Chapter 390

Chapter 390
## Chapter 390. The Surprise Attack (8)

—

Shifting my gaze slightly, I noticed Dang-seo-hui’s right arm was concealed within the folds of her garment. Though hidden from view, she was undoubtedly preparing a lethal combination of toxins and projectiles capable of neutralizing a threat in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Zhuge-cheon-gi had already unsheathed his blade. Observing their readiness provided a sense of security. Bringing them along had definitely been the correct choice.

‘Reassuring troublemakers.’

Stifling the urge to affectionately pat the heads of Dang-seo-hui and Zhuge-cheon-gi, I composed myself and offered a gentle shake of my head.

“Lower your guard, *Sunbae* Dang. Peace, Cheon-gi.”

Our presence here was intended for resolution, not conflict. We were here to untangle this mess. Even if Dam-ak harbored resentment toward the Murim Alliance, his fury should be directed at those responsible; there was no reason for me to serve as their shield.

“Collect that debt straight from the perpetrators themselves. After all, I am hardly qualified to act as the voice of the Murim Alliance.”

I attempted to pacify Dam-ak, yet the pointed blades showed no signs of wavering.

“…….”

What was his angle? Did he genuinely intend to trade blows? That simply could not happen.

“I recognize that the Chief Strategist holds animosity toward the Murim Alliance, but forcing a confrontation like this won’t resolve anything……”

While my mind raced furiously to find an alternative, a mirthless grin crept across Dam-ak’s features.

“How dull. Why must you view everything with such gravity?”

The moment Dam-ak dropped his arm, the members of the Black Path Alliance delegation lowered their armaments simultaneously. As I stood there, blinking in sheer bewilderment at the sudden shift, he spoke once more.

“It was merely a jest. A simple joke.”

“A joke?”

Damn it, to display such levity in the middle of a tense and perilous crisis? I stood there slack-jawed at his preposterous claim. Yet, Dam-ak actually maintained a subtle smirk.

“As I suspected, orthodox martial artists lack a sense of humor. A jest is far more entertaining when delivered during a moment of high tension.”

Hold on, since when did he identify so thoroughly as a unorthodox martial artist? In my previous existence, during this exact period, he was serving as a legitimate state official!

“Even so, your arrival took longer than anticipated. I assumed you would breach the perimeter the moment you decoded the missive……”

“How could I simply march in upon receiving a note containing nothing but digits?”

“Hmm…… did you not claim to possess the ability to navigate the *Muryang-bul-goe-myeol-hon-jin* without restriction? I naturally assumed a person of that caliber would effortlessly bypass a barrier like the *Heuk-mu-go-hon-jin*.”

That success was solely due to brutally engraving the pathway into my mind through sheer recollection…….

“It appears your intellect is not quite as phenomenal as I was led to believe.”

“…….”

Why must this individual continuously needle me? He insists on uttering provocations that serve no purpose.

“Hmm, it seems you did not rely on the assistance of the Hundred-Handed Spirit Maiden…… did you perhaps receive aid from the companion standing at your back?”

Dam-ak shifted his focus toward Zhuge-cheon-gi. Detecting Cheon-gi looking my way for guidance, I gave a brief nod.

“I am known as Zhuge-cheon-gi of the Tae-eul Sect.”

Zhuge-cheon-gi offered a greeting that struck the perfect balance of propriety, displaying neither excessive humility nor undue pride. Dam-ak tilted his head slightly in curiosity.

“Is your family name merely coincidentally ‘Zhuge’?”

“I am indeed a direct descendant of that very Zhuge Clan.”

Upon hearing Cheon-gi’s affirmation, Dam-ak offered several slow nods of understanding.

“Fascinating. For a scion of the Zhuge Clan to identify primarily as a disciple of the Tae-eul Sect……”

He then directed a peculiar, calculating look toward me.

“You truly harbor an abundance of unusual capabilities, Young Master Jin.”

I chose to remain silent. Such flattery was irrelevant to our current predicament. Stepping past the bodyguards who maintained a cautious posture, I surveyed our surroundings.

“What exactly is transpiring here? Were you unable to dismantle the barrier?”

“Why would I ever implement a formation that I lack the capability to unravel?”

“Then what reason do you have for remaining sequestered inside?”

Taking a measured breath, Dam-ak responded deliberately.

“Because the underlying threat has yet to be neutralized.”

Just as I suspected, Dam-ak remained highly vigilant following the assault from the previous day. He was undoubtedly aware of the broader picture.

“The Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance was also targeted by attackers. The identity of those assassins remains unverified.”

“Hmm…… so that uproar from the other day was a consequence of the incident involving the Chief Strategist?”

“The Alliance has tentatively deduced that ‘they’ are the perpetrators behind the assault.”

Those identical individuals who had materialized before Dam-ak under the guise of “Gun-yu-hyeon” within the ranks of the Black Path Alliance.

“It is a deeply regrettable turn of events.”

Dam-ak offered a soft, mournful sigh.

“With that in mind, wouldn’t it be wise to emerge now? Because Strategist Dam has chosen to entrench himself like this, the entirety of the *Gangho* is in absolute chaos.”

“I cannot depart.”

The resolute refusal came without a moment’s hesitation. I felt a dull throb begin to ache behind my temples.

“And what is the justification for that?”

“Because the underlying threat has yet to be neutralized.”

What nonsense was he spouting? It was highly unlikely that hunger and isolation over the past few days had compromised his sanity, and given the malicious jest he had just pulled, he clearly understood my words perfectly well…….

“By any chance…… are you persisting with your jokes?”

Finding no alternative explanation for his behavior, I gaped at him in disbelief, but Dam-ak, his amusement completely vanished, replied with absolute earnestness.

“Are we truly on such familiar terms that I would sport with you?”

Why draw such a sharp boundary so suddenly? That stung a bit.

“Then what precisely do you mean when you say the threat persists?”

“The phrasing is entirely literal. The arrow intended for my breast remains notched upon the bowstring.”

“Which is precisely why I explained the situation. The faction that ambushed us was……”

*Step.*

Abruptly, Dam-ak closed the distance between us by a single pace.

“The entities that targeted the Murim Alliance were undoubtedly ‘them.’ However, the force that ambushed our position.”

He paused, locking his eyes onto mine with an intensity that felt as though it could pierce through my very soul.

“It was the ‘Murim Alliance.’”

He stated this with absolute conviction, as if declaring an undeniable cosmic truth. No matter how deeply flawed our organization might be, we couldn’t possibly be that twisted…… right?

“…….”

As I turned my head, I noted that Dang-seo-hui’s expression had turned completely rigid.

Accompanied by his personal entourage and martial artists, Dam-ak escorted our group toward the rear courtyard of the compound.

“I have not caught sight of that particular individual since the incident.”

“To whom are you referring?”

You know exactly who I mean, the one who was present before. The messenger who kept transmitting secret audio messages during the gathering, reiterating, ‘Our Chief Strategist commands……’. Dam-ak nodded, signaling that he recognized the person in question.

“If you are referring to him, he resides in the rear.”

Was that individual not supposed to be Dam-ak’s dedicated Shadow Guard (*Su-sin-ho-wi*) in the first place? I wondered briefly if his reliance on the security of the *Heuk-mu-go-hon-jin* was so absolute that he felt no need to keep his personal guardian within arm’s reach. We stepped into the back garden. Yet, the Shadow Guard was nowhere to be found.

“Is he perhaps exceptionally bashful? I wished to offer my respects. After all, we share a certain history.”

Even if he had merely acted as a mouthpiece, exchanging words counts as a shared connection. Just as a faint smile began to form on my lips at the memory of our past interactions.

“If it is that man you seek, is he not resting right before you?”

With a composed motion, Dam-ak gestured toward a specific spot. It was a modest courtyard paved in marble, typically utilized by visitors for light physical exercise. Right there.

“This is the individual.”

A solitary cadaver, concealed beneath a layer of woven straw, reposed upon the stones.

“…….”

So this was the reason the Shadow Guard, who should never have left his master’s side for even a fraction of a second, was absent.

“His loss is deeply lamented. He possessed the potential to be far more advantageous to the future of the Black Path Alliance than myself, perhaps.”

Dam-ak spoke without emotion, yet beneath that placid exterior lay a freezing, razor-sharp fury. His ability to mask such intense hatred behind a mask of indifference made the atmosphere feel all the more terrifying.

‘This is precarious.’

The resentment simmering within Dam-ak was far from ordinary. The primary reason I had felt a sense of relief when he assumed the mantle of Chief Strategist for the Black Path Alliance rather than the Murim Alliance was my belief that we could confront the Demon Cult as allies utilizing his brilliant mind. In my previous life, where the Murim Alliance stood alone against the Demon Cult, the ultimate outcome was total annihilation; in this current timeline, I desired a different path by forging an alliance with a powerful counterpart like the Black Path Alliance.

Yet now, that brilliant ally was directing his animosity directly at us. It was imperative that I dispel this misconception immediately.

“The Murim Alliance is equally thrown into chaos by these events. In truth, three of Chief Strategist Zhuge-so-myeong’s personal Shadow Guards were also slain.”

Dam-ak, who had been staring down at the lifeless form of his guardian, shifted his sharp gaze directly toward me.

“……Am I to accept the premise that because the Murim Alliance suffered casualties, the Murim Alliance cannot be deemed the antagonist?”

“I am not merely offering a stubborn denial for the sake of it……”

“Would you accompany me this way for a moment?”

Without waiting for my reply, Dam-ak strode toward the flank of the pavilion. Arranged there were three additional corpses, similarly shrouded in woven straw just like Dam-ak’s fallen guardian.

“…….”

“These represent the assailants who initiated the strike against us.”

Simultaneously, Dang-seo-hui tugged gently at my sleeve, looking up to meet my eyes. Sensing her desire to examine the remains, I offered a brief nod. She stepped forward without delay and cast aside the straw coverings. The pungent odor of decay immediately filled the air. The discolored, bloodless visages of individuals who had been dead for a significant duration remained perfectly preserved.

“The Demon Cult possesses such an fanatical fixation on reclaiming their dead that they never abandon a corpse; did they suddenly neglect their usual practices?”

“…….”

Even without that detail, Dam-ak, having previously contended with Je-geum-hak, would easily distinguish between a demonic practitioner and an orthodox martial artist unless confronted by an exceptionally deceptive technique. Honestly, even without the physical evidence of these bodies, I was utterly devoid of an argument.

‘Damn it.’

I recognized the features of these deceased men. Though I had not crossed paths with them in this current life, they were figures I had encountered across the battlefields of my past existence. A bitter imprecation threatened to spill from my lips. I forced myself to conceal my clenched, trembling hands, though maintaining my composure proved exceptionally difficult.

‘The Jeongdo-hoe……!’

These were individuals who held respectable positions within the secular martial branches of the Nine Schools and One Gang. They were operatives belonging to a specialized covert unit, independently assembled to execute missions for the *Jeongdo-hoe* (Righteous Path Association). What could possibly explain why these operatives, who were slated to become fully recognized Alliance members following the demise of Zhuge-so-myeong, were already turning up as corpses within the confines of the Murim Alliance?

Dam-ak’s subdued tones pierced through the heavy quiet.

“Do you persist in denying that this transpires by the hand of the Murim Alliance, even when confronted with this reality?”

“…….”

I found myself incapable of offering a rebuttal to his inquiry. While the Murim Alliance itself was not synonymous with the *Jeongdo-hoe*, I could hardly argue that the *Jeongdo-hoe* existed separately from the Murim Alliance. Furthermore, the *Jeongdo-hoe* represented the most dominant faction steering the direction of the Murim Alliance. Attempting to claim they were unrelated entities would be nothing short of insulting Dam-ak’s intelligence.

To cement the reality of the situation, Dang-seo-hui offered her assessment like a final judgment.

“There is an absolute absence of demonic malice within these remains. They are undeniably practitioners of the orthodox path.”

I stepped away from Dam-ak and his subordinates for a brief period to untangle my thoughts regarding this wretched and absurd turn of events. The underlying objective of the *Jeongdo-hoe* was painfully transparent.

* A violent confrontation between the Black Path Alliance and the Murim Alliance is entirely inevitable.
* Given the immense influence Zhuge-so-myeong wields within the Murim Alliance, Dam-ak represents an equally formidable figure who consolidated the Black Path Alliance.
* Just as catastrophic destabilization would occur if Zhuge-so-myeong were removed from the Murim Alliance, a similar collapse will hit the Black Path Alliance if Dam-ak is eliminated.
* Therefore, let us assassinate him while he remains within the territory of the Murim Alliance!

‘Morons…….’

In all honesty, these were incredibly reckless maneuvers whose true intent was displayed far too clearly, crossing the line from simple into outright foolishness. The true predicament was that while the *Jeongdo-hoe* had created this disaster, the burden of rectifying it fell squarely upon my shoulders. As my mind reeled under the weight of finding a resolution to this political nightmare.

Dang-seo-hui spoke up:

“Something felt entirely unnatural.”

“In what regard?”

“The sentries who were assigned to protect the Bong-an Hall. Their numbers were far too vast.”

“…….”

“Furthermore, for individuals responding to the sudden detonation, their arrival was remarkably instantaneous.”

As I reviewed the sequence of events in my mind, the majority of the figures present during that chaos were individuals connected directly or indirectly to the *Jeongdo-hoe*. How had I failed to perceive this reality sooner? Moreover, the execution of their plan was terrifyingly precise. To think they seized upon the confusion within the inner chambers to carry out their assassination attempt. Did they view that chaotic environment as the perfect cover? At this juncture, I had to wonder whether to view their relentless persistence as a form of poisonous dedication and their absolute ignorance as a defining trait.

I cast a quiet glance toward Cheon-gi, who had seated himself beside me.

“Cheon-gi.”

“I am listening.”

“What course of action do you believe we should pursue?”

Because I was genuinely at a loss. As the descendant of the Chief Strategist, surely you can offer some insight. Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhuge-cheon-gi provided his perspective.

“The most prudent strategy would entail disclosing these findings to the Chief Strategist directly, thereby exposing and extracting the treasonous elements.”

A textbook response perfectly aligned with his structured nature. This would typically be the narrative path leading directly toward the ideal resolution—or at least, the conventional standard. Yet, it was highly unlikely to serve as a practical solution here. Desperate for any alternative perspective, I redirected my inquiry toward Dang-seo-hui.

“What are your thoughts on this matter, *Sunbae* Dang?”

“It is imperative to ascertain that individual’s true purpose first.”

“What?”

I fully anticipated her to suggest something along the lines of appeasing them with sweet treats. Instead, she offered a completely unexpected piece of advice.

“Hypothetically, if I were welcomed as an honored guest by a prominent household, only to be ambushed by my hosts…… I would wipe that lineage from existence without hesitation.”

“…….”

Was I to consider that an eccentric response? Or was it simply an entirely primal and candid reaction? It was merely jarring to hear such a ruthless declaration emerge from Dang-seo-hui. While I sat there rendered entirely mute by her words, Dang-seo-hui pressed on.

“This is hardly the moment to internalize your anxieties. Confronting the issue directly yields the finest results.”

Confronting the issue directly yields the finest results……. Perhaps providing those sweets to her had been a worthwhile investment after all. Concluding my internal debate, I retraced my steps back toward Dam-ak. Just as Dang-seo-hui had pointed out, isolating myself with my thoughts would produce no viable answers.

“For the time being, I intend to communicate these circumstances to both the Chief Strategist and the Alliance Leader. We will uncover the perpetrators……”

“I refuse to permit that.”

“Excuse me?”

Dam-ak met my gaze squarely, his expression entirely level while maintaining a rigid, upright posture.

“If the perpetrators were capable of being apprehended, they would have been secured long ago. Furthermore, rather than provisions, the severed head of the mastermind would have been deposited within this formation.”

“…….”

“I am likewise opposed to distributing information regarding our current status. The precise instant the conspirators discover I survived the attempt, they will recognize their failure and execute a secondary strike to ensure my demise.”

Dam-ak maintained his argument with absolute certainty.

“I have zero desire to fall victim to their transparent machinations.”

“……What if I personally secure the guilty party and deliver them to you?”

“The outcome remains unchanged. The mere act of you thoroughly searching the Alliance to locate the culprits serves as a beacon alerting everyone to the fact that I remain among the living.”

I was completely trapped with no apparent exit strategy. At that precise juncture, Dang-seo-hui, who had been silently monitoring our exchange, tugged insistently on my arm multiple times.

“…….”

After looking down to meet her wide, silent gaze for a brief moment, I turned back and posed a direct question to Dam-ak.

“What is your ultimate desire?”

Dam-ak closed his eyes with profound gravity.

“I had reconciled myself to the idea that perishing within these walls was an acceptable outcome.”

“What is the meaning behind that……”

“Because my choice to arrive here in person was a deliberate gamble, an act of extending a hand of cooperation toward your faction first. I believed that if my life were forfeit because the gamble failed, it was simply an unavoidable cost.”

The proposed coalition linking the Black Path Alliance and the Murim Alliance. For the sake of that perilous venture, Dam-ak had willingly offered his own existence as collateral.

“I reasoned that if the sacrifice of my singular existence could successfully unify the Black Path Alliance, it represented a favorable bargain.”

Reopening his eyes slowly, his focus shifted back toward the shrouded remains of his Shadow Guard.

“However, my perspective has now fundamentally shifted.”

His unwavering, glacial focus returned to lock onto me.

*Flinch—* a gaze so incredibly still that it paralyzed my ability to even shudder.

“Retribution must be enacted.”

“…….”

“Against those entities who discard a human life as a worthless commodity to advance their own agendas.”

Deep within those eyes, a fierce, blazing passion was erupting, a stark contrast to the absolute composure he had always projected to the world.

“Assist me in making my departure. Free me from the grasp of the Murim Alliance.”

It was the look of an individual who stood entirely prepared to reduce everything to ashes.