3
4
1.
Currently serving as a member of Jin So-un’s squad, she was at the center of the base with her comrades.
His activity level was too high to follow Jin So-un around all the time, and if he kept moving like that, he wouldn’t even have time to recover from fatigue. ‘Just how good is his stamina?’ It certainly wasn’t something that could be achieved simply by having good stamina and a lot of internal energy.
No matter how outstanding the human body may be, doesn’t it have its limits?
Divine Sword
Her grandfather, who is called Ira, also becomes noticeably emaciated if he trains without sleeping.
There was no way Jin So-un wouldn’t be tired.
They must just be enduring it.
“Sunhwa, please be careful.”
Namgung Seon-hwa piled up objects, stepped on top of them, and observed the events unfolding in the Jeong Do-hoe camp.
Even though they were so far away that I couldn’t even see what was happening, as the one with the most inner strength among them, I would at least be able to hear roughly what was being discussed.
“Seonhwa, what did you say?”
The idea of breaking through the encirclement was brought up. ……
But they say they want to form a unit?
Namgung Seon-hwa relayed the fragmented sounds she heard to her colleagues.
However, since the story fragments were so random, there was no way the content could be properly conveyed.
“A unit? What do you mean…? Are you suggesting we fend for ourselves, at this very moment? Are those Jeongdohoe bastards out of their minds? Thinking they’re the only ones who will survive?!”
“No. It was Young Master Jin who brought it up.”
“Huh?”
The sound of voices heard here and there.
Namgung Seon-hwa listened even more intently so as not to miss those fragments.
Confucius set a condition.
“What conditions?”
It is a strict hierarchy.
“……
What on earth are you thinking? Who would follow that… … .”
It is a group with complex intertwined relationships, as each member has their own sect, clan, and alliance.
Whether joining forces with someone or working with someone, one can only make a choice after considering the complex political situation.
Moreover, their pride will not be easily bent.
Something that seems impossible even to yourself.
however.
Still, it’s better than trying to get through it with someone whose opinions don’t match mine.
I unconsciously spoke as if it were actually a good thing.
It was different behavior from usual.
Because she is not the type of person to harbor expectations for things like vain hopes.
“Still. ‘If it is Young Master Jin, he must have a plan,’ just as he has always done.”
at that time.
“uh?”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
A voice was heard that was incomplete, but its meaning was clear.
“Monk Ilgak says he will join?”
His voice filled with determination.
“Huh? What about that gentleman? Jeong Do-hoe is sure to rally around him…”
“I don’t know. I spoke with Young Master Jin and said I would obey his orders, and because of that, the Jeongdohoe is in an uproar right now.”
Moyong Jae-hwa, who had been listening in silence, brightened up and shouted.
“Then it works out well, doesn’t it, Sister Namgung!”
“Uh, that’s true, but…”
Namgung Seon-hwa could not hide her bewildered expression.
“To think that in such a critical situation, a branch of the Shaolin Temple would join Jin So-un’s ranks instead of leading the Jeongdohoe. Considering their relationship with the Jeongdohoe, they absolutely could not have accepted these conditions…” He simply could not understand the reason.
You don’t understand why Monk Ilgak decided to side with us?
When I asked Seong Moran, she thought for a moment and then shrugged as if it were no big deal.
“Young Master Jin is special. You know that well, Seonhwa.”
Specialness……
Are you saying it’s because of that?
He is certainly special. After all, the things he displays are different from the behavior and mindset of ordinary White Path warriors.
But does that mean it can be explained by that alone?
“Hell has opened. It’s only natural to look for the Black Flame Dragon.”
Namgung Seon-hwa suddenly recalled a story she had heard at a drinking party.
When the dragon and phoenix roam above the clouds.
The Black Flame Dragon roars in hell.
Compared to the current Yongbong Branch, I thought their every move was nothing more than a rumor mocking Jin So-un, who walks a hard path…
For some reason, I recalled what had happened at the regular admissions at the school building.
I joined Jin So-woon’s group to help them repay the favor from the Maryeong Plateau, but… ‘Far from giving help, I actually received help and entered the academy with a higher score than originally expected…’ Even after that, no matter how difficult the situation, as long as I was with Jin So-woon, we naturally overcame those adversities.
“Just look at us. Actually, you and I should both be in Baekdohoe, but we’re just holding our ground here as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, aren’t we?”
that’s right.”
Namgung Seon-hwa nodded.
Because before he knew it, he had come to take his presence here for granted.
If they hadn’t felt anything special about Jin So-un, she, a direct descendant of the Namgung family, would never have been under the tutelage of a disciple of the Taeeul Sect.
The current situation is also like that.
Didn’t it awaken the academy students, one by one, who were frustrated and in despair due to the overwhelming killing intent of the net?
If he hadn’t been here, they might have run wild amongst themselves and eventually all died.
Then, Eunho cautiously intervened.
“Maybe he just… got scammed by Senior Brother? He’s such a smooth talker.”
“…….”
It was strange. I clearly needed to refute it, but strangely enough, I couldn’t open my mouth.
Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa’s gazes met in the air.
I thought that for some reason, that might be the case.
“If it’s Senior Brother, then it’s enough…….”
Ahem…
Namgung Seon-hwa turned her gaze once again to where Jeong Do-hoe was.
Suddenly, her brow furrowed deeply.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Namgung Seon-hwa stammered out an answer to Seong Moran’s question.
“Young Master Jin… kicked away the person who wanted to join the unit.”
“to?!?”
As expected of Senior Brother.
“And…… they’re swearing?”
“Hey, why are you swearing at someone who said they would join you?!”
Because he is the senior brother.
“Shut up, Lee Eun-ho!!!”
Namgung Seon-hwa tried to focus even more to grasp the situation, but
“I don’t know about that…”
“What on earth is inside your head?”
Everyone nodded as if agreeing with Seongmoran’s grumbling.
Of course, he didn’t even realize that he had acted that way himself.
At that moment, a mysterious expression appeared on Namgung Seon-hwa’s face.
“But…… the person who was kicked says they want to come back in.”
“huh?”
“I said I would follow orders.”
Seong Moran’s mouth dropped open.
“What is happening in the world?”
That was the beginning. [I will obey your command! Take me with you.] [I will do whatever you tell me to do.] [After all, isn’t it you, the Representative? Please let me follow you.] [I suppose it doesn’t matter, since there is only about a rank difference between the Representative and the academy students even if they go to the Martial Arts Alliance.]
The people who used to act so haughtily began to follow Jin So-un.
Those who were cursing and pointing fingers at him until yesterday are now desperately chasing after him like children afraid of losing their mothers.
However, that appearance didn’t look awkward at all.
It was so natural, as if that were its original form.
A faint smile seeps into the corners of his mouth without him even realizing it.
So we weren’t the strange ones.
“No, that’s not right. He had foresight.”
Like a star invisible in the bright daylight.
There are those who reveal their true worth amidst the darkness of turbulent times and chaos.
And those people. [Just follow the orders properly. Then I will do anything to help you struggle.]
People called him a ‘hero’. As the number of people pledging to obey Jin So-woon’s orders exceeded half, the moment of choice approached the remaining ones as well.
Nam Kwon-mun says he will follow Jin So-un.
“What do you mean! Those people have a duty to protect our academy students… How can you say they are all going to one person…!”
“That is why he is going. Because Jin So-woon is the representative of the academy. In a situation where the instructor is absent, isn’t he ultimately the final decision-maker?”
Even if they band together to try and do something, it has been a long time since it was a lost cause.
As Yi-gak was the first to join Jin So-un, the Shaolin Temple and its lay sects also came under Jin So-un’s command.
With the abandoned Shaman and Gong, as well as members of the Zhuge and Yue clans, all choosing Jin So-un, the situation has become awkward for both the Jeongdohoe and Baekdohoe to unite amongst themselves.
At this point, those who had been watching the situation cautiously eventually began to join Jin So-woon’s unit one by one.
As if he had been waiting for this moment, Jin So-un tore apart those who wanted to join and assigned them to different groups, organizing the unit in a format that had never been formed before.
There were units where the personnel of the Jeongdohoe, Baekdohoe, and 12 Bongseong were mixed together, and where the hierarchy was reversed, such as a priest giving orders to a senior disciple.
Nevertheless, no complaints erupted.
Because from the moment the strict hierarchy was established, they were nothing more than unit members.
As a result, all students participated, but at the same time, the unit was organized in a completely different way.
Jin So-un, having organized his troops into eight battalions, immediately summoned the commanders.
Take one each.
With the writing implements by his side, Jin So-un began writing down the operation order right there.
It was not surprising in itself, as we had already learned about operational orders at the academy.
What was truly surprising was Jin So-un’s uninhibited behavior.
You sound just like someone who has already carried out an operation.
Gak, looking at the operation order, could not help but admire it, and Cheol-sun-jik also nodded.
“I thought we would hold a meeting with the commanders first after the unit was formed, but to think the entire operation has already been laid out… Moreover, there isn’t even a single flaw in the plan.”
Has Jin So-un ever experienced something like this in the past?
The doubts in Cheol-sun-jik’s mind would not go away.
Ilgak, standing beside him, was admiring the other side.
“Master Cheol, did you see this? Now that I look at it, the troop organization wasn’t just a matter of splitting up the forces.”
Cheol-sun-jik looked at the operation order he had received and the operation order Il-gak had received, comparing them.
What each unit must prioritize, and how to respond in emergency situations.
Which individuals should be primarily utilized and which individuals should be prioritized for protection.
Each unit was written in detail, tailored to its personnel composition and situation.
And only then did I realize the meaning of what Ilgak was saying.
“So the unit formation itself was… carried out by taking into account each individual’s specialties and martial arts skills.”
The first person to join was three
There was a reason for the major owner.
“The fact that you have memorized every single person to this extent… isn’t that truly amazing?”
Is that so?
Because the student center representative can access all the information about the students.
If you synthesize what you have seen and understood based on that, gathering information at this level itself will not be that difficult.
Especially if it is Jin So-un.
“Didn’t you say he has a natural memory? It must be no big deal to him.”
“Even so, memorizing that person’s specialties and martial arts levels… doesn’t that ultimately mean he has affection for the academy students?”
Affection, affection, I suppose.
“This serves as proof that even amidst the animosity, Benefactor Jin has cared for the students with the heart of the Buddha.”
Cheol-sun-jik tilted his head.
Did the mighty Jin So-un really memorize the academy students’ information out of ‘affection’?
If it is the one he knows.
“Wouldn’t he have memorized it in preparation for the day he might become an enemy? After all, Representative Jin was even thinking of fighting against the entire student body.”
Yes, that must be the case.
Because Jin So-woon is the kind of person who would do something like that.
Realizing the conversation had suddenly stopped, he turned his head to see Ilgak staring intently at him.
What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?
“Mr. Iron, I intended to speak to you sometime, but…”
Gak continued speaking with a genuinely worried expression.
It is not good to view the world too negatively.
“What’s with the sudden…….”
“For if viewed through the eyes of a devil, the world becomes hell. Have the mind of a Buddha. Then the world will become a Pure Land of Bliss.”
Who are you calling the devil?
There were more than ten pieces of evidence proving that Jin So-un did not have a kind heart, but I kept my mouth shut.
Not only is there no time to have such a leisurely conversation in the first place, but…
Is there something on my face?
Because one of the eyes was sparkling excessively…
Even more than the head.
No. That could be the case.
Cheol Sun-jik felt as though he knew for some reason why Il-gak was always being swayed by Jin So-woon. The part he paid the most attention to when organizing the unit was the wounded.
In the case of the injured from the prestigious sects, many were able to recover to some extent because they each possessed a Qi-manipulating technique; conversely, however, the sects that did not possess such techniques sealed their wounds with the utmost emergency treatment.
Those who had no trouble running and whose injuries were not severe were put into direct combat.
Those who were able to move were only given the task of carrying those who had difficulty moving on their backs.
All weapons belonging to those with limited mobility were recovered.
The recovered weapons were returned to those who had lost or damaged their weapons during combat.
Those whose weapons were confiscated were given flying daggers and heavy swords for self-defense in case of emergency.
Of course, if they started using greatswords, it would be tantamount to our unit being finished, so I earnestly hoped they wouldn’t.
It would have been absolutely impossible at the Murim Academy under normal circumstances, but things went smoothly given the oath of obedience to superiors. ‘Those who value honor are easy to deal with in times like this.’ It had been an hour and a half since the deserters had fled.
I was waiting for the signal with my unit members on standby.
“But, Captain!”
Second Grand Master Nam Hwa-seong suddenly raised his hand.
The fact that the guy, who was grinning widely without even knowing what kind of work the second generation would be in charge of, is now asking a question with such a solemn expression.
“We’ve formed a unit, so shouldn’t it have a name!”
“name?”
“You went to the trouble of giving up your status as a boarding school student to become a unit member, so you should at least know where you belong!”
Well, does that make sense?
Then again, even the meat shield squad members were quite attached to the name ‘achieving justice, however small.’
I looked up at the sky.
The sun was dimly setting.
It was clear that it would be distinctly visible when the light burst.
Build it yourself.
“May I, may I build it? Hmm.”
Nam Hwa-seong pondered the matter quite seriously, as if it were an important issue, then cautiously opened his mouth.
“Ahem… How about the Jasaengdan?”
The reason I trusted Nam Hwa-seong’s head too much was…
“Jasaengdan sounds similar to ‘Suicide Group.’ How about ‘Return Group’ instead?”
What’s wrong with him again?
Cheol-sun-jik, who didn’t seem like the type to do so, interrupted with a serious expression.
Is this really such an important matter right now…
“That feels exactly like hoping the dead will come back to life……. Hmm, what about Jeong Do-dan…….”
“Damn it!”
“shut up!”
Subsequently, the fourth head, Gwak Su-san, offered an opinion but was reprimanded and kept his mouth shut.
“I…….”
Namgung Seon-hwa, the leader of the Six Support Group, quietly raised her hand.
“Life and death, how about the Life and Death Unit?”
For a moment, silence settled around.
Soon, as if everyone were rolling the word around in their mouths, the sound of mumbling began to echo like a song.
and.
“It is a name that suits our situation perfectly, standing at a crossroads of life and death.”
“good night!”
“I agree with the opinion of the Six Great Lords!”
One by one, they raise their hands and burst into snickers.
That is how the unit’s name was decided.
Everyone looked at each other, repeating the unit name over and over once.
But that was only for a moment, as an unsettling sound echoed through the forest.
Screech
-pop.
A red light twinkled faintly and then quickly disappeared.
Everyone here knew what that light meant.
Making the laughter and chatter of just moments ago seem meaningless, despair is once again trying to seep into the air.
I gazed at the sky, where a red afterimage remained.
Starting.
Then, he lowered his head and met the gaze of the unit members straight in the eye.
Life and death
step.”
A small warmth rises in the eyes that were about to be settled in despair.
“I respectfully command you!”
Honorable name.
“Your Honor!!!”
Starting with that signal, the units began to move.
You’re standing at a crossroads of life and death?
Let’s give it a try.
I’ll break free for you, even if it kills me.
