"Surrounded!?"
At Namgung Hu's words, the Emperor King Hall, which had been quiet, quickly became noisy again.
"That's absurd!"
"This makes no sense! Surrounded? That's impossible!"
Surrounded.
By whom? The Namgung Family?
The Namgung Family had never once been surrounded by any force since hanging up their family signboard. More importantly, if they were surrounded, it went without saying that the opponent would be hostile.
The intense reactions of the elders and Sword Form Heads were understandable in a way.
Fundamentally, there was no force in Anhui Province capable of opposing the Namgung Family, and if there was one, it would only be the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds, but they had an agreement. Moreover, weren't they a waterway force that couldn't attack by land?
Yet now, according to Namgung Hu's words, the land side—meaning the Hefei direction—was surrounded.
By whom exactly? No, did that even make sense in the first place? It was unbelievable.
The elders' expressions unanimously conveyed this sentiment.
Some vehemently voiced it aloud.
"What force in Anhui Province could surround the Namgung Family? Is there really an organization with such power? And so secretly, without the slightest sign? Preposterous."
"That's an even more absurd story than saying Do Heo-ok is aiming for the Family Head position."
"It makes no sense. None at all."
Nonsensical.
Though their words varied, the elders were all saying that the current situation defied logic. Not a single person acknowledged the fact that they were surrounded.
Amid this, Namgung In suddenly tossed out a single word as if joking.
"Heavenly Demon Castle."
The timing was so perfectly appropriate that everyone's words were cut off abruptly.
"..."
Namgung In's extremely casual remark.
Though brief, that word brought shock and astonishment to the hall along with silence.
Namgung In had actually been keeping Heavenly Demon Castle in mind even while arguing earlier for Do Heo-ok's restraint.
At that time it was just a possibility, but now it had turned into certainty.
"Everyone seems to have forgotten one of the most famous sayings in the Martial World, so I'll add one more thing."
'What if Do Heo-ok was a spy planted by Heavenly Demon Castle?'
"The Demonic Cult is everywhere and nowhere."
The reason he had so strongly insisted on restraining Do Heo-ok from earlier was precisely because he feared this worst-case scenario might occur.
"Heavenly Demon Castle isn't only in Xinjiang. Though everyone may have forgotten during this peaceful period, those who walk the Demonic Path exist 'as if present yet absent' everywhere in the world. Anhui Province cannot be an exception to this."
At Namgung In's calm words, the elders also became aware of the existence they had overlooked—Heavenly Demon Castle, the supreme power of the Demonic Path.
"Heavenly Demon Castle..."
"Could that really be?"
"If that's truly the case, isn't this a tremendous crisis?"
The elders each raised their voices again.
Then.
Namgung Jung, who had been quietly listening to Namgung In's story, tilted his head slightly and spoke.
"However, even if we assume as you say that the force surrounding the family is Heavenly Demon Castle, there's something I don't understand."
"What is that?"
"Even if Heavenly Demon Castle does something to the Namgung Family at this time, it would be completely useless. This place is very far from Xinjiang, and in comparison, Henan Province where the Murim Alliance's main headquarters is located is right next to Anhui Province. That means not only would they be unable to occupy this place even if they destroyed the Namgung Family, but also the Demon Soldiers of Heavenly Demon Castle who destroyed this place would in turn be surrounded by the Murim Alliance."
Namgung Jung lightly tapped his temple with his index finger as he expressed his thoughts.
"They would try to scatter and escape belatedly, but by then the Murim Alliance will have already spread a Heaven-and-Earth Net across Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Hubei. Even if they somehow survived breaking through the Heaven-and-Earth Net, it's still ten thousand miles to Xinjiang. I simply cannot see any way or method for them to return alive to Heavenly Demon Castle in Xinjiang. Rather, because of this, all the hidden branches of Heavenly Demon Castle might be completely devastated by the Murim Alliance..."
Namgung Jung shook his head.
"Looking at it this way, isn't Heavenly Demon Castle losing too much? I simply can't understand it. But to say it's not Heavenly Demon Castle, there's no other force capable of this either..."
"I believe Xinjiang's Heavenly Demon Castle is using this attack on the Namgung Family as a starting point to aim for a full-scale re-entry into the Central Plains."
"What do you mean by that?"
"According to rumors, there are considerable hardliners within Heavenly Demon Castle who desire to invade the Central Plains. These are demonic beings thirsting for blood who don't follow the Heavenly Demon Castle Lords' control well. So the Heavenly Demon Castle Lord seems to be using this opportunity to deploy these difficult-to-control hardline forces within Heavenly Demon Castle here to plot against the Namgung Family, a major sect located farthest from Xinjiang, while simultaneously weakening the hardliners' power. Furthermore, if this place is under attack, the Murim Alliance's eyes will inevitably turn here. Taking advantage of that moment, Heavenly Demon Castle's main force could expand their influence by crossing Qinghai into Gansu. If they do this, from the Heavenly Demon Castle Lord's perspective, wouldn't they achieve three benefits at once?"
"Hmm..."
"They can reduce the hardliners' power within Heavenly Demon Castle while also resolving the dissatisfaction built up inside Heavenly Demon Castle due to the long peace, eliminate our Namgung Family which is one of the Orthodox Faction's core powers, and finally secure a foothold for re-invading the Central Plains once more."
"...That might be so."
Namgung Jung still didn't look completely convinced, but judging only by the information discovered so far, Namgung In's words were closest to the correct answer, so he had no choice but to acknowledge it.
"Enough."
When their conversation reached that point, Namgung Byeok raised his hand to refocus everyone's attention on himself.
"I'd like to hear more from the Vast Sky Sword Form Head and Limitless Sword Form Head, but no matter how I look at it, we don't have time now. There's still far too much that hasn't been confirmed, but there's one thing that's certain."
Namgung Byeok paused briefly, then looked around at everyone with sunken eyes. Finally, he looked straight ahead and spoke heavily.
"The Namgung Family is surrounded right now."
Though it was the simple word "surrounded," the weight that word carried now was greater than that of any long phrase.
Namgung Byeok sensed that the Namgung Family was facing the greatest crisis since hanging up the signboard of Imperial Family.
Those gathered here were the real powers moving the Namgung Family. They too deeply felt from Namgung Byeok's words that the time had truly come after so long to lift their rusted iron swords.
Swoosh.
Just as everyone standing in the Emperor King Hall was chewing over the word "surrounded" with hardened expressions.
Just like when Namgung Hu entered, the sound of fluttering clothes came violently, and another person appeared inside the Emperor King Hall.
This time it was Namgung Il, the Heavenly Wind Group Leader who had gone out to search for the intruder.
As soon as Namgung Byeok saw him, he asked urgently.
"Did you find him?"
There was no mention of what was found, but everyone here knew who the target was.
"We didn't find him."
Namgung Il lowered his head with a dismayed expression.
"Wouldn't there at least be some small trace?"
"...I apologize."
Namgung Il substituted a negative answer with an apology.
"Did you search everywhere within the family?"
"We haven't searched the Emperor King Hall yet."
Namgung Il's words were natural.
Who in the world would think of infiltrating the Emperor King Hall? Even if someone hid within the Namgung Family, there were many walls to overcome to get here. Above all, how could one deceive the eyes of the Namgung Family's core masters constantly residing in this Emperor King Hall?
Namgung Byeok silently fell into thought for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
"I understand. Go back out and comb through the family's interior once more to definitely find that person."
"Yes!"
Namgung Hu left the Emperor King Hall immediately after his report.
"Now, the situation is the same as before. The intruder still hasn't been caught. Outside, hmm... outside the family, those presumed to be Demon Soldiers of Heavenly Demon Castle are surrounding this Namgung Family. From now on, speak freely about what we should do."
The Namgung Family Head, Namgung Byeok, once again stated that the Namgung Family was surrounded. That was, in other words, a declaration that it was now time to fight.
Namgung In stepped forward first. He advocated again without hesitation the claim he had been making.
"This proves that all the phrases left by the intruder have become established facts. If Do Heo-ok planned to collaborate on the day the moon is full—on the very day of his wedding—there could be nothing more dangerous. Moreover, the enemies outside already know from our earlier reconnaissance that we've noticed their existence. Therefore, they might attack the Namgung Family even earlier rather than waiting until the full moon rises. So I believe restraining Do Heo-ok's movements should be the highest priority. If by any chance Do Heo-ok knows the formation core of the Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation, an irreversible situation might occur."
Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation.
It was a protective formation installed on the family's outer walls to prepare for contingencies. When this formation was activated, the Namgung Family would be isolated from the outside. But in return, the family could be perfectly protected.
Conversely, if Do Heo-ok destroyed the core of the Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation, they might not be able to activate the formation at all.
That was precisely what Namgung In was worried about. This was exactly why he kept saying Do Heo-ok's arrest was the top priority.
Namgung Byeok quietly looked at Namgung In once, then looked around at the others. Now no one opposed Namgung In's words.
Finally, Namgung Byeok nodded.
"Since no one seems to oppose, we should do that. Well then, Hye-ah will be very disappointed. Haha..."
At Namgung Byeok's hollow laugh, the elders bowed their heads. They too could imagine what Namgung Byeok's feelings must be like right now.
Everyone here who had watched Namgung Hye knew how much she adored and respected Do Heo-ok. As a father, having to plunge a dagger into his daughter's heart, his mind couldn't be at ease.
However, right now, preventing the crisis facing the family was far more important, so it couldn't be helped.
"I also have something to say to the Family Head."
After Namgung In finished speaking, this time Namgung Jung stepped forward. Namgung Byeok nodded to permit his statement.
"If we must restrain Do Heo-ok anyway, I believe we should also examine this Emperor King Hall which hasn't been investigated yet. Though the possibility is slim, there might be an accomplice helping Do Heo-ok hiding here. Also, the one who left the Four Bone Scripts, Four Blood Scripts might perhaps be hiding here as well. For whatever reason, that person is also someone who has drawn their sword against the Namgung Family. In a situation where we cannot know exactly what his intentions are, leaving him in the family would be like swallowing a heated sword, wouldn't it? Therefore, while investigating the Emperor King Hall, we should simultaneously send scouts outside the family again to clearly identify the enemy's scale and identity."
Though Namgung Jung was still on the side that believed Do Heo-ok couldn't have done such a thing, the fact that an unknown force was surrounding the family was true. If so, he thought it right to move assuming the worst-case scenario according to Namgung In's opinion for now.
"I've heard you well. Are there any others with different opinions?"
At Namgung Byeok's heavy voice, no one else answered.
"Then we'll end today's meeting here. Have the Heavenly Wind Group continue searching within the family as they are now, and the Limitless Sword Form Head, go immediately to the temporary reception hall and bring Do Heo-ok here. The Emperor Sword Form and Vast Sky Sword Form will thoroughly search inside this Emperor King Hall. Everyone else, go outside the family toward Hefei and identify the enemy's scale. The elders will stand by in the Council of Elders and prepare for any contingency. Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Yes, Family Head."
Namgung Byeok quickly assigned roles to all personnel.
Those gathered replied in unison, then left the Emperor King Hall like an ebbing tide to carry out their respective missions.
Silence and quiet soon came to the noisy Emperor King Hall.
However, Namgung Byeok's mind was still complicated and noisy.
Especially what was tormenting him was...
Moon full emperor falls, slowly going I become king.
When the moon is full, the emperor shall fall, and I who go slowly shall become king.
An ominous premonition that this phrase would come true exactly as written.
"Who exactly is that person and what is his purpose?"
It was curiosity about the intentions and identity of the one who wrote the Four Bone Scripts, Four Blood Scripts.
It would all be resolved if they caught him, but Namgung Byeok expected that the Heavenly Wind Group, Emperor Sword Form Head, or Vast Sky Sword Form Head would not find him.
If he were someone easily caught, he wouldn't have brazenly committed such an act in the first place, and when Namgung Il first entered the Emperor King Hall earlier, shouldn't he have already been brought in captured in his hands?
"Enemy? Ally? Or perhaps..."
Even if he didn't know who it was, it would be good if they were an ally. No, if he at least knew they were an enemy, he wouldn't be this anxious.
Not knowing.
People inevitably feel fear toward unknown entities. Even the ruler of the great Namgung Family couldn't help this. Moreover, what more needs to be said in a situation where an unprecedented crisis has struck like now?
Now inside the Emperor King Hall, only Namgung Byeok's low sighs were quietly laid out, breaking the silence.
***
Around the time Namgung Byeok was sighing over the problem of the unidentified intruder connected to the Three Holy Lights and Four Bone Scripts, Four Blood Scripts.
The person who caused that incident, Dong Bong-su, was 'dancing' empty-handed in his room at the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall.
Enemy? Ally?
Such things were meaningless problems to him.
He was simply on his own side.
It wasn't a discussion of friend or foe in the general theoretical sense like there are no eternal enemies or allies. Just a person who goes thoroughly alone. That was Dong Bong-su, and that was his way of life.
Of course, to adapt to this New Murim Online and survive and continue hunting, sometimes he might raise a cup with enemies, and if necessary, he could pull out and chew the liver of bastards who seemed like allies.
Fundamentally, Dong Bong-su was that kind of species who advances alone. If one must discuss enemies and allies, to him, everyone except himself was either an enemy or prey. The concept of ally didn't exist in his instincts from the beginning.
Whoosh—
Dong Bong-su powerfully moved his fists left and right several times. Then suddenly thrust forward strongly before retreating backward. The sounds generated by Dong Bong-su's series of movements were laid out low and powerfully in the room.
Dong Bong-su, why was he dancing?
In fact, this dance of his only looked like a dance but wasn't one. If it were called a sword dance, that might perhaps be correct.
The reason this vigorous rhythm looked like a dance was simply because a sword wasn't held in his hands. His current behavior of running around every corner of the room and spinning round and round like a crazy woman was actually retracing the battle with Go San-gong on the ship. Like personally recreating a virtual combat simulation in the modern sense?
Whoosh—
As the imaginary battle with Go San-gong rushed toward its climax, the movements of Dong Bong-su's fists and body became increasingly intense.
As always, even while moving his body, his thoughts didn't stop. His brain was reviewing the battle's content while simultaneously figuring out how to break his own movements.
'I almost died.'
The more he retraced the battle, the more he realized how dangerous it had been.
If he had been Go San-gong, and Go San-gong had been him?
'I wouldn't be standing here right now.'
The Heavenly Wind Sword Technique that Go San-gong used was a very excellent sword technique. Go San-gong hadn't properly utilized it. If Go San-gong could have executed the forms of the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique at appropriate times... it would have been his defeat one hundred percent.
'Weak.'
He keenly realized that he himself was still far too powerless.
He thought he had become much stronger, but he still had a long way to go. The special nature of being a game character seemed to have unknowingly planted the fatal weakness of carelessness in him.
Martial arts are, in a way, abilities far more overpowered than game skills. The people of this Martial World were learning such martial arts, and to be careless in such a place teeming with such people.
He cast a spell on himself once again that carelessness was forbidden.
'I must become even stronger. To survive, I must become even stronger.'
He resolved that leveling up was basic and he must also diligently learn martial arts.
The movements and swordsmanship of Go San-gong that Dong Bong-su felt had precision within their patterns. Though he couldn't use those movements meaningfully, the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique that Go San-gong displayed was incomparable to Dong Bong-su's flailing or the gymnasium swordsmanship he learned in Korea.
Martial arts.
Dong Bong-su clearly felt in that earlier battle why the people here called it martial arts and not martial techniques. Martial arts wasn't simply a skill that made the body faster and attacks stronger.
Even with the same sword strike, Go San-gong's, who had learned martial arts, was far more refined and natural than his own.
He must definitely learn martial arts to survive.
While strengthening his resolve, Dong Bong-su finished reviewing the earlier battle.
Boom, whoosh—
But he continued dancing without even a moment's pause. As the thought came to learn martial arts, his body was naturally moving that way.
Before he knew it, Dong Bong-su had become Go San-gong himself and was executing the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique.
If in the dance for reviewing the battle that just occurred, he became the level 7 Dong Bong-su facing Go San-gong, now he had become Go San-gong facing the level 7 Dong Bong-su.
The Heavenly Wind Sword Technique reproduced from his hands was a sword technique that lacked the mental cultivation method and only had the form, but that form was surprisingly similar to Go San-gong's.
Restoration of form.
Perfect battle review was making it possible.
Whoosh, boom—
Heavenly Wind Flowing Cloud, Heavenly Wind Thunderbolt, Heavenly Wind Opening Heaven.
Dong Bong-su imitated the three forms of the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique whose names he didn't even know several times, cutting down the imaginary himself.
In the process, he could once again tell how lucky he had been in last night's battle. If he had been the side properly executing the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique, 'the level 7 Dong Bong-su' could never have become level 10.
However,
Swoosh—
Strangely, as his movements progressed, his imitation was gradually moving further away from Go San-gong's Heavenly Wind Sword Technique. At the same time, the sound of wind from his hands was gradually becoming fainter.
What was happening?
Clearly his movements were becoming increasingly intense. Yet the 'sword wind' he created was only weakening. That wind was very different from Go San-gong's sharp 'Heavenly Wind.' It definitely wasn't a difference of whether internal energy was infused or not.
Simply, Dong Bong-su's sword wind was strangely gentle and leisurely.
More precisely, it was changing to resemble him with a feeling of 'nothingness.' Should one say the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique unfolding from Dong Bong-su's hands and its sword wind were naturally becoming Dong Bong-su-ified?
Perhaps if someone at the elder level or above of the Namgung Family saw Dong Bong-su's dance right now, no one would recognize this as the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique. No, actually Dong Bong-su's sword technique was no longer the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique in its form. If one had to name it, Windless Sword Technique. Something like that, perhaps?
Swoosh—
Swoosh–
Swoosh-
...
Dong Bong-su's dance only came to an end when the morning sun rose. That was just when the meeting in the Emperor King Hall had finished. Of course, there was no way for Dong Bong-su to know this.
"Huu..."
Dong Bong-su exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.
His entire body was drenched in sweat from the intense dancing, but his eyes had become even deeper and more ordinary than before.
Not only had he reached level 10 today, he had unexpectedly come to know the 'taste' of the sword as well. Now his thrusts would no longer be just thrusts, and his slashes would no longer be just slashes. It was the moment when the thrusts and slashes unfolding from his hands were finally entering the realm of 'swordmanship' rather than mere 'swordwork.'
However, to reach the realm of technique or the way... wouldn't that still be immensely far away? If he didn't learn, it would probably take a very long time to reach that realm.
"Huu, huu."
Despite continuing to breathe deeply, Dong Bong-su's breathing was so rough it wouldn't easily settle. He hadn't noticed while dancing in a state of selflessness, but once he emerged from it, fatigue rushed into his entire body all at once.
'I can't rest yet.'
He couldn't rest.
There were still things left to do. Perhaps what he had to do from now on might be even more important than the sword dance he had performed all night.
Changes from leveling up.
He needed to confirm those. Normally he should have done this first thing upon returning to his room, but he felt he had to restore yesterday's battle right away, so he had postponed it.
Now that task was roughly finished, so it was time to check what changes had come from gaining 3 levels.
Click.
As usual, Dong Bong-su opened his stat window first.
His stats had grown by a set amount as always. This part was no different from usual, having increased by exactly 3 levels worth. Based on his experience so far, this much growth was more than enough to be the difference between a middle schooler and a high schooler. Dong Bong-su knew well that the difference was by no means small.
Next, he opened his inventory window.
"..."
There were no changes whatsoever.
Just in case, he examined it thoroughly once more, but there were no newly given weapons, armor pieces, or items of any kind.
If he had to find something added to the inventory, there was one thing.
It was the corpses of Go San-gong and his squad members. It was because he had swept up and gathered all the body parts left over after writing the warning. Of course, there was now no way to tell who was Go San-gong and who were the squad members. Rag scraps torn to shreds made it difficult to recognize their original form.
He scanned the entire inventory with his eyes once more. Though he had become level 10, there was no special gift given by New Murim Online.
Rather than expecting it, he had anticipated this.
The number 10 wasn't particularly special compared to other numbers, but at least modern Earth was a world of decimal system. If nothing major changed in units of 10, people thought it strange. Money was fundamentally divided in units of 10, and things like age were commonly distinguished in units of 10 in daily life. Especially in games like this, they usually gave some meaningful change every 10 levels to satisfy users' expectations.
But there are always exceptions.
He wasn't disappointed. He hadn't confirmed all the changes yet.
"Huu-."
Dong Bong-su settled his rough breathing once more and closed the inventory window.
Click-
This time it was the equipment window's turn.
Finally, he could discover one unique change that hadn't been there before.
'Hm?'
A small, round button had appeared in the upper right corner of the equipment window. In the center of the button, the characters 'Spirit Creature' were clearly imprinted.
Beep-.
Dong Bong-su pressed the button without hesitation.
With the familiar mechanical sound, a strange window that seemed to combine the stat window and equipment window opened. Besides combining the stat window and equipment window, this window had another difference from Dong Bong-su's own.
The character slot that should contain the owner of the equipment and stats was empty. That was precisely the difference.
Though this was a window he was seeing for the first time and Dong Bong-su wasn't familiar with games, he could easily infer why the character slot was empty.
The reason was.
It must be because he hadn't yet recruited a Spirit Creature.
He could know this without even trying it. Befitting the name Spirit Creature, the owner of this Spirit Creature window would, without question or comparison, be a Spirit Creature.
The problem was that Dong Bong-su had no way to guess exactly what Spirit Creature referred to. Whether it was the concept of mercenaries commonly found in ordinary games, or whether it literally meant animals or objects imbued with spiritual nature as the term itself suggested, was something to be confirmed going forward.
Beep-
He examined the Spirit Creature window briefly, then soon closed it. There was nothing more he could learn from looking at it now anyway, and there was no Spirit Creature here worth recruiting.
Probably, if he encountered a Spirit Creature that could be acquired or equipped, the system would notify him in some way. There was no need to cling to this right now.
Outside, day had almost fully broken, and the time given to him wasn't that much. Soon, the Namgung Family would probably be turned upside down by what he had done yesterday. When that happened, he wouldn't be able to leisurely check things like the Spirit Creature window here.
He moved right on to the next item, the Skill Window.
Click-
When he opened the Skill Window, one new skill had been added.
[Three Talents Sword Technique Third Form Mount Tai Pressing Down Lv.1 Proficiency: 0%]
A sword technique as common as they come in the Martial World. Even ordinary people without internal energy can learn it.
Mount Tai Pressing Down is an enhanced version of downward strike.
All action bonuses for this skill are related to proficiency in related skills and whether Sword Energy/Sword Aura is activated.
Currently Applied Level: Lv.1 (Player can adjust the level tier of this skill.)
Vertical Strike Range Bonus: 1%
Vertical Strike Attack Power Bonus: 1%
Vertical Strike Casting Speed Bonus: 0%
Energy Point Consumption per Use: 30 JP
Following Sweeping Away a Thousand Soldiers and Direct Strike at the Yellow Dragon, this was the Third Form of the Three Talents Sword Technique, Mount Tai Pressing Down. Since it was the 'Three' Talents Sword Technique, this Mount Tai Pressing Down was probably the final form.
'If I had this Mount Tai Pressing Down when fighting Go San-gong, it would have been much easier.'
Because he mainly used the sword with the thrust of Direct Strike at the Yellow Dragon and the horizontal slash of Sweeping Away a Thousand Soldiers, his swordplay had no choice but to be monotonous.
Now he could receive skill bonuses for at least the basic movements of swordsmanship.
Horizontal slash, vertical strike, thrust.
He now had Active Skills (Three Talents Sword Technique) and Passive Skills for all those movements.
Even so, the Active Skill Three Talents Sword Technique was honestly just an enhanced version of basic movements rather than true sword forms.
Probably the real basic movements of Dong Bong-su's swordsmanship going forward would be the Windless Sword Technique born while imitating the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique earlier.
If the abilities of passives like thrusting and slashing plus the Active Skill Three Talents Sword Technique were overlaid on the Windless Sword Technique, his sword strikes might perhaps be far superior to the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique that Go San-gong used.
Even after examining the Three Talents Sword Technique that had become complete with the addition of Mount Tai Pressing Down from various angles, Dong Bong-su didn't close the Skill Window but looked more carefully. It was because he had thought some extraordinary skill would appear upon reaching level 10, but the changes in the Skill Window were more disappointing than expected.
'Can't be helped.'
Beep-
In the end, he closed the Skill Window as it was.
Honestly, the changes so far were pathetic for what he gained from becoming level 10. What unexpectedly filled the expectations for such anticipation was the next window, which he hadn't expected at all.
It was the Quest Window.
Click-
Normally, following this short mechanical sound, a 'Critical Error' message window that noisily complained should have appeared.
But.
Strangely, the error window didn't appear this time. The reason the 'Critical Error' window appeared was purely because NPCs for quests didn't exist in this 'New Murim Online.'
'Why isn't the error window appearing?'
Dong Bong-su still couldn't know exactly what had happened. As always, all he could see were various quests with large X marks drawn across the transparent Quest Window.
Quest NPCs that didn't exist couldn't have suddenly dropped from the sky. If that were the case, shouldn't all those quests have been unlocked and become completable all at once? The cause was definitely elsewhere.
Dong Bong-su considered various possibilities briefly, but there was only one plausible one.
To confirm that possibility, he quickly scrolled down the long scroll bar beside the quests.
However, the succession of X's continued.
He exercised patience and continued scrolling down.
Finally, the scroll bar reached the bottom, and the last quest located at the very bottom entered Dong Bong-su's eyes.
"...!"
Among the many incomplete quests, one quest without an X mark had appeared at the very bottom of the Quest Window.
[First Class Change Quest: Wanderer]
Tester-exclusive class.
Quest Completion Condition: Achieve 100 Kills of enemies Level 10 or above.
Current Quest Completion (Completed/Total): 0 / 100
Originally, in Murim Online, there were 3 types of first classes users could choose.
Chivalrous Warrior, Demonic Being, and Evil Class.
Depending on which class one chose, which faction one belonged to would naturally be determined during the Orthodox-Evil-Demonic Great War, a group battle similar to siege warfare in other games. In other words, this first class had the same meaning as race in other games.
But in fact, the Murim Online system had one more class in addition to these.
Wanderer.
Originally, Wanderer was one of the first class types created during Murim Online's development stage. A class for people who, depending on users' inclinations, couldn't decide which faction to belong to even after reaching level 10. That was precisely this class called Wanderer.
Then, around when Murim Online's development was completed and it was officially released, the system was completely established with the confrontation structure of the three Orthodox-Evil-Demonic forces. At that time, the Wanderer with its neither-here-nor-there nature was abandoned along with the game's release. The CEO's will that a class belonging to no faction was unnecessary given the game's theme was reflected in the game.
However, the Murim Online development team felt awkward about eliminating the excellent class called Wanderer they had already fully created, so for the testers' interest and enjoyment, they 'sealed' the Wanderer class within the system as it was.
After all, the Orthodox-Evil-Demonic factions were meaningless to testers, and it was sufficient if they could just test more efficiently.
On top of that, in case they expanded the game later, it was in the development team's calculations that it would be easy to reuse the Wanderer, which had already been sufficiently tested.
So after the game opened to the public, that seal was set to be released only for testers.
'Class change, huh.'
To him, unfamiliar with games, the two characters for class change were extremely foreign.
What kinds of skills he could obtain from a class change, and how stats would be applied, and so on.
There was nothing he could know in advance.
However, one thing was certain.
If he underwent a class change, he would become stronger than now in some way. That one thing was definite.
The problem was that he had to deal with 100 enemies of Level 10 or above.
'About the level of those I dealt with yesterday... perhaps?'
Dong Bong-su thought that Level 10 opponents would be about the level of the ordinary squad members of the Heavenly Wind Group he fought yesterday. He estimated that Go San-gong, who was the squad leader, was probably around 15 or 16. Though it was a rough guess, it would probably be roughly correct.
When he hadn't killed a few of those he met on the ship, he had already gone from level 7 to nearly level 8, and after that, when he killed Go San-gong, he became level 10 in one go.
The basis for thinking this way was all in yesterday's merciless experience point increase and level up. And that thought was accurate.
The New Murim Online system had recognized the Heavenly Wind Group members he encountered yesterday as levels 9-11, and had recognized Go San-gong as a level 16 'mob.'
'A hundred Martial World people at the same level as those I encountered yesterday... It won't be easy.'
If this were the real Murim Online, this class change quest would be very easy.
But this place wasn't real Murim Online, it was New Murim Online. Not virtual reality but an actual world. Not killing a mere hundred 'mobs' but having to kill a hundred 'people' of the Martial World.
It would definitely not be an easy task.
However, it was something that had to be accomplished.
Become stronger. Become more advantageous for survival and hunting. Survive longer and continue hunting to become even stronger. An infinite loop like a formula.
To continue that, it was absolutely!
Something that had to be done.
With closing the Quest Window, Dong Bong-su finished confirming all the changes that came with becoming level 10.
Beep-
Right at that moment when the familiar mechanical sound from closing the window was about to be heard.
Pung!
A roar came from far away. A volume that rang out clearly even through the fairly thick door of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall. Quite far, but definitely a considerably loud sound.
The location where it occurred was.
'That place from yesterday!'
Considering the direction the sound came from, the place where something was happening was the Emperor King Hall.
'It's started.'
Dong Bong-su realized that the Namgung Family had taken the bait he had scattered yesterday.
Murmur, murmur sounds came and outside quickly became noisy. The guests staying at the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall must have heard the explosion and rushed outside.
Now what he had to do was confirm how well the Namgung Family had taken the bait. Though it seemed his warning had worked on the Namgung Family, the danger that Do Heo-ok would bring wasn't completely over yet.
If the Namgung Family was unexpectedly weak or Do Heo-ok's faction was unexpectedly strong, despite the warning he had given with difficulty, there was a possibility the Namgung Family might be pushed back, wasn't there?
Also, perhaps the Namgung Family's response might be unexpectedly sloppy. If so, the same result as the former could occur.
If that were the case, for survival,
'I'll have to devise the next method.'
Dong Bong-su simply adjusted his appearance, opened the door and went outside.
***
Do Heo-ok came out to the temporary reception hall early in the morning.
"Have you heard about the Three Holy Lights?"
"Three Holy Lights?"
Having heard the story about the Three Holy Lights from the family's lower-ranking warriors who had come out first, he immediately left the temporary reception hall and personally went to the southern Water Gate where the ship was.
Since such a thing wasn't in the First Stratagem's plan at all, he came to check. However, the ship was thoroughly guarded by Heavenly Thunder Squad members and Heavenly Wind Group members, so he couldn't confirm anything.
If the Three Holy Lights were really something like heaven's blessing, wouldn't there be no reason to hide the ship? No, shouldn't there have been no need to guard it so tightly from the beginning? And that from him, the person involved?
Something had gone wrong. It seemed to have gone very wrong.
Do Heo-ok was returning to the Emperor King Hall with quick steps. He intended to go to the Emperor King Hall quickly and give notice to the four shadows to flee.
Do Heo-ok considered the Three Holy Lights to be their mistake. He judged that those four shadows definitely made some mistake while escaping from that ship yesterday, and the result might be the Three Holy Lights.
Pak-pak-pak.
It was just as he was using Movement Technique to pass in front of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall.
"Look here. Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"
A man in his thirties with a refined appearance urgently blocked Do Heo-ok's path. Behind the man, about thirty sturdy warriors wearing blue clothes with the characters 'Limitless' embroidered large on their chests were following. It was none other than Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members.
'Why is the Limitless Sword Form here at this hour?'
Do Heo-ok naturally knew them well. The important fact right now was why the Limitless Sword Form was blocking his path in a group this early in the morning.
'Don't tell me, me!?'
Do Heo-ok instantly thought they had come to capture him. It wasn't a matter of instinct or prediction. He simply realized that, connecting it with the Three Holy Lights, the plan had gone awry, and perhaps even the fact that the Four Shadows were hiding in his room might already be exposed.
"I heard there was a light blessing for my and Sister Hye's wedding from this direction, so I was checking and returning to the guest hall."
Even so, Do Heo-ok dealt with Namgung In calmly. Nothing was certain yet. There was no need for him to step forward and say 'I'm a spy.'
Looking at him like that, Namgung In said with a cold expression.
"I see. So what did you find when you checked? Was it really a sign of blessing?"
The leisurely smile disappeared from Do Heo-ok's face.
Considering Namgung In's cold expression and detached tone, all of this, there was no longer any room for doubt.
Do Heo-ok finally detected that things had completely gone wrong.
The expression of Do Heo-ok, who had professed fairness and justice, changed completely in an instant. His eyes and eyebrows that had drawn pleasant curves, the corners of his mouth that had always held a smile, were now all unified in straight lines.
That appearance looked infinitely cold-hearted to the eyes of Namgung In and others.
However, Namgung In gave Do Heo-ok, who wasn't answering, a moment to make excuses. For him too, there was still no evidence that Do Heo-ok had completely deceived the Namgung Family.
But even after that, there was no answer from Do Heo-ok. Finally, Namgung In delivered the decisive blow to Do Heo-ok.
"Since you've confirmed nothing, you have nothing to say. I'm sorry, but you'll have to come with us to the Emperor King Hall for a moment."
"...Does that mean I've done something wrong?"
"Well, I don't know that either. All suspicions will naturally be resolved if you come with us to the Emperor King Hall."
Do Heo-ok's expression hardened further.
Along with that, Do Heo-ok's heart was also gradually hardening. To eliminate all of these people.
If he just decided to, he could easily kill about thirty members of the Limitless Sword Form. Even if the Form Head Namgung In was among them...
Do Heo-ok's nose lightly wrinkled in a smile as he briefly examined Namgung In.
'To think a Form Head is only this much. There won't be a problem.'
He couldn't be his match.
Clench. Clench.
Do Heo-ok repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists a couple of times. He was gauging the timing to attack Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members.
Just as Namgung In, feeling a strange sense of discord from that appearance, was slowly bringing his hand toward the sword hanging at his waist.
Boom—!
An explosion sound came from far away in the direction of the Emperor King Hall and a pillar of fire shot up.
At the sudden explosion, the gazes of Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members were drawn that way, though only very briefly.
Right at that moment.
Do Heo-ok's hand moved first.
The Thunder Clap Blade that had been hanging diagonally on his back was drawn, and a bolt of lightning fell on the wide front yard of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall, more precisely where Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members were standing.
It was precisely the First Form of the Latter Four Forms of the Thunder Clap Blade Technique, Thunder Clap Charge.
Crackle! Creak!
The Thunder Clap Energy from Do Heo-ok's blade split the ground and struck Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members. Having their attention momentarily drawn elsewhere, they were unable to properly respond and were hit directly by Do Heo-ok's lightning-like attack.
Bang!
With a loud sound no less than the sound from the Emperor King Hall moments ago, Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members were thrown in all directions.
"Euak!"
"Keuaak!"
"...!"
A single blade strike.
With one slash of Do Heo-ok's blade, half of the Limitless Sword Form members who had come to capture him perished. Among that half, those who died screaming at least left corpses intact, so they were relatively better off. The other half among those directly hit by the Thunder Clap Energy couldn't even scream and turned to ash, scattering in the air.
However, even those who didn't die weren't in a position to feel relieved. Most of the Limitless Sword Form members who had instinctively drawn their swords and blocked some of the Thunder Clap Energy at the moment of crisis couldn't endure the aftermath and fell into a combat-disabled state, and Namgung In was no exception.
Drip… drip..
He too had suffered internal injuries from the attack he received unknowingly. Judging by the black blood flowing from his mouth and his face white as a sheet of paper, it went without saying that the depth of his internal injuries was not slight. If he hadn't been reaching for his sword in that brief moment, he would probably already have stopped breathing.
"Wh-what!?"
"What is that?"
"Isn't that person Young Master Do? But why?"
Because of the explosion sound moments ago, many people staying at the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall had already come outside and were witnessing this scene. There was no way for them to know what was happening.
However, one common expression appeared on all their faces.
Bewilderment. That was precisely it.
If it made sense for the bridegroom to suddenly slaughter his in-laws' warriors and kill his elders, wouldn't that be even stranger?
Among the guests were of course Dong Bong-su and Tang O, and Danri Jiang-hae, who had become an Outside Surname Disciple of the Namgung Family yesterday, was there too.
"Uuok!"
Finally, Namgung In spat out a mouthful of blood he had been holding in his mouth onto the ground. Though his face showed he had many things he wanted to say, Namgung In was already in a state where it wasn't easy to utter any words. All he could do was look up at Do Heo-ok with bloodshot eyes. That was all.
On the other hand, Do Heo-ok raised the Thunder Clap Blade high above his head once more with his usual fair and just face.
A bit of the ashes of the Limitless Sword Form members who had turned to ash from the Thunder Clap Charge moments ago brushed past his face. The ash met the breath Do Heo-ok exhaled and soon scattered futilely in the air, and some were swept by the morning breeze and fell despondently onto the surface of Chaohu Lake.
Plip… plop.
Could that have been the signal?
Do Heo-ok brought down the Thunder Clap Blade again. With a bluish flash, Thunder Clap Energy surged like a raging torrent toward Namgung In and the Limitless Sword Form members once more. Having no strength left to block it, they could only stare blankly at the Thunder Energy rushing to engulf them.
BZZZT—CRUNCH!
Now in just a moment, it would be a critical moment when the Limitless Sword Form that came to capture Do Heo-ok would be annihilated in reverse!
There was one human with a brown cloth leaping into the scene like the wind.
'Tang O.'
-x-X-x-
Dong Bong-su recognized it immediately.
From the moment he opened the door and came out to see the confrontation between Do Heo-ok and Namgung In, he had already somewhat anticipated that Tang O would interfere in that fight.
Swish!
Tang O's form was flying toward Namgung In.
Though swift as the wind, Do Heo-ok's blade energy rushing to engulf Namgung In was quick as lightning. At this rate, it seemed Tang O would never be able to block Do Heo-ok's Thunder Clap Blade Energy.
Then, Tang O's hand stretched forward and dozens of thin hidden weapons shot out like arrows. The hidden weapons, with the momentum of flight plus the palm power shooting from his hand, were fired out truly like lightning.
'Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles.'
Though he had seen it once, Dong Bong-su remembered it precisely.
As he remembered, the hidden weapons Tang O threw were indeed the Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles, and originally their purpose wasn't as tools for performing the Crown Opening Great Method. They were a type of hidden weapon for deploying hidden weapon techniques just like now.
Crack!
Do Heo-ok's emerald-tinged Thunder Clap Energy and the brown dark cloud of the Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles tore through space and collided at a distance in front of Namgung In.
BOOM!
An enormous explosion occurred as the two energies collided. However, all the aftermath of that explosion extended toward Do Heo-ok's side. This was because Tang O had additionally poured out his energy just before the collision to block all the energies bouncing toward Namgung In's side.
Tang O, who had completely annihilated Do Heo-ok's powerful Thunder Clap Blade Energy, landed lightly in front of Namgung In.
"Th-thank... Uncle... Tang..."
Namgung In barely expressed his gratitude to Tang O before losing consciousness just like that.
Tang O lightly supported the falling Namgung In's body and laid him safely on the ground.
"My, my, the Martial World these days has really become heartless. A son-in-law beating his in-law elder's back of the head to death, no less."
Sand rose greatly from the lingering effects of their collision.
Though vision was obscured, Tang O's voice spread throughout the scene, penetrating through that thick sandy dust.
The sand soon settled, and only tension lingered in the front yard of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall.
Tang O and Do Heo-ok were glaring at each other, and people surrounded them in a circle from quite a distance, watching their standoff. The spectators consisted mainly of the Namgung Family's dependents and warriors, but there were also quite a few guests from the Heavenly Guest Hall who had rushed out hearing the explosion.
Though everyone was making curious expressions wondering what was happening, it was difficult to open their mouths easily in the suffocating energy Tang O and Do Heo-ok were emitting.
That said, this place wasn't entirely quiet. Bustling sounds continued as spectators gathered one after another, and above all, the explosions ringing from the Emperor King Hall's direction still hadn't stopped.
No, rather they were getting worse. Seeing that screams were faintly mixed in with those explosions, it was clear that this was no ordinary incident.
Tang O glanced once toward the north where the Emperor King Hall was located, then looked at Do Heo-ok again and spoke coldly.
"What is happening at the Emperor King Hall right now?"
"Well. How would I know that? Great Hero Tang."
Unlike Tang O, Do Heo-ok wasn't fixing his gaze in one direction but was looking around in all directions.
Though Dong Bong-su was quite far from him, he could easily guess what Do Heo-ok was thinking right now.
'He's planning to flee.'
Certainly, as he thought, Do Heo-ok was now thinking of escape. From Do Heo-ok's perspective, the plan had already gone very awry, but it wasn't yet at the stage to give up. After all, there was no way for the Namgung Family to know his exact identity, and through the brief conversation with Namgung In earlier, he could easily infer that they didn't know very precisely about him.
If so, the only factor causing problems in the plan now was just that fact—that the four shadows who had infiltrated yesterday had been caught by the Namgung Family.
It was definitely true that this fact greatly affected the First Stratagem.
However, the First Stratagem was a plan that would succeed anyway as long as Do Heo-ok himself could survive and eliminate everyone inside the Namgung Family. In the original First Stratagem, he would have saved Namgung Hye as well, but now that things had come to this, he couldn't let her live.
The plan was revised from this moment on.
Everyone here...
'Dies. No one must escape alive.'
To do that, first he himself had to somehow survive and escape from the Namgung Family.
After that, if he could just meet 'Gray Shadow' or 'Water Shadow,' the tide of battle could be reversed at any time. After all, combining the forces that Gray Shadow and Water Shadow had brought here would be sufficient to destroy the Namgung Family. The four shadows who entered yesterday were merely additional forces to succeed in the plan more safely.
Judging from the explosion sounds at the Emperor King Hall now, the Four Shadows' main objective of destroying the Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation's core had probably already been accomplished.
If so, though it was unfortunate to say to the Four Shadows, they were no longer necessary beings. It would be 'a bit' better if they were alive, but it was fine without them.
I just need to survive.
This was Do Heo-ok's current thought, or more precisely, his intention.
Of course, the immediate problem was...
Tang O, who was glaring at him from over there.
He would be the lead of this dramatic performance, but if he made a mistake here, that lead role might go to Tang O instead.
"This old man was never the type to be verbose by nature. It would be best to confess your identity and what's happening now while I'm speaking nicely."
Tang O's eyes shone coldly as he spread both hands wide to the sides and lifted them horizontally.
Was it because of that motion?
Dozens of Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles that had fallen to the ground after blocking Do Heo-ok's Thunder Clap Blade Energy earlier began to float into the air. Tang O's unique divine art of Remote Object Manipulation, the Flying Butterfly Energy Art, was being applied to the Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles.
Woong woong woong—
The way each Dragon Phoenix Golden Needle was trembling strangely was quite ominous.
"Haha. This is unfortunate but..."
Though Do Heo-ok actually wanted to fight Tang O one-on-one right here and now, he knew better than anyone that now wasn't the time to fight.
If he carelessly engaged in combat here and more Namgung Family warriors came running, he would have to bury his bones here today. That in itself would already mean the failure of the First Stratagem.
He had to somehow tie Tang O down here and escape.
He kept Tang O's gaze captured while steadily scanning the surrounding situation with sidelong glances.
He saw Sosam standing at one corner of the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall over there, but he wasn't confident enough with just that. No matter that they had formed something like a teacher-disciple relationship, Tang O didn't seem likely to step forward to save someone who had been just a groom until recently.
Then.
Do Heo-ok's eyes captured one being approaching behind Sosam who would properly bind Tang O's feet.
'Perfect.'
With that, the need to take the risk of having to fight Tang O certainly disappeared now.
A wicked smile never seen before formed on his cold face. Since there was no need to be cautious now, his true nature was revealing itself.
"I was never the type to be verbose by nature either. Great Hero."
.
.
.
Dong Bong-su had been steadily watching Do Heo-ok's eyes from earlier. Naturally, he was well aware that Do Heo-ok was looking this way with sidelong glances.
But when Do Heo-ok first looked this way, there was no particular change in his expression, but at some moment it suddenly changed. Following that, he even witnessed his extremely faint smile spreading across his entire face.
'What is this?'
Right in front, Tang O was emitting tremendous energy, so he shouldn't have leisure to attack this way, right? Right at that moment when Dong Bong-su thought that.
"Huh? Why is Grandfather there?"
From behind came some woman's voice mixed with bewilderment.
"...!"
It was Tang Hwa, and she had just now come here from the Western Heavenly Guest Hall after hearing the explosion.
Dong Bong-su could finally understand why Do Heo-ok had smiled wickedly while looking this way at her appearance. What Do Heo-ok glanced at wasn't him but Tang Hwa who was approaching behind him.
If so, his faint smile was obviously—
Whoosh!
—Killing intent.
Without even pondering how Do Heo-ok would dodge Tang O's attack and attack this way, Dong Bong-su immediately turned around, embraced Tang Hwa, and threw his body sideways.
"Uh!?"
Tang Hwa only let out a short exclamation at Dong Bong-su's unexpected embrace and couldn't think of resisting at all.
Because!
Baaang!
She was witnessing head-on Do Heo-ok's Thunder Clap Blade imbued with terrifying energy flying toward the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall side, especially toward where she stood.
Do Heo-ok, who had been confronting Tang O, had suddenly thrown the Thunder Clap Blade toward her. As if he had given up fighting Tang O.
"Have I ever seen such a crazy bastard!"
Tang O couldn't anticipate Do Heo-ok's action in advance. Who in the world could think to throw their life-bound weapon elsewhere in a situation of one-on-one confrontation?
However,
Such a thing had just happened. And Tang Sam was over there.
At that, Tang O hastily scattered all the Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles he had floated with Flying Butterfly Energy Art toward Do Heo-ok. Tang O's life-bound ultimate technique, Soul Chasing Butterfly, was unfolding.
Flip flip!
With a sound like the noise of butterfly wings colliding with each other inflated tens of thousands of times, the Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles flew toward Do Heo-ok all at once.
After that, Tang O threw his body toward where Dong Bong-su and Tang Hwa stood at the maximum speed he could muster, but the situation was already too late.
The Thunder Clap Blade that left Do Heo-ok's hand was already passing over the Cloud Bridge connecting the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall and the shore.
What was fortunate for him was the fact that somehow noticing it, Tang Sam was embracing Tang Hwa and throwing his body toward Chaohu Lake's side.
Screeeeeech—!
The Thunder Clap Blade filled with Thunder Energy was the very incarnation of lightning. Even if they dodged that Thunder Clap Blade, it was self-evident that the explosion would be tremendous.
Bzzzt, click-click!
How fast and destructive it was—the sound of the Thunder Clap Blade flying and crushing the air was quite similar to the sound of firing hundreds of beans simultaneously.
After throwing his body, Dong Bong-su cleverly twisted his body sideways in midair. That appearance was so extremely natural that no one felt it was something Dong Bong-su intended. Well, there was already no one here who could pay attention to that anyway.
Just as the two entangled in midair were about to submerge in Chaohu Lake, the Thunder Clap Blade finally arrived and embedded itself where they had been standing.
Splash!
Boom! Rrrrumble!
"Aaargh!"
"Urg-!"
"Ah!"
As the Thunder Energy exploded, everything within a radius of fifteen meters from where the Thunder Clap Blade embedded was completely devastated, and the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall swept up in that aftermath completely collapsed.
As a result, Danri Jiang-hae, now the only remaining bloodline of the Danri Family in the world, died a miserable death.
His death was as futile as his father Danri Cheon-u's or his younger sister Danri Hui's. However, since he at least died knowing he was dying, perhaps it was a slightly less futile death among the three.
-x-X-x-
"Aaargh!"
"Run away!"
"Aaaah!"
No one in the scene mourned that death. Everyone was too busy trying to survive and escape.
At Do Heo-ok's unexpected attack, many of the congratulatory guests watching from the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall's side were killed or injured.
Among them was Tang Hwa, whose body was thrown into Chaohu Lake along with Dong Bong-su. The moment they entered the water, fragments of Thunder Energy had splattered onto her back, inflicting a large wound.
Judging by how blackened and burned her flesh was, it seemed she had suffered quite a severe blow.
"Aaaaargh..."
She was frowning from pain and exhaling hot groans onto Dong Bong-su's chest. If Dong Bong-su hadn't embraced her and leaped into the water, she would already not be a person of this world along with Danri Jiang-hae and other guests.
However,
The reason Dong Bong-su embraced her and leaped into Chaohu Lake wasn't for the absurd reason of saving Tang Hwa.
Human shield.
In game terms, meat tank.
Dong Bong-su had merely used Tang Hwa as a tool to block the Thunder Energy fragments in his stead. Whether Tang Hwa died from being hit by Thunder Energy fragments or not, there was no loss for him. After all, the moment he embraced her and leaped into the water, he gained the justification that he had saved her.
No one could blame his actions. Tang O would be the same. Without him anyway, Tang Hwa would have already been a dead person. Of course, this was a story that held true when no one knew he had deliberately twisted his body to direct Tang Hwa toward the Thunder Energy fragments.
However,
Separate from his original purpose, he had gained several benefits from this incident. Three of them, no less.
His own life, a life debt from Tang Hwa, and even Tang O's trust.
Dong Bong-su had achieved three benefits at once even in that critical moment.
"Hwa-ah-ya!"
Tang O's cry was heard close by.
Tang O had just arrived at the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall.
He hurriedly swam to the island where the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall was.
As soon as he reached shore, he handed the injured Tang Hwa to Tang O, then raised his head to look toward Do Heo-ok's direction. He had seen Tang O launch the Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles and fly this way, but couldn't see what happened after because he was throwing his body.
'As expected.'
Do Heo-ok had already blocked all the Dragon Phoenix Golden Needles Tang O had fired and was leisurely leaving the scene. The direction was north.
Warriors of the Namgung Family, including Limitless Sword Form members and Heavenly Wind Group members who appeared belatedly, blocked Do Heo-ok's path, but no one could stop him. All the warriors who appeared here now were only lower-ranking warriors.
Probably all the masters were deployed to the Emperor King Hall. Even so, the fact that Do Heo-ok was tremendously strong was something that could never be denied.
'Everything was calculated.'
Right at that moment when the Thunder Clap Blade flew toward the Eastern Heavenly Guest Hall, Dong Bong-su had already anticipated that Do Heo-ok would be able to sufficiently block Tang O's attack without the Thunder Clap Blade.
'Perhaps his true self, not using the Thunder Clap Blade and Thunder Clap Blade Technique, might be far stronger.'
Do Heo-ok still hadn't shed his shell. He was still 'Do Heo-ok.'
"Hahaha."
Do Heo-ok unleashed that customary hearty laugh without filtering it as he slaughtered the Namgung Family warriors blocking his path.
Thud, Whack!
At the bizarre palm technique unfolding from his hands, the Namgung Family warriors fell helplessly.
Before long, he completely disappeared from the scene.
"Hahaha. Then I shall formally visit again soon. Great Hero Tang."
Though Do Heo-ok was no longer here, his laughter was still faintly flowing this way.
Around the time his laughter completely subsided, the screams and combat sounds coming from the Emperor King Hall's direction also nearly stopped. The commotion over there had probably also been mostly suppressed.
From what Dong Bong-su saw, Tang Hwa's wound also wasn't as serious as he'd thought, and she already seemed almost stabilized by Tang O.
However,
The voice Do Heo-ok left behind moments ago kept circling in Dong Bong-su's ears.
[I shall formally visit again soon.]
Soon.
Meaning 'in the near future.'
Dong Bong-su knew well that the near future could be right now at this very moment.
'Is this about half a success?'
Though his warning to break through the scheme had worked, it hadn't achieved complete success.
Now then.
What should he do?
He tried asking himself that question, but this time even his cold-headed brain didn't provide any answer.
Because, just as Do Heo-ok knew nothing about him, he too knew nothing about Do Heo-ok and the force behind him.
Now Do Heo-ok wasn't even remaining here. This meant Dong Bong-su's usable cards had run out.
Improvisation.
Now for a while, even Dong Bong-su would have no choice but to respond moment by moment according to the situation.
As carefully as possible, retracing each step, like when he dodged Do Heo-ok's Thunder Clap Blade moments ago, just like that.
Dong Bong-su's pupils sank deeper and darker.
It was his unique characteristic that appeared when accelerating his brain.
***
Several hours later at the Emperor King Hall.
Whiiish!
Namgung Byeok was just sitting. The wind brushing past his ears was unfamiliar.
Well, naturally so.
When could he ever sit on the chair-bed of the Emperor King Hall and feel the cold wind from outside?
The roof was gone. Through the wide-open space above the Emperor King Hall, wind entered without restraint and stirred wildly inside the pavilion.
"Family Head..."
Namgung Bang, the Emperor Sword Form Head who was standing quietly beside the platform, called Namgung Byeok softly. At that, Namgung Byeok quietly looked up at where the ceiling used to be and spoke.
"Have all the swords been recovered?"
The swords Namgung Byeok referred to meant the swords of successive Family Heads that should have been embedded up there originally.
"Yes, Family Head. Fortunately, we found all the swords without missing a single one, and none were damaged at all."
Namgung Byeok couldn't help but feel bitter.
Normally, shouldn't those things have remained embedded intact in the ceiling? Yet Namgung Bang was saying it was fortunate that they merely recovered the swords intact. Or perhaps he was pleased that the swords weren't damaged.
Namgung Byeok found Namgung Bang's word 'fortunate' truly grating to hear. He wondered if he was saying such things after looking around at what state the Emperor King Hall was in right now.
The fact that the Emperor King Hall's ceiling was gone didn't simply mean the building called Emperor King Hall had been damaged. The absence of the ceiling here meant the Emperor King Hall's roof had disappeared, and now they could no longer embed the Family Heads' swords back in their original places.
In other words, it meant the Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation's core had disappeared, and now the sub-cores of the Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation installed throughout the family grounds had become useless.
The core of the Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation had been precisely 'the swords of previous Family Heads' embedded in the Emperor King Hall roof according to the formation pattern.
Namgung Byeok spoke to Namgung Bang while maintaining his posture of looking up at the gaping hole above.
"How long will it take to restore the Three Emperors Nine Kings Formation?"
In Namgung Byeok's mind, what needed to be prioritized most in the current situation was restoring the protective formation to its original state. However, both Namgung Byeok who was asking and Namgung Bang who received the question knew well that this was extremely difficult in the current situation.
"...It will take at least a month. Family Head..."
"Hehe..."
Only a hollow laugh came out.
To think they had to endure without even a protective formation for a long time of one month in a situation surrounded by powerful enemies.
In the morning after the Emperor King Hall's roof collapsed, they had released carrier pigeons that regularly traveled to and from the Murim Alliance's main headquarters.
But it was useless. The enemies surrounding this place had already released dozens of Killer Falcons around the family in preparation for carrier pigeons being released.
As soon as the carrier pigeons rose into the sky, they were torn to shreds by the sharp talons and beaks of the Killer Falcons until their forms were barely recognizable. The time it took for all the carrier pigeons to die didn't even reach one watch period.
Now, unless someone personally went to Zhengzhou and conveyed this news to the Murim Alliance Leader, the Namgung Family had to overcome this crisis with only its own inherent power.
However,
If that were easy, Namgung Byeok's face wouldn't look this worried.
According to the report he received, though Do Heo-ok had fled, his abilities were no less than Tang O's. That was as good as saying no one in the Namgung Family could face Do Heo-ok one-on-one.
Moreover,
"Only four of them..."
Those who made the Emperor King Hall like this, namely those hiding in Do Heo-ok's room, were as his self-deprecating murmur said, merely four at most.
As soon as the Emperor Sword Form's warriors entered Do Heo-ok's room to search it, they burst out from their hiding place and attacked the Namgung Family warriors.
The possibility had become reality, but their strength being that great was completely beyond expectation.
However, what surprised Namgung Byeok and the Namgung Family's masters wasn't just that alone.
The identities of those four discovered after subduing them were even more astonishing.
Vermillion Iron Demon Whip Ok Na-paeng, One Blade Seven Kills Pa Cheon-su, and the Yin-Yang Twin Demons.
Those hiding in Do Heo-ok's room were these four. These four were legendary Demonic Path masters whose names resounded throughout the world.
Above all, what shocked Namgung Byeok wasn't that they were all famous Demonic Path masters, but that two of those four were the Yin-Yang Twin Demons.
Most of Do Heo-ok's fame had been gained by defeating the Yin-Yang Twin Demons, yet those same Yin-Yang Twin Demons were hiding in Do Heo-ok's room. For Namgung Byeok and the Namgung Family's masters, it was an infuriating situation.
"Everything was planned from the start..."
Do Heo-ok's course, the entire process from his emergence to entering the Namgung Family and having a wedding ceremony with Namgung Hye, had all been a flawlessly scripted performance.
-x-X-x-
The series of events that occurred in the morning was a clear incident proving that Namgung Byeok, the Namgung Family, no, the entire Martial World had been thoroughly toyed with by Do Heo-ok.
If not for the 'ill omen' left by the unidentified intruder last night, they would have proceeded with the wedding ceremony as planned, and the Namgung Family might have been helplessly dealt with by Do Heo-ok.
Of course, the situation was still not good.
The fact that they had driven the culprit Do Heo-ok outside the Namgung Family and killed all four villains he had brought in didn't reassure Namgung Byeok.
This was because Do Heo-ok was still alive and the situation of the Namgung Family being surrounded had not been resolved.
Was that all?
'The guest who is not a guest is still hiding somewhere in the family, isn't he?'
Even if that person had given information beneficial to the Namgung Family, his true intentions were still full of questions.
Internal worries and external troubles.
How else could one describe the Namgung Family's current situation?
Namgung Byeok was keenly feeling that he faced the greatest crisis in his generation, no, since the Namgung Family hung up the signboard of Imperial Family by the shores of Chaohu Lake.
Looking at the sun slowly setting while thinking about the morning's events and Do Heo-ok, he lowered his head, looked at Namgung Bang, and asked.
"How many enemies have been identified?"
He had already received the report, but he was confirming once more.
It was from the heart that perhaps he had heard wrong. But the answer that came back from Namgung Bang was equally desperate.
"According to what was confirmed by the Heavenly Thunder Squad and Heavenly Sky Sword Form, there are easily a thousand at minimum."
At least a thousand.
It was definitely not a small number. Even that number alone was similar to the total number of Namgung Family warriors, excluding the congratulatory guests. According to reports so far, the martial arts level of the enemy's ordinary warriors was absolutely no less than the Namgung Family's.
No major difference in quality, and similar numbers too.
The phrase 'easily a thousand' was the minimum count, so there could be even more.
'What if there are additional forces joining the enemies?'
Though he didn't want to imagine it, there was sufficient possibility of that.
"At least a thousand..."
Namgung Byeok felt the weight of the phrase 'at least' that he was muttering pressing heavily on his shoulders.
He quietly closed his eyes and asked Namgung Bang once more.
"Has the number of peak masters on their side not been determined yet?"
In truth, in battles between Martial World sects, the number of masters was far more important in determining victory or defeat than head count.
If there were more peak masters on the Namgung Family's side, this fight could be led favorably in many ways. What Namgung Byeok was asking was confirming precisely that aspect.
But this time too, Namgung Bang's answer was pessimistic.
"...I apologize, Family Head. The family's ordinary warriors simply couldn't find that out. If we recklessly deployed the squad commanders, it seemed it wouldn't work either, so for now we're only performing general reconnaissance."
Even if they knew everything about the opponent and fought, it was questionable whether they could win, yet they knew less than they didn't know.
In contrast, it was obvious that the opponent had come knowing too well about the Namgung Family. Naturally, it went without saying that even their preparations were thorough.
This way, the Namgung Family had no choice but to be dragged along as the opponent led. They had fallen into a situation of no way forward or back—unable to go out and fight head-on, unable to sit still and take it.
"Huu... It's fine. What do you have to apologize for? It would be the same whether we investigate or not anyway. The number of peak masters will absolutely be no less than the Namgung Family's. If the opponent is them, we can know without even checking with our eyes. Don't worry about it too much."
The opponent was Heavenly Demon Castle. If they hadn't attacked it would be one thing, but at the point they started attacking, it was self-evident they had brought forces no less than this side's.
'Why in the world is Heavenly Demon Castle suddenly appearing in Anhui Province to attack the Namgung Family?'
Namgung Byeok was extremely curious about that, but there was no way for him to find out.
The situation the Namgung Family and Namgung Byeok were in right now was like.
Being beaten while having hands and feet tied and eyes blindfolded?
Though they knew nothing about the enemy, damage was accumulating rapidly.
Already in the first clash in the morning, the Namgung Family had suffered major damage.
By Do Heo-ok and the enemy hiding in his room, one Form Head and close to a dozen elders had already fallen into combat disability.
Not only that, but more than twenty percent of the Emperor Sword Form members, the Namgung Family's most elite warrior group, had died or been seriously injured.
Also, countless family warriors had died in reconnaissance without any significant gains, and were still dying even now.
Though it couldn't yet be said they had suffered fatal damage, if the current pattern continued, they would eventually be unable to endure and collapse.
Above all.
The family was damaged, but the bigger problem was that many of the congratulatory guests who came to celebrate Do Heo-ok and Namgung Hye's wedding had also died, and all of them were trembling in anxiety.
"The congratulatory guests... huu... what are they doing now?"
"They're clamoring to be allowed to leave the guest halls."
In the process of handling the morning's events, the Namgung Family had made all guests remain inside the guest halls for now. This was because they couldn't distinguish who were spies and who were guests.
However, from the congratulatory guests' perspective, it was a bolt from the blue. They had come to watch or celebrate a wedding only to face a life-threatening situation, and the Namgung Family that should protect them had even confined them inside the guest halls without any clear countermeasures...
The Namgung Family mobilized the Heavenly Wind Group and Limitless Sword Form all afternoon trying to root out whoever left the Four Bone Scripts, Four Blood Scripts yesterday, but couldn't find them.
It was natural. There was no physical evidence, not even anyone they had strong suspicions about.
Judging by the cultivation when emitting the Three Holy Lights, the only person who could be the intruder was Tang O.
'Tang O as the culprit?'
That couldn't be. That was impossible. It shouldn't be either.
He was Namgung Byeok's sworn uncle and thus the same as a member of the Namgung Family. Also, though not a major injury, his granddaughter Tang Hwa had also been injured in the morning.
"What is Uncle Tang doing?"
As thoughts reached Tang O, Namgung Byeok became curious about what he was doing now.
"He is at the Medicine Hall."
Namgung Byeok nodded.
Since Tang Hwa was injured, naturally Tang O would be staying together at the Medicine Hall for her treatment.
With a hollow expression, he raised his head again to look at the sky. The busy day was passing and the sun was slowly setting. Yet the sky was clear without a single cloud. Though such dark clouds hung over the Namgung Family, the sky alone was so clear, just like that.
Namgung Byeok closed his eyes and fell into thought, not knowing what to do right now.
Namgung Bang, who had been quietly waiting for him to give orders, carefully opened his mouth.
"Family Head. If it's not presumptuous, may I say something?"
Namgung Byeok opened his eyes and nodded toward Namgung Bang.
The Emperor Sky Sword Form Head was traditionally the Namgung Family Head's right arm, and the current Emperor Sky Sword Form Head Namgung Bang was the same. Namgung Byeok usually listened to his advice as much as possible. What more needs to be said in a situation like this?
"In my view, there are broadly three ways to deal with the current situation. Fight to the death, flee, or send a messenger. These three ways."
Namgung Byeok quietly looked at Namgung Bang, and Namgung Bang continued his story.
"Fighting to the death is exactly as it sounds—engaging in total war with the enemy here with resolve to die. Fleeing is having all personnel leave the family at once, break through in one direction, and make a frontal breakthrough that way."
Namgung Byeok shook his head left and right as if they weren't worth considering and said.
"Move on to the third. You know well too that the first two won't work, don't you?"
If there were even a fifty-fifty chance by fighting to the death, he wouldn't be having such worries.
And fleeing?
It was something that absolutely must not be done.
The moment the Namgung Family abandoned the family grounds and fled, the Namgung Family could no longer be the Imperial Family. As the Namgung Family Head, Namgung Byeok could never make such a choice even if he died gloriously in battle here.
Namgung Bang's main point was actually the third one. His story continued immediately after.
"Sending a messenger means someone conveys the current situation to the Murim Alliance and waits for support. Considering the distance from here to Zhengzhou, if using Movement Technique to go, it won't take even a week. If we really push it, with ten days and nights round trip, one could bring support troops back here."
Namgung Byeok shook his head again this time.
In fact, what Namgung Bang was saying were all methods he had already considered.
Namgung Byeok spoke in a deeply sunken voice.
"I understand your method well, but who in the Namgung Family could break through their encirclement and reach Zhengzhou?"
Namgung Bang answered immediately as if he had been waiting for those words.
"The messenger doesn't necessarily have to be someone from the Namgung Family, does it?"
As soon as he heard the words, Namgung Byeok could tell who Namgung Bang had in mind when saying this.
Someone who, though not a person of the Namgung Family, was trustworthy and whose Movement Technique and martial arts were also extremely lofty. There was exactly one person in the family now who fit that description.
"Are you saying we should send Uncle Tang to Zhengzhou?"
"Yes, Family Head. We have no choice. If not him, there's no visible way to break through the current situation."
"However, even if it's him, it's questionable whether he could break through the encirclement of so many enemies alone?"
Do Heo-ok alone was enough to compete with Tang O, so could Tang O go to Zhengzhou alone, breaking through enemies layered who knows how many times? That was Namgung Byeok's meaning.
But Namgung Bang had already thought about that point too.
"If alone, unless one is among the Two Divinities or Three Eccentrics, it would be impossible to break through that encirclement. But what if he doesn't go alone?"
"What do you mean? Are you saying we should mobilize all family members to temporarily punch a hole in the enemy lines? But if we make a mistake doing that, we might conversely suffer a counterattack and have the family's entrance breached."
At Namgung Byeok's words, Namgung Bang slightly shook his head.
"No. The method I'm thinking of isn't to create a gap in the enemy lines."
"Hmm!? What do you mean?"
"Right now there are hundreds of people in the family dying to escape."
"So?"
"The intruder who left the Four Bone Scripts, Four Blood Scripts is among them. If we can't filter him out, I think sending them all outside together is also one method."
If you can't filter them out, send them all outside together.