ISS-Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Dongjeong Lake has been, throughout history, a battlefield no different from the clash between the great sects of the
Baekdo and Heukdo great sect.

In a way, it’s only natural. Dongjeong Lake has long been a place frequented by high officials and those who indulge in elegance, fostering its growth.

Where people gather, money follows. Especially when those gathering are all “those who possess.” Thus, Dongjeong Lake has always stood at the center of profit disputes.

Yes.

In other words, Dongjeong Lake is a neutral zone.

──One no one can enter carelessly.

“…Still no contact?”

“Not yet…”

At the anxious tapping of the table by Akyang Branch Leader Gwangyeon, the scribe who had been staring intently at the sky gritted his teeth and answered.

“Still nothing. Not a single reply from the messenger pigeons…”

“It’s been how long since we sent them, and still no response…!”

The Hundred Ghosts Night Parade is heading toward Akyang.

When Gwangyeon first heard the news, he wasn’t particularly worried. After all, within a mere one shichen’s distance, there were more than five major sects scattered around.

The Hundred Ghosts Night Parade numbered only two hundred fifty, and not a single notable Great Monster was among them. Thus, even just two or three major sects stepping forward could easily block them without casualties.

That was his assumption.

Until the messenger pigeons vanished without a trace.

“This is strange… All five sects not even showing a sign is extremely suspicious.”

“Could the pigeons have gotten lost and delayed? Or perhaps something came up and they’re running late…”

At his subordinate’s question, Gwangyeon clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Don’t think optimistically. One or two sects, maybe. But all five? Impossible. There’s no force nearby capable of blocking the major sects’ advance.”

Under normal circumstances, the Evil Path’s checks would prevent the Righteous Faction from entering Dongjeong Lake carelessly. But this is the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade. A situation where Righteous Faction and Evil Path must unite to respond.

Moreover, something like the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade directly affects the lives of commoners, making it one of the best ways to raise a sect’s prestige. Yet not a single sect had arrived. That meant one thing.

“Someone deliberately intercepted the pigeons. Perhaps there’s a monster among them that can fly or control animals.”

“Then…”

“The worst-case scenario. Damn it.”

Bang!

Gwangyeon slammed his fist on the table, eyes burning as he scanned the room, then gritted his teeth.

‘If things were as usual…’

Though a neutral zone, Dongjeong Lake is essentially a battlefield and one of the places where martial artists are always stationed. So normally, even if word didn’t get through, it wouldn’t matter.

But a month ago, a temporary ceasefire order arrived, forcing both
Baekdo and Heukdo Path sects to temporarily withdraw from Dongjeong Lake. What did that mean?

It meant the only martial artists left in Akyang were unaffiliated stragglers and riffraff.

“Branch Leader. What do we do? With just us, there’s no way…”

At the trembling subordinate, Gwangyeon closed his mouth, scanned the documents on the table, and spoke.

“…Immediately send riders to the major sects and issue a mobilization order in the Murim Alliance’s name to all martial artists in Akyang. Better than nothing.”

Even if most of the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade were minor monsters, their number was two hundred fifty. And since they grew stronger by feeding on human blood and fear, if a massacre occurred here, the consequences were unpredictable.

We must stop them.

Gwangyeon gripped his sword hilt and stood, resolve hardened. The scribe cautiously asked.

“…Branch Leader.”

“What.”

“According to reports, the Muryeonwandos are currently here. What about the Muryeonwandos…?”

“…The wandos?”

“Yes. Should we request their help? They’re reserve martial forces, so they should be somewhat reliable, no?”

“…The Muryeonwandos… those Muryeonwandos.”

After a brief silence, Gwangyeon recalled something and snorted.

“The enemy feeds on fear. They’d only collapse the chain of command. Greenhorns are better off absent.”

Even without Murim Alliance principles, Gwangyeon had no intention of deploying the Muryeonwandos in battle. New martial force members inevitably trembled in real combat and failed to perform.

Moreover, this wasn’t a human-versus-human fight but a battle against monsters. Freelancers with superior improvisation would perform better.

Absence was better. This wasn’t training—it was real combat. From a commander’s perspective, troops that couldn’t follow orders were a liability.

“Then…”

“Issue an evacuation order to the wandos. No—I’ll go myself. The wandos have strong pride.”

Gwangyeon roughly donned his martial robe from the wall and looked outside with murderous intent. At that moment, a memory from over a decade ago resurfaced.

-No, no…! Gwakcheong. This wasn’t…!

-■…■■■. Gwangyeon… it’s your fault■■■■….

From the depths of memory, a comrade from his martial force days tried to say something. And between them, his own trembling hands staring at a blood-soaked blade.

“…Greenhorns are better off absent.”

Those who couldn’t control themselves must never fight monsters. Absolutely not.

Or they would commit atrocities.

Like he once did.

***

“Leave the battlefield immediately and return to the training grounds. This is an order.”

At Gwangyeon’s heavy voice, the Muryeonwandos, momentarily stunned, stared blankly without a word. After a brief silence, Seonwoo Gang spoke.

“Leave the battlefield… You mean run away?”

“Not run away. Withdraw. Have you forgotten the Alliance’s principles?”

Pausing briefly, Gwangyeon hardened his face and continued.

“The wandos of the Two Great Academies are top-priority protection targets under any circumstances. I’m simply acting according to principle.”

“But didn’t you say the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade is coming? Then…”

“No need.”

“Pardon?”

“I said you’re not needed. How many major sects do you think are nearby?”

Gwangyeon spat the command and slowly scanned the room as he continued.

“The Hundred Ghosts Night Parade heading here isn’t that large. With the scale of major sects gathering, it can be suppressed with minimal damage. But if greenhorns like you are present, unnecessary casualties could occur. The most terrifying thing on the battlefield isn’t a capable enemy—it’s an incompetent ally. You know that, don’t you?”

“…”

At Gwangyeon’s words, Seonwoo Gang fell silent. Harsh, but not wrong.

In fact, upon graduation and assignment to the martial forces, new members were always paired with at least two veterans. The reason: someone needed to clean up if the rookie made a mistake.

With that background, Gwangyeon’s words weren’t incomprehensible. But.

Something’s off.

His actions were suspiciously rushed for that reason alone.

Noticing the oddity, Seonwoo Gang opened his mouth.

“But…”

“Enough. I don’t need to hear from you. No objections.”

“…”

“I explained even though I didn’t need to. Moreover, I’m your superior. Do I need a reason to issue an order?”

At Gwangyeon cutting him off sharply, Seonwoo Gang fell silent briefly, then shook his head.

“No, sir.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Under Gwangyeon’s cold gaze, Seonwoo Gang clenched his jaw and met his eyes. Eyes sunken, emotions unreadable.

“Leave Akyang immediately and return to your original training grounds. Rest time is over. I’m busy, so I can’t see you off. Need anything?”

“…No, sir.”

“Good. Then go now.”

Thud!

Having said his piece, Gwangyeon turned decisively and leaped out the window. His form vanished as quickly as it had arrived.

Watching silently, Unjin murmured a Buddhist chant with a troubled expression.

“Amitabha. I don’t know what’s going on. Suddenly the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade…”

“…”

“…Seonwoo Gang Donor?”

“Unjin, didn’t you sense something strange?”

“Hm?”

“Immediate withdrawal. Immediate withdrawal…”

Gwangyeon’s words replayed in his mind. An order that felt off.

“Stay out because you’d be a hindrance” I can understand. But why specifically order a return to the training grounds?

It was strange from the start. Gwangyeon’s words clearly presupposed Akyang becoming a battlefield.

That was odd no matter the enemy—because Akyang was full of things to protect. Yet he assumed fighting within the city.

It means fighting in Akyang is unavoidable.

The reason Akyang would become a battlefield. The reason they must immediately withdraw. The Murim Alliance’s principles.

The clues connected, then scattered, revealing one truth. Seonwoo Gang sighed quietly.

“…A damn situation.”

“Seonwoo Gang Donor?”

“Looks like the Branch Leader lied to us.”

“What do you…”

“The defense line will break.”

At Seonwoo Gang’s abrupt statement, Unjin blinked, scratched his head, and asked.

“Break? What do you mean? A Hundred Ghosts Night Parade of that level would be handled by nearby major sects…”

“What if the major sects can’t come?”

“…What?”

“Logically, if defense forces were sufficient, there’d be no need to fight in the city where casualties would grow. Monsters grow by feeding on fear.”

If residents saw martial artists fighting monsters and fell into terror, the monsters would grow stronger. Casualties would increase. Thus, monster battles were recommended in unpopulated areas.

Yet Gwangyeon issued orders assuming urban combat as a given. And more.

“If he wanted to keep us from interfering, making us stay put in this building would be better than sending us back to the training grounds. If residents saw us fleeing, it could cause panic. We could also serve as emergency reserves. But the Branch Leader didn’t do that. Why?”

Because we’re useless? No—that reason wasn’t enough. The harm far outweighed the benefit. There had to be a compelling reason.

Then what was it? The reason we must leave the battlefield?

“Could it be… because we’re top-priority protection targets…?”

“Yes.”

Agreeing with Unjin’s murmur, Seonwoo Gang gritted his teeth. Then came the declaration.

“Defense forces are insufficient. If we stay, the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade will definitely enter Akyang. Conversely—”

If they fail to stop it here.

“A massacre by monsters will occur in Akyang.”

Seonwoo Gang declared quietly, sweeping his gaze over the room. His peers stared back with hardened eyes.

“If we run, everyone here dies.”