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7.
The secret document storage located in the deepest part of the Murim Alliance.
This place, where nothing is known about who manages it or how information enters, is also a place coveted by anyone aspiring to power.
Because all kinds of important information are stored there, starting with the secrets of key figures in each sect.
It was precisely because I used the information inside Simhyeongak that I was able to expose the flaws of Cheongjukbo, who used to pick a fight at Cheolgeommun.
While this information alone makes the place valuable, the true core value of Simhyeongak lies elsewhere.
It is information about Jungwon Muhak.
Martial arts information of sects that have relied on the Murim Alliance for five hundred years, and at the same time, the Murim Alliance has also relied on them.
Gathering piece by piece of information revealed in fights, duels, demonstrations, and on the battlefield to draw the complete picture of that martial art.
This was indeed Simhyeongak’s most important task.
The single big picture formed by assembling those pieces made it possible to analyze the martial art, enabling the identification of even its weaknesses and strengths.
Information so fatal that it would turn the world upside down if any of the Five Great Clans, including the Nine Great Sects… no, any sect were to find out.
I could not know, nor did I need to know, the reason why Sim Hyeon-gak had gathered this information.
“After all, this information was destined to remain dormant within Simhyeongak forever, never to be revealed to the world. ‘At least until today…’ Amidst all the screams, Ilgak’s voice is heard clearly.”
“Jin Siju!!!”
The enemies were fully prepared and attacked at a completely unexpected moment.
On the other hand, we are in a situation where we are unprepared for troop organization, strategy, or response measures.
“Phew…….”
It was clearly a desperate situation, but I took a slow, deep breath.
I pull out all the materials from Simhyeongak from the library in my head, analyze them, and reassemble them.
I don’t look for the best way.
Because the moment the surprise attack was allowed, the ‘best’ option vanished far away into the North Sea.
What you need to prepare for is the ‘worst’.
“Lord Jin! The enemy is swarming in!”
Hoping to maintain a front line that hasn’t even been established is no different from hoping a candle placed in the wind won’t go out.
“Ugh… they are putting out the fire!”
“Hiding in the darkness again!”
What we need to do now is not build a defensive line. On the contrary, we must actively shake the enemy’s formation.
“Jin Siju……!”
Simhyeongak’s secret documents and memories of the war.
He reflects on how the Murim Alliance’s armed groups fought, and how the Marangdan fought.
And countermeasures that are gradually taking shape.
“Ilkak. How many Eighteen Arhats can be built?”
“What are you talking about? The Eighteen Arhats are originally from the main temple…”
“There are even lay disciples learning the Arhat Formation! If you include them!”
“I know that fact.” Il-gak, who had been rolling his eyes as if flustered by the fact, finally answered.
“Three. I can operate three, but they aren’t intact…….”
“It doesn’t matter. Start right now!”
“What is that…….”
I immediately turned my body.
There was no time to hear an answer. I had to find someone else immediately.
Who are the non-partisans here!
“…….”
A shaman’s disciple silently raising their hand from one side.
“How many disciples can perform the Taegeuk Chilseong Sword Formation?”
“……
What are you thinking?
The question is so stupid that I can’t help but swear.
“Fuck, do you think this is the time to be asking questions?”
“If you want to live, follow me. Otherwise, you will all die.”
I am sixteen.
“Two will likely appear. Set up a formation to assist Shaolin, excluding the two who have mastered the Whirlwind Sword. Tell the two who have mastered it to engage the enemy from within the Eighteen Arhat Formation.”
“Staying between the Mujin would actually cause harm to our allies…….”
“Those who have mastered the Whirlwind Sword will actually gain power, so just do it!”
“There is no time.” I shouted again, veins bulging in my neck.
“Next Jeomchang! Where is Jeomchang!”
Here it is!
As the Wudang’s Taiji Seven Star Sword Formation was established around the Shaolin’s Eighteen Arhats, it became much easier to withstand the fierce attacks of the enemy.
“How many of you have mastered the Four-Day Sword Technique?”
Most of them are familiar with it.
“Then support the Non-Party Sect.”
First, arrange them one by one, layer by layer, as if stacking steps.
Since there is no time to coordinate, they rely on their individual capabilities.
It doesn’t matter even if we aren’t in sync.
At the very least, it would be better to be injured than to die at the hands of the enemy.
What are you thinking, Representative Jin?
“Cheol Sun-jik. You know this isn’t the time to be asking questions, right? Nam Hwa-seong!!!”
“Here it is!” The 12 Peaks establish a camp centered around Samwonmun.
Iljumun and Suramun support Samwonmun, and Jukhyeonbang acts as an awl.
Next up is the Five Great Clans.
How fortunate it is that at least Namgung Seonhwa is here.
She established her position by relaying my instructions exactly as I instructed without asking any questions.
As defenses were established in the three directions, the wailing that had been spreading throughout the entire garrison gradually began to subside.
The structure of the camp is simple.
The vanguard personnel take charge of the defense, while the left and right wings support the defense and attempt a counterattack.
The personnel of the rear wing act as an attack force pursuing extreme efficiency, inflicting massive damage on enemies from time to time.
A tactic of the distant future that could never be attempted in the present era.
A grand strategy transcending sects attempted by the Murim Alliance, whose power had been reduced to a quarter of its former self due to consecutive defeats in the Great War of Righteousness and Demons.
It unfolds back ten years.
“Watch out! It’s the sword’s radius!”
“Damn it, if I’d known this would happen, I should have memorized the sword paths of the Demon Subduing Sword Technique.”
Although they still frequently fall victim to friendly fire due to a lack of coordination, no one was senselessly dragged into the darkness and killed by the hands of the Marang members anymore.
“To think that our sect’s formation matches the Samwonmun’s formation perfectly…… It’s a strange feeling.”
“We’ll talk later. There are still people who haven’t joined yet!”
“Damn it…! Can’t I just step out for a moment?”
The damage gradually began to shift toward the outer edges of the camp.
As the camp became somewhat established, the Marang members who had been avoiding the bright light found it increasingly difficult to respond to the camp, and their gaze turned toward the members who had not yet joined.
“Geumpyo! If the camp moves, go rescue the people.”
Are you giving a signal?
You’ll know when you see it!
I immediately threw myself into the camp of the Jeongdohoe.
“One moment! Are we finally in sync?”
“Master Jin! It is still difficult. More are falling to our own swords.”
“Really? That’s adequate. I advance.”
“I told you earlier. I’m going to counterattack.”
Il-gak looks at me like I’m crazy, but I can’t help it.
No matter what anyone says, the Jeongdohoe is ultimately the most outstanding group in terms of ability.
In a crisis like this, what can be relied upon is not loyalty or trust. Only competence.
That is why Jeong Do-hoe must lead the counterattack.
“let’s go!!!!”
“Jin Siju…….”
At my resounding shout, Jinyoung begins to move forward.
The target is the southeast, where the largest number of personnel are stationed.
As the camp began to move, the students in the academy were shaken once again.
“Get into position! Shorten your stride, then you won’t take damage to your allies!”
As expected, the members of the Jeongdohoe each knew exactly what they had to do.
Maintain the formation even if forced, and at least pretend to be a medical checkup.
This ultimately becomes a force that protects the camp and a foundation for the ranks to advance.
“Aaaargh!”
“Burp!”
“Heh!”
As they clashed head-on, some were injured by the blades of the Marang members, but no one died.
I moved one step ahead of others.
“Damn it… Jin So-un! Are you planning to run off alone!”
“Master Jin…! Don’t worry! I will catch up!”
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
Cut and cut again in front of the vanguard, advancing forward.
I can’t handle everything. But it doesn’t matter.
The elites of the Jeongdohoe rushing in afterward will take care of the remaining Marang members anyway.
I just unleash as much attack as possible to shake up my opponent.
Rumble rumble.
Next, he unleashes the Gwangcheonsinjang, filled with the energy of the Ten Stars.
I could vividly feel my internal energy being rapidly depleted, but the effect was certain.
Because part of the forest was blown away in its entirety.
A member of the Marang clan hurriedly twisting his body to avoid Gwangcheonsinjang.
I threw myself towards him.
This time, not satisfied with just hearing the screams, I do my best to kill.
“The goal is to drive them away. ‘Jeokrang! Where is Jeokrang?’ I don’t know how many of them there are or what they are plotting here, but the ones who have appeared here right now are all members of the Marang Clan.”
If we just capture the leader, the captain, it will be easy to deal with the rest of them.
“Ugh!”
“Aargh!”
I pushed my way through the endlessly rushing Marang members and ran forward, forward.
Whoosh!
My eyes snap open at the powerful energy.
I drew up the Taeeul Jingyeong with all my might and swung the Jeokgwang Sword with all my might.
Bang!
He clashed with his sword, but could not cut down his opponent.
The opponent is also a master of the sword level.
The white smoke cleared, and other men in black and other men in red appeared.
“Jeokrang…….”
As he spat out his existence as if chewing on it, the two eyes open above the mask widen slightly.
But that was all.
He moved immediately, as if he knew what he had to do.
The length is slightly shorter than a standard sword, and the thrusting speed is fierce, perhaps to allow for simultaneous cutting and thrusting.
Tteong, tteong, tteong.
A fist and a sword clash, and a bell rings.
I put some energy into it.
It is a strange thing. Although the guy showed no signs of crossing the river, he was sufficiently blocking the river energy.
Are you an extreme efficiency fanatic?
As long as you control it well, excessive energy that consumes a lot of internal energy will only eat away at you.
He attacks his opponent according to his own plan. Should I say he is befitting of the leader of the Marang Clan?
But that’s your plan.
An extreme efficiency fanatic ultimately loses to a volume-oriented person.
“Try blocking this efficiently, too!”
He unleashes the Ten Thousand Swords technique to create six Ten Thousand Swords. Then, he overlays them with sword energy, literally trapping the guy in a storm of energy.
Puff puff puff puff!
Just as when I called his name, his two eyes widen, and the thin black energy grows disproportionately large.
You’ll probably end up getting swept away by your opponent too.
Kwa kwa kwa bang! Kwa kwa bang!
Even amidst the massive explosion, fierce rivers pour out.
Damn, I almost got stabbed.
As the sound of the explosion faded, Jeokrang, whose right hand had been blown off, was seen springing up from the hollow.
“뒈져 이 개새끼야!”
The moment he unleashed the Socheon Sword Technique enveloped in sword energy, his figure vanished into the ground like water. ‘Damn it!’ To think he had mastered the Demonic Cult’s Four Ghost Steps.
Before anyone realized it, the guy who had dodged the sword and escaped the pit started running straight backward.
I knew you’d miss it!
Just as I unleashed the Heavenly Solo Movement to chase after him, someone snatched me by the back of the neck and pulled me back. ‘You mean I didn’t know?!’ Goosebumps ran down my spine.
I quickly threw off my clothes to escape his grasp and swung the Red Light Sword.
But the tip of the sword touched… … nothing. ‘Fuck, what the… …!’ Turning my head in panic, I saw my outer garment swaying, caught by a Flying Dragon Bird, at the edge of my vision.
“Eunho?”
“Brother, they are retreating.”
Upon hearing that, I checked the Marang members and saw that they were indeed hastily withdrawing.
That’s a relief. The plan for the senior officer worked out exactly as intended.
Are you saying you’re going to get out like this?
I’m just getting started, though.
“Senior Brother…….”
After leaving so many corpses here, do those bastards intend to escape without suffering the slightest loss?
Crunch.
I clench my teeth so hard that my lips bleed at that despicable behavior.
“Brother… there are many wounded and casualties.”
However, before I knew it, Eunho stood in front of me, blocking my path.
His hand was gripping my clothes tightly.
As if not going to send it anywhere.
“And we… haven’t prepared anything yet.”
I know the meaning of what Eunho is saying better than anyone.
Chasing them with the dorm students right now would be no different from madness.
After catching my breath, I turned around.
Identify the wounded and the dead first, then form a reconnaissance team with the unharmed and send them out. We need to see just how prepared those bastards are.
Engraving deep in my heart the fact that the days of revenge are numbered. #Fifty-three deaths.
Thirty-seven people seriously injured.
Eighty-eight people injured.
Other injured cannot be identified.
By the time morning broke, the confirmed situation was devastating.
It is not unusual for this many casualties to occur in a large-scale battle, but…
Considering that each and every one of them is an elite member of a sect and received tremendous support, the actual loss is even more severe.
The problem is that there is no way to treat the seriously injured right now.
If time continues to pass like this, they too will become the dead.
“CEO, what we need right now is food and medicine.”
How lacking it is.
Jang Woo-jae kept his mouth shut.
Only when I look at him does he speak heavily.
There isn’t even a week’s worth left.
The most critical part of the damage suffered last night was the loss of materials due to the fire.
Anyway, the supplies were being stored inside the barracks.
One month’s worth of supplies originally prepared for the long journey, and another month’s worth in case of emergencies.
Most of that massive amount of goods was lost overnight.
Not only is there a shortage of food, but there is also a lack of medicine to treat the injured immediately.
It remained just as expected.
“yes?”
“No, nothing. More importantly, where is the reconnaissance team?”
The personnel who returned early didn’t say much. It seems they didn’t venture too far, probably because they didn’t know when the enemy might appear.
One of the current problems with the student dormitory students.
The point is that their utility is low because most of them were trained as elite personnel.
In short, because the unit was formed by gathering only unit commanders, there is a shortage of men to properly perform the role of subordinates.
Since everyone has only learned how to give efficient orders, they are lacking in functioning as effective unit members.
“Let’s check it once the other reconnaissance team returns.”
When I was about to get up from my seat like that.
The garrison became chaotic.
“Get out of the way! Get out of the way!”
“Make room! Is there anyone who has mastered medicine?!”
“Bring me some water!”
At the sound of the commotion, Jang Woo-jae and I naturally met in the air, and we quickly moved toward the source of the noise.
After passing the gathered dormitory students, I entered a place where two students I hadn’t seen last night were sitting.
With pale faces, the two were trembling as if they had caught a chill in this hot weather. ‘Hah…!’ I knew it immediately. ‘Magi.’ The severe symptoms of poisoning that occur when contaminated by Magi.
I asked the man standing nearby.
“Where… did these people come from?”
“Uh, we met them on our scouting trip today and brought them back.”
How far was it from the base?
“Actually… I didn’t go that far.”
I hurriedly turned around and shouted.
“Does anyone happen to know where these guys’ exploration area was!”
One of the students who was listening to me raised their hand.
It was at the southern end. I remember complaining that it hung far away.
You came all the way from the southern tip to this outpost without a guide?
We need to hear the story behind this.
I asked the two people who were trembling incessantly while staring into the void.
“Hey. Can you hear me?”
However, the answer came from the reconnaissance team.
I can’t answer at all. ……
I don’t even know if they understand what I’m saying in the first place.
It is likely because extreme fear, murderous intent, and demonic energy mixed together to make a mess of my head.
If the magic is this strong… just how terrible are the guys here?
Woong.
I held his hand and slowly infused him with the Jade Blue Heavenly Power.
The movement of the severely trembling hand slowly begins to stop.
Then, the whole body gradually began to regain stability.
Just then, something caught my eye. ‘What is this?’ Upon closer inspection, frostbite marks remained all over the skin.
The temperature in Mukrim is no different from the sweltering midsummer.
I agonized over what on earth could possibly cause frostbite here, but those thoughts soon vanished.
Because color was returning to his pale face, and the blood was draining from his red eyes.
“Uh…… uh…….”
The survivor looked around, seemingly just coming to his senses, unable to contain his surprise.
“W-why am I here…….”
I looked straight into his eyes.
“How did you guys get here?”
“Huh?? Jin So-woon……? Why…… are you here?”
“You guys went to the southern end, didn’t you? Where are the others? Did they receive help from others along the way?”
In response to my question, he starts repeating the same words as if chanting a spell.
Other people……. Other people…….
He rolled his eyes as if trying to recall a memory, then suddenly sprang up from his seat.
“All, all, other people…… other people……. Surrounded…… run away…… run away……. have to run away…….”
The survivor who had suddenly stood up lifts his head and looks at me.
“J-Jin So-woon…… Jin So-woon…… Why are you here??”
Then, he started trembling again, and his face turned pale and distorted.
I tried to grab his hand to quickly infuse him with the Jade Blue Heavenly Power, but he roughly shook me off.
Then, he shouted in a voice filled with murderous intent.
“I, I have to kill him……!”
“Kill? What?”
Someone who appeared to be the survivor’s friend asked, and the survivor trembled violently for a long time while screaming.
And then, with trembling fingers.
“Keep, kill me…….”
He pointed at me.
“J-Jin So-woon. I have to kill Jin So-woon! I have to kill Jin So-woon……! I have to kill Jin So-woon!!!!!”
