C1681. That's Not My Business! (1)
"Ahhh!"
Jo Gul's sword sliced through the air like lightning.
Perhaps because he hadn't aimed at any enemies for a while, his sword seemed faster and sharper today.
"Block me and die, you bastards!"
As Jo Gul charged forward, he pierced through three members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, spinning his body horizontally and swinging his sword to scatter the enemies.
'Somehow...'
This was the first time he led others. Being at the front and leading were entirely different things. The one at the front had someone behind to give orders, but the leader had no one to give them orders.
That was a significant difference.
'Now I understand!'
But there was no hesitation in Jo Gul's sword.
He understood. Although it was difficult to comprehend, it was clear.
He could precisely know where Baek Cheon was, from where Yoon Jong was attacking, how Namgung Dowi and Hye Yeon were helping, without needing to see them.
Maybe... right now!
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed. That must be the power of Namgung Dowi's sword. And if so...
Boom!
A slower but stronger explosion resounded. That must be Hye Yeon's strength.
The fact that the force was unleashed meant that the enemy's resistance was concentrated at the front. And that meant...
"Sasuk is advancing!"
Whoosh!
Jo Gul's sword shot forward like lightning.
The force and energy of his sword destabilized the enemy, and at the moment a gap was created, the main attack took advantage of it. At that moment, those advancing on the flanks pierced through the enemy to prevent them from regrouping at the center.
They had done this countless times. Countless.
Although it was different, it wasn't really different. Probably Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, Hye Yeon, and Namgung Dowi also thought the same.
The terrible battles before were not in vain; they had become experience engraved in their bodies.
"Get out of my way!"
Whoosh!
Quick and unstoppable.
Jo Gul's sword split in twelve directions in the air. The shadows of his sword extended like lightning, piercing through the bewildered enemies.
"In one strike..."
Thud!
Jo Gul's sword pierced the mouth of the one trying to utter his nickname, cutting off his breath in one blow.
"Ahhh! If you don't want to die, step aside!"
"That idiot!"
Yoon Jong clenched his lips.
He could hear Jo Gul's voice from here. He was running wildly without looking back, without thinking of adjusting his pace to those following him.
But...
'Well, I expected that.'
Otherwise, he wouldn't be Jo Gul. Jo Gul would act like that and he had to.
It was Yoon Jong who had to adjust to Jo Gul.
"Haaap!"
Yoon Jong's sword deflected a spear heading towards him. A clean and waste-free movement. If Jo Gul was the spear that pierced, he was the shield that blocked. It wasn't something he learned or practiced; although both learned the same sword, they developed completely different styles.
"It's hard to keep up with you, damn it!"
Thud!
Yoon Jong planted his feet firmly on the ground and spun his body, swinging his sword in a wide arc.
The energy of his sword spread through the air, covering the gathered enemies.
"Ahhh!"
Unlike Jo Gul, who killed with one blow, Yoon Jong's sword discouraged enemies from approaching.
While Jo Gul pierced through the scattered enemies, Yoon Jong disorganized them. Although they didn't say it, they did it naturally.
Combining his heavy sword with Jo Gul's was an exhausting task, but Yoon Jong was already used to the difficulty.
And there were always ways to compensate for a slight delay.
"Further ahead! Keep moving forward!"
"Yes!"
The members of Yoon Jong's group swung their swords by his side. No one went ahead, but no one lagged behind. With their steps aligned, the group advanced, pushing the enemies back.
Yoon Jong's eyes saw the gathered enemies sway.
Then, naturally...
Boom!
Boom!
"...No, think about the rear."
Yoon Jong let out a sigh that didn't fit the situation.
"Didn't I tell you not to waste your energy?"
"...Amitabha."
"...No, I saw an opportunity."
Baek Cheon's face twisted.
'It's better not to speak.'
He had said several times that the real battle hadn't started yet, but those men couldn't resist attacking the gathered enemies. Even the subordinates were launching attacks when they saw bursts of power and energy at the front.
"Ugh. Hurt... No, that's not it."
Baek Cheon, almost repeating an old habit, shook his head and looked ahead.
'Distance?'
They were already close. So...
"Let's go! Break through at once!"
Baek Cheon's group, advancing in a triangular formation, increased their speed at that moment. The target was their wedge, the backs of the two who were clearing the path in front.
Whoosh!
Baek Cheon's feet hit the ground.
When all the members of the group followed, Baek Cheon saw someone's familiar sword.
Whoosh!
Yoo Iseol, who had jumped into the air, descended into the midst of the enemy.
'Anyway...'
It was extremely dangerous. If you didn't have absolute confidence in your skills and agility, you couldn't even attempt it. Even Baek Cheon wouldn't dare to imitate Yoo Iseol's unique technique.
But, although dangerous, the effect was clear. Who could ignore someone falling on them in the midst of a death battle?
A sword approaching from the front wouldn't reach you until someone fell in front of you, but a sword falling from above could cut your throat at any moment. Maintaining formation amid that was an impossible dream.
Whoosh!
Yoo Iseol's sword drew a crescent circle in the air. The sword energy, clearly extending, seemed to break for a moment and then transformed into countless petals, falling over the enemies' heads.
"Ahhh!"
The Plum Blossom Sword Art, incorporating the elegance of the Moonlight Sword that Yoo Iseol had learned first, broke the enemy's offense in an instant. Her sword precisely struck the vital points of the enemies at the center of the battlefield.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Without even time to scream, the enemies fell to the ground, dead.
In the midst of the battlefield, where there was no place for calm or silence, an undeserved silence descended around Yoo Iseol, who stood still in the space created by her sword...
"Att... attack...!"
Whoosh!
Hundreds of sword shadows flew towards those who had been paralyzed by the scene.
"What, what?"
It seemed as if a mountain of swords collapsed on them. But no one could admire that view.
"Ahhh!"
"Aaaah!"
In an instant, Jin Geumryong had incapacitated dozens of enemies and frowned slightly.
Although his technique, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords, was powerful enough, but this...
"You're getting off cheap!"
"What? This bastard..."
At that moment, Baek Cheon passed by Jin Geumryong, charging at the enemies he had knocked down.
Whoosh!
Baek Cheon's sword cleanly cut the throats of the enemies who hadn't recovered yet. Just as he was about to launch another attack, something got in his way.
"What... what's this?"
"...Where are you going?"
"..."
When he looked up, Yoo Iseol, with a serious expression, blocked his path with her back.
"Samae?"
"Where to? Over there?"
"..."
Before Baek Cheon could nod his head, Yoo Iseol quickly advanced.
Whoosh!
Her sword cut the throats of three enemies, creating a narrow but clear path through the gathered enemies.
"Don't fall behind. We won't stop."
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Sahyung."
"...I didn't mean it seriously."
Thud!
As Yoo Iseol advanced, someone else pushed Baek Cheon by the head backward and joined Yoo Iseol.
"Step aside, swordswoman. The vanguard is my place."
"Slow."
"What did you say?"
Both their swords cut down the enemies in an instant. Seeing this scene, Baek Cheon blinked and then raised his voice again.
"Follow me! Break through at once!"
"Yes!"
"Anyway, such bad character..."
Baek Cheon shook his head.
"Both."
He clearly saw Yoo Iseol and Jin Geumryong breaking through the enemy's last line of defense.
"...Hmm."
A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
He could see.
The enemy, as if being destroyed, fluttering everywhere among the members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
"Did the Heavenly Comrade Alliance have such capability?"
Although he had no choice but to admit their strategic ability... This was more of a tactical issue. It was hard to believe that those living comfortably in grand mansions could fight like this.
"...Could it be the kids from the Mount Hua Sect?"
They were the only ones that came to mind. But, could they show such leadership?
"Hmm."
Meanwhile, the enemy finally broke through the defenses gathered at the base of Mount Wudang and began climbing the slope. The first line of defense fell in less than a quarter of an hour.
Although those left were just a mob from different places...
"As expected."
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman, watching from below, turned away and spoke to someone.
"It seems they're not like you."
"..."
Heo Gong gripped the hilt of his sword and glared at the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
Reinforcements had arrived. And those reinforcements were now starting to climb the mountain.
So, what they had to do was survive until the reinforcements arrived.
‘But they must.’
Hope had arrived in his eyes. Whether they could reach that hope depended entirely on them.
"…This is just a vain wish."
"…"
"Can they make it here?"
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman slowly unfolded his arms and looked at Heo Gong and the Wudang disciples.
Half? Or less?
Who knows. He wasn't sure how many remained.
"I promise you."
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman smiled.
"Half will be gone in half an hour. And in another half hour, no one will be left standing. That will be the end of Wudang."
"…"
Heo Gong looked at the Thousand-Faced Gentleman with determined eyes.
"We will endure."
"You must distinguish between wishes and reality."
"Is that why you bowed to Jang Ilso? You, the great leader of the Hao Sect?"
For a moment, the Thousand-Faced Gentleman's expression vanished.
"If that's reality, I'd rather die with my wishes."
"…"
Behind the mask of the Thousand-Faced Gentleman, a malicious anger began to seep out.
"I take back what I said about half an hour."
A furious white energy burst from his hands.
"I will exterminate all of you in a quarter of an hour."
The energy around him grew like a cloud, with explosive speed.
Heo Gong clenched his lips at the sight.
‘Forgive me, but please hold on. Please.’
He hoped that the swords of the reinforcements would arrive in time. And that the name of Wudang would remain, even if only as a shadow.