Chapter 332

Chapter 332
## Chapter 332. Shadow Tracking (2)

—

We stumbled upon more stray students.

“Curse it all…”

Regrettably, this was far from a comforting discovery.

“What in the world is taking place here…”

The reason for the grim mood was that all three academy students we found had already become lifeless bodies.

“Brother Baek!”

Instantly recognizing the deceased, the disciples of the Orthodox Society who had tags along with our group turned deathly pale and rushed toward the remains.

“How could this happen! Just how…!”

Nobody even attempted to administer first aid. Each of the corpses had been violently and brutally mangled. Approaching the fallen youths, I inspected the Jeok-bong-hwan while carefully studying the nature of their injuries.

“……”

The Jeok-bong-hwan remained completely still.

‘Should I view that as a stroke of luck?’

Even Seong-mo-ran, who usually showed little patience for the Orthodox Society members, looked deeply troubled.

“What kind of monster could perpetrate this…”

“It had to be demonic beasts.”

“Demonic beasts?”

She looked back at me with clear skepticism. Her doubt was justified. As students of the academy, most of these individuals possessed talent so immense that ordinary martial artists of their generation couldn’t hope to match them. They were, after all, prodigies cultivated through the absolute backing of their respective clans and prominent families. Moreover, since setting foot in the Muk-rim, our own group had done nothing but slaughter these creatures. To accept that such martial artists had fallen to mere beasts was difficult to swallow.

“Look at their forearms; you can see distinct discoloration. They were almost certainly injected with venom first.”

“Venom…”

It likely wasn’t a particularly lethal toxin. Probably just a minor insect venom that anyone with decent internal cultivation could easily suppress under normal circumstances. However, the unforgiving environment eventually wore them down until they became wandering ghosts.

“Once they lost contact with the primary group, they must have wandered aimlessly until exhaustion set in. Weakened by the poison, they ultimately fell prey to the demonic beasts.”

An advanced inner cultivation grants a person the resilience to survive extreme trials, but ironically, it can also accelerate their doom. Feet swifter than average would cause them to run in futile circles within the same area, while a reliance on raw power would convince them they could force their way out of a crisis where they should have instead laid low and conserved their energy. Ultimately, a fatal overabundance of pride cut their lives short. This was precisely the trap Yang-ja-pyeong had been apprehensive about since we entered the Muk-rim.

“We have to increase our pace.”

There was no telling how many others had been separated along the trek, but if the situation deteriorated further, we could be looking at a catastrophic loss of life. Naturally, our speed quickened with every passing moment.

“Representative. I believe our best course of action is to loop back from this point.”

Yang-ja-pyeong spoke up as he stared at the immense Cheon-yeon-jin blocking the path ahead. Rather than offering a verbal reply, I glanced down at our tracker.

“The truth is, a gap of two full days has opened up between us, and the trail is growing incredibly faint.”

This meant we possessed no leeway to retrace our steps. Turning around, I surveyed the group. Without my fully realizing it, our numbers had swelled to nearly fifty individuals. I couldn’t guarantee that every single one of them would survive a trek through the Cheon-yeon-jin.

“For the time being, perhaps we could leave a portion of the group here while we search for the others and return…”

Ignoring the tracker’s recommendation, I took a step forward. Leave them behind? Given the circumstances, that was technically the logical choice. However.

“……”

I had a dark premonition that if I left them to return later, I would only find more corpses.

*Rumble.*

A powerful resonance vibrated deep within my hand. Given our volatile environment, I had intended to husband my energy for critical encounters, but circumstances left me with no alternative.

*K-booooom!*

Following a thunderous detonation, the massive Cheon-yeon-jin that had obstructed our advance disintegrated into nothingness. Glancing over my shoulder, I shrugged.

“Let’s move out. Lugging dead bodies back through this forest is a miserable task. Isn’t it far better to escort them while they still draw breath?”

“……”

No one found the words to counter me.

As we ventured further into the heart of the corrupted territory, the scale of each Cheon-yeon-jin grew progressively vaster. Even so, the scent our tracker was trailing forged directly through the barriers, meaning that—

“Jin Gong-ja. You must halt. If you keep this up, your body will give out before anyone else’s.”

Accepting the chilled water Eun-seol-ran extended to me, I emptied the container in a single gulp. It was undeniable that the sheer physical strain was immense, far outpacing the recovery of my internal energy. If a person of my caliber was feeling this drained, the state of the others required no explanation.

“I can manage. I’ve been utilizing meditative breathing during our brief periods of rest.”

The core issue, naturally, was that my rate of expenditure far exceeded what little I could recover.

“Gong-ja-nim. From this point onward, please command us. If we pool our internal reserves together, we should be fully capable of shattering the Cheon-yeon-jin as well.”

Nam-gung-seon-hwa offered this suggestion as she approached, accompanied by several disciples from the Orthodox Society. The Orthodox Society youths wore sheepish expressions and struggled to meet my gaze, though they managed to mumble:

“Well… if you drop from exhaustion, we’ll end up as helpless children stranded in these woods too. Hmph, don’t misunderstand, it’s not as if I have some hidden motive.”

The young man muttered this with a deeply earnest, flushed face. I stared at Nam-gung-seon-hwa, who had clearly prompted them to step forward, and let out a faint smile. She possessed far more resolve than I had initially credited her with.

“Very well.”

I gave a prompt nod of agreement. Blindly exhausting my own vital energy in isolation was a losing strategy. Yet, as we pushed onward, the portents we encountered grew steadily bleaker. The stragglers we located a mere half-hour later were already cold to the touch.

“…They are gone. And these individuals show no signs of envenomation.”

“……”

We had uncovered another cluster of five bodies. While the Jeok-bong-hwan did not vibrate, I noticed a peculiar detail regarding their trauma.

‘These marks were indisputably left by a weapon…’

Though the flesh was mangled to simulate the work of a savage beast, the clean, precise lacerations of a blade were unmistakable.

“These martial artists were not slain by demonic beasts.”

“What? What are you implying…”

I elaborated on my statement by gesturing toward the chest cavity of a nearby corpse.

“The wounds bear a superficial resemblance to the talon marks from earlier, but the angle and precision of the cut are far too refined.”

“You are right…”

The surrounding Orthodox Society members, who had been observing the examination in silence, flared up with indignation.

“Who would dare! To do this to our people…!”

Regardless of the fury consuming the Orthodox Society, my own thoughts became heavily entangled.

“Dae-sa-hyeong.”

Eun-ho, who seemed to share the same dark foreboding as myself, stepped closer, his face betraying deep apprehension. I queried him.

“What is your assessment?”

“A single discrepancy has been troubling me for some time now.”

“Speak.”

“The signal flares.”

“…!”

To mitigate disasters within the Muk-rim, every single academy student had been supplied with a trio of signal flares. A green flare denoted being lost, a yellow flare indicated severe injury, and…

“Given a crisis of this magnitude, shouldn’t a red flare have been deployed as a matter of course?”

“Indubitably.”

Eun-ho held up the unused signal apparatuses he had apparently collected from the dead.

“Yet they failed to discharge a single one.”

“…We must conclude that they were stripped of the opportunity to use them.”

“Precisely.”

Had it been a standard skirmish, or a tense standoff where both sides were assessing one another, they would have easily fired off a flare. Regardless of an adversary’s prowess, an academy student is more than capable of buying the split second required for such an action. Yet, not a single flare had been lit.

“We have to operate under the assumption that they were caught completely unawares.”

“Because this is a restricted zone, they likely believed no external parties could be present save for our own people.”

“And even if an unfamiliar figure emerged, they would assume it was a rescue detachment or a fellow disciple.”

“It means someone took lethal advantage of their dropped guard.”

I pushed myself to my feet without delay.

“We must hasten our march.”

“Agreed. If it can be helped, we need to link up with the primary force immediately. The instructors should be stationed there.”

Eun-ho’s logic was flawless. Not a single student in the academy had been conditioned for a betrayal of this nature. Nobody could have anticipated it. The current scene proved as much; the Orthodox Society disciples were merely blinded by rage over the immediate casualties, entirely oblivious to the larger threat looming ahead.

I peered into the pitch-black horizon of the boundless woodland.

“We are moving out again.”

A sinister plot was unfolding within the Muk-rim.

“Brother Jong. Is it truly wise for us to proceed in this manner?”

“……”

“Brother Jong!”

Jong-chu-ak violently twisted his shoulder to dislodge the hand grasping him.

“Are you genuinely content to just follow them blindly like this!”

“What alternative do you suggest?”

“We ought to collect the remains of our comrades and head back—”

“Jin-so-un gave his word. We will recover them on our return journey!”

The expression of the young man confronting Jong-chu-ak turned rigid and sullen.

“You place your faith in Jin-so-un? When the senior members of the Cheong-seong Sect catch wind of this behavior, they will scarcely approve—”

“Hold your tongue.”

“…!”

Biting down hard on his lower lip, Jong-chu-ak aggressively seized the speaker by his robes.

“If you have such a grievance, why don’t you voice it directly? Go speak to Jin-so-un.”

“……”

“What is the matter, do you lack the nerve?”

That was the bitter reality. The individual currently clearing the path at the vanguard and absorbing the brunt of the beast attacks belonged to the very faction under Jin-so-un that they normally despised with a passion. Jong-chu-ak released his grip on the collar with an indifferent shove.

‘What have we actually accomplished out here?’

Due to the oppressive environment, deploying one’s martial arts had become an agonizing chore ever since they set foot in the Muk-rim. To make matters worse, he had become detached from the main group, and after suffering a bite from a venomous insect, his strength refused to return even after the poison subsided. He was a martial artist who had endured training so brutal that he feared no peer within the Cheong-seong Sect, yet inside the Muk-rim, he found himself reduced to a helpless invalid, looking for all the world like a commoner who had never practiced a single stance.

Raising his eyes toward the front of the line, his gaze fell upon a broad, dependable back.

‘Jin-so-un…’

In stark contrast to his own pathetic state, Jin-so-un’s companions were operating with their usual vitality—if anything, they seemed even more energetic than before. They systematically slaughtered any demonic beasts in their path, monitored the condition of the wounded, and while maintaining a strict watch over both the vanguard and the rearguard, they broke new trails ahead while ensuring no one was left behind.

Witnessing this display continuously, the internal certainty that he could not afford to separate from this collective grew absolute.

“If you lack the stomach to confront him, then bite your tongue and keep pace. We are devoid of options at present.”

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but reality left no choice. Ever since losing the main body, an inexplicable dread had been steadily wrapping itself around his heart. At the very least, trailing in Jin-so-un’s wake offered a modicum of solace.

“Tch! To think the illustrious Jong-chu-ak has been reduced to such a pathetic state.”

Even the mockery from his fellow Orthodox Society members failed to spark his anger. At this juncture, pure survival superseded all pride. Right then—

“…Gah!”

A youth who had been returning to his position while sneering suddenly froze in absolute terror, his eyes locked onto the dense undergrowth.

“A—a demonic beast…”

The very creatures that had once been mere fodder for their advancement had transformed into apex predators seeking their lives.

“What are you freezing for! Flee this instant—”

Before Jong-chu-ak’s warning could fully echo through the trees, the creature lunged.

*Roar!*

A massive imugi coiled forward, attempting to decapitate the paralyzed disciple in a single bite—

*Stab!*

The serpent failed to claim its prize as a steel blade clean pierced through its skull.

“…This doesn’t even qualify as a true demonic beast. Maintain your focus! No matter how depleted your reserves are, this is a creature you possess the skill to slay.”

“……U-uh, that…”

The individual who had been hurling insults at Jin-so-un moments prior was so utterly unstrung that his legs refused to support him. Jin-so-un turned his gaze toward Jong-chu-ak.

“Horse-nose. You can manage this one, correct?”

Jong-chu-ak found it difficult to force his jaw open.

“…Why do you push yourself to this extent?”

“What?”

Jong-chu-ak glanced back toward the front of the column. Even with compressed strides, the gap covered was roughly three *jang*. It was painfully obvious that Jin-so-un, leading from the absolute front, must have expended an immense amount of internal energy to bridge that distance in a flash. That was the source of his bewilderment. If they themselves were pushed to their absolute limits, there was no logical reason Jin-so-un wasn’t suffering similarly.

“I am asking why you choose to overexert yourself to preserve our lives.”

It was an inconvenience the man could have easily bypassed. Even if casualties occurred, no one would hold Jin-so-un accountable under these conditions. Yet, the youth repeatedly intervened, even at the cost of damaging his own stamina.

“I want to know what your ultimate objective is—”

“Did you not desire to survive?”

“What?”

“I am asking if you chose to follow my lead because you wished to remain among the living.”

arrogance.
“……”

Jin-so-un wiped his blade with an detached flick of his wrist and grunted.

“In that case, so long as my body functions, I view it as my obligation to ensure you fools survive as long as possible. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“ Rogues.”
“……”

“Does that suffice? Then tend to him.”

Hoisting the trembling martial artist up and securing him over his shoulder, Jin-so-un resumed his forward march. Watching the expanding distance between them, Jong-chu-ak felt a sudden wave of awe.

‘…Has his frame always appeared that imposing?’

A figure grander than a towering peak seemed to stand before him.

The passage of time within the Muk-rim was notoriously swift, and the rapid twilight quickly plunged the terrain into a heavy gloom.

‘Not a single sliver of moonlight penetrates the canopy.’

The dense, overlapping branches entirely obscured the night sky, casting the area into what felt like an absolute abyss. They attempted to ignite torches, but the flickering flames failed to illuminate beyond a mere *jang* in front of them. For this reason, they had strictly avoided nighttime travel until now. Tonight, however, circumstances dictated that they press on regardless of the dark.

They clustered the injured in the absolute center of the formation, tasking able-bodied fighters with carrying two casualties apiece on their backs. Without such measures, maintaining a steady advance while safeguarding the vulnerable was impossible.

“Representative, you should take this opportunity to recuperate. Allow me to assume the vanguard.”

Yang-ja-pyeong volunteered to take over the lead position, but I immediately dismissed the notion. In a treacherous environment where an ambush could occur at any second, I couldn’t risk placing him at the front. Besides, my own reserves were not yet depleted.

“Do not concern yourself. The scout reports we are closing in, so save your anxiety.”

According to our tracker, the gap separating us from the vanguard had shrunk from two full days to a mere half-day’s travel. Given that we had marched for roughly twenty-four hours, this indicated the main force had halted and remained stationary in a single camp. Once we successfully integrated with the primary body and linked up with the instructors, navigating our way out of the Muk-rim would undoubtedly become a straightforward matter.

“We—we have practically arrived.”

The tracker, who had been meticulously filtering the scent through the air, gave his report, prompting a collective wave of relief to wash over my companions and the attached disciples. Joining the main camp meant attaining a baseline of security.

Parting a thick wall of shrubbery, we emerged into a modest clearing. At the sound of our approach, the martial artists resting within the clearing instantly surged to their feet, weapons ringing as they drew them.

*Clang, clang, clang!*

As expected of the main force, their reflexes were sharp. I quickly raised my voice to prevent an accidental skirmish.

“I am the Murim Academy Representative, Jin-so-un!”

“Jin… So-un? You are truly Jin-so-un?”

“The very same.”

I advanced into the light, lifting my torch to illuminate my features. The dozens of figures scattered across the clearing rose to their feet one after another. I directed my query to them.

“Where have the instructors stationed themselves? By now, you must have realized that the situation in this forest has gone completely awry.”

The choice to abandon stray students for the sake of pursuing the Spirit hunt was a grievance to be addressed at a later date. At this precise moment, evaluating the anomalies occurring within the Muk-rim and organizing a unified defense took absolute precedence.

“……”

Yet, my demand was met with total silence.

“I asked for the whereabouts of the instructors!”

“They are not present among us…”

“What? Is this not the main body? With a gathering of this scale, anyone would identify you as the primary group.”

“That is technically correct, but…”

What was the source of this suffocating, uneasy mood? Curiously, these individuals lacked the standard animosity the Orthodox Society usually directed toward me. Instead, every single person appeared utterly defeated, drained of all vitality.

“The instructors departed for the staging base ahead of us.”

“……”

Had I somehow inhaled a hallucinogenic toxin along the trail? The words reaching my ears sounded like absolute madness.

“What sort of absurd nonsense is that? The instructors abandoned the group to go ahead…?”

“They instructed us to remain here. They claimed they would gather additional forces and return for us…”

This made no sense. If that were the reality, what was the nature of the scent our tracker had been pursuing? We had marched to this precise location because the trail led directly here.

“Bro—Brother!”

The tracker who had safely guided us by following the scent trail suddenly spotted a form on the ground. Crawling forward on his hands and knees, he broke into frantic, agonizing sobs. Placed right beside that spot were the lifeless remains of roughly a dozen academy students, arranged in a neat row.

“What in the damn—”

My vision swam. A horrific sense of impending doom flooded my entire being. Why was this sickening, familiar dread mirroring the exact sensations I had endured in my previous life?

In that exact instant.

*Wheeeeeeeee-pew!*

A piercing screech tore through the silence of the night air.

*Pop!*

A crimson flash erupted through the dense canopy above.

“Dae-sa-hyeong!”

The signal originated from the Northeast. That was the exact trajectory of the staging base. Before I could process the sight, the sound of another flare detonating echoed through the forest.

*Wheeeeeeeee-pew!*

*Pop!*

This time, the light flared to the Southeast. But the barrage did not cease there.

*Wheeeeeeeee-pew!*

*Pop!*

*Wheeeeeeeee-pew!*

*Pop!*

A succession of ominous, bloody-red signal flares began to paint the dark skies of the Muk-rim in a terrifying hue.