Chapter 1218: Who Will Help? (Part 3)

Im Sobyeong kept his word.

As they swam across the Yangtze River like seals...No, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, while moving for a whole day, not only escaped the surveillance of the Evil Tyrant Alliance but didn't even catch a glimpse of a person's shadow.

Im Sobyeong confidently demonstrated that no matter who came, the mountains were beyond the Evil Tyrant Alliance's reach and that their traces would be discovered by none.

As if proving that he didn't obtain the position of the Nokrim King through trickery, he knew the mountain paths of Gangnam like the palm of his hands. Thanks to this, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance was breaking through Gangnam without encountering anyone.

Of course...if one could only call the path they were taking a "path."

Crash!

Looking down from above, even the most skilled experts in the world would feel their hearts skip a beat on this steep cliff and lose feeling in their feet. From such a rugged precipice, sizable boulders tumbled down in abundance.

It was somewhat fortunate that there were no individuals present deep within the mountains. If, by chance, there were people below, avoiding a significant avalanche would have been impossible, to say the least.

However, if someone had been below and managed to dodge all the falling rocks by sheer luck, if they looked up in surprise, they might have discovered it.

Dozen small dots clinging tightly to the sheer drop cliff.

"Eeek!"

Namgung Dowi, instinctively looking down at the falling boulders, clung to the cliff in terror.

Considering his esteemed position as the Sogaju of the renowned Namgung Family, sprawling with arms and legs like a frog on the cliff might be considered an undignified act, but at this moment, there was no room for dignity in his head.

"Why...Why! Whyyyyyyyy!"

Namgung Dowi shouted in protest.

"Why are we heeeeeeeeeere!"

His cries echoed pitifully.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

At that moment, Im Sobyeong, who was dangling on the side of Namgung Dowi, grabbed a rock with one hand and casually waved a fan with the other.

"Please be quiet. Someone might hear us. We're in the middle of a covert operation."

"Who's going to hear, who! There's not a soul, not even a single bird in sight."

Namgung Dowi screamed in frustration. The clouds were literally beneath their feet. Even if a bird had wings, would it fly up here?

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

However, Im Sobyeong paid no attention to Namgung Dowi's complaints.

"The future master of the Namgung Family, making such a fuss over a mere cliff... "

"A mere cliff! If you fall here, you'll die for sure!"

"Whether you die falling off a cliff or die from a sword, isn't it all the same? How can someone so afraid of death wield a sword?"

"Is that the same as this? Is it the same!"

"What's the difference?"

Im Sobyeong chuckled, licking his lips.

"Anyway, since you look so undignified, please be quiet, quietly."

"Uh..."

Namgung Dowi, with a flushed face, reluctantly lowered his gaze.

Creepy.

Sensing what it felt like to have a tingling spine at that moment, he hurriedly turned his gaze upward. Then, he tightly closed his eyes and shouted.

"T-Tang hyung-nim!"

"...What."

"Ar-Are you alright?"

"...Am I really okay?"

When he opened his eyes slightly and turned around, Tang Pae's face was almost serene. Tang Pae spoke after taking a deep breath.

"Don't look down. If you think of this place as flat ground, it might be a little better."

"How can you think of it as flat ground when it's not?"

"Just shut up, you rascal!"

"..."

At that moment, another pile of rocks tumbled down above their heads.

"Hiiiiiiik!"

"Aaaargh!"

Both clung to the cliff in terror. Just behind their heads, rocks the size of adult fists fell with a rustling sound.

"This... This is insane!"

Namgung Dowi, with bloodshot eyes, turned to look at Im Sobyeong again.

"Why! Why do we have to take this path! Why!"

"Oh, come on! Tone down the drama a bit. Other people are staying composed."

"Who! Who' staying composed in this situation!"

"Can't you see over there?"

"Huh?"

When they turned to where Im Sobyeong's fan pointed, they locked eyes with someone. In an instant, Namgung Dowi's mouth hung open.

".... "

".... "

Holding onto the protruding rock on the cliff with one hand, Jo Gol, who was chewing on a fistful of rice, awkwardly hid the rice ball behind his back.

"Ah, sorry. I was a bit hungry..."

"... "

"Well, it's a bit boring too."

It turned out Jo Gol wasn't the only one.

Behind him, the Mount Hua disciples who had been following along were looking at him with expressions as if this treacherous cliff were a mere stroll in the park.

 'Ah, that guy is blocking the way so recklessly.' It was almost as if they were criticizing him.

"Ah, aren't you scared?"

"Here?"

"...Yes."

"Why?"

Jo Gol shrugged nonchalantly. When Namgung Dowi saw him move, he almost fainted, narrowly avoiding an embarrassing incident with his pants.

"Well, it's somewhat high... But compared to Mount Hua, it's almost flat ground."

"Hey, even someone who just started training in the Mount Hua for two months could climb this much."

"Do we really need to go all to Mount Hua? We could bring the kids from the Hwayeong branch here to play ball."

"Let's go quickly. Is this your first time riding a cliff?"

Tears welled up in Namgung Dowi's eyes.

"...Yes."

"What did you say?"

"He, Hefei."

"Huh?"

"Hefei, there's no... there's no mountain in Hefei..."

"..."

"Heuk."

Suddenly, everyone fell silent.

"Kkueeuu..."

"..."

"Ueuueeuu..."

"..."

In the middle of the cliff, there was a small cave, and inside it, Namgung Dowi lay with his head covered. They tried to go further, but the sun had set, and fortunately, they had found a cave where even animals wouldn't hear, so they entered.

Watching Namgung Dowi, who was making continuous moans, the others sighed deeply.

"...The renowned Namgung Dowi is afraid of heights."

"Still, doesn't it give him a human touch? In fact, until now, he seemed like too much of an upright, decent guy. Even when prodded, it felt like not a drop of blood would come out, you know?"

"Yeah. Honestly, before his head was cracked, he seemed like Sasuk when he was decent."

"Why do you keep tripping over me?"

The Five Swords looked at Namgung Dowi with disdain. It wasn't that Namgung Dowi was afraid; his face was pale like someone who had just escaped from hell.

"Is it really that scary?"

"...There are no mountains in Hefei. It's almost flat there."

"That's why children of prestigious families..."

"No, if you think about it that way, aren't you the child of the sect leader of a prestigious family?"

"Gol-ah. Compare it. Compared to the Namgung Family, the Southern Edge Sect are like a neighborhood beggars."

"...The real beggars are Sahyung and Chung Myung."

"But this bastard?"

The Five Swords looked at Namgung Dowi as if they somewhat understood him but not quite. They knew this guy wasn't someone who would exaggerate things, but...

Understanding that someone could be afraid of cliffs was too difficult for them.

Those who feared heights like him were naturally filtered out before reaching the front gate of the Mount Hua Sect. As a result, in their eyes, Namgung Dowi was a mysterious(?) race that they met for the first time in their lives.

"But is he really not exaggerating? Seeing Sogaju-nim with such a pale face..."

"That gentleman over there is also amusing. There are many mountains in Sichuan."

"Well, who would just climb the cliffs of those mountains!"

Tang Pae, who managed to maintain a more human appearance than Namgung Dowi, finally burst out.

"If people walk, is that a cliff? Is it? It's a cliff because people don't walk!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Master Wuho once led an army through that treacherous path."

"Only Zhuge Liang could do that! If anyone else did it, they would go down in history!"

"...That sounds plausible?"

As Im Sobyeong shook his head, the Tang Pae erupted again.

"No! Can't we just go above the cliff! If not, then go below the cliff! Why! Why the hell are we riding along the middle of the cliff! Why! Are we spiders or something!"

"I mentioned it before. We must avoid the eyes of people."

"Why would there be people on top of a cliff! In this dangerous and remote place!"

Without saying anything, Im Sobyeong grabbed Jo Gol and placed him in front. Then he spoke.

"Say that again."

"Ah..."

I see... Those people are actually living on top of the cliffs, not to mention building structures and residing there.

Come to think of it, were those guys really sane?

Im Sobyeong continued.

"What do you think? Is it that there are no people in the Shenshan Valley? If you want to avoid people, the most unapproachable place is the Shenshan Valley! Why are all the famous mountains in the world filled with conduits and temples!"

"... "

"Well, at least Taoists or Buddhists are better, because at least they can build a building and say, 'I'm here.' Do you know how often you find a suitable cave, stick your head in and say, 'I'm going to make this my home base,' and then a hundred-year-old hermit ghost jumps out and wipes you out?"

"...If it's not for any good reason, why would someone suddenly pop out from there?"

"That's what I'm saying!"

Kangho was the problem, Kangho. 

Chung Myung's often repeated saying 'There are no normal people among those holding swords' seemed to be quite accurate.

"To do business in the mountains, how much do you have to consider? Do Taoists or monks aimlessly wander there? Is there someone who has secluded himself in a deep cave cultivating alone for decades with his eyes closed?"

Isn't it true that someone who has been expelled from a reputable sect might be sharpening their sword in a secluded place?"

"..."

"What if you found that place when it was deserted and built a home? But then suddenly, someone finds an elixir there and all the sword-wielding guys in the neighborhood come running to the mountain to claim it as theirs…"

Baek Cheon patted Im Sobyeong's shoulder.

"Speak without crying."

"...Sorry. It's a little overwhelming."

"Then why become a bandit..."

"... I was born to a father who was a bandit. What else could I do?"

"I ran away."

"... "

Im Sobyeong, who was momentarily speechless, looked blankly at Baek Cheon. At this point, one seriously needed to consider who was more crazy.

"...Are you okay, Prince Seol?"

Tang Pae, who had been looking away from those who were making absurd remarks all the time, asked Seol So Baek. They don't need to worry about those wild beasts, but wasn't Seol So Baek a somewhat ordinary person?

"Ah, thank you for your concern. I'm fine."

Seol So Baek replied with a bright smile.

"It was a bit scary, but since I was hanging onto someone anyways, it didn't take much effort."

"... "

"And do you really think that Chung Myung Dojang would fall in a place like this, right? Dying like that would be unfair. It'd be better to get struck by lightning on a clear day."

To call that situation 'unfair'... What kind of thought process did this guy have?

At that moment, Namgung Dowi raised his upper body as if he had found hope.

"I-I'll help too..."

"Lie down, lie down!"

"Think before you speak. Otherwise, you'll be mocked for a lifetime."

"Think about your deceased father!"

"Mmm..."

Namgung Dowi collapsed again, writhing in pain. Everyone lowered their heads.

Since the moment they decided to penetrate the land of Gangnam, they were prepared for hardships, but who could have imagined that the hardship would be like this?

Tang Pae let out a deep sigh.

"Anyway, since we've got a moment to rest, let's check the conditions first..."

"Euracha!"

At that moment, a voice from outside the cave was heard, followed by something falling inside with a thud.

Tang Pae opened his mouth wide, looking at the wild boar and deer that suddenly appeared in the cave. Soon after, Chung Myung entered, dusting off his hands.

"I'm hungry! Let's make some food!"

"It's meat!"

"Let's eat!"

The Five Swords rushed in with excitement, and Tang Pae closed his eyes as if resigning himself.

'These guys will adapt even if you throw them in the middle of hell...'

Nevertheless, it seemed like there was no need to worry about going hungry on the journey. It was one small fortune among a thousand misfortunes.