Chapter 395

Chapter 395
## 395. Personal Revenge (5)

—

Wuhan Entertainment District.

“They broke through?”

Cheong-su-jin-in stared emptily at the messenger’s face for a moment before downing his cup of wine.

“How exactly did they manage to slip away?”

Wuhan served as the absolute center of the Murim Alliance and the home ground of the Jeong-do-hoe—which meant it was practically the front lawn of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang. Not only were the Alliance’s main hubs located here, but enterprises tied to the Nine Great Sects and One Gang occupied practically every single street corner, conducting business while doubling as hidden outposts or surveillance nodes. Simply put, every inch of Wuhan rested firmly within the palm of the Jeong-do-hoe’s hand.

Yet, from that very net, they had vanished. It sounded as absurd as a grown man failing to trap a sluggish bug squirming openly in his open hand.

“I—I offer my deepest apologies. They deployed multiple carriages simultaneously to create a massive diversion…”

Evidently, they had brought out dozens of vehicles to execute a shell game. Even so, this was a critical operation, not a street-side gambling table where someone could succeed with a basic parlor trick; how could an entire diplomatic mission simply vanish into thin air?

“A trained warrior… outmaneuvered by a target that can’t even hide like a small bean.”

Had they employed some manner of dark art unfamiliar to them? Given that the target was a prominent figure within the Black Path Murim, it wouldn’t be shocking if he possessed a forbidden technique or two. A fresh wave of anxiety washed over him. Ultimately, they had lost track of a dangerous element who could disrupt the natural order so casually. Just contemplating how much devastation that lone person could bring upon the world cast a shadow over his thoughts.

“Furthermore… regrettably, during the pursuit, three of our operatives sustained crippling wounds.”

“Crippling wounds?”

“Yes… two suffered severed arms, and one had his dantian completely shattered.”

“And what sort of toll did you exact from the adversary?”

“….”

“To think you failed to inflict even a single scratch… how utterly pathetic.”

“….”

Cheong-su-jin-in drummed his fingers against the wooden surface, his mind quickly shifting to other calculations. As the messenger bit his lower lip under his heavy gaze, Cheong-su-jin-in’s expression turned freezing cold.

“What is the source of your discontent?”

“It is nothing, senior.”

“Are you devoid of concern? Do you not care about how many innocent souls will be corrupted and exploited by the leader of the Black Path you allowed to slip away?”

“…Forgive me. I have committed an offense worthy of execution!”

“Does a martial artist truly consider a minor physical injury to his own flesh to be such a tragedy?”

“N-No! Not at all, senior.”

*Demons, Evils, Monsters, and Ghosts (Ma-sa-yo-gwi).*

For five centuries, the Murim Alliance had stood at the absolute vanguard of wiping out these four great evils. Innumerable righteous warriors had spilled their lifeforce to hold back the wicked forces threatening to plunge the land into ruin. Yet now, in total defiance of all that sacrificed blood and history, a high-ranking figure of the Sa-heuk-ryeon had walked openly through Wuhan under the protection of a diplomatic mission. When that individual stood present during the sacred graduation ceremony of the Murim Academy, Cheong-su-jin-in had endured a bitter sense of degradation.

Hyeok Mu-gang and Jegal So-myeong, operating as mere puppets, had entered a conspiracy and were throwing the Murim Alliance into utter disarray. The hard-won peace of the Kang-ho, cemented atop a mountain of casualties, was being torn apart for the selfish gains of a select few.

“The martial prowess you possess is meant to protect this world. Are you living merely to accumulate prestige and authority while abandoning the profound obligations that accompany such strength?!”

临 “….”

At some point down the line, martial skill transformed into raw strength, and strength warped into political power. The realm was slipping into chaos. In a broken world, the boundary separating the Righteous Path from Evil inevitably degrades. The reality that Dam-ak of the Sa-heuk-ryeon had the audacity to tread upon Wuhan was undeniable proof. To purge this stain, nothing short of Dam-ak’s execution would suffice as a cleansing agent.

“I will… without fail, secure Dam-ak’s head.”

Observing the rekindled determination in the messenger’s eyes, Cheong-su-jin-in gave a dismissive flick of his hand. The subordinate exited the private chamber in silence.

Cheong-su-jin-in reached for a white porcelain flask remaining on the table where a lavish banquet had been taking place just moments prior, pouring himself another measure. Knocking it back without a second thought, he turned his head slightly.

“Do you find my actions abhorrent?”

“….”

A man with sharp, finely drawn features observed Cheong-su-jin-in with a completely neutral countenance. Cheong-su-jin-in repeated the inquiry.

“Give me an answer, Yeong-ah. Am I abhorrent to you?”

The youth’s expression remained utterly unreadable. After a brief pause, he spoke in a measured tone.

“I do find your methods abhorrent, Seuseung-nim.”

Despite such an audacious reply from his follower—openly pronouncing his own master ‘abhorrent’—Cheong-su-jin-in merely offered a self-deprecating smirk. The student, Hyeon-yeong, went on.

“And concurrently, I find you deeply pitiable to the exact same degree, Seuseung-nim.”

Faced with this unexpected remark, Cheong-su-jin-in’s eyes flickered with a momentary tremor.

“What brings you to that conclusion?”

“Are you not the one bleeding internally more agonizingly than anyone else, Seuseung-nim?”

“….”

“If Wudang and the Murim Alliance were capable of functioning purely in accordance with the true Way and the cosmic balance, would you not be the very first person to abandon worldly affairs entirely, Seuseung-nim?”

The moment Hyeon-yeong fell silent, Cheong-su-jin-in mastered his emotions once more. He stared down into his liquor cup, offering words of reassurance to his charge.

“There is no requirement for you to look so deeply into my soul. For occasionally, harboring resentment toward another can be the very mechanism that insulates one’s own spirit.”

“I have never harbored an ounce of resentment toward you, Seuseung-nim.”

Yet again, hit with a surprising declaration, Cheong-su-jin-in focused his gaze squarely on Hyeon-yeong, his true disciple. This was the child he had fully intended to groom as the next leader of their sect. A youth who had displayed a brilliant aptitude and a relentless drive surpassing all others. That boy, once a beacon of pure light, had been cast into the shadows the moment his junior, Yong So-ah, arrived.

Because Yong So-ah’s raw genius and capabilities could only be described as a freak anomaly of nature, Cheong-su-jin-in had deliberately cast aside the destiny of his primary disciple Hyeon-yeong, whom he regarded as a son.

“From the very beginning, a place among the elite Dragons and Phoenixes was never meant for me.”

Yet, not a trace of bitterness lingered in Hyeon-yeong’s delivery.

“I am simply profoundly grateful that my life can serve as the soil to nourish the Established Way (Jeong-do).”

If his existence could provide even a minor advantage to the cause, it would be more than enough. Even if performed in the name of a righteous crusade, a father who had personally snuffed out his own child’s future could never truly know peace. Nonetheless, witnessing his disciple—who, instead of wallowing in self-pity, spoke willingly of sacrificing himself for justice—caused Cheong-su-jin-in’s eyes to grow misted.

What other student under heaven could comprehend the burdens of their master so perfectly?

“You… bring tears to this old man’s eyes.”

Cheong-su-jin-in emptied another measure from the porcelain container, steadying his fragile emotions.

“Jin So-un… it troubles my mind deeply that this particular youth has thrown himself into the fray.”

“Is he not merely another degenerate among the wicked?”

Cheong-su-jin-in signaled his disagreement with a shake of his head.

“He is distinct. Manor Lord Wang is actively backing Jin So-un’s agenda. It is highly likely that not a single order within the Nine Great Sects and One Gang could command that level of patronage from Manor Lord Wang.”

“…This disciple lacks wisdom and fails to grasp the deeper meaning.”

That was understandable. No matter how perceptive Hyeon-yeong might be, he was ultimately still a youth belonging to that same generation.

“The boy Jin So-un presents an demeanor of ‘finding contentment in poverty and the Way’ (An-bin-nak-do), yet his hidden focus is clearly locked onto the ‘Crane of Yangzhou’ (Yang-ju-ji-hak). Paradoxically, he remains unswayed by material gain or prestige. His capacity to withstand those countless worldly enticements truly mirrors a ‘heart of wood and stone’ (Mok-in-seok-sim). It is certain that Manor Lord Wang was similarly deceived by that stoic facade, choosing to extend his influence to the boy.”

“If he possesses such qualities, is it not our sacred obligation to guide him toward redemption and onto the Righteous Path?”

“If only such an outcome were feasible!”

Cheong-su-jin-in’s gaze darkened considerably. He envisioned the moment he had crossed paths with Jin So-un in the pleasure quarters.

“I would have attempted it long ago.”

临 “….”

“He cannot be categorized as merely unpredictable. That individual embodies pure disruption and discord. It is as though he thrives on the very environment. Throughout centuries of records, otherwise impregnable empires have collapsed solely due to the interference of such figures.”

“Do you truly believe he poses that great of a hazard to the Established Way?”

“Without a shadow of a doubt.”

Following an interlude of quiet, Hyeon-yeong rose to his feet, bringing his hands together in a formal salute toward his mentor.

“This disciple will gladly submerge himself in the mud.”

“Are you prepared for the consequences?”

“I beg of you, grant me this assignment.”

Staring at the disciple who stood ready to sacrifice his own purity for the preservation of the Righteous Path, Cheong-su-jin-in made no effort to mask his pride.

“Excellent. Suffer no hesitation about stepping into corruption for the preservation of the Established Way.”

The young warrior gave a resolute nod.

“By observing you, Seuseung-nim, who took the initial plunge into the mire, I have forged my own conviction time and again.”

It was the precise instant that the master and his follower, utterly convinced of their moral rectitude, took their next fateful step forward.

In all honesty, I don’t nurse an absolute hatred for the Jeong-do-hoe. Granted, if the members of the So-jeong-dae from my previous life were around to hear this, they would have busted a gut laughing while telling me to cut the crap, but I genuinely don’t loathe the Jeong-do-hoe entirely. I just find them incredibly tiresome.

They were, after all, the ones who stabilized the chaotic landscape of the Kang-ho five hundred years back, the ones who laid down the groundwork for the Murim Alliance, and the ones who had championed the cause of chivalry for generations. If they hadn’t consistently preached righteousness—even if it was mostly lip service—and operated with a grand vision in mind, the Kang-ho would likely be a far greater disaster than it currently is. As the old saying goes, even a spoiled fish still has some substance left. They possessed a certain degree of utility.

The real issue, however, was that this setup had persisted for half a millennium. In a world where the entire landscape shifts in a mere decade, they had been holding the reins for five full centuries. The absolute certainty and arrogance gathered over five hundred years hadn’t merely piled up; it had solidified into an immovable monolith of stone. In this day and age, they genuinely believed that whatever actions they chose to take were the ultimate standard of absolute virtue.

Just take a look at their conduct on this very day. Plotting an assassination simply because an invited dignitary might pose a potential hazard down the line. Was this not a choice they felt fully justified making because they viewed the Sa-heuk-ryeon not as living human beings of the Kang-ho, but as a plague that required total eradication? Furthermore, their self-righteousness was so absolute that they didn’t even bother to properly conceal their movements.

‘Those arrogant bastards… even if they’re desperate, shouldn’t they at least avoid using their signature movement techniques?’

Detecting their approach, I glanced backward, and the display was almost comical: the Floating Cloud Weakened Leap (Bu-un-yak-pyo) belonging to the Qingcheng sect, the Silver River Milky Way Flight (Eun-ha-yu-yeong-bi) from Zhongnan, and even the unmistakable Taiji Godly Technique (Tae-geuk-sin-beop) of Wudang. If they were going to be this blatant, they might as well have branded their sect crests onto their foreheads rather than donning cheap masks to trail us.

“Giddyap! Move!”

As I snapped the leather straps, the horses accelerated to a frantic pace. I could sense the stalkers, who had initially maintained a cautious distance far behind, rapidly making up ground. Because they remained uncertain which specific vehicle housed our high-value passenger, they were clearly attempting to force a closer look at the interior.

‘You think I’m going to make it that simple for you?’

The chase was merely in its opening stages. Depending on how effectively I could open up a gap between us and the accompanying decoys, the density of the eventual blockade would shift. For the moment, regardless of anything else, our sole option was to run as fast as possible.

—The pursuers are closing the gap. Shall we eliminate them?

A secret transmission arrived from a guard of the diplomatic mission who was masquerading as a simple luggage handler. Unbelievable. The idea that a basic porter could casually offer to wipe out the vanguard of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang…! That was practically equivalent to shouting out, ‘Dam-ak is riding right here!’

—Absolutely not.

—But they are rapidly gaining on our position.

—Do not engage under any circumstances.

—…Is this restriction due to them being operatives of the Murim Alliance?

I assumed we had established a modicum of mutual trust, yet here you are questioning my motives already? I’m deeply offended. Then again, I couldn’t entirely blame him for being suspicious.

—Right now, we might successfully clear out these trackers and the ones holding the path ahead, but the second it becomes common knowledge that Dam-ak is inside this vehicle, escaping Hubei alive will become an impossibility.

—…Forgive my insolence.

The guard, lowering his head, pressed no further. He simply relocated his position from the flank of the carriage up to the roof, completing his preparations to spring into combat at a moment’s notice.

“Faster! Move!”

I continuously urged the team of horses forward, but as anticipated, it was a massive challenge for a heavily loaded carriage to completely outrun the velocity of peak martial artists utilizing specialized movement techniques. As the distance between us shrank step by step, the pursuers abandoned all pretense of anonymity.

—They have closed to within ten zhang.

The guard positioned on the roof kept up a steady stream of updates while measuring the space separating us from the rear.

—The gap is now eight zhang.

Each time I brought the reins down hard, the beasts let out panicked cries and pushed their bodies to the absolute limit.

临 “J-Jin Gong-ja-nim… this pace is far too dangerous.”

The driver huddled beside me had turned completely pale before I even noticed. But slowing down was out of the question.

—The gap is six zhang.

The figures behind us were now close enough to be discerned clearly by ordinary sight.

—Four zhang remaining!

*Clang.*

The distinct ring of the escorts preparedly unsheathing their weapons echoed from behind my position. Without wasting a breath to call them off, I cracked the whip with even greater force.

*Whinnying!*

The sharp cries of the pedigree horses reverberated through the dense trees lining the main highway. Right at that split second, the driver pointed ahead, his voice dripping with pure terror.

“L-Look out up ahead!”

Directly where his hand was pointing, a blockade of figures stood square in the middle of the highway, having lit several fire pits and signaling for our vehicle to halt immediately.

—Two zhang remaining! What is the order?

I commanded without a shred of hesitation.

—Hold your ground. Do not react.

A fierce, questioning glare shot toward me from the guard. I could feel a wave of rising resentment, as if he were demanding to know what suicidal game I was playing. I understood his panic. But this was a pure test of resolve. A psychological standoff where the first party to flinch loses everything.

—One zhang left!!!

Spurred by absolute desperation in the face of imminent collision, the guard’s mental transmission was deafeningly loud. Dammit, where the hell are they? They should have intercepted by now.

And in that exact instant.

*Boom-boom-boom-boom-crash!*

Out of nowhere, an immense shockwave of fist force (Kwon-ryeok) exploded from the thickets, utterly scattering the pursuers from behind.

*Thud-thud-thud-thud!*

Simultaneously, a barrage of palm force (Jang-ryeok) rained down directly upon the contingent blocking our path forward.

“Aaargh!”

“Who dares ambush us!!”

Agonized shrieks and panicked shouts erupted simultaneously. All manner of chaos broke loose throughout the forest. The attackers, who had mistakenly believed they were the only ones playing the game of hidden identities, failed to adjust to the sudden flank attack and were sent crashing into the dirt. Sensing the escort beside me tensing his muscles to leap into the fray, I instantly sent a mental message.

—Stand down. They are reinforcements I arranged.

The charging pedigree horses mercilessly barreled over the bodies scattered across the road, pushing straight through the disruption.

“Arrrrgh!”

“Ghah!”

Grisly crunches and screams echoed from beneath the wheels, but I paid them no mind. Frankly, whose fault was it for standing directly in front of a speeding carriage?

Shortly after breaking clear of the entire pursuit network, a figure vaulted cleanly onto the moving vehicle. The protective detail prepared to strike but sheared their blades back the moment I gave them a look. The newcomer slid onto the bench next to me as if he owned the seat.

“Dammit! You’re cutting it close! I thought my life was forfeit.”

Despite my coarse greeting, the man casually peeled away his face covering.

临 “Your directions didn’t specify you’d be utilizing this route.”

The features exposed belonged to none other than Cheol Sun-jik. I countered while continuing to force the horses to maintain speed.

“What brings both you and Nam Hwa-seong to this sector?”

“We deployed our assets strategically across the alternative paths as well, so you don’t need to worr—”

*Thud.*

Right on cue, Nam Hwa-seong dropped onto the carriage frame.

“Jin So-un, have you completely lost your mind to pull a stunt like this? Actually, you’re already in the middle of it… Christ, do you intend to see this madness through to the end?”

The man simply couldn’t resist lodging a complaint.

“Get back out there and do your job. There are bound to be more tracking teams to intercept.”

“How much longer do we need to sustain this defense?”

“Naturally, you need to keep up the pressure until the sun comes up! That’s the only way to maximize their disorientation.”

“…Are you truly intent on taking this all the way?”

“Naturally. If I had any intention of backing out halfway through, I wouldn’t have set the wheels in motion.”

I couldn’t look back to check, but I could easily picture the exact look of annoyance plastered across his face.

“Son of a… I’m going to ensure I am handsomely compensated for this trouble.”

What nonsense was he spouting? For whose sake were we risking our necks out here like this?

“Why expect compensation from my pockets? You should demand your payment from Great Military Counselor Dam-ak.”

“The only reason we’re risking this is because you gave the word, you… Ugh, forget it.”

Nam Hwa-seong, scratching his head in sheer frustration, muttered under his breath, ‘As if I could actually demand anything from the Sa-heuk-ryeon’s Great Military Counselor,’ before leaping off the vehicle and vanishing into the tree line.

Cheol Sun-jik remained seated beside me without making a sound. After observing me intently for several moments with his sharp, piercing gaze, he spoke softly.

“This has turned into a pure sprint against the clock.”

“I am well aware.”

“Once desperation truly sets in, it won’t just be their ordinary disciples coming after us.”

“I am aware of that danger as well.”

“If things go completely south to buy some time…”

“Which is exactly why you need to get back to work immediately!”

“….”

A brief interval of silence settled between us.

“In that case, let’s make sure we survive to see the end of this.”

Cheol Sun-jik threw his form off the side, disappearing into the dark woods. By this point, the operatives of the Jeong-do-hoe must be burning with desperation to discover which exact carriage was transport for Dam-ak. They desperately needed to pinpoint his location to consolidate their hunting parties. Furthermore, they must be losing their minds because an unexpected force of elite martial artists hiding their identities was suddenly sabotaging their operation.

But what could they do? I had zero intention of letting them catch us easily. If they couldn’t handle the heat, they shouldn’t have initiated this gamble to begin with.

‘Let’s see who blinks first. I’ll tear out every single hair of those hypocritical bastards.’

I snapped the leather reins once more, forcing the horses into an absolute gallop.