Chapter 57: Night of the Hunt (2)
24–26th floors of the Murim Tower
The 24th through 26th floors were different from the usual tower.
It had always been a tower repeating in the sa place, but now there were changes.
[Entering Murim Tower (Republic of Korea) 24th floor.]
[Mission (24th floor): Escape from the pursuit of the Black Wolf Squad and reach the target point.]
-Ti Limit: 3 days
First, 24th floor was set in the mountains.
Climbers who entered had to run through the mountainside and flee to the designated target point.
The target point was a brightly glowing midway up the mountain.
"Just as we prepared! Just as we practiced!"
"Yes!"
As ten years of clearing continued, the climbers had found the optimal route through the mountains to reach the target point.
The mont you took a wrong step, a trap would trigger!
Sharp iron wire would slice through ankles, and iron caltrops laid on the ground would pierce straight through the tops of feet and lodge deep.
"250 paces north! Then straight west 40 paces!"
Tap tap tap tap!
Through countless failures, the locations of most traps had beco known.
Moving as one body, the climbers ran up the mountain path, dodging the traps they had mapped out in advance.
The mont you stopped, the black wolves would sink their teeth into your shoulders and claw at your back—but trusting in the sturdy shields strapped to their backs, they only looked forward and ran.
Not one of them made the foolish mistake of actually trying to fight the Black Wolf Squad.
The well-trained Black Wolf Squad was like assassins lurking in the dark.
Spending the entire night in the mountains fighting them was nothing short of suicide.
"Aaaargh!"
Aside from the occasional one who slipped up, nearly everyone reached the target point in under half a day.
[Entering Murim Tower (Republic of Korea) 25th floor.]
[Mission (25 floor): Break through the Black Wolf Squad's attack and escape from the cave.]
-Ti Limit: 3 days
25th floor was a cave.
A dark cave, with faint moonlight dimly illuminating the entrance.
"Shields up!"
In response to the leader's command, they all swung the shields from their backs to the front in unison.
"Five-column formation!"
A formation reminiscent of the Roman Legion.
Those carrying long spears took the front.
The Black Wolf Squad charged, but they blocked with shields and thrust spears and swords into the wolves' bellies.
So degree of sacrifice was unavoidable, but they could push their way to the entrance.
Because up to 25th floor, the White Night Black Wolf did not appear.
[Entering Murim Tower (Republic of Korea) 26th floor.]
[Mission (26th floor): Eliminate the Gate Master of Blood Wolf Gate, the Wolfish Heaven Marquis, Choi Mu-jin.]
-Ti Limit: 3 days
The final floor, 26th floor.
The ti to unleash the strength they had been storing up.
The most critical thing in clearing 26th floor was to absolutely never directly face the White Night Black Wolf.
The target was Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin.
All they needed was to kill him.
Regrouping on the cliff face, the climbers shifted formation into a wedge.
Each detached the greaves and pauldrons they had brought along separately and fastened them to the climbers positioned along the slanted flanks of the wedge.
Specially prepared thick armor.
The number was a minimum of 20 people.
Once the sturdy bulwark was complete—
Grrrr!
The White Night Black Wolf appeared.
Twenty vanguard mbers.
They risked their lives to stand against the White Night Black Wolf.
In one blow, shields would be split apart and thick greaves shattered to pieces, yet they held firm.
The remaining 30 mbers of the strike force drove into the Black Wolf Squad in wedge formation.
While the Black Wolf Squad drooled and raked against the shields, the fastest among them struck Wolfish Heaven Marquis's neck with the finest technique.
An unbeatable strategy.
This had beco the global standard.
No one attempted any thod other than the above strategy.
......Except for .
***
[Entering Murim Tower (Republic of Korea) 24th floor.]
[This is your first entry.]
[Mission (24th floor): Escape from the pursuit of the Black Wolf Squad and reach the target point.]
-Ti Limit: 3 days
-On Success: 100,000 Happiness Points awarded
[A bonus mission is given for your first entry.]
[Bonus Mission: Eliminate 30 mbers of the Black Wolf Squad.]
-Ti Limit: 10 minutes
-On Success:
① Mission (24th floor) considered complete (GOLD)
② Happiness Points tripled (×3)
③ White Night Soul Fragnt 1/3
-On Failure: The Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin of the corresponding floor and all rewards from the bonus mission will be permanently removed.
Thud!
I drove the Blue Dragon Spear into the ground.
The White Tiger Sword as well.
Blue Dragon to the left, White Tiger to the right.
The clouded moon cast a yellowish pallor over the forest.
Inhale—.
I drew in a long breath.
The clear night air of the mountains.
And within it.
......A faint, gay stench.
"The Black Wolf Squad is nearby."
Shhhk.
In my left hand I took the Storm Pear Blossom Needles, and in my right, Yama's Life-Chasing Threads.
My eyes, which had been cast downward, stared directly into the darkness.
Yellow eyes.
"Co."
I will not run anymore!
Grrrrrr!
I wrapped one charging mber of the Black Wolf Squad in Yama's Life-Chasing Threads.
The mont I yanked—the wolf was torn to shreds!
In that instant, two more lunged from behind.
The Storm Pear Blossom Needles shot out like lightning, piercing their eyes and turning their brains to mush.
Imdiately after, over a dozen more pounced without giving a mont to breathe. I swept Yama's Life-Chasing Threads around and spun my body.
The shockwave of energy surged like a storm!
Killing intent brought to its peak honed Yama's Life-Chasing Threads into blades of unrivaled sharpness. Strips of rended flesh scattered in all directions.
"Five left!"
I snatched up the White Tiger Sword I had driven into the ground.
I charged toward the yellow gleaming eyes in the darkness.
A single sword strike carried the technique of the Western God White Tiger, roaring at the mountain. Krrrrrr!
The Black Wolf Squad flinched. There was nowhere to flee!
In a fluid, unbroken sequence of moves, five of the Black Wolf Squad—along with the boulders they had been tangled against—were cleaved in two.
[Bonus Mission Success]
[Eliminate 30 mbers of the Black Wolf Squad.]
① Mission (24th floor) complete!
② Happiness Points 300,000!
③ White Night Soul Fragnt 1/3 awarded!
[Ti elapsed for mission completion: 7 minutes 11 seconds]
[Overwhelming completion (GOLD)!]
[Murim Tower 24th floor turns golden.]
[The entire world takes notice of the Republic of Korea's tower.]
The bonus mission was a success.
The door to 25th floor opened.
Step. Step.
I walked straight through the door.
The bonus mission's success.
"Wolfish Heaven Marquis is here."
Sowhere in the darkness.
I could sense the man who would have a flute in his mouth. He wasn't far.
When I sharpened my energy sense, even his heartbeat reached my ears.
......Thump, thump, thump.
Wolfish Heaven Marquis.
"You're scared right now, aren't you?"
***
Capturing Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin wasn't difficult.
The anticipated encounter with the White Night Black Wolf never ca.
I drove the White Tiger Sword into Choi Mu-jin's abdon and twisted it, and he quickly confessed everything.
"Who is the one who ordered you to pursue the last survivor of the Sacheondang Family?"
"The new leader of Ghost Cloud Alliance...... Baek I-mun."
Ghost Cloud Alliance.
It was the sect of White Night Demon, who had been killed by Demon Wind Manor Master Myo Dan-u after he learned the Heavenly Poison Blood Divine Art.
Baek I-mun was White Night Demon's son.
"Why would Baek I-mun—?"
"A conference of sect masters in Sichuan Province was held. It was agreed that whoever killed Dang Seon would receive all remaining interests of Demon Wind Manor, and Baek I-mun was the first to step forward."
Roughly three and a half years had passed since the Sacheondang Family's final battle.
At that ti, they had decided to keep alive—the last bloodline of the Sacheondang Family—in order to divide up the family's wealth, secret manuals, and vested interests while keeping each other in check.
Now it seed that enough ti had passed to settle everything, and what that ant was—
......I had outlived my usefulness.
"Baek I-mun."
In my previous life, I had held no ill feeling toward him.
Ghost Cloud Alliance had not participated in the Sacheondang Family's final war.
I understand now.
Since they hadn't participated in the fighting and hadn't gotten a share of the spoils, they intended to kill and claim whatever scraps remained—naly Demon Wind Manor.
Perhaps there was also so desire for revenge over the fact that I had taught Myo Dan-u the Heavenly Poison Blood Divine Art......
With a bitter smile, I cut off Choi Mu-jin's head.
Thud.
A flute fell from his body.
The one Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin had used to command the wolves.
I reached out and picked it up.
***
[Entering Murim Tower (Republic of Korea) 25th floor.]
[Mission (25th floor): Break through the Black Wolf Squad's attack and escape from the cave.]
[A bonus mission is given for your first entry.]
[Bonus Mission: Eliminate 50 mbers of the Black Wolf Squad.]
-Ti Limit: 10 minutes
"The rewards and failure condition are the sa."
The only differences were that the location had changed to a cave, and the number of Black Wolf Squad mbers to kill had increased to 50.
The damp ground and rocks of the cave interior, the sticky humidity—it was all exactly as before.
Just one thing was different.
The blood of Choi Mu-jin still clung thick and wet to my hands.
"Fifty, huh—this is going to be a bit of a chore."
The wolves were beasts.
On 24th floor, when I had killed 30 of them, the remaining Black Wolf Squad mbers had fled.
Killing them was easy, but chasing them was a different matter entirely.
"Should I block the cave entrance first."
I was briefly organizing my thoughts when—
Grrrrr!
The Black Wolf Squad appeared all the sa.
A cave wide enough for at least five people to stand abreast.
I stood at its center and drew the White Tiger Sword.
Shhhrring!
When the White Tiger Sword snarled, the eyes of the Black Wolf Squad wavered.
It was a sight I had seen on 24th floor as well.
"......Could it be?"
I stepped forward and swept the White Tiger Sword.
Krrrrr!
The sword cry of the snarling White Tiger Sword flowed along the cave walls.
The Black Wolf Squad shook their heads vigorously in response.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
When I swung the sword continuously, I could see the creatures completely losing their senses.
So that's it.
"The White Tiger Sword is breaking the sorcery binding them."
The tiger's roar released by the White Tiger Sword.
I had guessed it was a treasure with sorcery inscribed into it, but it was the opposite.
A tool for breaking sorcery!
Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin had been controlling the Black Wolf Squad through his own sorcery—
And the dium for that was the flute.
The Black Wolf Squad with their developed sense of sll.
I decided to try having them recognize their master by the scent of Choi Mu-jin's blood, and controlling the sorcery laid upon them with the flute.
I took out the flute I had obtained from Choi Mu-jin on 24th floor.
His blood still on my hand soaked into the flute.
"Will this even work."
Half in doubt, I swung the White Tiger Sword while simultaneously channeling internal energy into the flute and blowing.
Piiiiii—!
All the Black Wolf Squad mbers simultaneously snapped their heads up.
An expression as though waiting for orders.
......It works?
"I'll give the first command."
I fixed my gaze on the Black Wolf Squad.
"Kill each other."
[Bonus Mission Success]
[Eliminate 50 mbers of the Black Wolf Squad.]
① Mission (25th floor) complete!
② Happiness Points 300,000!
③ White Night Soul Fragnt 1/3 awarded!
[Ti elapsed for mission completion: 8 minutes 40 seconds]
***
The final 26th floor.
[Entering Murim Tower (Republic of Korea) 26th floor.]
[Mission (26th floor): Eliminate the Gate Master of Blood Wolf Gate, Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin.]
-Ti Limit: 3 days
[A bonus mission is given for your first entry.]
[Bonus Mission: Eliminate the White Night Black Wolf.]
-Ti Limit: 10 minutes
"Finally t you."
Grrrrr!
The White Night Black Wolf bared its silver-shining mane and stood before .
Behind it, I sensed Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin concealing himself in the darkness.
He put the flute to his mouth.
But—
Whoooosh!
The Blue Dragon Spear shot out before the flute could be blown!
The spear split Choi Mu-jin's chest along with the hand gripping the flute and buried itself deep into a massive tree.
"Keh—!"
Choi Mu-jin coughing blood, pinned against the tree.
I had missed the heart, so he wasn't dead yet.
A look of utter disbelief crossed his eyes.
"Th-that's impossible!"
"Let show you sothing even more impossible."
Krrrrrr!
Sounding the White Tiger Sword's tiger roar, I blew the flute of Choi Mu-jin loudly.
Piiiiiii—!
A piercing flute cry that seed as though it would part the very clouds!
The Black Wolf Squad who had been rushing toward all froze in their tracks at once.
"Th-that can't be!"
Choi Mu-jin stared wide-eyed in bewildernt—
Grrrrr!
And the White Night Black Wolf bared its teeth at the Black Wolf Squad suddenly disobeying their master's orders.
"Now! Black Wolf Squad!"
Swoosh.
I pointed at the White Night Black Wolf.
Piiii—!
"Tear it apart!"
With the sound of the flute, over 100 mbers of the Black Wolf Squad charged toward the White Night Black Wolf.
The White Night Black Wolf swatted the Black Wolf Squad bearing sharp fangs at it with its forepaws and seized them by the throat and hurled them away—but—
Pii!
Every ti it did, the tiger roar of the White Tiger Sword and my flute cry rang out!
Grrrrr!
In the end, the White Night Black Wolf had no choice but to continue its desperate struggle against the Black Wolf Squad, its own subordinates.
"Truly...... Formidable."
Even drenched in blood, the White Night Black Wolf had slaughtered all the Black Wolf Squad.
When around 20 mbers of the Black Wolf Squad remained—
Pii—!
I blew the flute again to stop the fighting.
"Now I step in."
The White Night Black Wolf exhaled heavily, glaring at .
The remaining Black Wolf Squad parted before like the Red Sea splitting—
"Ti is running out."
Crack crack crack.
I clenched my fist with a resounding pop.
Kraaaaaa!
The White Night Black Wolf tore through the night sky and lunged at .
It was the creature that had slain over 80 mbers of the Black Wolf Squad, yet I felt no sign of fatigue from it!
A dark body, the arc drawn by a silver mane.
It was a sight like a painting.
"I'd like to applaud—but."
Crunch!
I caught its jaws with both hands.
"I still have a score to settle."
Screeeeek—!
I wrenched its upper and lower jaw apart and tore it to death.
Thud.
The White Night Black Wolf went limp.
[Bonus Mission Success]
[Eliminate the White Night Black Wolf.]
① Mission (26th floor) complete!
② Happiness Points 500,000!
③ White Night Soul Fragnt 1/3 awarded!
[You have collected all White Night Soul Fragnts.]
[Ti elapsed for mission completion: 9 minutes 50 seconds]
Thump.
Wolfish Heaven Marquis Choi Mu-jin's legs gave out beneath him and he slumped to the ground.
I walked toward him.
The Blue Dragon Spear embedded in Choi Mu-jin's chest.
Fwip—thwip!
I grabbed the spear and gave it a light flick.
Thwoom.
"Uuugh—!"
The Wolfish Heaven Marquis's groan settled low and quiet.
I t his two eyes.
"Pl-please spare ."
Blood poured freely from his chest, pooling thick around him.
I took out the flute and soaked it in that blood.
"Please spare my life! Great Hero!"
"I'm not the one who kills you, Wolfish Heaven Marquis."
"Th-then...?"
My eyes, casting the moonlight at my back, were stained blood red.
"The children are hungry."
"......!"
Pii!
I blew the flute once more.
Crunch crunch crunch!
The sound of the Black Wolf Squad tearing into flesh was cacophonous.
"Haa—."
With a long exhale, I raised my head.
The moon shone with a piercing cold light.
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