The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#195 Scholar Juyul (18) - Throwing Oneself into the Net "To throw oneself into the net" *** Hao Sect member Zhang Oh thought. What a terribly clear day this was. No clouds, no rain, no fog. Weather where nothing that could obstruct one's vision existed at all. Normally he would have exclaimed in admiration about how refreshing it felt, but right now this weather was nothing but resentful. Because even things he didn't particularly want to see came into view at a glance. "...Damn, how many of them are there?" A fellow Hao Sect member beside him spat out those words as if representing Zhang Oh's feelings. The hand gripping the spear had turned pale white, and cold sweat was streaming down his cheek. It's no wonder, Zhang Oh thought. Beyond there on their opposite side, a forest made of people was visible. The diverse clothing, proving they hadn't been united as one organization for long, was the tree bark; the flags bearing the characters "Heaven-Breaking Alliance" held high were the leaves; and the weapons glinting under the sunlight were the surrounding undergrowth. Such people, at just a glance, numbered over several thousand. No matter how much the empire was a populous nation where hundred-thousand unit forces moved when a proper war was fought, one couldn't put the soldiers described in history books and martial artists on the same level. The former were mostly conscripts who normally farmed and were only called up during wars, but martial artists, even if they couldn't emit sword aura or display superhuman strength with internal energy, were people who had spent their entire lives pursuing nothing but cutting and slashing people. In contrast, what about their own forces? First, their numbers didn't even reach one-fifth of theirs, and even those were mostly from Hao Sect, which was treated as weak in the martial world. He knew the purpose of this fight wasn't 'total annihilation of Heaven-Breaking Alliance' but rather 'negotiation after impressing upon them that this side isn't to be taken lightly,' but still, being half-intimidated couldn't be helped. Fighting was originally a matter where momentum was more important than anything else. As much as their own forces cowered, the enemies became even more triumphant, and as if to drive a wedge into that flow, a man stepped forward from the enemy formation. Long, slanted eyes and a mouth bearing a fierce smile. Seeing the limbs that seemed two hand-widths longer than others and the threatening tattoos carved on his face, people recognized his identity. Nine Kill Sword. He was one of the representative swordsmen of the heretical sects, known for taking at least nine lives—including not only the person who earned his grudge but also those close to them—before sheathing his sword once he bore a grudge. While most heretical sect forces were those who lived by sucking the lifeblood of common people, the Nine Kill Gate he led had its roots as a bandit group, so they endlessly plundered their surroundings and didn't hesitate to commit all kinds of atrocities, making their notoriety particularly severe even within the martial world. "Lady of Trampling Fire, Chivalrous Man of the Five Masses, Drunken Dreamer! You little brats! When an elder has personally come to visit, you should hurry out and bow your heads, so where do you dare to loiter around inside the house! Could it be that your legs have given out and you can't move?" -Hahaha! When Nine Kill Sword spat out mocking words in a loud voice, jeering laughter burst out from the crowd behind him as if responding to him. It was a typical method of seizing the initiative, but even knowing that, it was difficult to avoid cowering. Then, a man suddenly stepped forward from their side. Nine Kill Sword, who thought that since he, one of the Seven Hegemons, had stepped out, naturally one of the same Seven Hegemons from the other side would come out to face him, couldn't hide his bewilderment when a neat pale-faced scholar popped out. "What are you?" "Who are you to be causing such a commotion in front of someone else's house?" "What?" Nine Kill Sword's age was mid-fifties. Since he had begun to truly distinguish himself after the Orthodox-Heretical Great War, he shared the Seven Hegemons' characteristic 'rising master' image, but in terms of experience in the martial world he was already mature, and by ordinary common people's standards, he was already an elder who wouldn't be strange to have grandchildren. But when a scholar who looked at most twenty years old suddenly spoke down to him in a tone an old man might use, his words were momentarily blocked by absurdity rather than anger. "This is the land where I live, and those you mentioned are students who study in my academy and share porridge from the same pot. As the duty of a homeowner and as the duty of a teacher, I cannot let rude and wicked people like you inside, so hurry up and withdraw." Juyul's words from the middle part onward were directed not at Nine Kill Sword individually, but at all members of Heaven-Breaking Alliance. Despite not being a booming shout that rang out like Nine Kill Sword's, his words reached their ears clearly transcending distance. Those with low cultivation or violent temperaments were indignant at the content, but intellectual or outstanding individuals paid attention to the phenomenon. Corpse Demon Flower, who had pale skin without a trace of blood, and Ghost Mountain Strategist, who had a somehow refined yet sinister impression, gazed at Juyul with eyes containing interest and wariness respectively. Sitting in a palanquin that, except for being completely open on all sides as if unafraid of assassination, wouldn't be strange even if it were a palanquin for any feudal lord or even the emperor, Heaven-Breaking Lord's eyes also showed interest as he looked down at Juyul. Though the characteristic strength that martial artists display outwardly through breathing, posture, momentum, etc., was hardly visible, he had caused a phenomenon impossible unless one was a considerable internal energy master. This meant that Juyul had either learned a special kind of martial art that could conceal his information, or had reached a realm where his extraordinariness had passed a certain level and instead appeared ordinary. Nine Kill Sword was violent enough to be immediately indignant at Juyul's words, but at the same time was experienced enough to notice these facts. 'If he learned assassination-type martial arts, that would be the better case, but if it's returning to simplicity, it means at least the Transformation Realm or a realm close to it.' If so, then Juyul's words and actions as if dealing with subordinates, and his young appearance that didn't match his realm, could be explained. Masters who had reached the Transformation Realm maintained a physical state close to their prime, so it was possible to look like a young man on the outside even if their actual age exceeded one hundred. He didn't know where a Transformation Realm-level master, of which there were barely five or six in the current martial world suffering from the aftereffects of the Orthodox-Heretical Great War and most of whom quietly maintained their positions, had suddenly appeared from, but Nine Kill Sword didn't hesitate or fear because of that. Nine Kill Sword's skill was late transcendent level. Although he couldn't break through the wall to advance to the Transformation Realm, conversely speaking, he was at a level where he could advance to the next realm anytime with the right opportunity. With allies comparable to Nine Kill Sword also present in abundance, there was no need to be cautious just because the opponent seemed slightly superior. Though the deliberation in his mind was long, the time that actually passed was very short. Therefore, Nine Kill Sword's next action appeared, at least on the surface, as if he had immediately become indignant upon hearing Juyul's provocation and acted accordingly. Zzzzrrrrak! A strike swung simultaneously with drawing the sword from its sheath. Sword Force closer to 'grinding down' rather than 'cutting,' revealing Nine Kill Sword's own persistent and rough nature, completely tore apart the space where Juyul had been standing just moments before. Not faint sword aura like a mirage, but a feast of force energy distinct enough to be clearly visible even from afar, causing onlookers to unconsciously open their mouths. Heaven-Breaking Alliance side with admiration certain of victory, while the academy side with emotions of shock. "Striking innocent ground and raising dust, its utility is no different from a tree branch in a child's hand." But such emotions were instantly overturned by the words Juyul spoke the next moment. Juyul, who had somehow retreated far away and stood with his hands behind his back, clicked his tongue as if he had seen some pathetic antics and said. "The reason people avoid excrement is not because it's frightening, but because it's dirty. Having dirtied my eyes by seeing such a vile and pathetic sword, I should hurry back and wash them clean!" And with that, he turned his back and leaped into the gray buildings that had no aesthetic appeal, causing Nine Kill Sword's face to instantly flush with anger. "I will tear out that bastard's intestines and bury his head in the filth that flows from within!!" After making that declaration, Nine Kill Sword shouted a loud command, and members of Nine Kill Gate began charging in unison following their sect leader. At this unilateral action without prior consultation, Ghost Mountain Strategist twitched his eyebrows and muttered. "Huh, to fall for such a low-level provocation strategy. I shall order the troops to withdraw immediately." "No, never mind." Heaven-Breaking Lord shook his head. "Even though we're imitating an army, martial artists can't instantly transform into soldiers. That's something that must be gradually progressed over time. Above all, we have to launch an offensive anyway, don't we?" "That's true, but..." At a glance, it seemed there was no need to deliberately crawl into a space where the enemy had prepared something extensively. If the opponent had built a fortress, the standard approach would be to wait for the moment they crawled out and then attack, or else surround them and starve them to death. However, this was fundamentally a battle to announce to the entire martial world that their Heaven-Breaking Alliance had been born as the force representing the heretical sects. It only had meaning if they killed or subjugated all three who similarly held symbolic significance representing the heretical sects: Lady of Trampling Fire, Chivalrous Man of the Five Masses, and Drunken Dreamer. If they hesitated or retreated here, other heretical sects who were watching the situation would also contemplate whether to bow their heads to Heaven-Breaking Alliance, but conversely, if they achieved a refreshing victory, this time they would surely see the tide and try to kneel before them. The opponent must have chosen defensive warfare knowing this as well... but then they would simply crush them head-on. "If we leave the vanguard only to Nine Kill Gate, it will be difficult to take advantage of our numerical superiority. Send others as well. First, I want to confirm the utility of those strange and unattractive buildings." "Understood. That certainly makes me curious as well." Rectangular buildings where it was difficult to see a single roof tile or curve. A form that seemed to stack them side by side and upward, one by one. The color was unified in a dull gray light, and while window frames and door frames existed, there was no sign of wooden doors or window paper that should block them. While fairly tall in terms of height itself, since the entrances were wide open it was difficult to fundamentally block entry and exit, and above all, since roads were clearly open between buildings, it was possible to pass through them if desired. Even now, perhaps frustrated with waiting to enter the outermost buildings one by one, several martial artists could be seen running down that road toward the next building. -Thud thud thud thud thud! And the next moment, a rain of stones immediately pounded down on the heads of those who had entered the passage between buildings. Five-story rectangular buildings. From the rooftops of what was closer to villas than apartments due to architectural limitations, Juyul's students holding stones and looking down below. When those whose physical abilities alone were already comparable to ordinary martial artists thanks to Juyul's energy cultivation used their refined skills and geographical advantage to sling stones, even martial artists who could protect their bodies with internal energy found it difficult to withstand the damage. Heads were cracked, arms were broken, and thighs were bruised so badly that they collapsed with their legs giving out. "You bastards!! What petty tricks!!" Several skilled martial artists from Heaven-Breaking Alliance tried to climb the walls directly or use lightness skills to fly up and approach the students on the rooftops. Swoosh! And the Hao Sect members waiting by the windows mercilessly stabbed such martial artists with spears and dropped them. Stomachs were pierced, necks were skewered, and even if they somehow survived, they lost balance and fell, or else were directly hit by flower pots or sling stones dropped from above and crashed down. "Go inside!! Climb up from inside the buildings!!" Therefore, naturally the martial artists began rushing toward the main entrances of the buildings. Into that place that resembled a prison at first glance, though there were no thick doors or iron bars to prevent escape.