Chapter 185 - Rewriting the Sichuan Blood Tragedy (5)

In Gu Jeongryong's eyes, the alliance structure of the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods was a bizarre one.

Although tied together under the name of an alliance, they had no authority to interfere with one another.

Even if the master of an existing stronghold changed, they were not kicked out of the alliance of the seventy-two strongholds.

This structure had not changed for a hundred years since the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods was first established.

Then, what was the reason these unrelated groups continued to maintain the name of the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods?

It was precisely to engage in 'mob' fights when faced with a crisis.

Due to the nature of their profession, bandits, who often provoked the anger of others, were targets of scrutiny by martial artists and government troops.

Not knowing when they might be subjugated, they had formed their own unique coalition—banding together when necessary to generate their so-called stable(?) income, and scattering when not needed.

And right now, that coalition had been triggered.

Because of the Murim Alliance or government troops?

No. It was because of a single martial artist.

"Damn it..."

Gu Jeongryong said, biting his lip.

"What should we do?"

"What do you mean, what do we do! Stop the march immediately and form a defensive formation! Evacuate the injured to the rear and disperse the fresh ones into two lines."

"Understood."

Gam Cheon-ak quickly ran off and began gathering Seungho Hall.

The fact that the Green Woods strongholds had invoked their coalition meant that they were treating Jin Sowoon's group as a dangerous existence on par with the Murim Alliance or government troops.

'We are the Murim Alliance, yes... but we have more patients here...'

If three Green Woods strongholds had formed a coalition, they had to assume there would be over a thousand enemies.

Hwaeom Stronghold, Jeokhwa Stronghold, and Heukbong Stronghold.

Strongholds famous for gathering only the most prominent scoundrels in Sichuan.

"Of all the people to mess with, why did it have to be them!"

At Gu Jeongryong's words, Jin Sowoon replied.

"Aren't they the worst of the worst?"

"..."

To put it bluntly, they were the ones who monopolized the trade route with the Western Regions and engaged in massive profiteering through tolls.

He had heard that occasionally, when small merchant groups tried to forge a path to the Western Regions, they would even ambush the merchant group itself.

He wanted to at least praise him for using such people to stop the Blood Cult, but because of that, they were now on the verge of dying right here.

At that moment, another voice interjected.

"What are you doing right now?"

It was a sharp tone, but it wasn't a clean voice like Gam Cheon-ak's. It was more raspy and cloudy, as if filled with phlegm...

"Why are you setting up a defensive formation?"

Turning around, he saw Elder Suheo and Elder Sangwon glaring at Gu Jeongryong with fierce eyes.

"They are bandits who dared to block the march of the Murim Alliance. To think of defending against those bastards. Are you out of your mind?"

"The world-renowned Seungho Hall is trembling in fear over mere bandits! I will definitely make an issue of this!"

Gu Jeongryong's face turned expressionless.

He was in immediate danger of losing his position as Hall Leader, but somehow his chest was boiling like fire, and his head felt like it would burst from the heat at any moment.

Even if they engaged in combat as these men said, they would not lose one-sidedly.

But what about the casualties?

Over half of them were injured, and those capable of fighting, including Seungho Hall, numbered less than two hundred.

Most of those who had barely survived the Sichuan Bloodbath might eventually become wandering spirits right here.

'Is this truly what you want?'

The anger that had built up over the past few days began to creep out.

Even if it meant being stripped of his Hall Leader position and locked in the Golden Jade Prison for insubordination, he felt he shouldn't hold back here.

"Are the elders truly that..."

The moment he was about to vent his frustration with a growling tone...

"Have these old geezers gone crazy?"

"..."

His head cooled down instantly at the delinquent voice that suddenly interjected.

Looking toward where the voice came from, Jin Sowoon was approaching the two elders with the expression of a thug.

"Y-You just now! What did you say!"

"Fuck, didn't you hear me? I asked if you've gone crazy!"

"What!!!"

The faces of the two elders turned so red that one would wonder if it was even possible to get that angry.

It was understandable, as they were people who had only held the highest positions in the Murim Alliance their entire lives.

To them, the experience of being cursed at by a disciple of an insignificant sect like the Taiyi Sect, who had just entered the academy, must have been completely foreign.

"What? The march of the Murim Alliance? Afraid of mere bandits?"

Tap, tap.

Not stopping there, Jin Sowoon began deliberately bumping his shoulder into the two elders.

"It seems you still haven't grasped the situation properly."

Stunned by such an absurd situation, the two elders were unable to react in time and stumbled back a couple of steps.

"If you want to fucking fight so much, go fight them yourselves."

"... Y-You insolent brat!"

Unable to hold back any longer, Elder Suheo and Elder Sangwon began to draw up their inner qi.

Their martial robes swelled as if they were about to burst from the storm-like qi waves, and their long beards and hair floated up into the air.

A highly volatile situation.

Even amidst the surging killing intent, Jin Sowoon's voice still rang out across the surroundings.

"Hah, you sacrificed so many innocent lives for the sake of your damn face, and saving face is still that important to you?"

"..."

A voice that thundered like lightning.

From the academy students and Seungho Hall members forming the defensive line to the injured groaning in pain, everyone looked at Jin Sowoon and the two elders.

"If face is so important, why don't you go out and fight among yourselves."

"..."

Jin Sowoon's cold anger instantly froze the surrounding air.

"Use that spirit of the Murim Alliance you talk about, and try fighting a thousand men."

Jin Sowoon tapped their shoulders again without even drawing his sword, let alone using his inner qi.

"..."

"..."

The two elders, who had flared up their inner qi like a fire, could not throw a strike.

Jin Sowoon looked at them as if he were looking at bugs, then turned his head back.

"Kunlun Sect! Zhongnan Sect! Come out!"

Then he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Since your elders say they want to fight those Green Woods strongholds, go fight and die like dogs for them!"

"..."

The people's gazes turned toward the Kunlun and Zhongnan sects.

Even though their sect's elders were being insulted by a mere academy student, no one stepped forward easily.

The two elders ground their teeth as they looked at their unmoving disciples.

"... Grind."

"T-Those bastards!"

At that sight, the gazes of the people directed at the two elders began to change.

What was contained in their eyes was clear contempt and disgust.

Anger seeking the reason for what exactly they were trying to grind people down for.

Jin Sowoon's gaze turned back to the two elders.

"Why, since even your disciples won't step forward, can't you do it by yourselves? Is the spirit and face of the Murim Alliance not that important compared to your own lives?"

Elder Suheo and Elder Sangwon could only tremble, not daring to open their mouths.

The damage to innocent people was already too great, and the Orthodox Council hadn't been able to salvage any of it.

In this situation, it was obvious that the only ones who would follow their orders were the disciples of their main sects.

However, even the loyalty of those disciples was now cracked.

Sowoon's eyes flickered with a quiet rage.

"Were you going to throw away your disciples' lives so easily with just that level of resolve?"

Jin Sowoon sharply rebuked the elders who were cloaked in vain face and justice.

Hoping that their facade would be torn to shreds.

Hoping that the weak would not perish as innocent sacrifices like in his past life.

"If you aren't going to step up and do it yourself, shut up and stay out of it!"

"..."

"..."

Perhaps due to how infuriated he was, blood began to trickle from Elder Suheo's mouth.

Eventually unable to hold back his anger, just as Elder Suheo was about to raise his hand.

Gu Jeongryong stepped forward.

"Please stop. The authority to command troops during an emergency lies with the Murim Alliance's Martial Pavilions. The elders do not have the right to command, do you."

At Gu Jeongryong's words, the elders rolled their eyes nervously.

"Jin Sowoon... just you wait."

"Don't think this is the end."

Leaving behind villainous words, the two sharply turned around.

Gu Jeongryong let out a sigh of relief.

It was just right.

He didn't know what kind of retaliation Jin Sowoon would face if they went any further here.

He was extremely grateful that he had stepped up on his behalf.

Thanks to that, the elders couldn't lay a single finger on Jin Sowoon, who had justification.

A definitive justification that only the current Jin Sowoon could possess.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, we got past the crisis."

"..."

Jin Sowoon was still staring at the backs of the two elders' heads, as if his anger hadn't fully dissipated.

Gu Jeongryong spoke out of concern.

"Don't get any other ideas. No matter what, they are people who climbed up to the Council of Elders through the power of their respective sects."

Only then did Jin Sowoon relax his expression and say.

"I don't plan on doing anything right now, either. Anyway, there will have to be someone to take responsibility for this incident."

"Responsibility?"

"Aren't they the ones who spearheaded this event? I absolutely won't just let it slide."

"..."

Won't just let it slide?

Was that even possible against the elders of the Council of Elders?

While Gu Jeongryong was lost in that fundamental question.

Gam Cheon-ak approached once again.

"Hall Leader, the Vice Stronghold Masters have come from over there."

"Just the Vice Stronghold Masters?"

"Yes. They said they want to meet our representative?"

"..."

What kind of talk could people who were holding their weapons with murderous intent and fully prepared for battle possibly have?

Since they weren't in a situation to fight right away, Gu Jeongryong nodded his head.

"Alright. And Jin Sowoon, you. You come with me, too."

"Me, sir?"

"... Right now, I can't think of anyone else who can step forward besides you. Let's go together."

* * *

Jin Sowoon gave some instructions to Moyong Jaehwa and his group before following Gu Jeongryong.

Between the Green Woods stronghold coalition and the Murim Academy group, men with fierce expressions who looked as if they had the word 'bandit' written on their faces were standing.

'This won't be easy.'

That was Gu Jeongryong's first impression of them.

It wasn't that he didn't look down on them for being bandits, but their martial achievements were not that low even compared to Gu Jeongryong himself.

If the Vice Stronghold Masters were at that level, he couldn't gauge how strong the Stronghold Masters, the leaders of the group, would be.

'If things go wrong, this could become our grave.'

Gu Jeongryong steeled his nerves and opened his mouth.

"It is a pleasure to meet the Mountain Lords. I am Gu Jeongryong, the Seungho Hall Leader of the Murim Alliance's Azure Dragon Pavilion."

He purposely emphasized his position in the Azure Dragon Pavilion and as the Seungho Hall Leader, but the reactions of the Vice Stronghold Masters did not change.

"We are the Hwaeom Stronghold, Jeokhwa Stronghold, and Heukbong Stronghold. We heard you are people from the Murim Academy and the Murim Alliance, is that correct?"

The Green Woods bandits confirmed it once again even though they clearly knew when they came.

"A group from the heterodox path appeared in Sichuan, so we were in the middle of carrying out a mission. We have absolutely no intention of causing harm to your strongholds."

Gu Jeongryong feigned ignorance as he spoke.

However, the expressions of the Vice Stronghold Masters showed no signs of relaxing.

"But you have already caused harm."

So they really did know everything?

"Someone from your side intentionally dragged our strongholds into battle, causing massive damage."

Gu Jeongryong quickly replied.

"It likely wasn't intentional. We were in the middle of urgently executing an operation. If there is damage, we will provide ample compensation."

The Vice Stronghold Master of the Hwaeom Stronghold bared his teeth.

"You'd better not think about making excuses. We have absolutely no intention of just letting this go."

One of the Vice Stronghold Masters glared murderously at Gu Jeongryong and said.

"Who is it? Who the hell committed this deed? Or, is this the intention of the Murim Alliance and not the act of an individual?"

"..."

Gu Jeongryong swallowed a thick gulp of saliva.

It was checkmate.

If he said it was the Murim Alliance's intention, they would kill everyone here.

If he said it was Jin Sowoon's personal doing, they would not forgive Jin Sowoon.

"If you try to feign ignorance, we will strike down all of you to console the souls of our comrades."

"..."

Should they fight or not.

A moment of deliberation.

POP.

Suddenly, a flare burst in the eastern sky.

Jin Sowoon saw it, stepped forward, and opened his mouth.

"It was me."

"Jin Sowoon!"

"..."

Gu Jeongryong and Gam Cheon-ak were shocked and tried to stop him, but the words had already been spoken.

The Vice Stronghold Masters glared at Jin Sowoon as if they would strike him dead at any moment.

"According to the witnesses, there were two people."

"Ah! It's a disciple of the Samwon Sect named Nam Hwaseong. He was just following my orders, so if you want to hold someone responsible, you can just ask me."

"Hah...?"

The face of the Hwaeom Stronghold's Vice Stronghold Master trembled.

"Are you saying you want to die?"

"Well, not exactly. But there's a bit of a problem. I will take responsibility, but I plan to do it a little later."

"What did you say?"

Just then, a commotion arose from the direction of the strongholds.

There was murmuring, cursing, and the sound of something clattering.

Then, with a BANG! sound, the bandits were simultaneously launched into the air.

"W-What the!"

"Is it an ambush?!"

"Are you trying to start something?!"

The three Vice Stronghold Masters immediately gripped their weapons and prepared to charge.

"No. For now, you all will have to deal with that person first."

"What?"

At that moment, the bandits of the Green Woods strongholds parted to both sides in unison, and a group of around a hundred people began to walk out.

People dressed no differently from the existing Green Woods coalition strongholds.

For a moment, Gu Jeongryong even wondered if more of their forces had been added.

However, the new group walking out while shoving the bandits aside was clearly exuding a different aura from the existing group.

Moreover, the two people at the very front.

A gigantic man riding a black horse and a beautiful woman riding a white horse.

As if paying no mind to the three Vice Stronghold Masters emitting killing intent, the two calmly passed them and approached Gu Jeongryong's side.

The black horse was not a normal-sized black horse either, but the body of the man riding atop it was truly as large as a massive mountain.

The giant man, moving nonchalantly, looked toward Gu Jeongryong's side and opened his mouth.

"Little Brother, it sure is hard to get a look at your face."

Then Jin Sowoon smiled and replied.

"This younger brother has been exceedingly busy, so I made a difficult request to you, Older Brother."

Between their conversation, a lovely voice interjected.

"Young Master Jin, am I invisible to you?"

Jin Sowoon gave a martial salute and smiled broadly.

"Sister-in-Law. Have you been well? I was worried you might have to travel a long way because of me."

"Of course I've been well. And thanks to you, Young Master, I even got to take a trip all the way here to Sichuan, so it's quite nice."

At the sight of the woman responding with a bright smile like a blooming flower, even the Vice Stronghold Masters of the Green Woods strongholds lost their minds and couldn't step forward.

The three people exchanged greetings as if they knew each other.

Then the giant man slowly turned his head and looked at Gu Jeongryong.

"Little Brother, is that person your superior?"

"Yes, my introductions are late. This is Great Warrior Gu Jeongryong, the Hall Leader of the Azure Dragon Pavilion's Seungho Hall."

The giant man moved his large body nimbly and dismounted his horse.

Then he strode over to Gu Jeongryong.

With every step he took, it felt as though faint vibrations could be felt from the ground.

"Nice to meet you. I am Bang Duchil!"

"By Bang Duchil... do you mean the Green Dragon King?"

"You know me?"

He had heard such a rumor.

That strange things were happening in Zhejiang.

That people had appeared who were subjugating the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods—which was merely a coalition—one by one.

The two dragons who wiped out the Ssangmak Stronghold, which committed evil deeds in Mount Cheonmok, in one fell swoop and took over their place were the main characters of that rumor.

One of them was the Green Dragon Bang Duchil.

'I heard he engages actively in outside activities, unlike the other one who is shrouded in fog...'

He had thought about how arrogant it was for a mere bandit to go around revealing his identity openly.

But the impression he got from meeting him in person was completely different.

No, he could understand the reason why he went around revealing himself.

'Ah, it's overwhelming...!'

It wasn't just about his outward physical appearance.

The massive and overwhelming qi he harbored, like a great mountain.

It was truly the reigning momentum of an emperor.

Gu Jeongryong lowered his head without realizing it.

"I-I have heard many rumors."

They said he was the one who would unify the Green Woods Alliance in the future, and it was by no means an exaggerated rumor.

"Is that so? Ahahahah!"

As he patted his shoulder, his bones throbbed.

His laughter was so loud that it felt like the surroundings were shaking.

Gu Jeongryong, who was trying hard to ignore the pain in his shoulder, suddenly remembered a word he had missed.

"By the way, just now, you said 'Little Brother'..."

He asked again to confirm if what he heard was true, if he had heard correctly.

Brother, he definitely said brother...

Bang Duchil's gaze, which was observing Gu Jeongryong's confused expression, slowly shifted to Jin Sowoon.

Jin Sowoon was somehow furrowing his brow and shaking his head slightly.

At the contrasting reactions of the two, right when Gu Jeongryong's confusion was about to deepen.

"Ah! I am Jin Sowoon's sworn older brother."

Bang Duchil burst into hearty laughter.

"Pardon?"

"I'm saying we are sworn brothers who swore to die on the same day at the same time."

Gu Jeongryong's brow furrowed deeply.