Chair Snatching (6)
“As expected of the Blood Cult.”
Jegal Somyeong let out a small sigh as he took hold of the damage report from Sichuan. The numbers fell short of the pre-dispatch estimates, but the losses were still stark. And ever since the Blood Cult, which had been dawdling in place, resumed its eastward advance, those figures had started skyrocketing.
The Tang family's Poison King had mobilized the Poison Specialists, and the Qingcheng sect leader had led his elites into battle, but they couldn't claim overwhelming victory—the Iron Corpses were being deployed too strategically.
“At least the damage from illusions has been minimal. How fortunate is that?”
At Maeng Ju-won's words, Jegal Somyeong nodded in agreement.
If they hadn't known the Blood Cult's true nature in advance.
If they hadn't realized that the dispatched forces from Sichuan had been selling off their Spirit-Control Orbs.
If they hadn't received reports that the Hyeongsan sect's Demon-Exorcism Talismans were helping counter the Blood Cult's illusions.
They would have suffered casualties far exceeding the pre-dispatch projections.
Just thinking about it is dizzying. That Jin Sowoon guy... just how much did he know, and how far did he foresee?
Recalling Jin Sowoon's ever-calm expression, Jegal Somyeong found a smile tugging at his lips unbidden.
“It's a relief, at least.”
If the Blood Cult could be wrapped up like this, the Murim Alliance's strength would hold. No—perhaps, like tempering crude iron mixed with scrap into something fiercer, they might emerge even stronger. Once the impurities were burned away, the density would solidify.
Maeng Ju-won, who had been fidgeting like a puppy desperate to pee, finally spoke up.
“Seriously, after such heroic deeds, shouldn't we give him some kind of reward?”
As Jegal Somyeong's gaze turned to him, he emphasized each syllable.
“Like, say, a provisional acceptance to the Myriad Communications Division.”
“......”
Jin Sowoon had indeed racked up monumental merits in the Sichuan Blood Massacre. But the problem was the equally massive blunder he'd committed afterward.
Ak Jupyeong's joints had twisted at angles they shouldn't have—probably. From what he'd heard, it was somewhat justified, but why did this guy always act without a shred of backup?
The academy head's report noted that the Sandong Ak family had already tried to sanction Jin Sowoon privately. Dragging him to the Inspection Hall, no less.
Those Ak family bastards—talk about biting the hand that feeds. Bunch of idiots, tsk.
Of course, he'd summoned the Inspection Hall Lord to Myriad Communications and shaken him down over it, but Jin Sowoon had nearly been branded a Black Dao spy right under his nose.
Aigoo, my head...
Had he ever suffered headaches like this over a single academy student since becoming Chief Strategist?
Yet he had no intention of abandoning the kid.
“Besides, didn't Jin Sowoon save the academy students in Sichuan and halt the Blood Cult?”
It was precisely this talent.
Even the Murim Alliance's elite forces were struggling in Sichuan right now. Yet Jin Sowoon had entered alone with just a handful of followers, rounded up every academy student, and escaped unscathed. He'd devised countermeasures against the Blood Cult's illusions, faced off against Iron Corpses, and even decapitated their Vice Leader to stall their advance.
Unbelievable, but all feats of Jin Sowoon.
His actions made him seem like he was playing in a different world altogether. Even among the Alliance elites, some were questioning if his activity reports were exaggerated. They probably never imagined a single academy student would dominate a battlefield where they themselves were suffering.
As he pondered deeply, a rhythmic chant blending air and voice began echoing regularly.
“Provisional acceptance! Provisional acceptance! Provisional acceptance!”
Watching Maeng Ju-won chant it like a protest beside him, Jegal Somyeong felt an urge to slash his throat with a hand blade.
“Cut the nonsense!”
Provisional acceptances didn't even exist in the first place. Issuing them would lead every division and bureau in the Alliance to spam them to promising academy students, hoarding talent.
Maeng Ju-won, the division's top talent scout, surely knew that.
“......But if we don't, we might lose Jin Sowoon.”
“What? The Lord's aides promised not to touch him.”
Maeng Ju-won shook his head vigorously.
“It's not just the Lord's aides. That Sichuan report circulated through the entire Alliance. Every clueless and action bureau that's seen it is starting to eye Jin Sowoon.”
“......”
Maeng Ju-won's eyes flashed with killing intent for a brief moment.
“If we slack off, he'll be snatched away.”
He'd forgotten. This guy was a madman too...
“Anyway, no means no! A guy with a brain will crawl into Myriad Communications on his own.”
“......We might really lose him...”
As Maeng Ju-won sulked and offered another report, Jegal Somyeong tilted his head while reading it.
“The Jegal family visited the academy?”
“Yes. For the event Baekdohoe is preparing.”
“......What an idiot.”
“Pardon?”
Jegal Somyeong shook his head as if it were nothing, and Maeng Ju-won cautiously spoke up.
“How... do we keep them out?”
“Who'd stop Baekdohoe from demoing a qimen formation with their own money?”
“But this time, Jin Sowoon might lose. If he gets disqualified from the representatives, won't he be expelled from the academy?”
The entire martial world was buzzing with anticipation for the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation, after all.
It could indeed be dangerous for Jin Sowoon. Jegal Somyeong himself had verified how formidable the Jegal family's newly developed formation was.
But.
“......Never mind. Just let them in.”
Even so, he wasn't worried. He didn't think Jin Sowoon would fall to something like that.
Maeng Ju-won, still anxious, stamped his feet.
“B-but if he gets expelled...”
“Wouldn't that be even better for you? Hire him specially and bring him to Myriad Communications.”
“Ah... right?”
Maeng Ju-won scratched the back of his head with a foolish grin. It was baffling how this sharp guy turned into an idiot whenever Jin Sowoon was involved.
The Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation lived up to its grandiose name, surpassing the Seven Stars Seven Metals Formation.
Right after the Orthodox-Demonic War broke out, sects with the Seven Stars setup were wiped out, while half of those with the Eight Trigrams survived.
Of course, by mid-war, even the Eight Trigrams fell to the Demonic Cult's strategists.
But in his previous life, it hadn't spread widely. The cost of dismantling Seven Stars to install Eight Trigrams was a factor, but more so, the Jegal family—realizing new formations secured funding—kept releasing annual upgrades, leaving sects waiting endlessly for the "final" version.
The Jegal family in my past life were clever thugs. Will they be different this time?
Whether they'd meet his expectations and become a true boon to the martial world remained to be seen, but the formation's excellence was undeniable.
That's why Jegal Jeonggi chose the Murim Academy for Baekdohoe to unveil it, solidifying their status.
He'd prepared a simplified Infinite Buddha's Indestructible Soul Formation for this, but with this gem in hand, he could skip the hassle.
“Shibul... Shibul... Shibul...”
Nam Hwaseong kept mumbling his chants—what Buddha was he even calling?
Wasn't he the only one fumbling here?
“You sure we can take on Baekdohoe with this?”
“Of course.”
Despite his confident reply, Nam Hwaseong's brow stayed furrowed.
“......The Nine Palaces Bewildering Soul Formation is something even ten-year-olds can pass.”
“Oh? Then you're worse than a kid?”
“Shibal!”
Caked in dirt, Nam Hwaseong stomped toward him.
“What if I pass?”
“Pass?”
“Yeah! If I pass!”
His eyes suddenly sparkled.
“......Never call me a spy again!”
“Hmm... deal.”
Nam Hwaseong puffed up his shoulders triumphantly, bursting into laughter.
“Then start it now! I'll shatter the Nine Palaces in one go!”
More confident than ever, Nam Hwaseong stood before the Life Gate. Jin Sowoon positioned himself at the stone cairn in the formation's center—the axis upholding the entire Nine Palaces Bewildering Soul Formation.
It deceived with illusions, but smashing this pillar's energy core would dismantle it.
If I mix this in here...
He pulled the Illusion Pearl seized from the Blood Cult Vice Leader and slipped it onto his finger.
A wondrous relic that turned ordinary qimen formations into Blood Cult illusion arrays.
This event was a chance to test its utility on the academy's rising stars—new blood of the martial world.
With eyes on the Eight Trigrams, no one'll scrutinize how I made this illusion array. Heh.
Reciting the incantation, he infused qi into the pearl.
Kiiya aaaak!
Ku aaaak!
Kyakyakya kyakya!
The pearl wasn't ordinary; as it absorbed qi, screams flooded his mind.
Suppressing the maddening malice, he channeled the energy into the formation.
Kuung.
With a rumble, the cairn crumbled slightly, stones tumbling down. Red mist seeped from it, crawling outward and spreading.
The mist stayed within the formation's bounds but pooled like a lake, rising from ankles to thighs, then filling the entire space.
Startled by the sudden change, the overconfident Nam Hwaseong staggered back.
“W-what the...”
As the red mist thickened, the Nine Palaces Bewildering Soul Formation vanished completely. The pillars and cairn were gone; the training ground reverted to its original state, leaving only the Life Gate.
Confusion etched Nam Hwaseong's face as he stared at it. Jin Sowoon jerked his chin.
“What're you waiting for? Go in.”
“I-is this really the Nine Palaces?”
“You built it yourself. Scared?”
“Shi, shibal!”
Gritting his teeth at the taunt, Nam Hwaseong stepped forward—and was sucked right in.
Soon after.
Ugh!
Krek!
D-damn demonic beasts here why!!!
S-save me!!!
Uwaaaak!
Jin Sowoon you bastard!!!!!
Kueeek!
His varied screams echoed out.
“Hm, working perfectly.”
Nam Hwaseong, who seemed ready to smash the core pillar instantly, showed no sign of emerging even after a while. Eventually, he kicked one of the eight gates' pillars, breaking the formation.
Immediately after.
“Uwaaaak!”
Nam Hwaseong emerged drooling and flailing pathetically. Jin Sowoon kicked him.
“Snap out of it, idiot.”
“Hahk! Hahk! Hahk! Shi, shibal...!”
Panting roughly, he gawked at Jin Sowoon in bewilderment.
“T-this is Blood Cult sorcery! What the hell happened?”
Jin Sowoon smiled smugly.
“So? Think this'll grab their attention?”
“......”
Nam Hwaseong clamped his mouth shut, unwilling to admit it.
“Answer me, spy!”
“Shi, shibal!”
Cursing in defeat, he acknowledged his spy tenure was extended.
The ongoing Blood Cult battles in Sichuan weren't public knowledge yet. Information flowed under strict secrecy, with extreme caution against leaks.
Still, those with connections naturally heard the whispers.
“Tsk.”
Baekdohoe's Jegal Jeonggi was one such figure. His brow furrowed in displeasure.
“Does this mean the Alliance's bureaus are inferior to a single academy student?”
News of struggles against the Blood Cult grated on him. The more incompetent the Alliance seemed, the more Jin Sowoon's exploits shone.
To counter potential fallout, he needed to divert attention. If Sichuan news dominated, eyes would flock to Jin Sowoon's event. If it faded, they'd turn to his.
Baekdohoe knew this well, pouring efforts into suppression—or rather, seeding new rumors.
But there was a snag.
“The budget's nearly dry. Is this necessary?”
“If Baekdohoe takes the representative slot, upper echelons will allocate more. Proceed without worry.”
“......Understood. We'll commission the Beggars' Sect.”
“Not just them—hire the gossips too. No force matches word-of-mouth.”
Scraping the barrel, Baekdohoe employed beggars and rumormongers to drip-feed Eight Trigrams info. Timed like rain in drought, it stoked curiosity, shifting focus from Jin Sowoon's event to theirs at the academy.
Meanwhile, at the Murim Academy's main gate.
“That's the situation. Extremely urgent.”
“......”
As Jin Sowoon said, Baekdohoe's teaser leaks on the Eight Trigrams were stirring unrest. Growing interest in the new formation made prior commitments to his event waver.
But...
Why am I here, though?
A thick stack of papers in hand. A sash across his shoulder blared “Sorcery Dominion, Ruling the World.”
“Jin lay donor... I get the situation. But... why must I do this?”
Ilgak trembled more fiercely than amid any worldly temptation. Jin Sowoon eyed him with back-alley thug vibes.
“Obviously 'cause you couldn't drag Baekdohoe's crew here. Right?”
Suppressing shudders, Ilgak replied.
“Jin lay donor... as I said, I can't do spy work.”
“That's why I'm giving you something else. ...Aigoo! Hello! You know about the official academy representative event, right?”
Mid-sentence, he smoothly approached a passing student, thrusting papers forward.
So...
Right now, Jin Sowoon was hawking like an inn errand boy or street tout.
Dragging along a Shaolin novice who'd endured wall-facing meditation and mastered Reverse Muscle Classic, no less.
“Ah, h-hello...”
Ilgak's hands shook as he offered the paper. The student, spooked by his demeanor, fled without taking it.
“W-wait! H-how... just go!”
Watching, Jin Sowoon clicked his tongue.
“Tsk. Can't even lure people! Can't hand out flyers! What can a Shaolin novice do?”
“......”
Each rebuke hammered nails into Ilgak's chest.