Chapter 388

Chapter 388
## Chapter 388. The Surprise Attack (6)

—

*Boom, rumble, boom!*

Order did not matter. The moment our gazes intersected, we dashed directly toward the outer halls. We could not predict the nature of the crisis or decipher what was unfolding. Even so, our legs moved on pure reflex.

‘I need to verify if Dam-ak is alive or dead first.’

Perhaps Dam-ak was not the primary target. It was entirely possible that the surviving forces of the Ghost Five and the Heavenly Killing Unit had assaulted the outer halls out of sheer spite after failing their main objective. It might just be an isolated skirmish. No matter how formidable the Heavenly Killing Unit claimed to be, they were assassins by trade. They could not possibly launch a direct, frontal assault against the prepared masters of the Murim Alliance, whose guards were already fully raised…….

*Boom, rumble, boom!*

A series of ominous explosions reverberated through the air. My optimistic hopes crumbled into dust instantly.

‘Dammit. Of course. Since when have things ever been that simple for me?’

Only two scenarios made sense. First, the remaining members of the Heavenly Killing Unit, having failed to kill Zhuge-so-myeong, were trying to salvage the operation by taking out Dam-ak. If Dam-ak perished within the walls of the Murim Alliance, any hope of an alliance with the Four Black Lotus (*Sa-heuk-ryeon*) would vanish forever. Furthermore, the Four Black Lotus would seize the perfect pretext to launch an all-out war against the Murim Alliance, an ideal opportunity to cement their own dominance.

Yet, while both paths led to internal ruin, the second possibility was far more terrifying.

‘What if Dam-ak was the true target from the very beginning?’

In my past life, the Four Black Lotus did not exist at this point in time, and Dam-ak, their Chief Strategist, had never set foot inside the Murim Alliance. But reality had shifted, and Dam-ak was here. Under these circumstances, why wouldn’t they prioritize him over Zhuge-so-myeong, especially since security around the outer halls was inherently lighter?

‘It couldn’t be…… that one of the Seven Demon Lords has personally moved?’

*Boom, rumble, boom!*

The relentless detonations intensified the dark dread pooling in my chest. I accelerated, rapidly overtaking the Alliance martial artists who were rushing toward the outer halls. Right then.

*Patter, patter, patter.*

The rapid clicking of heels echoed from behind. I glanced back to find Dang-seo-hui, her turquoise robe fluttering as she kept pace. And trailing right behind her.

‘Why is that annoying bastard here again…….’

The thoroughly irritating Yong-so-ah was also in hot pursuit.

‘How are they even maintaining this pace?’

Even if I wasn’t running at my absolute limit, matching the velocity of the Peerless Solo God-Stride should have been completely impossible using standard Wudang or Tang Clan movement techniques. Though I couldn’t fathom the exact method, the two were stubbornly clinging to my heels. It reminded me of the bizarre way Moyong-gang had utilized a sudden burst of Qi. Natural geniuses always found a way to bend the rules of martial logic to their whim.

The monstrous individuals who had successfully assassinated Zhuge-so-myeong in my previous life—an achievement I once deemed completely impossible—belonged to that exact tier of human anomalies. If the monster targeting Dam-ak was of that same caliber?

‘I can’t afford to lose another second.’

Channelling my internal energy to its absolute limit, I surged toward the outer halls. As the perimeter came into view, dozens of Alliance guards were already forming a defensive wall.

“Halt!”

They barred the path, swords drawn and expressions grim. I skidded to a stop right in front of them.

“What’s the situation inside?”

“Identify yourself!”

“I am Jin-so-un of the Tae-eul Sect.”

Hearing my name, the guard leader’s brow twitched briefly, but his posture remained rigid.

“……An unidentified explosion has completely leveled a portion of the garden and the guest pavilions.”

An blast violent enough to obliterate entire structures and gardens……. Would even the Demon Cult deploy such an overtly destructive method?

“Let me through.”

“There is an active intruder threat. Bong-an Hall (*Bong-an-jeon*) is currently locked down.”

While the outer pavilions were meant for visiting dignitaries, the bulk of the entourage was actually staying at the Songhwa Hall. This meant the only people currently inside the Bong-an Hall were Dam-ak and his immediate circle. Securing them was paramount.

“Step aside.”

As I attempted to push past, the guard shifted his weight, completely blocking the path.

“We have no idea what kind of chaos is unfolding inside! Will you take responsibility if things go sideways?!”

“…….”

As I stared down the unyielding warrior, Dang-seo-hui and Yong-so-ah finally caught up. Behind them, a steady stream of reinforcements from the inner courts began to arrive.

“Why are we just standing here?”

“They’ve locked down the perimeter.”

“Locked down? For what reason?”

Dang-seo-hui tilted her head, scanning the gathered guards.

“An attack just happened, and they’re already freezing the area?”

No one offered an answer to her question. However, the moment Yong-so-ah took a step forward.

*Slide—*

The defensive line silently parted, the guards stepping aside one by one.

“It appears we have permission to enter.”

“…… Ganz”

A foul taste lingered in my mouth from the sheer bizarreness of the situation, but there was no time to dwell on it. The moment we crossed the threshold into the Bong-an Hall compound, the pungent, metallic scent of stagnant water assaulted my senses. The meticulously crafted ornamental pond had been entirely upended and shattered by the recent blasts. Uprooted flora and gasping goldfish were scattered across the ruined stone pathways.

Turning my eyes toward the main structure of the Bong-an Hall, I saw that an entire wing had been reduced to splinters.

‘……Reduced to this?’

At that moment, the perimeter guards entered the courtyard alongside senior Alliance officers. I leaned in slightly, catching the frantic reports being delivered.

“Casualties? Give me a headcount!”

“Two sentries were ambushed and left unconscious.”

“What about the dignitaries?”

“We haven’t been able to determine their status yet.”

“What do you mean you haven’t determined it?!”

Before the guard could stammer out an explanation under the officer’s glare, Yong-so-ah cut in smoothly.

“Because of that.”

Yong-so-ah pointed toward the rear of the Bong-an Hall premises, where a small pavilion once stood. In its place, a dense, swirling vortex of pitch-black mist encapsulated the area. The only indicator that a building had ever occupied the space was a fractured piece of the tiled roof pointing miserably out of the darkness.

“The dark haze manifested the instant the explosions ceased. Given that the rest of the delegation is unaccounted for…… I suspect they are trapped within it.”

A few Alliance officers approached the perimeter of the fog, shouting demands for communication. Yet, no sound escaped the boundary of the dark formation.

“…….”

The Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance had just survived an assassination attempt, and now the Chief Strategist of the Four Black Lotus was entombed inside a defensive barrier of his own making. No one present knew how to handle such an unprecedented logistical nightmare.

An open assault on the heart of the Murim Alliance. This unprecedented crisis concluded in the most bewildering manner possible. The secondary strike on the Bong-an Hall, following immediately after the first, cast a freezing dread over the entire city of Wuhan, extending far beyond the fortress walls.

Though Zhuge-so-myeong had given orders to stand down from the initial alarm, every available martial artist from both the inner and outer sanctuaries was mobilized to re-secure the perimeters. The reserve Martial Pavilions were deployed in full force. The tension was palpable; the security of the Murim Alliance had been thoroughly compromised while the sect was supposedly at its highest state of readiness.

The moment dawn broke, investigators began scouring Zhuge-so-myeong’s compound and the ruined Bong-an Hall for any trace of the perpetrators. Concurrently, every intelligence branch, spearheaded by the Hall of Thousand Eyes (*Cheon-mok-gak*), swarmed into the city streets, turning Wuhan upside down.

The usually ubiquitous beggars of the Beggars’ Union (*Gaebang*) vanished from their usual corners, replaced by stern-faced interrogators who combed through every tavern, inn, and hidden alleyway. Under this intense scrutiny, the city’s nightlife ground to a halt; brothels shuttered their doors, and taverns refused to serve patrons past dusk. For half a month, the entire region held its collective breath.

Yet, two weeks of relentless investigation yielded absolutely nothing. Not a single thread connected back to the attackers. In the meantime, whispers of the assault reached the distant headquarters of the Four Black Lotus. Predictably, they dispatched an urgent diplomatic missive demanding verification of the events and ironclad proof of their delegation’s safety.

This document carried enough political weight to ignite an all-out war if mismanaged. Recognizing the gravity, Zhuge-so-myeong, still recovering from his ordeal, sought an audience at the Alliance Leader’s Palace.

“Are your injuries healing well?”

Hyeok-mu-gang asked quietly. Zhuge-so-myeong dismissed the concern with a tired wave of his hand.

“Is my old shell really the priority right now?”

“……Do not minimize it. You have no idea how close we came to disaster.”

“I am entirely serious. My well-being is the least of our concerns.”

The brief civilities concluded abruptly as both men shifted to the crisis at hand.

“The demand from the Four Black Lotus. What is our official stance?”

Ordinarily, Zhuge-so-myeong provided the answers. This time, the burden was too heavy even for the Grand Strategist, forcing him to look to Hyeok-mu-gang for direction. He pressed further.

“A definitive choice must be made.”

Unusual troop movements among the villainous factions had already been detected across Shanxi, Chongqing, Jiangxi, and Guangxi Provinces. While currently a precautionary measure, the Alliance had to prepare for the nightmare scenario of those combined forces descending upon Wuhan. Hyeok-mu-gang rubbed his temples, exhaling a long, weary sigh.

“……Is there still silence from the Bong-an Hall?”

He was clearly desperate for any shred of leverage.

“Complete silence.”

The hope died quietly.

“Hmm…….”

Ever since the night of the attack, the Murim Alliance had continuously broadcasted messages into the barrier, assuring those inside of their safety. Yet, the black fog remained impenetrable. With two weeks gone by, doubts were rising as to whether anyone inside was even alive.

“Can we not dismantle the barrier (*Hae-jin*)?”

“Even without consulting external formation masters, the experts within our Alliance are among the finest in the *Gangho*. If they cannot unravel it, it is safe to assume no one can do so quickly.”

“…….”

“Of course, if we wish to obliterate it by force, that remains an option.”

“And what happens to the occupants?”

“They would almost certainly perish in the backlash.”

“…… Ganz”

The fact that Zhuge-so-myeong would even suggest such a desperate measure revealed just how cornered they felt. To draft an acceptable reply to the Four Black Lotus, they needed absolute confirmation of Dam-ak’s condition. Currently, they had nothing.

“Have we found any clues regarding the assassin who targeted Strategist Dam?”

They had already pieced together a profile for the killers who went after Zhuge-so-myeong—their martial style, their elemental signatures, even the specific origin of the iron in their weaponry. This only made the lack of progress on the second attack more infuriating.

“Nothing at all. It was executed with terrifying precision.”

There was a complete absence of evidence at Dam-ak’s pavilion. The Alliance Leader finally voiced the grim reality they were both avoiding.

“Strategist Dam…… likely believes we orchestrated the hit, doesn’t he?”

Since Dam-ak was isolated from the news of the simultaneous strike on Zhuge-so-myeong, it was a perfectly logical conclusion for him to draw. If he was sitting inside that fog nursing a growing grievance.

‘……The ramifications are unthinkable.’

The chances of a peaceful resolution were dwindling by the hour.

“If I were in his position, I too would focus on self-preservation rather than gambling my life on the honor of rivals.”

“Do you see any chance of him emerging voluntarily?”

“Given the resolve required to maintain that barrier, he won’t come out easily.”

“We are in a massive bind.”

A heavy quiet settled over the grand chamber. After a long period of contemplation, Hyeok-mu-gang finally reached a conclusion.

“For the time being, we reply that the situation is stable and under control.”

“Will a vague stalling tactic suffice?”

“What alternative do we have? We possess no actionable answers. Right now, buying time to avert immediate conflict is our only play.”

Zhuge-so-myeong offered no counterargument.

“Ensure that ample rations and fresh water are consistently passed through the outer edges of the barrier,” Hyeok-mu-gang ordered. “Even if diplomacy fails and hostilities break out, Dam-ak must leave this compound alive and healthy if we are to have any leverage for a future ceasefire.”

The shadow of an un-wished-for war loomed closer than ever. For both Hyeok-mu-gang and Zhuge-so-myeong, it was a rare and bitter taste of utter helplessness since achieving the pinnacle of power within the martial world.

“The Tang Clan’s informants confirm that the criminal syndicates are buying up weapons at an alarming rate.”

I watched Dang-seo-hui as she casually popped another piece of hard candy into her mouth.

“I’ve heard the rumors. It’s not just limited to Sichuan either. The market price for basic steel blades has gone through the roof right here in Hubei.”

She paused, then crunched down on the sweet violently.

“A massive clash between the Four Black Lotus and the Murim Alliance feels almost inevitable.”

“That much is obvious.”

“…….”

“Is that the only reason you stopped by?”

Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she snapped back defensively.

“Every single sweet shop in the district has closed down!”

“With the city feeling like a graveyard, who would risk opening their storefront?”

“……I’ve earned the right to sample Junior Jin’s personal stash.”

“I thought true martial heroes didn’t seek compensation for their deeds?”

Dang-seo-hui froze, staring guiltily at the piece of candy in her hand. Her eyes darted back and forth as she endured a profound moral dilemma. Deciding she had suffered enough, I slid the entire dish toward her.

“Consider it a tribute to your heroism. Eat as much as you like.”

“For real?”

“Of course. I’ll make sure you have a steady supply of Hong Family sweets from now on. On the house.”

“……I’m genuinely touched.”

She looked on the verge of tears. By the time she was working on her fourth piece, she mumbled around the candy:

“Do you think there’s any trick to coaxing Strategist Dam out of his shell, Junior Jin?”

That remained the core issue: the status of Dam-ak and whatever was happening inside that dark veil. Until that knot was untied, everything else remained deadlocked.

“Unless he decides it’s safe, he isn’t going to budge.”

“Still, something doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Like what?”

Dang-seo-hui shifted the candy to her other cheek and offered a shrewd observation.

“The placement of the guards around the Bong-an Hall that night. There were far too many personnel present for a standard security detail.”

“…….”

In truth, I shared her exact suspicions, though I had kept those thoughts strictly to myself.

“The entire fortress was in chaos due to the initial alarm. It could easily have been a routine redeployment.”

“Regardless, if the Chief Strategist of the Four Black Lotus keeps hiding, a major disaster is coming.”

“What kind of disaster?”

Was she actually contemplating the geopolitical fallout of a factional war? Had she truly matured that much—

“I won’t be able to get my hands on any more Hong Family treats.”

“…….”

“What’s with that look?”

“It’s nothing. Keep eating.”

Jokes aside, her point was entirely valid. War, regardless of the scale, thoroughly shatters the societal foundations that sustain ordinary life. If only to preserve the production of local sweets, a conflict had to be averted.

‘But without a proper leverage point…….’

As I sat there brainstorming with her, a knock came at the door, prompting me to step out into the courtyard. Standing there was a young courier, barely taller than Dang-seo-hui, clutching a tightly wrapped parcel.

“Ah, excuse me, are you perhaps the Eminent Hero Black Flame Dragon?”

“……Definitely not.”

“Huh? Really? I was told specifically that he resided in the Murim Academy representative quarters.”

Dammit, who is spreading that ridiculous moniker?

“Are you looking for Jin-so-un?”

“Yes, that’s the name!”

“Then you’ve found him.”

“Wait, what?!”

The boy stared at me as if I were speaking complete nonsense.

“My name is Jin-so-un, but I have nothing to do with any Black Flame Dragon.”

“……Ah, I see.”

Adopting a strictly professional demeanor, the boy extended the package.

“This shipment was logged for Master Jin-so-un.”

“From whom?”

“I can’t say. The client was quite eccentric. He explicitly stated that if he returned safely, the item should be withheld, but if he failed to reappear, it must be delivered to you.”

“What did he look like?”

“He kept his features concealed. There should be an explanatory message inside.”

Taking the parcel, I headed back into the room. Dang-seo-hui glanced up from her sweets, showing a brief flash of curiosity that died out the moment she realized the bundle contained only a few jugs of wine and light refreshments.

Searching through the items, I quickly located a hidden parchment. Unrolling the small leather scroll, I found rows of numerical characters (一, 二, 十……) scattered haphazardly across a surface no larger than two palms. Dang-seo-hui peered over my shoulder at the seemingly random sequence.

“What do those numbers mean?”

I couldn’t make heads or tails of the pattern either. The symbols weren’t aligned in any standard mathematical progression; they were dotted across the leather without obvious rhyme or reason. Then, a sudden realization struck me: the *Muryang-bul-goe-myeol-hon-jin*. The safe paths and lethal triggers of that specific array relied entirely on complex numerical values.

I carefully placed the scroll on the table. This was no ordinary correspondence.

“It seems someone has provided us with the key to stopping this war.”

“……How so?”

Instructing Dang-seo-hui to leave the alcohol alone, I turned and swiftly exited the quarters.