Chapter 399

Chapter 399
## Chapter 399. Personal Revenge (9)

—

“The Jeongdo-hoe is behind this!”

The pronouncement from Jegal So-myeong carried an icy, suffocating gravity.

“…….”

Fully aware of the immense ramifications of that statement, Hyeok Mu-gang found himself momentarily speechless, unable to even offer a word of concurrence.

Recognizing this silence, Jegal So-myeong pressed on without waiting for his companion to reply. In truth, he poured out his words as a desperate means to release at least a sliver of the blistering fury consuming him.

“Those fanatics have crossed the line at last.”

“It confirms my worst suspicions.”

“You were already aware?”

“The complete cessation of correspondence from the Cheonmok-gak struck me as highly irregular, prompting me to send agents from the Alliance Leader’s Palace. While we possessed the strength to force entry, I held back out of concern that it might exacerbate misunderstandings—a hesitation that has unfortunately culminated in this catastrophe.”

Hearing Hyeok Mu-gang’s reasoning, Jegal So-myeong let loose a muffled, agonized rasp.

“Those bloodthirsty instigators are evidently determined to provoke a massacre.”

“What exactly are they doing?”

“They are actively hunting down the fleeing Dam Ak as we speak.”

Hyeok Mu-gang’s eyelids snapped open in shock.

“How much further do they mean to push this……!”

Even with his usual stoicism, reigning in his rising panic proved nearly impossible.

“They must be detained without delay. Do we possess proof?”

“An investigation would yield an abundance of it. Nevertheless…… if those miscreants cared about repercussions, they never would have initiated this plot.”

They had taken no precautions to obscure their tracks. This blatant disregard signaled that the exposure of their crimes was of no consequence to them.

“Ultimately, those traitors are operating under the assumption that open conflict is inevitable.”

Striking at Dam Ak, an invited dignitary, would constitute an unpardonable offense during times of stability. Yet, should Dam Ak perish and trigger an all-out war between the Murim Alliance and the Saheuk-ryeon…….

*‘On the contrary, their actions will be vindicated, thrusting them into the absolute vanguard of the Murim Alliance.’*

In the crucible of wartime, past transgressions are easily reframed as heroic achievements.

“They will undoubtedly trumpet their assassination of the Saheuk-ryeon’s General Counselor as a glorious feat.”

“Their current evasion is merely a tactical delay, biding their time for that precise turning point.”

They were not concealing their deeds; they were displaying them. By manufacturing merit, they intended to dismantle the current Murim Alliance Leader and eliminate him, the General Counselor, in a single stroke. The calculating minds within the Jeongdo-hoe had made their definitive gambit.

The most treacherous aspect of their strategy was how they weaponized time. The Pavilion Master of the Cheonmok-gak, while suppressing all vital intelligence, was scrupulously delivering reports every twelve hours regarding the demonstrations by Black Way martial artists around the Murim Alliance outposts. It was a transparent demonstration of allegiance, signaling exactly where his loyalties lay in this upheaval.

“We can no longer tolerate this insolence.”

“The masterminds are surely the Eight Members of the Jeongdo-hoe, yes? What is their location?”

Hyeok Mu-gang made a motion as if to personally intervene, his patience entirely depleted. Jegal So-myeong signaled for him to remain still, shaking his head.

“With both the Cheonmok-gak and the Gaebang under their thumb, uncovering their current whereabouts is a logistical impossibility.”

“What if we command the Martial Pavilion to initiate a direct manhunt?”

“Absolutely not. The moment forces from the Martial Pavilion or the Inspection Pavilion are deployed, this internal feud will solidify. They will seize that opportunity to claim the Murim Alliance is being weaponized for personal vendettas to crush innocent factions, using it as leverage for a counteroffensive. We would be handing them the perfect justification.”

“But we cannot simply stand idly by…… while General Counselor Dam Ak is hunted like prey, can we?”

Jegal So-myeong fixed his gaze on Hyeok Mu-gang, who had risen to his feet.

“Are you familiar with the Hao-mun?”

“Indeed, I am. Is that not the collective of tavern workers and entertainers?”

“More accurately, it functions as an intelligence network. Though they do not yet rival the Gaebang, their expansion is remarkably swift. I have retained their services for this crisis.”

“Are they reliable?”

Leaving operational competence aside, integrity was the absolute cornerstone of any information network. The Gaebang, as a pillar of the Nine Great Sects and One Union, was fundamentally intertwined with the Murim Alliance. Consequently, the Hao-mun needed to establish a similar baseline of dependability with the alliance.

“It appears young Jin So-un has been quietly employing the Hao-mun rather than the Gaebang for some time. Thus, I chose to utilize them on this occasion.”

Jegal So-myeong followed this with a weary, humorless chuckle.

“Furthermore…… intelligence indicates that Jin So-un is actively engineering Dam Ak’s escape.”

“Jin So-un……? What business does that youth have in this affair?”

In this precarious hour, with the specter of war looming over the Murim Alliance and the Saheuk-ryeon, what reason was there for Jin So-un’s sudden involvement?

“The motives remain unclear. However, the Hao-mun confirmed it. Consider Dang Gi-han, who was detained by the Execution Pavilion for incapacitating the Outer Hall sentries—did he not claim it was an ‘oversight’?”

“Indeed. Though a failure in toxicology from the Dang Family is entirely unprecedented in my experience.”

“In addition to Dang Gi-han, several of Jin So-un’s peers from the academy have also vanished under mysterious circumstances.”

“Which implies?”

“We must deduce that Jin So-un has mobilized an entire cohort of allies beyond just Dang Gi-han.”

“Incredible……”

Hyeok Mu-gang had been steeling himself for an unavoidable catastrophe, believing *‘The Great War is a certainty!’* Yet, unexpectedly, an individual was working from the shadows to halt that impending doom just before it collapsed upon them.

“Truly…… it is extraordinary.”

“I find it no less astonishing.”

Because Dam Ak’s remains had not been recovered, Jegal So-myeong had assumed the Jeongdo-hoe factions had either executed him in secret or relocated him for a covert assassination. Learning that Dam Ak remained alive and was successfully evading capture brought a wave of relief. Discovering that Jin So-un was safeguarding him kindled an even profounder sense of hope within him.

As Hyeok Mu-gang exhaled a breath of relief, Jegal So-myeong’s gaze sharpened.

“……That audacious brat, executing such a massive undertaking without offering a single report.”

Jegal So-myeong muttered with annoyance at being kept in the dark, despite his profound gratitude for the youth’s timely intervention. Hyeok Mu-gang offered immediate reassurance.

“He must have had compelling reasons. He is hardly the type to provoke such a situation without a calculated purpose, is he?”

Those words hit the mark. Whatever reckless front he maintained, he was a person who ultimately ensured that every variable aligned toward the proper resolution.

“Regardless…… the prevention of this conflict rests entirely on that troublesome boy. For that reason, I request an immediate, covert deployment of personnel from the Alliance Leader’s Palace.”

Under ordinary conditions, such an irregular deployment would be unthinkable, but the luxury of debating protocols had expired.

“Naturally. It shall be done immediately. Even so, I cannot help but worry. Given the circumstances, that child has taken the weight of this entire crisis upon his own shoulders…… I fear the depth of isolation he must be enduring.”

Jegal So-myeong offered a silent nod of solemn agreement.

*Let’s see, if this gamble pays off, what sort of compensation should I demand?*

*Should I request a transfer to the Baekrang Pavilion? No, that hardly balances the scales for this level of trouble.*

*At this very moment, I am—honestly—putting my neck on the line to avert a catastrophic clash between the Murim Alliance and the Saheuk-ryeon. I can’t possibly undervalue my services. No way.*

*If I settled for so little, Elder Wang Geum-san would undoubtedly give me a fierce thrashing.*

*Indeed…… something grander, I need to extract a much larger concession…….*

“*Daesa-hyeong*!!”

“Eh?”

Sa-ryeon, her features concealed behind a dark cloth, abruptly jarred me from my calculations.

“What engrossing thoughts could possibly cause you to completely lose awareness of your surroundings?”

“Who says I lost awareness? I am perfectly lucid.”

“You were on the verge of walking straight back up the mountain path.”

“That was merely a deliberate tactical redirection…….”

“Focus on the task at hand!”

“……Understood.”

To any outside observer, one would swear she was my *Sa-jeo* rather than the other way around.

We had successfully navigated Mt. Horyeong and arrived within the borders of Danbung County. I had been fully prepared to ditch our transport when navigating the Hwanggang River to counter any potential ambush, but likely due to the implementation of the Six-Family Spear Style, our pursuers had temporarily lost our scent.

Nonetheless, we pressed onward relentlessly, permitting ourselves a mere two hours of rest per day. Two hours. While it might seem generous during an active pursuit, when measured against the grueling pace of continuous travel through day and night, it was barely a drop in the bucket.

Only three days had elapsed, yet the strain was showing. Not just on the civilian drivers who lacked internal energy, but even Dam Ak was beginning to exhibit signs of severe physical exhaustion.

“Jin-gong-ja. Might we halt our advance briefly before continuing?”

“General Counselor. You will have an eternity to rest once you are in the grave. You may slumber to your heart’s content after you perish.”

“……I finally comprehend why the candid advisors of antiquity met such untimely demises.”

“Do you harbor a desire to decapitate me, General Counselor?”

Dam Ak shifted his head as though evaluating an absurd proposition.

“The urge has not manifested quite yet.”

“Then we have no time for leisure. Your survival instinct proves you still have plenty of vitality remaining.”

A sudden shift crossed his expression, replaced by a resolute nod.

“……I have reconsidered. I possess an overwhelming urge to decapitate you this instant.”

“Alas, what can be done? I am a disciple of the Murim Alliance, a beacon of honor and chivalry. Regrettably, as the General Counselor of the Saheuk-ryeon, you lack the jurisdiction to command my execution.”

Though my words carried a sharp bite, timing was everything. This temporary tranquility was almost certainly a brief window bought while the vanguard’s intelligence regarding the Six-Family Spear Style was relayed back to Wuhan. Until those directives returned, the scouts who witnessed that martial display would remain frozen, paralyzed by hesitation.

The moment those details reached the architects of this hunt—including that miserable hypocrite Cheong-su Jin-in—a definitive mandate would be issued. The hunt would resume.

My certainty stemmed from the nature of those zealots; blinded by their distorted version of ‘righteousness,’ they would never abandon the chase over a mere deception. Short of a direct decree from the Imperial Throne, they would pursue us to the ends of the earth.

In truth, even faced with an imperial mandate, those fanatics would shamelessly forge ahead, offering hollow platitudes like, *‘Alas, we were unawares. Forgive our ignorance. Yet pray acknowledge our devotion to defending the righteous path.’*

During the twilight of the Orthodox-Demonic War in my previous life, the zealots of the Jeongdo-hoe and the Baekdo-hoe were indistinguishable from the bloodthirsty monsters they fought. In fact, their mania burned even brighter when they witnessed the core tenet they had guarded for half a millennium—the conviction of their absolute righteousness—crumbling before an uncompromising malice.

The hypocrites who would hand you a solitary blade and command you to charge thousands of fiends, purge legions of Jiangshi, and force the Demonic Cult south of the Yangtze River could scarcely be deemed rational.

From that standpoint, the tracking party would inevitably close the distance. Neither that stubborn Taoist Cheong-su Jin-in nor that relentless Buddhist Great Master Hye-seong were individuals to abandon a quarry. One needed only to look at how they callously discarded low-tier martial artists as cannon fodder even when the Murim Alliance faced overwhelming defeat.

Such people lack the capacity to surrender. Consequently, we needed to maximize our distance immediately. *Try and catch us, you vultures.*

Having cleared the treacherous waters of the Hwanggang River through sheer fortune, our remaining obstacles were Yeongsan, Namjeong, and Maseong. Yes, a positive outlook was essential. Rather than lamenting, *‘We have not even achieved the halfway point,’* it was better to celebrate, *‘At minimum, the Hwanggang River is behind us.’* See? The psychological shift was immense.

If that sounds like mockery, it is merely a reflection of a cynical perspective. To those seduced by wickedness, the Black Maitreya offers no salvation!

Pausing to steady my breathing, I surveyed our surroundings. I had mandated that our martial artists assume control of the reins for the nocturnal trek. Under the cover of darkness, individuals with heightened sensory perception were better suited to guide our path. Though some lacked experience piloting a team of horses, it was a minor hurdle. Instructing them was simple enough.

“I have never piloted a team before.”

“You possess equestrian skills, correct?”

“That is accurate.”

“Simply conceptualize the beast as possessing twice the width and five times the length. See? The principle is elementary.”

“…….”

The guard offered a look of unadulterated skepticism. His silent glare translated roughly to, *‘What nonsense are you spouting, you lunatics?’* but no superior advice existed under these constraints. Adaptability was key. Regardless, an experienced driver occupied the bench beside each warrior, rendering absolute mastery unnecessary. Furthermore, I occupied the vanguard, neutralizing any imminent threats.

Slowly but surely, the convoy maintained its momentum. The midnight gloom restricted our velocity to less than half our daytime speed, yet progress endured.

It was during the final hour of the moon’s descent, just as the first hints of dawn began to fracture the horizon.

*Preeeee—*

Despite the hour being far too early for predatory birds, a solitary Iron Eagle carved through the sky as the dark blue hue of night began to dissolve. I retrieved my Black Plaque as a precaution; recognizing the token, the raptor plummeted like a stone, settling before me with a heavy sweep of its wings.

After a brief, affectionate nuzzle against my cheek—a testament to its long absence—the creature extended its talon. Affixed to it was a dispatch from the Wuhan outpost of the Hao-mun. I unrolled the parchment deliberately.

“*Gong-ja-nim*?”

The driver beside me, observing my countenance, inquired with trepidation.

“Has…… something unfavorable occurred?”

“It is of little consequence.”

Indeed, it was negligible. A development that had been factored into the equation from the outset.

—The tracking force has resumed its advance.

Our brief reprieve had officially expired.

*Chwaaaak— Chwaaaak—*

The pursuers advanced, splintering the dense foliage in their wake. Those fools lacked any understanding of basic fieldcraft. Whether executing a clandestine assassination or an active pursuit, was stealth not the primary directive? Yet here they came, felling trees like common laborers. I was uncertain what unrefined border tribe raised them, but allowing them to defile the Central Plains with such clumsy maneuvers was unacceptable.

*Sswwaeeek— Sswwaeeek—*

Reaching into my tunic, I extracted a pair of throwing blades and launched them, infusing the steel with the precise mechanics of the White Phoenix Hand.

*Chak!*

The vanguard deflected my projectiles and hurled them back, employing the aggressive trajectory of the Thousand-Head Great Mouth Style. Confound it, since when did the Jeomchang Sect resort to such unrefined tactics?

*Ching!*

Utilizing my Flying Dragon Claw, I narrowly intercepted a blade tracking directly for the driver’s throat. As I redirected my gaze.

*Chwaaaak— Chwaaaak—*

Another ten scouts materialized in the canopy, executing the Grass-Skimming Flight while clearing the branches before them. Their ranks were swelling rapidly. As I weighed our options.

“Is it appropriate for me to engage?”

Dang Seo-hui, her visage masked and her turquoise-green uniform rustling, shifted with anticipation. I offered a firm nod.

“Commence.”

The presence of fifteen combatants in this sector indicated they had already inspected the contents of the accompanying transports. From this juncture, a shift in tactics was required.

“Restraint was proving difficult.”

The moment the words left her lips, a torrent of Willow Leaf Flying Daggers and Cow Hair Needles erupted from Dang Seo-hui’s grasp, tracking their marks unerringly. The seven crescent blades carved elegant paths through the air, embedding themselves into the oncoming assault.

“Ugh! This technique!”

The targets who successfully deflected the Willow Leaf Flying Daggers recognized the lineage of the attack instantly. Shock and indignation filled their expressions, but their realizations mattered little. The time for concealment had passed.

*Chrrrrl—*

While they successfully parried the primary blades, the true peril lay in the microscopic Cow Hair Needles charting a concealed course behind them.

“Aaaaack!”

“Keu-heuk!”

Scores of the hair-thin needles riddled a scout’s frame, sending him crashing to the earth as he expectorated crimson. Neutralizing her target, Dang Seo-hui offered a reassuring glance.

“Worry not. The trauma is primarily internal.”

Uh…… such assurances do little to ease my mind. Then again, why should I care? If sacrificing these zealots preserves the peace, I would offer up an army of them without a second thought. The most infuriating hypocrites alive. *Hmph, may misfortune find you all.*

As the initial barrage of needles and daggers forced a retreat, the trackers widened their formation to mitigate the spread. Ah, such spacing nullified the effectiveness of massed needle attacks.

In that instant, Wang So-so materialized at my flank.

“*Oppa*, allow me to handle this exchange.”

“You? Are you certain?”

*Jingle, jingle.*

Alerted by a distinct metallic resonance, I lowered my gaze.

“Are those…… minted gold?”

“Indeed. Frequently I employ copper or the iron blanks Master Jang fashioned, but current circumstances leave me with only these.”

Without further explanation, Wang So-so’s arm blurred into motion.

*Sswwaeek—*

Moments later, a choked gasp echoed from the thicket as a warrior collapsed.

*Sswwaeek—*

As though possessing an impossible number of limbs, Wang So-so maintained an uninterrupted volley of gold currency. Infusing the coinage with the intricate principles of the Great Heaven Sword Technique, each piece multiplied mid-flight, fracturing into multiple trajectories that shattered the enemy’s focus. With every coin launched, a tracker was neutralized.

*‘By the gods.’*

A projectile methodology entirely foreign to my experience. Should it be classified as a Currency Hurl Technique? I had assumed Wang So-so joined our expedition to Wuhan merely under the aegis of Wang Geum-san, but her competence argued otherwise. Dang Seo-hui, observing the display, offered an authentic murmur of respect.

“An exceptionally precise projectile methodology.”

“My goodness, Dang *Sunbae-nim*! Your praise honors me!”

Wang So-so flashed a bright expression while continuously expelling silver pieces. Shrugging her shoulders, she turned her gaze toward me.

“How did I fare, *Oppa*? I proved my utility, did I not?”

“Eh? Ah, indeed. Quite impressive.”

“Do you experience some physical discomfort?”

“Not at all. Why do you ask?”

“No reason…… you simply maintain an expression as though you are suppressing a profound grievance.”

I am perfectly healthy. I harbor no grievances. It is merely…… if I walked back out there to harvest those discarded riches, it would compromise my dignity entirely, wouldn’t it?

“……Witnessing your formidable advancement simply evokes memories of days gone by.”

“*Oppa*…….”

Observing So-so’s upturned face, visibly affected by my sentiment, I fought down the agonizing impulse to scour the brush for those gold pieces. *What is the total value of that volley? The sheer extravagance is torturing my soul.*