Chapter 25

“I am a soldier of the Revolutionary Army, a branch force resisting Moyong Woonjeong’s tyranny! I have come to help you!”

Although the young martial artist of the Moyong Clan wore an expression of innocence, the disciples of Huashan only gripped their sword hilts tighter.

“……”

“……”

None of them removed their hands from their weapons, nor did their gazes waver from his every move.

Full Bloom Sword Phoenix, Vice-Captain Mae Ok of the Huashan Vanguard, toyed with her sword as she asked, “A rebel of the Moyong Clan, you say…?”

“We are not rebels, but a Revolutionary Army!”

Even amidst the crushing pressure emanating from the elite martial artists, his determination to correct that single title was palpable.

“We have dedicated everything to overthrowing Moyong Woonjeong, the culprit who reduced our Moyong Clan to this state, and to opening a new era for the Moyong!”

He struck his chest.

“We are the true revolutionary fighters of the Moyong Clan!”

At the sight of eyes burning with such conviction, Vice-Captain Mae Ok nearly let out a sneer.

To claim they would open a new era while joining hands with foreign powers and shaking the family to its very roots? To raise a flag of rebellion while drunk on futile agitation and misguided beliefs?

‘Just how far has the level of the Moyong Clan fallen?’

She had heard reports that the internal situation of the Moyong Clan was twisted beyond repair, but witnessing it in person was another matter entirely.

“I apologize for that part.”

She offered an apology with an attitude that held not a shred of remorse.

“That apology is…”

Though he frowned at her insincerity, he had no choice but to nod.

“I will accept it for n—”

“Of course, before that.”

Vice-Captain Mae Ok cut off the young warrior’s words like a blade.

“You must prove that you are a rebel, no, a member of the Revolutionary Army.”

“P-Prove, you say…?”

He looked flustered.

‘What is this?’

Mae Ok’s eyebrow twitched.

‘Is he really flustered by a question of this level…?’

“That is…” The young warrior stammered, his face breaking out in cold sweat. “I merely came to find you after hearing that the Huashan Sect, who had come to help us, was isolated by the schemes of the Sword Clan’s Grand Young Master…”

It was a statement so naive it bordered on stupidity.

‘…The likelihood of this being an enemy ploy is low.’

However…

“I need not hear more.”

Mae Ok spoke coldly.

“Kill him.”

Just because the likelihood of a trap was low did not mean there was a reason to trust him.

As the chilling sound of swords being drawn rang out from all directions, his face turned pale.

“W-Wait…!”

He shouted desperately.

“I know the countersign for today! The one used commonly by Dread King, the Third Young Master’s side, and the Revolutionary Army…!”

Thud.

Taking a step closer to put him within range, Mae Ok asked, “What is that countersign?”

“Wagon! ‘Wagon’ and ‘Lightning’!”

The First Class Disciple narrowed his eyes and sent a sound transmission.

[For now, the countersign matches: Wagon, Lightning.]

Originally, there was no contact point between the Huashan Vanguard and the Moyong Clan rebels. However, when the Grand Strategist Sima dispatched them for support, he had provided the countersign for friend-or-foe identification.

“……”

When Mae Ok nodded, the disciples sheathed their swords in unison. Seeing this, the young warrior sighed in relief and asked her.

“Do you believe me now?”

“Answer one last thing.”

Mae Ok interrogated him.

“How did you find us?”

At that moment.

Gunshots rang out from outside, and the disciples reflexively lowered their stances.

[The gunshots are closer than before!]

[The enemy is approaching!]

Turning pale again, the young warrior shouted in a low voice while lying prone.

“F-For now, this place is dangerous, so we should move…! My comrades have secured a retreat path outside, so I will explain everything on the way…!”

***

Shenyang, Back Alleys.

Those who had escaped the building were running.

“…You knew our location from the start?”

Startled, the First Class Disciple asked without even using sound transmission.

[That is correct.]

Guiding them through the complex and dark back alleys of Shenyang, the young warrior nodded via transmission.

[Shenyang is the territory of our Moyong Clan, so how could we not know?]

He raised a finger and pointed at a building. At his gesture, a window that had been open just a crack, barely noticeable, slammed shut.

“……”

[The citizens of Shenyang cooperating with us are spread everywhere. There is no way they would miss martial artists as conspicuous as you.]

Vice-Captain Mae Ok interjected.

[Then, does that mean the Grand Young Master’s side might also know our location?]

[Probably.]

She frowned.

[Then why did they not raid us immediately…?]

A rebel warrior, a comrade of the young man who had contacted them, answered instead.

[Based on our experience, the Grand Young Master’s side is extremely reluctant to suffer troop losses.]

There was certainly that feeling.

[Just because they roughly know the location, if they hastily search house by house and a melee breaks out, their damage would be immense as well.]

Flipping that logic around—

‘…The enemy intended to tighten the noose slowly but surely to annihilate us.’

If they had remained in that empty house, they would likely be completely surrounded by enemies right now. Feeling a chill on the back of her neck, Mae Ok asked the rebel warriors.

[So. Where are we going?]

The young warrior answered.

[There is a fortified secret base. My comrades and I were originally heading there.]

***

“Wagon…?”

“Lightning…!”

They passed the entry procedure more simply than expected.

“Reinforcements have come from the Huashan Sect…!”

They were the support troops the rebels, who had been living through a nightmare of a day, had longed for.

“It’s reinforcements!”

“Huashan Sect… Oh, Gods of Heaven and Earth, thank you…!”

To prove Huashan was Huashan, it was enough for Vice-Captain Mae Ok to manifest her violet qi.

While the rebels welcomed them enthusiastically, the members of the Huashan Vanguard were wide-eyed with astonishment.

“…To think such a vast underground space existed.”

“Isn’t it magnificent?”

The young warrior who had guided them smiled proudly.

“From above, they look like haphazardly built buildings, but in reality, the underground is a single connected space like this.”

This space was originally a type of secret shelter, a remnant of the Northern War of the past.

[…They said they fortified it. I thought it was a bluff, but it is no exaggeration at all.]

A structure complex from the very entrance. Guard posts deployed at every key point. Repeating crossbows and shooters stationed at every post.

Furthermore, the structure of the corridor they passed through continued to descend, limiting the vision of those approaching from the outside while securing priority vision for those inside.

The First Class Disciple looked around and sent a transmission with a slightly appalled expression.

[The level of the martial artists is also high. To break through here head-on, one would have to be prepared for immense bloodshed.]

Vice-Captain Mae Ok also nodded in agreement.

[…Although the Moyong Clan is politically chaotic internally right now, the war experience they have accumulated over their long history seems genuine.]

She upwardly revised her evaluation of the current Moyong Clan, whom she had been underestimating.

“Reinforcements from the Huashan Sect, you say?!”

As they headed deeper, an old man with a large frame ran out with a bright face to welcome them.

“Welcome! You have come well! I am Elder Moyong Gucheok of the Moyong Clan!”

A long-bearded old man in full armor.

A disciple in charge of intelligence examined him with polite eyes and sent a transmission.

[…His appearance matches the characteristics of Moyong Gucheok, known as a pro-Martial Righteous Alliance Elder.]

Naturally, Huashan’s intelligence organization collected information on all key figures of various families.

“Greetings, Elder Moyong Gucheok.”

Giving a short nod to the disciple, Vice-Captain Mae Ok gathered her hands in greeting.

“I am a disciple of the Huashan Sect Leader and serve as the Vice-Captain of this Vanguard—”

“No! No introductions needed!”

Feigning good nature, Elder Moyong Gucheok waved his hand with a loud laugh.

“How could I fail to recognize the renowned heroine of Huashan, the Full Bloom Sword Phoenix?”

“…I see.”

Just as she had confirmed his identity through intelligence, he was revealing that he had also identified her.

“Haha, rather than that, I must introduce you to the person who has been desperate to meet you!”

“Pardon?”

A secret underground fortress base she hadn’t even known existed. She expressed doubt at the statement that there was someone here who wanted to meet her.

“Meet me…?”

At that moment.

The door burst open, and the figure that popped out instantly solved her question.

“Junior Sister! You made it too!”

“Senior Brother…!”

It was Head Disciple Gam Woo-hyeon, who had been forced to scatter to the opposite side due to the explosion.

***

The two reunited martial siblings were conversing.

“The number of personnel Senior Brother managed to gather is…?”

“…Not many.”

Vanguard Captain Gam Woo-hyeon ground his teeth while cupping a warm teacup with both hands.

“Damn it. Just the disciples who evaporated from a direct hit by that explosion numbered over ten.”

Vice-Captain Mae Ok calculated in her head, but the Huashan personnel here did not even amount to half their original strength.

“Then, the rest are…”

“They are being hunted outside. Or, they have already been hunted.”

“……”

Mae Ok’s hand gripping the teacup trembled. She tried to remain calm and opened her mouth.

“What about the Wudang Sect’s Vanguard—?”

She shut her mouth before finishing the question. It was a question that didn’t need an answer.

“Those bastards are undoubtedly waiting outside the city walls of Shenyang.”

There was no way the Wudang Vanguard would enter after seeing the chaos inside the city. They weren’t fools, nor did they have enough loyalty to walk into a trap to save Huashan.

“Dog-like bastards…”

Even though she would have made the same judgment if she were in Wudang’s position, Mae Ok couldn’t hold back the curse.

“What’s even more spectacular is Elder Moyong Gucheok’s side.”

Gam Woo-hyeon clicked his tongue.

“The bastard wants to be paid for protecting us.”

“Ha…!”

***

While the martial siblings conversed.

One of the rebel underground quarters.

“You’re from a different branch? How is the situation outside?”

The young warrior who had come with Huashan and his comrades were talking with the rebels at the base.

“…Our branch was annihilated.”

When the young warrior answered with a dark expression, the rebels clicked their tongues.

“That damned Grand Young Master…”

“Grand Young Master, my foot. That bastard is a demon, a demon!”

The rebels vented their rage.

“Because of that bastard joining hands with the witch Moyong Woonjeong, our Moyong Clan is completely ruined now!”

“Unless we kill those two wretches, there is no future for our Moyong Clan!”

An elderly rebel patted the young warrior’s shoulder, exuding unwavering confidence. “Don’t worry,” he said. “This underground base is impregnable. Ordinary attacks are impossible. We can hold out until more reinforcements arrive from the outside.”

The young warrior, relieved, smiled. “Is that so…?”

The elderly rebel nodded emphatically. “Of course, absolutely! Let’s kill them all!”

“Revolution!”

Behind them, the rebels were boosting each other’s morale.

“So, you too, never abandon your faith in the revolution and—”

Thwack—.

The rebel stammered.

“And…”

He groped his abdomen with his hand.

“You…?”

“Therefore,” the young warrior who had driven a knife into his gut shrugged, “to purge all you filthy rebel scum, there was only this way.”

By the time the rebels sensed something was amiss and turned around, it was already too late.

Squelch! Slash!

The young warrior’s comrades who had entered with him drew their swords in unison and began to cut down the rebels indiscriminately.

It didn’t take long for the floor of the quarters to become a sticky sea of blood.

“Good,” the young warrior spoke. “The command’s prediction that they wouldn’t suspect us if we entered with Huashan was correct.”

He and his comrades, who had disguised themselves as remnants of the rebels, were actually members of the Death Squad led by Moyong Ho, Moyong Woonjeong’s brother.

“Now, let us commence the operation.”

He and his comrades threw off their Moyong Clan martial arts robes.

Then, revealed beneath was clothing with plum blossom patterns vividly embroidered on the sleeves.

They were the martial arts robes of the Huashan Sect, airlifted by the Crescent Moon Pavilion.

“From now on, we are disciples of Huashan.”

A moment later, shouts infused with internal energy echoed through the underground base.

“It’s a betrayal by Huashan!”

“They are attacking us!”

It was the beginning of chaos.