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Chapter 340. Life and Death
The moment my words ended, no one was shedding tears anymore.
But plenty still harbored doubts about what I'd said.
"We can survive...... in a situation like this?"
"The Divine Spirit's curse can't be escaped......"
There were still idiots blaming the Divine Spirit.
Е̄ n ům̈а
"Open your eyes. Do you really think everything that's happening is because of a Divine Spirit's curse?"
No matter how clear the evidence, humans believe what they want to believe.
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In moments like these, you had to make them retrace their own thoughts.
"Killing intent that's unmistakably the Heavenly Net and Earthly Snare. Deliberate kidnappings. Brainwashed survivors sent back to us."
"......"
"And you're telling me all of that is a Divine Spirit's curse? What, is the Divine Spirit the Primordial Heavenly Worthy or something?!"
W̌ е̂b̃ ň о v̂ē l̂ Е̄ n u m а̃
"Th-then...... who, who on earth is attacking us?"
And when a clear question finally came.
"Does that matter?"
You set them straight.
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"Wh-what?"
"Is it really important right now who's trying to kill us, or why?"
E n̄ üm а.і ḋ
About what truly matters.
"......If that's not important, then."
"Someone is trying to kill us, and we're dying exactly the way they want — isn't that what matters?!"
About what to focus on right now.
"We can find out who they are and why they want us dead after we've survived. But what happens if we die here?"
"......"
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"What we need to think about now is how to survive."
About what to think and what to do.
"Once we've survived, we investigate who they are and take our revenge. Going back in a mob to get payback — that's your specialty, isn't it?"
"Y-yeah......"
"Then stop lying around feeling sorry for yourselves and figure out how to stay alive. You are, after all, elite disciples of prestigious great sects, aren't you?!!"
The eyes that had been glazed with stupid melancholy flared crimson with heat.
W.ė b n̄о̇vӗl̊ Е n̄umа̂
"Look at the Taeul Sect disciples — the ones you keep calling third-rate. See any of them crying? And you still dare call yourselves true disciples of first-rate sects?"
When someone you've looked down on achieves something remarkable, the human instinct is to dismiss the achievement rather than acknowledge the person.
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"Now that you mention it, the Taeul Sect...... they've been fighting the whole time......"
"Jin So-un's always been a freak, so fine, but......"
"......The Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and Hong Sa-ryeon aren't even that high-level."
And soon they'd convince themselves that they could do it too.
Е̂n̊ ū mâ
That there was no reason they couldn't do what those people had done.
That the task probably hadn't been that difficult to begin with.
A truly contemptible and low-minded way of thinking, but in a situation like this, even that had to be exploited.
Because we had to survive. Because survival was the most important thing right now.
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"Th-then what are we supposed to do?"
What were they supposed to do?
W̃ е̇ b̈ñ o̊v̆е l En̆ŭ m̄а
"Why are you asking me that?"
"......Huh?"
"Finding your own way to survive is your job."
"What kind of crazy......"
I cut him off and looked ahead.
I'd drawn enough attention. Time to get to the point.
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"I'm going to organize a unit and escape this place."
"So what's the plan for......"
"But! I'll only be going with those who want to come."
"......"
Eyes turned icy again.
For people who'd already been betrayed, I'd just stirred up bad memories.
Е.nü m̃ а̌
"Representative Jin. Are you planning to abandon us too?!"
"You have the responsibility of a Representative, don't you......!"
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"If you try to escape with just your people, we will stop you."
Damned bastards — you said I wasn't your Representative before.
People, honestly.
Their thinking was the same whether they were bottom-rung warriors or Murim Alliance executives.
Е̊ nůmа
"I said I'll go with those who want to come."
"......"
"Anyone who wants to come is welcome, regardless. Even the wounded."
"What kind of sophistry is that? Who here doesn't want to......"
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I cheerfully ignored him again.
"But there's one condition."
Wе b.n̊oṽ е ĺ Е̃ ǹ ũ m ã
"In a situation like this, what kind of......"
"Chain of command."
"......!"
"......!"
The discontent that had been seeping out erupted all at once.
"Are you seriously trying to play general right now?!"
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"You want to say something like that in this dire situation......?!"
They were right — this wasn't the time to assert my authority.
There was no reason to, either.
"Chain of command. Under my command, your sect, your clan, your faction — all of it will be disregarded. You'll move solely as unit members under the captains I appoint. That's the one condition I require."
"But if everyone agrees to come, what's the point?"
"There's plenty of point. When life is on the line, I don't want to see the pathetic sight of people splitting into Righteous Path Association and Orthodox Path Association and squabbling like plague-ridden rats."
Ѐn ŭ mа . i d
"......"
"So choose. Come with me. Or die among yourselves...... no, go your own way among yourselves."
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And for those who might take their word lightly, I added a warning.
"Once you've given your word, orders are absolute. If you refuse an order for any reason whatsoever, I'll execute you on the spot. Don't make this choice lightly."
With that, I left.
There were too many things that needed to be done right now to waste another moment.
Еnù m̈а
"Is this your plan?"
Just then, Cheol Sun-jik, who'd been staring at me like I was insane, stepped in front of me.
"What, unity and togetherness and overcoming adversity? Something like that?"
"You think this is a war game? Unity never worked before — why would you look for it now?"
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I naturally sidestepped him and kept walking. I couldn't afford to waste time talking to him.
Cheol Sun-jik hesitated, then fell into step beside me.
Ё.n̈ ü m̌ а̌
"Then what are you thinking?"
"Want to hear? Are you coming with me?"
"......"
"If not, go back to the Twelve Peak Citadels kids and figure out an escape plan."
"......What level of unit organization are you planning? At minimum, I'd like to hear that before......"
"With the people we have left, a 'unit' is the best we can manage. Or should I call it a 'pavilion'-level force in name? To make everyone feel better?"
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He stopped dead in his tracks.
"......You just said this wasn't the time for war games, Representative Jin."
"Right. So come find me when you've made up your mind. There's more than one or two things to prepare—"
"I'll do it."
"What?"
"The Twelve Peak Citadels will follow Representative Jin."
Ẃеbn оv̊ ӗl E n u m а́
I stopped too.
"You can just decide something like that?"
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Cheol Sun-jik looked at me as if I were being absurd.
Hm, come to think of it — he probably could.
"Good. You're the Third Captain."
"......I came in first, so why am I the Third Captain?"
Ẅеb̊ṅо̂v е l̀_ E n ů m̀ а
His reaction said being named captain was only natural. Insufferable bastard, as always.
"The First Captain will stand at the vanguard with me. If that's what you want......"
"No. I've always been fond of the number three."
"......Go talk to your people and organize the shelters. Gather at the center."
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His mind really did work frighteningly fast.
Sa-ryeon, who'd been watching the whole sequence of events, asked with a worried face.
Éǹ ü m̌ а̄.i ď
"What if they really do go off on their own? If they leave the wounded behind......"
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
"How can you be so sure?"
I raised my head and looked across the way.
Amid the chaos, one spot glinted with particular brightness.
"The two strongest people in the Academy are in one unit. What are the rest going to do on their own?"
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"......Did Venerable Il-gak agree to join?"
"He's our First Captain."
"Shaolin is effectively the head of the Righteous Path Association......! There's no way Venerable Il-gak would abandon the Righteous Path Association......"
Even if he said he would, I couldn't let that happen.
Why did I bother telling them to choose in the first place?
Because even at a time like this, their instinct was to cluster by faction.
Е n̂u̇m̊а
So Il-gak absolutely had to become a captain in my unit.
Without a spiritual and physical pillar, what focal point could there be?
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Especially among people who'd been wailing about dying just minutes ago.
"FIRST CAPTAIN!"
I called out to Il-gak, who was already besieged by the Righteous Path Association.
"Let's discuss the unit organization!"
W е̂ b̃ ńоvе l̇ Ё n um̊ а̇
The Righteous Path Association members' eyes bulged.
I was calling my captain — what were they going to do about it, glare?
"First Captain, we don't have time!"
"......"
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"Venerable Il-gak! What do you mean by this? It's only natural that Shaolin stays with us!"
"FIRST CAPTAIN!!!"
W ĕ bn о̊ ṽе̃l̃ Е̇n u m а
Being merely a representative delegation member wasn't enough reason to easily abandon Shaolin.
For both Shaolin and the Righteous Path Association, the other held enormous significance.
"N-nothing has been decided yet. This matter requires careful discussion......"
"Venerable Il-gak. Are you going to abandon us?"
Il-gak broke free from the Righteous Path Association members clinging to him and approached me.
"Benefactor Jin, what are you thinking? You must have anticipated the Righteous Path Association's backlash."
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"So, you won't be First Captain?"
"......There are too many Shaolin disciples and lay-affiliated sect disciples here. I cannot simply ignore all their voices."
"Hmm...... I see."
For an instant, Il-gak's eyes flickered with unease.
"Wh-what are you scheming?"
He always talked as if I were some kind of swindler.
En̆.üm̊а̇
"Scheming what?"
"You know full well this isn't a situation where people can simply follow your unilateral decisions, Benefactor Jin. The foundation of the Righteous Path Association has always been 'mutual consultation.'"
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I knew that well.
But right now there was no room to wait for that fine-sounding procedure.
"......At least tell me what you're planning."
"No, you just said you'd move with the Righteous Path Association. Then there's nothing I can do. I'll manage on my own."
Е ṅ uḿ а
"Benefactor Jin!!!"
"But here's the thing. What about the wounded and the left-behind? Can you take them all? The people Kongtong and Wudang abandoned...... what about the Ak Clan and Jegal Clan members?"
Il-gak's eyes flew wide.
"I know the Righteous Path Association's sense of duty. But when the moment gets truly dire, won't you want to leave them behind? When your life is at stake, won't you want to abandon them?"
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"We wouldn't......"
"Can you."
Е n̄ u m̈а̂
I looked him straight in his upright eyes.
"Guarantee through 'mutual consultation' that you'll lead every last one of them?"
Il-gak's face hardened.
He, too, understood human nature well enough.
"Absolute command. You think that's only for my benefit?"
No — it was a resolution for the sake of everyone else, to keep everyone alive.
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"In a forest where you can't predict one step ahead, leading people who've never once coordinated — how much can you really accomplish?"
I was afraid too. Because absolute command was synonymous with absolute responsibility.
"And do you truly believe people who pursue their own interests to the extreme would sacrifice even a little of themselves for others?"
"......"
"There may be some who don't understand why I said even wounded could join. But here's the thing — I."
The most wretched memory of my past life wasn't being used as a meat shield.
Е ṅ um а̀
It was failing to find a way out after they'd abandoned me.
The desperation of wanting to crawl out alive, yet not knowing which direction to go.
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"I want people who are desperately clinging to life to at least be able to struggle."
For those with a fierce attachment to living, to at least be shown a hope they could cling to.
Because I considered that my revenge against those who'd abandoned me in my past life.
So I wouldn't give up.
Еnū ṁа́ . і̌ d
Even if severe injuries made them useless in battle.
If they had the will to live, if they trusted me and followed absolutely.
I'd make sure they could struggle to the bitter end.
I turned without delay.
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It wasn't as if I needed an answer right this moment.
But.
Ё n̊.u̇m а̊ .іd̊
"......I'll do it."
Il-gak's answer came quickly.
I turned back around. The world before my eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
"Good. First Captain. Bring whoever wants to join and come to the center. No need to drag along anyone who objects."
"......Are you truly certain you'll take the wounded?"
"Chain of command! If they'll uphold that, anyone."
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"Surely...... this isn't a scheme — no, a thought — to use them as sacrificial pawns?"
What in the world did this baldy think I was?
"......How does a monk come up with such wicked ideas?"
"Ah, Amitabha. Then I'll go speak with them."
The moment Il-gak parted from me and returned to the Righteous Path Association, a barrage of questions rained down, followed by a small commotion.
They'd be protesting that it made no sense for Il-gak to suddenly come under my command.
Ẃ ӗb n̂о.vе̄ ĺ Е̂ n̈u.m а̃
I turned my body forward.
No more attention on the Righteous Path Association. I walked ahead.
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Perhaps because they'd seen Il-gak come in?
Academy students with nowhere else to turn began approaching, one by one.
"Representative! W-would it be all right if we joined?"
"Of course. Wi Rip-gun. You're a member of the Fifth Company."
Ѐn̊ūm̃а̃ .іd̂
"Y-you know my name?"
I did have an absolute memory, after all.
I patted the man's shoulder.
"Of course. Once the Fifth Captain is assigned, follow that person."
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"U-understood."
Leaving the dazed new member behind, I kept walking.
Ẃе̇ b̃.ñ o v̆ е̊l Е nu m̆ а̃
"T-take me too, please. I can still use my left arm......"
"Yeo Juk-myeong of the Seowol Sect. Your real skill lies in throwing daggers anyway. You're a member of the Seventh Company."
"How did you know......"
Yeo Juk-myeong trailed off in surprise.
"Why? Am I wrong? That's what your Academy record says."
"......You memorized all of that?"
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"Problem?"
"N-no, I'm just impressed......"
"Pack your things and find your captain. From now on, address me as Unit Leader."
Yeo Juk-myeong, who'd been wearing a blank look, broke into a grin.
"By your command!"
Right — a rough smile beat a grimly scrunched face any day.
Wе b̄.ño v еl_ .Еn u̇ m̀ а̇
At the very least, while they were cracking jokes, their spirits wouldn't break.
I looked around at the people who'd gathered by my side.
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"Do you want it too?"
Du So-gwang of the Zhongnan Sect, and his close martial brothers.
Had seeing Il-gak move convinced them it was better to act fast?
"On one condition. Since we've coordinated together since Zhongnan......"
Ẁе̂b̄ nо v̈ ě l Е ń u ḿа́
Without even hearing him out, I kicked him square in the shin.
"What is the meaning of this......!"
Yang Su, who propped up the fallen Du So-gwang, glared at me with murder in his eyes.
I met that glare, then smacked him on the back of the head.
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"Didn't you hear what I said earlier? Are your ears plugged? Want me to put another hole in your cheek?! Chain of command! You sons of bitches!"
"......"
Е́n ü ḿ а
"Get lost. I don't need people like you. Go survive on your own with your precious little group."
"How dare you treat Zhongnan like......!"
Just then, Du So-gwang picked himself up and quickly held back his martial brothers.
"No! I'll follow your orders."
"'Your'?"
"I-I'll follow the Unit Leader's commands."
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That's more like it.
"Du So-gwang, you're a member of the Seventh Company. Yang Su, you're a member of the Eighth Company. Jang Gwang-bo, you go into the Third Company. And Gwak Su-san, you're the Fourth Captain."
"Gwak Su-san is the youngest of us......"
"What was that? Speak up, I didn't hear."
"N-nothing."
Yang Su averted his eyes and let the words trail off.
Еn̈ uṁӑ.і.d̄
The thought of fighting the Demonic Cult with these hotheaded brats was already burning a hole in my stomach.
Regardless, the persuasion was done.
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Whether they'd make it home alive or die here was now up to their choice.
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