Chapter 50

Chapter 50

A plain ten Li southeast of Akyang.

After watching a distant place and then suddenly lowering his gaze to look around, Gwangyeon placed his hand on his blade and burst into a hollow laugh.

“……This is the worst.”

Though it’s nothing new, Akyang is a battle zone. A place close to a neutral zone, neither the Murim Alliance’s territory nor the Sado Alliance’s territory.

If Akyang is pushed back, the front line is pushed back. And this means that actions taken by opponents in Akyang are inevitably received sensitively by other forces.

That’s why both the Sado Alliance and Murim Alliance tried to deploy as few people as possible to the Akyang branch. Otherwise, they’d fight each other to mutual destruction.

──That became poison this time.

“Barely thirty? This makes me laugh.”

Ten members of the Murim Alliance Akyang Branch. Seven members of the Sado Alliance Akyang Branch. In addition, fifteen gathered by summons. A total of thirty-two.

If things had gone according to the original calculation, more would have gathered than this. Being driven out of neutral zones is at least a story for medium-scale or larger sects, and small-scale sects or individual martial artists weren’t applicable. In fact, according to the branch’s information, didn’t the martial artists in Akyang alone exceed fifty?

However.

“I didn’t expect two-thirds would run away.”

Humans become more honest than anyone else when facing the crisis of death. Even if they’re Murim people who live by honor and die by honor, not everyone is a superhuman who can easily resolve themselves to death, right?

The moment they heard they had to face a Baekgwiyahaeng, all martial artists except those who live day by day on the blade’s edge ran away to survive. Taking into account being expelled from the Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance. That’s how thirty-two remained.

“……The command structure is also split, and there are no skilled ones.”

About ten of them are anyway third-rate martial artists who have families in Akyang. These are people who remained fearing they’d be chased by both great forces if they abandoned this place. Such people won’t be able to properly handle even one Yokai.

“Ten to one, or more?”

They might be able to hold out. However, one thing is certain now. Whether they can hold out or not, he must bury his bones in this place.

“Prepare for battle.”

“Yes. Yes!”

Gwangyeon, who steeled his resolve, gave orders to his members and turned his gaze toward where the Baekgwiyahaeng was said to be coming from. And.

After waiting like that for a while.

“……Didn’t they say it had approached quite close?”

“Yes? Yes. That’s correct!”

“Then.”

Gwangyeon, who looked at the horizon, stroked his blade with a blank expression.

“……Why isn’t it here yet?”

* * *

Generally, humans cannot defeat Yokai.

It’s actually a natural thing. Yokai are fear given form.

In a situation where even humans who can fight and win against formless fear are rare, it’s abnormal that there are many humans who can fight and win against tangible fear. Much more so if that fear is the type that devours humans and increases its power.

However, the word “generally” always includes exceptions. Just because most humans cannot defeat Yokai doesn’t mean there are no humans who can defeat Yokai.

And.

The current Muryeongwando were clearly those positioned outside that category.

─Gurururuuk……!

Chwaaaaaak!

“……Processing complete. Phew.”

After blowing off the head of a chicken-like Yokai and exhaling, Seonwoo Gang looked around, checked the damage, and let out a sigh of relief. And watching that sight, Seomun Cheok frowned.

“Don’t relax. Seonwoo Gang. We retreat immediately.”

“……Right.”

At Seomun Cheok’s words, Seonwoo Gang nodded and looked around before kicking off the ground. Immediately, the demonic energies rapidly distancing.

Shortly after, watching the screams begin to echo at the place where they had been, Seonwoo Gang tightly gripped his sword hilt.

‘It’s more effective than I thought.‘

They, the sixteen Muryeongwando and thirty-two miscellaneous martial artists, must face the Baekgwiyahaeng.

When Seonwoo Gang first heard this story, he was half-resolved to die. And for good reason, since Yokai were originally a collection of bizarre things.

Their number reaches two hundred fifty. Moreover, their side must enter a chaotic battle because formations aren’t properly arranged, while the enemy are Yokai whose attacks are difficult to predict arbitrarily.

It’s a harsh environment. No matter how much their skills have improved, they can’t help but be in danger. A situation where the probability of failure approaches ninety percent. However.

─We’re not stopping the Baekgwiyahaeng. We must hunt the Baekgwiyahaeng.

Seomun Cheok’s single statement changed the entire situation.

─A battlefield is a clash of strategy against strategy. But most of the other side are Yokai that don’t even properly possess intelligence. That means we can unilaterally devise strategies.

The strong don’t need strategy. They can just crush the weak with an overwhelming difference in power.

But when this side is in the weak position, it’s different.

─In the first place, our victory objective isn’t annihilating them.

─Then?

─We delay them. You know, don’t you? A Baekgwiyahaeng of this degree can be quickly suppressed if the great sects in the vicinity just receive news and come support us.

─Will support come?

─It will. Branch Leader Gwangyeon isn’t an idiot. He already sent messengers before coming to us.

The expected time until the Baekgwiyahaeng arrives at Akyang, learned through Dan Riyeon, is about two Gak. The distance to nearby great sects, based on a martial artist with fast feet, is about half a Shichen one way.

Since one Gak has passed, the time they roughly need to hold out is, considering the time for the great sect personnel to prepare, half a Shichen and two Gak. If the Baekgwiyahaeng consumes two Gak to arrive at Akyang here, the time they need to hold out is?

─Half a Shichen. If we hold out for just half a Shichen, it’s our victory.

Right. Half a Shichen.

─To hold out, we must absolutely avoid fighting head-on. The enemy are Yokai. We don’t know what kind of attacks they’ll unleash.

─Then how?

─We lure them by scraping them lightly as if hunting. Or drive them back. It’s an insane thing to do against a clustered Baekgwiyahaeng, but…… we have no choice.

At the sight of Seomun Cheok speaking while stroking his chin, everyone’s complexions hardened. Because it was indeed no different from an insane act as he said.

If it goes even slightly wrong, they fail. Even more so with no countermeasure if they fail—a truly reckless act committed believing only in their own martial prowess and abilities.

However, they have no choice but to do it. Because this is the only thing with possibility. With that thought, everyone agreed to the strategy.

And now, that strategy was being realized.

Kyaaaaaaa─!!!!!

“Why…… is this so easy?”

Watching the appearance of the Baekgwiyahaeng erupting in screams, Seonwoo Gang unconsciously muttered to himself in bewilderment. At that sight, Seomun Cheok answered lightly.

“Are you asking because you don’t know? What we’ve been doing for the past month.”

“The past month?”

“Right.”

While looking at the Yokai horde thrashing about wildly in the distance with their flanks torn out, Seomun Cheok burst into a hollow laugh and continued speaking.

“What did we do for the past fortnight?”

“……I didn’t do anything.”

“Not you, us.”

“Well.”

Seonwoo Gang, who answered lightly, recalled his memories. What did his classmates do?

─From now on, kill each other.

─What?

They attacked each other. At all times and places. If they succeeded in attacking a classmate even once, Baek Riyun would personally oversee their training.

They’re Muryeongwando who thirst for martial studies. Moreover, they also have the motivation of needing to defeat Mujeong Hall.

They didn’t hesitate to ambush each other even while sleeping to learn just a bit more. And this is the result.

“It means we’ve become extremely sensitive to aiming for someone’s openings at the very least. The same goes for hiding presence. Anyway, whether it’s a Baekgwiyahaeng or whatever, they can’t be without openings.”

“……Ah.”

“Combat with Yokai too.”

Seomun Cheok with cold eyes stroked his spear shaft and continued speaking.

“No matter what bizarre and monstrous Turo they come in with, they’re almost all Turo we’ve seen at least once. It’s not strange. The Turo we’ve devised in training alone easily exceed twelve hundred. Isn’t that right?”

“……That’s true.”

“We don’t panic even though it’s the first battle. We’re also skilled at hiding presence and can stab the enemy’s weak points without hesitation. If you say a mere academy trainee group can do this, you’d only get ridiculed for talking nonsense.”

It’s an absurd story. That mere greenhorns have grown to this extent in just one month.

But that was actually realized. And this was the result.

“…….”

“It means we’ve grown remarkably over at least the past month. Even so, holding out for half a Shichen will be tight, but…… that part will work out somehow.”

After finishing his words, Seomun Cheok turned his gaze to look at the Baekgwiyahaeng.

“……Seonwoo Gang.”

“Yeah?”

“If we survive this battle, what do you plan to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. At this rate, we can end it without our insubordination being discovered. Then we won’t be expelled, so we can also participate in the Daehangjaen. If that happens…… should you, should we win?”

At Seomun Cheok’s low question, Seonwoo Gang blinked his eyes, then burst into a grin and lightly hit Seomun Cheok’s back.

“I don’t know, you bastard.”

“……Some squad leader you are.”

“Am I omnipotent? What I don’t know, I don’t know. Even the strategy for facing the Baekgwiyahaeng right now was all devised by you, so how would I know?”

“…….”

“But there’s one thing that’s certain.”

Seonwoo Gang, who responded lightly, gripped his sword hilt and turned his gaze toward the Baekgwiyahaeng as he continued speaking.

“If I have to go back without pouring out what I learned, it’ll be damn frustrating.”

“…….”

“Don’t you think so? I think so.”

At Seonwoo Gang’s casually thrown question, Seomun Cheok looked at the arising commotion and burst into a grin.

“……That might be so.”

Didn’t they say everything is difficult the first time?

He’s been living with his head bowed to reality all this time, and now he’s raised his head once. He hasn’t tasted that sweetness yet, but there’s no feeling as refreshing as this. Perhaps he might not be able to return to reality again. To somehow change unreasonable reality.

“To do that, first.”

Seomun Cheok, who grabbed his spear shaft, kicked off the ground again and spat out his last words as if letting them flow.

“We survive. All of the Muryeongwando.”

The battle still isn’t over.

***

To the southeast of Hubei, next to Jiangxi’s Jing’an, exists a place called Sinseongok.

That place with a name that immortals might live in was a location with a renowned reputation for having beautiful scenery surrounded by bizarre yet beautiful gorges and high-rising mountains.

In fact, before that place was occupied by a single Daeyogoe and transformed into a Yogyeong, Sinseongok became a haven for many reclusive masters. Now a distant story from hundreds of years ago.

─You’re insignificant. Inferior and wretched. At this rate, you’ll soon die. This land is not a place where those like you who are weak by birth can survive.

─However, everything has its use. Inferior thing, I’ll tell you your role.

‘Ah’ was born in that place.

“Kkeueuk. Kkeuk. Kkeuheueuk…….”

‘Ah’, who was watching a human making choking sounds while being strangled, carefully curled its fingers, examined the captured human, and moved its creaking joints to nod its head. The sight of a human flailing freshly.

It doesn’t know what kind of human this is. Because ‘Ah’ isn’t that intelligent. However, one thing is certain.

When it first saw them, this human feared it. To this human, it is a ‘predator.’

Then isn’t it natural to be devoured?

“Scary, scary, scary? Keureuk. Keuk.”

‘Ah’, who momentarily burst into laughter, tilted its head while looking at the struggling human. At that bizarre appearance, the human, even more gripped by fear, twisted their body to undo the bindings.

Appetizing. The overflowing fear enters through breathing, wets the throat, and fills the stomach. However, this is merely an appetizer. Ultimately, what becomes the meal is fear far more extreme than this.

The anxiety of having one’s very existence stolen.

“Don’t, don’t. Don’t……! Please, pleaaaase─!!!”

“Gareureureuek!”

Puuuuk!

‘Ah’, who burst into laughter filled with ecstasy at the screaming human’s voice, killed them by stabbing their heart with a finger, trembled with the incoming fear, flicked its tongue, and looked around.

“Geureureuek.”

All directions are filled with Yoryeok. The sky that should have been blue is splendidly crimson due to the rising Yoryeok, and the forest that should have been green sparkles with a bizarre light blue. Like a forest of jewels.

“Home, good. Here. Our home.”

Though they say there are many Yokai in the world, most Yokai regard the area around where they were born as their home. Because fundamentally, Yokai are things born from fear.

Fear isn’t sporadic but continuous. That’s why most Yokai regard where they were born as their hometown and don’t try to leave that place. Because fear exists there. However, what was ‘Ah’s hometown like?

Even minor demons carefully walking mountain paths without exception maintain dignity. A place where ten thousand Yokai are born per day, two thousand Yokai gather, and twelve thousand Yokai are devoured by the same Yokai. A place where Yokai hold fear toward Yokai, and again hold faith.

There’s no place for ‘Ah’ there. Compared to that, this place’s environment is heaven.

Tuduk!

“Keureuk…… Invade, intruders. Those guys?”

‘Ah’, who was savoring and absorbing the fear flowing from its prey, raised its head and looked around. An unpleasant sensation felt at the entrance of the Yogyeong that had now completely become its domain.

Perhaps they’re the two humans who annoyed it since before the Yogyeong unfolded a month ago. The ones who drove it to the brink of death before it became a Daeyogoe, and after it became a Daeyogoe, used some method to evade it while hiding within its territory.

Of course, their activities are annoying. Annoying, but.

“Insignificant, humans. Geureuek.”

Now that it’s become a Daeyogoe, there’s no impact other than annoyance. If it were another place, it might be different, but within this Yogyeong, ‘Ah’ can exert strength close to double.

If they fight, it wins. Then rather, devouring them at this opportunity isn’t bad either. The fear of strong humans is always sweet and abundant, isn’t it?

Right. Let’s do that. Catch and kill them. To make them provisions.

“Keureuk. Geureuek. Geureureuek!”

Pyeok!

After finishing its thoughts, ‘Ah’ threw the corpse of the human drained of all blood onto the ground and stretched its body. And.

“Humans, kill. Eat!”

The moment ‘Ah’ took a step forward to hunt its prey.

“You saved me the trouble of searching. That’s fortunate.”

Cutting through the center of the blue sparkling forest.

Light tore through the forest.

──!

“Geurarararak!”

Vision whitens.

‘Ah’, who instinctively rolled its body, screamed and rose convulsively like having a seizure, and opened its mouth wide. A presence that should have been near the entrance, but at some point approaches as if compressing space.

“Did you dodge? Your instincts are good for something that just became a Daeyogoe. Or perhaps I’ve gotten rusty.”

Confirming a low voice digging into its ear, ‘Ah’ turned its head and directly faced the man. And the moment ‘Ah’s eyes beheld the man, overwhelming fear struck the Yokai.

“Geu, rarararak…….”

The sword blade obliquely emits light that shouldn’t exist in this place beneath the red sky. And the appearance of the man walking slowly while gripping it.

Death approaches with each step the man takes. Killing intent or anger—such things aren’t visible in the man’s eyes. What’s merely visible is.

Contempt and boredom.

Those eyes, as if crushing an ant to death, looking down from above.

“Geureureu…….”

‘Ah’ knows. What kind of people have those eyes.

Such people existed in Sinseongok too. Beings who go beyond becoming accustomed to killing something to becoming numb to it. Things that naturally reign without needing to feed on others’ fear or be revered.

One step, one step.

Death walks forward. The rising fear strikes ‘Ah’. Along with it, the man’s form wavers.

“There is no next time.”

It mustn’t fight. If it fights someone with those eyes, it will surely die. How, what should it do?

It must run away. It must build up strength.

‘Ah’, who instinctively stepped back, extended its claws long to run away and turned its back. And the moment the slash tried to pierce ‘Ah’ again.

【──Foolish thing.】

Jwaaaaaaa─!!!!!

The space before ‘Ah’s eyes tore apart. A voice heard from distantly far away.

【I’ll help a little.】

Darkness descended.