C1692
"Damn it, those guys!"
"How did they manage to climb that cliff...?"
"Stop them! No, surround them and kill them!"
The members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance started to panic like wild boars that had been shot.
The situation was quite chaotic, and Mu Jin was noticeably bewildered, something rare for him.
'What is this?'
This reaction was clearly different from previous ones. Those who used to mock them as if they were wounded deer now showed palpable tension and fear on their faces.
In terms of numbers, they were barely a hundred.
In a place where thousands of martial artists gathered, a hundred was an insignificant number. However, the Evil Tyrant Alliance was trembling before that hundred enemies.
"Over here! Let's finish these guys first!"
"Kill them before they get here!"
At that moment...
Those who seemed about to rush towards Mount Hua suddenly turned their heads and began heading towards Wudang.
Clang!
Mu Jin quickly blocked a sword flying toward him. At a glance, it was evident that the enemies were now desperate.
Clang!
Mu Jin's weapon trembled slightly as he blocked another sword with murderous energy.
'These guys...?'
The members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance were more hurried than ever.
It was as if they feared that Wudang and Mount Hua would unite after climbing the cliff.
The contrast with their previous attitude, when they pressed Wudang with great confidence, was evident. They were no longer the demons who laughed at the sight of Wudang disciples dying.
What Mu Jin saw now were small troublemakers frozen in fear before a feared enemy. These were the sect's remnants, barely able to show half their abilities in this situation.
"Hold on!"
Swoosh!
Jin Hyeon deflected a flying spear with his sword and swiftly ended his opponent's life. As he cut down the enemies who had lost their precision due to haste, he wore a bitter smile.
"While we were training here... it seems Mount Hua has put a lot of pressure on the enemies."
Mu Jin did not respond. He was overwhelmed by a feeling difficult to describe.
'No. Now is not the time for this.'
Mu Jin pressed his lips together.
Whatever the feeling, only the living have the right to experience it.
Although help had arrived, they had not yet escaped the predicament. The enemies' attacks had become faster and fiercer.
"Hold on!"
The pain in his lost eye was intense. His body was exhausted, and his danjeon seemed on the verge of breaking.
But the fact that he could feel all this pain was proof that he was still alive.
Swoosh!
Mu Jin deflected a blue energy sword flying toward him.
Although he blocked the attack, his wrist went numb and his legs wobbled. He no longer had enough strength to resist the attacks of a nameless enemy from the sect.
Bang!
But as long as he could use his opponent's strength, he could still fight. With an elbow, he struck the enemy's jaw and, through the falling enemy, launched three swords in one strike, gritting his teeth.
'I can do this!'
Although there were only a hundred of them, the result was not insignificant. That hundred was completely changing the situation on this cliff.
"Survive until we fully join with Mount Hua!"
Mu Jin shouted at the top of his lungs.
A cold gaze watched from the top of the cliff.
'Are they succeeding?'
Im Sobyeong exhaled a brief sigh. Fortunately, Mount Hua seemed to be performing well on the cliff.
'Mount Hua is still Mount Hua, even without Chung Myung!'
The battles they have faced and the sects they have fought are countless.
No one in the world understands and is more familiar with the evil sect than they are. Especially concerning the Evil Tyrant Alliance, no one can compare to Mount Hua.
'Fortunately, Wudang has not yet been annihilated.'
Im Sobyeong's gaze darkened.
Somehow, they must save Wudang.
Even if only a small number remains, it does not matter. If they can achieve this one purpose, they will be able to stop the momentum of the Evil Tyrant Alliance that has destroyed Shaolin and risen to the heavens.
"Then, the next step is how to get out of here..."
Im Sobyeong, confident that Mount Hua would achieve its goal, was about to look away when he suddenly stopped and shivered.
'What is that?'
A chill ran down his spine. His eyes quickly searched for the source of his unease.
From where he was standing to the high cliff rising toward the sky.
The White Cliff, known as BaekAnAm, had now turned into a red cliff due to the spilled blood.
From the edges of the cliff, an unknown group of martial artists appeared on the steep slope.
"What... is that?"
Still densely hung on the cliff by the evil sect's minions, those who appeared began to run laterally along the steep rock.
An ominous feeling struck Im Sobyeong's mind like lightning. He opened his eyes in astonishment.
"No, no...!"
A heartbreaking scream came out of his mouth.
"Stop them!"
In his eyes, an unavoidable despair unfolded.
Yoon Jong shivered and looked back. Jo Gul shouted loudly.
"What are you doing, Sahyung?"
"No, it's just..."
"Run instead of looking back!"
"...Yes."
Yoon Jong felt a strange sensation and pressed his lips slightly before withdrawing his gaze. There was something cold on his nape. But, as Jo Gul said, it was not the time to look back.
Even in that brief moment of doubt, the Wudang disciples were falling, bleeding.
'They can't hold on any longer!'
He could see it at a glance. They were completely exhausted.
The endless number of enemies coming and the immense sense of responsibility to protect their sect had pushed the Wudang disciples to their limits.
They needed to create a respite for them, even if only for a moment. He did not want to see Wudang's name disappear here.
"Run!"
Yoon Jong, unusually harsh, shouted as he brandished his sword.
The retreating enemies were pierced by his sword. Although he was dealing with the cold feeling of taking a life, Yoon Jong pressed on.
'Where is Sasuk?'
Still, he was worried about Baek Cheon. He couldn't stop thinking about him.
Not far away, he could feel Baek Cheon's energy. Although he was not at the forefront, he was in the front line, in a position where he had to endure the enemy's attacks.
Yoon Jong clenched his teeth.
He knew it. He knew that Baek Cheon had to be at the front. Without Chung Myung, all of Mount Hua's Swordsmen would follow Baek Cheon's back.
Although Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were paving the way, Baek Cheon's presence was crucial for morale. But...
"Damn it!"
Yoon Jong's sword energy became more aggressive.
'I should have been stronger.'
If he had been stronger, Baek Cheon wouldn't have to struggle so much.
But Yoon Jong couldn't do it. He could support others, but he couldn't lead them. That was Mount Hua's perception of Yoon Jong, and the limitation he himself had acknowledged.
"Haa!"
Yoon Jong's sword launched hundreds of floral energy bursts. It was not his usually precise technique. The scattered energy pierced the enemies.
"S-Sahyung?"
Jo Gul looked at Yoon Jong in surprise. It was not just the rush to rescue Wudang; the energy emanating from his sword was filled with murderous intent.
At that moment, Yoon Jong shouted.
"What are you doing? Hurry up!"
"Eh? Yes!"
Jo Gul nodded quickly and ran forward.
Yes, he could think later. They almost made it. Soon, they would save Wudang.
'We could have done it more easily!'
Jo Gul gritted his teeth. If they had just taken this step earlier...
'Wait. Easily?'
Crunch!
Jo Gul's sword pierced the enemy's heart, and he hesitated.
'Easily?'
His eyes, which had only been looking forward, began to tremble slightly.
Jo Gul looked in amazement at the distorted face of the enemy he had stabbed in the heart. But the enemy didn't resist further and collapsed.
Jo Gul stared at the scene, stunned for a moment.
"What are you doing? Aren't you paying attention?"
"Ah, yes."
Jo Gul regained his focus and took another step forward.
The members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, who were about to retreat, realized they couldn't escape and, screaming as if they were under attack, rushed toward Jo Gul.
Swoosh!
Jo Gul's three swords cut through the bodies of those rushing toward him without resistance. However, despite having defeated the enemies easily, his face remained tense.
He felt even more confused.
'Is the Evil Tyrant Alliance really that weak?'
It couldn't be. How many people in the world knew better than Jo Gul how formidable these guys were?
Of course, there could be an explanation. Perhaps they didn't expect Mount Hua's intervention and maybe hadn't sent their best warriors to this place at that time.
Since the encounter with Jang Ilso, they hadn't seen any trace of those annoying Furious Dogs. But still...
Jo Gul couldn't hold back any longer and asked.
"Sahyung! Aren't these guys weaker than we thought?"
"What are you saying?"
"I mean, these guys..."
"They've also been fighting against Wudang until now! They must be completely exhausted."
Yoon Jong's answer made Jo Gul close his mouth.
Certainly, the faces of the Evil Tyrant Alliance members showed obvious signs of fatigue. It hadn't been easy for them to advance through this hostile and burning terrain to get here.
Sure, if he thought about it, it wasn't that strange. It was probably an unfounded fear.
Although he still felt some unease, these were the same enemies who had cornered Wudang not long ago. They couldn't simply be called weak.
"Aaaaargh!"
At that moment, a heartbreaking scream interrupted Jo Gul's thoughts.
A red sword had embedded itself in the chest of a Wudang Swordsman who had been fighting with all his might.
'That...!'
"Aaaaargh!"
The sword twisted and tore the swordsman's chest.
Although death was inevitable in that situation, that sword didn't allow a quick death. Every movement of the sword was filled with malice, seeking to inflict the greatest possible pain on the enemy.
The face of the Wudang Swordsman, which had turned white, was stained red with flowing blood.
Jo Gul opened his mouth in disbelief.
"Damn bastards!"
Rage exploded from his throat like a roar.
It's not that Jo Gul had a great affection for Wudang. In fact, his feelings towards Wudang were more of discomfort than sympathy.
From ancient times to the Yangtze River incident, Wudang and Mount Hua Sect had been in constant conflict.
But now, in the face of Wudang's suffering, he couldn't help but feel enraged.
Regardless of their relationship, those there didn't deserve to be humiliated and die that way. As Baek Cheon said, there is no will without value in this world.
Jo Gul's boiling anger turned into fierce sword energy that swept through the enemies.
A front line is like a dam.
When it is firmly built, it can hold back the enemy without letting a drop of water escape, but if it breaks at a single point, it will collapse quickly.
Now, Wudang's formation seemed extremely fragile. If it broke at a single point, everything would crumble.
'Faster!'
Jo Gul gritted his teeth and was about to swing his sword when...
"Stop."
"Eh?"
Jo Gul stopped his sword and turned around. Yoo Iseol was beside him. As always, her face showed no emotion, although her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if she felt something ominous.
"...Sagu?"
"No direction."
"What do you mean?"
"Disorganized. It wasn't like this."
"That..."
Jo Gul was about to say something but stopped.
With so many people in such a small space, it was natural for the formation to be disorganized. But... would Yoo Iseol really ask such an obvious question?
"Sagu, what do you mean?"
Yoo Iseol looked around without responding. Her expression didn't change much, but to Jo Gul's eyes, she seemed more serious than usual.
His mind began to heat up with urgency.
It wasn't the time to worry about that. Right now, Wudang's life was at stake.
Jo Gul finally turned around.
"Let's go again."
"Wait."
"Sagu! There's no time to lose!"
Despite Jo Gul's shout, Yoo Iseol calmed her gaze and quickly inspected the surroundings.
"Trap... No, here..."
"Trap?"
Jo Gul didn't understand anything.
"What do you mean? How could it be a trap?"
A trap is to ambush the enemy. In this case, the concept of a trap made no sense. It wasn't the Evil Tyrant Alliance who chose this place as a battlefield, but Wudang.
Moreover, this place was chosen to resist. A suitable position for an ambush is different from one for resistance.
Jo Gul had ignored the unease he felt for that reason.
"We've broken through the fire, and with the Tang Family here, the poison won't work. Only human strength remains, and we are overcoming that."
That meant they had no choice but to send people. But Yoo Iseol still said nothing.
"Sagu!"
Jo Gul was about to insist when she finally spoke.
"Bait..."
"What?"
Yoo Iseol's gaze turned back. Beyond Mount Hua, toward the edge of the cliff that seemed to touch the sky. Observing the cliff torn apart by swords, Yoo Iseol opened her eyes wide.
"They're not people... They're the bait."
"What?"
"Bait? Wudang?"
"No, these here. They are the Evil Tyrant Alliance!"
Jo Gul, still not understanding, looked at Yoo Iseol in amazement. What...?
"Ah!"
Jo Gul suddenly turned around at a scream. And he saw Yoon Jong with a pale face. Unlike Jo Gul, Yoon Jong seemed to have understood what Yoo Iseol was saying.
"Sahyung?"
"..."
"Sahyung!"
The hand holding Yoon Jong's sword trembled slightly.
"Sahyung, what are you...?"
"Sasuk!"
Yoon Jong, without even time to respond, shouted towards Baek Cheon.
"It's a trap! We have to get out! Sasuk, immediately..."
It was at that moment...
Boooom!
A massive explosion resounded from outside the cliff. Everyone fighting froze.
Rumble!
The ground began to shake violently under their feet. From left to right, from top to bottom. It seemed as if the ground was about to flip over and collapse.
"What, what is this!"
"Duck!"
Mount Hua Swordsmen and Evil Tyrant Alliance members quickly crouched down. Jo Gul paled as he felt the massive vibration through the ground.
"What's going on...?"
Instinctively he looked at the enemies.
The members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance were also crouching, just like them. They even seemed as confused as those from Mount Hua. Their eyes and expressions couldn't be faked. And they had no reason to pretend.
They hadn't anticipated this either.
At that moment, a word that he hadn't understood before crossed Jo Gul's mind.
Bait.
And finally, he began to understand.
"Is it possible...?"
Jo Gul looked at the edge of the cliff in amazement.
No one else was climbing the cliff, and the sharp edge was slowly crumbling.
'It can't be.'
Fear gripped his eyes.
It wasn't just the fear of the current situation. It was the fear of the possibility that had occurred to him. A terrible fear, of an indescribable evil, that was terrifying just to imagine.
'No, it can't be!'
At that moment, everyone on the cliff shared the same thought. And this horrible possibility became reality before their eyes.
Boooom!
With another explosion from the bottom of the cliff, the entire mountain shook.
After the noise died down, the mountain, lifeless from the fires, was plunged into deadly silence.
Shortly after, the ground beneath their feet began to crack with a crunching sound.