Chapter 1568
Taking a walk is best on a day like this. (3)
Bang!
The door burst open violently, causing Beop Jong, who had been silently meditating with his eyes closed, to furrow his eyebrows slightly.
“Abbot!”
However, he couldn’t keep his eyes closed at the sound of the voice that followed. It wasn’t Jongli Hyeong, who had entered so urgently, but Paeng Yeop.
“Lord Paeng?”
Paeng Yeop wasn’t the type to act rashly. The fact that he was showing such urgency meant that something significant had happened.
“What has happened?”
The answer came not from Paeng Yeop, but from Jongli Hyeong, who had entered with him.
“Abbot! Sapaeryeon has moved!”
Beop Jong stood up abruptly.
“Sapaeryeon is on the move?”
“Yes! They have left Zhangjiajie and are heading north!”
Beop Jong’s eyes widened momentarily.
A leader of a sect must never act rashly. However, the news that had just been delivered was enough to make anyone set aside their dignity.
“Where! Where are they heading north to?”
“Straight north! They are moving directly north.”
‘North?’
Beop Jong felt his head spin. If Sapaeryeon was heading directly north from Zhangjiajie, they could threaten Hubei to the right or Shaanxi to the left. No, if they crossed Hubei, even Henan would fall within their reach.
Crack.
The prayer beads in Beop Jong’s hand rubbed together roughly.
“Have you confirmed the location of Paegun? Who knows what he might be planning next!”
“Well, that is…”
Jongli Hyeong hesitated, his face showing his inability to fully comprehend the situation. He still looked unsure if what he knew was true.
“Currently, Paegun is leading Sapaeryeon at the forefront.”
“…At the forefront?”
“Yes, Abbot.”
Beop Jong’s face momentarily went blank.
“Is this deception?”
“It doesn’t appear so. It’s reported that Jang Ilso was seen using his unique martial arts technique while eliminating the Beggars Sect’s informants at the forefront.”
Beop Jong clenched the prayer beads in his hand as if he might crush them.
Unlike the Just Sects’ martial arts, the martial arts of the Evil Sects are so chaotic that it’s difficult to trace their origins. But this also means that imitating a particular person’s unique martial arts technique is nearly impossible.
And it’s none other than Jang Ilso. His martial arts speak for themselves.
“…It must be true.”
“Yes, Abbot. This time, it seems Sapaeryeon is genuinely aiming for a showdown.”
In response to Paeng Yeop’s concerned voice, Beop Jong, with a thoughtful and serious expression, spoke after a moment of contemplation.
“Could that really be the case?”
“…Pardon?”
“We’re dealing with Jang Ilso. There’s no way such an obvious move doesn’t have a hidden agenda. From the start, the thought of a fair fight wouldn’t even exist in his mind.”
“Then… are you saying this is also a trap?”
“Of course.”
Beop Jong answered promptly, as if there was nothing to consider.
Jongli Hyeong, with an uncertain expression, nodded in agreement. It was certainly too blatant. Why would Jang Ilso bother to be at the forefront and reveal himself so openly?
Even if he had hidden himself slightly, it would have made things far more complicated for everyone.
“Then…?”
“Yes. Naturally, it’s a ploy to lure us in.”
Paeng Yeop sighed.
“A trap… Now that I think about it, it’s obvious. My apologies, Abbot. I got carried away in my excitement.”
Jongli Hyeong cleared his throat quietly and nodded.
“Then it would be better to observe the situation a bit longer.”
“No.”
“…Pardon?”
“We must go.”
Beop Jong’s voice was calm as usual, but also filled with conviction.
Jongli Hyeong looked at him in shock, and even Paeng Yeop’s eyes widened as if he had heard something unexpected.
“G-Go? But you said they have set a trap for us?”
“Yes, I did say that.”
“Then… you mean we should walk right into their trap?”
Beop Jong nodded heavily.
“N-no, Abbot…”
Jongli Hyeong stammered in disbelief, but at that moment, a sharp aura emanated from Beop Jong’s entire body.
“What of the reinforcements that were supposed to arrive?”
Momentarily overwhelmed by that aura, Jongli Hyeong swallowed his question and replied.
“Ku-Kunlun has not arrived yet, but the Moyong family [모용세가(慕容世家)] has reached the vicinity. And the collateral families of each clan are gathering now.”
“Amitabha.”
Beop Jong’s eyes were cold.
“What about Jongnam?”
“Since Xian has been exposed, they have decided to defend Xian first…”
“Of course.”
Beop Jong nodded slowly with a light sneer.
Jongnam and Wudang were originally supposed to be the core sects alongside Shaolin within Gupailbang. However, they abandoned their duty and chose to seal their doors in retreat. Even if they lift Bongmun now, things will not be the same as before.
But it doesn’t matter.
The enemy’s forces are merely Maninbang and Black Ghost. They don’t need Jongnam or Wudang to deal with them. If they come, they would only be sharing the glory.
“Sect Leader, gather all available forces. And tell Moyong to hurry up.”
Jongli Hyeong swallowed dryly without realizing it.
He was serious.
Beop Jong was truly aiming for Sapaeryeon.
“What are you doing? Immediately!”
“Yes! Yes, Abbot!”
Pushing aside his confusion, Jongli Hyeong ran out hurriedly.
Beop Jong, who had been watching his retreating figure, turned his gaze to Paeng Yeop. Paeng Yeop was staring intently at Beop Jong.
Beop Jong asked.
“Does this seem strange to you?”
“No, it’s not strange,”
Paeng Yeop shook his head.
“There was always a clear reason for your past decisions to exercise restraint. I’m just curious why this choice is different from the others.”
Beop Jong nodded in understanding.
“Because Paegun is there.”
Paegun? Paeng Yeop furrowed his brow slightly.
Beop Jong elaborated.
“It might not have seemed so, but I have never once feared the enemy’s traps. The reason we have always avoided them is very simple. There was nothing to gain by walking into those traps.”
“This time, there is something to gain, isn’t there?”
“Amitabha.”
Beop Jong chanted as if no further answer was needed. And indeed, none was. There was something undeniable to be gained from this trap.
Jang Ilso’s head.
What else could there be?
Beop Jong was right.
No matter what trap Sapaeryeon had set or what schemes they had prepared, as long as they could take Jang Ilso’s head, it would be their victory in the end.
And the world would remember that it was Gupailbang and Five Great Families who ended this war. Just as it always had.
“So, you must hurry, Lord Paeng. Before Cheonumaeng clumsily interferes and ruins everything.”
“I will do so.”
Paeng Yeop bowed his head and turned away, his eyes filled with firm resolve.
‘Jang Ilso.’
In this world, everything is determined by the outcome. Paeng Yeop was already well aware of this fact.
All the humiliation and criticism they had endured since the Yangtze River Disaster – everything would be transformed into praise and admiration by a single result. They had been waiting for this moment all along.
‘Absolutely.’
As he bit his lip and hardened his resolve, Beop Jong’s voice called him back.
“But, Lord Paeng.”
Paeng Yeop took a deep breath and turned around.
“Yes, Abbot.”
“What is Cheonumaeng doing right now?”
Paeng Yeop’s face hardened.
“Well, that is…”
❀ ❀ ❀
Boom!
Namgung Dowi’s sword bent as if it would break under the intense pressure. Yet, the sword that had upheld the characters “蒼天” Azure Sky held firm against the immense force pressing down on it.
Twang!
The sword, having bend, snapped back as it struggled to deflect the heavy crescent blade of the guandao.
Swooosh!
But the guandao, having been pushed back, came surging towards Namgung Dowi’s sword with even greater speed and force, as if its retreat had been a lie.
Boom!
An explosive sound rang out as Namgung Dowi was pushed back. His feet dug deep furrows into the ground, and his upper body bent backward ready to break at any moment.
“Ugh!”
Namgung Dowi barely managed to steady himself, coughing up blood. But the fresh blood splattering on his already blood-soaked face was hardly noticeable.
“You brat…”
The Black Dragon King’s eyes gleamed with a fierce murderous intent.
But despite the look in his eyes that suggested he would crush Namgung Dowi at any moment, his steps were exceptionally cautious.
He too had realized something.
The opponent he had considered no more than a mere dog had a vicious determination. Those fangs could sink into his throat.
From the moment he abandoned his arrogance and decided to be cautious, an undeniable gap emerged between them.
No amount of praise for being worthy to bear the name of Namgung could fill the gap of… time.
“Hah…”
Namgung Dowi pulled out the sword he had driven into the ground to slow his momentum. His hands felt weak, almost causing him to lose grip of the sword.
This was his limit.
Perhaps it was an impossible task from the start, thinking he could defeat the Black Dragon King with his sword.
The Black Dragon King was a notorious leader of the Evil Sect, known throughout the world long before Namgung Dowi was even born. To the still young Namgung Dowi, he was a towering wall, even with one arm lost.
“Did you think you could win?”
The Black Dragon King’s growling voice pierced Namgung Dowi’s ears.
“Did you think that anger, holding onto grudges, and having a cause would allow you to win? You pampered noble from a greenhouse!”
The Black Dragon King suddenly closed the distance and lunged at him.
Whoosh!
With immense force, he swung the guandao in a single, swift motion.
Namgung Dowi gritted his teeth and struck at the Black Dragon King’s blade with his own.
Clang!
This time, it wasn’t an explosive sound, but an unpleasant metallic screech. As the blades clashed, the Black Dragon King twisted the weapon and struck Namgung Dowi’s shoulder with the shaft.
Thud!
His collarbone shattered, and his flesh caved in.
Namgung Dowi’s body was flung away like a ball that had been kicked with all one’s might.
His consciousness began to fade, and the sounds around him seemed distant, as if he were underwater. His grip on the sword weakened.
Boom!
But the terrible sound of explosion pierced his ears, leaving Namgung Dowi no time to rest as he rolled across the ground.
Boom!
The ground where he had just fallen exploded like a snowfield hit by a landslide.
“Ugh!”
Unable to avoid the aftermath, Namgung Dowi was thrown again, coughing up more dark red blood.
“Dowi!”
From afar, he faintly heard Namgung Myeong’s desperate scream.
“You foolish boy,”
the Black Dragon King snarled.
“Righteousness, will, anger. Anyone can have those! Did you think you were special? Without your family name, you’re a weakling who can’t do anything on his own!”
A feeble laugh escaped Namgung Dowi’s lips as he lay on the ground.
“I’ve met countless ones like you. Talented ones, those expected to have great futures, those expected to dominate the world. But in the end, the ones who rule the world are those who survive.”
“…”
“If you wanted revenge, you should have endured! Those who can’t bear a grudge die in the dirt. That’s the law of Gangho!”
Thunk!
The tip of Namgung Dowi’s sword dug into the ground.
Namgung Dowi gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands, struggling as he shakily rose to his feet. His vision had become blurry at some point. The figure of the Black Dragon King, which had been so hatefully vivid even in his dreams, was now a blur.
Instead of despairing, Namgung Dowi drove his sword into his own foot, as if to declare that he would not fall even if he were to die.
“…Black Dragon King.”
“Do you have more to say?”
“You’re probably… right.”
Namgung Dowi said, opening his eyes that were so swollen they were barely recognizable. Though he was staring at the Black Dragon King, his eyes seemed strangely vacant, perhaps from losing focus.
“…I am still not enough. To surpass you.”
“Hmph. You can talk all you want, boy. Know this clearly. Because of your foolish actions, not only you but the entire Namgung clan will die here. When you meet your father in the afterlife, try to come up with some convincing excuse.”
Namgung Dowi’s shoulders shook. Despite his face being too twisted to form a smile, he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Don’t… misunderstand, Jeok Segwang.”
Namgung Dowi forced his mouth open.
“I may be foolish… but I don’t overestimate myself.”
The Black Dragon King’s face twisted in anger. What more could there be?
What could possibly be left for someone whose body had become so battered, who couldn’t even kill an ant? All that was left was to stretch his neck and beg for a clean death.
“Namgung clan’s bravado doesn’t vanish even in the face of death, does it?”
“I knew from the beginning… that I still… couldn’t defeat you…”
The Black Dragon King clenched his fist tightly. There was no longer any reason to listen to this nonsense. He didn’t have the time to entertain the ramblings of a half-crazed fool.
“Say your final words in the afterlife.”
Just as the Black Dragon King tightened his grip on his guandao, Namgung Dowi spoke again.
“But… already… yes, I have already learned. That I don’t have to win alone.”
“…What?”
It was precisely at that moment.
Boom!
With a massive explosion, one part of Surochae surrounding Namgung clan crumbled.
“What?”
The Black Dragon King, startled, hastily turned his gaze toward the source of the noise.
There, unfamiliar figures who had appeared out of nowhere – no, those all too familiar – were swinging their swords like vengeful spirits.
The Black Dragon King’s face twisted in horror.
“Hwa… san Sect?”
“Young Lord!”
Baek Cheon bit his lip as he looked at Namgung Dowi’s wretched state. With eyes burning with rage, he glared at the Black Dragon King as if his stare could kill him, then shouted loudly.
“Help the Young Lord, immediately!”
“Yes!”
The swordsmen of Hwasan, receiving the command, charged toward the crumbling forces of Surochae, which had been thoroughly beaten by the remnants of the Namgung clan.
“Move aside! You bastards!”
As expected, Jo Geol, who was leading at the forefront, began to unleash his fierce plum blossoms.
The blood-soaked battlefield trembled once more.
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