Chapter 361
Chapter 361
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 361
Chapter Title: Count to Three
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No one present failed to hear Jin Do-ha's mutterings.
There was no choice but to take it by force.
What he intended to seize was one thing alone: the entirety of Murim.
He had assassinated the Supreme Commander and even tried to kill the Alliance Leader. He had schemed from the shadows, aiming to claim it all with minimal sacrifice, but every plan had gone up in smoke.
Any ordinary person would have given up at this point. There was still the option of denying it to the bitter end.
But Jin Do-ha did not.
That was merely a path to survival, not conquest.
"When I handed you the position of Alliance Leader, I believed you would make choices for the sake of Murim."
Jin Do-ha's gaze shifted from the Alliance Leader to Soo-hyuk.
"Yet here you are, conspiring with these scum to hand Murim over on a platter."
Even in this situation, no flicker of emotion stirred in his eyes. Like deep wrinkles etched by the passage of time, his heart bore countless creases as well.
"What nonsense."
Soo-hyuk spoke up before he could spout more drivel.
"I've never wanted Murim, and I wouldn't take it even if it were offered."
"The Tang Clan Leader died by your hands, and the Vice Fortress Lord of New Lian Fortress fell too."
"The Tang Clan Leader's poison had infected my friend, and the New Lian Fortress issue was an internal family squabble. Even if no one else knew, surely you did?"
The corner of Jin Do-ha's mouth twisted. He tried his utmost to control his emotions, but an uncontrollable rage slowly surfaced on his face.
How dare you? That was the sentiment. But knowing who he faced, he refrained from unleashing it recklessly.
Instead, he addressed those around him.
"What say you all?"
A stir rippled through the hall.
Jin Do-ha unleashed his energy. An immense aura, reminiscent of the vast blue sky, enveloped the Murim Alliance.
"Will you hand Murim over to them just like this? Will you trust that young Alliance Leader?"
His words suggested resistance, but the reality was different.
Jin Do-ha was telling those present: Follow me, and we'll reclaim the Murim Alliance.
He had failed in assassinating the Alliance Leader and was now forcing the issue, yet no one condemned him for it.
Because the one speaking was Jin Do-ha. No matter what anyone said, he was Murim's supreme powerhouse, the War God.
Step-.
The first to move was Namgung Ga-hwi. Following him, as if by prior agreement, Un Cheon-geuk approached Jin Do-ha's side.
And behind them, as if in competition.
Step, step, step.
Halt-.
Countless others moved to stand at Jin Do-ha's side and rear.
Soo-hyuk did not look at them. His gaze was fixed on Namgung Hwa-young.
She was doing her best to appear calm, but her eyes trembled.
'Didn't I tell you it would come to this?'
Soo-hyuk had warned her. Murim was rotten.
No matter the cowardly schemes plotted, no matter if they openly tried to seize the Murim Alliance. They moved solely by power.
There was no justice in Murim.
Ever since Murim entered the Tower, the justice and alliances proclaimed by the Murim Alliance had become mere empty rhetoric. And what filled that hollow shell anew was greed.
Namgung Hwa-young had probably hoped otherwise.
Even if many in the Murim Alliance followed Jin Do-ha, once all truths were revealed, they would turn back.
But to them, the truth meant nothing.
"We can't let Murim fall to those riffraff."
"I understand the Alliance Leader's intentions, but his methods are misguided."
"To make such a choice, of all things..."
The sycophants turned from the Alliance Leader, bolstering Jin Do-ha's words.
Was it faith in their numbers? Or trust in the absolute being that was Jin Do-ha?
Those who had been flustered regained their bravado. Perhaps in their minds, a new Murim Alliance was already forming, with them securing a seat at the table.
Thus, Murim split between Jin Do-ha and Namgung Hwa-young's faction.
"Seven to three."
Seven out of ten sided with Jin Do-ha. Many among them were familiar faces.
Those who had long led Murim alongside him. Those present on the day they raided the Hydra and betrayed them.
'You were all there that day, weren't you.'
It was truly fortunate. He had worried what if even one remained on this side.
Soo-hyuk looked at Namgung Hwa-young.
His thoughts conveyed through his gaze.
'Can I kill them all?'
He had given her his answer on the day the teacup shattered.
She could not bring herself to say no. Even if she had, the outcome would not change.
From the moment they were drawn in—no, from the moment Murim began to rot this way—it had been decided.
Structures built on falsehoods inevitably return to square one eventually.
Step-.
Unhyang, deciding it was time for her to step forward as well, moved ahead. She could not let Soo-hyuk fight alone.
But then.
"Wait."
Ye-ryeong grabbed the hem of Unhyang's robe as she tried to advance.
"Why?"
"Just leave it."
"Let Soo-hyuk oppa fight alone?"
Ye-ryeong nodded.
"He looks like he wants to handle it solo. He hasn't even glanced this way."
Did people like them understand each other without words? Though she trusted Soo-hyuk and Ye-ryeong's judgment, Unhyang still worried.
Could Soo-hyuk really handle all those Murim rankers alone? He had grown stronger, but enough to sweep through Murim by himself?
To pull that off, he'd need to be at least at the level of the Heavenly Demon or Archmage.
If they had trained together, she'd know for sure. But most of his recent training had been solo, with Ye-ryeong helping occasionally. Thus, Unhyang had no precise gauge of how much stronger he had become.
"Hey, young friend."
At that moment, one of those who had gone to Jin Do-ha's side stepped forward.
The man approached close to Soo-hyuk. He was Jin Do-ha's closest confidant, Kwak So-yong, who held the position of Red Dragon Unit Leader in the Murim Alliance.
"Whatever your goal, meddling too deeply in Murim affairs won't end well. You're too young to lose your life in a place like this, aren't you?"
With superior numbers and newfound power on their side, he intended to intimidate him into leaving. It would also be a chance to earn proper favor from Jin Do-ha.
But Soo-hyuk's reaction was utterly unlike what Kwak So-yong expected.
"Kwak So-yong."
"Yes?"
"You were there that day too."
Kwak So-yong realized a finger was approaching right before his eyes. When had he allowed such proximity? But by then, it was too late.
Flash!
Lightning shot into both his eyes.
Boom-!
"Gaaahhh!"
A wretched scream echoed deafeningly across the courtyard. Kwak So-yong, his eyes burned away, rolled on the ground.
Squelch-!
Soo-hyuk unhesitatingly stomped down, crushing Kwak So-yong's head. Stunned by the gruesome sight, the warriors drew their weapons.
Swords and spears were aimed, countless killing intents swarming over him. Several who had been close to Kwak So-yong looked ready to charge at any moment.
Yet the reason they held back was simple.
Jin Do-ha had raised a hand, stopping them.
Unlike the others, Jin Do-ha had yet to draw his sword.
'I didn't see it.'
The motion by which Soo-hyuk had seared Kwak So-yong's eyes had been invisible even to him.
If he had been standing there? The mere thought sent chills down his spine.
Soo-hyuk's gaze turned to Jin Do-ha. The moment their eyes met, Jin Do-ha understood the source of Soo-hyuk's confidence.
'His skill has grown.'
He had anticipated some improvement. Inconceivable as it was, perhaps he had even regained his prime strength.
"I'll count to three from now. If you're having second thoughts, scared, or value your life, kneel and prostrate yourselves. I'll spare you for the moment."
Step-.
Soo-hyuk took one step toward them all.
"One."
His footsteps and count were deliberate, slow.
Hiss. The nearest warrior, sword in hand, stumbled backward into someone behind him.
Their numbers were overwhelming. Those present represented Murim itself—the collective entity known as 'Murim.'
But why?
No one dared step forward recklessly against the aura Soo-hyuk exuded. The image of eyes gouged and a head crushed was too vivid.
"Two."
As Soo-hyuk slowly counted, his head tilted toward the sky.
"...Three."
And with that.
"Kill him!"
Someone's shout acted as the trigger, and the warriors charged at Soo-hyuk.
Boom-!
Thunder crashed from the heavens, heralding the battle's start. Those who grasped its meaning looked up in shock.
Dark clouds had shrouded the once-clear blue sky. Those who knew what it signified were likely veterans who had faced Lee Soo-hyuk before.
"No!"
Another cry, opposing the call to kill.
Soo-hyuk's head, which had been skyward, turned toward the wave of incoming warriors. With it, his hand moved to the sword sheath at his waist.
The count to three had not been mercy for them. Three or one, he had no intention of granting opportunities or quarter.
Now, summoning the clouds took but a count of three.
Flash-!
With a blaze of white light, Soo-hyuk vanished. The swords and spears lunging at him struck empty air.
Where did he go? As they scanned about, slash-.
The bodies of the charging warriors split open, blood fountaining forth.
There was no sound. Normally, the roar of lightning would reveal his position, but Soo-hyuk's sword was silent.
Still, they were rankers holding key posts in the Murim Alliance. Nearly half were high rankers.
"He's in our midst!"
"Over here!"
Hundreds of monstrous eyes quickly pinpointed Soo-hyuk's location.
Raindrops began to fall from the sky. Soo-hyuk's sword cleaved the first droplet from above, severing the throat of the man who had shouted, "Over here!"
Surrounded on all sides, Soo-hyuk wove through them without hesitation.
Weapons clashed, swords and spears shattered, bodies bisected. The moment another warrior behind him swung, Soo-hyuk's form flashed upward.
"Above!"
"Lee Soo-hyuk's gone up!"
"Lightning's coming! Form the sword barrier!"
Kicking off the wall, Soo-hyuk soared dozens of meters high, looking down.
A lightning spear now gripped in his hand. With his leap, he hurled it downward without even assuming a throwing stance.
Kaboom-!
The falling lightning clashed with the sword barrier formed by the warriors below.
"...!"
The sword barrier of dozens trembled. Even so, such power? As that thought struck, they realized.
It wasn't lightning that had fallen on the barrier. It was Soo-hyuk himself, plummeting like lightning and colliding with it.
Craaaack-.
Soo-hyuk's sword rent the sword barrier asunder. The warriors, mistaking it for lightning, could never block that blade.
In another flash, a dozen more warriors lost their heads.
As his sword tip moved toward the next throat.
Clang-!
The swiftly moving sword was blocked by someone.
Soo-hyuk's eyes gleamed. The one parrying at point-blank range was Un Cheon-geuk.
"It's been a while."
"Yeah, you were there too."
With two swords between them, Soo-hyuk's eyes sparkled.
"But I'm not interested in you."
Thud-.
Soo-hyuk's hand seized Un Cheon-geuk's sword. Grasping the blade wreathed in sword energy barehanded, Un Cheon-geuk's eyes widened in shock.
Crack, craaack-.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the sword held in his hand. As he hurriedly poured energy into it to wrench it free, shatter!
With the sound of breaking glass, fragments of Un Cheon-geuk's sword rained to the ground.
Un Cheon-geuk stared at the broken sword in dismay. Had it flown true, his neck would have been severed, but Soo-hyuk refrained.
"You're not my share."
Soo-hyuk brushed past Un Cheon-geuk, eyeing the next foe.
There were still plenty more to cut down.