Chapter 177: A Defeat (1)
Chapter 177: A Defeat (1)
“Defeated?”
Jwa Do-gyu’s eyes were wide as he heard the news. He then slowly chewed on his lips.
There was a chuckle.
“Defeat, defeat…”
That smile… That was a genuine smile. To begin with, he hadn’t held any hope that the battle in Guizhou could be won.
The last thing Jwa Do-gyul wanted was for the Martial Alliance to be annihilated. Nevertheless, he was not satisfied with the damage done to the Demonic Cult.
I even gave them a bomb, but the result is only this much damage.
There was too little damage.
He raised his hand and chewed on his nails.
Tsk-tsk.
His chewed nails fell in front of him.
He didn’t like it.
Since I gave them that much firepower, they should have done more damage.
Soon, however, Jwa Do-gyul shook his head.
No. After all, Peng Ah-hu was too greedy and dumb compared to his abilities. I overestimated him.
Anyway, the purpose was achieved in Guizhou. As a result of this defeat, the power of Murim was reduced considerably. It also provided the opportunity to attract those who had not yet participated in the war.
Satisfied with that, he suddenly smiled and began writing something.
For those who were silent during the events in Murim, who should be angry…
Even as he thought to himself, he was snickering.
My sincerest apologies, it is all my fault. What a pity…
Jwa Do-gyul continued to write with a smile.
“How amusing.”
It really was ridiculous.
“But that’s what makes life fun.”
Jwa Do-gyul continued to write, laughing to himself.
The next day, an official message was delivered to several factions of the Martial Alliance.
It was a message written by the Lord of the Martial Alliance, expressing his sincerest condolences for their loss and requesting the help of others.
“Defeat…”
Woon-seong frowned on his throne.
He was not in his usual meeting room, but in the Western Army’s camp.
After hearing about their first loss from Sang Gwan-chuk, he had rushed straight here.
Sang Gwan-chuk and the Captain of the Charred Dragon Unit had also come with him.
Given that Woon-seong had run all the way over to the Western Army, it could be seen how urgent this situation was.
“Planning is with man but accomplishing is with Heaven.”
In front of Woon-seong, the Eight Bolt Blade King and Cheon Ah-young bowed their heads.
The Bolt King shouted, “We have committed a grave sin!”
Woon-seong shook his head as the man kneeled, forehead touching the floor.
“No, from ancient times, victory and defeat have not been permanent. One defeat is not a sin worthy of death. In addition, I was told that you remained until the end to ensure the safety of the other soldiers during the retreat.”
“I only did what I needed to do, but I am unworthy.”
Woon-seong waved a hand. “Just because it is something that can be done does not mean everyone will do it. We can consider it as losing the battle, but winning the war. This is the same for the Captain of the White Ape Unit and the Demonic Teacher.”
To his words, Cheon Ah-young and the Bolt King bowed their heads once again.
“I will carve the grace of the Leader into my bones.”
Woon-seong sighed.
The Demonic Teacher was not present.
No, the Demonic Teacher couldn’t be here.
This was because the old man had struggled against the enemy during the retreat and suffered gruesome injuries.
A couple of broken ribs, a sword stabbed in his diaphragm. Two black poles had slammed into his abdomen; spears. He had over ten arrows in his back.
Had the Demonic Teacher been an ordinary person, he wouldn’t be holding on. No, it would not be strange for the man to keel over and die.
However, since he was in the realm of Absolution, he was already different from the average person.
Lee Shin-jung was still breathing.
Woon-seong sighed once more. He then ordered, “Tell the doctors at the Cult to save the Demonic Teacher’s life. It is a command in the name of Heavenly Demon.”
“Understood.”
Woon-seong continued, “I heard that we were unable to recover the bodies of the victims.”
“The damage was so great and the bodies were so fragmented that it was impossible to recover them.”
“Burn the entire battlefield instead of holding a funeral. Also, erect a large memorial stone and carve all of their names onto it. I will make the monument open to the public.”
“I will carry out your command.”
After dealing with that, Woon-seong lifted a hand and pressed it against his forehead. He massaged his temples with the other hand.
Sang Gwan-chuk watched him with anxious eyes, but said nothing.
Very few people in the Cult of the Heavenly Demon knew that Woon-seong was poisoned. Among the Demonic Masters, most didn’t understand how serious it was. And it was impossible to let others know such an important fact in the middle of war.
Dissemination of this information would have a huge impact on the war ahead.
However, the Strategist could not hide his worried glaces.
Woon-seong told the Strategist he was okay with a side-eye.
Then, still sitting, he tapped his chin. “I heard that the reason for your defeat was because of two mysterious masters who intervened during the battle.”
“That is correct”
“And their presence was enough to change the tides?”
At his question, Cheon Ah-young and the Bolt King trembled. They understood what he was getting at.
A master who could change a battlefield. There were only a few such people in the world.
Only a Semi-Divine Being could turn the tide by themselves.
Now, Woon-seong was asking whether or not those two mysterious monsters were at that level.
The Eight Bolt Blade King swallowed. He had fought one of them.
What was the result?
He was unable to last 100 seconds.
“It seemed to be the boundary between Absolution and Semi-Divinity.”
Woon-seong’s eyebrows twitched.
Boundary between Absolution and Semi-Divinity.
Demonic Masters had also reached such a peak. Although there was a difference in the degree according to each person, Demonic Masters were also in a position where they could dream of being able to cross that wall.
And the Eight Bolt Blade King said these people were on the boundary between Absolution and Semi-Divinity.
So Woon-seong could not help but ask, “Is that different from a Demonic Master?”
The Blade King shook his head. “I think my words came out wrong. Their internal energy was clearly in Semi-Divinity. But…”
“But?”
The Blade King sighed at Woon-seong’s prompt. He looked like he didn’t understand himself.
“Their senses did not seem different from those in Absolution, and their swordsmanship was crude. The internal qi and understanding had reached Semi-Divinity, but they could not use their techniques properly.”
Woon-seong’s expression hardened. He had met two such masters twice.
The first was at King Jinseong’s Court. The master at that time was able to talk a bit, but still seemed incomplete.
And then what?
The second was on the battlefield.
A monster who appeared before the Immortal Poison Saint, Grand Elder of the Tang Clan.
I think they said he was the Sword Emperor of Ice and Light…?
He, too, showed an incapability to fully manifest techniques, even with qi at the level of Semi-Divinity.
It seemed like Sang Gwan-chuk was thinking of the same thing.
When their eyes met, Woon-seong could see the Strategist’s stiff expression.
At the same time, the man said, trembling, “Corpse puppet.”
Woon-seong sighed. I knew it.
Sang Gwan-chuk was thinking the same thing.
Has the Cult of the Inverted Sky really started to intervene?
That led to another question.
How did the Cult of the Inverted Sky keep putting things like that on the battlefield?
Two had already been smashed by Woon-seong.
Another two appeared in Chongqing.
That was a total of four.
They were no match for real Semi-Divine Beings, but they could be considered four well-made monsters.
How many more were there?
Woon-seong didn’t know, but there were probably more hidden somewhere.
And since they’re starting to intervene, why isn’t this organization called the Cult of the Inverted Sky on the front lines?
Besides, the Imperial Palace was under their control.
It was weird that the Imperial Palace showed no movement. If they really decided to intervene in earnest, the Inverted Sky would have mobilized the Imperial Army.
However, the Imperial Palace seemed to have not moved at all, other than sending an assassin from the Eastern Depot.
What the hell are you thinking, Inverted Sky?
Woon-seong closed his eyes, gripping the armrest of his throne tightly.
Crunch.
The armrest was crushed.
Woon-seong opened his eyes.
“Bolt King.”
“This one accepts the words of the Leader,” the man bowed and replied.
Woon-seong’s eyes were deep. “How long will it take for you to recuperate?”
“Five days should be enough!”
Woon-seong glanced over the man’s body and clicked his tongue. “I will ask again. How many days will it take for you to completely recuperate?”
“……”
The Bolt King was silent.
Five days was the time necessary for his outer wounds to heal. But how long until his internal injuries healed?
His wounds were not as severe as the Demonic Teacher’s, but they were still heavy. Unless precious elixirs and medicines were used, it would take half a year.
The Bolt King did not answer, but Woon-seong had a rough estimate. So he said, “I will support you generously so that your wounds may be healed within a month.”
“The Leader’s grace is as vast as the sea!”
“This is the same for the Captain of the White Ape Unit, please bear it in mind.”
“Understood!” Cheon Ah-young responded with a slightly dead expression.
Woon-seong turned to look at the Strategist. “We will resume the war after a month.”
“I will devise a plan.”
“No, you don’t have to replace the current plan. I will deal with one of those two monsters.”
“And I will deal with the other one,” Sang Gwan-chuk said.
Woon-seong shook his head.
Two of the Demonic Masters had already been injured. Even though a Demonic Master was terrifyingly strong, they could not stand alone.
“The Strategist will deal with the other one with the recovered Bolt King.”
To his words, the Strategist and the Eight Bolt Blade King answered:
“Understood.”
“Understood.”