Chapter 1349
He intends to take that guy’s life. (4)
“Over here.”
Ho Gamyeong spoke briefly. Yu Gong stared at him with a fixed expression. In an instant, the attention of everyone around was focused on them.
‘Damn it.’
It was a moment where any hope of idly waiting until the pursuit ended was shattered, as if holding one’s breath like a dead mouse.
“Don’t you hear me?”
As Ho Gamyeong pressed, the atmosphere around them turned colder. It was as if ignoring his words again would immediately result in one’s throat being cut.
Yu Gong forcibly lifted his feet that seemed unwilling to move. Ho Gamyeong’s piercing gaze swept over Yu Gong.
“What do you think?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I won’t tolerate beating around the bush. That’s inefficient.”
“…”
“There’s one thing I want to confirm. Whether you’re willing to cooperate or not.”
Yu Gong’s fingertips trembled slightly.
While Ho Gamyeong’s gaze remained indifferent and cool, Yu Gong couldn’t help but feel differently.
It was as if those sunken eyes were telling him something. It was as if they were warning him not to dare to play tricks, it seemed like Ho Gamyeong already knew everything.
“What do you say?”
When Ho Gamyeong asked again, Yu Gong’s lips twitched. But he couldn’t bring himself to speak, and his words crumbled inside his mouth.
Ho Gamyeong turned his head away from Yu Gong, staring at him with emotionless eyes.
“Weren’t there supposed to be one more person?”
At his words, everyone’s gaze shifted towards the person behind them.
“Ah…”
Suddenly, as the gaze returned to him, Yu Gong’s Saje, Go Hong, trembled. The color drained from his face in an instant.
“Bring him here.”
“Yes.”
Go Hong was grabbed by both shoulders and dragged. Go Hong glanced back at the people holding him with a pale face, but he couldn’t muster the courage to resist and was dragged away helplessly.
Thud.
Those who brought Go Hong dragged him in front of Ho Gamyeong. Go Hong, who had fallen to the ground, forced his head up.
“I, I…”
When Go Hong’s gaze met Ho Gamyeong’s, Yu Gong’s face turned even paler, almost ashen.
“…I won’t force you.”
“But if you’re here, you must follow the ways of the Sapa. In the Evil Sects, the only way to preserve your life is to prove your usefulness.”
“I…”
Go Hong’s shoulders trembled. How could he not know what they wanted from him? He remained as still as a mouse, but he remained alert to their movements and actions throughout.
What they wanted from him was to betray Haenam’s Sahyeong’s.
He had come this far simply to survive. And to save the people of his hometown.
In the process, he had not been the one to decide that he could even betray his Sahyeongs. It was Yu Gong.
“So what do you say?”
His lips were parched. With a dry swallow, Go Hong opened his trembling mouth.
“W-what are you… saying, I…”
“Can you prove the worth of your life?”
Ho Gamyeong’s imposing gaze bore down on Go Hong.
Go Hong’s gaze unknowingly drifted somewhere. It was a look of instinct, beyond even his hardened will.
Ho Gamyeong didn’t miss the instinctual struggle of Go Hong, who was fighting for his life.
“There’s something.”
Just with that brief glance, Go Hong’s eyes trembled as if in an earthquake. Ho Gamyeong spoke slowly.
“Well, it’s simple then. There are only two options left. Either cooperate and survive, or uphold loyalty and let everyone die.”
“…”
“Of course, it’s not just you, but everyone remaining in Hainan.”
“Ugh…”
Cold sweat began to drench his entire body.
Since being brought to Ho Gamyeong, not a single harm had befallen him.
But now it seemed like it would be better to have my whole body chopped to pieces. Compared to enduring words sharper than that blade, physical pain would be nothing.
“I’ve given you enough time. Make your decision.”
“I… “
Go Hong’s pale lips trembled.
The desire to live clashed with the determination not to betray former comrades in such a manner.
These two irreconcilable desires were gnawing at his mind.
“I… “
Go Hong’s eyes wandered aimlessly, not knowing where to look. Yet still, all the countless eyes were fixed on him.
From Ho Gamyeong’s indifferent gaze to the resentful glares of Maninbang, and even Yu Gong’s gaze, which revealed nothing of his thoughts.
For a moment, everything seemed to be spinning. The world spun around, and a nauseating sensation rose in his stomach.
“I… “
As Go Hong struggled to spit out his decision, Ho Gamyeong cut him off without hesitation.
“This one is useless. Kill him.”
“Yes!”
The people on either side raised their swords menacingly. Knowing this was not just a threat, Go Hong widened his eyes and shouted hastily.
“Wa-wait, wait! I, I…”
Thwack!
But before he could finish his plea, the swords swung mercilessly towards his neck.
“Stop!”
In that moment, someone shouted out loudly as if in a fit.
The sword, poised to strike Go Hong’s neck, froze in midair.
Drip.
A trickle of blood ran down the cracked skin.
“I will speak.”
The one who screamed was Yu Gong. He clenched his trembling lips tightly shut, his eyes tightly closed.
“S… Sahyeong!”
Ho Gamyeong’s blade-like gaze turned towards Yu Gong.
“There’s no more time.”
“N… No Sahyeong. No, this is not allowed!”
As Go Hong desperately protested, Yu Gong opened his eyes and stared at him blankly.
The chilling blade, previously halted at Go Hong’s neck, began to move again.
In the end, Yu Gong pointed to a large tree ahead.
“There.”
His fingertips trembled slightly, revealing the complexity of his inner turmoil, but no one paid any attention to his feelings.
“Sahyeong! Stop…!”
“There’s a pattern carved on that tree.”
Go Hong bit his lips until they bled. Ho Gamyeong glanced briefly at his reaction. Even just that glance seemed to suggest that Yu Gong was not lying.
Atop the large tree pointed out by Yu Gong, there was a faint pattern that would be hard to notice without careful observation.
“What does it mean?”
“It’s difficult to explain in words.”
“Why?”
“Sahyeong!”
Go Hong cried out in anguish, but Yu Gong, seemingly resigned, openly revealed what he knew. After all, deceiving Ho Gamyeong was an impossible task.
“That’s the ‘Seven-Strike Sword Traces’ of Haenam’s Blasting Wind and Waves Swordsmanship .”
“Hmm?”
“The sword… or rather, Dao is fine too.”
As Yu Gong extended his hand, asking for the weapon, the ones present glanced at Ho Gamyeong as if seeking permission.
“Hand it over.”
“Yes.”
They handed him the sword they were carrying. Yu Gong gripped the unfamiliar blade for a moment, then took a deep breath. In an instant, he unfurled the sword technique in the air, without deploying his inner strength.
“And that’s how the Seven Strikes end.”
As the brief and light demonstration of the Seven Strikes ended, the tip of the sword pointed in one direction, drawing everyone’s gaze towards it. It was pointing at the forest.
“Do you understand?”
Ho Gamyeong nodded as if to indicate he did.
“You’ve used your head quite well.”
Indeed, it was rational.
No matter how sophisticated a cipher may be, it will eventually be deciphered. And using a cipher that can be quickly understood by the opponent can lead to unimaginable damage.
However, with this method, deciphering the meaning is difficult. Only disciples of Haenam who have learned Haenam’s swordsmanship can interpret it.
‘Prestigious sect holds up its name.’
There would likely be people in each group who can confidently confirm and interpret this cipher. They would be individuals with keen eyesight who wouldn’t miss these traces even while moving quickly.
Nodding lightly, Ho Gamyeong asked again.
“The distance?”
“I don’t know.”
Yu Gong shook his head.
“Generally, this mark is used as a reference point every ten li, but it may vary depending on the situation. Since we don’t know how they agreed upon it…”
“But if we continue in this direction, the next mark will appear, is that what you mean?”
“Yes.”
“Otherwise…”
Ho Gamyeong stared at Yu Gong with cold eyes.
“Whether you encounter them or not.”
The faint hostility in Yu Gong’s eyes weakened at his words.
“…That’s right.”
“In other words, to find them, it means I need to keep you alive. Is that correct?”
“…”
“It seems I’ve explained it too kindly.”
Ho Gamyeong nodded calmly.
“…”
“But I won’t allow any delays. Since you seem to be clever, you can probably guess why I bothered to bring several of you along.”
“…I understand.”
“Lead the way.”
Yu Gong silently nodded and began to move forward, sighing. Suddenly, he felt someone’s gaze on him. It was Go Hong, his eyes bloodshot.
‘Is he harboring resentment?’
After all, just by coming this far, he had become a traitor as well. Now, why sacrifice the only thing left – his life?
If he had had such determination from the beginning, he wouldn’t have come this far. The disgust overwhelmed him as he faced the resentment he could never express fully.
He had to survive.
Now, Yu Gong’s only remaining goal was just that.
Gone were his pride as a martial artist of Haenam, his dreams – all thrown into the pile of manure.
All that remained for him was his life and the well-being of his remaining family in Hainan.
But even so, Yu Gong could not bear to look Go Hong in the eye. He wanted to glare at him with venomous eyes. Strangely, he found himself looking away first.
“Go ahead.”
“…Yes.”
Ho Gamyeong’s lips curled up slightly as he watched Yu Gong grit his teeth and run forward.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
And the others followed Yu Gong into the dense forest.
‘Indeed, the move you prepared was deadly, Hwasan Geomhyeop.’
However, it was clear that Chung Myung also did not know. The fact that they prepared an unexpected hand on this side as well.
“You wouldn’t expect someone from a Just Sect to behave like a dog. Even if it’s you.”
Indeed, even if one were to anticipate it, it wouldn’t matter.
This battlefield was no longer under Ho Gamyeong’s control.
Even if he were to fall prey to the enemy once again, the outcome would remain unchanged.
The flow of this battlefield was undoubtedly headed into the hands of the one who must seize everything.
There was a mysterious fervor in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes.
He, too, wanted to confirm it. No, he desperately wanted to see.
Hwasan Geomhyeop. No, Maehwa Geomgwi. How Ryeonju would crush the overwhelming monster that he himself had not even dared to touch.
What will happen when when Paegun Jang Ilso, who had so far shown incomprehensible favor to Maehwa Geomgwi, finally pulls out the buried sword?
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