Chapter 53 Dispatch-3

Chapter 53: Dispatch-3

Hyu Jasung, leader of the Eighth Division of the Shadow Corps under the Martial Alliance, gritted his teeth in unbearable rage.

“Dogs and pigs? How dare they…”

Could there be a more accurate condemnation of those who obey superior orders without discerning right from wrong? Those of the Shadow Division.

I even began to wonder if they were mocking me, knowing something I didn’t.

How much time had it taken to turn away from that self-loathing?

Just when I thought I could finally carry out my duties without any emotion, a mere member of the Dragon Squad had dug right back into that wound.

After chewing on his anger for a while, Hyujaseung finally let out a hollow laugh.

Yeah, he was right.

He was no better than a pig or a dog now.

But what else could he do?

If you can’t escape being a dog or a pig, you might as well become a more faithful dog.

Hujaseung commanded his subordinates.

“Summon the Seventh and Eighth Squads immediately. We must eliminate about thirty members of the Flying Dragon Corps attempting to desert the front lines.”

“Yes, squad leader!”

He ultimately decided to deal with them according to his own feelings.

After all, if he was destined to be a dog or a pig, couldn’t he at least dispose of those who annoyed him as he pleased?

The Shadow Corps had been granted the authority to eliminate rogue soldiers attempting to desert the front lines and report afterward, so there was nothing to hold him back.

The monk smiled bitterly, thinking that if dying was the price for reopening his own wounds, it wouldn’t feel so unjust.

***

Shadow Division Seventh Squad leader Jeon Sang-gu raced through the forest like a hawk with his squad members, shouting.

“Hurry up! We need to reach the target location and set up ambush first!”

“Yes, Squad Leader!”

Jeon Sang-gu felt his heart pounding with excitement for the first time in ages.

It was a rare opportunity for murder.

Recently, his sector had been devoid of targets for execution, leaving him bored.

But suddenly, an opportunity arose to kill over thirty people—this was something I absolutely couldn’t pass up.

If possible, he wanted to take care of them all himself.

Jeon Sang-gu enjoyed killing.

He even thought that without the thrill murder provided, he could never have endured this tedious life in the Shadow Corps.

Of course, he too had initially felt repulsed by the idea of slaughtering righteous faction warriors.

But aren’t humans creatures of adaptation?

Now, he had shed all guilt and had reached a state where he could purely enjoy killing.

And in the Shadowlands, there were many other warriors who had come to relish murder in the same way.

It was while they were racing through the forest like the wind.

Suddenly, a figure standing ahead caught their eye.

A black martial arts robe, a deeply pulled-down hood—it was the very attire of a member of the Shadow Corps.

Seeing this, Jeon Sang-gu shouted to his team members.

“Halt! Everyone, halt immediately!”

Then he stepped forward first, approaching the figure in black.

“Are you a member of the Eighth Squad?!”

But the man, who had slightly lifted his bamboo hat to reveal his face, did not answer him. Instead, he asked Jeon Sang-gu.

“Is that Squad Leader Jeon Sang-gu?”

Recognizing his face, Jeon Sang-gu asked back in surprise.

“You’re Squad Leader Saak Muhun?! Why is Squad Leader Saak here?”

That was when it happened.

Suddenly, screams from the squad members echoed from behind.

“Gah!”

“Gah!”

“Ugh!”

Startled, I turned around to see three men and women who had appeared from somewhere ambushing and slaughtering my team members.

They must have been hiding.

“Who the hell are you?!”

Just as I drew my sword to charge at them,

Thud!

A sword pierced Jeon Sang-gu’s back, the tip protruding from his chest.

“Gah!”

I couldn’t understand.

Turning his head to look behind him, he saw the face of Squad Leader Sa, Sakmuhun.

Why was he… targeting me?

“Why…?”

By the time Jeon Sang-gu finished speaking, he had already breathed his last. Sak Muheun had drawn his sword and was already charging at another squad member.

“S-Squad Leader?!”

Alongside Seventh Squad Leader Jeon Sang-gu, Seventh Squad Member Yi Ho—a martial artist at his peak—hurriedly swung his sword to defend.

But it was impossible to block the sword of Sak Muheun, acknowledged as the best among all Shadow Corps members.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

With just a few clashes, his sword was flung aside against his will. Then, through his wide-open chest, Sakmuhun’s blade sliced through the air as lightly as a breeze.

Shwaaak!

It was a swift cut so natural it felt almost painless.

As Sakmuhun moved away from him to attack another team member, blood spurted from his chest, split open a beat too late.

Puhah!

“Gahhh!”

The Seventh Squad Leader, Jeon Sang-gu, and the First Squad Leader, Lee Ho, both at the peak of their abilities, knew their squad leader was dying, yet neither could turn their eyes toward him.

A man wielding steel hojo in both hands was charging toward him as if traversing a barren wasteland.

It was Seolpung.

Three of his comrades were flung aside, blood spattering as if caught in a storm, where he had just passed.

Puhahhah!

“Kraaah!”

“Hwaaah!”

“Aaaah!”

Though not particularly large in stature, to Il-ho’s eyes, it seemed like a colossal tiger pouncing.

The momentum was overwhelming.

Overwhelmed by Lee Dae-ron’s momentum, Il Ho seemed unable to fight back. Yet he forced out a battle cry and thrust his sword toward the oncoming blizzard.

“Gahhhhh!”

Shwaaah!

A yellow sword aura pierced the space like a spear tip.

It was a thrust of his utmost strength.

Just as that lightning-fast thrust was about to pierce Seolpung’s head, Seolpung roared and lashed out with the Fierce Tiger Strike.

“Haah!”

Kaaang!

“Guh?!”

With tremendous force, the sword lost its direction and flew off to the side.

It was a force utterly beyond control.

And simultaneously, four steel claws like beams of light slashed toward him with the opposite hand.

The brilliant crimson aura gathered upon them was the last sight Yi Ho could see.

Puhwaak!

Seon Woo-jin, hiding with Hae Cheong-yeon and Seol Pung, struck first, killing two in a surprise attack.

The stealth technique Seonwoo Jin had mastered from the Thousand-Year Secret Art had now reached such a level that even the members of the Shadow Corps could not sense his presence until the very moment of death.

Only when Seon Woo-jin’s sword slowly rose from the shadows and drew a line through the world did their consciousness naturally fade away.

Shwaaak!

“!”

“!”

Then, Seonwoo Jin immediately charged toward another member of the Shadow Corps alongside Hae Cheongyeon and Seolpung.

As the Divine Response of the Sunwoo Thirteen Swords spread its dazzling wings before the Shadow Corps member’s eyes, the flustered opponent wildly swung his sword, attempting to knock it down.

“Ugh?!”

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

In that instant, a beam of light shot from the center of the wings, piercing his chest.

Thud!

“Gah?!”

Guk-kwae’s thrust was so swift he couldn’t even react—it was the momentary strike of the Four-One Sword Technique, now perfected even in its internal energy application.

Satisfied with the seamless transition between the Sunwoo Thirteen Swords and the Four-One Sword Technique, Sunwoo Jin let out a sly grin.

After killing the third one and glancing around, he saw Hae Cheong-yeon beside him just finishing off someone else with the Seongra Sword Technique.

Then, Seonwoo Jin casually wiped the blood from his sword and surveyed the area with ease.

They seemed to have no need to move any further.

In the brief moment Seonwoo Jin and Hae Cheongyeon each killed one, Seolpung had taken down four, and Sakmuhun had disposed of three, including the leader of the Eumyeongdae squad.

Seon Woo-jin sheathed his sword and addressed Hae Cheong-yeon.

“It’s almost too easy. It feels rather hollow.”

“It was a surprise attack. It was only possible because Brother Sak was there. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been this easy.”

“Well, I suppose that’s true.”

Seon Woo-jin watched Sak Muhun, who had just finished off three men and was sheathing his sword, with a satisfied smile.

He couldn’t begin to express how much easier things had become with him around.

Before leaving for Meng, Sword Saint Haeunbaek had asked Sak Muhun, who had become his unnamed disciple, to take charge of Haecheongyeon’s covert protection.

Sak Muhun had readily agreed, of course, and thanks to that, the Seventh Division had effectively become an elite unit boasting four peak masters.

Moreover, it’s not just any four people at the beginning of their peak—it includes two masters with over seventy years of cultivation. So now, it’s not just a single squad; you could say it’s almost on par with the core combat power of a decent Biyong Squad.

After that, Hae Cheong-yeon had been entrusting him with various covert tasks.

In fact, it was thanks to Xue Wuxin that he had been able to find the Haomen branch so easily on his first visit to Xianwei.

This time too, after provoking the Shadow Corps members, Sun Wujin had asked Saek Muhun to pursue them.

They figured that since they’d already made the provocation, there would be some kind of reaction.

Sure enough, Sak Muhun, the strongest member of the Shadow Unit, secretly followed them and determined their subsequent course of action.

The best outcome Seon Woo-jin had anticipated for their next move was that they would contact Myeong and agree to leave him alone.

‘I hoped they’d choose that option if possible…’

With nearly thirty men and no real justification to send them back to the front lines, he thought they might simply decide to leave them be.

But even if they came back to persuade us after contacting Maeng, I suppose I could understand.

They couldn’t disobey orders from above, but at least it meant they were trying to avoid conflict.

The worst-case scenario they had imagined was that the enemy would decide to kill them.

Then they would have no choice but to kill them too.

‘But then… I never imagined they’d choose a decision even worse than that.’

The decision Sakmuhun uncovered was nothing short of astonishing.

They had decided to kill him on their own accord, without informing Maeng.

Therefore, there was no need to consider the situation within the alliance anymore.

In fact, their failure to report to the alliance made things easier.

Therefore, Seolpung, Seonwoojin, and Haecheongyeon decided to move first with Sakmuhun.

Since they already knew the plan to gather three groups for the ambush and had preemptively determined which direction the other groups would come from, there was no need to wait.

The result was precisely the situation unfolding now.

The Shadow Division’s Seventh Regiment was instead defeated in a surprise attack, each unit isolated and destroyed.

Finally, as the head of the Seventh Squad’s First Unit was torn into five pieces by Seolpung’s Mighty Tiger Squad, Sakmuhun declared.

“Let’s just dispose of the bodies and move on. I wanted to defeat all three squads individually if possible, but time won’t allow for the rest.”

Yet despite the relatively easy battle, Sakmuhun’s face looked extremely somber as he spoke.

He seemed uneasy, likely because he had killed members of the Shadow Corps who were in the same predicament with his own hands.

His troubled expression prompted the group to exchange quick glances. Seolpung spoke on their behalf.

“Brother Sakh, if you’re not comfortable, we can manage on our own.”

“That’s right, Brother Sak. You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”

“Yes, it’s enough that you scouted them for us.”

But Sak Muhun shook his head with a bitter smile.

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… I think I understand why they made that choice. It happens quite often. You see, when you’re in the Shadow Corps, killing unarmed people, there comes a point where some people start to enjoy it. Most of the members who carry out summary executions without reporting, even when it’s not an urgent matter, were like that.”

Having said that much, he let out a deep sigh and continued.

“Isn’t it laughable? Those who joined the Martial Alliance in pursuit of righteousness and camaraderie have somehow come to relish killing the innocent. And to think such people later become part of the Alliance’s official military force.”

Saku Muhun muttered this as if to himself, then shook his head and laughed.

“I shouldn’t have wasted time on such nonsense. Come, let’s go.”

Then, Hae Cheong-yeon said to him.

“It can be changed.”

“Hm?”

Looking at Sakmuhun, who stared at him with a puzzled expression at his words, Haecheongyeon said firmly.

“Trust Father, brother. While what’s already done can’t be undone, he’ll at least ensure it doesn’t happen again. And you can play a part in that too.”

Sakmuhun, who had been looking at her with a complex expression, finally smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I trust the elders and our master too.”

***

Hyu Jasung, the eighth squad leader of the Shadow Brigade, frowned while lying in ambush within the thicket.

He could see the targets approaching their ambush point ahead.

However, even now that the targets had arrived, the members of the Seventh Squad had yet to show up.

Team Leader Jeon Sang-gu wasn’t the type to get caught up in something like this.

It was strange.

At that moment, Yang Won-dang, the leader of the Ninth Squad, sent a telepathic message.

– What should we do? Should we just proceed on our own?

Hyu Jasung looked over the approaching execution targets once more.

There were twenty-five of them. Though three had defected, leaving them fewer than when first spotted, they were still a formidable force for just two squads of twenty-two men to face.

Moreover, wasn’t the master of the Twelve Dragon Clans, the Vicious Demon Warrior Man Jong-im, a master with over eighty years of cultivation?

If they made a mistake, it seemed likely their own side would suffer casualties.

Currently, their side had only four peak masters: two in the Eighth Sect and two in the Ninth Sect.

If the Seventh Sect, with its three peak masters, had joined, they would have had seven—no need for worry at all…

After much deliberation, the monk decided to let this opportunity pass for now.

It was because I thought it would be better to join the Seventh Squad and wait for another chance, even if it took longer, rather than take the risk.

– This time, let them pass. It’s better to join up with the Seventh Squad and wait for the next opportunity. Maintain the Guishida Fa and relay this to the old squad members so we can let them go.

– Understood.

After sending that telepathic message, the monk sent another to his own squad members, instructing them to remain hidden.

Then, concealed, they waited for the ten thousand troops to pass.

He did not worry about being discovered by the enemy.

Their stealth skills, honed through mastering the assassin techniques of the Blood-Stained Sword, were nearly flawless.

Hujaseung was confident.

The probability of being discovered while simply lying in wait, not even launching an attack, was practically nonexistent—unless someone decided to charge madly at the enemy.

Yes, unless someone charged out at the enemy.

But that very thing happened.

It was when the Manjongim passed by their hiding spot.

Suddenly, one of the Shadow Corps members shouted loudly.

“Attack!”

Then he was the first to charge toward the enemy.

Startled by the sight, the monk cried out.

“You fool?!”

Seeing that he wasn’t part of his own squad, it seemed someone from the old squad hadn’t received the message properly.

But there was no time to panic.

Chai-ang!

“Who the hell are you?!”

He saw the sword of the attacking Shadow Corps member blocked by a single Dragon Corps member who had drawn his sword like lightning.

Hyu Jasung couldn’t tell, but it was Biseyoung.

“What?!”

“It’s an ambush!”

Startled by the ambush, the Dragon Squad members drew their weapons and assumed defensive stances. Amidst the chaos, several Shadow Squad members had already bolted out in a panic, following the first member who had dashed ahead.

Clang!

“Assassins!”

“Watch out!”

The Shadow Squad members who had rushed out to attack found themselves alone outside, panicking and not knowing what to do.

It was utter chaos.

Gritting his teeth, Hyujaseung shouted.

“Strike them all! Hit them all at once, then break off immediately!”

Then, charging out like a whirlwind himself, he hurled a hidden weapon at the Twelve Great Masters’ Manjongim.

Whoosh!

Even in that desperate situation, he believed someone had to hold Manjong-im back.

But Manjongim, already alert to his surroundings, easily blocked the attack.

Clang!

Then, as he clashed swords with the monk who had flown in after the dagger,

Clang!

As the other members of the Shadow Corps rushed out to repel the projectiles after the monk, three figures suddenly appeared behind them, striking like ghosts.

“Haah!”

Thud!

“Gah?!”

It was Seolpung.

Seolpung’s Myeonghojo had pierced the back of the neck of the former squad leader, Yang Wongdang.

It was a surprise attack from the rear, leaving him no chance to defend himself.

It wasn’t just Seolpung.

On the other side, Seonwoo Jin’s Thirteen Swords of Seonwoo swept through two Shadow Corps members with an illusory sword strike that seemed to unfold like a giant wing.

Shwaaah!

“Ugh?!”

“Wh-what the hell is this?!”

As the Shadow Corps members panicked at the massive wings of light descending from behind, those wings scattered into slashes of light, slicing them apart.

Puuwaaah!

“Kraaah!”

“Gaaaah!”

The bloodied Shadow Corps members fell, dying as they plummeted to the ground.

It was a chained strike, transitioning from Shin-eung Biseong—Seonwoo Jin’s most favored technique—to Shin-eung Pyeok.

Beside Seon Woo-jin, Hae Cheong-yeon’s Seongra Sword Technique was unfolding.

Haecheongyeon’s sword, prioritizing speed over technique, flew in like a shooting star, instantly piercing through the backs of two men.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

“Gah!”

“Aaargh!”

The shadow warriors couldn’t react to the lightning-fast attack—the swiftest thrust of the Seongra Sword Technique, Comet Black.

Hyu Ja-seung, locked in a sword clash with Man Jong-im, could only panic.

The surprise attack from behind had thrown the other members into disarray, causing them to crumble.

Two fell to the blade of Jianchang Sword Master Je Won-yeong, and another breathed their last under the sword of Squad Leader Do Mu-gon of the Twelfth Squad.

Hyu Jasung’s heart raced.

This was bad. At this rate, we’d be wiped out in an instant.

“Retreat! Everyone retreat and break formation!”

Shouting that, Hyujaseung scattered all the remaining daggers at Manjongim and immediately launched himself forward.

Whoosh!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Where do you think you’re running?!”

Man Jong-im, having parried the projectiles, also attempted to leap after him.

But then someone shouted.

“Don’t chase him, Lord!”

“Huh?!”

The fleeting sight of Manjong-im hesitating at that voice caught the monk’s eye.

Meanwhile, the monk fled into the forest with all his might. He didn’t know why he’d been told not to pursue, but it couldn’t have been anything but fortunate.

Once he had gained some distance from the enemies, Hujaseung finally had the leisure to look around.

He could see several members of the Shadow Corps following him. There were eight in total. Including himself, only eight had managed to escape from there.

It was unbelievable.