#126. The Black Flame Dragon Who Steals Opportunities
I was floored by the report that they'd snuck in and shot back, “Snuck in? We definitely had guards posted.”
“It looks like they slipped through during the shift change.”
“……”
The Murim Academy's defenses had been breached? I could picture the whole mess, and anger started boiling in my head, but the immediate priority wasn't how they'd gotten past the guards. No matter what safeguards we'd set up, anyone who stepped carelessly into the Infinite Buddha's Indestructible Soul Formation wouldn't be getting out.
That was why, even after so many survived the Ma-ryeong Plateau, we could never find those fools who'd charged in blindly. With two million paths twisting through it, there was no way to track them down.
“W-what should we do?”
Yu Ji-ryang's voice trembled nonstop. It seemed the Nine Great Clans had already grilled him over this before I arrived.
“Just a moment… please wait.”
I quickly scanned the surroundings. If the guards had been breached, their superiors were surely getting an earful. Sure enough, off to one side of the grand training ground, two men were getting reamed out, looking like they'd been skinned alive.
I hurried over, with Yu Ji-ryang scrambling after me.
“May I speak with these gentlemen for a moment?”
“……”
The superior grilling the guards spun away without a word, and I questioned the man who'd been on duty last night.
As I listened to the guards' account, someone butted in abruptly.
“Elder Yu, and Academy Representative Jin Sowoon.”
Yu Ji-ryang jumped in surprise and turned. There stood an instructor glaring at us like a demon.
“The Alliance elders wish an explanation. Come along.”
“……”
# For the demonstration, we'd erected a platform in the center of the training ground and brought in over thirty chairs. Now, every seat was filled, and even more officials crowded behind them.
Yu Ji-ryang was shaking so hard I could feel it as we walked side by side.
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Elder Yu, wouldn't it be best to calm down a bit?”
“Ah… y-yes. You're right.”
“If it's too much, I can handle it alone.”
His face lit up at my words, but after a moment's thought, he shook his head.
“This Infinite Buddha's Indestructible Soul Formation is my responsibility, no matter what. I have to go.”
“……”
Yu Ji-ryang shuffled toward the platform like a cow headed to slaughter.
Unlike from afar, the platform was packed: Murim Alliance Leader Hyeok Mu-gang, Chief Strategist Jegal Somyeong, and all the elders of the Elder Hall.
“What the hell happened?”
“How do you manage things that kids can wander into a deadly absolute formation like this?”
“What's there to hear? Dismantle the formation now and punish the ones responsible according to Alliance law!”
The moment we arrived, angry shouts erupted from all sides. The elders, barely containing their fury, spat words laced with killing intent, silencing the demonstration crowd amid the ominous tension.
It felt like crossing a tightrope over sword tips.
“How long will the Academy rep keep his mouth shut?!”
“Speak up!”
“This is what happens when you put an incompetent fool in charge. We need to replace the rep first thing!”
Soon the arrows turned on me. As the sharp words filled the air like a battlefield, Jegal Somyeong finally spoke up, unable to bear it.
“Everyone, quiet!”
“……”
“……”
At his shout, the elders fell silent, plunging the area into a stillness like the heart of the formation itself.
“Tell me—how many went in?”
With Jegal Somyeong taking the lead, eyes shifted to him.
Under everyone's gaze, Yu Ji-ryang stammered, “F-from what I was told, a t-total of six.”
“From what you were told? So it's not confirmed?”
“N-no, it's certain. Their companions said so.”
“Fine. They went in—so why is this such a problem now?”
“Normally, anyone entering the Infinite Buddha's Indestructible Soul Formation should exit within one shichen. But those who entered at inhye yesterday haven't emerged by sashi—that means they've lost their way inside.”
“Lost their way? Can't they just find their way out?”
“The formation has no fixed points; you must follow the laws based on your footsteps. One wrong step…”
The elders' faces darkened at Yu Ji-ryang's words.
“Why hasn't the safety measure activated?”
“The safety measure blocks entry from anywhere but the entrance. It's not meant for those entering through the gate.”
“So there's no safety measure?”
“It's an absolute formation where safeguards are impossible from the start. That's why we strictly limit access and require passing through the designated life-and-death gate…”
As Yu Ji-ryang tried to blame the intruders, Elder Myeonghyeon cut in.
“So you're saying our kids are trapped in a deadly formation with no safeguards.”
“W-well, that's…”
Jegal Somyeong frowned, but Myeonghyeon pressed on undeterred.
“What's the chance they'll come out on time?”
“……None.”
“Hah.”
Myeonghyeon made a show of outrage before turning to the Alliance Leader. “Alliance Leader, this could cost us the lives of future Alliance pillars—Academy students. We must dismantle the formation immediately and rescue them.”
Hyeok Mu-gang eyed Yu Ji-ryang. “I've heard the Infinite Buddha's Indestructible Soul Formation can't be dismantled by force. Is there a way?”
“The fifty central pillars were set to crumble after a month, so it would vanish then… but there's a problem.”
“Problem?”
“Time flows differently inside. A day there equals seven days outside.”
“Even unreal time affects them directly?”
“Those trapped in the Jegal clan's Numberless Great Barrier Formation suffocate to death…”
“Hah…”
“We only discovered this refining it anew. The issue is those who snuck in yesterday…”
“Hold on!”
Yu Ji-ryang glanced at Elder Myeonghyeon.
“Stop using words like 'unauthorized' or 'non-participants' to dodge responsibility. This is your failure in oversight.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
The elders nodded in agreement. Yu Ji-ryang paled, dazed.
“Continue.”
“Y-yes. Those who entered yesterday brought no emergency rations.”
Myeonghyeon shook his head and addressed the Leader. “Alliance Leader, no need to hear more. Force the dismantle now.”
Hyeok Mu-gang nodded. “Is there a way to force it?”
Lips quivering, Yu Ji-ryang replied, “If we destroy all fifty pillars simultaneously… it might work.”
“Then do it now.”
Yu Ji-ryang looked on the verge of death. Unable to watch, I stepped forward.
“That's impossible.”
“This isn't your place, boy. We'll deal with you later—step aside.”
Ignoring Elder Myeonghyeon, I faced the Leader and Chief Strategist. “To forcibly dismantle the Infinite Buddha's Indestructible Soul Formation, fifty people must enter via the life-and-death gate, align precisely, and shatter the pillars together. But that's theoretical—if it fails, those fifty get trapped too.”
Deep sighs echoed around us.
“Hah!”
“How…”
“Why build something like that?”
Even the Leader and Strategist fell silent. Unable to contain himself, Myeonghyeon bellowed.
“How will you take responsibility? This mess happened because you clung to the rep position!”
I turned slowly, meeting his flushed face.
“Why should I take responsibility?”
“W-what? You dare…”
“The guards said twenty people showed up, demanding an early shift change. The Jeongdo Council was mentioned.”
“That's absurd…”
I cut him off. “In Jeomcheong, how do you handle thieves who steal martial arts?”
“What's that got to do with—?”
“Due to funding and space limits, we restricted participants to teach the formation's secrets officially. Non-participants stole it, causing this disaster. Shouldn't they be punished, not rewarded?”
The elders, including Myeonghyeon, flushed red.
“I bear no responsibility here. Neither does Elder Yu. They brought this on themselves out of personal greed.”
I infused my voice with subtle qi, ensuring everyone heard.
“As I said, there's a way to dismantle it: elders who can survive a hundred days on minimal rations take the risk. Success saves the foolish students.”
No elder responded to “a hundred days.”
“Otherwise, those who orchestrated this—bullying and threatening the guards—should step up.”
I scanned the crowd. Jeongdo Council students glared murderously our way.
“Who will volunteer? Elders and sect leaders? Or students who ignored the rep?”
Silence followed. Not even an ant could be heard.
I poured qi into my voice, no longer holding back. “No one? Academy students are dying in there right now. Won't anyone risk their life for them?”
I eyed the Jeongdo Council group, addressing their center.
“Academy student Ilgak! Don't think you're uninvolved. Will you step up?”
“……”
What a bizarre sight—Shaolin monks glaring like they wanted me dead. Even my past life's demon foes probably never got that look.
As I moved to press them, Jegal Somyeong intervened.
“Enough.”
He swept a trash-like gaze over the elders before continuing. “The issue isn't blame—it's rescue. No way to save them?”
“If we check all two million paths, yes.”
“Two million, but you taught only three routes. Derivatives from those won't make that many.”
The Chief Strategist's seat wasn't for just anyone. I nodded.
“Correct.”
“Then those who know the formation best enter to retrieve them—highest chance.”
Yu Ji-ryang raised a hand tentatively. “My sect and I built it, but we can't navigate freely inside. Past rescues were…”
He trailed off, looking at me. Jegal Somyeong nodded knowingly.
“You'll go.”
The Leader, Strategist, elders—all nodded at me as if it were obvious.
I shook my head. “No.”
“What?”
“Your theory means risking my life. Why should I for something that's not my fault?”
“You call yourself Academy rep?!”
I shot back at Myeonghyeon. “I am, but most students never accepted me as such. Risk my life for them? No thanks.”
“Hah…”
The elders trembled in rage. Jegal Somyeong, expressionless for a moment, spoke.
“The rep is right. They broke Academy rules, ruined an Alliance-funded event, stole arts. They deserve punishment.”
“Chief Strategist!”
“You can't mean that!”
“Impossible!”
Jegal Somyeong glared. “Then watch your disciples die?”
“……”
He bellowed for all to hear. “The ringleaders and reckless intruders will be expelled. All involved disciplined.”
Murmurs rose, but he turned to me. “Can the rep retrieve them for due punishment?”
Seeing Jeongdo Council scum expelled? Even with my life on the line, I couldn't pass that up.
“I'll bring them back!!!”