Chapter 1699
That’s enough for me. (9)
The sword with its complex history was now being wielded here to save none other than Hwasan.
Taaaaaaaah!
Jin Geumryong swung his sword with all his might.
Lee Songbaek, who had been watching with a stern face, nodded slightly.
There is pain. Unresolved conflicts still exist. Perhaps they always will. As long as the names of Jongnam and Hwasan exist, the relationship between the two sects may never draw close.
But even so, they are fighting for Hwasan now.
“That should be enough for now…”
“What?”
“I will go as well, Young Lord.”
“Wait, hold on a moment. It’s dangerous with just you two.”
Lee Songbaek gave a bitter smile at Namgung Dowi’s earnest objection.
Having climbed up the cliff alone without a plan, he now worried when others tried to do the same. This man was indeed peculiar.
“Don’t worry, Young Lord.”
“What?”
“We’re not alone.”
At those words, Namgung Dowi reflexively looked down.
A shiver ran through his entire body. Dozens of people were climbing the blood-red cliff hidden in darkness.
Even in the darkness, the eyes shone brightly enough to be clearly visible.
“Ah…”
Namgung Dowi let out a groan as he widened his eyes. Lee Songbaek smiled slightly.
“Though we are a bit late, it doesn’t mean our resolve is lacking.”
“…Sohyeop.”
“Then.”
With those words, Lee Songbaek leaped up, leaving Namgung Dowi behind.
“I’ll help, Sahyeong!”
“No need!”
“Hyaah!”
Lee Songbaek’s vigorous sword energy surged up the steep cliff.
The scattered white sword energy blended exquisitely with the deep, solid energy spreading out as if taking root in the cliff.
Namgung Dowi watched the harmony of the two sword energies in a daze.
The swords, the techniques, and even the timing of their actions were all different. And yet… they were not different at all.
Crack!
Namgung Dowi gripped his sword with all his strength.
‘I can’t just stand by.’
He could still fight, too.
Different but not different. At least, everyone who climbed here probably shared the same thought.
‘For now, that’s enough.’
Namgung Dowi chuckled softly. With fierce determination rekindled in his eyes, he launched himself off the cliff with both legs.
“The sword of Namgung is still here!”
His voice resonated loudly, echoing up the high cliff and beyond.
Jongli Gok unconsciously bit his lip.
Even though he was consciously avoiding looking down, he knew without seeing how dangerous a place he was climbing.
‘This is madness.’
Attempting something like this, it was insanity.
The problem was that Jongli Gok was the one doing this insane thing right now. And no one had forced or ordered him to do it.
Whoosh!
Beside him, Pung Yeong Shin Gae soared up with incredible momentum.
It was an extraordinary display of lightness techniques and agility that Jongli Gok couldn’t hope to emulate. Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s martial arts, once called the best under heaven, truly lived up to its reputation.
“I can’t lose!”
Spurred by Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s momentum, Jongli Gok kicked off the cliff face.
“Sect Leader Jongli!”
Namgung Myeong’s loud shout echoed through the air. But instead of turning back, Jongli Gok chose to push himself further up the cliff.
‘Why?’
He didn’t know why he was doing this, why he was deliberately engaging in something that seemed to yield no benefit.
He bore many responsibilities on his shoulders: the future of Jongnam, the pillars of the next generation, and perhaps even the future of the world.
Even if the cliff collapsed, someone would have to lead Cheonumaeng. Logically speaking, it made no sense for Jongli Gok, who should be part of that leadership, to risk his life here. It was utterly foolish.
Yet…
He lifted his head. He could see the harmony of the scattered white sword energy and the two swords forcefully pushing forward.
“You youngsters…”
Jongli Gok bit his lip hard.
“It’s still too early for you!”
Whoosh!
He surged up the cliff face like the wind.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Commander!”
Ho Gamyeong’s eyes twitched slightly.
‘Cheonumaeng…’
He saw those climbing up the cliff. Even at a glance, their speed was extraordinary, enough to estimate their martial prowess.
‘Did they deploy the elite from each sect up the cliff?’
The main force of Cheonumaeng was engaged in battle with Sapaeryeon’s army at the base of the cliff. With such a significant force diverted, their losses would inevitably increase.
They had set out to save Hwasan, even at the cost of their own sect’s casualties.
Moreover, they were heading to a place where their lives could be at grave risk.
‘No, it’s not ‘could be at risk’..’
They surely weren’t foolish enough to ignore the fact that the probability of preventing the impending explosion was lower than the probability of failing to do so.
Thus, they were risking their lives to climb that cliff.
Ho Gamyeong bit his lip firmly.
Was this situation causing a major disruption to his strategy?
No, it wasn’t. From another perspective, it might be a great opportunity to send those significant forces climbing the cliff straight to hell.
But even so, Ho Gamyeong found it difficult to suppress his bewilderment.
‘Those bastards…’
They had started acting in ways completely beyond his expectations.
Who were these Just Sects’ bastards?
They were the ones who wouldn’t blink at the extermination of another sect if it served their interests. In some ways, the Just Sects were even more cunning and ruthless than the openly antagonistic Evil Sects.
There was no need to look far – it was the subtle conflicts and competition among the Just Sects that ensured Sapaeryeon’s victory in the battle at Hubei.
Yet those cunning bastards were now risking their lives to climb the cliff. Why on earth?
“Commander, the strategy…”
“Quiet.”
“But, Commander.”
“I said be quiet!”
Ho Gamyeong suddenly erupted, shouting angrily. His subordinates, their faces pale, hastily closed their mouths.
Grinding his teeth, Ho Gamyeong glared at the cliff. His usually cool eyes were now twisted with anger.
‘Nothing has changed.’
The situation was still favorable to his side.
‘Without Hwasan Geomhyeop, there’s no way we can lose. No, it must not happen.’
Victory was essential. An overwhelming victory, at that.
That was the only thing he could offer to Jang Ilso, who had acted according to his plan. If he failed to achieve this, Ho Gamyeong’s value as a strategist for Sapaeryeon would be lost.
“What about Hwasan?”
“There’s still no other movement!”
“…But they’ll soon find out.”
If a large battle broke out on the cliff, there was no way they wouldn’t notice, no matter how chaotic it was.
“Inform the Sun Palace to detonate the explosives.”
“Commander! We’re not ready yet…”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Ho Gamyeong’s eyes cooled as he spoke.
“The net already has holes in it, so waiting for all the fish to escape would be foolish. Even if we catch only half, it’s not a loss. And if we’re lucky, we might catch them all.”
“But then the Sun Palace members will also…”
“That’s the responsibility of the Sun Palace Lord.”
Ho Gamyeong cut off his subordinate’s words coldly.
“Pass the order.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Recognizing Ho Gamyeong’s firm decision, the subordinates left without further comments. Ho Gamyeong didn’t even glance at them, keeping his gaze fixed on the cliff.
‘Where did things go wrong?’
His palms were soaked with cold sweat.
Even the alliance of Shaolin and Gupailbang didn’t exceed his and Jang Ilso’s expectations. That wasn’t particularly surprising, as wars aren’t lost due to the unexpected but because one cannot prevent the inevitable.
The only element outside their expected trajectory was Cheonumaeng.
‘And the key must naturally be Hwasan Geomhyeop.’
But if such things happened even where Hwasan Geomhyeop wasn’t present, does that mean he wasn’t the core of Cheonumaeng?
Or perhaps…
Ho Gamyeong bit his lip and shook his head.
That couldn’t be. It was impossible.
Yet the reason he couldn’t easily accept the current situation was that everything unfolding seemed as if Hwasan Geomhyeop was indeed there.
If he was there?
He would likely have climbed that cliff the moment the first explosion went off. Recklessly, without a plan, like a madman.
The people there were now displaying that bewildering, unexpected behavior. Not just one but several at once.
A hint of redness appeared in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes.
‘They must all be killed here.’
His heart pounded unpleasantly. Even he couldn’t precisely explain the nature of the crisis he was feeling. According to his usual reasoning, any force where the majority thought and acted like Hwasan Geomhyeop should be doomed to fail.
But the moment he glimpsed even the slightest possibility of something else, Ho Gamyeong became more urgent than ever.
The two words he despised most, ‘instinct’ and ‘premonition,’ were now relentlessly warning him.
Ho Gamyeong shouted as if speaking to himself.
“Failure is not an option! Bury them all beneath the cliff!”
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