"Sasuk! They're pushing up!"
Mu Jin urgently shouted as he climbed up to Baek An Am. The enemies who had quickly pursued their retreat were now advancing right up to Baek An Am without stopping.
Mu Jin kicked off the ground and charged back.
Thud!
His sword mercilessly struck the neck of the one who had been chasing him, filled with madness. There was no mercy of a Taoist in that strike, but at this moment, no one could blame its coldness.
"Attack! Don't let them come up!"
"Yes!"
The Wudang swordsmen, who had been retreating hastily, regrouped and fought back against those climbing the rocks from all sides.
'We can hold them off! No, we must hold them off!'
Mu Jin bit his lip.
Their rapid retreat had indeed opened a path for the enemy, but it also brought a clear advantage. The flames that were raging like hellfire had not yet reached this place.
Moreover, this area was rocky terrain. In a place where not a single proper tree or blade of grass could be found, the fire attack prepared by the enemy lost its meaning.
What remained was only the martial arts they had trained in. In such a fight, Wudang would never lose.
"Get lost, you Evil Sect scum!"
"Aaaaah!"
Sure enough, as soon as Wudang reversed their stance, the bodies of those climbing the slope were pierced by the rain of swords. The swords, filled with anger and rage, did not allow the enemy even a chance to counterattack.
Even considering that those climbing the slope now were merely impatient small fry, Wudang's superiority was undeniable.
"You bastards!"
At that moment, Mu Jin saw a swordsman attempting to advance toward the slope where the enemy was climbing. Gritting his teeth, he threw himself like lightning to grab the back of the swordsman's neck and yank him back.
"Huh! Sa-Sasuk!"
"You idiot!"
Mu Jin shouted with a face full of fury.
"Don't let your emotions control you! Our goal is not to kill them but to hold out for as long as possible! If we lose this place, Wudang is finished!"
Could it be that his desperate, angry voice reached them?
A grim determination spread across the faces of the Wudang swordsmen. Mu Jin was right. If they lost this place, it wouldn't just end with losing their lives.
'Wudang.' The long-standing history of the Wudang Sect could end today.
Their shoulders carried too heavy a burden to indulge in petty emotions like revenge.
"Hold the line! Defend this place to the last person!"
"Yes!"
Just as Mu Jin was about to grip his sword again,
"Sasuk! The cliff! Baek An Am!"
At those words, Mu Jin's head snapped around.
Forcing himself to look away from the dazzling temptation of the enemy's formations, he fixed his gaze on the cliff behind. There, he saw a hand shooting up from the cliff edge.
'Ah....'
Mu Jin's eyes shook.
"Ugh."
A rough hand grabbed the cliff edge with a tight grip. Soon, a man pulled himself up onto the cliff.
"Damn this cliff!"
Grinding his teeth, the Evil Tyrant Alliance member who climbed up to Baek An Am drew his sword. At the same time, other members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance began to climb up one by one.
'No, it can't be!'
A profound sense of despair washed over Mu Jin's face.
They had to stop them. They had to prevent them from climbing this cliff.
"Kill them all!"
"Hyaaaaa!"
The Evil Tyrant Alliance members who had endured countless hardships to climb the cliff charged with eyes full of hatred and anger.
"Ugh!"
"You can't do that."
Clang!
The sword that Heo Gong desperately thrust was easily blocked by the white hand of the Thousand-Faced Gentleman. The Thousand-Faced Gentleman murmured.
"I thought the most arrogant one among the Righteous Sects was that Plum Blossom Sword demon, but... you're not far behind. Daring to look away from me."
Heo Gong gritted his teeth.
Insufficient. Power.
He did not have the strength to overcome this moment and save Wudang from its crisis.
'Sect Leader! What on earth....'
No matter how hard they blocked this slope, there was no way to stop the enemy from occupying Baek An Am. With the numerical superiority, the enemy would begin to crush them.
"Outnumbered."
Indeed, the face of the Thousand-Faced Gentleman exuded composure.
"I'll acknowledge it. You've done well in your own way. But that's all there is."
On the other hand, Heo Gong could only grind his teeth.
Is this the end? After enduring the agonizing seclusion and imposing his will, is this the result?
"Ugh...."
Just as Heo Gong was about to let out a cry filled with rage,
"What are you doing!"
Swoosh!
Someone darted past Heo Gong like a flash of lightning and blocked the Evil Tyrant Alliance members charging from the cliff.
Slash!
The sword, wielded swiftly yet gracefully, drew a smooth arc toward the screaming members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
Slice! Slice!
In an instant, three heads flew into the air. The swordsman, who had broken the enemy's vanguard, didn't stop there and sent sword energy towards those already densely climbing up the cliff.
"Jin Hyun!"
"Yaaaaah!"
There were no words of encouragement or bravado. They simply used all their strength to block the enemy.
Seeing this, Mu Jin bit his lip tightly.
'Yes.'
Yes, that young swordsman hadn't given up at all. Instead of giving up, he fought. Until the end. That was their vow from the beginning.
"Divide the forces! Push all those climbing the cliff back down!"
"Yes!"
Just as Mu Jin was about to shout again,
"They're coming again, Sasuk!"
"What?"
Mu Jin's head snapped around urgently.
This time, he couldn't even make a sound. He saw a group of martial artists rushing over from the mountainside beyond the cliff.
He couldn't tell who they were, but it was clear they weren't allies.
'When?'
If they had detoured from the moment Wudang blocked this place, they couldn't have reached there so quickly. This meant they had sent a separate unit there from the beginning when they started climbing the mountain.
Isn't that strange? From the beginning? Had they anticipated all of Wudang's responses?
Crack.
Mu Jin's nails dug into his palms until they bled.
'Was it all within Buddha's palm from the start?'
"Sasuk!"
As an urging voice reached him, Mu Jin gritted his teeth.
"Gather! Fall back! Defend the center!"
"What? Sa-Sasuk!"
"Now!"
"Yes!"
At Mu Jin's command, those blocking the slope and those guarding the cliff retreated in mass.
"Form the Grand Nine Palace Sword Formation!"
The faces of the Wudang swordsmen turned pale.
The Grand Nine Palace Sword Formation is a variation of the Nine Palace Sword Formation, designed to fight against a larger number of enemies. Especially now, it's a sword formation specialized for large-scale deployment, making it the best choice against many foes.
But that too depends on the situation.
If they form the Nine Palace Sword Formation in the center now, they will expose all sides to the enemies climbing the cliff. In other words, it means cutting off their own retreat.
"S-Sahyung!"
"There's no retreat!"
Mu Jin bit his lip tightly, cutting off any objections.
"If we must die, it will be here."
Those who had tried to stop Mu Jin seemed to steel their resolve, their eyes now determined.
"Form the Nine Palace Sword Formation!"
"Secure the space!"
"Yes!"
Everyone knew. At this point, retreat was impossible. Whether intended or not, the enemy's net had already spread, and attempting to flee would only make them prey.
"Mu Jin."
"Sasuk."
Heo Gong, who had fallen back, approached Mu Jin while still keeping an eye on the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
"I'm sorry. I acted on my own."
"No."
Heo Gong shook his head.
"We all know this is the best we can do."
"...."
"Now, let's prove it. What we couldn't achieve that day."
"Yes, Sasuk!"
Mu Jin steeled himself and raised his sword. How long could they hold out? One shijin? Half a shijin?
(T/N ~ This one stumped me yall. So I remember Shichen is two hours was used a few chapters ago. So Ima go off that and say hour.)
It probably wouldn't be that long.
"Half a shijin...."
An involuntary bitter laugh escaped Mu Jin's lips. The fate of the once-famed Wudang had only half a shijin left.
But there was no time for sentimentality. The enemy didn't care about their resolve.
Clang!
"Aaaah!"
On the bloodstained White Rock Cliff, a bloody battle began. Swords and knives clashed. Blood and death rained down.
"Secure the distance! Don't be pushed back!"
"Die, you wretched Evil Sect scum!"
"Sahyuuuung!"
In the thick chaos, Mu Jin raised his sword. He saw Jin Hyun and Heo Gong fighting fiercely at the forefront.
"We're not fighting to die."
Mu Jin gripped his sword, which had been with him like an extension of his body, tightly.
"We must survive!"
Then he turned into a streak of light and charged at the enemy.
* * *
"Hurry! Faster!"
As the distance shortened, the burning sight of Wudang Mountain came into clear view.
The mid-mountain? No, the fire had already spread beyond that.
It was absurd, but the burning Wudang conveyed the current situation without any need for communication.
When those flames reached the top of Wudang, the name Wudang would vanish from the martial world.
"It's too late! Faster, faster!"
"No, it's not too late yet! Get a hold of yourself, Gul-ah!"
"It's late, Sahyung!"
"Everyone's at their limit! If we push any harder, we won't be able to fight when we arrive!"
"Damn!"
Jo Gul gritted his teeth.
'Please hold on just a bit longer.'
They could do it. If they could just keep running like this! Wudang's strength wasn't something to be underestimated. Hadn't Mount Hua already experienced it?
This time, they would rescue people from those damn Evil Tyrant Alliance bastards. This time, for sure.
"Huh?"
At that moment, Jo Gul noticed something. Over there... something....
"...What?"
Jo Gul's face turned as pale as a sheet.
"From the top, huff! They seem to have established a defensive line! Huff! Huff!"
Im Sobyeong, having already shed his dignity, wiped the sweat pouring down his face and shouted.
"They probably found a suitable terrain and are fighting to the death! But the situation must have reached... ha, I'm going to die! Reached that point! They won't hold out long!"
"Do you think it's too late?"
"Damn it! How could Wudang fall so easily? Even rotten fish are still fish, and it's Wudang! They'll manage somehow!"
Chung Myung nodded briefly. He thought the same. At this rate, they could enter the mountain before Wudang was annihilated.
As Chung Myung fell silent, seemingly lost in thought,
"Huff, I'm dying.... Aaaah!"
Im Sobyeong was flung backward and rolled on the ground.
"What the... damn it!"
He jumped up and looked ahead. It turned out that the person running in front of him had suddenly stopped, causing him to crash into their back.
"Why did you stop all of a sudden... huh?"
Im Sobyeong, about to vent his anger, shut his mouth. Everyone in front of him had come to a halt.
Im Sobyeong's face turned cold.
The fact that everyone had stopped meant they couldn't advance any further. It also meant something had happened at the front.
But the strange thing was that he couldn't hear any shouts, screams, or the sound of weapons clashing.
This meant the front had stopped on its own. What could have caused that?
"Chief?"
Chung Myung walked silently towards the front. The members of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, sensing his presence, silently stepped aside to make way for him.
A hush fell over the area. Chung Myung walked forward along the path that had opened up, his steps heavy and deliberate, as if the urgency from just a moment ago had been a lie.
Countless eyes focused on him. And Chung Myung felt it. While those standing in the back seemed unaware, the further he walked towards the front, the more everyone's eyes were filled with bewilderment and confusion.
Finally, when he saw the eyes of those running at the forefront, the ones he knew best, Chung Myung understood everything.
Their eyes reflected not just confusion but near-chaotic bewilderment. There were not many things that could disconcert them to this extent.
Jo Gul, Yoon Jong, Hye Yeon, Baek Cheon, and even Namgung Dowi.
The ones who had been staring at Chung Myung slowly stepped aside, revealing the reason to his eyes.
The enemy, the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
But it wasn't an overwhelming army. There were not nearly enough of them to stop those present here.
The number of enemies didn't matter. What mattered was the person standing in front of them.
"How long has it been?"
An elegant tea table, out of place in the desolate landscape, was suddenly there. The man sitting in front of it slowly picked up a bottle of liquor and tilted it slowly.
Drip, drip, drip.
It was strange.
Even in a place with thousands of people, the sound of the liquor filling the cup was distinctly audible.
Thud.
When the cup was filled, he put the bottle down and looked at the approaching Chung Myung with a broad smile.
"Why the face?"
That smile gradually turned sinister.
"Isn't this the situation you wanted?"
Paegun Jang Ilso. He was the one blocking the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
"I've prepared a fine drink. One that will satisfy you completely."
His beautiful yet chilling smile pierced the hearts of everyone standing there, accompanied by an indescribable sense of fear.