My name is
Hengshan, corresponding to the Southern Peak among the Five Great Mountains. Even within Hengshan, it was a deep, secluded place. Amid dense trees and overgrown grass, there rose a cliff that seemed to pierce the sky.
Rumble—!
At some point, the cliff began to shake as if an earthquake had struck. With a faint rumbling like distant thunder, the cliff swayed for a while before finally collapsing with a tremendous crash.
Kraaaang!
Dust and debris covered everything, and the lush trees were battered into splinters by the falling rocks.
As the dust settled, the scene that emerged was astonishing. Only the front part of the cliff had crumbled; the rear remained perfectly intact. It looked as if someone had sliced the cliff cleanly. The cross-section was impossibly smooth.
And in that cliff, there was a large cavern.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blew from the cave. It swept across the surrounding area before vanishing. As the wind disappeared, a figure appeared at the cave entrance.
It was a man dressed in black, wearing what seemed like thin leather. At his waist hung an old-looking sword—but it had no scabbard, just the bare blade. Yet the aura emanating from the sword was anything but ordinary.
"So, it's finally come…"
The man murmured and lifted his gaze to the sky. The cloudless, vivid blue sky stretched fully before his eyes.
"How long has it been…"
He stood motionless, staring upward for a long time. After over an hour, he finally lowered his gaze.
"This is… confusing."
He muttered to himself and took a few steps. He needed time to organize his thoughts and to recall things he had long forgotten.
Finding the flattest patch of ground, he stopped and closed his eyes. Standing and closing his eyes like this was the most comfortable posture he could take. And it was also the beginning of everything.
He sank into his memories.
At first, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember. He guessed it must have been around the age of ten when he first arrived here.
"I am called the Celestial Teacher. From now on, you must listen carefully to what I say."
The old man, who called himself the Celestial Teacher, smiled kindly and looked at the hundred children trembling with fear before him. The man was a child at the time, standing among them.
"Though you may not understand or believe now, ten years from now, you are destined to save the world."
He recalled clearly that he did not feel fear at that time. Why, he could not say. Since he could remember no further past, perhaps it was because he was an orphan.
"Now, rest well today."
The Celestial Teacher disappeared after speaking, and the children, trembling, lay down. The cave was spacious. Some children tried to escape, but it was useless. The Celestial Teacher sat at the cave entrance with a gentle expression.
The children had no choice but to go to bed, hoping for another chance. But that day was their last chance; by the next day, the cave entrance would vanish entirely.
"I've blocked the entrance with the cliff. If anyone tries to intrude, it could be disastrous. Hahaha."
The children had no choice but to stand silently before the Celestial Teacher, who spoke of such an extraordinary feat as if it were trivial. From that day, the harsh training called martial cultivation began.
From eating and sleeping, everything was strictly controlled. The children could do nothing on their own.
The martial arts taught by the Celestial Teacher included breathing, swordsmanship, and body movement. At first, he didn't even tell them the names, but once they reached a level where they could imitate the techniques, he explained them.
The breathing technique was called Sancai Qigong (Three Talents Extraordinary Skill), the sword technique Sancai Sword Technique, and the movement technique Sancai Steps.
Three years roughly passed while learning these arts. Martial arts were far from easy; despite intense practice, progress was slow. This was the case for most children. Yet the Celestial Teacher seemed pleased observing them.
On the third year, he gathered all one hundred children and gave each a small pill.
"This will help your martial cultivation. Take it at once."
The children swallowed without suspicion, including the boy who would become the man. Once all had taken it, the Celestial Teacher smiled.
"Today marks exactly three years. Your martial arts are now somewhat complete. Now you only need to make them fully your own. What I have taught is extraordinary—properly mastered, you could become a Martial God."
He surveyed the children, who had grown up in strict constraints, appearing almost like dolls.
"For the next seven years, each of you must perfect your martial art. After that, you must face the world and resolve its chaos."
He led them to a deeper part of the cave, where a strange door stood.
"From now on, enter through that door and cultivate freely."
The children obeyed without question, stepping into a fog that obscured everything. Once all had entered, the Celestial Teacher closed the door.
Thud!
Sitting quietly, he sighed.
"All arrangements are complete. Now, the matter is how to use these children later. Blood Demon, what have you tried to accomplish? Ten years from now, these children will come forth and shatter your ambitions."
He had little time left; he needed to release the power to manipulate them at the proper moment.
"The pill given to the children was actually a Gu (spiritual poison)—a special kind I developed, called Yin-Yang Gu. Those with the Yang nature would be controlled by the Yin-fed children."
He produced a small wooden box containing the Yang-type Yin-Yang Gu.
"Now, it's just a matter of dealing with this."
His figure disappeared into the cave via a secret passage only he knew about. Ten years later, people would enter through this passage.
Alone in the cave, only the strange door emitted a strange light.
The man opened his eyes.
"So… the Celestial Teacher… now I remember why we had to enter that hell."
Frost clung to his body. He closed his eyes and sank deeper into memory.
In the mist, the children could do little except cultivate martial arts. The fog was actually a high concentration of Qi, accelerating their progress dramatically.
One day, something unexpected happened—a situation even the Celestial Teacher could not foresee. The cave's Qi had become saturated beyond limit, and a dark hole appeared in the ground, consuming all Qi and even the children themselves. From that moment, hell began.
The man shivered, opening his eyes. He had wandered for an uncountable length of time, seeing the children devoured one by one by monsters.
By then, he had become strong enough to resist somewhat, though it was still insufficient. Each day was a struggle for survival. The once-innocent children had poison in their eyes and Qi tightly contained within their bodies.
Surviving forced them to master the Sancai Qigong, Sancai Sword Technique, and Sancai Steps, which developed far beyond the training in the fog cave. Without these skills, he himself could not have survived.
All the children eventually died, leaving him alone to witness the culmination of the three martial arts.
"How much time has passed?"
He shook his head—impossible to tell, though it had certainly been over ten years. After the child who kept track of days died, no one counted.
Even after he was alone, vast time passed; he had forgotten even his own name. Slowly, memories returned—the names of companions, their conversations, and what they called him.
"Hyung-woo… yes, that's what they called me."
He closed his eyes.
"Dan Hyung-woo. My name was Dan Hyung-woo."
A faint smile touched his lips. Recovering his name brought relief.
"I must find them."
He murmured to himself—a habit formed from surviving alone. He thought of discarding the habit, and leapt into the air.
Dan Hyung-woo disappeared as if no one had ever been there, leaving neither wind nor trace.
Wulin Alliance (Martial World Alliance)
Three hundred years ago, in response to the Blood Sect, the righteous martial sects united under the Wulin Alliance. Gu Ryun-shin's Nine Dragon Divine Sword led the righteous pursuit, and they naturally formed an alliance.
Gu Ryun-shin became the first Alliance Leader, successfully resisting the Blood Sect's attacks. Though he perished heroically, his conviction and sense of justice were legendary.
Over three hundred years, the world and its people changed. The Wulin Alliance also evolved, once nearly powerless, but now influential across the land.
The current Alliance Leader, Dokgo Un of Broken Mountain Sword, came from a minor third-tier sect, Baekgeommun. Rising through sheer ability, he eventually became the Alliance Leader. The deeds he performed to reach this position were beyond ordinary imagination.
Dokgo Un summoned the nine elders of the Alliance. Traditionally, each of the nine great sects appoints one elder. Powerful sects' elders naturally have more influence.
He took a document from his chest and placed it on the table.
"Leader, what is this?"
Elder Jeong Cheon of Plum Blossom Sword, from Huashan Sect, asked. Dok-go Un paused, letting the elders' gaze settle on him.
"It's the Jangbodo."
The elders tilted their heads. What was Jangbodo?
"Jangbodo? Has the world's greatest martial art appeared? Or the tomb of Martial Shadow Divine Technique?"
Dok-go Un smiled faintly.
"It's where the Celestial Teacher's final martial art is contained."
The elders froze. The final martial art of the Celestial Teacher carried immense power.
"Is that… true?"
"Why would I joke with you elders? The Jangbodo shows where it is. Also, it contains the mechanism to access it. From what I've read, it even mentions the Celestial Teacher's secret weapon."
"The Celestial Teacher's secret weapon!"
The hall stirred. No matter their age or cultivation, the Celestial Teacher's name commanded awe.
"But doesn't this seem strange?"
Elder Yeong-ho of the Mudang Sect spoke.
"Why would the Celestial Teacher create such a thing? And a secret weapon—he had already vanished ten years ago. Does this mean he was hiding to make this? Clearly, there is something hidden here."
Dok-go Un shook his head.
"First, distribute all the Jangbodo."
The elders calmed their trembling hearts and examined the documents carefully.
"To think he prepared this to protect the world from chaos… astonishing. Yet we shouldn't believe it blindly," Yeong-ho said. Others nodded. The Celestial Teacher was unpredictable.
Dok-go Un scanned the hall and asked,
"So you intend to give up?"
"It's not giving up; we must investigate first."
"Of course, investigation comes first. But if we delay, trouble follows. Our Alliance may not be the only holders of a Jangbodo."
The hall was shocked.
"What… you mean there could be others?"
"It's not certain. But movements of the Evil Alliance and the Green Forest were suspicious. Their elite warriors were secretly moving toward Hengshan."
"Hengshan?"
"The place that the map is pointing to is Hyangsan."
A tense atmosphere spread throughout the hall at Dokgo-un words. It meant that the enemies were already moving to obtain the secret weapon, while the Martial Alliance was still standing still.
"Then we can't just stay idle either."
As Jeongcheon stepped forward to speak, Yeong hoja followed suit.
"But couldn't all of this be the scheme of the Celestial Recorder? Perhaps it's meant to pit the three forces against each other and bring chaos to the martial world."
The elders frowned seriously at Yeong hoja's words. But the conclusion came easily: with Sadoron and Nokrim on the move, the Martial Alliance could not remain idle.
The elders could only hope that the arrangements left on the map were genuinely intended by the Celestial Recorder for the safety of the martial world.
"A secret weapon… what on earth…"
All the elders shook their heads in worry. Regardless, the Martial Alliance began to move.
The distance from Wuham, where the Martial Alliance was located, to Hyangsan was a staggering thousand li. But if the masters skilled in lightness techniques ran without resting, they could easily cover it in a day. Of course, since they could not rest, it required a bit of effort.
Yet the Martial Alliance was swift without overexerting themselves. They moved discreetly, deploying many smoke screens to avoid being detected by Sadoron or Nokrim. Naturally, they couldn't block all information, so they adjusted appropriately.
This was the strategy of Jegal Joongcheon, a military officer of the Martial Alliance. The Jegal family held great influence within the Martial Alliance, having served as its military arm for generations. Being a military leader in such a large organization required intelligence, insight, and above all, familiarity with information. The Jegal family understood this well. Being knowledgeable about information meant not only knowing how to obtain it but also how to conceal it.
The reason the Martial Alliance currently outpaced Sadoron and other groups was precisely due to the Jegal family's abilities. Of course, this level of information power was also supported by Dokgo-un generous backing.
The Martial Alliance's operatives who had departed monitored Sadoron and Nokrim's movements near Hyangsan while staying in Chuwunlu in Changsha.
Thanks to this, Chuwunlu flourished. Martial artists flocked there, drinking and feasting, and the owner's smile never left his face.
Even now, on the first floor of Chuwunlu, numerous martial artists were seated, drinking.
The Martial Alliance had mobilized a large number of people. Their purpose wasn't only to investigate the Celestial Recorder's martial arts but also to keep Sadoron and Nokrim in check, so they brought a strong contingent of warriors.
Among them, members of the Jo family were mixed in.
"The Martial Alliance's presence is truly impressive, isn't it, brother?"
At Jo Seolyeon's words, Jo In nodded.
"Yes, it's remarkable. I never thought the Alliance Leader himself would move personally."
"Exactly. Uncle must think so too, right?"
Sama Cheol smiled faintly as he listened to the two. He, the head of the Henan Dispatch, had come here at the request of Jo Il-hyeon, head of the Jo family.
Jo Il-hyeon had used his authority to have Jo In and Jo Seolyeon join this journey to Hyangsan. Seeking permission from the Martial Alliance leader was unnecessary. After all, he had been the one to hand over the map to the Martial Alliance without any conditions.
Henan Dispatch was one of Jo family's enterprises. Jo Il-hyeon had asked Sama Cheol to look after the two children, and he had agreed willingly. Jo In and Jo Seolyeon were precious to him as well.
"It seems we'll be departing for Hyangsan soon. Sadoron's warriors are nearby, so you must be especially cautious. Understood?"
At Sama Cheol's words, Jo Seolyeon stuck out her tongue in a cute expression.
"Brother In is strong enough. And Uncle will protect us, hehe."
Sama Cheol laughed heartily at her appearance.
"Hoho. That girl… Anyway, heed my words. Sometimes unexpected things happen in the world."
"Yes, I will remember, Uncle."
Jo Seolyeon answered obediently with a bright smile. Her beauty seemed to illuminate the room, and Sama Cheol could do nothing but smile. Whatever she did, she was adorable—a real problem.
"Oh? Uncle, look at that person over there."
In a soft voice, Jo Seolyeon pointed, and Sama Cheol and Jo In followed her gaze.
Standing at the entrance of Chuwunlu was a man, scanning for an empty seat upon entering.
Soon, a waiter ran to guide him to a vacant spot.
Watching this, Jo Seolyeon's eyes lit up.
"He's carrying a sword without a sheath."
Indeed, the sword at the man's waist radiated a chilling aura.
"That sword looks quite fine."
Sama Cheol nodded in acknowledgment. But that was as far as his curiosity went.
"Why wouldn't he carry a sheath?"
Jo Seolyeon asked, and Sama Cheol shook his head.
"Who knows."
"Maybe he doesn't want to waste time drawing it? He seems to have thought it through in his own way."
At her remark, Jo In shook his head to correct her.
"That's not quite right. Drawing the sword is important too. The moment a sword leaves its sheath, it gains much greater speed and force."
Jo Seolyeon's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Jo In smiled and nodded. Her expression was simply too cute. Jo Seolyeon, surprised, looked at Sama Cheol. When he nodded, she turned back to the man sitting farther away.
"Then maybe he couldn't afford a sheath?"
Jo Seolyeon asked, and both Jo In and Sama Cheol chuckled. A warm, lighthearted moment passed.
Meanwhile, Dan Hyeongwoo sat awkwardly in a corner, staring at the somyeon (thin noodles) on the table. He didn't remember the last time he had eaten proper food.
Everything he had eaten before was barely edible unless he ignored taste entirely. And even that, he hadn't eaten much. Eventually, he barely needed to eat to function.
Hesitantly, Dan Hyeongwoo picked up the noodles with his chopsticks and ate.
Softly, they melted in his mouth. While Chuwunlu's cooking was notable, he had never tasted anything so delicious before. But to him, it felt that way.
Everything he had eaten before was tough—inedible for most. But these noodles seemed to dissolve effortlessly. His eyes widened slightly as he ate, and soon he finished the whole bowl.
Those around him watched in astonishment. Some even ordered noodles themselves.
"Delicious."
Dan Hyeongwoo murmured quietly as he rose. The waiter rushed over.
"Did you enjoy your meal, sir? That'll be five pun (coins)."
Dan Hyeongwoo stared blankly. The waiter frowned and looked at the sword at his waist.
Dan Hyeongwoo merely nodded.
"So, it's about the money, huh."
His eyes glimmered with the joy of recalling a word he had long forgotten.
To Dan Hyeongwoo, it brought happiness; to the waiter, it was not so. The waiter glanced at his master, who firmly shook his head.
All present in Chuwunlu were Martial Alliance warriors. The Alliance, representing justice, would never let someone idle without consequence. And the waiter would not allow harm to come to them.
The waiter became more forceful.
"Sir, you can't do this. If you ate, you must pay."
His voice was loud enough for everyone on the first floor to hear. But Dan Hyeongwoo had no money. Naturally.
"I don't have it."
At his blunt response, the waiter shook his head.
"Hah, so confident. Then at least hand over the sword at your waist."
Dan Hyeongwoo thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"I cannot. This sword was exchanged for the life of my last friend."
The waiter flinched but, seeing the martial artists ready to intervene, became even more forceful.
"So, you intended to eat for free from the start?"
Dan Hyeongwoo's expression twitched slightly at the large voice. Some Martial Alliance warriors stood to prevent further disturbance.
At that moment, a sweet, nightingale-like voice rang through the tavern.
"Stop it. Giving someone such trouble over five pun?"
All eyes turned to Jo Seolyeon, who was standing with her eyes slightly narrowed. Even her stance was beautiful, and the tension in the room eased.
"B-but miss, even a small amount is…"
"I'll pay. Is that alright now?"
At her words, the waiter immediately stepped back.
"Then I am truly grateful."
Jo Seolyeon handed the money to the waiter and looked at Dan Hyeongwoo, who was utterly bewildered. He had no idea how to respond in this unprecedented situation.
He had never had money to spend or even eaten somewhere like this before. Naturally, he had no experience with this scenario either.
But one thing was certain: he could leave without further issue. Dan Hyeongwoo simply walked out of Chuwunlu.
"Th-that…"
People muttered in disbelief, including Jo In and Sama Cheol.
"He should at least have thanked her if she helped him."
"What a shameless fellow."
Jo Seolyeon simply watched Dan Hyeongwoo exit, smiling faintly.
"So, he really had no money, right?"
Jo In could only smile at his naive younger sister.
"You're remarkable too."
"By the way, did you see his eyes?"
"Eyes?"
Jo In and Sama Cheol looked puzzled. Jo Seolyeon's eyes sparkled.
"They were amazing."
Neither Jo In nor Sama Cheol understood what was so remarkable. That man gave off no aura, no energy. As a sword-wielding warrior, he was completely unqualified.
"And he doesn't seem to have inner power either…"
Sama Cheol murmured.
"I guess it won't do. He really needs a sword sheath."
Jo Seolyeon's words startled Jo In and Sama Cheol.
"What do you mean?"
"I need to follow him and buy him a sheath."
"Why you?"
Jo In frowned.
"He's unrelated to you. He's rude and unrefined. Such a person doesn't even deserve kindness. And have you already forgotten that we shouldn't act recklessly?"
Jo Seolyeon pouted.
"Really no, brother?"
"No."
"I agree with In. It's too dangerous to wander separately from these people."
With their strong opposition, Jo Seolyeon had no choice but to relent. In retrospect, buying a sheath for a stranger really was strange.
"I suppose I have no choice. I'll follow your wishes."
Jo Seol-yeon's expression darkened slightly. Seeing this, Sama Cheol and Jo-in let out quiet sighs. They didn't want to see Jo Seol-yeon make such a face, but it was an inevitable situation.
Dan Hyeong-woo left Chuwunlu and walked quickly, letting his feet carry him wherever. His body moved naturally from the strange experience he had just gone through.
He could have moved much faster, but he chose not to. He didn't want to leave the city too quickly.
He enjoyed this peaceful atmosphere. He wanted to savor even a little more of the comfort he felt from the presence of so many people.
After all, today's experience reminded him that he needed money.
"That girl… I mean… I owe her a debt."
Dan Hyeong-woo felt a slight relief at the thought, remembering that he had carried many debts long before this.
He owed a life debt to the friends who had been with him—every time he survived, the debt increased, thanks to them.
"I must repay them. Every single one."
And there was one last debt he needed to settle: the debt to Cheon Gi-ji, the one who had thrown him into that hell.
That, too, was a life debt. He had to reclaim the debt owed for ninety-nine lives.
Dan Hyeong-woo slowed his pace slightly, wandering through Jang-sa City without feeling bored, savoring the relaxed atmosphere surrounding him.
"They've confirmed they're heading to Hyangsan,"
said Jegal Jung-cheon, and Dokgo-un nodded. It was as they had expected. A clash with them was inevitable.
There was no fear. The masters Dokgo Woon had brought were strong enough to withstand attacks even from both Sadoron and Nokrim together. They had prepared thoroughly.
"Then we should head to Hyangsan as well. But do they really have a Jangbodo like this? I can't believe Cheon Gi-ji handled things so carelessly."
"It could be, or it could not be. Cheon Gi-ji is unpredictable. Perhaps his aim is truly to provoke a clash between the Murim Alliance, Sadoron, and Nokrim," Jegal Jung-cheon said.
Dokgo-un nodded. It made sense.
"That's actually what we wanted. Isn't that why we prepared like this?"
Dokgo-un nodded with satisfaction at Jegal Jung-cheon's words.
"Exactly. It doesn't matter what Cheon Gi-ja did. We might even use them to eliminate any potential threats."
"That's correct."
"Then shall we depart soon?"
Dokgo-un rose from his seat.
"The sun hasn't set yet. Let's make it near Hyangsan and stay in a suitable village for the night."
"Understood."
Jegal Jung-cheon quickly went outside, and Chuwunlu emptied in an instant.
Dan Hyeong-woo enjoyed the freedom and peace while walking, eventually returning in front of Chuwunlu. He tried to make rough plans for what lay ahead, but he knew too little to plan properly.
"Back here again, huh."
Dan Hyeong-woo muttered to himself and stared at the door of Chuwunlu. People began streaming out, and Jo Seol-yeon was among them. Naturally, Jo-in and Sama Cheol were close by.
The Murim Alliance members started moving quickly. Dan Hyeong-woo watched them quietly, then unconsciously began following them.
Even though he was just walking, the pace wasn't much slower than the Murim Alliance warriors using Shinbodo to seemingly fly ahead. Dan Hyeong-woo instinctively kept his distance. No one in the Murim Alliance noticed him following.
"They're returning the way they came."
The Murim Alliance was heading to Hyangsan, of course, but Dan Hyeong-woo continued to tail them.
The sun was gradually setting. Watching the sunset, he was slightly surprised.
"Ah, so this is night… Night…"
Here, there was day and night—something that hadn't existed in hell. Having lived so long in a gray, timeless world, seeing the darkness approach was fascinating. Of course, he probably knew it in the distant past, though he couldn't remember.
As night fell, the Murim Alliance set camp at the outskirts of Hyangsan, preparing to spend the night outdoors. There wasn't much preparation needed.
After chewing some pieces of jerky, they simply lay down in suitable spots to rest, using exercise to relieve fatigue.
Dan Hyeong-woo stood quite far from the Murim Alliance, yet he could observe their every movement as clearly as looking at the palm of his hand. He closed his eyes quietly.
Time passed, and dawn began to break. Dan Hyeong-woo opened his eyes. The brightening sky stirred his emotions intensely.
As the sky brightened, buried memories began to surface. He closed his eyes tightly again. His body trembled as energy surged.
Opening his eyes again, Dan Hyeong-woo walked slowly. The Murim Alliance members were waking and preparing to move.
Just as they were about to depart, Dan Hyeong-woo noticed other people approaching from nearby.
"There are quite a few… yet peaceful."
Dan Hyeong-woo's new form blended into the surroundings.
As the Murim Alliance finished preparing, Dokgo-un frowned.
"This doesn't feel right."
He immediately called Jegal Jung-cheon, who rushed over.
"Is there a problem?"
"I don't feel good. Have Sadoron and Nokrim's movements been fully observed?"
"Yes, they're moving toward their target from the exact opposite direction of us."
Dokgo-un rubbed his chin and frowned.
"Hmm, danger always comes when I get this feeling… Better to be cautious. Have the area scouted."
"That will delay our departure," Jegal Jung-cheon said worriedly.
"How late can we be? Better this than making mistakes."
Jegal Jung-cheon had no argument.
"Very well."
He delayed departure and sent skilled scouts to survey the surroundings thoroughly. Yet they found nothing.
Reporting back, Dokgo-un tilted his head and ordered the departure.
"This is strange. Have my senses completely failed?"
He followed the departing warriors slowly. With the entire elite Cheong yong dan brought along, there was nothing to fear. The Cheong yong dan were masters beyond first rank, proficient in sword energy.
Alongside them, the Seung yong dan were also present. Though less experienced with sword energy, each member's abilities surpassed even the Cheong yong dan.
There were one hundred in Cheong yong dan and fifty in Seung yong dan—one hundred fifty masters in total. What was there to worry about?
"Plus, there's Hyeon mudan…"
Hyeon mudan, trained meticulously by Dokgo-un and Jegal Jung-cheon, specialized in stealth and ambushes. They weren't assassins but experts for covert operations.
Hyeon mudan was quietly lying in wait near Hyangsan. If something went wrong, they would intervene to dominate the area. No matter the situation, victory was assured.
Thinking this, Dokgo-un dismissed his ominous feelings and moved swiftly. They had to reach their destination before noon.
"The Alliance Chief worries too much, doesn't he?"
One of Seung yong dan's deputy leaders, Paeng Cheol-yeong, said, and Namgoong Jin nodded.
"You're right. Who could dare ambush us? Nowhere could survive against us after opposing the Murim Alliance."
Namgoong Jin, also a deputy, along with Paeng Cheol-yeong, were promising heirs of their families. Both had remarkable martial skill, looks, and popularity.
No one dared contradict them except the leader, Ha Won-hoo.
"The Alliance Chief has his reasons. It's wise to test the bridge before crossing. People in such positions naturally think much," Ha Won-hoo said.
Namgoong Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong didn't argue further. No one could overpower Ha Won-hoo with words. He was smart and eloquent.
Paeng Cheol-yeong and Namgoong Jin glanced at Jo Seol-yeon nearby. Jo-in and Sama Cheol were tightly guarding her.
Though still young, Jo Seol-yeon's beauty was extraordinary. If she matured, no one could compare—a conclusion from their experience with many women.
Still, they attempted to approach her and ran beside her. Other Seung yong dan members formed a protective formation around her.
Jo Seol-yeon, the least skilled among them, struggled to keep up, which showed clearly on her face.
"She seems tired. Perhaps a short rest is needed. I'll speak to the Chief," Namgoong Jin said.
Jo Seol-yeon quickly shook her head.
"No! I can keep up!"
She didn't want the Chief to hear that she needed a rest. It was a matter of family pride.
'If only I had trained harder,' she thought.
Unaware, Namgoong Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong persisted.
"You're so exhausted; I cannot just watch as a man," Paeng Cheol-yeong insisted, ready to approach the Chief, startling Jo Seol-yeon.
"No! Please don't. I'm truly fine."
"Leave it to us," Jo-in intervened. They finally backed off. They hadn't intended to push so far, only to earn some favor.
"Shall I assist a little?" Namgoong Jin extended a hand to share his energy. Masters like him could share energy even while running, though contact was needed.
Clang!
Jo-in blocked Namgoong Jin's arm.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing Jo-in's glare, Namgoong Jin withdrew awkwardly.
"I only intended to share some energy…"
"Stop. I'll handle it. And we're nearly at our destination."
They noticed the overall speed slowing. Jegal Jung-cheon, leading, signaled the Cheong yong dan to reduce pace.
Tension crept in; they knew why they had come this far and understood the situation clearly. Murim warriors lived by the sword.
Jo Seol-yeon led Jo-in and Sama Cheol to a corner, avoiding Paeng Cheol-yeong and Namgoong Jin.
The Murim Alliance pressed forward through thick trees and grass, reaching a high cliff.
"Impressive," Dokgo-un murmured. Jegal Jung-cheon surveyed the area seriously. Large rocks and broken trees were scattered around.
It seemed part of the cliff had collapsed, covering the trees.
Several Murim Alliance warriors scouted the cliff edge.
"There's a cave here!"
As soon as Dokgo Un and Jegal Jung cheon heard those words, they leapt forward and stood in front of the cave.
"Isn't this a bit different from what was said?"
"That's right. The cliff part is correct, but it says we have to open the secret door behind the cliff to enter, not the cave…"
"Wait a moment."
Before Jegal Jung cheon could even finish speaking, Dokgo Un turned and focused on a certain spot.
"It seems the uninvited guests have arrived."
The meaning of Dokgo Un's words was clear.
"Everyone, get ready!"
Cha-cha-cha-chang!
At Jegal Jung cheon's shout, the Cheong yong dan warriors moved in perfect unison. In an instant, they drew their swords and formed defensive stances, scanning the surroundings.
The Seung yong dan moved much more slowly compared to Cheong yong dan. Yet, they flashed sharp, fierce gazes, prepared to strike at any moment.
"Come out, all of you!"
Dokgo Un's voice boomed, filled with inner energy that seemed to shake the entire forest.
"Uahaha! As expected, the Pasando Corps!"
A man appeared beside the cliff, laughing loudly. His face was that of a typical bandit, and he carried a large sword on his back, the size of a normal person's torso.
At the signal of his laughter, countless others began appearing between the trees. They all had fierce expressions and wielded a variety of weapons matching their numbers.
"Nokrim, huh."
Jegal Jung cheon scanned them with his icy gaze. But that wasn't all. Between the Nokrim bandits, more people emerged—men in black, as numerous as the bandits themselves.
"The Sadoron have joined them too."
Jegal Jung cheon frowned but wasn't overly worried. No matter how they combined forces, if the Hyeon mudan attacked from behind, victory would be overwhelming.
"Uahaha! Still so confident, old Jegal!"
The man on the cliff drew the sword strapped to his back.
"You don't think we're all here, do you? Hmm? Old Jegal."
The words shocked the warriors of the Murim Alliance. Even now, the battle was already tough, but if there were even more enemies than this, no one could guarantee their survival.
Tension swept through the area like a storm.
Dan Hyeong woo stopped moving after confirming that the Murim Alliance warriors had reached near the cliff. For a moment, he didn't even know why he was following them.
"Why on earth did I come this far?"
He muttered absentmindedly, about to close his eyes, but then opened them again.
He sensed movement approaching his position, and sharp killing intent radiated from their bodies.
An ordinary person wouldn't feel it properly, but Dan Hyeong woo was no ordinary man. In the hell he had survived, even the slightest killing intent that went undetected would lead straight to death.
"The target… is… Seoreun?"
Dan Hyeong woo simply stood there. Whatever they did had nothing to do with him. Most importantly, he wasn't the target of their killing intent.
In an instant, thirty shadows covered Dan Hyeong woo's position. They were startled to see him and swung their swords, utterly shocked that a person could be there.
There was no time to think. They had to be killed before they could even shout.
Shick!
A sharp sword sliced across Dan Hyeong woo's neck. The man swinging the sword confirmed that it had cut through precisely.
But he had to widen his eyes in shock. Dan Hyeong woo's form had dispersed like mist.
"Ihyeonghwanwi (Exchanging Form for Position)?"
It was fast enough to leave an afterimage. The man saw the pieces fall before his eyes like lightning.
Flash!
Dan Hyeong woo hung his sword at his waist. Around him lay scattered fragments of bodies, but no blood flowed—only the marks as if they had been burned by fire.
"Peace has returned once again."
Dan Hyeong woo walked slowly. This place was not suitable for him. Even in hell, he rested in clean, quiet spots. His body seemed to melt into the surroundings again.
After a long distance, he stopped again, standing naturally with his arms relaxed. At a glance, he seemed almost like a part of nature itself.
"Noisy."
Dan Hyeong woo turned his head to look. There was the cliff, where countless people were fighting. But they had nothing to do with him—except for one person.
He checked Jo Seolyeon. She was still unharmed and seemed unlikely to be in danger going forward.
"Kraahk!"
A scream of agony accompanied the death of another life. Most of the Nokrim bandits were already bleeding on the ground, and the Sadoron warriors bore large and small wounds.
It was a completely one-sided fight. The Hyeon mudan's power had made the difference.
Thanks to the Hyeon mudan attacking the rear of the Sadoron and Nokrim, they couldn't even form proper formations and collapsed immediately.
"Arrgh! Why aren't they coming?!"
The man leading the bandits screamed at the cliff, swinging his sword with terrifying force.
He couldn't understand it. Those who were supposed to join them hadn't arrived. He had risked himself for them and believed the mission would succeed because of them, but now, with no backup, the casualties were inevitable.
Several Cheong yong dan warriors fell instantly under his ferocity. Seeing this, Dokgo Un leapt forward to confront him.
"Isn't it about time to end this?"
The man laughed loudly at Dokgo Un's words.
"Uahahaha! Don't make me laugh!"
The man charged, and Dokgo Un lifted his heavy sword.
Kwa-gwang!
With a powerful explosion, fragments of sword energy scattered in all directions. Nearby warriors hurriedly stepped back.
Kwa-gwang!
Bang! Bang!
With successive explosions, the bandit leader's head flew high into the sky.
Though an ordinary bandit leader might have great martial skill, facing Pasando Dokgo Un was an entirely different matter.
With the man's head gone, the remaining Nokrim and Sadoron fled, pursued by the Hyeon mudan.
"Chief, you've done well."
Jegal Jung cheon approached, and Dokgo Un gave a wry smile.
"What have I done? By the way, any major damage?"
"Yes, the damage is less than expected. Bringing the Hyeon mudan stealthily made a big difference."
Dokgo Un nodded.
"Then it's time to see the secret weapon of the Cheongja."