Chapter 220

Chapter 220

“Logically speaking, heading to the Main Palace would be insane. Why do you think so?”

“Hmm.”

After pondering Namgung Hyeon’s question for a moment, Paeng Jin gave his answer. It was a problem with an obvious solution if you thought about it even briefly.

“Well, because it’s a space where a yokai is rampaging, right?”

“Right.”

If you have a candle, you won’t become Heukya’s target.

At first glance, this seems like invincibility, but that’s not actually the case. Not becoming a target doesn’t mean you’re unaffected by attacks—it simply means you won’t be the objective of those attacks.

When a target appears, Heukya swings its massive tail that covers the sky. If they approached Heukya and got hit by a tail swing aimed at someone else, they’d be eliminated without even being able to retrieve their bones.

“But that’s only if you think about it simply. Look at it more carefully and the story changes.”

Namgung Hyeon pointed to a specific part of the map.

“Heukya is located in this part of the Main Palace.”

“This part is?”

“The Main Palace’s Government Hall. Originally, it was where civil and military officials gathered for meetings. Well, that’s not what’s important.”

The important thing was one detail.

“Heukya isn’t inside this place—it’s ‘above’ it. That’s what matters.”

Heukya’s attacks reach everywhere in front of and around it.

However, its attacks don’t reach below. There’s no reason for Heukya to attack the ground it’s standing on.

“If you have a candle, this is the safest place. If a group has enough judgment to actually push toward the center while holding candles, they’ll inevitably reach the conclusion that this is the safest location.”

“……Certainly. No one in their right mind would go all the way to the Main Palace.”

“This is the only place we can target. Otherwise, we’d have to escape to the outskirts.”

What will you do?

As Namgung Hyeon asked for opinions, Seonwoo Gang fell into deep thought. Logically, the right decision would be to seek safety and escape to the outskirts.

‘I don’t know who it is, but… there’s someone fighting fiercely with Heukya. If we get caught up in that, we’re finished.’

Even if they didn’t get knocked out by Heukya’s attacks, the result would be the same. If the mysterious martial artist who was currently withstanding Heukya’s concentrated attacks discovered them and became hostile?

They’d have no way to counter. They’d certainly be completely wiped out before long.

‘Strangely, my intuition is telling me to head toward the center.’

The intuition that had found countless paths to survival in life-threatening situations was speaking. That escaping to the outskirts would actually be more dangerous. That the center was the answer.

‘I can’t leave everything to intuition.’

The outskirts don’t feel right, so let’s go to the center?

He couldn’t convince everyone with words like that. Logically speaking, escaping to the outskirts was the safest choice.

‘If worst comes to worst, we could wait at the outskirts and then light a candle and enter when dawn breaks.’

He didn’t know if that kind of loophole would work, but it was still better than taking on those tremendous threats. Even if not Seonwoo Gang himself, everyone else likely thought that way.

‘My intuition has rarely been wrong.’

Was it never wrong?

That wasn’t the case. He wasn’t some illusionist who could predict everything with intuition alone.

But Seonwoo Gang’s intuition had a fairly high accuracy rate. Wasn’t intuition said to be an accumulation of experience that couldn’t be expressed in words?

That experience was warning him. Then he couldn’t ignore it.

Having organized his thoughts, Seonwoo Gang spoke.

“Let’s go to the Inner Palace.”

“Mm. The reason?”

“There are two. First, whether those outside the Inner Palace can actually advance to the central region.”

“On our side, we just need to endure against the Zone Master, right? Logically speaking, the difficulty is significantly lower compared to other places.”

From the test-takers’ perspective, they might simply think this side was easier and more convenient, but from the perspective of the test creator, it was different. Would there be any reason to make only this zone specially easier?

“That can’t be the case.”

“If the candles go out in this Outer Palace, you get attacked by Heukya. Of course it’s threatening. But is it at a level that’s impossible to handle? I don’t think so.”

Though they were considered fairly outstanding, the people gathered here were at the Later Stage level. And Heukya’s attacks in the Outer Palace were at a level they could barely dodge.

That meant for mid-level martial artists, Heukya’s attacks wouldn’t be a major threat even without candles. From the perspective of continuously having to dodge attacks, it could be threatening, but even so, it would just be annoying rather than an extremely difficult task.

“If I were the examiner, I wouldn’t let martial artists who pursued safety like that advance. The qualification requirement for advancing to the central region is ultimately just to filter out martial artists once.”

“……So you’re saying we need to be at least inside the Inner Palace to have a high possibility of gaining qualification.”

“Right.”

“Mm.”

After thinking briefly, Namgung Hyeon nodded.

“That makes sense.”

“But that’s the second issue. Advancing to the central region isn’t the priority. Surviving comes first. As you know, the Inner Palace is extremely dangerous right now. Is there still a reason to push in?”

“No, it won’t be as dangerous as you think.”

“Why?”

“Heukya’s attention has been focused on one place this whole time.”

The martial artist who had been fighting Heukya continuously for over an entire watch.

“I don’t know how long that person can hold out. But while Heukya is attacking that person, other places won’t be under attack. Do you understand what that means?”

“……Going in is safe?”

“No. It means moving around inside the Inner Palace becomes temporarily safe.”

The Armory. The Side Palace. And the Main Palace.

Originally, those staying in those three locations wouldn’t have moved. Candles were limited, and even large groups likely didn’t have spare candles to use for attacking others.

But what if they could temporarily block Heukya’s vision, if they wouldn’t be attacked?

“If I were a large group, I’d try to raid other groups. Because… it gives points.”

Those advancing to the central region had one goal. Spending the points they earned. Buying various elixirs, secret manuals, and weapons at the central region’s shop with those points.

“They’d try to earn as much as possible when they can. Whether Sado or Jeongpa, I think that would be similar. Because martial artists—me, you, all of us—are generally recklessly bold.”

“Then…….”

“Wasn’t targeting just one place wrong from the start?”

If you’re going to target something, go big.

Thud!

Seonwoo Gang, wearing a thick smile, slammed his fist down on the map. The map of the Inner Palace completely covered by his tightly clenched fist.

“We’re going to occupy all three locations.”

And it would start with a stratagem of sowing discord.

What is the origin of weapons?

They were created by those who lacked, to face those who possessed.

Humanity, having neither strong teeth nor sharp claws, had no choice but to create fake claws from ancient times to face beasts and yokai. In other words, weapons were created by prey to imitate predators.

In the current era, people speak of martial arts and seek the Way through weaponry, but the fundamental purpose of martial arts from ancient times was always one thing. Simply to embody overwhelming violence.

From that perspective, giving a weapon to a giant over five jang tall could produce tremendous results.

Giving a weapon to a giant who was already like the incarnation of violence even barehanded was no different from a malicious intent to destroy the world.

Kwaaaaaa—!!!!

The moment it swung the hammer, the air itself was torn apart.

This wasn’t the typical ‘whoosh’ sound that occurs when swinging a weapon. Pagong. Literally, the thunderous roar of tearing through the air as it split the void.

Daeryeok Geumgangjang

Daeryeok Sinsu

Kwaaaaaaang—!!!

“Mm……!”

Unable to suppress a groan as the impact traveled up his arm and scattered through his entire body, Bulgoe took two steps back from the residual force he couldn’t fully dissipate and let out a bitter laugh. He saw the giant above his head, bringing down its hammer.

‘It was clearly just a trivial creature until just now.’

Breaking and throwing stones, striking with fists.

Even doing that, he never felt threatened by that large giant. The giant had tremendous innate strength and size, but it didn’t know how to concentrate or deflect force, making it good prey for Bulgoe.

He didn’t know about other Zone Masters, but he could have subjugated this zone’s master alone. Intruders had entered, but even receiving combined attacks from the intruders and the giant, it would just take time—he could handle it quickly.

That’s what he thought.

Until the giant picked up that iron hammer from somewhere.

Kwaaaaaa—!!!

The giant hammer’s strike literally tore through the void.

‘Dangerous……!’

Bulgoe tried to leave his position, considering he hadn’t dissipated the residual force yet, but internal energy burst from the void behind him. Then shortly after, red and blue sword energy poured down.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Cheongun Jeokhwa Geom

Unha Bulmyeong

“……Mm!”

Kwaaaaaaang—!!!

Unable to help but stop in his tracks as sword energy poured into his escape route, Bulgoe groaned as he received the giant’s strike. Attacks that even he couldn’t take lightly were pouring down.

“Songbyeok Jinin……. To think the donor who was so young has grown this much—it’s truly astonishing.”

“Bulgoe. Compared to you, who wouldn’t be young? I’ve already passed sixty.”

The leader of Cheongseong Sect, Songbyeok Jinin, wore a faint smile as he channeled surging internal energy into his sword and raised his gaze upward. The giant was still holding its hammer high as if it wasn’t enough.

“Honestly, when I saw this Zone Master from afar, I wondered why they made it so easy…….”

“But seeing this, I understand. This giant’s true strength comes from its versatility.”

Dragons or yokai.

Such beings would be stronger than the giant, but their tendencies were easier to grasp. Dragons controlled wind and rain, so they’d focus attacks around that, and yokai were the same. They’d attack using their unique characteristics.

But the giant?

‘Because it resembles humans, it has no distinguishing features.’

If it held a hammer, it would use the hammer; if it held a spear, it could use the spear. Truly like a human.

At first its grip was awkward, but now it was becoming quite proper. Meaning it was learning and thinking on its own. Once it finished adapting, let alone Bulgoe alone—even if everyone rushed in together, it would become an opponent difficult to handle.

“Bulgoe. If you promise, I’ll help you.”

“……Hehe. What would you have me promise?”

“I’m saying if you promise not to be hostile toward those in this zone after we defeat the giant, I’ll help you. You also came to this Gate Opening Ceremony because you have something to do here, don’t you?”

At Songbyeok Jinin’s words, Bulgoe half-closed his eyes for a moment and stared at Songbyeok Jinin. Bulgoe’s expression, with his wrinkled face, seemed to contemplate the world transparently.

“There’s no need for us to be hostile to each other, is there?”

“If you just promise not to be hostile toward us, we’ll also promise not to attack you. Since we both want to advance to the central region, our interests might align…….”

“That’s not possible.”

“……What?”

“I mean this poor monk cannot declare he won’t be hostile toward you.”

Bulgoe showed a hollow smile and closed his eyes while looking at the giant catching its breath. He couldn’t compromise in a place like this.

‘I don’t break promises.’

Finding the Divine Maiden’s bloodline was more important than anything. If he promised not to be hostile here, and if the Divine Maiden’s bloodline was among that group?

Bulgoe wouldn’t be able to eliminate the Divine Maiden’s bloodline even after seeing them. After the Gate Opening Ceremony ended, it would be even harder to eliminate them. Right now the Sipcheon and strong warriors were scattered in all directions, but after the ceremony ended, they’d gather in one place.

He had to find and kill the Divine Maiden’s direct descendant now. From that perspective, he couldn’t promise carelessly. But.

Then, how should he break through this situation?

“……An ancient eminent monk once said this.”

“A practitioner must know how to kill the Buddha when meeting the Buddha, and kill the patriarchs when meeting the patriarchs. One must know how to break whatever binds oneself.”

No matter how much of a rogue monk he was, he still followed the Buddhist path. Then there was only one thing to do.

“There’s no need to capture it.”

Not compromising.

“This too is suffering and a trial.”

Kwaaaaaa!

Watching the hammer descend while tearing through the void, Bulgoe quietly exhaled and raised his palm. And the scene that followed.

“This poor monk also has no choice but to show his full strength to break through that trial.”

Yeokgeungyeong

Golden energy surged upward. Compared to the falling hammer, it was incomparably fragile—literally like a flame that could be extinguished at any moment.

The hammer didn’t finish falling.

“Jinin may attack this poor monk as much as you wish.”

And the light.

“This poor monk will also respond with all his strength.”

Did not extinguish.