Chang-hwi hadn't mentioned, but he was more than welcome.
“You really shouldn't try to play with qi in front of me.”
Snap!
The moment Seo-jun snapped his fingers, the blind man’s movements instantly came to a dead halt.