Respond with Strategy (1)
When Galsaryang suggested they head to Maeng, Jong Cheonrak asked, “Why?”
Before answering, Galsaryang glanced at the surrounding warriors, silently asking if it was safe to speak in front of them.
Jong Cheonrak turned to his subordinates. “Do you trust me?”
Their response was a resounding affirmation. Even those injured and lying down showed their unwavering loyalty.
“We trust you! Our lives belong to you, Master.”
The thirty elite members of the Heavenly Bow Squad he had brought were his most trusted and loyal followers, the ones he valued the most among his captains and leaders.
“Thank you. I trust you all as well.”
Jong Cheonrak then looked back at Galsaryang. “These men are like family to me. Speak freely, as you would to me.”
Only after emphasizing the gravity of the situation did Galsaryang begin to speak.
“If you leave the Maeng now, the leader will brand you a traitor with any excuse he can find.”
I agreed with Galsaryang’s assessment. The enemy had strategists like him, and they would surely use such tactics. Jong Cheonrak could endure many things, but not the tarnishing of his honor. That would be his undoing.
“When you return, they won’t touch you immediately. They’ll be cautious, investigating how you survived. Act as you usually would, but be wary of assassination attempts.”
He directed his last words at the warriors, implying they should protect their leader. They all nodded in understanding.
The real challenge would be the next attack, which would be far more brutal and relentless.
Galsaryang looked Jong Cheonrak in the eye. “Do you trust me?”
Jong Cheonrak didn’t hesitate. Galsaryang had been the chief strategist under the previous leader, Cheonhajin. If he couldn’t trust him now, who could he trust?
“I do.”
“Then let’s return together. I’ll find a way before they make their move.”
Hearing this, Jong Cheonrak felt a weight lift from his heart. There were reasons to return, even without Galsaryang. The thirty warriors he brought were only a fraction; he needed to bring out the rest of his men.
‘Sigh.’
But he couldn’t help but sigh. Even if they managed to escape, maintaining a force of a thousand would be no easy task. He didn’t want to endanger his men either.
Now, all he could rely on was Galsaryang.
We left Saengsaru and set out for the main base of the Martial Alliance in Wuhan. With injured among us, we couldn’t move as swiftly as before.
Yet, everyone seemed more at ease. The enemy was clear, and they had comrades they could trust and rely on. The path ahead was set.
Galsaryang’s assurance that he would handle the future gave them strength. My actions had convinced them that Galsaryang hadn’t stayed behind at Jeonguigak without a plan.
Getting closer to the Heavenly Bow Squad was a significant gain. If one of the three major squads sided with us, it would be a tremendous advantage.
For two days, there were no ambushes.
On a quiet night by the campfire, Galsaryang tossed and turned in his sleep.
I sat nearby, feeding twigs into the fire. “Can’t sleep?”
Galsaryang slowly sat up. “My body is tired, but my mind is wide awake.”
“You didn’t sleep well last night either.”
I poured hot water from the kettle over the fire and handed it to him. “This might help you sleep.”
“Thank you.”
Since leaving Saengsaru, Galsaryang seemed deep in thought. It was only natural. Now that it was clear they wanted to eliminate him and Jong Cheonrak, the war had begun.
At the same time, a fire was rekindling in Galsaryang’s eyes. Yes, that was the look of a warrior who thrived in adversity.
“You’ve made quite an impression on your first mission.”
“I was lucky.”
“You know they’re trying to get rid of me in the Maeng.”
“Yes.”
“Staying with me will put you in danger. I’ll reassign you as soon as we return.”
Half of it was genuine concern, the other half was to gauge my reaction. He had taken an interest in me, and this journey had only increased his regard. He needed me.
“Strategist.”
“Yes?”
“I enjoy danger. I intend to stay by your side.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Neither am I.”
“May I ask why you want to stay?”
“The greater the risk, the greater the reward.”
Galsaryang’s eyes narrowed, likely wondering where such a person had come from.
“Can you really trust me?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Can you trust me?”
“You saved my life. You saved everyone here, multiple times. If I can’t trust someone like that, who can I trust?”
Galsaryang extended his hand, and I took it.
I felt our relationship deepen.
The final hurdle would be when he discovered I had approached him with intent. Would we form a bond strong enough to overcome that betrayal?
The next morning, while eating in the forest, I sensed something strange.
There was an unfamiliar presence. I checked if anyone else felt it, but no one did.
I realized someone was calling out to me, or perhaps to anyone among us who could sense this subtle energy.
After finishing my meal, I walked in the direction the energy was coming from.
A Heavenly Bow Squad warrior on guard greeted me politely. “Where are you going?”
His demeanor was respectful and friendly.
“Just taking care of something. I’ll be back soon.”
“We’re leaving shortly, so please hurry back.”
“I will.”
Once out of his sight, I quickened my pace.
The energy grew stronger.
After a while, I reached a small clearing where the source of the energy stood. It was an elderly man, appearing quite confident.
“In the desert, there’s quicksand. Once you step in, you can’t escape. It devours everything, like a monster. You are that monster.”
His confidence stemmed from his martial prowess.
Despite his presence, I didn’t recognize him. It reminded me of how vast and mysterious the martial world was.
“There’s a way to avoid quicksand. Walk the safe paths others have tread. Even deserts have paths for people.”
“I’m too adventurous for that. I prefer paths less traveled.”
“Not because you’re greedy? Because you want to get there faster, to claim what others can’t?”
The old man didn’t deny it, showing a keen interest instead.
“This quicksand I’ve encountered is quite tempting.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“What is?”
“You’ve already stepped into it. You said it yourself—once you’re in, you can’t get out. The more you struggle, the faster you’ll sink.”
The old man’s eyes sharpened.
“Who are you? I’ve never heard of someone like you in the Martial Alliance.”
“A new recruit.”
“What?”
He looked bewildered for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! If a veteran had joined, the martial world would be in chaos.”
“And who are you?”
“I’m here to replace your superior.”
“Why?”
“I have no personal grudge against Galsaryang. It’s just tangled interests leading to killing and being killed. Like insects dying when branches are pruned.”
“If you’re the shears, who claims to own the tree?”
The old man drew his sword, dismissing my question.
“Enough arrogance. Who’s backing you? Tell me, and I’ll grant you a swift death.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
I drew my Suramyeongwang Sword, unleashing my energy. There was no one around.
I didn’t plan to drag this fight out.
I released the seal on my inner power. My half-strength surged to full.
I let my true energy flow freely, dominating the space around us.
“Huh!”
The old man was shocked, more by my ability to conceal such power than by the power itself. Recognizing that alone marked him as a formidable master.
I couldn’t give him a chance.
As he sensed the danger and prepared to unleash his technique, the Suramyeongwang Sword whistled.
Whoosh!
The old man flinched.
“That sound… could it be?”
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Whoosh!
A whirlwind erupted around him.
The Fifth Form of the Jeo Technique, the Whirlwind of Destruction, had been unleashed. I poured all my power into that single move.
“Ugh!”
The old man resisted the whirlwind, raising his protective energy. He was indeed skilled enough to use such a technique.
He shouted urgently, “Are you Cheonhajin’s disciple?”
But he couldn’t ask more. His protective energy began to tear apart. His power couldn’t withstand the Whirlwind of Destruction.
Swoosh!
The protective aura was torn apart, and soon his flesh began to be ripped away.
“Even if Cheonhajin returns alive… he won’t be able to stop us. Aaaaargh!”
With those final words, his body was shredded into pieces, disappearing into the air with a horrific scream.
The raging whirlwind subsided.
The old man was gone, vanished from the world.
He had been a master capable of conjuring a protective aura and knew my martial arts precisely.
Yet, I had never seen him before. It was a stark reminder of how vast and formidable the opposing organization was.
There were no more attacks.
As we entered Hubei, we managed to secure two carriages.
One carried the wounded, while the other was for Galsaryang and me.
As we neared Wuchang, I turned to Galsaryang with a question.
“There’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“The Shinryong Operation you mentioned before—what exactly was it?”
“Is that what you were wondering about?”
“Yes.”
“It was an operation from when I was a new strategist, like you.”
Galsaryang reminisced, his face lighting up with a childlike excitement.
“It was a plan to make Cheonhajin, the greatest under heaven, the leader of the martial alliance.”
I was genuinely taken aback by his unexpected words.
“At the time, the previous leader was already known as the greatest. We spent months devising a plan to make him the leader. We investigated everything about him—what martial arts he used, whom he defeated, whom he liked and disliked. We even found out what kind of woman he preferred, what drinks he enjoyed, and what foods he favored. We knew his favorite color, and on the day we first went to meet him, the warriors wore robes of that color.”
Oh, was that how much effort they put in?
I couldn’t even remember such details.
“Seeing the youngest leader in history, I dreamed of changing the martial world with him.”
Back then, Galsaryang wasn’t the chief strategist. He rose through the ranks as I ascended to leadership, and today I learned the reason for his success.
And another confession.
“I really liked the leader.”
Words I had never heard from him in my past life.
“What did you like about him?”
I was both eager and nervous to hear his answer.
“He was clumsy.”
“Sorry?”
“He was a clumsy person. He possessed incredibly strong martial arts and didn’t flinch in front of the terrifying masters of the dark sects, yet he was clumsy.”
“In what way?”
Galsaryang just smiled.
I couldn’t tell what he meant. But looking back on my past life, there were many things I regretted, and perhaps this was one of them.
He was saying he liked that about him.
“Anyway, it was the greatest operation of my life, and I was happiest when it succeeded.”
I turned my head to the opposite window, a smile playing on my lips.
This is why I can’t give up on you.
Thud, thud, thud.
The carriage slowed down.
In the distance, the main building of the martial alliance came into view.
Now, we would have to face its leaders.
What choice would Galsaryang make?