"Desperation."
Jang Ilso's fingertips played with the edge of his glass. His movements were leisurely, to the point of laziness. It was a simple, ordinary action, but it was strangely hard to take one's eyes off his fingertips.
"An interesting word."
Jang Ilso leaned back slightly. Despite sitting on a chair without a backrest, he acted as if he was leaning against it comfortably.
"Isn't it strange?"
"…What is?"
"Desperation… As you said, desperation might be another name for faith. But if that's the case, then desperation might also be another name for something else."
Jang Ilso curled the corners of his lips upward.
"Desire, for instance."
"…"
Jang Ilso's gaze pierced through Chung Myung.
"To want something so desperately. To desire something so earnestly. The world calls that desire."
"So?"
"Isn't it strange?"
Jang Ilso chuckled.
"The trash of the Evil Sect talks about duty in the name of responsibility, and the esteemed chivalrous warriors of the Righteous Sect talk about desire in the name of desperation."
"…"
"Doesn't it feel like something has changed?"
Chung Myung's eyes sank heavily.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Haha! Don't look so frightening. It's just amusing, that's all."
Jang Ilso's eyes gleamed mischievously.
His eyes mocked everything. The Wudang Sect trying to defend that mountain, the Evil Tyrant Alliance attacking them, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance giving their all to rescue others, and Chung Myung, who was trying to stop Jang Ilso right here... Maybe even himself, sitting here laughing.
"I just had such thoughts."
"What thoughts?"
"If you were sitting in my place right now, what would you be saying?"
"…"
"And if I were in your place, what would I be saying? Would I be talking about that ridiculous righteousness?"
Jang Ilso's sneer pierced Chung Myung's ears.
"How about it?"
"…"
"Isn't it funny?"
That laugh etched itself clearly into Chung Myung's eyes.
* * *
"We've broken through!"
Jo Gul retrieved his sword and stabbed again. In his eyes, he saw Baek Cheon and the disciples pushing forward at the forefront.
"Move aside!"
The members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, startled by his sword energy, scattered left and right, creating a clear path ahead for Jo Gul.
"Now, everyone!"
Just as he was about to dash forward as usual, Jo Gul stopped abruptly and turned around. The members following him were being pushed back, with the Evil Tyrant Alliance members closing in on them from both sides.
"Keep going! Keep going!"
Shouting, Jo Gul halted his steps and turned around.
In the past, he would have been the first to rush forward when the path opened. But the current Jo Gul was different.
"Back off, you bastards!"
His sword moved differently than before. Holding it in reverse grip, he swung it wide horizontally, not to pierce the enemy but to create space through intimidation. It felt awkward, like wearing an ill-fitting suit, but its effectiveness didn't fall short of his usual thrusting technique.
'Think! More!'
In the past, he would have just charged ahead. The Sahyung would have taken care of the rear. But here, there were no Sahyung who understood his intentions and matched his pace. Jo Gul had to take on their roles as well.
However,
"Where to, Sub-Unit Leader?"
"Should we follow the Mount Hua Sect Leader?"
"Which direction should we go?"
"Huh?"
Jo Gul quickly turned his head.
"What the…!"
Those who had taken the lead were splitting up. Some were heading towards Baek Cheon, while others were charging straight up the mountain.
The followers began to waver, and confusion set in.
"No! Follow Baek Cheon Sasuk! The Mount Hua Sect Leader!"
"You need to give us instructions!"
"What?"
Jo Gul's eyes wavered. Had he not given the orders?
No matter how obvious it seemed, shouldn't it be understood without saying?
"Follow the Sect Leader! The Mount Hua Sect Leader! Hurry!"
Jo Gul shouted loudly, but his voice was drowned out by the clamor of the battlefield.
Conflict flashed across Jo Gul's face for a moment.
'Should I return to the front? But what about the rear?'
Once they broke through, the enemy would undoubtedly pursue from behind. Could he just leave the rear unguarded?
'What should I do…'
Jo Gul's sword hesitated for a moment, and the members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, sensing the opportunity, charged at him aggressively.
"Wait a moment!"
Just as Jo Gul was about to swing his sword to fend them off, someone stepped in front of him and struck a blow.
Startled, Jo Gul nearly swung his sword but stopped as he saw something gleaming.
A soft, resonant sound followed.
The golden, radiant force swept away the Evil Tyrant Alliance members that had been charging, sending them flying backward. It was a fierce blow that never failed to evoke shock.
"Amitabha. Jo Gul, were you startled?"
"Hey! How can you just jump in like that? If I hadn't seen your bald head, I might have slashed your back!"
"…"
Hye Yeon looked at Jo Gul with a contorted face.
"I'll handle things here, so you should go."
"What?"
At that moment, another explosion rang in Jo Gul's ears.
Boom!
A large, rock-like sword energy from the rear cut down the momentum of those preparing to pursue.
"To think Jo Gul would take on the rear guard. My father's words were true: Even someone who seems hopeless will grow someday."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Go! Jo Gul! You have work to do!"
"Oh, right!"
Jo Gul turned and dashed forward.
"Then I'll leave the rear to you!"
"Yes!"
Watching Jo Gul speed up towards the front, Namgung Dowi chuckled.
"Layperson."
"Yes, monk?"
"Did your late father really say that?"
Namgung Dowi smirked at the question.
"No, I just made it up."
"…"
"Is there a problem?"
"Amitabha… No, nothing."
Hye Yeon smiled. It was fitting for Jo Gul to face such words.
"It wasn't a bad statement. I was genuinely surprised."
"I agree."
The saying that a position shapes a person wasn't entirely false. Jo Gul thinking about the rear guard was surprising. But guarding the rear wasn't something he was particularly good at.
"Shall we block them?"
"Yes."
Hye Yeon and Namgung Dowi gathered their internal energy. Their task was to deter the pursuers. It was something they excelled at.
"Senior! Sahyung!"
"You're late, you fool!"
"Why are you so slow? Can't you even do what you used to?"
Jo Gul clutched his chest in frustration. He had acted with thought, but these people didn't recognize it.
"Move forward!"
"What?"
"Break through the front!"
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think I mean, you fool!"
Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong simultaneously pointed towards the mountain peak, specifically to Baekanam.
"There!"
"There it is!"
"…"
"We'll break through in one go. We don't have time to drag this out."
"Destroy everything you see!"
"Me? While those guys are already wreaking havoc?"
Jo Gul saw Yoo Iseol and Jin Geum Ryong decimating enemies at the front. Jin Geum Ryong was expected, but Yoo Iseol was also a few levels above him.
"Stop hesitating!"
Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong grabbed Jo Gul's shoulders from both sides and pushed him to the front. Baek Cheon spoke seriously.
"Breaking through the front is your job. There's no one better at it than you."
"…"
"If we're late, Wudang is in danger. Can you do it?"
Jo Gul's face took on a peculiar expression.
"Can I?"
"Yes!"
"What a question."
Jo Gul gripped his Plum Blossom Sword and grinned.
"Don't lag behind, old men!"
Boom!
Jo Gul pounded the ground and charged forward.
"Move aside! You're too slow!"
His sword, filled with confidence, blazed red with fiery energy.
"They've broken through!"
"They're entering the mountain! Commander!"
The faces of the subordinates turned pale.
Their backs were exposed to the enemy. While it might be manageable, the problem was that the forces of the Evil Tyrant Alliance that entered the mountain were scattered.
Reorganizing their formation?
Impossible. How could they relay orders to those scattered in a burning mountain?
The forces that moved with the single goal of annihilating Wudang as quickly as possible were now being attacked from behind. It was an utterly horrifying situation.
"We have to do something!"
"Their target is Wudang! We must eliminate Wudang before they arrive."
"But that would cause great damage! What about the aftermath?"
"Those without a purpose will naturally scatter! We need to break their morale now!"
"Even if they've entered the mountain, there's nothing to fear! They can't traverse a burning mountain as if it were flat land! Since they've entered the mountain…"
"Silence."
"…"
A single word from Ho Gakmyung silenced the agitated subordinates instantly.
Unlike them, Ho Gakmyung's expression remained calm.
He observed their movements for a moment with a serene gaze, then nodded.
"As expected of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."
"Yes?"
"Relay orders to everyone as best as you can. Block their advance."
"Advance? How do we know their path?"
"There's no need to think about it."
Ho Gakmyung pointed at the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and then moved his hand to point directly below him.
"A straight line to here."
"…"
"The opponent is the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. They won't look back in this situation. They will come straight."
"That reckless method..."
Impossible for ordinary people, but feasible for martial artists. Especially the Heavenly Comrade Alliance Ho Gakmyung knew would always choose the shortest path over the safest.
"But, Commander! Even if we relay the orders, stopping them in time is impossible. We'll only end up trailing behind them."
"It doesn't matter."
"Sorry?"
Ho Gakmyung turned to the questioning subordinate.
Realizing his mistake from Ho Gakmyung's gaze, the subordinate quickly lowered his stance.
"I will carry out the order."
"Immediately. Now."
"Yes!"
As the subordinate hurried off, Ho Gakmyung watched for a moment before turning his head back.
"They're riding high on momentum."
It was evident how excited and confident they were.
They deserved to be. Even Ho Gakmyung's fingertips tingled differently from when he faced Wudang. It wasn't due to bad memories of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, but because their strength posed a real threat to him.
"For now, that's fine. But… they'll soon realize."
Ho Gakmyung's eyes grew deeper.
A fox mistaking its borrowed strength from a tiger as its own would die a pitiful clown's death.
Just like the Heavenly Comrade Alliance now.