Chapter 249

Chapter 249
Cha Seok-du led his elite forces as they sprinted across the grounds of the Black Thought Alliance.

He was well aware that stealthy infiltrators had already torn through the Black Thought Alliance once before. Since that strike was clearly a diversion to draw attention away from their primary target, there was no logical reason for them to strike again. Nevertheless, he marched dozens of fully weaponized warriors around the perimeter of the Black Thought Alliance, barking out commands that served little practical purpose.

“Alliance Leader! Our master is…!”

“I intend to apprehend those responsible without fail! Set every torch aflame across the entire Alliance and disarm everyone. If any person resists, execute them immediately and report the details afterward!”

This situation provided the perfect backdrop to demonstrate exactly who held the true reins of power within the Black Thought Alliance. It served as a grand theater to drill into their minds that Cha Seok-du was far more than just a placeholder Alliance Leader. Extraordinary figures always rose out of turmoil, and true devotion was earned through sheer efficiency. Aligning oneself with a leader who could take decisive command during an unforeseen crisis was a fundamental human trait. This psychological reality was no different for the stubborn, unruly martial artists of the Black Path.

“Spread the word to every corner of the Alliance! We are actively hunting the perpetrators, so everyone can stand down!”

“Understood, sir!”

“Understood!!”

The factions that had previously harbored resentment toward Cha Seok-du began to look upon him favorably, while those who already supported him turned into absolute zealots. These collective sentiments intensified continuously until they transformed into a profound sense of reverence. The loyalty that the Black Path warriors felt toward the Black Thought Alliance and Cha Seok-du, which had been tentative at best until today, expanded exponentially.

Cha Seok-du watched this shift in collective sentiment with immense pride.

“Is this sufficient to make our point?”

“Please guide the men through a couple more laps around the compound.”

“More laps? You just confirmed that they already made their escape.”

His trusted lieutenant shook his head resolutely at the question.

“Alliance Leader. Are you aware of just how many rumor-mongers have congregated here tonight?”

“What do you mean by rumor-mongers? Why are you suddenly throwing around such pretentious phrases? They are nothing more than simple drunks.”

“Regardless… the events unfolding tonight must be carried by their lips to the ears of the entire world.”

While their display of authority had solidified internal loyalty by inspiring deep respect, they now needed to project that influence outward. Only through this method could the Black Thought Alliance truly cement its standing as a legitimate power structure.

Catching on to his lieutenant’s strategy, Cha Seok-du nodded in agreement.

“Very well.”

“Oh, and another thing—please make an effort to check on the wounded as well. Why do you keep walking right past them?”

“You saw those injuries yourself. Those weren’t the result of an external assault; they got those wounds from brawling among each other. Those ruthless bastards don’t leave people bleeding. They just end their lives.”

His lieutenant’s brow furrowed slightly in thought.

“Alliance Leader, what kind of killers are we actually dealing with? I have never witnessed such terrifying proficiency before. They executed their work with a precision that makes the Assassin Pavilion look sloppy by comparison.”

“…”

Cha Seok-du opened his mouth to reply instinctively, but caught himself just in time. Even if he explained it, would his subordinate actually comprehend it? The true nature of that faction was an entity supposed to have been wiped out five centuries ago. Cha Seok-du himself found the reality incredibly hard to digest, and if he hadn’t pierced through their deception with his own eyes, he would have assumed Jin So-un had completely lost his mind.

The techniques displayed were unmistakably the martial arts of Four Emperors Peak.

The traitor who had masqueraded as a guard had brandished those exact skills right in front of Cha Seok-du multiple times whenever arguments broke out during the establishment of the Black Thought Alliance. There was no mistaking it; the execution perfectly matched the style of Four Emperors Peak, and even upon careful retrospection, nothing had seemed out of place.

Yet, despite that absolute similarity, the moment that bastard shed his false identity, he transformed into an entirely different entity. According to Jin So-un, these were the exact same phantoms that had surfaced during the conflict on the Puyang Plains. Cha Seok-du now cursed his past self for failing to dig deeper into the historical accounts of what had transpired on the Puyang Plains during that era.

A dull ache began to throb behind his temples. He had anticipated that his only major concern would be keeping the Murim Alliance at bay, but now a completely hidden faction had emerged from the shadows. His head spun with the realization that he would have to entirely restructure his long-term strategy for the Black Thought Alliance.

Right then.

“Alliance Leader…”

“What is it?”

His lieutenant pointed a finger toward a specific structure.

“Take a look over there.”

The direction his subordinate indicated led directly to Dam-ak’s private quarters. Gathered outside were the members of the Envoy Delegation—excluding Jin So-un—alongside Blood Battle and Flame Ghost Consort. A messenger had already informed him that Dam-ak had been successfully liberated, so… why did that group look so completely devastated?

Cha Seok-du wasted no time and strode forward.

“Let’s find out.”

Arriving at the scene, Cha Seok-du immediately demanded an explanation from the group.

“What is the meaning of this, Elder?”

The Murim Alliance Envoy Delegation, Blood Battle, and Flame Ghost Consort—the very heroes who had just preserved the integrity of the Black Thought Alliance during this emergency—turned to face Cha Seok-du with expressions of utter despair.

“Jin So-un…”

Blood Battle started to answer, but the words died in his throat.

Sensing the suffocating tension in the air, Cha Seok-du scanned the faces around him. Dang Seo-hui was weeping uncontrollably, her tears streaming down her face, while Ak Byeong-bi and Il-myeong looked paralyzed with intense dread. No one seemed capable of breaking the heavy silence.

Ultimately, it was Flame Ghost Consort who forced the words out.

“…That boy Jin So-un didn’t make it.”

“What?”

Cha Seok-du blinked, wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him.

“What are you talking about?”

Jin So-un was dead? That absolute monster of a man? Who did they think Jin So-un was? He was a freakishly resilient bastard who had dragged himself alive out of both the harrowing Demon Spirit Plateau and the grueling Regular Exam. He was precisely the type of person who managed to cling to life in deadly environments where anyone else would have perished ten times over. And they expected him to believe that such a man had just perished so abruptly?

“…Are you absolutely certain of this?”

Hearing Cha Seok-du’s disbelief, Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Battle both scowled in frustration.

“How else do you think those infiltrators managed to walk out of that room?”

Blood Battle gestured toward a corner of Dam-ak’s residence, where a sinister, deep-red barrier was pulsing unnaturally. It glowed with a horrific crimson light reminiscent of purgatory’s fires, causing Cha Seok-du to let out an involuntary breath of discomfort. As Blood Battle implied, the conclusion seemed written on the wall even without physical proof.

Even so.

“I refuse to accept it until I see the body.”

Cha Seok-du’s gaze hardened with absolute resolve.

The very first initiative Cha Seok-du had pushed through upon forming the Black Thought Alliance was recruiting elite Formation Masters. He was entirely unwilling to endure a repeat of the helpless horror he had faced back on the Demon Spirit Plateau.

However, the reputation of an enterprise like the Black Thought Alliance presented a major hurdle. Why would respected Formation Masters, who typically possessed academic temperaments and avoided the violent chaos of the Jianghu, willingly align themselves with a Black Path syndicate that couldn’t even promise them a peaceful life?

But Cha Seok-du was nothing if not resourceful. If traditional avenues failed, he would adapt and find another way. He began tracking down individuals who had trained under prominent mystic schools like the Jegal Clan or the Maoshan Sect but had subsequently ruined their lives through chronic gambling.

As is typical with gamblers, the vast majority were drowning in massive financial liabilities and living under constant threat from debt collectors, making them incredibly easy to manipulate. All Cha Seok-du had to do was clear their balances with the loan sharks and buy out their debt markers.

The specialized Black Arts Hall established through this method functioned with unparalleled efficiency, driven primarily by the fact that Cha Seok-du held absolute financial dominion over every single member. They successfully located both the Gate of Life and the Gate of Death within a mere two double-hours.

“Be that as it may, this is merely the preliminary phase. Before we can attempt a Formation Dissolution, we must execute a meticulous calculation of the variables…”

“I recall learning that if an individual strikes both the Gate of Life and the Gate of Death simultaneously, a low-level Mystic Gate Formation will collapse. Is my understanding accurate?”

“That… that is technically true, but we have no data regarding the structural integrity of this specific Mystic Gate Formation, and if the balance shifts incorrectly, the individual trapped within could—”

Cha Seok-du cut the desperate gambler off mid-sentence. This particular Mystic Gate Formation had been thrown together in a frantic hurry during a chaotic raid. How resilient could it possibly be?

There was, however, a logistical complication. A single martial artist could not physically strike both the Gate of Life and the Gate of Death at the exact same moment.

Right then, a voice broke through.

“I will strike it alongside you.”

Blood Battle stepped up to the line.

“Do you even have the strength left?”

“Do you honestly think my endurance can be measured against an ordinary fool like you?”

With their minds set, Blood Battle and Cha Seok-du unleashed their internal energy against the array simultaneously. Just as Cha Seok-du had deduced, the hasty Mystic Gate Formation shattered under the synchronized impact.

And within the clearing space…

“Ugh…”

They discovered Jin So-un slumped on the ground, saturated in his own blood.

“Get… get me out of here… dammit…”

Though Jin So-un was hovering on the edge of consciousness, a ragged, barely audible plea for help escaped his lips.

Chills ran straight down Cha Seok-du’s spine as he bellowed at the top of his lungs:

“…He’s right here!”

“What did you say?”

Cha Seok-du roared a second time to clear any doubt.

“He’s breathing… the bastard is still breathing…!”

In that single breath, the members of the Envoy Delegation dropped to their knees, overwhelmed by pure relief.

“I knew it! Jin So-un, the legendary Black Dragon Stronghold Master and Vice Alliance Leader of our Black Thought Alliance, isn’t someone who goes down that easily!”

“Namu Amitabha…”

Simultaneously, the sea of Black Thought Alliance warriors packed around Dam-ak’s quarters erupted into an absolute frenzy of celebration. The image of this selfless, fiercely loyal operative from the Murim Alliance Envoy Delegation—who had put his life on the line to rescue Dam-ak, an icon fiercely idolized by the younger generation of the Black Path—had left an indelible mark on their souls.

“Jin So-un!”

“Jin So-un!”

“Black Flame Dragon!”

“Black Flame Dragon!”

Within minutes, the thunderous echoes of the title Jin So-un loathed more than anything else began reverberating across the entire Black Thought Alliance, passed from one cheering mouth to the next.

—

Jegal So-myeong stepped quietly into the private study of Hyeok Mu-gang.

“We have finally received correspondence from Shadowless.”

“Give me the summary.”

“He indicates that a shadowy contingent had been systematically intercepting our Carrier Pigeon Letters and field messengers around the perimeter of the Black Thought Alliance until just recently.”

“A shadowy contingent?”

Hyeok Mu-gang’s eyebrows knit together in concern. It was highly unusual for Jegal So-myeong to deliver a report using such ambiguous language.

Jegal So-myeong confirmed with a nod.

“He reported that they left absolutely no clues linking them to any known faction in the realm.”

Observing the grim expression on Jegal So-myeong’s face, Hyeok Mu-gang could easily surmise the identity of this mysterious faction. Jegal So-myeong was undoubtedly reaching the exact same conclusion. However, as a master of intelligence, the strategist refused to voice an assumption until it was backed by undeniable proof.

“Furthermore, they uncovered saboteurs embedded deep within the Black Thought Alliance who were proficient in the secret arts of prominent Orthodox Path clans.”

“What are you saying?!”

Hyeok Mu-gang straightened up instinctively, his muscles tensing.

An intentional intelligence blackout combined with saboteurs masquerading as members of the Orthodox Path.

Hyeok Mu-gang pressed urgently for answers.

“We need to clear the air immediately, don’t we? We must convey to them instantly that our leadership had absolutely nothing to do with those agents.”

The stage was perfectly set for the deep-seated resentment that had festered between the Orthodox Path and the Black Path for generations to detonate into open warfare. He couldn’t even be certain if the diplomatic Envoy Delegation dispatched by the Murim Alliance had survived the fallout. Beyond the survival of those diplomats, this misunderstanding had the potential to ignite a catastrophic war.

“Is our Envoy Delegation out of harm’s way?”

Watching Hyeok Mu-gang shift restlessly as if he might dash straight off toward Shanxi this very second, Jegal So-myeong let out a soft, controlled breath.

“The reports state that they survived the ordeal intact.”

“Could they be held captive as political pawns?”

Even if a perfect pretext had dropped into their laps, the Black Thought Alliance wasn’t currently in a position to sustain a massive, coordinated war effort. Still, there remained a dangerous probability that they might execute the Envoy Delegation simply to pacify the boiling rage of the Black Path public.

“The intelligence indicates they are moving freely, so you can set your anxieties aside.”

“Set my anxieties aside?”

Hyeok Mu-gang stared back, his expression clouded with intense skepticism. Even from a brief overview, the scale of these events was staggering. If he could recognize the volatility of the situation, someone of Jegal So-myeong’s intellect must be acutely aware of how close they were to the edge… so how could he remain so utterly unflappable?

Anticipating his leader’s confusion, Jegal So-myeong offered further clarification.

“According to the dispatch, it was actually our own Envoy Delegation that unmasked the hidden traitors inside the Black Thought Alliance.”

“Excuse me?”

Hyeok Mu-gang was thoroughly bewildered now. It wasn’t even the counter-intelligence officers within the Black Thought Alliance who unearthed the spies, but rather the diplomatic team sent directly from the Murim Alliance? Given that the saboteurs were employing Orthodox Path techniques, shouldn’t our diplomats have been the primary targets of suspicion instead?

“To be entirely precise, the intelligence attributes the discovery of the deep-cover agents within the Black Thought Alliance entirely to Jin So-un.”

“Jin So-un? By what means? How could he possibly pull that off?”

“…”

Jegal So-myeong’s lips twisted slightly, looking as though he found the explanation too ridiculous to even utter aloud. Seeing that reaction, Hyeok Mu-gang’s impatience only intensified.

“Grand Strategist, speak plainly.”

Prompted by Hyeok Mu-gang’s insistence, Jegal So-myeong finally relented.

“…He apparently exposed them by employing Mind-Reading Art.”

“……What?”

An absolute, heavy quiet descended upon the private study. Hyeok Mu-gang stared blankly, wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him.

“Mind-Reading Art?”

“Precisely.”

“…But isn’t the Taeul Sect fundamentally a Daoist lineage?”

“Alliance Leader…”

Jegal So-myeong sighed. Whether the man belonged to a Daoist school or a Buddhist order, shouldn’t the primary shock stem from the sheer absurdity of identifying deep-cover enemy combatants using something as mythical as Mind-Reading Art in the first place?

“Ah, hold on, that’s not the core issue here. What does that actually mean in reality?”

“I am just as blind as you are. That is the exact phrasing utilized in the update delivered by Shadowless.”

“…”

While it was a massive relief that their communication lines had been restored, trying to construct an accurate tactical assessment based on such disjointed and outright fantastical summaries was an exercise in futility. Furthermore, Shadowless had scribbled down a claim as wild as Mind-Reading Art without providing a single shred of context or explanation. Jegal So-myeong resolved right then that the moment Shadowless set foot back in headquarters, the personal guard would receive a rigorous re-education on proper intelligence reporting protocols.

“In any event, because he apprehended the actual perpetrators, the volatile assumption that the Murim Alliance had planted espionage agents to destabilize them has been completely dismantled.”

“…We practically skated past the brink of devastation.”

The threat of the Blood Cult was still actively looming over Sichuan. If they had been forced into an active conflict with the Black Thought Alliance simultaneously, the Murim Alliance would have found itself facing an existential crisis without precedent. Therefore, even if it occurred through baffling means, defusing that massive misunderstanding was an astronomical achievement.

“However…”

Hyeok Mu-gang, pondering the sequence of events, spoke up once more.

“Did he truly manifest Mind-Reading Art?”

“……Alliance Leader.”

Hyeok Mu-gang was practically burning with curiosity. If that wasn’t the explanation, how else could a young martial artist isolate deep-cover agents while surrounded by hostile forces who already viewed him as the prime suspect?

“Are you telling me you aren’t plagued by curiosity, Grand Strategist?”

“…”

Judging by the visible twitching of Jegal So-myeong’s mouth, his internal thoughts weren’t far off from those of the Alliance Leader.

“We have far more pressing matters to attend to than debating that phenomenon.”

The fact that the strategist specified “than debating that phenomenon” suggested he fully intended to interrogate Jin So-un regarding the mechanics of his success the moment the young man returned. Acknowledging that tacit agreement, Hyeok Mu-gang nodded along.

“That is a fair point. The campaign down in Sichuan is consuming far more time than we initially allocated.”

The cold season was fast approaching. If the military engagement dragged on into the dead of winter, the foundational stability of the Murim Alliance could begin to fracture. Yet, they couldn’t simply pack up and retreat with the Blood Cult operating unchecked right before their eyes. If they abandoned the region while it was infested with zealots wielding horrific Witchcraft, the potential consequences were entirely unpredictable.

Hyeok Mu-gang sought his strategist’s counsel carefully.

“Even with the diplomatic friction resolved at the Black Thought Alliance headquarters, we still can’t expect the Black Path factions stationed in Sichuan to simply pack up and leave, can we?”

It was a classic tactical stalemate; they could neither press forward effectively nor withdraw safely. He recognized that the outlook was bleak, and facing this immutable wall was becoming intensely draining.

Jegal So-myeong paused in deep contemplation before responding with absolute certainty.

“Alliance Leader, move forward and eradicate the Blood Cult.”

“…Is that wise? The localized Black Path clans in Sichuan will seize that opening to strike our rear guard.”

“The leadership of the Black Thought Alliance has formally committed to backing our campaign in Sichuan.”

“What did you say?”

Hyeok Mu-gang’s eyes opened wide in sheer disbelief.

Jegal So-myeong detailed the arrangement in an even, measured tone.

“The diplomatic Envoy Delegation representing the Murim Alliance has reportedly hammered out an accord during this very Founding Ceremony. The Black Thought Alliance has officially categorized the Blood Cult as a Public Enemy of the realm, while concurrently entering into a non-aggression pact with the Murim Alliance that will remain active until the Blood Cult is entirely wiped out.”

Hyeok Mu-gang’s jaw dropped.

Simply securing a guarantee that they wouldn’t be ambushed from behind while engaged on the front lines would have been a massive victory, but convincing them to declare the cult a Public Enemy as well? Even if their tactical coordination was minimal, having the Black Path martial artists actively pressure the enemy meant they could dismantle the Blood Cult in a fraction of the time.

“How did they manage to extract those terms?”

When a piece of intelligence sounded too flawless to be realistic, it naturally invited skepticism. Hyeok Mu-gang was experiencing that exact wave of disbelief.

Jegal So-myeong let out a sharp, incredulous chuckle, clearly sharing his leader’s astonishment.

“The documents confirm it as absolute fact. The logs attribute the successful engineering of this entire treaty to Jin So-un.”

“Jin So-un did this?”

“The information is beyond reproach, considering the field report was compiled and dispatched by Ak Byeong-bi himself.”

“Ah, Ak Byeong-bi…”

Hyeok Mu-gang was well acquainted with the bitter history that existed between the Ak Clan and Jin So-un. Given the profound animosity that must have lingered after that specific confrontation, Ak Byeong-bi would be the last person on earth to fabricate a glowing review or invent fictitious achievements just to elevate Jin So-un’s standing within the hierarchy.

“What sort of madness actually took place within the halls of the Black Thought Alliance?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

Since Ak Byeong-bi’s training lay entirely within the jurisdiction of the Execution Pavilion, he lacked a nuanced understanding of the specific formatting and comprehensive data required by the Mantongbu intelligence branch. Jegal So-myeong made a mental note that this situation underscored a desperate need to standardize reporting structures across all secondary pavilions and administrative halls.

“Regardless of the chaos, this is our current reality. Therefore, once we have briefly verified that the localized Black Path forces in Sichuan are adhering to the terms, we must move decisively to crush the Blood Cult. A brutal winter is looming over us.”

Following a prolonged, heavy silence, Hyeok Mu-gang gave a firm nod of assent.

“We owe an immense debt to that boy Jin So-un.”

“…Indeed. Even if the methodology behind his success raises an incredible amount of red flags.”

By employing a strategy that defied all conventional logic, the young man had delivered an outcome that exceeded their wildest expectations. From Jegal So-myeong’s analytical viewpoint, it was becoming impossible to categorize Jin So-un alongside any of the other conventional prodigies of the current generation. Not even the exceptionally gifted Yong So-ah could be compared to him, because this specific triumph was something that could never be achieved through mere martial prowess alone.

“Hmm… I probably shouldn’t let greed get the better of me, but given that he successfully secured this pact, I find myself wishing for an even greater concession.”

“What are you implying?”

“An enduring coalition. Not just our Murim Alliance, but the entirety of the Jianghu needs to unify if we hope to withstand the massive conflict looming on the horizon, do we not?”

The long-dormant Demonic Cult was consistently leaving calling cards across the territories of both the Murim Alliance and the Black Thought Alliance. The skirmishes they were navigating today were nothing more than a minor opening act for the cataclysm awaiting them in the future. When that storm finally hit, the ideological divide between orthodox white and unorthodox black would lose all practical relevance. To ensure their survival when that day arrived, he wanted to anchor their organization alongside the Black Thought Alliance for the foreseeable future.

Jegal So-myeong slowly shook his head in disapproval.

“A massive portion of the martial artists who flocked to the Black Thought Alliance did so precisely because they are eager to launch a campaign against the Murim Alliance. I seriously doubt Cha Seok-du exercises absolute authority over those radical factions.”

“Ah… so it remains an impossible dream after all?”

“Yes.”

Despite Jegal So-myeong’s immediate dismissal of the idea, Hyeok Mu-gang couldn’t help but muse aloud once more.

“I suppose demanding anything further at this stage would make us look like absolute bandits, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

“Even for someone like Jin So-un, pulling off an alliance of that scale would be pushing his luck, wouldn’t you say?”

Jegal So-myeong stared back at his superior in silence, privately concluding that for some inexplicable reason, the Alliance Leader was acting exactly like a bandit right now.