Life or Death (2)

Namgung Seonhwa, executive member of the Murim Academy representative team. For now, she was acting as part of Jin Sowoon's squad, stationed at the center of the camp alongside her comrades.

It was impossible to keep up with Jin Sowoon everywhere he went—his activity level was just too intense, and shadowing him like that would leave no time to recover from fatigue.

Just how monstrous is his stamina?

It wasn't something you could pull off simply with good stamina and deep inner energy. No matter how exceptional the human body, it had its limits. Even her grandfather, called the Divine Sword, grew noticeably haggard if he trained without sleep.

Jin Sowoon had to be tired too. He was just enduring it, that was all.

"Seonhwa-unnie, be careful."

Namgung Seonhwa had climbed atop a stack of crates to observe the goings-on in the Jeongdohoe camp. The distance was too great to make out what they were doing, but as the one with the deepest inner energy among them, she could at least catch the gist of their conversations.

"What are they saying, Seonhwa?"

"They're talking about breaking through the encirclement... But they're saying they're going to form a squad?"

Namgung Seonhwa relayed the fragmented voices she overheard to her comrades. But the snippets were so disjointed and out-of-left-field that the full meaning never quite came across.

"A squad? What the hell does that mean...? They're saying everyone should fend for themselves right now? Are the Jeongdohoe guys insane? Trying to save their own skins?!"

"No. It was Young Master Jin who brought it up."

"Huh?"

Sporadic voices drifted over. Namgung Seonhwa strained her ears harder, determined not to miss a single piece.

"The young master laid down a condition."

"What condition?"

"Strict hierarchy."

"...What the hell is he thinking? Who'd follow that...?"

It was a group tangled in complex hierarchies of sects, families, and alliances. Joining under someone or teaming up meant navigating a web of political considerations. And their prides wouldn't bend easily.

It seemed impossible even to her.

And yet.

"Still, it's better than struggling alongside people you can't agree with."

The words slipped out as if it were actually a good thing. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't like her usual self—she wasn't one to cling to vain hopes.

But.

If it's Young Master Jin, he must have some plan.

Just like always.

Then.

"Huh?"

"What? What's going on?"

A voice came through, incomplete but clear in intent.

"Monk Ilgak says he'll join us?"

His resolute tone.

"What? Why would he...? The Jeongdohoe would obviously rally around him..."

"No idea. He talked with Young Master Jin, accepted his command, and now the Jeongdohoe's in an uproar."

Moyong Jaehwa, who had been listening quietly, lit up and shouted.

"Then that's great, right, Namgung-unnie!"

"Yeah, but..."

Namgung Seonhwa couldn't hide her bewilderment.

In this dire crisis, for a Shaolin monk like Ilgak to join Jin Sowoon instead of leading the Jeongdohoe.

Considering their ties to the Jeongdohoe, he'd never accept such terms...)

She couldn't fathom the reason.

"You don't get why Monk Ilgak decided to join our side?"

When she asked Seong Moran, the girl pondered briefly before shrugging it off like it was no big deal.

"Young Master Jin is special. You know that too, Seonhwa."

"Special... that's why?"

He was special, sure. His actions and mindset differed from typical Baekdo warriors.

But was that explanation enough?

"Hell's gates have opened. Of course he'd seek the Black Flame Dragon."

Namgung Seonhwa suddenly recalled a tale from a drinking session.

When the dragon fledgling soars above the clouds, the Black Flame Dragon roars from hell.

She'd dismissed it as mockery of Jin Sowoon's grueling path compared to the current Yongbong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠branch meeting.

For some reason, it brought back the regular admissions exam at the academy.

She'd joined to repay the favor from Ma-ryeong Plateau, but ended up receiving more help than she gave, earning a higher score than expected.

And after that, whenever crises arose, being with Jin Sowoon meant overcoming them as a matter of course.

"Look at us. We should be with the Baekdohoe, but we're naturally holding position here."

"...You're right."

Namgung Seonhwa nodded. She'd come to see staying here as natural.

If she hadn't sensed something special in him, she—a direct descendant of the Namgung family—would never serve under a Tae-eulmun disciple.

The current situation proved it. He'd roused the despairing academy students one by one amid the encroaching killing intent of the Cheon-ra-ji-mang net.

Without him, they might have floundered and all died.

Then, Eunho cautiously chimed in.

"Maybe... we just got conned by big bro? The guy's got a silver tongue."

"..."

"..."

It was odd. She should refute it, but her mouth wouldn't open.

Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa's gazes met in the air.

For some reason, it felt plausible.

"Big bro could totally..."

"Ahem..."

Namgung Seonhwa turned back to the Jeongdohoe camp, her brow furrowing deeply.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

To Seong Moran's question, Namgung Seonhwa stammered.

"Young Master Jin... rejected someone who wanted to join the squad."

"What?!"

"Classic big bro."

"And... he's cursing them out?"

"Why curse someone who wants to join?!"

"Because it's big bro."

"Shut it, Eunho!!!"

Namgung Seonhwa focused harder to grasp the situation, but.

"No idea."

"What the hell's in that guy's head."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Seong Moran's grumble, unaware they'd adopted the same mindset.

Then, a strange expression crossed Namgung Seonhwa's face.

"But... the rejected guy wants back in."

"Huh?"

"Says he'll obey orders."

Seong Moran's jaw dropped.

"What in the world is happening over there?"

That was the beginning.

Those who had flaunted their lofty prides began following Jin Sowoon.

Just yesterday, they'd spat curses and pointed fingers—now they chased desperately after him like children terrified of losing their mother.

And it didn't look awkward at all. It felt utterly natural, as if that had always been their place.

A faint smile tugged at her lips unbidden.

"We weren't the weird ones."

"Nah, we just had the foresight."

Like stars invisible in the bright day.

In the darkness of chaos and turmoil, some reveal their true brilliance.

And such people...

[Just obey orders properly. I'll do whatever it takes to let you thrash about.]

...the world called heroes.

As the number pledging to follow Jin Sowoon's orders surpassed half, the moment of choice arrived for the rest.

"Namgwonmun will follow Jin Sowoon."

"What nonsense is that! They're duty-bound to protect us academy students... and they're all going to one person?!"

"That's why they're going. Jin Sowoon's the academy representative. Without instructors, he's the final authority."

Trying to band together on their own was a lost cause long ago.

With Ilgak first joining Jin Sowoon, Shaolin and its lay affiliates followed.

Then the rejected Wudang, Jongnam, Jegal family, and Ak family members all chose him, making it awkward for Jeongdohoe or Baekdohoe to stick together.

At this point, the fence-sitters began trickling into Jin Sowoon's squad one by one.

As if he'd been waiting, Jin Sowoon scattered the newcomers across different squads, organizing the unit into a structure never seen before.

Jeongdohoe and Baekdohoe members mixed together; in some squads, juniors issued orders to seniors, hierarchies upended.

Yet no complaints arose.

From the moment strict hierarchy was declared, they were merely squad members.

In the end, all academy students joined, but the squad was restructured into something entirely new.

Jin Sowoon, having formed eight grand divisions, immediately summoned the division leaders.

"Take one each."

With writing tools at hand, he began drafting operation orders on the spot.

They'd learned about operation orders at the academy, so it wasn't surprising in itself.

The real shock was Jin Sowoon's unflinching efficiency.

"...He acts like he's done this before."

Ilgak marveled at the orders, and Cheol Sunjik nodded.

"I figured he'd convene the leaders first after formation, but he'd already planned everything... And there are no gaps."

Had Jin Sowoon experienced this in the past? The question lingered in Cheol Sunjik's mind.

Standing beside him, Ilgak admired a different aspect.

"Cheol lay donor, have you seen this? The squad formation wasn't just splitting factions."

Cheol Sunjik compared his operation order with Ilgak's.

Priority tasks per squad, emergency responses, key personnel to utilize or protect—all tailored in detail to compositions and situations.

Then he grasped Ilgak's point.

"The formation itself... considered each individual's specialties and martial prowess."

There was a reason he'd been made Third Division leader first.

"To memorize every single person's details to this extent... Isn't that truly remarkable?"

Was it? The academy rep could access all students' info. Combined with personal observations, gathering this level of intel wasn't hard.

Especially for Jin Sowoon.

"They say he has innate perfect memory. It's nothing to him."

"Even so, remembering specialties and skill levels... Doesn't that mean he cares for the students?"

Cares? Cares, huh.

"Proof he's viewed them with Buddha's compassion amid all the strife."

Cheol Sunjik tilted his head skeptically.

The great Jin Sowoon memorizing info out of 'care' for students?

Not the Jin Sowoon he knew.

"Probably memorized to prepare for when they'd become enemies. He was ready to fight the entire academy."

Yeah, that fit.

That's exactly the kind of guy Jin Sowoon was.

Noticing the lull, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he turned to find Ilgak staring intently.

What? Why that look?

"Cheol lay donor, I meant to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mention this someday..."

Ilgak continued with genuine concern.

"Viewing the world too negatively isn't good."

"What out of nowhere..."

"Through a demon's eyes, the world is hell. Cultivate Buddha's heart, and it becomes paradise."

"..."

Who're you calling a demon? He had over ten proofs Jin Sowoon lacked a kind heart, but he held his tongue.

No time for idle chatter anyway.

"Something on my face?"

Ilgak's eyes sparkled too intensely.

...Even more than his bald head.

"...No. Could be."

Cheol Sunjik suddenly understood why Ilgak always got swept up by Jin Sowoon.

Reorganizing the squad, the biggest concern had been the wounded.

Famed sect injured carried circulation arts, so many had recovered somewhat. Lesser sects had sealed wounds with maximum first aid.

Those who could run and weren't gravely hurt joined combat. Mobile wounded carried the immobile.

Weapons from the immobile were collected, redistributed to those who'd lost or broken theirs.

The disarmed got throwing knives and backup straight swords for self-defense.

Of course, if they had to use them, the squad was doomed—but hopefully not.

Impossible in normal academy life, but the hierarchy oath smoothed it over.

Honor-obsessed bastards are easy to handle in times like this.

About an hour and a half since the deserters fled.

I had the squad standing by, awaiting the signal.

Then.

"Hey, Captain!"

Second Division leader Nam Hwaseong suddenly shot up his hand.

The grinning bear of a man, now solemn.

"We've formed the squad—shouldn't it have a name?!"

"A name?"

"We ditched our academy student status for squad members. We gotta know our affiliation!"

Fair point. Even the meat shield squad had fondness for their "Small Justice Squad" name.

I glanced at the sky. Dusk was falling.

It'd be visible clearly when the light burst.

"Name it yourselves."

"M-Me? Ahem."

Nam Hwaseong pondered gravely, then ventured.

"Ahem... How about Self-Preservation Squad?"

"..."

Maybe I overestimated his brain.

"Sounds too much like Suicide Squad. Better Survival Squad?"

Why's Cheol Sunjik jumping in seriously? Like it's crucial...

"Feels like wishing the dead back... Hmm, Orthodox Squad?"

"Argh!"

"Shut up!"

Fourth Division leader Kwak Susan suggested, got scolded, clammed up.

Then.

"Um..."

Support Sixth Division leader Namgung Seonhwa raised her hand quietly.

"Life or Death—how about Sahwal-dan?"

Silence fell.

Then murmurs rippled like song, everyone rolling the word on their tongues.

And.

"Fits our do-or-die spot perfectly."

"Great!"

"I vote for Sixth Division's idea!"

Hands rose amid chuckles.

Thus, the squad was named.

They repeated it once, exchanging looks.

Briefly—then an ominous sound echoed from the forest.

Screeeee—boom.

A red light flickered faintly, vanishing quickly.

Everyone here knew what it meant.

The laughter faded; despair crept back into the air.

I gazed at the sky's red afterimage.

"Move out."

Then lowered my eyes, meeting theirs squarely.

"Sahwal-dan."

Tiny sparks ignited in eyes heavy with despair.

"Understood!"

"Understood."

"UNDERSTOOD!!!"

With the signal, the squads mobilized.

Caught between life and death?

Let's see you try.

I'll claw us out, come hell or high water.