Chapter 337

Chapter 337
## Chapter 337. Despair (1)

—

Sim-hyeon-gak.

This clandestine intelligence repository was tucked away in the most secluded depths of the Murim Alliance. Its overseers and the methods of its data acquisition remained a total mystery, rendering it an object of intense desire for anyone craving true leverage. It housed everything from the scandalous indiscretions of high-ranking sect leaders to vital strategic insights. My past ability to dismantle the vulnerabilities of the Cheong-juk Fortress, which had long vexed the Cheol-geom Sect, was entirely due to the classified files I unearthed within Sim-hyeon-gak.

Yet, while its political value was undeniable, the crowning achievement of Sim-hyeon-gak rested elsewhere. It was the comprehensive database on the martial arts of the Central Plains. Over the span of five centuries, it had meticulously archived the combat techniques of the various factions that leaned upon the Murim Alliance, and those upon which the Alliance itself depended. By piecing together disjointed observations from public challenges, private sparring, grand exhibitions, and actual battlefields, they managed to reconstruct the complete methodology of those martial arts.

This was, without question, the primary mandate of Sim-hyeon-gak. Constructing a unified model from those scattered fragments permitted a thorough evaluation of these techniques, exposing their intrinsic flaws and strengths. It contained revelations so catastrophic that the entire martial world would be thrown into chaos if the Nine Sects and One Union, or the Five Great Families—indeed, any faction at all—realized it existed. As for the underlying motive behind Sim-hyeon-gak amassing such data, the reason remained a mystery and was irrelevant. These documents were meant to slumber undisturbed within Sim-hyeon-gak for eternity, shielded from the eyes of the world.

‘At least, until today…’

Through the chaotic din of battlefield shrieks, Il-gak’s shout cut through clearly.

“Jin Si-ju!!!”

The adversaries had organized themselves flawlessly and launched their assault at an entirely unanticipated juncture. Conversely, we found ourselves utterly uncoordinated—lacking organized units, tactical blueprints, or defensive protocols.

“Whew…”

The peril was absolute, yet I forced myself to draw a slow, measured breath. I summoned every scrap of data from Sim-hyeon-gak stored within the archives of my mind, dissecting and reconfiguring the information. I didn’t waste time searching for an ideal resolution. The instant the surprise attack succeeded, any hope for an ideal outcome had vanished toward the North Sea. The scenario I had to brace for was the absolute worst-case.

“Jin Si-ju! The opposition is flooding in!”

Expecting a non-existent vanguard to hold the line was as futile as praying for a lone candle to withstand a gale.

“Gah… those bastards are extinguishing the torches!”

“They’ve dissolved back into the dark!”

The priority now was not establishing a rigid defense. Instead, I needed to disrupt the enemy’s advancing rhythm.

“Jin Si-ju…!”

The classified intelligence of Sim-hyeon-gak converged with my personal recollections of combat. I brought to mind every detail concerning the deployment of the Murim Alliance’s forces and the tactical movements of the Wolf Squad.

“Jin Si-ju!!!”

Gradually, a counter-strategy began to take shape.

“Il-gak. How many 18 Arhat Formations can you piece together?”

“What are you implying? The 18 Arhat is fundamentally a technique of the primary monastery’s—”

“There are secular students present who have studied the Arhat Formation as well! Count them too!”

Startled by the depth of my awareness, Il-gak’s gaze darted around frantically before he finally supplied a number.

“Three. I can manage three, though they will be far from flawless…”

“Flawless doesn’t matter. Deploy them immediately!”

“What is the meaning of…”

I spun around instantly, having no leisure to offer explanations. I needed to locate other combatants without delay.

“Who here represents the Wudang Sect!”

“……”

A practitioner from Wudang silently elevated his hand from the crowd.

“How many swordsmen among you can execute the Taiji Seven Stars Sword Formation?”

“…What is your objective?”

Faced with such an oblivious inquiry, an oath slipped past my lips unbidden.

“Dammit, do you honestly think this is the moment for interrogation?”

“……”

“Advance with me if survival is your goal. Otherwise, stay and perish.”

“…We have sixteen.”

“That yields two complete formations. Separate the two who have achieved mastery over the Whirlwind Sword and position the formations to reinforce Shaolin. Order the two Whirlwind Sword practitioners to engage the adversaries from the center of the 18 Arhat Formations.”

“Placing them within the formation risks injuring our own comrades—”

“Those with mastery over the Whirlwind Sword will actually experience a surge in potency under these conditions, so just execute the order!”

Time was a luxury we lacked. I bellowed once more, the veins in my neck distending from the strain.

“Next, Jeom-chang! Where are the members of Jeom-chang!”

“Over here!”

As Wudang’s Taiji Seven Stars Sword Formation anchored itself around Shaolin’s 18 Arhats, the capacity to endure the enemy’s relentless onslaught improved drastically.

“How many among you have acquired the Sun-Shooting Sword Technique?”

“The vast majority of us have.”

“Then provide reinforcement to the Wudang Sect.”

I assigned them their coordinates one after another, stacking their defenses like tiers of a platform. Deprived of the time needed for synchronization, I banked entirely on individual competence. Even if their timing was mismatched, it was of little consequence. Suffering an accidental injury from an ally was far preferable to dying at the hands of the raiders.

“…What are you attempting, Representative Jin.”

“Cheol-sun-jik. You recognize this is no time for pleasantries. Nam-hwa-seong!!!”

“I am present!”

The 12 Peaks Stars established a defensive array centered upon the Sam-won-mun. The Il-ju-mun and Su-ra-mun offered flanking support to the Sam-won-mun, while the Juk-hyeon-bang served as the penetrating wedge. Following them were the Five Great Families. It was an immense stroke of luck that Nam-gung-seon-hwa was on the field. Without demanding a single clarification, she relayed my directives and mobilized the array.

As the defensive perimeters for the three sectors solidified, the panicked shrieks that had echoed across the camp began to dwindle. The blueprint of the array was elementary. The front-line combatants focused entirely on containment, while the left and right flanks offered protection and looked for openings to counter. The rearguard functioned as a precision strike force, delivering devastating area damage to the attackers at key intervals.

This was an integrated grand strategy that bypassed sectarian boundaries, a desperate measure envisioned by the Murim Alliance only when its ranks had been decimated by relentless losses during the Great War of Justice and Evil—a doctrine of a future era that should not have existed today. Yet, it was manifest here, bridging a decade’s gap in time.

“Heads up! It’s within the sweep of the blade!”

“Dammit, if I had anticipated this chaos, I would have committed the trajectories of the Demon-Subduing Sword Technique to memory.”

The coordination remained imperfect, resulting in several friendly-fire mishaps, but the horrific sight of individuals being dragged helplessly into the shadows by the Wolf Squad had finally ceased.

“To think our sect’s square array would align so seamlessly with the fist formation of the Sam-won-mun… it defies expectation.”

“Save the chatter! There are still people isolated outside!”

“Blast it…! Can I not break rank for a moment to pull them in?”

The pressure of the assault began to drift toward the outer perimeter of our line. Once our structure stabilized, the members of the Wolf Squad, who avoided illuminated areas, found it increasingly difficult to breach the array. Consequently, their attention shifted toward the stragglers who had yet to integrate.

“Geum-pyo! As the line advances, pull the isolated people inside.”

“Will you provide a cue?”

“It will be obvious when the moment arrives!”

I immediately bounded toward the contingent from the Orthodox Society.

“Il-gak! Are your movements aligning yet?”

“Jin Si-ju! It remains chaotic. More individuals are taking hits from allied blades.”

“Is that so? Then the timing is perfect. Forward march.”

“What do you mean by…”

“I stated it clearly before. We are shifting to a counteroffensive.”

ed.

“……”

Il-gak stared at me as though I had lost my mind, but alternatives were non-existent. Deny it though some might, the collective possessing the highest martial acumen was the Orthodox Society. In a crisis of this magnitude, one could not rely on sentiment or camaraderie. Competence was the only currency. Thus, the Orthodox Society had to spearhead the pushback.

“Advance!!!”

“Jin Si-ju…”

“Advance!!!”

With my thunderous command, the formation surged forward. The destination was the southeastern sector, where the densest concentration of personnel remained. As the line shifted, the academy students fell into a brief panic once more.

“Maintain your balance! Shorten your steps, that is the only way to avoid striking your comrades!”

Predictably, the martial artists of the Orthodox Society understood their duties instinctively. Even under duress, they held the line and effectively simulated a unified sword array. This discipline ultimately provided the resilience that shielded the collective and served as the driving force for the column’s progression.

“Aaaargh!”

“Gah!”

“Ugh!”

Casualties mounted as they slammed directly into the blades of the Wolf Squad, yet the fatal losses stopped. I kept myself a pace ahead of the main line.

“Dammit… Jin-so-un! Is it your intention to charge ahead unaccompanied!”

“Jin Si-ju…! Cast away your anxiety! I shall maintain the pace!”

*Slash, slash, slash.*

I cleaved through the opposition continuously at the front of the vanguard. Eliminating every single foe was beyond my capability alone. But it was unnecessary. The martial elites of the Orthodox Society advancing in my wake would neutralize any surviving Wolf Squad members regardless. My role was simply to unleash a relentless barrage to shatter the enemy’s composure.

*Rumble.*

In the next breath, I unleashed the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm infused with the full might of the tenth level.

*K-boooooom!*

I felt a sudden, massive drain on my internal reserves, but the outcome was undeniable. A swath of the woodland was utterly vaporized. A Wolf Squad member pivoted frantically to evade the concussive force of the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm. I closed the distance instantly.

*Slash, slash, slash.*

On this occasion, I didn’t stop at merely drawing blood; I struck with lethal intent. My objective was to force a total retreat.

‘Jeok-rang! Where is Jeok-rang?’

I lacked knowledge regarding their exact numbers or their ultimate design here, but every adversary contesting this ground belonged to the Wolf Squad.

*Clang, clang, clang!*

If I could eliminate their commander, the Captain, the rest of the unit would crumble with ease.

“Gah!”

“Aaaargh!”

I pressed forward relentlessly, cutting a path through the unending waves of Wolf Squad skirmishers.

*Swish!*

My focus sharpened instantly as an immense pressure manifested. I mobilized the Tae-eul True Scripture to its absolute limit and swung the Red Light Sword with maximum velocity.

*Boom!*

Our weapons clashed, generating Sword Astrals, yet I failed to cleave through my opponent. This confirmed that the adversary was an expert capable of manifesting Sword Astral as well. As the white vapor dissipated, a figure emerged who stood apart from the standard black-clad raiders.

“Jeok-rang…”

As I ground out his name through clenched teeth, the eyes visible behind his mask widened marginally. Yet his hesitation was momentary. He transitioned into motion immediately, fully aware of his objective.

*Swish!*

His weapon, slightly shorter than a standard saber, was clearly optimized for a fluid combination of slashing and thrusting; the velocity of his thrust was lethal. When I took two steps backward to create separation, Jeok-rang pursued instantly, refusing to grant me breathing room.

‘So that is his approach.’

I unleashed the Ten Thousand Flowers Peerless Fist directly at the closing adversary.

*Thump, thump, thump.*

Though it was a collision between fist and steel, a metallic resonance echoed through the air. I had reinforced the strike with Astral Power. It was a bizarre display. The opponent exhibited no visible signs of Saber Astral, yet he successfully neutralized my Astral Power. Was he an practitioner of extreme efficiency? If managed properly, a massive display of Astral Power merely drains one’s own reserves needlessly. Forcing the engagement on his own tactical terms—it was precisely what one would expect from the leader of the Wolf Squad.

“But that assumes I will play along.”

An practitioner of pure efficiency ultimately falls before overwhelming volume.

“Let’s see you neutralize this efficiently!”

I enacted the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Decisive, manifesting six distinct iterations of the “Ten Thousand Swords.” Immediately after, I layered them with Sword Astral, effectively enclosing him within a vortex of pure Astral Power.

*Pop-pop-pop-pop!*

Mirroring his reaction to his name, the man’s eyes distended, and his slender, dark Astral Power expanded dramatically. Even you have no choice but to be overwhelmed when the scale changes.

*K-boom! K-boom!*

Even amidst the concussive detonations, a savage Saber Astral erupted outward. Blast it, a fraction of a second’s delay on my part would have resulted in a fatal puncture. As the echoes of the blast receded, I spotted Jeok-rang, his right hand completely mangled, leaping out from the freshly gouged crater.

“Die, you bastard!”

The moment I unleashed the Small Heaven Sword Technique augmented by Sword Astral, his silhouette dissolved into the earth like liquid.

‘Dammit!’

To think he possessed mastery over the Demonic Cult’s Four-Four Ghost Step. Having evaded the crater to dodge my blade, the man immediately began a rapid retreat.

“You think I will allow your escape!”

Just as I prepared to give chase utilizing the Peerless Solitary Walk, a sudden grip seized me by the collar and yanked me backward.

‘I failed to detect this?!’

A sudden chill raced up my spine. I shed my outer robe instantly to break the hold and swung the Red Light Sword in a wide arc. Yet, the tip of my blade met only empty air.

‘Dammit, what is the meaning of this…!’

I whipped my head around in alarm, and out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my discarded garment fluttering, impaled by a Flying Dragon Claw.

“Eun-ho?”

“Dae-sa-hyeong, they are pulling back.”

At his declaration, I observed the Wolf Squad members, and confirmed they were indeed executing a swift withdrawal.

“It is a relief. Dae-sa-hyeong’s strategy succeeded completely.”

“……”

They are retreating just like this? I have barely initiated the counterattack.

“Dae-sa-hyeong…”

After leaving a field of slaughter behind them, do they truly believe they can depart without paying a price?

*Gritting teeth.*

I ground my teeth together so fiercely against that outrageous arrogance that blood began to seep from my lips.

“Dae-sa-hyeong… our casualties and wounded are severe.”

However, Eun-ho had already shifted his position to block my path, refusing to yield. His hand maintained a iron grip upon my remaining attire, ensuring I could not break away.

“And we… still possess no formal preparation.”

I comprehended the gravity of Eun-ho’s words better than anyone else. Launching a pursuit while burdened with these unorganized academy students was nothing short of suicidal. After steadying my breath, I turned back toward the camp.

“Assess the status of the wounded and deceased immediately. Furthermore, organize the able-bodied into a reconnaissance unit and deploy them. I must ascertain the true extent of what those bastards have engineered.”

I etched the vow deep into my soul that the hour of retribution was fast approaching.

Fifty-three dead.
Thirty-seven critically wounded.
Eighty-eight with minor injuries.
Numerous others with unverified trauma.

By the time the first rays of dawn broke, the collected assessment was grim. While such numbers were typical for a massive engagement, the true severity was magnified because every individual lost was a chosen elite of their respective sect, representing immense institutional investment. The immediate crisis was the total absence of medical infrastructure for the critically injured. Left unattended, their names would soon join the roster of the deceased.

“Representative. Our immediate deficiencies are rations and trauma medicine.”

“State the deficit.”

“……”

Jang-woo-jae went silent. Only after I fixed him with a demanding glare did he speak in a somber tone.

“…We possess less than a single week’s provisions.”

If one were to isolate the most devastating aspect of the prior night’s raid, it was the wholesale destruction of our logistical reserves by fire. The supplies had been concentrated entirely within the storage tents. A month’s supply originally allocated for the Great Journey, supplemented by an additional month’s reserve for contingencies. The vast majority of those resources vanished in a matter of hours. Beyond basic sustenance, even the essential herbs required to stabilize the wounded were gone.

“It is almost as though they calculated the exact amount to leave behind.”

“Pardon?”

“No, disregard that. More urgently, what intelligence has the reconnaissance unit gathered?”

“The initial scouts who returned offered minimal data. They refrained from venturing deep because they lacked certainty regarding where the enemy might be lying in wait.”

This highlighted a fundamental flaw regarding the academy students: because they were groomed exclusively as high-tier talent, their practical utility in a crisis was minimal. To put it simply, because the unit was comprised entirely of individuals trained to command, there was a severe shortage of personnel capable of performing basic operational labor. Everyone excelled at issuing directives efficiently, leaving them ill-suited to function as cohesive subordinates.

“We shall reassess when the remaining scouts return.”

The moment I prepared to stand, an uproar rippled through the camp.

“Out of the way! Clear a path!”

“Create some room! Do we have anyone trained in the healing arts?!”

“Procure water immediately!”

Hearing the commotion, Jang-woo-jae and I traded sharp glances before moving swiftly toward the source of the disturbance. Cutting through the gathering crowd of academy students, I discovered two individuals who had been unaccounted for during the night’s battle. The pair, faces drained of all color, were trembling violently as though afflicted by a severe frost despite the oppressive summer heat.

‘Ha…!’

The diagnosis was instantly apparent to me.

‘Demonic energy.’

The acute symptoms of spiritual toxicity that manifest when an individual is corrupted by demonic energy. I questioned a nearby martial artist.

“These two… where were they recovered?”

“W—we crossed paths with them during our scouting patrol today and escorted them back.”

“What was their distance from the perimeter?”

“In truth… we had not advanced very far from the camp.”

I turned around sharply and bellowed to the crowd.

“Does anyone possess knowledge regarding the designated sector these individuals were assigned to explore!”

A student within the crowd raised his hand to answer.

“They were assigned to the southernmost perimeter. I recall them venting their frustration about being given such a distant sector.”

They navigated all the way back to this encampment from the southern boundary without assistance? I required their testimony. I addressed the two figures who continued to shudder while staring blankly into space.

“Listen to me. Can you comprehend my voice?”

However, the scout who brought them in intervened.

“They are entirely non-responsive. …I am uncertain if they even possess the capacity to comprehend speech at present.”

The combination of absolute terror, malicious intent, and raw demonic energy had likely shattered their cognitive functions. For demonic energy to manifest with such potency… what manner of monstrosities had descended upon this region?

*Hum.*

I closed my fingers around the individual’s hand and began a slow infusion of Jade Clear Heavenly Power. The severe trembling in his hand began to subside. Gradually, stability returned to his entire frame. In that moment, a specific detail caught my attention.

‘What is the meaning of this?’

Upon closer inspection, unmistakable signs of frostbite marred his skin. The current climate of the Muk-rim was identical to the height of a sweltering summer. Before I could fully analyze what could induce frostbite under such conditions, the train of thought was disrupted. Warmth returned to his pallid complexion, and the crimson discoloration in his eyes began to recede.

“Uh… uh…”

The survivor, seemingly regaining awareness of his surroundings, looked about in profound disorientation.

“Wh—why am I in this place…”

I maintained direct eye contact with him.

“Your unit, how did you manage to return here?”

“Eh?? Jin-so-un…? Why are you… present?”

“The records indicate your group proceeded to the southern boundary. Where are your comrades? Did you receive assistance from an outside party during your return?”

In response to my inquiry, he began to mutter a frantic refrain like a rhythmic incantation.

“Other individuals… other individuals…”

His gaze shifted wildly as he attempted to reconstruct his memories, before he suddenly bolted upright from the ground.

“O—o—other individuals… other individuals… Cornered… Fled… Fled… I must escape…”

The standing survivor tilted his head back, his gaze locking onto me.

“Ji—Jin-so-un… Jin-so-un… for what reason are you here??”

The trembling seized his frame once more, his features twisting into a pale mask of horror. I reached out quickly to secure his hand to administer more Jade Clear Heavenly Power, but he slapped my hand away violently. Then, he let loose a shriek saturated with lethal intent.

“I—I must eliminate…!”

“Eliminate? Eliminate what?”

The individual who appeared to be his companion inquired, but the survivor merely shrieked while shuddering violently for several moments. Then, with a shaking index finger—

“E—eliminate…”

He pointed directly at my chest.

“Ji—Jin-so-un. I must eliminate Jin-so-un! I must eliminate Jin-so-un…! I HAVE TO ELIMINATE JIN-SO-UN!!!!!”