Encounter with the Enemy (6)
As Jin Sowoon had predicted, Gang Sun-tak moved with frantic speed to minimize his own mistakes as much as possible. On his way back to the Murim Alliance, he stopped at every shop or martial hall connected to the Cheongsung faction, sending off messenger pigeons each time. Moving by day, dispatching pigeons by night. Sleepless, scrimping every moment, he sent letters to all his contacts in every direction.
"You think I'm done for here...? Never, never!"
Not just Gang Sun-tak and the Cheongsung faction members, but all the instructors joined in. This wasn't just about their reputations or that of the deceased No Jinha. They'd all seen it—that existence in Mukrim. Overwhelming, intimidating, transcending common sense, utterly shocking.
The reason they couldn't respond wasn't merely because the enemy was stronger. It was ignorance-born fear. Terror of the unknown. Hesitation before the unprecedented. All those emotions tangled, forcing them to flee. Forgetting the responsibilities on their shoulders. By the time duty dawned on them, they'd fled too far.
Now, that fear and terror had twisted into shame. A place the academy students alone could have broken through. An enemy Jin Sowoon and a few students could have handled. Realizing they'd fled from something so trivial left only rage. If a dog's shadow startles you, you take it out on the dog, right? They had no intention of losing everything over a mere dog's shadow.
"This is just the beginning. Just watch, Jin Sowoon...!"
So they moved desperately. Downplaying the enemy from Mukrim as much as possible, shrinking their own faults. At the same time, inflating Jin Sowoon and his group's rebellious actions and defiance toward the instructors into major misconduct. In the end, they even hinted at suspicions that the students might have been used as test subjects inside Mandokmun, leveraging their ties there.
The truth didn't matter. A mere mention would convince those eager to believe it.
They contacted the Cheongsung faction headquarters and spread word to Murim Alliance seniors. Recipients acted in proportion to their closeness. From the Alliance's view, rather than probing an unconfirmed enemy, they fixated on students rebelling against instructors, deeming the unsanctioned Mandokmun visit a grave act of defiance.
Thanks to splitting sleep for travel, Gang Sun-tak arrived at the Murim Alliance far ahead of schedule, by which time the rumors had ripened.
But.
"Jin Sowoon was a spy?"
For some reason, the Inspection Hall—who should have cheered this most—was lukewarm.
"Jin Sowoon was a spy?"
He'd sought out the Third Division Lord, who flew into a rage at the mere word "black path."
"Jin Sowoon was a spy?"
This demon fresh from hell repeated it over and over.
"Jin Sowoon was a spy?"
The problem was the reaction wasn't what they'd expected. Rumor had it his nephew Ak Jupyeong was crippled and expelled from the academy, putting Ak family and Jin Sowoon at irreconcilable odds...
'Why does he seem skeptical?'
Gang Sun-tak and the instructors were baffled. Still, amplifying Jin Sowoon's charges came first. Even if it led to unwanted outcomes, by then their own mistakes would fade from attention.
In that regard, their choice of man was perfect. If black path suspicions arose, he'd pin crimes on the innocent to brand them black path—the infamous Blood Star himself.
But.
"Are you truly certain?"
Even he was doubting the charges against his near-enemy Jin Sowoon. Despite seeking out the Third Division specifically...
Regret crept beyond bewilderment.
"Numerous academy students died in Mukrim, yet the instructors meant to protect them didn't move with them—instead racing back to the Murim Alliance like cowards..."
Ak Byeongbi flipped through the relatively thin file with his massive frame, his sharp gaze piercing each page.
"Perhaps we should suspect the instructors deliberately abandoned the students in Mukrim to get them killed."
The flustered instructors erupted before Gang Sun-tak could.
"...What nonsense is this!"
"Hey! Third Division Lord!"
"Keep this up, and we'll report to the Grand Division Lord—!"
"Go ahead and report."
"Huh?"
Ak Byeongbi set down the file and leaned back leisurely. He tilted his chin, locking eyes with each instructor one by one.
"Didn't I say go ahead?"
"What do you...?"
As the flustered instructors recoiled, Ak Byeongbi curled his lip in a frostier-than-icicle glare.
"Isn't the Grand Division Lord you're seeking right before your eyes? Hurry and report, then."
"......"
"......"
Ak Byeongbi, soon to ascend as Inspection Hall Grand Division Lord, halted all probes into Jin Sowoon.
And around then, a messenger arrived from the Execution Hall members dispatched to Yunnan, who'd made first contact with the students.
- Dispatch Report.
- Numerous academy students killed by unidentified assailants in Mukrim.
- Multiple pieces of evidence in Mukrim believed used by the assailants discovered.
- Yongbong Assembly's 'Yong So-a' confirmed facts.
Confidential and brief due to messenger limits, but its impact was explosive. The Murim Alliance erupted.
# The issue at the Kunming branch resolved splendidly. No, more than splendidly—it was handled perfectly.
The Execution Hall members who'd come to arrest us scoured desperately for wagons to atone, even trying to cram the unhurt onto them, putting us in a bind. Still, unlike the outbound trip, all academy students returned on horseback. Kunming branch members even escorted us. Up to here, perfect.
Yes, perfect.
The problem was.
"Haa..."
These useless vagrants(?) tagging along too.
"This noodle soup has no flavor."
They'd claimed some mission touring the south led them to Mukrim... yet suddenly declared they'd follow us back to the Alliance.
Our already exhausting journey grew more so.
Dang Seohee pushed aside her half-eaten noodles; I stared, and she cocked her head.
"Why? Oh, can't stand looking at those villains?"
Dang Seohee snatched up chopsticks, glaring at the black path-looking men in the corner. What was with that righteous, justice-filled expression?
"All talk..."
"They haven't done anything wrong, Senior Dang."
Namgung Seonhwa took the chopsticks from her hand. Once hesitant even to speak with Dang Seohee, now she actively reined her in upon realizing her true nature.
"It's a waste of the Namgung name! Just look at their faces. It's written 'villain' on their foreheads!"
Her voice carried loudly to the corner men. They flinched briefly, then scowled at our numbers, attire, and banners before turning away. I felt oddly sorry.
"So pitiful..."
Namgung Seonhwa emotionlessly snatched the chopsticks again.
"Judging solely by looks is foolish. Look at Lord Jin here. Called the Black Flame Dragon, acts villainous sometimes, and his demeanor's indistinguishable from black path... but no one's more just."
What? A backhanded compliment?
Stunned by the sudden attack(?), I blinked. Dang Seohee eyed me and the presumed black path men thoughtfully, then finally returned the chopsticks to their holder.
"Fine..."
Thank goodness Namgung Seonhwa was here. For some reason, after teaming up, the Yongbong Assembly joined my table every meal. At first, my dining companions shrugged and shared, but after incidents, only Namgung Seonhwa remained.
'What a lineup.'
But the most incongruous sat right before me. Shifting from Dang Seohee, my gaze met...
A man like a drawing quietly ate his noodles. Even meeting my stare, he continued nonchalantly.
'What's his game?'
He'd tried to kill me at Mandokmun, vouched for the truth at Kunming. Since traveling together...
"......"
Not a word. As if that day never happened. Truly inscrutable, past life or now. Back then, no chance or reason to meet up close except at death's door. Even now, so near yet utterly opaque...
One thing clear: innately sinister.
"Kuh..."
Hwa Jeong-san beside me downed liquor in broad daylight. Total middle-aged uncle vibe...
Then a question struck. How had these three operated till now? Dang Seohee surely rampaged as a vigilante... Yong So-a was unpredictable. No one like Ilmyeong or others to rein them. Hwa Jeong-san... tch.
He answered indifferently to my curiosity.
"Culling a few black path grunts? No big deal. No need for us. Dang Seohee handles it."
Bystanders. Their choice: observe.
Made sense. Even if fights escalated, these three could manage. Honestly, gauging how many ordinary warriors I'd need against them was impossible.
Glug glug.
"Kraa!"
Hwa Jeong-san's liquor-overflowing admiration was pure wastrel. Without the plum blossom sword leaned nearby and hero's headband, no one would peg him for a Huashan disciple.
Past life bullying with Gye Cheolyeong soured my view, but one phrase fit him perfectly: tragic genius. Born any era, he'd have walked a hero's path. His tragedy? Sharing his era with other 'monsters.'
"Hm hm, still hungry."
"......"
Dang Seohee and Yong So-a before me now—among them. He'd tried at first. But grasping why 'monster' fits whom, he abandoned heroism. Another era, and Yong So-a or Ilmyeong might've been supplanted by him. Like us all, just talents dimmed by a cruel age.
'At least our era let us aspire.'
Watching the brightest star closest—what thoughts filled him? Sensing something in my gaze, Hwa Jeong-san fidgeted nervously.
"Wh-what? Why stare?"
No fondness, but I offered consolation.
"So pitiful..."
"You bastard...!"
As he stirred trouble, I swiftly changed topics.
"So, what's in the south? Yongbong Assembly wrapping up, no?"
"......Investigating."
"Investigating?"
"......Yongbong Assembly secret."
Hwa Jeong-san puffed up, playing smug. But.
"Not a secret."
"H-hey! Don't say that!"
Dang Seohee, ever just and frank, corrected him. Hwa Jeong-san panicked, but she pressed on.
"Hwa Jeong-san's a wastrel who spits lies whenever he opens his mouth."
"Kugh...!"
As they bickered, an unexpected voice answered.
"The jianghu's atmosphere is off."
"......"
What? Why butt in now, Yong So-a?
Undeterred by my puzzled look, he continued flatly.
"Forces hostile to the Murim Alliance are growing."
"That happens all the time, no?"
"Always in history. The Alliance endures on enemies. But this is different."
What? Clues on the Demonic Cult? Yong So-a, who'd only eyed his bowl, met my gaze squarely.
"This unprecedented foe is more dangerous than ever."
"Unprecedented foe?"
"Undoubtedly plotting to dismantle the Alliance methodically, without revealing themselves."
I inwardly reeled. This era's jianghu dismissed the Demonic Cult as mere heresy. Yet...
Did Yong So-a truly grasp their threat?
"Evidence?"
My throat tightened. If he knew the Demonic Cult's identity—changed from my past life— the future might shift.
His dry gaze and emotionless voice resounded.
"Formation of the Four Black Alliances, and Nokrim Alliance consolidation centered in the south."
"......Huh?"
As I tilted my head, Dang Seohee elaborated.
"Recently, the Ssangryong Stronghold chief unified the south's Nokrim Alliance. We predict it'll spread north."
Yong So-a nodded quietly to her words.
"If as predicted, soon after Four Black Alliances, a mighty Nokrim Alliance emerges in the jianghu."
"......"
"And I don't think this coincidence."
His impassive eyes flashed briefly, fixed on mine.
"Clearly, some black hand behind it all, scheming the Alliance's fall."
"......"
Unclear where it went wrong, but this chilling man was hot on my trail.