Chapter 391

Chapter 391
## Chapter 391. Personal Revenge (1)

—

I recalled that it took place near the period when Gang-nam had been completely ravaged by the Demonic Cult, causing the Orthodox factions of the south to escape toward the Shaolin Temple with nothing but their bare minimum utensils and hoarded wealth.

Not a single academic remained within the Murim Alliance, which had shriveled into a pathetic remnant of what it once was. The majority of them had crept away into the darkness of night with heavy strides, abandoning any hope of receiving their monthly pay. The positions vacated by those who possessed actual intellect were seized by individuals whose heads held nothing but gravel, loudly boasting amongst themselves as they divided up the remaining plunder.

It was an undeniable truth of the world that when an idiot occupied a position of authority, those at the very bottom paid with their lives. Driven by persistent bitterness and devastating results, the high-ranking leaders—who never possessed the slightest intention of answering for their failures—ultimately resolved the crisis by tossing away their titles as if abandoning a finished game.

Consequently, the Murim Alliance, having lost its primary column, resembled nothing more than a deserted residence on the verge of collapsing, teetering on frail beams and desperately keeping nothing but its rooftop intact. Already overwhelmed by sheer numbers on the battlefield, they lacked even a single mastermind to counter the clever stratagems of the Ma-noe, dragging them toward absolute annihilation at an accelerated pace.

It was precisely at that grim moment that Dam-ak stepped forward.

While every other intellectual chose flight, he walked directly into the center of this devastation alone. Relinquishing his riches, reputation, and supreme authority within the Imperial Palace of Beijing, he arrived at the Murim Alliance. Laboring ten times harder than any ordinary man by his own efforts, he reconstructed the Murim Alliance and organized its defensive maneuvers. On top of that, he fashioned original stratagems to neutralize the Ma-noe, holding back the waves of the Demonic Cult that rushed inward like a burst reservoir.

Following his arrival, the rosters recording the casualties of ordinary foot soldiers grew visibly lighter. The hours spent locked in combat surpassed the hours spent burying corpses, and moments shared over lighthearted banter became far more common than moments drowned in grief. It was an era where even a standard daily routine could not help but be treasured.

Eventually, one evening, while that modest yet comforting routine persisted, I crossed paths with Dam-ak. I had stepped away from the So-jeong-dae to attend to nature’s call and was making my way along a darkened trail outside the perimeter when I spotted him walking unsteadily. My muscles locked up instantly at the realization that I had run into the Great Military Counselor who crafted our entire war effort. Furthermore, this man was the very savior who preserved our lives.

Yet, despite having never laid eyes on me before, he questioned me without preamble:

[Has the Kang-ho always been this sort of place?]

Aware of nothing regarding his background, I could not discern the underlying meaning of his query. Even so, I could vividly recognize his fragile state, looking as though he might burn out at any second like a sputtering flame. In a tone thick with mental exhaustion, he inquired:

[Is it truly a realm where breathing is discarded for such meaningless causes, and where conflicts are waged for such meaningless rewards? The Kang-ho… is that its true nature?]

He had cast himself into the Kang-ho to endure the agony of seeing his mentor and companions butchered by the Demonic Cult, yet now he questioned me with vacant eyes, as though he had stripped away even the primary purpose that brought him here:

[Everyone… just what are they sacrificing themselves for?]

I possessed no answer for his inquiry. To begin with, it was a truth I had not uncovered myself. Furthermore, unlike his noble self, I was merely a soldier dragged into this place by obligation. I simply wished that this savior would not lose his footing like this. If this wounded savior were to fall apart, my comrades and I would face certain doom.

I wished for him to hold on a bit longer. I wished for him to withstand the agony a little more. There was only a single phrase I managed to utter.

[The Kang-ho is…]

“…Hubae!”

“….”

“Jin Hubae!”

As I focused on Dang Seo-hee, who was tugging at my sleeve, she was tightening her pale, flawless eyebrows.

“What is wrong with you? You need to snap out of your thoughts.”

Why, without warning, did those clumsy remarks I uttered to the Dam-ak of my past existence surface in my mind? Why did seeing his current self consumed by a thirst for vengeance remind me of his past self, who appeared as fragile as if he were treading across open flames? I quickly cleared my head.

“I am focused now.”

Dang Seo-hee scrutinized me with narrowed eyelids before eventually stretching her hand out past the perimeter of the barrier.

*Sssssss.*

Once the phenomenon where only her wrist section seemed to vanish had lasted for a brief period, Dang Seo-hee returned three drained mother-of-pearl containers back into her garments.

“We may step outside now.”

The figures beyond the barrier were completely immobilized as though reality had ground to a halt. According to Dang Seo-hee’s explanation, they would lose consciousness briefly and recover shortly after, but due to the effects of the Oblivion Grass, they would fail to recall that they had even blacked out. I contemplated whether I might erase a few of my own burdens if I consumed the Oblivion Grass myself.

Engaged in such pointless daydreams, I turned around to face the Bong-an Hall. Distinguishable gashes from blades and marks left by open-palm strikes remained visible on the shattered pavilions. The underlying cause for the declaration that no clues were ultimately uncovered, despite such glaring evidence being scattered everywhere, was painfully transparent.

‘Because the perpetrator and the investigator were the exact same entity.’

Their inability to identify the attacker of the Great Military Counselor must have been an absolute triumph for their side. Short of the Great Military Counselor personally taking charge, an inquiry conducted by the general Alliance practitioners would likely fail to expose Dam-ak’s assailant even if a century slipped past.

‘But would it truly be resolved even if the Great Military Counselor took matters into his own hands?’

A charade of pretending to look the other way, precisely as they had enacted upon me, would find no purchase here. Dam-ak’s associate had perished, and he weighed the significance of that loss far above his ties to the Murim Alliance.

‘Idiots…’

Dwelling on an immutable history and hurling silent insults would accomplish nothing. What mattered at this moment was merely discovering a path to settle the issue by any means available.

I began by escorting Cheon-gi back to our quarters.

“Hyung-nim…”

His expression suggested he harbored words he wished to say but was forcing himself to restrain. Instead, the boy suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

“No matter what path you select… I will accompany you, Hyung-nim.”

Why was this youth, who possessed such brilliance, simultaneously so perceptive? I made no effort to suppress the chuckle that slipped past my lips.

“Get some rest inside.”

Once Jegal Cheon-gi disappeared through the door, I prepared to head toward my own quarters alongside Dang Seo-hee.

*Poof—*

Dang Seo-hee observed me silently before stepping forward to wrap her arms around me. What was the meaning of this? Why was this stiff girl acting in this fashion as well?

“What do you think you are doing?”

“You must make your choice with care. This is a monumental issue.”

Her tone was heavy with genuine concern. A soft laugh slipped from me as well.

“I am aware.”

Lacking any of the confections I typically kept hidden in my robes, I gently ran a hand over her head instead. At that, Dang Seo-hee produced a soft hum as though she were thoroughly pleased.

Because the certainty regarding whether Dam-ak was among the living or the dead remained unresolved, the Murim Alliance maintained its scrutiny with its nerves stretched taut. On account of that, scores of guiltless individuals entered and exited the Execution Hall with each passing day. Among their numbers were individuals who had been dragged to the Execution Hall multiple times.

These were the men who had been keeping watch in the sectors surrounding the Bong-an Hall and the external estate. Nevertheless, not a single soul among them had endured harsh treatment or muttered about exhaustion. As though they had merely stepped into a local tea house and strolled back, their strides remained perfectly effortless both when arriving and when departing.

Around the period when such days were drifting by, a critical dispatch was rushed to the Murim Alliance.

“The Shanxi Province Taiyuan branch is currently facing coercion from Black Path experts!”

Five hundred combatants belonging to the Sa-heuk-ryeon had assembled near the perimeter of the Taiyuan branch. Having encircled the Taiyuan branch as if preparing for a full assault while heavily armed, they maintained their positions without displaying the slightest shift. They had neither declared open warfare nor initiated a skirmish, nor had they created a public disturbance like a demonstration, yet the occupants within the Taiyuan branch felt a suffocating sense of dread merely from the reality of their gathering.

And then.

“The Chongqing Xilin branch is likewise trapped in a state where they cannot take a single step owing to the presence of Black Path operatives!”

“The Jiangxi Province Nanchang branch has found its supply routes entirely severed!”

“Three hundred Black Path combatants have grouped near the Guangxi Province Nanning branch to stage an aggressive demonstration!”

While the leaders of the Murim Alliance fell into disarray, stammering, “Wait, what is happening?”, the bold stance of the Black Path operatives—who had already crossed the outer courtyards and advanced directly into the private chambers—left them completely stunned. No matter how one evaluated the circumstances, they had never anticipated that the Sa-heuk-ryeon would implement such aggressive maneuvers in a climate where nothing had been conclusively proven. The quietude of the Murim Alliance, which had been thick with anxiety, fractured in a flash, and every faction fell into panic over the looming threat of open warfare.

“A war… are we truly entering a war?”

“It has been barely any time since our return from Sichuan…!”

“Which front do we reinforce first? Are we required to deploy as well?”

Naturally, the ranks were not comprised solely of terrified individuals. Within any assembly, there were bound to be fools who viewed upheaval as a golden path. As though they had been biding their time for the Black Path factions to strike, they rose up with fierce indignation.

“Why should our Murim Alliance remain passive under this insult! Let us march this very instant to the Man-tong-bu!”

“Precisely! It is glaringly obvious that the cowards who dared strike at the Great Military Counselor are stirring up this chaos to mask their own wicked plots after their assassination attempt failed. We must absolutely refuse to tolerate this passive stance!”

“Let us seize this opening to purge those pests from the Kang-ho entirely!”

While those who dreaded a clash and those who eagerly anticipated conflict were each scrambling to secure their own positions.

“….”

I arrived at the conclusion of my internal debate. Should a conflict erupt, the fighting capacity of the Sa-heuk-ryeon would shift drastically depending on whether Dam-ak was active or absent. The present moment offered the perfect opening to extract Dam-ak, but if I liberated him, he would confront the Murim Alliance with his entire focus and capability. In a sense, the outcome was as glaringly obvious as staring into an open flame.

Yet,

[Has the Kang-ho always been this sort of place?]

The query he had aimed at me during my past existence had refused to leave my consciousness for the last forty-eight hours. Had I known events would unfold in this manner, I would have requested a portion of Oblivion Grass from Dang Seo-hee.

“What sort of realm is the Kang-ho, truly…”

The response I provided back then was an incredibly self-centered one. It was not intended for his benefit, nor for the sake of the masses, but exclusively for my own survival. Perhaps the moment had finally arrived for me to answer for that ancient reply.

“…That summarizes how the matter stands.”

I went to the tavern where the members of the Tae-eul Sect were lodged and relayed the events that had transpired. Though Dam-ak had instructed me never to reveal his true state to the Murim Alliance, he had never commanded me to maintain silence before the inner circle of the Tae-eul Sect. Above all else, the leaders of the Tae-eul Sect required a full understanding of the dilemma to execute a strategy for Dam-ak’s benefit.

The expressions of the Munju-nim, my Father, and Wang Geum-san, upon hearing the full disclosure, turned entirely rigid.

“….”

“….”

“….”

A prolonged quiet settled heavily within the private room. The initial person to break the silence was Wang Geum-san.

“Under ordinary circumstances, my advice would naturally be to report this directly to the Murim Alliance, but given the current stakes… I am truly at a loss.”

Wang Geum-san went on, shaking his head slowly.

“In reality, the Sa-heuk-ryeon’s emissaries wishing to journey back to their primary fortress is, on the surface, an action that violates no regulations whatsoever.”

My Father chipped in with his own assessment.

“Before an actual clash erupts, providing assistance remains a viable path for us, but if a battle commences at any point… our actions will immediately be branded as treason.”

Father kept his gaze fixed on me as he pressed on.

“If the mastermind proves to be the Jeong-do-hoe and this was a calculated strike, it signifies that the Tae-eul Sect is choosing to oppose the Jeong-do-hoe directly.”

He was essentially demanding to know if I was prepared to bear the burden of pulling the Tae-eul Sect into this perilous situation. Right at that split second.

“Is the Tae-eul Sect not already standing in opposition to the Jeong-do-hoe?”

“Jang-ju-nim!”

Wang Geum-san attempted to lighten the heavy mood with a playful remark, but no one joined in. Shattering the lingering silence, the Munju-nim, bearing an uncharacteristically solemn expression, directed a inquiry at me.

“What do you believe is the correct course of action?”

I had still not fully grown accustomed to the shift in the depth and resonance of his tone, yet I kept my composure steady.

“I…”

“I am not requesting your thoughts based on any anxiety for the members of the Tae-eul Sect.”

“….”

“So-un, voice what your conscience dictates as correct.”

The Munju-nim pressed me as if peering directly into my soul. I steadied my breathing for a brief second and matched his gaze directly.

“I concluded that I must provide aid to him, even if I am forced to act completely alone.”

“For what reason?”

For what reason, he demanded. I finally delivered the reply I had proven unable to offer to Dam-ak during my previous life.

“Because that represents the true ‘Righteous Path’ and the essence of ‘Chivalry.’”

“….”

The unfamiliar aura of the Munju-nim loosened as he nodded a few times. Then his expression shifted. Showing a face completely devoid of a single speck of doubt.

“Then is that justification not entirely sufficient?”

I, who had never anticipated such a response would pass his lips, stared at the altered Munju-nim with a dazed look. There stood the Munju-nim, observing me with a recognizable grin finally returning to his face.

“Pursue the path you hold to be correct. That is the fundamental doctrine of the Tae-eul Sect, and transforming it into reality without wavering is the true definition of a follower of the Tae-eul Sect.”

A powerful emotion surged from the depths of my being. I fought hard to hide the sudden volatility of my feelings. Still, the slight trembling of my shoulders remained impossible to mask completely.

“Hmph! This is precisely the reason I find it impossible to leave the Tae-eul Sect.”

Hearing Wang Geum-san’s muttered remark, the Munju-nim addressed him in a soft tone.

“Manor Lord Wang, this endeavor carries the potential to bring severe ruin down upon the Wang Family Manor as well.”

In contrast to the Munju-nim’s quiet tone, Manor Lord Wang replied without a trace of constraint, as fearlessly as a raptor soaring through the open heavens.

“If they lay claim to the martial world, I hold dominion over commerce. If my enterprise were fragile enough to be toppled by such petty tactics, I would never have committed my entire existence to its growth in the first place.”

With those declarations, every choice was solidified. The hour had arrived to arrange a massive theater of operations.

Once the path was chosen, there remained no rationale for hesitation. Only by acting with maximum speed and settling the matter swiftly could we prevent the crisis from spiraling out of control. En route back to our quarters after ironing out the strategy with the seniors.

While traversing the entertainment sector, an intense stare cut through the bustling throngs of people and targeted me, forcing my steps to a halt. The figure I had previously encountered at the Geum-yang Pavilion stood there, his hair immaculately styled upward on this occasion as well, clad in premium flowing robes blending shades of azure and white. The mature gentleman, presenting himself without a single vulnerability in his posture, fixed his eyes upon my face.

“…Have you failed to learn that a proper greeting is fundamentally a courtesy the subordinate initiates first?”

“Ah, is that the rule?”

I dipped my head slightly.

“I trust your days have been suitably unpleasant.”

“….”

The practitioners gathering around Cheong-su Jin-in knit their brows as though they were observing a lunatic. Yet in all honesty, from my perspective, this individual was the far more deranged one, meaning I had no reason to treat him with standard respect.

“It appears I cross paths with you, Dosa-nim, far more frequently within the pleasure districts than upon the training fields.”

“The ultimate truths of the cosmos are, in the end, discovered among the common folk of the mundane world.”

Wow, so this is the distinct flavor of a hypocritical academic. Yet, even allowing for that, it fails to match the crude, pungent banter of the ruffians from the So-jeong-dae.

“Even if that is so, is pursuing cosmic truth while fondling a courtesan’s flesh not a bit degenerate?… rather, does it not fall under the Heretical Path?”

“….”

Cheong-su Jin-in’s expression stiffened for the first time. The disciples surrounding him looked shocked and glared at me with fury.

“…Y-You insolent brat! Before whom do you dare speak so mindlessly!! Do you comprehend whose presence you stand in!”

Good grief, at least mask the twitching of your lips while you shout. They truly are deceitful scoundrels. Cheong-su Jin-in swiftly pivoted the conversation.

“To what destination do you hurry so single-mindedly in the dead of night?”

“I have not attained a tier of prowess where I can chase enlightenment through spirits and loose women, so I intend to return to my quarters and perhaps engage in some physical training.”

Despite the venom laced through my words, Cheong-su Jin-in kept his mask of civility. Instead, he smoothly shifted his elaborate robes and closed the distance between us.

“Would you care to sit with us? As I remarked previously, drinking in isolation is a surefire path to appearing miserable.”

He subsequently gestured toward the figures who were viewing me with blatant hostility.

“If you manage to align yourself with even a single individual among this group, your existence will shift entirely from what it was.”

“Is that so.”

It truly felt like a relic from a bypassed era. In my previous existence, I lacked even the baseline status required to flatter elites in this manner. Simultaneously, a wave of self-disgust washed over me. I battled so fiercely, yet the pinnacle of opportunity presented to me was merely flattering corrupt elders. To think this farce was labeled as “success.”

“I shall pass.”

“For what reason?”

“I certainly desire to alter my destiny, but… my constitution is far too weak to flatter someone else’s backside.”

Cheong-su Jin-in’s expression now resembled a pane of glass that had sustained a visible fracture. I stepped past his position and added a final thought as I scanned the group.

“Furthermore, these individuals… they look utterly incapable of managing their own basic affairs. The stench of urine carries all the way to this spot, meaning you, Dosa-nim, must possess an exceptionally… sturdy constitution.”

“This brat, I have tolerated your tongue far too long!”

“How dare you be so arrogant, do you possess any inkling of who I am!!”

In the end, several practitioners even lunged forward while rolling up their sleeves. But how should I handle this? It actually serves my purposes better if they launch the initial strike. Damn it all, I am currently in a state where my patience is entirely exhausted. I took a bold step toward them as if welcoming the brawl.

*Pung-pung.*

An instant later, as my combat garments billowed out and a dense aura of killing intent flooded into the immediate vicinity, the figures who were closing in froze and recoiled. To think they would retreat from nothing more than this. A mock smirk escaped my lips against my will.

“Observe. How can men who lack the courage to stand behind the threats they just spat out expect to manage their own lives properly? You ought to exercise caution as well, Dosa-nim. If you flatter them so deeply, you will eventually find yourself poisoned by their corruption.”

“….”

Concluding that I had degraded them sufficiently, I strode past their group toward our lodging. Just then, a targeted sound transmission struck my ears from Cheong-su Jin-in.

—I am fully aware that you penetrated the barrier.

*Thump.*

My feet halted instantly, and my frame rotated automatically. Despite enduring that public humiliation, Cheong-su Jin-in, hemmed in by the gathered crowd, was observing me as though absolutely nothing had occurred.

—Refrain from executing a mindless path. Even if your solitary life remains secure, what transgression have the members of your faction committed to deserve ruin?

Leaving those words behind, he dissolved back into the moving crowd.

‘…This absolute bastard.’

He was so bursting with arrogance that he didn’t even bother to mask the reality that their faction was behind the assault. At this tier of behavior, it surpassed mere delusions of grandeur and entered a state of absolute self-deification. Even so, it offered a sense of comfort. Because in my previous existence, I had observed firsthand how Yong So-ah, who truly believed himself to be the center of the universe, was ultimately handled.

Ah, what was that treatment exactly? The approach was basic and highly effective. His cognitive process underwent a radical correction once his skull was shattered a few times. Cheong-su Jin-in is an individual destined to guide the destiny of Wudang. If I smash the skull of such a prominent figure and create the spark for Wudang to transform… this—wouldn’t the grand Founder Jang Sam-bong manifest within my slumber to commend my actions, perhaps even imparting a legendary technique?

I continued toward my quarters with rapidly growing anticipation.