Chapter 1314
I think I know? (4)
In battle, gaining the high ground is absolute.
Especially when it’s unreachable airspace, its utility is beyond words.
Consider this: a space where you can’t throw your body, nor exert strength against the ground.
What if you were to be caught in that airspace while rain pours down from the sky?
“Th-There!”
Though the cliffs span twenty or so jang, the time it takes to fall is brief. Yet, for those who live their lives in split-second moments, that short time is never truly short.
Those who were descending hastily looked upward, their comrades, were seen falling down, their clothes fluttering in the wind.
And then, like a deluge, crimson rain poured down from above.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Countless sword energies, leaving long afterimages like drops of blood, relentlessly pierced through the bodies of the black-clad warriors with a forceful momentum.
“Aaaaagh!”
One after another, the descending sword strikes pierced through flesh, again and again.
The sensation of thick steel needles piercing through various parts of the body was keenly felt, and amidst that agony, the only thing one could do was to scream.
Some desperately attempted to fend off the torrent of sword energy with erratic swings of their swords, but in the empty air where there was nowhere to step, it was simply impossible to block all the sword energy raining down like a torrent.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Crimson sword energy, tearing through the energy enveloping their bodies, mercilessly impaled into their fragile flesh.
Piercing through muscles, shattering bones, and tearing through organs, it penetrated one body after another, it went through one enemy and embedded into the flesh of another.
“Aaaaargh!”
Blood gushed out from the gaping wounds, mixing with the crimson downpour of sword energy, turning the once blood-like energy into a thicker and darker blood rain.
“Uwaaaaah!”
Yet, humans instinctively fight for survival at any given moment. What caught the eyes of those who realized they couldn’t evade the strikes in mid-air was none other than the nearby cliff.
In the eyes of the black-clad warriors, momentarily, a hint of venomous intent flickered.
For those unable to tread through the empty air, their chosen foothold became none other than the bodies of their comrades.
Despite training together and traversing the fire pits of hell, under the absolute will of survival, their comrades were no more than a rotten straw bales.
Thud!
The warriors in black ruthlessly kicked aside those beside them, propelling themselves towards the cliff face with the recoil.
“Huh!”
Those desperately wielding their swords to fend off the sword energy from above found themselves unable to withstand the unexpected impact from behind, losing their balance.
They were pushed back by the torrent of bloody rain.
What would happen next was all too predictable.
“Khhhaaaaaa!”
A desperate scream echoed fiercely.
The enemies clung desperately to the cliff. Of course, just because they clung to the cliff didn’t mean the sword energy wouldn’t come, but there was a world of difference between defending against pouring rain of sword energy with their whole bodies in mid-air and only defending against the sword energy pouring down while anchoring themselves in place.
However, they soon faced yet another problem.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In the eyes of the black-clad warriors who wildly swung their swords, veins bulged with determination as they deflected the raindrop-like sword energy.
‘I can block them!’
The power imbued in each drop was not formidable. If not for the empty air, they could block them somehow.
So, he needed to inform the other comrades of this fact. He was about to shout with all his might, intending to infuse his voice with internal strength.
Whoosh!
In an instant, a searing pain erupted from his back, as if flames were licking at his spine.
“Gnnnh…”
Sensing his fate with a single snap of his spine, he forcibly turned his head.
Crack.
In that moment, someone trampled down on his waist and shoulders, propelling themselves up.
Caught in the recoil, he watched as he fell down.
The image of a person soaring up a cliff like a bird.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Seizing the moment when everyone’s attention was diverted, a figure clad in the black robe of Hwasan swiftly moved along the cliff, decisively cutting off one life after another.
“That… bastard!”
Only then did the warriors in black realize the presence of their attacker below and hastily defended themselves, wielding their swords in a wide radius.
Swish!
Yu Iseol calmly propelled herself off the cliff and leaped into the air. Though the situation was dire, her movement was nothing short of graceful, leaving no room for expression other than elegance.
Like water flowing smoothly, she gracefully extended her sword.
Slash!
At that moment, like a fierce hawk chasing its prey, Chung Myung immediately extended his sword.
It was the moment when Chung Myung’s Dark Plum Sword and Yu Iseol’s Plum Blossom Sword gently met in the air.
Swirl.
The two utilized each other’s strength to rotate their bodies.
Clang!
In succession, their swords pushed each other away. Leveraging the recoil, they each flew towards different cliffs.
Thud!
Their feet hitting the cliff with terrifying force, the two landed safely.
Under the sky that gained its original color, bathed in the descending sunlight, their swords gleamed brighter than ever before.
There was no leisure to gaze upon anything calmly.
Yet, in this moment, disciples not only from Haenam but also from Hwasan found themselves lost, gazing at the cliff.
“…Sasuk.”
Jo Geol spoke, his voice half-fazed.
“Can Sasuk do something like that?”
At his words, Baek Cheon glanced upward.
The two figures moving across the cliff as if it were flat ground, relentlessly striking down the enemies, left no moment for respite.
A faint laugh escaped Baek Cheon’s lips.
“…Can’t even imitate it.”
Baek Cheon didn’t consider himself weaker than Yu Iseol.
She was undoubtedly strong, but he had confidence in himself as well.
However, that’s a story for being on flat ground.
If they were to fight on that cliff face, Baek Cheon was confident enough to drop his sword and beg for mercy before Yu Iseol even unleashed her sword.
At least in terms of Light Body Arts*, there was no one at Hwasan who could match Yu Iseol.
That brat Chung Myung was out of the question from the start, but even if Baek Cheon devoted his entire life to training, catching up to Yu Iseol’s light arts technique would be an impossible task.
“Still, in the water, I’d win.”
“…Understood, Sasuk.”
Baek Cheon’s face twisted for a moment and then he silently looked up the cliff.
While Chung Myung and Yu Iseol momentarily severed the breath of many black-clad warriors, there were still more of them above their heads.
However, the crucial point was that the enemies were now clinging to the cliff, having already shown their tactics once.
There’s no need to argue about how crucial the appropriate timing is at war.
Though they attempted to strike again upon realizing that the crimson sword energy falling from above had lost its power, they weren’t fools to underestimate those below.
“Attack!”
The moment Geum Yangbaek’s thunderous voice burst out, the disciples of Haenam fired all their sword energy at the tip of their swords towards the cliff face.
Even if they didn’t reach the point of momentarily emitting sword energy upon clashing the swords, which could severely injure the enemy, if they were given enough time to prepare, the situation would change.
Like waves crashing in the sea, blue sword energy surged forth towards the black-clad enemies.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Those who were about to leap off the cliff were consecutively struck down by the sword energy rising from below.
While their own swords didn’t harm Chung Myung, the sword energy unleashed by Haenam’s disciples was definitely cutting them down.
“Euaaaaaaaa!”
As they watched those whose breath was cut off falling down, Geum Yangbaek clenched his fist.
Extreme tactics always come with opportunities and risks. If executed properly, they can yield immense gains, but if they fail, they leave one vulnerable to a counterattack.
There’s no need to explain the vast difference between suddenly confronting those who had fell from above and leisurely shoot sword energy and those descending the cliff.
The ones who reversed the situation were the two who suddenly surged upwards.
How was such a thing possible?
In a situation where every direction was blocked, the enemy was pouring down from above. Even those who had fought countless battles in Gangho would dumbfounded and at a loss for what to do.
At best, they could have fortified their defenses. How could they come up with the idea of targeting above the enemy, preventing them from descending straight down?
It was a momentary decision.
If Geum Yangbaek had been in command, could he have handled this situation?
‘There’s nothing to think about.’
Without those two, the enemies would have already infiltrated their ranks, cutting down disciples of Haenam.
Or perhaps they wouldn’t even have been able to enter the gorge.
If he had stubbornly insisted on his pride, Haenam’s fate would have already been sealed.
“Sect Leader!”
In that moment, Baek Cheon’s booming shout pierced through Geum Yangbaek’s ears.
As he snapped back to reality, he witnessed the balck-clad warriors, cut by the sword energy, spraying blood as they fell below. Yet, amidst them, some managed to evade the strikes.
“Block them!”
“Yes!”
Upon Geum Yangbaek’s command, the elders of Haenam surged up without hesitation. Supported by their resolve, the elders’ venomous swords mercilessly cut down the faltering enemies.
Observing the situation from a distance, Baek Cheon turned his head.
In such circumstances, there was no reason to stand by and watch any longer.
While many of them might have been knocked unconscious and fallen below, having already lost their momentum and sustained injuries, they wouldn’t be able to withstand Haenam’s offensive in the end.
Then what remained?
“Kuuuuung!”
Hye Yeon’s fist pushed back the enemies in an instant. It was still a remarkable sight, but Baek Cheon didn’t miss the sight of the opponent, hit by Hye Yeon’s fist, staggering back but still maintaining consciousness as they scraped the ground.
“Dieeeee!”
In no time, the enemies, fueled by malice, collectively thrust their spears at Hye Yeon.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Hye Yeon’s hands traced large circles as he deflected all three spears. However, one of the deflected spears stopped in midair before swiftly flying back towards Hye Yeon at an even faster speed.
Swish!
The sharp tip of the spear was ready to touch Hye Yeon’s chest. Sensing that he couldn’t block it, Hye Yeon grited his teeth and gathered his inner strength to his chest in a moment of desperation.
Kaaaang!
A sword flying from behind swiftly striked the spear that was about to hit Hye Yeon’s chest, deflecting it in an instant.
Whoosh!
Subsequently, the unleashed sword energy cut through the neck of the spear-wielder, who fell to the ground, spraying blood.
Momentarily stunned by the sight of the fallen enemy, Hye Yeon snaped back to reality.
“Switch!”
“V-Vice Sect Leader!”
Seeing Baek Cheon, Hye Yeon shouted.
“But I’m still-!”
“I understand. But you mustn’t exhaust yourself here. Please assist at the rear! It’s too much for Young Lord Tang to handle alone.”
Upon hearing this, Hye Yeon glanced towards the rear.
“Hurry!”
“…Yes!”
Hye Yeon nodded and stepped back.
Then, two figures flew in to Baek Cheon’s left and right.
Thunk. Thunk.
Jo Geol on the left. Yoon Jong on the right.
Standing in the center, Baek Cheon raised his sword and spoke.
“Feels like we’ve delayed too long, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed, there’s some truth to that.”
“No need to drag this out.”
A smile crept onto Baek Cheon’s lips.
Hye Yeon is remarkable.
Namgung Dowi is impressive.
But still, for Baek Cheon, these two were undoubtedly the most reliable in the world.
“Let’s go in one breath, all the way to the end of this gorge!”
“Yes!”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
Baek Cheon, Jo Geol, and Yoon Jong – the three swordsmen of Hwasan – rushed towards the enemies in one swift motion.
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