This is driving me insane.
Hyeok Mujin felt his vision blur.
The assassins disguised as disciples from minor sects. The Grand Elder’s betrayal. His head was already about to explode from all this, and then…
Why the hell did this bastard have to pass out?
Jin Tae-kyung had suddenly lost consciousness. The patrol members took turns slapping his face and shaking him by the collar, but he showed no signs of waking up.
He’s definitely still breathing though.
It was enough to make ghosts weep. With things turning out this way, he—as the deputy captain—had become responsible for this massive situation.
“You, and you.”
Hyeok Mujin pointed at two of the patrol members who were still in confusion.
“Both of you return to the main household immediately and report this.”
The Grand Elder.
They didn’t know why or for what purpose this respected elder of the clan, a hero of the old Orthodox-Demonic Great War, had orchestrated such a dark scheme.
But they had to prevent the worst from happening.
“The rest of you, move to the main force.
Hurry!”
Hyeok Mujin hoisted the unconscious Jin Tae-kyung onto his back.
After running for about an hour, his vision blurred for a different reason.
I’m dying here.
It had only been a few days since he’d suffered internal injuries from Jo Pil’s monstrous palm strike. He’d bragged to Jin Tae-kyung that he was almost healed, but in truth, he needed at least half a month of absolute rest.
“Hah… huff…”
His whole body was drenched in sweat, and his legs were trembling.
It was hard enough just keeping up with the others, but carrying Jin Tae-kyung’s sturdy frame on top of that—it was literally killing him.
Ah, Mother. Father.
Now he was even seeing visions of his living parents beckoning to him. The lady standing beside them was a familiar face from the temple.
Goddess of Mercy?
- Child of the world. You’ve suffered enough. You may rest now.
Hyeok Mujin’s resolve began to melt at that benevolent smile.
Yeah, I’ve done enough, right?
That bastard of a captain passes out at the critical moment. And these patrol member assholes won’t even offer to carry him instead, not caring if I die or not.
Fuck it, whatever.
Just as Hyeok Mujin was about to let go of consciousness…
“Hoo… haaa…” A warm breath tickled his ear.
He didn’t need to look back to know who it was. Tears of relief welled up in Hyeok Mujin’s eyes.
“Captain!”
Jin Tae-kyung grinned and whispered:
“Candy in your ear.”
Clang! Clash! Clang!
“Kill them! Kill them all!”
“Arghhhh!”
Blood and screams erupted everywhere. A warrior covered in blood crawled between corpses.
His still-youthful face was twisted with pain and terror.
“Hic… hiccup.”
Sobs broke free despite his attempts to hold them back.
Ten years of desperate martial arts training had proven useless on this bloody battlefield.
His reliable seniors and brothers-in-arms who were like siblings—all dead. Weapons rained down from all directions, slicing open bellies and mutilating limbs.
“Mother, mother…”
His face, endlessly calling for his mother, suddenly froze.
Squelch!
A spear tip suddenly protruding from his chest. His eyes bulged for a moment before the light faded from them. A bandit-like vagrant with an unkempt beard pulled out his rusty spear with a grin.
“Where do you think you’re going, kid?”
But even the vagrants who had survived countless brushes with death couldn’t dodge the blade that came flying next.
Slash—
Along with a silver flash, the vagrant’s head went flying. Warriors killing vagrants, vagrants killing warriors—nameless men killed and were killed everywhere.
This was what a battlefield was.
Yes, this is what it was like.
The Grand Elder watched the battlefield with a face deep in contemplation.
Baquan Gorge. A fierce battlefield that had written one chapter of the Orthodox-Demonic Great War decades ago.
How many had died in that narrow gorge?
I was young then too.
His body had been strong and his heart passionate. It was a time when the character for “chivalry” still felt meaningful, though embarrassing.
But the Orthodox-Demonic Great War changed the Grand Elder. He grew weary of the endless war and began to fear death.
What use is being a chivalrous hero? When dead, we’re nothing but ghosts.
That was his moment of enlightenment. He survived to become a hero, and after long years of endurance, he stood where he was now.
Now was the time to reap the rewards. The Grand Elder gazed at the man beside him with cunning eyes.
What a waste. Such a waste.
Jin Wi-gyeong was an exceptional talent. Young, martially skilled, and above all, possessing the dignity and judgment needed in a leader.
Though he occasionally showed signs of being bound by emotion, that same quality had earned him deep trust within the clan.
He’s capable of raising the main household.
If Jin Wi-gyeong became the family head of the Taiyuan Jin Family. And if his two brothers, each showing their own prominence, provided strong support…
The Grand Elder caught himself and smiled wryly.
What foolish thoughts at this point. Besides, Jin Tae-kyung was probably already dead, his soul wandering.
“I’m getting old.”
Jin Wi-gyeong reacted to his quiet mumble.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing important. Old people just talk to themselves more. More importantly, what do you think of the situation?”
“The battle situation is favorable, but…”
Jin Wi-gyeong’s expression darkened slightly. Though they had the advantage in troop quality and terrain, casualties were steadily accumulating.
He couldn’t be at ease watching clan members die.
“Lesser Family Head, I understand your feelings, but don’t act rashly.”
The Grand Elder advised in a stern tone.
“A leader must know when to strike. The longer the battle drags on, the more desperate they become—that’s when we strike.”
“The Hengshan Sword Sect will soon throw everything they have at us.”
“They’ll lead with their master-level experts. Lee Cheon-baek might come personally.”
“That’s when everything will be decided.”
The Grand Elder nodded.
“You, I, and Wi-peng will block their leadership, and when arrow rain pours from the cliffs, their morale will hit rock bottom.”
“It’s a shame we can’t use fire tactics. The heavens are cruel.”
Baquan Gorge’s narrow terrain was perfect for fire tactics, but the heavy snowfall from days ago had left everything covered in snow.
However, even if the heavens had favored him, what Jin Wi-gyeong hoped for wouldn’t have happened.
Those drawing bows on the cliffs would follow the Grand Elder’s orders.
“I too curse the heavens.”
The Grand Elder’s words were sincere.
The years of waiting had been too long. He resented this mandate of heaven that had finally arrived.
“Candy in your ear.”
“Captain!”
“Was it sweet as a dream?”
“…Are you crazy?”
Seeing Hyeok Mujin’s ugly face filled me with joy. The other patrol members who rushed over at news of my awakening felt the same.
“Captain, you’re awake!”
“What happened? Are you alright?”
“I thought you were dead?”
Gonna have to deal with that last bastard later. I memorized his face and name, then smiled at everyone.
“Long time no see. Did you miss me?”
“Huh?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Did you hit your head?”
“Let me check your head!”
I’d expected these reactions. But it was something I’d genuinely wanted to say at least once.
Even if they thought I was crazy.
“Well, enough greetings. How long was I out?”
Hyeok Mujin collapsed with a thud and answered.
“Definitely over half an hour, but probably less than an hour.”
Makes sense, since I spent two weeks in reality. I nodded and moved on to the next question.
“Was I breathing?”
“Why are you asking these things, seriously?”
“No time. Answer quickly.”
“You were breathing, that’s why you woke up. Otherwise you’d be dead, right?”
Fair point.
Seems like when logging in or out, the other side falls into a dormant state.
If I’d logged out before dealing with those assassins, I might not have had a body to return to.
Let’s think about that part later.
There’s a more urgent matter right now.
“The main force?”
“We were already heading there. I sent two men back to the clan separately.”
“Well done. How far do we have left?”
“At least another hour, I think.”
“An hour, huh.”
“Um, Captain. I’m sorry to say this, but… we should consider the worst-case scenario.”
Hyeok Mujin and all the patrol members fell silent. Everyone knew what “worst-case scenario” meant.
I’ve thought about it too.
According to what Gwak Jun said before dying, this betrayal had been meticulously planned long ago.
But there was one flaw in that plan.
Me.
The Grand Elder severely underestimated me.
Or perhaps he overestimated me in a way. He tried to kill me by sending dozens of First-Rate experts after all.
But that wasn’t enough, and I survived.
That was his mistake.
Plus, when Gwak Jun first revealed his true colors, he also said they needed to move soon to make the timing work.
So…
“It’s not too late yet.”
I met the eyes of each patrol member and spoke firmly.
“Don’t think about the worst-case scenario.
I’ll change that outcome no matter what it takes.”
“Captain…”
“So, Mujin.”
I gave a friendly smile to Hyeok Mujin, who looked choked up.
“Get up right now.”
“I’m dying here.”
“Want to die from a beating instead?”
“Run just one more step at this hour. Don’t you know the marathon spirit?”
“No, I don’t.”
Ah. Right, this is the martial world.
“Anyway, get up quickly. Just half an hour more.”
Hyeok Mujin, grabbing his trembling legs to stand up, tilted his head.
“Half an hour?”
“Yeah, half an hour.”
“I told you, it’ll take at least an hour even if we go as fast as possible.”
“Exactly. Half an hour.”
“What are you even saying…”
“Mujin.”
“Y-yes?”
To Hyeok Mujin, who blinked his eyes like an innocent cow, I smiled even more brightly.
“Ever heard of the word ‘grit’?”
Whether it takes an hour or two hours doesn’t matter.
We’re getting there in half an hour no matter what.
“Just run like hell. That’s all.”
The faces of the entire patrol squad turned deathly pale.
***
“We’re blocked.”
“The casualties are severe. Master, please take action.”
Despite the continued reports, the eyes of Lee Cheon-baek, Leader of the Hengshan Sword Sect and the Blood Wolf Sword, remained closed.
I was too hasty.
A war that began urgently. The preparations were accordingly inadequate.
As supplies rapidly depleted and morale dropped, deserters began appearing.
They read us completely.
His judgment had been clouded by rage over losing his son and impatience with the situation.
Ignoring his subordinates’ advice, he sought the fastest route.
And so they ended up facing the Taiyuan Jin Family in this narrow gorge called Eight Heavens, a name he barely knew.
“Master!”
At his subordinate’s cry, Lee Cheon-baek slowly opened his eyes. The terrifying Eye Force of a master-level expert pierced through the battlefield.
“Arggghhhh!”
“Sweep them away! They’re nothing but rabble!”
Their forces, numbering over a thousand, were blocked at the narrow entrance, unable to advance. The vagrants and bandits placed at the vanguard had numbers but their individual skills fell short of even the Taiyuan Jin Family’s regular warriors.
Mere cannon fodder, it seems.
Just as he was clicking his tongue internally, dozens of vagrants suddenly began deserting the front lines. A middle-aged vagrants at their head shouted at the top of his lungs.
“This is suicide! Brothers of the Blood Rain Group, retreat!”
Those became the middle-aged vagrants’ last words.
Whoosh—
A gentle breeze. The vagrants felt nothing else.
He didn’t realize that Lee Cheon-baek had already passed by him, nor that his subordinate vagrants had all frozen in terror.
He only suddenly thought his neck felt hot.
“Ah…”
His cleanly severed head dropped with a thud. His headless body staggered a few steps before collapsing like a rotten tree.
“The Blood Rain Group, was it?”
Lee Cheon-baek pointed his sword at the petrified vagrants. Not a single drop of blood stained his blade.
“Go back.”
The killing intent of a master-level expert shot out like blade edges. The vagrants charged toward the front lines even faster than they had arrived.
They judged that fighting at the front was better than facing the master-level expert before them.
“Rat bastards.”
Lee Cheon-baek pursued them. His blazing eyes were fixed somewhere beyond, where the Taiyuan Jin Family’s leadership would be.
“The Master leads the charge!”
“Everyone attack! Wipe out the Taiyuan Jin Family!”
As Lee Cheon-baek moved, Hengshan Sword Sect’s core fighting force followed.
Three master-level experts and dozens of First-Rate experts charged toward the front lines.