I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

Chapter 138 : Unorthodox Faction Subjugation (1)

"To think something like this is really possible..."

On the foothills of a mountain several kilometers away from the Heretic Alliance's headquarters. Baek Hasin, who had landed on the ground, muttered with a reluctant expression.

"We haven't completely shaken off the pursuit yet. For now, we run."

Flying in the air was good for avoiding encirclements and obstacles, but it was far from being stealthy.

Because they could follow us in real time, watching our location floating in the distance.

It was fortunate that we could use the low mountain peaks as a defensive wall to block their view and land in the gap.

‘The vicinity of the Heretic Alliance’s headquarters was only unorthodox faction villages.’

Since we couldn't just fly and escape forever, now that our view was blocked by the mountain peaks was the perfect time to land.

And so, we began to move along the escape route we had seen in advance.

The escape was smooth. Thanks to being composed of three elites, we were able to quickly escape the enemy's encirclement.

"At this point, it seems we've shaken off the pursuit."

Finally, after crossing about two more mountain ranges and arriving at the rendezvous point, Gu Ja-beom opened his mouth.

This was the place we had decided to meet later if the three of us were separated during the escape.

In preparation for our descriptions being specified, clothes and various items were prepared.

Gu Ja-beom said, taking off his clothes.

"Just in case, we'll bury all our clothes here."

He then burned his sword and his entire skin with the Samadhi True Fire to shake off any possible Thousand-Li-Subtle-Fragrance.

The plan was perfect.

If we just escaped Henan Province like this, it would be a success.

But just then, Gu Ja-beom hid behind a tree with a hand signal. At the same time, a faint presence was felt from a distance.

‘A hawk?’

Under the faint indigo sky, beyond the clouds, a hawk appeared and was circling around us.

‘Didn’t they notice?’

They must have been on guard all this time.

No matter how good a bird of prey was at hiding its presence in the sky, to think it was an individual that could track us without even being caught by our senses.

There were few such beings.

‘It’s a spiritual beast!’

Although it was shocking that an unorthodox faction group had a spiritual beast, considering the money they earned, it wasn't something they couldn't obtain.

‘This is a variable.’

I should have tried robbing a place like the Heretic Alliance's headquarters in the original story.

Of course, it seemed the spiritual beast also had various restrictions to avoid being detected, as it wasn't able to specify our location exactly.

Judging by the fact that the radius of the circle it was rotating in was as wide as a kilometer.

Taking advantage of the gap when the spiritual beast moved away, we quickly hid ourselves in the forest. And then we cautiously began our escape.

In the distance, the morning sun was rising. It seemed it would be a long day.

***

The Heretic Alliance's pursuit was more persistent than I thought.

Because we had to escape all the way to the north of Henan Province, where the influence of the Shaolin Temple reached.

Even if we tried to hide in a village or a small city, there were members of the Heretic Alliance in most places, so we had no choice but to keep moving.

And so, after barely arriving at a small city in the northern part of Henan Province, where the influence of the Shaolin Temple reached, we were finally able to rest at an inn near the government office.

“So I woke up and this is the situation.”

“That’s right.”

After a good night's sleep, what was standing in front of the door like gangsters were bald martial artists.

Judging by their age, around their thirties, it seemed they were from the Shaolin Temple's Arhat Hall.

We had come to the Shaolin Temple to avoid the Heretic Alliance, but now the Shaolin Temple had come to us.

“What brings you here?”

When Gu Ja-beom greeted them as a representative, a middle-aged man who introduced himself as Bong Cheol-hwan came out and cupped his fists.

“We heard you suffered hardships at the hands of the Heretic Alliance. That you are being chased.”

No matter how much the northern part of Henan Province was the Shaolin Temple's territory. To think the rumor had already spread.

‘Even though we came around to avoid the pursuit, the information is fast.’

It must have been the result of the Heretic Alliance running wild.

It was understandable that they would be furious if they thought that there was a secret basement in the middle of their headquarters and that an outsider had stolen something from there.

“…If we have caused any trouble, we will leave at once.”

Gu Ja-beom said something he didn't mean. But that's what conversations between orthodox faction members were like.

Soon, the opponent's refusal returned.

“Not at all. We were also concerned about the Heretic Alliance’s tyranny recently. We are only happy that the famous Blade-Hegemon-Giant and the Great Mage have come this far to clean up the ruffians.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

When Gu Ja-beom replied appropriately, the other side finally brought up the main point.

“In that sense, the Shaolin Temple would like to officially invite you. Would that be alright?”

If they came in droves and invited us, citing official procedures, there was only one answer left.

“…Alright.”

Suddenly, we were heading for the Shaolin Temple.

The place we arrived at after a full day's journey with the footwork of masters was a huge temple built on a mountain, the Shaolin Temple.

We immediately faced the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, the High Monk Ma Won-hyeon.

I was momentarily flustered, not expecting the abbot to actually come out, but we were also people with backgrounds that were not to be trifled with.

Moreover, since the other side had called us as guests, there was no need to feel burdened.

On the contrary, now was the time to be wary of the opponent.

Because I didn't know what kind of stories would be exchanged, but it was a matter that even the abbot would come out for.

After finishing the pleasantries with Gu Ja-beom, the conversation that started with recent events soon led to a question from Ma Won-hyeon's side.

“What are your plans for your future whereabouts?”

“We are thinking of going to Shaanxi Province.”

“Unfortunately, the road from Henan to Shaanxi is currently controlled by the Black Snake Faction.”

The Black Snake Faction, an organization that served as the de facto leader of the Unorthodox Faction Alliance, the Heretic Alliance.

“All the roads? To give up the trade route…”

Gu Ja-beom asked back with surprised eyes.

The border between Henan and Shaanxi was a key transportation hub. If this was taken away, not only the Shaolin Temple but also the Huashan Sect and the Zhongnan Sect would not have stood by.

“He is there. Jin Tae-gyeom.”

The Daoist Hermit King, Jin Tae-gyeom.

It was the name of the head of the Heretic Alliance, one of the three great masters of the unorthodox faction, along with the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Demon.

“Then we’ll have to take a long detour. But there should be a side road, right?”

He was a monster who could modify his plan immediately.

“The Heretic Alliance’s pressure has been constant recently, but it has never been this large-scale. The appearance of Jin Tae-gyeom and the blocking of the trade route are things that have happened in the past few days, so a path has not yet been established.”

At those words, Gu Ja-beom swallowed a groan. It was the same as saying that the road to Shaanxi was cut off.

Of course, since the area between Henan and Shaanxi was wide, we could just pick one and break through.

Because we were also strong enough to easily shake off a decent pursuer.

But if we were to encounter Jin Tae-gyeom or his elites, the problem would become serious.

The fact that the leader of the Heretic Alliance had stepped forward meant that the other side had also steeled their resolve.

If we were unlucky and got caught, there was a high probability that we would be made an example of.

Moreover, the fact that we didn't know Jin Tae-gyeom's whereabouts in the current situation was also a big factor.

First, we could either hold out until Jin Tae-gyeom's whereabouts were revealed, or take a long detour and go through another province, or else…

“There is another way. Our alliance is also preparing to drive out the Heretic Alliance.”

“An alliance?”

“The Shaolin Temple, the Huashan Sect, and the Zhongnan Sect have decided to form an alliance.”

An alliance of the Shaolin, Huashan, and Zhongnan.

No matter how strong the Heretic Alliance was, this would be a huge threat.

‘So that’s why Huashan and Zhongnan were quiet when we were fighting the Blood Cult.’

How could they send dispatches to other regions when their own front yard was being robbed by the Heretic Alliance? Of course, the Shaolin Temple had sent martial artists to eliminate the Shaolin heretics and for their own face.

‘But there’s no mention of Wudang.’

It seemed the Wudang Sect had no answer.

If the traffic between Henan and Shaanxi disappeared, the northern part of Hubei, which was connected to Shaanxi, could profit from the trade, so that would be the case.

Moreover, if the Shaolin Temple's power weakened on this occasion, it would be good for them, as they were competing for the position of the leader of the Nine Great Sects.

Of course, if the Heretic Alliance crossed the line or the Nine Great Sects were in danger, they would participate, but until then…

‘They’ll make various excuses and not come.’

“Do you know when the alliance will strike?”

Gu Ja-beom asked. It would take at least five days to go from Henan to Shaanxi via Shanxi without being noticed by the Black Snake Faction.

It meant we had to take a detour that would take a day or two.

As if knowing this, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple spread out four fingers.

“In four days. But before the three sects take joint action, it seems we need to eliminate the trouble in the south first.”

Ma Won-hyeon laid out the Shaolin's plan.

It was a story that they wanted to eliminate the 2nd headquarters in the south first in order to strike the Black Snake Faction in the northwest.

“If you help us, we will dispatch martial artists in the name of the Shaolin to open a path to the west and Shaanxi later.”

For us, it was an ambiguous proposal. A situation where it might be better to take a long detour without a fight.

“Of course, it will be tiring to fight the unorthodox faction group, so when the work is done, I will give each of you a Small Rejuvenation Pill.”

Although it was inferior to the Great Rejuvenation Pill, it wasn't that the Small Rejuvenation Pill was not precious.

Because if absorbed well, one could obtain 20 years of high-purity internal energy with minimal resistance.

There were many spiritual medicines like the hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum that simply increased miscellaneous internal energy, but there were not many spiritual medicines that increased high-purity, refined internal energy without such side effects.

‘My internal energy digestion has probably increased after absorbing the Blood Danjeon. Right now, it’s better for me to eat a lot of high-quality spiritual medicines.’

For me, there was nothing bad. It was the same for Baek Hasin.

Only Gu Ja-beom had an ambiguous expression. He must have already eaten a lot of spiritual medicines.

Moreover, he might think that the price of using a Transformation master for a Small Rejuvenation Pill didn't match.

Because it was a place with a pretty big risk.

“Since we are in a hurry, we need to think about it.”

With the answer, Gu Ja-beom was about to lift his teacup when my eyes met Baek Hasin's.

Just as I was thinking that the two of us had no choice but to persuade him.

“…Of course, we will also give rewards according to your merits. Just by holding back the enemy’s Transformation master, we will give you five nyang (150-200g) of ten-thousand-year-old cold iron.”

Ten-thousand-year-old cold iron, one of the hardest metals famous in the central plains, and the best material that could not be missing from a famous sword.

Five nyang might seem small at a glance, but considering its rarity, it was a considerable amount.

“Alright.”

Gu Ja-beom immediately accepted.

Indeed, when refusing a proposal, one had to think about whether the reward was insufficient.

“…Thank you. Ah, and the key to this plan is the Great Mage, that is, you, Zhuge Cheonwu, so please work hard.”

“Pardon?”

It was an incomprehensible sound, so I asked back, but in the end, I had no choice but to nod my head.

“They say you can fly in the sky, right? We’ll give you a few nyang of ten-thousand-year-old cold iron too, so do your best.”

“Leave it to me.”

It was too precious an item to refuse.

***

The next day, against the backdrop of a night sky with a drizzling early winter rain, a chaotic scene was unfolding at a branch of the Heretic Alliance.

A 4-story wooden building finally collapsing. Above it, all that could be seen was a young man looking down this way with a fan with only its ribs.

“Th-the Great Mage!”

With someone's shout, the whole area flashed.

Magic, of which I don't know how many times it has been, was pouring down.

“This is crazy…”

Below, the super-peak level unorthodox faction member who was in charge of the branch spat out a curse in vain.

There was no way to deal with that.

A thunderbolt that struck down from the sky like a natural disaster. With a single gesture, he creates wind and drops lightning.

Isn't he truly a mage (魔) (demon) (法師) (sorcerer)?

Now, that person only looked like a demon.

In the cold rain like an ice sheet, the branch manager trembled alone.

Without even knowing that a Transformation master was rushing at him from behind.

That night, three of the Heretic Alliance branches that had advanced into the central part of Henan were erased from the map.

(End of Chapter)