Life or Death (4)
Jong Chuoak undid his garments without realizing it. His sect and master's teachings had always emphasized maintaining proper conduct in any situation, but such things evaporated easily in the face of pain so intense it made even breathing difficult.
His breaths came in ragged gasps. It was a limit of stamina, no doubt, and his depleted inner energy wasn't helping. But this felt different. Fundamentally different. It was like gasping for air in a space filled with thick, poisonous fog. Each inhale felt like his acupoints were being torn apart, and each exhale twisted his eight extraordinary meridians.
Yet he couldn't collapse or rest. The squad leader's order was absolute: never stop. And even beyond the command, the situation left no room for it. Demonic beasts lunged from all sides. Enemies of unknown origin swarmed them.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Jong Chuoak, who wanted nothing more than to crumple and pass out, swung his sword again and again. And with each swing, he took another step forward, leaving the remaining foes to those coming up from behind.
"Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff!"
"You okay?!"
Wi Rip-gun clapped him on the shoulder, checking on him—despite being an injured man himself from the start.
"F-Fine..."
"Fall back for a bit. I'll take the front."
"No..."
"We're all squadmates now. If we can't help each other, the whole Five Squads could get wiped out."
"......"
The unit, a haphazard mix of Jeongdohoe's Baekdohoe, the Twelve Bongseong, and others, had shed its initial awkwardness and chaos, blending seamlessly. One could say the dire circumstances had fostered a sense of camaraderie transcending sects, but the time was too short for that alone to explain such unity. It was more likely the roles of the Five Squads and the caliber of their members that made integration so smooth.
It wasn't just Jong Chuoak's thought—murmurs of admiration rippled through the group.
"Who knew we'd sync up this well?"
"Right? I knew Jongnam's techniques, but I thought they were on a whole different track from ours."
"Yeah. When they tossed us into the Five Squads on sight, I figured it was random... guess not."
"Just what the hell is that squad leader guy...?"
All eyes turned to the front of the line. The squad leader stood like a mountain, solid and unyielding. In the fiercest part of the battlefield, he fought the hardest. Ilgak and Nam Hwaseong rotated positions by turns, but Jin Sowoon never fell back, always leading from the vanguard.
He tired and bled like the rest, yet he never retreated once. Like a torch burning itself to light the dark path, he illuminated the way and guided the academy students from the forefront.
Then.
"Damn—damn—damn—."
Gun Da-seong of Jeomcheong, who had been resting after his muscles gave out from prolonged combat, began punching his own arm.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Jong Chuoak grabbed him in horror. "Hey! What the hell?!"
"Let go! I'm Gun Da-seong of Jeomcheong...! You think I can hide in the shadows of a third-rate sect like Tae-eul Gate and catch my breath?!"
His words were rough, but Jong Chuoak felt the raw sincerity beneath. Frustration at his own powerlessness. Contempt for his past self, who had cursed Jin Sowoon.
"......"
It was a feeling Jong Chuoak shared, so he couldn't stop him anymore. Gun Da-seong, who had been brutally pounding his arm, felt sensation return and began clenching and unclenching his fingers.
After a moment.
"Good. Time to move—rotate!"
Gun Da-seong pushed to the outer edge to face the beasts, but the squad members holding the perimeter shoved him back in one motion.
"What're you talking about? Wait your turn! You're still way off."
"What the...?"
"You think we're having fun out here?!"
"......"
It was uncanny. Rival sects, once bitter enemies, were looking out for each other in this life-or-death crisis. Not sacrificing for their own sect brothers, but for their squadmates. Though they'd never fought together before, they acted as if it were the most natural thing. Even in a situation where death could come at any moment.
Why...?
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A massive explosion rocked Jong Chuoak's ears as he pondered. All eyes snapped forward at the sound from ahead.
There.
"Hoo... "
Was Jin Sowoon's back, shoving aside intermixed foes and beasts to take another step.
Jin Sowoon...
How could people from different sects, different backgrounds—even former rivals—care for each other like one body? Jong Chuoak couldn't comprehend it, yet it made sense. Watching that small figure ahead made something surge in his chest, ready to burst.
Gathering his slightly recovered strength, Jong Chuoak rotated with another. This time, it was neither a Cheongsungpa member nor from Jeongdohoe.
# In my previous life, I always stood at the back.
Even when Tae-eul Gate disciples were dragged to the battlefield by Gye Cheolyeong's nagging, I was stuck in Mantongbu, endlessly memorizing documents.
Even as meat shields in the Small Justice Squad, I lingered at the rearmost, staring at the backs of those damn fools.
Tae-eul Gate's third-rate techniques, lacking practicality, and my meager inner energy were less useful than the crude arts low-tier ronin scraped together while wandering.
[Stay back, you bookworm!]
[Technically not a scholar—he flunked studies!]
[Young Master Jin, stay behind me.]
The Small Justice Squad members, who lived like weeds their whole lives, and even Moyong Seol, who lost her family, always stood before me. I tired first, so I survived longest.
Despite being useless.
I resented my sect, the culprit that bred such guilt. I berated myself endlessly, wondering if weakness was such a sin.
That's why, after regressing, I frantically sought spirit herbs. I never wanted to see their backs again. I didn't want to overlay the same nightmare on an indelible one. This life, I wanted to protect my people.
I struggled and thrashed for it.
And now.
No one stood before me.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A warrior in dark red robes barely dodged the Socheon Sword Technique.
Strength fading.
A foe I should've cleaved in one stroke. If he'd veered sideways, I'd have left him to the others, but he targeted me, retreating only to charge again.
"You damn bastards!"
As I thrust Cheokgwanggeom, his sword came at me in turn. As if their lives meant nothing if they could kill me.
But that's not how the math works, right? You think your worthless lives equal mine?
"Think it'll go your way?!"
I twisted Cheokgwanggeom's path, burrowing into his guard. His blade grazed my nape by a hair—uncountable how many wounds now.
In exchange, I seized his body and unleashed Yeonhwa.
Whoosh!
As his floating form arced toward the academy students' heads—
Splat.
Nam Hwaseong behind me crushed his skull in one blow.
"Squad leader, you're slowing down!"
The followers stabbed the demon's vital points with their weapons.
"Bullshit. You're just pushing too hard."
"How about falling back now, Jin Squad Leader?"
Those who called him "Squad Leader" spat casual barbs. Those using honorifics said "Squad Leader" Jin.
Rotten bastards. Could this ragtag bunch of idiots really escape Mukrim?
"True, you've overdone it for a Tae-eul Gate disciple."
Wang Jo-eun of Yujeolmun took the lead before me now, charging ahead.
Followed by.
"I always meant to properly teach you what Phantom Sword really means."
Jo Gaeryong of Huashan overtook me too.
"Forgot the squad leader's orders are absolute?"
"If my master knew I hid behind a Tae-eul Gate disciple, he'd kill me."
That bastard sure knew how to talk without manners.
"Don't be like that. Where's a commander who leads from the absolute front?"
Another overtook, leaving those words.
The closer to Magyeong, the fiercer the assaults grew. What the hell—suicidal much?
"Don't you idiots see the enemies multiplying?"
As I'd predicted, the beasts reacted sharply to demonic energy. Where beasts appeared, demons didn't, and beasts went straight for demons first.
Attacks came faster as Magyeong neared.
"We know. That's why we're doing this."
"......What?!"
Then Ilgak gripped my shoulder from behind.
"Jin layman. I hear Magyeong is even more dangerous. Shouldn't we conserve strength before entering?"
"Conserve my ass..."
"And standing back doesn't mean not fighting."
Elite bunch, huh. Somehow, like my previous life, I was running behind someone's back again.
But unlike then, no helplessness or gloom. Instead, an indescribable swell of emotion.
I swallowed it down.
"Call me Squad Leader, you bald monk!"
"Kekeke... Calling Ilgak Sunim 'bald monk'? Shaolin would faint!"
The First Squad burst into laughter. Laughing now?
The laughter died.
"Squad Leader, we'll keep your secret. Buy us drinks after."
"Drinks?"
"Irregular or not, you're squad leader. Tradition in Murim Alliance: leader buys for the squad after ops."
True, Small Justice Squad hated taking command for that reason. But with money to spare now, drinks were nothing.
Sharing a drink face-to-face? Not bad.
"Fine. I'll buy when we get back. Enough to drink yourselves dead—so fight properly."
"Even regardless of affiliation?"
Jo Gaeryong whipped his head around.
That so-called Daoist...
"Enemies ahead! Enemies!"
"Whoa! Eat this!"
Fierce plum blossoms fluttered, splitting a demon's chest. Jo Gaeryong turned back after dispatching it.
"Huff... You really buying?"
"Yeah. By squad, so drink up."
"Heh. We'll show you how much Huashan can hold."
His sly eye-corners twitched others'. Since when buddies? They exchanged rotten grins.
Sickening. I scanned the rear, sending a transmission to Eunho.
-How's your side?
Eunho, running with a stiff face, startled and met my eyes.
-Casualties, but okay.
My heart sank at "casualties."
-What casualties?
-Flank attacks too.
-Tae-eul Gate and the rest?
-They're fine.
Fine. Fine...
I gripped my hands tighter.
-You're doing great.
-Big brother...
The transmission cut. He turned, staring piercingly.
-What? Something wrong?
-......No. Be careful.
-Worry about yourself.
-......
Kaboom! Kaboom! Explosions and clashing weapons rang nonstop. Each step heightened death's shadow, but we couldn't stop. Stopping meant the end.
# We'd run nonstop for two days, reaching Magyeong's vicinity.
Ferocious beasts multiplied, but demon assaults dwindled.
They never expected us to push through Magyeong.
Only madmen would choose that. Well, if I'm the madman variable...
But no full reassurance. If they spotted our unexpected route, they'd reshuffle and charge here relentlessly.
Just once... they'll aim for the kill shot.
If I were Demonic Cult, I'd bog down the slow academy students, then strike once at the end. Right before Magyeong.
With some stamina stockpiled rearward, time to advance.
"Whoa, Squad Leader, why up front? I said stay back."
Blood-soaked, cracking jokes. No sense of humor at all.
"Prepare."
"Huh?"
"They're coming."
"I don't sense—"
Wang Jo-eun shut his mouth. Silence spread from First Squad through the unit.
"True, their attacks dropped suddenly."
"Fuck, gives me chills."
"How long they been hiding in this forest...?"
Air grew heavy. Men fresh from hell now sensed death again. No more crude jokes; the line fell silent, footsteps echoing in the woods.
I offered hollow comfort. "You saw it. Beasts hit enemies first. In Magyeong, at least just beasts."
"......"
Heavy air lingered. Then.
"Right! Better beasts than them!"
Nam Hwaseong awkwardly chimed beside me. Jang Gwang-bo followed.
"Spot on! Beasts at least roar!"
"Yeah...! Better them!"
"Kill 'em all!!!"
Awkward threats erupted here and there. Good enough. Real combat would consume them anyway.
And.
Fighting like that... some will survive.
Those still fit from First and Second Squads stepped up.
"Huff, huff, huff."
That someone on the verge of collapse was "fit" spoke volumes of our dire state.
"Where's the guy promising to show me Phantom Sword? Huashan disciple tired already?"
"......"
"Dead?"
"......Said he'd rest and come back."
"I see..."
Won't make the drinking party. Bragging about Huashan's capacity...
Damn it.
"Raaagh!"
The roar eased the bursting rage in my chest a bit. Head not thinking straight from frenzy. Is that why commanders stay back?
I didn't know anymore. For my people, to protect them somehow, I'd do anything.
They did the same in my past life. So I thought it fine.
It wasn't one-sided like theirs.
But these people—now my squadmates? Or too many deaths witnessed?
Chest that should've been numb felt like bursting.
Thump.
Why?
Jeongdohoe, Baekdohoe, Twelve Bongseong—none ever sided with us before.
Thump—
Reciting Tae-eul Jin-gyeong endlessly, heart wouldn't calm. Like witnessing a friend's death. Despite never having friends.
Thump—!
Maybe demonic qi poisoning. It messes with the mind. Highest likelihood. Even Cheokbonghwan can't detox all.
Whatever the cause.
"RAAAAAAAAARGH!"
No more deaths. My people. My rivals. Those who never acknowledged me.
No matter who.
Thump—!
I don't want to see more corpses. I don't want to remember this anymore.
"Squad Leader!"
Someone gripped my shoulder, tilting my chin. Crack, crack, crack. Thick trees snapping filled my ears.
All swallowed hard, gripping weapons tight. Instinct screamed what the sound meant.
Final battle.
If past raids aimed to block our path, it was to regroup their dispersed forces for a heavenly net.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Trees toppled in unison, natural formation dissolving. Then.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Torches ignited across the dark woods. Each flickering flame overlaid dying comrades draining life.
I crushed the bursting rage, vowing over and over. If I could hurl those bastards into hell, I'd gladly become the inferno.