Chapter 63. Let Me See the Full Moon

"How should we cause a commotion to spread the rumor? Should we storm in, or should we defend here? Feel free to share your opinions."

In response to my question, Cha Seong-tae, who arrived the latest and was slow to grasp the situation, retorted.

"Who are we fighting against?"

"Besides General Lee Ryong and the water master who joined him, there are also the riffraff of the Black Path."

Cha Seong-tae replied nonchalantly.

"That would mean their forces exceed four or five hundred, right?"

The gazes of those present turned to Cha Seong-tae, all wondering how he knew that. I, too, was puzzled and decided to let Cha Seong-tae speak first.

"You tell us."

"Defending would be interesting."

"Why?"

"Because we are outnumbered."

"Is that all?"

"Usually, the one who attacks first is the bad guy. We didn't attack General Lee Ryong first, did we?"

I nodded and decided on the broad strategy.

"Then we will defend."

This time, all eyes were on me.

"……!"

Their gazes seemed to say, "You decided that so easily?" But I am a man who doesn't need to make excuses.

"I also find defending interesting this time. If anyone has a more interesting suggestion, let's hear it."

Hong Shin raised his hand.

"Senior Brother?"

"Speak."

"If we are going to defend, it would be best to evacuate the servants and those who haven't mastered martial arts. They might get caught up and die."

I nodded and immediately raised my voice.

"Madam Son!"

Madam Son hurried from inside.

"Yes, Fang Zhu."

"Gather all the servants, the sick, and those who haven't mastered martial arts, and prepare to leave for Yiliang County. I'll arrange the escort. Take good care of everyone."

Madam Son immediately replied.

"Understood. I'll prepare right away."

I looked around at my subordinates.

"Who will take charge of the escort? Note that they might come tonight, so you need to leave immediately. This is as important as fighting here, so there's no need to feel bad about it."

Hong Shin said he didn't want to be part of the escort.

"I need to have a good fight today."

Bai Yu, Bai Ren, and Qing Jin, who harbored bad feelings towards the water master, remained silent.

With no other choice, I asked Cha Seong-tae for his opinion.

"Will you go, Seong-tae? You won't be much help here anyway."

I regretted my blunt words when I saw Cha Seong-tae's face turn red.

Cha Seong-tae glared and replied.

"Master, I am Cha Seong-tae from Yiliang County. I will stay here as the representative of Yiliang County. Please decide without me."

I nodded.

"Everyone seems to want to stay, so I'll decide. I'll call out the names for the escort. Chief Wall."

"Yes."

"You will take the lead and be responsible. Sima Bi and his group will cover the rear. Sima Bi, send out fast runners to ensure the road is safe."

Sima Bi and Chief Wall replied simultaneously.

"Yes."

Sima Bi got up with a regretful look, but I judged him to be the right person for the job because he was smart and often traveled to Yiliang County.

The hall became busy as those who were leaving prepared to depart.

I watched until the evacuation convoy set off, then spoke to Jin Hai.

"Junior Brother Jin."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

"You will follow at the rear. If anything happens, report and make your own judgment."

Jin Hai got up and replied.

"Understood."

Jin Hai was still recovering his inner strength, so he was likely concerned about his condition.

I said to one of the Black Cat Gang's subordinates.

"We're bored, so let's drink some wine."

"Yes, Fang Zhu."

As the subordinates went to fetch the wine, it gradually grew dark.

After a while, when the wine had been passed around a few rounds, the main hall door opened wide, and a man dressed in black from head to toe appeared, carrying two black straight swords at his waist. His attire, weapons, and expression made him look like a man engulfed in darkness.

Dugu Sheng glared at me, who was seated at the head of the table, and said.

"Zi Xia, your brother is here."

The greeting was so absurd that I was at a loss for words.

"That crazy guy…."

Dugu Sheng turned and said to the subordinates he had brought.

"Greet the leader."

The riffraff showed their faces and greeted me in a chaotic manner.

"Leader, hello."

"Hello. It's been a while."

"We're here. You're drinking wine."

Dugu Sheng waved his hand at the subordinates.

"Wait outside."

Dugu Sheng closed the main hall door and approached, scanning those seated.

"Everyone doing well? Quite a few high-level experts have gathered."

Dugu Sheng naturally sat where Jin Hai had been, which happened to be next to Cha Seong-tae.

Dugu Sheng offered Cha Seong-tae an empty cup, and Cha Seong-tae, who had been in a bad mood, immediately swore.

"What the hell. You drink with me."

Dugu Sheng poured the wine without much reaction, and Cha Seong-tae, who had already drunk three cups in a row, began to provoke Dugu Sheng.

"What the hell are you, calling Master 'brother'? You're a lunatic."

Dugu Sheng ignored Cha Seong-tae and took out a pipe.

I asked Dugu Sheng.

"Have you decided on a name?"

Dugu Sheng fiddled with the pipe and replied.

"We used to be the Black Boat, and now we are the Haomen. Everyone is so stupid that we couldn't decide on a name. Expecting us to come up with a name is foolish. We'll just be the Haomen. And we've already added ten more laws. The leader role is a headache."

It was a brief report, but it was complete.

Upon hearing that he was from the Black Boat, Cha Seong-tae's eyes widened.

"……"

Cha Seong-tae quickly turned his gaze and quietly drank a cup of wine.

Dugu Sheng deeply inhaled the smoke from the pipe and blew it towards Cha Seong-tae.

Cha Seong-tae waved his hand, annoyed.

Dugu Sheng scanned the gathered people and fixed his gaze on one man.

"Who are you?"

Bai Ren replied calmly.

"I am Bai Ren of the Twelve Elders."

Dugu Sheng's mouth formed a circle.

"Oh. The Great Temple's top disciple. You managed to survive."

Qing Jin, instead of the composed Bai Ren, replied.

"You should take a bath."

I tapped the table a few times.

"Stop it. I didn't call you here to fight. Dugu Sheng, how many did you bring?"

Dugu Sheng looked at me.

"A hundred? So I brought thirty elites. Don't worry, thirty is like a hundred."

"Good. You bastard."

Dugu Sheng never asked who we were fighting. He just came when called, smoked his pipe, and drank wine.

"The wine is like water. Do you get drunk from this? You guys are funny."

By then, the Twelve Elders and the Black Cat Gang's subordinates had adapted to Dugu Sheng's personality and tone. They all decided not to engage and didn't respond.

Seeing no one would engage, Dugu Sheng asked me.

"What's the plan?"

"None."

"Everyone dies?"

I nodded.

"Kill them all."

Dugu Sheng nodded and got up.

"Fine. Wake me when the enemy arrives. I'll be sleeping."

Dugu Sheng went to a corner of the hall, lay down in a proper position, and closed his eyes.

In the uneasy silence, I asked Xiao Junping.

"Is the moon bright tonight?"

Xiao Junping nodded.

"Yes, it's perfect for a fight."

"Are there any poison experts on General Lee Ryong's side?"

"None that we know of."

I then asked Bai Ren.

"Are General Lee Ryong and the water master the strongest?"

Bai Ren replied.

"Yes."

"Compared to the Great Temple?"

"Each has their strengths, but they are not inferior to the Great Temple's master."

"Then leave them to me. I'll handle them. You fight according to your abilities. It will be a chaotic battle, so if you face an opponent far stronger, retreat."

***

I took a sip of wine and suddenly focused on the front.

"Open the doors."

As everyone's gaze turned to the front, Xiao Junping commanded with his inner strength.

"Open the doors."

The main hall, inner courtyard, outer courtyard, and main gate opened one by one. I pointed to the display case and said to a subordinate.

"Bring some masks."

Bai Ren, Qing Jin, Bai Yu, and I put on the masks of the Twelve Elders. It's good to wear masks when doing bad things. And since I killed the vice-chairman of the Cloud and Rain Society in my true form, there might be people who saw my face.

I got up and said.

"Let's go."

Dugu Sheng, who had been lying down, sat up abruptly.

Outside, most of Dugu Sheng's subordinates were scattered on the wall. I walked a few steps into the inner courtyard, then leaped into the air and landed on top of the inner courtyard gate.

As Xiao Junping said, the moon was bright.

The reflections of people's eyes and weapons in the moonlight were increasing around the Black Cat Gang's perimeter.

On the left, the Twelve Elders' disciples climbed up, and on the right, Xiao Junping leaped up and took his position.

Something cut through the darkness and flew straight at me.

At the same time, Bai Yu swung his iron chain, and the flying projectile was deflected by the wind.

A deep voice came from the darkness.

"Where is the one who killed the vice-chairman?"

"I haven't seen him yet."

A voice, presumably the water master's, continued.

"Hey, disciples of the Four Elders. If you kill the one who killed the vice-chairman, I'll be generous and take you in. I couldn't do anything to you even when the Great Temple was around. What makes you think you can oppose me now? Even Senior General Lee Ryong has no bad feelings towards you. You need to make the right choice."

I muttered to myself.

"Excellent sowing of discord."

Bai Ren, standing next to me, replied on behalf of the group.

"Water Master, it's been a while."

"Yes, it's Bai Ren."

Bai Ren spoke calmly.

"Why did you bow to Senior General Lee Ryong? If your master knew in the afterlife, he would be ashamed. Still, you were a worthy opponent recognized by your master."

The water master snorted and looked for someone.

"Where is our darling Hong Shin? Surely not dead?"

Hong Shin spat from the wall.

"Kah... Spit!"

The water master chuckled and said to Hong Shin.

"I'll spare you specially."

At this moment, Dugu Sheng, who had just climbed the wall, drew his two black swords and said.

"Hey, idiots. I killed the vice-chairman."

Dugu Sheng's words were ignored by both allies and enemies. Some people are just too quick to be labeled as crazy, and Dugu Sheng was one of them.

Meanwhile, the enemy forces continued to grow.

The water master, excited, charged first, followed by the rest of the forces. Then, the crowd parted, and an old man with a gray robe and long white hair walked out.

Anyone could tell it was General Lee Ryong.

The old man's face, illuminated by the moonlight, was pale. A grating, unpleasant voice followed.

"Don't stand there awkwardly on the wall. Those who don't want to die, come over to this side. After all, the Black Path is a mix of all sorts, with no true foundation. The only virtue is survival, isn't it? Only the one who killed my old friend needs to face my anger. Young ones, avoid unnecessary trouble. Think about why the Great Temple regularly paid tribute to me, and the decision won't be hard."

While listening, I rubbed my hands and muttered.

"Wow, so many people to kill today."

I whispered to the disciples next to me.

"Hey, disciples."

"Yes."

"Don't betray me today. I'm not in good shape. Fighting on a night with a beautiful full moon makes my madness deeper. I might lose control, so don't be swayed by that old man's words. I can't spare anyone today."

"Ah, understood."

I turned my back to the enemies and said to Bai Ren.

"Tiger disciple, make a fist."

Bai Ren, puzzled, made a fist with both hands. I placed my right foot on Bai Ren's hands and said.

"Throw me with all your strength. Let me see the full moon."

Bai Ren, surprised, replied respectfully.

"Yes?"

"Infuse your inner strength and throw me quickly. See you later."

I locked eyes with Bai Ren. Finally, Bai Ren quickly made up his mind and said to me.

"Senior Brother, see you later."

I smiled inside the mask.

"Good. Let's do it."

Then, Bai Ren gathered all his strength in his hands and threw me into the air. I also stomped on Bai Ren's hands with all my might and shot up into the sky.

How high did I soar? It felt refreshing and exhilarating.

"Ha ha ha ha ha..."

I laughed involuntarily.

As I reached the peak of my arc, I briefly admired the beautiful, glowing full moon before plummeting towards the ground where the Black Path awaited.

Expecting a barrage of projectiles, palm strikes, and sword energy, I wrapped my right hand in Yan Hua Xiang and unleashed the Flame Rooster Great Hand Seal.

Both enemies and allies, as well as the full moon shining in the moonlight, were taken aback.

A large, red, glowing palm descended from the sky, ready to stamp on General Lee Ryong's forces.