Chapter 74
King of Battle (1)
“Welcome.”
“Namu Amitabha!”
At last, the reinforcements from the Wudang Sect had arrived at the Namgung Clan.
For the Namgung Clan, their arrival was like gaining a thousand troops and ten thousand horses — a tremendous boon.
But with the good news came bad news as well.
It was reported that the Demonic Alliance, which had previously retreated to Huining, had regained strength from reinforcements and was once again on the move — targeting the Namgung Clan.
A hasty meeting was convened in the Changryong Hall.
“Let us hear the strategist’s opinion first.”
Having proven his ability in the previous battle, Jegal Lin was the first to be asked for his opinion.
Jegal Lin rose from his seat and spoke calmly.
“According to the intelligence we’ve received, the current strength of the Demonic Alliance still surpasses ours.”
He subtly replaced Namgung Hyuk’s earlier report with one supposedly from the Murim Alliance, keeping the details consistent.
But that wasn’t all — the enemy had also changed.
Sa Mokcheon, the leader of the Demonic Alliance, had forcibly unified the remaining minor sects and rogue martial artists under the Alliance’s banner.
This had allowed him to establish a centralized chain of command and prevent the kind of chaotic, uncoordinated fighting they’d shown in the last battle.
Even with Wudang’s reinforcements, the Namgung side faced no easy situation.
Jegal Lin continued.
“Therefore, engaging them head-on this time would be the worst possible plan.”
“Hmm.”
“Then what alternative do you suggest?”
“Since we’ve learned from intelligence which route the Demonic Alliance will take, I propose we ambush them along the path — divide their forces, and crush them separately. That would be the most effective tactic.”
Some murmuring arose among the attendees.
Then, for the first time in this meeting, Master Hyeonpung, one of the Wudang elders, spoke up.
“I understand Strategist Jegal’s reasoning. However, the entire martial world is watching this conflict. If we resort to ambush tactics, we risk appearing cowardly.”
To speak of reputation in a matter where victory or defeat could decide life and death—such was the way of orthodox sects.
Several others nodded in agreement.
“Indeed, we are not lowly demonic cultists to strike from the shadows.”
“Quite right. We faced them openly last time and triumphed.”
Jegal Lin bit his lower lip slightly.
One of the chronic weaknesses of the righteous sects was their rigid, overly principled way of thinking.
At that moment, Namgung Jin, the heir to the clan, stood up.
“I agree with Strategist Jegal’s opinion.”
The hall fell silent. It wasn’t just anyone speaking — it was the future successor of the Namgung Clan.
Then Namgung Sogang, who had sided with Hyeonpung, spoke up.
“Your Highness, victory is indeed important, but so is the clan’s reputation. Even if we win gloriously, if the world views us as cowards, that victory means nothing.”
“But isn’t it better than being defeated by the Demonic Alliance and forced to kneel?”
“What nonsense—!”
Namgung Sogang’s face tightened at Jin’s unyielding tone.
But Jin didn’t back down.
“What does it matter what people say later? I believe we are in no position to choose our methods — we must win, by any means necessary.”
In the past, Namgung Jin would have agreed with the elders.
But after everything he’d been through with Namgung Hyuk, his way of thinking had changed.
“Well said.”
That was the voice of Namgung Hwang, the clan head.
He looked around the hall and spoke.
“I, too, agree with this child. To fight righteously and with honor is good — but that is only possible when one has the strength to do so.”
In other words, the Namgung Clan did not currently have that strength.
For the clan head to admit this openly was not easy.
But to him, the lives of the people within the clan mattered more than the four characters spelling “Namgung Clan.”
That was the guiding principle behind all of Namgung Hwang’s decisions.
“As clan head, I accept Strategist Jegal’s proposal.”
With that, the opposition subsided.
The discussion shifted to how exactly the ambush operation should be executed.
* * *
After a long meeting, the final ambush plan was decided, and preparations began immediately.
“I’d like to request permission for myself and my team to join the ambush unit.”
Namgung Hyuk approached Lee Jaryong with the request.
Although his assigned duty was to serve as Jegal Lin’s guard, since Jegal Lin would remain at the base, Hyuk sought special permission to participate.
“Hmm.”
Lee Jaryong hesitated.
Ordinarily, he would have rejected such a request outright — telling Hyuk to stick to his duties.
But Hyuk’s remarkable performance in the last battle weighed on his mind.
“…Very well. I’ll allow it this time.”
Thus, Lee Jaryong decided to include Hyuk and his 4th Squad in the ambush force.
* * *
The forest was filled with the chirping of insects.
There, hidden in the shadows, the Vermilion Bird Unit (Jujak-dan) lay in wait.
“Ugh, mosquitoes! When are they even coming?”
Behind Namgung Hyuk, Ok Taehyung complained irritably.
Having rushed nonstop to reach the ambush point, the unit now faced an unexpectedly tough opponent — a swarm of hungry mosquitoes.
‘Even the strongest martial arts can’t win against mosquitoes, huh?’
Hyuk shook his head.
He wasn’t immune either — but thanks to Tang San, he was far better off.
‘Who would’ve thought he could whip up an insect repellent on the spot?’
Skill in poisons meant skill in medicine as well.
Tang San had gathered some unknown herbs and made a simple salve for Hyuk and Kim Jiseok. Once applied to the skin, it worked wonders — not a single bite.
Kneeling in the shadows, Hyuk fell into quiet thought.
‘I’d like to face that Sa Mokcheon myself…’
The man had left a deep impression the first time they met.
But there was no guarantee he’d get the chance.
‘If not him, then at least someone strong enough to test my new ability from training in the “Room.”’
Then—
Rustle.
Someone pushed through the brush and approached the ambush site.
“Reporting! The vanguard of the Demonic Alliance has just crossed Baekmok Mountain!”
That was not far from their position.
A short while later, the enemy’s forward units appeared on the mountain road ahead.
Among the well-disciplined warriors of the Demonic Alliance, Hyuk spotted Sa Mokcheon himself.
‘Our target is the rear guard, so I won’t get to face him…’
He felt a flicker of disappointment but quickly pushed it aside. Success of the operation came first.
He scanned the area again.
‘Good — looks like Tak Sohong managed to slip away safely.’
Since Tak had gained Sa Mokcheon’s trust, Hyuk had worried he might be caught up in this attack. He’d even sent a secret message warning him to make an excuse and withdraw, and it seemed Tak had listened.
Then—
‘Those men…’
Hyuk’s eyes narrowed at a particular group.
Even from afar, he could sense the faint stench of blood — the Ghost Sword Unit (Gwigeomdae), led by Yeom Sangpil.
‘They’re even more dangerous than the assassins we faced before.’
And Yeom Sangpil himself radiated an ominous intensity.
Then Hyuk’s gaze fell on another figure—
‘That old man… he’s powerful.’
The aura emanating from him was overwhelming — perhaps even greater than the Namgung Clan Head himself.
‘He might be stronger than Lord Namgung Hwang.’
Hyuk couldn’t take his eyes off him. A fierce desire welled up inside him — the urge to test himself against that man.
— You see him too, don’t you?
— Lord Lee.
Lee Jaryong’s voice reached him via sound transmission.
— That man is the “Disembodied Spear,” Elder Baek Saun.
Hyuk blinked in surprise. Lee Jaryong spoke of him with rare respect.
Was he an acquaintance?
— You know him, sir?
— I saw him a few times from afar during my wandering years.
Baek Saun was a neutral master — neither righteous nor demonic. He had even fought in the war against the Demonic Cult years ago.
He never spread orthodoxy nor committed evil — simply a wandering powerhouse who’d made a quiet name for himself in the martial world.
— Then why would such a man side with the Demonic Alliance?
— Does it matter? He’s our enemy now. That’s all that counts.
— You’re not thinking of letting me fight him, are you?
Lee Jaryong’s tone sharpened.
— I thought as much. Don’t even think about it. I’ll personally deal with Baek Saun alongside Squad One. You stay in formation and don’t act rashly.
— …Understood.
There was nothing more to say. Hyuk forced himself to abandon the idea.
Moments later, the tail end of the enemy formation passed.
It was time.
“Move out.”
At Lee Jaryong’s command, the Vermilion Bird Unit and the Namgung warriors lying in wait surged down the slope toward the road.
“Enemies!”
“Ambush!”
The Demonic Alliance troops shouted in alarm, but it was already too late.
Clang!
Weapons clashed. The battle erupted into chaos.
Caught off guard, the Demonic Alliance was driven back in disarray.
Slash!
With each swing of Hyuk’s sword, three or four enemies fell.
But they were weak — too low in skill to give him the challenge he sought.
[Understanding of “Bloodhand Rampage Sword” has increased by 15%.]
[Understanding of “Evil Wind Break Blade” has increased by 13%.]
His mastery of various techniques grew with each exchange, but they were all low- or mid-level martial arts — nothing of real value to him now.
‘Not even leveling up… meaningless slaughter.’
His swings became mechanical, though even those casual strikes were disastrous to his foes.
‘How are Kim Jiseok and Tang San holding up?’
He glanced around—
Thwip!
“Argh!”
From above, Kim Jiseok loosed arrow after arrow from his bow, each one finding its mark even amidst the chaos — an enormous help to their allies.
Tang San, unable to use poison freely for fear of hitting allies, instead employed the Tang Clan’s Ghost Hand Palm — not powerful in technique, but deadly when his venomous touch connected.
‘Both doing well.’
Satisfied, Hyuk refocused on his surroundings.
And then—
Whoosh!
A spear, brimming with immense energy, hurtled through the air and crashed into the middle of their formation.
BOOM!
The explosion sent warriors flying in all directions.
‘That spear—!’
Hyuk turned his head toward the source.
There, running toward them across the air itself using Sky Step (Hogong Tapbo)—
—was none other than the Disembodied Spear, Baek Saun.
