Blood Sea Spreading in Sichuan (5)
'Something's off with the atmosphere here.'
Cheol Sunjik's gaze darkened slightly as he watched Seung Ho-dang and Jin Sowoon.
It had started back in Jingzhou, hadn't it? Jin Sowoon, who was nominally just the commander, had somehow taken full control of a force numbering over a hundred men. Dangju Gu Jeongryong had stepped back, now following Jin Sowoon's orders to the letter.
Any Murim Academy student had experience taking orders during the entrance exam, but the key here was that these were members of Seung Ho-dang. The Murim Alliance's strongest combat unit. Cheongryonggak. And within it, the strike team formed solely for preemptive assaults. Seung Ho-dang.
Their skills were one thing, but their rough, ronin-like nature was on another level. Even a direct disciple of Shaolin turned into a thug after joining. Yet this wild bunch followed Jin Sowoon's commands impeccably. No, they were even asking him directly, bypassing Gu Jeongryong.
"Jin daepyo! There's a bandit stronghold blocking the road ahead!"
Jin Sowoon answered as if it were obvious.
"It's a new stronghold that hasn't been around long. Just smash through."
"Aw, come on, it's still a stronghold. Shouldn't we at least pay a toll?"
Seung Ho-dang, the Murim Alliance's strike team, talking about tolls... Since when did they play toll collector?
The absurd remark was clearly a test for their commander, Jin Sowoon.
"Scared? Then fall back. Tae-eul Gate will handle it."
"Heh heh, then we'd have no choice but to join in anyway. How about upping that one bottle of liquor per night to two?"
Perhaps these demands felt natural since he'd been treating them with money all along. Cheol Sunjik knew from experience.
'That's why you don't flaunt wealth carelessly.'
In murim, true power wasn't money—it was martial prowess. To these hardened Seung Ho-dang members who'd risen through sheer skill, Jin Sowoon flaunting cash made him look like a naive rich kid. Especially since it was Wang Geumsan's generosity, not his own money.
To veterans like them, the whole situation must seem laughable.
"Bandits ahead!"
At the shout from a lead Seung Ho-dang member, the one chatting with Jin Sowoon pressed him.
"What'll it be? Better decide quick."
The other Seung Ho-dang members, apparently thinking the liquor had been skimpy lately, leaned in eagerly.
Jin Sowoon smirked at the man.
"I've been treating you lavishly because you're the Murim Alliance's strongest. And now you're scared of some fledgling stronghold and want to pay a toll?"
His eyes hardened.
"From now on, swap horses at relay stations and sleep at Murim Alliance branches."
"Huh?"
That wasn't it? Panic flashed across the man's face. But before he could recover, Jin Sowoon acted first.
"Tae-eul Gate disciples, forward!"
"Yes!"
The gold-silver-bronze brothers took the front, followed by Hong Saryeon, Namgung Seonhwa, and Seong Moran.
Jin Sowoon drew his sword and addressed the Seung Ho-dang members.
"You lot stay out of it. If you join in, I'd have to put you up in 'luxurious, comfortable' inns."
With that, he charged ahead. Suddenly, the Seung Ho-dang members panicked. Curses flew everywhere.
"Damn it! Hey, you bastard! Why'd you run your mouth like that?!"
"That prick's mouth always gets him in trouble. Someone knock his teeth out!"
"......"
The man who'd been basking in their expectations moments ago was now public enemy number one. Worried about sleeping at branches, the Seung Ho-dang members surged past the Tae-eul Gate disciples toward the bandits.
"Halt! This is Ak Ju-chae territor—wha?!"
Confusion spread across the bandits' faces. Some Seung Ho-dang members, blocked by those ahead, spurred their horses and leaped straight at the foes.
"These punks don't even know the basics of banditry!"
"You idiots! See the Murim Alliance flag? Run already—what are you waiting for?!"
"Hey! Leave one for me! I don't wanna sleep at the branch!"
Every time a Seung Ho-dang member struck, two or three bandits went down. In the blink of an eye, ten lay sprawled. Finally snapping to, the rest fled in terror.
By the time Tae-eul Gate and Jin Sowoon arrived, the path was clear.
"Jin daepyo, we cleared it nice and clean. Ignore that idiot earlier. We'll keep paving the way."
Jin Sowoon nodded.
"As expected, your skills exceed my hopes."
"Who are we? The Murim Alliance's strongest strike team, Seung Ho-dang!"
"Then we can pick up the pace even more?"
"......"
They were already pushing horses to exhaustion daily, and now faster?
"Or is that beyond your level after all?"
Dissatisfaction filled Jin Sowoon's face, as if questioning if this was all they had.
"Ha ha! Of course! We've been frustrated by the slow pace anyway."
Only then did Jin Sowoon nod in satisfaction.
"Let's go! The faster we move, the more rest time you'll get."
The Seung Ho-dang members glared murderously at the instigator.
'Cunning bastard.'
Cheol Sunjik inwardly sighed at the exchange.
And he wasn't the only surprised one. Nam Hwaseong sidled up.
"Cheol hyung, doesn't the vibe feel weird?"
"......He has a shrewdness beyond his years."
The other 12 Bongseong chimed in.
"He seems like a proper adult."
Indeed, it was hard to see him as just past thirty. Relationships weren't forged solely by absolute force or wealth. Piercing hearts, reading intentions, dominating and leading—that couldn't be learned from books. It demanded pure experience, accumulated layer by layer into true authority.
Despite Tae-eul Gate's harsh environment, Jin Sowoon wielded that authority somehow.
"He has the makings of a fine puppet."
He'd shone during the entrance exam too. A talent worth coveting. That's why the 12 Bongseong needed him. Parading him as their stringed marionette would draw cheers. And he'd pull the strings.
Meeting his master—himself—would elevate him beyond academy rep to Murim Alliance prominence. Perhaps a new light for their generation, overshadowed by Yong So-a...
"Kuh huh huh."
Witnessing Jin Sowoon's true face unexpectedly drew laughter. Then Jin Sowoon whipped his head around.
"Cheol Sunjik, academy student! Is that your top speed? What are you dawdling for?!"
Cheol Sunjik wiped his smile and straightened. The talk had involved all 12 Bongseong, so why single him out? He glanced around incredulously...
Nam Hwaseong and the rest were far ahead.
What? When did they pull ahead?
As Cheol Sunjik gaped at Jin Sowoon...
"Yes, you, Cheol Sunjik! Gonna speed up or sleep at the branch?!"
"......"
Nam Hwaseong added,
"Cheol hyung! Hurry up—we're catching flak because of you!"
"......"
You're the one who started talking!
"......Grit."
Cheol Sunjik ground his teeth and yanked the reins harder.
#
'I expected too much from myself.'
The five squads had all passed Ami Mountain, circled Meishan and Cheongsung Mountain. Some even detoured to Guryong Valley.
Fewer than in his previous life, yet scattered everywhere. Composed only of Nine Great Sects disciples and their affiliates, their speed was blistering. By the time Haomen intel arrived, locations had shifted, scattering the info.
Stirring up Sichuan like this, the web-spinning Blood Cult couldn't miss it. A man-swallowing trap could spring anytime.
"Faster!"
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
"Big brother, we need to stop soon. We'll all drop dead...!"
"Even Seung Ho-dang's gone quiet after hours."
They'd paced to avoid exhaustion, but the breakneck speed had worn everyone down. His group and the 12 Bongseong aside, Seung Ho-dang carried combat and supply gear, tiring faster. Without them, movement would've been impossible.
"Sichuan holy city soon. Slow down a bit."
Even Namgung Seonhwa looked worried, so he eased off.
'What to do.'
Time-wise, some squads would clash with the Blood Cult no matter how fast. Sticking together might fail to prevent casualties. His only choice: split like them.
"Seung Ho-dang, regroup at the holy city then move."
They had to execute Mantongbu orders. Collapsing before elders or the Blood Cult would waste the effort to bring them here.
"Thought we might die."
"First time moving this hard in my life."
"My ass is raw."
Seung Ho-dang members caught their breath. He eyed his group and Cheol Sunjik.
"While they regroup, the 12 Bongseong and we split into five squads. Confirm Jeongdohoe members and relay contacts."
Cheol Sunjik tilted his head.
"Jin daepyo, what's the exact goal?"
"Halt the event and bring them back to the holy city."
"Just us?"
Elders were with the Jeongdohoe. Without Seung Ho-dang, they'd resist.
"Then shouldn't we move with Seung Ho-dang?"
Cheol Sunjik frowned subtly.
"What's the point of us going ahead with unenforceable orders?"
"If they refuse to the end, bring back just two."
Cheol Sunjik and the 12 Bongseong stiffened.
"Two? Who?"
"Moyong Jaehwa and Eunseollan."
"......Ha ha!"
Cheol Sunjik's eyes darkened, a cold sneer curling his lips.
"Not rescuing Jeongdohoe, but securing those two?"
"Correct."
"Moyong Jaehwa and Eunseollan... They're close to you, right?"
His expression was ambiguous.
"So you halted the academy schedule, mobilized Seung Ho-dang, came all this way for them?"
"......"
He pinpointed the uncomfortable truths. In his past life, Cheol Sunjik had done this to superiors on battlefields. Question morality, seize weaknesses, dictate terms. A commander losing trust couldn't wield authority, forcing compliance to avoid scandal.
That's how he'd kept the 12 Bongseong from frontline meatgrinder duty in the Undefeated War.
But he wasn't a fool to be swayed knowingly.
"Correct."
Cheol Sunjik's lip twitched. The 12 Bongseong scowled.
He drove the nail in again.
"I'm here to protect my people."
He'd guessed Cheol Sunjik's intent volunteering along. Jeongdohoe's blunders, ignoring academy duties—now the 12 Bongseong's turn. Grab leverage here to seal the plan.
He could play along as desired.
"If my intent displeases, leave anytime."
For the proper price.
"But if staying, keep the one promise I mentioned."
"......Absolute obedience."
"Yes."
A chill swept the 12 Bongseong.
"You know this threatens your rep position?"
"I do."
"Then why push?"
Why...
Because Moyong Jaehwa and Eunseollan were key heroes in the future Undefeated War? True.
But before that, bonds from this life. Moyong Jaehwa who'd forsaken the exam for him. Eunseollan treating him like a brother, close as sisters with Saryeon.
In this life, irreplaceable...
"They're my people."
Having failed to protect anyone in his past life, he desperately wanted to shield them now. It might unsettle others.
Nam Hwaseong spat curses with blazing eyes.
"Fucking kidding me? All this chaos to save your friends?!"
Call it selfish, spit if they must. He couldn't bear watching his people die pointlessly from incompetence again. No matter the cost.
"Can I make an issue of that statement now?"
Cheol Sunjik's words drew a snort from him.
"Jeongdohoe, Baekdohoe, 12 Bongseong—you're all the same. Wouldn't do anything for your own?"
"Don't deflect."
He met Cheol Sunjik's eyes with a smile.
"Go ahead."
One corner of Cheol Sunjik's mouth twitched—his tell for dark schemes.
"Fine."
He nodded. Nam Hwaseong panicked.
He turned to the dazed Nam Hwaseong.
"What about you? Leaving?"
"......Why the sudden casual tone...?"
"Never asked you to come. Speak. Stay or go."
Nam Hwaseong glanced at Cheol Sunjik, who just stared back. He nodded to stay.
"Split into five squads now."
He assigned by skill, briefing targets excluding the vanguard. Nam Hwaseong alternated glances between him and Cheol Sunjik.
"W-Wait, then me too—I'm staying!"
Nam Hwaseong yelped in panic. He'd cursed at the friend-rescue plan?
Time for a quick fix.
"Nam Hwaseong, you're with me."
Time to teach him what real hardship means.