This is the Old Murim Formation (2)
“Is this it?”
Namgung Cheon surveyed the battlefield. The Daeyeon Geomdan, which had charged in all at once, had laughably split into three groups. Thanks to the unexpected variable called Nahajin.
But what Namgung Cheon truly admired about Namgung Daeso was something else. He gazed at him. At the center where the three formations interlocked stood Namgung Daeso. An utterly optimal position—one impossible to reach without piercing all three formations.
And.
“They're scattered. Quite cleverly, too.”
Namgung Cheon gave a wry smile.
Namgung Jung inwardly marveled at the Nahajin that had unfolded alongside Namgung Daeso's shout. Since he hadn't stepped onto the arena, he could take in the overall situation at a glance. That's why he precisely grasped Namgung Daeso's intent.
“Playing an interesting trick, aren't you, little brother?”
Namgung Ilro's eyes widened in surprise.
“He's eliminated the center of power.”
Only then did the other leaders realize the true reason behind Namgung Daeso's actions. Within the triple-split Nahajin, Elder Namgung Cheon, the Daeyeon Geomdan's captain, and vice-captain were each isolated.
Could this be mere coincidence?
Elder Namgung Cheon flashed a chilling smile.
“As if. But will that really be enough?”
Though command and control had crumbled, the Daeyeon Geomdan had already received their orders. A single, simple, crystal-clear command.
Take down Namgung Daeso.
“If you think that'll stop us, you're greatly mistaken, Youngest Young Master.”
To shatter the Nahajin, Elder Namgung Cheon circulated his inner energy. With that as the signal, the trapped Daeyeon Geomdan members drew their swords one by one.
Most who saw this thought the same. Even Nahajin wasn't the full, intact 108-man version. One was a fragmented 18-man Nahajin, another an unheard-of 17-man formation.
It would break.
Elder Namgung Cheon's sword, infused with his inner energy, slammed into the Nahajin.
Kaboom!
The 17-man Nahajin shuddered. A result impossible for one person alone.
But.
The formation didn't break.
“Hey, Elder Grandpa.”
I shrugged and looked at Elder Namgung Cheon. He glared back, his face twisted in fury.
What a scary face.
I said it to rile him up on purpose.
“Save your strength and stay put. You'll get wrinkles.”
His expression crumpled even more.
I told you to relax!
I could guess how Elder Namgung Cheon felt right now. He'd lived believing nothing could stand against him.
“Calm your temper and wait a bit. The match has only just begun.”
His earlier strike probably would've shattered a normal Nahajin. A 17-man one? No such thing existed in any manual.
How could anyone master a time-honored group formation like Nahajin in a single day? Not like I was some genius!
Oh, wait. I am a genius.
Even a genius couldn't pull that off. Nahajin is the product of a thousand years.
But it wasn't strange that everyone bought it as Nahajin. The foreshadowing I'd laid out earlier made it impossible not to.
It started as Nahajin. The splits were Nahajin, too.
“It won't break easily. I prepared it specially for you, Elder Grandpa.”
Elder Namgung Cheon specialized in power-focused martial arts. I singled out one of the 17.
“Big-nose Grandpa, you gotta hold out at least one gak no matter what!”
Mujikja spread his arms wide and replied.
“Got it, you rascal! You better hold your own!”
With Mujikja at the center, the 17 split into groups of five, creating distance.
Only then did Elder Namgung Cheon realize Daeso's true intent.
“Five Elements Sword Formation.”
What unfolded on Mujikja's flanks. And those two Five Elements Sword Formations merely supported the central one.
“That's the Seven Stars Sword Formation.”
The two famed joint formations of Wudang. Interlocked, they formed a new one as renowned as Nahajin.
No one could miss Namgung Daeso's aim now.
“Taeguk Sword Formation.... Heh.”
If Shaolin's Nahajin was optimal for suppressing foes, Wudang's Taeguk Sword Formation was perfect for enduring attacks.
“Daring to stall against me? Quite the idea.”
“Amitabha. I know it's sneaky, but you're up against a Namgung elder, so cut me some slack.”
“I already know who you are.”
“Then no need to waste time on introductions.”
“Don't underestimate us. Thinking Daeyeon Geomdan is weak without me is your mistake.”
Mujikja chuckled lightly at the ominous warning.
“Don't underestimate? That's my line. The one who should be anxious might be you, not me.”
At that moment, Namgung Cheon unleashed his killing intent without restraint.
“Raaargh!”
Namgung Cheon had no reason to be anxious. Because.
“Our young lord ain't a pushover.”
Mujikja's face hardened. A strand of energy settled over Namgung Cheon's sword, growing denser until it fully enveloped the blade. Over three seok long.
Sword aura.
Sword aura formed on Mujikja's weathered Songmun ancient sword. With that, energy surged into every blade.
Rumble—
Namgung Cheon stomped forward with heavy steps, charging the central Seven Stars Sword Formation of the Taeguk Sword Formation—straight at Mujikja. The rest of Daeyeon Geomdan swung at the Five Elements Sword Formations.
The one-gak battle to endure and shatter began.
Seeing Big-nose Grandpa's fight with Elder Grandpa kick off, I knew I had to hurry.
One gak is the maximum estimate. It'll probably break sooner. I need to thin their numbers before then.
I had no choice but to trust Mujikja completely over there. I focused solely on my task.
Though I'd successfully split the enemy as planned, bad luck had Daeyeon Geomdan's captain and enemy leader Namgung Hyeon grouped together.
Captain Namgung Pil glanced at Elder Namgung Cheon. The elder, who seemed on the verge of breaking free, was unexpectedly struggling.
Seeing his opponent, he nodded.
Sword Venerable....
Then this one before him was.
“Fire Venerable?”
“Amitabha.”
Ilseon Dosa chanted without hiding his identity.
“I see.”
With the confirmation done, he looked toward the vice-captain's side. His and Elder Namgung Cheon's groups were holding, but the vice-captain's was on the brink of collapse.
“They say the darkest place is under the lamp. Never thought it applied to me—seeing the famed Five Dragons and Five Freaks there.”
“They just couldn't show themselves due to circumstances, right?”
“Probably. Not my place to judge.”
Daeyeon Geomdan wouldn't fall easily to riffraff. However.
“Nine in front, nine in back.”
“Fifteen in front, three in back.”
“Right! Eighteen in back.”
“Coming again! Eighteen in front!”
Each time the vice-captain exerted himself to block the Taeguk Sword Formation, the Youngest Young Master countered as if reading his moves in advance.
“Raaargh!”
Another member flew out of the arena.
“Haha, we've been had. Completely had. Been ages since I got outplayed like this.”
A voice thick with anxiety came from behind.
“Captain, at this rate.... We're going to lose, aren't we?”
Daeyeon Geomdan's rookie, Namgung Hyeon. The key to this match.
Namgung Pil's sunken eyes sharpened. Elder Namgung Cheon's side was still fine, but cracks were showing here too.
“Don't panic.”
A brief word of comfort to the rookie, then he looked to his lord.
Namgung Jung watched them without a flicker of expression, even in this disadvantage.
I get it.
Namgung Pil understood what that meant.
The lord believes in us.
As Daeyeon Geomdan's captain, he knew what to do. He gathered Namgung Hyeon and the surrounding members.
“From now on, protect Hyeon with everything you've got.”
“Is there a way, Captain?!”
A ten-year veteran asked.
“Yeah. A bit extreme, but it's the best option now.”
To escape a joint formation, there were two main ways: shatter it from within, or hope allies broke it from outside.
Allies couldn't reach them now.
“No way.... Captain!”
The members intuited it. Their captain had chosen sacrifice.
Namgung Pil fully unleashed his lower dantian. A massive surge of energy erupted from his body.
Ilseon Dosa tensed for a moment, sensing the sudden shift in Namgung Pil's aura.
Something enormous is coming.
Ilseon Dosa planned to stall. If Namgung Daeso crushed the other side and joined, they could win despite Namgung Cheon.
But the energy pouring from Namgung Pil was unnaturally vast.
Ilseon Dosa steadied himself. Still only Chojeoljeong level. He could block it.
Namgung Pil felt his empty lower dantian and unleashed his middle one next.
Whoooosh.
Ilseon Dosa murmured a quiet chant.
Amitabha. A true Namgung.
Now everyone in the Five Elements Sword Formation sensed things going awry.
Ilseon Dosa looked at Namgung Pil with dismayed eyes. Not an elder or councilor—just a mere captain at Hwagyeong? It was absurd enough for a hollow laugh.
But instead of laughing, he chanted.
“Amitabha.”
His excited mind calmed. Time to focus.
Ilseon Dosa shouted to the Daegalbak.
“Don't relax for a second!”
The Daegalbak nodded, eyes locked on Namgung Pil, tension etched on their faces.
And then.
Whoooooooosh!
An enormous energy, dwarfing Namgung Pil's, erupted from the other formation.
Namgung Pil looked exasperated.
“Elder! Why take such a reckless gamble? I could've handled the sacrifice alone!”
With just Namgung Cheon, they could win.... That's what he'd thought, steeling himself for sacrifice.
“Kekeke, Vice-Captain—!”
Namgung Cheon bellowed into the air. A thunderous voice without inner energy.
“Who are we—! We're Namgung Sega! Ain't that right, Young Master?!”
“Hahahahaha!!!”
Namgung Jung, who had been silent, burst into mad laughter.
He grasped Elder Namgung Cheon's intent.
As expected of the elder.
Namgung Jung spoke briefly to those he trusted most in the world.
“Indeed. Show them why we're Namgung.”
“Kekeke, excellent!!”
With that, Daeyeon Geomdan transformed. It wasn't easy to be called more vicious than the Demonic Cult.
They fought like they had no retreat.
Attacks grew fiercer. Even as swords pierced them, they didn't slow. One wound on themselves meant two on the enemy.
“Heh heh heh.”
Namgung Pil chuckled lowly.
“Damn. Some things never change with blockheads.”
Crude words, but they fit perfectly now. This was Namgung's true nature.
Namgung Pil reflected on his complacency from too much peace.
Takes me back.
Back when the Demonic Cult loomed. Now, he saw echoes of old Murim's ghosts.
His eyes changed. Ilseon Dosa tensed further.
Namgung Pil—the Daeyeon Geomdan captain—shouted.
“From now on, not one of you falls behind me! Anyone who can't keep up faces worse than hell!”
The members burned with fervor at their captain's true face, unseen for so long.
Namgung Pil spoke plainly.
“All hands.”
He aimed his sword forward.
“Follow with resolve to die.”
One-point breakthrough.
Namgung Pil charged ahead, Daeyeon Geomdan on his heels with death-defying resolve.
“Let's show these old Murim ghosts what Namgung is!”