Vice Commander of the Murim Alliance Suppression Force
The Murim Alliance branch in Hubei loomed before us, a massive stone building rising with imposing weight. At the main gate, armed martial artists from the Alliance stood guard in a tight, watchful line.
“State your identity.”
“I am Hyeonseong, master of Cheongongbang. I have been summoned as vice commander of the suppression force.”
The guard checked the roster, then nodded.
“Confirmed. Please proceed to the central training ground.”
By the time we reached the training ground, dozens of martial artists had already gathered. As befit the elite of their respective sects, every one of them radiated a sharp, restrained pressure.
“Huh? Aren’t those guys from Jigeom Sect?”
A familiar voice rang out. It was the martial artists of Cheongpung Sect—the same men I had met in Baekun Valley.
“It really is them. But does Jigeom Sect even have the qualifications to join the suppression force?”
A martial artist from Red Blood Hall sneered and chimed in.
“I heard the vice commander’s some young punk.”
“What? That brat?”
At once, the training ground stirred. Dozens of eyes fixed on me. Most were filled with disbelief and derision.
“Looks like the Murim Alliance really is short on talent if they’re appointing a kid like that as vice commander.”
“Do they think the Illusion Gate purge is a game?”
I ignored their reaction and looked for Guan Cheol. When he spotted me, he came down from the upper edge of the training ground.
“Young Master Hyeonseong, you’ve arrived.”
“Yes. Is everyone who was summoned here?”
“A few more sects are still on their way. The total force will likely be around eighty men.”
Eighty men. Bigger than I had expected.
“However…”
Guan Cheol lowered his voice as he glanced around.
“The mood isn’t good. There’s a lot of dissatisfaction over Young Master Hyeonseong’s age and background.”
“I anticipated that.”
“Especially Baek Muhan of the Cheongun Sword Sect. He assumed he would be leading this suppression force.”
The Cheongun Sword Sect. It was a fairly well-known mid-sized sect in Hubei. It was nowhere near the scale of Jigeom Sect.
“There he is now.”
As Guan Cheol said, a group of martial artists entered. The man walking at their center seemed to be Baek Muhan. He had a sharp face and appeared to be in his mid-thirties.
Baek Muhan’s gaze met mine.
“You’re Hyeonseong?”
It was blunt, the kind of tone that made no effort to hide its contempt.
“That’s right.”
“Hmph. Younger than I expected. Do you really think someone like you has the qualifications to lead the suppression force?”
Laughter rippled around him. They were his followers.
“Whether I’m qualified is for the Murim Alliance to decide, isn’t it?”
At my calm reply, Baek Muhan’s eyes turned cold.
“Arrogant. And without any real skill to back it up.”
“You can verify my skill yourself, if you’d like.”
In an instant, the air in the training ground tightened.
“Fine. Then let’s see you draw your sword.”
Baek Muhan drew his blade. The aura of the Peak Realm surged out from him.
Roughly late Peak Realm. Not bad.
But he was still a long way from being enough for me.
“Now?”
“What, are you scared?”
I sighed. It was annoying enough to deal with this childish provocation, but once was enough to settle it.
“Very well. But don’t regret it afterward.”
I didn’t draw my sword. I simply stood there with empty hands.
“You’re not even drawing your sword? Are you looking down on me?”
Baek Muhan’s anger flared.
“I don’t think I’ll need to draw it.”
“You bastard!”
Bang!
Baek Muhan moved explosively. Cheongun Sword Sect’s swift strike shot toward my neck like lightning.
But then—
Clack.
I caught his sword between two fingers.
“What?”
Baek Muhan’s eyes flew wide open. No matter how much strength he poured into it, the blade didn’t budge even a little.
“And you thought you could lead a suppression force with this level of skill.”
Wooooong—
I let a trace of the Transcendence Realm’s pressure seep out.
“Ghk!”
Baek Muhan staggered backward, then dropped to one knee on the ground.
“Tr... Transcendence Realm...”
The training ground fell silent. Everyone looked stunned.
“Do you understand now?”
I withdrew my aura and said,
“Why I’m the vice commander of this suppression force.”
***
An hour later, the entire suppression force had assembled.
Eighty-three men in total. The elite of each sect.
“From this moment, we begin the Illusion Gate purge operation.”
Guan Cheol, who commanded this suppression force, stepped forward. As the vice commander, my role was to assist him from the side.
“Our target is Mount Cheongho, one hundred li west of here. A massive Illusion Gate opened there three days ago, and three villages in the surrounding area have already been destroyed.”
He unfolded a map as he continued his explanation.
“According to the reconnaissance team’s report, multiple beasts at or above the First-Class Realm were confirmed. And more than that…”
Guan Cheol paused briefly.
“There’s a strong possibility that something even beyond Peak Realm exists there.”
A murmur spread through the crowd.
“Beyond First-Class Realm?”
“They’re saying there’s a Peak Realm beast too.”
Fear began to creep in. Watching Guan Cheol speak, I stroked my chin. Even the Murim Alliance still hadn’t established a precise classification for these beasts yet.
“That’s why this operation must be handled carefully.”
Guan Cheol looked at me.
“The detailed operation will be directed by Vice Commander Hyeonseong.”
I stepped forward. Eighty-three pairs of eyes turned to me. Half of them were still full of suspicion, while the other half, after witnessing my earlier display, now held a measure of reluctant acknowledgment.
“The plan is simple.”
I pointed to the map.
“We split into three units: the advance unit, the main force, and the rear guard.”
Everyone’s gaze remained fixed on me.
“The advance unit handles reconnaissance and initial response. The main force will engage in direct combat. The rear guard provides support and treats the wounded.”
I looked at Duseong, Hwaung, and Jinu.
“And we’ll form one more special unit: an emergency response team.”
“A special unit?”
Baek Muhan asked.
“Yes. A unit prepared for unexpected situations. I’ll lead it myself.”
“Then who commands the overall force?”
“Baek Muhan, you’ll lead the main force. The Cheongpung Sect master will take the advance unit, and the Red Blood Hall master will command the rear guard.”
The unexpected assignments made everyone stare. Baek Muhan in particular looked pleased to be given command of the main force.
I’ll preserve their pride while keeping the real command in my hands.
Of course, I also secured my independence.
Under the name of a special unit, I would be able to move freely.
“We depart.”
***
The entrance to Mount Cheongho.
By the time the suppression force, after a forced march of one hundred li, arrived, the sight that greeted us was devastating.
“Good heavens...”
One village had been reduced to ruins. Houses had collapsed, and dark red blood soaked the ground in places.
“Any survivors?”
“None... They’re all dead...”
The face of the advance unit member who had scouted ahead was paper-white.
That was when it happened.
Kugugugugugu—
The entire mountain began to tremble.
“What was that?”
“An earthquake?”
No.
A massive fissure opened halfway up the mountain, and crimson light poured out from within.
An Illusion Gate.
But something was wrong.
This isn’t like a normal gate.
Ordinary Illusion Gates glowed blue or violet. This one was entirely red. Red like blood.
Kiiiiiik—!
Beasts began pouring out of the gate. Guan Cheol, the overall commander of the suppression force, amplified his voice and shouted,
“Prepare for battle!”
Dozens, then hundreds, of beasts came surging down the mountain. Most were Livestock Class, though some Human Class beasts were mixed in as well.
“Main force, defensive formation!”
Baek Muhan quickly took command.
“Advance unit, take the flank! Rear guard, fall back!”
Each unit moved swiftly. As expected of elites, they were well trained.
Kwaung! Kwaung!
The beasts and the suppression force crashed into each other.
“Aaaagh!”
“Hold the line!”
A brutal battle erupted. Sword energy and saber qi flashed everywhere, and beast blood sprayed through the air.
But—
There are too many.
No matter how elite they were, there was no overcoming a numerical disadvantage this severe. Worse, their martial arts were still specialized in fighting people, and their equipment had not been made using beast byproducts.
“Dasa-hyung!”
Duseong shouted.
“Look over there!”
A new presence emerged from the Illusion Gate.
It was huge.
At least three times the size of an ordinary Human Class beast. Its entire body was covered in black scales, and each of its four arms held a different weapon.
Earth Class... no, something beyond that.
At minimum, it was upper Earth Class. It might even have been Profound Class.
Grrrrrr—!
The beast roared. Just the sound made several members of the suppression force stagger.
“This won’t do.”
I stepped forward with the special unit.
“Hwaung, get ready to defend. Duseong, stay at my side. Jinu, support from the rear.”
“Yes!”
I took out the prototype Zhuge Hyeonggeon had sent me. It was a small disc-like object.
The beast defense formation prototype... will it work?
Uncertain, I threw the disc to the ground, and blue light spread outward. The Livestock Class beasts charging toward us jolted in place.
“Oh... it really works!”
Jinu exclaimed in admiration. But against anything above Earth Class, the effect was minimal. The giant beast simply ignored the barrier and kept coming.
“I’ll hold it back!”
Hwaung raised his shield.
Kwaang—!
“Ghk!”
Hwaung was blasted backward more than ten meters. His shield caved in.
“Hwaung!”
Jinu rushed over and began emergency treatment.
“Kuh... I’m fine...”
Hwaung coughed blood. His ribs seemed to have broken.
So ordinary methods won’t work.
I drew upon the power of the Dragon Pearl.
Wooooong—
Hot energy surged from my dantian.
Thirteen Forms of the Kunlun Sword, Eleventh Form.
White Night Flash.
The blade burst into white light, as if it were the sun at noon.
Whoosh—!
The sword qi flew straight toward the beast.
Grrrrrgh!
One of the beast’s arms was severed. Black blood poured out like a waterfall.
But then—
Ssssst...
To my surprise, the severed arm began growing back.
Regenerative ability too...
This wasn’t an ordinary Profound Class beast. It was a special specimen.
Gahahahaha—!
Suddenly the beast laughed. Or rather, it sounded like laughter. Then it opened its mouth.
-Human... strong... interesting...”
The beast spoke.
Instantly, everything went quiet, and everyone was struck dumb with shock.
“The beast... it’s speaking...”
“This isn’t Earth Class... It’s Profound Class!”
A Profound Class beast.
One with intelligence, no less.
“Retreat!”
I shouted.
“Main force, retreat! Advance unit and rear guard, fall back!”
But the beast gave them no time to do so.
Kwaang!
It slammed the ground. The earth split apart, and the suppression force’s formation collapsed.
“Aaaagh!”
“Someone help!”
It was complete chaos.
At this rate, they would all be wiped out.
No choice.
I took a deep breath and pushed the Dragon Pearl’s power to its limit. It was a dangerous gamble, but I had no other option.
Wooooooong—!
Crimson energy surged from my body.
The power of the Fire Dragon sleeping within the Dragon Pearl awakened.
-What is this...?
The Profound Class beast stumbled back in surprise.
-You... not human... something... different...
I raised my sword.
Fwoosh-!
The blade ignited.
-Impossible... a human... with power like this...
For the first time, the Profound Class beast trembled in fear.
But it was too late.
“Disappear.”
Kwaaaang—!
The Kunlun sword technique unfurled, and the power of flame swallowed the beast whole.
-Gyaaaah!
The beast’s scream shook the mountain.
And then—silence.
The beast vanished without a trace. All that remained was a massive Illusion Stone.
But then—
Ssshhh...
The gate suddenly began opening wider.
From within it came a voice, deep and heavy.
[Interesting... a human who carries the Dragon Pearl...]
My heart felt as though it had stopped.
[The time is not yet ripe... but soon...]
The gate began to close.
[I shall be waiting... chosen one of the Fire Dragon...]
Bang!
The gate shut completely.
I dropped to one knee on the spot. Strength drained from my body all at once.
“Dasa-hyung!”
“Are you all right?”
I lifted my head with effort.
“I’m fine. More importantly, what about the others?”
Looking around, I saw that the battle was not yet over. As I forced myself back to my feet, I spoke to my disciples.
“First, let’s clear the area.”