Sapaeryeon is invading! (1)

“Umm?”

The eyes of the Beggar Sect’s member hiding in the bushes narrowed slightly.

There was nothing to see. Nothing to feel. But an inexplicable sense of discomfort was warning him.

This feeling is…

The beggar’s gaze, which had been momentarily hesitant, shifted downwards. Not anywhere else, but right beneath his feet.

It’s trembling. No, it’s shaking.

A vibration so faint one wouldn’t notice unless being focused. But it’s definitely there. Undeniably so.

‘An earthquake?’

But he dismissed that thought immediately. This was different from an earthquake. This vibration, growing not rapidly but gradually and rhythmically, little by little…

Suddenly, sensing something, the beggar’s gaze shifted forward sharply.

An expansive grassland spread out before him. At the end of that plain, he saw something.

Even with his trained eyes, he could only describe it as a mere ‘ripple’ for now.

‘What is that?’

Goosebumps rose up his back. Because he realized that the blurry ripple was spreading more distinctly.

“Ah…”

The beggar’s mouth opened involuntarily.

Realizing that the ‘ripple’ was a massive army moving and filling the horizon, the beggar sprang to his feet.

“Sa… Sapaeryeon!”

A mere relocation? Impossible. That was clearly Sapaeryeon’s full-scale offensive.

‘I must inform them quickly!’

His hand quickly dug into his bosom. He had to convey this fact to the Alliance, who were still completely unaware, so they could grasp the situation and prepare without delay.

It was precisely at the moment when the beggar was about to attach the urgent message he had swiftly written to the leg of a top-grade messenger pigeon and send it off.

“That won’t do.”

Snap.

Someone grabbed his hand.

The beggar froze on the spot, startled as if his heart would jump out of his throat. To think that an enemy had approached close enough to grab his wrist, yet he hadn’t sensed any presence.

“…”

“Even if it’s known, nothing will change, but wouldn’t it be better to keep things simple? We do value practical interests.”

The beggar’s head turned slowly.

An unfamiliar face. It didn’t match any of the high-ranking experts of Sapaeryeon that he remembered.

But precisely because of that, the beggar was able to realize this person’s true identity.

“Cheon Myeon..”

“You’re smart.”

Crunch.

Cheon Myeon Susa’s other hand gripped the beggar’s neck.

“Urgh…’

The beggar’s feet were lifted off the ground.

Dangling in midair, he instinctively grasped the hand that was choking his neck.

“Then you should understand why you’re going to die.”

Even as his consciousness blurred from the cut-off blood flow, the beggar glanced sideways at the advancing enemy forces instead of Cheon Myeon Susa before his eyes.

‘No. Like this… it can’t…’

Crack.

Just as the beggar was about to say something, his neck twisted to the side. Cheon Myeon Susa carelessly tossed the corpse with the broken neck to the ground, clicked his tongue, and wiped the saliva that had dripped onto his wrist.

“Anyway.”

This is why Ho Gamyeong is someone you can’t let your guard down around.

‘Did he pretend not to notice, even after figuring out the positions of those who were obviously monitoring him, and wait until now?’

Thinking that eventually things would turn out this way?

‘If it were me, I would have eliminated those watching me long ago.’

Now that he thought about it, there was no need to consider which side gained more advantage.

“Huh.”

Thanks to that, only the unfortunate Cheon Myeon Susa ended up with more work, but he could endure this level of effort. After all, Cheon Myeon Susa was also someone who desired the victory of Sapaeryeon.

‘For now, that is.’

Cheon Myeon Susa’s eyes sank deeply.

His keen ears did not miss the stifled groans coming from all around. It seemed his subordinates were doing a good job.

When skills are equal, the side that knows the positions holds the advantage. From the moment they believed they hadn’t been discovered, their fate was already sealed.

“Now that it has come to this…”

Cheon Myeon Susa slowly licked his lips. Instead of his now unfamiliar real lips, he felt the thin texture of the mask on the tip of his tongue.

‘How much more time will it take for them to notice our movements? Fifteen minutes? Thirty minutes? Or… two hours?*’

If it’s fifteen minutes, they can seize an advantage; if it’s an hour, they can change the tide of the battlefield. And if it’s two hours…

Cheon Myeon Susa’s thrilled gaze turned northward.

“It would be enough time to change fate itself.”

A faint excitement was evident in his voice.

❀ ❀ ❀

“…How is the situation?”

“There’s nothing particularly noteworthy yet.”

Tang Gunak nodded heavily.

“But we must not be complacent. They are not ones to retreat just like this. They must be aiming for something, so please strengthen our vigilance.”

“I will do so.”

As Zhuge Jain nodded, a short sigh escaped from Tang Gunak’s lips.

‘Cheon Myeon Susa…?’

He should have thought of it. He could have figured it out.

But he didn’t. Even though he knew there was someone among the enemy who could perfectly turn their tactics against them, he failed to consider it, resulting in the loss of many lives.

“But isn’t it fortunate after all?”

Tang Gunak’s gaze turned to one side. There was Namgung Myeong, who was attending the meeting as the representative of Namgung clan.

“Since Hwasan Geomhyeop drove away Cheon Myeon Susa, there shouldn’t be any problems for a while.”

“You’re right.”

“That sly Sapa bastard got thoroughly humiliated.”

At those words, after a long time, a bright atmosphere spread inside the tent.

A brief smile appeared on everyone’s lips, but only Tang Gunak couldn’t smile easily. It’s not that he wasn’t happy about the news. Just…

‘It’s strange.’

Cheon Myeon Susa returned alive. According to Chung Myung’s words.

Tang Gunak couldn’t help but have one suspicion about that fact.

‘Were Cheon Myeon Susa’s skills that great? That he could face Chung Myung’s sword and still keep his life?’

It might be difficult for others to understand, but to Tang Gunak, it was not an ungrounded doubt. He had already exchanged blows with Cheon Myeon Susa. He was indeed strong – his position as the leader of Haomun and the title of “the number one master of the Evil Sects [사파제일수(邪派第一手)]” were well-deserved.

But if his opponent was Chung Myung?

Chung Myung had already surpassed him long ago and was now worthy of being called the greatest master of the Just Sects.

How many people in the current Gangho could face Chung Myung without any assistance and return alive?

‘No. That’s impossible.’

If the skill of Cheon Myeon Susa he had seen was genuine… No, even if Cheon Myeon Susa had been hiding some of his strength, it would be difficult to survive under Chung Myung’s sword. But Cheon Myeon Susa definitely returned alive.

‘Then…’

If something incomprehensible has happened, there must be a reason.

Which is it? Did Cheon Myeon Susa hide his true abilities? Or did he aim to confront Chung Myung from the beginning and had prepared to escape?

If neither of those…

Tang Gunak shook his head.

The third possibility is not even worth considering. No, he didn’t want to think about it.

In a situation like this, where the boundaries between sects are blurred and the enemy feels overwhelmingly powerful, the importance of absolute masters is at its peak. Isn’t it dreadful to even think of such an assumption amidst all this?

“Hoo…”

Tang Gunak realized that he was feeling anxious. But overcoming that anxiety was not as easy as he thought.

Setting up camp in a place like this instead of Mount Wudang, and maintaining that position for several days without being able to return to Wudang – none of this was a situation he desired.

Although the damage couldn’t yet be said to be significant, the problem was that they wouldn’t have played such tricks merely to lure the Alliance onto the plains.

‘There must be something.’

The opponents are none other than Jang Ilso and Ho Gamyeong. The idea that they would act without a hidden scheme would make even a passing dog laugh.

But Tang Gunak couldn’t grasp the essence of it at all. He knew the enemy was aiming for something, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what they were after.

Tang Gunak’s eyes instinctively squeezed shut.

He felt a suffocating pressure, as if his heart was being crushed.

‘This is too much for me.’

Tang Gunak felt his own shortcomings deeply.

He knew. That those here didn’t expect him to play the role of a perfect Alliance Leader. That just being a puppet to fill the virtually vacant position was sufficient.

But they didn’t know. Even Tang Gunak himself hadn’t known until recently. That even a puppet has to bear a weight that others can hardly imagine.

‘Alliance Leader…’

Had Hyun Jong been bearing this burden all this time? The fear that if he made a wrong decision, not only Cheonumeng but the entire Gangho might collapse?

“…”

Tang Gunak quietly clenched his sleeve.

Of course, he wasn’t bearing it all alone. Everyone would help so that he wouldn’t go astray. Because he wasn’t the only one supporting Gangho.

But what if even they were wrong? No, what if Tang Gunak failed to realize that they had come up with the wrong answers?

Who could take responsibility for what would follow?

Tang Gunak’s gaze turned towards the ceiling. It was a habit he had developed since taking this seat. Without realizing it, he kept seeking something pressing down on him from above. Even though he knew well that the pressure had no physical form.

It was then.

“But, Alliance Leader…”

When the words ‘Alliance Leader’ came out of Namgung Myeong’s mouth, everyone inside of the tent naturally fell silent.

“Is there still… no news?”

“…”

After a brief silence, Zhuge Jain spoke up.

“It seems so.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Myeong let out a troubled sigh. Just as Tang Gunak was about to let out another short sigh, unconsciously sharing the sentiment, Moyong Wigyeong spoke up.

“But isn’t this something we need not consider too seriously?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Since Lord Tang is fulfilling that role here, and in case of emergency, we have Sect Leader Jongli as well. Even if the Alliance Leader is absent… No, rather…”

The corners of Tang Gunak’s eyes twitched visibly.

The subtle disregard towards Hyun Jong had always existed from before until now. Knowing that fact, Tang Gunak hadn’t reacted sensitively until now, believing they would realize when the time came.

But at this very moment, he couldn’t bear it.

If they knew how dreadful the seat he was sitting in was, they would never utter such words.

“Now, you are saying that…”

“Rather, it’s fortunate.”

Before Tang Gunak could finish his words, Jongli Gok spoke up. His cold gaze turned towards Moyong Wigyeong.

“It must be nice for you, Lord Moyong, to have nothing to worry about.”

Moyong Wigyeong’s face hardened.

How could he not know that those words were an insult towards him?

“Sect Leader, how could you…”

“No, it’s nothing. I just had a passing thought.”

Moyong Wigyeong’s face flushed slightly. However, Jongli Gok didn’t even meet his gaze.

An atmosphere more desolate than if they were openly pointing fingers and fighting. Amidst that mood, Tang Gunak nervously rubbed his own neck.

He couldn’t control them. Not because of issues of power or authority, but because he lacked the virtue to embrace them.

‘It’s too much now, Alliance Leader. You must return.’

It was at that moment when Tang Gunak tried to restrain Moyong Wigyeong, who was just about to speak.

Wham!

The tent flap was flung open as if being torn apart, and someone burst in like the wind.

“Shin Gae.”

Tang Gunak stood up. He recognized that the one who had rushed in urgently was none other than Pung Yeong Shin Gae.

“What’s the matter…”

Tang Gunak closed his mouth. Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s complexion was pale as if he’d seen a ghost. So he sensed it immediately: something has definitely happened.

Something he couldn’t handle.

“Sapaeryeon…”

Pung Yeong Shin Gae opened his mouth. His trembling voice, in the end, turned into a scream and shook the tent.

“Sapaeryeon is invading! It’s a full-scale offensive!”

Tang Gunak’s eyes widened as if they would tear apart.