Swaaaack!
An oil pouch burst in mid-air, scattering oil in all directions.
Fwoooosh!
As the flaming arrows shot through the air, the sparks ignited the scattered oil, causing the flames to blaze and grow. The flames trying to engulf the swordsmen resembled the touch of a demon.
"Hyaap!"
But what met the flames was a single sword.
Srrrk.
Contrary to the strong and short shout, the extended sword drew a very graceful circle. The movement was soft and delicate, like hands cradling a child.
The oil trapped within the continuously spinning circle couldn't grow any larger, whirling only in the air.
The sight of a single sword containing the flames.
After a moment, as the sword was drawn strongly, the flames spinning in the air rushed towards the cliff as if obeying a command. It was truly a ghostly sight.
"Stay vigilant! Not a single mistake is permissible!"
"Yes!"
Fwaaat!
Amidst this, flaming arrows soared from below. The ones flying from overhead and the ones shooting up from below. Anyone who has experienced it would find the latter far more troublesome.
Swaaack!
Kagang!
However, the swordsmen of Wudang deflected all the arrows. There was no hesitation or panic in their sword movements.
They can handle it.
Even if it's something they haven't experienced or an attack they've never thought of, it's the same.
The methods are all contained within the sword techniques they've learned.
Ultimately, all human actions are powerless before greater nature.
If it's the sword of Wudang that seeks to emulate nature, it should be able to handle any human contrivance.
Realizing this, the flustered looks disappeared, replaced by determination and confidence in the eyes of Wudang's swordsmen.
"Sahyung! The flames are spreading!"
"Cut down the nearby trees! We must preemptively block the path of the fire! Cut the trees and dig the ground!"
"Yes!"
At the command, sword energy erupted simultaneously. Trees were felled, and the ground was dug up.
If they could just prevent the flames from spreading quickly, they could hold out here indefinitely. After all, this steep slope was the ideal spot to suppress the enemy's tactics as much as possible.
As expected, frustration flashed across the faces of the enemies below, who had been constantly launching oil and arrows. They realized their methods were no longer effective.
On the contrary, seeing their frustration fueled Mu Jin's resolve. He gritted his teeth.
'Did you think it would be that easy?'
Did they believe that these mere tricks would work against the renowned Wudang until the end?
Now, they had to be taught a lesson. The enemy they are facing is unlike any they have encountered before. The name of Wudang, the best sword sect in the world, is no exaggeration.
"More...!"
Mu Jin was about to raise his voice again.
Step.
Suddenly, the enemies lowered their bows, and those who had been throwing oil pouches lowered their arms. They opened a path as if the murderous intent they had just exuded was a lie.
"...Hmm?"
Mu Jin's eyes narrowed. He noticed several figures walking up the now-nearly extinguished path of flames.
Chill.
The moment he faced the leisurely stepping middle-aged figures, Mu Jin's skin reacted first. Goosebumps rose on the back of his hand.
'Elders?'
Each of them exuded an extraordinary aura. Though Mu Jin was not familiar with the hierarchy of the Evil Sect and the Evil Tyrant Alliance, he could infer that these were elder-level figures, akin to those in the Righteous Sects.
Mu Jin's body began to stiffen with tension.
The fact that such figures had stepped forward meant they were now serious about opening the path. They would no longer rely on minions or tricks but would break through with pure strength.
"Formidable!"
"Yes!"
As Mu Jin awakened the vigilance of the Wudang swordsmen and was about to issue more orders, someone shouted urgently.
"Sasuk! Sasuk is...!"
"Hmm?"
Reflexively looking up the cliff, Mu Jin was greatly startled.
Kaaang!
He saw someone clashing in mid-air.
'When?'
When did the enemy invade all the way up there!
"Who are you?"
"That... it's someone I haven't seen before...."
"That martial art... It's the Thousand-Faced Gentleman! Sect Leader of Hao Sect, Dam Yeohae!"
Someone with keen eyes identified Dam Yeohae just from his scattered form. It was natural not to recognize him by face alone since he was the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
The mention of the Sect Leader of Hao Sect sent a wave of tension through the Wudang swordsmen, who had been brimming with confidence and determination.
Soon, voices of panic erupted here and there.
"The Thousand-Faced Gentleman!"
"S-Sasuk! We must help Sasuk! Let me go!"
"We must defend the cliff."
Boom!
At that moment, the powerful step taken by Mu Jin shook the slope greatly.
Silencing his disciples and juniors, he watched the approaching enemies and commanded the Wudang disciples.
"Do not take your eyes off the enemy before you."
"..."
"Sasuk will not lose. If you want to help Sasuk, prevent the enemies here from targeting him! We are not the only ones in Wudang!"
With those words, the swordsmen regained their composure and began to raise their swords one by one to check on the enemy.
Mu Jin bit his lower lip secretly.
'Can we handle this?'
Despite his words, he was just as uneasy.
Although Heo Gong was currently the most promising talent in Wudang, even Mu Jin did not know his exact martial prowess. He could only roughly guess that he had far surpassed the level of an ordinary elder.
But could he be strong enough to defeat the Thousand-Faced Gentleman? Especially in a state where his internal energy was already depleted?
Doubts were inevitable. But Mu Jin had only one path to choose.
'Trust!'
If this place is breached, the enemies lurking like wolves below will sink their fangs into Wudang's core.
They must never give up the open battlefield where the enemies' advantages would come into play.
Even if Heo Gong falls, the path will open, but if this place falls, the path will open all the same. Right now, they could only trust each other.
"...So this is what it was."
"Yes?"
"No. Never mind."
Mu Jin lightly tapped Jin Hyun's shoulder, who was standing next to him.
"Can you handle it?"
"That's too obvious a question."
"Arrogant."
Mu Jin chuckled lightly and gripped his sword tighter.
Thud!
Heo Gong, feeling the surge of power, did not resist but floated back. The Thousand-Faced Gentleman, having pushed Heo Gong back, landed gently on the cliff.
"To think we'd be troubled by such a cliff."
His gestures and voice were ordinary and light, yet they carried a different weight.
The looseness evident in each movement.
The world calls that 'ease.'
Few in this world could show such ease before Heo Gong. Yet he could not easily move to condemn the opponent. The oppressive aura subtly emanating from his opponent wrapped tightly around him.
'...Thousand-Faced Gentleman Dam Yeohae.'
To be honest, it was not a name he had considered important. The name Paegun Jang Ilso was too colossal to pay attention to Dam Yeohae.
But now, facing him with sword in hand, he could truly grasp how immense the name Dam Yeohae was, overshadowed by the three letters of Jang Ilso.
Their predecessors fought against such figures.
He could now somewhat understand the choices of their predecessors, which once seemed stifling and sometimes even foolish. Facing such figures, their own disciples would naturally seem endlessly weak and lacking.
At that moment, Dam Yeohae spoke.
"What do you think?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Do you think there's a chance?"
Heo Gong frowned. The Thousand-Faced Gentleman smirked.
"No, it's difficult. That can't happen. Even if you somehow fend off for now, as long as you are human, you will eventually tire. In the end, the path will open."
Heo Gong's eyes darkened.
"And unless you can push me off this cliff, that end will come sooner. Whether you like it or not, your end is predetermined."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying there's still a chance right now."
"..."
"Those stepping forward now are the protectors of the Southern Sea Sun Palace. No matter how sharp the swords of Wudang are, it will be a very tough fight. They are hard to completely stop, even if you can fight and win. Especially with unrefined swords."
Dam Yeohae's voice, like a temptation, penetrated Heo Gong's ears.
"If the end is already determined, wouldn't it be wiser to retreat now? That way, you can still save half of Wudang. Losing your precious lives in vain isn't the better choice, is it?"
"...Nonsense."
"Nonsense? No, it's a matter of perspective."
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman turned his head to look down the cliff. It was a movement that blatantly exposed his weakness, but Heo Gong's sword did not move.
"Well, while the Ryeonju would like to erase Wudang at any cost... I am different. I have my own stance, don't I? If I lose too many disciples here, my neck will feel quite cold after the war ends."
"...."
"What do you think? If you retreat, I won't stop you. It would be good for you to save your disciples, wouldn't it?"
Heo Gong's gaze inadvertently turned to the slope where Mujin and his party were located.
While the path blocked by the elders, including Hwasan, would not open, the left slope, where the Muja and Jinza formations were deployed as the main force, must be struggling.
The problem is that there is no guarantee they can block all these villains, no matter how hard they try. If so, perhaps....
At that moment, Heo Gong let out a chuckle.
"It makes sense."
"Hmm? What do you mean all of a sudden?"
"I mean our Sect Leader."
Heo Gong's laughing face was carefree. His face had been tense with the constant pressure of a swordsman, but for a moment, he seemed to have regained the face of a Taoist.
"I kept wondering why that Hwasan guy was so angry... It wasn't that the choice was wrong. The problem was that he didn't trust."
"...."
"I refuse."
Heo Gong, who flatly refused, aimed the tip of his sword directly at the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
"It would be quite disgraceful if a Sahyung and his disciple were both beaten by the same person."
Heo Gong is not Heo Dojin.
To Heo Dojin, they might have been naive disciples who needed protection at any cost, but to Heo Gong, they were comrades and brothers who fought with him.
Not trusting them was no different from not trusting Wudang itself.
And above all . . .
"By the way, Sect Leader, you should be better at lying."
"...What do you mean?"
"Your face."
At Heo Gong's signal, the Thousand-Faced Gentleman reflexively touched his face.
Heo Gong spoke coldly.
"No matter how much you hide your face behind an emotionless mask, it seems you can't hide your eyes. Your eyes are telling me you will definitely take my life here."
"...Ha."
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman let out a breathy sound.
"Not being able to hide one's eyes? I've never heard such a thing before."
"The people who looked into your eyes until now were probably of a similar sort."
"Are you different?"
"I am a Taoist before I am a swordsman."
Heo Gong's unwavering voice pierced the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
"The life of a Taoist is to reject all falsehoods and illusions and to see the truth hidden within. You are too malicious to hide your intent in front of me."
"Huh...."
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman sighed deeply, seemingly slightly taken aback, and muttered.
"That's why dealing with the Righteous Sects is so bothersome."
Soon, his voice changed. No longer containing any youthful vigor, it was the voice of an old man.
Heo Gong sensed that this was the true voice of the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
The fact that the Thousand-Faced Gentleman, known for not showing his true self even to his closest subordinates, revealed his real voice.
This was tantamount to declaring that he would surely kill Heo Gong here.
"Someone said this."
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman slowly opened his hand. Viscous internal energy began to gather in his palm.
"If you refuse the cup of wine and insist on drinking the punishment, then shove the bottle down their throat."
"...I think I know who said that."
Heo Gong also took a slow step forward.
'I will not lose.'
There is a defeat to avenge. There is someone to overcome.
So I will not die here.
Not until I face that accursed sword once more!
"Prepare yourself!"
Heo Gong's sword was enveloped in a swirling black and white aura.
The sword of Taiji, wielding both Yin and Yang simultaneously. A sword that added human wisdom to the Taiji, unfolding with the extreme Yang's divine power.
***
"Sahyung!"
"Yes, I see it too!"
Jo Gul and Yoon Jong's eyes gleamed as they looked ahead.
In the distance, they could vaguely see it.
The grand mountain range rising at the horizon, and among them, one mountain standing out prominently.
Jo Gul roared with a rough breath.
"Wudang Mountain!"
Finally, the mountain entered the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's range.