Black Flame Dragon Swallowing the Blood Sea (6)

- Cheongsung Faction and affiliated lay sects: 12 casualties.

- Ami Faction and affiliated lay sects: 6 casualties.

- Elder leading the group: missing.

Victory Banner Division Lord Gu Jeongryong's face hardened at the brief contents delivered by the messenger pigeon.

"......The hell."

He had thought this operation was just a light push to give Jin Sowoon a bit more backing.

Jin Sowoon had instilled an vague sense of dread about the enemy the whole way here, but it hadn't truly sunk in skin-deep.

Ever since the Murim Alliance had designated the Ten Great Banned Techniques that stirred chaos in the martial world, the lineage of the Left Path Gate-Sealing Arts had dried up.

So even if you knew it in theory, no one alive really grasped just how terrifying it was in practice.

"Cheongsung Faction...... They're still an orthodox Daoist sect, aren't they?"

Yet even their disciples and elders had fallen victim. It was clear this wasn't some common sorcery that failed to pierce a properly centered mind, as taught at the Murim Academy.

And the real problem was......

"Gam Cheonak...... You remember what you learned about evil-breaking and spirit-control?"

Victory Banner's deputy division lord—and his longtime junior—Gam Cheonak scratched the back of his head vigorously.

"Evil-breaking and spirit-control? What's that? Some Sichuan specialty Jin Sowoon's gonna shoot at us?"

"......"

This is reality.

"Did you at least bring your Spirit-Control Orb?"

"What's that?"

Gu Jeongryong's forehead vein bulged at Gam Cheonak's all-too-casual question.

"......You bastard. You don't even know what the Alliance issued us?"

"......Spirit-Control Orb???"

Gam Cheonak finally smacked his fist into his palm after racking his brain.

"Ah! I remember. That bead made of wood and jade, right?"

"Yes! That's it! It's essential gear we have to carry every damn time we deploy!!"

"Don't have it."

"You bastard!!!"

Gam Cheonak deftly dodged Gu Jeongryong's fist and shot back.

"Did you bring yours, Division Lord?"

Gu Jeongryong froze mid-rant.

Gam Cheonak slyly furrowed his brow. "Hang on, do you even have one to begin with?"

"......"

"Ask around the Alliance. See if anyone's still got theirs."

Gam Cheonak shook his head and continued. "Nine out of ten don't."

"Then? We never even fought any heretics or demons—did we just sell 'em off or something?"

"What do you think the kids use to hit the taverns every night before patrols? Those things look pretty, and the gisaeng pay top coin for 'em."

He seethed inwardly, but he knew it all too well. This was the current state of the Murim Alliance.

The absence of heretics, sorcerers, and demonic cults had dragged on so long that 'sorcery,' 'witchcraft,' and 'demonic arts' had become as mythical to them as a jade kirin or phoenix.

How the hell did we end up tangled in this......

He'd come partly to pay a debt to Maeng Ju-won, and partly out of curiosity about Jin Sowoon—who was locked in a turf war at the Academy with the Jeongdo Council, Baekdo Association, and Twelve Peaks.

For Gu Jeongryong, who already harbored resentment toward the entrenched powers, it was a golden chance to needle the Elder Council under the guise of helping Maeng Ju-won and Jin Sowoon.

He'd set out half in wanderlust, and now this.

The thought kept nagging, stirring an urge to escape reality.

"This intel solid?"

Gam Cheonak shook his head at the pigeon letter. "Why ask me?"

"What?"

"You're the one who said come here, and you're the one who pushed for that extra day of rest in Sichuan amid this 'urgency.'"

This punk—backpedaling now?

"So you make the call, Division Lord."

"You little shit! If this blows up, it's not just me who dies! Division lord and deputy are one body—you're going down with me!"

"What'd I do?!"

"You're the one who whipped the kids into rushing ahead for a better inn! If Inspection Hall hauls me in, you're coming too!"

As Gu Jeongryong foamed at the mouth, Gam Cheonak let out a small sigh.

"Setting aside verification, this isn't something we can handle alone, right?"

Casualties among Academy students tied to Cheongsung was secondary—the Elder Council's elder was missing. No brushing this off.

"Send a pigeon to the Alliance."

"Too late to wait for a reply."

But they couldn't just sit idle either. Per Jin Sowoon, these foes were clearly targeting the remaining students and elders too.

Who in the martial world dares challenge the Alliance right now?

It was so absurd that even realizing it felt unreal. Petty turf wars happened plenty, but this bold action meant they were seeing it through to the end.

"Anyway, didn't that Jin Sowoon punk give orders? We follow 'em for now."

"Yeah, let's move."

Gu Jeongryong whipped his head toward the Victory Banner Division members. Sure enough, they'd overheard—their eyes locked on in unison.

"Pick up the pace from here on!"

"Yes, sir!"

The division's morale shifted in an instant now that they grasped the gravity. The jokers checking their gear, horses never slowing once.

They rode nonstop for an hour, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠catching up to the Twelve Peaks' Namgung Seonhwa group—who'd left half a day ahead.

Namgung Seonhwa kept trying to push into the Jongnam Faction cluster, but their disciples blocked her.

"Namgung junior."

"Ah! Division Lord!"

"What's the holdup?"

"Sorry. They won't listen no matter what I say."

Gu Jeongryong dismounted and strode toward the group. The Academy students, recognizing him, hesitated uncertainly as he approached with Namgung Seonhwa in tow—heading straight for Jongnam elder Suheo.

"What?"

Suheo scoffed at the report. "Nonsense. Who'd dare disrupt a Murim Alliance event?"

"......May I ask when you last heard from Elder Hye-seong or Elder Myeonghyeon?"

"......"

Gu Jeongryong sighed deeply despite himself.

"No contact with the other lead groups?"

"We split to regroup at the factions. I came here to regale them with tales of our Alliance's triumphs over the unorthodox in Sichuan."

"......"

Gu Jeongryong cursed inwardly. They'd never intended any real probe into the Black Water cultists. Just an excuse for a joyride.

"Join us for now."

Suheo snapped back, still in denial. "You telling me to follow that Jin Sowoon's lead?"

"......"

Where the hell did it all go wrong? Is an Elder Council elder really reality-dodging like this?

"Division Lord."

Gam Cheonak cut in abruptly, twisting Suheo's face in fury. No one dared interrupt an Alliance elder—except this punk, who knew better.

"You need to see this."

Gu Jeongryong's head went ice-cold at the new pigeon letter Gam Cheonak held out. No room for pride or face now.

"Elder, you have to come with us."

"What do you take my words for?!"

"This is a Myriad Communications Division order."

Suheo's face, ready to erupt at 'Myriad Communications Division,' froze as Gu Jeongryong handed over the letter.

"If it's fake, do as you wish—take Jin Sowoon's head yourself."

Suheo snatched it open with a savage rip.

And then.

"......"

Suheo's eyes trembled as he stared at the letter. Too far-fetched for a joke, too unbelievable for truth.

"If this is Jin Sowoon's ploy to cling to his petty status, I'll drag him to Inspection Hall myself."

"......"

"But for now, we execute the Myriad Communications Division's order."

Suheo nodded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠after a moment's thought. "Fine...... If it's real, we must save them."

Gu Jeongryong had talked down the stubborn-as-a-mule elder, but his heart wasn't at ease. If even rear-guard Jongnam had pushed this far, the vanguard groups would clash with the unknown enemy any moment.

And Victory Banner, desperately understrength, had to scoop up straggling Academy students en route. Casualties would mount.

"No delays—move out."

All they could do was hurry one step faster.

And.

Just stay alive. Jin Sowoon.

That was all he could hope for the advance groups' survival.

#

As Moyong Jaehwa nocked an arrow, he sensed something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off at the arrowhead.

Heavier...... And looser......

This was Jin Sowoon's consideration for him, who hadn't yet perfected Thunderbolt Arrow.

"How does big bro know me so well."

Worst-case scenario, yet a smile tugged at his lips.

He squeezed nonexistent inner energy into his strength. The steel bow bent unnaturally.

The massive tension strained his arms; his fingers felt like they'd snap under the Thousand Silkworm Thread.

Yet no fear of it shattering like a hornbow.

Twang.

Whish.

The arrow cleaved the sky in its predicted arc.

Spotting Moyong Jaehwa firing again, the Blood Humans raised their thick shields and boulders.

Thud!

It half-pierced the rock but never reached the Blood Human.

Still, Moyong Jaehwa drew again.

Zzzzzing.

His arm muscles screamed in protest. Every pull wracked his body, but it brought strange stability.

The power of Heaven-Earth Splitting Sword Art loaded into the arrowhead.

Then, Jin Sowoon's voice from their archery practice echoed.

—The bow pierces the enemy's blind spot. It steals lives unexpectedly, at unforeseen moments. Even assassins numb to death will tremble in fear at such terror.

Moyong Jaehwa loosed straight upward.

Twang.

Whish.

Then nocked another and fired at them.

Twang.

Whish—

As the second arrow flew, Blood Humans raised shields and stones.

Thud!

Blocked by the triple-layered shield, the smug Blood Humans emerged from behind the rock.

And right then—the skyward arrow plummeted, aligning with them.

It exploded midair, shattering into shrapnel that sprayed like hidden weapons.

Boom.

Krboom.

Those behind the rock had no time to brace.

Pop pop pop pop thud!

Blood Humans crumpled, bodies riddled like they'd weathered a hail of arrows.

The survivors, spared the blast by scant margin, retreated further into the damn archer's blind spot.

—What you can't see isn't absent.

Advice tailored perfectly to him.

But the voice morphed—not Jin Sowoon's, but some unknown figure's.

Who......?

A man with a massive back. Lonely, solitary, forlorn—yet bearing an immense burden on his shoulders.

He spoke.

—Visualize where they are in your mind. If you can picture it, the bow can strike anytime.

Undeniably Jin Sowoon's words, yet the voice was the mystery man's.

A stranger he'd never met, yet achingly familiar.

Following the advice, he drew again.

—No need to confirm with eyes. You can envision it.

—No need for perfect aim. You're not targeting one.

—No need for speed. Fear will root them in place.

Twang.

Whish—

The arcing arrow fell behind their cover.

Kaboom.

"Argh!"

"Gaaah!"

"Kraaak!"

Hateful screams echoed from afar.

"Hah...... Hah......"

Moyong Jaehwa had pushed to his absolute limit—barely human now.

He'd terrorized the Blood Humans with the Iron Bow, but his condition worsened with each shot.

"Young master Jaehwa, blood......"

His fingertips weren't just cut—they were split and torn.

Fingers mangled from drawing the mighty bow.

Moyong Jaehwa gazed numbly at them.

"Miss Eun, could you freeze them a bit?"

"You have to stop! Young master......!"

"They'll never let us live."

"......"

Eun Seollan gripped his fingers, channeling Lesser Frost Divine Art.

As the dripping blood froze, Moyong Jaehwa raised the bow again.

The mystery man's voice returned in his mind.

—The merciless leave damage even in death. Meeting them head-on is our one-sided loss. Stop them before they close in. Make them too afraid to approach—not just the merciless, but the indifferent, the blood-mad, the selfish, the inhuman.

Moyong Jaehwa drew.

Instill fear to bar their path.

The sun-shot arrow soared over the cover, into the enemy's heart.

Boom!

Kaboom!

"Gaaak!"

"Kuhk!"

"Evade!"

That was bow-breaking.

Screams rang out afar. Approaching Blood Humans fled back, further back.

Watching it all, Ilgak shuddered head to toe.

Good lord......

Who else could pull this off? Not with Shaolin arts, nor Jeonchang—not even the martial pinnacle he'd idolized.

His illusions of Shaolin's supremacy shattered utterly.

I knew nothing's absolute or perfect, yet......

Ilgak shut his eyes tight, then opened them.

This too is enlightenment......

And that Iron Bow and arrows from Jin Sowoon. Moyong Jaehwa's hidden power felt tied to him.

How much had he foreseen?

Anyway, hope dawned. Hope of returning alive.

As Moyong Jaehwa said, with Jin Sowoon and reinforcements, no need for the horrors he'd imagined......

"Huh......?"

Moyong Jaehwa, architect of this thrill, stared ahead with eerie eyes.

Ilgak, Eun Seollan, Nam Hwaseong followed his gaze.

A doll-like figure emerged from the cover. Unlike the blood-robed ones, it wore bizarre ornaments.

And that wasn't all odd.

"Its gait......"

Feet glued together, it hopped playfully.

"No way......"

"Son of a......"

"Amitabha."

As Eun Seollan, Nam Hwaseong, and Ilgak gasped in turn, Moyong Jaehwa scowled and fully drew the string.

Twang.

Whish—

The wind-slicing arrow aimed to skewer the freak's head.

But the awkwardly moving man snapped his head around, snatching it.

Thwap.

Of course, Moyong Jaehwa wasn't done.

Boom!

The arrowhead burst, shrapnel scattering everywhere.

Smoke choked the air, veiling the man completely.

As it cleared, a horrific corpse riddled with metal......

"Good lord......"

"Insane."

Not perfect, but the Thunderbolt Arrow that terrorized Blood Humans.

Yet the freak stood, metal embedded head to toe—no drop of blood.

It stared their way nonchalantly.

Ilgak groaned. "Jiangshi......"

The demon thought extinct had returned.