Chapter 14 – Brush with Death(14)
Even branches so fragile and plain that they break easily in a child’s hand, when gathered together, become difficult for even an adult to break. That was the marvelous principle embodied in formation tactics.
Chen Formation is a battle formation deployed by martial artists who have honed their martial arts, and only second-class or higher martial artists who have begun to properly utilize their inner energy can execute these formations.
Even then, they could only be perfectly deployed through relentless effort to achieve harmony. Formation tactics are not something that can be accomplished by one person’s excellence alone, but rather a flow created through coordination with comrades.
There were mainly two cases in which such formations were used. One was to counter an opponent’s formation. The other was to confront an absolute master who could not be approached otherwise.
“Deploy the formation!”
At the disciplined command of Murong Heesu, the head of the Righteous Dragon Hall, the martial artists moved in perfect unison. Nine people in each formation—a total of eleven formations were completed in an instant.
This was the Righteous Dragon Nine Palace Sword Formation, a technique the Murong family prided itself on. It was a display of perfect harmony, combining various sword techniques of the Murong family, each based on different principles despite using identical weapons.
It looked like a sleeping dragon on the ground, vibrating its body in preparation to ascend to the heavens when the time came. Nevertheless, the opponent didn’t even flinch.
What would happen if a hundred martial artists faced a single person?
Most people would confidently declare that the hundred would win. That is not an unreasonable assumption. From ancient times, numerical superiority has been one of the most basic principles of military strategy.
Overwhelming numbers can significantly close the gap in skill.
In fact, the martial world is no different. No matter how vast the gap between first-class and second-class martial artists, sheer numbers can often compensate for it.
But there is a reason why martial artists hesitate to give a definitive answer to this question. It is because of the absolute exceptions—masters who have reached the peak.
If the difference between first-class and second-class martial artists is comparable to that between an adult and a child, then the difference between a peak master and a first-class martial artist is truly like the distance between heaven and earth.
Numerical advantage, favorable terrain, powerful weapons—
Even if all the favorable conditions emphasized throughout countless military texts were met, there exists a gap that cannot be crossed.
That is why they are called peak masters.
Despite being completely surrounded by the formation deployed by the Murong family’s martial artists, there was not the slightest tremor in his eyes. Eventually, Mu-myung slowly raised his sword to the sky.
Vertical Slash.
It was a swing devoid of excess. Nothing more, nothing less. A strike lacking in any intricate principle—neither form nor technique. Just an extremely ordinary slash.
Yet, that alone was enough.
Like a light practice strike before actual training, the simple two-handed slash completely severed the head of the Righteous Dragon.
Kwaaang!
A sound like thunder crashing against the earth assaulted their eardrums. As the dust violently rose, the martial artists of the Murong family were swept away like autumn leaves carried by the wind.
It was not because they were lacking in ability. Though their skills may have stagnated like stagnant water due to long-standing isolation, they were still a renowned clan, counted among the Five Great Families.
There is no denying that their martial prowess was on an entirely different level compared to other lesser sects. Moreover, they had chosen the best possible strategy given the circumstances.
It was not arrogance. They had fully acknowledged that their opponent was an untouchable master and had countered with a formation capable of resisting even an army.
So why had such a result occurred?
One strike.
With just one strike, nearly twenty martial artists had been slammed to the ground, rendered unconscious. Out of the eleven formations, nearly three had collapsed in an instant.
And more than anything, Murong Heesu felt immense despair upon realizing that all of them were still breathing. The fact that they had survived such a destructive attack meant only one thing—
The opponent had shown mercy.
In other words, nearly twenty percent of their forces had been wiped out by an attack that was not even at full power. But what if the opponent had not held back and had instead unleashed a technique imbued with the ultimate peak skill?
Forget about subduing or capturing him—it would be difficult to even buy enough time for the family head to arrive.
If this continued—
Annihilation.
The terrible outcome she had tried not to think about was now clearly unfolding before her eyes.
◇
That sudden loud movement startled me.
I calmed my racing heart and let out a quiet sigh of relief. At first, I had assumed we were merely facing off, but when they suddenly moved with such intensity, I swung my sword before I even realized it.
At the very least, I had controlled my strength properly. There shouldn’t be any casualties.
Especially after witnessing the grief the head had displayed over the loss of her subordinate earlier, I wanted to avoid taking lives as much as possible.
Of course, if they raised their blades with killing intent, then I would have no choice but to respond in kind. Fortunately, they had yet to do so.
“Why is the great warrior aiding a traitor?”
“Traitor? You mean Young Master Murong Hyun?”
“Yes.”
Judging that brute force alone would never work, Murong Heesu threw a question at me, her expression laced with fear.
Why am I helping the young master?
Don’t you know the answer to that better than I do?
“Let me ask you in return. Have you never harbored even the slightest doubt about the family head’s actions?”
“No.”
“Are you sincere?”
“I am the Righteous Dragon’s blade, sworn to protect the Murong family. I do not question my lord’s will—I simply carry out his orders fully. That is the extent of my duty.”
“A loyal servant indeed.”
There are two types of loyal servants.
One is the kind that spares no effort to guide their lord onto the right path.
The other is the kind that obeys without question, following orders with unwavering discipline.
Murong Heesu was clearly the latter.
Honestly, persuading someone like her with words was nearly impossible.
“From what I’ve heard from the young master and Sua, the family head is not even remotely upright as a human being. And when such a person holds the sword hilt, he is no different from a tyrant.”
“That is merely an internal matter of the Murong family. It does not justify interference from an outsider.”
This bastard was making logical arguments?
In simple terms, she was asking why a complete stranger was meddling in another family’s affairs.
Put that way, she wasn’t wrong.
To be honest, my involvement was purely because of my connections.
The Murong family was currently divided into two factions: the family head’s and the young master’s. By taking responsibility for Sua, I had already chosen a side.
But if the young master’s faction was defeated here, it would no longer be about gaining martial arts or inner cultivation. I might end up being pursued by the Murong family instead.
That would be troublesome.
Still, I couldn’t just admit that I was helping to gain favor with the young master in hopes of obtaining martial arts. I needed to phrase my answer in a way that sounded convincing.
“If you stay silent about one injustice, it eventually returns to you tenfold.”
“…”
“I saw with my own eyes his act of righteousness despite the unreasonable circumstances. I heard with my own ears his plea for help. How could I, as a fellow martial artist, simply turn away?”
“Indeed, your words are just.”
To my surprise, Murong Heesu nodded in agreement.
I had expected her to be completely unmoved.
“You have fulfilled your duty well.”
But then, from the powerful voice that came from behind, I understood immediately.
She had been buying time.
Until a master capable of facing me arrived.
I raised my head and saw the man stepping forward.
Dressed in the Murong family’s distinctive white martial attire, with a stern expression and a short beard, he appeared to be in his forties.
The man looked at me and spoke.
“True martial artists can understand each other without words. You must surely be the same as I.”
A fierce aura radiated from him, pressing down on me like iron shackles.
Without hesitation, he drew his sword and lunged at me.
I barely managed to block his attack in time.
I already knew.
This man was the head of the Righteous Dragon Hall.
A fight with a first-class martial artist among first-class martial artists.
This would not be easy.
