Chapter 1685
That’s not my concern! (5)
“Aaaaah!”
Jo Geol roared with the force of someone about to cough up his lungs. His blood-soaked hand trembled as he gripped his sword.
“Damn it, we did it! Damn!”
He slammed his fist against the cliff and quickly turned around. Those behind him were staring at him with eyes filled with exhilaration.
They knew.
They understood how difficult it was to carve a path through this mountain. How terrifying it was to be at the forefront, fighting, not knowing when or how the enemy might ambush from behind the flames.
Yet this man had walked that treacherous path with dignity and had finally arrived here.
What Jo Geol proved here was not just the sharpness of his sword. It was the ability to take that first step. The world calls this courage.
The members standing here realized that even if the results they achieved here ended in failure, no one would dare claim that Jo Geol lacked the qualifications.
Jo Geol commanded.
“What are you doing! Stay on guard! They’re coming for those joining us! Block them immediately!”
“Yes, vice-leader!”
There was an unprecedented decisiveness in the responding voices. Jo Geol shouted, unable to hide his excitement.
“And don’t dawdle back there, hurry up and come! What are you doing!”
“We’re coming, you brat!”
At the booming voice that pierced his ears, Yoon Jong shouted back.
“If you just shut that mouth, your rating would go up twice as much, damn it!”
While clicking his tongue and grumbling, Yoon Jong encouraged his comrades. It was true that they needed to hurry and join the others.
“This way!”
At that moment, Baek Cheon raised his sword high so everyone could see.
“Each division, form a defensive formation around this spot, right now!”
“Yes!”
Baek Cheon quickly surveyed the surroundings. Reaching the cliff was a good thing, but it also meant that Cheonumeng’s advance had halted.
The enemies, not being fools, would naturally surround and attempt to attack them.
Baek Cheon’s gaze shot towards the cliff behind him, specifically the paths leading to the left and right.
‘It’s narrow.’
The path connected to the steep cliff. It would take a long time for all these people to climb up.
“Dongryong, they’re coming!”
“Damn it! I told you not to call me that!”
Baek Cheon reflexively shouted and looked ahead. The enemies were pushing through the still flickering flames like enraged bulls.
But…
“Huh?”
“What?”
“That’s… strange.”
Baek Cheon, Jo Geol, and Yoon Jong all tilted their heads simultaneously, as if they had planned it.
Indeed, beyond the fiercely blazing flames, the enemies were swarming. Yet, they were not able to easily cross the fire.
Ironically, the fire started by Sapaeryeon was preventing Cheonumaeng from being instantly surrounded. It was almost as if Cheonumaeng had erected a massive wall of flames to defend against them.
“Is this what they call a self inflicted wound?”
“Oh? You know phrases like that?”
“Do you think I’m Chung Myung or something?”
Feeling ignored, Jo Geol snapped. Yoon Jong paid him no mind and continued to watch the front. Meanwhile, Namgung Dowi and Hye Yeon, who had been slightly behind, led their groups and joined them.
“Siju!”
“You’ve done well, Monk!”
“Not at all. The hard work was done by Jo Geol Siju, who cleared the path.”
“I’m grateful you acknowledge it…”
“No, that’s enough about that.”
“He didn’t do much, Monk.”
Jo Geol slumped his shoulders in disappointment. How did he end up with these kinds of people…?
“So, what do we do now, Vice Sect Leader?”
At Namgung Dowi’s question, Baek Cheon furrowed his brow slightly.
They had their backs to the cliff, securing a situation where they could defend and fight against the enemy. Furthermore, the momentum of those who had been relentlessly attacking the rear had somewhat subsided.
Baek Cheon replied calmly
“There is no difference. Let’s first hold this position firmly and then break through the narrow paths on the left and right with a select few elites.”
“Sasuk.”
“What?”
“…I don’t think that’s going to work.”
“What do you mean… huh?”
As Baek Cheon was about to question further, he sensed something and quickly looked up.
Whoosh!
Boom!
Something was crashing into the cliff and falling.
“A person?”
Baek Cheon’s face hardened.
“Geol!”
“Damn it!”
Jo Geol immediately kicked off the ground and leaped into the air. He caught the falling person and landed back on the ground.
“Ugh…”
Jo Geol’s hand trembled briefly. The person, pierced by several blades and in a terrible state, was convulsing in his arms.
Though torn and battered, the fallen person was clearly wearing the martial robes of Wudang.
“Are… you okay…?”
Jo Geol habitually tried to ask if he was okay but ended up keeping his mouth shut. He wasn’t a fool – he knew this person was beyond saving. Even if Tang Soso were here, there would be nothing she could do.
“Damn it…”
Jo Geol bit his lip in frustration. Just then, the fallen man slowly opened his eyes and spoke.
“Hwa… Hwasan…?”
“Yes! Hwasan!”
Jo Geol nodded vigorously.
“It’s Cheonumaeng. Are you conscious?”
“Above… Sahyeong…”
“…”
“Dan…ger… soon… ex…”
The man’s head fell limply to the side. His body, which had been convulsing in Jo Geol’s arms, grew still and quiet.
Jo Geol clenched his teeth and gently laid him on the ground, then looked at Baek Cheon with a stern expression.
“Do you understand what he was trying to say at the end?”
“…He probably wanted to say they will soon be exterminated.”
Crack.
Jo Geol clenched his fist tightly.
Baek Cheon’s gaze remained fixed on the edge of the cliff. Like newborn spiders, enemies clung to it, relentlessly climbing the upper part of the cliff, targeting Wudang. It was truly grotesque.
The situation for Wudang was worse than expected. Enemies were climbing the cliff, while people from Wudang were being pushed off. This alone was enough to guess the dire situation at the top of the cliff.
“Let’s go, Yoon Jong!”
“Wait a moment. Sasuk!”
“We don’t have time to hesitate! You know why we’re here, right?”
“It’s impossible! The enemies must have fortified the narrow paths.”
“We have to break through!”
“It’s not about breaking through! It’s about how quickly we can get there! With that method, Wudang won’t hold out until we reach the top of the cliff.”
“Then what…”
“Let’s climb up!”
“Huh?”
“What?”
Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong both turned their gaze toward Jo Geol. Jo Geol, with his index finger pointing upward, was indicating the cliff behind them.
“The cliffs are our specialty, right?”
“Wait a minute, Geol. That’s…”
“What are you hesitating for? This is the fastest way!”
“It’s too dangerous!”
“That’s not my concern!”
Jo Geol finally bared his teeth, glaring at the two men as if he would devour them.
“Are you not going to do it because it’s dangerous?”
“…”
“You can see there’s only one way, so what’s there to think about? We have to climb right now! It’s the easiest way!”
With those words, Baek Cheon looked at the cliff again.
If you’re asking if it’s possible, of course, it is.
If Sapaeryeon’s members can climb this cliff, there’s no reason they can’t. But…
Perhaps thinking the same thing as Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong coldly cut off Jo Geol’s suggestion.
“That’s… a story from when we were Hwasan. The moment we start climbing, the structure we’ve built will collapse completely. Once we’re on top of the cliff, there’s nothing we can do. That would lead to too many sacrifices.”
“Damn it! So you just want to sit back and watch?”
“If we break through the narrow paths quickly…”
“It’s too late! It’s too late!”
Bang!
Jo Geol slammed his fist against the cliff, his eyes fierce.
“Do you want to try a method that’s bound to fail? Just because we’ve come this far? Just to cover our asses?”
“Geol!”
“Methods are not chosen – they are made! Aren’t they?”
Baek Cheon bit his lip firmly. Jo Geol was right. But…
“What are you hesitating about, you idiot?”
At that moment, a mocking voice brushed past his ears. Baek Cheon ground his teeth.
“Damn it. I don’t have time to argue with you right now…”
“Climb up.”
“…What?”
Jin Geumryong, who had already taken care of the rear, approached with a haughty look in his eyes.
“If you Hwasan monkeys can do it, you can climb up in one go.”
“I’m not with Hwasan right now…”
“Your Hwasan folks are here.”
As soon as Jin Geumryong finished speaking, familiar faces rushed out from various directions. Black martial robes, adorned with a plum blossom on their chests.
They were the familiar swordsmen of Hwasan.
“Sasuk!”
“We’re ready!”
“Just give us the order, Sahyeong!”
Baek Cheon’s eyes wavered briefly. Conflict flickered within his heart. But…
“No. Not now…”
“Stop spouting nonsense.”
“What?”
Jin Geumryong smirked.
“The whole point of forming an alliance and not splitting into separate sects was so that each sect wouldn’t just look out for their own interests. Do you really think there’s anyone here crazy enough to envy Hwasan for climbing that cliff?”
“…”
“So cut the chatter and get moving. I’ll hold them off here.”
Having said his piece, Jin Geumryong swung his sword wide as if dismissing them and turned his body. Without looking back, he advanced toward the enemy.
“From now on, I’ll take command!”
As Baek Cheon stood there dumbfounded, Namgung Dowi chuckled.
“Such good brothers.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“You two are both equally bad at being honest.”
“No, Young Lord!”
Namgung Dowi chuckled again and tapped his sword, nodding firmly.
“Go ahead, Vice Sect Leader. I’ll take care of things here.”
“But…”
“It’s a simple task to hold on until you save Wudang. If I can’t manage that, the name of Namgung would be shamed.”
Namgung Dowi grinned and then looked at Hye Yeon.
“I’ll handle things here, so go to the front.”
“S-Siju?”
“Isn’t that what you wanted to do, Monk?”
Hye Yeon’s face flushed slightly.
“It’s not just monks who can act maturely. And… as you know, we’re not alone here.”
“That’s right!”
Someone stepped in, striding confidently while waving a fan with great assurance.
“Young Lord Namgung finally recognizes my worth…”
“The other division leaders are here. They’re holding back for now, but they’ll step in when there’s a crisis.”
“…No, I was also…”
“And each of them is an absolute master of a prestigious sect. Don’t underestimate them.”
“…This little opportunist keeps ignoring me to the end? Can’t these noble people even see a Sapa brat?”
Only then did Namgung Dowi glance at him and mutter.
“Then go away if you know.”
“What?”
As the two began to bicker as usual, Baek Cheon sighed deeply as if the ground would collapse beneath him.
He thought things were going well, but of course.
When he looked up again, he saw everyone around him clearly.
Jo Geol, Yoon Jong, Yu Iseol, Hye Yeon, and the swordsmen holding their plum blossom swords behind them. Baek Cheon chuckled briefly and shook his head.
“…I’m so sick of this.”
“Who could say something like that?”
“Is that something Sasuk should say?”
“It seemed like we would be apart for a while.”
“Shut up, you damn bastards! Don’t say a word!”
Baek Cheon, who had shouted loudly, turned his gaze to the top of the cliff. The rigidness of his face was slowly replaced by a rising fervor.
Baek Cheon commanded Hwasan.
“Wudang is risking their lives to hold out.”
The expressions of Hwasan swordsmen changed dramatically.
“Let’s go, Hwasan! We’ll climb it in one go!”
“Yes!”
Swoosh!
The black figures kicked off the cliff and soared up.
The world changed before their eyes. The cliff, which had towered so high, now seemed to drop below them like flat ground, and ahead, the ink-black sky and countless stars spread out as if pouring down.
In this transformed world, over a hundred swords were slicing through like meteors.
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