Chapter v7c24

Ma Jin ga’s concerns

“Whoosh!”

The rain furiously struck the ground.

“What should we do about this?”

Ma Jin ga, the head of the Cheonmo Martial Arts Academy, asked in a heavy tone as he looked around.

Whether to set the mood even darker or out of spite from the heavens, a torrential downpour was happening outside.

“It seems there is no other alternative,”

said an elder who stood up to express his opinion, but it was as if his opinion was not heard at all.

“Are you suggesting that we sacrifice the children? Does that make any sense?”

Ma Jin ga’s voice became increasingly agitated. A quiet rage was burning inside another giant.

“However, the leader of the Black Sky faction wants all the children involved in the death of his son, Gal Hyobong. I believe you are well aware that they sent the Iron Calvary of Death as a show of force.”

“Hmm…”

The Iron Calvary of Death! The iron cavalrymen who use warhorses and long spears as weapons! They were terrifying beings who showed how cruel they could be when the battle trained iron cavalrymen mastered the ultimate martial arts.

Human weapons existing for mass slaughter! The mere dispatch of the Iron Calvary of Death was enough to guess the immense anger of the Black Sky faction leader, Gal jeong hyo, and the Martial God Gal Jeung hyeok lurking behind him.

But there was no need for us to be crushed as well. The ones who attacked us without warning were them. The actions of the Ju jakdan ( Vermilion bird Squad ) and the Cheon geom jo (Heavenly Sword Squad ) were self defense. Rather, I felt like a chimney wanting to congratulate and praise everyone for miraculously surviving. But seeing the elders show such a timid attitude made Ma Jin ga feel frustrated.

Ma Jin ga was not the only one feeling frustrated. The elder statesman and sword master, Gongsun Il, was just as heavy hearted as Ma Jin ga.

‘What has happened…?

It’s been days since the regular reports from the team led by Su Dokgo attached to Bi Ryu yeon’s party, whom we tasked with following the enemy, have stopped. He has never forgotten to send a report before. There must have been a problem concerning his safety.

‘It feels like both my eyes and ears are blocked!’

If only Su Dokgo was safe, we might have been able to understand the outline of the incident that occurred at Mount Wudang.

‘Do we have to give up…?

Gongsun Il also had to accept the possibility that Su dokgo might no longer be in this world. His gaze turned back to Ma Jin ga, whose face was reddening. Now, we had no choice but to trust the head’s judgment.

“According to the testimonies of the Ju jakdan ( Vermilion bird Squad ) and the Cheon geom jo (Heavenly Sword Squad ), they were the ones who attacked us first. Does it make sense to bow our heads to them just because of a show of force?”

“But the evidence is weak.”

Another elder stepped forward. It was the Venerable Yeong heo Jin of the Hwasan faction, who was in charge of teaching advanced swordsmanship.

“They claim that their son, who shows signs of mental illness, escaped from prison due to a seizure. Moreover, the masked men who ambushed the Ju jakdan were sent to recapture their son, and they are adamant about it. In addition, the bodies of Cheonji Samsal and his subordinates, who the Ju jakdan claims to have confronted, are nowhere to be found. This puts us at a disadvantage. Moreover, it seems that the Black Sky faction leader, Gal jeong hyo, really does not know about this incident.”

Murmurs could be heard from all around. The elders and the warriors were unable to find a solution.

“Evidence… If only we had evidence…”

The ones who fled with their tails between their legs had cleverly erased all traces and disappeared. Yeom do also bore some responsibility for not managing the scene properly. Who would have known that those who were thought to have completely retreated would return secretly at night to erase all traces and escape? Therefore, it was impossible to present any evidence. The oral testimonies of the officials were too unreliable.

The arrows of blame all flew towards Yeom do. Yeom do tried to ignore them in his heart.

“It’s not a claim; it’s the truth!”

Ma Jin ga finally broke his meditation and showed an irritable reaction. Indeed, they were too stubborn.

“They are demanding the law of blood, the principle of ‘the one who ties the knot must untie it.’ What will you do?”

“We cannot accept their demands!”

Ma Jin ga’s decision was firm.

‘The one who ties the knot must untie it’ means that the person who caused the trouble must take responsibility. This principle, referred to as the law of blood in the dark path, meant that if those involved in the incident could pass through the obstacles, gates, and trials they sent, the incident could be considered as never having happened. In other words, they had to survive on their own. It was a method often used when the truth of an incident could not be clearly determined.

“The ones they sent are the Iron Calvary of Death! I believe you are well aware that the leader of the Iron Calvary of Death might also be the legendary warrior, Jil pung Muk heun Gucheon hak. Sending only the children to face the Iron Calvary of Death, created to specifically deal with peak level masters, and Gucheon hak, is no different from sending them to their deaths. Moreover, the fault lies with them, how can we accept their demands?”

“But we have no evidence to present.”

“The eyes and ears of the children are the evidence.”

Once again, Ma Jin ga slammed the table and raised his voice. Like a squirrel in a wheel, the meeting kept going around in circles.

“I will go!”

All eyes turned to one person. It was the person who had just burst out in anger.

“We have no choice but to face them in a direct confrontation if that’s what they want!”

The person with the blazing eyes was none other than Yeom do.

Even in this decision, there was the hand of Bi Ryu yeon. A devilish whisper thrown by Bi Ryu yeon to Yeom do, who was pondering the situation!

‘You must take responsibility for what you have caused!’

‘Let’s settle it among ourselves!’

Although he was not confident, Yeom do agreed that they had no choice but to do as Bi Ryu yeon said. The responsibility for causing this incident had to be borne entirely by Yeom do instead of Bi Ryu yeon.

‘To lead the children into a dead end…’

Yeom do was well aware of the high reputation of the Iron Calvary of Death. However, he did not feel fear. They might be a group of peak level combatants, but they were not supreme masters. Yeom do was sure of that.

‘I am not afraid!’

Yeom do repeated to himself. Although he seemed fearless, there was indeed something he feared. He was not afraid of anything else, but one thing! The unpredictable actions of Bi Ryu yeon were truly frightening to him.

The Ju jakdan and the Cheon geom jo were exhausted from the events at Mount Wudang. But the world did not give them a moment to rest.

Encounter with The Iron Calvary of Death!

“Wouldn’t it be better to lure them here and then attack?”

Baek Mu yeong pointed to one side of the map as he spoke.

He had come along on this mission under the pretext of being Cheong heun’s friend.

His thought was that he couldn’t let his friend face danger alone.

His action this time, always appearing calm and unmoved by unprofitable matters, was quite unexpected to those around him. Of course, no one refused his company, and so he was able to be here now.

“Then it would be an ambush,”

Cheong heun chimed in from the side. Baek Mu yeong nodded.

“To block their Iron Calvary of Death!, this terrain with dense forests would be advantageous.”

There was no terrain better suited to tie down cavalry than a dense forest. The problem was whether they could actually lure them into the forest. Namgung Sang spoke in a grave tone.

“The question is whether they will fall for it. They are not fools, are they?”

How nice it would be if they were fools! But there was virtually no chance of that. They were The Iron Calvary of Death!, boasting an undefeated record. Underestimating them could lead to serious injury.

“We’ll need bait!” Cheong heun said.

“We are far too few compared to the enemy. This method seems to be the best option. They are a group of peak masters capable of Qi Gong strikes and even grand charges. Only those who have experienced their power firsthand know it. I’ve only heard rumors, but even that is enough to feel their might. I can’t understand what the higher ups at Cheonmu Academy were thinking, entrusting us with such a big task. It’s beyond my common sense!”

After a brief complaint, Baek Mu yeong began to explain his strategy at length. It was a plan that was the epitome of perfection according to military tactics. But there was one person who poured cold water on his perfect plan in the current situation.

“Why do we need to devise such a clever strategy?”

Everyone looked at Bi Ryu yeon with faces of disbelief. Yeom do quickly covered his face with his hands, which had contorted in dismay. He felt despair.

“Before a battle, regardless of its scale or nature, it’s natural to devise strategies. It’s a very common sense thing to do.”

“Is that so?”

Mo Yong hwi frowned slightly at Bi Ryu yeon’s ignorant expression. His unhealed wound throbbed. Despite not being fully healed and everyone advising against it, he had insisted on coming because of his sense of responsibility.

Baek Mu yeong had no choice but to explain, despite the inconvenience. If he didn’t, he instinctively sensed that Bi Ryu yeon might cause some trouble.

“A strategy is essential when a few face many. It’s madness to expose oneself to the enemy without any plan!”

It was a common sense statement that didn’t deviate a single character from what was written in the books. But it didn’t seem to get through…

“Madness…”

The atmosphere became tense as the word was mulled over in their mouths. Namgung Sang was the first to sense this mood. By now, he could somewhat read Bi Ryu yeon’s tendencies.

“Surely… you’re not planning to stand before The Iron Calvary of Death! with nothing but your bare body? That’s…”

The words “That’s the act of a madman!” were too precious to utter, so he swallowed them back down his throat.

“Why? Can’t I?”

Bi Ryu yeon retorted. Namgung Sang didn’t feel grateful for Bi Ryu yeon’s kind confirmation of his foreboding.

“Of course, you can’t.”

“Why?”

“That’s because…”

When asked, no immediate response came to mind.

“That’s because?”

Bi Ryu yeon pressed for an answer.

“That’s… because it goes against common sense.”

“Common sense?”

Bi Ryu yeon looked utterly confused. It seemed he had never once considered something called common sense.

“That’s why you can’t win that way. That’s why we look for the best way to win. That’s common sense.”

“Why is it so complicated?”

Bi Ryu yeon complained.

“It’s common sense. If you go against it, things don’t turn out well, that’s why it’s called common sense!”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Gung sang’s words. Bi Ryu yeon suddenly felt irritated.

“What really is common sense? Who was the first to define common sense?”

There was no way to know. Bi Ryu yeon got up and brushed off his seat. Everyone looked at him sharply puzzledly. Among them were eyes pleading him not to do something ridiculous, begging him to hold back just this once. Most of these desperate gazes belonged to the vermilion Squad.

But for Bi Ryu yeon, who had never once backed down from his stance, such looks were unlikely to have any effect.

“I’ll teach you a new common sense today!”

People who sensed something strange tried to stop him, but Bi Ryu yeon’s figure was already gone from the spot. Where had he disappeared to?

He was disgustingly fast.

“Where did this person disappear to?”

Cheong heun asked bewilderedly. It was a disgrace for a warrior of his caliber not to be able to read his movement.

“Don’t try to find out!”

Namgung Sang advised.

“It’s better not to care, to live without worrying about it, my lord!”

Hyun woon of Yu Un Geom. To Cheong heun, these two were clearly not joking. But what was the embarrassment in their eyes?

“How much more must I be surprised by this man?”

He was inwardly dissatisfied with always being surprised and on the receiving end. Where had Bi Ryu yeon gone?

The members of the vermilion Squad did not want to inform Baek Mu yeong and Cheong heun. They instinctively sensed that the moment they found out, they would have to take on a troublesome task. Namgung Sang and Hyun woon prayed that the matter would end out of their sight.

“Rumble!”

Once again, the sound of common sense collapsing loudly echoed in their heads. They resented having to face such a tragedy again.

“Du du du du du!”

A thunderous roar that shakes the earth, a wave of black horses sweeping across the land!

Flags of jet black, embroidered with valiant black horses, fluttering in the gale! A sharp, dark blue spear piercing the sky! Dark blue armor that even gives a sense of oppression to those who see it!

The flag was fiercely fluttering against the oncoming wind. Although not yet carrying the scent of blood, the reason they had come here was to carry the scent of blood on this bland wind.

“What is this now?”

The deputy leader of the Iron Calvary of Death! Squad,, did not bother to hide his astonishment as he looked at a young man blocking their path. To him, who had been through many battles and crossed the line of life and death, the young man, who seemed to be just about twenty, was nothing more than a simple youth, nothing more, nothing less.

“Wow wow!”

He thought about ignoring the cheerfully waving young man and passing by, but the gale that the Iron Calvary of Death! Squad leader, Gu Cheon Hak, had been leading stopped abruptly at his signal.

There was no one in the north or the south who did not know the reputation of the Iron Calvary of Death! Squad. Their giant tactical charge was a technique that could almost cheat by devastating the entire battlefield.

How ridiculous it must have been for a young upstart to block their way. It was indeed a matter of living long enough to see everything. He had experienced all sorts of absurd things in his life.

“Who are you?”

Instead of the leader Gu Cheon Hak, the deputy leader Wi Musang asked. That was his role, after all.

“Ah, are you talking about me?”

The young man pointed to his chest with his finger and asked back, as if it was not obvious.

“Haha! Such a brazen fellow. Then who else is here besides you?”

Wi Musang laughed sarcastically.

“Do you really want to know?”

The smile on the young man’s lips deepened.

“Would knowing do you any good?”

“It wouldn’t be a loss. You could enjoy the luxury of boasting for decades to come that you’ve met a famous person who will be remembered for a long time. Wouldn’t that be an honor?”

“Hahaha! What an arrogant and self conceited brat you are! Do you realize that just by blocking the Iron Calvary of Death! Squad’s path, you’ve already committed a crime worthy of death?”

“Huh? Now that I think about it, why did we stop?”

Normally, the leader wouldn’t have batted an eyelid at such a thing. Even if he wouldn’t have crushed them, he could have at least jumped over and gone on his way.

Wi Musang glanced at Gu Cheon Hak’s face. But he couldn’t read his expression. Giving up on trying to read the leader’s mood, Wi Musang continued to glare at Bi Ryu yeon with an unchanged fierce look.

“Let’s at least know your name before we kill you.”

Then the young man spoke each character clearly and deliberately.

“Bi , Ryu, Yeon !”

It was a declaration that marked the beginning of the most absurd legend in the history of martial arts.