Chapter 480

Chapter 480
## Chapter 480. Each Other’s Purposes (4)

—

“Young Master Jin… were you truly this sort of individual?”

I found myself disoriented by Song Ye-seol’s crestfallen tone. I had previously encountered the warning to remain vigilant against transforming into a monster while combatting monsters, yet to think I was completely indistinguishable from those wicked scoundrels of the Unorthodox path. At that precise instant, I found it difficult to contain my sorrow.

“Hehe, it is merely a jest.”

She offered a bright, uncomplicated grin, completely discarding her previous gravity.

“Even so… I believe I comprehend a bit better why your moniker remains unchanged.”

“Do share it with me.”

“Pardon?”

“Why is it that my title never alters?”

It was an unexpected inquiry, but since it pertained to a matter of utmost significance to me, I pressed for an answer.

“Ahahaha.”

Somehow, Song Ye-seol’s amusement only intensified.

“Goodness, I truly ought to restrain my laughter given our current predicament.”

As she uttered those words, she lightly nudged my shoulder.

“Nevertheless, I believe everyone has found a measure of relief owing to your presence, Young Master.”

In the end, she evaded answering the one riddle I was desperately eager to solve.

“It appears that merely having someone willing to unleash a barrage of profanity on our behalf provides a sense of comfort.”

Following the direction of Song Ye-seol’s eyes, the members of Hwa-pung-jang now bore far more relaxed expressions as they engaged in quiet murmurs. Scattered among them, a few individuals even let out genuine chuckles. The scene felt entirely distinct from the preceding atmosphere, which had been thoroughly drenched in vague dread and hopelessness.

Right at that moment.

*Thump-thump-thump-thump!*
*Thump! Thump!*

The main entrance rattled with immense violence. The pleasant ambiance froze instantly, and every ounce of color vanished from Song Ye-seol’s countenance. Having already discerned the presence outside via my sensory perception moments prior, I offered her a reassuring word.

“Be at ease, you may unbar the entrance.”

“Pardon me?”

This was because the crowd amassed outside the boundaries of Hwa-pung-jang at this very second did not belong to the Unorthodox factions. The massive doors were unlatched with great caution.

“Huh? Why are all of you present?”

Standing before the threshold, roughly forty youngsters around fifteen years of age stood in battle-ready stances, gripping their precious armaments and blazing torches.

“Children!”

“””First Senior!!!!”””

“Just what do you think you are doing here!”

“Word reached us that Hyeol-cheon-bo launched an assault! We intend to stand and fight alongside you!”

“What foolishness is…”

The youths spoke up, their eyes gleamng with shared resolve.

“We, too, are disciples of Hwa-pung-jang. Grant us permission to defend Hwa-pung-jang!”

“Did you not teach us that a genuine martial artist is one who willingly lays down their life to safeguard what is precious? Please allow us to protect Hwa-pung-jang…!”

“Hwa-pung-jang is our solitary home. Do not force us to become craven runaways who flee when our family faces ruin.”

Beholding the arrival of these youths, the mature martial artists of Hwa-pung-jang could not conceal their bewilderment. Among the ranks, certain men were clandestinely brushing away tears, and Song Ye-seol’s gaze was already shining with unshed moisture.

“You absolute fools! You mindless children! What does Hwa-pung-jang even matter to you…!”

Song Ye-seol delivered a swift smack to the back of the youth standing nearest to her. It was not a gesture of commendation for a youth who had embraced a choice that even mature adults found daunting. Nor was it an admonishment for the naivety of failing to comprehend the grim reality of slaughter. It was an overwhelming anxiety born from their selflessness, prioritizing Hwa-pung-jang above their very existence. Furthermore, it was a wave of self-directed fury triggered by the youth’s willingness to sacrifice himself. Does not the sight of a starving child suppressing their own hunger to hand over a single morsel of food inflict an agonizing pang upon an adult’s soul?

The youth, making no effort to dodge the blow to his back, latched onto Song Ye-seol’s arm and began to weep openly.

“I refuse to escape and abandon First Senior to wage this war in isolation. If I do… I know I will carry that bitter regret until my dying day.”

“Sob… sob…”

Ultimately, Song Ye-seol pulled the youth into a fierce embrace, her tears staining the fabric covering the child’s back. As if seeking to offer solace to Song Ye-seol, the remaining youngsters gathered around, enveloping the two of them person by person, layer by layer. Like a flower unfolding in deep melancholy, they pooled their collective warmth for a protracted duration.

“…Yong So-a, you mentioned earlier that you were curious about my motivations for aiding Hwa-pung-jang, correct?”

Yong So-a was gripping nothing but a bare wooden skewer, having presumably consumed the entirety of his confections by now.

“Direct your gaze over there.”

In a twist of irony, Kye Cheol-yeong, who had plundered everything of worth from the Tae-ul Sect, abandoned his post under the pretense of a vital assignment at the absolute nadir of the Tae-ul Sect’s existence. In that dark hour, the disciples rushed backward to preserve the Tae-ul Sect. Those were youngsters who had aligned themselves with the Tae-ul Sect merely to guarantee a single daily meal. Identical to the situation with the Tae-ul Sect, these youths who frequented Hwa-pung-jang to obtain an extra portion of sustenance had similarly sprinted back to this location without a second thought, mirroring the behavior of the Tae-ul Sect’s children. It was the intangible worth Hwa-pung-jang offered these youths beyond mere food. Because they deemed that intrinsic worth far more precious than their own survival, the youths had retraced their steps without a shred of hesitation.

“That comprises the exact reason I am extending my hand to Hwa-pung-jang.”

Yong So-a, who had been observing Song Ye-seol and the clustered youths, gave his head a slow shake.

“To speak with absolute precision, this is not assistance. It is a calculated intimidation of the adversary by thrusting Wudang into the vanguard. If I were forced to define it, one might call it *Ga-ho-wi-ho* (the fox borrowing the tiger’s majesty to terrorize other beasts), *Cha-ho-wi-ho*, or perhaps *Ho-ga-ho-wi*.”

“….”

What in the world was this? Did I not just give voice to an incredibly profound and vital principle befitting an adherent of the Orthodox path?

“Am I incorrect in my assessment?”

While it was a factual declaration, it was a perspective I simply lacked any desire to validate. I countered his point directly.

“Hardly. To be more accurate, it represents *I-i-je-i* (employing one barbarian to govern another barbarian). It could similarly be described as bringing down two targets with a solitary arrow.”

Yong So-a stared at me unblinkingly for a moment before shifting his gaze away.

“Utterly infantile.”

What on earth was he babbling about? This was the exact fellow who had just reiterated the identical concept through three separate idioms.

The youngsters were ultimately compelled to depart. There were numerous children who slumped to the dirt and thrashed about, vowing they would not leave, but upon hearing the unyielding pronouncements of Gongson Myeong, who stepped forward from the amidst the conflicted adults, the youths could no longer sustain their tantrums.

“Effective immediately, I shall banish any individual who sets foot within Hwa-pung-jang prior to being explicitly summoned from their standing as a disciple!”

“M-Manor Lord!”

“Manor Lord! Grant us permission to stand on the front lines as well!”

Yet regardless of how fervently they begged, the adults could not bring themselves to hurl these fragile children into the jaws of slaughter. Gongson Myeong turned his back with absolute finality, leaving the mature members of Hwa-pung-jang with no alternative but to usher the youths beyond the threshold and secure the heavy locks. The desperate cries of the children echoed from the opposite side of the barricade for a considerable length of time.

“Might we engage in a brief conversation?”

Acceding to Gongson Myeong’s request, I followed him as he guided me toward a secluded pavilion situated in a distant corner of Hwa-pung-jang.

“The imposing aura that Young Hero Jin displayed might serve to daunt those scoundrels, but that does not guarantee the impending conflict will be averted.”

Even with my declaration that Wudang stood with us, he remained entirely certain that an onslaught was imminent?

“What leads you to this conclusion?”

“Hyeol-cheon-bo has committed far too much capital to this endeavor.”

“What manner of commitment are we speaking of?”

“It is reported that there is not a single usurer operating within the Kaifeng region who has not advanced substantial funds to Hyeol-cheon-bo.”

Absorbing this piece of information, my mystification only deepened. This signified that Hwa-pung-jang was not the sole entity that had staked its entire existence upon the outcome of this clash.

“Hmm… are you at liberty to disclose precisely why they are fixated on Hwa-pung-jang?”

I remained ignorant of the underlying motive that would compel Hyeol-cheon-bo to drain the coffers of local money lenders merely to raze Hwa-pung-jang. The absurd narrative regarding the expansion of the Unorthodox path’s territory was utterly hollow from the start. The commercial privileges held by Hwa-pung-jang were laughably insignificant, even within the confines of Kaifeng.

“…*Ahem*.”

Gongson Myeong, who appeared to waver for a brief moment, spoke with immense discretion.

“In truth, several seasons past, a torrential downpour triggered a massive mudslide upon the ancestral peaks possessed by Hwa-pung-jang. …And it was during that event that a rich vein of gold was uncovered.”

“Whaaat?!”

“I exerted every effort to suppress the rumors with utmost speed. Yet, I suspect the information managed to leak out regardless.”

Good gracious, what sort of gold deposit reveals itself during a monsoon? If that were the case, the sheer volume of ore buried beneath the earth must be astronomical…

“Young Hero Jin?”

“Ah! Yes… apologies, *slurp*… pray forgive my lapse.”

“….”

“For what reason are you observing me in that manner?”

“Somehow… I could have sworn I detected a predatory gleam within your eyes…”

“It is merely a phenomenon that manifests on occasion as my cultivation of internal energy reaches greater depths.”

“It scarcely bore resemblance to that sort of phenomenon…”

The scattered fragments of the puzzle aligned flawlessly. If a gold deposit was truly at stake, well, it was only natural that Hyeol-cheon-bo and various other Unorthodox factions would descend upon this place with ravenous intensity.

“Regardless… because I have withheld this reality even from the Murim Alliance and my fellow righteous companions within the Orthodox path, I found myself unable to unmask the truth even at this late stage.”

Is it not a common proverb that where immense fortune arrives, calamity is sure to follow closely behind? Hwa-pung-jang had endeavored to conceal a wealth they lacked the strength to defend, but its radiance was simply too brilliant, ultimately drawing the gazes of predatory eyes. Yet, considering the circumstances, something felt slightly amiss.

“Why choose this moment to confide in me?”

The Yong-bong Association had already committed to remaining on the premises, and we had bound our fates to fight as one, so what purpose did revealing the mystery now serve other than to amplify the underlying complications?

“By any chance, do you happen to possess a solitary silver *nyang*?”

“I do not!”

“…?”

The words flew from my mouth instinctively at the mere mention of finances… Realizing my blunder, I moved swiftly to rectify my statement.

“Ah! My apologies. It escaped my lips without conscious thought. Here is a single *nyang*. But what is your intent in requesting it?”

Gongson Myeong leaned in and murmured under his breath.

“I harbored awareness regarding your fixation on wealth, but to think it ran to such an extreme…”

Tsk, honestly, evaluating a person’s entire character based on a fleeting slip of the tongue. In any event, Gongson Myeong, having accepted the single silver *nyang*, slid the coin directly into the folds of his sleeve. I managed to suppress the blunt question of ‘Just what are you playing at?’ that nearly burst from my throat. Right then, Gongson Myeong retrieved a pair of parchment packets from within his inner robes and extended them in my direction.

“What do these represent?”

“The property deed for our ancestral peaks.”

“???”

“And accompanying it is a bill of sale affirming that the land was transferred in exchange for one silver *nyang*.”

All of a sudden, what manner of madness… He pressed forward, his voice adopting a detached, otherworldly quality.

“Should Hwa-pung-jang meet its demise, I implore you to have the Tae-ul Sect take custody of the youngsters who possess no other refuge. If they lack the aptitude to be received as formal disciples, please arrange for them to find employment as attendants in neighboring establishments. Should any among our adult ranks survive this conflagration, I make the same request on their behalf. That encompasses the entirety of my desire in this transaction.”

“….”

Even if I were to construct palatial estates for every single member of Hwa-pung-jang and endow them with enough treasure to live like royalty for generations, it would fail to match the sheer worth of the document currently in my grasp. In relinquishing an asset of such staggering magnitude, Gongson Myeong was seeking nothing more than ‘sanctuary.’

“…I am of the opinion that this asset possesses value far exceeding that request.”

Gave my head a firm shake, I attempted to thrust the envelopes back into his hands.

“Such a grim outcome will likely not come to pass. Consequently, you must retain these, Manor Lord. Additionally, kindly return my single *nyang*.”

Yet Gongson Myeong flatly declined to take back the documents.

“I beg of you, Young Hero Jin, maintain possession of them. I desire to enter this fray entirely unburdened by lingering anxieties.”

“…What induces you to place this trust specifically in my hands? There remain other senior members within Hwa-pung-jang.”

He spoke as though he were committing a transgression, yet this was a transaction calculated to bestow unimaginable opulence upon the recipient.

“The information came to me via Ye-seol. It is because you possess a greater measure of righteousness than any champion I have ever encountered, and you command more sheer audacity than any combatant I have ever witnessed. Furthermore, having observed the trajectory of your journey up to this hour, I concluded that I could confidently pledge the survival of our remaining kin to your care.”

He delivered the words with the gravity of a final testament.

“Should the conflict escalate to a desperate degree and the Yong-bong Association finds itself in mortal peril, please abandon this ground without a moment’s hesitation.”

He locked his gaze onto mine with unwavering intensity.

“For I have no desire to see you perish in this place on account of our youths.”

And.

“….”

Before a single cycle of the sun could conclude, his grim predictions manifested as stark reality. An estimated three thousand (3,000) warriors of the Unorthodox path converged upon the perimeter of Hwa-pung-jang.

The tactical preparation of Hwa-pung-jang to withstand the oncoming onslaught was relatively uncomplicated. The combatants of Hwa-pung-jang established their signature martial alignment, the *Hwa-pung-bi-hyeong-do-jin*, utilizing the defensive perimeter of the primary courtyard as structural support. Positioned directly in their vanguard, the Yong-bong Association assembled into the *Baek-ho* (White Tiger) sword formation. Given that every participant had previously executed this specific alignment during their time in the Muk-rim, their collective movements harmonized adequately even in the absence of explicit verbal commands.

And stationed at the very front of our lines, I deployed Yong So-a, the prized prodigy of Wudang and the celebrated green jade (*nok-ok*) of the Murim Alliance.

“Do you genuinely harbor the belief that this specific arrangement is capable of withstanding a force numbering three thousand?”

The green jade was offering his commentary. Entirely needlessly.

“When the disparity in sheer numbers reaches this magnitude, formal military alignments lose their practical utility. It is far more advantageous to pivot toward psychological manipulation instead.”

Even if one were to cram the courtyard of Hwa-pung-jang to its absolute limit, the enemy would remain incapable of bringing all three thousand combatants to bear simultaneously. Even granting that they are undisciplined Unorthodox vagabonds, a host of this size is more than capable of compensating for any deficiency in internal cultivation through sheer mass.

“I am intensely curious to observe whether the adversary will allow themselves to be fooled by such simplistic psychological maneuvers.”

In truth, I harbored little curiosity regarding how the scoundrels of Hyeol-cheon-bo would react. Rather.

‘My curiosity lies with our own ally.’

Even when I issued directives that transparently exploited his status, he merely consumed his treats without uttering a single complaint, executing the tasks in absolute silence. The more he maintained this demeanor, the more desperate I became to uncover the underlying objective driving Yong So-a.

“Tell me, confection-boy. You are participating in this because you possess ultimate foresight that we shall emerge triumphant, are you not?”

“…I remain entirely ignorant of your meaning. Did I not explicitly state previously? That I beheld absolutely nothing.”

Even when I subjected him to a subtle probe, the coveted revelation failed to materialize. Yet, there was no longer any spare luxury to dedicate to Yong So-a’s mysteries.

*Wa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!*
*Wa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!*

For the Unorthodox host began their forward surge, unleashing a collective battle cry that threatened to cleave the very sky and earth in twain.

Advancing a force of three thousand individuals directly into an immediate melee encounter appeared to exemplify the characteristic recklessness of Unorthodox mercenaries.

‘Alternatively, they simply lack the cognitive capacity to formulate a nuanced tactical approach.’

The steel-reinforced bulwarks prepared to absorb a torrential downpour of projectiles rendered themselves useless in a heartbeat. The Unorthodox combatants sprinted forward with reckless abandon, throwing themselves directly at the perimeter of Hwa-pung-jang.

“Wa-aaa! Clear the passage!”

“Clear the passage!”

Notwithstanding the presence of a primary entryway, they endeavored to forge their own avenues of approach by scaling the defensive walls or scaling the branches of overhanging trees.

“In that case, from our perspective, this is a far more welcome scenario.”

*Kwa-ji-jik.*

The reinforced primary entrance rapidly manifested a fracture before splintering entirely, and a torrent of humanity surged through the breach as if a reservoir barrier had collapsed.

“Behold a token of appreciation for the vanguard!”

*Ku-ru-ru-rung.*

The tempestuous energy of the *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang* concentrated within my palm began to churn violently. There existed absolutely no requirement to mitigate the collateral shockwaves or regulate the concussive output as I typically did. Given the density of the crowd, any release would find a target even if I were to strike with my eyes sealed. Just as the ominous vibrations rippling through the air grew suffocating and the Unorthodox vanguard detected a sudden wave of trepidation.

*Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!*

A swathe of the surrounding environment vanished entirely as the *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang* erupted outward on a scale far surpassing its typical dimensions, and a thunderous detonation that utterly drowned out the shrieks of the dying reverberated between the heavens and the earth.

*Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!*

The stupendous shockwave of the *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang* ran its course. An abrupt, profound stillness instantly descended over a combat zone that a mere moment ago had been choked with bloodlust.

“W-What in the name of… exactly was that.”

“D-Damnation. No intelligence warned us of such power!”

And prior to the creeping dread achieving full dominion.

*Ku-ru-ru-rung.*

The *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang* was unleashed for a second consecutive time.

*Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!*

The *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang*, saturated to the brim with internal energy, manifested its unadulterated destructive capability without a shred of restraint, reducing the immediate landscape to ribbons. Those individuals who had charged forward with the greatest audacity were the very first to be erased from the theater of war.

“M-Madness!”

“W-Was this the nature of the opposition we faced!”

“He is a master of the highest order! Curses… never have I borne witness to such terrifying palm technique!”

An armed host bereft of strict operational discipline crumbles with immense ease when subjected to a sudden, cataclysmic counterstroke. Scoundrels gathered from the alleyways who have never engaged in joint maneuvers, let alone structured group tactics, remain fundamentally nothing more than a rabble regardless of their numbers. An unguided predator acts purely upon primal survival responses. The moment I directed my concentrated slaughterous intent toward the paralyzed predators, those who had stood rooted in terror began a frantic retreat in an instant.

“U-Uwaaaaa!”

“G-Get out of my way! I commanded you to move!”

The cascading effects of the *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang*, which functioned essentially as a wide-area devastation technique, naturally triggered a desperate urge to flee even among those who were already running. The massive volume of personnel totaling three thousand served only to exacerbate the chaos of the rear ranks, who remained entirely oblivious to the catastrophe unfolding at the vanguard.

“Keo-heok!”

“Uwaaak!”

With merely two deployments of the *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang*, the Unorthodox scoundrels became horribly entangled with one another, devolving into utter pandemonium. The witless fools who had pushed forward without organizing into proper units were now inflicting casualties upon themselves, trampling over their own allies in a desperate bid to escape.

Beside me, Yong So-a, having consumed the final remnants of his sweets, neutralized an advancing Unorthodox attacker by launching a wooden skewer with pinpoint accuracy before remarking.

“Do not allow your vigilance to waver. For populations accustomed solely to the brutal law of the jungle, the collective morale can pivot in a heartbeat through the intervention of a solitary, potent commander.”

Yong So-a delivered an obvious tactical reality as though it were a profound revelation. I could already perceive individuals radiating immense internal cultivation entering the theater of war one by one in a measured fashion. Seven mounted silhouettes became visible upon the crest of a nearby elevation. An intense pressure that could be discerned with absolute clarity even across the intervening distance.

‘Did the Manor Lord truly liquidate the entirety of the usurers’ capital simply to enlist the services of foreign masters?’

Well, had they refrained from doing so, they would never have harbored the audacity to strike at the Yong-bong Association, which boasted the presence of Wudang’s Yong So-a. While the spiritual signatures of four individuals were roughly equivalent, the prowess emanating from the remaining three was distinctly elevated above the first four. In all likelihood, the four represented the leadership of the local syndicates, whereas the remaining three were elite mercenaries they had hired.

“Heed my words!!!”

The moment the Hyeol-cheon Manor Lord, Bang Chung-heon, unleashed a vibrating Lion’s Roar, the Unorthodox masses immediately pivoted their attention toward a single direction as though time itself had ground to a halt.

“From this moment forth, I shall personally execute any coward who attempts to flee the field on the spot!!!”

Simultaneously with his proclamation, dozens of additional mounted riders surged out from behind his position, forming a wide arc that effectively hemmed in the retreating Unorthodox forces. Their targets of hostility were none other than their own Unorthodox subordinates.

“Kuaaak!”

“Heok!”

Ignoring Bang Chung-heon’s explicit ultimatum, those who persisted in their retreat had their heads severed from their shoulders without exception by the mounted riders wielding long lances. The fountains of gore erupting from the decapitated stumps effectively paralyzed the momentum of the Unorthodox combatants who were attempting to break ranks. These were the vanguard of Hyeol-cheon-bo, the dreaded *Hyeol-chang-dae* (Blood Spear Squad). The *Hyeol-chang-dae*, an entity that personified terror to members of the Orthodox path, was currently training its lethal focus upon their own Unorthodox peers.

“Advance and bring me the heads of Hwa-pung-jang’s leadership! Ultimate triumph or absolute annihilation are the sole outcomes available to you!”

The wavering Unorthodox horde began to surge toward Hwa-pung-jang once more.

“The true engagement commences now.”

Yong So-a unsheathed his *Seon-pung* (Zen Wind) blade and cast a glance back toward my position.

“Do you intend to refrain from utilizing that crude palm methodology once more?”

Are you harboring any inkling as to the volume of internal energy required to sustain the maximum output of the *Gwang-cheon-sin-jang*? I am obligated to conserve my inner reserves if I harbor any intention of surviving the upcoming duels.

“I possess a far superior strategy for managing those miscreants.”

*Bang! Bang!*

The defensive barriers shattered, and adversaries began pouring through the perimeters flanking the main entrance.

“A superior strategy? In that case, deploy it without delay.”

The optimal strategy is immensely potent and requires a negligible expenditure of internal energy.

“Allow me to demonstrate.”

To be absolutely precise,

“Huuup—!”

The third maneuver outlined within the legendary Thirty-Six Stratagems of Sun Tzu—

“Right here…!”

*Cha-do-sal-in* (Borrowing another’s blade to execute the strike).

“Yong So-a, Yong So-a stands right here!!!!!”

“….”

“The ultimate bounty awaits any warrior who manages to bring this fellow down!!!”

My own Lion’s Roar, commanding a volume that utterly dwarfed the preceding roar delivered by Bang Chung-heon, ripped through the absolute center of the conflict.