#1
8
3.
For them, it was a natural reaction, in a way, as their schedule, which had officially allowed them to skip school and enjoy a trip, had suddenly turned into a one-sided march.
On top of that, as the saying goes, children and adults are all the same; no matter how serious the situation was, complaints from Elder Suheo and Elder Sangwon would erupt about seven times a day. Watching their behavior of extreme escapism—saying things like, “These are the elders of the Murim Alliance,” “It must be false information,” “What do you mean by a heretic in times like these?” and “Jin So-woon pulled a stunt”—Gu Jeong-ryong could not stop cursing inwardly.
“Th-how could this be…….”
However, their grievances vanished completely upon meeting the students of Cheongseong and Ami. The members of the Jeongdohoe, led by the personnel of the 12 Peaks as if acting as escorts, were truly the very definition of defeated soldiers.
Few of them could walk upright, and some were even carried in on stretchers.
After assigning some personnel to protect them, Gu Jeong-ryong increased his speed.
Suheo and Sangwon, who would normally have been likely to complain about the rush, kept their mouths shut and kept pace with Gu Jeongryong and Seunghodang.
Eventually, when they met the volcano and the common group, they could not contain their astonishment.
“W-what on earth is going on?”
“Where is Elder So? You bastards! Where has Elder So gone…?”
They fled in such a frantic frenzy that countless students lost their swords, which were practically the lifeblood of a warrior.
The scale of damage is third
It was twice as big as the students of the academy in Immortal Qingcheng and Ami.
“According to what I clearly heard in the messengers… surely… the damage wasn’t this severe.”
Greater damage than expected.
In particular, most of the students of the Gongdong clan had become disabled or lost their minds, and only some of the Gongdong sect’s disciples had barely managed to survive.
“……
After the evacuees, they were attacked again, again, again… again…
습니다, 다.”
At the sight of the academy student who could not make proper eye contact and kept stammering, none of the people listening to the report—Gu Jeong-ryong, Su-heo, or Sang-won—could relax their stiff expressions.
“Second
If the line is like this… … . First (一)
The damage to the good will be even greater.
“…….”
Gu Jeong-ryong clicked his tongue as he looked at the elders who could not give any answer.
I will get moving first.
“You mean now?”
“We need to move as quickly as possible. If we delay, who knows what might happen?”
At Gu Jeong-ryong’s words, Su-heo rolled his eyes.
“If it’s like this here, just as you said, then up ahead is…….”
Suheo, unable to string his words together properly.
At that sight, Gu Jeong-ryong’s face crumpled as much as it could.
What do you want to say?
Ahem!
“Could you please tell me for sure?”
No.
Gu Jeong-ryong ordered some students from Seunghodang and the academy to move to where the Cheongseong faction members were located, along with the students affiliated with Hwasan.
Then, turning the standard again, the first
I ran to where the line was.
at that time.
Zzzing—a strange sound pierced the mind of Gu Jeong-ryong, who was running with his energy senses maximized.
Stop!
Gam Cheon-ak approached Gu Jeong-ryong as he hurriedly halted his march and stepped back.
Is it, sorcery?
“Can you feel it?”
My heart is pounding a little.
Do you think you can get through that?
Gam Cheon-ak looked at Gu Jeong-ryong with a wicked look.
“What kind of bullshit are you talking about?”
Did you just say ‘bullshit’?
When did I?
So, can you do it or not?
Gamcheonak lets out a long sigh.
“Let me be honest. Even if we make our way through here, would there be any living people up ahead?”
If the condition of Groups 3 and 2 is like this, Group 1 would have suffered even greater damage.
Even the mighty Shaolin and Jianchang would not have been able to withstand that chaos with only academy students who had not yet received proper training.
Gu Jeong-ryong nodded but did not back down.
“I know that, too. But didn’t Jin So-un go?”
If he passed that way, we should at least show an effort to go there as well.
Gamcheonak spoke to himself as if muttering.
“Phew… damn bastard. He makes up all sorts of weird nonsense, saying all he has to do is give orders.”
“What, you punk?”
Gam Cheon-ak shrugged his shoulders with a brazen expression.
I didn’t say anything.
Gam Cheon-ak spoke as he looked at the red current swirling before his eyes.
“Doesn’t the formation look a little unstable?”
It looks like they didn’t block the upper part properly.
That is a relief, at least.
“Would that be possible?”
Gam Cheon-ak’s dry gaze turns toward Gu Jeong-ryong’s face.
You told me to do it. Then I have to.
Gamcheonak turned around.
“Hey! About four of you, come out!”
No sooner had Gamcheonak finished speaking than four members of the Seungho Party stepped forward.
“We have to pass through here. That’s okay, right?”
Are you saying we should just pass through this absolute ominous place?
The expressions on the faces of the Seungho Party members were not much different from those of Gamcheonak.
As if he had expected this, Gam Cheon-ak nodded and pointed at Gu Jeong-ryong.
“Uh. That damn… no, the Master wants to pass through here.”
“He’s a total lunatic…….”
“Isn’t he a lunatic?”
Gu Jeong-ryong, who was listening to the conversation from the side, lowered his voice.
I’m right here, you bastards.
“Good heavens, why are you making such a fuss over eavesdropping on your subordinates?”
Amidst the murmuring members of the Seungho Party, Gam Cheon-ak clapped his hands and drew everyone’s attention.
“Anyway, we have to pass through here. Just keep that in mind.”
“If you pass by, will something come out?”
After glancing at Gamcheonak Gu Jeong-ryong, he scratched his cheek and said
“If you pass by here and rescue Jin So-un, that guy will buy you a Sichuan specialty called ‘Pasajeoryeong.’”
Ohhh!!
The atmosphere changes in an instant.
“Pasajeoryeong!! Just hearing the name makes it sound delicious!”
“I’ve never heard of a food called Pasajeoryeong! I told you you really need to befriend the rich!”
Gamcheonak also smiled broadly as he watched the happy Seungho Party members.
“You idiots, seriously…….”
Even Gu Jeong-ryong agreed with Gam Cheon-ak’s words and looked down on the excited Seungho Party members.
Gam Cheon-ak checked the pressure points of the four people.
“From now on, I will numb your sight and touch. You will probably hear auditory hallucinations. Ignore them as much as possible and move only by following the telepathic sounds.”
“All right!”
Gam Cheon-ak looked at Gu Jeong-ryong.
Let’s begin.
Be careful.
“If you are that worried, the clan head…”
I believe in you!
Gu Jeong-ryong quickly paralyzed Gam Cheon-ak’s sight and touch.
Tap, tap, tap-tap.
Gam Cheon-ak, whose pressure point had been triggered, brought his hand to his eyes and waved it.
Then, he fed a fist potato to Gu Jeong-ryong.
“Master, what am I doing right now?”
A clear act of insubordination.
“Oh! Is that so? I didn’t know because I couldn’t see it.”
Gam Cheon-ak, who had fed potatoes to Gu Jeong-ryong, drew his sword.
Gu Jeong-ryong quickly climbed up the tree, looked at Jeoljin, and gave instructions.
Keep going! You just turned right. Turn left again and go forward!
At Gu Jeong-ryong’s command, the Seungho Party members began to move in unison.
The Blood-clad men of etiquette appeared inside the formation.
Gu Jeong-ryong shouted urgently.
-It’s an enemy!
Then, a telepathic message was heard from Gamcheonak. “Don’t just shout ‘Enemy!’ Tell me the location! Seriously, how can I operate with you when you’re so frustrating!”
Gu Jeong-ryong realized his mistake but cursed inwardly. ‘That bastard…’ The Seunghodang members accurately spread their swords at Gu Jeong-ryong’s command.
Chae chae chae chae chae chaeng!
At their strange behavior, not only the students but even the elders stared in stunned silence.
Ugh!
Aaaah!
Heck!
Fortunately, there were not many people in blood, and everyone was in poor condition.
It was impossible to dodge the lightning-fast blade of Seunghodang.
After the last Blood Man who launched a surprise attack eventually became a ghost at the hands of Gamcheonak, no further attacks occurred.
After passing through the Jeoljin as instructed by Gu Jeong-ryong, the Seunghodang members restored their senses, starting with Gamcheonak.
He started running toward where the sorcerers were.
Finally, after defeating even the Bloodmen who were protecting the sorcerers, I eliminated all the sorcerers.
And as they destroyed the tools they had set up, the unsettling barrier blocking the path vanished as if washed away.
Gam Cheon-ak, having returned to the unit, tilted his head and said.
“Something seems off with the kids.”
“what?”
“It looks like he got beaten up somewhere, or maybe he hasn’t slept for days. Putting his background aside, his killing intent is dull for someone who has been wreaking havoc all this time.”
Gu Jeong-ryong also frowned without realizing it.
Come to think of it, that’s also quite different from the number of raiders the survivors mentioned.
“I wonder what happened before we arrived?”
We’ll find out when we get there.
Seunghodang and the students of the academy started picking up speed again.
The scene they faced afterward was a desperate battlefield.
“oh my god…….”
“What is this…….”
Did a real war break out?
A number of corpses so large that even the Seunghodang were astonished.
Blood flowed on the ground like a stream as if a monsoon rain had fallen, and corpses were scattered as common as stones.
Everyone, do not let your guard down!
At Gamcheonak’s command, the Seungho Party members spread out in all directions in a disciplined manner.
Gu Jeong-ryong also approached the scene of the brutal battle. ‘Huh?’ However, the condition of the corpses was strange.
As for the Bloodthirsty Ones, I could understand it since they were the ones who had attacked the academy students, but even giving them the benefit of the doubt, the attire of those lying dead with them was hard to believe belonged to the Jeongdohoe, the elite of the Murim Academy. ‘Bandits…?’ It was commonplace for their clothes to be all over the place, and some of them were even covering their bodies with animal hides.
There were even cases where the worst ones didn’t wear a shirt at all.
It seems they are the Green Forest Gang from around here.
Gu Jeong-ryong looked astonished at Gam Cheon-ak’s words.
“Why the bandits?”
I don’t know.
“What on earth is going on?”
If the enemy is not limited to unidentified Blood People, the situation is even more serious.
Are you going to keep going?
If enemies using sorcery and the overwhelmingly large Green Forest Village swarm together, it is a situation where anything could happen.
No matter how brave Seunghodang is, there are things they can and cannot do.
Gamcheonak’s cold voice rings out around.
If we keep going, we will be in danger as well.
He opened his mouth again, looking at Gu Jeong-ryong who remained silent.
“It’s a pity, but Jin So-un too…….”
Just then, Seungho, who was on guard duty, shouted angrily.
Unidentified individuals are approaching!
Gu Jeong-ryong, who had been lost in thought, suddenly lifted his head.
What if the Bloodthirsty men who dealt with Iljo are coming here?
Or what if bandits from the Green Forest are coming for unknown reasons?
“All hands, get ready for battle!!!”
At Gu Jeong-ryong’s shout, the members of the Seungho Party gathered in unison and drew their swords.
Chae chae chae chae chae chae chae chaeng!
Without anyone saying a word, all the members of Seunghodang formed the Blue Dragon Crescent Formation, and overwhelmed by this momentum, the academy students each swallowed their saliva and cautiously drew their swords.
“Phew…….”
In the midst of the silence, loud enough to make the sound of someone’s sigh ring in one’s ears.
Unidentified figures began appearing one by one in front of me. ‘What kind of combination is this?’ The lineup of those standing at the very front is unusual.
Someone carried a palace, someone had a massive physique, and one was a woman.
And the man standing in the middle was holding a bundle the size of a watermelon in his hand.
Gu Jeong-ryong, who was sharpening his eyesight to identify his opponent, let out a dumbfounded exclamation.
“Jin So-un?”
Gamcheonak peeks his head out and looks forward.
“Oh? You’re right. The ones behind them look like they belong to Shaolin and Diancang.”
Jin So-un also waves his hand leisurely, as if he has spotted this side.
At that sight, even Gam Cheon-ak, who is famous for his expressionless face, lets out a hollow laugh.
“He’s really something. In this total chaos….”
His gaze never leaves Jin So-un.
You ended up saving the people.
As Gamcheonak let out a cry and sheathed his sword.
Gu Jeong-ryong spoke secretly.
“Hey, you bastard who just said they were unidentified people.”
“yes.”
Beat that bastard up.
All right.”
Gu Jeong-ryong let out a long sigh, releasing the tension that had been building up.
He looked at Jin So-un with renewed fascination.
Although the damage to the second and third lines is severe, the damage to the first line itself does not seem that great.
Judging by the scene of the battle, it seems they even broke through the Bloodthirsty Men and the Green Forest.
The guy is just as he said.
He saved his people and returned.
“I simply cannot believe it. ‘Is this really something a mere academy student did?’ Although the Black Flame Dragon is considered one of the Divine Stars of the Martial World, even so, an achievement of this magnitude is not something a Divine Star can accomplish. ‘Just who on earth is this guy?’ Although he had agreed to help Jin So-woon at Meng Ju-won’s request, Gu Jeong-ryong found his curiosity about Jin So-woon growing even more.”
