Chapter 1339
What has happened? (2)
Ho Gamyeong clenched and loosened his fist repeatedly, feeling a tingling sensation in his fingertips.
After a moment, he opened his eyes.
‘The variables?’
He reviewed it ten times, twenty times, but there were no more variables left. Yet, he didn’t tire and continued to entertain the possibility of remaining variables.
‘None.’
No matter how much he thought, nothing else came to mind. There was no way out, not even if it were Shaolin trapped inside, rather than Hwasan.
“Finally…”
A long sigh escaped from Ho Gamyeong’s lips.
After a long and arduous pursuit from Hainan to this point, they had finally succeeded in cornering them into a dead end. It came at the cost of many sacrifices.
“Commander!”
The subordinates’ faces reflected the gravity of the situation. It was only natural, considering they had finally pushed them to the point of no escape. Now, only slaughter remained.
However, Ho Gamyeong, who orchestrated it all, showed no change in demeanor. He simply looked upon the path trapped between the mountains with a calm gaze.
‘Nokrim King.’
Nokrim King must have believed he could still manipulate the situation to his advantage. After all, he had never experienced a proper defeat. While he had lost battles due to differences in troops, he had always been confident that he would never lose in a battle of wits.
Ho Gamyeong’s trap was precisely aimed at the arrogance of Im Sobyeong.
‘Fighting in enemy territory is just like this.’
Nokrim was familiar with mountains, especially Im Sobyeong, who seemed to have an uncanny understanding of the terrain. It was as if he had memorized the geography of every mountain in the world.
However, even someone like him might not have had the topography of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in mind. After all, Nokrim had never set foot in those mountains.
Nokrim wasn’t one to dwell in the mountains where people rarely tread. They were accustomed to places frequented by human activity. Therefore, he had little interest in the desolate Hundred Thousand Mountains.
But Ho Gamyeong was different.
This was Guangdong, a place where Maninbang had fought numerous battles. While he might not know the intricacies of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, he undoubtedly had a thorough understanding of the routes leading from Guangdong to the mountain rage.
Therefore, the only thing Ho Gamyeong had to do was to make them believe they were making all the choices themselves.
“Commander! Please, issue the order.”
“Wait.”
“How…?”
Ho Gamyeong spoke with emotionless eyes fixed ahead.
“We must wait until everyone is certain they’ve fallen into the trap. Without that knowledge, it’s no different from engaging in a frontal assault.”
Ho Gamyeong clenched and loosened his fist slowly and lightly.
“Once they realize they’ve fallen into the trap, the situation will change. People usually fall into despair at such times.”
“But… But couldn’t we strike while they’re vulnerable?”
“Fighting with your back to a cliff is completely different from accidentally stumbling upon a cliff. In the end, one becomes unable to do anything about the feeling of despair that comes over them. Forcibly brought up heat can quickly cool down with even a small breeze.”
“Oh…”
“We just need to wait a little longer. It won’t be much time.”
The subordinate’s fingertips trembled slightly.
Like catching a rat, they finally pushed the enemy into the trap. Even in such a situation, Ho Gamyeong remained calm and collected, without a hint of excitement.
His calmness was unmatched, something that set Ho Gamyeong apart and earned him fame throughout Gangho.
“If they try to escape, that’s fine too.”
“Yes.”
“Then it would be enough to stab and kill those halfway up the cliff.”
“Um… Did you have this place in mind from the beginning, commander?”
Ho Gamyeong furrowed his brow slightly, showing displeasure at the question. But the subordinate, preoccupied with his own thoughts, didn’t notice his demeanor.
With a light sigh, Ho Gamyeong replied.
“If I were Ryeonju, perhaps.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If I were Ryeonju, it would be possible. Driving them from Hainan to here, such an absurd feat.”
“…”
“But I am not Ryeonju. No, I cannot be Ryeonju. I am just a Sapa. So, I can only produce similar results, not by the same process.”
The subordinate tilted his head in confusion, not fully grasping the meaning behind Ho Gameyong’s words. How could the results be the same when the process was different?
“When you say the same results?”
“There are over ten terrains suitable for driving them into while leaving Guangdong.”
“…”
“This is just one of them. If they had chosen a different path, we would have driven them there.”
The subordinate stared blankly at Ho Gamyeong.
Commander said that he chose this method because he was not as good as Jang Ilso, but in the eyes of his subordinate, he could not tell which one was greater.
For Ho Gamyeong, this was all too natural. To interject into the colossal conflict of ‘all under heaven [천하(天下)]’ required relentless struggle and defiance, to the point of breaking one’s fingernails.
If one couldn’t do that, they had no right to stand by Jang Ilso’s side.
‘Im Sobyeong, you are still too young.’
Certainly, Nokrim King was remarkable. However, even such a person eventually couldn’t escape the limitations of ‘a genius.’
Ho Gamyeong had admitted his status as an ordinary Sapa early on, but Im Sobyeong still harbored the confidence that he wouldn’t fall behind anyone in the world in at least one aspect.
That difference resulted in the current outcome. A person who is convinced doesn’t doubt their own victory.
“It’s time.”
Ho Gamyeong slowly loosened his tightly clenched fist.
“Attack. We must kill them all without leaving a single one behind.”
“Yes!”
As soon as Ho Gamyeong’s order fell, the subordinates commanded the attack with terrifying swiftness.
The many surviving Maninbang’s warriors, who had been waiting only for their master’s command, began to rush forward. Their movement resembled a landslide pouring down a mountainside.
Ho Gamyeong moistened his parched lips, which had dried up unnoticed.
There was clearly no room for variables. However, there remained one possibility that he might not achieve his goal: if the people from Cheonumaeng decided to abandon Haenam and flee up the cliffs by themselves.
If they made that choice, it would be difficult to cut off their escape from this place.
Considering Cheonumaeng’s usual behavior, it may seem like a variable not worth considering. However, at this moment, it’s worth thinking about.
None other than Hwasan Geomhyeop is unconscious.
While Hwasan Geomhyeop will undoubtedly not back down, the actions of others are uncertain. In the final moments, people tend to reveal their true nature.
However…
‘If that happens, they can no longer be Cheonumaeng.’
Ho Gamyeong understands. Sometimes, human worth comes from something intangible, not easily quantified.
This applies not only to them but also to Jang Ilso.
Can Jang Ilso, having lost its ambition and satisfied with reality, be able to exert the same influence as he has now?
Absolutely not.
Even if the strength possessed were equal… No, even if the objective power increased, Jang Ilso would never aspire to more than that.
The value of Jang Ilso lies in his reputation itself.
They, too, are the same.
If, in the final moment, they abandon what they had sought to protect and flee with only their lives barely intact, can they truly be called Cheonumaeng?
At that moment, they die.
They may preserve their lives, but Cheonumaeng who had built up a status equal to Gupailbang and even pressured Sapaeryeon will cease to exist.
Even if it’s a path that Hwasan Geomhyeop did not choose himself, the responsibility will fall back on Hwasan Gwomhyeop. At that moment, the members of the Just Sects will lose their focal point.
‘I’m curious.’
What choice will they make?
Will they uphold the righteousness they’ve always boasted about, preserving the name while letting themselves perish? Or will they save their pathetic lives and throw that name to a dung heap?
Ho Gamyeong stared ahead with cold eyes.
The agitated screams and footsteps from Maninbang’s warriors pierced his ears like music. Soon, someone’s scream would start to mingle in there.
‘Is this what’s left to be done?’
Whatever happens, the fact remains that he defied Jang Ilso’s orders. And the fact remains that he suffered immense losses at the hands of a small number of enemies.
So, naturally, he must bear the responsibility.
Even if it means giving up his life in return, Ho Gamyeong would never regret it.
If by sacrificing his life, Jang Ilso can become one step closer to his grand ambition, he would gladly smile even in the afterlife.
A faint smile appeared on Ho Gamyeong’s lips. It seemed like the first genuine smile he had made since encountering them.
But strangely, the expected screams did not come. Instead, a peculiar sight began to unfold.
Some of Maninbang’s warriors who had rushed into the canyon were now emerging and running back.
‘What’s going on?’
A situation report? No, this doesn’t seem like a situation that would require one.
“C-Commander!”
One of them bowed before him.
“What happened?”
“T-They’ve disappeared.”
For a moment, Ho Gamyeong couldn’t grasp the meaning of those words. He had considered every possibility, but the situation reported by them was not among them, causing confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
“T-They vanished!”
Ho Gamyeong stared blankly at the bowing individuals.
“Vanished?”
“Yes!”
“Gone?”
The bowing people held their breath. They couldn’t possibly be unaware of how absurd this situation was.
“They climbed the cliff?”
“T-There are no traces! They simply vanished. Like illusions…”
“Are you trying to tell me that?!”
Ho Gamyeong shouted like thunder. Everyone was startled and looked at him in astonishment. They had never seen Ho Gamyeong raise his voice like this before.
“Move aside!”
Pushing aside the bowing individuals, Ho Gamyeong rushed forward himself.
‘This can’t be happening!’
If only Cheonumaeng had disappeared, leaving Haenam behind, he could at least understand. But for all of Haenam’s disciples to vanish without a trace was unthinkable.
Unless they had truly become transcendent beings and defied the laws of nature, how could such a thing be possible?
It was impossible. Such a thing couldn’t happen!
But shortly after, all Ho Gamyeong encountered were the foolish faces of the members of Maninbang, who seemed lost and bewildered, not knowing what to do.
They truly were gone.
The towering cliffs and steep mountains remained unchanged, but there was not a trace of the disciples of Haenam to be seen. They had vanished as if they had soared into the sky.
“This…”
Ho Gamyeong’s hands began to tremble violently.
How? How could this be happening? How?
How Gamyeong, who had always been cold and composed, looked around in dismay, like a madman.
“Uh… Uh…”
After a moment, he began to tear at his hair. Once neatly arranged hair now scattered wildly, strands falling out. If something so absurd had happened, then the culprit behind it was already determined.
“Hwa…san… Geom… Hyeop…”
A beastly roar erupted from Ho Gamyeong’s mouth.
“Hwasan Geomhyeooooooop!”
His cry echoed fiercely, rising up the cliff and spreading desperately into the sky.
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