❀ ❀ ❀
"Ah..."
Despair surged in Jin Hyeon's eyes.
The halls were burning. The place where he had lived all his life, and where he was supposed to continue living, was engulfed by crimson flames.
Strength drained from his knees.
How many lives had been lost to protect that place? How much sacrifice had been paid to safeguard that land?
As if mocking all those efforts, the flames wrapped around the halls, spreading rapidly and growing larger.
"Ahh..."
What was it all for? If it was to be lost so easily, what value did the previous sacrifices hold?
What tormented Jin Hyeon more than the burning halls was not knowing the safety of those who had defended them.
'Saje... Sasuks...'
The moment their faces came to mind, Jin Hyeon's body finally collapsed. But before he completely crumpled, Mu Jin caught him, supporting his weight.
"Wait!"
However, Jin Hyeon instinctively shook off Mu Jin's hand. It was out of resentment. If Mu Jin hadn't stopped him, if he'd been able to rush to the mountain just a bit earlier, perhaps he wouldn't be drowning in this unbearable despair....
"No!"
At that moment, Mu Jin's shout pierced Jin Hyeon's ears. Gradually, focus returned to Jin Hyeon's eyes.
"Look carefully! They haven't reached Wudang yet! Wudang hasn't fallen!"
Doubt flickered in Jin Hyeon's eyes as he regained his composure.
Yes, Mu Jin's words were true. The Blood Palace had not yet reached Wudang. But wasn't it also true that the halls were burning?
"We're at war right now. It's the same for Evil Tyrant Alliance. There's no reason for them to waste resources sending a separate group just to set fires while already dispatching people to attack Wudang!"
Convinced by the reasoning, Jin Hyeon nodded unconsciously. Still, his doubts weren't fully resolved.
"But then, why is that fire..."
❀ ❀ ❀
The muscles on the Blood Palace Lord's face twisted slightly. The smoke rising above had finally caught his attention.
"Someone else from Evil Tyrant Alliance...?"
"No."
The Blood Palace Lord coldly cut off the subordinate's speculation.
"We're the only ones who climbed this mountain."
He narrowed his eyes and muttered under his breath.
"What kind of trick is this?"
"What should we do?"
The subordinate's inquiry was met with a short command from the Blood Palace Lord, who clenched his jaw.
"Go up."
"Yes!"
Boom!
As the Blood Palace Lord stomped the ground, a thunderous sound echoed as if the earth had cracked. In an instant, his body surged up the mountain. Without anyone to block him, climbing such a slope would take only a few breaths.
In no time, the Blood Palace Lord stood before the main gate of Wudang.
Fwoooosh!
Thick smoke and scorching flames were swallowing Wudang whole. It was far worse than what he'd seen from below.
The Blood Palace Lord frowned slightly and spoke.
"What on earth..."
"Turn back."
Startled by the sudden voice, the Blood Palace Lord spun to the side.
Distracted by the massive flames, he hadn't sensed the presence. Only after hearing the voice did he perceive the calm yet powerful energy.
"Who are you...?"
The first thing that stood out was white hair and weathered skin. His gaunt appearance matched his stern expression. But his clear eyes were as deep as a vast lake, a mark of a true master.
"Wudang is not receiving guests right now."
Upon noticing the pine patterned sword hanging from the old man's waist, the Blood Palace Lord easily surmised his identity.
"Are you Heo Do?"
"Indeed."
Heo Do Jin-in nodded lightly.
The Blood Palace Lord's thoughts grew complex. Even with Heo Do Jin-in here, who had dared set fire to the halls?
"Who did this?"
"You're seeing it now, aren't you?"
Confusion flickered in the Blood Palace Lord's eyes.
But when he realized what the words meant, rare shock escaped his lips.
"You did this?"
He was so taken aback that even a hollow laugh slipped out.
This was Wudang, of all places. And Heo Do Jin-in was once the leader of Wudang. That person set fire to the Wudang? With his own hands?
".... This is ridiculous."
The Blood Palace Lord rarely enjoyed conversing with opponents unless it was to intimidate or threaten them. But at this moment, he felt a genuine urge to talk to Heo Do Jin-in.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Well..."
Even now, the halls built on Wudang's land were burning to ashes.
Everything that represented Heo Do's life was turning into cinders.
"It would be nice if that were the case. But... unfortunately, my mind is clearer than ever."
"That's what lunatics always say."
The Blood Palace Lord sneered, but Heo Do Jin-in let out a soft laugh.
"Perhaps you're right. Fine, let's say I've gone mad."
Even though he said this, the Blood Palace Lord knew better. Heo Do Jin-in was far from a lunatic.
"What are you thinking?"
The Blood Palace Lord asked, but Heo Do Jin-in did not answer. He merely stared silently at the burning halls, his eyes filled with bitter regret.
He murmured to himself.
"What could it mean? It was never going to last forever anyway."
[tl note: thats the titleee, congrats to those who guessed correctly.]
"Aren't you the one who killed hundreds to protect something that couldn't last forever?"
"Indeed."
Heo Do Jin-in chuckled faintly. The Blood Palace Lord's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"And yet you did this?"
"There's no shame in being foolish. What can I do if that's all I amount to?"
"...."
"The true shame isn't in being foolish but in failing to acknowledge it. Not realizing how pathetic your actions are and repeating the same mistakes. And I've already done that once."
Though his voice was calm, unspeakable sorrow lingered beneath his words.
"In such a situation, I couldn't repeat the same mistake. So I set it on fire with my own hands. So no one would cling to this place, so my disciples wouldn't suffer the same pain as me."
The bewildered Blood Palace Lord muttered under his breath.
"That was all you could say?"
"Do you need more?"
"I take back my previous statement."
"..."
"You're insane."
The Blood Palace Lord's eyes were filled with shock.
He imagined himself in the same situation. If his cult members were at risk, would he have set the Blood Cult ablaze, wiping out its entire history?
There was only one answer. It can't be. No, he wouldn't even consider such a path.
The Blood Palace Lord spoke coldly.
"People die, but truth is eternal. What you've done is burn down what should never be lost with your own hands."
Heo Do turned his gaze to the Blood Palace Lord, observing him quietly. After a moment, he spoke slowly.
"Perhaps you're right."
"..."
"But what can I do? I've come to realize something as well."
"And what might that be?"
"The truth resides within people."
The Blood Palace Lord's eyes subtly hardened.
"If there are no people, there is no truth. If there are no people, the Tao doesn't exist either. If the Tao derives its meaning solely from being tied to this building... how can that be called the Tao?"
A faint bitterness lingered at the edge of Heo Do's words.
"I should've realized it sooner."
Heo Do's gaze shifted toward the foot of the mountain. His disciples were fighting far below.
It was obvious what they sought — the halls and the lives within them. Just the threat to those things would throw the Wudang disciples on the battlefield into confusion.
'This is my fault.'
Value is something humans assign. And once assigned, that value is hard to let go of. Heo Do had already placed the value of countless lives upon these halls.
To abandon them now would be turning previous sacrifices into meaningless deaths.
That was why they wouldn't be able to give up. They wouldn't be able to stand idly by. Even knowing it would lead to greater ruin, they would inevitably rush back here.
Heo Do couldn't allow his disciples to tread that path.
"I wonder how your name will be remembered."
"There's no need to wonder. I'll be recorded as a sinner unlike any other in Wudang's history. Perhaps my name will be erased entirely out of shame."
Heo Do let out a faint laugh.
From the moment he set this place ablaze with his own hands, he already knew how his actions would be judged. He would be remembered as a fool who drove hundreds of disciples to meaningless deaths.
But so what?
"Isn't it fortunate? To at least be called a fool."
"..."
"If I couldn't even be that, I wouldn't be able to rest in peace even in death."
Heo Do once again looked toward the foot of the mountain. His expression had subtly changed.
"Of course, it would've been better to realize it sooner. Even if everything's over, people can still struggle to change."
Thanks to one person, he had finally realized this, albeit belatedly.
To a taoist much younger than himself.
'I didn't get to say thank you.'
That was the only regret he had.
The Blood Palace Lord shook his head. The more they talked, the less he understood. He spoke coldly.
"So... you think you've thwarted our mission. But it's not over yet."
His eyes gleamed with bloodthirst.
"The injured can't have gone far."
Despite the clear threat, Heo Do's expression remained calm. That alone was enough of an answer for the Blood Palace Lord.
"I wonder. If we catch those injured rats and peel their flesh one by one, do you think they'll still stay calm?"
Srrrnnng.
At that moment, Heo Do slowly drew his sword.
"That's only if you can get past me."
"All you righteous sects fools are insufferably arrogant. What can you do alone?"
"It doesn't have to be alone."
A sudden voice cut in.
The Blood Palace Lord turned his gaze toward it, as did Heo Do.
A figure was walking slowly out from the burning halls. Heo Do frowned.
"Didn't I tell you to leave?"
"I'm a slow walker."
"...What?"
"I tried, but it didn't go well."
Heo Do stared at the approaching Heo Gong in disbelief, then sighed.
"Saje."
"I'm just a burden, Sahyung."
"....This is something I must do."
"Yes. But it's too much for you alone, Sahyung."
"You know you're no longer of help, don't you?"
"Better than being dead weight."
Srrnnng.
Heo Gong drew his sword and stood beside Heo Do.
Heo Do looked at him with exasperation, then sighed once more as though resigned.
"Stubborn as ever."
"Where do you think I learned that from?"
With the burning Wudang halls behind them, the two stood side by side, swords raised.
To say there was no regret would be a lie. But they buried their regret deep in their hearts, etched their mistakes into their bones, and simply did what needed to be done.
"....This isn't even funny."
The Blood Palace Lord ground his teeth, glaring at the two.
"Sever their limbs and drag them to me."
"Charge!"
The Blood Palace warriors let out beast-like howls as they charged toward the pair.
"They're coming!"
"Yes!"
Heo Do and Heo Gong.
The flames that burned the whole halls were reflected on their swords. The two swords dyed in the same color moved toward the rushing enemies.