Chapter 154 : Variable

Variable

"The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍corps leaders?"

Jeong-un opened his eyes wide. The corps leaders' goal was to cut off the head of the enemy leader.

Even though the Blood Cult High Priests were as strong as elders from large sects, there weren't that many of them.

Previously, Jeong-un had already slain one, and just now he had killed two more, so there could only be five left.

On top of that, the prodigies of the Heavenly Martial Hall are not at the level of ordinary rising stars.

It is a place where top prodigies from across the world constantly build practical experience and grow rapidly stronger.

A one-striped martial artist can easily dismiss a small or medium sect, not to mention the two-stripes.

No matter how threatening the five High Priests were, if they were faced by the two-striped martial artists and several other warriors, it would be enough to handle them.

'The rest of the rabble aren't any real threat, anyway.'

And among the two-stripes, there were outstanding figures like Yu Jeong-un and Yong So-myeong.

In Jeong-un's opinion, having the corps leaders deal with the High Priests was a waste of time.

Sensing Jeong-un's expression, Yong So-myeong spoke.

"Originally, the four corps leaders planned to move swiftly and head straight deep into the Main Headquarters of the enemy. They intended to find the so-called Blood Lord and take his head."

"Then why are they currently dealing with those High Priests first?"

"Somehow, four of them appeared and blocked their way."

"Four?"

For four among the remaining seven to appear and intercept the corps leaders?

That was not something to be taken lightly.

"It's certainly suspicious. We expected that the Blood Cult would be monitoring the movement of our warriors from the Heavenly Martial Hall. But they couldn't have known we'd be launching a surprise attack today. Yet they responded extremely quickly."

"......"

Yong So-myeong was not wrong.

The Geonchang District, including Nampung-hyeon and several other local branches, had been wiped out in a short time.

There's no way the Blood Cult didn't realize the Heavenly Martial Hall was targeting them.

However, there's no way they would know the specific plan to raid the Main Headquarters today, even if they knew the location had been discovered.

After all, even if the warriors of the Heavenly Martial Hall weren't very attached to their organization, they wouldn't spread around plans to exterminate the unorthodox faction.

Even if the plan had been delivered to their own Gate of Death, it wouldn't have made a difference.

The date for the raid had only been shared all at once through White Hawk a few days ago.

The very fact that the Blood Cult could have known and prepared ahead of time was impossible from the start.

'How did they know that the corps leaders would move and manage to block them?'

As he thought about it, Jeong-un asked,

"Then Sir Yong, did you move together with the corps leaders from the start?"

"Yes. Among the two-stripes in each corps, several chosen by the corps leaders were supposed to move with them from the beginning. That's why I thought you'd be with the Blue Scale Corps Leader as well. Did you not receive any word?"

"I was ordered to destroy one of the enemy's bases with my comrades."

"I see."

After hearing Jeong-un's reply, Yong So-myeong closed his mouth as if finding it somewhat unexpected.

It seemed the corps leaders had selected some warriors to move with them.

Anything could happen on the battlefield.

To respond flexibly to unpredictable situations, organizing a small detachment with some two-striped martial artists was not unusual.

'And then, something truly unexpected happened.'

No less than four High Priests showed up.

That kind of force could ravage even a great sect if taken by surprise.

It was enough to halt the corps leaders, who were using lightness skill to rush toward the enemy leader.

Yong So-myeong said,

"When they were blocked, the corps leaders told us to go support other locations. With four of them, not just one or two, they worried that too many experts would be fighting at once and that we might get hurt in the chaos."

"So that's how you ended up here."

"That's right. Of course, I didn't expect to find two High Priests here as well..."

Yong So-myeong trailed off, then looked at Jeong-un with a strange gaze.

Had he not single-handedly killed a High Priest and then rushed over to assist?

Internally, Yong So-myeong was shocked by the exceptional martial skills displayed by a swordsman of around the same age as himself.

"But why were you alone? Didn't you have comrades moving with you?"

"I intentionally took the lead and moved ahead."

"Intentionally?"

At Yong So-myeong's question, Jeong-un continued.

"I aimed to attract the enemy's attention as much as possible, so my comrades could move freely. And I had confidence in handling myself alone."

"Indeed."

Yong So-myeong nodded in agreement.

"That's well-founded confidence. You've made incredible progress."

"I don't deserve such praise."

"Didn't you just slay a High Priest in an instant? I've never been told I lack martial talent anywhere, but before you, I can barely utter a word. I don't even dare challenge you to a duel now—unless to ask for instruction."

"......"

Jeong-un closed his mouth, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Hearing such words from Yong So-myeong stirred odd feelings.

The memory was still fresh of how he had resolved himself after seeing Yong So-myeong pass the entrance exam first.

But now, it was he who received looks of admiration from Yong So-myeong.

It was almost like reverence. Jeong-un felt a strange sense of unreality, keenly sensing just how absurdly fast his own growth had been.

"So, is there no need to assist the corps leaders then?"

Trying to change the subject, he asked, and Yong So-myeong shook his head.

"They sent us away lest we get in the way before the fight even started. It's understandable. If we clumsily tried to join the attack and got hurt, we'd only be a burden."

"Then?"

"We should patrol this area and carry out our mission. What about you?"

"I..."

Turning his gaze toward the Blood Cult encampment, Jeong-un trailed off, then spoke with resolute determination.

"I intend to go deeper into the Main Headquarters."

"There? By yourself?"

"Yes."

Jeong-un nodded slightly as he replied.

He had seen with his own eyes three of the eight High Priests die, and the other four had gone to face the corps leaders, leaving just one.

'I have to be the one to deal with him.'

Of those capable of facing a High Priest, he was the only one available.

Even if it seemed slightly arrogant, he didn't care.

The warriors of the Heavenly Martial Hall surely wanted to punish these wicked unorthodox enemies, but they also valued building merits safely.

Few people would volunteer for the most dangerous task and take unnecessary risks.

'There's no need for further calculations. I'm the only one left who can do this.'

His body was nearly in perfect condition as well.

Despite consecutively fighting in such a large battle, he hadn't suffered a single injury.

Although his internal energy had been greatly depleted, he was not in danger.

His immense true ki was amassed thickly in his dantian from the start.

At that moment, Yong So-myeong spoke.

"Then let's go together."

"What?"

Jeong-un looked at Yong So-myeong with wide eyes.

His hair was ruffled and his clothes stained with blood due to the fierce battles, but his clear, bright gaze radiated a peculiar, graceful demeanor even in his small frame.

He looked at Jeong-un with a determined face, as if he had never even considered refusing.

"I've been cast out by the corps leaders for risking being an obstacle, without even being able to join my comrades. Surely, you wouldn't turn me away as well?"

"Turn you away? That's not—"

"Then it's fine. Let's go."

"......"

Jeong-un looked at him and chuckled.

He had wondered if Yong So-myeong might be a very cold person, having seen his expressionless face several times.

But now, facing him directly, it was the complete opposite.

He radiated the classic chivalrous hero often described in ancient booklets—handsome, brilliantly talented, with an open willingness to help others.

Most martial artists Jeong-un had met in the real martial world weren't like that at all.

"All right. But let me take the lead."

"Then I'll cover the rear."

And so they once again descended swiftly toward the broad basin with their lightness skills.

From a short distance behind, he could feel the elegant ki wave from Yong So-myeong, as though riding the wind.

'The core of Wudang Sect's martial arts is said to be overcoming strength with softness. They value harmony above all.'

In the ki wave generated by the body-strengthening art, there was no sense of force breaking through the ether.

It was, just as the saying goes, advancing smoothly by catching the smallest flow of the wind.

It was said that Wudang's peerless experts walk the skies with a rising art called Jesunjong.

They would look just like immortals. Would Yong So-myeong one day achieve that?

- Enemies ahead.

At that moment, Yong So-myeong's voice whispered directly into Jeong-un's ear.

It was voice transmission. Without a trace of surprise, Jeong-un sensed and unraveled its subtlety on the spot.

'He's imbuing true ki into the sound, creating a wave by speaking.'

Voice Transmission was a sound technique that manipulated true ki with great delicacy.

It is said to be one of the only martial techniques that cannot be transmitted via secret manual and must be learned directly through listening and speaking.

A first-rank disciple of the Wudang would surely master it—it was to be expected.

'Fascinating.'

Jeong-un had never used or learned voice transmission, so it was only natural this was his first time experiencing it.

The efficacy of internal energy was once again astonishing.

He moved his lips calmly in response.

- What do you think about charging through while slashing down the enemy without reducing our speed?

- Good idea.

Their destination was right ahead. Already, they could sense a substantial number of energies in front of them.

It seemed a group was rushing forth, perhaps heading out to provide reinforcements.

Wuuuuuung—

Filling his palm with internal energy, the black sword vibrated and emitted a resonant sound.

Sword resonance.

When infusing true ki into a sword as naturally as moving one's own limbs, this kind of resonance occurred.

Some called this 'sword resonance' because it resembled a beast's howl.

It felt excellent.

His palm vibrated minutely as if he was communicating with the sword.

He could see the charging enemies falter at the sight of them.

He heard their nervous murmurs as well.

Charging forward as just the two of them, they seemed to have caused some confusion.

Tap!

He stomped the ground fiercely, raising his lightness skill to the limit and surged ahead.

In that instant, the rapidly closing distance left the enemy aghast and he swept his sword at them.

Chwaaaak!

None of them could block the sword aura unleashed in that single strike.

In a flash, more than ten of them fell dead, their bodies scattering like shattered debris.

It wasn't over.

Whoosh!

He brought his racing speed to an abrupt stop instantaneously.

Even though his feet stopped, the force from his momentum remained.

Jeong-un dug his lead foot solidly into the ground.

Crunch.

Then, focusing the inertia from his sprint into his other foot, he let that power flow to his center of mass.

He drove it straight into the ground, channeling the true ki gathered through the technique Powerless Steps.

Kwaaaaang—!

With a forcible stride, the ground split and cracked like an earthquake had struck, and a thunderous boom battered the eardrums.

"Keuh!"

"H-ack!"

The foremost enemies, overwhelmed by the burst of cultivated power, rolled their eyes back and dropped their weapons.

They never breathed again. They died on the spot.

Thud, thud.

So the corpses piled up in another heap.

Then, the sword in his right hand trembled again with a fine vibration.

Wuuuuuung.

True ki, riding straight along the central channel, surged to his wrist like a galloping current.

His tempered waist, shoulders, and wrist braced for the massive recoil of true ki once more.

The robust gathered energy flowed through his palm to the tip of the black sword.

Next, he twisted his waist to add rotation.

Then he swept the sword horizontally.

Saaaaak—

The sweeping sword blade caught the golden sunlight and drew it in with a whoosh.

The sword tip gracefully extended like a paintbrush, tracing a straight line—an infinitely thin line as if drawn with golden powder.

It was Traceless Flash.

Puwaaak—!

All the enemies within that line's domain were cut cleanly in two and collapsed.

Even the weapons in their hands were sliced.

The golden radiance and blood thrown up by the sword strike mixed in the air—an almost surreal scene.

"... Insane."

Yong So-myeong muttered from behind.