This is the Old Murim Formation (1)
It wasn't hard to dig up information on the Daeyeon Geomdan. It was all out in the open, practically daring someone to come at them.
Based on that intel, I pointed out one name.
'The fresh newbie who joined the Daeyeon Geomdan two years ago.'
As far as I knew, the weakest guy in the Daeyeon Geomdan.
"Cheonryongjeon nominates Namgung Hyeon."
Namgung Hyeon. Sure, he was the weakest in the Daeyeon Geomdan, but he'd already passed the training hall and was recognized by all as a prodigy. Plus, with two years of real combat experience under his belt now, he was no pushover. Hell, thinking any Daeyeon Geomdan sword tester was easy was just nonsense to begin with.
After that, my brothers and I returned to our respective sides. We were supposed to jump straight into the spar, but the sudden format change gave us a one-hour breather.
During that hour, Namgung Jung pulled aside Elder Namgung Cheon, the Daeyeon Geomdan captain, and the nominated Namgung Hyeon for a private chat.
"What do you think?"
Namgung Cheon replied to Namgung Jung's question.
"They're definitely prepping something. The youngest's proposal was all part of the plan from the start."
Namgung Jung nodded, and the Daeyeon Geomdan captain picked up.
"But that's all within our expectations. Even in a group fight, once it kicks off, there's only one path forward."
Namgung Hyeon just listened silently. He was only there because Namgung Daeso had called him out. He didn't have the seniority to sit in on talks like this.
Namgung Jung eyed the tense Namgung Hyeon and said,
"That's why your role is key. The youngest will target you hard."
Namgung Hyeon barked back with full resolve.
"Yes, sir!"
* * *
Meanwhile, my side of Cheonryongjeon was the total opposite of Namgung Jung's worries—a total mess.
I looked at the Daegalbak and said,
"You guys remember what we did yesterday, right?"
The Daegalbak replied in excited voices, not a hint of tension.
"Of course. Isn't it what we do every day?"
"Nah, not every day—just stuff we're used to."
"Speaking of, the captain's gonna have a rough time. They'll all rush him right from the start."
"Kekeke! But you think our captain's gonna get caught that easy?"
Totally different vibe from Namgung Jung's crew. Kinda embarrassing.
"Hey, come on! Get serious!"
"Kekeke, they know how big this spar is. Don't worry."
Ilseon Dosa chimed in calmly, but he wasn't even paying attention to the meeting—just scanning the stands.
'Why can't this monk focus for shit!'
Soon enough, he spotted someone and started waving his one arm like crazy.
I couldn't help but sigh at the sight.
"Sigh..."
At the end of Ilseon Dosa's gaze was the head maid. She blushed a bit and waved back.
"Tsk tsk, worrying won't change a thing. Relax, kid."
"Yeah, yeah. We have to win, no matter what."
I ignored Mujikja shooting me jealous glances at Ilseon Dosa.
'Sigh... I just don't have faith in this.'
And just like that, the hour flew by.
"Both sides, take the stage."
At the head elder's call, Daeyeon Geomdan and Cheonryongjeon climbed up.
I gave one last look to the head maids.
They knew full well how crucial this spar was.
-You'll come back without a scratch, right?
-I believe in you, Youngest Young Master! You'll win!
-It'll go great. Just don't push too hard.
'We win. No matter what it takes.'
The stage was huge—over a hundred of us up there, and there was still room to spare.
Cheonryongjeon on the left. Daeyeon Geomdan on the right.
The match hadn't even started, but the crowd was already calling it.
The Namgung brass saw Elder Namgung Cheon and the Daeyeon Geomdan captain step up and figured it was a guaranteed win for them.
Objectively speaking, that lineup could wipe out any of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families.
Sinui couldn't hold back and poked Namgung Hancheol's side.
"What?"
Namgung Hancheol asked irritably. Anyone else doing that would've lost a finger.
"Who do you think wins?"
Everyone around was betting on Namgung Jung. The brass's chatter spread to the stands—nothing but Daeyeon Geomdan hype.
Yi Han didn't care what anyone else said. Only Namgung Hancheol's word mattered.
"Four out of ten."
"What? Odds the kid Namgung Daeso wins? Or loses?"
"Wins."
"Damn it! So you're saying he loses! No way! If he loses, what about our Ilhyang?!"
Namgung Hancheol seriously debated sealing Sinui's mute acupoint as the old man ranted.
Meanwhile, he eyed Namgung Daeso clutching his head.
'If he's hiding something, win odds: five out of ten.'
'If it surpasses my expectations, six out of ten.'
But 'If there's nothing, he'll lose in under an hour.'
That was Namgung Hancheol's cold assessment.
Yi Han went to Namgung Ilro next.
"Old timer, is the family head for real?"
Namgung Ilro looked grim. He knew what was riding on the bet.
"If the patriarch says so, it is."
Namgung Ilro glanced at Ihyang. She had her hands clasped, praying desperately.
'If they lose, I'll tell him to take Je-cheon instead of that kid.'
Namgung Je-cheon shuddered. A sudden chill ran through him for no reason.
Namgung Je-cheon stared at Namgung Daeso with thoughts all his own.
'Four out of ten?'
He rated it differently.
'The patriarch's getting old. It's not even three.'
He knew the Namgung forces better than anyone. Daeyeon Geomdan's strength was legit.
But he was banking on one possibility.
'Our Youngest Young Master isn't someone you measure by odds.'
No one knew Namgung Daeso better than Namgung Je-cheon.
'The miracle maker.'
It'd take a real miracle this time, but Namgung Je-cheon believed.
Namgung Daeso would deliver.
* * *
The head elder gave the signal.
"Begin!"
The crowd roared.
"Waaaaah!!!"
"Never thought I'd see a spar this epic in my lifetime!!!"
"I could die happy now!!! Just win, anybody! Daeyeon Geomdan, win!!!"
The head elder stepped down, and in an instant, Daeyeon Geomdan's aura shifted.
Whoosh!
I tried to breathe and froze under pressure I'd never felt before.
'What the hell?'
Panicking, I rolled my eyes to the Daegalbak around me.
They looked the same as before.
"Scared?"
"Hehe, it's always like this at first. Captain's a newbie, huh?"
"I pissed myself my first time. Kekeke."
"Fuckin' hell~ Truth is, my ass went loose."
They were talking, but I couldn't hear a word. Their mouths just moved silently.
Then.
Someone placed a hand on my back.
No time to turn.
Warm, bright energy flowed in.
Finally, I exhaled.
"Puha-!"
My face was drenched in sweat, the floor slick beneath me.
Now I looked at the hand's owner.
Ilseon Dosa's tense face met mine.
"Watch closely from now on. This is the terror of making an enemy of the Namgung. You're lucky—you didn't shit yourself like those guys might."
'Uh... I might've leaked a little.'
I'd only heard the rumors before.
Worse than the Demonic Cult. Inhuman monsters. Couldn't tell battle smarts from brute strength. No common sense, just raw power.
That was the Namgung Clan.
My take after experiencing it...
"Aren't those guys insane? No, are they even human? How can they be that strong without manners or sense? Did they all regress or something?"
Laughter erupted around me at my rant.
"Our captain's finally back to his senses."
"Regressors are crazy, though. Ain't no one like that in this world."
'Me! I'm right here!'
"Give the order already."
Even the chill Daegalbak were tensing up now.
"Or we'll get swept in seconds."
I saw Daeyeon Geomdan hands on hilts.
No prep—they charged as one.
'Damn it! Warn a guy if you're coming!'
I spat out the command I'd prepped.
"Open!"
The Daeyeon Geomdan rushing the Youngest Young Master faltered.
Their eyes widened at what surrounded them.
"This is..."
Unbelieving groans escaped the trapped Daeyeon Geomdan members.
"No way..."
Murim elders in the crowd were just as shocked.
"No, that's!!"
Their recent guess had come true.
"I wasn't seeing things!!!"
Some who recognized Cheonryongjeon's faces teared up.
"They're alive!"
"Fuck! They're alive!"
Pent-up emotions burst free.
A young Shaolin monk passing through Hebi by chance, witnessing the duel, named what unfolded before him. Disbelief in his eyes.
"How does the Namgung Clan have the Nahajin..."
Even famed sects fade into history after a century or two.
But one sect held the peak for over a thousand years.
A modest temple on Song Mountain.
Shaolin Temple.
Shaolin survived the millennium thanks to mighty martial arts—and this formation that always emerged in crises.
The Nahajin. Essence of Shaolin arts by 108 Arhats.
These weren't full 108—barely half—but every one was a monster.
The 53-man Nahajin split.
Two 18-man sub-formations. One 17-man.
The Daeyeon Geomdan who'd charged blindly were trapped inside, panicking hard.
The crowd gaped, speechless.
Even Namgung's lower brass was stunned.
Only Namgung Je-cheon grinned like a kid.
"Kukukuku, knew it! What'd I say!"
You... said jack shit.
People shot him looks to shut up, but our Namgung Je-cheon ignored them.
"Four out of ten!"
Win odds up by one.