Chapter 184: Jasung, Runs

The Glory Vault was the Black Way Alliance’s secret vault, even harder to enter than the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

If the Alliance Leader’s Hall was guarded by elite martial masters, then Glory Vault was protected by intricate mechanisms and powerful formations. 

That was why Pung Haryang’s decision to move people there had been remarkably wise. 

Yet he had never imagined he himself would end up taking refuge inside it. 

After leaving his quarters, he had tried to stabilize the situation, but communication between divisions had completely broken down. 

He had faced repeated ambushes, and dozens of the Guard Hall’s martial warriors had been killed. 

Still, Pung Haryang had wanted to keep fighting until the end. 

Even if he was only the acting Lord, he had been entrusted by Lee Jaseung with the headquarters’ command. To be struck by a sudden attack and have the main compound overturned filled him with fury. 

Baek Yong had persuaded him otherwise, saying that continuing to sacrifice the Guard Hall was pointless. They needed to hold out within Glory Vault, contact the outside, and create an opportunity to turn the tide. 

But the reports coming in were grim. 

Baek Yong’s face was set as he delivered the latest message. 

“New information has arrived.” 

The interior and exterior of Glory Vault were connected by a secret communication system. That system was top secret, known only to a handful of people. 

“The Night’s Moon in the main compound has been wiped out.” 

The words struck like thunder from a clear sky. Pung Haryang’s eyes widened after hearing the news. 

“Damn it!” 

The Night’s Moon was the third-strongest elite division after the Divine Sword Regiment and the Iron Cavalry Regiment. 

“They struck there first. Most were asleep, and they never had a chance to react.” 

Now he understood how they had been overwhelmed so easily. It had been a nighttime raid, and the best of their elites had been completely destroyed. 

“One small fortune is that more than half of the Night’s Moon had been dispatched elsewhere.” 

It was a fortune within misfortune. Even if they had all been here, the outcome would likely have been no different. 

“Based on all reports, more than five hundred have died, including the Night’s Moon.” 

Pung Haryang clenched his teeth. 

“The outer-hall warriors suffered fewer losses.” 

Because the attackers had prioritized the Night’s Moon, the outer divisions had been spared the worst. 

“The surviving Elders and masters are regrouping to fight back, but the battle is not going in our favor.” 

“How many attackers are there?” 

“About fifty. Battles are breaking out throughout the Alliance as we speak.” 

To think that fifty men could strike at the Black Way Alliance’s headquarters was absurd. 

But if they were the elite of elites, the story would change.

The martial skill of the man Pung Haryang had seen earlier had reached the Transcendent Peak. 

Of course, it was impossible for all fifty to be that strong. Those who reached the Transcendent Peak were exceedingly rare after all. 

Even within the Black Way Alliance, only Captain-level masters or higher reached that realm. Such figures were found in the Divine Sword Regiment, the Iron Cavalry Regiment, or the Night’s Moon, but most other commanders merely reached the Peak Realm. 

If even five of the fifty were Transcendent Peak masters, the fight would be hard. If more than ten, their defenders would be unable to resist at all. 

Without reinforcement from the Divine Sword Regiment or the Iron Cavalry Regiment, it was only a matter of time before total annihilation. 

“They slipped past the outer surveillance and knew the internal structure far too well.” 

“So it’s the Asura Demon Sect after all?” 

Only an organization of that scale could have known such secrets, and the attackers were clearly no ordinary warriors. 

“We can’t confirm yet, but none of them have been reported using Demonic Arts.” 

“Then they’re from the Orthodox Faction?” 

“That possibility is higher, but…” 

Lee Jaseung was currently with the Orthodox Faction. If the Murim Alliance had made a move, he would have sent word for sure. 

‘Did something happen to our Lord?’

Not knowing the situation made Pung Haryang uneasy and frustrated. 

“Tell the Elders outside to keep fighting and buy time.” 

“They already sent word. They’re doing exactly that.” 

Fortunately, many Elders had survived. They were veterans, and they would endure while waiting for help. 

“What is the enemy’s objective?” 

“It’s clear. They intend to erase the main compound completely.” 

They were even trying to breach Glory Vault itself, kill the acting Lord, and steal what was stored inside. They meant to destroy the Black Way Alliance from within. 

“They destroyed the First Mechanism Gate and are now breaking through the Second.” 

“How long did it take for the first to fall?” 

“Not even an hour.” 

Pung Haryang was astonished. That was far too fast. 

“Didn’t the Divine Sword Regiment take over four hours to breach it during the drills?” 

“That’s correct. There must be someone among them who is a master of mechanical craft.” 

When Pung Haryang sighed, Baek Yong spoke again. 

“Don’t worry. Even if all three Outer Gates fall, they can’t break the Black Heaven’s Infinite Seventy-Two Formation.” 

The Black Heaven’s Infinite Seventy-Two Formation. 

It was the Black Way Alliance’s proudest and most formidable formation, deployed around the Glory Vault.

“Can you guarantee that?” 

“Yes. Unless it’s released from within, it’s impossible to break. Even a master of formations would need at least a month to dismantle it.” 

A month was plenty of time for reinforcements. 

Baek Yong handed him an iron token. 

“This will stop the formation if inserted into the mechanism over there.” 

Pung Haryang placed the iron token safely in his robe. 

“How long can our supplies last?” 

“There are many people here, but if we ration carefully, we could probably last about ten days.” 

Baek Yong glanced behind him. 

People were gathered around stacked crates. They were the women and children who lived in the main compound, as well as those without martial skill. 

There were about three hundred in total. The vault was vast enough to hold them all and still have space left over. 

They were tense but not panicked. They were the wives and children of Black Way Alliance warriors, acting with discipline and even worrying about those outside. 

It was thanks to Pung Haryang’s foresight that they were alive. Had he prioritized the vault’s treasures over their evacuation, most of them would be dead now. 

In one corner, a young girl cried as she clung to a woman. 

“Sister.” 

“It’s all right.” 

The woman who held the child tightly was Songhwa. 

She had been living in the main compound while waiting for Dan Woobin. She had left her home and come to the Black Way Alliance out of love for him, and by luck she had managed to escape to safety amid the chaos. 

It was then. 

Boom!

The ground shook faintly. 

Baek Yong’s calm voice came again. 

“The Second Gate has fallen. They’re beginning to dismantle the Third.” 

* * *

Swoosh.

The sudden gust of wind startled the men walking along the road.

“Ugh!”

“What’s with the sudden gust?” 

“Strange indeed.” 

They were trained warriors, yet none realized what had passed them. 

They thought it was merely the wind, but it wasn’t. 

It was Lee Jaseung, streaking past them at lightning speed. He was already hundreds of paces away from them. 

Whoosh. 

The Infinite Step unfolded at full power. With the five hundred and forty years worth of inner Qi surging and his martial arts perfected, Lee Jaseung’s Infinite Step was as fast as light. 

His eyes looked only forward, burning with one desperate wish. 

Please, let it not be too late. 

Let me save at least one more life. 

And… 

Let her be safe. 

* * *

They were dismantling the Third Mechanism Gate. 

Behind it stood more than thirty masters. 

Standing there were Water, along with Bamboo, Fist, Guest, Black Sand, Joy and Sorrow, Morning, and Ghost.

Each one had reached the Transcendent Peak Realm. 

Behind them stood another twenty Peak Realm masters. 

The remaining twenty were outside, fighting the Black Way Alliance’s warriors, three of whom were also Transcendent Peak. 

It was a full-scale operation mobilizing all of Mountain’s elites. 

Including those Lee Jaseung had already killed, Mountain’s total power surpassed twenty Transcendent Peak masters and fifty Peak Realm masters, an overwhelming force. 

The one dismantling the mechanisms was Earth, a man known for his intelligence. He was a genius in both mechanical engineering and formations. 

He had already broken through two gates and was now disassembling the third. 

“Hurry.” 

Rain spoke, and without looking back, Earth replied, 

“If you’re that impatient, why don’t you do it yourself.” 

Rain gave a faint laugh at the response. 

Their success in striking the Black Way Alliance’s headquarters had been due entirely to surprise. The Demonic Cult had provided top-secret information about the Alliance. 

But once the Alliance launched a full counterattack, the balance would shift. No matter how strong they were, they couldn’t take on the entire Alliance forever. They had to seize the vault quickly and escape. 

Vmmmm.

A metallic vibration rang out, and the gears stopped. 

“The Third Gate is down.”

Rain’s expression showed satisfaction after hearing Earth. 

He stepped through the opening, his warriors following close behind. 

Ahead loomed the vast structure of Glory Vault. 

Thick mist swirled before it. 

The Black Heaven’s Infinite Seventy-Two Formation. 

It was the Black Way Alliance’s proudest and most impenetrable defense, a formation said to leave not even corpses behind. 

Water spoke softly to Rain. 

“You do have a plan to handle that monster, right?” 

Rain answered her.

“No.” 

Water and the others froze in shock. They all knew how formidable the formation was. 

Water gave a faint smile and spoke again.

“Were you always the type of person to move without a plan like this, senior?” 

“If I say yes to that?” 

“That’s fine. Impulsive men, they can be charming.” 

Of course, both Water and Rain knew they were joking to each other.

Water knew Rain wasn’t the type to act without thought, especially not in an operation of this scale. 

“Now tell me. How do you intend to break it?” 

Rain’s expression turned serious when Water asked again. 

“There’s no need for that.” 

He looked at her, with his eyes gleaming with meaning. 

“It will open on its own after all.” 

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