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2.
The Blood Sect was well aware of the Murim Alliance’s arrogance.
That is why, in the early stages of the Sacheon incident, he was able to deliver a hard blow to the back of the heads of the elders and the students, leaving them stunned, and then stab them in the side.
However, it seems they did not realize that the Murim Alliance could be arrogant simply because they possessed power.
The Murim Alliance, having been stabbed in the back of the head and the side, would not sit idly by.
Murim Alliance snapped its neck from side to side with a cracking sound, and gripped the Blood Cult’s leash with its huge, blunt hand.
The tide turned in an instant.
Most of the Blood Cult warriors and sorcerers who had been running rampant in Sichuan either fled or fell to the blades of the Murim Alliance, and even their final weapon, the Iron Arrow, melted into a handful of poison at the hands of the Poison King.
Since the beginning of the war, the Blood Cult not only never won, but also kept retreating further and further.
Surely, we no longer see the Blood Cult running rampant in Sichuan, but…
The war is not over yet.
As a result, Maeng Ju-won, who suffered daily at the Murim Alliance’s Mantong Branch, had to come all the way to the Sichuan faction to endure further suffering.
“Where am I? Who am I?”
Although it is said that only the elite were selected and urgently dispatched, the number amounts to as many as several thousand.
The enormous amount of food they have to eat for three meals a day.
Replacement of weapons lost during combat.
In addition, some lower-ranking warriors who assist the horses and warriors.
If you take the servants into account as well, there are over ten thousand people chirping, “We are hungry” and “We are cold.”
When the Murim Alliance dispatches troops, supplies are usually covered by local distribution through branches in each capital city, but that is only possible when dealing with a single ‘large’ unit.
Supply in an unforeseen war like the present one was not something that administrators, who were originally only managing branch-level operations, could handle.
Even though the administrators worked overtime as if it were a daily routine, logistical supplies were not properly carried out, which provoked the anger of the samurai.
Then, on the day when a warrior, enraged from having only one meal a day, grabs the administrator by the collar and gives him a couple of somersaults… … .
“At this rate, we’re all going to die……!”
The administrators, who had vowed never to leave the branch no matter what, considering it their lifelong workplace, ended up fleeing in the middle of the night, and logistics became an even bigger mess.
And so.
General Zhuge, feeling pity for the warriors dispatched to Sichuan, made a decision.
“You go. Padang!”
“…….”
Am I some kind of doll that just obeys orders! Don’t you even feel sorry for me… …!
however.
“Damn it…….”
When he opened his eyes, he found himself at the party headquarters.
This is the story of how Meng Ju-won of the Mantongbu came to be part of the faction.
Maeng Ju-won looked around the situation while swallowing his resentment.
There are three things he hates the most.
The first was working overtime due to excessive workload.
The second was the overburden of work due to a shortage of personnel.
The third was dispatch work due to a shortage of personnel.
Based on this, judging…
It was a situation where I could have written my resignation letter right away.
An unfortunate man who longed day and night to leave work on time due to talent shortages, but instead ended up receiving an excessive workload.
Instead of the ‘letting go’ commonly spoken of in White Dao martial arts, Meng Zhuyuan amplified the ‘rage’ commonly spoken of in Black Dao martial arts, becoming infinitely ferocious, and ruthlessly brought order to the situation in Sichuan.
“Who would write a report like this! No wonder supplies are a mess, since the report is a total disaster! No! Seeing you deliberately wasting supplies, it looks like you are plotting to weaken the Murim Alliance. I must send you to the Executioner’s Pavilion for an investigation!”
“Bring people here! What? You don’t have anyone? If you can’t find anyone, kidnap them! The Martial Arts Alliance will take care of the aftermath. Bring in anyone passing by—scholars or merchants alike—and seat them. For now, filling the ranks is the priority!”
“Supplies! Supplies! I said get the food first! Once they’re full, they won’t make a fuss over trivial things!”
Skillfully managing the livelihoods of dispatched warriors, whom no one in the Murim Alliance had ever handled in nearly thirty years, Maeng Ju-won proved himself to be the Chief Military Officer’s finest cherished doll without even realizing it.
“As expected, they said he is the strongest talent in the General Staff who cherishes him the most; it wasn’t just empty rumors!”
“I know, right!”
Thanks to his efforts, the supply lines, which had been blocked like the pressure points of a warrior who had lived a life of profligacy, were finally able to breathe a little easier. Meng Zhuyuan, who had just arrived in Sichuan and was about to catch his breath after providing the warriors with three hot meals, was sweating profusely once again.
“Have there still not been any countermeasures?”
He did not realize it himself, but his duty was to be a soldier.
It was a position responsible for formulating and advising on operations on the battlefield to ensure the smooth conduct of the war.
The problem is that even the leader of the world, Yuan, cannot resolve the current affairs of Sichuan.
The Blood Cult, having been slapped hard in the face in Sacheon, staggered backward and retreated to Changdo, where Sacheon and Cheonghae meet.
Now that it is known through the investigation by Cheonmokgak that the Blood Cult’s headquarters is in Cheonghae, eradicate the root cause
The Murim Alliance was not one to hesitate.
The problem is.
This defying heaven
Humans with such mindsets set up bizarre traps indiscriminately near their base and entered the final battle. ‘Just like the descendants of those bastards.’ They had piled up illusion formations that left aftereffects, deadly poisons with no cure, and even animal-shaped zombies using the art of reversing heaven.
As a result, even the Murim Alliance of the world cannot rashly step into the situation.
But then, adding insult to injury.
“The Black Sect bastards have started to move, too……!”
While the war was raging in Sacheon, the Black Bandits, who had been cowering anxiously for fear of getting caught in the crossfire, also began to slowly warm up while glancing around.
Intelligence reports came in one after another that the Black Daoists of Sichuan who had not attended the opening ceremony of the Four Black Dao Alliance, the biggest event of the Black Dao martial arts world, were gathering one by one and preparing for battle.
The Murim Alliance is at the point where they are worried they might have to give up their flank to the Black Daoists as well, following the Blood Cult.
The Murim Alliance was in a situation where they could neither advance to subdue the Blood Cult nor turn back after abandoning it.
“under…….”
A sharp voice flew toward Maeng Ju-won, who was pressing his throbbing head with both hands.
“Why is that short-tempered guy still not saying anything?”
“Um… the Commander-in-Chief is doing his utmost to monitor the movements of the Black Alliance.”
“So, when are you saying the results will come out?!”
A body as hard as flint, standing only up to Maeng Ju-won’s shoulder.
Although a man with long, black hair uncharacteristic of an old man had been harassing him incessantly since morning, Maeng Ju-won could not defy him as recklessly as he had at the Mantongbu.
Although Mantongbu defied Zhuge Xiaoming as if he had ten lives,
Even then, he used his brilliant mind to figure out the ‘lines that could be crossed’ and only defied them to an ‘acceptable level.’
However, as the affairs of the faction were moving so urgently, there wasn’t even time to gauge the extent of this old man’s influence.
yes.
Even if Zhuge Xiaoming uses his hands, he only uses them enough to leave a bruise, but the Poison King has such leniency(?)
There is no rule that one must be generous.
Maeng Ju-won spoke, trying to calm Dam-ak’s excitement.
“Um, so, for now, all information is blocked…….”
Not only Cheonmokgak, but also the Beggars dispatched to Shanxi Province were not sending any information.
I don’t know what kind of instructions the Black Alliance gave that those Black Dao bastards in Sichuan keep making sounds like they’re loosening their joints, but…
Anyway, wouldn’t you need some information to even be able to make a judgment?
“hmm…….”
As the Poison King’s eyes half-closed, Meng Ju-won began to hiccup.
Ah, surely I’m not going to turn into a handful of poison like this?
at that time.
Cold, hurtful words fly in and pierce my pride.
“Why did you, an incompetent bastard, come?”
“yes??”
Hey, this is crossing the line a bit.
Wasn’t it I who broke through the supply lines of Sichuan, which were as blocked as the blood vessels of a person about to die?
In terms of martial arts, it is a tremendous feat, equivalent to breaking through the Three Dantians to achieve the Five Elements.
No matter who in the Murim Alliance comes right now, they wouldn’t be able to do as well as I do. Leaving someone like me behind, Mu.
Ability?
That old man with the weird accent is going too far with his words…!
“Jin So-un.”
However, at the name that was eventually heard, Maeng Ju-won could not help but pause.
“Why didn’t that child come? I clearly told you to send that child.”
“ah…….”
For some reason, Maeng Ju-won quickly came to accept it.
Then again, if that guy had been here, he wouldn’t have made it this far.
That friend is currently serving as an envoy to the Black Alliance.
“Hmm… is that it?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
For some reason, the Poison King clicked his tongue and shook his head.
It’s you, and your narrow-mindedness. I’m just not satisfied with how you handled the work.
“sorry.”
“You would be best to get a judgment as soon as possible. Otherwise, we will advance within seven days and nights, so keep that in mind.”
“……
yes.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say, “No.”
If they stalled any longer, supplies and all that aside, they could be annihilated between the Blood Cult and the Black Dao while merely retreating the front lines. ‘Commander-in-Chief…’ All they could do was hope and pray that the movements of the Four Black Alliances would be quickly assessed and that the Mantong Headquarters would make a decision.#“It is now your turn to keep your promise.”
Bloody Battle still had an expression that showed he could not accept defeat.
“Just one more round…….”
I shook my head firmly.
Please keep your promise for now. We will play the match again after that.
Of course, even if I play ten, no, a hundred more games, I will never lose to Bloody Battle.
Go is, after all, a battle of moves.
What use is it to fight against someone who has tens of thousands of game records piled up in their head?
Moreover, among those tens of thousands of pieces of equipment, there are also many belonging to ‘Doa’, an Imperial Knight of a different status in the Bloodbath.
He underwent a complete transformation through Go
Unless he does, there is no way he will beat me.
Eventually, the bloody battle retreated.
I’ll let you meet tonight.
Looking around, admiration was evident not only on the faces of Il-myeong and Dang Seo-hui but even on the face of Yeom Gwi-bi.
Good grief, why are you so surprised by something like this?
The important thing is, it’s just the beginning. As night fell, Bloody Battle attempted to step out the door using stealth.
I looked at him with a bewildered expression.
“Why are you moving secretly?”
“So, everyone is dying to slit your throat, and you’re telling me to show them the way I look when I meet the Alliance Leader?”
Okay, putting that aside, what if I couldn’t use stealth?
“That is your problem. Do you want to play another match? If you win this time, I will let you leave with your head held high.”
As expected, you ugly old man who cannot admit defeat.
That’s enough. Let’s go.
I followed behind him, walking in a spirited manner.
He didn’t say a word, but when Hyeoltu saw me disappear, he had a look on his face that seemed to say, “What kind of guy is this?”
Soon, his telepathic voice is heard. [What on earth is that martial art?] [If you reveal the secret of your martial art, I will tell you as well.] [… … .]
Hyeoldu glared at me for a moment and then started leading the way again.
Anyway, what a sneaky old man full of nothing but curiosity.
The main building of the Black Alliance was heavily guarded as usual, but no one noticed the bloody battle or my presence.
Naturally, I expected to go to the Black Alliance Leader’s office, but the bloody battle led me to a strange place.
Isn’t this leading me to the torture chamber, not the office?
Then, when I reached a dead end.
As Bloody Battle pressed down firmly on one wall, the dead end wall quietly moved, revealing an entrance.
“think.”
After passing a long way down a hallway where not even a luminous pearl was embedded, I entered a room from which a small light was leaking out.
The leaders of the Black Alliance, Cha Seok-du and Dam-ak, were stationed there.
“Welcome, Black Flame Dragon!”
Cha Seok-du, his face flushed red, suddenly hugged me tightly and patted my back.
What, were you drinking?
He wore an indifferent expression, but a strong scent of alcohol wafted from his embrace.
“It is a pity that we have no choice but to meet in a place like this. After all, aren’t you practically a founding member of the Black Alliance? I was planning to host a grand banquet in your name.”
This gentleman is saying scary things with such a calm face.
It would be less of a blow to me if the Black Alliance sent an assassin to my quarters instead.
If he holds a banquet and publicly declares me a founding contributor, then there will be no turning back; I will truly become a divine figure of the Black Dao.
I barely managed to pull myself away from him.
How have you been?
“Forget it. Forget the half-baked politeness between you and me, haha!”
Cha Seok-du said that, poured some liquor into a glass, and held it out to me.
Of all things, it has to be a cup of wine handed to us by the leader of the Black Alliance, Cha Seok-du, when everyone in the Black Alliance wants to kill us.
As if Dang Seo-hui didn’t even come with me, I’m not sure if I should drink this or not…
After hesitating, I emptied my glass in one go.
It was because I thought that if I was going to die anyway, dying by poisoning would be less painful than dying from torture.
Cha Seok-du’s hearty laughter rings through the air.
“Hahaha. As expected, you are more boisterous than most Dark Sages. Are you really not thinking of joining our Dark Alliance?”
There is absolutely nothing.
That’s a shame. It’s a pity.
Cha Seok-du said that and refilled his glass once again.
I followed his hand and got to the point.
“The reason I wanted to see you is…….”
“I know. It must be because of that Akbyeongbi.”
Standing tall.
Soon, his hand, which had been pouring the drink, comes to a halt.
I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do to help you this time either.
I looked straight into his eyes.
“The director said he did not do it.”
Cha Seok-du, who had been staring at me for a moment, soon gazed intently at his glass, swallowed it in one gulp, and roughly wiped his lips.
Do you think so too?
I intend to trust him.
“It’s not that I didn’t do it, but that I try to believe… I would like to do the same, but I can’t.”
“Why is that?”
The answer to my question came back from Damak.
Because everyone is craving blood.
Damak, still staring at me with sharp eyes as if to pierce through.
“Do you think blood is needed, Soldier Dam, as well?”
I think it is inevitable.
Wow… that look, like he’s looking at an enemy.
What on earth happened to that person in this life?
“Even if the Black Alliance vanishes before it can even fully stretch its body?”
Well, that’s something we’ll find out once we try.
As harsh words were exchanged between the two of us, Cha Seok-du stepped in to mediate.
Both of you stop it. We didn’t meet like this to declare war.
Cha Seok-du, shaking his head toward Damak, shifts his gaze to me.
“What do you think is the problem with our Black Alliance right now?”
The problems currently facing the Black Alliance are likely no different from the problems experienced by the Black Alliance created by the Demon Lord in his previous life.
If you think carefully about why they collapsed, the answer comes out quickly.
You have no strength.
“okay.”
It doesn’t mean that there is no real strength.
Now that all the dark sects of the world have gathered, their physical power is as strong as any other organization.
What I pointed out was precisely the issue of the authority of the Black Alliance leadership.
The point is that they lack the power—in other words, the authority—to enforce the command’s orders on the entire Black Alliance.
Cha Seok-du gave a bitter smile.
“We are not a place with a complete system like the Murim Alliance. For now, we are filled with personnel from the Four Emperors’ Peak, but once public opinion takes hold, the Four Black Alliance will have no choice but to be swayed.”
He now started blowing directly from the bottle without even using a glass.
The worry etched on his face could not be easily erased even by alcohol.
yet.
widely
He slammed the bottle of liquor down on the table with a loud noise.
“Let’s do this! We’re going to imprison Ak Byeong-bi in the Black Alliance’s Golden Prison. He probably won’t be able to get out for a long time. In return, I’ll buy you and your comrades some time to escape.”
Do you think that will be enough to silence the hardliners?
“It is a temporary measure. Eventually, the Black Alliance will likely wage war based on public opinion.”
Although Cha Seok-du, the Four Emperors’ Seal Master, has become the Alliance Master, he is currently no different from a puppet.
I leaned forward and looked straight at Cha Seok-du.
“Are you perhaps planning to start a war to gather strength?”
Cha Seok-du stopped moving, and Dam-ak’s eyes trembled.
Once the bloodshed is over, voices will emerge within the Black Alliance to lend support to the command structure in order to bring the situation under control.
Naturally, power will gather in the command, and authority will emerge.
Damak didn’t even know if he was thinking about that right now.
but.
“If that happens, the Murim Alliance will harbor another wave of rage.”
As they continue to exchange back and forth like this, the situation becomes just like their past life.
I have absolutely no intention of letting this slide.
Damak smiles sweetly at my determined expression and speaks to me.
There are other ways, too.
“What is it?”
“I am condemning every member of the delegation. It will probably feel better once I vent my anger like that.”
Fuck, you’re spouting such terrible nonsense so casually.
Is it because it’s not their business?
I shrugged my shoulders as if nothing had happened to his provocation.
I hope that doesn’t happen.
Nothing gets resolved by just sitting around.
Hmm, just as that guy said, nothing will be resolved if we just sit around.
I took a thorn out of my mouth a little and spoke.
“Isn’t that a little strange?”
“What do you mean?”
Isn’t it just exquisite?
Cha Seok-du tilted his head.
I stroked my chin and elaborated.
The commander, who harbored a grudge, killed Gu Gye-ak. Doesn’t that feel like the most natural thing to do?
Damak’s eyes gleam sharply.
“What are you talking about?”
Am I the only one who feels that way?
While the hardliners were gaining power, the person who was practically their leader was killed in an ambush.
And that too, at the hands of the notorious head of the Inspection Hall of Baekdo.
The context fits together so perfectly, as if it were taken directly from a scene in history.
Should I say that everything is naturally flowing toward the event of the war between the Murim Alliance and the Dark Alliance?
Moreover, Ak Byeong-bi did not even hide his martial arts skills. No matter how deep the grudge, there is a limit.
As someone who has personally experienced a great war of a generation, I know that history does not flow in such a precise context.
Wars sometimes started over absurd battles of pride, and entire units were annihilated by a single small mistake despite perfect preparation.
History merely fills in the gaps sparsely after events have occurred to create a plausible context.
But now it feels so natural that it actually feels unnatural.
“I think someone is intentionally hoping for a war between the Black Alliance and the Murim Alliance.”
As if Damak had the same thought, he paused and stared intently at me.
Then, shaking his head, he said.
There are already many people in the Dark Path of Martial Arts who hold a grudge against the Martial Arts Alliance.
“Of course. But the problem is that it fits the plausibility to the point of being contrived.”
Damak’s face hardened, but he didn’t care at all.
“If that is the case, if we are being played by someone’s intentions.”
I took a deep breath, then asked the two of them.
Are we just supposed to accept this situation?
Cha Seok-du frowns, seemingly not quite understanding.
In contrast, Damak rests his chin on his hand, deep in deep thought.
After the two exchanged glances for a moment, Damak spoke.
“It sounds meaningful in theory, but in the end, isn’t it nothing more than a way to get out of this situation?”
I immediately shook my head.
No. I am somewhat certain.
“Conviction? Do you have any evidence?”
Perhaps this was the last chance to stop the war between the Black Alliance and the Murim Alliance.
It is time to make a decisive move.
I answered without the slightest hesitation.
“yes.”
What is that?
At my firm words, Damak stared at me, still not letting go of his suspicion.
I will tell you about that later, but for now, I would like to make a request.
What is it?
Please allow me to investigate the case.
Doubts cloud the faces of the two people.
“What is that…?”
If you keep poking around here and there, the person who caused this incident will reveal themselves once again.
As if sensing my intentions, Damak leans forward.
Are you saying you will play the bait?
Damak and Cha Seok-du looked at each other.
Cha Seok-du chuckled.
“It’s going to be dangerous. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
Since I had already staked my grandfather’s honor, there was no way back for me.
I will take care of it.
Going straight is the only way to survive.
