Division
After the Righteous-Demonic Great War had turned decisively against them, the Murim Alliance began discussions about relocating their base from Muhwan to the North Sea to escape the Demonic Cult's relentless assaults.
And at that moment, the Beggars' Sect made a shocking announcement. The Demonic Cult had been rampaging across the Central Plains even before the war began, laying the groundwork for victory through countless schemes beforehand.
This bombshell information plunged the Alliance leadership into deeper terror, while also prompting some to dismiss it as absurd lies and turn a blind eye to reality. Of course, no one pointed out the ridiculous fact that they were only learning this now, when the war was nearly over.
They couldn't afford to be mocked by the enemy—and now by their own allies, the very ones they'd looked down on.
Thousands of pages of classified documents had been burned without approval from Simhyeongak or Mantongbu.
That's why, in my previous life, I never had access to this information. What those bastards had done. All their plots and conspiracies.
At best, I could infer from seemingly coincidental events that they weren't coincidences, and guess at their goals. The attempt to assassinate Moyong Sangwon. Sneaking in during the chaos to kill academy students and frame the Righteous Path for mass murder. Infiltrating Sahyeokryeon to build their own power base unchecked.
Analyzing the chain of events, it was clear: they wanted the Central Plains in utter chaos until they revealed themselves. They didn't want all eyes on them the moment they showed up, turning them into public enemies.
But why now?
The incidents in Mukrim were different from before. Even disguised as spirits, they showed no intent to hide their true nature. Like a tiger wearing a rabbit mask, brazenly claiming to be a rabbit without bothering to conceal its massive stripes or mountain-like bulk.
Damn bastards... At least hide your claws.
The corpses bore clear sword marks. Previously, there had been some pretense of messy animal mauling, but now? Nothing. Single, precise stabs to vital points, clean slashes to fatal spots—as if begging to be recognized as their handiwork.
"A c-curse from the spirits...!"
"It's because we tried to hunt the spirits...!"
"No, I don't wanna die here!"
Was it because this was the first mass killing? Or because their deaths felt so undeserved? Even though they'd seen corpses before, they couldn't shake off the mental trauma.
I checked on my team members. They were struggling just as hard to rein in their churning emotions.
This wouldn't do. In first battles, fresh warriors suffer the highest casualties—not from overwhelming power gaps, but from lapses due to mental shock.
So...
Fuck...
If this mood persisted, we'd all die here.
"Everyone, snap out of it!!!"
I channeled internal energy into a thunderous roar. They turned dazed eyes toward me. Still out of it.
I drew another deep breath.
"Everyone, snap out of it!!!"
"......"
"Snap the fuck out of it, you idiots!!!"
With repeated shouts, light finally returned to their eyes. Then their faces paled at the noise.
"Q-quiet down! What if a spirit shows up?!"
"You madman! You trying to give away our position?!"
These guys, who lived like the rulers of heaven and earth, cowering before spirit beasts? They'd completely lost their reason.
The more they did, the louder I bellowed.
"Everyone, snap out of it!!!"
"Fuck, snap out of it!!!"
After five rounds, no one was spacing out anymore. Instead, they rushed me in agitation, trying to clamp my mouth shut.
Thud thud thud, bam bam bam!
As if.
"Y-you lunatic!"
"You bastard! What if you get us attacked?!"
They ground their teeth from the ground. Only then did I lower my voice.
"Feeling better now?"
"What?"
"Enough with the bullshit about cursed spirits."
"......"
I pointed at the corpses.
"Do those still look like claw and fang marks from beasts?"
Finally, they stared blankly at the bodies. Warriors who'd gripped weapons since they could walk could distinguish beast wounds from blade cuts.
"......"
Shame flushed their faces— they knew it too.
"The real danger now isn't monsters or the weather."
"......"
"Haven't you learned that losing cold reason is the scariest thing?"
They had. The value of cool, detached rationality was drilled from the first sword grip, the first qi gathering in the dantian—the most basic, fundamental lesson.
Just too obvious, so easily forgotten in crisis, rationality surrendered to panic. Maybe that's human nature, hence the emphasis.
Now wasn't time for thinking. Action first. Analysis later.
"Moving out again."
The academy students moved sluggishly past the corpses at first, but soon followed me. They knew what mattered.
We pressed on without slowing or resting, no complaints uttered. Everyone knew better than to flap their gums carelessly.
"Huff, huff, huff."
"Just a bit more!"
Relentless march, no breaks. Endless monster ambushes. Even the unhurt showed exhaustion, injuries mounting, fighters dwindling.
Worst were the poisons. We'd prepared for big beasts' toxins, but tiny bugs' venoms caught us off-guard. Mild in normal health, lethal now: paralysis, vomiting, chills—enough to drag the group's pace.
"Representative Jin, we can't just keep pushing blindly. At this rate, we'll all collapse."
I checked my team. None suffered poison thanks to pre-Mukrim resistance training.
If fighters dwindle, the able-bodied will have to step up—and get hurt.
In emergencies, that's inevitable. Meaning my team bore more risk.
"Half a shichen. Get everyone back to fighting shape."
They flopped down instantly, starting meditation and qi circulation.
As I watched, Namgung Seonhwa approached with a water skin.
"Young Master Jin."
Chilled—likely from Eun Seollan.
"......"
"Seollan prepared it specially for you. Drink."
Cold water soothed my parched throat like rain on dry earth, vitality surging. I'd thought wind spirit aid was enough, but apparently not.
"How's Seollan?"
"Fine. She trained in circulation too."
Among non-combatants, she was busiest, tending wounded nonstop since they joined. Only she could cool fevers.
"Tell her not to overdo it. She's the priority."
I wouldn't abandon my team. Academy students were here, but not equals to them. Protecting them was just an extension of safeguarding my own.
"......This situation... it's bad, isn't it?"
She peered cautiously at my face. I masked my expression.
"No. Once we reach camp, instructors will be there..."
"Is it... related to 'those' we met then?"
No specifics, but we both knew. As I hesitated, she continued.
"Your face... it's like back at Bokyang Plain."
Had I been that tense? Tell her? Or keep her—and others—in the dark?
Decision quick. Worst case, she'd survive this—she had to.
"Not certain, but... as dangerous as then."
For her, survivor of Amhyeol Jeolhondan, maybe the worst news. Many in the past war lost sanity post-encounter, becoming vegetables.
But her reaction differed.
"I see."
Her face hardened with resolve, like a vow.
"......Not scared?"
"I am. But."
Her unwavering gaze met mine.
"Someone here knows what to do."
Her pure smile drew an involuntary chuckle from me.
"Overestimating me?"
"I'll do my best. No more helpless defeats."
Killing intent flickered softly in her eyes. She was a warrior, granddaughter of Namgung Taeha.
Tigers' cubs don't turn into kittens, huh.
Watching eased the weight on my chest. My relaxed face eased her too.
"Where did the instructors go, anyway?"
Valid question. And why was No Jinha kidnapped, not killed? Why no muster from camp instructors?
I stood.
"We'll see at camp."
Half shichen up. Time to move.
"Hmm... White Tiger Pavilion Lord, my ass. Tasteless. The Jongnam ones last time were decent."
Thud—a watermelon-sized lump, bite mark clear, hit the floor. A severed head, eyes bulging in death.
It rolled to the feet of the robed figure.
"All indulgence, no training—stale taste. Expected better from a Daoist. Tsk."
"......"
Beast-like long snout spat human words, but the robed one stayed silent.
"Heard Jin Sowoon's here?"
"......"
First reaction: head lift.
"He's mine. Touch him—and I'll kill even you."
Grating metallic voice from the robe. The beast just cackled.
"Can't have that. If you die, it's on me."
Grind. "......Think Byeongeom Gwangma-gong can protect you?"
Ice shards formed around the robed figure. Blood from the head froze solid, frost creeping.
"Bingjeong down your throat and already forgetting favors? Never adopt black-haired beasts. Tsk."
"Dare call me beast?"
The snout-beast snorted.
"Anyway, you're under my orders. Remember that, Jegumhak."
"Then do your mission right. Where'd you sell Hwajeong?"
Beast swallowed laughter.
"Chasing other instructors. Don't worry."
"W-Why entrust trash like you?"
"Rip that rag-face more?"
"Hwajeong is for Lady Soma's ultimate demonic attainment. Remember—this op isn't just slaughter."
"Hmph. I'll finish a hundred times cleaner than you."
Whoosh—beast vanished.
"......"
In silence, Jegumhak flipped the head. No Jinha? Pathetic beggar to the end.
Crack. Face froze solid.
Not him—he wanted despair for another.
Foot on head.
Splat. Shattered, brains splattered.
"Jin... Sowoon."
Blood trickled from metallic lips.
"I'll show you hell."
Day three from Magyyeong. Bodies at limit. Over half couldn't walk; endless monsters swelled injuries, slashed fighters further.
Yet they marched till sunset. Camp was near.
No demon ambushes—why so many survived this far.
"Hang in there!"
"......"
Frontline holdouts: barely half.
"Crazy... fucking crazy. You are, Jin Sowoon."
"Representative."
"Hah, hah..."
Jong Chuoak shook his head in dismay, then peered ahead.
"Still... we made it, like you said."
He sensed the presences too. Faint smile on his lips.
I smirked back.
"Yeah. Promised, didn't I?"
"......One more favor?"
"What?"
"If we find instructors at camp... punch 'em once for me?"
"Huh?"
His smile deepened.
"If I do it, it's execution squad crime."
Not bad.
I nodded readily.
"Deal."
"Gives me strength."
Dragging dead feet, they reached camp.
But.
Roooar!Claaaang!
We couldn't hide our shock at the scene.
"Jeongdohoe! They're behind it all!"
"Baekdohoe and 12 Bongseong ambushed! Get 'em!"
"Framing us? Ha, naive!"
Camp students fought each other like mortal foes. This insane bullshit just kept coming.