Chapter 111 - Underworld Night March

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

Seong Moran pounded the dirt floor.

Every time she swung her hands, dirt scattered, and blood streamed from her hands, but neither Namgung Seonhwa nor Cho Mubin could step forward.

"Damn it."

Everyone quietly waited for her, knowing the only way she could quench her explosive, burning anger was by hurting her own hands.

"Ugh..."

Everyone who heard Yong So-ah's story felt similarly to Seong Moran.

Being treated as useless, expendable pawns could not help but leave a deep wound in anyone.

"Haa..."

Seong Moran, having covered both her hands in wounds, stared blankly before catching her breath.

"Young Master Jin."

"Yes."

"I will stay here."

"..."

Seong Moran pulled out a small, rattling pouch from her chest.

"I knew you were overworking yourself all this time, Young Master Jin. So please, do not feel guilty about leaving me behind."

Saying that, Seong Moran buried her head between her knees.

No one could point fingers at Seong Moran and call her actions irresponsible.

Geumpyo made eye contact with Eunho and Dongryong, nodded, and stepped forward.

"Senior Brother, I think it's enough that we made it this far."

Geumpyo placed the Admission Tokens they had received at Jin Sowoon's feet and turned around.

"..."

Namgung Seonhwa stared silently at Jin Sowoon.

"I don't want it to end like this."

The words Dang Seo-hee had emotionlessly spat out lingered in her ears.

["It wouldn't be strange if they died right this moment."]

The guilt of having held him back all this time crushed her heart more than the helplessness of being unable to do anything for a good person.

"Young Master Jin."

"..."

Jin Sowoon still wore an expression devoid of readable emotion.

"You can reach the Murim Academy on your own, right, Young Master Jin?"

His bizarre movement technique. If he used that incredible movement technique, which not even the Namgung Clan had ever seen before, wouldn't he be able to make it? She hoped so.

"Could you go on your own without borrowing the Dragon-Phoenix Summit's power?"

Ultimately unable to finish the sentence that even she considered unreasonable, she placed her Admission Token at Jin Sowoon's feet.

"..."

A silence that felt colder than ice hung in the air.

Everyone had only been waiting for the exam to end.

They had mutually promised that once the exam was over, they would sleep for a week straight, eat for a week straight, and stay drunk for a week straight.

Yet, even knowing the exam was over, no one showed a hint of joy.

Because no one had wished for an ending like this.

Namgung Seonhwa also turned her body to go sit next to Seong Moran.

"I don't know why everyone is giving up so easily."

"...!"

Unconsciously, her head whipped back around.

Jin Sowoon casually kicked the Admission Tokens cluttering his feet.

"Did you all run this far just to see a result like this?"

"..."

"I will not go with Yong So-ah."

"..."

"And I will not go alone, either."

"..."

Namgung Seonhwa felt her heart beating rapidly.

His words settled deep within her heart.

He casually rejected the things she would have chosen without a second thought.

Selfishly, those actions gave her an overwhelming sense of relief.

They brought her comfort.

Even in a situation where she felt like she could collapse and die at any moment, they gave her strength.

"... Stop being so stubborn."

Seong Moran raised her head, her eyes completely swollen.

"You know full well this isn't a line of death we can cross with just willpower or effort."

Namgung Seonhwa nodded in agreement. The welling emotions in her heart were one thing, but logic dictated she had to say what needed to be said.

"More importantly, your physical condition is poor, Young Master Jin. If Senior Seo-hee said so, we have to assume it's even more serious than that."

Listening to them, Jin Sowoon looked around before speaking.

"... So, do you want to give up?"

"..."

"I am asking if you want to just stop here and end it."

At his emotionless words, Seong Moran flared up in anger.

"Who wants to give up? Suffering this state, being treated like this, who would want to give up! I want to go too! I want to wipe out those damn examinees, shove those extortionists aside, and smear mud on the faces of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit!"

In the end, Seong Moran couldn't hide her tears and burst out crying.

"... Sob."

Seong Moran tried to act like she was fine, roughly wiping away her tears.

And toward her, Jin Sowoon spoke flatly.

"Then let's go."

"... Haa. Seriously."

Seong Moran glared at Jin Sowoon with sharp eyes.

"I told you... This is no longer a matter of willpower or..."

"I am saying this because there is another way."

"..."

"One way."

Jin Sowoon raised his index finger.

"There is one method left. A way for all of us to safely reach the Murim Academy."

"You mean making a deal with the bastards who've been chasing us? Would they even accept it now? The entire Nine Sects and One Gang..."

"No. Of course we won't make a deal with them. And we won't be making a deal with the Dragon-Phoenix Summit, either."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Not just Seong Moran, but everyone stared blankly at Jin Sowoon.

"... Of course, it is something you all will be reluctant to do, but..."

At Jin Sowoon's subsequent explanation, everyone slowly dropped their jaws.

"..."

And in the end, they couldn't close their gaping mouths.

"... This crazy bastard..."

Namgung Seonhwa was startled by the curse slipping from Seong Moran's lips.

They had said things like 'crazy' or 'insane' plenty of times before, but she hadn't explicitly used 'crazy bastard' until now.

"..."

But thinking about what they had just heard, she realized it was a fitting description.

"... Crazy man."

And so, she agreed, just softening it a little.

* * *

"You stink."

GRIND.

So Jeho, whose eyes were somewhat swollen like bruised chestnuts, ground his teeth.

"Keep your distance when you talk."

Dang Seo-hee pinched her nose and waved her hand dismissively.

*'You're the bitch who made me like this!' * So Jeho swallowed his anger before he could say it. If he caused another scene here, he might really end up shitting blood for the rest of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit's journey.

"They've set off again."

At So Jeho's words, Yong So-ah tilted his head.

"Is that true?"

"Isn't it amazing how a guy with absolutely nothing still has such massive pride? Hahaha."

So Jeho smiled, imagining the gloomy future looming over Jin Sowoon, but no one joined him.

Actually, considering only Yong So-ah and Dang Seo-hee were present, expecting them to join in was unreasonable from the start.

"What direction?"

"Why does the direction matter? Enemies will be blocking them no matter where they go. They are truly surrounded on all sides."

"Stinky is using fancy words."

Even though he glared at Dang Seo-hee for suddenly cutting in, she didn't seem to care in the slightest.

Yong So-ah asked again.

"What direction?"

"They changed direction toward the southeast again. Probably to avoid the Wudang Sect."

"Southeast... Mount Daebyeol?"

"It's like jumping into a python's maw to escape a tiger."

"I ask you to track them."

"See, if you had just listened to us... Huh?"

"Track Jin Sowoon's group."

"Stinky has gone deaf, too."

"Why, you little! Phew— Do we really need to track them? They're already finished anyway."

"I am curious where the Admission Tokens they hold will end up."

"... Understood."

At Yong So-ah's words, So Jeho let out a small sigh and turned around.

After So Jeho disappeared, only Yong So-ah and Dang Seo-hee remained in the area.

Because both of them were naturally taciturn, it was normal for only silence to linger when they were alone.

However, for some reason, Dang Seo-hee broke the silence first.

"My grandfather acknowledged you."

Even upon hearing that he had been acknowledged by the Poison King, Dang Hyeokje, Yong So-ah's expression did not change.

"That is why I am moving in accordance with your will."

"..."

"But after seeing Jin Sowoon, I am changing my mind. Is what you're trying to achieve truly the method to save the most people?"

The words, carrying an emotionless feeling, reached their emotionless target.

Even when his true intentions were doubted, the emotionless man's feelings did not waver.

"It is."

"Then why did Jin Sowoon try to go together with everyone, while you only tried to save Jin Sowoon?"

"Because he dreams an absurd dream, and I pursue practicality."

Dang Seo-hee's brow furrowed.

Her already youthful appearance, combined with her short stature, made even her frown look like a cute pout.

However, there was no one here whose emotions would react to such an appearance.

"It may seem like he is saving dozens of people right now, but he has squandered the opportunity to save tens of thousands—no, perhaps millions of lives."

Nodding as she listened to Yong So-ah's words, Dang Seo-hee muttered.

"That is quite a big deal."

"It is nothing. What will happen will happen regardless."

"No, that's not what I meant."

Yong So-ah gazed quietly at Dang Seo-hee.

"If Jin Sowoon leads all his people and enters the Murim Academy, wouldn't that be a problem for you?"

"..."

"It would prove that you were wrong after all."

Yong So-ah, who had never frowned in his life, seemed to be furrowing his brow frequently these days.

"That is impossible."

"How can you be so confident?"

"Because even if I were to join that group right now, it would be impossible to lead all those people all the way to Wuhan."

Dang Seo-hee pulled her small, white hand out from her sleeve, rested it on her chin, and nodded.

"Hmm, hm, hmm. Maybe hmm... the rumors floating around Jianghu are right."

When Dang Seo-hee muttered to herself, Yong So-ah asked.

"What are you thinking?"

"If Jin Sowoon actually takes those group members and reaches the Murim Academy, it will prove the Jianghu rumors right—that the Black Flame Dragon is vastly superior to Yong So-ah."

"... What is impossible for me..."

"Jin Sowoon already proved it once at the Demonic Spirit Plateau."

"..."

"Jin Sowoon has already accomplished what Yong So-ah could not."

* * *

"Run! Run! Don't look at anything else and just run!"

Kang Seopyo, Cho Mubin, and Baek Wongak led the way, running like madmen.

"If you can't keep up, just give up and go back to the noble clan! We don't need you bastards anymore!"

"If they try to search your bodies for Admission Tokens, let them do whatever they want! Don't get yourself killed acting tough for nothing!"

"This isn't a war! So there's no need to lay down your lives!"

The three Squad Captains shouted one after another, but no warriors dropped out halfway. They all chased after them like their lives depended on it.

"Fuck, what kind of bullshit is that."

"If the young lady suffers some awful fate, who do you think takes the blame?"

"I'd rather die chasing after her."

Of course, they didn't forget to grumble under their breath from the back.

The warriors weren't the only ones endlessly muttering. Moyong Jaehwa also couldn't stop grumbling.

"I'm dead meat when I get back to the noble clan."

Namgung Seonhwa, running beside him, offered a word of comfort.

"Still, your grandfather likes eccentricities, so there might be some room for extenuating circumstances. But I might actually get struck from the family register."

Moyong Jaehwa reacted vehemently to the words offered as comfort.

"Sister. Why would you say that? I've been ready to be struck from the family register the moment I picked up this bow."

"Who told you to pick up the bow? You should have just trained hard in the clan's swordsmanship. Why did you have to do something so foolish?"

"Wow... Weren't you just happy that you got to sleep for two hours thanks to me...? I'm truly disappointed. I'm disappointed in you, Sister!"

Mount Daebyeol slowly began to come into view at the end of the road.

Just past Mount Daebyeol was Hubei Province, but large groups of people were already starting to faintly appear along the road leading there.

"If you two have so much energy, do you want to run at the front?"

"..."

"..."

They kept their mouths shut at Seong Moran's sharp remark.

"I'm the one who's truly finished. Thanks to my idiot brother and me, our noble clan's lineage is destined to be cut off."

"..."

"When we first started this crazy stunt. I should have run away back then."

No matter how early regret comes, it is always too late.

Once you ride a tiger's back, you can't jump off whenever you want.

"They're coming!"

The people at the front announced that a clash was imminent.

The enemy was slowly reducing their speed, preparing for combat.

"Speed up more!"

They weren't horses, so it was unlikely that urging them on would actually make them faster, but miraculously, Jin Sowoon's entire group began to pick up their pace bit by bit.

The moment the large force and the small force collided.

Dozens of sword fragments scattered in all directions, and screams rang out everywhere.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

While the Taiyi Sect group swung their swords in desperation, the Mount Hua and Mount Cangshan warriors deployed their sword arrays and fought without overexerting themselves at all.

From the start, they were elite warriors whose admission to the Murim Academy was practically guaranteed.

On the other hand, the others were nothing but wounded beasts who had been chased for weeks without proper sleep.

"Change direction!!"

Jin Sowoon's voice rang out thunderously.

The warriors clashing against the sword arrays immediately changed direction and headed toward Daemang County.

CLAAANG!

Knowing they had to pass through the road occupied by Mount Hua and Mount Cangshan to reach Hubei Province, the ones blocking the way flinched in hesitation.

"Run!"

Furthermore, knowing that Daemang County was an area clustered with three Underworld factions, their hesitation only grew.

Seizing that brief gap, they ran like their lives depended on it.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Elites were elites. They launched flying daggers through that brief gap, inevitably inflicting wounds.

"Keuk!"

"Hey, are you okay?!"

"I-I'm fine!"

"If you're not fine, just drop back!"

"No way, you bastard!"

The final opportunity created by that brief gap.

Namgung Seonhwa, Moyong Jaehwa, Seong Moran, and the Geum-eun-dong Brothers cast aside all the worries they had harbored until now, squeezing out the very last ounce of strength remaining in their souls as they ran toward their destination.

"Huh?"

"C-Catch them!"

"Pursue them!"

Reacting belatedly, the elite warriors chased after them with lightning speed.

Compared to the enemy, their own feet felt incredibly slow, but all they could do right now was push their legs to the limit without looking back.

However, running frantically meant that they could truly trip over even a small stone in front of them.

TRIP.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Namgung Seonhwa rolled, getting covered in dirt all over her body, but even the warriors of the Namgung Clan had already gone too far ahead to stop for her.

"Go! Just! Go!"

The moment the rapidly pursuing Mount Hua warriors were about to swarm over Namgung Seonhwa.

SHIIING!

Throwing himself backward, Jin Sowoon spread the Black Dragon Sword out like a folding fan.

Against the dozens of swords that materialized all around, the Mount Hua warriors bloomed hundreds of plum blossoms.

Every time a plum blossom touched a phantom sword, the phantom sword vanished helplessly.

The sword shadows that seemed to fill the air disappeared in an instant, and the hundreds of plum blossoms continued their descent, trying to engulf Namgung Seonhwa.

"Ahhh-!"

SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!

Along with the sound of blood and flesh bursting, Namgung Seonhwa felt her body float up into the air.

Then, she saw Jin Sowoon, bleeding, holding her in his arms right before her eyes.

Namgung Seonhwa's heart swelled at the sight of him, and unable to choose what to say, she just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"I told you to just go."

"... Joining may have been up to you, but leaving is not."

Jin Sowoon's figure staggered several times. His speed was not what it used to be either.

Even so, it wasn't to the extent that the Mount Hua warriors could reach him.

"You crazy bastards! That way is an Underworld faction, the main enemy of the Orthodox faction!"

"Wh-What the. Have they all gone crazy together?"

"Hey! You'll all die if you do that!"

Frantic shouts from the Mount Hua warriors could be heard from behind.

"Let's go."

Catching up to the group, Jin Sowoon stood at the very front and ruthlessly smashed open the main gates of Four Emperors Peak, known as one of the strongest factions in the Underworld.

CRASH!

Watching Jin Sowoon's group, the warriors of the Orthodox sects all dropped their jaws at the same time.

"Crazy..."