Chapter 72
The News of Victory (1)
The news that the Namgung Clan had defeated the massive army sent by the Demonic Alliance spread swiftly across the martial world through the beggars of the Beggar’s Union.
Coming right after the bitter defeat of the Martial Alliance in Hunan, this report of victory electrified the righteous sects.
“Have you heard?”
“Of course I have. As expected of the Namgung Clan—defeating so many of those demonic bastards!”
“Shouldn’t we go and lend them our strength as well?”
“Absolutely! We must!”
Thus, countless martial artists from the righteous factions began heading toward Hefei, where the Namgung Clan resided.
Meanwhile, reinforcements from the Nine Great Sects and the Six Major Clans were arriving one after another at Wuchang, where the Martial Alliance headquarters was located.
The first to arrive, naturally, were the forces of the Zhuge Clan and the Wudang Sect—both located in Hubei.
“Welcome, brother.”
“How have you been?”
Zhuge Hyo, a strategist of the Martial Alliance, warmly greeted Zhuge Seo, who had arrived with five hundred martial artists.
Zhuge Seo—known throughout the land as the Divine Sword of Technique (神技劍客)—was a rare figure in the Zhuge Clan who had devoted himself entirely to martial arts, earning a place among the Ten Great Swordsmen of the martial world.
Though middle-aged, Zhuge Seo bore the refined, gentle features characteristic of his clan. Looking around as if searching for someone, he asked,
“By the way, I don’t see our young niece anywhere.”
“Rin is currently at the Namgung Clan.”
“You sent that child there alone?”
At those words, Zhuge Seo’s expression hardened. It was understandable—after all, the Namgung Clan now stood at the very forefront of the righteous–demonic war.
Seeing his reaction, Zhuge Hyo chuckled softly.
“She’s not alone. The Vermilion Bird Squad accompanied her. And besides, she’s more than old enough to take care of herself.”
“Still…”
“I was worried too when she insisted on going to the Namgung Clan. But in hindsight, it was the right decision.”
When news of the Namgung Clan’s victory reached him, Zhuge Hyo had been overjoyed—not only because it meant the righteous side was gaining ground, but also because Zhuge Rin had played a major role in that success.
Hearing that his niece had distinguished herself through her clever strategies, Zhuge Seo smiled in satisfaction.
“That child’s brilliance was recognized long ago—not only by the clan head, but by every elder as well.”
“Indeed.”
“If Rin has done so well, then I can’t afford to lag behind as her uncle. Wherever I’m sent, allow me and the Five Element Corps to give our full strength.”
“Haha, of course.”
The Five Element Corps (五行團) that Zhuge Seo had brought might not be individually exceptional, but they excelled in executing the Zhuge Clan’s tactical formations—making them a formidable force in large-scale warfare.
Their contribution would undoubtedly prove significant.
From the Wudang Sect, three hundred fifty Taoist priests also arrived, led by Elder Hyeonpung Jin-in.
“Amitabha. Where would you have us go?”
“If the Wudang Sect could head to the Namgung Clan, we’d be grateful.”
“Are you sure? I heard the Martial Alliance suffered heavy losses in Hunan—shouldn’t we reinforce the weaker front?”
He was implying that they should aid where the damage was greater, not where victory had already been achieved.
Zhuge Hyo replied calmly,
“The Namgung Clan may have won, but they suffered heavy losses as well. They’ll need to strengthen their defenses to ensure they can win the next battle too. Please, lend them your support.”
“Amitabha. Very well.”
Elder Hyeonpung agreed without further argument.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Seo and the Five Element Corps departed to assist the Martial Alliance’s main army.
Once the reinforcement assignments were settled, Zhuge Hyo remained at his post in the command center, pondering the Demonic Alliance’s next move.
‘The first wave has been repelled by both sides. All things considered, we held up better than expected.’
More reinforcements from other sects would soon arrive following the Zhuge Clan and Wudang Sect.
Yet, he could not afford complacency.
‘Most of the enemy troops in this assault were from minor sects—expendable forces to the Demonic Alliance.’
Even if they’d lost some, the true elite forces and top masters of the Demonic Alliance remained untouched.
It was far too early to relax.
‘So far, we’ve been reacting to their strategies, always a step behind.’
The enemy’s strategist was clearly brilliant—perhaps as capable as himself—and their plan had been prepared over a long time.
But from now on, it would be different.
‘In the battles to come, I’ll lay my own groundwork and seize back the initiative.’
Driven by the single thought of defeating the faceless, nameless strategist of the Demonic Alliance, Zhuge Hyo began drawing up counterstrategies and analyzing their possible moves.
The Namgung warriors returned home after the battle.
At the main gate, families of the soldiers gathered anxiously, searching for their loved ones.
“Husband!”
“Father!”
Those who survived embraced their families with tears of joy.
But elsewhere—
“Uwaaaah!”
“My child!”
Cries of grief echoed across the courtyard as others received only the bodies of the fallen.
It was a scene of heartbreak and sorrow.
“Brother Hyuk!”
Namgung Hwarin called out as she spotted Namgung Hyuk.
Seeing her, Hyuk smiled warmly.
“I was so worried about you!”
“You were worried for me?”
“I didn’t sleep a wink! If only I’d gone with you, I wouldn’t have spent the night in such anxiety.”
She hadn’t joined the battle because her father, Namgung Paegang, forbade it—claiming she lacked both rank and real combat experience. She still resented it.
“Anyway, I’m just glad you’re back safe.”
She smiled brightly, moving naturally to hug him—
“…?”
“Lady Zhuge?”
Zhuge Rin suddenly stepped between them, her expression calm but her intent clear.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, Hwarin found herself instinctively wary of her.
‘What’s with this atmosphere?’
A subtle tension crackled between the two women, leaving Namgung Hyuk awkwardly caught in the middle.
Just then—
“Ha ha! You’ve come to greet your father?”
“Ah, Father!”
Namgung Paegang approached, and Hwarin, flustered, quickly turned toward him.
Zhuge Rin, too, quietly stepped aside.
‘Those two are still awkward around each other… I’ll have to find a way to get them closer someday,’ Hyuk thought with a sigh.
After escorting Zhuge Rin back to her quarters, he returned to his own old residence.
“Phew…”
Finally alone, Namgung Hyuk sat down and exhaled deeply.
Then, after confirming no one was around, he entered his “Room.”
“Here, I can safely check my new abilities.”
After the fight with the Twin Elders of Sun and Moon, Hyuk had finally leveled up—breaking through the barrier of level 50.
With that, a new trait had awakened.
[You have acquired a new ability under the “Martial Arts” trait — Dual Martial Arts (二重武功).]
“What’s this…?”
“Dragon-Breaking Form!”
He executed a sword technique as usual—but at the same time, his left-hand sword unleashed a completely different move.
Slash—!
The technique from his left hand was none other than from the Soul-Chasing Blood Dance Sword Art.
Even without formally training in left-handed swordsmanship, he performed the move flawlessly.
‘So I can use two different martial arts simultaneously…’
There existed in the martial world a technique called Two-Mind Cultivation (兩意心功)—a nearly impossible skill that split one’s consciousness in two to use different arts at the same time.
‘It’s said to be nearly impossible to master.’
To split the mind was hard enough, but to direct internal energy separately for two arts simultaneously was extraordinarily difficult—and one misstep could lead to energy deviation and madness.
‘Yet I’m doing it naturally…’
His awakened ability as an “Ascendant” had shattered the limits of martial arts entirely.
It was practically a cheat ability—allowing him to use all his learned techniques at once.
‘If only I’d had this earlier, I could’ve handled the Twin Elders alone.’
He sighed with a hint of regret, then smiled.
‘Still, I’ll need special training to master this new power properly.’
“If only I had enough time for that…”
He adjusted his stats according to his new level.
Thanks to his accumulated growth, his body was now beyond normal human limits—approaching the so-called Supreme Martial Body that martial enthusiasts spoke of in awe.
“All that’s left is enlightenment for the next realm…”
But that was something no shortcut could achieve; he’d learned that painfully when breaking past the transcendent wall.
‘I’ll have to earn that on my own. No need to rush.’
Even with his new ability, he was already much stronger than before.
That realization filled him with renewed determination.
And so, despite just returning from the battlefield, Namgung Hyuk lost himself completely in training once again.
At the Demonic Alliance Grand Hall
The great octagonal chamber was supported by pillars engraved with black dragons. At its center stood a round marble table with thirteen seats—reserved for the top thirteen leaders of the Demonic Alliance.
Thud!
Meng Wonhui, the Dragon-Tail Blade warrior, slammed his fist on the table, his eyes burning with rage.
“The Assassin Corps was annihilated?!”
Though ranked below the Heaven-Slaying and Earth-Slaying Units, the Assassin Corps was still among the Black Sword Palace’s proudest elite forces.
To think they had all been wiped out without achieving anything—how could he accept that?
But the Demonic Alliance’s Chief Strategist, Sama Jun, smiled thinly.
“Regrettable news, but that’s exactly what Fourth Protector’s report says.”
“Grrr!”
Meng Wonhui’s thick beard trembled as he slammed his hand down again. It wasn’t grief for his subordinates—he was furious that he had lost a perfect opportunity to earn glory.
“If we fail to crush the Namgung Clan, won’t that hinder our expansion into the north?”
This came from a beautiful, dark-skinned woman whose exotic beauty was unlike anything seen in the Central Plains—Myo Yeong, the Flame Demoness and Saintess of the Solar God Palace.
Sama Jun bowed slightly.
“You are correct. The miscalculation was mine. I believed the Namgung Clan’s current strength insufficient to withstand our forces—but I was mistaken.”
Despite his polite apology, his inner thoughts were far from humble.
‘Idiots! How dare they ruin my perfect plan!’
His strategy had been flawless—or so he thought. He had intentionally spread rumors of the Demonic Alliance’s might to rally the demonic sects, gathered a grand army, mobilized the River Channel Guild to secure passage across the Huai River, and even gave a secret contingency plan to Gu Jinmo, commander of the Assassin Corps.
And yet, everything had failed.
‘Who was it? Which person in the Namgung Clan saw through my strategy?’
That question bothered him far more than the defeat itself.
At that moment, another voice spoke up from the table.
“It’s not entirely the strategist’s fault. Who could’ve expected that the Twin Elders of Sun and Moon would fall to the Namgung Clan’s leader—and a young man barely making a name for himself?”
The speaker, a scarred old man, was none other than The Battle King Hyeon Wigang.
