337. Despair
Simhyeongak. The Murim Alliance's most secure vault, buried in its deepest heart. No one knew who managed it or how information flowed in—nothing at all. It was a place coveted by anyone hungry for power. After all, it housed every dirty secret of major figures from every sect, along with all sorts of critical intel.
That was how he'd exposed the Cheongjukbo's scandals back when the Iron Sword Sect had picked a fight—they'd used info from Simhyeongak. The place was valuable enough for that alone, but its true core lay elsewhere: intelligence on Central Plains martial arts.
Over five hundred years, sects had leaned on the Murim Alliance, and the Alliance had leaned right back on them. Piecing together fragments from battles, sparring matches, demonstrations, and even warzones to sketch the full picture of their techniques. That was Simhyeongak's most vital mission.
Those assembled fragments formed a complete image, enabling analysis—pinpointing weaknesses and strengths. If the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families ever learned of it... the world would turn upside down. No one knew why Simhyeongak gathered such info, nor did they need to. It was destined to sleep eternally in its vaults, never seeing the light of day.
At least until today...
Amid the screams, one voice rang clear.
"Jin Sowoon!!!"
The enemy had struck at an utterly unforeseen moment, fully prepared. His side? No unit formations, no strategies, no countermeasures—nothing.
"Hoo..."
Despair gripped them, but he took a slow, deep breath. In his mind's library, he dragged out every Simhyeongak file, analyzing and reassembling. No point chasing the best option. The moment they'd allowed the ambush, "best" had vanished to the North Sea.
What he needed was a plan for the worst.
"Jin Sowoon! The enemy's swarming!"
Expecting an unformed front line to hold was like hoping a candle wouldn't flicker out in the wind.
"Guhk... They're putting out the fires!"
"Back into the darkness!"
Defense wasn't the priority now. They had to aggressively disrupt the enemy's lines.
"Jin Sowoon...!"
Simhyeongak secrets and war memories. How the Alliance's combat units fought, how the Demonic Wolf Squad fought—he recalled it all.
"Jin Sowoon!!!"
And a counterplan took shape.
"Ilgak. How many Eighteen Arhats formations can you set up?"
"What do you mean? The Eighteen Arhats are for the main temple..."
"Lay disciples learn Na-han Formation too! Include them!"
Ilgak's eyes rolled in shock at his knowledge, but he answered.
"Three. But they won't be at full strength..."
"Doesn't matter. Start now!"
"What the..."
He spun around. No time for replies—he had to find the next person.
"Any Wudang disciples here?!"
...
A silent hand rose from one side—a Wudang disciple.
"How many can deploy the Taiji Seven Star Sword Formation?"
...What are you planning?
The idiotic question nearly made him curse.
"Fuck, you think this is Q&A time?!"
...
"Want to live? Follow. Or die."
...Sixteen.
"That makes two. Everyone except the two who know Whirlwind Sword—support Shaolin. You two Whirlwind experts, fight between the Eighteen Arhats."
"In the gaps, we'll hit our own..."
"Whirlwind Sword users will actually gain power there—just do it!"
No time. Veins bulging, he bellowed again.
"Next—Jeomchang! Where?!"
"Here!"
With Shaolin's Eighteen Arhats at the core and Wudang's Taiji Seven Star Sword Formation bolstering, parrying the fierce enemy assault grew far easier.
"How many know Four-Sun Sword Technique?"
"Most of us."
"Support Wudang then."
Layer by layer, like stacking a fortress, they took positions. No time to sync—no relying on teamwork. Individual prowess it was. Even if uncoordinated, better injured than dead by enemy blades.
...What's your plan, Representative Jin?
"Cheol Sunjik. You know this isn't question time. Nam Hwaseong!!!"
"Here!"
The Twelve Peaks formed around Samwonmun. Iljumun and Sura Gate supported, while Jukhyeonbang pierced like an awl.
Next, the Five Great Families. Thank heavens for Namgung Seonhwa. Without question, she relayed his orders, forming their lines.
With defenses solid in three directions, the wails across the camp began to fade.
The structure was simple: Vanguard bore the brunt of defense; left and right wings supported and counterattacked. Rear guard struck for maximum efficiency, inflicting mass casualties.
A tactic unthinkable in this era—born from the Murim Alliance's future, halved by endless defeats in the Great War between Righteousness and Evil. Now, it unfolded ten years early.
"Watch the sword's radius!"
"Damn, shoulda memorized Demon-Exorcism Sword Method's paths."
Friendly fire happened from poor coordination, but no more idiots dragged into darkness and slaughtered by Demonic Wolf Squad blades.
Our defensive formation meshes perfectly with Samwonmun's... Feels weird.
"Talk later—some haven't joined yet!"
"Damn... Can't I slip out quick?"
Casualties shifted outward as lines stabilized. Unable to handle the lit areas, Demonic Wolf Squad eyes turned to stragglers outside.
"Geum Pyo! When the formation moves, rescue them."
"Signal?"
"You'll know!"
He launched toward the Jeongdo Council lines.
"Ilgak! Hands and feet syncing yet?"
"Jin Sowoon! Still tough—more hit by allies than enemies."
"Perfect. Advance."
"What..."
"Told you—counterattack."
...
Ilgak stared like he was insane, but no choice. In raw skill, Jeongdo Council was tops. In crisis, trust skill over faith.
So they led the charge.
"Go!!!!"
"Jin Sowoon..."
"Go!!!!"
His roar propelled the formation forward. Target: southeast, densest enemy cluster.
As it moved, academy students wavered badly.
"Stance! Shorten strides—no friendly hits!"
As expected, Jeongdo Council knew their roles. They held formation, mimicking a proper array—shielding it, enabling advance.
"Kaaak!"
"Guek!"
"Kuhk!"
Clashes upfront wounded some to Demonic Wolf blades, but none fatally.
He pushed a step ahead of the rest.
"Damn... Jin Sowoon! You charging solo?!"
"Jin Sowoon...! Don't worry— we'll catch up!"
Slash, slash, slash.
At the vanguard, he cleaved forward. Couldn't kill all, but no need—Jeongdo elites would mop up. He just sowed maximum chaos.
Rumble.
Then, Radiant Heaven Divine Palm infused with Twelve Stars' full power.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!!
His inner energy plummeted, but the effect was undeniable—a chunk of forest obliterated.
Demonic Wolves dodged wildly. He lunged at one.
Slash, slash, slash.
This time, no mere screams—he aimed to kill. Bite and hold.
Jeokrang! Where's Jeokrang?
Didn't know their numbers or plans, but these were all the Demonic Wolf Squad here. Snag their captain, and cleanup eased.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
"Guk!"
"Kaaak!"
He pierced endless Demonic Wolves, charging ahead.
Whoosh!
Mighty energy jolted his eyes wide. He maxed Tae-eul Jin-gyeong, swinging Red Light Sword full force.
Bang!
Sword aura clashed, but no kill. Opponent was sword aura level too.
White smoke cleared, revealing a black-clad foe unlike the rest.
"Jeokrang..."
Grinding out the name, the masked eyes widened slightly over the cloth.
But that was it. He knew his task, lunging instantly.
Whoosh!
Slightly shorter than standard swords—for combined slash-thrust? Piercing speed was vicious.
He backpedaled to create distance; Jeokrang closed relentlessly.
That's it.
Cartoon Invincible Fist at the approaching foe.
Dong, dong, dong.
Fist met blade—like a bell toll. He'd infused qi, yet...
Odd. No sword aura trace, but it blocked perfectly.
Ultimate efficiency freak? Overkill qi just self-consumes if not controlled.
Targeting per his plan. Befitting a Demonic Wolf captain.
"But that's your plan."
Efficiency loses to sheer volume.
"Block this efficiently!"
Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth—six myriad swords formed. Sword auras layered, trapping him in a qi storm.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Like when he'd named him, eyes bulged; thin black aura ballooned.
Even you get swept up.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
BOOM-BOOM!
Even in the blast, fierce sword aura poured out. Fuck, nearly skewered.
Smoke cleared from the crater: Jeokrang rose, right arm gone.
"Die, you bastard!"
Socheon Sword Technique with sword aura—but he melted into the ground like water.
Damn! Demon Cult's Earth Spirit Phantom Step?
Slipped the sword, fled the crater, then bolted back.
"Think you'll escape?!"
Heavenly Lone Walker God Step to pursue—then something yanked his collar, yanking him back.
I missed that?!
Chills down his spine. He shed his outer robe, escaping the grip, swinging Red Light Sword.
But the blade hit... nothing.
Fuck, what...!
Whirling, he saw his robe dangling from Flying Dragon Claw.
"Eunho?"
"Eldest brother, they're retreating."
Glancing, yes—the Demonic Wolves were pulling back fast.
"Good. Your plan worked perfectly, brother."
...
Retreat now? He'd only just started.
"Eldest brother..."
Leave all these corpses, unscathed themselves? Vile.
Grit. Teeth ground till lips bled.
"Eldest brother... Many wounded and dead."
But Eunho blocked his path, gripping the robe tight—like he wouldn't let him go.
"And we're... still unprepared."
He knew exactly what Eunho meant. Chasing with academy kids now? Suicide.
He steadied his breath, turning.
"Tally wounded and dead first. Sound ones—scout parties out. See how prepared they were."
Etching vengeance days away into his heart.
53 Dead
37 Seriously Wounded
88 Lightly Wounded
Other injuries: Unconfirmed
By dawn, the confirmed toll was grim. Not unusual for major combat, but these were sect elites with massive backing—true losses were devastating.
Worse: no way to treat the seriously wounded now. Delay meant more deaths.
"Representative. We need food and medicine now."
"How short?"
...
Jang Ujae fell silent. At his gaze, he spoke heavily.
...Not even a week's worth left.
Last night's worst hit: fire claimed supplies stored in tents. A month's worth for the expedition, plus emergency reserves—most gone overnight.
No food, no meds for wounded.
"Perfectly timed leftovers."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Scouts?"
"Early returnees saw nothing unusual. Probably didn't go far—fear of ambush."
One academy issue: elite-focused training meant poor versatility. All commanders, no grunts. Great at issuing orders, lacking as basic troops.
"Wait for other scouts, then."
As he rose, the camp erupted.
"Make way! Make way!"
"Clear space! Any healers?!"
"Water!"
Gazes met; they rushed over.
Past the crowd: two unseen academy students, pale and shivering like feverish in the heat.
Ha...!
He knew instantly.
Demonic qi.
Severe poisoning from contamination.
To a nearby man: "Where from?"
"W-we found them scouting today."
"How far from camp?"
"Actually... not far."
He whirled, shouting.
"Anyone know their scout area?!"
One student raised a hand.
"South end. Complained it was farthest."
South end to here, no guides? Had to hear it.
To the trembling duo: "Hey. Hear me?"
But scouts replied.
"No response. ...Not even sure they understand."
Terror, killing intent, demonic qi—mind scrambled. This strong? What horrors lurked?
Humm.
Grasped a hand, slowly infusing Jade Pure Heavenly Star Force. Tremors eased; body stabilized.
Then, something caught his eye.
What’s that?
Frostbite marks on skin. In Mukrim's sweltering summer heat? Pondering fled as color returned, red eyes clearing.
"Uh... uh..."
Survivor blinked around, shocked.
"Wh-why am I here..."
Straight into his eyes: "How'd you get here?"
"Eh?? Jin Sowoon...? Why're you here?"
"You went south end, right? Where's everyone? Help from others mid-way?"
At his questions, the man muttered like incantation.
"Others... others..."
Eyes rolling, recalling—then bolted up.
"O-others... others... surrounded... ran... gotta run..."
Head snapped up, staring.
"J-Jin Sowoon... Jin Sowoon... Why're you here??"
Then shuddered again, face twisting pale.
He reached for the hand to infuse more—but survivor shoved away violently.
And screamed, killing intent thick:
"K-Kill...!"
"Kill? What?"
His friend asked; survivor quivered, howling—then, trembling finger pointed.
"Kill..."
At him.
"J-Jin Sowoon. Gotta kill Jin Sowoon! Kill Jin Sowoon...! KILL JIN SOWOON!!!!!"