Baekanam. A strikingly white cliff halfway up Mount Wudang. Taoists were gathering above it.
"Elder!"
Wudang's swordmasters, having received the signal, shouted as they looked up at the sky from Baekanam. The soot stains on their martial robes spoke of the hardships they had faced. Those who were about to speak to Heo Gong fell silent, as if on cue. From the top of Baekanam, the fiery spectacle of Mount Wudang was painfully clear.
It was as if a scene from hell had come to life.
Blackened trees peeked through the red flames. The way the burned trees shook in the wind created by the fire looked like people writhing in agony in hellfire.
How did Mount Wudang, the sacred mountain of the Taoists, end up in this state?
Heud.
The Wudang swordmasters clenched their fists until they turned white.
This wasn't just about losing their homes. It was about losing a place that had been part of their lives for generations. Watching it burn so quickly was indescribably tragic.
Wudang would probably not recover for years; no, it would take decades to regain its former self. The scars of this war would remain clear and torment them for a long time.
"Pull yourselves together and form up."
"Yes, Sasuk!"
Those grinding their teeth in anger nodded firmly at Heo Gong's words. He was right. Now was not the time to be consumed by rage; they needed to retaliate with cold determination.
"Where are they?"
"They are advancing with the flames."
Heo Gong's eyes darkened.
Even though the fire weakens as it moves, such intense heat would surely result in casualties.
It seemed as though the Evil Sect was thoroughly ravaging Wudang, but in reality, only the Evil Sect was suffering casualties.
'And they don't care?'
His eyebrows twitched uncomfortably. What did they think of human lives?
But he quickly calmed his turbulent emotions with a short breath. He had no time to concern himself with the lives of the Evil Sect.
"Then they will arrive soon. What of those who have not yet gathered here?"
"Some were delayed and have been surrounded. Casualties are..."
"Then we must save them! What are you doing?"
"Attempting a rescue in this situation could lead to the rescue party being surrounded as well. This could escalate the battle."
In other words, their strategy to occupy Baekanam would become useless. Heo Gong, understanding this immediately, bit his lip slightly.
"They are also Wudang disciples. I understand, but..."
"I understand."
Heo Gong was about to nod slightly when
"Heo Gong!"
A loud voice called from behind him. Heo Gong turned respectfully toward the familiar voice. Heo Sanja, who held the interim sect leader position of Wudang, was flying in with a stern face.
"I greet the Sect Leader."
Heo Gong bowed respectfully, but Hwasan ignored the courtesy and shouted.
"Is it true you set up camp here? Why?"
"Because it's a suitable place to face the enemy."
"Because it's a cliff?"
"Yes."
"This...! This place may be a cliff, but there's a way to circle around it from the rear. Haven't you thought about what would happen if the rear was taken? We could be attacked with the cliff at our backs!"
"..."
"Withdraw immediately! This place won't do!"
Despite Heo Sanja's shout, Heo Gong calmly responded.
"It doesn't matter, does it?"
"...What?"
Heo Sanja stared blankly at Heo Gong as if struck.
"Isn't it better than having flames behind us? At least the cliff won't come at us."
For a moment, Heo Sanja's beard quivered.
"Are you out of your mind...?"
"Sect Leader."
Heo Gong, still calm, watched the burning Mount Wudang.
"There's no room for common sense here."
"..."
Following the simple truth of not cutting off one's own retreat will only lead to retreat without even putting up a fight. Even if three sides are engulfed in enemies and flames, if there is even one place behind us that we can defend, we can still fight.
Heo Sanja could not bring himself to argue.
He knew that even if they retreated from here, it would be difficult to find a better strategic location.
"...Heo Gong."
"Please don't even mention retreat. Anyone who knows what it means to make a last stand wouldn't dirty their disciples' resolve with such words."
An indelible sadness clouded Heo Sanja's eyes.
They discussed the last stand and even spoke of death.
Despite the fact that no real battle had yet begun, they had already resigned themselves to their deaths. Rather than fear, they were seething with a desire for revenge against the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
'How severe were the wounds they received at the Yangtze River?'
This was clearly Heo Sanja's mistake, as well as Heo Dojin's.
He had considered only the weight of the decisions he had to bear as a leader, but he had not accounted for the wounds his disciples would suffer because of those decisions. He had simply been relieved that their courage had saved their lives.
Realizing too late that this mistake had led to the current situation made his heart feel as if it were being torn apart.
"Is this place really good enough?"
"The path up to Baekanam is steep. Even without climbing the cliff."
Heo Gong looked down the cliff with cold eyes.
"Because it's so steep, the flames won't easily spread. That means we can focus on fighting the enemies without worrying about anything else."
"Heo Gong."
"And for the swordsmen of Wudang, that is enough."
Heo Gong lightly gripped the sword hanging at his waist.
One of the things that pained him the most was that he had not been able to fully showcase the swordsmanship he had honed his entire life during the battle at the Yangtze River cliff.
He could accept a defeat due to a lack of skill. He could accept dying because he wasn't strong enough.
But having to accept defeat or death without even having the chance to fight was something he found intolerable. The other Wudang swordsmen standing shoulder to shoulder with him probably felt the same.
"Heo Gong, I..."
"I know. I know that neither you, Sect Leader, nor Heo Dojin ever intended to disrespect us. You said those things because you care about us."
Heo Gong spoke calmly.
"But, Sect Leader, everyone from Wudang is not only your disciple but also a Taoist of Wudang and, moreover, a swordsman. We do not want to find our life's value as mere pawns in someone else's strategy. Allow us to think and decide for ourselves."
With these words, Heo Sanja had nothing more to say.
In order to convince Heo Gong one last time before it was too late, he had prepared some words, but he couldn't even bring himself to say them. He knew that any words now would only insult Heo Gong.
"I don't think you are wrong, Heo Gong. And that is why... that is why my heart aches even more."
Heo Gong simply shook his head at the heartfelt voice.
There were many things he wanted to say, but now was not the time for idle chatter. Even now, the flames were approaching the white Baekanam.
"Sasuk! We are ready."
Upon hearing this voice, Heo Gong nodded.
Although Heo Sanja was there, it was natural for the report to be directed to Heo Gong, who accepted it naturally. This scene vividly showed the current state of Wudang.
"Prepare yourselves. They will come soon."
"Yes!"
A tense silence spread over the cliff.
The positions were completely reversed. But because of this, the disciples of Wudang had to feel it deeply. The waiting and preparing for the enemy was not comfortable situations either.
The feeling of something scratching their insides with a needle made their entire bodies twitch.
"Sahyung..."
"Shh."
When someone tried to speak out of anxiety, a voice immediately silenced them, fearing that their wavering voice might shake others' resolve.
Noticing the subtle and unusual agitation, Heo Gong spoke in a low voice.
"Kangho remembers the Yangtze River."
Everyone's ears caught this sudden statement.
"Even if we all die, the names of the Evil Tyrant Alliance and Jang Ilso will not disappear from the world... No, they will not disappear until the name Wudang disappears. What happened once cannot be undone, and we will never be able to erase that record."
It was a history of disgrace. A history that would forever tarnish the proud name of Wudang and plunge all its disciples into the abyss of disgrace.
"But Kangho will also remember today."
Heo Gong's voice, now filled with inner strength, spread wider and wider.
"Just as it remembers the Yangtze River, it will remember today's burning Wudang. A swordsman proves their worth not through life but through death. I ask you, What kind of death do you wish for?"
The eyes that had been shaking with anxiety became calm and serene once again.
Among them were Mu Jin and Jin Hyeon, whose hearts were not much different from Heo Gong's.
Chaaang.
Hu Gong drew his sword.
"I am not fighting today. I am leaving behind a memory. A memory that Wudang was not cowardly. A memory that I was not cowardly. With that memory, I will prove that the mistakes we made were not evidence of cowardice and weakness!"
Chaaang!
The swords of Wudang's sword masters were drawn simultaneously.
At that very moment,.
As if in response, the flames that seemed ready to engulf Wudang finally reached Baekanam.
Whooosh.
The soaring flames faltered, unable to surpass the lofty Baekanam. Like a fierce beast roaring in hunger as it stared at prey just out of reach.
Even the seasoned Wudang sword masters were momentarily taken aback by the scene.
But what they truly needed to fear was something else.
Ooooong!