Chapter 144
Chapter 144: Quaternary
"Form Head, this is information that just came in—unidentified personnel are approaching this way."
Eul Ji-tae was moving busily atop Muhwa Gate Tower. Following Hyeoncheon Jinin's orders, he was urgently calling in personnel who had been waiting outside, around Muhwa Gate and far off toward the government road.
However, the situation was not going well.
As the fight between Dong Bong-soo and Yeon Yeong-ha intensified, the number of people surging toward Muhwa Gate kept increasing. He was losing his mind trying to manage the chaotic situation while summoning warriors.
At this time, Han Ja-o, the Squad Leader of the Yang Response Squad, approached and conveyed strange words.
The Yang Response Squad, along with the Yin Extermination Squad, was the Murim Alliance's intelligence organization. While the Yin Extermination Squad was a group that fought enemies infiltrating the shadows of the Murim Alliance, the Yang Response Squad was a group that went outside the Murim Alliance to actively gather intelligence.
The words "unidentified personnel" from the head of such a Yang Response Squad stopped Eul Ji-tae, who had been running busily.
"What do you mean? The Martial World Protection Corps is monitoring the entire area around the Murim Alliance. Who could possibly deceive them all and approach the Murim Alliance?"
"The thing is... we've lost contact with Yang Response Squad members who went outside about an hour ago."
"...Are you saying these unidentified personnel have simultaneously eliminated all the Murim Alliance's warriors and intelligence agents spread throughout this vicinity?"
Han Ja-o couldn't answer. Even to him, it didn't make sense. But it was also what had actually happened. He couldn't not report it.
"Yes, at first I was skeptical too, but... just now the watchtower keeper from the Yang Response Squad reported that an enormous number of black-clothed people appeared."
"An enormous number?"
"We can't know precisely, but at minimum there are thousands."
"Thousands!?"
"...It might possibly exceed ten thousand."
Eul Ji-tae quickly sensed the gravity of the situation.
"What about the personnel who went into Zhengzhou city? Don't tell me... communication with them has been cut off too?"
"Yes, not only has communication with them been completely severed, but there's also no news from the additional messengers who departed for Zhengzhou."
"...!"
It was nonsensical.
Just an hour ago, communication was possible through all channels, and there were no approaching personnel. There were no signs at all. Even spectators were continuously entering through Muhwa Gate, weren't they?
'How on earth?'
Eul Ji-tae was confused.
That was when it happened.
"Form Head! Look over there!"
Suddenly Han Ja-o pointed to the northern forest in the distance.
When Eul Ji-tae looked, something pitch-black was pouring out en masse from the forest toward the government road. There were so many that it looked like a swarm of ants moving in black masses. But Eul Ji-tae knew well they weren't ants. It was just because the distance was too far—those things were black-clothed bamboo-hatted people.
"..."
Eul Ji-tae immediately leaped silently onto the roof of the gate tower, the highest position on the outer wall.
Eul Ji-tae immediately swept his gaze in all directions.
"It's not just from the government road direction..."
He continued surveying all sides while precariously standing atop the gate tower roof.
"..."
It was completely blocked. So absurd that his mouth was tightly sealed shut.
From all directions except Cheongsin Mountain, tremendous forces were surging in. Perhaps behind Cheongsin Mountain was the same as here. Just that he couldn't confirm it from here...
"What on earth were the Zhengzhou government soldiers doing while those people came all the way here...?"
Han Ja-o was equally dumbfounded. Logically, that many people couldn't move freely, even if they were martial artists.
There was a limit to what the government could overlook. Especially for large and important provincial capitals like Zhengzhou. For forces exceeding ten thousand to move without the government's permission...
Eul Ji-tae's cold face sank even more frigidly.
"Zhengzhou is probably under attack right now too."
"...What? But from here it looks quiet though...?"
As Han Ja-o said, Zhengzhou, visible from the gate tower, appeared tranquil.
But to Eul Ji-tae's eyes, it wasn't. Because he had climbed to the gate tower roof, his field of vision was somewhat better than Han Ja-o's. Moreover, since his martial arts were far superior, his eyesight was also outstanding.
"Zhengzhou has already fallen. The main force coming is from the north."
"...!"
At Eul Ji-tae's words, Han Ja-o also had a realization. They had burst out from the government road cutting through the forest path and the thickets on both sides. And all those areas were under Zhengzhou's jurisdiction.
'That means...'
Eul Ji-tae raised his hand and pointed beyond the northern forest to Zhengzhou.
Han Ja-o followed his finger. That direction held Zhengzhou's Provincial Administration Commissioner Office and Regional Military Commission—the seat of its governing and military institutions. From his position, he could barely make out the outlines of two tall buildings.
But Eul Ji-tae's eyes saw clearly. The fierce swordfighting occurring inside the Provincial Administration Commissioner Office and Regional Military Commission...
He didn't know how it had happened, but the villains seemed to have truly seized Zhengzhou in an instant.
"They even took down Zhengzhou to conquer the Murim Alliance..."
"...Are you saying they're rebels who have raised arms against the government, no, the Imperial Court?"
"Probably not. I'm not sure, but what they're after is..."
Eul Ji-tae shook his head once and recalled the legend from a thousand years ago.
[When a black, cold star rises and descends to earth,The world falls into silence.]
"The world."
"What?"
"They're trying to completely overturn the world."
The black, cold star had already risen to the zenith, and even a descendant of Heavenly Demon seemed to have appeared. Then the fate of the world was truly precarious.
"S-Such!"
Han Ja-o was left speechless by the enormity of Eul Ji-tae's words.
Eul Ji-tae said to Han Ja-o.
"Go immediately to the Alliance Leader and inform him of this situation. I need to close Muhwa Gate right away. If we let people out like this, they'll all be massacred by the villains that have swarmed outside. Tell the Alliance Leader I'm acting first and reporting later."
In reality, below the wall was so packed with surging crowds that it was hard to find space to stand.
Quite a few had already escaped outside. Among them, some swift of foot had gotten fairly close to where the black-clothed bamboo-hatted people were.
At a certain moment, as planned, the black-clothed bamboo-hatted people began charging toward the Murim Alliance. Those fleeing at the very front were helplessly slaughtered.
Thud-thud-thud-thud! Agh—aaaah!
A slaughter opened along the government road and the clearing in front of the Murim Alliance.
Han Ja-o watched this, bit his lip, then leaped down from the wall.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh—!
"Huh...!"
One of the people thought to be surging toward Muhwa Gate to escape suddenly leaped toward Han Ja-o jumping down from the wall.
A bamboo hat was pressed on his head and a pitch-black ink-iron longsword was gripped in his hand. He struck Han Ja-o with one sword without a moment's hesitation.
Clang-clang-clang!
Befitting the head of the Yang Response Squad, Han Ja-o drew his sword instantly and blocked even the completely unexpected ambush. Nevertheless...
He couldn't prevent his own death.
Thwack—!
The bamboo-hatted person's sword had cleaved Han Ja-o entirely along with his sword.
Splat-splat-splat.
Rain of blood and meat fragments scattered over Muhwa Gate.
Was that the signal?
Suddenly some among the crowds near the Muhwa Gate entrance drew weapons and began attacking those beside them all at once. Also, among those scattering sporadically, some suddenly launched indiscriminate attacks.
In a flash, dozens fell dead.
Meanwhile, the black-clothed bamboo-hatted people surged toward Muhwa Gate even faster. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they would pour into the Murim Alliance.
Tap-tap-tap.
The bamboo-hatted person who had killed Han Ja-o scaled the Muhwa Gate Tower, scaling the wall like a flying squirrel.
As soon as he climbed up, he slaughtered the Martial World Protection Corps members rushing at him. Among the Martial World Protection Corps members, no one properly withstood the bamboo-hatted person's single sword strike.
Heads and limbs scattered in all directions without discrimination, defiling the interior of Muhwa Gate Tower.
Just as on the wall including Muhwa Gate Tower, below the wall and around Muhwa Gate also transformed into a scene of carnage. A scene from a painting of hell descended wholly into reality here.
The roar coming from the Arena side inside grew even louder. People who had been fleeing now died in confusion, not knowing which way to go.
Eul Ji-tae closed his eyes.
Clang-clang-clang, someone save me, fuck...
All manner of weapon sounds, screams and wails, curses mixed together, encroaching all around and making his chest feel stuffy.
But strangely, at this moment Dong Bong-soo came to mind.
'He might be a descendant of Heavenly Demon... but strangely you come to mind. Without me realizing it.'
An inexplicable sense of expectation crossed his mind. Perhaps it was just because he'd been deceived by the Dong Bong-soo he'd seen until now... but he wanted to believe it might not be only that.
'If you're truly a descendant of Heavenly Demon, then do as Heavenly Demon did a thousand years ago.'
Heavenly Demon had defeated the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity a thousand years ago. Eul Ji-tae thought very briefly that if only that happened, he might have no complaint even if he put this Martial World beneath his feet.
'As Heavenly Demon did.'
Eul Ji-tae opened his eyes. Already in all four directions, unbearable tragic scenes were unfolding wherever he looked.
And before him stood the black-clothed bamboo-hatted person who had cut Han Ja-o. His sword was already deeply soaked with the blood of all the Martial World Protection Corps members who had been guarding this Muhwa Gate Tower.
Drip... drip...
Blood dripped down along the sword tip.
Eul Ji-tae's eyes watching this sank coldly.
"Who are you bastards?"