Chapter 1583
Then who the hell are they? (3)
Tattat! Tatatat!
Small feet pounded the ground without rest.
Kiiiiiiiii!
Baek Ah, true to his name, became a streak of white light cutting across the land at an incredible speed. He leapt over rising rocks, deftly dodged towering trees blocking his path, and kept moving without pause.
Swoosh!
Several figures followed closely behind.
There was Yu Iseol running with a blank expression, Chung Myung with a determined face, Jin Geumryong and Lee Songbaek, both showing signs of struggle.
“Wa… wait…”
Lee Songbaek’s face was drenched with sweat. Even as he stared at the backs of those running ahead, he could hardly catch his breath.
His heart felt like it was going to burst, and his legs were numb. This forced march would be challenging even under normal circumstances, but maintaining such speed with an injured body was beyond reason.
Chung Myung had indeed said that he would leave behind anyone who couldn’t keep up, but Lee Songbaek hadn’t expected them to run at full speed like this.
‘Why?’
He couldn’t help but wonder. Why were they in such a hurry?
He understood that the situation was urgent. But from what he had heard, wasn’t the outcome clear?
No matter how strong Maninbang and Black Ghost were, they were up against Shaolin, the Peng family, and Kongtong. Based on their combined strength, it seemed impossible for Gupailbang to lose.
Moreover, the land they were heading to in Hubei was a vast plain. If it was an area without any terrain features that Jang Ilso could exploit, then the outcome would be even more obvious.
‘So why are we in such a hurry?’
What did they think was going to happen?
“Doja…”
Just as he reached out to call Chung Myung, someone roughly swatted his hand away.
“Sa… Sahyeong?”
It was Jin Geumryong.
He looked equally exhausted, but unlike Lee Songbaek, his eyes were filled with determination.
“If you’re going to whine, just fall over!”
“…”
“We are Jongnam.”
Lee Songbaek bit his lip at the cutting words.
He was right. If it were only Chung Myung up ahead, it would be one thing, but Hye Yeon and Yu Iseol, who had fought alongside them, were also running.
Using his injury as an excuse was just petty.
“I’ll follow even if it kills me.”
“Shut up and run!”
“Yes!”
Determination hardened Lee Songbaek’s face once again.
Usually, Chung Myung would have glanced at them several times if they were struggling, but now his gaze was fixed firmly ahead.
Creak.
Chung Myung bit down hard on his lips, cursing inwardly.
‘You idiot!’
He had expected that Beop Jong wouldn’t stay silent this time. But he hadn’t anticipated him turning his back so urgently without even a glance back.
“Siju.”
At that moment, Hye Heon’s voice, unusually serious, brushed past his ear.
“I didn’t intend to ask, but….”
Even after speaking, Hye Yeon hesitated. Was it embarrassment? Or fear of hearing the answer?
“…What will be the outcome?”
It was a strained voice that barely managed to escape his twisted lips. Chung Myung’s expression hardened even further.
“But still, the power… the power is clearly on the side of Gupailbang….”
“War isn’t just about power.”
Chung Myung’s voice was cold and sharp.
Hye Yeon closed his eyes tightly.
It was a fact he already knew. Why wouldn’t he know, being Hye Yeon?
If every war in the world was decided purely by military might, Cheonumaeng would never have achieved victory even once.
Power is just one factor that determines the outcome.
“Well then…”
“I’ll go first.”
“What?”
Crack!
In that moment, Chung Myung turned into a beam of light and darted forward.
“Sajil!”
Kiiiii!
Yu Iseol and Baek Ah called out to him in surprise, but Chung Myung didn’t look back and turned into a black shadow, charging forward.
Squelch.
His front teeth pierced into his lower lip.
‘Sapaeryeon is in a disadvantage?’
Indeed, lacking in terms of power. Even in such a situation, victory was naturally out of the question.
‘As if that madman wouldn’t know.’
People might think of him as a demon driven by madness, but in reality, Jang Ilso was a cold-blooded hunter who could remain silent for years to strike at the right moment.
That guy moved? And to a battlefield where he’s at a disadvantage?
There must be something. Something that neither Chung Myung nor Beop Jong had imagined.
‘Damn it, that bastard!’
Even though Beop Jong surely knew, blinded by such sense of justice, he walked into the jaws of death with his own feet.
‘Faster!’
Crack!
Pulling up all his strength, he dashed forward towards the western land where ominous black clouds billowed.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Khaaa!”
It feels like his heart was about to burst. Hot blood poured from all directions, and the final gasps of life rang in his ears.
Was his breath becoming labored because of his dwindling stamina? Or was it because of his racing heart? Or perhaps it’s his head, feeling like it’s about to explode?
“Aaaaaah!”
A fierce blade cuts another throat in the empty air.
Throughout his life, he has heard countless times: human life is more precious than anything. It’s something of utmost importance, something that can’t be exchanged for any worldly value or law followed within it.
But at least not here. There are no laws or rules in the world they have known.
Only one exists here. The only absolute rule is that if you don’t kill, you will die.
“Hoook! Hoook!”
With bloody eyes, he looked for the next target.
The greater the battlefield turns crimson with the enemy’s blood, the greater the glory to be reclaimed. Constantly seeking more sacrificial offerings to add a drop to that glory.
It was precisely at that moment when the madness-filled gaze halted.
“Pae…gun?”
It was an unbelievable sight.
The one who had driven everyone into the depths of despair for so long. And now, suddenly becoming the purpose of this mad battlefield.
The leader of Sapaeryeon, Paegun Jang Ilso.
He is now rushing toward this place on his own feet. With both hands wielding the azure blade of his deadly martial art, Unyielding Azure Slaughtering Flames [창염살강 (蒼炎殺剛) – changyeom-salgang].
At first, denial. Then suspicion.
But the moment all doubts were dispelled, the blood of everyone witnessing that sight began to boil hotter than ever before.
There he was. The one who would bestow glory that cannot be exchanged for anything!
“…J-Jang Ilso.”
Someone’s voice, like a whimper, spread across the battlefield. Amidst the horrific noises around, it stood out distinctly.
“Jang Ilsoooooo!”
Soon, that sound turned into a roar.
Those filled with hatred, those nursing grudges, those lost to greed, those intoxicated with burning righteousness, those who accepted overwhelming superiority…
All of them began to move towards Jang Ilso eagerly. Pushing aside those who obstructed their path, dragging them out regardless being a friend or a foe.
“What, what are they doing?”
The flow of the battlefield changed abruptly.
The chaos was so severe that even Jongli Hyeong, who had been at the forefront, was taken aback. His loyal disciples, who had followed him steadfastly, began to dart around like moths to a flame in a moment of frenzy, leaving him unable to remain calm.
“Calm down! Damn it, calm down!”
Jongli Hyeong shouted desperately, but it was already too late. In the chaotic battlefield, his voice was completely drowned out without a trace. His own shouts barely reached his ears.
“Ik…!”
Jongli Hyeong grabbed the shoulder of a disciple trying to rush ahead and pulled him back. But he only had two hands – he couldn’t stop all his disciples this way.
He blankly looked at the disciple’s flushed face as he ran past him. No, it almost seemed as if he was intoxicated.
Jongli Hyeong became increasingly more and more contemplative.
‘This, this…’
No one listened. His words fell on deaf ears.
“Don’t break the formation!”
He frantically looked around, desperate.
And then, he realized.
The formation that had originally taken shape of an arrow to pierce the enemy. But in this situation, there was no way his orders could reach everyone, and the formation itself had long since drifted apart.
When exactly did it twist like this? When did he move forward? When did he stop looking back?
In an instant, a chill ran down his spine, and a sinister feeling crept over him. But the initial chill was soon swept away by a distant scream.
“Cut his throat! He’s just an Evil Sect’s scum in the end!”
“Move aside! I’m coming through!”
“Aaargh!”
Jongli Hyeong’s mouth slowly opened.
He had thought about it clearly. Not Beop Jong, but he himself could slit Jang Ilso’s throat.
But that also meant, in other words, that anyone else could also target Jang Ilso.
Just as Jongli Hyeong had destroyed the prearranged formation, others could ignore his orders and aim for Jang Ilso.
Everyone, like Jongli Hyeong… Because they are just humans.
Even for a trivial reputation of being a heroic warrior, they readily risk their lives. Can such people resist that intense temptation?
“Don’t get caught up in that bastard’s schemes!”
Jongli Hyeong now directed his anger towards his disciples.
Of course, they couldn’t hear him.
Everyone saw it and heard it. The Sect Leader was already breaking the prearranged formation and being swept away by desire.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. One that should never have been given to them.
If it weren’t for this situation, they would have known their place and lived carefully.
But now?
Even if the opponent is nothing more than insignificant Evil Sect scum.
Wouldn’t it be possible to reach Jang Ilso without being the head of the sect? In the midst of the chaos, couldn’t a wound be carved into his body, and his neck be severed?
Just imagining it was a blindingly great achievement and glory. Who said that the person who seizes that opportunity must be the head of the sect?
The image keeps flickering before their eyes. The crimson robe, as red as blood, the surging blue flames. Once blinded, the fireflies could see nothing else. All they saw was the vividly fluttering crimson robe, and other competitors scrambling towards him.
‘Me, me too…!’
“It’s me! I’ll do it!”
“Move aside!”
“Hahahahaha!”
Jang Ilso’s loud laughter further fueled their burning desire. It spread and ignited even more fiercely.
“Jang Ilsooooooo!”
This wasn’t happening only to Kongtong.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop!”
Paeng Yeop also couldn’t control the rampaging members of the Paeng family.
The Hebei Paeng family, known for surpassing even the Evil Sects in their pursuit of dominance. Their eyes were filled with madness. Even they couldn’t handle their own desire. Let alone being controlled by the orders of their weak leader.
The tip of their wedge-shaped formation twisted out of control. The spear tip that once pierced staggering enemies split into dozens of strands, entangling in an indescribable form.
Amidst the chaos, someone’s sword finally flew towards Jang Ilso.
“I’ll take your head…!”
Swish!
The speed was incredible. The blue blade of the sword shot straight for Jang Ilso’s pale neck.
Bang!
But at that moment, the head of the one who had launched the sword exploded. Brain matter and red blood burst out like fireworks.
“Hmm.”
Momentarily, a brief silence fell around them.
Everyone saw it clearly. Jang Ilso, who had effortlessly sent someone to their death, was frowning.
He murmured.
“That hurts.”
Then he showed his palm. A shallow wound had formed from blocking the opponent’s sword.
Drip.
A drop of blood flowed down his white finger and fell to the ground.
Jang Ilso slowly raised his hand to look at the wound, then licked the flowing blood. It was a truly intimidating and eerie sight.
But the only thought that arose in everyone’s mind was this:
He bleeds. He gets wounded.
Even from an ordinary sword of the Pang family, this giant bled.
That meant that their swords, their blades, could also pierce his neck!
“Raaaahhhh!”
A storm far more intense than anything before began to rage.
“I said calm down, you fools…!”
“Sect Leader!”
At that moment, someone firmly grabbed Jongli Hyeong’s shoulder. It was an elder of the sect.
“What are you doing?”
“Can’t you see…?”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Calm down? Do you think Shaolin or Paeng family will stand still while we calm ourselves down?”
Jongli Hyeong’s eyes trembled.
“Go, now! Our sect must be the one to take his head! We can’t yield it to anyone else!”
Startled, Jongli Hyeong turned his head and saw it.
Despite his desperate efforts to calm his sect, the martial artists of the Paeng family and Shaolin were advancing towards Jang IIso.
“No, this can’t be. The formation…”
“How frustrating!”
Finally, unable to contain his anxiety, the elder burst out in anger.
“What does that even matter! This is ultimately a war to take his head! Even if everyone dies, if we kill him, we win. If everyone lives but he escapes, we’ve lost the war!”
“I, I…”
“Move aside! Then I’ll go myself!”
The elder pushed Jongli Hyeong aside and ran forward. Jongli Hyeong could only watch the scene in a daze.
“Uaaahhh! Jang Ilso!”
“Dieeeee!”
Dozens of swords, hundreds of blades, flew towards Jang IIso. He laughed.
“Oh dear, oh dear.”
And at that moment.
Fwoosh!
The blue flame-like energy surrounding Jang Ilso surged wildly, sweeping away all who were rushing at him in an instant.
“Arghhh!”
Though it looked like blue flames, it was actually concentrated inner strength. Those caught in it were helplessly torn to pieces and flung away.
“This won’t do.”
“Aah…”
Jang Ilso grinned as he grabbed the face of a person frozen in front of him and tightened his grip.
Crunch!
It was as if a red flower bloomed in his hand.
“Don’t worry.”
A sinister light flickered in Jang Ilso’s eyes.
“I’ll make this head of mine worth something more. Just as you wish.”
With his crimson robe fluttering, Jang Ilso charged forward again.
His loud laughter echoed across the battlefield.
Here and there, red flowers began to bloom a dark crimson. They were greedy flowers, grown from blood and desire.
Comments