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1. The Cause of the Struggle The Wudang Sect’s Fierce Tiger Unit, which departed slightly later than the Jeomchang Sect’s Taihua Unit, continued to receive messages from the Beggar’s Sect even while on the move.
After crossing Mount Horyeong and arriving at Mount Yeong, they encountered Hyeonyeong there, who had been pursuing Damak.
“What kind of situation is it?”
Hyunyoung answered the question from Myungjin, the leader of the Tiger Brigade.
It is said that the Beggars’ Sect is chasing the Taeeul Sect’s carriage heading toward Hwangmae, while Jeomchang lost track of it near Maseong.
“Taehwa-dae?”
Myeongjin furrowed his brow.
While it is possible that the Beggar’s Sect could not stop them because there were no martial artists among the pursuing personnel, it was quite incomprehensible that the Taehwa Squad of Jeomchang could not block the Taeeul Sect.
The report that followed was even more ridiculous.
It is said that fifteen out of the thirty warriors were incapacitated, so they were ultimately unable to inspect the inside of the carriage.
Stupid things.
On the one hand, I understand.
They are not currently carrying out an official operation, and Taeeulmun is one of the 108 Peaks, the blood alliance of the Murim Alliance.
There are circumstances where blood cannot be shed carelessly.
But even so, to think that half of the Taehwa Unit was rendered incapable of fighting against a group like the Taeeulmun…
It was a fact that was difficult to accept easily.
“You should have been careful if you knew that the Unemployed Goddess was accompanying the escape procession.”
For Myeongjin, the fact that Taeeulmun had neutralized Taehwadae solely by their own strength was beyond his comprehension, so he ended up interpreting it however he pleased.
“Then, should I move with Hongan now?”
The carriage heading to Hwangmae is definitely a bait.
It is not heading toward the Black Alliance in the first place, and even if Dam-ak is riding inside, it would eventually lead back to the Demonic Castle.
A situation where one has no choice but to fall into the siege of openness.
They were nothing more than bait to loosen the siege.
It was clear that Damak was likely aboard the main force of the Taeeul Sect.
Because if you go past Masung, Namjang, Jagwi, and Eunhyeon, you will come straight to Anhui Province.
I would prefer not to move.
“what?”
Myeongjin, who was about to chase after the main force, smash Taeeulmun, and tear the carriage apart at any moment, stopped abruptly.
“What do you mean by that?”
If we chase the carriage in Maseong now, we will be unable to respond if Damak appears elsewhere.
Once you enter Namjang and Eunhyeon, you cannot come back out.
This is because large mountain ranges block the way on both sides.
Thanks to that, this road is also the most frequently used route to Anhui Province.
However, conversely, it meant that if you keep your distance, it becomes that much harder to chase.
“Do you think Dam-ak isn’t riding in the Taeeulmun carriage heading in male disguise?”
The people of Jeomchang say that among those riding in the carriage, none used military martial arts.
“……!”
Why didn’t I think of that?
He was so obsessed with the fact that Taehwadae had failed right before his eyes.
“It is clear that it was siphoned off along the way!”
Moreover, the opponent was a procession consisting of Jin So-un and the White Water Goddess. Although they could have easily fended off the pursuers, they only took serious action just once.
Just as Hyun-young said, the situations I hadn’t known until now are falling into place one by one in my mind.
The guys who had been deliberately following their pursuers suddenly shook them off.
Afterwards, he conspicuously revealed that he was a chariot of the Taeeul Sect and did not shy away from a head-on confrontation.
For guys who even sent a disciple of Taeeulmun to Hwangmae to use deception, their behavior itself is incredibly awkward.
Moreover, those guys have a history of escaping Infinite while avoiding the eyes of the Jeongdohoe.
Hyun-young, who makes rational judgments by piecing together the overall situation.
I realize once again that Hyunyoung is also an exceptionally talented individual, even though she is overshadowed by Yongsoah.
You’re right.
“I think it is appropriate to wait in the Demon Castle for now and pursue any suspicious individuals when they appear.”
Myeongjin nodded vigorously.
You’re right!
In addition, I think it would be a good idea to gather the special forces units in Maseong as well.
“Why?”
The number of Taeeulmun members in Muhan is limited. Excluding the carriages headed for Hwangmae and Namjang, the probability of Taeeulmun members being on the other carriages is low. Wouldn’t it be better to gather our forces and hunt them down in one fell swoop?
“That is also true. I will send the letter myself.”
Although she could have expressed pride at the great praise, Hyunyoung maturely returned to her place.
In Myungjin’s eyes, Hyunyoung looked even more beautiful like that.
Because this is a shaman, and this is the spirit of a shaman.
Myeongjin, who had been looking at Hyeonyeong with proud eyes, soon looked at the members of the Tiger Brigade.
“Damak is the one who built the massive organization known as the Black Alliance from scratch. If he survives and returns to the Black Alliance, countless comrades will perish in the future war against the Murim Alliance. Therefore, we must absolutely show no mercy to him simply because he has not mastered martial arts.”
One of the unit members raised his hand.
“It was said that the Taeeul Sect is helping Damak escape. How should we respond to them?”
If that bastard Jin So-un used one last trick, he would be moving with only a small number of personnel, separated from the main force of the Taeeul Sect.
Jin So-un of the Taeeul Sect, who grew up under the protection of the Murim Alliance and received an education benefited by the Murim Alliance.
If one is grateful, they should rightfully stand at the forefront of righteousness and burn themselves out to realize justice, yet they are helping the devil for their own personal desires.
Should we consider a guy like that a comrade of the Murim Alliance?
Myeongjin’s life speaks.
No.
In that case, there is no need to be lenient with your hands.
“!”
The soldiers’ eyes widened, but no one contradicted him.
“He is a leading figure of the Dark Path martial arts world. You must absolutely not let him reach the Dark Alliance. He must die right here! Do you understand!”
The spirited members answered with determination.
“““Yes!”””#Damak woke up half a day after switching to a horse.
Although things were not going the way he wanted, he remained calm.
“Seeing that they couldn’t pass Yeongsan in time, I was convinced. That this operation would ultimately fail.”
“What are you talking about? We haven’t even tried it yet.”
“I know. If the operation had succeeded, we should have been in Eunhyeon at the very least.”
Damak, who was sitting behind me, looked around.
“If it is a mountain path near Maseong, it must be Mt. Jukho. Going to Anhui along this road… that would mean the travel time would triple.”
“Don’t worry. Improvising is my specialty.”
Seriously, why does this guy keep spoiling the mood…
Tightly
At that moment, Damak pulled hard on my clothes.
I had no choice but to look at him.
“Why are you doing this…….”
I must die here.
He spoke calmly, yet firmly.
And with that calm demeanor, he continued the chilling story as if nothing had happened.
“I must die a miserable death here.”
“……
What kind of bullshit are you talking about?
My death will be the spark that ignites the furnace known as the Black Alliance.
Why is there not even a twitch in his eyes?
Even though he is talking about his own death.
The furnace called the Black Alliance, ignited in this way, will burn even longer fueled by the firewood of the Murim Alliance.
So the books written in the carriage weren’t a precaution for the worst.
The book he persistently wrote inside the carriage was not a list of general strategies.
The Black Alliance’s revival plan starting with his own death.
He wasn’t afraid of his own death from the start.
To him, even death is merely a tool to be used in his schemes.
I couldn’t understand.
Attachment to life is a fundamental desire that everyone possesses.
Death is a fear that even enlightened sages and monks cannot escape.
But why.
Why is Damak, who lived his entire life as a scholar of the secular world, so unattainable to life?
What on earth is the Black Alliance that you are going to such lengths?
Because that is the job entrusted to me.
He pretends to speak resolutely, but feels empty inside.
That is why it is even more incomprehensible.
This is Damak, who was eventually consumed while carrying out the work entrusted to him in his previous life.
I don’t want to see that kind of thing even in this life.
Stop talking nonsense and hold on tight.
“From now on, they will come out with sincerity, too. Then, even Young Master Jin’s life cannot be spared.”
Instead of worrying about my life, why don’t you worry a little more about your own safety?
You can get off in this state and escape.
How far do you plan to go on those feet?
“I have mastered one of the greatest divine techniques in the world, and this Flying Dragon Bird I possess is forged from Heavenly Silk, so it can never be severed. Please do not bind Soldier Dam tightly and drag him away.”
Did my threat work? Or is he using his sharp mind to devise a way to escape from me?
Damak did not say anything more. Of course, he did not jump off his horse either.
What on earth is the future envisioned in his mind?
“What do you expect to happen to the Black Alliance after General Dam’s death? Will they be able to fight the Demonic Cult?”
The Murim Alliance will disappear, and the Dark Alliance will at least be able to maintain its existence.
So, maintaining the lineage means that most of them die. Is that okay?
“…….”
Whatever future he predicted, I have no intention of accepting it.
Why do I have to lose a useful colleague here? I’m sorry, but one shitty life is enough.
“Let’s fight together. No matter what kind of bullshit the politicians pull, the real danger hasn’t even arrived yet. Let’s not stake our lives on something so absurd right now, if only to prepare for that time.”
How many heroes were needed to fight against those terrible bastards of the Demonic Cult?
haha.”
Damak smiled, finding something amusing. It was a smile that looked truly complex.
“Isn’t it actually Young Master Jin who is risking his life on something absurd?”
It is not absurd at all.
Damak, you have to fight alongside me. I can’t just struggle alone in the future.
As we passed through the mountain forest, the road gradually narrowed until it eventually reached a place where horses could no longer pass.
We eventually decided to get off the horse and started walking again.
The guards took turns carrying Dam-ak on their backs and running.
As we went deeper into the mountains, the forest began to grow dense.
Aside from traces of slash-and-burn farming, human activity was scarce in many places, and sleeping wild animals were startled by the unfamiliar visitor and ran away.
I, who was pushing through the bushes at the very front, turned around and sent a hand signal.
Let’s take a short break.
We can go further.
The guards expressed their determination, but I shook my head instead.
“Mr. Dam’s condition is really not good.”
Only then did the guards examine Damak’s complexion and stop in their tracks in shock.
Even though I’ve been carried on someone’s back for a long time, that isn’t an easy task either.
Moreover, since it was not possible to cast the Portrait Technique every time, the condition could not be good.
“Ugh—.”
Damak, having landed on the floor, vomited up all the pieces of dried meat and Byeokgokdan that he had barely eaten.
“Well, I am ashamed to be called the leader of the Black Path.”
Damak’s complexion gradually returned only after he had drunk some water from the canteen.
While taking a brief rest, one of the guards suddenly stood up from his seat.
Someone is coming this way.
Amidst the chirping of insects filling the forest in broad daylight, the sound of a group approaching was heard.
“Hey, Mr. Kang, do you have any grain stockpiled?”
“What do you mean there is… it’s all gone. I planted some barley, so you can take that and eat that.”
I’m sick of potatoes now, you know.
At the sound of faint footsteps and voices, the guards who had reached for their swords lowered them with a soft slither.
At that moment, four slash-and-burn farmers coming down from the forest made eye contact with us and froze stiff.
The guards let out a sigh of relief, and Damak spoke cautiously to reassure them.
“We aren’t dangerous people…….”
While Damak was speaking, I unleashed the technique of the bow and arrow shooting and rushed out.
And at the same time, he picked up the four people’s blood vessels.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Howi and Damak were astonished by my actions.
“What are you doing?!”
You ask what I’m doing? Isn’t it only natural to move when danger is right in front of you?
I didn’t answer Damak and looked down at the four slash-and-burn farmers.
So you guys belong to the Open.
The guys made shocked expressions.
W-what are you talking about?
“Uh, we are just guys who make a living by slash-and-burn farming in the forest.”
The men trembling pitifully. Damak, who had been observing them, stood in front of me, blocking my path.
“Young Master Jin. Aren’t they just ordinary people?”
Ordinary?
I pointed to the soot that had been haphazardly smeared on my face with charcoal.
“Look at that face. The grime from not being able to wash wouldn’t be stuck on so clearly.”
One more thing.
“Why does the body of those who haven’t washed themselves even that much not smell?”
The best way to distinguish between an open beggar and an ordinary beggar is by their appearance and ‘smell’.
“From these guys
Does it smell stale because you haven’t washed for a long time?
The moment Damak turned his head in surprise.
Thump
– Tutuk
The two self-proclaimed slash-and-burn farmers standing behind released their magic and moved.
Snail extract
Six shurikens fly in, aiming for Damak’s back and neck.
I grabbed them and swung my sword at the same time.
Squeak
In a split second, the Socheon Sword Technique is swung, severing the necks of the Beggar’s Sect members.
Chaechaechaechang
One of them died instantly on the spot, but the other three defended against the Socheon Sword Technique by extending their arms and weapons.
Then, a shuriken flew in once again, persistently targeting Damak.
The moment the guards belatedly joined the battlefield with shocked expressions.
I saw the guy at the very back take a signal flare out of his pocket.
Leaving the opening of the remaining two to the guards, I immediately unleashed the White Moon Heavenly Three-Style Extreme Quickness toward the guy at the very back.
Whoaah
– A streak of lightning shoots out, severing the creature’s hand and neck.
Push
The moment death was confirmed as blood gushed out like a fountain.
The flare that fell from his severed hand soared into the air.
Ping
Sounds and smoke that were clearly audible even in broad daylight.
And then bang.
The red flare exploding at the end signaled the beginning of another fierce chase.
