Chapter 449

Chapter 449
## Chapter 449. The Definition of Justice (4)

—

If a minor spilling of blood could ward off a catastrophic devastation, then that sacrifice was absolutely necessary. Such was the conviction of Yong So-ah. To her mind, it represented the solitary path forward to brace against the looming end of the world.

“……I must verify this once more.”

Poring over the ‘List of the Living and Dead’, Namgung San made no attempt to hide his deep hesitation.

“Which target is it?”

“The Mosan Sect…….”

Namgung San shook his head, his countenance deeply troubled. Surely, an error had been made.

“What possible justification is there for the Mosan Sect to be marked for execution?”

It was common knowledge throughout the secular world that Mosan, positioned precariously between orthodox and unorthodox factions, had aligned itself with the Martial Alliance and spared no effort to cleanse itself of any sinister, heretical associations. At this point, was it not widely regarded as a sect holding a greater claim to the righteous path than even the Hyeong-san Sect?

“Given that their recently unveiled Infinite Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation is gaining immense renown, perhaps envious rivals surreptitiously added them to the ledger?”

At present, the Mosan Sect was on the verge of eclipsing the legendary reputation of the Zhuge Clan through their innovations in tactical arrays. It was only natural that fellow researchers of formations would harbor deep professional jealousy. A secondary verification was imperative.

“We did not initiate this cleansing campaign for such petty ends.”

A heavy remorse weighed down Namgung San’s words.

“…….”

Yong So-ah reached out and took the death ledger. Her dispassionate gaze swept downward, scrutinizing the written accounts with meticulous precision.

“For the time being, let us confer with the Inspection Hall and request a formal review of the directive from the Martial Alliance……”

“Such measures are unnecessary.”

“What?”

While maintaining her gaze on the document, Yong So-ah summoned the searing heat of the Samadhi True Fire, reducing the parchment to ashes in an instant.

“They are…… corruption.”

Namgung San’s expression grew dangerously somber.

“Yong So-ah. They bear no resemblance to the clear transgressors we have dealt with until now. There is no definitive proof against them.”

In this campaign of elimination, verified verification was paramount above all else.

“Are you blind to the consequences that a reckless sentence will bring?”

Even the slighest inkling of wrongdoing required exhaustive scrutiny. For this enterprise was the most sacred and serious duty in the entire Jianghu.

Nevertheless,

“My words are not born of recklessness.”

“…….”

“They are the vanguard destined to unleash the ultimate slaughter at the absolute forefront of the Demonic Cult.”

Namgung San found himself utterly stupefied by an assertion delivered with such absolute certainty. Stepping toward him, Yong So-ah declared:

“If a minor spilling of blood can ward off a catastrophic devastation!”

Without a single shred of doubt coloring her voice.

“Then that sacrifice is absolutely necessary.”

Namgung San refused to yield. This was far too grave an issue to simply compromise upon.

“How can you possess such absolute certainty?”

Namgung San lowered his hand until it rested firmly upon the pommel of his blade. Yong So-ah merely regarded him with an unblinking, detached gaze.

“I witnessed it.”

“……!”

Namgung San’s grip loosened, his hand slipping away from his weapon. No further argument could be made.

Mere moments before the painstakingly completed Infinite Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation could be fully unleashed, Gu Song-baek collapsed, his lifeblood pooling beneath him.

“*Mun-ju-nim*!!!”

Struggling to lift his head in response to Yu Ji-ryang’s frantic shout, Gu Song-baek let out a melancholic laugh, one of his eyes completely ruined.

“Do not worry for me.”

Directly behind him, the agents of the Black Coffins, desperate to halt the activation of the Soul-Destroying Formation, advanced relentlessly like a ravenous pack of wolves. The executioner who had dealt Gu Song-baek his crippling injury swung again, aiming to claim his head in a decisive strike. Yet Gu Song-baek, indifferent to his own mortality, urgently signaled for the others to make their escape.

“*Mun-ju*……”

*Peo-peo-peo-peong—*

With a succession of concussive sonic booms, a solitary ray of dark radiance cut through the battlefield, arriving directly before Gu Song-baek.

*Chaeng-gang!*

The descending blade meant to decapitate Gu Song-baek was shattered along with its hilt. Watching the ruined metal clatter to the ground, Gu Song-baek identified the savior who had just manifested such incomprehensible, transcendent might.

“*Jin So-hyeop*……”

*Chwa-reu-reu-reu-reu—*

His chosen armament, unfurling with the precision of a folding fan’s ribs, subdued the advancing Black Coffins in the blink of an eye.

*Woo-oong—*

The razor-sharp sword-qi cloaking his blade erupted outward like a volley of arrows, completely barring the adversaries from drawing any closer.

“Forgive the familiarity.”

“What are you……”

Before Gu Song-baek could finish his query, he found himself hoisted onto Jin So-un’s shoulders.

“The moment to surrender has not yet arrived.”

Though the ruin of the organization he had spent his entire existence building loomed directly ahead, Gu Song-baek felt an overwhelming wave of sentiment surge within his chest. He had genuinely believed he had pushed himself past the absolute boundaries of human endurance, yet every time he encountered this young warrior, he was left wondering if he truly understood what a limit was.

And so, deliverance had found him once more. Once more, he discovered the resolve to fight onward.

‘Indeed, the curtain does not fall until the final breath is drawn…….’

*Kwang!*

“……!!”

A colossal impact reverberated through his entire skeletal frame, sending his perception of the world spinning violently out of control.

‘What transpired?’

The Black Coffins had been kept at bay by Jin So-un’s extraordinary martial prowess, so from whence had this assault originated? In that chaotic instant, sensations akin to avian talons began pulling at his attire. The individual who arrested his descent toward the earth was none other than Jin So-un.

“Are you unharmed?”

“What hit me……”

“…….”

Jin So-un offered no verbal reply. He simply stared rigidly into the distance, his features frozen.

‘A frozen expression?’

An expression of utter severity that he had never previously witnessed on the youth. From the direction of that intense gaze, a detached voice rang out.

“Despite the admonition I delivered—”

For reasons completely beyond his comprehension, the moment Gu Song-baek registered that dispassionate tone,

“You have finally shown yourself, Jin So-un.”

He felt a profound, chilling dread sink heavy in his chest.

A gale howls.

The tempestuous currents emanating from the shattered ruins of the formation array swept toward a single point, carrying plumes of ivory vapor along with them. Positioned at the epicenter stood a figure gripping the Whirlwind Sword.

“Jin So-un.”

An individual whose sheer aura saturated the surroundings with a menace far greater than the entire horde of Black Coffins that had gathered like wild dogs.

“Is this the path you choose to tread?”

Yong So-ah.

*Go-oh-oh-oh-oh—*

Circling his motionless blade, the ivory mist manifested a swirling vortex. His dispassionate eyes looked down with unyielding focus upon the features of the prone Gu Song-baek.

“Your choice is flawed. He is a corrupt soul.”

I had harbored suspicions that this might transpire ever since the incident involving the Four Gates, but for Yong So-ah to materialize in person was another matter entirely. I rapidly calculated the distance separating us and evaluated our potential line of retreat.

‘Securing an escape for both of us will be exceedingly problematic.’

If circumstances dictated such difficulty…….

“By whose criteria do you judge?”

“Criteria?”

I had no alternative but to confront him directly.

“I am inquiring as to the origin of the metrics that differentiate a righteous individual from a corrupt one.”

In response to my interrogation, his detached stare shifted once more toward the battered Gu Song-baek. Encircling the Whirlwind Sword, the ivory vapor began condensing into even tighter, more defined rings. Did the bastard realize his internal essence was completely visible, or was he entirely indifferent?

I advanced a step closer to Yong So-ah.

“The reality that this enterprise lacks the official sanction of the Martial Alliance……”

Regrettably,

“Yong So…… you despicable bastard!”

My pronouncement was cut short.

*Swaaaa-eaek—*

For the Whirlwind Sword flashed directly toward Gu Song-baek’s form. I intercepted the bastard’s blade with every ounce of momentum I could muster.

*Peong!*

The Red Light Sword was deflected by a bizarrely powerful kinetic rebound, and the Whirlwind Sword instantly thrust toward Gu Song-baek’s vital center. Twisting my torso, I yanked him backward, a maneuver that resulted in the razor edge of the Whirlwind Sword slicing across my hip.

*Seu-geok—*

Harnessing the leftover momentum of my spin, I unleashed a counter-strike with the Red Light Sword. Yong So-ah, who had surged forward with the velocity of a thunderbolt, glided backward as effortlessly as the wind.

“Haah.”

I inspected the gash inflicted by the Whirlwind Sword. Mercifully, the laceration proved superficial. The previously disarrayed Black Coffins were beginning to cluster around us once more. If this stalemate persisted, the two of us would inevitably be pinned down here before the Soul-Destroying Formation could ever be triggered.

I came to a swift resolution.

“Flee ahead.”

“*Jin So-hyeop*, what are you implying by……”

Rather than offering an explanation, I gripped Gu Song-baek’s attire, intending to hurl him toward safety in the rear.

*Seu-geok—*

As though anticipating the exact motion, a localized gale of sword-force sliced through the air, precisely severing the trajectory between my palm and his garment.

*Kung—*

Already grievously wounded, Gu Song-baek tumbled across the ground once more.

“Flight is an impossibility for you.”

Strangely, I detected an unnatural fixation buried within Yong So-ah’s dispassionate tone.

‘For what earthly reason?’

As if confronting a mortal nemesis with whom he could never peacefully coexist on this earth, Yong So-ah was single-mindedly and ruthlessly pursuing Gu Song-baek alone. Ostensibly, there existed no historical grievance between them to warrant such malice, and even if one existed, Yong So-ah, who was unambiguously the aggressor here, exhibited an absolute obsession with ending Gu Song-baek—I understood now.

‘Therefore, I am absolutely compelled to ensure his survival.’

The initial urge to preserve his life out of basic decency had now transformed into an unyielding determination to save him at all costs.

“First, let us dispose of these insignificant pests before we converse.”

*Woo-reu-reu-reung—*

The volatile essence of the Thunderous Bolt coalesced within my palm, vibrating violently.

“W-What is this monstrosity!”
“It is that bastard’s internal hand technique!”
“Scatter out of its path!”

The Radiant Heaven Divine Palm, its execution accelerated to a flawless degree upon my mastery of the Stage of Single Thought, obliterated their ranks before they could formulate any semblance of a defense.

*Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-khwang!*

Accompanied by a cataclysmic detonation that felt as though the cosmos itself was being forged anew, the vapors billowing from the fractured formation reversed their course entirely. The adversaries attempting to retreat backward were utterly dismantled by the shockwave of the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm, while those who plunged into the shattered array to seek refuge from the blast vanished, never to reemerge.

Under ordinary circumstances, seizing Gu Song-baek and executing a swift retreat would be the most logical course of action. Yet, for reasons beyond logic, my feet remained rooted to the spot. The justification was crystal clear.

*Swaaaa-ak—*

The entity emerging seamlessly through the swirling, thick shroud of dust.

‘Yong So-ah.’

It was that very bastard. The rationale behind my grim intuition was simple: attempting to flee while burdened with Gu Song-baek would have resulted in my immediate demise. Acted upon, my instinct to respect that dire premonition proved accurate. However, my strategic preparation for the ensuing confrontation remained vastly inadequate.

*Chwa-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu—*

A spectacular manifestation of countless illusory blades and shifting sword trajectories erupted. A tempest of steel claimed dominion over an expanse as vast as the one cleared by the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm, descending upon Yong So-ah with fury. Yet, Yong So-ah maneuvered his Whirlwind Sword without betraying even the slightest hint of panic.

The smoke venting from the formation traced fluid, geometric configurations in the wake of his weapon. Myriad Taiji diagrams materialized to saturate the atmosphere. And at the absolute apex of synchronization.

*Woo-oong—*

He reverted the Twin Heaven Sword Formula back to ‘Nothingness.’ That unsettling, discordant transition caused a profound skepticism to take root within my mind.

The accumulated anomalies regarding Yong So-ah’s martial arts had been mounting for some time. Even for the esteemed Wudang Sect, which premised its mastery on the delicate doctrine of Softness Overcoming Strength, this display was nothing short of unnatural.

‘It is as though he possesses prior knowledge.’

What truly defined the principle of ‘Succeeding by Striking Later’? Was it not the art of allowing an opponent’s momentum to dissipate by employing the absolute minimum necessary deflection dictated by the enemy’s own kinetic force? In stark contrast, Yong So-ah was neutralizing the threat preemptively, acting ahead of time as if he fully anticipated the trajectory, suppressing the execution before the power could even manifest fully. To dismiss such occurrences as mere happenstance was impossible; it transpired far too frequently.

Refusing to credit the evidence before one’s eyes and ignoring reality is the swiftest route to a grave. Had I been a conventional practitioner of the Righteous Path, I would have loudly denounced it, screaming, “This is a demonic art!” But I possess no such orthodox allegiances, and the Black Coffins of the Inspection Hall were entirely subservient to that bastard anyway.

‘In that scenario, I should instead!’

I instantly altered the circulation of my internal reserves and launched a strike.

Three Styles of White Moon Ascending Heaven.
First Style.
Extreme Speed.

The Red Light Sword cut cleanly through the fabric of space.

*Kwaaaa-ek—*

At the conclusion of the explosive sonic boom, I deployed the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Formula once more. The violent, sudden redirection of my internal energy induced a sickening sensation that felt as though my vital organs were being wrenched apart, yet.

‘I must verify this.’

It was an indispensable tactic required to convert suspicion into absolute certainty. Ten thousand manifestations generated by the three edges executed the Twin Heaven Sword Formula, giving rise to an infinite array of permutations.

*Chae-chae-chae-chae-chae-chae-chae-chae-chae-chaeng—*

The entirety of the localized space was saturated by the lethal presence of the Red Light Sword. Through the microscopic apertures of that network, I channeled bursts of pure sword-qi. It was an oppressive density made viable only because we were positioned directly amidst the formations.

Even so,

‘It remains insufficient.’

Against any commonplace martial practitioner—indeed, even against an elite master—this volume of aggression would constitute an inescapable, devastating onslaught from which they could not emerge unscathed. Yet it fell short of providing absolute confirmation. For I observed Yong So-ah’s silhouette steadily closing the distance, advancing seamlessly through the minute spaces between the blades—gaps so dense that even the architect of the technique could scarcely tell them apart.

‘If that is the case.’

Once more, I mobilized my depleting inner reserves, driving them to their absolute zenith. A chaotic maelstrom of sword profiles and energy vectors that defied visual tracking took form. Into the heart of that structural gap, I plunged the Small Heaven Sword Technique.

*Swaaaa-eaek—*

The entirety of the blade-saturated space warped violently, and a concentrated beam of sword-qi rocketed directly toward Yong So-ah’s cardiac region. Following through without a moment’s pause, I immediately unleashed the rapid blade once more.

Three Styles of White Moon Ascending Heaven.
First Style.
Extreme Speed.

The bastard utilized his left hand to manifest the Tiger Claw, shielding his vital center.

*Peo-peo-peong!*

Simultaneously, the surrounding space appeared to fracture, giving the illusion that Yong So-ah’s physical form was being torn asunder, however.

*Kwaaaa-ek—*

That phenomenon was merely a lingering residual projection left behind by Yong So-ah’s velocity. Not a single blemish marked the physical person of Yong So-ah, who stepped through that concentrated gauntlet of strikes entirely unscathed.

“……Ha!”

A breathless, ironic chuckle escaped me as absolute certainty solidified within my mind. The sequence of techniques I had just executed did not constitute an infallible ‘Instant Kill’ array. It was a pressure sequence that someone of Yong So-ah’s caliber could conceivably withstand. However, throughout that entire sequence, he logically should have been rendered incapable of tracking my defensive position.

Contradicting that logic, the words Yong So-ah uttered after neutralizing my escape trajectory while effortlessly bypassing my combination amounted to a singular query.

“You……”

The very enigma I had been contemplating.

“Do you…… perceive the future?”

Showing no trace of vanity regarding his spectacular defensive feat, the bastard maintained his completely hollow, dispassionate countenance. Then, his lips slowly parted to speak.

“Is that the entirety of your observation?”

It was undeniably the most bone-chilling tone I had ever encountered across the spans of both my previous existence and my current life.