The Enemy's Grace (3)
I had gathered people to dismantle the formation.
"I brought your master along as instructed, so we came together."
First came Moyong Jaehwa and his martial arts instructor from Guigungmun, Yeo Samtong. Next, I instructed them to summon Ilgak, Namgung Seonhwa, and Cheol Sunjik of the Twelve Bongseong.
While waiting for them to arrive, I listened to an explanation about the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation from the formation expert of the Jegal family.
I probably knew more about the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation than any formation expert at this point, but I pretended to listen attentively anyway.
"The Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation was created as a living formation from the start."
"A living formation?"
I managed my expression as if hearing it for the first time, and the formation expert puffed up with pride, shoulders heaving.
"Until the entire energy of the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation is depleted, it will never collapse. If shocks occur from inside or out, the energy naturally shifts to repair the formation."
The advent of this living formation concept had indeed revolutionized qimenjin formations. But even in this problematic situation, I couldn't stand his smug attitude.
I slapped my forehead with exaggerated gestures, feigning sudden realization of a shocking fact.
"Ah! So if we try to force it open, the academy students could all die."
"……."
The formation expert's face twisted like he'd eaten shit. While he continued explaining the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation, everyone I'd summoned arrived.
"You called for me?"
Cheol Sunjik, summoned alongside Ilgak and Namgung Seonhwa, wore a face full of dissatisfaction. But he'd come, at least.
"May I ask what this is about?"
I was upfront.
"There aren't many among those I know who possess a full il gapja of internal energy."
"……Nam Hwaseong also has a full il gapja of internal energy."
"Do you think that guy can control his energy with finesse?"
I shrugged nonchalantly, and Cheol Sunjik couldn't really argue.
After a moment of silence, he stared at me intently.
"Do you think I'll help you, Representative Jin Sowoon?"
"I'm not asking you to help me."
"Then what?"
Who else? My reliable backer.
"I'm telling you to follow the Chief Strategist's orders."
"Chief Strategist?"
As my gaze shifted behind him, Cheol Sunjik whipped around in surprise.
"Is there a problem?"
Jegal Somyeong's heavy voice pierced the air. Cheol Sunjik bowed his head, breaking out in cold sweat.
"……N-no, sir."
Jegal Somyeong gave him a once-over, then turned to me.
"How long until you're ready?"
"One gak at most."
"Good."
While Jegal Somyeong prepared for any contingencies, I asked Yeo Samtong,
"Can you help Jaehwa shoot arrows at four points simultaneously?"
"Four points?"
I nodded and explained more clearly.
"They have to land at the exact same time."
Yeo Samtong pondered for a moment.
"Hm……."
"Brother, I'm not skilled enough yet……."
Then he nodded firmly.
"It should be possible."
"What?"
Instead of the stunned Moyong Jaehwa, Yeo Samtong spoke confidently.
"The wind around the Grand Martial Hall isn't too strong, so it can be done."
"What does that……."
I clasped my hands in a fist salute toward Yeo Samtong.
"Understood. Please prepare for my signal."
"No, no! Brother! I can't do it!"
It was clearly about him, yet the decision was made without his input, leaving him flustered. This wasn't even his first time—why the panic?
I grabbed Moyong Jaehwa's shoulders with both hands.
"Jaehwa! Seventy-eight lives hang on your hands! You can do this!"
"No…… Brother! I said I can't……."
"Everyone else, come over here too."
"B-Brother……?"
Brushing aside Moyong Jaehwa, I instructed Ilgak, Namgung Seonhwa, Cheol Sunjik, and Buk Wonpyeong on their positions and preparations, wrapping up.
As they moved to their spots, only Cheol Sunjik stood frozen, staring at me intently.
"Does the method not make sense to you?"
No way this sharp guy didn't get it. Or did he just hate working with me that much? It was about saving people, though.
"That's not what I'm curious about."
Cheol Sunjik's eyes cooled sharply.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
He looked utterly baffled as he pressed me.
"The Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation is a newly created qimenjin. No matter how brilliant Representative Jin Sowoon is, I doubt you can safely dismantle a formation you've never seen before. So……."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice further.
"Why not just pretend you don't know? Let it be."
"……."
"Then Baekdohoe crumbles on its own, and your position strengthens."
A fair question. Maybe I was being a fool, as he said. Massive factions were monsters that pursued their interests relentlessly until total ruin.
Stepping in like this might even save Baekdohoe from collapse.
But so what?
In my past life, political machinations always shredded the weak at the bottom. The blood of those pathetic souls flowed until the higher-ups got their own feet dirty and woke up.
Now that I had some power, was I supposed to act just like those inertia-bound fools?
Mimic their baseness and become the same scum?
Unfortunately.
"Because I can."
I had zero intention of becoming that lowly.
"What?"
Cheol Sunjik furrowed his brow, uncomprehending.
I gazed at him indifferently.
"Because I can save them. That's the only reason."
His eyes shook violently, still not getting it.
"……But if it fails, you might bear the blame. Are you really okay with that?"
I shrugged once before replying.
"That's the responsibility of the one giving orders, isn't it?"
"……."
Cheol Sunjik bit his lip, looking frustrated.
The legendary qimenjin that blocked demon paths and halted slaughter. But even this pinnacle formation being dismantled by a demon brain was a massive blow to the Murim Alliance's position. The Small Justice Squad had lost its only respite, so we'd gnashed our teeth at that demon brain endlessly.
Yet now, using that demon brain's method to break the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation felt oddly surreal.
‘Borrowing help from that damned demon brain?’
I quickly shook off the stray thought.
So what if it was the demon brain's help? If it saved people.
If it rescued allies and crushed enemies, I'd take aid from the Heavenly Demon itself.
I steeled my resolve and surveyed the surroundings.
"Let's begin."
At my shout, the four at the four gates of the eight gates began channeling their internal energy simultaneously.
They poured powerful energy into the secondary gates, excluding the key ones: Birth, Death, Opening, and Rest.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Under the squeezing pressure from all sides, the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation began to shudder.
The visualized qimenjin, as if exposed in its innards, revealed its movements plainly.
Soon, the black mists filling the formation's interior gathered slowly toward the attacked gates.
Concentrating power at the assaulted points to defend against external force.
And then.
"Now!"
Boom boom boom!
Our chance arrived. The four bursts of internal energy shattered the formation's shape in an instant.
I yelled at them.
"This is just the start! Keep pouring in steady energy!"
The Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation tried gathering power to repair its broken outer walls, but the relentless external assault prevented proper restoration.
Eventually, even the power encasing the key gates began shifting to the others.
"Jaehwa!"
At my signal, Moyong Jaehwa on the roof began firing arrows per Yeo Samtong's guidance.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The four arrows, arcing differently, soared invisibly high before plummeting simultaneously.
The blunt arrowheads struck the pillars of Birth, Death, Opening, and Rest at once.
Kaboom!
With earth-shaking impact, the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation rippled violently.
Sensing the key gates under attack, it rushed power toward them.
We couldn't let that happen.
"Grab it!"
The reason I'd called Cheol Sunjik instead of Nam Hwaseong. We had to keep holding the retreating power.
"Urraaagh!"
"Urraaagh!"
"Hup!"
The pull was immense; everyone except Buk Wonpyeong roared with ki.
Parts of the formation's mist faded, revealing those trapped inside.
Hope emerged.
Now, the finale. Standing atop the central hall's roof, I unleashed Flying Dragon Claw endlessly, binding the four pillars of the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation.
"Urraaagh!"
Gripping the Thousand Silkworm Thread with both hands, I yanked the gate-forming pillars.
The Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation began wobbling bit by bit.
A precarious sensation, like loosening a stubborn tooth. A little more, and I could uproot them all.
That instant.
"Wh-what!"
Despite calling Cheol Sunjik to replace Nam Hwaseong for precise control, he hadn't anticipated the churning energy from the shaking pillars. Panic flickered on Buk Wonpyeong and Ilgak's faces.
"Jin lay donor!"
"Jin Sowoon! It's slipping……!"
The energy blocking the four shifted instantly to the pillars I was pulling.
They couldn't stabilize the surging power.
This sent the formation's energy rushing back to the key gates!
At this rate, I'd be dragged inside.
‘Damn it!!!!’
Now it was an endurance battle. With a gambler's desperation wagering his life on the board, I poured every ounce of my energy in.
‘All the elixirs I've consumed!!!’
I yanked viciously. The taut Thousand Silkworm Thread dug into my palms, but I ignored it, adding more force.
Agonizing pain shredded my nerves.
But recalling the screams of those trapped inside, I bellowed.
"Urraaaagh!!"
Stepping inside conjured nightmarish horrors. Those who'd killed drowned in guilt; sinners in shame, frozen in place. They'd only sought to experience the myriad phenomena formation, but the energy dominating their upper dantian sapped their strength.
They tried drawing dantian energy to guard their minds, but couldn't dispel the illusions.
Shudder shudder.
A student just escaped from an illusion stared at his hands. The corpses and bloodstains that filled his vision moments ago had vanished.
"Cl-clearly……."
In the illusion, his mistake doomed his entire family sect. Kin, comrades, friends—all dead, leaving him awaiting death.
Yet…….
As he begged an unseen foe, the scene suddenly dissolved.
‘What is this?’
His hands trembled violently. Spotless uniform. Fellow students around him, equally dazed.
Only then did he realize he'd entered the myriad phenomena formation and seen illusions.
Then.
"Urraaaagh!!"
A roar from above. A man gripped a thin thread, straining.
A familiar face.
‘Jin Sowoon?’
Shock at recognizing him. Another illusion? But others wore the same stunned expressions, seeing it too.
"I can't hold it!"
A voice from beyond the myriad phenomena. Black clouds veiled the ceiling again.
Students swallowed by them screamed within.
Aaaagh! Ahh hhh sob. Please…… please…… Forgive me! I was wrong!
The vivid cries made it clear: clouds brought illusions, and Jin Sowoon was fighting to stop them.
‘But why…….’
Jin Sowoon was practically their enemy, tied to Baekdohoe. Most here had joined out of strong resentment toward him.
Why save them?
"Urraaaagh!!"
Struggling to hold the thread, he wrapped it around his arms. Tension bloated his skin grotesquely; blood streamed from his hands along the line.
"Why……."
"What……."
"Not Jegal Jeonggi…… but Jin Sowoon?"
Others reacted similarly, transfixed by his desperate face, forgetting their peril.
Then Jin Sowoon, looking down, bellowed.
"What the hell are you idiots doing? Smash the pillars connected to the thread—now!"
"What? What'd you say?"
Blood still dripped from his hands.
"Urk…… If you wanna get out, break the pillars!"
"G-got it!"
No one hesitated; they rushed to the pillars linked by his bloodied thread.
Even inside the myriad phenomena, the pillars were easy to spot—stained by his flowing blood.
"Move your asses, you brats!"
No one winced at his cursing. They hammered as ordered, entranced.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
Scraping every bit of energy, they struck. The pillars shook violently.
Crack.
And then.
"Haaap!!!"
With Jin Sowoon's thunderous ki shout, the pillars uprooted simultaneously, soaring skyward.
Thud, thud, thudd.
Four pillars crashed down. The black mists shrouding everything thinned and fully dissipated.
"No…… way!"
The Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation, crafted with utmost care by the Jegal family—surpassing even the Seven Stars Seven Metals Formation—a legendary absolute formation, dismantled by Jin Sowoon.
"……."
"……."
Inside and out, mouths gaped at Jin Sowoon.
"Fuck! Nearly died for real."
He collapsed to the ground, cursing. Eyes naturally drifted to his hands and arms.
"Goddamn Baekdohoe bastards! Cause accidents in moderation, why don'tcha."
Most inside were Baekdohoe affiliates, but none bristled or charged.
"……."
"……."
"……!"
They just stared blankly at his blood-soaked hands and arms.
