‘At this rate, they’ll be playing twenty questions all night.’
Muk In-hyeok, unable to watch any longer, sighed and cut in.
“So. What is this part that absolutely cannot be hidden?”
“The hair. In a case like this, it would be the eyelashes.”
A profound light flowed from Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“Even if they wear masks, they cannot cover their eyes. If you observe the eyelashes carefully, you will surely be able to identify the Poison Cultivators.”
“Eyelashes… I see.”
Muk In-hyeok nodded with a look of admiration.
“If they were steeped in extreme poison in a short time, their eyelashes would have melted away.”
“That is correct. Long-term exposure to poison first causes hair to thin or fall out.”
What are the qualities required for the position of a strategist?
Outstanding intelligence and foresight are a given, but one also needs the ability to command, to understand talent, and to deploy it in the right place at the right time, not just knowledge of military tactics.
In short, the position of a strategist demands excellence in every field except for one's own martial arts.
And in Muk In-hyeok’s eyes.
Bu Eunseol was an outstanding strategist, lacking in no area.
“Now, we can win.”
As Seong Joyeong nodded, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“No, with the current situation, we cannot win.”
“What did you say?”
At the unexpected reply, Seong Joyeong’s eyes glared.
“Even though we can distinguish the exploding Poison Cultivators, you say my unit will lose?”
“That is correct.”
“Why.”
Bu Eunseol said something rather unexpected.
“The Celestial Human Sect has been preparing for a fight with our Alliance for a long time. No matter how hard both Vice Leaders fight, you will not be able to defeat them easily.”
“Heh, I wondered what you were going to say.”
The admiration Seong Joyeong had felt until now seemed to cool instantly.
“Martial artists do not fight with their heads and mouths, but by moving their bodies.”
“…”
“In your calculations, the Celestial Human Sect might seem formidable, but the only trouble my unit had was because of the Poison Cultivators’ Dragon’s Descent Self-Detonation.”
“Vice Leader.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly.
“The Grand Strategist will return in two days. Please wait on standby until then.”
“I cannot understand.”
Muk In-hyeok looked at Bu Eunseol with a strange expression.
“Are you saying we can win if the Grand Strategist commands?”
“That is likely.”
“Why?”
“Because it is something only the Grand Strategist can do.”
“What is it?”
Bu Eunseol brought his hands together.
“I cannot tell you that right now.”
Muk In-hyeok blinked, as if he could not understand.
Then, Seong Joyeong let out a small ‘ah’ and laughed heartily.
“Hahahaha. I admit your intelligence and strategies are outstanding. But you have misjudged this time.”
“…”
“If we can identify the Poison Cultivators, breaking through their defense line is just a matter of time. We should be able to annihilate the Celestial Human Sect immediately.”
Seong Joyeong’s lips twitched as he spoke.
“But since the Grand Strategist has not yet come down from the capital, my unit must not annihilate the Celestial Human Sect. Are you not trying to maintain a standoff without attacking for that reason?”
“That is not it.”
“It’s not? Hoho.”
Seong Joyeong’s lips curved up.
“Then are you saying it’s fine if I, the Vice Leader, immediately lead the troops to Jangsanhyeop and wipe out the Celestial Human Sect?”
“Of course. However.”
Bu Eunseol said firmly.
“You will have to accept the damage to our forces.”
Seong Joyeong’s eyebrow twitched.
If Bu Eunseol had pleaded earnestly, he would have only broken through the defense and not attacked their main camp.
But when Bu Eunseol spoke with such a confident tone, a fierce feeling of defiance rose in him instead.
“Fine. I will show you that your calculations are wrong.”
Seong Joyeong said as he turned away coldly.
“You should keep this in mind. The situation will be that we annihilate the Celestial Human Sect before the Grand Strategist arrives, so you will have to bear the responsibility for it.”
“Of course.”
When Bu Eunseol answered without hesitation, Seong Joyeong turned around coldly.
He had always looked down on Bu Eunseol, a second-grade Squad Leader.
But after realizing his strategies and intellect were excellent, he had started to change his mind slightly.
However, when Bu Eunseol spoke as if he were a sage who understood everything, that feeling of defiance reared its head once more.
‘That brat.
I treated him a little better because he’s a bit smart, and now this.’
The Martial Alliance valued hierarchy and seniority.
Therefore, no matter how outstanding a person was, they could not rise if they did not appeal to their superiors.
Seong Joyeong, who had always been revered by his subordinates, did not like Bu Eunseol, who, for a mere second-grade Squad Leader, did not show a respectful attitude or gaze.
“We will wipe out the Celestial Human Sect at once.”
Seong Joyeong immediately commanded his troops and moved towards Jangsanhyeop.
After Seong Joyeong left, a silence fell upon the barracks.
“From Vice Leader Seong’s perspective, it’s not unreasonable.”
Muk In-hyeok, who had been standing silently, spoke.
“When a martial artist passes thirty, his body and martial skills reach their peak. Around this time, most become overconfident in their own abilities.”
He smiled faintly as he looked at Bu Eunseol.
“And since our Alliance is a gathering of talents from various sects, we tend to value seniority and hierarchy over ability. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Are you telling me to flatter him?”
“If possible.”
Muk In-hyeok’s gaze was, unlike before, very gentle and benevolent.
It seemed he had truly taken a liking to Bu Eunseol.
“My unit also retreated because, just like Vice Leader Seong, we could not distinguish the Poison Cultivators using Dragon’s Descent Self-Detonation.”
“I am aware.”
As Bu Eunseol’s attitude was so nonchalant, Muk In-hyeok tilted his head.
“Do you predict that even if my unit went instead of the Divine Guard Unit, we would be defeated just the same?”
“That is correct.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes were unwavering.
Only then did Muk In-hyeok realize.
This young martial artist possessed a wisdom and foresight that ordinary people could not even fathom.
“I would like to hear the reason.”
Muk In-hyeok spoke as if he could not understand.
“Is the Celestial Human Sect truly that strong?”
“It is not because of the difference in military strength.”
“Then what is it?”
“The enemy’s numbers are great, and ours are few. This is the enemy’s home ground, and we are on an expedition. And since the enemy has been preparing for battle for a long time… one of the conditions for victory has not yet been met.”
“A condition for victory?”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“If the Celestial Human Sect fails to block this attack, they will be utterly defeated. Since they will be completely destroyed, they will defend with their lives. Not only that, but there will be masters they did not deploy on the defensive front.”
“Hmm.”
“However, our Alliance’s units are not as desperate as they are. In the current situation, breaking through their defensive line will be the most we can do.”
“Ah… I see.”
Muk In-hyeok, who had finally realized something, nodded his head.
“In that case, why don’t you fulfill that condition? You are the acting Grand Strategist, after all.”
“Acting is just acting. It can never produce the same effect.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes glinted as he looked at Muk In-hyeok.
“Just like persuading Vice Leader Seong.”
“I see.”
Muk In-hyeok could not hide his expression of admiration.
Although he could not compare to Bu Eunseol, he too was a man of outstanding intelligence and foresight.
Through his short conversation with Bu Eunseol.
He realized what the missing condition for victory was, and what he had to do now.
“But Vice Leader Seong is a man of strong pride who does not bend his will. If there is no one to stop him, he will not retreat even if it kills him.”
“Will you do it, Vice Leader Muk?”
“If you give the order.”
Muk In-hyeok said with a serious expression.
“It is an order given by the acting Grand Strategist, after all.”
For the first time, a smile full of trust appeared on his lips.
It was not easy to be acknowledged by someone like Muk In-hyeok.
The Vice Leader of the Seven Great Divisions.
That position was the highest a brilliant young martial artist could attain.
“Then I will be in your care.”
“Good. I will depart at once.”
“No. I ask that you depart after a delay of about half a shichen.”
Muk In-hyeok, who had been blinking for a moment, suddenly had a sparkle in his eyes.
“Hahaha. You see right through Vice Leader Seong’s personality. It is true, he is the type of person who has to taste it to know if it’s shit or bean paste.”
Muk In-hyeok took a deep breath and nodded.
“Then I shall leave after half a shichen.”
“Thank you.”
As Muk In-hyeok left the barracks, a faint smile appeared on Bu Eunseol’s lips.
‘It’s going well.’
Gaining the acknowledgment of Muk In-hyeok or Seong Joyeong for his intellect.
That was one of the most important tasks of this expedition.
‘Now, only the final plan remains.’
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
If the plan went well.
Bu Eunseol would be able to rise to the position of a first-grade Squad Leader in the Martial Alliance.
*
Seong Joyeong, leading the Divine Guard Unit, immediately charged through Jangsanhyeop towards the Celestial Human Sect and began to break through their defensive front once again.
‘It really is the eyelashes.’
Just as Bu Eunseol had predicted, the Poison Cultivators who could perform the Dragon’s Descent Self-Detonation by being steeped in poison.
All of them were completely without eyelashes.
If it were a normal battle, even if he had found such a thing, it would have been difficult to deal with.
It was not enough to just cut down the enemies rushing in chaotically; he had to check for nearly invisible eyelashes.
But the martial artists of the Divine Guard Unit were the elites of the Martial Alliance.
With their keen eyes, they immediately identified those with the ability to explode and cut them down first.
In the end, as the masters capable of using Dragon’s Descent Self-Detonation disappeared from the vicinity, the solid defensive line collapsed.
The Divine Guard Unit was able to advance inside with dignity.
‘How about that!’
As he broke through the defense and immediately advanced to the front of the Celestial Human Sect’s fortress, Seong Joyeong wore a triumphant smile.
As long as the Poison Cultivators did not explode, the martial arts of the Celestial Human Sect members could never stop the elites of the Divine Guard Unit.
But it was strange.
Even though they had almost reached the main fortress of the Celestial Human Sect, they could not enter inside.
It was because the offense and defense battle was still ongoing even after the defensive line had been broken.
‘Those are.’
Seong Joyeong, who was watching the battle, finally understood the reason.
At some point, martial artists wielding unique swords had appeared in front of the Celestial Human Sect’s palace.
They all wore black demon masks, their sword techniques were excellent, and they were commanding the Celestial Human Sect members in a perfectly orderly manner.
Although the defensive line had been broken, the Celestial Human Sect’s forces were more than twenty times that of the Divine Guard Unit.
Also, unexpectedly, they repeated their attacks and retreats with discipline… so they were unable to advance inside.
“Get back!”
The enraged Seong Joyeong drew his sword and rushed to the front.
Swish!
At the same time, a rainbow-colored brilliance soared into the sky, and a sharp sword qi cut through the wind and poured down on the demon-masked martial artists.
“It’s the Flying Eagle Sword Technique!”
One of the demon-masked martial artists watching the pouring sword qi shouted.
Tatatak.
Simultaneously, the martial artists at the front drew a circle.
They moved chaotically and unleashed different sword techniques all at once.
Then, wasn’t the pouring sword qi of the Flying Eagle Sword Technique scattering in all directions with sparks, as if it were charcoal hitting a rock?
‘Those bastards?’
Seong Joyeong’s eyes widened.
Wasn’t what the demon-masked martial artists performed a modified form of the Martial Alliance’s defensive sword formation, the Cross-Weave Shadowless Formation?
‘How do the Celestial Human Sect members know our Alliance’s sword formation?’
To counter the attack of a powerful master, a technique of equal power is needed.
But ordinary martial artists cannot do that… so they devised a method of creating one superior sword technique by unfolding different sword forms.
That was the Cross-Weave Shadowless Formation.
And what the Demon Mask Envoys had just performed was a variation of the Cross-Weave Shadowless Formation.
“You bastards!”
Seong Joyeong unleashed the Thunder Rain Star-Severing Strike from the Flying Eagle Sword Technique and cut down the demon-masked martial artists.
But as time passed, the Divine Guard Unit’s martial artists began to be pushed back gradually.
Soon, the situation changed so that only Seong Joyeong himself was fighting alone at the front.
‘Was that man, Seon Woo-jin, right again!’
Seong Joyeong cried out inwardly.
Was he the incarnation of Zhuge Liang?
How could he predict everything without ever having been on the battlefield?
Fwoosh! Thwack.
Just then, with a sharp sound of something cutting through the battlefield, a towering shadow landed next to Seong Joyeong.
It was Muk In-hyeok.
Swish-swish-swish!
Immediately drawing his sword, he unleashed a tremendous sword wind, pushing back the attacking Demon Mask Envoys more than a dozen jang away.
“Brother Seong. Let’s withdraw the troops and retreat.”
Muk In-hyeok said in a friendly but solemn voice.
“If we drag on this offense and defense for this long, the morale of the subordinates will fall uncontrollably, and we will suffer losses.”
Muk In-hyeok knew.
Seong Joyeong’s pride was so strong that he couldn’t retreat even if he wanted to.
If someone like him didn’t come to stop him, he would stubbornly persist and end up suffering a great loss.
“I understand.”
Seong Joyeong could not be called smart, but he wasn’t a fool either.
Muk In-hyeok had come himself and saved his face.
If he continued to be stubborn, there would only be losses in his troops.
“Retreat!”
Seong Joyeong immediately ordered a retreat.
At that, a great roar erupted from the Celestial Human Sect’s side.
—Waaaaaah!
It was a roar of victory, for having repelled the Martial Alliance’s unit.
Grind.
Seong Joyeong gritted his teeth.
He didn’t say anything like, ‘Just you wait.’
There would be no more humiliation.
Now, it was Seon Woo-jin.
He would obtain a strategy to deal with them, even if it meant bowing his head to that man.
Gongson Dangyeong had returned.
She, who had gone to the capital on the Emperor’s order, had finally returned to the barracks in Heseo.
It seemed many things had happened during that time; she looked quite tired, and her face was a little thinner.
According to the original plan, they should have already annihilated the Celestial Human Sect and returned to the Martial Alliance.
But due to the Emperor’s order.
To be precise, due to the scheme of the Empress Dowager who moved the Emperor, time had been wasted.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
Gongson Dangyeong nodded as she looked at Muk In-hyeok and Seong Joyeong standing before her.
“You’ve very faithfully carried out the order to only destroy the defense line without annihilating the Celestial Human Sect.”
At those words, the two men wore embarrassed expressions.
They had done nothing.
Everything was possible thanks to Bu Eunseol’s command.
“Squad Leader Seonwoo.”
And Gongson Dangyeong looked at Bu Eunseol.
“I’ve heard everything. You’ve commanded excellently.”
She was genuinely impressed.
The power and strategy of the Celestial Human Sect that far exceeded expectations.
And the two uncontrollable division leaders.
In such a situation, the order to break only the defense line but not to win and maintain a standoff until she returned.
It was a mission that was practically impossible.
But Bu Eunseol had turned all the strategies the Celestial Human Sect had prepared against them, destroying all their defensive fronts.
And he gave strategies to the two division leaders every time they failed, earning their trust while buying time.
“They not only laid a formation in the gorge but also mobilized common people. And in the end, they even deployed Poison Cultivators who use the Dragon’s Descent Self-Detonation.”
Gongson Dangyeong had already thoroughly grasped the situation of the war so far while coming here.
And Bu Eunseol had completed the task no differently than if she had commanded it herself.
No, he had done it more brilliantly.
Bu Eunseol brought his hands together and bowed his head.
“It was a strategy with obvious intentions, so there was no particular difficulty.”
“Grand Strategist, was the matter resolved well?”
At that moment, Seong Joyeong asked, and she nodded.
“Of course. The Emperor has confirmed all the evidence and has recognized the Celestial Human Sect as an evil cult that must be annihilated.”
The Emperor calling her to the capital demanding evidence in the first place.
It was to make the Empress Dowager no longer object by having all the ministers confirm the definite evidence.
“That is truly a relief.”
As Seong Joyeong replied, Gongson Dangyeong spoke in a low voice.
“Now that all the defensive fronts have been destroyed, all that’s left is to annihilate the Celestial Human Sect.”
At that, Seong Joyeong wore an embarrassed expression.
He had led the Divine Guard Unit and charged into the Celestial Human Sect, but far from annihilating them, he had only lowered his subordinates’ morale before retreating.
“The Celestial Human Sect’s forces are not to be taken lightly.”
Since Gongson Dangyeong would know the whole situation anyway, Seong Joyeong, biting his lip, spoke with a shameful expression.
“My unit tried to break through the defensive line and enter the Celestial Human Sect, but in the end, we couldn’t break them.”
The Divine Guard Unit was more experienced in large-scale battles than any other unit.
Even though they broke through the defensive line and engaged in a full-scale battle with the Celestial Human Sect, they had to retreat after a long offense and defense… the sense of humiliation was beyond words.
“Squad Leader Seonwoo.”
Gongson Dangyeong, as if she understood everything without being told, asked Bu Eunseol.
“Why didn’t you use the Grand Commander’s authority I gave you?”
“If I had made such a decision, the soldiers would have doubted its authenticity. On the contrary, I would have been criticized for overstepping my authority without knowing my place.”
“Hmm.”
After rubbing her brow for a moment, she slowly blinked her large eyes and nodded.
“I suppose that could have happened.”
Seong Joyeong, who was listening to their conversation, couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked.
“Squad Leader Seonwoo also predicted that my unit would not be able to defeat them.”
He scratched the back of his head as if he couldn’t understand.
“I don’t know why we couldn’t break them even though our forces surpassed theirs. It seems the Grand Strategist also knows the reason…”
“Should I say it’s a matter of ‘those who seek death shall live, and those who seek life shall die’?”
It means that only those who are prepared to die can survive, and those who wish to live by chance will die.
For a moment, Seong Joyeong’s eyes widened.
He realized why they had lost to the Celestial Human Sect members despite having overwhelming military strength.
“We lacked desperation.”
His face was full of shame.
The Celestial Human Sect members were holding on desperately, with their lives on the line.
But the Divine Guard Unit, despite having the military power and strength to break through the enemy lines with irresistible force, was fighting while trying to save their own skins.
From their perspective, it was just a mission to deal with an evil cult stuck in the Yellow River region.
They didn’t want to get injured.
Even if they won a great victory.
Even if they won this battle, there was no glory to be gained.
This difference in mindset, regardless of the superiority in military power and strategy, created a difference as wide as the sky and the earth.
“Of course, that’s not all.”
As Gongson Dangyeong smiled bitterly, Seong Joyeong blinked.
“What does that mean…”
“Will you explain the rest, Squad Leader Seonwoo?”
Bu Eunseol nodded and replied.
“The subjugation of the Celestial Human Sect this time did not gain the unanimous consent of our Alliance.”
He looked at the two Vice Leaders and continued to speak calmly.
“Therefore, the martial artists of the unit know this as a matter that the Grand Strategist has forcefully pushed through. They also think that all the glory of victory will be taken by the Grand Strategist.”
As Muk In-hyeok and Seong Joyeong nodded, he opened his mouth again.
“Therefore, from the Hall Master-level figures to the individual members, they must be feeling skeptical about this battle. It’s a battle where there’s nothing to be gained in the first place.”
From the martial artists’ perspective.
Even if they annihilated the Celestial Human Sect, in the Martial World, it would just be considered as dealing with one of the many common evil cults.
“So you’re saying it was wrong from the start. We should have perfectly persuaded the Alliance to secure a just cause and brought the full force.”
At Muk In-hyeok’s mumble, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“That is correct. But that is my fault for not being able to find perfect evidence, and it’s also because of the unique structure of our Alliance. It is no one’s fault.”
In the Martial Alliance, there was a top leadership with a distorted power structure called the Seven Division Leaders.
They mostly carried out their own missions and accumulated achievements that way.
But this time, instead of being under the command of a Division Leader, they were to be directly commanded by a young strategist, Gongson Dangyeong…
That also became a reason for the drop in morale.
“And both Vice Leaders have been very busy recently.”
The Righteous Heavenly Emperor, Shin Do-Mu-bi, wanted to select the next successor as soon as possible.
To that end, the Seven Division Leaders were doing their best to accumulate merits, and Muk In-hyeok and Seong Joyeong were also helping with that.
But then they were suddenly called to a task where they couldn’t accumulate any merits due to the Grand Strategist’s operation.
So, the two of them were not in a very good mood either.
“Then what should be done?”
At Muk In-hyeok’s words, Bu Eunseol calmly explained.
“We must make the martial artists of the unit into loyal subordinates who follow the Grand Strategist with all their hearts.”
The best way to command subordinates is to move them to admiration, so they naturally offer their loyalty.
“That’s easier said than done. Isn’t it impossible to win the soldiers’ hearts and make them obey in such a short-term battle?”
“The next method is to use authority. If the Grand Strategist gives a stern order and brings disadvantages to them upon defeat, they will have no choice but to follow.”
Bu Eunseol quickly continued.
“Of course, that is not the best method either.”
“Then?”
“If you can’t make them follow with loyalty like now, and using authority is also insufficient, then you must give them commensurate honor.”
And he immediately added a word.
“One of the best strategies for victory. It is to give the honor of victory to the soldiers.”
“Unfortunately, there is no honor to be gained from destroying a single Celestial Human Sect.”
Seong Joyeong sighed and shook his head.
“Also, the martial artists of my unit are indifferent to fame and fortune; they won’t be very happy even if you give them gold and silver treasures.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“There are various kinds of honor.”
And with a meaningful expression, he said.
“And martial artists equate that honor with martial arts.”
“In that case.”
Bu Eunseol said with a resolute expression.
“The Grand Strategist must use her authority as Grand Strategist to open the Hall of Enlightened Awakening.”