Thud!
A high-pitched sound echoed as the finger hidden inside the sleeve rubbed against the cloth.
Ho Gakmyung's gaze hardened.
"Commander! Just now..."
"There's no need to panic."
The voice was calm and steady.
Perhaps an accident occurred while crossing the fire. Because of that, the original plan deviated slightly...
"We still have enough remaining troops and explosives. Such losses can be compensated."
"Yes!"
Ho Gakmyung observed the situation with a stern face.
The tremor of the cliff subsided, and the elite troops of the Sun Palace began to move again. Ho Gakmyung nodded slightly.
"The power of the explosives is greater than I thought."
Even so, he had considered it manageable. He thought, how great could the barbarians' explosives be... Surprisingly, the quality of the explosives they brought was quite good.
With the remaining explosives, it would be more than enough to bring down that cliff.
"And the loyalty of the Sun Palace warriors is also beyond expectation."
Despite their comrades being reduced to dust, they still carried out their mission.
"Is it because they are royalty?"
Ho Gakmyung slightly revised his evaluation of the Sun Palace lord. Whoever he was, he seemed to command absolute loyalty from his subordinates.
"Commander, isn't there a chance they might realize what's happening?"
"Probably."
"Then what..."
"Nothing changes."
"Couldn't they climb the mountain instead?"
Ho Gakmyung coldly spoke.
"I've already deployed troops behind the mountain. Those who have not entered the cliff will block their escape."
The lieutenant looked at Ho Gakmyung with a pale face.
So, the strategy of deploying troops behind the mountain to encircle the cliff was not to besiege Wudang but to cut off the escape route of the Mount Hua Sect when they reached the top?
"Descending the cliff is even more impossible."
It was already determined that the cliff would collapse. Going down would only dig their own graves.
In other words, there was no escape for them.
The lieutenant couldn't help but admire.
"But to think they would fall for it so easily... Indeed, no one can match your strategy, Commander."
"Really?"
"...Yes?"
The lieutenant looked at him with questioning eyes, but Ho Gakmyung didn't feel the need to resolve his doubt.
"A brilliant strategy..."
Ho Gakmyung sneered.
"It's just because the Plum Blossom Sword Demon isn't there."
If the Plum Blossom Sword Demon were there, he would have seen through this strategy at a glance. Because he is that kind of person.
Military tactics?
That's not it. If it were purely about tactics, Im Sobyeong, the Nokrim King, would be far superior.
However, even Im Sobyeong and Ho Gakmyung cannot interpret what the Plum Blossom Sword Demon reads. This is certain.
"But Mount Hua is different."
Ho Gakmyung doesn't deny that Mount Hua is excellent.
But they are merely followers. Followers take pride in what they have achieved and seek to replicate that glory.
It is easy to lure such people. Show them the path they once succeeded in, and they will inevitably follow.
Then they will rush in. With the right amount of crisis, the right amount of sense of duty, and the confidence in what they have accomplished.
Therefore,
"Mount Hua without the Plum Blossom Sword Demon is nothing."
Of course, a lot of sacrifices are required for a clean sweep...
"To excise the symbol of Mount Hua from the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and to sever the limbs of the Plum Blossom Sword Demon, this sacrifice is worthwhile."
Ho Gakmyung's gaze sparkled like ice.
It's not difficult.
Just admit it. Admit that he is not equal to the Plum Blossom Sword Demon.
It's not easy for someone who has only honed military tactics his whole life to acknowledge being inferior to a warrior who wields a sword. But once he admits it, there are plenty of ways.
"However... Commander, our strategy was revealed earlier than expected. Will the Heavenly Comrade Alliance remain idle?"
"Are they going to climb the collapsing cliff and respond? To be buried alive with Mount Hua?"
"Of course, that's..."
"It's what I hope for. But unfortunately, they don't seem that foolish."
Ho Gakmyung's gaze shifted down the cliff.
"I also don't believe that the righteousness they talked about is entirely false. Even if it's something absurd, if they believe and follow it, there must be some substance."
"I think so too."
"But whether now is the time to discuss righteousness needs to be seen. Is dying pointlessly also righteousness?"
"Ah..."
At those words, the lieutenant made a small sound and looked back at the cliff.
Indeed, as Ho Gakmyung said, climbing that cliff now would be akin to throwing one's life away. That's not righteousness or loyalty; it's 'madness.'
If they were such reckless people, they couldn't have become the leaders of renowned sects in Kangho.
"You trusted your sayhungs too much, Plum Blossom Sword Demon."
Ho Gakmyung's lips twitched slightly.
The Heavenly Comrade Alliance without the Plum Blossom Sword Demon is just a gathering of fools, and the Evil Tyrant Alliance without Jang Ilso is nothing more than a motley crew. Though the Evil Tyrant Alliance is slightly better. This small difference decided the fate here.
"Now..."
Ho Gakmyung was about to give another command.
"Commander! Over there!"
Startled by the sudden shout, Ho Gakmyung broke off his thoughts and looked towards the cliff.
It started from the bottom of the cliff. A white line began to draw on the red-stained cliff, clearly visible even in the darkness. It was very thin, but also bright.
Ho Gakmyung's face stiffened slightly.
"Commander, that is..."
"Hah. Human madness is incomprehensible."
Ho Gakmyung sneered.
"Leave it be. There's nothing one person can do."
Nevertheless, his gaze did not leave the precarious white line.
Crack!
Namgung Dowi's feet repeatedly struck the cliff.
"Dowi-yaaaaaa!"
The screams of Namgung Myung and the Namgung family's subordinates echoed from behind, but Namgung Dowi didn't even glance back. His eyes, bloodshot, were solely focused on the archers of the Southern Sea Sun Palace racing across the cliff horizontally.
A moment ago, the explosion seemed to have been an unforeseen disaster for them as well, causing a brief moment of confusion. However, they soon regrouped and began moving again towards the center of the cliff.
'This...!'
Namgung Dowi clenched his teeth so hard that the muscles in his jaw bulged, drawing all his inner energy.
His body became a streak of light as he ascended the cliff.
While advancing by crashing into the cliff, a stone protrusion that had been dislodged by the explosion shattered, causing his foot to slip abruptly. His body, which had been gaining speed, wavered downward for a moment.
"Sogaju-nim!"
It was a cliff with a vertical and then an inclined slope. Just a slight misstep could cost him his life.
Crack!
Namgung Dowi extended his hand and forcefully drove it into the cliff's surface. In his haste, he wasn't able to channel his inner strength properly, and a sharp pain surged through his fingers as if they were broken.
Yet, Namgung Dowi did not hesitate for a second and pulled himself up, charging upwards.
Boom!
He smashed into the cliff again. With a face contorted like a demon, Namgung Dowi climbed the cliff.
The Namgung family's swords are renowned throughout the world. However, their lightness skill does not match their high reputation. This is something Namgung Dowi himself is aware of.
Climbing a steep cliff with insufficient lightness skill is literally risking one's life. Considering that the cliff could collapse at any moment, it would not be an exaggeration to call it a suicidal act.
But such considerations did not exist in Namgung Dowi's mind.
As the future head of the Namgung family, he had cleared out everything that needed to be protected, his own safety, and even the outcome that could result from putting himself in danger.
'Did they think of this?'
Pah!
Namgung Dowi's foot struck the cliff with lightning speed.
Whenever his body swayed, he would drive his sword into the cliff and strike the cliff face again. His body, now gaining momentum, shot up like an arrow that could not return.
"Taahhhh!"
From Namgung Dowi's mouth, which had drawn all his inner strength as if he had no back, burst forth a ferocious roar.
Rumble. Rumble.
The shaking that seemed to make the earth collapse and the world turn upside down gradually subsided.
A hellish silence flowed.
After a moment, someone broke the silence with a bewildered voice.
"What, what's happening?"
"An earthquake?"
Confusion spread rapidly among both allies and enemies.
Those who had been charging at each other like enraged beasts had now stopped their attacks and were scanning their surroundings.
In this strange atmosphere, Tang Gunak bit his lip and got up.
'Could it be...?'
His eyes turned towards the edge of the cliff.
It was not difficult to guess what was happening below from just the shaking and the deafening noise. It was unclear how such a thing was possible, but this was not the time to question it.
"What just happened, what...!"
"What, what's going on!"
Even they didn't know.
They were in such a state of confusion that they didn't know what to do.
Even those who were fighting for the Evil Tyrant Alliance's name and risking their lives did not understand what was happening.
However, Tang Gunak could perfectly grasp the situation.
"Are you saying you intend to make everyone here a sacrificial pawn just to kill us?"
The question was not directed at himself but at the person standing in front of him.
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman, Dam Yeo-hae.
He was the leader of the Hao Sect and also contending for the position of the second-in-command of the Evil Tyrant Alliance. Considering his fame and skill, it wouldn't be incorrect to say he was above Ho Gakmyung.
But right now, he was right here. In the very midst of hell.
"No matter how much you are said to be unmatched in the world with your divine techniques, you can't be certain you will survive here. I never expected you would accept such a reckless act."
Tang Gunak continued, focusing all his attention on the Thousand-Faced Gentleman's movements. He was holding on to a faint hope for the Thousand-Faced Gentleman's reaction.
If the explosion ended with this one event, and if they had a way to escape, at least there would be some leeway from Dam Yeo-hae.
In that case, it would mean there is a glimmer of light in this space that could turn into hell at any moment.
"Your loyalty to Jang Ilso is more than I thought..."
But Tang Gunak's words did not continue.
Dam Yeo-hae, who had been staring at the edge of the cliff, turned his head to face him. Dam Yeo-hae was displaying the worst expression Tang Gunak could imagine.
"Ho... Gakmyung."
A mixture of fear, anger, and despair whirled on Dam Yeo-hae's contorted face.
"This... this damn rat!"
A terrifying murderous aura burst from Dam Yeo-hae.
'Did even the Thousand-Faced Gentleman not know?'
It was not a sacrifice but a bait. It meant that even the Hao Sect leader had been used as bait. Someone who was equivalent to the second-in-command of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
"...It was inevitable to be trapped."
A trap that could not even be called a trap. How could one avoid such a scheme that was akin to cutting off one's own arm to sever the opponent's finger?
"Ho Gakmyung! Jang Ilsoooooooo!"
At that moment, a ferocious scream burst from the Thousand-Faced Gentleman's mouth.
"You damn bastards! How dare you! Aaaaaaaaah!"
The scream turned into a despairing light and poured out over the cliff's summit.