Chapter 23 : The First Squad
Chapter 23: The First Squad
In the eastern ridge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, inside the forest where darkness was laid thick, Dan Woojin was pointing his sword at Gongson Baekryeon.
“As expected, it was you…….”
Gongson Baekryeon realized through Dan Woojin's attitude that Dan Woojin was involved in Dan Youngyoung's death.
He felt his iron fan trembling in his hand and his inner Qi wavering.
“To think you dared to kill Youngyoung…….”
Dan Woojin's eyes narrowed.
He felt that further conversation with Gongson Baekryeon was meaningless.
Dan Woojin raised his killing intent.
Zap, zap—
‘What kind of killing intent is this….’
His entire body became numb just by having the killing intent fired at him.
Gongson Baekryeon bit his lip at the appearance of Dan Woojin, which was completely different from what he had known.
“Gongson Baekryeon, it is not important to me what kind of relationship you had with Sister Youngyoung. What is important is that you had better keep in mind that only one person becomes the Young Cult Leader.”
Gongson Baekryeon glared at Dan Woojin while gasping for breath.
Although he had snapped at Dan Woojin because anger welled up.
If he thought about it carefully, everything Dan Woojin said was right.
The opponent was a child of the Cult Leader anyway.
And the dead had no words.
Gongson Baekryeon was the successor who would inherit the Sound Demon Sect in the future.
Grit—
Anger rose to the top of his head.
But he had to make a choice here.
Since Dan Youngyoung, whom the Sound Demon Sect intended to support, had already set foot on the path to the yellow springs,
He had to find the next option.
“If you are agonizing, I shall guarantee it.”
Sa Hyeongseol, the Young Patriarch of the Poison Demon Sect who appeared behind Gongson Baekryeon, added a word.
Gongson Baekryeon's eyes widened at those words.
* * *
Rustle—
He felt the members of the Black Shadow Army drawing near.
Dan Woojin looked back at Sa Hyeongseol.
Just now, Sa Hyeongseol's remark completely made Gongson Baekryeon's trembling stop.
“Since it seems the Black Shadow Army is coming, I would like you to leave first.”
“…Will you truly be alright alone?”
“Yeah, it seems that side has business with me as well.”
“Then I shall go first. Please take care of yourself.”
“Right.”
Sa Hyeongseol began to perform his movement technique while taking Gongson Baekryeon along.
That was because if two Young Patriarchs of the Seven Great Demon Sects were here, the picture would become strange.
He thought it would be best to first announce the fact that he passed the test the quickest.
Dan Woojin packed the Black Shadow Pill.
As soon as Dan Woojin packed the Black Shadow Pill, black shadows appeared on the other side of the forest.
It was the First Squad of the Black Shadow Army.
In the darkness, Gu Won, the First Squad Leader of the Black Shadow Army, revealed his appearance.
Behind him, there was one more familiar face.
‘Number 2…….’
The spy of the Murim Alliance who was with Dan Woojin in his past days as Am Yeong.
Dan Woojin took a deep breath and hid his tension.
‘Gu Won and Number 2 huh… a variable has occurred.’
Squad Leader Gu Won discovered Dan Woojin and the collapsed Dan Youngyoung and hardened his expression.
“Did you… kill the Sixth Young Lady and take the Black Shadow Pill?”
Dan Woojin shook the wooden box.
“You should know if you see this?”
It meant they should judge for themselves.
At Dan Woojin's words, the First Squad began to raise their killing intent.
What those words implied was,
“Hmm, I am not sure whether it was a fair contest or not. Perhaps it seems it has nothing to do with the Black Shadow Pill……”
Dan Woojin frowned at Gu Won's words.
“It seems you intended to block me from passing the test from the start?”
“You saw correctly.”
The fact that Gu Won stepped forward to block his path was a truly tragic situation for Dan Woojin.
“Because it is the Cult Leader's instruction?”
Or was it because the power to support Dan Woojin was not clear.
Because the Gu Won Dan Woojin knew was not a person who moved according to external will.
“It is my own will.”
At Gu Won's answer, Dan Woojin lowered his stance while gripping the Demonic Sword in his hand.
“I roughly understood what you mean.”
The Black Shadow Army was basically the escort unit of the Young Cult Leader that could choose its own lord.
In other words, this was…
‘Squad Leader Gu Won testing whether I can become the Young Cult Leader.’
Dan Woojin's eyes flashed.
‘This is an opportunity.’
While he could leave an impression of Dan Woojin on Gu Won,
He would be able to grasp exactly what level of martial prowess the spy Number 2 possessed.
* * *
Swish—
Gu Won charged at Dan Woojin while swinging his saber.
Dark Enhanced Qi erupted from his saber and cut through the forest.
Dan Woojin stepped into the Steps of the Killing Soul to quickly dodge and spoke.
“Gu Won, who do you wish to become the Young Cult Leader?”
Gu Won stopped his attack and narrowed his eyes.
“Such a thing is not for us to think about.”
The Black Shadow Army is the shadow.
Both Gu Won and Dan Woojin knew that no matter who became the Young Cult Leader, they had to assist him.
However,
“You can at least perform a basic test to choose whether you can accept them as the Young Cult Leader or not, can you not?”
Gu Won's eyes widened.
He faltered for a moment and then smiled lowly.
“How does the Seventh Young Master know that regulation?”
Dan Woojin unfolded the First Sword of the Asura Demonic Sword, Asura Wind and Clouds, instead of answering.
A black wind rose from the Demonic Sword and brushed against Gu Won's saber.
When Gu Won quickly turned his body and launched a counterattack, Dan Woojin activated the Red Eyes of the Soul Killing Art and read his movements.
“There are ways to know everything.”
“…Then I assume you know this as well?”
The members of the First Squad surrounded Dan Woojin and raised their weapons.
The meaning of mobilizing the entire squad was the meaning of truly thinking of Dan Woojin as a Young Cult Leader candidate and testing him.
He had to make Gu Won personally recognize Dan Woojin as the Young Cult Leader.
“I will become the Young Cult Leader who commands the Black Shadow Army.”
“What does that……”
The members of the First Squad, who were about to attack, faltered at those words.
Because it was the first time they saw a candidate who revealed his desire so blatantly for the Young Cult Leader position.
“So those who block me will have to be prepared from now on.”
Swoosh—!
Powerful killing intent began to surround the First Squad of the Black Shadow Army.
* * *
Gu Won, the First Squad Leader of the Black Shadow Army, looked at the Seventh Young Master, Dan Woojin.
“I will become the Young Cult Leader who commands the Black Shadow Army.”
It was the first time he had mobilized the entire First Squad for a Young Cult Leader test.
But why?
‘Exactly what are you thinking?’
According to the arrangement of the Black Shadow Pills, a situation where the elimination of one of either the Sixth Young Lady or the Seventh Young Master was confirmed.
When Gu Won arrived, the Sixth Young Lady was already in a state of a cold corpse.
What that implied was that the Seventh Young Master had won in the competition.
“Block him!”
“Fall back!”
“Thrust!”
The shouts of the squad members were heard.
Against the entire First Squad, the Seventh Young Master was not being pushed back at all.
“It is a feeling as if he knows exactly how our squad will attack.”
Seol Mooyoung, who was beside him, spoke.
“Indeed.”
It was a strange thing.
The attack method of the Black Shadow Army was not well known.
Since they might have to face a single absolute master, the Black Shadow Army's focus was centered on draining the opponent's strength mainly through time-difference attacks.
If one could not overcome the time difference, the Black Shadow Army's tactic was one where one could be easily taken down.
However,
“Kagh!”
“Ugh!”
“Keugh!”
Members of the Black Shadow Army, who usually did not let out screams, were being knocked down while letting out screams.
“Squad Leader.”
Seol Mooyoung called Gu Won once again.
It was likely because he thought that if the two did not step out, the members of the First Squad would be annihilated.
“Wait.”
If he truly suppressed the First Squad alone, then the current Seventh Young Master's martial prowess had reached the state of what was called the Transcendent Peak Realm in the Jianghu, and the Peak Demonic Realm in their Cult.
One could not reach the Peak Demonic Realm just by passing through the Demonic Cave.
In other words, it meant that the Seventh Young Master had perfectly deceived everyone until now.
Therefore,
“Do not interfere.”
“Squad Leader?”
“Everyone, fall back!”
At Gu Won's instruction, the First Squad of the Black Shadow Army all fell back.
Dan Woojin slowly looked back at Gu Won.
“Why did you pull them back?”
“Because it seems I should personally face you, you see.”
He had to find out.
With what intent the Seventh Young Master Dan Woojin hid his martial arts, and what the reason for wanting to become the Young Cult Leader was.
“Do your best.”
Gu Won pointed his saber at Dan Woojin.
“You’re the same as ever huh, Squad Leader.”
Looking at such a Gu Won, Dan Woojin recalled the Gu Won of the past.
— Please… I beg of you. Please accept me.
In order to infiltrate the Demonic Cult, Dan Woojin disguised himself as a killer of a failed killer group and approached Captain Gu Won of the Black Shadow Army.
And Gu Won had accepted Am Yeong.
Dan Woojin knew that the reason he was on guard against Dan Woojin even now was because it seemed he would be a threat to the one who would become the Young Cult Leader.
“Same as ever… what are you talking about?”
The Seventh Young Master and Gu Won had never shared a conversation even in their childhood.
After the Young Cult Leader Dan Cheonwoo became the Cult Leader, the Black Shadow Army looked after the Cult Leader's children but had always moved behind the scenes.
“It implies that this is not the first time we have faced each other like this.”
But listening to what Dan Woojin was saying now,
‘…You were seeing through all of our movements?’
Dan Woojin knew that the Black Shadow Army had been watching the Seventh Young Master.
That was why he had been lying low until the current point in time came when the Young Cult Leader would be chosen while being stuck in the corner of his room.
Swish!
When he was thinking such thoughts,
Dan Woojin's sword stabbed in toward Gu Won.
Then, Gu Won's saber cut through the air and erupted dark Enhanced Qi.
The wind brushing through the trees became entangled with the Enhanced Qi from Gu Won's saber and let out a sharp sound.
Dan Woojin dodged quickly to the side while holding the Demonic Sword and stepping into the Steps of the Killing Soul.
Gu Won's gaze was calm, but the inner Qi formed at his fingertips already contained the heat of battle.
“Seventh Young Master, if you intend to become the Young Cult Leader, should you not at least topple one squad of the Black Shadow Army!”
Gu Won shouted while swinging his saber.
The Enhanced Qi surged toward Dan Woojin and cut down the surrounding trees.
Dan Woojin lowered his body as if he had expected this and drew the Demonic Sword.
The First Sword of the Asura Demonic Sword, Asura Wind and Clouds, was unfolded.
The black wind brushed against Gu Won's Enhanced Qi and sent off sparks.
Gu Won gritted his teeth and launched a counterattack.
“Nine Yin Under Heaven!”
A black sound wave spread from his saber and struck Dan Woojin.
A sound that pierced the ears shook the forest, but Dan Woojin raised the Asura Demonic Art to envelop his body.
The sound wave broke and scattered around him.
Dan Woojin's eyes shone red. The Red Eyes had activated.
Gu Won's movements looked slow in his field of vision.
“Too slow.”
Dan Woojin muttered lowly and dived forward.
The Demonic Sword aimed for Gu Won's saber and stabbed in.
Gu Won quickly raised his saber to block, but Dan Woojin's sword changed direction and brushed against his flank.
A shallow wound was created, but Gu Won swallowed a groan and retreated.
“Squad Leader!”
“Do not step forward!”
Gu Won shouted.
Gu Won blocked the members of the First Squad from trying to step forward.
After shouting, he charged at Dan Woojin again.
His saber descended rapidly while aiming for Dan Woojin's neck.
Dan Woojin turned his body as if he had expected this and swung the Demonic Sword.
The Third Sword of the Asura Demonic Sword, Soul Destroying Asura, was unfolded.
The inner Qi condensed at the tip of the sword exploded and pushed back Gu Won's saber.
Gu Won was pushed back and knelt on one knee.
His breathing became rough.
“It is not over yet!”
Gu Won gritted his teeth and stood up.
But Dan Woojin was already preparing the next technique.
“It is not over indeed.”
Dan Woojin's voice resonated lowly.
The Demonic Sword was stained with black light and inner Qi gathered explosively.
It was the moment the final technique of the Asura Demonic Sword, Asura Destroys the Primordial World, would be unfolded.
Gu Won felt that momentum and opened his eyes wide.
Before long,
Slice—
The sound of something being cut was heard.