Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Bang!

“How has this happened!”

At the appearance of the Namgung Family Head, Namgung Yeoncheon, striking his chair’s armrest as if to break it like lightning, those beside him broke out in sweat and tried to calm Namgung Yeoncheon.

“Pl, please calm down. Namgung Family Head.”

“How can I calm down! The codes were leaked in what should be a fair competition, and as a result Mujeong Hall is about to lose!”

Mujeong Hall won’t lose.

Namgung Yeoncheon thought so even after Mujeong Hall’s miserable defeat in the first gate. In the case of the first gate, it was clearly a defeat not due to individual skill but due to strategic differences.

He had heard whose head that strategy came from, and had heard the story that it couldn’t be done in this gate. It was a story that made sense by common standards. How could someone prepare a strategy in advance knowing what environment and situation would appear?

But what about the current situation?

Is Mujeong Hall’s chance of victory still solid?

“First Military Advisor, how did this happen! It seems the codes were leaked. Isn’t there a spy in the Military Affairs Department?”

At Namgung Yeoncheon, who burst out in anger and sent his gaze toward Guyang Jeok, Guyang Jeok, who received the gaze, let out a small sigh. 

“Watch your words. Namgung Family Head.”

At the answer that immediately flowed out, Namgung Yeoncheon’s expression became blank.

“……What?”

“I said watch your words. Isn’t this a place many are watching?”

“In a place where many are watching, the codes weren’t leaked……!”

“Do you really think so? That the Muryeongwando, who have excellent backing if they’re Mujeongwando, infiltrated a spy into the Military Affairs Department and stole the codes?”

“That’s…….”

“That’s impossible. In the first place, how could they do such a thing? Didn’t you see it yourself, Family Head? From the very beginning, they were collecting the enemy’s codes.”

When this competition first started.

The Muryeongwando devoted their efforts to collecting the opponent’s codes by deploying all their manpower. They even risked leaving their flag empty to concentrate on code collection.

Those codes were all transmitted to Dan Riyeon and used for cross-referencing, and with that, Dan Riyeon decrypted the code in one shichen.

“Maintain dignity. Even if it’s about your descendants, many are watching.”

“……Keuhm.”

At Namgung Yeoncheon, who cleared his throat and sat down, Guyang Jeok turned his head again after confirming and looked at the image floating above his eyes. He maintained dignity by saying so, but even he hadn’t anticipated this situation.

‘To think she learned code decryption.‘

Why is a code a code?

A code is a code because the opponent can’t discover it. Something the opponent can’t read the true meaning of, while I can read it—that’s a code.

Too naturally, such codes are not easy to decipher. Even a code made by a mere child requires a certain amount of time to find patterns and interpret it, so there’s no need to mention how difficult the skill of code decryption is.

Yet Dan Riyeon learned it, even if at a basic level. She learned an advanced skill that even among official Martial Force Corps members, not many have mastered.

Who taught her that skill?

Without asking, it’s obvious. It would be Baek Riyun.

‘Just……‘

Guyang Jeok, who gave a glance toward Baek Riyun watching the competition with an indifferent expression in the distance, shook his head. What he should look at now wasn’t Baek Riyun.

No matter how capable Baek Riyun is, it doesn’t matter. What should be looked at now is whether Mujeong Hall can overcome this crisis. Only that.

‘Hold out.‘

Guyang Jeok’s gaze went toward the Mujeongwando in the image with a trace of hope.

With hope that they absolutely must not lose.

It’s difficult.

Kaagang!

“Cheonggyeong! Support the left! Paeng Jin! Don’t be pushed back! You must push forward!”

“Damn it, I already know-!”

“That’s not enough. More……!”

Shwaaaaak!

At Paeng Jin’s voice desperately pushing back the opponent, Namgung Hyeon, who was turning his gaze instinctively, quickly swung his sword at the spear strike rushing in. Sword energy instantly embroidering the air, knocking the enemy far away.

“Is there time to look away?”

“Seomun Cheok……!”

Namgung Hyeon, who confirmed the opponent’s appearance and ground his teeth, gripped his sword tightly. The situation was far too desperate.

‘At this rate, we’ll be broken through quickly……!‘

When forming the search team of eight, Namgung Hyeon planned. The main base’s forces should at least be at a level where they can block the opponent’s offensive to some degree.

That statement wasn’t wrong. In reality, if there had been eight people, using the fortifications they could have bought some time. If the search team returned during that time and struck the enemy’s rear, creating confusion, the probability of seizing victory would have been high.

But that plan was foiled. From the very start.

‘The search team was taken down.‘

The blue flame signal flare to summon the Mujeongwando.

They had already fired it, but no one returning could be seen. Probably for some reason, they were taken down by the Muryeongwando.

In fact, it doesn’t make sense. No matter how much the opponent numbers fifteen, being taken down without even attempting to flee in terrain unfamiliar to them doesn’t make sense.

But the result was unexpected. If all the search teams that went out were taken down, there’s no chance of victory, so they’ll just do what they can.

Namgung Hyeon, who swallowed a groan, quietly raised his sword and aimed it at Seomun Cheok.

“Even if we go down, we’ll take a few with us.”

“Without fail.”

As Namgung Hyeon raised his sword to achieve at least an honorable defeat.

“Namgung Hyeon!”

With a fierce battle cry, two shadows fell from the air, releasing palm force.

Kwaaaaang!

Dust rose thickly in an instant, bringing a momentary lull to the battle. And taking advantage of that gap, shadows quickly approaching beside Namgung Hyeon.

“Heogwan. Jongdo! You were alive?”

“I met Baek Risan and came back! She said the enemy decrypted our code……!”

“The code, you say.”

So that’s how it was.

Now all this situation made sense.

At the mystery being solved, Namgung Hyeon let out a groan and nodded his head. 

What’s important now isn’t that.

“That’s good information. If only it’s not too late.”

At Namgung Hyeon’s words, Heogwan, who looked around, grimaced. And watching Heogwan’s expression, Namgung Hyeon, who quietly raised his sword strike, asked again.

“What about Baek Risan? Didn’t she come with you?”

“She said she has something to do!”

“……Something to do.”

Namgung Hyeon, who let out a groan, looked around. The opponent’s numbers were fifteen.

“In this situation, she has something to do?”

Probably if the opponent had been careful, they would have eliminated about six Mujeongwando before starting the assault. That means no more reinforcements are coming.

Baek Risan probably didn’t fail to guess that either. She wouldn’t have thought there were comrades being held hostage. Then the reason Baek Risan didn’t return is what?

‘Simple.‘

Because she didn’t give up.

Because she knew that if she returned, the probability of winning would disappear instead.

Grind!

Namgung Hyeon, who gritted his teeth, pulled up his internal energy and wrapped it around his sword blade. The Namgung Family’s characteristic blue sword energy resembling the sky.

“The situation has changed. Seomun Cheok.”

“…….”

“I’ll give up the thought of taking you down. Because it seems we have something else we must do.”

With Heogwan and Jongdo returning, the number of Mujeongwando is now nine.

The opponent’s numbers are fifteen, with one missing from the total.

Hold out.

They must hold and hold. Betting everything on a single thread of possibility.

“We will win.”

Until Baek Risan finds and breaks the opponent’s flag, they won’t break.

That’s the best option in the current situation.

“Come at us. We’ll block everything.”

“Is that so?”

At Namgung Hyeon’s appearance, flicking his sword strike, Seonwoo Gang, who nodded, gripped his spear shaft tightly.

Then Seomun Cheok and Namgung Hyeon simultaneously charged at each other.

Long ago, when learning the sword from Baek Riyun, Baek Risan once asked a question about how to defeat enemies.

At that time, Baek Riyun was standing out prominently even among the rising stars. No heir of the Five Great Families was a match for Baek Riyun.

Because that fact was both proud and curious, Baek Risan asked Baek Riyun. How can one certainly defeat enemies?

—How to certainly defeat enemies, you say.

It was the answer of Baek Riyun, whom she admired. She expected something special. Perhaps he would teach a new training method, or maybe tell her a special skill.

However, what Baek Riyun taught Baek Risan at that time was just one thing.

“If you never give up, that’s enough…….”

Yes. Only that.

Sssss.

Baek Risan, who quietly muttered and inhaled cold air while taking a deep breath, glared at the forest  blocking her view. A forest densely packed with trees and grass.

Baek Risan, who had been quietly looking at that scene, gritted her teeth.

‘Going back now would be meaningless anyway.‘

Namgung Hyeon is strong. Mujeong Hall is also strong.

But that level is by no means enough to win against Muryeongwando numbering more than half of them. The difference between ten and sixteen isn’t simply that one person must handle one and a half more—it’s the same as several people having to handle two or three more.

Right now, if Seonwoo Gang and Seomun Cheok attacked Namgung Hyeon at the same time, how long could Namgung Hyeon hold out? If three Muryeongwando attacked her simultaneously, could she hold out?

‘No.‘

She can’t hold out. Returning would ultimately be strangling herself.

Then what must be done to win?

‘Find the enemy’s flag and break it first before being broken through……!‘

Yes.

That’s the only way to win.

“Huuu.”

Baek Risan, who steadied her breathing, looked around and put strength in her toes. If as expected, the Muryeongwando have already started attacking the main base, and the range she can search in the meantime is at most about three directions.

If her comrades exert full force and hold out a bit longer, maybe four directions at most. Even that would be just part of the sixteen directions , not the four cardinal directions.

‘What Heogwan and Jongdo searched so far is three directions. What I can search for is three more directions again.‘

Excluding those, thirteen directions remain. Among those, three can be confirmed.

Out of thirteen choices, she can confirm three. In terms of probability, it’s a gamble of less than thirty percent.

‘I need to raise the probability as much as possible.‘

Let’s think.

If she were the host, where would she have placed Muryeon Hall’s flag?

‘Low ground is…… no.‘

In this canyon terrain, the north is located in relatively low ground. If the flag had been placed in the north, naturally it would be more visible than other places and could cause controversy.

The Murim Alliance, which is receiving suspicions of favoritism, wouldn’t want to take such a risk. Then exclude that.

‘The west also…… has low probability.‘

In the uneven canyon terrain, if a flag is hidden, it’s hard to find.

From the Murim Alliance’s position, which doesn’t want to give benefits to Mujeong Hall as much as it doesn’t want to be favorable to Muryeon Hall, placing the flag in terrain advantageous to Muryeon Hall is something to avoid. They would have arranged it so both academies could fight under similar conditions.

Then the west also has low probability. What remains is the east, and the south where Baek Risan is currently standing.

‘Both are possible. Narrowing it further is difficult……‘

Baek Risan, who had been lost in thought for a moment, turned her gaze at a thought that suddenly occurred. The appearance of codes carved on rocks or trees.

‘Wait.‘

Thinking about it, weren’t Heogwan and Jongdo fine even though they searched this area?

What if it’s not the host’s perspective but from the Muryeongwando’s position?

They figured out the codes and disposed of all the opponent’s search teams in a short time before charging into the main base. But common sense, would there be any need to leave two search teams searching the immediate vicinity of the base camp alone?

‘No.‘

The immediate vicinity would be the easiest opponents to dispose of. Yet they weren’t disposed of, which means Heogwan and Jongdo were in a position ‘difficult to dispose of.’

It wouldn’t be north. The west has low probability, and even the south isn’t it. Then what remains is one thing.

“The east……!”

Only the east.

With a small mutter, Baek Risan pulled up her internal energy.

Whooooosh-!!!

And, a short while later.

A white flash began dashing toward the east.