Chapter 1681
That’s not my concern! (1)
“Eurachaaaaaaa!”
Jo Geol’s sword sliced through the air like a beam of light.
Perhaps because he hadn’t been able to face an opponent for a while, his sword seemed even swifter and sharper today.
“If you block, you’re dead! You bastards!”
As he kicked off the ground, Jo Geol pierced through three Sapaeryeon’s members, spun his body horizontally, and swung his sword wide to scatter the enemies.
‘Somehow…’
It was his first time leading from the front. Being at the ‘front’ and ‘leading’ were undoubtedly different. Someone at the front has someone to give them orders from behind, but a leader has no one to give them orders.
That was undoubtedly a significant difference.
‘I think I understand!’
But there wasn’t a hint of hesitation in Jo Geol’s sword.
He felt like he understood. It was inexplicable, but clear.
He didn’t need to see to know where Baek Cheon was, how Yoon Jong was attacking and from where, and how Namgung Dowi and Hye Yeon were assisting them.
Probably… right now!
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted. This was likely Namgung Dowi’s sword. And if that’s the case…
Boom!
Slightly slower but even more substantial than the previous explosion, another loud boom erupted. This was undoubtedly the sound created by Hye Yeon’s fist.
The force of the fist exploding meant that the enemy’s resistance was concentrated on the front line. And what does that mean?
“Sasuk will break through!”
Swoosh!
Jo Geol thrust his sword like a flying tiger.
The fist and the sword disrupted the enemy, and the main attack force broke through the opening created. At that moment, those charging from the left and right violently pierced the enemy, preventing them from regrouping at the center.
They had done it countless times. Countless!
It’s distinctly different, yet there’s nothing particularly different. Probably, Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, Hye Yeon, and Namgung Dowi are all thinking the same thing.
The terrifying past battles are etched into their bodies as experiences, not wasted efforts.
“Get out of the way!”
Swish!
Unmatched in speed [쾌속무비(快速無比)].
Jo Geol’s sword, thrust in a single motion, split into twelve afterimages in the air. Each sword shadow [검영(劍影)] extended like a beam of light, consecutively piercing the bodies of the bewildered enemies.
“One Sword that splits…”
Thud!
Jo Geol’s sword pierced the mouth of the enemy trying to shout his title, instantly cutting off his breath.
“Out of the way if you don’t want to die!”
“That idiot!”
Yoon Jong bit his lip.
Jo Geol’s voice could be heard even from there. It seemed he was charging ahead without looking back, with no intention of matching the pace of those following him.
But.
‘Well, I expected this!’
If not, it wouldn’t be Jo Geol. Jo Geol would naturally do this, and he should.
It was none other than Yoon Jong himself who needed to keep up with Jo Geol.
“Hup!”
Yoon Jong deflected an incoming spear with his sword. A clean sword strike with no wasteful movements. If Jo Geol was a piercing spear, Yoon Jong was like a defensive shield. It wasn’t something he learned or trained for. Though they had learned the same swordsmanship, their swords had developed in completely different directions.
‘It’s hard to keep up, you brat!’
Thud!
Yoon Jong stepped firmly with such force that his foot was almost embedded into the ground, twisting his body and swinging his sword.
The sword energy he unleashed shattered in the air and swept over the dense crowd of the enemies.
“Aaah!”
Jo Geol swiftly cut down the enemy, but Yoon Jong’s sword was more effective in preventing the enemies from daring to charge at them.
The enemies pushed and pressed back were naturally pierced by Jo Geol on the opposite side. There was no need for words.
Matching Jo Geol’s pace with his somewhat heavier sword was no easy task, but Yoon Jong was already accustomed to dealing with such difficulties.
And there were plenty of ways to make up for any slight delay.
“Push forward! Keep pressing on!”
“Yes!”
On Yoon Jong’s left and right, the division members swung their swords. No one advanced ahead, but no one lagged behind either. As Yoon Jong extended his steps, the vanguard moved as one, pushing against the enemy.
Yoon Jong saw the enemies wavering.
Naturally, then?
Boom!
Boom!
“…Seriously. Consider the back a bit.”
A sigh that didn’t quite fit the situation escaped Yoon Jong’s lips.
“I told you not to waste your energy.”
“…Amitabha.”
“…Well, a gap opened up.”
Baek Cheon’s face contorted.
‘I should stop talking.’
No matter how many times he said that the real battle wasn’t now, those guys couldn’t help but attack when they saw the grouped enemies. Even the division members were caught up in the excitement, releasing inner strength from behind every time Shaolin’s fist and Namgung’s sword energy burst in front.
“Ugh, better to endure… No, that’s not right!”
Baek Cheon almost mimicked someone’s habitual phrase, shook his head, and looked forward.
‘The distance?’
Now, it was close. In that case?
“Let’s go! Break through in one go!”
Baek Cheon’s divison, advancing in a triangular formation, increased its speed at that moment. The target was their wedge, the backs of the two people opening the path at the front.
Tap!
Baek Cheon’s foot pushed off the ground.
As all the division members followed him, Baek Cheon saw the familiar swordsmanship of someone he knew well.
Whoosh.
Yu Iseol soared into the air and descended into the middle of the enemy lines.
‘Anyway!’
It was incredibly dangerous. It’s something that can’t be attempted without absolute confidence in one’s martial arts and body movement techniques. Even Baek Cheon wouldn’t dare to imitate Yu Iseol’s unique skill.
But as dangerous as it was, the effect was undeniable. In a battlefield where lives are on the line, who can ignore someone falling from above?
The sword of an enemy pushing from the front won’t reach me until someone in front of me falls, but the sword of an enemy falling from above can cut my throat at any moment. Maintaining formation in such a situation was a pipe dream.
Swoosh!
Yu Iseol’s sword drew a crescent-like arc in the air. The vividly extended sword energy seemed to shatter for an instant, then transformed into countless petals, cascading down upon the enemies’ heads.
“Aaaaah!”
The Plum Blossom Sword Technique [매화검법(梅花劍法)] infused with the harmony of the Moon Maiden Sword [월녀검(月女劍)] she first learned.
Yu Iseol’s sword, falling into the enemy’s center and breaking the spearhead of the counterattacking foes in an instant, mercilessly pierced the vital points of the startled enemies.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Those who were slain without even a chance to scream collapsed to the ground.
In the heart of the fierce battlefield where no calm or silence could exist, an unnatural stillness descended around Yu Iseol, who stood quietly on the space she had carved out with her sword.
“A-Attack…”
Swoosh!
Hundreds of sword shadows flew at those whose attention was captured by the spectacle.
“W-What?”
The spectacle was so impressive it gave the illusion of a mountain of swords pouring down, but there was no one who could admire it.
“Aaaaah!”
“Aaah!”
Jin Geumryong slightly frowned after rendering dozens of enemies incapacitated in an instant.
His Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords were powerful enough, but at this rate…
“Getting a free ride!”
“What? This damn…”
At that moment, Baek Cheon brushed past Jin Geumryong, leaping over the fallen enemies.
Swoosh!
The sword he swung cleanly beheaded the still-dazed ones. As Baek Cheon prepared to strike again, something suddenly put itself in front of him.
“What, what’s this?”
“…Where to?”
“…”
He looked up and saw Yu Iseol with her indifferent face, blocking his path with her back.
“Samae?”
“Where to? That way?”
“…”
Even before Baek Cheon could nod in bewilderment, Yu Iseol charged forward.
Swoosh!
Her sword swiftly decapitated three people, creating a narrow but clear path through the crowd.
“Don’t fall behind. We’re going without rest.”
“Who are you talking to?”
“Sahyeong.”
“…I wasn’t really asking.”
Tap tap.
As Yu Iseol dashed forward, another person grabbed Baek Cheon’s head and pushed him back, then followed alongside Yu Iseol.
“Move aside, woman! The front is my spot.”
“Slow.”
“You?!”
Their swords, swung in a competitive manner, quickly overwhelmed the enemies. Watching this, Baek Cheon blinked, then flinched and raised his voice again.
“Follow me! Let’s break through in one go!”
“Yes!”
“Anyway, such a bad temper…”
Baek Cheon shook his head again.
“Both of them.”
In his eyes, he clearly saw Yu Iseol and Jin Geumryong breaking through the final line of enemy defense.
“…Hmm.”
A low hum resonated heavily in the air.
He could see it.
The enemy below seemed to be trampling over Sapaeryeon’s forces as if they were wreaking havoc.
“Did Cheonumaeng possess such ability?”
Their strategic capability was undeniable… But this seemed more a matter of tactics than strategy. Those who once idled in warm rooms of grand pavilions couldn’t possibly fight like this.
“…Hwasan’s brats?”
They were the only ones he could think of. But could they demonstrate such leadership?
“Hmm.”
Meanwhile, the enemy finally broke through those concentrated below Mount Wudang and stepped onto the mountainside. It took less than half quarter of an hour for the initial defense line to collapse.
Even though the remaining ones were just a ragtag group scraped together from here and there…
“As expected.”
Cheon Myeon Susa turned his gaze from below and looked at one person.
“They don’t seem to be like you.”
“…”
Heo Gong gripped his sword tightly and glared at Cheon Myeon Susa.
Reinforcements had arrived. Those reinforcements were now starting to ascend Wudang.
What they had to do now was survive until those reinforcements reached them. It was a simple goal, yet also a daunting one.
‘But we must do it.’
Hope had reached their eyes. Whether they could grasp that hope was entirely up to them.
“…A futile hope has arisen.”
“…”
“Will they even be able to reach this place?”
Cheon Myeon Susa slowly released his hands from behind his back and slightly raised them, looking at Heo Gong and Wudang’s disciples.
Half? Or less?
Who knows? The numbers didn’t matter much.
“I promise.”
Cheon Myeon Susa smiled faintly.
“In less than an hour, half of them will be gone. And in another hour, no one will be left standing. That will be the end of Wudang.”
“…”
Heo Gong glared at Cheon Myeon Susa with resolute eyes.
“We will hold out, no matter what.”
“You should know the difference between hope and reality.”
“Is that why you bowed your head to Jang Ilso? You, the greatest master of Haomun?”
For a moment, the expression disappeared from Cheon Myeon Susa’s face.
“If that’s reality, I’d rather die with hope.”
“…”
Malicious anger seeped out from behind the mask covering Cheon Myeon Susa’s face.
“I take back my words about an hour.”
White energy surged violently in Cheon Myeon Susa’s hands.
“I’ll annihilate you all within half an hour!”
His palm force expanded explosively, like clouds.
Seeing this, Heo Gong bit his lip tightly.
‘Forgive me, but please!’
He prayed that he could hold out until those swords reached this place, that the name of Wudang would still have a shred left here.
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