Chapter 1552
Which side would that be? (2)
“Move aside!”
Slash!
A monstrous blade cleaved the enemy in half, sending his body parts flying to either side. The attacker didn’t bother to avoid the splattering blood, instead picking up speed as he charged forward.
“Eek!”
The ferocity was demonic. One of the Sapas was frozen in place, paralyzed by fear.
Namgung Dowi, without a moment’s hesitation, swung his sword to cut the man before him into pieces.
Bang!
However, the person who should have been sliced by Namgung Dowi’s sword was instead struck by a powerful fist from nowhere, sending him flying. Namgung Dowi’s blade slashed through empty air.
Namgung Dowi’s eyes twitched in annoyance. A low chant reached his ears.
“Amitabha.”
Hye Yeon was looking at Namgung Dowi with calm eyes.
“I understand your haste, but excessive killing will only harm the one who wields the sword.”
“…Yes, Monk.”
Even though he answered obediently, Namgung Dowi’s face was quite scary. Hye Yeon once again expressed his displeasure softly.
“Amitabha”
He understood. If he heard that Mount Song was burning, he too would be frantic and unable to focus on anything else. How much more so for Namgung Dowi, who led the Namgung clan?
“Young Lord! There’s smoke over there…!”
At someone’s shout, Namgung Dowi hesitated for a moment.
The direction of the smoke was far off the path they needed to take. If they went there and engaged in battle, it would inevitably delay them.
“What should I do?”
At that moment, Namgung Dowi was overwhelmed with an indescribable self-loathing.
‘What am I even thinking right now?’
It was about saving people. What reason was there to hesitate?
The people in Anhui were not the only ones who mattered. Those over there were also people.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
But before they could even take a step, Hye Yeon spoke up.
“No, Siju. I will go that way, so you should hurry on your path.”
“Monk?”
When Namgung Dowi looked back, Hye Yeon nodded with a stern face.
“Isn’t time of the essence?”
For a moment, Namgung Dowi’s face flushed slightly.
“I am not so foolish that I cannot distinguish what is more urgent.”
“There is no precedence in saving lives. There is no more urgent or more important task. I simply thought that if one of us must go first, it should be you, Young Lord Namgung.”
“…Monk.”
“Do you doubt us?”
Hye Yeon smiled softly. Namgung Dowi looked around as if he couldn’t believe it. The swordsmen of Hwasan made a show of flexing their muscles with one arm.
They meant to say, “Trust us.”
“Let’s go.”
Namgung Dowi nodded.
“Then… I’ll leave it to you.”
“Amitabha.”
“Let’s move!”
Namgung Dowi led his subordinates forward. Watching his retreating back, Hye Yeon’s eyes sank deeply.
‘I hope they don’t become too impatient.’
“Let’s go, everyone. We must hurry.”
“Yes, Monk!”
Hye Yeon dashed toward the rising smoke.
‘But there’s no way to avoid being in a hurry.’
How could they not be when they had witnessed such a tragedy? The longer they delayed, the more victims there would be.
‘May Buddha watch over us.’
“Amitabha.”
A fervent chant of Buddha’s name escaped him.
“Sahyeong.”
At the call from behind, Baek Cheon glanced back. His face clearly showed his discontent.
“Why do you keep looking at me like that? I’m telling you, I’m not that kind of person.”
“Tsk.”
Baek Cheon clicked his tongue openly, but Baek Sang remained unbothered.
“To be a team leader, you need to have a decent level of martial strength. Who would follow a leader who isn’t helpful in a crisis?”
“You’re not exactly weak yourself.”
“What are you talking about? Even the junior disciples and those punks have surpassed me a long time ago.”
Baek Sang spoke indifferently. Though such words would upset most people, this guy seemed unaffected.
“Is it reasonable for someone of your status to be just a team member?”
“Everyone has a place that suits them. Besides, you don’t understand. Being a team member under the Vice Sect Leader has more influence than most team leaders.”
“Haa.”
In the end, Baek Cheon sighed as if admitting defeat. Despite this, he continued to move quickly, kicking the ground with his legs.
“So, why? There must be a reason you called me.”
“…Do you think the people we left behind are okay?”
Baek Cheon glanced back silently.
While they were cutting down the Evil Sect bastards as they moved, they couldn’t care for those who had been oppressed by them. This fact seemed to weigh heavily on Baek Sang’s mind.
“I’m not saying your decision was wrong. It’s just…”
“You’re worried about them.”
“…Yes.”
Baek Cheon nodded.
“I feel the same. But right now, we don’t have the luxury to care for them. There are people exposed to even greater dangers at this very moment. For now, saving as many lives as possible is our priority.”
“I understand, Sahyeong.”
“If you’re really worried, then run faster. Once we’ve wiped out all the Evil Sect bastards who infiltrated Gangbuk, we’ll have a bit more time. Until then, we can only hope that everyone holds out.”
“…Yes.”
“And focus!”
“What?”
Baek Cheon’s face had turned cold as he looked ahead.
A moment later, they saw a group of martial artists.
The Sapas held their distinctive curved blades, stained with dried blood.
Fire ignited in Baek Cheon’s eyes.
“Crush them!”
“Yes!”
Just as Baek Sang was about to charge forward at the command, a sharp sound of something cutting through the air came from somewhere. Suddenly, someone clad in white martial robes with blue patterns jumped into the midst of the Sapas.
“What, what is this?”
“Who is this guy?”
And then.
Whiiiiiing!
A sword energy, like a raging snowstorm, erupted all at once. The sudden intrusion left the enemies, who had been raising their blades, no time to even scream as they were swept away.
Whiiiiiing!
When the fierce snowstorm subsided, what remained were the bodies of about ten fallen Sapas and a lone man standing among them.
As Baek Cheon’s eyes met the man’s, who wore a peculiar, mocking smile, he ground his teeth.
“What are you doing!”
The man responded with a leisurely smile.
“What a clueless question. Is there a reason needed to cut down Evil Sects?”
“No, why are you here!”
“That’s another foolish question. Do you think there are countless routes to the other cities? It’s only natural that our paths cross. You’re just slow.”
“Ugh…”
Baek Cheon clenched his teeth.
The swordsmen of Jongnam, who had quickly gathered around Jin Geumryong, stood as if guarding him.
Seeing this sight, Baek Cheon’s chest burned with anger. Jin Geumryong looked at Baek Cheon and smirked.
“There’s no need to struggle so hard.”
“What?”
“I’ll take care of the dirty work. Isn’t that what an elder brother should do?”
“Who’s your brother…!”
“No.”
Jin Geumryong corrected himself with a soft smile.
“Should I say it’s the duty of the stronger sect?”
“…”
“So, just follow along while taking it easy. You won’t have much to do.”
Without waiting for Baek Cheon’s reply, Jin Geumryong gave orders to Jongnam swordsmen.
“Let’s go. We need to hurry a bit.”
“Yes!”
Jongnam swordsmen cast cold glances at Baek Cheon and Hwasan swordsmen before swiftly moving forward.
“Hoo.”
Baek Sang, who had been watching in a daze, let out a long sigh as if lamenting.
“…They were terrible when they were enemies, but they certainly feel reassuring as allies…”
However, he quickly shut his mouth without finishing his sentence.
Baek Cheon’s face was contorted in an expression that was beyond description.
“Baek Sang.”
“Yes? Ah… Yes, Sahyeong! Please give the order!”
“Run.”
“What?”
“…If you fall behind Jongnam, I’ll make sure you wish you were following Chung Myung instead.”
Having known Baek Cheon for a long time, Baek Sang knew for certain. This was not an empty threat. Not at all.
“But, Sahyeong! As you know, we’re waiting for the Beggars Sect to join us…”
“So?”
“…”
“What are you doing?”
“…What?”
Baek Cheon stared at him with emotionless eyes.
“Run.”
“Yes! Yes, Sahyeong!”
Terrified, Baek Sang and the disciples of Hwasan began sprinting with all their might. There was no way any words would reach that man right now.
‘Damn it! Whatever. They’ll find us somehow!’
He silently paid his respects to the unknown members of the Beggars Sect who were probably chasing after them desperately.
Grinding his teeth, Baek Cheon soon followed them. His insides were boiling.
“Damn Jin Geumryong…”
He could bear being told that he was inferior to Jin Geumryong. He wasn’t childish enough to get angry over such trivial matters.
But he couldn’t stand hearing that Hwasan was inferior to Jongnam. Not even in his grave would he want to hear that.
“As soon as the Beggars Sect members arrive, inform each team leader to increase the pace! Anyone who falls behind will be dealt with!”
“Yes, Sahyeong!”
“Run instead of answering!”
“…”
At that moment.
Without needing Baek Cheon’s urging, the assault teams of Cheonumaeng were spreading across the entire Gangbuk at a pace much faster than Im Sobyeong had anticipated.
“W-Why is this happening so quickly?”
Hong Daekwang’s face turned pale.
Countless black lines appeared on the large map of Gangbuk. The thick lines branched out intermittently, spreading like branches across the vast land of the north.
And that wasn’t all.
“Engagement near Jincheng!”
“Those who departed from the headquarters have slaughtered the Sapas near Zhangzi!”
“We have reports of engagements near Hefei as well!”
“Already?”
Reports poured in from all directions. Those waiting marked the locations of the battles on the map swiftly.
Every time a brush dipped in red pigment moved across the map, red dots appeared on the black lines.
“…How can they be moving this fast while fighting?”
Even though those Sapas were nothing more than mere criminals, not true martial artists, fighting and regrouping should still require a minimal amount of effort.
As Hong Daekwang stared blankly at the map, the lines spread further, and the number of red dots increased.
“…It looks like plum blossoms.”
It was as if a giant plum tree was blooming across the vast land of Gangbuk. Realizing this, Hong Daekwang shouted urgently.
“This is no time for this! What about our men?”
“They’ve all departed. But the others are moving so quickly that it’s taking time to join up with them…”
“You idiots! We’re the Beggars Sect, for heaven’s sake! Saying we can’t catch up because they’re too fast is ridiculous! What’s next? Are you going to tell me you’ve forgotten how to beg?”
Hong Daekwang shouted furiously, reprimanding his subordinates.
“Tell them that anyone who doesn’t join by the end of today will lose their worthless legs! Now go!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
Hong Daekwang bit his lower lip tightly.
“…Have I underestimated Cheonumaeng this much?”
Even at this moment, the branches continued to spread, and the red dots grew denser. Hong Daekwang shook his head slightly, his face showing a hint of weariness.
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