3
2.
“Damn it…….”
However, it was not a welcome reunion.
“What on earth is going on…….”
Because all three academy students found were discovered dead.
“Brother Baek!”
As if they had met before, the members of the Jeongdohoe who had joined us turned pale and approached the corpse, but…
“What on earth happened! How on earth…!”
None of them even dared to attempt first aid.
Because everyone’s bodies had been brutally torn apart.
I approached the bodies and examined their wounds, confirming the red phoenix ring.
“…….”
There was no reaction from Jeokbonghwan. ‘Should I consider this a relief?’ Even Seong Moran, who had captured a large number of Jeongdohoe members, wore a worried expression.
“Who on earth would do something like this…….”
It must be a monster.
“You mean a monster?”
An expression of disbelief.
I suppose so.
Basically, most of the students at Murim Academy are exceptionally talented, to the point where they would be considered superior to their peers of the same age.
After all, these are devices created by each sect and family investing their full capabilities.
Moreover, since entering Mukrim, our squad members have not rested from hunting monsters.
To think I was defeated by such monsters.
It is hard to believe.
“I saw spots on his arm. It looks like he was poisoned.”
“poison…….”
It probably wasn’t a very strong poison.
The venom of a trivial insect that can be easily overcome by those with profound internal energy.
However, the dire circumstances eventually turned them into wandering souls.
“After separating from the main force, he must have wandered around until he was exhausted, became poisoned, and then been attacked by monsters.”
Internal energy training builds the strength to overcome even extreme situations, but conversely, it can also worsen the situation.
Legs faster than others would have made them circle the same space many times, and strong power would have made them believe they could overcome the problem in a situation where even holding their breath and conserving strength wouldn’t be enough.
Ultimately, excessive self-confidence drove them to their deaths.
This must be what Yang Ja-pyeong had been wary of the entire time he entered Mukrim.
I guess I’ll have to move a little faster.
I don’t know how many people were lost, but if things go wrong, there could be a massive number of fatalities.
Naturally, my steps quickened.
“Representative, I think we need to go back from here.”
Yang Ziping spoke as he looked at the huge natural formation spread out before his eyes.
Instead of answering, I looked at the photographer.
Actually, the distance has already widened to two days, so the smell is fading.
It means there is no capacity to go back.
I looked back.
Before I knew it, the number of people had grown to fifty.
It could not be guaranteed that all of these people would safely pass through Cheonyeonjin.
“For now, split the group up and leave them behind, then find the others and come back.……”
I ignored the hunter’s words and stepped forward.
Are you telling me to leave it behind?
That is true in this situation.
however.
I have a feeling that no one will be alive when I come back to look for them later.
Rumble rumble.
A great resonance shakes within the palm of my hand.
Given the location, I tried to conserve my energy on meaningless tasks, but… it can’t be helped.
Kwagwagwagwagwagwang.
With a loud explosion, the natural dust blocking the view vanishes without a trace.
I turned around and shrugged my shoulders.
“Let’s go. It will be very difficult to carry the body back. Wouldn’t it be better to take him while he is still alive?”
No one could answer my words. As I went deeper into the Demon Realm, the radius of the Natural Formation widened.
However, the scent the hunter was chasing continued to cross Cheonyeonjin, and as a result.
“Young Master Jin, stop it. You’ll be the first to collapse at this rate.”
I gulped down the cold water Eun Seol-ran offered me in one go.
The consumption of stamina is certainly extreme compared to the consumption of internal energy.
If I’m like this, it’s obvious what others must be like.
I’m still fine. I’ve also been practicing Qi cultivation in my spare time.
Of course, the problem is that the amount consumed is greater than the amount replenished.
“Young Master, please just tell us from now on. We will be able to destroy the Natural Formation if we pool our strength to some extent.”
Namgung Seon-hwa brought a few members of the Jeongdohoe and spoke.
The members of the Jeongdohoe looked embarrassed and couldn’t meet my eyes properly, yet…
“Um… if you get exhausted, we’ll end up lost in the forest too. Ahem, it’s not like I mean anything else.”
He muttered quite seriously with a flushed face.
He looked briefly at Namgung Seon-hwa, who had made them move, and smiled faintly.
He was a surprisingly strong-willed person.
“All right.”
I nodded obediently.
Because mindlessly exhausting my energy alone is by no means the answer.
However, as we moved forward, only negative signals appeared rather than positive ones.
Because the stragglers encountered within half an hour were also found as cold corpses.
“……
They died. Even though they weren’t even poisoned.
Five more corpses discovered.
Jeokbonghwan did not waver, but he noticed something strange about the wound. ‘It is clearly a knife mark…’ Although it was a wound torn apart like the work of a beast, the sharp cut edges were distinct.
So, they weren’t attacked by monsters.
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
Pointing to the chest of another corpse, he added.
It is similar to the fingernail marks I saw before, but the cross-section of the scar is too clean.
“You’re right…”
The members of the Jeongdohoe, who had been listening silently from the side, were indignant.
“How dare anyone! Um……!”
Whether Jeong Do-hee’s men were angry or not, my mind became complicated.
Senior Brother.
Eunho also approached with a look of worry that seemed unable to erase it, perhaps sensing a similar sense of foreboding.
I asked the guy.
“What do you think?”
“I have had only one question in my mind since earlier.”
“what?”
It’s a signal flare.
“……!”
All students at the academy were given three signal flares each in preparation for an accident in Muklim.
Green when lost, yellow when injured, and… … .
“In a situation like this, shouldn’t a red flare have naturally gone off?”
I suppose so.
Eunho handed over flares that appeared to have been recovered from a corpse.
But I didn’t write anything.
I guess you could say it wasn’t used.
“yes.”
If it was a standoff, or a situation of keeping each other in check.
They must have fired a signal flare.
No matter how strong the opponent is, a student can create that much of an opening.
However, not a single signal flare was used.
I guess we should consider it a surprise attack.
Forbidden land
So, they probably wouldn’t think there is anyone else besides us.
Even if someone showed up, I would have assumed it was the rescue team or a fellow student from the dormitory.
We should view it as them exploiting the weakened vigilance.
I hurriedly got up.
I guess I need to move quickly.
“Yes. If possible, we should join the main unit as soon as possible. The instructors will be there.”
It is just as Eunho said.
None of the students at Murim Academy were prepared for such a situation.
There was no one who could have foreseen this situation, and…
Just looking at the current situation, that is the case.
The members of the Jeongdohoe are merely enraged by the death right before their eyes, unable to see what lies ahead.
I gazed into the dark forest, where the end was nowhere in sight.
Moves again.
Something is happening in Muklim.#“Brother Jong. Are you sure you can just leave like this?”
“Brother Jong!”
Jongchuak shook off the arm of the person who had grabbed his shoulder.
“Are you just going to follow along like this?!”
Then what do you want to do?
“I have to retrieve the body and leave…….”
“Jin So-woon told me! He said he’d clean it up later!”
The expression of the person who had been urging Jongchuak on hardened for some reason.
“You’re going to listen to Jin So-woon? The seniors of the Cheongseong Sect will be delighted when they hear this later.……”
Shut up.
Jongchuak, who had been biting his lip, roughly grabbed the man by the collar.
“Then why don’t you tell Jin So-un?”
“Why, can’t you talk about it?”
That makes sense. The ones currently leading the way and fighting the monsters were Jin So-woon’s gang, whom I usually despised so much.
Jong Chu-ak nonchalantly withdrew the hand he had been gripping by the collar. ‘What on earth have I done?’ Perhaps due to the harsh environment, using martial arts had become difficult since entering Mukrim.
In the meantime, he fell behind the main group, and after being bitten by a poisonous insect, he couldn’t put any strength into it even after recovering.
Although he had trained so harshly that he would not be outdone by anyone in the Cheongseong Sect, in Mukrim he continued to display nothing but a helpless appearance, as if he had never encountered martial arts in his life.
I raised my head to look at the leader and saw a solid back. ‘Jin So-woon…’ Unlike me, his gang was moving as actively as usual, no, even more so than usual.
In addition to hunting monsters and checking the condition of the patients, they took charge of the front and rear of the formation, clearing the way at the very front while keeping an eye on the personnel at the very back as they moved.
Perhaps because I had been seeing this for so long, I felt increasingly convinced that I should not stray from this group.
“If you can’t do it, just shut up and follow. There’s nothing we can do right now.”
It’s frustrating, but there’s nothing I can do.
Because an inexplicable sense of unease had been constantly creeping in ever since I was separated from the main force.
At least, I kept feeling a little better as long as I was following Jin So-un.
“Tch! To think the worst of the land, Jong-chu-ak, has fallen to this state.”
The sarcasm from the other members of the Jeongdohoe did not bother my ears either.
Because right now, surviving was the most important issue.
at that time.
“Hmph!”
The man, who had been returning to his place while sneering, froze stiff as he stared into the bushes.
“M-monster…….”
The monsters, which were nothing more than prey, have now become predators and are targeting their necks.
“What are you doing! Run away right now…….”
The monster moved first before Jongchuak’s shout could even ring out.
Aaaargh!
However, the huge serpent that was trying to swallow the man’s head in one bite.
Phew
– He ultimately failed to achieve his goal due to a sword that pierced his own head.
“This isn’t even a monster. Snap out of it! No matter how weakened it is, it is still at a level you can handle.”
Uh, uh… …”
The man who had been cursing at Jin So-un just moments ago was so shocked that he couldn’t even get up from his seat.
Jin So-un looked at Jong Chu-ak.
“Malco. You can take care of him, right?”
Jongchuak barely managed to part his lips.
Why are they going to such lengths?
“what?”
Eventually, he looked at the leader.
Even though I am walking with short strides, it is still a distance of about three jang.
It was clear that Jin So-un, who was at the very front, must have expended a considerable amount of internal energy to run this distance.
So it was a question.
Since they themselves are having such a hard time, there is no way Jin So-woon wouldn’t be struggling.
“I’m asking why you have to go out of your way to protect us as well.”
A situation that could have been simply ignored.
Because even if someone died, no one would have held Jin So-woon accountable.
However, he had come here even at great expense.
“As for the question of what the purpose is…….”
“Didn’t you want to live?”
“huh?”
“Didn’t you follow me because you wanted to live?”
Jin So-un nonchalantly sheathed his sword and spat it out.
“Then I believe it is my duty to protect you guys as much as I can. That is all.”
“Does that answer your question? Then just take care of this kid.”
After lifting the fallen man up and draping him over his shoulder, Jin So-un walked forward once again.
Jongchuak thought as he watched his receding figure.
“Was he always that big?” A being larger than Mount Tai stood before my eyes. #The sun in Mukrim certainly sets early.
And the sun, having set quickly, soon darkens the surroundings. ‘Not even the moonlight shines.’ With the dense trees blocking out even the moon, it feels as though the entire area has plunged into darkness.
I light a torch, but I cannot see beyond a short distance ahead.
This is why it hasn’t been moving at night until now.
Right now, I have no choice but to keep moving.
The injured were gathered as close to the center as possible, and one person carried two on their back.
Because otherwise, they couldn’t protect the group and move forward.
“Representative, why don’t you take a rest now? I’ll take care of you.”
Yang Ja-pyeong says he will take the lead, but that is impossible.
We couldn’t put him at the forefront when we didn’t know when a monster might pop out.
There was still some capacity left.
It’s fine. They say we’re almost there, so you don’t need to worry.
The hunter said that the distance to the people who were two days away was reduced to half a day.
Considering that we spent about a day, it means the main force is not moving from one spot.
It was clear that once they met the main force and joined the instructors, escaping Mukrim would be much easier.
We’re almost there.
The hunter who smelled it reported it, and everyone who joined, including our team members, breathed a sigh of relief.
If you join the main force, you will be guaranteed at least a minimum level of safety.
After pushing through the bushes, a small clearing appeared.
And at our appearance, those resting in the open space quickly stood up and drew their swords.
Chaechachechachang.
As expected, was the main force prepared?
I shouted in a hurry.
“I am Jin So-woon, the representative of Murim Academy!”
“jin……
So-un? You said Jin So-un?
“okay.”
I approached holding the torch close to my face.
The dozens of people who had been sitting in the open space also stood up one by one.
I asked them.
“Where are the instructors? You must have noticed that things are going awry, right?”
Abandoning those who fell behind to hunt spirits is a matter to be dealt with later.
Because right now, the priority was to discuss what was happening in Mukrim and how to prepare for it.
But no one answered.
“Where are the instructors!”
“does not exist…….”
“Huh? Wasn’t this the main base? With this many people, anyone can tell you guys are the main base, right?”
That’s true, but…
What is this uneasy atmosphere?
These aren’t the members of the Jeongdohoe who usually act hostile toward me.
Everyone looks slumped over and lacking energy.
The instructors went to the base first.
Did I get poisoned on the way here? I’m hearing some nonsense.
“What kind of bullshit is that? The instructors went first….”
“He told us to wait. He said he would return with the rest of the group…….”
That’s strange. Then what about the hunter who guided us? He came here because it smelled bad here, didn’t he?
“Brother!”
The hunter who had been guiding Chu Jong-hyang discovered the body, crawled over to the side, and burst into tears.
Next to it, the corpses of about a dozen academy students were also lying.
“What kind of dog…….”
I feel dizzy.
A sense of foreboding overwhelms my entire body.
Why do I feel the unpleasant sensations I experienced in a past life?
Piiiiiiing.
A sharp sound cutting through the air echoes in the void.
pop!
And a red light flashed through the dense bushes.
“Big Brother!”
The direction is northeast.
It was the place where the garrison was located.
Before I could even say a word, the sound of a signal flare being fired rang out again.
Piiiing
-pop!
This time, the southeast direction.
However, that was not the end of it.
Piiiiiiing!
An ominous signal flare was continuously dyeing the Mukrim red.
