❀ ❀ ❀
The Blood Palace Lord subtly shifted his gaze, revealing a chaotic battlefield tangled in confusion in the distance.
"Heh heh."
His lips, concealed by bandages, twisted slightly.
Though they were too far for any sound to be heard, the Blood Palace Lord clearly caught it—a desperate scream from someone in agony.
"Looks like you've finally noticed."
"We'll hurry."
The Blood Palace follower, trying to guess the Blood Palace Lord's intent, responded promptly. But the Blood Palace Lord slowly shook his head and unexpectedly uttered something unusual.
"No. Slow down."
The follower's eyes showed confusion. Still, he refrained from asking, "Why?" and simply raised his hand to instruct those following him.
The Blood Palace Lord chuckled quietly, seemingly pleased.
Rushing up the mountain to finish the job wouldn't be a bad approach. Inflicting the utmost despair on them would certainly be enjoyable. But his mission wasn't to bring despair—it was to sow confusion.
"Now then, what will you do?"
As always, cracks begin from the smallest fissures, just as Ryeonju said.
❀ ❀ ❀
"Jin Hyeon!"
Startled, Mu Jin hurriedly ran toward Jin Hyeon.
"What's going on?"
"Over there!"
A panicked Jin Hyeon, barely able to steady his trembling hand, pointed toward Mount Wudang. Mu Jin squinted hard with his remaining eye to focus on where Jin Hyeon was pointing.
"That's…"
Though faint due to the distance, Mu Jin quickly recognized it. Those were the same fiends who had previously infiltrated Wudang.
'Blood Palace!'
Suspicion flickered in Mu Jin's eyes.
"Why are they over there…?"
".... Wudang. They're targeting Wudang, aren't they?!"
"Targeting Wudang? But we're here."
"Sasuk!"
Jin Hyeon, overwhelmed with frustration, shouted.
"There are still people there!"
At that moment, Mu Jin's heart sank. His wide eyes trembled in shock.
'The injured…!'
Some of their comrades, severely wounded from previous battles, were still recovering at the Wudang medical hall.
If those vile intruders launched an assault on Wudang now?
"No, no…"
The wounded wouldn't even have the chance to resist before being slaughtered. The halls of Wudang would be reduced to ashes along with them.
"We, we have to go, Sasuk! Right now!"
"What?"
"We need to gather our disciples and rescue the injured immediately! There's no time to waste!"
Mu Jin's face turned deathly pale. Beyond the distraught Jin Hyeon, Wudang's disciples were still fighting against the enemy alongside the swordsmen from Mount Hua, barely holding the line.
Mu Jin's hands trembled uncontrollably. Jin Hyeon, desperate, urged him once more.
"Sasuk! What are you doing? Hurry…!"
"No… it won't work."
"....What?"
With a blood-drained face, Mu Jin spoke with difficulty.
"If we leave this position now, the frontlines will collapse instantly. The outcome of the war will become unpredictable."
Jin Hyeon stared at him, dumbfounded as though he'd been struck.
"What are you saying right now?"
"I'm saying we can't pull back."
"Sasuk!"
Jin Hyeon grabbed Mu Jin by the shoulders, his eyes bloodshot.
"They're there! Our sahyungs! And our sasuks are over there!"
"…."
"They were wounded fighting against the evil sects to protect Wudang! And now you're saying we should just abandon them to be slaughtered by those evil sects?"
"Jin Hyeon!"
"How can you say something so absurd?!"
Mu Jin clenched Jin Hyeon's wrists tightly.
"Calm down."
"Sasuk!"
"You know what they're after, don't you?!"
In the end, Mu Jin raised his voice as well. He clenched his fists tightly.
There was no need for the enemy to climb that particular ridge. There were many paths to Wudang, and they could easily sneak through undetected.
Yet they had deliberately chosen a route visible from here. The reason was obvious.
"They want us to abandon the battlefield and run to Wudang. They're hoping we'll retreat from this front."
"…."
"Don't you already know that's what Jang Il-so is after?"
Jin Hyeon bit his lower lip. Hard enough to draw blood.
"So you're saying we should just let the wounded sahyungs be slaughtered by those evil sects to thwart Jang Ilso's plan?"
"Jin Hyeon!"
"Do you not understand what's more urgent? What are you even saying right now?!"
Jin Hyeon shoved Mu Jin hard.
"Forget it!"
"What are you doing?"
"If sasuk won't go, I will. I'll take whoever's willing and go!"
"I said no!"
By now, Jin Hyeon's eyes blazed with defiance. He could no longer tolerate it. He couldn't let Wudang fall further into ruin. This wasn't about ambition or pride.
Victory achieved by abandoning the wounded? What meaning would such a victory or a protected Wudang hold?
As Jin Hyeon turned to dash off, Mu Jin blocked his path.
"Stop. I told you, I can't let you go."
Jin Hyeon's face twisted in anguish.
"We don't have time for this. Move!"
"…."
"I said move!"
Jin Hyeon took a step forward, ready to push Mu Jin aside.
Shing!
Suddenly, Mu Jin's sword was drawn, its pointed directly at Jin Hyeon.
In utter disbelief, Jin Hyeon muttered.
"Sasuk…?"
He stared blankly at the drawn sword and the resolute Mu Jin gripping it tightly.
"Regain your composure, Jin Hyeon."
After a long silence, Jin Hyeon's eyes began to blaze with anger, on the verge of eruption.
The confrontation wasn't limited to just these two.
A battlefield is often a wild, unpredictable beast that disregards common sense entirely. Critical matters may be ignored as if they were nothing, while trivial incidents can ignite a fierce blaze across the entire battlefield.
The standoff between the two might have initially seemed like a mere ripple in this vast battlefield. However, its influence spread rapidly and bizarrely.
"What's going on over there? Why are they acting like that all of a sudden?"
"Look! Behind us—there are enemies behind us!"
"Behind us?!"
"Mount Wudang!"
The appearance of enemies in the distance brought two different reactions among the warriors of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
"Enemies... in Mount Wudang?!"
For the disciples of Mount Wudang, it sparked fears that their headquarters might be invaded.
"Behind us? When did that happen?"
For non-Wudang warriors, it was the shock of realizing a significant force had appeared at their backs.
And both perspectives evoked a single emotion that could be broadly categorized into one. It is fear.
The creeping fear gradually spread. Even those unaware of the details instinctively glanced around nervously, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
The disciples of Mount Wudang were naturally the most reactive.
"Shouldn't we go and help them?"
"Calm down for now, Saje."
"Calm down?! If we don't go now, we might be too late! We could already be too late! What are we doing here?"
"We can't abandon this position!"
"But the headquarters needs us just as much! At least those here can put up some resistance!"
"Isn't there a role given to Wudang since we chose to fight here?!"
"It's also our role to save them!"
Though not yet chaotic, the growing murmur threatened to fracture the battlefield.
"Sahyung!"
"...."
Jo Geol and Yoon Jong were keenly aware of the change in atmosphere.
"Jang Ilso..."
Yoon Jong gritted his teeth.
The Heavenly Comrade Alliance had been successful so far because everyone shared the same resolve.
There was no need for lofty ideals or grand rhetoric. They simply focused on fighting the enemy before them with all their might, knowing it was beneficial for everyone.
But what if that resolve began to waver and eventually crumble?
What if the thought that fighting here wasn't the best course of action took root and spread? Would the flow of the battlefield remain the same?
Yoon Jong already knew the answer to that question.
"What should we do, Sahyung?"
"Now..."
Just as Yoon Jong was about to respond thoughtfully, Jo Geol interrupted with sudden urgency.
"They say the wounded are being attacked. Should I just rush there as well?"
"...."
"Sahyung?"
Yoon Jong, momentarily speechless, felt his face flush.
'I...'
He had been thinking about how the battlefield might shift if people changed their minds. But when it came to saving the wounded sahyungs, he felt he couldn't get involved.
Yes, that's exactly what he was thinking.
But Jo Geol was different. His entire mind was focused solely on the injured who might be sacrificed. The advantage or disadvantage of the battlefield was a distant concern—perhaps already erased from his thoughts.
It was simple and reckless. Hardly fitting for someone entrusted with a key role in a war that would decide the fate of the Central Plains.
But....
"Sahyung, why aren't you saying anything?"
Jo Geol was growing impatient, shuffling his feet. Yoon Jong bit his lip.
"Can you make it in time?"
"It's already too late, technically."
Jo Geol answered confidently, his eyes shining brightly.
"But I'll get there faster than anyone else!"
Yoon Jong nodded decisively. Of course, if Jo Geol left the battlefield, the front line might collapse. Others would likely have to fight even harder to hold the line.
'But so what?'
Mu Jin's decision to block Jin Hyeon wasn't wrong.
Wudang had no choice but to remain where they were. The injured were their sahyungs, making the decision even tougher. If they are accused of causing great sacrifices due to personal feelings, it could tarnish Wudang's name forever.
However, Mount Hua can do it.
"Go, Jo Geol!"
"Yes!"
Yoon Jong locked eyes firmly with Jo Geol.
Jo Geol knew that leaving the battlefield would burden many. Still, he remained steadfast.
Because he believed without a shred of doubt that Yoon Jong, Yoo Iseoll, Tang Soso, Cheong Myeong, and Baek Cheon would handle things in his absence.
To the saje who gave him that look, there was only one thing that a sahyung could say.
"I'll cover for you."
"...."
"Go! Faster than anyone!"
"Yes!"
Jo Geol clenched his fist and struck his palm confidently. Then, with a powerful kick-off, he shouted,
"Follow me, a few of you!"
"Yes, Sahyung!"
"I'm coming too!"
Several Baek and Cheong disciples immediately followed after Jo Geol.
It might all be in vain. By the time Jo Geol arrived, everything might already be over. But Yoon Jong, having experienced countless battles, knew one thing. Sometimes, even meaningless efforts carry meaning.
"I'll cover your absence-..."
Yoon Jong was about to shout loudly when a startled voice cut him off.
"Sa, Sahyung! Look at that!"
Yoon Jong turned sharply, his eyes widening in shock. His pupils trembled violently.
"That...!"
Between the ancient pavilions at the entrance of Mount Wudang's summit, thick black smoke was rising.
"That..."
Soon, a crimson blaze, like the blood-soaked maw of a demon, engulfed the pavilions and rose into the sky.