Jang Un unclasped his hands and replied.
"As expected of Bingbong, the genius strategist. A fine idea—I'll accept it. But won't it only restore our justification, while he remains hidden? If he never shows himself, then there's no practical gain."
Bingbong shrugged and her eyes gleamed.
"We designate Wolseong Lake, the mountain lake of Cheongseong, as the site of the duel. And invite the leading figures among the secular disciples nearby."
"...!"
"Crowds will gather, eager to witness the duel between the Sect Leader and Cheonma Sword. In that case, Cheonma Sword's scheme to divide Cheongseong collapses. At the same time, the sect secures practical benefit by ensuring the safety of its branches."
The Sect Leader tilted his head, frowning.
"I doubt the secular disciples will come."
Murong Lin answered with a knowing look, as if she had already guessed his thought.
"Cheonma Sword will never commit arson again. Because, as I just explained, he is a demon sect man who nevertheless clings to justification. If he refused a duel and instead roamed about burning halls emptied of leaders and masters, he would only be branded a pitiful and contemptible commander of the demon cult."
At her side, Pyeong-u Jang, who had been silently watching, hesitated before speaking.
"Bingbong, but that very commander, Cheonma Sword, did commit arson last night."
"At that time, he had justification. He could direct all blame toward the Cheongseong Sect."
Pyeong-u Jang nodded in admiration.
"Ah! I see. The moment Sect Leader of Cheongseong issues a duel challenge, justification shifts to our side."
All present were sincerely impressed.
That a single duel letter could overturn the entire situation! No wonder she was called a genius strategist.
Murong Lin nodded faintly, her lips curling into a thin smile.
"Exactly. So he is left with two choices: appear like a madman to fight—or retreat quietly, tucking his tail, back to Sichuan Branch."
She saw the awed expressions in the Taoists' eyes and thought to herself that it had been worth coming here. In that moment, even the sight of Pyeong-u Jang beside her, mouth agape in astonishment, felt strangely comforting. After all, it was his earlier counsel that had made her cast aside arrogance and keep her guard sharp.
That evening…
"Since dusk, these notices have been posted throughout the villages."
One of the Heavenly Wolf Troop respectfully handed over a paper. Baek Unhoe received it and swiftly read it through. A gleam lit his eyes.
"Hmph. Not bad."
A short laugh escaped his lips. Rising from the rock he had been seated on, he passed the notice to Gwan Taerang, who in turn handed it to Bloody Blade and the Demoness of Asura.
Once even the two squad leaders had read it, Baek Unhoe spoke.
"Well? What do you think?"
Gwan Taerang answered,
"It seems their side has a clever strategist. Without realizing that our Lord values justification, they would never have dared make such a bold move."
It might not have been much in itself. Yet to the orthodox sects, demon cultists were nothing more than beings who pursued raw strength. Never in the history of the martial world had they fought with justification on their lips.
To perceive something that had no precedent was no easy feat—for it meant overturning the very assumptions that served as the foundation of judgment.
Squad Leader Bloody Blade nodded and spoke.
"Indeed. I never expected they'd use such a tactic. Has Cheongseong ever had so bold and perceptive a strategist?"
Baek Unhoe let out a low laugh—cheerful, even pleased.
"Hahaha. Good. I like it when my opponent reacts unexpectedly. I thought they would merely agonize, then divide their forces further. Instead, they've drawn together again. Hah. Impressive. Well, it makes no difference. Tonight, then, we shall sleep soundly."
He cast his eyes over his subordinates.
"In Cheongseong, there are two who can think clearly: the Divine Sword Dragon Na Hanmin, and Yulsa Cheongu. Both are cautious, yes, but also passive. Neither would dare such a bold move."
Gwan Taerang asked,
"Then who could it be?"
"Who knows? Perhaps Cheongseong had a hidden talent. Or else…"
Baek Unhoe's eyes gleamed as he trailed off, then continued,
"…perhaps an outsider has joined them."
At this, Gwan Taerang furrowed his brow deeply.
"Surely… not the Scholar of the Martial World?"
Cheon Ryuyeong.
Even here, all present knew the name. Not only they, but all in the Sichuan Branch knew it.
Because Baek Unhoe had emphasized it again and again.
Cheon Ryuyeong.
Beware of him.
At Gwan Taerang's question, Squad Leader Demoness of Asura ran her tongue across her crimson lips before speaking.
"Deputy Lord, I would very much like to see him. It's the first time I've ever heard our Lord praise someone so. Just how daring and brilliant must he be? And is he handsome, I wonder? Hehehe."
Her laughter rippled through the night air.
Her upturned eyes gave her a fierce look, but her features were strikingly clear—a mature beauty, with a lingering sensuality in her voice and movements.
Baek Unhoe chuckled at her.
"Heh. Even you, Demoness of Asura, would not be able to handle Cheon Ryuyeong."
The Demoness covered her lips with her hand in mock surprise.
"Oh my! Is he truly such a man? Hehe. That only makes me all the more curious. If I meet him, I'll just devour him whole."
Baek Unhoe shook his head.
"On the contrary—you would be the one devoured. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Cheon Ryuyeong. Do not underestimate him for a moment if you ever face him."
At his words, not only the Demoness but all present had strange light flicker in their eyes—jealousy.
For Baek Unhoe, their lord and near-deity, to acknowledge another so highly gnawed at them.
And worse, Cheon Ryuyeong was no martial artist.
But none dared voice complaint against the Cheonma Sword. They could only kick at the dirt in frustration.
Once more, Gwan Taerang asked his earlier question.
"Lord, if someone has indeed entered Cheongseong, and if that man is the Scholar of the Martial World… what will you do?"
Baek Unhoe smiled silently, lips curving white. After holding the smile for a while, he answered.
"What do you think I'll do?"
Gwan Taerang knew well Cheonma Sword's hunger for talent. Only the night before, had he not attempted to recruit the young Seon Jiun at Cheongho Dojang?
Of course, Seon Jiun had resisted to the end. So Cheonma Sword had added one condition more.
If within days he could defeat the Cheongseong Sect, Jiun must join him. If not, then he would release him without condition.
Seon Jiun knew well the strength of the Heavenly Wolf Troop, but against the Cheongseong Sect, he doubted victory. And so, he could no longer refuse Cheonma Sword's terms, and reluctantly accepted.
In a low, firm voice, Gwan Taerang asked,
"If it is the Scholar of the Martial World, will you attempt to recruit him as well?"
Baek Unhoe shook his head.
"Unfortunately, he and I walk different paths."
"Then…"
"He must die. Yes… there is no other way but to kill him."
At those chilling words, the faces of Gwan Taerang, Bloody Blade, and the Demoness of Asura lit up with satisfaction. The strange jealousy they had felt only moments before was gone. Yet Baek Unhoe's next words froze their smiles.
"Because I fear him. Cheon Ryuyeong."
"...!"
All were struck dumb with astonishment.
The thought that Cheonma Sword Baek Unhoe could fear someone was so absurd that many wondered if it were a joke.
But Baek Unhoe kept shaking his head as he spoke.
"No… it's probably not Cheon Ryuyeong."
Bloody Blade interjected.
"Why do you think so?"
"Though their stratagem pierced my temperament, it was overly bold. If it had been Cheon Ryuyeong… the trap would have been laid far more meticulously."
"..."
"Yes. It isn't Cheon Ryuyeong. A pity, truly."
His expression showed genuine regret, like a man secretly yearning for a worthy duel with a rival.
After a pause, Bloody Blade asked,
"Cheongseong has acted differently than expected. What will you do?"
Baek Unhoe smiled again.
"Monkeys performing tricks don't become men. Do you think I should fear the antics of mere monkeys?"
At that, Bloody Blade and the Demoness of Asura chuckled lightly.
Gwan Taerang answered,
"There's no need for that."
Baek Unhoe's eyes glinted as he nodded.
"Indeed. It doesn't matter. Tomorrow at noon, at Wolseong Lake—the mountain lake. A splendid stage for an entertaining duel. I'm already looking forward to it. Heh heh heh."
The dawn wind drifted down the mountains, brushing softly across the broad surface of Wolseong Lake.
Before the lake stood an altar. It was the place where, come morning, memorial rites would be held and the two hundred and fifty corpses cremated.
And if… if Cheonma Sword were to appear, it would be the place of his death.
No offering could better appease the vengeful spirits of the fallen disciples than Cheonma Sword himself. Yet few truly believed he would appear.
Still, not a few entertained the thought—for Cheonma Sword was a madman who shattered ordinary logic.
Otherwise, he would never have dared show up at Cheongpyeong Inn with only a single subordinate.
Thus, the leaders among the secular disciples of the five nearby villages had entered Cheongseong Mountain.
Half out of curiosity, half out of expectation.
They did worry for the disciples and families they had left behind. But the words of Sect Leader of Cheongseong and Military Advisor Bingbong weighed on their hearts. If the leaders did not come into Cheongseong, they themselves might become Cheonma Sword's targets.
It made little sense. Yet neither the Sect Leader nor the strategist of the Martial Alliance would joke about such matters.
Believing they had reason enough, they hurried up to Cheongseong Mountain late in the night—fearful of being late, lest Cheonma Sword really target them. And seeing even the Taoists who had been dispatched return, they thought the battle must indeed take place in Cheongseong.
Perhaps Sect Leader and Cheonma Sword had even reached some sort of secret negotiation.
Before Wolseong Lake, two Cheongseong Taoists stood watch. They glanced at the rows of corpses stretched across the ground, then turned their heads away.
"Phew… this is maddening. A human life is so fragile, so fleeting."
The younger Taoist nodded gravely.
"Yes. Among those corpses is a friend of mine…"
"The same for me."
"Truth is… I was meant to go to Cheongho Dojang. But that friend asked to switch with me."
"What! Really?"
"Yes. He said he wanted some fresh air outside the mountain."
"Tsk tsk… fate is truly beyond prediction."
"But… do you think Cheonma Sword will really come tomorrow?"
"Not unless he's insane. Then again… who knows? The demon sect is full of the deranged and the mad."
"Exactly. Who would have thought he'd actually appear at Cheongpyeong Inn like that?"
The two muttered on.
Then suddenly, among the corpses laid out before Wolseong Lake, two opened their eyes.
Flash!
A bluish gleam flickered, then slowly subsided.
And then—
Grin.
Two corpses smiled a chilling smile.
The leaders of the Heavenly Wolf Troop's 2nd and 4th squads—Ghost Spear and Demon Blade—had risen.
They were the two key actors in Cheonma Sword's "Ghost Play."
Disguised since Cheongho Dojang, they had infiltrated the heart of Cheongseong Mountain using the Great Turtle Breath Technique ( Gui-sik Daebeop), a method that allowed them to halt heartbeat and breath for long stretches.
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems of War, this was the fourteenth:
Borrow a corpse to resurrect the soul (Chashi Hwanhon).
The maxim meant that even what seemed useless could be put to effective use. In other words, Baek Unhoe's "Ghost Play" was precisely this stratagem.
The two turned their heads toward each other and exchanged soundless words.
『Demon Blade, sleep well?』
『Soundly.』
『Then shall we begin?』
『Just follow me, Ghost Spear. You always get lost—don't wander.』
Ghost Spear chuckled.
『Heh. Is that really why?』
Demon Blade shook his head.
『No. I just don't want your reckless pride ruining the mission.』
『Don't tell me you don't want to test yourself against the Sect Leader of Cheongseong?』
Demon Blade bit his lip, then smirked.
『Do as you like. But if the Lord beats you to death, don't expect me to intervene. More likely, you'll be killed by the Sect Leader first.』
Ghost Spear pulled a face.
『Tch. I can defeat the Sect Leader of Cheongseong.』
『The Lord himself said you couldn't.』
『Not if you helped me—』
『I've no time for anything but obeying his command.』
『Heartless bastard.』
『Say what you will. If the Lord commanded me into hell itself, I would enter without hesitation. So unless you want me to throw away his orders and join you in a duel with the Sect Leader, drop it.』
At Demon Blade's glare, Ghost Spear raised his hands in mock surrender.
『You're no fun. In missions like this, one should enjoy a joke or two.』
『With that cold face and dry tone, do you think your "jokes" are amusing? They're terrifying to hear.』
Ghost Spear forced a bitter grin at his comrade's grumbling.
By now, the two were no longer lying among the corpses. Unnoticed, they had slipped into the woods beside the lake. The two Taoists still stood guard, oblivious that two bodies were missing—chatting idly without a care.
Not just those Taoists—no one in Cheongseong Mountain suspected the truth.
That the enemy had already seeped in… through the corpses.