"Kekalahan?"<br><br>Mata Jwa Do-gyul membelalak saat mendengar berita itu. Ia lalu perlahan mengunyah bibirnya.<br><br>Terdengar sebuah tawa kecil.<br><br>"Kekalahan, kekalahan..."<br><br>Senyuman itu... Itu adalah senyuman yang tulus. Sejak awal, ia sama sekali tidak menaruh harapan bahwa pertempuran di Guizhou bisa dimenangkan.<br><br>Hal terakhir yang diinginkan Jwa Do-gyul adalah kehancuran Aliansi Persilatan. Kendati demikian, ia tidak puas dengan kerusakan yang ditimbulkan pada Sekte Iblis.<br><br>*Bahkan kuberi mereka bom, tapi hasilnya hanya separah ini.*<br><br>Kerusakannya terlalu sedikit.<br><br>Ia mengangkat tangannya dan menggigiti kukunya.<br><br>Tsk-tsk.<br><br>Kuku yang telah dikunyah itu berjatuhan di hadapannya.<br><br>Ia tidak menyukainya.<br><br>*Karena kuberi daya gedor sebanyak itu, mereka seharusnya bisa menimbulkan kerusakan yang lebih besar.*<br><br>Namun, tak lama kemudian, Jwa Do-gyul menggelengkan kepalanya.<br><br>*Tidak. Bagaimanapun juga, Peng Ah-hu terlalu serakah dan bodoh dibandingkan kemampuannya. Aku terlalu meremehkannya.*<br><br>Bagaimanapun, tujuannya di Guizhou telah tercapai. Akibat kekalahan ini, kekuatan Murim berkurang drastis. Ini juga memberikan kesempatan untuk menarik mereka yang belum sempat ikut berperang.<br><br>Merasa puas akan hal itu, ia tiba-tiba tersenyum dan mulai menulis sesuatu.<br><br>*Bagi mereka yang memilih bungkam selama peristiwa di Murim, yang seharusnya merasa marah...*<br><br>Bahkan saat berpikir begitu, ia terkikik geli.<br><br>*Mohon maaf yang sebesar-besarnya, ini semua adalah salahku. Sungguh disayangkan...*<br><br>Jwa Do-gyul terus menulis dengan senyuman terukir di wajahnya.<br><br>"Betapa menghibur."<br><br>Sungguh konyol.<br><br>"Tapi justru itulah yang membuat hidup ini terasa menyenangkan."<br><br>Jwa Do-gyul terus menulis sambil menertawakan dirinya sendiri.<br><br>Keesokan harinya, sebuah pesan resmi dikirimkan kepada beberapa faksi di Aliansi Persilatan.<br><br>Pesan itu ditulis oleh Pemimpin Aliansi Persilatan, yang menyatakan duka cita mendalam atas kehilangan mereka sekaligus memohon bantuan dari pihak lain.<br><br>"Kekalahan..."<br><br>Woon-seong mengerutkan kening di atas singgasana.<br><br>Ia tidak berada di ruang rapat biasanya, melainkan di markas Pasukan Barat.<br><br>Setelah mendengar tentang kekalahan pertama mereka dari Sang Gwan-chuk, ia langsung bergegas ke tempat ini.<br><br>Sang Gwan-chuk dan Kapten Unit Naga Hangus juga ikut bersamanya.<br><br>Mengingat Woon-seong berlari jauh-jauh ke Pasukan Barat, sudah jelas betapa mendesaknya situasi ini.<br><br>"Manusia berencana, tapi Tuhan yang menentukan."<br><br>Di hadapan Woon-seong, Raja Tinju Delapan Baut dan Cheon Ah-young menundukkan kepala.<br><br>Raja Baut berseru, "Kami telah melakukan dosa besar!"<br><br>Woon-seong menggelengkan kepala saat pria itu berlutut dengan dahi menyentuh lantai.<br><br>"Tidak, sejak zaman kuno, kemenangan dan kekalahan tidaklah abadi. Satu kekalahan bukanlah dosa yang layak dihukum mati. Selain itu, aku diberitahu bahwa kalian bertahan hingga akhir demi memastikan keselamatan prajurit lain selama masa mundur."<br><br>"Aku hanya melakukan apa yang harus kulakukan, tapi aku tidak pantas menerimanya."<br><br>Woon-seong melambaikan tangan. "Hanya karena itu adalah sesuatu yang bisa dilakukan, bukan berarti semua orang akan melakukannya. Kita bisa menganggap ini sebagai kekalahan dalam pertempuran, tapi kemenangan dalam perang. Hal yang sama berlaku bagi Kapten Unit Kera Putih dan Guru Iblis."<br><br>Mendengar ucapannya, Cheon Ah-young dan Raja Baut kembali menundukkan kepala.<br><br>"Aku akan mengukir anugerah Pemimpin ke dalam tulang belulangku."<br><br>Woon-seong menghela napas.<br><br>Guru Iblis tidak hadir di sana.<br><br>Tidak, Guru Iblis memang tidak bisa hadir.<br><br>Hal itu dikarenakan lelaki tua tersebut telah berjuang melawan musuh selama proses mundur dan menderita luka-luka yang mengerikan.<br><br>Beberapa tulang rusuknya patah, sebuah pedang menancap di diafragma. Dua tonggak hitam menhantam perutnya; tombak. Ada lebih dari sepuluh anak panah menancap di punggungnya.<br><br>Seandainya Guru Iblis adalah orang biasa, ia pasti tidak akan bertahan. Tidak, pria itu akan langsung tewas seketika.<br><br>Namun, karena ia berada di tingkat Absolusi, ia sudah berbeda dari orang kebanyakan.<br><br>Lee Shin-jung masih bernapas.<br><br>Woon-seong menghela napas sekali lagi. Ia lalu memerintahkan, "Katakan pada Tabib di Sekte untuk menyelamatkan nyawa Guru Iblis. Ini adalah perintah atas nama Iblis Surgawi."<br><br>"Dimengerti."<br><br>Woon-seong melanjutkan, "Kudengar kita tidak dapat memulihkan jasad para korban."<br><br>"Kerusakannya sangat parah dan tubuh mereka hancur berkeping-keping sehingga tidak mungkin untuk menemukannya."<br><br>"Bakar seluruh medan perang alih-alih mengadakan pemakaman. Dirikan juga sebuah tugu peringatan yang besar dan ukir semua nama mereka di sana. Aku akan membuat monumen itu terbuka untuk umum."<br><br>"Aku akan melaksanakan perintah Anda."<br><br>Setelah mengurus hal tersebut, Woon-seong mengangkat satu tangan dan menekannya ke dahi. Ia memijat pelipisnya dengan tangan yang lain.<br><br>Sang Gwan-chuk mengamatinya dengan tatapan cemas, namun tidak berkata apa-apa.<br><br>Sangat sedikit orang di Sekte Iblis Surgawi yang tahu bahwa Woon-seong sedang diracun. Di antara para Master Iblis, kebanyakan tidak mengerti seberapa parah kondisinya. Dan tidak mungkin membiarkan orang lain mengetahui fakta penting semacam itu di tengah perang.<br><br>Penyebaran informasi ini akan berdampak besar pada jalannya perang ke depan.<br><br>Kendati demikian, sang Strategis tidak bisa menyembunyikan tatapan khawatirnya.<br><br>Woon-seong melirik sekilas untuk memberitahu sang Strategis bahwa dirinya baik-baik saja.<br><br>Kemudian, sambil tetap duduk, ia mengetuk dagunya. "Kudengar alasan di balik kekalahan kalian adalah karena intervensi dua master misterius selama pertempuran."<br><br>"Itu benar."<br><br>"Dan kehadiran mereka cukup untuk membalikkan keadaan?"<br><br>Mendengar pertanyaannya, Cheon Ah-young dan Raja Baut bergidik. Mereka mengerti apa maksudnya.<br><br>Seorang master yang bisa mengubah jalannya pertempuran. Hanya ada segelintir orang semacam itu di dunia.<br><br>Hanya seorang Semi-Dewa yang mampu membalikkan keadaan seorang diri.<br><br>Kini, Woon-seong sedang menanyakan apakah kedua monster misterius itu berada di level tersebut.<br><br>Raja Tinju Delapan Baut menelan ludah. Ia pernah bertarung melawan salah satu dari mereka.<br><br>Bagaimana hasilnya?<br><br>Ia bahkan tidak mampu bertahan selama 100 detik.<br><br>"Mereka tampaknya berada di batas antara Absolusi dan Semi-Dewa."<br><br>Alis Woon-seong berkedut.<br><br>Batas antara Absolusi dan Semi-Dewa.<br><br>Para Master Iblis juga telah mencapai puncak seperti itu. Meskipun ada perbedaan tingkat pada setiap individu, para Master Iblis juga berada dalam posisi di mana mereka bisa bermimpi untuk melompati tembok tersebut.<br><br>Dan Raja Tinju Delapan Baut mengatakan orang-orang ini berada di batas antara Absolusi dan Semi-Dewa.<br><br>Maka Woon-seong tidak bisa tidak bertanya, "Apakah itu berbeda dari seorang Master Iblis?"<br><br>Sang Raja Baut menggelengkan kepalanya. "Kurasa kata-kataku tadi keliru. Energi internal mereka jelas berada di tingkat Semi-Dewa. Tapi..."<br><br>"Tapi?"<br><br>Raja Baut menghela napas atas desakan Woon-seong. Ia tampak tidak memahami situasinya sendiri.<br><br>"Indra mereka tidak tampak berbeda dari mereka yang berada di tingkat Absolusi, dan ilmu pedang mereka terasa mentah. Qi internal dan pemahaman mereka telah mencapai tingkat Semi-Dewa, namun mereka tidak bisa menggunakan jurus-jurus mereka dengan benar."<br><br>Ekspresi Woon-seong mengeras. Ia telah menemui dua master semacam itu sebanyak dua kali.<br><br>Yang pertama adalah di Istana Raja Jinseong. Master pada saat itu masih bisa berbicara sedikit, namun tetap tampak tidak sempurna.<br><br>Lalu apa?<br><br>Yang kedua adalah di medan perang.<br><br>Sesosok monster yang muncul di hadapan Orang Suci Racun Abadi, Tetua Agung Klan Tang.<br><br>_Sepertinya mereka bilang ia adalah Kaisar Pedang Es dan Cahaya...?_<br><br>Ia pun menunjukkan ketidakmampuan untuk memanifestasikan jurus secara penuh, bahkan dengan qi di tingkat Semi-Dewa.<br><br>Sepertinya Sang Gwan-chuk memikirkan hal yang sama.<br><br>Ketika pandangan mereka bertemu, Woon-seong dapat melihat ekspresi kaku di wajah sang Strategis.<br><br>Pada saat yang sama, pria itu berkata dengan suara bergetar, "Boneka mayat."<br><br>Woon-seong menghela napas. _Sudah kuduga._<br><br>Sang Gwan-chuk memikirkan hal yang sama.<br><br>Apakah Sekte Langit Terbalik benar-benar mulai ikut campur?<br><br>Hal itu memunculkan pertanyaan lain.<br><br>Bagaimana Sekte Langit Terbalik bisa terus menerjunkan hal semacam itu ke medan perang?<br><br>Dua di antaranya telah dihancurkan oleh Woon-seong.<br><br>Dua lainnya muncul di Chongqing.<br><br>Itu totalnya empat.<br><br>Mereka memang bukan tandingan Semi-Dewa yang sesungguhnya, namun mereka bisa dianggap sebagai empat monster buatan yang tangguh.<br><br>Berapa banyak lagi yang tersisa?<br><br>Woon-seong tidak tahu, namun kemungkinan besar masih ada yang disembunyikan di suatu tempat.<br><br>Dan karena mereka mulai turun tangan, mengapa organisasi bernama Sekte Langit Terbalik ini tidak berada di garis depan?<br><br>Selain itu, Istana Kekaisaran berada di bawah kendali mereka.<br><br>Rasanya aneh karena Istana Kekaisaran tidak menunjukkan pergerakan apa pun. Jika mereka benar-benar memutuskan untuk ikut campur secara sungguh-sungguh, pihak Langit Terbalik pasti sudah mengerahkan Pasukan Kekaisaran.<br><br>Namun, Istana Kekaisaran tampaknya sama sekali tidak bergerak, selain mengirimkan seorang pembunuh dari Depo Timur.<br><br>Sebenarnya apa yang kalian pikirkan, Langit Terbalik?<br><br>Woon-seong memejamkan mata, mencengkeram sandaran tangan singgasananya erat-erat.<br><br>Kriet.<br><br>Sandaran tangan itu remuk.<br><br>Woon-seong membuka matanya.<br><br>"Raja Baut."<br><br>"Hamba mendengarkan titah Pemimpin," jawab pria itu sambil membungkuk.<br><br>Tatapan Woon-seong tampak begitu tajam. "Berapa lama waktu yang kau butuhkan untuk pulih?"<br><br>"Lima hari seharusnya sudah cukup!"<br><br>Woon-seong melirik sekilas ke tubuh pria itu dan berdecak. "Aku akan bertanya sekali lagi. Berapa hari yang kau butuhkan untuk pulih sepenuhnya?"<br><br>"......"<br><br>Raja Baut terdiam.<br><br>Lima hari adalah waktu yang diperlukan agar luka luarnya sembuh. Tapi berapa lama hingga luka dalamnya pulih?<br><br>Lukanya tidak separah milik Guru Iblis, namun tetap saja tergolong parah. Kecuali jika obat mujarab dan pil berharga digunakan, pemulihannya akan memakan waktu setengah tahun.<br><br>Raja Baut tidak menjawab, namun Woon-seong sudah bisa memperkirakannya secara kasar. Maka ia berkata, "Aku akan mendukungmu dengan murah hati agar lukamu bisa sembuh dalam sebulan."<br><br>"Anugerah Pemimpin seluas lautan!"<br><br>"Hal yang sama berlaku untuk Kapten Unit Kera Putih, harap camkan ini baik-baik."<br><br>"Dimengerti!" jawab Cheon Ah-young dengan ekspresi yang tampak sedikit lesu.<br><br>Woon-seong menoleh untuk menatap sang Strategis. "Kita akan melanjutkan perang setelah sebulan."<br><br>"Aku akan menyusun rencana."<br><br>"Tidak, kau tidak perlu mengganti rencana yang ada. Aku akan menghadapi salah satu dari kedua monster itu."<br><br>"Dan aku akan menghadapi yang satunya lagi," ucap Sang Gwan-chuk.<br><br>Woon-seong menggelengkan kepalanya.<br><br>Dua dari para Master Iblis telah terluka. Meskipun seorang Master Iblis memiliki kekuatan yang mengerikan, mereka tidak bisa berdiri sendirian.<br><br>"Strategis akan menghadapi monster satunya bersama Raja Baut yang telah pulih."<br><br>Mendengar ucapannya, sang Strategis dan Raja Tinju Delapan Baut menjawab:<br><br>"Dimengerti."<br><br>"Dimengerti."
Bab 177: Kekalahan (1)
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Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon
Chapter 177 – A Defeat (1)
Translated by : moonchildkhz
***
“Defeated?”
Jwa Do-gyu’s eyes were wide as he heard the news. He then slowly chewed on his lips.
There was a chuckle.
“Defeat, defeat...”
That smile... That was a genuine smile. To begin with, he hadn’t held any hope that the battle in Guizhou could be won.
The last thing Jwa Do-gyul wanted was for the Martial Alliance to be annihilated. Nevertheless, he was not satisfied with the damage done to the Demonic Cult.
I even gave them a bomb, but the result is only this much damage.
There was too little damage.
He raised his hand and chewed on his nails.
Tsk-tsk.
His chewed nails fell in front of him.
He didn’t like it.
Since I gave them that much firepower, they should have done more damage.
Soon, however, Jwa Do-gyul shook his head.
No. After all, Peng Ah-hu was too greedy and dumb compared to his abilities. I overestimated him.
Anyway, the purpose was achieved in Guizhou. As a result of this defeat, the power of Murim was reduced considerably. It also provided the opportunity to attract those who had not yet participated in the war.
Satisfied with that, he suddenly smiled and began writing something.
For those who were silent during the events in Murim, who should be angry...
Even as he thought to himself, he was snickering.
My sincerest apologies, it is all my fault. What a pity...
Jwa Do-gyul continued to write with a smile.
“How amusing.”
It really was ridiculous.
“But that’s what makes life fun.”
Jwa Do-gyul continued to write, laughing to himself.
The next day, an official message was delivered to several factions of the Martial Alliance.
It was a message written by the Lord of the Martial Alliance, expressing his sincerest condolences for their loss and requesting the help of others.
“Defeat...”
Woon-seong frowned on his throne.
He was not in his usual meeting room, but in the Western Army’s camp.
After hearing about their first loss from Sang Gwan-chuk, he had rushed straight here.
Sang Gwan-chuk and the Captain of the Charred Dragon Unit had also come with him.
Given that Woon-seong had run all the way over to the Western Army, it could be seen how urgent this situation was.
“Planning is with man but accomplishing is with Heaven.”
In front of Woon-seong, the Eight Bolt Blade King and Cheon Ah-young bowed their heads.
The Bolt King shouted, “We have committed a grave sin!”
Woon-seong shook his head as the man kneeled, forehead touching the floor.
“No, from ancient times, victory and defeat have not been permanent. One defeat is not a sin worthy of death. In addition, I was told that you remained until the end to ensure the safety of the other soldiers during the retreat.”
“I only did what I needed to do, but I am unworthy.”
Woon-seong waved a hand. “Just because it is something that can be done does not mean everyone will do it. We can consider it as losing the battle, but winning the war. This is the same for the Captain of the White Ape Unit and the Demonic Teacher.”
To his words, Cheon Ah-young and the Bolt King bowed their heads once again.
“I will carve the grace of the Leader into my bones.”
Woon-seong sighed.
The Demonic Teacher was not present.
No, the Demonic Teacher couldn’t be here.
This was because the old man had struggled against the enemy during the retreat and suffered gruesome injuries.
A couple of broken ribs, a sword stabbed in his diaphragm. Two black poles had slammed into his abdomen; spears. He had over ten arrows in his back.
Had the Demonic Teacher been an ordinary person, he wouldn’t be holding on. No, it would not be strange for the man to keel over and die.
However, since he was in the realm of Absolution, he was already different from the average person.
Lee Shin-jung was still breathing.
Woon-seong sighed once more. He then ordered, “Tell the doctors at the Cult to save the Demonic Teacher’s life. It is a command in the name of Heavenly Demon.”
“Understood.”
Woon-seong continued, “I heard that we were unable to recover the bodies of the victims.”
“The damage was so great and the bodies were so fragmented that it was impossible to recover them.”
“Burn the entire battlefield instead of holding a funeral. Also, erect a large memorial stone and carve all of their names onto it. I will make the monument open to the public.”
“I will carry out your command.”
After dealing with that, Woon-seong lifted a hand and pressed it against his forehead. He massaged his temples with the other hand.
Sang Gwan-chuk watched him with anxious eyes, but said nothing.
Very few people in the Cult of the Heavenly Demon knew that Woon-seong was poisoned. Among the Demonic Masters, most didn’t understand how serious it was. And it was impossible to let others know such an important fact in the middle of war.
Dissemination of this information would have a huge impact on the war ahead.
However, the Strategist could not hide his worried glaces.
Woon-seong told the Strategist he was okay with a side-eye.
Then, still sitting, he tapped his chin. “I heard that the reason for your defeat was because of two mysterious masters who intervened during the battle.”
“That is correct”
“And their presence was enough to change the tides?”
At his question, Cheon Ah-young and the Bolt King trembled. They understood what he was getting at.
A master who could change a battlefield. There were only a few such people in the world.
Only a Semi-Divine Being could turn the tide by themselves.
Now, Woon-seong was asking whether or not those two mysterious monsters were at that level.
The Eight Bolt Blade King swallowed. He had fought one of them.
What was the result?
He was unable to last 100 seconds.
“It seemed to be the boundary between Absolution and Semi-Divinity.”
Woon-seong’s eyebrows twitched.
Boundary between Absolution and Semi-Divinity.
Demonic Masters had also reached such a peak. Although there was a difference in the degree according to each person, Demonic Masters were also in a position where they could dream of being able to cross that wall.
And the Eight Bolt Blade King said these people were on the boundary between Absolution and Semi-Divinity.
So Woon-seong could not help but ask, “Is that different from a Demonic Master?”
The Blade King shook his head. “I think my words came out wrong. Their internal energy was clearly in Semi-Divinity. But...”
“But?”
The Blade King sighed at Woon-seong’s prompt. He looked like he didn’t understand himself.
“Their senses did not seem different from those in Absolution, and their swordsmanship was crude. The internal qi and understanding had reached Semi-Divinity, but they could not use their techniques properly.”
Woon-seong’s expression hardened. He had met two such masters twice.
The first was at King Jinseong’s Court. The master at that time was able to talk a bit, but still seemed incomplete.
And then what?
The second was on the battlefield.
A monster who appeared before the Immortal Poison Saint, Grand Elder of the Tang Clan.
I think they said he was the Sword Emperor of Ice and Light...?
He, too, showed an incapability to fully manifest techniques, even with qi at the level of Semi-Divinity.
It seemed like Sang Gwan-chuk was thinking of the same thing.
When their eyes met, Woon-seong could see the Strategist’s stiff expression.
At the same time, the man said, trembling, “Corpse puppet.”
Woon-seong sighed. I knew it.
Sang Gwan-chuk was thinking the same thing.
Has the Cult of the Inverted Sky really started to intervene?
That led to another question.
How did the Cult of the Inverted Sky keep putting things like that on the battlefield?
Two had already been smashed by Woon-seong.
Another two appeared in Chongqing.
That was a total of four.
They were no match for real Semi-Divine Beings, but they could be considered four well-made monsters.
How many more were there?
Woon-seong didn’t know, but there were probably more hidden somewhere.
And since they’re starting to intervene, why isn’t this organization called the Cult of the Inverted Sky on the front lines?
Besides, the Imperial Palace was under their control.
It was weird that the Imperial Palace showed no movement. If they really decided to intervene in earnest, the Inverted Sky would have mobilized the Imperial Army.
However, the Imperial Palace seemed to have not moved at all, other than sending an assassin from the Eastern Depot.
What the hell are you thinking, Inverted Sky?
Woon-seong closed his eyes, gripping the armrest of his throne tightly.
Crunch.
The armrest was crushed.
Woon-seong opened his eyes.
“Bolt King.”
“This one accepts the words of the Leader,” the man bowed and replied.
Woon-seong’s eyes were deep. “How long will it take for you to recuperate?”
“Five days should be enough!”
Woon-seong glanced over the man’s body and clicked his tongue. “I will ask again. How many days will it take for you to completely recuperate?”
“......”
The Bolt King was silent.
Five days was the time necessary for his outer wounds to heal. But how long until his internal injuries healed?
His wounds were not as severe as the Demonic Teacher’s, but they were still heavy. Unless precious elixirs and medicines were used, it would take half a year.
The Bolt King did not answer, but Woon-seong had a rough estimate. So he said, “I will support you generously so that your wounds may be healed within a month.”
“The Leader’s grace is as vast as the sea!”
“This is the same for the Captain of the White Ape Unit, please bear it in mind.”
“Understood!” Cheon Ah-young responded with a slightly dead expression.
Woon-seong turned to look at the Strategist. “We will resume the war after a month.”
“I will devise a plan.”
“No, you don’t have to replace the current plan. I will deal with one of those two monsters.”
“And I will deal with the other one,” Sang Gwan-chuk said.
Woon-seong shook his head.
Two of the Demonic Masters had already been injured. Even though a Demonic Master was terrifyingly strong, they could not stand alone.
“The Strategist will deal with the other one with the recovered Bolt King.”
To his words, the Strategist and the Eight Bolt Blade King answered:
“Understood.”
“Understood.”
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