Chapter 1305
What the heck is this guy? (5)
Jo Geol looked ahead with tense eyes.
“Sahyeong….”
“Shh.”
But before his mouth could open, Yoon Jong silenced him with a menacing glare.
Yoon Jong, silently scanning the scene through the dense foliage, hardened his expression.
A narrow gorge.
More accurately described as a split in a cliff than a gorge, numerous people were encamped along the narrow path.
Their momentum seemed to reach even this remote spot.
“Let’s go back.”
“Yes.”
Yoon Jong and Jo Geol turned cautiously.
With each move forward, the bushes rustled.
Though faint, the sound was akin to nails on a chalkboard, sending shivers down their spines.
Carefully maneuvering to avoid disturbing the bushes, the two moved forward cautiously, then broke into a sprint as they reached the backside of the mountain.
After a considerable distance, they entered the deep forest at the foot of the mountain.
As they delved deeper into the dense forest, even sunlight struggled to penetrate, and a stillness enveloped them.
“It’s us!”
As Jo Geol shouted, the incoming hostility seemed to dissipate as if washed away.
Jumping over the waist-high bushes, Jo Geol glanced briefly at those seated before him.
Disciples from Haenam were scattered about, taking rest here and there.
‘…It has decreased quite a bit.’
Jo Geol’s expression darkened slightly.
Having briefly stepped away and returned, the situation appeared more objectively clear.
The number had noticeably dwindled since their arrival at the coast.
It wasn’t just a slight decrease, there was a more significant change in the aura they emitted.
The menacing energy emanating from Haenam’s swordsmen’s gazes, occasionally directed at Jo Geol, was palpable.
It wasn’t hostility towards Jo Geol specifically.
Despite having rested here for quite some time, the tension and energy from the previous battles still lingered, refusing to dissipate easily.
Their clothes, soaked with sweat and mud, were almost unrecognizable in their original color, and their faces were caked with blood and dust.
Their lips were dry and cracked, and the shadows beneath their weary eyes made their faces appear even more burdened.
They looked more like weary soldiers than martial arts sect’s members.
Jo Geol realized anew just how much they had changed.
If he hadn’t traveled with them to this point, Jo Geol wouldn’t have believed that the exhausted figures now seated before him were the same people he had seen in Haenam.
‘It’s only been a few days.’
Of course, it wasn’t as if Jo Geol couldn’t relate to them.
The trials they had faced in just a few days far exceeded the hardships most people would experience in years.
Jo Geol had met Chung Myung and gradually matured, if he had been thrust into the battlefield as suddenly as they had, he might have been similar.
Or perhaps even more overwhelmed.
Or maybe he wouldn’t have even reached such a point.
Because he wouldn’t have survived this far.
Lost in thought as he walked, Jo Geol flinched at the sensation under his foot for a moment.
He quickly lifted his foot.
“Oh… I’m sorry!”
What he had stepped on was a sword placed on the ground by one of Haenam’s disciples.
It was more accurate to say it had been thrown down or abandoned.
Nevertheless, touching someone else’s cherished possession without permission was incredibly rude.
Even lightly touching someone else’s sword could result in a duel.
And now, he had even stepped on it with his foot…
However, Haenam’s disciple said nothing even after seeing his sword being stepped on.
Merely giving Jo Geol a fleeting glance, Haenam’s disciple silently retrieved his stepped-on sword and casually tossed it in front of him.
He didn’t bother to brush off the mud transferred from Jo Geol’s shoe onto the sword.
At that moment, Yoon Jong approached quietly and sighed.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Sahyeong.”
Nodding, Jo Geol followed behind Yoon Jong.
The recent scene lingered uncomfortably in his mind.
‘It’s still his sword, though.’
As a disciple of Hwasan, Jo Geol had also been taught to cherish his sword like his own life.
Education was like ink gradually soaking into white cloth, and if you heard the same thing for a long time, you unknowingly began to abide by it.
The disciples of Haenam, renowned for their strict upbringing as members of Gupailbang, would have received even more rigorous education than those of Hwasan.
Yet here was a Haenam’s disciple treating his sword like a mere stick, casually tossing it aside.
Was he so exhausted that he treated a sword as important as life itself so carelessly?
Or perhaps here, even life itself was considered trivial?
Jo Geol shook his head, clearing his mind of such meaningless thoughts.
It was all futile speculation.
The two halted their steps as they reached where the members of Cheonumaeng were gathered.
“Sasuk.”
At Yoon Jong’s call, Baek Cheon, who had been discussing something with Im Sobyeong, looked up.
“Have you been there?”
“Yes, Sasuk.”
“How’s the situation?”
“Not good.”
Yoon Jong explained with a stern expression.
“The gorge ahead is much narrower than anticipated.”
“How does it compare to the location of the Black Dragon’s Fortress last time?”
“It seems even narrower.”
Baek Cheon’s face darkened slightly.
Entering the valley leading to the Black Dragon’s Fortress was already challenging due to its height and steepness, making it difficult to defend against attacks from above.
But if it was even narrower, there would be nowhere to escape, making it even more dangerous.
“And the enemies?”
“They’re blocking every possible exit. Due to the narrowness of the gorge, it may not seem like there are many from the outside, but they could be encamped much farther back. And assuming they’ve set up a wide formation near the exit… there could easily be over five hundred.”
“…Five hundred.”
Baek Cheon repeated calmly.
Despite his composed voice, deep down, Baek Cheon felt far from being at ease.
‘It seems endless.’
The number of enemies they had encountered on their journey here was countless.
In just a few days, they had caused more deaths than in their entire lives.
Yet, the enemy’s reinforcements seemed to outnumber their losses.
Now, beyond being discouraged, a sense of despair crept in.
“What about bypassing the gorge and climbing the mountain?”
“The terrain is extremely steep. Whether the disciples of Haenam can keep up remains to be seen…”
“…There could be ambushes as well.”
“Most likely. We sensed their presence as if brushing past us.”
Baek Cheon nodded.
While Jo Geol might not know, if Yoon Jong had confirmed it, it was likely true.
Enemies lying in ambush on cliffs were nothing to disciples of Hwasan.
In fact, it might even be easier for them than enemies lurking on flat ground.
However, not everyone here was a disciple of Hwasan.
Without even mentioning Haenam, just considering the likes of Namgung Dowi or Tang Pae, they wouldn’t be able to utilize even half of their skills on the cliff.
Except for may be Im Sobyeong, who had lived on the mountains like they were his own home.
Baek Cheon glanced at one person in particular.
Chung Myung was leaning against a tree, his eyes closed.
Baek Cheon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
He had thought that when he saw him hanging the disciples of Hwasan on the cliffs or throwing them underwater, he was just finding efficient ways to torment them.
Yet, time and time again, he had come to realize something anew here.
That all of their training had meaning.
Of course, in a peaceful world, such training might have been meaningless.
But in the midst of ongoing war, every experience gained from training could potentially save their lives.
‘Did he anticipate all of this?’
It was impossible to know. But it was also impossible to ask.
Since entering this battle, Chung Myung had been extremely quiet.
And during moments of rest, he would close his eyes like now, focusing solely on recovering his strength.
As if to ensure he could fight for even just one more moment.
Baek Cheon understood. That was the right thing to do.
In meetings like these, half of the conversations exchanged are often meaningless.
It might be a constant exchange of dialogue, consuming energy, just to suppress the anxiety gnawing at one’s chest, to reassure oneself that they aren’t going down the wrong path.
But Chung Myung, as if devoid of any emotions, mechanically carried out tasks that needed to be done.
To the point where there were moments of doubt whether he was truly the same Chung Myung they had known.
“Sasuk?”
Baek Cheon took a long breath and then turned his gaze to the other side.
“Nokrim King.”
“Yes.”
“What are your thoughts?”
Scratching his head with the fan handle out of habit, Im Sobyeong spoke.
“Taking a detour would be the most prudent option, but… in war, we can’t always follow the path of being rational.”
Baek Cheon nodded.
A detour would only prolong the time of escape.
If the rate at which enemies were replenishing exceeded the rate at which they were being defeated, as time passed, they would have to face even more adversaries.
“As for the rear…”
“I recommend not considering it.”
Im Sobyeong shrugged.
“Well, there’s no definite answer even if we do consider it. For now, we should focus on moving forward.”
He’s right.
However, as Im Sobyeong had mentioned earlier, there are times when knowing what’s right and actually carrying it out are difficult.
Despite trying to erase it from his mind, he couldn’t shake off the thought that a large group of enemies was still trailing behind them.
‘They’ve probably reached nearby by now.’
How far was it? Two hours away? Or just one?
Given that they had stopped here, they must have covered a considerable distance within at least an hour.
“So, ultimately, we’ll have to break through.”
Baek Cheon looked at the exhausted disciples of Haenam.
Could they endure the fierce battle that would follow from now on?
They had barely rested since yesterday, let alone today.
It’s a time where even closing your eyes is impossible, let alone having insufficient time for meditation.
They were pushed to the limit just by running, yet they had to endure the threat to their lives for days.
Could they withstand this battle?
“…Let’s consider a way around it.”
“Vice Sect Leader.”
“It’s not about avoiding it. We need to be realistic. Yoon Jong, how does the enemy’s level seem?”
Yoon Jong, with a stoic face, spoke calmly.
“It’s not certain, but it seemed like there were some from Sapaeryeon. I sensed strong, eerie energy from them.”
Baek Cheon reiterated to Im Sobyeong.
“Even if we break through there, if the casualties escalate, it’s meaningless. And even if the casualties aren’t significant, if we exhaust everything there, we’ll have no choice but to be chased and killed.”
“Hmm.”
“We need to avoid the falling rain. Just passing through there isn’t the end, right?”
There was logic in Baek Cheon’s words.
Im Sobyeong remained silent, his expression hardened as he was lost in thought.
Then, suddenly, another voice interjected.
“Let’s go through the gorge.”
Baek Cheon turned his gaze sharply.
Chung Myung, who had suddenly opened his eyes, approached with his sword at his waist.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“We just need to get through there.”
“…Chung Myung. Maybe for you, but for them…”
“Sasuk.”
Baek Cheon closed his mouth.
“We just need to get through there.”
Baek Cheon, who had been hesitant about what to answer, eventually nodded.
When Chung Myung spoke like that, there was always a reason.
Wasn’t he the one who originally decided on this escape route anyway?
Baek Cheon spoke.
“Let’s go with that plan. But remember, if the casualties become too high, breaking through won’t matter.”
“Casualties?”
Chung Myung sneered as if it was something funny.
His exposed white teeth looked eerie.
“You need to see the situation clearly, you desk-bound scholars.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Even if there’s a bypass, I’m going there.”
As Baek Cheon looked at him with confusion, Chung Myung continued bluntly.
“In narrow paths, we won’t be surrounded. We just need to deal with the enemies in front of us, right?”
Baek Cheon’s hand trembled slightly for a moment.
But Chung Myung, whether aware of his unease or not, just coldly smirked.
“Whether it’s a hundred or a thousand, as long as we keep cutting, the path will open. Where else is there a better route?”
Baek Cheon ignored the chill creeping up his spine and sighed.
“…When shall we depart?”
“Right now.”
A grim expression flashed in Chung Myung’s eyes.
“Prepare yourselves. It’s going to be worse than you think.”
Everyone nodded with serious expressions.
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