The formation is being spread out.
As soon as I heard that, I was filled with terror.
You mean we can’t get out unless the formation breaks?
Are you saying you’re going to trap me and force me to train, no, beat me up?!
With that jerk Seohak having escaped, leaving no traces behind, now they’re planning to confine me and punish me with their hellish, twisted, and destructive unknown intentions!
I was trembling all over, but my companions were completely oblivious as they discussed the matters about the formation Master Unknown was creating.
“I plan to spread the formation across this entire mountain.”
The logic of the Unknown Elder was simple.
If we don’t, we’ll have to continually supply food and water, so wouldn’t it take ages just to stockpile that?
The tone made it seem like it was easier to cover an entire mountain with the formation than to wait years to stockpile food.
Recognizing the Unknown Elder’s intentions, my companions immediately sprang into action.
They had to quickly prepare before Jeong Cheol pulled any tricks. It would take at least two Hyeong-gyeong experts to subdue the Unknown Master and launch an attack against us, so we had some time, but who knew what could happen?
A totally unpredictable situation like this could arise.
Preparing to set up the formation was finished at lightning speed.
Here in the territory of Seongsu Mountain, it had been seized by the Huang Nation and proclaimed a no-entry area for civilians.
The Black Cat spread out all the spell scrolls used by the Jeokgwi Daebyeol to their limits.
Tang Do-yeon had transported essential equipment from a nearby village to set up a smithy with the Bicheongmacha.
Tang So-yeol constructed a forge outside the cave using the materials and tools that Tang So-yeon had brought with the cart.
During the time the formation was being set up, we planned to use some non-lethal daggers from Jeokgwi Daebyeol members to make iron.
And I…
“Gasp, huff! Huff!”
Had to carry the pillar for the formation while hiking up the mountain.
“Ha, if a young lad like you is this weak, that won’t do.”
The Unknown Elder mumbled mockingly behind me as if to say he could hear.
Ssssss!
On the outside, it seemed like a leisurely walk, but in reality, he moved faster than I could run up the mountain path, making me sprint just to keep up!
“Hey! Are you spreading the formation just to make it comfy for yourself? The sooner we finish, the safer we become!”
I glared at the Unknown Elder with an aggrieved expression.
If you want to go faster, at least lighten the load!
Here I was, carrying a heavy burden filled with countless iron pillars for the formation in addition to iron bracelets and anklets.
Even a strong man would struggle to move with this kind of weight, let alone me!
In this state, no matter how hard I tried to use my technique, how could I pick up speed?
It wasn’t intentional to be sluggish, but the situation certainly wasn’t inspiring enthusiasm either.
I was carrying the very pillars that would become my cage.
Even if an escape route opened up, if I was pushed too hard, I could easily end up with no escape at all!
After taking a deep breath, I regained strength in my legs. It would be nice if I could at least use exhaustion as an excuse, but my body, which had fully healed in just a day, was frustrating me to no end.
Being weak is a sin, being weak is a sin!
As I continued to chase after the Unknown Elder, his feet finally stopped.
The one moment I welcomed the most had come.
Break time!
“Hmmm, this should be good.”
While the elder inspected the terrain to spread the formation, my rest period began.
Handing over a pillar, I immediately plopped down and started catching my breath. As I huffed and puffed, the Unknown Elder looked at me with an expression of discontent, before suddenly exuding his energy.
Instantaneously, a wave of power enveloped the area—something I had already seen many times today, but it still left me in awe.
Swish!
The pillar floated in the air and then plunged into the ground. About four-sheets long, the pillar quietly burrowed into the earth.
With just the top slightly above ground as if to show, the pillar sank into the earth.
Incredible skill aside, how vast was his energy to produce such an output?
“All done, let’s move. You’ve rested enough; hurry up and get moving.”
It was just as I lifted my heavy body at the Unknown Elder’s urging.
“Hmm?”
The Unknown Elder, who was about to step forward, suddenly paused. His eyes were fixed somewhere, and when I turned to look…
-Ack!
I faintly heard the battle cries of the Jeokgwi Daebyeol members.
Seeing a red spot, it seemed like Kang Chumo-ru was in command. The way the Jeokgwi Daebyeol members immediately collapsed suggested that their replies didn’t sit well with him.
-Aaack!
This time, the response was much clearer.
Hmm.
Watching that scene, I could easily grasp Kang Chumo-ru’s thoughts. With Imperial Army princess Hyeok Gi-rin nearby, he’d surely think that she might come to check on the training or the noise.
Well, even if one day he becomes a great general, currently, Kang Chumo-ru lacked sufficient command experience and was essentially a temporary operator of a trial special unit, so he must be desperate for a full-time position.
That guy. You have no choice but to be an ‘official’ too.
I offered a moment of silence for the Jeokgwi Daebyeol members.
The Unknown Elder seemed quite impressed by the sight of the Jeokgwi Daebyeol.
“Hmmm. There are some fascinating troops out there. I thought your outfit was strange, but the Imperial Army is dressing like that in unison.”
It seemed he was curious about the Jeokgwi Daebyeol’s bizarre appearance. He paused for a moment.
I held my breath, hoping the Unknown Elder wouldn’t turn his attention to me, as the blood-splashing exercise was just about to begin.
“O-ho, is that the Imperial Army’s training method? Blood Splashing Exercise No. 1? Those are some moves I’ve never seen before.”
The Unknown Elder stroked his beard as he watched the blood-splashing exercise for a while.
“True to their name, the Imperial Army focuses rigidly on physical training. For their level, their bodies are quite sturdy.”
To think he could assess someone’s figure while observing people from a distance! Nothing surprises me anymore.
But…
Why is he looking at me while watching those blood-splashing exercise moves?
In a moment of panic, as a chill ran down my spine, I hastily spoke up.
“U-um, Master! We’ve had enough rest, shouldn’t we move to set up the formation? The training for the Imperial Army soldiers is fundamentally different from the martial arts training!”
“Tsk, tsk. That’s exactly why it won’t work. When you come across someone on the road, if there’s something to learn, you should learn from them; that’s the way of the wise. To be so prejudiced just because they’re from the Imperial Army…”
“Y-your realm has already reached the heavens, so I shall strive to follow in your footsteps! My eagerness to learn from you is immense, so please, let’s set up the formation quickly and begin our training!”
However, the Unknown Elder was too focused on observing the Jeokgwi Daebyeol, ignoring whatever I had to say.
Oh no.
Not the flexibility! Please!
“M-Master…!”
Wham!
Stars flashed before my eyes.
“Guaak!”
“Could you be a bit quieter? I can’t concentrate with all this noise!”
As I endured a second smack for speaking up, I had no choice but to fall silent, while the Unknown Master savored everything from the first through the fourteenth moves of the blood-splashing exercise.
“That seems useful.”
“…Master?”
“Alright, let’s move. We’ve rested long enough, let’s quickly wrap up the placement of the pillars by today.”
“Ha… ha…”
I began shifting my feet, following the Master’s departing figure, reluctant to lag behind.
Even after the long rest enough to cool down, I found my legs trembling.
*
The time had come to decide whether to remain in the formation or leave.
The Unknown Elder had announced the formation would be spread once Ho Cheon-an’s training finished.
“Hmmm…”
The Black Cat cast a wry smile at the dazed Miss Yeo Il-ye. While she couldn’t outright say it, she had been trying various tricks to prevent the Hyeok Gi-rin from remaining within the formation.
In the end, it resulted in confirming Hyeok Gi-rin’s solid resolution time after time, and Miss Yeo Il-ye was now withering away like grass exposed to the scorching sun.
After all, she would be in there long enough; now that the shock was fading, the Black Cat thought she should eventually talk about what was agreed with Hyeok Gi-rin while glancing over at Tang So-yeol and Tang Do-yeon.
“Are you two planning to stay as well?”
Tang So-yeol giggled and replied.
“Of course! There’s the most fascinating spectacle in the world right here.”
The Black Cat followed Tang So-yeol’s gaze.
“Blood Splashing Exercise No. 8, thirty reps!”
“Gaaah! Master! That’s way too much for just number eight! Consider the balance!”
“Oh, is that so? I intended to do two rounds of number eight, but if you say that, I’ll mix number eight up and end with number ten to balance it out, then finish with number eight, alright?”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
“Hahaha, hearing my grandchild so happy makes me happy too! Oh no, my legs are dropping! If you love dropping, I should do it myself!”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Whew.”
The Black Cat shook her head at the sight of Ho Cheon-an’s groans and the Unknown Elder kicking Ho Cheon-an’s legs while Tang So-yeol cracked up at Ho Cheon-an’s screeches.
“What’s happening, this is… If I leave alone, what can I do? I’m planning to go into closed training as well.”
“Is that so?”
The Black Cat thought while observing Tang Do-yeon, who wore a calm smile.
On the outside, she was smiling, but internally the situation wasn’t as rosy.
Tang Do-yeon was a diligent martial artist, except when it came to the matter of the Bicheongmacha, which drove her to distraction. After traveling together, she had secretly dedicated herself to training, even losing to Jeong Cheol in the process.
‘It seems the martial artist spirit has truly been stimulated.’
In the end, everyone decided to stay. The Black Cat ran her fingers through her hair, smiling wryly.
With her hair now completely white, she’d let loose the reins she’d held on her Qi until her innate energy erupted.
Fortunately, the Unknown Elder’s appearance granted her no unfortunate incidents while unleashing her innate energy, but her efforts to digest the Qi had gone in vain.
The Black Cat clenched her fist. It wasn’t all losses. She had gained confidence that this was a secret weapon capable of transcending levels through practical training.
So she had to polish this weapon to its utmost!
‘I need to get stronger.’
Hyeok Gi-rin smiled brightly.
“Then I guess everyone sticks around. I don’t know how long it will last, but I look forward to it.”
“Of course! As long as I’m with the cute Miss Hyeok Gi-rin, I could stay here for years!”
“Hehe, I look forward to it.”
“Sure, I’ll take care of weapon maintenance.”
“Sigh, I guess I have no choice. I look forward to your support, Master.”
Everyone vowed to achieve their goals within the formation, strengthening their resolve and camaraderie.
“Blood Splashing Exercise No. 11!”
“Aaahhhhhh!!”
With Ho Cheon-an’s furious protests, the long closed training began.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.