Chapter 286

Chapter 286
## Chapter 286. Qualification to Hold the Opportunity (2)

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[“Whether you choose to surrender or keep pushing forward isn’t the real issue. What matters is that your determination to act remains constant.”]

The parting declaration of So-un-Jin lingered like a persistent phantom in the thoughts of Sun-jik-Cheol for two entire days. He was well aware that So-un-Jin possessed remarkable talents. The man had triumphed in a direct challenge against Il-gak, widely recognized as the premier prodigy of the Academy, and had subsequently secured a grand triumph by guiding a disadvantaged squad during the practical evaluations of military strategy. Even so, that did not imply the foundational combat prowess of the Tae-eul-mun was exceptionally high. It was more accurate to deduce that he achieved his objectives by maximizing supplementary traits—namely his swiftness, intellect, responsiveness, and tactical application.

To illustrate, though So-un-Jin had emerged victorious over Il-gak in single combat… could any other follower of the Tae-eul-mun replicate that success against him?

‘There is no point in even debating it.’

The triumph of Il-gak would be absolute. The combat disciplines of the Tae-eul-mun and the divine arts of Shaolin existed on completely different tiers. Viewed in that light, So-un-Jin shared a particular trait with him. Neither of them wavered to employ any tactic or resource necessary to bridge the gap in raw, quantifiable strength. This relied entirely upon So-un-Jin’s personal genius. When stepping onto the grand stage where organizations clash with organizations and structural force meets structural force, the impact of a single person’s unique talent is naturally diminished. For that reason, that untroubled expression—as though he were uttering the most natural truth in existence—simply refused to fade from his mind.

Furthermore, a separate inquiry began to surface.

[Can So-un-Jin genuinely stand against Jong-nam?]

These were two entities divided by a massive chasm, whether measured by historical legacy or their current scale of influence. Compounding this was the present reality where Jong-nam had mobilized its martial presence to its absolute peak. What meaningful impact could a mere five pupils from the Tae-eul-mun hope to make? Yet, inexplicably, a spark of anticipation kindled within him alongside his doubt. If So-un-Jin managed to pull it off, then by extension…

‘It serves as validation that I can achieve it as well.’

An unusual sensation of hope warmed his chest. Hope, anticipation, indeed…

‘Ha, how ridiculous.’

Sun-jik-Cheol, caught in his internal musings, let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Had he truly fallen so low as to revere his rival simply because he had suffered a few setbacks at his hands? To engage in the sort of romanticism reserved only for the naive. He concluded that his internal discipline had grown somewhat slack since arriving at the Academy.

Right at that instant.

“Hmm?”

Sun-jik-Cheol, who had been lost in his thoughts while resting his weight against his blade, lifted his gaze. The environment was cloaked in shadows, and the braziers that had flickered throughout the evening were slowly dying down into faint embers. Judging by the alignment of the moon, the hour of the Tiger (In-si) was still underway. It was the precise period when even the most fervent dissenters opposing Jong-nam ought to be deep in slumber.

‘Footsteps?’

Sun-jik-Cheol straightened up from the boulder he had chosen as a seat and sharpened his physical awareness. Immediately, he detected the distinct energy of multiple individuals ascending the slopes. What was more, it was far from a solitary pair.

‘The numbers are multiplying?’

He could vaguely discern dozens of presences. These figures were advancing covertly under the cover of night, yet they displayed no real concern for silencing their movements or footsteps. On the contrary, he could even hear audible murmurs and raised voices among them.

‘A midnight raid?’

A massive confrontation sparked by simmering resentment was the absolute worst outcome Sun-jik-Cheol had envisioned. Such devastation would ripple outward and strike the subsidiary houses of Jong-nam first. As Sun-jik-Cheol abandoned his post to sprint toward the central encampment of Jong-nam, Hyeon-jik-Cheol, who had been drifting off nearby, snapped awake in alarm.

“Sun-jik-a, what is unfolding?”

“A crowd is assembling.”

“A crowd? At this hour of the night?”

Sun-jik-Cheol offered a tense, brief nod.

“As a precaution, we must prepare ourselves immediately.”

“Understood, I shall accompany you.”

The moment Sun-jik-Cheol reached the main Jong-nam pavilion, the eyes of the sentry on duty narrowed aggressively.

“State your business.”

“I require an immediate audience with the Hall Master (Dang-ju-nim).”

The guard appeared to be roughly the same age as Sun-jik-Cheol. He had been rejected in the recent Academy trial. Was that the underlying reason for his hostility?

“For what purpose?”

The Jong-nam disciple displayed nothing but coldness toward Sun-jik-Cheol.

‘Then again, treating a member of a lesser branch with such disdain is probably second nature to them.’

Sun-jik-Cheol forced down a mocking smile and lowered his head politely.

“A multitude is currently scaling the mountain tracks.”

“The mountain?”

“Precisely. Given that they are making no effort to mask their approach, it is highly probable they intend to execute a plot.”

The Jong-nam guard let out a condescending laugh.

“Even if they harbor a plot, what can they possibly accomplish?”

The standard arrogance of those who hold dominion. Pure conceit.

“Will you permit me to deliver this warning to the Hall Master?”

“Do you truly believe it is appropriate to disturb the Hall Master’s rest over an insignificance like this?”

“…If they are launching an organized insurrection…”

“Do you honestly imagine Jong-nam can be overwhelmed by a rabble? Mind your place.”

And precisely what causes the mighty to fall is that very same blind hubris. Sun-jik-Cheol silently swallowed another wave of bitterness. While he remained locked in this fruitless dispute with the stubborn sentry.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-crash!

The entire landscape flashed into brilliant clarity for a split second, as though a succession of lightning strikes had torn through the sky.

“W-what was that?!”

“Are we under siege?”

“Rouse the camp!”

At the terrifying resonance of the blast, sounding precisely like detonated thunder-shattering explosives, the sleeping occupants bolted upright with their instincts screaming danger. Out in front of everyone was the commander of the entire operation, the Leader of the Nine Palaces Hall, Su-Gongson.

“Ascertain the source of that disturbance!”

At his sharp directive, a detachment of swordsmen bolted toward the origin of the detonation, while others scaled the high branches to survey the entirety of Mount Ju-dang. As expected of a highly disciplined order, the intelligence arrived swiftly.

“An army of martial artists is storming Mount Ju-dang!”

“A massive opening has been blasted open where the detonation occurred.”

“From the rumors spreading, they claim it is a newly discovered passageway into the Thousand Copper Cave.”

Hearing the report, thick veins bulged prominently in Su-Gongson’s eyes.

“What! A secret path! What were you worthless fools doing while this was being orchestrated! Who held the watch during the hour of the Tiger (In-si)!”

The Jong-nam guard who had previously blocked Sun-jik-Cheol stepped forward, shaking violently under the oppressive weight of the commander’s fury.

“I-I beg for leniency. I was maintaining security directly around the central quarters… T-the Juk-hyeon-bang! The Juk-hyeon-bang was specifically assigned the duty of intercepting any intruders.”

Just as Sun-jik-Cheol was about to intervene to expose the sheer absurdity of this deflection.

‘Ah?’

Hyeon-jik-Cheol caught his wrist to hold him back, stepping into the line of fire instead.

“I offer my deepest apologies, Hall Master (Dang-ju-nim).”

Hyeon-jik-Cheol lowered his upper body in a deep bow, but his submission was answered only by a stinging blow.

Crack!

“You miserable wretches, incapable of performing even the simplest guard duty, dare to call yourselves a branch of Jong-nam?!”

Hyeon-jik-Cheol touched his crimson, stinging face and lowered his chin once more.

“I am deeply sorry. Our vigilance was deficient, preventing us from correctly identifying the advancing forces.”

Su-Gongson’s features twisted as he struggled to contain his raging temper, but the unfolding emergency left him no time for punishment.

“Move out!”

“The Five Spirits Immortal Flower Oil belongs to me!”

“There is an opening that Jong-nam hasn’t secured yet!”

For immediately following the blast, chaotic roars and war cries rippled across Mount Ju-dang, illuminating the dark night with frantic energy. Su-Gongson bit his lip fiercely and spun on his heel.

“Instantly! Secure that gap! Under no circumstances are they permitted to step inside the Thousand Copper Cave!”

Following that absolute order, thirty elite members of the Nine Palaces Hall alongside two auxiliary houses, including the Juk-hyeon-bang, sprinted toward the freshly opened breach. Unfortunately,

“This is madness…”

The ocean of humanity already flooding through the gap was far too vast to count.

“Form a barrier!”

The Jong-nam reinforcements, arriving far too late, attempted to stem the tide of those surging up the mountain paths.

“Halt where you— Argh!”

The desperate warriors, witnessing countless others already slipping into the subterranean depths, were no longer willing to tolerate Jong-nam’s tyranny. Had the restriction remained absolute, they might have stayed back. But with the seals already broken by early intruders, the dynamic altered completely.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clash!

“Get out of the way! You arrogant bastards! I paid twenty pieces of gold for this map!”

“Does the Five Spirits Immortal Flower Oil carry your name?! We have a right to it as well!”

“Break through their lines! Even if they bear the banner of Jong-nam, the majority are merely low-tier branch members!”

The fierce momentum of the mob proved more than enough to drown out any sense of personal terror. Individuals who previously wouldn’t have dared to meet the eyes of a Jong-nam elite were now lunging forward with bared steel, completely untamed. The sudden eruption of violence caught the main Jong-nam disciples entirely off-guard. Moreover, the auxiliary branch members had absolutely nothing to gain from risking their lives in this mess. They naturally held back, fighting with minimal effort, which caused a devastating melee to spiral out of control right at the mouth of the cavern. Caught directly in this storm were Sun-jik-Cheol and his elder brother.

“Sun-jik-a, the masses are flooding inside.”

Hearing Hyeon-jik-Cheol’s urgent words, Sun-jik-Cheol, who had been retreating at a measured pace while deflecting incoming strikes with casual swings, shifted his focus. He watched as opportunistic fighters darted into the freshly blasted cavern entrance one after another, capitalizing on the immense friction.

“…….”

Moments later, as the core Jong-nam martial artists were driven completely away from the threshold by the sheer weight of numbers, the torrent of intruders entering the subterranean maze swelled drastically. This was the optimal window to slip past. Sun-jik-Cheol fixed his eyes on his brother.

“Hyung-nim. I must step inside for a short duration.”

“What?”

As his younger sibling’s focus locked onto the gaping maw of the Thousand Copper Cave, Hyeon-jik-Cheol cried out in absolute panic.

“What insanity are you uttering! How can you possibly predict what perils await you if you plunge into that abyss without preparation…!”

He clamped his hand onto his brother’s sleeve with desperate strength amidst the swirling conflict. Feeling that intense grip, Sun-jik-Cheol looked back into his brother’s eyes. The angry, red mark on his face was starkly illuminated by the surrounding chaos. Sun-jik-Cheol gently but firmly pulled his arm free.

“…Because there is a reality I am compelled to verify.”

“Verify?”

“Yes. I shall explain everything once I return.”

With those final words, he leaped straight into the newly created chasm.

‘This cannot possibly be a random accident.’

The current state of anarchy had to be the execution of a highly calculated strategy. Naturally, a specific face flashed across his consciousness.

[“Whether you choose to surrender or keep pushing forward isn’t the real issue. What matters is that your determination to act remains constant.”]

[“You arrogant Jong-nam fools. Let’s see how well you handle this.”]

So-un-Jin, letting out that low, mocking laugh with a mischievous glint in his eye. He needed to witness it. To see if that man could genuinely orchestrate such an impossible outcome. He had to confirm it with his own vision.

While the martial artists who discovered the third opening into the Thousand Copper Cave battled savagely to claim their passage, the warriors resting down in Xi’an—completely oblivious to the creation of the alternative route—also began to scale Mount Ju-dang in waves. A tremendous vibration and a thunderous roar. Those two signs alone were enough to inflate their expectations to the maximum. If those detestable Jong-nam gatekeepers were still maintaining their iron grip on the main entrance like a stubborn blockage, there was no logical reason for such a monumental uproar. The martial artists ascending the mountain under this assumption grew intoxicated by the signs of chaos and dove straight into the fray.

Concurrently, the Jong-nam command, entirely caught off guard by the secondary breach, frantically redeployed internal forces to try and reinforce the newly exposed gap.

“An opening! There is a vulnerability…!”

As a direct consequence of this reallocation, the primary gate they had spent days defending began to crumble as well.

“Shatter them! Nobody can identify individual faces in this darkness anyway!”

“Overwhelm them with our sheer volume!”

“Charge forward!”

Meanwhile, the junior martial cousins of So-un-Jin—who had effectively ruined Jong-nam’s exclusive gathering and given their enforcers a direct taste of humiliation—were currently sweating over shovels on the polar opposite side of the mountain from the newly blasted third entrance.

“Hyung! Did you hear that commotion?”

Eun-ho-Lee, his eyes widening to the size of a startled woodland creature’s, froze mid-motion. Geum-pyo’s gaze slid toward him, darkening instantly. Is this slacker trying to find another excuse to avoid labor?

“Eun-ho-Lee, did someone permit your arms to stop moving?”

“…No, I am serious, it sounds like absolute bedlam has erupted out there?”

At that moment, Sa-ryeon-Hong cast a sharp, warning glare from where she stood.

“Junior brother, increase your pace, understood? Your progress is lagging behind the rest of us.”

With Sa-ryeon-Hong joining the reprimand, Eun-ho-Lee had no choice but to drop his chin and resume his frantic digging. Seriously, an actual crisis could be unfolding. Why were his companions so remarkably stubborn? It was a mathematical certainty that their temperaments had warped from spending too much time around their eccentric Senior Disciple.

Stealing a glance to his side, So-un-Jin was resting on his haunches, casually chewing on strips of dried meat. Man, that posture looks incredibly familiar… let’s see…

“Ah.”

Recalling where he had witnessed that exact posture before, it perfectly mirrored the neighborhood ruffians who used to corner children in alleyways during his youth to shake them down for pocket money.

‘No matter how I analyze it, he carries himself like a seasoned delinquent…’

The Senior Disciples of rival organizations usually strive to present an aura of dignity and righteous posture. Yet their own Senior Disciple had never once been spotted standing up straight with traditional grace.

“Eun-ho-ya.”

“Y-yes, senior!”

“Your digging speed is dropping.”

“…….”

Furthermore, considering they had already forced open a massive alternative entry, why on earth were they manual-laboring to dig an entirely separate tunnel into the Thousand Copper Cave? Eun-ho-Lee choked down his rising frustration and shoveled like a possessed man. Before long, a subterranean passage carved into the rock face exactly matching the Senior Disciple’s specifications took shape.

“Phew, hah…”

“Senior… the path is cleared.”

“Ugh! This strains the body completely differently than practicing sword forms…”

As the four junior disciples collapsed in exhaustion onto the dirt, So-un-Jin, who had been lounging comfortably in the rear, strolled forward. Then.

Thud, thud.

“Ow…”

…He applied a gentle(?) nudge with the tip of his boot to his fallen companions.

“To think you are whining like children after a simple bit of excavation. Do you truly deserve to call yourselves descendants of the Tae-eul-mun?”

And this was coming from the man who hadn’t lifted a single finger the entire time…! No, fundamentally speaking, what does the noble heritage of the Tae-eul-mun have to do with manual excavation? The furious rejoinders rose to the tips of their tongues, but the sheer lack of oxygen forced the junior disciples to remain silent.

“Good grief, how the great Tae-eul Sword Emperor must be weeping from the heavens, truly tragic.”

“…Senior, why did you command us to excavate an entirely separate pathway? You already orchestrated the creation of that massive entrance on the other side.”

Faced with Sa-ryeon-Hong’s inquiry, So-un-Jin, who had been mock-mourning while gazing at the stars, glanced down as if she had asked the most foolish question imaginable.

“When your objective is to infiltrate an estate unnoticed, you throw a piece of meat to distract the guard dogs.”

“Excuse me?”

“Have you never studied the strategy of making a feint to the east while striking in the west? A massive distraction must be ignited elsewhere so their focus remains entirely diverted from our true position.”

Unbelievable. Their Senior Disciple wasn’t just a petty alleyway thug; he was a master thief. …Was this a trait they were supposed to celebrate? The criminal philosophies of the brilliant So-un-Jin flowed smoothly.

“It works perfectly because Jong-nam is far too preoccupied dealing with the enraged martial artists to look our way, and it benefits the independent warriors because they finally get a fair shot at the prize. Is this not the absolute definition of a mutually beneficial arrangement?”

In reality, Jong-nam would feel as though they had been struck squarely in the groin and then blindsided from behind. Even if he belonged to their own order, his cognitive process was frighteningly deceptive, practically indistinguishable from a professional con artist…

“Hmm? Eun-ho-ya, what is the meaning behind that particular look?”

“Pardon? What look do you mean?”

“Hmm, your face suggests you are gazing upon a piece of absolute trash.”

…His perception was dangerously sharp, easily ranking among the elite of the jianghu. Eun-ho-Lee instantly dropped his gaze and offered a sycophantic smile.

“Haha. How could you think such a thing? I am merely concentrating with all my might to commit your profound insights to memory, as they are nothing short of absolute wisdom.”

“Hmm? Is that truly the case?”

Shortly after, So-un-Jin took his position at the terminus of the freshly dug passage, looking immensely pleased with himself.

“Given the amount of time that has transpired, the Jong-nam enforcers stationed inside the Thousand Copper Cave should have received word of the external breach. Consequently, this specific sector ought to be entirely abandoned.”

Following that declaration, pooling his inner vitality into both palms… he launched a succession of heavy strikes against the final rock partition.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Boom!

With every extension of his arms, the Great Solar Palm (Dae-yang-jang), the traditional martial technique of the Tae-eul-mun, burst forth. The Great Solar Palm possessed quite standard kinetic force and standard speed. Yet in this specific scenario, it was the absolute perfect tool for pulverizing stone without generating a deafening echo.

“Utilizing the chaos outside, our sole task is to silently slip into the heart of the Thousand Copper Cave and secure the Five Spirits Immortal Flower Oil.”

So-un-Jin maintained his steady rhythm of palm strikes against the earth wall while explaining the plan. The junior disciples could not mask their awe at the sheer internal reserve So-un-Jin displayed, launching strike after strike without a moment’s pause, entirely unbothered by the spray of debris coating his face. Prior to the recovery of the Tae-eul Sword Emperor’s true arts, the Great Solar Palm was notorious within the sect for its massive drain on a practitioner’s internal reserves.

Observing that display of raw endurance, the internal monologues of the junior disciples grew complicated.

‘Judging by the consistency of those strikes… just how deep does his internal reserve run?’

‘His foundational martial arts are clearly elite already, so why does he rely so heavily on underhanded strategies?’

‘If I ever find myself opposing Senior Disciple… Ugh! Never. It wouldn’t just end in defeat; I feel like my entire psyche would be utterly shattered…’

How much time slipped away during that continuous assault?

Thud! Crash.

The wall of earth that had been blocking their forward progress suddenly collapsed outward into an open void. Exactly as So-un-Jin had calculated, their tunnel had broken cleanly through into the interior network of the Thousand Copper Cave. So-un-Jin turned his head back toward his juniors, his lips curling into an arrogant smirk.

“Do you comprehend now? This is the true execution of military strategy.”

It felt entirely unorthodox, yet undeniably impressive. It carried an aura of brilliance, yet viewed from another angle, he seemed like an absolute luna—no, he was just highly eccentric. The four junior disciples rapidly shook their heads to purge such disrespectful assessments from their minds. So-un-Jin, entirely oblivious to their internal judgments, signaled their advance with a dramatic wave of his arm. Following his lead, the juniors finally stepped through the threshold into the historic Thousand Copper Cave.

However,

“Huh?! I-it’s an infiltration!”

“Wait, how did you pests manage to bypass the perimeter?!”

“Sound the alarm!”

…What sort of ridiculous development was this? In the exact chamber they had just breached, half a dozen Jong-nam disciples were caught completely off-guard while resting on the floor.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

‘What happened to your flawless military strategy?’

‘The grand feint to the east?’

‘Silently slipping past the guards? Avoiding a confrontation?’

Faced with this utterly humiliating reality, the four junior disciples fixed their senior with intensely judgmental glares, but…

“…What are you staring at? Move forward and neutralize them this instant.”

Their Senior Disciple, So-un-Jin, did his absolute best to ignore their eyes as he charged forward to strike first.