Feint East, Strike West

The disciples of Five Great Mountain Swords were exhausted from a fruitless meeting that had dragged on since morning.

The sun was already high in the sky, yet they hadn’t devised a plan, nor even understood the enemy’s intent.

“According to the scouts, there’s not even a trace of Taiyi Divine Sect in the area.”

“What on earth are they scheming? It’s maddening.”

Every sect was filled with complaints.

Some sects, far from home, had already left their schools unattended for nearly two months.

Being stuck here felt like a complete waste of time.

“In hindsight, perhaps it would’ve been better to spare Sect Lord Jo.”

Go Yu-saeng sneered as he glanced at Yong Ga-hyeon, who now sat in the head seat in place of the late sect lord.

He understood the man hadn’t wanted to disgrace his sect, but now that things were going poorly, regret was inevitable.

“No matter my ignorance, I apologize that such misfortune has befallen Five Great Mountain Swords. But it was solely Jo Sang-won’s doing. Dragon Gate Sect has no ties to Taiyi Divine Sect, so I beg you not to bring it up further.”

Yong Ga-hyeon rose from his seat and bowed deeply.

Though he had already apologized once, Go Yu-saeng’s sneers stung his pride.

To soothe the tension, Jo Yang stepped forward.

“Sect Lord Jo has paid for his sins with his life. Brother Yong, you need not apologize again.”

His stern gaze swept across the room, and the hall quickly quieted down.

“We are losing sight of the real issue because of Taiyi Divine Sect’s ambush. Perhaps this chaos is exactly their intention. We must remember the original purpose of our gathering.”

Everyone nodded in agreement at Jo Yang’s words.

Though Jo Sang-won’s schemes had exposed their secret meeting, they had not yet suffered serious losses.

No one disagreed that they needed to return to their true purpose.

“First, support for the smaller sects in our jurisdictions is urgent. Of the twenty-eight transport and trade hubs, eight have already fallen. Each sect must prepare countermeasures for its four assigned locations.”

Go Geun-dong replied awkwardly, stammering.

“Eminent Mountain Sect numbers barely one hundred fifty. If possible, I ask that two of our four be supported by others.”

Having spoken, his face flushed red with embarrassment.

The decline of Eminent Mountain Sect was nothing new.

After the death of Go Geun-nam, once named as the next sect leader, countless disciples had abandoned the sect.

Go Geun-dong had a deep affection for his sect but had little success in martial arts.

If not for the fame of Full Moon Sword Shin Yang-seon, they would hardly have been counted among Five Great Mountain Swords.

“Hmm… Then, could Yellow Stone Sect, being geographically closest to Eminent Mountain, take on two more?”

Yellow Stone Sect was larger even than Emptiness Dhuta Sect, so this posed no burden.

Go Yu-saeng accepted with a haughty face.

‘If the prideful Shin Yang-seon had lived to see this, it would’ve been amusing.’

Though outwardly serious, inwardly Go Yu-saeng felt smug.

He had always been irked whenever kangho praised Eminent Mountain as Five Great Mountain Swords’s origin or for its long history.

“The next target is likely Unpyeong Escort Bureau, isn’t it?”

At So So-jeong’s question, Jo Yang’s expression immediately darkened.

He, too, thought the same.

“If Unpyeong Escort Bureau falls, the damage will dwarf everything so far. Isn’t there a major trade scheduled in two months?”

But they couldn’t pour all their forces into Unpyeong.

If the Taiyi Divine Sect expected that and struck other strongholds, they’d be helpless.

“Of the Seven Stellar Lords, two are already dead, one has no martial skills, so only four matter. But none of them appeared in their ambush… Could their aim have been to pin us here?”

Yong Ga-hyeon tried to remain cautious, but voiced his suspicion.

It had been Jo Sang-won who suggested gathering elite forces here.

If he was with the Taiyi Divine Sect, surely his intentions for gathering them were far from pure.

“There’s sense in that.”

Jo Yang finally felt the fog in his mind lift.

Because of matters concerning Unseon, he had overlooked this, but Yong Ga-hyeon’s words brought clarity.

“If they retreated this quickly, Unpyeong is indeed possible.”

Go Yu-saeng also felt a sudden dread.

Make noise in the east, then strike in the west!

Cause trouble in Muncheon to gather them here, only to strike elsewhere?

“This is dire! We must head for Unpyeong at once.”

Hot-tempered Go Geun-dong jumped up in a fuss.

But even on horseback, Unpyeong was over half a month away.

There was no time for idle talk.

“Elder Yong!”

At that moment, a Dragon Gate Sect page came running in and knelt at the hall’s entrance.

His cheeks were red from the cold and his hurried run.

“What’s the matter, to behave so rudely?”

Normally, respectful Yong Ga-hyeon would have scolded such insolence.

But the boy’s manner carried urgency.

“A disciple of Eminent Mountain Sect, covered in blood, begs an audience with Sect Leader Go.”

“What?”

Go Geun-dong froze, stunned at the unexpected news.

And what had they just been discussing? Feint East, Strike West!

Cold sweat trickled down his back with foreboding.

“Uncle!”

The page dashed out and soon returned, supporting a boy.

The boy was caked in blood and dirt, looking as if mauled by a wild beast.

“No, it can’t be…”

Go Geun-dong rushed forward and lifted the boy’s face with both hands.

It was his only nephew, In-gyeong.

“What in the world happened?”

“U…uncle… what do we do now…”

Torn between the agony of loss and the relief of seeing his uncle, In-gyeong could barely speak.

He simply collapsed into his uncle’s arms and wept bitterly.

“In-gyeong, what on earth happened to you? And why have you come here?”

“The two demon lords of Taiyi Divine Sect…”

As In-gyeong stammered out his tale, the faces of those in the hall grew pale.

No matter its decline, Eminent Mountain was still the founding sect of Five Great Mountain Swords.

That it could be annihilated in a single night was beyond imagination.

‘So this is why Eminent Mountain Sect alone had not yet been attacked.’

Realizing he had been completely outplayed by Seong Gon, Jo Yang could not contain his fury.

Even if distracted by the scriptures, being caught so powerless was unacceptable.

“Sect Leader Go, calm yourself. Let us first devise a countermeasure.”

Jo Yang stepped down from the dais and placed a hand on Go Geun-dong’s shoulder.

Knowing his temperament, he would surely rush out to assault Taiyi Divine Sect’s base at once.

“Countermeasures? Alliance Leader Jo! Do you think I can hear such nonsense now? I must tear those bastards to pieces!”

As expected, Go Geun-dong’s eyes blazed red as he raged.

Even though the road should’ve taken ten days on horseback, In-gyeong had arrived in just five, collapsing into his uncle’s arms.

Seeing his nephew like this, Go Geun-dong lost his last shred of reason.

“Should we not first return to Eminent Mountain and stabilize the situation? With barely thirty men, we cannot defeat Sword Demon Seong Gon.”

Jo Yang’s voice was calm but firm.

His reasoning struck true, and gradually Go Geun-dong cooled.

“Then, Alliance Leader, instead of idle talk, let us together strike Taiyi Divine Sect. I have heard their base lies in Taebong, the old land of Ryeo. Esteemed masters of Five Great Mountain Swords!”

Go Geun-dong suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud.

His eyes, as they looked around the gathered masters, were filled with desperation.

“I dare not ask you to help a fool like me… But are we not old comrades, Five Great Mountain Swords? Please avenge this hatred with us.”

Heavy tears rolled down his face.

He knew full well he alone could never even touch the hem of Sword Demon Seong Gon’s robes.

Pride could be cast aside.

For the sect’s vengeance, he would endure humiliation far worse than kneeling.

“Sect Leader Go, I too am chilled to the bone with grief. But how can we move to aid you now? Alliance Leader Jo, knowing their aim, can we linger? How can we be sure Yellow Stone Sect isn’t next?”

Before Jo Yang could reply, Go Yu-saeng rose and ordered his disciples to descend the mountain.

Even if Yellow Stone Sect wasn’t the next target, it is better to be prepared.

Eminent Mountain Sect’s fate was regrettable, but helping now would be too late; only condolences remained.

“Sect Leader Go, Zen Cloud Sword Sect is not far from Eminent Mountain—we may be next. Those I left behind are weak in battle; I must return swiftly to prepare. I will visit Eminent Mountain later to offer apologies. For now, forgive me.”

So So-jeong, with only a cursory bow, vanished with her disciples like the wind.

Go Geun-dong stood dazed in the hall, too stunned even to stop them.

Yong Ga-hyeon hung his head, while Jo Yang only looked at him with pity.

“So this is what loyalty means? I lived my whole life proud of Five Great Mountain Swords, but now I see—nothing but scattered sand.”

Go Geun-dong lifted the collapsed In-gyeong into his arms.

As their master moved, the disciples of Eminent Mountain Sect rushed to follow.

Their tear-streaked faces showed not only grief, but deep bitterness.

“And what of Dragon Gate Sect?”

Watching Eminent Mountain Sect depart, Jo Yang asked calmly.

Yong Ga-hyeon slowly turned, looking at his younger brothers’ faces.

Their eyes were empty.

They looked like men who had lost even the starting point of where to go or what to do.

“From this day, we will align with Emptiness Dhuta Sect.”

The Yong brothers knelt then and there, bowing deeply in gratitude to the Martial Alliance Leader.

Go Geun-dong, after conferring with two elder aides, resolved to return to Eminent Mountain.

He would first recover the bodies of his master and brothers, then plan revenge on Taiyi Divine Sect.

He could not forget the faces of the Five Great Mountain Swords masters who had turned away his desperate plea.

‘If this isn’t disdain for Eminent Mountain Sect, then what is?’

Bitterness swelled so strongly he no longer felt the bitter winter cold.

“Sect Leader, it seems we’ll have to camp outside tonight.”

A disciple who had gone ahead to find an inn returned with a troubled face.

In their haste leaving Dragon Gate Sect, they hadn’t gauged the distance to the next village.

Though the cold would prevent real sleep, a short rest seemed necessary.

“There’s no helping it. Everyone must be tired—let’s warm ourselves and eat something simple.”

The disciples quickly unpacked and busied themselves building a fire.

The attack on their brothers weighed heavy, leaving them silent.

The disciples of Eminent Mountain Sect wordlessly stuffed cold rice balls into their mouths.

“In-gyeong, you must eat something to regain your strength.”

In-gyeong accepted the rice ball from his uncle but only stared at it, unable to eat.

For nearly five days he had drunk only water, yet he felt no hunger.

“Uncle, I want revenge.”

“Of course. We must.”

Geun-dong patted his nephew’s head and answered firmly.

He had always pitied his nephew, who’d lost his father so young, and treated him like a son.

Now, he was truly like a son.

More than anything, he was grateful In-gyeong had survived.

“In-gyeong, your uncle may fall short compared to your father, but you are different. If you work hard, you’ll surpass me, your father, even the Grand Master.”

“Uncle…”

Still, with survivors, Eminent Mountain Sect could be rebuilt.

A small hope bloomed in the corner of In-gyeong’s heart.

With his uncle beside him, everything felt possible.

He gave his uncle a faint smile, meant for him alone.

“Who goes there?!”

Suddenly, a sharp voice pierced the silence.

It was the shout of two disciples standing guard.

Startled, In-gyeong leapt up to see a huge black shadow looming like a boulder.

In its hand was a massive spear, taller than In-gyeong himself.

“Ma Jingun!”

A low groan escaped his uncle’s lips.

성동격서 (聲東擊西), Feint East, Strike West:

A tactic meaning to make noise in the east and strike the enemy in the west, referring to a strategy where one feigns an attack on one side to lure the enemy, then strikes the opposite side.