Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Flag Breaking is, after all, a gate where the victory objective is to break the opponent’s flag while one’s own flag remains unbroken.

Both sides are summoned to the designated terrain without knowing where the opponent’s flag is located, and from that state they proceed with exploration.

When they find the opponent’s flag, from that point an all-out war to capture the flag unfolds. In other words, the side that discovers the flag first has the advantage in this gate.

The faster the exploration, the more advantageous. If there’s more manpower, exploration proceeds faster, and if there’s less manpower, exploration slows down but the main base’s defense can be strengthened instead.

“We split in half.”

From that perspective, Namgung Hyeon’s decision to split the force in half right from the start of the competition could be considered standard practice.

“We assign eight to the search team and eight to defend the main base. Any objections?”

“It’s fine, but wouldn’t it be better to leave more? If enemies swarm, it won’t be easy to protect the flag.”

Looking at Cheonggyeong, who raised his hand and gave his opinion at Namgung Hyeon’s words, Namgung Hyeon shook his head.

“That’s not wrong, but we don’t know what tricks they might pull. If they come with a brilliant strategy like in the first gate, it’ll be troublesome. It’s better to accept a bit of risk at the main base.”

In Flag Breaking, there aren’t many variables. So Muryeon Hall has no choice but to lose to Mujeong Hall.

Everyone said so before entering this gate. This time there’s no chance of Mujeong Hall losing. They said tricks like last time won’t work.

However, the thoughts of the Mujeongwando, including Namgung Hyeon, were completely different.

“They might come with some scheme this time too.”

The terrain is mountainous. The time is daytime.

Certainly it’s an environment with few variables, that’s true. However, with the ability shown in the first gate, who knows what they might pull even in this environment.

“The main base’s eight will be composed of myself, Cheonggyeong, Paeng Jin, and Baek Risan. We’ll start constructing fortifications now. Understood?”

With this personnel, if they construct fortifications, even if all sixteen attack at once, they should be able to buy time until comrades come to rescue them.

“Understood.”

“Let’s do that then.”

“Good.”

At the appearance of his comrades readily accepting his instructions, Namgung Hyeon nodded and looked around.

“Then, let’s immediately start exploration and fortification construction. Report immediately when you find the enemy.”

The moment Namgung Hyeon’s words ended, those assigned roles began moving.

Soon after, the competition began.

In earnest.

To say it anew, Baek Risan doesn’t trust her brothers very much.

This is natural. The first older brother, who wanders around the entire world acting frivolously, is one thing, but the second brother also left the family saying he would definitely return, didn’t he?

In Baek Risan’s mind, Baek Riseon is a scoundrel with nothing but lies coming from his mouth, and Baek Riyun, though better than him, is close to being a slippery character who can’t be trusted. Whenever she asks something difficult, he always avoids it with that slimy smile.

And right now, because of that perception, Baek Risan was deep in thought.

“San, Baek Risan!”

Two shichen after the start of the second gate of the competition, Flag Breaking.

Baek Risan, who had been lost in thought while guarding Mujeong Hall’s flag and watching the surroundings, quietly turned her eyes at Namgung Hyeon’s call and looked at him.

“What is it?”

“What do you mean what is it? I called because you kept not moving. What are you thinking about so deeply? I’ve been calling for a while.”

“……Haa.”

At Namgung Hyeon’s words, Baek Risan, who exhaled, answered again in a sharp voice.

“It’s nothing. I just had something to think about for a moment. Is that all you wanted?”

“That’s it, but.”

“Then don’t call me for such things anymore. I’ll take care of my own work.”

“……Understood.”

Looking at Namgung Hyeon turning his head at her sharp voice, Baek Risan turned her head and inwardly sighed. She knew it was misdirected anger.

—If you win, I’ll tell you the truth.

Baek Riyun, who visited the hospital room, said that to her. If Mujeong Hall wins in the competition, he’ll tell her the truth.

At first it was absurd. It was Baek Riyun who tried so hard to hide the truth. Before entering Mujeong Hall, whenever she tried to visit, he refused to meet several times, clearly visible.

But now he’s saying he’ll tell her the truth—how could she believe that at face value?

‘If he wasn’t going to tell, that would be one thing, but the probability of him lying directly is…… slim.‘

If he wanted to lie, he already had plenty of opportunities. When she visited the Murim Alliance wanting to meet before, or at the very least when he came as an instructor to Mujeong Hall, he could have easily brushed it off with lies.

Then is there any reason to speak lies now to get through the situation?

‘No.‘

There’s no such reason.

‘I must win this competition. Without fail.‘

Rustle!

Baek Risan, who clenched her fist firmly to steel her resolve, raised her gaze at the sound she suddenly heard. Soon Paeng Jin popped out from the bushes, waving his hand.

“Aiya, it’s hot. So hot. Was there anything unusual?”

“There wasn’t. What about the search team?”

“Same here. There’s been no report of discovering anything.”

“I see.”

At Paeng Jin’s words, Namgung Hyeon stroked his chin with his hand. The time without encountering the enemy was too long.

“It’s strange that they haven’t been found.”

It’s been one shichen since fortification construction finished, two shichen since the search team was sent out.

The search team still hasn’t sent any particular news. That means they haven’t encountered the enemy even after two shichen have passed.

Of course, the probability that they encountered the enemy and were taken down isn’t zero. If they were taken down without even a chance to resist, there’d be no way to know.

‘The Muryeongwando aren’t that strong.‘

Unless the personnel difference is absurdly large, it doesn’t make sense for Mujeongwando to be taken down without even making a sound. The explosive sound of sword energy resonates quite far.

Then it would be normal to say they haven’t encountered them until now.

“What should we do? Should we call back the search team even now?”

“……Mm.”

After pondering for a moment, Namgung Hyeon fingered the signal flare in his bosom. And after a moment’s consideration, Namgung Hyeon shook his head.

“……It seems too ambiguous to stop exploration yet. Exploration has to be done anyway.”

Simply having doubts isn’t reason enough to overturn a pre-established strategy. After all, we can’t win this match without finding the opponent’s flag, can we?

The search team must be maintained. But this doubt can’t be left alone either.

Then at least verification is necessary.

“Baek Risan.”

“……What.”

“Can you go check on the search teams’ status?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’re the only one suited for it. I can’t move from here, and you’re the only one who can escape alone even if you encounter multiple enemies.”

After staring at Namgung Hyeon for a moment, Baek Risan stood up from her seat, patting the sword she had been fingering and fastening it back at her waist. At that appearance, Namgung Hyeon immediately gave instructions.

“If there’s anything strange, don’t try to solve it alone and come back immediately to report. Understood?”

“……Got it.”

After answering curtly, Baek Risan turned her back on Namgung Hyeon and turned away. And soon her form stretched out.

‘Useless worry. They simply haven’t found it yet.‘

Baek Risan, who dashed into the forest, swung her sword to cut through the vegetation blocking her view and shook her head. Others might not know, but Baek Risan knew.

Even though the Muryeongwando won the first gate with the help of Baek Riyun’s strategy, it won’t be the same in the second gate. And that’s not a matter of Baek Riyun’s ability. It’s a matter of personality.

‘Because he’s someone who hates more than anyone when victory goes to those who don’t deserve it.‘

Give a hungry person not fish, but teach them how to fish.

Baek Riyun’s teaching philosophy has quite a lot in common with those words. He makes fortune come to those who work hard, but he’s extremely wary of solving problems by relying on his own abilities.

The first gate might have been lending wisdom to push the Muryeongwando’s backs. But the second gate is different. Even if there’s a strategy to win, he wouldn’t tell them and would leave it entirely to the Muryeongwando’s abilities.

‘There’s a limit to what can change in just two months.‘

With the Muryeongwando’s pure abilities without Baek Riyun’s help, this gate is as good as won.

Baek Risan, who finished her analysis, stopped walking at something that caught her eye.

“……A code.”

A knife mark carved on a tree.

A code she memorized anew before entering the competition. She knew Mujeong Hall and Muryeon Hall’s codes were different, so naturally it would be a comrade’s.

‘Northeastern twenty li exploration complete. Heading northwest. The northeast is already cleared?‘

This code probably wasn’t left for her to see. This is just a code left between search teams so their routes wouldn’t overlap.

But that doesn’t mean there’s any reason she shouldn’t read it, does it?

‘If I go northwest, I can meet them.‘

As soon as she finished judging, Baek Risan deployed qinggong northwest and dashed. However, another code was soon visible.

‘Northwest exploration complete. Heading west.‘

“……The north has already been searched.”

At the strangely stirring sense of déjà vu, Baek Risan stared at the remaining code and turned her head to deploy qinggong again. 

‘West exploration complete. Heading southwest.‘

She ran.

‘Southwest exploration complete. Heading south.‘

Confirmed the code.

‘South exploration complete. Heading northwest……‘

No matter how many times she checked again.

Her comrades’ figures couldn’t be seen.

No, that’s not the problem. The real problem is one thing.

Yes.

“The entire area…… exploration complete?”

The real problem is one thing.

There’s currently no place being searched.

“……This is strange.”

Where did it go wrong?

At the eerie sensation, Baek Risan stopped walking and gritted her teeth. Going round and round, the ’empty space’ she couldn’t see.

“Exploration complete…… but the enemy wasn’t found? Or did we cross paths while they were returning?‘

Of course, such coincidences could overlap. Crossing paths on the way is quite common. It wouldn’t be strange if they happened to rejoin the main base when Baek Risan came out.

Then where are the other search teams that haven’t received the news yet?

Rustle!

‘……Enemy!‘

At the suddenly heard sound, Baek Risan instinctively gripped the sword hilt tightly and took a combat stance. A stealthy but gradually approaching presence.

How many? One? Two? Perhaps she just failed to detect them, and there might be several.

‘Ambush and immediately flee.‘

Baek Risan, who instantly assessed the situation, drew the sword slightly to facilitate a quick draw.

Shwaaaaak!

As the search team revealed their appearance, Baek Risan drew her sword at that moment.

“Baek Risan? Why are you here?”

“……Heogwan.”

At the appearance of the familiar Zhongnan Sect comrade, Baek Risan blinked and exhaled a sigh of relief, sheathing her sword.

“……Namgung Hyeon told me to check on the search team’s movements.”

“You still haven’t found anyone? It’s been two shichen?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, well. I thought the search speed was fast, but did they search carelessly?”

“……The ones who searched carelessly would be you guys.”

“What do you mean by that?”

At Baek Risan’s furrowed brow at Heogwan’s words, she pointed with her chin toward the forest where Heogwan and the other comrade had emerged.

“You searched a place that was already searched. There was a code at the entrance saying exploration complete—did you check properly?”

“That doesn’t make sense……. This is the first place we’ve searched. There’s no way a code would be left there.”

“……What?”

“We checked several times. Besides, why would we slack off on exploration? We have to keep searching until we find them anyway.”

“……You’re saying there was no code when you entered? And you didn’t leave a code either?”

“Yes.”

At Heogwan’s nodding head, Baek Risan slowly turned her gaze and looked at the code carved into the tree bark at the entrance as if possessed. The code is clearly carved at the entrance.

‘Southeast exploration complete.’

This is different from before.

Overlapping areas doesn’t make sense. Mujeongwando efficiently arranged routes so people would definitely meet in the middle of the area if someone was inside. There’s absolutely no chance of the exiting team and entering team crossing paths.

Then where did this code come from?

This code that no one carved—where did it come from?

“……Heogwan.”

“Yeah?”

“Return to the main base through this path immediately. And tell Namgung Hyeon this. I’m going to search for the other search teams.”

“What?”

Looking at Heogwan, who asked back without grasping the seriousness of the situation, Baek Risan gritted her teeth.

“The code has been compromised.”

If her guess is correct.

“The enemy is using our code.”

The remaining search teams are in danger.