‘At this rate, we’ll be playing twenty questions all night.’
Unable to watch any longer, Muk Inhyeok sighed and interjected.
“So. What exactly is this part they absolutely cannot hide?”
“Hair. In a case like this, it would be the eyelashes.” A profound gleam flowed from Bu Eunseol’s eyes. “Even if they wear masks, they cannot cover their eyes. Carefully observe the eyelashes, and we can certainly identify the poison users.”
“Eyelashes… I see.” Muk Inhyeok nodded with an impressed expression. “If steeped in deadly poison in a short time, at least the eyelashes would melt away.”
“Correct. Long-term exposure to poison causes hair to thin or fall out first.”
What qualities must a strategist possess?
Not only outstanding intellect and far-seeing insight, but also mastery of military tactics, command ability, and the talent to assess people and deploy them appropriately.
In short, a strategist must excel in every field except martial arts.
And in Muk Inhyeok’s eyes, Bu Eunseol was a flawless, exceptional strategist.
“Now, we can win.” At Seong Joyeong’s nodding words, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“No, victory is impossible in the current situation.”
“What?” At the unexpected reply, Seong Joyeong’s eyes blazed. “Even though we can distinguish the self-destructing poison users, our corps will be defeated?”
“Correct.”
“Why?”
Bu Eunseol said something rather off-topic.
“The Heaven-Human Cult has long prepared for war with our alliance. No matter how hard the two Vice-Commanders fight, they will not collapse easily.”
“Hmph, so that’s what you meant.” Seong Joyeong felt his earlier admiration cool instantly.
“Martial artists fight with body, not head or mouth.”
“…….”
“In your calculations, the Heaven-Human Cult may seem formidable, but the only reason our corps struggled was the poison users’ Mighty Dragon Self-Destruct Soul.”
“Vice-Commander.” Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “In two days, the Commander will return. Please stand by until then.”
“I don’t understand.” Muk Inhyeok looked at Bu Eunseol as if he were strange. “Are you saying we can win if the Commander takes command?”
“Probably.”
“Why?”
“Because it is something only the Commander can do.”
“What is that?”
Bu Eunseol clasped his hands. “I cannot say that now.”
Muk Inhyeok blinked in confusion.
Then Seong Joyeong let out an “Ah” and burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha. I acknowledge your intellect and strategies are outstanding. But this time, you’re wrong.”
“….”
“If we can distinguish the poison users, breaching the defensive line is only a matter of time. We could annihilate the Heaven-Human Cult immediately.” Seong Joyeong’s lips twitched. “But since the Commander has not yet descended from the capital, our vanguard must never annihilate the Heaven-Human Cult. You want to maintain a standoff and avoid attack for that reason, don’t you?”
“No.”
“No? Heh.” Seong Joyeong curled his lips. “Then this Vice-Commander can immediately lead troops to Jang Mountain Gorge and sweep the Heaven-Human Cult away.”
“Of course. However,”
Bu Eunseol stated firmly.
“You must accept the casualties.”
Seong Joyeong’s eyebrow twitched.
If Bu Eunseol had earnestly pleaded, he would have breached only the defenses and not attacked the main base.
But hearing such confident words sparked fierce resentment.
“Fine. I’ll show you your calculations are wrong.” Seong Joyeong turned coldly. “Remember this. We will exterminate the Heaven-Human Cult before the Commander arrives, and you will bear the responsibility.”
“Of course.” When Bu Eunseol answered without hesitation, Seong Joyeong turned away coldly.
He had always ignored the second-rank captain Bu Eunseol. But knowing his strategies and intellect were outstanding, he had slightly changed his mind.
Yet when Bu Eunseol spoke like an all-knowing sage, resentment rose again.
‘Young punk. I gave him face for being a bit smart.’
The Martial Alliance values hierarchy and allocation. Thus, no matter how talented, one cannot rise without favor from above.
Seong Joyeong, long pampered by subordinates, disliked Bu Eunseol—a second-rank captain who showed neither deference nor respectful eyes.
“We sweep the Heaven-Human Cult now.” Seong Joyeong immediately commanded his forces and moved to Jang Mountain Gorge.
With Seong Joyeong gone, silence filled the tent.
“From Vice-Commander Seong’s position, it’s understandable.” Muk Inhyeok, who had stood silently, spoke. “When martial artists pass thirty, their physical and martial prowess peak. Around then, most overestimate their abilities.”
He looked at Bu Eunseol and smiled faintly.
“And our alliance, gathering talents from various sects, values allocation and hierarchy over ability. Do you understand?”
“Are you telling me to flatter?”
“If possible.” Muk Inhyeok’s eyes were softer and kinder than ever.
He seemed to genuinely like Bu Eunseol.
“Our corps’s retreat was also because, like Vice-Commander Seong, we couldn’t distinguish the Mighty Dragon Self-Destruct Soul users.”
“I know.” Bu Eunseol’s attitude was too calm, so Muk Inhyeok tilted his head.
“Even if our corps went instead of the Divine Might corps, do you predict the same defeat?”
“Yes.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes did not waver.
Only then did Muk Inhyeok realize.
This young martial artist possessed wisdom and insight beyond ordinary measure.
“I’d like to hear the reason.” Muk Inhyeok said, puzzled. “Is the Heaven-Human Cult that strong?”
“It’s not about power difference.”
“Then?”
“The enemy outnumbers us, this is their home ground, and we are on expedition. They have prepared for battle long-term… One condition for victory is still missing.”
“Condition for victory?”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “If the Heaven-Human Cult fails to stop this attack, they face total ruin—one defeat, total collapse. They will defend with their lives. Moreover, experts not deployed on the defensive line exist.”
“Hmm.”
“But our alliance vanguard lacks that desperation. In this situation, breaching the line would be the extent.”
“Ah… I see.” Muk Inhyeok nodded, finally understanding.
“Then can’t you fulfill that condition? You’re the acting commander, after all.”
“Acting is only acting. It can never have the same effect.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed as he looked at Muk Inhyeok. “Like persuading Vice-Commander Seong.”
“I see.” Muk Inhyeok could not hide his admiration.
Though incomparable to Bu Eunseol, he too possessed outstanding intellect and insight.
Through this short conversation, he grasped the missing victory condition and what he must do now.
“But Vice-Commander Seong is prideful and stubborn. Without someone to stop him, he’ll never retreat even in death.”
“Will Vice-Commander Muk do it?”
“If ordered.” Muk Inhyeok said with a serious expression. “It is the acting commander’s order.”
For the first time, a smile full of trust appeared on his lips.
Earning recognition from someone like Muk Inhyeok was no easy feat.
Vice-Commander of the Seven Great Divisions.
It was the highest position a talented young martial artist could reach.
“Then I leave it to you.”
“Good. I’ll depart immediately.”
“No. Please depart after half a sichen.”
Muk Inhyeok blinked, then his eyes sparkled. “Hehehe. You see through Vice-Commander Seong’s personality. Indeed, he’s the type who must taste whether it’s dung or miso to be satisfied.”
Muk Inhyeok took a deep breath and nodded.
“Then I’ll leave after half a sichen.”
“Thank you.”
As Muk Inhyeok left the tent, a faint smile appeared on Bu Eunseol’s lips.
‘It’s going well.’
Earning recognition of his intellect from Muk Inhyeok or Seong Joyeong.
That was one of the most important goals of this expedition.
‘Only the final plan remains.’
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
If all went according to plan, Bu Eunseol could rise to a first-rank captain in the Martial Alliance.
***
Leading the Divine Might corps, Seong Joyeong charged into the Heaven-Human Cult via Jang Mountain Gorge and began breaching the defensive line once more.
‘It really is the eyelashes.’
As Bu Eunseol predicted, the poison users steeped in poison to perform Mighty Dragon Self-Destruct Soul all lacked eyelashes entirely.
In ordinary battle, even noticing this would make elimination difficult. Not only fending off swarming enemies but also checking nearly invisible eyelashes.
But the Divine Might corps martial artists were the alliance’s elite.
With sharp eyesight, they instantly identified those capable of self-destruction and prioritized cutting them down. Eventually, with no experts left to use Mighty Dragon Self-Destruct Soul nearby, the solid defensive line collapsed.
The Divine Might corps proudly advanced inward.
‘How’s that!’
Breaching the defenses and reaching the Heaven-Human Cult’s main citadel, Seong Joyeong wore a triumphant smile. Without poison users self-destructing, the Heaven-Human Cult’s martial arts could never stop the Divine Might corps elites.
But something was odd.
Despite nearly reaching the main citadel, they could not enter inward.
Even with the defensive line breached, the siege continued.
‘They are…’
Watching the battle, Seong Joyeong finally realized why.
At some point, martial artists wielding unique swords stood before the cult’s palace.
All wore black ghost masks, excelled in swordsmanship, and commanded the cult members in perfect unison. Though the line was breached, the cult forces outnumbered the Divine Might corps twenty to one.
Moreover, their unexpectedly disciplined attacks and retreats… prevented inward advance.
“Fall back!” The broad-shouldered Seong Joyeong drew his sword and charged to the front.
Shaaak!
Simultaneously, rainbow light soared skyward, sharp sword qi slicing the wind as it poured toward the ghost-masked martial artists.
“It’s the Soaring Eagle Sword Method!” One of the ghost-masked martial artists shouted as the sword qi rained down.
Tat tat tat tat.
At once, the front-line martial artists formed a circle.
Moving chaotically, they unleashed different sword techniques simultaneously. The pouring Soaring Eagle sword qi struck like embers hitting rock, scattering sparks and vanishing.
‘Those bastards?’ Seong Joyeong’s eyes widened.
What the ghost-masked martial artists deployed was a variation of the Martial Alliance’s defensive sword formation, the Shadowless Excellence Formation?
‘How do Heaven-Human Cult members know our alliance’s sword formation?’
To counter a supreme expert’s attack requires moves of equal power.
Ordinary martial artists cannot, so… they devised combining different sword moves into one superior technique.
That was the Shadowless Excellence Formation.
And what the ghost envoys had just used was its variation.
“You bastards!” Seong Joyeong unleashed the Thunder Rain Star Sever move from the Soaring Eagle Sword Method, cutting down the ghost-masked martial artists.
But as time passed, the Divine Might corps martial artists were gradually pushed back.
Soon, only Seong Joyeong himself fought alone at the front.
‘Again, Seon Woojin—that man’s prediction was right!’ Seong Joyeong inwardly roared.
Was he the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang*?
*Famous Chinese strategist during the Han dynasty.
How could he predict everything without setting foot on the battlefield?
Psssh! Thwack.
Then, with a sharp whistling sound cutting through the battlefield, a rugged shadow landed beside Seong Joyeong.
It was Muk Inhyeok.
Shshshsh!
Drawing his sword immediately, he unleashed tremendous sword wind, pushing the charging ghost envoys dozens of zhang back.
“Brother Seong. Withdraw the troops and retreat.” Muk Inhyeok spoke in a friendly but solemn voice. “Dragging out this siege will plummet morale and cause irreparable losses.”
Muk Inhyeok knew.
Seong Joyeong’s excessive pride prevented retreat despite wanting to. Without someone to intervene, his stubbornness would lead to massive losses.
“Understood.” Seong Joyeong was not clever, but he was no fool.
Muk Inhyeok had come personally and saved face. Stubbornness now would only cost troops.
“Retreat!” Seong Joyeong immediately ordered withdrawal.
A massive cheer erupted from the Heaven-Human Cult side.
―Waaaaah!
It was the roar of victory for repelling the Martial Alliance divisions.
Grit.
Seong Joyeong ground his teeth.
He said “just you wait.”
There would be no further humiliation.
Now, even if he had to bow to Seon Woojin, he would obtain a plan to deal with them.
Gongsun Dankyung returned. Summoned to the capital by imperial order, she finally arrived back at the Haseo barracks.
Much had happened; she looked quite fatigued, her face slightly gaunt.
Originally, they should have annihilated the Heaven-Human Cult and returned to the alliance by now.
But due to the imperial order—more precisely, the Empress Dowager’s scheme that moved the Emperor—they had wasted time.
“You’ve all worked hard.” Gongsun Dankyung nodded at Muk Inhyeok and Seong Joyeong standing before her. “You faithfully carried out my order to breach only the defensive lines and not annihilate the Heaven-Human Cult.”
At that, the two wore embarrassed expressions.
They had done nothing. It was all thanks to Bu Eunseol’s command.
“Captain Seon Woojin.” Gongsun Dankyung looked at Bu Eunseol. “I heard everything. You commanded brilliantly.”
She was genuinely impressed.
The Heaven-Human Cult’s forces and strategies far exceeded expectations. And the two uncontrollable vice-commanders.
In such circumstances, to breach only the lines, maintain a standoff until her return, and not achieve victory—it was a near-impossible mission.
Yet Bu Eunseol reverse-engineered all the Heaven-Human Cult’s strategies, collapsed every defensive line, and each time the vice-commanders failed, provided plans, earning their trust while buying time.
“They laid formations in the gorge, mobilized civilians, and finally deployed poison users with Mighty Dragon Self-Destruct Soul.”
On her way here, Gongsun Dankyung had thoroughly grasped the entire battle situation. And Bu Eunseol had handled it no differently from her command—nay, even better.
Bu Eunseol clasped his hands and bowed.
“Their strategies were obvious, so it posed no great difficulty.”
“Commander, is the matter resolved?”
When Seong Joyeong asked, she nodded. “Of course. His Majesty reviewed all evidence and recognized the Heaven-Human Cult as a demonic sect to be annihilated.”
Originally, the Emperor summoning her to the capital demanding evidence was to have all ministers confirm irrefutable proof, silencing the Empress Dowager’s opposition.
“Truly fortunate.”
Seong Joyeong replied, and Gongsun Dankyung spoke in a low voice. “Now that all defensive lines are down, only annihilating the Heaven-Human Cult remains.”
Seong Joyeong wore an embarrassed expression.
He had charged the cult with the Divine Might corps but failed to annihilate them, only lowering morale before retreating.
“The Heaven-Human Cult’s forces are formidable.” She already knew everything anyway.
Biting his lip, Seong Joyeong spoke with an ashamed face. “Our corps breached the line and attempted entry but ultimately failed to collapse them.”
The Divine Might corps had more large-scale battle experience than any division.
Fighting a full-scale war after breaching yet retreating after prolonged siege… the humiliation was indescribable.
“Captain Seon Woojin.”
As if understanding without words, Gongsun Dankyung asked Bu Eunseol.
“Why didn’t you use the commander’s authority I gave you?”
“If I had made such decisions, the soldiers would doubt its authenticity. Instead, I would be accused of overreaching and abusing power.”
“Hmm.” Rubbing her brow briefly, she blinked her large eyes slowly and nodded. “That could happen.”
Listening to their conversation, Seong Joyeong could not contain his curiosity.
“Captain Seon also predicted our corps could not repel them.” He scratched the back of his head, puzzled. “Our forces surpass theirs, yet why couldn’t we collapse them? The Commander seems to know the reason…”
“Desperation breeds life; seeking life breeds death, perhaps.”
Only those who embrace death survive; those who cling to life die.
Seong Joyeong’s eyes widened.
He realized why, despite overwhelming power, they lost to the cult members.
“We lacked desperation.”
His face was full of shame.
The cult members fought tenaciously with their lives. But the Divine Might corps, despite power to steamroll the enemy, fought cautiously.
From their perspective, it was merely exterminating a demonic sect stuck in the Yellow River region. They did not want injuries.
Even in great victory, there was no glory to gain from this fight.
This mindset difference created a gap like heaven and earth, beyond force or strategy.
“Of course, that’s not all.” Gongsun Dankyung smiled bitterly, and Seong Joyeong blinked.
“What do you mean…”
“Captain Seon, will you explain the rest?”
Bu Eunseol nodded and answered.
“This Heaven-Human Cult subjugation lacked the Martial Alliance’s unanimous consent.” He looked at the two vice-commanders and continued calmly. “Thus, the division martial artists believe the Commander forced this operation. They think all victory’s glory goes to you.”
When Muk Inhyeok and Seong Joyeong nodded, he spoke again.
“From sect leader-level figures to individual members, they feel skepticism about this battle. It’s a fight with nothing to gain.”
From the martial artists’ view, annihilating the Heaven-Human Cult was just eliminating one common demonic sect in the martial world.
“In the end, it was flawed from the start. We should have perfectly convinced the alliance, secured justification, and brought full forces.” At Muk Inhyeok’s mutter, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Correct. But that is my failure in not finding perfect evidence and the alliance’s unique structure. No one’s fault.”
The Martial Alliance has the anomalous authority of the Seven Great Commanders.
They mostly perform independent missions and accumulate merits. But this operation was not under a full-fledged Commander but directly under a young strategist, Gongsun Dankyung…
That too lowered morale.
“Recently, the two Vice-Commanders have been very busy as well.”
The Heavenly Emperor, Shindo Mubi wanted to select the next successor quickly.
Thus, the Seven Great Commanders were accumulating merits with all their might, and Muk Inhyeok and Seong Joyeong were assisting.
Yet suddenly called to an operation under the Commander’s plan with no merits to gain, these two were not in a good mood either.
“Then what should we do?”
At Muk Inhyeok’s words, Bu Eunseol explained calmly. “We must turn the martial artists into loyal retainers who follow the Commander with sincere hearts.”
The best way to command subordinates is to win their admiration and naturally earn loyalty.
“Easy to say, but winning soldiers’ hearts and obedience in such a short-term battle is impossible.”
“The next method is using authority. If the Commander strictly orders and penalizes defeat, they will have no choice but to obey.” Bu Eunseol continued quickly.
“Of course, that is not the best method either.”
“Then?”
“If we cannot make them follow with sincerity, and authority is insufficient, give them corresponding honor.”
He immediately added, “One of the highest strategies for victory. It is giving the honor of victory to the soldiers.”
“Unfortunately, collapsing one Heaven-Human Cult brings no honor.” Seong Joyeong sighed and shook his head. “Moreover, our corps’s martial artists are indifferent to profit; even gold and jewels wouldn’t please them much.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“There are many kinds of honor.”
And with a meaningful expression, he said,
“Martial artists equate that honor with martial arts.”
“Then.”
Bu Eunseol stated firmly.
“The Commander should open the Solitary Enlightenment Hall with the commander’s authority.”
