Chapter 216

Chapter 216

This isn’t my place to say, but the Uicheonmun disciples all have hot heads.

Even Seohwa, who belongs to the relatively calm side, tends to rely on emotions for her motivations to act, Seonwoo Gang has emotions preceding reason, and Baek Risan even seems to deliberately avoid rational judgment.

That’s not to say it’s a bad thing. Doesn’t it say that what martial artists need is a burning heart? Whether White Path or Black Path, I have no intention of denying that emotions play an important role as a martial artist. 

Even so, there are times in life when you must judge with reason rather than emotion.

Seomun Cheok was a talent who shone precisely in such moments.

Even if his heart wasn’t cold, Seomun Cheok was always calm and had a steadily beating heart.

“You’re telling me to give up?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t achieved any results.”

“You know you didn’t come here to achieve results.”

“I know that, of course.”

I crossed my arms as I watched Seomun Cheok calmly accept my words and nod. Seomun Cheok’s appearance somehow looked unsatisfied.

“When judged rationally, it’s clear that’s the best option in the current situation. Because we don’t know what might happen.”

“You mean we’d be a burden.”

“Once I finish searching, I don’t intend to remain in danger either. I’ll have to get out. But if I get caught up in something before that…….”

It was true that it would be difficult to fight while protecting my disciples. Now that Heukya had gotten involved, this battlefield was no longer such an easy place.

“I understand what you mean.”

“I was worried you’d be hurt, but you seem fine.”

“I’m past the age of being hurt by such remarks. I understand you’re concerned about us, Sect Master. If I were in your position, I would have said it even more harshly.”

“You don’t need me to say it that harshly, do you?”

“Yes. Either way, I’m quick to catch on.”

Seomun Cheok, who casually acknowledged my words, composed himself and stood up from his seat.

“But the current situation is different. I cannot abandon the Gate Opening Ceremony.”

“That’s unexpected. Why is that?”

“Because my senior martial brothers won’t all be gathered in one place.”

“If I abandon the Gate Opening Ceremony alone, it would be meaningless, wouldn’t it?”

I wore a bitter smile at Seomun Cheok’s gaze hitting the nail on the head. It was certainly a judgment that could only come from calmly assessing the situation.

“I can find them.”

“It will be faster if two of us search.”

“What if you get hurt in the process?”

“If my senior martial brothers get hurt because I didn’t step forward, wouldn’t that also remain as resentment?”

I sighed deeply at Seomun Cheok’s answer that showed not even an inch of retreat and pressed my brow.

“The situation isn’t that simple.”

“It’s hard to predict exactly what situation will come, but there will probably be one major incident. If you get caught up in that incident, even I can’t guarantee my life, so I’m telling you to give up. And yet you still won’t give up?”

“If it’s so dangerous that even you can’t guarantee your life, Sect Master, wouldn’t it be even more dangerous for my senior martial brothers including me? It seems the priority task is to evacuate everyone before that.”

“It’s your life.”

“I’m not treating my life lightly. It’s just that priorities are different.”

Seomun Cheok, who cut it off decisively, gripped the wooden spear set beside him.

“Just tell me which zone they’re in.”

“Sect Master, you told me to pursue the best outcome.”

“That was.”

“If even one person gets hurt and returns, it’s a failure anyway. Bringing everyone back without anyone getting hurt—that’s the best outcome, isn’t it?”

He was right. Whether looking at it rationally or emotionally, separating from Seomun Cheok here to find the disciples would certainly be a much better method.

That would ultimately put Seomun Cheok in danger. Making Seomun Cheok invite danger in order to protect the other disciples.

Is this the right thing to do?

I deliberated and deliberated again. What was the best option, what was the best way to not put Seomun Cheok or the other disciples in danger?

Thoughts flashed by quickly. And the conclusion I reached was just one.

To give permission.

“……Fine.”

“I can search too?”

“Yes. But there’s a condition.”

“A condition would be…….”

“From what I’ve assessed, your senior martial brothers and sisters are currently spread across at least two, at most three locations.”

Baek Risan and Wang Pal were in the same zone, Seonwoo Gang was alone and isolated, and Seohwa wasn’t being picked up by the detector at all.

If Seomun Cheok joined the search, the highest risk would be searching for disciples moving alone. Even though they still lacked experience, each disciple’s level wasn’t that low, and the more gathered together, the higher the probability of safety.

“You go retrieve San and Wang Pal.”

“If you find those two, explain the situation and immediately break their bracelets to make them escape the formation. The same goes for you. Understand?”

“What about you, Sect Master……”

“Seohwa’s location isn’t registering. I’m planning to go to Gang, whose location has been identified.”

Even if her location wasn’t registering, there was something he could guess. If her location was completely hidden in a formation of this level, then someone quite proficient in magic arts was probably with her.

If he met Seonwoo Gang and evacuated him, then headed toward the central zone, he could meet her without much difficulty.

Of course, since Daesageom and Heukya had crossed over, that side was now in a state half like a demonic battlefield……

‘This is the best option.’

The minimum unit of people who could respond even if caught up in something.

“Keep this in mind. Even if you haven’t met your senior martial brothers, if something happens, immediately break your bracelet. It might be too late if you hesitate.”

“Understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Ttudududeuk!

While watching Seomun Cheok reflect on my words, I tore off the bracelets of those lying unconscious around us and handed them to Seomun Cheok. Points accumulating in an instant.

“This should be enough to buy a detector and zone transfer permission.”

“……Is this really okay?”

“It’s fine. They would have gotten caught up in it anyway if left here.”

Rather, this would be a good thing for them. Though he didn’t know if they themselves would think so.

“May martial fortune be with you.”

“…….”

“Make sure to return safely.”

As I extended my fist with my words, Seomun Cheok, who had been firmly gripping his spear, likewise nodded and bumped his fist against mine. Seomun Cheok’s will felt through the fist.

“I will definitely find my senior martial brothers and return.”

“Yes. I’ll leave that side to you.”

I could confirm whether Seomun Cheok succeeded or failed with the detector. If Seomun Cheok succeeded in finding them, when I found Seonwoo Gang and Seohwa and checked the detector, their reactions would have disappeared.

“I’ll come find you if you’re too late.”

“I won’t be that late.”

After confirming that Seomun Cheok, who answered confidently, got off the boat and headed toward the shop, I too stood before the shop’s door. Soon the door opened.

“Where would you like to go?”

At Yeomryeongdaeju’s appearance asking me for my destination, I briefly checked Seonwoo Gang’s location with the detector and quietly recited.

“Zone Eight.”

“Ah…… The abandoned city district? If you go there now, it’ll be quite a sight to see.”

“It’s hard to explain in words—you’ll know when you go see for yourself.”

Quite a sight.

What does that mean?

Watching Yeomryeongdaeju manipulate the door with her words and gesture toward the door with her eyes as if telling me to enter, I let out a groan and stepped one foot inside the door.

The moment I transferred zones and took my first step, I was at a loss for words at the sight before me. Because.

“Heukya?”

Far in the distance.

A yokai of familiar form had grown giant and was sweeping away the surroundings.

My head feels heavy.

“Mm.”

Inside a ruined palace with debris moderately cleared away.

Jeongnyuha of Hyeoljeop, who woke up from her seat letting out a groan and sat there, looked at her wrist with vacant eyes. Her hands and feet were bound, not completely but enough to make movement difficult.

“This is…….”

“Are you awake, Junior Martial Sister?”

“You bastard.”

At the familiar voice that immediately followed, Jeongnyuha, who understood the situation, ground her teeth and turned her body. Now she was understanding the situation.

“You cowardly ambushed me……!”

“What’s cowardly about the Unorthodox Path? Cowardly is. It’s the fault of the one who got ambushed.”

“Is your body alright?”

“Are you asking me that?”

At Seonwoo Gang’s appearance offering water while asking, Jeongnyuha, who had been trying to draw up her internal energy, frowned. Her internal energy showed no movement at all, as if a heavy stone had settled inside.

“What did you do!”

“I made you take a Geumjehwan. You’d attack if you woke up, wouldn’t you?”

“I’ll untie you if you say you won’t attack.”

“I won’t attack.”

“Who would believe you when you ask with eyes full of killing intent? At least drink some water.”

“Get lost.”

Seonwoo Gang, who wore a bitter smile as Jeongnyuha refused to let him put the water pouch to her lips, suddenly felt a presence and turned his gaze. Then their eyes met immediately.

“Well, well, you’re awake. You’re quite a beauty with your eyes open.”

“……Who the hell are you?”

“It’s Paeng Jin. My colleague.”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

Paeng Jin.

Jeongnyuha, who quickly racked her brain at the uncommon surname and found Paeng Jin’s name in her memory, emanated hostility. Wasn’t that the name of one of the direct descendants of the Paeng Family, one of the Five Great Families?

“Were you the one who struck my head too?”

“You look like you’d kill me if I admitted it. Seonwoo Gang, is your Junior Martial Sister always like this?”

“……Yeah.”

“Well, she’s quite rough. Not even grateful to her life savior, much less.”

“Life savior? You, saving me?”

At Jeongnyuha’s appearance unable to believe it and frowning, Paeng Jin shrugged his shoulders and raised his head upward. The answer that followed.

“Look at that.”

“What exactly…….”

Jeongnyuha, who had been growling then raised her head upward following Paeng Jin’s gaze in response to the answer, stared blankly at the scene visible through the gaps in the collapsed building. An incomprehensible scene was unfolding.

“What the hell…… is that?”

When people see a fox tail, they generally have the impression that it would feel fluffy.

That’s the same regardless of what color it is or which fox it belongs to. Even if they feel disgust at its dirtiness, no one feels fear looking at a fox’s tail. Foxes aren’t threatening beings to humans in the first place.

But what was that in front of their eyes right now?

Each time it swung, one section burst apart, and each time it swayed, it covered half the starry sky.

Though it clearly had the form of an ordinary fox tail, it was ominous and terrifying beyond measure. A fox yokai’s tail resembling the darkness of night, with even its form being ambiguous.

“What in the world is that…….”

“I heard this place is a recreation of the scene of the old abandoned capital.”

“……Abandoned capital? Was there a time when the capital was moved?”

“It was never moved. But the imperial palace was half blown away and became ruins.”

“This is a recreation of the capital from that time. That’s a fox yokai recreated through illusion arts that blew away half the imperial palace back then.”

“Is……that so.”

“Yes.”

At the sight of the fox yokai wielding earth-shattering power from a distance, Jeongnyuha, who barely regained her composure, lowered her gaze again and spoke in a low voice.

“What do you mean you saved my life?”

“What do I mean? Don’t you know where you passed out?”

“The place where that yokai is rampaging now is where you passed out. I really thought we’d die. The Cheongseong Sect Daoists were hostile toward us, and suddenly the sky opened and that thing popped out. We had to use all our strength just to get away from that spot.”

At Paeng Jin’s joking appearance, Jeongnyuha ground her teeth and clenched her fist.

“You cowardly bastard. If you hadn’t knocked me out in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened……!”

“Well…… I have to admit being cowardly. But stabbing the back of a former fellow disciple who stepped forward to help you isn’t exactly an honorable deed either, is it?”

It was an irrefutable statement.

Jeongnyuha, whose body trembled with rage and shame, kept her mouth firmly shut and maintained silence. And watching her, Seonwoo Gang sighed deeply.

“Fine, Junior Martial Sister. I won’t tell you not to attack. I already roughly know that you detest me anyway.”

“……You have a glib tongue for someone with an open mouth. Then are you planning to keep me tied up like this and drag me around? Or are you planning to break my bracelet and send me out?”

“Neither. We need you, Junior Martial Sister.”

“What do you…….”

“You can attack. But that should be after we survive here—what do you say?”

“After surviving?”

“Yes. Do you see that wax candle burning behind you?”

At Seonwoo Gang’s words, Jeongnyuha turned her gaze and looked at the candle burning by her head. A candle made of wax, half melted.

“What is this candle?”

“It’s a candle that can avoid that yokai’s notice. I collected them because they occasionally appeared instead of points when completing missions, and I confirmed that if you light it, you won’t be attacked until it burns out completely.”

Seonwoo Gang continued, watching Jeongnyuha, whose eyes had returned to a cold, rational gaze from being filled with anger.

“That’s all the candles we have left. Even if we do missions in this situation, we can’t properly carry them out, and if we leave the candle’s area, that yokai will immediately detect us.”

“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point. What do you want to say?”

“I heard that yokai disappears when day comes. This isn’t a fight to catch the yokai—it’s a fight to endure. Then there’s only one thing to do, isn’t there?”

Attack others who have candles and steal their candles to extend their lifespan.

“I have a few more companions besides me and this guy, but our forces are still insufficient. Let’s not attack each other until we advance to the central zone.”

“……Until we advance to the central zone.”

At Seonwoo Gang’s proposal, Jeongnyuha, who had been thinking for a moment, looked at Seonwoo Gang with displeased eyes. A flawless proposal.

‘If I want to raise achievements, accepting this proposal is right.’

That was the original purpose. Raising Hyeolgeommun’s status. Proving that Hyeolgeommun wasn’t weak.

After Seonwoo Gang converted and became Hyeolgeommun’s young sect master both externally and internally, if Jeongnyuha failed to advance to the central zone, Hyeolgeommun’s status would plummet just from that alone. So advancing to the central zone was right. 

But could she forgive a traitor?

‘I can…… trust him.’

Seonwoo Gang wouldn’t lie in this situation. He was Seonwoo Gang who had entrusted his back to her in the first place. He definitely wouldn’t betray her in this situation. But this was a separate matter.

“I…….”

Refuse.

Jeongnyuha, who had organized her thoughts, shook her head to refuse and opened her mouth. And at that moment.

Jeongnyuha, confirming that killing intent grazed her neck, reflexively leaned back to avoid the sword energy and looked ahead. An unexpected ambush.

“Damn, to think they’d strike first……!”

Watching the opponent extinguish the candle, Jeongnyuha ground her teeth.

“Untie this.”

There was no such thing as a choice from the beginning.

“Right now.”

If they wanted to survive here.