The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Fallen Clan’s Limited Lifespan—Episode 111

‘Practical, ruthless, almost cruel in its own way. But not designed to inflict suffering. Merely leaving no aftermath.’
There had been a reason Ha Buk Peng Ga displayed such prowess in the recent battle at Blood Coral Valley.
“Hmm, if the front is strong, then the rear must be…….”
“Since this technique’s weak point lies at the back, multiple attackers from the front…….”
Dan Mok Ryeon and Mo Yong Seol Ho spoke simultaneously, then both fell silent at once. Their eyes met in an instant, and before Mo Yong Seol Ho could finish, Dan Mok Ryeon blurted out urgently.
“Make the front strong! Drive the assault! The rear is relatively disregarded, disregarded—this technique simply doesn’t account for it.”
How could she say ‘the rear is weak’ in front of the very successor of that technique? Dan Mok Ryeon possessed at least that much sense.
‘Though it seems Seol Ho doesn’t.’
“So I’m thinking—of the eight of us, five engage directly to gain the initial advantage, and of the remaining three, one positions himself at Master’s side, and the other two circle behind to attack. What do you think?”
Ak So Hyeong, who had been listening silently to Dan Mok Ryeon’s proposal, asked a question.
“The side—left or right?”
“Right.”
Mo Yong Seol Ho answered swiftly.
Ak So Hyeong glanced around, wondering if only he had failed to follow the conversation’s thread, then noticed that the other six were equally baffled—and felt slightly relieved.
“Why the right?”
At Ak So Hyeong’s follow-up question, Mo Yong Seol Ho replied.
“Master is left-handed.”
“What?”
Without thinking, all six of them turned their heads sharply toward Peng Wu Hyeok.
Realizing left and right might have confused them while facing an opponent, the younger ones clenched and unclenched their own hands, checking which side was which, then whispered softly.
“……Right now……! Master’s holding the blade in his right hand.”
This time Mo Yong Seol Ho looked toward Dan Mok Ryeon. She glanced at Peng Wu Hyeok, covered her mouth, and smiled.
“That’s a deception. He made everyone naturally assume he’s right-handed. Even if someone observant happened to notice something, he’s made them believe he’s right-handed.”
“Then how do you know he’s left-handed?”
Peng Ju Ran’s face showed a hint of chill.
“His left arm is thicker than his right. His left leg is positioned slightly more forward than his right.”
“You can……see that?”
Ak So Hyeong asked with a deflated expression, but Dan Mok Ryeon didn’t answer and continued rapidly.
“Master would never ignore someone who goes behind him—so whoever handles the rear attack must have deep understanding of their own martial skill and the quickness to respond with wit. They must be skilled beyond just the Jeong Gong Beop, so I’d like Mae Sin Yu and Peng Ju Ran to take those positions.”
“…….”
“…….”
Everyone fell silent as Dan Mok Ryeon laid out her words, until Mo Yong Seol Ho spoke.
“But I’m the strongest, aren’t I? Shouldn’t I be the one going behind?”
“No, you…….”
Dan Mok Ryeon’s mind went blank for a moment, and she gripped her brow. In that gap, Ak So Hyeong objected.
“Hey! What……what kind of thing are you saying?”
“Then am I wrong? Are you stronger than me?”
Mo Yong Seol Ho countered calmly, as if genuinely curious whether they believed this. Ak So Hyeong’s face flushed crimson.
They had all undergone Autonomous Training together the previous evening.
The reason Mo Yong Seol Ho didn’t immediately deny his words when hearing Dan Mok Ryeon’s opinion, but instead gently suggested ‘wouldn’t it be better if I go?’ was precisely because of that.
He held that Dan Mok Ryeon’s judgment—even if different from his own—might not be wrong.
And as a result, all of them had already come to feel the gap in their strengths.
Dan Mok Ryeon spoke so rapidly she nearly gasped.
“No, Seol Ho—you have to draw Master’s attention from the front so the others can slip behind him. Since this technique is strong at the front, we who face it also need to be strong at the front, don’t we?”
“That makes sense. I understand. I’ll be at the front. Then what about you?”
“I’ll be at the side. Seo Geuk Rim and you at the front line. With Geum Jong Ha and Ak So Hyeong as the foundation, and still-young Dan Mok Bi at the very back of the front—she faces Master between the two rear attackers’ strikes.”
“Got it.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
“Yesss!”
Mo Yong Seol Ho, Seo Geuk Rim, Mae Sin Yu, and Dan Mok Bi answered in turn. With eight in the group, if one person offered an opinion and four agreed, the remaining three had no choice but to follow quietly.
Still, Peng Ju Ran gripped Dan Mok Ryeon’s sleeve with a somewhat anxious expression.
“Of course I don’t need to say it, but I’ve never once covered Father’s rear. I’ve never even thought of trying such a thing.”
“So you start thinking about it from now on.”
“That…… is that so?”
“Truth is, with eight of us, we’re at more of a disadvantage. We haven’t even had a chance to coordinate our movements…….”
“Even so, we have to do what we can. Giving up before we start isn’t the mark of a true warrior.”
Mo Yong Seol Ho spoke with stern conviction. Peng Ju Ran stared at him with an exhausted expression.
“If Father beat you senseless, maybe your thinking would change. Even you.”
“Regardless, we must face the challenge with unbreakable spirit.”
“No, that’s…… no…… never mind, I’ll do my best…….”
Dan Mok Ryeon thought briefly that she wished Dan Mok Seong were here, then moved the children apart.
“Ah! And has anyone here tried the Hap Gyeok Jin?”
Dan Mok Ryeon gauged how much time remained. She’d read books on the Hap Gyeok Jin—a formation developed for a group to face a stronger opponent—but had never applied it in actual combat.
“Isn’t that kind of cowardly? Many fighting one person?”
“What’s truly cowardly is condoning evil by hiding behind such excuses.”
……!”
Ak So Hyeong looked as though he might cry out at Mo Yong Seol Ho contradicting him again, but soon found himself turning away, exhausted by the clarity in those bright eyes.
“Damn it, backing away like filth scares you…….”
“So Hyeong, if you have complaints, speak them clearly. Muttering like that won’t…….”
This time Dan Mok Ryeon jumped in, her face just as exasperated, and spoke quickly.
“Fine, no one’s done it before, I get it! I get it! So for now—the front line, Seol Ho and Geuk Rim, you both use sword techniques, so the most basic is thrusts, and you’re both right-handed, so in the very back row, leftmost is Jong Ha, center is Dan Mok Bi, right side is So Hyeong. How’s that?”
……Um.”
Mo Yong Seol Ho’s eyebrows rose. Dan Mok Ryeon knew he’d caught the significance hidden in this formation.
Geum Jong Ha on the far left would be able to unfold his Dao techniques without interference from the front line. She was counting on a portion of his strength—but Mo Yong Seol Ho seemed to interpret that as a lack of faith in his sword work.
“None of us can break the Yi Hyeol Do right now. We do the best we can with what we have. And Sin Yu goes behind me, Ju Ran goes left of the Yi Hyeol Do and around to the back.”
“My father’s left-handed, and you’re telling me to go left?”
Dan Mok Ryeon grasped both his hands firmly, her expression earnest.
“He’s your father—you know him best. You’ll be the most capable among us.”
It was a word meant to encourage him, but Peng Ju Ran shook his head violently and yanked his hands away as if startled.
“That look on your face! That glint in your eye! It won’t work on me. Only So Hyeong falls for stuff like that!”
“What? What am I supposed to be then? What?”
Suddenly called out, Ak So Hyeong spun around.
While Dan Mok Ryeon looked at Ak So Hyeong with a soft smile and soothed him with gentle words, Peng Ju Ran passed over Mo Yong Seol Ho—knowing nothing he said would get through—and leaned in close to Geum Jong Ha.
“See? The only one she can coax and persuade into doing whatever she wants is So Hyeong. Not me.”
Peng Ju Ran spoke while backing away as if shuddering, but Geum Jong Ha merely glanced at him with eyes like a Buddha regarding a suffering soul.
‘They say strong denial is strong affirmation…….’

When that time had fully passed, Peng Wu Hyeok quietly opened his eyes. If it were just children in their teens huddling together and spinning out stratagems, it would be nothing but amusing, but not all groups were the same.
‘Hmm. Dan Mok Ryeon, was it? I heard she’s taking the lead in this Gyeong Hang Un Ryeon autonomous training as well…….’
He’d only thought the child had recovered from illness and was brimming with energy, but the whispers they exchanged among themselves were remarkably logical and lucid.
Even if the strategists of the Martial Alliance gathered to devise a plan, if tasked with conceiving a way to fight a battle with such a disparity in numbers and strength, it would scarcely differ from this.
Peng Wu Hyeok held back Dan Mok Ryeon’s group for last and methodically worked through the children one by one.
Some moved about with obvious resignation, certain they couldn’t accomplish anything from the start, while others showed unexpected resourcefulness.
‘Hmm. I’ve heard this one seized the Dao alone within the Dan Mok Clan…….’
He’d learned of it through the prattle of his son Peng Ju Ran. Children who walk a different path than others shine differently even from their youth.
When facing the group that included Dan Mok Seong, Peng Wu Hyeok took extra care.
His son would’ve said he just beat her with all his might if he’d been watching, but regardless, he did take the care.
And when he finally faced the group containing Nam Gung Seo Geon, the one he’d been watching most closely before arriving at the Nam Gung clan, Peng Wu Hyeok inwardly clicked his tongue.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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