Chapter 61
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: All-Out War
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The branch leaders' meeting was a forum for compiling various pieces of information and opinions before making decisions.
The Murim Alliance had been completely upended.
Those who had immediately set up branches in Shandong were at a complete loss, and Ha Seong-seo worked to calm them while narrowing down the options.
"Whew. I never expected them to come out like this."
"That boils down to the crux of it, doesn't it."
"To flaunt demonic arts like that. Who in their right mind would even dream of such a thing."
Martial arts were more precious to martial artists than their own lives.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that the demon cultists' act of spreading their unique demonic arts far and wide had caught the righteous faction martial artists off guard.
Ha Seong-seo scanned the meeting hall and pointed at one of the warriors present.
"Any word from Hubei?"
"Not yet. Given the time it takes..."
"Things will be settled long before that."
He nodded.
It would take a certain amount of time for word to reach headquarters, and no further support could be expected in this situation.
"They must have caught on by now."
"Do you really think they'll comply with the summons so obediently?"
"Some might."
"Send out the directives. And request assistance from the Seo Mun Clan and the Hwang Bo Clan."
"The Hwang Bo Clan as well?"
The warrior who received the order asked back.
The Seo Mun Clan was one thing, but suspicions still lingered around the Hwang Bo Clan.
"I know your concerns. You're worried because the connection between the Hwang Bo Clan and the demon cultists isn't clear yet."
Looking back, the possibility was quite low.
Though they had inferred some shady ties between Hwang Bo Woo-jun and the demon cultists who had been branded public enemies of the martial world, the main suspect was already dead.
'It was just one individual's doing.'
It was hard to pin the entire Hwang Bo Clan as demon cult puppets based on examples from other sects.
What would the Hwang Bo Clan gain by aiding and abetting them, anyway?
'How could the Hwang Bo Clan, which rose to the rank of one of the Six Great Clans, throw away all its past efforts and years of reputation for such a reckless move?'
Human greed knew no bounds, but that would still be the worst possible choice.
"Even if they truly were in league with the demon cultists, it's not something they could handle on their own."
The warriors at the meeting let out groans.
"What about the missing young experts?"
"Treat them the same."
Two middle-aged men on either side raised their voices at Ha Seong-seo's decision.
"There'll be fierce backlash."
"Backlash? Isn't this mess because none of them could keep their damn kids in line? Who's going to question whom?"
The middle-aged man with scars covering his face, Geo Chun, was a one-armed swordmaster who had received favors from the Jongnam Sect.
"He's rough around the edges, but Branch Leader Geo is right. No helping it."
Ha Seong-seo added his own opinion to Geo Chun's words.
"In the end, it all comes down to us martial artists. If we let ourselves get swept up in this unclear situation, won't we just be dancing to the demon cultists' tune?"
True to his position as Gold Net Leader, he firmly upheld his prior decision.
Extermination.
"According to the Beggar Clan, a total of 153 martial sects have joined the demon cult. Whether it's the sect's will or just one person's doesn't matter."
"Exactly. We don't have the manpower or the time to verify their authenticity."
Hold them accountable, pursue the remnants, and dig into the activities led by the demon heads and their cultists.
"Prioritize suppression and capture, but if necessary, killing is permitted."
A storm of bloodshed would sweep through Shandong.
No one could look pleased, but there were no better alternatives.
"Leave Jinan and Nanjing to those two clans. Branch Leader Geo, you take Dongchangfu; Branch Leader Cheok, you handle Qingzhou."
"Disrupting the formation?"
Because information had leaked. The Gold Net Leader judged that the existing encirclement was meaningless. His swift judgment and response, honed by decades in the jianghu, were commendable.
"I'll request renewed cooperation from all sects that attended the assembly."
Gripping the reins of command, Ha Seong-seo methodically solidified the plan.
He then mentioned the experts and talents already aiding the Alliance.
As the saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth, so he had selected key figures and temporarily reorganized the structure.
"If there are others worth noting, leave it to each branch leader's discretion."
After predicting the front lines and reorganizing the encirclement, he left Yeonju Division for last.
"What about the branch prefect?"
Geo Chun brought up the remaining issue.
"I'll handle that personally."
The official who had shattered the Official-Military Non-Aggression Principle.
There were clear limits to the information one person could uncover regarding position and influence, so it would likely amount to nothing, but he still needed to interrogate him to check for imperial involvement.
"Prepare a letter. I'll meet the branch prefect of Yeonju Division myself."
If he could extract some help under that pretext, it would be perfect.
The meeting didn't drag on.
Those who had worked together for years moved in perfect unison with Ha Seong-seo at the center, and as martial artists by nature, they found it easier to wield swords than exchange difficult words.
Ha Seong-seo had merely set the direction for their blades.
The chaos was about to begin.
Shandong Province, bustling with all sorts of people coming and going.
It was a region where not only those dipping their toes into the martial world but also ordinary folk never stopped passing through.
Clatter.
The steady stream of travelers continued unabated, but the long line differed from usual.
"Hold it."
The gate guard halted the countless footsteps.
This was after a series of events had spread far and wide.
Dark clouds had turned to omens of war, and clashes large and small erupted across Shandong.
Fresh blood flowed freely as martial artists died daily.
In Shandong, the heartland of the righteous martial world.
"The inspections seem thorough, miss."
"It's getting ugly. Unbelievable."
Considering the righteous faction's ways, this was truly unprecedented.
"How long do we have to wait?"
A frustrated woman sharpened her voice.
"I'll explain properly, so please stay calm, miss. You're ruining your pretty face."
The coachman soothed her with difficulty while placating people and horses inside and out, regretting he couldn't split himself in two.
"Do that."
Even non-martial artists in Shandong were aware of the situation.
"I'm about to die of frustration."
But she showed not the slightest interest, as if it were none of her concern.
"Of course."
The coachman bowed, twisting his waist.
Flattering had its limits, and not a few had fled harsh masters who treated them with abuse and contempt.
"Just trust Guard Jeong."
The woman in her late teens or early twenties, Yi Hwa-young, had no intention of mending her attitude despite that.
With her wild, headstrong nature, she had every reason to act so.
She was the precious daughter of the Yeonju branch prefect's family, after all.
Substitutes abounded, and her behavior toward underlings grew ever harsher, but Coachman Guard Jeong was the exception.
He had served her for years, handling various roles, so she showed him a measure of grace.
Servant, coachman, and guard all in one.
Moreover, Jeong Gyeon, the middle-aged warrior, was also her teacher who had taught her basic martial arts.
"Where are you headed?"
When their turn came, he briefly answered the soldier's question.
"To Henan."
"Henan? If you don't mind, who might you be?"
"This lady is..."
"Show your identity plaque and travel permit."
It was right then.
"Who do you think you are?"
Yi Hwa-young cut in, glaring at the soldier.
"I don't care who you are. Do you know whose carriage you're stopping?"
"...No way."
"That's exactly it. Inspecting with such poor eyesight—what a mess the South Gate is. I'll make sure to tell Father and get every soldier in the area replaced."
"S-sorry!"
"Hmph. Step aside. Don't keep far-traveling folk waiting forever."
The southern tip of Shandong.
The border with Henan fell under Yeonju Division, so it was only natural for the branch prefect's daughter to act so boldly.
"You don't look happy."
"Of course not."
"Don't scold him too harshly. He was just doing his duty."
"Guard Jeong, you're too nice for your own good. What's the use of a soldier without proper discipline?"
"Sometimes showing mercy is a virtue of superiors."
Jeong Gyeon cracked the whip and continued as the carriage moved.
"Looks like the rumors are true. I heard there were big fights among martial artists lately, and the checkpoints are stricter than before."
"That's what bothers me. How dare riffraff block official business with their squabbles."
Yi Hwa-young, utterly uninterested in the jianghu martial world. She didn't know, but there were good reasons for the tightened security.
Not only was bloodshed unfolding across Shandong, but the unexpectedly stalemated situation was prolonging the chaos.
Shandong wasn't home turf for either side.
Frequent clashes with ronin and martial artists were secondary; scouring the vast battlefield for demon cultists was eating up time.
'Really.'
She disliked slinking back to her family home like a fugitive woman, with such a modest entourage, peeking at the riffraff's moods—who knew when they'd started doing that.
Neigh!
Suddenly, the carriage lurched violently.
"Ow!"
She shrieked, unleashing all her pent-up irritation.
"What now?!"
"...Looks like those riffraff caught up."
The coachman, furrowing his brow knowingly, slowly eased the reins.
"Stop the carriage."
Two men blocked the path ahead—late teens or early twenties, heroic-looking with swords at their waists, speaking politely yet firmly.
"...What is it?"
Jeong Gyeon asked after halting.
"We need to check a few things, so forgive the rudeness."
"We noticed you didn't undergo inspection earlier."
They cupped their fists and explained in turn.
"I'm Kang Un of the Northern Mountain Sword Clan."
"The Murim Alliance is pursuing demon cultists, so please cooperate briefly."
"Haha, young heroes of the Alliance, I see."
The coachman glanced back, seeking Yi Hwa-young's approval.
"Let's go. I don't want to waste time on nonsense."
At the expected reply, the coachman smiled faintly and spoke on her behalf.
"My lady is quite busy, so I hope the young heroes understand."
"Sorry. We can't make exceptions, or it'd never end. We have no choice to catch those vile demon cultists."
"Don't hold it against us."
The young man approached the carriage, reaching to lift the canopy.
Flash.
In an instant, Kang Un's vision exploded in white.
"...Huh?"
Beneath the spraying blood in the air, a severed arm fell limply onto the canopy.
Splat.
A thick red line stained the pristine fabric.
"...Ah, aaahk!"
Yi Hwa-young screamed at the human fragment by her feet.
"I did warn you."
Jeong Gyeon shook blood from his hand and snapped the reins.
"W-wait...!"
"What... are you doing, Guard Jeong?"
Two voices overlapped from behind his head.
"Alliance warriors are sticklers for rules. Persistent, too."
He urged the horses forward, casually revealing his brutal handiwork.
"If not, we might not even leave Yeonju Division by tonight."
"B-but..."
Yi Hwa-young found his usual demeanor strangely alien.
She knew his skills well enough, but for a girl far removed from bloodshed, it was shocking.
"I apologize for the unsightly display, but please indulge me this once."
As she wavered at his polite request, the bloodstains blurring before her eyes still carried their metallic tang.
Thud.
Suddenly, a long pole stabbed into the ground.
'Damn...!'
He hastily swerved around the simple dark iron rod blocking the way, but even the expensive steed wouldn't obey.
Neigh─!
The fine horse collapsed with a sharply bent leg.
"Kyaaak─!"
The carriage lost balance and toppled sideways with it.
Crash!
When the tumbling carriage finally stopped amid rising dust, Jeong Gyeon glared behind.
"W-what?"
The man who had closed in late had left Kang Un behind to pursue them, and his bewildered reaction suggested he wasn't the pole's owner.
'Not him.'
Dismissing him from mind, Jeong Gyeon whipped his head around.
Thud.
A figure gripping the pole entered his view.
Crunch.
And it slowly approached right before him.
"Finally... found you."
A young man beaming widely stared straight at Jeong Gyeon.
"You bastard."
The Blood-Faced Asura Tang Geon.
The man aiming not a polearm but a spear shaft at him was Seo Mun-ha.