Chapter 154

In an instant, the affiliations shifted.

The 31 members of Changcheon Pavilion suddenly increased to 44.

“Is leaving the Martial Alliance really that easy?”

“Of course not. Normally, there are several procedures to go through. But it’s not like those procedures are absolutely mandatory.”

The leaders of the Eight Units, the elders of the council, and the heads of factions like Sangpyeon Hall, Haman Hall, and the Intelligence Bureau have independent authority to act first and report later in certain situations.

Especially during missions, the authority of the unit leaders is quite significant, allowing them to immediately disband positions and reorganize on the spot.

This is exactly what Song Woojeol and the Wind Chasing Unit were aiming for.

Although Byeok-un had died, there was still a unit leader of the Eight Units on a mission here. If they could get his approval, they could immediately leave the Eight Units. While Deung Jong-yu, who had essentially wiped out the entire Wind Chasing Unit, would be in a tough spot, there were no procedural issues.

“Well… I gave the approval, but I didn’t think they’d actually go through with it.”

Deung Jong-yu muttered, but he didn’t feel truly defeated.

He wasn’t called the Thunder Dragon Chivalrous Hero for nothing. He carried chivalry in his heart and acted in strange ways, hence the “chivalrous” and “strange” in his title.

The one who was truly flustered was the deputy leader of the Jinroe Unit, Deung Jong-yu’s right-hand man.

With the Wind Chasing Unit joining, the forces on both sides were now evenly matched.

Although they were slightly outnumbered compared to the Dokgo Family, the disadvantage was so minor that it was almost embarrassing to call it a disadvantage.

Now, it was a matter of comparing the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

Resuming his steps, Namgung Woo spoke.

“…Miss Song, stay with the Jinroe Unit.”

“Huh? Me too…!”

“That would be best. There could be issues with the Hangsan Faction if you don’t.”

“Then what about the members of the Wind Chasing Unit…!”

“Martial Alliance members completely sever their ties. If they’re from a Buddhist or Taoist background, they renounce their vows. If they’re from a family, their names are removed from the family register. This is to prevent any conflicts of interest that might arise from their previous affiliations.”

Song Chaeji finally understood why Song Woojeol never attended family events.

This was also why there were few spellcasters in the Martial Alliance. Martial artists tend to be closed off to prevent their techniques from leaking, but spellcasters are even more so.

Only the Martial Alliance allowed spellcasters to renounce their vows. Without the grand cause of the Martial Alliance, they would never have been allowed to renounce their vows while still carrying on their magical lineage.

Thus, the martial artists of the Wind Chasing Unit could join Namgung Woo and Changcheon Pavilion without any reservations.

On the other hand, Song Chaeji, who still belonged to the Hangsan Faction, couldn’t do the same. Her allowed participation ended here.

“Changcheon Pavilion!”

*Thud!*

The resounding echo in response to Namgung Woo’s call.

The massive vibration that would reach Daepa Mountain signaled the start of the battle.

“Let’s go!”

§

“Aren’t you going to attack?”

At Geum Cheolmyeong’s question, Dokgo Pil answered nonchalantly.

“If the Martial Alliance gets involved, it’ll be troublesome for us too.”

Just as the Jinroe Unit, being part of the Martial Alliance, couldn’t touch the Dokgo Family, the Dokgo Family also wanted to avoid conflict with the Martial Alliance.

If Deung Jong-yu and the Jinroe Unit stood between the two factions as a human barrier, they might end up in a stalemate, unable to launch a proper attack.

“It’s better to wait for them to come out cleanly. No need to rush. They can’t hide behind the Martial Alliance forever.”

As soon as Dokgo Pil finished speaking, the stalemate ended.

Even without internal energy, Namgung Woo’s shout reached them, and the fierce stomping of feet declared their resolve to the world.

“They’re coming.”

The Dokgo Family’s response was small and cold.

The chilling sound of swords being drawn. Clear yet eerie, it embodied the spirit of the Dokgo Family.

The battle between the two sides had already begun before they even clashed.

And as all those sounds intertwined, the fight began.

§

The sight of nearly a hundred people gathered in one place, killing each other, was more tragic than majestic.

Neither side was in perfect condition. The Changcheon Pavilion, exhausted from repeated battles, and the Dokgo Family’s pursuit unit, which had raced 2,000 li from Hapbi in the Southern Directly Administered Region to Geumju in Shaanxi Province without rest.

But no one complained. No one used their disadvantage as an excuse.

Life and death are not determined by such excuses.

“Haah!”

*Crash!*

Yi Ho-yeong’s Dragon-Slaying Halberd swung, unleashing thunder. His aura, shaped like a yellow dragon, swept through the air. Facing him, Geum Cheolmyeong, the Ice Soul Sword Lord, slashed at the yellow dragon. His sword aura, transparent and blue like frost on black cloth, clashed.

*Clang!*

Unlike the explosive sound of a normal aura clash, the sound of ice shattering spread sharply.

Geum Cheolmyeong’s sword aura, made of cold ice, shattered against Yi Ho-yeong’s yellow dragon aura.

But Geum Cheolmyeong’s expression remained calm. His empty-handed strike followed, and as if linked, the shattered aura fragments flew at Yi Ho-yeong like blades.

It was eerily similar to the technique Namgung Woo had used against the Five Tones Demon Emperor.

But Yi Ho-yeong, as a supreme peak master, skillfully defended against it. The yellow dragon aura coiled around him, blocking the fragments.

This was only the third exchange.

By then, the surrounding battles had escalated into full-scale combat.

“Left!”

*Clang!*

“Coming from below!”

*Crash!*

The Yang Brothers, moving as if they were one, perfectly blocked the blades coming from all directions.

But they weren’t the only ones shining.

“Move aside!!”

Cheok Mu-hong swung his long halberd, longer than the Dragon-Slaying Halberd, advancing with a weapon that had blades on both ends. The halberd, loaded with energy, pressured the enemies, who were mostly swordsmen with limited attack range, preventing them from approaching.

And in the gaps, the spear and sword winds struck.

The Yeongmu Unit’s three members moved as one, proving that such coordination wasn’t exclusive to the Yang Brothers.

“Then, shall we begin?”

With a bold momentum.

Song Woojeol, like a gust of wind breaking free from a cave and flying into the vast world, faced the Black Sword Ghost, who silently pointed his sword.

This was different from the fight with Geumshin. There was no need for probing words. Both had already acknowledged each other as equals capable of taking each other’s lives.

*Slash!*

The blades aimed for vital points, cutting through the air.

The swords of supreme peak masters ignored each other. They aimed to cut flesh and break bones.

The Black Sword Ghost, with his experience as a supreme peak master, and Song Woojeol, with the eye technique taught by Gwak Dan.

They predicted each other’s sword paths and drew their own.

Like a prearranged sparring match, their swords never clashed as they engaged in a deadly chase.

In this battlefield where everyone gave their all, only two walked as if in a duel.

Namgung Woo and Dokgo Pil.

When their eyes met, each focused on their own role, trusting their subordinates.

Dokgo Pil sighed.

“What a pity.”

Dokgo Pil immediately saw Namgung Woo’s condition.

From a distance, a master like Namgung Woo could control his aura to hide it, but that wasn’t the case here.

Namgung Woo wasn’t in a state to engage in a life-and-death battle with Dokgo Pil.

“I was trying to unravel the clues of a recent realization.”

But it had stopped halfway, and the wall to the next realm had become twice as high as before.

To overcome that wall, Dokgo Pil sought a fight with Namgung Woo, even though he was considered superior.

Even if it cost him his life, martial artists dream of ascending.

Only those with such foolishness and desperation can open the gates of heaven and reach the realm of transcendence.

In that sense, Dokgo Pil was a born martial artist.

The disappointment he felt upon seeing Namgung Woo was equally great.

But Namgung Woo also sought to confirm his strength and use it as a stepping stone for growth.

“Try it. Give it your all.”

Dokgo Pil’s eyes sharpened. What was he thinking, provoking like this?

But no matter how he looked, Namgung Woo’s severe internal injuries were undeniable.

“Stop. It’s too much for your body.”

At the suggestion to give up, Namgung Woo calmly replied.

“Is that how it looks?”

Namgung Woo knew his own condition best.

Internal injuries? Severe. If his realm were lower, if he hadn’t achieved the unity of essence, energy, and spirit, he might have already died.

But even with such injuries.

Namgung Woo was still alive.

Using his new strength as a support.

That was enough.

“Then I’ll go first.”