Chapter 1145
Dok Du shouted as he watched the spirit beasts swarming toward them.
"Strike them down!"
Questions could wait.
The mercenaries began attacking the spirit beasts in unison to survive.
Having gathered to kill the Black Ape King, they had come fully prepared.
Rumble—
But the spirit beasts poured forth endlessly, and above all, Dok Du's commands proved utterly useless.
—Strike them! Strike them!
The mercenaries, watching Dok Du uselessly bellowing orders, had no choice but to group together and attempt to form a battle formation.
But moving on impulse, they ended up encroaching on each other's space, disrupting their formation almost immediately. In the end, their attempt collapsed.
To make matters worse, Dok Du, their supposed commander, had completely given up, leaving everyone to fight in chaos.
—Retreat!
Finally, as their ranks completely crumbled, Dok Du snapped back to his senses and roared.
—Retreat! Retreat!
At his command, the mercenaries disengaged and tried to flee the forest.
But something strange happened.
No matter how hard they tried to escape, the exit was nowhere to be seen.
It was as if they had been trapped in a formation—they kept circling the forest, lost in an endless loop.
—It's the Forest Demon!
The worst possible scenario had unfolded.
Not only had they lost the Black Ape King, but the forest was now overrun with spirit beasts.
And now, the Forest Demon—a being said to turn the woods into a prison for ten days once it appeared—had made its presence known.
"We have to find a way out!"
At that moment, Geumhwa shouted.
"The spirit beasts swarming us must be under the Forest Demon's control!"
Beon Rang shook his head.
"No. Once the Forest Demon appears, there's no way out."
As a member of a tribe from Jiaozhi, he knew well about the Forest Demon that had appeared long ago.
"The only way to survive is to endure in this forest for ten days."
Even if the Forest Demon appeared.
It merely trapped them in the woods for ten days—it didn't intervene directly or reveal itself.
In other words, if they could somehow hold out for those ten days, they could survive.
—Aaaargh!
—Guhhk!
Meanwhile, mercenaries continued to fall, screaming in agony.
Even in this situation, Dok Du was more preoccupied with his own safety than commanding his forces, floundering helplessly.
"We must scatter as much as possible!"
Unable to stand it any longer, Beon Rang shouted to the mercenaries.
"The spirit beasts are being directed by the Forest Demon! Our best chance is to split up and spread out!"
"Scatter!"
Hearing this, the mercenaries dispersed in all directions with their comrades.
'This isn't a battle formation.'
Even while retreating, Bu Eun-seol analyzed the energy sealing off the forest from the outside.
By now, he had become one of the foremost experts in formation studies in the martial world.
Even if he encountered an entirely unknown formation, he could deduce its structure to some extent just by sensing the energy it emitted.
'If anything, it's closer to the Art of Spells...'
What had been cast over this forest wasn't a battle formation but a method closer to the Absolute Boundary—a technique that divided space itself.
It was more akin to a spell woven using the earth's ley lines and earth energy.
'Which means it can still be unraveled.'
"Snap out of it."
As Bu Eun-seol remained lost in thought, perhaps assuming he had grown despondent in the face of death.
Jeong Jin-bang approached and spoke firmly.
"They say even if you enter a tiger's den, you can survive if you keep your wits about you."
He gripped Bu Eun-seol's shoulder as if to bolster his courage.
"If we endure somehow, those ten days will pass in no time."
Then Geumhwa spoke up.
"It'll be alright. We'll definitely make it out alive."
Beon Rang added in a low voice.
"Just focus on blocking the poison. We'll handle the rest."
Wol-yeong, standing nearby, also chimed in.
"If anyone gets injured, I'll treat them. So don't worry."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
Most mercenaries in Jiaozhi were either criminals.
Or, even if not, they were selfish by nature, concerned only with their own survival.
But the Thunder Strike Squad was different.
Like the mercenaries of the Central Plains, they shared deep bonds and camaraderie.
'I tried not to care.'
He had planned to slip away at the right moment—using some excuse or quietly disappearing to find Pa Hon.
But their attitude had swayed his heart.
"Thank you."
Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile.
From now on, he was determined to ensure the Thunder Strike Squad returned safely from this hellish forest.
The Thunder Strike Squad had settled in a small clearing within the forest, surrounded by dense trees and scattered rocks.
Other mercenaries might have sought a more comfortable and secure location.
But Beon Rang, with his extensive experience surviving in the wild, deemed this spot ideal.
The thick foliage and disorderly rocks served as natural barriers.
The dense thickets and scattered boulders prevented beasts or enemies from charging straight through at full speed while slowing their advance.
With only a few limited entry points, it became terrain supremely advantageous for defense.
—Come to think of it, the Thunder Strike Squad has survived every hunt so far without fail, hasn't it?
Several mercenary bands, after observing the Thunder Strike Squad's movements, gradually followed them into the small clearing within the forest.
—Let's stick with them.
Especially since they knew Beon Rang was a wilderness expert—following the Thunder Strike Squad was deemed the safest course of action.
Tap-tap-tap.
The mercenaries gathered around the Thunder Strike Squad, lighting campfires and preparing for the spirit beasts that could attack at any moment.
'This is troubling.'
Bu Eun-seol sighed inwardly as he watched them.
The spirit beasts and mystical creatures in this forest were not only ferocious but moved with perfect coordination under the Forest Demon's command, launching relentless ambushes.
No matter how well-prepared the mercenaries were, they stood no chance.
For now, thankfully, few had lost their lives—but if things continued this way, within ten days, countless mercenaries would perish.
'Should I just wipe out all the spirit beasts?'
Though his internal energy was gone, the abilities of the Saint Among Poisons remained.
If he wished, he could spread poison and annihilate every spirit beast in the forest in an instant.
'No, I can't.'
According to Dal-ri's message, meeting Pa Hon required more than reckless bravery—he had to prove his path amidst the masses.
'Besides, that would ruin Jiaozhi.'
The only reason life thrived in this desolate land of Jiaozhi, drawing even foreign mercenaries, was the spirit beasts emerging from the forest.
If he slaughtered them all? The Wanderers' Market of Jiaozhi would collapse entirely.
'Prove one's path amidst the masses...'
A spark flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
There was only one way to save the mercenaries in this situation.
"We should move to the safe zone."
Having made up his mind, Bu Eun-seol spoke to Jeong Jin-bang.
"Wherever a battle formation or Art of Spells is active, there's always a protected area at its core that blocks external threats."
"The core?"
Just as Jeong Jin-bang's eyes widened, one of the mercenaries well-versed in formations interjected.
"But what if the Forest Demon is at the center? Wouldn't that just be suicide?"
"Better to risk it than sit here waiting to die. If we stay like this, we'll just be hunted down by spirit beasts over the next ten days anyway."
"How do you plan to eliminate the one creating these creatures?"
"Think calmly. Why would the Forest Demon hide while commanding the spirit beasts?"
"What do you mean?"
Bu Eun-seol answered Jeong Jin-bang's question.
"He's most likely someone whose abilities lie solely in commanding and controlling spirit beasts."
His gaze swept over the group as he continued calmly.
"If he were overwhelmingly powerful, wouldn't he hunt the mercenaries directly? Why bother hiding and relying solely on the beasts?"
Bu Eun-seol pressed on.
"The spirit beasts aren't attacking randomly—they move like a well-trained army, striking with perfect coordination. That means someone inside is observing the situation and directing the assaults."
His voice turned resolute.
"If he truly possessed overwhelming power, would he need to orchestrate such meticulous attacks using the beasts?"
"Hmm."
Geumhwa, who had been listening, nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
"But that's just speculation," Wol-yeong cut in.
"What if he really is that strong?"
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Even then, it's better than fighting off endless waves of spirit beasts. To maintain a large-scale barrier like the Golden Chain Formation or Art of Spells... the caster must remain inside to control and sustain it."
He raised his voice.
"If we corner him at the core—where the spirit beasts can't reach—we can definitely take him down!"
The mercenaries listening silently nodded in agreement.
—Well, it's better than sitting here waiting to die.
His proposal was like a ray of light to the despairing mercenaries.
Rather than hiding for ten days and dying one by one—
Even if they only lived a single day more, it was better to fight for a real chance at survival.
—Alright. Let's do it!
Scattered mercenaries began gathering one by one at the Thunder Strike Squad's clearing.
Bu Eun-seol took command in place of Dok Du.
Those with medical skills or potent medicines were assigned to treat the wounded.
Based on each mercenary's expertise, combat formations were arranged, and strategies devised to fend off the swarming spirit beasts.
With the incompetent Poison Supreme replaced by the capable Bu Eun-seol leading the rogue martial artists,
those who had been drowning in despair and fear gradually regained their courage and began to show a will to survive.
"I will take command from the center of the formation. Brother Beon, take the vanguard at the front, and Brother Jeong, guard the rear."
Beon Rang silently nodded and stepped forward to the front.
The seasoned Jeong Jin-bang, gripping his sword with a firm resolve, positioned himself at the rear.
Then, in a calm yet resonant voice, he called out to the rogue martial artists:
"Do not falter in the ranks! Under normal circumstances, I'd never trust my back to any of you—but today, we have no choice but to rely on each other!"
Jeong Jin-bang's voice, laced with a hint of humor, carried an inexplicable sense of trust.
At his words, the rogue martial artists shouted back, reassuring one another.
"We move now."
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened into crystal clarity.
He pushed the Beast Path to its limits,
analyzing the flow of qi spreading through the forest, seeking the heart of the Art of Spells.
"This way!"
At Bu Eun-seol's command, the rogue martial artists began their advance.
Swoosh—
The moment they moved,
dozens—no, hundreds—of gleaming eyes flashed in the darkness,
and then—
Rumble—
The Spirit Beasts surged forth from all directions as if they had been lying in wait.
"Frontlines! Windblade Wolves incoming!"
Beon Rang, standing at the forefront, roared as he swung his massive saber.
The heavy blade carved a crescent through the air, beheading the charging wolves.
Yet the Windblade Wolves trampled over their fallen kin without hesitation, their ferocity unbroken.
"Flank! Blood-Eyed Pythons pouring from the trees!"
From the sides, thick serpents cascaded down, coiling around necks and legs, baring venomous fangs.
A nearby rogue martial artist, hearing his comrade's scream, leapt into action, slashing with his sword—but the severed python ignored its wound and lunged with gaping jaws.
Screams, the clang of steel, and the eerie cries of the Spirit Beasts melded together, turning the forest into a living hell in an instant.
"Left flank, two steps back! Vanguard, advance three steps!"
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol read the flow of battle, moving along the subtle fractures in the Art of Spells.
Following his orders, the rogue martial artists shifted formation, evading the swarming beasts.
At the same time, he wielded the power of the Saint Among Poisons, dissolving the beasts' venomous qi
or slowing the frenzied charge of the Spirit Beasts, redirecting their momentum.
Because of this, the beasts' assault was inevitably weakened before it even began, and the rogue martial artists exploited these openings to launch desperate counterattacks.
Even as he commanded the ranks, Bu Eun-seol covertly unleashed Finger Wind,
disrupting the movements of the leading Spirit Beasts and altering the tide of battle.
Before long, the rogue martial artists' formation spread like a current, pushing the beasts back.
'Found it.'
At last, he pinpointed what appeared to be the core of the spell sealing off the forest.
"That way!"
The rogue martial artists surged in the direction Bu Eun-seol indicated, desperately carving a path forward.
Birds of prey with steel-like feathers rained down from the sky,
while boar-like Spirit Beasts with rock-hard hides charged to break their formation.
With every step, someone fell, coughing blood.
A fallen comrade's weapon was picked up by another, and the gaps in the ranks were filled by those still standing.
United under the singular goal of survival, they moved as one living entity.
Zzzzing—
Even as he advanced toward the heart of the formation, Bu Eun-seol continuously wielded the power of the Saint Among Poisons.
Had it not been for him, half the rogue martial artists would have been annihilated before reaching the center.
"Just a little farther—we're almost there!"
At Bu Eun-seol's cry, the rogue martial artists mustered the last of their strength.
How far had they gone?
Just as their vision began to clear—
—as if by some miracle, the onslaught of Spirit Beasts weakened.
It was as though an invisible barrier held them back.
They no longer advanced, instead circling and howling in frustration.
Finally, when even the last of the rear guard crossed the threshold, an unbelievable sight unfolded before them.
Amid the twisted, shadow-drenched trees of the forest, there lay a wide clearing bathed in serene moonlight.
At its center stood an ancient tree, its age easily spanning centuries, surrounded by an eerily tranquil aura.
A small, untouched plain—completely severed from the forest's madness—existed here.
"Hah... hah...!"
Drenched in blood and sweat, the rogue martial artists dropped their weapons and collapsed where they stood.
Some let out sighs of relief, while others quickly tended to their injured comrades.
Though the fierce battle had left deep marks on their bodies, they had pooled their strength as one and safely reached this haven.
"We did it."
Jeong Jin-bang, still catching his ragged breath, smiled at Bu Eun-seol.
"You've worked hard."
"Don't mention it."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure to give the others a plausible cover for your background."
Having witnessed Bu Eun-seol, despite his youth, commanding three hundred troops as effortlessly as moving his fingers,
Jeong Jin-bang seemed convinced he was someone from the Government Office.
"So, do we just hold out here now?"
At that moment, Beon Rang spoke up.
"The Forest Demon might appear—we should prepare."
"No, we should be fine for now."
Bu Eun-seol scanned their surroundings before gazing at the skeletal ancient tree visible beyond the boundary line.
"I'll take a quick look around. It's better to be certain."
"Isn't that dangerous? Just stay here."
"No. Since I led the mercenaries here, I should verify once more that it's safe."
At that, Jeong Jin-bang, Beon Rang, Geumhwa, and Wol-yeong all stood at once.
"Then we'll go with you."
Unlike the other mercenaries, their bond ran deep.
The moment Bu Eun-seol tried to shoulder the risk alone, they immediately moved to follow.
'This is troublesome.'
Bu Eun-seol sensed it—this central area, to be precise, the faint fissure in that ancient tree.
The Forest Demon—no, Pa Hon—was there.
If they moved together,
not only could their lives not be guaranteed, but they might even be slaughtered by Pa Hon.
"It's not just about loyalty."
Jeong Jin-bang met Bu Eun-seol's reluctant gaze and spoke.
"If we follow you, I have a feeling we'll definitely obtain the Black Centipede."
It was an obvious lie.
Bringing up the Black Centipede in this situation was solely to justify protecting Bu Eun-seol.
'Why are they showing such deep camaraderie?'
"Earlier, you asked why we wanted the Black Centipede, didn't you?"
Then, as if seeing through Bu Eun-seol's thoughts, Jeong Jin-bang spoke plainly.
"Truth is, we've been recruiting outsiders for a long time."
"......"
"I need it for my ailing mother. Beon Rang, for his son suffering from a strange disease. Geumhwa, for a condition turning her skin white. Wol-yeong, to make medicine for severed meridians."
They weren't just after sudden wealth—most sought the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede desperately,
for themselves or their loved ones' illnesses.
"I see."
"But the ones who survived were always just us."
Jeong Jin-bang's expression twisted in anguish.
"Every year, the comrades we recruited to hunt the Black Centipede all died."
The Thunder Strike Squad had long strived to capture the Black Centipede, and in that process, they had continuously recruited allies.
Yet, aside from these four, not a single one had survived.
"After that, we decided to stick to just us, come hell or high water. But we had no way to counter the poison, so we recruited you again."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand—
why Beon Rang had made that odd remark about breaking unity, despite desperately wanting the Black Centipede.
Only these four, hardened by misfortune, had survived time and again.
Bringing in someone new weighed on their conscience.
"Who knows what'll happen next, but we're coming with you."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
These men were tormented by guilt over the many comrades they had lost.
They would never let him go alone.
"Understood. Then let's go together."
Bu Eun-seol led the Thunder Strike Squad toward the distant ancient tree.
Pretending to dismantle a battle formation, he deliberately shifted the arrangement of nearby stones and branches.
But in truth, he was subtly widening the fissure using the power of the Saint Among Poisons.
Zziiing.
Before long, the crack expanded, forming a transparent door.
Inside, a surprisingly vast underground hollow was revealed.
The floor, walls, and ceiling were all solid stone, with lanterns hung throughout—
no need to even light a torch to move comfortably.
After walking for a while, an utterly unexpected sight unfolded before them.
"This is—"
The group gaped.
They had expected a slaughterhouse of blood and bones, but instead, an extraordinarily tranquil scene greeted them.
Light filtered in, softly illuminating the moss and mushrooms growing on the floor.
A wolf-like beast with razor-sharp claws was licking its cub's fur clean.
A wild boar the size of a house rooted through the earth with its snout, unearthing glowing fruits to share with smaller spirit beasts.
The spirit beasts coexisted peacefully in their own domains, never encroaching on one another.
The sounds filling the air weren't threatening roars but low, affectionate calls and contented grunts.
As if utterly detached from the carnage of the outside world, they had formed their own peaceful society.