Chapter 530

Chapter 530
Chapter 530. The Monster That Eats Despair (15)

—

Perfidiousness and trickery inflict the deepest wounds on human hearts. This holds true regarding wealth or power, but it is especially devastating when a betrayal happens in a crisis where life itself hangs in the balance.

“*Aaaaargh*!”

Mankind experiences a far deeper fury in these moments than when they simply face their own demise.

“Stay back! I ordered you to stay back!”

The sentries who had guarded the **Murim-dan** turned into the primary targets for this exploding resentment. Since they were elite combatants originally chosen by the **Murim-dan**, they possessed martial skills of a notable standard, but that meant nothing to the maddened crowd whose vision was blurred by rage. Furthermore, these guards were already vulnerable, nursing injuries and internal trauma.

“*Gaaaaah*!”

The initial guard collapsed after absorbing a blow from a warrior’s blade, but a second warrior instantly lunged at the remaining sentry. Right after came a third, then a fourth. The guard who had previously demonstrated exceptional martial talents lost his life in a flash, completely unable to defend himself against the overwhelming numbers and the frantic ambush.

A life was snuffed out in a moment, but the fury did not dissipate. Blood that has reached a boiling point does not cool down so easily. They immediately began searching for a third and fourth target to slaughter.

The conflict was not restricted to the abandoned **Murim-dan** guards and the fighters. As shrieks echoed and blood spilled, individuals who had been enduring starvation while biding their time began assaulting those who possessed provisions. The terror of dying and the agonizing pangs of hunger provided more than enough incentive for them to discard the prestigious reputation they had maintained as members of the **Baek-do**. Imitating the actions of the **Murim-dan** leadership, they surrendered to basic survival instincts while casting aside hollow concepts of righteousness and ethics.

Watching this brutal spectacle from the sidelines, **Jin-so-un** pondered. If the wicked members of the Demonic Cult had anticipated this exact outcome, he knew he would lack the confidence to defeat them even if he were reborn across multiple lifetimes. This location had transformed into a massive crucible—a horrific testing ground where the core of human nature was being evaluated.

*Clash, clang, clash, clang—*

Skirmishes erupted everywhere, and not a single soul attempted to intervene. Rather, there were individuals who actively pillaged the garments of the newly deceased, seizing the opportunity to scavenge for even a tiny scrap of food. It appeared as though they had reverted to their desperate state from before they ingested the **Clear Mind Spirit-Preserving Pill**. The **Baek-do** crowd utilized their superior numbers to shatter the defensive lines of the guards and anyone carrying even a miniscule amount of rations, unleashing ruthless, one-sided savagery.

Deep down, everyone understood. The discarded guards and the people with food were trapped in the exact same predicament. It was simply that the crowd required an outlet to release the boiling emotions tearing through their chests.

It was a period marked by miserable spectacles unfolding in every direction.

“*Ugh*, who the hell are you!”

At one spot, a figure clad in pitch-black martial attire boldly entered the fray without trying to hide.

“Cease this at once.”

“Get your hands off me!”

“I told you to stop.”

“Those scoundrels are accomplices of the cowards who deserted us! Are you collaborating with them too?”

In that exact instant, **Jin-so-un** buried his fist directly into the warrior’s face.

*Thud!*

The body of the frantic fighter, unable to master his rage, launched backward like an arrow from a bow, flying a distance of three *jang*.

“I commanded you to stop!”

**Jin-so-un** barked. Instantly, an oppressive silence blanketed the area.

“……”

Murderous intent rippled outward, and a fierce combat aura directed itself toward the newcomer. The crowd’s new target for their wrath had become **Jin-so-un**.

There was never a disaster quite like this. I was well aware that sanity could disintegrate rapidly under pressure, but I never anticipated it would vanish at such a breakneck speed.

*‘Then again, the resentment that had been piling up layer by layer all this time must have reached its absolute limit.’*

These **Baek-do** hypocrites, who claim to prize their reputation above all else, were shifting the blame onto others without a shred of remorse. This proved the reality of our predicament was significantly worse than it appeared. And now, it seemed their collective animosity was redirecting itself squarely toward me.

“Die!”

“I refuse!”

Naturally, I unleashed the **Overlord’s Divine Fist**. Just as it had propelled the massive pavilion straight toward the roof moments ago, an immense gale from my strike mangled the warrior in a split second, blasting him to the far side of the cavern.

“*Kehh-hehk*—”

As those fighters tumbled backward while coughing up crimson streams, three more individuals ferociously unsheathed their blades and sprinted toward me.

“Drop dead!”

“I already said I refuse!”

Sprinting directly into their path, I unleashed the **Overlord’s Divine Fist** once more.

*Boom-boom-bang—*

As if a taut cord had snapped and yanked them backward, they were thrown through the air with incredible ease, landing precisely where they had started.

*Thud-thud-thud—*

It appeared I wasn’t the only one astonished by the sheer might of the **Overlord’s Divine Fist**. Unlike their previous reckless and ferocious displays of bloodlust, the surrounding crowd froze, visibly unnerved by how easily their comrades had been sent flying.

“Be warned, that strike just now didn’t even utilize thirty percent of my true power. From this moment on, I will not be holding back.”

“……”

Though it carried a fair amount of exaggeration, the bluff undeniably achieved its purpose. Even though a multitude of eyes still glared at me with pure animosity, not a single person dared to take a step forward.

“Hall Master **Jin**!”

The martial artists of the **Yoseong-dang** rushed over to my side.

“Assemble everyone right here.”

I gestured toward the battered guards.

“*Hmm*?”

“I am ordering you to safeguard them. Do not let them be slaughtered.”

Only after my prompt did **Nam-hwa-seong** fully register the state of the guards, who had been reduced to bloodied tatters, and the frenzied warriors still itching to execute them. Turning away, I directed my steps deeper into the interior.

A chorus of shrieks and profanities resonated from every corner. Some belonged to the remnants of the guard, but others came from the factions that had hidden provisions.

“DAMN IT ALL!!!!”

I also spotted individuals who abstained from the violence entirely. Yet, it wasn’t out of some noble composure. They simply sat in a state of catatonic despair, utterly overwhelmed by hopelessness, passively awaiting their demise. Among this group were those who had surrendered all their personal food supplies to the **Murim-dan** in exchange for ration distributions. It was a faction lacking exceptional martial arts prowess but possessing abundant resources; however, aside from the investigation team’s chief and deputy chief, their subordinates had already departed for other areas. Since the **Murim-dan** had utterly betrayed their trust, they no longer possessed any incentive to remain loyal.

An even more vicious struggle was unraveling near the cluster of **Murim-dan** pavilions I had just vacated.

“We were completely in the dark!”

“Slaughter them all!”

“We swear we have absolutely no connection to this!”

“Execute them!”

A entirely one-sided exchange persisted between those begging for their lives and those intent on murder. Funneling a massive surge of internal energy into my lungs, I unleashed a thunderous Lion’s Roar.

“STOOOOOOOOOO-OOOOOOP!!!!”

The sound waves slammed against the curved cavern roof, reverberating like a massive thunderclap throughout the entire subterranean space. It was intense enough that numerous individuals clutched their ears in agonizing pain. Even so, those whose minds had been utterly consumed by boiling blood did not halt their assault so easily.

“STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-OOOOOP!!!”

I bellowed a second time. With a volume of this magnitude, no matter how deeply they had lost themselves to rage, they should have perceived the threat and turned around. A few of the brawlers did glance in my direction, but the chaotic violence ground onward without stopping.

*‘These stubborn fools.’*

They were undoubtedly pretending not to hear despite the sound ringing in their ears. Back in the **So-jeong-dae**, the instructors always emphasized that when your words fail to reach someone, you must deliver your voice wrapped inside a fist.

“I commanded you to STOOOOOOP! You miserable bastards!”

Channeling a mere twenty percent into the **Overlord’s Divine Fist**, the impact launched the bodies of three warriors across a distance of three *jang*, slamming them violently against the stone wall.

*Crash-smack-thud!*

“I told you to halt!!!! I said STOOOOOOP!!!”

Once more, the **Overlord’s Divine Fist** detonated through the air, sending five more martial artists crashing to the dirt while coughing up blood.

“I ordered you to stop! Why do you refuse to listen!”

As bodies continued to drop alongside my roaring demands, the target of the crowd’s collective fury shifted entirely toward me. Predictably, no matter how far sanity has departed, a human being remains incapable of ignoring their own physical agony. If their unchecked rage until now defined their primal humanity, then pausing that fury when faced with agonizing pain was equally human.

“Are you an associate of the **Murim-dan** as well?”

“I ended up trapped in this misery because I followed their commands, and now you expect me to submit to orders once again?”

I deliberately avoided drawing my blade. My objective was to suppress them, not to harvest their lives.

*Thud-crunch-thud—*

And somehow, I harbored a feeling that relying on the **Overlord’s Divine Fist** would be perfectly fine. Even if the bones in my hands shattered, the miraculous vitality of the **Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear** would completely mend them.

The impact of the **Overlord’s Divine Fist** collided directly with an oncoming saber and sword.

*Crack.*

Their weapons were instantly reduced to worthless fragments of scrap metal. *‘What is this, did they purchase cheap equipment?’* I pressed on with my aggressive ‘persuasion.’

“I! Told! You! To! Halt!”

*Bang-thud-crack!*

The individuals who sustained blows to the jaw, solar plexus, and stomach respectively lost consciousness and collapsed onto the ground.

“Ah…… to defeat both the **San-hwa-sin-do** (Scattered Flower Divine Saber) and the **So-ho-geom** (Little Lake Sword) using a single technique……”

“Was the **Black Flame Dragon**…… truly this terrifying?”

I had to bring an end to this bedlam as rapidly as possible. If the body count continued to rise at this rate, we would truly cross a threshold from which there was no salvation.

“Cease this madness!!!”

To achieve that, I had no alternative but to employ a minor ‘instrument of persuasion.’ And given that the ‘instrument of persuasion’ I was currently wielding possessed immense power, the results began to manifest rapidly.

*Thud-thud-thud-thud—*
*Thud-thud-thud-thud—*

The martial secrets of the **Overlord’s Divine Fist** felt increasingly profound the more I utilized them. While initially I focused on narrowly evading the sharp edges of weapons to strike from the flanks, I gradually realized I could comfortably clash directly against blades coated in sharp sword-qi. Furthermore, its destructive output was exceptionally precise. It erupted in a straight, remarkably honest trajectory, executing exactly as I envisioned. It reached a point where a profound sense of clarity washed over one side of my chest each time the technique was unleashed.

*Boom! Blast-boom!*

“STOOOOOOP!”

“Wa—Wait, I am stopping, so please……”

“Cease this, you absolute fools!!!”

“Ha—Halt! I said I am halting!”

Right at the moment I roughly concluded the first form and was covertly preparing to transition into the second style.

“Hall Master.”

A delicate hand gently gripped my shoulder.

“Everyone has ceased fighting.”

Suppressing a wave of lingering adrenaline, I reined in my ‘persuasion.’ The crowd, whether a shred of sanity had returned to them or not, stood in a tense, awkward stillness, entirely frozen.

A heavy stillness descended upon the cavern. Though heavy, ragged panting and the metallic aroma of fresh blood lingered in the air, the frenzied hysteria had undeniably broken. What **Jin-so-un** had just displayed closely resembled a unilateral outburst of violence that seemed driven by questionable motives, yet against all odds, it had successfully restored quiet.

*‘It is a truly remarkable phenomenon.’*

In a crisis like this, matching their frenzy would only accelerate their mutual doom. To extinguish anger by projecting an even greater fury—it was an extraordinary sight to behold.

A degree of collateral damage had seemed entirely unavoidable. Only after the initial rush of adrenaline fades and the boiling anger subsides can rational thought finally take root. It was assumed that conversations could only resume once such rationality was restored, but through **Jin-so-un**’s intervention, the chaos was resolved far quicker than anyone could have anticipated.

“A truly extraordinary **Siju**……”

The indiscriminate cruelty that had been unfolding across the chamber ground to an instant halt. This outcome was forged entirely by a young martial genius who had not even crossed his thirtieth year. Behaving as though he had navigated this exact brand of anarchy and upheaval dozens of times before, his reactions carried not a single shred of doubt. Even without experiencing the cycle of rebirth preached within the walls of Buddhist temples, the fact that he could execute such a feat was profoundly astonishing.

Perhaps it was merely a scenario where blind luck aligned with a blunt, primitive action to yield this result. Yet, one undeniable truth remained: that young **Siju** continuously accomplished the impossible, one feat after another. Not only had he pulled himself back after plunging into **Ip-ma**, but he had even carved a path forward during the trek to the Central Hall. He had made it happen.

“**Il-ju**-ya.”

“I am listening, **Zen Master**.”

“Restrain the remaining crowd. If anyone dares to mindlessly engage in slaughter, show absolutely no leniency in your actions.”

“Understood.”

Having delivered his command, **Zen Master Cheon-sim** walked over toward **Jin-so-un**. Along his path, he crossed trails with **Dang-su-je** of the Dang Clan. The martial artists of the Dang Clan were likewise spreading out to contain the crowd, executing the directives of **Dang-su-je**.

“Are you making your way toward **Benefactor Jin**?”

“It appears the young man is preparing to take action. I intend to lend the weight of my position to whatever he has to say.”

**Zen Master Cheon-sim** struggled to conceal his internal amazement. Given that he himself owed the youth a massive debt of gratitude, his own actions were understandable, but **Dang-su-je**, revered as the **Hidden Demon Poison Saint**, was not the type of figure to readily validate the declarations of a mere junior expert. Yet here he was, treating the act of reinforcing **Jin-so-un**’s authority as if it were the most natural course of action. Sensing there might be an underlying motive, the Zen Master dropped a subtle inquiry.

“Our young companion possesses a remarkably unique quality. Would you not agree?”

The moment **Zen Master Cheon-sim** broached the subject, **Dang-su-je** fought to suppress the smirk tugging at his lips, simply rolling his shoulders in a shrug.

“Naturally, the members of the Dang Clan have always possessed an exceptional flair.”

“?”

The praise had been directed entirely at **Jin-so-un**, so why was the head of the Dang Clan adopting such a proud demeanor? Though deeply intrigued, the Zen Master refrained from pressing further, as they had already arrived beside **Jin-so-un**.

The two prominent figures closed the distance.

“**Benefactor Jin** speaks the absolute truth. This is no time for us to be spilling each other’s blood.”

“The young man before you, **Jin-so-un**, serves as the Hall Master of the Murim Alliance’s **Yoseong-dang** and shares exceptionally deep ties with the Dang Clan. He possesses far greater authority to represent our cause than the pathetic cowards of the **Murim-dan** ever did.”

Enforced by the endorsements of these two esteemed elders, the authority of my voice shifted up an entire tier.

“I represent the investigation team of the **Il-ju-mun**. Precisely as Young Hero **Jin** has stated, turning our weapons on one another will only accelerate our destruction.”

When even the **Il-ju-mun**, a sect holding an exalted position among the **One Hundred and Eight Peaks**, lent its voice to the cause, figures of influence scattered throughout the cavern began stepping forward one after another. As these leaders aligned themselves with my words, the individuals who had been participating in the one-sided massacre began sheathing their weapons. This did not imply their hostility had dissolved entirely. They continued to project a volatile combat aura in all directions, as if ready to unsheathe their blades the instant the situation deteriorated again.

*‘At the very least, they are calm enough to listen.’*

I clasped my hands together in a formal martial salute.

“I am **Jin-so-un**, Hall Master of the Murim Alliance’s **Yoseong-dang**.”

The ensuing silence felt incredibly heavy. Hundreds of **Baek-do** martial artists nearby watched my every move with hands resting on their pommels, while further in the shadows, the members of the **Huk-do** were gradually closing the distance, straining their ears to catch every word.

“I understand perfectly that the current predicament has left you all deeply rattled. However, I implore you to reclaim your fragments of sanity.”

“The leadership of the **Murim-dan** abandoned us and fled! Are you suggesting we simply sit on our hands and do nothing?!”

I pointed directly at the agitator who had disrupted my speech and responded.

“**Great Hero**! If you butcher these guards, will the leadership of the **Murim-dan** magically reappear?”

“……”

“If slaughtering them could bring the **Murim-dan** back, I would be the very first to cut them down myself. Give me an answer. If you execute them, does it bring the **Murim-dan** back?”

The agitator struck his own chest violently, his face contorted as if his internal fury was tearing him apart.

“We are doomed to die here anyway! Because of those treacherous dogs, every single one of us is dead……!”

Utterly exhausted by his childish whining, I shot back with freezing coldness.

“If your demise is set in stone regardless, why waste your breath on anger? You could simply sit quietly and wait for death to claim you, could you not?”

“What did you say?”

“Or would you prefer I slaughter you right now to spare you the agonizing wait?”

I gathered the murderous aura I had been keeping under wraps and unleashed it in a single, concentrated burst.

“!”

In the vicinity of the agitator, terrified warriors instinctively drew their blades.

“There is an ancient proverb stating that even if one tumbles into a tiger’s lair, maintaining an unyielding spirit guarantees survival. Do you truly believe that is a hollow phrase suggesting willpower alone can overpower a beast?”

“!”

“When thrust into a desperate crisis, a human being falls into far greater jeopardy because of a fractured spirit rather than the crisis itself.”

For reasons unknown to me, **Moyong-seol** adopted a profoundly startled expression. Assuring myself that nothing was amiss, I pressed onward with my speech.

“A panicked mind blinds an individual to the reality of their surroundings, ultimately steering them toward a fatal error. Is there a single **Great Hero** assembled here who fails to grasp the truth behind my words?”

As if suddenly struck by the shameful nature of their conduct, the gathered martial artists lowered their gazes, slowly shaking their heads one by one.

“I possess absolutely no desire to leave my corpse in this cavern. I fully intend to survive this ordeal and walk out of here, no matter what obstacles block my path.”

A multitude of cynical scoffs rippled through the crowd at my declaration. Even so, not a single voice rose to interrupt me.

“If there are individuals among you who are entirely intent on dying in this place, I will not lift a finger to stop you, regardless of what foolishness you choose to commit. However! If your will to survive remains intact! If your yearning for life burns more fiercely than your willingness to embrace death!”

I paused for a brief moment to catch my breath.

“Cease this pathetic display of surrendering your bodies to mindless wrath.”

“Then are you claiming you possess a path to survival!”

I answered without a shred of hesitation.

“I do not.”

“What?”

“Which is precisely why we must put our heads together from this moment onward. Do we truly possess the luxury of time to waste on fighting among ourselves?”

“……”

The uncertain glances of the crowd shifted back and forth between **Dang-su-je** and **Zen Master Cheon-sim**. The two venerated elders offered slow, deliberate nods of agreement. Slowly, the gathered people began returning their weapons to their scabbards.

“*Huu*……”

At long last, I had managed to establish a baseline. I began reviewing and summoning every scrap of tactical data related to operations from the vast library housed within my mind. Since I had taken charge of the dialogue, it fell upon me to propose an initial strategy regardless.

*Hummmmm—*

Right at that second, the powerful tremor I had experienced previously vibrated through the **Jeok-bong-hwan**. I froze entirely for a split second, redirecting every ounce of my sensory perception toward the **Jeok-bong-hwan**.

“……!”

I tilted my head in confusion.

*‘Could it have been a mere trick of my mind?’*

It had to be a delusion. No, it absolutely must be a delusion. If the source of that distinct vibration were to manifest before us at this exact moment, I felt as though I would genuinely want to end my own life on the spot. Shaking the grim thought from my head, I plunged back into the tactical archives of my mind. I filtered out five potential operational strategies that could be executed under our current constraints and attempted to adapt them to our predicament.

*‘This is exceedingly difficult.’*

Because scenarios where a textbook strategy perfectly aligns with reality are incredibly rare, I decisively discarded the first tactical option and attempted to apply the second. The second strategy likewise failed to fit the parameters, and just as I was preparing to evaluate the third potential operation.

*Hummmmm—*

The **Jeok-bong-hwan** vibrated once more. This time, there was absolutely no mistaking it.