Since returning from Hongseong, peaceful days have continued without much incident.
As autumn approached, the sky was high and blue, and people passing by wore smiles on their faces.
Based on this tranquility, my accounts were mostly showing a surplus, so I hoped this peace would persist.
Of course, I knew all too well that the world wasn’t that simple.
After finishing my training with Chaejin, I was just getting into my work when I sensed something odd from a report of a guest’s arrival.
Ah, looks like trouble has finally struck.
I quickly headed downstairs and found a shabby old man sitting at the inn, waiting for me.
He was Hano, the branch chief of Hao-mun, with whom I had partnered.
“You didn’t come all the way here just for some medicinal cuisine, did you? Let’s head to my room.”
I led Hano to my room and asked as soon as we entered, “Has Samagun moved?”
“Yeah.”
Hano’s previously relaxed expression, which had worn a cheerful smile just moments ago, turned serious.
He immediately pulled out documents, and the cluttered table, filled with records of items for sale from the store and medicinal materials, was soon overflowing with the information Hano brought.
Most of it was information regarding the new Black Flame Alliance beginning to move, and the most recent report stated that Samagun had defeated the Black Mist Priest and absorbed the massive faction known as the Black Mist Palace to advance onwards.
“Fortunately, it seems Samagun isn’t leading many directly himself.”
“Hmm. According to Hao-mun’s assessment, the numbers aren’t many. But their strength is a problem.”
At the forefront was Samagun, the leader of the new Black Flame Alliance, alongside the elite of the former Black Flame Alliance, the Black Mist Palace, and the followers that had previously sided with him.
I scrutinized the list of factions that supported Samagun. At least seven or more mid-sized sects were moving alongside him.
That many factions moving simultaneously would surely be a stretch for them…
The Empire isn’t foolish. If armed masters moved en masse, they’d likely feel threatened and begin inspecting.
When I mentioned this, Hano nodded.
“They aren’t fools either. It’s likely some samurai following Samagun and the former warriors of the Black Mist Palace are moving together while the rest operate separately. Once Samagun truly begins to tear down Seomhwa Village, they’ll regroup. They’ll want the achievement of having helped take down a powerful enemy like the Sword Saint.”
If they operate separately but regroup later, they wouldn’t necessarily be caught during inspections.
It’s rare for martial artists to move like that, but not unheard of.
Especially since they’re not entering a town or castle, just traveling, and if they mention the objective of the current Black Flame Alliance, it would be difficult to stop them recklessly.
Unless they were carrying prohibited items, of course.
“The assumption that they’d pass through here and head straight for the Black Flame Alliance…”
Of course, that was highly unlikely. The goal of the Cheolhyeol Master backing Samagun was the Hongseong Mountain, not the Black Flame Alliance.
Still, holding on to a sliver of hope, I asked, but Hano shook his head.
“I doubt it. According to the investigation conducted by Hao-mun, they’ll definitely come here.”
“Tsk.”
“However, I noticed on my way in that your defenses are quite solid.”
Reinforced wooden barriers, means to attack enemies from the top of those barriers, lookout towers, and all sorts of other fortifications.
It seemed he had observed a lot of measures while coming to Seomhwa Village.
It looks like you’ve seen a lot of things here and there.
When Hano smiled and assessed the situation, I felt a bit of relief.
“That means what we have to do hasn’t changed much.”
“Well… I guess that’s one way to look at it? Anyway, they are part of the Sa-pa and are drawn to the power of the new Master of the Dark Vessel, Samagun, so if we just get rid of that focal point, they’ll return to their respective places.”
In other words, we should just keep gathering supplies diligently and keep training hard as usual.
As planned, we would defeat the enemy.
“Well… We can somehow handle any rogue swordsmen or the Sa-pa that are not part of the main force. But if Seomhwa Village is breached…”
Is that what it means to have no answer? I smiled at Hano.
“That’s enough for me. But who will step up? Wanghui wouldn’t just sit back and watch, right?”
“Of course, we got some support. The experts he sent will disguise themselves as Hao-mun and move alongside us, and on the Sa-pa side, the Jin Gwon-dang will take the lead.”
Oh, Jin Gwon-dang.
It’s nice to see the bonds we forged back then still alive and offering help.
“But remember, the key point is to stop Samagun in Seomhwa Village. If we lose here… we’ll have no choice but to retreat.”
It was a cold yet completely rational statement from Hano, and I shrugged.
Hano, who had been gazing at me intently, spoke with a tone full of bitterness, as if he had just bitten into something sour.
“I’m sorry. It feels like I’m leaving the hardest and most important task solely to you…”
“I understand. You must have people you need to take care of too. Still, please tell Wanghui to make sure he gets the rewards for this fight once it’s over.”
“Haha. Of course.”
“Anyway, since you came, let’s have a meal… and take a few days to rest.”
“I really want to, but there’s still work to be done. I need to go ask for help from the other Sa-pa who are still watching from a distance.”
So you intend to gather as many as possible?
I clasped my hands toward Hano.
“I hope you have good luck.”
“I’ll treat you well next time.”
I shook my head, smiling at him.
“It seems like I should be the one treating you.”
After all, he’s been helping out way more than our scenario calls for.
After Hano left, I called everyone together and shared the information I gathered from him.
The local leader, Sword Saint Na Yerin, Hongryeon, as well as Chaeran and Chaejin.
As they nodded seriously in the inn, I was left alone and stepped into the backyard, rolling a cigarette between my fingers.
“Are you feeling uneasy?”
I thought the Sword Saint and Hongryeon had already left, but they approached.
Their eyes showed concern for me, and so I smiled.
“I’m not anxious at all.”
“You always seem so confident; it’s nice to see.”
“I’ve done what I can.”
“Then… we’ll just do what we can too. I need to go back and train some more. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Master.”
I watched as the two of them bowed and left. Just then, two others dressed similarly came out of the inn.
It was the Chae sisters, Chaejin and Chaeran.
“Are you feeling uneasy?”
“Not at all.”
“Haha. You really are cool.”
In response to Chaejin’s question, Chaeran beamed at me with a bright smile. Perhaps it was because of her relaxed smile? I felt a lot more at ease too.
Chaeran smiled brightly. Was it thanks to her relaxed smile? I felt more at ease too.
Once they left for training and I was left alone in the backyard, I began to draw in the smoke of the cigarette and exhale it.
I had done everything I could.
I reduced the number of enemies that would participate in this attack, and Hao-mun and Wanghui moved as well.
Additionally, I borrowed troops from Cheonilhwa, and even Gi Noya and Wiyeol joined in.
Is that all? Chaeran and the members of the Moonlight Squad are here too.
Hongseong had surprisingly grown much stronger, and Seomhwa Village had also progressed, with improved equipment and resources.
The forces of Cheolhyeol Master, who appeared as enemies in Heavenly Bright Moon, and the new Thunder Soul Master, Samagun.
And the current strengths of our powerful warriors.
No matter how I calculated it, we would win.
I exhaled the smoke from the cigarette.
As I said earlier, I wasn’t the least bit anxious.
This is why people seek experienced individuals.
Heaven had planned and executed the annihilation of Hongseong.
It indeed happened in Heavenly Bright Moon, but I, we…
Broke Heaven’s will once.
Then what is there that we can’t do twice?
I just need to do everything I can.
The middle-aged man with a deep scar around his eyes raised his head.
In front of him stood numerous armed warriors.
The man’s eyes, staring at them, were filled with pride.
It had been more than a decade since he had tucked in with the Shaheulryeon. Now, it was finally time to reveal his power.
The middle-aged man, Thunder Soul Master Samagun, recalled the past.
It must have been fate for a battered warrior to fall in front of a third-rate nobody like him, who had merely been rolling around in back alleys.
It must have been fate that there was a big rock right next to him, perfect for hitting a person.
Thus, acquiring the secret book of Thunder Soul Martial Arts and the elixir known as Thunder Soul Pill must have also been fate.
It was all fate that led him to stand here.
He obtained the secret techniques of Thunder Soul Martial Arts and the essential elixirs to master it, killing many people in the process. Thus, he ingrained the Thunder Soul Martial Arts into his body.
Is killing others really that important when learning a powerful yet dangerous martial art that manipulates thunder?
What mattered was that he held his own fate in his hands.
Look at that. Thus, a third-rate nobody like him could defeat the famous lord of the Dark Realm, Huakham. Didn’t he even gain the power of the Dark Realm?
In the end, everything is determined by strength.
So, isn’t it also fate that those dissatisfied with the way of Thunder Soul Master Wanghui came under his command?
Thus, this too is fate.
“Don’t you think so?”
As he arrogantly spoke, the middle-aged woman next to him bowed her head politely.
A smile appeared on Samagun’s face as he gazed at her.
The Dark Realm could be ambushed anywhere, anytime. Especially for those powerful individuals like him, who relied solely on strength without any special powers.
It was that woman who reached out her hand to him.
Years ago, she came to him, offering to follow him, providing a wealth of resources and subordinates.
Not only the powerful warriors she provided, who acted like his own limbs, but her martial arts were extraordinary too.
So he asked.
Why are you following me? And he still couldn’t forget her answer from that time.
“Yoo Hyo-jin. You said back then.”
“Hehe, yes.”
“It’s fate.”
“Yes, it’s fate. Meeting you, and following you.”
With Yoo Hyo-jin’s smile, Samagun laughed even more deeply.
“Yes. It’s fate.”
Meeting Yoo Hyo-jin was fate, indeed.
Now, becoming the master of the Dark Blood Alliance was also destined.
The cowardly ones who had only been watching would fall in line once Wanghui’s head rolled.
The underworld operates on the law of the jungle.
So…
“…let’s go.”
It was just a show of strength.
And the first target was the powerful faction of the righteous, Hongseong.
“I will become the ruler of the world.”
At Samagun’s declaration, his subordinates, now called the Thunder Warriors, raised their weapons and roared.
Meanwhile, Yoo Hyo-jin watched him.
The Iron Blood Clan’s Iron Blood Kim then faintly smiled.
It wasn’t hard to recruit the talented yet impulsive and brutal Samagun, who always walked alone.
Using his simplistic nature to destroy places where spirits gathered and leading him as he pleased was also easy.
But who would have thought this idiot of an Iron Blood Master would fail and create such an opportunity for him?
It’s unfortunate to lose Jo-yo, but such subordinates could easily be replaced.
There are plenty of talented people in the Iron Blood Clan.
So, channeling the spirit of Hongseong Mountain and causing chaos in the world…
And holding the rampaging spirit of Hongseong Mountain in his hands to become the true master of the Iron Blood Clan…
All of this happening through his own hands would be…
“It must be the fate that heaven desires.”
A cruel smile appeared on Yoo Hyo-jin’s face, which had just seemed so innocent moments ago.
“Oh, by the way, I heard there’s a deployment in Seomhwa Village. Do you think we can attack both Hongseong and Seomhwa?”
“Hehe.”
Iron Blood Kim also knew of this. But what did that matter?
“That’s something we can handle perfectly well. Also…”
-Swiish..!!
At her gentle gesture, the ten spears that had been lying behind her moved. As the oddly shaped spears flew to her side, Samagun smiled.
“We’ve captured enough evil monsters to fill ten spears with their power. You know what that means.”
As she said, Samagun knew too.
Those spirit spears, enhanced by absorbing the blood and flesh of countless monsters, had turned his former adversaries into mere puddles of blood.
That’s why Samagun smiled confidently.
“Indeed. Good.”
As he nodded and turned, Iron Blood Kim coldly sneered.
Samagun might think his ultimate destination is the Dark Blood Alliance, but…
Her actual endgame was just Seomhwa Village.
Once she unleashed the spirit of Hongseong Mountain, the rest would be nothing more than a side quest.
Therefore, she walked gracefully, accepting Samagun’s arrogance with a smile.
After all, this task was nearing its final moments.
“I will obey your orders.”
With a bright smile, full of sincerity, she nodded respectfully.
“Lord of the Dark Blood Alliance.”
At that single word, Samagun was grinning with delight.
Unbeknownst to him, that sweet word was a poison from one using him.
And…
Unaware that those waiting for them were the ones destined to dismantle fate.
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