Chapter 260

Chapter 260

The operation proceeded smoothly.

“To think of dividing forces—bold beyond measure.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. Hoho.”

Ilryun, who had been with the Demonic Cult’s elites in the distance and approached at some point, patted my shoulder with a small laugh and turned her gaze north. A cold gaze where the chill could be felt even in the scorching desert heat.

“We’re attacking Gahyang.”

“…”

“When I heard that, I thought they’d bring all their forces to attack Gahyang. Because that has the fewest variables.”

The forces are advantageous on this side.

Even so, we can’t be complacent. The opponent is the Blood Cult, which freely employs sinister and bizarre magic arts. Isn’t it the Blood Cult that recruited three Chilryun from the Demonic Cult and possesses two Sipcheon-level masters itself?

Carelessness is forbidden. Unless this side fights with full force to crush them, we can’t gain the upper hand. So they’ll try to attack in a concentrated group.

—The Blood Cult members are probably thinking that way.

“Bulgoe, Geomhu, Geomje, Manwang, Taeak, Daesageom. And Ilryun. There are seven Sipcheon-level masters on this side.”

“Indeed.”

“There are five Sipcheon-level masters on their side, so if divided by two, the numbers don’t match up. But the reality is different.”

Among those at the very top, Ilryun and Taeak were on a different level. Because both were Talgakja. Absolute beings who had shed the framework of humanity.

These two could sufficiently gain the upper hand against two Chilryun or Sipcheon-level masters each. In effect, it’s like having nine Sipcheon-level masters on this side.

“Moreover, there’s quite a lot of hidden strength on this side.”

“Are you referring to yourself?”

“I won’t deny it. Ilryun-nim’s escort would be a similar case.”

Those who have chased up to just below Sipcheon but haven’t reached Sipcheon. Like Cheongseong’s Songbyeok Jinin or Hwasan’s Jeokha Jinin. And people like myself and Ilryun’s escort.

Individually they can’t defeat Sipcheon, but if such people join forces, catching one or two Sipcheon is no trouble at all. Though Songbyeok Jinin is unfortunately not here, there are quite a few Orthodox Path masters of similar level, so gaining the upper hand won’t be difficult.

“Since the vanguard departed for Oyeon, there’s a high probability the opponent thinks the main battlefield will be Oyeon. They’ll surely have set up some device at Oyeon too.”

“…”

“But that’s only the story if we fight them at Oyeon.”

The Oyeon vanguard won’t fight. Because we don’t know what the Blood Cult might have prepared.

If that happens, the Blood Cult will have no choice but to dispatch forces to Oyeon without securing it. When Oyeon’s defense solidifies, won’t the Blood Cult be the one at a loss?

“At least two or three of their five masters will head to Oyeon. Meanwhile, we’ll occupy Gahyang and…”

“Pursue and devour the Blood Cult’s main force from behind?”

“Yes.”

“A clean strategy. Not only hard to detect, but inescapable even if detected.”

“It wasn’t a difficult strategy. Anyone could devise it.”

No variables.

After all, this is a strategy devised assuming superiority in forces. Unless the enemy has additional forces, there’s no way to overcome this situation.

“Ilryun-nim. Where are you! Ilryun-nim!”

“Oh my, they’re looking for me.”

Watching Ilryun’s back as she waved and disappeared saying she’d go, I stared for a moment, then slowly shifted my gaze to look at the semi-transparent window floating beside me. I couldn’t help but be concerned by what was written there.

『Emergency Request: Survival

An old saying goes: cultivate yourself, regulate your family, and bring peace to the world.

To govern the world, you must first cultivate your body and organize your household.

If you’ve secured your own survival and saved your life, next comes the time to save your scattered disciples.

The disciples’ location is Xinjiang, where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s main force is positioned.

Fortunately the disciples’ lives are still safe, but it’s uncertain how long that safety obtained through heavenly fortune will continue.

Save the disciples within the time limit.

You will receive the Seal of Fate each time you save a disciple.

Remaining Time: 25 days』

“…Not much time left.”

The emergency request that initially gave 66 days.

Now only 25 days remain. Conversely, to save all the disciples, everything must be concluded within 25 days.

‘It takes two days for the search party to reach Oyeon. And it will take seven days and nights for this main force to reach Gahyang.’

One day to battle the Blood Cult and mop up remnants. Then everything must be resolved within the remaining seventeen days.

‘Now that I think about it, why 66 days?’

Isn’t the unit of counting strange?

Though there are several units for counting days, 66 days doesn’t fit any of them. It’s a bit too long to count by the moon’s cycle, and it doesn’t divide evenly by five or ten days either. Considering the meaning of a time limit, those 66 days must have some significance.

‘Does it mean something will happen on the 25th day from now?’

If we can’t save all the disciples by then, something that will inevitably endanger the disciples will happen—perhaps that’s what it means.

‘I don’t know.’

I’m not a magician. I can’t read the future.

Sighing and shaking my head, I turned my gaze toward the direction the main force was heading. Gahyang, which must be embedded somewhere among those sand dunes visible in the distance.

‘I must prepare as much as possible.’

A situation where everyone might face death if not rescued.

It’s not like I have no predictions. And if my prediction is correct, the preparations made now will probably be insufficient.

‘I hope I’m not too late.’

I should do what I can.

I slowly closed my eyes while lowering my gaze.

My shoulders felt heavy.

***

Meanwhile, at that time.

The party that climbed onto Sangwi’s back was experiencing difficulties.

“So to summarize, it’s like this.”

“…”

“The ground above is occupied by great yokai, and the sky is also the domain of flying great yokai. So let’s dig tunnels. Right?”

“…Tha, that’s right.”

“This is maddening. All the way up there?”

“We, well…”

“Can we finish digging within this year?”

At Jeokyeol asking with a hollow laugh, Shinui poked the innocent ground with her finger. And watching that, Jeokyeol sighed.

“Are the great yokai here that strong? I don’t mean to boast, but I’m quite strong.”

“…I know. That you’re Chilryun. That you’re exceptionally strong even among humans.”

“I’ve dealt with countless great yokai attacking the Great Seal. I don’t think the great yokai above here would be any different.”

“Yo, you’re a frog in a well, so that’s why.”

“What?”

“Hik.”

At Jeokyeol’s sensitive reaction, Shinui involuntarily shrank back slightly and glanced around, then slowly retreated. Then Shinui carefully continued speaking.

“Yo, you think Jungwon is a well, but actually Xinjiang is the same…”

“Xinjiang is the same?”

“Yes.”

In Xinjiang, there’s the Great Seal protecting humans. A massive seal encompassing all of Jungwon.

That means, conversely, the Great Seal’s influence reaches ‘only’ throughout Jungwon. Considering the world’s size, the Great Seal’s sphere of influence is merely a handful of territory.

“Ju, Jungwon people, even Xinjiang people don’t seem to know well, but the world’s masters aren’t humans but yokai.”

“…”

“Thr, throughout the entire world, the only place where humans can be said to properly occupy is Jungwon alone. Why is that?”

Because humans in other places are weak? Because other places have no martial arts or magic arts?

Of course that’s possible. Whether martial arts or magic arts, discovering them isn’t easy. In a world overflowing with yokai energy, how much trial and error humanity must go through to naturally detect the gi flowing through nature and utilize it is a fact that needs no explanation.

However.

“We saw earlier before coming here, didn’t we…? Humans in other places also use magic arts.”

“…”

“We haven’t found humans using martial arts anywhere except Jungwon and Saeoe Murim yet, but… they might exist somewhere. Tens of thousands of li away. But in all those places, there wasn’t a single place where humans could drive out yokai. Why…? Because those people are inferior to us?”

“That’s.”

“Is it because yokai are too strong?”

“Yes.”

At Seohwa’s answer, Shinui nodded and fidgeted with her fingers.

“The great yokai attacking the Great Seal in Xinjiang, and the yokai inside Jungwon. Those are, of course, quite strong by human standards, but when viewed by overall yokai standards, they’re not particularly strong.”

“Is… that so?”

“Yes. The truly strong yokai are primordial yokai. Like Sangwi Elder before us, yokai that have lived for thousands, tens of thousands of years, whose very existence is ingrained as fear…”

Originally.

Jungwon also had such yokai. Jungwon, a land good for humans to live in, was also coveted land for yokai.

Tremendously powerful great yokai roamed the earth and slaughtered humans. They lived satisfying lives feeding on the fear of humans who were merely livestock. The yokai of that era were far more powerful than the current Sipcheon.

—It was the Heavenly Demon and Divine Maiden who severed that history.

“The Divine Maiden was the first to devise martial arts. She created martial from absolute nothingness. Do you know what that means?”

“…”

“It means she had the ability to personally penetrate the flow of nature and see through all things.”

Truly overwhelming talent.

Talent rivaling the inhuman despite being human. And the tenacity and will that only humans can possess.

Based on that, the Divine Maiden accumulated strength to a level humans shouldn’t be able to reach. Though no clear records remain, the first Transcender was probably also the Divine Maiden.

“After completing her martial arts, the Divine Maiden wandered throughout Jungwon and Xinjiang, weakening and sealing the great yokai dominating territories. Then she installed the Great Seal.”

“…”

“That act appeared to other yokai like this: This is my territory, so don’t touch it anymore. I too have fangs that can bite you.”

Generally, yokai that become regional rulers don’t move carelessly.

That’s because the region itself is no different from the yokai’s domain. Yogyeong. Each a fantasy world sculpted according to their will.

“…I understand what you’re saying.”

Jeokyeol, who had been quietly listening to Shinui’s story, frowned and answered as if chewing on the words.

“Of course, I admit my martial prowess falls short of the ancient Divine Maiden. But according to what you said, regional overlords don’t move carelessly, didn’t you say?”

“Right.”

“If the yokai above here aren’t at that level, wouldn’t it be fine to just walk up?”

“…Didn’t I say earlier? All the ones above here are without exception aiming for Sangwi Elder’s life.”

In Jungwon, no yokai emerges to challenge regional overlords.

That’s natural. If even the slightest sign appears of a yokai growing, the Murim Alliance or Sado Alliance dispatches masters to exterminate it. In Jungwon at least, an environment where yokai can truly evolve into ones possessing overwhelmingly powerful yokai energy never forms. But what about here?

“This place is literally where only yokai capable of challenging regional overlords come. A place where only yokai who may not reach but can come close climb.”

“…”

“At best, we could deal with one group of yokai occupying a territory. But then what?”

There’ll be noise if we battle yokai. What happens next?

“Can you handle the other yokai that swarm in too?”

At Shinui’s gloomy voice, Jeokyeol scratched her head.

“Let’s plan how to climb again.”