Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Since ancient times, people haven’t felt much interest in stories whose endings they already know.

This is perhaps natural. While there are those who wonder who will win when watching a bear and tiger fight, there’s no one who wonders who will win when watching a puppy and tiger fight.

This match is the same. No one is curious about the result of a match whose outcome is obviously predictable.

It’s not that Muryeon Hall did anything wrong. Simply because Mujeong Hall is superior to Muryeon Hall, because Mujeong Hall must win.

That’s why everyone was only interested in how miserably Muryeon Hall would be defeated by Mujeong Hall.

—How many did we catch?

—Three.

—Good. Further combat would be dangerous. Let’s rendezvous.

Until just a moment ago.

“What’s going on?”

“Looks like Muryeon Hall is doing well?”

At the spectators murmuring, the Evil Path Alliance Leader  crossed her legs, leaned back, and looked at the table before her eyes. Then the situation inside the gate came into view at a glance.

“Things are turning out interestingly.”

In Oh Ryeong’s squad, they handled Paeng Jin; in Unjin’s squad, they handled three Mujeong Hall trainees in a four-to-three fight; in Yi Hyeong’s squad, they handled two Mujeong Hall trainees.

That’s already six. On the Muryeon Hall side, Baek Risan handled two, but that doesn’t reverse the disadvantage.

Moreover, the Muryeon Hall trainees have even started rendezvousing after dividing their regions, so isn’t it crystal clear how the tide of battle is flowing?

“The momentum has shifted.”

Even if the Mujeong Hall trainees join forces now, it would be difficult to secure victory against fourteen Muryeon Hall trainees. Although the Mujeong Hall trainees’ skills hold an advantage over the Muryeon Hall trainees, it’s not overwhelming enough to overcome the disadvantage of nearly half the total force.

“Win before fighting. It’s easy to say, but it’s not actually easy to do.”

Sun Tzu , counted among the great strategists of old, considered the foremost among ten thousand schemes  to be winning without fighting. War is close to gambling with the nation at stake. He said that from the perspective of staying away from war itself.

However, not fighting is close to an ideal theory. After all, Sun Tzu himself went from battlefield to battlefield.

That’s why Sun Tzu said that if you must fight, you must create an environment where you have no choice but to win before fighting. That is the foremost of ten thousand schemes.

Winning before fighting .

“Mm. His methods are certainly good enough that I’d want to recruit the one who devised this scheme into our alliance. Don’t you think so too, Great Evil Sword ?”

“……It is an ingenious strategy. Normally, no one would think of collapsing a cave when fighting inside it.”

“That friend didn’t seem to be in his right mind.”

“Does the Alliance Leader know the mastermind of this strategy?”

“A little.”

Uicheonmun Sect Master. Was his name Baek Riyun?

Recalling the man’s appearance that remained in her memory, the Evil Path Alliance Leader let out a chuckle and shrugged her shoulders, continuing.

“At this rate, the Muryeon Hall trainees will win. The victory has moved one step closer to our alliance, so what do you think?”

“……Are you joking right now?”

“Joking?”

Seeing the Evil Path Alliance Leader smile and ask back at his words, Great Evil Sword shook his head in disbelief and let out a sigh.

“So you were testing me. Is it fun?”

“They’re behind by four in numbers, yet they still can’t win?”

“That’s right. The plan may be perfect. Scattering the opponents to defeat them individually. Buying time for regrouping and trying to cut down the main force. All flawless. However, aren’t strategies always devised considering only ‘realistic’ factors?”

Realistically, with this level of forces, you can win sufficiently. With this level of time, you can sufficiently subdue the enemy.

Strategy and schemes are devised based on such calculations. It’s strategy to gauge the resources you have and the opponent’s resources, leading toward the direction with the highest probability of victory. 

“However, reality doesn’t turn out according to calculations.”

All things don’t flow according to theory.

“Even if you employ divine schemes and demon plots , even if you prepare a million soldiers, there are always those who survive from desperate situations. Those who determine their own fate. Those who reorganize the world according to their own standards.”

Having paused briefly, Great Evil Sword looked at the formed image and shook his head. 

“In this state, the Muryeon Hall trainees can absolutely never defeat Mujeong Hall. Because.”

The moment Great Evil Sword made his assertion.

“Only the same kind can stop those prepared to die.”

Flames burst forth.

Baek Risan hates lies.

The reason need not be asked. Because Baek Riyun’s lies remain as the greatest wound to Baek Risan.

Baek Risan’s world, which began with Baek Riyun’s actions, faded in color due to Baek Riyun’s lies. That’s why Baek Risan extremely detested people who lie as easily as breathing. 

That standard applied even more strictly to herself.

‘I must endure……!’

Just like right now.

“San!”

At Namgung Hyeon’s shout, an iron spear aiming for a blind spot targeted Baek Risan’s heart. A spear strike that dug in during the moment her mind scattered, targeting Baek Risan’s weakness like a ghost.

Kaaaaaang!

“Uuk……!”

The metallic sound rang out, followed by continuous strikes.

Horizontally, vertically—the weight of the spear, which had overwhelmingly greater mass than a sword, struck down Baek Risan’s slender blade. The power and speed from a larger build, plus practical techniques.

None of it can be taken lightly. Unconsciously gritting her teeth, Baek Risan stepped back two steps and infused internal energy into her right hand. Simultaneously, the technique unfolded.

True Flame White Fire Art

Choose Between Two

From top to bottom, from left to right. Two massive sword energies crossed the cave and rushed toward Seomun Cheok. Exactly the same technique that Baek Riyun had once received.

‘It’s slow.’

However, its power and precision aren’t the same. Because she’s missing her left arm and her injuries are severe.

Having completed his assessment, Seomun Cheok received the sword energy while thrusting his spear tip forward. The target is the center of the sword energy.

Three Powers  Five Elements  Continuous

Wall Breaking

Kwaaaang—!!!

The sword energy burst apart.

Having barely struck away the spear strike that broke through the sword energy by instinct, Baek Risan gritted her teeth and desperately avoided the next attack before circulating her internal energy and scattering sword energy. The opponent clicked his tongue and retreated at that pile of sword energy.

‘Seomun Cheok…… was it.’

Until now, Baek Risan had been the type not particularly interested in others. That’s because others had no share in what Baek Risan wanted to do.

She wanted to hear from Baek Riyun why he abandoned her. She knew she couldn’t hear it, so she trained her martial prowess to forcibly hear it. She thought that no matter how much of a Baek Riyun he was, if his younger sister put a sword to his throat and asked, he wouldn’t be able to answer.

There’s no need to be interested in others. That thought hasn’t changed until now. Whether Mujeong Hall trainees or Muryeon Hall trainees, they’re all meaningless people to Baek Risan.

However now it’s different.

‘That bastard’s…… disciple.’

They’re not official disciples. Baek Riyun is the Uicheonmun Sect Master, and Seomun Cheok and Seonwoo Gang aren’t Uicheonmun disciples . They can’t be considered proper disciples.

However, for two months, these people studied under Baek Riyun and improved their skills. Even if that period was short, their development can be considered Baek Riyun’s work. Then.

Then she must destroy it. If Baek Riyun abandoned her and is drawing something, she felt she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she defaced that drawing.

“Huuuu.”

Having taken a deep breath, Baek Risan gritted her teeth and put strength into her hand gripping the sword. The pain rising from her severed left shoulder.

‘Breaking through is impossible.’

Originally, she could have won. Even fighting Namgung Hyeon, she was confident, so she didn’t think she’d lose fighting Seomun Cheok, who was inferior to him. However, now her power is extremely reduced due to injuries and fatigue.

Then she must give up on breaking through. The best she can do is endure. She had to endure and endure until the situation changed.

‘Over there.’

Baek Risan glanced sideways at Namgung Hyeon and Seonwoo Gang who were in the midst of fighting, gauging the situation. Seonwoo Gang being pushed back and Namgung Hyeon pressing hard.

If things continue at this pace, Namgung Hyeon will be able to defeat Seonwoo Gang before long. And if he joins her in that state, it’ll be two against one.

‘In any case, I won’t be able to fight after this battle ends, but Namgung Hyeon will.’

Defeat the opponent’s two main forces and let Namgung Hyeon escape. If that happens, even in this disadvantageous situation, they might be able to open a path for Mujeong Hall.

Seuuup──.

Having finished her judgment, Baek Risan took a deep breath and quietly closed her eyes. Without even keeping the blazing white flames or even her opponent in her eyes, she began concentrating her mind.

‘An opening!’

Swaeeeeek!

The moment Seomun Cheok saw an opening and thrust his spear strike.

True Flame White Fire Art  Secret Technique

Back Fire Formation

The flames grew even stronger.

And the sword deflected the rushing spear strike.

“……Mm.”

At Seomun Cheok stepping back one step with a groan, Baek Risan, who had retrieved her sword, broke out in cold sweat and glared at Seomun Cheok. At the same time, internal energy churning inside as if to burn everything completely.

She’s not drawing on innate true energy . The True Flame White Fire Art, which is strictly an Orthodox Path martial art , doesn’t have techniques that draw on innate true energy, the source of life, and even inside an illusionary formation, touching innate true energy would affect the physical body in reality.

However, if it’s just overworking the dantian , if it’s just scraping to the very bottom of the dantian, no matter how painful, it won’t affect the physical body in reality.

Cheok!

At the sensation as if her entire body was burning, Baek Risan gritted her teeth and raised her sword strike toward Seomun Cheok.

“Come at me.”

“Why are you going this far, Baek Risan?”

“……Who knows.”

First conversation.

At the question flowing from Seomun Cheok in a hardened voice, Baek Risan, who had briefly raised her gaze, forcibly twisted her lips. Why. Why indeed.

“Because I must win.”

She didn’t know which way to go.

She could only sharpen her sword in preparation for when they meet again. Unlike the Family Head  who had numerous authority, Baek Risan couldn’t even properly know where Baek Riyun was.

But now it’s different.

“Because I found the direction.”

Sordid and sticky. Never beautiful, rather feelings that could be called horrific.

But if she thrusts out this sword, it reaches Baek Riyun. To Baek Riyun, who had always been far away.

Then she can’t not thrust it out, can she?

“Before your friend falls, you’ll need to defeat me, but do you have time to be relaxed?”

“……I see. That’s not wrong.”

At Baek Risan asking while baring her teeth, Seomun Cheok gave a small acknowledgement and gripped his spear shaft tightly.

“There’s no time to relax. I’ll use my full power.”

Seomun Cheok swung the spear shaft.

“That’s how it should be.”

Soon, Baek Risan’s sword wrapped itself in white flames.