Chapter 1338: What Has Happened? (Part 1)

Cold sweat trickled down Im Sobyeong's face.

"…We're trapped."

A terrain where three mountains converged, with paths opening both to the left and the right.

But both paths led to the same conclusion.

A cliff.

A steep rock wall aptly named "despair," blocking the passage through the mountains.

Even in perfect condition, overcoming such a cliff was no easy task. Exhausted and worn out as they were, it made no sense to discuss it now.

Attempting to climb the cliff against the odds might be an option, but the outcome was clear. They would be overtaken by the Myriad Man Manor forces chasing them, unable to resist, and meet their end.

Yet climbing the mountain was no different. The steep slope, rugged terrain, and dense forest increased the risk of being attacked, given the excessive expenditure of energy.

In the end, this place was like a jar with no way out, surrounded on all sides by cliffs. Im Sobyeong had led everyone into this terrain with cliffs blocking every direction.

"Why…"

The Thousand Mountains had overlapping layers of mountains, making the terrain challenging to grasp. It was not easy to discern what lay behind the mountains, making it even more difficult to anticipate what might be there.

He had confirmed such things on the road leading to Southern Island, which is why Im Sobyeong had chosen this route for escape. However, he had not imagined such sheer cliffs behind the mountains.

"Ho Gakmyung..."

Drip.

He bit his lips until blood oozed out.

He had thought they had broken through the siege. He thought they had defeated all the pursuing forces. At least in terms of tactical superiority, he believed he was far ahead.

Up until now, he had thought so.

But at this moment, he realized. From the moment he entered this canyon until now, he had been played in Ho Gakmyung's hands.

"It wasn't a bluff…"

Im Sobyeong had believed that they could only make noise with their hastily assembled troops. But that wasn't the only thing they could do; it was enough. Ho Gakmyung was guiding them, opening a path visible only to Im Sobyeong, manipulating them.

Would it have been different if they had bypassed the canyon?

No, it wouldn't. Changing the route doesn't change the destination.

There might have been a time difference, but eventually, they would have reached Thousand Mountain.

Why didn't he doubt? Why didn't he guard against the crafty Ho Gakmyung? Why did he think he could always stay one step ahead?

In fact, Ho Gakmyung had accomplished more than Im Sobyeong leading Nokrim.

"Nokrim King."

Kim Yang Baek's voice echoed. Im Sobyeong's eyes trembled. He realized, for the first time in his life, that someone speaking to him could be frightening.

"What should we do now?"

Im Sobyeong gnashed his teeth.

What to do? Rather, he wanted to ask that himself. What exactly should one do in this situation?

The path they intended to take was blocked by high cliffs, and thousands of troops were pressing from behind.

Moreover, allies who should face the enemies with all their might had long reached their limits. Their fighting strength had been depleted.

"Nokrim King!"

Kim Yang Baek raised his voice again, but Im Sobyeong couldn't respond.

Many words crossed his mind, but any of them seemed like they would only shatter morale in this situation.

And then, Im Sobyeong saw it. No, he felt it.

The moment he hesitated to answer, something drained away from the faces of the Southern Island disciples he had been gazing at. Something that had held on desperately, the four letters called "hope," were vanishing in a hollow manner.

'No, it can't be...'

What kept the exhausted body moving was the hope that they could somehow survive and the determination to fight against the enemies.

The moment they lost that hope and determination, they would be nothing more than a rat in a poisoned hole.

So, he had to prevent them from losing all enthusiasm. But how?

'However, what can I do?'

No martial arts he had learned, no experience he had gained could provide an answer to this question. Therefore, faced with impending despair, he could only flounder helplessly.

At that moment, a calm voice reached him.

"Blocked on all sides (四面楚歌)..."

Having delayed the troops from behind, the blood-soaked Baek Cheon had finally arrived.

Without showing any urgency, he looked around. Carefully examining the high cliffs and the surrounding terrain, he nodded slowly.

"This place seems difficult."

In an instant, strength drained from Im Sobyeong's body. He realized that, consciously or unconsciously, he had relied on Deputy Sect Leader to some extent.

The moment negative words came from Baek Cheon's mouth, it felt as if the thread of hope he had been holding onto was severed.

Baek Cheon turned his body and calmly surveyed the path they had entered.

"Well, we have no choice. We have to break through again and find another path."

Im Sobyeong momentarily doubted his ears.

What did that guy just say?

Baek Cheon spoke calmly.

"Nokrim King."

"Yes?"

"Are there similar terrains around here?"

Though it might sound irrelevant, Im Sobyeong understood Baek Cheon's intention even at this moment.

"It's unlikely. If there were many places like this, the Demonic Sect wouldn't have been able to engage in guerrilla warfare here."

"Alright then."

Baek Cheon took a deep breath.

"So, if we break through here and re-enter through a side path, it should be enough."

"..."

"Is that correct?"

Im Sobyeong couldn't bring himself to answer. Of course, it was correct. Naturally, it was the right thing to say. To find another path, they had to break through the main force of the Myriad Man Manor, except for the fact that...

"Deputy Sect Leader, that..."

"Is there another way?"

Baek Cheon's calm question closed Im Sobyeong's mouth again.

Another way? There couldn't be such a thing. If there were, Im Sobyeong would have already used it.

There was no mistake in Baek Cheon's words. The only option they had was to reopen the path, except for...

"Do we just need to open the path?"

Yoon Jong's question from behind made Baek Cheon nod without turning around.

"It seems so."

"Good, it's not complicated. Well then, Nokrim King."

"Yes?"

"Please take care of this guy for me."

Yoon Jong handed Chung Myung, who he had been carrying, over to Im Sobyeong.

"That...?"

"Protect him with your life."

Im Sobyeong accepted Chung Myung with a bewildered expression. Then, Yoon Jong stood next to Baek Cheon without a word.

"Monk, please take care of Sahyung."

"Dojang..."

"Quickly."

Tang Soso was also passing Hye Yeon to Jo Gol and was about to move forward. Jo Gol, in a hurry, reached out and grabbed Tang Soso's hem.

"I, I also..."

"Hmm?"

"I, I can still... I can still fight... Ah!"

The sharp end of Tang Soso's hairpin struck Jo Gol's hand without mercy. Smirking, Tang Soso patted him.

"The bleeding will stop soon."

"..."

"Take good care of your body. Because it's really on the verge of death. Anyway, it's like an Sahyung."

Tang Soso swiftly retrieved the hairpin and stood next to Yoon Jong.

Everyone stared at the backs of the three people with dazed eyes.

"Nokrim King."

"...Yes?"

"We will hold back the ones coming. Lead everyone through the opened path. Namgung Sogaju and Tang Sogaju will help you."

"..."

"We trust you."

Im Sobyeong's pupils trembled.

How could someone step forward so calmly even in such a situation?

They knew. It was just like trying to break a rock with an egg. No matter how hard they tried, it was difficult to avoid the result of total annihilation.

Yet, they willingly stepped forward. Unlike him, who was trapped in despair and didn't know what to do.

Im Sobyeong bit his lip tightly.

Originally, there was only one sensible option in this place. Abandoning the useless burden of Southern Island and climbing the cliff on their own.

At least they could survive with the disciples of Southern Island acting as a shield from below.

Did they not know this fact?

No, they knew. Surely, they would know. There was no one as familiar with scaling cliffs as the Mount Hua disciples were.

But everyone was behaving as if that option didn't exist at all. It was the last resort to protect Southern Island until the end.

Foolish and stupid.

But even Im Sobyeong, who had lived his whole life for personal gain as a member of the Evil Sect, couldn't bring himself to say those words. Anyone else in his position would feel the same.

"Sasuk, it seems like there are quite a few enemies, right?"

"We'll have a hard time."

"...You speak well."

"Don't be disrespectful to Sasuk."

While Baek Cheon and Tang Soso conversed with smiles, Tang Soso's hands were shaking slightly. Im Sobyeong understood when he saw those hands.

It wasn't that she wasn't scared; it was the desperate effort to suppress the desire to run away immediately.

That fact made Im Sobyeong even more unbearable. Even if others didn't know, Im Sobyeong knew. His arrogance had caused all this situation.

If he had doubted even once while overwhelmed by the title of Ho Gamyeong [idk], wouldn't he have avoided walking into this trap with his own feet?

There was a moment when Im Sobyeong tried to say something.

"Let's stop now, Deputy Sect Leader."

A composed voice flowed out. Instantly, everyone's gaze turned in that direction. Kim Yang Baek, whose complexion had paled due to poison and injuries, was looking at Baek Cheon.

"Don't embarrass us anymore."

"Sect Leader."

"You've already shown enough righteousness for Southern Island. Expecting more is just shameful."

"Sect Leader, we still..."

"Deputy Sect Leader."

Kim Yang Baek smiled with an understanding smile.

"In fact, I agreed with those words while disagreeing at the same time. It was difficult to understand how it was honorable to rush into the enemy and fight until death."

"...But now it's okay. I've come to understand. What honor we need to protect at the last moment. What we need to protect at the very end. What our role is."

Kim Yang Baek looked at Baek Cheon and said to Chung Myung, who was carried on his back.

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword told us not to just sit and wait for death. To go to a place where we can die with honor."

"..."

"I think this is that place."

"Sect Leader. We still..."

"Deputy Sect Leader."

Kim Yang Baek smiled kindly.

"Until now, you've protected us. You shed the blood we should have shed, and you carried the burden we should have carried. So at least... now let us repay that debt."

Kim Yang Baek looked around at everyone.

"Wouldn't that be the right thing to do?"

The eyes of Southern Island's disciples sparkled.

It wasn't that they didn't understand the situation just because they were them. They just needed the courage for the last resolve.

And now, Kim Yang Baek's words were giving them that courage for the final resolution.

"Until the end, let it be true to the Southern Island Sect. Isn't it too shameful for the Southern Island Sect's seafolk to only receive help from those on the land and then die?"

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

"We must do it!"

"In fact, isn't running away exhausting as well?"

The Southern Island Sect's disciples raised their voices as if using curses. They hadn't done anything properly. They only ran away. It was unacceptable to receive a sword on the back and die while running away, protected by someone until the very end. Because that fact would dirty even their last moments.

"Even if we go to the afterlife, we should have something to say to those who died first."

At those words, Kim Yang Baek laughed gently.

"That's a valid point."

They were, unexpectedly, having the most peaceful and calm conversation among themselves. Baek Cheon's face darkened at this sight. Determination wasn't visible. There wasn't a boiling morale. However, because of that, it was even clearer that their resolution was firm. To persist any further here would be an insult to them. Baek Cheon could at least understand that much.

"Hansuo, Ziyang!"

"Yes, Sect Leader."

With firm determination in their eyes, Guo Hansuo and Lee Ziyang responded to Kim Yang Baek's words.

"You two follow them."

"...Yes?"

"Sect Leader, what are you talking about!"

"If only you survive, the Southern Island Sect won't be completely annihilated. Survive and spread the Southern Island Sect's name again throughout the world."

"Sect Leader!"

As Guo Hansuo strongly opposed, Kim Yang Baek suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"I beg you."

"..."

Guo Hansuo's shoulders trembled.

"Please, Sahyung."

"Disciple Ziyang, I beg you. Don't turn our deaths into meaningless deaths."

"Survive."

Under the pouring voices and gazes, tears started to flow from the eyes of the two.

They couldn't refuse. It wasn't a situation to buy time by saying they won't go.

Even the tone of refusal couldn't be made in this situation. This fact made Guo Hansuo and Lee Ziyang even more unable to bear.

"Deputy Sect Leader. Please take care of them."

"Sect Leader."

Kim Yang Baek smiled slyly and stepped forward.

Then, passing by Baek Cheon, he whispered quietly enough for only him to hear.

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword must be saved."

When Baek Cheon was about to reply, he bit his lips.

"Cough."

"Chung Myung!"

Holding onto Im Sobyeong's back, Chung Myung coughed, spitting out blood, and opened his eyes. His half-closed, hazy eyes glanced around.

"...Where is this..."

Chung Myung's gaze gradually became clearer.

"You've been played."

Im Sobyeong lowered his head deeply. However, unexpected words followed.

"...As expected."

Im Sobyeong raised his head in surprise.

Meanwhile, Chung Myung's expression remained ambiguous, making it impossible to discern his intentions.