Yoon Jong realized something. When overwhelmed by immense bewilderment, one loses not only words but also the ability to think.
'Why?'
His mind felt completely blank.
Why is Jang Ilso here? Why?
That question was the only thing on his mind. The man in the red robe standing before him seemed to consume his entire world.
"Uh..."
And it wasn't just Yoon Jong who was like this.
Jo Gul, Hye Yeon, Namgung Dowi, and even Baek Cheon were all at a loss for words, staring blankly at Jang Ilso. It felt like the world had stopped.
The presence of Jang Ilso, sitting leisurely as if living in a different world, froze everyone.
In that bleak world, only one person was moving.
Step.
The sound of Chung Myung's footsteps thundered in everyone's ears, breaking their frozen state of mind.
Chung Myung's voice, like ice-cold water being poured, struck Yoon Jong's consciousness.
"A fine drink, indeed... you seem to have plenty of leisure."
Only then did he notice. Chung Myung's back, now ahead of them, facing Jang Ilso.
Crack.
Unknowingly, the tension in Yoon Jong's muscles released all at once. His previously halted mind began to function again.
'Was he waiting to stop us?'
No. That can't be it.
Even Jang Ilso couldn't hope to block the Heavenly Comrade Alliance with such a small number. No matter how formidable Jang Ilso was, trying to stop them with so few people was beyond reckless, it was suicidal.
But then, why was he sitting there so leisurely? What was he thinking?
As if reading Yoon Jong's thoughts, Jang Ilso lightly touched the rim of his filled glass with his fingernail and spoke.
"Despite appearances, I do have manners."
Tock.
He lightly pushed the glass, which smoothly slid across the table, stopping at the other end as if it was meant for someone to sit there.
"When entertaining the renowned Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, one should prepare fine liquor, right?"
Jang Ilso, smiling brightly, looked at Chung Myung. Chung Myung, with a crooked grin, looked back at Jang Ilso.
"Not much of a host, are you? Planning to entertain me with just liquor?"
"Hmm, still as greedy as ever, I see. But don't worry. I've prepared a gift as well."
"...A gift?"
"Bring it."
Suspicion and vigilance flashed in Chung Myung's eyes. The members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance behind them moved in unison, stepping aside. Someone emerged, dragging something along.
'A person?'
It was a person in a miserable state, half-conscious.
"...What is that..."
"What?"
At that moment, one of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance members exclaimed in shock.
"Heo, Heo Dojin?"
"What?"
Everyone, eyes wide with surprise, closely examined the dragged person. An old man, with knives embedded in his limbs, as if his muscles had been severed.
It was indeed Heo Dojin.
"This, this madness!"
Though completely white-haired now and his face soaked in blood, causing confusion for a moment, it was undoubtedly him.
The person being dragged out by Hong Gyeon was unmistakably the former Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect, Heo Dojin.
Crash!
Hong Gyeon threw Heo Dojin to the ground like a rag.
"That filthy bastard!"
Jo Gul, overwhelmed with anger, tried to rush forward, but Yoon Jong clenched his teeth and tightly grabbed Jo Gul's shoulder.
"Don't act rashly!"
"But, Sahyung!"
"Calm down!"
"This..."
Jo Gul's body trembled with rage.
Though he hadn't thought well of Heo Dojin, he was, after all, the Sect Leader of the Wudang. He didn't deserve such humiliation at the hands of those from the Evil Sect.
Watching Jo Gul, Jang Ilso chuckled.
"My, my... I don't understand why you're so angry. Isn't it a good gift? I thought you'd be touched."
"Shut your mouth, you bastard!"
"There's no need to get so angry. It's a fitting example."
Jang Ilso glanced at Heo Dojin with a dispassionate look, devoid of any emotion.
"Those who don't know their place often believe that sincerity alone can achieve everything. But that's not the case. The way to get what you want is not to wish for it but to seize it."
Jang Ilso's gaze shifted from the half-dead Heo Dojin to Chung Myung.
"You... should know that well, right?"
Many remained silent, watching Heo Dojin, who was barely alive, and Jang Ilso, who was casually fiddling with his glass. A deathly stillness settled between them.
The silence was broken by Jo Gul's murderous voice.
"Let's attack."
"What?"
"I don't know what that bastard is thinking by showing his face here, but we won't get another chance like this! Now is the perfect time to take his head!"
"..."
"If we kill him, it's all over, isn't it?"
Yoon Jong's eyes wavered.
It was true.
Jang Ilso stood with only a few soldiers. Although they were the elite he had trained, this side had nearly all the forces of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
"Before we lose this chance, we must strike right now."
"What about the Wudang?"
"...What?"
Jo Gul turned his head sharply at the unexpected voice. Namgung Dowi repeated.
"If we waste time here, what will happen to the Wudang Sect?"
"Do you?"
Jo Gul started to speak but then hesitated.
How could he say he didn't care about the Wudang Sect? Those words should never be uttered. Not even thought. Human lives couldn't be treated that way.
Jo Gul clenched his fist tightly.
"But if we miss this chance to kill Jang Ilso, more people will die."
"The Wudang Sect is waiting for us!"
"Enough."
Before the argument could escalate, Baek Cheon's terse voice cut them off. He looked at Jang Ilso with a cold expression and spat out his words.
"It's not that simple."
"...What?"
"It's not that straightforward."
Under everyone's gaze, he bit his lip firmly.
'Jang Ilso.'
Could they catch him? If Jang Ilso fought them head-on, they could kill him. But what if Jang Ilso decided to escape with all his might?
'It's not easy.'
Even with superior numbers, capturing a smaller but more skilled group was difficult—a fact Mount Hua had proven repeatedly.
Now the situation was reversed.
They could try. If they succeeded, it would indeed be a monumental achievement.
But if they failed?
They would lose everything. The Heavenly Comrade Alliance would miss the chance to save the Wudang Sect, which would face annihilation, and they would still lose Jang Ilso.
That would be an incomparably greater mistake than any defeat they had faced so far.
The Alliance, after all, was made up of people. Could they trust the leadership after such a disaster? Could the already fragile unity hold?
The painful truth was that the Alliance had only recently been reorganized. Leading this ragtag group to chase Jang Ilso was a near-impossible task.
Baek Cheon's fingers trembled as he did the mental calculations.
'Damn it!'
Even he could now see how much was at stake in this outrageous scenario. How poisonous this unexpected move was.
Baek Cheon's gaze turned to Jang Ilso, who was leisurely filling his glass. Above all, Jang Ilso was the problem.
'He's insane.'
No matter how perfect his strategy, how could he so calmly throw himself as bait before so many enemies? How could he show no sign of fear and even provoke them?
'Have we been fighting such a man all this time?'
Baek Cheon felt his blood run cold. The crimson in his vision seemed to grow, threatening to engulf his sight.
And at that moment.
"There are some truths that are common but profound."
Chung Myung's calm and composed voice snapped Baek Cheon back to reality.
"Those who love gambling inevitably ruin themselves."
"Haha. That's right. It's true!"
Jang Ilso laughed heartily and looked at Chung Myung with a gentle smile.
"But... isn't it a bit funny that you're the one saying that? Don't you think?"
Chung Myung chuckled. Indeed, it felt like a direct hit to his core. Without turning his head, he spoke to the back.
"Sasuk."
"...Yes."
"You understand, right?"
Though much was left unsaid, Baek Cheon nodded silently. He could roughly understand their situation.
"Go."
"What?"
But this command was not immediately understood.
"We can't waste time being held back. That would be playing into his hands."
"But what about Jang Ilso?"
"He wants me."
"...."
"Then I just have to give him what he wants."
Without further explanation, Chung Myung walked toward Jang Ilso.
"Chung Myung!"
Startled, Baek Cheon tried to stop him but then clenched his teeth and let go.
'Those who love gambling ruin themselves.'
Now even Baek Cheon could understand. Those words were not directed at Jang Ilso. They were meant for Baek Cheon.
Pouring everything into capturing Jang Ilso now would be a gamble with uncertain outcomes. The fate of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance couldn't be left to such a gamble.
The best choice they could make now was to thoroughly ignore the bait before them, no matter how tempting it was.
However, they couldn't just leave Jang Ilso and his group behind. If they did, they would follow the Alliance's tracks.
So, what was the best move the Heavenly Comrade Alliance could make now?
Just as they had used themselves as bait, the Alliance needed to place an irresistible bait before them and withdraw. That bait was none other than Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, Chung Myung.
This was the conclusion Chung Myung had reached after much inner conflict. It was a conclusion that no one else had reached, and that most had not even considered. Yet, both Chung Myung and Baek Cheon had arrived at it without even exchanging a glance.
"...Yoon Jong!"
"No."
Baek Cheon was about to command Yoon Jong to stay behind with his unit, but Chung Myung interrupted.
"I can do it alone."
"You idiot! Does that even make sense?"
Baek Cheon shouted in anger, but Chung Myung didn't elaborate. He simply spoke briefly and moved forward.
"Go."
In the past, Chung Myung would have tried to explain the situation to Baek Cheon and make him understand. But now, he only uttered a few words.
That's right. It was as if he believed Baek Cheon would understand without further explanation.
Baek Cheon clenched his fist so tightly that it bled.
Meanwhile, Chung Myung walked calmly towards Jang Ilso, taking each step leisurely.
'Really....'
But Baek Cheon could see it. He could see Jang Ilso's elite soldiers flinch and reveal their killing intent as Chung Myung approached.
Just as the Heavenly Comrade Alliance felt pressured and fearful of Jang Ilso, they also felt the same emotions towards Chung Myung.
Chung Myung passed the fallen Heo Dojin and stood opposite Jang Ilso. He sat down in a chair prepared there.
It was an unprecedented sight to see Jang Ilso and Chung Myung sitting across a small table from each other.
Chung Myung grabbed the glass of liquor on the table. There was no hesitation in his movements as he drank.
Tap.
He placed the empty glass back on the table and commented briefly.
"Good liquor. Too good for someone like you."
"I'm glad you like it. I've prepared plenty, so drink as much as you want."
The righteous and the evil sects.
North and South.
Or perhaps rivals that transcended such boundaries.
These two men were calmly sharing drinks. It was such an unreal scene that not only the Heavenly Comrade Alliance members but also the Evil Tyrant Alliance members were half in a daze.
Only Baek Cheon, who was sharply watching the scene, spoke.
"Let's go."
"S-Sasuk?"
"Acting Sect Leader! What do you mean?"
"Don't forget what we must do."
Baek Cheon's gaze had long left the bizarre scene and was now focused on the burning Mount Wudang. His fingernails dug into his palm.
"We must save Wudang. That is what we must do."