Chapter 481 Groundwork (6)

“Here, take a look at this part.”

It was a moment that called for concentration, but Yeon Hojeong couldn't hide his astonishment.

Spread out before him was an enormous, detailed map measuring approximately ten feet on each side. It covered both the area where he had fought one of the Twelve Martial Commanders and the area where Tang Gwan had battled one of the Five Martial Commanders.

What impressed him most was the precision. Every distance was rendered with remarkable accuracy, and the smallest details had been meticulously recorded. He could easily have believed the map was the work of a professional cartographer.

“Did you draw this yourself?”

“Who else would help me with something this insane?”

“Incredible.”

“Never mind that. Just look.”

Je Gal Ahyeon pointed to several places on the map, her expression serious.

“The Divine Flame Cult was bold enough to establish an intelligence outpost not far from the Martial Alliance. The terrain made it difficult to discover, and its proximity to a village made gathering information about the surrounding area convenient.”

“That's right.”

“But they didn't choose this location just to gather intelligence.”

Je Gal Ahyeon brought out a sheet of transparent oiled paper.

An intricate geometric diagram had been drawn upon it in extraordinarily fine lines.

“This is the Eight Formations of Infinite Measure Diagram, one of the formation frameworks our clan frequently uses. It's a basic formation built around the Eight Trigrams, with the axes of the Four Symbols arranged within them and the yin-yang Paths of Life and Death established inside those.”

She called it a basic formation, but to Yeon Hojeong, who had never formally studied formations, the diagram looked impossibly complicated.

“I drew the Eight Formations of Infinite Measure Diagram on this transparent sheet so I could overlay it on the map.”

Je Gal Ahyeon laid the diagram over the map.

Its center fell precisely on the location the Divine Flame Cult had used as its intelligence outpost.

Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.

“Now, what do you think?”

“The Paths of Life and Death...?”

“You really do have good instincts, don't you? That's right. If we assign the Eight Trigrams to the eight directions, the place where you fought that member of the Twelve Martial Commanders falls in the Xun direction. With the Four Symbols arranged in their altered configuration, Lesser Yang occupies that position. Under the yin-yang division, it belongs to yin, making it a Path of Death.”

“So I fought in a place where both sides were destined to die.”

“Exactly. And Clan Lord Yeon and the Successor entered the Path of Death from the Path of Life.”

“But...”

“Strange, isn't it? Judging from the map, and probably from your own memories, the place where you fought doesn't seem like a Path of Death at all.”

Yeon Hojeong agreed.

The place where he had fought Gyu Jeok of the Twelve Martial Commanders in a battle to the death could hardly be considered a Path of Death based on its surroundings.

The weather had been dry, and there were plenty of trees, giving Gyu Jeok an advantage because he practiced a martial art based on scorching yang energy. But no matter how one arranged a formation diagram, barring exceptional circumstances, there was little reason to regard that place as a death trap.

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“Could it be a difference in formation frameworks? What I mean is, perhaps this discrepancy exists because you're applying your clan's Eight Formations of Infinite Measure Diagram—”

“Absolutely not. No matter how you modify the Eight Formations of Infinite Measure Diagram, that area can never become a Path of Life.”

“But it wasn't a Path of Death, either.”

“That's precisely the problem.”

Je Gal Ahyeon's eyes grew thoughtful.

“And it isn't just the Eight Formations of Infinite Measure Diagram. No matter which of our clan's formation frameworks I apply, it's difficult to classify that place as a Path of Life.”

“Could that be because they're Je Gal Clan formations? What if a formation expert from another school approached the calculations differently?”

“I'll say this with confidence. I can't claim that our clan's formation calculations are the best under heaven, but I can certainly say that no other clan possesses such a comprehensive body of them. To put it plainly, I doubt there's anyone outside our clan capable of deciphering even the formation principles used by unorthodox sects and demonic practitioners.”

If she was willing to go that far, there really must be something strange about it.

As Yeon Hojeong pondered the matter, Je Gal Ahyeon produced another sheet of oiled paper.

“Now, shall we try this one?”

“What's that?”

“The Tenfold Perfection Diagram. It encompasses every direction, from Limitlessness to the Nine Palaces.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Just watch.”

She placed the sheet bearing the °• N ?? v ?? l i g h t •° Tenfold Perfection Diagram over the map.

Yeon Hojeong's eyes widened.

“Well?”

“It's still a Path of Death, isn't it?”

“Right?”

“Interesting. It starts as a Path of Death, but once you get past that section, it turns into a Path of Life.”

“...?!”

“It follows the sequence of the Three Powers, Four Symbols, Five Elements, and Six Harmonies perfectly.”

“Oh?”

“Am I wrong? It begins with the yin path of yin-yang, so it's a Path of Death. But after that come the Human Path of the Three Powers, the Greater Yang Path of the Four Symbols, the Wood Path of the Five Elements, and the Eastern Path of the Six Harmonies. Doesn't that make it a Path of Life?”

Je Gal Ahyeon smacked her lips.

“When you have some free time, how about learning formations from me? I think you might have a talent for them.”

“If I ever find the time.”

“You're right, though. Ultimately, that place is a Path of Life. The problem is that, from what you've told me about the battle, it's strange that the man from the Twelve Martial Commanders chose it as his primary battlefield.”

“The weather was dry, and there were plenty of trees. Besides, it wasn't just that spot. The entire intelligence outpost was like that.”

“Even so, that doesn't change the fact that the place is a Path of Death. And you should understand why better than anyone.”

Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.

“The river.”

“See? I knew you were clever.”

Every member of the Divine Flame Cult practiced martial arts based on scorching yang energy.

The foundation of those arts was fire, and fire was vulnerable to water. In the cycle of the Five Elements, water overcomes fire.

Of course, a master of the Divine Flame Cult's Martial Commander class could overwhelm ordinary water-based power with sheer firepower.

Even so, choosing that location as a battlefield was strange. Gyu Jeok had more than enough ability to alter the conditions of the battlefield, and the dry weather already favored his scorching yang art, regardless of where he fought.

“And that's not all. The place where Clan Lord Tang fought one of the Five Martial Commanders lies along a Lesser Yin passage that leaves a Path of Life and returns to a Path of Death.”

Yeon Hojeong considered this for a moment before speaking.

“It could all be coincidence. It might seem strange to someone who studies formation calculations, but battles are inherently—”

“I know. I do. The problem is that these coincidences are a little too convenient.”

Je Gal Ahyeon took out yet another map.

“This shows the place where Beonjak, the First Martial Commander, was stationed. In other words, where the Martial Alliance's masters fought the Divine Flame Cult's Martial Commanders to the death. This map isn't nearly as detailed, so keep that in mind.”

Yeon Hojeong examined the map, then studied it with both the Eight Formations of Infinite Measure Diagram and the Tenfold Perfection Diagram laid over it.

By the time he finished, his expression had hardened completely.

“This really is strange.”

“Isn't it?”

“Do you happen to have a floor plan of this building?”

“No. Of course I don't.”

Yeon Hojeong closed his eyes for a moment.

He was trying to reconstruct the battle and recall how the Martial Commanders had moved.

But it wasn't easy.

No matter how exceptional his memory, the battle had taken place several months ago. Worse, so much had happened afterward that there had been more than a few occasions when his head had felt ready to burst.

Still, there were things he remembered.

It had been a fight for his life, one of the most dangerous battles he had experienced since his regression. Certain moments had remained etched in his memory.

“Well? Remember anything?”

“Not really. But...”

When Yeon Hojeong opened his eyes again, his face was filled with disbelief.

“I can't shake the feeling that the individual movements of the Martial Commanders, and even their overall strategy, all followed a single framework.”

“Are you certain?”

“No. It's just a feeling.”

“But a strong enough feeling that something seems wrong.”

Je Gal Ahyeon cleared away all the maps.

“The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Establishing an intelligence outpost practically on the Martial Alliance's doorstep? That's audacious. People say the darkest place is right beneath the lamp, but actually putting that principle into practice? You almost have to admire the Divine Flame Cult's nerve.”

“True.”

“The problem is that if they had a strategist worth anything, he would never have established an outpost there. It would have made more sense to infiltrate the Alliance itself. Why establish a base in such an awkward location when you have no idea when or how it might be discovered?”

Yeon Hojeong had always found that strange himself.

He had simply dismissed it because the Three Creeds had struck him as fanatical enough to do something like that.

But perhaps that wasn't the explanation.

“Their movements fit together with an almost uncanny precision. They're following the movements of some crude geometric pattern, and I can't even begin to guess what kind of formation it represents.”

Je Gal Ahyeon looked at Yeon Hojeong.

“If what you said is true, then even the martial arts they've learned incorporate the movements of that bizarre pattern.”

“...”

“Isn't that astonishing? They're like puppets faithfully carrying out orders handed down from the very top. Even insects don't behave with that kind of rigid uniformity.”

Yeon Hojeong sank into thought again.

Can something like that really be possible?

Once more, he recalled the Martial Commanders of the Divine Flame Cult.

Their movements. Their force-emission methods. Even the particular moments when their emotions had flared.

Come to think of it...

Yeon Hojeong took a cold, objective look at his own martial arts and abilities.

Even with the enlightenment I carried over from my previous life, was I really strong enough back then to drive my opponents that far?

He couldn't say.

A battle couldn't be judged by martial attainment alone. The physical and mental condition of the combatants, the environment, unforeseen variables—countless factors influenced the outcome.

Put another way, no one could ever guarantee who would win or lose a particular fight.

And to be fair, Beonjak had undoubtedly been a master so formidable that even Yeon Hojeong and Yeon Wi working together would have struggled to defeat him.

Of course, the situation had turned against Beonjak, and he had already obtained what he wanted, so he likely hadn't seen any reason to push himself further.

Moreover, Yeon Hojeong and Yeon Wi's coordinated combat art had proven more powerful than either of them had expected. Momentum and mental fortitude were indispensable in battle.

But...

One thought led to another.

Eventually, Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

It's already in the past. And that was unquestionably a fight to the death. Beonjak really did struggle against Father and me when we joined forces.

There was no reason to doubt the things he knew for certain.

Still, one thing had become clear.

“If this is true, we may have discovered a critical weakness in their organization.”

“Yes. If we can confirm it.”

Yeon Hojeong turned to Je Gal Ahyeon.

“How long would it take to obtain the floor plans of the building where we fought those Martial Commanders?”

“I have no idea. It's not something we can handle ourselves, either. Unless we enlist the Alliance's intelligence network or the Beggars' Union...”

“Then that's what we'll do. We need to get those plans, one way or another.”

“And who will convince them?”

“I will. Don't worry about that.”

Yeon Hojeong fell silent again.

Clearly, he had a great deal on his mind. Given what they had discovered, that was hardly surprising.

Je Gal Ahyeon waited patiently for him to speak.

After some time had passed, he finally broke the silence.

“Have you ever been inside the council meeting chamber?”

Je Gal Ahyeon tilted her head.

“Once, I think? We went in together before, remember? When we reported to the higher-ups after the Evil-Smiting Corps returned.”

“Ah, that's right.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled coldly.

“You'll have to go in one more time.”

“Huh? By myself?”

“Either alone or with whoever's in charge. Of course, I'll need to speak to the chief strategist first.”

Yeon Hojeong rose from his seat.

“Wait here. I'll go get you an entry permit from the chief strategist.”

“Are you coming in with me?”

“No. I won't be going with you. I'll explain what you need to do to the chief strategist separately, so don't worry.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“I'm going to find out whether those Divine Flame Cult bastards really do instinctively move according to a fixed pattern, just as you've discovered.”

Je Gal Ahyeon looked bewildered.

“How are you going to find that out? No, who are you going to ask?”

“Someone who was there.”

“What?”

Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.

“One of the Martial Commanders we captured back then is still rotting away in the Martial Alliance's Brain Prison.”