Chapter 1673
Isn’t this the situation you were hoping for? (3)
The standoff between the smiling man and the man with a hardened face was brief.
“I’m curious. How did you know?”
Jang Ilso tilted his head as if puzzled.
“That I was here?”
“I could figure it out.”
From the old Taoist, Heo Do Jinin, came a voice without highs or lows.
“I thought and thought again, over the years, about nothing but you.”
“Oh dear, oh dear…”
Jang Ilso shook his head slowly, a blatant look of dissatisfaction appearing on his face.
“An old man’s interest is nothing but unsettling.”
Heo Do Jinin’s eyes were endlessly dark.
The elders of Wudang, whom he had brought with him, also looked tensely at the man in the red robe standing before them.
‘There he is, indeed…’
Jang Ilso was there. Right in front of them, close enough to reach if they extended their hands.
Though they had descended from the mountain at Heo Do Jinin’s instruction, they were honestly skeptical. Yet, just as Heo Do Jinin had said, they encountered Jang Ilso here.
It was an astonishing outcome.
Who could have imagined that they would face Jang Ilso so easily, just by passing by the attackers?
No one in the world may know, but perhaps at this moment, Heo Do Jinin was outmaneuvering Jang Ilso in a game of strategy. Even if Jang Ilso was ignorant of Heo Do Jinin or caught off guard, the result was the same.
And perhaps… he might achieve more than just a simple strategic advantage.
He might achieve the remarkable feat of capturing Jang Ilso, the leader of Sapaeryeon.
That incredible glory would instantly restore the fallen honor of Wudang to the pinnacle of Gangho.
‘Indeed… indeed, it is my Sahyeong.’
While everyone else was consumed by the war itself, only Heo Do Jinin grasped the true nature of this conflict.
The arson that set the mountain ablaze and the enemy attacks driving disciples to their deaths were not the core issues determining victory or defeat.
The only one holding the key to deciding victory or defeat on this mountain was none other than the man before them, Jang Ilso.
“Well, in any case…”
Jang Ilso leisurely looked around the burning Wudang. Though there was quite a distance to the battlefield, the noise from there was vividly audible.
“Honestly, I am a bit surprised.”
“…”
“Even if you predicted I’d be here, I didn’t expect someone in a position to defend would abandon the mountain and come down personally. What kind of wind blew through our old-fashioned Taoist monks? Hmm?”
Jang Ilso gave a brief laugh.
“Even now, your beloved disciples must be dying and collapsing.”
At those words, Heo Do Jinin briefly glanced towards the mountain. Then he turned his gaze back to Jang Ilso.
He wasn’t wrong. Even now, the disciples of Wudang were shedding blood on that mountain. Standing there, leading them, fighting alongside them, and perhaps dying with them might be his role.
But Heo Do Jinin did not believe that was truly the right path. That was mere self-satisfaction.
What he needed to do was stand here, in front of this man, in the most dangerous place in the world.
“I just know what’s more important.”
Heo Do Jinin spat out his words.
“I cannot repeat the mistakes made because of a moment’s inability to endure pain. Thanks to you, I realized there are times when one must endure and persevere.”
“…”
“To save Wudang, I can endure the agony of my entire body being consumed by hellfire. That is the burden I must bear.”
“Hmm?”
Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed. His gaze, sharp like that of a venomous snake, made Heo Do Jinin’s heart tremble involuntarily.
Jang Ilso’s lips parted slightly, revealing his white teeth as he stared intently at Heo Do Jinin’s face.
“Humans… sometimes are incredibly foolish. So much so that they don’t even know what they want or what they are doing.”
“Enough nonsense…”
“Is that really what you wanted? Does it look that way?”
Jang Ilso’s gaze shifted behind Heo Do Jinin to the elders of Wudang who stood in formation. They were the most important force of Wudang, who would have otherwise been fiercely fighting.
What does it mean that they are here?
“Twisted pigs are obsessed with covering what they truly desire in fancy wrapping paper. Duty, righteousness, justice, future… They cover it with such nauseating words and even believe it themselves.”
“Paegun.”
“But… I can see it. What you truly desire. The desire you hide behind those sweet, sugar-coated words. You just want…”
Jang Ilso mimicked slicing his own white, straight neck with his fingertip. That single gesture silenced everyone and drew their focus. Jang Ilso wore a deep sneer.
“You want this neck.”
Heo Do Jinin’s face turned cold as ice.
“You…”
“Other words are just excuses you attach as you please. Isn’t it different in your heart? It’s just us here, so be honest.”
Jang Ilso’s soft whisper reached everyone’s ears clearly. Each of his words brought back memories for Heo Do Jinin – of a terrible cliff, of that dreadful humiliation.
Squeeze.
Heo Do Jinin tightened his grip on the sword.
He could avenge it all. With that man’s neck… all his mistakes would be washed away, and Gangho would not hesitate to place Wudang at the highest place again.
That neck could reduce sacrifices.
That neck could reclaim the future of Wudang.
That neck could wash away all his faults.
Only that neck… that…
At that moment,
“What’s with the solemnity?”
Jang Ilso’s voice pierced through the deepening abyss in Heo Do Jinin’s mind. His tone was indifferent and languid.
“Do you really think you’ve made a move grand enough to change the tide of this battle? Hmm? Do you think just standing before me will change something?”
The arrogant tone, as if looking down from above, struck Heo Do Jinin’s heart.
“…Paegun.”
“You seem to be under an illusion. I’ll commend you for making it this far, but that doesn’t mean anything will change.”
Jang Ilso was smiling. No, he was sneering.
Sneering at Heo Do Jinin, who finally stood here after making the agonizing decision to abandon his disciples. At his choice. And ultimately, at him.
“Do you know why?”
“…”
“Because the one standing before me is merely you, Heo Do.”
This could easily be dismissed as a simple, light provocation.
But strangely, upon hearing this, the largest crack appeared in Heo Do Jinin’s otherwise expressionless face.
“Hahaha.”
Jang Ilso, not missing this change, laughed wickedly.
“How pathetic. An actor who remains on stage, unaware that his role has already ended! You’re the only one who doesn’t know that no one is watching you anymore.”
Tremble.
Heo Do Jinin’s sword momentarily tremblerd faintly.
He had waited for this moment alone. Hadn’t he endured the time of Bongmun solely for this moment?
Yet now, facing Jang Ilso, whom he confronted while ignoring the deaths of his disciples and the burning Mount Wudang, he was not even being regarded as an opponent.
Heo Do Jinin clenched his teeth and spoke calmly.
“A strategy like Geokjangjigye*…”
But before he could finish, Jang Ilso clicked his tongue and let out a cold laugh. A flash of disdain gleamed in his pale eyes.
“Geokjangjigye? Tsk tsk. This is why old people are the way they are. Do you still think you hold any value? Hmm?”
“…”
“How pitiful.”
What truly enraged Heo Do Jinin wasn’t Jang Ilso’s words themselves.
It was Jang Ilso’s gaze. That indifferent look that viewed him as something worthless. It seemed to hold a hint of pity, as if looking at something pathetic and primitive.
That gaze was utterly twisting the composure of the old Taoist who had spent his life in noble pursuit.
“Jang… Ilso.”
“Do you wrap what you cast away because you couldn’t bear it in the guise of endurance, and call what you abandoned out of despair sacrifice?”
Jang Ilso chuckled softly.
“How truly insignificant. That Tao you speak of.”
“You…!”
Heo Do Jinin ground his teeth.
“What do you know…!”
“Ah.”
Jang Ilso waved his hand slowly.
“I’d love to play more, but I have things to do as well. I don’t have time to waste on an old man who’s just waiting to die.”
Crrack.
The rings on his fingers rubbed together, making a chilling sound.
“If you absolutely can’t accept it, verify it with that old body of yours. See how meaningless the time given to you really was.”
The hand holding Heo Do Jinin’s sword trembled violently.
“Now… I’ll make you regret those words.”
“Of course you will.”
“Jang Ilsooooooo!”
Heo Do Jinin’s sword shot towards Jang Ilso like a flash of light.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Commander?”
“…”
“What’s the matter? Is there a problem…?”
When Ho Gamyeong, who had been issuing orders, suddenly fell silent, his subordinates grew tense. However, Ho Gamyeong simply stared intently at the mountain, his expression darkening as he spoke.
“It’s too easy.”
“Sorry?”
“Far too easy.”
A momentary look of confusion crossed the faces of the subordinates.
Too easy? Their assault on the enemy’s camp was still slow. The involvement of Cheon Myeon Susa and the forces of the Sun Palace had turned the tide slightly in their favor, but that was all. Considering that Ho Gamyeong never allowed complacency in any situation, it was not something he would typically express.
One subordinate cautiously spoke up.
“The enemy’s resistance is still fierce, Commander.”
“It’s more than fierce. The opponent is Wudang.”
“Ah…”
Ho Gamyeong narrowed his eyes.
When the enemy seems weaker than expected, there are two possibilities. One is a trap. The other…
‘They divided their forces? No. It’s not a situation where they would target us from behind. If so…’
Ho Gamyeong’s gaze shifted below the mountain, specifically toward a place beyond the mountain that couldn’t be seen from their location.
At last, a sigh escaped Ho Gamyeong’s lips, followed by a firm voice.
“I see. They’re targeting Ryeonju. No, they might have already reached him by now.”
“What? Commander, what are you saying…!”
The faces of the subordinates turned ashen. They, too, were skilled enough in military strategy to assist Ho Gamyeong, so they understood the implication of his words.
“We should send support immediately…”
“No need.”
“Pardon?”
Ho Gamyeong let out a cold scoff.
“So this is the best plan they’ve come up with…”
A clever plan? No, such a thing couldn’t even be called a strategy. It was merely a desperate attempt by those who had lost the initiative.
“Even if they realized they needed to target the tiger, if it’s a dog biting the tail, it’ll only get bitten to death. Thinking they’re a tiger without knowing their place is foolish.”
Unless… it meant that Heo Do Jinin’s wounds were more severe than Ho Gamyeong had anticipated. To think that someone who once had such presence could fall to such a state.
He had seen it countless times before – people trapped in the past losing themselves.
In any case, thanks to this, an opportunity had presented itself.
“Listen.”
“Yes, Commander!”
“Deploy all available forces. Occupy that cliff within the next quarter-hour.”
“Yes!”
The subordinates began to move swiftly. Ho Gamyeong continued to watch the cliff, contemplating the foolish decision that was made.
It wasn’t Sapaeryeon or the Sun Palace that would burn Wudang.
It was those people. They were the ones who ended Wudang’s history with their own hands at this moment. With an irreversible choice.
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