Chapter 387

Chapter 387
## Chapter 387. The Surprise Attack (5)

—

Was the initial strategy inherently rapid? Or did they speed up the execution solely because of my interference? Reflecting on my brief exchange with the third member of the Ghost Five back at Choyeol Manor, and noting how the Murim Alliance sounded the alarm almost the exact instant those assassins perished, every piece of this puzzle seemed to click into place far too seamlessly.

‘If the Chief Strategist had actually perished……’

Severing the roots of the dark recollections threating to bloom in my mind, I concentrated entirely on my sprint. This wasn’t a moment to reflect after the dust had settled; it was a live situation where I still possessed the power to alter the outcome. Besides, I had successfully stationed Dang-seo-hui by his side, and even Yong-so-ah was clinging to him like a shadow. Though absolute certainty eluded me, I believed the Chief Strategist would not meet his end as pointlessly as he had in my previous life.

*Swish—*

Sprinting with a ferocity that made the wind roar in my ears, I began to perceive a dense concentration of presences ahead.

*Tap, tap-tap—*

Utilizing the exact same technique I employed to escape the provincial capital, I bounded off the rooftops, charting a straight path forward. As the streets grew more congested, people turned their heads to stare at my passing figure, but I lacked the luxury to care.

‘Faster, I must go faster……’

Maximizing the absolute velocity of the Peerless Solo God-Stride, I pressed forward.

*Boom, boom—*

Under the weight of my rapid acceleration, shingles shattered beneath my feet here and there, but such collateral damage was trivial given the stakes. Just as expected, the closer I drew to the Murim Alliance, the louder the surrounding chaos became. Looking down, a disorganized mob of people could be seen rushing toward the compound in a state of sheer panic. Right then, someone pointed directly at the roof I was traversing and roared out.

────!

Yet, because my momentum carried me forward like a lightning bolt, their precise words were lost to the wind. It likely wasn’t anything vital anyway. Clearing another five structures, I planted my foot firmly against a high wall, twisting my frame to pivot.

*Bang!*

The exact second my body launched forward, propelled by the kinetic rebound.

*Swish—*

A stray arrow shot out from a blind spot, narrowly missing its mark.

‘An ambush?’

While three of the Ghost Five were already dead by my hand, two more remained unaccounted for. Furthermore, hadn’t that third Ghost Five assassin brought a vanguard of ten warriors from the Heavenly Killing Unit? It wouldn’t be shocking in the least if additional forces from the Flame Marauder Ghost-Eye Unit were lurking in the shadows.

‘Show yourselves……!’

To counter any impending assault without sacrificing my forward momentum, I scanned the environment while maintaining my stride. And then, peering down toward the origin of that projectile, a sense of deep incongruity struck me.

“…….”

A substantial group of combatants was actively pursuing me from the streets below.

‘They are exposing themselves this blatantly?’

At a conservative estimate, there were more than twenty individuals. Further along the path leading directly to the Murim Alliance, that number swelled past thirty.

“Apprehend him!”

“He behaves suspiciously!”

“We have an infiltrator!!”

Only now did their shouts cut through the wind with absolute clarity. The treacherous bastards were actively shifting the blame, painting me as the hostile intruder.

‘Ha, the absolute nerve of these scoundrels!’

To think they would act with such brazen audacity, completely devoid of fear. In that same breath, the reality of just how far these foes were willing to go settled in. Even so, losing my composure here would be fatal.

‘Prioritize securing the safety of the Chief Strategist first.’

Regardless of their numbers, the projectiles they launched failed to pose a genuine threat. Re-channeling my internal energy, I forced my velocity to hit another gear.

*Bang.*

Those sycophants pointed toward my position with even greater theater, inciting the civilian crowd into a frenzy.

────!
───────!

Gnashings my teeth in pure fury at the wretched, deceptive tactics of those vermin, I pressed onward toward the Murim Alliance. I silently swore that I would tear them out by the roots and ensure they paid dearly. Dodging the volley of arrows, thrusting spears, and concealed projectiles raining from all quarters, a wave of minor relief washed over me as the gates of the Murim Alliance finally loomed into view. At the very least, the sentries stationed at the main entrance could not have been replaced, regardless of how deeply those Demon Cult dogs had infiltrated.

“I’m leaving these pursuers to you!”

I prepared to vault across the primary threshold, fully intending to let the guards handle the trailing Demon Cult subordinates.

*Clang, clang, clang.*

Instead, the sentries bared their blades, unleashing arcs of lethal sword Qi directly at me.

‘Dammit, what kind of madness is this……!’

The moment I evaded the deadly energy by the skin of my teeth using the Iron Plate Bridge technique, a fierce, relentless spear sequence known as the Eight-Strike Spear of Trembling Heaven came bearing down on me. It required me to thrust my hand downward while my spine arched backward, executing three rapid rotations before—

“*Huff*……”

I finally managed to break free from the oppressive reach of that relentless spear form. What could this mean? Had the Demon Cult managed to seize control of the outer gates as well? The instant I lifted my gaze to evaluate the situation.

“How dare an outsider breach this sanctuary so recklessly, knowing what ground this is!”

Two sentinels crossed their polearms, completely barricading the main entrance.

“…….”

What was happening here? Before I could even begin to decipher what twisted game they were playing, one of the guards raised his voice.

“Declare your identity! Fail to do so, and you will be branded as a hostile agent and cut down where you stand!”

The tension in the air felt bizarre. Even if this were an elaborate charade, executing it with such conviction in an open, public arena crossed the boundary of logic.

“Identify yourself!”

Enduring a brief pause under the weight of their aggressive questioning, I finally spoke.

“My name is Jin-so-un, representing the Murim Academy!”

Wait, why did the atmosphere shift so abruptly? The moment my identity left my lips, the expressions of my adversaries turned utterly blank.

“Jin-so-un? As in the Black Flame Dragon Jin-so-un?”

“……I am indeed Jin-so-un of the Tae-eul Sect.”

“Where is your verification?”

It dawned on me then that I hadn’t carried my official token. Verification…… how was I supposed to verify myself?

“Word has it that Jin-so-un wields a highly distinctive blade?”

They were undoubtedly referring to the radiant glow emitted by the Red Light Sword……

“I temporarily left it behind while attending to urgent matters.”

“…….”

Their faces radiated absolute skepticism. Honestly, looking at it from their perspective, I had zero methods to validate my claim…… but even so!

“It is the absolute truth!”

“…….”

“If you simply look at my face, you will recognize……”

Right at that critical juncture, the mob that had been tracking my movements swarmed the rear entrance, raising a collective din.

“He is right there! That is the rogue!”

“Sentinels! Secure that man! I witnessed him sprinting toward the fortress with everything he had the exact moment the alarm was raised.”

“This wretch is undoubtedly part of the assassination plot……!”

Dozens of individuals clad in the official attire of the Alliance closed in around me.

“Ha……!”

As it stood, both parties were entirely convinced the other represented the strike team.

“What kind of absolute garbage are you spewing! I arrived here specifically to safeguard the Chief Strategist!”

When a low growl escaped my throat, the surrounding Alliance personnel flinched, instinctively retreating a step. One of the gatekeepers, exchanging a tense look with his comrade, pressed me once more.

“Are you truly…… the Black Flame Dragon Jin-so-un?”

“……I am, without a doubt, Jin-so-un of the Tae-eul Sect.”

“Understood. That atrocious temper of yours aligns perfectly with the rumors.”

Since when did my difficult personality serve as a valid form of identification? No, putting that absurdity aside.

“Is that clear now? I barely survived a lethal ambush just moments ago. I was targeted by volleys of arrows from those very people!”

“……I might consider believing that after taking a proper look at your current state.”

Glancing down at myself, the reality struck me.

‘Ah…….’

I had entirely overlooked the fact that I was completely soaked in crimson fluid from my brutal encounter with the Ghost Five member and the vanguard of the Heavenly Killing Unit.

“M-my apologies. I was moving at a frantic pace.”

“Well…… I suppose I can understand the context. However, because an ‘official’ verification of your identity cannot be conducted under these terms, I am barred from granting you entry.”

“What nonsense are you talking about! Every second counts right now!”

“The immediate crisis has passed. The emergency order has been rescinded, and we have merely transitioned to a state of heightened vigilance. Jin-so-un, whatever catastrophe you imagined was unfolding, I assure you it is not happening.”

“…….”

Continuing his explanation, the sentinel wrinkled his nose in distaste and took a step back.

“Regardless, withdraw for now, change out of those wretched garments into something acceptable, and return with a proper token of identification. Only then will I permit your passage.”

While it brought some comfort to know the emergency status had been downgraded, an irritating sensation of doubt lingered within me.

*Sniff, sniff, ugh…… the stench.*

I truly must have looked like an absolute madman sprinting wildly through the streets of Wuhan.

Retreating to the Wuhan outpost of the Ha-o-mun, I prioritized washing the grime and blood from my flesh as quickly as possible. Donning a pristine set of martial robes provided by the local branch leader, I hastily gathered my gear and retraced my steps to confront the gatekeeper once more.

“So you truly were the Black Flame Dragon Jin-so-un.”

“…….”

I opened my mouth to offer a retort to the murmuring sentinel as he inspected my token and unique blade, but thought better of it and held my tongue. Ascertaining the current reality inside the Alliance took absolute precedence over my pride.

“You likely won’t find passage into the inner chambers. A full-scale inquiry is currently underway.”

“Is the Chief Strategist out of danger?”

“…….”

Tightening his jaw, the sentinel hesitated for a brief moment before offering an answer.

“Direct your steps toward the *Mantong-bu*.”

The *Mantong-bu*…… to think that even after surviving a coordinated assassination attempt the previous night, he refused to retreat to a heavily fortified sanctuary, opting instead for the *Mantong-bu*? I made my way there, recognizing it as a calculation entirely line with the nature of Zhuge-so-myeong.

The inner compound was illuminated so brilliantly that it resembled a bustling pleasure district, making it difficult to comprehend that it was the dead of night. The sole contrast lay in the complete absence of rowdy, intoxicated revelers.

‘Then again, it would be entirely unnatural for the compound to remain tranquil when the Chief Strategist himself was targeted.’

In truth, the internal dynamic of the Murim Alliance had been thoroughly upended. Not a single soul permitted their stern expression to falter. The individuals facing termination or demotion as a direct consequence of this security failure likely wouldn’t see the cold sweat dry from their spines anytime soon. The fallout wouldn’t conclude with mere dismissals; every past transgression and minor infraction they had committed would be dragged into the light during the impending audit. It was highly probable that multiple administrative branches or even entire allied sects would feel the shockwaves of this failure.

‘Well, none of that concerns me.’

A portion of the suffocating dread that had weighed heavily on my chest began to dissipate. Even though the Ghost Five had initiated their strike far ahead of the anticipated timeline, a catastrophic failure had ultimately been averted. The current reality diverged significantly from my past life. A rival coalition known as the Four Black Lotus (*Sa-heuk-ryeon*) had officially crystallized, and Dam-ak, their reigning Chief Strategist, was presently acting as an emissary. Had Zhuge-so-myeong fallen under these precise conditions…….

‘Dam-ak would have found himself at the absolute top of the suspect list immediately.’

It was a certainty that a conflict vastly more devastating than the friction between the *Jeongdo-hoe* and the *Baekdo-hoe* would have ignited. Though matching wits and blades with the Ghost Five had exacted a heavy toll on my mental stamina, the ultimate payoff was profoundly rewarding.

As these reflections crossed my mind, I arrived at the entrance of the *Mantong-bu*, where the two figures I fully anticipated encountering stood waiting.

“What took you so long?”

Dang-seo-hui demanded, her expression sour as she pouted aggressively.

“…….”

Beside her, Yong-so-ah fixed his gaze upon me, his features locked in that familiar, uninviting scowl. Witnessing the expressions of the duo, a quiet smirk slipped past my lips.

“I was busy surviving my own share of tribulations out there.”

Yet, as if her internal agitation remained unresolved, Dang-seo-hui’s puffed cheeks showed no signs of relaxing.

“Do you possess any inkling of how perilous that situation was?”

“*Sunbae* Dang.”

“A minimum of three individuals lost their lives……”

“*Sunbae* Dang. A genuine warrior does not parade their personal hardships to court sympathy from others.”

Hearing my gentle rebuke, Dang-seo-hui faltered slightly, her lips twitching.

“……I am not parading anything. I am merely recounting the baseline reality of the event.”

When I reached out to give the somewhat deflated girl a reassuring pat on the shoulder, her demeanor shifted instantly, her eyes gleaming with renewed curiosity. Possessing very little data regarding the specifics of the courtyard battle, I pressed for more details.

“What was the total headcount of the raiding party?”

“They deployed a force of seven combatants in total.”

It appeared the vanguard of the Heavenly Killing Unit had been divided to strike this location as well.

“Among that number, did any stand out as exceptionally lethal?”

“Two of them posed an immense threat. They commanded a level of battlefield awareness and martial execution seldom witnessed within the *Gangho*.”

“What specific style of combat did they primarily employ?”

“…….”

Dang-seo-hui, who had been supplying answers without a second thought, suddenly froze.

“T-that, the precise details elude my recollection.”

What? To think the renowned Dang-seo-hui would suffer a lapse in memory regarding a martial exchange?

“B-because the parameters of the engagement were incredibly, incredibly volatile, I was forced to rely entirely on muscle memory and instinct……”

She was now intentionally breaking eye contact, her fingers twitching nervously as she struggled to maintain her composure.

“*Sunbae* Dang?”

“…….”

At this rate, she was going to wear her cuticles down to the bone. Ultimately, the clarification originated from a different source. It was none other than Yong-so-ah, who had been openly monitoring our exchange.

“Their primary offensive relied heavily on thrown projectiles and mid-sized blades, and an insidious technique designed to disrupt the flow of internal meridians was concealed within the kinetic force of their strikes.”

That matched one of the primary markers of the Soul-Possessing Demonic Art, a discipline heavily favored by the Flame Marauder Ghost-Eye Unit. Without a doubt, the two exceptionally formidable combatants she mentioned were the remaining pairs of the Ghost Five.

‘Deducing the timeline from our respective engagements, did this monster Yong-so-ah dismantle two elites of the Ghost Five entirely on his own?’

Calculating the rapid window in which the conflict had been decided, a cold shiver traced my spine.

‘What manner of monstrous cultivation has this bastard achieved to possess such absurd strength?’

When it came to pure reserves of internal energy, I already held a decisive advantage over the current iteration of Yong-so-ah. Even so, reflecting on our prior spar, facing him always induced an underlying sense of profound pressure. As I remained trapped in my thoughts for a brief interval.

“Is it my turn to ask questions now?”

Before I could formulate a response to Yong-so-ah’s cryptic inquiry, a sharp demand cut through the silence.

“By what means did you anticipate this exact operational strike?”

“…….”

“Furthermore.”

Within his perennially vacant eyes, a predatory, freezing light began to swirl.

“How did you determine that the presence of both Dang-seo-hui and myself was required to alter the outcome?”

In an instant, an icy pressure flooded my lungs, as if the local oxygen had suddenly dropped below freezing. How did I know, indeed……. He wasn’t wrong to ask. Disregarding Dang-seo-hui’s involvement, anyone who had witnessed my calculated movements and cryptic warnings would naturally harbor deep suspicions. I offered a calm, measured nod.

“What makes you believe I intend to provide an explanation?”

Naturally, I harbored zero intention of revealing my secrets.

“…….”

“I’m genuinely not going to give you an answer, you know?”

“……That violates any sense of equity.”

What nonsense was he spouting? This was an individual whose very existence served as a living testament to the fact that the world was fundamentally inequitable.

“True. Life is inherently unfair. What do you propose to do about it?”

“…….”

“If the arrangement dissatisfies you, feel free to lodge a formal grievance with the authorities.”

Observing the volatile, combative current passing between Yong-so-ah and myself, Dang-seo-hui offered a quiet mutter, her expression turning thoroughly unamused.

“……This behavior is incredibly juvenile.”

I reached over to pat her head, keeping my tone deliberately conversational and light.

“You performed exceptionally well today, *Sunbae* Dang; care to accompany me for some sweets?”

“…….”

The flat, uninspired look in her eyes dissolved instantly, replaced by a vibrant display of pure excitement. After a brief calculation while twirling her fingers, Dang-seo-hui gave an emphatic nod of agreement.

“The confections we sampled during our previous outing were truly exceptional.”

“Then let us depart. I shall purchase a quantity sufficient to completely ruin your appetite for the day.”

“Establishments of that nature do not operate during the midnight hours.”

“That would normally hold true, but I purchased the entire confectionery shop. They will be initiating a private operation strictly for our benefit tonight.”

“!!!”

Securing Dang-seo-hui’s hand, I turned away from the *Mantong-bu* and guided our group back toward the outer sectors of the compound. And.

*Step, step—*

“…….”

Yong-so-ah trailed silently behind us, his visage remaining perfectly unreadable.

‘Ha, why is this fellow shadowing our movements? Does he secretly harbor a craving for confections as well, or what.’

The exact moment I was focusing my mental energy on maintaining a calm exterior despite my internal exasperation.

*Boom!*

A cataclysmic detonation ripped through the structural expanse of the Alliance. My gaze snapped toward the source instantly.

‘The outer sectors!’

Mercifully, the coordinates of the concussive sound aligned with the quadrant where the guest pavilions of the outer sector were arranged. Just as a fragile sense of relief began to form, a sudden, dark premonition gripped my chest.

*Boom, rumble, boom!*

A secondary wave of violent explosions tore through multiple quadrants simultaneously. While it was confined to the outer sector, the specific coordinates of these detonations differed completely from the residential quarters of ordinary visitors. Those structures were the elite pavilions reserved exclusively for visiting dignitaries. And among the prominent dignitaries currently residing within those outer quarters.

Dam-ak was stationed there.

“Dammit……”

In a fraction of a heartbeat, the pieces clicked together. And then.

*Boom, rumble, boom!*

Yet another thunderous roar shook the foundations of the compound.